Chapter17: Proper Introduction

The seventh day of the vacation for the girls of DOA was no different. It was hot outside, the beach’s and sand were warm and welcoming, it was just another day where they could just relax, the only thing that made this day different was that now instead of it just being all girls on the island, their were guys too. And it would be like this for the remaining seven days. No matter how much of a surprise it was for the girls they all decided they would make the best of it. They had no intention on letting the guys ruin they’re fun, even if they weren’t interested in being on a beautiful island with them they all decided that they would carry on like as if nothing had happened. But unfortunately for them…that wasn’t going to be easy.

Being that most of the girls were no where to be found or just didn’t want to be bothered Tina and Lisa stayed on Niki Beach and played a game of one on one Volleyball.

“Mann…this is boring!”

“I know…”

“Gosh Lisa, what’s eaten those other chicks?”

“You know.”

“The guys…aren’t a problem Lisa, it’s just the girls. They are the ones without back bones!”

“Everyone’s a little skeptical Tina…I mean…we’re trapped on this island with ten guys…”

“Ahh…imagine the possibilities…” Tina sighed.

“Not now Tina!”

“Sorry!”

“Most of the girls know how to control their hormones…and so do the guys…but…”

“The atmosphere…”

“Right, right. The sexy atmosphere of sweltering, sweat drenched, worked up bodies and the various beaches could really cause some unexpected reactions.”

“Don’t you want that?”

“Of course! I mean…”

“Don’t even try to cover it up Lisa…you just admitted the truth.”

“I know…mann…I want it all just as much as you do. God…if I could only get just five minutes with that race car driver.”

“Why would you settle for five when you could have fifteen?”

“You got a plan don’t you?”
”It was you’re idea.”

“What? You mean find them and just start talking with them?”

“Hey, I’m the one suggesting now.”

“You think I should?”

“Well…how bad do you wanna meet the guy?”

“Really bad…”

“Well then?”

The guy with spiky blonde hair appeared from the hotel along with Steve Fox. Steve was wearing the same red pants and Hawaiian shirt; the guy with spiky blonde hair was wearing his dark gray racer pants and white singlet.

“Hey…”

“Here’s our chance.”

“What…you never talked to Steve?”

“Only when we first met, and that was last night…when I was fiddling with the tassels on his pants.”

“Well then…how about we stop playing games and introduce ourselves?” Lisa asked playfully as she went along with her suggestion and went to introduce herself to the guys.

“Lisa…I like the way you think.” Tina replied as she strutted over to the two blonde guys and followed Lisa’s introduction.

“Hey there.” The guy with spiky blonde hair replied cheerfully towards the girls.

“Morning boys.” Tina replied cheerfully. Did ya sleep well?”

“Yeah.” The guys answered.

“I think that we got off on the wrong foot last night.”

“Yeah, and we’d like to introduce ourselves.

“So would we.” Steve replied respectfully.

“If you guys don’t watch wrestling…my name is Tina Armstrong, I’m a pro wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation, I wrestle on Eric Bischoff’s Raw is War.”

“And I’m Lisa. I’m Zack’s little sister and hostess of this island.”

“It’s very nice to meet you both.” Steve replied.

“I’m Jacky Bryant. I’m a professional Indy Race Car Driver and just like you girls have competed in your own brand of fighting tournaments Steve and I have appeared in our own.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I usually compete in this tournament called Virtua Fighter.”

“…I think I’ve heard of that tournament…”

“The VF tournaments take place in Japan right?”

“Yes, they used to but now they mostly take place in each fighter’s home town.”

“Oh…”

“That guy who came on the boat. The one with the silver hair.”

“Lee Cholan right?”

“Yeah, me and him always compete in the Tekken Tournaments.”

“The Tekken Tournaments…woah…those are hardcore fights…”

“Not as hardcore as the DOA Tournaments.”

“What?”

“You really think the ones we compete in are tougher?”

“You guys get involved in tag matches as well as matches with physical stipulations.”

“Yeah…”

“None of the tournaments ever allow that.”

“Yeah, in fact just a year ago they integrated physical stipulations such as reinforced walls and bobby trapped locations in each of the arenas!”

“Err…excuse the pun…”

“It’s cool.”

“We’re sorry about tricking you guys.”

“Heh…it’s alright.”

“Yeah, most of us are over it.”

“Most of you?”

“That big Russian dude…Bayman…”

“Oh he’s just a damn spas.”

“Ha, I agree.”

“He should take anger management classes.”

“He’s got some kind of hidden vendetta…something against Donovan.”

“You mean that mad scientist?”

“Yeah, he cloned a friend of ours.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, our redheaded ninja friend, Kasumi.”

“Oh…so she was the girl ignoring Hayate and Hayabusa yesterday.”

“She’s got some family trouble…”

“As well as a messed up relationship between them…”

“I see…”

“Umm…now that we’ve introduced ourselves…you guys wanna…hang out?”

