The Agricultural Division of Heaven's Sun was a quite, peaceful place surrounded by thick tinted-glass windows. Inside, the plants were all food or food purposed and constantly looked after in controlled environments. Because of this, there weren't any humans around. No humans means no security. 

Yukine spent some time here, whenever he was able to pick up shifts to clean the floors. They couldn't take breaks, cyborgs didn't need them. But Yukine would clean and the gardeners pretty much have free range, so he was able to spend time with a cyborg with his age mentality. The boy became a cyborg by choice when he was one year older than Yukine. The two had quickly formed a friendship right after Yukine had changed, this garden was Yukine's first assignment. The agriculture cyborg had been there for Yukine and helped him though the transformation. And the pain. The Mo just hoped their friendship would be enough for him to go against the higher-ups.  

"Suzuha!" Yukine hissed from behind a bush. He cradled the Earth plant against his chest, it soft light green color noticeably different than the shelves of GMO. His friend was wearing overalls and a white t-shirt, his class stitched across the front pocket. His dark brown hair matched the soil in the short bottle and the bright green matched the surrounding leaves. Those eyes shot up from the hose in his gloved hand and looked around. 

"Mo?" Suzuha questioned the open air. Yukine let out a 'psst' and waved his hand. The gardener looked towards his friend with a confused look and let out a puff of laughter. After glancing around, Suzuha came over and ducked next to Yukine. 

"What are you doing?" Suzuha smiled. The Mo didn't look amused, causing Suzuha's mirth to droop. 

"What do you know about Earth plants?" Yukine asked in a whisper. 

"Like the original organic plants?" Suzuha whispered, "I have the basic information needed to care for all plants. Old notes on needs, biology, and illnesses. Why do you ask?" Suzuha tilted his head. Yukine looked nervously side to side, and over his shoulder. Then, he showed the plant. Suzuha blinked at the object, then looked back up at his friend. Clearly not understanding the significance. 

"It's a plant!" Yukine stressed, shaking the bottle at the gardener. 

"Yeah. You're surrounded by them. What did you steal it or something?" 

"No! It's an Earth plant!" Yukine shook it again. Suzuha looked even more confused. Until his eyes grew like saucers. 

"Wait a minute. Is that?" Suzuha gripped the neck of the bottle and tilted it towards him and peered inside. Yukine waited as his friend's eyes glowed with information. 

"It's soil," Suzuha gasped, "Like, real soil." Yukine let Suzuha numbly take the bottle with the wisp of green vine and leafs. Suzuha continued analyzing while Yukine gave him the bare minimum on information. 

"So I knew, for what you told me, that plants need water and food? But Earth doesn't have that? So-" 

"-This plant needs a major watering!" Suzuha cried out. Yukine leaped forward and clasped his hand over Suzuha's mouth. Suzuha didn't even blink, reaching in his front pocket to pull out a hose and let a small shower wash over it. 

"I need you to help it? It's turning brown and I think it needs new, uh, dirt?" 

"Of course! This poor thing needs a major check-up!" Suzuha stood up and dashed towards the infirmary. Yukine scrambled up after him, calling his name and smiling inconspicuously at the other workers. When he caught up, Yukine put his back to his friend and spoke over his shoulder. 

"And please keep this between us, the Earth plant is kind of classified." Yukine whispered the last word. Suzuha beamed over his shoulder. 

"Loud and clear! I'll work fast!" Suzuha chirped. Yukine rolled his eyes and focused on washing the closest floor space. After a couple minutes of the two working in silence, Yukine's roller stopped and he looked over his shoulder. 

"Hey, Suzuha?"

"Yeah, dude?"

"Lueitentent General Bishamon gave you your name right?" The Mo looked back at the floor, squeezing the roller's handle. 

"Yeah! Can you believe it? Naming me just cause I do the flowers for her and the Secur-T's rooms. She's so kind," Suzuha said with a soft smile, "Us lower class workers get our minds erased to be make room for our hard-drives. Our humanity- our mortality- is taken and replaced with our new purpose." he spoke quietly but it held deep emotion. 

Yukine couldn't even imagine the emotions he's felt for the past few decades, he couldn't even imagine being a cyborg for that long. For some reason, Yato flashed across Yukine's mind. 

Above, the thick tinted glass showed the stars and galaxies. Completely unnoticed, two objects went shooting by, paths spinning around each other. From their dance, Hiyori noticed Yukine hand off the plant to Suzuha. Yato then flew by her, laughing harder than he ever had in his life. 

"You're going to have to stop gazing though the window if you want to win our re-match, Hiyori!"  Yato cackled. Hiyori picked up speed again, over the whole racing thing but happy to watch Yato's childish excitement. The two were nearing close to the time limit, Hiyori said as much, but Yato begged for one more quick lap around the ship. She relented, and they laughed and weaved and flipped around the masts, and made their way to the front, passing by the side. From the window a pink haired girl screamed, pointing happily at the two dancing outside the ship. 

