If it wasn't for the steady rise and fall of Kasumi's chest beneath her, Ayane wouldn't have thought this moment to be real. Her cheek, damp from her drying tears, eagerly pressed against the exposed skin that her sister's kimono couldn't quite cover. She lay there docile and smitten, like a newborn settling into the soft folds of their mother's bosom. The brunette did not deter this behavior, in fact she invited it as she cuddled her sister in a loving embrace. She was quite amused when she learned just how clingy Ayane could be, evident by the way the younger kunoichi would pinch the end of her sleeves whenever she moved. She meant only to adjust how they were sitting, but Ayane took it as if she were getting up to leave. Kasumi would then respond by cocooning her in her arms, and press her lips into strands of lavender, hoping to convey the idea that she wasn't going anywhere.

The feel of slim fingers gently brushing through her hair, was even more soothing than Ayane could've imagined. She didn't know when she allowed her eyes to close, but taking a nap didn't sound like a bad idea right now.

Having travelled all the way from the village on foot, the trek had admittedly left the sect leader a bit fatigued, and the unexpected emotional episode only furthered her exhaustion. Despite this, Ayane refused to succumb to slumber. She rather lie awake and soak in this moment for what it was. She thought she should talk, but she didn't know what to say. By the looks of it though, Kasumi was unbothered by the silence between them, and Ayane thankful that she was. She'd prefer the silence over words any day.

Talking was never Ayane's strong suit. In fact, she was discouraged from it at a young age. All she needed to know was how to fight and follow orders. There was never a need for her to speak her mind or relay her feelings, nor were there ever any inquires. She was raised to be a killer, cold and void of emotion.

The Hajimon sect was the Mugen Tenshin clan's covert military unit. Blind obedience was something that was taught to Ayane early on in life, but she was also taught to keep a razor sharp focus at all times. Obeying commands from higher authority was never an issue, but over the past couple months, 'focusing' was one thing Ayane seemed to struggle with.

Upon returning to her village from New Zack Island, Ayane immediately reported to the head masters, and informed them that the whereabouts concerning Alpha-152 were still unknown, but the new head of DOATEC was keeping constant worldwide surveillance. She also included that Helena Douglas was committed to being their ally, and could be trusted for now.

Upon being dismissed from her debriefing, the sect leader's usual itinerary would consist of visiting the Tenjimon palace, in hopes of finding Hayate either in his study with his nose in a book, or somewhere by the river in the forest behind the palace, where he would often meditate. He would welcome her back home and praise her on her success, things Ayane often looked forward to when returning from a mission. But on that day, she was mostly disimpassioned about the idea, and opted to return to her quarters instead.

As the days went on, her mind was plagued with thoughts of Kasumi and the handful of moments they shared together. During missions, she would hear her sister's annoying, high pitched voice in the back of her head, compelling her to frequently look over her shoulder, even though she knew the nukenin could never be there. This would continue all the way back to her quarters, where she was often denied the luxury of sleep because, whenever she closed her eyes, she was met with the image of that stained and elegant smile. It would remind her of their shared embrace. It would remind her of the tears, that for some reason caused a whirlwind of unwanted emotions, and kept her spiraling. That's why she left, she had no choice. She had to distance and rid herself of these impudent, feeble feelings. A trial easier said than to overcome she soon found out. She came to the conclusion that there was only one true way to resolve her dilemma … She had to find Kasumi, and kill her.

It didn't dawn on the sect leader until now, the reason she desperately sought to diminish those impressions. It was all because she was supposed to hate the nukenin. That hatred was suppose to fuel her into completing her task, which would finally allow her to step from underneath her sister's shadow, but when the moment finally came… she couldn't do it, and she didn't understand why. She didn't understand why her hidden insecurities kept spilling from her lips, like a faucet that couldn't be tuned off. Everything Kasumi had said to her, even though she knew was wasn't supposed to, she believed it all. The love she had for her was real… and frightening.

She was scared to admit that she actually yearned to be held, to be told that she was loved and cherished. The isolation she's endured, the nightmares that persistently haunted her, and the loneliness she carried were all things she detest, but that were all she knew. After being discarded by both her fathers and her half brother, it was hard for Ayane to trust anyone emotionally. She felt even more an outcast than she did as a child.

To this day members of the clan still whispered their disapproval of her role in leadership, and harassed her about her cursed blood. Repressing her emotions was all she could to do to ensure she was able to put one foot in front of the other.

