Before you read: Hey everyone! I'd like to apologize for the hiatus, I know this chapter is releasing A LOT later than I said it would. Truth is, right after the release of chapter 2, I had a death in the family. I found myself becoming increasingly distracted whenver I tried to sit with this story, so I took a break from it and began writing a personal piece to myself as a form of cartharsis. BUT, now that I'm back, I'll try my best to adhere to my weekly release schedule as noted in my bio, until this project is complete. Thanks again for your patience and enjoy!
The moon peeked through sheer, beige curtains that hung behind a wooden head board, allowing only small shimmers of light to parade along the opposite wall. Ayane didn't bother turning on the light. She stood in the mirror, dressed in a green halter neck bikini with camouflage hot pants, and matching sandals as she tied her bandana. Satisfied, she walked over and plucked her duffle bag from underneath the bed. Digging into one of its side pockets, she retrieved two small rectangular shapes, both individually wrapped in plastic, then swiftly exited her room.
Although she knew she shouldn't have been, Ayane was surprised to find Kasumi already in the living room waiting on her. The brunette was huddled against an arm of the couch with a book in hand. She was wearing a blue-and-white stringkini with a sheer white shirt tied at her hip. Upon hearing the door open, the brunette looked up and greeted her younger sibling with a smile.
"Good morning Ayane." she said softly.
Ayane's greeting was no more extravagant than briefly making eye contact, then slightly frowning. Without warning, she tossed one of the rectangles at Kasumi whom, though she was startled, was able to catch it just before it hit her in the face. There was nothing written on it, the plastic actually turning out to be a thick sheet of rice paper neatly wrapped around, what appeared to be homemade granola. Kasumi immediately recognized it as the nutritional ration bars they would take with them during missions, and gave her sister a questioning look.
"You going to need it if you wanna keep up." said Ayane as she made her way to the front door.
"Oh, wait for me!" said Kasumi. She placed her book down on the table, slipped into a pair of sandals just below her, and followed after.
Thinking back to her previous visit to the island, Kasumi couldn't recall ever walking along the beach before sunrise. During the day, the sand and the water would both gleam under the sun's presence, filling the island with an excited energy. In this moment however, silver rays glittered along the shore and the sand was cool in-between her toes. Soft breezes brushed her hair and tickled her face. She paused for a moment, taking time to marvel at the deep blue waters stretched before her. With the other inhabitants still fast asleep in their beds, a soothing silence was able to grace the island, inspiring a sense of serenity within the brunette. She would have stood there longer, had she not remembered why she was out so early in the first place. Thankfully, Ayane wasn't too far ahead of her and she quickly caught up.
The younger kunoichi led them into the Brilliant Jungle. It was rare that Kasumi found herself spending time here, so she wasn't too familiar with the area. It soon became apparent that the sect leader must've knew this place like the back of her hand, with the way she had no trouble traversing through scarcely lit wilderness. She also had yet to explain why they were out here so early in the morning, but Kasumi didn't mind.
Just being able to accompany her sister without context was kind of exciting to her. Almost as if she was being invited to share a secret no one else knew about. The ration bar alone got her mind jogging through the possibilities, but she found it more playful to just wait and be surprised at what Ayane had in store.
They finally stopped at a weathered, wooden sign that was staked into the ground. A few feet behind it lied a cement stair case with hand rails on both sides. Many of the stairs were cracked and falling apart, while the railing was either bent or not there at all. Ayane turned and held out her arm as if she was giving a presentation.
"This is the Heaven's Ascent hike path." she said. "It's four-thousand feet long and two-thousand feet high, all of which is mostly on a vertical incline."
Kasumi looked up at the imposing mountain, catching sight of a yellow chain linked between the rails at the start of the staircase.
"Looks like it's closed." she stated, earning her an annoyed frown from her sibling.
"That's because many people underestimated how steep the climb is, and as a result, they would foolishly injure themselves. Thus leading to the closure of the path."
"So… what exactly are we doing here?"
Ayane couldn't keep from rolling her eyes as she unwrapped her ration bar. She took a bite before approaching the yellow chains, kicking off her sandals underneath the first step.
"We're going to climb it. Obviously."
Kasumi was going to oppose the idea, but her rebuttal faltered just as quickly as it was formed. She wasn't too fond of the idea, she couldn't say she was completely against it either. Scaling mountainous structures was common in their shinobi practices, and she began to wonder if Ayane had been spending a lot of her time on the island training rather than relaxing. Aside from that, this would be the one chance she would have to spend time alone with her sister, and she couldn't pass it up.
The lavender head spoke again, just as Kasumi unwrapped her ration bar.
"But simply climbing it would be boring. We're going to have a race to see who can to the top of the ridge the fastest."
This stipulation came as no surprise to Kasumi.
Though she would never outright admit it, Ayane housed a very competitive spirit. Even dating back to their childhood, Ayane would always try to collect more flowers than Kasumi, or eat more food than she normally would just to prove a point. Admittedly, Kasumi admired her sister's competitive nature. The genuine, yet confident grin that would flash when she was having fun, the subtle fire that would light up her ruby-red eyes, the intensity that flowed around her when she would get serious… it would bring a smile to Kasumi's lips.
Wanting to bring that side of Ayane out once more, Kasumi produced a grin of her own, making sure Ayane's eyes were on her before removing her own sandals.
"Alright. You're on." she said.
The sect leader was a bit surprised at her sister's response, expecting to hear something along the lines of why they shouldn't do this. However, this didn't deter her cockiness in the slightest.
"Try to keep up." she countered.
