"I never would have guessed that they would go this far…."
The man slowly surveyed the area that was destroyed due to the conflict between the shinobi and DOATEC. He then chuckled to himself, thinking about what four ninja did and compared it to a young child. The gold glimmer of light radiating from the mask died down as the man jumped down from the massive heap. The young man wore a long black scarf with bluish designs etched in. His protective suit was similar to Ryu's but didn't cover his mouth. The young man's build was a result of his long years of training. Lean muscles would show through the suit. The man had grown since his time in training. He had grown taller, about to six feet tall, in height. His skill, on the other hand, was what grew the most. He had watched moments unfold that lead to this moment in the city. And so, with his Ameoto, the man walked around the perimeter to see the results of the assault.
As more and more rubble fell to the street, the man heard the sound of helicopter blades overhead. When he looked up, he saw a familiar sight. He knew whose helicopter that belonged to. And if it was who the man thought, this wasn't over by a long shot. Following the chopper was a green light in the sky. The light stopped for a moment and just stared at the man…before flying off again. The man calmly walked again, smiling at all the damage at the TriTower area. After a moment, he heard another sound. It sounded like a girl groaning. Following his ears, the man found a young woman with…orange brown hair. She was dressed rather…loosely. It seems like she passed out. Was she fighting that green light? The man looked her over and then pulled his scarf off. Tying it around her and himself, he started off to get away from the area. Stopping for a brief moment, he sensed someone was watching him. From a distance, a black clad shinobi watched the man from a rooftop, eyes like an eagle. The man slowly walked away, then sprinted as fast as he could until he got to the coast. The ninja overhead watched as the youth took the girl somewhere away from the TriTower.
Kasumi woke up from an odd dream where she was a mermaid and was chasing a fish. The young girl had grown into a beautiful kunoichi that was as strong as she was dazzling. After finally getting fully awake, she noticed it was cooler than it should have been. It took her a moment to realize…
"Where are…my clothes?"
She looked around the area of the room she was in, but could not see any of her clothes that she brought along. When she looked under her bed, she found her weapon. At least she could defend herself should something happen. When she caught a glimpse outside, she saw the beach. It was not far from where this place was. Was she on an island? Suddenly, Kasumi heard the sound of running water from the room across from her. There was another person in this place. She quickly went to her room and wrapped the blanket around herself. Holding the handle of her sword tight, she snuck into every room to find something to put on. She couldn't find a thing in the house. She got irritated now. Kasumi went back to where the sound of water was coming from and waited. After a while, she noticed that someone was singing very softly. It was a man's voice…did a man touch her while she was asleep? Did…he see her naked body? Kasumi's face went red from the sheer thought. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she went back to the task at hand. She needed to get out of here and she needed clothes. And it looked like she would have to fight to get both. Slowly opening the door, she saw a bathing and showering room. The man was in the shower…in a ball. Was he asleep? Kasumi looked around the room and noticed a steel mask on the counter. The mask had six eyes but it seemed…familiar.
Where have I seen that before? Kasumi thought to herself.
She was getting curious now. She crept closer to the shower and slowly opened it enough to see who was in there. She had to adjust her eyes due to steam. She saw a dark skinned young man about her age. His hair was in dreadlocks; two parts on his shoulders and from what it looked like, a longer tied dreadlock tail it the back. It must have reached the middle of his back. It looked like he was meditating. Kasumi tilted her head. She felt as though she had seen this man before. She had to focus. Kasumi started to call out to the man when…
"Good morning, Kasumi-sama."
She flinched and moved back a bit. He knew her name!
"Who are you? Did you take my clothes? Where is this place?"
The man chuckled a bit before having his hair cover his eyes.
"I am the person who took you out of that rubble. And yes, I did take your clothes. They needed to be washed. And as to where we are…we are safe for now."
"….took me out of rubble?"
"You were passed out."
"So you're telling me you helped me…why?"
"Hmm…maybe I want a "favor" from you for helping you." The boy said sarcastically.
"W-w-what?"
"I'm kidding. If I really wanted that, I think I could have gotten away with some things while you were asleep."
"You…saw me…"
"Yeah? And?"
Kasumi blushed. She didn't know what to say at that point.
