Her wounds were completely healed, only leaving some scars. She still worked at Hitomi's dojo, teaching ninjutsu and she got out often with her friends. She won't check on her parents anymore as her brother has advised her and she had friends she could count on from now on. Alas, she wasn't completely free, her life seemed to still be threatened. It has been four months since Kasumi was living in Chiba and her apartment was already torn down by an intentional fire…

It was mid-july, Tokyo was holding the Mitama Matsuri festival. Kasumi was coming home after cleaning the dojo. She took a shower, while Lei Fang and Hitomi were preparing herselves for the festival.

"Kasumi! Are you over? You have to dress or we will be late!" Asked Hitomi loudly

Kasumi opened the door of the bathroom.

" I am almost there!"

" Hitomi is wearing the pink/mint yukata, I got the crimson one, you have two choices : dark blue with fireworks or white/red". After they all finished, they left their home for the festival.

Kasumi headed to the shrine, where she closed her eyes and joined her hands together for an offering.

"What are you wishing for?"

" I am wishing for nothing. I am only grateful for life" answered Kasumi while smiling.

She felt something strange, yet familiar. She skipped her ritual to finally open her eyes…

Kasumi was surprised by whom she found next to her at the Yasukuni shrine.

" You look good, Kasumi"

" Thank you, Hayabusa" she answered

Kasumi was wearing a yukata with red flowers embroidered.

Ryû was wearing a dark blue yukata with a black dragon and his hair that had grown a bit was tied. He looked so civilian, more relaxed, so… approachable! Kasumi wasn't used to seeing him like that. Back at the village, he almost always wore black, a mask and his dragon sword.

" I didn't know Mitama Matsuri was this beautiful." started Ryû.

" Yes, it is quite amazing. It's comforting, fun and… romantic" she answered while whispering at the last word

Kasumi's eyes were sparkling, looking at all the dimmed lights.

Hayabusa and Kasumi walked near a river and sat down in the grass.

" Hayabusa?"

" Hm?"

" Why are you here?" Kasumi asked.

" I needed to talk to you"

His gaze snapped at her.

" Kasumi, when I let you go…" he continued

Against all odds, she didn't even let Ryû finish and gently kissed him on the lips. He put his hand on her cheek and aimed at a deeper kiss.

" I miss you, Ryû" she said

" Kasumi, I am married"

Ryû stood up and walked away.

Kasumi woke up in her bed at Lei Fang's.

"It was only a dream… What a strange one…" she said to herself

Hayabusa-san has never been here and the matsuri was today. She looked at her yukata in the open wardrobe, remembering Ryû's green one, vanished in the fire. Even if it wasn't reality, Kasumi still woke up feeling rejected, hurted and nearly heartbroken. It was so real! Kasumi didn't have to go to the dojo that morning, so she stayed between her pink and yellow sheets, not moving.

"It's only a dream, and we didn't talk for weeks" she repeated to herself, while giving a quick look at her body, seing her wounds has difficulties to fully heal and not leave a scratch.

She rolled on the side, trying to fall asleep again.

Someone knocked on her door.

"Kasumi! are you awake? " whispered Lei Fang

" Yes?"

"Before going to the festival, are you going to the beach with us?" Continued Hitomi

A smile took place on Kasumi's face, warming her morning.

" Sun, volleyball and boys? I don't want to stay here!" she cheered while getting up.

" Maybe Koichi would be there!" answered Lei Fang

" Last time we saw each other outside the dojo, he said I wasn't ready to commit and left, so I won't think so."

" Oh… We're sorry…"

" Nah, it's alright. Actually, he's right, I can't commit as long as I have someone else in my mind! "

The three of them packed up and took the car, driving towards Onjuku beach. Girls worked a lot that week and they were having all the fun they needed to relax. They sunbathed while looking at young men playing volleyball.

" Kokoro will join later!"

"Oh, juicy!" exclaimed Lei Fang looking at a dark haired men.

" LEI FANG" shouted Hitomi and Kasumi before bursting out of laughter.

"If you don't mind, I am going to play volleyball with that handsome guy"

As Lei Fang got up, the two others followed her.

" Could be interesting and fun actually" Said Kasumi

The group already playing welcomed them. Lei Fang paired with her crush and some of his friends, it was such a good team, they defeated the two roommates.

