Mesume missed her cot. She missed waking up early. She missed tending the roses. She missed sneaking out at night. But most of all, she missed Naki. Mesume had been 'captive' for three weeks now. She wondered if Naki was worried about her disappearance. Was he searching for her?

It's not like she was alone. The mysterious man came every day. He would spoon feed her and then talk to her for a bit. She was rude to him, and she felt a little bad about it. He was trying to be the nicest he could, and he was taking good care of her. However, he still refused to reveal anything about himself or the organization he was working for. And Mesume still could not open her eyes to see him. Her swollen eyelids were healing slower than a mere humans would, so she knew something was very wrong. Her caregiver, however, offered no insight into what it could be. Bedridden, she had grown grumpy. Mesume would usually take out any anger by snapping at the man, but for some reason, she would not stay mad long. He was just so kind to her. She took notice that even when he wasn't feeding or taking care of her, he was often with her. That would make her smile, she felt secure. Mesume did not mind letting him take care of her; he had gentle hands. Day after day, she wondered what his name was, and what he looked like.

"Um, hey," Mesume said awkwardly, still not sure after three weeks how to address the man.

"Hmm?" he responded. She could tell he was making coffee by the smell and the dripping sound.

"What's your name?" she asked quietly.

"Doesn't matter," he said, the clanking of cups coming from where he stood.

"To me it does," Mesume protested.

He chuckled. "It shouldn't."

He walked over and set two things on the nightstand next to the bed. He propped her up with several more pillows.

"Got to sit up to drink coffee," he said. "Stick out your hands."

Mesume did as she was told, and she felt a warm cup press against her hand. She fumbled for the handle, and the man was patient.

"Got it?" he asked when her fingers curled around the handle.

She nodded and took a cautious sip. As usual, it was good. She laid in bed, slowly drinking her coffee. The man sat beside her, sipping his own drink.

"What do you look like?" Mesume asked quietly.

There was silence for a moment. "That doesn't matter either."

"I would know if my eyes weren't fucked up," Mesume retorted rudely.

He clicked his tongue, something Mesume had noticed he did often. "And where did a pretty little thing like yourself learn to speak like that?"

"Doesn't matter," she said in a mocking tone.

A let out a huff. "You're not the nicest either."

"Maybe if you told me what you looked like, I'd be nicer."

"You wish, Sassy."

"Don't call me that."

"Sassy."

"Stop."

The man laughed. "Fine. I'll tell you one thing about what I look like."

"Okay," Mesume said slowly, voice still a bit hostile.

"I'm tall."

Mesume sat silently, waiting for him to continue.

"That's all you're going to tell me?" she asked in disbelief when he said nothing more.

"Yup."

Mesume was quiet for a moment. "How tall?"

"Very tall."

"Taller than me?"

"Yes."

"You didn't even as how tall I am," Mesume said rudely. "How do you know you're taller?"

"Because you're short."

"I'm not that short," Mesume said, setting down the empty coffee cup on the nightstand.

"How tall are you then?"

"5 foot."

"You're short."

"I'm not," Mesume retorted, yawning.

"Tired are we?"

"Mmhmm."

He fixed the pillows and gently laid Mesume down so she would be comfortable. He pulled the blankets up to her chin, and then pet her hair out of instinct.

Mesume smacked his hand away.

"Don't touch me like that," she snapped, not willing to admit that she had liked it.

The man sighed. Within minutes Mesume was asleep. He pondered leaving, but he honestly did not want to. He decided to make another cup of coffee. He stood up from where he had sat on the edge of the bed and walked over to the machine.

As he made the drink, he thought about the fiery ghoul he was looking out for. Ashamedly, he was able to recognize in himself that he was thinking about her even when he was not with her. She was beautiful, no doubt about it. Even with all of bruises, cuts, and scratches. Even with her black eyes. He was so used to machine like ghouls, following orders without question. Mesume's attitude and sassiness was a relief, and it fascinated him. And of course, he could not forget how intriguing the way she strung cuss words together was.

He chuckled at that, and poured his coffee. Mesume was a free spirit, and he loved that about her. He looked over at the bed where she was peacefully sleeping, and then frowned. Her eyes would probably be healed in a week and a half. And he would have to leave her. The thought of it put an ache in his heart. However, the bosses orders had been clear:

Take care of her. Don't let her leave the room. Don't tell her anything about you, us, or why we have her. Just, nothing. And when she can see again, you have to go. She can't see anybody's face.

He scowled, it wasn't fair. He wasn't sure what the Boss wanted with Mesume. Did he want her to join them? To get information? To torture her? To take advantage of her? The last two made his hands shake in anger. He shook his head, trying to tell himself that he had no idea why he felt like this. But he did.

He had realized it about a week ago. He had just woken Mesume up from her nap to feed her, and he had stretched and smiled. Her lips looked so pretty and soft, and the an had used every bit of willpower he had not to kiss her. And it repeated every day. He wasn't sure why he felt like this, until he slipped up talking to a fellow subordinate.

"If Boss lays a finger on Hanakurai, I'm going to be so fucking pissed," he muttered.

His fellow subordinate, who was seated next to him, stared at his friend in shock. "I don't know what Boss wants with her."

"Well, he'd better not hurt her." he growled.

"Why are you so defensive?" his friend asked.

"Cause I fucking love her, that's why!" he snapped before he could even think about what he was going to say.

His friend raised his eyebrows. "Kinky. Just don't let the Boss find out."

He groaned and hid his face in his hands.

He sighed and sipped his coffee. He didn't want Mesume to go. Maybe she would fall in love with him? He shook his head, disappointed in himself for even thinking that. But the word 'maybe' still rattled around in his head.