They took their positions at opposite side of the staircase and counted off at the same time.
3…2…1…
Rather than a starting pistol, Ayane tossed smoke pellet to the ground to initiate the race, completely blindsiding Kasumi. She shut her eyes and coughed up smoke as Ayane quickly put a sizeable distance between them.
"No fair!" Kasumi shouted between coughs.
"I never mentioned any rules, did I?" she heard Ayane yell back.
In retrospect, Kasumi should've expected this. During their training, they were always reminded to find ways to knock their opponents off guard, and gain the upper hand by any means necessary. As is the way of the shionbi. Coming to terms of how this was going to be, she quickly dashed into the brush alongside the stairway.
Ayane advanced up the trail, easily clearing eight to ten steps in a single leap. She glanced behind her to see if Kasumi was at least within sight, but there didn't appear to be any sign of her. Though she smirked to herself, she was slightly disappointed that she had gotten over on the brunette so effortlessly. Whatever. A win is a win, she thought, facing forward once more.
At that moment, she saw a bushel of pink cherry blossoms burst a little ways ahead of her, and Kasumi appeared in a sudden flash. The disbelief on Ayane's face prompted the nukenin to raise a peace sign, and stick out her tongue for good measure.
"You said no rules, right?" she said cheekily.
Now in the lead, Kasumi hopped upon a rail and continued up the path, alternating from one rail to the other with quick strides. Ayane, finally feeling some competitive verve, simply grinned and chased in a similar manner.
The two scurried up the staircase, which was becoming steeper the higher they climbed. Clouds hovered just above them, making the stone steps and metal railing quite slippery from condensation. Nonetheless, the sisters never slowed their pace, making sure to distribute their weight evenly with each step.
Ayane was hot on Kasumi's heels when they both felt their balance slip from underneath them. Rusted railing clanged against the side of stone before falling into an abyss of greenery, and Kasumi readied herself to teleport as she quickly jumped out into the forest. Ayane wasn't going to let herself get left behind and seized the moment to regain her lead. She jumped out and pushed off Kasumi's shoulder, propelling herself forward to a sturdy tree branch. She didn't bother looking back this time, keeping her attention on leaping from branch to branch to stay en route to the summit.
Kasumi, who was currently falling, had little time dwell on what just happened as she hastily redirected her teleport. She appeared back on the steps, just barely catching her footing on the slick concrete. Ayane was no longer in sight and Kasumi knew she would have to think of something fast if she wanted to catch back up. She used an unbroken rail to launch herself at a tree, and climbed until nothing was blocking the sky. Surveying the area, she could see they were close to the end of the path, and kept her eyes focused on a section of stairs that seeped above the dense clouds. Floating energy shot through her and she was gone in a instant, leaving behind a trail of petals.
Rotted wooden steps replaced the stone, making conventional means of travel quite treacherous. With only weeds and smaller plant life on either side of the trail, Kasumi had no choice but to rely on the feeble rails until she reached the top. A crippled, grayish, cone-shaped structure came into sight and she teleported one more time. Up close, she realized it was a satellite dish, one usually seen on military bases. And there was Ayane, casually leaning against a fence that bordered the satellite with her arms folded. Kasumi caught up to her, preparing to congratulate the younger kunoichi, but was interrupted when she took sight of the island below.
The sun slowly awakened from its slumber, its piercing light dissipating the morning fog and illuminating the mountain side in a emerald haze. She could see the whole island from up there. Buildings became nothing more than miniscule, colored squares surrounded by vast jungle, golden beaches, and cerulean ocean. Seeing it all at once took the nukenin's breath away.
"You're so slow. I've been waiting all this time." Ayane said coolly.
Kasumi turned to her sister who was looking out to the horizon. Morning rays caressed her soft gaze, highlighting her features as the high winds raced through her lavender hair. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning neither. She looked at peace, as if being this high above the world relieved her from all her burdens. Kasumi found herself staring and unable to look away, completely enamored by this unprecedented visual.
It was a rare moment. One in which the brunette wasn't subjected to perpetual hostility, nor did she feel like the distance between her and Ayane were bridged by eggshells. A moment in which the younger kunoichi was no longer the stoic sect leader she had trained to become, but instead just Ayane, an alluring young woman with aspirations unknown to even herself. A pleasant calm breathed between them, and Kasumi felt a smile tug at her lips. She had completely forgotten the fact that she had lost the race.
The climb back down was quiet, Ayane leading the way as Kasumi trailed just a few feet behind her. The sun had chased away the morning darkness, unveiling the natural elegance they missed on their way up.
Kasumi's smile never faded, even when Ayane motioned for them head back. She was still floored by the fact that the younger kunoichi was spending time alone with her. Although they didn't speak, the silence they shared wasn't uncomfortable like it wasn't like last night. The stagnant wall of apprehension Ayane was known for seemed to have fallen for now, and it created an opportunity for both girls to just be themselves.
"Thanks for allowing me to accompany you this morning." said Kasumi as she slipped her sandals back on. "It was really exhilarating!"
Ayane made a small sound of affirmation, still favoring not speaking. After putting her own sandals back on, she began walking back in the direction they came from.
"Where to now?" asked Kasumi.
Ayane stopped and glanced back at her sister, who appeared to still be following her. She narrowed her eyes, but this seemed to go unnoticed by the brunette, who became fascinated with the sound of rushing water in the distance.
"Hey, I think there's a river near here. Maybe we could find a canoe shack and take a ride? Or if you're hungry we could-"
"Kasumi." Ayane sharply cut in, drawing her sister's attention back to her."Why are you doing this? What are you trying to accomplish?"
