XD

Chapter ten

At the same, Kurogane was walking to the shop; knowing that Ioryogi wouldn't be there with a note that was placed on his front door. It had no name but had an address. He wouldn't be bothered by it if it wasn't for the fact that they knew where he lived and where his mother lived. "The fuck do they want?" He entered the shop as he was setting everything up for the day. His phone vibrated; signaling that he got a text. Reaching into his pocket, he checked the message.

'So I heard you've taken up working for Ioryogi. Have you still be doing runs through the city? I was also informed by a pretty little butterfly you had a new friend.'

"..." Kurogane didn't know what to think about that. It couldn't be Fai since he and Yuui knew about Ioryogi before they met him. And a butterfly? What could that mean? He texted back with a questionable expression. He wanted to know who this was and how they got his number.

'We're supposed to be keeping things low key Kurogane, don't be such a spoilsport ruining my fun. -F' Was his next response.

"The fuck? Fun?" Kurogane was very glad at the moment that there were no customers at the moment. With a frown, he texted back saying either tell him up straight or don't bother contacting him. And he'll block this number.

'Fuuma, you idiot.'

"..." Now pissed and clearly not in the mood for anyone at the moment, Kurogane scoffed. He texted saying that either way; don't bother him; ever. And with that he placed his phone back into his pocket.

His phone rang incessantly with another text.

"Dear god, I'm working." Kurogane growled. He grabbed the phone and checked who it was this time.

'Hello, Kuro-rin, just thought I'd make sure this was the right number.'

Resisting the urge to sigh in relief, Kurogane texted back. 'Yeah, it's me. And it's Kurogane.'

'Good~ You know I was thinking about you earlier.' A younger couple came into the store, looking over towards the few jewelry cases Ioryogi had.

Looking up briefly, Kurogane frowned. 'Good for you. At least I know you have the capability to think.'

'...You do not understand flirting, do you?'

"..." Kurogane had to put down the phone to ring in the couple on a jewel case with pearls and sparkles of diamond; an underwater themed case before he texted back. 'Have to work. Talk to you later.' Like he'll answer that question.

Fai didn't reply as the girl in front of him smiled before her boyfriend took the bag and they left hand in hand.

As soon as they were out of his sight, Kurogane dropped his head on the counter. "God damn it." He told that blonde moron that he didn't understand the basis of being a relationship with a human and there he messed it up. He was such in peril that he didn't notice a familiar face came into the shop with a pair of sunglasses and a amused smile on his face.

"Slacking off already? This place hasn't even been opened an hour." The man smiled as he began to poke and prod at everything.

This was not his day. "Someone kill me, I'm having a nightmare." Kurogane groaned; not bothering to lift his head.

"Come on now, what am I suppose to do if you don't answer your phone." He frowned before he examined a wind chime.

"How about leaving me the hell alone?" Kurogane finally lifted his head and glared at the person. "I got enough to deal with for the last couple of days."

"We've not spoken in a week or so. You don't have to be so grouchy." Fuuma came up to the register.

"I don't have to answer to anything I don't feel like answering." Kurogane grumbled. "And last time I checked, we're not friends. Not exactly."

"Well what have you been doing?" He smiled pleasantly.

Rolling his eyes, Kurogane sighed. "Working as you can see."

"Not eard anything new?" He asked, wanting to see if Kurogane had dug up anything.

"...Not really." Kurogane admitted. "I have been preoccupied with something new in my...personal life."

"Oh yeah that's right, I can smell him on you." He chuckled. "It's faint, so I guess you haven't closed the deal yet."

Making a face, Kurogane shook his head. "That's all I can tell you but I'm working on it. Don't worry."

Fumma stared. "I can't believe you didn't yell. Maybe this guy's calming you down." He straightened, hand on his chin.

"..." Kurogane did a double take before his face started blushing up. "Don't piss yourself with shock, it's still morning I'm not up for losing my voice right now." /That/ and Fai would be coming for lunch again...if he wasn't put off by that last text he made.

Fuuma laughed at that. "It's alright. Though I might have to check him out."

