Again sorry about the weird ending cuts and junk.

OTL

Chapter two

Somewhere in the other side of the city, a red eyed dragon was walking to an alleyway on a street that had few people and beasts walking by. In came the dragon and out came a man, the same red eyes glowing. He had a bag tucked under his arm. He had been grocery shopping for his mother who called him to get some items for the week. The night being as late already, the man walked quickly.

His mother lived on the safer side of the city at least in the same small house he had grown up in. His father had been proud of that house, but after decades it was beginning to need repairs.

He knew that his mother was well enough on her own but nothing will stop him from coming as much as he could to help with the house or spend time with his mother. Though he had been scolded from taking too many nights without sleep.

When he came up the short steps and past the small garden she maintained she greeted him with a tight hug. "I was wondering when you would show up." Pulling him down she gave him a kiss on the cheek before ushering him inside.

Slightly smiling, he followed her into the house. "Glad to see you're doing okay as usual." He said. His mother was the only person he would smile to nowadays; however small.

"Go and put those on the table, I have some tea made for you and food. I expect you to eat. I know we can go for a week or two without eating, but I still worry." Tsumebe said after she locked the door and followed after her son.

"Actually, mother. I just ate a couple hours ago." He stated as he placed the bag on the table and washed his hands before sitting at the table.

"Really?" She looked at him to see if he was trying to spare her feelings. Moving over towards him she began taking things from the bag and putting them away.

"Yeah." He nodded. "I got caught up with something by some blonde and he paid for dinner." He shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal or anything."

"You went on a date?" Her eyes nearly sparkled at the mere idea of her son not being alone and maybe hopefully finding someone.

He stared at his mother with wide eyes. "What? No!" He scoffed. "It's nothing like that." He blushed slightly at the ridiculousness idea. "I was just there at the wrong place at the right time."

A little disappointed she put away a loaf of bread. "What happened?"

"I was just flying by when he landed on my nose." He started. "He wanted to pay me back by buying dinner."

"Oh dear." She wondered just why a human would be falling from the sky, but assumed it had been an accident. Putting a cup of steaming tea in front of her son Tsumebe took a seat beside him smiling. "So tell me, you actually went to dinner? Usually you would just leave."

"...Of course I went to dinner." Kurogane muttered a 'thanks' for the tea before he grabbed the cup. "He offered to pay so I couldn't just say no..."

"That hasn't stopped you before." Maybe her son was growing up. She hoped so at any rate.

Shrugging, he took a sip. "He was freaking persistent so it was hard to say no."

"Sounds like you had fun." Tsumebe smiled warmly. "Maybe you made a friend?"

"..." He took another sip and sighed. "I doubt it."

"You know I worry about you." His mother started saying. "You played with kids when you were younger, but me and your father always worried when you stopped."

His red eyes softened as he looked away. "...I just grew up mother. Nothing bad about growing up, right?"

"Of course not, but even adults have friends." All she wanted was for him to be happy. Patting his arm she looked up at him, he looked so much like his father. "Maybe the two of you can have lunch some other time? It would be good for you and it sounds like it could be for him too."

Glancing at his mother, he felt like he let her down somehow. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he sighed. "I don't know anything about him and he doesn't know much about me either. Besides, we're from two ends of the freaking spectrum. Besides, who knows how long until I actually see him again? I rather just move on and go on with my life. Like I always do."

Reaching up she gently boxed his ear. "Now when did my son become such a pessimist? Just because you're a dragon and he's human doesn't mean you can't talk. We're not living centuries ago when we at war with each other."

"...I know that." It was rare for him to sound so low and soft. His mother was the only one who have heard that kind of tone from him. "But it was just a coincidence. He was falling and I got him. We talked a bit and went our separate ways. It just happened, mother. Nothing more."

Maybe she was pushing him too hard. "Alright, but maybe you two will meet again? Funny things can happen sometimes."

"Maybe." He reached up and placed his hand over his mother's. "But right now, I have you to see. After all, family will always be first to me."

