Note: Alrighty then!! My..lets see...uhm I am far away from where I want to finish this story...jebus...well working hard will work too! I got two ideas hanging up my belt and I ain't starting them till I finish this!! Ahaha. Yes, watch me forget about them...gotta right them down...Man I'm sorry you guys! I updated soo long...damn. I'm sorry! Examinations and I can't afford to fail them! They're deciding if I go remedial next year and if I do, I will be torn away from the world of technology by my parents. They will lock me up in the world of boredom and constant studying. Trust me, they can do that! Well then...enough babble...get one with the story!

Chima-chan: Eh, do you like go everyday to see if there's a brand new chapter or something?? Wow you review fast! Lol. I do that. Eheheh. And then I get excited if there's a new fic! Wow..I'm such a dork..with no life...anyway..I think I'm going with my plot. Yes, I can't imagine them together but hell that's why the thing s so appealing. Watch Otani steal from Suzuki! Lol!

Lemony Dreams: I put it in earlier than expected! Lol. I got guilty from what you said. Ahaha. Well you got your chapter in right? So everythings goo! Well you can still get in your account again right??

--Oh yes...I noticed that we have been graced with more fics from other people! I'm soo glad that you guys contributed to the fandom! So thank you...and well if you missed their good stories which have awesome plots then I suggest to read them. (Please tell me if I missed some cuz I will certainly go back and add them!)

New stories out:

--A snow day by sapofbks2008
--Distance by donation
--Complex idea by sapofbks2008
--Thinking by mango love
--Blue bird by KunochiLouise

And yes fics did get updated! Yay!

Updated:

--Complexities of Love by Lemony Dreams
--Sex Ed by Rogue Amazon Boo

And I beg that the other people please update their fics! I certainly would love to read the next chapter! I'm sure others do too. Well enough with the stalling for now. On with the fic!

Chapter Six: Interventions

Otani sighed as he took a seat on the dining room chair. "Why didn't you wake me up Risa?" he grumbled out. He was never late for work. He was never absent. Now his perfect record broken by missing one damn day to sleep and get an unpleasant wake up call.

Risa gave an apologetic smile and answered, "You looked tired." It was a simple answer but very true. Even with the amount of hours he had slept he still had dark rings under his eyes. She inwardly whooped for joy. He had decided to stay instead of heading to the office like she thought he would. Mostly on the fact that the boys were pleading and that Nakao had called that he would be out to today, but he also reasoned there was no point on going at a late time anyway.

Nakao gave out a grin and suggested, "Why don't we have a little party in the backyard?" The children looked up excitedly. They had already started to chat about playing the pool with the other children that were coming.

Nobu let out an equally matching grin as she rubbed her budging stomach, "That's great darling! The guys can do the barbeque and the girls will prepare appetizers, drinks, and stuff!"

Otani watched as the three suddenly turned into a conversation that doesn't involve him at all. It seemed that they suddenly forgot he was even there as they eagerly planned the little get together. Risa and Nobu listing things they should buy and Nakao wrote them down, occasionally adding to the list. He felt like a sudden outsider again.

This is partly the reason why he didn't particularly enjoy being with his friends anymore. As they chatted, he felt like he couldn't relate. For example, Nakao and Suzuki begin talking about their sons' soccer game or basket ball game. He couldn't possibly contribute to the topic because he did not go to any of his sons' games.

As a result, he felt left out. He never liked being the fifth wheel. Not ever. He hated it as a teenager, but at that time he had Risa to be the other fifth wheel with him. Not now. They have moved into parenthood and Risa can relate to that. She handled two boys by her own most of the time right?

"Otani," Risa spoke up, "Can you call Suzuki and Chiharu? Can you tell them to come over?" He agreed with a slight nod and went over to the phone. He picked up the phone and stared at the buttons. Realization took over him and he shook his head. He doesn't know their number! As he flicked through the pages of the phone book he silently berated himself for not even knowing the simple number of his best friend for years now. It was a very small mistake but somehow it affected him a bit more than it should.

The ringing had stopped abruptly and a deep voice answered, "Ryoji residence, Suzuki speaking." Otani stopped for a moment trying to process what to say.

