Chapter 1
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to KOEI TECMO, TECMO and Team NINJA. I am not Yosuke Hayashi.
A/N: Hi, everyone!:)
I am beyond elated that you guys like this story! I honestly wrote this one day for fun and training, and then decided to post it in order to tell you guys that I am alive. I didn't expect this success...so it's a pleasing surprise!:)
Also, I am sure that some of you recognise the similarity with the Japanese fairy tale Kaguya-hime or The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Well pretty much, I was inspired by the story. Please do keep in mind that this is not in the Dead or Alive world. No Hitomi, no Eliot, just Hayabusa, Kasumi, Ayane and Hayate and of course their parents will be here. I might even add Momiji.
By the way, anyone stoked for Dead or Alive 5: Last Round? Because I surely am! Although I am pretty saddened by the end of the franchise...
Also, don't you think the new character Honoka and Marie Rose make the cutest tag team? ^.^ They are ADORABLE!
Right before you actually read the story, please listen to Dressed In Black by Sia. It is sort of the soundtrack for this story. If you listen to its lyrics, you'll see why it is so appropriate for this story.
Please don't forget to R&R!:)
"Father." A voice broke a tranquil silence. A man in his early fifties turned around, his tired gaze now on a handsome young man, similar looking to him. The young man frowned, seing his father's facial expression. He was about to state something, but was cut off by the older man.
"I'm stronger than you think, Hayate. Do remember that I am still the leader, regardless of my age. I am fine." He said, waving his hand up and down. Hayate scowled, obviously displeased with this response.
"I understand, father, but please, at least sit down while waiting for her. You've been staring at the pond for a week now." He replied, placing a gentle hand on his father's shoulder. Shiden smacked it off, his gaze returning to the pond before him.
"Your mother loved this pond and the fish in it. I am merely watching over it for her. Something that you should do as well." He said, his hands held behind him as he continued to stare at the pond. Because of a fish's sudden movement, a ripple disturbed the calm waters, and moved the water lilies from where they sat. Shiden frowned, sighing slightly. Hayate glared at his father.
"Mother wouldn't want you to spend your years watching this pond. She would want you to -" Hayate was cut off once more.
"Don't speak of your mother as if she is dead, Hayate." Shiden turned around briskly, his eyes suddenly cold, "do you understand? Don't you dare." He stated, fire almost spewing from his lips. Hayate felt cold sweat roll down his temple as he stared into his father's steel grey eyes.
"Yes, father." Hayate muttered, feeling shame wash over him. Shiden turned back to the pond in silence. Hayate was about to leave the room, right before the sliding door was opened, revealing a young girl, seemingly a female ninja considering her attire, with deep red eyes and light purple hair. Although her face held no exression whatsoever, her eyes were light in excitement. Hayate looked at her, confused.
"Ayane, what are you doing here?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. Ayane bowed once.
"Master Hayate, Master Shiden...they have arrived." She said. To this, Shiden turned around in surprise, his mouth wide open. He pushed Hayate to the side, pushing past Ayane as he left the room.
"Father, wait!" Hayate called, receiving no response. Hayate groaned, then turned to Ayane, "wait...did you say 'they'? I thought mother was the only one be coming..." He said, suddenly giving Ayane a fierce glare. Ayane flinched slightly.
"Master Shiden...did not tell you?" She attempted, looking at the floor.
"Tell me what, Ayane?" Hayate urged.
"That Lady Ayame has come with...Kasumi." Ayane winced as she stated this. Hayate's eyes went round with surprise. He stared at Ayane, mouth agape and seemingly speechless. Vivid memories of his sister that he had kept locked away in his heart suddenly invaded his mind. The infectuous giggling of his sister as they chased each other in the garden. The sweet smile that his little sister gave him every time he would be with her. His eyes started to burn, and he felt slightly lightheaded, then holding the wall next to him.
"Master Hayate?!" Ayane started in panic, "are you alright?" She grabbed his arm. Hayate blinked a few times, regaining composure.
"Kasumi...? Kasumi is coming back?" He whispered, a disbelieving expression forming on his face. Suddenly, he pushed himself off the wall, running down the corridor before Ayane could say anything else. The female ninja shouted his name, receiving no response, as Hayate's mind was focused on one thing. His steps were loud against the hard, wooden floor and the he never replied to the servants' greetings. Finally, he was by the front door, his eyes wildly scanning the area. They settled on two women and one man standing by a coach; the man was his father and the two women... Hayate ran down the steps towards them.
As he reached them, he could now clearly see the face of the older woman - an oval, pale face with forest green eyes. A long, straight nose and pale pink lips. Hayate almost didn't recognise her - her eyes held much sorrow and fatigue. In fact, her once youthful and happy face had gotten older, slight wrinkles under her eyes and around her mouth. Nevertheless, the smile that graced her face was impossible not to recognise.
"Mother..." A choked word escaped Hayate's lips. The woman took him in her small but strong arms, sobs emitted from her. Hayate squeezed her with equal force.
"My son," she cried, "oh, my dear Hayate!" Hayate could feel tears soaking his shoulder. His mother, Ayame, pulled back, placing her hands on his cheeks, staring in utter disbelief, "you've gotten so handsome. Where did the time go? How many years has it been?" Tears streamed down her face as she let out a strangled laugh. Hayate wiped her tears, a soft smile gracing his lips. And then, his eyes shifted. They shifted to the woman behind her, who was not looking at them altogether. No, it didn't seem that she stared at anybody. A long, blue veil covered her face and upper half of her body. Her hair was also covered, and she wore a dark blue kimono. Not a bit of her skin showed except for her pale, small hands.