Jacky and Steve didn’t even take a moment to consider the offer.

“You wanna show us around?”

“If you want us to.”

“Heh…if you could take us to a place where we could get some new clothes?”

Tina and Lisa smiled devilishly.

“Sure, we know some one who could help.” Tina smiled as she grabbed Steve under his arm.

“Come! Let’s go to the Sports Shop!” Lisa replied as she walked with Jacky, arm in arm to Brittany’s bathing suit shop.

“Sports Shop?” Steve asked confused.

“Yeah…you’ll just LOVE what they have for sale.” Lisa smiled.

“I hope so…” Jacky muttered.

“Dude…I got a bad feeling about this…” Steve muttered to Jacky.

“You’re not the only one.” Jacky agreed, as he and his friends got closer to the Sports Shop, seeing that this store looked to be a store for women.

While Tina and Lisa helped Steve Fox and Jacky Bryant settle in to some new clothes, Brad Wong, Lee Cholan, and Brian were making they’re way towards Niki Beach to find something to do.

“Oh dear God…” Brad muttered, rubbing his head.

“I told you not to drink nine glasses of wine and two glasses of Vodka while gambling.”

“But I was thirsty…!”

“You could have had water!” Brian yelled.

“I like to drink alcoholic beverages…not watered down substances…!”

“Ughh…” Brian muttered in an annoyed voice.

“Besides, you’re buddy here was givin it away for free!” Brad replied in an aggravated voice.

“Yeah I know, way to go Lee!” Brian replied sarcastically, punching Lee in his back.

“Ha! You thank me latter when this place really starts to heat up!” Lee replied coyly as he unbuttoned his white shirt.

“What do you mean start to heat up? It’s already 112 degrees…” Jann Lee muttered, joining up with the rest of the guys.

“You’ll live.” Brian added.

“Ughh…you’re black…

“You’re Chinese!”

“So!”

“So what the fuck does our race have anything to do with our tolerance for hot weather huh!”

“Black people like the heat…they soak it up…better then white people…”

Brian just rolled his eyes and gave Jann Lee the middle finger.

“I’d rather do that to a girl.”

“Like Lei Fang right?”

“How do you know her!”

“Hey! Ease off buddy…”

“I’m not you’re buddy…I’m just here until further notice…like the rest of you are. Got it!”

“Ahh well…stop bitching about the weather and just make the best of it.”

“Only if you stop bitching about you’re damn hangover.”

“I can try…but I still feel like shit…so I can’t make promises.” Brad smiled sarcastically, still massaging his sore head.

“Where are we going?”

“To Niki Beach.”

“We wanna find the girls and apologize.”

“Apologize? For what!”

“For being so rude to them last night.”

“You’re kidding…”

“They were here first…and obviously…we were invited to kill off their sense of boredom.”

“You don’t say…”

“And…it’s only right if we introduce ourselves.”

“Maybe…but I feel as though they were all in on this from the very start!”

“Jann, didn’t you see the looks on their faces when they saw us!”

“Yeah, it was like as if they’d haven’t seen people, men, in years!”

“They were just shocked to see us cuz they thought we wouldn’t show…”

“C’mon dude…you nearly broke my fuckin neck when I said Lei Fang’s name.”

Jann Lee made a fist and then sighed.

“Look…there’s nothing wrong with loosing to a girl…”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I lost to my friend Chris a few times when we played cards.” Brian replied.

“Dude…stick to the adult subjects…” Lee replied sternly.

“Right! No Yugioh please!” Brad added.

“We are on an island with ten, sultry, sexy, and skillful ladies, if you mention one word about duel monsters they’ll think that we’re all a bunch pussies!”

“I didn’t say Yugioh, did I? I said cards!”

“Ehh…wait a minute…did you say Chris?” Jann asked hesitantly.

“Yeah…”

“Are you referring to that assassin?”

“No…my friend Chris…”

“Brian…Chris…is a guy…” Jann Lee muttered in a weird voice.

“How do you know?” Brian asked jokingly.

Brian and Lee Cholan laugh.

“Brian, that’s cold.”

“Oh well…what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

All three guys laugh; Brad stops when he feels a pain in his head again.

“Argh…” Brad mutters, rubbing the back of his head.

“Maybe you shouldn’t drink before you go to bed Brad…”

“But I like it…”

“Hey…I like to fuck girls but do I do it every day?”

Brian looks at him like he’s an idiot.

“You damn baka…” Brian muttered.

“Oh yeah…I do…” Lee admitted, placing his hand behind his head sheepishly.

“Now if only Ayane heard you.”

“Don’t worry about it…” Lee admitted sternly.

“Can you guys be quiet? My head…”

“Well, that’s what you get!”

“You got what you deserved Brad.”

“Ugghh…I feel like somebody slammed my damn head into a car door…”

“I bet Bayman did it…”

“Bayman did what you little cockroaches?”

