Chapter 18

Kasumi ran through the forest as quickly as possible. Ayane still hung onto her backside, slightly unconscious due to her injury.

"You've always been weak, Kasumi." Ayane mumbled.

A sad smile spread across Kasumi's lips once she heard her.

"...Why are you always so worried for me? Can't you just leave me alone?" Ayane demanded.

Kasumi began to slow down in her running when she heard Ayane ask her question.

"We both used to look out for each other, Ayane. Back when we were kids, we took care of each other." She responded.

"Liar."

Kasumi stopped in her tracks.

"If that were true, why did you leave me back then?"

Kasumi thought back to what Ayane was talking about.


The two girls were splashing and running around in the clear waters. Laughter filled the area as they played together in the water.

Suddenly two men interrupted their time together.

"We have been looking for you, Miss Kasumi." One of the men told Kasumi.

Kasumi and Ayane stopped playing around and got quiet once they mentioned Kasumi's name.

The other man picked up Kasumi, which made her drop the fresh fish she had caught. Ayane jumped back with surprise and looked down at the fish and then back up at the men and Kasumi.

Swaying his hand at Ayane, they soon left with Kasumi.


"Ayane-"

"I know. The same excuse you use every time." Ayane interrupted before Kasumi could explain.

She then started back up running towards their destination.

"I'm sorry." Kasumi told her.

Ayane's eyes slightly widen when she felt Kasumi's shoulders shake.

"I'm sorry for leaving you back then..I'm sorry for everything." Kasumi continued.

Ayane stayed quiet as they continued through the rest of their journey.

Several minutes later, the two came to the entrance of the Dragon Dojo. Kasumi entered the cave and into one of the empty rooms. She then placed Ayane down on one of the clean futons that laid in the room.

Kasumi stood up and watched with concern as sweat began to trickle down Ayane's forehead.

Quickly, she left the room and came back with a bowl of warm water and a small towel. She soaked the towel in the water and gently placed it on her forehead.

Ayane grimaced as she felt the warmth of the towel.

Kasumi's faced darkened as she sat next to her sister.

"When this is all over, let's go play again. Ayane.." Kasumi mumbled.

No response.

"I'll never leave you." Kasumi continued and slowly stood up.

Staring her down for a few seconds, she left the room.

After Kasumi had left the room, the lightning symbol brightened below Ayane's right shoulder. Tears suddenly escaped her closed eyes as the light grew brighter.

"...Traitor."


Hayate entered the room to see Hitomi already sitting up on the futon. Her face was turned towards the small window. Droplets continued to hit the window as the storm slowly began to grow worse.

"Hitomi?" He called to her.

She slightly jumped when she saw Hayate walking over towards her. Her baby blue eyes softened as she locked them with Hayate's.

"Hi." She smiled.

Hayate stared at her state. Bandages were wrapped around her forehead, arms, and around her ribcage.

His brows furrowed as he looked at her.

"Ein—I mean Hayate, I'm fine, see?" She smiled and winked at him.

A slight smile spread on his lips as he moved to sit next to her.

Silence filled the room as they sat together and watched the rain fall.

"Who was there?" Hayate broke the silence.

Hitomi looked down and played with her fingers.

"Her voice sounded familiar. I couldn't make out her face but, once I heard her voice, I know she was there."

Hayate listened carefully as she explained.

"Hikaru is after you, Hayate." She said with her head lowered.

Hayate's eyes narrowed the second he heard Hikaru's name. His fist clenched as he started to connect the dots.

"Hikaru did this to you, Hitomi?" He asked once he stood up.

"...I know she was there. S-she was at my door..and..." She stuttered.

Flashbacks suddenly flew across his mind. Back when he was attacking the M.I.S.T guards, he also encountered some Black Spider ninjas on the way to the lab. At the time, he didn't think as to why they were there. Could they be helping them?

"Hayate? Hayate?" Hitomi called him several times until he snapped back to reality.