"It's not like I haven't seen breasts before. It's not really that big a deal. Heh, nice choice of words…"
"Gah! You perv!"
"Ha-ha!"
"It's not funny!"
"Yeah it is! Ha-ha. Hah...that's adorable…"
Kasumi got quiet after hearing that. She really got tongue tied again.
"By the way, can you hand me a towel, please?"
"Huh? O-okay…"
The man waited while Kasumi went to grab a towel. After she got one and handed it to him, she turned away and walked toward the door.
"You know, after I'm done, you can wash up too."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"…Heh. Your clothes should be ready soon too. Don't worry you won't be nude for too long now."
The man wrapped the towel around his waist and walked towards his mask. Putting the mask on, the eyes of the mask shined with a golden light. The man walked out of the room, leaving Kasumi surprised and wondering what she just saw. She then decided to bathe and think about what was going on. Meanwhile, the man grabbed all of Kasumi's clothes from a drying machine and started folding them neatly. After he was done, he went to her room and placed her clothes on her bed. He even feed the fish that was in the room. The man then went to his room to put some shorts on. When he relaxed on his bed, he slid his mask off and rested again. Meanwhile, Kasumi started to soak for a moment while thinking. The man did help her apparently. But she was wondering who it actually was that helped her. She decided she would stay and find out. After getting out of the bath, she dried off with a nearby towel and went into her room. It looked like the man had his own separate room. Kasumi looked at how her clothes were neatly folded and smiled a bit. She dressed up in some beachwear that she had and wrapped herself in a robe. Perhaps she would go to the beach later. But first things first, she had to find out who this was.
Kasumi slowly approached the closed door across from her room. She turned the knob but it was to no avail. After a moment, she started picking the door with her wakazashi very carefully. After hearing a small click, she slowly pushed the door and got low to the ground and crawled toward the man's bed. It sounded like he was asleep. Getting close enough to see, Kasumi looked up a bit to see the man's face. He was sound asleep. She actually found it kind of cute. It was almost like she had seen him before.
"Was he in the tournament? No…I would have noticed him. Hmmm."
As she was thinking, the man slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Kasumi. His eyes reflecting the sunlight reminded Kasumi of….
"You know I'm awake now, right?"
"Gah!"
Kasumi fell over right when he spoke, startled by the sudden response. The man just looked at her and smirked.
"Aren't you supposed to be a shinobi?"
"What? N-no…I'm just a martial artist…"
"…That uses a style from the Mugen Tenshin village…"
Kasumi got cautious when he got very specific. She did not know how to respond. How could he have known where she learned to fight?
"Who are…?"
The man slowly pulled himself up and looked at Kasumi. He moved his hair out of the way and let her take it all in. Kasumi started to realize who this was, but she couldn't place a name.
"You seem…familiar…"
"I should, it's not like it's been four years since you've "seen" me…"
"Wait….four years…that's when…" she gasped when she finally had it catch her. She leaned in a bit just to make sure.
"You…wouldn't happen to….be a younger eagle?"
"Well, an eagle has to travel to know the world…"
The man smiled as he trounced her code.
"Jaden…?"
"Long time no see, Kasumi-sama."
"Jaden!" she shouted in joy as she tackled him. Jaden actually had to catch her.
"Do you know how bad it got when you left? Do you?"
"Actually, I do. And by the way, you sisters are a dangerous breed. Now could you…never mind just stay here…"
"Huh?"
"Kasumi grew up in the last four years." Jaden smirked.
Kasumi looked down to see what he was talking about and blushed. Her chest was pressing on him hard and she didn't notice it.
"…you…too…"
Kasumi just dismissed the comment and hugged her friend and he hugged back. Kasumi then sat near the edge of the bed and looked at Jaden. He wasn't the same boy see know from the village anymore.
"You know, you really are impulsive…" Jaden threw out.
"Huh?"
"Running off to avenge Hayate's injuries, getting captured by…them, running off again, fighting tournaments, fighting a powerful corporation….real loose cannon."
Kasumi blinked as she was trying to understand how Jaden knew that information. He wasn't there, was he?
"How would you know all this?"
"…I watched the villages for a while. I bet big brother wouldn't even know I helped him with some of his exploits…"
"If you were watching everything, why didn't you stop DOATEC? They kept going after the villages."
