A thickened crunch filled the dank room, making Aurei wince as always, this was a gross one. His target had the nerve to swallow a very important memento that his boss wanted.

"Oh god, I hate playing doctor cause people insist on making my job harder than it is." he sighed as he retrieved a throwing knife to be more precise in the extraction. Ten minutes later he walked out, gloves bloody carrying a something wrapped in his handkerchief, only to find more security.

"Ah fuck man are you kidding?" Aurei asked himself as he roll dodged a barrage of white hot projectiles. Waiting for them to stop firing took forever, but no sooner had they done so he pounced, diving behind whatever cover, landing neatly behind the stoic little phalanx of guards.

"Nighty night boys."

Those demonic claws made short work of them, carving upward to take the first out and leave him with bloody grooves up his body. Second got a machine gun like hail of punches, leaving him to leak like a sieve on the floor, but the others were a bit luckier when their demise came about. Another ten minutes later and Aurei strode simply into the old steel plant in downtown, his fellow members calling his name cheerfully at he came in. After a short walk up a few latticed catwalks he reached an official looking part of their hideout, the old office wing, their boss of course residing in the plant foreman's office now.

"Come in Au." His leader called, Aurei not even knocking yet. He had to pause and smile; he'd forgotten how slick their leader was. Perched in that massive leather chain, silver hair messy and spiked as always, eyes alert and attentive, well the one without the scar anyways, Kakashi Manukiri.

"Ka-sama! How's it hanging?" Aurei chirped brightly as he plopped into the big chair in front of the desk.

"Not too bad really, same old crap now and then of course, just sent Auron out to take care of the rest of those kasane teinoushas." Kakashi replied off handedly, straightening his prim and pressed silver stripped black Armani suit.

"Well…Oh I got that thing you wanted."

"Ah! Excellent, tame jobu Aurei-sama, that's really all I need from you for today, I'll call if I need something."

"Yoi taishou, I'll be home most of today so just gimme a ring if you need something."

Back at Aurei's loft, Ikuzumi stretched in that oh so comfortable bed; best sleep she'd had in god knows how long. She quickly got aware of her surroundings, noting the spot next to her wasn't warm so Aurei hadn't slept with her, which did quite fit her generalization about him but still, she appreciated the gesture. Her feelings were always so stupidly annoying, never set on one person for fear that they might leave or die or something. Speaking of Aurei, at that moment the door closed with a click as he entered, Ikuzumi curiously looking to the door way as he came in.

"You're up, well good morning then. Hungry?"

"Hai, a little bit."

"Yoi, I'll go whip something up really quick."

He disappeared and not long after Ikuzumi heard the sound of breakfast being cooked, eggs, bacon, and man did it smell good. Again her door opened, Aurei coming in with a plate of food and steamy cup of coffee, which Ikuzumi accepted gratefully. She thanked him then dug in, making him laugh quietly.

"Well you certainly were hungry, you need anything else let me know." Her companion informed before taking his leave.

"Wait…Aurei, why are you doing all this? I'm in no way useful to you or anything. I'm not hurt either, so why take care of me?" She queried placing her glasses on so she could see him better.

"Oh no reason, I just would like to extend as much hospitality as I can. Considering you lost your brother and all, I know the feeling."

He smiled unassumingly, but Ikuzumi knew there was more to him than what she saw.

"I'll let you eat, just leme know if there's anything else you want me to do to make you more comfortable."

And with that he left, closing her door to sigh quietly to himself, he hated beating around the bush like that, but it was better that way, this way he wouldn't just charge in blindly and get hurt because it was too sudden or too soon. He hated waiting but that's what he was going to have to do…