"Suzuki," he began, "it's Otani." He could hear Suzuki give a rather confused sound before responding, "Shouldn't you be at work?" He bite his tongue quickly, trying to stop himself from shouting. Yes he should be at work! Is it a crime that he wasn't!? Do you want him to go back to work!? Usually he wouldn't be bothered by the question but once asked the question again and again is irritating. Plus it felt like they were accusing him that it was a fucking crime to be at work all the time!

"Yeah," he answered as calmly as he could, "but I woke up late. Nakao ended up calling the office to fax the work to me." He heard a little rustling in the other end before Suzuki responded, "So..."

He almost slapped himself. Duh, ask already! "Right. We're having a small gang get together," he announced, "can your family make it?" A small pause and a shout that sounded muffled from the other end.

Suzuki returned and answered happily, "Sure. We can make it." Otani felt himself smile. He must admit though. He couldn't wait to see his old friends again. He hadn't seen them in a long time. He even wondered what had happened to them as the time passed. Perhaps Suzuki grew a mustache. Now that was promising.

"Great. See you soon. Bye." he said and hung up the phone. Suzuki with a mustache. He could picture that. He could honestly picture that. Silently he wondered if Chiharu liked kissing a bushy mouth, probably not. Well hopefully not, she wasn't the type. Then again she could have changed. It was two years since he saw them. Ironic how he never sees them when they come to visit as much as they can. Very ironic. And very sad too.

--LINE--BREAK--

Finally an hour past and Otani found himself relieving memories. He was surrounded by his old group. They chatted animatedly to each other as they ate, keeping a sharp eye at the children in the pool. Nakao and Suzuki to his left where they were locked in a huge discussion about some book they had read. To his right were the girls and boy(s?). Well it was Risa, Nobu, Chiharu, Haruka, and Seiko which he really couldn't consider a boy or girl. He certainly won't go around calling him/her and it.

He just stood there trying to comprehend their conversations as he sipped some soda. He didn't like this. He was a loner. He couldn't comprehend anything they spoke about anymore. It was like the was left behind while they had boarded another bus to parents camp. He hated that feeling. Hated it.

"Otani," Suzuki suddenly announced, "hey. Let's go over there." he pointed at the shady cabana near the other side of the pool

Nakao added, "They're too busy to really care anyway." indicating to the others. They had declared that hey needed some boy talk while they carry on their girl talks. Haruka had accepted their invitation and soon they were walking out of ear shot.

As soon as they reached the cabana the cheery moods changed into more serious ones. Otani could take in the situation. What just happened? What happened to the laughter and grins? Why the hell were they suddenly surrounded by some depression cloud!? They each sat on the cotton padded seats, around the circular glass table.

"Otani," Haruka surprisingly began, "we need to talk." His confused face suddenly changed into a more grave expression. This get together was suddenly turning into one of the fierce debates he faces when he talks to a competitor.

"About what?" he asked suspiciously as he put down his drink. Nakao who had his back turned answered, "We know what you're doing," he said casually keeping an eye on the girl that were happily chatting.

"What?" Otani answered sitting up straighter. What are they talking about? What he was doing? Don't tell him that they knew about that...that secret he kept trying to hard.

Suzuki silently muttered, "Why are you cheating on Risa?" Then it felt like the world had suddenly ended. Right then and there, it had ended for Atsushi Otani. All he could think of was one word.

Crap.

--LINE--BREAK--

Note: Sigh...i promised a long chapter but i couldn't do that again. I realized that you guys were dying of suspense (says Lemony Dreams anyway) and had to cut it short. I was suppose to continue this and stop a way different point but decided to keep it here. I guess this works too right? Sorry guys. I updated to slow. Sorry. Testing and all. Then I got a festival for my Arts School soon. I have to make sure that I finish my part to introduce to the audience.

I have to do oral reading of the story I had been working on. Joy right? And in front of such a lot of people too. Crap this. I hate this soo much but well that's life. Lol. I'll try my hardest to update faster but I can't promise either. For now, well hope you enjoyed! and comment! :