Chapter 11~ Seeing The Forgotten
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"Ayane... Ayane...?"
She could hear the words repeating. But she did not want to wake.
"Ayane... Please wake up."
Her eyes immediately opened when she realized who the voice belonged to.
"Hayate?" Ayane paused, letting a small yawn pass from her mouth and stretched her arms out. "I thought you would've sent Akio or someone else to wake me..."
"What? Am I not allowed to wake you on my own?" Hayate said with a warm smile and sat on her bed. "However, Akio will be back to wake you in an hour or so..."
"What is it then?" She grasped the thin material of the sheets to her chest, a puzzled look on her face. "I thought we were leaving at dusk?" She said, once glancing out the small window to see not even a trace of darkness..
"We are leaving at dusk... It's an hour before dusk. Besides, I wanted to ask you something quickly..."
"What is it, Hayate?"
"I... Never mind. This was pointless... Go back to sleep, Ayane." He uneasily started to get off of the bed.
Ayane quickly reached for his arm and pulled him back to the bed. She was amazed that she actually was forceful enough with Hayate to make him sit back down.
"No." She said, which was even a bigger surprise to herself. "I want to hear what you have to say..."
Hayate looked uncomfortable. Ayane could tell that it was hard for him to say whatever he wanted to. After moments of hesitancy, Hayate spoke.
"Do you..." He said so softly, she could barely hear his words. "Do you forgive me?"
Ayane didn't think he'd ever have the pride to ask such a question...
'No,'
Ayane mused.'But he has gotten up the courage to ask me such a thing, why not let him indulge a good response?'
She let a weak smile curve her lips. A non-genuine smile, of course.
"Yes, I forgive you." Ayane placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm... Glad to hear you say those words, Ayane..." He whispered. "I never meant to hurt you with what I did. It was my duty. I regretted it dearly. There wasn't a day that I didn't think of what I had done..."
While Hayate was spilling his heart out to her, Ayane couldn't help but wonder why she was so mad at him.
"I never meant it, Ayane-chan. Will you... Come back to me-- us?" He plead.
'What?!' Ayane's mind thought 'He's asking me to come back to the clan?!'
"Yes, I'll come back to you."
Hayate sighed in relief.
"I'm so glad. I hadn't realized what was to truly regret something, until you left." He said with sorrow. "But all of the pain I felt was in vain. It was my own fault for loosing you..."
Ayane giggled. "But Hayate... There is no fault, only blame."
Hayate laughed with her. There was nothing funny about their words. But if they didn't laugh- they would cry.
Hayate reached for her slender hand and took it into his.
"Arigato, imouto." He said. "But I think what we will be doing isn't safe enough for you, even as a shinobi..."
"What...?" She asked.
"I lost you once. It was of my own doing. I could not deal with that again..." Hayate looked into her eyes with serious concern. "Moreover, Ryu is my friend. I feel he is my responsibility to handle."
Ayane felt her heart speed up at the thought of Ryu.
"Hayate... I cannot let you go alone."
"No, I must. You can stay here. You'll be safe..."
"No. I... I have to save him." She said. "He is more than just..."
"Why? Why do you have to save him, Ayane?" Hayate seemed suddenly angered, yet calm as he cut her sentence off. "I still don't understand what happened between the two of you..."
The room was suddenly silent. Ayane broke eye contact with Hayate and pulled her hand from his. She was taunted by his dramatic gaze.
"Wait..." He said in a stern tone. "I think I understand. You want to save him, because he saved you. I just..."
Hayate took her hand again. "I don't want you to be hurt. I want you to stay... Please?"
"I'm sorry, I can't. I won't be hurt though, I promise."
"Good, I can't afford to loose you..." Hayate said softly. "Aishiteru, Ayane-chan... I really do."
Hayate leaned over to her and pressed his lips against hers. Gently, he backed away to see a surprised expression on her face.
"Oh... sorry, Ayane-chan... I didn't mean to..." Hayate said quickly.
"No... It's just... The first time you've ever been affectionate towards me..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..."
"It's all right, Hayate-sama, it's quite all right..."
