Chapter 2

He was comfortable, completely wrapped up in his warm blanket as he slept on the couch. He had needed the sleep, needed the rest from his long night of work, and he would have laid there all day if it wasn't for the hard, raspy coughing coming from his daughter's room.

Takao drew in a deep breath as he rolled onto his back, slinging his arm over his eyes to give him a moment to come out of his slumber. He just listened as more raspy coughs came from her room and with the need to check on her, he sat up and scrubbed his face of sleep.

He padded down the hall to her room and creaked open the door where the soft light of the day bled inside, lighting where she still lay in bed with her face turned towards the door. He stopped in the doorway as he saw her discomfort, how her small face was scrunched up the more she coughed. It was airy, almost wheezing and seeing the slightest glisten on her forehead, he stepped inside and went to gently sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Hey, Sweetie... What's wrong?" He asked softly, brushing his daughter's hair from her face with a soft finger.

Miki groaned as she fluttered her eyes open, looking weak and in pain as she looked up at him. Her eyes were glassy, distant and at that look, he immediately began to worry.

"I don't feel good, Daddy." She said with a grumble as she lightly rubbed her eye.

"What's wrong, Baby?" He asked, his eyes soft and calm as he rested the back of his hand on her forehead to feel it was blazing hot.

"I'm achy all over." She mumbled as she squeezed her teddy bear.

Another round of wheezing coughs rattled through her small body, and now that he was closer, he was not at all happy with how she sounded. Her coughs sounded painful and without even having to take her temperature, he knew she was running a fever. She was getting sick and on her birthday no less.

"Shit-" He exhaled, raking a hand back over his mussy hair before standing up.

He went to her dresser and pulled out some clothes for her, setting them down at the foot of the bed before coaxing her to sit up. She was grumpy, groaning and mumbling as she rubbed her eye and helped her to get some clean clothes on, being a pair of blue cozy pants and a yellow t-shirt with a bear on it. He scooped her shoulder length hair back to tie it up before tugging a sweater down to help keep her warm and after he had thrown some clothes on for himself, he put on his coat and scarf as well as hers, hoisted her up onto his hip and grabbed his keys.

The day was in its late morning, but the streets were busy and bustling with people going about their days. It was cold, but sunny, really a pretty day for his daughter's birthday, but it was lost on him since he was more worried about her health. She had laid her head down on his shoulder as he left the apartment building and started towards the bus stop with his destination already in mind. This was the last thing he needed, or wanted, but he had no choice. His daughter came first and no matter the hardship it was going to put them in, he had to get her checked out. The red light district was poverty stricken, an area of low income families and that included him, but with it, came clinics; Places people could go to get basic health care whether they had insurance, or not. He didn't like the way the cough sounded, how it wheezed in and out and how achy she looked. Just going by the expression on her face told him everything and as he reached the crowded bus stop, he stood and gently swayed as he held her close.

He waited and stared off into the distance, not really seeing anything at all as people came and went from all around him. He had wanted to spend the day doing whatever his daughter wanted, but with this development, that wasn't gonna happen. He wanted to stop by the bank to deposit his money, and he most likely still would, but it would all wait until after she got checked out by a doctor.

Finally, the bus came and hissed to a halt, opening its doors to allow passengers off before letting more on. He funneled in and dropped a few coins of change into the deposit box before finding a single seat halfway down, but he hadn't been quick enough before a scuzzy dressed teen sat and took it from him. All he did was sigh and furrow his brows, but with no more seats available, and not wanting to cause problems, he held Miki on his hip with one arm and held onto a bar with his other.

The bus started off with a jarring trundle, but with his stance a shoulder's width apart, he handled it without a problem. It was crowded, uncomfortably so, but he was no fool. His envelop of money was tucked into the inside pocket of his closed jacket so no one could get at it if they thought him an easy target. It had happened once, his earnings from a night at the club had been stolen, leaving him penniless that week and if it wasn't for his sister, he and Miki wouldn't have had money to buy food. That seemed so long ago now, as Miki was a year old, but he had learned his lesson and it would never happen again.

