Thanks goes to TigerEyes2 and Wolf Runner for reviewing my last chap. You
guys made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside Speaking of fuzz, there's
fluff in this one. I dunno if it's too much or what. You tell me.
Last chap: Kasumi just looked at him for a moment. This was the most she had ever heard Hayabusa speak. And now he was going to help her. "Alright then," Kasumi said walking over to him and sitting down. "I'll accept your help but before we go to Hayate I have to do something." "What's that?" Ryu asked. "I need to find an old friend."
Fellow Runaway
"Who's that?" Ryu asked curiously
"Oh, just another runaway."
"Another one?"
"Yea. She ran away quite some time before me. If she's still alive then I want to find her. I want her to know that I understand now."
"Understand what?" Ryu asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kasumi only smiled at him. "Maybe I'll tell you someday."
For a moment Ryu just sat and looked at her. He remembered watching this little girl with his best friend when they were children. He remembered how she would beg for their attention so she could show them her new moves. But she was a girl no more. She was a woman now... a very beautiful woman at that.
"What?" Kasumi asked, laughing a bit. She had decided to loose the defensive sarcasm of before and be more relaxed and friendly.
Ryu just shook his head. "Uh... nothing." He quickly rose. "I'm sure you're hungry. I'll go find something to eat." He picked up a fishing pole that was leaning against a tree near his belongings and marched off into the forest.
Kasumi stared after him. Was it just her, or were his cheeks a little pink as he left? Kasumi shook off the thought. Nah must have been her imagination.
She jumped up into the top of the trees and stared out at the rising sun while sitting on a tree branch. It was beautiful. How many times had she done this? Waking up before full sunrise, and watching as the fiery orb spread it's warming rays over the horizon. It really was a wonderful site, if you were active enough to get up that early.
Ryu soon returned and by that time the sun had risen. He had brought with him five small fishes and he set them over the fire to cook. About an hour later Kasumi and him dug into the fish. So maybe Kasumi had been hungrier than she thought. She wolfed her two fish and then looked innocently at Ryu when they were down to the last one. "We could split it," she suggested.
Ryu chuckled. Yes, definitely not a little girl anymore. "Go ahead," he said simply.
Kasumi ate that one quickly too. After that Ryu put out the fire and they began to head off...sort of.
"Okay so... which way are we going?" Ryu asked her.
"Hmm... she always talked about the city so... I think maybe she went there."
"Alright so which way?"
She pointed to the east. "Tokyo's that way, right?" Kasumi asked uncertainly.
Ryu smiled. "Yes," he chuckled.
They began walking. Ryu knew that it would be a long walk. They were a long way from Tokyo. They pushed hard for the whole day and that night Kasumi didn't sleep. The next day they pushed just as hard. That night Kasumi STILL didn't sleep. The next day they pushed hard but not as hard as before. Kasumi was beginning to lag before sundown and Ryu decided to stop early and rest.
That night after they ate Kasumi tried very hard to keep her eyes open. She was scared the nightmares would return. They were so real. It was almost as though it were really happening and even though she knew Hayabusa wouldn't let anything get too close to their camp she still tried to stay awake. She tried to keep her eyes wide by staring at the fire but it was no use. With a blanket around her shoulders, she soon drifted into a deep dark slumber.
She was little. No more than five at most. She sat on the ground, staring at the sky with her brother at her side. Suddenly Hayate was walking away.
"Wait!!" Kasumi's smaller form called. "Wait big bwotho!! I want to stay with you!!" She ran after him and a mist began closing in around her and Hayate. "Wait!!" She tripped and some how she was an adult again. "WAIT!" She called out to him one last time before he disappeared into the fog ahead. She tried to pick herself up but she couldn't even move. "HAYATE!" She screamed into the fog. Darkness began to consume her from behind. "HAYATEEEEEEEEE!!"
Kasumi woke in a bath of cold sweat again. Her copper hair was out of the ponytail and was strewn about her body and face. Ryu was kneeling next to her, a worried look furrowing his brow.
"Are you okay?" He asked helping her sit up.
She nodded trying to brush off his help. "Yea I'm fine."
"You woke me up with your screams," Ryu said, leaning back on his heels. "You really do miss him don't you?"
Kasumi's cheeks took on a pink tint. "I guess..."
Ryu smirked. "I knew you did."
Kasumi glared at him. "Yea, so? He is my brother. If I am to bring him to his senses then I have to care, right?"
Ryu's smirk faded. "Yes that is true. Will you be okay for now."
"Yea," she assured him again.
Ryu began to gather what they had. Soon after they set off with the sun rising above the horizon slowly. Kasumi had noticed Ryu watching her out of the corner of his eye. Why be so worried about her? As far as he was concerned she was just there to help him get his friend back down to Earth. She shook off the questions that came to mind. They were stupid anyways.
