New Beginings

by GreenNebulae

Chapter twelve up: RyuxKasumi: The myth of Ryubi the Water Bender, Nura the Invincible, Samson the Great and countless others were not myths at all, but history. History that Kasumi would now become a part of, she would stand with them, and years from now someone will hear of the Kunoichi of Destiny and know it was Kasumi and he will have done his part to get her there.

4. Dying

TheDarkestShinobi: Chapter four up,

I'm going to have a quote from the chapter at the start to leave you excited to read

(("You got your wish, Hayate Sama, your sister is dead."))
-Hayabusa

Chapter start

"The shogun" Ayane's eyes widened as she got on one knee bowing her head, She was on her left knee as her right fist was firmly planted on the ground, her left hand was on her right knee. Her gaze was straight down to the ground and her lips moved with authority over the village, but submission to the shogun.
"Gomen Nasaii messenger, the shogun wishes me to deliver a letter" The messenger nodded and threw back his cloak and let his long hair escape. His brown hair reached his hips and was in a braid.

"To Hayate san or whoever may lead your village now"
"Hayate sama is out of the village but I will give this to him as soon as he returns"
"When is he due back"
"Tomorrow"
"Very well, this is for his eyes and his eyes only"
"Hai"
"Thank you my purple haired friend, the shogun expects to hear from the Hajimon in one week" Ayane curtly nodded still on one knee. She felt him reach down and put his hand on her head and she swelled with pride, he deemed her actions worthy of recognition.

"What is your name"
"I am Ayane"
"And your surname"
"I do not have one"

Instead of reeling back and looking upon her with discus as most would since she is the offspring born of an evil act he slid his thumb over her head understanding it all, but not judging her in the least.
"Arigato"
"Iie" He pulled his hand back and she stood up.

Reaching into his cloak the messenger pulled out a scroll case, inside it was the message for Hayate.
"Give this to him immediately upon his return, can you be relied on?"
"Now and always"
"Go child, the shogun protects you"

Ayane took the scroll in her hands and bowed to the shogun's messenger who bowed slightly in return. The messenger turned and pulled his cloak over his head and walked along the dirt path slowly. Ayane turned towards the village and walked to the door before turning and vanishing into thin air.

She had to see Him now

--

Kasumi continued running and ran two steps up the tree before jumping off and turning to face Sereo. She kicked him in the head and he caught the foot there and threw her to the ground.

"Don't trust me" Kasumi got up on her elbows and looked behind her to see Sereo walking towards her.

"How did you ever elude anyone Kasumi San?"

Kasumi jumped up and double kicked Sereo but he blocked both kicks and drew a kunai. He threw it at her and it nicked her cheek, the blood slowly trickling down.

"Now you see, I can kill you, I will kill you unless you come at me with true intent"
"I don't want to fight you Sereo."

Sereo sunk into his stance as Kasumi stood there staring at him with a drop of blood trailing down her cheek.

"So you're a lair then Kasumi chan, I thought you'd do everything you could to get to your brother, I guess not, you're just a scared girl crying for someone to save her."

Sereo drew the sword on his back and crossed the distance between her in an instant. He swung downwards and she lowered her stance bringing her katana to meet his at the edge of her neck.

"I do not need protection." She pushed back on the sword and he took a step back as a smile formed on his face, she switched her stance and brought her katana down to her right side.

Sereo and her parried blow for blow using the same standard Mugen Tenshion style until Sereo jabbed and spun twice and sunk lower spinning one more time in a style similar to Ayane. Kasumi blocked all three and kicked him. He flew up but scissor kicked her catching her on his way forward and sending her towards the ground. Kasumi shot out her hand and flipped up catching his leg with her own as she turned towards him.

Sereo landed on his feet and smirked.

"Much better Sumi Chan"
"This is not training, you are not to judge!"

Sereo blocked her strike and knocked her weapon out of her hand. Kasumi then ducked to dodge his spinning back kick and sprung up. His fist hurdled toward her face with his katana and she turned her body and shot out her arms, one hitting his elbow and on hitting his wrist and his weapon flew into the tree penetrating the bark enough to stick.

Kasumi then spun around bringing her body close to the floor and kicking out to sweep him. He fell forward towards the ground and landed on his hands bringing his feet down quickly and wrapping them around her neck.

Kasumi's eyes widened and she fought to free herself, but he managed to roll them so that he pinned her down as he slowly cut off her airways. Kasumi let a tear escape her eye as she fought back; she managed to free one hand and desperately clawed at him managing to scratch his forearm leaving a tine red line of blood behind.

"You let emotion judge your actions, one is your friend only if the circumstance allows it, if not, they are your enemy."

Kasumi heard his words loud and clear but all she wanted was to succumb to the numbness,

"I accepted the fact that I would die by your hands, which is why I did not fear you and why I beat you, he who accepts that he is dead, is unstoppable."

