Chapter 4: Hero Of A Villain
Hayate had led Kasumi into a near by village, with only a few houses, short and thatched as they were. The moon had awoken and the sun now lay sleeping over the mountains. The light they had shining on them, as little as it may be, was enough to see the atrocity before them.
Blood. Pools of blood and bodies lay scattered across the yellowy dusty floor. Men. Women. Children. All slain. Kasumi could see where some had tried to fight what ever the force was because they were armed. Yet she saw no shinobi, lying across the floor. She did not see a single person except for the soulless vessels what lay spread on the floor. Kasumi walked up to a corpse, one of a small girl who looked like a 5 years old, and was laying on her front, face down. She grabbed her by the shoulder. It felt cold, and rigid. She flipped the little girl over and saw the look of fear upon her frozen features, with a gash about one, maybe two inch's deep in her neck what seemed to be seeping with the scarlet colour of blood. The girl's hair was sticky with her own blood and clung to Kasumi's hand.
Kasumi: These people. these poor innocent people. (She closed her eyes as if beginning to cry, and opened them with a burst of energy and anger) Who did this to them. Tell me! My blade thirsts for their blood!
Hayate: Why don't you have a look for yourself? (He leaped up atop a roof and pointed in the direction or the town square. Kasumi wondering what he was talking about decided to have a look for herself. She jumped on the roof and stared out at what he had been talking about)
Out in the distance there was a fire in the centre of the village. They silently, yet swiftly flew from roof to roof with such agility that could not be matched by the swiftest bird.
They crouched in the darkness as they saw a figure standing by the fire. He had long, flowing hair down to the base of his spine, and wore a tight black leather top what was sleeveless and instead on his arms he had bracers, pieces of leather bound on by belts. He wore black trousers what seemed to be made out of the same material as the top and also followed the same style of the sleeves, belts wrapped around them.
Kasumi couldn't help but stare because she had never seen a shinobi dressed in such a manner before, and wondered if it would be a good idea to go and meet this strange person. Without asking her brothers permission she stood and walked over to the figure silently.
Hayate: * whispers * Kasumi! No! He is very dangerous! Come back!
But she would not listen. She seemed to be in a transfixed state, walking helplessly to the stranger, as though it was a dream. She could only see his back so stood a few feet away before deciding she should introduce herself. She went to open her mouth but was interrupted by another voice.
Figure: Kasumi. I knew you would come.
Kasumi: I recognise that voice. But where from?
Figure: Ha. You have already forgotten. Do you honestly do not remember me?
Kasumi: Face me and then I shall tell you if I recognise you or not.
Figure: You always did want everything your way didn't you.
Kasumi: I said face me, Shinobi, or prepare to face my wrath.
Figure: You wouldn't hurt me would you? * Turns around and faces an astonished Kasumi * Not your little Ryu?
Kasumi: Ryu! * Runs at him and flings her arms around his neck * I missed you!
Ryu, angry at this expression of emotion, grabs her arms and throws her into a wall, only 10 feet away
Ryu: Ha! Ha! Ha! You are a fool Kasumi! Do you not see what I have done? Did you see what will become of you if you anger me?!
Kasumi: No. Ryu, you . didn't . Ryu?
Ryu: These peasants make for interesting entertainment, especially the way the just seem to die when you strike them.
Kasumi: . you're not Ryu.
Ryu: Aren't I? Then explain how you and me shared that night together under the cherry blossom tree. (Looks up and down Kasumi, paying close attention to her breasts) I see you haven't changed much have you my dear
Hayate deciding he's heard enough of this talk springs forth from the shadows and appears next to Kasumi leaving a trail of black feathers in the air
Hayate: Ryu Hayabusa! You were once my friend. I looked up to you. I remember my childhood, I was always following you. You were my idol. You were my hero. But now .now. you are no higher than those of the people what you have killed. I shall personally make sure you will be punished for your crimes. Ryu Hayabusa, I challenge you to a battle of the lonely sword!
There is an awquard silence as Ryu takes in what he has been asked to do. The battle of the lonely sword was a fight to the death. One sword lay stuck in the middle of the ground and the two shinobi would have to run equal distances to reach it. First one to the sword and cuts don his opponent, wins.
Ryu: You shall regret you ever did that Tatsu Hayate
Kasumi: Tatsu?
Hayate: Kasumi. I am not your real brother. I was fostered by your father and mother as a child. My real families name is Tatsu and by that name I shall kill you Ryu
Ryu: We will see about that! (takes his sword from off his back and slams it into the ground) 50 feet shall be the distance. Any last requests of a dieing man?
Hayate: You should really ask yourself that
They both walk out 50 feet and turn to face each other. The once clear skies turned dark with the rain clouds what now poured their celestial droplets on the ground. Thunder echoed in the background as if cheering for the battle what would take place.
Hayate, knowing he was now the most powerful ninja in existence, felt excited, as if knowing his life had been leading up to this point, the time when he would save the world. He felt confident and knew he would win.
Kasumi did not know what to do. She did not know where her allegiance laid. Would she take the side of her foster brother who she had grown up to know as he blood relative or to take the side of Ryu, her white knight, infected with the dark poisonous blood of evil and corruption. She had to ask her self one question. 'Is blood thicker than water'.
Ryu, knowing that he wanted things to go the way they were before, he being the savoir, the lover, the friend, knew that he had gone far past the line of no return. He had wandered into a place full of corruption and evil, a place so dark that he couldn't find the light.
The time had come. It was the moment of truth. The two shinobi stood silently, awaiting the signal of the fight. They waited. . . . . .
