A/N: I got this idea while listening to Goo Goo Doll's 'Become'. I know I'm not supposed to do this but I was studying for my final exam when I listened to this song and when the idea struck me, I immediately stopped studying and write this. I know, I know I lose focus too easily but what can I do? (This was written two months ago…lol!)

Summary: Tsuzuki is a chocolate shop owner and he likes to observe his customers who come and buy his chocolates. However, one day he sees a teenager who always stands in front of his shop but never comes in. He was attracted to the teen and decided to know him better (IN A GOOD WAY!)

Disclaimers: Please, I told you it's not mine already, so run along…

Warning: No shounen-ai here…um? Is that a warning? Anyway, you'll find some tiny parts of heartwarming scenes…and the rest is up to your imagination. Hey! I'm not implying anything!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

This heart beats whenever I see you. I wonder why…

"Thank you and please come again," one of the shop workers bowed as the last customer left. "Thank you for the hard work, Minami-chan," a voice started from the corner of the room. She turned and smiled at her boss. "I should get a raise for this, Tsuzuki-san. I mean, all you did all day was observing our customer. One day they'll definitely freak out and never come to this shop again," she said as she jumped and sat on the counter.

"Same goes to you, Minami-chan. You forgot to change the sign," another worker came and changed the sign of the door 'CLOSED'. "Gomen, gomen, Saeko-chan!" Minami apologized and jumped off the counter and went to the back. Saeko stopped when she saw a figure stood in front of the shop.

"I'm sorry but the shop is closed for the day. You can come again tomorrow," she said to the figure. Tsuzuki lifted his head and moved a bit to see who Saeko was talking with. "Oh, okay," he heard a soft yet firm voice came from outside the shop. "Thank you," Saeko said and finally closed the door. "Who was it?" her boss asked. "A customer who came too late," she replied and went at the back. "Anyway, Minami and I are going home. See you again tomorrow, Tsuzuki-san. And don't eat all the chocolates, okay? We're running a business here," she warned and smiled before leaving the brunette with Minami who was waving at him. "Hait, hait. Take care, girls," he answered and waved him goodbye.

Tsuzuki took a deep breath and let it go. He could feel the smell of the chocolates in the shop. He had started the chocolate café since two years ago and it was popular among teenagers and couples in love. He wasn't a hopeless romantic like the author (A/N: Sorry, I just had to put it there.) but he enjoyed looking at their faces when they bought chocolates for each other. Maybe it was redemption he made for himself for what happened when he was younger. He looked around his shop and sighed when he saw there was a cup of hot chocolate-gone-cold on a table. "Those two forgot about this," he mumbled and went over to get it.

Then, he saw a shadow next to him. He turned and saw a teenager stood in front of the door shop, blocking the street lights. He walked to the door and made the boy jerked in surprise when he opened it. "Oh, sorry about that," he quickly apologized. The boy looked away. Tsuzuki stared at the boy for a while. 'He looks like a middle school student,' he thought to himself. Suddenly, the boy lifted his face and shot him a look. "I'm sorry but I'm a first year in high school," he said.

Tsuzuki raised his eyebrows. "I didn't say anything," he stated. The boy gritted his teeth when the brunette in front of him spoke again. "Ah! I guess you're the customer who came too late just now! I thought you've gone home. So, what are you still doing here?" he asked as he leaned against the door. "Aren't you supposed to be home?" he asked again.

The boy glared at him before taking off. "Hey!" Tsuzuki shouted for him but the boy was nowhere insight. He sighed again. "Kids these days…"

…………………………………………………

"Ohayou, Tsuzuki-san!"

He turned to the voice and smiled widely when he saw his first two favourite customers. "Ohayou, Minami-chan, Saeko-chan," he replied and unlocked the door to his shop. Minami and Saeko immediately changed and wore their white apron with black laces. Tsuzuki stood behind the drink counter and looked at them. "Take a seat. So, what do you want to drink today?" he asked.

