Just a little story I'm working on! :D It doesn't really matter when the hell it takes place, but it takes place in the DOA universe. Hooray.

Hitomi Assassin
Part 1

Hayate collapsed onto his futon bed, letting out a mighty yawn. Instead of using the blanket to cover himself, he wrapped his limbs around it, pulling it close to his body. He knew he was supposed to be guarding his village, but he had faith in his fellow ninja.

He grimaced slightly. As the leader of the village, that was not the way he should be thinking. In fact, it wasn't the way he usually thought. No matter how tired he was, his resting place was always on the same spot on the same tree above the same sight of the village entrance. He couldn't remember the last time he even went into his room to sleep. He only ever used his room to change clothes, and it was where he stored all his weapons.

Hayate shrugged off the thought, snuggling against the thick blanket, yet no amount of tiredness could tune down his sharp senses. His ears pricked up when he heard the door slide open. One eye snapped open and he saw his mother standing by the doorway. "Hayate? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Sleeping." Hayate replied.

"I see." Ayame walked fully into the room, closing the door behind her. She smiled down at her son and the position he was in. "Ryu was here, looking for you. He said it was strange not seeing you in your usual spot, on a tree."

Hayate pushed the blanket away from him, dragging himself up. "I'm going. I'm going."

"No, stay." Ayame supported her son from toppling over. "You're tired."

"No I'm not." Hayate yawned. "I need to guard my clan."

Ayame smiled. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Hayate dear! You need a good sleep if you want to guard anyone!"

"But mother..."

"No buts! Go back to bed! Only monkeys sleep on trees, and my boy is not a monkey!"

Hayate tried to force the smile off his face. Ayame spun him around and took his jacket off. She sat him down and took his boots off. "I love you're clothes, Hayate. They look expensive though!"

"They're a gift." Hayate pulled the blanket close to him again.

"Oh? From the karate girl you hang out with?" Hayate nodded. "She must be really nice, to get you lovely clothes like this! You shouldn't sleep in them, they'll all get wrinkled." Ayame turned to Hayate, but he had already fallen asleep. She smiled, kissing him on the cheek, before leaving the room.

^v^v^v^

When Hayate opened his eyes, it was still dark. Pitch black had it not been for the light of the moon shining through his transparent door. He turned in bed, facing away from the wall. He felt something. He didn't know what, but he felt something. Or someone. Maybe it was just the paranoia of sleeping in a room he hadn't for many months. He closed his eyes, trying to get back to sleep, yet he still had the feeling that he was being watched. He lay on his back but that didn't help. His eyes opened slightly as he sighed. He studied the dark ceiling in wonder, when he caught a small glint. His eyes widened, the glint more evident. 'What the hell?' Hayate thought. Suddenly, the shiny object began falling. Hayate dived off his bed, dragging blanket with him, rolling on the ground. He looked back. A kunai struck the pillow where his head should have been.

There were more glints as three shuriken were thrown at him. He threw himself down on the floor, the stars dug straight into the wall. Hayate growled. On the one night he wanted to stay in bed, he was being attacked! He jumped up, snatching the shuriken from the wall. When he caught another glint he threw the metal stars at it. The sword blocked them all, the silhouette holding the sword dropped to the ground. He was dressed completely in black, so only the reflection of his weapon gave him away.

The ninja slashed and stabbed the sword many times, Hayate dodging them all. It was obvious the ninja was very skilled, but then again, nobody would send a novice to try and assassinate Hayate. When the ninja aimed low, Hayate jumped and swung his leg, kicking the ninja in the face. He tumbled back a step, before jumping back up to the ceiling, leaving his sword on the ground. Hayate kept turning, keeping his ears peeled for any sounds other than his breathing. He grunted when two feet slammed into his back, a hard fist to the chest pushing him back into his chest of drawers.

Hayate watched as the ninja kicked up the discarded sword back into his hand, sidestepping when the tip was aimed at his head. Hayate backed up to his bed, the ninja following, violently swinging the weapon. Hayate took hold of his blanket and waved it in front of him. The sword cut through, but Hayate spun around the ninja, cocooning him in the sheet. He kicked him away, making him fall straight to ground. Hayate then ran for the light switch next to his bed, flicking it on. He watched as the ninja easily tore through the sheets, surprised at the light. "I've got you now." Hayate snarled.

The ninja chuckled, stepping up. "Yes you do."

Hayate's eyes widened. The voice was instantly recognisable. "Ryu?"

The ninja turned to face Hayate, taking off his mask. "Yes again." Ryu smirked, his ponytail falling down his back.

Hayate stared at his best friend. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ryu shrugged. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"You make it seem as if you were worried."

"Can't I be? We're friends, are we not?"

"Friends don't ambush each other while they sleep!"

"I was testing you." Ryu sat down on Hayate's bed. "I was afraid that with you being around the karate girl too long, you wouldn't be as good a ninja."

"Thanks for keeping me in shape." Hayate rolled his eyes. Silence.

"You miss the point." Ryu said finally. "Don't you think you are with Hitomi a lot?"

Hayate grunted. "I know!"

"Do you... have feelings-"

"God no!"

"Why are you with her so much then?"

"Because she's always calling me and expecting me to be there. She is irritating and too talkative, but I do owe her. If she and her father hadn't found me before... then I wouldn't be here right now."

"You feel as if you are in her debt?"

Hayate nodded. "But that's it. Nothing more."

"I don't worry for your relationship with her, I worry for you. You spending time with her gets in the way of your real duties, and not paying off any debt either. You have to stop seeing her."

"How? If I suddenly disappear without a trace you don't think she'll come looking?"

"We are ninja, Hayate. There is only one solution to a situation like this."

Hayate glared at Ryu for a moment. Almost reluctantly, he nodded.