"Shigure?" Shizuka asked casually. "Yes Shii-chan?" said Shigure pleasantly. "Why didn't you tell me about this Ayame character? I figured since you're his

best friend and all, maybe I would've been ble too meet him," she said, sounding bored. Akito had taught her her whole life, as far as she knew. So her

personality was similar to his, complete with superiority complex. She of course thought Akito could do no wrong, since Hatori always obeyed him and she

barely saw anyone else. "Ayame is a bit...strange, if that's the word for it. I was going to introduce you later, after his condition was a bit more stable," Shigure

lied, not liking to talk about Ayame like that but sticking to Akito's explanation. "Oh. So he's insane. That explains a lot," she said. Shizuka left the room and

went to the fridge. Kyo was already there, drinking milk from teh carton. "Kyo, you shouldn't do that. You'll make us all sick," she said, disgusted. "I'm not

sick, how am I going to get you sick!?" he retorted. She got a cup and took the carton from him, pouring him some milk. "How many people do you know of

who drink milk after their cat has had some of it?" she said, putting the milk away and getting a peach. "I'm not your cat! I'm your brother! Don't talk to me like

that!" he said, rage building. She ignored him. Akito was God and she was his servant. She decided who she talked to and how. "Don't ignore me you little

brat! You're nothing special, just Akito's little bitch! Do you think that makes you better than me? Do you?! Well if you're going to be that way I'm going to leave

because your goddamn arrogance is pissing me the fuck off! I liked you, I really did, but forget about it now! When you go back to your sweet little god Akito,

everyone will be happier, so why don't you go home! I bet you can't handle being away from there for much longer anyway, I bet you miss the comfort and

safety up his ass!!" Kyo shouted, knocking the cup of milk over and storming up to his room. He ran right into Yuki. "Watch where you're going!" he fumed.

"You ran into me, you stupid cat," Yuki said. "But you are right..." he trailed off. "About what, sissy boy?" Kyo said, unable to resist. "Your sister. She makes

me angry too," he said, continuing down the hall. Kyo didn't say anything, just went into his room and started packing. "I'm going on a journey, don't look for

me," he said as he left the house. He had said his goodbyes to Tohru, and left the rest to Shigure. Running toward the mountains, Kyo had no idea where to

go. But being outside in the wilderness calmed him, and helped him deal with things. Also the obvious, he wanted to get the hell away from his sister. As he

trekked up the hills, he sniffed out the scent of fish, and headed toward it, eventually coming upon a river. This would provide food and water, and show him the

way home whenever he came back, so he followed it as high into the mountain as he could before it got too cold for him. The camp that he set up was

perfectly adequate for him, just a simple tent to keep rain out, and the pine scented wild around him.

Hatori, meanwhile, was alone in his office, waiting for Ritsu to show up for his checkup, which was in 10 minutes. Hatori was filing some papers, when the

monkey burst in the door. "Hello, Dr.Hatori-san," he said, out of breath. "I got here right on time." Hatori turned. "Actually, you're 10 minutes early. I think your

watch is off," he said. Ritsu looked at the clock on the wall. Sure enough, it was 2:50. "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Ritsu cried. "I'm sorrrrrryyyyyyy!!!! I should have

known to check my watch with the clock before I left the house how thoughtless of meeeeee!!!!!!!!! Now I'm interrupting your meticulous filing which is very

important!! I shall go home at once and come back in 10 minutes so I can be on time and you will no longer be perplexed by the sudden early appearance of

your patient!!!! I apologize to the entire world!!" He began to run in the direction of his house, but before he got anywhere, Hatori poked him in the side with a file

and he fell over in a heap. "Ritsu-kun, it's ok. I was only filing because I was bored, and I was only bored because no one was here, so-" "IIIIIIIII'M SOOOOOO

SOOOORRRRYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I should have been here to relive your boredom earlier!!! How can you ever forgive me!?! But is forgiveness asking for too

much?! Am I so-" he fell over again. Hatori sighed, putting the book he used on Ritsu back on the desk. "You didn't do anything wrong, Ritsu, now come here

so I can give you your checkup." Ritsu did as he was told. Hatori looked him over, and when he was finished, he frowned. "What? Am I going to die? Or am I

just too ugly for your eyes to-" "You're fine and you're beautiful. I frowned because...It was subconcious, I have nothing to frown about," Hatori said, deciding

not to tell him he frowned at the coffee stain on his lab coat. Ritsu smiled. "Thank you for the checkup, Hatori-san," Ritsu said, bowing. He really was

attractive, with how much he made himself look like a girl. Hatori shook the idea out of his head. He was lovesick, after the incident with Kana. Every time he

saw a girl (or Ritsu) smile, he felt a little happier, and a little sadder at the same time. He really did miss Shizuka's innocent laugh, though it had only been a

week. He couldn't blame her for the way she acted, in fact he only had himself to blame. He couldn't pin it on Akito; something he was never able to do, and

after all, he was the one who told on her, and the one who erased Ayame from her mind. "What's on your mind, Tori-san?" Ritsu asked humbly. "Oh, it's

Shizuka. I can't stop kicking myself over what I did to her...and Kyo...and Ayame. Probably not just them, either," he said, sadly. "I wish I had met her...she

sounds wonderful," Ritsu said quietly. "She really was. I wish you'd met her too...but then again, I'm glad you didn't," he sighed. "You would have been one

more broken heart." Ritsu nodded. "But didn't you save Kyo's life? Even though very few people value him, you chose his life over Shizuka's personality, your

high school friend's happiness, and your own happiness. I think that's more than I'd be able to do," he said. Hatori paused. Ritsu was right. He chose a human

life over his own happiness. "Thank you Ritsu," he said, returning to his files. "Oh I didn't do anything," was the reply. Hatori sighed. Ritsu never could admit he

did anything right.

