Originally a one-shot that got too big so it is going to be in chunks. Takes place between DOA4 and DOA5.

Warnings: Various family issues, talk of rape, nudity (not very graphic)

The Spring Gathering

Part 1

The Invitation

The past winter's chill still lingers in the air, but the blossoms have already found the courage to bloom, eager to embrace the sun's spring warmth.

Ayane doesn't like this season. Not as much as any other time of year. In fact, sometimes, she loathes the spring. Everything is too damp, the weather is fickle, and the pollen agitates her nose so she always seems to be wearing an unflattering expression of disgust. Those things, however, are trivial, and they were only additional complaints to the main reason why Ayane hates the season: the lingering reminder of Kasumi.

People had often said Kasumi was born in the wrong season. She never acted like a winter child, but like one of spring. She was never aloof, shy, but was lively, friendly. She acted on impulse and never organized her thoughts and ideas in a suitable manner. She thought with heart. She would never make a good leader.

Ayane picks a petal from a bloom and studies it, looking at it in the palm of her pale hand, before clenching her fingers and crushing it.

What really gets at her is that not only does Kasumi's memory become stronger in her mind during this time of year, but it burns even more brightly in Hayate's too. The mere mentioning of Kasumi in his presence, and Hayate will become quiet, withdrawn for a moment, and Ayane despises that. Kasumi is his little sister, yes, and will always hold a dear place in his heart, but she is only an outcast, a nukenin, and nothing will ever change that. Hayate needs to learn that, and the sooner he does the better.

A village guard walks over to her perch in the tree, holding a scroll in his hand. The sight of the black wax seal upon it makes her frown, brow furrowed.

Another reason way she hates this season: the Spring Gathering.

OOO

Once a year, the masters of the great clans within this area come together for a gathering with drinks and entertainment, to reinforce the bonds of friendship and support between allies. Despite the innocent reason behind the gathering, there is always an element of competition at these things, with shinobi showing off and pointing out someone else's faults, always respectfully of course. This year, it will take place at the Hayabusa village.

The Mugen Tenshin have been absent from the gathering for the last couple of years, due to various reasons beyond their control. It was obviously that, if they were to attend, the clan would be one of the big topics of conversation that evening.

"Of course we must attend!"

Hayate winces at his father's words. Shiden has always been blunt, clean cut with his words, never fussed around the subject. "The Mugen Tenshin have not been to the Spring Gathering for four years. It's time that we made an appearance once again, and re-establish our place amongst the clans."

Even though Shiden had retired his role of clan head two years ago, Hayate felt his father was still not over the fact that he is no longer leader. He still had an opinion about the running of the village, about everything that affected them, and everyone still took his advice.

Hayate looks over to his mother, but Ayame keeps her eyes on the table before her. She knows that once Shiden speaks, there is no stopping him, and you might as well let him express his point of view and wait until he does so.

"Ever since Kasumi ran away, we have been through a lot of hardship, and now we finally have a time of peace that we must be used to our own advantage. We must not become a laughingstock."

"Father, I don't think anyone is laughing at us-"

"Not to our faces! Shinobi never let people see their true emotions, and your true thoughts must be hidden so your foe will never gain a single advantage over you."

"But we are not fighting the other clans, Father. We are going to eat, drink, and have conversations with them."

"You never know. One day, even that night, someone will pull a blade out on us!"

"I am sure that the others will be kind to us," Ayame says, all smiles. She gently pushes a cup of tea towards her son. "They must understand that we have been through much with DOATEC, and must see that we had reasons not to attend the previous years."

"DOATEC is no more," Shiden points out. He has barely touched his cup. "We are free from their plots and petty plans, and we must embrace that fact. We should not allow ourselves to lock up the doors and hide in shame. We must go out and raise our heads high."

"Father, I respect your opinion," Hayate says calmly, giving a small, short bow to the man, "but hardly four months have passed since we vanquished DOATEC. We lost a lot of men and women in that attack. They were great warriors. I think we must be respectful to their spirits and allow a period of mourning to pass until we are ready to start again."

"Stop making up excuses, Hayate!" Shiden bellows. "It's time to stop sulking. This clan had been tarnished with disorder and shame. Raidou, Kasumi, Genra: they have all disgraced the clan and we must rebuild from the ruins caused by their selfish actions, and the first obvious step is to go to the gathering."

Hayate looks hurt by those words, his stoic mask slipping a little, and Ayame could sense his sadness.

"Shiden," she speaks softly, "it is not very fair to tar Kasumi with the same brush as those men. What she did was out of compassion for her brother."

"Yes, and looked what happened: kidnappings, clones, death at every turn. Although she is my daughter, I can confidently say that the girl handled things poorly. The heavens must favor her greatly to allow her from slipping up and getting herself killed so far. Ayane will agree with me. Won't you, child?"

Ayane had kept very quiet so far, only speaking in order to thank her mother for refilling her cup. She kept her hands under the low table, examining the tantō in her hands in all possible ways. She never felt comfortable sitting in on these private talks, even though it was just her family. With everyone looking straight at her, Ayane placed the dagger on the table top and kept her hands still on her lap.

"While I agree with your view of the runaway, Master Shiden," says the girl, keeping her voice steady, "I am afraid that is the only matter that I do agree with you on. I, personally, find the Gathering to be nothing more but a hot bed of egos and narcissism. The Hayabusa clan is perfectly fine, but all the others are big-headed and cruel to one another. I, for one, do not wish to take part in their petty little games and boasting!"

