Back agen! This chapta is mushy. So uh, if you don't like it, don read! Oh yeh, like before, there's a tad of shounen-ai, but it's sooooo tiny.
Disclaima: Team Ninja owns the three, but I own Michiko. Okeiz?
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A Promise Kept
Chapter 2: A kiss and a promise
"Ryu-Chan! Your hair is a mess." Kasumi stated, as she fished in her duffel bag for a comb. Hayabusa blushed. "You do not need to worry about it Kasumi-San."
"Nonsense Ryu-Kun! Sit!" She ordered, and he sat down, his feet dangling over the edge, as Kasumi sat behind him. She busily began to comb his hair as her brother watched with amusement.
"Ha! I didn't know you cared about Ryu-kun's appearance imoto-chan!" Kasumi pouted, her hands on her hips. Hayabusa blushed, and turned away.
"And what is THAT supposed to mean onii-chan?" He winked at her.
"On nothing, nothing." She poked her tongue out as she continued to comb Hayabusa's hair.
"Your hair is so pretty..." She hushed, as she undid the ribbon around her neck and used it to tie his hair. "Here, keep this, as a little reminder of me." She said sadly. Hayabusa gazed at her sorrowfully. Hayate looked at the comb in her hand and quickly changed the subject.
"Hey imoto-chan, that's a cute comb. Where'dya get it?" A tear fell from her eye.
"You don't remember onii-chan?"
"Remember what?"
"YOU were the one who gave me this, remember?" He cocked his head, confused. She held out the comb and he took it. It was simple, but elegant, made of jade. He looked closely and saw a name carved in childish Japanese scrawl. 'Kasumi-Chan' His eyes widened, as tears trickled from them.
"It was your sixth birthday in two months, and I was twelve...I-I wanted to buy you a comb, but it was too expensive, so I saved up for nearly a year just to get it. Then I begged mother to teach me how to write your name in Kanji. I carved it using a shuriken and I was so proud..."
"Hai Onii-chan...And when you gave it to me, I was so happy..." Kasumi finished off, the two crying as they embraced. Hayabusa looked at them sadly, wishing that he could feel love as easily as they did. Every since he was little, he had been brought up never to know emotions. He looked away to the sun, not wanting to see them, not wanting to feel the pain in his heart.
"Kasumi-San, it is almost sunset. You'll have to go back to the forest soon..." He said sadly.
"Hai. I can't just leave with you two here, so if you go back to your separate rooms, I'll see you, Ryu-Kun first, then you Onii-chan." Without a word, Hayabusa disappeared in his usual style, while Hayate opted to walk back down the stairs, sadly looking at his sister.
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"Kasumi-San." The ninja acknowledged with a nod, as she appeared in a breeze of sakura blossoms.
"Ryu-Kun..." She hesitantly embraced him, inhaling his wonderous scent of the night time.
"I am not very good with partings, so forgive me Kasumi-San..." She smiled.
"There's nothing to forgive Ryu-Kun." He stared into her innocent eyes, so deep with sorrow.
"I...I will miss you very much."
"So will I. You...you have to promise me that you'll take care of Onii-Chan okay?" He chuckled.
"Hai Kasumi-San. If I can look after you, then I can look after Hayate." She smiled.
"I knew I could count on you." Kasumi stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened as she stepped back. Then he smiled shyly. She gasped and touched his cheek.
"You look so beautiful when you smile Ryu-Kun. There's no shame in showing emotions." He blushed.
"All my life I was taught never to show how I felt, because to show emotion was to be weak. I guess it's become a habit I cannot break out of. I-I want to tell you, no, show you how I feel but I am so afraid..." He hushed.
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of what you might think of me...when I tell you that I-I...love you." He whispered and gently kissed her, his lips trembling with fear. Kasumi kissed back, finally admitting her deep love for her guardian. Kasumi had been kissed once, by a drunkard who had unsuccessfully tried to rape her, but Hayabusa tasted different. He didn't taste of pure, carnal lust, but of sweet innocence and warmth. He tasted of pure, untainted love. They pulled away once the need for air became too great to ignore.
"I love you too. I always have Ryu-Kun...I was just afraid to tell you." She said, staring into his beautiful emerald eyes. He smiled, though tears fell from his eyes as he embraced her fiercely. "Be careful out there Kasumi...I don't want to lose you."
"Promise me that you'll wait here for me when I return."
"I'll live for that day." He replied strongly. She nodded sadly and placed a firm kiss on his lips. "Sayonara Ryu-Kun..." He could only nod, his vision blurred by tears, as she whirled away.
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"Imoto-chan..." Hayate whispered, as his sister sobbed on his bare shoulder. "Sshh...It's okay sis, I'll be here when you return."
"P-promise?" She stammered, eyes misty.
"Hai." He replied and sighed. She looked at him suddenly.