Her voice was cold and harsh, nothing like it was earlier. Kasumi shook her head, confused. Weren't they just getting along? She wished her sister could've seen the disheartened look on her face, but the lavender head defiantly kept her back turned.
. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"This. This charade you insist on perpetrating. Do you think it'll make a difference? Do you think things will change?"
Kasumi looked away, unsure how to answer. She didn't fully understand what was being asked, but she could definitely feel a wall steadily rise between them again.
"Nothing will change. Once this is over, I will come for you… and I will kill you."
Ayane's words pierced through Kasumi like a stainless blade. Of course she knew the reality of their lives, but it was never her intention to manipulate Ayane into bargaining for her life. She just wanted to understand what is was that severed the bond they once held, and try to rebuild it for her own emotional sake. In that regard however, she could admit that her reasoning was a bit selfish, especially since Ayane more or less wanted nothing to do with her.
All things considered, Kasumi couldn't deny that her sister was right. These shared moments would be for naught the instant they would leave the island, like a dream that never happened. It begged the question as to why Ayane invited her out in the first place. Then again, considering the mixed signals she's been sending since the beginning of their vacation, it was within Ayane's character to do something like this. However, the brunette did not let that fact deter her resolve.
"You're right, nothing will change. I'll go back on the run, and we'll have to keep fighting each other. Even so…" she returned her gaze back to Ayane, "that time isn't until later. Now, and the moments hereafter, are the only things I'm concerned about… and I want to spend that time with you. So even if things are destined to stay the same, I don't care because there's nothing else I'd rather be doing."
A brief calm persisted, the only sound being the gentle rustle of geckos in the trees above them. Ayane took another glance, eyeing her sister up and down. The brunette held a firm demeanor in both face and stance, seemingly unruffled by the previous threat. Their eyes met briefly and Ayane found that her sister's enthusiasm seemed to be growing, despite her efforts to discourage her. She turned back around and shook her head.
"Idiot…" she muttered under her breath.
"Hmm?" Kasumi hummed.
Ayane sighed and turned to nukenin, who stood by nervously as the younger kunoichi walked past her without stopping.
"The canoe shack is this way."
Canoeing was a pastime highly favored by the lavender head. Even the workers at the shack had grown to recognize her face, and would oblige to her request without having to say word. Because she's always alone, you can imagine the surprise on their faces when Ayane showed up with Kasumi, who politely declined when offered to have an oarsman take them up stream. She was very insistent on rowing the boat herself.
It was uncomfortable at first; Ayane not at all accustomed to having someone else accompany her in this secret hobby, let alone not being the one to steer, but as she listlessly gazed at the slowly passing wilderness, she gradually warmed up to the idea of being chauffeured by 'the inferior nukenin'. A small smile creased her features as she leaned forward and sprawled out along the nose of the canoe.
Kasumi watched her sister lazily lay upon the stern, noting that her body language was considerably more lax than before. She didn't know why Ayane decided to go along with her suggestion, but she wasn't going to question it. She simply kept a steady pace as she alternated her strokes from one side to the other.
"I had never seen the sunrise like that before." she said softly while shedding a smile, "It was so beautiful!"
The younger kunoichi's ears perked, but she didn't bother to reply.
"Have you climbed that trail before? You seemed to know your way around."
There was a pause before she saw Ayane leisurely sit up, her arm now supporting the weight of her chin in her palm.
"Once or twice." she stated flatly.
"I see. I know that you prefer to be alone most of the time, so I'm really happy you shared that experience with me."
That wasn't my intention, thought Ayane. For some reason, rather than speaking this out loud, she decided to keep the comment to herself. It wasn't to spare to Kasumi's feelings, she could care less in fact, but because the more she thought about the moment at the summit, the more the memory came flooding back to her.
She may have lied to Kasumi when she answered 'once or twice', having viewed many mornings like today even during her previous visit to the island. Typically, Ayane found no solace in watching the sunrise. In fact, she greatly disliked it because she would get the feeling of something clawing at her from deep within, like something was trying to escape. It would cling and desperately stretch to capture the sun in its grasp, but it would never reach. It would then retreat and disappear, leaving her feeling cold despite the warm rays that kissed her skin. This unexplained phenomenon frustrated the younger kunoichi, and yet she found herself unable to break the ritual. She was compelled to awake and watch night fade into day, just to reluctantly endure the consequences it brought. However, things were different today.
The cold and crawling entity that had become commonplace, was replaced by a delicate warmth that nested beneath her breasts. This contrast was lost upon her however, having been distracted by the thought that, for some reason, the island seemed more lustrous than before. She settled into the warmth, allowing it to soothe and truly relax her. Her crimson orbs would wonder amongst the chubby clouds, until strands of bronze entered her peripherals. Her gaze would then land onto petite lips that formed a brilliant smile. That smile would then turn to face her, causing everything in her head to float and blur.
Even now, just thinking about it invited those lingering sensations back. They reminded her of the feelings she got last night when she was speaking with-
Ayane's eyes widen as she raised off her palm. She stared, dumbfounded, as she observed slight shudders run through her hand and down her arm. Is there… something wrong with me?, she questioned feeling her heart rate suddenly pick up. She focused on her breathing in an attempt to calm down, but found herself inattentive as she became increasingly aware of the presence behind her.
