Notes for today! First thing is I'm just re-reading this and I've realised I make Kasumi sound like a wilting flower/damsel in distress type. For some reason, even though she can hold her own (well, in games like DOA at least…) I've always pictured her like that. Besides, it adds more spice into the story. *Grin*

Another thing I've noted: Ryu seems to go for *cough* down… there… *cough* a lot when he's fighting. Oh well, what can you do? You might note a few familiar moves; others are just based on the fact that their fighting has to be realistic for this story… (no Izuna here… dammit… I love that move! It's in Ninja Gaiden! Yay!)

Err… it's just suddenly struck me that I am gonna be bawling my eyes out when I end up killing Ryu in Ninja Gaiden. And I've wanted this game for how long…?

Last note! One of my favourite sections is only two chapters away! (After this one)

*

He glanced down, disgusted, by the grown men draped around the living room, probably passed out from the numerous and various alcoholic drinks they had consumed.

Today would probably be a good day to stay out of their way. Who knows how they'll react to their least favourite person, not to mention while they have hangovers.

Opting for the slower, but more relaxing method of walking down to the town, at said CD shop where he would meet Kasumi. He wasn't surprised to see her there, but he was surprised to see her surrounded by a group of five street thugs.

Odd. She doesn't look the type to be befriending thugs… wait. Good thinking, Ryu. If they were her friends, or even acquaintances, would they be trying to grab her handbag? Ah hah.

Quickly he walked up, shoving angrily through the circle that was now forming around them, and instantly grabbed one of the thugs by the jacket, spinning said thug around, elbowing him in the face before kicking him where it would hurt. The thug slid out of his grasp, falling to his knees, howling in pain.

Bright amber rose up to meet his eyes, and he nodded. They would work together in this.

Kasumi instantly reacted, tearing her handbag from the thug that was trying to grasp it, and with four lightning fast jabs of her delicate hands sent the first doubling over, clutching his winded stomach. With that, she did a neat vault onto his shoulders, before flipping over the other side, and with three kicks sent him to the ground, out for the count, at least for a time.

However, there were still three thugs, and Ryu wasn't sitting around doing nothing. Although he was putting up a strong fight, the lack of both arms usable made his job a lot harder, his fighting seem almost sloppy to himself. However, his increased flexibility and speed evened the odds up a bit.

Two of the thugs were on him now, slowly but surely pushing him into a corner. Meanwhile, Kasumi seemed to be faring well against her thug, sending him flying in a mere few minutes. He cursed mentally as he felt his back hit the wall. The smirks on the thugs' faces widened as they saw his dilemma. Two against one, and his back to a wall?

However, the thugs hadn't counted on his athletic ability. Thank god. He planted his foot on the wall, before using all the power to spring back onto the wall, before flipping over the thugs and behind them. Kasumi, having disposed of her thug, was now at his side, as he grabbed the first thug, pushing her over to Kasumi, who quickly used her body weight to shove the thug into the wall with her foot, before grabbing the other one and performing a lightning fast attack. It looked almost as though she had run through the thug. Then it was his turn. With the same attack, the thug fell to the ground. It was over.

"Thanks, Hayabusa," Kasumi said shyly. He glanced sideways at her quickly, noting the blush on her cheeks. He nodded. "That's fine, but we have to get out of here before the police come. Come on,"

He grabbed her arm almost unconsciously and they started running. Before long they had reached the park, a long way from the town centre. Even still, mentally he was still concerned. So many people saw us. If somebody who knew us heard our descriptions, they could identify us in no time. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter too much in the scheme of things. I'd rather be fined or imprisoned then let Kasumi be harmed.

He glanced down at the young girl, who was panting softly as she slumped underneath the tree. Perhaps it's because she's Hayate's sister. Or perhaps it's just that I care for her myself. Either way, as long as she needs help, I'll be there. I hope.

"So…" the young girl was still panting slightly, but had regained her breath. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

Emerald gazed skywards, where several birds flew above their heads. "Why do you want to go away? What happened that made you want to go away from your family?" He tore his eyes away from the sky, bringing them back to earth to gaze unblinkingly at her. "Doesn't your family mean more to you then this?"

"Yes. They mean a lot to me. Even Ayane. That's why I'm going away," Vivid orange locks fell into amber eyes as she dropped her head, breaking eye contact. "Just for a little. I feel that I'm failing them. So I just needed some time away from their expectations. To gather my thoughts and my confidence. To make sure that I can do what they think I can,"

He sighed softly. "You and Hayate are truly brother and sister. He worries about that sort of thing too,"

She turned to stare at him questioningly. "Everyone cares about failing their family. Don't you?" The young girl reached behind her head to untie her hair, letting it stream backwards in the wind behind her head.

"Not really. My family died years ago," he dropped to the ground, getting into a sitting position. Her expression was probing but he decided to drop the conversation, leaning back against the tree to stare skywards once more. For some odd and random reason, she reminded him of the counsellor he had had to see a few days beforehand. How is he going to feel… how would I know? More importantly, why would I care?

Glancing back at Kasumi, he felt himself soften. She has that effect on me. Nobody could be immune to her wonderful spell of happiness and good nature.

"What about your father? You still live with him, right?"

He laughed, and even to his ears it wasn't a happy sound. "That is correct, but only because legally I am too young to abscond from him. As soon as the time comes, we will both be much happier away from each other,"

Her expression dropped. "Even though he's strict, I'm glad that my father and I get along. Some things I can't talk to Mother about. But even still…" she paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "You probably don't want my sympathy, but I'm sorry. It must be hard not having family to talk to,"

Seeing her face, he immediately wanted to apologise to her, for what he wasn't sure. "It's no problem, Kasumi. Please don't worry yourself for the likes of me,"

Whatever the young girl was going to say was cut short as sirens wailed in the distance. She visibly paled. "Are they after us?"

"Probably," his tone was short but mentally he was panicking. "Don't worry, even if we're caught, I won't let you get into trouble,"

"And you plan on doing that how?" she whispered as the sirens became louder.

"Don't worry, I have my ways," he responded softly.