"Look! Everyone! Do you see that? Aren't they cute?" She shrieked, turning to the chair-way behind her. None of the other people looked up from their screens. Their expressions showing zero sign of having heard her. When she looked back out with shining eyes, Yato held Hiyori's hand in a sideways waltz. Kofuku gushed loudly again, throwing herself back in her chair  causing it to go careening backwards. Her chair crashed into the corner of someone else's seat, spinning it out of control. 

"No, no, no, wait! Not again!" The chair back hit the window, jolting the occupant harshly. Daikoku let out a string of curses, looking to see his projector was totaled. When he turned to yell at the idiot who didn't stay on the line, his words got caught in his throat. Kofuku looked ashamed, giving the handsome man her best puppy-dog eyes. 

"I'm so sorry! I'm really really clumsy. I just got so excited! And well." Kofuku sniffed and blinked away tears. Daikoku coughed in his hand, getting himself together. It was hard when she jutted out her pink bottom lip. 

"That's quite alright, little lady. I should have been watching where I was going." Daikoku slicked his hair back, making sure it was smooth. Kofuku giggled waved off his apology, blinking a bit faster and reaching to twirl one of her curls. 

"My name is Kofuku!" She cheerfully changed the subject, leaning forward a bit. A hand was stuck out to her. 

"Daikoku." He introduced himself. When they shook hands, he took note of how much smaller she was than him. 

"So," Daikoku coughed, "What, uh, made you so happy?" He flinched back when she let out a high-pitched noise. The young woman quickly made it to the window, practically bouncing in her seat. She then turned and looked back at him with the most joyful expression the man had ever seen on anyone. 

"Look! It's my friend!" Kofuku had her forefinger pressed against the glass, followed by her forehead. Behind the window, was empty. A brown eye-brow quirked but Daikoku still came towards the window and the crazy lady. She was looking down with a wide smile. Diakoku blinked at her, then leaned forward. 

Two figures were down below, the taller holding up the other's hand. The smaller, a pretty female Eve, was giggling and trying to copy the steps of the taller man. That taller man, now that Daikoku was looking, was strikingly familiar. 

"It's Yato!" They said in unison. The Wall-E wore a slightly baggy space suit, but the eyes that reflected against the glass were unmistakable. Daikoku choked at their revelation. This poor cute girl having the misfortune of meeting that rude cyborg. She was trying to bang on the glass at them, her small pudgy hands only making a light slapping noise. 

When the two continued their weightless line dancing, Daikoku leaned forward and pounded on the glass. The Eve was the first to notice, giving the two a questioning look. After all, humans don't really leave the lines to look out the window. 

Yato, upon recognition, beamed at Kofuku and tugged Hiyori up to them. The two floated outside the window, Yato and Kofuku frantically waving at each other, while Hiyori and Daikoku politely nodded heads. Yato introduced them to Hiyori, then tried to introduce her to the other two. 

"We can't hear you! You idiot!" Daikoku shouted at the glass. The girls tried to calm down the men glaring and yelling at each other. The Eve's helmet projected her name to the two, who did the same. Hiyori put her hand over Yato's before he could try pressing more buttons. She then showed her wrist and pointed at it. Daikoku projected the time, which startled Hiyori. 

"Yato!" Hiyori grabbed his wrist, "We have to go meet Yukine!" Yato nodded then turned to wave goodbye. Kofuku and Diakoku waved back, leaning together. 

Two floors above, Suzuha was handing off the plant to his friend. While they were both working, Yukine explained the bare minimum. Enough for Suzuha to understand the urgency, but not enough for him to get into too much trouble. Hopefully. The gardener was a smart boy, so he knew they should, at least, be crouching behind the bush. 

"Okay, so, I checked it and it was a little deprived. So I changed the soil and gave it water. I'm worried about sunlight, I kept it under the light during my check up. The ship's lights try to replicate the sun light, but it's made for humans so it's really muted." Suzuha pressed the plant into Yukine's waiting hands, looking over his shoulder. Yukine peeked around too, sticking the plant back in his overalls.

"You have about a week without water till symptoms start setting in."

"Got it," Yukine started to leave, "Thanks Suzuha." 

"Wait." Suzuha grabbed the Mo's shoulder. Yukine looked back in confusion. His friend looked concerned. 

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, this guy isn't forcing you? Or blackmailing you into anything?" Suzuha's words fell off at the end. 

"No he isn't," the gardener's hand fell off Yukine's shoulder, "I'm following him because I want too. He needs me. He-" Yukine's voice changed into a squeak. Suzuha leaned forward more, trying desperately to read his friend's red face. 

