"I swear those strains are getting worse and worse." Fuse lightly bumped his shoulder with Hidaka's shoulder.

"It's just because that one strain got out and put that bug in our system. I still can't figure out how he's letting out all those strains." hummed Hidaka. Fuse tapped Hidaka's head with his knuckle.

"You're just not that smart." Hidaka began to shout about him just not knowing much about the strain and Fuse smirking. Both didn't see the two figures approaching.

"YO!" Fuse jumped and Hidaka shrieked.

"Damn it Andy!" Hidaka and Fuse both yelled. Enomoto stepped forward with a nervous smile trying to calm them down.

Andy was ignoring the glares sent his way and was on the floor clutching his stomach laughing. "You should have -gasp- seen your faces. HAHAHA! Hidaka -gasp- screamed like a -gasp- a little girl."

When Andy tried to get up Hidaka wrestled him back to the ground, growling nonsense. Fuse ignored the two and turned to Enomoto, " Where are you guys heading?"

"To drop off our reports. The others got called out because of another strain, so we need to turn theirs in as well."

"Well good luck." Enomoto gave him a questioning look, "Fushimi is the only one there. We just got back from giving her our reports."

"Is she in a bad mood?" Enomoto began to sweat out of nervousness.

"Yeah. The strains have been popping up all day and she got stuck with all of paperwork."

"I almost feel sorry for her." Andy said dodging Hidaka.

"Hey." Hidaka picked himself off the floor after an embarrassing fall courtesy of Andy, "She's just a little bit awkward. We need to give her a chance."

Fuse sighed, "We've been over this." Andy and even Enomoto (reluctantly) gave a nod. "She's just a mean person. Leave it alone."

"And hey." he started to walk away, "Everytime you try to include her or make her open up she ends up turning her anger on all of us." Enomoto followed him.

Hidaka ignored him, "Ask her if she wants to go to the festival with us!"

Enomoto and Andy both sighed and began the short walk to the dreaded room. Not that it was a bad room. Just that everybody would be out and the only one who would be there was Fushimi, and she tended to suffocate people in a empty room.

"You ready?" Enomoto didn't notice when they arrived. Nodding they both took a deep breath and opened the doors.

The room's light was turned off and the only light could be seen was from only computer turned on in the corner and the rays of light creeping out from behind the blinds. Enomoto had a strong urge to rip the blinds off and see if it will get rid of the dark aura coming from the girl typing away on the computer.

Brave Andy took a step forward, "We have the reports Fushimi.", his voice shook a little.

She clicked her tongue, "Just your's?"

Enomoto decided to step in since Andy looked like he was going to run away, "The others had to go as backup for another team dealing with some more strains. We have their reports."

She clicked her tongue again and stopped typing to glance up at them and held out her hand. They both tried to give her the papers without not making it obvious they were avoiding touching her hand or fingers. Immediately she leafed through the papers and found Andy's report. Her eyes skimmed over it and she gave a hum of approval.

"You don't need to fix your report Domyoji." With that he ran out of the room leaving behind Enomoto. Then the strangest thing happened.

Enomoto must have had the greatest luck to stumble across the once in a lifetime moment. As he stood there wondering if that was also his dismissal Fushimi must have not noticed that he was still there because she yawned.

To anybody who spent 5 minutes with her would know that her pride wouldn't allow her to show a moment of weakness, like yawning, in front of others. It took Enomoto less than a second to realise this and then he really looked at her.

Lifeless blue hair was tucked behind her ears. Big black bags hung under her eyes stood out on her sickly pale skin. She was squinting her eyes and slightly leaning towards the screen and Enomoto had to wonder how long she had been working in the dark without a break. And then he noticed what was happening around her. There were empty coffee cans and a half empty take out box, maeby it was less then half way empty. The coffee cans were scattered across her desk and Enomoto remembered that every time he saw her she was working or doing something work related.

Then he started to worry. Take out and coffee cans were a regular thing with Fushimi and always overlooked. If she was living off of that like Enomoto feared then it would explain her lack of muscle. The females of Scepter 4 had some muscle due to their rigorous training but Fushimi remand with twig like limbs. Despite that she was ruthless on the field. Nobody saw her fight or train but when ever Fushimi ran into a strain or criminal being hunted by Scepter 4 she (apparently) held nothing back and destroyed them. And everyone saw the state she left them in.

That fact should have stopped Enomoto. Should have stopped him from picking up the empty cans on her desk and tossing into the trash bin by her desk. But it didn't.

