The Crimson
Disclaimer: Tecmo, Team Ninja, and Itagaki all rightfully own DOA and all of it's contents. This is just a fan fic.
-End of Chapter Two, Beginning of Chapter Three-
"We'd better be leaving this area soon." Ryu said, taking another bite of his cooked fish. Kasumi stabbed another raw fish with a sharp stick and held it over the dying fire.
"I've got this abandoned warehouse I go to sometimes. We can go there for a bit..." Kasumi replied, watching as the fish began to blacken. Ryu tossed his bare stick aside and laid down, gazing up at the night sky,
"We should move at midnight." Ryu said, as he placed his hands behind his head, "It's safest then..." Kasumi didn't reply, her brown chestnut colored eyes watching the flames dance around.
-----
"What's your name?" Hayate asked as he tossed a ninja star up, caught it, and then repeated.
"Elliot...that's all you need to know." A blond haired man replied, his head bowed as he stood before Hayate.
"Hm...I've never heard of you. Are you sure he's good, Ayane?" Hayate asked, looking at Ayane who stood in the back of the room. Ayane nodded,
"He's new on the market...but he took down three of our men with ease." Ayane replied. Hayate smirked,
"That so?" He tossed the star at Elliot. In a split second, Elliot pulled his blade out of it's hilt and deflected the star, sending it flying into the ceiling, "Ha...very good. You're hired, Elliot."
---
Ryu waited in silence in a dark alleyway as Kasumi searched the area with her ghost skill.
"Hurry it up, Kas..." Ryu mumbled, looking around him to ensure he was still alone.
"'Ey man, what a catch, huh?" A heavily accented voice drifted to Ryu from just outside the alleyway. With one quick movement, Ryu leapt up, planted a foot on the wall, and propelled himself off that onto the ceiling. He whirled around when on the ceiling and watched as five men, dressed in baggy clothing, entered the alleyway, a black haired woman, wearing a pink tanktop and mini-skirt, being dragged along by the one in the back.
"Lemme go!" The female shouted. Ryu watched closely, waiting for the right moment to jump in.
"You know what? You'd better shut up or I'll carve your friggin' mouth off!" One of the men shouted, pulling out a knife and holding it up threatingly.
"Yeah...right." The woman said, rolling her eyes.
"Little...!" The man lunged forward, his knife outstretched. Ryu prepared to leap down, his hand on the hilt of his blade, when suddenly the woman grabbed the man's arm and flipped him over her shoulder into a trash can. Ryu sat back down and watched, interested. Another man lunged forward and threw a punch. The woman ducked under it and slammed him in the stomach with her shoulder. He backed up and fell into the arms of another one of his comrades. The woman rushed forward and leapt up, planting a foot on one of the man's shoulders and dropping back down behind him. She reached behind her and grabbed both his arms. She leaned forward and flipped him over her back, the sound of his bones crunching as he hit the cement. Another man wearing a Alaska beanie rushed forward from behind her, reaching for her neck. She glanced backwards and quickly back-flipped, kicking him as she flew past him. He stumbled forward, then fell down, blacking out. The one who had caught the man earlier threw his friend off him and pulled out a 9MM. He cocked it and fired. Ryu quickly tossed a ninja star downwards, cutting the bullet in half. The woman turned around and kicked the man in the head. He twirled around and began stumbling forward. She rushed forward and leapt upwards, extending her feet outwards and kicking him in the back. He screamed as he flew into the wall, leaving a small dent in it. With a sigh, the woman brushed the dust off her tanktop and looking up at Ryu. Ryu's eyes widened,
"I knew you were there the whole time." She said, an obvious smile spreading across her cute face, "Thanks." Ryu leapt down and shook his head,
"No problem. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine...you look like you're in horrible shape though...what happened?"
"Ah, don't worry about me. What's your name?"
"Lei-Fang. You?"
"Ryu Hayabusa...listen, you'd better be going on home." Ryu said, glancing at the gangster's knocked out bodies.
