If Only Things Were Different…
Disclaimers: I do not Own DOA or any of its characters that belong to their respective company.
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Chapter Ten
"So Sir Ryu, what are we going to do today," Hitomi asked as she was now wearing shinobi attire from Ayane.
"We are going to be calm like the things around us, they have life and yet they find tranquility here in nature," Ryu said as he sat down Indian style on the ground. Hitomi followed suit, "Most of our powers come from the elements, but each element comes with an emotion. We must know how to control them all to harness their true potential."
"Alright," Hitomi said as she closed her eyes as Ryu's voice instructed.
"Now feel everything around you, listen to the water, feel burning fire that is under the earth, the wind's free nature to go wherever it pleases," Ryu said simply.
Hitomi began to understand as she opened up her mind. However she was going to get pushed away as she felt a surge of resentment, regret and the need for revenge. She didn't know how to block them away and Ryu began noticing her distress. He tried to help calm her down but knew if it were generations of suppressed or hidden anger it was not going to matter what he did.
"Has the Mugen Tenshin Clan been through here," Hitomi said with her voice had changed.
"Why do you need to know," Ryu asked wondering if this was one of the memories.
"They were the ones who lead the attacks," Hitomi said darkly. "They were the ones that wanted us out of the picture, they will pay dearly."
"Hitomi…" Ryu called out softly and Hitomi then changed to only faint. Ryu feared this but now he had more information and it would be best if Hayate did not come near her. Ryu would pick up the training from here on out.
"Hayate, please forgive me," Ryu said sadly knowing his friend was deeply in love with Hitomi.
Ryu stood up with Hitomi in his arms as he walked back towards the village. Hayate was actually the first person to come up to him and Ryu just shook his head. Hayate followed him as he delivered the faint Hitomi to Ayane and Kasumi. No words were spoken as he handed over the sleeping girl to them. The girls quickly took the girl into the house as Ryu pulled Hayate with him and Hayate looked at him bewildered at his friend.
"What is going on?" Hayate asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Are your parents still here?" Ryu asked with a simple flat tone.
"Yes, they wished to stay here in hopes of speaking with Kasumi or Ayane," Hayate said simply as he looked at his friend. "What is going on?"
"Your father has some answering to do," Ryu said simply as they walked into the main guest house.
"Ah, Ryu what do we owe this visit," Ayame said friendly but Ryu didn't waste anytime.
"What did your clan do to the white clan?" Ryu asked flatly and Shiden came into the room quickly when Ayame dropped the glass she was holding and it shattered on the contact with the floor. "I take it that you know what I am talking about."
Shiden then sat down on the floor as Ayame went over to him, "Yes Ryu I do know what you are talking about. It is not a very pretty story…"
"Then tell," Ryu said as he took a seat and followed by Hayate.
"Many of the clans were causing a riot and my grandfather asked for aid from the White clan," Shiden stated flatly. "However due to their wishes to stay neutral my grandfather was able to convince them the White clan was the enemy. Which is when this all started."
Ryu looked over at him like he was crazy, "The Hayabusa Clan have always stood by the side of the White Clan. I've never heard of such a story."
"It's because the Hayabusa clan prevented anyone that would dare harm the White Clan from getting near the barrier the first time it had to be used," Shiden said sadly. "After that day many of the clans retreated but my grandfather declared war with the clan."
"So now you are trying to regain the Clan's trust after all of that," Ryu said flatly and Hayate felt anger surge through him. If it wasn't for this he and Hitomi would be on friendly terms and yet here they were trying to regain a trust that was broken down by his family. How could this have had happened?
"Ryu, Sano already knows the reason our clan is here and he is willing to forgive such hatred that has built for years, we were once before the incident had great relations," Shiden said simply. "Why is the reason you ask of this from me?"
"Lady Hitomi, she has the collective memories of those who died an unpleasant death and she harbors their hatred towards the Mugen Tenshin. It will not lift unless Hitomi can gain control of all of the memories and emotions or they can forgive what has all happened," Ryu said flatly. "however if none of them happen, anything that is left of Hitomi will not last much longer."
