Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay, see my user info if you want more of a reason behind it. Anyways, finally we get our two boys back together. Awww!

Oh and a few things to note:

In case you don't remember him, Garamaru is from episode 100 and is a relative of Gatenmaru's. Both of them are moth youkai.

And, for those that aren't familiar with baseball terms:

DH- Designated Hitter, a baseball player who is chosen at the start of a game to bat in lieu of the pitcher in the lineup.

Enjoy, and as always- please read and review!

I'd run the words through my mind hundreds- probably thousands of times. I wanted to be able to recite it perfectly in case my brain locked up and I couldn't think up anything else.

"Hiten. I have something important to tell you. First of all, I want to say that you're one of my closest friends and I don't want to lose you. Secondly, I want to apologize for not telling you this sooner. Hiten, I'm gay. I know, it doesn't seem like I am but my friend Jakotsu is also my boyfriend. If it makes you feel any better, I'm the exclusive type. Jakotsu's been and will probably always be the only one. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before now and I hope… I hope that you'll still want to be my friend."

I glanced down at the words I'd written out. Suikotsu suggested it- a handwritten copy in case I couldn't even bring myself to talk. It seemed kind of impersonal, but it was better than sitting there in silence and not accomplishing anything.

Looking it over again, I reached for another piece of paper and began to try again. There were already several different copies that I'd made, each a little different. It was my plan to just try a couple of different approaches and then see which Suikotsu thought was best for Hiten.

It seemed like I was playing baseball with words. I had to calculate just the right curves of the ball so that Hiten wouldn't hit it away. Though so far, I think he would have been batting a hundred.

As I sat there converting the whole situation into some baseball game of life, I realized one little thing. When it came to the real game I was the hitter, Hiten was the pitcher.

I'd never been good at pitching, I was better at hitting. I was good at listening to people's problems and trying to help them out, but when it came to my own issues- things didn't go so well.

I yawned and stretched out across my bed strewn with all the papers as I began to work on yet another one. I was determined to get it just right but… but I had a sinking feeling that Hiten was going to be the one striking me out.

Chapter 9: Returning to Another State of Normal

The airport was busy for a Saturday morning, business men and women returning from their week-long trips. Vacationers using their few days off out of the week to travel to beaches and mountains far away. Relatives coming and going, visiting their families who lived in other cities. The whole place was teeming with life, and Bankotsu couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy about it.

"I should have had Suikotsu come with me… Shit, why am I here alone? I'm gonna do something stupid."

"Bankotsu?" A young girl's voice reached his ears, "Is that you?"

Glancing up from where he stood by the wall, he recognized the child.

"Souten- what are you doing here?"

The second the words left his mouth, his stomach sank.

"If she's here then Hiten's probably…"

"Mom and Dad brought me up to meet my friend as he comes home."

"Oh…" Bankotsu cleared his throat, not wanting to seem nervous, "So is Hiten with you?"

"Nah, bro's still at home asleep. Both he and Manten said they wanted to be rested up for the game today. Hey- wait, then why are you here?"

"I'm picking up my friend, he's coming back today."

"Oh- Jakotsu right? He was in…" She trailed off, not quite remembering all the details.

"Japan," Bankotsu finished for her.

"Yah- that's it! Shippou was visiting Europe with his Dad for the past two weeks, but he's coming back now so you and Hiten better watch it!"

Bankotsu laughed thinking over all the times the two young children would play games in Hiten's front yard. But his laughter slowly ebbed as his worries strangled the hope away.

"You'll let Jakotsu join us, right?" He asked awkwardly, feeling like a child asking permission to play with the popular kids.

"Sure- why wouldn't we?" Souten replied perplexed.

"Well, Jakotsu's a bit…weird."

"Weird, like how?"

"Um…well," He paused trying to figure out the best way to describe Jakotsu's eccentricities to the girl, "He likes wearing pink."

"So? I like wearing blue, if I don't like girly colors then he can wear it for me, how's that?" The young girl said smugly, crossing her arms confident of her plan for trading fashion styles.

Bankotsu blinked as he realized how easily she'd taken that in, then smiled in return, "Sounds good to me. We'll have to make sure Jakotsu doesn't mind it though, okay?"

"Okay."

"Souten- the plane's coming in now. Come on over here!" The tall, black-haired man called from over by the gate.

"Coming Dad!" She replied, "See ya later Bankotsu. Bring your friend to the baseball game so I can meet him!"

"All right… I will."

The braided teen sighed as she left, slouching back against the wall in relief.

"Well, she didn't seem to mind but… well I didn't exactly say- hey Souten, I hope you don't mind but I'm dating a guy," He drug a hand down his face, "I gotta tell Jakotsu to not play around like that when there's children present. He can be so forward sometimes…"

Glancing up, he could see Souten smiling and hugging her friend Shippou.

"It's not much longer now…" Bankotsu thought to himself checking his watch, "I guess I'd better walk on down towards his gate."

Pausing one more moment to look back at the two children, he smiled to himself and began to walk down to the next gate.

From a nearby waiting area, two teens looked up with interest as Bankotsu moved. Running his fingers through his spiked bangs, the shorter of the two yawned.

"Come on…tell me what's up. Getting up early to go out to the airport isn't exactly how I want to spend the morning before a game."

"Oh, but it will be well worth it," The taller remarked, a confident grin on his face, "That brat just pranced his way in to our school and ended up not only as the team's DH, but took my position of short-stop when he's not the DH. No one takes my positions on the team my senior year, especially some fag."

