The Black Mail Game

Hungry Hearts

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"Eat, eat, eat, eat, I want to eat." Mashiro yelled as she banged her fists against there folded table. No one in the room could blame her for the outburst. After all it had been awhile since they had all eaten.

"Someone should go out and get us some sort of food." Shinji turned to look over at Lisa who had spoken from the chair, her cool mood destroyed by the rumbling of her stomach.

They were all silent after her statement. No one wanted to volunteer to go out, they had just got done with a major sparing session, and there was no one that wasn't sore or hungry. But then again no one had as much pride as Hiyori did. And to show it she slid up the wall till she was standing at her full, unimpressive height. "I'll go,"

Shinji frowned as he stared over at the girl whose knees were shaking but she did have that determined look in her eyes that never failed to impress him. But obviously Love had seen it too because he spoke up before Hiyori could shuffle out of the room. "What about a buddy?"

"A buddy," Hiyori muttered as she turned around to look curiously over at Love.

"Yeah, you know a person to make sure that you don't collapse on the road and lie there until someone comes across your dead body. So why don't you take someone with you, who wants to go?" Love asked the room already propping his feet up on the coffee table to show that in no way would it be him going.

Once again the room became dead silent in contemplation. All this time Shinji was watching as Hiyori's face became redder and redder in annoyance. Knowing that someone had better volunteer fast before she exploded or ran out of the room Shinji stood up from is own spot on the floor, sighing as he ignored his muscles screeching and pulling in annoyance at his actions. "I'll go with Hiyori, what does everyone want to eat?"

"Who cares just go out and get us something to eat, so that we can eat and then sleep." Kensie grunted out waving his hand from the other side of the couch.

"YAY," Mashiro said as she jumped up and down before landing right on Rose who had been lying on the floor spread eagle. Even Hachi sat up just a little bit to look over as Rose let out a blood curling scream of pain. And as Shinji made a bee line for Hiyori he couldn't help but notice how Lisa had jumped up and kicked Mashiro off of him. "Were all sore here, don't start making it worse."

Shinji took a hold of Hiyori's arm and rushed out of the room, as fast as he could in his exhausted condition. He didn't want to be a part of the fight that was about to take place. Although, the most that could be expected would be a verbal fight. Unless Lisa got even angrier, for some reason all the girls had unnatural energy when it came to anger, or joy. Including the girl walking by his side as they walked out in the warm glow of an orange sun sinking lower into the sky.

"How dose she have that much energy anyways?" Hiyori muttered as she slipped her arm from his grasp. "I mean she worked just as much as we did and she didn't even sweat! Is that unfair or what?"

"Well, Mashiro is definitely different then all of us, I mean not only dose she not have to work hard on her hallow powers, but her hallow form is also the closest related to a human form. I'm sure that if we were to fight for real we could tire her out…eventually."

Hiyori snorted in agreement as they started walking down the street, pass the many shops. "So, what are we going to get everyone to eat?"

Shinji shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets unil not even the wrists were viewable "What do you wan to eat?"

Hiyori yawned her answer as she slumped over but kept walking "take out,"

"What if we just went over to a convince store and just got a lot of random stuff?" Shinji suggested as he to let his shoulders slump as they walked by a brick wall with many different designs and colors painted on it. They walked on in Hiyori's unspoken agreement until they came to a stop in front of a street light.

They both watched as the cars passed by with alarming speed until the light above them turned red and they were free to walk on. And that's what Shinji would have done if it wasn't for the gentle tug on his sleeve.

Looking down to his left, Shinji saw a little old lady looking up at him with a hopeful expression. "Excuse me young man but could you be so kind as to help me across the street?"

Shinji frowned at the "young man" seeing as he was probably more than a hundred years older than her. But seeing as he was a gentleman he refused to decline, no matter how tired he really was. "Of course I can," he said as he offered his arm like any true gentleman would do.

"Thank you so much and sorry for the trouble." She said with a smile, showing off her impressively white teeth against her wrinkled coffee colored skin. She linked her arm around his and patted his arm in an affectionate way before fallowing his lead out onto the street. "It's just my old bones don't want to listen to me and I'd rather not be plowed over by these mechanical atrocities.

