A Blossom Lost in the Wind

Kasumi had trouble keeping track of time since she'd beaten Ayane. It had probably been a couple hours that she'd been walking. She came to a stop. Her legs could barely carry her weight anymore. The intense pain added up from all her injuries was excruciating. She wavered for a moment.

"So...tired..."

She collapsed to the moist forest floor. She was covered in dirt and mud, on her skin, her clothing, and in her hair. Her uniform was stained red, ripped in all the places she'd been cut, small bruises on her face. Fortunately, the rains washed away most of the blood and dirt, but the cold air still added to her exhaustion.

"So...tired..."

She closed her eyes, almost ready to fall asleep.

"Kasumi..."

She opened them again a few seconds later as lightning flashed again, and saw the sandled, wrapped feet and ankles of someone standing over her. She looked up slowly, finding none other than her older brother Hayate's face. He peered down at her, the dark mask covering his nose and mouth. She froze in place, wary of the threat of his presence at first. Even though he was her brother, this was the man who sent assassins after her every night...but still, she was too tired to do anything. It didn't matter anymore. She sighed as he bent down to help her up.

"Nii-chan..." she barely whispered.

She managed to stand with some degree of difficulty, throwing her arms around Hayate in a hug.

"Nii-chan...I'm so sorry...for everything..."

Hayate's face remained set in stone, emotionless. Only deep within his eyes could she see the faintest sorrow.

"Gomen..." was all he muttered, as Kasumi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her torso. Her eyes opened wide with panic and confusion, Hayate staring back with his cold hazel eyes. He'd stabbed a dagger into her torso, and pulled it out stiffly. Kasumi's hands gripped Hayate's muscular, well-toned arms as she slowly drifted backward, tears forming at her eyes. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words would come. Finally, she hit the ground for the final time. Her vision blurred severely, a darkness closing in over her, her eyes slowly closing as her temporarily quickened heartbeat slowed down. She could feel her body shutting down. This was the end.

"Sayonara...nii-chan..." she said weakly.

Hayate closed his eyes, a single tear forming in his eye as he tilted his head downward, his shoulder length brown hair falling over his face.

"Sayonara...imouto-chan."

Thunder rolled once again as Kasumi laid motionless, Hayate standing over her as the rain fell.

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