Pies tucked into the oven, Tendou snorting predictably at Kagami's design scheme on the crust, the two men set to cleaning up the kitchen. Standing next to Tendou, Kagami wondered why he didn't feel more self conscious that the guy was helping him clean his dirty dishes. (Tendou washed, Kagami dried)

Well, he'd answered himself with a mental shrug, it's not like he asked Tendou to do anything; the man had just started doing what he wanted to. Like always.

And then they had both sat back down at the table, Tendou…being Tendou and Kagami struggling to find some sort of topic. He never did like long lengths of silence; when he was a child his household had been happy and noisy. He wondered what Tendou's childhood had been like to have produced such a person. Sometimes, Kagami didn't know whether to admire him or be frustrated with him; usually it was both at the same time. He certainly wasn't like Yaguruma-san who also seemed confident and perfect. But…maybe that wasn't a bad thing?

"So…."

Tendou cracked an eye open to look at him. What was he doing? Meditating? Well…it was pretty late so maybe he was resting his eyes.

"Just what were you and Yaguruma-san doing that one time? With the tofu?"

Yumi-san had told him the details, of course. After hinting that if she managed to hire one of them, then maybe she could let go some of the more usually-late-to-work employees. (He'd ignored Hiyori slight smile at his reaction) But, that didn't exactly enlighten him on what fueled Tendou's actions.

"It was a challenge for the silky tofu we both wanted. I lost that time." Tendou seemed to have gotten over it. He'd been unhappy enough when Yaguruma had offered to split the prize with him.

"Say…why didn't you take half of the tofu? Yaguruma-san was being pretty generous."

Tendou sighed then, shifting in his chair.

"Obaachan said…that one who goes after two birds…will get two birds."

Kagami had heard him say the same thing to Yaguruma when he'd offered him the tofu. Was that the big difference between them? It was Kagami's turn to sigh, moving forward to rest on the table, head pillowed on crossed arms. He suddenly felt pretty tired.

"Is that how it always is with you?" he asked, a touch sulkily, "'All or nothing'?"

He wanted to wipe the smirk from Tendou's face with one of the used-to-be-white dish towels in the sink.

"Isn't that kind of…greedy?" Well, maybe not that exactly but it didn't seem right to Kagami to think like that. Maybe he just didn't get it.

"Obaachan said that it's fun to-"

"'Make the world revolve around you' I know, I know" Kagami yawned. If Tendou had been startled or annoyed at him for finishing Obaachan's phrase he didn't act like it, just coolly watched as Kagami arched his back and stretched his arms, yawning. Kagami didn't mind the small lapse of silence as he scratched the back of his head, feeling very relaxed in his warm kitchen next to a man that confused him everyday but at least made things interesting in a sometimes good way. Then, belatedly remembering proper manners, he stood up to at least offer his "guest" some tea, putting a kettle on the stovetop. Tendou nodded, arms crossed and sitting so straight in his chair that it was odd he could look so relaxed. As Kagami put a couple of spoonfuls of the "good" tea in the serving pot Tendou spoke up again, a question in his voice.

"You seem pretty attached to him."

Kagami glanced back at him, confused. Tendou was regarding him with such a specifically nonchalant expression it took his sleepy mind a while to get back on the track of their conversation. It took him until he was walking back to the table to figure out who he was referring to.

"Oh, Yaguruma-san? What do you mean?"

"You're his subordinate now, aren't you?"

"Ah?! How did you know that?"

Kagami received a look he interpreted as "Because I'm Souji Tendou, I know everything." He crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair, unconsciously mirroring Tendou's pose but still noting how differently they looked "relaxed."

"Well," Kagami started thoughtfully, finding the tabletop very interesting all a sudden, "It's just temporary. I think he can teach me a lot of things."

"Oh? Like his Kanzen Chowa philosophy?"

"Like how to be stronger! And there's nothing wrong with being a team player." Kagami looked at him meaningfully.

"More like a hive than a team" retorted Tendou, unbothered by Kagami's unspoken criticism of his preference to fight alone.

He couldn't really argue with that, not after witnessing the efficiency of Shadow; the unquestioning way ZECT soldiers followed orders. Kagami shifted forward to rest his arms on the table again. Looking down at his folded hands he responded quietly, "Well, if it defeats the WORM, does it really matter how it's done?"

There was a pause before Tendou responded, equally soft. "Is that something you fully believe, Kagami?"

Kagami sighed heavily, leaning back and rubbing his eyes tiredly. "…Not really, I guess." And then the tea kettle shrilly announced that the water was boiling. Turning away from Tendou, he set to pouring the steaming water into the teapot. Watching the tea leaves swirl around he tired to cheer up by enjoying the smell of the cooking pies.

He got like this sometimes; seeing too many losses and not enough wins. They had lost a dozen people during the last Worm Battle. There probably wouldn't have been any casualties, however, if Kabuto had been there. Had been working with ZECT instead of showing up whenever he happened to be nearby.

Kagami clamped down on that thought. If Tendou didn't want to work for ZECT, then it wasn't his right to force him. But, he could only see benefits for everyone if Tendou was officially working for them. They would have the full cooperation of Kabuto and Tendou would have access to all the resources ZECT could offer. Kagami absent-mindedly wiped the counter, not wanting Tendou to see his current expression. He'd never been the type to easily hide his feelings. He was a horrible liar. But it was already an old thing between them; Tendou wouldn't join until he wanted to join. Kagami was just a bit frustrated the guy never supplied a perfectly good reason for this. But then, they really didn't know each other, did they? If he had a personal reason, why would he care to share it with a person he'd only met a while ago?

But it wasn't like he was being nosy…Kagami was honestly a bit worried. How long would they allow Kabuto Zector to be in the hands of a rogue Rider? He'd learned early on that one thing ZECT didn't accept were people who didn't follow orders. Yaguruma-san had said as much to him when they met for the second time. Everyone should work together, not take it upon themselves to fight on their own. The fact that Tendou not only went his own way but constantly claimed he didn't need any help at all was…even exasperating to Yaguruma-san, one of the calmest men he'd ever met.

Suddenly realizing he'd been pondering long enough while just standing there holding the tea cups, Kagami set the teacup carefully on the table in front of Tendou. Walking back to his seat he continued his line of thought.

Come to think of it, Yaguruma-san and Tendou were really two sides of the same coin. Kagami studied the steam wafting from his cup and Tendou's. Both men were strong and confident in their individual philosophies. Both possessed a lot of different skills. And both were chosen to become Riders. The main difference between was how they interacted with other people. Yaguruma was all about "Perfect Harmony" extending patience and friendship to his teammates. And Tendou…well, Kagami wasn't sure what social prerogatives Tendou had for himself but they were probably just as commendable. Kagami finally looked up to the person across from him, only to find he was being watched with half-lidded eyes. If they weren't friends…what were they? He'd probably regret it afterwards, but…since they had a nice companionable silence going maybe if he asked him upfront-

He was broken out of his thoughts by the ding of the oven. Scooting his chair back he walked over. He heard Tendou stand up a moment afterward.