Keiji and his family were excited to finally see Chosokabe again. Though they weren't directly related, growing up, he was around the family so much that they saw him as a brother. It had been a few years since their last meeting. Chosokabe had gotten a small house on the shore line. He and Mori shared it along with Chosokabe's significant other.

They were actually coming over to meet said partner. They had been hearing about this girl for almost three years, and that was two years after they started dating. Every time they were going to meet her she had ducked out by saying she had something to do.

Now they stood in the house as Toshi and Chosokabe brought in the last few things from the car.

"It's good to see you again," Keiji beamed. "Where is Mori?"

"He went out to the store but he should be back soon."

"Chika-chan," a male voice came from around the corner, "I thought I heard..." a man around Chosokabe's age stared at them as he enter the kitchen area. He wore only a loose fitting pair of pajama pants, his brown, shoulder length hair, was mused as if he had just woke up. He also had an eye patch over his right eye.

He turned around as if he was going to leave.

"Wait," the pirate grabbed the other man's elbow and dragged him back, "This is Date Masamune, my boyfriend of almost six years."

No one in the family had really expected Motochika to be gay. If anything he had been an overzealous skirt chaser the last time they saw him. That's why when he said he said he found someone the assumed it was a girl. Not to say that they were homophobic. They just never saw this coming

Matsu was the first one to snap out of her trance and digest the new information. "It's nice to meet you," Matsu put out her hand.

Masamune broke free of his boyfriends grip and turned back down the hall without saying a word.

"I'm sorry," Motochika apologized, "He's not much of a morning person. Just give me a second." He took off down the hall.

"That was rude," Matsu mumbled under her breath.

"He didn't seem fully awake dear." Toshi said. "Maybe he just..." they all paused hearing the conversation down the hall.

"You don't think you could have told me they were coming?" Masamune asked voice tight.

"I'm sorry, but every time I invite them over you suddenly find a reason to leave," Chosokabe said.

"Don't try to make me sound like the bad guy. Whenever I mention Kojuro you change the subject."

"I haven't seen them in years. You put up with Mori, this won't be any different."

"Fine, but you have to meet Kojuro now; no if ands or buts."

"So, you'll talk with them."

"Let me change first," they hear Masamune move further into the house.

Chosokabe came back, "Sorry about that. He'll be back in a second," he clapped his hands together, "So, what do you want for breakfast? I could cook something up real quick."

"That would be nice," Keiji agreed knowing better than to pass up Chosokabe's cooking.

"I'm really sorry about Masamune. I caught him by surprise with your visit, and on top of that he isn't much of a morning person," he put some coffee on as he started to crack eggs for the omelets. "Once he's awake he'll be a lot more pleasant."

As if on cue, Masamune appeared in the doorway, fully clothed as he moved to the coffee maker. He skillfully worked on making the first cup before passing it to Chosokabe. He then poured three more cups putting them down on the table alone with cream and sugar. Before sitting with them he grabbed a cup of milk for himself.

"I didn't get your names earlier."

"I'm Keiji and this is my sister Matsu and her husband Toshi. And this little guy is Yumekichi," Keiji pointed to the little monkey on his shoulder.

"Really," he turned to Chosokabe, "I thought you said no pets in the house."

"He's not going to be here that long," the pirate reasoned.

"But we could get something small, like a lizard or a ferret."

"We'll talk about it later."

Masamune huffed, pouting a bit, "He keeps saying we can't get a pet, but I doubt that something small could be much trouble."

"You'd be surprised," Keiji said, "I can't tell you how many times this little guy has caused a ruckus in the house."

Mori came home by the time they were eating. Chosokabe saved a plate for him. Masamune stayed all but silent during the conversation that was held over the morning meal. It wasn't long until the dragon excused himself saying he had something he needed to go do.

"He seems a bit anti-social." Matsu said. It was the older sister in her to automatically disapprove of the new boyfriend.

"He's still warming up to you is all." Motochika gave a tight grin.

"He's always like this." Mori rolled his eyes. "The only person he gets along with is you."

"No, it might be because I just sprung this on him. I never told him that you were coming, because I didn't want him finding an excuse to leave."

"And yet he found one anyway." Mori sighed. "What are the odds that Kojuro is suddenly going to need him to come back to the ranch for a bit, like he always does?"

"He won't. We made a deal. He'll stay if I have a sit down with Kojuro in the near future."

