★ I THINK HE KNOWS ★
CANDY... NOT A KISS?

               she gently brushed his bangs aside and dabbed his forehead with a lukewarm sponge. Yunai had known from her customer that her husband had had bad side effects from the gas, but she hadn't thought that fainting was part of it. It had already been a day and Heizou was still lying on her sofa with his eyes closed. She never thought she would take care of him, but it didn't bother her at all.

     She liked that he was near her and that she could take care of him. He looked peaceful. When he didn't talk, let out his jokes and just lay there, he seemed really sweet and innocent. But he wasn't! He had flirted with her constantly last night and... well, maybe Sango had been right after all. He had been talking to someone he liked.

     She couldn't understand and couldn't quite believe it, but apparently Heizou actually liked her. Completely absurd. Because she could hardly get a word out when he talked to her. She was always really nervous and behaved absolutely stupidly. But he still smiled at her the whole time.

     She would be lying if she said she wasn't happy about that. Because she was. Totally! She, well she didn't think he could ever like her. She wasn't exactly a dreamy woman. But in addition to flirting, he also talked to her very gently and... he kissed her hand. And the way he looked at her... No one had ever treated her like that.

     Yunai sighed. She could be a little more confident. At least now that he hinted that he liked her. But she just couldn't do it. She had absolutely no idea how to do it. And she couldn't think about it any longer, she noticed how Heizou started to move his hand. He finally woke up!

     »Heizou?« She put the sponge aside and looked at him, waiting. »Heizou, do you hear me?«

     A smile appeared on his thin lips. »What a sweet voice to wake up to.« Incredible. He had been unconscious, but immediately spoke as if nothing had happened. His eyes opened and he looked at her sleepily. »Good Morning, my dear sweetflower.«

     Yunai was pretty sure that if she woke up next to him and he would greet her every morning like this, every day could only be good. »Are you alright? How you feeling?«

     He put his hands under his head and looked up at her. »Did I hear concern in your voice? How sweet.« Of course she was worried. He had been unconscious!

     »You were Unconscious.«

     »And you took me with you to take care of me?«

     Yunai nodded, barely recognizable. »I-i um, yes.« His smile became clear and that made her happy. She liked his smile, even though he mostly smiled because he found her so amusing.

     »You are truly a sweetflower.«

     She hated that nickname. No. She didn't hated it. She actually loved that name. She just hated that every time he said it she froze. This time too. She didn't know what to say. How she should react. Her first idea was to get up, but Heizou seemed to have seen that coming. He quickly reached for her hand.

      »Don't go.« He smiled incredibly sweetly and Yunai looked from his face at his hand that held hers tightly. »Please.«

      »B-but aren't you thirsty or hungry?«

     »You would even make me something to eat, wow you must really like me.« She could hear his teasing, amused tone. But even if she didn't know how to react and it confused her, she liked it when he spoke to her like that. Heizou lightly squeezed her hand to get her attention again. »I should probably thank you.«

     She looked at him again, almost in panic. »Oh no you don't have to! That, um, was self-evident.«

      »But I want to thank you.« He sat up and looked at her with his head tilted to the side. »I am very grateful to you and your sweet guidance.«

     No flowers. No flowers please.

     Heizou raised his left hand and gently stroked her cheek. »When else will I be so lucky and have such a pretty and kind lady by my side?«

     And there they were. The flowers. Yunai released herself from his grip and stood up from the couch. »Nonono not again,« she murmured and turned away from him. She felt the flowers sprouting in her hair, she noticed how the flowers crawled out of the floor under her feet and when she formed her hands into a bowl, flowers landed there too.

     She felt embarrassed. She thought it was terrible that all these flowers were created and only because of Heizou. Because of his words, his looks and his touches. How could someone have such an influence on you?

     An amused chuckle came from him. »My dear Sweetflower, I already told you that I love your flowers. Don't hide your pretty face from me.« Pretty face. Did he really liked her face? Did he really thought it was pretty? And didn't her fox ears bother him at all? »Yunai, pleaseee.«

     She felt dizzy, but she turned to him anyway. It wasn't as if he had never seen her flowers and red cheeks before. He was now sitting on the sofa and grinning at her. She wanted to run away, but it was her house.

     »Such beautiful flowers from such a pretty lady.« As soon as he had spoken, new flowers sprouted. So many that Yunai was frightened and dropped the ones in her hand.

      »Stop it..,« she murmured. This was directed at Heizou, he knew all too well that it was his fault, but he didn't seem to want to stop.

     »Aww your blushing. I love that!«

     And then there was a knock on the door. Yunai was relieved. Honest! She immediately turned away from him and opened the door. It was the doctor! The doctor who she woke up at night... just because of Heizou. She would never tell him that!

     »You made it!«

     »You said it was an emergency.«

     Heizou cleared his throat. »An emergency?«

     The doctor walked in and the first thing he saw was a pile of flowers. He seemed confused, but didn't elaborate. »Yes, an emergency. This young lady here woke me up in the middle of the night, as did my wife... the two children, just because of you.«

     A smirk appeared on Heizou's face. »Oh, really?«

     »H-he was unconscious all night and only just woke up.«

     »You even called a doctor.. How cute,« Heizou said, probably more to himself. Then he turned to the doctor. »I am very grateful that you came, but I have to thank this lady. So would you do me a favour and leave use alone?«

     As if waiting for her opinion, the doctor looked at her. Yunai shook her head. »H-he always says stuff like that.. It's not because of the gas.«

     »Good to know.«

     And then he took a closer look at Heizou. He also gave him some medication for dizziness and sleep problems. And most importantly, he gave him a small bottle that would draw the poison from the gas out of his body. Which would stop the hallucinations. Because when Yunai woke up the doctor in the middle of the night, she got him to help her immediately.

