Hayabusa lost sight of Kasumi when the firefighters arrived. She was so obstinate and he didn't want to force her to go into the mountains with him. Kasumi wasn't the damsel in distress type, she was resourceful and strong-willed. But, the more she rubbed herself at danger, the more Ryû lost his self-control.

" Ridiculous… I'm ridiculous if I thought she would actually consider it…" he thought, heading home to his antique shop.

Hayabusa heard something in the forest behind him. He turned himself, his hand on his sword, ready to fight.

" Show yourself!" said his loud voice

No sound, no reply.

" Don't! It's me, Hayate!"

" What are you doing here?" asked Hayabusa

" I heard about the fire. "

" Don't talk about this here…"

The two men went in front of the antique shop's door. Ryû thought it was strange, the door was unlocked. He made signs at Hayate to be quiet and to cover him. He opened the door only to be surprised by Irene who was back from her mission in New York.

" Never do that again without warning me!"

" My god, why being so tense? Can I have at least a "Hi, I missed you"?"

Hayate stepped in, closed the door and locked it.

" Hi Hayate"

" Irene" responded Hayate

" Did you see what happened?" he finally asked to Ryû

" Indeed. The building was torn apart."

" You didn't take her anywhere else?"

" Hayate, Kasumi is always rubbing herself against danger. I tried and she refused" he said

" You tried? The mighty Ryû Hayabusa tried? I would…" said Hayate while clenching his fist

" I am sure her boyfriend will take good care of her." He said calmly, interrupting him.

Hayate and Irene looked at each other. They could feel a point of irony in his words, almost anger albest his calmness. She didn't like it. Firstly, for her, it looks like Ryû lost his composure at his best friend's sister, at least in his head. Secondly, she was being ignored, when their relationship is almost non-existent anymore.

" Her boyfriend?" said Hayate puzzled

" I lose my self-control when it's about her… betraying myself… It's foolish and absurd of me…" he thought

" She went into the blazes and said the door was already open" said Ryû, changing the topic

" So it wasn't an accident?"

" Not in my opinion." he said

" Damn it…" Hayate stood up and went to open the door.

" Where are you going?" asked irene

" Finding more information, I'm sure it was from the elders or even Ayane!" said Hayate before eclipsing himself.

Irene wanted to confront the man she loved so bad, but not now. She was in her own head, analyzing all the information she had. Was she paranoid? Did he really love her? Was he seeing someone else? Was Kasumi a homewrecker? The silence was heavy, she couldn't bear it longer. She went to take a shower, hoping Ryû would join her. Instead, he joined her when she went to sleep. He didn't say a word, neither did she.

In the middle of the night, someone knocked on the door, waking up the couple.

" That's weird… who could it be past midnight?" Said Irene grumpy

" It must be urgent" he answered looking at her

Hayabusa got up and didn't mind dressing himself, shirtless, only wearing jogging pants.

Ryû turned the knob, only half opening, leaning on the door lining. When he saw who it was, he opened it entirely.

" Kasumi!"

When Irene heard that name, she took something to cover herself and stuck her head out of the bedroom to look at.

" You shouldn't be here… " Ryû said

" If they find you again…" he thought

When Kasumi saw Irene, Instead of entering, she started to walk backward.

" You are right, I shouldn't be here" she said before turning around and vanishing.

Ryû was stunned, he didn't understand the motives she had to endanger herself going to his shop's apartment. Or maybe he did…

"What was that?" said irene

Ryû looked at her perplexed. He laid against the wall, his arms crossed.

" Look, we said we could see other people, but you lost your composure and seemed jealous earlier when you spoke to Hayate. And I didn't even get a greeting either? " Irene looked hurt.

" Were you seeing her? Having her?"

" No I didn't have anyone…" he looked at her seriously with a raised eyebrow

" Ryû, you told me about how the three of you were always together when you were younger."

" Irene…" Ryû said, closing his eyes.

Between running the shop, fighting fiends, ninjas and all sorts of enemies, while keeping an eye on Kasumi, he didn't sleep that much. Ryû was tired and didn't want to have that conversation, but there was no good time for it either. They were having it.

" I know you are not the sentimental type… But I have to know…"

" Do you feel something for her?" she finally asked

" I always have… " said his husky voice, looking at her. He didn't look down, not even one time. Hayabusa wasn't ashamed to tell her his own truth.

" When we were supposed to get married?" she almost shouted, shocked

" I said I wasn't ready to throw our relationship, not to have some wedding project, you know it" Ryû said calmly

" And I understand why now! It wasn't only because of your clan, your father or your duty… You couldn't love me enough because she was always there…" she frowned

" You may take my bedroom for the night and leave tomorrow." He said

" You are a cold, cold man Ryû Hayabusa! and a coward!" Irene answered before leaving for the bedroom.

Ryû Hayabusa was cold-blooded, yes, and he felt unconcerned by her words. He was just like everyone remembered him, after all. He was concerned about only one thing, Kasumi being hunted down tonight. He dressed up with a shirt, his leather jacket and his blade and headed outside. All he wanted was to desperately scream her name in the forest, only to find her. How strategic Ryû was, he didn't do it that way. Alas, even with all his skills, she still disappeared into the darknest of this really night.

When he returned home, Irene didn't wait for the morning and already left the apartment. She was right, the mighty dragon was actually a coward in a way. He knew he did wrong to Irene, but at the same time she knew in what she went for, what was on Ryu's mind. Irene was a coward herself too, for ignoring all his background deliberately. At least, Ryû doesn't need to feel concerned about her anymore and that night, he fell asleep fast, for once he wasn't studying parchment or wondering about fiends.

[ Ninja Gaiden Worship song starts ]

He was practicing kyudo when she came to see him, proposing to be her teammate for the next mission. With her cinnamon hair reflecting the sun, her amber eyes fixed on his bare shoulder and her smile, he couldn't refuse her demand. They prepared themselves and left the town for their next mission. It was already dark outside, they were separated, only him to found her dead a couple of hours later, not knowing it was a clone of her.

The strong and logical shinobi woke up confused after having this vivid and irrational dream. He has to find a way to keep her safe at all costs.
"How will I be able to live with her dead? I got to find her and convince her to stay with me and avoid danger"

Should he be honest with himself for once?

Author's word : Hey there! I am sorry I was on hiatus since late march 2023 for personnal reasons. Here are some new chapters! :)