Chapter Six: Full Circle

(co-written with Ted Hsu. Thanks, Ted)

A.N: The final chapter of Kasumi's Restaurant. Can Kasumi learn to forgive Hayate for what he has done?

"Still it's strange, don't you think?" Lisa asked as she and Kasumi were inside the office. Kasumi was seated behind her desk while Lisa sat in another chair, going over the books. As always, since its grand opening several weeks ago, business was incredibly good, and with the delivery system added in, Kasumi stood to make plenty of money.

Kasumi looked up. "You mean me making up with Ayane?" she asked. She had told Lisa what had happened at Ayane's high school weeks earlier. Lisa was pretty much surprised to find out that Kasumi had buried the hatchet with her half-sister.

Lisa nodded.

"I know," Kasumi replied. "It's a bit weird for me as well."

Over the past couple of weeks, Ayane had been coming by the restaurant. For several hours, Kasumi and Ayane were talking over tea and food, trying to mend the bridges between them. So far, it has been working. Of course, Kasumi remained on her guard. Even though she forgave Ayane in her attempts to kill her, Kasumi wasn't going to let her guard down completely around her, which was one of the reasons why Kasumi only met Ayane at the restaurant.

Ayane had understood completely why Kasumi felt slightly uncomfortable around her. If the roles were reversed, Ayane admitted, she would have done the same thing.

"You think the restaurant is insured against ninjas?" Lisa joked.

Kasumi chuckled. "I don't think so," she replied. "I didn't get the extra coverage for that."

Lisa laughed a little at that remark. "I could check, if possible. So when is your flight to Vancouver?"

"In three hours," Kasumi replied as she picked up the invitation to a martial arts tournament. "The restaurant needs me right now. I'm seriously thinking about not going to this tournament."

"But think of how good things are right now," Lisa said. "The Red Geisha is doing well, and you've gotten a capable staff who know how you want this place to run. I've seen your balance sheets, so I know you're not hurting for cash from this place." She smiled at her friend and client. "I also can say you can take the fighter out of the ring, but you can't take the ring out of the fighter. Sooner or later it calls everyone to compete. If not for the rush of the combat then the prize purses. Besides, when you win, you'll make great publicity for the Red Geisha."

"You're probably right on that, Lisa," Kasumi smiled. Everyone wanted to have a piece of the Japanese Amazon. To know where she lived, where and what she ate, what places she frequented--and what places she owned.

It had been on her in-ring popularity that Kasumi had gotten the initial curious folks to enter her establishment.

It had been the food and service that had gotten them to want more.

The tournaments were good for the travel, the prize money (Reina Kasumi doesn't lose easily, it was known, so often she'd get the grand prize), and put out publicity for the Red Geisha. And Lisa was right, Kasumi did enjoy the thrill of battle, and the rush of going all-out without holding back.

But to go into a tournament, you had to make sure were focused. Any slip of the mind, Kasumi knew, and she would lose. Which was why she wasn't sure about going.

Still, it was three hours before her flight left, so perhaps she just needed to get her bags and get to the airport.

"How much longer do you think this will take, Lisa?" Kasumi asked her friend.

"Only about another ten minutes," Lisa said. "Then I'll get you a ride to the airport."



Makie was a little irritated. Sure, she was pregnant, about to deliver anytime now. But with Hayate hovering over her, it was frustrating. She didn't need to be babied even when she had his baby within her. He'd been the overly-worried first-time father, having gotten her bags to a car with a younger ninja to drive it.

But it was this moment that she felt a pause...and a pain. And a leaking...

"Makie?" Hayate went as his wife looked in shock. "What's wrong?"

His Okinawan wife turned to him, the color on her face all but gone. "I think...my water broke..."

Hayate got his man on speed dial. "It's time."



"Tokyo General Hospital," Hayate had told the younger ninja when asked where to take them. "My wife might soon be having our child."

That was enough to make the usually relaxed ninja straighten up. If the leader of the Mugen Tenshin clan was this concerned about his family, no way could this be taken as lightly as he'd liked to have taken it.

So he got there quickly but carefully--there was a lot that could happen and no room for error.

Punching in a number on his cell phone, Hayate hoped the party was there to pick up.

"Moshi Moshi?" Shiden's voice was a little puzzled. Who was calling now?

