A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

Nightmare WingXFallen Tenshi: Thanks for your review my friend. That is a little farther off I'm afraid. I have a surprise for you and I hope you like it.

Hibiki's POV

He was sitting at his desk in Jp's with a cup of instant ramen on his desk. It was lunch time on a Friday. This weekend he was moving his stuff into his apartment. The only thing it currently had was his bed. Daichi offered to give him a hand but they had to wait until he was off. As such he had to rely on instant meals.

As his timer went off a knock sounded at his door. He said with a suppressed groan, "Come in."

His door opened revealing Yamato and he gained his feet. Hibiki was already on shaky ground with his superior. He didn't want to make it any worse.

Yamato glanced at the cup of ramen on his desk. There was a brief look of disgust but it was gone in an instant. He knew the other didn't think highly of the instant or street food.

Grey eyes suddenly met his blue eyes as Yamato inquired, "What are you eating, Kuze?"

"Instant ramen. I'm moving into my new apartment and the only thing I have in it right now is my bed. So I'm having to make do with what I have."

There was a flash in the grey eyes of something he couldn't identify. Before he could analyze it, it was gone.

Yamato said, "Well if you don't have anything else to eat I could show you some places. That is if you don't have any other plans."

It took all of his self control not to gape at his boss. Was Yamato asking him out? If so did this have anything to do with his talk with Daichi? The talk that he had no idea what had gone on during. Daichi refused to tell him about it.

Beyond telling him that he would help with the move, Daichi had not said much. Io and Joe weren't answering his messages either. Ronaldo answered and they were meeting after he left Jp's.

Hibiki said with a faint smile, "I'm off tomorrow as you know. We could go tomorrow."

Yamato was probably just offering so that he kept up his strength. What little he still had that was. Over the last few days his strength was fading in and out. It was to the point he couldn't summon a demon if he wanted to. His magic was even more out of control than he had seen it before. Even when he first learned to harness the power of the Celestial Spirits it was never this bad.

Spending time with Yamato would make what little time he had left better. It would almost seem like they were friends again.

Lost in his thoughts he didn't see the way his boss perked up. It passed before the other said, "Then I will meet you in Market Square at eleven."

For a moment there seemed to be more that he wanted to say. However the man was gone in the next instant. Yamato was taking him to get some real food. Things were looking up for him.

The rest of his day passed with agonizing slowness. By the time he left he was filled with nervous energy. It only got worse when he arrived at his empty apartment. Despite knowing he didn't have long left he didn't want it to be empty when he disappeared. Dinner was more instant ramen and he was getting tired of ramen.

Sleep did not come easy that night. It was full of nightmares. Some were about Karen's death. Others were of the two weeks of fighting demons. Of trying to save Dera Deka. How the man's life blood had spilled all over his fingers. No matter how hard he tried he could not stop the bleeding.

With that nightmare waking him he could no longer go back to sleep. It was only two in the morning. Nine hours before he was to meet Yamato. Six before he could be up and people not be suspicious of him.

He passed the time by going through old messages in his phone. Some he expected. Messages from Daichi asking if he wanted to come over. Or if he wanted to go to the mall.

There were a few not quite as old ones from Io. They had only become friends when the demons began attacking. Sure he knew who she was but actually talking to her, never. Daichi acted like he was interested but something told Hibiki there was more to it than that.

Hibiki even as Gray was never interested in the opposite sex. He knew they made powerful wizards just like males did. Beyond that he never saw them as others did. In a way he was like Natsu not really caring except for who was powerful enough to fight.

It wasn't until he met Yamato that he found himself attracted to someone. At first they had been enemies. Then as time went on they became friends. Today they would be going to eat somewhere in Market Square.

By the time seven rolled around he changed into his bunny hoodie and jeans. Early or not he could not stay cooped up any longer. With a quick message to Daichi he left.

Finding things to do wasn't difficult given where he chose to spend his time. Spending money was a little more difficult. Despite Jp's being well paying he just moved into a new apartment. That meant he was a little tighter on his cash than normal.

