Chapter Four: Ayame Meets Negi-san

Ayame smiled brightly as he took in all the stunned looks in the room. How he loved making an entrance! He ignored Yuki's pale face as he rushed to grab his hands. "My younger brother how have I missed you! Let us renew our bond with each other-" He leaned over to look at his brother in the eyes and- "Yuki! What the-what happened to your eye?"

"This is too early," Yuki groaned as he tried to pull his hands away from his older brother. He was surprised when Ayame held him firmly. "What?"

"Stay still," Ayame ordered as he shoved the hair from Yuki's eye to get a better look. He winced at the purplish swelling around Yuki's grey eye. "Who on earth gave you that shiner? Hatori, did you see this? Does he need to get some medicine? What happened? Did Kyokon-kichi finally land a hit? Is he all right? Does he need to go to the clinic?"

"Niisan, I'm fine," Yuki said, blushing furiously as he yanked his hands from his brother. He eyed Ayame carefully, he never saw his brother so rattled. It kind of…left a strange feeling inside him. "Really, I am. There's nothing to be worried about."

"I most vehemently disagree, little brother! Hatori, does it look like something not to worry about? I don't think so!" Ayame said in a near shrill. He turned Yuki to face Hatori, lifted up Yuki's hair and pointed to the offending shiner on his brother's face. "It's all purple and has black all over his eye! He couldn't lose that eye- could he?"

"Niisan, I'm fine," Yuki said in exasperation as he pulled his face from his brother's hands. He stepped back slightly to look at Ayame. He had never seen his brother so rattled. "This is nothing to worry about! Hatori- Tell him!"

"Ayame, Yuki is fine," Hatori said calmly as he looked at Ayame as the Snake was about to launch into another frenzied speech about Yuki's eye. "I treated him yesterday and he will not lose an eye. If it were more serious, I would have called you sooner. It's just a shiner, that's all."

"Just a shiner? Just a shiner!" Ayame narrowed his eyes to look at the shiner again. He put his hand to his chest and gasped. He simply could not believe that his beloved Hatori just said that. "Hatori! How could you call it that! This is not just a shiner- This is a shiner of importance! It mars my little bother's perfect features! Why- Why, he could have lost his eye! It's horrible! This is a mark of epic proportions! This is-"

"It's just a shiner!" Kyo yelled in exasperation. "And the only way that the damn Rat could have lost his eye would have been if that spring onion was wielding a knife!"

"Spring onion?" Ayame looked at Kyo blankly. "Spring onion? What does an onion have to do with my baby brother's eye? Did you throw an onion at Yuki?"

Before Kyo could defend himself, Tohru interrupted frantically. "Oh no! It wasn't Kyo-kun at all, Ayame-san! It was Negi-san that did it! Negi-san-"

"Don't start that again," Kyo warned as he glared at Tohru. He looked at Ayame. "I was about to chop a spring onion and somehow it slipped and whacked Rat-boy in the eye."

"Well! Huh!" Ayame said as he put his hands on his hips. He looked from Yuki to Kyo and back. "I certainly don't know if this is true or not! You're telling me that a spring onion was the cause of this shiner on Yuki's eye and not a lucky punch from Kyokon-kichi?"

"When I punch out Rat-boy's lights it sure as hell won't be from luck," Kyo yelled as he started towards the stupid Snake.

"You're absolutely right, Kyo!" Shigure agreed as he threw himself against Kyo's back. "It wouldn't be luck!"

"Get the hell off me!" Kyo yelled then narrowed his eyes at the baka inu. "Are you making fun of me?"

"I'm only agreeing with you!" Shigure said in surprise. Tears started to roll down his face. "Don't you believe me?"

"Oh, this is wonderful!" Tohru whispered as she watched Yuki eye Ayame warily. "The gap is closing! The gap is closing!" She blushed when Hatori looked at her quizzically. "They're meeting each other half-way!"

Hatori nodded slightly. "Only until Ayame-"

Squirming because of the seriousness he had never seen before from Ayame, Yuki flushed as he looked at Ayame. "It's true, Niisan. I got the shiner by being hit by a spring onion. Shigure and Hatori were there when it happened. It's the same way that Honda-san got hurt."

"I see," Ayame mused as he looked at Yuki. Then he made a bright smile as he grabbed Yuki's hands again. "Well, then! If that is the case- I will stay here and care for you as you recover from that nasty shiner! I will make sure that you have all the loving care that your elder brother can give you! I will be right at your side-"

"Nii-san! It's nothing!" Yuki said exasperatedly as he pulled at his hands. "Really!"

