Hello! Exams are over for now, and that gave me time to finish this! The last part took me so long, I only wrote three lines and then closed it again. I just wasn't in the mood to write. (And I got addicted to a game,Undertale). But I finally finished it yesterday, and finished translating today!

A little promise that this chapter will be better than the last one! There's more Fudou, and Kidou's still a dick.

Enjoy reading!

The loose pebbles crunch under his once white worn-out sneakers. He always thought of this as a pleasant feeling, it reminds him of the walks through the woods he made with his mother when he was a little boy. The warm wind rushes through his thin clothes and takes a strong sea breeze along with it. He has only been to the beach once before, when his father had been still living with them. He had had a day off, it was a warm summer day, and his mother wanted to go to the beach with them. First reluctantly, his father pushed him into the car and had drove them to the beach while muttering to himself.

As the buzz and grey colours of the city made place for green trees his father started to enjoy himself more, and while whistling a merry tune he pulled on the coloured wagon, which had been full with plastic chairs, a parasol, a cooler for their drinks, and the small Akio. He remembers how his mother had loosened the straps of his shoes once they reached the beach and let him feel the warm sand between his toes for the first time. It did not feel very different from the sand in the sandbox they had in the kindergarten, but not wanting to disappoint his mother, he nodded obediently when she asked him if he liked it.

The rest of the day his parents did their very best to make it to their son's liking. They made tiny sand cakes (they didn't even taste like cake!), he built a sand castle with his father and the three of them walked into the sea together. A parent on each hand. His mother had been smiling all day. He remembers how his father had carried his mother into the water, and they fell in together after his mother kept struggling. He was afraid that daddy had hurt mommy, or that his father was angry because it was his mother's fault that they were soaked. But that didn't happen. They were still laughing, his father had even kissed mama on her mouth. He had never see them do that before. It's one of his fondest memories of his parents. He had been four years old.

Fudou pulls himself up on a rock, looking over the sea. The waves are hurtling down and the white foam rolls roll further until they burst apart on the rocks, and the water is pushed upwards by the force over the rocks. While the water slides off another wave follows, and it all starts over again. Wave after wave, it doesn't stop, the waves never take a break. He turns around, his eyes scanning the crowd until he sees his friend. He is wearing a white shirt with short sleeves, navy shorts and bright white sneakers he specially bought for this occasion.

"Oi, Yuuto! Slow turtle, hurry up!" He calls out with an unusual amount of joy in his voice. The man with the dreadlocks waves at him, stepping from stone to stone in order to get near his friend. "I won." He states with a smug grin as Kidou, huffing and puffing, finally reaches him. "Means I'm topping tonight, loser."

"I'm amazed you still have such a good condition after all the damage you have done to your lungs with those cigarettes."

"Seems to do me better than sitting behind a desk all day in an office."

"Good point." Kidou walks over to the edge where Fudou just stood, looking out over the water. As he is standing there, he really looks like someone from a foreign country. Despite his casual outfit, he still looks like the same Kidou Yuuto. Unlike Fudou with his orange Hawaiian shirt, with yellow flowers printed on it that hangs loosely around his shoulders. Underneath he wears a plain white shirt, and bright green shorts. And his old sneakers of course. His half long hair is dangling in a loose ponytail over his left shoulder. Kidou has his hair tied up too for a change. It suits him well.

"The view is breath taking." He sighs, still looking out over the endless waves. Above them scratches a gull. "Thank you for taking me here."

"Eh," Fudou shrugs his shoulders. "You drove us down here." Kidou smiles to himself, he knows that Fudou has difficulty coping with compliments.

"'Sides, you came up with what we had to tell your wife so we could run off together." Kidou nods, that's right. He almost succumbed. The stress from work, taking care of his wife, keeping a secret and trying to make his lover happy. Fortunately, Fudou came with the idea, or rather, forced him to take a weekend off. Kidou told Yuuna however that he had a business trip, the weekend she had already planned a trip with her friends, so she could not come with him. What Yara and Fudou would be doing all weekend was none of her concern, even though she had gotten real close to the cheerful girl, who is very quiet and defendant despite her natural rebellious parents. They had left Yara with Gouenji and his partner, the only two who are aware of their relationship and people they can trust.

A few months ago they had been in the same situation as Kidou and Fudou and they understood all too well what the couple is going through. Fortunately, Gouenji's new flame has kids of his own. Fudou would never have entrusted the Chairman alone with his daughter. How easy the goodbye had been between him and Yuuna, how hard it was on Fudou to leave his little princess behind for a while. But it was only a weekend, and to have Kidou to himself for these days, that was more than worth it.

Fudou joins his friend's side and squeezes gently in his hand. "Glad to be here with ya."

They had been standing there for a while, enjoying the weather and breathing in the salty air until dark, threatening clouds appeared above the grey colouring sea. Quickly the two of them searched for a place take cover, but a wet suit was inventible. The rain poured down in a short time before the two had found a dry place to hide.