"Tiramisu Choc. Make it warm, please," Saeko started first. Minami raised her hand. "I want Candy Choc!" she said. Candy Choc was a drink where a cup filled with tablets of chocolate candy and the customer got to pick the colours of the candy. "What colour is it this time?" Tsuzuki asked already making Saeko's drink. He sliced a small piece of frozen tiramisu cake into Saeko's cup and poured hot chocolate into it. "Pink!" she replied cheerfully. "Roger!" he said and immediately pressed a pink button on a chocolate drink maker and tablets of pink chocolates filled the cup in no time. "Oh! Let me!" Minami grabbed the cup and poured the hot milk herself. Actually, that menu was popular among grade school students. They often brought their parents along and it boosted his business.

The two were in pure bliss that they didn't notice their first customer had arrived. Luckily, Tsuzuki who was facing the front door noticed him. "Oh, Tatsumi. Fancy seeing you here," he said and left the counter to greet the man. Tatsumi stared at the two maids and turned to Tsuzuki. "What exactly did you put in their drinks, Tsuzuki?" he asked.

"Oh, so rude of you, Tatsumi. Pure chocolates of course!" Tsuzuki replied happily and beckoned him to go to the table in the corner where he usually sat. "What would you like to drink?" he asked. Tatsumi shot him a look. "Black Coffee."

Tsuzuki narrowed his eyes. "Hello? This is a chocolate shop, not a coffee shop. Are you sure you're not lost, Tatsumi?" he asked, hands on his hips. The blue-eyed man sat down gently. "Chocolates and coffee come from the same source. Cocoa, Tsuzuki. I guess you do have raw cocoa beans right?" he asked. Tsuzuki pouted and kicked the wall. "Have you been sneaking into my kitchen at nights?" he said at his friend. However, the blue-eyed brunette just gave him a sly smirk. "Are you forgetting who provides your supplies?"

By the time Tsuzuki entered the kitchen, Saeko and Minami snapped into reality and almost screamed in surprise when they saw someone sitting alone in the corner. "Now I'm really worried what did he actually put in their drinks…"Tatsumi mumbled. "Tatsumi-san?" he looked up. The girls were standing by his table. "Worried about Tsuzuki-san again?" Minami started first. Tatsumi smiled at her. "What else can I do for him?" he replied.

Saeko smiled. "Don't worry, Tatsumi-san. He's actually tougher than he looks. Besides, he has the two of us to take care of him," she said. Tatsumi nodded his head in approval. He had always thought that Saeko was actually older than she already was. She was a college student doing a part time job here while Minami on the other hand, looked and acted just like how 18-year-olds should be. "Girls, I don't remember paying you to flirt with Tatsumi," Tsuzuki called them as he stepped out from the kitchen.

Saeko and Minami chuckled as they left the two. "Welcome!" they greeted the next customers.

Tatsumi inhaled the bittersweet scent coming from the coffee and sipped it. "You always make splendid coffee, Tsuzuki. Tell me why you didn't open a coffee shop instead?" he asked. Tsuzuki leaned on one hand as his elbow supported him. "I thought you already asked that," he said. "Remind me again."

The amethyst eyes softened and shifted towards the black coffee. "People in distress always drink coffee. I don't like that. I always think that the more we drink coffee, the more restless we become. Coffee might help to reduce heart disease, but it damages our body. We become lethargic and tired by it. It may make us wide awake but it doesn't mean it'll bring our focus back. (A/N: I say this based on my experience. BUT! I still drink caffeine when I'm studying at night/morning for exams. Usually coke)

But chocolate is different. Even though it comes from the same source as coffee, it has a totally different effect than coffee. Chocolates make us happy and I want to stay that way. Chocolates bring people closer too. Besides, when you're down and feeling sad coffee won't make you happy and chocolates should do it. Who's better to be your companion and cure?" he said bluntly but clamped his mouth with his hand when he realized what he had said.

Tatsumi stared at his coffee and drank it again. 'Who's better to be your companion and cure?' he thought. He turned at Tsuzuki and noticed the man was wearing a guilty look on his face. "There's no sin in being honest, Tsuzuki," he said before gulping his last sip. "If you really want it that way so be it. I'm happy for you," he said and gathered his cloak. "Tatsumi," the brunette called him. Tatsumi turned at him and carved a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be back again," he said and left the shop.

The brunette sighed and sunk into the couch. His eyes noticed the money was placed on the table. "Black Coffee isn't in the menu, Tatsumi. You don't need to pay for it," he whispered and smiled. Then, decided to take the money to buy a real Black Coffee the next time Tatsumi came. "Eh? Why did Tatsumi come here actually?"

