Happy summer holidays!
I had a tough couple of weeks, but now I had a lovely week in France without internet and all I did was, tan, swim in our private pool, I read five books each over the 200 pages, and write. I can assure you, I wrote a lot. I think it are 61 pages (in my small A5 note book, and my horrible handwriting). I spent three days typing, and translating chapter three! It will take some time before I start typing out the rest I wrote, because it's so much work, but know that chapter four and some random parts in future chapters are already finished and soon to come!
That said, I might make the next chapters a little shorter! (The previous ones were really, really long!)
What else? Oh yes, I tried a new writing technique but fanfiction wouldn't allow me to upload it like that. Boohoo. I kept it like this now, but if it's not according to my liking, or yours as reader, please tell me so I'll make a few changes.
Someone suggested in my reviews too that I should try writing in the past tense. I tried, I honestly tried. The first pages, but I couldn't do it. Maybe I'll try again later on, but it won't happen yet for now.

There's an OC I'm introducing! Last chapter ended with Kidou's father's news that he was getting married, so I needed a wife!

Thank you all for your kind reviews, they always make me smile (and I make printscreens of them so I can always reread your sweet messages on my phone).

Enjoy reading!

Kidou startled awake by a rumbling noise downstairs. With his heart thumping loudly in his throat he continues to lie motionless, waiting for a confirmation of what he just alleged to hear. Maybe it's the wind, an excuse that he always told his sister on one of their many nights alone when their parents had another one of their business trips. The reassuring words of her big brother were enough to make that anxious expression on her face vanish and she'd smile again, but her smile really beamed when her brother then suggested that they could sleep together. She snuggled against him, her head buried on his chest so that her blue hair tickled his nose, and her cold feet pressed against his warm shins. He often missed those moments with Haruna when they were separated, and she was taken by a loving couple who couldn't have children on their own. Although he and his sister hadn't had contact for years after the contracted Kageyama had drawn with his father, they still occasionally informed him about how she was doing. He missed her, but her happiness meant more to him than anything else.

Once again he heard the rumbling noise, this time it was no mistake, there is an intruder in his home. Armed with the stick, which he normally uses to open the hatch of the attic stairs, and his phone at the ready to call the emergency number, he sneaks quietly, without slippers because that could give him away if he is not careful, downstairs. He remains motionless on the stairs, there is indeed someone. In the faint light of the small garden lantern that is located in front of the window in his front yard, he sees a shadowy figure standing in the hallway. The window is half open; he has probably forced it open and wormed himself through it. He's here at the right place; if he takes the right way he'd be able to find lots of valuable paraphernalia, unfortunately for him Kidou is in a very good condition on the age of twenty-four.
"Leave before I call the police. You have less than a minute to leave the same way as you got in, and no crazy things. I'm armed." The latter is a bluff, the stick would break in half after a heavy blow on the head, and then it would leave him powerless, but that is not something the intruder has to know. The man seems startled by his voice, but then Kidou hears him chuckle, a laugh all too familiar to him. He takes a few more steps down and scans the wall in the dark for the light switch, which is located on the bottom of the stairs. When the lights flicker on he looks right into the grinning face of none other than Fudou Akio. "'sup?"

Kidou is staring at him in bewilderment, overwhelmed by the strong sense of a déjà vu. His response is still the same as six years ago, when he had told him dryly that it had been a long time since they had seen each other last. Now, years later, he is back with the same innocent look on his face as if he never left. His brown hair is long and wild, almost falling over his shoulders, but his eyes are the same as always. Sharp, green, black outlined eyes, still sparkling with mischievousness. "You can't be serious." He starts. "I have not heard from you in years and now you're breaking in and greeting me like we saw each other last week. Are you not quite right in the head?"

"Probably." He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly, and that indispensable grin reappears on his face. "Do you call that 'armed'? You wouldn't even be able to harm a piñata with that. If I had been a real bugler, you wouldn't have stand a chance."

"A real burglar?" Kidou repeats. "And then what are you supposed to be? I can't imagine you forced the window open in the middle of the night for a cup of coffee."

Fudou's expression changes. "I had nowhere else to go." Kidou is unable to suppress his sceptical tone. "You've had all kinds of lurid addresses since you were fifteen, now you come to me after all these years because you 'have nowhere else to go'?" Kidou doesn't know what makes him respond so irritated at his friend. "We are adults now; you can't run to me every time you get in trouble."

"I had no other choice." Neither his voice nor facial expression gives away any kind of emotions, but his hands are tightly clamped at his sides. Kidou exhales a sigh. "We've been over this, Fudou. You always have a choice; you're just not very good at making them. "

"But I am here now!" He snarls.

"And what makes you think this is the best choice to make?"

