A little warning now: angst will be coming. As if it hasn't happened in little amounts before.

XD

Chapter nine

Back in the kitchen, Yuui and Syaoron were already eating dinner as they heard a little bit of noise in Fai's bedroom; thinking that maybe they didn't want to have dinner now. They were talking and laughing; all the while holding hands under the table; like a lovesick teen couple.

Fai walked in and went straight for the plates on the table counter making him and Kurogane a plate. "Do you want bread too? And what to drink?"

"Bread's good and water since I don't plan on being buzzed tonight." Kurogane nodded.

Yuui looked over and rolled his eyes. He can see the glow on Fai's skin. He can tell that while they didn't go too far, they did something.

"We have juice and tea and soda too." He grinned before handing the man his plate before making his own.

"Got any green tea? Iced is okay too." Kurogane's eyes lit up a bit at the mention of tea as he got himself more meatballs then noodles.

"Of course." Moving to the fridge he began rummaging around. He found a tall can in the back and grabbed a glass and some ice.

Kurogane seated at the table; next to Syaoron but not very close as he can't help but feel a bit out of place with only humans.

"Yuui, did you put up the rest of the stuff you made this morning?" He asked sitting between Kurogane and his brother.

"It's in a bag...somewhere. You can find it later." Yuui idly said as he continued eating.

Fai nodded in understanding before he began to eat.

Dinner went on without too much incident. That is until Yuui spoke up. "So, Kurogane. What's it like being a dragon?"

"Hmm?" Kurogane looked up mid-bite before swallowing what was in his mouth. "Uh...it's okay I guess. Not that much different than humans."

"Kuro-san's so cool looking. He's a giant dragon, makes me think of the guardian dragon we saw at the main gate in Hanshin when we went on vacation." Fai added.

"Oh yeah, that's right." Yuui nodded; not noticing that Syaoron's grip on his hand tightened for a second. "Those were some huge dragons. I never knew that that they can grow up to be that size."

"Meh, some species of dragons can and some can't. Depends on the ancestral bloodline." Kurogane shrugged. "In my case, it was a bit of that and dumb luck...or that's what my father used to say."

"Well you're very tall like this too, and your mother is tall as well, I think your parents had a bit to play in that and not just dumb luck." Fai shrugged.

"Could be." Kurogane shrugged back. "Mother is tall but most female dragons are taller then her both in human and dragon form."

"And your father?" Yuui asked. He then frowned as he noticed that Kurogane went silent for a second.

"There are dragons that said that he was pretty huge. To me he was too. And his human form, he was very tall. Made a lot of males freaking envious at the time." Kurogane answered with a slightly sad tone.

"Kuro-sama has shiny black scales too. I'm surprised he doesn't work in delivery or construction or something. But smithing is hard work too." Fai said, wanting to change the subject.

"I haven't done anything like that yet." Kurogane shook his head. "But I'm working my way up."

Yuui felt bad; he must have talked about a touchy subject. He fell quiet after that.

"I know, but you'll get there. Ioryogi's a softie." Fai grinned. "And you'll be a good smith."

"Ioryogi's a freaking jerk." Kurogane growled. "He just puts up with me like I do to him. We're just tolerate like that." He blushed though as Fai was practically cheering him on to be a smith.

"He's kinda like you." He argued before taking another bite of food. "But not as grumpy."

"Pfft. I've seen him angry and believe me that person who messed with him the last time is still twitching because of the side-effect." Kurogane rolled his eyes. "So I wouldn't get my hopes up with that guy."

Yuui was picking at his food a bit; not really sure if he should join into the conversation or stay out of it.

"You'll see." He waved off the complaint.

"Doubt it." Kurogane ended it with that. "Well, I'm full."

Letting go of Syaoron's hand from under the table, Yuui took his plate and went to the sink to rinse it. "I'll go to my room for a bit. Feel free to join me Syaoron if you like."

Fai stared after his brother, wondering what was wrong.

"Yeah sure." Syaoron smiled before he got up with his own plate.

"Nice seeing you again, Kurogane." Yuui waved at the man before he left.

"You too." Kurogane watched as Yuui left and Syaoron following after. When it was just him and Fai he sighed. "He's feeling a bit guilty."

"For talking about your dad?" He asked as a door closing was heard. "I'll talk to him about it later."

"No, it's fine." Kurogane quickly answered. "I didn't expect him to know. And I'm okay." He shrugged. "Not exactly what I want to talk about but hey, it happens. He's got nothing to feel sorry about."

