*forgive me my typos for I have sinned blah blah blah I have no beta WE DIE LIKE MEN

Sakuya had been gone a good fifteen minutes and it had been ten since Kuro had finally told Mahiru his name. To say the silence was stifling would be incorrect. Mahiru could beat his way through any stony, awkward pauses in conversation. No, what the problem was, was that no matter what he said, Kuro shot it down with a dismissive huff or sardonic twist of his eyebrows. Mahiru had tried every possible topic he could think of and each one had been peeled apart and tossed over Kuro's shoulder like garbage.

He turned away, chewing angrily on his lip. This guy was impossible!

"You're gonna draw blood if you keep that up."

Whipping around so fast he thought he heard something in his neck crack, Mahiru stared angrily down at the white hair splayed over the table. "What's with you?!"

"Uh oh! Trouble in paradise already?" Sakuya exclaimed mockingly, setting down the two drinks he carried and sliding back into his seat. "What have you done to anger the ever patient Mahiru-sama?"

"Don't call me that." Mahiru muttered distractedly, noting that Sakuya had brought back exactly two drinks and purposely placed them in Kuro's line of sight. "What kind of coffee is that?"

"What? Oh, it's regular milk."

Kuro sighed gustily and closed his eyes again.

Mahiru tapped his fingers pensively against the desk for a moment before sliding the coffee in front of Kuro. "Would you like any?"

Kuro's eyes flew open and he turned to stare incredulously at Mahiru as Sakuya groaned loudly in the background. "What's your problem?" He asked sullenly.

"My problem?!" Mahiru burst out. "What's my problem?!"

"Oh, now you've done it." Sakuya intoned, taking a languid sip of his tea.

"Yes, your problem. Just leave me alone already. It's obvious to anyone with eyes that we won't get along. Why can't you just let it go?"

"He never lets anything go-"

"Shut it, Sakuya!" Mahiru interrupted.

"-Especially when that thing is a scruffy charity case."

Kuro flinched infinitesimally and Mahiru rounded on Sakuya. "He's not a thing!" Turning back, he saw Kuro staring at him with that same wide eyed, confused look before the shutters closed and his eyes once again had that unfocused, sleepy look. "And he's certainly not a charity case. I just thought he might like some caffiene so he could actually stay awake for 5 minutes."

"No thanks. That stuff will stunt your growth." Kuro said, the ghost of a laugh in his voice.

Mahiru felt his mouth drop open and barely registered Sakuya's roaring laughter behind him.

"But next time I might take a sandwich." And with that Kuro stood as the clock struck two. "Seeya."

The cafe was crowded. It was the kind of afternoon shift that always left Mahiru wondering if having a roof over his head and food in the fridge was worth it. He'd spent the last three hours bustling to and fro, taking orders, bringing drinks, and occasionally slapping together sandwiches. It didn't appear to be letting up anytime soon either. An agonized look at the clock showed him one hour left of his day before he could go home and collapse for a solid ten minutes.

"Mahiru!" A voice from the front called him and he cursed silently, turning to rush back up to the hostess. She gestured to two people standing to the left of the doorway. "These two requested you specifically." She winked and Mahiru shuddered to think what her conclusions had been.

The two by the door came forward and Mahiru had a moment to take stock of their appearance before the shorter of them threw his hand out and demanded a table by the window. The other one, the tall, blond, model (?) one smiled politely and did nothing to lessen the blow of the brutal greeting.

"I uh, of course. Please, follow me." Mahiru stuttered, reverting to habit and force of will to keep his cool. He turned once they'd reached the table and gestured towards the menus stacked neatly against the wall. "I'll be back in just a moment for-"

"Nevermind that!" The little one pronounced impatiently. "We have bigger things to discuss."

"That is true, unfortunately." The blond one said demurely, flipping through the menu he'd picked up. "Oh Misono, they have strawberry tart. We should get one."

"Hush!" Misono muttered before turning back to Mahiru. "You had better tell the truth!"

"Uhm. The truth about what..." Mahiru muttered, completely lost. He had a feeling that today was going to be the kind of day that he woke up the next morning wondering if it had been real.

"That new friend you made!"

"New friend?" He repeated. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Don't lie! We know you met up with him earlier and now you're in the same class. It's not a coincidence. Where do you know him from?"

Mahiru racked his brain for anyone that he'd met with outside of class or work lately and suddenly he was hit with a sense of foreboding so strong he could taste it. "You don't mean Kuro, do you?" He asked doubtfully.

"Is that what he's going by now?" The blond one said, glancing up for the first time. "I only know of his older name."

"Don't play dumb! What's he doing taking a university class? Why in this city?!" Misono demanded, slamming a hand on the table. The glassware wobbled precariously and Mahiru felt his brows draw down into the beginnings of a scowl.

"Please, Misono. Could you not cause a scene?"

"Lily! He's playing dumb!"

Lily turned once again to study Mahiru, who was still just standing there, feeling in over his head. "No, I don't think he is." He said thoughtfully. "Mahiru. Would you please tell us how you happened upon my brother?"

