Sacrifices…

Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters from Ninja Gaiden nor from Dead or Alive. This is a story meant for only a story…

Story takes palce after the Ninja Gaiden time line, since there wasn't a section for this and Ryu and Ayane are characters for DOA as well, I figured it would fit here. This is a short story that I had co-written with someone and she prefers to be mentioned as a ghost writer. So enjoy...Kasumi is also mentioned in this story...

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Chapter One

Ayane sat silently in her spot as she watched over two young woman that have learned to patch up their lives. Rachel and Alma had slowly began piecing up their relationship as twins, though it was kind of a long ride for the two but they were able to pick up the pieces and move on. Ayane felt envious as she knew that Rachel had feelings for Ryu Hayabusa, and it bothered her…and maybe that is why in some strange way she watched over the two girls. Was it because she didn't want Ryu to be hurt…so she protects over Rachel and her sister?

Ayane sighed heavily as she noticed the regular visit from Ryu and quickly made her way away from the scene. She didn't want to see what the two would talk about, it already hurt her that he might think more of Rachel than her. But she had no control over that, she grew up not being loved…why it would it start now.

No that wasn't true…one man loved her like his daughter, and he was gone as well. She shed one tear and continued to walk away. She would not turn back to see the scene between the two and walked away from everything. If it meant the two could be happy, let it be…she was going to be the way she is now and not back away from her decision. She was strong…yet free to fly like a butterfly to wherever she needed. However her retreating back was seen by one person, Alma.

However Alma did not say anything, she had caught Ayane several times watching over them. She even had provided some food and other items when the two were out. Even though they were preparing to go get more items for their home it would not be necessary for them to do anything. She always wondered what was the reason for the girl to watch over them, for their fight with the fiends were over and yet there she was. Then she looked over at the masked Ninja and wondered if he was the reason.

"Alma…" Rachel called to her sister. Alma turned around to see Rachel and Ryu both looking at her. Alma then walked back into the house, Ryu dropped by from time to time to check up on them. He would have a relative nice conversation with them…mostly just updates of small fiend activities but it was so small that it was not worth mentioning.

"So how are things Ryu," Rachel looked longingly over at the green eyed ninja. Ryu removed his masked and Alma had to mean he was quite handsome. She began cooking; she was always the better cook than Rachel.

"Just small fiend activity left over from whole incident," Ryu said simply. "Nothing I can't handle."

"I see," Rachel said simply and looked down at her plate as Alma served it to them. Rachel said her thanks as did Ryu. "Anything new?"

"No," Ryu said flatly and Ryu quietly began to eat and Alma smiled.

"Ummm…Ryu," Alma asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Ryu looked up at Rachel's twin. They looked the same in every way except their hair length. Rachel had longer hair and Alma had shorter length, which made it easier on him to tell them apart.

"Do you keep in touch with any other Ninja Clans?" Alma asked as she took her seat and Rachel and Ryu looked at her curiously.

"I do have a childhood friend from another clan that I keep in touch with, if that is what you mean?" Ryu looked at her with a questioning face. He could not phantom a reason why she would ask something like that.

"Oh really, is that normal in that kind of world?" Alma asked with wondering eyes.

"If the clans are on friendly terms, everyone has their own code but his clan and mine were always at peace," Ryu said simply.

"Alma what are you trying to get at?" Rachel asked as she took a bite of her dinner.

"I've seen this one figure, dressed either in purple or black…" Alma didn't have to finish her sentence when Ryu already named the girl. Though she did not know what the girl's name was but what can you do.

"Ayane," Ryu asked interrupting the girl but no surprise in his voice. Ayane was always traveling around for assignments; it would be no surprise if she had seen her during one of her missions. "Ayane…I haven't seen much since the whole incident with the dragon blade. She probably has been here for missions of some sort."

"Probably, she's a very pretty girl from what I could see," Alma said simply with a smile. "I just wanted to know if you knew her."

"When did you see her?" Rachel asked wondering what Ayane would be doing in the city for more than just missions. She knew there was something that her sister wasn't telling. She could tell, after all she grew up with her sister all of her life. It wasn't hard to tell that she was keeping something or not telling something to the table.

"I saw today actually," Alma said and that is what caught Ryu's attention.

