Now the cat was out of the bag, so to speak. The super ninja amused himself for a brief moment thinking about a giant tiger crawling out of a string bag before he pulled himself together and gathered his sanity.

So you've told her now. And you can't take it back. Now Hayate will find out how disloyal you are to Irene's memory. Some husband you are. Were.

Ryu sighed. Times must have been bad if his sub-consciousness could win him down so easily. He walked down to his room, where it was as he had left it before. He lay down on the futon and shut his eyes. He wished that he hadn't told her. He wished that Irene were still here. Hell, he had wished so many things during his lifetime. And none of them had ever come true.

How embarrassing. His clan would have a fit if they found out. Cross-clans were bad enough for friendship stakes, but… love…? He was well and truly screwed.

Or did he even love her? Maybe it was just that he cared for her, as he did for Hayate, as he did even for Kasumi in some twisted way, although he didn't actually always like the girl, he cared for her and didn't want to see her hurt. Maybe he was getting confused between the two?

"I don't stutter," he murmured into his pillow. "This is really bad,"

There was a knock on the door. He simply shoved his head further into the pillow, hoping that the knocking would cease. It didn't. In fact, it grew even more aggravating.

"Ryu, open up. I need to speak to you,"

Great. It was the Elder, sounding rather impatient. Maybe I could just pretend that I'm not here, he thought to himself. Soon enough, the Elder simply opened the door, and eyed him suspiciously. Ryu glanced up for a second and muttered a greeting before shoving his head into the pillow again.

"Is something wrong, Ryu?" the Elder asked kindly. Ryu was quietly surprised. He hasn't lectured me on helping runaways yet. Maybe it won't happen. He drifted back into reality. I wish. It simply hasn't happened yet.

"I'm not here," he muttered incoherently into his pillow.

"Ryu, get up and stop being so immature," the Elder said patiently. Ryu sighed deeply before looking up into the Elder's dark brown eyes.

"I know that I shouldn't have. I made a promise to my friend, and before you ask, yes he is in the same clan as the runaway. I know that I've broken about a hundred rules in the process, so you might as well punish me now. I'm not denying anything,"

"I didn't even have to press you," the Elder said amusedly. "Truth be told, I wasn't even wanting to see you about that,"

Damn. I hate it when that happens, Ryu thought to himself bitterly.

"What else have I done?" he asked bemusedly. The Elder looked at him before laughing. Personally, he didn't see what was so amusing. What is this, laugh at me day? I can't help it if I'm out of it. "No, I'm being serious, with all respect intended. If you aren't here to see me about Kas- the runaway, then what else have I done that is serious enough for you to seek me out yourself?" he asked.

"You're just like your father," the Elder said, still chuckling. Ryu looked up, surprised. That certainly wasn't what he had expected. "Both of you very bright, but had and have a tendency to get into more trouble then you wanted to originally. Both excel in fighting, and if you wanted to get even more detailed, both saved the world,"

"Umm," Ryu said hesitantly. He had never known that his father had done that. I really wish that I hadn't, sometimes, he thought bitterly. Then it wouldn't keep on getting mentioned all the time.

"But both rather crave… solitude, rather then socializing, although your father was quite outgoing when he wanted to be. I remember that it drove your mother absolutely crazy," the Elder continued. "You got most of your father's features, but you have got your mother's eyes,"

He didn't like the direction that this conversation was going. I never knew Mother. And Father never had the time to tell me any of this. Yet I'm not sure whether I want to hear any more.

"Ken would be proud of you, Ryu," the Elder said finally. Ryu looked up at him, before shaking his head sadly.

"No he wouldn't. All the mistakes that I've made ever since he died more then outweigh anything of purpose that I have ever done," he said softly, thinking of Irene. "He would be ashamed that he raised such an abomination of a child,"

With that, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, the confused thoughts and memories bothering him more then ever before.

*

"Now what should I do?" she said half to herself. Hayate came out and looked interestedly at her.

"Where'd Ryu go? Did you… scare him off?" he asked. She shot him a glare before realizing that she may have done just that. It would explain where he had gone, she supposed, which was away from her.

"I didn't do anything overly bitchy," she said indignantly.

"Now there's a first," Hayate muttered bitterly.

Resisting the temptation to belt him across the head, she simply tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You're just jealous," she said finally. Truth be told, she was extremely confused. Did she like him back? Was he just saying that to stir her? It was working, if he had. Had she said something wrong and so that was why he had gone? Bloody men, she thought irritably. They need to come with instruction manuals or something.

"Me?" Hayate spluttered. "Jealous of my best friend liking you? I don't think so,"

"Well, who knows?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "You two would make a nice couple," she added sarcastically.

"Ayane, that is disgusting," Hayate stated bluntly.

"It's the thought that counts," she said, smiling sweetly. "And it looks like your mind went straight to the gutter when I said that, didn't it?"

He remained silent. She smirked. She had got him there. One point to her.

"I have an idea," he announced suddenly. "He's not here, right? I bet you want him to be to find out more, and I want him here to find out more, so I'll send a messenger to say that the leader of the Mugen-Tenshin clan summons him on important business,"

He shrugged under Ayane's skeptical glance.

"So, what? It is important,"

"Whatever, if you think it'll work," she said, feigning disinterest.

*

He looked up sharply as a shadow fell over him. There was a little boy, about ten years old, with amber colored eyes and locks. He stood nervously, fidgeting as he related the message.

"…the leader of the Mugen-Tenshin clan wishes to see you on important business, Ryu-sama," the boy said hesitantly. He nodded to the boy, who ran off as fast as his legs would take him.

Why does he want me again so soon? He thought bemusedly. And what important matters are there to see me about?

He shrugged as he vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Maybe Ayane is interested… or maybe she just is letting Hayate get Ryu because she wants to see Ryu make a fool of himself. You never know! We're getting to the cute, fluffy bit of the story, so the characters will probably be getting OOCer from here, but it's been fun to write, nonetheless. Hope you enjoy!