Author's notes: Alright, next chapter as promised. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep 'em comming !
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The sun was beginning to set as Kasumi leapt back and leaned against her katana breathing heavily. She was sweating and exhausted. Ryu landed gracefully on the other side of the training field. He was only breathing slightly heavily, but other than that he was in good condition. "You did exceptionally well for your first day, we start early tomorrow at dawn, be here on time. " Ryu said as he dissapeared into whirlwind of leaves and they slowly fell to the ground.
Kasumi looked up breathing heavily as she sheathed her katana and slowly made her way back to the mainhouse. She arrived a few minutes later. Dragging her katana on the ground she placed it on her bed. She lazily walked into the bathroom and began running the water. She undressed and got in. She let out a sigh of satisfaction as she sat in the warm comforting water.
She looked out into her room and spotted the katana on her bed. She closed her eyes and thought back to the days events. She remembered the cuts and bruises. She opened her eyes and washed her hair. She pulled the plug and stepped out of the tub. She wrapped a towel around her and looked into the full length body mirror. She saw her injuries and lightly brushed her figers over hem wincing in pain.
She walked out into her room and dropped her towel. She changed into her nightly clothes and pulled out a small cylinder. She opened the top and rubbed her finger in it then overtop her wounds which helped sooth and mend them. She turned off the lamp and crawled into bed. She puled the blanket up and closed her eyes. Ryu's name popped into her head as an image did as well and a small smile passed over Kasumi's lips and she fell asleep.
--
"You must protect all your possible openings!" Ryu yelled as his sword slashed at Kasumi's side tasting fresh blood. Kasumi jumped back gripping her side as blood seeped through her fingers. She put both of her hands back on her sword and ran towards him dissapearing re-appearing behind him with her katana comming down, fast. Ryu quickly turned and blocked getting pushed back a few meters. "Hn." he said as he countered her attack and now Kasumi was on the defensive.
A few hours later Ryu and Kasumi were practicing thier kido and hand-to-hand combat. Kasumi landed a few good hits on Ryu causing future bruising, but Ryu had broken one of Kasumi's ribs and one of her ankles. The days went on and on like this. Kasumi gradually became better.
--
Kasumi woke up. She walked into the bathroom and bathed. She then got ready putting on her black and gold ninja outfit. She tied her hair up today. She put on her mask and looked into the mirror. She nodded with satisfaction and walked out into her room. She grabbed her weapons pouch and equiped it to her waist. She fastend her tanto to the back of her waist. Finally she grabbed her katana and unsheathed it half of the way. She stared at her reflection in the blade.She sheathed it and dissapeared through the doorway heading towards the training ground.
It was the 25th day of training. 6:00 am. The sun was just comming out over mountains. Kasumi arrived at the training grounds. She spotted someone sitting on the ground cross legged. "I assume you know what day it is?" Ryu asked sitting on the floor without opening an eye. He wore his mask today, and his regular ninja outfit. Kasumi didn't answer. Ryu smirked. "Very well."
He was then gone. Kasumi stood ready. She moved her head to the side and quickly unsheathed her sword bringing it to her side. The sound of clashing metal entered her ears as Ryu stood with his sword outstretched being blocked by kasumi's. He dissapeared again. Kasumi brought her katana to the front of her closing her eyes. She focused and concentrated awiting his next move.
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"You will undergo twenty-five days of training. "
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Kasumi moved her sword above her as Ryu appeared above her bringing his sword down, she blocked it once more. Ryu dissapeared once more.
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"In those twenty-five days, I will teach you everything I know. You will become extremely skilled in wielding a sword."
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Kasumi bent her knee's and swiftly moved to the side, the blade of a sword appearing where she once stood only mere seconds ago. Kasumi swung her sword to the side. Ryu blocked it countering it with one of his attacks. Kasumi quickly caught her opening and blocked out outstretching her foot as Ryu jumped back dodging her trip. He then dissapeared once more.
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"On the twenty fifth day, you will undergo the ultimate test."
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Kasumi flipped backwards a few times before diving to the side dodging multiple energy balls. When she landed her hand glowed a fierce red. She thrusted her hand forward as an energy ball of her own shot out towards Ryu. Ryu leapt to the side avoiding the attack. He dissapeared again after throwing several shurikan.
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"You will fight me."
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Kasumi deflected the shurikan with her katana. She stood holding her katana to her side as she swung it upwards, a little to late, she felt a surge of pain in her side. She looked down to see a blade sticking into her side. Her hand began to glow once more as a red energy ball shot forward. Ryu removed his sword and dissapeared.
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This will not be one of our regular fights however, when I fight you, I won't hold back."