The brunette was humming a barely audible tune, one not recognized by the younger sibling, but it caught her attention enough for her to strain her hearing for a closer listen. It was a light-hearted melody, smooth and slow, and she found herself captivated by Kasumi's voice. It was like a gentle gust of wind clearing out the quiet storm brewing in her head, unveiling the open sky it sought to hide. Her hasty heart beat now glided along a stream of silvery notes, twirling and coxing her until she couldn't tell if it was the boat, or if it was she herself that had began rocking back and forth.
"Ayane… is something the matter?"
The melody abruptly came to an end, snapping Ayane back to her senses. She hadn't realized she was now blatantly staring at her older sister, let alone that she had turned around to do so. Completely caught off guard, the only thing she could offer was a continuous blank stare, which made Kasumi shrink in her seat.
"Is it my humming? I can stop if you don't like it…"
"No!" Ayane blurted, taking Kasumi aback. She awkwardly cleared her throat and turned back around. "I mean… whatever, I don't care."
A bit hesitant, Kasumi took her time before resuming the melody as she continued rowing. Heat rushed to Ayane's face, the younger kunoichi suddenly feeling queerly embarrassed.
If her training had taught her anything, it was to never let her guard down, but she had done exactly that. Not only was she unaware of her own bodily movement, she couldn't even recall how much time had passed before she regained her senses. This unfamiliar behavior was bothersome and admittedly alarmed her.
She shook head, furious, and attempted to regain her composure, but she found herself clinging to the notes of her sister's humming once again. The bitter anxiety that was building was slowly being subdued, and she could physically feel the tension melt from her shoulders. She hated it. She hated that she was finding relief in anything relating to the nukenin, but she'd be hard pressed to prove it otherwise given the way a single digit tapped in rhythm. Her chest heaved and she sighed heavily, utterly irritated with herself. This could not continue.
"We'll have to keep fighting… but that isn't until later. Now, and the moments hereafter are the things I'm concerned about."
Suddenly, an unlikely proposition was presented to the more sensible side of Ayane's thinking: What if it was ok to unwind for the moment? This was supposed to be a vacation after all, and if things were inevitably going to return to normal, then it didn't matter what she did with her time here anyway. Although this thought was no more of an convenient reason to excuse her previous aloofness, Ayane found that she no longer cared.
Unlike her previous canoe ride a few days ago before she bumped into Christie, she actually felt relaxed, and she knew it was on account of Kasumi being there. She didn't know why that was, and she didn't feel like venturing to find out. She simply returned her chin to her palm, and closed her eyes as she listened.
Before she knew it, the song was over, and the lavender head couldn't help but feel a bit sadden. She wrestled with the idea of asking Kasumi to sing it again, but decided against it. Just because she decided to enjoy herself doesn't mean she had to let the brunette know. She opted instead to practice more hymns in her head to occupy herself, but was interrupted when she heard a small gasp from behind her.
"Wow! Look at all the butterflies!" said Kasumi.
Ayane opened her eyes to a kaleidoscope of sage floating its way towards them. Soon enough they were surrounded by the numerous flying insects, whom offered only the rapid beats of their wings as a formal greeting. Ayane closed her eyes again.
"Those are emerald swallowtails." she said. "Their native to Southeast Asia, but can be found in more tropical areas as well."
Kasumi looked to her sister, astonished, but hastily filled in the quiet that followed.
"That's amazing. I bet you see them all the time." Kasumi smiled before laughing to herself. "You always were into butterflies. I remember your face lighting up whenever you saw them in the garden when we were little. You used to catch them, but you always felt bad and let them go shortly afterwards."
"Really..? I don't recall." said Ayane, feigning ignorance. It didn't seem to bother Kasumi, whose attention was already preoccupied by a different wave of flying colors.
"Look, there's more!"
The flock veered off to the right just a ways ahead of them, and Kasumi adjusted her steering to follow after.
"Hey, what are you doing?" complained Ayane when she suddenly felt the canoe collide with mud and dirt. Kasumi was already out her seat and extended her head to help her sister do the same.
"C'mon, let's follow after them!"
Ayane sucked her teeth, not in the mood to get swept up in the brunette's antiques. She looked at her hand skeptically, then glanced up to her face. Her lips were spread wide with excitement, and as much as the sect leader wanted to say no, her hand somehow found the nukenin's and allowed it to guide to her feet. The gentle smile on Kasumi's face grew and she hustled them into the jungle.
"They're getting away, c'mon!" said Kasumi.
Ayane sighed and decided to pick up the pace, as to not have Kasumi pull on her any longer. She retracted her hand and ran alongside her sister, rushing through thick brush, and hopping over sleeping logs. The butterflies were climbing their way to the canopy, but still flew just close enough to stay in the girls' sights. Seawater could be smelled in the distance, and it wasn't long until they came upon the clearing of a small beach. It was no bigger than a public pool and was safeguarded by miles of towering greenery. If they didn't know any better, the girls would've thought it was trying to tuck itself away from the rest of the island entirely.
The rainbow of butterflies disappeared into parts of the jungle that travelled along the shoulder of the shore, escaping the girls' pursuit.
"Looks like they were faster than the both of us," said Kasumi with a shrug, "but look where they led us." She felt the sand shift underneath of her feet as she walked across. "It's like a tiny, private beach!"
Dropping the need to remind the brunette that they were on a privately owned island, Ayane disregarded the redundancy and found herself a spot in the shade. She watched her sister twirl in the sun like a ballerina; both arms stretched out as she pivoted on one foot, all the while laughing like a delighted child. For a moment, she caught a glimpse of the little girl whom she used to play with, and felt the corner of her mouth creep into a modest grin. You were always utterly hopeless, she thought.