"And we can renew our brotherly bonds together," Ayame continued as he pulled his brother to his chest. "We bathe together and shall overcome every obstacle together my young brother-"

"Overcome them yourself!" Yuki said as he pushed himself away from Ayame and shoved his older brother into Shigure. He rubbed his eyes. How could someone have mercurial mood swings that fast? "It's too early for this nonsense!"

"Sprouts his usual nonsense again," Hatori finished with a sigh. He gave her a small smile. "But it's a start, neh? Let's get back to your fingers, Honda-kun."

"Now that the excitement over Yuki's eye is over… Good morning, Aya!" Shigure sang cheerfully as he caught Ayame from falling to the floor. "And here I said that I was going to be running into your arms! Yet here you are in mine!"

"You know how I just love to be unpredictable, Gure!" Ayame purred as he looked at Shigure. He saw the slight shake of Shigure's head- and understood immediately to let his little brother be for the moment. Using the seconds to gain his composure, he allowed himself to be straightened while sliding his eyes towards Hatori, his next favorite person in the world. "Just like the people going commando! You never know who they are!"

"Ayame," Hatori growled as Shigure snarfed down his laughter. "You-"

Ignoring his beloved Hatori's growl, Ayame struck a dramatic pose of wounded pride as he looked at Shigure. "And what have I missed by not being here and bonding with dear Yuki! All of you gathered in your little flower's room! Harii! You should have TOLD me that you were sleeping over! I would have come with you!"

"But Aya! Even we didn't know that Harii was sleeping over!" Shigure protested.

"Nevertheless! I feel so left out!" Ayame said dramatically as his sharp eyes missed nothing. Now that he was closer, he got a better look at Hatori's state: physical and emotional. Why the good doctor hardly noticed that he was wonderfully rumpled and could be the inspiration of many palpitations! And now that he had a better look at Harii and was calmer about Yuki's condition, Ayame was positive that while dressed in Shigure's robes, Hatori looked like a man amongst men! And he was positively agitated over Shigure's flower! He looked at Shigure in askance. "Really Gure! I really am so upset with you! I didn't know you had a sleepover with Harii! How could you!"

"It really was a sudden thing," Shigure said earnestly as he looked at Ayame. "You know that you're really the only one for me. Aya!"

"Well…I do suppose that I could forgive you just this once, my dear Shii-chan," Ayame purred as he gave Shigure his best melting look. Then, at the same time, the two put up their thumbs and said, "Yes!"

"Will you two stop that!" Kyo groaned as he looked at the silly grins between Shigure and Ayame. "It's too early!"

The two shared another secret grin before Ayame turned to Hatori. He widened his eyes so they sparkled brightly. "Hatori! I think that you look positively scrumptious this morning! Don't you think so, Tohru-kun? And the way he's holding your hand- how romantic!"

His face flushing into a dangerous red, Hatori's eyebrows knitted as he growled, "Ayame…"

"Ehhh? Ehh?" Tohru yelped as she blinked at Ayame with her jaw dropped. Then she swung her head to look at Hatori and Ayame could see her brainwaves start to short circuit the moment she registered his mussed hair and his lack of usual Hatori-neatness. Her face blushed furiously as she tried to bring her hands up to her face. "Ehh? Ow!"

"And you look positively delicious yourself, Tohru-kun! So delightfully rumpled! And your pink and white nightgown- such sheer elegance of the design that brings out your assets! Your cheeks are just sun kissed by this beautiful sunny morning! I'm surprised that none of the young romantics in this house had the urge to kiss you good morning!" Ayame gushed as he beamed at her. "You look so cute deliciously rumpled this morning! I just could eat you up! Let me-"

"Ehhh? Ehh? Oh no!" Tohru's eyes grew large as she went into an even bigger mental meltdown. She started to wave her hands wildly about her and smacked her hand against the headboard again. "Ow! Not me! I don't-ow! Look cute at all! Ow! Not like this! Ow!"

"Ayame, stop. Continue your nonsense elsewhere. I'm busy," Hatori said with a look. He then climbed back on the bed and placed his hands on Tohru's face. "Tohru-kun, look at me-look at me." Hatori waited until she looked at him with her big eyes. "Please calm down- you are not going to get any better if you keep on flailing your hands about like that. Understand?"

