(Tennoji's POV)

            "Tsk. Passing out on the couch." I mutter, shaking my head as I find Shayla, passed out on the couch in her living room, a half an hour later.

              I carefully scoop her up, before taking her into her room, and placing her on her bed. She never did tell me what Eiki called about earlier. "Look completely different when you're sleepin Red. Almost peaceful for once." I murmur as I stifle a laugh. I grab her blanket, placing it over her, before laying down myself, careful to leave enough space between us.

               She looked calm as she slept, different from the pissed off, kinda guarded demeanor she usually had when she was awake. Not that she didn't let her guard down, she has been more lately. I couldn't help thinking about what Eiki told us her first day, and wondering what she had been through. She was always vague when I asked her about her past, or she changed the subject abruptly.

             I didn't want to force her, and it's not exactly like I had told her about everything in my life either, but I still wondered. "What happened to you Red? What made you so guarded?" I ask out loud as I glance over at my partner.

            I lay down, and sleep, knowing I have to get some sleep before we have to go back to work.

             I get woken up three hours later, by the sound of Shay tossing in her sleep slightly, as she murmurs something. "No....no... I can't... No..." She says, turning around in her sleep, twisting her blanket around her.

             "Red... Hey.. Red wake up." I say, grabbing her shoulder and shaking it. "Red." I say again, this time louder.

             Her eyes finally open, her brown  eyes looking panicked for a moment, before her gaze lands on me. "Tennoji..." She says, raising an eyebrow at me. The unspoken question clear as she looks at me.

             "You fell asleep on the couch. Brought you in here, and I crashed too. Heard ya tossin." I explain, figuring that's what she was getting at.

              She nods, before looking away, not saying anything. "Yo, ya okay Red?" I ask quietly, and she nods again, not meeting my gaze.

               I scratch the back of my neck in thought, not really believing her, but I'm not gonna push it. My thoughts are interrupted by my phone buzzing, and I pull it out of my pocket, glancing at the screen before answering. "Hey Eiki." I greet, wondering what he needed, and figuring it was work related.

"Hey. So Asano and Kyobashi took pictures of those guys. We're having a meeting later this morning, so you don't have to tail that kid anymore for today. See you at eight."He explained quickly before hanging up.

A glance at the clock shows me its six in the morning, we had gotten some sleep, considering we were tailing that kid pretty late. "So Eiki said we don't have to follow anyone, just show up for a meeting. Asano and Kyobashi managed to snap some pictures of the kid and those guys, so I guess they are working on identifying who they are, and we need to be at the station by eight." I quickly relay to Shay what Eiki said on the phone.

"Okay." She says quietly, before getting up and leaving the room. She seems quieter than normal, like something was bothering her, but she also didn't seem like she was going to tell me what it was.

                 She gets ready for the day, and I wait, before we drive over to my apartment so I can change, before heading to the station. She was still unusually quiet, as we pulled into the station. "Seriously Red what gives?" I ask her, as we make our way to the office.

               "None of your business elevator boy." She says quickly, but it doesn't have the usual snap behind it, and the slight smile she gives me doesn't reach her eyes. Somethin is definitely up.

               We all sit down for the meeting, and she sits across from me, but she still seems distracted, quickly looking away from me when we make eye contact.

                "How did you guys manage to follow him into that building? There was like no one in there, he had to notice you and figure it out?" Kyobashi asks, and I glance over at Shay, who's face has turned as red as her hair, and I can feel my face start to heat up too.

             "We just did. We were good at not being noticed." I answer vaguely. No way in hell was I tellin the guys I kissed her to pretend we were just a couple lookin for somewhere quiet.

            I catch Eiki glancing back and forth between us, curious. "Why are you both so red?" He asks, drawing the attention to us. Dammit Eiki.

            "They weren't arguing either like they normally do. Something going on?" Hanai teases, glancing back and forth between me and Red, suggestively.

               "Hell no. Moron." I snort, not exactly looking at him.

                "Obvious..." Asano says quietly, his usual stoic expression on his face as he glances from me to Shayla and back again.

                 "You're too easy to read Tennoji." Hanai smirks.

                  "Ain't no way I'm interested in a chick like her okay?" I deny, looking at everyone but the girl in question.

                "I'm insulted that you guys think I would even be interested in him." Shayla snaps, glaring at Hanai. Looks like she's back to normal now.

                "Well in that case, how would you like to be my new Wednesday girl?" Kyobashi cuts in grinning at her.

                 "Wednesday girl? What the hell?" She asks, curiously.

                  "Kyobashi has a different girl for each day of the week he sees." Asano explains quietly.

                "Really? There's multiple girls that put up with you? What the fuck. You truly are a pervert Kyobashi." She laughs, shaking her head at him.