"Otousan? Is Okasan there? It's time..."


Vancouver, British Columbia.

Ring...ring...ring...

Kasumi groaned as she rolled over in her bed. The Pan-Pacific tournament was indeed taxing on her, but she managed to achieve a victory, having defeated the tournament's champion. The tournament also helped in boosting the Red Geisha's popularity up several notches.

As the new Pan-Pacific Champion, she knew the Japanese Amazon would be in more demand now. But she needed her rest...and to see who wasn't going to let her rest right now.

"This had better be good," she said sleepily.

"Kasumi! Thank goodness I got to you!" It was Ayane, excited.

"What's going on?" Kasumi's alert meter went up a notch now.

"It's Makie, she's gone into labor!"

This brought Kasumi to full alert now, as she sat upright in her bed. "How long ago?"

"Maybe about thirty minutes ago," Ayane said. "Ryu is with us all now at Tokyo General."

"Us?"

"Shiden and Ka-san are here. They wanted to see their grandchildren, so they didn't want to miss out."

"I'll get the first flight out to Tokyo," Kasumi said. "So it might be at least twelve hours. As soon as I can, though, I'm coming over there."

With that she quickly got all her things together. It was going to be another thrilling experience now, one more meaningful.

'Grandchildren?' Kasumi thought as she packed some more, feeling a pang. 'Wouldn't it be nice if one day I could meet mine?'


It had taken longer than she thought with a lay-over in Los Angeles becoming a delay thanks to some technical difficulties.

But she had arrived here, and that's what was important now.

After having gotten Ryu to meet her at the airport, they'd taken the first ride they could to his place. Putting her stuff with him, Kasumi had freshened up a little before they both came to Tokyo General.


Tokyo General Hospital.

Kasumi stepped out of the elevator followed by Ryu. "Room 214," the superninja said.

Kasumi nodded and her pace increased. As she rounded the corner, she came to a halt.

Her parents were outside of Makie's room. Shiden was dressed in casual attire, since his ninja uniform would set off red flags, while her mother looked regal as always in her kimono. The new grandparents saw Kasumi approach them slowly.

Ayame broke into a warm smile as she embraced her daughter for the first time since she had left the clan. Kasumi returned the hug, kissing her mother on the cheek "Mother," she greeted.

"My dear daughter," Ayame replied before releasing the hug.

Shiden didn't say anything to Kasumi. Instead, he gave her a small smile and a reassuring pat on her shoulder. With a flick of his head, he motioned to the slightly open door.

Kasumi nodded and walked towards the door. The door was open enough for her to look inside.

It had been hell on Makie, but when it was over, she and Hayate were the parents of fraternal twins--a boy and a girl.

Kasumi watched as Hayate held his son in his arms, while Makie tended to her daughter. The father had a look of relief on his face, while the mother, although a little pale, was happy that the ordeal was finally over. Nineteen hours of labor was hell for Hayate's wife, but she pulled through, despite losing a lot of blood.

Kasumi watched from the door, not wanting to ruin the moment with her appearance. Her decision made, she turned and walked away, excusing herself from Ryu, her parents and Ayane. Hayate looked up and saw Kasumi depart, with Ayane rushing after her. Wondering why Reina Kasumi was at the hospital, Hayate quickly pushed the thought out of his mind as he tended to his son.

"Kasumi, wait!" Ayane called out as she caught up with her half-sister at the elevators.

Kasumi had already pressed the call button. "What now?" she asked.

"Aren't you going to talk to him?" Ayane asked. "I thought you forgave him."

"His wife has given birth to his children," Kasumi replied. The doors opened and Kasumi stepped through. "The moment is his alone. If he wants to talk, then he knows where to find me," she added as the doors closed.

Ayane sighed. Kasumi was ready to forgive, but she wanted Hayate to come to her on her own terms. Looking back in the general direction of her half-brother and sister-in-law, Ayane prepared the walk back to the room.

"Was that Reina Kasumi?" Makie asked as Ayane stepped into the room.

"It was," the Hajinmon kunoichi replied as she sat down in another chair. Looking at her niece and nephew, she asked, "Have you decided on a name for them?"

Makie nodded. "We decided to name them Kei and Shin," she replied softly. "Why didn't Reina come in?"

"It's...complicated," Ayane replied.