Laughing, it seemed her son hadn't lost all of his charm. "Of course."

Slightly smiling, he went back to his cup. "Your tea's delicious as ever." He casually stated. "Would it be okay to stay for the night? I'm not in the mood for loud arguments and junk tonight."

"You don't have to ask, this is your home and it sounds like you should move in any case."

"You still live here so it's more of your house then ours nowadays." He stated. He yawned a bit. "You know...I never gave that blonde my full name..."

"And why's that?" She asked, smiling at how he still talked about this mysterious human.

"I didn't want to talk to him but he wouldn't shut up." He mumbled. "I write half of my name for him and he kills it with those ridiculous nicknames. God, that made me so angry. Geez, that guy."

"Nicknames?" She asked with laughter in her voice. It warmed her heart thinking her son had had someone to actually talk to even though he wasn't one for words.

"Yeah. Dumb ones like Kuro-rin or Kuro-tan or something else." He scoffed. "Guy can't even take a freaking hint. I told him to call me Kuro and he just pouted like some girl and told me But that's boring~!" He mocked the blonde's voice.

Looking away, her body shook with muffled laughter. So her son did have a friend, he just hadn't realized it yet.

"That blondie was so annoying; it was amazing that I didn't leave then and there. But of course he was paying for food and I won't be the jerk in that scenario." He grumbled.

"He sounds nice. Maybe you should invite him over for dinner sometime?" She slipped in.

"If I see him, I might consider it." It wasn't hard to figure out what his mother was trying to do. But it wasn't like he would see that human again. "Hopefully he's not annoying in the day as he is at night." Yeah, one can only hope.

"Well you had just saved him, maybe he was still nervous or something?" Tsumebe offered as she rose from her seat, making herself a drink.

"Maybe." He shrugged. "Anything happen on your end today?" He didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Not much, I went to the market and bought a few things, traded some of my herbs for money, paid bills. Talked with a cute little girl and rather handsome dragon near the north gate. Not nearly as exciting as you I'm afraid."

"Sounds exciting to me." Anything his mother has done during the day was exciting to him compared to what he's doing.

"And other than saving someone and having dinner, how was yours?"

"Dismal as usual." His bored tone came out easily.

"Work wasn't good?" She asked as she plucked up a cup from the drainer.

"Worse, it was boring." He stated.

"I'm sorry. Maybe you should try looking for another job? I here there's going to be a new building going up soon, you could work in construction?" Taking her seat, cup between her hands, Tsumebe watched her son.

"Nah. I'm trying not to strain my body as it is. And I can't deal with people screaming orders. My ears are sensitive as they are." Kurogane rubbed the right ear. "Maybe I can take some welding. Maybe work my way up to being a blacksmith while I'm at it." He shrugged. "Might as well make something with my hands...for now anyway."

"Whatever you think will make you happy. Your father loved his job and I want the same from you."

Nodding, he yawned. "Ugh, I'll see what I can do tomorrow." He rubbed his eyes.

"Just don't stress yourself over it." Smiling she held his hand. "I want you happy and healthy above anything."

Squeezing that hand, he slightly smiled. "Thanks, mother."

"Now off to shower and then to bed for you young man. You look like you haven't slept in awhile and you need the rest."

"Yes, ma'am." His smile never faltered as he rolled his eyes as he stood up. He then went over to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, mother." And with that he left the room.

"Goodnight." She stayed in the kitchen nursing her cup of tea as her thoughts drifted.

The man lingered just outside of the kitchen with a heavy heart and sad look. He closed his eyes before he really left. Tomorrow's a new day. It always was.

The next day was indeed a new day as the man was up bright and early in the morning. He left his mother's house with a note saying that he might come back early. He went into the city and went to a certain blacksmith shop that he knew so well. He had been asked to work there from time to time but now, it might be his day. The black smith shop was owned by a guy named Ioryogi who like himself was a dragon but in human form. They weren't best friends but they weren't enemies. So what relationship they had will always be a mystery to the outsiders.