But at this moment, as she lay snug in her sister's arms, none of that mattered any longer. All the tension and anxiety that weighed her down had lifted, and not once in her life had she ever felt so liberated.

All this time she let her rage and animosity withhold her from such benevolence, and for what, petty revenge? How utterly asinine! To think had she actually gone through with her intentions, she would be clutching a corpse right now instead.

Her heart sank at that thought. The fact of the matter was she came so close in preventing this moment from ever happening, and Kasumi was going to allow let her do it. She willing forfeited her life, but not only that, it felt as if her decision was premeditated.

The sect leader didn't bother hiding her presence upon confronting her sister, whereas had the target had been anyone else she definitely would have. She knew that Kasumi could feel her approaching long before she started speaking. Nonetheless, the nukenin ignored her and continued hanging her laundry. At first Ayane thought she was psyching her out, perhaps baiting her into a trap of some sort. She realized now it was neither one of those things. The brunette had already decided she wasn't going to fight, and readily resigned to her demise.

"Kasumi?"

It had been so long since either one of them spoke; Ayane suddenly breaking the silence nearly made the brunette jump.

"Yes, Ayane?" Kasumi answered as gently as she could.

Hesitation stifled her words, leaving the older sibling's response left hanging and met only by silence. Ayane knew what she wanted to say, but was having trouble finding a way to tactfully approach the topic. Mainly because she was afraid of the answer she may receive.

"Earlier when we were… Were you really - I mean… I wasn't going to stop and you just-"

She was amazed at how timid she had suddenly become. Just that morning she had been stern and demanding, ruthless even, but now, just thinking that she ever held ill feelings for sister was unnerving. Knots formed in her stomach, and her almost imperceptive shaking would've went unnoticed had Kasumi not been holding her. Keeping the hold secure, the brunette sat the pair upright and forced the younger sibling eye level.

"It's okay. You can talk to me. I'm here now, Ayane."

Ayane wished she hadn't said that. She also wished Kasumi wasn't staring at her, through her so tenderly. Her bronze irises appeared golden in the afternoon lighting, and the undying kindness she found swimming within them was too much to bare. She wanted to hide, keep out of sight of such splendor, but the way Kasumi held her in place made that impossible, so she resolved to simply looking away.

"Were you really just going to… let it end like that? I mean - let yourself be killed?"

Kasumi felt her sister flinch after finally managing to get it all out. The question itself struck her as odd.

Previously whenever Ayane asked her a question, it was under some assumption that the nukenin was looking down on her, or that there might be an ulterior motive. However, the current question posed to her held no such pretenses, only carrying the weight of concern never before expressed by the sect leader.

"I was." Kasumi responded.

The answer was short and heavy, confirming what Ayane had already suspected, but it was the audible smile in Kasumi's voice that brought her glance back to her. The mild confusion in her eyes paired with the tilt of her head voiced an unspoken question, and it was now Kasumi's turn to look away.

"For so long now, I've wished nothing more than to return home and be reunited with everyone. But with every passing day, I had to come to terms that my wish would more than likely remain unfulfilled. I had to learn to live with the choices I've made, and hopefully find a way to rectify my mistakes."

"Mistakes? What do you mean?"

The brunette inhaled deeply, then exhaled before continuing.

"I… didn't run away just to get revenge for what Raidou had done. I ran away… because I was afraid. With Hayate comatose, I was now heir to the throne and I wasn't ready. I couldn't handle that kind of pressure. I couldn't even protect my own family, so how was I suppose to protect a whole village?" -she turned back to Ayane- "That's why I was so proud when I learned that you had become the leader of the Hajimon. I admired your bravery and your duty to the clan. You inspired me and made me want to change, made me want to become stronger. But no matter what I did, things only seemed to become progressively worse. Hayate's kidnapping and amnesia, Alpha-152 and my other clones, and then there was you."

Kasumi's hands shuddered at her backside, and Ayane grew the urge to embrace her sister once more. The idea came so naturally, like something dormant had finally awakened within her, but the act was still something she wasn't quite used to doing, so she simply listened as Kasumi continued.

"I lost my home. I lost my identity. I lost my best friend. I lost my way... I didn't know how to correct my failings - still don't, and I always felt trapped under the weight of my decisions. All the hiding, running, and fighting… Why? Why am I doing all this? Why am I even here? Sure Muramasa-san would sing praises of me from time to time, but deep down I knew I was doing more harm than good. I figured the animosity you held for me could be quelled if I gave myself up. That way, I couldn't cause anyone anymore trouble, and even my own inner turmoil would be resolved."

