Ryû Hayabusa went outside his bedroom and decided to call back Irene.

" Hi Irene, I was busy, I'm sorry I couldn't answer"

" Ryû, it has been weeks since we last saw each other, do you want this to work or not?" Irene said.

" Irene, if I didn't want it, it would be over already, you know it. Maybe we can see each other at your apartment in the next few days?" Ryû answered with confidence but he was slightly cold to her

" I can't, I will be on a mission with a colleague for the C.I.A.. I am leaving Tokyo for New York tomorrow. I was wondering if you can come tonight? "

" I can't tonight Irene"

" Fine, I guess we will see each other when you are back. But… don't forget to think about me babe" Irene answered with naughtiness so she could hide better her deception

" You too" He said before hanging up the line.

Ryu had the automatism to call Murasama, so he could take care of the shop, but he reminded himself that he will be there tomorrow, so he could take care of Kasumi if she needed it.

The next morning, Kasumi was awake and tried to get up. Hayabusa was passing ahead of the room, his hair, much shorter than she remembered, were still wet from his morning shower. He wasn't wearing his ninja gear. Even looking more like a civilian, less a ninja, he still looked non approachable.

"Be careful"

"Thank you Master Hayabusa, but I have to leave!"

"Just lay down Kasumi!" He said while entering the room. He sounded calm but so aggressive at the same time

"I don't want you to have any troubles with the Mugen Tenshin or Hayate!"

" Kasumi you are not logical, you almost died in my arms last night and you want to leave now? I won't let you leave, you know that? "

"But.."

"I won't have any trouble, no one will know you are here in my protection. " Said Ryû while he lowered his tone.

Kasumi went silent, she knew Hayabusa was right. Kasumi is usually stubborn, but now she just feels she has to listen to him. She sat on the futon and lifted up the yukata so could see her bandage. Ryû kneeled before her.

"I should change it"

"I can do it myself Hayabusa!" Kasumi answered, upset.

"Just, let me do it"

Hayabusa started to redo the bandage around her thigh, and the one around her shoulder. He was so close to her, she could feel his breath on her collarbone and later on her neck, ignoring all the tension and how those two were upset minutes before. He noticed her amber eyes on him, so he faced her. Her heart was pounding so loudly she had no doubt he could feel it. Only millimeters separated their lips.

As he thought of Irene, Ryû moved back, being tense all over again.

" I'm glad your heart is lifeful, it wasn't like that last night." he teased her while he left the room.

Kasumi was febrile about what just happened. She laid back, her cinnamon hair scattered behind her head, sunrays caressing her face through the window. It felt awkward, even more to not understand Hayabusa's reactions.

"What really just happened now? Did he really hear it?" she thought

Ryû came back with Miso and onigiri for them.

" I am sorry"

" Some things never change" he chuckled

" What do you mean?" lifting her eyebrow

He always had an answer to anything, but now he didn't know what to answer Kasumi. Air was electric for these two, Ryû decided to change the subject.

" Here is some nightshade tea to help you sleep and recover"

His cellphone was chiming, so he pulled it out. It was Irene again, her name was displayed on the screen. Kasumi saw it and felt ridiculous. Was her time in Tokyo, avoiding ninja life for months made her softer, even more naive? It has been months, maybe years, since she didn't see Hayabusa and she hoped it would be exactly the same. Irene may be the reason he stepped back. Kasumi felt stubborn and wanted to ask who Irene is, but didn't. It wasn't the time and none of her business for now. She didn't want him to be more tense or even upset. Ryû sits by her side on the futon, really close to her.

" It was the right choice I came here" while sipping her tea.

" You are safe now"

She leans her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes. All they could hear was the bird's chirping outside of the shop's apartment. This silence was comfortable for them, even if Kasumi was thinking too much. Resting near him, after all that time being outside and on her own made her happy. She slipped into her own dreams, only to wake up by the voice of someone else.

" How much are they?Did he know they were coming here?" She was thinking and stood up rapidly.

Kasumi heard a woman talking to Ryû somewhere in the apartment of the antique shop. Being sure it was a subordinate of her clan chasing her, or even her half-sister, Ayane, she opened the window of the bedroom and vanished away. It was ironic that Ryû said she was safe, and she actually did, but at that very moment, she only felt danger and distress. Still wounded, adrenaline conducted her through the Hayabusa village and started to dart the trees, one by one, fearing she was followed. After a long way, she finally found somewhere to hide for the rest of the night, in a cold and isolated cave.

"Was I selfish and impulsive to leave without giving any notice? Hayabusa-san definitely would have problems if I've stayed there"

Once she entered that cave, she regretted her ninja gear at Ryû's, as she was only wearing his dark green yukata, at least she had her satchel and her wakizashi.

It was still dark outside that early morning, Ryû whose head was leaning on his desk full of fiend's parchment, woke up suddenly and fully alert after the sound of an explosion.

"Kasumi!" he said, running to his bedroom and saw that she was no longer there. He took his gear and his sword in a hurry and got out by the same window she got out earlier.