Well, after much procrastination, make-ups for school, and a research paper by my Nazi of a teacher, i finally finished this chap. And this will answer a ton of questions about Takashi's past, and some fluff too ^^, anyway, enjoy!


Chapter 6: Forgotten Bonds and Memories

Kasumi petted Takashi's head as he remained unconscious from the battle, when Takashi passed out, she quickly spirited him to their camp and had treated most of his wounds, when she checked his shoulder for any fractures, she was surprised to find none and that it healed perfectly. She sighed with relief from this, yet something still occupied her mind.

What Takashi said to Ayane about her, were they his true feelings for her? Kasumi looked at the young teen as he was fast asleep with his head resting against her chest, having been placed there by Kasumi after she treated his wounds. She smiled softly and petted his head a bit, she began to think about him and about the Kaido family, there was no mistaking it now that he was a clan member…but now that she thought of it, Kasumi was sure that this wasn't the first time meeting.


Flashback

Kasumi and Ayane were both walking home from school, they were wearing outfits that looked like school uniforms, only Kasumi's was blue while Ayane's was purple. Kasumi had noticed there were two boys before her and one was getting picked on by some of the other kids. The eldest had slightly spiky hair and looked to be a few years old than them, but he had bags under his eyes, indicating he barely slept, and his face looked drawn, as if he was sick.

The younger brother was the one getting picked on, he looked to be around Kasumi's age with black hair that had been combed down and gold eyes, right now we was getting picked on by some of the older kids. Kasumi and Ayane didn't know anything about how to fight, however they didn't like how that boy was being treated neither.

The two went to the little group and Kasumi went to the boy, helping him up.

"Stop this right now, what did he do to you anyway?" she asked the boys, realizing who she was, the boys promptly scurried off. Kasumi looked at the boy, "are you ok?" she asked him. The boy wiped his eyes, noticing that he was crying after they stopped, but he nodded.

"Y-yes, t-thank you" he whimpered. The elder brother coughed a bit, then the younger one went behind him, as if scared.

"I'm thankful you saved him, my name's Tarou, this is Takashi," Tarou said, a hand on his brother's head.

"H-H-Hello…" Takashi stuttered.

"Hi, my name is Kasumi, and this is Ayane," Kasumi introduced themselves to the brother.

"Oh, n-nice to meet you too Ayane" Takashi said as he stepped out from his brother's shadow to shake her hand. The two girls smiled and exchanged pleasantries, had it not been for Takashi and Tarou's mother calling them, they could've talked more. The four said their goodbyes and left, but they would soon become great friends in the days that followed.

End Flashback


Recalling those memories together with Takashi had gotten her to remember why she thought they met before, because they had. Takashi and his brother were part of a clan in the Mugen Tenshi village, one of great respect for, however, when word reached of Tarou's involvement with DoATEC's experiments, they were chased out of the village.

Kasumi hovered her face close to Takashi's, remembering the little boy she met years before, now into the young man he was now, it was funny really, how much he grew. She lowered her head a bit lower and their lips connected again.

"Takashi…I found you again…" she softly brushed back his hair and rested her forehead against his, "I…I love you…Takashi Kaido…" she whispered. She closed her eyes and held him close to her, not even noticing one of his eyes slightly open.

"you do?" Takashi asked as he looked at the surprised kunoichi that held him in her arms. Her expression soon changed from stunned surprise to a warm smile with watery eyes.

"Yes…" she said and kissed him again, this time passionately. Takashi didn't waste time returning it and the two spent the part of that day kissing happily with each other. When the little make-out session ended Kasumi held him tightly and started crying.

Takashi sighed and hugged her back, rubbing her back as well. "It's ok…I'm here…" he said softly.

"Takashi…you…you baka!" Kasumi said and suddenly punched him in the gut, "I was worried about you! You could've died, why did you join the fight when I told you I could handle it!" Kasumi yelled with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Kasumi, when I heard the explosion I got worried, and…um…" Takashi fumbled, trying to say some words to get Kasumi to not hurt him further. He was surprised when Kasumi didn't deliver another punch and instead for himself face-first held into her chest.

"Just…don't scare me like that, ok?" Kasumi asked softly. Takashi nodded and smiled, being held like this by Kasumi…it…it made him remember his mother.

"mom…" Takashi mumbled as the old memories began to flood his mind.

"Takashi, did you and Tarou do the dishes like I asked you to? Honestly, what am I to do with you two boys?"

"Great work on graduating Takashi!"

"Takashi…his name will be Takashi Kaido…our little hawkling"

The memories, the images, that smile, that kind, loving voice, it was something he had been suppressing for so long after her death. He didn't even feel the tears falling from his face from it until Kasumi gently wiped them away.

"There, there Takashi…it's ok…" she said softly, as if a mother comforting a child. Those words tore down the walls as a wave of sorrow hit him, causing his heart to sink into its depths.

Takashi began to cry.

It was like he was a little boy again, wanting his mother, all the pent up emotions he held inside after his mom's death a few months after his father was put into the coma finally spilled forth. Takashi cried heavily onto Kasumi, while this surprised her a bit, she held him close and rocked back and forth, holding him in her arms, not letting go of him.

"Shh, shh…it's ok Taka-chan…I'm here…I'm right here…" Kasumi cooed as she petted and hugged and rocked with him. Once he stopped crying, he sniffled and hiccupped, he never wanted to have Kasumi see him like this.

"I'm sorry…I'm pathetic…" he muttered.

"You're not pathetic…you just have a lot of pent up emotions…" Kasumi said as she still petted him.

"Still…this wasn't the first time…I remember, when I was little I was picked on by some of the other kids…a girl saved me…I realized just now who she was…she was you, Kasumi…" Takashi said.

"You…you remember?" Kasumi asked him with surprise in her tone.

"Yes…when I blacked out I saw my past…my clan was chased out of the village when they learned about what Donovan did to us…" Takashi muttered. "He…kidnapped my brother…and…I wasn't told but it was because of that that we were chased out, we're still part of the clan..but we're treated like shit…" Takashi explained.

"like Ayane is…" Kasumi finished.

"Yeah…killing Donovan…and the man who put my father in a coma might be able to get some of our credit back…and let us back in…and maybe you too Kasumi," Takashi said. Kasumi smiled and kissed his lips softly.

"I'd like that…" she said and hugged him again, this time Takashi hugged back. The scent of strawberries got into Takashi's nose as he sniffed the scent.

"I love you Kasumi…" he muttered softly.

"And I love you too, Takashi…" Kasumi replied and sealed the moment with a kiss. After a few minutes of kissing, they ended up cuddling each other closely, with Kasumi resting her cheek on Takashi's head, smiling happily. Takashi smiled and enjoyed the moment with her, yet despite this, he knew Ayane would be back to finish the fight, and what of Zell? What did he have to throw into this, and why was he given a card for?

Takashi knew that the time would soon come when he'd learn about what is going on, but now however, he just wanted to spend the time he had now with Kasumi.


So Takashi really is a clan member of Kasumi's clan, but why the secrecy? and what will hppen with the two ninja now that they have confessed their love for each other, and what about Zell and Ayane? Stay tuned for the answers, and R&R plz!