Things seemed to have gone back to normal. You couldn't, from a distance, tell that that Ayanami had lost his memories. He seemed the same. Cold and distant. A far off star that no one could ever touch.

Hyuuga stayed by the man's side, just in case Oak or Miroku began talking about something that Ayanami could not quite understand with the missing gap in his memory. That way he could speak up or explain to the man later.

"Here is my paperwork, Ayanami-sama," Konatsu said proudly.

"Thank you…" The chief frowned, taking the work from the young blonde's hand. "K…Katsuragi-kun.."

The blonde's smile faded at once. "Sorry Ayanami-sama…I'm Konatsu…"

"My apologies, I'll get all your names eventually."

The young Blackhawk nodded. "Don't apologize… have a good night, Ayanami-sama," the boy saluted politely and then turned to go. A sad frown on his face, giving Hyuuga a slight nod and salute, as he left for the evening.

The major sighed checking the time. His eyes on his superior… yes… things were seemingly back to normal. Ayanami had just about fallen into the routine he used to have before he lost his memory. The drowning himself in the endless work…the not eating… the not sleeping…

The difference was, Hyuuga was not going to tolerate this, this time around… He was going to be firm and harsh, and make the boss listen to him. Even if… even if he was hated in the end…

Hyuuga yawned as the hour ticked by, at last standing. It was time to clock out and Ayanami was leaving too. He walked right up to the desk, smiling at his boss. "Time to go, Aya-tan,"

Violet eyes looked up at him for a moment glancing at the time, and then back to the work. A spectacle of emotions danced in violets for seconds before they returned to their work. "I'll stay."

Hyuuga frowned… still a bit dazzled from the emotions he saw flair in his Chief. The man didn't guard himself as much when Hyuuga was around. Perhaps Ayanami felt it was pointless, as Hyuuga had seen him at his lowest….

"No. You don't get to stay.. You need rest… or you'll get sick,"

The shoulders simply shrugged if you could call it that. A slight movement, as if the weight of all he had to carry was to heavy for him to even move properly. "If that's the worst that will happen, then I'll risk it."

Hyuuga huffed, he wasn't standing for this kind of attitude this time around. He pulled the papers away from the Chief of staff, putting them aside. "It's time to go."

Violet eyes glared up at the major. "Hyuuga,"

It was almost like always…. Where Hyuua would pester his boss and then give in… letting Ayanami have his way…Only this time, Hyuuga wouldn't give in..

"Enough Hyuuga… there is work to be done."

"Work can be done tomorrow. You need rest,"

"I'd rather do it now. Now give me back my work,"

Hyuuga shook his head. "No. Get some rest. You can work in the morning, like a normal human being."

Ayanami stood up a red tint in his eyes. "Hyuuga. I may have lost my memories, but I do know that I out rank you. Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?"

It was just paper work after all.. There was no need to become so upset over something like that… but, Ayanami used his paperwork and mindless mundane activities to block out and dull the pain of what he had to shoulder.

Hyuuga wouldn't allow that. He was here for Ayanami. The chief of staff needed to shoulder the burden. Hyuuga would help…. No longer would he allow the man before him to suffer alone.

"I'm trying to help. Let-"

"Stop trying! You're not Yukikaze!"

The blow hit Hyuuga hard. So hard he forgot to breath for a moment. Sapphires looked over the black lenses. They were wide. Shocked, and a bit hurt…

Yukikaze…

It always boiled down to Yukikaze….

Hurt and rage quickly boiled deep within him. Breaking free before he could process it.

"Yukikaze is dead! He's never coming back! And he's probably happy that he doesn't have to deal with a hard headed arrogant stubborn boss anymore!"

A Zaiphon fired and it was only thanks to his amazing reflexes that Hyuuga was only able to dodge it in time. His eyes wide. Recalling the last few moments… what he had said… He placed a gloved hand to his lips. He needed to apologize. Now.

` Sapphires looked into violets, now tainted with a scarlet gleam. Furry and pain and simple hurt reflected in those eyes. The red and black letters formed around Ayanami's wrist as he prepared to fire another spell at the major.

Hyuuga quickly formed a shield just in time as the letters hit. It pushed him back a bit, the force of the spell. Angry words lashing against his shield.

"Aya-tan.."

"If I'm so troublesome you can leave at any time. No one needs you here!" snapped Ayanami shooting another spell at Hyuuga, a lash of words threatened to crush him. Documents were scattering to the floor from the force of the spells.

"I didn't mean it.." the major tried to explain. His sapphires went wide, quickly making his shield disappear. And drawing his katana just in time.