                  "Anyway. We're working on identifying the other men that Ryu was with yesterday into early this morning, seeing if any of them are associated with any groups. So since it's mostly office work today, which pair wants the first off shift?" Kirisawa asks, glancing around.

               No one says anything, and we all kinda look at each other. "I vote Tennoji and Slaven. They had the longest shift." Hanai cuts in, shooting me a sarcastic grin.

               "Fine by me." Kyobashi adds, smiling slightly.

                "Yea you guys go first." Eiki agrees smiling, and Asano merely nods quietly.

                "Okay, Slaven and Tennoji today then, you guys go on home. We'll call you if anything changes." Kirisawa announces, dismissing us.

                 We get into the elevator, and I can't help remembering her tossing in her sleep this morning, and the panicked look in her brown eyes as I glance at her. "Hey Red. Wanna go do something this morning?" I ask, not exactly sure why I felt the need to, but I do.

                 "Like with you?" She asks, confused.

                 "Yea. Why not?" I shrug. "Since you haven't really been on one how about we make this a date?" I tease her, smiling at her.

                  "A date?" She asks, her eyes widening in surprise, and I can't help laughing at her.

                  "Yea Red, how bout it? There's a fair in town not that far from here. Perfect cliche first date." I add, as I reach over and ruffle her hair.

                 She rolls her eyes as she swats my hand away, before she tries to pat her hair down. "Sure. Why not." She replies, shrugging.

So we head to the garage again, borrowing one of the cars. I was slightly surprised she agreed to go, and what surprised me even more was that I was glad she said yes. It was kinda frowned upon, dating your partner. Granted, I don't know if she even took me seriously about the date part. The fucked up thing is.. I do like her. Hell, I'd date her.

(Shayla's POV)

I sit in the car, looking out the window, while Tennoji drives. I kinda can't believe I agreed to this, but he probably wasn't serious that it was a date right? He had to be joking, there's no way. I let my thoughts wander, as I stare out the window. I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice that he was attractive. Regardless, I can't let myself get too attached.

He doesn't really know me, or what I've done, what I'm capable of. Granted he doesn't talk a lot about his past either, but, once my sealed files are opened, he'll hate me. I'll probably have to transfer, or see if I can get a new partner. I won't blame him one bit when it happens either. Damn if I didn't wish it was avoidable though. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm apart of the unit, and I don't really mind being partnered with Tennoji, no matter how much shit I give him, I actually don't mind so much anymore.

"Alright we're here. You ready?" Tennoji asks, drawing me from my thoughts.

"Yea. So you really brought me to the fair huh?" I laughed slightly as I look around. I actually hadn't been to the fair as a kid, so this was new to me. I glance over at him as we walk in the entrance.

"Actually, I've never been as a kid..." I admit quietly.

His eyes widen in surprise, before he grins at me, his usual lopsided grin that I'd grown used to. "Well in that case, we've gotta hit all the major rides then." He says, and grabbing my hand in his, he starts leading me through the crowds. He stops in front of a spinning ride, and we wait in line. "Okay, this is a tilt a whirl. Basic fair ride, that ya have to go on at least once." He announces, and I can't help but laugh. He looks excited, like a little kid would be.

We go on that ride, then he takes me on the flying swings, the bumper cars, and a few more rides before we take a break.

"Yo Red, want some ice cream?" He asks, pointing over to one of the food stands at the park.

                "Sure." I agree, and walk with him over to the stand.

               "What kind?" He asks, glancing at me.

                 "Strawberry." I reply quietly.

                   He gets chocolate, and hands me a strawberry ice cream cone, and we walk around the fair, eating them. "Thanks Tennoji." I add, glancing at my partner.

                  "Ouch Red. Way to wound a guy, still callin him by his last name on a date." He teases, pretending to be offended.

                   "Like you've ever called me by my first name?" I ask, rolling my eyes. We never had called each other by our first names. It was always a nickname or our last names actually.

                    "Touché." He nods, before reaching over, and bumping my hand that had the ice cream in it, shoving it into my face, smearing ice cream on my mouth and nose.

                  "Hey! How old are you five?" I glare, as I try to lick the ice cream off my mouth, much to his amusement.

                   While he's laughing I return the favor, smearing his chocolate ice cream on his face, making him laugh even harder.

                 We go get napkins, wiping our faces, before heading for more rides. Tennoji checks his phone, before glancing at me. "Hey Red, how about one more ride? Got somewhere I gotta be in a bit, and I wanted to stop at the station too." He explains, and I nod.

                 "Sure. Which one?" I ask, glancing around. 

                  He takes my hand once more, leading me through the crowds, over to the ferris wheel. "Gotta at least ride the ferris wheel once." He says simply, as we wait in line.