Wet from the rain, but not cold, because the temperature was still around the twenty degrees, Kidou and Fudou were sheltering under the lean of a dilapidated barn. Thunder rumbles over their heads, but neither of them seems to notice. Their lips are melted together. Kidou's fingers are stroking Fudou's messy, wet hair, tongues seem to perform a dance that only they know the passes of, and Fudou puts his hands on his lover's buttocks to draw him even closer to him.

Click.

The couple breaks away from each other. In the woods, between the bushes, they can see something, or rather someone move. A man with a drenched outfit stands up from his crouched position and runs off, a camera filled with Kidou's infidelity hanging around his neck. "Shit." Fudou mutters as Kidou pursues them. The hired photographer runs back to the beach, with Kidou on his heels and Fudou close behind them.

The sandy ground beneath them is turned into a mudslide. Everything looks so different from barely an hour ago. "Yuuto!" Fudou yells as he watches his friend chase the stranger through the muddy underground. The rocks are slippery and treacherous.

"Yuuto, it's not worth it!" His voice is almost inaudible over the sound of the raging waves and the constant heavy rain. The wind, which had perceived a welcoming breeze in the hot weather at first, rages around him and the sand it takes with it chafes over the bare parts of his body and face. Meanwhile Kidou reached the top just after the man, and proceeds to follow him, blinded by the rain. On their side, the meters high waves are hitting with an incredible amount of force against the edges of the abyss.

"Yuuto!" He shouts again, in a desperate attempt to reach him. Above them clatters the thunder again. With eyes like saucers Fudou watches as Kidou, blinded by the flash of the lightning, makes a misstep and falls backwards.

"YUUTO!" He shrieks while he starts to climb his way up as well. The man with the camera remains yesteryear for a moment, he seems to hesitate, but with fear of his own life he proceeds to flee from the scenery he caused. Fudou slides off the rocks countless of times because of his trembling limbs. His arms are full of cuts and his clothes are colouring a dirty, dark red because of the blood and mud. Filled with determination he carries on, not feeling any pain. If there is a chance that Kidou is still alive, then he will find him.

Fudou rushes to the edge, frantically looking around. "Yuuto! Where are you?" On one of the rocks below, he sees Kidou's sneaker. He fears the worst as his eyes scour the rough water.

"Akio!"

He remains motionless. There follows another clap of thunder. Did he imagine that?

"Akio! I'm here!"

Suddenly he sees him, he has his hands firmly clenched on the branch of an old, fallen tree. He's alive, Fudou realises. Alive, but still not out of danger. That branch won't last long. He lowers himself until he's within reach of Kidou. He lays down on the wet underground. "Give me your hand!" He stretches his bleeding arm out to him.

"I can't!" Kidou calls in fear.

"You can! Just give me your hand and I'll pull you up!"

"I'll fall!" Kidou's big, red are filled with anxiousness.

"You'll fall too when you keep hanging there! Life's about making choices and taking risks remember? You won't win if you can't take them!" Maybe not the best thing he could say to Kidou in this situation, but pep talks were never his thing. Suddenly he's able to think of something that will have him listen to him.

"Do you trust me, Yuuto?"

"This is not really the best time, Akio!"

"Do you trust me? Just answer the bloody question!"

"Yes, of course I do!" He replies hastily. Under him some rocks fall down and hit the water, but the splashing noise is overruled by the low rumble of the thunder which makes the ground under them vibrate. Even Fudou almost loses his balance.

"Then trust me! I am coming for you! I promise that I will pull you up, but I need your help! You have to give me your hand! So please, trust me on this! I will get you back here!"

The look in Kidou's eyes changes. He nods and pulls himself up with all the strength he has left in his arms. He lets go with one hand, Fudou leans forward. There are sticks and stones pressing into his sides, but Fudou ignores the pain. The branch that is carrying Kidou's full weight now makes a dangerous cracking noise. "Akio, it won't last!"

"Just a little more…!" Fudou leans a little further over the edge, desperately trying to hold on to him. His whole body is aching, but he reaches out for Kidou again and…yes! He's got him! Kidou's hands cling on Fudou's arm. He pulls, and pulls, but he won't succeed. Something his withholding him from dragging Kidou back up. "What's wrong?"

Fudou looks a little further down, Kidou's shorts are stuck on one of the other branches. "You're stuck!" Kidou's eyes fill with panic, but that's just for a brief moment. Suddenly he doesn't look all too scared anymore, while Fudou himself is still terrified. "Let me go." He says firmly.

"Are you insane?!"

"You won't last much longer Akio! At this rate we will both fall!"

"I don't fucking care!" He wants to try again; he needs to keep pulling. He promised Kidou he'd get him back safely, he promised himself. The rain is blinding his vision, soaking them to the core, and slowly Kidou's hand is slipping from his grip.

"You have a daughter to take care of. You can't leave her alone!"

"Don't gimme that bullshit now, Yuuto! It's fucking selfish. What about your sister?" There's a small smile curling on Kidou's lips, and it sends a shiver down Fudou's spine. He knows that smile all too well.

"Thank you for everything, Akio."

"Don't you fucking—!"

"I love you."

Kidou's hand slides out of his. Frozen on his place, his hand still reaching out to the man he loves, he is forced to watch as Kidou falls and eventually vanishes into the violent waves.