Finally, after what seemed like an impossible distance, the bus slowed to a stop across the street from the clinic. He had known its location because he had escorted Star there once to get her birth control, as it was late at night and she didn't feel comfortable going by herself. He had gone with her just to make sure all would be alright and after dropping her off at home, he headed home himself to see his daughter. Star was his friend and he trusted her, but she was a foolish girl at times since she had agreed to their boss's awful request. He hated it, but in the end, it was her decision; Not his.

The doors finally opened and he filled out, stopping on the sidewalk a moment to get his bearings before starting for the clinic across the street that was sandwiched between two more larger buildings. It was a family health clinic that was supported by the local hospital, Sakura Valley General, and it had been more than a saving grace for many in his area. It was always busy and today was no different as he stepped through the automated front doors.

The waiting room was packed and more than a few babies were crying despite their parents holding them and trying to hush them. It was daunting at first glance, but popping his hip, he scooted Miki up higher, wrapping his arm beneath her to support her bum and heading for the front counter.

"Good morning. Name of patient please?" Asked the receptionist; An older woman with graying hair and glasses suspended around her neck by a golden chain.

"Miki Takao." He said, resting his hand down on the back of her head on his shoulder.

"Birthday?" The woman asked.

"Today actually. She's four." Takao said with a half smile.

The woman smiled as she typed in the name and date before picking up a clipboard with an attached pen and set it down in front of him.

"Fill these out to the best of your knowledge and someone will call you." The woman said.

Takao nodded as he took the pen and clipboard, all while juggling his daughter in his other arm. He had gotten plenty of practice throughout the years and as he sat down in an empty seat that had just been vacated by a called patient, he nestled her back against his chest and started to write.

"She's adorable. How old?"

He hadn't been expecting anyone to talk to him, but when he looked up, he saw a young mother with her baby that was no older than a few months. She had short brown hair and dark eyes with pale skin. A rather plain looking young woman, but her eyes were bright and she was lightly smiling. She seemed at ease as she rocked her baby and it helped him to relax a bit as well.

"Four... Today actually." He said with a soft smile before he returned to filling out the paperwork.

"She's so cute... She looks just like you." The young mother said.

Takao nodded, "I get that a lot."

"I bet. Is she sick?" She asked.

"Yeah... She woke up with a cough this morning." Takao said blandly, just as Miki muffled her cough into the front of his shoulder.

"Poor thing. Little one here is just getting a check up." She said as she looked down at her sleeping baby.

"All my best for that. I'm hoping it's nothing serious myself." He said, flipping the page to keep working.

"I'm sure it's just a cold. It sounds nasty, so it's good you brought her." She said as she tugged the blanket closer around her child.

"Better to be safe, than sorry." He said.

The mother nodded as she watched the man's daughter rest and cough, and she couldn't help, but smile at the way she nuzzled into her father the same way she hugged her teddy bear. It was precious, and when her eyes flicked down to see the man's left hand was naked of any ring, her smile softened.

"Where's mama?" She asked, earning the man's gaze again.

"Oh um... I don't know." Takao said after a few moments of hesitation.

"She abandoned you two huh?" The mother asked.

Takao shrugged, "Yeah... I guess."

The mother tilted her head, "You sound unsure."

That stilled Takao's hand as he looked over at her, his eyes blank as he held his breath. He didn't know. He had no rightful clue where Miki's mother was, let alone who she was and whenever he was asked that question, he usually just went with whatever they assumed. It was better that way.

"Not usually something I think about. It's just me and her and that's okay." He said, deciding to leave it at that.

The woman nodded as he returned to filling out the last of the paperwork, quickly signing his name before standing to return it to the front desk. The aged woman nodded and just told him to have a seat and when he returned to the same seat, he settled in for what was sure to be a long wait.

