Chapter 5

In a room of three, on the bed sat Momiji and Ayame. Hatori stood while holding the hot soup in his hands.

"Gomen ne Hatori… I didn't realized that Kyou had let go of my hand… and I kept on talking and talking… I didn't realized that I lost him… in the middle of the forest. I'm sorry…" Ayame bowed.

Hatori frowned at Ayame. "If you know you're so talkative and absent-minded, why did you even suggest going to the forest? Why did you dragged Kyou there in the first place? Huh?"

Ayame looked up, surprised. "So you're saying that I purposely lost him in the middle of the forest then? Is it? Huh? You never said that kind of things to me!"

Ayame felt the jealousy pierced through his heart. "Why do you care so much for him? He's the cat!"

Momiji touched Ayame's arm gently. "He's not just the cat… he's a great guy, with a great heart. And he's gentle towards everyone… even black Haru… I saw him tending to black Haru's wounds after rounds of fights with Haru at school the other day."

"So now you know Kyou's a good boy. Tell me again why did you lose him when you're holding his hand?" Hatori frowned again, getting impatient.

"You never blamed me anything and now you blamed me for loosing Kyou?!?" Ayame stood up.

"I never blamed anyone for-"

"Yes you do! Your eyes betrayed you! Even with such cold eyes, I can see through you Hatori!"

"Ayame, I'm getting impatient here. If you would just tell me why and where you lost him. This unnecessary argument could end much earlier." Hatori gripped the bowl of soup tighter.

"What?!? HATORI!"

Momiji stood up and pulled on Ayame's sleeve. "Yes Ayame, please tell us where you lost him so we could find him as soon as possible." Momiji looked up with pleading eyes.

"I- I guess you'll never trust me now that your Kyou is gone huh? Tell you what, I did lose him on purpose. Only because I was jealous that you spent so much time on him than on me! Only because I was jealous that you care so much about him and never me! Only because I was jealous that you gave all you can for him but never me!" Ayame tensed, tears on the brim.

"Ayame, just tell me where Ky-"

"ONLY BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" Tears rolled freely down Ayame's cheeks, and onto his yutaka. "I let go of his hand at the place where we always went when we were little, the place where we buried our rings."

Ayame ran out of the house and into the forest.

Hatori dropped the bowl and ran into the forest.

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

Hatori ran and ran, not knowing he was finding Kyou, or running after Ayame.

Finally, he stopped, at the place where he and Ayame had buried their promise rings, and where Ayame had lost Kyou.

To search or to dig, Hatori does not know.

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

Ayame ran into a clearing in the forest, where he was sure no one knew of, not even his closest friend Shigure or the cunning Akito.

He sat there, and let darkness consumed him.

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

Momiji heaved a sigh of relieve after finding Hatori, in place with beautiful flowers booming around them.

Hatori sat against the tree, with his head down.

Momiji walked towards him. "Are you okay Hatori?"

"What should I do Momiji? Should I dig out the rings and chase after Ayame, or should I find Kyou first?" Hatori looked up.

"I… I think you should dig up the rings, and find Ayame. I'll find Kyou, don't worry I won't get lost in this forest. I know this place well since Haru always gets lost here." Momiji smiled at Hatori. Momiji still cares for Kyou, and he definitely didn't want Hatori to get to Kyou first.

Hatori nodded and started digging on the spot he sat on.

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

Ayame's surrounding is starting to get darker and darker. Clouds of darkness is starting to take over him.

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

Momiji went off to find Kyou, and Hatori had dug out the perfect rings wrapped in a torn piece of Ayame's yutaka when they were young.

He stood up and went the opposite direction of Momiji.

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

Suddenly, Ayame felt different, like he was new, in a whole new body feeling a whole new… feeling. Ayame stood up and took a deep breathe. Then walked towards the river and looked into it.

He gasped. "What…? How…? Why…?"

Thanks for all the votes!! I hope they keep coming.