A/N: Headin' back to the college life here in a few days. But not to worry. I'll be sure to work on my fics. Meantime, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Dead or Alive owned by Team Ninja and Tecmo. Tramps Like Us owned by Ogawa and Tokyopop

Kunoichis Like Us

Chapter 7


"No, mom, I haven't talked to Rika or Mayu in a while." Alex grumbled into his cell phone.

"Why haven't you?" His mother replied.

"I don't know. Just never got around to it."

He noticed that quite a few passersby were glancing at him over their shoulders. Having a semi-argument in French, the only language where he could communicate fluently with his mother, down a busy street seemed to garner some attention. Alex ignored them out of apathy.

"That's not good enough. They're your sisters. With you father and I gone, you're the man of the house. It's your duty to keep the family together and trouble free."

"How can I be the man of the family when they're the ones that boss me around?" Alex pinched the bridge of his nose.

"And how did that happen?"

"Well, you can thank dad for always taking their side." Alex sighed. "Alright, I'll talk to them. Soon. Look, I've just been busy with…"

"What's her name?"

"Huh? What do you-"

"The girl you're seeing. What's her name? Is she nice?"

Alex reddened. "I'm not seeing anyone, okay? Just where'd you get that from?"

"You're not as angry anymore. Usually, by now, you'd have blown up and start telling me something like 'it's not my job to fill in for dad'. She must be something else to curb that temper of yours. I really want to meet her."

"There is no girl, mom." Alex said through clenched teeth. "So just drop it."

"Okay, sweetie." She said before ending the conversation. "I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll call you if anything comes up. I love you!"

Knowing that the topic was far from dropped, Alex deflated. "I love you too, mom."

He shut his cell phone and placed it back in his pocket.

Things had cooled considerably in his life. Nanako had backed off somewhat. She still talked to him from time to time, but not as frequently as before. What was said and done at the resort was never spoken about. A special bond between Kasumi and him had also formed, whether he wanted to admit it or not. They were certainly closer, almost like siblings. She was intrusive and somewhat controlling like his real sisters. Still, life appeared to be getting better.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Surprise etched in his face when he checked who was trying to call him. He flipped open his phone.

"Kasumi?" He answered. "What is it?"


The Italian café that Kasumi arranged to meet was small and intimate. Small, circular marble tables dotted around the café with simple home-styled wooden chairs. The place smelled strongly of coffee. Only a few people, teenagers and couples, sat at the tables, with more people, in business attire, were in a line waiting to get their caffeinated Italian drinks and get back to their rush-job lives.

Kasumi sat in the corner, alone, a green ceramic cup in front of her. She stared dreamily out the window, but quickly caught Alex's form and raised her hand to wave him over. Alex hesitated for a moment. She did not have her Sakura disguise. She wore a sleeveless light pink shirt with a denim skirt. Someone could have recognized her as the Dead or Alive fighter. But it appeared that she did not care.

"Thank you for coming, Alex." Kasumi said as Alex sat down. "I'm sorry for calling you all the way out here, but no one from our school visits this café, so it's safe."

"And how do you know that?" Alex quickly changed his mind, figuring it would be better to not know. "Wait, never mind. Forget I asked."

"Would you like anything?" She offered. "Their ice tea is quite good."

"No thanks." Alex felt weird talking to Kasumi in an open place. "So, what's up?"

It was Kasumi's turn to hesitate. She looked into her drink. "I wanted to tell you that…I have something important planned today. I'll be gone until late tonight. I was hoping that…you could stay home…to keep safe."

"I don't think that I have to hide. Ever since Tetsu backed off, no one has tried anything." Alex put his elbows on the table. "What's so important that you have to do today?"

"It's…personal. Very personal. It's nothing dangerous, I assure you." She bowed her head. "Please, I ask you to let me do this."

Alex was startled. Kasumi was asking him permission? "Uh…sure, whatever you need to do."

She smiled. "Thank you, Alex."

"So, not like I have a problem with it, but why ask me to come here? Why not just tell me over the phone?"

"Because…I just wanted to see you, that's all."

Alex was rendered speechless. An awkward pause hung around them like a bad stench.

"Oh." Kasumi broke the silence. "You've got a lose button."

"Huh?" Alex looked on his person. "Where?"