"Do you remember when you gave me that comb, the promise I made you?" He remained silent, trying to recover the precious memory.
"...You promised me that you would one day repay me with a gift." She smiled happily.
"You do remember!"
"And I don't remember ever receiving it." He added cheekily. She laughed and hugged him, before pressing a small, flat object wrapped in a royal blue hankerchief to his hand.
"Don't open it until I leave, okay?"
"Whatever you say imoto-chan." He kissed her forehead fondly.
"I-I have to leave before dark..." She said after awhile. He nodded sadly and held her tightly for the last time.
"I love you imoto-chan. Be careful out there."
"You sound just like Ryu-kun. Don't worry Nii-chan, I'll be alright. I love you..." She whispered and pressed her lips against his so softly that he hardly felt anything.
"Goodbye Onii-chan..."
"Sayonara Kasumi..."
(A/N I am not a fan of incest! Don't yell at me! She didn't even kiss him properly, so gimme a break! _)
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Her vision blurred as she gracefully backflipped onto the ground. Growls pierced the silence as nine assassins began to advance on her, forcing her to step back slowly. She bumped into something solid, and arms locked her in place, a gag forced into her mouth to prevent her calling for help. She angrily cursed herself for being so unfocused and walking into a simple trap.
"We have you at last you runaway Shinobi." One of them hissed as he held a shuriken to her throat. She heard a loud thud, and felt warm, stickly blood shower her from behind. She twisted around and saw that a shuriken was embedded in the man's forehead. His grip loosened as he fell.
"Leave her alone!" A female said angrily. The assassins turned around and there stood Michiko, her arms crossed over her chest.
"The 'Smiling-Assassin' herself, Michiko Hikaru." One taunted. "We'll see who's smiling after you deal with us!" The assassins began to advance on her, and as quick as a flash, she unsheathed her Katanas. In less then a minute, all nine were dead at her feet, her pink and white outfit splattered with crimson. She slowly walked to Kasumi, who had been staring at her open-mouthed. The runaway Shinobi snapped out of her trance, and got into her fighting stance. Michiko laughed.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"Wait...Aren't you the arbiter for our tournament?"
"Got that right!" Michiko winked.
"But...you're so young." Kasumi replied, unable to stop staring.
"Since I was born I've been trained as a Shinobi never to show emotions, but when I watched you, I saw that life would be boring if we didn't show our feelings." She absent-mindedly wiped her blades on a cloth, before turning her golden gaze to Kasumi.
"Besides, I'm in charge of the fights and I don't wany anyone interfering with my fighters."
"Thankyou so much!" Kasumi said, and embraced the smaller girl. Michiko giggled.
"Go on. You better leave, the sun is almost down." Kasumi nodded and disappeared in a breeze of sakura blossoms. Michiko stood still for five minutes, feeling the breeze around her, thinking of the turmoil Kasumi was going through.
"Stay strong Kasumi..." She whispered to the wind, before fading in a haze of rose petals.
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Hayate sat on the roof, the breeze carressing him as though it knew the pain in his heart. He felt a hand clamp his shoulder fondly and he was startled to see Hayabusa gazing at him.
"Do not worry so much Hayate-kun. She is strong. She will come back." He sighed sadly.
"I know...But it's so hard to live with the fact she has to suffer because of me." His voice broke, and he struggled not to cry.
"As a ninja I cannot offer you much, but as a best friend, I can offer you the comfort of an embrace, if you want." Hayabusa said, and held his arms open. Hayate hesitantly embraced him and then felt tears flow down his cheeks, unable to hold them back anymore.
"Hush now...She is going to be fine. Do not worry." Hayabusa whispered, while stroking his hair.
"What are you holding Hayate-kun?" The ninja asked curiously. Hayate realized that he hadn't opened Kasumi's gift yet. He pulled away, shivering from the sudden lack of warmth, and he cursed himself for not wearing a shirt.
"It's her gift that she told me not to open until she was gone." He undid the simple knot that held the hankerchief in place. A jade comb tumbled from the hankerchief onto his hand. There was a small carving, and he strained to read it. It said "Hayate-Kun" in a childish Kanji symbol. His vision blurred, and he found himself in Hayabusa's arms once more, sobbing until his chest ached, and his eyes burned. Hayabusa hesitantly kissed him.
"I love her so much..." Hayate whispered.
"As do I...She knows that, which is why she will come back safely." He reassured. Hayate unfolded a letter and read the hasty Japanese aloud, causing him to cry.
"Dearest Onii-Chan,
So many years back, I promised you that I'd repay you with my own gift, for the one you lovingly gave me. I was supposed to give you ages ago, but you left. It's just my simple way of saying I love you, my dearest onii-chan. I kept my promise.
-Your sis, Kasumi."
