Chapter 5 : Getting prepared
Sorry I haven't updated this for a damn long time. Anyway, just read and enjoy. Remeber to review.
"My apologies for calling you at 12 midnight, but I want this meeting private and confidential."
"If it means having a secret task at hand, do as you please."
"Very well, let's get this straight. Participation for the tournament has been confirmed and we've received information that the daughter of Fame Douglas is up for the challenge again."
"Interesting..."
"I suppose you've got a clue what it's all about, your first objective of this mission is to participate again in this tournament and keep an eye on Helena. I strictly prohibit her interference in my plans."
"Understood"
"Next thing, these 2 contestants who calls themselves Ayane and Ryu Hayabusa are participating again, which arouses my interest."
"What are you planning to do, sir?"
"Clone them, of course."
"But sir, it's against the rules to do something like that while in the match. Do you suppose I do it before the tournament begins?"
"No, you can't do it on your own, they'll take you down in no time, considering they are one of the most skilled ninjas. I know it's a big risk but you'll do it if they lose a fight. I'll arrange so that you'll be the last person they're gonna fight against, if the previous opponents succeed in defeating them, you'll seize them whilst they are weak or probably unconscious. However, should some circumstances arouse that they fail to do so, you'll handle the task of beating them up. You're my best bet, Christie, and I'm counting on you alone."
"Will do. Thank you, sir."
"Your objective will be considered accomplished if you capture either one of them, because they may not be teaming up. However, a bonus shall await you if you could bring me back both, alive."
Donovan stood up from his seat and strolled lazily towards the window. He gazed up to the dark moonlit sky, an evil grin written across his face. If he could get his hands on Ayane, Hayabusa or even better... both, he could power up his already powerful army of high-skilled ninja clones to make it invincible. He snapped out of his dream when a shadow looming over the window sill appeared before his very eyes. In panic, he slid the window open and stuck his head his head out of the skyscraper. There, next to his window on the sill itself, stood a ninja clad in complete black. 2 katanas hung at both sides of his waist and, to Donovan's surprise, another 2 hung crossed on his back. The ninja jerked his head sideways to meet Donovan's. While they were face to face, the intruder gave him a dirty look, then leapt from the sill and flipped forward, heading straight down. When Donovan stared down to face a scenery 90 feet below, the spy had disappeared.
"Is there anything wrong, sir?"
"It's an intruder! He listened to our entire conversation!"
"That's impossible... how could he escape our security?"
"That shall remain unanswered for now. Christie, come back here tomorrow and order the men to install heat sensors on every side of the exterior part of this building and connect it to the main alarm, I hate it when this happens... security code would be switched from yellow to red. I just hope he doesn't have any links to our enemies."
"Yes, sir"
"All right then, you're dismissed. Remember, capture any of the 2 whom you think is in a worse condition. Make sure you succeed! If you're confused in choosing, then choose ................. Ayane," he whispered to her in a menacing tone, "understood?"
"Loud and clear"
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Ayane opened her and sat up to look at the clock, through the darkness, she could make out 5 a.m.
"Perfect timing" she thought quietly. Without making the slightest bit of noise, she crept out of her room, her footsteps emitting not a single sound. She left a note at Hayate's door and out into the wilderness she went. She carried her father's sword and the scroll of magic techniques she found earlier along with her. Once again, she arrived at her old, long-destroyed school. She stepped up on to the backyard and rolled open her scroll. She held out her right hand and read the contents of the scroll carefully...
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"Out for the whole morning? Dunno what she's up to now." Hayate sighed to himself as he walked to his door. It was half past six at dawn. Hayate dragged his feet lazily outside to take a breather, but not long later, he stared in the direction leading to the Hajinmon School. Out there he heard funny noises and light flashing frequently. A short while later, Kasumi came out and stood by his side.
"What are you looking at?"
"That. Probably it's Ayane, but I wonder what she's up to."
"No clue, maybe she's ..."
Her speech was interrupted by a sudden, ear-crushing blast that should have made both siblings jump.
"Wow... what was that?" Hayabusa rushed out of his room.