"Here." She reached out and tugged on his collar. "I'll fix it. I have a sewing kit." She hoisted her small tan purse onto the table and popped it open. She took out a small plastic box that contained some threads and a needle. "Hold still."

Alex tried not to stare when Kasumi became very close and worked on the loose button. He felt his face become red again. The backs of her fingers would sometimes glance off his neck, making the experience even more unbearable. She was his ninja and probably a good friend. He had given her begrudging respect and almost all the fear in his soul, but ignoring her beauty, her curves, was not only impossible, it was down right stupid in his opinion. He almost gasped when she leaned in to bite off the thread.

"There. All done." She returned to her seat. It only took her less than a minute, but for Alex it was both too long and far too short.

"Is it my imagination?" Alex thought. "Or is Kasumi acting more…casual? She's almost always down to business with me."

"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll go on home then." Alex said.

"Okay. I promise I'll be right back when I'm done." Kasumi stood, laid out some yen for her drink, and walked with Alex to the door. Before they parted ways, Kasumi suddenly pecked him on the cheek.

"Goodbye, Alex." She waved as she disappeared into the mass of people that herded up and down the sidewalks.

Alex placed a hand over his cheek, blushing like crazy. "What the…? What's gotten into her?"

He noticed some goofy smiles from the people inside the café who witnessed the kiss and walked off in a huff.


Kasumi gripped the strap of her purse a little tighter. It was almost time.

She was apart of the large clustered mass of people that had formed around the iconic Hachiko, the bronze dog statue in front of Tokyo's Shubya rail station. The statue was a typical gathering point for friends to met before heading out to hit the town. The person Kasumi was waiting for, however, was a lot more special than a friend.

A million thoughts ran through her head. Did she look okay? Perhaps a more conservative dress would have been appropriate. Could she find the person she was looking for in such a tightly packed crowd? Maybe she should have picked another location? Was abandoning Alex's side really necessary?

It was odd that the last thought even occurred to her. Despite her dedication to her new role, she knew that she would not have to hold his hand all the time, but for some reason…something that absolutely escaped her…she felt compelled to meet him that day…to check on him. Perhaps it was her sixth sense telling her something. Perhaps she could detect danger for others as well as herself.

Perhaps she was just turning into a worry wart.

Something amiss caught her eye, something that was a stark contrast to everything else around her. She narrowed in on a woman in a deep blue and purple kimono, a traditional dress that was almost swallowed by the ever growing blob of western clothing. Kasumi tightened her muscles slightly, worried and anxious, before she moved toward the woman.

The woman seemed lost, almost frightened by the huge swarm of people. She kept to herself, offering apologies whenever she bumped into someone. She circled about, trying to find something to guide her. It was then that she met eyes with Kasumi. Instantly, the woman's face lit up and she nudged her way through until she and Kasumi were locked in a hug.

"There you are, little one." The woman was on the verge of crying. "I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find you with so many people here. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, mother." Kasumi whispered back, not wanting the embrace to end. "Did you find your way through the railway okay?"

"Yes, the people who ran it were quite helpful." Ayame said, calming down some. "Oh, it's been so long, dear, there's so much to say."

The two separated, but still held each other by the arms. "There's a sushi restaurant I found that I think you'll like, we can go there and talk all we want. Unless…you have to be back before…"

"Oh, no, no, no." Ayame smiled and shook her head. She smoothed Kasumi's hair. "We have all the time in the world. You know that women are no longer restricted to the village, I told your father that I would be out."

"I see…and what of…brother?"

Ayame's smile faded some, but remained. "He either doesn't know about this, or more likely, doesn't mind. He still loves you, little one, we all do."

"Thank you, mother." Kasumi closed her eyes for a moment. Letting the brief moment of reassurance that deep down Hayate still saw her as family. "This way, mother, the restaurant is not far."


"So you have no clue about what she's doin'?"

"Nadda." Alex placed his hands in his pockets. "But she said it was something personal, so I didn't push on it."

Seiji made a murmur of acknowledgment and kept walking down the street with his friend. He had caught up with Alex at his family's noodle house. Seiji had just finished his shift and decided to get out of the cramped restaurant and take a stroll with his friend. It only took a little of Seiji's usually prying abilities to get Alex to spill the details of his latest dealings with his kunoichi.