"Ha-hai," Tohru sniffed as she nodded. "Hai, Hatori-san."

"Good, now let me look at your hand now," Hatori nodded as he swiftly unwrapped the rest of her wounded hand. He inwardly winced at the sight of her fingers. Somehow with all her wild waving, she managed to reopen her wounds and make her fingers bleed even more.

"Nii-san! Stop that! You shouldn't say things like that!" Yuki scolded at the same time as he hit his brother on the head. His face red, Yuki scowled at the knowing grin on his brother's face.

"Why? Don't you think that she looks like a very nice strawberry cake?" Ayame asked as he batted his eyelashes at his brother. "Don't you think that she looks delectable enough to eat?"

"And don't you start looking at her like that either, Rat-boy!" Kyo shouted as he shoved at Yuki, his own face red as a beet. He winced as his fist started to radiate pain.

"I wasn't, but why is your face red?" Yuki demanded with a snarl of his own. "So why don't you get your mind out of the gutter!"

"Oh, this is just so wonderful! Isn't it Shigure?" Ayame gushed as he brought his hands to his heart. "They're arguing about each other's thoughts! In your professional opinion, what do you think it could be about, Master Poet?"

"I think it's because they both think she indeed looks delectable and are jealous that Commando Harii is the one in bed with her," Shigure sang as he looked at his younger cousins. He winced at the glare the two gave him. "And it's novelist! Master Novelist!"

"Okay, that's it," Yuki and Kyo snarled as they started to converge as one on Shigure and Ayame. "You two are going down!"

"Oh no! Ow! You mustn't fight!" Tohru said as she started to wildly wave her good hand. "It's nothing to fight about and I really don't know what you're talking about and-Ow! Why are you all fighting? You can't-ow! Fight-ow! This way! Ow!"

"I thought I told you to stop moving," Hatori scolded. He started to scold some more but stopped at her miserable look. Sighing, he turned to see Yuki and Kyo about to beat their elders. "Boys, if you're going to do that then leave the room. You're upsetting Tohru-kun again."

As Yuki and Kyo looked at each other, Hatori started to say something else when he felt a tug on his sleeve. His heart lurched as he saw tears gathering in Tohru's eyes. "Are you hurting?"

Shaking her head, Tohru looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Why are they all fighting like this, Hatori-san? They usually don't fight like this in the morning! They fight but not like this! I don't understand!"

"Well." Hatori sighed as he tried to think of an answer other than saying 'Just because that's the way they are'. Then he winced as the cursed spring onion came into mind. "I suppose it's because of Negi-san."

"Oh! That's right! Negi-san is still here!" Tohru exclaimed in a horrified whisper. "Oh, that horrid spring onion! This is my fault! I brought him here! We have to send him on his way immediately! What time is it? Where is he?"

"Well, Tohru-kun- I certainly did not mean to-" Ayame blinked as he started to go into a superb speech about not bothering her when he got a good look at Tohru's fingers and grimaced. "Oh my, you poor thing! What beastly device did this to you? I'll go and scold the horrible beast right now! I swear to you that the beast will regret hurting my little brother's- ow!"

"Nii-san! I said stop that!" Yuki scolded as he hit his brother on the head again, his face red.

"She's not the Rat's anything!" Kyo snarled as he clenched his fists then winced in pain.

Shigure nodded. "But only for the lack of trying among them-"

"And what the hell does that mean?" Kyo and Yuki snarled together. Shigure felt the sweat dripping from his head.

"Oh, please don't fight again!" Tohru said softly as she looked at them. Tears started to form in her eyes. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cause any trouble! Please don't fight! I should have warned you all about Negi-san before I came here except that I really didn't think-"

"Stop crying!" Kyo yelped as he looked at Tohru. "It's all right! You're not the cause of any trouble! It's these two!"

"I agree with the baka neko!" Yuki said as he looked at Tohru. "You're not one to cause any trouble! If it's anybody that's causing any trouble it's-"

"These two young boys right here," Shigure interrupted with a sweet smile. "You have to agree with me, Tohru-kun, that they have caused the most damage around the house with their fighting and their rampant teenage hormones-"

"My hormones are not rampant," Yuki gritted as he glared at Shigure.

"What rampant hormones?" Kyo snarled as his cheeks flushed.