Kasumi's vision got hazy and she knew it was the end, she didn't get to see Hayate, or Ryu, she didn't get... to...

"Know that you are dead, and you will become the mist Kasumi" (her name means mist.)

Kasumi felt the pressure on her body release and she inhaled the air greedily while turning towards Sereo who walked over to the tree to get his katana. She was disoriented and thought he would end her now, she was dead. She would not go down without a fight, Sereo was now her enemy. She narrowed her eyes, he had to die.

Sereo pulled the Katana out of the tree and to Kasumi's surprise sheathed the weapon. Turning to her he smirked and Kasumi narrowed her eyes further towards this familiar stranger.

"Know that you were as good as dead."

Kasumi spoke with venom never heard from the passive shinobi.

"I will not die by your hands" She sunk into her battle stance and readied herself for battle.

"And I will kill you if you attempt to strike me."

"That's the attitude you needed at the beginning of the fight, then you would not have lost to me, Kasumi"
"What are you saying?" He vanished and appeared fifteen feet behind her, she turned quickly and seen him bend to pick up her katana.
"That I could've killed you, if anyone had become your 'friend' they could kill you, that you need to be wary, that you are a Shinobi! And you need to act like one."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I know the whole story, and I am going to help you"
"Why?"
"Because no one helped my sister, and she was killed, I will not let Hayate sama go through the same pain."
"You thought she was guilty too"
"I killed her"

Kasumi dropped her hands and looked to him in utter shock
"And unless you shape up, Hayate will kill you"
"Nonsense!"
"He is power hungry and ignorant, and he is not your brother anymore"
(("Uresai!")) (idk if that's spelt right)

Sereo looked up shocked to see her crying while clenching her fist and breathing heavily.
"Kasumi chan"
"Don't call me that! Don't-Don't confuse me like this, I thought you were my friend, then my enemy, now you're my friend again? Why?"
"We need to eat, then leave and hide, then I will explain it all"
"What?"

--

Ryu looked down to see Ayane
"What is it"
"The shogun sends a message to Hayate"
"So why are you here"
"Because you are wiser and I do not trust his judgment, you have three hours, I told the messenger he was gone for the day"
"You lied to the messenger"
"I had to"
"Give me the scroll" Without hesitation Ayane took out the scroll and threw it to Ryu who opened it in the same instant he caught it.

"I see"
"What is it"
"War"
"Again?"
"Hai, but this is suspicious"
"Shimatta"
"Bring this to Hayate now, tell him that the shogun wishes a response in 8 days no more no less"
"He said a week"
"Which is why I say 8 days"
"Hai, Hai, ano Hayate wants to see you"
"I know"
"You know everything don't you"

Ryu looked over not knowing how to respond, was that an insult or a compliment, or the sarcasm thing?

"Anyway, he is sending you to kill her"
"Kasumi?"
"Who else?"
"I see"

--

Kasumi stood in the same spot she was since Sereo released her from his choke hold and watched as Sereo cleaned up the camp and packed everything up.

She slid her hand around her waist and gripped her katana sheath; the man in front of her still had her katana. He turned to her and was instantly by her side holding out her katana towards her. She took it and sheathed it.
"I still don't understand"
"Maybe it's my atonement for what I did to my sister."

Kasumi nodded solemnly and bit her lip as he turned away, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't figure this man out. He was so unique, almost like herself. Kasumi felt him by her side again,

"Do you trust me?" She closed her eyes
"How can I?"
"That wasn't the question"
"I do" Kasumi felt an arm wrap around her waist and opened her eyes to see that they were in a different clearing than the one before. He released her and tossed her a pack

"Let's set up camp." Kasumi nodded and moved mechanically,

--

Hayate turned towards the guest in his room when the breeze stopped gently caressing his skin and seen Ayane besides him; she was there on business and business only.
"What brings you here?" He asked turning back to his papers, usually it was just another mission report,
"The Shogun" Hayate's eyes widened and he looked to Ayane expecting her the tell him 'sorry bad joke' but all she did was pull a scroll from her pouch and hold it out to him. He took it slowly wondering what was inside, the last note called for a war, one that killed his father and left his mother vulnerable enough to be raped and as a result, Ayane was born.

He read the kanji carefully, the note was sort and direct. There was to be war again, it was left unsaid.

(I)

Dear Leader of the Mugen Tenshion, I, the shogun have noticed the boundaries between you and the Tsube tribe and fear an all out war, this is why I request you to bring your strongest Ninja with you when you come here, I need a list of who is coming with you, you are only allowed three companions, I expect a response before the full moon.