"And what does that have to do with us being here?"

"Just something I overheard the other day while in science class. Garamaru, you remember him mentioning that friend of his in Japan?"

"Sure. The whole team knows about that."

"What would you say if I told you that friend is actually his boyfriend?"

Garamaru's eyes widened, "Gatenmaru- you mean he's really…"

"If I overheard things right, a picture he was showing off to some of his friends was him in a lip-lock with another man. I'm guessing it's his beloved friend in Japan."

The two narrowed their eyes on the gate Bankotsu stood outside of.

"You know usually, I'm not into your weird schemes, but this one looks like it might be interesting. Nothing like watching that little baseball star's dreams shatter to get a day started."

"You're twisted, dear cousin, then again- that's why I think we'll both enjoy making his life a living nightmare," Gatenmaru said with a laugh, but paused when he noted Garamaru yawning again, "Is it that boring to be assisting me?"

"Nah, I'm all for the destroying of dreams, but first…" He stifled another yawn, "I think I need some coffee. I'll be right back…"

Walking across the hall to the small café, he paused to dig his wallet out of his pocket before trying to decide what to order.

"Cappuccino or Latte…" He muttered to himself as another voice piped up.

"Can I get a small coffee?"

Garamaru glanced down at the small girl, she seemed familiar.

The cashier handed her the cup and she looked up to the older boy.

"You're on Hiten's baseball team, right?"

"Ah, you're his sister, right?" He countered, finally remembering why she seemed familiar.

"Yup."

"What's Hiten doing out at the airport?" Garamaru asked, inwardly wondering if perhaps Hiten had come to meet up with Bankotsu to pick up his friend.

"He's not here," Souten replied with a shrug, "I'm just here since my friend got back from his trip. Why are you here?"

"Uh… just here to pick up a family member," He covered quickly.

"Oh- Bankotsu's here too. See," She pointed to where he waited across the way by the gate, "His friend from Japan comes back today."

"Oh really?" Garamaru intoned, playing the innocent card, "After all I've heard about him it will be nice to finally meet him."

"He said he's coming to the baseball game this afternoon. Ah well- I got to get Dad's coffee back to him, see ya then!"

Souten ran off back towards where her friend and family awaited and Garamaru just smirked.

"So he's going to be at the baseball game this afternoon? This should prove interesting… Now if only I could prove if what Gatenmaru overheard is right or not…"

"Thank you for flying with us today and enjoy your stay here. Your baggage will be available at baggage claim G."

Jakotsu stirred with a yawn as he heard the droning voice over the speakers.

"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

He looked up once again seeing Shima standing out in the aisle.

"Nope, just trying to get myself acquainted with being back home."

"Is that your…boyfriend?" She asked quietly on seeing the photo clutched in his hand.

The black-haired man smiled sheepishly on being caught sleeping with it and held it out for her to see.

"Yah, that's him all right."

"He's cute," She said with a giggle.

"Isn't he?"

Smirking proudly, he took the picture back and put it back in his bag.

"Thanks again Shima, it's nice to have someone who doesn't think I'm a monster."

She bowed slightly, "I hope you and he have a nice day."

"Me too."

Pulling the bag's strap onto his shoulder, Jakotsu slowly made his way down the airplane's narrow aisle.

"I'm home, Bankotsu."

He could see the crowd of people exiting the airplane and his eyes sought amongst them for Jakotsu. For a brief moment he worried that something had happened, that he'd missed his flight or this was the wrong one.

His mind was filled with possible changes, delays and problems until finally he saw him emerge from the doorway.

Jakotsu didn't look much different than the picture- but he was a bit taller now with a light touch of lipstick on and his hair pulled up into a messy bun atop his head.

Bankotsu wanted to- no, needed to- go to him, but his legs were frozen in place; his heart drumming loudly in his ears.

It only took a moment before Jakotsu saw him, his face lighting up as he made his way through the crowd.

"He's back. He's really back…" Bankotsu thought to himself.

The two observed each other from a distance, their eyes locked as they stood a few feet apart. It was as if they were afraid to speak or touch- the spell would be broken then.

Jakotsu moved slowly, sitting his bag beside him on the ground. Then, as he returned his attention to the young man before him he finally spoke.

"Hey there, handsome."

That was all it took. The spell was broken and Bankotsu wasted no time before rushing forward to embrace Jakotsu.

"You're back…" He whispered, his arms encircling the other man into a hug.

"I'm glad to be back," Jakotsu replied quietly as he rested his chin on top of Bankotsu's head.

The two stood there, not paying a second thought to the other people around them. For that moment it was just them in their own little world.

Finally feeling the eyes of people staring on them, Bankotsu reached down and took Jakotsu's wrist. Quietly harboring a blush he led him towards the shadows against the wall.

Leaning his head forward, his dark bangs fell into his face as he quietly murmured.

"I…I missed you."

Jakotsu moved his hand down, interlocking his fingers with Bankotsu's.

"I know. I missed you too," Gently, he tilted Bankotsu's up. Dark eyes smiling down at blue, "We have lots of lost time to make up for."

And before Bankotsu could even register the tiny voice inside his head warning him that someone could be watching, he found himself leaning into the other man's kiss.

Across the terminal hallway, a certain dark-haired man looked up from his coffee. A malicious smirk spreading across his face as his eyes fell on Bankotsu being rather intimate with his 'friend.'

"Gotcha, Asazuki."

Preview for Chapter 10:

When your world comes crashing to the ground, who will be there to pick up your pieces?