Hayate looked up. "Complicated how?"

"Reina came to see you, brother," Ayane explained, "but decided to leave you and your family in peace."

"What does she want with me?"

Ayane took a breath as she contemplated as to how Hayate would take the news. Not losing eye contact with the clan leader, Ayane started to tell him, but Ryu, who had just entered the room, beaten her to it.

"Reina Kasumi is really your sister, Hayate," the superninja deadpanned. "Kasumi has returned home. I didn't tell you because I would have broken the promise I made to you regarding Kasumi," he continued, reminding Hayate of his promise to protect Kasumi. He then confessed to Hayate in his role in Kasumi's exile from Japan. "I stashed some money away for Kasumi should she need to leave Japan if the attacks on her intensified, but I didn't expect her to react the way she did."

"So where was she?" Hayate asked, remembering the incident at the temple.

"The last place we would look – America," Ayane replied. "Lisa was in on it too. Both her and Ryu came up with the plan to relocate and hide Kasumi. I would have expected it from Ryu, but to have Lisa involved, that was something we both didn't see coming. I found out when I snuck into her apartment one night and found several pictures of us. I managed to make my peace with her, but it wasn't easy."

Hayate slumped in his chair, not losing his grip on his son. "Who else knew about Reina Kasumi being Kasumi?"

"Almost everyone," Ayane replied. "Hitomi, Kokoro, and her half-sister, the China gang...even Tina, Christie and Leon knew, but kept silent."

Hayate slowly digested this information. Ryu knew where Kasumi was hiding all this time, and Lisa was in on it. On top of that, all of Kasumi's friends and even rivals were in on this, but kept it as a secret, to insure her safety. It showed how much they had all cared for her, enough to cross over and aid her.

Hayate sighed. First he became a father, then Ryu and Ayane dropped the mother of all bombs onto his lap. Kasumi has returned home. If he came to her, she would be on her guard, as she had been with Ayane. Feeling the mother of all headaches forming in his head, he placed his son in the bassinet and exited the room.


Several days later...

Inside a Mugen Tenshin safehouse, Hayate watched as his children slept in their bassinets. Makie was released from the hospital, but instead of returning to the village, Hayate had taken her to one of the several safehouses in Tokyo. With his mother caring for his wife - not to mention doting over her grandchildren - Hayate had some serious time to think.

Five years ago, Kasumi had thrown away her family and her clan, all to avenge him. Hayate made the near-fatal mistake of honoring the clan over his family, and instead of allowing Kasumi to return home and reversing the death sentence then, sent ninja after ninja after her. Then came the Temple Incident, in which Kasumi called Hayate out and washed her hands of her family, her clan and her name.

'I hearby renounce my name, my family and my clan. I disavow any and all relations I have to you, or to Ayane. I am no longer your sister, but a ronin. You and Ayane have lost the right to call me your sister. No brother or half-sister of mine would try and kill me. You have no honor and your presence is beneath me. I have no brother, or a half-sister. The woman you know as Kasumi is no more. You...and her...are nothing more than girisezu.'

Those words have haunted him for the past five years. It had nearly drove him to suicide, but he continued living, hoping that through penance, his honor would be restored. But in the past five years, as clan leader, Hayate came to a realization. Honor was something that weaker people used to keep the strong in line. Honor was what nearly destroyed his family. He had reversed Kasumi's death sentence (upon finding out that a majority of the clan members were disgusted with Genra's decree, since it was an illegal order to begin with) and given her a full pardon.

Once the clan doctrines were revised and modified, Hayate then made amends with Ryu and Hitomi. He found love and was now a father. But he wasn't looking for his personal honor to be restored. The only thing that mattered was Kasumi's forgiveness. There was too much bad blood between them and going to her was not only the right thing to do, but it gave him the moral high ground.

After a showed and getting dressed - this time, in a simple white dress shirt, the top button undone, his denim jeans and boots - Hayate looked at his sleeping wife and silently exited the room.

"Where are you going?"

Hayate stopped at the front door as he turned around and faced his mother. "I'm going out for a moment," he replied.

Ayame was no fool. "You're going to see Kasumi, aren't you?" she asked. Taking her son's silence for a yes, Ayame added, "Please don't do anything rash."

"I won't, Mother," Hayate replied simply. "I need to know if she has forgiven me."