Fudou jolts up straight in his bed. He's breathing heavily, his shirt is soaked and sweat is running in rays over his forehead. The last images flash for the brunet's eyes, and Kidou's last cry for help is still echoing through his head.

"Bad dream?" Asks the man in the bed under him.

"Sorta." He mumbles back. Shortly after the lights flicker on. It's half past six, the morning is starting in prison. It's been four months after Fudou's definite sentence, and that's when the nightmares started too. The first part of the dream did really happen, that's why his dreams feel so real. In reality however, the man with the camera never showed up, Fudou had managed to open the old door of the barn and claimed his reward, that he would be topping, right there in the damp straw. When they were done, the sky cleared again and they had gone back to the hotel for a long, hot bath together. Unfortunately, his dreams never end that romantic. Sometimes he's the one who falls, he gets pushed off the rocks by Yuuna, or his daughter gets involved somehow. The dream, as beautiful as it starts, then turns into one of his biggest fears and abruptly ends. Just like his relationship with Kidou after he got arrested. Only Kidou, and the news about Yara are helping him through his days.

Fudou had not prepared himself for going back to prison. Before Yara's birth he had been convinced he'd end up in jail one way or the other, but with the arrival of his daughter his life changed for the better. He had changed. He took life more seriously. He had never expected this the first time he got arrested. Previously, living the full time life of a criminal seemed to be reserved for him.

The first time he got interrogated it took them almost the full six hours. The officers asked him questions, but he gave nothing away. They wanted to know everything about him, how long he had been involved with this gang of his, when he became the leader. What were they handling in? Who else was involved? Fudou kept his mouth shut. After several hours another agent was placed on his case. A rough, muscled man took a seat in front of him. Instead of question him he started to talk. He spoke of how he ended up in prison many years ago. Wrong friends, drugs, the whole mess. Fudou could bring up some respect for this man, and he started talking. Eventually they made a deal. Fudou would confess some things, but only about himself and his relationship to the youth drug circuit which enriched to Tokyo. He would be held in prison for a while, but at least his members would be safe. They had a deal.

The Youth Prison was different than he had imagined. Juvenile, it almost seemed like a day care of kids. You're still a child, even with Fudou's seventeen years, so how bad could it be? Bedbugs, mould on the walls and floors, burn marks on the furniture, and nasty, expired food. Actually, not very different from the facility he had been staying in before. But this time, he was alone again. He had no followers. His tough mohawk and tattoos meant nothing inside. He would have to prove himself all over again.

And that's something he had no trouble with. If there's anything "leaders" can't stand then it's people who form a threat to them. It works on their nerves. Of course you can hit hard and earn your spot, but Fudou is not the strongest. He is small and fragile. He must therefore play his game differently. He learned to use his brain instead, something the big guys lacked. The first weeks he kept a low profile. He did what was asked of him, studied the various groups in prison and joined one eventually, one that had the weakest leader in his eyes. He got them extra candy, took the blame after a trifle, and negotiated with the guards for cigarettes and phones. He was smart and fast. Soon enough he was noticed and within weeks he was the second hand of the former leader, who completely trusted Fudou. Fudou waited patiently until the time was ready for a coup d'état, in which all his newly gained followers turned against their boss. Fudou took over the leadership, and created the strongest group of young criminals behind bars that the juvenile had ever seen.

Of course, life was very different than on the streets. They had tasks, duties and responsibilities. They lived according to a strict day schedule, and for the first time since the Football Frontier Fudou had some regularity in his life.

07:45 am: lights on, communal breakfast and chores (cleaning, doing the dishes, etc.)
08:55 am: school, the workplace, or kitchen duty
12:15 pm: communal lunch
01:45 pm: school, workplace or kitchen duty
04:00 pm: drinking tea with the group
04:30 pm: free time in your room
06:00 pm: communal dinner
07:00 pm: evening activities
09:45 pm: back to the room
10:30 pm: lights off

Fudou went to school in the mornings. He followed Japanese, English and economic classes. His level was higher than the other guys, so in the afternoon he was allowed to work in the kitchen. Under the leadership of Jon, a prison chef from America who had managed to get exiled from Iceland, Fudou learned to use his brain for other things than crime. He turned out to be very good with his hands in the kitchen, and Jon said he has golden palates. He learned new recipes, techniques, and sometimes he was allowed to play the role as sous chef. The kitchen had turned into his territory, and that worked in his advantage.

Were you useful to Fudou and you could prove yourself then there was a high chance you got an extra portion when the food was being served. Did you disappoint him, then he took the effort to make something extra special, and you'd find unsavoury things in your food.

"Hey boss," The low voice of Rikio, one of his henchmen. Fudou grins, he loves that name. "New people are coming in today. Are we going to show them who's in charge here?" The slightly older, chubby male sounds excited.

The new load of youngsters who came in were almost the most fun to him, they were so easy to manipulate. Especially the youngest, who had been their school's toughest bullies and thought they were cool with their charges of minimal violation and small crimes of stealing a chocolate bar or cigarettes. But once they saw Fudou, surrounded by his minions, they cringed.

