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Forsaken Soul
A while falcon soars in the air, it's white feathers shines in the moon light making them look silver, it's emerald eyes watch the forest below for its meal for tonight, it circles downwards to take a better view for any unwary prey below the trees.
It flaps it's great silver wings so it can land on a branch on one of the many trees, it's emerald eye watch the darkness for prey and danger, it found a shadow perched on a large branch not far from where the falcon perched, the shadow flickers a movement while a pair of violet eyes stare at it.
The falcon study the eyes, it could feel darkness and pain emitting from the eyes, it felt part of the owners pain but it was not interested in such things, flapping it's wings it took off from the branch and soar into the air, with no food present it flew to another destination where I knows it'll find food and shelter.
The forest went silent, no animal made any sound, neither did the wind disturb the trees, the shadows dominated the silence of the forest, the shadow shifted bringing the divine light of the moon upon her, the milky white glow illuminated the woman's appearance, clad in black leather armour, with wards of protection written in Japanese on her shoulder armour.
Her violet eyes begin to burn with frustration, yet the ever presences of the darkness and pain linger there as if she had always carried these two within her eyes for most of her life, in truth she has.
Cast out from a home that would be hers and denied parents to cry upon this is the result of the long hard road she was force to walk.
She felt unimaginable anger at the thought making her eyes flare with raw rage of the target, she heard a faint sound of the trees been rustled, like the wind had simply pass through the trees, but there was no wind to disturb them tonight.
She heard the faint sound of breathing, controlled, looking to her right she eye the man who has just joined her, he also crouch on the branch with her, she wondered how did he manage to climb up to the branch and perch with her without the branch breaking, she dismiss this question as nothing more than wasting time.
He glance to her taking in her lithe body which may look frail but he knew far too well that she's deadly, "she must be close," spoke the man, the woman listen carefully, "I can feel her presence," she didn't made any reply.
The thought that the man beside her share a special bond with the target didn't surprise her, after all it is his own sister, "Ayane you will follow my lead," he whispers wanting not to attract any unwanted attention towards themselves.
She acknowledge with a curt nod "understood Hayate," she replies in the same whisper daring not to raise her voice in case their target may have taken flight from them.
The target is the runaway Kasumi.
The mere mentioning of the name brought a long deep seeded hate within her to grow, that seed of the hate she has against the runaway had been nurtured with blood and hate over the years, nothing could had stop it from opening it's flower within Ayane.
Now it needed the blood of one particular person to live, the blood of the runaway.
Without a word Hayate dropped off the branch, this action did not even stir the branch he and Ayane perched upon, he lands on the ground without making any noise to indicate that he had dropped a few feet from a tree, she follows his step as well letting herself fall from the branch.
She gracefully somersaulted in the air before landing next to Hayate; he didn't seem amazed at her acrobatic
She remembers clearly that rubble of a near-burnt house had littered the ground where she stood, looking round she found no trace of the rubble, "did she did this?" she asks herself.
Hayate jump to the next roof to inspect the scene from above, his keen eyes scan the area for any sign of their target, something else caught his eye, focusing his eyes he saw something in the distance.
Ayane simply jump to the first plank before gracefully pushing herself off it to land next to Hayate into a crouch to ensure that anyone that was watching would had thought it was nothing but an animal, such small tricks had ensured that she survived within the world.
She had faced many dangers in the world, some surprised her, some disgust her, only a few times did she felt disgusted and surprised at the same time, the last time she had felt this feeling was with Ryu about two months ago…
He stood at the usual place they would meet, under the moon lit bridge that lead to the deserted village he lives within, she didn't smile when she saw him, she never did but he didn't detect the loathing within the air, he reach out and touch her shoulder, "it's good to see you."
The usual greetings he made when he saw her, alone, she would never acknowledge his greeting ever in the past, "yes it is," she replies coldly, he detected the venom of hate in her voice, neither spoke for a moment; the cold silence would have made Ayane nervous.
But somehow Ryu was nervous, something about the purple Kunoichi has changed, for the worst he felt, "what is it?" he asks unable to take the silence anymore, the words didn't seem to reach her ears for a moment, she simply stare at the waterfall listening to the sound of the water splashing on the stone below.