The truth of the matter was, Ryu had been watching her closely and not even he could say why. Why worry so much about the girl, The little voice in the back of his head demanded. Why so protective? Ryu thought for a moment. I don't know, He answered truthfully. She's my best friends sister? I really have no clue.
They kept going like that for two more days. Both nights Ryu had to wake Kasumi near dawn because of nightmares, and both days he watched over her. She noticed and slightly smiled, for reasons she did not understand.
On the fifth day, near noon, the shining skyscrapers off Tokyo could be seen and the roads became closer and more common. They entered the city. It was crowded with people everywhere. At the first phone booth they could find that was empty Kasumi went in and looked through it to try and find Ankara's address. It surprised Kasumi how easy it was to find her name and as soon as she had finished writing down the address they hailed a cab and were on their way.
They weaved through the busy streets, Kasumi staring blankly out the window. Worried thoughts traveled through her head over and over. Did Ankara still remember her? Did she remember the night she left? Kasumi had been close to her. She hoped that she hadn't forgotten her little pal from almost ten years ago.
The driver pulled up in front of a large apartment complex and Kasumi and Ryu stepped out the car and paid the driver, thanking him for his services. For a moment Kasumi just looked straight up at the tall building. Ankara lived here. It was amazing how she had gone from living in a village to an apartment building. She wondered which room she was in.
Ryu touched her shoulder and she jumped. "Are you ready to go in?"
Kasumi nodded her head. "Yea, let's go."
They walked into the lobby and asked the front desk if they had Ankara's room number. The receptionist gave them a number and up the elevator they went. Kasumi began to get even more and more anxious. She fidgeted with her sword, her shirt, and the ends of her hair.
A sudden noise snapped her out of the daze she was in. "Are you okay?" Ryu looked at her curiously. She was ever calm and gentle. Very few things shook her confidence the way this was.
"Yes," she assured him. "I'm just nervous. I don't know if she'll recognize me."
Ryu squeezed her arm. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll remember you. If she was as close as you act like she was, then she'll remember." He gave her a small smile.
She smiled back. "You're right."
As they approached the door that was Ankara's Kasumi tried as hard as she could to remember Ryu's words. She would remember, right? She wouldn't forget, right? They were about five feet from Ankara's door and Kasumi almost panicked. She was about to turn around when she felt Ryu's comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked back and smiled at him. She needed all the support she could get.
The got to the door and slightly hesitated before knocking. She tapped lightly on the door. She heard footsteps and then the lock clicked and a young woman opened the door.
For some reason this feels corny. REVIEW!!! Tell me what you think! Ok, outies! .
Last chap: Kasumi just looked at him for a moment. This was the most she had ever heard Hayabusa speak. And now he was going to help her. "Alright then," Kasumi said walking over to him and sitting down. "I'll accept your help but before we go to Hayate I have to do something." "What's that?" Ryu asked. "I need to find an old friend."
Fellow Runaway
"Who's that?" Ryu asked curiously
"Oh, just another runaway."
"Another one?"
"Yea. She ran away quite some time before me. If she's still alive then I want to find her. I want her to know that I understand now."
"Understand what?" Ryu asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kasumi only smiled at him. "Maybe I'll tell you someday."
For a moment Ryu just sat and looked at her. He remembered watching this little girl with his best friend when they were children. He remembered how she would beg for their attention so she could show them her new moves. But she was a girl no more. She was a woman now... a very beautiful woman at that.
"What?" Kasumi asked, laughing a bit. She had decided to loose the defensive sarcasm of before and be more relaxed and friendly.
Ryu just shook his head. "Uh... nothing." He quickly rose. "I'm sure you're hungry. I'll go find something to eat." He picked up a fishing pole that was leaning against a tree near his belongings and marched off into the forest.
Kasumi stared after him. Was it just her, or were his cheeks a little pink as he left? Kasumi shook off the thought. Nah must have been her imagination.
She jumped up into the top of the trees and stared out at the rising sun while sitting on a tree branch. It was beautiful. How many times had she done this? Waking up before full sunrise, and watching as the fiery orb spread it's warming rays over the horizon. It really was a wonderful site, if you were active enough to get up that early.
Ryu soon returned and by that time the sun had risen. He had brought with him five small fishes and he set them over the fire to cook. About an hour later Kasumi and him dug into the fish. So maybe Kasumi had been hungrier than she thought. She wolfed her two fish and then looked innocently at Ryu when they were down to the last one. "We could split it," she suggested.
Ryu chuckled. Yes, definitely not a little girl anymore. "Go ahead," he said simply.
Kasumi ate that one quickly too. After that Ryu put out the fire and they began to head off...sort of.
"Okay so... which way are we going?" Ryu asked her.
"Hmm... she always talked about the city so... I think maybe she went there."
"Alright so which way?"
She pointed to the east. "Tokyo's that way, right?" Kasumi asked uncertainly.
Ryu smiled. "Yes," he chuckled.