There weren't a wide variety of things dragons could do as most tended to stay in their normal forms instead of taking on a human body. Their love of shiny trinkets and metals was a hold over as well and typically meant they were drawn to specific jobs and like hell he was going to go around pulling a cart tied down with scrap metal or digging through the dump for pieces to build and trade with.

"So what do you want whelp?" Ioryogi had his long hair tied back as he stood amongst his wear. He dealt in weapons and plating and just about anything one could think of. Ioryogi owned a few small kilns in the back room and an even larger one in the back with a forge in the back lot that was open to the air. He had been considered one of the last and best metal workers in the city.

"Nice to see you too." Kurogane sarcastically said. "I was wondering if there's any openings in this place." He wasn't expecting much but anything would be better then yesterday.

"Maybe, but i thought you already had a job?" Ioryogi eyed a costumer who was looking over a set of kitchen knives he had made.

"Too dull and I'm on edge lately." Kurogane simply answered. "I need to do something that doesn't involve being some donkey; carrying metal in a cart."

"Don't look down on others kid. How do you think I get the metal I use?" Shaking his head he took took another costumer's money and quickly gave them back their change. "If you want work I might have something for you, but you're not working the kilns just yet. You have to be taught and before that I need help at the register here and keeping the place clean."

"No problem." Kurogane shrugged. He wasn't expecting to do anything grand just yet. He knew for a long time that to aim high, you must start low. So he was more than willing to do the grunt work for the time being.

"Did you give a two weeks' notice at your other job?" Ioryogi knew damn well he hadn't.

It was twice in two days that the man was silent by two different people.

Across the street, Yuui was walking with some supplies for his cafe. He looked to his right and saw two grown men shouting at each other about something. He sighed. "Oh boy, who made Ioryogi mad this time?" Sighing, he went on his way to the cafe; knowing that a few workers are waiting for his return. "I have to hurry before the cafe opens. Busy day, busy day." When he made it around the back, there was a certain someone already preparing for the day and saw the blonde with the items in hand.

"Here let me help." Watanuki said; having caught sight of Yuui and rushed over to grab a bag.

"Ah, Watanuki!" Yuui smiled brightly. "Good morning~! I hope you had a good night's rest."

"It was good enough. How about you? I know you were pretty beat last night when you left." They chatted as they walked into the kitchen in the back. The others that had come early were setting chairs on the floor and firing up the grills and such.

"Well I expect nothing less from being in the cafe with you lovely workers." Yuui smiled. It was nice to see others worry about him though they didn't have to. "I got to spend time with brother a bit so that was a plus though to be honest I wished we went to bed instead of being lazy on the couch."

"Stayed up watching tv?" He laughed, setting a bag on a metal counter.

"Yeah." Yuui laughed as he placed the rest of the bags on the counter. "Brother wanted to see if he'd be on TV last night."

"What did he do?" He asked; confused.

"He fell of an arch while fixing it." Yuui stated casually.

Watanuki stared, people usually didn't live to talk about that. "What happened? He's obviously not in the hospital so he caught himself?"

"Oh no, a dragon named Kuro got him." Yuui smiled. "Which was a relief to hear considering that I was sleeping when all of that was happening."

"He was lucky then, it could have been so much worse." Watanuki shook his head as they both began putting stuff away.

"That's pretty much what I said." Yuui chuckled. "But then brother paid the dragon back by buying dinner. Apparently they hit it off okay."

"Hit it off? You mean like friends or...?" He knew Fai as a charmer, but there was only so much anyone could take.

"Not sure but brother might want to see him again." Yuui can tell that the dragon who have saved Fai wasn't like any other if the conversation last night was any indication. "We'll just have to wait and see." He then searched the bag. "Oh dear, I seem to forgot the powder sugar." It's always something.

"Want me to run out and get some?" He asked curiously.

"No, I'll get some." Yuui said as he made sure he got the wallet and his phone. "Just make sure everything is ready. I'll be back no later than fifteen minutes!" He shouted as he ran out the back door.

