Author's notes: Okay well, finally a new chapter! This is one is going to be longer than the last one, i promise ! Enjoy!
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Ryu stood and watched as the dust began to clear. He closed his eyes and then reopened them. He sighed and turned to leave when he stopped. He saw something amongst the clearing smoke and dust. There was a dark figure bent down. He took a step closer to get a better look. The dust settled and he could make out the scene before him. "Kasumi?!" Ryu said.
SHe was knelt down on one knee. She held somethign close to her chest. She looked up to see Ryu staring straight at her. She rose to her feet as Ryu could now see what she was holding. She held the little girl that was trapped in the burning building only moments ago. The little girl was on concious from all the smoke she inhaled.
Ryu sighed and opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted. He quickly swiftly jumped to the side avoiding several bullet.s. He landed on one knee as he looked over to Kasumi. Kasumi nodded as she turned and began sprinting away with the little girl still in her grasp. Ryu deflected some more bullets as he then began running alongside Kasumi.
Bullets whizzed past both their heads as they leaped from side to side trying to avoid them whilst making their escape. "How many of them are there?" Kasumi asked glancing over at Ryu. "About 20." Ryu answered turning and throwing several shurikan each making contact with thier target. Ryu and Kasumi were nearing the cliffs edge and would soon have no where to run.
Kasumi glanced behind her then back at Ryu. "Here, take her." Kasumi said handing the little girl over to Ryu. Ryu took the little girl as Kasumi stopped. Ryu realized this and stopped as well. "Kasumi, what are you doing? Let's go." he said in a commanding voice. Kasumi didn't look back at him as she stood awaiting their purseuers. "Keep going Ryu, I'll handle this." "Handle what? You have no weapons on you and your outnumbered, besides the fact that they have guns, you can't handle them. " Kasumi shot Ryu a cold glare as she turned back and held her hands out together. Crimson coloured energy began to gather around her hands as it grew bigger and bigger. She brought her hands back and waited. Once she caught sight of her enemies she thrusted her hands forwards and the giant ball of energy came hurdling at them. There was a huge explosion. Ryu jumped to the ground covereing the little girl as Kasumi leapt to the side behind a tree for protection.
A few moments later the exposion and smoke subsided and Kasumi stepped out from behind the tree to witness what she had just done. Ryu stood, the little girl still clutched in his arms, as he too looked at the destruction and defeat Kasumi had caused.
I guess she could handle them.
He thought to himself as he glanced over at Kasumi. Kasumi walked over to Ryu and took the little girl from him as she began sprinting back to the village. Ryu sighed and then followed.
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Moments later they arrived at the medical center where they laid the young girl down on one of the beds. A medic soonafter made their way over and began examining the girl. "She'll be fine in a few hours, she just needs some rest." Kasumi nodded as she exited the building. She met up with Ryu in the street as she stopped a few feet behind him.
There was silence between them for several minutes until Ryu finally spoke. "Kasumi," he started. "Thank you." He said as he began walking away. Kasumi closed her eyes and reopened them with a sigh. She adjusted her mask and turned to leave when she heard countless cheers and screams. She turned to see the villagers crowding around her cheering and calling her things like "The village's hero." and the "Beautiful Kunoichi who saved us all." Kasumi smiled underneathe her mask. One of the village children approached her and held up a flower. Kasumi bent down and accepted the flower.
Ryu turned around and saw how the villagers were treating her. She then turned to leave. "Won't you stay, beautiful kunoichi?" Kasumi looked at the woman who had just spoken to her. "I'm sorry, but I cannot." "Please nee-san." A little girl said stepping forward, a little doll clutched in her hands. Kasumi looked up at Ryu then back at the little girl. "I'm sorry little one, but I must leave." The crowd then all frowned as they shared an "Awhh." In unicen. Kasumi turned around to leave when she was surprised to see Ryu standing there. "Ryu?" Kasumi said looking at him with a puzzled look. "Why don't you stay a few days Kasumi, so you can rest and train peacefully." He said looking down at her. Kasumi looked into his eyes for a minute or so and nodded. "If that's what you wish, Hayabusa-sama." She said with a bow as the crowd around them cheered.
