New York

Ryu sat in his living room with his face buried in his hands, sighing in annoyance. His wife was taking way too long time to change, and he was beginning to get impatient.

"Irene, are you ready or not?"

"You know, I don't appreciate the hostility in your voice. Choosing what to wear is not easy and I don't have anything to wear…" She replied in frustration from the bedroom.

He then headed back to their bedroom and leaned his shoulder against the doorway studying his half-naked wife. "Here is a crazy suggestion, how about clothes?"

Irene turned to him with a look that said back off, as she didn't appreciate his smartass comment at a time like this. Though she understood his annoyance of her stressing out about what to wear, but she couldn't help it.

"This is a big deal family dinner, and everyone will be there. You know how judgmental my sisters can be, we have this competition thing between us…"

Ryu sighed and threw himself on the bed. There were just certain things he didn't understand about women. A good ten minutes later, Irene found the dress she liked.

"So, how do I look?"

Ryu tilted slightly and studied the dress or studied her figure more than the dress. His eyes paused at her breasts.

Irene rolled her eyes, "I'm just going to guess that you like it."

He only smirked at that. Irene expected Ryu to get out of bed and to start making their way out of the apartment, but he continued to lay there stiffly staring at the ceiling. She climbed into bed and towered over him.

"What's wrong?"

He wasn't looking forward to the dinner. Every time he had joined Irene's family gathering, they've always found a way to grill him. Irene grew up with a big family where he was the only child and raised by a single father. No matter how hard he tried to show them how much he loved Irene all these years, they still didn't think that he was good enough for her.

Irene was frowning at him waiting for a response. He cupped her cheeks and drew her closer, so his lips could reach hers, "It's nothing…"

Though, Irene knew her husband well enough to know that it was more to it and she figured why. "If you don't want to go, we don't have to go. We can just tell them that we have to work or something…"

"I don't want you lying to your family. I'll be fine…" He forced another smile.

She gave him another kiss and pulled him out of bed to get going.

Hours later…

They got home arguing. Irene was furious about something and Ryu had been trying to calm her down the whole way back. He closed the apartment door behind him, while Irene had already marched inside and began throwing her jacket and heels across the room mumbling to herself in frustration.

"Are you going to calm down now?" He asked rather softly.

"No, I'm not going to calm down. Why can't my family just be happy for me? and why are you so calm about this?"

He was about to answer…

"Why do I even bother, I mean you're always calm as if nothing can anger you."

Ryu frowned at her statement but held his silence and let Irene calm down on her own. She finally lowered down onto the couch and just sat there quietly, looking sad. She thought about what her mother and sisters said to her in private before she left. How they don't trust Ryu since they knew nothing about him. The only thing they know was that he was from Japan.

Her family had been hard on her lately, and Ryu figured he was the reason.

Irene then rose up, marched towards the large living room window and stared out. Ryu only looked her way, studying his wife a little. Something else was clearly bothering his wife. He walked over to her, then wrapped his arms around her. She immediately smiled as his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around her body, and she loved that. But still, not even his warm embrace could make her worries disappear.

"What's really bothering you?" He whispered.

Irene let out a heavy sigh, as she turned to face him while still in his embrace. "I just hate how my family treats you like a complete stranger after all these years, and I just wish that…"

"They don't bother me." He replied cutting her off.

"It's hard for them to trust you Ryu because they don't know anything about you."

He looked deeply into her crystal blue eyes, "They can't know about my background Irene, simple as that. Not that I don't want them to know but because the danger it will bring to your family, it's for their safety."

"I understand that, you know I do. But it can't be like this forever...I mean, what happen when we have kids one day? They are going to be playing an important role in their lives."

"They don't have to like me to love our children." He removed his arms off her and stare out the window thinking...

Silence surrounded the air around them.

