A/N: And here we are! Enjoy the magic of the chapter! I had lots of fun writing it, and I think this is one of my favorite chapters. Not much to say, so let along to reading!

Fic should be updated on Monday, the 6th, but if it's not finished then I'll try to get it up on the 8th instead!

Having the day to himself was an odd, odd thing. Tomoyo had called early and given him the day off, said she'd planned to stay home all day. She'd call him again if she did needed him, she'd also said, but he wasn't exactly holding his breath.

Kurogane had already spent a few hours stuffing dirty laundry into his washing machine and dryer. The clothing had come out clean, of course, and then ended up stuffed back into his dresser, sure to get wrinkled. He didn't care, they were just clothes. His few formal clothes, some dress suits and dress slacks were all hung up properly, but the rest of the stuff could be as wrinkled as they wanted. It didn't matter to him. It was all just the outward appearance, shallow, and it wasn't as if anyone would mistake him for lazy. Certainly not if they saw his arms, muscled and defined as they were.

He'd beaten up the punching bag hanging in the corner of his apartment until it had gotten boring, played a few levels on some video games, and stared into his mostly empty refrigerator for a long while before grabbing his coat and heading out. He paused as he locked the door to his apartment, staring at it.

What was he doing? Where did he expect to go? He didn't really need to go shopping, had no one to see. His life suddenly felt a bit empty, but he shook it off. It was how he liked his life. No need to depend on too many people, not too many people depending on him.

He pocketed his hands and walked down the street, growling at the occasional person who strayed too close for his personal space. He liked his space, damn it. He'd kept his own personal bubble ever since-

Don't think about it. Ever since the appointment two days ago , when Yuko had mentioned his parents, it had loomed over him a bit, more so than usual. He pushed the thoughts from his mind with a skill gained from years of doing so and looked ahead at a familiar building.

He set his jaw as he opened the door to the Cat's Eye. Kurogane was certain that he was a glutton for punishment, judging by how often he returned here. Well, at least Fai would be entertaining, unless he was gone. Even then, Kurogane could call and harass him to get there. It had worked once before, so it would most likely work again.

There was a short line, and Kurogane kept his hands pocketed as the people in front of him picked up their coffee and went to sit. "Hey, where's Fai?" He asked, but it wasn't really a question, more of a demand.

Watanuki blinked at Kurogane. "Oh. Fai's upstairs with my aunt-"

"Your aunt?" Kurogane raised an eyebrow.

"Yuko. Well, she's not really my aunt, but my uncle and her were close friends so- wait you can't go up there-!" Watanuki's voice raised when Kurogane started for the stairs. "They're in a meeting-"

"Oi. Idiot. You have customers," Domeki said, holding a pan of very burned cookies. "I burned these."

The ground level of the Cat's Eye was very much entertained by Watanuki's flails and yells that he wasn't the one that was the idiot, and that only Domeki could ruin cookies that were on a timer. It was like some kind of useless power, Watanuki insisted, and demanded to know if Domeki needed a cape so he could go around the city being 'I-Burn-Cookies-And-Have-No-Excuse-Man'. Domeki had only said that Watanuki was loud.

Kurogane ignored the yelling, walking up the stairs. It was mostly empty on the second level that day, but there was Fai at a table, stirring a drink, facing away from the stairs. Yuko sat across from him, sipping at her own. She was dressed in something that defiantly wasn't professional. It had to be personal, that attire didn't speak business.

Still, what was Fai doing talking to Yuko? Kurogane narrowed his eyes, standing at the top of the stairs. He could go back downstairs, wait. Or, he could just leave. If it was business, then Kurogane really didn't have any right to be there-

"It seems someone's looking for you," Yuko said, loud enough for Kurogane to hear. Well, there went his escape. Kurogane rolled his eyes, but Yuko smiled.

Fai looked over her shoulder, looking surprised. "Kuro-puppy? Kuro-puppy! Did you come to see me today?" He laughed, waving Kurogane over. Fai looked back to Yuko, saying something that was too soft for Kurogane to hear as he shrugged and walked over.

"That's right," Yuko said, to whatever Fai had said. She stood, then smirked at Kurogane. "Kuro-puppy, eh? And here you had a problem with me simply calling you Kurogane. My oh my." She tapped her lips. "Now, I wonder if this'll come up later."

"It better not," Kurogane growled.

"Now now, be nice Kuro-puppy!" Fai said, standing and patting Kurogane's shoulder. He laughed, then smiled at Yuko. "Well, I think I'm in good hands now Yuko. Let's have coffee again another day, shall we?"

