Hai there. Sorry for the second Big Windup story! I just love the anime so much I HAVE to write about it. xD. But leave me some love about what you think! Will update ASAP.

xxx

"Tajima, let's go," he secured his scarf tightly around his neck, walking with the wind. The tails of his dark coat flailing around his waist, the ends frayed from everything he has done with it. See, he was a bounty hunter.

"Abe-kun! Shouldn't we do something with the body?" Tajima yelled over the roar of the wind. Abe stopped, turning to the small boy traveling with him. Slowly he shook his head.

"Leave it," he muttered loud enough for Tajima to hear. Tajima smiled up at Abe, his bright red brown eyes luminescent against the dark sky. The boy ran to his side, following him wherever he went.

"Abe-kun, where are we going to sleep tonight?" Tajima blinked up at the taller boy.

"We'll see in the next town over," Abe sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. He felt the wind pounding into his back, pulling his coat tails around his waist instead of hanging limply at his ankles.

Tajima nodded, skipping ahead, looking at his footprints in the snow, "Abe-kun, I'm cold."

"We're almost there," Abe walked past the boy. He was getting cold too, "see?"

There was a town ahead; he could see the lights still on in some of the buildings, "warmth!" Tajima yelled running before him to the town, his small footprints visible in pure powdered snow.

"Hello, how may I help you?" the woman behind the counter chimed when they walked in. Abe pulled his scarf off, holding it in his hands.

"We would like a room please," his grey gaze nearly pierced through her.

"U-uh, f-for how l-long?" she sputtered, breaking eye contact. Abe was confused. Was it him making her act like this? Tajima was snickering beside him.

"Two nights," Abe blinked, fishing in his pockets. The lady kept her eyes away from Abe; she clicked around on her computer. Ultimately she had to look at him again.

"It's ninety-eight a night," her eyes darted everywhere but to his.

"That's fine," Abe pulled out the eight hundred he got from his last bounty. He pulled out two hundred, laying it on the counter. Gingerly she slid it off, four dollars coming back to him, "thank you."

"You're welcome," she smiled slightly at him. She clicked around on her computer again, handing him a paper with a number on it, "this is your room number and here are your keys," she handed two different colored cards. One orange and one red.

"Ooo! I want the red one!" Tajima jumped up and down, reaching for the cards. Abe met him halfway, "yay!" Tajima admired the card, falling silent once again.

"Thank you," Abe nodded at the girl. She smiled at him.

"Is he your little brother?" she gazed at Tajima, leaning over the counter. Her elbows made a slight 'thud'.

"No," Abe shook his head, "he's my partner. We're traveling together."

"Oh, he's quite adorable," she stared, a small smile present on her lips.

"Yeah," Abe nodded, walking toward the elevator.

"Breakfast is from six to ten!" she called after him.

"Thank you," Abe called over his shoulder. The lady didn't answer him.

"Abe-kun, where's our room?" Abe eyed Tajima, remembering what happened at the desk.

"Three fifty-seven," he read off the paper. Tajima pushed the number three, standing silently at his side, "Tajima what were you laughing about at the counter?"

"Can't you see what you do to people?" he blinked up at Abe, his eyes as wide as could be.

"No?" Abe muttered, staring down at the boy. Tajima shook his head and sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Abe-kun," Tajima returned his gaze to Abe, "it's your eyes."

"My eyes? What about them?" they had reached the floor, the doors opening loudly.

"It's the way you stare at them. Know what I mean?" Tajima inquired, shrugging his shoulders. Abe blinked and Tajima groaned, "it's because you're tall, dark and brooding!" he was frustrated, Abe could tell.

"Is that a bad thing?" Abe slid the key into the door thing for the cards. The light flashed green and Abe utilized it. Opening the door, he was blasted in the face with warm air. Perfect.

"No," he shook his head, "but it is quite funny," Tajima snickered as the door clicked shut. Abe blinked finding nothing funny with the whole situation.

"Get some sleep," Abe shrugged off his jacket, draping it over the back of a chair in the room, he threw his scarf with it. Tajima claimed a bed to the right. Abe took the only open bed left, drifting to a dreamless sleep.

xxx

"Abe-kun," Tajima loomed over him, a giant smile showing his teeth, scrunching his nose and freckles. He had a hat on, a hat with cat ears on it. One of the tassels, hanging off the side of the hat, tickled his nose.

"Where'd you get that hat?" Abe sat up, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"I bought it," he laughed, pulling Abe out of bed by his wrist, "c'mon, breakfast time."

Abe hopped in the shower, putting on his clothes from yesterday. He left his coat and scarf in the room, but he took his key card, shoving it in his pocket. He made Tajima leave the hat as well.