He may not up for yelling, that certainly doesn't mean though that he wasn't up for a fight or two. "Fine, whatever. Don't care right now."

"I've gotten some news." Fuuma said then leaning against the counter. "Thing's are getting a little strained."

"..." Fuuma's got his attention now. "Strained...how?" He had an idea but he wanted to made sure of it.

"Same old same old. The elder drakes don't want to bother in things and humans are greedy little things." He smiled.

"Feh. That is old news." Kurogane agreed to a certain level. "It's a wonder that anyone even bothers anymore."

"True, but humans are still trying to figure things out. They just don't understand we can do things they just can't do, we defy nature and all that grandiose stuff." He waved smiling.

"That's why I try to avoid most of them on a daily basis." Kurogane smiled a bit. Maybe Fuuma was a friend. But best not to tell him that. "But tell humans that they can't and they would try to prove us wrong. Can't blame us though when they end up on the ground; looking foolish."

"Not to say all humans are bad, most are pretty great. Just the ones they put in charge tend to be greedy bastards. Granted we've been known to hoard vast treasures, but you get the idea." He grinned. "Have you found anything interesting? I know you skulk around a lot."

"Like I said, I haven't yet." Kurogane didn't want to feel like a lazy one but between this shop and being with a human, his mind was just...somewhere else. Which was a rare thing that even shocked him. "Just petty rumor though that turn out to be nothing. Fucking gossip and such."

"Hmm. Well if you do find anything give me a heads up. I've been running intel all day and have had no luck with anything."

"Sucks." Kurogane shrugged. "You do though have better luck then I do in most cases."

"That's because you do stuff like this." He conutered with a smile. "Guess I should be going then." Looking at his watch he pulled his phone from his pocket. "I have to meet up with a pretty lady for tea."

"I didn't need to know that." Kurogane waved it off. "And next time you text me, a little 'hey' would be nice instead of that cryptic BS." He then yawned.

"What if someone stole your phone or hacked it?" He grinned pushing his glasses up his the bridge of his nose.

"Then they have to deal with you. Not me." Kurogane almost chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah." Waving goodbye Fuuma was out of the store as quickly as he had showed up.

"Hope tea time crashes hard!" Kurogane called out before taking out a cloth and wiping the counter. He still had a few hours before lunch time. Rubbing his head, he continued working.

The day went into the evening as Yuui was in the kitchen once again, only this time to make some dinner. He had no idea when Fai was bringing Kurogane or not again so it'd be best to be prepared. He then got a knock on the door. With a long shirt, and a pair of pajama pants, he went to the door and was surprised to see who was on the other side. "Oh, Syaoron. Hello again."

"Hope I'm not bothering you?" He asked curiously.

"N-No! No! You're not." That was odd. Granted he and Syaoron had sent a text every hour or so during the day but he never said anything about coming over. That's never happened before. "I was just making dinner. Um...w-would you like to come in for a bit?"

"If you don;t mind. I brought over some pastries too. Didn't know if you'd eaten or not." He explained, holding up a small bag.

"..." Yuui blushed. This was the first time anyone had given him something. Well anything that wasn't too expensive and not expecting anything back. "...I actually haven't. I slept for the most part. Was awake for an hour or so."

"Bet it feels weird sleeping in." He smiled as he took off his shoes.

"It does actually." Yuui let Syaoron step further into the place. "I never taken a day off in a long time..."

"It's good for you. Let's you recharge."

"...Yeah." In truth, Yuui avoided taking days off apart from weekends. He overthink things and he rather keep busy. "Sure..."

Kissing the blonde's cheek he handed him the bag. "I can't stay long, but I wanted to check up on you."

"You didn't have to." Yuui blushed as he took the bag. "I'm...fine..."

"I know I didn't. I wanted to."

Clenching the bag, Yuui hung his head. "I...thank you...you're the...n-nevermind."

"Go sit, so we can share." He smiled, not calling the blonde out.

"O-Oh, okay." Yuui smiled as he he led Syaoron to the kitchen so he watch the food.

