Chapter 11: The Switch

Ayane splashed her face with cold water, hoping to cleanse her soul. Her mother's words about being a good person still haunted her from her dream. Ayane let out a sigh, as she immersed her head into the stream for a moment. She squeezed her violet hair to release the water, as she came up to the surface. The blazing sun beamed down on her, melting the water droplets on her pale shoulders. Ayane's eyelashes fluttered, as she peered at her reflection in the water.

A rustle behind her immediately captured her attention. Ayane clenched her fists and whipped around to see Hayate watching her from the clearing. A warm blush invaded her cheeks, as Hayate cast his eyes downward in respect. He turned around and walked back into the woods, leaving Ayane alone to her untamed thoughts.

"I need him to love me again, "Ayane said to herself.

She ran her petite hands in the water, desperately trying to think of an effective way to win her love's heart. Ayane laid back in frustration and gazed up at the indigo sky. The clouds began to shift slightly. Ayane raised her eyebrow and narrowed her crimson eyes in confusion. The clouds shifted more, forming letters in the sky. Ayane sprung up and shielded her eyes from the blinding sun in order to decipher the mysterious message.

"Use your power, "Ayane whispered to herself.

She blinked her eyes and the words vanished from her sight. The clouds formed back into ambiguous shapes again, as if nothing had happened. Ayane cupped the water in her hands and engulfed it. She wiped her small mouth and inhaled a deep breath.

Ayane picked herself up and ran into the woods. She waited for nightfall and allowed the vivid moon to guide her. She quietly crept up to where Hayate rested. She snuck up to him, and allowed his sweet smell to overtake her senses. He breathed steadily, as Ayane carefully pulled a strand of his hair out. Hayate flinched and moved slightly in his sleep, but he did not stir. Ayane pressed her fingers against his lips and then softly caressed them over her own.

"Soon we will be together," she whispered.

Ayane swiftly ran through the woods, grasping Hayate's strand of hair tightly in her hand. The moon illuminated her path, as she continued forward.

Meanwhile

Hitomi stared up at the moon and felt a sense of comfort. Her azure eyes sparkled with innocence and passion. Hitomi rested her head on her knees, as she rubbed her legs to stay warm. Hayabusa leaned against a tree, not too far away; keeping a watchful eye over the sleeping Kasumi. Hitomi watched with intense curiosity. Hayabusa's typical stone cold stare seemed to melt at the sight of Kasumi.

"Do you love her?" Hitomi asked.

"What?" Hayabusa grumbled.

He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.

"No, she is like a sister to me," he explained.

Hitomi continued to peer at him.

"Do you mind?" Hayabusa snapped.

"Sorry," Hitomi said quietly. "I just find you interesting."

"I gathered as much," Hayabusa said sternly.

Hitomi let out a shy smile and began humming to herself. Hayabusa shook his head, as a branch snapped behind him. In an instance, Hayabusa teleported behind Hitomi and grabbed a slender arm out from the bushes. He pulled out a tall, slender woman with jagged, short hair. The woman snatched her arm away from him and slithered into a serpent stance. She grabbed Hayabusa's leg out from under him, and he fell and hit the ground. Hitomi's eyes widened in alarm, as she rushed over to Hayabusa.

"Why did you hurt him?" she cried.

The woman let out a menacing cackle, as her icy eyes pierced right through Hitomi. Several pink petals fell in front of them, which distracted the woman for a moment. Kasumi appeared behind her and held a sword to the woman's throat.

"Let go of me, child!" the woman growled.

"Hitomi!" "Grab the rope and help me tie her up," exclaimed Kasumi.

Hitomi and Kasumi restrained the woman and helped up Hayabusa. Hayabusa brushed himself off and glared at the woman.

"I won't fall for your tricks again," Hayabusa snapped.

The woman gave him a seductive stare and licked her scarlet lips.

"Tell us who you are or I'll hit you!" Hitomi excitingly said, as she punched the woman's jaw.

Hayabusa shook his head in frustration, even though it had slightly amused him.

"Oops! I guess I got caught up in the moment," Hitomi said with a smile.

The woman spit at her feet and glared at Hitomi.

"You don't need to threaten me for information," she hissed. "My name is Christie and I was sent here to follow you. You will lead me to Ayane and Hayate," she demanded.

"What are we just supposed to trust you?" Hayabusa said, as he furrowed his brow.

Christie looked him up and down and gave him a coy smile. Hayabusa walked off to think, while Hitomi and Kasumi watched over Christie.

Meanwhile

Ayane sat by the water and drew a circle around her with her fingertips. She released Hayate's hair in front of her, along with a fresh rose petal. Ayane took out her dagger and pricked her finger, shaking the blood into the circle.

"I hope I am making the right decision," Ayane said to herself.

Ayane closed her eyes and pressed her fingers together, as she started to chant. Violet lights formed around her circle, as a lightning bolt pierced through the velvet sky. Ayane began to repeat her spell, to win Hayate's heart, with confidence:

"I conjure thee, I conjure thee.

My love for you has always been the key.

Look upon me as you do on her

And set your soul free."

Ayane opened her eyes as a bright flash slashed through the sky. Her heart began to pound heavily, as she fell to the ground, unconscious…

On the other side of the woods

Hitomi and Kasumi kept a watchful eye over Christie, when a flash in the sky distracted them.

"What is that?" Kasumi cried.

The flash got closer and closer, as it knocked Hitomi to the ground, and then instantly disappeared.

"Hitomi!" Kasumi screamed.

Kasumi's voice echoed through the woods, as Hayabusa ran towards them. Christie took this distraction to her advantage and quickly loosened her ropes. Kasumi spotted her out of the corner of her eye, and flipped behind her. Christie grasped her by the throat and threw her to the ground.

Hitomi let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes. Her vision was a little blurry, as she shakily stood up.

"Where am I?" she asked herself.

Kasumi's presence startled her. She stared down at her unrecognizable hands in confusion. She reached for her dagger, but it was not there. Kasumi's scream snapped her back into reality, as she hit Christie on the back of her head. She picked up Kasumi's sword and stared at her reflection in disbelief.

"I look just like Hitomi!" she said in a panic.

Hayabusa ran up to her and pressed his hand down on her shoulder.

"Are you ok, Hitomi?" he asked.

Ayane felt short of breath, as she realized what had happened.

"The spell went wrong," she whispered. "A switch," she continued. "Then that means Hitomi is in my body with Hayate!" she panicked to herself.

A tear rolled down her cheek, as she realized what she had done.

Meanwhile

Hitomi woke up by the water in a cold sweat.

"Where is everyone," she asked herself.

She crawled to the water and saw Ayane's face staring back at her. Hitomi splashed the water again and again, but the reflection did not alter. Hitomi began to sob hysterically, trying to wake herself up from this horrible nightmare. Hayate came up behind her and hugged her shoulders.

"Ein," she whispered.

Hayate looked at Ayane with confusion, as she laid her head on his chest and fell asleep. He began to stroke her hair to soothe her, unaware that his beloved Hitomi was trapped in this body. The moon beamed down on them, keeping this switch a secret…for now.