AN: I'm giving you this about eight hours early. Why? Well, for one, I got it typed! Yay! For two, I may not be able to update at all next week. Why? Because I've only got two words of the next chapter written. Sigh. Want to know what they are? "What" and "I'm". Yeah. I probably need about a week to catch up with myself. I should be able to write another chapter tomorrow, as I have a half-day at school. Good.

Chapter Thirty-One- Comfort?

"Shigure," stated the Hebi plainly, "I will never forgive you."

The Inu turned to face his friend, smiling sadly, "Alright," Shigure stepped forward toward Ayame, and said, "I treasure the time we had," he hugged the aghast Hebi, and turned to move, leaving Ayame to stand in the hallway; bewildered.

-

"Akito..." Kureno said, hesitantly. He thought it was rather a given that he at least make an effort to see if the God was, indeed, awake.

"Kureno...?" moaned Akito, not even opening his (AN: Yes, I will still refer to her as a "him," as that's how I tend to say it aloud AND in my head.) eyes to see the former Tori (AN: Rooster).

Kureno groaned inwardly; he hadn't really wanted to visit with the God, merely check up on him. "Yes, Akito, it is me, Kureno."

"Kureno..." Akito's eyes opened to a squint, the heart monitor incessantly blipping in his pause, "... is that Honda-bitch... alive...?"

Sighing, the former Tori answered, hiding his desire to walk out of the door, then and there, expertly. "Yes, Honda Tohru-san is, indeed, alive."

"I'm going to kill that bitch," the God said, begrudgingly.

"Sure, you are," said Kureno, calming Akito, if only just a bit.

"You're going to help me,"

"Sure, I am," he reached down to hug the injured God, then said, "I'm going to speak to Hatori of your condition, alright?"

Akito nodded obediently, "Come back,"

"I will," Kureno smiling, walking out the door, and flipping a switch off in the already dark room.

-

"I'm SORRY! Tohru! If I had been there, you wouldn't be here! If I'm not making the baby sick, then I probably will be if I stay in this room! I'm robbing you of your air AND time and I'm SORRY!"

"It's okay, Ritsu-san... nothing is your fault..."

"God! Calm down, you stupid Saru (AN: Monkey)! You're making my headache worse!"

"I'm sorry! If I weren't here, I'm sure you wouldn't even HAVE a headache!"

"Shut up!"

"Calm down, please..."

"I'm sorry for speaking! I can't even control my tongue, I'm so USELESS! Forgive me!"

Kyou held his hands over his ears, resulting in the typical "La la la! I can't hear you!" gesture as he yelled at Ritsu once more, "Shut UP!"

The Onigiri cautiously rose from the hospital bed, remembering what the Inu had shown her all of those months ago. She walked carefully toward the flailing Saru, and held out her index finger gingerly, poking him in the side.

With a sigh, Ritsu drifted to the floor.

Kyou moaned and set into the rather uncomfortably cold hospital chair next to the bed.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," Tohru adopted her signature "stupid grin" she sat back onto her bed, still smiling to calm the Saru.

"Is he done, yet?" Tohru's ear would've flicked toward the door, were that possible.

It was Ritsu's mother, the hot springs woman.

"I'm sorry for making you wait..." the Saru rose from the floor, waving sorrowfully as he left the room.

"I swear," said Kyou, clutching his throbbing head, "If one more annoying son of a-"

"Kyou." Tohru stopped his sternly.

"... Fine; if anyone annoying comes in, I'll screech. Okay?"

The Onigiri joked, "Sounds reasonable,"

About that time, another knock rang out.

"So soon?" Kyou "smiled" in anticipation.

AN: Ritsu; he, Ayame, and Momiji are always good for comic relief. I almost feel bad... ... ... not really. Laugh at him! He's there for that! Laugh, darn you!

In any case, I may get a chapter up sometime after Friday next week, but... I might not. Just be prepared if I don't update for two weeks.