Hayate gently let go of his mother, his eyes never leaving the veiled woman. The veil swayed slightly, and Hayate had the feeling that behind the slightly transparent cloth, the woman was looking at him.
"Hayate..." Ayame's voice cut through his trance. He turned to her. She was looking at him in a way that was sad, so extremely sad. Before he could say anything, his father started to speak.
"I will tell you everything inside. It is too dangerous here." He said, placing a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder. She gave a bitter smile, and took the woman's hand. The woman said nothing, following Ayame as they walked together inside. Shiden was next to follow, ignoring his son's confused look. Hayate followed them, watching as the blue veil of the woman flowed as she walked besides his mother.
"Ayane, sit down. This concerns you as well." Shiden ordered, glaring at the person standing next to the sliding door. Ayane reluctantly sat close to Hayate, bowing once before Ayame. Ayame smiled at her gently.
"Father," Hayate began, "what is this?" He asked. Shiden gave him a sharp look, before sighing in exasperation.
"When did I raise you to be so rude? It doesn't matter." Shiden shook his head, "you both have to listen carefully to this. I will not in any way repeat myself again. Do you understand?" Hayate and Ayane nodded simultaneously, "good. I'm sure you recognise your own mother, Hayate." Shiden said.
"How could I ever forget? Mother, how have you been faring? You look tired." Hayate asked, turning to his mother and the veiled woman.
"I am well, Hayate. The trip here was long. We were travelling as fast as we could." She smiled again. Hayate smiled back, and his father cleared his throat.
"We aren't here to speak of those matters, Hayate. We are here today to speak about...your sister." He announced solemnly. Hayate and Ayane froze. They looked at Shiden expectantly, waiting for him to continue. However, Ayame interrupted him, placing a hand on his hand to stop him.
"I will tell them. After all, they have not seen me for thirteen years." She smiled in reassurance, "don't look so worried. I have strengthened myself for those years. I always expected for this moment to happen. Now," she turned back to Hayate and Ayane with a serious look on her face, "I am sure, you all remember her, right? You remember your sister." Hayate swallowed at this and glanced at Ayane, who's eyes gave away every bit of nervousness she felt.
"Your sister...I cursed her." Ayame said. Hayate and Ayane's eyes went wide.
"Ayame!" Shiden protested.
"I'm sorry, Shiden. I have cursed our very own daughter. If I had not prayed so much...maybe, she would be more happy than she is now. Maybe none of those incidents would have happened." Her eyes held the same sorrow that she held a few instants ago.
"That's ridiculous, Lady Ayame!" Ayane suddenly burst out, "from what I know, you are no witch. How can you curse somebody?"
"Yet it is true, Ayane." Ayame replied, "I am not a witch, yet I have cursed my own child. It's all my fault. Everyday, you saw me go to the shrines and pray. Did you know what I had desperately wanted? A little girl. I wanted a girl. I had this plan in my head - that if I had a boy first, my next child had to be a girl. I had you, Hayate. I was so happy; my plan was going so well. Next, I wanted a girl. At first, I thought it would play out the way I wanted, but then...this old woman..." Ayame trailed off, "I met an elder woman who needed help carrying some things. I helped her, and the next thing she told me...shocked me." Ayame inhaled, choosing her words carefully, "she said...that she had met my mother before. She said that my mother had prayed for me as well. She also said that while my mother was dying at my birth, her last words...her last words were...'she cannot have a daughter.'"
"That's..." Hayate wanted to interrupt, but his mother cut him off.
"Please wait until I finish. Either ways, everyone was bewildered at what she said. No mother would say something like that at the birth of her child. It wasn't until later that I found out what she meant. I was the first girl born in my family. I only had brothers. Everyone called it a miracle, because my mother wanted me so much. However my father, right before letting me marry your father told me the same thing that my mother said at my birth. 'You cannot have a daughter.' He said to me. But that had been one of my dreams. I married your father and thought of children. I didn't think that my father was right by telling me to not have a daughter. So I ignored him, I had your sister because I prayed like my mother. I prayed for a baby girl, and then she...grew up to be...beautiful." Tears were in her eyes. She hastily wiped them, "so beautiful. My father hated your sister when he was alive. He called her a curse, and that caused me to hate him. I didn't understand until the day your sister was...kidnapped." She continued, "I realised what my mother had done so many years before, with me continuing her legacy. Wanting something comes with a price. My mother's price for getting me, the girl she wanted, was her life." A tear rolled down her cheek, "and the price for getting your sister...was not mine, but her life."
"What do you mean?" Hayate dreaded the answer that was to come.
Ayame took a deep breath, "do you remember the many times those men came to pay their respects to us, Hayate? Always saying that your sister was a beauty that would grow to be even more beautiful? That was what her life is - eternal beauty." She said.
"Eternal beauty?" Ayane questioned, frowning.
"Beauty is a dangerous thing, Ayane. So, very dangerous. Your sister's life was taken away by her beauty - she had to leave with me and leave her loved ones behind because of my selfishness. She couldn't have friends; I feared that if anybody took a look at her face, they would go crazy for her. So I hid her face. She can see you right now, but you cannot see her." Ayame replied. Hayate froze in shock, his eyes widening.
"So you mean..." He trailed off.
"Yes," Ayame said, her face turning to the veiled woman next to her, "this is your sister. This, is Kasumi."
A/N: Hiya!
So finally, the family is reunited! To answer your questions, yes, Ayame is still Ayane's mommy. She had her a year after Kasumi, and she still got raped by Raidou who ran away. But she still had to be left behind for Kasumi's sake. So yeah, those two aren't going to have the greatest relationship...
Hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I'm going to work on E:TROH, now. Expect an update this week!:)
Don't forget to R&R!:)