"My target would have found me…I couldn't let that happen…"
"Your….target? Who?"
"I cannot say just yet. It's a bit complicated, okay?"
After an awkward silence, Kasumi leaned against the bed.
"Why did you help me?"
Jaden rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Because I wanted your body for my personal pleasure…" he said sarcastically.
"Jaden…" Kasumi blushed.
"You're my friend. And besides, DOATEC is crippled so they can't find me so this works out."
Jaden relaxed and massaged his shoulders. He looked a little fatigued. Kasumi noticed it.
"Could you…roll on your stomach?"
"Okay?"
As Jaden rolled over, Kasumi started to straddle his back and rub over his shoulders. She started blushing again as she felt him tense up a bit. She continued the massage for a while and Jaden finally started to loosen his muscles and relaxed.
"You mind telling me why we are here, Jaden?"
"Yeah sure, but can I get some rest? I've been watching over you as you slept, so I didn't' get much."
"Okay…I understand…"
After a moment, Kasumi decided that she would stick with Jaden to see what he was up to. "Hey Jaden?"
"Yes, Kasumi?" Jaden said slightly annoyed.
"Can I…sleep here too?" she said quietly.
"….you do realize I'm a hormonally charged teenage boy and you are…"
Kasumi just looked at him.
"Hah…fine. Just don't blame me if something happens."
"I trust you. After all, if you wanted to, you could have done that while I rested." She countered as she got under the covers.
"We're sharing the bed now?"
"I can't?"
"…fine."
Kasumi held onto Jaden's back and put her ear to it. She could hear his heartbeat and it was starting to relax her. Jaden rolled over so they were facing each other and held her. She was a bit thrown off but soon started to rest.
"I haven't traveled with someone for a while…this is nice. I missed you, my friend." Kasumi muttered.
"Yeah...good to see you again…"
"Get some sleep…" she whispered as she held on a bit tighter.
Jaden finally passed out due to warmth and Kasumi played with his locks. After a moment, she smiled as she thought of some way to repay his help. For now, she would rest along with her friend. The house soon was filled with the sounds of soft sleep.
After a few hours, Kasumi stretched as she slowly got up and looked around the room. As she turned around to see Jaden, she realized that this was one of the few times she had him to herself. She rolled onto his chest and waited. Moments later, he pulled himself up and Kasumi slid off of him and smiled.
"Did you rest well?"
"Yeah, thanks for asking. Oh right, you had questions didn't you?" Jaden asked while fixing his locks.
"Oh…uh…where are we?"
"I believe we are on an island in the Western Pacific. It's perfect 'cause no one comes here."
"What's with the resort house? Doesn't this cost money?"
"Hey, I worked for a few years while training. Challenge tourneys are a good way to make people stop gambling." He said as he held a laugh in.
"You ripped them off?"
"No, I just beat the challenge too quickly. Especially when the bets were hot."
"So…you got a house…on an island…in the Pacific…huh…"
"Hey, it works."
"Yeah. Hey Jaden, I wanna spar."
"What? You sure about that?"
"You can't beat me. I've fought things that went against nature itself."
"I see…"
"Jaden?"
Jaden slowly got out of the bed and went to his gear. He strapped it all on minus his mask and headed for the beach.
"You coming?"
"You bet I am!"
Kasumi ran into her room and got into her fighting clothes. Running after Jaden, she saw that the beach really was deserted, except for them. Jaden had to get her attention.
"Kasumi. Let's hope you've learned to focus in four years."
"We'll see…"
As she said that, her eyes changed. She was not the naïve and spoiled girl Jaden grew up with anymore. She looked as though she could kill her target. Jaden took his ready stance and Kasumi did as well. Kasumi made the initial move and that started their little fight. Due to Jaden's training, he did more than hold his own against her. The only problem he had was trying not to grab her the wrong way. Soon, the match was over and Kasumi was out of breath. Jaden just snorted and sat down on the beach. She walked closer and sat by him.
"You are unreal, you know. You were holding back huh?"
"Yeah…"
"Why? If I can take out Raidou and fend off that…fake, why can't I take what you can do?"
