Disclaimer: Same as always. See chapter one.

Chap. 4

"What are you guys doing here?"

Uriko smiled broadly, "Well we decided to eat out and we heard this place had good service."

Shin chuckled, "Heh. You never cease to amaze me with your schemes, Uriko."

Uriko placed a hand behind her head, "This wasn't my idea. The credit goes to Kenji."

Shin's yellow eyes blinked in surprise, "Kenji?"

Kenji simply shrugged as if it was no big deal. "It sounded like a good idea."

Uriko gave him a skeptical look, "Get serious. You had this planned out from the start."

Shin smiled lightly, "Thanks a lot, you guys." He then blinked, remembering that he was still holding their orders. "So anyway, here are your orders."

Uriko squealed in delight as the food was lowered before her, "Wow, alright."

Without delay, Uriko dove into the food and began to eat it ravenously. The remaining three watched her in amazement as she devoured her food.

"Geez, for a kitty cat, you sure eat like a lion." Kenji joked.

Had Uriko noticed that Kenji had made a joke, she would have choked on her food. But she was too into her meal to pay attention.

"Hey, what can I say? I love food." she garbled out in mid-chew.

"I wonder how you never gain any weight." Rei suggested.

Uriko glared at the blue-haired girl, "I could ask you the same thing."

Rei glared back, "Hey, I don't eat nearly as much as you do."

"Hey Shin, you're needed in the back."

Saori had called in from behind Shin. At this, Shin snapped into attention, remembering that he was at work, "Oh, I have to go. Excuse..."

Saori however, walked up behind him a second later, "Actually, never mind. Kairi has already taken care of it." Her blue eyes roved over the others at the table.

"Friends of yours?"

Shin face flushed slightly as he began the introductions, "Yes. This is Kenji, Uriko and Rei. Guys, this is the owner, Saori."

"A pleasure to meet you." Kenji replied.

Uriko waved as well, "Same here. Great food."

"Thank you." Looking at Shin, "Shin, why don't you take a break for awhile?"

Shin blinked again in surprise, "But I couldn't..."

Saori cut him off, "Don't worry. It's a slow night anyway."

Shin half-frowned, "But it wouldn't feel right if I relaxed while everyone else worked."

The dark-haired woman simply waved her hand, "As I said, don't worry. It's okay really. Besides, between school and work, how long are you with your friends? Go on. It's my treat."

Shin couldn't believe what he was hearing. It wasn't his way to simply sit by while everyone worked. But Saori was giving him a gift and he sometimes felt it was impolite to refuse one. Bowing lightly, "Domo arigato, Saori-san."

Saori just gave a sweet smile and went off. Shin nervously pulled up a chair and sat down with the others.

"She's a really sweet woman." Kenji commented.

"Yeah. She was the only one who picked me for work."

********

Flashback…

"Yes?"

"I'm here to apply for the job."

Shin had arrived at the small restaurant. It had been a long day for him, but this was his last stop. Saori nodded, "Oh yes. Please come in."

Saori led Shin into the small office room in the back. Shin waited for her to indicate that he could be seated. Saori looked at the paper before her briefly before returning her gaze to the young man.

"So, what experience do you have?"

Shin looked away nervously, "Well, the truth is, none. I have no working experience."

Saori gave a simple nod, "I see. Well..."

Just then, a man entered the office with a tea kettle in his hand.

"Saori-san. I finished...whoa!

The guy suddenly slipped and fell forward. The tea kettle fell out of his hand and into the air toward her. But before it made contact, it suddenly stopped in mid-air. Saori blinked as she saw that Shin had grabbed the kettle with one hand while holding the man from falling with the other. Gently, Shin lowered the pot to the table while the man righted himself up.

"Are you alright? I'm terribly sorry, Saori-san."

Saori however still had a shocked look on her face. As the man apologized again, she broke out of it and smiled lightly.

"It's okay, Kairi. Just be careful next time."