"Have you ever been here, Ayane?" asked the brunette upon taking a seat next to her sister, her arms behind her as support.
"No. I can't say that I have."
"I feel like we've stumbled upon a secret. I wonder if anyone else knows about this place?"
Kasumi winced when she tried to sit upright, and awkwardly rotated her shoulder to work through the abrupt pain.
"What's wrong?" asked Ayane, unenthused.
"Nothing. I guess I'm a little beat from rowing all that time. No worries."
They had travelled quite a distance as far as Ayane could tell, and even though she knew shouldn't, especially since it was Kasumi's idea to not bring along an oarsman, the kunoichi felt bad for not offering to switch places. She rolled her eyes, becoming annoyed with the suggestion that was balancing on the tip of her tongue.
"Lie down in the sand."
It was more of a command than a suggestion, one that earned her a perplexed stare, causing her to roll her eyes again. "I'll massage your shoulder, so lie down."
Kasumi did as she was told, cool sand ticking her belly as she fell over. Ayane propped her knees on either side of her body, and pressed the side of her palm along her shoulder blade in circular motions. The brunette sighed with content as she rested her head on top of her hands, her uncertainty vanishing almost instantly. She felt slightly calloused hands pinch and hold parts of shoulder for a moments at a time before releasing, prompting her to exhale as an acute burn flowed through her upper back.
"Is this ok?"
Responding with a simple nod, she felt Ayane double her efforts up along her neck.
With one hand placed on top of the other, she pressed her palm hard along the curve of Kasumi's back. The nukenin tensed a bit, letting out a small groan, before relaxing once more. Between focusing on the scattered trigger points, and making the unintentional observation of how soft Kasumi's skin was, Ayane found herself pondering a question she's been fighting to ignore since the fall of DOATEC. A question she often loathed was even conceived in the first place, but it was getting harder for her to push it away the longer they were together. It continued to pester curiosity, like a door to door salesman who won't take no for an answer, and she reluctantly decided to open up.
"Why did you try to stop us?"
"Hmm? " the brunette hummed from below.
"You know the harm that has befallen the Mugen Tenshin clan at the hands of DOATEC, so why did you try and stop Master Hayate and I?"
Kasumi was silent for a moment, and Ayane waited patiently for her answer.
"DOATEC is a powerful organization whose influence can be traced all over the world. It's hard to tell exactly what it is their up to most of the time, and I just thought-"
"Thought what, that we needed saving? That we needed your help? Master Hayate and I are shinobi elites. We are more than capable of taking care of ourselves without the help of a nukenin."
"I know, I know. I never doubted that. It's just that… I was scared." She paused to gather her thoughts before continuing. "When DOATEC kidnapped Hayate… whatever they did to him made him forget everything. He couldn't even remember his own name, and I can only pray he didn't go through what I went through. I too was kidnapped and used for their experiments. They replicated my DNA and created a surplus of clones, many of which I've encountered myself. They're violent and relentless. It's quite unsettling having to fight someone that looks and sounds like me, but it isn't me at all. I may have been powerless to help both myself and Hayate back then, but I was going to do everything I could to prevent them from taking you too."
"Hmph. You should worry more about taking care of yourself." Ayane scoffed. "You can't even row a canoe without injuring your shoulder."
Kasumi simply smiled at her sister's retort. "I suppose you're right. In any case, I'm glad the two of you weren't hurt, and I know you'll keep each other safe."
The massage didn't last much longer after that. Both girls steadily rose to their feet and brushed away any sand that clung to them.
"Thanks Ayane. That feels a lot better." said Kasumi while rotating her arm.
Ayane merely nodded, feeling quite confident in her therapeutic massage skills.
"To avoid me ever having to do that again, I'll be rowing us back." she said and started back the way they came.
Lined up long ways across the water were two neat rows of floating platforms, all of which varied in shape and size. Hitomi and Lei-Fang stood side by side at the short end of the pool, ready to take their marks in their respective lanes. They counted down, both girls springing into action they as simultaneously shouted 'go!' at one another. Nimble bodies dashed from platform to platform across the water. The Chinese girl was in the lead, but just barely, her progress halted by abrupt need to catch her balance. Hitomi landed hard on the platform next to her, causing a strong ripple to shake things up. Lei-Fang quickly recovered and leapt forward, remaining in stride with her best friend. Flesh smacked upon concrete as they took their last leaps from the water.
"I won!" Hitomi shouted excitedly.
"No way. I beat you. I landed first!" Lei-fang countered.
"Yeah right. You were so far behind me."
"It was you that was behind me and you know it."
The two friends went back and forth like this for some time, unable to come to a fair conclusion. They decided the eyes of a third party would help dissolve their disagreement.
Thick strands of rubber stretched and curved around Kokoro's body as she leaned back into her chair. Her milky white legs lingered in the sunlight, while her upper body lay under the shade provided from an outdoor table with a protruding umbrella. She tilted her head and sighed, closing her eyes behind tinted glass. It wasn't long before she heard the two girls approach her, and raised her sunglasses onto her head.
"What's all the fuss about?" she asked.
"Please tell me you were watching just now. Hitomi is insisting that she won, when clearly that's not the case." said Lei-Fang.
"Your eyes are in backwards. You just can't admit that you lost." Hitomi argued back.
Kokoro looked at her two friends and shrugged. "Sorry girls, I wasn't paying any attention."
"Aw man!" Hitomi griped while crossing her arms. "That's just great. Where's Kasumi when you need her?"
"Speaking of which, where is Kasumi? I haven't seen her for a while." said Lei-Fang.
"Yeah, me neither."