He then began to pace back and forth in around the room.

"Hayate?"

He paused and looked back down at Hitomi.

"I have to get to her. Everything is going to be chaos once Ryu finds out." He glanced out the window. "She will be hunted down by both clans, especially Ryu's."

Hitomi's eyes widen when she watched him mumble to himself. He then glared down at Hitomi, which made her slowly back away.

"No...No! You wouldn't do this..." Hitomi held her head as she thought back to when she saw the guard's body explode inside the room. She then remembered the dark glare he had given to the hooded man.

"This is what he did. This is what they do when they get angry." She remembered his words he whispered into her ear.

'Ninjas don't care who their enemies are. They just want them to suffer in pain.' She thought and winced in pain.

"Hitomi, are you okay?" He turned his attention towards her and asked with concern.

"S-stay..Stay away f-from me. Stay away from me! Please don't come any closer." She stuttered yet again, distancing herself from him.

Hayate was taken back from what she had told him.

"Stay away from me!" He heard Ayane and Hitomi's voice say in unison.

"Hitomi.." He started to reach out to her but stopped short.

Her eyes turned cold as she stared back at Hayate.

"I don't want to do this anymore...it hurts, Hayate. I don't want to go there anymore!" She cried.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you." He apologized.

Hitomi's tears stopped and she averted her eyes from his.

"This is your life now...just following orders. In the end, who gets hurt?"

No response.

"If this village would go to war, how does everything turn out? You guys just go and take revenge on the enemy? You don't ask them what reason they had to do it?" She paused and looked up at him. "Do you ever think about that, Hayate?"

Hayate stood his ground. He stared into her eyes, which continued to spill fresh tears.

He then sat back down next to her and caressed her wet cheek.

"This wasn't supposed to involve you. They're going to use everything against me, including you. I can't risk losing you Hitomi." He paused. "Don't leave this house, understood?" He demanded and stared into her eyes.

Hitomi's eyes widen when she witnessed Hayate's serious expression for the first time.

He then placed his forehead against hers. Standing up, with his back facing her, he got ready to leave.

"I won't anyone get near you again, I promise, Hitomi."

And with said, he left the room and disappeared soon after.

Hitomi sat on the futon, mesmerized. She touched her forehead as her cheeks blossomed a bright pink.

"Ein..." She quietly called out.

A slight breeze flew inside the room in response of her call.

'I know you're somewhere inside of him still Ein. Please help him find that.'


Ryu appeared hiding in the trees, above the Black Spider territory. He watched some men run in and out of the area while only two of them stood their grounds.

"She told us to stay here while the others go watch out for the little girl." One of the two spoke.

"You think I didn't hear orders, Great Master Daichi?" The other ninja said, with a hint of sarcasm.

Then more Spiders ninjas came towards the two.

"She told us you'll need more assistance up here." One of the ninjas told Daichi.

"Don't let any of your guards down, understood? We're all here to do one job." Daichi stated and drew out his battle sword.

"Hai!" They all agreed in unison.

Ryu scanned the area, counting how many he would encounter once he would get down there.

'Five down, two from the left and right...' He counted but stopped short when suddenly a flaming arrow shot up in his hiding place.

"There! He's up in the trees!" Several ninjas exclaimed.

Ryu then teleported near each of the three and stabbed them quickly in their backsides. They hit the ground instantly, which shocked the remaining ninjas.

"Find him!" Daichi ordered the remaining ninjas.

They then drew out their swords when green leaves danced around them. Their eyes narrowed as they watched the leaves swirled before them.

Ryu appeared in the leaves and unshielded his own two swords.

"If it isn't Ryu Hayabusa, the Dragon ninja." He paused and glanced over his shoulder, at his men. "Kill him."

They all then leaped at Ryu, ready to end the living legacy.

Minutes later, the Spider ninjas laid motionless before Ryu's feet. Slashing the blood off his swords, he shielded them back in their sheaths and walked over to the fallen Daichi.