“Cock?” Jann asked puzzled.

“Roaches?” Brian asked in a confused voice.

“Look…I don’t like cock…not from an over grown, whiny ass man that is…” Lee Cholan replied in a ridiculing voice.

Bayman got angry and immediately bum-rushed the four guys, sending all four of them in four different directions.

“Damn it…!” Brad cursed, nursing an open wound in the side of his head as he laid in the sand.

As Brian and Jann Lee tried to double-team the angered Russian assassin they’re attempts were both put to an immediate halt when Bayman threw them into the ocean.

Jann Lee and Brian emerged from the water to find Lee Cholan trying to fend Bayman off only in seconds for him to be launched in they’re directions.

“Heads up!” Bayman yelled as he torpedo launched the silver haired guy into the ocean, knocking Brian and Jann Lee back into the water.

Both Brian and Jann Lee re-surfaced, both looking worn out from the assault and annoyed by having Lee thrown into their faces.

As they open their eyes they see a weakened Wong being attacked by Bayman.

“We gotta help him!” Brian yelled as he got out of the water and dashed at Bayman.

“Only Brian…” Lee replied sarcastically as he slapped himself upside his head to shake off the cobwebs and continue fighting.

“Damn…” Jann muttered as he followed Brian and Lee.

“You’ll regret this…all of you!” Bayman yelled, using Brad’s body as a weapon as he threw Brian, Jann, and Lee out of his way and into a bunch of palm trees.

Both Jann and Brian couldn’t move, briefly paralyzed by Bayman’s strength.

“Fuck…” Lee cursed as he felt himself moving out of consciousness as he felt Bayman squeezing him to last breath.

“Cocky ass kid…worse then Leon…and more annoying then Jann Lee…”

“Don’t…ever compare…cough me…to those two…!” Lee threatened, gripping Bayman’s throat, only to be squeezed tighter as he tried to counter his assault.

“We gotta…argh…!”

“Don’t move Brian…!” Jann Lee ordered.

“Bayman’s gone crazy! I gotta do something to help him or else he’ll be killed!”

“How do you know we won’t be next?” Jann Lee asked seriously, watching as Bayman pulled out his only pocketknife.

“Oh fuck…” Brian muttered in annoyance as he saw Bayman’s knife, being still as ordered to protect Lee for the time being.

“If any of you even think of helping this guy, I swear I’ll slit his throat!”

Lee was turning blue as Bayman kept his grip on his neck.

“Let him go Bayman!”

“If I gotta stay on this damn island for a week with you guys and a bunch of horny females I’m gonna make sure that the loud one is silenced! Permanently!”

“You wouldn’t…”

“Oh really?”

Brian stared him down fearlessly as Bayman pressed the sharp knife up against Lee’s neck.

In seconds a loud scream could be heard and blood was shed; but it wasn’t Lee’s…

“What the!” Bayman began, dropping Lee and looking at his wounded hand as well as the shirken that was planted next to his fallen weapon.

“You should learn to play nicely with you’re friends Bayman…”

“What!” Bayman shouted. “C’mon! Come out! Get you’re ass out here Ayane!

“That voice…I knew it…was…” Lee muttered as he looked around for a few moments before resting.

“What a familiar phrase…” Christie smiled as she got into her She Quan stance.

“I agree…I believe we’ve all heard it before.” Helena replied as she joined her girlfriends for the confrontation.

“One time or another…” Hitomi added sarcastically.

“Hitomi!” Brian asked, surprised to see his old friend coming to his rescue.

“Hi, Brian!” Hitomi smiled to her friend then immediately focused her attention on Bayman.
”Helena…and…Christie…right?” Lee asked as he got a better look at the famous French opera singer and the infamous Assassin.

The girls just nodded their heads and then brought their attention back to Bayman.

“You think all because you’re girls I won’t hurt you! I’ll kill you all!” Bayman yelled as he forgot about the guys and started attacking Helena and Christie.

“Sorry Bayman, but this is not the time nor the place for an immediate assassination.” Helena replied in a clever voice after using her Saho-Soheki-Sho attack to knock him off his feet.

“Got you!” Bayman yelled as he gripped Helena by her legs and pulled her down to the ground, taking out his other knife and directing it to her face.

“Helena!” Hitomi yelled.

“Hitomi! Take Brian and Jann Lee back to the Hotel!”

“No! I can’t leave you hear to fight this guy all by yourself!”

“I can handle him!” Christie complained, shoving the German girl in Brian’s direction as she went to attack Bayman.

“You again…!” Bayman yelled as he kicked Christie in her face, knocking her to the ground.

“Christie…! Uhh!” Hitomi yelled, backing away as Bayman shoved her, literally throwing her into Brian and Jann Lee.

“No…!” Helena cried, struggling to get away from the psychotic Russian assassin.

