I was alone in the library as I felt my phone vibrate. It was strange because everyone else had classes now. I hoped my mother was okay. But the moment I looked at the screen I froze…Akaito…my brother. He wrote me a message he would be coming back to Tokyo. He had finished University last year like Meiko but he had still some business to take care of before his return. Father had accepted that and let him start at the family's business later. I still had mixed feelings about his return. We haven't seen each other in ages and he basically was one of the reasons father got strange. So I also was a little taken aback to accept his invitation for a meeting. I have to think about that. For now I have to finish my paper. That's far more important than my weird family relations.

Later I met with Gakupo for dinner. I texted him yesterday that next meeting I wanted to tell everyone about us. I mean, most already knew and it was kind of unfair to keep it. Especially since Miku and Luka came out recently by accident. Gumi just wanted to tease them saying they acted like a couple, but when Miku reasoned that they do because they where one it was over. But everyone was so positive about it. It kind of made me hope. Today we…kind of wanted to talk about it. On the other hand I don't feel like it anymore.

„Hey, you okay?" Gakupo asked as I was neglecting my pasta. „I…" I sighed. „My brother texted me today." Gakupo now looked and me and waited. „He is coming back this week and wants to meet." „And you don't?" I left my fork on the plate and leaned back. „No..." Now Gakupo lifted one of his eyebrows. He rarely does that. „Did you fought?" I shook my head. „No, but he did something unforgivable and…that's why father got…strange." Now even Gakupo stopped eating and leaned back. „What was it?" I shook my head. It's a thing not to be spoken about. „…than what exactly happened afterwards?" „My brother was already accepted at a school away from Tokyo. Father hated the thought of not being able to keep him from causing more trouble." „Yeah but…did he never…visited?" „He did…but we always kind of…avoided each other. I haven't seen him since he started University…" We both run away from facing each other. Having him now asking for a meeting was just weird. „Hmmmm…" Gakupo leaned forward again. „You know. It's okay to prolong this for a bit…but you have to met him at some point." Yeah, I know. If he is back in Tokyo I can't run away…just prolonging…I sighed. „You know, this is not so different from you plans to tell everyone." Gakupo suddenly said. I looked up, wondering what he was talking about. „Some things need time…and you need to get used to the thought of meeting him. It no use if you force it. Take your time, prepare and brace yourself…like you do now." I took a deep breath. „Thanks…" I smiled and felt hungry again. What he said reminded me of a thing I don't remember where I heard it from. Something along the lines of 'when you fall it's okay to remain like this for a while as long as you get up again'. Well, I didn't fall but maybe I take my time to avoid this a little longer. „So…about the next meet…are you sure." Gakupo now asked seeing me eating again. „…yeah."

For this meet we met up in front of an all-you-can-eat chain for cakes and pasta. It was the idea of some of the girls and a nice way to just sit and talk which was especially requested by Meiko. She was now working and was still not used to the change. „How is it to be part of the workforce?" Gakupo asked interested. He would be in her shoes next year as well. But so will be Luka and Gumi. „Terrible. So much to get used to and they treat you like a child. Tse, I will show them what I am capable of!...later…" We laughed. If someone can do that, then it's Meiko. She is a strong woman. It's great to still have her with us.

As we were eating I pondered over a chance to actually tell them about us. I kind of wished I just could blurt it out like Miku did. Instead I stuffed my mouth with sweets in hope I would not say a word about it. Still even if I waver now I also want them to know about it. They are my dearest friends. „Hey…hey…Kaito!" I snapped out of my thoughts. Miku looked at my worried, so did Gakupo. „What's wrong?" My best friend asked. I just smiled. „Nothing…" „Kaito, you where making THAT face again." Oh, 'that' face. To be honest I have no idea what kind of face I was making but if Miku referred to it as 'that face' than there was no way out with just 'nothing'. I could blame my brother but I was finally successful at hiding something from her. Having her know about Akaito was the worse option.

