Personally, I'm not quite sure about this idea. One of my friends gave me the idea, but it doesn't seem to flow right. Oh well, too bad… when I re-write/re-edit/whatever this story I'll fix it, until then… you're stuck with it. Hahaha!

"Thankyou for having me over. I probably should be going,"

"No problem. You're always welcome here. After all, you get good maths marks, and you can suck up really well to my parents. You're fine," Hayate laughed.

"Very funny," he muttered. "I'll ring you a bit later; I need to ask you something,"

"In an hour?" Hayate asked. He nodded.

"Asshole," Ayane told him with a wave.

As he was walking home, he couldn't help but ponder the change in Ayane. Odd that… letting her see a bit more into me made such a difference. She was being… well, nice. Even to Kasumi, and that in itself is certainly a remarkable achievement.

He was feeling happier then he had in a long time, but that mood diminished rapidly as soon as he stepped into the house and came face to face with Raidou.

"Long time no see, kid. How long has it been now?"

"Not long enough," he muttered.

"My, you're looking even nicer then usual… say; you haven't seen Ken anywhere, have you?"

"Father?" the question surprised him. "No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"

Raidou actually looked half-sober, which surprised him. Of course, I wouldn't be able to fully assume that he is half-sober… having never seen it to compare, I wouldn't know.

"Because I can't find him, surprisingly enough, considering this is his house. He said he was going out, but hasn't come back,"

"Well, I don't know where he is, my apologies. If you'll excuse me…" he started to leave but stopped as a large, firm hand encircled his arm.

"Don't go, kid. We haven't got… acquainted yet,"

Acquainted in which respect??? Alarm bells were going off in his head as he fought to prise the older man's hand from his arm.

"Stop struggling. It's either you, or her,"

That did make him stop. "…Ayane?"

"Yeah. Either you or her. You choose,"

"In what respect are you referring?" he questioned warily.

Raidou laughed; a guttural, throaty laugh which ended in a hiss. "Use your imagination,"

God, no. Don't want to know. "Answer my question,"

The faintest trace of a sneer appeared on the drunken man's face. "I can't have both, that's already settled. So, it's either you or her. You know? I love watching people scream out in pain… and I'll settle for either you or Ayane…"

Good god! He's… a psychopath! Even Father is better then this! But… if he can't hurt me, then he'll hurt Ayane… but why does he want to hurt anybody? What is the point of going around and trying to hurt anybody?

"You're sick!" he exploded, even as the hand around his arm tightened to a painful level.

"Kid, you haven't answered my question!" There was laughter in the older man's voice. "I won't wait forever. So who's it gonna be?"

"You have to be kidding," he muttered under his breath. "But as long as I'm around, you will not lay a finger on Ayane. You hear me?"

"Wow. You're even beginning to sound just as feisty as her," Raidou laughed.

"What would you know?"

The laughter suddenly disappeared, as abruptly as if somebody had flicked a switch. It seemed so frustratingly simple; the way Raidou hit him over the head, and how quickly he was to stumble to the ground. I suppose a blow to the temple as hard as that could do that to anyone. But… it isn't fair. Who knows where I'll be when I wake up…

But… as long as you're safe, Ayane, I don't care.

I…

……

"Darn, Ryu, where are you?" he exclaimed to his room. It isn't like him to just not return a call… is he alright?

He sighed, sitting down on his bed hard enough to make the springs jangle.

This sucks. With anyone else, I wouldn't have to worry. But what with his father and all, I can't help but worry just a little…

I'm probably just being paranoid. Ryu can look after himself…

But what if he isn't? Will I have another death on my conscience?

He stood up. He can laugh at me and call me foolish, but I would rather be called a fool then have him dead somewhere.

God… Ryu…!

"Blasted phone!" she exclaimed furiously, wrapping a towel around her body and stomping barefoot to the shrilly ringing telephone, dripping water all over the fluffy carpet.

"What the hell do you want when I'm in the goddamn shower?" she snapped, excepting it to be Hayabusa calling back for Hayate. But… it wasn't.

"Hey sweetheart,"

She recognised that voice instantly. "What the hell do you want?" she hissed into the phone, resisting the temptation to simply slam it down. "You have a total of five words before I put this phone back on the hook. So what the hell do you want with us?"

Raidou chuckled lowly from the other end of the phone.

"Ryu's at my… painful mercy. Interested?"

"What?" the word escaped her lips before she could stop it. "That was six words, anyway, but what do you mean, Hayabusa's at your mercy?" A cold dread ensnared her senses. Fear.