"I'm willing to bet that she's on some blind date." Seiji cupped his chin, attempting the posture of an enlightened old man. To Alex, he looked stupid. "The guy's probably trying to get her into a love hotel as we speak."

"One, she would never fall for such an obvious trick." Alex countered. "And two, do you really think she's the dating type? I mean, she's…scary at times."

"No doubt." Seiji chuckled. "But that doesn't mean she's not looking for someone to be with. She's still human. You forget you're talking to the expert on love here."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Of course. How silly of me."

Seiji snaked his arm around Alex's shoulders and jerked him closer. "Come on, man. You know me. I've been with lotsa girls. I know the score. And I'm more than willing to guide my friend in his pursuit of his ninja girl."

"I'm not in 'pursuit' of anything." Alex said, ditching his charade of humoring his friend. "And all you know about is how to get into bed with a girl, that's it. You've never had a steady girlfriend for more than a few months."

"Hey, hey, now. Why the hostility?" Sejij said in mock pain. "Okay, maybe I'm not in the 'settling down' phase of my life, but you gotta admit, I've been a lot farther with a girl than you have."

Alex let out a sigh.

"Anyway, I suppose you have a right to be worried." Seiji switched from cocky lewdness to strict seriousness. "But you're wasting your time on being worried."

"I guess…" Alex reluctantly replied. "But…"

"No buts, man." Seiji jabbed a finger in Alex's face. "Kasumi is a healthy, grown girl…who knows ninjutsu and won martial arts tournaments. I mean, she's a ninja for God's sake. A real ninja! She could probably take down a whole group of Yakuza thugs without messing up her hair! So you don't have to worry about her being gone for one whole day." He arched an eyebrow and scrutinized Alex. "Unless there's a reason she won't come back. Is there?"

"Um…" Alex rotated his eyes into his head as he dug through his memory. "Well…maybe…"

"What? Did you do something?" Seiji leveled his gaze. "Did she catch you peeping on her in the shower?"

"I don't peep, jackass." Alex glared back. "About three nights ago I went out to get some groceries and didn't buy strawberry pocky for her. I told her that I forgot and she said it was okay, but I could tell that she was disappointed. You think she'd leave because of that?"

Seiji looked incredulous for a moment before resuming the discussion. "You better be kidding, cause if you're not, I'm gonna hit ya."

"What? What I say?"

"She's not gonna bail on you because you didn't buy her pocky, you dolt!" Seiji said a bit too loudly. "Jesus, you should be taking medication for cluelessness or something." He shook his head in disgust. "She'll be back, man. She's not the type to ditch her friends."

"Maybe…" Alex looked at the sidewalk. "Maybe I should go look for her."

"Oh, yeah, find someone in this big-ass city who's been trained all her life to be stealthy and shit. Should be a piece of cake." Seiji shook his friend. "Would you fuckin' relax already? I said she'll be back and I meant it. You just need to take your mind off her." Seiji grinned wolfishly and rummaged through his pocket. "And I know just the thing. You know that one chick that works at the take-out place by that manga store the boys like? Has a mole at the corner of her mouth?"

Alex, unsure of where Seiji was going with this, scrunched his face together as he thought. "Kinda. I've only seen her, maybe, three times. Don't think I talked to her. Why?"

Seiji removed his hand from his pocket, his cell phone in his grasp. He flipped it open, thumbed a few buttons, and then showed Alex the screen. "Check it out."

Alex squinted to see the small picture. His eyes bulged some before he turned away.

"Dude, what the hell?"

"What?" Seiji turned the phone back to himself. "Don't tell me you don't like to see pictures of naked girls."

"No." Alex looked back at his friend. "I just don't like to see pictures that also have parts of your anatomy."

"Whatever." Seiji thumbed the keypad some more. "It was pretty hot though. I've talked to her a few times. Laid some ground work, if ya know what I mean. Well, she came to the noodle house yesterday and after some…conversation, she invited me to her place for dinner. Next thing I now, she's on her knees and-"

"Yeah, I can figure out the rest, Seiji." Alex groaned. "I can't believe you. I mean, just what is it about you that makes girls want you? Cause I just don't see it."

"I'm hurt, man, I really am." Seiji leered. "Just for that, you have to do either one of two things. Pay for me at the arcade or listen to my tale of what happened last night." Seiji waggled his cell phone in front of Alex. "With illustrations."