With that said, Hayate exited the house.


Hayate walked from the safehouse to the Red Geisha Restaurant. Normally, he would have either hopped from roof to roof, but instead he decided to walk the streets of Tokyo. After forty minutes, he found himself standing at the front doors of Kasumi's restaurant. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

The place was half-packed, given that the lunch rush was at an end, but was still doing serious business. A waitress saw him enter the restaurant and walked over to him. "Welcome to the Red Geisha," she said, bowing. "What would you like to have for lunch? We got several specials today."

"Actually," Hayate replied, looking behind her, "there's someone I want to see."

The waitress turned around. Kasumi was standing there. Dressed in a blue chef's shirt and denim pants, short hair pulled back into a ponytail, Kasumi decided to take a break from the lunch rush and entered into the main dining area when she saw Hayate.

For a long moment, the two estranged siblings looked at each other. Hayate was studying Kasumi even more closely. People tend to change when you don't see them in five years, and now that he foud out that Kasumi was his sister, he made several more mental connections. Kasumi had gotten taller, cut her hair short, adopted a Kansai accent and trained in several different types of martial arts.

Kasumi nudged her head towards a table. Hayate sat down, as did Kasumi. "Bring out some tea, please," Kasumi ordered the waitress, who bowed and ran off to do her mistress' bidding.

As with Ayane, neither sibling spoke for a while, until Hayate spoke first. "Ryu and Ayane told me who you are."

Kasumi remained silent, only saying 'thank you,' to the waitress when she returned with a pot of tea and two cups. The waitress poured each a cup and left.

"I should have realized it sooner," Hayate continued. "But you had me fooled. Why didn't you say anything back at the hospital?"

"I didn't want to ruin the moment," Kasumi replied. Hayate noticed that she had dropped the Kansai accent. Even as she did, Hayate noticed the gentle strength in her voice...as well as the underlying icy tone. "I decided to let you have the moment to your family."

Hayate swallowed the lump in his throat. 'She's still upset at me.' Clearing his throat, he continued. "Do you hate me, Kasumi?"

"For choosing the clan over your flesh and blood," Kasumi replied, her eyes cold, but her voice colder, "For blindly following Genra without thinking things through, I despise you for that. You hurt me too much, Hayate. I don't trust you."

Hayate slowly nodded. The Kasumi he once knew would hold back. Now, after five years, this new Kasumi wasn't pulling her punches. Kasumi was forced to grow up quick and fast, given the incident with Raidou and being chased by himself, Ayane and the assassination squads. "I know. I deserve your contempt. But above anything else, I want to be redeemed. I want my little sister back."

He sighed as his face showed how hard it was to say the next sentences. "I should have allowed you to return to the clan when you left. You were right. I was allowed to return unmolested while you were marked for death. There's too much bad blood between us, and I am partially to blame for that, given my role as a clan leader who should have had more knowledge and backbone."

"..." Kasumi sipped at her tea.

"I know it's a bit late, but I reversed Genra's death sentence, since it was an illegal order to begin with," Hayate continued. "I also went as far as to give you a complete pardon for your actions, and should you wish, allow you back into the clan. Then again, no one knew where you were. Ryu was honoring his promise to me, and wouldn't break it even if I asked him to."

Pausing again, Hayate tried to muster enough humility and sincerity to say what came next.

"Kasumi...I am sorry for what I have put you through. It took me five years to realize it now. I don't care about my personal honor anymore...I just want to know if you can forgive me. I'll do whatever it takes it prove myself to you. No matter how long it takes."

Kasumi remained silent. Ayane was easy to forgive, whereas Hayate was a bit harder. After all, he was the one who sent ninja after ninja to kill her, blindly following Genra's orders. As with her half-sister, Kasumi was fighting an internal battle within herself. Part of her wanted to grab something big and heavy and bash Hayate over the head with repeatedly, cursing his name, while the other half wanted to hug her brother and tell him that he was forgiven.

It was a draw with those parts right now.

Hayate sighed. Kasumi hadn't said anything. Finishing his tea, he flipped the cup over and placed it on the table. "Thanks for the tea. I won't bother you anymore," he said before standing up and leaving the restaurant.