"I'll call you in a few days," Yuko said, smiling. "Unless you call me first." She waved at the two before starting downstairs, calling for Watanuki. At that point Watanuki's yelling completely ended and there were a few clangs.

"Watanuki's hiding now," Fai informed Kurogane, with a laugh, as he sat back against the table. "Are you here looking for lemonade? I can make you a glass, just how you like it-"

"How do you know her?" Kurogane jerked his head toward the stairs, arms crossed. The question was out there, too late to take it back. He felt as if he deserved the answer, though he couldn't explain why. They were both silent, staring at each other, neither willing to give up ground.

Fai gave in, but not in a way that Kurogane expected. "Most likely for the same reason as you, Kuro-puu. You're a patient as well, I take it? Though, technically, she can't say anything." Fai winked. "It's the law."

"You seem too happy to see a shrink." Kurogane rolled his eyes, but paused halfway when Fai's voice quieted.

"People aren't what they seem. Silly Kuro-rin." His smile was fake, but Fai spoke before Kurogane could comment on it. "Now then, Kuro-puu, lemonade?" He turned to go, but Kurogane grabbed his arm. "Kuro?" He looked over his shoulder.

"You are the happiest person I've ever seen. Ever." Kurogane narrowed his eyes. Was that supposed to be some kind of compliment? It had come out wrong, if it was. "Whatever though. I don't care why you're seeing her." He let go of Fai's arm.

"Oh. Just because I wouldn't tell you, now you'll be adult about it?" Fai teased, smiling. "Well," he said, pocketing his hands in his little work apron, "for the record, not even my employees know why I see her. So why would I tell you? Though, I might consider it, if you bribed me." He voice said it was all just a game. The chances of him telling were slim to none, and they both knew it.

"Bribe you?" Kurogane raised an eyebrow as Fai started down the stairs. He followed, watching the back of Fai's head. The blonde was still so cheerful. Kurogane wondered if there was anything wrong with him, or if he was just one of those people that went to a shrink for their 'mental health'. Or maybe Fai was secretly crazy and on some good drugs, and the day he stopped he'd go the Cat's Eye and sell stabs to the gut with a knife instead of coffee.

"Yep!" Fai linked his hands behind his head. "I've always wanted an apron of Tomoyo's design! Something with a cat on it, I think. Maybe even with 'Cat's Eye Café' on it." Fai laughed. "Wouldn't that be cute? Maybe it would have frills!"

"Your great big dark secret is worth an apron? Some secret." Kurogane shook his head, unimpressed, then stopped on the stair. "Hey. Got a counter offer."

Fai looked back. "And what's that?"

"Dinner."

Kurogane's expression didn't really change. Fai, however, looked surprised. It was a pleasant difference from the eternally-smiling expression he usually had.

Fai hadn't been expecting that, clearly. He never would have guessed that Kurogane would ask him out, as subtle as it was, in a million years. Fai's flirts, even the empty playful ones, hadn't really gotten any responses, and then there had been that thing that Kurogane had said, weeks ago, that he wasn't interested. His stomach did a small flip flop before he told it to stop. No need to get all excited. Excitement lead to getting hurt. Still, he felt hopeful, for some reason.

"Dinner?" Fai blinked, then laughed. "Well…" He thought a moment, and smiled. "Well, well, well. I get off at eight, and I think I'm in the mood for Italian. And if a certain bodyguard might be in the same mood…well. It just might be a date."

Date. There was the world the taller man hadn't wanted to say. But Fai had thrown it out there, and what else could it have been? Kurogane immediately accessed the situation, running a hand through his hair. He'd have to go home and get a different pair of clothes, and call to make a reservation.

Kurogane paused as Fai went back behind the counter. Just what was he getting into? He milled around, waiting, hands pocketed. For all he knew, Fai could be stark raving mad. Kurogane was only seeing that woman for as long as it took to get his arm. Fai had been having coffee with her. The idea was weird. Who could want her company?

He half heartedly toyed with the idea of calling it off, then decided against it. It was too late, really, as Fai came walking over with a travel cup. Not to mention he really didn't want to, that much.

"On the house," Fai said, cheerfully. When Kurogane took the cup, Fai grinned. "If you change your mind, Kuro-puppy, call me, no hard feelings. If not, well, I'll see you at eight."

"Eight," Kurogane agreed, taking a sip of the drink. Fai really did make a good lemonade. He waited until Fai turned back before heading out, glancing inside as he walked. Fai was making it easy, almost too easy. 'If you change your mind.' 'No hard feelings.' He was giving Kurogane a chance to step aside. He'd even given Kurogane the chance to call it off, and deny it as a date. But he hadn't.