Kairi bowed solemnly and then left the room. Shin meanwhile began rubbing his hands. The kettle was hot and in catching it, he had burned his hand. But his face gave no indication of any pain. Saori quietly grabbed a potholder and poured herself a cup of tea. Taking it to her lips, she sipped it while Shin watched, somewhat nervously. After she had finished, she place it down on the table.

"How soon can you start?"

Shin blinked, "E-excuse me?"

Saori focused on him, "You wanted a job here, right?"

Shin nodded absent-mindedly, "Y-yes."

Saori smiled, "So when can you start?"

Shin gave a smile of his own, "As soon as possible, Saori-san."

Saori nodded, "Well then, how does tomorrow afternoon sound?"

"Sounds great."

Saori stood up, "Well then, I'll see you here tomorrow, Shin-san."

Shin almost shot up out of his seat, "You can count on me."

Saori gave a small bow while Shin returned it with a big one. After he was dismissed, Saori sat down and sipped her tea again, eyes closed.

'His reflexes...He's definitely a zoanthrope.'

*********

"So anyway, that's what happened."

"Wow, that's cool." Uriko cheered.

"I guess." He looked at Kenji, who nodded in agreement. However, upon looking at Rei, he saw that she had a strange look on her face as if she was disturbed by something.

"Rei, what's wrong?"

"She feels...strange." she half-whispered.

Uriko blinked, "Huh? Who does?"

"Saori."

Shin looked at her seriously, "What do you mean strange?"

Rei looked at her plate thoughtfully, "I don't know. Something familiar...and yet..." Her gaze waved up to see Saori in the background. "I don't know. Maybe it's my imagination."

Both Kenji and Shin looked at each other, as thought they shared the same question. Uriko was equally quiet for a moment and then chirped, "Hey, no doom and gloom here. Let's eat!"

Rei nodded and began to eat. The two boys shrugged and the four continued their meal.

*******

Later the night, after the three had gone home, the restaurant was just closing and the lights were off. As Saori put on the locks, outside Shin was closing the side exits as well.

"You have some nice friends, Shin." Saori commented.

Shin nodded, "Thank you Saori-san."

"Would any of those ladies happen to be your girlfriend?"

Shin blinked in surprise, again. "Girlfriend? Oh, no. Uriko is nice, but she and Kenji are much closer than they show."

"I see. And how about the blue-haired one? Is she Uriko's sister?"

"Sister?"

Saori shrugged as she pulled the gate closed over the door, "Well, seeing as how they look so much alike, I thought they were related or something."

Shin scratched the back of his head, "Well, it's hard to explain."

'How can I explain that this girl was in fact as altered clone of Uriko that was once used to try and kill his friends? While we're at it, let's mention that I used to be a lethal assassin who also tried to kill his friends?'

"Okay. So what about her?" she answered, breaking his thoughts.

Shin answered unsteadily, "Well...I take care of her."

"Huh?"

Shin felt somewhat relieved that for once, he was able to surprise her, "We live together in a small apartment not too far from here. We came out of the same orphanage."

"Does she work too?"

Shin shook his head, "No. She has schoolwork to worry about."

Saori narrowed her eyes, "So do you. Are you telling me that you take care of her, a house, schoolwork and a job here?"

"That's about right."

Saori placed a hand on her hip, "Shin, that's far too much for a young man like yourself to be doing."

Shin looked away, "I don't have a choice. We're too old to go back to the orphanage and I refuse to let Rei live out on the streets."

Saori partially smiled within. At least that question was answered partly. He's very close with Rei, although how close remains unknown. Was it a sibling bond or a romantic one?

"Hmm. I see. Well, you better get going. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Goodnight Saori-san."

Shin waved goodbye to the young woman and walked off for home. However, if he had turned a millisecond later, he would have seen Saori's eyes briefly flash in a peculiar golden shine...

'Shin, Rei...'