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OWARI! Man! That was a long one! But I finally got it outta my head. Phew! R&R ppl pleez.
Ja ne! ^_~
Disclaima: Team Ninja owns the three, but I own Michiko. Okeiz?
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A Promise Kept
Chapter 2: A kiss and a promise
"Ryu-Chan! Your hair is a mess." Kasumi stated, as she fished in her duffel bag for a comb. Hayabusa blushed. "You do not need to worry about it Kasumi-San."
"Nonsense Ryu-Kun! Sit!" She ordered, and he sat down, his feet dangling over the edge, as Kasumi sat behind him. She busily began to comb his hair as her brother watched with amusement.
"Ha! I didn't know you cared about Ryu-kun's appearance imoto-chan!" Kasumi pouted, her hands on her hips. Hayabusa blushed, and turned away.
"And what is THAT supposed to mean onii-chan?" He winked at her.
"On nothing, nothing." She poked her tongue out as she continued to comb Hayabusa's hair.
"Your hair is so pretty..." She hushed, as she undid the ribbon around her neck and used it to tie his hair. "Here, keep this, as a little reminder of me." She said sadly. Hayabusa gazed at her sorrowfully. Hayate looked at the comb in her hand and quickly changed the subject.
"Hey imoto-chan, that's a cute comb. Where'dya get it?" A tear fell from her eye.
"You don't remember onii-chan?"
"Remember what?"
"YOU were the one who gave me this, remember?" He cocked his head, confused. She held out the comb and he took it. It was simple, but elegant, made of jade. He looked closely and saw a name carved in childish Japanese scrawl. 'Kasumi-Chan' His eyes widened, as tears trickled from them.
"It was your sixth birthday in two months, and I was twelve...I-I wanted to buy you a comb, but it was too expensive, so I saved up for nearly a year just to get it. Then I begged mother to teach me how to write your name in Kanji. I carved it using a shuriken and I was so proud..."
"Hai Onii-chan...And when you gave it to me, I was so happy..." Kasumi finished off, the two crying as they embraced. Hayabusa looked at them sadly, wishing that he could feel love as easily as they did. Every since he was little, he had been brought up never to know emotions. He looked away to the sun, not wanting to see them, not wanting to feel the pain in his heart.
"Kasumi-San, it is almost sunset. You'll have to go back to the forest soon..." He said sadly.
"Hai. I can't just leave with you two here, so if you go back to your separate rooms, I'll see you, Ryu-Kun first, then you Onii-chan." Without a word, Hayabusa disappeared in his usual style, while Hayate opted to walk back down the stairs, sadly looking at his sister.
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"Kasumi-San." The ninja acknowledged with a nod, as she appeared in a breeze of sakura blossoms.
"Ryu-Kun..." She hesitantly embraced him, inhaling his wonderous scent of the night time.
"I am not very good with partings, so forgive me Kasumi-San..." She smiled.
"There's nothing to forgive Ryu-Kun." He stared into her innocent eyes, so deep with sorrow.
"I...I will miss you very much."
"So will I. You...you have to promise me that you'll take care of Onii-Chan okay?" He chuckled.
"Hai Kasumi-San. If I can look after you, then I can look after Hayate." She smiled.
"I knew I could count on you." Kasumi stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened as she stepped back. Then he smiled shyly. She gasped and touched his cheek.
"You look so beautiful when you smile Ryu-Kun. There's no shame in showing emotions." He blushed.
"All my life I was taught never to show how I felt, because to show emotion was to be weak. I guess it's become a habit I cannot break out of. I-I want to tell you, no, show you how I feel but I am so afraid..." He hushed.
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of what you might think of me...when I tell you that I-I...love you." He whispered and gently kissed her, his lips trembling with fear. Kasumi kissed back, finally admitting her deep love for her guardian. Kasumi had been kissed once, by a drunkard who had unsuccessfully tried to rape her, but Hayabusa tasted different. He didn't taste of pure, carnal lust, but of sweet innocence and warmth. He tasted of pure, untainted love. They pulled away once the need for air became too great to ignore.
"I love you too. I always have Ryu-Kun...I was just afraid to tell you." She said, staring into his beautiful emerald eyes. He smiled, though tears fell from his eyes as he embraced her fiercely. "Be careful out there Kasumi...I don't want to lose you."
"Promise me that you'll wait here for me when I return."
"I'll live for that day." He replied strongly. She nodded sadly and placed a firm kiss on his lips. "Sayonara Ryu-Kun..." He could only nod, his vision blurred by tears, as she whirled away.
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"Imoto-chan..." Hayate whispered, as his sister sobbed on his bare shoulder. "Sshh...It's okay sis, I'll be here when you return."
"P-promise?" She stammered, eyes misty.
"Hai." He replied and sighed. She looked at him suddenly.
"Do you remember when you gave me that comb, the promise I made you?" He remained silent, trying to recover the precious memory.
