A/N: I hate my major, hate my classes, hate my homework, I HATE COLLEGE! I need another spring break. Enough of my crying, on with the show.

Disclaimer: Dead or Alive owned by Team Ninja and Tecmo. Tramps Like Us owned by Ogawa and Tokyopop

Kunoichis Like Us

Chapter 10

"Ahhhh!" Seiji leaned back in his chair after downing a beer. "Nuthin' better than a cold one after a bowl of my family's famous Shimono ramen! Don't ya think?"

Kasumi looked into the bowl in front of her. She had to admit that the ramen was good, both in taste and appearance. Seiji made sure that the green onions, pork, and seaweed were all placed in a way that was pleasing to the eye even though she watched him just toss them in without thought. A sign of experience. She was quite pleased with the meal.

Her beverage on the other hand…

"C'mon! Drink up, Kasumi!" Seiji smiled with big teeth.

"I don't drink alcohol." Kasumi pushed the unopened can away. "Besides, I'm underage. We're underage."

"Ah, don't be like that! Live a little. My mom and pop have been puttin' in long hours at the shop, so I've been havin' this place all to myself!" He stole a glance at his younger sister in her booster chair messily eating her ramen with her bare hands. "Well, sort of, but the munchkin usually conks out 'round seven or eight. So after that, it's Seiji time!"

Kasumi looked around the Shimono home. It was small for a four person family and a bit cluttered. Boxes filled with papers were stacked by the ten year old television in the living/dinning room. Girl toys littered the floor and dishes piled up in the sink, most were made from Seiji cooking. Then she saw the family pictures: Seiji's mother and father at their wedding, Seiji as a baby and then a young boy, and a newborn Ami in her mother's arms.

She looked around again. This was a family home. With one thing missing.

"It feels…empty here." Kasumi said.

"Nah, I got my baby sis to keep me company. Great listener and easy to please. Give her a coloring book and she's good for the evening. And when she's snoozin'," Seiji's grin changed from happy to lewd, "I got other people to keep me company." His smile relaxed. "But I know what you mean. Been hectic. Folks workin' themselves ragged to pay those doctor bills."

"How is your father?"

"Good. For now." Seiji's energy was sapped from him and he leaned forward, looking into his beer can. "He's goin' to his treatments, takin' his meds. But he still smokes like a chimney. Docs think he'll be around for a while but…" He lifted his arms slightly in a shrug. "Ya never know, right?"

"I wish him well."

"Thanks." Seiji said. "He might not look it, but he's scared. Who wouldn't be? But he ain't gonna roll over. That's what Shimono men are known for. At least that's what he says."

Kasumi nodded absent mindedly. There was a sort of melancholy to her, probably because of Alex. The man-killer played one of her mind games with his friend and was out shopping for shirts. At least that's what Nanako said and he trusted her as…well he did not trust her at all.

His friend, unfortunately, had fallen under her spell…again. He had to find out what was going on. Alex had told him some stories, but he felt that he was leaving things out. He told him about going to the resort, but the only big thing he mentioned was Nanako confiding in him about lying a year ago. He knew his friend since pre-school. He was holding something back.

Hence his company for the evening, while Alex was out, Kasumi would fill him in on the whole story. It was a truth that best friends tell each other almost everything, but Kasumi was probably…closer to Alex than either of them thought. Maybe it was the ninja thing or, more likely, because she was female. But he was not going to dwell on what may or may not be between the two, not tonight at least.

Plus having a gorgeous girl over was the best way to have dinner.

Invite her over to try his family's ramen instead of eating alone at the Kane apartment, strike up a friendly conversation, use some of the old Shimono charm, and she would spill. Well, that was the plan, part one and two were complete, but a road block came up at three. He was laying it on pretty thick, but no go. Usually the girls he had over were butter after a half hour, but Kasumi was cool as a cucumber. Guess the ninja thing gave her more of an edge than he thought.

