I blinked lightly at Renji who held a firm glare at Uta who settled on holding me tighter under the opposing males stare.

"Uta the 4th ward is no place for a girl like her. She will be safer here in the 20th ward."

"She will be safe with me."

"I doubt that."

"And what is that meant to mean Raven-kun?"

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise at the icy tone of Uta's voice. It was still monotone as always, but there was bite behind his words and it made me uncomfortable.

"You have your shop and other businesses to tend to, I can keep a constant watch over her."

"She can be with me in the shop. And I can always just drop my other work for the time being, after all I have to make time for my girlfriend."

I blinked wildly for a quick second.. girl… girlfriend?! Just what was he playing at saying something like that to win an argument?

"I'm not your-"

I cut myself off as Uta rested his head on my shoulder, his long hair tickling the side of my face and neck as his hold tightened under my ribcage. I watched him stare down Renji in a challenging manner, almost daring him to say anything else. My eyes shot over to Renji who looked as stoic as ever, but by the look in his eyes I could tell he was still against this. I sighed heavily at the situation I had gotten into, weren't these two meant to be best friends?

"Why are we fighting about where I will sleep? This is stupid..."

"I just want to be with you Eve, is that so wrong?"

"She doesn't need coddling, she needs protecting."

"And I can do that for her."

"Stop! Oh my God you two are children!"

I pulled myself from Uta's grip and stood up to look at the two bickering ghouls. I dislike being the centre of attention, and the only thing that made me feel better was the fact that I didn't have an audience in this silly little game since Touka and Kenaki had left earlier to get back to the cafe. Uta blinked at me lightly before turning his expressionless face to Renji.

"Why don't you just say what you're really thinking Raven-kun?"

Renji said nothing as Uta's lips turned up a little in a mocking smile.

"I know you two spent a lot of time together this past year. And I know you told her to stay away from me, and when she wouldn't that's when you told me to back off from her. Why not just say it? That you lo-"

"Enough Uta! You're being foolish, it has nothing to do with the current circumstance."

"But it does, doesn't it? You want her with you, not me?"

Uta tilted his head cutely, but the coldness in his widened eyes never left as a smirk reached his face. I felt like this had nothing to do with my living arrangement any more as it seemed to just be a verbal battle between the two ghouls in some quarrel. I turned to Yoshimura in an almost pleading manner to fix this problem as I know he has some kind of ghoul power over these two that I don't.

"Is it that you care about her so much want to keep her locked up in that little home of yours? So she'll never be able to find out that you were the one-"

"Uta, Renji; enough!"

I sighed in relief and pressed my fingers to my temple to ease the headache I felt coming on. The situation felt like it was getting dangerous there, I'm just pissed that Yoshimura didn't pipe up sooner. Or was this something those two needed to talk about? Who the hell knows…

"Yoshimura, can't I just stay here?"

"I'm sorry Eve but I just don't have the room at the moment with Hinami here. I had decided for you to stay with Renji since he is the safest bet for you. He lives here in the 20th ward, he can walk you here to Anteiku when he has a job to do and pick you up afterwards and your dogs are able to stay with you there."

I turned to look at Uta who was staring at Yoshimura with an unreadable expression, the old man noticing his gaze turned and smiled at the unhappy ghoul.

"Uta, you should very well know why I've made this decision. But don't discourage because she will still be able to come and see you at your shop and you can go on dates and do what couples do."

I blanched before rounding on the old man with a stomp of my boot clad foot.

"He's not my-"

"Thank you sir, that makes me very happy."

I turned to look up at Uta who was now stood and resting his arm over my shoulder. He smiled down at me lightly before tilting his head gently.

"Call me tomorrow Eve, okay?"

"Sure thing Songbird.."

He slid his arm along my shoulders to cup my cheek gently as he lent down and pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss. It was short and sweet as he stared down at my confused state for a second before pulling away and begun to leave.

"Don't forget."

He smiled lightly at me over his shoulder before walking over to the door, giving Renji a long look before exiting completely. I sighed lightly before stuffing my hands into my oversized pockets. I'm not sure what the hell just happened… but I do know that it made me insanely uncomfortable. Did he kiss me to get some kind of point across? I'm curious about what Uta was going to say earlier, but perhaps it's better that I didn't hear whatever it was. It seemed to piss off Renji and Yoshimura so maybe he was just being a jerk for the sake of it? Yeah… I wouldn't put it past someone like him in all honesty.

