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[hatesthefood]

The Koneko wasn't open for business, per se, but the door was unlocked and open in case anyone needed anything. If anyone looked hard enough, they'd see a trail of dirt and tiiiny puddles leady back to the back room, and through a door in said room. Through the door was the Koneko's greenhouse, and working on a tray of seedlings was one Ken Hidaka, humming softly as he gently brushed soil from the roots of a seedling he was busy replanting.

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[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

After two days of being unable to go to work due to the curse that'd had her bound to Sasuke, Umi thought to make amends. She was at the flower shop earlier in order to work what shifts she'd missed. At finding the front of the Koneko so lonesome her first impulse was to go into the greenhouse in search for Ken. Predictably enough she found her friend there.

"...Hey. Sorry about vanishing this weekend." She waved and smiled at him sheepishly. "Circumstances beyond my control and all that. I hope you don't mind me working at odd hours to compensate!"

That last batch of curses had come full of surprises. Tell her about it. She was sure Ken was still getting over what seeing a younger Omi must have been.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Ken glanced up even though he'd heard her enter the shop. Being a trained assassin meant not too many people could sneak up on him and while he was glad for that, sometimes, he missed the pleasant surprise of someone coming to visit unexpectedly. Still, he had a soft smile for her when she waved.

"It's not a problem. I think we might have a new employee starting soon, so that'll help ease some of the load."

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"That's fantastic news! Finally?" Umi's face lit up at the announcement.

Not that she would mind working full time there on weekends. Umi enjoyed spending time with Ken, both during her gardening lessons or just minding the shop. But she understood her friend was under lots of stress due to both personal matters and his new job with the police force. This would lessen the burden from him at least a bit!

"So who is this lucky person who'll be sharing in my florist training? Someone I know?"

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"Name's Syaoran. Just arrived recently. He seems like a good kid. Eager to work, too. I figured you two could handle more of the shop work so that'd free me up for arranging and working back here. If you still want to, of course."

He'd miss her if she left, but he knew he was a hard person to put up with sometimes. Besides, he still felt like things hadn't really been ironed out after their last run-in and he hated leaving things so... nebulous.

"Rough weekend?"

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"Syaoran? Really? Kind caramel eyes, brown hair, blushes a lot? That's perfect!" Someone who knew her as much as Ken did could tell she was reciting those traits from memory. Umi's expression turned into one of pure, happy affection. "Looks like we just keep running into each other! We used to be coworkers at my other job!"

...Boy, wasn't this just grand. What she needed the most right now was something to look forward to. And ugh, EXACTLY for the reasons Ken had just quoted.

She made a face, her expression suddenly wry. "Don't ask. At least it turned out better than I thought it would be! Good thing, that Sasuke and I get along..."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

The older man chuckled and nodded, honestly not shocked at how she nailed Syaoran on the head. Figures she knew just about half the City. Still smiling, he glanced back to the seedling he'd been working on.

"Sasuke? I don't think I've spoken to him."

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"He's an okay guy! A bit grumpy, but really strong. Um. Not sure if you've seen that handcuffs curse at work. The one that chains two people together?" ...No, wait: Fuu had mentioned Ken talked to her when that one affected the green-eyed girl and Ferio. So Ken knew. Nothing wrong with telling him about it, Umi figured. It was over, in any case.

She stepped forth to caress the seedling gently as she spoke. "Sasuke and I. The whole damn weekend. Go figure."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"Ahh, like Fuu and her boyfriend. I'd hate to spend a weekend like that. Hell, I wouldn't even want to be cuffed to Mamoru for a whole weekend."

There was no malice in his tone, but his voice grew a little softer at the mention of his partner. He glanced down to the plant she was touching, the smile growing a little.

"He seems like a nice guy. The guy Fuu was with."

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"Because he'd drag you into all sorts of boring things? Like police paperwork?" It was a silly joke. Umi didn't make much of it or kept the subject going. She understood better than most how delicate matters always remained, when it came to those two. Instead she opted for a lighter conversation.

"He's a great friend, Ferio is. Fuu's in good hands, trust me. I don't entrust my best friends to just about anyone!"

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"He'd make me clean."

Ken gave a mock shudder but chuckled again. Things always seemed so strained between him and Mamoru, but honestly, he was glad for the light-hearted comments.

