As the lunch rush calmed down, Hiro busied himself with showing Kyouji more of the things he would need to know for the times he'd be working on his own. Most of the tasks were pretty menial, if repetitive and time-consuming. Hiro wasn't entirely certain how quickly he should expect Kyouji to learn everything, since he was too aware that the innate ability to pick up on things quickly was not something shared by everyone.

Even within his group of friends, Hiro would find himself in the middle of saying something, only to look up and realize his ramblings had been impossible to follow. He wondered how many times he had unintentionally shut someone out of a conversation without realizing it. As it was, Kyouji seemed to catch on pretty fast.

In the very least, his short-term memory was good enough that Hiro had to point out that he could just write down the order's specifics on the previously untouched notepad when it got busy enough that Kyouji was trying to manage four orders at a time. He did well during the busiest parts of the day, when Hiro usually felt the most stressed, though he wasn't the most social person in the world. His task-oriented approach allowed him to work quickly, and it gave Hiro the free time talk with the customers to make up for Kyouji's reticent manner.

Despite his withdrawn nature, the initial responses from the regulars towards Kyouji were civil, even positive... except for Ms. Masuda. Hiro cringed when he saw her come through the door, and he had to wonder if she carried that umbrella around as a weapon, since it clearly wasn't going to rain anytime soon.

When she approached the counter, and Hiro tried to intervene by approaching her first, but she ignored him and directly addressed Kyouji with a "Hey, you."

To be fair, Kyouji didn't have a nametag or anything, but Hiro bristled at the occurrence: didn't the old lady have anything better to do than antagonize him? Kyouji ignored the rudeness and took her order in the same detached manner that he had taken everyone else's in, before retreating to put it together.

"I know you wanted to get out of working, but I didn't realize you'd be dumb enough to hire the first piece of trash that came through your door." Ms. Masuda readjusted the strap on her purse, looking around with a bored expression, as if she had been discussing the weather.

Hiro had never wanted to dump coffee on a customer as badly as he did at that moment. "Get out."

Ms. Masuda looked up in shock, speechless for a moment. "Excuse me?"

"I believe I asked you to leave. I won't tolerate people speaking about my employees that way, so unless you want to apologize to Kyouji, I'd suggest you make yourself scarce." Hiro crossed him arms, looking between Kyouji and the lady, who were wearing similar expressions of shock, which Hiro would have found amusing if he hadn't been so angry.

She stood there for a second, as if processing what had just happened, before she turned with a huff and walked out the door, closing it firmly behind her. Hiro let out a sigh.

Well, that could have gone worse.

"You really didn't have to do that..."

Hiro leaned against the counter, scowling at the door as he responded, "I disagree. She never has anything worthwhile to say, and I think this place is better off without her." Hiro nodded at the coffee Kyouji had been preparing for her, intent on changing the subject. "Do you want that?"

"Um, not really." Kyouji looked down at the cup, like he'd forgotten he was holding it.

"Gimme."

Kyouji handed over the drink, and Hiro took a large swig, before grimacing.

"Ugh, decaf. What's even the point if you can't get energy from it? No, thank you."

Kyouji laughed as Hiro dropped the cup into the trash.

As the afternoon passed, no other incidents worthy of note occurred. Through some miracle, the infamous devil machine hadn't destroyed anything yet, and Hiro kept his fingers crossed in hopes that it would continue to behave. Hiro noted that Kyouji was comfortable whenever he was behind the counter, but that he seemed to withdraw into himself if he had to venture out into the crowd. He'd have to keep that in mind when divvying up duties.

The café was nearly empty in the time between the lunch and dinner crowd, and Hiro busied himself with wiping down tables as Kyouji did some dishes. Hiro was debating the merits of stopping for a lunch break during the relative quiet when he heard Kyouji's stomach growl.

"Hungry?" Hiro laughed lightly, his dilemma having been solved for him, and shuffled towards the kitchen to make a couple of sandwiches.

Kyouji flushed a little, ducking his head and not saying anything.

Hiro put together a couple of overflowing sandwiches and put them on paper plates, pushing one of them towards Kyouji. The shocked look didn't really surprise Hiro; it was pretty obvious people didn't just offer him food. Hiro started on his own sandwich and looked at him as if he was daring him to refuse it.

"I can pay-"

Hiro quickly shook his head, swallowing his bite before speaking. "No need, my friends and I are always grabbing things from the café, feel free to do the same. Just be sure to mark it in inventory so we know when things will run out."

Hiro knew Aunt Cass would want it this way, anyways. She always fed any person who came in, regardless of whether they could pay or not.

"I- Thanks." Kyouji moved a strand of hair from his eyes before gingerly picking up the food and taking a huge bite of it.

Hiro grinned, before quickly finishing his own sandwich and disposing of the dish. When a couple came into the cafe, Kyouji moved as if to take their order, but Hiro made him sit down to finish eating, taking care of them himself.

