Hey everyone! Sorry for disappearing again. I've been trying to recover from writers block, and I actually pulled out of it after I read through my old messages on here! I really enjoyed talking to fellow authors, and even to the people who followed me. I even regret deleting my old stories! But I've been inspired.

As always, thank you to my viewers and those who left reviews; I always read them and appreciate the feedback at all time. Furthermore, please enjoy the new chapter.

Thoughts: Italicized

P.O.V. Switch: Bold

Chapter 35: Steps

Len's P.O.V.

Kaito and I left out the restuarant and began walking around the city, deciding not to go back home just yet. I actually wanted to exercise holding hands out in public so I can get a little more comfortable, because I'm sure Kaito is aware that I can get a little apprehensive. The reason for that is obviously because everyone here is reserved for the most part.

Before we could even turn the corner to go onto the next street, I felt my phone buzz in my left pocket. So I reached over and pulled it out, checking to see that it was Piko calling me; along with five unread text messages on my screen.

Kaito stopped in the midst of his footsteps once he saw me pull it out; giving me the chance to answer.

I quickly pressed the answer button and held it up to my ear, but immediately flinched once I heard Piko scream, "Same sex marriage is legal in Taiwan! It's on the news!"

"E-Eh? Are you serious?!" I began to stammer from the sudden shock. It was then that I looked over to Kaito who mouthed "What's wrong?". So I placed my hand over my phone and took a deep breath to finally tell him, "Piko just said they legalized same-sex marriage in Taiwan, and it's on the news-. ... This is unbelievable." I couldn't control the jittery feeling in my body as each word uttered out my mouth.

But just as I, Kaito's face changed almost immediately once he had heard the information.

"... That means they're the first country in Asia to legalize it!" It was then that his lips curved into a cheesy grin as he quickly pulled me into his embrace and spun me around, almost making me drop my phone. "Fuck! I don't even know what to say; I'm just extremely happy right now" paused to look at me.

My heart refused to stop jumping up and down, and with seeing Kaito this happy, it almost made me want to cry for all the right reasons. So I stood on the tips of my toes and gently kissed the side of his lips, pulling slightly away to smile at him. "I love seeing you this happy, Kaito" I told the bluenette, as if the honesty slid right off my tongue.

He wasted little to no time wrapping his arms around my waist, not caring about the passersby staring intensely hard at us.

"If they're legalized, then it's only a matter of time before it's our turn. That's why I'm so happy about this, babe. It's a huge milestone to the process" The bluenette lowered himself a little and dived in to crash his lips against mine, causing my body to stiffen a little. Pressing my lips back, I nearly slipped my tongue out to lick across his bottom lip, but before I could, he parted.

I didn't know why I felt so hazy.

The bluenette peered down at me and gave me one of his seductive smirks, keeping his arms wrapped around my waist. "Mm, you should see the expression on your face. It was looking for more" and with a quick glance of his tongue roaming across his lips, my stomach churned. "Heh, how cute-"

"They're actually doing that in public? That's disgraceful." Both me and Kaito quickly darted our heads to the right once we heard a woman say such thing, quickly averting her gaze once we looked at her.

`She really just said that? Then tried to avoid looking at us?' I looked at her in utter disbelief.

I knew Kaito was about to say something as soon as I felt his hands slip away from my waist, but as if something possessed me, and quickly held my hand up to make him stop, then turn to look at the women again. `I'm not gonna keep having him defend us; especially after him being overly happy just now.' I took a deep breath.

"Excuse me, miss?" I halted the woman and her friend, causing the two to stop in the midst of the steps and look at me. The brunette rose a brow at me, waiting. But it was then that I calmed my nerves enough to speak. "Was there something we did to bother you? Or was it just that you decided not to mind your damn business?"

It was then that I heard them gasp, along with Kaito.

The friend next to her began to stammer as the two grimaced. "D-Didn't your parents teach you how to talk to your elders?"

"Miss, don't worry about what my parents did or didn't teach me" I quickly snapped back. "When someone has a nasty attitude, I'm not going to let you walk off thinking you were entitled to being rude to people who didn't do shit to you. That's called being a bully, and I'm too old to not stand up for myself. I may be younger than you, but I'm not a child. So come at us correct, or don't say shit at all; is what I'm trying to tell you. And this is me talking to you as an adult." I tried my best to control the shakiness in my breath.

`This must be what it feels like to stand up for yourself so blatantly. It's like the same adrenaline I felt when I used to fight with my mother years ago. ... When I tried to defend myself for possibly being gay.'

"Giving an opinion is not bullying-" The brunette tried to state till I quickly interrupted her, "It is if it's not needed, not wanted, and if you are becoming the agitation to our irritation. So now that I'm done talking to you, you can go now." I lastly told the two. And with that, they slowly began walking away.

Timidly turning to look at Kaito, all I saw was him smiling a huge smile. "Who knew my babe can kill someone with kindness and be a savage with it" He then put me in a light chokehold and ruffled up my hair for a few seconds, causing me to laugh. "What changed, babe? Cause that was lit as fuck." He questioned.

"Because you were so happy, and my day got better, and then to hear that, it really made me upset to the point I-I snapped. It's probably still lingering after I snapped with my mom earlier. Besides, this is our relationship. I didn't want to punk-out anymore." I mealy smiled to him as he held onto my hand and began walking again.

"Well, I'm proud of you. We should celebrate about everything that happened today. Possibly picking up a bottle of champagne, cake, and play some video games? Then of course, topping the night off with some sex."

Squeezing his hand a little tighter, I felt my cheeks warm up. "O-Okay, lovey."