Sorry about the indecently short chapter, here. But it is an update, right? Right? –Hopeful-

Anyway, hope you enjoy. Until next update!

-o-

What? Where am I? This is… isn't this the DOATEC building from the third tournament?

She carefully pushed open the door. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Her eyes instantly caught sight of a limp figure lying on the floor, an amply-sized pool of blood around it.

"Bayman?"

The assassin, from the third tournament. Or, former assassin, so to speak. He lay in a pool of his own blood, a gaping wound in his chest, eyes wide and glassy.

"Oh my god…"

Her eyes drifted to another corpse not far from the first. Again, it was a person she knew, albeit distantly. "Christie? Not you, too… who could do something like this?"

"Hitomi!"

She started, looking up where the voice had come from. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Hayate!"

The ninja deftly flipped off the balcony, landing in a crouch before walking over to her as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "What are you doing here, Hitomi? It is dangerous here,"

A glimmer of anger showed itself. "I can look after myself. I don't need you looking after me, Hayate. What are you doing here, then, if it's so dangerous here?"

"I am only concerned about your safety," Golden brown eyes pierced into her very soul as she cocked her head, looking at him pointedly.

"Very nice of you, I'm sure. What's going on?"

Hayate sighed. "Kasumi and I originally came to avenge Hayabusa's death. It turns out that Hayabusa isn't dead after all, so we're going to kill Donovan,"

"Kill him?" she was shocked. "But why?"

"It's a long story and we don't have time for it now," Hayate put his hands on her shoulders. "Hitomi, promise me that you will leave this building,"

"No!" she was indignant. "You can't tell me what you have and expect me to leave! You might need my help!"

"Hitomi, do this for me. Please,"

She stopped with Hayate's words. He was still staring intently at her, hands on her shoulders so she couldn't turn away.

"It would be just another burden for me to shoulder if you were injured or killed. I could not forgive myself if I led you to your untimely demise,"

His eyes were boring into her, so warm, so sincere.

"But… what if… you need my help…?"

"I would rather die myself then let you become involved in a battle which was not originally yours, and you get injured or killed, Hitomi. Please. You must do this. For yourself… your family and friends, those who care for you… and for me."

She stared into his eyes. He was sincere. Had to be. He bowed his head to her and began walking towards the spiraled staircase.

"Be careful, Hayate. I…"

He turned around. "What?"

"I… I…"

She couldn't say it. She had said it so many times as rehearsal, even to him when he was asleep. But she couldn't say it now. It wouldn't come out, no matter how she tried.

"I… want you to be safe."

A small half-smile graced those handsome lips, just for a moment. "I thank you, Hitomi. When we come back, I will explain everything. Until then, please leave this place."

She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could he had disappeared into thin air, rich grey feathers the only sign he had ever been there.

-o-