Chapter 41

A lone figure walked along the hallways of the hospital. She was a pretty, young woman. Her gaze went from side to side, looking for any clues that might get her closer to her objective.

She picked the lock of one of the back entrances and sneaked in quietly, intent on not being seen.

Suddenly she heard steps coming from down the hallway. Her eyes darted around and quickly found a door that wasn't completely closed. She placed a hand against it and pushed it open just a small gap to take a look inside.

Good, no one was there. She opened the door more and gracefully slid inside, closing it shut behind her and pressing herself against the closest wall. The woman remained that way until she heard the footsteps pass her and fading off in the distance.

Nodding to herself she took the time to look around. It looked like some kind of locker room. Opening one of the lockers she found herself lucky and pulled out a doctor's white coat.

Putting it on and closing it, she pulled her hair into a quick up-do to look all business, then left the room to continue in her search.

She had to find out where they had taken the girl. Her safest bet would be to check out the hospital database, they should have added her to it by now. But her improvised disguise wouldn't help her with that.

As she debated what she should do she walked past two talking nurses.

"Have you heard about that emergency from a few hours ago?" one asked.

"You mean the one that was found right outside?"

"Yes. Apparently she got into some kind of fight and someone just placed her there."

"How did it go?"

"Oh she's fine. Sleeps away the surgery in 314."

"What a relief. Imagine how the press would be all over us if she died."

She waited until they rounded they corner and their chatter was only faintly heard in the distance until she continued onward. Directly for the elevator.

After stepping inside her finger trailed along the panel until it stopped over the button display 3. She pressed it without hesitation.

She stood there until the doors opened again and stepped out, then looked at the room numbers until she found the one where she had to go. As she approached it she heard something and the door to room 314 opened. She froze when a young woman came out of the room, rubbing one of her eyes.

Someone was with her? That would complicate things...

She looked the woman over. From her body language she seemed to have just woken up. That could be to her advantage. Maybe she wouldn't know the difference and just think she was a doctor that checked up on the patients.

"Evening..." the woman muttered as she walked past her, muttering something about where the toilet was again. Releasing a sigh of relief she walked onward and waited until the woman was out of sight before accessing the room.

Without a sound she closed the door and walked towards the girl lying on the bed. She stood there for a moment, then let something small slid down from her wrist so that it surrounded her right hand. She held it out towards the wound that girl had taken.

Her left hand shot up to her mouth and formed a hand sign.

"Om namo bhagawate Bhaishjaye guru." she started to mutter under her breath. A bright glow started to emanate from her right hand.

"Vaidurya prabha rajaya tathagataya." She continued and the glow spread towards the wound. Narrowing her eyes she intensified her focus. She was too slow. She had to finish before the other one got back.

"Arhate samyaksam buddhaya teyatha." The glow spread further across the girl's body.

Good she thought. This would take care of whatever toxins there may have been on the blade and would help speed up the healing process.

"Om bekhajye bekhajye maha bekhajye." Suddenly the eyelids of the girl started to flutter.

Damn, the narcosis is affected by it as well. She thought when the girl's eyes started to open. She looked at her with unfocused eyes, still half-asleep.

"Lei..fang?"

"No, but I'm a friend. Don't worry it'll be better soon."

"Not...mad. Never was mad...at you."

"Bekhajye rajaya samungate svaha." she completed the chant and the glow started to dissipate. "Shh" she lulled her. "Just close your eyes and go back to sleep."

"So special to me...make me feel so many things..."

And with a final "Leifang." she was back asleep. She looked her over once more. Was Leifang the one she had passed in the hallway then?

It didn't matter. It was of no concern to her. She had done what she was asked to do.

She turned away from the girl and went out through the door. On her way to the elevator she passed Leifang, giving her a nod before entering it, riding it to the first floor and from there calmly walking out of the hospital and down the empty streets.

And that girl had really taken on Black Spider Clan Ninjas? It didn't seem possible. But one should never judge a book by its cover and Master Ryu, as well as Ayane and Master Hayate, had vouched for her.

Glancing back she gave the hospital one last look before forming a few signs with her hands. A smile formed on her full lips and with a gust of wind Momiji was gone.

Hitomi felt like she was floating on clouds. The only thing she could remember was the outskirts of the black forest, the fight against those Ninja and that she had been stabbed.

And there was this young woman surrounded by a bright light. Had she died? Was that woman an angel that was sent to get her?

If so why was it so dark here? Wasn't heaven supposed to be bright and, well, heavenly?

...Or was she in hell?

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of someone opening a window and fresh air hit her in the face, followed by bright sunlight stinging her eyes. She tried opening them but found that her eyelids seemed too heavy.

After her third attempt she finally managed to open them a crack and saw a person dressed in scrubs leaving the room, closing the door silently. Opening her eyes fully she took a look around the room. Uninviting white walls surrounded her and she was covered in sheets of the same color.

