TheDarkestShinobi: OMG, I just seen Dead Fantasy 3, 4 and five, anyone who has not seen them go see them now,

Looks to audience

We'll wait. Lol, Jeff dunham, another person you should watch, anyway, the scene at the end of five with Kasumi, (Not gonna spoil it) I am not a fan girl but I was like "Whoo hoo!" when 'it' happened, if you watch it you'll know what it is. Anyway it inspired me to write more DOA!

Oh, I love you guys btw; this is my most reviewed story! Well, with people writing coherent things.

Oh and I don't know about Ryu crying, at least not yet, but if it fits I'll put it.

Chapter start

Ryu sat against the bark of the tree, his mask was in his hand on the floor and his sword base was on the floor next to him, with the hilt resting on his right shoulder, his right knee was bent so that his knee came up to his chest level, his other leg was laying straight on the dirt, and he was staring at the training grounds. His hair was loose behind him almost touching the ground.

His eyes passed over all the damage he had caused to the innocent training grounds. Trees were destroyed, some of them ripped from the ground, some having chunks of their trucks missing and some just missing. The ground was scorched in places and cut up in others.

Teams of children stood at the edge of the forest in awe as the watched the Jade Eyed Ninja destroy the forest and display "true power." In what looked like a dance this part of the forest was destroyed. Children pointed and stared some gaping as he disappeared and reappeared rapidly to cut a tree into splinters before it hit the ground; it was something Kasumi taught him. Their senseis would tell them stories about Ryu's talent and how they were lucky enough to witness this because most people who seen any of his skill were dead before they could say that they did.

They said anyone who was close enough to see his jade eyes was as good as dead.
The children were silent as they stared in awe at the destruction, even now as Ryu sat against the tree, not even slightly breathless, they continued to stare. Ryu knew that they were there, and that they would brag to all their friends that they got to see the Hayabusa Ryu training. He closed his eyes and felt the people coming closer.

"Hayabusa sama that was awesome!" A girl yelled out before her sensei put his hand over her mouth. Everyone looked to the girl in shock as Ryu stood up and walked over to her, mask in place and sword on his back. Some people actually stepped back as Ryu looked at the sensei who removed his hand looking away and the girl looked up at him, she was breathless as she seen the beautiful eyes everyone spread rumors about and then slightly bowed her head to him. He put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair.

"Trees don't fight back"

He released her hair and she looked up at him as if saying through her eyes 'I get it but I don't want to hurt anything else.' Ryu turned from her and walked into the village slowly feeling all their eyes linger on him. Her eyes reminded him of someone he knew and still has to say goodbye to, and it was too soon for that. He knew the pain of loss before, when his entire clan was slaughtered, but he had vented by becoming a killing machine. He couldn't now, first off he could see her face as she chided him, gently, that she would never want that and secondly, the ninja who killed her was part of his clan, and her brother was also to blame because he wouldn't listen to reason, he just wanted her dead because she had betrayed the clan.

He walked through the village and felt people point and stare, he always had to deal with this, he was a monster and people loved him for it, he usually just appeared where he wanted to be to avoid walking through the crowd but today he didn't feel he had anywhere to be. He took a step back as a purple haired Kunochi appeared when he was,

"Ryu"
"Ayane"
"Come with me" She said in a commanding tone as she walked closer to him and touched his arm, almost intimately, and they both disappeared.

She kept her hand against his bicep as he looked down at her. He was confused, why was she touching him so intimately when they were not involved in any romantic way? He seen her shift, and was able to tell she was nervous but determined to do what ever she had set out to do. He looked over her head to see where she brought them.

"Ryu kun" he felt her hand on his mask and looked down into her eyes.
"You need to let her go, kill Sereo san if you must, but you can not go on like this." Ryu grabbed her hand firmly and brought it down quickly.
"You brought me here to tell me this." It wasn't a question, he knew this but she always had ulterior motives, underneath her hard exterior was someone who really did care. She grabbed the forearm her hand was on before and grabbed the other forearm and as much as Ryu wanted to push her away because she was too close, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He had heard from his sensei that people, in a state of emotional weakness sought out to touch and be touched and that it was a basic human need that he had overcome by being a 'super ninja' as they liked to call him. But that would mean he was emotionally weak now, why? If it was because of Kasumi then it was because he cared for her more than he had ever admitted, but it did not matter because a ninja was never to make friends or have a lover, because it was a weakness.

"You need to let her go" she repeated with emphasis on the need. Ryu nodded, even his sensei would agree that he needed to let her go; in fact his sensei would say it was a good thing that she died. Now he didn't have that weakness. Now he was stronger.

