PART VI

"So, you into Akira-kun?"

"What?"

Omi let out an impatient sigh and turned to her. She stopped walking upon feeling his obvious annoyance.

"Do you like Akira-kun?" He asked. Alex frowned slightly.

"What made you ask that?" She replied. "The guy was just kind enough to accompany me to the library, Omi-kun."

"Well probably there is also a guy named Omi who would be kind enough to accompany you to the library too, Alex-chan." He replied sarcastically.

Alex raised her eyebrows, confused by the sudden statement. Omi quickly looked away, his face flushing a little.

"I- I just earned a good scolding from Aya-kun." He hastily added.

"Gomen ne Omi-kun." She said softly. "But I just don't want you to be late for work that's all."

Omi turned to her. She smiled at him, her eyes waiting, pleading. Omi couldn't help but smile back at her as well.

"Oh well, I'm sorry too." He said as they continued walking. "For being such a prick about the whole thing."

Then they walked in silence, stopping momentarily to look at the mangas displayed in the windows of the manga shop. Satisfied that no new volume just arrived, Omi and Alex continued on their way back to the flower shop. Just then Alex spoke.

"Akira-kun is kinda cute." She said. Omi frowned. "Don't you think so?"

"So you like him?" He asked carefully.

"I don't know." she said slowly. "Besides you, he is the first one who really made me feel welcome."

"That's because that jerk-off is running for president." He thought as he studied her.

"S-so did he ask you out already?" he asked. Alex turned to him.

"As a matter of fact, yes." She replied. Omi nodded his head, unaware that his eyes had narrowed. "But I gracefully declined." Omi blinked with surprise.

"Why? I thought he was cute?" He asked.

"Yeah, but I'm planning to spend a night with a much cuter person." She said turning to him. Omi gulped and thought about how aggressive Alex is. But god, he loves it!

"Y-yeah?" he prodded. Alex smiled at him.

"I think it's high time that we start investigating don't you think? How about tonight?" She asked innocently. With that Omi's face fell. What a bummer…

"Omi-kun is something the matter?" She asked noticing the sudden reaction. Omi quickly shook his head.

"Uh, no, no." he replied. Stupid, he forgot about the mission! Of course, Alex wasn't here for some sightseeing! "Okay, if you're up to it, tonight will just be fine."

"Yokatta!" exclaimed Alex. "Where do you think we should start?"

"Um… well that depends. Do you have anything? A start-up clue or something?" He asked.

"Unfortunately, I have none." She said shaking her head. "We- we were just about to gather everything we needed, you know things to track them down, when- when… "

"All right then." Omi hurriedly added upon noting her darkening reaction. "Maybe we can start by gathering all the illegal drug and prostitution ring here in Japan and in the Philippines." Then he stopped momentarily. That could take a lot of work!

Alex sensed what he was thinking and sighed. Without anything to start on, it would take them forever to nail those guys! But she refused to give up.

"Well, two heads are better than one." She said. "I'm sure we could find something useful." She added.

"I hope." Omi replied as the flower shop came to view.

==========

"So how's the investigation coming?"

They looked up upon hearing heavy footsteps descending the basement. Ken grinned at them while Aya just nodded his head in greeting. The two sighed.

"So far, nothing yet." Omi replied as Alex rubbed her eyes carelessly which were still affixed on the computer monitor.

Aya walked wordlessly towards Alex. He stopped beside her, a book in hand.

"Thought you might want to read this." He curtly said handing her a book. Alex looked at him and then at the novel. A Michael Crichton! Of course, she wants to read it!

"Thanks!" as she took it from him. She again rubbed her eyes and it earned her a good scolding from Aya.

"Don't rub your eyes, it's not good." He said. "And no more reading after that, understand?" he added sternly.

"Yes." She replied tiredly. Then she looked at Omi who was busy studying the clippings she had accumulated in the library a while ago.

"Found anything yet?" she asked. Omi shook his head.

"Nothing helpful." He replied. "Just a couple of murders in a prostitution scene. The one we are looking for is illegal, so I don't think it would be published in any newspaper."

"Why don't you two come for dinner first?" Ken asked. Then he looked at Alex. "You still haven't changed?"

"Oh." She replied looking at her uniform with surprise. "I suppose I hadn't." she added smiling with silliness.

