Juuzou pounded on the apartment door. He sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his baggy pants. Josei had not come into work for the last few days, and he had invited her to lunch. However, she had declined his text with a 'no thanks, I don't feel all that well'. Suzuya had grown concerned and decided to stop off to see what was up.

There was no answer at first, but after a minute or so, the doorknob twisted open and Josei stood in the doorway, giving a Suzuya an odd look.

"Where you been?" Juuzou asked, realizing this was his first time seeing his partner out of work clothes.

Her golden curls were pulled into a messy bun, and she had wha Suzuya would describe as a sarcastic expression on her face. There were bags under her crystal blue eyes, and she there was a cut running down the left side of her face. Josei had on a black crop top on, and it had a ouija board on it. She wore shredded black jeans and no shoes. She had a choker around her neck, and 'I am not afraid to keep on living' scrawled on her arm. Her entire outfit was splattered with paint.

"Home," she stated simply. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking to make sure you're okay," Juuzou said, frowning. "Are you sick?"

Josei awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah I guess."

Juuzou cocked his head. "I'm confused."

Josei sighed and stepped aside. "Why don't you come in and sit down or somethin'."

The white haired man entered the apartment and walked into the small living room. He sat down on a red couch, which a large, fluffy black blanket was strewn on.

"I'm getting some tea, be right there!" Josei called from the kitchen.

Juuzou looked around the living room. It was a complete disaster. There was an easel and unfinished canvas in the corner, and there was paint all over the floor. Paint brushes, pencils, and paper littered the ground. Suzuya was surprised to see many works of art strewn around. He leaned over and picked up a watercolor of a girl that looked like she was screaming in agony. At the bottom 'I'm not crazy' was sloppily written.

Josei walked into the room, and steaming cup of tea in her small hands. She sat down beside her partner.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Did you want any?"

"No thanks," Juuzou said, awkwardly setting the painting on the arm of the couch.

"So," she said, taking a sip. "What brings you by?"

"You weren't showing up," Suzuya said. "So I got worried. Do you have the flu or something?"

"No," Josei said vaguely. She forced a smile and then stared down at her tea.

"Then why are you home?" Juuzou asked suspiciously.

"I just wasn't doing so good," she said, still refusing to be specific.

"Meaning?" the white haired man asked slowly.

Josei just shrugged her shoulders. Suzuya let out an irritated sigh and sunk down into the couch.

"Josei, you're so confusing."

She cocked her head, crystal blue eyes wide and curious. "How so?"

"I know nothing about you except you like lollipops, that you never leave your apartment, and that you're in love with Arima."

Josei blushed at Suzuya's final statement, and she unconsciously bit her lip.

"Am not," she muttered.

Juuzou rolled his eyes. "Please. You follow him around like a puppy dog, and you always try to get his attention."

"I never do though," Josei said sadly.

Juuzou opened his mouth to tease her about the fact that she had just admitted to it, but the sadness in her eyes silenced him.

"Arima's a busy man," Suzuya said instead.

"Far to busy for me," Josei said, slumping her shoulders. "I'm not sure if he even knows I exist."

"He knows," Juuzou said. "You spilled your coffee on him, remember?"

Josei scowled at her partner. "Thanks."

"Do you ever try to talk to him?" Suzuya asked.

Josei nodded. "Yeah. But like I said, he's always busy. And when I actually do get the chance to talk to him, I mess up and stutter and say stupid stuff."

"You just have to get confidant talking to him," Juuzou said.

"I'm not the most confidant of people," she reminded him.

"I'll help you," Suzuya smiled.