"What do you mean today?" Ryu asked quickly. "She doesn't have an assignment that I heard of."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I spoke with the leader of the clan, Ayane does have any assignment recently," Ryu said simply. "Why would she even be in the city…"

"She must have her reasons," Alma said simply as she looked out the window. The sun was setting and she smiled. She enjoyed staring in the sunset…it meant one day was over and she had lived to see another day.

"It doesn't make sense, Ayane doesn't do anything unless she has a reason to," Ryu said simply to himself but then forgot about it. Alma was right, she had to have her reasons but what they were they were not of his concern. He stood up, "Thank you for dinner, I must be off now."

"Be safe," Rachel said but the longing her eyes were seen. Ryu waved and took his leave as Alma smiled at her sister.

"You have fallen hard," Alma said simply as she began cleaning up the table. Rachel followed suit as she gave her sister a dirty look.

"I have not!"

"Oh yes you have," Alma laughed at the fact her sister was trying to deny it. "It is written all over your face."

"Am I wrong to feel this way," Rachel asked and Alma shook her head no.

"You've done enough for me, I'm pretty much living a normal life again," Alma said with a smile. "I still have memories of being a friend but they don't bother me as much as I am starting to live a normal life."

"I'm glad," Rachel said with a smile. Then she sighed, "It's hard to have feelings for man that is so distant."

"Remember that he lost his whole village and now he is rebuilding his life back together too," Alma said simply with a sigh. "Give him time, you never know he might have feelings for you too."

"I guess you're right," Rachel said simply.

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However Else Where…

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Ayane noticed a certain cave that she had never noticed before. She quickly made her way over to it but felt such an evil presence that she had to back away. She did not know what was this feeling and quickly made her away as far away from that cave. Little did she know that it would be the end of all man kind if it is not stopped, though the dark dragon blade has been broken the dark dragon had reawakened from his deep slumber. He was waiting for perfect opportunity for his revenge for his fallen kin.

He looked over at the retreating figure and smirked to himself. What many people didn't realize is that dragons are telepathic and can sense some of your deepest thoughts or in their case fear. He read into poor Ayane's soul and saw the hardships of the girl's life. She would a perfect prey for the one who wielded the dragon sword. He would pay for his family's role in watching the blade and not remembering it the way it should have been.

He was the last one alive and was going to make sure that the whole dragon kin would remembered for all times. He would not die until the time came that he would either destroy Ryu Hayabusa or he would destroy them. He then reached out with his tail and gripped the young woman. He sensed there would be another he would be bale to bait, that way the young man would have to decide which girl he is willing to save and which he is willing to give up for his personal power.

Ayane tried to fight her way out of it but only struggled in the grasp of the Dragon and slowly she was at a loss of air. Ayane feel into a deep sleep also thanks to the Dragon's power as he pulled her into a cave. He would for the time being feed off of her life energy and let her soul wander in purgatory to never really be alive nor dead. He was going to enjoy the fact that the young protector would but stuck in a hard decision.

"Ah yes, this girl has a great amount of energy to let me be able to move again," he chuckled to himself as he began draining Ayane's life force. Also he was starting to build a seed of doubt within Ayane's heart to make her more willing to give up her life to him. He was going to enjoy this…she was his perfect prey.

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Alma had noticed for the past few days there were no signs of Ayane but felt something that was not normal. She knew Rachel felt it too, it wasn't a fiend but a source of great evil. The aura felt a need for revenge and would willingly do whatever for it. She knew that Rachel still did not know that Ayane came to see them almost everyday and their normal supply of surprise food had not come for several days. Alma began to worry and would address it to Ryu when he would come visit, whenever it may be.

"I don't like this…" Alma said simply as she looked out from their home. Something just felt amiss, "I think something terrible is going to happen."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked. "I know there is a dark aura around us as of late, but…"

"Rachel, it's something not right about this air…Ayane hasn't returned in several days," Alma said simply and Rachel looked at her sister curiously.

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.

"Ayane usually watches over us and she has yet to return to her normal spot," Alma said simply. "I think something is terribly wrong."

"Are you trying to tell me that girl has been watching over us?" Rachel said simply and looked at her sister, "You never told me, why?"

"I didn't think much of it, but now I worry because she hasn't returned," Alma said flatly as she looked over to the horizon. "I think we should tell Ryu that something is amiss and if he already knows than about the girl."

