A/N: Big thanks and hugs to storie2tell, Hitokiri Chiburi and Lady Kickass for your reviews. I hope you like this next chapter. ^_^
Pairings: Schuldig/Youji, Schuldig/Aya, Aya/Youji
// . // = Telepathy
Chapter fourteen
The day had been a rather slow, uneventful one, if you call a tag-team interrogation uneventful. Youji thought bitterly as he leant back against the alley wall, pulling a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaling the smoke with a sigh. A few of the regular customers and some people to pick up prearranged orders, but otherwise the Koneko had been unusually silent today. Come to think of it, it's been like that for the past week or so now. Flicking the butt into the gutter, the blonde shoved his lighter back into his jeans back pocket and returned back inside, glancing at the clock as he sat down at the center table. Another two hours to go before closing. He sighed inwardly and went back to working on the arrangements he'd been working on before his break. Left alone in the shop while Omi was out making deliveries.
The bell over the door jingled and Youji glanced up as a depressed looking teen entered, which in itself wasn't that unusual until he noted who it was. "A-Aya-chan, is something wrong?" He blinked, standing up and walking over to her.
Aya-chan looked up her brother's older co-worker, who she had had a crush on for a few months now; like most girls she knew. "I.. Youji-san, have you see Ran lately?" She asked softly.
Youji blinked and guided her to a seat and sat on the edge of the table. "Why do you ask?" He asked. Schuldig, you listening to this?
// Hn, yeah I am now. //
"It's just he.. he was supposed to ring me last night and.. I guess he forgot." Aya-chan looked down, dark blue hair hanging over her face like a curtain.
Kuso, Aya is never that forgetful when is comes to his sister. Youji ran a hand through his hair and gave Aya-chan one of his winning smiles. "Why don't you hang around here a bit and help me out, he might return back soon or something." Schuldig what is he doing?
// Talking to Ken, I'll tell him when he comes back in here. //
The girl smiled lightly and nodded. "Hai, arigato Youji-san."
"Anytime." He winked and sat back in his seat, working on his arrangements again as the young girl picked up a broom and began sweeping up the shop floor.
"You would tell me if he got hurt or something, during your other job.. wouldn't you, Youji-san?"
Youji blinked and ran a hand through his hair. "Hai, hai.. you'd know soon enough if something happened. Not that it will." He grinned at her. "Your brother's too much of a professional, he doesn't get as hurt as the rest seem to."
That placated Aya-chan for now and she went back to silently sweeping up the cuttings from Youji's arrangements.
* * * *
"What was that all about?" Schuldig asked as Aya walked back into the room after talking to Ken and the brunette left the hospital.
"Hn, he wants the truth." The redhead muttered as he returned to the newspaper he'd been reading earlier.
"Well, it was only a matter of time." Schuldig yawned and curled up on his side, watching Aya. "Why are you still here anyway?"
"What? Why wouldn't I want to be here, Schu?" Violet eyes blinked over at the German, confused. "Someone has to make sure you stay here and heal up right." He added with a faint smirk.
Schuldig rolled his eyes before closing them. "I appreciate the thought, Ran. But there is someone more important to you who needs your attention right now."
"More important?" Aya blinked with a frown. "The only one who is more important.." He trailed off, his eyes growing wide as realization dawned on him. "Where is she?!"
A light smirk formed on Schuldig's lips before he yawned again. "At the Koneko with Youji. Go to her and let me sleep, Ran. If you're that worried I'm going to run off, send Kudou to watch over me."
Aya stood up again and walked over to the bed. Leaning down he placed a light kiss to Schuldig's cheek before straightening again. "Let Kudou know that I'm returning to the shop and to keep Aya there."
Schuldig nodded sleepily and sent the message before drifting off to sleep. Shaking his head with a sigh, Aya left the hospital room and eventually climbed into his white Porsche, driving off to the Koneko no Sumu Ie.
* * * *
Ken glanced over at the sidelines as he heard his name called and smiled. "Continue your practice kids, I'll be back in a minute."
A chorus of "hai, Ken-niisan" was heard and he left the boys to their penalty kick practice.
"Hey Ken-kun." Omi waved, as the brunette got closer to him. "Did you talk to Aya-kun?"
Ken nodded and leant against a tree, tilting his head slightly. "Yeah I did, he said he'd talk to us later. Why are you here, shouldn't you be with Youji in the shop."
"Yeah, but I had a couple of deliveries to make and the last was just a couple of houses from here." Omi glanced over at the kids and smiled. "They're getting better, ne?"
"Yeah they are." Ken smiled warmly as he glanced back over at the young team he was coaching. "They defiantly have a top chance in the tournament this year."
"When's the final?"
"A couple of weeks from now." Ken nodded firmly and looked back at his younger friend. "They'll do well."
"With your coaching I don't doubt it, Ken-kun." Omi grinned and put his helmet back on. "I better get going, don't want to leave Youji-kun to close up alone."
"I'll see you later, Omittchi." Ken smiled and walked back onto the field, calling for the boys' attention for another drill practice.
~ tbc
