Ayane groaned as she woke up. Ryu pulled back the container of smelling salt and put it into his pouch; she sat up and turned towards him making them eye level since he was on a knee. She winced as she got a look at her knee. He ran his eyes down her leg and shook his head,

"It's broken for sure." He said, not knowing what else to say, he knew how to maim people but not much about helping them.

"Worse perhaps, I can't feel it." She grimaced and he moved to pick her up. She held a hand up and shook her head,

"I'll be fine for the moment, go get Kasumi, she knows how to handle this, and shes bound to be distraught at her work."

Looking back to the village Ryu knew it was his fault, he also knew she would blame herself. He stood and made his way to her, to the girl frozen in shock.

Ayane groaned out as she shifted her body to watch them. She was strong enough to handle this, it was Kasumi she was worried about, her heart was not tough enough to take a life, and she had just destroyed hundreds. She ran her hand up her leg and wondered if shed walk again, with a snort she laughed.

Nothing could stop her, especially not a ninja from this village.

.

Kasumi fell to her knees as she watched the flames die down as there was nothing left to burn. Struck with a thought she suddenly closed her eyes letting a few tears escape. Michiru was dead, probably burned up now because Kasumi couldn't kill her before, Saji was dead and Satoshi never stood a chance. The fatalities were worse than war would have been, and it was her fault for trying to stop it.

"Kasumi."

She looked up with watery eyes to see Ryu staring down at her offering her a hand. He didn't look too harmed, most likely because he couldn't fight the queen like she could. Kasumi blinked and then stood quickly throwing herself into his arms and sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry not knowing what else he could do.

"It's not your fault." He finally said and she shook her head clearly not believing him. She pulled away wiping her tears and walking away, Ryu followed.

"Did you check on my sister?" She asked and Ryu nodded.

"She told me to find you."

"Let's go home."

.

When Hayate had first walked in and demanded the death penalty be lifted they shot him down. When he came the next day two of the council were missing, and they hesitantly shot him down. On the third day three council members were missing, and they told Hayate Kasumi would be allowed back.

They honestly expected the council members to be back the next day but they weren't. The other council members confronted Hayate who said he had no idea where they were. The council members had no idea what to do so he was let go. Hayate would never tell where the bodies were, or how he killed them.

He also would never tell that if they had said no again there would have not been a council the next morning.

But those were his secrets and they would remain that way.

.

"Hayate?" Kasumi called out as she saw a figure ahead. She started running and Ryu laughed as she tackled him in a hug. He walked on, careful not to jostle the sleeping girl in his arms and smiled slightly when he reached the hugging sibling because he saw a smile on her face he hadn't seen in a while. Hayate took Ayane from Ryu's hands so quickly that Ryu almost missed it and with a look of worry jumped up into a blur before disappearing.

"She'll be okay." Kasumi said suddenly and Ryu nodded. Ayane could meet the devil and come out okay.

"Will you be okay?" he countered and she suddenly sagged her shoulders.

"Eventually…"

Ryu grabbed her hand gently and she turned back to look at him. She knew what he was going to say and she could only remember what had happened. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand and she shuddered. He took a step towards her and she shook her head pulling her hand back and turning her back to him.

"I can't. Not now."

"Kasumi…" he started "I love you. I have for a while and I always will, I'll wait if you need me too but I need you to know." He paused "I need you to tell me there's hope for this."

He waited for her voice but he was left there, arm extended, surrounded in a whirl of cherry petals.

And he knew she hadn't heard a word.