     They had found out what the poison was made of and made enough cures for Sara's army and Heizou. So everyone would get better soon. All that remained was to get the gas out of the military base and that was exactly what Yunai wanted to do today.

     She walked backwards on her tiptoes to the door, but when she opened it she could immediately feel Heizou's gaze. »My dear Sweetflower, where are you going?«

     »I-I'll be right back.« That was the only thing she said and then she quickly disappeared.

     Yunai wanted to do this alone. She could go into the bunker without being poisoned and Heizou couldn't. She knew he would want to come with her and she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't allow him to be poisoned again.

     So she quickly walked to the place where the chemist had hidden the package. Because of course no one should know anything about it. Especially not the potential perpetrator. This all had to be done unobtrusively. But when Yunai was already halfway there, Heizou suddenly stood at the next corner. He had his arms crossed and was looking at her with amusement.

     »Did you really think you'd get away so quickly?« Yes. She had thought she would make it. How was she supposed to know that Heizou would brush off the doctor so quickly and rush after her?

     »How could you-«

     »I'm a detective, my dear, that's my job,« he interrupted her. »And don't worry, I took my medication.« Yunai didn't even know what to say to that. She was speechless. Once again. »My dear, give me the location of the package... Yes, I know everything, the doctor was very talkative.«

     Yunai was frustrated. This doctor had one job and he couldn't even do that! Although... Heizou was a very good detective, it was only logical that he would find out. But so quickly?

      »B-but then you'll pass out again.«

     »I really appreciate your concern. But you won't go back in there.«

     She raised her right eyebrow and just kept walking. »How come?«

     He quickly ran after her. »I do not want you to get hurt. I am carefull!« Of course, Yunai liked his concern for her, but this was the first case in which she was properly involved. So she wanted to end this case too. »Sweetflower, Give me the location of the package, please. I don't think i'll be asking again.«

     »I took care of you all night, I barely slept, i'm going to be needing more than just a 'please.« She herself didn't know where this long, not stammering sentence came from. But what she said was simply the truth.

     Heizou blows away strands of his burqundy hair in frustration. »What do you want, my dear?« But then he suddenly grinned mischievously. »I would fulfill your every wish.«

     »W-what about that set of candied wagashi from hanamizaka you know?«

     He chuckled a little. »Candy, really? I was hoping you wanted something different.«

     »They're my favorites..«

     Heizou ran his hand through his hair, almost disappointed. »We're in the middle of Ritou, sweetflower. I'm not walking all the way back to Inazuma city.«

     »But then I'm coming with-« Suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the alley between two buildings. »Heiz-« A finger was pressed firmly to her lips and a hand slammed the wall next to her. She looks up and saw Heizou's face dangerously close to hers, his dark red curls framing his fuming cheeks. She felt her cheeks heating up at the close contact. »H-heizou!«

     He opened his mouth almost in surprise, as if he himself hadn't thought he would do that. »S-sorry, my dear."« Yunai thought she was imagining it, but his cheeks actually turned slightly red. »I'll ask again nicely. Where is the location of the package?«

     »I, Heizou, someone will see...« Her heart pounded against her chest. He was so close she could see the moles below his eyes clearly. She liked those moles. But now she was just afraid to look at him.

     Heizou pressed his lips together, as if hesitating. »I'll ask again. Where is the location of the package?«

     »Heiz-« She fell silent as his face came impossibly closer and his nose brushing hers. His striking olive green eyes buried into her gaze, flickering slightly below... to her lips. To her lips! Immediately, beautiful flowers sprouted from the wall, right behind her.

     »It's off the coast! Below the Kanjou estate... in a cave concealed by rocks. You should be able to clear them easily if...« As she confessed, her voice reached several octaves higher and more and more flowers crawled out of the wall. It was clear that the flowers didn't belong there. Yunai was nervous. So damn nervous. Why did he have to get so close to her?

     Heizou's hand slowly backed away from the wall, eyes never leaving hers. »Okay,« he said, seemingly satisfied. He hesitates at first, but then he reached out with his other hand to push back a strand of her hair. She jumped, then her eyes slowly widened.

     The detective smiled cheekily. »What do you think i was going to do?«

     Embarrassed, she blushed. »N-nothing!« She said shrilly. And another flower. »Why did you even have to-«

     Heizou replied quickly. »I apologize for my roughness, my dear. I didn't mean to intimidate you or-«

     She looked back up at him hesitantly. »But i wouldn't have minded if...« She caught herself before she was tempted to say more, pressing her hands over her mouth as she blushed more and more. Flower tendrils crawled up between there feets and Yunai wanted to sink into the ground.

     Heizou's eyes widened. She didn't know if it was because of her almost confession or the flowers. She stumbled sideways away from him and he couldn't help but chuckled at her last expression. »Wouldn't mind, hu?« A sheepish smile growed on his lips.

     »Y-you should go. Get the package and remove the gas. Sara is waiting for it..«

     »As you wish, my dear sweetflower.« He plucked one of the flowers from the wall and leaned forward to tuck it behind her ear. He should go! He should finally go. Otherwise she would turn completely red, her whole skin. And then she would surely melt due to the heat.

     »But I will come back.« He whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek. She could feel how soft his lips were and felt a tingling sensation spread through her stomach. Oh, she wanted to know what his lips would feel like on hers.