"He?" Suzuha pressed. 

"He, adopted me?" Yukine hid his eyes. 

"He adapted you? To what?" 

"Never mind! It's fine, trust me! He's harmless!" Yukine squawked out, waving his hands between them. Yukine got up on one knee sputtering out he had to go. 

"I'll see you later. Thanks for all your help!" Yukine took a couple steps, keeping his eyes on Suzuha. His friend waved with a nervous expression. 

"Bye Mo! Be careful!" Suzuha said. After a couple paces, the Mo stopped and turned back around. 

"And by the way," Yukine smiled at his friend's confused face, "He gave me a name too. It's Yukine!" He beamed. Yukine left the agriculture section with hurried nods to the other cyborgs, keeping a hand over the plant. The meeting place was two floors down and thankfully the elevator was empty. The plant felt cool and light under his overalls, the glass smooth and slightly dirty. Probably from that gross Earth cleaner. 

When the elevator opened, Yukine quickly dashed to the left, following his downloaded GPS. The closet was just up ahead. A warning covered the map, signaling oncoming cyborgs. Dangerous cyborgs. 

"This miscreant is even more crafty than I thought," Lieutenant General Bishamon said. Her steps were fluid and controlled, the clacking of her  heels telling Yukine it was time to hide. 

"Indeed Lieutenant General Bishamon, that is why it is of the utmost importance he is captured." The Go-4 agreed. Bishamon let out a light laugh. 

"Please Kuguha, there is no need for formalities. We work closely after all." Bishamon polity insisted. Kugaha shared her friendly laughter. Yukine curled in on himself from the floor of a parked transport, just out of the hallway. 

"Yes, but you are an icon among the workers here. If anyone can bring this murder to justice, it's you." 

"You flatter me. It's necessary the infected is brought to justice. For the safety of the people. But I can't help but wonder why I must bring him in alive? And with all his things?" Bishamon had a hand on her chin, looking down as she walked by. Kuguha walking briskly next to her, trying to keep up with her long strides. 

"That is the captain's orders! Nothing we can do but obey!" Kugaha assured. Brushing off the thought with idle gossip about the caption's two cyborg helpers. Yukine held his breath for a little longer, then dared to peek over the side. The coast was clear. Yukine rushed towards the closet. 

The Mo was panting by the time he reached the meeting place, right on time too. It wasn't like he ran, not wanting to bring attention to himself, it was more that he held his breath every time he passed a hallway. He pressed his back to the closet door, looking back and forth as he reached for his belt. Remembering he gave Hiyori his key card, Yukine typed in his code manually. 

"Hey I got the-" Yukine's sentence fell off at the sight of his two friends. Hiyori and Yato stepped apart, but remained close enough where they can keep they're heads bowed together in contained giggles. 

"Oh, Yukine!" Hiyori snorted, "Thank the stars you made it safely!" Yato swallowed down more laughter and wiped tears. He was back in his hideous wear-alls, dirt still in tact.  

"Kiddo! You're back! We missed you so much!" Yato came towards his kid with open arms only to be pushed aside. 

"Yeah clearly. Glad to see you two having fun. Am I the only one taking things seriously? We are in serious trouble! And you! You're in danger!" Yukine shouted pointing between Yato's eyes. Yato gave a confused look, but his merriment was still there. 

"Danger? Me?" Yato asked.  

"What do you mean, Yukine?" Hiyori stepped forward. 

"The Secur-Ts are after us. But they want Yato brought straight to the captain." Yukine said. Hiyori looked puzzled by this. Yato did too but for a different reason. 

"Is that bad?" Yato looked between them. 

"Normally the Secur-T handle who they apprehended. Very rarely the co-captain brought in, let alone the captain. And for the captain to get involved in the search at the very beginning, and then ask to bring you in." Hiyori trailed off with furrowed eye-brows. 

"Are you sure it was the captain's orders?" Yato doubted. This caused a chilled silence in the air. One of the two youngsters didn't quite understand. 

"You idiot! What did you do to offend the captain?" Yukine growled and gave the Wall-E's arm a good smack. 

"He didn't seem too upset with you. But then who?" Hiyori puzzled over it. Yato watched her closely, her cleverness was another thing he admired, but it caused worry to claw at his heart. 

"No, he didn't. I think it's still safe to give him the plant." Yato said. Beside him, Yukine nodded. 

"Right. What's important is getting the plant to the captain." 

The trio made it back to the top deck without a hitch. By now, artificial night had fallen, the LED lighting and animated ceiling all turned off. Ads have been switched to only turn on when movement is sensed and shops have been shut and locked. The white floor lines illuminated most of the room while soft lights spotted along the wall. All the smaller pools were closed over with flooring, one large pool was still open for two people to float above it. 

