Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with DOA, Temco, or Team Ninja. I do not own these purely-fictional characters.

Chapter 1
Master Ryu

Ryu Hayabusa dipped his fishing line into the murky river waters. A tall, built man, Hayabusa dressed in forest green khaki pants and a black tank top, a pointed straw hat shading his green eyes from the bright sun. Although many knew him as the Super Ninja, few knew where he lived or the fact that he loved to fish. Hayabusa gently placed his sword on the ground to exchange it for a brand new fishing pole he purchased from downtown Tokyo. He walked to the edge of the rocks along the riverbank and scanned the opposite side with his keen eyes. He smiled when along the river's edge, weaving through the trees, he saw two young boys, both probably no older than thirteen, running with wooden shinai, their laughter ringing through the forest.

The first boy wore the deep burgundy cloth and black armor of the Mugen-Tenshin clan, his hair stringy with sweat and his bangs growing awkwardly over his eyes, too short to tuck behind his ears and too long over his eyes. He trailed behind the other boy, dressed in dark black and the gold-lined black gear of the Hayabusa clan, who leaped flawlessly from rock to rock.

"I think we lost them," panted the Hayabusa boy, stopping by the river. "Once again, me and Hayate are victorious over the evil villains!"

"Hayate and I," corrected the second boy, joining his friend and wiping his hair over his forehead. "But Ryu, when are you going to get this leaf-thing down? They fly in my face when I was trying to keep up with you."

The young Ryu blushed, looking at his hands sheepishly. "My father says it's part of my powers, or something. I can call upon the Earth for strength, and when I do stuff, the leaves get in my own way. I don't know what to do about it!"

The boys began to laugh when a voice interrupted their jokes. "Stupid head, all ninjas can call upon Earth for power, that's what makes us special!" a shrill voice yelled. To the boys' horror, a small figure jumped out from the forest and landed a perfect front flip…right on top of Ryu. A girl, dressed in all black, pinned Ryu down on his back to the amusement of herself and Hayate. "Got ya!"

"Surprise!" yelled another young girl in a blue suit. Her red hair was tied back in a messy ponytail with a long yellow ribbon. She ran up to the trio at the river bank, but suddenly tripped on driftwood beached by the riverside. She yelped in pain and hugged her knee tightly, on the verge of tears. Hayate went to her aid, trying to calm her.

"Oh stupid Kasumi the klutz! Always behind everyone else," said the first girl, hopping off Ryu. Her long brown hair blew in the wind, and her brown eyes studied young Kasumi on the floor. "You know you're not supposed to make noises and give away the surprise. You're never going to be a kunoichi!"

"Will too!" retorted Kasumi, sticking out her tongue.

Hayate wrapped his arm around the other girl's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "Be nice Ayane, she's learning," he said sweetly. "We all are."

"Yeah, it's not her fault that girls can't be as good of ninjas as boys are," Ryu laughed.

That remark sent both girls tumbling over Ryu, leaving Hayate as the only one laughing.

Hayabusa chuckled to himself as the images faded to memory. The afternoon sun smiled on his muscular body, and the wind blew through his long brown ponytail. With the wind, a trail of green leaves danced in the wind, surrounding Hayabusa. He closed his eyes as he breathed in their woody-scent and suddenly tightened his grip on his fishing rod. Something was not right.

"Are you trying to sneak up on me or get past the Super Ninja?" he asked. "Kasumi…"

The amber-haired girl cursed under her breath and emerged from her crouching position behind a screen of trees. She looked at her elder friend, cocking her head. "I'm surprised your ears can still hear while on either side of your ego-filled, fat head!" she retorted, crossing her arms. Hayabusa did not turn to face her but calmly cast his line into the water. "How did you know it was me?"

"Well because my head's so big, my ears reach out much farther to detect any indiscreet kunoichi behind me," he replied. Kasumi opened her mouth in protest, but two emerald green eyes winked back to silence her. Hayabusa held his palm open towards Kasumi to reveal three milky pink sakura leaves. "There's no other girl I know who smells as sweet as these flowers."

Kasumi blushed at the compliment. At the moment, the last thing she needed was to be charmed by Hayabusa, but the scene was too perfect to mind. The sun shining down from behind his wide, muscular shoulders continued to warm the girl's cheeks and made her smile. "No wonder he likes to fish so much," Kasumi thought. "Even at 23, he still acts like when we were children sometimes. But I know he's been through so much more than I…ever since his clan…"

Hayabusa noticed a distantly dark fire flicker in Kasumi's usually bright hazel eyes. A quick jerk on his arm turned his attention back to his fishing pole. "Do you want to reel it in?" he asked to a now curious Kasumi.