Later on that day, in Ryu's flat above the curio shop, Kasumi was going over the meeting with her one-time brother with her boyfriend. She'd taken the rest of the day off, and told the others she might not be in tomorrow either.

"When he set the Hajinmon after me, that felt like a betrayal," she admitted as she sat on his couch, hugging her knees. "All I wanted to do was make things right, and all I felt happened to me was the worst that a sibling could have done to her."

"It's now Hayate's turn to try to make things right, you know," her boyfriend said. "It wasn't easy for him to do what he did. He was shaken for a while, since he had to find the courage to be a man at last who could think on his own and lead. He knows what he should have done, and while he can't turn back the clock, he wants to do what he can now to heal the hurts for both of you."

"It's not just that, Ryu," Kasumi went. "Part of me wanted to love him again for doing so, part of me wanted to say 'it is not enough' and the part that won said 'wait and see and think.'"

"Maybe you need more time to do just that, 'Sumi-chan," he said as he hugged her. "You might need to look into your heart a little, but you will find what you need to do soon, I hope, for everyone."



Inside the flat, Ayame found her son seated on the living room sofa, the depressed look on his face evident as to how the meeting with Kasumi had gone.

"She hates me, Ka-san," Hayate said when Ayame sat down beside her son. "Kami-sama above, she hates me."

"It's not that," Ayame said, pulling her son to a warm embrace. "For a long time she felt she had done the right thing, and had gotten nothing but grief for it. She may feel she's gotten over you. But she might be her own worst enemy right now. You want her to forgive you, and she's torn about it."

Ayame sighed a little. "Part of her moved on as she went from the little sister you once had to a woman who was much respected and loved. Nobody would do what they'd all done for her if that wasn't the case. Part of her wants to bury the hatchet, but she wasn't sure if she'd rather bury it in you rather than in wood."

"Part of me think she'd be entitled to," Hayate said, eyes down. "I was too green back then to challenge Genra when I should have, and I almost let it destroy my family. I want to make things right even if I was slow in doing it, Ka-san. But I don't know if they can be made right. Not without her letting me."

Ayame sighed. Hayate was right. It was now up to Kasumi.



Two days had passed since Hayate's visit to the restaurant.

As the Red Geisha went along with its usual business, Kasumi sat in her office, brooding over her boyfriend's words. Ayane was teaching her classes and Ryu was at the Hayabusa village visiting his father, while Momiji minded his curio shop.

"Ryu told me about Hayate coming by," Lisa said as she entered the office.

Kasumi nodded. "He came to apologize."

"And...?"

Kasumi slumped backwards in her chair. "I said nothing, Lisa. I said nothing and he walked out." She rubbed her temples as she felt a headache coming. "I've spent the last five years trying to get over all of this, Lisa. Do I let forgive Hayate or do I keep my pride and hate him for not doing enough for his sister when he had to earlier? I've had to do without him and Ayane for the last five years, so if I had to I'd do what I must."

Lisa took a seat. "Kasumi...you may not know this, but I've been where you are now. I know what it feels like to feel betrayed and having the chance to make things right. Only my story doesn't end with a happy ending. When I was in high school, Nina Langley was my best friend. Before I'd met Tina, Nina and I did a lot of things together. We could almost have been like sisters." Lisa swallowed hard. "Then...when we were in college, a rich guy came between us. Jake Tyler. Football star, big man on campus with the bucks to make whoever he wanted to his lady. And we both vied for him. Things got ugly very quickly, and soon, we went from best friends to worst enemies. She became Jake's woman. I transferred to another college and never spoke to Nina again."

Lisa looked sad. "It wasn't until after I started wrestling, I met Tina, and we both talked about it. She suggested that enough time had passed, so while I had the chance, to make things right with Nina. I looked for Nina's parents to try to find her." She exhaled sharply. "But when I got to where they were, they'd told me that I was three months too late. Jake had married Nina. Turned out she saw he wasn't the golden boy we fought over. One night, they had a huge fight. Each had pulled a gun and...you can guess what happened next."

Kasumi blanched. "They killed each other."

Lisa nodded sardonically. "It was a mutual murder, they'd said." Lisa wiped her eyes with a tissue. "I'd gotten to Nina's grave, and just poured out a lot of what I felt, hoping I could ask her spirit to forgive me for being a bitch while she was around." Lisa then looked at Kasumi. "Honey, that's what hate can do if you let it get you long enough. It robs you of those you once cared about, and can keep you from doing what you need to. I should have taken the high road sooner and just asked for forgiveness, we might have saved each other grief and regrets. I know I could have."

