Hello again! Yes, don't worry, there will be more between the 'thing' with Irene and Hayate… it ain't over yet just because we changed the subject here *wink*

Oh, and excuse the stuffed toy bit here. I actually have a toy dragon, it's purple. One guess as to its name… ^^

*

"…Father?"

The soft voice interrupted his internal musings. He looked up to see his son, standing uncertainly at the stairs.

"What?" He wasn't in the mood for this. He had a splitting headache.

"…I have someone over. Is that alright?"

"What would you do if I said it wasn't?" he resisted the urge to yawn and simply keel over asleep there and then. Emerald eyes blinked at him. Emerald eyes much like hers…

"Send him home," Ryu said hesitantly.

"Whatever. Just don't disturb me,"

Thank goodness for that, Ryu thought to himself as he went back to his room. "…Could I ask a question?" he spoke up, to his friend.

"You just did," Hayate looked up from the shelf beside the bed, and grinned, holding up a stuffed toy dragon. "How cute,"

"Shut up," he sat back down on the desk chair, plucking the toy from his friend's hands. "I got it when I was young, and haven't the heart to throw it out," he looked down at the toy in his hands, which stared back at him with a fixated, dopey grin. "One of those things,"

"Even still. I bet Leon would have a fit if he found out about your soft toy collection," Hayate pulled a fluffy teddy bear off the shelf next. "Hmm, fluffy,"

"Could I ask you another question now that you have proceeded to thoroughly festoon my room with clutter?"

"Shoot. If I can ask you a question first,"

His disdainful silence was interpreted as agreement. "Okay. What are their names?" Hayate asked, gesturing to the dragon and the bear.

"You have got to be joking," he couldn't keep the surprise off his face. His friend laughed at his expression.

"No. Genuinely curious,"

"They don't have names," he could feel confusion creeping up on him. Did it really matter?

Hayate feigned shock. At least, he hoped it was feigned.

"They don't have names? That is unacceptable, Ryu,"

"I do apologise," he retorted sarcastically. Unfortunately, Hayate didn't seem to pick up on the sarcasm. "Anyway," he butted in neatly before Hayate could continue. "I was wondering. About Ayane. Why did she change schools? Because I don't think it was just because of what she said. She certainly doesn't seem the type to voluntarily change to 'snob school',"

"Father made her, basically. They had a huge argument but eventually he won," Hayate shrugged. "How come?"

"Just curious," he shook his head. "I still can't give credence to the fact that I've known you for years but never seen her before," If he told the truth to himself, it wasn't just his curiosity. He had taken a liking to her. Nothing affectionate, he didn't know if he would be ready for that for a long time yet. But she seemed nice from what he had seen.

"It does seem rather odd, doesn't it? Especially since you've been over before…" Hayate drifted off, before he jerked back with a sudden jolt. "Why are you so curious about Ayane? You'll be asking me for her bra size next,"

That comment did nothing for his uneasiness, and he couldn't stop the light flush from making its way to his cheeks. "Don't be absurd,"

"You're blushing," It was almost accosting, the way it was said. "You did the last time we talked about her, too. You really do like her!"

His face was giving away some of his feelings. "I don't like her in the way that you are imagining. Leave it be," he turned away, but not before throwing the dragon in his friend's direction. There was a muffled sound of exclamation and he guessed that he had hit target.

"Hey, the poor little dragon," Hayate gave its wings a tweak. "That was harsh. Getting a bit defensive, huh?"

"I do not like Ayane," Even to himself he sounded stubborn and immature. Hayate grinned.

"Sure, sure. I better be going, anyway. I'll let you stew over Ayane, then, shall I?"

"Oh, get out," Ryu muttered, resisting the urge to throw his math textbook at his friend.