Hey everybody! This update took longer than I had hoped. My family
all of a sudden decided it shouldn't be so easy for me to get on the
computer. Well : p to them! Sorry. I'll try harder.
Recap: Mihoshi smiled to herself. What a cute couple they made!
Mihoshi shut the front door behind her just as a knock came from the back. She scurried through the living room, into the kitchen, and opened the back door.
"Ah! Hayate-sama! I see you have come for a visit! Please come in and sit down."
Hayate did just so. "I'm sorry Mihoshi-san but I cannot stay long. I'm on a search."
"Oh?" Mihoshi said. "On a search for what?"
"I'm looking for two travelers," Hayate explained, leaning forward. "One is a woman, a kunoichi, with red-auburn hair and brownish wine colored eyes. The other who is traveling with her has yet to be identified. Have you seen them?"
Decisions to be made
Mihoshi sat back in her chair and brought her fingers up to her chin as if she was thinking.
So many questions left unasked were answered in that moment. This explained why they had to leave so quickly. Why Ryu was so closed up. Why Kasumi seemed to forever be hiding something. And now she knew exactly what Kasumi had been hiding.
Mihoshi remembered her own days as a young kunoichi. She had followed orders to the tee. Never questioning why, and even abandoning her own beliefs to please her superiors. She had risen high in the ranks for someone with no edge such as money or already high-ranking family.
Mihoshi had made many mistakes when she was Kasumi's age. Now she decided to do what she though was right.
"I'm sorry Hayate-sama,' she said quietly while bowing where she sat. She leaned so far over that her chest touched her knees (AN: Don't be perverts.) "I have not seen them." "Ah well, do not trouble yourself further Mihoshi-san," Hayate said standing. "I will continue my search. But please, keep your eyes open." With that Hayate spun on his heel and walked out the back door.
Mihoshi watched him leave and as soon as the door was shut she heaved a sigh of relief. She could only pray that she had done the right thing and bought Kasumi and Ryu some time. But maybe she had done just the opposite.
Hayate walked into the forest where he had left his men. The group of ninjas watched him silently, waiting for his command.
"Tanaka," he called into the group. One of the three ninjas with a red band around their forearm came forward and placed a hand over his heart.
"Yes Hayate-sama?" He asked.
"Take your troupe west and then head for the base. Kobayashi!" Kobayashi stepped forward. "Head north, straight towards the base from here. Ohashi and I will head east and then towards the base. We will cover more ground this way and there is someone I need to see."
The three captains nodded and Hayate made a sharp gesture with his arm. "Move out!" He called, and within seconds the entire squad he had brought with, except his own troupe and Ohashi's, were gone.
"Let's go Ohashi." And with that they took off.
Kasumi and Ryu had been walking for a short time when Ryu finally stopped and asked, "Which direction?"
"We're going north, right?" She asked pointing ahead. Ryu nodded. "Alright then! I think we're going the right direction." She paused for a moment. "This IS the way to Hayate's base.........right?" Ryu chuckled slightly and nodded again.
They walked for the whole day without incident and that night they camped peacefully under the stars.
The next day Kasumi insisted on walking herself, but soon she was lagging behind and once again Ryu hefted her onto his back.
They walked all day, Ryu only pausing for short moments to rest before walking on. The sun was beginning to make its way towards the horizon when something finally happened. Branches in the distance shifted and shook without the aid of the wind.
Ryu and Kasumi's heads both shot up at the same time. "Did you hear that?" Kasumi asked.
Ryu nodded.
"Put me down," Kasumi commanded.
"What?" Ryu asked. "Why?"
"You can't run with me on your back," she stated as her feet felt the ground. "And I can't run at all. But I think I can at least fight, as long as I don't use my legs too much."
"You will not make," Ryu hissed. "Most of your fighting style is dependant on speed. If your legs give out, you will be dead!"
"I can fight Ryu," Kasumi said raising her voice a little. "Speed is not ALL that I am. I have force."
The noise of approaching ninjas became louder and clearer. Kasumi began to ready herself by dumping the loads on her back and pulling out her short sword and getting into battle stance. Ryu did the same while lifting a cloth veil over his face.
Just as they were about to pass over them several ninjas dropped from the trees around them. Soon Ryu and Kasumi were back-to-back surrounded by almost 15 ninjas.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Ryu asked her over his shoulder. "I can hold them off while you make a run for it."
"You're a wonderful fighter," Kasumi replied as they began to close in. "But 15 to one is bad odds for me if I make a run for it. And besides, if I DID make it, you wouldn't be there anymore......... and I wouldn't be able to get into Hayate's base, so going any further would be pointless." For a moment, even Kasumi herself thought she would say something else.
