First things first… Wolf, you shave Ryu's head then I deck you and shave Kasumi's. ^_^

However, I guess shaving his head enables you to get the full astounding beauty of those cute emerald eyes… besides; straight off shaving that much hair would kill your head. Ouch.

Anyway… I've noticed that in this story Hayate seems to be more then a touch homophobic. Has anyone else noticed that? Oh well, probably how he would be in the game… *tries to imagine what'd happen if some random DOA guy tried to make a pass on him* yeah, he'd probably run away…

Reminds me. PMS… if you don't get it that's probably a good thing, to some extent, but… let's just say, you know how girls sometimes get touchy around a certain time of the month? That's usually why (unless they're just in bad moods, of course)

Okay, now I'm confused. I smell pizza and it's not even 8:00 in the morning for me. *Sigh* Now I want pizza. :(

Hmm, well… I don't know. Just in my experiences people has always liked Hayate better. Now, they do like Ein's fashion sense better… and I can't begrudge them that, because he dresses like a ho… but a damn hot one. Ein is hot. I've said it. (But have I mentioned that Ryu is ten times better no matter what? Ten MILLION times!!!) Now… if only Ryu would dress like that more, then I'd be in perfect Ryu rhapsodies. Oh… *drool*

*

At least I get out of math for this. He tried to convince himself. Even still, it wasn't working. He had been to this police station too many times. Once was once too many.

"Take your time," Rachel greeted him as soon as he walked in the doorway. He shook his head. What a lovely to be greeted by someone. Especially in this hovel. I suppose Father's at work, mentally gloating about this torture bestowed upon me. He knows how much I abhor this sort of thing.

"I do apologise. Unlike you, I still have schooling commitments to attend to," he responded coolly. She laughed breezily at his statement.

"Even you would rather be here then at school. Admit it. Any teenager would,"

He sighed. "Any 'normal' teenager, perhaps,"

Rachel rolled sky-blue eyes. "You said it,"

A young man with sunglasses atop his head walked in at that moment, the glasses balancing precariously on what looked to be gelled, bleached spikes. "Yo. You're Ryu Hayabusa, right?"

"Most unfortunately," he responded, looking the newcomer up and down. "And you are?"

A large hand was stuck out. He shook it politely, nearly getting his fingers crushed in the solid grip. "Just call me Robert, Ryu. I'm your wonderful psychologist for now,"

"Great," he muttered. "I can hardly contain my excitement,"

She sucked in her stomach, looking at herself critically in the mirror. Hmm. Looks alright, I suppose. Guess it would be better if my hair was done up nicely, instead of just in a ponytail. Oh well. Looks better then I thought it would, actually. I thought it might clash with my hair.

At the sound of the door opening, she turned around sharply, only to come face to face with her half sister. "Oh, Ayane. How was your day? Do you like my dress?"

"You look like a toilet roll dolly. An okay one, I suppose, but still toilet-ish,"

Wow. She's actually trying to be nice! That's so wonderful! "Thanks, Ayane," she said sincerely. "That means a lot to me,"

Ayane shook her head, an amused expression crossing her face for a moment before falling back into blank, neutral lines. "Your fan-club would find something better to say. Why not find them instead? And you do really look like a toilet roll dolly,"

She turned back to the mirror. Do I really? How?

"How?" she asked, not really expecting an answer.

"The frills. Kill the frills," Ayane gestured with a hand at the frills adorning the bottom of the dress, examining her purple nails for a moment before returning to look at her, one eyebrow raised. "Bad, bad, bad. Trust you to pick something that makes you look like you're getting married as opposed to going to some dumb dance thing,"

"Are you going?"

Ayane shook her head. "Hell no. Waste of my time. I'd rather go to a club or something,"

"You really should come!" she protested gently. "It would be a great opportunity for you to meet everybody,"

"There's no point," Ayane looked rather sullen by this stage. "I don't know anyone from your stupid school to ask. And the guys from my school don't do formals. Anything's better then turning up and standing around looking like a dickhead,"

"You know Hayabusa, don't you?" she asked.

Ayane turned to look at her sceptically. "Yeah, dumb-shit, you're already going with him, remember? Get a brain,"

She decided to ignore that comment. "I'm sure Hayabusa wouldn't mind going with both of us if you wanted to go with him as well. Or you could go with Hayate, although Hitomi's going with him. I don't think she would mind, though…"

Ayane snorted. "As if. You don't share guys,"

"I don't mind sharing," she said quietly. "If you want,"

"You think I want to share a guy with you, of all people?" Ayane asked indignantly. "You bitch, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be having this damn problem, would I?"

That made her heart drop. Ayane was going to ask Hayabusa out too? "Please, Ayane. I'm sure that Hayabusa wouldn't mind,"

"See? You mind," Was the first thing he heard as he held the receiver to his ear.

"I mind what?" he questioned bemusedly.

There was a snort from the other end of the line. "Stupid slut Kasumi wants to know if we can 'share' you because she thinks she can convince me to go to the formal if I go with you. I told her she was dreaming and you would mind, anyway, but she wanted me to ring you. As is, the only reason I rang was because Hayate made me as well. Nothing else!"

He remained silent for a moment, digesting the information. "So you and Kasumi both want to go to the formal with me?"