Shinji nodded his understanding as he looked over to his right to see Hiyori trying to hide a smile as she walked along them. Shinji was balancing the woman and at the same time was trying to get them past the gauntlet known as the street. Which wasn't easy as his own body was heavily damaged, sleep deprived, and starved, but somehow he was managing.

Shinji couldn't help but to let out the breath that came loose when he had made it across the street. Helping old ladies shouldn't be this much trouble. Shinji refused to look over at Hiyori who would probably start laughing at any moment.

"It seems like I'll be able to live after all to die of old age. Thank you dear, you were a big help." The woman said with a small pat on the arm as she unhinged her arm and walked a few steps before turning back to look at them with a small smile "You have a good day young man. By the way you have quite the child there she'll be a heart breaker when she grows up."

Shinji paused long enough to have her words sink in and to watch the old woman wave and start hobbling down the street. As fast as lightning Shinji turned toward Hiyori and caught her in a bear hug, restraining her from going after the woman with blood on her mind. He had already seen how she had took a step forward and how her eyes had got that particular look in her eyes, not to mention the way the sandal had started to slip of her foot.

"Let me go Shinji she doesn't have long to live anyways. I'll be doing her a huge favor." Hiyori gasped out as she struggled in Hiyori's strong grip. It was no wonder that Shinji had been a captain, damn bastard.

"We do not go beating up old ladies because they think that we are children." Shinji told her at the same time in awe that she had the energy to get so worked up. Women were crazy and so far that was the only explanation that he had come to so far.

"Ok, ok I get it. Let me go I won't try to kill her." Hiyori said in a much calmer voice, prompting Shinji to slowly let go of her. Hiyori huffed as she walked a few tiny steps away and pulled her shirt a little father down seeing as how it had rode up to her belly button. Hiyori sneaked a glance at Shinji to see him watching her suspiciously. She smiled at him before darting behind him and running after that old lady.

She grinned at Shinji's yelling as he started chasing after her. To be honest she wouldn't have been that mad if she had been with anyone else but Shinji. She knew she was shorter than many people but I mean come on a kid? Ok, well she did get how she looked like a kid but she didn't want to look like a kid next to Shinji. And she certainly didn't want to look like his child; she wanted to look like his…

Well, it didn't matter, what she wanted right now was to kill the old looking woman with her perfect white teeth and her curly hair that looked as if salt had been shook onto it. And that's what she had to concentrate on if the closeness of feet falling was any indication. And she was close when she spotted that old lady shuffling up a pair of stairs to what was obviously her house. When in a sudden burst of energy Shinji plowed right into her and had her on her stomach with her hands above her head, and her legs trapped under his stronger legs. She would have blushed at any other time; in fact her face was getting warmer.

"No attacking old ladies, think of it as a compliment." Shinji whispered into her ear, as he watched the lady tumble with her keys, until she found the right key and fit it into the whole, saving her life that she never knew was in danger. He had watched until he had become distracted with the hair tie that was slipping away from the hair and sliding through the trends until it gracefully landed on the gray sidewalk, contrasting with the redness. And then he noticed the slow movements of the back that was rubbing up against his chest. And that's when he jumped off her pulling her up as he did so.

Hiyori frowned as Shinji coughed into his hand, probably trying to hide his grin of triumph. "If I ever see her again I'll destroy her." She muttered as she bent down and swiped her hair tie from the road and fixed it into her hair.

Shinji frowned at her and flicked her nose "Oh come on don't go getting a hot head, she didn't mean anything by it. Besides you'll be a heart breaker once you older." Shinji finished with a short laugh as he started to walk on, knowing that there was a store only a little while longer up the street.

"Shut it," Hiyori growled as she started to match her own stride with his. "I'm just smaller than usual ok?"

"Yes, yes," Shinji offered with a wave of his hand. "She seemed like a perfectly nice woman, she meant it as a compliment."

