Of course it's the same! It's a continuation! -sheepish grin- Umm. I can't think of an insult now. Can you come back later? Maybe I will have thought of something by then.

Anyway… enjoy all the same. I don't have much to say this chapter. Go Ninja Gaiden! Go the outfit! YAY! Yeah… that's about it. Oh, and there's some fat bird on the fence outside this room. That's it, really…

Oh, and I won't be able to update every five minutes for four days because I'm going on a camp for school. And my laptop is coming –evil grin- But I will be back! Never fear… Kurmoi is here! –Everyone runs-

There is a three way conversation in this chapter. I will try and indicate as best as I can who is talking, but… in Word, it has different fonts. Here, I have no idea how to separate it. So I guess we'll see what happens… hopefully the context is clear enough. If not… umm… then I guess we have a problem!

Ayane, on the other hand, was currently dying of boredom in a history class.

This is so fucking boring; I am this close to decking someone in my frustration. But I don't think Hitomi would be too happy if I did that to her. Nor Ryu, either. Even though he just came in, I guess that is really no excuse to deck him.

One thing she had noticed was that Hayate and Ryu weren't sitting next to each other as they usually did. Were they fighting or something? She dismissed it readily. Probably.

She passed a note across Ryu, intended to go across to Tina, but before it got to Tina, Ryu intercepted it.

-------------------

- Hey. Wot u doing this arvo?

- Ayane, can you not spell?

-------------------

He then passed the note onto Tina, who grinned, and scrawled her own reply in neat, printed script.

-------------------

- Yeah, sis. Even I can spell 'what'.

-------------------

She grabbed it back, scribbling her own response.

-------------------

- Very fucking funny, arses. U didn't answer my question.

- Spell 'what' right and I might.

- Ur kidding, right? Tina, you slag.

- No, not really, actually. Something to do in this boring-ass class. What about you, Ryu?

- What?

- Can you spell 'what'?

- Probably not. Why?

- He just did, u loser.

- My point. Anyway, I don't think I'm doing anything.

- Good. Cos then I can kick ur arse for being such a smart-ass bitch.

- Jealous?

- No comments needed from u, Hayabusa, b4 u even think of saying nething.

- I wasn't planning on it, actually, but now that you mention it…

- Don't. Not unless u want a stiletto.

- Ah. The wrath of the stiletto. I thought you had forgotten about that.

- Hell no. How could a gal forget about the no1 weapon she has?! U think we're dumb?

- You prey on poor, innocent males. You realise, that because of people like you, the word 'stiletto' is feared by men the world over.

- Surely you're exaggerating. Stilettos are cool! Kind of hard to walk in, but… they show off your legs!

- They are certainly not… 'cool'. Not when they are used as torture implements.

- I don't think I need to ask.

- Not my fault gals r built better then guys. Minus six-pack, of course. They're good 2 prv on.

- Never really thought about it that way. But you're right about the chests. What do you reckon, Hayabusa?

- No comment.

- Oh, come on, Hayabusa. Surely you've seen how good guys' chests are built once in a while? Unless they're flabby, of course…

- Are you implying that I go around purposefully looking out for males' chests?

- U dressed in a dress. I wouldn't put nething past u.

- The dreaded dress. You'll never let me live that one down, will you?

- Not a damn chance.

- Damn straight. You're a good sport, Ryu. Hitomi and I were cracking up with that. You're a good sport.

- U no, 1 of my friends said that about you, Hayabusa.

- Must mean something, then.

- Yeh. It means ur a fucking moron.

- Oh, Ayane. That cut deep.

- So, it was supposed 2.

- Ayane, I don't know what to do with you.

- Don't do a fucking thing. Hands off.

- When I state something, do you always turn it into the common vernacular?

- U r talking 2 me, rn't u?

- I suppose. Enough said.

-------------------

"Ryu. We need to talk,"

He looked up, into stern golden brown eyes. "We do,"

"Come on. Down the back alright?"

Soon enough, they were perched on the logs, Hayate munching on a fruit bar, he grudgingly eating an apple.

"Seven years. Seven long years,"

He glanced up. Hayate sounded so deadly solemn.

"Running the risk of sounding cliché, the time has come for us to make a decision regarding the friendship we have. Yes, or no,"

"We've had arguments before. I don't want to lose you just because of a foolish argument,"

"Lose me? Almost sounds as though I'm your property. But seriously. I don't want to, either. But we have to make a decision on what is going to happen,"

He sighed softly. This is my fault.

"Look, Hayate. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said the things I did to you. I apologise profusely. You were right, subconsciously my mind probably still blamed you, and it wasn't fair for me to… how would you say, stock-pile my accusations until they would be most beneficial. I really am sorry,"

"Yeah, I guess I'm sorry too. Although, I can't say the same thing for me. I meant most of the things I said, just… in a nicer way then I said them,"

Great. Nice to know that even though he is sorry, he still thinks that I'm trying to ruin his life, just in a nicer way.

"Hayate, I'm not better then you, alright? If you want to get specific, then I will. You have a family that loves you. Surely that in itself is something that warrants something?"

The expression on his friend's face was shocked. Normally, he never mentioned anything to do with the situation between him and his father, unless specifically asked about it. "We had this conversation already. We all have our own weaknesses and strengths. You don't have to be jealous,"

It really is a disconcerting feeling. Having your best friend jealous of you, bordering on resentment. I don't think I like it, either.

"No, it's not-" Hayate cut off abruptly. "You wouldn't understand,"

He's making this so difficult for me. Almost as though he's purposely trying to make it harder, purposely trying to start a fight…

"Maybe not, but try me," he chided gently.

Hayate had a stubborn expression on his face. "No,"

No he says. Hayate!

"Why not?" he questioned exasperatedly, his patience suddenly disappearing.

"Because…" Hayate suddenly looked crestfallen. "Ryu… we'll always be friends, I think. But we come from two totally different worlds. You don't understand me, I don't understand you. Not the best place for a friendship to come from,"

"Differences in people is what makes life more interesting,"

"Yes, but it also makes it harder," Hayate sighed. "Look, Ryu… changing the subject for a moment. Ayane. What's going on with her and you?"

Ayane? "Not a lot. We haven't spoken to each other much recently. Why do you ask?"

"Kasumi. What's happening with her?"

That surprised him. "Nothing. Why?"

Hayate shook his head slowly, golden brown hair falling forward into matching coloured eyes. "They've both been acting differently since they've spoken to you and I want to know why. Ayane's distracted by something. Obviously it's you. Kasumi seems to be all down and sad. Why? What did you say to her?"

Kasumi depressed? Why? What did I say to her to make her upset? "I do not have any idea. The last time I spoke to Kasumi she was fine,"

"She's sad, Ryu. I want to know why,"

"I don't know!"

He was getting rapidly frustrated and angry by this stage. Mostly angry at himself. Angry at himself for saddening Kasumi in some way he didn't know. Angry for letting himself be so frustrated at Hayate. Angry for the friendship which was now in tatters because of the way he had acted, unconsciously. Angry for the sake of being angry.

The bell rang shrilly. Hayate stood up.

"Hayate, please. Wait,"

Golden brown eyes turned back to him almost apologetically.

"No. Sorry, Ryu,"

Before he could say anything else, Hayate was gone.

He sat motionless on the log.

He can't… he couldn't.

Maybe he's right. Maybe we are too different. Maybe everything was just a lie after all.

Wait. Wait. Wait for me…

He can't get off the log! Damn those chocolate bars! Nah… err, don't mind me and my insanity… or, my insanity and I… meh, whatever. And we are leading somewhere here. Don't worry about that. (Well, I think we are...)