Chapter 30

"Izanami?" Hanabi mumbled as the god of death appears before them.

"What a beautiful crowd!" Izanami exclaimed, "It would have been a great sight if all of you marched into my lair, all dead. Ugh, Amaterasu is against it that she forced me to not take even a single life from any of you."

"What?" Kagura blurted out. Just then, she looked around and he was right. After Hanekage's rampage, she expected the deaths of many but each one of them are present that time.

"See?" Izanami pouted. "See how cruel Amaterasu is when it comes to me? And now, she even lets that scarlet ninja kill my only akuma ninja."

"Why did you meddle in his life? If only you haven't messed up with him, it would not come to this," Hanabi blatantly spoke right at the god.

Izanami puffs into his human form and held Hanabi's cheek down to her chin.

"Amaterasu does know how to choose," he remarked. "If it weren't for me, you would not go around, tailing this akuma ninja. If it weren't for me, you would be ignorant that I am sharing fragments of my power to this man whom you've fallen for. And it wasn't I who stabbed him and poisoned him with the demonic energy, right, Hanabi?"

"What do you mean?" the scarlet ninja asks in confusion.

"You see, Chief Haruno found out that I have given Hanzo some fragments of my power earlier than I thought. He would spoil the fun so I made him forget about what he had found out. I even took control over his body to inform you, you ignorant mongrel, about Hanzo's capability. Don't you dare point your finger on me, little human. For I am the god of death and I could take that man's life whenever I like," Izanami proclaimed as he returned back into his original form. He picked up Hanekage who is hiding away from him and looks down on the scarlet ninja.

"I shall let you suffer a bit more, Hanabi," the god added before vanishing.

Chief Haruno ordered his men to carry Hanzo back to the Shadow sect village and tend to his wounds. Kagura decided to be of help so she could get rid of the demonic energy in his body.

Hanabi decided to stay by the lake for a longer time. Hayabusa stayed as he watches her space out. He, then, sat down beside her and looked at the horizon she is staring at.

"What happens next?" he asked without looking at her. "The Ame no Habakiri and Hanekage are now in their rightful place. What shall become of Hanzo?"

Hanabi gazed at his serious face and replied, "I do not know either. Maybe I could have rhino head atone for his sins?"

This time, Hayabusa looks at her ocean-blue eyes. A sad smile forms on his lips.

"Have you truly fallen for him?" he asks.

Hanabi held the back of her neck in embarassment and mumbled, "I do not know for sure."

"Say, Hanabi," the assassin said as he gazes back at the setting sun. "If I had been there for you when you needed someone, do I have the chance to be of your interest?"

Hanabi chuckled at his remarks, "You know what, Hayabusa? You'd be banging your head if you have your memories back."

"Really? Maybe I'd do that for not marrying you," he replied which made the scarlet ninja giggle.

"You're different from the Hayabusa I met before," she said. "You are not this open when it comes to your feelings. You were only affectionate towards Kagura. And if only you remember, you do not like me at all for I am completely Kagura's opposite. I shall request the chief to bring your memories back now that rhino head is already captured. I am looking forward to your reaction when you're back to your old self."

Hanabi stood and walks away but she stops on her tracks when Hayabusa said, "Maybe I've had feelings for you  when my memories aren't altered. Maybe I just stood quiet about it for you said yourself that I am not open when it comes to what I feel."

Hanabi turned around and smiled slyly, "Then, if you have your memories back and you do have feelings for me, come right at me and ask my hand for marriage. But if you don't, you shall help me pardon rhino head's actions. Is that a deal?"

"It's a deal," Hayabusa replied.

Back at the Shadow sect village, the chief had the Onmyouji clan to seal the Ame no Habakiri at the empty cavern below the chief's mansion. On the other hand,  Kagura is having a hard time absorbing the demonic energy from Hanzo. The more she absorbs the demonic energy, the weaker she gets. She is almost at the verge of losing her consciousness but still, she stood on her feet and summons the kami once again. With her Seimei Umbrella, she easily summoned the water dragon but then, her vision starts to blur.

"Kami, help me purify this man's body," she pleaded.

"Thy wish shall be granted," the water dragon responded as it turns into a purified water and washed off the impurity out from Hanzo. Just then, Kagura blacked out and just in time, Hanabi caught her before she hits the ground.

"You did a really great job, Kagura," she said as she carries her to the next room to let her have her rest.

"You know what, Hanabi?" Shizuka chuckled. "You could become a great man if ever you turn into a male."

"Shut it, Shizuka," Hanabi glares at her.

Hanabi entered in Hanzo's room and washed him up. She stared at his chest where a small scar lies. She touched it and said, "Kagura really made a great healing job. Only a small scar is visible."

She once again remembered how she stabbed him back then. She could still remember the pain she felt as she pierced him with her kunai. She could still remember how he stared at her with his emerald eyes which seems to be in sorrow. She could still remember how Hanzo smiled at her when they were falling. But his eyes reflect sadness and regret. Has he started to have a grudge against her?

Hanabi covered him with warm blankets after being done on her job. She sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the assassin. She had the urge to touch his unmasked face. She stretched her hand and had her index finger ran on Hanzo's forehead, down to his nose and when her eyes are set on his lips, she covered her now red face. She calmed herself before looking at him once more.