"Exactly what I said. It was either him or you, sweetie. Lucky for you he's noble," Raidou hissed sensually into the phone. "So. Are you just going to leave him stranded here, or are you going to race to your boyfriend's rescue?"

"He's not my boyfriend!" she yelled furiously. "How do I know you're not just fucking with me, anyway? This is the weekend! Can't you piss me off when I'm not busy?"

There was a slight scuffle at the other end of the line, before a voice that made her eyes widen and mouth drop open.

"Ayane. Is that you?"

"So… he's not lying?" It was Hayabusa, alright. And he didn't sound too good.

"No. But don't worry about me, I'll be fine…" his voice stopped abruptly as there was another scuffle on the other end. "…honestly,"

"That means you're bull-shitting me," she snapped, instantly worried. "What's going on? Quickly. Tell me,"

"I think that he-" a sharp intake of breath. "He's told you everything already. I don't know a lot, really-"

"That's enough," Raidou's guttural voice suddenly spoke into the phone. "Get down there,"

Holy shit… what the hell was that? What the fuck is that guy doing?

"I'm coming. And when I come, not only are you going to be arrested, I'll have the maggots eating your rotting flesh. Got it?" she hissed.

"I'll be waiting for you… princess,"

With that, the phone went dead. She held it, stunned, for a moment before instincts took over and she raced up the stairs.

"C'mon, Hayate. We have some Raidou-arse to kick, quickly,"

He flinched as the metal made contact with his skin, lacerating it easily. But there was little he could do, except try to separate himself mentally from the situation at hand.

At least it's not happening to Ayane… and that's all that matters.

Ayane… don't come, it's just a trap…

"Perfect, just perfect," Raidou cooed as he remained there, helpless, tied up at the drunken man's mercy. "Not just you, but Ayane too! This day is just getting better and better!"

Raidou's slurring. God knows how many drinks he's already had. Is it too much to hope that he'll drink too many and fall unconscious?

How do things like this happen? I thought it just happened in movies. But usually, isn't it the male rescuing the female? Oh well… if she comes there might not be anyone to rescue…

Ayane, please, please, please don't come. He's just going to…

More cold metal, being snaked around his wrist and pulled, the metal spikes digging painfully into his skin, spurting little sprays of blood.

This guy is a twisted, psychotic freak. These sorts of things really do only happen in the movies. When will it end?

Almost like a response to a prayer, the door opened, revealing…

"Hayate? What are you doing here?"

His friend's eyes were narrowed. "Last time I stood around and did nothing. It won't happen again. This time, I'm going to do something, if nothing else,"

Raidou, on the other hand, clapped his hands together gleefully.

"All the more for me…"

"All the more this!"

Hayate did a flying kick that sent Raidou crashing into the wall.

"Ryu! Catch!"

Even with his bound hands, he still managed to catch the pocket-knife that Hayate threw, quickly using it to slice the rope around his hands, pulling the metal contraption off his wrist before quickly springing to his feet. "Thanks, Hayate,"

"No problem," Hayate grabbed the older man, shoving him with both hands into the wall once more, then elbowing him harshly in the face. Meanwhile, he vaulted over, and he and Hayate simultaneously kicked Raidou, sending him crashing into the wall.

"Ayane!"

There were some noises from outside, before Ayane appeared in the doorway, with…

"This day just gets better and better," he muttered upon seeing just who else was standing there. Upon seeing him, she smirked.

"Head up, kid. Never thought your life would be so damn interesting,"

She turned to Raidou.

"Hands up, ugly. You're under arrest for assault. Lucky these kids pack a punch, huh?"

"Rachel?"

The blonde turned to him.

"Uh…" he hesitated. "Thankyou. For caring. Even though it usually seems more like meddling,"

"No problem, kid," she winked. "Meddling is my speciality. I'm a cop, after all. And, I get paid for it! Even better!"

"You should be a police officer, Hayate," he muttered under his breath.

He spun and caught the hand that was going for his head. "You're so predictable. And meddling. But thankyou all the same,"

Hayate smiled fully; something he hadn't seen for a while. A long while. Too long.

"That's what friends do. Help, and meddle,"

She came and helped me. Even though it was my own foolish fault that I got caught like that in the first place. That was really nice of her…

He was lying in his bed, trying to get to sleep even though it wasn't even eight at night yet. Even from the start, she has intrigued me. She has… she has been different from every other girl I've met. But I don't know how.

I care for her a lot… but I can't forget about Irene.

A lot.

He sighed softly. Irene was my first love, yes. However, I'm beginning to feel that…

No. I can't be in love with Ayane. Impossible.

However, the thought was there, no matter how much he tried to deny it.

I can't be. Falling in love with…

…falling in love with Ayane…?