Hitomi Assassin
Part 6

Hitomi stared at Mist throughout the lesson. It was hard teaching a lesson when one of the students didn't look capable to fight. Over the past week, Mist has been coming to Hitomi's lessons pale, tired, and battered. It wasn't so noticeable at first; just a couple of yawns and a small bruise on her face from 'walking into a lamppost'. But now, Mist has bruises, cuts and scars just about everywhere. Everyday, there was always a new bandage around her body, always a new excuse. Hitomi wouldn't have believed her even if she had said she was hit by a train, nobody just gains scars overnight.

At the end of the lesson, Hitomi immediately approached Mist. The other students didn't even get a proper dismissal, leaving some to leave and others to watch their teacher. "Your nose wasn't facing east yesterday," Hitomi snapped, pointing at Mist's broken nose. "What happened, tripped down the stairs again?"

"Hitomi, please, I'm okay," Mist said, cupping Hitomi's hands in hers. "There is nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?" Hitomi shouted. She then realized the other kids standing and staring at the scene. "Class was dismissed." The kids looked at each other before grabbing their stuff and quickly leaving the dojo. "You can't tell me there's nothing to worry about when you can barely stand! How can you go around looking like this?"

"Because I'm fine," Mist insisted. "Please, I need to get home."

Hitomi watched Mist gather her things before she stopped her again. "Is this your father?"

"What?"

"Does your father beat you?"

Mist hesitated. "N-no..."

"He does, doesn't he? How could he do this though? You should call the police! There is a fine line between discipline and child abuse, and I'm afraid to say that your father has crossed this line!"

Mist pushed Hitomi away, surprising the latter. For a beginner student who was being beaten daily, she had quite a lot of strength in her. "I'm sorry," Mist said, bowing. "I must go." She ran for the exit.

"Hey, wait!" Hitomi called, running after her. However, once she got outside, Mist was gone. She looked around. She was nowhere to be found. Hitomi shook her head. Not only was Mist strong, she was fast too. To get away that quick must have taken some sort of ninja speed. Hitomi sighed, walking back inside the dojo.

^v^v^v^

Ayane was meditating alongside Hayate, lit candles decorating the room. Two pairs of skilful fingers were forming into different symbols, silent chants being said. The flames danced this way and that, both ninja having complete control.

It was a long time since Ayane had been able to meditate properly. She was usually always busy with work, and when she wasn't, she didn't have the patience to sit and do nothing for any amount of time. And since Hayate was always busy with Hitomi in his free time, Ayane had no guidance.

Losing concentration, Ayane opened one eye to look at the man sitting opposite her. She smiled, closing the eye again. Ever since he stopped seeing Hitomi, Ayane has had Hayate all to herself. She was able to show off new skills she had developed to him, and also learn some new ones. It was almost as if they were children again, spending time together. Of course they both had a ton of responsibilities on their shoulders, yet for Ayane, most of that weight has been lifted off.

"I must have the same effect on him," Ayane thought. "I haven't heard him mention Kasumi in quite some time." Ayane's smile grew. Not even Kasumi could wedge herself between the bond she and Hayate shared.

In a sudden, all the flames extinguished as Hayate rose from his place. Ayane stared up at him. "You lost concentration," Hayate stated. Ayane blushed, looking down.

"Sorry, I was distracted," Ayane murmured. She jumped when she felt a hand on her head. She looked up at her brother.

"You shouldn't be saying sorry to me," Hayate said. He turned, heading towards the door that led out of the room. "I must go. We'll see us again." With that, Hayate walked from the room, leaving Ayane alone.

"I should be sorry for myself," Ayane whispered, closing her eyes again. "It's nobody's fault but mine." She tried to get concentrated like she had when Hayate was around, but after several minutes of twitching and fidgeting, Ayane gave up. She sigh, falling onto her back. She couldn't help but wonder where Hayate was going. Maybe to discuss business with his father, tend to his mother, or venture out with Ryu. Ayane sighed, rolling onto her stomach. Wherever Hayate was wasn't her business. She curled up, getting ready to fall asleep.

However, Ayane kept thinking. Over the past week, she had always seen Hayate going somewhere at around the same time. Scampering up, she slid open the door, looking up at the sky. It was almost sunset, like it had been whenever Hayate left. She looked around, not surprised to see that he was nowhere in sight. What could he be doing now?