"So you're already making dinner?" He asked curiously as they sat beside each other.

"Well, yes." Yuui nodded. "I'm making some lasagna. I'm checking it every once in a while to make sure it doesn't burn." He chuckled.

"Guess that does take awhile to make or does Fai get out of work early?" He asked. The brunette still thought about what he had heard from Yuui last night. He understood why Yuui thought things wouldn't last.

"It does take a while." Yuui shrugged. "And for brother, you never know. As much as I get peeved by him, I wouldn't starve him." He smiled.

"You two have an interesting relationship." He smiled.

"Well, I can't really explain our relationship even if I wanted to." Yuui chuckled. "While brother can be very annoying, he is still my brother...and for a long time my best friend. We're pretty much two sides of a mirror..."

"I can relate to that." He smiled fondly as he tore off a piece of a tart and ate it.

Yuui watched Syaoron eat and found himself staring at those lips; the same ones that kissed him the night before. "Right." He smiled; trying not to look like a weirdo.

He smiled in return. "How're you feeling today?"

"Less tired." Yuui asnwered; not really answering the question.

"Good." Syaoron said before finishing his tart. "I was thinking next time you have a day off we should go on another date. Maybe a movie?"

Covering his mouth, Yuui smiled a bit. "Well, I do have sundays off so we can have our dates. And a movie sounds nice."

"I'm not stealing you away from brother time or anything am I?"

This was rare; Yuui burst out laughing a bit. "Oh no! Heaven forbid that would happen."

Smiling wider Syaoron watched the blonde. "So no brother time?"

"We live in the same place; almost everytime we see each other is brother time." Yuui chuckled freely.

"You know what I mean. Just sit around hanging out." He chuckled and gave the other a friendly push.

Yuui laughed as he was shoved by the other. It was like he was a kid again. "Oh no! We're pretty much busy with our own thing and it's going to be that way since brother has Kurogane and I have..." He stopped for a second as his laughter came down. "Uh...I have you..."

"You do have me." Grinning he leaned over to kiss the blonde's cheek.

He liked the kiss but the doubts came back in his head just when he out them out. It wouldn't last long; he thought to himself. It just... wouldn't. "...Yeah..."

They finished up the pastries quick enough before Syaoron cleaned up the mess they had made. "Sorry for leaving so soon, but I promised my brother I'd be home and well if I'm not he tends to not eat or sleep much." Leaning down he kissed Yuui softly.

Returning the kiss, Yuui smiled; if not a bit sadly. "It's no problem. We still have family to be with. Family will always come first. I understand." He looked away. "So...movie on Sunday?"

"Family doesn't always come first, but I already promised and that's what brothers are for right? To take care of each other." He didn't like the way Yuui had said it, but he didn't want to argue over it.

"Yeah, but they are still family. And who can argue with that?" Yuui chuckled. The chuckling died though very quickly. That was getting him nowhere. "Um...thanks for coming. I'll...s-see you later or something..."

"I'll call you." He smiled, kissing Yuui again.

"Sure." Yuui returned that kiss. "Bye, Syaoron."

"Bye." With that he left.

Yuui waved at the other as Syaoron was walking down the street. However, as soon as he closed the door; the tears just came down. Forgoing the dinner altogether, he went straight to his bedroom and locked the door. There were sounds of crashing and throwing before some sobbing was heard. He wasn't feeling hungry anymore...or happy for that matter.

~hours later~

Fai came home after a decent day of spending a too short lunch with Kurogane. When he came home he found the lights off and was curious. "Yuui."

No sound came out with the exception with the beeping of the oven which hadn't be beeping for very long.

He hurried into the kitchen and took out the lasanga. It wasn't like Yuui to leave food in the oven

Thankfully the dish hadn't been burned greatly; just the corners were a bit blackened but it was still good. However the dish was there, where was the cook?

Turning everything off he took off the oven mits he had on before going in seach of Yuui.

The blonde went to the hallway; thinking that Yuui might have overslept or something as he went to grab the doorknob; he found that it was locked.

