Disclaimer: No, I don't own Furuba.

"AAAAH!"

Ayame ran towards the source of the sound. He materialized beside Mine, which worried her. She hadn't meant to burden him with her silly fear.

"What's wrong, my dear Mine?"

"Nothing," she assured him. "A thumping noise startled me." Aya's employee had stayed up until two in the morning previously. Lack of sleep was probably making her restless. She closed her eyes to calm her thundering heart.

A scratching sound followed.

He frowned. "That doesn't sound like nothing."

"I'm sure it's just a tree branch scratching the window," she said, more for her benefit than his. She'd known ever since the day she met him that Ayame was fearless. Mine wished she could react to the sounds casually. "It's time we close up for the night."

The same sound occurred at that moment.

Ayame took her hand while looking at the storage room. "It sounds like the spooky sounds are coming from in there. Spoookyyyy!"

Mine giggled when he crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. "You look more silly than scary."

"And I'll prove to you that your fears are silly. Come on."

The blue-eyed woman clutched his hand as the passage between the largest part of the clothing store and the smallest section was kicked open elaborately by her boss.

"Hi-ya! Ghoulies, come out if you dare!" He did a few karate chops in the air and pirouetted as he lashed out at invisible foes with his legs.

Her spirit lifted as she followed suit. "Together, we are unstoppable! Thieves and bad guys, beware! Attack if you're feeling scrappy!"

His eyes glowed impishly. "Hey, if we have an intruder, maybe it's a sexy beggar guy. Or a sexy crook!" Ayame became enraptured by his fantasy. "And I'll rescue him by using my charm to lead him away from the path of thievery. No longer will he steal my creations and fabric!"

They ventured inside deeper. Torsos were propped against the walls, silhouetted against the moonlit sky. Bolts of fabric were placed on shelves, some littered across the floor. Both Mine and Ayame weren't tidy people. "In the face of talent and creativity," Ayame once said,"messiness is expected."

Thump!

Mine froze. Why oh why did she listen to the ghost stories her friends rhapsodized at Fuu's house?

"What if it's rats?" she suggested.

"We don't eat back here. Why should there be any?"

"I guess..."

Thump! Thump! SCREEEEEEEAAAAAAACCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH! Bolts of fabric fell over. A shadow passed over the window.

"Oh, my God!"

Ayame finally took the matter seriously. He stepped in front of his employee while holding up a bolt of fabric like a lance. Despite his stance, he winked at her over his shoulder. "Don't worry, Mine. I'll protect you."

In. Out. In. Out. Mine regulated her breathing but felt safer in his shadow.

Thu-- Mew.

"Huh?"

Mew. Mew.

Mine ran to the shelf and kneeled next to it. Swabbed in material, a black and orange kitten was trying to escape its imprisonment.

"Kawaii! Aya, look! Kittens!"

"Well, I'll be." A group of kittens stared at the duo with glittering eyes. They came out of hiding one by one.

They laughed out of relief as they petted the tiny animals.

"You were going to protect me from the scary kitties?"

"Hey, I thought it was an intruder. I didn't want you to get hurt." He turned from a blue-eyed kitten with chocolate-colored fur. "I'm naming this kitten Mine-chan. She looks like you earlier. 'Oh, Aya! I'm so scared!'" Ayame playfully mimicked.

Mine laughed, imagining that her eyes must've been as round as the kitten's. "And I'm naming this one Aya-kun," she responded while cuddling a pure white kitten.

He looked up at the window, which was slightly opened. "I forgot to close the window! How foolish of me. I'll have to remember to be more careful in the future. Wouldn't want you getting scared again."

"Thanks for worrying about me. You really are fearless," she replied with a smile. The woman was filled with a foreign emotion as he bowed gracefully to kiss her on the cheek, but its strangeness didn't make it any less wonderful.

Just like Aya-kun's strangeness doesn't make him any less wonderful. Not my sweet boss who'd protect me from anything. She smiled. Even if the danger is only from invading kittens.

Love means wanting to protect those you care about.