"Good."

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"You actually care about her already, don't you." Which wasn't a question but an obvious conclusion. There was gratefulness in Umi's voice: deep and soulful and filled with understanding. "Ken..."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"Psh. I'm a big softie. I seem to like all three of you girls next door."

He glanced down at the seedling again, then lifted it to the new pot that was waiting for it.

"You're all like family to me now. Especially you, Umi."

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

"Ken, that's--- You know I've felt that way about you for the longest time now." Ever since Aya was around. Ever since the million awful moments they'd been through together. Not that Umi had to list those for Ken. Her smile grew maudlin, but she couldn't care at all. It was always so comforting to hear this. It made her think that despite all their arguments the truth remained just that: family.

A family away from home... wasn't that what she and Fuu had been talking about lately?

She reached to help Ken out with the seedling. She was getting better at these delicate things, even in sentimental moments like this, when she grew clumsy. "Sometimes we both are jerks to each other, let's face it. I... lose my temper a lot. But that doesn't mean I ever stopped caring about you like I can't tell you."

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

It was really coincidence that Ferio wandered into the Koneko. He'd been out and about since the handcuffs had disappeared, feeling glad that he was able to move about on his own and also put a few more layers of clothes on. For no particular reason he'd steppd into the flower shop, not that he wouldn't have liked to buy something for Fuu, but as of now he had neither a job nor money. So he just looked through the unfamiliar flowers with a smile on his face.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Ken heard someone moving through the shop and moved away from the worktable, brushing dirt from his hands as he padded back into the shop proper. He offered the newcomer a smile, murmuring a hello.

"Welcome to the Koneko. What can I help you with today?"

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

Ferio turned as he heard the approaching steps. He was slightly surprised at seeing Ken here, and gave a friendly smile at the blanket welcome.

"I hadn't expected to see you run a flower shop."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Ken's normal enthusiasm had waned a little since his death, but the smile on his face inched up a little before he chuckled and shrugged, rubbing absently at one cheek.

"Why's that?"

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

Not having known Ken for more than a few days, Ferio could not tell that he had changed somehow. But he still recognized a fighter when he saw one, and was rather glad that they were on friendly terms.

"You seem a little tough for a florist."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

The chuckle changed to an outright laugh as Ken nodded and moved to lean against a counter.

"Seems like you know about tough if you can recognize it so easy. I really am a florist but that's not the only thing I do. I also work for the police here and back home, I'm part of a special until that... takes care of cases the police can't or won't."

Really, how else could he explain Weiss or KyrptonBrand? He wasn't too keen on coming right out and telling him he was an assassin. Not even if he was close friends with Umi and Fuu. Maybe in time, but not quite yet.

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

"I see..." The prince tilted his head back in thought, Fuu had explained a few things about her world to him before, so at least he knew what the police even was.

"That would definitely explain it." His thoughtful look was replaced with s friendly smile again. "Thanks again for the other day. Even if it didn't work."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"I wished I could've done more. At least you were cuffed to someone you like, right?"

He remembered Fuu hadn't been too upset then either, other than the simple fact that they'd been broadcast over the network. Ken was happy he seemed to be as fond of her as she was of him. He liked it when his friends were happy.

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

"The curse couldn't have picked a better person to tie me to."

He smiled. Even though he usually liked to move about a lot, spending time with Fuu was not something he would ever considered unpleasant.

"So I suppose this is where the fresh flowers in our apartment come from, huh."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like you two are really close. I'm glad for both of you. She's a sweet girl."

He smiled and glanced around, nodding a little.

"Yep. I kinda keep them stocked up. Umi does a lot of work around here and I'm always happy to do things for her and Fuu."

[halfthewind.livejournal.com]

The prince smiled in return. It was true, they were close. More than that, even, but there wasn't a word for it that he could think of.

"She works here? I didn't know."

He was glad to hear that Ken had been looking after the two knights, in a sense. Not because they needed looking after, but because it was good to have somebody there.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

"She's part time, but it seems like she's always around, not to mention all the times she's helped me outside of work. I've... kinda adopted her as a little sister."

His smile grew fond and soft, but it faltered a moment later, thinking about what he needed to talk about with the Water Knight.