Fudou take a step sideways, behind him stands a girl with dark, curly (presumably Takanashi's real hair colour) and bright green eyes. She has the same eyes as her father. She's clinging firmly on Fudou's leg with her tiny hands.
"You brought her here?" He hisses softly, he is ashamed that he spoke to his friend in this manner in front of a child. "Shinobu kicked me out; can I stay here until I find a new place for us, please?"

In their nearly ten years of friendship Fudou has never asked anything of him. Everything that Kidou has done for him over the years was on his own initiative. He made sure Fudou was only suspended for a week, he helped him in the supermarket when he got caught stealing, he went looking for him after he disappeared again and he had offered him lodging because he felt like Fudou needed it. Fudou thanked him often enough, but never asked for this care, but if he had not wanted it, then he would never have accepted it, right? He has always accepted Kidou's help. He has never said so, but he, consciously or subconsciously, needed Kidou, and he needed him. Kidou sighs deeply, massaging the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "I allow it, but I'll have to discuss it first."

Before Fudou can voice his gratitude, two slender arms wrap around Kidou's waist. A kiss is pressed on his shoulder and a, for him familiar voice, asks drowsily what is going on. Kidou explains briefly why his former teammate is standing, unannounced, in their hallway in the middle of the night. The blonde scrunches her nose in disapproval as she sees him, but once the small, frightened girl catches her eye she changes her mind and agrees to taking them in. She holds the girl in her arms and takes her upstairs, so the two old friends can continue their argument in silence in their living room.

Kidou pours a glass of scotch for himself and falls into his chair. Not entirely unnoticed Fudou's eyes slide over beverage inventory that is neatly arranged in a specially made cabinet. "Still a drinking problem?"

Busted, but not ashamed, Kidou glares at him. "Still more under control than your life" He had expected that Fudou would have gotten mad and would make a sharp remark back, which would lead to a new, heated discussion, but instead he flops down on the sofa and shuts his eyes. "Touché."

Only now Kidou sees how weary his friend is. He has dark lines underneath his eyes and he's rail thing. Fudou's weight has never been average, and Kidou has seen him in a worse condition, but deep down he still hoped Fudou had led a stable life in the years that they had not seen each other. Even though he has to admit that he hadn't thought about Fudou as much after his marriage.
"How did you know where I live?" He asks curiously. "We moved recently. I assume you didn't choose the first best-rich area and walked in, and sought until you saw my name on the fence."

Fudou's face remains impassive, he doesn't think of it as funny, but it may also be due to the fatigue. "Same way as you did years ago, I asked."

"You asked? Who?"

"Sakuma."

"Oh." Kidou feels a little bit silly now. They had the same friends for four years. Unlike Kidou, Fudou did not have to ask around in, a for him unknown circuit, to get knowledge of Kidou's current address. "You're still in touch?"
"Heh," Fudou shrugs his shoulders. "We're okay, I guess. I just said I lost your address, didn't explain the rest to him." There is something different about his friend, but he is unable to put his finger on it. It's the way he looks out of his eyes. Kidou can clearly see that he is not under the influence, but there is something unusual.

"I see." He says slowly as he sips his drink. The bottle Kilchoman Loch Gorm, from the Scottish island Islay, had been unopened for three years after he received it from his father for his 21th birthday. He had wanted to save it for a memorable situation. He isn't sure whether the reunion with Fudou will turn out as memorable. His life always gets a new twist as Fudou reappears in his life, sometimes more enjoyable than the other. You never know with Inazuma Japan's Joker.
"Have you two ever made up?" Kidou is referring to the incident with Sakuma's eye patch in their first year of Teikoku Senior High, just before Fudou disappeared. He recalls that both parties were troubled with it. Sakuma struggled to forgive him that he had humiliated him in front of their classmates; he hadn't wanted them to witness the black sclera which was hiding underneath the fabric. Fudou, on the other hand, admitted he felt guilty when Kidou found him again, but he didn't know how to apologise properly. They had practiced it together, but doesn't know whether he has actually done it or not.
"We're both grownups, if he still gets upset about something that happened so far back in the past he has some serious issues." He snorts.
Kidou wants to go against it, but what's the point. It makes no sense to challenge him, and also the fatigue is clearly audible in Fudou's low voice.
"You need rest." He says, after which he finishes his glass and rises from his sitting position. "I'll show you the room you can stay in for now."
"Could you bring me to my daughter first?" Now Kidou realises what is different about Fudou's eyes. Earlier, he had seen the mischievous Fudou when he made fun of him for his weapon choice, but then he saw something he could not place. Now he sees that Fudou's eyes radiate something he doesn't know yet, and he never saw on him before, or even expected to ever see in his eyes. He has the eyes of a concerned parent.

