"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY COFFEE TABLE?!" Pilica's voice screamed and I groaned as my head jarred painfully and I buried my head into my pillows, when did I even make it to my room?

And what did happen to Pilica's coffee table?

Ugh, I got so freaking pissed last night.

"AYAME!!" Pilica yelled and I whimpered as my head throbbed, "GET DOWN HERE!!"

I mumbled incoherently into my pillow, curling into a ball beneath the soft covers in an attempt to block out the sounds of my angry best friend.

Someone poked my shoulder.

Oh hell no.

They poked me again.

"Do that again I'll have you killed, trust me, I know people," I snarled tiredly, refusing to move and the poking stopped.

Only to resume again a few moments later.

I threw the covers away and instantly groaned as the sunlight made my head hurt even worse, I glared at Lyserg who silently handed me a cup of coffee, which I took with a grateful thank you and gulped it down.

"Thanks," I repeated when the cup was empty, my head still banging, "um, what happened last night? I don't remember all that much if I'm honest."

"Neither do I," Lyserg chuckled weakly, and I only just realised he looked paler than usual, "this is the problem with you visiting, we always manage to get drunk and not remember what happened the night before."

"Ugh, it was your own choices," I muttered into my pillow, curling around it and clinging to it desperately, "this is my first break in ages, I needed to let my hair down and have a nice time, do not blame me for you joining in."

Then Pilica screeched our names and we both groaned, Lyserg flopping onto my bed beside me and burying his head into the spare pillows.

"You go talk to her, she's your wife," I mumbled.

"You've known her longer," Lyserg shot back.

"Fine, I'll go," I sulked, kicking him off my bed and he groaned once more at the pain as I trudged down the stairs, vaguely taking notice of the fact that I was still wearing last night's clothes and that I felt gross.

"Oh honey, you want a shower first?" Pilica asked me as she saw me and I nodded, turning and going back upstairs with a yawn.

Ten minutes later the hot water was beating down on my body, my green eyes closed, my black hair sticking to my skin, it felt good, though the beating hitting my head seemed to make my headache pound even worse, but it felt refreshing to have the hot water run over my skin, getting rid of all the disgustingness of the last night, whatever happened, at least I didn't sleep with anyone, that would've just been awkward.

After an hour of washing, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a fluffy white towel as I realised I'd, stupidly, left my clothes in my room, I smacked myself on the forehead and left the room, the carpet soft beneath my feet as I walked, Pilica and Lyserg had really nice taste, these carpets and this décor was beautiful.

"AYAME!!" a voice cooed loudly and I looked over the banister to see Lucinda and Hao standing there, I rolled my green eyes and Hao's jaw dropped.

Then I remembered I was only covered by a towel that only just brushed the tops of my knees and blush flooded my face as I hastily moved back and into my room, I leaned against my white door, breathing quickly for some reason, my fingers clutching the towel around me closely, my eyes closed as I relaxed back against the door.

Then someone knocked on it.

"What?!" I snapped irritably, locking it quickly and heading for my suitcase where all my things still were.

"It's me," Pilica's voice said softly and I sighed as I unlocked the door once I had on some underwear and she walked in, an eyebrow shooting up as she saw the red lace and locked the door so no one else could come in, "planning on impressing someone?" she smirked and I laughed with a shake of my head as I pulled on a pair of jeans.

"No, these were just the first things I found," I answered, slipping into a black shirt that clung to figure, showing off each curve, recently the magazines had said I was 'deliciously curvy, yet modest, a look that all girls with curvy figures can appreciate', which I found rather uplifting, I was curvy yet modest and a role model for all curvy girls out there.

"Uh huh, and why do you have them?" Pilica asked deviously, "they're rather….sexy for everyday wear."

"Oh, well there's something I couldn't tell you in case anyone heard," I whispered and she moved closer eagerly, "I was dating this guy about a year ago, we broke up last month, before I came here, we kept it under wraps so no one find out, I bought these for a special surprise."

"Ah, who broke up with who?" Pilica questioned as I tied my hair up.