He pulled out his phone to check his email, send a text to his sister and browse the internet to help pass the time, but he was soon bored and decided to just people watch instead as he held his little girl. He gently rocked her and rubbed her back, checked her forehead and left a kiss just to help comfort her. People came and went, were called back and after what seemed like hours, when in actuality it was only one, a name he was interested in was finally called.

"Miki Takao?" Called a nurse from the only door that lead to the back area of offices and exams rooms.

Takao wrapped his arms around his daughter and stood, threading through the sea of crossed legs and scurrying children as he made his way to the door. The nurse lead him through with the usual pleasantries as she took him to an exam room halfway down the hall, flipping up a green tag for its corresponding doctor and extended an arm for him to step inside.

"Have a seat anywhere, Mr. Takao." The nurse said, waiting at the door for him to step through first.

Takao set Miki down on the exam table and removed her coat and scarf before doing the same with his and setting everything down on the chair. He brushed his girl's hair from her face, but when he tried to take her teddy, she refused to let him have it and held it tighter.

"No, Daddy... Mr. Fuzz makes me feel better." She mumbled as she hugged her stuffed bear.

"Okay, Baby... I'm sure the nice lady will let you keep him." He said sweetly as he rubbed the small girl's back.

"I'm just gonna take your blood pressure and temperature, okay, Honey?" The nurse asked with a lofty, kind voice as she plucked the wide band from the hook along the wall.

"Okay." Miki mumbled and hid her face down on top of Mr. Fuzz's head.

All Takao could do was stand next to her and watch as the nurse gently rolled up the girl's sleeve and wrapped the band around her arm, pumping the rubber bulb at the end of the hose to make it squeeze her upper arm. She grumbled with discomfort and leaned over to cuddle her father where he slowly rubbed her back until the nurse finished and released the tension.

"Pressure is normal. Now your temperature, Honey." The nurse said before pulling the thermometer from its mount and clicking a plastic sleeve onto its probe.

The girl simply opened her mouth and allowed the nurse to stick the device under her tongue where she held it and snuggled her teddy. Her slate blue eyes were hazy and tired, exhausted from whatever plagued her, and Takao sent her a smile as he brushed her raven hair back from her face.

After a few moments, the nurse pulled the thermometer after it beeped and with a single shake of her head, she popped the used sleeve into the trash and put the probe back on the wall.

"Well, she's got something. She's running a fever of 102.5." The nurse said as she wrote it down on Miki's chart.

Takao cringed, "I figured." He sighed, but kept his hand on his daughter's back.

"I'll let the doctor know and he'll be right with you." The nurse said before picking up the chart.

Takao nodded as the nurse left the room and closed the door, leaving him to sit with Miki and wait some more. He moved the pile of coats and scarves to lay them over the exam bed while Miki rubbed her eyes and hugged her bear some more.

"I'm really achy, Daddy." She whined, softly sniffling as she started to pout.

Takao's chest spiked with ache, "I know, Honeybear, but the doctor's gonna take a look at you and make it all better." He said sweetly, scooping up his little girl and sitting down in the emptied chair to let her cuddle and rest.

Miki just nodded and stuffed her thumb into her mouth, sniffling with barely there sobs as she nuzzled down into his chest. He held her and hummed to her, comforting her through the ache while they waited. He loved holding her, loved having her rest against his chest like this and it was calming even more him. She would do it everyday when she was just a baby and she would listen to his heart into the wee hours of the morning. He loved it and there was nothing in his world that could make him feel more completely. He had his baby girl and that's all that mattered.

A soft knock sounded against the door, spurring Takao to sit up straight and hold his daughter before the door began to open, but when the doctor stepped inside, both froze and stared at each other with wide eyes of shock.

Takao couldn't breathe, couldn't think as he stared at the man, how he towered over him and stared back with familiar green eyes. His hair hadn't changed much, still being down to his ears and emerald colored, drifting over the tops of his black framed glasses. He hadn't changed at all, and he even had a small bear sticking out of the pocket of his doctor's coat. He even still had the fingers of his left hand taped up with the same kind of medical tape he had used back then.