The brunette raised her gaze to the clouds, and let out a giggle that was more cynical than joyous.

"Selfish, I know. That's most likely why all this happened in the first place. It would appear that in the end, I never would've learned my lesson."

"No, that's not true!" Ayane cried.

Taken aback, Kasumi could hardly believe Ayane's unexpected burst of emotion, and Ayane thought the same. Her face was even beginning to flare, but the uncomfortable tightness in her chest was compelled her to speak.

"You're not selfish Kasumi! This is all my fault. Raidou's blood runs through me and it was my curse that brought him back to the village. It was my curse that set everything in motion! Had I never been born, none of this would be happening…"

Kasumi gently cupped Ayane's face in her hands.

"But had you never been born, then I would have never had a little sister."

"You would've been better off that way!"

Swirls of guilt stricken the lavender head, and she felt even more undeserving than she did previously. No matter how times Kasumi assured her that she forgave her, Ayane still couldn't shake the feeling that the brunette's affections were wasted on her. After all, she hadn't done anything in return to show she wanted to mend their relationship. To her knowledge, all she ever did was oppress her with strings of hurtful words and violence. It made no sense to her as to why Kasumi would continue to try and fix things between them, nor how she didn't come to hate her back.

"I was jealous and angry. We were sisters of shared blood, but I was the one casted out. I was the everyone hated and kicked in the streets. I wanted to get rid of you, I wanted to replace you. I wanted to hurt you like- " she paused, letting out a small gasp. "I wanted to hurt you…like they hurt me. I projected the pain I went through onto you. I wasn't just exacting my revenge on you. I was also using you to get even with life. Tell me… what's the benefit in having a sister like that?"

She loathed the hot streaks that ran down her face, but she couldn't stop them. What was she crying for herself for? Kasumi was the victim in all this, and yet it was her own disdain that moved her to tears. If either one of them were to be called selfish, it should be her. She was supposed to be consoling Kasumi, not lamenting her own sorrows. She should be begging for her mercy, asking for forgiveness, she should be apologizing… she should be apologizing, the second time ringing much louder in her head. But the words didn't come out. Just the continuous ardent sobs of her narcissism. She hated it.

Abruptly, she was pulled forward into a crushing embrace, where her head rested in the crook of her sister's neck. She could smell the faint scent of honeydew within in her hair.

"You were just in pain." said Kasumi. "You were just lonely. That wasn't really you. I know it wasn't."

"But so were you! You were just as lonely and just as much in pain, and you never held that against me. I, on the other hand, never even gave the thought the time of day. I was so wrapped in my own vendetta, I never even considered what you were going through."

"It's okay. I forgive you, remember? None of that matters now."

"No, I can't accept that! I don't deserve your forgiveness!"

Ayane pushed off her sister and held her gaze in a stern stare.

"Kasumi… you are a beautiful and an enchanting light. Ever since we were young, I've always thought that. Being able to play, laugh, or just be around you always made me happy. You were always kind, and that kindness was still given even when I refused it. You still cared for me, even though I'm a curse. I do not even have the decency to ask for your forgiveness, let alone for you to grant it to me."

Kasumi had never seen so much vulnerability and emotion painted on her sister's face before. It was peculiar to think that these same crimson red eyes used to carry so much scorn, were now teeming with empathy and concern. She could feel how apologetic she was. She could feel how much she actually meant to the young kunoichi.

"Even still… I cannot find it in me to reject you." she reassured. "Even if you would've killed me, I would still love you. That's just how it's always been. I could never hate you, Aya-chan."

Ayane had long forgotten the childhood nickname given her to by her older sibling, but she knew exactly why she was using it in this instance. It was to signify that, no matter what argument may be brought up, Kasumi would still going forgive her. She looked into the brunette's eyes, searching for any trace of bitterness, doubt - any small shred of malice toward her, and there was none. Plagued with disbelief, and her hands scrambled to feel Kasumi's face, so that she could be sure that the shining smile in front of her was real.

"I swear…" Ayane choked on an oncoming cry, "I swear I won't hurt you again. I'll find a way to make all this up to you. I swear it."