Fudou has always been earlier with things in life than Kidou, exactly five months and twelve days earlier to be precise. It started in puberty. Fudou was the first of the two to have his voice completely changed. While Kidou still struggled with the occasional high tone in his voice, Fudou's voice became lower and heavier. It was Kidou who had been first with beard growth; however, this didn't happen to Fudou until he turned eighteen. Fudou is one of those petite guys where the hair on both the face and body just doesn't start to grown. Even now, his chest is smooth like a baby's skin.
Also with a lot less innocent things he had been the first, he claimed that his first time was during the Football Frontier International, with a four year older fan. Unbelievable, but not unlikely, it's Fudou they talking about after all. What more realistic was his first time with his girlfriend at the age of fifteen, and after he had informed Kidou with a lot of pride. Despite the fact that it had been his father and not Fudou who had introduced him to alcohol, Fudou had been the first one to have his first alcoholic drink. He had never been able to seduce Kidou with his cheap cans of beer which he took with him on their appointments in the park. The expensive wine from his father on the other hand seemed to him a lot more attractive and he hadn't turned down his father's offer when he first poured a glass for him on the age of sixteen. His father was strict when it came to rules, but he was happy to engage his son, the new flagship of the family, in the many culinary business trips.
Fudou's active life with his gang and drug involvement had never interested him until Fudou had offered him marijuana. He never thought of himself that he would ever give in to the temptation to smoke it, let alone a second time. He had not exactly been curious, but both times he had been through a gruelling period, and he couldn't say no. It felt good, he felt better, as if all of his worries had quietly vanished. Both times he had been in the familiar company of Fudou. His shared his first kiss with him. He has never regretted it; he thought of it as pleasant rather that his first kiss had been with his best friend. With him, he can always be himself and he has no endless responsibilities. They are not quite the same, and they can fly at each other's throats, but Fudou was his first real friend.

It's Saturday, Kidou has one of his rare days off, his wife is away for the weekend with her friends, and he is spending his day with Fudou, looking for a job. That he had been fired from his umpteenth job was one of the reasons that Takanashi had thrown him out. Kidou gave him the assignment to write a letter of application, while he is playing with Yara on the carpet. Fudou looks at his friend and daughter. Kidou is like his own adoption father; he is strict but also has a very sweet and gentle side. He has something caring that you wouldn't expect from a man who always conceals in a nice, three-piece suit. Kidou would be a very good father. His gaze falls on the wedding ring around Kidou's finger.
"How come that you and your wife don't have kids?" The question has left his lips before he realises. Silence. Yara doesn't seem to notice that her new playmate is derived, she is busy with the new My Little Pony Kidou's wife bought for her, something they could never afford before.
"Yuuna can't conceive." He says suddenly. "We have been trying for years, but it just won't happen." Kidou's voice sounds bitter, and Fudou gets the idea that he hasn't discussed this before with anyone. "Infertility is not excluded, but the chance of a baby is nil." Kidou's eyes wander to Yara who is still busy playing. Surely, it is almost unfair that they got Yara as accident, but a good man like Kidou who would love to have children, is still struggling to get one. The look in Kidou's eyes confirms for Fudou that he is thinking the same, but neither of them gives voice to these thoughts. Although Yara was an 'accident', he would never dare call her that. He is ecstatic with his daughter. He might be too young to have a nearly five year old daughter at this age, but he has always made sure that she has everything a child needs. No, they don't have a stable income, a big house and money for the finest clothes and the latest toys, but she has both of her parents, and a father who loves her. That's more than what he grew up with.
"I think the main reason for Yuuna to accept taking you in temporary is her." Kidou nods at Yara. "In that way she can still take care of a child." Fudou notices that Kidou finds it difficult to speak about this topic. He apologises for the inappropriate question. That Kidou shortly thereafter gets up and tells him he's bringing Yara to bed, confirms that feeling.