“Stay still…this will only hurt a little bit…” Bayman smiled as he gripped Helena by her arms and pinned her down, preparing to dissect her like some kind of experiment with his knife.

As Bayman went to slice into the opera singer, more shirikens were thrown, and this time they hit their mark.

“Argh! Come out you damn ninjas!” Bayman ordered, still restraining Helena.

Before Bayman could respond to the second attack Ayane bamboozled him. She came flying through the trees with her grapple move: Ryugaku-Ko.

“You should know Bayman…I am the only professional assassin around here.” The purple haired ninja replied in a confident voice. “…And the only one who has the right to take Helena out…is me…” She smiled in the faces of Bayman as well as Helena.

“Why you…!”

“But…like Helena said…now is not the time nor the place for a murder…so…”

“Prepare to die!” Bayman yelled as he charged after the young ninja.

All Ayane did was smile at the enraged assassin. As he came for her Ayane slipped under him and then turned her back and used her Yami-Garasu, confusing him as well as doing damage to his spine as she flipped him over.

Bayman staggered to his feet and growled.

“Some professional assassin you are Bayman…can’t even handle a little girl.” Christie remarked in a sly voice.

“You little!” Bayman roared as he turned his attention to the silver haired woman only to be assaulted by Hitomi as she used her Zangetsu to overwhelm her opponent.

As Bayman got up Hitomi went back to the guys and waited for Christie and Ayane to finish him off.

“I’m sick of this!” Bayman growled as he got to his feet.

“And we’re sick of you!” Helena replied as she took Bayman by his arm and with Christie’s assistance double teamed him with chops to his face and the back of his head and a double cartwheel to finish him off.

As Bayman fell Ayane came from out of no where and used her tag move that she would usually use when with Kasumi, and grabbed Bayman by his arm and using the body of the thin Palm Tree for leverage she spinned off of it and kicked Bayman right in his mouth, allowing more of his blood to fly.

The guys backed away and looked at Ayane like she was crazy.

“Talk about over kill…” Brian thought as he watched the purple haired ninja disappear into the sunlight.

Jann Lee just rubbed his neck and smirked, he can’t stand being saved by women, but he was impressed with the girls and their strong finish.

“Are you guys okay!” Hitomi asked in a concerned voice.

“We’re fine Hitomi.” Jann Lee replied confidently.

“Yeah…but…!” Brian began as he looked at his fallen friend.

“Oh no!” Hitomi cried, seeing that Lee Cholan was unconscious. Helena and Christie went over to inspect the damage.

“Is he…?” Hitomi began in a frightened voice.

Christie bent down and put two fingers against his neck.

“…He’s fine…just unconscious…” Christie replied in her monotone voice.

“Thank goodness.” Hitomi sighed in relief.

“If it wasn’t for his big mouth none of you guys would of gotten hurt.” Ayane replied in a stern voice as she came from behind the Palm Tree.

“Hey…!” Brad yelled, he too on the ground, with his head laying in the sand.

They all turned around, Brian and Jann Lee just laced their hands behind their heads and smiled sheepishly.

“…Aren’t you guys forgetting something!” Brad yelled as he staggered to his feet, only to fall again.

Christie just sucked her teeth and started back to Private Beach only to see that her partner, Helena wasn’t coming.

“Helena…?”

“Go…” Helena replied as she walked over to Brad Wong.

“But…” Christie muttered hesitantly.

“I’m going to stay here on Niki Beach for a while…you go on to Private Island without me and relax…I’ll be fine here.” Helena replied kindly, paying more attention to Brad then her partner.

“Hmph…fine then…suit yourself…” Christie sighed as she ignored her partner.

Brad just remained silent as Helena examined his wounds. He was too tiered and weak to do anything and for someone as beautiful and as elegant as well as lethal and dangerous as she to be helping him, that was usually a very unique thing to happen.

“Brad?” Brian asked.

Brad just ignored Brian and the rest of the guys.

“C’mon you guys…let’s go back to the hotel.” Hitomi suggested.

“Right…I need to relax…” Jann Lee muttered.

“Actually…I wanted to take you guys back to my room…”

Brian and Jann Lee backed up from Hitomi and looked at her in disbelief.

Ayane just smirked.

“It’s not like that!” Hitomi protested.

“Sure it isn’t…” Ayane replied sarcastically.

The guys were still in shock at Hitomi’s offer.

“I want you two to see a friend of mine.”

“Oh no…” Jann Lee began.

“Please! She’s miserable!” Hitomi begged.

“Lei Fang…right?” Brian asked carefully.

“Please? Pretty please Brian and Jann Lee! She’s been upset since last night!”

“…Why? Why would the precious princess of Tai Chi Quan be upset?” Jann Lee asked in an uncaring voice.

“Because! Because she thinks that all of you think she was in on tricking you all into coming here!”

“And it wasn’t?” Jann Lee asked harshly.

“Jann Lee!” Hitomi whined.

“C’mon mann…” Brian began.