"S-Shin?" Takao finally spoke, unable to look away from the incredibly tall man.

"Takao?... Kazunari Takao?" Dr. Shintarō Midorima asked, his mouth agape in disbelief as he just stared down.

"Do you know any others?" Takao asked, running his hand down his daughter's hair.

Shintarō finally blinked and rubbed his eyes, pushing his glasses up as he shut the door.

"N-No-... I just... It's been a long day and I didn't look at the name on the chart." He said, but made no effort to move as he set Miki's chart down on the exam bed.

Takao gripped the back of his neck, "You haven't changed since we were in school." He said lowly, managing to ignore his racing heart.

Shintarō nodded and exhaled, "Y-Yeah... I-I didn't know you were in the area." He gulped.

"Yeah... Red light district." Takao said almost too quietly.

Shintarō's brows furrowed as he picked up the girl's chart and looked at the address, "Y-You live there?"

Takao nodded, "Yeah."

"I see... A-And your wife-"

"No wife." Takao interrupted him as he began to chew on the inside of his bottom lip.

"I see." Shintarō said.

"Daddy?... Do you know him?" Miki asked as she shifted her head up to look at her father, still with her thumb in her mouth.

Takao nodded, "I do, Baby, but it's been a long time." He said, still staring up at the green haired man.

"Oh... Who is he?" She asked.

Takao exhaled long and slow, "An old friend from school."

Shintarō sucked in a deep breath and held it as the room went silent, the awkwardness heavy and drowning them both. They hadn't seen each other since high school, hadn't said a word to each other since that fateful day and the things he had said had been hurtful and heartbreaking. He had said them out of anger, but that didn't change the fact that he had said them at all. Now, his ex was sitting in his exam room with a child in his lap, in a clinic meant to care for people of poverty.

With a clearing of his throat, Shintarō decided it best to revert to his professional demeanor.

"So... What seems to be the problem?" He asked as he pulled a swivel stood over to sit down.

Takao frowned, "She says she's achy and she has a really dry... wheezing cough." He said, now avoiding his old flame's gaze as he picked Miki up and set her down on the exam bed.

"I heard you have a fever." Shintarō said, his usually prideful and stern voice far kinder as he scooted over to sit in front of her.

Miki nodded, "Mmhmm." She hummed.

Shintarō pulled a pen light from his breast pocket and clicked it on, "Can you open up nice and big for me?"

Again Miki nodded as she opened her mouth as wide as her small jaw would allow so Shintarō could shine the light into her throat. With his height, standing 6'5 ever since high school, even sitting down he could still see eye to eye with the small girl and with only a moment's look, he hummed and clicked off the light.

"Well, that explains it." Shintarō said, releasing a long exhale as he slipped his pen light pack into his pocket.

"What?" Takao asked simply as he rubbed Miki's back.

"She has strep throat. Get this prescription filled and she should be fine in a few days." Shintarō said, having fished out a script pad from his pocket and began scribbling on it.

Takao's chest began to ache, "H-How much is it gonna cost?" He asked, swallowing passed the lump building in his throat.

Hearing the barest of shutters, Shintarō stopped writing and flicked his eyes up to see that Takao wasn't looking back. He was just looking down at his daughter with pursed lips and he had spent enough time with him to know the shaky look in his eyes.

"If you get the generic version, it should be around fifteen." Shintarō said quietly as he slowly exhaled.

Takao nodded, "Alright... And the visit?"

Shintarō's lips parted with a silent gasp, "Um... Depends on what your insurance will cover."

Takao's eyes flashed with a shine, "I-I don't have any."

"What?" Shintarō asked, trying not to gasp, but it happened anyways.

"You heard me... I don't have medical coverage. I can't afford it and my work doesn't offer it." Takao said, swallowing hard as he exhaled his emotions.

Shintarō pushed up his glasses, "I see... Um," he rubbed the back of his neck, "W-Where is that?"