He took a blueberry chocolate cake and sat at his usual place. Customers were coming a lot lately and he was grateful for that. But sometimes he was sorry for Minami and Saeko for making them work all by themselves but he couldn't help it. He needed to do this. He needed to see the customers' faces. He wanted them to be happy. This was the reason he started all this. However, something caught his eyes. He noticed someone was standing in front of the shop but all he did was stare at it.

"It's the boy," he mumbled and walked towards the front door. He opened the door and saw the boy looking at him. "Aren't you supposed to be surprised like yesterday when I opened the door?" he asked, looking confused. The boy stared at him. "It's because I was off-guard yesterday," he simply replied. "So?" Tsuzuki looked at him.

The blonde teen raised a brow. "So?" he asked. "Aren't you coming in?" the brunette invited him. But he saw the boy took a step backwards. "Um…I'll pass for now," he said and ran off again. "Ugh! Kids nowadays sure like to run that much," he whined and noticed something shiny on the floor. He went over it and picked it up. It was a student card. He looked at the picture and grinned foolishly. "He looks like a girl in this picture," he said to himself. He then turned to the profile.

"Kurosaki Hisoka, class 1-A, Kaidan High School…" he muttered and stopped. "Kaidan? Sounds familiar…ah! I used to study there! How can I forget something trivial like this?" he then looked up to the direction where the boy named Kurosaki Hisoka vanished. "Well, tomorrow I'll give it back to him," he said and went back into his shop. He was sure the boy will come back again. He could read his pattern.

However, he waited for the boy to come the next day but he never came. Yet, he still held on to the student card, believing the child will come one day. He was preoccupied with this idea because he saw something in the teen he wished he would never see again.

He saw loneliness in the teen's torpid emerald eyes. He could find hurt and pain in the way he gravely spoke. He could feel longing and desires from the way he bitterly acted. Yet, he was nobody to help him. But still, he couldn't bear to leave the poor boy alone. He just couldn't let anyone to have the same pain as he did when he was young.

………………………………………………………………

He was sleeping when a gentle hand woke him up. He rubbed his eyes groggily and focused on the owner of the hand. "Minami…chan?" he muttered. Minami turned and to Saeko and sighed in defeat. "Mou, Tsuzuki-san, you've been waiting for the kid since two days ago. What makes you think he'll come again?" she sounded, hands on her hips. Tsuzuki yawned and let out a surprise exclamation when Saeko came with a cup of hot white chocolate drink. He took a sip before sighed in bliss.

"Tsuzuki-san. The kid would probably make a new student card by now. He won't come again…oh, speak of the devil…" Saeko scolded him but stopped. Tsuzuki and Minami turned to where she was staring and saw the teenager stood in front of the store again, wearing the same look on his face. "You girls clear up the place. I'm going to talk with him," he ordered and went to the door.

"Why were you waiting for me?" the teenager asked. Tsuzuki's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Hello, Kurosaki Hisoka-kun?" he decided to show good manners instead of bad. The teen seemed to be taken back by his greeting. "How…how do you know my name?" he asked, looking confused.

Tsuzuki grinned and retrieved his hand from his apron's pocket. "You dropped this two days ago," he replied and handed it over to the kid. He took it and kept it in his bag. "Arigatou," he said and bowed a bit. The brunette was surprised by his sudden change of manner. "I'm sorry if I'm being rude but why were you standing in front of my shop for the past days?" he asked finally. "Can I call you Hisoka?" he added.

The youth looked up and turned away again. "S-sure," he replied. "So, are you going to answer my question or not? Or by the way, how did you know I've been waiting for you?" Tsuzuki stared at him. Hisoka took a step back. The brunette's eyes widened in response. He quickly grabbed Hisoka by the wrist and let go when the teen hissed in pain. "I'm sorry…" Tsuzuki apologized.

Hisoka pulled his hands to his chest. "No…it's…" he started but failed to connect anymore words. Tsuzuki stared at his hands and noticed they were bandaged. "Hisoka, are you hurt?" he advanced towards the teen. The blonde looked up and fear was visible on his face. Tsuzuki's steps stopped. "What happened for the past two days, Hisoka? I know you'd definitely come and stand in front of my shop every day but you didn't come two days ago. What's wrong?" he asked. The teen was clearly in a fix and looked aside, as if trying to find his way out.

