Hello! This is my very first fanfiction! The story took a very different turn than from what I had previously envisioned, but it's still so amazing! (At least, I believe so ^^). There are a few things that I should warn you of before you begin reading, just in case if you disagree with something in the story or other purposes:

1.) I do not own Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, or the Mugen Tenshin/Hayabusa Ninja Clan. Many people would wish to own them but as for me...I just wish they would own each other. I'm forever a part of Team RyuHay!

2.) This story has explicit scenes. VERY explicit scenes. If you are uncomfortable with mild usage of profanity and extremely detailed descriptions of sexual acts between two very gorgeous men, then this Yaoi Fanfiction is not for you.

3.) If you are one of those people that know everything there is to know about Ryu Hayabusa and Hayate and I have mistated something, please leave a comment so that my ignorance can be corrected. Although I've done my research, there may be something that I have misinterpreted. We ARE human...although I wish Ryu and Hayate were as well!

4.) Please leave reviews if you like it! And also if you don't! I enjoy reasonable disagreements with my writings if there is sound logic behind them. It helps me improve.

5.) Thank you so much for reading my fanfiction! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! (Especially since I had to envision Ryu and Hayate in many positions...*faint*).

~*~*~*~*~Chapter 3: The Proposal~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean?" Ryu's voice was quiet.

"You just stare at me...with those eyes. Those dead eyes that don't express anything to me." Hayate grabbed his arm and pulled Ryu close to him. "It's only when I touch you do you seem to react...to come alive."

Vacant green eyes stared into crushed hazel ones. "Anyone would react if they were being touched so lewdly."

"Exactly. So what am I to you? A rival? Your best friend?"

"Best friends would not do this with each other, Hayate-".

"I know. Lovers would."

Ryu's eyes narrowed a bit. "We are not lovers."

"But I want to be yours." Hayate made Ryu snuggle closer to him by holding him by the waist. "I want to be with you."

He shook his head slowly. "No, Hayate. We cannot be together." His eyes bore into his.

"Why?" Hayate said exasperated and not a little angry. "Why can't we be together? It's obvious that we belong together and you want to be with me."

"Why do you want to be with me? Because of Irene?" He frowned. "I do not want you to be with me because of pity."

"This isn't about pity, Ryu!" Hayate furiously shook his head. "Because Irene never loved you!"

His heart seemed to freeze. He suddenly realized that he had said something that was possibly unforgivable. It was the first time Hayate had seen a mixture of pure shock and rage cross Ryu's face. His eyes displayed dangerous contempt. "What kind of person would leave the person they love just because that person couldn't offer stability?" He continued in a softer tone.

"A person who is willing to sacrifice for their lover's happiness."

With his inhumane agility, Ryu had broken free from Hayate's cuddle and retied his kimono before Hayate was able to get off of the floor.

"I don't care who you are, but I know this." He enveloped Ryu in his arms once more before he could stomp away in anger. "There is no way that anyone who is truly in love will let their lover walk away if there was a chance for a compromise that would not hurt either." He gave a heavy sigh. "I love you, Ryu. I will not let you go."

Ryu tried to break from Hayate's embrace but was only held tighter. "Let me go."

"No." Hayate said firmly. "I won't. I won't because I can't." He brought his arms up to cover Ryu's crossed arms. "If I let you go...you'll leave me." Ryu heard the pain in his shaky voice as Hayate continued. "I don't want you to leave me, Ryu."

Ryu shivered as he felt Hayate breathe near his ear. "Hayate, do you want me to be happy?"

"Of course I do!" His voice was choked. "Why wouldn't I want you to be?"

"Then let me go." Ryu felt Hayate's arms relax slightly. It was silent in the sparring room, the light from the sun rapidly fading which bathed the room in a dim orange hue.

"Is that what you want?" He broke the silence. "If that is what you really want, Ryu, I will do it. I will let you go. No matter how much I want to keep you with me, I cannot keep you against your will. But I will never leave you. I will always be there when you need me. Irene has not done that, but I will."

He then slid his arms away from Ryu, feeling very cold. Ryu was going to leave him. He was going to pack his things and disappear without telling him where he was going. His heart was heavy. He wouldn't be able to casually see him in his antique shop as he headed to the clan dojo to teach karate. He wouldn't be able to quietly hide in the trees and watch him fish. He wouldn't be able to have dinner with him or train with him. The world would collapse around Hayate. His eyes were full of tears when he felt something on his lips.

It was Ryu. He had softly kissed him, then pulled away to watch a tear trickle down his cheek.

"You are...so naive."

He ran a thumb across Hayate's cheek, wiping the tear away. He turned his face away when Hayate began to kiss him which did not phase Hayate. He continued to kiss Ryu elsewhere.

"And extremely impulsive." He softly gasped. "But I know you do not mean the hurtful things that pass from your lips."

"And you're so inexperienced," Hayate whispered. He added, after hearing an angry grunt in response. "but we all are when it comes to love."

He untied his black kimono and slid it off of his shoulders so that he could watch it fall flawlessly off Ryu. That scent again... Every time he was near Ryu, he smelled Japanese blossoms. The colors of the flowers matched the tint of his cheeks whenever he happened to be embarrassed, like he was now. He ran his fingers across Ryu's body, listening to his quiet sighs. He slowly rubbed Ryu's ass before slipping his fingers onto his cock. Ryu was pressed against Hayate, clutching at Hayate's arms.

"I'm not doing this because of Irene, Ryu. I'm doing this because I want you."

Hayate was pleased to see that Ryu was reacting to him, although it teased at the back of his mind why Ryu's anger had been appeased so quickly.

"Ryu-"

Ryu suddenly pulled away and walked towards a door that led away from the sparring room. He opened the door, looked back at Hayate, then disappeared into the room. Hayate slowly followed him in.

The room was full of Japanese cherry blossoms in ornate vases and a large futon that had been laid out. Candles had been lit which gave the room a romantic ambiance. Atop a large dark cherry wood cabinet sat the Dragon Sword, the blade that was passed down through generations of the Hayabusa Clan.

This was Ryu's room.

He had never been allowed within the confines of Ryu's personal spaces. He had never dared ask to even enter when he had offered Ryu the guest room in his house. He had stayed outside the door while Ryu, in his modest way, accepted Hayate's offer to live with him. But tonight, he would invade all of Ryu: his room, his body, and hopefully his soul.

He let his eyes drift from the beauty of the room to Ryu. His naked body seemed to glisten in the soft candlelight. His hair was draped over one shoulder as he rested himself on his arms. Hayate noticed the gaze within his eyes. He seemed hungry, as if he were starving and he needed Hayate to fulfill him. He watched as Ryu slowly opened his legs, an invitation to Hayate to lie between them.

"Hayate." Ryu whispered. "I still do not know what to think. You are telling me all of these things, but...I do not know if I can believe you."

Hayate smiled. "Don't worry about that, Ryu. I will show you how much I love you."

Ryu blushed before speaking once more. "If you can do that, Hayate...if you can make love to me honestly...then I will be yours and I will never leave you."

Note: I really don't like Irene. I think she is honestly a waste of a character and not at all suitable for Ryu (I would even settle for Kasumi or Ayane..blegh.) This chapter was just as short as the second one. I tried to elongate it but, for some reason, there wasn't any detail that really needed to be added in any part of the story (from what I could tell). Maybe I just want to hurry and get to the whole reason why I love RyuHay: the fact that both of them are perfect together. I hope you enjoy the ending that is soon to come!