Nodding, she walked to the river's edge to where Hayabusa stood. The weight of the thin fishing rod surprised Kasumi, so she gripped the foam handle like the hilt of her sword. The laughter of her friend caused her to pout inquisitively at Hayabusa.

"No, just relax your arms so you minimalize tension in the line and wear the fish out," he instructed. Kasumi loosened her grip, but the weight of the rod made her muscles shake in weariness. Seeing this, Hayabusa slowly walked behind Kasumi so her back pressed against his chest. He cupped her hands in his so he supported the rod's weight and guided her hands through the air.

Kasumi didn't know if she was warm from the sun or being so close to Hayabusa. Her dreams sent her mind into a frenzy every night, and she certainly didn't need a man to torment her during the day. Not when she knew of the important mission ahead of her. Kasumi remembered when frivolous thoughts of romance and adventure had no place in her life, but when Hayabusa returned two years ago, everything became too complicated for her simple life. Everyone in the European world knew of the so-called "Super Ninja", and her childhood playmate turned into a hero. Hayabusa returned with such notoriety, he came back to Japan only to live in seclusion, rebuilding his clan's fortress in the depths of uncharted forests. Few of Kasumi's Mugen-Tenshin clan came to help him, including her and her brother. But now her brother…

"Now!" Hayabusa commanded, pulling the fishing rod back and Kasumi from her reflections. He laughed as a large fish flounced crazily at their feet. Kasumi put the rod down, enjoying the joyous ring in her friend's deep voice. How long had it been since she heard him so happy? Why couldn't she be as strong as Hayabusa?

Her silent questions were only answered by large ripples from the river and a shadow growing from within the waters. "Haya-Hayabusa! What is that?" she stammered, backing away from the edge of the rock.

Instinctively, Hayabusa unsheathed his sword and took his fighting stance, Kasumi safely behind him. He inched forward, tensely, when the thing sprang into the air in a burst of water. Kasumi fell to the floor, her bangs covering her eyes, heavily drenched with river water. When she wiped them from her vision, she saw Hayabusa pinning someone to the ground with his sword at their throat. It was a woman!

"Aww, Haya-honey, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" she cooed from underneath the ninja.

Hayabusa stayed tensed for a moment before, as if never attacked, he calmly drew back his lethal sword. He walked back to tend to his now tangled fishing line, ignoring a completely clueless Kasumi on the floor. "What do you want Rachel?" he asked gruffly.

Kasumi watched him pretend to wind the plastic string back into its reel. She really saw him wrap it around his fist a few times and break it with the strength of his hand. His green eyes no longer shone green, but froze icy cold and dark. I wonder who this woman really is…

"Well it's nice to know you still remember me," she replied, completely oblivious to Hayabusa's annoyance. She stood up, revealing much of her curvaceous body in a very revealing leather swimsuit. Kasumi averted her eyes to ignore how beautiful she was in an untamed kind of way, her blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders and bright red lips in a smirk. "I was hoping I'd run into you doing whatever thing you do, like the old days."

Hayabusa squatted, still hovering over his fishing rod and his back to the new arrival. For a second, he locked eyes with Kasumi before he turned to face Rachel. "Those 'old days' happen to be my bad days, for your information. Many thanks to you," he said coldly. "And now that you've seen me doing my thing, which was being happy, how about you go on your way before I have to save us from whatever trouble you just happen to bring."

Rachel smirked, finally hurt from Hayabusa's coldness. She put her hands on her waist and turned away from his piercing gaze. "I came here to ask you something," she said, throwing in a few dramatic pauses. "I felt a stirring in my blood, nature is not right, but it couldn't be…"

"It's not," snapped Hayabusa. "I'm sure it's not…them."

Kasumi furrowed her brow in confusion. Who was this woman exactly, and what were they talking about? Could it have something to do with Hayabusa's past mission? Has she hurt him in some way for him to act so irritated? Was she…his lover from the past?

She pushed that last question out of her mind, cursing herself for even thinking about Hayabusa's personal life. And worse, feeling jealous of it. As Hayabusa and Rachel talked feverishly, she brushed off her blue kunoichi outfit and began to stand up, when something flew right in front of her face and startled her back down. It was a kunai with a beautiful magenta flower pin wheel spinning in the wind. Hayabusa stopped arguing to look at it. He felt a pang of déjà vu.

"It is not the Fiends that you fear," called out a familiar voice. A figure jumped out of the trees, a flash of purple covered by a dark black cape. She flipped over Kasumi and landed next to Hayabusa and Rachel, blocking the kunoichi's view. "But there is something wrong."

"I knew it!" exclaimed Rachel, snapping her fingers. "We must find out what it is!"

"We?" scoffed Hayabusa. "I doubt what happens here in my world has much to do with you. And how did you find me? This place is supposed to be a secret to outsiders."