"If you like her so much, than why don't you marry her?" Hiyori muttered under her breath.

"What,"

"Nothing" Hiyori innocently said as she started to skip on

"Mmhm," Shinji said as he spotted the store "There's the store Hiyori come on lets go get something to eat."

"Right," Hiyori agreed as she skipped right into the store. She followed Shinji all along the store watching as he added items into the basket, just as she added many random items.

Where Shinji was adding things such as sandwiches, fruit, and vegetables into the cart, Hiyori was adding things like chips and cookies. In fact she was having an amazing time fallowing him around, talking about random things and getting him to laugh and of course insulting him every chance she got with her usual words like dipshit and so on.

But that mood was ruined when they got to the bakery and she was offered a gumbo raisin cookie with the comment "Such a cute kid deserves a cookie."

Suffice it is to say that not only was her mood ruined but so was the guy's face. And seeing the situation Shinji paid for the food in a rush, before the man could wake up and make Hiyori pay for surgery.

"Damn, that man ruined my good mood. It wasn't even a chocolate chip cookie…bastard." Hiyori muttered as they walked past a group of houses that she was sure that old lady had gone into.

Shinji would have answered how he wasn't so sure. But before he could so much as consider it they both felt the familiar prickling sensation. Seconds after a huge creature that looked to be similar to not only a fish but also a bull appeared before them.

But neither of them were that shocked at the appearance, they'd seen weirder on themselves. Shinji looked over at Hiyori to see her grinning in glee. "Perfect, exactly what I need to make me feel better." She cracked in ever greater joy.

Shinji just sighed as he took the grocery bags from her and leaned against the brick wall. "Make it quick, I'm sure our friends are already complaining up a storm."

"Right," Hiyori agreed as she drew the sword from her back (that she was sure everyone thought was a toy, just as they thought she was a kid.) and pointed it in front of her, as she drew her mask around her face. Not that she needed it but it was already like a comfort to her.

"Hehe what are you going to do little girl?" The hallow wheezed as it slithered over to her despite the two feet that it carried.

"Oh, not the thing to say at this moment," Shinji muttered as he watched Hiyori's golden brown eyes light up with the inner flame of rage. And she proceeded to show it to the fool that had called her a child. It just wasn't her day. Personally he never even noticed her height it certainly gave her the advantage when it was time to beat him up, but other than that he though Hiyori had a perfectly fine height.

Hiyori slash and cut the hallow, first the feet and than the arms, you'd think she's go for the head, instead she cut the body in half and than went for the head. "I do feel better," Hiyori said just as Shinji grabbed her again and pulled her into the alley way.

They stood close together as they watched a man drop from a building close by, and look around the area a couple of times. "Ah, maybe it's broken!" The man with a huge afro said as he looked around once again "All well," They watched even longer as the man jumped up to flash step to another location.

"Whew that was close" Hiyori breathed out as she slowly slipped from Shinji's firm grip, hoping that her face wasn't as red as it felt. And at the same time thanking god for the fact that it was dark outside and harder to see.

"Hmm," Shinji agreed as he started to walk on. He was exhausted, his day started out with a work out that lasted till sun down and then he was forced to go out and shop and get home by night fall, seeing as no one had eaten since the night before. How Hiyori had had the energy to get rid of the hallow he may never know. But that wasn't important they were almost home and that was important. He turned to the side to look over at Hiyori who was no longer angry but pretty happy. "Not tired any longer?"

"I'm beyond tired but I'm way to pumped and hungry to fall asleep." Hiyori answered as she continued to skip at his side laughing as she did so. Making Shinji smile at her happiness. "Besides were almost home anyways, I can see it right now." Shinji turned back the way he was walking to see that she was indeed right.

"Hmm I can't help but realize that this trip took a lot longer than it should have." Shinji muttered as he opened the door to their warehouse. "All well, it was eventful anyways."

Shinji turned around to see Hiyori looking at him in a very serious manner, making him take a step back.

"Shinji do you think I look like a child in any way?"

Shinji frowned at her question "Of course not you're more adult than anyone I know."