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Footsteps echoed through the hallway. They stopped as a door slid open and a Kunoichi dressed in black with purple hair stepped through the doorway and entered the room. A man in white stood at the window with his arms crossed staring out at the mountainous view. "Hayate-san." The purple haired kunoichi said standing beside him. "There's word of a mysterious beautiful kunoichi who helped save the village that Ryu is in charge of." Hayate said in his monotone voice. There was a few moments of silence when the purple haired kunoichi spoke up. "Do you think it could be her?" Hayate sighed and glanced over at his affiliate. "I don't know, but I'm certain Ryu would've told me if she was there." Hayate said. "Are you really certain?" The purple haired kunoichi said turning to leave. "Ayane," Hayate said as she stopped. "Dont do anything until we know for sure." She nodded her head as she bowed and exited the room. Hayate turned back to the window and let out another prolonged sigh.
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Kasumi followed the woman in a white kimono into a room. "This is where you'll be staying Uruwashii-sama(1)." the woman said with a smile. "Master Hayabusa's room is two doors down the hall. If you ever need anything, please do not hesitate to ask." "Thank you Yuzuki-san." Yuzukia bowed and exited the room as the door shut. Kasumi sighed and walked across the room as she looked out the window.
The sun was beginning to set. Kasumi took off her mask and pulled out the ponytail in her hair. Her long auburn hair cascaded down her back. She shook her head a bit as her hair fell gracefully upon her shoulders. She placed her black ninja mask on a table in the center of the room that was surrounded by four pillows to sit on. She took off her weapons pouch and placed it on the table as well. She walked into the bathroom. She approached the large circular bathtub in the center of the room. She turned the tap turning on the water as warm water began to fill the porcelin tub. She looked on the shelf as she took off a bottle and opened it. She held it to her nose smelling it. Satisfyed with the scent, she poured some of it into the tub as bubbles appeared.
She began to undress, she stepped into the tub and turned off the tap. She sat down and rested her head against a spot that was designed specifically to rest one's head upon. She laid back and closed her eyes. This was nice. She hadn't bathed like this in quite some time. It was nice to just lay back and relax without worrying about an attack 24/7.
Kasumi held her breath as she slid down under the water then back out. Her hair was now wet and clean and the make-up she used to darken her eyes was washed away. She opened her eyes as she pushed her hair back. She layed back again relaxing.
Half an hour or so later, Kasumi stood as water began dripping off of her and into the tub. She pulled the plug as the water began to drain, soon the bubbles was the only thing left in the tub. She grabbed a towel and dried herself, then wrapped it around her body. She stepped out of the tub and stood in front of the mirror. She grabbed a pair of chopsticks wrapped in silk that were on the counter. In one swift movement she wrapped her hair up securing it with the chopsticks. She sighed and walked out of the bathroom.
She walked over to the window looking out it once more. It was dark out now. She sensed someone behind her. She quickly leapt backwards flipping over the table in the center of the room as she grabbed one of her kunai's and landed on her feet, her kunai to the throat of someone, and her towel still fully intact. She looked into familiar eyes as she smirked. "It's not good to sneak up on someone like that, you could get yourself killed." With that she pulled the kunai away and spun it around her finger. She then turned and walked towards the window once more, and placed the kunai on the table where it once was. The man stood in the same spot watching Kasumi.
Kasumi stared silently out the window. "Why did you tell me to stay?" she asked without turning around. Ryu didn't answer at first. "You helped save the village, it was the least I could do to repay the villagers." Kasumi sighed. "I see." she said turning to face him. "I've come to see that you are getting accustomed well, and well relaxed. My room is only but two door away if you need anything, however tomorrow morning I will be waking up early to help repair the village, you can find me there." Kasumi nodded. "I'll leave you to your buisness." he said as he turned and opened the door, he stopped when he heard he step forward. "Ryu," she started. He stared out into the dark hallway without turning around. "Thank you." she said quietly. He waited a moment then left the room sliding the door shut behind him.
Kasumi sighed as she walked over to the oak dresser up against the wall. She opened the first drawer as she pulled out some undergarments and a white tank top. She closed the door and took off her towel. She put on her clothes, she was wearing her shirt and panties. She walked over to the lamp and turned it off. She then approached the bed and pulled back the comforter. She slid under the blankets and pulled them up. She stared up at ceiling before glancing over to the window. She slowly closed her eyes and was succumbed into a deep slumber.
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Author's notes: well that chapter was longer than the last. :) review and let me know what you think. next chapter will be up soon ! )
(1) Uruwashii is beautiful in Japanese. They give her this name because they refer to her as the beautiful kunoichi who saved their village. And they do not know, nor ask, her real name.