Chapter 4: Honor Not Achieved

Author's Notes: Well that last chapter sucked as far as a writing standard goes so I know I was sloppy in my writing I can not think of how I could have done that better, and it does not matter you got the point I was going for in this story. As for the story itself, I have an idea how you the readers are going to help me out, so keep on reading after this chapter and the next one and you will have a chance to help me out for finishing this story. Other than that the writing will improve and hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with DOA or Ninja Gaiden, I own Hyogo though.

The streets in the town are quiet never really disturbing anyone, except for a ninja and a certain bodyguard. Ryu Hayabusa is trying to evade his relentless foe, but not overly succeeding at the task. Every now and then Hyogo would try to attack by jumping and striking at Ryu, which he would then dodge and keep running so that the place they fought would be an advantage to no one.

Well Lei fang, Ayane, and myself (Kokoro) have been spending all of our time together. Ayane really started to be happy when she was with us, and she is starting to act like a normal person. We eat together, and always end up staying in one of our rooms, but we also train and that is mostly on our own. Hayate left for a while the other day came back picked up some stuff and left again. Hitomi asks us if we know what that was about, but none of us do. He is still in the tournament, but oh well he will show up but for now we are going outside today.

"What a nice day! I love it when the days are calm so we can train outside" Lei Fang said happily.

"A little nice weather to make you happy? You are far too easy to please Lei Fang" Ayane remarked dryly.

"What kind of things make you happy then Ayane? I am curious you smile far too little, even around us" Lei Fang asked with a expression of interest

"I think you would be better off not knowing the answer to that question Lei Fang. Most of that requires weapons or killing" Ayane said quite somberly.

I chuckled and came up beside them and said, "Well let's go train or enjoy the nice day...What's that over there?"

A figure burst out of a nearby bush rolled and then came to a stance ready to fight with a sword in his hand. Then right after a figure leaped over a bush and landed in front of the man we then saw it was someone we did not know with a knife in one hand and brass knuckles on his other hand. Ryu was clearly ready for a fight, while this other man was very clearly pissed.

"We will finish this now scum, I will not stop til your corpse has spread its blood all over this ground!" Hyogo nearly screamed in fury.

"Let's not waste anytime and got on with this fight, I am sure you are more than ready to finish this" Ryu said while getting into a more defensible position.

"With pleasure!" Hyogo said as he rushed at Ryu knife leading the attack.

Ryu raised his sword win front of his face which deflected the knife, but then Hyogo lifted his fist to smash it into Ryu's face. Hyogo swung very fast towards the side of Ryu's head, which Ryu was able to get his head out of the way. Then Ryu backed up keeping his defense tight and allow no purchase from any normal fighter. Hyogo rushed forward into an attack with his brass knuckles leading and his knife right behind.

Ryu knew this attack could end very bad for him, so he crouched little lower, and smashed his free arm into the middle of Hyogo. This caused Hyogo to pitch forward with a gasp, which then Ryu promptly smashed the pommel of his sword into his face, right under his chin, very hard. Hyogo drew back with a snarl and then rushed forward before Ryu was ready and punched Ryu across the right side of his face with his brass knuckles, then swiped with his knife. The knife never hit, Ryu used the momentum of the force of impact to fall to the ground, which immediately after he decided to hit Hyogo in the left leg right at the kneecap with his heel. While Hyogo did not receive the full force of the kick he still managed to receive a bit of the force that Ryu hit him with. This made Hyogo stumble a bit knocking him off-balance. Ryu then went into a furious cycle of punches and kicks, which only a few managed to get through Hyogo's increasing defensive capabilities. This really threw Ryu for a loop as Hyogo should have been getting weaker, not stronger...

Unbeknownst to Ryu, Hyogo had been focusing his energy just waiting for an opportunity to turn it loose on his opponent. He figured since Ryu was not pulling any punches and holding nothing back, it was time to show his opponent what his greatest strength was. Hyogo started towards Ryu smiling like a mad man with his fist raised. Very soon after that Ryu found himself on a hard pressed defense from relentless onslaught of brass knuckle punches and knife swipes. Ryu was finding it hard to keep up his defense, to make progress he would have to abandon his defense to make an offensive move. With this new purpose fresh in his mind he readied himself to make the sacrifice that would grant him victory or so he hoped.

Ryu was leaving many very good defensible openings that would make only the most experienced fighters suspicious. Taking a nasty hit in both the right side of his ribs and the side of his face and a knife cut on his leg, Ryu readied himself to strike back. Hyogo sneered and drew back his knife to make a deep plunge into Ryu's gut and lunged forward. Ryu sidestepped at the last second giving him a nasty gash in left side, then proceeded to crash his knee right into Hyogo's jaw followed by an elbow to the back of the fighter's head. This left Hyogo on his hands and knees a bit dazed, trying to recover. Ryu was also not faring well having been getting little sleep due to his quest and these cuts and bruises were already starting to cut into his staggering stamina. Hyogo got up and smirked as he said "Not bad Hayabusa ninja trash, but I still intend to carry out my revenge on you for slaughtering may master!" Ryu could not believe it, why did he want this revenge so badly? Hyogo lunged from the ground and sweep-kicked Ryu before he was ready, and then slashed out with his knife getting a slash across Ryu's chest as he fell from the kick.

Now as we stood there watching we had no idea what was going on, the three of us clueless as this fight was raging on. Hitomi had joined us at some point during this scuffle but I am not sure when. Hayate showed up then and looked very worried as soon as he caught sight of how bad Ryu was starting to look. "Ryu do you have this under control?" I heard Hayate ask. "This is a fight that I must finish or I will be shamed for a long time, I thank you for the concern Hayate but I still have my pride!" This one statement sent Ryu into a series of punches that all connected with Hyogo's chest and then a kick the sent the fighter flying back a bit, before rushing up to finish this little debacle.

Hyogo also must have sensed his end to his quest was coming with Ryu's rush towards him. Seeking to avoid this fate he buried his brass knuckles into Ryu's gut, while this made Ryu widen his eyes and gasp it did not stop him. Hyogo felt himself go into the air trying to flail about only lightly connected with Ryu as he was taken into an Izuna drop. On the way back down Ryu's endurance was pushed to his limit and as Hyogo collided with the ground he was knocked out, and Ryu staggered to his feet for a minute before he too collapsed succumbing to his wounds and own exhaustion.

Hayate ran over to his best friend and picked him up looking at his wounds and frowning that things were not all well as far as he was concerned. As he started to walk away Ayane spoke up asking "Will master Ryu be alright brother?" His reply was full of sadness as he said "I don't know sis, only time and rest will tell for sure, but right now I need to get him to a medical wing". "What was that all about anyway?" I heard Lei Fang ask "I am confused too I think all of us want some answers Hayate, what is going on here?" Hayate sighed as his shoulders slumped and replied "You can ask 'mister hero' here as soon as he awakens, so let me get him some help so that happens sooner rather than later" "I will go with you Hayate, let me keep you company" Hitomi came forward and stepped beside him. Hayate smiled as he said "I would like that"

So those two took off, and here we were three girls with no answers to many questions that depended on the unconscious ninja in Hayate's arms. Ayane seemed worried, but Lei Fang and I were just confused about everything. I know that all of us had no problem seeing why Ryu was the legendary ninja he was very powerful and his strength had at one point in that battle made us all blush. I guess our questions would have to wait until later...