Enomoto felt her glare at him, and maeby it was his imagination but he could have sworn she was a little bit surprised. He walked over to a window and pulled back the blinds. "Are you coming to the festival with us?" It took all his willpower not to stutter when he heard her start hitting the keys again with more force.

She clicked her tongue, "Hell no."

This time he couldn't stop the stutter, "But it... will be good for…...you. Not that I'm saying you're not good. Wait-you're not good but not not good good. Its just that…...well, you look kind of sick. Oh-no! I'm sure that didn't come out right. I'm so sorry!" He bowed trying to avoid looking into her piercing gaze.

A click of the tongue "Spit it out." he took a deep breath.

"You have been spending a lot of time in here and you look like you deserve a break. Not that I'm saying you don't look good, its just that-" a warning growl came from her, "Hidaka wanted to ask you but he couldn't and you are a hard worker and you deserve a break every once in a while."

"No" there was no clicking of the tongue. Enomoto began to push.

"Please. If you don't like it you can go but please…."

Enomoto must have been a pathetic sight for her to turn back to her computer and throw a small "fine" over her shoulder.

"Really?! That's great. Awashima and some girls are going out to shop I'll tell them about-" Fushimi glared at him. "Right." he chuckled nervously, "I'll be going now."

Fushimi didn't even bother to look at him as he shut the door. Just kept typing away.

…..

The truth was Enomoto forgot Fushimi agreed to come. He was sent on a small mission and made it just in time for the festival. But to be fair everyone forgot. Hidaka was used to Fushimi turning him down he must have gotten used to it. As for everyone else they just didn't care. But everything came back to Enomoto when the girls arrived.

All the girls had on fancy and colorful designs each breathtaking in their own way. But the one trailing behind Awashima, who wore a white kimono with pink sakura petals and a slightly darker pink obi, like back at Scepter 4 HQ made most of their jaws drop.

Fushimi didn't have on any make up caked on her face, so there was nothing to hide her dark bags or her pale skin. Her bluish-black hair glowed in the colorful lights. Small and fragile wrists and hands peaked out of the sleeves of a black kimono accompanied by a blue obi that matched her eyes. Those cold eyes glared at them snapping them out of it and her aura that screamed 'untouchable' made them freeze.

"What are you idiots staring at?" Fushimi looked as if she was restraining herself from pulling her knives out and giving them a painful death.

"You came!" Hidaka step forward, if it was to give her a pat on her head/shoulder or hug her, nobody will ever know. The sharp kick to his knee halted any movements he made towards her.

"Tch. Stay away from me." Fuse dragged Hidaka away from her before he could say anything else that would piss Fushimi off.

Enomoto sighed, he could feel a headache starting to form. Luckily the others seemed to ignore her and started to explore the festival. As they went to the many stalls filled with fun games and delicious food Enomoto notice some things.

Fuse and Andy would throw glares at her every once and a while. Hidaka would look at her with pity in his eyes. The sad thing was he knew that she saw all those looks directed at her.

But he wasn't sad for Fushimi, but the others. He could feel the annoyance radiating off of her in waves. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her fingers twitch occasionally like she wanted to bring her knives out and end whatever was annoying her. But maeby that glint he thought he saw in her eyes wasn't annoyance but loneliness. After all she was the traitor of HOMRA that now worked for Scepter 4. No matter what happened she would never be truly accepted (the rumors of her having two different colored flames didn't help). It pulled on Enomoto's heart strings with a fierceness that could only be related to Fushimi. Maeby deep down she was a good person. If so wouldn't she deserve better than this?

"-moto. Enomoto. You with us?" Akiyama waved his hand in front of Enomoto's face. Benzai and Kamo stood behind him giving Enomoto questioning glances, "We lost you for a minute. You almost ran into Goto earlier."

Enomoto blushed, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking, I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"It's fine. What were you thinking about?" Kamo asked boredly. Enomoto looked at Andy, Goto, Fuse, and Hidaka try to catch the fish with their nets. And failed. Then he looked at Fushimi who was looking up at the sky like she was asking whatever higher power that was listening "Why me?".

"I'm going to go check out something really quick. I'll catch up with you guys later." he turned around and approached Fushimi who was a few feet behind Awashima and her giant load of red bean paste.

"Fushimi?" she looked at him and glared, "I'm sorry. I dragged you out here and I haven't tried to make this an enjoyable experience for you. Would you please let me take you to get some tea, I'll pay."

She was still glaring at him but she softly clicked her tongue and Enomoto took that as a 'yes'. He didn't see the 3 figures looking at the scene in shock.

