Not really a lot to say this chapter. Oh, and the final pairings for this story have been decided. Woo hoo! Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter!

"Kasumi. What the hell did you do?"

She staggered back. The katana was still imbedded in Christie's mouth, protruding out the back of her neck. Blood and other fluids were dripping slowly onto her shoes from the shuriken she had plunged into the assassin's stomach. She could have sworn that there was something thicker then blood on her now.

"I… I killed her… but, oh, god…"

"Death deserves more honor then that, too," Hayate pointed to the blade. "Not to mention the shuriken gouging into the stomach like that…"

"Hayate, shut up before I kill you too!"

The words echoed in the empty corridors.

She couldn't believe what she had just done.

Not just kill… but in such a brutal way. Like… like something Ayane would do. This has no honor whatsoever.

"Kasumi… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. But there's something I want to tell you. I-"

She waved a hand to stop Hayate from saying whatever he was about to.

I can't believe I did something like that. Killing is sad but necessary, but nobody, not even a murderer, deserves to die the way I just killed.

What for? What am I turning into?

She ran. Pulling the blade out of the previously animated assassin's mouth and throat with a sickening tug. She ran out of the building, back into the forest.

Hayate's footsteps were heavier then normal as he chased after her. Finally, she stopped, when she couldn't run any longer.

"I had to kill her. But not like that. Never like that,"

Hayate's stern voice started her back to painful reality.

"Kasumi. I don't think Ryu is dead,"

"He is dead. We should just let him rest in peace. No more blood needs to be shed,"

"Kasumi. He isn't dead. I can sense it,"

"He is!" she shouted, scaring several birds, causing them to take flight.

Hayate sighed.

"Let me try this another way. Ryu is not dead. If you believe he is, then you do not have to kill anyone else. Because I will kill you,"

Her eyes widened as her brother pulled out his sword.

"Remember, Kasumi, I am still under oath to kill you. Our partnership was only for as long as we were working together to avenge Ryu's death. However, I feel he is not dead. If you leave me here then we shall fight to the death. You understand?"

Such a monstrous way to die.

"But… I killed her as though she was a monster! Something less then human! Nobody deserves to die like that!"

"Do you want to die?" Hayate's voice was soft.

Silence for a moment. Even the birds stopped chirping, as though they too were waiting for an answer.

Finally, she spoke. "Hayate. I will keep on looking with you,"

"Good," Hayate holstered his sword. "I did not think you were a coward. Yes, what you did was not honorable in the slightest. But just remember. There are always worse ways to die,"

His words haunted her as they began the slow trek back up to the DOATEC building.

He promised to help me with my training. I'd love to further my skills… and seeing as I am in Japan now; it seems a waste to not get back in contact with him…

But the question is… how to get in contact with an important clan leader? Do ninjas use telephones? I doubt they have email…

She pursed her lips. What about tying a letter to a bird's leg? They use that in all the folktales…

I'm being ridiculous. And I have no idea where to go to find him. I suppose that was it, then.

She stood up, paying for her food before leaving the restaurant. Two men were standing by the front, talking rather loudly.

"So many dead… I could have sworn I saw the same guy dead twice!"

"What have you been drinking?"

"Nothing, unfortunately. But there have been a few ninjas and whatnot running around here, or so I've been told. Didn't even know that ninjas still existed. Thought they were like, seventeen hundreds or something,"

"Ninjas? Are you sure you're not drunk?"

The first man looked skeptical. "You might laugh, but how many people do you know that'd run around with their faces covered and swords on their backs? Not many people do that, even for fun, you know. Nobody who wasn't a ninja would be stupid enough to,"

Ninjas? Is this too far-fetched? Or could it be…?

Hayate? Is that you?

And who's the dead person? Sounds like clones, if they've seen the same one… either that, or the man is truly out of it. But… I really want to see him again. Even just once.

Heck… what did a little bit of adventuring ever hurt, anyway? No harm done.

She turned and ran in the opposite direction. It seemed not even her feet knew where she was headed; however the fact remained that she was heading slowly but surely in the direction of the DOATEC headquarters.