"Why the ones that you have in your body, Kyokon-kichi!" Ayame exclaimed as he batted his eyelashes and put his arm around his brother. "All those marvelous hormones that make us the men we are! And thus showing that we all want to prove to the fair and available maiden that we are, without a doubt, virile and absolutely one hundred percent male! And I have no doubt that my little brother's hormones are the most rampant of all! Why I'm sure that he would like to do nothing more than to rip off his shirt and thump his chest like Tarzan saying-Ow!"

Red-faced, Yuki hit his brother on the head again. "Nii-san! That's enough out of you!"

"But you're all still fighting," Tohru practically wailed. "Because Negi-san is causing you to fight and it's all my fault because I brought Negi-san here and-"

Sighing, Shigure walked over to Tohru and cupped her face in his hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "Tohru-kun. It's all right. You are hardly the cause of any trouble and you could not bring Negi-san because I have a feeling that the spring onion would follow you no matter where you go. So it's not you, it's Negi-san. And teenage hormones running amok-urk!"

"Our teenage hormones," Kyo gritted out as he grabbed Shigure's collar and yanked him away from Tohru.

"Are not running amok," Yuki finished as he smacked the back of Shigure's head.

"If this is not a wonderful example of your hormones running amok then I don't know what is," Ayame tsked as he shook his head. Then he beamed at Tohru brightly. "But then that's all right if they are teenagers, isn't it? Best to have lusty teen hormones in teens than lusty teen hormones in fifty-year old men?"

"Quite true, quite true," Shigure agreed with a wise nod. "But then having teenaged hormones has their own problems as well."

"Yes, like the overuse of bathroom tissue paper and towels," Ayame nodded then he felt the horrified looks his brother and Kyo gave him. A huge sweat drop gathered at his forehead. 'I think I know what's coming.'

A second later, Yuki recovered and shouted as he smacked his older brother on the head. "Nissan! That's just disgusting!"

"Ano I'm sorry- I don't understand but what teen hormones need to be wiped up by tissue and towels," Tohru asked as she looked at Ayame in puzzlement. She blinked as everyone simply stared at her. "Ano Ayame-san? Shigure-san? Sohma-kun? Kyo-kun- what does- Ouch!"

"Sorry about that, Tohru-kun. Anyway, never mind them, Tohru-kun. It's all Negi-san's doing, he's making them to fight in front of you and making you upset and cause nonsense to be sprouted out from their lips," Hatori said as he started carefully wrapping her hand with new gauze. He stopped and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "They're going to be leaving now. Right, Ayame?"

"Do you really think that Negi-san is still doing this?" Tohru asked meekly as she looked at Hatori with wide eyes then she looked at Shigure-san. She missed the threatening look Hatori aimed at Shigure-san. "Shigure-san?"

"Ah-well… Yes, Hatori's correct as usual this seems to be all Negi-san's doing," Shigure agreed quickly. "Hatori is always right about these causes- you know, things causing patients to be upset and all that- Negi-san's the one that caused all this trouble this morning! Isn't that right boys?"

Grimacing, Kyo snorted. "Yeah, whatever. Negi-san's doing all this."

"Yes, Negi-san is doing all of this," Yuki agreed with a wince. "In fact, I think we should be rid of him soon, neh? When did you say you were going, Shigure?"

"You know with all the things going on, I do believe that I don't know this person Tohru-kun keeps mentioning. What is the name again? Oh, yes! Negi-san! Who on earth is Negi-san? Do I want to know him?" Ayame asked curiously as he saw everyone wince at the mention of his name. "What did I say wrong?"

"Oh, no, it's not you Ayame-san!" Tohru cried out as she looked at Sohma-kun's older brother. "It's just that since Negi-san is angry with us! This is why we got hurt and Shigure-san and you and Sohma-kun and Kyo-kun are all fighting-"

"Look, I don't need an excuse to fight with the baka inu!" Kyo interrupted. He started to stutter at her stricken look. "But-but I will admit that I do feel out of it because of Negi-san!"

"Negi-san certainly doesn't need an excuse for me to argue with Niisan!" Yuki added as he looked at Tohru. "But-but I wouldn't put it past him to make me less tolerant of Niisan."

With his hands on his hips, Ayame looked at everyone as if they were all crazy. "And I repeat, who is Negi-san? Is this a person that I need to know?"

Before Tohru could go on, Hatori looked at Ayame. "Never mind, Ayame. Just get everyone down stairs and out of here, will you? And bring the vacuum in here. We don't want Tohru-kun's feet to match her hand."

