Guess I better straighten up a few things, although I love that people notice them, it's wonderful having people read my stories! ^^

This story is DOA 2 and if you have played it you don't actually find out who wins. Only the owners of DOA 3 are entitled to that, (which kind of sucks) but it says in the instruction manual that Hayabusa wins. (Oops! Spoilt the ending… actually, not really…) and so in the overall tournament, he will win. And the battle between Ayane and Kasumi was a real battle, although there are a few unofficial battles as Ayane hangs around for a bit longer (come on, I wouldn't get rid of her that easily!)

Hope that's cleared the waters a bit more, if there's anything else I have to mention please just drop me a review or a line and tell me.

On reviews, thank-you ever so ever so much for reviewing! I didn't realize there were so many Ayane fans! (Shame there's not more Ryu fans though… *sigh*)

The words which he had spoken to Ayane hours earlier were coming back now as he walked over to the garden area of the place that the tournament was being held. The garden consisted of several levels, lethal to anybody who was knocked down there. I wasn't planning on doing that, at least.

He sighed. He knew only too well, he hated to say, what worse things there were. Being on the receiving end hadn't been nice, he had to say. Foster had dealt out a good hand of torturing of various sorts, he had to say. Lucky for the whole world that he was dead now. His heart clenched as he thought of the time that Foster had killed Irene. He had abandoned all pretences of hiding emotion then. He had cried for his beloved, the first tears that he had shed since being a child. That had been the worst thing that anybody could have done to him. Even though Ryuken had somehow revived her, he still couldn't forget the blinding pain that he had felt when she had slumped in his arms, a sword sticking out of her back, her blood pouring all over him.

And I told Ayane to do… that, torture… to Kasumi if necessary? He thought. What was I thinking? I wouldn't want anybody to experience that, even if Kasumi annoys me sometimes… am I really such a sociopath that this sort of thing doesn't matter to me as long as my work is done… I don't believe myself… what would Irene say if she were here now?

His thoughts were interrupted by a slight pattering of feet. He spun and saw Kasumi trying to sneak past him. He immediately jumped at her, and she leapt also, trying to block the attacks which he halfheartedly unleashed, and succeeding easily, but not gaining enough advantage to flee, which would have been a difficult feat anyway, considering the fact that he was armed with Ryuken. Finally, they both landed on the ground, Kasumi panting slightly.

"I don't want to fight!" the young kunoichi protested. He shook his head slightly, reaching almost unconsciously behind him to check if his sword was holstered, and then felt slightly stupid, considering it had been only moments before he had seen her.

It was time now; the time had come for him to fulfill his promise to Hayate.

"Let me go!" she demanded, voice rising in volume. He shook his head again, more noticeably.

"Please leave, Hayabusa-san," she begged, her eyes pleading.

"I made a promise to Hayate," he said softly, eyes never leaving her face. "I cannot let you die,"

The message was obviously not getting through to her. Her young face showed an expression of confusion. He took a deep breath and spoke, voice slightly louder. "I cannot let you go,"

Her eyes widened, the impact of this had hit home. He could almost see the cogs turning inside the kunoichi's head. He readied himself, getting into a fighting stance.

"Remember, that the way of the shinobi is a harsh one,"

She readied herself as well, although somewhat reluctantly. The loudspeaker, hardly visible in the lack of light, yelled 'Fight!' Obviously they were monitoring all the competitors to see whether they were about to fight and then call it. He instantly grabbed her, before punching her up into the air. He watched her for a second, before disappearing into thin air and re-appearing just near her as she flew up, helpless, bright golden fireflies trailing his every move as opposed to the usual leaves. He grabbed her in mid-air and performed the deadly Izuna. The air rushed past him as he spiraled down towards the ground, still holding the struggling Kasumi, and just as they were about to hit the ground, he jumped nimbly away; letting the young kunoichi hit the ground, falling onto her back.

He heard a soft moan of pain from the girl, and guilt suddenly hit him. He shook off the thought. Better she be injured then dead, he reminded himself. And Hayate would prefer the first to the latter, no doubt. Unless… the clan… of course.

She stumbled to a standing position, and he instantly attacked. He performed two punches before getting into a position where he could perform another three kicks, all the blows connecting. She fell to the ground again, face first this time, and Hayabusa was reminded unpleasantly of how young and innocent she really was. He shook off these thoughts as well. She wasn't moving. He halfheartedly sighed, before jumping onto her, his feet connecting on her back, his hand lashing down and also stabilizing him. She was down for the count. She was out of the tournament. But more importantly, she was safe.

She murmured something incoherent and looked fearfully up at him, amber eyes wide with disbelief and pain. He looked down at her, before sighing softly and speaking.

"Don't worry… Kasumi,"