Suddenly I was feeling Gakupo fingers on my arm stroking their way down to wrap around my hand. „I…actually have some news for you guys. Well for some…maybe." I was basically clinging to Gakupos hand now. Damn it. „We are dating." Huh?! I looked at Gakupo who just took the burden to tell everyone from me and then to the others. „That's no joke, right?" Gumi then asked. I don't know how she was feeling as said that. „No…no joke." I admitted. „Wow…since when?" Meiko now was very interested. „January…like in 'that day' in January." „Really! That long?! I didn't realize." Meiko laughed. „The way they flirt with each other hasn't changed at all." What?! „Was it that obvious?" I asked blushing. I feel ashamed. „Not really. But with time it was hard to overlook. But I have to say I always thought it was kind of like a joke between you two. I didn't expect it to be serious." I felt my cheeks heat up. „So you thought Gakupo was teasing him?" Miku asked confused. No one was surprised she knew about it. „Yeah, I mean Kaito was always kind shy and kind of closed up. Him blushing and getting flustered easily was kind of normal." I kind of want to die a little bit. „That's embarrassing." „Noooo, it's cute and I am happy for you two. I mean after four months one can say you are serious about it." I was…Gakupo seemed to be too, especially when he was holding my hand like that. „My party became a dating platform! Still I can't believe that you where dating since January…I mean…wait. Kaito was not dunk and felt sick! You two where running away for alone time." I let go of Gakupos hand to hide my face. Thinking about it now was usually not that embarrassing but now I felt like caught in the act and having Gakupo also looking away was NOT helpful.

„That's enough." I heard my boyfriend say. „Mean! I wanted to know all the juicy details." Rin said. She wanted to tease me. I know it but I couldn't help my blush from spreading all over my ears and neck. It was a stupid idea to tell everyone…but at the end of the day it was nice having Gakupo holding my hand not worrying about being caught.

Exam period sucked…not because of all the studying but because it meant Gakupo will only have one semester left at university. Well the studying sucked too but more because everyone was so busy, but hey. We are creative and somehow we just ended up all in on Cafe studying together. We even were serious about it. Well, with a few breaks when Rin and Len whined again. It was kind of fun.

I was typing like crazy on my report as a voice made me freeze. „Hey, Kaito. What a nice coincidence. How are you?" This voice, this tone…I knew instantly who stood behind me and Mikus glare meant I was right. „A-akaito…uhm…I-I'm fine. Thanks." Coincidence my ass. How did he knew I was here? This was not his kind of place. „Hey, when we are already here together can I steal you away from your friends? Just for a small chat. We haven't seen each other in ages." Yes and I was not ready to meet you today. I didn't told him I was busy because I wanted to see him so badly. This was his way of forcing his will on me. We couldn't make a fuss at a place like this. Miku was about to explode and I hated the way Akaito was examining Gakupo. Why is everyone in this part of our family so manipulative. „Yeah, sure." „Great! Just a little talk." Yeah and I am Leonardo Di-fucking-Caprio. Still I got up and followed him to the other end of the Cafe.

No fucking way! Urrrrg, this is not true! „What's going on?" Luka asked confused. Everyone was except Gakupo. He looked as pissed as I was. „That was Akaito. Kaitos older brother." „Wow, creative naming in his family." I nodded at Gumis comment. „What's wrong with his brother?" „He is a manipulative asshole…he is the reason Kaitos father got all controlling and stuff. He then never showed his ass again and now? I don't know. I only know I don't trust him….He used Kaito to keep their father from controlling him." Now I had Gakupos full attention. He was watching Kaito the whole time until now. „Hey, Akaito messed up so their father became paranoid but instead of having to endure that all himself he was away and was trying to make everyone believe he learned his lessons. He redirected the attention to Kaito so their father was busy caging the innocent." We all were now watching the brothers. I hate it that they look so alike. I loved Kaito so much as my best friend…but Akaito was a demon.

