Ayame sat on the floor of her living room painting a picture of Kyoya. She had decided long ago that she would try to capture him as no one else did. She could see behind those glasses and knew that a passionate man lurked beneath. Carefully selecting each paint color Ayame mixed them until they were the perfect consistency before applying them to her canvas. Feeling a strange sense of peace she studied the finished portrait. It had taken her two weeks to complete. At almost the full nine months, Ayame was tired of being pregnant.

She was also tired of not being let in on what was going on. Strange men followed her everywhere, not even pretending to be doing something else. Confronting Kyoya on the matter had only gotten a cold response and Ayame was tired of it. She was pregnant, damnit not infirm. Decision made she got up, slowly and was slightly out of breath when she did it. Putting on her dark clothes she slipped neatly past her guards' intent on enjoying a stroll by herself.

Moving slowly, she just felt the pulse of the city around her. Then without warning a sharp pain caused her to stop walking.

"Oh please not now." Ayame whispered rubbing her belly lightly. Her answer was an even sharper pain. As quickly she was able, Ayame made her way to the nearest building to call for help.

Line Break

"I don't see why you have to be in the meeting with me." Kasanoda grumbled, "It's not like you do anything for my group or your group."

"The other bosses would see me going as a sign that I trust your judgment in the running of my group." Tetsuya explained.

"I would think that would be obvious since we are combining the groups." Kasanoda retorted.

"Kasanoda you should know the protocols for these things." Tetsuyaa demurred.

"All you would do is get in the way." Kasanoda continued and Tetsuya felt his eye twitch.

"Somehow I managed to survive without you."

"Yes and how long ago was that?" Grumbling Kasanoda poured himself some sake.

Finally Tetsuya had had enough. Turning off the stove Tetsuya regarded Kasanoda calmly.

"I don't know who got up your ass today but it wasn't me so you have no cause to yell at me like this." Tetsuya had left the kitchen afterwards more than a little irritated.

Closing his bedroom door, Tetsuya lay on his bed and tried to calm himself down. Things were at their breaking point and for all that he wanted life to go more smoothly he was aware that some things were not going to change for a while. Tetsuya could acknowledge that Kasanoda was likely his soul mate. They always seemed to come back together when it mattered and now…

Hearing his bedroom door open, Tetsuya braced himself for more fighting but when it didn't come, Tetsuya resisted the urge to look at Kasanoda.

"You know this is just so much stress." Kasanoda laid down beside Tetsuya, staring up at the ceiling. "Do you think we can handle the stress of the baby and the semi legitimate dealings of the group?"

"I know we can. You forget that Ayame is the mother. She and I had a long talk about custody. Initially the baby is going to have to stay with her until he or she can take more solid foods. I can visit whenever I like so long as I give some advanced warning." Shrugging Tetsuya, snuggled down in the bed some more. "We just have to take things one step at a time to be honest I feel as though we were looking at this the wrong way. This baby is a commitment that would need to be made if you want us to be something more. I have thought this part through."

"I can tell." Kasanoda responded evenly. "Well I have stuck with you thus far, I imagine after the baby gets here things will settle some and the next big upheaval won't be until they are ready to go to school. A couple of years of cool down time isn't too bad."

Reaching out Tetsuya felt for and grabbed Kasanoda's hand clasping their fingers together. "I'm still angry though." Kasanoda spoke thoughtfully.

"What can I do about it?" Turning on his side, Tetsuya ran his finger over Kasanoda's knuckles.

"Have you noticed that we have these explosive fights and then this calm down?" Kasanoda queried.

"I think that is just us. We are passionate about certain things and each other." Tetsuya smiled at Kasanoda faintly. "That and I usually end up apologizing in the calm down." Feeling a vibration at his hip Tetsuya reached over and picked up his phone glancing at the display.

"Who is it?" Kasanoda asked.

"Kyoya." Tetsuya smiled flipping the phone open and putting it on speakerphone. "What's up Doc.?"

"Have you heard from Ayame?" Kyoya cut straight to the point.

"No…" Tetsuya blinked slowly. Glancing at Kasanoda she noticed that he had his cell phone out and was texting something.

"In your knowledge where is she likely to go? She isn't at her mother's, her job, the museums or anything else, I could think of." Tetsuya had never heard Kyoya sound anything but composed but Tetsuya could tell that Kyoya was strained.

"Knowing her she went for a walk but where specifically she went, your guess is as good as mine. Did you try her cell phone?" Tetsuya asked sitting up.

"She left it at home." Kyoya responded evenly. "My security team can't find her anywhere."

"I have the gang looking now." Kasanoda spoke quietly.

"She will be found soon or she will find her way home." Tetsuya commented. "Ayame is good that way."

"One way or another she needs to learn that she can't just up and disappear." Kyoya's voice was tight and Tetsuya shuddered lightly.

"If we see her we will send her your way." Tetsuya didn't even try to respond to Kyoya's assertion, signing off the phone and slouching next to Kasanoda again. "Is it sad that I am not the slightest bit worried about the mother of my child?"

"No. She is a big girl and strong as an ox personality wise if nothing else." Kasanoda snuggled next to Tetsuya and closed his eyes. "Between Kyoya's men and mine she will be found."

Sorry I have been gone forever but I have been writing a lot of other things. Needless to say I am trying to tie up loose ends so I have all my stories up to date and at least a few of the longer running ones completed. Thanks for reading and if you feel like it please review. I am curious if anyone is still keeping up with this because it had been forever since I updated.