Ryu felt her release him and she lunged into him. Ignoring his want to throw her and slice her in half for it he simply stood still and let her hug him. Kasumi told him that hugs were the best for helping somebody who needed comfort and that sometimes it's best to say nothing so Ryu brought his arms up and wrapped them around her as he did with Kasumi all those years ago when she told him what she was going to do and Ryu warned her of the consequences. He offered to go with her but she declined saying he belonged here, this was something she needed to do alone and that she would be back. They ended up following her there anyway.

He wanted to pretend that it was that October evening years ago and that he hadn't just lost part of his family.

He felt droplets of water land on his shirt and she started to shake in his hold.

"I hated her" Ryu's train of thought was interrupted and didn't know what to say so he stayed silent.
"I wanted what she had so badly, I wanted Hayate, I wanted you... I..." Ryu was confused, she had that, from the start, and Kasumi left everything behind when she left.
"And I wanted to kill her" At this Ryu narrowed his eyes and unconsciously tightened his hold.
"See, she's dead, and yet you think of protecting her instead of helping me, the weak girl..." she said this as if she was scolding herself. She shook her head
"...who's in your arms"

"I wanted everything from her, now I don't! I don't want her dead, I never did! I just wanted to be better than her, to prove that I disserved what she had." Ryu felt her weight press on him and knew she would've fallen to her knees if he wasn't there. Her shaking stopped and she sighed.

"Oh Kami Ryu" She said semi relived to have gotten it all out as Ryu held her not knowing what else to do. She shook and then pulled back.
"Thanks" She wiped away her tears and laughed, she had a good long hard laugh. Ryu watched her interested in just what was going on, she wiped tears from her face and put her hands on her hips taking a deep breath.
"I'll never have what she did, but I'm not her" She turned and walked to the end of the cliff to see the village below. Ryu walked next to her and she laughed again but this time it was small and bitter.
"It only took her dying for me to realize that"

Ryu wanted to tell her about Kasumi's real reason for leaving and how these events transpired but he remembered his oath, that he promised to keep the secret until the grave, he shook his head, his grave, not hers. He crossed his hands over his chest.

"You're too quiet, it's bothering you still, ironic, I planned to help you and only helped myself."
"Hn"
"Well, we're leaving soon, maybe that'll distract you" Ryu looked over to his new village and closed his eyes sensing Ayane disappear. He opened them looking into the sky.

"Hayate is calling me... Don't die on me Kasumi"

She hadn't responded, she didn't promise that she wouldn't, he should've made her promise instead of hurrying to help fight DOATEC with Hayate and Ayane to protect the Mugen Tenshin; it wasn't even his village.

He closed his eyes and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding; maybe it was a good thing she died, he'd get these unprecedented feelings out of the way and be better because of it.

This was just the hard part.

--

Kasumi looked into her reflection in the pond. Her normal blue outfit was replaced with a black one without a symbol proving her loyalty. She clenched her fist, she had no loyalty, she had betrayed her village and Hayate. How could she?

The water rippled and she noticed that it was her tear that caused it.

"Kasumi chan, it was necessary"
"They just let me go, Hayate was happy to see me dead. Just like you said when you told me what you were going to do. I didn't expect you to be right."
"Kasumi" She turned to Sereo and was pulled into a hug. She cried into his chest as he ran his hands up and down her back soothingly.

He really had wanted her dead.

"What if I stay dead?" She asked as she stopped crying and left her head in Sereo's chest.

"What if Kasumi stays dead?"
"Don't,"
"I'm serious, I can pretend to be somebody else, maybe I can finally be accepted and have a family,"
"You can never be anyone else" Sereo said as he grabbed her hair gently. Her orange hair was unlike any other in Japan; it was true, her hair was just as known as Ayane's and Ryu's eyes.
"I know it's hard, but you have to have faith like you have had for years."
"Hn..."
"If you still want to be someone else after we deal with the Shogun then I'll help you"

--

Hayate nodded and dismissed the team of ninja that told him about Hayabusa's destruction of one of the training grounds. He knew that Ryu was still weak enough to care about Kasumi but he needed to snap out of it, they were going to see the Shogun and Ryu has to represent the Mugen Tenshin well. He was the strongest.

--

"I have to go back Kasumi chan"
"I know" She said without looking up, her long hair was tied in a braid behind her and she was using a kunai to cut up the wood into a structure, it was a pastime of hers that she finally had a chance to do since no one was chasing her anymore.
"Can I keep this one" Kasumi briefly looked up to see him holding a wooden structure of hers; it was of a mermaid sitting on a rock as her hair fell over her shoulders.
"It's not done yet" She felt him stand behind her and put his arms on her shoulders holding it in front of her,
"You want to finish it now"
"Sure" She smiled and took it from him.
"Ryu Ayane and Hayate are leaving the village"
"To go see the Shogun" she finished as she started to carve in the blank face
"I'm going into the village, with you" Her eyes widened and she almost cut the head off. Turning quickly she was face to face with him
"I want you to talk to your mother,"
"But... I..."
"You want to"
"Yes, but"
"Then that's all there is to it." He grinned and Kasumi playfully pushed him over.