The smile facing her widen and was allied with a simple nod. Ayane tried her best to replicate the smile, as her thumb delicately brushed just under Kasumi's eyelid to wipe away a tear. But as she did so, she saw her sister wince under her touch and hiss through the teeth. Ayane backed away confused, until the noticed the slight bruises along her cheek bone and jaw. She instantly felt regret.

"I'm sorry!" she gasped, on the verge of sounding frightened. "I'm so sorry. I had forgotten - I didn't mean to - "

"It's okay, it's okay Ayane. I'm fine, see?"

Dejected, the sect leader avoided eye contact. She felt so stupid. She went and hurt Kasumi after just promising to never to do so. But, following through on her second promise, she didn't allow herself to wallow in her mistake, and quickly sought a solution.

"I can treat your wounds. I have medical supplies with me." she said.

"Oh… thank you!" Kasumi replied. "But that won't be necessary. There are supplies inside we can use."

Ayane paused for a moment, skeptical. "I don't think… I'm allowed to-"

"I'm inviting you in." Kasumi countered." Besides, Muramasa-san surely knows you're here by now. He's probably been trying to keep some tea warm for the both us."

Ayane still wasn't sure, but she had little room to argue. She rose to her feet, helped Kasumi rise to hers, and followed her inside.

Aside from minor swelling and a tiny cut along her lip, Kasumi's injuries weren't any cause for alarm. Even so, the younger sister was very attentive, and made it a point to apply the peroxide and ointment with extreme care. Again, the complete contrast in behavior was quite a surprise for Kasumi, and although she knew Ayane was just trying to make it up to her, the feeling of being fussed over was something she rather enjoyed. She even offered to help out with the household chores, starting with the laundry that still needed to hang outside. Naturally, Kasumi's first instinct was to decline the offer, but then she thought they could use the opportunity to pick up where they left off so many years ago.

Once Ayane was done tending to her, the older sibling darted out of her room in a flurry of childish excitement, pulling her best friend down the hall without even giving her the chance to put away the first aid kit.

Dusk was quickly turning into night and Ayane had decided it was time for her to go, but wasn't sure how she was going to break the news to Kasumi.

Although they mostly did nothing but house work and laze about in the garden, today turned out to be one the best days of her life. Not discounting their time spent on the island, where she portrayed herself to be mostly apathetic, she could honestly say she felt at peace within the company of her sister. The way they laughed, played, and the way they spoke freely with one another was nurturing for the both of them. Ayane rarely ever smiled, but being with Kasumi, it seemed she couldn't help herself. So much had happened in what seemed like a small amount of time, and yet, she wasn't ready to leave.

Muramasa gladly took up the duty of preparing dinner for the evening, which left the siblings with a bit a free time in which Ayane was going to take her leave. However, just before they walked back to Kasumi's room, Muramasa suggested that the sect leader stay with them for the night, so that she may partake in dinner, and rest from her long journey. Caught off guard by the proposal, she looked to her sister who undoubtedly wanted to her stay: the eagerness in her eyes quietly pleaded that she'd accept the offer. Seeing she didn't have much a choice, Ayane agreed and was instantly captured in a exaggerated embrace. Though she didn't mind the occasional hug here and there, the suffocating squeezes of Kasumi's more 'passionate' sentiments were something she was going to have to get used to.

As luck would have it, the spare set of jinbei pajamas Kasumi kept in her dresser was just Ayane's size. She lent them to her sister along with a towel and a wash cloth, stating she should be the first to shower, and in the meantime, she would set up her room when they were ready for bed.

Dinner was exquisitely pleasant. Miso salmon was a dish Ayane wasn't familiar with, but its delectable taste is something she quickly grew fond of. Kasumi revealed that, although she did most of the cooking, it was Muramasa that was the real expert in the kitchen. He would often teach her different recipes, and provide insight on combining ingredients for different flavors. Being the modest old man he is, he stated that Kasumi was merely overselling his credentials, and that she far surpassed his skills in culinary arts. It made for an amiable conversation and Ayane was glad she decided to stay.

With both girls having already showered prior to dinner, they retired back Kasumi's room for the night. It didn't occur to Ayane when she was cleaning her wounds, but now that it had been mentioned, she noticed that Kasumi didn't have a platform bed. She instead favored instead a roll out mattress upon a tatami matted floor. It was moderately size, certainly not big enough for more than two people, and was coupled with matching pillows and a single faux fur duvet.