The rest of the day went by slowly, with not many more customers coming in. Kyouji helped Hiro with the small tasks of closing the shop before leaving with a paper bag with some food in it that Hiro had practically shoved into his hands.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Kyouji bit into his lower lip as he made his way to a nearby safe house, the paper bag clutched in one hand.

Where were they a couple of years ago?

Kyouji's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his phone ring in his pocket, which he quickly pulled out and checked the caller ID. He let out a breath of relief; it was only Himitsu. Still, it was strange for him to call so regularly.

"Hello?"

"I see you."

"Way to be a creeper, Himitsu." Kyouji looked around, finally spotting the brunette leaning against the rail of a fire escape. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Hm... nope." Himitsu hung up before descending and coming to stand in front of Kyouji. "What's in the bag, Jadoku?"

"Just some food."

Himitsu chuckled. "Stealing from 'em already? Dang, man-"

"It was given to me." Kyouji wasn't big on interrupting people, but why did he have to assume he stole everything he owned? Though... it was mostly true, if paying for things with stolen money counted.

"Well, isn't that sweet?" Himitsu's voice held a tinge of derision.

"Shove off, Himitsu." Kyouji ducked his head and started walking, but Himitsu stayed by his side.

"I did warn you." Himitsu walked with his hands tucked behind his head, glancing sideways at Kyouji. "People're always nicer when they think you belong."

"Just stop it." Kyouji glared at Himitsu, slipping his free hand into his pocket to hold one of his syringes. He wouldn't use it, but the thought was comforting in a twisted way.

"No." Himitsu walked in front of Kyouji, stopping abruptly and forcing him to do the same. "You clearly need to hear this."

Kyouji moved to walk around him, but was stopped by a hand on his arm. "Don't touch me."

"Fine. But hear me out." Himitsu removed his hand, shoving both of them into his pockets. "Even if you bail on this- an' don't act like you didn't think of that- none of this'll last."

"I get it, Himitsu, I-"

"I don't think you do. I'm surprised you got the job, Jadoku. They know nothing about who or what you are."

"Well, obviously not." Kyouji went to great lengths to hide his... condition. He was almost positive that even Himitsu didn't know the full extent of it. "Isn't that the idea?"

Himitsu sighed, running a hand over the back of his head as they continued walking. "Just keep your head in reality, and ya might want to brace yourself."

Kyouji sent a questioning look his way, and was answered with a grin.

"The Fujitas planned on meeting with ya today, and I said I'd pick ya up."

Kyouji felt like a block of ice had been dropped into his stomach. Himitsu laughed lightly at the brief expression of terror that flitted across his face.

"Come on, they aren't that bad." Himitsu tried a more comforting approach, but only received raised eyebrows in response.

Uh... they actually are.

Himitsu continued, ignoring the incredulous looks Kyouji sent his way. "-'sides, they can't wait to meet ya. 'specially since they heard what ya can do. I don't think you'll have any issues."

None of this was in any way allaying Kyouji's fears. Himitsu turned onto a street that Kyouji hadn't had reason to go down in ages, and fell silent for a moment. "D'you see anything useful while you were in there, or were ya just wasting time?"

"I couldn't just wander around, but... I'm positive there's a living area upstairs, and the kid's comfortable enough to run around without shoes on." Kyouji shrugged. "I'd say the kid actually lives there, especially since Hiro- his guardian, I guess- locked the café up from the inside, but I don't know what's up there."

"Hm." Himitsu grinned. "Guess you'll just have to get 'em to take ya up there, unless ya can get him alone."

Kyouji scoffed. "Easier said than done." Glancing around, he made note of the route they were taking, on the off-chance that he had to make a run for it. "He's got this... posse, that spends time with him while Hiro's busy."

Kyouji ran a hand back through the strands of hair that had fallen in his face. "And if that wasn't enough, there's this... robot. He's some sort of first-aid kit with legs, but who knows what else it can do."

Himitsu paused for split-second before he started laughing. "Y-yer afraid of a first-aid kit?"

"That's not-!" Kyouji crossed his arms, walking slightly ahead of the other, though he wasn't exactly sure where he was going. "Ugh, that's not what I meant."

It had already been too close of a call when it had tried to scan him earlier that week, though he wasn't sure how specific of a scan it would have been. Maybe it was just an x-ray machine... or something. Either way, Kyouji thought as he absentmindedly pulled at the bandages on his left arm, better safe than sorry.

Besides that, Kyouji was well aware that things were often more than they appeared to be, and who's to say there weren't more creations lying around somewhere?

"It sounds like that's exactly what you meant."

Kyouji spared a glare back at Himitsu, before slowing down so they were walking side by side again. "Even if it can't do anything else, I'd rather the med-bot not announce something they don't need to know."

"Alright, alright." Himitsu chuckled.

The two lapsed into silence, allowing Kyouji's mind to return to the approaching meeting. As he put the paper bag into one of his jacket pockets, a thought occurred to him.

What's Himitsu doing here, anyway? I thought he was staying out of this...

Kyouji glanced over at him, taking in his unconcerned expression and easy stride. They were abnormal reactions to an upcoming meeting with such a threatening presence, but that was sort of how Himitsu approached everything.