Lisa exhaled sharply. "Hayate's trying, it seems, to make up for lost time. Don't let what happened to me and Nina happen to you and Hayate. You have the chance to forgive. Take it before you lose it forever. He screwed up big time, but he is trying to mend those bridges with you. I'm not telling you how to run your life, Kasumi...but you should go to Hayate."



After Lisa had left to manage the restaurant, Kasumi was left alone with her thoughts. Lisa's tale had knocked hard on her tough skull.

Lisa lost the chance to make up to her friend because her pride didn't soften before the friend died. She'd warned Kasumi her high horse kept Kasumi from reaching back to Hayate.

And given how life almost killed both of them with the hard knocks, would he die first or she? Either way, things would be unresolved and either in this life or the afterlife she'd regret not being willing to end this.

Five years "and change" was too long to let this go on as it was.

Kasumi swallowed hard and picked up her cellphone. After a minute, she dialed Ayane's number. Several minutes later, Ayane was on the other line. "Kasumi? What is it?"

"Is Hayate still in the city?" Kasumi asked.

"Yes. He and his family are staying at one of the flats owned by the clan. Ka-san is with them. Why?"

"Give me the address," Kasumi said simply. "It's time I came to terms with Hayate."



In the safehouse, Ayame was tidying up. Hayate was concerned, Ayame knew. Her son had just become a father, and he wanted his twins to have two aunts, not just one. Hayate had done all he could to try to make things up with Kasumi, but he'd put the ball in her court now.

The only thing was, would her long-lost daughter put the ball back to Hayate's court, whole, or popped? From what Hayate had said, Kasumi was mad, and this wasn't something to do lightly. But it was now on Kasumi to do what she had to do before it was too late.

She'd lost her older daughter when she went after Raidou, then for 5 years when Kasumi stripped Ayane and Hayate of their honor and vanished off the face of the Earth, only to be reborn as Reina Kasumi.

She'd nearly lost her younger one when Ayane had gone off the deep end before Hayabusa had given her what she needed to get a hold of herself.

She'd nearly lost her son when the loss of honor had driven him to depths of depression, not wanting to live anymore.

'What can be done to save them?' Ayame wondered. 'Can I have my family back?'

The knock on her door interrupted her reverie. Curious as to who it could be, Ayame walked over to the door and opened it, gasping as to who was on the other end.

Clad in biker leather, was Kasumi. She bowed slightly. "Ka-san. May I come in?" she asked.

Ayame nodded and Kasumi stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Hayate," his mother called out. "There's someone to see you."

Seconds later, Hayate stepped out of the master bedroom and stopped in his tracks. Reina Kasumi was there, her face neutral as Ayame stood to the side, watching this exchange.

Silence reigned for a moment. Then Kasumi slowly raised her arms. Hayate knew what unspoken message that was. He rushed her, hugging her tightly.

"Kasumi...I'm so sorry...about everything...please forgive me..." he said as the words began spilling out, tears falling from his eyes.

Kasumi slowly returned the embrace. "I know. I'm sorry too. We have much to discuss...onii-chan."

Hayate froze slightly at Kasumi calling him by that title. There was hope for them to repair their damaged relationship if Kasumi called him that. "I know, imoutou-chan. And I'm more than willing to listen," he said as they walked over to the couch.

Ayame watched this scene with a smile on her face. She finally had her family back.



A year had passed.

A year had passed and things were looking up for Kasumi and her family. Kasumi had gotten to know her parents again, she was mending fences with Ayane, and liked Makie a lot, showing she could be good with children as she played the loving aunt to the twins.

One day, as Hayate was visiting Kasumi at her restaurant, he asked her a question. A question that would change her life.

"These events that have taken place these past few years have really opened my eyes," Hayate explained as he and Kasumi were inside her office. "I don't feel worthy enough to lead the clan, given all that has happened. The clan need a fresh start, a new direction needs to be taken. I am stepping down as leader of the clan...and I am offering you the chance to rejoin the clan and take my place as the true clan head. I will be your second-in-command and will reside at the village. You can stay here in the city, but come to the village should the need arise."