"I'll have you know that your world isn't so small, Super Ninja," Rachel replied. Hayabusa flinched at the title she threw at him. "I'm living in France now, but I still can't escape you. Myths of modern machine fighters are circulating around Europe, and they think you're just super! But despite this, I could still feel that something is wrong. The only person I think of, who I thought would understand…is you."

"Being thrown into a situation is one thing, but it is not understanding. I understood what I had to do then, but, I will not fight anymore. I'm trying to live my life in peace right now," he replied calmly.

Rachel nodded her head and turned back to the river. "I'll be in France if you need any information. I thought I'd just give you a heads up…I think something is very wrong." She began to walk back to the edge of the water, but turned around. "Oh, and I'm sorry I startled your girlfriend. She's cute. You like them young, don't you Ryu?"

With Kasumi blushing once more, Rachel jumped into the water and disappeared from sight.

Hayabusa averted his eyes, lost in thought. Then Ayane put a hand on his arm. "Master Ryu," she said softly. Hayabusa looked at her with concern; she hadn't called him that since her days with Murai…

"Something is wrong. I've been meaning to tell you, something is lurking in the Miyama. I don't feel safe there."

Hayabusa smiled and ruffled her hair. "So the witch actually wanted to come out of her forest and join civilization?"

"You should talk!" she laughed back, pushing Hayabusa in his chest. Their moods were still tense with their encounter.

Kasumi jumped up from the ground, realizing that she was still part of the situation. "Who was she?" she suddenly blurted. Kasumi almost hit herself. Why did she always have to be so clueless? Ayane was sure to tease her so.

The other kunoichi just looked at her. Kasumi tried to hold her composure; she was not used to seeing Ayane with purple hair. She remembered the first time Ayane came to train at the Mugen-Tenshin Estate: she flinched when she saw the new appearance. Long gone were the soft brown hair she shared with Hayate and the eager round brown eyes. Ayane stood proud, a fully trained clan leader of the Hajin Mon at the young age of sixteen, her eyes cold and piercing, her black armor menacingly daring anyone of the Mugen-Tenshin to harass her as they did when they were children. Kasumi never understood why Ayane's appearance changed so drastically, why the clan shunned her, or why Kasumi always feared her younger half-sister.

Yet, something else bothered Hayabusa rather than Ayane's stealthy appearance. He spent more time with her half-sister than Kasumi ever did, and once again, she was left with her own cluelessness.

"Don't worry, Kasumi," Hayabusa said softly. "It's nothing you should wrinkle your pretty face over. We know Rachel from…from when I had to go away."

Ayane let out a chuckle and turned her back to talk to Hayabusa. Kasumi flushed; he treated her like a child, not a woman.

"How long have you felt threatened in the Miyama?" Hayabusa asked the purple-haired girl. "Why haven't you told me about this?"

"I doubted it was your concern. I asked Genra for help, but…"

"Not my concern? I promised Hayate that I would always look after you two," he replied. "By the way, you aren't still making assassinations for those people, are you Ayane? You know that's not proper etiquette…"

"For a girl, I know, I know!" Ayane interrupted. She did not look into Hayabusa's all-knowing eyes. Her hand clenched into a fist; he did not understand her motives.

"For a kunoichi," Hayabusa corrected. "You know, you just make the slanderous things the samurai said about ninjas in ancient times true to the people of today. The clans don't accept you for the way you act."

Ayane rolled her eyes. This intervention wasn't working. "HER clan doesn't accept me. You forget, I may be only half Hajin-Mon, but they accept me fully as their next leader. I think I can make choices for myself. But this is far from what I wanted to talk to you about, Hayabusa. I'm going to find answers, and the only way I can think of is by doing these hits."

"Answers to what?" Hayabusa asked slowly.

"Hayate."

Hayabusa closed his eyes, exhaling his breath to calm his thoughts. His old "friend" Rachel appeared, his best friend's little sister was assassinating people for the western world, and Kasumi tried to sneak past him…Kasumi! Hayabusa turned around only to find Kasumi fiddling with his fishing pole. When she realized he was staring at her, she smiled nervously and put the object down.

"Hayate is not your concern, as your actions are not mine," he said gravely, turning back to Ayane. "I will bring him back."

"How? I haven't seen you do anything to find him, Hayabusa!" Ayane snapped back. "Unlike you, I can't just sit back and wait for him to come home like a lost dog. I am not afraid to actually go out and find him."

Hayabusa pressed his mouth into a thin line. He stared at her, not in anger, but pity. "If you have walked my shoes, you would know that I sliced fear in two with my sword. But I can't make any rash actions to find Hayate. There's much more to think about and wait."

"You forget Hayabusa…I was there with you too," she said quietly. Hayabusa did not respond. "Well I've waited for eleven months now, and I'll be damned if one more goes by with my brother missing," Ayane said icily.