"Go up and change." Aya ordered. Alex pouted at him but Aya just shook his head at her sternly. "You are making me uncomfortable."

"All right, all right." She finally said giving up. She stood up and walked towards the basement stairs.

"And don't wash your face!" called out Aya.

"Aw! How did you know?" She called out as she reached the top floor leading to the kitchen.

Aya just shook his head and exited the basement as well leaving the confused Omi and the wondering Ken behind to contemplate about his strange behavior. After a moment, Omi turned to Ken.

"Don't you think Aya's being strange, Ken-kun?" He asked.

Ken nodded his head in agreement. The twenty-year old leader of Weib is sure acting strange ever since Alex came to live with them. So far, Aya's nothing but… sociable? For Pete's sake now they are sharing books! And the fact that Aya followed the boy a while ago with his eyes, there was a glint of annoyance in there, he couldn't miss it. And the way he prodded her about him… it wasn't Aya at all since the Aya he knows would be and always will be disinterested.

"Could it be that Aya-kun likes Alex-chan, Ken-kun?" Omi asked. Ken turned to him frowning. Even though with the polite terms, Omi's voice became surprisingly stone cold.

"Aya and Alex?" He asked himself as he tried picturing the two of them together. No, they wouldn't even pass the love test. And besides it wasn't a look of concern for a lover that he saw but filial protectiveness.

"I doubt it, Omi-kun." He replied. "Sure Aya's being strange and everything but I have a strong feeling that Alex reminds him of his sister."

Omi became silent for a moment as he contemplated at the thought. Yes, its possible since Aya-chan went abroad to study but then it wasn't like Aya-kun to divert his brotherly concern for someone else but his sister. It just doesn't make any sense at all. But before he could open his mouth, Yohji's noisy voice came hollering down the basement.

"Oi! Omi-kun, Ken-kun dinner!"

"Uh, hai!" the two said simultaneously as they both made their way towards the basement's door.

==========

Aya blinked as he felt the unusual coldness of his bed. He groggily turned sideways to study the digital clock atop his night table. It read 3:40 am. He groaned, standing up.

"Water." He thought, as he felt unusually thirsty.

He always felt the urge to swallow gallons of water everytime he wakes up in the middle of the night. Shrugging off the covers, he stood and gingerly made his way towards his door. He exited his room silently; leaving his door partially opened. Then he made his way towards the kitchen.

He was about to open the fridge when a light coming from the basement caught his eye. Forgetting the water, he walked towards the basement door. He opened it and carefully descended the stairs only to find a small figure slouching on the chair, face down on the computer keyboard, the monitor flashing eerily.

"Stupid girl." He muttered upon noting the dark blue silk pajamas. The girl fell asleep on her investigation! He walked towards Alex, his lips set in a grim line.

"Alex." He called softly, tapping her cheeks. "Alex, wake up."

Alex opened one eye up at him, she mumbled something, shifted her head on the other side and went back to sleep. Aya shook his head as he decided to turn off the computer. Where the hell is Omi anyway?!

"Alex, come on. You sleep in your room." He said this time gently shaking her.

"Kuya…" She mumbled her voice soft as a little child. She lightly squirmed from his grasp. "I wanna sleep inside mom's room."

Aya frowned upon hearing her voice, so very much like his Aya-chan when she wants something from him, so very affectionate. Perhaps the foreign word he heard was a term they used to address their older sister or brother. His face softened.

"Alex-chan, come on. You will be much more comfortable on your bed." He coaxed.

"But I don't wanna go up." She protested, then deep sleep took over her again.

Aya sighed. Well he has no choice but to carry her up if he doesn't want her to have a sore back tomorrow morning. Heaving a deep breath, he lifted Alex easily up into his arms, her body soft against him. He walked towards the stairs and exited the basement.

"Don't ever do this again, all right Alex-chan?" He whispered as he slowly opened her bedroom door.

Then his eyes widened when he felt her snuggle up against him.

"Okay." She mumbled.

Aya immediately set her on the bed. Alex heaved a comfortable sigh, her eyes still closed. He then softly tucked her under the covers, heaving the blankets up to her chin.

"Good night, Kuya." She mumbled as her arms enclosed on a pillow.

"Good night, Alex-chan." He managed to say before leaving her soundly sleeping in her room.