"Alright...see you later, Ryu." Lei-Fang said, waving as she rushed off into the distance. Ryu leaned against the wall, making sure that the gangsters didn't wake up. When one stirred, Ryu moved over and kicked him in the head, knocking him out again. After a while (and about thirteen head kicks) Kasumi returned,
"Ryu, the path to the warehouse is clear. Let's go."
"Any trouble?" Ryu asked, walking up to her.
"None. It seems you ran into some trouble though." Kasumi replied, glancing at the gangsters.
"Nah." Ryu replied, "Let's move."
---
Lei-Fang watched the stars from her roof, a hobby she enjoyed quite often when she couldn't sleep...and tonight was serious case of insomnia. She couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious man in black who had saved her from the the thug with the gun. Sighing, she moved her gaze towards the empty streets of Tokyo. Late night was usually still bustling in Tokyo, but tonight was different. Everything was dead silent. Suddenly, she saw two figures in the moonlight, leaping from ceiling to ceiling.
"Wow..." she mumbled.
----
Ryu placed a hand on the door of the warehouse,
"Have you searched inside the place yet?" Ryu asked.
"...No. Why?" Kasumi asked, confused.
"Just worried is all. Can never be too careful." Ryu pushed the door open and peered inside. The interior was dimly lit, some of the lights flicking on and off. There was a three-seater sofa in the far right corner, a T.V. set on top of a weak looking wooden table with a dirty cloth decorated with roses set on top of it. There was a Queen sized bed in the bottom left of the area, the blankets clean and folded.
"Yeah...it's pretty empty." Kasumi said, reading Ryu's expressions.
"It's fine." Ryu said, smiling as he stepped aside for Kasumi to enter first, "There's a lot of room. A very good thing."
"Yeah, I train here sometimes. It's safe and as you said...it has a lot of room." Kasumi replied as she stepped inside and sauntered over to the bed, falling down on it and staying their, unmoving. Ryu slowly shut the door and walked to the couch, falling down on it and sending the remote flying into the air. He quickly caught it and flipped the T.V. on.
"No reception." Kasumi said, without even looking. Ryu shrugged and tossed the remote aside.
"Might as well get rest...good night." Ryu said, lying down on the couch and shutting his eyes.
"G'night..." Kasumi replied.
----
With complete silence and agility, Elliot rushed through the various alleyways in Tokyo, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Suddenly, one of Hayate's ninja was running alongside him.
"We've spotted them. In that small, abandoned warehouse...near the outskirts of the city."
"Got it." Elliot replied. The ninja nodded and leapt upwards, disappearing.
----
Ryu's eyes opened slowly as his cell phone rang loudly in his pocket.
"Forget about this thing..." Ryu thought as he pulled it out and flipped it open. He held it to his ear and waited,
"I'm looking for the Crimson." A voice said.
"The Crimson is out of business." Ryu replied.
"Yes, you are." Suddenly, the door flew open and a blonde haired man wielding a scimitar rushed in, a murderous look on his young face. Ryu rolled off the couch just as the man slashed downwards, chopping the couch in half. Ryu back flipped over the T.V. and went for his blade when he realized...he didn't have it.
"Looking for this?" The man asked, holding Ryu's sheathed blade up.
"How'd you get it?" Ryu asked, gritting his teeth and backing up a few steps.
"I used to be a thief." The man said simply, grinning.
"Huh...low life." Ryu taunted.
"Shut up!" He shouted, lunging forward. Ryu leapt up and grabbed hold of one of the hanging metal cords holding the light bulbs. He swung back and forth and when he gained enough momentum, lunged forward at the wall. He planted his feet on the wall and threw himself downward, tackling the young man. They rolled around for a bit, but Ryu suddenly leapt out of the rolling fight, his blade in hand.
"Come on." Ryu said, drawing his blade and tossing the sheath aside.
"Son of a...!" The man raced forward and swung. Ryu held up his blade and blocked.