"Hold up there." Fudou stops one of the new boys, who stiffens in the hall and remains on his place as soon as he hears his menacing voice. Fudou heard through the grapevine that he was quite something at his old school. Time for Fudou to show him who's the boss in here now he's standing in his territory. With one snap of his fingers two accomplices push him against the wall.

"What's your name, kiddo?"

"T-Takeru."

"Alright, liking it in here, Takeru?" He slowly approaches the orange haired boy. At the end of the hall Rikio is on watch. Fudou knows that when he whistles a certain tune they have to get out of here. The boy looks at him with widened, frightened eyes. "Good, really good. I'm sure you heard about how your parents can send you money so you can buy stuff in here, didn't you?" The guy nods, too afraid to answer. There's nothing left of that slender, school bully. Orange hair, freckles over his entire face, and long limbs. Fudou gets why he became a bully in high school, he must have been the victim years ago. He can't bring up any pity for the ginger. This will teach him that some kids got more going on than him. "You can buy real nice things in here; candy, chips, I recommend buying yourself some flip flops first. The showers here are real nasty, don't want an infection now, do we?"

"T-Thank you , sir."

Fudou smirks maliciously, 'sir'? Fudou must be two years older at least. The fear is already craved deep into this boy, definitely a previous victim. Fudou will crush his soul. "You leaving someone behind out there, Takeru? Parents, siblings, a girlfriend?"

"M-My parents and little brother."

"Ahh, nice. So you have a brother huh? Must look up at his older brother. His own example, the so called badass of the neighbourhood, even in prison now. Man, how you've made it. Do you miss him?"

"I-I do sir."

"It's tough, huh?" Fudou gestures at the other two that they have to let Takeru go, and he puts his own hand on his shoulder. "All alone in here. I think you can use some comrades. We could be really great friends, you and I. But then you'll have to do something for me first." He squeezes firmly in the boy's shoulder. "You see; I've got a ma to take care of. Ain't got no daddy, so I need to support her."

He can't feel bad about his lie anymore; he has surpassed that point long ago. Depression, feelings of guilt? What are you talking about? He's having the time of his life in here. "You get what I'm saying? I need money, your money. So when you get the chance to write down your account number, instead of yours, you're gonna write down mine. And you know how I know that you're gonna do that for me, Takeru?"

The boy cringes and shakes his head, he must look Fudou in the eye, because he's too terrified to avert his eyes from him. Two eerie green eyes are staring right back at him. "'Cause I got people out of this prison. My guys are everywhere 'round town. You from here boy? Maybe you've seen them. Either way, it will not take too long for them to figure out where you live. And if I ain't getting my money by the end of this month they'll start targeting your family. Throw a brick through the window, you know, the innocent shit. But if I don't have my money by the end of the second month, your little brother is gonna be in quite a lot of trouble. And we don't want that now, do we?"

"I-I'll do anything you say! I'll write down your account number but please leave my family out of this, and especially my little brother! I'll ask them to give me more, so please!" Fudou laughs and hits the boy hard on his shoulder. "See, I knew we could be friends. You do something for me now, and I'll do something in return later. I always keep my word."

There's a soft whistle. "Time to go, boys." Fudou beckons his two taller minions, there is a security guard near who's patrolling through the corridors of the facility. "Nice meeting with you, Takeru-kun."

The adult version of Fudou is taking it easier, he will just serve his time. He has so much to lose, he can't afford any mistakes. He remains outside the gangs, doing his own thing, and he ensures that he doesn't stand out. Seven years ago he frequently found himself in the isolation cell after yet another riot or because of bad behaviour. This isolation cell only has a bed and a toilet, nothing else. You saw no-one and heard nothing. It was absolute silence, and terrifying. On top of that, the days you spent in isolation don't count as real serving time, so the longer and more often you got stuck in solitary confinement, the longer your time in prison lasts. Fudou had spent a something like a month longer in juvenile than he was convicted for. Now this might not be the youth prison, but he principle is the same, and he quickly reserved a spot in the kitchen. Not as chef this time, but a guaranteed place. He still has his ways in the circuit. Even police officers are easy to bribe.

Kidou glances nervously at his watch, they had an appointment with the doctor twenty minutes ago but there's still no sign of him. On the uncomfortable chair next to him his wife gently squeezes his hand in an attempt to ease him. He is more stressed than she is. Eventually, a young nurse approaches them, and tells them to follow her. Yuuna lies down on the bed in the closed, white room, and she is preparing her for the ultrasound. Shirt up, cold gel on the stomach of his wife, and intense staring at the screen on which black and white images are appearing.

The baby is doing well, there are no abnormalities. It all sounded good to Kidou's ears, but he couldn't make much out of the blur on the screen. The midwife could tell from his facial expression that he didn't understand, so she began to patiently explain to him. She pointed at the head, the tiny hands with even smaller fingers, and the feet with little toes. And Kidou was able to see it at last. He was able to see his first, own, unborn child, and it's beautiful. He had tears in his eyes, and then the redeeming news came, they are expecting a boy. Kidou could not believe his luck, he will have a son. He enthusiastically squeezes in Yuuna's hand, and reaches out for a handkerchief to dry his wife's tears. He will never forget this beautiful moment.

