6

Yuri took a deep breath as she stepped out onto her balcony. It was a beautiful night out. Lugging a large watering bucket, she watered the plants that resided outside. Yuri had managed to keep most of them alive even with the weather taking a cold turn. Work had been surprisingly pleasant over the last couple of days. Hawks seemed to keep a patient distance from her. It broke her heart and made her relieved at the same time. She had been able to focus on her side of the investigation and was slowly gaining a full picture of the evil that was lurking in the shadows. Hopefully Phoenix was in a similar position. Yuri slumped over the railing as she thought about that night. Gods, what a mess!

"What brings a girl like you out here so late at night?" A familiar honey voice asked. Yuri looked up to see Hawks floating a few feet away from her balcony with a smirk on his face. 'He really is that full of himself isn't he?' Yuri rolled her eyes.

"If my boss would actually do his own paperwork, I wouldn't be out here this late at all," Yuri huffed as she turned away from him.

"Aww don't be like that, little feather. I said I was sorry," Hawks pleaded, "What can I do to make it up to you?"

"Leave me alone?"

"Anything but that." Yuri took a harsh breath as she silently fumed. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"What are you doing here, Hawks?"

"I came to pick you up." She felt the subtle vibrations of his feathers as he positioned himself right next to her.

"Why?" Yuri asked, shooting a confused gaze at him. He had the biggest smile on his face.

"I said I would make it up to you for snapping at you," Hawks answered, his face scrunching up with guilt, "I had no right to take my frustration out on you like that." Yuri felt her anger at him dim slightly at his honesty. It was a rare sight to see him apologize and be so open with his emotions.

"I said you didn't have to do anything," Yuri uttered, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I don't. I want to do something," Hawks pouted, "Please let me make it up to you!" Yuri stared into his golden eyes that widened into a full-on puppy dog pout. Yuri gritted her teeth. There was no way she could say no to him. Not like this.

"Fine but I can't stay out too late," Yuri relented.

"You gotta be somewhere early?"

"Someone has to make sure the agency is open and running" Hawks let out a light chuckle.

"Good thing we've got you for that," he said with a wink. Yuri rolled her eyes at his antics but a slight blush flooded her cheeks.

"So, what did you have in mind oh esteemed hero?" Yuri asked as Hawks held out a hand to her.

"It's a surprise! You just have to trust me." Yuri shook her head but let her hand be clasped into his. He gave a sharp tug twirling her around toward him.

"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Yuri blushed hard as she fell into his chest.

"Better hold on!" Hawks scooped her up and with a strong flap of his wings, they were soaring through the night sky. Yuri let out a shriek as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hawks! A little warning next time!" He let out a laugh as she pouted up at him.

"Where would the fun be in that, little feather!" They flew through the night sky high above the buildings and Yuri couldn't help but watch in wonder at the stars that glittered above them. How long had it been since she had flown like this? High school. It had to be as that was when everything changed. She tightened her grip around his neck but kept it loose enough as to not choke him, but the feel of the wind in her hair and his warmth made her body shudder with excitement.

The streets glowed with all the colorful lights mixing in the atmosphere and the sounds of festive music danced through the air. A small festival had built itself just off the shore of Kagoshima prefecture. The smell of food and the dancing of lights set Yuri's sensations ablaze and she couldn't help the excitement that sparkled in her eyes as she gazed down at the festivities.

"You ready, little feather?" Hawks grinned as he swooped down landing just outside the entrance.

"It's so beautiful!" Yuri gasped, "When did this pop up?"

"When the weather is just right and the crops have been bountiful the city likes to celebrate its gratitude with a small festival," Hawks explained, tugging her towards the center of the crowd. Yuri giggled as Hawks pulled her through the crowd pointing out various booths and food carts that they should try. Yuri let a soft smile stretch across her face as she watched him laugh. It was so like him to know every little thing about the cities he protected but to see him so happy and carefree it was almost as if her Keigo was shining through the Hawks persona.

