Right off the bat… I am SO sorry this update has been so long in coming! As a few of you might know, I've been having trouble with my internet connection and everything that goes with it, sending emails, , the works. So I also apologise profusely to those who have sent me emails and I haven't replied to! I haven't been able to get my hotmail working properly! However, it's on the road to recovery and I am hoping that I will be able to post this (soooooo late in coming) chapter!

Which is also a bit short. Again, my apologies.

"We're going to the zoo,"

"We're what?" he squawked before he could stop himself. His father gave him a crooked grin, hobbling unsteadily over to his bed.

"Get up, you lazy brat. You heard what I said, did you not?"

Reluctantly, he threw back the bedcovers, slowly getting out of bed and pulling on a robe before looking back, defeated, at his father.

"You're not going like that. Get some clothes on,"

Ken shot him an 'I'm-in-charge-and-don't-forget-it' look before exiting the room. He groaned, clambering back into bed and pulling the bedclothes over his head. Time to play happy families, I suppose. But… the zoo… I'm not a child…

Alright, Ryu… you're being selfish. He is trying. That's better then before…

But even still… I don't know if I can survive a day to the zoo…

"Father?"

Ken glanced up over a cup of coffee to see Ryu standing on the top of the staircase. "Would you mind if I invited Hayate to come with us today?"

"No problem," he responded. "What about Ayane? Are you going to invite her too?"

"I wasn't planning on it-" Ryu stopped abruptly. "Alright,"

You know… there is no way I could be bothered going to the darned zoo… stupid Murai and his stupid ideas… I can nearly guarantee that a seventeen year old does not want to be dragged along to the zoo for a day. But hey, if it makes Murai happy… and shuts him up… then it's worth it for sure.

Ryu, meanwhile, was tapping out the number of Hayate's phone into his own.

"You have to save me from this,"

"You what?" Hayate sounded anxious. "Are you alright?"

"No, no…" he brushed off his friend's concern impatiently. "Father wants to take me to the zoo for some reason and would you and Ayane like to come?"

"What, so he can feed you to the lions?" Hayate asked in a deadpan tone. For some reason, that statement hurt more then he could verbalise.

"No, Hayate. He's sorry. He's just… just trying to be more of a father now,"

"It won't last," Hayate said certainly.

"What do you know?" he questioned angrily.

Hayate sighed softly. "I watch too many movies, Ryu. It's the whole life-after-death-and-supposed-to-die thing. He's still going through the shock of being alive; hence he will be nice to you. Until the novelty wears off and he'll keep on doing what he has been,"

"You're such a pessimist!"

"No, Ryu… I'm a realist. Normally I hate people spouting that line, but in this case it is very applicable. But I'll come. Ayane, I don't know about her. She's been in a weird mood as of late,"

Weird? "In what respect?"

"Oh, I don't know…" Hayate sighed. "Girl-weird. How can you tell anything with those things?"

"Things?" he questioned bemusedly.

"Yeah. For all their prettiness, they're the most confusing creatures on the planet. See you in five,"

He shook his head, ending the phone call. I hope you're not right, Hayate. But I have a certain feeling that you are… I suppose we'll soon see.