Poor wittle angsty Hayate. Okay. This isn't the be-all end all for that pairing we were debating over, okay??? So don't cry, it's okay. Hayate will comfort you in the toilet! (Yeah, too many, mmm, chocolate… sorry) Anyways, enjoy the chapter. Oh, newsflash… there will be more Kasumi, a lot more, don't worry ^^ Umm, what else do I have to say? Ryu rules! Anything else? Nup.

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Everything seemed to be pressing down onto him, suffocating him in its depths. What was his father going to do? He didn't want to know, but in a sick, twisted way he also did want to know. Stem the feelings of apprehensive curiosity that had been plaguing him ever since it happened. It was recess now. He was sitting underneath a large tree, Ryu on one side, Ayane on the other. Something seemed to be going on between the two, although he didn't have a clue as to what it would be. And with one of the two having a notorious temper, and the other an enigmatic at best, what hope did he have of finding out?

"Don't let him bother you so much," Ryu's soft voice drifted with the soft breeze.

"Kick his arse," Ayane suggested offhandedly.

"Yeah, like Father would be impressed if I did that," he raised his head, so that he was looking over into the trees beyond. "Poor Helena. Must be horrible to one minute, have your mother, and the next, she just gets taken away from you like that. No warning at all. Not even a chance to say goodbye,"

Ayane snorted inelegantly. "Hayate, you're getting soft. Just because she's brainwashed you into believing that she's not a bitch. Open your eyes instead of your mouth,"

"Who put that over-sized stick up your rear end, Ayane?" he retorted, instantly angry. "Maybe if you weren't such a bitch yourself you wouldn't have to hang around with me at school, you would have some of your own friends. I don't know what's gone on between you and her, but don't take it out on me,"

The next thing he knew was a throbbing pain in his jaw. Ayane certainly was a bitch, for lack of a more technical term. Even he knew that most girls would slap. Ayane hit. Hard.

"That's it. Half sister or not, I'm not in the mood to put up with your crap!" He stood up angrily, ready to make her regret those words. Sorely.

"…Hayate, Ayane, the bell just rang," Ryu stood up calmly, raised an eyebrow at the two, before walking off. Ayane shot him one last glare before going off in the opposite direction, drama. Stopping briefly at his locker to collect his books, he set off for Geography, choosing a seat down the back of the room, not sure that heads would remain intact if anybody sat next to him. However, his unspoken wish was ignored. A pretty young girl sat next to him, pale brown hair held up with a thin headband. She smiled at him.

"Hello, Hayate. How are you?"

Silence for a moment, before he registered who was sitting next to him. "Morning. Good thanks, Hitomi. Sorry. I was just a bit out of it, then,"

The smile grew, making her entire face light up. "No problem. I don't blame you; it is Geography after all. Uh…" suddenly, the smile disappeared, sky blue eyes immediately growing reticent. "Forgive me for being so forward, but do you have a date for the formal?"

"A… date…?" he repeated, shocked by the question. Did she… could she possibly… how could she like him? Was she crazy? She wanted… or was she just curious? "Uh… no. Why?"

"You don't suppose… of course, you don't have to if you don't want to, but… I was wondering… uh… I'm sorry for being so rude; of course you don't want to go with me! What was I thinking?" A light flush graced Hitomi's cheeks. "You probably have lines of girls queuing up to ask you out. Don't worry,"

She… "No, I'd like to go with you. That'd be good, if you want to," he responded, almost shyly, but mentally he was hitting himself. That's so mean. Only accepting because she… "I'd be really happy if you would like to go to the formal with me, Hitomi,"

"Really?" her face lit up again. "That's fantastic! Thankyou ever so much, Hayate! I-"

She cut off abruptly, suddenly flushing a violent crimson. He blinked, wondering why she cut off, until he noticed seventeen pairs of eyes gawking at them, including the teacher's.

"Everyone give the happy lovebirds a round of applause," their teacher chirped. He could feel the flush rising on his own skin at this stage, and the class did clap. That made it all the more embarrassing. Only accepting her because… how would she feel if she found out? How would you feel if you were in her position and you found out? He felt tears abruptly springing into his eyes and cursed himself for being so weak and juvenile at this point in time.

"Sorry, got to go to the bathroom," he apologised, standing up and quickly exiting the room, ignoring the catcalls and wolf-whistles that followed him. A sudden headache pounded at his temples as he ran for the bathroom, shutting the door to the nearest cubicle, before sitting down on the toilet and dropping his head into his hands.

Only accepting her because she reminds me so much of Irene… what sort of a bastard am I?