Since the battle, Kasumi had recovered. When anyone asked about the bruises, she replied that she was in a car accident with her boyfriend. Fortunately, they bought the story and Kasumi's life was starting to ger back to normal before she became a runaway.
Kasumi continued to excel in her studies, as well as helping Ryu run his curio shop. Her relationship with the super ninja also took off on the next level, spending time in public without having to worry about Hayate's ninjas wrecking the romantic scene. Even better, Kasumi was able to sleep at night without having to worry about the Hajinmon ninja at her doorstep.
One day, as Kasumi was on her way home, she decided to pay Kokoro a visit at the okiya. The kunoichi and the apprentice geisha had became fast friends following the last tournament. Kasumi was even shocked to find out that her father was the former DOATEC chairman Fame Douglas, making the Eurasian geisha Helena Douglas's half-sister.
Kokoro was waiting for her as Kasumi approached the establishment, dressed in her yukata. "Kasumi! Come quick!" she said, tugging at Kasumi's arm. "You are in for a treat! We have a special guest today!"
"Who?" Kasumi asked as Kokoro dragged into the main hall.
"She is a legendary geisha," Kokoro explained. "She used to work here until she had gotten married. She and the okiya's mistress are old friends."
Upon entering the main hall, Kasumi's jaw dropped to the ground.
Clad in a elegant kimono and performing a dance with two paper fans (like what Ziyi Zhang did in Memoirs of a Geisha), was her mother, Ayame.
Kokoro notiched the shocked expression on the kunoichi's face. "I know. She is amazing."
"It's not that," Kasumi replied. "That is my mother."
Kokoro's eyes went wide at that revelation. "Ayame's your mother?! Amazing! I thought I've seen the resemblance!"
Ayame finished her fan dance as the geisha and maiko applauded. She then caught sight of her daughter. Kokoro stepped aside as Ayame approached.
Kasumi embraced Ayame. "Mother."
Ayame returned the embrace, holding her daughter that she had thought she had lost.
Mother and daughter walked along the pathway in the okiya's garden, catching up on past events.
"I never knew you were a geisha," Kasumi said, amazed.
"That was how I met your father," Ayame replied softly. "He wasn't the clan leader then. Of course, I had some concerns when he told me he was a ninja, but it didn't mattered. He loved me as much as I loved him."
Kasumi bit her lip. "How is Father?"
"The same as always," Ayame replied. "Iron as ever. How is Ryu?"
"Still running the shop. I help out when I'm not in school." She then answered Ayame's unasked question. "Ryu's nice to me, Mother. He is gentle, kind and very considerate."
"That's good to know." They walked in silence for a moment before Ayame spoke again. "Kasumi, I never got the chance to thank you."
"For what?"
"Killing Raidou," Ayame replied bluntly.
Kasumi had found out before Raidou had attacked the village that her uncle had lusted after Ayame. When Shiden was out on a mission, Raidou had raped her mother, resulting in Ayane's conception. When Hayate was maimed by Raidou, an enraged Kasumi ended up killing him. Even after eighteen years, it was still a sore subject for her parents. It was extremely hard for Ayane, since she was looked upon as a poisoned child when they were growing up.
"He shouldn't have done what he did," Kasumi said. "Raping you, nearly crippling Hayate. I did what any other person would do. Too bad the clan didn't see it that way."
"Your father did," Ayame replied. "The clan wanted you to take over, but you had already left in your pursuit of Raidou. I spoke in your defense, but Genra wouldn't hear any of it. He wanted you dead."
"And what did Father do?"
"Publically, he disowned you. In private, he was hoping that you would prove to be the kunoichi he wanted you to be." Off Kasumi's shocked expression, Ayame smiled. "Did you ever wondered who warned you about not going to Hong Kong and paid for the ticket to Hawaii? And the money you found...you ever wondered who did that for you?"
Kasumi was speechless. "Father did that...for me?"
Ayame smiled. "He may be a ninja, but first thing above all, he is a father. He always supported you, much like how Joe supported Ryu." She pulled out an object from her kimono and handed it to Kasumi. "He wanted me to give you this," she said.
Kasumi looked at the item. It was a simple envelope with her name on it. "Genra wanted me dead? Why?"
"Your father and Genra were rivals," Ayame explained. "They both were candidates for clan leader, but Shiden defeated him in combat. Genra was then made leader of the Hajinmon. When you ran, he saw it as an opportunity for revenge on your father. You still haven't talked to Hayate since that day, haven't you?"
"No." Kasumi said. "He put the clan before family. He sent his ninjas and Ayane to kill me." She shook her head. "I'm still upset at him. Maybe sometime later, I'll forgive him, but I won't now, because I know he's lying to me if he comes now."
They both talked for several minutes before Ayame turned back to the okiya. "With everything that has happened, I am proud of you, Kasumi. You have grown into a strong woman, as well as a ninja that your father would be proud of."
Ryu noticed a change in Kasumi's mood when she returned home. As they were closing up the shop for the night, Kasumi told him why.
Earlier...
On the bus home, Kasumi opened her letter.
Kasumi,
Words cannot express the hardships you have endured for the past year. But I am grateful. Raidou may have been my brother but I was powerless to stop him, as I was the clan leader at the time. When he crippled Hayate and stole the Sky Torn Blast from the clan, I was ready to go after him myself. But you had already beaten me to it.
I wanted you to return to the clan, but Genra had plotted against me, putting the death sentence on your head. Hayate, being honor-bound was forced to follow the clan's wishes, and Ayane, who despised you as much as I despised Raidou, was sent to kill you.
But, as my daughter, you are finally coming into your own.
Not only have you surpassed myself in the ninjutsu arts, you have made Hayate lift the death sentence off of you. If I had any say in who was to be the clan leader, I would have chosen you. But knowing you, you would have refused, because you wanted to live your own life. But I am pleased to see that you are still above all things, a ninja.
You have my blessings in what you want to do in your life. Life is a gift, my daughter. Live it well.
With love and respect,
Your father,
Shiden.