Ami began squirming, making frustrated noises. She was done eating, flipped over her bowl, dumped the remainder of her milk on her tray, and became bored. Kasumi smiled and lifted the toddler out of her seat.

"Look at you." Kasumi picked a stray noodle out of the girl's hair. "You're a mess."

Seiji watched in awe. Kasumi had Ami in her lap, cleaning her face with a napkin. His baby sister did not squirm as she did with him. Instead she seemed to be enjoying the attention. Kasumi used baby talk while she cleaned. For a moment, he could have sworn there was a sort of glow to her. Or, most likely, it was the beer kicking in.

Seiji looked into his empty can, smiling somberly. "So, this is what having a wife and kid must feel like." He thought and took Kasumi's unused beer. "Better get yer shit together quick, Alex, cause I might go after your ninja girl."

Kasumi handed Seiji his sister and walked to the front door. She spooked him as he did not notice Kasumi getting up.

"Where ya goin?" He shifted Ami around so he would be more comfortable holding her.

"Alex is back. He'll be here in three seconds."

Seiji arched an eyebrow. "Kinda precise. How do you-"

A knock came from the front door.

"Now that's just scary." He smirked.

Alex entered, looking haggard, with two paper bags with the names of some popular and high price clothing stores in his hand.

"Welcome back." Kasumi said and took his bags.

"Wait, you don't have to -" Alex tried to interject but Kasumi already had the bags in her hand. He sighed. "Nevemind then."

"Alex! Buddy! Glad to see you free from the clutches of the harpy." Seiji put Ami in her play pen. "C'mon, sit down! Lemme get ya a bowl of ramen!"

"Thanks Seiji." Alex slumped into a chair.

"Sorry about leaving you here." Alex said after he was done eating. "I hope Seiji didn't do anything too lecherous."

"I'm in the room, ya know." Seiji called from the sink. "And you're welcome for entertaining your ninja girl, ya ungrateful bastard."

Kasumi and Alex smiled.

"No, he's been very kind." Kasumi had tried to offer her help in cleaning, but Seiji was adamant about her talking with Alex. "How was your time with Nanako?"

His smile wavered. "Reminded me too much of clothes shopping with my mother. She was the one making the decisions. I was just a stupid kid she led around by the hand."

Seiji walked back to the table, drying his hands on a towel. He opened one of the bags and peered inside. He probed the bag with his hand and fished out a deep green long sleeved shirt with a white shark, teeth bared on the chest. He held it out at arms length then peered into the bag again.

"Hmmm. Not here." Seiji said. "Maybe it's in the other bag."

"What is?" Alex asked.

"The shirt that says 'whipped'."

"Sit on it and rotate, Seiji."

His friend laughed and tossed the shirt back in. He returned to the dishes.

"Well, now that that's over and done with," Seiji called over his shoulder, "you should spend some time with your ninja girl. I suggest a good ol' fashioned dinner and a movie. Tried and true, man."

"Uh…I don't think that…" Kasumi fumbled.

"We're not like that Seiji." Alex reminded. "How is that not sinking in?"

Seiji shook his head. "Fine, than do something tomorrow. She's been waitin' for ya, worried like hell. She deserves some TLC."

"Um…" Alex suddenly looked incredibly ashamed. "Tomorrow's not good."

"Why?" Seiji asked. "You got anything planned?"

Alex looked down at the table with hunched shoulders.

"Oh, Christ, she didn't rope you into anything else did she?"

"…Sort of."

"Goddamn-" Seiji stopped, sighed, and rubbed his eyes. "Alex, don't get me wrong, I love ya like a brother, but there are times where I want to put you in a garbage bag and beat ya with a two-by-four until the thrashing stops."

"Where is she taking you to?" Kasumi asked worriedly.

Alex paused before answering. "Her place."

Both Seiji and Kasumi were taken aback.

"What?!" Seiji bellowed. "You're shitting me!"

"She wants me to see her apartment."