The word brother bounced around inside Mahiru's head for a while as he gazed into middle space wondering how he'd ended up in this kind of situation. "I honestly don't know what you two are talking about. Kuro collapsed outside this cafe the other day. I offered him a sandwich and then suddenly he popped up in my class. I didn't plan any of this."

"But he's been here before!" Misono cried triumphantly.

"Yes. Several times. That's how I recognized him. But he's never come in and we've never talked."

"A likely story." Misono huffed, crossing his arms. "Who would believe that?"

"It's true Mahiru." Lily sang. "If you're not friends, than what's he doing skulking around outside right now?" He smiled and pointed out the front window where a hunched figure could be seen lurking near the doorway, trying to stay out of sight.

Mahiru felt reality twist and crack, settling back into a completely different shape. "I'll... I'll be right back." He muttered, sparing a glance at the two seated calmly now at the table, before starting back toward the front.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed as he burst out of the door. Kuro started violently and sank back towards the wall, hands in his pockets and shoulders bent against the cold. He looked left and right several times as though he would be able to conjure someone else for Mahiru to be referring to. "Yeah, YOU."

Kuro sighed in defeat. "Well, honestly I-"

"It's freezing out here! Don't just stand around in the cold, you moron! Come inside! I'll make you something warm to drink. And don't worry, I'll just put it on my tab." He turned to head back in but a hand tugged on his sleeve, stopping him.

Kuro was pinching the fabric between his thumb and forefinger, staring hard at the ground. His features worked themselves into what resembled a frown and he glanced up. "Why?"

"Why what?" Mahiru asked impatiently.

"Why are you like this?" Kuro's voice was small and confused, almost pleading.

"Like what?! Come on, we shouldn't be standing out here in the cold like this. Come inside." He twisted his wrist to take hold of Kuro's hand and began pulling him inside. There was no resistance and within moments they were at the counter. "What would you like? You're not allergic to milk are you?" Mahiru asked, looking over his shoulder. "I was thinking something with milk would be good. It has protein."

Kuro's lips momentarily quirked up. "You're like a mom."

Mahiru's indignant sputtering was interrupted by a voice. "That's what we call him sometimes!" Koyuki's head popped up over the counter and he grinned. "Mom-hiru."

"Don't call me that!"

"It fits." Kuro muttered.

"No it doesn't!" Mahiru barely resisted the urge to stomp his foot. "If you don't have anything helpful to add I'll make you something and bring it out in a second. Go wait by that table." He pointed off to the right. "Your brother is already there."

In an instant Kuro's posture went from lax to rigid; his hands balling into fists, the tendons in his neck standing out. Mahiru glanced over at him worriedly, hesitating, wanting to reach out a hand and place it on that stiff, thin shoulder.

"Hey, are you-"

"What do you mean my brother." He ground out through barely moving lips.

Mahiru paused, baffled, before shrugging. "The tall blond one? Said he was your brother. He looks kinda like a model and he's showing way too much skin. He came in here a while ago with a little angry kid and they haven't shut up about you since."

Kuro relaxed marginally and sighed in a resigned sort of way. "I should have known. He always catches on first."

"Catches onto what?"

Kuro slid his eyes to Mahiru and then away. "Nothing." He fiddled with the chain around his neck. "I suppose you're not going to just let me off the hook now? Let me sneak out of here and away. I really don't want to deal with him."

"Of course not! It's like negative ten degrees out there! And I haven't seen you eat a thing. You're not leaving until you're warmed up."

"Fine. What a pain in the ass." He started off in the direction Mahiru pointed before turning back around. "Oh, and lots of sugar. I like sweet things."

Mahiru stared after him for a moment in bemusement and then went to prepare a drink. While in the midst of stirring in far too much sugar he decided to piece together a panini as well. They were warm and always seemed to cheer him up when it was a cold, gray day and Kuro seemed like he could really use some cheering.

Approaching the table Mahiru was greeted by a loud array of angry remarks followed by grumbled responses. Lily laughed politely into his hand just as he rounded the corner and caught sight of the situation; Misono was attempting to stand on his chair and glare down at Kuro who had his hands held in front of him and wore a painfully put out expression.

"I just don't see why it matters." Kuro was mumbling in the general direction of the floor.

"Because it does! It could change everything! Haven't you realized that yet, you buffoon?!"

"Please, Kuro." Lily interjected. "Let's at least discuss it?"

"No way."

Mahiru was tempted to laugh at the childishly stubborn look on Kuro's face but the tense atmosphere put him off. He slid the plate and cup onto the table. "Here. Eat while it's hot."

Kuro glanced at the plate and his eyes widened. "Is that for me?"

"Who else would it be for you idiot?" Mahiru asked exasperatedly. "And you better eat it this time. I don't like wasting food."

Lily hid a small smile before clearing his throat. "Pardon me, Mahiru, but perhaps you could help us out. Kuro is being quite stubborn and maybe as his friend you could convince him to hear us out?"

Mahiru froze at the word friend but a quick look at Kuro's tense, hunched shoulders had him nodding. "I can try! Not that he listens to me much."