"Alright!" With that Watanuki began preparing the bases for several dishes as Yuui ran out the door.

The blonde was whizzing down the street; hoping to get to the nearest grocery store and buy some off the shelf. Oh why did it have to be today to forget this? He was in such a rush that he didn't see a mop of brown hair in front of him before he rammed into someone and fell onto the sidewalk with a groan. "…Ow..."

The man he'd ran into had fallen as well but was quick to get up and help him up. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah." Yuui groaned as he slowly got up with the other's help. "Thanks for the help. I didn't see you there for a second. Sorry."

"No, no it's alright. I wasn't paying much attention either." He smiled sheepishly before he kneeled down to grab his books. The brunette looked around Yuui's age with short brown hair and eyes to match.

"Oh!" Yuui keeled down and helped the other with his belongings. He got a good look at the other and found those brown eyes simply amazing. Not every day you see anyone with eyes so brown; like milk chocolate. "Here, let me help you." He didn't notice that his hand brushed with the other's hand.

"Thanks, I got distracted reading, I didn't see you either." He flashed Yuui a smile before standing up.

That smile dazzled the blonde for some reason. He found himself staring at that face that held that smile. Shaking his head, Yuui smiled back. "No, it's fine. I was in a rush so I'm just as much to blame for this."

"Rush? Guess I shouldn't be here talking then." He grinned.

"Oh no! It's not that kind of rush." Yuui reassured the other; trying not to push him off so quickly. "I just work at a cafe and well...I forgot something so I'm on my way to buy it then you're there and I was there...you know..." Wow, that was stupid.

The brunette shook his head, chuckling. "It's alright, but maybe I should let you go?"

"Um...well," Yuui rubbed the back of his neck. "I should...oh!" Then he got an idea. "Um well, if you have time today, you should come by to the cafe. I can whip up something special as a thank you. It's called the Clover Cafe." He smiled shyly. "So how about it?"

"Oh...uh yeah sure. I'll see you later then?" He smiled once more, blushing a little.

"O-Okay." Yuui smiled brightly. "I'll see you there." He started walking past the other. "Nice meeting you..." He waved at the other before walking away. He then realized that he forgot to ask the other his name. Damn!

The brunette waved as well before going back to walking down the street.

Yuui had to grip his chest as his heart was beating fast and hard against his rib cage. He hoped the other will come to the cafe but first he had to get the sugar and find some way to slow his damn heart down. If brother ever got wind of this, he'll never hear the end of it.

Thankfully the first grocery store he went to had a large enough bag of powdered sugar that it would last him for the day if he was lucky.

By the time Yuui got back to the cafe, it was already bustling with energy and people. He went through the back door as he came in. "I'm back and with the sugar!" He called out.

A few of the cooks laughed. Watanuki smiled as he stirred the base for a stew. "That's great. We can get started on desserts as soon as I finish here."

"Okay." Yuui put down the sugar and started putting his apron while rolling up his sleeves. "Let's get to it. Everyone do their best today, got it?" He smiled. He wanted everyone to enjoy what they do and not feel like it's all work.

He got a chorus of answers in reply as everyone got to work and after an hour they started getting their first costumers.

The day went by slowly for the blonde but before he knew it, it was late afternoon. Or early evening; it was hard to tell one from the other. Wiping the sweat from his forehead; Yuui smiled. "Another day, another good time with cakes and the like." The cafe was winding down as the number of people was decreasing.

"Well at least we have some good leftovers for tomorrow." Watanuki chimed in as the bell above the front door chimed and the brunette from before walked in, heading straight to the counter.

"That's right-" Yuui stopped as he saw who was walking through the doors. His heart started beating rapidly again. "It's him..."

"Him?" He asked looking at the brunette as he talked to the cashier ordering something.

Yuui blinked as he coughed. "Oh...um...nothing. Sorry. Slip of the tongue." He smiled.