“What?”

“It’s Lei Fang…”

“And you’re point?”

“Look, stop being a bitch and come help me and Hitomi cheer her up.”

“I’d rather…” Jann Lee began rudely.

“You like her okay…you should just admit it!” Brian persisted.

“Keep you’re voice down Cunningham!”

“Make me!”

“Stop it!” Hitomi yelled.

Brian and Jann Lee were startled by Hitomi’s tone of voice. They never heard her sound so angry.

“Lei Fang is my best friend! And she’s so nice and never has a problem with anyone! And you two are standing here arguing about trying to make her feel better when you both know she’d help you two out of a jam in a heart beat! No matter what the cost!” Hitomi yelled, scolding them both for their hesitation.

The guys just had blank looks on their faces. Ayane and Christie were just standing there, enjoying the moment as a little girl scolded the two big tough guys.

“You know what?” Hitomi asked, even more angered then she was before.

“I just can’t understand it…but…even though she likes everyone…Jann Lee…”

Jann Lee had a stern look on his face, trying to hide how he really felt and acting as though none of Hitomi’s words was getting through to him.

“…I don’t even know why…but despite the fact that you’ve saved her life and beaten her up so badly in the last three tournaments…she likes you…”

Jann Lee’s stern facial expression remained but a look of sudden surprise could be seen.

“If you wanna come with me Brian you can. I know you want to help me at least.” Hitomi replied as she started to leave, walking over to the Zack of All Trades Store.

Brian nodded and followed Hitomi.

Before taking off Hitomi paused and turned back to look at Jann Lee one more time.

“…It’s a shame…”

“What is?”

“…How…although Lei Fang likes you…you feel the same about her as well…”

Jann Lee just looked the other way.

“…And you don’t even want to admit it…” She muttered in a low voice as she grabbed Brian’s hand and lead him to the store.

Christie and Ayane just stood there and looked at him for a moment.

“What…what are you two looking at?”

“A fool…” Christie muttered as she walked away from Jann Lee.

“Wha…” Jann Lee muttered angrily.

“You should do something…” Ayane replied, slowly walking over to the now semi conscious Lee Cholan.

“What?” Jann Lee asked, crossing his arms.
”Make yourself useful.” She replied, almost in a demanding tone of voice as she pulled out a green plant and rubbed it into Lee’s injured neck.

“I don’t have to do anything.”

Ayane ignored him and waited for the plant to go to work, she smiled devilishly as she saw the medicine going into effect as Lee cringed from the sting of it’s healing powers.

“Why should I care? She’s hurt me too many times before…”

“…So has my sister…and I seem to have coexist with her haven’t I?” Ayane asked, getting up as she saw Lee stirring and coming back to life.

“What are you trying to tell me Ayane?”

“…Do what you know is fair…not what you think is fair to you…”

“But!”

“My sister, Kasumi…she always tells people to follow their heart…and it will lead them in the right place…I suggest you ignore yours for now…and do what you know is right.” Ayane replied informatively, disappearing once more into the sunlight.

Jann Lee took a moment and thought about what Ayane and Hitomi had just told him. While he was thinking Lee started to wake up.

“…She’ll never let me hear the end of it if I…”

Lee sat straight up and started to walk.

“What are you doing Lee?”

“Leave me alone Jann…”

“What!”

“I have something to do…”

“You should rest.”

“Fuck! I have more important things on my mind right now!”

“Like Ayane right!”

Lee just turned and gripped Jann by his neck.

“You try to kill me and I’ll make you regret it.

“Look…” Lee began as he released Jann from his grip.

“I know I act like I don’t give a shit about things a lot and always play ‘Mr. Cool’, but right now I’m being serious.”

Jann Lee just smirked at him.

“She saved my life…and I want to thank her for what she’s done.”

Jann could of bashed Lee, but decided not to after hearing the sincerity in his voice.

“She didn’t have to…none of them…but…I want to personally thank her.”

“You…had better be careful then…”

“I know…she’s got pretty good aim.” Lee replied as he picked up the remaining throwing stars that were left in the sand.

“What shall I do with this guy?” Jann wondered as he looked at the unconscious corpse of Bayman.

“If I were you…I’d let him wake up and go back to the hotel on his own…it’s impolite as well as dangerous to disturb a bear when he’s in hibernation.” Lee smiled as he stood up straight and dusted himself off.

“Always with the jokes huh Lee?” Jann laughed.

“Hmph…that’s the kind of person I am.”

“Well…don’t be like that all the time…you could get hurt that way.”

“I say the same to you.”

“What?”
”You heard me.”

“What are you?”
”Don’t be such a stiff!”

Jann just rolled his eyes.

“If I were you…I’d go over to that weird store over there and by something for Lei Fang…ya know, to make her happy again.”

“…You’re on her side too?”

“Jann…she’s a good girl…I don’t know why you’re just gonna let her pass you by.” Lee replied as he walked off.