"Yuui? Are you in there?" He called, getting worried.

There was sounds of mumbling and sobbing before the creak of the bed was heard. Footsteps then echoed inside the room before the lock was unlatched, The door opened to reveal Yuui who looked like he had better days. "Brother...?"

"What happened? Are you okay?" He asked pushing the door open to hug the other

Not hugging back but leaning into the embrace; Yuui sniffled. "I'm..." He couldn't say it. He didn't want to lie but he didn't his brother to worry more.

"You tell me what happened. This isn't like you."

"What is like me, I wonder?"

"Happy and not nearly setting the apartment on fire." Fai stated. "Yuui...what happened?"

"...Sorry about the potential fire hazard." Yuui mumbled. "I..I think I screwed up a bit..."

"What did you do?"

"...Syaoron...he does something nice to me...and...I couldn't stop thinking...you told me not to...but I did..."

"Oh Yuui...I told you, it's alright." Fai didn't understand.

"Damn it brother!" Yuui cried out. "Syaoron's the best thing that has happened to me since that fucker but I can't...I didn't believe that it would last...!"

"Yuui, you should be panicking like this when it's a year into the relationship. Stop it, you're going to lose Syaoron if you keep this up." He argued,

"I felt like I lost him already!" Yuui sobbed. "I'm not used to the other end being so...nice to me! Bringing me gifts, checking out on me; seeing if I'm alright. This...I'm not used to being treated so...so...!"

Fai yanked his brother's hair. "Stop that, you're working yourself up over nothing. I told you, he's doing it just because he likes you and he's nice."

"Ow!" Yuui was now crying over his heart and what his brother was doing to him. "Brother..."

"You're the head chef and owner of one of the best restaurants in the city, you're a popular artist, you have a family and friends and a boyfriend who adores you, so stop mopping over nothing." He wondered if he could get Kurogane to pay Yuui's ex a visit.

"Stop it!" Yuui pushed Fai away from him as he tended to his hair. "Just stop it! You're not helping! Just stop!" It was then that he fell to his knees; hugging himself. "Please stop...I won't say anything anymore. You're right. You're always right..." His eyes were glazed as he started crying again. "I'm nothing and you're right..." He didn't seem to be on the same page anymore. "Please stop..."

"You're great Yuui, wonderful. Better than me at any rate." He reasoned kneeling in front of his brother. "I won't stop, because I'm beating it into your head if I have to."

"Then you have to send me to the hospital." Yuui cried. "Because what my ex did will always haunt me. You weren't there. You don't know the things he said to me when we're alone. And the sad part; I believed it. All the bad things, I believed it all." He chuckled. "I'm no better then you. Not in a million years."

"Then tell me. I want to help." He said trying to help his brother."Would it help if I had Kuro-sama eat him?"

Everything just stopped as Yuui looked up at him. "A-Are you seriously suggesting to have your new boyfriend eat up my ex?" That got a twitch upwards on his lips.

"Well maybe scorch him a little if eating is extreme." He pulled his phone from his pant's pocket. "Want me to call him up?"

There was a chuckle; then some snickering then full on laughter as Yuui was then holding his sides. The idea was ridiculous that he had to laugh but it made him a lot better knowing that Fai cared so much about his well-being that he would have a dragon go after his ex. It was nice.

"Kuro-rin could swallow him whole. Make the suffering last longer."

Yuui just kept on laughing; thinking that even if he went along with it, Kurogane might have stomach problems later.

He knew this wasn't really fixing things, but he was just glad to hear Yuui laughing. "You really aren't a bad person Yuui. You're great actually and you shouldn't let some jerk tell you otherwise, when you know he's a jerk."

Calming down a bit, Yuui had tears running down but they were tears from laughing too hard. "I-I know..." He snickered. "I just..." He sighed as he had a small smile on his face. "When you thought you found the one and they turn out to be like every other jerk on the planet; you can't help bit be a bit skeptical when someone else comes along, you know? I just don't want Syaoron to put up with my doubts or having to put up with anything else because of that breakup...you know?"

