A/N: Short and sort of slow-moving chapter, but a necessary filler for later chapters (or rather, the story as a whole).

Ryu knocked on the door of Ren's room in the Oedo house. Ren looked up from his work and smiled at Ryu. He couldn't say he hadn't been expecting this visit, for more reasons than one. "Come in, Ryu. Close the door."

Ryu came in and sat down. "I'm guessing that you have an idea what Shin just talked to me about."

Ren nodded. "I do. What did you tell him?"

"I said I'll think about it. What do you think, Ren? I want your input. Do you agree that it will be good for me to go into politics?"

"Depends on how you define 'good', Ryu. Will it be good for the country? Yes. Will it be good for the Oedo clan? Hell yes. But the real question for me is – will it be good for you? Will you be happy, or will you be miserable?"

Ryu sighed. "I don't know. The thing is, if not for last night's events; I would have said no immediately. But it seems like I'm going to have to think twice before accepting something as 'what I want'."

Ren's eyes sparkled in amusement. He couldn't wait to shove this in Shin's face! It was the first time Ren ever had a one-up over his perfect older brother; however accidental it was. "So do you want to talk about last night's events first?"

Ryu nodded. "Hopefully with our clothes on." He joked.

Ren laughed. Ryu being able to joke about it was a good sign. "What's the main thing that's bothering you?"

"Hmm. I'm not sure really. I guess the whole idea that I'm straight, or used to be straight… I don't know anymore! Either way, it feels like my whole life has been a lie." He grumbled.

"Ryu, you've only lost your virginity 6 years ago." Ren said with a straight face. "Even if you find out now that you are as gay as a rainbow – which I don't think you are – I wouldn't call it 'your whole life'." He teased good-naturedly.

Ryu blushed a little. "Okay fine. Maybe I exaggerated a little. But regardless, am I straight or gay or bi and how do I find out? I mean, it's not like we're still in uni and I can just sleep around at some drunken fest to find out."

"Firstly, just to make sure, you don't have a girlfriend now, right?"

"Of course not, Ren. You would be the first person to know if I had one."

"Just double-checking, Ryu. Well, normally most people would just ask you to watch some porn and figure it out on your own, but I know how much both of us loathe those fake performances. So… why don't you imagine a guy and a girl with the characteristics that you admire and see which turns you on?"

"Easier said than done, Ren." Ryu mumbled.

"Okay. I'm going to list some random people we know and even some celebrities. Rate them on a 'would bang' list. 1 being 'will not bang even if at gun point'; and 10 being 'will risk life just to bang once'."

Ryu laughed. Ren tended to have the most outrageous ideas. "Alright. Go ahead."

"Takeda Keita."

"Eww, Ren. He's like a little boy! 3."

(A/N: I absolutely LOVE Teppei Koike. I'm just saying this from Ryu's POV.)

"Satoshi Miki from our criminal law tute."

"Nyeh. 5"

"Angelina Jolie."

"8."

"Kuma."

"1, sorry."

"Takasugi Reita."

"6."

"Momoko, your last ex."

"Just her body? 8. But her bitchiness? 0."

"So you would rather shag Kuma than Momoko?"

"You are fucking disgusting, Ren."

"Okay, okay, just kidding! Umm. David Beckham."

"6."

"Victoria Beckham."

"Too skinny. But probably at least a 7."

"My secretary, Saki."

"6."

"Your paralegal. Forgot what's her name. The one with curly hair and glasses."

"Tomoko. 5."

"Gideon, our evidence law lecturer."

"That bald old guy? Okay to be honest… 6. He's old as fuck, but his brain alone is bang-worthy."

Ren chuckled. "I had a crush on him once."

"Holy shit, you too? I thought I had gone around the bend!" Ryu gasped.

"We must be attracted to smart people. Anyway, moving on. Hayato's brother, Taku."

(Interesting fact: He was played by the same guy who played Honjo in season 3!)

"5."

"Kamiya Shunsuke."

"7. He looks good as a model."

"Fujisawa Ema."

"The tall girl who co-starred with Take? 8."

"Mizushima Hiro."

"The tall dude from the same movie, right? 6."

"Yankumi."

"Ew. No offence to Shin, but 2."

"Tom Cruise."

"Surprisingly, only 6."

"Cameron Diaz."

"9."

"Kura, my ex-classmate."

"4."

"Uchi, Shin's ex-classmate."

"4."

"My sister, Kaoruko"

"Awkward much; but honestly, 7. You have good genes."

"Thanks. Tsucchi's current girlfriend, the long-legged one."

"Shit, she's fucking hot. 9."

"Yabuki Hayato."

"10. Hey!" Ryu yelled when he realized what he said. Ren smirked at him.

"I think it's safe to say that you're bi, but generally prefer girls… Unless it is a particular playboy we both know…" Ren snickered.

"Shut up. That's not fair. I mean, of course I would rate him higher; I've had a taste of the forbidden fruit, so to speak!"

"Okay, then rate Yamato and I honestly. I won't take offence or act weird, I promise." Ren offered.

"I don't want to piss you off, Ren; but Yamato is a solid 10, if only he's not your boyfriend. As to you... I'm not sure…" Ryu trailed off.

Ren looked at him cautiously. "Ryu, you know I don't think of you that way right?"

"Yeah, I know. I don't think of you that way either. But… I was practically throwing myself at you last night." He looked a little embarrassed at the confession.

"You were confused, Ryu. Your instinct was to latch on to the most dependable thing you can find; which in that case, it was me. Right now, after all that happened last night and what you have discovered now; would you rather kiss Hayato or me?"

"That's a trick question, so I'm not going to answer that. But I get your point."

"So are we good for now?" Ren asked.

"I guess." Ryu answered. There was still the whole Hayato issue to consider, but he thought that it would be a private discussion with his heart.

Ren smiled at his friend and mentee. "I fell in love with my best friend, too, remember? But yeah, take your time to go over your feelings. Just don't hesitate to talk to me if you need help."

Ryu gave him a bitter smile. "You know the sad irony that I've just realized? Even if I actually fall in love with Hayato or Kamiya or any other guy; I won't be able to date them publicly if I decide to dabble in politics. Campaigning for gay rights is one thing; but a gay politician is another thing altogether."

Ren looked at him sympathetically. Ryu was right. There was no way a gay politician would garner enough support to rise through the ranks. The Kuroda Brothers might be able to push him into the House of Representatives with their combined influence, but he would most likely be stuck there for the rest of his life.

"I can't tell you what to do, Ryu. I can only tell you to follow your heart. Prioritize all the different things in your life right now, and make a decision that you won't regret at the end of it."

"I will, Ren. Thanks for everything, by the way."

"Anytime, Ryu. Anytime at all."