They took another turn and were suddenly looking down a long street that ended in a cul-de-sac, with tall buildings enclosing the area. Leaning against the white doors of a van parked at the end of the street, were two... artistically bedecked women.

One was rather still, balancing on her skates as if waiting for an incentive to strike, while the other laughed and rolled her feet back and forth along the pavement. The laughing woman had one hand on a sharp-tipped parasol, and with the other was tapping out a rhythm on the side of the van.

It was the still woman who noticed the approaching pair first. With a grin, she shifted, allowing a spiked ball-and-chain to clang to the ground before she moved, flitting to a stop directly in front of Kyouji. If he hadn't been so shocked, he likely would have flinched back, but fear held him in place.

At least she doesn't have her weapon in hand.

The woman grinned as if he had passed some sort of test, before glancing back to her fellow Fujita. Leaning her parasol against the side of the van, she quickly approached her side, before giggling and skating in a small circle around the pair.

"So this is Jadoku." Coming to a complete standstill for the first time since Kyouji had seen her, the second woman's grin was becoming unsettling. Kyouji fixed his eyes on a point between and behind the two of them, keeping them in sight, but not looking either of them in the eye. "Hm."

She looked him up and down, scanning him as if looking for something. Her grin became a proper smile, and she leaned in towards him.

"I'm Bella, try to remember. It isn't difficult." She tilted her head slightly to the side. "I'd hate it if you forgot my name." Her smile widened before she continued. "I like your eyes."

...what?

Kyouji's eyes snapped to Bella's and another layer of unease fell into his stomach. Was he supposed to say something? The other woman spoke up before he could form any words.

"And I'm Shoki. We've heard quite a bit about you."

Kyouji glanced back at Himitsu for a second, before returning his eyes to the current -threat- speaker, who had apparently decided it was her turn to walk around him. Kyouji tried to ignore the growing feeling of being a cornered animal.

Bella and... Show-key, Showki, Shouki? How would one spell that? Whatever, just don't forget, or they may kill you.

Apparently keeping an eye on Shoki was the wrong choice between the two women, and Kyouji nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand rest on his back and push upwards to his shoulder. As it was, Kyouji pulled away with something akin to a hiss, though the sound resulted from the surprising jolt of pain when his fangs momentarily flicked down and sliced open his tongue to help deal with the 'threat.'

Why do they have to do that?

The acrid taste of blood was not helping as Kyouji clenched his jaw and desperately tried to think of a way to keep the now pouting Fujita from deciding he had somehow offended her.

"-'ey, I told you he doesn't like to be touched."

Well, it was nice knowing you, Himitsu.

Kyouji was surprised, however, when Bella did nothing more than cross her arms and lean back on her skates, pouting as she did so.

"I guess we'll get down to business, then." Shoki had reentered Kyouji's line of vision and he didn't know whether or not to be relieved about it. "Though it's doubtful, you may get the kid in the next couple of days, but we're aware it may take weeks. Whenever you do, activate the switch that was given to you, and get to a relatively safe place if you can. Otherwise, keep moving. We'll be able to track where you are when the beacon is on, and we will travel to the last known location should it turn off again."

"Don't turn it on if you don't have the kid. We have other things to do, and though this takes precedence, a false alarm will not reflect well upon you. Don't try and do this without us. Don't take the kid to a public safe house, and whatever you do, don't let him die. Do your thing: drug him, paralyze him, however you refer to it, but know that from now until he is safely delivered, your life is tied to his. Clear?"

Kyouji nodded, not trusting his voice.

Apparently, this was an acceptable response, as Shoki smiled before turning and heading for the van with Bella close on her heels.

"It's a shame we can't stay and chat, but we've got a couple of other assignments we'd like to get out of the way before this one comes to fruition." Shoki grinned over her shoulder. "I'm sure we'll see you around, Jadoku."

Bella turned and waved. "Bye."

As the van disappeared down the street, Kyouji let out a sigh of relief and Himitsu started laughing.

"I'm so, so glad we didn't try this on the phone. Y-you do realize ya didn't say a single word, right?" Himitsu approached Kyouji, slightly doubled over in laughter.

"Was it necessary to?" Kyouji turned to face Himitsu, trying to ignore the taste of his own blood. He ran his tongue over his teeth, grimacing when he realized he had only made it worse.

"Are you bleeding?" Himitsu moved a little closer as if trying to get a better look, to which Kyouji promptly backed away. "D'you bite your tongue or something?"

"Or something."

At Himitsu's questioning look, Kyouji realized he probably should have just agreed with him. However, after a moment he just shrugged at Kyouji, before turning to leave.

"Ja ne, Jadoku."

Kyouji waited until he was gone before he made himself comfortable on the curbside and pulled out the paper bag. Night was falling, and it would be nice to go to sleep with a full stomach.

**A.N.: The villains are getting organized. Updates are going to be tricky the way my schedule is working out, but I hope to keep them semi-consistent. Thank you those that reviewed :)**