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Kasumi sprinted forward as a barrage of energy balls mixed with shurikan rained down on her. She stopped in front of a large boulder turning to face Ryu. She smirked as this time, she dissapeared. Ryu stood in Kasumi's position now as he awaited her attack. He smirked bringing his sword atop his head as Kasumi appeared above him. The katana's clashed.
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" I will be fighting you with the intent to kill, on that day, you will be my enemy."
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Kasumi pulled her sword back and stood on Ryu's blade. Ryu looked at her confused as she smirked and dissapeared into a small whirlwind of pink petals. Ryu looked up to where she once stood when he brought his sword down quickly, a little too late. Kasumi swiftly swung her leg catching Ryu's as he fell backwards to the ground. He outstretched his hand to stop his fall, however Kasumi predicted this and stuck a kunai into his hand. He was now pinned to the ground. She appeared above him holding her blade to his neck. Ryu glared at her for a moment before grinning and dropping his sword. "You win." he said as Kasumi smirked.
--
Kasumi sat atop her bed holding a towel to her chest. Yuzuki sat behind her tending to her wounds and healing them. A lot of them weren't as serious as the ones before it. The medical herbs reparied most of the skin and disinfected the wounds. Yuzuki began bandaging her wounds as a knock was at the door. Kasumi slid on a tanktop as she began bandaging her arm. Yuzuki answerd the door. "Master Hayabusa." she said with a surprised look. Kasumi turned to the door as she saw Ryu standing there holding a tray of food and drink. "Yuzuki-san, would you excuse us?" Yuzuki grinned looking back at Kasumi and then bowing. "Of course." she said exiting the room sliding the door shut behind her.
Ryu made his way over to the table as he set the food down. "You did a good job today." Ryu said looking at Kasumi. Kasumi smiled. "Thank you." She said standing up. "I learned from the best." Ryu watched as Kasumi's bandage fell apart and she sighed. She picked it up and began wrapping her arm once more. "Here, let me do that for you." Ryu offered stepped forward and holding her arm.
Kasumi felt the touch of his fingers on her arm as she smiled. "Thanks." she said as he began tieing it. There was a few moments of silence. "Ryu," Kasumi started. "Hn." Ryu answered. "Do you think my brother will ever find me here.." she said. Ryu didn't answer at first. He continued wrapping the bandage. A few more moments of silence passed. "I don't know." he answered finishing up.
Kasumi turned and faced him. "What if he came." she asked looking at Ryu. Ryu sighed walking over to the window. 'I don't know." he answered. "He would take you and bring you back to your village where you would be executed." "What about you..' she asked. "Nothing would become of me..unless I protested against it, I would be left alone and carry on with my life." "Oh.." Kasumi said. "If he came for me... would you leave it alone...or...fight for me." Kasumi asked nearly choking back her words. Ryu didn't answer. A few minutes passed by and Ryu turned heading for the door.
Kasumi looked down at the ground as Ryu opened the door and stood in the doorway. "I don't know." he answered before walking into the hallway and shutting it behind him. Kasumi sighed making her way over to the window. Ryu stood outside Kasumi's room in the dark hallway. He looked down at the ground thinking. He sighed.
Kasumi stared out the window at the moon. She turned when she heard her door open. "Ryu?" she said as Ryu shut the door behind him and made his way over to Kasumi rather quick. He placed both his hands on her face.
Thier lips crashed and Kasumi stood there. Her eyes wide and her cheeks red. She slowly closed her eyes and moved closing wrapping her arms around his neck. Ryu moved his hands down around her waist and pulled her closer deepening the kiss.
Kasumi couldn't believe this was happening. This was nothing like Ryu. The Ryu Hayabusa she knew was the last person on earth to ever give affection, especially towards her. Why was he doing this? What had pushed him to? What was he thinking? All these questions raced through her head. She pushed them to the back of her head as none of it mattered right now. Right now it was about her and him.
Ryu picked Kasumi up as they continued to kiss. They slowly made their way over to the bed. He gently layed her on the bed and hovered over her. They continued kissing as Kasumi slowly pulled off his shirt and Ryu hers. The continued kissing as Kasumi traced her hands over his chest and she could feel his muscles, and above that, his scars. One by one pieces of clothing ended up on the ground.
The kiss became even deeper. The candles began melting away and burning out as Ryu and Kasumi passionatly embraced each other. It wasn't a one time thing, it was love.
--
A man in white stood staring out a window as he averted his eyes to a piece of paper handed to him by a purple haired kunoichi. His expression changed as he crumpled the paper and looked up at the woman beside him. "Is this true?" She nodded. "This information came directly from someone inside and in close contact with them. Hayate squeezed the paper tighter as he stared back out the window. "What will you have us do? Do we capture both of them." "No." he answerd. "Only the one, leave the other one..." "But he-" "Leave him alone." he said more forcefully.