Seiji liked to brag about his sexual life, mostly because it irritated Alex who had become bitter and prudish over the years. Alex pulled out his wallet and checked its contents.

"All I got on me is three hundred yen."

Seiji smiled victoriously. "Well than, buddy boy, prepare yourself for one hell of a story. It all started when she answered the door wearing a spaghetti strap top and a mini skirt…"


The sushi restaurant was packed, but the manager happened to find some seats by the window. No doubt it was a ploy to use two pretty women as window candy to attract even more customers, but as long they got their time together, neither really cared. They began with overviews of each others lives from the time Kasumi left to recent events. They talked so much that they barely even touched their food, but it was alright. Kasumi valued what was happening. She doubted it could happen again anytime soon.

"I've heard rumors that…Ayane has been hunting you."

The sudden change in topic made Kasumi freeze, she stared into her dish, daring not to look her mother in her eyes.

"It hurts me so much to know that my children are trying to kill each other." Ayame spoke sadly. "It hurts even more to know that I cannot stop it."

"Mother." Kasumi said. "This is not your fault."

"Isn't it?"

Kasumi startled.

Ayame forced a smile and turned away to wipe her tears. "Forgive me. I shouldn't have brought this up. Not at a moment like this. Let's…let's talk about something else."

Kasumi nodded, still disturbed at her mother's words.

"You brother has told me that you are now living with a young man."

"Ye…yes. After…" Kasumi paused for a moment, catching herself before she brought up her half-sister. "After I had injured myself, he took care of me."

"Oh, he sounds quite nice indeed." Ayame beamed. "Are you two…seeing each other now?"

Kasumi felt her face growing warm. "No, no! It's nothing like that. I…I have sworn myself as his kunoichi."

The older woman's smile was replaced with surprise. "Really? Why such a thing has not happened for quite sometime." Ayame looked out the window. "But somehow, I had a feeling something like this would happen."

"You did?" Kasumi blinked.

"You're my daughter, little one. I know you. Your likes and dislikes. And what you hate the most is being alone. When you were little, you made sure that you were always with someone, with me, your father, your brother, anyone." Ayame reached out and touched her daughter's hand. "But you didn't do this because you were some greedy thing that needed attention. You did it because you love people. You care so much about everyone you meet. Some of the people in the village say that it is your failing, your weakness. But to me, little one, it makes you the greatest wonder of all."

Kasumi felt so humbled by her mother's praise. She smiled back.

"I am curious to hear about this young man. What was his name? Alex…Kane? He is a foreigner?"

"Yes and no. His parent's are from different lands, but he was born here." Kasumi relaxed her smile. "It is something that troubles him somewhat."

Ayame lowered her eyes. "I take it this trouble is what made you take your vow?"

"In a sense." Kasumi picked at a sushi roll with her chopsticks. "He wishes to fit in, but…" Kasumi trailed off, not knowing how to put into words the challenges Alex had encountered. "He has become so bottled up, so…angry at the world. He has given up on acceptance. He pushes people away. He barely sees his own friends outside of his school, save for one. He hardly speaks." Kasumi realized that she was almost shouting and regained control of her voice. "He lived alone before I came…and he almost tricked himself into believing that he was fine with it."

Ayame watched breathlessly. Never had she seen her daughter so passionate about something.

"A girl came back to his school, who…hurt him, long ago. It brought back emotions that he had pushed so far down inside him that it could have…" Again Kasumi lost the words. Talking about such strong and dark emotions was hard for her. "I'm beginning to see the real him. I'm getting past the shell that he has constructed around himself." Kasumi clenched her chopsticks tighter. "I don't want to see the person who risked his life to help me self destruct."

Ayame chuckled and cupped Kasumi's cheeks with her hands, staring deep into her eyes. "When did my little girl become such a strong woman? Kane is lucky to have someone like you by his side."

Kasumi meekly nodded. She had forgotten how much she missed her mother's touch.

"Come, little one, let's finish our meal and go to this shop I know. There's something I want to get you."


"After the third time, we watched some TV. She likes those romantic comedy movies. Then she left." Seiji finally closed his cell phone and put it back into his pocket. "She was a scratcher, too. Tore my back up pretty bad. Wanna see?"