They began walking. Ryu knew that it would be a long walk. They were a long way from Tokyo. They pushed hard for the whole day and that night Kasumi didn't sleep. The next day they pushed just as hard. That night Kasumi STILL didn't sleep. The next day they pushed hard but not as hard as before. Kasumi was beginning to lag before sundown and Ryu decided to stop early and rest.
That night after they ate Kasumi tried very hard to keep her eyes open. She was scared the nightmares would return. They were so real. It was almost as though it were really happening and even though she knew Hayabusa wouldn't let anything get too close to their camp she still tried to stay awake. She tried to keep her eyes wide by staring at the fire but it was no use. With a blanket around her shoulders, she soon drifted into a deep dark slumber.
She was little. No more than five at most. She sat on the ground, staring at the sky with her brother at her side. Suddenly Hayate was walking away.
"Wait!!" Kasumi's smaller form called. "Wait big bwotho!! I want to stay with you!!" She ran after him and a mist began closing in around her and Hayate. "Wait!!" She tripped and some how she was an adult again. "WAIT!" She called out to him one last time before he disappeared into the fog ahead. She tried to pick herself up but she couldn't even move. "HAYATE!" She screamed into the fog. Darkness began to consume her from behind. "HAYATEEEEEEEEE!!"
Kasumi woke in a bath of cold sweat again. Her copper hair was out of the ponytail and was strewn about her body and face. Ryu was kneeling next to her, a worried look furrowing his brow.
"Are you okay?" He asked helping her sit up.
She nodded trying to brush off his help. "Yea I'm fine."
"You woke me up with your screams," Ryu said, leaning back on his heels. "You really do miss him don't you?"
Kasumi's cheeks took on a pink tint. "I guess..."
Ryu smirked. "I knew you did."
Kasumi glared at him. "Yea, so? He is my brother. If I am to bring him to his senses then I have to care, right?"
Ryu's smirk faded. "Yes that is true. Will you be okay for now."
"Yea," she assured him again.
Ryu began to gather what they had. Soon after they set off with the sun rising above the horizon slowly. Kasumi had noticed Ryu watching her out of the corner of his eye. Why be so worried about her? As far as he was concerned she was just there to help him get his friend back down to Earth. She shook off the questions that came to mind. They were stupid anyways.
The truth of the matter was, Ryu had been watching her closely and not even he could say why. Why worry so much about the girl, The little voice in the back of his head demanded. Why so protective? Ryu thought for a moment. I don't know, He answered truthfully. She's my best friends sister? I really have no clue.
They kept going like that for two more days. Both nights Ryu had to wake Kasumi near dawn because of nightmares, and both days he watched over her. She noticed and slightly smiled, for reasons she did not understand.
On the fifth day, near noon, the shining skyscrapers off Tokyo could be seen and the roads became closer and more common. They entered the city. It was crowded with people everywhere. At the first phone booth they could find that was empty Kasumi went in and looked through it to try and find Ankara's address. It surprised Kasumi how easy it was to find her name and as soon as she had finished writing down the address they hailed a cab and were on their way.
They weaved through the busy streets, Kasumi staring blankly out the window. Worried thoughts traveled through her head over and over. Did Ankara still remember her? Did she remember the night she left? Kasumi had been close to her. She hoped that she hadn't forgotten her little pal from almost ten years ago.
The driver pulled up in front of a large apartment complex and Kasumi and Ryu stepped out the car and paid the driver, thanking him for his services. For a moment Kasumi just looked straight up at the tall building. Ankara lived here. It was amazing how she had gone from living in a village to an apartment building. She wondered which room she was in.
Ryu touched her shoulder and she jumped. "Are you ready to go in?"
Kasumi nodded her head. "Yea, let's go."
They walked into the lobby and asked the front desk if they had Ankara's room number. The receptionist gave them a number and up the elevator they went. Kasumi began to get even more and more anxious. She fidgeted with her sword, her shirt, and the ends of her hair.
A sudden noise snapped her out of the daze she was in. "Are you okay?" Ryu looked at her curiously. She was ever calm and gentle. Very few things shook her confidence the way this was.
"Yes," she assured him. "I'm just nervous. I don't know if she'll recognize me."
Ryu squeezed her arm. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll remember you. If she was as close as you act like she was, then she'll remember." He gave her a small smile.
She smiled back. "You're right."
As they approached the door that was Ankara's Kasumi tried as hard as she could to remember Ryu's words. She would remember, right? She wouldn't forget, right? They were about five feet from Ankara's door and Kasumi almost panicked. She was about to turn around when she felt Ryu's comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked back and smiled at him. She needed all the support she could get.
The got to the door and slightly hesitated before knocking. She tapped lightly on the door. She heard footsteps and then the lock clicked and a young woman opened the door.
For some reason this feels corny. REVIEW!!! Tell me what you think! Ok, outies! .