by Haruka

Haruka took off her cap and regarded Hawk Eye curiously. "So what's up with you?"
He looked at her. "Nothing's up. What makes you think that?"
"You poured oil into the windshield wiper fluid and even though it's noon, you told the last customer to have a nice night."
Hawk Eye sighed and put his foot up on a toolbox. "Seiya asked Fish Eye out last night and he said yes."
"I don't blame you for being a space case. Seiya's not someone you want your brother dating."
"I didn't think it would be a problem because Mama and Papa wouldn't let him go, but Fishie didn't mention the date at breakfast."
Haruka looked at him. "Maybe he's planning the best way to approach it?"
"Yeah, maybe," Hawk Eye said thoughtfully. "So what if they lose their minds and let him go? Fishie's not safe with that guy."
"You could always do what I do when Yui goes on a date."
"What's that?"
Haruka grinned. "Follow them."

"No mayo on that Munch!"
"Of course," Fish Eye muttered and threw away the kaiser bun with mayo and lettuce on it. He wished the customers would finalize their decisions _before_ the orders were put through instead of constantly making changes afterwards. And people wondered why their service time wasn't faster ....
"Hey, Fish Head, pass me some fries!" Yaten called from over on Tacoz side.
"That's Fish _Eye_!" the Changechild snapped and shoved a tray of fries through the space between the counters. His anger gave it momentum and it sailed straight through and over the opposite edge.
"Oh, good one!" Yaten said sarcastically.
"Try catching it this time!" Fish Eye retorted and pushed through another tray without as much force. Yaten picked it up and began making it into mexifries while Fish Eye went back to preparing a new Munch sandwich.
"We need six Chickiebites!" Tamahome called over his shoulder.
"Six?!" Fish Eye abandoned the Munch to drop the smaller sandwich patties into the fryer. While he was there, the timer on some chicken fingers began to beep, so he turned it off and lifted the basket.
"Fish Eye's doing better, isn't he?" Seiya remarked to Taiki with a smile as he watched the pretty blue-haired boy dart around.
"He's doing fine," Taiki agreed. "We'll be able to try him on Tacoz side soon."
"I'm not letting Yaten train him there the poor kid'll have a nervous breakdown."
"We don't have a choice. Yaten's scheduled on Tacoz all week."
Seiya passed out the Munch sandwich Fish Eye gave him, then took the Changechild aside.
"There are no customers left for now so we can talk," Seiya said. "Have you decided what you'd like to do tonight?"
The words 'cancel' crossed Fish Eye's mind, but when he looked into Seiya's midnight-blue eyes, he somehow couldn't say it.
"Um, I'm not sure," he admitted. "I'm still kind of new here and I don't know all the places to go yet."
"Oh, that's okay." Seiya grinned. "I _do_ know all the fun places to go. You'll have a good time, I promise."
Fish Eye couldn't help but smile. Seiya seemed so sincere, it was hard to believe Hawk Eye could be right about him. Thinking of his brother made him frown, and Seiya looked concerned at his change of expression.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No ... yes." Fish Eye sighed. "My brother Hawk Eye was talking to his friend Haruka and "
Seiya groaned. "Don't say anything else, I can guess."
"Is it true? Did you ask Michiru out even though she was going with Haruka?"
"Yes," Seiya admitted.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because she was cute and we had a love of music in common," Seiya replied. "It was her choice whether to accept my invitation or not. There was no harm in my asking, especially since she said no."
"I guess some people would say you should leave a happy couple alone."
Seiya raised an eyebrow. "They couldn't be very happy if a little thing like my asking Michiru out could mess them up. Besides, it could even help. It taught Haruka not to take Michiru for granted."
"Was she doing that?"
"No, but now she won't start." Seiya grinned.
Fish Eye giggled. "I don't know about you, Seiya Kou. You may be as incorrigible as they say, but I like the way you look at things."
"Then we're still on?" Seiya asked hopefully.
"Yes," Fish Eye confirmed.
"What about your brother?" Seiya wondered. "He won't give you a hard time?"
"Oh, probably. But he won't stop me."