Several times he had been tempted to try his hand at being a street magician. With his lack of control over his magic he nixed the idea immediately. The chance of someone getting hurt was too high to risk it. So instead he people watched.

Given the time of year most people were wearing long sleeved shirts and jackets. The first snow fall was not far off if the weatherman was to be believed. It was not going to be within a few days though. The air wasn't right for snow. Possibly ice or sleet but not snow.

People were walking through the streets. Some were looking to buy things. Others were on dates. A pang of jealously went through his chest at those on dates. It was something he tried to push down but it didn't help that he was waiting on Yamato.

A voice said from behind him, "You're early."

Turning he saw Yamato standing there. He was wearing a light grey button down shirt and black slacks. There was a hint of a smile on his face.

Hibiki said returning the smile, "Good morning, sir. I couldn't find anything else to do."

The small smile turned into a frown as Yamato said, "Call me by my first name, Hibiki. At least while we are out here."

His smile turned into a grin. This was the first time that Yamato had given him permission to call the older boy by his first name. Given that his friend didn't remember the past he was cautious about what he called the other.

Hibiki responded softly, "Yamato then."

The older boy moved closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. In times past he might have flinched away from such a touch. Part of it do to his dislike of touch. The other because of the past between him and Yamato. Both of which he was able to put aside for his friend.

Yamato said directing them down the street, "There is a restaurant that we are going to eat at. I hope you like it."

Hibiki allowed Yamato to lead him given he had no idea where they were going. The hand on his shoulder was noticeably warmer than his body. It wasn't uncomfortably warm like he was expecting.

Instead it chased away the cold that was inside him. The cold that he always had since he was a child. Warmth that he couldn't ever remember feeling before encased him. It made him lean into Yamato's touch. With Hibiki facing forward he didn't see the worried look his friend gave him.

By the time the reached the destination his stomach growled. This reminded him that he had not eaten since dinner the night before. A meager dinner of ramen at that. If he never saw another ramen cup again it would be too soon.

The restaurant wasn't what he expected of Yamato. It seemed like a hole in the wall place. To Hibiki it was a place he and Daichi would eat at.

Yamato said opening the door, "I found this place about a year ago. A friend recommended that I try to eat at different places. In the end he was right as usual."

A friend huh? He remembered when he told Yamato that. It was right before they saved the world together. At the time Yamato was struggling with his ideals. Hibiki had just started showing signs of a dwindling life force. Instead of telling the other his problems he encouraged Yamato to pick himself up and make a change. Everyone in the world could change if given the chance.

Yamato had proven that theory when later he risked his own life to save Hibiki. Without the grey haired boy he would have disappeared early. The world would have fallen into ruin. Maybe something about that had stuck with the older boy.

The restaurant's inside was simple shades of blue and green. It was calming to Hibiki. In a way he could see why Yamato liked it. Even if the food wasn't great he would likely stay just to be around the calmness.

A man stood behind a counter cleaning. He had blond hair and green eyes. He was probably late forties or early fifties. The eyes widened at seeing Yamato.

He greeted with a bright smile, "Hotsuin it's been awhile since the last time you were here. Who's your friend there?"

Hibiki responded before Yamato could, "I'm Hibiki Kuze nice to meet you."

The man said, "You can call me, Charlie. Welcome to the Market."

Yamato tugged at his arm until he followed. They went to one of the tables half way between the far wall and the door. Charlie brought them two menus and asked what they wanted to drink.

Hibiki ordered, "I'll have a coke."

"Just water please."

The food on the menu was typical fast food. Burgers of all kinds, hotdogs, French fries. Good old food that was hard to do wrong.

When Charlie came back they ordered. Yamato was having a plain burger and fries. Hibiki a bacon cheese burger with everything on it. It wasn't often he indulged in his favorite burger but he allowed himself to this time.

Yamato asked drawing him from his thoughts, "How are you liking working for Jp's? From what I understand you were friends with the Chief."

That was a cover story Miyako must have come up with. They had to have one for how she trusted a teenager so much. She couldn't say that she trusted him because he saved the world twice. That would end up with them both in a psych ward.