Then something else even more magical than the image happened. The woman put the sound of the equipment on and after a brief rustling noise they were able to hear the soft sound of the beating heart of their son. Kidou had never heard something has beautiful as that before. The heartbeat was surprisingly fast, the nurse explained that the heartbeat of the child in the mother's womb is two times faster than the heart rate of an adult. Nothing odd in the heartbeat, everything is fine with their child.

At the end of the session they get a photograph of their unborn baby to take it home. Kidou keeps it in his wallet.

Fudou yawns and swings his legs over the bed. He tried to get some sleep now that his bunk buddy isn't there, it's visitors day, but he isn't expecting anyone. Unfortunately for him he could not enjoy his rest, he was tormented by nightmares again. This time about his ex-girlfriend, who got full custody over their child and claimed that Yara had never been his to begin with. The betrayal and stinging pain in his chest hurts, even for a man like him. He loved her once, before their entire relationship got ruined. They were a golden criminal duo.

He met Takanashi on the streets. Wealthy parents with a rebellious daughter who opposed to everything and everyone. She wouldn't even notice him at first, she preferred to hang out with older guys. The rejection was what made her so interesting for him. Eventually he managed to charm her with something that not even she could resist. Something so powerful they would never have to use any other stimulating products ever again. The Aliea Meteorite. All they had to do was win a match against Raimon, and it would be theirs to keep. And football, that's something Takanashi had been rather good at.

After their loss it had been Fudou who didn't want anything to do with his former team, they had disappointed him, he had disappointed them as captain. He was nothing but a second rate. This time he was the one who rejected Takanashi when she came for him, begging him for more power, but he vanished from her life. He picked up his life again when coach Hibiki meddled with his life, and what she was going to do was none of his concern. He suggested that she should go back to her parents and behave like a normal child. Didn't she see it? They ruined everything.

But after winning the Football Frontier, and getting suspended from Teikoku Senior High his life went downhill again. And when he was a free man, he had no-where else to go. He considered to let go of his damn pride and approach Kidou, until he met Takanashi again. She failed dong what her former captain suggested, and her parents had kicked her out. She had no-one, rejected by the society. They were outcasts. They dragged each other through it, and suddenly life wasn't all too bad anymore. It started again innocently, stealing cigarettes and liquor. Fudou got to know an entirely different Takanashi, he wouldn't say that he was in love, but he cared for her and made sure she was safe. They were the masters of deception and drugs.

After Yara's birth everything changed. Takanashi changed, and he did too. They saw life differently. His girlfriend had more trouble to stay away from the drugs than he had. They did well in Kidou's old apartment, Yara could grow up safe in the neighbourhood, but it just didn't work between him and Takanashi. They could no longer tolerate each other's company.

Fudou tried to be the right boyfriend and father Takanashi longed for. He had tried too that evening. He was already home when his girlfriend arrived because he had been fired that morning. They had had a long argument the night before and he overslept. He was cooking, Yara sat in her chair beside him, sucking on something. Takanashi had been glad to see them, her boyfriend and daughter after a long day. They had a nice meal and then they brought their daughter to her bed. They sat together on the old sofa when the next argument began. Fudou told her about his financial status, with no job. He had to, so why not directly?

Several epithets, and plates, were set flying towards his head. This had been the last straw. She would ensure that Fudou would never see his daughter again if he weren't soon to fight a new job, and kicked him out of the house.

Later that night Fudou had gone back, he would never be able to find a job in that short period of time, so he had taken Yara. He will never blame their daughter for their problems and the way they separated. He loves her dearly, more than anyone in this world.

He looks at the drawing he pinned on the wall, Kidou had sent it a couple of weeks ago. It tells a story about a princess and a bulger who found love as he was robbing her. He wonders if those are supposed to be her parents. He wishes he could hear her explain the story to him in person. She has a big imagination and makes the most beautiful drawings with touching stories behind them. She loved it when he read her fairy tales, but now she makes her own. When he closes his eyes he can hear her voice, enthusiastically telling him about her day. He misses the weight on his lap as she falls asleep on him, her little hand clutching the fabric of his shirt. He loved to bury his face in her dark, curling hair that smells like her flowery glitter shampoo. He sighs deeply, he missed her fifth birthday.

"Hey you, get up! There's someone here to see you." Fudou looks up. There's an officer standing in the doorway of his cell. They are not allowed to close the doors during the day, it's open the entire day until the guards close the doors at nine-thirty, half an hour before the lights go off. Fudou is taking to the visitors room. The space is pretty full, prisoners and their family members are busy talking, or arguing. Children are coming to visit their fathers, and wives and mothers are looking either angry or worried. In the corner he spots a man alone on the small table, hands folded. He's nervous, Fudou knows. Other than that, he looks extremely tired and unhappy.

"Hey." Kidou looks at him with tired eyes behind his transparent glasses as he hears Fudou's voice and smiles gently as a greeting. It pains him to see how his friend has deteriorated since the last time they saw each other. He wants to touch him, but restrains himself and sits down. Both are silent, the question 'how are you?' seems inappropriate. Kidou keeps his eyes focused on the table, and Fudou remains silent. He wonders why he's here, he doesn't know what to expect, but whatever it is, it cannot be good.