With the nukenin being able to explore the outside world freely, more or less, Ayane figured the brunette would've adapted to a more modern way of living, but there wasn't even as much as a telephone in the house. Although she shouldn't have expected otherwise since, even to this day, most of the Mugen Tenshin clan retains a more traditional way of living, herself included. Old habits die hard she supposed, or maybe this was the only way for Kasumi to feel like she was at home.

Upon noticing, what she thought was a look of aversion on Ayane's face, Kasumi frowned and suddenly felt self conscious.

"I-I know it's not big, but it should still be comfortable for the both of us. I'll sleep somewhere else if necessary."

"What? No, that's not at all what I was thinking." Ayane hurriedly replied. "I just… feel bad about intruding into your space like this, especially considering the reason I even came here."

"Stop worrying about it." Kasumi reprimanded with a mild stomp of her foot. "And I don't mind at all about sharing a bed with you."

"… you sure?"

"Of course! I've never had a sleep over before so this'll be a first, and I'd much like to share that experience with my best friend."

Ayane's expression softened, settling into a faint smile. She watched Kasumi walk over to a corner, and patiently waited for her to get settled under the duvet before flipping the lights off. Navigating through the dark, the brunette found her way to the opposite end of the mattress, and pulled the blanket over herself. Laying with their backs turned to each other, the sisters said their goodnights and attempted to sleep.

Aside from the rustling of fabric whenever one of them moved along the mattress, it was mostly quiet. Not even the owls that were most common this time of night seemed to be out. There was no window for any natural light to enter the room, but that was fine since being wide awake helped Kasumi's eyes adapt to the darkness.

She couldn't sleep. She kept thinking that, after tonight, she most likely wouldn't see Ayane for a long while. It made her wish they had more time with one another.

Things always seemed to play out this way with them: they would get along for a brief period, just to be torn apart shortly after. At least now she knew they were on better terms, better than they ever been in fact, but the thought of Ayane leaving still sadden her. She glanced over her shoulder, but with how far away she was, Kasumi couldn't tell if she had already fallen asleep.

"Ayane, are still you awake?" she whispered into the darkness.

A low hum from behind her was the only answer she received.

"Will you… be leaving in morning? To return home?"

The small silence that followed caused Kasumi to think Ayane was still sleeping when she responded just now, but that was dashed when the sect leader began talking, seemingly fully awake.

"Yeah. I have to report back to the head masters as soon as possible." she said, her demeanor a tad indifferent.

"Oh, I thought so…What are you going to tell them?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'll have more than enough time to think of something on my way back though."

She wasn't wrong. Ayane was quite a bit away from home. Must've taken her a couple days just to get here. Keeping that in mind, something else popped into Kasumi's head.

"How did you find me anyways?"

Thinking back to earlier that morning, Ayane remembered she never really provided an answer to that question.

"I sometimes volunteer for night duty whenever I can't seem to sleep. Because of that, I happened to notice a peculiar raven often flying to and fro the palace. Though it's none of my business who the head family communicates with in the outside world, but the frequency of this bird's travels got me curious. I scouted it back to Lady Ayame's quarters and thought the only person she could be contacting, was you."

Kasumi stiffened in place, as if she had been caught in the act.

"It was that obvious huh?"

"I'm sure no one else has caught on, I barely noticed it myself. I even lost track of the raven on my way here, but I followed it long enough that I could rely on my own resources. It's been trained very well to keep out of sight."

"That's Master Hayabusa's doing. Having not been born to the Mugen Tenshin clan, he was willing to break a few rules for mother and I."

"… How is mother? What is it that you two talk about?"

The apparent use of 'mother' rather than 'Lady Ayame' didn't go unnoticed by the nukenin. She turned over to face Ayane's back, but made sure to leave some space between them.

"Just normal things like how the village is doing, or what dad and Hayate or up to. Sometimes she'll send flowers from her garden, or write a poem to cheer me up whenever I'm feeling down."

"Must be nice." Ayane bit off sourly.

"She writes about you too. She says she rarely sees you anymore though. Have you spoken to her since… well, since we found out?"

"We… spoke once. But, I haven't had time to visit the palace ever since I was appointed leader of the Hajimon sect."

Ayane thought it best to say that she had been busy, rather than revealing she had avoiding going near the palace ever since her and Hayate's falling out.

"Well, if you ever find some time, you two should sit down with each other. You are her daughter after all."

"Sure."