"I broke up with him, I couldn't take all the travelling, having to meet up secretly, I mean, he said he loved me, and I just felt like I couldn't feel the same way, you know?" I sighed and Pilica nodded understandingly, patting my shoulder as we left my room and headed downstairs.

"There you are!" Lucinda trilled and I darted into the kitchen where Lyserg was.

"Coffee," I said simply, switching on the coffee maker and he chuckled as I yelped and hid behind him when the blonde called my name again, "don't let her eat me," I whimpered and Lyserg laughed.

"Ayame!" she called again and I hastily made my coffee, bolting into the back garden and hiding on the large swing with the padded seat and back that they had.

"Mmmm, coffee," I sighed happily, sipping on the hot beverage.

Then screaming and dropping it over myself as Lucinda appeared suddenly, which made me scream louder in pain.

"HOT!! OH GOD THAT'S HOT!!" I yelled and Lucinda decided it would be a good idea to spray me with the freezing hose, which made me scream even more, "STOP IT YOU MORON!! JUST STOP!!"

Everything ceased and she gulped as I glared at her.

"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!" I roared and she screamed, running into the house with me following, I was drenched with freezing water and coffee, urgh, not a good combination, "GET BACK HERE!!" I shouted as she ran into the dining room and everyone just gaped at my sodden appearance.

"Hao!" Lucinda cried, hiding behind the man who gulped as he saw my livid expression.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down so we were eye level, "move," I snarled and he gulped again as I released him and stood the side.

In two seconds I was attempting to beat the crap out of Lucinda while Lyserg held me back and yelled at Hao to help since I did have a personal trainer and I preferred the boxing exercises, which meant, I packed a pretty hard punch, hehe, I am so evil.

"Fine, but if she hits me, I'm hitting you," Hao muttered, grabbing me round the waist and slinging me over his broad shoulder, so I pounded my fists into his back, "quit that Ayame!" he snapped and I growled in frustration as he carried me upstairs and I glared at the whimpering Lucinda who was getting absolutely no sympathy from Pilica or Lyserg who were watching after Hao and me with slightly…..worried expressions.

A few minutes later, I found myself being dumped on my bed and I glared up at Hao, sitting up and pushing him away from me roughly before going to my suitcase and rummaging around for some dry clothes.

"Leave," I ordered coldly, not even looking up at the Asakura.

And then his lips were suddenly crashing onto mine in a hot kiss, his large hands holding my face as I stiffened in surprise for a moment before I found myself melting into his kiss and my fingers clutched the front of his shirt, pulling him closer to me and his hands danced over my body while our tongues fought furiously before his lips moved to the side of my neck.

But he had a girlfriend.

No, we couldn't do this.

I shoved him away from me, breathing quickly, my cheeks flushed, my green eyes averted from his dark ones, my shirt pushed up and revealing my stomach, I subconsciously tugged it down, but his hand caught mine before I could and my eyes snapped to his.

"It's not like I haven't seen it before," he whispered silkily in my ear and my breath hitched, but I wriggled away from him, shaking my head.

"No, you have a girlfriend," I muttered, looking at the ground and making sure all my skin was covered, "we can't."

"Tell me you love me," Hao ordered, grabbing one of my wrists with one hand while the other wound round my waist, pulling me to him determinedly, "you still wear my necklace, tell me you love me, Ayame."

"No! Just go Hao! And if it really means that much to you! You can just have the damn necklace back!" I said loudly, starting to unclip the necklace, but Hao's hands closed over mine.

"No, I don't want it back," he murmured, pressing his lips to mine softly and, unwillingly, I fell into his embrace as his arms circled me, holding me tight and making me feel safe, "I want you."

"But you have someone else," I said softly, pulling away from him and going back to rummaging through my suitcase.

"Maybe I don't care," Hao's voice said quietly in my ear, his lips touching the side of my neck lightly, "maybe I just want you, no one else, just you."

"We tried this before," I argued, turning to look at him, "remember? We never saw each other, our entire relationship was over before it even really started, it seems like fate has another plan from what we want Hao, we-we aren't supposed to be together."

