Before I begin, (sound like I'm starting a debate or something. Sheesh.) I would like to congratulate myself for being a very big turd. Before (another one!) you begin, I suggest you read the last chapter again, unless you're reading the story after this chapter comes up. Why? Because Kurmoi was an idiot and missed the last paragraph of the last chapter!

Bravo, Kurmoi!

Anyway, onto this chapter. This chapter is dedicated to BerettaMan, here you go, Kasumi fix just for you. Although… I still believe that Ryu has auburn hair while Hayate's hair is… golden brown. However, (saves me from another 'although')  Ryu's hair looked scarily blonde in the first DOA… but at least it's brown now. (Although… (man!) Tina's hair went from brown to blonde… oh well)

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She just needed time to get away from everybody that was causing her such angst. The only people that mattered were the people hurting her, confusing her beyond belief. Not that Ayane mattered, of course…

Even though she detests me, I don't hate her. I don't even know why she hates me so much. What did I ever do to her? Ever since we were children, she's always detested me… yet all I want to do is be friends with her. She's even tried to ruin what erratic friendship I have with Hayabusa. I want nothing more then to ask him to the formal, but I completely forgot about Irene. That's horrible in itself, she was my friend…

Her mind drifted back as she clutched a small photo in her hands. Her, Irene, Hayate and Hayabusa, sitting casually on the sofa at home. Hayate was smiling as he always did; the almost sensual smile that made so many of the girls at school flock to him. Irene was smiling too; the happy grin that she was famous for. She herself was staring, smiling half-heartedly at the camera, while Hayabusa's eyes were directed at something beyond.

"Hey, Kas!"

It was Irene's voice. Nobody else had the same innocent soprano as her. She turned around, smiled at her friend. "Irene! Long time no see!"

Her friend's expression immediately sobered. "Kas, I have to tell you something,"

"What's wrong?" she asked, instantly wary with Irene's tone.

"Ah, well, you see…" the blonde paused, running a hand through her shoulder-length bob. "I was talking to Ryu today, and…"

She had an idea where this was going. "And…"

"Heaskedmeout," Irene blurted out in the blink of an eye. "I told him that I'd get back to him. Because if you don't want me to… I mean, I like him, a lot, but our friendship comes first,"

She couldn't stop the tears from welling in her eyes at her friend's generosity. "No, it's alright, Irene. You can go out with him if you want,"

"Are you sure?"

Irene was so selfless. "Yes, it's fine. He doesn't know that I like him, and that's the way I want it to stay. But thank you for asking me. It's not like he's my property or anything, but I'm really happy that you asked, anyway. Your friendship means a lot to me, too,"

"Irene… why did you have to die in such a stupid accident?" she narrowed her eyes, balling her hands into angry fists. "Why couldn't Hayate have been more careful with you? Why did you have to leave us, why did you have to leave me?"

The tears welled in her eyes as her steps broke into a run. She had to get away.

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