Jaden slowly got up and went towards the house. Kasumi looked a bit confused until she saw him carry a large boulder of iron on his back. Making sure she could see, he threw it in the air and focused. As soon as the metal was at eye level, he put all his strength into it and concentrated at the center, delivering a palm. The boulder received a hole out the other end. Kasumi was shocked and the strength and precision of the blow.
"…you would die…if I went all out."
"Wow…"
Jaden sat down again and Kasumi just stared.
"You…are something else huh?"
"Yep."
"You had all those skills…and yet you watched huh?"
"Did I not explain this?"
"Yes, your target…I'm guessing you won't tell me who it is…"
"Not yet…"
"What did they do…?"
"It's what they're going to do that I'm worried about."
"Wha—"
"It's…a long story. I'll tell you later."
Kasumi decided that she wouldn't touch that subject for a while. Soon she thought of something else.
"You know, this place reminds me of Zack Island. At least the atmosphere."
"Heh, sorry. I'm not Zack. I don't focus on sling bikinis."
"Hmm…I'll be right back. Okay?"
"I'll be here."
Kasumi ran back into the house and went to her room. Jaden just looked at the water washing up on the coast. Seeing Kasumi fight, he was remind of when her father hoped that she would focus in battle. He got his wish. Kasumi came behind him and poked him with her foot to get his attention. Turning around, he saw that she changed clothes. She was wearing a pink bikini top and a matching high thigh beach skirt. He had to admit it was eye catching.
"I see you focus more on this style." She teased.
"Well, it leaves SOMETHING to the imagination."
"Why do you have beach clothes like these lying around?"
"Because I know you. If anything, you would run to the beach as soon as you got better. So I arranged for some of you clothes come here."
"…Jaden…" Kasumi said after a moment of quiet. "Are we the only people here?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I just…wanted to know…"
"What's on your mind?"
"I was wondering…why we are here?"
"It's a break from all the tension going on. And I could use your help. You may be able to find one of the things I'm looking for."
"Oh. So I have to help you now, Hayabusa-kun?"
"If you would."
"I will. Hey…Jaden. Can I stay here then?"
"I don't see why not."
Kasumi leaned on Jaden and shivered on cue. Jaden immediately held her to keep her warm and she smiled. She leaned back so he would support her weight and stared at the ocean. Jaden caught wind of what she was doing and smirked.
"If you wanted me to hold on, you could just say something…that's you being quiet again."
"…I want us to go inside…" she said quietly.
"Huh…?"
"I want us to…go inside…"
"Alright…"
Kasumi pulled Jaden up and toward the resort home. After kicking the sand off their feet, she dragged him to his room and let go.
"Kasumi? You okay?"
"Jaden…I was jealous of Ayane for a while…"
"Huh? Why?"
"Because she had you with her all the time. When we were all together, you two seemed to be in your own world…"
"Oh…well to be fair, you did have Hayate to yourself."
"Hayate is my brother…you two had something else…"
Kasumi walked towards her room.
"I just thought, at least while we're here…I could see that world for a moment…"
Jaden smiled as he picked up Kasumi. She started blushing when he put her on her bed and rested on her chest. She then relaxed and hugged him. He watched as she smiled and nuzzled her neck as he pressed his body on her. She shivered as he did that and held on as tight as she could.
"Kasumi, you really want this?"
"…I just want to know what Ayane feels around you…if only for a moment…"
"That won't do…"
"Oh…"
"I'll make this special for Kasumi. I have a special place for Ayane, but you've known me just as long, right?"
"Yeah, but…"
"I wouldn't do anything you didn't want me to…and this can just stay an island thing, I suppose. Once we step off, no playing."
"…but while we are here…"
Jaden pushed his weight on her again and caused her to shiver. He then rolled his hips and simulated some stimulation. Kasumi blushed and cooed quietly as he held on. She tightened her hold on him and relaxed. Jaden gently pecked her neck and caused her to gasp. He then rolled a bit faster and she started panting. She even got enough courage to roll dominant for a while. This kept them both busy for a while. Kasumi soon clenched and relaxed and Jaden stopped moving around. She got a bit of her strength back at a time and simply put her head in Jaden's chest.
"You can't tell anyone that I wanted…it would be humiliating…" she mumbled.
"What are you talking about? Nothing happened here." He smiled.
