Endou shifted uncomfortably; the leather beneath him simply refusing to bend to his will as nervousness struck, his cheeks tinted with faint blush. His body stiff in the foreign clothing; the tuxedo nothing like his soccer uniform, or the type of lax clothing he was used to wearing for college. Vaguely wondering why people would ever want to wear something with so little give to it - the thick layers of materials restraining any movement he wanted to make. However, his attention snapping when a warm hand was placed on top of his, only then realising how clammy his fingers were as the others heat seeped into his skin, turning his head away from the window and the moving scenery.

Relaxing slightly as he met a pleasantly reassuring face; long red hair brushed back into a loose bun, beautiful crystal pins scattered in the up-do, while stray strands framed her face, her backless dress with a high neck was simple but stunning "Is everything alright?" she asked softly, unbeknown to the goalkeeper, that she had been watching his rigid movements since they had stepped into the car, from when he showed no signs of listening to her, when she had tried to start a conversation to break the silence.

The brunet's voice hitched as he went to speak, his throat surprisingly dry "Are you sure you want me to come?" he questioned with an unusual frown knitted into his brow as he started to feel naked; missing the warmth his cotton headband bought as he had been stripped from it that evening.

"Of course, I invited you" she answered soon mimicking her partners expression "this isn't like you, is something wrong?" she pressed, wanting to get to the bottom of this before they arrived; she didn't want him feeling like this at such a big advent, she'd rather them go home.

The brunet took a sharp breath in before shaking his head "No, sorry Natsumi, I'm just not very good at this" he said truthfully, the first time at one of these big parties had been when he was in the world cup, and while that certainly wasn't the last, his experiences hadn't really gotten any better.

The redhead nodded in understanding and in the knowledge that if anything was going to happen they would just leave; she may have to attend these functions, but nobody said anything about having to stay.

The couple drew a collective sigh, as they untangled their fingers from one another when they felt the car come to a halt, pulling up on loud gravel as they could already hear the echoing music float onto the grounds from inside. Unlocking their seatbelts before Endou opened his door; the night air rushing and filling into the heated space as he stepped out, standing to the side as he waited for his partner. The redhead sliding across the seats before gratefully accepting the offered hand as she was gently pulled out, said vehicle driving of when the brunet closed the barrier shut, walking up the drive arm in arm.

It took them a good three minutes to make it up to the large marble stairs, only for them to stride through the open double doors; the chatter and the piano playing on the stage almost deafening as the walked through the long stretch of hallway and down to even more stairs before finally reaching the ballroom -Endou swearing it was at least two football pitches big.

Instantly being handed a tall glass of champagne on arrival from a nearby butler as they stood on the outside of the dance floor, the footballer only having to take one look at the drink before turning his nose up to it, it wasn't because he didn't have a tolerance, he did; a large one - some bartenders commenting that he had a stomach made of metal, but he simply didn't care for it. Alcohol was bitter, and while he could handle a little sake or beer, he found everything else disgusting, and simply undrinkable.

Looking down to the redhead, who already had her lips around the rim of the thin glass, bent down to her ear "Natsumi I-I can't -"

Said woman gestured for him to stop, smiling warmly to try and calm his nerves "Don't worry about it" she chuckled, knowing his dislike of champagne "you don't have to drink it"

His lips thinned, wanting to reply but was cut off as their heads perked, a familiar man walking towards them from inside of the crowd of suits and dress', the goalkeeper brightening in recognition "Kidou!" he exclaimed happily, the redhead also glad to see the playmaker as she watched her partner gain more of his usual vigour.

"See someone's gotten to you too" the midfielder grinned, gesturing to his forehead when seeing the brunet's troubled expression.

Endou raised his hand to his eyebrows on instinct, before something clicked "Oh, you mean my headband!" he said once realising what his team-mate meant, and that he too had lost an item of his usual dress; his goggles, his bright crimson eyes on full show "who got to you?"

Kidou laughed, one arm resting in his jacket's pocket, while his other had a glass dangling from his fingers, the content of bubbly liquid, half of it however was missing; the only thing reminding anyone that anything was gone was the small scattered droplets. The man smiled fondly at the other, and at times like these he couldn't help but think 'Good old Endou'

"Haruna, we had dinner before I arrived, you?" he questioned though he had a sneaking suspicion on who it might be. Shifting from one foot to another as he had already been standing for an hour.

The brunet shrugged with a grin, that in a lot of people's opinion, had never changed despite how much the man had matured "Natsumi." he answered, earning himself a playful jab to the arm by said woman.

But before they could get any further into the conversation, they were interrupted once again by another new arrival; the person rudely pushing passed Kidou, and instantly earning a hardened look from the goalkeeper.

"Natsumi, darling, is that you?" the condescending man asked, said redhead nodding hesitantly, unsure of whom she was speaking "what a small world!" he went on in an exclaimed voice.

"Do you remember me?, Dai Domek, we were friends when we were little!"

Natsumi frowned in thought, before the name rung true, her forehead's knot becoming knitted for a different reason; this man was just as pleasant back then as he is now. And she soon started to berate herself for being so unlucky as to meet him again, here of all places.

"It's been so long, what do you think of ditching the party, and go find our own fun, say, get to know ourselves better?" the man edging forward as he was blatantly hitting on her, his tone dripping with unsung promises and was forcibly husky. A hand slapped itself onto his shoulder from behind, stopping him from moving any further.

"She's spoken for." Kidou said after he regained his composure from the near stumble.