With the last word the ninja's lunged all at once. The first to attack Kasumi went for a sword to the face. Kasumi easily blocked it and lunged forward to stab him in the stomach. Two more were waiting behind him, both slicing for her head at once. She ducked and cut both of them across the belly, causing them to fall.
Meanwhile, right behind her, Ryu was managing pretty well. Two had come at him but had been no match for Ryu's skill and had fallen quickly and easily. The next two were better. They teamed up, one coming straight on, the other sneaking up from behind. First Ryu took the one behind him out by cutting him across his chest. Then he ducked under the other's short sword and kicked his legs out from under him, then impaling the man to the ground with his sword.
Kasumi was still holding up, if barely. She had taken out 3 more after the first 3 and her legs were beginning to give out. She cut another down when she noticed one she hadn't before. He had a red band around his arm and seemed to be watching her. Soon he began to approach, and Kasumi noticed the other ninjas seemed to be ignoring her.
She quickly looked around to find Ryu holding his own. All the ninjas except one and the captain, who was currently approaching Kasumi, were either dead or mortally wounded on the ground.
Ryu seemed to be having some trouble with the last, which left Kasumi with the captain.
"Ah you're still alive," he said, the smirk easily heard on his voice. "I figured the poison would have killed you." He pulled out his short sword. "Oh well. Know this, girl, I never make the same mistake twice."
Realization hit Kasumi. "It was YOU!" She screamed. "YOU'RE the one you poisoned me!! YOU'RE the one who killed my legs for a week!!"
"Yes," he said calmly, getting into ready stance. "But this time your legs aren't the only things that'll be dead." And with the last word he lunged at her.
Kasumi easily blocked his lunge, and afterward launched her own fury of attacks. Rage had sent a flood of adrenaline through her entire body. Kasumi now fought with a new strength. Her attacks were fast and hard.
At first the Captains eyes widened in surprise, then he spoke, AGAIN with the smirk thick on his voice. "Ah. Good. You've got your strength back. Now I can take this fight seriously."
Kasumi growled, and once again unleashed her anger. This time he knocked her sword up and went for her middle. Kasumi just barely kept herself from feeling his blade by jumping backwards. He ran after her and attacked her mercilessly.
Kasumi was caught and he was moving her back towards the trees where she could easily be cornered. Kasumi watched him carefully for the few moments she could spare. He slashed downward, and then from the right, then he would lunge. A basic pattern, but deadly in the hands of a master.
Kasumi waited. He lunged again, but instead of just blocking she moved off to the side and pulled one of her favorite (AN: or maybe my favorite) moves. She grabbed his wrist and pulled forward with enough strength that his momentum allowed her to walk up his body to his face where she stomped multiple times. Once his head was imbedded into the ground she took her sword and drove it through his shoulder.
For a moment he just lay there with a shocked look. The veil had fallen from his face when Kasumi had stepped on it. Then his expression changed to the same smirk Kasumi had heard, but gentler and sort of satisfied.
"You were a formidable opponent," he said breathily, blood trickling from his mouth and nose. "I'm glad I lost to someone as strong as you. Now I may die honorably." With that his head rolled to the side and his eyes closed.
Kasumi looked sadly down at the fallen warrior. He wasn't really bad at heart. He was probably just following orders.
Hayate's orders.
Kasumi pulled her sword out of his shoulder. She stood there for a moment, trembling. She was worn out, her legs over exhausted, and the adrenaline rush was wearing off and adrenaline could leave many people trembling.
Ryu had finally managed to cut down his opponent. The man had definitely not been a rookie. He was skilled, but in the end not skilled enough.
Ryu glanced around and spotted Kasumi standing over a dead man shaking, the sword in her hands dripping with blood.
Suddenly she began to fall back. "KASUMI!" Ryu called in surprise. He managed to catch her just before she hit the ground. Ryu looked her up and down for injures. She was fine.
A small smile crossed his lips. He KNEW she would wear herself out. Ryu gathered up the bags on his shoulder with Kasumi in his arms and walked on to find a better place to set up camp
There it is!! Hope you like it. I ALMOST put in another cliffhanger but decided against it. I think I almost killed someone with my last one ;; Anyways I'll try to update soon! I know I'm enjoying this. Are you? Tell me in your reviews.
To cherrie-babe-7273: I'd love to help you out. I tried to email you but my email was being a crap head so : p Sorry. Anyways, I'm a little lost as to what you mean by tips. Like ideas for stories or just general tips? Uhm I'd give out my email but......... I don't like giving it out on the net so......... just post another review. Sorry ;;
Recap: Mihoshi smiled to herself. What a cute couple they made!
