A.N.- Wow... I've really been neglecting the whole Ayane/Ryu thing. NOthing happened between them since chapter 18. Okay. That means that this chapter will (hopefully) have a majority of Ayane/Ryu. But since I simply cannot ignore Hayate/Hitomi, there will be at least some of it too. Also, I do not know the age limitations in Japan so I'm using the age restrictions here in the US.
Qui-ti- Lucky... I wanna see the movie. I won't let myself see it till the DVD though. Damnit. I'm surprised the FCC didn't cut out that part, they cut out all the blood from the anime, why not that. You watch the Japanese version? I watch the dub, but it was replaced. And uhh... I know how to pronounce biotch. Wait, that word is different... misspelling I guess. Or maybe I spell it wrong. @.@ So did you check out the forums? I don't blame you if you don't join cause there are a whole bunch of idiots there. None of them (Other than me, Kochan, and Forevermore) are authors here though... I think.
Forevermore- You fic is off to a great start. And I'm glad you liked the chapter.
Our Past, Our Future
Chapter 22
By: Joey/Mai fan15
Ryu and Ayane walked through the village as people went about their buisness. So far, Ayane had been away from her home for a few weeks. She didn't want to go back either, "I think that I should just make Faia the Hajin Mon leader. I don't want to go back there anymore."
"But you're their leader. You saw what happened with Hayate, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't care about the Hajin Mon anymore. Hayate did because his parents were the original leaders," she replied. Ryu got a sad look in his eyes as if she had done something wrong, "What about Genra?"
Ayane had forgotten about Genra, she was too caught up in the whole proposal issue that she forgot about him, "Oh... well all I know is I don't want to leave you."
"Maybe we can combine our clans. My clan alone wouldn't be able to defend against an attack since we're small in numbers," he offered, "Besides, eventally if you do say yes next year, we'd have to do it anyways. Why go through all the hassle of that at such an important time when we can do it now?"
"That's a great idea," they became silent as they walked further, "Do we have to wait until next year?"
"Well, you're seventeen now. And the legal age for women to get married is eighteen, so we have to wait until next year," replied Hayabusa, "But I can't wait."
Hayate came running up to them, interrupting their coversation. He wasn't going back home for another week, so Hayabusa had called a meeting earlier between them and an elected representative of the Shinobi.
When the two reached the meeting hall the representative, Heero Shigeru, stood guarded by three others, "Let's get started. Where's Kasumi?"
"She's not coming. Safety reasons," replied Hayate. The seven walked in and a conversation started.
"Let's get right in to this. Hayate, the Shinobi want you back. They don't want anyone else, they want to go be tradition. The eldest son of the past leader always takes over. That's you Hayate. Kasumi would be in charge if you were never born. So, we want you to be our leader," stated Heero.
"I would come back, but I'd rather kill you all instead of lead you. You ruined my life. Hotsuma, Shinden, Ryu's parents, they'd all be alive if is wasn't for the Shinobi. Besides I want to be with Hitomi now, I have a reason to leave," replied Hayate.
Heero smirked, "You're in love, huh? Well, we're all willing to take any means nessecary to get you back."
"You wouldn't."
He nodded, "We would."
"You do and I'll slaughter you with my bare hands," Hayate got up and two of the guars rushed him, forcing him to sit back down, "That's more of a reason not to come back."
"We realize that, but if we can't have you. We might as well break you."
"That's not fair. You can't do something like that," Ayane couldn't beleive how far they would go just for Hayate.
"We can, and we will. Unless Hayate decideds to come back," threatened Heero.
"Have you told the rest of the Shinobi about this?" asked Ryu, "They would never agree to hurting Hayate like that."
"No. I haven't, but they said anything it took," he replied. Ryu looked over at Hayate, he was too scared of losing Hitomi to look back. He would have known what he had planned, now it was gone.
"Hayate... Hayate!" no answer, "Hayate!"
"Tell Hitomi I'm sorry," he turned to Heero, "Let's go."
"I'm glad that you can see what's best, Hayate."
"Hayate, no. Don't do it," they all looked towards the doorway, seeing Hitomi standing there. She ran over to Hayate, "After last night, you're just going to leave me again?"
Hayate looked the other way, "It's for your good."
One of the bodyguards took off the sash that covered his face. It was Hiro, one of the Shinobi that had helped Hayate with his uncle. Ryu noticed this and gestured for him to attack Heero. He did as Ayane and Ryu held back the other two guards. Red blood splattered onto the walls as Heero fell to the ground.
Hayate looked up from Hitomi, "Thanks, Hiro."
"You're welcome. I couldn't let him do that to you. Originally we planned on convincing you to come back by reminding you of all the people that awiated you. Like my sister. She hads this crush on you and we didn't know about Hitomi. We thought that you might come back for her," replied Hiro.
"I... I don't want to come back," replied Hayate, "And I'm not going to. I'll even get rid of the three of you so that Hitomi will be safe."
"I can't speak for the other two, but I don't want to see you hurt. It's bad enough that Shinden died. We'll find a way to replace you. Just for a while. Maybe we can get the Shinobi to accept Kasumi as their leader for eight more years. By then we need you back or your kid," comprimised Hiro.
Hitomi blushed and looked the other way, remebering last night. Hayate smiled, "Thanks. I think we'll have something worked out by then."
"Even if we did have a kid, eight years would be too short wouldn't it? An eight year old?"
"I had to take the leadership position when I turned 6. I had a supervisor of course, but I was still six," replied Hayate.
"Okay, I'll talk to the rest of the Shinobi. See ya later," Hiro and the other two escorts dissapeared and Hayate took Hitomi back to her room.
Ayane sat down on the chair, sighing heavily, "That was exhausing."
Seven of the Hayabusa clan came into the room, obviously because Hayate told them what went on. Two of them dragged the body out and the other five started cleaning the blood off the walls and floor. Ryu took Ayane's hand, "Let's go somewhere quiet."
Once the two of them arrived at their destination, Hayabusa continued the subject they were talking about earlier, "When is the move going to occour?"
"Next week is good for me... Oh, I forgot, I have to get approval from Faia. She's my supervisor, so she has to give approval to basically everything I do," Hayabusa looked confused, "It's because I'm still too young. Once I turn eighteen, I won't need one."
Hayabusa nodded. His clan was more like a group than a dynasty since it was only formed recently, and he didn't have the same customs and rules as the Shinobi or Hajin Mon did, "I'm going to have to tell everyone else before this though. I have to tell my clan and Hayate has to say it's alright."
Ayane nodded and threw her arms around Ryu, "I can't wait until next year."
Hayate sat at the foot of Hitomi's bed, "There are seven or eight guards outside your door just in case."
"I'll be fine," Hitomi sat up and turned on the TV that had been put into her room a few days before they arrived, "Hiro said that he wouldn't do anything that would cause their Great Leader any pain."
"Just in case," Hayate leaned in and gave Hitomi a kiss, "Don't go anywhere without at least three guards."
"Okay..."
"I'm going back to the Shinobi now. I need to help Hiro convince the rest of them to accept Kasumi as their leader for a while."
Before Hayate closed the door he promised something, "It's almost over with, I promise."
A.N.- This chapter was kinda rushed, but never the less R/R. No flames.
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