"So how do we stop Fish Eye?"
"We can't," Hawk Eye replied, leaning down to look at some canaries in a cage. Behind it, he could see Tiger Eye frowning at him.
"You came all the way over here on your lunch break to tell me we can't do anything?" his brother exclaimed.
"I didn't say _that_," Hawk Eye answered, standing up. "I said we couldn't _stop_ him. But we _can_ do something."
Tiger Eye looked curious. "What?"
"Follow him!" Hawk Eye grinned.
The blonde Changechild's eyes widened. "On his date? You serious? He'll know we're there in no time!"
"No, he won't. He's not like us when he's out of water he can't sense approach like we can."
"Okay." Tiger Eye nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me. I want to make sure that Seiya character doesn't make any moves on him." He shrugged and filled a guinea pig's water dish. "This is assuming he actually gets permission to go, I haven't heard him ask yet. When's he gonna get around to that?"
"Maybe never," Hawk Eye said grimly. "Fishie had that determined look in his eye last night. I don't think he's taking any chances of missing this date."
"He's fish food if he gets caught," Tiger Eye remarked.
"I know," his brother said, "and I don't want to snitch on him, because then he'll get in trouble anyway. So I figure we let him go on the date and follow him to keep him safe. A little time with Seiya and he'll realize he's bad news and won't date him again. End of story."
"Sounds simple enough." Tiger Eye nodded.
Hawk Eye jumped off the counter where he'd been sitting. "I have to get back to work. I get off at four, how about you?"
"I'll be home before you. When's Fishie off?"
"Five, I think."
"Oh hooray, so we get to entertain the Quartet alone for a while." Tiger Eye sighed.
"That may be a good thing. If we play with them first, then we won't have any trouble going out later."
"Won't Fishie have trouble getting out, though?"
Hawk Eye snorted. "If he's already planning to date a guy without permission, don't think he won't sneak out to do it."

"Let me guess," Seiya said as he looked down in amusement to where Fish Eye crouched on the floor of the van. "You want us to stop before we reach your house again?"
"Please?" Fish Eye asked, looking up at Seiya from his awkward position. Suddenly he realized he was at eye level with a part of Seiya he wasn't ready to see at close range. He blushed deeply, averting his eyes. Seiya noticed his abrupt embarrassment and grinned.
"Maybe you two shouldn't be going out at all," Yaten drawled from the front seat as the van slowed to a stop. "If Fish Eye is so ashamed to be seen with you, Seiya."
"I'm not ashamed!" Fish Eye said hotly and climbed out of the van. "It's just that my parents can be really overprotective and unreasonable about things like this, especially because of our being in a new place where they don't know people well."
"In other words, they treat you like a baby and you take it."
"Yaten," Seiya said warningly.
The Changechild's eyes flashed. "I guess your parents let you do whatever you want, Yaten. It explains why you're such a spoiled brat!"
Taiki snickered and Yaten shot him a dirty look. "Be quiet and drive us home!"
"_You_ be quiet or you can run behind the van," Taiki said calmly and winked at Fish Eye. "See you at work."
"Meet you at the corner at seven!" Seiya called out the window as they drove away. Fish Eye waved and turned toward his house, jumping in fright to find Michiru there.
"You scared me!" Fish Eye cried. "What are you sneaking up on me for?"
"I didn't sneak, I just walked," Michiru said. "Maybe you can tell _me_ why you're being dropped off so far from your house?"
"Isn't it obvious? Papa would have me in a convent in two seconds flat."
Michiru smiled. "So why don't you introduce them to your parents? Then they won't be strangers."
"Would you want to introduce Yaten to _your_ parents?"
"Actually, they already know each other," Michiru said and regarded Fish Eye thoughtfully. "So ... you're going out with Seiya tonight?"
Fish Eye blinked. "How'd you know?"
"Haruka called on her break. She wanted me to talk you out of it."
"Guess I shouldn't be surprised," Fish Eye said dryly. "She's got Hawk Eye and Tiger Eye all riled up about Seiya and they don't even know him."
"Neither do you," Michiru said gently.
"I know," Fish Eye admitted, "but that doesn't mean he's automatically untrustworthy, does it?"
"Seiya's not a bad person," Michiru said. "He's mischievous, though. That's why he asked me out once, just to see what would happen. So he made an enemy of Haruka for nothing, really."
"I still want to go out with him," Fish Eye said. "I think ... well ... we kind of share the same attitude, I guess."
Michiru giggled. "Yes, come to think of it, you're as mischievous as he is. Which is, I guess, why you're not bringing him home to meet your parents before you go out?"
"Not exactly. I just hate to think of him getting the third degree from my father, my brothers, _and_ the Quartet."
"I see your point!" Michiru laughed. "Well, you can tell them we're going downtown together if you like -- I'll be out with Haruka, anyway. But what if you get caught?"
"I'd rather not think about that."