Dai sneered, this only tightening the grip on his arm as he was pulled back before he was released "You know these ruffians?" his face disapproving, while he didn't bother to hide his distaste for the other two men. Straightening his suit and brushing off invisible bust at the same time.

Natsumi raised an eyebrow "Yes, the man you nearly knocked over is Kidou, Yuuto" she introduced, deciding that the jerk wasn't worth gesturing for and instead tightened her hold on her lover, though it had the desired affect; the chat up artist instantly recognising the powerful name from the family that housed so much money.

"-And this is my boyfriend, Endou, Mamoru" she murmured with a slight smile, as she looked up to the brunet, who returned her gaze.

This time it was Dai's time to be confused when he was unable to pin point any Endou's in their social circle, or any important business man for that matter "And what do you do, if you don't mind me asking?" he breathed through his mouth, obviously faking his kindness.

Mamoru brighten a bit from the earlier tension "I'm a goalkeeper in soccer" he replied, hints of pride burning through the seemingly simply statement.

The man blinked before he burst out laughing, partly choking on the end as he reminded himself he had to breath, bending over slightly as he tried to stifle it "Your what?. You play with a toy ball, and that's what you do for a living?" he spat, humour still oozing out of his annoying voice.

Both Natsumi and Kidou physically twitched, not only in their own displeasure of the insult to the game they love, but also in the knowledge that their captain couldn't handle anyone speaking ill of it, and with one glance over to the brunet, they knew they were right; his fiery aura was up and burning just as furiously as ever. Endou trying very hard not to not to shatter the glass he was holding, while his face darkened as he tried not to bite the other's head off with a loud retort; he couldn't make a scene, he didn't want to embarrasses Natsumi, that was something he just couldn't do.

"Why in the world does someone as beautiful as Natsumi put up with someone like you?" he asked with venom as he bought his face closer to the goalkeeper's, getting a better look at his features before Mamoru stepped back, not liking the man so close into his personal space "your not practically good looking,…I suppose your tall - but your nothing special" he added, rubbing salt in the wound as he too stepped back.

"I -"

"She's way out of you league. Why don't you go for someone more your type, like a barmaid" he scoffed "though…you said you were a bit of a footballer, so you could always find yourself one of those wags you hear so much about in the newspaper" Dai suggested, outrage on both friend's faces, as Endou looked about ready to explode and give the loudmouth a piece of his mind.

"Come now, Natsumi, don't look at me like that: I'm only saying what needs to be said" the man cooed, trying to appease the redhead as he noticed the glares sent his way, though his words doing nothing to help the situation as she stuck close to her partner, their arms still linked.

"Putting it simply" he continued, obviously not knowing when to shut up "-you don't belong here."

Endou's breathing hitched, the little confidence he had in this foreign atmosphere shattering along with his glass, those hateful words mentally winding him as he felt himself freeze; he wasn't usually affected by words, because for him, they were merely another wall to climb, or an opinion to fight if finding it wrong. But these words, there words paralysed him, for they played on all his fears and doubts.

Natsumi flinched as she saw the glass break; she had been expecting some kind of outburst since Dai had walked up, and had been quite surprised at how Mamoru had been containing himself. The two other man were silent, Kidou, looking at his friend with slightly larger eyes then usual before they settled, concern swimming in those crimson iris'.

Finally regaining himself, Endou laughed nervously, shaking the broken shards out of his hard as he gently nudged the redhead out of the danger he had caused "I-I guess I'll need a refill" he joked, before wiggling out of the other's hold "I'll…go find someone to help clean this up" he said with his back turned as he walked into the crowd of chatting people.

"See?, when the cards are again him he folds like a cheap suit -" the insult was cut off as a hand came crasing down on to his cheek, a resounding slap was made at the contact as his head was forced to the side by the strength "W-wha-"

Flexing her fingers, Natsumi smiled sweetly, her skin also stinging. Kidou making a quick mental note not to get on her bad side "You'll have to excuse Endou, he seems to be a little shy today" she chirped, her sudden chipper mood scaring both men "what he forgot to mention was that he represents Japan as their captain, and has, more then once, bought our team to victory" she laughed, Dai paling considerably.

"So, you see, just because he's being a bit bashful, doesn't mean I will" she said in a warning manner, her tone edged with ice as she scowled at the man, before turning to the midfielder with softer eyes "I'll be looking forward to seeing you at practice, Kidou. Remember to bring the new uniform" she added.

"Right." he nodded, watching as the redhead, too, entered the flood of people as she scanned for a tall brunet, leaving behind her one very startled, very sore and sober businessman, and Kidou couldn't help but think that they were both lucky to have one another.

A/N -

So humour me, this is in the future, where Natsumi is a manager for Japan, and Kidou and Endou are still players. I actually had doubts about wether or not to put this under GO instead, since this does happen later on, but I decided against it.

This kind of sprung from me wondering how Mamoru would fit into Natsumi's life style, I mean she is quite rich, isn't she?, and that got me thinking on how her friends would treat him, and how they would both react, I had a lot of fun with this since Natsumi still had her temper from before she met Endou and started to soften out.

I know that, maybe, I made Endou un-Endou-like, but he is a very sensitive person, and since this is his first relationship, I think that this could happen.

Anyway, this is my first Inazuma so go easy on me, I'm still getting used to writing for these characters, but I hope it's still enjoyable and not to OC.

Oh and by the way, before I forget, this is just a two-shot, it might go up to three, but I'm afraid thats it.

I Apologise if there are any mistakes in my spelling/ grammar, or if you find anything I have written offensive.

Thank you to everyone who added 'Pedigree' to their favorites/ alerts or who took the time to review, you also have my gratitude for reading.

OW