Promises

By: Shin Sankai

Author's Notes: Quite a different story here. Its my take on a 'what if' scenario of Sakura still around and she having known Yokozawa as kids and they bump into each other after loosing touch for 12 years. Kirishima and Yokozawa meet through Sakura and Hiyo is only just about to be born. This is likely to be about three chapters in length (I think) and its all come from my warped mind, so please do not take this seriously.

[Chapter 1: Promises]

"Yokozawa-san," The dark haired businessman looked up from his laptop to eye the short man standing next to his desk. "You've been glaring at the screen for awhile now, why not have a break?" Only Henmi could ever say something like that to the stern superior, everyone else in the team being too scared to do so.

"Aa," The man mumbled as he rose from his seat, removing himself from the Sales Department floor and instead of going to the break room, he decided to head to the closest convenience store from the building. He needed the fresh air and also some food, as his stomach had decided to advise him as he rode the elevator down.

Stepping out onto the street he realised it had turned into an overcast late afternoon. Unsure as to whether a downpour would occur, Yokozawa made quick work to the nearest convenience store, actually enjoying the brisk cool air, which was a little odd for spring as it almost appeared like autumn to him.

The man bought a bento, several snacks and a couple of energy drinks, he knowing he'd be one of the last to leave this evening. It couldn't be helped, his team was down a few people, whether it was due to illness or family emergencies, such things could never be predicted. It was just a bloody pain in the ass when it occurred during such busy times that he ended up having to be the bad guy and run the rest of his small team ragged...and himself.

Lost in thought, Yokozawa accidentally bumped into someone on the street as he was heading back to Marukawa. "I'm terribly sorry., are you alright?" He quietly muttered, eyes peering down at a short woman. The first thing he noticed about her was the fact she was round with child, then his steely blue gaze took in her slightly long wavy hair and then suddenly the scent of flowers. When her big brown eyes lifted to gaze up at him, Yokozawa couldn't help but stare down at the woman, mouth slightly agape.

"Taka-kun!" And his eyes widened at hearing such a sugary sweet voice which had not changed over the years.

"Sa-Sakura...chan?" The woman before him beamed a trademark smile and the peace sign. The handsome businessman was completely lost for words.

"How long has it been?"

"Ah, um, yeah I was thinking the same thing." He listened to her sweet laughter, his mind turning back the clock to his youth, to a time where he'd been a very quiet and lonely boy, until a certain little 6 year old girl and her family moved into the neighbourhood. Going to the same school, she had decided to forgo any rumours the other kids were spouting about him and ignored the lot and in the end she had befriended him. Since that day the two of them became inseparable. Of course their worlds were shattered when her family moved away when they were both 16. They had promised to keep in touch, but it had never occurred. And to think 12 years later here they were, standing on the same street, she having blossomed into a beautiful woman like he knew she would and he...well he thought he'd not changed at all!

"Are you free, lets sit down and catch up?"

"Err, well, you look like you are waiting for someone." Yokozawa quickly eyed the silver wedding band. "Your husband perhaps?"

"Mm, but we can still catch up while I wait." Yokozawa glanced down at his watch, he having advised Henmi he wouldn't be gone for too long and it had already been twenty minutes.

"Are you still working?"

"Mm, some of my staff are away, so the remainder of my team and I are trying to pick up the slack."

"Taka-kun made it big!" Yokozawa eyed a couple wandering passed who glanced their way, not being able to help but hear what Sakura had said, considering she wasn't exactly a shy woman.

"Ah, not really..." Yokozawa felt his phone vibrate in his inner jacket pocket and pulled it out.

"Boo, looks like our time is up." He listened to Sakura complain like she were a young girl.

"Sorry, here, if you want, give me a call sometime, we can arrange to catch up then." The big thousand watt smile he remembered from his childhood was back on her face as she clutched his business card like it was the most precious thing she'd received. He'd given her a slight bow and while the street was relatively clear of traffic, he'd run across the road, heading back towards Marukawa.

"Its a promise Taka-kun!" The businessman kept his head down, not wanting to turn around at the promised yell from the woman as he was certain several pedestrians would be looking at her funny and across the street to whom she would be waving ridiculously at.

"Sakura," The wavy haired pregnant beauty turned around from her waving to eye the man walking towards her.

Placing her hands on her hips. "Mou, Zen, making me wait so long." She didn't pout for long when his arm moved around her petite frame, cocooning her into his side.