"Renji, please go with Eve to collect her things and then take her to your place."

Renji nodded before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me alone with Yoshimura. I turned to the elderly man with a small smile as I played with some lint in my pocket.

"Thanks for this Yoshimura, I really appreciate all your help."

"Nonsense, after all you've done for us this is the least we can do for you."

His smile fell, taking a more serious structure as his body firmed up with his arms resting behind his back like a soldier.

"Eve, I have no idea why a group like Gaiji Keisatsu are looking for you; but life is precious and we will keep you alive."

"Thank you."

My voice was quiet, unwilling to say anything more as I turned and left to catch up with Renji who was standing in front of a car I didn't recognise. It wasn't the one he usually came to pick up the bodies in. I smirked lightly as I folded my arms over my chest.

"Really? The last dead guys car wasn't good enough for you?"

"Upgrade."

He said nothing more as he climbed into the drivers side, with a roll of my eyes I jumped into the passenger seat.

"This is where you live?"

"Yes."

He opened the door to what I could only guess was an industrial storage crate and I blinked with a tilt of my head to the silver haired ghoul.

"You said me and the dogs could live here, it looks like it can barely house you."

"It's larger than it looks."

"Is it like the TARDIS?"

He ignored my comment and walked in with me and the dogs at his heels as I looked around the slightly cold room. It was surprisingly… nice. He turned on an old oil lamp to give off some light as there was no windows before taking a seat in a chair in the corner. I dropped my bag at the foot of his bed as the dogs jumped up onto it, making themselves at home instantly. I smiled and joined them, the smaller Staffordshire leaping into my lap for cuddles whilst my Labrador made herself comfortable on Renji's pillow.

"You and Uta..."

I turned my attention from the small dog and up to the ghoul as his voice trailed off. I clicked my tongue, remembering Uta's words back at the coffee shop.

"Are just friends…"

"He kissed you."

"Yeah. He did earlier today too but… I don't know exactly what that means. He hasn't asked me out."

Renji sighed before leaning over to a mini fridge and popped the latch open to reveal several cans of iced black coffee. He picked one up and gestured to me with it as I shook my head with a raise of my hand since it was closing in my bed time. I don't know how ghouls can drink coffee and sleep, it keeps me wide awake. He shrugged before popping the lid and taking a long sip for himself.

"I doubt he ever will, but if he does you should say no."

"You make him sound worse than he actually is."

"I'm just trying to keep you alive, and if you're around Uta too long then I can't guarantee you a long life."

I sighed and squished the small dog in my arms, feeling him bite and nip at my fingers with the tight gesture.

"I know… you saved my life at the auction after all. If you weren't there then that other ghoul would've probably eaten me."

"No, you did well hiding in that pit to cover your scent. He had moved onto the other room so I figured I'd grab you while I had the chance."

"I must have looked like a crime scene."

I laughed lightly as Renji's lips turned up at the corners slightly.

"Yes, and you had an optical nerve in your hair. I got it when I removed your mask though."

"Eh? Why'd you take it? I was trying to start a trend!"

I pulled my fingers away from the small dogs mouth as he was beginning to bite a little too hard now and rested the soggy limb behind me instead. I grinned happily at Renji who merely shook his head at my statement and took another large gulp from his coffee before placing it on top of the fridge.

"Get yourself changed and into bed, I'll get the dogs settled outside."

"I can't let you do that."

"You've had a long day with a lot of information, you need to rest."

Renji stood up and took the small dog from my arms and into his own muscular ones before patting his leg to signal the other one to follow him; which she did. The kids had always loved Renji… well, not always… The blonde Labrador currently walking over to him bit him when he first went to pet her, and the Staffy barked at his presence for almost a week. But that's why I originally got them, to alert me of ghouls and cover my scent. I watched as the older man opened the door and rose to my feet instantly as I stared at his back.

"You'll come back soon, right? You don't have anywhere to be tonight?"

He turned to look at me with a straight face, his eyes softening once he realised that I was just scared of being left alone in a strange place after what's been happening.

"Yeah, once they're tied up and settled I'll be right back. It gives you enough time to change."

With that he turned and left, closing the iron door behind him. I let out a heavy sigh as I walked over to my bag and unzipped it to find my Pyjamas. He wasn't wrong, it had been a long day, Gaiji Keisatsu are looking for me, and I might know why.