Kasumi parked the 1000CC bike and walked down the street. She couldn't be a suspect for the police for the theft of a motorbike. It was better to drop it off somewhere else than Hitomi's apartment.

A couple of minutes later, she finally arrived at Hitomi's apartment, Chiba, 25 miles east of Tokyo.

Kasumi searched for the spare key, unsuccessfully.

The door then suddenly opened…

" KASUMI! Where have you been? Why didn't you answer your phone?"

" Whoa Whoa Whoa, calm down please! I'll explain to you"

" What's wrong with that yukata? Are you bleeding? What the actual heck? "

" Wait what? Oww, I didn't see that. Although, it seems almost superficial."

"Come in!" Said Hitomi while keeping an eye outside to be sure no one followed her friend.

Kasumi entered the apartment. It was sleek, clean with touches of color and of cuteness, which Hitomi liked.

She stopped at some new karate championship medals of hers.

" Actually, I got out of the city to look after my parents, and Hayate. I wasn't as careful as I should have… they found me and chased me."

Hitomi got the med case and handed it to her. The two girls continued to talk while Kasumi was disinfecting and treating her laceration. She explained how she got at Hayabusa's.

" I thought I lost the minimum peace I have built here. I almost stayed there for him, but I came back to you. I came back to seek a normal life. " Kasumi smiled with humid eyes.

" Aw babe… what do you think of resting here, and tomorrow we have some drinks at home with Lei Fang?" Asked the blue eyed hafu*

" I am in! Hitomi, I have to ask: did you go to my apartment when I was gone?"

Hitomi went to another room, opened the built-in wardrobe and came back with a big sport bag full of stuff.

" Actually, I went, and it was a mess. I thought a thief or even maybe your sister got there. When the landlord didn't receive your payment, he called me, so I packed your stuff, even if it was mostly clothes."

" I didn't think they would go there… I hope they didn't followed me and they don't know I am here" Kasumi sighted

" Look, relax, just have a shower, change yourself and breathe!" She ordered

" Five by five captain!"

She turned on the warm water of the shower and locked the door of the bathroom. Minutes after being in the shower, dirt, mud and blood were running from her legs to the drain. Kasumi sat in and started to cry. All the tension, the stress and the loneliness she felt the last weeks, still made her on edge for now.

" At least, I am with Hitomi now, in Chiba" she thought

After she stepped out , she started to look at herself naked. Her body was full of bruises and scratches. She touched the sutures at her shoulder, thinking of Ryû. Kasumi kept his green yukata in her hand for a moment and then threw it into the washing machine. She dug in the sport bag, pulled out some underwear, a black sport pants, a pink sweatshirt and slept on the couch.

Meanwhile, Ryû Hayabusa found out where Kasumi had been, thus knowing where Hitomi was living. No one seems to have followed them. She was safe, for now…

Kasumi woke up at 01:00 pm the day after, she slept a lot longer than Hitomi and herself thought.

" Must believe you needed it. Look, you could live with me in this apartment. Lei Fang is living next door. Consider it! " proposed Hitomi, giving her a wink

That night, the trio was listening to music in the living room, each with a beer in their hand. Kasumi wasn't used to drink after all those months being a runaway, she was already tipsy. The girls had so much fun. The most serious subjects they talked about were about championships, jobs and boys. There was a lighthearted ambiance.

" Kasumi, last time you lived near, you were working at my gym and my dojo as a receptionist. I may open some courses about Ninjutsu if you are interested in teaching." Said Hitomi

" It would be an honor, Captain Buchfink! And you know what? I'll stay with you babe!" answered a heavily drunk Kasumi, pointing her finger at Hitomi, winking at her.

Lei Fang and Hitomi bursted into laughter.

The day after, Kasumi woke up with a huge headache.

" Oh my god… I think I drank too much."

" KASU… Oh… Oups… don't forget to call the bank to retrieve your account and change the address. You can use my phone. And... do you mind if we go to Ikea in Shinjuku this afternoon? I need some things and you could have your own bed, instead of living in my couch?" Hitomi whispered

" That's a good … idea, just… let me wake up properly…"

When the two girls came home from Ikea, Hitomi directly started to build her new buffet for the living room/dining room. Kasumi found a mattress, a cheap wooden bed frame, a lamp and some bedding.

"Well done" said Hitomi while clapping her hands

"It's a little bit weird buying a real bed, my bed and not a futon. To not be a shinobi anymore" said Kasumi after finishing the assembly.

"You'll get used to it really fast, trust me"

*Hafu = modern slang meaning half japanese