A small card was sticking out of the ninja's pocket. Ryu then crouched down and took the card and tried to make out the words.

"GODDESS PROJECT C KEYPAD ELEVATOR ACCESS" It read.

Placing the card in his pocket, he ran towards his destination.

"...He's...on his way, he's on his...way towards..." Cough. "T-the elevator." One injured ninja spoke into his ear piece.

"Backup is all ready to go." The other end responded.


Kasumi walked out the room to find more fresh clothing for the two of them when she saw her brother sitting in the middle of the dojo, with his backside facing her.

"Brother?" She called out.

Hayate quickly turned around and stood up to face her.

"Kasumi, what are you doing here?" He paused. "Where's Ayane?"

"She's here, she's in the room resting." She walked past him. "This was the only place that we've could've stayed hidden." She walked towards a wooden box that was sitting in the corner of the dojo.

"You could've took her home and asked for assistance."

"And risk those rumors? I've been on the run longer than you think Hayate. I took care of myself when I was alone, and I took care of her, alone." Kasumi stated.

Hayate gave out a slightly sigh and walked over towards the room where Ayane was sleeping.

"She'll be alright after that rest she's taking." Kasumi stated while she opened the box and looked through the junk.

She then smiled as she lifted up one of Ayane's dresses. It was a purple mini dress with an orange hemline and had a butterfly on the skirt. She then pulled out the matching sleeves and an orange obi tied into a large bow that attaches to the back of the dress.

"I shouldn't have showed that back there." He muttered as he continued to stare at Ayane.

Kasumi lifted up the clothing and walked past him, into the room.

"Father cannot know what happened back there." He said.

"He will find out sooner or later." She placed the clothes beside Ayane.

Hayate stay frozen in his place. What were to happen if he did find out?

"Will it hurt her? I mean, if she would've learned it, will the ninpo hurt her?" Kasumi asked.

Hayate hesitated to answer her question. Instead, he walked over to Ayane, who's breathing was a little ragged.

He then kneeled down next to the futon and moved a few strands of hair away from Ayane's face.

"Stay away from me!" He heard Ayane's voice yell inside his head.

He shifted away from her the second he heard her voice.

Suddenly, red liquid fell from her closed eyes as she slept.

"Ayane?" He called with concern as he saw the blood roll down her cheeks.

His blue aura then surrounded his body as the blood continued.

Kasumi's eyes widen as she witnessed the scene.

"Hayate?! Ayane?!" She backed away from them.

"The lilies. Do you remember, Hayate?" Her voice repeated several times throughout his mind.

'Dammit!' He cursed to himself as he fell to his knees. Kasumi teleported over towards him and held him in her arms.

"Hayate? Hayate! Please calm down! I'm still here!" Kasumi called as she held her brother.

Hayate looked up at Kasumi and back down at his hands.

'Calm down, calm down Hayate.' He told himself.

Seconds later, his aura slowly began to fade away. He grunted as Kasumi helped him sit back up. He then groaned and rubbed his forehead.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

Ignoring her question, he slowly got up from his position and limped over to Ayane. Her cheeks were bloodstained, but her breathing was back to normal.

"What happened back there..." He asked himself aloud.

Kasumi watched from afar. A frown tugged on her lips as she watched in concern for both of her siblings. She then soon left the room, for the two to be alone.

'He can't know what happened now and before.' He told himself and held his right arm.

"How's Hitomi?" Kasumi interrupted his thoughts. She walked back inside carrying purple thigh-high socks and a pair of matching ankle boots.

"Hitomi.." He gave out a frustrated sigh. "She wasn't supposed to be involved in this." He averted his eyes from Kasumi.

"It's not your fault-"

"This is my fault. Bringing her to Japan, I didn't expect for this to happen." He interrupted her.

Kasumi hesitated to respond to what he said.

He then looked down at Ayane and left the room, for Kasumi to soon follow.