"Hai, hai..." The light haired, almond eyed man voiced, directing the both of them into a nearby restaurant. "How are my girls doing?" The casual looking man voiced as he helped his little wife into a booth and then sat opposite her.

"She's really healthy!" Sakura boasted about their unborn baby daughter still growing within her. "I've got some new pictures." She pulled them out, sliding them across the table to her excited husband as he flipped through them.

"You know, I asked how both my girls were doing."

"I'm really good. Even better now, I saw Taka-kun!"

"Taka-kun? As in Taka-kun from when you were little?" He watched his sweet wife nod her head happily.

"And the strangest thing of all, he works at Marukawa too!"

"Hm," Almond eyes glanced down at the business card, taking in the man's name and where he worked. He usually got one of his subordinates to deal with the Sales Department so the man's name or what he looked like were a mystery to him. "I'll have to check him out."

"Be nice Zen."

"Hai, hai."

It was the start of a fresh new week as Yokozawa strolled into the building, watching as someone ducked into the elevator.

"Hold the elevator!" He called out and absently thanked the person who waited for him.

"Ohayo gozaimasu," That voice made him go rigid as he glanced to the other side of the elevator to see Onodera Ritsu. This was the guy that his previous lover Takano Masamune had broken up with him over. He and Masamune hadn't spoken to each other in quite sometime, pretty much going on a month now. It wasn't that Yokozawa was avoiding him, okay, it sort of was, but he truly did need time to think to himself and accept that the love he had for his College friend was not reciprocated. As calmly as he could he mumbled a response back, never one at being rude when it came to greeting co-workers within the building.

The Sales Department floor was here in no time and Yokozawa stepped out. "Yo-Yokozawa-san!" He turned to look back at the fidgeting short man and sighed lightly, making his way back over to the elevator doors.

"What?" He curtly questioned. He didn't need any delays today as he had several meetings to attend and one to set up for his staff as he'd received messages over the weekend that three would be returning making his team whole again.

"Are you and Takano...fighting?" He watched a pair of shy eyes glance up at him before darting away once more. As Yokozawa gazed down at the awkward Editor he really did want to hit him for not realising that he was the cause of their fighting...if he could even call it that.

"Is it really any of your business?" Yokozawa hated it when his voice turned grumpy. He truly wasn't a bad guy, but sometimes certain things just really got his guard up and he would blurt out stuff that he didn't mean. He had watched Onodera jolt at his harsh words and let out an exasperated sigh. God he hated when personal affairs crept into his working life.

"I've been busy, as has he, there is nothing we can do about that."

"B-But, he sometimes looks at his phone, like he's waiting for your call."

"That idiot can call me whenever he likes, I won't ever ignore his calls." He turned to head off, but stopped when Onodera had taken a hold of his overcoat. "What now?"

"I-I promise to make him happy." The younger man had gone as red as a tomato in the face at his declaration. As steely blue eyes gazed down at the shorter man, he knew Onodera was trying to do right by his best friend now, albeit taking his sweet damn time in doing so. All the businessman could respond with was a wave of his hand. He wasn't going to encourage him to succeed and since the feelings of rejection were still fresh in his mind he wasn't going to congratulate the both of them on their rekindled relationship either.

As Yokozawa muttered his 'good mornings' to his subordinates he made his way to his desk and slouched in his chair. He hadn't realised just how hard it had been to face Onodera, who knows what he'd be like if Takano walked in! Of course he could fake niceness over the phone, anyone could, but face to face was a whole other story. Shaking his head of such thoughts, Yokozawa opened his laptop and set to work, his first meeting was in an hour.

Yokozawa stepped back onto the floor, passing documentation to several subordinates who would work on them.

"Ah, Yokozawa-san," Lifting his gaze from the folder he was flipping through, Henmi was once again standing near his desk. "Kirishima-san from Japun was looking for you."

"I've no meeting scheduled with Japun."

"Mm, he said he was just coming by to chitchat. Are you and he friends?"

"No," Yokozawa curtly responded, having no idea why the Editor-in-Chief of Japun was looking for him. "I need to head to Marimo Books."

"What about Kirishima-san?"

"If its not work related then he can call me after working hours to chitchat." Yokozawa remarked curtly once more and grabbed his belongings and headed out the door.

Not long after Yokozawa had left did Kirishima return to the Sales Department.

