by Haruka

Taiki heaved a sigh and gave Yaten an imploring look. "Come on, Yaten, please forgive me. I'm sorry you got spanked, but it wasn't _my_ fault that I was working while you were at home so you took all the heat.�
His blonde brother shot him a glare. �Will you keep your voice down?!� he hissed. �I don't particularly want the whole restaurant knowing Mama spanked me, okay?!�
�Aw, leave him alone, Yaten,� Seiya said. �He'll suffer as much from the guilt as you did the spanking, anyway.�
�I doubt that,� Yaten grumbled. �Anyway, this is really all _your_ fault, Seiya!�
�_My_ fault?!� Seiya laughed. �How do you figure that? You were the ones following us around, and you guys trashed Mama's car!�
�It's your fault for dating Fish Eye in the first place.�
Seiya's lips twitched and he winked at Taiki. �That's Yaten logic for you.�
�Did I hear my name mentioned?� Fish Eye asked cautiously as he joined the other boys near the front counter of Captain Chicken/Tacoz.
Seiya shot Yaten a warning glance and was grateful when his brother clamped his lips shut and returned to his workstation. Seiya smiled at Fish Eye, thinking how only the blue-haired beauty could make their ugly uniforms look cute.
�Don't worry about it,� he assured him. �Yaten's just in a bad mood. He got punished for following us around and wrecking Mama's car.�
�Even though _Taiki_ is as responsible as I was!� Yaten called out from the Tacoz prep counter. �And it's all Seiya's fault, anyway!�
Fish Eye looked at Seiya. �How can it be Taiki's fault if it's your fault?�
�In another minute it'll probably be _your_ fault for being so pretty that I asked you out,� Seiya whispered. Fish Eye blushed, but couldn't help smiling, too.
�Hey, lovebirds, how about some service?�
Seiya and Fish Eye turned abruptly to face a grinning Haruka.
�What are you doing out and around?� Seiya asked. �Didn't you get grounded, too?�
�Nope, my parents don't want me in the house driving them crazy � they know better than to ground me.� Haruka chuckled, then sighed. �Unfortunately, they also know how to hit where it hurts. I'm a pedestrian for a while.�
�Tough break, but at least you didn't get spanked like Yaten,� Seiya said lightly. A bag of sour cream connected with the back of his head.
�Yaten!� Taiki scolded. �What if that had broken?�
�What, the bag or my skull?� Seiya said grumpily while Fish Eye inspected his head for a bump. �Ouch!�
�I'm not even touching you, you big baby,� Fish Eye teased, then ruffled the black hair. �There's nothing there.�
�In Seiya's head? I believe it,� Yaten stated.
�Okay, that does it,� Seiya snapped. �What can I throw at _him_?!�
Kuwabara came up from the back and waved a hand at them. �You guys better quiet down! The boss says you're getting too loud � you'll disturb the customers.�
�Yes, this is very disturbing,� Haruka said, trying to stifle laughter.
�We'll be quieter, Kuwabara,� Taiki assured the muscular cook. He watched the other boy return to his kitchen then glanced hesitantly at Haruka. �Um, I was wondering � how did Hawk Eye make out at home?�
Seiya gave his tall brother a questioning look, but didn't say anything, allowing Haruka to answer.
�He's doing housework. All the kids are, I guess. We're going to hang out later.� Haruka smiled mischievously. �Want to join us?�
Taiki's eyes widened. �What? Oh � no, I can't.�
�Well, if you change your mind, we'll probably be at my house.�
�Just what you need, Taiki,� Yaten said. �A fun-filled afternoon of changing the oil on her car.�
�I only wish I could do that, Yaten.� Haruka leaned on the counter. �But I'm lucky if I can get away with looking at my car, letting alone actually touching it. No, I'm afraid we'll have to do something dull like playing ball or tennis.�
�Or badminton?� Yaten snorted. �You'll already have a birdie to hit.� He carefully cut open a bag of hot beef and tilted it into the pan set before him. �Is Tiger Eye doing chores, too?� he asked Haruka casually.
Fish Eye leaned close to Seiya. �Why does he keep asking Haruka about my brothers when _I'm_ right here?�
�Yaten logic.� Seiya grinned. �Ignore it.�
�He's working at the pet shop,� Haruka answered Yaten.
�Really?� The blonde looked up.
�Yaten loves animals,� Taiki told Fish Eye. �He can spend hours in a pet shop.�
�Maybe I'll drop by there after work,� Yaten said more to himself than anyone else.
�Why, so you can yell at Tiger Eye some more?� Taiki inquired. �You two certainly fought enough in the car.�
�Hey, it was a tense situation!� Yaten retorted.
Fish Eye noticed some more people coming in the door. �Customers, guys. Haruka, do you know what you want?�
�Just some cheese fries and chocolate milk.� Haruka watched Fish Eye tentatively punch in her order. �You're on cash already?�
�Tamahome is sick with the flu, so they want me to learn cash quickly to help out more.� Fish Eye frowned at the touch screen in front of him. �Seiya, where do I find the screen with nacho cheese on it?�
�It's on the Tacoz screen, but for this you go there and just hit the 'cheese fries' button,� Seiya instructed.
Fish Eye followed his instructions. �I think I'm getting the hang of this,� he said.
�You'll be okay. This is a slow day � when it's busier you may need some help, but I'll always be nearby.� Seiya grinned. Fish Eye looked at him over his shoulder.
�I hope so,� he said, trying not to smile. �I think I'll need lots of help.�
Haruka looked between the two of them waiting for someone to tell her how much she owed them, but they once again looked lost in their own little world. She sighed resignedly and smiled. �I can see the speed of service in this place going downhill fast.�

�Are you hungry yet?� Kurama asked as he and Yui left the library.
�Yeah, actually, I am.� She looked at him. �Do you want to go to Captain Chicken/Tacoz?�
�May as well, it's not far,� he said. �It's better than going home with Michiru being all morose about not seeing Haruka.�
�Remember the last time, when Haruka was grounded?� Yui shook her head. �They had us transporting secret notes back and forth like their own little courier service.�
�We could have said no.� Kurama grinned.
�_You_ try saying no to Haruka when she's made up her mind about something.� Yui rolled her eyes. �Thank goodness my parents realized that grounding her only punishes them worse.�
Kurama stopped suddenly and looked around. Yui hesitated, glancing back at him. �What's wrong?� she asked.
He reached into his hair and pulled out a rose, holding it like a weapon. Yui knew it could turn into one at any moment. �I'm not sure anything is _wrong_,� Kurama said, green eyes surveying their surroundings warily. �But I feel strong spirit energy around here.�

End of chapter 13

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