But the action made Tsuzuki got more curious. There were bandages wrapped around the teen's neck. He knew something was wrong. "Let's come inside. It's getting cold," he stated and pulled Hisoka by the arm. The blonde shrieked in surprise when he was shoved into the shop. Saeko and Minami had finished changing and surprised when they saw Tsuzuki dragged the blonde into the shop. "See you girls tomorrow. Take care," Tsuzuki said while holding the door for the girls. The two quickly left and waved him goodbye.

Tsuzuki closed the door and changed the sign. He then turned his focus towards the Hisoka. "Please sit down," he said and the blonde just complied. His hands were shaking as if he feared something in the store. Hisoka sat on the couch connected to the wall and Tsuzuki sat the opposite of him. "What would you like to drink?" he asked gently after realizing the youth was scared of something. Hisoka's eyes looked up at him.

He smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not a pervert. I won't do anything to you," he said and stood up. He was still waiting for his order. "Then…I want the same drink as the man who sat here before," he said. Tsuzuki blinked and tried to remember who Hisoka was referring to. "Oh, you mean Tatsumi! Oh, can you drink black coffee?" he asked. Hisoka nodded his head. In no time, Tsuzuki placed the hot coffee in front of the blonde. "Darn, you could've ordered something chocolaty."

"You haven't told me your name," Hisoka started after feeling refreshed by the coffee. Tsuzuki sank back into his couch and smiled. "I don't mean anything!" Hisoka exclaimed. His face was red. Tsuzuki chuckled. "My name is Asato Tsuzuki. You can just call me Tsuzuki. I'm the owner of this shop," he introduced himself. "Now, I know I'm not supposed to butt into anybody's business but I can't help it. Why are you covered in bandages and plasters?" he asked finally.

Hisoka looked away. "I had an accident..." he lied. He wasn't going to tell Tsuzuki, the man who he just met everything. He admitted the shop attracted him because he never felt the emotions coming from the shop before. He was curious but the more he thought about it, the more addicted he became of the shop. Truthfully, he could sense emotions and the ones emitted from this shop were stronger than anyone else. Plus, when he sensed the emotions, he felt happy somehow. He never felt that way.

"Don't lie to me," Tsuzuki pressed his voice. Hisoka snarled at him and slammed his hands to the table. "How would you know!?" he shouted. At the same time, the bandages covered his left wrist loosened. He quickly pulled his hand away but Tsuzuki grabbed it first. "It hurts, damn it!" Hisoka hissed. Tsuzuki stared at the mark around Hisoka's wrist. They were bruises. "What happened, Hisoka?" he asked more gently this time. He caressed the wounded hand softly.

Hisoka looked away and pulled it back. "None of your business. I think it's about time I'm leaving. Thank you for your hospitality," he said, grabbing his bag and left in a rush. Tsuzuki stared at the ajar door and ran his slender fingers through slick dark chocolate hair. "He ran off again…" he murmured, slapping his forehead.

………………………………………………………………

However, Hisoka found himself standing in front of the Red Sky, Tsuzuki's chocolate shop the next day. "Why am I here again?" he asked himself. He looked at his watch. It was almost seven and the shop was about to get closed. He was about to take off again when he saw a silhouette advanced towards the door. "Wait!" a female voice called him. His steps halted and slowly, he turned around. It was a girl with light brown long hair tied up in a horse tail. She looked older than he was.

She walked towards him and handed him a box of what appeared to be chocolates. Hisoka looked up at her questioningly. "What's this?" he asked, accepted the box anyway. She smiled. "A token," she replied. "A gift from the owner of this shop," she said and returned to the shop. She smiled and waved at him before changing the sign. Hisoka stared at the box. It was a golden box with a red ribbon tied to it. He untied it and mesmerized by what was inside. It had nine chocolate blocks consisted of different designs and tastes. He carved a weak smile and tied it back again. He then put it nicely in his bag.

Hisoka looked up at the red dusk sky and suddenly, he felt that he understood why he sensed the emotions coming from shop.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

TBC. Okay…what else? R & R, people! One more thing, I'd like to apologize if it's a bit confusing. Like I said, I wrote this during my exam weeks…