When she spoke it seem to she had plunge an icy dagger into his heart, "I hate you," those three words hung in the hair, like a noose it slowly suffocated Ryu from breathing, "I hate you for what you did," she continues.
Words that shouldn't cause any pain had made a great impression upon Ryu, "why?" he asks already sensing the answer that she may give, when she turn her eyes burn with hate, a soul filled hated that seem to burn right through Ryu, "you were the one who helped her."
He's face slump to sadness, acknowledging what she said, "you helped her when you defeated her knowing full well that she was to die," she took a step, Ryu didn't move, "when the third tournament arrived you were the one who gave her shelter within your home."
Her fist shook with barely contained anger, "you said that you will never hide a secret from me, never lie to me," his head stare at the ground at the shame of those words he spoke to her, "yet you broke them by hiding her away from me when I was ordered to kill her."
She stood right in front of him, his eyes filled with sadness, "I loved you Ryu," she spoke coldly, "I trusted you and you betray my trust," she turns away from him, "I never want to see you ever again," he looks up seeing her walk slowly away.
He finally spoke, "is your hate for her enough to drive us apart?" she stopped in her tracks, the question he asked tore her heart when she answered, "no my hate against her was not the reason why I hate you," when she turn tears are visible in her eyes.
In all the years Ryu had known her, he has never seen tears in her eyes ever, not even when she was a child, "it was the trust I gave you that made me hate you," he knew that she is right, "I could never place my trust with anyone knowing they'll betray me."
He took one step forward; she took a step back, "when I first met you I couldn't help but be open to you," he knew what she meant, been so open to a stranger about your life, "so open that I shared with you my first of many secrets."
He didn't smile, nor laugh, "I feel so embarrassed I thought you would laugh and tell everyone about my admiration for Hayate,"Ryu felt a tears welling within his eyes.
When she spoke again he could feel terrible grieve within her voice, "but you said it was alright and said you'll never tell anyone," she bare a sad smile, "I was a happy moment for me to know that I could trust you," Ryu spoke finally his calm voice gone.
He sound helpless, "you can still trust me Ayane, I love you," her smile slowly disappears, "no Ryu I can never trust you again, because I'm afraid you'll betray me again," she turns away, "Ayane!" he shouts, his words didn't reach Ayane as she slowly walks away.
Ryu ran forward, his hand clutch both side of Ayane shoulders, "please don't leave Ayane," she turn around, her eyes are dry of tears now, she press her hand to Ryu chest and push him away, "farewell Ryu," she softly whispers.
He stood rooted there as Ayane slowly walks away, her heart heavy, but at the same time the darker side of her is pleased with her decision, there is no room for love Ayane, that is her path, destine to be, alone…
She shook away the memory not wanting to think about him when she was so close in killing the one who had made him turn from her, what she saw made her stare in surprised.
Surprised that she would have never thought she would see it, nor have guessed, she saw a petit woman with copper coloured hair standing on the bridge, before her the silver falcon seem to be examining her, she raise her slender hand.
The Falcon seems to be familiar with her gesture, it lower its head for her to run her hand over its head, a smile emerge on her face while the Falcon enjoy the simple affection shown.
What shock Ayane was not the runaway smiling to the falcon but what she wore.
Kasumi wore amour more suited for heavy assault upon a fortification to deflect blades and bullets, slipped into her leg is kunai's each with a black ribbon round the end to mark them as hers, while her arm is armoured with metal manacles and glove to protect her from blades.
The amour she wore was worn by a kunoichi of the Hayabusa; the armour itself provided greater protection than the previous uniform the runaway had worn, but it does limit the manoeuvrability because of its weight.
Her copper hair is tied back by a single ribbon than the yellow ribbon Ayane is accustomed see her wear, at that moment she asked herself is the woman standing on the bridge stroking the Falcon Kasumi at all.
Only the soft smile on her lips and the warm friendly copper eyes gave her away, wisps of mist would pass them by for no reason apparent, given no indication that there would be a mist today.
The Shinobi of the Wind glance to the purple Kunoichi, when he did he saw the mist round them form into people knelt beside down as they are now, and then disappear just as quickly as they form, distorted faces would appear in the air and disappear screaming.
Ayane felt a chill from the mist, a chill that ran down into her very soul when the tendrils of mist touched her shoulder, but couldn't see the maddening illusions the mist is displaying to him.