"See? Right there I know your lying to me." Hiyori said as she waved her pointer finger in his face gracing him with an unhappy frown.

Shinji deciding to take a chance leaned down and kissed her head. "You're perfect just the way you are, other wise you wouldn't be Hiyori." As soon as he said it Shinji smiled at her and walked past her in the other room "Everyone food is here."

Hiyori touched her head and smiled at her luck. She'd been called a kid three times, had gotten beat around, and she ached all over. All in all it hadn't been a bad day in any way. Hiyori skipped into the room to see everyone surrounding the table that was covered with food.

"You are not allowed to have sweets Mashiro." Kensie said as he took to the box of cookies away from Mashiro, only for her to start whining at him.

"Those are mine," Hiyori said as she jumped up and snatched the cookies from his hand. "Oh and these too," She said as she took a hold of the bag of chips that Hachi had grabbed from the table.

"Oh Hiyori," Shinji said stopping her from walking away from the table with cookies, chips, and a pop. "Here this is for you too." Shinji threw a wrapped rice ball at her and then turned back to his own meal of a sandwich and a juice box. Everyone seemed happy with there meal, forgetting about its lateness.

Hiyori was on the couch watching a game show that he could make no sense of, and Mashiro and Love were asking her questions about it. He was just happy to see her eating the rice ball he had picked out for her. Lisa was doing her usual thing across from him reading a magazine and eating her own meal of randomness that she had picked up. Rose was only sitting and eating to his left once in a while he would look up to make sure nothing out of the ordinary was going on with the others on that side of the room. Kensie as usual was keeping Mashiro in check.

He had liked all these people before they had gone through life changing circumstances, and now he loved them. One probably more than he should, but he wasn't going to think about that. He had promised himself that he would keep the relationship as it is and that's what he was going to do. He wished that he hadn't kissed Hiyori, even if it was only on the head. But he could still remember the texture and the smell. What was he to do when all he could think about was what her lips would taste like? But it wasn't the time for this, he didn't know if it would ever be the time. And he wasn't even sure if he wanted a time. But the thought of more with Hiyori was becoming addicting and he didn't like it, and yet he did.

~.~.~.~.~

"I never knew that that's the reason that they were so late." Lisa muttered as she looked up from the sheet to look over at the surrounding landscape. She remembered that day well. Not only was it the last day that they had trained so hard, but it was also the first time that she had come to the realization that she maybe, just a little bit cared more than she should for the man named Rose.

And over the years she'd come to the realization that yes she was in love with said man. And how lame was that? Falling for a man who had a girls name and wore his hair like said girl. Except that she kind of liked his hair like that. At least he wasn't as bad as her past captain now there was one that whoever fell in love with him would have a lot of trouble on there hands.

But back on subject, obviously Shinji knew how he felt but was holding back. Why he would do that she had no idea. The plan to get them together would go a lot better if they would stop dragging there feet. Then again who was she to talk about that?

Disturbed at her thoughts she got up from the cement roof and leaned over the railing for a little while longer. She liked it up here, everything was always clear. She liked to watch the clouds as they lazily drifted by. She liked to watch the occasional car as it zoomed by. But she didn't come up often because she was not the best at looking at her feelings. And for some reason these surroundings always brought that out in her. Sighing Lisa made her way over to the stairs and over to the living room of sorts.

She enjoyed sharing this secret with Rose; it actually brought them closer then before. Spending time with him always made her happy, she did not appreciate however Love's stalking. He was convinced that something was going on between Rose and her. Oh, and how she wished that was the case but it wasn't. And Love was smart he would realize that they were keeping a secret. And she would only share it with Rose and no else.

Entering the living room she sensed that something was missing. Kensie wasn't here, but he was usually training at this time anyways, and that met Love missing wasn't as weird either. Hachi was eating a bag of chips and watching a comedy with Mashiro. Rose wasn't here so he must be in his room. But that did not explain where Hiyori had gotten off too. "Where's Hiyori? I just came from the roof so she couldn't be there."