That earned him Takao's gaze, allowing him to see another flash of emotion, and he couldn't ignore the ache in his heart at seeing it there. He had seen it too many times, much of it having been caused by him towards the end of their relationship, but that didn't change the fact that it pained him every time to see it.

"Look... Shin, this isn't a social call-" Takao tried as he shook his head.

"I know it's not. I uh... I just wanna know... is all." Shintarō said, tearing off the script for Miki's prescription and handing it to him.

Takao exhaled as he scrubbed the back of his head, "Uh... I work at the Cotton Tail." He said, still averting his eyes from the taller man as he took the slip of paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

"The Cotton Tail?... What's-"

"Don't... Thanks for checking out my daughter. Will the front desk set up payments because I can't afford to pay all at once." Takao said sharply as he gathered up his daughter's coat and started helping her into it.

Shintarō nodded, "Yes. They should."

"Great."

Before Shintarō could say anything else, Takao had picked up his girl and left the exam room, leaving him standing there still in shock that he had inadvertently bumped into him, and at work no less. He never thought he'd ever see him again after the things he had said that day, but to see him so distant, so hesitant to speak made him think something was off. Takao never struck him as someone who would have to use a clinic for care, as he had the potential for whatever he wished, but when he dropped his head to scrub his hair, he caught sight of something he had left behind.

The girl's teddy bear.

With a sigh, Shintarō bent down and picked it up, giving it a light squeeze and digging his fingers into its plush fur that was pilled from attention. It was clear the small girl loved the bear and as he dusted it off, a nurse softly knocked and drew his attention.

"Dr. Midorima?... There's more patients." She said quietly as she leaned a shoulder against the door frame and crossed her arms.

Shintarō nodded, "Suki... What's the Cotton Tail?" He asked, looking up from the bear.

"The Cotton Tail?... Why do you ask?" She asked, furrowing her brows.

"My last patient... The single father with the little girl. He's an old... acquaintance and he left this by accident." Shintarō said as he clutched the bear a bit tighter.

"Oh... Um... Well, it's a... strip club in the red light. Pretty famous for having all good looking girls and a 'dirty little secret'," she shrugged, "At least that's the tag line. A lot of the dancers come here for care."

Shintarō's brows furrowed hard as he released his held breath into a long exhale. Something didn't feel right, didn't sit right, but what, he didn't know.

"I see," he said to himself, "Um, thank you, Suki. I'll go see the next patient." He said, before stuffing the bear into his pocket and returning to work.

Work was always hectic, always busy whenever he had to spend his time at the clinic. It was part of his duties as an attending physician, but he didn't mind since the work was satisfying and the pay was spectacular. He enjoyed his work, had worked hard for it, but after getting off his day shift around five in the afternoon, he had gone home to his townhouse where he hadn't stopped thinking since.

He couldn't stop thinking about having seen Takao, finding out in such a way that he had had a daughter in the time since high school. He didn't know that Takao was capable of such a thing, as he had always thought that he was attracted to men; Just like he was.

The sun had crawled close to the evening horizon, painting the sky deep orange that reminded him of his high school's colors. It was beautiful as he stood on his balcony that overlooked the city, listening to the classical music play from the apartment wide sound system that was wired throughout his entire apartment. It gleamed white and pristine, entirely clean and neatly arranged without a single thing out of place. It was a modern townhome, an expensive townhome, but being a doctor, it was more than well within his price range.

As the classical concerto ended, he stood up straight from leaning against the railing and headed inside, but spotting his doctor's coat slung over a chair at his black dining table, he remembered the bear. He walked over to it and pulled it from the pocket, giving it a look over and even softly smiling down at the toy as he remembered how happy the girl seemed even though she was sick. She seemed like a sweet girl and he wanted to give it back to her, but he felt like he wasn't allowed to go anywhere near the red light district apartment address that Takao had written down on the paperwork. He felt unwelcome.

Letting out a long sigh, Shintarō set the bear down and put on his warm coat before stuffing the bear into his pocket where it was safe from sight. He picked up his keys and wallet from the table, cell phone from the wireless charger on the kitchen counter and headed for his door with a singular destination in mind.