Fudou sits himself by the window and puts it on a crack before he lights a cigarette. How could it go wrong like this? The first months of Yara's birth were heavy, but they dragged each other through it, and Kidou had helped them much as he could until Fudou found a permanent job and they could stand on their own feet. But Fudou had a hard time keeping his job, and to find one without a high school diploma is a difficult task. In addition, Takanashi was changing, she was not the same girl he fell in love with anymore, and he was not the support which she had hoped for. This created a lot of tension, yet they persevered along with one another. They both had been combative enough to continue to fight for their relationship, their daughter. But after Fudou's fifth dismissal, coupled with the fierce argument the night before (which had been the cause that Fudou came late for work) was the last straw. She had Yara taken to one of her female friends down the street and then all hell had broken loose. She shouted at him that he is not trustworthy, financially unreliable and never would be a good father to her daughter if he could not keep a job. That had shot down the wrong way for Fudou. His own father had chosen his job over him when he left him and his mother. He would never do the same with Yara. She is his everything. He would rather live on the streets with her so he can be with her every day, than that he spends all his time at work and he barely sees her. However, this answer didn't please Takanashi and she kicked him unceremoniously out of the house.
Fudou did leave, in the first instance, but not because he didn't want to fight for his daughter. Contrary, that same evening he came back and took the sleeping Yara in his arms before he fled the house. What had seemed like such a good idea turned out to be stupid and thoughtless. He had no plan, no place for them to stay. He had said that he would do anything to be with his daughter, even sleeping on the streets, but he couldn't do this to his little princess. For a moment the thought of bringing her back crossed his mind, but then he'd risk that Takanashi would wake up, and that could lead to the possibility that he'd never see his daughter again. He still had a chance now. In a lucid moment he called Sakuma. He almost had to beg for Kidou's address. The one-eyed man apparently held no grudge against him anymore and was willing to help him. Fudou hadn't told him about Yara, he trusted the man of justice not enough for that final piece of information. The only one in his life who he still trusted is Kidou. Even now he could always turn to him. He would rather not lean on him again, he has already done so much for him, but this had not been for himself.
Fudou extinguishes his cigarette and wants to toss what remained of it through the window when Kidou re-enters the room. Just a fraction too late and discussion is inevitable. "Please put that away. Yuuna doesn't want you to smoke inside, you know that." Fudou rolls his eyes, if he wants to forbid him something he must speak for himself and not his wife. If there is anything he hates it is when married couples talk for one another. "When will you finally consider quitting? It is bad for your daughter's health too. "

"Don't involve her into this." Snarls Fudou crankily back.

"This is about her."

"Do not tell me how to raise my child!" Fudou jumps to his feet.

"I wouldn't have to if her father would be able to keep his job, not just got kicked out by his girlfriend and basically kidnapped a child!" Stab. Kidou pulls no punches, but two can play this game, and his friend picked the wrong opponent.
"That's very mature of you Kidou. I must say you have a lot of 'good advice' and I'd love to take it but I rather take my piece of advice from someone with actual experience, and I don't see any little kids waggling 'round here. So thanks but no thank you." Stab right back. Everything they tell each other in confidence can, and will be used against them any time.

"For someone without kids I know a lot more than you about the subject. Things I had to learn because you were incapable of parenting as a nineteen year old. And look at you, now you're twenty-four and you are still in the same position. Jobless and no knowledge about how to raise a child." Stab, stab. And they won't hesitate to bring up previous arguments from the past.

"Quite rich coming from someone who fucks his way into everything, literally. Your father, your job, even your own wife. What haven't you done to get married to that piece of gold?" Kidou's eyes widened behind his glasses and he turns pale. "What," Fudou scoffs. "thought I didn't know? I ain't stupid, Kidou. The whole neighbourhood knew." Kidou grabs the arm of the nearest chair; a wave of nausea is coming up. In frustration, despair and frenzy, Kidou takes it one step further to defend himself. "That's still better than driving my mother to death because of my own criminal behaviour." Final round, KO.

Both men are silent; they have just crossed a line that they shouldn't have crossed. Fudou too seems paler than usual and averts his gaze. He knows it's not true, and that Kidou doesn't mean it, but he has seriously hurt him.
"I am sorry, I shouldn't have—"
"I started this, I am sorry. You were just concerned about Yara's health and I reacted childishly because I know that you are right." Fudou cuts in.

"Your mother, that was not your fault." Fudou nods almost imperceptibly. "Don't worry about your secret." He answers hoarsely. "Nobody knows anything, but sometimes you talk in your sleep. Remember the night we got drunk together? I knew you were lying when I asked that question whether you ever shared the bed with a man. I thought that in your drunken state you might have entrusted me with it, but you didn't."
"So you kissed me?"
"I didn't know what to do; I didn't want to spill the secret. It was an impulse, in combination with the beverage. It seemed like the safest way out."

Kidou lets himself fall on the sofa in the room. He is relieved, relieved that his secret is not known in the whole neighbourhood. Relieved that Fudou is finally aware of his misery and suffering at home and he doesn't need to hide it anymore, and he's relieved that the kiss from five years ago meant nothing. It had kept him awake a number of times, but now he knows that it was Fudou's escape route. But he is not sure whether the latter feeling is truly relief.
"If you ever want to, you know…" He says awkwardly, unable to finish his sentence. Kidou smiles gratefully, but fatigued. "I know, thank you." Fudou now seems relieved too, now is not the right time to talk about it. "I didn't mean what I said about you as a parent either."

"Can we just not talk about it right now?" Fudou stares back with his green eyes. "My nerves are already shot." Kidou smiles cautiously, aware of how Fudou must now feel he fled from his girlfriend with their child. "I'm sorry, I'm tired of seeing you go through this, and frankly I am tired about not being allowed to have anything to say about it."