The three hid behind a large towel rack standing to the right of the hallway leading to the elevator. The two waited for Hiyori to catch her breath, fatigue starting to show. 

"Maybe you should rest." Yukine held a hand out to her but was waved off. Instead she took the plant from him. 

"I'm going up there, it's better if I go alone but if something happens I need one of you to wait here and be look out." Hiyori popped out one of the speakers from her head piece. It was a small round object, able to fit in an ear. 

"Ill do it." Yato accepted the earpiece and fixed it in his ear. Yukine looked between them during a beat of silence. 

"What should I do?" Yukine piped up. Yato and Hiyori looked at each other.

"Uh," Yato looked around, his eyes catching the two people splashing  in the pool, "How about you go help out my friends over there." Yukine looked to where he was pointing, turning back to Yato with a fierce scowl. 

"Really? Don't play with me. And not everyone is your friend-" 

"No I'm serious! The adorable little lady is named Kofuku and her scruffy companion is Diakoku." Yato said. Yukine looked less angry but still suspicious. Hiyori stepped in with an encouraging smile. 

"We do know them. They're nice people." Hiyori encouraged. Yukine huffed at Hiyori, glaring at Yato who whined at his kid not trusting him, then slinked off towards the pool. Hiyori nodded to Yato and made her way down the hall. Yato watched, just before she entered the lobby Hiyori stopped and looked off to the right. After a couple seconds she stepped into the trash shoot, boots lighting up. 

"Clever girl." Yato thought with a smile. He settled on the floor with his legs in a pretzel, sighing and closing his eyes. His days back on Earth seemed so long ago, it seemed like he had been running for days. It's not like he was tired, his battery still okay, but he did feel a little drained. Whatever adrenaline that kept Yato on his toes was starting to ebb away. The Wall-E shut his eyes and pointed his chin towards the ceiling. 

"Please stop splashing in the pool!" A baritone voice pleaded. The splashing and laughter that echoed stopped for another deep voice to growl. 

"Leave me and the lady alone! Can't you see we're on a date?" Daikoku's question was followed by the sound of a more violent splash. Kofuku's squeal followed with some laughter. 

"Come on, Kunimi! You're such a buzz kill. Yuki! Come in the water with us!" she called. 

"Miss Kofuku you should really come out. The pool closed an hour ago!" Yukine pleaded with the hyper woman. Yato felt himself smile. Daikoku tried calling to the kid too, shooing away the lifeguard. 

Could he stay with them? If all goes well, the humans would return to Earth- a littered one- and he would have to continue his job. Yukine would have to work inside somewhere, after the buildings got fixed. And Hiyori, well, what would Eves be needed for? Yato's eyes opened slowly, watching billions and billions of galaxy drift by.

On the other hand, the plant doesn't make it to the captain. Maybe they lose it, or the Go-4 succeeds in blowing it up, or they're here so long it dies. What then? Constantly on the run from the Auto on a luxury cruise ship, laughing and hiding in closets, always having each other's back. Maybe they use an escape pod and travel to another ship. Maybe travel the universe.

The Wall-E's sensors lit up again. It's that bimbo security agent and her four-eyed follower. Yato sprang to his feet and climbed up the towel shelving. Bishamon was coming from his left around the corner, the pool was to his right. Yato frantically waved his arms from the little crook in the wall, hidden from the Secur-T's view. A couple more steps and Yukine would be found for sure. 

Daikoku was the first to notice Yato, making a fool of himself over Kunimi's shoulder. When he pointed it out to Yukine, the kid made a 'what?' face. Yato pointed to the right, arms moving like he was running. Yukine looked wide-eyed to where he was pointing waving his arms in panicked question. Yato paniced too, Yukine would get caught before he did.

"Quick, Yuki!" Kofuku connected the dots quickly, flapping her hand towards her. 

"Come on kid! We'll hide you!" Daikoku moved a bit away from Kofuku. Yukine didn't think twice, pinching his nose and leaping into the pool cannonball style. Kofuku and Diakoku moved side by side, hovering over the Mo. Daikoku silenced Kunimi with a death glare. Yato looked for a moment longer, his kid covered by shadow and the water ripples. He crouched back behind the towels, frantically looking around for a hiding spot. 

Now that he thought about it, Hiyori was gone a long time. Giving her the warning in person seemed like a much better idea now than using the earpiece. With one last look around, Yato snuck down the hall, the trash shoot in his sights. 

Yato flipped open the trash door, the tube was long and pitch black. Yato took a deep breath and placed one foot in. He used his knees and hands to push his back against the wall above the door. Yato crawled up the tube, slipping now and again, his compactor clanking the sides. The Wall-E kept his eyes up, picturing Hiyori who faced the wolves alone, high against the stars. 

He hoped she was alright.