               We finally get our turn, going into the cart, and sit down next to each other. I look out across the fair, as we slowly get higher and higher, closer to the top. "Why the station later, if you don't mind me asking?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

               "Just wanna see if they need any help looking into stuff. I like time off just as much as the next guy, but I also can't stand having these guys still on the streets. So figured I could put in half a shift." He explains shrugging.

               "Ah okay." It made sense really, and I could see him doing that. He joked around a lot, but he could be serious when the time came. He was dedicated to his job, he really cared.

               "So, since ya never been on a date, means ya never kissed a guy at the top of the ferris wheel then huh?" He grins, and I roll my eyes at the sudden change of subject.

                "Keep it up, I'll start to think you're just as bad as Kyobashi." I tease, and he shoots me a glare.

                 "Aw come on Red. I'm no where near on his level." He pouts slightly, and I had to admit, it was kinda cute.

                 We reach the top, and as I look out over the fair grounds, I feel his arm reach  around my shoulder, as he pulls me closer to him, making me turn around, as I meet his gaze.

                He doesn't say anything, as he places his hand underneath my chin, his thumb tracing my bottom lip, as his dark gray eyes meet my gaze, a questioning look in them, almost like he was asking for my permission, as his face slowly gets closer to mine. My heart feels like it's thundering, so loud that I'm afraid everyone can hear it, as I watch his face get closer, and closer.

                 He brings his lips to mine, kissing me gently, and against my better judgement, I kiss him back. He pulls away, as the ride touches the ground, and we get out, heading back towards the car, neither of us saying anything.

                  The ride back to the station is a quiet one, and we both leave heading different directions. I stop nearby the station, before calling Eiki to see if he wanted to go to lunch on his break.

                 He meets me for lunch, and we go to a nearby bar called The Station, ironically enough, that most of the cops go to. We go in, taking a seat.

               "So, how's the day off been?" He asks casually, and I can feel my face heat up as I remember kissing Tennoji again.

              "Uh.. It's been alright. How's the case going?" I quickly try to change the subject, but Eiki doesn't buy it.

               "Nothing new. So spill. Obviously something happened." He says, studying me.

              "I went to the fair with Tennoji... That's all. No big deal." I admit, dismissively, like nothing happened.

                "Speak of the devil." He says, looking behind me, as the door to the bar opens. Tennoji walks in, next to a young woman in a wheelchair, who looks younger than him, with light brown hair, and gentle brown eyes.

               I quickly turn back around, returning my attention to Eiki. I can feel my face heat up already, and I know Eiki won't let up till I tell him why.

              "And you're red again. What is going on with you two?" He asks, and I notice Tennoji and the young woman pass us, sitting a couple tables away from us behind Eiki.

               "Nothing. I don't know. Probably nothing." I admit sheepishly, as I sneak glances over Eiki's shoulder at them.

             "Bullshit. Then why do you keep looking at him? Why don't you just go say hi, and find out what you really want to know?" He asks, drawing my attention back to him.

             "What do I really want to know?" I ask, kinda lost.

             Eiki grins slightly, rolling his brown eyes at me. "You want to know who she is, and if it's a date right?"

              "No. Why would I care? Who he goes around with is his business not mine." I snort, trying to play it off.

                "Face it. You like him. There's nothing wrong with it Shay. And if you didn't care you wouldn't keep looking over there." He laughs, and I feel myself blushing at his words. Busted.

                  "I don't know. Besides... There's my whole file thing coming up." I murmur quietly.

                  "Yutaka is a good guy. Besides, maybe we can still avoid that. Though really Shay, I think once everyone hears your side, none of them will hate you or look at you any differently." He says quietly, and I shrug. I wasn't so sure about that.

                "Shay. It's his sister, if you're curious." Eiki adds laughing, and I can't help the slight sense of relief I feel at his words.

                 "Oh. Okay. Cool." I say, trying to sound indifferent, but Eiki keeps laughing, not fooled at all.

                 "She's part of why he's so dedicated to the job. She wasn't always in a wheelchair. She was waiting for him one day, work ran over. There had been a lot of gang related attacks, and she happened to be in the wrong place wrong time kinda deal. Anyway, a gang member attacked her, and it paralyzed her. By time Yutaka got there, it was too late. She had already lost feeling, and the perp got away. He always kinda blamed himself, and tried to close as many cases as he could, figuring eventually he would catch the guy that did that to Yuko." Eiki explained quietly, and my heart just drops.

                "That's horrible. It wasn't his fault though..." I trail off. "But, now he will definitely hate me, if my records are opened.." I add, and Eiki's brown eyes soften as he meets my gaze.

                "That's not true Shay." He says sadly, shaking his head.

                "Eiki. He will. His sister was attacked and put in a wheel chair by a gang member. Once he learns the truth about me, I'll lose him. I'll loose any chance I had with him. He will hate me. I'll probably have to transfer again, or switch partners." I start rambling, as I feel my eyes start to water. I'll loose him, before I even had a chance with him.