"This is Yukihara's cart! His family has been running this cart for generations and they make the best fried chicken! I swear you will never taste anything like it!" Hawks gushed as he pointed to the owner his arm wrapping around her shoulders. Yukihara blushed before sputtering out a thank you and giving the winged hero a large bucket filled to the brim with tempura vegetables, fish and fried chicken. A bucket of all the owner's favorites and then some apparently. Hawks hummed as he munched on a chicken wing. Yuri let him chatter away as she nibbled on a piece of zucchini. His wings fluttered behind him as his excitement grew. They walked from stall to stall pursuing the games the festival had, the merchandise as well as any other food stalls that Hawks deemed worthy of trying. Being a mutant type he had to eat a lot more in order to keep up with his metabolism. Yuri was no different. She gladly took any piece of food he offered for her and anything he said was good.

"I'm sorry, Haru, but we can't keep holding up this stall," an older man's pleas made Yuri stop short. "We can try again a little later or even one of the other stalls!"

"But daddy! I want the unicorn!" The little girl wailed as she clutched her father's leg. Yuri stared at the scene before taking in the booth that had a giant plush unicorn hanging from it. It was a game with air rifles.

"Why don't we try your aim at that booth?" Yuri pointed.

"I'm not so good with guns. Feathers yes. Guns no." Hawks shook his head but Yuri was already dragging him to the booth.

"Come on it'll be fun right?" Yuri grinned at him, "Besides it's air rifles they don't have the recoil of actual rifles."

"I'm not going to ask how you know that," Hawks said. Yuri went to hand the man running the booth money but Hawks beat her to the punch by shoving his money in the man's hands. Yuri pouted at him but he grinned and turned to the game. The man droned on about the point of the game was to the moving targets in front of them. The targets were deer and some moved fast and some moved slow. Hit 10 and you got the large prize of a stuffed unicorn. Yuri hoisted the gun into her dominant shoulder relaxing any tension in them. Taking a deep breath and with practiced ease, she hit every target in front of her. Yuri huffed triumphantly before watching Hawks pout as he only hit a few of the deer.

"You really seem to have a never ending amount of skills, little feather," Hawks observed, "Where did you learn to shoot like that?"

"The group home I lived in, the husband was a hunter so I got to go through some safety training and hunts when I was younger," Yuri explained, "It's practically muscle memory now."

"Group home?" Hawks inquired.

"Yes, my parents gave up custody of me when I was 6 due to reasons beyond my knowledge," Yuri replied. She didn't wait to hear Hawks' thoughts on the matter as she walked over to the small family that was still trying to placate the crying girl.

"This guy is a little too big for my unicorn collection. Do you think you could watch over him for me?" Yuri said as she bent down to be eye level with the girl.

"Really?" The little girl's eye grew wide. Yuri gave a smile and a nod. The girl squealed holding the stuffed toy tightly.

"Thank you, Ms-?" The father started.

"Hirano, Yuri Hirano, sir." Yuri replied, "Of course, it is of no consequence." Yuri beamed down at the little girl taking in her shirt that held a familiar set of crimson feathers along the edge.

"That's a really nice shirt you got there," Yuri pointed out, "Is Hawks your favorite hero?"

"Oh yes! He's so cool flying around the sky! Like a guardian angel! Right, Papa?" The little girl looked up toward her family.

"Yes, he is. We should be thankful to have him in our town." The older male smiled down at his daughter. Yuri felt her smile widen as she slid a sly glance to the birdman who was hiding partially in the crowd. Looking everywhere but at her.

"Then how would you like to take care of this for me as well?" Yuri smirked as she rummaged through her messy bun before pulling out a small red feather that was buried beneath the curls.

"Is that?" The father gasped.

"It seems that one of his feathers made its way into my hair somehow," Yuri surmised, "What do you say, little one? Think you can take care of it?" The little girl's eyes went impossibly large as she took what Yuri was holding in her fingertips. Her little hand carefully grasped the feather before hugging it to her chest.

"Really do you mean it, miss?" The little girl asked in wonder, "It's supposed to be special if a hero gives you something of theirs."