The word children made him think. If he and Irene were to have kids, how would they be raised? He was the sole heir to the Hayabusa clan and if he was to have kids, they would likely to be raised the shinobi way. Though he wasn't sure where Irene stand on that, and he had never dared to bring it up. That was one of the reasons why he didn't want to be a father yet, but he couldn't hide from the fact forever either.

"Irene?"

"Yes?"

"Where do you stand on children?" He looked sideways not completely facing her.

She too had been avoiding it, aware of their situation and how strict Ryu's tradition was and also what was demanded of him. Though she wasn't so fond at the idea of her kids would be raised and trained to be a cold-blooded killer. She had worked with Ryu countless time during his shinobi days, she had seen the brutality of a ninja. It was such a demanding and dark path to follow. Ryu was still sitting on an answer, so she replied without being too directly.

"I'm not crazy about the idea yet, but I would love to be a mother one day…what about you? Where do you stand on kids?" Her tone was reluctant. They were taking a careful approach to the subject they had been avoiding talking for years.

He took his time to answer.

"I'm not sure…it's still a confusing area to me. I don't want to lose you Irene, I lost someone before and I…" He stopped himself from continuing. He didn't even know where he was going with it.

"Lose me? Why would you lose me?"

He didn't respond but sighed instead.

"And who were you referring to just now?" She asked curiously.

"It was so long ago…" He got closer to her. "It's been a long night, let's go to bed?"

Irene smiled, "I guess but I'm not sleepy yet."

There they go again avoiding the subject, because deep down they both knew that it will lead to a strong disagreement. A decision that could ruin what they have.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned close to her ear, "Who said we're going to sleep?"

Irene wrapped hers around his strong neck, "I like the way you think Mr. Hayabusa." She smiled seductively. He then lifted her bridal style towards their bedroom to have his way with his wife.

Next morning...

Irene woke up before Ryu did. She began her morning routine before going to work. Not long after, Ryu woke up and joined her in the kitchen. She didn't have time to make breakfast, so she would have to get something on the way to work later.

"Good morning." She fondly greeted him.

He kissed her good morning as the response.

Irene then poured him his coffee because Ryu wasn't quite as awake yet. He looked lost and sleepy still making her smile at the cute sight.

"Irene…" He frowned at her.

"Yeah?"

"Are we expecting anybody today?" He asked strangely.

She frowned with him. "No, why?"

Suspicion touched his eyes, "I couldn't shake this feeling of a familiar energy that I've been picking up since last night, and it's getting stronger."

Irene put her cup down on the counter and leaned closer to him, "Should we be prepared?"

He gave it a thought, "No…nothing hostile just strangely familiar."

It didn't soothe her somehow and she was still looking at him with a concerned expression.

"I'm sure it's nothing, so don't worry." He assured.

Irene relaxed a little. "Okay I trust you if you say so, and I have to run before I'm late."

They shared a quick passionate kiss. Ryu then followed his hot wife to the door and closed it once she left. He decided to take a day off from the shop. He hadn't trained in a while and he wanted to spend his day catching up on his ninjutsu training instead. But he couldn't train with empty stomach.

Ryu opened the refrigerator and looked inside. Lately, he had been feeling a little homesick. He missed the Japanese traditional food and he had been thinking about his home country a lot more than usual. Nobody from back home had really reached out to him and he was beginning to think that they didn't care…was his father angry with him? not even from Kasumi… was she still angry with him? Ryu sighed wearily at his thoughts. Perhaps he was expecting too much due to how things went down between them in the past.

Soon, he found all the ingredients he needed to make pancakes. After preparing what needed, Ryu poured a good amount onto the hot pan, and while he waited for the pancake to be thick enough, so he could flip it to the other side, he let his mind wandered off a little. He thought back at the days when Kasumi was temporarily living with him in the Hayabusa village. She would often prepare his favorite dish which was miso soup, and she made the best miso soup in his opinion. He didn't quite get where Kasumi got her cooking skills, but she was natural. A gentle smile appeared on the corner of his lips without realizing that it did. A burning smell shook him back to reality and he just burned the pancake.