Ayame blinked for a moment and then saluted happily. "Just leave it to me, Harii! I'll get this lot downstairs!" He clapped his hands and looked at his relatives sternly. "Now it is time for you all to leave Harii with our precious Tohru-kun! Off with you now! I need some breakfast- so Kyokon-kichi! You have the honor of making me breakfast!"

"Why the hell should I?" Kyo snarled as he glared at the outrageous snake. He brought his fist up to hit him.

"Oh! I can make breakfast!" Tohru said as she looked up at them. She winced as Hatori tugged at her hand. "Ow!"

"No, you can't," Hatori said as he tested her fingers. "Your hand still needs to heal. But Ayame can help Yuki and Shigure make it. Isn't that right?"

"Just leave breakfast to me, Harii," Ayame said as he shooed his cousins and brother out the door and into the hall. As his brother flew down the stairs, Ayame shook his head. "Tsk, tsk! Such speed for one in the morning! But it warms the heart that he is rushing to make breakfast for his dear older brother!"

"Yes, yes," Shigure agreed as he looked at Ayame. "Such enthusiasm in the morning! As long as we're not poisoned by Yuki's style of cooking we'll all do well! I do hope he remembers where we used to order breakfast from. Aya, I promise you, I'll get you your breakfast anon!"

"And I will wait with bated breath for your offerings," Ayame cooed as he batted his long lashes at Shigure.

"Oh Jeez," Kyo said as he covered his eyes. "Why don't you two just quit it and get a room?"

Shigure patted Kyo on the shoulder. "Because anticipation is all, Kyo!" He snickered as he avoided Kyo's swing. "Ha! Missed me that- Ooof!"

"But not the second, baka inu," Kyo sneered as he looked down at Shigure who was nursing his head. "Urk!"

Ayame smiled as he rubbed his cheek against Kyo's. "Well, now with all that fun, Kyokon-kichi, if you please- the vacuum must be gotten! My brother's precious-"

"She's not his precious anything," Kyo snarled as he pushed himself away from the damn Snake's death hug and gave him a deadly glare of his own. He grabbed Ayame's jacket lapel with his good hand. "Got that?"

"None of your nonsense now, please," Hatori interrupted as he put his hand on Kyo's shoulder. "I need to look at your hand. Start undoing the wrapping while I finish wrapping up Tohru-kun's." He looked at Ayame. "I thought you were going to make me breakfast. Take Shigure with you. Kyo, go to your room."

"And so, I will be off!" Ayame saluted as he gathered Shigure up from the ground and started to lead him towards the staircase. "Come, Shii-chan, we must make Hatori his breakfast before he gets too grumpy." He brought his mouth closer to Shigure's ear, making it look like he was kissing him there. "And it seems we have much to discuss!"

"Oh, will you two just quit it!" Kyo yelled with disgust as he stomped back into his room. Hatori simply shook his head as he followed the younger boy.

"Oh, Aya! I didn't know you cared that much!" Shigure said aloud for Kyo's benefit. He snickered at the boy's loud groan. In a lower voice, he added, "Yes, we do! But first I must warn you about a most lethal vegetable- Negi-san!"

"How can a vegetable be lethal?" Ayame snorted as he looked at Shigure in askance. He snorted again as they went down the smaller stairs. "Please! I may act like a flamboyant airhead but you know as well as I that I am not THAT empty headed! Or gullible!"

Shigure looked at his friend and cousin, disgruntled at his disbelief. He put his hands up and crossed his heart. "Ayame, you know that I wouldn't lie to you like this- I am telling you that I have witnessed first hand the destruction it created."

"I think that you need some rest or you have read too many of your own fantasy novels thought I would have thought you were more hentai than imaginary, Gure-san!" Ayame shook his head at Shigure in disgust. Then he blinked as a sudden thought came to him. "Or perhaps you simply have a back up of sperm and it's clogging your thinking passages! If that's the case then I know one delightful- oof!"

"Niisan, he does not need to be more hentai than he already is," Yuki said as he purposely bumped his brother in the stomach with the vacuum again. He quickly made it up the second flight, a safe distance away from his brother. "I'm going up to Honda-kun's room to vacuum. You make breakfast, Shigure."

With the quick disappearance of his brother, Ayame called out, "Are you sure it's not because you want to help her put on her dress?" With no answer except a firm slam of the door, Ayame sighed. "Oh, that boy! He's never going to win his princess if he keeps doing that! And what were we talking about again? Oh yes, your build up of sperm which is clogging your mind!"