The sound of steal clashing together. Ayanami's blade against Hyuuga's. Angry hurt violet, looking into apologetic shielded sapphires.

They stayed like that for a bit. No force against the blades anymore the blades simply rested against each other. Ayanami's breathing coming in pants. Anger still radiated off of him.

"I'm sorry, Aya-tan… I didn't mean it…" Hyuuga licked his lips carefully, taking one hand of his katana to reach out carefully. He cupped the Chief's cheek with his gloved hand. "Gomen nesai… Ayanami-sama…"

The man's blade shook against Hyuuga's violet eyes narrowing. Trying to be the hardened man he had always been. But these past few days had been to much. The lack of memories and the sudden realizations were taking a toll. The man's shoulders were shaking slightly.

Hyuuga lowered his blade, Ayanami's blade lowering with him. The dull clatter of unneeded blades hit the ground.

"Stop chasing after the shadows…of old ghosts…"

Hyuuga held his breath as the Chief closed his eyes leaning in slightly to the man's hand. Yes he had said those words… a while ago…

Violets peeked out slightly from pale lashes. "Because he wasn't the only one who cared about me…" Violets met sapphires. "That's what you said to me..right..?" He placed his own gloved hand on the one cupping his cheek.

"I did…" Hyuuga nodded. "You remembered that?"

"When you were screaming at me.. I remembered what you had shouted to me before…a long time ago"

Hyuuga frowned sadly. "I didn't mean what I said just now… I just want to protect you… for ten years…I've watched you slowly kill yourself… I can't sit idly by and watch it happen again," He stepped back removing his hand from Ayanami's cheek and saluted the man instead. "Please believe me when I say I'll protect you no matter what. Everything and anything is done for Aya-tan…" he smiled at the man in front of him as he dropped to one knee, placing one hand over his heart. "Chief of Staff, Ayanami-sama… all that I do… is for your happiness… I'll serve you to whatever end. Ayanami-sama, is my King too."

There was a moment of silence between the two. Hyuuga on his knee his gaze on the Chief of Staff's boots.

To his surprise the Chief of Staff sank to his knees, sapphires peaked up at the pale face in front of him. Just about eye level now.

"Hyuuga…"

The chief looked so tired… so defeated. Lost and broken.

"Yes, Aya-tan?" asked Hyuuga, waiting for his boss to continue.

"Why do you do it?"

Hyuuga smiled wide. "Because I love Aya-tan."

Violets lowered their gaze. "I see."

Hyuuga reached out and placed his fingers under Ayanami's chin, tilting the pale face up to look at him. "Aya-tan is confused. It's not just any kind of love. You hear that word tossed around a lot. You probably don't even have the slightest concept of the kind of love I'm talking about. So let me explain better."

Hyuuga's grin only grew as violet eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.

"When Yukikaze was around, he protected Aya-tan. He warmed Aya-tan's heart. Made him happy. There was no need for an old friend… not in the presence of Aya-tan's wonderful Beigleiter. But then… he was gone. He died. And so did lots of things inside Aya-tan… his smile and his heart… his feelings… Aya-tan was determined to close himself off from all the world and sink into the abyss. I didn't want that… I tried… I did… to make you smile..even a little… anything to stir your heart… I wanted… I wanted to be as dear to you as he was… Even just a little… Aya-tan has always been the most precious thing in the world to me… even if I wasn't the most precious thing in the world to him, it didn't matter. As long as I could stay by your side, and protect you. That's all I need. Because, as I said… I love you Aya-tan."

Gloved fingers grasped Hyuuga's uniform creasing the crisp uniform, violet eyes pained still, desperate to remember. "Did I know?"

Hyuuga smiled sadly. "Maybe you guessed… I don't know…you lock everything away.."

"I want to remember…" Ayanami said almost desperately. "I want to know that…it's not my pathetic desperate condition that's making my choices…."

Their faces were so close together. Amethyst and Sapphires locked onto each other, noses brushing slightly. The warm breath of the other against their lips. So close.. It would be easy… once they made contact… it wouldn't stop.

Hyuuga shook his head pulling away. The hardest thing he'd ever done in his life. "When you remember…should you still feel the same… I'll be here, as always,"

Violet eyes lowered their gaze, but understanding filled them. He understood. This was the right choice. But instead of pulling away, as Hyuuga had suspected the chief would do, Ayanami rested his head against the Major's shoulder. Hyuuga pulled the Chief close to him, embracing him tightly.

"Regardless… you will always be protected by me, Aya-tan. Always."