Damn it, now he had to start over. He scraped the burned pancake off the pan and placed it onto a plate. As he was preparing a new one, the doorbell rang. Ryu frowned curiously as who it could be so early in the morning. Maybe Irene forgot something? He thought and shrugged. He went to open the door.

Every muscle in Ryu's body stiffen, shock was registered on his face before it was washed off blank with confusion at the person standing in front of him.

"Hayate?"

"Good morning." Hayate smirked, as he loved the surprised look on Ryu's face just now. Hayate then grabbed his bag and invited himself inside the apartment while Ryu's jaw was still on the floor.

Ryu closed the door but did not remove his eyes off Hayate who he hadn't seen in a while. Curious and confuse, he marched over to his longtime friend.

"What in the world are you doing here, Hayate?" Still looking surprised.

Hayate didn't respond. He took his time looking around at the fancy apartment first.

"You're living large Ryu… you and Irene must be rich."

"Why are you avoiding answering my question?" A slight annoyance was hinted in his voice. Then Ryu's face clouded with full concern.

"Is everything alright with my father?"

Hayate laughed, "That's funny."

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing." Hayate went to the window and looked out. "Damn, what a view…"

Ryu scraped his hands down his weary face in annoyance. "Why are you here?"

"When did you become such a nag?" Hayate turned to his friend with a silly frown.

"Just answer the damn questions, Hayate!"

"First of all, you need to calm down. Second, this is how you greet your best friend after many years?"

Hayate then shook his head since Ryu only continued to stare hard at him. "I'm here on a mission and since your father was the one who assigned me to this mission, so yes, he is well and alive. I needed a place to stay for couple of days… the reason I laughed was because I surprised visit Kasumi before I came here, and she too immediately assumed that there was something wrong with our parents. There, all answered, happy?"

Ryu let out a sigh of relief and his voice softened. "I just wish you would have let me know beforehand that you were coming that's all. Though I'm not sure if Irene will agree to let you to stay here…"

Hayate gave Ryu a poor pity me I have no place to stay eyes.

"That's just pathetic," But he couldn't help it. "Alright fine, I'll talk to her later."

Though he had to admit that it was good seeing Hayate again. Since he had been a little homesick lately, and Hayate couldn't have come at a better timing. He has friends in New York, but he felt often left out because he couldn't relate to them much. Having to keep his identity a secret was making it hard for him to be himself and to connect with others as he had to be careful with what he does and say. With Hayate, he could fully be himself since they shared the same background and grew up together.

"Hmm…" Ryu placed himself closer to Hayate.

"What?"

"You've gotten taller than me haven't you…it really has been that long huh."

Hayate laughed a little at that. Ryu then signed Hayate to follow him to the spare bedroom.

"Nice room..." Hayate looked around. "So clean…"

"Irene loves to keep everything spotless. She freaks out if she sees messes, so try and keep it clean or I will have to hear about it."

"Right."

"Are you hungry?"

"Always." Hayate quickly replied.

"Come join me in the kitchen for breakfast."

"Okay." He followed Ryu.

In the kitchen, he marched towards the plate with burned pancake on. He lifted the pancake and looked grossly at it. "Is this what people eat for breakfast here?"

"Ignore that one, I accidently burned it."

Hayate then observed Ryu fixing new set of pancakes. He studied his friend a little…

"Are you happy here, Ryu?" He asked out of the blue making Ryu turned with a deep frown.

"Where did that come from all of sudden?"

"Well, are you?"

"I wouldn't be living here for this long if I wasn't now, would I? not that it matters because when Irene sees you tonight, I'm dead anyway."

"You know that Irene is really not strong enough to kill you right?"

"Um, Hayate?"

"Yes?"

"Tell me something…are you still single?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It was just very telling that's all." He couldn't help but giggled. Hayate didn't quite appreciate Ryu's sarcasm but he let it slide on this one.