--

Ryu had successfully managed to get Kasumi out of his mind, he wasn't used to the idea that she was dead, but he just didn't think about her as much as before, though when he did he was found "training." It frustrated him that he was having trouble forgetting her when it took him just a week to forget his entire clan. He looked up to the dojo shrine and heard someone coming in.

"Ryu we're all leaving"
"Hai" He got up and bowed before leaving behind her.

"Ayane, Ryu, are you ready"
"Hai"
"Yeah, where the other girl?" Ayane asked as she put her hands on her hips.
"Right here Ayane sama" Ayane looked over to see Yuki sitting there, her short black hair falling to the top of her shoulders and her brown eyes taking in the three 'legendary' ninja before her. Hayabusa Ryu, the Jade Eyed Ninja, the strongest man in Japan and most likely the world. Ieto Hayate, the leader of the Hajimon, the Mugen Tenshin, second only to Hayabusa, but he was weaker than his now deceased sister. Ayane (no surname) the half sister of Hayate and his sister Kasumi, the result of her mother's rape by Raidou.

She blinked, Kasumi was supposedly dead, killed by Tademo Sereo, she knew otherwise. Though Sereo was ruthless, even taking down his sister in cold blood, he was simply not strong enough, unless he was downplayed and had not ever challenged Ryu or Hayate. She seen the blue sheath that Ryu had in his chest vest and looked to Hayate, maybe she was dead but she wouldn't believe it yet.

"We leave for the Shogun now, make sure you have everything you need, taking in what happened to my father expect a fight"

"Hai" Yuki said and seen Ayane nod curtly and Ryu do absolutely nothing other than cross his arms.

"Let's go" Ryu said as he jumped up onto the roof followed by the other three. He jumped off and landed on the road just outside of the village gates, and they started running as soon as their feet hit the ground.

--

"Beautiful" Kasumi blushed as she looked away and held the mermaid out for Sereo to see.
"The mermaid's nice to"
"Hey!" Kasumi tossed it up and he caught it smirking.
"Ready"
"No" She said as she looked down, nervous about entering the village, even though it's what she's been fighting for for years.
"Good" He grabbed her hand and they disappeared.

--

Ayame poured herself a cup of tea when the door in front of her slid open to reveal a man, she couldn't tell too much about him because his head was bowed.

"Ohiy..." her words died on her lips as the man raised his head. It was the ninja she had heard so much about, the one that finally killed the rouge Nin, the orange haired doe eyed shinobi, Kasumi.
"Why are you here" The man bowed his head slightly in respect.
"I know what you have heard of me Ieto Sama, it is not all true."
"What is not?"
"I cannot say, but allow me to introduce somebody."
"I will offer no such allowance!"
"Okaasan" It was a whisper but enough to silence the woman in the room.

"Okaasan, it's me" Kasumi opened the door further and peered inside, her head was the only thing visible to her mother.
"Kas-"
"Hai, no need to say it" Ayame's tears fell freely down her face as her and her daughter embraced each other.
"I am indeed grateful but I do not understand I heard that you killed her"
"No" He raised his head "I pretended to kill her"
"By dying Okaasan, I can begin to live, I just needed to see you"
"Hai, what of Hayate and Ryu"
"I have seen them mother" Kasumi clenched her fist as Sereo came closer. He put his hand on her shoulder as he kneeled on his left knee and she calmed putting her training to use.
"They did not grieve after seeing "me" dead, in fact my Oniisan rejoiced."
"No, he has not been himself lately"
"Our family is not what it was, I ruined that, and I am sorry for it, but I do not need to face them ever again."
"At least see Ryu, he is not himself, hasn't been since your death, he even wants to fight with you when he returns" Sereo paled and Kasumi looked over to him calming him.
"I don't really-"
"Kasumi, trust me, you two care more for each other than you care to admit."
"He should hate me, and I him, you cannot tell of my existence." Kasumi grabbed her mother's cheek softly and pressed her forehead against hers,
"I will miss you, as I have for years"
"Goodbye my daughter" Sereo then put his fist on the ground and bowed towards Kasumi's mother.

"I hope one day you can forgive me Ieto hime"
"Today I do, thank you for everything, and you may address me less formally"
"It was my pleasure hime"
"Take care of Kasumi"
"As long as she is with me, I will not let her die"
"Arigato"
"Goodbye mother"
"Ja ne, Ayame hime"
"Ja ne" She said as she watched her lean back to touch his chest with her back and disappear leaving Sakura petals behind. Her mother knew Kasumi left them for her sake and she picked them all up getting a book to press them in.