"Has his meeting finished?" Henmi gazed up from his work.

"Ah, Kirishima-san, you just missed him, he's headed out on some errands."

"Where?"

"Marimo Books."

"Thanks," The staff on the floor watched the man leave, Henmi turning to look at his co-workers.

"Should I have told him that?" All he got was shrugs of the shoulders before he was distracted by the phone ringing.

[Marimo Books]

"Thank you for all your support." Yokozawa bowed to the Manager of the store as he exited, glancing down at his watch to realise it was nearing 2pm. He sometimes forgot that when he and the Manager got together to discuss business, it would end up taking longer then usual.

"Yokozawa Takafumi?" The man being called out to turned around, starring over at a pair of almond eyes. "Finally we meet."

"And you are?"

"Kirishima Zen." Yokozawa starred at the man like that was supposed to mean something to him and on the streets of Tokyo he suddenly took a step back when the slightly taller man moved closer, hand instantly reaching up to take hold of his chin, those almond eyes boring holes into his steely blue ones.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Just wanting to check out the famous Taka-kun I've heard so much about." Eyebrows furrowed for a moment before recognition finally set in. There was only one person who ever called him that.

"You are..."

"Zen," Yokozawa was interrupted as the man finally broke his strong grip of holding his face as he turned to gaze down the street at the petite woman heading towards them. "I was having coffee with your mother, what is so important that..."

"Look who I happened to bump into?" Kirishima had stepped out of the way, he was after all blocking the salesman from his short wife.

"Taka-kun!" She beamed him a happy smile, walking a little bit faster as she promptly dove into his chest, arms wrapping around his waist to give him a hug. "Its so good to see you again!" It had only been two days, but since before that it had been 12 years, it pretty much was a lifetime. Although that truly wasn't the issue at this very moment as Yokozawa darted his eyes about the street, once again receiving a few stares from passersby.

"Ah, um, Sakura-chan..." The suddenly awkward salesman began, quickly patting her lightly on the back, hoping she would break her genki hug. These were the hugs she gave him when they were kids, but they weren't young kids anymore and the fact her husband was right here made him feel very awkward indeed!

"Doesn't Taka-kun like my hugs anymore?" The salesman received the same pout from years gone by and couldn't help but feel a light smile grace his usually hardened features.

"Its not that." Yokozawa jolted suddenly when Kirishima burst out laughing.

"Ah, my dear sweet wife, sometimes you seem a little too clueless." Yokozawa received a wink from the light haired and rather casual looking Editor-in-Chief and suddenly felt all the awkwardness and tension he had been feeling suddenly disappear.

"What did I miss?" Sakura peered up at the two men before her, eyes sparkling happily when she heard a slight chuckle from her dear childhood friend as well as her husband. "Are you free now Taka-kun? Do you have time to get a coffee?"

"Err..."

"Of course he does, lets go in here." Kirishima responded for him, which of course made the salesman frown, but the hopeful look he was getting from Sakura made him cave in an instant as he followed the happy couple into a coffee shop, his eyes glancing down at their linked hands.

They occupied a booth, Yokozawa insisting he purchase his own coffee but Kirishima had waved him off advising him to let his elders indulge him a little.

"So, Taka-kun tell me what's been happening over the past 12 years." Sakura merrily voiced, gratefully accepting a nice glass of cold water from her husband as he came over just in time to hear her request.

"Ah, well, not much, I haven't really changed over the years."

"You have." Steely blue orbs darted across the table to gaze at a pair of almond ones. "I've seen the photos."

"Sakura-chan has become quite beautiful, just as I knew she would."

"R-Really?" Both Kirishima and Yokozawa watched as she cupped her face, trying to hide the rosy tint on her cheeks.

"Mm, getting rid of those dorky glasses and the plaits were a smart move." Kirishima burst out laughing at the comment, watching his wife puff her cheeks in slight anger while receiving a slight smack on the arm from her.

"Ah, sorry, I don't know where that came from."

"Taka-kun was a geek back then too and you were always alone!"

"I remember." The table suddenly went quiet at the comment.

Kirishima let out a sigh as he eyed the two of them. "This is not how I envisioned your catch up to turn out." Steely blue orbs glanced across the table. "Since you bumped into her last week, I've heard nothing but Taka-kun all weekend."

"Zen!" Sakura pouted at her husband, cheeks flushing once more.