"Are you saying that this girl…"
"Father, the point is plain and simple, the girl will cease to exist unless you can amend our family wrongs and bring Hitomi back to the way she was," Hayate said but anger was written into his voice.
"Do you love this girl?" Ayame asked as she looked at her son. Ayame stood up on her feet although she had a feeling of what the answer might be.
"That is not your concern," Hayate stood up and walked out of the room. Ryu just chuckled and shook his head. He looked over towards the direction his friend left and smiled. Ayame basically gotten her answer even though it was not said aloud it was done in action. Shiden just held his head high, it was apparent he was not going to make amends to those spirits of long ago but maybe his son can be the key.
"I suggest whatever your reason is for staying settle it or leave, Hitomi has yet to learn to control the surge of unsolved emotion stirring through her," Ryu said simply. "You might die by the girl's hand if she does than she will be completely lost to all of us."
"We understand," Shiden said with a nod.
"Then we'll make our business and leave," Ayame moved towards their rooms to begin packing.
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Hitomi awoke but her eyes were blank from her usual bright eyes. She was losing an inner battle with all of those years of memories that were slowly consuming her away. She was fighting with herself an d it was a losing battle, she felt as if she was losing her battle with hundreds of people that did not want to rest in peace. She was losing a losing battle. If only she could make it through but she did not know how.
She sat up she was alone in the room; she would have to push herself even further to make it through the six months. She needed as little contact with the others as she quickly took flight away from the village. She was unseen by everyone as she quickly sped her way out and she had taken a pair of Ayane's and Kasumi's training clothes. She was going to have to do this alone and no one would stop her.
However there was one that saw her, and that one was Hayate. He quickly sped off after her hoping to have a chance to talk to her. He quickly followed after her at a comfortable distance, for he didn't want her to catch on that someone was following her. He watched her carefully and copying her movements.
Hitomi sensed someone was following her after what it felt like after a few hours. She had run a pretty long distance and she stopped to turn around to see Hayate. He made his presence known as he walked towards her and Hitomi was struggling with a surge of emotion that were not her own. She tried her best to keep them away for long enough to tell him to leave.
"What are you doing," Hitomi asked as Hayate just stepped closer. She was afraid, she didn't want to hurt anyone, especially him.
"Do you hate me," Hayate asked with a flat tone expression and tone.
"What, you know I don't…I'm just…I'm just confused," Hitomi said simply. "I have all these thoughts…emotions, I don't want to hurt you or to get hurt by the words I might say or things I might do."
"I'm not afraid, now that I know what is going on…I'm not back away," Hayate said firmly. "Neither should you Hitomi."
"But…" Hitomi said as her tears, no one else's but hers. "I…I…"
"I'll leave only if you can tell me that you don't love me," Hayate said as he took a hold of her shoulders. "Tell me, and then I'll walk away from you…I'll leave you alone."
"Please…" Hitomi shook her head. "Don't make me say that, please…"
"Then it is true that you love me," Hayate said simply as he brushed his fingers through her hair. "My feelings have not changed, I still love you. I want to train you, let's go somewhere that people cannot find us. We can do this."
"Hayate," Hitomi said simply as she tilted her head up to him. For the first time in just a few days she felt at peace with her soul. Similar to the time he came after her and held her in his arms when she woke up. It was special and it was the best feeling, the feelings of being loved by someone.
Hayate then firmly placed his lips on hers; the two shared a passionate kiss between them. It was a seal of a promise that he was going to stand by her side till the very end. They were going to make it through this; she was going to regain control. It would be difficult when he would not when she was her or when she someone else. She was still his Hitomi, his Hitomi…he liked the sound of that. She was not going to marry anyone; she'll marry him…that is if at the end of this she and him would make it.