"What time is it?" Abe asked as they walked down the hallway for the elevator.

"Seven-thirty," Tajima answered absently. There were people there already, "hello," Tajima greeted. There were three young girls. Tajima's age and maybe Abe's too.

"Hello," greeted the older blonde with a smile. Everyone had to smile back at Tajima. The elevator doors opened, Tajima waved the girls in before them. Then they went in, "what floor?"

"Ground," Abe answered. The girl started, her smile faltered, "please," Abe said softly.

"No problem," she said cheerily, pushing the button. Seemed like they were going to the same place.

"Thank you," Abe nodded his head, breaking eye contact. He shoved his hands into his pockets, listening quietly as Tajima chatted with the girls. The elevator dinged, the doors sliding noisily open.

"You guys going to get breakfast?" Tajima stayed by Abe's side, while the girls started off for the lounge.

"Yeah, are you?" the same girl spun on her heel to look at Tajima, walking backward a few steps. Her hands were clasped behind her back.

"Yeah," Tajima laughed, directing the attention to Abe, "Abe-kun, what do you want to eat for breakfast?"

Abe looked down at him, "I don't know, whatever they have," he shrugged. The girls were silent, the older one walked up to him.

"You're name is Abe?" the girl asked. Abe nodded as the girl smiled up at him, "is it your last name?" Abe nodded again, the girl's smile widened, "what's your first name?"

"Takaya," he answered his voice low due to the early hour of the day, "Yours?" he had to remember to be polite.

"Kiku Kimura," she smiled, gesturing to the other two girls behind her, "Chiyo Shinooka," the middle girl had glasses and cropped brown hair, Abe nodded to her, but she broke eye contact as soon as he looked at her. Maybe Tajima was right, "and Miyu Aichi," the youngest girl had red hair, her eyes a bright green. She smiled wide up at Abe.

"Pleasure. I'm Takaya Abe and this is Yuuichirou Tajima," Abe introduced the smaller boy.

"Please, eat breakfast with us," Kiku waved them along. Tajima followed instantly, but Abe took a few seconds. He trailed in the back keeping his eyes to the ground. He heard Tajima talking to the girls in front of him.

"Excuse me, sir?" someone tapped him on the shoulder. Abe stopped, turning around to the person behind him.

"Yes?" he met eyes with the girl from last night. Her cheeks grew pink, her eyes turned downward toward the ground.

"I realized I didn't get your name yesterday," she pulled her hair behind her ear;" it's regulation."

"Abe. Takaya Abe," he nodded, making his way for the breakfast bar.

"Thank you," she said softly, barely did Abe hear it. Abe didn't answer, he was too hungry. Upon entering the room he noticed the food. So much food. It took him a few seconds to decide on cheerios. That was his favorite. Cheerios and a lot of sugar.

"Abe-kun!" Tajima was waving from a table in the back. The girls sat around it, an empty chair between the boy and Kiku, "over here!"

Abe moseyed over to the table, sinking down into the empty chair. He began to eat.

"You have to excuse him. He's not a man of many words," Tajima laughed. Abe stopped eating, looking to Tajima.

"Was I supposed to say something?" Abe blinked at him. Tajima smiled.

"Well a simple greeting would suffice," Tajima giggled. Abe looked to his company.

"But I just saw them a couple minutes ago," Abe returned his gaze to Tajima. Tajima rolled his eyes, patting him on the shoulder.

"He's kinda dense, too. Don't worry, Abe-kun. It's okay," he laughed again. Abe was confused.

"What are you talking about?" confusion laced itself in his voice.

"Never mind, Abe-kun. Hurry and eat, we have to check the board," Tajima finished up his pancakes. Abe took his time, savoring his cheerios.

"Don't worry," Abe swallowed some of the milk from the bowl, "we'll get a good one. I promise."

"Abe-kun, you're not going to start a fight again are you?" Tajima inquired mouth full of his last bite of pancakes.

"If I have to, I will," Abe shrugged, throwing away the plastic bowl and spoon.

As he sat down he heard Kiku ask, "fight for what?"

"Oh, we're bounty hunters," Tajima blurted. He knew Abe didn't like him saying anything about their status. It could tip off the people they are looking for, "so when someone takes a bounty that we want, Abe fights them for it. He's pretty good at it too. He won every fight except for one and that's because the guy cheated and broke his arm."

Abe repressed a sigh. Why must Tajima talk about him like that? The girls were staring at him, "you don't look like you'd start a fight," mused Kiku. Was that a compliment?

"Thanks?" he ended it like a question. Kiku smiled at him. He guessed it was a compliment, "well, we really must be going. Hope to see you soon, ladies," he stood and walked away.