Nodding Fai went back to his food. "I was thinking maybe sometime the four of us should go out. So you and Yuui can get to know each other and me and Syaoron can do the same."

"Want to know the boyfriend so you can threaten him if he so much as hurt your brother in any way, shape or form?" Kurogane slightly joked. He knew that Yuui would do the same but hey, life happens.

"A little and Yuui really likes him." He smiled.

"I can see that." Kurogane nodded as he ate a bit more. "It's in their eyes. Like jewels in a treasure chest. Can't stop sparkling and blinding me with that." He chuckled slightly.

"Yes, they're very cute together." Finishing eating he took his plate, to toss away the scraps.

"Only you would use cute." Kurogane scoffed as he chewed on the last meatball.

"Well they are." He argued putting a plate in the sink. "Now that we've eaten I've got some muffins and things to give you."

"Sure." Kurogane nodded as he stood up and went over to the sink. "I bet your brother's giving you hell because you won that bet, right?"

"Yes, he's being mean and won't hold up to his end." He pouted before finding the pastry box and stealing a chocolate chip muffin out he gave the rest to Kurogane. "They're all indivdual flavors. Not sure why he did that though."

"Maybe he did that just to piss you off." Kurogane suggested as he took what Fai can give to him. "Thanks. My mother would love these."

"It's no problem." Fai grinned as he leaned against the counter watching Kurogane.

With a couple of bags, Kurogane checked them over and nodded. "Okay then so...I...I guess I'll be seeing you then." He got what he came for so there was no reason to stay...right?

"Alright." Fai grinned before pushing himself off the counter to walk to Kurogane. "I enjoyed your...company tonight, it was good."

"Uh...yeah..." Kurogane looked away as he felt his face heat up just a bit. "Glad you... enjoyed it..." What else was he going to say?

"Maybe I can pay you a visit sometime soon?" He said; invading Kurogane's personal space.

Leaning back a bit, Kurogane cleared his throat. "M-Maybe. Just call me beforehand and it'll be okay."

"Do I have your number?" He asked, thinking of how Kurogane had flinched at his own phone.

Thinking about, Kurogane reached into his pocket and got out a scrap of paper and a small pen before writing down his home and cell number. "Don't abuse it. I'll block your number if you so much as annoy me during daylight hours or better yet, ever."

"Awww...now you're just asking me to." Fai pouted as he took the paper from his boyfriend. He leaned up and kissed Kurogane then. "Hmm...I might stop by for lunch again tomorrow if I can remember."

Returning the kiss shyly, Kurogane nodded. "Fine. I'll see you later then. I'll let myself out."

"Alright Kuro-pon." Fai watched him leave smiling to himself. He felt almost giddy.

"See ya." And with that Kurogane left; the blonde behind him feeling quite in the clouds.

Fai sighed happily and locked the front door before going to his own room to sleep and maybe think of Kurogane.

Meanwhile in Yuui's room, the blonde in question was laying on his bed; his face hiding in the pillows as he was groaning. "I'm such an jerk."

"What makes you say that?" Syaoron asked confused as he sat beside the blonde.

Lifting his head off the pillows, Yuui frowned. "Did you not see the look of Kurogane's face when I asked about his father?" He sighed. "I didn't know his father was..." He coughed. "But that's no excuse..."

"You didn't know and it's not like he was offended by it. I'm sure people make that mistake." He reasoned. "So don't think too much on it."

Sighing, Yuui turned his body so he was laying on his back as he looked at Syaoron. "Maybe you're right. I do tend to over-think things; that cost me a couple relationships in the past." He chuckled a bit bitterly. "I'm too much of a worry wort."

"You are, but it's kinda cute." He countered with a grin.

That made Yuui laugh with a lighter tone. "Do you say that to anyone you've been with in the past?" He joked. "Because no one, not even my bastard of an ex-boyfriend has called me cute before."

"No, I haven't." He answered. "And I'm surprised no one has before."

"How are you surprised?" Yuui asked as he propped himself on his elbows with a raised eyebrow. "I'm practically a grown man and I'm...nice. That's all I can say about me and others tend to say the same thing."

He shook his head. "I just think you're cute, like right now."

"..." Yuui blushed as he looked away. "N-No! I'm not cute. I'm an adult. Adults are not cute."

"They are and you are." He insisted.

Playfully shoving Syaoron lightly, Yuui smiled; feeling better already. "Oh go play with a box full of kittens." He joked.

"I might later." Syaoron chuckled; joking along.

Chuckling, Yuui laid back on his bed. "You're something else, Syaoron. No one has made me feel so...free before. I had brother but...this is different...you know?"