"You may be skilled with the blade but kid...you've got no muscles." Ryu threw the man off easily. The man crashed into the T.V. and hit the ground. He quickly pulled himself together and got back up, blood trickling down from his mouth.
"Heh...I miss the feeling...pain, I mean." The man said.
"Prepare to remember it a whole lot more." Ryu said, smirking. He raced forward and swung his blade. The man leapt above the attack and extended his feet outwards, kicking Ryu in the face. Ryu back-flipped and landed on his feet. The man now made his move, slamming the blade into the ground and rushing forward. When he reached Ryu, he leapt upwards. Ryu held his katana up to block, sparks flying as they grinded their blades together. When they finished their block-fest, the man whirled around in mid-air and chopped downwards. Ryu leaned backwards and placed a hand on the floor. He lifted his feet in the air and kicked the man backwards. The man fell on the table, smashing it in half and landing on the ground again.
"Oh yeah...that's it." The man said, picking himself up again.
"Come here for some more..." Ryu said, standing back up and holding his blade with two hands.
"No...it's your turn!" The man shouted. He lunged forward and swung again. Ryu shook his head and ducked under the attack, he raised his hand and grabbed the man's wrist, twisting it, "Gaahhh!" The man stepped back, dropping his blade. Ryu stood up and smirked, kicking the blade to the far end of the room, "You'll pay for this...!" The man shook his hand wildly and pocked it it. He rushed forward and rolled, tripping Ryu. Ryu hit the ground face first,
"You bastard..." Ryu pulled himself up and turned around to see the man holding the scimitar with his other hand now, his injured hand still in his pocket.
"I wanna end this now!" The man shouted through gritted teeth.
"Then do your damn job right!" Ryu shouted, motioning for the man to make a move. The man raced forward and front-flipped over Ryu. He bent backwards and slashed Ryu's back. Ryu rolled forward and whirled around, patting his back,
"Hah! I got you!" The man shouted, "Now die!" Ryu shook his head as the man moved forward slowly. The man stood before Ryu, he held the blade high above his head, "Ten million in the bag...you're going to be ok, mother." The man said, a gentle smile coming on his face.
"Does he have a reason?" Ryu thought as he waited for the man to strike. The man swung the blade downwards. In one quick movement, Ryu back-flipped and kicked the blade out of the man's hands. The blade flew into the air, the man stunned as he watched it twirl around in the air, "I...can't feel any remorse for this man!" Ryu plunged his blade forward, stabbing the man in the heart.
"Ah..." The man's mouth dropped open, "Hah..." The blade struck the ground as the two stood there, motionless. Ryu pulled his blade out and the man fell to the ground. Ryu knelt down next to him,
"Hayate sent you...right!"
"Y-yeah..." The man stuttered, "Oh man...this hurts so bad." He laughed as he clutched his wound.
"Damn it! Why!" Ryu asked, slamming the ground with his fist.
"M-my name is Elliot. Please...please take care of my mother. She's going to..." the man's eyes welled up with tears, "die." Elliot took his last few breaths, then his eyes shut, tears still running down his face.
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!" Ryu screamed. He took a few deep breaths, then glanced over at Kasumi. She had slept through it all. A girl with so many problems. A sister and brother who hated her sorely...a life with no enjoyment at all, a life lived on the run. "I'll change it..." Ryu said, "For you. For us." He stood up as the first ray's of sun broke out.
Author's Note
Jeez, I didn't intend for the chapter to go on this long! But I become so lost in it...thanks mostly to the music I was listening to on parts of the chapter which just kept pushing me on. Like during the Elliot fight I was listening to One Winged Angel, so it inspired a really awesome fight scene I hope. During Elliot's final moments I was listening to The Real Folk Blues and that one Wolf's Rain song. Damn, that made me have to make it as dramatic as I could. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and keep reading. Two review will earn you the next chapter. Oh yes, and if you notice grammar problems, don't blame me:p My keyboard is a piece of junk and sometimes dosen't input a word or period and so on.
Kenji