Her response was more apathetic than Kasumi had hoped, and she took it upon herself to lighten the mood. She closed the gap between them, pressing herself into Ayane's back and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Wh-what are you doing?" complained the younger kunoichi.

"I'm cuddling silly. You're so far away."

"We're supposed to be sleeping, get off of me."

"Aww. But you didn't seem to mind cuddling with me this morning." Kasumi pouted playfully.

"That was… different." Ayane stuttered with a slight blush. "Besides, that was then and this is now, so unhand me."

"Nope."

To accent her response, Kasumi gave her sibling a tight squeeze, causing Ayane to roll her eyes and sigh.

"Besides," Kasumi started, sounding a bit more serious now "once you leave, I'll be alone again."

Ayane didn't know what to say, but she definitely heard the melancholy in her voice. This also rang true for the sect leader. Once she returned home, she would only have herself to keep company, and after a day like today, she wasn't sure if she was prepared for that.

"Fine," she sighed. "do what you like. Just go to sleep already."

She heard the brunette squeal with content and loosen her grip. She sighed again, her body now fully aware of just how warm Kasumi was, and tried her best to relax.

Settling into the new found position was quite easier than she expected. Out on the porch was a little uncomfortable considering how they both were half-way sitting up, but being held how they were now was blissful by comparison. She felt safe and loved. She even found herself scooching back just a bit closer, tucking her shoulders in as if she were trying to make it so Kasumi would consume her completely. Finding a way to show just how grateful she was for her sister's unconditional affection would definitely prove to be difficult, but she hoped one day she'd be brave enough to take on the task.

It was a ironic that their earlier conversation ended on the topic of their mother, since the way Kasumi held her nearly mirrored the way she was held when last they spoke. It was no wonder she kept thinking the embrace felt familiar, but at the same time different. Maybe it runs in the family, she thought, but that didn't answer as to why she was such the polar opposite of them.

It had taken so much time and hard work to get to where she was in life; to become the fighter and person that she currently is, but that wasn't satisfying any longer. She didn't want to keep hurting and distancing herself from the people that cared for her. She didn't want to keep eroding in the pits of her own darkness. She didn't want to believe she was a curse.

Kasumi, to her recollection, was the only one who ever denounced that notion. Not that she didn't want to believe her, but there was no denying the distress that was directly linked to her birth. Maybe she couldn't do anything about the things that had already occurred, but she wanted to do something about the things to come, and if the tender light currently clutching her was able to pull her out of her despair, perhaps she could return the favor.

"Ayane, what's the matt-" was all Kasumi could get out as Ayane pulled out of the hug and turned on her side. They stared at each other for a moment, neither one them saying anything, until Ayane nodded to herself and awkwardly draped an arm along Kasumi's shoulder. Her face was red, and she nervously looked around the pitch black room while attempting to embrace her sister.

"We don't have to be lonely." she said shakily. "If we stick together like this, we don't have to be lonely anymore, right? So with that being said, if you ever feel lonely again, you can count on me to be there for you. I'll protect you from now on."

Overjoyed barely described the immense swelling in her chest, but Kasumi was somehow able to abstain from suffocating Ayane in another squeeze. Instead, she settled just beneath her sister's chin and made herself more comfortable, letting a single tear roll down her cheek.

"Ok." she wept. "Thank you Ayane, and I swear to protect you too. I love you."

Feeling more assured, Ayane showed her affection by placing a kiss upon strands of silky chestnut hair, just as her sister did to her.

"I love you too, Kasumi."

The night air was filled with the smell of burning gasoline and oil. Gatling gun fire was literally hot on her heels, but Kasumi kept focused on the goal in sight. The mechanized dock door in the distance was slowly coming to close, but if she could make it in time, the helicopter in pursuit of her could no longer give chase. She doubled her efforts; dashing across frames of metal that were under construction, narrowly escaping the barrage of bullets, and just barely finding her way inside the lab before the door came to close. In this short moment of reprieve, she took time to catch her breath.

Followers of Donovan Douglas, and the old DOATEC ways, still conducted experiments without any consent of their new heir. Once word got out, it was only a matter of time before the Mugen Tenshin clan sent both Ayane and Hayate to investigate. They infiltrated the lab, only to find this was not a DOATEC institution, rather it a was cover for secret weapons facilities founded by Donovan codename: M.I.S.T. Hayate then engages in battle, but was rendered unconscious and taken into the labs. Ayane called for back and Hayabusa arrived on the scene, but he knew just the two of them wouldn't be enough. He sent a messenger to the Muramasa estate to beckon Kasumi's aid.