"C'mon, let's check it out." Hayate ordered the two to follow him. Hayate hurried through the wilderness at full speed, pushing through the tall grass, with Kasumi and Ryu in tow. They arrived at the school, only to see Ayane lying there, trying in vain to get up from where she lay, but it seemed as though all her energy had been drained away from her.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Hayate knelt beside Ayane and helped her up. Her face was partly burnt. Her hand, especially her right was also burnt and sore from her training. She was coughing real badly and could not even open her eyes properly. Hayabusa scanned through her injuries for a few seconds and thought for a moment, and then he turned to face Hayate, "Don't worry about her, Hayate. She'll be able to recover in a short while. We'll just help her back and let her rest."
"All right, as you say then, Ryu, if you're sure about it."
Ayane staggered a few steps forward before stumbling again. Before she hit the ground, she felt a hand holding on to her body in mid-air, moving her to a shoulder to lend her support. Ayane turned to her side and could barely make out a blurry image of her sister. Ayane was again surprised and realised for a second time that Kasumi had helped her again. Hayate smiled at his friend and he smiled back, the both of them had never seen Ayane and Kasumi like this before.
When they arrived back in the Tenjinmon School, Kasumi released her sister and let her rest in her room.
"The effect of the spell should probably wear off in a few minutes," Hayabusa explained, "Rest, Ayane. We'll go on training without you for now. You can join us later." Ryu and Hayate left the room, only Kasumi remained. She signaled to her brother before he closed the door.
"What do you want with me?" Ayane muttered in a low voice with her head still down. Kasumi faced her sitting at the corner of the small room. Her voice was slightly hoarse. She sat by Ayane's side.
"You sure you're alright? That doesn't look like a normal injury." Kasumi asked her with eyes full of concern towards the lavender-haired girl. She stared at her for a moment, then spoke, "Master Ryu said it, didn't he? The effect will wear off very soon. There's nothing serious about it." Ayane paused for a couple of seconds before she continued, "This doesn't concern you. There's the door, use it."
Kasumi stood up, "If you don't mind, Ayane, we'll spar later. It's been quite a while we haven't fought." Ayane closed her eyes, lowered her head, and nodded. With that, Kasumi left.
"Ryu, are you sure she doesn't need any help? She looks badly injured to me." Hayate asked his best friend while training his band of ninjas. He certainly saw those burn marks as a threat.
"I said don't worry, Hayate, you'll see what I mean later... see, there she is right now."
"Huh? She looks... clean."
"See what I told you? You should wise up, buddy. But I understand that it would be difficult because you lost your memory. Damn that DOATEC..."
Ayane headed straight to the training room where, as what she had definitely expected, Kasumi was sitting there awaiting her arrival. She suddenly looked up, surprised at how fast Ayane had recuperated. They kept a distance away from each other and bowed curtly before preparing their stance.
"You ready?" Ayane said.
"Let's not make it too harsh."
Ayane charged forward, crouched and did a sweep-kick. Kasumi leapt behind Ayane and attacked but she dodged sideways. She rolled towards Kasumi and kicked, feet first into the air. Kasumi jerked her head backward, missing the attack. She held Ayane's arm and swung her to the front. She was behind Ayane now. Using this as an advantage, Kasumi threw a punch, but realized that she had failed when Ayane turned at wind's speed to grab her sister's fist. She jumped and slammed the back of Kasumi's head with her foot, sending her crashing to the ground a short distance away. Kasumi sat back up and held her head.
"Sorry about that. Was it painful?"
"You're as fast as ever."
"You too" Ayane replied, reaching out her hand towards Kasumi. She gazed at the hand and then looked at her face written with not a single expression. She smiled before allowing Ayane to help her up. They stepped back from each other and bowed again. Kasumi turned to find Hayate and Ryu , who had watched the whole scene, standing by the doorway of the room.
"I guess you have to keep up, Kasumi. You're her elder sister, you know." Hayate quipped.
"It's you who have to keep up, Hayate. Besides, you're older than the both of us here." Ayane countered his speech, a look of dissatisfaction on her face.
"Okay, let's have a quick round then." Hayate challenged Ayane, intending to prove his prowess that she had just offended.
"Fine you asked for it." Ayane hid both her hands behind her and cracked her knuckles.
"He's getting hurt." Ryu thought, shaking his head.