A.N.- Since I need a name for Hayate's grandmother, I chose the name Kagome just because I'm watching Inuyasha right now, and that's all I can think of. Just remember that Hotsuma is his grandfather, and I don't own him. The people who made the game Shinobi do.
Forevermore- Okay, not rushed as in badly written, just rushed as in... rushed. I typed the last chapter in about half an hour to fourty-five minutes. But thanks, it's good to know I didn't really spoil anything. But the last chapter in this fic is going to be the epilouge... so, I'm gonna have to say 18 years later... well 10 really (maybe 5), but you get the picture.
Qui-ti- Oh... cuz you said Spike's voice sucked so I thought that you were probably not used to the dub. Unfortunately, I'm going to try to end this soon so that I could get my next Hitomi/Hayate fic started.
Zeshin Hayabusa- Hey Falcon. Thanks for the review. But like I've said before at the forums, if Hitomi ends up with any of the DOA characters, it's a 100% chance that it will be Hayate (and she will). And, Hitomi entered the tournament to find Ein, not to prove her skills. Proving your skills at a tournament like that... BS.
Our Past, Our Future
Chapter 23
By: Joey/Mai fan15
"I... I don't know, I can't speak for everyone... But I think it'd be alright since technically, when you became Ein, you gave up your position by taking a different identity. That makes Kasumi the rightful leader," Hayate's old supervisor, an expert on Shinobi legends and traditions, sat beside Hiro and a few others.
"Well all you have to do then is tell them the technicalities and there would be no rush for Hitomi and I," replied Hayate.
The supervisor shook his head, "Some might still want you. Some of them think that it doesn't apply since yu lost your memory."
"Just tell them that it does," suggested Hiro, "If they say it doesn't, just lie. You're the only one who can go as far back as the first leader, you could say he hit his head on a rock and lost his memory... then later he regained it and continued his reign."
"Actually, all rules and customs were developed by having the same thing done year after year, so the rule wouldn't have applied if the first leader did in fact lose his memory," replied the supervisor, "Hayate, our best bet is to present that rule. But you would permanently be giving up you leadership position, leaving Kasumi to carry on Shinden, Hotsuma, and all the great kings before them... she would have to carry on their reputations. Do you really want to give up all of that?"
"I'm not really sure. I want to be able to give Hitomi a normal relationship, which is impossible if I stay here... But I also want to honor my father and Hotsuma... I don't know."
Hiro spoke up, "Well, Hayate technically, Kasumi wouldn't be replacing you, she'd be following you. You've served your time. You already have honored your family."
Hayate looked at his old supervisor, "I guess that's right. But still, Hayate, do you think that you're ready? I am one of those people who still want you as a leader, but I will respect you decision, whatever it is."
"Well... I guess after that, yes, I am ready to give this up," replied Hayate. He knew that Shinden or Hotsuma would have done anything for Ayame or Kagome, they'd expect him to do this.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we'll hold the ceremony. That is... if the Shinobi agree. But seeing as how I agree to it, the rest of them will agree to it also," the old man got up and recieved his cane and walked, or limped rather, over to Hayate. He then put his hand on Hayate's shoulder, "Your father would have been proud."
"Thank you," the old man patted Hayates back as he left the room. Hayate then turned to Hiro, "Thanks for all of your help, especially with Washi. Tell the other four that I said thanks to them also."
Hiro bowed, "Anything for a great leader. Just remember Hayate, we all want what's best for you and your family."
Hiro also left the room as Hayate sat there, looking at Hotsuma and Shinden's armor. Hayate reached under the table for a duffel bag that contained his armor. Once he was done re-assembling it, he placed it next to his father's. Then bowing respectfully he said the last words he ever thought that he would say to his family, "Goodbye, thank you."
One month later
No, not the end, just a little time jump
Hayabusa looked over a group of carpenters that had been working on restoring an old, burned down dormitory. Everything had to be ready for the move by next week. New buildings had to be built, new land had to be aquired and leveled, and new wells had to be dug. The Hayabusa clan had been working on this for a while and so far only the new land was leveled. Everything else would take time.