The nukenin wasted no time joining the fray, quickly fighting her way through Christie who seemed to be waiting for her inside the lab. She then came across Hayate who was in tank of some sort, suspended in mid-air with beams of light piecing through him. She called out him, but he gave no response. Lisa showed up then, dressed in a lab coat and glasses; apparel quite different from the luchadora gear Kasumi was used to seeing in tournaments. The brunette confronted the woman, but Lisa explained this wasn't supposed to be happening and quickly rushed to a computer console to break Hayate free. Soon after Ayane showed up with Hayabusa, and things went from bad to worse.

The walls of the lab began revolving and peeling away, unveiling human size pods lined up in columns all with glowing numbers on them. Ayane spotted the number '152' among one of the pods.

"They're Alphas!" she shouted.

Kasumi went pale. There were more than she could count, more than she could've ever imagine! Giant panels immerged from underneath of a spherical platform in front of them. Red lights beamed from these panels and intersected in the middle of the platform.

"No, it's Phase 4! This is what Donovan was planning!" the shinobi trio heard Lisa yell over the loud speaker.

A clone, shrouded in a black and green mist appeared before them. It looked like nothing like Alpha-152, having been created with actual skin and features. Kasumi was no stranger to her clones resembling her, however, the mist surrounding her was something she never seen before. Just the mere sight of this thing sent shivers down her spine.

Hayabusa took it upon himself to be the first to attack. Once he defeated her, he turned to see that Hayate had awaken from his stasis. He offered his comrade a hand to help him to is feet, but an explosion of emerald light behind him interrupted the gesture. The clone had reappeared, now with the ability to shape shift into Hayabusa himself. The elder shinobi sought to fight the clone once more, but Hayate stopped him, giving him only a look to show that he would be the one to fight. Hayabusa let the young clan leader fight in his place, with Ayane following after him. Kasumi attempted to join, but Ayane stopped her by thowing a kunai knife at her feet. The sister met eyes, holding each other's stare until they came to an unspoken agreement as Kasumi nodded. Ayane pursued and Kasumi stayed put.

The leaders made a valiant effort in stopping the clone, but it proved to be even more resilient than the both of them. When Hayabusa released a wave of energy from his palms to clash with the clone's replicated wave, the explosion from the blasts meeting one another caused the lab to set ablaze and start to crumble. But the clone wasn't dead yet, and it was Kasumi's turn to step up to the plate.

Observing how the clone only seemed to get stronger the more it fought, Kasumi didn't expect this to be an easy fight, especially considering the clone could now morph into Ayane and Hayate. Kasumi was not only fighting herself, but her friends and family as well. A ferocious battle ensued, both combatants taking and receiving hard blows, tipping the scale on their favor. However, it was the nukenin that would rise as the victor as the same lights that pierced her brother, halted the clone in place and sapped its life force. It floated into the air on its back, and let out a screeching howl before the whole lab was permeated in its glow.

After escaping the lab's destruction, the four shiobi warriors gathered on Helena's ship in the middle of the Pacific. Kasumi returned Ayane's kunai knife and thanked her and Hayate both. With Alpha-152, and possibly many other perils still on the loose, Kasumi set off to continue her search. Untying the blue ribbon they kept her hair up, she tossed it to the wind and felt a strong surge of confidence and determination flow through her.

Mild heat from the small ceramic cup warmed her hand as she brought it to her lips. She stared at the dusky colored liquid astonished, then immediately took another sip. Tea was the only warm drink she ever had, so when Kasumi introduced her to something called 'hot cocoa' she was a bit skeptical. Nonetheless, she gave it shot and was floored by the blend of sweet chocolate and marshmallows. Combined with the comfort of a brand new kotatsu, she had to admit she was quite content.

"You know, you didn't have to travel in the cold like that. I could've met you somewhere, or we could've waited until spring had arrived." she heard Kasumi say.

She entered the room carrying a plate of freshly baked snicker doodle cookies, and placed it in the middle of the table. She then tucked her feet underneath her bottom and sat adjacent from Ayane.

"It's fine." said Ayane as she reached for the plate. "The cold has never bothered me. Besides, things seemed to have finally settled down back home, but I doubt it'll last long. Now is the only free time I may have for a while"

"The M.I.S.T lab incident stirred up that much trouble, huh?"