Soon, Ryu served two plates with pancakes and two glasses with orange juice. They took their seat at the table. Hayate didn't waste any time and began digging in. He seemed very hungry.

Ryu looked at him amusingly. "When the last time you ate?"

"On the plane but the food tasted horrible."

"Hold on, you got here by airplane?"

Hayate rolled his eyes and his mouth was full of food. "No, I swam across the Atlantic Ocean…of course I took airplane how else?"

Ryu sighed. "You know what I mean…"

"Well, I could have teleported I guess. But with all the duties and missions back home lately and now that father had fully resigned from his role as well, I wanted to be amongst the people and take my time to get here. Just to breathe a different air. It has been awhile since I've done that. Extra work is on me now that I'm in charged."

Ryu looked down to his plate. "So, you're the head of the Mugen Tenshin now, I see…" He said in a low voice.

"Hayate?"

"Yeah."

Ryu took his time before asking, and he hadn't touched his pancakes yet. "Why did my father send you all the way here on a mission when he could just reach out to me instead?" He asked strangely.

"I don't want to get into this, Ryu."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't talk to you about this without insulting your wife… If you want the proper answer, then you should talk to your father."

Ryu held his silence, as he wasn't sure how to feel at this moment. He had been in denial about the situation between him and his father.

"Right…what is this mission about?"

"I'm not allowed to reveal the information, not even to you. But I can say that it's an undercover mission to gather information for your father about the recent threat towards your clan. Besides from that it is classified. I would tell you more, but I have to work alongside your father, so I don't want any trouble with him. You understand right?"

"I understand perfectly."

Ryu got up from his chair, grabbed his plate, shove the untouched pancakes into a garbage can and then threw his plate into the sink. He leaned on the counter in frustration. Hayate observed his friend's sudden changed demeanor. Ryu might hate what he had to say but as a shinobi he had rules to follow.

After a moment of silence, Ryu calmed down a little and he was now curious about something else.

"So, how is Kasumi?"

"Fine."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What else is there to say?"

"Don't play this game with me Hayate, I deserve to know of her condition."

Hayate didn't like Ryu nagging about his sister. "She is fine, and that's all you need to know. Kasumi is not your concern anymore."

Hayate rose from his chair. "Look, I'm beat after a long flight and thank you for the breakfast Ryu." He left the kitchen and into his room to rest his eyes. He needed a few hours of sleep before he would go out on his mission.

Late that night, around midnight, Irene came home from work. The apartment was dark, but the city lights made it look brighter through their tall large glass windows. She took her raincoat and boots off by the door. She figured that Ryu was probably already asleep in their bed. Before she joined him, she wanted to make a quick midnight snack as she was starving after a long day. As Irene passed by the living room to go to the kitchen, she paused at the sudden sight of Ryu sleeping on the couch. He must have fallen asleep while reading again because his book was on the floor. A smiled appeared on her lips, thinking how she got to be so lucky to have a husband like him.

Ryu sacrificed everything to be with her, and lately she had been wondering if he perhaps had given up too much for her? His family, his friends and his duties. He hardly talked to anyone back home, and he hadn't had any desire to go visit his homeland either. Could she be the reason? If so, that was something she wouldn't want on her conscience.

Irene had never loved anyone the way she loved Ryu. Sometimes she feared that he would one day go back and fully committing his life to be a shinobi again. That he would stop loving her, making his clan and duties his only priorities like it had been in the past. How would she fit into his life? Guilt washed over her. Was she selfish for thinking the way she did just now? but she was just too afraid to lose him.

Irene changed her mind, she wasn't so hungry anymore. Her feet led her towards the couch to her sleeping husband. She got on top of him, unbuttoned her white shirt revealing her bra and began kissing his neck. Her touched woke him with a smile. His low moan increased her desire to play with him. It didn't take Ryu long to respond with the same lust. He slammed his lips to hers in fiery, passionate and demanding kind of kiss. Then he pulled away slightly as he remembered something.

