Finally, I'm back! Sorry for such a long absence (Hope my story-writing skills r still intact OO, if not, pls tell me...). Thanks to huamulan03 for reviewing. Juz as I promised, the chapter on Yzak's hair is here. Enjoy,k? (And thanks to those who have waited patiently for the stories, arigatou for all your support.)

Disclaimer: Once again,I DO NOT OWN any of the characters or whatsoever.They belonged to their respective companies etc.

The growling of an empty stomach seemed to break the silence in the cafeteria at 6:30 am, or so she thought. Her half-finish cup of latte was already cold and unappetizing. Ever since 5:45am, Shiho had been waiting at the table, as promised when the three of them decided to have breakfast together today.

"What's taking them so long!"

No longer able to contain her frustration and hunger, Shiho stomped up to the captain's cabin and banged at the door furiously.It was Dearka who greeted her at the door.

"Yo, Shiho-san! What a nice—"

"I thought you guys said breakfast at six!"

"Wowow, chill down, neesan." Dearka took a step backwards. "It's not my fault that we end up late. You should ask him. He's been in there for nearly two hours" He gestured at the shut-tight bathroom in the captain's cabin with a little disbelieve.

"Yzak! What the hell are you doing in there! Answer me!" Shiho pounded the bathroom door, but there was no response.

"Yzak…It's not nice to keep yer ol' pals waiting with empty stomachs…" Dearka called out to the person in the bathroom. Still, there was no answer. All was silence.

Both Shiho and Dearka looked at each other, puzzled.

"Could it be…" All of a sudden, their faces turned pale with panic. Without a moment to lose, they tried to barge their way into the bathroom. And they succeed. However, just at that instance, the entire crew aboard Voltaire swore that they heard a very loud shriek that pierced through every compartment of the Nazca-class ship.

"KISAMA! What do you think you are doing!"

Yzak was trying his best to cover himself up with whatever material he could grab instantly, his face red with anger and embarrassment. It did not help when he saw Dearka trying to suppress his laughter, and Shiho raised an amused eyebrow.

"This is NOT funny!" Yzak fumed.

"Please don't blame us, Princess Jule, your 'subjects' are just worried that you may have fainted in the bathroom or fell down into the toilet bowl."

"Shut UP!"

Dearka just couldn't help teasing Yzak, upon seeing his face blushed with hues of red and pink. Yzak, his dignity insulted beyond recovery, was aiming a bar of soap at his companion's loud mouth when Shiho shoved passed him, went straight into his bathroom.

"Hey, what are you—!"

"You are actually trimming your hair ALL BY YOURSELF?" She picked up a tuff of silky silver hair from the pile on the bathroom floor, slightly amazed by her discovery. By now, both she and Dearka realized that Yzak's hair was uneven— hair on the left was longer than hair on the right, including his fringe. And his expensive hair-care products (plus skin-care products) filled up nearly half of his bathroom space.

"Yah, I trim my own hair and do oil treatment myself! So what!" Yzak snapped back, as if it was nothing unusual.

"My dear commander, have you ever heard of hair salons?" Dearka mocked.

"And let my hair suffer under dirty combs and scissors in some unsanitary public facility that uses cheap shampoo and conditioner…NEVER!"

Both of them stared at Yzak in disbelief. In all the years of their lives, this is the first time they'd ever heard of a person who totally hates all hair salons in general.

"So, that's why your hair is always shiny and silky but your hairstyle remains the same all these years…" Dearka was indeed surprised.

"Do I have to explain it all! I'm not a professional hairstylist, duh!"

"But you should at least have the courtesy to do so during other times." Shiho folded her arms in front.

"I'll tend my hair whenever I like and if you people want me to be faster, you should get out of my room NOW!"

Yzak shut them both out of his room, for good.

"So, are we still waiting for him?"

They looked at the shut-tight door, exchanged glances and sighed.