"Huh?"
He started to roll again.
"W-wait…" she shivered.
He kept rolling while holding eye contact. Kasumi just stared back at him. Soon she shivered again and went limp. Jaden rolled off and relaxed.
"Hey…Jaden…? Can…we do this again later?"
"Yeah…"
"If you don't want to…"
"I would have said something, right? I don't mind. It's a stress reliever."
Kasumi scooted closer and nuzzled against Jaden's chest again. Hours later, Kasumi woke up by herself. She looked around for Jaden and fixed her clothes to look outside. Jaden was on the beach seemingly waiting for something. Kasumi walked toward him when she noticed a helicopter coming toward the island. Jaden looked over his shoulder and beckoned Kasumi over to him. She got close as the vehicle started to land. When she saw who came out, she didn't say a thing. Ryu Hayabusa stepped out of the chopper while his wife, Irene, waited in the cockpit. Jaden nodded his head in respect.
"It's has been awhile, Dragon Ninja."
"You grew up, Jaden…"
"Yeah, I guess I did."
"So…it was you? Who brought Kasumi here?"
"Yeah, there's a reason for that. Besides catching up with old friends."
"The experiment? What haven't you told me?"
"…Hah…Like I said before, I can't say much right now." Jaden answered as he looked over his brother's shoulder.
"You brought your wife? I figured you'd be getting settled by now."
"…If there's still something going on, your brother won't just settle down." Irene interjected.
Irene was an American woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes who met Ryu during an incident. After dealing with it, they later got married. Jaden even attended the ceremony from the shadows.
"Hmm…well now what, Jaden? You can't keep putting up a solo act. Even with the way you are." Ryu said quietly.
"The way he is? What does he mean Jaden?" Kasumi wondered.
"It's…nothing. Anyway, Brother, I plan on going to Japan in a few days."
"…Make it a week."
"What?"
"You have been overdoing it for the past two years at minimum. You need to relax. I'm sure Kasumi can at least show you that."
"What has Jaden been doing for two years?"
"Watching and guiding his family and friends from the shadows. He probably thought I didn't notice but he helped in the fiend incident. He kept father informed on what I did and made sure support got to me. I'm sure he guided Ayane from the shadows as well. That would explain how she found the Eye so quickly. No one ninja could do that alone."
"Wow. What else did you do, Jaden?"
"I didn't really…"
"He watched over you girls after the incident with Raidou. From what I heard, he took on Raidou and made the coward run away from the mountains, where he ran into DOATEC and got enhanced. He even informed me of where you were before you got revenge for Hayate."
"But you disappeared after that, I thought I found you at one point, but that wasn't you. She was…interesting though." Jaden said.
"Alpha…that little…"
"Wow, I never thought I would see you so angry."
"The way she talked about my brother…it was just wrong."
"Jaden also found where you were and told me again."
"Why didn't he help me?"
"I was going after Alpha…she was made from my target. I thought she would lead me to them…"
"Jaden disappeared for a few weeks after that."
"You didn't see Ayane?"
"Yeah, I saw her. But I couldn't do much without revealing myself. She's grown up as well."
"I bet she misses you." Kasumi smiled.
"Or maybe she forgot about when she became the head of the Hajin Mon sect."
"So you know about her promotion?"
"Yeah…"
Kasumi tilted her head. "She wouldn't forget about you. Tell you what, in a week, we are going to the Hayabusa village and YOU are going to see her."
"Are we really going to force me to take a week off?" Jaden wondered.
"Yes, we are." Kasumi, Ryu and Irene said simultaneously.
"Hey, what else did he do?"
"He told me where DOATEC was…and I passed it along."
"…The only thing I didn't guess was that SOMEONE was going to fight Alpha before I got there…my target also got away." Jaden interrupted.
"Just who is your target anyway?" Ryu inquired.
"Someone…who was hassling you for the past year…."
"That's not the whole story now, isn't it?"
"That's all you get for now."
"Fair enough. Well now that I know where you are, I think you should rest. I'll meet you in week on the beach. Father would want to see you again as well."
"Father…hah…okay. But just a week…"
"You know, you are probably the only person who complains about getting a week off. Let alone a day."
"I'll take care of him." Kasumi reassured.
