Before we start, I have quite a few notes this time! Be prepared for no story! (Kidding)

Firstly, about Lisa's character. 101% chance is that I haven't got it right. This is coming from a girl who gets very scared at the mere mention of the name DOAXVB, unless the words 'Ninja Gaiden trailer' are in that conversation somewhere. Basically, never played the game, don't intend to, therefore Lisa's character will be off. (In this story she's based somewhat off Tina) And whatever little storyline there was in DOAXVB I know nothing about, however much there was.

(Leifang: Ow! My boobies hit me in the head!

Tina: Me too! That's the second time this game!

Helena: Even though it's only the first round!

Hitomi: The first *ball* of the first round!

Kasumi: I've lost my ribbon in the abyss! (Other story 'joke')

Ayane: Well then, dig for it! HAHAHA!)

…Sorry.

Same diff with Rachel, although Ninja Gaiden is a game I want to play (if you haven't already guessed). She comes in later.

Second note! Thankyou for your lovely reviews. I'm glad this story makes you love/hate the characters… the first story that did that to me was a real goodie, (must find it!) and I'm really happy that this story… *cough* evokes so much emotion and empathy. *end cough*

For Ryu it's okay, but for me it isn't. Onward.

I love the hair debate that's evolving around here! And I hate Raidou! Not only is he a pain as a boss, he's ugly! (So how can an ugly guy end up with a pretty daughter? That's what I don't get… must have been something from the mother, considering she mothered Kasumi, even if I don't like her, she's pretty, and Hayate, same diff with him, subbing pretty for thick-heady… sorry, *cough* handsome in an annoying way…) Yes, James, you're right, he is (Raidou, not Hayate. Gross). Poor Ayane.

Another note: Ryu's dad, (who turns up more later) is called Ken in this story, if I haven't mentioned it. In the new Ninja Gaiden he was called Joe. (Blah… Joe, Ken… what are they playing at? They have a gorgeous name like Ryu Hayabusa fathered by a guy called Ken/Joe… it doesn't work! Damn!) But… (sorry if anyone's called Ken or Joe…) I personally prefer the name Ken, so Ken it is. Although neither of them work. (Or maybe it's just the name Ryu that doesn't work? Hmm… especially since they have Irene, Rachel, Robert, all very western names, then Ryu… that's something for me to ponder)

Right. Now that this chapter is more notes then chapter, enjoy. (I like these notes personally… *sheepish grin*)

*

She ran a hand angrily through her hair. What was I playing at, anyway? Why did I even want to speak to him? What the hell am I doing? What the hell in general?

Maths homework? It was a distant possibility. Even though it was certainly out of character, she realised that she wanted to apologise. He was the only one that's been nice to me, basically, other then Tina, but… then again… it wouldn't be right. Me, apologise? No way.

She watched him walk up to the door, seemingly ignoring her. She put out a hand and grabbed his arm firmly, expecting him to give her a 'look' of some sort and stop. However, she wasn't expecting him to flinch, putting a hand up to the arm she was holding.

"You know how I wanted to talk to you yesterday?" she asked, dropping her hand without giving any other indication that she had noticed she had hurt him in some way. Emerald came up to meet her eyes, and it surprised her, the amount of emotions that were brimming in them. She had never seen that much emotion from him.

"You did," The sentence ended in a sigh. "What's wrong?"

"Well… I… I just wanted to tell you… that you're a stupid dick! What do you think you're playing at, anyway- shit!"

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Damn! They were brimming below the surface, but I didn't mean to say them! I meant to apologise! What the hell did I say that for? I'm such a retard. Now I've probably just made him hate me more… but why do I care so much about what he thinks, anyway?

Anger she was expecting. Certainly not the blank, expressionless look that she got.

"Great. Now, could you please tell me where Hayate is? I need to speak to him briefly,"

She felt her temper boil as much as she tried to stop it. "What if he doesn't want to speak with you, huh?"

All she got was a cool look. "If that is so then he can come and tell me that,"

"Fine. Hey, Hayate, you dickhead!" she yelled angrily down the hall. "Hurry up and answer the freaking door! Don't expect me to always do your dirty work! And you-" she added, turning back to Hayabusa, "-you should come in, instead of standing like some bloody nobility on the front porch! Get your arse in here!"

Hayate emerged from somewhere, rubbing his eyes, pulling on a shirt. "Ayane, your vocabulary is so pleasant this hour of the morning, especially when I'm woken up by it,"

"Shut up, smart-arse. Your friend's at the door, so I'm doing you a freaking favour,"

"So eloquent…" Hayate yawned, just dodging the blow she swung at his head. "Anyway. Thankyou for telling me about the door, even if it was in a trail of obscenities, I do appreciate it. Ryu, come in. What's so urgent that you need to see me this early in the morning?"

"Yeah, couldn't you wait any longer to go make out in the kitchen?"

She was in a bad mood, no denying it. Whenever I make a mistake, it always makes me defensive. Just the way I am. Nothing that can be done about it, really.

Hayate looked over at her much the way a parent would look at a child as they were reprimanding them. "Ayane, is that really necessary?"

