Chapter 3: Face to Face

Disclaimer:I don't own Dead or Alive and its characters. I only own the plot.

Enjoy!

Days have passed, and Kasumi was able to pull herself together somewhat. There were still some questions about that night that she needed to answer, but maybe it was for the best if she left the situation alone. Tina had also apologized many times, but Kasumi had a really difficult time getting over it. It's not like it was Tina's fault that Kasumi slept with the stripper, the only thing she did was hire him so her friend could be entertained. Kasumi also tried to contact Rig, but he hasn't been answering his phone and everytime she calls his office, someone says that he's busy.

Kasumi sighed and rolled over on the couch so she could stare at the ceiling. Tina, Hitomi, and Leifang were also in the living room, talking about something that Kasumi didn't bother to listen to. Ayane had left an hour ago, claiming that she was going to go get something. The way she said it made Kasumi suspicious, but Ayane was always planning something at some point.

"Kasumi, what's wrong?" Leifang asked, bringing Kasumi out of her thoughts.

"Nothing. I'm just distracted," she replied, shaking her head. Leifang smiled and nodded, making Kasumi smile in return. Someone started knocking on the door a few minutes later, so Kasumi got up to open it. Ayane was standing outside with another person, who Kasumi quickly recognized as their brother, Hayate. She smiled at both of them and gave them a hug, also noticing a man exit another car and walk to the house.

After she invited them in, everyone sat down in the large living room. Hayate and Hitomi were sitting on the loveseat; Kasumi, Ayane, and Tina were sitting on the couch; and Leifang sat in the armchair while the man sat in the recliner. Now that everyone was comfortable in their seats, Kasumi turned to face Hayate.

"It's been a while since we've seen each other," she declared. "What have you been up to?"

"Well, the case I've been working on has been suspended, so I decided to come here and visit my family and friends," he responded. He paused then continued, "There are more things I have to tell you, but we'll talk about it later."

Kasumi nodded, curious about what Hayate had to tell her. Tina was busy watching the man in the recliner, who was quietly doing something on his phone. She turned to Hayate and pointed a finger at the man then spoke.

"Speaking of friends and family, who is this handsome guy over here?"

The man suddenly dropped his phone and looked up, letting it fall to the floor. While Kasumi started at him, she had to admit that he was handsome. He had his brown hair held up in a ponytail and his eyes were a vibrant green although they also had a golden hue. He was wearing a sky blue shirt and khaki joggers with a pair of black and white Vans.

"My name is Ryu Hayabusa. I'm Hayate's friend," he announced, picking up his phone.

"Hmm... I can call you by your last name, right?"

"Most people do that anyway," he informed. Tina smiled at him while Ayane glanced at Hayate then back to Hayabusa.

"How come we haven't met before?"

Kasumi sighed and kept quiet although she was thinking the same thing. After a long explanation, everyone-excluding Hayate and Hayabusa-discovered that the two men were childhood friends until Hayabusa had to move away. They ran into each other at college years later, and have been in contact ever since.

"What do you do for a living, Hayabusa?" Hitomi asked. Hayate seemed nervous for some reason, making Kasumi suspicious. Hayabusa sighed and rubbed his arm.

"I'm an artist," he confided. It was quiet until Leifang asked him about what kind of art he created. The group then started discussing random topics although Kasumi excused herself and went into the kitchen. Fixing herself a cup of water, Kasumi sat down at the kitchen table and thought about why she was distracted by Hayabusa. I don't know what it is about him. Something about Hayabusa felt familiar, yet Kasumi couldn't figure what it was.

She was too deep in her thoughts to notice that her friends and family had left, and she didn't know that Hayabusa was still in the living room. He appeared in the doorway of the kitchen seconds later, making Kasumi stand up in surprise. "I let Hayate borrow my car," he said, answering the unasked question.

Kasumi nodded then glanced at a painting that was in the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?"

Hayabusa hummed for a moment, the sound making Kasumi even more nervous. "Water would be okay."

She placed her phone on the table then walked over to a cabinet. She was having trouble with reaching a cup, but another hand suddenly grabbed it and placed it on the counter. She slowly turned around to see Hayabusa, who was standing closer to Kasumi than what she thought was necessary. The thought of possibly meeting him before was beginning to bother her, so she looked at him in confusion. "Have we meet before?"

He looked down at the cup and chuckled before he met Kasumi's stare. She didn't know what he was thinking, but nothing could've prepared her for what happened next.

Hayabusa was kissing her. And she was kissing him back.

In a matter of seconds, Kasumi was leaning against the counter while Hayabusa had his hands on her hips and lips pressed against hers. She gasped when one hand went to her thigh, giving Hayabusa the chance to explore her mouth with his tongue. She moaned into the kiss and placed both hands on his chest. Her mind suddenly processed what was happening, and she quickly pushed Hayabusa away then moved to stand on the other side of the kitchen.

I can't believe I did that, she thought. She just ended a passionate kiss with a man she barely know, and she doesn't know what to do. Now to add insult to injury, not a single thought about Rig passed through her mind while that was happening. Guilt attacked her conscious as she realized that she enjoyed a kiss that was shared with a man who wasn't her fiancé.

"Who are you?" Kasumi questioned, her voice shaking.

"I thought you would've remembered by now," he stated. "I'm the stripper you slept with almost a week ago."

The silence that followed was too intense to describe.

Kasumi stared at him with a vacant expression. Her mind constantly repeated his words, and she had no reason to doubt that he was telling the truth. No, she tried to tell herself. Now she knew why Hayabusa was familiar-his voice was the same as the man from that night.

"You told us that you're an artist," she said. "You were lying, weren't you?"

"I am an artist, but stripping helps me support myself more than my art does right now," Hayabusa explained, shrugging. "I have to make money somehow."

"I'm engaged," she whispered, staring at the ring. There were three princess-cut diamonds on the top and round diamonds that added some sparkle to the white gold band.

"I know. I saw it before you took it off that night," he recalled. He didn't seem worried in the slightest, which made Kasumi feel worse than she already did. Her guilt quickly changed into anger, and she turned around to glare at Hayabusa, who was placing a folded sheet of paper under Kasumi's phone.

"Did you not know that I was drunk? And if you knew I was engaged, why did you take advantage of the situation and sleep with me?" she shouted.

He stood there silently and waited for a moment before he answered the questions. "Yes, I knew you were drunk. However, you were the one who initiated the sex."

He has to be lying, she thought. Her anger was beginning to fade, but she still tried to deny everything Hayabusa told her. "You could be lying. If you actually are the stripper from that night, I want you to prove it."

She smiled and watched as he thought about how he could prove that he's telling the truth. Her smile faltered when Hayabusa smirked and grabbed his shirt. He swiftly removed it and turned around, giving Kasumi a view of his back. The scratches from that night were still there although they weren't as red as they used to be. She stepped closer and noticed that they also haven't completely healed.

"You believe me now," he guessed, interrupting her thoughts. He put his shirt back on and turned around. Kasumi didn't say anything and only stared at the floor, so Hayabusa sighed. He lifted her chin and smirked when she blushed.

"Hayate is outside with my car. If you ever want me, you have both my number and address on that paper. I'll be available."

With that statement, Hayabusa left. Tina entered the kitchen a couple of seconds later, talking about where her and everyone else went two hours ago. When Kasumi didn't respond, Tina tried to ask her what was wrong, but left her alone when Kasumi pulled out a gallon of ice cream. Kasumi silently picked up her items-including the note-before going to her room.

...

Finally, the stripper's identity has been revealed! Thanks for reading. Reviews would be great.