"Right, come on Irene."
"Okay. Jaden, we'll see you in a week okay?"
"Okay I get it already. Jeez…"
Ryu and Irene got in the chopper and started to lift up. As they did, they hooked Jaden's boat and attached it to the helicopter and flew off. Ryu waved off and Jaden just sat there.
"He really wants you to rest huh?"
"Still being a big brother to the end huh?"
Kasumi sat on the sand and looked at the water.
"Did…DOATEC do something to you too…?"
"I guess you could say that…"
"I see…" Kasumi muttered while hugging her legs.
"…come on."
"Huh? Umm!"
Jaden picked Kasumi up and went towards the water. He then threw her into the ocean and started playing with her on the beach. He could tell she didn't like the fact that another person has her face. After a while, the sun started to go down and Kasumi thought of a way to help Jaden relax. She slowly got out of the water and went to Jaden and pulled him again. She blushed as she remembered something he had said. The things they were doing earlier did loosen him up. As the days went by, Kasumi started taking care of Jaden and making sure he got plenty of rest. And every night, she would "play" with him in creative ways without doing anything too risky. If anyone were to see them, it would look like they were just married by how she took care of him. A week passed quickly. The morning of departure, Kasumi was lying on Jaden's chest after "playing" three or four times during the night. Jaden was slowly starting to wake up. He seemed more lax now.
"Umm…Jaden?"
"Yeah Kasumi?"
"Can we go one last time before we leave the island?"
"Again?"
Kasumi just stared at him.
"Alright."
Kasumi smiled as she rolled dominant again. Jaden was feeling her figure and that made her move a bit quicker. They both just looked at each other as Jaden rolled dominant.
"What is it?" Jaden asked, noting the stares.
"It's…your eyes…"
"…What's so special about my eyes…?"
"You don't know? They're…so radiant and clear. I can't help but look…" Kasumi said while holding his face. "Can I…try one more thing?"
"Huh?"
She slowly put her lips to his softly and gave a light kiss. That…caused Jaden to go more…hyper. He started moving a lot faster and Kasumi couldn't keep up. She soon clenched up and released. Jaden slowed down so Kasumi could get air in her lungs. Soon, they just laid there until Jaden picked her up and got them in the shower.
"What was that?" Kasumi asked while washing off.
"I don't know it just…happened."
"I see…So that ends our little vacation huh?"
"Yeah. For now at least."
"You know, Ayane will be happy to see you Jaden."
"What brought her up?"
"Oh nothing. I wanted to see if you could still show some compassion to her after so long…so I checked first."
"You're telling me you did this for your sister?"
"Well…that's part of it…" she said as she sat on his lap.
Soon after, Jaden and Kasumi started getting ready for departing the island. As Kasumi got ready in her room, Jaden put on his gear and looked at his blade, Ameoto. He smiled as it back old memories and put the blade to his hip. He then slid his mask over his eyes and walked out the door followed by Kasumi. Soon a helicopter flew overhead and let a rope down. Jaden started up the rope but then flipped onto the roof and jumped high enough to grab the rail of the vehicle. Kasumi climbed the rope and Ryu and Jaden pulled her into the chopper as it flew off.
"You seem well rested." Ryu acknowledged.
"Yeah. Kasumi wouldn't let me train at all. I had no choice but to relax."
"And that's the way it will stay when we go to your island. That place screams to relax."
"You ready to go home?"
"What about Kasumi?"
"She's coming as well. Hayabusa has no qualm of her. She can stay there as long as she wishes."
"Thank you Ryu." Kasumi bowed.
The helicopter soon flew over the great Mt. Fuji and Ryu looked at Jaden to see if he was ready to go. Jaden nodded and started tying Kasumi in his scarf. She held on tight as Ryu and Jaden jumped out of the chopper and into the trees. Irene went back to Tokyo and Ryu lead Jaden back to a village he hadn't seen in about a year.
The Village had finally had peace return after many attacks by various enemies. It actually did not take long for the brothers to find the head of the village. Jo was speaking with some elders when he saw his sons. He immediately dismissed the conversation respectfully and went to his boys and held them.
"Welcome home, my sons."
"Good to be back, Father."