For Death
Hayate had led Kasumi into a near by village, with only a few houses, short and thatched as they were. The moon had awoken and the sun now lay sleeping over the mountains. The light they had shining on them, as little as it may be, was enough to see the atrocity before them.
Blood. Pools of blood and bodies lay scattered across the yellowy dusty floor. Men. Women. Children. All slain. Kasumi could see where some had tried to fight what ever the force was because they were armed. Yet she saw no shinobi, lying across the floor. She did not see a single person except for the soulless vessels what lay spread on the floor. Kasumi walked up to a corpse, one of a small girl who looked like a 5 years old, and was laying on her front, face down. She grabbed her by the shoulder. It felt cold, and rigid. She flipped the little girl over and saw the look of fear upon her frozen features, with a gash about one, maybe two inch's deep in her neck what seemed to be seeping with the scarlet colour of blood. The girl's hair was sticky with her own blood and clung to Kasumi's hand.
Kasumi: These people. these poor innocent people. (She closed her eyes as if beginning to cry, and opened them with a burst of energy and anger) Who did this to them. Tell me! My blade thirsts for their blood!
Hayate: Why don't you have a look for yourself? (He leaped up atop a roof and pointed in the direction or the town square. Kasumi wondering what he was talking about decided to have a look for herself. She jumped on the roof and stared out at what he had been talking about)
Out in the distance there was a fire in the centre of the village. They silently, yet swiftly flew from roof to roof with such agility that could not be matched by the swiftest bird.
They crouched in the darkness as they saw a figure standing by the fire. He had long, flowing hair down to the base of his spine, and wore a tight black leather top what was sleeveless and instead on his arms he had bracers, pieces of leather bound on by belts. He wore black trousers what seemed to be made out of the same material as the top and also followed the same style of the sleeves, belts wrapped around them.
Kasumi couldn't help but stare because she had never seen a shinobi dressed in such a manner before, and wondered if it would be a good idea to go and meet this strange person. Without asking her brothers permission she stood and walked over to the figure silently.
Hayate: * whispers * Kasumi! No! He is very dangerous! Come back!
But she would not listen. She seemed to be in a transfixed state, walking helplessly to the stranger, as though it was a dream. She could only see his back so stood a few feet away before deciding she should introduce herself. She went to open her mouth but was interrupted by another voice.
Figure: Kasumi. I knew you would come.
Kasumi: I recognise that voice. But where from?
Figure: Ha. You have already forgotten. Do you honestly do not remember me?
Kasumi: Face me and then I shall tell you if I recognise you or not.
Figure: You always did want everything your way didn't you.
Kasumi: I said face me, Shinobi, or prepare to face my wrath.
Figure: You wouldn't hurt me would you? * Turns around and faces an astonished Kasumi * Not your little Ryu?
Kasumi: Ryu! * Runs at him and flings her arms around his neck * I missed you!
Ryu, angry at this expression of emotion, grabs her arms and throws her into a wall, only 10 feet away
Ryu: Ha! Ha! Ha! You are a fool Kasumi! Do you not see what I have done? Did you see what will become of you if you anger me?!
Kasumi: No. Ryu, you . didn't . Ryu?
Ryu: These peasants make for interesting entertainment, especially the way the just seem to die when you strike them.
Kasumi: . you're not Ryu.
Ryu: Aren't I? Then explain how you and me shared that night together under the cherry blossom tree. (Looks up and down Kasumi, paying close attention to her breasts) I see you haven't changed much have you my dear
Hayate deciding he's heard enough of this talk springs forth from the shadows and appears next to Kasumi leaving a trail of black feathers in the air
Hayate: Ryu Hayabusa! You were once my friend. I looked up to you. I remember my childhood, I was always following you. You were my idol. You were my hero. But now .now. you are no higher than those of the people what you have killed. I shall personally make sure you will be punished for your crimes. Ryu Hayabusa, I challenge you to a battle of the lonely sword!
There is an awquard silence as Ryu takes in what he has been asked to do. The battle of the lonely sword was a fight to the death. One sword lay stuck in the middle of the ground and the two shinobi would have to run equal distances to reach it. First one to the sword and cuts don his opponent, wins.
Ryu: You shall regret you ever did that Tatsu Hayate
Kasumi: Tatsu?
Hayate: Kasumi. I am not your real brother. I was fostered by your father and mother as a child. My real families name is Tatsu and by that name I shall kill you Ryu
Ryu: We will see about that! (takes his sword from off his back and slams it into the ground) 50 feet shall be the distance. Any last requests of a dieing man?
Hayate: You should really ask yourself that
They both walk out 50 feet and turn to face each other. The once clear skies turned dark with the rain clouds what now poured their celestial droplets on the ground. Thunder echoed in the background as if cheering for the battle what would take place.
Hayate, knowing he was now the most powerful ninja in existence, felt excited, as if knowing his life had been leading up to this point, the time when he would save the world. He felt confident and knew he would win.
Kasumi did not know what to do. She did not know where her allegiance laid. Would she take the side of her foster brother who she had grown up to know as he blood relative or to take the side of Ryu, her white knight, infected with the dark poisonous blood of evil and corruption. She had to ask her self one question. 'Is blood thicker than water'.
Ryu, knowing that he wanted things to go the way they were before, he being the savoir, the lover, the friend, knew that he had gone far past the line of no return. He had wandered into a place full of corruption and evil, a place so dark that he couldn't find the light.
The time had come. It was the moment of truth. The two shinobi stood silently, awaiting the signal of the fight. They waited. . . . . .
For Death