Chapter 6~ Fiery Confusion
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Hayabusa walked to a pile of logs, and made a camp fire again.
Ayane continued talking to the air for a moment, until she turned behind her to see Hayabusa sitting by the fire.
"Oh..." She said, chuckling a bit.
She noticed the sun had already went completely down. This time the moon was even brighter and she saw fireflies floating around her. She took one gently into her hands, and saw the beautiful light flare before her. She lay a hand out, and let it go. It flew away, to above the lake. She could see it light and sparkle in the lakes reflection. She felt a smile curve to her lips, a natural smile, and she closed her eyes. She had never felt this carefree, never.
She opened her eyes, observing her surroundings.
She looked to see Hayabusa, sitting there with an immense frown on his face. She got up walking towards him.
"What's wrong?" She said sitting down, and imitating his grimaced face teasingly.
"Nothing...of your concern." He spoke calmly with no emotion, looking away avoiding her.
"Come on, tell me..." She cautiously put her hand on his shoulder.
"I...can't..." He whispered.
Ayane recognized the silence that was occurring from the day before. She took her hand back from his shoulder.
"Why do you act so serious and lone?" She asked, thinking aloud, without caution.
"It's the path I've chosen as I shinobi." He paused. "You have done the same, have you not?"
"Yes. But I choose to defy the lone path. That is the one code that I think is meant to be broken." She stated.
"Well," He started, looking at her. "I'll agree. I fear I have broken that code once before."
"Then why are you alone now?" She looked over at him questionably.
"The one I once loved, left me, when I entered the second DOA tournament... I've tried to forget Irene." He said the second half of his sentence sadly.
"Oh..." She looked to him sympathetically, "I'm sorry..."
"It's all right. Some things no one can change..."
"I know exactly how you feel. I feel like I've left the only one I've..." She looked away, not completing her sentence and turning a pastel pink at the words she blurted out without thinking.
The silence occurred yet again. She lay her body back, admiring the starlit sky, and hoping Hayabusa didn't realize what she said.
"Ayane?" He said, laying down beside her.
"Hmm?"
"Do you...love..." He paused thinking about whether or not he should complete his sentence. "...Hayate?"
Ayane stood silent at a loss of words for a moment. It was the first time anyone had asked her that question. She figured her attraction to him was transparent to everyone.
"I-I...I..." She stuttered with confusion.
But, why not? She practically said it...
"...Yes." She widened her eyes, at her response.
"Oh..." He turned his head away from hers.
"Could you ever love someone else?"
"I..."
He turned his face to hers, she reluctantly turned to him also. She looked even more confused. Her mouth was slightly open.
"Not everyone has to brake the lone path...to love another...just once..."
He put his hand on her face, stroking her cheek gently. He moved closer to her, and brushed his lips against hers softly. She had never felt someone's lips on her own. She closed her eyes, and embraced the new feeling. She felt lost. She couldn't think of anything other than him and...
Hayate.
Hayabusa stopped, and ran his fingers threw her hair for a moment, before continuing to a more passionate kiss. Her mind went blank. Thinking quickly, she opened her eyes, and broke away from him.
"I-- I can't do this." She brushed her hand through her hair, sitting her body up straight.
"...I have to leave here...I can't do this to you!"
"Why?" He said inquisitively, sitting up.
"Because!" She stood up, he followed suit.
"Because of what?"
"Because I love Hayate!"
She ran into his cabin and collected her leather armor. Hayabusa followed her quickly.
"Ayane, you're wounded. I can't let you go...even if you are upset with me."
"Why?" She stared at his emerald eyes seeking an answer.
"I promised Hayate I would take cared of you... and..." He started, before being interrupted.
"You'll have to break you're promise..." She closed her eye tightly, and turned her head away from him. "...Oyasumi, gomen nasai, Ryu-sama." She said quickly.
She ran out of the cabin, and into the forest.
"...I need you..." He completed closing his eyes.
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::Authors Notes::
::Gasp:: The part everyone's been waiting for... The pairing! I kind of feel bad for Ryu at the moment, personally...
Ryu: Shut up! You made me do that! Grr...
Azi: You liked it. Admit it.
Ryu: .....
Azi: Anyway, please review! It'll make Ryu feel better until I write the next chapter ^_^.