"I'm just trying to figure out what to do, it's ain't that easy." Fudou takes a seat next to Kidou on the sofa. Last said man scoffs. "You keep putting it off, tomorrow she'll call and apologise, and you'll go back, and then three days later you're going to end up at my front door again." Fudou lets out a displeased groan, he is not in the mood to talk about this, and he's showing it clearly. But this is exactly what Kidou is trying to say. "Why do you keep coming to me if you don't want to talk about it? Why don't you just stay at a motel?" Kidou responds viciously after Fudou's growl.
"Actually, I'll go." Fudou pushes himself on his feet. "Thanks a lot." Almost as in panic, Kidou jolts up and grabs his friend by his shoulder.
"Hey, hey! I'm sorry, I …" Kidou looks away as he searches for words to say. "I only find it difficult to see you going through this; I care about you, alright?" With his hand, which still on Fudou's shoulder, he makes an uncomfortable rubbing motion. Then a small smile plays around his lips. Fudou looks at him bitterly. "I care about you." He repeats. Fudou expression changes as they look at each other. Kidou places his hand on Fudou's cheek, his friend gazes blankly back at him. Now Kidou cups his face between both hands and tiptoes a little. He bites his bottom lip as his fingers gently stroke the brunette's cheeks. Kidou knows for sure, he is not relieved that they kissed because they were plain drunk. He does not want to kiss him under the influence of drugs. His lips are hovering over Fudou's, who slowly leans closer to him. He wants to kiss him because he wants to. Hesitantly, he kisses Fudou; he places his hand in his neck whilst pulling him closer. Fudou is unresponsive, and Kidou is overwhelmed by a feeling of guilt when he withdraws. He is married. They look at each other again on, Kidou dismayed, but Fudou's eyes are confident. He grabs Kidou by the collar and pressed their lips together. This time the kiss is led by his feelings, wild and full of passion. Every time Kidou withdraws he finds himself pressed against Fudou's lips again. The attraction they have always been aware of is finally coming out, and they are stuck together like two strong magnets. Kidou feels that Fudou is smiling; he is smiling against his lips while his hands pull Kidou's jacket down. Their foreheads pressed against each other and Kidou's thumb brushes gently over Fudou's lips.
They are sweet and tender, they are rough and fierce. Ultimately, neither of them is able to restrain any longer and Kidou leads the brunette to his bedroom, where he once he pushes Fudou down onto the mattress, lays down on top of him and the intimacy of their kiss continues. Kidou enthusiastically throws his tie off when he loosened it and then Fudou grabs him by his hips and pushes him down on the bed on his turn. Impatiently he begins to loosen the buttons of his shirt. First the shirt off, then the shirt he wears underneath it. Full of lust he then looks at Kidou's bare, hairy chest and tosses gently with his fingers through it, before pressing soft kisses following an invisible trail down until he reached Kidou's belt.
Kidou stops him; first he needs to take his shirt off. Fudou grins broadly and pulls his shirt over his head, then throws it somewhere on the floor and throws himself back on Kidou again.
A new trail of kisses and nibbling his collarbone, his shoulders, to his neck. While Kidou feels Fudou's tongue caress over his skin, he realises he has never felt this horny before. His trousers are too tight, he has to take it off, everything must be taken off. When he, almost frustrated because it is all going far too slow to his liking, tries to loosen his belt Fudou quickly assists him. Soon Kidou is only wearing his red briefs. Fudou kisses the tightly stretched fabric and a wanton moan leaves Kidou's lips. He pushes himself up and buries his face in Fudou's hair; it has a cheap, standard shampoo scent. Kidou has never smelled anything this good before. The excitement takes over his whole body, he grabs Fudou by the shoulders and they change position again, shortly after Fudou too is freed from his last piece of clothing that is now spread across the bedroom floor. Even when Kidou sits up to grab a condom the battle for dominance is not over.
Fudou pulls him by the hair back down until Kidou is pressed flat on the mattress again, and the brunette smirks suggestively. While holds Kidou's wrists firmly pressed against the mattress with the length of his arm, he uses he free hand to tear open the wrapper with his mouth and fingers. But Kidou doesn't give up this quickly, he buckles his hips up and wraps his legs around Fudou's waist, in one convenient movement is the brunette, who appeared to be on the winning side, on his side again and they roll over until Kidou is on top once again. Holding Fudou by his shoulders, he rolls with his hips in a teasing manner over Fudou's, who, despite his smaller build, fights back at the same level.
The five months older man pulls Kidou towards him and after some playful bites with his teeth on Kidou's ear, he whispers: "Yuuto, this game has lasted long enough. I want you." Kidou takes sharp breath, his body trembles and he loses all control, causing him to almost collapse on Fudou's chest. Fudou takes this opportunity to switch their positions for the last time. He won, and he is rewarded is the best price possible, Kidou Yuuto.