"Admit it. Either that, or you wanted to give-"

"Shut up,"

She did shut up. The sound of Hayabusa's 'don't-mess-with-me-tone' was enough to make her, especially when he sounded as though he would beat the crap out of her if she didn't.

"That's better," Hayate ran a hand through his hair, still looking half asleep. "So, what's up?"

"A message from Kasumi. She wants me to tell you that she hasn't gone to a friend's house, she's gone away for a few days, and she'll be back by the end of the week, and not to worry about her, because she'll be fine,"

"What?" Hayate's eyes immediately focused. "She's gone? But… why?"

Hayabusa sighed softly, before turning to fix her with a stern glare. "Perhaps you should ask Ayane that, not me,"

"What the hell?" she exclaimed, turning furiously to him. "What did I do?"

"Perhaps it was what you didn't do," Hayabusa said simply. "Enjoy the rest of your weekend,"

She didn't get a chance to reply before he was gone.

Who does he think he is? Waltzing in here, saying cliché crap then going again? Dear god, here we go again…

"Welcome to the land of cliché!" she exclaimed, slamming the door.

"And good morning to you too," Hayate was rubbing his eyes, but still looked much more awake then he had earlier. "Why would Kasumi run away? That's not like her at all. What does she think she's playing at?"

"Who knows," she shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulders. "Who really gives a flying-"

"I do, Ayane!" Hayate's voice was harsh. "I do. You should, she's your sister for crying out loud. And if you were the one that made her run away, then I'll personally make sure that you have hell to pay for,"

"You just believe anything your freaky friend says when he pops up at some indecent hour of the morning, I might add, and says it? Besides, I'm unemployed, bitch,"

Hayate paused for a moment. "You liked him too. You're just too afraid of getting close to anybody,"

She nearly choked on a cough. "Bull shit! You have got to be kidding me!"

Hayate certainly seemed much more in control now. "It's obvious, Ayane, no matter how hard you try to hide it. You were warming to him then suddenly stopped talking to him, snap at him for no reason, it's freaking obvious. You like him, but don't want to be read so easily,"

"Whatever," she feigned nonchalance, hoping that he would just drop the subject.

No such luck. "You do," Hayate was staring at her intently. "Like that other guy from your own school…"

She did choke at that, Hayate banging her on the back (much harder then usual) until she stopped. "Zack? You have got to be freaking kidding me. Hayate, tell me you're joking. That shit is not funny. Cut the crap. Zack's a frigging dickhead,"

"Five curses in one statement. Must have hit a sore spot," Hayate looked at her.

With a loud shriek, the telephone rang. She jumped up to pick up the receiver, but Hayate got there first.

"Hello? Oh, right… here she is,"

He passed the receiver over to her. "A Lisa on the line for you,"

"Oh, Lisa?" she took the proffered phone. "Hey,"

There were some giggles from the other line. "Hey, Ay. Was that Hayate? He has a nice voice, huh. Does he look as good as he sounds?"

"Shut the hell up, girl! He's my brother, remember?" she snorted into the phone. "You sick bitch, you,"

Hayate shot her an amused glance from across the room. "Hi, Lisa,"

"HI, HAYATE!" A voice yelled into the phone. She winced, holding the phone about a foot from her ear.

"Thanks for deafening me, you cow,"

"You never sent me an email," Lisa laughed into her ear.

"I did, Miss Sxcblossom22. Stop complaining for once. So, how is everyone?"

"Oh, they're fine. Missing you. Especially Zacky,"

She made a face. "Shut up. That pervert's probably off screwin' a hundred girls now,"

"Yeah, well, even lechery aside, I think he really did like you, Ay,"

Another snort. "Yeah, and all the other girls he 'really' liked,"

There was a low wolf whistle from the corner. "Ooh, Ayane's got a boyfriend, huh?" Hayate asked in a singsong voice.

"Uh huh!" To her surprise, she could hear Lisa's voice and realised that Hayate had put their conversation on speaker phone. "Zack is missing her desperately,"  

"Zack, eh?" Hayate shrugged, leaning casually against the bench as he talked into the speaker phone. "Aww, poor Ryu, Ayane, he's gonna feel all rejected-like,"

"Ryu?" She could almost hear her friend's surprise. "Who's that? Is he hot? Smart? Rich? How is he in bed?"

She turned around and shot a ferocious glare at Hayate. She didn't even need to focus eye contact on him to know that he was smirking.

"What the hell?!" she exploded into the phone. "I already told you!"

There was a pause. "Ohhh," Lisa mused finally. "So he's that guy, hey?"

"What guy?"

Hayate must have been a girl in a past life. He was gossiping like one.

"Oh, just the guy that Ay told me about who was-"

"Oops, sorry, gotta go. See you later, Lis," she quickly hit the end button, truncating the call. Hayate turned to stare at her.

"And you try to deny you don't like him. Not a chance," he grinned at her, yet only a shadow of his usual smile, before it faded quickly. "Anyway, I better be off. Maths study, you know? And besides…" his voice hardened slightly, "I want to try and ring Kasumi's mobile. I'll see you later, then. Don't do anything stupid,"

With that, he was gone. She barely had a chance to register before he was gone. However, not before he left a passing thought which disappeared like the lingering touch of an embrace.

"Even if you don't want to, you'll always follow your heart,"