With her mouth full, the young kunoichi simply nodded. She took another sip of her coco to wash it down, then stared into her cup absently.

"We would've been in trouble back then had you not shown up. We got lucky." she murmured dejectedly.

"That's not true. I couldn't have done it without any of you." Kasumi countered swiftly as she drank from her cup. "That clone, Phase 4... it was much stronger than Alpha-152. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone."

"You're right, it was stronger. Stronger than any of us individually. If you were to attacked by one of those things by yourself then…" She placed her cup back on the table, but kept her eyes fixated on the swirling marshmallows that were beginning to dissolve. "I won't be able to protect you. No one will."

Kasumi watched as her sister's expression fell into something more morbid. Reaching out to her, she unclasped one of Ayane's hands from her cup, and took it in her own.

"Is that why you came here, because you were worried about me?"

Ayane didn't reply and actively ignored the empathetic stare that was sure to be on her sister's face. She did, however, clench the hand that held hers which Kasumi took as her answer. She rounded the table to sit directly next to her sister.

"I'm sorry to make you worry." she stated softly. "I worry about you too, but we have to trust in each other and the strength that we carry."

"But you're all alone out here! I can't get to you to fast enough."

"I could say the same. I have no idea how many missions you carry out, or where they may even take you. By comparison, you lead a much more dangerous life than I do."

"You don't get it. I have help when I'm out there, you don't. I can't protect you like this."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think there's anything that can be done to change that."

"… maybe there is."

Crimson orbs met bronze in an earnest stare, but Kasumi could only match Ayane's gaze with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I want to talk to the head masters. I want to see if they will agree to let you come back home."

"What? Ayane no, that ludicrous! You'll be jeopardizing your position within the clan." Kasumi exclaimed.

"You mean the clan that you've come to aid time and time again even though you've been casted out? They should be begging to have you back."

"Ayane, that's not how this works."

"Well it shouldn't be how it is now!" Ayane nearly shouted standing to her feet. "You're the daughter of Lady Ayame and Master Shinden. You were born at the head of the Mugen Tenshin clan. You've sacrificed your life and fears to do right by all of them, just for them to abandoned you? It's not right!"

There was a brief reprieve in which Kasumi took her time gathering her thoughts.

"I understand how you feel Ayane, but the clan is bound by their laws. If you went in there with that argument, they would chastise you for having suggest a thing. Let's also not forgot that you're still tasked with killing me. If they find out you've let me go, you would be severely punished."

"Then I'll bring Master Hayate and Master Hayabusa with me. They were there, and they saw everything. Not just the M.I.S.T incident, but all the other times as well. You've always been there, watching over and fighting for us. The council can't refute that, how can they?"

"You will risk endangering both Hayate and Hayabusa's status-"

"Then I'll just stay here!"

The room was still for the moment. Not even a single breath was exhaled. The sect leader turned away to face the wall. "If they won't listen to reason, then I won't go back. I'm sure they'll be happy to get rid of my anyways."

Kasumi rose to her feet and made her over to Ayane, gently capturing her in arms from behind. The armor plates she wore on her forearms were still cold from the wintery winds, but the older sibling didn't falter. Ayane kept still as she felt Kasumi's chin rest upon her shoulder.

"I am very appreciative for your concern, but I will be alright. We both have made choices that can't be fixed so easily, and I fear that you running away will make it worse. Trust me, I would know." she said.

Though she didn't want to accept it, Ayane knew her sister was right. She never thought that she would get wrapped up in her emotions like this, and she was slightly embarrassed. Still, she didn't like that there seemed to be nothing that could be done about all this. She felt powerless.

"I just… I just wish there was something I could do to help. Something I could do to make a change." she lamented. "You don't deserve this."

"You being here now is enough." Kasumi reassured her. "You've changed Ayane, and you've given me a reason to keep going. I don't want you risking everything just for me."

Ayane took Kasumi's hand in hers once more and held it over her heart.

"It's because of you that I've changed, and I'm eternally grateful for your patience with me. But I'm not going to give up. One way or another, I'm going to bring you back home. Until then, I need you to give me some time." - she turned to face Kasumi - "I need you… to take care of yourself."

A surprising smile suddenly graced Ayane's features, causing the nukenin to shed a smile of her own in return.

"I will, and you be sure to take care of yourself as well."

End