"Why?" Kasumi's tone was not pleasant.

Alex did not answer.

Seiji threw his hands up. "Jesus, Alex. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you want to get hurt again."

Alex looked at Kasumi, their eyes met for a moment before he turned away.

"I don't know." He said to no one in particular. "I just don't know anymore."

The trip back was uneventful. Nothing was said. Kasumi was perturbed, but mostly at a lost. Nanako kept going after Alex despite the unpleasant past. Just what was she after?

After putting on her slippers, Kasumi made her way to her loft. No doubt Alex would want to be alone.

There was little she could do to protect him, save an open confrontation with Nanako. But that would complicate things further. Yet, she felt that things would only become progressively worse before it got better, if at all.

She noticed that Alex had not moved from the front door. He was sitting with his back to the door, looking down at the ground, defeated.

"Alex?" She rushed to his side and knelt down. "Alex, what's wrong?"

"Nuthin'." Alex mumbled and rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand. "Just tired. Long day."

She grimaced and pulled his head up. "You don't look so well. Maybe you should stay home tomorrow."

"I told you, I'm just tired." He said weakly. "Besides, Nanako'll-"

Kasumi pressed her forehead against his, making him swallow his words. He felt her hair, her warmth. But for some reason, there was just no energy in him to be embarrassed or flustered.

"You're not running a fever." She pulled back, making his forehead feel cool. "Still, I'll feel better if you stayed here."

Alex sighed and put his head against the wall, his eyes fluttering close. "I just need to sleep. That's all." He said weakly.

Kasumi looked at him for a minute longer. "Is it really that draining for you to be with her?"

"No. No, it's just…a lot of things." Alex said lethargically. "I just wanna go to bed."

Kasumi chewed on her lower lip. "Ok. Let me help you up."

Although Alex was taller and outweighed Kasumi, she lugged him up and took him to his room like he was made of Styrofoam. She probably could toss him like a piece of litter if she wanted to. She sat him on the bed, but before she could help him in, he pulled her to him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to her. "I don't know what I'm doing half the time when I'm with her."

Kasumi blinked for a moment before relaxing and returning his embrace.

"I can't stop myself…or her." Alex continued, feeling the soft buzz of sleep. "And I don't know why."

There was a pause before Kasumi answered. "It's alright. You shouldn't dwell on such things right now." She laid him on the bed. He fell asleep once his head hit the pillow.

Kasumi closed the door behind her. She paused with her hands still on the doorknob.

"I know…" Kasumi thought. "I know why you cannot turn away from her." She lowered her head. "She's giving you love. At least, that's how it feels to you. Everyone wants love."

She clenched her jaw. "I pray for your sake that she is truthful about her intentions."

"But…I fear that…if she is…I won't know if I can continue being by your side."

"This is it." Alex nervously rubbed his hands. "This is the place."

Kasumi, dressed as Sakura, and Alex looked up at the small apartment complex. It was not run-down like Alex had feared, but it was hardly pristine. He doubted her apartment would be spacious like his.

"She was not at school today." Kasumi said. "I find it odd that she would invite you to her place but not be at school to take you here."

"I think we can all agree that Nanako is odd in general."

Kasumi made an 'hmm' sound from the back of her throat, a sort of off handed acknowledgment.

"Besides, her skipping class is nothing new. Probably just didn't feel like it since it's Friday. Or maybe she was cleaning the place up for me or something." Alex crossed his arms.

Kasumi looked around. Alex also took notice of the state around them. They were in a place that neither could call comfortable. It was eerily quiet for an afternoon and the only people that were out were a group of older boys with wild facial hair, piercings, and tattoos smoking and looking at Kasumi lustily.

"I don't like leaving you here." Kasumi said. "This place smells of blood and tears."

Alex furrowed his brow. "Uh…ok. Look, I'll be fine, really. If I leave them alone, they'll leave me alone."

"Do you actually believe that?"