“…I…” Jann began.

“The time has come…”

“That time…” Jann Lee muttered as he crossed his arms and reminisced on the past.

“To defeat the Dragon within you!”

Jann Lee closes his eyes and remembers the battle between him and Lei Fang at the DOA Tec building.

“You don’t stand a chance!”

“…I underestimated her…”

“Alright! I cannot lose anymore!”

Jann Lee just sighed and smiled.

“…And I paid for it…” He crossed his arms.

Jann Lee looked back at the hotel and then ahead of him at the Zack of All Trades Store. He kept his usual stern facial expression as Hitomi and Brian walked by, each holding a gift in their hands for Lei Fang.

“…I hope…” He thought to himself as he started walking. “I don’t regret this…”

In the deep Jungle area of Zack Island Mina was alone. She was up high in the trees away from any kind of earthly contact. She sat their quietly playing with the strings of her violet tie up bra, looking out at the waterfall.

“Hmmm…today is a good day for a swim…” She thought as she started untying the bow of her top. As she pulled a strap down she heard a noise and jumped. She looked around and saw nothing. She hesitated and then she shook her head and tied her bra back.

“…I forgot…there are guys here now…” She thought to herself. “It would be unwise to go skinny dipping…knowing who could be out there…” She sighed, closing her eyes as she laid back down on the thick branch that was high above the ground.

“…Hayate…” Mina muttered in low and almost helpless voice.

“So…you have returned…”

“You’re here now…”

“I…”

“…Aggravated…”

“You…just like my sister…you’ve broken the iron code of the shinobi…”

“Just like me…”

“I know…and I am willing to suffer the consequences…”

“Wanting answers…to unanswered questions…”

“Defeat me…and I’ll give you a second chance…”

“For what…?”

“I’m sorry Hayate…”

“Atonement…?”

“What is you’re decision?”

“A chance at redemption…?”

“I can’t give you you’re answer…”

“Forgiveness?”

“…Not yet…”

“…What do you want from me…?”

“To be with me.” Hayate answered in a somber voice as he appeared in front of the calm ninja.

Mina jumped as soon as she heard Hayate’s stern voice. Looking around in desperation she nearly fell out of the tree when she turned around and saw the leader of the Mugen Tenshin clan standing right in front of her.

“Hayate!” Mina replied wide-eyed, still startled to see him.

Hayate just looked at her and then jumped down from the tree, Mina followed.

As she got to her feet Hayate made a gesture to her to be silent. He took a moment and studied her. After a minute of observation he grimaced and then crossed his arms in his usual nonchalant fashion.

“Forgot what I looked like…?”

“…You look the same…just like I remembered you a few months ago at the last tournament.” He replied calmly as he started to walk away from her.

Mina kept her eyes on him.

“The only change is that you’re half naked…” He replied as he walked off.

“Hey!”

Hayate turned slightly when he felt Mina grip his arm.

“Leaving so soon?”

“…I was looking for Ryu…”

“Liar…” Mina replied harshly.

Hayate just looked at her sternly.

“I’m sorry…I just…”

“No…I disrupted you’re moment of reflection. I was looking for Ryu…but…now that he knows Kasumi is on the island…I doubt that he will not want me to go looking for him.”

“What do you need him for?”

“That is none of you’re concern.”

“Well…I’m going to make it my concern Hayate…rather you like it or not.” She replied sternly, gripping Hayate’s arm tighter as she spoke up.

“So serious…”

“What?”
”You’ve always been so stern in you’re conversations…”

“I’m a business type of person Hayate…you should know that by now.”

“I do…it’s been a while that’s all.” Hayate admitted in a soft voice, still being somber as he spoke.

Mina sensed some sort of sincerity in his tone and started to let him go. Hayate just nodded his head at her and then as he took a step he hesitated.

“Did you speak to her?”

“…Kasumi?”

“Yes, did you at least say hello to her?”

“She’s been avoiding me.”

“…She told me what happened between you and her a month ago.”

Hayate just sighed heavily, knowing that he was about to be scolded for his past actions.

“…Don’t you care about her anymore?”

“I am the leader of the Mugen Tenshin Clan Mina…”

“And that’s you’re excuse for turning on her!”

“I didn’t turn on her!”

“You chose to leave her instead of taking her in you’re arms…I think that’s enough to say that you turned on her.”

Hayate just sighed heavily, his stern leader like persona slowly dying down to be replaced by emotion.

Mina sensed some feeling of depression overcoming him so she moved over to him a little closer.

“…I didn’t want to leave her…but I didn’t know what else to do…”

“You could of hugged her…let her know that you still cared about her Hayate…that’s all she wants…”

Hayate’s serious facial expression melted away and was replaced with a concerned look.

“She doesn’t care about me anymore…she knows I’m out to get her.” He admitted in a shameful voice.

