Chapter 11 Awkward Silences

Shindou jerked in surprise. Did Ichirou really just reach around him and ring the door bell? Eyes narrowing, Shindou shot a glare at Ichirou. Ichirou just gave him an innocent look that had him grinding his teeth together.

Shindou twitched again when the door opened. It slid open smoothly and revealed Sven pulling a hand through his disheveled hair and looking surprised to see them.

"Hey..." Sven said.

There was dead silence.

Shindou wasn't exactly sure what to say and Ichirou was standing back behind him as if he wasn't the one who'd pushed them into this- this- whatever this was. Dark thoughts clouded his mind. He'd be sure to work Ichirou extra hard at the shop after this.

Sven shifted his weight to his other leg. Them showing up was definitely an... unexpected development for sure, but he'd be sure to use this to his advantage. After all Yukie-san had hired him to find out about and nudge Uru's possible love interests in the right direction. And what better way to do that then with a little jealously?

"Have you seen a small girl?" Ichirou asked breaking the silence. "About this tall," He held up his hand to show Uru's height, "And named Uru?"

"Well there's someone just like that here with me now. Why don't you come in? I was just about to make some tea." Sven said easily, frankly finding Ichirou a little weird.

He moved back and held the door open, inviting them in. He smiled at them.

Shindou hesitantly came inside followed by Ichirou. Shindou let his eyes roam and take in his surroundings. The man's place was clean and had hardly anything that captured the eye or showed any personality he noticed as he took off his boots and left them by the door. Ichirou sliding his own shoes off and left them by the door too, but he was observing Sven the entire time.

Sven gestured for them to sit down, but Shindou shook his head. This wasn't meant to turn into a social visit.

"We... didn't mean to disturb you." Shindou started, his voice sounding a tad strained.

"Well I assume you need to tell Uru-chan something? It's all right then. Me and Uru see each other all the time." Sven said lightly. "I'm sure she won't mind a little interruption, when we can just continue where we left off..." He said, aiming for his words to be taken suggestively.

"I see..." Shindou said hiding alarmed feelings behind a neutral face.

"Mm, me and Uru are close. I'm certain she'll have a huge smile when she sees us. I've know her for quite a while." Ichirou said back.

Shindou felt a distinct stab of irritation. Oh he was so gonna work Ichirou hard later. He didn't know Uru any longer than he did!

"-" Sven started to say something, but as if on cue Uru walked back into the room.

"Sven, I think it'll be only another couple min- Oh!" She started when she saw him standing with Shindou and Ichirou.

"Shindou! Ichirou!" She hurried over to them.

Ichirou put a hand on one of her shoulders and pulled her a little closer to him than Shindou and Sven. He thought about wrapping her into a hug, but disregarded that after thinking about the repercussions he'd later get from Shindou . Both Shindou and Sven twitched.

He's acting like I'm a pervert...or a disease or something...Sven thought sweating.

That pervert! Shindou thought.

"E-eh, hi there, Ichirou!" Uru said cheerfully, starting to blush.

"Missed you, Uru-chan~" Ichirou said to Uru. But he was looking straight at Shindou and Sven when he said it. He was really pissing Shindou off. Sven was amused, but also irritated. It looked like he was being shown up.

Shindou was gearing up to say something, but Sven interrupted with a question that left Shindou's mind blank for lack of an answer.

"So..." Sven started. "What did you have to tell Uru?"

"...!" Shindou didn't have an answer prepared. And it wasn't like he could say 'Yeah, we came to take Uru away from you cause I don't trust you, brah'

"I have something to tell you Uru." Ichirou said, taking charge.

"Oh. What?" Uru asked.

"I can't tell you here."

"Um..."Uru said. "Why~?"

"Cause it's a secret."

Sven bit his lip and Shindou squeezed his eyes shut. Oh for the love of...

In the quiet a ding sound was heard from the other room.

"Ah...I'm just going to go check on that. Sorry." Uru said apologetically and left to check on the clothes.

Leaving them alone. Again. No one said anything.

Wow! I didn't know they all knew each other! Maybe they're getting to be really good friends! Uru thought happily and pulled her clothes out of the dryer. They were warm and clean smelling. She couldn't resist pressing her face into them. She carefully folded them on top of the washing machine and put them in the plastic bag that they'd originally been given to her in.

Okay! All set! She twisted her fingers in the bag's handles as she walked back out of the laundry room. Immediately all three guy's eyes turned to her.

"Um, thank you very much Sven for letting me u-"

"Oh, no problem no problem! I understand how things can be sometimes! Thank you for visiting me Uru-chan." He grinned widely and clapped hand on her shoulder, imitating what Ichirou had done earlier, childishly.

It was there and then that Shindou decided Sven was a pervert just like Ichirou. What is with this girl! Always attracting perverts...

"Uru...I still have something to tell you..."

"Oh, uh I guess we should leave so that Ichirou can tell me the uh ... secret." Uru said stumbling a bit on her words.

"I'll see you guys later then!" Sven said to all of them.

"Ah! Goodbye and thank you!" Uru called back as the three of them filed out of the apartment.

As the door closed Shindou let out a sigh.

He was about to round on her and ask her what she had been thinking when she'd gone alone into a man's apartment, how long she'd known this guy and what had they been doing alone together before he got there.

But he didn't. It wasn't like he was her father (thank god)...It really wasn't any of his business in the first place to go over there either.

So he sighed again in exasperation. What was wrong him?

"Ichirou we're going to the shop to do weekend inventory."

"Aw, but I thought you always did that on Mondays. And I want to stay with Uruuu~"

"C'mon." Shindou snapped and grabbed his arm.

"Come and visit me at the shop Uru." Ichirou called, as he was dragged away by Shindou.

"Okay! I'll stop by after I drop this off!" Uru called back to him, waving goodbye with the hand that had the bag in it.

Okay now I just gotta return this to Abekawa Sou and then stop by the shop! One step at a time and everything's fine!

/Shot for rhyming Uru's thoughts. Next chapter's for the Ichirou fans. (Have you noticed? The chapter's have been coming out on time! And they've been gotten longer.)