"…Kinda."

"Call me before you leave for home, wait three minutes, and then depart. I shall escort you home."

"Three minutes? It took us twenty minutes to get here by train. How-"

Kasumi just looked at him blank faced.

"Right…ninja…nevermind."

"Kunoichi."

"Right, right. My bad." Alex returned his gaze to the apartment building. "Fine, I'll call you. But I doubt I'll be-"

Kasumi was gone when he looked back.

"Ok, that's just getting aggravating." He muttered.

After climbing five floors on an outside staircase, he found her apartment number. He knocked on the door. The door swung open and something latched onto him, arms around his neck and legs around his waist. The sudden weight forced Alex to back up to the railing, almost flipping over.

"Alex." She planted a wet one on his lips. "Welcome, baby, to château Izumi."

"Yeah, that's great. Now could ya get off me please?"

"I can take that in one of two ways. One, you're weaker than you look. Or two, you think I'm fat."

Alex glared at her.

"Fine." She let him go. "Buzz kill."

She led him in by the hand. Her apartment was a 'one room mansion', a single room apartment, smaller than his bedroom. The walls were swathed with posters of Japanese, Korean, European, and American rock and metal bands and cult movies ranging from the infamous 'Suicide Circle' to 'The Matrix', a movie that she habitually watched at least once every week for a month when she got the DVD. She had a fourteen inch television currently tuned to a talk show with pretty women in revealing costumes and men in glam-tastic kimonos. Her bed was a mess and piled with miss-matched blankets and comforters. At the end of the room, a slightly opened door revealed a bathroom with a sink cluttered with make up and facial products. Her floor was buried with discarded clothing and her underwear hung from lines that she pined up from one wall to another.

"So much for my theory of her preparing for my arrival." He thought.

"Sorry for the mess." Nanako said. "But I just woke up about an hour ago."

"What?" Alex exclaimed and looked at his watch. "It's almost five!"

"Hey, I had a favor called in at The Moonlit Mile, alright? Took over a late night shift. I got out 'round, like, four in the morning. Then I had to do some last minute shopping for tonight. Didn't get into bed till 9 A.M. or so."

Alex's anger subsided, instead he felt ashamed for scolding her. He noticed that she was wearing an oversized white T-shirt and, hopefully, underwear.

"If your job is interfering with school, you should find a different line of work."

"Last time I checked, school doesn't give paychecks with good grades." Nanako said. "Work comes first. Gotta eat, ya know."

Alex pressed his lips together, defeated, but still dissatisfied.

"Well, lemme give ya the grand tour." She proclaimed. "Here's the living area." She motioned to the television. "This is the kitchen." She waived at a counter top with a mini fridge, microwave, and stacks of instant make food, mostly ramen. "The bathroom is yonder." She pointed at the open door. "And this," she plopped down on the bed and grinned, "is where the magic happens."

"I see." Alex said flatly.

"Feel free to smile and actually be happy." Nanako lay back in her bed. "You're in the home of a hot girl that likes you, who is wearing next to nothing and is already in bed. This should be Christmas and your birthday rolled into one."

"Yeah. Should." He opened the mini-fridge. "Oh, Christ, more instant food?" He picked up a cup of miso soup. "Is there anything remotely healthy in this place?"

"I was thinking of ordering out for us." Nanako said. "The instant food's for me for the rest of the month."

Alex slammed the cup down and pinched his nose. "You are going to get fat if you eat this all the time."

"Your bedroom talk leaves much to be desired." Nanako rolled in her bed.

Alex looked around the room before he sighed.

"And viola." Nanako opened her arms. "Dinner is served."

Alex had to cock an eyebrow at the spectacle before him. Dinner had arrived and it looked like she just chose stuff at random from the menu. The main course was fried shrimp with French fries and cherry tomatoes. Side dishes of pork miso soup, Gomoku rice, mini-sausages and apple slices. She had made a makeshift table out of the cardboard boxes Nanako used to move and still hadn't thrown away. They had to sit on the floor to eat, something that was traditional Japanese manner, but Alex was used to chairs.