„What do you want?" Akaito laughed. „How nice." He took a sip of his coffee. „I just wanted to talk to you." „Yeah? About what?" He smiles cheeky. „Why so cold? We haven't seen each other in ages. I was quite shocked as I heard that you moved in with your mother. You went to the court for that. Was it really that bad?" „Yes, it was. Can I leave now?" I was uncomfortable with the way he looked at me. Like he wanted to blame me for something. „Not so fast, my dear little brother. I have a question." I have a bad feeling about that. „I know how great the taste of freedom must be but do you think your mother will accept that?" „What?" I was confused. As far as I remember I didn't do anything wrong. „You little adventure with the purple guy." Adventure? „What?" „You two mess around, right?" Wait, what?! Where did he knew….no wait, he didn't, did he? „You ob-….no you let someone observe me?" He would never do that on his own. „You refused to talk to me and I needed to know what's going on in your life." He was not even denying it and made it sound like it was my own damn fault. „So, what do you think?" No, wait! That's…that's enough. I…no, I refuse to continue this. I was so angry. It was a miracle I was still able to sit there.

„You know what Akaito, you are a manipulative dick head. You always were but do you know what? At least be so nice and go through with your lies instead of suddenly blurting out the truth. I don't know what you wanted to achieve but honestly I don't care. I am not messing around with a guy because I feel sexually adventurous. I am going out with him…for six months now. Pretty long, right? Kind of a miracle looking at our family history but you know I always was kind of different from you." Well I am gay, but I am not a manipulative prick. „When you knocked up that girl I thought you felt so ashamed that you couldn't face me but don't think I never realized how wrong I was. I know very well what you did and I also am very aware that YOU are the adventurous from both of us. So whatever you wanted, don't try to threaten me." His face was now reflecting his shock. It was oddly satisfying seeing him realize that I am not this small stupid child anymore. „You want to tell mom? Feel free to do so." I now placed a hand over his heart. „Just know if you do so I will never forgive you and I will use everything I can to force you out of my life…forever." I saw him swallow. He didn't said a word and I decided I didn't need any more words. I left. Going back to my friends feeling pretty good about myself.

I don't know what they have talked about but I hated just watching them from afar. Still Kaitos reactions were all I needed. It irritated me to no end seeing him confused, shocked and going even paler than he already was. It was downright sickening. Still, what took me off the most was the sudden anger appearing on Kaitos face. An expression I never saw him with ever before and as I took a short glance at Miku she was just as puzzled. It looked so cold and strong. As if he could freeze time itself with just one look. He was talking words of ice as the power between them shifted. The moment Kaito was reaching out Akaito seemed to lean back just a little just to freeze underneath his younger brother's touch. It looked like a strange magic of snow and ice. As the conversation ended Kaitos expression melted into a smile as he moved towards us. He just sat down taking his laptop again. „Everything okay?" I asked still baffled by the happenings. „Yeah, now everything is okay." He smiled an honest loving smile and I smiled back. I will remember to never anger my boyfriend if I don't want to get frozen. Looks like Len does not need to beat me up.

Since that day Akaito hasn't contacted me for a while. Just later when the second semester just started he asked me for another meeting to apologize. To my surprise he actually did came to really apologize. This time we had a real talk about all sorts of things and once in a while I was meeting him now for a coffee or a quick lunch break. I got to know a lot of things about him and he learned a lot of things about me. I mean, he was my brother but we basically became strangers. The relationship with my father also got better again even though I won't come out to him so soon.

When Gakupo graduated he told his family about me. They were not that happy but they also didn't threw him out. It took time for them to get used to the thought of no grandchildren…and a man at his side.

A year later I came out to my mom. She took it a lot better. At some point she already had suspected me to be like that and had considered Gakupo as my boyfriend. It was embarrassing but…well it was freeing to have her accept us so easily. Just a little later Gakupos family decided to finally meet me. I never was in Kyoto before and so nervous and I tried very hard to make a good impression. I still don't know if I really did. They where strict people but Gakupo always said they loved me even though they are not showing it.

We came a long way…and we still are friends even without gaming. Miku and Luka are still together and Meiko was even engaged. Gumi was fed up with everything after her last relationship was a disaster…thanks God it's over. But hey, Len found himself another crush and even Rin has found herself someone she likes. He should be careful. Len was there to protect his sister.

It's kind of funny now…how everything started with joining a party at a mindless online game...