"I do and I get it, but it shouldn't consume you like it does." He replied with a grin.

"Yeah..." Yuui nodded; feeling a bit better. "Syaoron is very sweet and he was the one who asked me out. He wants to understand me, to know me better...not like the rest before. I guess I'm not used to being first in a relationship."

"Then you have to get used to it." He smiled. "Now, let's go and eat and not think about terrible men and maybe see if I can convince Kuro-tan to eat someone."

Reaching up; Yuui grabbed Fai's hand. "Okay but...can you...um...help me up first?" He blushed. He seemed to have lost some feeling in his legs when he fell onto the floor.

He chuckled and stood up as he pulled Yuui up from the floor. "Of course."

Being helped by his brother, Yuui leaned onto him for support. "I don't know where that jerk is now. But I bet Kurogane can find him, I think." He chuckled.

"Smell him out since he probably still wears that terrible cologne."

Yuui couldn't help but laughed again. "Brother, you're terrible."

"What?" He looked offended as they went into the kitchen and he put Yuui in a chair. Making them plates he smiled to himself.

He couldn't answer as he was still laughing but not as loudly. He then started daydreaming about a certain brunette. "Nothing...but do you really think Kurogane can handle the cologne smell doing down his throat. That can't be good for him."

"I'm sure he can. He's stubborn enough." Fai grinned before putting a plate of still warm food in front of his brother.

"Thank you." Yuui chuckled. "Maybe you can get him to scorch that jerk; enough to make him the ugliest person alive. I think that's a bertter suited punishment; don't you think?"

"Ooh, I like the way you think."

Yuui thought he might look weird laughing so much in just a short amount of time in front of his brother so he tried to look away.

Fai sat across from him smiling. "You made a lot, were you expecting our boyfriends again?"

"A little." Yuui shrugged with a blush. "I thought you were going to being the dragon to the lair for some offerings." He joked. "Since you had a great time the night before."

Sighing with a small grin on his lips Fai had to agree. "I did have a good time last night."

"I'm happy for you." Yuui commented as he started eating. "He seems like a keeper but for some od reason I can't help but think that he hasn't had too much going on with a human before. He just looks...off." He smiled a bit.

"Looks off?" He asked before he began to eat as well.

"Well, he seems very...standoff-ish." Yuui can only describe as he peeled some of the cheese before putting it his mouth. "Did he mention other relationships that he had before?"

"No, but I know he's had them." Fai cut into his lasanga as he watched his brother. "And I think he's just used to being around dragons more on a personal level. It'd be kinda hard to avoid people in the city."

"Ah, that explains it." Yuui nodded as he chewed a bit. "I guess he's never known how to be with a human on a romantic level; huh? And you're okay with that?"

"Well I dno't have to teach him some things, but the rest he's getting used to." He shrugged. "It's not so bad, he's just a little unsure with himself around me. It's kinda sweet."

"Everyone can be unsure around you first off anyway." Yuui joked with a grin. "Poor guy though, probably doesn't have many friends. To me it doesn't seem like it. But I'm glad you're helping him open up."

"I don't think he does." Fai gave a smug smile, thoughts running to the night before.

Seeing that smug look; Yuui shook his head. "I bet he makes up for it in other areas, huh?"

"I don't know about it being plural, but he's really good with his mouth." Fai smiled before he stuffed a fork full of food in his mouth.

"And we're going to change the subject there." Yuui waved that off. "So...this may not be a good move but...I was thinking of taking some days off more often...you know...not to overwork myself..."

Fai pouted, he'd been wanting to tell someone. "Sounds good, you should do it. You can do stuff here, go out, relax."

Blushing, Yuui looked at his plate. "I'll try not to over do that though."

"And if you get bored, you can work on other things for the place here. Like menu's or new items or anything."

Nodding, Yuui picked with his food. "Y-Yeah...of course..."

"Or pay Syaoron a visit~" Fai leered before taking another bite. "Though I did say take things slow."

Blushing deeply, Yuui yelped a bit. "W-Whatever!"