"But I think about you all the time, every time I see on the television or on a magazine it hurts, because I gave up too easily, that I didn't try hard enough, just give me one more chance," he replied, his dark eyes boring into my green ones.

I took a deep breath, my mind screaming one thing, my heart another.

Stupid old me went for my mind.

"No."

Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I curled up in my bed, Pilica silently handing me chocolate as Lyserg was attempting to cook dinner.

"I am so stupid, Pilica," I choked out, watching a sappy movie and shovelling chocolate ice cream into my mouth, "I love him and I just shoved him away and Jamie, my personal trainer, is so going to kill me when he finds out about all this chocolate."

"Don't you worry, you just eat and I'll see to Jamie if he makes a fuss," Pilica soothed and I nodded gratefully, eating another spoonful of chocolate brownie ice cream.

"Thanks Pilica," I sniffled, "but I am so stupid, why did I say no? He means so much to me and I just told him no and watched him walk away with that bitch Lucinda!"

"OH MY GOD IT'S ON FIRE!!" Lyserg yelled and Pilica bolted.

"I could put it out with my tears!" I wailed, then an idea hit me and I wiped away my tears, picking up my guitar.

My fingers plucked at the strings carelessly and I began singing slowly, finding my footing with the song.

"There was a boy I knew

I had to run away before we could see

Everything we could've had,

Should've had

And I can still remember everything,

The way he laughed,

Smiled,

Kissed me goodnight,

But now it's all gone and the fires of regret are burning

And I could put them out with my tears,

Whoa,

I could put them out with my tears

I was walking away,

Then he called my name

Told me he loved me,

Couldn't live without me

And I felt like everything was perfect

But then I had to walk away before we could see

Everything we could've had,

Should've had

And I can still remember everything

They way he laughed,

Smiled,

Kissed me goodnight,

But now it's all gone and the fires of regret are burning

And I could put them out with my tears,

Whoa,

I could put them out with my tears

They burn,

They dance,

They refuse to leave,

But the tears that are escaping now

I could put them out with my tears,

I could put them out with my tears

Put them out with my tears," I sang quietly, my fingers lightly strumming at the guitar strings, tears still occasionally sliding down my cheeks.

Then I felt someone watching me and I looked up to see Horo smiling sadly at me, I smiled tearfully at him and placed my guitar back in its case, avoiding his pity filled blue eyes.

"If you love him, why'd you tell him no?" Horo asked gently.

"Because I'm scared," I whispered, "I'm scared that the six months I'm here will be perfect, but then I'll travel again and everything will go wrong, just like before."

"You were kids then, seventeen and eighteen, but now you're adults, sort of, you're twenty two and twenty three, you're more mature, sort of, maybe it'll work out this time," Horo said quietly.

"I'm not risking my newly mended heart on 'maybe'," I replied softly, "it took me so long to feel better after the first time, Horo, I love Hao, yes, I probably always will, but I don't want to risk everything because I feel like I'll have to choose between my career, my lifelong dream, and him, and that's a choice I simply can't make."

"What if he said you wouldn't have to?" Horo questioned.

"Oh, Horo, not every dream can come true, not even for Kizike Ayame," I smiled sadly.

"But if he said that, what would you do?" Horo insisted.

"Then my life would be perfect, I guess, being with the person I loved and living my dream, but I don't think anyone's life is meant to be perfect, there's meant to be bumps in the road, that's what makes it interesting," I answered, wiping away a stray tear.

"You've got a lot of bumps, Ayame, you have the worst temper I've ever seen, you got sent to an all boys boarding school, got into a war with Hao and me, got into a fight with Hao, fell in love with him," Horo chuckled, "fate kept you guys apart for too long, maybe it's time to put you back together."

"Or maybe fate's right in keeping us apart, maybe we'd kill each other," I shot back.

"Maybe you're meant to be together, fate just likes to see how far it can push you."

And with those rather wise words for Horo, the Ainu left and shut the door quietly behind him as I ate another spoonful of chocolate ice cream that was slightly melted.

Thanks to luckystars135 for the review!! I hope you enjoyed and review this chapter!!