They both looked at her Kokoro, expecting her to know of the brunette's whereabouts. She ran a hand through her hair, unsure of what to say.
"She's… taking some time to herself. Ya know, to relax."
"Hmm… I guess I can understand that. We have been all fun, all play since we got here." said Hitomi. "Can't blame her for wanting to be by herself for awhile."
"I would say the same, but I don't think she's alone." said Lei-Fang as she noticed a familiar flock of bronze hair flowing in the distance. Kokoro sat up and turned in her chair.
The three ladies stared past the metal fence and out onto the beach, where they spotted their friend in question walking along side another girl with a sleek figure and a purple bandana. They both held cones of ice cream as they strolled along the beach.
"Is that Ayane?" said Hitomi. "I thought the two of them were fighting or something?"
"Yeah same here, especially considering what happened the other day." added Lei-Fang. Kokoro simply smiled at the sight.
"Maybe they worked out the differences and made up." she said, leaning back into her chair and shifting her sunglasses back down onto her face. The two friends eyed the Japanese girl once more, perplexed.
"You seem awfully chill about this. Know something we don't?" Hitomi questioned.
"Not really." She offered. " Just glad to see their no longer fighting."
"It's just kind of bizarre seeing them get along is all. I can't help but worry."
"Kasumi's good about taking care of herself. I'm sure she'll be fine. Besides, weren't you two just having your own dispute? "
"That's right!" said Lei-Fang. "Kokoro, we need you to judge the next race so we can declare a proper winner."
Just as Kokoro nodded her head in agreement, Hitomi darted back to the short end of the pool.
"First one to the starting line gets a head start!" she called out.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Lei-Fang shouted back as she quickly followed after. Kokoro smiled at her friends before taking another glance back onto the beach.
Hitomi was right, it was odd seeing the two sisters actually being cordial, and Kokoro couldn't be happier for Kasumi. The way she freely conversed with the Ayane, who for once wasn't scowling, as they trotted across the sand together brought her great relief. Another smile tugged at her lips as she nodded at the pair. Good for you Kasumi.
"Oy, Kokoro! We need a countdown!" Hitomi called out, drawing the Japanese girl's attention back the pool.
"I'm coming!" she shouted back as she climbed out her chair and ran over to the other side of the pool.
Kasumi and Ayane spent the rest of the afternoon together either charting through unexplored parts of the jungle, or simply lounging in the sun on one of the lesser crowded beaches the island had to offer. They barely exchanged words, maybe managing two to three sentences here and there, but that didn't bother neither one of them. A mutual satisfaction of each other's company befell the pair, and time seemed to roll by in the blink of an eye. It wasn't until dusk had fallen that the sisters called it a day headed back into their room.
Kasumi unlocked the door and hit the light switch to her right. Upon entering the living room, she noticed a medium-sized striped box covered in wrapping paper, and a blue ribbon on top. Just in front of the box sat a card that had been folded horizontally, with something scribbled across the face in cursive.
"What is that?" said Ayane as she closed the door behind them.
"I'm not sure. Definitely wasn't here this morning." Kasumi replied. She picked up the card and read it aloud "Hey DOA girls! Nikki and I put in a lot of effort in rebuilding the resort, and hope you're all having fun. We also wanted to give you all one more gift to enjoy, straight from the charismatic man himself. Take care! - Zack."
Ayane picked up the box with both hands and gave it a shake, trying to determine the contents of the box based its weight and shape. It was fairly light, and didn't move around a lot from the inside. It could've been anything really, and Ayane couldn't help but feel a bit cautious.
"Open it up silly." said Kasumi.
The younger sibling set the box down back on the table and tore off the wrapping paper, crumbling it into a ball and tossing it behind her. The box was black, with two giant lime green circles on opposite sides with the words 'XBOX" within them. Ayane raised a brow.
"It's a… video game console?" she said.
What's it say here?" said Kasumi as she pointed to a picture in the lower right hand corner.
Though she couldn't quite determine what the picture was, there was a small paragraph of text stating the console was made with 'state-of-the-art' technology, and that it came complete with two controllers and a free game not sold in stores. Lifting the appropriate the folds out of their slots, Ayane unveiled the styrofoam encased console, accessories, and a smaller rectangular box that looked the picture on the front. She dug it out and took a closer look.
"Dead… Or Alive… Extreme?" she recited, perplexed. She flipped the game case over to the look at the back. She noticed 3d renditions of, not only herself, but of other girls with familiar faces, all wearing bathing suits and standing along the entrance of a multi-storied hotel. Her face contorted with utter confusion as she looked on. "Did he… make a video game of us?"
She handed the game case to Kasumi, who blushed upon finding her 3d counterpart wearing a frilly, pink two piece bikini.
"Yes, it would seem so." she laughed nervously.
"That's digusting."
" I don't know, I think we all look kind of cute. It might be fun to play."
Ayane performed her signature eye roll and crossed her arms. "Video games are for children."
"Aw c'mon Ayane, please? I'll even warm up the remaining sukiyaki we have left over." Kasumi pleaded with puppy dog eyes. The younger sibling turned her head away from the brunette, attempting to defend against her sister's charm. She could still feel her gaze upon her, boring its way through her defenses. Kasumi's rounded her sister; her wide hazel eyes complimenting the small pout on her lips as she innocently blinked her silent plea. Ayane groaned.
"Alright fine. Just don't get upset when I beat you."
Kasumi pumped her fist, then dashed into the kitchen.
