I kept on running blindly, the dirt and dust flying around me as I desperately ran for my life, I heard the heavy footsteps and knew that sooner or later I would be caught, my strength was ebbing away rapidly and exhaustion was taking over. Adrenaline wouldn't keep me running fast or long enough to get away, not when I had been running for hours already and I was competing against inhuman endurance. Even after vanishing in my usual form in an attempt to get away, they just did the same thing and they kept on chasing me relentlessly, and the area was beginning to spin slowly. I knew I was going to pass out… I stopped running and dropped to my knees as the blackness slowly overcame me. The last thing I knew before I fell unconscious was rough hands grabbing me, then no more…
My eyes flickered open, and I blinked a couple of times, trying to restore my vision. No good, I must have been blindfolded. I could feel that I was chained down, and my acute senses told me that someone else was in the room with me. I tensed. Were they going to kill me? What a maladroit way to die, helpless as a newly born infant. Except there was no use in struggling. There was no way I could get out of the chains with somebody watching, without getting stopped in the process, and having no vision didn't exactly help matters.
"Good to see you again, Ryu," the voice said sweetly. Although not hearing the owner's tone often, I recognised the voice's owner immediately, and I immediately became suspicious. What need did Ayane have to capture me, I wondered.
"Ayane," I said coldly. "What do you want with me?"
"Straight down to business, hey?" Ayane said, and the sweetness was gone, replaced by Ayane's usual hostile tone. "That could easily get you into trouble, Hayabusa,"
"I don't need you to give me a lecture," I replied bitterly. "Why did you go to these lengths to capture me, Ayane? Surely they were unnecessary,"
"You don't have a choice either way. You do realise I can kill you, slit your throat without you being able to do a thing about it," Ayane sneered. "So are you going to hear me out or would you prefer to die straight away?"
"What do you want, Ayane?"
"Tell me where Kasumi is hiding," Ayane whispered ominously. I didn't need to see to know that she had moved next to me, and this fact was confirmed when she began stroking my cheek gently. I tried pulling away, except the chains prevented me from doing so.
"Get off me, Ayane; you let your hatred for Kasumi drive you too far," I started, before she interrupted me.
"Tell me, or do I have to force the information out of you?" She hissed in my ear. "Our previous relationship means nothing to me now. I'll kill you if I have to, and you know it,"
"Unlike some people I do not betray," I sneered at her. She slapped me full and hard across the face. The pain tingled on my cheek, and I tried to pull away unsuccessfully.
"Brave words, but words are merely words. It's the pain that you will give into,"
"That's what you're hoping," I muttered. She laughed, coldly and loudly.
"No, I know that even you will have a breaking point, it's just a matter of time," she whispered the last few words into my ear.
"Tell me now and none of your blood will shed," She breathed, caressing my arm. I flinched.
"Never!" I exclaimed angrily, resisting the urge to spit in her face. She laughed again.
"Have it your way… I hope you enjoy this as much as I will." I knew that she was smiling; I could hear the tone in her voice. She stood back and her fingers went to my neck, her sharp nails delicately playing as if doing a dance. Her hand made its way to my long auburn hair. She ran her fingers through it, but suddenly jerked them back, pulling my hair with it. I flinched slightly, and she ran her hand over my cheek.
"You have such soft skin, did you know?" she whispered daintily. "I never did get to tell you that earlier, so I might as well now. It's your fault, you know. We could have been so good together, but you ruined it,"
"I can't believe that I ever used to love you, Ayane," I hissed harshly. Another burning slap across my cheek was the response, harder this time, as though the blow was done more to hurt then surprise me.
"I'll give you one more chance. I think that I have been more then generous. But if you don't tell me, remember that I have the power to bring you to your knees, Hayabusa. Don't make me hurt you simply because you were too stubborn to swallow your pride,"