As they reached the living area, Shigure turned to look at Ayame, indignant. "I can assure that it is not a back-up of sperm that is clogging my thoughts! I am telling you, it is Negi-san. And let me warn you- Negi-san caused all sorts of trouble yesterday! Why, it even caused Tohru-kun's grandfather called to say that he wanted to see her the day after tomorrow and that he was going to have a lawyer present!"

"I highly doubt that a spring onion could do that, Shii-chan! You must really think that I am that naïve to believe you," Ayame snorted as he flounced into the living area. He sat at the table and absently picked up a small red, white and brown bag and absently started to toss it from one hand to the other. "I mean, really! Calling something Negi-san and believing that it can cause bad luck! Really!"

"Ayame!" Shigure choked out as he slowly backed out of the living area. "Ayame- please! Stop that! Put-put that omamori down very slowly and back away!"

"What?" Puzzled, Ayame looked at his cousin who was staring at him with fear filled eyes. Then he looked at the small bag in his hands and realized what it was. Smiling brightly, he continued to toss the omamori back and forth. "This is the infamous Negi-san? In this bag holds the Master of Mayhem? The Onion of Terror? The onion that marred my little brother's perfect features?"

Backing away, Shigure gave his cousin a weak smile. "Ayame…please, be respectful and put Negi-san down and apologize then move away."

"As if I would apologize to an onion," Ayame snorted as he continued to throw the omamori back and forth between his hands. He started to follow Shigure out into the hall. "What is the worst this onion could do? Hurt me? Hurt the ones I love most? Pshaw!"

"Is there anything else that I have to do?" Yuki asked as he came down the stairs with the vacuum cleaner in hand.

"Other than keep Tohru-kun from doing any work today, nothing much, Yuki," Hatori said as he followed the young Rat down the stairs.

At their voice, Shigure called out in warning. "Hatori-Yuki! Watch out-Ayame-"

At the same time, Ayame started towards them with open arms. "Yuki! Hatori! Are you all done caring for our little princess-Ye-ow!"

Yuki watched in horror as Ayame trip on the hem of his coat, his arms flinging forward to catch himself from falling. At the same time, a red bag flew out of Ayame's hand and straight towards him. "Ow!"

Shigure watched with horror as Negi-san flew out of Ayame's hands and right at Yuki's face. He winced as the young Rat's head and body recoiled at the impact of Negi-san, flinging the boy into Hatori and the wall. At the same time, Yuki let go of his hold on the vacuum cleaner, making the body of it fly towards Ayame's prone body while the hose and tube popped off the vacuum's body and tangled itself around sprawled forms of Hatori and Yuki.

"Oh no! Hatori-san! Sohma-kun! Are you all right?" Shigure heard Tohru scream from the head of the stairs. "Eek!"

"Hey! Go slowly!" Kyo yelped at the same time. "Hey!"

Shigure winced as he saw Tohru come tumbling head-first down the stairs and landed on top of Yuki and Hatori with Kyo covering her head and falling down after her. After the smoke had cleared, Shigure grimaced at the sight of Tohru, her eyes spinning in circles sprawled on top of his cousins' clothes. He quickly but carefully made his way towards Tohru. "Are you all right? Don't move!"

"Kyo? Are you all right?" Shigure prayed that Tohru wouldn't take it amiss as he grabbed her legs and pulled her into a sitting position that took her off the clothes. "Hatori?"

"Shigure! Water!" Hatori choked out. Shigure grabbed the shirt that held his cousin and ran to the kitchen.

Kyo, in his cat form, shook his head and patted it with his paw. "I think I'm good. Hey, Tohru! You okay?"

"Oh, my head," Yuki moaned as he crawled out of the clothes and rubbed his right eye. He promptly winced. "Ow!"

Shigure immediately came back and knelt by Tohru. "Are you all right, Tohru-kun?"

"I'm-I'm fine," Tohru stammered as she tried to focus. She leaned her head against the wall. "A bit dizzy too- what happened?"

Shigure looked at Ayame who was only starting to get up from his sprawled position, visibly shaken that the vacuum cleaner landed centimeters from his head. "Oh, let's just say that Negi-san found a way to introduce himself to Ayame. Right Aya?"

"Right, Shii-chan." Moving carefully in a sitting position, Ayame gingerly nodded his head and grimaced weakly. "I think I sprained my ankle because of that lethal vegetable."

"You'll heal," Shigure said a bit callously. "I told you it wasn't a build up of sperm."