"Sakura really did want to call you, but not knowing who you are these days she didn't want to interrupt your life, so I figured I'd track you down and make it happen instead."

"Sounds very much like a stalker." Yokozawa listened to Kirishima chuckle at his comment.

"Whatever I can do to make her happy, I'll try it."

"Zen..."

"Call me any time, I won't ignore your calls, unless I'm in a meeting of course."

"Or with your girlfriend?"Kirishima absently commented.

"I don't have a girlfriend."

"Taka-kun is really handsome now, why wouldn't he have a girlfriend?" Sakura voiced with conviction. The man in question just didn't know how to answer her. Kirishima had excused himself for a moment to collect their order from the counter.

"Taka-kun," He listened to the woman whisper softly to capture his attention and turned his gaze towards her. "Is it a boyfriend instead?" He felt his eyes widen at the question, having forgotten that when they were 12 and she was starting to notice boys around her, he was also noticing girls and boys around him. For the next four years while she dated a few boys here and there, he had decided to explore what it was like being with both genders. "Is Taka-kun seeing someone special?"

"Err, yeah I guess." God this was awkward. True when they were younger she would come crying to him about having crap boyfriends, but he'd never done the same when it came to his relationships. And Sakura had accepted that about him, not only the fact he just didn't like talking about it, but also the fact that she didn't have a problem if he was seeing a girl...or a guy. Just looking at her expectant look he sighed while gazing down at his glass of water. "Its ended now."

"I'm sorry to hear that, was it serious?"

"Serious?" Yokozawa closed his eyes for a moment, going back over the past and all the times he and Masamune had been together. How screwed up he'd been, how he was the only one he'd want to be with and the only one he'd ever call. The last time they slept together would be etched in his mind forever, knowing Masamune had done so even though he was wrestling with his feelings for Onodera as he'd showed up in his life again. And yet he still had slept with him, but the next morning, the way he couldn't look or even talk to him, Yokozawa knew he was regretting it. And then having his feelings cast aside like they were nothing, having been rejected, Yokozawa's world came crashing down. Did he have any happy memories at all about it? "Is ten years of your life serious?"

"Ten years!" Yokozawa jolted in his seat at Sakura's outburst, he not realising he had voiced what he was thinking aloud, eyes peering between Sakura and Kirishima, who had come to sit back down, though he'd no idea when that happened. He felt his face redden suddenly.

"Sakura, its not good for the baby if you shout like that. And look what I got for you, your favourite." Yokozawa listened to the Editor-in-Chief comment, he silently thanking the man for turning the conversation away from him.

"Green tea bavarian cream cake, yum!" The woman gushed happily, eating like her life depended on it as the two men watched on.

"You'll make our girl either love or hate green tea the way you eat it." Yokozawa listened to Kirishima comment knowing they were talking about their unborn child and finally realised it was going to be a little girl.

"I really should be heading back to the office." Yokozawa commented, drinking the last of his coffee, forgoing any desserts.

"Eh, but..." Sakura began, she onto her second slice of cake since her husband had sweetly offered to give her half of his.

"My team is still trying to do catch up and I've still a couple more meetings I need to prepare for."

"I see..." The salesman really hated the pout on her face.

"Why don't you come around for dinner?" Yokozawa was surprised to hear the offer coming from the Editor-in-Chief.

"That's a great idea!"

"I can't." The pout was back. "I've someone waiting at home for me."

"Eh? But you said..."

"Its a cat." Yokozawa quickly interrupted whatever it was Sakura was going to say, showing them a picture of his cute feline companion on his phone.

"I want a cat too! Zen lets buy a cat as cute as this!"

"How about we see how we go with raising a baby first?" The light haired businessman chuckled at his pouting wife.

"If your offer is still on to come to your home for dinner one evening, I'll bring Sorata with me."

"Yes!" Sakura happily quipped before letting off a small gasp.

"What is it?" Both men voiced in concern, she darting her big brown eyes up, a beaming smile on her face as she pressed her hands to her belly.

"She's kicking." Yokozawa took this as his opportunity to leave, rising from his seated position and gathered his belongings.

"Thank you for the coffee." He had tried to tell them not to bother seeing him off as they rose from their seated positions, but Sakura was having none of it as she once again gave him a hug, only this time, he finally returned it.