He made his way down to the parking garage and headed for his car; A sleek, black sedan with all the trimmings and creature comforts. It was beautiful and powerful, and as it beeped with its alert that the press of the button on his key fob had successfully disarmed its alarm, he opened the door and dropped into the driver's seat.

With a simple press of the start ignition button, the large V8 roared to life with a deep, guttural throttle that echoed like an angry tiger in the enclosed space of his building's parking garage. He loved its sound, loved how it sounded like a roaring dragon whenever he could put his foot down and with a simple tap of the large touchscreen, his car's navigation spoke.

"Please state your destination."

"Cotton Tail. Red light district." Shintarō said clearly as he buckled his seatbelt.

"Destination set... Turn south onto Central Blvd."

Listening to his car's direction, Shintarō put the car into reverse and backed out of his assigned spot, easing towards the exit and turning left onto the wide boulevard. Traffic wasn't awful, as it was still a weekday, but the dinner crowd had flooded the sidewalks and were disappearing into the scores of bistros, cafes and restaurants that littered the shopping district. It was a gleaming street, a beacon almost of prosperity and success and as he settled in to follow his GPS, the buildings shrank, the streets dirtied, and the streetlights turned darker.

"Your destination will be in 1000 feet." The car's GPS announced after awhile with its smooth, robotic and female voice.

Shintarō slowed his car and flicked on his blinker, pulling into the central turn lane to stop and wait for a break in traffic to turn. He listened to more classical music as he waited, watching traffic with a keen eye and once a large enough break arrived, he turned into the side parking lot of the establishment known as The Cotton Tail.

The parking lot was surprisingly full for a weekday evening, but there was still plenty of spaces for him to pull into. He found a spot near the front and under a streetlight, shutting off his car and stepping out where he locked it and checked to make sure. The area he was in was a far more dangerous area, one that was often plagued with crime and prostitution that the authorities worked tremendously hard to try and clean up, but it always seemed to persist. It was a darker area of the city, one not often talked about and as he stuffed his hands into his pockets to keep them warm, he started for the lit entrance door that was guard by a large, round man.

"ID." The doorman said gruffly, sitting his hefty size on a tall bar stool.

Shintarō nodded as he pulled out his wallet and showed the man his driver's license, "Does a Kazunari Takao work here?"

The man scoffed, "Yup. Who's asking?"

"Just an old friend." Was all he said before putting his wallet away.

"Yeah... They all say that. Rules are no touching the entertainment unless you pay and there's a one drink minimum." The doorman said as he swiped a card down the reader lock and opened the door.

"Is he working tonight?" Shintarō asked.

"Yup. Works every night." The doorman said, still holding the door open.

"Where can I find him?"

The doorman just looked at his watch and smirked with a crooked grin, "Park your ass in a shady spot and wait five minutes. You have an umbrella?"

Shintarō's brows furrowed, "An umbrella?... What for?"

"It's gonna rain soon."

He didn't know what to make of the doorman's comment, but Shintarō just pushed it aside and stepped into the club where the door shut near immediately behind him. It was so dark that he could barely see except for the nearly entirely nude woman dancing on the central runway stage with its three poles lit with LED lighting that followed the form of the stage. Tables and booths were scattered all over the floor, neatly arranged to offer the best view of the stage and everything, everything was pink, purple and blue. There were quite a lot of people all sitting around, some watching the dancer, some talking with their company while others chatted up the floor girls. He scanned the area with the hopes of seeing Takao standing in a corner just watching, but there was no one. Not even another bouncer he could ask.

Remembering the doorman's words, Shintarō unzipped his coat and headed for the giant bar that dominated the left side of the establishment, tended to by three drop dead beautiful bartenders whom all wore next to nothing other than the pasties over their nipples and the thongs leaving practically nothing to the imagination.

"What can I get you, Handsome?" The first woman asked; A tall, slender woman with obviously fake breasts and long, flowing black hair.