"No!" Alex glared at his friend. "You know, it's not very…polite to talk about how you…did a girl with your friend."

"So?" Seiji shrugged. "I know she's gonna tell her friends all about it. How else did you think I found out about her? I heard it from her friends. I'm not the first guy she hooked up with, ya know."

"How can you live like this?" Alex asked. "How can you just be with these girls without feeling anything?"

Seiji smiled like he heard a joke. "Hey, I'm young, I've got plenty of time to find love. Meantime, what's the harm in having some fun?"

Alex shook his head in defeat. "I just don't get your lifestyle. It just seems so…shallow."

"Aw, your just saying that cause you've never experienced it. Trust me, you get yourself a girl, a real girl, not the fake shit Nanako threw at you, and you'll see how awesome this life can be."

"I doubt I'm gonna find your mythical girl."

"Hey, now, don't get all manic depressant on me again." Seiji jabbed a finger in his friend's shoulder. "Be positive for once in your life. Your princess will come. Hey, I wouldn't be surprised if one of these days some girl would try to pick you up right off the street. Some girls dig the foreigners."

"Yeah, and yen will rain down from the sky."

Seiji groaned. "Stop being like that! I-"

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" A feminine voice came from behind.

The two boys looked to find a young girl wearing a black halter top with a deep purple skirt that came to her knees with a slit on the side. The girl looked flirty and a bit giddy, like she was a child that just won her favorite game. He noticed that Seiji was ogling the girl's rather large chest but Alex found himself captivated by her hair.

"Purple?" He thought. "She must dye it or something."

"You're so mean, Alex." The girl puffed her cheeks. "I waited for you at the café, but you never showed up. And here I find you hanging out with a friend instead."

Seiji, with a sloppy grin and a look in his eye that said 'I told you so', turned to his friend. "Yeah, Alex, how could you? You ditichin' this gal? It's criminal. You should take her somewhere nice to make up for it."

The girl suddenly latched onto Alex's arm, cutting off anything he might have said. "Yeah, let's go! There's this French restaurant that's supposed to be divine!"

Alex had gotten over the confusion of a hot girl he had never seen before going on about a date they were supposed to have. "Look, lady, I don't-"

He stopped himself and stood a bit straighter when something sharp jabbed him in the ribs, not enough to puncture, but enough to make him realize that he was no longer allowed to speak. The 'speak and die' look she flashed him put any doubts to rest.

"So, Alex, who is this lovely thing?"

"Oh, you haven't even told your friends about me? You're the worst." She made a pouty face. "Now you're really gonna have to grovel!"

Seiji laughed. "Well, I'll let you two love birds have a little privacy." Seiji leaned closer so only Alex could hear what he said next. "And remember, you owe me a story yourself, so play it cool, alright?"

Alex put on a pleading face, hoping that Seiji would see that he was in real trouble, but his friend turned around and left, waving goodbye behind his back.

"Thanks a lot, Seiji." Alex thought.

"Come on." The girl said, dropping the cheerful tone. "Let's go."

She yanked his arm, leading him in the opposite direction of Seiji. She clung to him, hiding the knife or whatever she had on him.

"Where are we going?" Alex said, knowing full well that people who get taken hostage are not supposed to talk.

"Someplace quiet." The girl said. "Now shut up."


The 'someplace quiet' the girl was talking about was a fast food restaurant that was close to being dead. Only one other person, a fat man crammed into a white T-shirt, was eating and the workers looked bored to death. The puberty-emerging teens that made up the staff instantly perked up at the sight of the purple haired teen. They were a little awkward around her and fumbled with their words when they repeated her simple order of a vanilla shake. They were a bit colder with him when he asked for a coke. Probably because they thought he was her boyfriend. Alex did not even try to give them the hint about his problem. He doubted that they were grounded in reality enough to catch on.

"You look pale." The girl asked after a few moments of silence when they sat down at a far booth. "Are you alright?"

"I just got kidnapped. What do you think?" Alex replied.

"I didn't 'kidnap' you. I just wanted to take you somewhere to talk."

"At knife point?"

"Had to make sure I got your attention." The girl shrugged and sipped on her thick ice cream treat. "Flirting wouldn't have helped. If I did that, you would've thought something was up because you never believe anything good would happen to you. You're a real depressing guy, ya know? I've been watching you, Alex, when she isn't."