"Well what're ya waitin' for?" Nanako popped a French fry in her mouth. "Eat up."

"Rather mix-matched, isn't it?" Alex opened his coke bottle.

"They're all my favorites."

Alex made a noise of acknowledgement. He took some rice and began eating.

"You ok?"

Alex blinked. "Huh?"

"You look a bit flushed. You're not sick, are ya?"

"No. I'm fine."

Nanako chewed her food and stared at him.

After dinner, Nanako switched channels to a prime time comedy about two teenage girls played by women in their late twenties who lived together and got into romantic mischief. Apparently Nanako was a fan as she genuinely laughed and giggled a few times as she munched on an apple slice. They sat on her bed with their backs to the wall, making it a couch. She had grabbed a big, fuzzy comforter and wrapped both of them in it.

Alex was not watching. He could not shake off the lethargic feeling that had crept up on him. Like last night, he felt like he wanted to crawl into bed and never wake up. It began to concern him as to why he was feeling like that when usually falling and staying asleep was a problem for him.

Nanako switched off the television. Alex jumped slightly as he had not realized that he had spaced out during the entire show.

"You're not bored are ya?" She asked without looking at him. He could tell she was upset.

"No. Just tired." He rubbed an eye. "Sorry."

Nanako put the remote down. "No. I'm sorry I snapped at ya." She turned to him. "Alex. There's a reason why I wanted you to see my place."

"Oh." Alex said, though not entirely surprised. "Well, what is it?"

"I want you to move in with me."

That did surprise him. "What?"

"I know it's small, but you get used to it. It's kinda cool really. Like a bedroom you live in."

"Nanako, why-"

"The landlord's a lazy bum so he shouldn't care as long as he gets his rent. Hell half the people here live with their girls or guys."

"Will you listen to me?" Alex was too shocked to be angry. "Why?"

Nanako looked away again. "Because…I want you here."

Alex pressed his lips together. He could not ask again without sounding insensitive.

"I mean, you're at that apartment all by yourself. I'm here all by myself. It makes sense, right?"

Alex almost asked why she wanted to live together here instead of using his apartment, but caught himself. Plus he was not living 'alone' anymore.

"Alex?"

He heaved a sigh. "Nanako, do you really think this is a good idea?"

Nanako said nothing for a moment before she smiled and leaned back. "It did. But now that I'm hearing myself say it, it does sound kinda corny."

Alex relaxed a little.

She shook her head. "Wortha shot I guess."

"Nanako. I'm trying to be patient with you. I'm trying to understand, but you keep pulling shit like this on me."

"Yeah." Nanako said lightly.

Nothing else was said. Alex hated the awkward silences between Nanako and himself because he never knew what it would lead to.

"Do you remember when I told you I learned a little about myself while I was in Chiba?"

Alex nodded.

"I learned that…I'm through playing around." Nanako said somberly. "I'm through coasting through life. It's fun, but…it's not worth it sometimes." Nanako moved closer. "I almost got burned, bad. And…"

Another lull came about. She inched closer.

"Alex. I know you're miserable. And I know you're lonely." Nanako put her hand over his. "Don't you want to stop feeling like that?"

Alex opened his mouth to say something, but it seemed that Nanako took it as an invitation. She slipped into his mouth with expertise. Her body pressed against his, her warmth overpowering him. Her hand slid against his cheek. She gently chewed on his bottom lip.

He knew what they were doing was wrong.

"Damn it, Nanako." Alex turned away. "We can't do this."

"Why?" She moved to capture his mouth again. He evaded her.

"Because…I just…it doesn't feel right."

Nanako pulled away. "If you were my past boyfriends, you'd be grabbing for my panties right now." She startled him. "But you're saying no. That's one thing I love about you. You want sex. You crave it. I know you do, but you resist it. You can control yourself."

