The next day, Yumiko was back to her job along with Yukio and the twins got along as usual. After a long day, Yukio and the bidders were all in the lounge at night playing poker. With women, because as Baba had said, why not?

"I win again." Yukio declares with a confident grin. "Wow! Yukio is new but he's soo good!" the women gathered around Yukio were cheering, clinging to him.

"Jeez, again, kid?" Mamoru complains, taking a drag of his cigarette as he stares at the cards laid in front of him.

"Yukio... Can I stay over at yours tonight?" "No way! Me first, Yuki..." the women were all tugging on Yukio but Yumiko suddenly opens the door and comes in.

Oh... shit.

"Yukio, I got the files you asked for, is the chopper ready for tomo-" she was holding a folder but when she looks up to her brother, entwined in women, she raises a brow and throws a sharp glare at him. "Yukio Akiyama. What is the meaning of this?"

"Who's that? Why is she even here?" "She's not even that pretty." "She doesn't even deserve to know them."

Yumiko ignores the women's envious glares and tugs her brother up from his seat. "Explain. Now."

"Come on, let loose for once!" "What?! You won't even let me wear a simple dress!"

"Yukio, is she your girlfriend?" "No way she is!"

"Tch, can you shut up?" she snaps with a click of her tongue. "I'm his girlfriend. Now I'd appreciate it if you left my boyfriend alone. You're all being annoying."

"What...?! Yukio! You said you didn't have a girl!" "He tried to make you feel better. Especially since you need so much make up to boost your ego."

"...! Ugh, this girl's being a bitch. You'll hear from my dad!"

"Not really. You'll be the one hearing from him once your family goes bankrupt. I know about your daddy being close to bankruptcy. Just 3 more ties and you're going down. And I can get rid of all those ties in a day. What'll it be, princess?"

"...Whatever. He wasn't even that cute." and the once threatening blonde left with her posse from Soryu and Baba's side. "Such a bitch." Yumiko hisses and lets go of Yukio's hand, which she had grabbed earlier.

"Yukio, you might be my older brother but that's only by 5. It gets annoying when you're the only one allowed you seduce people. I can't even do that, for my job!" "Because you're too young, Yumi!"

"You're drunk. I'm the same age as you." "Yeah but you're still young!"

But without any words, Yumiko throws her hands into the air. "You know what? This is getting nowhere. If you're ready to talk like a normal person, you know where to find me." and she left the lounge, but not to the roof or to their room. Where?

"Tch, go, then. Absolutely useless." Yukio snarls at his sister, turning back to the women who remained that began gathering to him.

~*****~

"Strongest stuff you got and keep 'em coming." Yumiko stomps into Jinbuono. "Is something wrong, Yumi?" Bianchi stares at the silver haired girl with shock. She rarely ever comes visit anymore. She's been too busy.

"Brother. Pissed me off." she replies shortly, tapping her fingers on the polished counter, her reflection visible.

"Want to talk about it?" "Not really. I'll think of it later on. Oh, has the Seasonelle gang swing by lately?"

"They're over there." the man points at a group chatting loudly by the back, a couple along with them. "Okay, just send my drink over there,"

She hops off the stool and approaches the group. She was friends with a few of them after working at Seasonelle for a month for a mission and in that time had grown pretty cozy with the group. But ever since she 'transferred', her friend Emi had been alone with the boys again.

"Hey guys." she greets them and all eyes turn to her. "Yumi! Why're you here? You rarely visit anymore." Shusei was the first to grin and invite her to sit.

"A quick day off or vacation for a quick day. I'm exhausted and just wanted some drinks." 

"Ha, still single, I see." Minato grins cheekily, earning him a soft punch to the arm from the assassin. Of course they didn't know about that occupation, that'd scare the shit out of them. Probably.

"So anyway... Emi, do you have something to tell me?" she turns to her old friend, who blushes and looks away. The rest of the Seasonelle guys grin. "W-What do you mean?"

"Remember that email you sent for Tamaki? Yeah, it went to me. So want to show me the ring on your finger?" Yumiko had accidentally received the news of Emi's engagement to one of the Seasonelle guys, Kaoru.

"So, how did Kaoru propose?" she interrogates with a cheeky and teasing grin, making the couple, who sat together, blush. "And you finally told them?"

"Well... I actually got engaged and then transferred to a new department. They said no relationships allowed but who cared? We just told them." Emi quietly mutters with a small smile. 

"Really? Congrats, then! But I have a question, am I invited to the wedding? How many kids are you having...?!" she questioned as she downed the drink Bianchi had placed before her.

"W-What?! We didn't think that far!" "Still innocent as ever, huh? Well whatever. I better be an aunt!" "Haha, you are like my sister anyway."

"So, Kaoru... Tell me. Are you going to take care of her?" she asked, leaning over the table to interrogate him. Despite her teasing tone, the boys knew she was serious. She really did think of Emi as a sister in the short time she had over at Seasonelle.

"Yes." he answered quietly, wrapping an arm around his fiancee's shoulders. "Good. But I asked for an answer, not PDA."

The other boys snicker. But then Yumiko turns to Shusei. "So did you get a girlfriend yet, Shu?" "N-No..." "Lonely for the rest of your life, huh?"

"W-What?! No! It's just that I'm so young and..." "Well you ain't gonna be young forever." "Pfft." Minato snickers, only to have ti backfire on him when she says, "You too, Okouchi. I'm starting to think Shusei might get one before you."

"No way! Why are you here anyway?" he steers the subject away and Yumiko shakes her head. "Major fight with Yukio about love lives again. But-"

"Yumiko."

~*****~

Soryu was towering over Yumiko from behind. "Huh?? Soryu..?"

"We have things to discuss." he mutters, grabbing her wrist. "Is this your boyfriend, Yumi? Wow!!! Good job!"

"No he's not, I-" "Baba made you sweets." Soryu interrupts. "Sweets?!" Soryu tugs her out of the booth, but hits her ankle in the process, stinging it a bit. "Let's go then! It was good chatting guys, I'll see you around?"

"Bye! Take care of her, Soryu!" Emi giggles as they exit.

Even through the glass windows of the bar, the journalists watch them but when Yumiko suddenly trip because of her ankle, it began raining. Worse, she was wearing white.

They watched as Soryu placed a jacket over her shoulders and hauled her into a piggyback. 

Emi catches Soryu's eye through the glass and she mouths something at him.

"Take care of her."

He mouths back. "You don't need to tell me."