Alex knew the she that she was referring to.

"Who are you?"

"My name's not important. All I came here to do was say this, stay away from Kasumi. For your own good."

"Really?" Alex leaned forward. "And what if I don't?"

The girl seemed annoyed. "My quarrel's with her, not you. I'm not supposed to touch you, but I just wanna say that…accidents do happen."

Alex could feel that this girl was like Kasumi, small, beautiful, and very dangerous. But she lacked more than Kasumi's kindness, she also did not have her self control.

"If you do make an 'accident' won't you still get in trouble? You said you're not allowed to harm me."

The girl snickered. "Like I'm gonna lose popularity over that. No one cares about me or what I do back home."

Déjà vu struck Alex. "You're her. The girl Kasumi told me about."

Confusion flashed through the girl's face before she smirked self righteously. "That bitch. Talking about me still?"

"I don't know why you're after her so bad, but I'm gonna say this as plainly as I can." Alex leaned forward. "I won't back down. Not for you or anyone."

"Oh, really?" The girl leaned forward as well and spoke in a whisper. "Do you have any idea of what I can do to you?"

"I can imagine. But if you have been watching me, then you should know that I don't let people bully me."

"Believe it or not, I'm not 'bullying' you. I'm trying to make you see just what sort of danger you're in." The girl pulled back and splayed her arms across her seat's backrest. "You are in the middle of something right now, Alex. Something you don't even know about. Something that can kill you."

"She hasn't abandoned me. I won't abandon her."

"Yet. She hasn't abandoned you, yet." The girl smiled all-knowingly. "You forget, I've known her a lot longer than you. Sure she puts up a tough front, but when the chips are down, she'll run. That's what she's done ever since she tried to act all grown up and it backfired on her. Runaway."

"You're lying. She's not a coward."

The girl shook her head in amusement and got up. "They say that there's a fine line between bravery and foolishness. I have a feeling that you crossed that line long ago."

She left him, letting Alex simmer in his own anger.


Kasumi opened the front door to the Kane family apartment. She wretched the key free while trying to keep the wide box tucked under her arm from succumbing to gravity's influence. Once inside, she placed her purse down on the nearest flat surface she could find, a small table with a porcelain figure of a full-dressed geisha in a yellow and black kimono, and walked to the living room. She gazed dreamily at the box. She could not believe what her mother bought her. Her old ones were back in her village, locked away in the gut of her room. Mother could not sneak any out. Brother may be looking the other way, but he could only feign ignorance for so much. She could not wait to wear…

"Hey."

Kasumi was violently taken out of her thoughts. Without thinking, she tried to hide the box behind her. A foolish and useless act as the box was wider than her, the edges poked out from behind her form.

Alex lay out lazily on the couch munching on a rice cracker. He stared into the television, the channel set on a late night talk show with a semi-famous actress as the special guest.

"Alex." Kasumi said when she knew her voice would not be a surprised squeak. "You're still up?"

"It's only nine o'clock." Alex replied.

"Ah." Kasumi relaxed some when she realized the Alex was not looking at her. She brought the box out of hiding. "How was your day?"

"…It was fine."

Kasumi instantly caught the hesitation.

"Did something happen?"

Alex stirred around a bit. "Sort of." He chewed more on his cracker. "Ran into someone that was a little on the pushy side. Nothing big."

After a few weeks as his kunoichi she had familiarized herself with Alex's body language. Her master was someone that had trouble expressing his feelings vocally. He was hiding something from her, something that was disturbing him greatly. Her first instinct was to investigate with more questions, but experience taught her that pressing the matter on Alex suddenly would only cause him to become obstinate. She would wait until later.

"How about you?" Alex asked. "How was your thing that you did?"

"It was…pleasant." Kasumi smiled to herself. "I'll be in my loft if you need me."

She climbed up the ladder and placed the box in the center of her futon. With meticulous care, she opened the box and carefully took out its contents. It was a woman's kimono, milky pink with a white obi. It unfurled in her hands. She hugged the clothing. Her mother gave her explicate instructions to never wear the kimono in front of anyone but the person she loved the most.

Love was not something she really thought about. But perhaps, in the future, who knew?

She refolded the kimono and placed it back in the box.