Jo led his boys home with Kasumi following after. After everyone got settled in, Jo spoke with both of his sons about Kasumi staying in the village for a while. Jo accepted of course, having known the girl since she was a child. Jaden soon bowed as he told them he would depart for Mugen Tenshin for a while. Jaden grabbed a few more clothes and started out. Kasumi just watched from a window, praying for good luck to follow Jaden. Ayane did change slightly.
Jaden dashed through the forest he grew up in rather quickly, making it there in about five hours. The first thing he did when he saw the massive village was jump into the higher trees. He then climbed toward the Hajin Mon sect of the village and waited for a moment. He smirked as he thought of a way to introduce himself again. He pulled out some paper and wrote a challenge note to Ayane and tied it to a kunai. He then threw it at a shinobi watching the grounds. The ninja dodged the kunai and noticed the note. When he pulled it out and read it, he immediately ran toward the Head house. Soon after, he reported to the head of Mugen Tenshin's Hajin Mon Sect. The head slowly analyzed the letter and walked out of her home. Wearing a black fox mask and her purple outfit with the pink bow, she looked around for her challenger.
A man soon landed right behind her and she didn't move. She just looked over her shoulder slightly and saw that he was a head taller than her.
"Who the hell do you think you are? A fool who wants to meet his end?" she said quietly.
"Not quite…I see you hide your face. I bet I can reveal who you are and you will only touch me twice."
"Aren't we the cocky one? Are you invading the village?"
"Nope. I'm after the head of the Hajin Mon."
"Well then…"she said while slowly pulled out one of her Fuma Kodachi. "You got her!" she said as she stabbed backwards. The man faded away and only a stump was left behind.
"Humph, I know you're still here…" she said while scanning the area. She caught a glimpse of what looked like a yellow signal light and ran towards it. Jaden just smiled as he was being followed. He would see what she was made of.
As soon as he lured her to a river in the forest, he landed on a rock in the middle of the flowing river. She stopped running when her target came into view and threw a kunai with her trademark pinwheel on it. He saw it coming and caught the flying blade, spinning it so sound could be heard. When he heard the fuse, he threw it in the air and it detonated. As he threw it skyward, she dashed at him and delivered a kick aimed at his chest. Jaden dodged as she kept trying to hit him. She tried every angle and kept circling her target and he kept reading her next move. Jaden soon jumped away from her combos and slowly put his blade down. The head just stared at him.
"Alright then, I'll use no weapons." Jaden smiled.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all."
"…"
The head placed her weapons near a tree and disappeared. She soon appeared on Jaden's blind spot and punched him in the spine. Jaden was actually surprised at how fast she became.
"That's one…"
"What?" She said as she kicked him in the rib.
"That's two…"
"Huh?"
Jaden grabbed the head's leg and started pulling her towards him. Using a bit of strength, he palmed her mask off and revealed her face. Her eyes burned red when he hit her. He let go and just sat down after revealing her face.
"What the-? What are you doing? We aren't done here!"
"I am. I see you have improved a lot…Ayane-hime…"
Ayane blinked and stared at her opponent. She hadn't been called anything like that in a long time.
"Who are you?"
"….a phoenix…"
"What?"
"I suppose I'll be heading out. I won't hold you up on your duties." He said as he stood up and started off
Ayane jumped over him and stood in his path. When he tried to get around her she would either block his way or push him back in front of her.
"That mask…"
"What about it?" he said while a golden light shimmered through the mask. That reminded Ayane of someone….
"I want to see…who was toying with me during our duel…"
"I wasn't toying with you, you are soo strong." He teased.
"Grr…Don't mock me!" she yelled as she reached for the mask. He grabbed her wrists almost instantly and guided her hands toward the mask. Ayane was reminded of when she was a child. It felt like she had done this before. He slowly allowed her to remove the mask and he lowered his head to make his hair cover his eyes.
"Show…your ...face…" she said, getting a bit irritated.
"Should I really?"
"Argh! That's it!" She huffed as she moved his hair and saw his face. She…didn't say anything after moving the locks. She looked like she was in shock. She was squeezing his hair really tight. Jaden felt as though he would have to move REALLY soon. She snapped out of the shock and threw a punch at Jaden, who just barely ducked and received a knee to the chin which threw him back towards his sword. Ayane didn't move for a moment, and then dashed toward Jaden. Grabbing his sword, she pulled out the blade and pointed it at Jaden's exposed throat. He was in a slight daze. Ayane looked as though…she was about to cry.
