Chapter 10 Fragments of the Past

~*~*~*~*~

Daylight persisted, as they arrived at the forest of Mugen-Tenshin. Ayane withdrew her weak grip on Hayate's arm. She took a long gaze around, breathing deeply and absorbing herself in her surroundings. The forest was unlike any others she'd been to. It was where she had live all of her life-- A peaceful dwelling that only she and Hayate could call home. Hayate pulled his mask away from his face and sat on the leaf covered ground.

"We'll head for the dojo soon," He started, as he looked up at the shimmering sun. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

"Hmm?" Ayane muttered, pacing quietly.

"Since we've been here... Together."

Ayane halted, and wavered about nervously in her stance. It had been a few weeks since her incident with Hayate, but only a day since her 'incident' with Hayabusa. Yet she'd tried to push aside any thoughts of missing Ryu, and failed miserably. A month ago, she would've taken that comment from Hayate's lips as a complete shock, but now she felt too much for Ryu to care.

Didn't she?

She shook her head and kneeled down, picking up a small leaf. Hayate looked at her, waiting for an answer, or at least a response from his statement.

"I never thought I'd be here again. It hurt me a lot when I thought about it. Just leaving the clan like I did..." She spoke softly, "Especially after you banished me, I thought I'd never see you again... That hurt even more..."

Ayane turned away, dropping the leaf with a frown. A light wind blew through her lavender locks, picking the leaf up. A gentle smile curved on Hayate's lip for a mere second before he thought about something else as the leaf approached his gaze...

"Ayane... What did Ryu do?"

"What do you mean?" She said fearfully.

"He told me you only stayed with him briefly. Why were you still there...?" Hayate asked quietly.

"When I was attacked by Kasumi's clone...." Ayane paused, flipping her hair nonchalantly and thinking about her response. "...He helped me defeat her. When he found that I had injuries, he helped me heal."

"Oh... All right then..." He grimaced, "...Ayane... You never told me why you stayed with him in the first place..."

Ayane turned away from him. That was one thing she never wanted to tell Hayate-- That she wanted to take her own life. That at one point, she tried commit suicide. She felt weak for letting herself get that far.

"He saved me." She whispered.

"...From... What?"

"I...." She turned back to him, with a glare. "Hayate, why are you questioning me so much...?"

"...I haven't seen you in quite a while."

"Whose fault is that?" Ayane said in a mistakably angry tone.

Hayate frowned, disregarding the comment from his sister.

"Ayane... We don't have anytime for this. Let's leave. The ninja should be waiting for us at the dojo." Hayate's frown never left his face, as he arose and began to walk east.

"Hayate... Wait."

Ayane ran to him and grabbed his arm. He turned around with a puzzled look on his face. She halted, just starring at his chestnut colored eyes. They were beautiful, yet they held a strength that she had never seen in another humans eyes. She caught herself in a daze and looked away.

"What is it?"

"...Why did you banish me?" She scowled sadly.

"It was my duty as head of the ninja. You fought me and pursued defeating Genra." Hayate glared at her with ire. "You wouldn't understand... I'll leave it at that."

He turned around, avoiding her.

"I didn't want to fight you..." She curled her fist together and let a sad expression show on her face. "You began that fight. Do you understand what happened to my father? I never meant for it to go this far.."

"I didn't want it to go this far either, Ayane... That's why I banished you. I didn't want you to get more obsessed with your father's death.... I didn't want you to hurt anymore than you already had. I never want to see you hurt. Why can't you apprehend that?!" Hayate managed to sound enraged accidentally; Embarrassed, he walked away slowly.

Ayane starred at his figure as he walked onward and followed.

'I never want to see you hurt either, Hayate.' She thought, trailing threw the leafy ground with Hayate ahead.

~*~*~*~*~

They were both silent for the majority of the trip to the dojo- Ayane stood with her arms crossed following his lead, while Hayate pulled his mask on again, and avoided her at all costs. A slight change in their mood came, when they eventually reached the dojo.

"I can't believe I'm actually here..." Ayane said with a gleeful expression. She looked like an amused child.

"Believe it." Hayate muttered, smirking behind his mask.

'...Hayate-sama, where do you think Ryu is?"

"I honestly don't know. That's why we're going to find him with the ninja. Come with me."