“She just thinks that.” Mina replied kind heartedly putting her hands on his shoulders and looking directly into his eyes with conviction. “You have to be the one to let her know that you don’t want to hurt her.”

“It’s too late for that…” Hayate replied, gently removing Mina’s hands away from his shoulder and turning his back, not wanting her to see the ashamed look on his face.

Mina turned him around and gripped his arms tightly, making him pay attention to her.

“…Mina…” He whispered, overcome by his emotions to speak any louder then this.

“It’s never too late.” She replied in an endearing voice as she cupped his cheek in her right hand.

Hayate closed his eyes, allowed his hands to fall to his side and just sigh.

Mina looked at him and then noticed his hands were shaking, obviously he was upset. He had chosen his clan over his family, something he had to do but knew wasn’t right.

“…Hayate…” Mina began in a sympathetic voice.

“There is nothing I can do…” Hayate admitted in a cold voice. “And…there is nothing that you can say or do to make me change my mind…or make things right…” Hayate replied in a serious voice, a scent of it weakening as he thought of what he had done.

“…It’s better this way…” He muttered.

Mina didn’t like his response but instead of scolding him she did something to Hayate that was totally unexpected on either of their parts.

“Mina-san…” Hayate muttered opening his eyes to realize that Mina had embraced him.

“It’s not right…”

“…What…?” Hayate asked hesitantly, upset by his friend’s words.

“Poor Hayate…you don’t even know…” Mina muttered in a compassionate voice.

“…What…is there to know…except that I no longer have a sister…”

Mina looked up at him curiously.

“I told her to forget that we had even met.”

“And you think that it was better that way…”

“Yes…no…I don’t know…” Hayate sighed heavily.

“How do you know…that you’ve lost her…unless…” Mina started, stopping as she felt Hayate’s index finger across her lips, asking her to be silent.

“I’ve guess you’ve heard enough of my badgering…” Mina replied in a calm voice as she released Hayate from her embrace.

Hayate just listened to her words, he couldn’t think of anything to say in his defense.

As Mina turned her back and started on her way back to the hotel she stopped and thought of Hayate once more.

“You’re still waiting for my answer…aren’t you?” Mina asked as she walked back to Hayate.

“…Yes…” Hayate replied hesitantly.

“…I need to know…”

Hayate looked at her curiously.

“Why…why do you want me back? I…betrayed the clan…”

“Just like Kasumi, I know.”

“So…what is it that you want from me?” Mina asked in a serious tone of voice, folding her arms under her breasts.

Back at the Hotel Lei Fang was in her room, she just sat there quietly holding her Panda Bear as she lived in her sadness.

“…They hate me…”

Does it matter if they hate you? Her mind asked.

“…They’re all mad at me.”

“No, Jann is mad at me…” She thought to herself.

“That’s who I’m upset over…”

Everyone else will forgive you, but not he. Her mind nagged.

“No…! No…he’ll forgive me…he can’t stay mad at me forever…”

Or can he? Her mind betrayed her.

“Ohhh…!” She moaned placing a pillow over her head.

“Life is so unfair…!” She moaned as she slithered under the covers and into her bed to sleep.

Before Lei Fang could rest she heard a knock on her door.

“Huh?” She muttered as she got out of bed.

She looked in the mirror and brushed her long hair out of her face and fixed her denim skirt and white top.

“Who is it…?” She asked in a clear but still distraught voice.

“It’s just me, Hitomi.” The German girl replied in a sincere voice.

“Ohh…”

“I uh…brought a friend who’s been wanting to meet you.”

Lei Fang backed away from the door and sat on her bed.

“Can we come in?” Brian asked in a curious voice, his hand on the door handle.

“Umm…sure…” Lei Fang muttered as she slowly opened the door to let her friend in.

As she opened the door Lei Fang saw Hitomi in her White and Blue cheerleader outfit holding a gift bag. A dark skinned man wearing blue jeans and white shirt was standing next to her with a gift bag as well.

“You…”

“Hi, I’m sorry if I didn’t introduce myself to you when I saw you last night; my name is Brian.” He smiled kindly as he extended his hand to the depressed Lei Fang.

“Ummm…nice to meet you.” Lei Fang smiled weakly as she shook Brian’s hand.

“Here, Hitomi and I bought something for you.” Brian replied as he handed the sad Chinese girl her gift. Hitomi smiled as she handed Lei Fang her gift.

Lei Fang took one look at each gift, both still in their respective brown and yellow wrappings and then at her friends and then smiled.

“…Do you guys mind if I open them now?”

“Go on Lei Fang.” Brian insisted.

“Yeah! Open them!” Hitomi insisted excitedly.

Lei Fang smiled warmly at her friends and then opened the first gift. She went wide-eyed for a moment and smiled when she saw that Brian had bought her balloons.

“Careful, they pop easily.”

“I know.” She smiled as she picked up Hitomi’s gift; it was obviously a bathing suit.