"Yeah, I know." He reached over and ruffled Yuui's hair.

Giggling, Yuui grabbed Syaoron's hand and gave a few kisses. "Seriously, though. You're giving me more then I deserve. I don't know why but...I'm glad that we ran into each other that day."

"I am too. I get to date you, so it was worth it."

"That's also the first time anyone has ever said that too." Yuui felt so happy that a few tears started to appear. "Geez, where have you been all my life...?" His voice started to crack.

"On the other side of the city apparently." Grinning Syaoron leaned down to kiss him.

When Syaoron placed his lips on his own, Yuui felt his heart swell with happiness; a kind of happiness that he had never felt before. It made a few tears run down his face at the feeling alone.

When he pulled back he felt a bit worried at seeing tears. "You okay?"

Blinking, Yuui raised a hand and touched his face. It was wet. "Oh dear...I'm crying...but I'm so happy...are they what they call...happy tears...?" He had heard of them before through many others but for some reason until that very moment, he never felt so happy that he cried. Usually it was the opposite emotion that would led to tears. He chuckled though. "Oh wow, I'm such a cry baby over nothing."

Syaoron shook his head. "It's alright Yuui." He was just glad he hadn't hurt the blonde.

"T-Thank you..." Yuui smiled through the tears. "I guess I'm more closed up then I thought."

"That's fine Yuui." He sat up smiling.

Reaching out, Yuui lightly grabbed Syaoron's wrist. "Um...can you...lay down with me for...a little while longer? I...I know that you have work tomorrow...we all do but...please?"

"Okay." He moved then resting on his side beside Yuui. He moved an arm to lay over the blonde's waist.

Humming delightfully, Yuui inched closer to that warm body. "I can't remember a night that I lay on my bed happily like this..."

"Then I'm glad I could help." He returned as they huddled up together.

Leaning up, Yuui gave Syaoron a kiss on the lips; letting that kiss linger longer then he had at the cafe.

Syaoron grinned into the kiss before he pulled away and smiled. "I'll stay until you fall asleep."

'I want you to stay for the rest of my life' Yuui wanted to say but he thought that as much as Syaoron has made him happy; it probably won't last. Just like his other relationships. Not realizing he was smiling sadly, he nodded. "Yeah..."

"So sleep, you've had a long day." Kissing Yuui's forehead he wanted the other to be okay.

"I've had longer..." Yuui said without thinking as he closed his eyes.

Syaoron shook his head; not having any of that. "Not an excuse."

"Not really caring..." Yuui wondered if his voice sounded so off before.

He ran his hand over the other's side trying to relax him. Yuui had worked so hard today and he thought he needed some rest.

Sighing, Yuui smiled a bit but it was a very sad smile at best. He started to drift. "Good thing that I met you...wonder how long that is going to last this...time..." And like that the blonde was lightly dozing off.

Syaoron stared in surprise. So Yuui really was that insecure. Well he would just have to prove him wrong.

With his current boyfriend next to him and a twin brother just outside the door; hearing all of that; Yuui was unaware of what he had caused by that statement alone.

~next morning~

Fai woke up and remembered what he had heard the night before on his way to his room. He had known Yuui had his insecurities, but he hadn't known that was how he felt about himself.

Yuui was already up and making breakfast and that cheesecake Fai wanted. Syaoron had left well before the late night as he fell asleep very quickly. But the warmth next to him hadn't left that alone made him smile.

When Fai came in to see Yuui unlatching his spring loaded pan he smiled. "Good morning."

"Morning, brother." Yuui smiled back before flipping a pancake. "Your cheesecake is almost ready. Just needs refrigeration to make it solid."

"Alright." He wasn't sure how to approach Yuui. "What did you think of last night?"

"Hmm?" Yuui placed a pancake on top of the others. "About dinner? Well, for the most part it was okay. Kurogane seems like a very nice guy. And I'm glad Syaoron had time to eat with us." He smiled.

"Kuro-sama's still a little shy about human relationships." He shrugged. "What did you and Syaoron do in your room?"

"Well he is a dragon." Yuui shrugged. "And the two of us didn't do anything. Just...laid there and talked about this and that."

"...About you not thinking he'll stick around?" Fai finally asked.

The pancake that the blonde was flipping fell to the floor as Yuui froze up. He turned to his brother with wide eyes. "I-I'm sorry?"

"You don't think Syaoron will like you for very long." Fai was at the table, watching Yuui.

"..." Yuui then chuckled but it sounded forced and monotone. "Yeah, right. Like I would think about something like that. That's crazy."