"Kirishima-san, Sakura-chan," He watched the two of them stare over at him. "Omedetto." The salesman lightly bowed, rising in time to see big brown eyes misted over with tears. "This little one is truly blessed, for she is going to have such a fantastic mother." He watched as she bit her bottom lip, nodding her head vigorously at his words, trying ever so hard not to become too emotional. "Take care." He gave them a small wave as he exited the coffee shop.

"Now what's this ten years business you shouted earlier?" Kirishima remarked as he helped Sakura back into the booth, knowing she wouldn't want to leave until the last crumb of the bavarian cake was eaten.

"Taka-kun's relationship with his boyfriend of ten years has ended."

"I see..."

It had been two weeks since the coffee shop catch up and though he'd not gone to have dinner with Sakura and her husband at their home, nor had he really had a chance to do another catch up, only via a few calls or text messages with his childhood friend, her husband on the other hand was a completely different story. Since they worked in the same building, he took every free chance he got and came to annoy him. Whether this was on his floor, in the break room, finding him outside at the emergency stairs having a cigarette break or just in passing he'd then drag him off to go eat or drink somewhere. The two of them received quite a few stares from both areas they worked in but no one wanted to say anything about it.

At first Yokozawa did find everything about Kirishima annoying, but one of the days he'd been dragged out to go eat a late lunch, the two of them had passed some shops and the Editor-in-Chief had ended up dragging him inside. One being a bakery, the husband buying a multitude of green tea flavoured cakes and slices. Another when they had been passing a store dedicated to mothers or soon to be mothers, Kirishima once again dragged him in, both men gazing about the place to locate the 'pink' section for little girls. After much deliberation, Yokozawa convinced Kirishima to hurry up and buy the strawberry printed outfit ensemble he'd been constantly eyeing and the cute plush toy rabbit so they could head back to the office since they were meant to be working. The man was already a doting father and his little girl hadn't even been born yet!

"Yokozawa-san," The businessman was knocked from his thoughts as he'd just returned to the Sales Department floor, his eyes drifting over to Henmi. "Your phone has been ringing quite a lot."

"Why didn't you answer it?"

"Its your cellphone, you must of left it behind when you went to your meeting."

"Ah, sorry..." The darked haired man mumbled as he picked up his phone, eyeing the multitude of missed calls and noticing they were from Sakura-chan. He excused himself, making his way to the break room and called the woman back, not knowing why she'd left half a dozen calls, but no actual messages.

"Taka-kun!"

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong?" She seemed to be quite distressed so it took him a minute or two in order to calm her down, making sure she took in some deep breaths and after a moment,

"My waters broke!"

"Why are you calling me then?" Yokozawa felt his heart hammering in his chest, considering she was a month early, but knowing he really should keep calm in order to try and keep the soon to be mother calm. "Just try and relax, remain calm and call your husband."

"I've tried, Zen's not picking up!" She was becoming quite emotional.

"Ring his mother, get to the hospital, I'll find out where he is alright?"

"Taka-kun I'm scared!"

"You'll be fine, just call Kirishima-san's mother, she doesn't live far from you so she'll be there shortly and you can get to the hospital soon. If it all gets too much, get an ambulance. I promise, by the time you get to the hospital, I'll have located your husband and he'll be at your side soon enough." When she finally hung up, Yokozawa sprung into action, reefing the break room door open, only to come face to face with Masamune.

"Takafumi," The Editor-in-Chief of Emerald was surprised to see him...and possibly a bit awkward to, but at this moment, Yokozawa had no time to spare for his friend and slipped passed him, rushing down the hallway and towards the stairwell, not bothering with the elevator as he ran up the stairs towards Japun.

"Where's Kirishima-san?" The salesman blurted out, puffing from his run up several flights of stairs.

"He's got a meeting with Shacho on the 8th floor." Yokozawa bowed gratefully, picking up the Editor-in-Chief's bag, overcoat and swiped up his phone which was vibrating on his desk. "Eh, Yokozawa-san?"

"He's got a family emergency to attend to, so he's unlikely to be in the office tomorrow." The young man nodded his head and watched Yokozawa tare out of the Japun floor.

Taking a deep breath Yokozawa knocked once on the meeting room door on the 8th floor. There was some murmurings on the inside and then he was asked to enter.

"I apologise for the intrusion." All eyes were on him, including a pair of almond ones which was slightly surprised to see him here and also to be holding all of his belongings. Calmly Yokozawa made his way over to the light haired businessman and whispered in his ear, watching, along with everyone else as the man shot to his feet, grabbing his belongings and ran from the room.