Lei Fang sighed and then opened the second gift and smiled when she saw that it was one of Hitomi’s Cheerleading outfits.

“It’s yellow…” Lei Fang chuckled as she noticed her favorite color was most of the nice outfit.

“You’re favorite color right?” Hitomi smiled.

“Thanks guys.” Lei Fang smiled as she got up and hugged her friends.

“How touching…”

Lei Fang gasped and turned sharply as she heard Jann Lee’s voice.

“Jann Lee?” Hitomi asked in a surprised voice as she saw the spiky haired Chinese dude make an appearance.

“Ha…you showed up.” Brian replied in a joking voice.

Jann Lee ignored Hitomi and Brian and went right for Lei Fang.

Lei Fang just frowned and looked away.

“I deserve that.”

“You deserve a foot up you’re ass too.” Brian suggested.

Jann Lee looked at him crossly.

“But I think we can leave that to Lei Fang.” Brian smiled as he let himself out the room, Hitomi followed.

“…What do you want?” Lei Fang asked in a spoiled and saddened tone of voice as she looked away from Jann Lee.

“…I just came here to say that…I’m sorry…” Jann Lee admitted hesitantly.

“Hmmm?”

“I’m sorry for disrespecting you or hurting you’re feelings in anyway.”

“We’ve…had a rough past…”

“Yeah…and…well…” He began as he pulled out something from behind his back.

Lei Fang’s eyes widened as she saw the pretty dark blue pot.

“…I hope this’ll make up for it.” He replied in a kind-hearted voice as he sat the Aromatherapy Pot on the table.

Lei Fang took one look at the gift and then looked at Jann Lee.

“Jann Lee…” She began, touching the top of the Aroma pot.

“Don’t waste it all in one night…” Jann replied as he let himself out of the room.

As soon as Jann had left the room Lei Fang closed her door and went to play with her new gift. As the sweet scent of perfume filled the air she smiled.

As Brian and Hitomi went into the casino Jann Lee headed back to his room. Brian was hanging right around the entrance of the casino and started to laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, happy now?”

“You did good Jann.” Brian replied.

“Oh really?” Jann asked in a sarcastic voice.

“Yeah! You got her the best gift of all!” Hitomi added, smiling at the rough Chinese guy.

“I did…?” He asked hesitantly.

“Don’t you know?” Hitomi asked.

“Know what…?”

“Jann Lee!” Lei Fang screamed as she ran right into him.
Jann Lee bumped the back of his head into the door as Lei Fang tackled him to the ground.

Hitomi and Brian just laughed.

“Ughh…Lei Fang!”
”What!” She asked playfully.

“What’s the big idea!”

“I’m just happy.” She smiled, pinning Jann’s arms to the ground.

“Happy! Happy!” He began in an enraged voice, halting his rage as he realized that the girl really was in a better mood.

“Yes!”

“…You…you liked the gift?”
”Like it?” She asked as she got off of him.

Jann got up and dusted himself off.

“I love it!” She replied happily as she gripped him by his arms.

Jann Lee couldn’t move, when Lei Fang was happy or excited about something she was usually a very difficult person to get away from.

“That’s good…!” He replied in a weak voice, struggling to squeeze out of Lei Fang’s grasp.

Hitomi and Brian just waved goodbye to them as they went inside the casino.

As Jann got out of Lei Fang’s hold he started for the casino only to be blocked by Lei Fang once more.

“Now what?”

Lei Fang hesitated and then she quickly gave Jann a peck on the cheek.

Jann looked at her in amazement. He touched his cheek and then looked at her again in disbelief.

“What was that?” He began.

“Thank you.” She replied in a warm voice.

Jann Lee was still in shock; he didn’t even think she would have the guts to be so endearing towards him, especially not after what they’ve been through.

“Hey…” Lei Fang began in a playful voice.

Jann just listened to her speak; he still couldn’t really say anything.

“I bet I can beat you in a game of Poker!” Lei Fang replied playfully, pulling at his arm.

“…Yeah right…” He replied confidently.

“Wanna bet?”

“…Sure.” He smiled as he walked with her into the casino for a little quality time and gambling.

…Meanwhile…

“You have been through a lot in you’re life…”

“Don’t tell me a story that I’ve already heard before Hayate…” Mina began in a stern voice.

“You defeated me at the last tournament.”

“Dead or Alive 3…”

“Right…I am obligated to remain as the eighteenth leader of the Mugen Tenshin clan, but…” Hayate began.

“What? What is it?”

“The truth is…the clan respects you…despite what you have done, and because Ayane is really a descendant of the Hajin Mon fighting style and my sister is a runaway they feel that the need for a female clan leader of the Mugen Tenshin style is of most importance for the success of the clan itself.”

“Hayate…?”

“I want you to return with me, back home to Japan, the clan as well as I would like for you to become the nineteenth leader of the Mugen Tenshin style.”

“I…I don’t know…”