"I overheard. I thought I heard you crying and I was going to go and make sure you weren't being hurt, but then I heard you Yuui."

Gritting his teeth, Yuui still chuckled. "I was on the edge of sleep, brother. It could have been anything..."

"I'm not stupid." Fai frowned. "It's me Yuui. We don't lie to each other."

There was a slam of the pan and everything grew quiet. Yuui never once turned around.

"I know after the last time, it left you hurt, but I think Syaoron's different." Fai continued; though he flinched at the loud noise at first.

"Don't you have work, brother?" Yuui said but it sounded like he was close to crying. "I have to leave soon..."

Fai stared at his brother's back. Yuui was trying to get him to go, it hurt a little. "...You really want me to go?"

"..." The spatula clattered to the ground as Yuui's body shook. "...I don't know..."

Fai got up, turning the stove off. "It's alright. That bastard did a lot that's going to take some time for you to get over."

"I don't want to hurt Syaoron..." Yuui cried. "But I don't want to be hurt either...I like him, brother...I really do...but I can't go on...I can't..." He then covered his face with his hands.

Fai rubbed the other's back. "It's not even been that long and I think he's a keeper. He likes you. He really, really likes you."

"That's what I thought about the others, brother. And they end the relationship one way or another." Yuui argued weakly. "And that bastard...I really thought I found the one..."

Fai shook his head. "I never really liked your other boyfriends. Syaoron's different. Trust me."

"..." Yuui blinked as he lowered his hands and glanced at Fai. "You never liked the people I have dated before? And you telling me this now?"

"Well they were okay. Except that last one, but you were happy and it was all I could hope for." He replied. "But I didn't think they would last."

Smiling a bit, Yuui rubbed his eyes. "Look, I think Syaoron's a diamond in the rough. I really do. But...how is he going to be any different? I do get love sick very quickly but...so have the other people I have dated except for...the last one..."

"Just take it slow. You've barely been dating for long at all, so just don't do things too fast." He wasn't able to say the same, but Yuui was different.

"..." Yuui looked away. "I...I don't think I want to go to the cafe today. I'm...too emotionally distressed right now..."

"Then take a day off and relax. It's been awhile since you've been lazy." Fai then softly suggested; thinking Yuui needed a day off either way.

"I hate being lazy." Yuui chuckled. "But I don't want Watanuki and the others to deal with me right now..." He sighed. "I...I need to think about everything."

"Alright." He hugged his twin then and smiled. "Don't think too hard. You tend to make problems for yourself that weren't there to begin with."

Hugging back, Yuui leaned his head on Fai's shoulder. "There are times that I envy you brother. You never had to worry about what your head had to come up with."

"That's because I don't use it much outside of work." He kissed his brother's cheek. "I have to get going though."

"I know. Go, have lunch with Kurogane and come home." Yuui smiled knowingly. "If you see Syaoron at any point today...t-tell him I'm sorry."

"I'll tell him you were tired. There's nothing to be sorry about." He argued.

"He'll come by the cafe around lunch or any given free time that he have and will not see me there. I don't want him to think that...I was avoiding him or anything." Yuui admitted.

"Text him then." He suggested, not wanting Yuui to panic or worry.

"What would I say though?" Yuui asked. "I can't...it's too awkward for me as it is."

"Hey, I'm not going in for work today. I'm okay and all, just tired and wanting to rest." He offered for an idea to start as he grabbed his bag and took a Styrofoam box Yuui stockpiled and put in a few pancakes.

"..." Yuui yawned. "Maybe that can work. Not sure if he'll believe it though." He'd been waking up too early every morning as it was.

"It's the truth. Now get into bed before I have Kuro-claw come and drag you." He poured a generous amount of syrup into the box along with some chocolate chips and a plastic fork before he was heading out of the kitchen.

"Haha. Funny. Thanks mother." Yuui rolled his eyes with a smile. "Fine, I'll sleep a bit more. See you later, brother."

"Bye~!" The door shut behind the other blond moments later, leaving Yuui alone.

He changed back into his pajamas as he got out his cellphone. He then got Syaoron's number and texted what Fai said to text. He hoped it wasn't too suspicious for the other.

'Alright, hope you're rested enough. You work too hard.' Was the reply he received several minutes later.

"..." Yuui couldn't help but smile at the text. Laying on the pillows, he grabbed one and hugged it. He sighed tiredly. "I want to believe brother...but...I need to think with my head this time around. I refuse to open my heart any further until I know for sure..." Closing his eyes, he leaned into the mattress. He hoped that Syaoron would be the one.

TBC

Too corny at the end for you all?

XD