"Irene…" He whispered.

She wanted him so bad she couldn't even think straight. Whatever it was that Ryu wanted to say could wait. Irene leaned in and pressed her lips onto his to silence him, Ryu didn't argue, he had forgotten what he wanted to say anyway as his wife was looking too damn hot to him now.

"Do you guys mind not doing that openly while I'm here…"

Irene jumped off Ryu in surprised, grabbed her gun from the table where she had put it earlier, turned around and pointed the gun at Hayate who was leaning against the wall nearby.

"That is the most useless weapon you can use against a ninja." Hayate smirked in amusement.

Irene was in complete shock, she looked at Ryu then Hayate then back at Ryu.

"What the hell is he doing here?!"

She collected herself and put her gun away. Irene suddenly noticed that her shirt was unbuttoned. Hayate didn't seem to care to look away. She quickly buttoned her shirt. Then gave Ryu a stare.

Hayate sighed and pushed himself off the wall to head out. "I'll let you two discuss, meanwhile, I'm off to work. See you later."

Once Hayate had left, she rose up and folded her arms across her chests giving Ryu a stern expression, "Explain."

Ryu scratch his head first, as his wife's stare was intimidating to him. "It's only for couple of days, he needed a place to stay…"

Irene sighed wearily while she gave it a consideration, and not that it mattered now since Hayate was already in their apartment. "I don't like this Ryu, I know he's your friend but where Hayate goes trouble follows."

Ryu held his silence as he looked at Irene with surrendering kind of look, somewhat a little afraid she would yell at him. It didn't matter if he was the strongest shinobi in the world, wife is scarier…

Though, whether she liked it or not Hayate was a dearest friend of Ryu, and because of that she couldn't sent him away.

"Fine, I guess I can survive couple of days."

Ryu kissed her lips. "Thank you, I will make sure he behaves."

"Doubt it." Irene rolled her eyes.

"Wait, did he say he was going to work?"

Ryu nodded. "He's on a mission."

"I see…in the middle of the night?" Irene frowned.

"Ninjas work best at night, depends on the mission." He replied casually.

"Right…"

"Are you coming?" Ryu shouted from their bedroom door, Irene hadn't realized he had made his way over there as she was lost inside her thought for a moment there.

"Yeah, I'll be right there…I just need to go get some important files from the car that I forgot." She said.

"Okay." Ryu went inside their bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Irene grabbed her gun and placed it back in a strap on her thigh, quickly ran towards the door putting her boots and raincoat back on, then gently closing the door behind her and ran out into the rainy street. She tried to figure which direction Hayate had gone to, looking left and right to see if she could catch a glimpse of him. She saw him and quickened her pace and melted into the New York crowd.

Hayate suddenly put his hoody on making it harder for her to see him now. So, she made sure that her eyes were on him at all time. The rain intensified making it even harder for her to see ahead, plus New York was a crowded place even during nighttime. A city that never sleep. Hayate turned around in suspicion kind of look and Irene quickly hid in the nearest corner. Seconds later, she peeked back out and Hayate had continued on walking.

She kept on shadowing him for a moment longer when Hayate suddenly walked around into emptier street corner. Irene hid herself behind a building nearby and peeked around the corner. She saw Hayate talking to two men. They asked him to turn around as they searched him for weapons. Seconds later, they approved and signed Hayate to follow them inside a building. Irene frowned strangely, as she wasn't familiar with this side of the city, so she wasn't sure what was going on. She didn't even know why she felt the urge to follow him. Ryu had taken a similar mission nearby many years ago and she wondered if this linked to the same mission somehow. As an agent, suspicion lies within her training and nature. She wished she could keep on digging further, but she had been away for too long, Ryu might start to wonder. Sighing at that, she turned back around and headed home.