"That is in a week"
"Ryu said to respond in eight days"
"He usually knows best"
"What will we do?"
"We need to find Hayabusa Ryu and Hideki Yuki and get them ready to go" Ayane curtly nodded
"Hai"
"And Ayane"
"Hai?"
"Get ready too." Hayate turned to his paperwork and felt a slight breeze coming from the window, he sighed and signed the last one, he needed to relax.

"Hayate sama, I brought you some... tea..." She looked into the room and sighed shaking her head, they were too quiet when they disappeared.
"Oh well more for me."

--

Ryu seen Ayane appear at the edge of the branch.
"I assume I was chosen"
She disappeared with a smile. He frowned and looked back towards the sky.

--

"I need to kill you" Kasumi stopped and turned to him,
"You should've killed me before"
"You don't understand, when you are dead they will stop chasing you and I can go back to the village, I have a couple of days left, and I will train you in some things. With the exception of Hayabusa, you were the strongest in the village."
"Hai,"
"Because you had something to come home to, I will make you strong enough on the inside that no matter what, you'll still be that strong."
"And how are you going to kill me"
"Well, I have proof of us fighting already." Kasumi glanced at his wounds and knew that they were indeed proof,

"I'm going to take that ribbon" Kasumi nodded,
"A piece of your dress and part of your hair."
"And they'll believe you"
"That's what I bring of all people, I respect the dead so I burn the bodies as soon as I kill them, I also need the katana"
"I never go anywhere without it"
"That's my point, besides I will ask to keep it and they'll be so happy you're gone that they'll let me keep it"
"Great..."
"That Kasumi, is what I will teach you to hide, disappointment, fear, anger, I will teach you"
"Then, you will leave me"
"Hai, I will be back though, I have to teach you all I know, maybe then I can feel redeemed."
"Sereo, I don't hold this against you"
"That's why I have to do this."

Kasumi understood and she felt him come closer and draw his blade, and she trusted him. He cut her hair and then a part of her face, it wouldn't scar, and it got her blood on the blade. He swung it as to stimulate the fight and where the blood would travel and he took the ribbon and wrapped it around the hair he cut. He also cut the dress and put everything in the pack.
"As for now, let's eat."

--

Hayabusa looked up to Hayate and Ayane in complete 'super ninja' mode and they looked back waiting for the final member to walk in.

"Ohiyo Ieto sama, Ayane san and Hayabusa sama, I am Hideki Yuki"
"Ohiyo, sit" She did and the situation was explained to her. Her mother was chosen 16 years ago to be the medic and had died leaving her motherless and her father cold and distant.

"Yuki san, will you join us"
"Hai" she bowed to the three of them and stood up,
"I need to inform my father and I need to pack"
"We leave at the end of the week."

--

Kasumi turned towards Sereo with a fire in her eyes.
"Why"
"Stop asking me that"
"Fine!"Kasumi stood up and tore off the blue outfit leaving herself in only her very revealing one piece under it.
"Here" Kasumi blinked and he was in front of her holding a black version with a golden trim.
"There is no-"
"You have betrayed the Hajimon, it is time you acted the part."
"Sereo I-"
"Kasumi, you know it to be true, you are a ninja free from the village, don't be held down by its symbol"
"I... Arigato Sereo..." She put it on and tied her orange hair up in a regular ponytail using a black ribbon from her pack.

"You are a fragile girl, emotionally, so there is a technique my sister used that I will show you, eventually it will become natural, you will separate your conscience, one will be you, as you are, the other needs to be the ruthless killer you were trained to be, someone that can even kill me"

Hayate remained unsaid

Kasumi nodded and knew this was for the best, even if she felt like it was wrong in so many ways.

"Kasumi chan, I need you to agree to this, it cannot be done unless you want it to be"
"I'll do whatever it takes to see Hayate again, to be part of my village and have my family"
"And to do that, you need to renounce you village for real."

Sereo handed her two sticks and pointed to the blue cloth on the ground.

"Burn it, break your bond completely so that a new one can form." Kasumi's eyes hardened and she lit her mark of loyalty, on fire. It burned, so did the tears streaming down her face.

--

Sereo caught them food and burned the leftovers over the spot where Kasumi burned her outfit.

"In case they investigate" he answered her unasked question. "They'll see burned flesh along with the outfit."
"H-Hai"
"You are dead" he said to the wind
"Now you can live" Kasumi nodded and stood next to him as they looked off of the cliff.

"Teach me how to live too" Kasumi nodded her head and they made their way back to the tents.

--

"Hayate Sama, Tademo Sereo san is here, he says he accomplished his mission"

Hayate dropped his pack and disappeared from sight.

"Is it true?"
Sereo opened his pack and pulled out the ribbon, hair and outfit piece.
"This is what you normally bring, but I need more" Sereo turned to the side when Hayabusa walked into the room and his eyes found Sereo's hand.
"That's Kasumi's favorite ribbon." Ryu said in shock and realized his mistake later.