When they look back to their target standing at the bridge they saw her eyes are already focus upon them, the eyes they stare at seem to have become cold, cold enough to freeze any fire thrown at her, her smile disappeared, she looked the every bit dangerous as the armour she wore.
She seem to be studying them for a moment, both Hayate and Ayane knelt there unsure what to do or to say, the runaway face sadden, now her eyes seem to beam pity upon them, she turn on the spot and walk away, not a sound made while she walked.
The Falcon hopped from the rail onto her shoulder, she didn't glance at the Falcon while she continue to walk onwards away from Ayane and Hayate, the two shaking the shock away drop from the roof and sprinted to the bridge.
Ayane easily jumped over the rubble of the ruined gate of their end.
Hayate jump over the gate and continue to run towards the runaway.
Ayane thought he might want to embrace her, when she saw him take hold of the hilt of his Ninjato, then it dawn upon Ayane that Hayate want to kill Kasumi quickly, Ayane race forward wanting to kill her first.
Kasumi continue to walk towards the open gate, oblivious to Hayate and Ayane.
Hayate wish he never had to do this but he has to, for the good of the clan and for his family he must for fill his mission, even if Kasumi is a saint she must die as the code state.
The Ninjato leave the sheathe with ease, Hayate took hold of the hilt with both hands and swing it into an arc that would cut Kasumi back open.
Hayate saw Kasumi glance over her shoulder, the look froze him on the very spot halting his Ninjato inches away from her delicate neck, the look was not innocent as many would had expected that would had stayed Hayate hand, instead he stare into two murderous eyes that stare back, daring him to cut her down.
The great Falcon perched on her shoulder took flight away from her, it knows a battle is about to commence.
Ayane had halted when Hayate had stopped moving, "maybe he thought again what he's doing," Ayane thought for a single moment, the next moment she has taken hold of her masters weapon, speaking a single ancient word the two ends of the weapon pulse for a moment then projected two beam of lavender light.
Holding the weapon at its centre in her right hand, while she is still moving forward towards her target, she jumps up propelling her to the sky, she stare down as Hayate stood rooted to the spot; Ayane didn't utter a word while the weapon she held is swung downwards to cut Kasumi in half.
The runaway beam the same murderous eyes to Ayane, she slip her hand around the hilt of the Ninjato upon her back and pull it quickly free, Ayane weapon came down as the Ninjato Kasumi wield stop the magical blade.
Sparks flew as the two made contact, purple flame engulf the blade for a moment before it vanish, Ayane lands hoping to break the dead lock, she felt the auburn woman push forward and knew she is at a disadvantage.
Ayane can only hold it at the centre while Kasumi can push on the blade itself to give her more leverage, seeing no choice Ayane took a small leap back, this carried her out of striking range of her enemies blade and allow her to defend herself if the runaway did attack.
Their eyes met, Ayane stare into the cold eyes of Kasumi that now to be calling out for blood, something she has never seen in her entire life.
Hayate stood dumb founded there was Ayane held her weapon ready to attack, Kasumi like wise held the weapon with both hands, the blade held with the blunt side pointing down while the other end point to the sky, she stood sideways stance ready to thrust the weapon if either attack her.
Ayane ran through the brief fight and wonder what blade did Kasumi held to enable her to combat against her own weapon, she knew only of one weapon that could block her attack, but Ayane shook this thought away, "she is not one of the Hayabusa Lineage."
That very thought is banished from her mind, she watch the blade Kasumi hold began to pulse moon light blue, slowly turning to fog red, "it…it can't be!" Ayane spoke in surprise; Hayate is also surprised, "yes it is," calmly the runaway spoke watching both of them carefully, "the blade I hold is the Dragon sword, the Ryuken."
Her words shock Ayane, but what she spoke next shocked her even more, "it is the weapon of the clan leaders of the Hayabusa's, it has picked me as it's next successor," the Falcon past over the moon and cast a shadow over Kasumi, Ayane saw something surround around the proclaimed heir of the Dragon sword body.
It seem something is surrounding her, it looks like liquid is around her but gave off three colours, pale blue, pale red and pale yellow, it seem to be a shape of some sort, but as to what neither Hayate nor Ayane knew, but it sent a chill down Hayate spine, and a chill down Ayane very soul.