Ryu's a stalker! Moo ha! Kidding! Kidding! Anyway. I have no idea whether he'll get over (he being Hayate, not Ryu) Irene, to be honest. Guess we wait and see. Even I don't know for sure. And I write this damn story!

Ayane isn't going to brush off Ryu like that. They're both pretty confused about what the hell is going on, to put it in the vernacular. And both of them, being the antisocial types they are, aren't going to jabber on about it. Or are they? Wait… was that a pig flying past my window?

Oh, just one last note for in case you're interested. It was suggested in Leaves of Lavender as an offhand joke by me, now it's official, sequel to this story is Snob College. Haha! Don't expect it for a while. We're nowhere near finishing this story yet!

"Oh, shit," she cursed aloud, turning to Hayate. "I have to go down to the shops and buy some coke. The drink, yes. I forgot to get it earlier, so I'll see you at home, alright?"

"Don't want to talk to me?" Hayate feigned offence. "Alright then. See you later,"

As soon as he stepped inside, he was hit with the nauseating stench of alcohol.

"You idiot," his father re-greeted him. "Go and buy some food. There's nothing in the pantry! And buy some beer, too,"

He took the money as it was thrust in his face. "But I'm not old enough to buy alcohol-"

"Too bad! Find a way!"

Okay… he stepped out of the house into the last traces of orange-red light of the setting sun. So, how am I going to buy alcohol underage? Ayane would know what to do, no doubt. But she isn't talking to me now, because of what I said to her. All hail my stupidity.

He stopped off at the general store, browsing the shelves for something that his father would eat without him getting hit over the head for buying it. He was trying to decide between some vegetables for tempura or fish for sushi when the bell above the entrance jingled cheerfully again, and someone stepped into the store.

Speak of the devil… what are the odds of that?

"Ayane?" he peered around the shelves at her. "Could you come here for a moment?"

"I haven't-"

He cut her off tersely.

"I don't care about that now," he ushered her over and lowered his voice. "Father wants me to buy him alcohol, and legally I'm not old enough to do so. No doubt you've bought alcohol before, so would you be able to tell me how?"

She blinked. Hayabusa wants me to buy him alcohol? Wow, never thought I'd live to hear that. "Tell me what you want and I'll get it for you. This guy at the counter knows me, and I have my ways to get around it,"

Reaching into her mini-skirt pocket, she pulled out her fake identification. "This, and diamonds, are a girl's best friend," she announced as Hayabusa handed her the bottles of beer. She grabbed a bottle of lemon vodka for herself, and marched up to the counter.

"Hello there," she purred to the guy at the counter. He seriously must be the geek's son or something. What a dork. However, he seemed to enjoy her flirting, so she simply dropped the bottles on the register, and sighed heavily enough for his eyes to avert from her face.

"Just these, thanks,"

"No… no… no problem!" the guy squeaked. In the middle of puberty, I bet.

"Thanks, darling," she batted her eyelashes before taking the bottles. Didn't even need the ID. Even better. Hayabusa, right behind her, purchased some miscellaneous food products, and then they both exited, she handing him the bottles.

"Thankyou. Ayane," Her name was said as an afterthought.

She blinked at the unusual statement. But before she could even react…

The next thing she knew, Hayabusa was standing directly in front of her. He looked… almost… drugged, except his eyes were as alert as ever. She couldn't really describe it accurately with any word except perhaps serene. What the…

She was about to ask him what the hell he was on, when he bent down and kissed her fully on the lips. Every thought whisked out of her head as the only thing she could concentrate on was him. Her conscience, morals, everything went as soon as he pressed his lips to hers.

He had an alluring scent. Indescribable. Unlike some of the other guys she had kissed, who were rough and tasted of smoke or booze, Hayabusa tasted untainted and pure, and had the gentlest touch of any male she had ever known.

Finally, her senses and sense kicked in and she pulled away as though she had been burnt. Hayabusa did simultaneously, wearing a look of identical shock to the one that she could feel on her face, which was something surprising in itself.

"Ayane, I'm sorry… I… I don't know what came over me, I…"

"Yeah, that makes two of us. Who do you think you are?"

He shook his head, almost desperately. "Thankyou for your help, Ayane, it was much appreciated," he turned to go, but she grabbed his arm before he could. She wasn't expecting him to flinch and turn around as though she had slapped his arm instead of merely touching it.

"What the hell was that for? You said you didn't care about that just before. So what made you just come out of the blue and kiss me?"

"I don't know," his voice was soft. He looked the picture of solemnity, standing there, dark auburn hair blowing in the soft night breeze. "Forgive me if you can,"

"Get away from me,"

Her voice lacked its usual snap, but he got the message. He nodded, before going, as simple as that. The next thing she knew, he was simply gone.

She clutched her bottle of vodka to her chest, shivering from the sudden chill running up her arms as she continued her journey back home.