After their little trip, they returned at Lei Fang's apartment and started prepping for the event. Kasumi was doing her hair into a side ponytail and put some strawberry pink latte lip gloss. Her yukata was white with a slight pink undertone, red flowers were embroidered on some patterns and it was held by a sheer crimson obi. Hitomi offered Kasumi a sparkling golden obi-jime to complete the look. It looked like it was made for her. It was just perfect, almost mythic. She was not only beautiful, she was gorgeous.

A zephir was blowing outside, a lot cooler than in the day. At night, they left and went to the Yasukuni shrine. When the three girls arrived at the festival, it was full of life, people were really talkative, and they had a few drinks. Except for Kasumi, who was on her guard.

After watching some dancing and other shows of the festival, Lei Fang and Hitomi went to some stands not far away, while Kasumi stopped by the shrine itself. Instead of doing an offering like in her dream, she stood there with her eyes fully open. The girl beside her was surprised by her lover behind her, leaving kisses on her neck. She heard them laugh as they left.

" I didn't know Mitama Matsuri was this beautiful."

" Don't say that!" thought Kasumi

She wanted to leave her past life behind, to have a good time being someone else. But their apartment has been torn down and the more reality looked like her dream, the more apprehension she had. She wasn't able to feel like her old self, but neither like her new one.

Lei Fang and Hitomi saw Kasumi walking away rapidly from the shrine. She wasn't really careful about where she was going and bumped into someone. Not recognizing who it could be from their angle, they stayed curious and ready for any eventuality. The energy couldn't lie for Kasumi, who instantly knew who she bumped into. She abruptly ignored and got away, until he pulled her wrist towards him, ultimately having her in his arms, haphazardly. Kasumi raised her face so she could look at him.

" You are beautiful, Kasumi" whispered Ryû, looking confident and soft.

" You are looking… real. Are you really here?" She whispered at her turn, touching his face.

" Yes" He chuckled

" Why?" she asked

Kasumi saw his yukata, identical as the one in her dream. She frowned and took of her hand.

" Do I really need to say it?" he raised his eyebrow

" Say what?" said Kasumi

She didn't even let him start to speak.

" You know what! Never mind! Have a good evening, Hayabusa-san" She answered, smiling. Kasumi didn't want to look dramatic.

Since she returned to Chiba, Kasumi no longer wanted to be an open book, even more after that dream. She was afraid of being hurt, being rejected for his words, for real this time.

Hayabusa watched Kasumi moving back. Stoic, he didn't know what to think. He actually missed her. Ryû always had her in his mind, just like she had him. He admitted it to himself when Irene confronted him. He wasn't used to opening himself to the others either. It wasn't difficult, but it wasn't natural either. The reasons were not only him being a ninja, he already lost people he greatly cared for, Kureha, his mother…

He grabbed her wrist again, more gently. Hayabusa was perplexed by her attitude. Feelings were a lot harder to handle than to just run away.

"Kasumi!"

" Please, just let me go." she answered, hiding her gaze.

" Just give me a couple of minutes and hear me out" He started

Her body relaxed, as a sign she was ready to hear him.

" I already had let you go that day and I shouldn't!" said his rough voice.

He almost looked vulnerable at that moment.

" Why are you saying this to me Ryû? Why now? Getting married aren't you?"

It wasn't really the truth. She heard the woman he was no longer seeing, Irene, spoke about them getting married and moving together. He was surprised to hear this out of Kasumi's mouth. How could she know that, even if it was half the truth?

The environment was dark, lit by dim lanterns. The atmosphere was joyful, the breeze was soft and fresh. Families and friends were having a lighthearted moment. It was supposed to be bright, sparkly, bubbly, fun and romantic. But for them, it felt heavy and hurtful. Kasumi was stubborn, willing, strong, but all she felt was drama and weakness. It wasn't perceptible but definitely, he sensed something wrong and felt unfair to her.

" Dont forget I'm a Hayabusa, I am not the kind of guy who is marrying off himself to someone" he said while looking into her eyes.

Embarrassed to sound like a teenager, Kasumi kept being stoic and didn't add a word.

" Nevermind, it doesn't even has to do anything with you, just go have fun with your friends tonight" He added with a little smirk.

Kasumi nodded and went back to her girls.