Kasumi sighed and rolled over, still half asleep. Finally she decided to summon the extra energy and wake herself up fully. She opened the window to be greeted by rain trickling down the window. She didn't mind, it was still pretty. She grabbed her clothes and got dressed quickly, before heading downstairs. There were a few people there, two Chinese people who she had no idea of who they were… wait… weren't they that guy and girl from the previous tournament? Kasumi frowned as she tried to remember their names. Leifang and Jann-Lee, that was it. There were also those three Americans talking in the corner. She really had no urge to remember their names, seeming crass and vulgar from what she had seen of them. Then there was Hayabusa, sitting in the corner by himself, apparently tuning out from the conversations around him. He was looking around at everybody with an emotionless, yet calculating glance. Almost as if he was trying to work out a battle plan before he had even begun to fight them. There was a good reason why he was known as the Super Ninja around the world, Kasumi thought. But that doesn't mean he has to be so cold to everybody else. It's almost as though he feels that he's superior to everybody else. He suddenly noticed her, and his gaze turned from calculating to cold. She glared back, before stalking over to where he was sitting angrily.

"Don't you know it's rude to stare?" Kasumi asked hotly. "Or don't you have any manners along with personality?" So, who cared if he was hot? He was acting like a… prick, to put it bluntly. Looks didn't matter as much as a nice guy. Not that she cared, but… she had always been slightly jealous that she was always left out when they were all younger, being the girl, and the 'girly girl' when Ayane came along.

Did she remember him when he was younger? She remembered a small, shy boy with beautiful brown and golden hair, and angelic features which would make the nicest smile, but that was something she had actually never seen. In fact, she doubted if the grumpy bum had ever smiled. Who cares? She wasn't here to worry about him; she was here for... other reasons.

"Don't make my job any harder, Kasumi," His voice was quiet and dangerous sounding. She decided to be annoying and not take the hint, her chocolate eyes almost teasing him in their expression.

"Your job is not my concern," she said, tossing her hair. "I am here for one reason, and one reason only, so what you do is not my problem,"

"Hayate," he said softly. She was shocked, to put it mildly. How had he known? She immediately lost the confidence she was flaunting moments before. Had Hayate told him? She certainly hadn't, unless he had guessed… but it wasn't that obvious of what she was doing, was it?

"It's obvious to everybody that you miss him," Hayabusa said almost gently. "Even to me," he added as an afterthought, almost as if he knew what she was thinking.

So not only is he the best ninja in the world, saved the darn world a few times, he's also psychic. Thanks, Hayate. Why didn't you just get a God himself to guard me next time? She thought to herself, sighing. You could have just stayed, after all, with the injuries you suffered…

"That's what you think," she said angrily. Thinking about Hayate always made her angry, down to the fact that she didn't try and stop him from leaving. It was just until he had gone until she had realized how much she missed him and wanted him back, which was why she was here now. Perhaps he had come to the tournament as he always said he would…

"I know," he said simply. The two words filled Kasumi with anger and sadness at the same time. It wasn't that clear that she wanted Hayate back home. The only way he could have known was by simply seeing. Maybe he saw more then she gave him credit for. "I miss him too," he added in a soft, rich voice. He used it well; she had to give him that.

"The only reason you miss him…" Kasumi ranted, pausing halfway through the sentence to take a breath, "…is because you don't want to be stuck with me any longer. Am I right? I bet I am. You're just thinking, 'Oh, I wish Hayate was here so I wouldn't have to look after his little sister,' right? Well, guess what? I wish he was here too. Because if he was, I wouldn't be stuck with you looking after me! And another thing, I can look after myself. I don't need you watching over me. I don't need anybody,"

The rant wore her out, sapped her energy for a comeback. Luckily, Hayabusa didn't look as though he was planning on making one. The normally emotionless expression he wore was now an expression of mild confusion. Kasumi frowned and decided to waste more energy.

"Don't look so confused. You know what I'm talking about. For heavens sake, you don't have to look after me, so you might as well get out of my life,"

Harsh, not exactly the way she had intended it, most unlike what she usually acted like. She was just so furious with him! It was maddening! It wasn't that she hated him really, just… what was it exactly? She had no idea. It was something about him that was annoying her. Yet, at the same time, it really hurt her to be saying these things to him. Damn it! Why was love, or the closest thing that she was feeling to it, so confusing?

"I'm doing this for Hayate. He wanted me to make sure that you were alright, and to keep you safe. I'm not doing this just to spite you. If you don't like it, blame your brother, not me," The handsome ninja retorted. He really was handsome, and she had a sudden urge to run her hands through his hair. She resisted the temptation, embarrassed that she had thought of such a thing.

"Since when are you so loyal to Hayate?" Kasumi shot back. "Can't you think for yourself?"

"Of course I can," Hayabusa replied hesitantly. What else could he say? "Was the only reason for you coming over here so that you could bother me?" he asked, changing the subject quickly.

"You glared at me. I came over because your rudeness made me notice," she said. He sighed under his breath. "I don't need this,"

"Well, I don't need-" Kasumi started hotly before realizing that Hayabusa had disappeared.