"It's not like you could have predicted the future, Hayate."

He glanced over his shoulder to look at her, then back down at the ground.

"Us, as Mugen Tenshin ninjas, we're set to follow orders." He paused. "Am I right?"

Kasumi was confused by his sudden question.

"Where is this coming from?" She asked.

"She said she didn't want to do this anymore. I'm hurting her, Kasumi."

"The second this is all over, I'm taking her back to Germany." He stated.

Kasumi walked up behind him and hugged him from behind.

Hayate stayed frozen as he felt her warmth against his back. She then gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. Looking back, he watched her flash him a small smile and walked back into the room.

'What have you done to me, Hitomi?' Her cheerful face and bright smile popped in his mind as he stood in the middle of the dojo.

Multiple footsteps brought him back to reality. He walked to the entrance of the cave to see Master Joe and several Hayabusa ninjas making their way towards the village.

'What's going on?' He thought as he disappeared into the wind, back to the village to get answers from his father.


"So, it's settled then?" The masked man asked, getting up from his chair.

"I believe so. We have kept the girl in that egg for a couple days now. And I'm hoping my daughter still has the woman." Spidor sighed after his last sentence.

"Hikaru, if I'm not mistaking. That devil child made me lose the damned woman." The man groaned.

"My apologies, Victor Donovan. She's not quite the excellent listener. She's become very useful to me, yet again." Spidor said, leaning back in his own chair.

"When will the next phase start up again? The sooner she wakes, the sooner the world will be in our hands." Donovan stated, smiling under his mask.

"That Dragon ninja, we just need him out of the picture. If that doesn't go as planned, I have something else in mind." He paused and held up his clenched fist. "The Hayabusa and Mugen Tenshins will suffer from the goddess."

"Goddess Project C." He grabbed the folder that laid on top of the table. His smile widen as he looked at the model of his next project. He then flipped opened the folder to find a picture with a blonde little girl.

"Yes, Canna. This will be entertaining."


Earlier...

Momiji laid on the futon, with Sanji laying right next to her. His arms were tight around her waist, showing she wouldn't be going anywhere, anytime soon. She played with the boy's brown hair as she thought back to everything that had been happening.

Shen then thought back when she was with Master Ryu and crying in front of him before she had left him, alone.

'I can't just break down like that.' She told herself. Her eyes trailed to one of her weapons in the corner of the room. Her Heavenly Dragon Naginata sword shined as Momiji stared at the weapon.

Several footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She turned over to see the screen door opened and a few men walked past the room.

"Where are we headed to this time?"

"Master Joe was planning on going over to the Mugen Tenshin. For what reason? I do not know."

She briefly heard their conversation.

As they left, a young girl stood near the doorway, in her kneeled position. An older man stood in front of her, a short sword in his hands.

"You will not disappoint me, are you?"

The girl shook her head.

He then took the sword out of its stealth and threw it down before the girl.

"Be ready for this battle." The man ordered and left soon after.

The girl stood up and stared down the weapon. She then dusted the dirt off her black ninja garb and grabbed the sword.

"Help is needed at the grounds!" Momiji heard several men call from outside.

Looking back at the girl, Momiji slightly jumped when she caught the girl's eye. The girl stared at her for a minute before she pulled up her black scarf, up to her nose. Her dark yellow eyes narrowed at the maiden, and she sprinted off outside.

"With Master Joe gone, war will break loose soon." Another man said as he walked past her room, talking to one of the other females.

"Dammit Hikaru." Momiji muttered and got up from the futon, careful not to wake Sanji. She then grabbed her White Shinobi Shozoku garb and quickly changed. As she grabbed her sword, she heard a voice behind her.

"And where do you think you're going?" Sanji asked.

Momiji turned to see him sitting up on the futon, with a kunai that he continued to spin on his finger.

"Master Ryu did tell me to watch you, did he not?" He stated and stared her down.