The following morning…

Irene sat up on her bed. She wasn't sure if it was the bad dream or the loud sound of thunder that woke her up. She gazed towards the window and it was still raining out. Then her eyes tracked to the digital alarm clocks on the table. It was ten minutes before it was supposed to go off, what was the point of setting an alarm if she was going to wake up before it sets off? Irene whined silently to herself in annoyance. She turned to Ryu's side of the bed and it was empty. She decided to get out of bed to get ready for work. First to the kitchen to start preparing her coffee. She wouldn't survive her early mornings without it. When she turned around the corner towards the kitchen, Irene smiled fondly like any wife would at the sight of her husband. He was shirtless, wearing only his sweatpants on. Screw coffee she thought, Ryu first. She led herself to him and sneak her arms around from behind.

"Good morning you." She greeted flirtatiously.

"I don't think Ryu would like this..."

Irene let go immediately, ran towards the light switch and turned it on. "Hayate!" Her eyes widened in embarrassment. "Oh god I didn't see you there, and why you didn't turn the lights on?"

"I can see much better than you in the dark."

"Okay, then…" Irene let out a tired small sigh. "Where is Ryu?"

"He went out for a morning run."

She then continued with her plan to make coffee while Hayate leaned on the opposite side of the kitchen counter slowly sipping from his tea, observing Irene. Her back was facing him. His eyes narrowed down to study her figure in her short pajamas dress. Irene turned and slanted him a look as she knew he was eyeing her from behind, it made her a little uneasy, so she tried to hurry so she could get out of there. To make her coffee, she would need a cup that was inside one of those kitchen cabinet but sighed since Hayate was blocking it. She hinted and waited for him to move away, but he didn't seem to take the hint, or he was ignoring it on purpose she wasn't sure.

"Could you move?" Her voice was strict since Hayate was getting on her nerve.

Hayate however took his time sipping on his tea. Then he moved to the side only slightly. He kept studying her. She took the cup out and poured her coffee.

"Why did you follow me last night?"

A little caught off guard by the question, she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about..."

Hayate put his cup down on the counter, grabbed Irene by her waists and forcefully turned her around. He made sure there was no space between them, as his body was tightly pressed against her and when she tried to slip away, he only backed her tighter against the kitchen counter. He was too strong for her.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked confused.

He smiled. "Do I make you nervous, Irene?"

"Get off me Hayate!" She tried to push him away but failed.

He gave her a dead-on look. "I'm here on a very important mission," He began. "Stop meddling in ninja business. Have you forgotten that I'm a soulless criminal? Interfere in any way again, there will be consequences."

She stared him back, "Are you threatening me?"

"Just a friendly reminder."

"You don't intimidate me in the slightest, Hayate."

"Go ahead then, try me. You may have Ryu wrapped around your little finger but I'm nothing like him."

"Now that I believe, because unlike you, Ryu is not an asshole." She refused to let him get to her so easily.

"Ouch." He smiled teasingly.

The tension played between them like a high-voltage current. Irene suddenly became more aware of how close Hayate was. He was pressed so tightly against her body, she could smell the intoxicating scent of him this close to her. His gaze prowled over her like a hungry lion.

"I can't wait for you to leave…" She shook her head slightly.

"What are you so afraid of, Irene?"

"Oh, I'm not afraid, I just can't stand you."

Hayate smirked. "Like how you can't stand me a few years ago? We don't want Ryu to know about that incident now do we?"

He then sighed almost sarcastically. "Such a memorable night…" He whispered so closely with his lips almost brushes hers.

"Are you done?" She growled at him.

Suddenly, he released her. Irene didn't want coffee anymore, she rushed back to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. For a minute he was tempted to follow, just to see how far it could go. But he knew the nasty outcome of that and so he managed to control himself from getting out of hand. Although he did enjoy the little moment just now. He shook his head to clear it and went to the sink to splash cold water on his face. Must be a bizarre case of jet lag, Hayate thought to himself in amusement.