Mihoshi shut the front door behind her just as a knock came from the back. She scurried through the living room, into the kitchen, and opened the back door.
"Ah! Hayate-sama! I see you have come for a visit! Please come in and sit down."
Hayate did just so. "I'm sorry Mihoshi-san but I cannot stay long. I'm on a search."
"Oh?" Mihoshi said. "On a search for what?"
"I'm looking for two travelers," Hayate explained, leaning forward. "One is a woman, a kunoichi, with red-auburn hair and brownish wine colored eyes. The other who is traveling with her has yet to be identified. Have you seen them?"
Decisions to be made
Mihoshi sat back in her chair and brought her fingers up to her chin as if she was thinking.
So many questions left unasked were answered in that moment. This explained why they had to leave so quickly. Why Ryu was so closed up. Why Kasumi seemed to forever be hiding something. And now she knew exactly what Kasumi had been hiding.
Mihoshi remembered her own days as a young kunoichi. She had followed orders to the tee. Never questioning why, and even abandoning her own beliefs to please her superiors. She had risen high in the ranks for someone with no edge such as money or already high-ranking family.
Mihoshi had made many mistakes when she was Kasumi's age. Now she decided to do what she though was right.
"I'm sorry Hayate-sama,' she said quietly while bowing where she sat. She leaned so far over that her chest touched her knees (AN: Don't be perverts.) "I have not seen them." "Ah well, do not trouble yourself further Mihoshi-san," Hayate said standing. "I will continue my search. But please, keep your eyes open." With that Hayate spun on his heel and walked out the back door.
Mihoshi watched him leave and as soon as the door was shut she heaved a sigh of relief. She could only pray that she had done the right thing and bought Kasumi and Ryu some time. But maybe she had done just the opposite.
Hayate walked into the forest where he had left his men. The group of ninjas watched him silently, waiting for his command.
"Tanaka," he called into the group. One of the three ninjas with a red band around their forearm came forward and placed a hand over his heart.
"Yes Hayate-sama?" He asked.
"Take your troupe west and then head for the base. Kobayashi!" Kobayashi stepped forward. "Head north, straight towards the base from here. Ohashi and I will head east and then towards the base. We will cover more ground this way and there is someone I need to see."
The three captains nodded and Hayate made a sharp gesture with his arm. "Move out!" He called, and within seconds the entire squad he had brought with, except his own troupe and Ohashi's, were gone.
"Let's go Ohashi." And with that they took off.
Kasumi and Ryu had been walking for a short time when Ryu finally stopped and asked, "Which direction?"
"We're going north, right?" She asked pointing ahead. Ryu nodded. "Alright then! I think we're going the right direction." She paused for a moment. "This IS the way to Hayate's base.........right?" Ryu chuckled slightly and nodded again.
They walked for the whole day without incident and that night they camped peacefully under the stars.
The next day Kasumi insisted on walking herself, but soon she was lagging behind and once again Ryu hefted her onto his back.
They walked all day, Ryu only pausing for short moments to rest before walking on. The sun was beginning to make its way towards the horizon when something finally happened. Branches in the distance shifted and shook without the aid of the wind.
Ryu and Kasumi's heads both shot up at the same time. "Did you hear that?" Kasumi asked.
Ryu nodded.
"Put me down," Kasumi commanded.
"What?" Ryu asked. "Why?"
"You can't run with me on your back," she stated as her feet felt the ground. "And I can't run at all. But I think I can at least fight, as long as I don't use my legs too much."
"You will not make," Ryu hissed. "Most of your fighting style is dependant on speed. If your legs give out, you will be dead!"
"I can fight Ryu," Kasumi said raising her voice a little. "Speed is not ALL that I am. I have force."
The noise of approaching ninjas became louder and clearer. Kasumi began to ready herself by dumping the loads on her back and pulling out her short sword and getting into battle stance. Ryu did the same while lifting a cloth veil over his face.
Just as they were about to pass over them several ninjas dropped from the trees around them. Soon Ryu and Kasumi were back-to-back surrounded by almost 15 ninjas.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Ryu asked her over his shoulder. "I can hold them off while you make a run for it."
"You're a wonderful fighter," Kasumi replied as they began to close in. "But 15 to one is bad odds for me if I make a run for it. And besides, if I DID make it, you wouldn't be there anymore......... and I wouldn't be able to get into Hayate's base, so going any further would be pointless." For a moment, even Kasumi herself thought she would say something else.