"It's a place for allies and great masters!"

"It's cock-jousting!"

"Ayane!"

Before Shiden can slap the crude brat across her foul little mouth, his wife places a firm hand on his arm. He stopped everything and forces himself to calm down, settling back down on his cushion. Ayame puts up with a lot from her lover, but one of the things she will not tolerate is seeing him hit her children, especially Ayane. The girl was not his daughter, and he was not allowed to punish her as if she was.

"I think we are all getting a little bit too excited now," Ayame says in a soothing tone. She releases Shiden's arm. "Ayane, please do not use such language like that in the presence of myself and your masters ever again. It is highly distasteful and disrespectful to everyone involved."

Ayane frowns and bows low. "Yes, Mother."

"And Hayate, do not encourage her horrid behaviour next time."

"I didn't-"

"You smirked. You only stopped because your father became enraged. Do not do it again, and don't even try to get a lie past me again either."

"Yes, Mother."

"Good." She pours the last of the tea from the pot into her husband's cup. "You may continue now, dear."

"What? Oh, yes. Thank you." The man drains his cup in one gulp, allowing himself to come up with something to say. "Let me get to the bottom line. You two may be masters of this clan, but I'm not dead yet. As your elder, and for the years that I am still alive, it is my duty to make sure that you do the right thing, and my advice to you is to accept this invitation. Your mother and I will be there of course, so we can all burden this task together. It's only fair, after all."

Ayane can see that Hayate is giving in already. He was an infamous mama's boy, and it was no different when it came to his father. He would hate himself terribly if he turned down Shiden's advice.

"Giving it a second thought I think that is sound advice, Father." He gives a small nod of his head, and turns to look at his sister. "Ayane?"

"Like I have a choice," Ayane huffs. She turns away from him and crosses her arms. She wants her big brother to know just how annoyed she is with him for not sticking to his principles. Hayate tries to ignore her.

"That settles it." Rubbing his hands together, Shiden raises from his seat. "Hayate, as clan head you must write a formal letter for Master Hayabusa to say that you gratefully accept his invitation and that you will be bring your parents and younger sister with you. Now, if you excuse me."

Shiden retired to his chambers for the night to the tune of his family wishing him a pleasant sleep, and Ayame had one of the maids run off to collect paper and ink. Since Hayate had not received full leader training (due to a number of unfortunate incidents) he was not too sure about what to put down on the scroll, so his mother stayed with him to help write out the note. Ayane stayed at her end of the table, laid out on the floor and playing with the tantō again. After a few failed attempts, Hayate finally finished and sealed the scroll with blue wax; the colour of the clan.

"Done." He held out the scroll towards Ayane. She didn't take it. "Ayane, take this to one of the messengers. They should be able to get this to the Hayabusa village by midnight if we send it off now."

"I don't see why I should." The girl had taken to picking her nails with the knife. She knew that using it for silly little tasks would result in nothing but a dulled blade but she doesn't really care right now. "This wasn't my stupid idea."

Hayate furrows his brow as her. He extends his reach. "Ayane, I am your master, and I said take the letter."

"No."

"Ayane!"

"Hayate, don't shout," Ayame sighs. She rests her hand on her son's shoulder. "You are getting as bad as your father with your screaming. You know she is only doing this because she's annoyed with you." Gently, she takes the scroll from Hayate, and pulls Ayane's dangerous little toy away from her, handing her the parchment instead. "Ayane, please take the letter to one of the messengers before it gets too dark; for me, dear."

With a heavy sigh, Ayane finally gives in, although she does it with a sour attitude.

"Fine. I'll go." She gets up off the floor and tucks the scroll into her belt. "I'm going to bed as soon as I come back, so I'll wish you a good night."

"Good night to you too, Aya- Ayane! Use the door!"

The girl ignores her mother's bark and she leaps out of the open window, catching the bough of the peach tree just outside. She disappears into the leaves, melting into the shadows.

Ayame sighed. "That sister of yours has a mind of her own."

"She's angry with me, isn't she?" Hayate asks, his voice a little quiet. He looks upset, so his mother smiles up at him, patting his knee.

"Ayane could never be angry with you, dear. She loves you too much. You know for a fact if she had to face a life without you in it, she would throw her sorry self over the falls without regret."

"I'm not sure if that makes me feel better about it or not." The man allowed his broad shoulders to drop a little. "I have to admit, I'm on Ayane's side really. I don't like going to the Gathering just as much as her, and this will be the first year without Kasumi there… I am not looking forward to it."

"Me neither, dear, but your father is a stubborn old ox, and we know how important this is to him and to the clan. Let's just try to grin and bear it, hm? For your father, Hayate?"

"Yes. For Father," the lad sighs. "…I think I'll be going to bed as well. This evening has been very tiring" He pauses for a moment, then leans down to give his mother a kiss on the cheek. It makes her smile brightly. "Goodnight, Mother."

"Sweet dreams, dear."

Ayame watches her son as he leaves through the door, than draws her gaze to the four empty cups and a teapot before her. She notices the tantō, which had been left forgotten to the side, and picks it up. At the very end of the hilt, yellow and purple decorative cords have been tied to it. They remind Ayame of the ribbons she used to tie in her daughters' hair, before they were old enough to do it themselves. Now, Kasumi was gone and Ayane had cut her hair too short for it to be tied into pretty braids.

With a heavy sigh, Ayame returns the blade to its scabbard and tucks it in-between her robes for safe keeping, before getting up and finally taking herself to bed.