Epilogue

Several weeks later...

Kasumi was watching the store. Dressed in her black leather vest and black denim jeans, Kasumi sat behind the register, reading a novel. Summer had arrived and Kasumi was on vacation from college. Ryu was at the market, leaving Kasumi to mind the store.

The door opened and a single woman entered the shop. When Kasumi looked up from the novel, she saw it was Hajinmon scout Ageha. Dressed in casual clothes, the dark-haired kunoichi saw Kasumi reach for her sword, which was resting nearby. "Wait. I'm unarmed."

Kasumi drew her hand back from the handle. "What do you want? Did my brother send you?"

Ageha shook her head. "No. He doesn't know that I'm here, Lady Kasumi."

"It's Kasumi," Kasumi replied. "I dislike formalities. So what do you want?"

"I came here because of Hayate. He is still upset over what had happened." Ageha paused for a moment. "You have to realize he had no choice in this."

"Sounds like you still trust him," Kasumi replied dryly.

"I do. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, Kasumi, but if you make amends with him--"

"No," Kasumi replied, anger evident on her face. "I don't want to see him, or Ayane for that matter." Kasumi sighed as she rubbed her temples. "For the past year, I've lived the life of a runaway, all because of vengeance. Hayate should have allowed me to come back into the clan. Instead, he sends ninja after ninja to assassinate me, Ayane wants my head on a stake, and you are asking me to forgive?"

Playing the diplomatic role, Ageha replied, "There's not a day that goes by that Hayate regretted sending those ninja after you. And after you returned, he had no other choice until you forced him into a showdown. I know why you left the clan and that alone is honorable. Hayate feels torn over what he has put you through."

Kasumi's next question caught Ageha off guard. "You love him, don't you?"

After a brief moment, Ageha answered. "Yes. I do love him, and he loves me. That is why I am here. Out of love for him and not of the clan. I'm asking you to please, please make amends with him and Lady Ayane."

Kasumi took a moment to digest the Hajinmon scout's words. She then sat back on the stool. "I'll consider it," she replied. "You may go," she said, ending the conversation. Ageha took the hint and left the shop.

Later on, Ryu took Kasumi out for dinner at a popular restaurant. Ryu noticed Kasumi's mood and when he asked her about it, Kasumi replied, "Family issues." Ryu wisely decided to leave it at that.

Ryu had decided to keep out of Kasumi's issues with her brother and half-sister, knowing that the wounds haven't healed. Kasumi was rarely the type to hold a grudge, but she made an exception with her family.

Dinner went on without any hinderance...although Kasumi was getting plenty of stares from guys due to her clothes and Ryu was getting glares from men who wanted to be in his place.

The couple ignored the stares and continued to talk.

That's when the well-dressed Japanese man and the casually-dressed Eurasian woman approached their table. The man appeared to be in his early to mid-forties, with salt-and-pepper hair. Dressed in a dark business suit, he stood around Ryu's height, while the woman appeared to be older than Kasumi.

The man spoke. "Excuse me. Are you Ryu Hayabusa?"

Ryu looked up at the man. "Who's asking?"

Both the man and the woman pulled out their badges. Ryu recognized the emblem as that of the Central Intelligence Agency. "I am Takeshi Watanabe, this is Ami Mimasaka, Japanese liasons with the C.I.A." He and Ami placed their badges in their pockets. "You're a difficult man to reach, young Hayabusa. Chasing you is like chasing a rabbit. But this is not a social visit, I'm afraid."

"What's this about?" Kasumi asked.

Ami spoke up. "Do you know Irene Lew?"

"We haven't spoken in a long time," Ryu replied. "She went back to America after we broke up. Is there something wrong?"

Ami nodded. "Agent Lew was found murdered several days ago."

TO BE CONTINUED.