After taking showers and changing into their night apparel, the girls congregated back into the living area for dinner. Following the instruction manual, Ayane was able to appropriately connect the wires from the console to the TV bolted into the wall. She placed the disk in the tray, retracted it back into the console, and pressed the power button. Kasumi had just finished warming up their food by the time the game booted up the main menu. They both took a controller and sat on separate couches, just as they did the night before.
There were a handful of game mode to choose from, all of which were just digital replication of activities they could take part in on the island: volleyball, foot races across the sand, riding wave runners, and even gambling in the casino. Even though Kasumi said it was cute before, she still found it sort of jarring to be controlling a 3d model of herself that tried its best to imitate her speech and mannerism. Almost like she was looking at another clone, but at least one this was far less threatening than the others.
To her surprise, Kasumi became quite skilled at the game, quickly mastering the controls and defeating her younger sister in every game mode. Ayane had resorted to mashing buttons, and was mostly fed up after losing her third game of tug-of-war in a row. She dropped the controller onto the floor and settled back into the couch.
"This is stupid. I quit." she fumed.
Kasumi chuckled at her sister's dismay. "Already? I was really enjoying myself. Video games are kind of cool."
"If this were real, there's no way I'd lose to you."
"Don't be that way. This was all in good fun, no reason to be upset."
The sect leader wasn't having it. Kasumi sighed as she stood up and reached across the table to retrieve her sister's empty bowl. Ayane, who was feeling particularly petty at the moment, lunged out to block Kasumi's hand just as she was about grab it. The brunette's confused face was met with a faint smirk was visible, Ayane looking as if she posing a challenge. Kasumi tried again and was stopped once more.
"You gotta be faster than that." said Ayane. She saw something flash in Kasumi's eyes as she hunched over a bit further to give herself an advantage. Ayane copied the blonde, standing alongside the table with her hand suspended just above the bowl.
A classic standoff followed, both girls remaining completely still and staring each other down as they waited for the other to make a move. Without breaking eye contact, Kasumi attempted several more times to claim Ayane's bowl, but was always swatted away in swift repetition. Coming up with an idea, Kasumi reached with her left, but quickly pulled back and grabbed Ayane's wrist with her right just as she went to block, and successfully acquired the long sought dirty dish. It was Kasumi's who then smirked when Ayane looked up from where she was being held in place.
"No rules, remember?" she said.
The lavender head frowned, letting a short moment pass before using her free hand to grab the bowl. She barely touched the rim as Kasumi pulled away at the last second. She snatched herself free from her sister's grasp and unleashed a flurry of strikes directed at the object in Kasumi's left hand. Retracting and moving her arm about, the nukenin kept the bowl out of harm's way, even as going as far as flipping behind the couch just to create some distance. Ayane jumped over the table and dove after, but missed again as Kasumi tossed the bowl into the air above them. With her younger sibling keeping her eye on the prize, Kasumi took full advantage of the distraction and tickled her stomach through her t-shirt. Ayane hunched over to guard herself, allowing the bowl to fall back into Kasumi's hand before she turned and launched it into the sink behind her.
It landed among the other dishes in a loud metal clang, a pseudo fanfare for the two points that solidified her victory over her sister. There's was no time to celebrate however, because when Kasumi turned back around, she witnessed crimson eyes beaming holes of hostility right through her, ready to attack at moment. Kasumi, having already been in this situation before with much higher stakes, took her cue and darted over to the other side of the room with Ayane giving chase soon after.
The two kunoichi flipped all about the living area in a frenzy, making sure to avoid to knocking over any delicacies, or destroying the furniture. It was like they were children again, indulging in a spur-of-the-moment game of tag. Ayane had already forgotten what it was that started this fiasco, but then was easily provoked into continuing her pursuit when Kasumi paused in the door way leading to her room, and stuck out her tongue just as she did earlier that morning. She followed the brunette into the dimly room and lunged forward, this time successfully pinning her to the bed under her weight.
"See? Told you I would never lose to you." Ayane said triumphantly.
To her surprise, rather than struggling to break free, Kasumi exploded into a fit of mirth. Bewildered, the younger sibling stared at the nukenin for some time before she too began laughing. It was a genuine laughter, one not shackled by the cuffs of Ayane's repressive nature, and with how contagious the mood had become, she found herself laughing even harder the longer they went on.
From below, Kasumi admired the open smile that spread across her sister's face, and felt her chest begin to swell. She unknowingly reached up to Ayane and gently cupped her cheek in her palm. This gradually subdued Ayane's laughter as her attention was brought back to the woman underneath her.
The brunette radiated with delight, her hand unmoving from Ayane's face, and a honeyed smile gracing her features. It was the same smile that Ayane would find herself falling victim to, but something was different this time.
Small tears glided along the curves of beige cheeks, wetting her smile with a sheen that glimmered under the dim lighting. She was fixated upon this strange occurrence. A painting that she's recently gotten acquainted with, was all the sudden stained by these lost streams of water, thus changing its entire visual composition. Was she sad? But she was smiling? The younger kunoichi couldn't wrap her head around it, but she had incredible urge to wipe away the droplets and rectify the image. She shivered under her Kasumi's light touch, her fingers leaving small traces of warmth.
"I've always wanted this." said Kasumi shakily. "I've always wanted… to see you smile again."
Ayane's gaze broaden, stunned by the mystery of how someone so beautiful could look so sad. Confused at the fact that she was still smiling, even though something was bothering her to the point of crying. The urge came back, but instead of wiping away the tears, her hand took hold of Kasumi's and pressed it closer to her cheek.
"I'm so happy to…" Kasumi hesitated, unable to find the corrects words, "to just be with you again."
