TheDarkestShinobi: Last chap! Just wrapping things up. Hope you enjoyed it.

He had searched for her but she had been a successful runaway for a while for a reason, she would not be found easily, especially if she did not want to be. He would look and ask and no one would know, those that would tell him didn't see her, and Hayate had been angry at him for a while because of that. He had been able to find her before though, so maybe he subconsciously didn't want to find her because there had to be a reason why she was hiding.

Truth was she felt emotion for him, and that scared her, the other truth was that whenever he would look at her that way, with affection she was reminded of another. Someone who had died because of her. She averted hergaze the last time he tried to speak to her, she said not now, and she wasn't sure if it would even be thena time where she could accept him, their love and what had resulted as a part of it. If he had just left her there… how many lives were lost for this silly little love they thought they had?

She knew she had built up walls that were torn down, a beautiful yet ugly mask that was cracking more all the time.

There were thousands upon thousands of things she realized after she had heard him say those words, heard him admit that he did have something for her. So much that by the time she could think straight in the confines of a house, reflecting upon those weeks, and the memories of those three haunted her every waking nightmare she realized that looking at Ryu would not comfort her, but would serve to remind her of the unnecessary carnage that had resulted because he would not give her up. The thoughts gnawed at her conscience with fangs digging so far that she thought she'd never move on

It took her so long to move on that Ayane looked like she might recover first but the day she stopped hiding was the day he stopped searching

.

"Ayane. You look better." She nodded motioning down to the brace that replaced her cast.

"Not perfect yet, but I'm getting there." She admitted to the dragon ninja in front of her. He patted her shoulder and she nodded, understanding he best friend's unspoken words. She looked down and nodded knowing he was right. She smiled looking back up.

"I haven't seen you with Kasumi in a long time." His expression flat lined and she wanted to slap her sister.

"What happened?" He turned away before looking back to her.

"She said not now, I confessed and she left."

"Ryu sama, she said not now not not ever" She paused, her expression softening as it often did with Hayate and Ryu. "Don't give up, especially not after all that."

I've got my man, go get your girl.

.

She pulled the blade once more leaving a dark red line in its wake, she smiled at the work and how it helped her relax. Turning the wooden piece in her hand she dipped the blade in the paint before bringing it up again, she traced the outline of her wooden counter part's hair before looking to the other side of the figure.

It was frame of a fight, any fight, she had her tanto drawn and was looking away, her hair rising in the air, and he had her back, his black obi wasn't quite the right shade and neither was her hair but it was good enough. She placed it on a shelf to dry. There were many more on the shelf, one of her sister spinning and one of her brother preforming a kick, there were a few of Ryu, none had the eyes filled in because she couldn't find a shade good enough.

She turned away when she heard a knock; she ducked behind a dresser as her friend answered the door. She wasn't really hiding, but she wasn't supposed to be here now. She froze at the voice. She braced herself for the rush of memories she expected, the blood and death and guilt but there was nothing. Then other memories came to mind and she stood, Ryu looked from her friend to her and smiled and Kasumi bounded to the door.

"Hello Hayabusa san."

"Still?" he questioned in response to his name "After all this time?" she laughed and shifted suddenly feeling nervous.

"Why are you here?"

"I just have one question," he said and then he took both his hands in hers. She smiled looking at their hands and then back up to him.

"What about now?" he said and she smiled.

And she kissed him, though he likes to tell the story a little differently.

Ryu pretended to be threatened by Hayate's big brother speech, but to be honest Ayane gave him a look that intimidated him much more. He didn't want to hurt her just as much as they didn't want him to hurt her, but it was all for formalities anyway. There was only one problem.

Ayane made them wait until she could walk to get married

The End

Please check this out and let me know if youre interested.