Her eyes found the needle in her arm and the tube leading from it to the IV that had a clear liquid in it.

I'm in a hospital? She wondered. Hitomi tried to move a little but had to stop due to the pain that raked through her body. That guy really had done a number on her. She knew she was lucky to be alive in the first place.

She hoped the other ones were okay. It was silly, they were trained for this kind of thing, lived it everyday, but she couldn't help but still worry.

Wonder how Ayane's arm is doing.

Hitomi looked up at the ceiling and let out a groan. God, she hated hospitals. Always did, always would. She had to spend a few days in a hospital once because her cecum had to be removed and it was pure hell.

Not because she was in constant pain or something, far from it. No, it was the sheer boredom that nearly drove her insane.

The idea of having to lie down, 'taking it easy', aggravated her already and she had just woken up. She didn't even want to think what would happen in a few days.

If the trio didn't beat those other Ninja then she would do it once she got out of here. She wasn't exhausted this time. Now that she thought about it she preferred being dead over being stuck here.

The Karateka let out a sigh and rested her head deeper into the pillow. She was being stupid.

Her eyes widened in realization. "Leifang!"

She tried to sit up but the pain in her side caused her to fall right back down. Hitomi needed to get a phone. She needed to call Leifang and let her know she was in hospital. And she needed to make up with her.

Just when she was about to try again the door opened and in walked the target of her current endeavor. Leifang halted in the door frame and their gazes met instantly. The Chinese gaped at her for a moment. The plastic cup of water that she was holding nearly fell out of her grip and to the floor as she dashed to the bedside.

"Hitomi!"

"Leifang." she said and had to cough because of the dryness in her throat. As she moved her lips she also noted that they were chipped in a few places.

"Thank god." Leifang said and placed her left hand on Hitomi's right cheek. Without hesitation the German leaned into her girlfriend's touch, fighting back the wince as she felt just how bruised she was.

"How did-" she had to cough again.

"Here drink this." Leifang said and held the cup against her lips. The German greedily drank every last drop from it and even though it was just water it tasted heavenly.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked once more after a moment. Her voice was still sounding a bit raspy but she could talk.

Leifang placed the empty cup onto the bedside table, sat down in the chair and explained to her how Viktor had told her and how he had learned of it from Tim.

"He said that he found you outside. Can you remember anything about it?" Leifang asked.

Hitomi shook her head. "No I don't. The last thing I remember is-"

She caught herself before she could blurt out that she fought some Ninjas near the forest.

"Remember what?" Leifang asked and the worry was clear on her face. "What happened?"

Hitomi looked at her girlfriend. She didn't know, but something seemed to have changed. She didn't want to keep this from her and it wasn't just the promise of never keeping secrets from her, she had said her piece on that rule last night after all.

No. If she wanted to make up with Leifang she had to be honest. And it seemed that Viktor and her were at least talking to one another from what she gathered.

"The last thing I remember is when I was stabbed. Listen," she put her hand on Leifang's and looked her deep in the eyes. "I'll tell you what happened. Everything. But not now. Later, okay?"

"I-All right." Leifang sighed. She didn't like it, but she agreed. She trusted Hitomi.

"Thanks." Hitomi gave her a grateful smile. "You look disheveled."

"Yes, that happens when you sleep in a hospital chair."

Hitomi blinked in surprise. "You-you stayed all night."

Leifang looked at their hands and then moved hers to interlace their fingers. "How could I not?"

"Leifang..." She wanted to say more but Leifang leaned over from the seat, placed her other hand on her cheek and captured the Karateka's lips with her own.

Hitomis eyes widened in surprise, but quickly regained her composure and returned the kiss.

This is really happening. Since Leifang's return she had wanted to do this again and finally after weeks of waiting. A sudden burst of energy went through her body and she pulled the Chinese onto the bed.

Leifang pulled her lips away. "Hitomi, wait! Your injury." But Hitomi didn't even thought on stopping. She placed herself so she could pull Leifang closer without running into danger of putting a strain on her wound.

Not wasting any more time she kissed her again and despite her protest Leifang couldn't help but eagerly join in. A moan escaped her as Hitomi started to stroke through her dark hair, making the Karateka deepen the kiss.

She had been a fool. How could she not have been ready for this when it felt so right to kiss Hitomi?

Stupid. Leifang thought. She giggled when Hitomi playfully nibbled on her lower lip.

Suddenly there was the sound of someone opening and closing the door, making them break apart and looking towards it.

And for her debut in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate let's all give Momiji a round of applause!

Funny coincidence since I couldn't forsee back when I wrote this chapter (far ahead guys, remember?) that she would be a playable character in Dead or Alive proper.

Another fun fact: Ninja culture is largely buddhistic, did you know that? I did some crazy researching before I even went ahead to write this chapter, not like I can actually put it to use since this story isn't about the Ninjas :P

So see you next week!