Shaking himself from the thoughts he said, "I enjoy my work for Jp's. The chief was right when she said it would be a good fit for me."

Not the exact truth of it but close enough. It had in fact been Yamato who said that right before their second showdown with the administrators. Hibiki had thought long and hard on his words. In the end he chose to fight alongside Jp's. With his life force draining from him it was what gave him a purpose.

Yamato said with a nod, "Good. Despite it being mostly paperwork you have done good work for me so far."

Hibiki fought down a blush. It wasn't often that Yamato praised him. When he did it was never in so many words. Usually just one or two words that filled him with warmth.

They fell back into a semi comfortable silence. Their food was soon brought out. If the smell was anything to go by it was going to be delicious. His mouth was watering as he picked up the burger. The first bite was as delicious as he expected. It seemed Yamato had chosen well. Not that he expected anything less of the man.

It wasn't long before he devoured the burger. The last few days of eating ramen made him eager to eat something else. Anything else. This opportunity was the best one he had since moving.

A question brought him out of his thoughts, "Do you like it?"

Raising his blue eyes to meet the grey ones of his companion he answered, "It's one of the best burgers I've ever had."

The grey eyes softened at his answer. There was something gentler about Yamato now that they were away from Jp's. Hibiki didn't think it was just because they were at work. It was something else.

Yamato said with a twitch of his lips, "I'm glad, Hibiki."

Hibiki blinked realizing something and said, "You are calling me by my first name."

"It would rude of me to call you by your last name all day, Hibiki," came the slightly amused reply.

It was true. Calling each other by last names or sir all day wouldn't forge a bond between them. If that was what Yamato was trying to do.

"Friends then. You aren't just my boss," Hibiki replied.

Biting his lip he waited for Yamato's answer. There was a possibility that he was wrong. That Yamato was only being nice. Well nicer than normal and didn't want anything other than a work relationship. That he didn't want the friendship they had before.

Shaking his head he knew he couldn't allow himself to think like that. If he did he wouldn't get anywhere. He had to stay positive.

For a long moment there was silence between them. Then Yamato replied, "Friends? Yes we can be friends."

That made him breath a sigh of relief. It seemed he didn't overstep his bounds when he asked if they could be friends. A start down the right track for them.

If he had more time Hibiki would analyze his feelings more. Yamato he had a slight crush on during the first save the world event. It only grew during their second. He was the only person that had caught his eye in such a way.

In Fairy Tail everyone was like family and it didn't feel right to him. Family didn't date each other like that. Sure some of the members dated but they didn't grow up together. They had come from all over the world. Each with a different background. Most had been hurt by someone at one point or another. It was only together that they found happiness.

"Hibiki are you well?"

Hibiki blinked in response. Yamato was standing next to the table. His eyes held an emotion that looked like concern. Was it concern? If this was the previous world he wouldn't hesitate to say yes. Now he wasn't so sure.

His answer was the same that he gave everyone, "I'm fine, Yamato. It's nothing."

Without his consent his left hand rubbed at his chest. Right above where his emblem lay. Yamato's eyes followed the movement. The change of emotions were so quick he didn't register them. Then the grey eyes went unreadable.

Hibiki stood a moment later and they went to the counter. The meal totaled between them twenty dollars. When he went to pay for it Yamato stopped him.

The older boy said, "No, Hibiki I'll pay for our meal. Don't argue with me you won't win this time."

Hibiki humphed but didn't argue. If he wanted to spend money on the black haired teen fine. However something about what he said didn't sit right with him. It was like he was missing something.

Even as they went outside and Yamato's phone went off, it bothered him. What was it? His mind would not let him rest until he figured it out.

Yamato said suddenly, "I'm sorry, Hibiki. It seems I am needed back at Jp's. No it is not something you have to come in for."

Well there went that question. He was somewhat disappointed that their day was ending so soon. Then again Yamato was high up in Jp's. If something went wrong he was the first to know.

Hibiki said with a half smile, "Thanks for the meal. I'll see you back at work on Monday. Until then, Chief."

There was a distracted nod for his answer so he left. Back to his apartment and to text Daichi. No doubt his friend would want to know everything.