"Where…"
"Huh?"
"Where…were…"
"Ayane?"
"WHERE WERE YOU!" she screamed as tears started falling down her face. "Do you know the hell I have been through? The villages kept getting assaulted, Master Hayate went into a coma, I had to hunt my sister, I was betrayed by my master…and where were you…?" she cried as she held the sword with shaky hands.
"…."
"Where…were..you?" she asked again.
"I was right beside you…"
Ayane looked at Jaden was rage and sadness. She raised the blade down and spilt it into two swords as she drove them towards Jaden. At the last moment, she stabbed them into the ground just near his neck.
"LIAR! If you were there, why didn't you help me!"
"I did help, you idiot!" Jaden yelled and his eyes flashing their gold color. Ayane was in shock again. This was the first time Jaden had ever yelled at her.
"Who do you think led you to get the Eye of the Dragon? Who fought Raidou as he tried to hide and attack the village? Who told Master Shiden that Genra defected? Who told Ryu where DOATEC was? Did you really think I'd disappear?"
"I…"
"I was there the whole time. I just couldn't swoop in for every conflict…"
"You liar…:" she said weakly as tears hit Jaden's face. He gently wiped her face of the constant flow of tears. She held his hand on her cheek and started to calm down. "I'm tired…and you owe me."
"Huh? How do I owe you?"
"You worried me. For a while Master Jo didn't say anything about you. I thought you…died…so you owe me."
"…Fine. And the payment is…?"
"You can't go anywhere unless I am with you…I want you to keep your promise."
"By anywhere, does that include when I use the restroom?" he smirked.
Ayane just looked at him like he was an idiot and smiled. "Shut up, stupid…" She then glanced at Jaden's blade. It still had her hair entwined with the rope. And it still looked like he took care of the weapon. She slowly grabbed the blade, which made Jaden flinch for a moment, and put it together and sheathed it. She then got off of him and grabbed her Kodachi.
"You…are coming with me…"she muttered.
"Ayane?"
Ayane grabbed her mask and tied it to her hip then walked back home, looking over her shoulder to see if Jaden was following. He ended up following after grabbing his sword and mask. Soon after, Ayane's men ran to their master to see if she was okay and she waved them off. When they saw Jaden walk past them, they had to take a double take. Two of those men picked on Jaden when he was a child and now they looked a bit afraid of him. Ayane led Jaden to her home, which was "inherited" from the previous master, Genra. One could tell she made it her own. Ayane told Jaden to wait in the main room while she went to her room. As she walked off, Jaden decided to get out of his gear and into something else. He changed into something more casual and loose, seeing as he was wearing something tight for the longest time. As he rubbed sore muscles, he looked around the house. There was definitely a woman's touch to the place. Soon, scents of lavender filled the room. Jaden looked at where it was coming from and saw Ayane peeking through her door.
"Come here…" she demanded with a tone of aggression.
Jaden walked into her room slowly and stopped. The moon had its light fill the room and the designs on Ayane's clothes flickered in that light. She was wearing a deep purple kimono with long sleeves with a side slit that exposed her leg and butterfly designs. She just sat near the window, letting the moon wrap its light around her.
"H-How does it look….? I had it tailored recently…" she asked quietly.
"Umm…I like it. I like it a lot." He responded while getting distracted.
"I'm glad…could you come closer?"
"You gonna stab me?"
"No…"
Jaden sat right in front of Ayane and she pushed him to the floor with her on top.
"I'm sorry…I overreacted…I just couldn't believe you were standing in front of me…I was so mad at you, so worried about you, that I…"
Jaden put a finger to her lips to stop her from saying anymore.
"Heh, and here I though you would've have forgotten about me."
Ayane moved closer and did a long overdue nose touch.
"You really think I'd just forget you? I don't think that's possible."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Because…because I…"
Jaden smiled and moved his lips closer to hers. She froze for a second and finally shared a kiss with him. They held on as tight as they could as they kissed making up for all that lost time. That night, time did not exist. They were together again.
It's because…I love you, Jaden….