The younger sibling found herself snuggling into her Kasumi's palm, unsure as to why she was doing so. Those teasing sensations from last night were back, but Ayane wasn't so quick to dismiss them this time. In fact, she invited them and let them send her mind afloat. She reprised her sister's words in her head and slowly leaned forward.
Kasumi happily captured Ayane in a loving embrace, settling her head along the curve of her shoulder. She felt her sister stiffen in her arms, unsure of how to reciprocate the gesture. It was awkward, but Kasumi didn't care, giving her a small squeeze to reassure her. They lay still for the moment, enjoying the closeness. It was humanizing and affectionate, things that Ayane seldom had the opportunity to experience. The only other time she could recall such feelings was when she last spoke with Lady Ayame.
After her spat with Hayate, Ayane abandoned her mission and returned home. Her arrival had gone completely unnoticed, except under the eyes of Ayame, who found her daughter in her room holding a kunai knife to her own throat. When Ayame thwarted the young girl's attempt at her life and asked why she would harm herself, Ayane angrily shouted back that Hayate didn't love her anymore. That he would rather have Kasumi at his side instead of her. Jealousy and hurt swirled together into a tornado of frustration, rendering her into a weeping mess. Ayame then swept her daughter into her arms, holding her tightly. She explained that Hayate did love her, and that, no matter what, the laws of the clan could not break the bonds of their family. Ayane didn't quite understand at the time, but she thanked the older woman for swaying her resolve and comforting her. She even finally refer to her as 'mother' rather than 'Lady Ayame.'
She heard Kasumi sniffle and gently raised off her to look at her face. The tears had dried, and her gaze was locked staring into bronze orbs. Kasumi stared back, her hand finding her sister's face again. A thousand words ran through Ayane's mind, but didn't know what it was she wanted to say, or even why she wanted to say anything at all. So she just kept staring, speachless.
"I've missed you so much." said Kasumi.
Suddenly, something clicked in Ayane's head and she scurried away from Kasumi's touch. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her eyes widen with shock...fear? She had lost herself again, but this time to an extent that she hadn't thought possible, especially in the company of Kasumi. She was a nukenin and her sworn enemy. How could she have let this happen?
"Ayane? What's wrong?" the brunette ventured, concerned.
Ignoring her, Ayane turned her back and scooted out the bed. She wanted to get out but her legs wouldn't budge, leaving her standing in the middle of a silent room. Kasumi saw her clench her fist and began visibly shaking. Worried, she sat up and moved to the end of the bed.
"Ayane, please. Talk to me. I'm here." she pleaded.
The sect leader straightened her back, quickly regaining her steel hard composure in a single breath. Her voice was low as she spoke.
"It's getting late. I should head back to my room." she said.
Kasumi felt herself frown. Whenever it appeared that Ayane was finally opening up, she would then abruptly shut back down and she couldn't figure out why. They would dance this harmonious duet, getting used to each other all over again, only for the performance to end with the sect leader keeping her distance and refusing to face her. It made her want to scream. It made her want to ask her all the questions that's taken residence ever since the day they stopped talking, but she knew that would only push her sister away. She had no choice but to show some restraint.
"Oh, I see." she said solemnly.
Ayane felt a rare twinge of guilt shoot through her heart, and she fought to keep her emotions in check.
"I had fun today." she bit off in a hurry, unable to catch the words before the left her mouth. She heard the brunette stir behind her.
"So did I." Kasumi replied, her voice mellow. "I'm really glad you spent the day with me. Perhaps, we could hang-out again tomorrow?"
Ayane let out a snarky breath as she closed her eyes.
"Sure, and I expect some better competition from you."
"You got it, and I'll be sure to make us some breakfast in the morning."
With that, Ayane somehow managed to regain control of her legs, and finally made her way towards the door.
"G'night Ayane." she heard the brunette say softly behind her. She stopped in the doorway and turned just enough for Kasumi to see her profile.
"G'night…"
Back in her own room, Ayane closed the door with a subtle click and dropped to her feet, her back sliding down the brushed wood as she fell. Feelings of frustration, confusion, and anger swirled violently from within, and she slammed her fist like a gavel upon the carpeted floor until her hand was red. Her fingers raked her scalp as she squeezed her head between palms. She absolutely despised this. This wasn't her, and she feared it definitely would be a hindrance to her shinobi duties. One day, Kasumi would have to fall by her blade, and there was no changing that. She knew that, therefore she couldn't afford to allow herself to become distracted anymore.
With her eyes now adjusted to the darkness, she had no problem shuffling her way over to her duffle bag, unzip the main pouch, and retrieve one of her twin Fuma Kodachi swords. She unsheathe the blade, a pale light tracing its razor edge as the moon peaked through her window. Tilting the reverse end to her forehead, she began chanting a mantra she would always recite before beginning an assigned mission. It helped her keep her focus, and made sure she wasted no effort when assassinating her target.
Author's notes: *SIGH* Finally, the set up is all out of the way and I can finally get to the part that made me want to write this story in the first place! This chapter differs from how I had it in my outline, but I think the changes I made worked out better in the end. The massage scene almost didn't make the cut. I only wanted it as to reference the gameplay aspect that can be found in the Xtreme games, but I found a way to make it work. Other than that, it was just a challenge of not jumping the gun on Ayane's emotions. In any case, I'm super excited for chapter 4 and I hope the rest of you are too.
Oh, btw. I released Chapter 1 the same day DOA6 released in America, but I only just recently acquired the game. If anyone wants to add me on PS4, my PSN name is FreezingAura.