Hayate began to walk into the small Japanese styled building ahead of them. He bowed at the entrance. "Osa." He said, at the class of ninja ahead of him, clad in gray attire. They all stopped in there tracks and bowed at him. Hayate smiled, and motioned Ayane to come in. She hesitated walking into the dojo. When she finally did, they all stared at the lavender haired girl as if she were a ghost.

"Most of you know Ayane." Hayate stated, turning to her.

An awkward silence started. Ayane bowed, but the ninja stared at her more.

"...Osa." She said meekly. The ninja still gave her piercing glares.

Hayate cleared his throat, drawing all of their attention. "Ayane is coming with us to find Hayabusa."

One of the male ninja spoke, "Why is she here, Hayate-sama?"

"She is as much of a part of this as any of us," He asserted. "Why is it you ask, Akio?"

"Didn't you banish her from our clan? She's a danger to our order! She's the daughter of Radou and Genra!" Akio grimaced. "...She's the spawn of all of our enemies. She even took Sensei Ayame's life!"

"I will not tolerate your questions. She is my sister. You are disgracing me, and my blood by saying this nonsense. Would you like to be banished as well?!" Hayate said angrily.

Akio backed away. "Forgive me, Hayate-sama."

Hayate ignored his apology and looked at Ayane with concern. She stared at the ground, with no emotion. "We leave tomorrow, at dusk." He muttered coldly.

"Hai." They all said simultaneously and bowed. Hayate left the room with Ayane by his side.

"You can stay in your old room tonight...." He uttered, when they entered the side hall away from the other ninja. "Can I speak with you for a moment though?"

"Sure." She muttered, still glaring at the ground.

Hayate motioned her into his room. She went in, with a puzzled look on her face. He shut the door behind him.

"Ayane...." He started, "I'm sorry about that."

"I--it's all right" She crossed her arms, "I'm used to it."

"No... It shouldn't be that way. Don't let them effect you..."

"How can you say that? I've been hearing about 'the evil' I've brought to them ever since the day I was born." Ayane began to get teary-eyed. "You don't understand ...You probably think I'm just the bastard child of our mother's little affair..."

"What would make you think such a thing, Ayane?" Hayate raised a thin brow.

"What the hell is wrong with all of the shinobi? I don't even consider Radou my father! Genra is my father..." She scowled and turned away, feeling almost weak in the knees. "...I didn't mean to kill our mother..."

"You didn't kill Mother, she died during labor. Ayane, it wasn't your fault." He said, and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes it was. Akio's right. I'm a fucking curse to all of the shinobi."

"You aren't a curse to anyone..." He smiled at her and lifted up her chin with his finger tip. Ayane gave a weak smile in return. It was fake, she was deceiving Hayate with the smile. He could see it just by her sad disposition. He could see the hurt in her eyes. Those fiery orbs of pain. It wasn't her fault. The clan, her birth father, and the death of her foster father had caused it all.

'Nothing is ever her fault,' He thought, 'Everyone had to make her suffer....Why?'

Hayate found himself caught in the thought.

"It's late..." He whispered. "You should get some sleep..." He planted a small kiss on her cheek. Ayane's eyes widened. She gave a less artificial smile

"Goodnight, Hayate-sama."

Ayane had left the room before Hayate could say a word.

"Goodnight... Ayane."

~*~*~*~*~

::Author's Notes::

Uhm, sorry about the long wait-- I've been busy with writing other fics and schoolwork. It may be awhile for my next update.

Btw~ Ayame is Hayate, Kasumi and Ayane's mother. Just incase you didn't know ^_^ I believe that since Ayane was put in foster care with Genra, Ayame must have died when Ayane was at a very young age-- That's why I mention her dying by giving birth to Ayane. Also, 'Osa' is a term I picked up during karate. You say it whenever you enter/leave the dojo. So I think it would be more appropriate than 'Konnichiwa' or 'Ohayou' ^_^

And last, but not least~

Ah, yes... Hayate and the feathers. I'd like to think Tecmo didn't make him Bird-Man, but alas, they did. In fact, Hayate does disappear with feathers in DOA3 (As Hayabusa does with leafs). He's the shinobi of the wind, so it kind of makes sense. Doesn't it...?

...I tried, okay? ._.;