-Chapter Three-

The light knocking echoed ominously through the room before almost everyone sprung to action. Zero rushed over to the door locking it quickly and leaning against it just as an extra measure to barricade the office. Yuki started to tug on Toga arm with the naïve hope of getting him to hide somewhere. Kaien on the other hand could tell by the glint in Toga's eye and the small amused smile at his daughter's antics that he should prepare a place for Toga and his ex-wife to talk.

In Kaien's office there was a small room attached where Kaien kept his numerous filing cabinets out of the way. It had a small table and two chairs inside because paperwork could be rather tiring after all. Kaien closed all his filing cabinets and cleared the table for them, before heading back over to his desk. Even though Zero and Yuki were there with them, Kaien leaned up to kiss the younger man on the cheek.

Toga squeezed his lover's fingers to show his gratitude, but he still cleared his throat embarrassed. Kaien stepped back out of Toga's way. He was worried, but he wouldn't try to stop Toga from doing what he felt was right. After all Toga could take care of himself…Kaien just chose to ignore that at times.

Toga stepped foreword but was pulled back slightly by Yuki still firmly gripping his arm. She had planted her feet and looked ready to begin a tug of war, yet she also looked very nervous. Toga sighed softly before lifting her delicate and from his jacket and rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. He gave her a small wink before turning around and heading to the door. Yuki wandered over to her father who wrapped his arm around her protectively. Toga spared a moment to look at both his charge and Kaien's daughter.

"God these children have been in your care for too long. Look at them- they've gone into hysterics. A summer with me can fix that," Toga scowled but then flashed a cocky grin.

"Yes but then they'd just wind up drinking and swearing far more than they should," Kaien shot back.

"Oh shut up," Toga snarled as he headed to the door.

However Zero was still firmly planted in front of it and Toga moved him with a wave of the hand and a raised eyebrow. As reluctant as the silver haired boy was, he knew it was better to do what his Master said rather than literally getting pushed out of the way.
Toga took a deep breath unlocked the door and opened it calmly. His gaze met a pair of green eyes that seemed to pierce through his very soul.

'How many times did I wish I could see her eyes again?' he wondered slowly, 'Is it bad that I don't even care anymore?'

Junko looked up at her ex-husband and smiled softly. "Hi Toga," she almost whispered.

Toga felt like the breath had been knocked out of him when he heard her speak. He may have moved on from her, but she still had an angelic voice. Hell, Toga thought everything about this woman was still perfect.

Junko fought the urge to squirm as Toga looked her up and down slowly multiple times. Surely the years hadn't been that unkind to her…She shifted her son in her arms nervously.

And that was what seemed to snap Toga out of his daze. Somehow he hadn't noticed that she had a child in her arms. The little boy had her eyes and jet black hair. He smiled shyly up at Toga, but when the hunter didn't respond the child hid his face in the front of his mother's coat. Toga blinked to clear his mind before he stepped to the side and opened the door a little further.

"Come on in," he said in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner. Junko followed him into the warmly lit office and looked at everyone who was there.

"Zero how did you get here so fast?" she asked surprised.

"I uh…" Zero paused looking for the right words. Somehow 'I ran as fast as I could' would be a bit too suspicious.

"Zero's a really fast runner,' Yuki covered for him with a nervous smile, "he's great at sports but he's not on any team for anything. It's a shame really."

Junko nodded slowly and looked at Yuki ponderingly. "And who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Yuki Cross," the small brunette answered proudly.

"Cross?" Junko asked surprised.

"Yep she's my little girl," Kaien said pulling Yuki closer to him. She smiled up at her father before looking back at Junko. The stare the older woman was giving Yuki was starting to make her afraid.

"I didn't know you had a daughter," Junko said with a hint of doubt, "the last time I saw you didn't."

"Well I was living with my mom for a while and then I moved in with my dad," Yuki blurted out. It may not have been the whole truth but then again Yuki didn't think it was any of Junko's business to know anything about her past.

Junko nodded slowly and noticed the barely hidden hostility in Kaien's usually warm gaze.

'Try to be civil,' the former hunter kept reminding himself. Junko was about to say something to him when a light touch on her shoulder distracted her.

"You wanted to talk to me right?" Toga asked her.

"Yeah," she said slowly. The more she looked at Toga the more she noticed how he still looked as sexy as he had back in his early twenties…now it was just that he had matured. Junko darted her eyes away from him. Coming to stare at her ex-husband wasn't the reason for her visit.

She looked down at her son and he leant his head tiredly on her shoulder. He was still young and a lot of traveling wore him out easily. Junko looked around wondering if she could have him take a nap on one of the sofas. Yuki seemed to sense what Junko was thinking and offered, "I'll take care of your little boy while you and Sensei talk if you'd like."