Maybe Kurogane needed to go see Yuko more often, because clearly he was going crazy.

Through the rest of the day Fai was practically glowing, smiling and humming as he poured drinks or bussed tables. As eight 'o'clock drew near, and Fai didn't get any calls from Kurogane, the smiles only grew bigger. He couldn't help himself, really. Surely he'd had a little thing for Kurogane, but he hadn't been expecting this. Especially with what he'd overheard.

"I suppose you can't get all your information from just overhearing things," he said, thoughtfully. It was the true, really. And in the end, wasn't it silly to assume. After all, there was no telling that Kurogane had even been talking about him. It was self centered to even think so, Fai decided, with a nod.

Fai smiled to himself as he poured someone a refill on their plain coffee, then blinked as he saw Kurogane pass by the front windows. A quick glance over noticed the state of dress - there was at least a tie in there, and luckily Fai kept one stashed behind the counter at all times. The blond man let out a giggle, a true giggle, and dance over to the counter, setting the coffee pot back down. "Watanuki!" He said, practically bouncing as he took off his apron, folding it. "I'll be going now! You'll be okay closing tonight? If it gets too busy, you can call Touya." Fai put the apron away under the counter, where he'd gotten the tie from.

"You're really going out?" Watanuki asked, pushing his glasses up his nose as Fai pulled a tie out from under the counter. "And with Kurogane? He seems kind of sketchy, if you ask me…"

"Oh, don't worry. I know how to defend myself if Kurogane tries to take advantage of little ol' me!" Fai tossed the tie around his neck and quickly tied it. "I'll have my cell phone with me if there's an emergency and you need to call me but…well, it is a date, after all. So the café had better be on fire." Fai smiled, tightening the tie. "How do I look? Dateable?"

"Being your employee, I think that counts as sexual harassment," Watanuki said. It was playful, really. The boy was surprisingly snarky and playful, in his own way, once you got to know him. Few really got that close enough. Most people just saw the spazz of him, labeled him as the 'weird kid' and left him alone. It was their loss, Fai thought.

"Oh, well, it's good I don't plan on seducing you tonight, Watanuki. Maybe tomorrow!" Fai grinned before turning when the door opened. "Well Kuro-puro! Since you're here, I'm guessing there's a dinner in my near future?"

"Yeah, something like that. I know it's not classy, but there's a place nearby that's not far of a walk." Kurogane shrugged. He watched as Fai pulled on his jacket. The café owner was wearing the same shirt and pants that he'd had from earlier, but the addition of the tie, and something in the body language, had completely changed the outfit. Perhaps it was just that he looked almost relaxed. Kurogane frowned, mentally. Did that mean that all day Fai was stressed, holding in tension? He'd never noticed - the blond had always looked so chipper and happy, even on the bad day from awhile back. "But hey, the deal stands, right?"

"Of course." Fai laughed as he passed by Kurogane. "Bribing me with dinner to learn why I'm seeing Yuko, correct? But remember, I did only say that I would consider it!" He opened the door, holding it open for a young woman walking in.

Chivalrous, Kurogane noted, with some amusement. When the door was closed and they were on their way, Kurogane shrugged. "You know what. You don't have to tell me if you don't want. I mean, a secret worth a dinner can't be that great." Hell, Kurogane wanted to know. He was curious, but at the same time he didn't want to ruin whatever things could be ruined on a dinner. - or, rather, on a first date.

"A date," Fai corrected, almost echoing Kurogane's thoughts. He linked his arm through Kurogane's, smiling up at the other man. "Well, let's see how you feel by the end. If you still want to know, maybe I'll tell you. Or, I could remain mysterious. Why are you seeing Yuko, again?"

"Gotta make sure I'm not crazy." Kurogane shrugged, leaving it at that. He didn't bother to pull his arm away. If Fai was anything, he was tenacious, given what he'd seen and heard. He probably would have just linked his arm again until Kurogane gave up. Kurogane didn't like his personal space being invaded, but for now he'd stand it.

"Crazy?" Fai laughed. "Oh Kuro-puppy, we're all crazy here."

The restaurant was warm, inviting, and decently intimate when wanted, like when one went on a date with a local café owner. Kurogane had been here once or twice when Tomoyo had demanded they go out for lunch, so he had a pretty good idea of the menu.

When they sat down and looked over the menus, Kurogane was fine. He wasn't much for small talk, but he could stand it, and when the conversation trailed to something he knew about and was interested in, he could stretch out the topic until a new tangent was reached. He was feeling pretty confident, really, until it came time to order.