"Oh, she went out and said she was going to go out and teach a dog a new trick." Hachi said as he lifted his head and looked over at the braided haired, glasses wearing, female standing up in the middle of the room. "Oh, and Rose is in his room." The man said with an impish grin.

Lisa who had been about to go to the exact room that was specified whipped around and looked over at the grinning pair that had lost interest in there television. "Not you too, nothing is going on and I would like it if you would all shut up."

"Sure" They both singed as she threw her hands in the air, still clutching the magazine in between her fingers, and walked out with a snort of disgust.

Lisa rushed over to Rose's door and knocked. Just because she had been found out did not mean that she would go running to her room and not talk to Rose. That was for hormonal teenagers and it would prove to those two, three now, morons right. But she was unprepared for the shirt-less man that answered the door with sopping wet hair glued to his face and shielding an eye.

She had never known that Rose had such good looking abs, but now that she thought of it he had to, after all he had been a captain. But damn he looked good coming out of the shower. She tried not to think about it when she saw Rose raise an eyebrow in question to her presence.

Making sure that her face showed none of her awe or shock, she walked right past him and into is room. His room was normal with a carpeted floor, a bed, a couch, and a T.V. of his own. Rose had made his room the way she had made her own. She had more art, although there were many compartments hidden behind her paintings, where he had more comfortable setting.

"Here I brought you this one." Lisa said as she sat down on the couch and opened the magazine to where the piece of paper was resting. She was trying her best to act normal, like she had just come upon a shirtless Hachi, oh god the mental pictures were killing her. Maybe if she rested her eyes for a little they would leave, besides it smelled really good here.

"Aw" Rose offered in understanding as he took a white shirt from his drawer and slipped it on. He was buttoning the shirt when he turned around to look over at Lisa who was now lying done on the couch. He smiled as he looked at the girl who had already fallen asleep.

How someone could fall asleep that fast was beyond him. He walked over to her and leaned over; making sure that his wet hair wouldn't drip over onto her face. He slipped her round rimmed glasses from her face and placed them on the end table. He straightened up and looked for a blanket over in the closet. When he didn't find one he decided that he would take the blanket from the bed. He quickly let the blanket float down and cover the woman who had the most adorable sleeping expression he had ever seen.

With one fist tucked under her chin and the other flung out over her head and her legs curled under her, she was the perfect image. He just wondered how she looked without the braided hair. Smiling once more Rose took a hold of the magazine that had slipped to the floor and took out the piece of paper. He made his way over to the bed and flopped down before he started to read.

It was only half an hour later when he finished reading that he had laid down the piece of paper on the end table when he lied back down on the bed and drifted off to sleep himself. Many hours later both of the occupants in the room shot up from there deep sleep. They looked at each other in surprise and looked at the door where the yelling was coming from.

Lisa stretched her arms out and yawned as she looked back over to Rose who was now running his hands through her hair. He still looked amazing even with his wavy hair all over the place, including his eyes. "Hiyori must be home," She offered as she lied back down.

Rose paused and looked over at her and nodded, then realized that she couldn't see it. "It would appear so, I read the paper. You know I remember that day, I thought I would be sore for days."

Lisa laughed from the memory "Aw yes Mashiro did land on you very hard and then she wouldn't even get up." She was proud of herself for not mentioning how jealous she had been that Mashiro had gotten to touch him and not get pushed off. She knew she had no reason seeing as how Rose had been yelling out in pain.

"Yeah, thank you for saving me." Rose muttered as he rubbed his stomach. Not one of his best memories, but it was already fogging over with a haze. He was tired and knowing no one was in danger he slowly drifted off.

"Hmm" Lisa agreed as she slowly shut her eyes before she snapped them open to look over at Rose who had already fallen asleep. She smiled at him which slowly drifted off when she saw him shiver. She looked at the blanket that was pooled at her waist. She lifted the blanket sniffed it and then wrapped it around herself as she made herself over to the bed with a beaming expression.

~.~.~.~.~

"I told you Hiyori I didn't know they were fallowing me!" Shinji cried before the sandal hit him once again in the face.