Yaten pounded on the bathroom door. "Hurry up, Seiya! Some of us would like to get in there in this lifetime, you know!"
"He's been in there for almost an hour," Taiki remarked. "Getting ready for his date, I suppose."
"He hasn't told Mama or Papa where he's going." Yaten folded his arms.
"He will," Taiki replied.
"He shouldn't be going at all! That stuck-up fish-boy isn't good enough for him."
Taiki hid a smile, but not well enough. Yaten glared at him. "What are you grinning at?"
"I'm sorry," his sibling answered. "It was just hearing you call someone else stuck-up."
"Are you suggesting that I'M stuck up?!" Yaten exclaimed.
"No, I'm saying it outright," Taiki replied. "But I love you anyway."
Yaten looked like he wanted to yell again, but wasn't sure what to say. He spun around and resumed pounding on the door instead. "Come _on_, Seiya!"
The door opened and Seiya came out wearing a towel around his waist. "What's your hurry, Yaten? There's another bathroom downstairs, you know."
"I wanted to shower, too, but you probably used up all the hot water," Yaten complained.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Seiya said cheerfully and went to his room. Yaten abandoned the bathroom and followed him with Taiki trailing curiously.
Yaten entered Seiya's room without knocking and watched him put on new jeans and a sweater. "I can't believe you're serious about this date! That guy is a little airhead!"
"Oh, he is not," Seiya replied easily. "You just don't like him because he's cute."
"That's not true!" Yaten insisted.
"That you don't like him?"
"No, that he's cute!"
Seiya laughed. "Don't be jealous, you're cute, too."
"Don't even think of comparing me to him," Yaten snapped. "Come _on_, Seiya, he's a fish!"
"Since when are you prejudiced against Changechildren? I'm ashamed of you." Seiya carefully tied his ultra-long black hair back in its customary ponytail.
"I've got nothing against Changechildren and you know it!" Yaten retorted. "But a _fish_?! There's nothing even remotely attractive or sexy about that!"
"Maybe there is, because I'm definitely attracted to Fish Eye and I think he's very sexy." Seiya turned toward his brothers. "Well? How do I look?"
"Great," Taiki answered.
"Terrible," Yaten said. "I think you're pale. You should stay home."
"I feel fine." Seiya mussed Yaten's hair. "But you look kind of flushed. Maybe you should go to bed early."
"There's nothing wrong with me," Yaten said through gritted teeth.
"That's debatable," Taiki commented.
"Well, I'm off!" Seiya said cheerfully and headed for the door. "See ya!"
"Have fun!" Taiki called.
"Hmmph," added Yaten.
They heard Seiya trot downstairs and say something to their parents. Then the front door opened and shut. Yaten grabbed Taiki's sleeve. "Come on!"
"Come on where?" Taiki cried as he was dragged out of the room.
"We're following him," Yaten said grimly.
"What?! Yaten, you're crazy!"
"He's gonna lie through his teeth later about this date and I want to see what _really_ happens."
The boys' mother, Apricot, appeared just as they reached the foot of the stairs. "Where are you two running off to?"
Yaten snatched car keys off the entryway table without slowing down or releasing Taiki. "We're-going-out-is-it-okay-if-we-borrow- your-car-thanks!" he called over his shoulder and hauled Taiki out the front door.
"We're going to be _so_ dead when we get back," Taiki groaned as he was pushed into the driver's seat.
"We'll worry about that later." Yaten leapt into the passenger's side. "Let's go!"
Taiki sighed and turned on the engine. "How do I let you and Seiya get me into these things?"