Ayane then did something that surprised him even more. She placed a kiss at his lips as well. Hayate was taken abrupt by her actions, for they seemed more than just friendly. But Ayane was rather comfortable with being in his arms and brushing her lips to his softly. It was what she had wanted all of her life. Or what she thought she wanted.
Until they were interrupted by a cold, familiar presence.
"Kuso..." Came the scared voice of Akio as he entered Ayane's dim-lit room He backed away and sulked. "Sorry, Hayate-sama. Please don't hurt me! I only came to wake Ayane-san as you said to!"
Ayane and Hayate quickly detached from each other. Hayate spoke first.
"It's not as it seems, Akio. I was only saying good-morning to Ayane." He said nervously.
"Right." Akio bowed, though he looked skeptic. "Gomen... I am glad you are here as well though, Hayate-sama. I was told that there was a note scribed by Hayabusa-sama for you."
"What?! Is he is well?" Ayane spoke, even before Hayate could reply.
"I haven't opened it. For it is clearly addressed to Hayate-sama... Not you, Ayane-san." Akio's voice turned to a haughty grunt as he spoke Ayane's name.
"No need to take such an attitude when speaking to my sister..." Hayate exclaimed. "I am anxious to see the letter though. I'll be right there..."
"Hai." Akio said, then bowed to leave the room.
"Do you thinking Ryu is all right?" Asked Ayane.
"I don't know. There is only one way to find out."
"All right. Go Hayate. I'll be there in a moment..."
Ayane went to her dresser to fetch a deep-gray kimono. One similar to purple color which she wore during the second DOA tournament. Hayate started to walk out of her room while she was doing so, then pause right before he left.
"Ayane-chan?"
"Yes?" Ayane looked up from her dresser.
"Let's keep what happened today between the two of us... Agreed?"
"Hai... Hayate-sama... Hai."
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Hayate glanced upon the letter and froze at what he had saw. He sat in his room, alone. It was the one place he had room to seriously concentrate and think about things.
He heard a knock and the creaking of the wooden door behind him.
He looked, to see Ayane peeked in and motioned her to come in. She sat beside him and took the letter which was handed to her.
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Hayate,
I want you to know the truth. Three days ago, Kasumi's clone attacked Ayane. She was vulnerable only because of me and what I had done to her. So I saved her and took her into my care. I had faced the same fate as Ayane only weeks prior to her attack. I believe DOATEC is trying to take over the Hajimon, Hayabusa, and Mugen-Tenshin ninja factions. They are using the clones to assassinate and take over the leaders of the clans. I have no clue what will become of us, but I know they will take me tonight. Just as they took you and Kasumi. I fear Ayane is next. She is the only leader left of the Hajimon clan.
She needs you.
Take care of her... For I have failed miserably and broken my promise.
~Ryu
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"He is with DOATEC..." Hayate stated, after Ayane read the note. "With Helena. Helena Douglas. She is the key to finding him."
"Nani? First you, then Kasumi.. now Ryu! We have to find her, before that bitch goes any further. I have to settle this. I'll kill her once I see her." Ayane said seriously. Her deep eyes were filled with hate and angst.
"No. Helena isn't responsible for DOATEC's actions, but she is in-charge of the establishment. She will only lead us to DOATEC, to find Ryu and take him with us."
"Hayate-kun, how do you know this?" She questioned.
"I was once called 'Ein', don't you remember my time spent there? It cost me my memory. I lost it for this reason."
"You knew to much, ne?"
"Exactly." Hayate smiled. "Ryu needs us. I suggest we leave soon."
~Japanese Translations~
"Arigato, imouto" ~ "Thank you, little sister"
"Aishiteru" ~ "I love you"
"Kuso" ~ "Damn"
"Gomen" ~ "Sorry"
"Hai" ~ "Yes"
"Nani?" ~ "What?"
::Author's Notes::
It has been quite a while since my last update. I had the summer off, but guess what? I'm back to school. Whoot! *sarcastic grin* I hope everyone likes this chapter. I'm not sure if anyone reads this story anymore, because it takes me so damn long to update... I suffer from bad writers-block often, my apologies!
Well... As always, please review. It'll hold a special place in my heart if you do!
Thanks!