"Maybe in a few months." Fai relented a bit with a smile.

"...Uh...yep...yeah... whatever..." Just then, the home phone started to ring. "I'll get it." Standing up, Yuui went to the kitchen area phone and picked it up. "Hello Fluorite residence, Yuui speaking." He then blushed as he heard who it was on the other end. "O-Oh, Syaoron. Hey...again..."

"Just thought I'd check up on you." Syaoron grinned as there was rustling in the background and noise from a television.

"Oh you don't have to." Yuui blushed as he smiled.

"I said I would though, so what's up?"

Twirling a lock of his hair, Yuui smiled. "N-nothing much. Just finishing up dinner."

"Sounds good. I'm actually just staring to eat." He laughed. "And watching some documentary."

"What documentary are you watching?" It was weird; actually having a conversation with the other. Up until now, unless he was going out; he and the person he would date wouldn't exactly want to talk to him on any normal day.

"Something about jungles."

"Oh~! Is it about the ones with the jaguars? I love that one~!" Yuui laughed. "It's nice to see such a primal feline romning the jungle with those deep bright eyes. So enticing." He chuckled.

"I'm not sure my brother picked it out." There was protesting in the background and then sounds of a struggle and laughter. "Yeah, I think it's about jaguars or at least jungle animals."

Happy to hear that Syaoron's having fun with his brother, Yuui smiled softly. "It's a good one. The narrator though could have been more excited about it though. You'd think that after some odd episodes, he'd try to sound interested for the viewers."

Syaoron laughed. "Yeah, but I think most narrators sound a little bored."

"If I narrate those kinds of things I would at least put some effort into it." Yuui joked; watching Fai smirk his way.

"I guess so, but then you have a much nicer voice."

That shut the blonde up as Yuui's lips were clamped shut. He wondered if his face was looking as hot as it felt.

There was some more rustling on Syaoron's end and laughter and a groan. "Sorry about that my little brother's trying to get me to hang up and stop being so mushy."

"N-No! It's fine." Yuui stated in a high pitch voice. "I'm fine. It's okay." Oh god, shoot him down already.

"Good, but I guess I'll get off before he yanks the cord from the wall." He chuckled. "But I'm glad you're better."

Yuui gasped softly before he chuckled a bit. "T-Thank you. It's odd hearing that other then brother but thank you...I guess...I see you later then..." Was it that easy to smile happily now?

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Yuui."

"G-Goodnight, Syaoron." Yuui quickly blew a kiss before hanging up quickly so the other wouldn't question it over the phone. He can feel Fai's eyes on his back as he still had a blush on his face.

Fai leered. "Syaoron calling to check up on you?"

"He was just calling because he was bored and his brother's being a pest!" Yuui said quickly not once turning around to see his brother. "Much like a brother I know!"

"Awww...but I'm not a pest!" Fai went to hug him.

"Gah! Get off!" Yuui cried with a deep blush; already knowing that Fai wouldn't let him go unless he hugged back.

"Nope~!" Fai held him tightly and kissed Yuui's cheek.

Soon the shouting turned to laughter as Yuui eventually gave in and hugged Fai back.

"See not so bad." He smiled fondly.

Leaning into the embrace, Yuui nodded. "Maybe not. But you're still a pest." He grinned.

"And you're still mean."

"Yes, yes. Whatever you say." Yuui rolled his eyes. "And will you let go of me now?" He lightly joked.

"Fine." Taking a step back he grinned. "So, I'll go clean up and then we can watch TV."

"Sure you don't want help with the clean-up?" Yuui asked with a gentle smile. That smile usually happens when he was really happy.

"No, it's alright. You cooked after all and I was just going to put them in the dishwasher." He explained before gently pushing his brother towards the living room.

"Okay~! Okay~! I'm going~!" Yuui laughed as he went to the living room. "Hey, do you think we can watch a documentary tonight? I'll...find the channel and such!"

"That's fine." With that he left for the kitchen.

Picking up the remote, Yuui clicked on the TV and searched for the program; all with a grin on his face.

TBC

XD