"What about the girl," a voice asked from above the twins looked up to see Ayane. Alma smiled in relief but then noticed that Ayane's eyes were not the same. There was something different but Ryu had showed up at the same time. He noticed the change but said nothing about it. Ayane came down from the roof and landed on her feet like a cat. Ryu and the twins just watched in surprise.

"I had heard from Kasumi that you went missing," Ryu said simply. "Your clan is very worried about you, where have you been for the past several days?"

Ayane let out a synical laugh and then they saw her dark eyes. They were completely black and no sign of life. Alma knew that something terrible she felt was a part of Ayane's transformation. Ayane took slow steps forward and her voice also changed…no longer did it sound like Ayane it was a deep voice, evil…pure evil.

"Ryu Hayabusa…are you worried about me?" Ayane or whoever it was said. "What do you care, this body means nothing to you. She is just some little girl to you isn't she?"

"What do you mean?" Ryu asked as his eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"You destroyed the dark dragon blade, but at the same time you freed my darken soul from a deep slumber, I need more life energy and this body did just that," Ayane took a step forward and grabbed Rachel's arm. Ryu took a defense stance and looked ready to attack her if need be, "You do care for this girl. So I was correct, you love her and not the purple one. If you want her…come get her."

In dark smoke did Ayane and Rachel fade away, Alma called after her sister as Ryu cursed. He didn't know what was wrong with Ayane she would pay for insolence. She was not herself and he knew that much, but could she just be in a jealous raid? Or did it have to do something with the dark dragon blade? He wondered if the old man that he ran into knew anything about the dark dragon blade and if it was used for any other purpose? Ryu turned to Alma…

"You stay safe," Ryu said simply and then Kasumi appeared before him. "Kasumi will watch over you."

"Master Ryu…please bring Ayane back," Kasumi pleaded. "I know that she and I don't have the greatest relationship but…that is not her to act that coldly to people."

"I'll do what I can," Ryu said as he went off.

Alma looked over at Kasumi and offered her into the house. Ryu saw that as even made his way faster when he noticed a large body, it was scale like a snake and yet it seemed different. Then he realized it was a dragon body, but all the dragons were to be gone…He quickly made his way over to find the old man. He was going to ask a few questions and hopefully have something settled. As he sped his way through the city he was seeing people collapsing on the ground. Then he found the shop and quickly entered.

"What brings you to my shop," the elder man said as he looked to see a familiar face. "Strange events are happening are they not?"

"Do you know about anything of the dark dragon blade being able to awake something if broken," Ryu said simply as he handed the old man to blacksmith a few small weapons of his.

"Legend has it a dark dragon, the sole survivor was put into eternal sleep as long as the blade was whole…the dragon never be awakened, whether it was evil or good." The old man began working on the weapons as Ryu took a look around the store. "The dragon was the most powerful with mind controlling powers, he would usually find a host human body so he could walk around the city. But to have the host means he or she must be willing…that is also do to his mind powers…they make the host willing to give up their souls."

"What do you mean," Ryu asked getting interested. Why would he use Ayane or is he just really after Rachel?

"He will enter the one he wants as a host mind and make their most unwanted fears come to life and make them want to die. They usually end up giving up their souls to be in purgatory…more like not living nor dead." He paused and looked up, "Usually the one he finds is a one who has lived a harsh life or had too many bad experiences. The ones that feel they have nothing left to live for…no chance of having their greatest desire…"

Ryu then realized that Ayane and Rachel were both perfect targets. But would they really concede to the powers of the dragon, "Are the powers really that strong?"

"Yes, it can consume the person completely and their soul lost for all the time, once the soul is removed…till the next sunrise do you have to return the body, the soul is always pushed out during the night hours," he said as he handed Ryu's weapons back. "I assume he is powerful enough to move but if he has yet taken a host…then there is still hope. The dragon must be slain."

Ryu nodded and left the room. Ayane and Rachel were both in danger, but who was he going to choose as his host? Ayane was already possessed but not taken over…since the body was still seen in the sky. He quickly sped off into the distance…night has yet to fall over the city. He went as fast as he could. But then who could he save and if there is a chance would he be able to save both or would he lose one? Ryu shook his head and went off. He would save them both…

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Well...here is the first chapter...see you next time...