On his walk home it wasn't something he was completely used to. Police cars rushed by, by the time Hanatarou got close enough he realized that out of all the places the police and firemen could stop it had to be at his apartment complex. As he hurried to his place he found what he had prayed to god it wasn't what he would find. "Why?" He whimpered as he approached his apartment with the busted down door. It all figured.

"Are you the occupant of this apartment?" An officer of the law approached Hanatarou with a worried look. After the boy giving the cop a nod he carried on. "A fire started in your kitchen area. We haven't found the point of origin yet, but since the damage has spread so badly it is required you stay elsewhere."

After those words he knew exactly what he should have done but his idea was interrupted. "You should stay with me." Gin's voice sounded from the stair going up. He was sitting on them. Luppi hung on him with a smile. It wasn't a totally awkward sight, they seemed to go together once you got the idea of the two's personalities. They were odd but not completely insane.

Hanatarou just looked at the two dumbfounded. He felt the pulling pain once more. The small boy was completely dejected. He got a few minutes to gather up what he needed that wasn't touched by the fire and before he knew it he was exactly where he was the night before, on Gin's couch.

"Thank you again, Mr. Ichimaru." It wasn't exciting; it didn't feel right or even okay. He should have just gone home to his mother and stayed there, she would have been happy to have him there. But fate had other plans for Hanatarou, obviously. "If there is anything I can do, just tell me. I owe you."

Ichimaru's grin was flawless as he stood behind the counter. "Can you cook?"

"What?" Yamada's dumbfounded answer slipped out instantly.

This amused the host. "I could use a hand with dinner, would you mind?"

After getting the situation Hanatarou sprung from the couch and entered the kitchen nodding, "Just tell me what to do."

"Can you cut the vegetables?" Casually Gin passed a large kitchen knife to the small boy. Hanatarou took the blade carefully and stood in front of the vegetables cutting them up pretty unevenly. He was in his own little world thinking of all the things that could have started the fire in his apartment, and why the firemen had to bust down his door. Gin leaned over Hanatarou's shoulder. The room was spinning and he was completely baffled. "Not quite like that, Hana." The large hand slid across Hanatarou and onto his cheek turning his face to face the smiling man. "Like this." His face began to come dangerously close. Yamada's face was completely flushed, and it seemed as though the kitchen was over heated from the stove.

The small drew in a deep breath and squeak, "Mr. Ichimaru?" His vision blurred as he tried to focus on Gin. He couldn't catch his breath. Then he opened his eyes he didn't remember closing.

"Are you going to be okay?" Gin asked with his smiling face. "Hanatarou?" A worried tone came out of the smiling face, but that was when Yamada realized the large hand that had placed itself on his cheek was patting his face. And the face was hanging over him.

Hanatarou felt his face set into a blaze. "What happened?"

Ichimaru's smile a still intact as he spoke, "I don't really know. You just kind of fainted."

It was totally embarrassing. Hanatarou had no idea what had really happened and what hadn't. "What was I doing?"

"Chopping vegetables, I came over to help and you simply fell." He was sort of chuckling as he spoke. Gin's other arm held Hanatarou standing from the back. It was all very confusing. "Maybe you should lie down."

Hanatarou began to nod his head in agreement. The boy had no idea what had happened. His mind was showing him other things but it was impossible for him to tell what had really happened. He was lifted up and set on the couch. "I really don't understand how this seems to happen so often."

"You faint often?" The host squatted down beside the love seat his guest now laid flat on. Yes, he would seem that small, ha.

"I never thought it was fainting."

Gin continued after the statement. "Were you dizzy or light headed?"

The small boy chuckled nervously. "Well, it was- ye-yes, I felt dizzy." He had trouble as he remembered what he must have imagined.

"You were rather red, were you hot?" Gin waved his own face with his hand to make sure he got the question by correctly. It was hardly an effort to fan himself just to get the point across.

Hanatarou became nervous. "Well you had the stove on."

"Not that high." Gin seemed to find the little boy humorous. Ichimaru touched his guest's forehead. "You were sweating."

"Because of the stove."

Gin chuckled once more. "I believe you fainted. Were you nauseous? Or did you feel shaky?"

Yamada's face was red once more as he replayed it in his head. "Of course I was. How could I not be?" He sat up and the older man knocked him back down with one hand.

"That's weakness."

"I'm always weak. Plus that's not saying much. Look at our size difference." Hanatarou protested against what two time savior suggested.

Ichimaru stood. His smile in place but his eyes were open the slightest bit. "Mr. Yamada, I do believe you fainted." It was like that statement made it final. Hanatarou gave up. He had fainted. Maybe Gin had been his savior three times now.

"Thank you, Mr. Ichimaru."

The man had gone back into the kitchen and returned his face to its regular state. Smiling with his eyes closed. "It's Gin, please."

So… We're getting closer. And next chapter calls for Luppi, Matsumoto, Gin's job (Irony – you'll see) Ha, and of course something either utterly cute and equally sad or funny, because I don't write real romance and you can't get cute without terrible with me. Ha.