"Miss Kokoro, you must see this!!"

She looked up at the guard who had just spoken to her. He awaited a response from the woman. She offered none.

"Follow me," he bellowed grabbing her by the arm and literally dragging Kokoro out of her office. She didn't want to see what other sick plots DOATEC was planning for her friends; especially after that last foul demonstration. The scientist had taken a small white mouse and placed it on a circular stainless steel table. Then shot the helpless animal with a pistol, causing Kokoro to gasp. The scientist wore a big smile on his face as he dumped its body into a small beaker filled with a green liquid. The mouse's bullet wound began to close up and to her surprise, it came back to life! The little critter started swimming and successfully climbed out. It shook itself dry. The scientist fed the rodent some cheese and asked if anyone else wanted to try. That poor mouse was killed in so many different sick ways (neck twisted, stomped on, beheaded …she blotched the rest from her mind) but every time, its body healed itself , climbed out, and was awarded a piece cheese.

"We no longer have to worry about lab rat costs," he chuckled, "the rodent kind and human!"

Kokoro wanted to throw up, this wasn't natural. She knew exactly why this miracle liquid was created…the message couldn't have been clearer. As soon as she returned to her office, Kokoro had cried. Disturbing images of her friends being killed in brutal ways just to be reborn and killed again. "Everlasting torture," she whispered. That's when Kokoro vomited and fifteen minutes later, she was being forced into an elevator. They were headed down to the third floor. Kokoro's stomach still felt weak, she wasn't sure if she could handle anything else. Ding! The doors slid open. Kokoro let out a bone chilling scream before falling to her knees. The entire floor, including the ceiling and walls, were covered with a thick layer of blood. Not a single spot was missed.

"What happened? Who-Who did this!!" Kokoro screamed, staring directly at the guard.

"Hayabusa." He answered coldly. Ryu did all this? That would mean he had been here…possibly trying to save her? For the first time in weeks, she smiled. The super ninja managed to infiltrate Headquarters. So there was a very good chance he could do it again.

"There are reports another ninja was with him, Kasumi tis believed." Another guard informed while spraying down the opposite end of the hall from where Kokoro sat. "But Hayabusa caused the most damage; the mutants were reduced to nothing but blood so they can't be revived. Shoot, we lost over five million dollars!"

"Naturally, it's coming out of our paychecks," the man accompanying Kokoro sighed. The woman grunted in disgust at the duo's behavior.

"Ok boss, now I know you're not letting this one slide, those ninjas need to be punished!"

Is he seriously talking to me?

She fell silent, glaring evilly at the man. He grinned back.

"Yeah, bet you got something sinister planned for em."

Kokoro continued to glare.

"Alright guys, you heard the woman, release the-," He chuckled, "-the fiend!"

"No, don't! Don't send a-a fiend!!" she yelled. She didn't know what a 'fiend' was but it had to be something bad if it was being sent after Ryu and Kasumi.

"Your right boss... men, Miss Kokoro wants you to send out two fiends!!"

"Stop it! I don-,"

"I'm sorry to inform you but we only have two available at the time. I know you'd love to send an army but trust us, these two will do the trick. Actually, it may be overkill." All the guards in the hallway started cracking up. They were mocking her again.

…

Rachel couldn't sleep, something was very wrong. She had been having these very strange feelings for the past few weeks now but couldn't quite put her finger on what. Could it be she was sensing fiends? No, she shook her head, Ryu had sent them all back to hell. She shifted uncomfortably in her cot.

Ryu…why didn't you choose me? I loved you but you wouldn't return it.

Rachel decided to get up and have something to drink. The house was unusually quiet. After the tenth Dead or Alive tournament, Ayane had invited the fiend hunter to live with her. They had grown to becoming very close friends since she first entered DOA six, but what really got the ball rolling was when the violet Kunoichi sensed the resentment Rachel held towards Kasumi. But Rachel truly felt bad about having ill will towards the little sweetheart, it wasn't her fault Ryu had fallen in love with her. Kasumi never threw her body at him, never whispered manipulative sweet musings in his ear…she only acted like, well, Kasumi. Rachel filled a small cup with water and sipped slowly, enjoying the cool liquid's descent down her throat. Akane and Shishio were running awfully late. Unless, Rachel froze up, Ayane found out the truth about how Rachel attempted to thwart her plans for locating Kasumi. Ayane had split up her clan into three groups to figure out where her red-headed half sister was hiding. Rachel had been paired up with Shishio, amoung others. Rachel was the first in this group to find Kasumi but kept quiet because Ryu was involved. She had spotted the man who haunted her dreams exiting a mall with a pregnant Kasumi by his side. If Ayane had seen, her friend would've lost her mind. To be honest…Rachel nearly had.

How horrible of me to have wanted to slice Kasumi in half!

The urge had been terrifyingly strong but she knew Ryu would've stopped her. And if Rachel had managed to scratch Kasumi, he may have killed her. Shishio also had spotted the couple but complied with Rachel's pleas to not say a word. Even at the risk of facing Ayane's wrath if she found out. The cup was now empty. Rachel quickly refilled it and scanned the darkened room.Without the other three housemates, she felt alone…sad…furious! Kasumi could have broken his heart; she could've rejected his love! Yes, and then he would have come running into her awaiting arms. Rachel smiled, imagining how it would feel to run her fingers threw his silky brown hair…stare deeply into his green eyes…feel his soft lips against hers…his hands gently caressing her body…everything Kasumi is probably experiencing right now!!

"RACHEL, STOP IT!!" she screamed into the darkness. I have to face the facts, Ryu doesn't want me. To him, I was a weakling, a woman who couldn't hold her own. A woman who caused more harm then good.

"It's not safe for you to be around me. You should go now."

"It's over."

Signs, she remembered angrily, signs that he didn't want me and I ignored them! I came searching for him and he still didn't want me.

…

"Rachel, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Ryu, I-I love you."

"…"

"Ryu?"

"…"

"Please say something, please say you love me too."

"…"

"Please!"

"I'm sorry."

"No,no! Tell me you love me!"

"I do care about you but I'm not in love with you."

"Don't break my heart like this Ryu; I know you're not this cruel!"

"Rachel, I'm not in love with you. I'm sorry."

"Not yet, I understand. It's too soon."

"No, I know I'm not in love with you."

"Ryu, don't do this to me."

"…I don't but I can not lie to you."

"Then tell me the truth."

"I-,"

She stopped listening for a split second and then returned her attention to him.

"- love you, do you understand?"

"Yes. I will always love you."

"Rachel…"

"Hmmm?"

"Snap out of it."

She was back in the small house, still alone. So bitterly alone. The feeling had not passed; no doubt a fiend had to be near. Maybe that was why her housemates were gone, they were battling it. Rachel quickly grabbed her War hammer and hurried out into the cold night…