Wow. This has been a loooooong time. I've heard that the DOA fanfiction area is basically dead, it's so quiet. That's so sad… we can't let it die! Must… keep… updating…

Random information: I'm annoyed at my 'show desktop' icon. It don't work. Grr. And for some odd reason, I have over 200 emails in my yahoo inbox. Great.

Anyway, you guys enjoy the chapter, and I'll enjoy cleaning out my $#in' inbox. )

"More clones for me…"

Donovan was singing. Singing, as the deranged scientist put something around his neck. Something cold. The scientist turned to the table, pressing a button.

He flinched as the skin around his neck was punctured by what felt like tiny pins stabbing into his skin. Something to do with the metal contraption. He didn't even want to wonder what Donovan was up to.

"Perfect!" Donovan turned back to face him. "We have a sensor on you now. Go out of this building, and we can tell. Once I push this button, you will have more pain bestowed upon you then you ever imagined possible,"

He managed, with some difficulty, to get to his feet.

"Go find Christie for me," the scientist turned back to the chemical table. "I need to speak with her,"

He did so obediently but reluctantly, knowing that the repercussions would be great if he disobeyed, but wishing furtively that he could simply attack and kill the scientist and that would be it without having to fear his life if he did so.

"It's another one!"

The words startled him. He looked down to see…

"Kasumi! Hayate!"

He blinked as they both pulled out their weapons.

"Not another clone… this is sick," he heard Hayate mutter.

He shook his head, holding his hands up in amity. "No, I'm not a clone,"

"What?" Kasumi's expression was disbelief, then suspicion. The sign of a true kunoichi.

"Little sister…" Hayate's gentle voice surprised him. "This is Ryu,"

"How can you tell?" Kasumi's voice almost sounded desperate by this stage.

Hayate pointed to the contraption around his neck. "An electronic… thing. So he can't escape,"

"You remember that?" Kasumi looked slightly pale.

"Yes,"

"Are you sure?" Kasumi was still looking at him somewhat suspiciously. "Turn around,"

He did so, knowing what she was looking for.

"Sorry about this," the kunoichi apologized, before pulling on his shirt and tracing the scar he knew cut across his back.

"See? I told you it was the real thing," Hayate admonished his younger sister.

"Ryu! You're not dead!" Before he could react, slender arms flung themselves around his waist. "I saw… it must have been a clone of you, killed by Bayman. I thought it was you, and so we went to kill the maker of the clones, and Bayman joined us. We were going to kill him after he had shown us here, but… Christie killed him. And…"

As much as he tried not to, he tensed under the young girl's touch.

"You killed Christie?"

Kasumi nodded slowly, her arms dropping.

"Oh," was his intelligent response. "I was supposed to get her. Donovan wanted to speak with her for some reason,"

"Donovan's here?" Hayate sounded hopeful.

"Yes. Through that door, actually,"

Hayate turned to his sister. "Get ready, Kasumi,"

The young kunoichi nodded, petite hands clenching into fists. "Time to get our revenge,"