Kidou pushes himself up from the bed and deposits the used condoms, empty wrappers and tissues in the trash. He will later ensure that the materials they used during their intense lovemaking are better hidden. He looks at the bed, where Fudou lies. He has his arms folded behind his head and grins broadly. The tender moment has been broken long ago. The romantic atmosphere in which they had surrendered themselves completely extinguished, now they are just Kidou and Fudou again. But not entirely. Their kisses were, like the sex, not just a whim. Fudou sits up with a cigarette in his mouth, searching in his pocket for a lighter. Once he finds it, he tosses his trousers back on the floor and enlightens it. Kidou let himself fall next to his lover on the bed and crawls on his muscular chest. He holds the cigarette in front of Kidou, who takes it between his fingers and inhales deeply before giving it back to Fudou. They're lying next to each other in silence, side by side, each occasionally taking a draw from the cigarette. Normally he wouldn't be so quick to smoke with him, especially not in his own room, but today is different. "Who had ever imagined that after years of friendship we'd end up in bed together?" He snickers, but the way his fingers caress over Kidou's loose dreads is gentle. "Shouldn't we have known? You were my first kiss, and even after we promised to never do it again, we gave in whilst we were drunk. "Fudou makes a shrugging gesture. He takes one last draw and then presses the cigarette out on a fallen over picture frame with a photograph of Kidou and his wife. Kidou bites the inside of his cheek, had this all happened in his head? Was this for Fudou just another experiment to share the bed with a man? He was stupid, not different from all the girls he ever dated, he fell for the charms of Fudou Akio. It has been a long time since he had been able to enjoy sex, after all the experiences he had gone through. If Fudou regarded him as one of those men ... He wants to get off the bed but Fudou's voice stops him in his track. "Not only when we were drunk, right?" It did not really sound like a question. "We were always drawn to each other. It was more the question of when it would happen, not if. "Kidou feels his heart skip a beat, he's happy as a child on Christmas Eve. Apparently that emotion is written all over his face, because Fudou snickers once again and gently tugs on his hair. "Since when?"

Kidou looks doubtfully up at the ceiling. "I've only been aware of it since today, but I suppose it's been a while." He says finally. Fudou agrees with him. "Do you remember what you said that night when we first kissed?" Kidou doesn't have to answer, of course they both remember. "'I hate you, but I love you', somehow, that made an awful lot of sense to me." Kidou nods slowly. He had hated Fudou, but he also can't live without him. Kidou's fingers caress over his chest. He has some new tattoos since he had given Fudou one for his nineteenth birthday. There is a tribal tattoo in large, black graphic lines and figures on his left arm, which has now been extended to over its entire shoulder and a part of his back. It was complemented, as part of his birthday present, with the tattoo he previously wore on his head during Shin Teikoku. Fudou had found it appropriate, or rather hilarious, to have this put on his arm, Kidou however thought of it as less enjoyable. But it was Fudou's body, and Kidou had promised him that he could pick whatever he wanted. On his ribs he has the name of his daughter tattooed, and behind his ear the sound wave from her laugh which he had recorded during a tickle session on his phone. Takanashi and Fudou have both one; Fudou's is usually hidden behind his hair. Where the one of his girlfriend is tattooed is something he doesn't know. There's also one on his body that he has never seen before. "愛" Ai, the Japanese symbol for love, and the first Kanji of Fudou's mothers name is tattooed on his hipbone. With his finger, he caresses the black lines of the symbol. "Aishiteru." he whispers softly. Fudou pressed a kiss against Kidou's temple and hums softly. After ten years of suppressed feelings, they are finally together.

This went on, at the office, in the car, they spend a lot of time together. It sounds quite exciting, like a novel. An affair with the man of the house right under the nose of the wife. That it could have been but Fudou is not the type of swooning romance, he's a grown man with a daughter, and he knows he is unable to utilize the hospitality of the family much longer, and Kidou and his wife are still trying to have a baby. Kidou trying with all his might to keep up the appearances in order not to besmirch his good name, but Fudou has had enough of having to listen to his friend with his wife when she cries excessively. Sometimes he thinks she's doing it on purpose, she wants Fudou to be able to hear her moans in the other room. He feels dirty, as a second choice, so Kidou will have to choose or he and his daughter are gone. Kidou understands Fudou's frustration and agrees with him. There must be clarity in their relationship, he must end the suspense. He will talk with Yuuna.