Her face suddenly softened. "I'm sorry. I just don't have any answers for my people. They ask for help because they are scared to travel out of the fortress, and the Mugen-Tenshin won't help because…of me. Hayate would've come to my aid, but he's…he's missing, and his clan thinks it's my fault!"

"I'll help your people, sister," Kasumi said gently. She had walked close to her friends who, for a moment, forgot she was still there. "I know Hayate's disappearance isn't your fault."

"Oh, so what do you plan on doing about it?" sneered Ayane. "Ordering your people to help an enemy when you're clan leader?"

Kasumi wrinkled her eyebrows, and Hayabusa shook his head. "She's only trying to help, Ayane."

"Hayabusa," she said, covering her head with her black hood. "If you can barely do anything about my problem, what makes you think that bubble-head has any good ideas? I'm going to do what I've been doing, which is help myself. If you change your mind, find me…if you can keep up."

With that, Ayane jumped out of sight, back into the forest.

Hayabusa sighed at his predicament. "Women", he thought sadly. Truthfully, he had no idea where to start looking for Hayate. He had been so busy rebuilding his land for the past months and paying proper homage to those who perished: his entire village. Deep down, he was also ashamed that he had let his plans take priority over finding his best friend, who helped with his project. And although he said he knew no fear, he didn't want to be taken away from his homeland for so long again. The hero thing wasn't his department.

"Do you think I'm a bubble-head?" Kasumi asked quietly after watching Hayabusa contend with his thoughts in silence.

The ninja looked up at her soft face and couldn't help but smile. "I'd think you're a bubble-head only if you dare to think you are something as silly as that," he replied. "You know how Ayane gets when she's driven by something. Don't mind her."

Kasumi nodded and walked back to the riverbank and sat down, hugging her knees to her chest. She stared at the spot where Rachel had appeared before revealing a side of Hayabusa and Ayane she never knew. They had done so much as ninjas already, and she felt like she was left behind, never knowing any real combat outside of her Mugen-Tenshin world. How did she expect to find Hayate if the more-experienced Ayane and Hayabusa were at a loss? Could she really leave and find him on her own?

A hand appeared in front of her holding an intricately-woven flower made out of green leaves. Kasumi smiled and took it. "You used to make these for me when you finally learned how to control the leaves," she said softly. Kasumi closed her eyes and blew the flower into the river.

"What did you wish for?" Hayabusa asked, sitting with his legs over the rock next to Kasumi.

She smiled coyly at him. "If I tell you, it won't come true."

Hayabusa nodded and grinned. "Have you thought about the notion that you're going to be the next clan leader? That's a big responsibility."

"I know, and I know that I'm not the right person for it," replied Kasumi. "I wish I can be as strong as Ayane or Hayate…or even you."

"Now I hope you didn't waste that flower wishing for that," Hayabusa scolded. He pointed to her reflection in the river. "You are very strong, Kasumi. If you think acting strong is the same as hiding your emotions, you're wrong. You follow your heart, and it shows. Someone like you cannot be stopped."

"Someone like me?"

Hayabusa cupped his hands once more and when he opened them, a heart and another flower of leaves emerged. He gave the heart to Kasumi as he put the flower in her hair. "Listen to your heart. Surely it will lead to somewhere you know you belong."

Kasumi stared at the heart in her hand. Then she let it out. "My heart tells me to leave this place and find Hayate."

She looked away, scared of Hayabusa's reaction. She did not see the muscles in his face tense, and he did not answer. "That Rachel woman, you met her when you were gone, right?" Kasumi asked hesitantly. "What happened when you were away?"

Hayabusa looked at her startled. He did not expect that question from someone as innocent as Kasumi. "She's not my type, if that's what you're asking," he replied.

Kasumi blushed. "I didn't mean it like that! I meant, what did you do, where did you go when you were gone? Maybe Hayate went to do the same thing."

"Trust me, he didn't," Hayabusa said bitterly. "Let's just say that I don't want to be the one responsible for giving you nightmares, Kasumi." He watched her stiffen at his comment. "In fact, I wanted to ask you the same thing."

Kasumi's eyes grew dark. She looked down at the river, and after a moment, said, "I wish I could tell you, but I can't."

Hayabusa nodded. "How about this? When you want to tell me where you went for those six months, I'll tell you a little about my adventures. The cool stuff."

Kasumi tried to smile, but she looked at him sadly. "No." Hayabusa was taken aback at her response. "I'd like to tell you, but I can't remember. I just know I haven't been the same since, and…and you don't have to worry about the nightmares, Ryu. I have enough of them all ready!"

With that, she took off running back into the forest, stifling her tears. Hayabusa could've stopped her, but instead, looked at the heart crushed to pieces on the ground, smashed by Kasumi's hurried steps.