"How are you holding up?" Kidou eventually asks, his voice is weak but familiar. However, it doesn't reassure Fudou like it usually does.

"You know, the usual." He shrugs, and tells him about the good news he has. Only the good news. He has not been in solitary confinement despite the arguments he sometimes has with the other prisoners. It's still difficult to hold himself back, but he's managing. Sometimes they come to him complaining about hairs in their food, and of course Fudou with his long hair is the first one to get blamed. He's thinking about shaving it all off in the salon, and get nice figures on the side of his head. He tells him about how besides cooking, he's learning new skills as well. He is getting lessons from another inmate, he teaches him to be a tattoo artist in his 'free time'. It's not really an education, but he's good with coming up with pattern, and he loves tattoos. Kidou pretends to be happy for him, asks him not to cut his hair because he likes it more like this, and congratulates him with figuring out what he probably wants to do once he's free. Fudou leaves the nightmares omitted.

"Maybe when I'm free you can help me set something up, you know, help me out with the business."

Kidou turns his face away, and Fudou has had more than enough of this. He leans forward, picking up the strong alcohol scent. "Did you drink?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does matter, did you drive here? You should be more careful Yuuto. You always insisted that I quit smoking, but you can't even stop reaching out for the damn bottle. You ain't alone in this world. Do you want your child to grow up without a dad like you did? Losing your father in a plane crash, or because he drove with his drunk head against a motherfucking tree is something entirely different. Ain't a burden you want to give to yer damn kiddo."

"That won't happen, and I don't need you to look after me."

"Then who will, your wife? Why are you drinking this much?"

"It eases the pain."

"And you don't think I'm in pain here?!" Fudou quickly moves his gaze to the guard, it hadn't been his intention to raise his voice. It became a habit to look around as soon as possible to check if someone saw you doing something that's officially in violation. But the children are making more noises than his short outburst, the guard hasn't noticed. Kidou doesn't answer him. "They took everything from me! My freedom, my daughter, you. I need to live every day with the thought that my daughter is growing up, that she turned five weeks ago and I couldn't be there on her birthday. I can't be on the next one either! I'm stuck here until she forgets she even had a father! Don't start about that it was my own responsibility, because you took me in even though you knew damn well what happened. And now you come here, after months, looking like shit which worries me even more. What's going on Yuuto, what are you hiding?"

Fudou wants to hold his friend's hand but he pulls it right back and looks down again. "We can't do this anymore. I can't come to visit, you can't call, you shouldn't write. We can't see each other. Yuuna…she's almost due and we have to move on with our life. I will be a father soon; I don't have time for an ex-boyfriend in prison."

Fudou isn't sure if the last sentence was supposed to hurt him, because Kidou is speaking with such a fragile voice, it's only his condition that makes his heart ache. This are not his words; these are from his wife. He's certain of that. "Yuuto, whaddya saying?"

"I can't, Fudou. It's over."

The man with the dreadlocks gets up, but before he can walk away Fudou grabs him by his wrist. "Is she threatening you?"

He looks at him helplessly, he cannot answer that question.

"I love you."

"Me too." Kidou answer softly, then he pulls his hand back and rushes out of the room.

Fudou breathes in the fresh air. It's spring and finally the weather is good enough to spend their breaks outside in their cold, thin prison clothes. The weak sun feels glorifying on his pale face.

"Don't sit out here in the sun too long, son, sunlight ain't solving depressions in here." Someone tells him in English. When Fudou opens his eyes he sees an older man sitting next to him with brown dreads, and grey streaks in his hair. Fudou nods at him as greeting, and they start talking. Fudou has never seen him here before, but this prison is huge, it's easy to miss someone. The dreadlocks remind him of Kidou, and it feels nice and familiar to sit next to this man. Although his way of speaking is entirely different from Kidou's, especially because he speaks mostly English with some Japanese words between sentences. It still makes him think of Kidou, an older version of him.

"Do you have kids, son?" Which sounds more like 'du yuh ave kids, suh', with his heavy accent. Fudou wonders where he's from.
"A daughter, she's five." English had never been his best subject in high school, but he learned the basics in the youth prison. He talks back with a combination of amateur English and Japanese. He doesn't know how, but they seem to understand each other.

"Young life, that's a blast. Enjoy it while you can. They fly out way too soon."

"If I'll see her again." Fudou snorts loudly.

"Sure you will. Whaddya in for?"

"Kidnapping her from my evil ex-girlfriend."

De man laughs and hits him on his shoulder. "And what brings you here?" He asks curiously.

"Ah, son, my story starts like it does for everyone. I met a girl."

He starts to tell him his story, his name is Demario and he is 48 years old, of which he spent about eight years in Japan, and only two years of that free. Before he moved to Japan he had his own business in his homeland, on an island located in the Caribbean Sea. Son of a fisherman with a good set of brains, he handled in loose car parts and it went across the entire island. He quite made it, along with a good friend of his, and he was rich for the Jamaican terms.