Fai delivered the orders without stammering over the words, uncertain of pronunciation. In fact, he delivered the entire order in Italian, and the words flowed with the ease of fluency. He also ordered wine to match the meals, both his own and Kurogane's, without even needing a suggestion. The waiter looked surprised, Kurogane felt surprised, and Fai looked smug.

"Didn't I mention?" Fai smiled when the waiter left with their menus. "It must have slipped my mind. I can speak Italian. I spent a summer in Italy in high school, and a year in Italy when I was in college. It was pretty grand. I learned to cook there for fun, though it's a bit wasted on me." He took a drink of water, giving Kurogane an opportunity to think and speak.

"I wasn't expecting that," Kurogane said, with a shrug. "Then again, I guess I don't know much about you, now do I." It wasn't a question, it was more like a demand veiled in a statement.

"Oh?" Fai smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Is that your way of saying 'tell me more about yourself Fai, you are so interesting'?" When Kurogane just shrugged, Fai laughed. "Well, okay. As you know now, I can speak Italian. I can also speak French and Spanish, but my Spanish is a little shaky. My Japanese is sufferable, but I wouldn't trust myself to know anything besides 'where's the bathroom' and 'how much is this'." He laughed again, and Kurogane found himself smirking.

"Well learned, huh? Music?"

"I can play the piano, and I'm decent with a guitar, but who isn't?"

"I meant what you listen to."

Fai laughed again. "In that case, well, a little bit of everything. If I like it, I listen to it. That goes for a lot of things. If I like a food, I'll eat it. If I like a book, I'll read it. If I like it, I'll do it." Fai smiled in a different way than usual, hunting at the euphemism in that last part. "I like to think I'm not very complicated in things like that."

"So, are you complicated in other things?" Kurogane raised an eyebrow.

Fai just smiled. "…So, Kuro-puppy, how do you spend your free time, when you aren't guarding Tomoyo?"

Kurogane found the change in conversation odd, but if Fai didn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't press. For now, at least. "Whatever I want. Usually I do some training, weight lifting and stuff, but I usually just end up doing chores and stuff I miss during work. Sometimes I play some video games." He shrugged.

"Video games, huh? What kind?"

The tangent lead them long enough for their dinner and drinks to arrive without having to change the topic again. Kurogane watched Fai candidly. The blond was tidy, and proper, clearly had manners that had probably been taught since the time he could learn them. High class manners too. Kurogane found it odd. Certainly if Fai was from money he could have afforded a nicer café, not that the Cat's Eye wasn't nice. Certainly, he probably wouldn't have even needed a café, if there was enough money. And why a café? Why not banking, or stocks, or medical? Of course, Kurogane had a hard time imagining Fai as any of those things. He was too colorful for banking, too easy going for stocks, and not profession enough for be a doctor. The café just suited him, so maybe that was the only answer to be given.

The conversation shifted to their food. Kurogane just said offhandedly that he wasn't much of a cook, but he enjoyed a good meal, didn't matter from where. "As you put it, 'if it's good, I'll eat it'," Kurogane said, and Fai laughed.

"You know, Kuro-puppy, I was a bit surprised when you suggested this." Fai smiled. Their dinner was gone by now, and now it was the brief finishing-their-drinks part. "A while back, I thought you said you weren't interested."

"What? When did I say that?" Kurogane thought back, then narrowed his eyes. "That on rainy day?"

"That's the one."

"Oh. No, I was talking about someone else. A…" he paused, thinking of how to put it.

"Well, it's probably either a booty call or an ex, either one is fine, Kuro-puu." Fai laughed. "It's not as if I expect that you've been single all your life, or a virgin. Not in this day and age. If you are, well, good for you, if you aren't, that's perfectly fine."

"Fine, then, a booty call." Kurogane shrugged. "He wanted more, I didn't. End of story."

Fai smiled again, but there was something dark behind it. Kurogane wasn't sure what to think, but before he could ask Fai stood up. "Well then, shall we go, Kuro-puppy? After all, you still need to walk me home, right? It's the gentleman thing to do!"

Kurogane rolled his eyes and stood as well. When the check was paid and they were both on their way, Kurogane was pleased enough, though it didn't show. The dinner had gone well enough, and he could safely say that he was interested. Oh yes. Still, there was no telling if Fai was, or it he was just humoring him or something. Kurogane wouldn't put it past Fai to play cat-and-mouse with Kurogane, just to get a free dinner. He didn't like the idea, but he could see it.

The walk was brisk and cool, and for the first time in a long while Kurogane found himself looking around at the buildings. Fai seemed to have a story for everything. Every building, every bum on the street, every boarded up building or one in disrepair.