"Um... Gin and Tonic with lime, please." Shintarō said as he pulled out a healthy bill and set it down on the bar.

"Sure thing, Sexy." She winked at him and took the bill.

Shintarō drew in a deep breath, smelling the thick aroma of warm sugar and vanilla that surrounded every air molecule in the place. The music thumped lowly as the girl danced, swinging around the forward most pole as she locked her bedroom gaze with a group of men whom were all too happy to toss some cash onto the stage. He made no reaction as she put her naked backside towards them and bent over, giving them a full view of her as she gathered the money and stuffed it into her girdle that wrapped her rounded hips. Just by looking at her and her incredibly trimmed form, she couldn't hide the fact from his trained eyes that she had had a child at some point.

"Here you are, Sugar. One Gin and Tonic with lime." Said the bartender as she set his drink down on a printed napkin.

Shintarō nodded his thanks as he picked up the glass, "Thank you... Um... Where can I find Kazunari Takao?" He asked before taking a sip, finding the drink to be perfectly balanced and tasteful.

"Just have a seat, Baby. He'll find you." She winked again before walking away to tend to another customer.

Shintarō's brows furrowed again as he tried to figure out what she meant, but he felt awkward already that he was in a strip club in the red light district on a weekday. Strip clubs weren't his cup of tea, neither were the alternative to match his orientation, as he had always felt that they were low class and dingy. They just weren't for him, not to say someone else wouldn't enjoy them, but he just simply didn't find enjoyment.

With another sip of his drink, he headed for a booth that faced the stage and sat down, slipping off his coat and set it down neatly next to him. Things were surprisingly clean and for that, he was grateful, as he rather liked his coat and didn't want to buy a new one simply because the old had stuck to the vinyl. He sat back and sipped, continuing to scan the club with the hopes of spotting Takao, but the more minutes that ticked by, the less he was beginning to think he was in the right place.

Sparks of doubt began to ping in his chest that Takao hadn't been truthful, that he had actually lied to him about where he worked and in all honesty, he couldn't blame him after what he did. He still remembered that day as if it just happened, as if the memory was set on replay and had been since he was seventeen. The words that had flooded out of his mouth that day had been cruel, hateful even and the moment he said them, he saw a piece of Takao's soul die.

His father had found out he was gay, was in a relationship with Takao, but not wanting to disappoint the Midorima patriarch, he had chosen family over his heart. He simply switched off his caring for Takao and had screamed at him that he didn't love him, that he hated him and never wanted to see him again. He had even gone as far as to strike up a preferred relationship in his father's eyes with a girl, a fan of the basketball team just to prove to not only his father, but to Takao as well that they were done. He never cared for the girl and in fact, after only a few weeks they had broken up, but the older Shintarō got, the more he went through med school like his father wanted, the more he accepted that yes, he did, in fact, prefer men.

The dancer finished her entertainment of the men as the music ebbed away, sauntering towards the curtained exit that lead backstage. She even peaked out from the curtains and winked one last time before blowing a kiss and disappearing, and when the lights began to lower until they were just shy of pitch blackness, all he could do was watch.

A strong beat kicked off from all around, thumping hard, low and fast as the faintest of outlines stepped out from behind the black velvet curtains. He could barely see anything, but when the subtle scent of sakura blossoms hit his nose, he took in a deep breath, just on instinct, as the music began to entrance him.

The low tones of a male choir began to echo around him as the heavy trance beat thumped and the lights drew up, glowing blue and purple and lighting a huge swath of creamy skin that was trimmed and ripped with muscle. The new dancer was tall, slender, only wearing a pair of skin tight black leggings that rode low on their hips, molding into a pair of high heels that made them look even longer. One arm was covered with a long black sleeve that covered a shoulder and strapped beneath their other arm and as his jaw began to drop, his emerald gaze scanned up as Shintarō suddenly realized what all the others had meant.

Kazunari Takao wasn't a bouncer at the Cotton Tail; He was the Cotton Tail's dirty little secret and he was about to watch the show.