Yes, this chapter will be explained further down the track. Before everyone starts getting cut at me for adding this, I was against the idea at first (because this story is supposed to be more about Ayane, so far) but my temporary proof-reader, even not knowing a bit about DOA begged me to write it. Although I guess it is an AU so it don't matter so much, but… Ayane gets the limelight later. So does Hayate. And so does Kasumi! ^^ Let Ryu have his time every so often! :P Anyway, see you later! ~ Kurmoi

*

"So, how are things going at home?"

He shrugged, an action adopted from years of being friends with Hayate, glancing inconspicuously at his watch. Ten thirty. Darn. That means that I still have… fifty minutes of this torture to go? How unjustified.

"Come on, don't be like that," He could tell that the counsellor was getting slightly impatient by this stage. "You're here for a reason-"

"Yes, I am, you are correct. That reason is that my father seems to think that I am in the process of a nervous breakdown or something of the sort. As he is incorrect in that audacious assumption, I do not see the point in this, especially when it means I am getting further behind in classes,"

He had lied when he had told Hayate earlier that he didn't know what this was about. He did. But admitting it to Hayate cemented the fact, which he didn't want.

"Ryu, please, be rational. Your actions weren't the actions of somebody in their right mind,"

"Perhaps," he was quickly getting tired of trying to argue. "But that was then, and this is the present. The circumstances differ between them. What else was I supposed to do? I didn't think," he admitted reluctantly, "but that doesn't mean that I am automatically in dire need of counselling because of my actions. I acted on the spur of the moment,"

"You were lucky nobody else got injured," the counsellor said shortly. "You could have killed many people easily on that night. Not to mention you broke the law about a dozen times in the process," She brushed her hair back from her face.

"I believe you are exaggerating. I got inebriated, and collided with another vehicle. Do tell me if I am incorrect, but I believe that only one law was broken, which leaves the other eleven unaccounted for. If you wanted to count the getting inebriated in itself as another, there are still ten laws to be accounted for," he said softly.

"Either way!" she was beginning to sound impatient now. "Your poor father's in a state. Look at it from his perspective. You deliberately go out driving after drinking. What is he going to think? To him, it probably looks as though you attempted suicide or something. How is he going to feel about that?"

"How is he going to feel about that?" he asked gently. "You seem to know his feelings better then I,"

She sighed again, and he felt slightly guilty for being so juvenile about the matter, but then again… It isn't as though I am incapable of dealing with my actions by myself… yet Father has managed to get the whole incident blown out of proportion… it didn't have to be such a big deal, it could have well and truly blown over, but no…

"Father seems to be doing a lot of yelling," he admitted. "Ever since the accident, he has been extremely volatile," His hair fell over his shoulder as he leant forward, and he pushed it back impatiently. "He has been rather difficult to talk to,"

"Do you blame him?" The impatience had passed, replaced with a 'I-understand-everything' tone. He had to tell the truth. He shook his head slowly. I dislike everything about this. She's making me feel as though I am a recalcitrant child. And Father… why did he have to provoke such a fuss over nothing? Nobody was hurt, everything was okay, and they didn't even press charges, although I had been drinking. So what is the problem? Am I just missing something?

"How's school work going?" she asked. He nodded.

"It's been fine,"

"Social life?"

"Fine,"

"Anything else?"

"Fine,"

There was a pause. Then, "Is anything in your life not fine, Ryu?"

"Two things," He held up a finger. "One, Irene. That will never be fine," A pause, and then another finger went up. "Two, this counselling session. I do not need it. Tell my father that, and I will tell him also. I really must get back to class now. Thankyou so much for your time,"

Before she had a chance to say anything else, he had walked out of the room.

*

Oh, and Irene will be explained later too. And it isn't just what you think… (unless you are a mind reader of course)