A sniff of indignation. "Don't get a big head. I don't know any other guy here, other then my brother, and that's just off if I went with him. Besides, none of the guys at my old school do formals. They wouldn't be seen dead in anything longer then knee length, well, the girls, anyway,"

"Well, I don't mind. If you are willing to do that, then you may if you wish. In fact, I would be flattered," he said softly. I did want to go with you…

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "Okay, fine," she said finally. "But I don't have anything to wear yet. So don't expect wonders. I'm not like Kasumi,"

"I know," he replied simply. "I don't mind,"

She laughed, a somewhat chilly sound. "Considering you wouldn't even let me touch you when we first met, you're warming up a bit. You must be over that other chick if you're taking two girls to the formal,"

Those words made him shudder involuntarily. "Not quite. But I'm sure Irene wouldn't mind. I think she would like you, Ayane,"

"Gah. Makes her sound like your imaginary friend or something," Short silence. "Besides, if she had any sense she wouldn't like me. You'd have to be stupid,"

Was he just imagining it, or was there a trace of sadness in her voice as she said that?

"I always knew I was stupid," he said instead.

She blinked, holding the receiver. What? He likes me? Why? After all the stupid shit I've said to him, I guess I was just jealous… jealous because he has everything good. Except for his arsehole of a father. But then, I guess I have that stupid dick Raidou, so… but… he's weird.

"You're weird, too," she snapped into the phone. "Too smart for your own good, crazy, psychic and weird,"

An abrupt melodious sound, and she realised with a start that he was laughing. "Perhaps so,"

Wow. He has a really nice laugh. Wait. When do I think anything was nice about him, other then him being nice and polite? Especially really nice, mores to the point? I must have gotten brainwashed that other day. If he tells me to polish his shoes, I'll never be able to say no.

But there is no chance of me ever going with Kasumi. I'd rather kill her before letting her beat me once more. Let's just wait and plot until I can think of something…

"Anyway, I better go," she heard herself saying. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Until then,"

She was about to say goodbye, but stopped mid-word as the phone went dead.

Hey, buddy, wake up. Come on… what's wrong with you?

"I always knew History was boring, but…" he drifted off, gently prodding his friend with a finger. Usually he and Ryu got a bit of shut-eye during History classes, but this was different. His friend was well and truly asleep.

Tina and Ayane were gossiping about something, but turned as they realised his dilemma.

"Slacker," the vivacious blonde laughed. "Wake up, Hayabusa,"

Still nothing. He shrugged. Gen-Fu hadn't even come into the room yet, so at least there was nothing to worry about there.

"Hey, sleepy-head!" he elbowed his friend sharply in his sore arm, expecting a somewhat angry reaction. However, all he got was a soft murmur before his friend resumed his slumber. That was certainly odd. I remember at school camp last year, I sat up in bed to get a glass of water and he woke up with a start at the noise. I didn't even make a damn noise! There must be something wrong. He's usually such a light sleeper.

With that, Gen-Fu walked into the room, holding some books. He dropped them onto the desk, before unusually alert light blue eyes stared over in their direction.

"What's going on here?" Gen-Fu asked gruffly.

"Nothing, sir, ah…" he started uncertainly.

He mentally cringed as the teacher walked over, taking in the circumstances in a moment.

"See what I mean?" he asked. They had spent over three minutes trying to wake Ryu to no avail. He paused, touching his temples lightly. "He isn't, uh… dead, is he?"

"No, he's breathing," Kasumi pointed out helpfully.

"Let's get on with the lesson!" Bayman, sitting in the corner, snapped. "Forget the-" he paused suddenly, remembering that their teacher was in hearing vicinity. "-guy, and let's get going with this class. I'm never going to learn a thing,"

"You never do anyway," Gen-Fu retorted. "Now shut your mouth and use your initiative to find something to do,"

Bayman, shocked into silence, did so, albeit sullenly. Suddenly, starting back to reality, he felt a hand lightly grasp his arm.

"Hayate…?"

"Finally, you're awake, you stupid ass," he muttered, staring around at approximately half the class that had circled around their tables with interest. "What's wrong?"

"Don't… feel… so good…" his friend's voice was worryingly faint.

"Well, come on then; let's go to the sick bay,"

Getting out of the classroom itself proved easy. He was beginning to half wonder if his friend was simply trying to look for a way out of History as his feet took him ahead of his friend, gazing at the classrooms, people at work…

"…Hayate?"

He turned just in time to catch his friend, a second later and they both would have ended up on the floor. As was, to any unprepared passer-by, it probably would have been envisioned as them embracing. "Ryu!" he hissed angrily, supporting his friend, but not having the heart to push him away. "What are you playing at?"

"Sorry…" his friend murmured into his shoulder.

"God, you are so in for it when we find out what the hell is wrong with you…" he whispered menacingly.

*

See what I mean? All the poor guy does is faint on him and Hayate's having a fit. Meh, what can you do… and as always, this is leading to somewhere… yay! It's only one chapter after this one, then my next favourite chapter of all time! (Mmm, pictures…) Oh, and for some odd reason, my friend's decided that she likes Ken. KEN! What the hell?!?! Anyways… until next time! ^_^