"You're at a captain level and there humans don't lie to me!"

"Yeah, you know I don't believe it either." Kensie said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"No one asked your opinion." Shinji said pointing at him with a finger in accusation. Right before his face connected to the floor at the force of the small sandal being clenched with white knuckles

"You have something to say dickless?" Hiyori yelled into his ear. She was extremely pissed off, more at the girl with the huge boobs than the man she was slapping around. But she couldn't help it she was stuck in this small and flat body while that girl got the unnatural body. She knew Shinji had said she was perfect the way she was but still.

Kensie looked on without any passion at all, use to this routine from before he had even become a captain. This was how the two acted and he didn't mind it was quite entertaining. But he was more interested in other things like why there were two less people in the group than usual. "Hey, where did Rose and Lisa go off too?"

"Huh?" Hiyori asked as she looked around the room to find the two, she also allowed Shinji to do the same.

The room had become silent after his question. Kensie was fine with it until he watched as Mashiro looked over at Love, and Love looked over at her. He didn't like the secret message passing between them. Whether it was suspicion or jealousy he wasn't to sure, but he decided it was the first when they jumped up from the couch and raced out of the room.

Kensie sighed as he pushed off the wall and went to go find where the two had gone to, he wasn't surprised to see the others following him. They came across both Love and Mashiro standing right before Rose's door.

"You open it," Love whispered

"No, you do it, it has to be quiet." Mashiro whispered just as slowly and lightly

"Good point," Love conceded as he turned the knob and let the door swing open, he then slowly crept into the room, fallowed closely by Mashiro. Kensie sighed and followed them, wondering at the barley contained excitement that radiated off them, it was only Roses' room. He didn't expect much but what he saw made him stop right in his tracks.

There was Rose and Lisa sleeping on the same bed. The same bed! Lisa's hand rested on his chest and clutched at the ruffles in the shirt. Her head was buried in his chest and he assumed her legs were intertwined with his under the blanket. Rose was in no better of a situation with his hand resting on her waist and his own head buried in her hair. To say that he was in shock would be an understatement.

The only reason he snapped out of it was because Mashiro and Love made their way out of the room. After snapping out of his daze he looked around to see Hachi grinning in glee, and Shinji keeping Hiyori's mouth shut as he practically dragged her out of the room with her finger pointing at the pair and her eyes popping out of her head. He wanted to do the same, but instead he shuffled out of the room, shut the door and made his way into the living room.

Everyone was frozen in shock he assumed until both Mashiro and Love squealed clasped hands and started to jump. He found the fact that Love squealed far funnier than the way his afro was bobbing up and down.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it." They were both singing "We were so right."

"Wait you two knew about this?" Shinji said as he slipped his hand away from Hiyori's mouth that was agape in wonder.

"Yes," they squealed again and started jumping.

"Now, hang on they are still both holding back, so don't ruin it by saying anything." Hachi said in a voice of reason.

"What! Hachi knows too," Hiyori said looking at Shinji to make sure that he didn't know either and seeing his expression she was satisfied, so she looked back at the other people in the room.

"Of course they spend all this time together now, although I have no idea why." Love said in contemplation

Rose and Lisa. Lisa and Rose. It fit and he was going to support it, from the side lines like Hachi had suggested. Hachi was rather good at relationships, which was saying something at how bad everyone here was at them. Hiding their feelings came naturally to everyone in this room.

"Just let those two be" Kensie said as he went into the kitchen "It's not like any of us our doing any better" he muttered under his breath.

A/N: Wow really late update, really long chapter. I hope you liked it, a little Hiyori and Shinji, add a lot of Rose and Lisa, plus a tad bit of one sided Mashiro and Kensie and you got a hell of a long chapter!

Next update will be very long ways away…maybe in the summer…I'm failing some of my classes cause of Fanfiction so I have to leave for a little while until I can turn in some work.

Anyways please review for my 5,563 worded chapter (not counting the authors note, dots, or title). Longest chapter I've written for this story…was not expecting it at all.