Fudou gets up as Kidou enters the guest room where he resides. He wants to wrap his arm around his boyfriend's neck and force him down on the bed to celebrate, until he sees Kidou's facial expression. He doesn't look cheerful and overjoyed as he does. Kidou sinks down on the bed. He stares straight ahead of him at nothing in particular before he finally speaks up. His voice is hoarse. "Yuuna ... She ... she's pregnant." The words are like a slap in the face. Kidou's promise that they would live together, here with Yara, falls apart. For Fudou the world stops abruptly. Kidou burst out into tears, tears that consist of both relief and frustration. He doesn't know how he should feel, what he should do, what he can do. After months of torment and quarrels between the couple they finally succeeded. He will finally be a father, but the timing is a disaster. He doesn't want to be with her, he is in love with Fudou for God knows how long already, and he wants to stay with him. Fudou feels his grief and pulls the other man into a tight embrace in an attempt to comfort him. They are not getting much time together; the sound of the doorbell reaches the guestroom. Both men look up. Kidou expected it to be for his wife, she probably called all her friends already and they're standing in front of the door to celebrate the good news. Then the facade for Kidou starts again and they have to play the small, happy family together, just like they always do when they get invited by their parents for a grand dinner. There's a soft knock on the door and the blonde woman who still radiates a huge amount of happiness enters the room. "Yuuto, there are two policemen for your friend."

The two officers in uniform step into the room. "Are you Fudou Akio?" Asks one of the two men. Fudou nods and gets up from the bed. "You're under arrest for suspicion of kidnapping of the four-year old Takanashi Yara." Says the same agent, while the other loosens a pair of handcuffs from his belt. "That's insane! She is my daughter!" He rejects himself, but they're already grabbing his arms. "I don't understand, officer." Kidou joins in. "He told me that he would come live here with his daughter for a while until things would be sorted out with the mother of the child." Unconsciously, though Fudou questions this later on, Kidou spoke himself free from any charges rather than helping Fudou. "The child is reported missing, and today we were notified that they would be staying here. We have found her and the mother identified her child. They are reunited again."

"Bullshit!" He sputters, violently struggling to get himself out of the shackles. "I am as much as her parents as she is! I didn't do anything against the law!"

Kidou sighs. "Stop struggling. You are making it unnecessarily difficult for yourself." But the other man refuses to listen. Whilst ranting and raving he is escorted out of the house and pushed into the car. In the crowd he spots his ex girlfriend, who is holding Yara in her arms. His eyes are spitting fire and the curses seem to go on on an endless roll. Takanashi just shakes her head and covers the ears of the confused Yara, who is whimpering and begs her father. The whole scene seems to come from a television series. Then the car door of the police car closes and mutes Fudou's voice. When the car is coasting the street Yara looks at him with frightened eyes. "Where is daddy going?"

Kidou's heart shatters. That an innocent child as her as to experience this at her young age. Takanashi looks gratefully at him, Kidou stares back with a confused expression. She bows briefly and then gets to her car. She waves at someone behind him before she leaves with her daughter. The girl he has gotten so attached too as well. Kidou turns slowly, in the doorway stands his wife, with a satisfied smile on her face. Good riddance, her expression seems to say.
"What was that all about?" Kidou tries, but he knows the answer, he just hopes his thoughts are deceiving him. He wants her to say that she did not report Fudou to the police, but those liberating words don't come. "Now that we ourselves have a baby, we don't need Yara any longer. I now understand how important it is for a mother to be with her baby. "Hypocritical bitch, she is not even a mother yet and she already claims to understand the bond between a parent and a child? Kidou wants to yell at her, but swallows his words. Yuuna folds her hands over her stomach. "I would never want to be separated from my baby. I did what every mother would have done in my position." Kidou feels his anger stir after each word, his blood is boiling. "So you betrayed my friend?"
She laughs scornfully. "Don't you mean boyfriend?" Kidou's pupils dilate. "And there you thought that you had been able to hide your affair. I am not that oblivious, Yuuto. The two of you are madly in love with each other." Her voice is softer now. "I have always wished that you would look at me with the same eyes as you look at him." Her expression hardens. "All those times you rejected me, how does it feel to screw another guy in our bed?" She screams with a shrill voice.

"Yuuna." He says menacingly, with a correcting voice. The police car at their door had dragged a lot of attention, but this quarrel attracts even more curious locals. Thrill seekers. "As if they don't already know!" She shrieks angrily. Her red eyes, normally a shade lighter than Kidou's, are fierce and malicious. "Everybody knows that you cheated on me! My husband lets himself get taken from behind like a WHORE."

"That's enough!" Kidou strides inside and pushes his wife forward. "Have you gone insane? You're standing on the middle of our front yard making a whole commotion! What if they'd call the police because of nuisance? What if your father hears this, that his daughter took words in her mouth that he definitely did not teach you!"