"We will attack tomorrow night, two hours after the sun sets. You are to only retrieve her and avoid fighting at all costs. Take down anyone who gets in the way, do not approach him in anyway. I will deal with him." "What are you going to do?" she asked. "Talk." "Talk?" "Yes." The purple haired kunoichi stood confused. "You move on my command. I want you to keep a perimeter around the village, you are to know everyone who leaves or enters." "Hai."
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The sun shone happily through the window as Kasumi slowly opened her eyes. She looked up to see Ryu's face. She smiled. She was laying against his chest, his arm was wrapped around her. The blankets pulled up covering their bodies. Kasumi yawned while stretching. She pushed the blankets back and stepped out of bed. She walked into the bathroom closing the door behind her. She turned on the tap and stepped into the tub.
Several moments later she stepped out wrapping a towel around her. She opened the door and saw a fully clothed Ryu finishing strapping on his weaponry. She smiled as he noticed her. Ryu's expression softened slighty as he continued to fastening his weapons to his waist. She walked over and looked out into the garden. "It's a beautiful day." she said. Ryu looked over at her. "Hn." he answered. Kasumi sighed as she looked down slightly.
Maybe it all did mean nothing...
She thought to herself when she felt something around her waist. She looked down and saw two arms. She then looked up and saw Ryu standing behind her holding her. "Ive seen things that are far more beautiful than the day. " he said softly. Kasumi became red. This was a side of Ryu she had never seen. He leaned forward gently kissing her before letting go and heading towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Kasumi asked. "I have to go check a few things and help for the preparations for tonight. " "Preparations for tonight?" Kasumi asked. "There's going to be a fesitval in the village in honour of the "Great Red Dragon." "Oh." Kasumi said. "Kasumi.." "Yes?" "You wouldn't be interested in going with me, would you?" Ryu asked very nonchalant. Kasumi smiled. "Of course I would." "Good..it starts at 8. Meet me on the bridge then." "Right." Kasumi said as he nodded and then dissapeared through the doorway shutting it behind him.
Kasumi smiled as she began to change into her ninja uniform. Kasumi spent the remainder of the day in the training grounds training. Hours passed when Kasumi leaned against her katana breathing heavily. She noticed it was getting dark. Her eyes widened. "Shit.' she said sheathing her sword and sprinting towards the main house.
She opened her door and entered her room. She ran to the bathroom undressing and bathing. She stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel when she noticed something on her bed. She stepped closer. It was a long white kimono with pink sakura petals on it. There was a purple band that tied around the waist and outlined the kimono. The sleevs were long. There was a necklace ontop of it as well. Kasumi lifted it up looking at it. "I thought you may need something to wear for tonight's festival." a voice called as Kasumi looked to the side and saw Yuzuki. "Yuzuki-san! I can't believe you did this for me!" she yelled embracing her in a hug. "Go on! Get ready, I'll help!" Yuzuki said excitedly as Kasumi smiled and began dressing into her kimono.
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Ryu stood beneath a sakura tree on the bridge as petals fell around him. He looked up at the moon and sighed impatiently. He heard footsteps as he turned and his eyes widend. Kasmi stood on the other side of the bridge in her new Kimono. Her hair was down and there was a lilly in her hair. She wore the jade necklace and white high heels. "Kasumi..." he said stepping closer until they were in front of each other. "You look beautiful." he said as Kasumi turned red and smiled. "Thank you Ryu.." she said as he held out his arm and she put hers through.
They walked through the garden that Kasumi's room faced and passed through a gate walking along a path into the city. Music and the sound of drums could be heard. Kasumi remembered that she wasn't wearing a mask to conceal her identity. She could be found out and hunted once more, having to live on the run. She looked up at Ryu. Tonight would be a perfect night and most likely their last together. Kasumi would have to leave later in the night. She was going to make this the most memorable night ever.
They entered the epicenter of the town where the fesitval was being held. Everyone stopped and turned to see Ryu and Kasumi enter with their arms linked. They walked through the crowd as Kasumi could hear people whisper things like. " Who is that?" or "What happened to Uruwashii-sama?" Kasumi smiled to herself as they reached the center and Ryu stepped up onto a platform.
"Tonight marks 150 years since the red dragon saved and created this village." the crowd began to cheer. "We honour and celebrate this night in the name of the red dragon. May the festivities now commence!" the crowd grew wild with cheering as fireworks blasted off into the sky and people in the dragon costume danced through the crowd while woman danced alongside them. The ninja's were attending the festival as well unmasked, but, because no one but Ryu has seen them before, the civilians couldn't tell the difference.
Ryu and Kasumi were dragged into dancing. They danced, and ate and laughed together. Enjoying the night, unaware of the events that have yet occurred, one that would wipe the smiles off both their faces.
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Author's notes: Woohoo. Done! Review please and let me know what you think !!