No…they were going to make it, and she will be his wife. If things worked out well, the two will be married by the time they return to the village. Hayate pulled away from the kiss and Hitomi looked up at him with tears still in her eyes. He held her close to his body, "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Hitomi whispered as the two shimmered together to an unknown place to train. The place would be a good distance from the village. So that the two could make the best of what is to come for them.
However back in the village there was now a stir between family, well sort of. Ryu just stood on the sidelines as Kasumi argued with her parents and Ayane argued with her mother. She didn't consider the woman her mother and yet here she was defending her sister about the fact of her actions. She might as well consider Ayame her mother now due the fact they were arguing like they were.
"So now what, you want me to return but an outcast and not as your daughter?" Kasumi shouted and Ayane didn't like the idea.
"You already did it to one child and you are going to do it to another, you are all disgusting and you call yourself a mother," Ayane said she walked away.
"Ayane," Ryu quickly went to comfort her. That is when Shiden and Ayame realized that there was more to their relationship that Ayane told them.
"Ryu, what is the meaning of this public display?" Shiden asked as he looked at Ayane in the young man's arms.
"I think it is pretty obvious," Kasumi stated. "They are in love, can't you see that? Ryu Hayabusa loves Ayane and Ayane loves Ryu Hayabusa."
"So that is your main reason for moving your clan to his training grounds," Shiden said flatly but then his words would be eaten as the Hajin Mon showed up. They knew there was some kind of argument and wanted to see what was going on. They had arrived right at the moment Shiden had something.
"We wanted to come with Ayane, Master Ryu has a wonderful training facility and invited us to train there," one said with a firm tone. "He welcomed us like family and even let us rebuild some of the Hayabusa Village for us to use."
"It was not only personal reason of Ayane that the Hajin Mon moved, it was a majority rule," another said with a firm tone as well. "We enjoy the freedom of not being on the bottom of that hill, treated like dogs."
Ayame stood up, "I understand. I think you all made a wise decision to do what you did. If that is where all of you choose to stay from now on, then so be it."
"Kasumi, do you know at least where your brother has gone off?" Shiden asked his daughter just gave him a slightly dirty look. Kasumi just shrugged and Shiden just sighed. "Then tell your brother when he returns, we'll be waiting at the village."
"Fine," Kasumi said simply. "As you wish, I'll tell your son when he arrives that his parents are waiting for him."
"Kasumi…" Ayame said sadly. How did life turn out the way it did. First she had lost Ayane that she regretted deeply and now she basically was losing Kasumi. Ayame then noticed a certain detail on Ayane's finger. "Ayane…"
Ayane looked up at the woman and Ayane noticed her gaze on her left hand. Ryu then took hold of it and looked up at her. Ayane did not like the look in his green his eyes, "Lady Ayame, as Ayane's birthmother…so should have right to know that I am going to marry Ayane."
"Marry?" Shiden shouted in outrage. "You cannot marry her without the consent of her parents!"
"I think she is old enough to decide when she is ready for marriage," Ryu said flatly. "And considering my fiancée does not wish to discuss the matter with her birth mother, I asked the permission from the Hajin Mon."
"Let me guess, they consented…" Shiden said simply as he looked over at the couple. "Then I guess that is done. Come Ayame let us leave."
"Yes," Ayame said as she took leave with her husband. The two shimmered out of the village once they were close enough towards the barrier. Kasumi and Ayane knew that now it was going to be difficult for them and their older brother. Though they did not know for sure where Hayate went off to, but they knew that he was probably with Hitomi.
Hitomi was missing as well, they knew she went off somewhere to keep away from people. She was trying to protect by leaving but it could also work in the opposite way. She could lose herself to the amount of memories and emotions that were kept inside of her. They could not understand what she could be going through but hoped that she would pull through. It was something that would cause a lot of trouble but if Hayate was with her then…Everything should turn out well, at least that is what they hoped for.