"...You promised me that you would one day repay me with a gift." She smiled happily.
"You do remember!"
"And I don't remember ever receiving it." He added cheekily. She laughed and hugged him, before pressing a small, flat object wrapped in a royal blue hankerchief to his hand.
"Don't open it until I leave, okay?"
"Whatever you say imoto-chan." He kissed her forehead fondly.
"I-I have to leave before dark..." She said after awhile. He nodded sadly and held her tightly for the last time.
"I love you imoto-chan. Be careful out there."
"You sound just like Ryu-kun. Don't worry Nii-chan, I'll be alright. I love you..." She whispered and pressed her lips against his so softly that he hardly felt anything.
"Goodbye Onii-chan..."
"Sayonara Kasumi..."
(A/N I am not a fan of incest! Don't yell at me! She didn't even kiss him properly, so gimme a break! _)
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Her vision blurred as she gracefully backflipped onto the ground. Growls pierced the silence as nine assassins began to advance on her, forcing her to step back slowly. She bumped into something solid, and arms locked her in place, a gag forced into her mouth to prevent her calling for help. She angrily cursed herself for being so unfocused and walking into a simple trap.
"We have you at last you runaway Shinobi." One of them hissed as he held a shuriken to her throat. She heard a loud thud, and felt warm, stickly blood shower her from behind. She twisted around and saw that a shuriken was embedded in the man's forehead. His grip loosened as he fell.
"Leave her alone!" A female said angrily. The assassins turned around and there stood Michiko, her arms crossed over her chest.
"The 'Smiling-Assassin' herself, Michiko Hikaru." One taunted. "We'll see who's smiling after you deal with us!" The assassins began to advance on her, and as quick as a flash, she unsheathed her Katanas. In less then a minute, all nine were dead at her feet, her pink and white outfit splattered with crimson. She slowly walked to Kasumi, who had been staring at her open-mouthed. The runaway Shinobi snapped out of her trance, and got into her fighting stance. Michiko laughed.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"Wait...Aren't you the arbiter for our tournament?"
"Got that right!" Michiko winked.
"But...you're so young." Kasumi replied, unable to stop staring.
"Since I was born I've been trained as a Shinobi never to show emotions, but when I watched you, I saw that life would be boring if we didn't show our feelings." She absent-mindedly wiped her blades on a cloth, before turning her golden gaze to Kasumi.
"Besides, I'm in charge of the fights and I don't wany anyone interfering with my fighters."
"Thankyou so much!" Kasumi said, and embraced the smaller girl. Michiko giggled.
"Go on. You better leave, the sun is almost down." Kasumi nodded and disappeared in a breeze of sakura blossoms. Michiko stood still for five minutes, feeling the breeze around her, thinking of the turmoil Kasumi was going through.
"Stay strong Kasumi..." She whispered to the wind, before fading in a haze of rose petals.
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Hayate sat on the roof, the breeze carressing him as though it knew the pain in his heart. He felt a hand clamp his shoulder fondly and he was startled to see Hayabusa gazing at him.
"Do not worry so much Hayate-kun. She is strong. She will come back." He sighed sadly.
"I know...But it's so hard to live with the fact she has to suffer because of me." His voice broke, and he struggled not to cry.
"As a ninja I cannot offer you much, but as a best friend, I can offer you the comfort of an embrace, if you want." Hayabusa said, and held his arms open. Hayate hesitantly embraced him and then felt tears flow down his cheeks, unable to hold them back anymore.
"Hush now...She is going to be fine. Do not worry." Hayabusa whispered, while stroking his hair.
"What are you holding Hayate-kun?" The ninja asked curiously. Hayate realized that he hadn't opened Kasumi's gift yet. He pulled away, shivering from the sudden lack of warmth, and he cursed himself for not wearing a shirt.
"It's her gift that she told me not to open until she was gone." He undid the simple knot that held the hankerchief in place. A jade comb tumbled from the hankerchief onto his hand. There was a small carving, and he strained to read it. It said "Hayate-Kun" in a childish Kanji symbol. His vision blurred, and he found himself in Hayabusa's arms once more, sobbing until his chest ached, and his eyes burned. Hayabusa hesitantly kissed him.
"I love her so much..." Hayate whispered.
"As do I...She knows that, which is why she will come back safely." He reassured. Hayate unfolded a letter and read the hasty Japanese aloud, causing him to cry.
"Dearest Onii-Chan,
So many years back, I promised you that I'd repay you with my own gift, for the one you lovingly gave me. I was supposed to give you ages ago, but you left. It's just my simple way of saying I love you, my dearest onii-chan. I kept my promise.
-Your sis, Kasumi."
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OWARI! Man! That was a long one! But I finally got it outta my head. Phew! R&R ppl pleez.
Ja ne! ^_~