Guess what, folks?

This story has officially been finished. The writing is complete.

The epic ends soon, folks.

But that's okay! There's still two more books to go after this one! Never fear! –Snort-

Anyway… hope you enjoy the chapter… I've sure loved writing it :)

"So now where to, genius?"

Ayane was getting a bit impatient, just standing around in the complex doing nothing.

"Well, did you want to see a movie?"

"I don't give a fuck what we do as long as it's something," Ayane grumbled.

Hayate sighed, rolling his eyes at his friend.

"Well, what do you want to do, Ryu?"

Ryu shrugged his shoulders, but at Hayate's look, continued.

"A movie doesn't sound like such a bad idea,"

"Movie it is," Hayate pounced on the decision. Scuttling off, he paused once to beckon them forward.

"Come on, you slow-pokes… or would you like some time alone?"

Ayane scowled and flounced up to punch Hayate soundly on the arm.

"Keep your perverted ideas to yourself, wanker!"

Actually… come to think of it… she settled down in the comfortable plush chair, a box of popcorn wedged beside her, I really wasn't in the mood to see a movie. Oh well… what can you do…

What are we even watching, anyway?

She jumped as the sinister horror music started. Damn it all. I hate scary, suspenseful things… what the hell is that? Oh my god! Hayate, you are so dead! I hate you… oh my god! You dick!

She tightly gripped the arms of her chair, jolting her box of popcorn. It wasn't until she calmed down slightly that she realised something was slightly… amiss.

Chair arms sure as hell didn't feel like that.

Nor did they hold your hand back, no matter how hesitantly.

What the… oh, no!

She snatched her hand away with lightning speed, trying desperately not to look over at whose hand she had just held.

Hayate is going to give me so much shit over that… hey… wait a second… oh no. Oh no.

She snuck a look to her left, and her worst suspicions were confirmed. Hayate was staring intently at the screen, mechanically placing piece after piece of popcorn into his mouth.

That must mean… oh crap. Crap! CRAP! I can't believe that!

Carefully, her eyes darted to the right. Crap! Crapola! I touched… Hayabusa's hand…?

He was looking at the screen, but the faraway look in his eyes she could see even from looking sideways at him told her that he was concentrating on something that wasn't the movie. His hand had moved from the arm-rest and was now being almost cradled in his lap.

He is so damn enigmatic. Why can't he just open up?

I touched Hayabusa's hand. Hayate is going to have a field day. I can't believe I just did that. And he didn't pull away. He held my hand…

I can't believe I fucking did that! Next thing you know I'll be on my hands and knees begging for him to make out with me! Gross! If that ever happens to me, someone shoot me first. Please.

Ryu didn't know what to do. He had been watching the movie, thinking about other things which were dominating his mind, leaving little room for the rather tedious movie. And then he had felt a hand tightly squeeze his.

It had been Ayane. He could see her face in the sudden light emitted from the movie screen, and she looked paler then usual. Obviously, horror and suspense movies weren't her favourite genre.

Not knowing what else to do, he had increased his grip on her hand. And then she had snatched it away as though he had burnt her.

What was it? Did she not like my doing what I did? But she initiated it… is my touch so repulsive to her? What was she hoping to achieve by doing what she did?

He leant his elbow on the arm of the chair, letting his head rest on his hand. Why am I perturbing myself to such an extent about Ayane's thoughts? I never seem to please her. Why should I be trying now?

But for some reason, the thought that Ayane could dislike him, no, detest him, was too difficult to shake off, and disturbing him more then he could express.

She is so difficult to read. Covers whatever hardships she is facing, whatever emotions she is feeling by a brash exterior. If only she was easier to understand, then maybe…

He snuck a glance at her. She was pointedly looking at the screen, no matter how unimpressed she looked. She was avoiding him. That much was obvious. Plainly obvious.

Ayane glowered at the screen, not concentrating on anything except for her previous stupid action. I can't believe I did that. I can't believe I did that! Why the hell did I… why did I allow myself to be dragged into coming here in the first place?

She didn't want to reach for her popcorn, just in case she accidentally knocked his hand again.

Damn it all, Ayane… you're acting like he will give you boy-germs or something…

But he will! He's just a stupid boy!

Screw it. My stomach comes before boys do. She reached into her popcorn, pulling out a handful.

No hands. Thank fucking god for that.

Now all I have to do is get through the rest of this stupid-ass movie without making a bigger dick of myself.

The only tricky part was that she still wanted the popcorn. Hesitating for a few moments, she reached over and pulled the whole box onto her lap.

This way, I'll be able to see if there are any hands. Perfect.

As Ayane pulled the box out of the middle and onto her lap, Ryu was staring blankly at the screen.

Did she move the box because she doesn't want to come into contact with my hands ever again… or because she wants me to lean closer to her to reach it?

Judging by the way she had pulled away so violently, Ryu assumed it was the former. Sighing, he forced himself to relax, reclining back into the tacky cinema seats.

So what do I do now? Do I pretend it never happened? Should I talk to her about it? No, that's just being stupid. All we did is hold hands in the cinema. She was scared and reached out, what's so hugely wrong, or even important, with that?

Ryu glanced to his left. Ayane was still scowling in her seat, the popcorn clutched possessively in her lap. Hayate was still enraptured with the movie, remaining blissfully ignorant to what had gone on between himself and Ayane.

How much longer till this wanged out movie finishes?

Grabbing another handful of popcorn, she glared at the screen.

I'm gonna kick Hayate so hard in the arse that his nose will bleed when we get out of here for making me watch this shithouse movie.

Angrily, she shoved her hand down into the popcorn box. Too hard. The box tilted and fell, spilling popcorn all over Ryu's lap.

Shit. Bloody brilliant. Now I have no choice, if I want popcorn, I've got to get it off his… lap. Gross.

"Don't get any cute ideas, I'm not going for a grope, I just want the popcorn. Got it?" she hissed at him.

Ryu just looked at her, and then pointedly looked back at the screen.

Arse.