I look great, Fish Eye thought with satisfaction as he modelled in front of his mirror. Casual, but dressy, he decided, eyeing his knee- length black bodysuit and over-sized yellow shirt that slid artfully off one shoulder.
"I guess you're almost ready, huh?"
Fish Eye looked past his own reflection in the mirror to where Hawk Eye stood in his bedroom doorway.
"Why? Are you going to try and stop me again?"
Hawk Eye walked over to him. "No, there'd be no point. You've made it clear that you're going, so that's that."
Fish Eye narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "And you won't turn me in?"
"Of course not!" Hawk Eye exclaimed. "That would leave only Tigger and I for the Quartet to focus on and I'm not up to that."
Fish Eye was still suspicious, but didn't have time to puzzle out his brother's sudden lack of determination. He slung his purse over his shoulder. "See you later then."
Hawk Eye watched his sibling go downstairs and heard him lie to their parents about meeting Michiru downtown before leaving the house.
"Is he gone?" came Tiger Eye's voice from behind Hawk Eye.
"Yep. Let's go."
The two boys dashed down the stairs and ran for the door, nearly bowling Nuriko over.
"Hey, where are you two going in such a rush?!"
"We're-meeting-Haruka-at-the-track-to-watch-her-race-bye!" Hawk Eye said in one breath and slammed the door behind them.
"The race track?" Nuriko questioned. He looked at Sanosuke. "Tiger Eye?"
"I can't picture it, either," his husband said, frowning. "Something's up."

"Yeah, and it's my curiosity," Jun Jun murmured as she and her sisters watched from the kitchen doorway.
"I think Tiger Eye and Hawk Eye are following Fish Eye," Ves Ves said. "Why else would they tear out after him like that?"
"But why would they follow Fish Eye if he's with Michiru?" Palla Palla asked.
"Because Fish Eye isn't going out with Michiru," Cere Cere said logically. "He's doing something else."
"So what are we waiting for?" Ves Ves grinned. "Let's go!"
The four girls ran for the door, managing to knock Nuriko into Sanosuke who landed on his butt.
"Hey!" he protested.
"Sorry-Uncle-Sano-but-we-have-something-very-important-to- do-bye!" Jun Jun called over her shoulder before disappearing out the door with her sisters.
"When did we lose control?" Nuriko wondered out loud.

Fish Eye waved as the van approached. He was going to open the passenger side door, but was surprised when Seiya hopped out and came around to open it for him.
"Hey there," Seiya grinned, looking Fish Eye up and down, "you look great."
"Thanks, so do you." Fish Eye admired Seiya's black jeans and red turtleneck sweater. He decided he really liked red on Seiya. He jumped into the seat and waited for Seiya to come back inside.
"So where are we going?" Fish Eye asked.
"I'm not telling, I want it to be a surprise." Seiya winked. "You'll like it, though, trust me."
Fish Eye raised an eyebrow. "Famous last words?"
"Do me a favour, okay?" Seiya said softly. "Try to judge me for yourself and not from what others have said."
"Okay," Fish Eye answered, feeling a little embarrassed. Here he was, condemning his brothers for their mistrust while he was doing the same thing himself. Well, no more, he resolved. This date would decided how he felt about Seiya and nothing else.
"Now let's go have fun!" Seiya declared and roared the van down the street. A little red sportscar slipped in behind it. A silver convertible followed.

End of Chapter 5

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