--

"You are leaving now"
"Hai, you stay here, if what I think is happening is happening you are needed"
"For the village."
"No, as I said, your alliance is gone" She bit her lip
"Hai"
"The Shogun has and always will crave blood and war. You will go there with me for the second wave, if he calls one, and you will take him out"
"Hai, but why me"
"You have no alliance, you will not force them to be one sided in the future."
"Sou ka" Kasumi grabbed two pieces of wood and threw them onto the previous pile of wood they used for their fire. She then turned over to Sereo and pointed at the river
"Fish?"
"No, bird" she said rolling her eyes playfully.
"But they don't taste as good" He stuck out his tongue as he dodged the kunai and ran towards the water. Kasumi smiled and looked up to the sky as a single tear ran down her face.

"Oniisan..."

Flashback

(Kasumi 7, Hayate 8)

"Oniisan" Kasumi called out playfully as she jumped up the tree branches, he had always done this to her, taking flowers she was about to pick and make her chase him for them, he always gave them back and it was fun so she didn't mind... too much.

She jumped up and caught a kunai aimed for her. Her brother appeared with the rose in his hand.
"Come on slowpoke."
"Hey" She threw it back and he caught it disappearing, Kasumi put her hands on her hips,
"I'll learn that someday! I'll be the best at it!"

End Flashback

"You got your wish, Hayate Sama, your sister is dead."

Hayate smirked

Kasumi's eyes hardened as she wiped the tear away.

"Hayate, I wish you still valued me as a sister, the way I value you as my brother, but the next time we meet, I wish you mean as little to me as I to you"

She looked into the burning wood and swore. If Hayate raised his sword against her she would kill him.

She hoped she wouldn't have to.

"Kasumi chan" Sereo said in a singsong voice as he walked over with the fish, she looked to him and smiled
"You're getting slow ojiisan" He dropped the fish
"Ojiisan!" He tackled her and she squealed as he began to tickle her, she managed to get him to stop but he pinned her down, his legs outside of hers and his hands pinning hers down. She stuck her tongue out and shifted her wrist so he was sent crashing into her; except she disappeared last minute and he met the dirt.

"Hey" he looked to her to see her cooking the fish with a smile on her face. She frowned
"I used to play like this with him"
"And I with her."

Kasumi nodded, maybe she could replace his sister, the way he was replacing Hayate. She gave him some fish when they were done and watched him get ready to leave. He turned to her as she held her hands together over her heart looking down,

"Kasumi chan"
"Hai..."
"Take care of yourself" she nodded and looked up into his eyes as he looked down into hers.
"And don't cry, crybaby" She pouted.
"Will not, I don't even like you anyway"
"That's my girl" he kissed her forehead and stepped back disappearing in a burst of flame, she crossed her arms
"Show off, baka Oniisan…" she laughed and turned to the camp, she had better clean up as if he had really left.

--

"I have promised your brother I cannot let you die." Kasumi looked at him sighing.
"I must do this" Ryu ignored her.
"Know also that the path of the ninja is a long and difficult one" He settled into his stance and she did the same.
"I know more than anyone Ryu kun" Ryu stood up putting his hands to his sides and she blinked in shock.
"I will not harm you, therefore you would win the fight, there is not point in even fighting"
"You don't wish me dead"
"That is between you and your clan, I am alone remember" Kasumi shook her head.
"You don't have to be"
"Hayate and Ayane are busy with DOATEC, so you should be left alone, if you don't seek them out."
"I will"
"I know, be safe"
"Eh, you'll save me, even if I don't need you to" Ryu smiled under his mask, knowing it to be true.

The memory faded and he seen her on that same bridge with hair that looked like it was cut by a blade, her clothes were ripped and her skin was all cut up, her lips in a sneer,
"But you won't if I do"

Ryu's eyes opened and he jumped into a tree branch sitting down and looking out into the horizon,

"Go to sleep Yuki san, I will keep watch"
"Hai, Hayabusa san"

What was wrong with him? Kasumi's face kept popping up in his dreams. He cleared his mind and opened his eyes to see the full moon. He knew that people often had dreams or nightmares about the ones they loved when they were or soon would be in danger, if that was true then Kasumi would be alive. Ryu shook his head and pulled out her katana, she was dead; he needed to stop deluding himself before he made a habit out of it.

She was dead.

He had to keep saying that, he didn't believe it though, and he didn't know why. He pulled out the blade and it glowed in the moonlight.

Everybody lives, everybody dies, and he knew that more than anyone else ever could.

He put the blade back and looked into the night sky.

Why did she change everything?

Chapter End

TDS: there are some things I didn't like but the story will get better, I hope… anyway, I'm thinking Ryu doesn't know that Kasumi and Sereo see themselves as siblings and there is some jealousy going on, what do you think?