During the year, Kasumi had been briefed by her family about how the reformed Mugen Tenshin Clan worked, and Hayate assured her this time there would be nobody like Genra to ruin things. The clan still held to their ancient ways, but was more modernized, as Kasumi witnessed.

Deep down, she missed the village. Before Raidou's attack, she was groomed to be the 18th head of the Mugen Tenshin clan. Now, she was given that chance once again. Her family had ran the clan since its founding. And knowing her father, Shiden would never let up if that tradition ended on her watch.

Kasumi nodded. "I accept your offer."



Mugen Tenshin Village - one week later...

The ninja village was abuzz with the news. Princess Kasumi was coming back to take her rightful place as the leader of the Mugen Tenshin clan, with Hayate as her second-in-command and Ayane still running the Hajinmon sect.

Inside the main house, in Kasumi's old room, Kasumi looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a black version of her kunoichi uniform, with golden trim and a dragon pattern on the 'skirt.' Her hair was once again long, and Kasumi no longer dyed it, returning to its natural ginger color.

Today was the ceremony which Kasumi would officially return to the clan and assume leadership. The sliding door opened and Ryu stepped in, dressed in his black ninja uniform, complete with cowl and mask. In the past year, Joe had retired from running the clan, and passed on the leadership of the Hayabusa clan to his son. As with Kasumi, Ryu opted to spend half his time in town, while the other half was at the village.

"Beautiful," the superninja said. "Absolutely beautiful."

Kasumi smiled as she turned to face her boyfriend. "Thanks. I'm really nervous."

"Don't be. You're simply returning home to take your rightful place as clan head." He looked at her in her uniform. "I gotta admit, you look very sexy in that uniform."

Kasumi stuck out her tongue at her longtime boyfriend. "Hentai."

"Since we're all alone," Ryu said as he pulled something from a hidden pocket, "there's something I want to ask you." Fishing out a small box, he got on one knee, and he opened it. Kasumi's eyes went wide.

There was a sapphire-and-diamond ring inside.

An engagement ring.

"For a long time, Kasumi, you have been near and dear to my heart, even when you were on the run. We've had the last five years to bond, and now I'd like to make it a lifetime. Reina Kasumi, will you marry me?"

Kasumi felt the tears of joy come to her eyes as she hugged Ryu tightly. "YES! Yes, Ryu, I will marry you." She felt Hayabusa slip the ring onto her finger.

In that moment, Kasumi felt her family was totally complete.



The ceremony was a simple one. Two rows of ninja - both Tenshinmon and Hajinmon stood in a line, creating a pathway that led to the small raised platform, where Hayate stood. Kasumi strode down the line, followed by her now-fiance, and stepped onto the platform.

Hayate turned to Ayane, who presented Kasumi with something that Kasumi had not seen in a matter of years.

The tanto. The same one that she had left at the temple years earlier.

Kasumi accepted it and placed it in her customary position - behind her back.

"We welcome back to the clan, the destined one, Princess Reina Kasumi," Hayate decreed. "Let it be known that now and forever that she is pardoned for her past actions, as they showed honor, courage, and dignity. We welcome the eighteenth head of the Mugen Tenshin Clan!"

In unison, several hundred swords were unsheathed and the place erupted into cheers.



Ryu Hayabusa and Reina Kasumi were married a month later, Kasumi taking on Ryu's surname. Within the clans, she was known as Kasumi Hayabusa, while outside the clans, she was known as Reina Hayabusa. The pair had two weddings - the first was a Western ceremony inside the Red Geisha. The following day, they were married in a Shinto ceremony at the Hayabusa village as per to their parents' request.

The Mugen Tenshin and Hayabusa clans were now united in a close alliance.

Four years later, Kasumi had decided to stay in the city, since the Red Geisha required the boss to be present often. Fortunately, Hayabusa's antique shop was right in easy travel distance, so the living quarters were greatly revamped.

Likewise, Hayate had brought his family to the village so Makie and the twins could spend time with Shiden and Ayame. Of course, Hayate made sure Makie could travel to Hitomi's dojo as often as she needed to teach classes. Not to mention allow for Makie's parents to see the twins often too.

Then again, two sets of grandparents spoiling twins might be double trouble indeed.