Hatsuharu dialed Shigure's number. Yuki picked up. "---Hey.-----------No, I'm calling for you.---------I have a plan, it's about Shizuka's memories.------You know

how Hatori can't erase memories completely, just bury them, right?-------I bet we can give her flashbacks if we try hard enough.---------------No, showing her

pictures that she doen't remember having taken would freak her out. She needs to come in contact with him until something triggers.-------------------------Ah, yes.

Akito. He doesn't have to know. I don't think Hatori would make the same mistake twice.--------I know we shouldn't tell him. I ddin't say we would.-----------I don't

know how we're going to manage that...She doesn't seem to want anything to do with him.---------We'll think on it.----Bye." Haru leaned up against the wall. He

had no idea how he was going to get Shizuka to agree to see Ayame. But it had to be done, he knew that. Ayame was in bad shape. The one time he called

him, he was...not right. He couldn't just live like that forever. He dialed the phone again. "------Hatori, go see Aaya," he hung up, and went to take a bath.

Hatori hung up the phone after the line went dead. Haru was right, he probably should go talk to Ayame. Kisa was his last patient for the day, so he was free to

go, unless of course Akito wanted him. He peeked into Akito's room. Asleep with Kureno. He should be like that for a while. Hatori left for Ayame's house

without telling him he was coming. When he arrived, he rang the bell 3 times before Ayame came to the door. First ring. No answer, but he saw his shadow

inside the kitchen. Second ring. Ayame left the kitchen and turned off all the lights. Third ring. The door opened slowly, to reveal Ayame, looking sick, barely

peeking around the door at Hatori on his doorstep. "Oh, Tori-san. I thought maybe you were someone else...I'm sorry for not letting you in," he said quietly. "I

want to talk to you for a while, maybe cheer you up a bit," Hatori said, going into the elaborate house. "Have some tea. I made it a few minutes ago," Ayame

said, handing him a cup. Hatori sipped it. Ayame's tea was always the best. "What have you been doing this past week?" asked Hatori. "I've mostly just been

at home...I went for takeout a few times. I closed the shop," he said sadly. "Why would you close your shop? You were managing fine without Mine before,"

Hatori was surprised, seeing as Ayame had never under any circumstances closed the shop, even when he was extremely sick. "I went in to work the day

after it happened, and couldn't seem to find any inspiration or spark...so I left a note on the door and mailed out the orders I had already accepted. Then I went

home," he said. Ayame brushed his hair out of his face, and his billowy sleeve fell slightly, revealing his arm. Hatori thought he saw thin red lines neatly placed

along its lenght, but before he could look twice, Ayame put his hand down. He decided not to mention it. "So what brings you here, Tori-san? Besides cheering

me up," Hatori didn't want to tell him that Haru sent him. "I wanted to make sure you were healthy, since you missed you checkup. Come here," he said. This

was his chance to get a look at his arms. Ayame came over humbly and sat down. "Could you take off your robe?" he asked professionally. Ayame did what

he was told. Hatori checked his heartbeat, looked at his eyes and ears, and checked his reflexes. When Hatori grabbed his arm, Ayame flinched and drew

back. "Let me see your arm, Aaya," he said. "I think you should leave now Hatori," Ayame said defensively. "Ayame give it up! I saw it when you moved your

hair, there's no hiding from me. Give me your arms." He held out his arms, looking at the floor. 17 straight razor cuts on the left wrist, 6 on the right. 3 of the

cuts on the right wrist looked fresh enough to be from today, Hatori thought grimly. "I'm sorry, Tori-san, I'm so sorry," Ayame said, a few tears hitting the floor.

He drew his arms back and got dressed. Hatori gave him a hug, and let him cry for a while. After a few minutes, Ayame stood up and went upstairs. Hatori

knew he didn't want anyone to see him like that. He called Shigure. "---Could you tell Shigure I'm coming over?----It's Hatori----Bye" He finished off his tea and

left for Shigure's.

Ayame threw himself onto his bed, which was still covered in marshmallow. He fumbled through his bedside table until he found his razor, and took out the

blade. Again. Just one more time, then I'm done for the day, he told himself, making his way to the bathroom. He stood in front of the sink, watching himself

cry in the mirror. "You're pathetic, Ayame Sohma. You can't even save your best friend. Or yourself. She's off with Shigure, living her life without you, while you

wither away and rot in your own sorrows. You didn't deserve her anyway, in fact, she's probably happier without you," he choked out. He turned on the faucet

and pressed the blade unto his wrist until he drew blood, then slowly sliced across his skin, crying out in pain as he jammed it in far enough to where it stuck

there. Ayame pulled the blade out of his arm and rinsed it in the sink, watching his blood pour down the drain with the pain and sorrow. He waited for the

bleeding to stop, and put a small bandage on the wound before leaving to get takeout for dinner for the fourth night in a row.

Hatori let himself into Shigure's house and approached him in the kitchen. "Oh! Hi Haa-san. What is it?" asked Shigure. "Aaya is cutting himself."