"Who's Kojuro?" Keiji asked.

"He is literally the evilest being I have ever met."

"I feel like that's a bit of an exaggeration." Toshi smiled hoping that he was joking.

"I'm not lying. He's Masamune's guardian. The man practically raised him. Because of the circumstances of how he ended up taking care of Date to begin with, he's very protective of him. He heard we were dating and immediately wanted to kill me. If he knew we were living together all hell would break loose."

"Maybe it's a sign." Mori mumbled but was ignored.

As the day went on Masamune reappeared now and again. Chosokabe finally convinced him to sit down and talk with everyone. The younger man tried saying that he was tired, but after a bit of pouting on Chosokabe's part, he found himself on the couch with everyone. Again he still didn't do much talking. He curled up against his partner's side dozing. It wasn't long until he actually fell asleep where he was.

"Guess he wasn't lying." Mori said. "Or he's faking it because he knows it's his turn to make dinner."

"We can just order something." Chosokabe decided.

Mori rolled his eyes pulling out the menus for them to decide what they wanted.

~.~.~.~.~

The night was starting to come to a close, and everyone retired to their respected rooms. Two guest rooms had been set up, one for Matsu and Toshi, the other for Keiji.

Keiji was taking the time to brush his teeth when he saw Mori walking by. He took the opportunity to try to talk with the other man. Anyone who knew him long enough knew that Mori had been acting weird today.

"Mori, are you doing okay?"

"I'm fine," he glared, "What would make you think otherwise?"

"Well...you're a bit bitchy-er than normal."

"I've just been having a rough year." Mori said, side stepping as if he was trying to escape the oncoming conversation.

"Chosokabe told me," Keiji nodded understandingly. Mori had fell on to hard times and needed somewhere to stay until he could get back on his feet. Chosokabe was just going to pay to put Mori up in his own apartment, but Masamune had suggested on just letting him stay with them for a while. However, Mori didn't like Masamune even though he tried to extend his kindness, or at least pretend to like Mori. He was Chosokabe's best friend, and no good would come of fighting with him.

"I don't think that's it though," Keiji said. "I know you and Masamune don't get along to well and you have your reasons for that..."

"Get to the point," Mori snapped.

"You like Chosokabe and can't stand Masamune because..."

"He's a little slut," Mori hissed out before Keiji could finish his thought, "If you heard the things I heard about him trust me, you wouldn't like him either. All he ever does is sulk and work at making sure Chosokabe takes care of him and..."

"Did you try telling Chosokabe this?" Keiji had a feeling none of it was true. Chosokabe had mentioned once or twice that the people in the town of Oshu didn't care much for Masamune. The dragon had actually left to escape the slander that he was onslaught with from a day to day basis. It was the only reason he had left his home town.

"For the most part, yes, but he says that it's not true, and that I'm over reacting. Trust me though, before he came here he was known as the biggest whore in all of Oshu."

"I doubt that..."

"You don't live in the same house as those two. The walls are paper thin and you can hear everything that they do. Everything!"

Keiji didn't know what to say to that. It must be hard to hear someone that you love with someone else. On top of that have to live with them.

Mori was already gone by the time he could think of anything to stay. The vagabond decided to just head for bed at this point. Walking past Chosokabe and Masamune's shared room he paused hearing their conversation.

"You couldn't have tried to be any more anti-social?" Chosokabe's voice.

"I'm sorry if I didn't seem too happy to see them. I never agreed with to this in the first place," Masamune restored.

"You left for hours, and then faked sleep the rest of the time."

Ahh, so he wasn't really asleep that time.

Masamune snorted, "We already went through what happened. I'll try to be more agreeable tomorrow but I'm not making any promises."

He heard Chosokabe let out a sigh, "I know something that will cheer you up."

"Really?"

"Yes, I called Kojuro while you were hiding away. He's going to be over the day after tomorrow."

"You actually talked with him?"

"Yup!"

"You have balls, I'll give you that much."

He heard Chosokabe laugh, "Knowing him he'll bring Yukimura and try to get you to go back to the ranch."

"I'm not leaving," Masamune hummed. "We both know that."

There was the sound of a kiss being shared and then the unmistakable sound of sheets rustling.

"No," he heard Masamune's voice again, "Not while your family is here."

"Masamune..."

"No, goodnight." There was the sound of one last kiss and the quiet.