Ayane walked towards the head household, where Shiden and Ayame stayed. She got on her knees, tapping the door. "Who is it?" the familiar voice of her mother called out. Ayane gulped. As much as she loved her mother, she didn't like seeing her alone.

"Ayane," Ayane called.

A small silence followed. "Come in."

Ayane slid the door open to see Ayame standing, folding clothes into her dresser. Ayane bowed in her crouching position before rising up. "Mother, do you know where Hayate is?"

Ayame smiled at her daughter, carefully folding her silk garments. "Well, last time I saw him, he was with you. Did he suddenly disappear?"

"Well, it wasn't sudden..."

"He is probably busy with work. He may be your brother, Ayane, but you can't expect him to constantly make time for you. And I hope that you don't slack off your duties to spend time with him either."

Ayane shook her head. "It's just..." Ayane cut herself off. She didn't want to tell Ayame, she might worry for Hayate. She might think he's in some sort of shady business, and if he is, Ayane should be the one to snap him out of it. "Nothing. You're right mother, I should leave him alone."

Ayame smiled, her full concentration back on her clothes. Ayane turned and was about to walk out when Shiden entered the home. She bowed low, expecting her uncle to walk past her. "Ah, Ayane," Shiden greeted, doing the complete opposite to what Ayane had thought. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing much, I was just looking for Hayate," Ayane answered. "It doesn't matter now though."

"Hmm? Well you'll have a tough time trying to find him. I saw him leaving the village some time ago. Who knows where he could be?"

Ayane froze. "Outside the village?" She thought. "But why? Unless he really is in some shady business!" Snapping out of her thoughts, Ayane nodded to Shiden. "Thank you, but it really doesn't matter now." She left the home, closing the door behind her. Immediately, she began sprinting across the village right to the border. She climbed up Hayate's lookout tree, standing where he would stand. She scanned the horizon for any sort of action, but saw nothing. She cursed under her breath, realizing she was going to have to look far and wide for Hayate.

Ayane leapt off the tree, then sprinted out of the village, across the bridge that led to the forest ahead. Her first stop would be the main forest clearing he and Ryu usually go to train together. Hopefully that was what Hayate was doing right now, and has been for the last few days.

She scampered up a tree to the highest branch, then began to make her way to the clearing by jumping and swinging from one tree to another. She had to keep her distance, and her height, so that Hayate wouldn't be able to detect her.

Closing in on the destination, Ayane slowed down, making as little noise as possible. Her ears pricked up as she heard sounds coming from the clearing. It was a voice. His voice.

"Injuries shouldn't slow you down, get up and attack me."

So he was training with Ryu, yet it seemed very unlikely that wounds would stop him from a chance to fight Hayate. Knowing Ryu though, he'd probably have some sort of humorous comeback up his sleeve.

However, Ayane did not get a humorous comeback. A light, female voice replied, "I'm sorry." Ayane's heart skipped a beat as she leapt to a closer branch, crouching while looking through the leaves of the tree. And there, struggling to stand before Hayate, was the clan's traitor, Kasumi. Ayane's blood boiled with rage as she felt the sudden urge to jump down and end the fight for good, but she knew better.

Hayate went over to her to help her up, then moved back a fair distance from her. "Try to keep up," was what he said to Kasumi. Ayane's eyes widened when she realized that they were only sparing together, making Ayane even angrier. She stood up, still glaring down at the two. The traitor had no right to come and spar with Hayate, she didn't even have the right to stand near him.

Suddenly, Hayate looked up at the tree that Ayane was on. She quickly ducked down, hoping that he didn't see her. Peaking from her hiding spot, she saw that Kasumi was closing in on Hayate, trying to attack but missed her target. Ayane didn't stay to watch what happened next, too overcome with emotion.

She vowed that she was going to find Kasumi, and when that day came, it would be her death day.

Ohh, shock surprise chapter! Mist is getting beat by her father and Kasumi is having intense training with Hayate! No connection though, I mean, that would just be silly! Oh yeah, and Ayane gets involved now...

I'm glad I got this chapter up sooner than last time... The next chapter will be up as soon as possible!