Momiji smiled and grabbed her black mask. She walked over to the boy and patted him on top of his head.

"And you did an excellent job! But now I'm going to see Master Joe, whatever is happening, I don't want the village to demolish before Master Ryu gets back."

Sanji smirked and threw his kunai at the screen door. Momiji's smile faded as she watched him.

"What will he do when he gets back and finds you gone?" He asked.

"Sanji." She gave him a serious look. "You need to get your friends and the rest of the children back to their homes before everything goes chaos."

He stared into her eyes and glanced away. Without hesitating, he hopped off the futon and walked towards his kunai.

"Hey, Momiji." He called out and ripped his kunai from the door.

"Be careful." He stated with his back facing her.

Momiji smiled as she watched him trying to hide his emotions from her.

Sanji then ran out the room, and towards the village grounds.

Momiji fastened the mask behind her head and pulled it up, over her nose. Grabbing her sword, she placed it on her back and disappeared into flames.


"Hayate did this to you, Aya-chan."

Ayane turned to see a tall shinobi with long dark brown hair. His silver thin eyes sparkled as he walked over to her.

"This curse. He placed this death curse on your body years ago, and you're still fighting on his side?" The man asked as he lifted up her chin. His lips curved into a smile and he pulled her head down into his chest.

"For all you know, this curse affects fragile bodies like yours, Aya-chan." He whispered into her ear and caressed her head.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened to the man.

"I wanted..to show him the lilies." Ayane sobbed.

The man kissed the top of her head and moved his lips back to her ear.

"Aya-chan."

"Ayane?"

"Ayane!"


Ayane shot up once she heard his voice.

"Master Hayate!" She called as she looked around the room.

'Oh, just a dream.' She told herself. Quickly she grabbed her throbbing head and groaned.

"Dammit." She cursed. Throwing her legs out the futon, her cheeks started to burn. Touching them, she removed her hand and her eyes widen. Crimson blood stained her fingertips once the burning started to slowly fade away.

"What is this?" She thought aloud. Without wasting anytime, she grabbed the end of the sheet and rubbed both her cheeks. Crimson blood also stained the sheet once Ayane cleaned them.

"Whatever." She threw the sheet elsewhere. Glancing on the other side of the futon, a purple dress caught her eyes. She moved over to the opposite side of the futon and grabbed the clothing.

Where did this come from? She wondered. She hadn't remembered leaving clothes in this dump. But looking at her own appearance, she really did need a fresh change of clothes.

Sighing, she removed her bloodstained garb and slipped on the dress. Turning around, she found the matching sleeves, long socks, and boots. As she was putting on her boots, an orange bow laid on the floor. Picking it up, she attached it to the back of the dress.

"Get the traitor!" She heard several men yelling.

Leaving the room, she walked to the entrance of the cave, staying hidden in the shadows. Her red eyes narrowed as she saw multiple spider ninjas chasing a familiar face.

'Kasumi!' She slightly leaned forward as she watched them trailing after the runaway.

"Get her first! Don't let her get away!" One of them ordered.

Ayane clicked her tongue as she watched pink cherry blossoms swirling around the place before she disappeared down the path. Her eyes followed where Kasumi had gone and she clenched her fists.

'She's leading them right to the village?!' She grew angry at the sight. That traitor!

Running into the back of the cave, she found a spare of paired short swords hanging up on the walls. Taking them down, she ran back to the entrance of the cave.

Right when she was about to leave, a few ninjas stood a few feet away from the cave.

"Don't bother catching up to her now." He laughed. "She lead us right to our destination."

The others followed his eyes as he looked down the path. Pink blossoms danced near two guards, that stood several feet away from a village gate. Suddenly, the two instantly fell to the ground as the spider ninjas stood around them.

"Kill anyone who gets in your way." The ninja ordered.

The ninjas nodded and soon, they ran towards the others.

"Tch." And with said, the kunoichi jumped from the cave and ran towards the Mugen Tenshin village's gates.