"That building? Ten years ago, there was a fight club in the basement. The police broke it up," Fai said, pointing at a lively movie rental store. "And oh, that grocery store, rumor has it that when this town started a brothel was on the lot. And that bar has some of the best small brewery beers in the area. Are you a beer man, Kuro-puppy? Well, even if you're not, there's sure to be at least one there to like!"

The stories only grew as the setting changed from commercial to residential, from stores to homes and apartment buildings. It was a colorful, middle-class neighborhood, mostly clean. Windows were open despite the cooling night, music filled the air from said windows, and people sat on their stoops, smoking and talking and watching the children on the sidewalk. As much as Fai seemed to fit in the café, Kurogane thought that he fit in that space too. He just couldn't place why.

"Well, this is me," Fai said, pointing at a building. "So, now we have a little talk before I head up." Fai smiled, looking up at Kurogane. "If this was a one-time thing, that's just fine Kuro-puro. If you'd like to see me again in this sort of fashion, you know where to find me, and you have my number. To be honest, I'm really hoping for that second one." Fai's smile softened slightly, looking almost vulnerable, and for a moment he seemed to hesitate before speaking again. "Either way, you're always welcome at the café, you know."

"Good to know." Kurogane liked the no pressure thing. Made things a lot easier to take another step when he got home.

"I had a fun time tonight," Fai said. He stepped forward toward Kurogane, resting a hand on his chest. He tilted his head upward, leaned in close.

A kiss on the first date? Kurogane wasn't about to argue. It was a common enough thing. Fai had gotten it right earlier. Sex was almost a casual social activity these days. Kurogane had had plenty of dates just to bump uglies at the end, and that was just fine with him. Kurogane closed his eyes, automatically tilting his head slightly. Closer, closer, until Kurogane just knew that Fai was centimeters away, and then -

"Good night, Kuro-puro." Fai stepped back and, with a whistling tune, walked up the steps, punched in the code for the door, and waved as he went in. He hadn't kissed Kurogane, and he was grinning like an idiot.

Kurogane opened his eyes and stared at the glass doors, watching as Fai went up the stairs in the lobby. The hell? What had just happened? He clenched his hand into a fist and then dug around in his pockets for his cellphone. He flipped it open and scrolled through his phone book until he found Fai's number, pressing the call button and holding it to his ear.

Fai's phone rang as he got to his door, unlocking and opening it while he answered. "Hello?"

"God damn it Fai. What are you doing tomorrow night?"

Fai almost laughed at Kurogane's voice. "Well, that depends. Am I lucky enough to maybe have some dinner and drinks with a bodyguard?"

"I'll pick you up at eight." The line went dead, and Fai fell into laughter as closed his door.

With a light heart, Fai stepped into his house and went to his bedroom, getting his pajamas. A shower and bed sounded like the perfect end to this little night. As he stripped and stepped into the shower, leaving his cellphone on the sink's edge just in case, he smiled. It really had been a fun night, and he'd been tempted to actually kiss Kurogane. But no, it was always sweeter when it was worked for, as were other things, but Fai never fucked until at least the third date.

The hot water felt good against his skin, easing a few worries he'd had going into dinner. He would have been fine even if Kurogane hadn't called, but he was glad that the other man had. Kurogane had come into the café so many times. They'd talked, certainly, but it had always been to pass the time while Kurogane awaited a drink, or while he was waiting for Tomoyo, or it was only brief conversations. He had a rough idea about the man, but certainly nothing deep.

It had to work the other way around. Fai chewed on his lip, suddenly, almost frowning. He'd talked about himself quite a bit tonight. Nothing compromising, but still. When, or if, Kurogane found out about his past... "…Well then, I'll just have to get Kuro-puppy to do the talking, next time." He didn't bother to force a smile, just rested his head under the spray of the water.

As soon as he finished his shower Fai stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist, opening the medicine cabinet of his mirror and pulling out a pair of orange-colored bottles. "Take once a day," he read, cheerfully, opening one and tapping a pill into his hand. He set it on the side of the sink and closed the bottle, looking at the other. "You though, I just take when I need a little help," he said to the bottle, opening it as well. He removed a pill from that bottle and picked up the other, tossing them both back and swallowing them dry. Contently he put the bottles away.

Something to keep the dreams away. Something to usher sleep faster.

He brushed his teeth, dried off, and dressed in his pajamas quickly, before the medication took effect. It didn't take long for his eyes to droop closed, and he fell in a blissfully nightmare and guilt free sleep.