Ayane had left a month ago, but knowing her, she'd get her way. She was probably just getting everyone ready to move, "Ryu, we've finished building the first one. All we need to do now is restore this one and build one more, then we'll be finished."
"Good, now we won't be in such a rush for the rest of the week. Tell them that as soon as they're done to just get some rest," the worked nodded and turned to go and tell the others what he had just said.
Hayabusa found himself tired from all the hectic activity that had been going on lately. He walked off to his own room and laid back into his comfortable bed. He heard a knock on the door and called for whoever it was to come in, it was Kasumi, "Hayabusa... Hayate returned a few hours ago. He doesn't have to stay here any more. He wont come back... will he?"
"The first time he left, he said that he'd visit for a week once a year," replied Hayabusa as he let out a short yawn.
"That's not enough time... He's going to forget about all of us."
"He's not going to forget, he's just leaing so that he can start a family. If you fell in love with someone who wasn't familiar with this kind of life, you would do the same," replied Hayabusa as he reached for a peice of paper, "Here's the number Hayate gave me for his cell phone. You can call him when he gets back to Germany for his home phone."
"Okay... but how does that garuntee that he'll come back?"
Hayabusa was becoming a little frustrated, "Just trust me."
Kasumi knew that he was becoming frustrated and stated that she was going to speak to Hayate. Hayabusa laid back down from his sitting position and closed the blinds that were over his bed and laid back to fall asleep again. He wanted to be well rested when Ayane returned, which she promised would be later that day. The week they had thought of had been stretched out to a month.
Hitomi laid on her bed, exhausted from the packing that she and Hayate had been doing for the past three hours. Hayate was on the phone, looking for directions to the nearest shipping company. He was going to get all of his weapons shipped to their new place in Germany.
"Yeah... yes... if no one is there just send it to this adress," Hitomi listened as Hayate continued to give the adress of the dojo, "Tell them that it's for Ein, that he told you to deliver it there if I wasn't back yet."
Hayate hung up the phone and laid next to Hitomi on the bed, checking his watch, "Flight's in six hours, I hope Ayane get's back in time to come to the airport with us."
"Kasumi and Ryu are coming to the airport too, right?"
"Yeah... Speaking of Kasumi, did you two get along?" Hayate turned his head to see a sad look on her face.
"No, she blames me for making you leave..."
"Oh... well don't worry, I'll take care of that. It might take a while though," Hayate got up, "I'm going to go say goodbye to everyone. And I have to get Kasumi."
"Okay," Hitomi got up to give Hayate a farewell kiss, "I'm just going to stay here and rest... oh, and I think Kasumi is here, I saw her this morning. I think she said that she was going to talk to Hayabusa."
Hayate gently closed the door behind him and closed his eyes, when he opened them, he found his younger sister was at his side, "Hayate... do you have to leave?"
Hayate nodded as he caught her saddened tone, "Kasumi... I'm sorry. But this is something that I need to do. Hitomi needs a normal life, she can't have one here. And I don't want to have to live without her..."
"What could she have done in a year or two that makes you feel closer to her that I havent done in all the years that we've known eachoter?"
"Hitomi took care of me when I was probably going to die... when she was there, helping me recover, I felt like she was all I needed," Hayate knew that he couldn't explain everything in an amount of time that would leave room to get on the flight so he decided that he couldn't sum it up, "Well, it goes on from there. But I can't really explain it... someday you'll know why."
"Hayate..." Kasumi was at a loss of words. Sure she wanted to say something, but she didn't want Hayate to become mad at her.
"And I don't want you to think Hitomi is taking me away. I'm going on my own free will. I would have left here eventually anyways. You saw me a lot less when I was chasing you around Japan, just about three seconds every three months or so. Now you'll be seeing me once or twice a year, for a week each time. Maybe more if Hitomi decides to come along."
Kasumi again kept silent. Hayate was right, she would be seeing him more often... but not as often as she would if he would stay. It still wasn't enough comfort for her though and Hayate knew that, "If you ever get depressed or need help with something, just call and I'll be there as soon as I can get some free time."
That was enough for her, to see him any time she needed him, "Okay, I guess I'm alright with it now... so when are we going to head to the airport?"