Sereo didn't want to pull it out now, and risk Hayabusa killing him later, but he knew he had to,

"Is this enough?" He pulled out the Katana and seen Ryu's jade eyes harden as his lips flattened. Hayate grabbed the sword and inspected it,
"It's hers"
"Hai, or shall I take you to the body, it is close, she almost got into the village, I was on my way back when I seen her, she was stronger than you Hayate Sama"
"She's always been, not anymore" Hayate said and Sereo decided to ask now.
"She was the toughest opponent I've ever faced, I wish to keep the sword as a keepsake of a great battle and a worthy opponent" Hayate nodded, many shinobi wanted those, and threw the sword to him.
"Take me to the body" Hayabusa said with cold jade eyes as he appeared in front of Sereo and put Kasumi's sword in his vest pocket.

"Hai"

--

Kasumi watched hidden in the trees above as Sereo came to the clearing and pointed where they had burned 'her' days before.
"It's a couple of days old,"
"Took me a couple of days to recover."
"There is a burned carcass and clothing," He bent down and picked up a strand of orange hair and shook his head sadly.
"You got your wish, Hayate Sama, your sister is dead."

Kasumi watched as Hayate smirked and she felt herself slipping and resorting to tears, but she let her other self take over and felt only nothing.

"I'm staying here for another week, I'll be back then"
"I understand, heal well, we have received news from the Shogun"
"Again?"
"Hai"

Hayabusa was gone and Kasumi noted, not the look of defeat written on his face, but the fact that he had her sword and that she wasn't getting it back.

Hayate too, disappeared into the trees, Sereo turned to the camp and seen Kasumi with logs,
"I'll start the fire, catch some fish for us"
"Hai, Kasumi chan."
"And eventually I'm getting my Katana back"
"Hai"

--

Hayabusa walked into the dojo and Ayane waved, he walked past her and she frowned,
"what's eating him?"
"This" Hayate walking behind him handed Ayane the ribbon holding hair.
"Tademo san..."
"He accomplished our mission"
"Hai, that's great news"

But it wasn't, not only was Kasumi dead, but Hayabusa was going to kill Sereo. Ayane looked to Hayabusa and gave Hayate back the hair.

"Ryu seems to be taking it hard"
"He pretends to care for her, but I know that he wanted to kill her himself". Ayane wished Hayate knew just how wrong he was.

Ayane was pretty easy to figure out, she was loving and wanted a family, she had always wanted what her half sister had, Hayate, Ryu, Ayame, the list went on, and she couldn't forgive Kasumi for throwing it all away. She couldn't forgive Kasumi for having it in the first place. Now, she realized that Kasumi lost it all and became like her when she left. Yet she couldn't forgive her.

Deep inside she had always been nice, her and Kasumi would play in the lake and she would play with everyone else, until they found out she was parentless. Kasumi never cared and Ayane loved her for it, even though she had been jealous. It all changed when Ayame asked to see her alone

"Ayane, I am your mother, please forgive me"

Ayane felt saddened to know that she had caused her mother pain and then it angered her, why her, why was she chosen to be the evil spawn. Then she began to envy her sister,

Why must she get everything, what makes her better than me, more disserving than me?

From the envy grew hate, as Kasumi would always defeat her that she grew to be the strongest in the village, she had only lost to Ryu, but Ryu was never a real part of the village. So Kasumi was the strongest, and Ayane had to struggle. And it was a slap in the face to find out that Kasumi left it all behind. No, because a slap wouldn't hurt or faze a Kunochi. She waited until it was dark and stormy, when Hayate was being tended to, to leave.

It was as if she said 'Ayane, blame me for your problems, but now that I'm gone, try to fill my place, just try'

And Ayane couldn't do it, Ryu still had vowed to protect her, and Hayate was now sworn to kill her, so was the village, no matter what she did, Kasumi was the center of attention, and she didn't want to be.

It really pissed Ayane off.

--

Hayabusa sat staring straight at the shrine with his legs folded under him and his arms on his legs. Some respected his wish to be in peace and some people stared as they passed by, some pointed at the 'Super Ninja' as they told their friends something about him. He drowned them all out and focused; he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, relaxing every muscle, one at a time. He felt his heart beat and focused on his breathing while letting everything escape his mind. He felt calm finally, and he now needed to solve his problem.

Kasumi is dead.

His eyes shot open and his muscles all tensed as if he could save her right here right now and his heart beat sped up, adrenaline pumping through his veins, he felt for his katana and jumped up disappearing out of the temple and appearing in an empty field, meditation would not solve this problem. His muscles flexed and inflexed at his command reshaping the forest.

--

Chapter End:

TDS: I'm going to end it here, I wrote this on my phone so idk how it compares length wise so I'm just going to stop here because I feel like it's enough.

Triple R!