"How long do you plan on staring at me?" a soft voice mumbled which startled the scarlet ninja.

She immediately stood on her feet and has her back facing him, trying to hide away her blush.

"You're awake," she muttered, "Do you need something?"

"Nah, I'm fine," Hanzo replied. He suddenly chuckled upon remembering how he was defeated. For him, it was a bit unfair on his side but it was a wise choice to take an enemy down. A wise and unique way.

Hanabi turned her head to look at him, "What?"

"You really could do anything," Hanzo muttered, "Who would have thought you'd do such an underhanded trick to win against me."

"Shut it, rhino head," Hanabi retorted. "A defeat is a defeat no matter how it was done. It's a battle so I have to take advantage of what I have in order to win."

"What do you have?" Hanzo teased, "Your lips? Shall we have another fight and see how effective your lips are at defeating me?"

Hanabi's face turned beet red so she looks away and cursed, "Damn you! It was you who have given me that idea back when you first k-k-kissed me."

"Hey," Hanzo mumbled for his body is still in pain but still, he jested, "You did like it, didn't you?"

Hanabi glared at him which amused him even more.

"The first and the second time," he added with a grin.

"Get lost," Hanabi hissed and attempted to walk out but the akuma ninja was fast enough to grab her wrist and pull her towards him.

Due to the sudden and unexpected force, Hanabi tripped and fell on top of him, their faces only a few inches apart.

Hanabi started to feel her body malfunction once more. She wanted to stand but she could feel her feet wobble in nervousness as Hanzo stares right at her very eyes.

"Cat got your tongue?" he teased. "Didn't you do this a while back? Where's your confidence, Hana?"

Hanzo was very well entertained for he could clearly see how red Hanabi's face is. He wanted to tease her further so he slides the few strands of her hair at the back of her ear as he wraps his arm around her waist.

"Defenseless, aren't you?" he mused. "This is what you made me feel a while back. Hana, why don't you re-enact how you defeated me? I especially like the time when your lips touched mine."

Hanabi had her tongue back out, she felt like she was melting in his arms. The butterflies in her stomach went wilder.

"Hana," Hanzo whispered before he kissed her. The scarlet ninja, unconsciously,  kissed him back.

But when she finally snapped back to herself, she immediately stood up and covered her face while Hanzo once again smirked at her reaction.

Hanabi left and sees Shizuka waiting outside the ward.

"He's awake," she said, trying to forget what just happened.

"I'll talk to him," Shizuka replied which made the scarlet ninja feel down for the two of them will be alone together. She wanted to say she can't but she remained quiet.

She simply nodded and walks out of the infirmary. She sits down at the balcony and waited for the two to finish their talk. The moon is already out but the clouds covers its brightness and only few of the stars are out.

After an hour of waiting, Hanabi lost her patience for her curiosity is eating her. She is curious of what they might be talking about that it is taking them too long to finish. She got up on her feet and walks into Hanzo's ward. She knocks on the door but no one responded. Her heart skipped a beat, thinking that the two might have left the village together like a runaway couple. She opens the door and saw an empty bed and an open window.

"Hey," Hayabusa called out. Hanabi did not move, she simply held the door. Her eyes fixed on the window where the wind comes from, blowing the curtain back and forth.The assassin grabbed her shoulder and saw her tears drop. She gave him a sad smile and drops on her knees.

"They..." she stuttered. "Left."

"The guards are after them," Hayabusa said as he lends his shoulder for her to cry on.

"Why did I take my eyes off of him?" Hanabi asked between her sobs.

"It's not your fault. Even if he left the village, he would no longer have the urge to kill for the Ame no Habakiri is already sealed," Hayabusa said as he caresses the scarlet ninja's hair, comforting her.

That night, Hanabi is curled up on her bed with her blanket wrapped around her, crying her heart out, feeling jealous and feeling pain on her chest. She remembered their last moment together and thought, "A goodbye kiss? How dare him?!"

"How is she?" Chief Haruno asks.

"She's not letting anyone inside her room," Kagura replied. "I think it is best to let her be alone for now."

"Poor Hanabi," Izanami wept as he pretends to wipe off his tears as he watches the scarlet ninja.

"It cannot be helped," Amaterasu remarked who is currently with him.

"Amaterasu, it's kind of new to me for you to let your scarlet ninja be in such a serious love sick," the death god wondered. "You are so protective when it comes to her. Why'd you let akuma ninja escape with another girl?"

"I do sympathize with her for she had been through a lot, " Amaterasu replied. "But I cannot go against fate for it shall bring disaster. In addition, Hanabi is strong enough to deal with this situation. She is no longer the Hanabi before."

"A love with the right person but at the wrong time, is that it?" Izanami guessed.

"It is, indeed," the sun goddess responded.

"What a melancholic love," Izanami commented as he sees Hanabi weeping for another loss.

"A melancholic love is inevitable in this world to test a human's love or it may bring their relationship to an end," Amaterasu added.

Hanekage roared at the entrance of Izanami's lair. The demon is back on his old job which is to guard the entrance to the underworld. And for him, it is the most boring job and he prefers to be with Hanzo but there is nothing else he could do for his rightful master has taken him back.