Hayabusa thought it wasn't the right time to speak to Kasumi that night and decided it was better to go at her apartment in the afternoon the next day.

The sun was starting to set down in a pink sky when Ryu arrived at her door, wearing black pants, a white shirt and a leather jacket.

*Knock Knock"

"I AM COMING!" shouted Kas

The ex-kunoichi was a sunshine on her own, but at the moment she opened the door, she wore an expression of surprise. She didn't expect Ryu Hayabusa to actually come at her home. No one could tell if it displeased her or not, not even herself after last evening.

" Hayabusa! "

" Kasumi " he said with a soft smile

Why can't he let me alone so I can just forget it! she thought

She knew that if she asked why are you here, he would start to speak again. His words could be hurtfull and in an awkwardly way. It wasn't even worth it to say to go away, that she won't talk to him.

" Do you want to come in?" she asked out of courtesy.

" Actually, I was going to ask if you want to spend the rest of the day outside with me?"

Kas was hesitating, a part of her would like to follow him whereever, whenever; but a part of her only wanted to let her go, be independant and do everything right so she could set up herself a new life, properly this time. She even thought about moving out and travelling to Los Angeles, Lisbonne or even Pearl City (Honolulu).

Seing Kasumi being between two minds, he added

"We could go fishing at my hideout, like when we were children and talk "

" Yeah... It can be fun" Kas answered with a faint smile. Avoiding his eyes, she let the silence settle in.

"Lei Fang, I am going out!"

" Okay, be careful" her friend retorted

Kasumi took her shoes out and closed the door.

They came down of the apartment complex, Ryu started his car's engine and they drove off to a forest out of the Tenjinmon sectors. Once arrived, the two of them chit-chatted about how Kasumi is living nowadays and about their childhood memories while hiking a bit.

They appeared near a river, with what looked like a little traditional nippon house and somewhat a forest's cabin not too far.

" I still hunt and fish here you know"

" It feels like… when we were kids with Hayate and playing in the mountains."

" You thought it was a game, we were sparing and done practice at lot with you around" he chuckled

" I know" she answered

" It's still my mountain spot when I need to be alone"

As they longing the path through his cabin, Ryû didn't seem as peaceful or concentrated as usual. Never in his life did he let his emotions take control of his actions, and he feared he couldn't not do his job correctly if he allowed himself to think of her. Hayabusa was definitely nervous.

" That night... you still thought it was Ayane or your clan's subordinate, but it wasn't…"

" Who's then?" Kas asked without any intonation

" Irene, Irene Lew"

Kasumi felt absurd, as she remembered the name Irene displayed on his cellphone that day. She focused on purple freesia flowers along the pathway, her birth flower.

Believing Kasumi has left deep into her mind again, Ryû tried to find the right way to tell her. He started to move his lips, letting the right word come out, but the redhead kunoichi interrupted him right at the beginning.

" I am happy you found your half" she said with a innocent smile.

" Irene is my ex-fiance"

" I didn't want to leave my clan, my village, my life, my duties and my father wasn't so keen about having a stranger in the family. It may have been foolish, but I wasn't ready to give up on her either at that moment." He continued

"Wow! The mighty, mysterious, coldhearted dragon ninja opening up about himself! You must be really fond of her." she laughed a little

"I didn't learn to open up myself, it is just easier with you, Kasumi" he said before letting a chuckle out

"When I said I already had let you go that day and I shouldn't… "

Ryu went straight away into his words but let a break in. He wasn't the emotional type and speaking of how he felt, he didn't know which way to start that conversation.

" Just you know, I am not seeing Irene anymore, and I never had the intention to wed her, because I had feelings for someone else."

Both of them went silent.

"I remember how you looked at me when you were sixteen Kas"

She unfocused from the freesia and looked at him, wondering what he was thinking about for saying that. Kasumi always accepted and lived her emotions, something Ninjas avoid in general. It was unreal to her that Hayabusa talked that much about how he felt.

" This is so cringe! So you knew I was staring at y..." she answered, visibly embarrassed

Hayabusa laughed, interrupting her.

He is beautiful when he laugh, she thought

"Come on! You saw how I looked at you too Kasumi, how could you not know I had you on my mind?" he said while pulling her hair away from her eyes.

" You're not an open book Hayabusa " she answered softly

" Actually you're quite the poker face" she continued with a little smirk, avoiding his gaze again

" I should have done this years ago. I am a coward to only realize now that I can lose you, to realize that life can be so much hurtfull if you weren't of this world" he said in his mind

"Not only do I fail at my promise with Hayate, but I fail to conceal my thoughts about you.
After all those years, I still have you in my mind Kasumi.
Since that day you collapsed at my door, I keep having this image of you lifeless in my arms. First time in my life I was horrified.

I won't let you return to Tokyo if I am not sure to keep you alive and well. "

Why now? Why all that information? Kasumi was pulled by her frustration and her softness, like a rope wrapped around and pulling each wrist. She wasn't angry at him, it was only Hayabusa, his brother's bestfriend after all.

"Why are you still coming up with taking me in? Why won't you let me live my new life in Tokyo as I wish? Being alive and well is my matter, not yours Ryû" she said hastily

"Why do you call me Ryû only when you are upset or angry?" He asked when he thought she finished talking, changing the subject to ease the atmosphere. Ryû felt awkward realizing she's not willing to stay and be more careful.

"We must fulfill our duties with honor. But when I have to be heard and I'm not, it feels easier and closer when I …"

" When it's Ryû, I'm more approachable, easier to be heard and seen"

" For once you understand something!"

Ryû playfully pushed Kasumi and they fell together in the grass.

"I want to take you in Kas, because I won't lose you, not again! If you knew how much I longed for you; how much I missed you" He continued more naturally. He loved her so much, but was not able to let those words come out.

Kasumi couldn't believe what she just heard. She always thought having feelings for the mythic Ryu Hayabusa was forbidden, but now she is earing he always had something for her reciprocally and it made her have butterflies in her stomach.

Her heart was pounding so much, she feared he could hear her again.

Ryû raised his hand on her cheek, kissing her on the lips. She answered with a deeper kiss and pulled her arms around his neck. Their first kiss was pure, but not of an innocent kind. They longed for each other all those years, concealing their feelings, out of duty. It was their first time letting their passion out.

His lips parted away from hers, Ryu looked at the ex-kunoichi with an intense gaze.

" Please reconsider coming with me Kasumi"

She let the silence settle again, enjoying the moment while her face is against his torso, even if that question of his was annoying to hear it again.

" I'll think about it"

"If she really wants to stay near the Tokyo suburbs, I could ask Muramasa to take care of the shop more often. I know you are not a child, you are resourceful and badass, but it's too dangerous for now. Let me just protect you…" he thought

Time passes, the dragon still holding Kasumi in his arms. They held each other, exchanging gazes and sometimes looking at the sky

" Kas?"

"Hmm?"

"Should we go fishing a bit? before the darkness comes" Asked Ryu, in a way between whispering and having a hoarse voice

" Sure!"