"Right you are," Yuri said as she stood up, "However, I happen to have it on good authority that the winged hero wouldn't mind if a lovely little girl like yourself took care of his feather for me."

"Ms. Hirano, where on earth did you acquire that?" The father asked.

"Yes, where did you? I should hope it wasn't taken forcefully." The mother frowned.

"Oh not at all," Yuri took a step back. Well that backfired, Yuri groaned to herself.

"She actually happens to have a private stash at all times for this very reason," Hawks' voice came from behind her as one of his wings brushed her arm.

"HAWKS!?" The father shouted.

"It's Hawks! It's Hawks!" the little girl cheered. A crowd began to form around them a loud mumbling about how they all wanted to see the winged hero. The whispers turned into shouts as people began pushing forward. Yuri stumbled as she was pushed away from the center out towards the street and soon she lost sight of the hero in the crowd of fans. She took a couple steps back taking in the mob that had formed around him, gritting her teeth as a couple of teenaged girls pressed themselves up against him as they tried to take a picture. Her chest constricted as he smiled down at them.

"Hey!" Yuri yelped as a teen raced past her knocking her down as they joined the crowd.

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself at all, secretary," a low voice rasped. Yuri glanced to her left taking in the appearance of a tall dressed head to toe in black with black shades hiding even his eyes from her view.

"As much fun as one can have going around with one of the most popular heroes in Japan," Yuri replied. Her eyes narrowed. What was he doing here?

"Is a raven missing her hawk already?" The man teased.

"Goddamn it, Føniks!" Yuri shouted, "What are you doing here?"

"Saving you from a bad date it seems like," Phoenix chuckled, holding his hand out to her, "Think he'll notice if I steal you away?"

"Of course he would!" Yuri huffed as she let him pull her up, "He did bring me here."

"He should know to keep a closer eye on you," Phoenix noted. Yuri shrugged but offered no rebuttal. It was after all partially her fault he was in this mess, but how was she to know the parents would think she forcefully took one of his feathers!

"I will leave you two to your date then," Phoenix said as the crowd started to thin out. He placed a soft kiss on the back on her hand as he slipped into the shadows.

"Yuri! Are you okay?" Hawks swooped in next to her, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. She could feel his eyes roaming over her body taking in any sign of injury or damage.

"Yeah I'm fine," Yuri smiled at him. His eyes narrowed at her.

"You need to be more careful! You can't trust everyone that comes up to you!" Hawks said.

"What are you going on about?" Yuri asked.

"That man." Hawks pointed in the direction he had disappeared off to, "He's not a good man so stay away from him."

"You know who it was?" Yuri cocked her head at him. Her inward panic was not showing. Did he hear us? Please say he didn't!

"He's a commander of the Liberation Front." Hawks eyes were hard, "Did he want something from you? Ask you anything?"

"He asked if I was okay after I got pushed down, but otherwise he didn't do anything else. He sounded familiar though like I've met him before." Yuri let her eyes widen, "Dabi?" Hawks nodded his head in acknowledgment.

"He seems to have taken a liking to you and I don't understand why," Hawks ground out. Yuri took a step back at the anger that warped Hawks' normally handsome face.

"Do you need to go?" Yuri was almost sad to see their date end so soon. Not that it was a date.

"No, I still have plenty planned to make up for my actions toward you! Although getting lost in a sea of fans didn't help," Hawks said sheepishly.

"It is partially my fault but I didn't take into account explaining the feather," Yuri responded. Hawks beamed at her.

"I thought I was being sly sticking it in your bun."

"My hair may be a rat's nest but I can feel when something is wiggling its way into my bun." Yuri stuck her tongue out at him but let him lead her further into the festival. They sauntered from booth to booth taking in the little trinkets and gifts they were displayed out. Yuri's eyes lingered on one booth in particular but let the idea go. The Commission rarely let her have personal effects and would not be changing that rule now. Hawks tugged on her harm as his feathers shimmered with excitmenting when he pointed out towards the shoreline.

Translations: Norwegian to English

Føniks- Phoenix