Watanuki stared for a moment before the order slip came to the kitchen. "Do you want to take this one or should I give it to someone else?"

"Oh no!" Yuui quickly took the slip from Watanuki's hands faster than you can say 'clover'. "I-I'll take care of this one. You can wash up and go home. You did great today, as usual." He smiled.

Watanuki stared at him for a moment before he began to take off his apron. "Have it your way."

"See you later~!" Yuui waved at Watanuki before getting to work.

Watanuki waved goodbye before he was gone and Yuui was left with only a couple of other cooks as he prepared the order.

A half hour later, Yuui took the plate and went out of the kitchen to give to the other himself.

"There you are, I was wondering if I had missed you or not."

The brunette was smiling as he had taken a seat on a stool.

"Oh um...you don't have to worry about that." Yuui shyly smiled as he placed the plate in front of the other. "I'm here from practically dawn to dusk. After all I'm a chef." He chuckled.

"Sounds like you keep busy then." He stared at the food. "Looks great too. My brother eats here sometimes and said it was one of the best restaurants in the city.

"Oh, it's the not the best." Yuui chuckled. "I just love cooking and baking and I have others who feel the same way. And that's how we make products like this one that had people coming back. It's not the best but it's the closest feeling of home you'll ever get." He smiled brightly.

Picking up a fork he began eating. "Still bet it's better than a lot of jobs."

"In a way." Yuui nodded. He watched with a soft smile as the other tasted one of his own creations.

"My name is Syaoron by the way, I forgot to mention it earlier." He smiled.

"Syaoron..." That name felt nice coming off the tongue. "Nice to meet you, Syaoron. My Name's Yuui."

"Yuui." He nodded enjoying himself.

Taking a towel, Yuui smiled as he started wiping his hands. "So, Syaoron. Have you been in this city long? It's a surprise that I never seen you before and I've been here for a long time now."

"A couple of years. I used to live on the other side of the city but my brother got a job at the main library, so we moved." He explained before finishing his food.

"Oh, I see. So that's why." The city was fairly large with multiple counties and designations so it wasn't much of a shock for anyone who lived in one part of the city to look like an outsider on another. "So you brother works at the main library, huh? Must be tough, it's the largest library we have here. I myself go there to borrow cooking books for new ideas." He smiled.

"He loves it, but we're both kinda bookworms so it worked out." He shrugged smiling.

"So you two love reading." Yuui smiled at that. "So you work there too?"

"I work at a printing shop. It's more boring than anything, but it has it's challenges." Syaoron said as he pulled his wallet out to pay for his meal.

"Well, I guess we do what we must to get by." He then placed a hand on Syaoron's wallet. "Don't bother. It's on the house today."

"You sure? I feel kind of guilty making you work for free."

Yuui shook his head. "No, it's fine. I was going to let it slide anyway as a thank you for helping me out earlier today and talking to me." He slightly blushed. "I uh...don't get to talk to others much so I take whatever spare time I do so...thank you..."

"Alright then, but I insist buying you lunch or something now since we ran into each other so it was equal parts my fault." He wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Oh, well okay then." Guess this young man was as stubborn as he was. Chuckling, Yuui clasped his hands. "Well...I'm free on Sunday; maybe we can spend the whole day if you're free as well..." He smiled with a hopeful look on his face.

"Yeah, the store's closed Sundays." Standing he thanked Yuui for the food. "I have to head out, have to grab my brother before he spends all night in the library again. It was good meeting you again Yuui."

"Nice meeting you too." Yuui smiled. "And if you get very bored of the printing shop; came on by. I can use some extra help around here." He laughed as he waved at the other.

"I'll be sure to." Syaoron gave him another smile before leaving.

Yuui watched as Syaoron left the cafe with a smile on his face and a grip on his chest. The remaining cooks stared at their boss's back; not knowing how to take this somewhat weird reaction. They knew that he dated others before but this was the first time that they have ever seen the blonde like this. Was it the beginning of love here?

TBC

Love love love~! XD