….

"Why don't you drink something else besides coffee? Well I-I just, you know, its just that all the c-coffee you drink can't be….healthy for you." Enomoto looked at his lap to avoid Fushimi's glare.

Her glare intensified, "I don't drink a lot of tea so…." Enomoto's head snapped up and he looked at her in shock.

"You don't know what to get?" his voice was barely a whisper as Fushimi gave him a look that clearly said 'say anything else and I'll gut you'. Clearing his throat he hopped his voice wouldn't crack, "My favorite is gyokuro but you might like the sencha better." He wondered if he made the right move recommending the tea.

Luckily the waitress came to take their order. After he said what he wanted Enomoto expected Fushimi to order one of the two coffees at the bottom of the menu but was surprised when she said, "Sencha." instead. But it was soon buried under fear when Fushimi flashed him one of her knives.

The awkward silence only lasted until the tea arrived and soon they both began to relax. There was no conversation but that didn't bother Enomoto. At least Fushimi didn't act like she did back at Scepter 4 HQ. It was actually refreshing and Enomoto found himself enjoying it a little bit. But then they showed up and the peaceful moment was ruined.

"Enomoto? What are you doing here?" Kamo approached the table with Benzai and Akiyama walking behind him with curious looks on their faces, "...Fushimi?"

She didn't even spare them a look but Enomoto saw her sit up straighter and lock the cup in a vice like grip. The relaxed air she had around herself vanished and she clicked her tongue at them.

Hello Fushimi-" Akiyama, like the polite person he was, tried to include her but apparently Banzai's overactive imagination got the better of him.

"Are you two dating?" he blurted out.

It was either Enomoto's shocked "NO!" or Fushimi's deadly glare (or both) that must have straightened out that problem. And by some cruel twist of fate all the other booths were full and Kamo, Banzai, and Akiyama had enough room to sit down at Enomoto and Fushimi's table.

Kamo and Benzai managed to squeeze on Enomoto's side while Akiyama willingly sat down next to Fushimi. Enomoto started to think that Fushimi just had this thing about being around people when she started to tense up more when Akiyama sat down next to her. Akiyama must have noticed it too because he tried to give her enough space as he could without it being obvious.

Enomoto found himself missing the, closest thing to, relaxed Fushimi as she clicked her tongue when a group of loud teenagers passed them. "So Fushimi…." Akiyama tried to and failed to look her in the eyes (because she wasn't looking at him), "Are you enjoying the festival? You don't usually come to these sorts of things."

"Tch. It's fine." she didn't even look at him. Akiyama must have understood that she wasn't in the mood for talking and stayed silent until the tea came.

When they started to talk and ignore Fushimi, Enomoto noticed that she loosened up a little bit but not as much before they came. She flagged down the waitress and asked for a refill which startled them. For the next 5 minutes they had a hard time keeping the conversation going because they kept glancing at her out of the corners of their eyes.

….

"Fu-hic-shimi!" sang Hidaka as he staggered over to them.

The five of them left after finishing their tea to go find the others. The captain was distracted by one of the festival games with Awashima behind him drinking a drink that was half way filled with red bean paste. Goto, Andy, Hidaka, and Fuse must have been drinking. When Kamo saw that Andy had a beer bottle in his hand he rushed off to stop the minor from drinking any more. Fuse looked as if he was about to pick a fight with a man who bumped into him, and was weakly held back by Goto. Akiyama went to go help Goto and was followed by Benzai.

Enomoto started to panic at the commotion they were beginning to cause with Andy's loud complaints when Kamo managed to pry his hands of the bottle and Fuse fighting against Benzai and Akiyama's hold while Goto fell down. Enomoto froze when he saw the captain heading their way and completely forgot about a drunk Hidaka who was making his way to Fushimi.

"Why -hic- are so m-hic-mean to -hic- me?" Hidaka fell down hard and Fushimi couldn't help the small sliver of pity creeping into her. She held out one of her small hands and Hidaka stared at it for a moment before it with both his hands and crying happy tears, but not getting up. Fushimi sighed and ripped her hand from his and grabbed him by his shirt and hauled him up.

"Idiot." The tears weren't so happy now.

"Say that again! Asshole!" Hidaka's head perked up at the sound Fuse's voice.

"Don't wo-hic-worry Fuse -hic- I'm coming." Hidaka tried to run over to Fuse and the others but tripped and fell again and did something resembling a bear crawl leaving Fushimi with a glare on her face.

"Tch." Nobody noticed when she left.