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"Why did you have to tell them?" Ayane asked with anger flaring in her eyes and it did not faze Ryu once. He was actually quite taken by her fire that is one of the traits he fell in love with her. He smiled as he took a step closer to the angry young woman but she just held her hand up against his chest. "You didn't answer my question…"
"She had the right to know," Ryu said simply. "Nothing wrong in making our romance public, as long as our bed room secrets are keep…secret."
Ayane blushed, "RYU!"
"What?" Ryu said slyly. "Just because I'm supposed to be Shinobi by Day and Shinobi by Night, it has nothing to do with what we do in our most private moments."
"Ryu," Ayane said dangerously.
"Well of course that if you want me to tell some of the men here on what a wild cat you are in bed, I'm more than…"
Ayane punched him and Ryu just smirked, he enjoyed this. He enjoyed flaring her up and making her lively. Although he would have to pay with it later and probably give up some time in love making department but that usually didn't last long. She would give up on the whole issue and quickly set the mood. Ayane, no matter what people would or could say about her, she was is Angel.
Ryu grabbed Ayane and pulled her against his body. Ayane still was angry as she was trying to pry free from his arms. Ryu just held still as she continued to struggle but he just smiled. It was kind of game he played with Ayane for she had yet to catch on what was going on. He enjoyed every minute of it however if she were ever to find out what he was up to, she would kill him. And she might get some strange pleasure out of it if she knew, but for know…it was best kept secret.
"Don't you dare try to kiss me?" Ayane shouted as she continued to struggle against her fiancée. "You can't change the subject!"
"And why not?" Ryu asked with a smirk.
"Because you just told my so called mother about our engagement! How am I supposed to feel?" Ayane shouted with her hands on her hips. She had slithered away from Ryu's arms.
Ryu just smiled and chuckled, "It's time they knew anyway. Do you rather keep them in the dark and start a riot on our honeymoon after they find out?"
"Well…no, but she did not have to know…" Ayane argued back.
"Or when you looked like you gained a lot of weight when reality you are pregnant?" Ryu said with an arched eyebrow. "Honestly Ayane, I think it is better that we told them now, versus waiting till after the whole event was done. Ayane, now they can tell Hayate and Hayate can have his piece. He is still your brother and quite protective over you."
Ayane just hmphed and turned away from Ryu, "I don't care. I am old enough to make my decisions and that is that."
"Ayane…" Ryu sighed in defeat there was no winning with Ayane when she got to this point. He sat down on the floor with a thud which caused Ayane to turn around to see his pouting face. Ayane rolled her eyes, he knew that she could not resist his eyes, he always had the upper hand when it came down to that.
"Ryu, look…I'm sorry, it's just I didn't want anyone to know in case there was someone who would disapprove of us," Ayane rubber her arms. "They already don't approve of me for the most part."
"Do you think I care what people think, if it was my choice I would kick every one of those bastards that hurt you to the bottom of the earth," Ryu said with great passion. He really did dislike what had happened in Ayane's life but what is past is past. "You are going to be my wife, and that is all that matters to me."
"I'm sorry Ryu," Ayane said simply. "It's just hard for me to be open about everything to everyone…"
"Yes, but there is always a time and place for everything. I just thought that it was the right to tell them, so I'm sorry if it was such a rush for you…"
Ayane smiled as she sat down in Ryu's lap. The two just held each other in comfortable silence. They enjoyed each other's company and smiled. It was those moments that brought peace to both of their hearts. Especially now that they had to wait for Hayate and Hitomi return, wherever they may be let them be safe and sound.
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Well that is it for now for this chapter. Hope you like and see you next time.
Thunderxtw: Thank you for your review.
Sk8erGurl21: thank you for your review and I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Wolf: for your 411 I am human and so are the people that do edit my stories for me. There are times we do not see all the mistakes. Some chapters do seemed rushed, but that is how I write some chapters so I can slow it down later. However thank you for review and words, I will try to make sure there are less mistakes.
Annie: Wow, you seem like my main supporter every chapter. Hehehehe, thank you again for the help you provided earlier for the parents name. Thank you always for your reviews…