Disclaimer: not mine blah blah blah

Rating: PG-13

Kasumi scanned the bar, then found her mark sitting by himself near the end, a tall, silver haired man nursing a half-empty bottle of beer. She strode across the bar past him, then tapped him lightly on the shoulder as she passed. He got up to follow her, and with him in tow she headed out the fire exit at the back and stepped out into the brisk Denver air. After Ayane had scarred her Kasumi had fled from Japan, making her way into the States. She had picked Colorado because the dense forests that surrounded Denver had reminded her of home, and now this was her home. Kasumi had opened a small dojo, teaching a variant of ninjitsu to a select few students. Business wasn't exactly booming, but it paid the rent.

Kasumi waited until the man was outside then spoke impatiently, "Alright Brad, what do you want?"

Brad Wong looked at Kasumi, a little surprised at her tone. "Jeez, what's your problem? Don't even say hi, or ask how I've been."

"Look, I'm a very busy. wait a second, why aren't you slurring your words or anything? Brad, are you. are you sober?"

Brad grinned. "Surprise! I quit," Brad looked guiltily at the beer in his hand, "well, I cut back on my drinking after the tournament finished. I figured, if I was drunk enough to think that a huge semi-human monster was a wine, then I was way over the edge."

Kasumi sighed. "That's great Brad, really. Now why did you call?"

"Well, I just thought you might want some news from back home. It's about your sister."

Kasumi's eyes lit up with anger. "What about her?"

"Well," Brad dawdled, "as you might guess she's been lobbying to send assassins after you for some time, but she's been kept on a leash by Hayate."

"Yes yes, I know." Kasumi said impatiently, "Hayate could do nothing to stop the attacks while I was in Japan, but when I left he had enough power to call off the searches. This is old news Brad."

"But I wasn't finished," Brad whined, "unfortunately, here's been a new development. Hayate's been, well, incapacitated."

"What?"

"He was in the city, I guess he went to talk to Hayabusa or something, anyway, some car running from the police, it lost control or something, and Hayate got hit. He's not dead." Brad added quickly when he saw the look on Kasumi's face, "but right now he's in a coma. The doctors said he might be under for weeks, maybe over a month, and in that that time."

"Ayane has assumed control. Great." Kasumi finished. "Goddammit, the last thing I need right now is to have to deal with my bitch of a sister."

Brad sent Kasumi a shocked look. "Man Kasumi, you've changed."

Kasumi shrugged, "People change Brad, especially when their family tries to kill them. Hey, how come you're telling me this, anyway? I didn't even get to know you that well at the last tournament. Ayane turn you down or something?"

Brad blushed, and Kasumi chuckled at his expression.

"Come on, I was drunk at the time!"

Kasumi rolled her eyes. "That comes as no surprise. Thanks Brad, I have to go. I'll talk to you later." With that, Kasumi turned and walked into the shadows, leaving Brad alone with his beer.

~~~~~~~

Kasumi sat in the old couch she'd been able to purchase for her meager apartment. The small, threadbare home contained only the bare necessities, a fridge, a bed, a kitchen, bathroom and television. She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the long, thick line of puckered skin that ran the length of her face while she flipped through the few channels that she received. Kasumi could still remember clearly the agony in her face, the horror at the realization that she couldn't even go to see a doctor, and the anger that still boiled inside of her. Often she had thought to herself, could I do it, could I kill Ayane? She had never been able to answer the question, until now. Brad was right, she thought, I have changed.

~~~~~~~

Ayane waited patiently for her luggage. When the metal carousel finally brought around her two small bags and one large box, Ayane grabbed all her things and headed out of the airport into the brisk Denver air. "This time," she whispered, "I won't fail."

~end of chapter~

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