Dinner had been normal enough, Masaomi and Mikado had left an hour after dessert, leaving the three in the apartment to clean up, as Hotaru was a baby, she was exempt from the cleaning.

"I've got to go" Tom stated suddenly looking at his watch "Shizuo, you can have the night off, just stay here with Suko-chan"

And with those words, Tom was gone, leaving the two standing in the kitchen, kind of confused as to what had just happened. Shrugging at her brother's peculiar behavior, Atsuko simple began putting the dry plates away.

"He's done that twice this week, if I didn't know him better, I'd say he's doing drugs or something, but, honestly? I have no idea what he's doing" The obsidian tresses fell forward into her face, hiding her expression from Shizuo.

"You know, he might just be going out, to get some air or something" The smoker reasoned with the adolescent

Looking up at him, Atsuko's charcoal eyes looked drained of all life, almost dull and tired. It surprised him how she had changed in a few short hours "Lets forget the dishes, come watch television with me?"

Without further a due she scuttled off into her room, only to return a few moments later in her pajamas. Her night clothes consisted of baggy flannel pants of varying shades pink and white plaid, and a too large white tank top, hanging loose from her sides.

Shizuo had never actually seen her bare arms, they were bony, like little twigs. Atsuko simply slid on a grey cardigan, hiding a bruise on her shoulder. She braided her hair as she watched the water for Hotaru's bottle warm in the microwave. Round and round it went, her coal eyes fixed on the rotating plate.

"Hey 'Suko, you okay?" Shizuo asked from the couch where he was watching the infant rock to-and-fro in her swing.

"Hmm?" was her absentminded reply, her eyes now unfocused as she wrapped the bit of elastic around the end of her hair.

Sighing the blonde man poured the young woman a glass of wine, but only a glass of milk for himself. The microwave beeped, jerking the adolescent back into reality, she hastily made the bottle and joined the blonde on the couch. Hotaru opened her dark eyes to stare at the two who hovered slightly anxiously over her.

"That guy you're seeing, does he like Hotaru?" The blonde body guard asked curiously

Tilting her head in confusion, the mother asked "Who?"

"You're seeing more than one man? Christ, I thought you were nice"

"I am nice! I don't go sleeping around, I just don't have a boyfriend"

"Then who's coat is that?"

"It's Masaomi's, I meant to give it back to him tonight"

"Why didn't you?"

"Because he asked me to dinner again"

"You're his teacher"

Atsuko looked at Shizuo angrily "Don't you think I know that?"

There were tears in her eyes as she took a gulp of her wine. She blinked wildly for a few moments, smiling awkwardly. Shizuo shook his head and sighed, seeing a bit of the insanity glimmering in her large oculus.

"You know, we're not even together like that…he took me out for sushi once because I helped him with a project. He's practically my age, but every time I look at him I think, 'Dear god, what's wrong with this world? What's wrong with me?' and I know it's because I really shouldn't have this job." She laughed, her wine glass slightly covering her mouth "I'm giving him the wrong idea, I know I am, and- and- well, I know that I should be with someone who could actually take care of me and Hotaru."

"So if you found a new job, you wouldn't have to worry about all of that Kida Masaomi-bullshit" Shizuo nodded, sipping his milk.

Atsuko sat her wine on the coffee table before taking the infant into her arms. To Shizuo, it was the perfect picture of a mother and child, something that one day, he hoped to have, though, he doubted it's very existence now. What woman would marry him? What woman would even love him?

As if she had heard his thoughts, the young woman looked up and smiled brightly at the tow-haired man. Totally taken off guard by this, the man dressed as a bartender stood up suddenly and announced that he was going to step out for a quick cigarette.

"He's silly, isn't he Hotaru-tan? Isn't he?" The baby talk began as Shizuo shut the door "Oh 'Taru-tan you're going to be all grown up in no time"

The infant finished her meal and fell asleep, her little belly rising and falling, gently laying the child in the bassinet Atsuko scurried over to the door, sticking her head out to look for the behemoth of a debt-collector's body guard.

"Shizuo-san?" She asked quite loudly "Shizuo-san?"

"Yeah?" The blonde asked coming out of nowhere, "and I thought I told you not to call me Shizuo-san"

"I was wondering if you had come up with an answer" She smiled awkwardly

"What?" He tilted his head

"I asked you to be my Valentine Shizuo-san" Atsuko nodded shyly looking down at her feet

Staring at the young woman, Shizuo wondered what kind of sick game she was playing, asking him of all people, to be her Valentine. Who even did that kind of stuff anymore? That was for couples and seven-year-olds, no girl who was nineteen did that, unless she was purposely avoiding something.

"Who are you avoiding by doing this?" He asked, deciding to take the more straightforward approach, as he had never been on for tact.

"Masaomi" She nodded, rather bluntly, accepting his questioning gaze.

The two of them held the gaze for a long time, choosing not break the eye contact, but studying each other in the dim light. The younger eventually closed her eyes and leaned against the door frame, resigning to defeat.

"I'll be your Valentine on two conditions" He nodded as her eyes snapped open

"Really-"

"One, stop calling me Shizuo-san, I don't do anything that warrants any sort of importance or respect"

"Yes-"

"Shut up, two-"

"You can't tell me to shut up!"

"I just did, now shut up. Two, you have to stop leading that boy on, or whatever that is. It's stupid. I hate stupid things."

"And you mean it?"

"Mean what?"

Atsuko narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips into a thin line, slowly she slid back into the house. Of course, of course he would get her hopes up. Glancing over at the infant, she sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. Making a frustrated noise she marched into the kitchen and poured herself another glass of wine.

"You know, I just like making you mad sometimes. You make these amusing faces, they're all awkward, like you" The voice came from behind her

"Dear god! Shizuo-sa- Shizuo!" The onyx-maned individual held her hands over her heart "You scared me!"