"Can you imagine it? A man with dreads in a suit!"

When he was in his early twenties he met a girl, two years younger, and the love of his life. They had a certain spark, but after a great time together her holiday was over and she went back to Japan. He had never loved anyone more than her, but life goes on. Three years later he married a Jamaican woman, and they got three children. He raised them all with love, and he loved his wife, but the other woman wouldn't go out of his head. He was in conflict, he started to wonder; 'is this all there is for me?', a so called midlife crisis. Eventually he separated from his wife. He put money aside to pay for an expensive agent who would go looking for her. HE had nothing more than a name and an old photograph. She was probably married too, so the search only made it harder as she wasn't carrying her female name any longer. After almost two years the agent returned. He finally found her. She was dead, she and her husband lost their lives in a tragic accident.

"It's strange how life can play with you."

Of his last money that hadn't gone to the divorce, his children, and the agent he had travelled to Japan to say goodbye to her. He left everything behind, even his children. Once he got to Japan he suffered from a major depression. What had he accomplished in life? He had lost everything, his love of his life, his wife, he abandoned his children and wasted his money on gambling, drugs and alcohol. After those two years he made the biggest mistake of his life. After an evening drinking he got behind the wheel, and in the darkness of the night he had hit a girl who was chasing her dog over the street late at night.

"I was in shock; I didn't know what to do. I had been drinking, so instead of calling an ambulance I drove off. I couldn't live with myself so the following morning I headed to the police department to turn myself in. I learned that the girl was still alive, she was at the hospital, but she'd definitely make it. I was less lucky, a hit and run is ten years here in Japan. And here we are. People do crazy shit 'round here. Anyhow, I'm in here for six years already, two still to go on good behaviour. But you know, when I get out, what does life have to offer for me?"

Fudou had been listening in silence all this time to his story. Could it be? There sounds a loud buzzer over the field. The break is over, he must return to the kitchen and prepare for dinner. Demario waves after him. "It was nice talking to you, son. Let's meet up again some time, and we'll talk about some less depressive shit. I got some good stories to tell ya."

When Fudou is back in his bunk later that night he can't fall asleep. Coincidence does not exist, Kidou once told him, but this shouldn't be possible, right? How could it be that he encounters this man, a man with a story similar to what Kidou told him. A summer holiday, stocking love, an accident. Then there are the indispensable dreadlocks and red eyes. Kidou has a light skin tone, but it's almost striking.

The following day he goes back, a photo of Kidou stuffed in the pocket of his shirt. He walks resolutely towards him. Demario is surprised to see him again this soon. He starts talking about a country with white sand, palm trees and always beautiful weather. Fudou is trying to steer the conversation subtly to the woman of his dreams, but the old prisoner seems too delighted to have a partner to talk with to notice.

"Do you have someone you love so much, but you can't be with them?"

"Yeah, I got someone." Of course it is tempting for Fudou to say his daughter, she means everything to him, but this is finally his chance to get in the right direction.

"The mother of your child?"

"No, it's a man." Demario quirks a brow, but lets him tell his story.

"Met him years ago, I was fourteen. Already a piece of shit back then, and he hated me. No surprise, considering what I did to his friends, but as we grew older we became closer. I was a pretty angry kid, lots of issues, but I hated him a 'lil less than I hated the rest of the world. The guy's always been there for me when I needed him, even when I didn't fucking ask for it. But that's just the guy he is. He cares a lot about others. Didn't have the easiest youth; lost his parents at a young age in a plane crash, got adopted and separated from his younger sister. He got surrounded by people who claimed to be wanting the best for him, but crushed him at the same time. Yet he's still standing, and I guess I admire that. He's a genius too, good at everything he does. Studying, sports, just not communicating. He keeps too much for himself, socially awkward is what you'd call it. Although he's improved over the years. I don't know how he did it, but I care for that man. We have always been drawn to each other, ever since we were teens. But now I'm stuck here, and I can't see him.

"You speak with deep care about him. I can see by the look in your eyes that you love him." Demario says slowly after Fudou's little chaotic speech.

"Yeah," Fudou gets the picture out of his pocket and hands it to the man. "This is him."

Demario remains silent for a long time, looking at the photograph of the young man in his hands. It's like he's looking at a picture of himself when he was a few years younger, but with a pale skin. The facial expression, his red eyes, and his stance match with himself, but his smile reminds him of someone else. Someone he hasn't seen in a very long time. "Fudou-san," he says once he found his voice. Thinking deeply of how to continue his sentence. "What's your reason for showing me this?"

"I think he's your son."

"Yuuto, do you have a moment?"

Kidou is working behind his desk. He has an important appointment tomorrow morning and he has to complete the preparations. He has worked on this for months. Tomorrow he will give a presentation to the heads of two other enormous companies, if everything runs smoothly they can merge and expand together. His father will be so proud. "Not now, I am working."

Yuuna walks, or waddles rather, determined over to her husband's desk and shuts the laptop with a loud thud. "You can't be serious, it's only a month until our baby will be born and the only thing you think of is working. Can you not spare five minutes for your wife?"