With the last word the ninja's lunged all at once. The first to attack Kasumi went for a sword to the face. Kasumi easily blocked it and lunged forward to stab him in the stomach. Two more were waiting behind him, both slicing for her head at once. She ducked and cut both of them across the belly, causing them to fall.
Meanwhile, right behind her, Ryu was managing pretty well. Two had come at him but had been no match for Ryu's skill and had fallen quickly and easily. The next two were better. They teamed up, one coming straight on, the other sneaking up from behind. First Ryu took the one behind him out by cutting him across his chest. Then he ducked under the other's short sword and kicked his legs out from under him, then impaling the man to the ground with his sword.
Kasumi was still holding up, if barely. She had taken out 3 more after the first 3 and her legs were beginning to give out. She cut another down when she noticed one she hadn't before. He had a red band around his arm and seemed to be watching her. Soon he began to approach, and Kasumi noticed the other ninjas seemed to be ignoring her.
She quickly looked around to find Ryu holding his own. All the ninjas except one and the captain, who was currently approaching Kasumi, were either dead or mortally wounded on the ground.
Ryu seemed to be having some trouble with the last, which left Kasumi with the captain.
"Ah you're still alive," he said, the smirk easily heard on his voice. "I figured the poison would have killed you." He pulled out his short sword. "Oh well. Know this, girl, I never make the same mistake twice."
Realization hit Kasumi. "It was YOU!" She screamed. "YOU'RE the one you poisoned me!! YOU'RE the one who killed my legs for a week!!"
"Yes," he said calmly, getting into ready stance. "But this time your legs aren't the only things that'll be dead." And with the last word he lunged at her.
Kasumi easily blocked his lunge, and afterward launched her own fury of attacks. Rage had sent a flood of adrenaline through her entire body. Kasumi now fought with a new strength. Her attacks were fast and hard.
At first the Captains eyes widened in surprise, then he spoke, AGAIN with the smirk thick on his voice. "Ah. Good. You've got your strength back. Now I can take this fight seriously."
Kasumi growled, and once again unleashed her anger. This time he knocked her sword up and went for her middle. Kasumi just barely kept herself from feeling his blade by jumping backwards. He ran after her and attacked her mercilessly.
Kasumi was caught and he was moving her back towards the trees where she could easily be cornered. Kasumi watched him carefully for the few moments she could spare. He slashed downward, and then from the right, then he would lunge. A basic pattern, but deadly in the hands of a master.
Kasumi waited. He lunged again, but instead of just blocking she moved off to the side and pulled one of her favorite (AN: or maybe my favorite) moves. She grabbed his wrist and pulled forward with enough strength that his momentum allowed her to walk up his body to his face where she stomped multiple times. Once his head was imbedded into the ground she took her sword and drove it through his shoulder.
For a moment he just lay there with a shocked look. The veil had fallen from his face when Kasumi had stepped on it. Then his expression changed to the same smirk Kasumi had heard, but gentler and sort of satisfied.
"You were a formidable opponent," he said breathily, blood trickling from his mouth and nose. "I'm glad I lost to someone as strong as you. Now I may die honorably." With that his head rolled to the side and his eyes closed.
Kasumi looked sadly down at the fallen warrior. He wasn't really bad at heart. He was probably just following orders.
Hayate's orders.
Kasumi pulled her sword out of his shoulder. She stood there for a moment, trembling. She was worn out, her legs over exhausted, and the adrenaline rush was wearing off and adrenaline could leave many people trembling.
Ryu had finally managed to cut down his opponent. The man had definitely not been a rookie. He was skilled, but in the end not skilled enough.
Ryu glanced around and spotted Kasumi standing over a dead man shaking, the sword in her hands dripping with blood.
Suddenly she began to fall back. "KASUMI!" Ryu called in surprise. He managed to catch her just before she hit the ground. Ryu looked her up and down for injures. She was fine.
A small smile crossed his lips. He KNEW she would wear herself out. Ryu gathered up the bags on his shoulder with Kasumi in his arms and walked on to find a better place to set up camp
There it is!! Hope you like it. I ALMOST put in another cliffhanger but decided against it. I think I almost killed someone with my last one ;; Anyways I'll try to update soon! I know I'm enjoying this. Are you? Tell me in your reviews.
To cherrie-babe-7273: I'd love to help you out. I tried to email you but my email was being a crap head so : p Sorry. Anyways, I'm a little lost as to what you mean by tips. Like ideas for stories or just general tips? Uhm I'd give out my email but......... I don't like giving it out on the net so......... just post another review. Sorry ;;