I'm so happy. I got my wireless net working again, so I don't have to mess up the already messy study to use the net. Laziness always triumphs!

-Cough- Anyway… no, no… justice always does! Ryu's justice, anyway.

Ryu no seigi wa katsu! –Waves fangirlish flags-

Mia, your story really does rule. It was one of the first I read when I came to the DOA fanfiction section, and it was one of my favourites from the start. I really hope you continue it! -Puppy dog eyes-

Wolf… Wilf? It has an interesting ring to it, that's for sure. But that's okay, I nearly called you Wofl, so there you go. Is WOFL any relation to ROFL?

Thankyou everybody for reviewing! It's really nice of you. I love you guys! –Sob-

A sudden chill assailed her frame as a sharp breeze cut through the cave. She was huddled up in the back corner, leaning against the rocky wall, clutching another equally tattered blanket to her. The wind seemed to be going right through it.

However, she must have fallen asleep, despite her wanting to stay awake to keep watch. The moon was high in the sky, which it hadn't been the last time she remembered being awake. There was some movement and she instantly went for her tanto, however, upon further inspection she realised it was just Ryu. On third glance, she was unpleasantly notified that it could be of more concern then she had originally thought.

He was sleeping fitfully; there was no other word for it. He was constantly rolling over, despite how this would assumedly aggravate the wound, and tossing and turning. She softly walked over there, gently shaking him. Nothing.

"Ryu, wake up. You're-" she stopped abruptly as a hand tightly encircled her wrist.

Emerald eyes, startlingly clear, were boring into her as he grasped her wrist. It was beginning to hurt. That was how much pressure he was using.

"Let go of me, Ryu…" she started, but the look in his eyes clearly said that he wouldn't be letting go of anything any time soon.

She was beginning to feel uneasy despite herself. What was wrong with him? He suddenly looked so different, so… evil. Attempting to prise her wrist away from his hand proved futile. He was still as incredibly strong as before.

"Ryu, please, let go! You're hurting!" Before she could think twice, she had pulled out her tanto with her other hand and held it against Ryu's throat.

His eyes widened as they took in what she had just done. He dropped her hand instantaneously, eyes flickering shut as his head dropped to the blanket.

"What is wrong with you?" she questioned aloud.

Soft murmuring escaped Ryu's lips. The only words she understood were 'ninja', 'assassin' and 'Kasumi'. The rest sounded like useless mumbling.

"What did you say, Ryu? Talk to me,"

He said something else that immediately made the hairs on her neck stand on end, in simple words for her to understand. "Assassins. They want to kill you. Look around here,"

For some reason, that sparked fear within her. Or perhaps it was paranoia.

Probably paranoia.

"Ryu? What do you mean?"

He was well and truly unconscious again.

She paused, hard in thought.

How could he know if there were assassins when he was out of it from poison? But it was better to be safe, paranoid and wondering about how Ryu could know such things then ignorant until the very end, was it not?

She gripped the hilt of her tanto tightly, peeking around the wall of the front of the cave. Surely, nothing would come from it.

A sharp gasp of surprise as she came face-to-mask with three Mugen-Tenshin ninjas.