"Kirishima-kun!" An older man called after the fleeing man who couldn't care less about his work at the moment.

"His wife has been admitted to hospital." Yokozawa felt compelled to tell the men around the table. He bowed, apologising once more for the intrusion and left the meeting room, the door clicking closed behind him.

Truthfully he wanted to go running after Kirishima, because he too was worried as hell about Sakura, but she wasn't his family and instead of worrying about it he headed back down to Sales and dove straight back into his work.

Late that night, Yokozawa returned to his apartment, convenience store bought dinner in hand and completely exhausted. Entering his apartment he was greeted by his happy cat meowing for food.

"Tadaima Sorata." Yokozawa dumped his stuff onto his couch, the plastic bag from the convenience store onto his dining table and promptly picked up Sorata's food bowl and filled it up. Leaving his cat to his dinner, Yokozawa went to eat his own, stopping half way through when his phone vibrated.

"Its a girl!" Came the gushing thrilled voice of Kirishima over the phone.

"I already knew that." Yokozawa instantly responded.

"Don't you want to come and see?"

"I'm not coming this late at night!"

"But..."

"Sakura-chan was scared, it must have been a tough ordeal and she, like you and your new daughter need time to bond and lots of rest."

"Hm,"

"Are they both alright?"

"Mm, it was pretty stressful not being able to help Sakura in any way, but she did well. Sensei says our little girl is very strong so it shouldn't be long before she can come home with me."

"Don't you mean us?"

"Well..."

Yokozawa ran into the hospital and made his way straight towards the elevator. Stepping out he calmly, or as calmly as he could, made his way towards Kirishima Sakura's private room and knocked once on the door. It opened to reveal the smiling and yet tired face of Kirishima.

"You didn't have to come."

"How can I not come after you said she's yet to wake up!" Yokozawa bellowed, being hushed by the man before him as he was shown inside the room. He instantly made his way over to the bed Sakura was lying in, machines beeping around her. "What happened?"

"Sakura is dying." Wide blue eyes turned to gaze back at the man who was sitting slumped in a visitor's chair.

"What do you mean dying?"

"Is there any other way to describe it other then that?" Yokozawa left the unconscious woman's bedside and kneeled beside Kirishima, hand resting on his forearm.

"It turns out, Sakura has been sick for awhile. And its not operable."

"Kirishima-san," Yokozawa was stumped, he'd no idea what to say to the man. He watched as a bitter sweet smile graced his lips.

"All we can do is take each day as it comes, live in the now and spend as much time as we can together, the three of us as a family."

Yokozawa couldn't help it, he hugged the man without evening thinking. "If there is anything I can ever do, please let me know."

"Are you two cheating on me?" Both men broke contact, rising to be at Sakura's bedside.

"You did so well Sakura." Kirishima gently and sweetly congratulated his wife. "Hiyori-chan is doing really well."

"Can I see her?"

"She's sleeping, which is what you need to do, we'll see her tomorrow." Both men watched as she closed her eyes.

"I'll get going." The salesman responded, heading towards the door and finally realising he'd dropped the gift bag he'd brought with him earlier. "Kirishima-san," The husband turned to look at him, smiling as he pulled a teddy bear from the bag. "For Hiyori-chan."

"Its cute." Yokozawa nodded and with a fleeting look at the sleeping woman, he headed off, making his way out into the cool spring air, where as soon as he was away from prying eyes he shed his emotions. He'd lost touch with Sakura-chan 12 years ago and finally she was back in his life only to be informed she would soon be leaving it again...and this time...it would be permanently.

Three months had gone by in a flash and Yokozawa was helping Kirishima every chance he could. The Editor-in-Chief was finding it a little difficult being a single father while his wife was in hospital. Of course he had the help of his parents and his visiting in-laws, but he had stipulated that he didn't want Hiyo-chan to be constantly going from place to place since she was so young and needed for her to get used to her own room and her own home. Those around him understood.

Yokozawa felt his phone go off, picking it up and placing it against his ear while continuing to chop the potatoes.

"I've just arrived at the hospital, just about to go up and pick up Sakura. How's Hiyo-chan?"

"She was being a wriggling little worm so I placed her in the play pen so she could do as she pleased without me having to constantly watch her so I could make dinner. I think Sorata finds her quite interesting. He's watching her from the couch."

"You brought Sorata over?"

