roafurs note- i am roafur, sakuryo's closest companion. i have volunteered to do this chapters note for carne asada, as he and sakuryo try to get moo out of his drunken stupor. notable items for this chapter are:

-Momiji's family is still together, and they are cousins to the Sohmas. The surname is the same. As this fan fiction is set in an alternate universe, there was no opportunity for Momiji's mother to reject him, and eventually have a mental breakdown.

- the song used in this chapter is 'In Your Eyes' from L'arc en Ciel's album Smile

A week has passed since that fateful day. Needless to say, Isuzu and Hatsuharu's fanclubs have been in mourning.

Now, Isuzu has caught a cold, and has not been at school for the past few days. Akito has seen this, and is planning on using this to her advantage.

"Sohma-san! Please, wait for me!"

Hatsuharu turned to see Magami Akito from his English class, running to catch up to him.

"Oh. Magami-san. You walk this way?"

She smiled at him, finally able to be alone with him. Simply nodding in response, the two walked and didn't talk about much.

That is, until they reached her house.

"Sohma-san, would you like to come in?"

"Sure."

Akito lead Hatsuharu to the living room, and left him in there as she went to make some tea.

'This is my chance! I will make sure that Hatsuharu will become mine! That Sumeragi isn't suited for someone like him.'

She slipped a few sleeping pills into Hatsuharu's drink. Smiling, she walked back into the room, and gave him his tea. It took only a few minutes for him to fall asleep.

Fortunately for Akito, her house was only one story. She only had to drag him a few feet to her room.

She stripped him of his clothing, and put him in her bed. Removing her clothes, she climbed in next to him.

'This had better work..'

That night, Hatsuharu went home feeling filthy and guilty. He was berating himself for 'betraying' Isuzu. 'I can't let her find out about this. It would break her heart. Its better to leave her, and keep her safe from this knowlege. Gods, why did I have to sleep with Magami?'

He looked at Isuzu's window, listening to the faint sound of her voice. It made him feel worse, and somehow managed to comfort him at the same time.

'I don't know how long...

But it's been some time,
How much do I really know about you?
Following the map with my fingertips

Isn't getting us anywhere,
I see how it distresses you in your face,
So much you try to conceal it.
It's strange...

How even as I run in circles
As if resisting my advance

To a busy future
My heart still draws you.

When I looked up,

The radiance had filled the sky
Without losing any of its lustre.
If only we could be

Like that sun always shining.
I want to be embraced in your scent...

If just a little longer
The outside air pulls my collar,

But I turned my back to it.
My sighs blurring white in the air,

Inform me of the season.
Going through it again,

A thought occurred to me,
What am I doing here?

I want to stay here

Watching you smile forever
I want to live

Each changing moment in your eyes,
In that one scene

Forever colored in gentle hues
To bring us close together,

I want to stop time forever.'

He couldn't bear to listen to her anymore. He closed his window, and sat there, softly finishing the song.

'I want to stay here

Watching you smile forever

I want to live

Each changing moment in your eyes,
If one day I could bring you

To a serene season
To the flowers blooming

In the sky like snowflakes...

To the flowers'

"Isuzu...please forgive me. I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have to..."

The next day, Hatsuharu went to visit his cousins. Momiji had always been there to give him advice in the past, and if there was a time when he needed it, it was now.

It didn't take long for him to start crying. Momiji left the room for a moment, and came back with Hatsuharu's coat, and his own. "Haru, come on. You're coming with me. Mutti! We're going out for a while!"

"Haru, its going to be hard, but you're better off telling Isuzu-chan what happened. Don't you think that she would be suspicious towards you breaking up with her so suddenly? She seems like a smart girl, and you shouldn't underestimate her."

"Don't you think that I know that, Momiji? Either way, I'm going to break her heart."

"But, I think she would rather know the truth! She needs to know. The two of you could try to work something out!"

"It won't work. I'm going home."

Momiji just sat and watched his older cousin.

'Haru, you truly are a fool...'