"My school record would disagree with you."

"At least you're in school." She ran her hand up his chest. "All the losers I went with barely go to a class a week, if at all."

She leaned into him, but Alex scooted away.

"Don't be afraid."

"I'm not." Alex said, though he questioned himself. "You're just freaking me out."

"Alex," Nanako lips brushed against his, "lay down."

For some reason, he let her push him down. The events of the resort flashed through his eyes. But this time, the thought of Kasumi did not snap him out of his stupor.

She grasped his belt.

The train was eerily silent, as was the kunoichi next to him. The only other person in the cart, a middle age office man in a crumpled white shirt and tie, looked half-asleep. While Kasumi sat straight and proper, Alex hunched over in his seat, his hands wringing slowly.

"Shit." He thought. "Close. That was goddamn close."

He smiled in self mocking. Just as Nanako undid his belt buckle he suddenly got a sharp cramp in his leg, probably from sitting on it weird while they were watching television. It hurt so much that he accidentally kneed Nanako in the chin and rolled off the bed. Needless to say, the mood was ruined. Which lead to his current location, riding the night train home with his bodyguard beside him. She knew something happened, although he doubted she knew what exactly. He did not feel like telling her something so embarrassing.

He still was running from sex. She was right, he did want it. He was seventeen after all. But when it was actually presented to him, it just got so…scary, like he would lose something if he did.

"Are you still sick?"

Alex shook his head. His lethargy had disappeared during the…incident with Nanako. Now it had come creeping back.

Three minutes. He did what he was told and called her, waited three minutes, and left. Barely a block away and she was just standing there waiting for him. He wondered if she had gone home at all or worst, was hanging around the neighborhood, and waiting for him to leave. Of course he would not dare ask her.

"You should go to bed once we get home."

Alex would not look at her. He was too ashamed.

"Stop mothering me." He whispered. "You're making me feel worse."

"Excuse me?" She asked like she did not hear him even though he knew she did.

"Nothing."

Again, Alex was on his back in bed, this time without anyone grabbing his belt.

Funny how he was sure other boys would have killed to be in his position. But they did not know the back story or the experience of feeling like an absolute idiot for believing that love actually exists.

He rubbed his eyes with his palms and sucked in a deep breath. He was still wearing his clothes and not even under the covers. He just crashed.

His cell phone went off in his pocket. He dug it out and answered.

"Hey, honey." Nanako spoke from the other line. "How you feelin'?"

"Um…better. I guess." Alex answered. "Are you ok? I mean about your chin. I hope I-"

"I'm fine, Alex, don't worry." She almost laughed. "I was more surprised than hurt, really. But I am sorry about pushing you. Got carried away."

"Yeah. I'm sorry too."

"I know." She spoke softly. "Listen about the whole moving here thing. Let's just put that on the backburner for a bit, OK?"

"…Yeah. Sure."

"Cool." Nanako sounded a bit depressed. "I'll see ya later. Get better."

She hung up without waiting for him to reply.

"Shit." Nanako dropped her phone. "Talk about a fuckin' disaster. The only thing missing was a typhoon hittin' Tokyo."

She lay back on her bed and rubbed her chin. Everything was on track. Everything was supposed to have been planned out from starting on the pill a month ago to getting him a disposable toothbrush for the morning. Instead of a night of passion, she got clocked on the chin because of a stupid cramp.

Oh well. Her plan was worth it.

After Chiba, after her dick ex-boyfriend, Hideki, she saw the razor's edge that she was walking on. She had almost fallen but she got out in time. Never again. Never will she make the same mistake.

Alex was not like them. He was more disciplined, predictable, and controllable. He was safe. He was the friend of reason when she wanted to slow down, cool off, and just be herself.

But she needed him to be more than a friend.

"I'm not a slut. I'm not a failure." She whispered. "I can find someone to love me, father. You just watch."