Kasumi thought, however, as long as her parents were spoiling the twins, they couldn't spoil her little boy.

Joe Shiden Hayabusa (who got called "Joey," and sometimes by those who could speak Japanese, "Ryunosuke," or "son of the dragon") was playing with his grandfather and namesake while she and Ryu visited for the weekend. Although a bouncy little child, Kasumi knew there would be great hopes on him.

Not just as future Hayabusa clan leader, but to take up his father's swords in case the Ninja Gaiden was needed once again.

But for now, little Joey was enjoying time with his paternal grandfather, who was also happy with him. For a four-year-old, Joe saw a lot of Ryu at his age when he played with Joey. Curious, but also smart enough to be respectful with his many "aunts and uncles" as they sometimes spoiled him.

Ryu and Kasumi looked at each other and smiled. This was one for the scrapbooks. It was a perfect picture of grandfather and grandson bonding.

Kasumi then said to Ryu, "If you asked me ten years ago what I'd be doing now, I wouldn't have thought of what happened to me in those ten years. Being a wife and mother, a restaurant owner, and a reinstated kunoichi. I would have hoped the first two, though."

Ryu then squeezed Kasumi's hand. "But what matters now is that you are doing all of this, anata. You survived ten years that would have normally driven most people crazy."

Ryu then remembered the night Kasumi went into labor with Joey. She was screaming bloody murder in Japanese, vowing to do various acts of a heinous pain base to the man who put her through the pains of childbirth.

Hayate told Ryu, "It was like that when Maki had the twins, do you remember? She swore she'd make sure I couldn't do it to her again."

Ryu replied, "But you and I know Kasumi, Hayate. She's got the power and skill to make her threats stick." A really loud outburst from Kasumi made Ryu cringe.

Hayate said "Remember what you told me? This is the time to suck it up like a man and be by your wife's side. She's hurting too badly to put anything to it."

Ryu humbly went to the doors but a nurse came to him. "Don't worry about your wife, Mr. Hayabusa. She'll be okay, she needs to bring your child into the world." Another outburst came out the door. "Once she's done, she'll forgive you. After all, she wouldn't want her baby to be without it's father. Trust me, I've heard many women scream out a lot of things when they're giving birth, but the nasty ones they don't act on."

Several hours later, Hayabusa was told it was safe to see Kasumi. The baby would be wheeled in later.

Kasumi was beat, sweating a lot and a little pale from the loss of blood But she had her wish, a child with the man she loved.

"Kasumi, my love," he said as he went to her, brushing a little hair to the side. "I heard what you said out there."

"Don't be too worried, husband," she said, with a smile. "That was only when I was in pain. Now, I'm a lot better."

The nurse came in. "Here's your little boy, Mr. and Mrs. Hayabusa." She gave the blue-wrapped bundle to Kasumi, and smiled. "He's a bouncing one, very healthy. You should be proud of him."

"We are," Ryu said as he kissed Kasumi. "And I'm proud of Mother too. I could never do what she did."

"Well, Father," Kasumi said smiling, "you remember what we agreed to call our baby boy?"

"Joe Shiden Hayabusa," Ryu said. "If the baby was a girl, Reina Ayame." He smiled as the baby stirred. "He looks like Shiden and Dad."

"Then it's official," Kasumi said as she looked warmly as her son, "Welcome to the world, Joe Shiden Hayabusa."

That was the day the two Dead or Alive fighters found themselves with the one thing more valuable than a championship or saving the world--a new life that they brought into the world.

And that little boy was showing a lot of playfulness, even with his older cousins. Kei and Shin warmed to Joey, even with his "gaijin" first name. "That was Grandpa's name," he said with pride. "Papa named me for him and other Grandpa."

But Ryu was right. It was ten years since she left a family that wanted her dead.

It was five years since she rejoined the world on her own terms, with a restaurant and a man she loved.

It was four years since the family made things right with her and she forgave them, and gave her husband a family of his own.

And now all was right with the world.

Kasumi finally had everything she ever wanted, and the princess and her superninja felt their world was right again.

"Life is good," she told Ryu, "And I'm glad your part of mine, husband."

"And you part of mine, wife," he said back, squeezing her hand, then kissing her lips.

END

A.N.: FINISHED! FINALLY! Now I can work on other projects!