"Mm, for Sakura-chan."

"And you're cooking dinner for us?"

"Well yeah, you've been up for sometime with Hiyo-chan and then you've gone to work, now you're bringing Sakura-chan home from the hospital so I doubt you'd be up for cooking anything, not that you can actually cook."

"Well that's just mean Yokozawa."

"Yeah, yeah..."

"So what are you making?"

"Nikujaga,"

"Sakura loves nikujaga." Yokozawa grinned to himself.

"I remember. Anyway, go get her and everything should hopefully be ready by the time you get back home."

"Yokozawa we're home!" Kirishima called out to the man that had pretty much been living with him for the past three months.

"Taka-kun is here?" Sakura voiced as she removed her shoes.

"Mm, he's been helping me take care of Hiyo-chan. And he's been doing the cooking and cleaning for me since I'm crap at that."

"I see..."

"Are you jealous?"

"Eh?"

"That I've spent more time with your precious Taka-kun then you have?"

"I had ten years with him." The two made their way down the corridor.

"True, but that was 12 years ago, surely he's not the same since back then."

"Well now that I'm home I'll just have to find out won't I?"

"Not unless he clears out now that you are home. He may just run away now."

"Are the two of you quite finished?" The Kirishima's stopped bickering to stare over at Yokozawa who was just removing the plain black apron from over his business suit.

"Tadaima Yokozawa."

"Taka-kun!" Sakura dashed over giving him a hug.

"Okaeri nasai Sakura-chan." He watched her nod her head before he pulled her away. "Dinner's on the table, its nikujaga, one of your favourites." He was rewarded with a massive smile. "Hiyo's been bathed, fed and she's asleep in her cot. And I brought you a surprise." Yokozawa made his way over to the couch, picking up his feline and handed him to Sakura.

"Sorata, you are so cute!"

"Please look after him."

"Wait, where are you going?" Kirishima remarked as he and his wife watched the salesman place on his suit jacket and overcoat.

"Home."

"But..."

"Your family of three is back together again."

"Taka-kun don't run away!" Sakura voiced, placing Sorata back on the couch as she took hold of his hand. "You're our family too!" Those words meant more to him then he could actually describe.

"I'm not running, I really do need to go home. I only made enough dinner for the both of you, as a celebration that you've gotten out of hospital and selfishly I've brought Sorata over because I need you to look after him for me."

"Why?"

"I need to take some leave from work, but then afterwards I've been asked to go on a business trip too."

"Where to? How long for?"

"Sakura, give the man a break." Kirishima stood behind his wife, hands on her shoulders. "He's looked after me and our daughter very well, but Yokozawa will need time for himself now."

"But..."

"Some family matters have arisen which I need to take care of and then after that is settled I'll be on the road for a bit, I might be gone for about a month."

"A month!" Both Kirishima's shouted, the salesman shushing them for fear of waking their three month old daughter, but it hadn't worked and their was soft cries from the bedroom. Kirishima went to go get her while pouting brown eyes gazed up at Yokozawa.

"Its just a guess, I can't really place a timeframe on what I'll be doing."

"C-Can I still call you?"

"Of course."

"Ah, there's my little girl." Yokozawa watched as Sakura cooed her daughter, she gurgling against her shoulder. Hiyori truly was a little angel. "Have you been good for your Ojiichan?"

"No, no, no..." Yokozawa turned his gaze to Kirishima who was shaking his head at the comment. "He's too young to be referred to as such, it has to be Oniichan." Steely blue eyes widened and observed as Sakura seemed to agree with her husband.

"Mm, Oniichan it is then."

Yokozawa stepped forward, brushing his thumb over a chubby cheek. "I hope you cause your mother many problems like she did for me."

"Taka-kun you're so mean!" The dark haired businessman gave the couple a wave as he made his way to the genkan, slipped into his shoes and headed for the elevator.

"Yokozawa!" The said man turned just in time as he was engulfed in a massive hug.

"Ki-Kirishima-san!" To say he was surprised was an understatement.

"Thank you,"

"I-Its no problem..." Finally the Editor-in-Chief let go of him, giving him a silent wave as he stepped into the elevator, the doors closing, breaking eye contact with the handsome man. As Yokozawa hit the ground floor button, to head for the street in order to catch the train home, for the life of him he couldn't understand why the hell his heart was hammering in his chest so much and why their was a flush on his cheeks.

To be continued...