Wow, I don't even have an excuse as to why this damn chapter took so many years for me to get up. I've had it planned out in my head for this long, but haven't been able to connect the points. But, I'm to the point in my life where I need to finish some of the stories I've begun, starting with this one. Sorry that this chapter is mostly filler, but it is necessary. I also didn't edit this so I apologise for any typos. And I will try to post the next chapters in the next few weeks. There should only be three or four more chapters, including this one. Now, no more rambling, onward!

The atmosphere in the Café was more than tense. The only sounds to permeate the heavy air poured from the small television tucked away in the corner. Ryou, Keiichiro and Cole were transfixed to what little they could glean from shaky and faraway news reports. Deep worry was etched into all of their faces and Keiichiro sighed before tuning to yet another news channel. Every moment of not knowing was a slow death of agony.

Cole's leg jumped up and down and his fingers tapped an impatient staccato on the table top, louder the longer they sat there. The powerlessness, the waiting was tormenting and finally it became too much. He stood in a rush, slamming his restless hands on the table.

"This is stupid! Why are we just sitting here? Can't we do anything to help them? Get them information, something?"

Both Ryou and Keiichiro looked at the boy passively for a moment before Keiichiro spoke, his voice strained.

"You aren't the only one worried, but right now we can't do anything. Trust me if we could be going something, we would. They're our friends, our family too. They…"

He opened his mouth to continue, but no sound came out. Ryou gave him an understanding look before turning to Cole.

"After everything that we put Ichigo and the others through when they were younger, they deserve peace now, not this. But right now, they're our only hope. They are the only ones equipped to stand against Masaya as he is now."

Cole shook his head, heat rising in him as the two men looked on. Would they still act like this if anything happened to the Mews?

"What about Kish? He's an alien, so can't he stand against Masaya?"

Their gazes fell on the green haired alien who had passed out on a nearby chaise from his previous injuries. Ryou frowned, brows furrowing before returning his attention to Cole's question.

"Normally, yes he could help. But whatever injuries Masaya inflicted on him have taken a great deal out of him."

"Then you should be doing something! Don't any of you care!? Don't-"

"Choose your words carefully, Cole," Ryou snapped in a biting tone. "My wife and my daughters are out there, risking their lives to save someone who would so easily believe the lies of a madman-"

"Ryou, enough!" Keiichiro interjected, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. "We are all stressed right now, so let's not say anything we might regret later."

Anger seemed to crackle in the air between Ryou and Cole for a few moments before Keiichiro smiled warmly and tugged Ryou to his feet.

"Let's go get some tea for everyone. I'm sure the girls will all want some when they return as well."

Ryou didn't answer, but he didn't fight as the darker haired man pulled him towards the kitchen and through the swinging door. As soon as the two men had left, Cole seemed to deflate, sinking into his chair once more. He knew that he had spoken out of frustration, taking out their inability to do anything on Ryou. It wasn't fair, but the blonde had been right; there was nothing they could do.

Cole heard it a moment before he felt it, someone standing behind him. Turning, his eyes widened when he saw Kish.

"I thought you were sleeping?"

The alien pressed a finger to his lips before warily glancing toward the kitchen door. When Keiichiro did not reemerge, Kish spoke in soft, hurried tones.

"I was faking it. I was listening in and you are right. No matter how injured I am, I should be out there protecting them and helping to bring Matsuru home safely."

Those gold eyes bore down on the boy before he continued with a fire burning in his eyes.

"I should be telling you to stay here, to stay safe. But I think you are going to be vital in bringing Matsuru back to us. And at this point, I'm willing to use anything that we have in our arsenal."

Cole was frozen for a moment before the words finally registered in his mind. He jumped to his feet, staring at Kish in a moment of determination.

"I will do anything to bring Matsuru home. Please, let me help!"

Kish paused before nodding and reaching out a hand to Cole, a silent offer. The younger man understood that if he took that hand, he would be placed in danger. But the thought of Matsuru out there, trapped in the lies of hatred…

His mind was made up before Kish had even extended the offer. He reached for that hand, his face firm. Kish's own brow furrowed moments before they vanished without a sound.

A few minutes later, Keiichiro emerged from the kitchen holding a tray ladened with a full tea set. He smiled and looked to where Cole had been moments before. Confusion raced across his features until his eyes flicked to the now empty chaise Kish had been laying on. When he noted the alien's absence, the shattering of the broken tea set dropping to the floor filled the Café.

"Shit! Ryou, they're gone!"

The blonde burst from the kitchen at the noise and outburst. His own eyes did a sweep of the room before a growl ripped from his throat.

"Damn it, Kish! You idiot! You would put everyone in danger just to play hero!"

He found himself rushing toward the Café doors before he even realised it. Only a gentle but firm hand restrained him from moving any further. Ryou snapped his head back, baring his teeth as Keiichiro held him.

"Let me go! I have to go after them! If Cole gets himself killed, then Matsuru is as good as gone forever! I can't believe Kish would do something so utterly reckless and-"

"Ryou, calm yourself."

"Stop telling me to be calm! You're always so damn calm and collected! I wish that you would get angry, get upset! We can't just sit here when we need to go after them!"

There was a deafening silence for a beat between them before Keiichiro's normally warm tone iced over, cutting through the air.

"And what do you intend to do? Go there and yell at Kish? Yell at Masaya? Because that is all that you can do. If you do follow them, you will only be making more of a mess of things."

Ryou visibly flinched, but Keiichiro continued as if he hadn't noticed it.

"You want me to get angry? I already am. I am furious at not being able to do anything. I'm furious, knowing that my family is being beaten and tortured by a psychotic man and all I can do is sit here. But I also realise that keeping a level head here is more pragmatic. All we can offer the girls is information and a calm demenour. When you allow yourself to become entrenched in sorrow or anger, you become a detriment."

The older man finally released his hold on Ryou's arm, warmth finally breaking through cracks in his icy expression.

"You can only see what's in front of you. I've always admired your headstrong attitude, even envied it at times. You give your everything to protect those that you love. But you need to step back and look at the whole picture. This isn't just something personal for you. They're my family too. And you're my family. If you really want to go running after them, I can't stop you. Just know that I will always be waiting for my family to come home safely. I am powerless, save for my hope. But I will keep on hoping, and waiting, always."

Keiichiro smiled once more, a smiled that no matter how many years passed remained just as warm and welcoming as ever. Without another word, he bent down to begin retrieving the pieces of the broken tea set.

Part of Ryou still wanted to rush from the Café, to be there fighting alongside the people that he loved, to protect them…but he knew, deep down, that Keiichiro was right. If he went now, he'd only be giving Masaya more leverage to hurt the Mews. In a moment, a rueful smirk lifted his lips. He understood Cole's previous anger all too well.

Keiichiro watched from the corner of his eye as his old friend leaned down to help pick up the broken pieces in silence. However, Ryou shook his head, amusement lacing his tone as he spoke quietly.

"I hate it when you're right," Ryou murmured, lifting his gaze to meet Keiichiro's. The two men smiled at once another, mending the small argument that had sprung up between them before they finished cleaning up. When at last the floor was clean, Keiichiro stood and began to head back to the kitchen.

"I'll prepare a new pot of tea for them when they get back. Do you want to help me, Ryou?"

The blonde paused, inhaling deeply before nodding and following his friend. Keiichiro was right; all they could do was wait and hope. Hope that their family would come back home.

Like I said before guys, sorry that was a short filler chapter. But next chapter should be a nice beefy fight chapter! Look forward to it soon!