"You see..." Lily trailed off, seemingly at a loss as to how to phrase it.

"There's someone else in town." Misono said loudly. "And it's no coincidence that he's popped up at the same time as Ash."

Mahiru chanced a look at Kuro, hoping for an explanation as to the name but Kuro was poking methodically at the panini and seemed unwilling to participate in the conversation. He turned his attention back to Misono just as he continued.

"Lily and I want to keep tabs on this person. It's imperitive. We think we know why he's here and unfortunately-" He broke off and shot a worried look at Kuro. "Unfortunately, that reason is Ash." He shook his head. "We require his assistance. And without it I don't think we can offer much in the way of protection."

"I don't need protection." Kuro broke in. "Least of all from you two."

Lily smiled again, while Misono puffed up a bit like an angry bird and pointed a finger. "You most certainly do!"

"Protection?" Mahiru asked. "What do you mean protection?"

"We think he's here to kill Ash."

Mahiru felt his blood turn to needles in his veins and whipped his head around to stare at Kuro, who had not reacted in the slightest to this declaration. He merely sighed noisily and laid his head on the table. "Man, what a pain."

"Kill?" Mahiru's voice was at least an octave higher than normal and he could feel his vocal chords catching on the sharp edges of the word. "What are you guys talking about?"

"This man. He's dangerous. You see, they used to-"

"That's enough." Kuro spoke lowly, but there was a bite to his tone that Mahiru had never heard before. He sounded... deadly.

"Ah, dear me." Lily murmured, hand to his cheek. "So you really didn't tell Mahiru here anything."

"Of course not." His voice had lost some of its intimidating tenor but he was still glaring darkly across the table at the other two, sandwich picked apart and forgotten on the plate. "And I don't intend to. So don't ask." He added, turning that hard stare on Mahiru.

"Well, we can't just leave you to go wandering off on your own!" Misono cried. "Once he's done away with you, he's sure to come after the rest, and that includes Lily!"

"Don't worry. I can handle myself just fine."

"Forgive me for not having enough faith in you to stay alive to take a gamble on his safety!"

"Misono, calm down." Lily murmured. Turning to Kuro, he rested his chin in his hand. "I'm just as worried about you, you know."

Mahiru watched as the blood drained from Kuro's face and he lurched upright, sending the chair back several feet. "Don't say that."

"But why ever not?" Lily asked sweetly. "It's true."

"Don't say that." One of his fists clenched on the table.

"Kuro..." Mahiru tried, laying a hesitant hand on his forearm. Kuro jerked away and Mahiru flinched in response. A voice in his head was chattering away, reminding him he was still on the clock and he had things he should be doing- helping customers, taking orders, sweeping, dishes; but somehow he couldn't drag himself away. "Can I help?" The words were out before he knew he'd thought them and every eye at the table turned on him in amazement. Under the force of the stares Mahiru felt his heart rate pick up and he began to wonder if he'd just volunteered himself for something far above his pay grade.

"Help?" Kuro asked disbelievingly. "You want to help?"

"Of course!" He put as much bravado as he could muster into the words. "If you won't accept help from them then that leaves me!"

Lily clapped his hands delightedly. "Oh, this is perfect!"

Misono seemed to be thinking it over, his arms crossed, a foot tapping rapidly on the tiles, and finally he snapped his fingers. Mahiru refused to look at Kuro, instead turning his attention desperately to Misono. "I do think that's a fairly good plan." Mahiru barely had time to wonder when they'd made a plan before Misono was continuing. "He can stay with you. It'll be unexpected, under cover, the perfect place! With Tsubaki hunting all over town looking for Ash, he won't have time to spare for weeding out our spy network!" Misono turned to Lily, a blush of excitement to his face. "And once we have all the intel we need we can make the first move!"

"Wait wait." Mahiru muttered, holding up a hand. "What do you mean 'stay with me'?"

"Well, isn't it obvious Mahiru?" Lily asked, smiling. "My brother is quite homeless."

Even though he'd been thinking it the whole time, Mahiru winced under the confirmation. It was one thing to have a theory and another to know for certain that the boy beside him had been skirting the edges of hypothermia for the last who knew how long. His protective instincts taking over, he tightened his hold on Kuro's arm. "He can stay with me as long as he needs!"

Kuro breathed a noise of disbelief and slid his arm out from under Mahiru's hand. "Are you kidding me?" The hollow rage in the tone had Mahiru turning wide eyes up to Kuro's face. His expression was neutral, his eyes hooded and empty, but underneath it all Mahiru could see a small trembling of emotion. "You don't even know me. Why are you butting in like this?"

"Who else is going to do it?" Mahiru demanded. "I can't just leave you on your own like that! Someone needs to help and it might as well be me!"

Something seemed to shatter deep within Kuro and he suddenly slumped forward, sighing. "Fine; do whatever you want. But I'm not taking responsibilty for anything that happens." His eyes slid up to meet Mahiru's; they looked dark, almost the deep blue of an ocean, and so empty that Mahiru felt a tremor run down his spine.

What happened to you.

"But this is all on you."