Junko gave the doe eyed girl a sparing smile and nodded. She set her son on the ground and rubbed his cheeks while he gave out a tired yawn. Junko kissed his forehead and told him she'd be back soon. She then followed Toga into the filling room while he closed the door behind them.

In the main office Kaien sat back down at his desk staring at the closed doors, hoping everything would be alright. His attention then turned to his two adopted children and the little boy who'd completely captured there attention.

'He's such a little cutie,' Yuki though happily as she sat down on the floor next to him. Zero joined them after a while, and he did his best not to intimidate the child.

"I'm Yuki," the chocolate haired girl said softly, "this is Zero. What's your name?"
"Taro," came the shy response. Yuki could barely contain the squeal she wanted to let out. Taro was the sweetest and cutest little boy Yuki had ever met.

"Taro do you like to draw?" she asked thinking of a way to entertain him. Taro nodded slowly as if he was afraid to move to fast. "Well Zero is a great drawer…would you like to see him do a picture?" she inquired looking at Zero hopefully.

He leaned over and pecked her temple a sign of his consent. Kaien already had a pen and a pad of paper held out once Yuki beamed up at him.

"Thanks Dad," she said. Yuki settled down beside Zero and Taro once more, and when Yuki sat next to the silver haired teenager Taro cautiously climbed into her lap looking at the paper.

"What should I draw?" Zero asked softly. He needed to remember to keep his voice extra gentle and not snap.

"A dragon please," Taro answered hesitantly.

"Alright then," Zero said rather enthusiastically as his hand started to dance across the page. Taro smiled and craned his neck to see the picture in progress- Zero saw this so he scooted closer to Yuki so their sides were touching and Taro could see properly. Yuki leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled down at Taro when he looked up at her.
Kaien watched them in silent amazement from his desk. He was doing his best not to get chocked up at the beautiful sight in front of him. Somehow Yuki and Zero seemed to make a perfect parenting couple and Kaien wondered if he would be even more spellbound when his children actually had children of their own.

It turned out that Taro was very soft-spoken with impeccable manners. He always said please and thank you and even Zero started to feel more at ease cracking a few soft smiles around him.

In the small filling room Toga couldn't help the fond smile that spread across his handsome face. His heart warmed at the sight of his lover watching their adoptive children taking care of another child. Neither Kaien nor he had any children of their own, so Yuki and Zero filled in the role of their own kids. They were a completely mix-and-match family, but they made it work and it was something to be proud of.

However Toga had something else to focus on right then. He looked down at his ex-wife who was looking back at him with a calculating stare. It seemed as if Junko were sizing him up. It was a stare he remembered at had gotten used to in the time they were married, but now it immediately put Toga on the defensive.

"It's been a hell of a long time Junko," he said finally, "Why'd you come here?"

"I needed to see you," she said flatly.

"About what?" Toga asked.

Junko sighed deeply and Toga had to fight the urge not to wrap her in his arms. Even after everything she had put him through; there was still a part of his heart that wanted to show her kindness. He'd imagined what he would say to her the next time he saw her a lot. Toga thought he would yell and scream at her, use his words to hurt her like she had him and make her cry. But that had been a long time ago right after the divorce. Toga was older now and far more mature so he didn't need to do such petulant things. But there was still something clawing at his heart and he couldn't figure out what it was.

Junko looked up at him once more and he could have sworn there were tears swimming in her eyes.

"You really don't know why I'm here do you?" she asked a bitter tone creeping into her voice.

"No I'm afraid I don't," Toga responded with a false calm. Why was he feeling like he should be panicking?

"But you were looking right at him," Junko said despairingly.

"What are you talking about?" Toga demanded starting to get annoyed. His ex wasn't making any sense whatsoever.

"Toga do honestly not remember?" Junko asked nervously.

In turn Toga started to feel his stomach doing summersaults as his ex-wife talked to him in what seemed to be riddles, "Remember what?"

-Chapter End-

Another brutal cliffhanger! I'm sorry about that but I'm having fun doing so. I think it keeps the people who read my stories on the edge of their seats…maybe XD

Anyway I know this is appallingly late for the people who've been waiting for this and I'm sorry! D: Real life loves to get in the way of creativity -_-

Oh if you're wondering, I chose Taro's name for a few reasons. One it means "great or wonderful son" I believe. I can't remember the exact translation. I hope is name and personality fit together. He's not meant to be a little hellion even though he's Junko's son. He's mean to be very sweet and mild mannered…like the son a lot of people wish they had. XD And the second reason why I named him that will be revealed later :3

Yes I know I'm a mean mean author! XD Oh well…

Anyway please leave comments and let me know what you're thinking! Foreshadowing is somewhat okay I just won't tell you if you're right! XD

Thank you!