"When Ayane gets here Ryu is going to drive us to the airport," replied Hayate.
Kasumi started to walk away, "I'm going to go change. Just come get me when Ayane gets here."
Hayate nodded as he went off to meet Hitomi again.
The group was having dinner at a resturaunt at the airport, something to do together before they had to leave. Kasumi stayed silent the whole time and no one seemed to notice it, either that or they were just fed up with her depression. Eventually, Hayabusa decided to show that he had taken notice of her, not knowing that Hayate had already taken care of it, "Cheer up, crying over this isn't going to help."
Kasumi looked across the table at Hayate, he and Hitomi were engaged in a conversation so they hadn't heard. Ayane on the other hand couldn't care less about how she felt, "I'm not crying."
"Still, you're sad. It's not going to change anything, Hayate is still going to leave," replied Hayabusa.
"If you wanted him to stay too, you'd probably sad too right now," challenged Kasumi.
Ryu looked over at Ayane, then back at Kasumi, "I do want Hayate to stay, so does Ayane. We are just thinking of what's better for him, not what's better for us."
Kasumi was shocked that he'd say something like that to her, "I'm not being selfish."
"Yes you are," Ayane had been listening to both of the conversations, she decided to join in on this one. Kasumi looked toward Hayate for defense, but he was still paying attention only to Hitomi. Instead, Ryu proided it, "Ayane, she just feels like she's alone now. She doesn't have someone like you and Hitomi do."
Kasumi sighed, they were right, she didn't have a boyfriend or a fiancee like everyone else did. Hayate would be the closest she had to one, now he was leaving, "We only have another half hour before Hitomi and I have to get to the gate. We should go now."
Hayate walked up to the front podium to pay for the dinner as the rest of them got up and gathered their jackets. Once Hayate was finished, he joined the group as they walked to the gate.
Once they got there, the flight had already started boarding. Hayate turned around to say goodbye, "I guess this is goodbye for now."
Hayabusa nodded as he shook hands with Hayate. Hayate then moved on to hug Ayane and Kasumi before he left. He took the last few minutes to remind Kasumi of what he said, "Remember, just call me and I'll be there right away."
Kasumi nodded and let go of him. Then he and Hitomi left to get onto the plane, stopping only to give their tickets to the attendant. Then right before they turned the corner Hayate stopped to wave at them, then dissappeared.
"Kasumi, are you okay?" she turned around to face Ryu.
"I'm fine."
"You're crying," pointed out Ayane as the jet roared to life. Kasumi looked out the window at it, watching it until it reached the end of the runway and acended into the sky, "Let's go home."
As the plane left her view, a piece of her heart went with it. Kasumi couldn't help but think that it was Hitomi's fault that Hayate had to leave.
A.N.- Sad to say, that's the last chapter before the epilogue which basically sums up what happens in the five or ten years that happen between this chapter and the epilogue.
Anyways, please consider this fic for your favorite stories list. I'd really appreciate it. So until next week, R/R. Remember, this is not the end, the epilogue is still to come.
Forevermore- Okay, not rushed as in badly written, just rushed as in... rushed. I typed the last chapter in about half an hour to fourty-five minutes. But thanks, it's good to know I didn't really spoil anything. But the last chapter in this fic is going to be the epilouge... so, I'm gonna have to say 18 years later... well 10 really (maybe 5), but you get the picture.
Qui-ti- Oh... cuz you said Spike's voice sucked so I thought that you were probably not used to the dub. Unfortunately, I'm going to try to end this soon so that I could get my next Hitomi/Hayate fic started.
Zeshin Hayabusa- Hey Falcon. Thanks for the review. But like I've said before at the forums, if Hitomi ends up with any of the DOA characters, it's a 100% chance that it will be Hayate (and she will). And, Hitomi entered the tournament to find Ein, not to prove her skills. Proving your skills at a tournament like that... BS.
A.N.- Sad to say, that's the last chapter before the epilogue which basically sums up what happens in the five or ten years that happen between this chapter and the epilogue.
Anyways, please consider this fic for your favorite stories list. I'd really appreciate it. So until next week, R/R. Remember, this is not the end, the epilogue is still to come.