"Typically Kidou Yuuto," she clicks with her tongue. "always more concerned about what others think of him than that he cares about his pregnant wife. Maybe you should have thought about the consequences before you shared our bed with someone else! That rascal has earned it; he took my husband from me! I hope he rots in jail for a very long time and that he'll never see his daughter again. And if not, then I will personally ensure it!" She incessantly rages on.

"Will you please shut up!"

Yuuna finally stops talking. Kidou has never raised his voice before towards her. His crimson eyes make him seem threatening and it for a moment it seems that Yuuna is backsliding. "Oh, honey," she takes a step forward and holds her husband lovingly in her arms. Kidou is taken aback, and doesn't push her away. "You couldn't help it, you were influence by him." Kidou is baffled, where did this come from? Are these the hormones and mood swings that Fudou told him about? "I forgive you," she murmurs, her fingers caressing affectionately over his cheek. "from now on everything will be better. It's you, me and the baby." Kidou frees himself from her grasp.
"Don't think that I will forgive you for this." Kidou wants to walk out of the room, he must arrange a lawyer for Fudou, but his wife stops him. "But love, you do not want your father finds out now, do you?" Kidou remains stock-still in the doorway.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, but I would, and I will. Anything for my baby." Kidou shuts his eyes, they have only known for a couple of hours that they will be parents, but he can't stand that word anymore already. Not coming from her mouth at least. "You know what?" Kidou straightens his back and shoulders. "I don't care. I am fed up with you, and with him. This is my life, and I wish I would have done this sooner."

"What are you saying?" Yuuna's voice trembles. Is it fear of losing him, or anger? Kidou doesn't know for sure, but he can't bring it up to care. "I want a divorce, as soon as possible." He states without turning around, with a firm voice.

"But what about your friend?" Unlike before, when her words were full of emotion, her voice has turned cold. Kidou lets out an exasperated sigh. "What about him?" This game of seeking is attention is nothing other than annoying; she is trying to buy time. Doesn't she see that they don't work together? They have broken each other's trust, and Kidou broke his wedding vows. He started this affair, he will not push the blame on her, but it is impossible to save their marriage. Not even with a baby. Especially not with a baby. "The police will be eager to hear how he raped me."

Kidou turns abruptly, he is furious. "That man is really capable of anything." She says nonchalantly. "Yes, but not rape." If she wouldn't be pregnant with his child it would have been more difficult for him to hold back. Only the thought of his unborn child that is growing in her stomach is keeping him from smashing her face against the wall a couple of times. He has more aggressiveness in his body than he thought.
"Maybe not," there arises a sly smile on her face. "But the evidence shows something else. I still have my torn panties with his semen on it."

Different scenarios are haunting Kidou. Fudou and Yuuna, in bed together, laughing because it's not Yuuna who is being cheated on, but actually Yuuna and Fudou together. Painful, but not realistic. Why would she turn him in? Is the child his, and this is her way to cover up the affair? No, impossible, then she wouldn't have told him this.

A new image appears before his eyes. Fudou pressed down and forced to have sex with her. Fudou has spilled their secret to someone and now Yuuna turned him in. Not plausible, but Fudou would do a lot if she would involve his daughter, where would he draw the line? It would be the ultimate act of revenge, but is his wife really so manipulative that she can put this amount of pressure on Fudou?

One last scenario plays itself out before his eyes, now Yuuna is laying flat on the bed. Her wrists tightly bound together and she's pressed on the mattress with Fudou on top of her. She is crying, but her cries are suppressed by the panties in her mouth, and the creaking noise of the bed. Kidou feels sick; all three scenarios are highly unlikely, but not inconceivable. How much does he know of his 'best friend' and lover, who moves from address to address, including the juvenile, and who never talks about his feelings? And how much does he know about Yuuna, four years after their forced marriage? No, he has to think rationally, his emotions are taking over. Right in time drags Yuuna's voice him out of his endless thought rut. "You should have been more careful with the condoms you dumped in the trash, darling."

Kidou can't believe what he's hearing, she went this far that she searched through his garbage? Again, Kidou feels two warm hands cup his cheeks. Her fingers feel cold against his warm skin. "So it is your choice. Start a new life with me; buy his freedom with your love." Her voice sounds leisurely, but then he feels how her nail scratches over his skin and leaves a deep cut on his cheek. "Refuse me and you send your lover to confinement." Kidou feels the blood flowing from his cheek into his neck. "Choose wisely."

When she lets go of her husband she looks at him once more and smiles sweetly. "Could you give me your shirt when you change your clothes? I will try to wash that nasty blood stain from your collar." Then she disappears into the kitchen to prepare dinner for them.

I can't seem to shake the something good happens, something bad follows! I just enjoy crushing you sometimes.

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