"See you guys later!" Tajima ran to his side. They heard the girls' goodbyes. Tajima ran ahead of Abe, most likely he was up way before him this morning and he already knew where the bounty board was.

He decided to ask anyways, "you already know where the board is?"

"That I do," Tajima spun around and waited for him.

"We have to get our coats," Abe pushed the elevator button.

"It is winter. I wouldn't travel outside without my coat," Tajima giggled. Abe didn't say anything, stepping onto the elevator.

xxx

"Follow me!" Tajima ran ahead, the snow engulfing his sneakers.

"You're not cold?" Abe stepped carefully ahead, making sure to keep the snow out.

"Nope!" Tajima laughed aloud, his smile huge. Abe nodded, following slowly behind him. Tajima had gained a bit of space between them. Before he passed the first residency in the town, a boy came out into the cold. He was bundled up, but his green eyes sparkled against the pure snow. His scarf billowed in the slight breeze. Abe staggered to a stop.

He looked about twelve years old, hunching his shoulders against the sheer cold. His hair was pushed down under the hat he was wearing. It was an Animal beanie, you know, from the Muppets. The tassels hung over his shoulders, braided and flailing out at the end. Abe watched, he didn't mean to be creeper like but he couldn't stop staring. This boy was beautiful. Now don't get him wrong, he's not going to like jump the kid, he's not disgusting. But the boy was a sight to see. Maybe in a few years when he gets back here, he could actually talk to him.

"Abe!" Tajima yelled from down the lane. He looked from the boy; Tajima was waving and pointing to the building to his right. He called back to him.

"Is that the building?" he asked, unintentionally drawing the boy's attention. Abe started to move faster, out of the corner of his eye he saw the boy staring at him. He hoped the boy wouldn't say anything; Tajima would never let him live it down. To his luck, he made it to Tajima without so much as a noise from the young boy. When they turned to the building, Abe noticed the boy was gone. He probably had somewhere to be.

They waltzed in the building, granted with stares from its occupants, "who might you be?" asked a gruff looking man. He stood before the board, a poster with a three-hundred dollar bounty, in his hand.

"New comers, we mean no trouble, just looking for a good bounty," Abe answered indifferently. He strode toward the board.

"You any good?" the man asked again. He scratched his beard, making a weird face. Abe knew from experience that he shouldn't tell the man too much. They may be fellow bounty hunters, but if you have more money than he does, he would ultimately try to steal from you.

"Yeah," Abe analyzed what was on the board. The highest was five-hundred. Abe sighed, swiping the paper off of its tack.

"Going for the five-hundred? I hear that's a toughie," the man was just barely reigning in his drooling. Abe had done it. The man was going to try to steal from him now.

"Nothing we can't do," Abe motioned to Tajima, making sure that the man knew he wasn't alone in this battle. Of course, Tajima can't fight as well as Abe, but just numbers matters.

"Good thinking," the man nodded, backing off. Considering he took only the three-hundred dollar bounty, two against one doesn't sound too good to his old man ears. Abe walked past the man and Tajima.

"Let's go, Tajima, get this over with," he muttered, escaping out of the building with Tajima close on his heels.

"I didn't like it in there," Tajima muttered, pulling the edges of his coat close together, shielding the cold.

"Me either," Abe muttered, pulling his scarf up over his mouth. He was already starting to get cold.

"So who are we looking for?" Tajima inquired, peeking over Abe's hand to see their target.

"Shuugo Kanou. It's only five-hundred though. Seems like he stole from a residence and he skipped bail," Abe muttered.

"Did you just say Shuugo Kanou?" a light voice made both of them jump. Neither of them had any idea that someone was behind them.

"Yes," Abe answered before he turned. It was the boy from earlier. Abe tried not to change his facial features. Tajima watched the boy intently, "you know him?"

"I do," the boy nodded, "He's my cousin."

"Oh! Do you know where he is?" Tajima was too excited. His hands fisted and put up in front of his chest. The boy sunk his head into his scarf, his eyes full of tears.

"Whoa, are you okay?" Abe was truly concerned. He can't stand people crying. It makes him feel bad.

"Yeah, but I-I never thought he'd do something like this," the boy took a deep breath, "but I guess it's for his own good. He lives next to my house. I'm the first house in the lane, on the left."

"Thank you," Abe nodded, walking back to way he came. The boy didn't say a thing, just continued walking the opposite way.

It took them both a good five minutes to get to Shuugo's house. They climbed the steps up to the front door. Abe knocked.

"Hello?" the boy on the poster opened the door.

"Are you Shuugo Kanou?" Abe stared levelly in his eyes. The boy stared back, confusion laced in his gaze.

"Yes, what is this all about?"