Kidou sighs deeply, then he relaxes his shoulders as he turns his desk chair towards her. He pushes his glasses up on his nose and looks at his wife. "Alright, what do you need?"

Yuuna is a tad surprised, Kidou's voice had been gentle and patient just now, she hasn't seen this expression on his face for a long time now. It reminds her of the old days when it was still good between them, and a slight blush spreads over her cheeks. "I…" she doubts whether she should continue. She came here for a reason and decided to get angry with him, but as she looks into his eyes now the anger vanishes like snow in the sun. Their relationship has changed after he broke all contact with Fudou. The first few weeks he had been grumpy, but eventually she had finally heard him laugh again when he dropped a cup from her hands. He had picked it up for her, cleaned the floor and gave her a kiss on her forehead, telling her to be more careful before she hurts herself. It finally seemed like how it was before, when they were truly happy together. And she wants things to go back to how it was, so she has to carry through. "…I wanted to talk about your alcohol consumption."

Kidou's gentle expression immediately changes. Perhaps his good mood had only been her illusion, she is longing to see her old husband. "You can't continue like this, Yuuto." She says softly as she puts her hand on his arm. "Talk to me, but stop drinking. You are soon to be a father, our son can't see you like this…"

He shakes her hand off his arm only briefly after the contact. "I am perfectly capable of knowing what good is for me. Once he is born, everything will be different."

"Will it? Can you assure me you will stop drinking once our baby is born?"

"Yes."

Yuuna seeks support of the edge of the desk, his stubborn resistance makes her blood boil inside. She wants to believe her husband, but she can't trust him now. "A child asks a lot from a relationship. If you are not strong enough now to stay sober when things get tough for you, how do you think you can handle it once he's here? The stress, the sleepless nights. You can't go on like this. You can't keep hiding behind your work and drinks."

He averts his gaze from her. It's useless, of course it's useless. She is not enjoying this either. She wishes all of this would be different. If that criminal hadn't showed up with his daughter, then they would have been able to enjoy her pregnancy together. They would have been happy. He ruined everything for them. They could have been a happy family. "I just want to see my old Yuuto…"

"It's too late to be wanting that." The fierce look in his crimson eyes make her flinch. "Don't you get it? I don't love you. I love him. I have been happy with you, but that was only an illusion. I've always liked him. I don't want this life. We have had our good times, and I thought that it might have been fate when we first met, but I can't do this. You don't want this life anymore either, right? This forced marriage we are both trapped in. We have been listening to our parents for far too long, we have our own lives, Yuuna. And mine is not with you."

"But I do love you… this marriage might have been forced, yes, but we were so happy together. You can't tell me that the first years were a lie, just an act!"

Kidou slams with his fist on his desk. "Please stop this nonsense! I don't want to force my feelings for you any longer. I am here to look after you during your pregnancy and the period that comes after. A mother should not stand alone in this. But once Akio is released then I am out of here. Then I am going to start my future with him. We may not be together now, but that won't be forever. Our lives are not over yet. It took me so long to realise this. In one and a half year he will be a free man, and I can finally start with my own life."

"After all I've done for you, you just put me to the side?"

"After all you've done for me? After all you've done to me you mean. I am sincerely sorry that I cheated on you. I should have told you about my feelings. I should have been honest right from the beginning, not only to you, but also to him. To my father years ago. It was wrong, I know, I made a terrible mistake, but why did you have to send an innocent man to jail? Because you wanted to take revenge? We both made mistakes, and neither one of us is innocent. But you should have taken revenge on me directly, and not punish him for my feelings. It has always been my choice to be with him, he didn't deceive me. I never asked you to remain loyal to me either."

Yuuna is turning paler and paler, all of the blood seems to leave her face. She can't believe what she just heard. Distraught, she tries to find words to respond, but she doesn't know what to say anymore. She feels abandoned by her own husband. Betrayed all over again by her own family. Suddenly she feels a sharp pain in her abdomen. Again she grabs onto the edge of the desk. She is dizzy, the room seems to be spinning in front of her eyes. Kidou looks at her suspiciously. He wonders whether this is another one of her tricks to get his attention. As soon as he sees her grasping for air he jumps to his feet and holds her by her arms. "Yuuna? Yuuna! Answer me!"

"The baby!" She cries out, arms wrapping around her bulbous belly. She lets out another cry, moaning in pain. Kidou looks down, thick, hot liquid is flowing over his wife's leg and forms a dark puddle on the floor. He carefully lets her sink on her knees, as she can't be standing up any longer. Kidou tries to support her. She grabs onto him, breathing heavily, her eyes half closed. She is attempting to speak, but Kidou puts his finger on her lips and caresses over her blonde hair. In a moment of clarity between the panic he rings the alarm number. "They'll be here soon. Please, stay strong." He whispers as he continues stroking her hair. His cheeks are wet, he doesn't know whether it are her tears or his own.

"Don't let me lose him too…"

I did it again, didn't I? Leave you all in such suspense. There's no end to this suffering! It's just an Angel thing, I suppose. But hey, if you wouldn't like it you would not come back again and again to read it. You all love this, don't you?

Please leave a review if you enjoyed it (and if you didn't).

Angel