hatesthefood | open action

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."

"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?"

"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?"

"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..."

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."

"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."

Edited 2010-03-23 04:25 (UTC)

"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."

"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!"

"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."

"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..."

"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."

"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."

"I know. Trust me, I can be an ass at times and I snap waaay too easy some days, but you're someone I know I can rely on. Someone I can trust. I think that's why we irritate each other so easy sometimes. If we didn't care, we wouldn't give a damn about hurting the other."

Ken's fingers stilled on the plant, his gaze locked on the digits. He'd been hesitant to touch anyone but Mamoru lately, thanks to his skin being so cool now, but he couldn't keep going on like he had been. He was used to hiding on missions, not in everyday life.

"Isn't this little thing amazing? It's something Aya'd been thinking of before he left, and thanks to a little of Shin's parting gift, I think it'll finally grow."

"That's a great way to think about it. And something to keep in mind, the next time we yell at each other." Which Umi certainly hoped wouldn't happen any time soon. But it felt relieving to finally say this, without the fear of sounding sappy or maudlin. Ken understood this. And if a tough guy like him could say these things, why not her too?

The Water Knight chuckled and let the matter go, holding the pot for Ken's expert management to mind its little inhabitant. Her smile gained a touch of melancholy at the mention of Aya.

"So what is it? I don't think I recognize it at all!"

He settled the new 'baby' a little more securely into its new pot, then brushed his hands down the sides of his sweats before curling an arm around it, already looking for a good spot for it.

"It's a hybrid rose. Sapphire blue, if I've got it right. The only blues they can come up with back home are a light almost silver, or something treated with dyes or spray."

"...Blue roses?" Umi couldn't hide her amazement. Had Aya been working on that before he-?

Stop, she told herself. This was stupid. The color was just coincidence. It wouldn't do to get ridiculously melancholy NOW. She did her best to focus on the rest of Ken's words as she followed him around the greenhouse.

"I didn't know they could even exist! At least not in my world..."

"They don't. Not in nature, anyway. I aim to change that."

He found a good spot for the newly repotted plant, right where he could peek in the door and see it easily.

"Like I said, we'll see if it works out. If so.. well. I think I'll let you name it."

"What, really??" Now she sounded like a little girl who'd just been told she was getting what she wanted for Christmas or something, jeez. But her eyes were wide and her face filled with enthusiasm and surprise all rolled into one.

"You sure? I mean-! It's your own effort. I got nothing to do with it! Other than... watering it, if you want me to." Now she sounded outright stupid. Oh gosh. But she had to make one thing clear here. "I'd absolutely love to, d'uh. It'll look wonderful when it blooms!"

Ken laughed and padded back to the worktable to start cleaning up the mess that always seemed to be left behind after repotting.

"Hey, you think a jock would be good for coming up for a flower name? I'd name it something soccer related and everyone'd think I'm nuts."

"---Aw, here. Let me!" At once she rushed to the table to help. Never mind she hadn't had time to get her florist gear on: she needed to give Ken a hand with that to keep herself from stammering stupid stuff out.

"I'm not terribly inspired for these things, mind! But I'll give it my best shot. You can count on it! This will turn out beautiful." She started clearing up the soil remnants and earth alongside Ken. Today was already looking up, far as it seemed.

He just chuckled at her enthusiasm. It was almost infectious, after all. Once things were cleaned up, he moved wash his hands, scrubbing dirt from under his nails. He might not be a clean freak, but he never knew when he'd be called on for his night job, and having the weapons he did, he didn't chance any dirt getting into them. They got dirty enough on their own.

"So what else has been up with you lately?"

"Not much, just helping Ferio settle in. Aw, and Ascot is looking for a job too!" She followed Ken in the cleaning process by going to the nearest sink and starting to wash her hands as well. "I think he may try the circus.

But what about you? Fully recovered by now? I guess that whatever problem you had is doing better, or so it looks from here."

"Good idea. I told him he should look into it."

Umi's question made him pause, glancing off tot he side before he sighed softly.

"... that's... a complicated thing, Umi. Yes and no."

"...At least there's a yes somewhere in there." She finished drying her hands and just stood there, staring back into Ken's eyes with a smile and waiting to see what came of it. This was what they'd been postponing all this time, wasn't it. For one reason or the other. "Want to talk about that?"

Sighing again, he made his way back into the shop proper, locking the door before he moved back into the greenhouse. He'd been trying to avoid this for a while now, but it wasn't the right thing to do, and if she found out from anyone other than him, it might do too much damage to their friendship.

"... the case the police have been working on? The cannibal that we had to let go today? It's been all over the network."

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