The day of Yamaguchi's birthday arrived and the first thing he did when he woke up was check his wrist. Nothing.

If you were going to receive a name, you would receive it at the same time of day you were born. Unfortunately that's the kind of thing a parent tells you and well...

Yamaguchi had no idea when he would get his name, if he even got one today. He briefly considered staying home frome school that day, but decided against it. He had a test and he didn't want to have to take a make up exam. He showered and dressed in his uniform. He fought with the stupid cowlick on his head trying to get it to lay down and gave up when he realized he was going to be late.

He was surprised when he got to the corner and found Tsukki waiting for him. "Hey, happy birthday." The blonde said in his usual bored monotone. "Did you get a name yet?"

"Nope, nothing yet. I don't even know that I will get one today."

Tsukishima just shrugged and walked on as the two started talking about volleyball and an upcoming practice match against Nekoma.

Yamaguchi went on nervously through his day anxiously waiting for a tingle in his wrist that was the beginning of the rest of his life. The tingle that would lead to the pain of the imprinting of the name of his future wife.

By the time he got to practice that afternoon he was beginning to think that he was not going to get a name. And then it happened. He was going up to practice a serve when pain shot through his wrist. It felt like the name was actually being carved into it. He cried out in pain and grabbed his wrist.

"Yamaguchi! Why don't you go ahead and take off." Shouted Coach Ukai, realizing what was happening and knowing that privacy was in order.

Yamaguchi nodded his thanks and ran for the club room. Once there he quickly pulled on his jacket and track pants never looking at the name. Now that it was there he was a little scared to know. "What if I don't know her? What if I do and I don't like her? What if she doesn't like me?"

All of these thoughts were racing through his head as he changed clothes and rushed to head home.

Meanwhile across town:

Takinou had got off work early and swung by Shimada Mart to harass his lover. He currently had Shimada in the back room, facing a wall and panting heavily while Takinou gave him a hand job.

"God yes, that feels so good." Shimada moaned as he dropped his head forward onto the hand that was holding both of his wrists in place on the wall. He was so close to climax when he felt a pain in his wrist. It was slight at first, but quickly turned into the sharp unforgettable carving pain of receiving a soul mark.

Shimada's sex addled brain was confused, but he also realized that Takinou had stopped his movements and had also cried out in pain. Shimada was shaking as he slid down the wall and turned over his wrist. Right there under Takinou's name was a new name: Yamaguchi T.

He looked up and saw Takinou staring at his own wrist, "What the hell!" The blonde shouted before reaching down and grabbing Shimada's wrist. They both of course had the same thing. Takinou narrowed his eyes and looked at Shimada "seriously, what the hell!"..."Is this your Yamaguchi?"

Shimada rolled his eyes as he got up and started getting himself put back together "he's not my Yamaguchi you shit. And I couldn't make this happen even if I had wanted to, which I didn't. I have a mate and Tadashi is going to be crushed."

"Are you sure, because he certainly likes hanging out with you?"

Shimada whirled on Takinou and jabbed his finger in his chest "Grow up and stop being a pouty jackass. He has been through enough and he doesn't need your shit right now. Having two mates is highly unusual, but it's even more unusual to get a same sex mate when you are straight. He's going to be wrecked. Now get in the damn car."

Takinou got in as Shimada took off for Yamaguchi's house. "He's straight?"

"Yeah. When he hangs out with me all he ever talks about is what kind of woman he'll end up with as his soul mate. And how much he is looking forward to it because he's tired of being alone."

Takinou was quiet for a bit before saying "I'm sorry. I was just really shocked. And I got jealous for a minute which is stupid because we both got his name. And there is the fact that I thought I was about to get laid and instead I felt like my wrist was slit."

Shimada laughed "You weren't going to get laid. I was going to let you finish me and then go open my store back up."

Takinou chuckled "and I am the jackass?" After a minute he added, "Hey everything will be OK. Fate wouldn't give him mates he couldn't love. We'll take care of him and be whatever he needs us to be. Eventually we'll get where we are all on the same page."

"Yeah."

Back to Yamaguchi:

Yamaguchi was walking especially slow on his way home. Now that he had a name he was just really freaked out. He had so many thoughts running through his head, not the least of which was what if I lose her like my Mom lost my Dad.

He ran his fingers over the name through his jacket. It was odd, the name was on two lines. Was his soul mate a foreigner? Yamaguchi had never seen anyone who's mark took up two lines.

As he turned up the street to his house he saw a familiar car parked out front. I wonder what he's doing here? He should be at work right now.

His bewilderment was increased when he walked through the gate and saw that Takinou was with him. Both men were eying him wearily as they stood on his porch and despite that, Yamaguchi had the most curious range of emotions wash over him.

He felt calm. He felt peaceful. He felt safe and for some reason completely unbeknownst to him he felt bone deep content and happy. Like suddenly everything was going to be OK. The two started to get blurry as he felt tears spill over his cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away but he couldn't move.

Shimada started to step toward him with his hand raised, but stopped, mistaking his tears for sadness and not wanting to distress him any more. "I'm sorry Tadashi. I know it's not what you wanted and" he stopped because his heart was breaking. He hadn't realized how hard it would be to be in front of him and see his rejection first hand. Shimada had always loved Yamaguchi like a brother, but the mate mark changed that. He reached for Takinou's hand needing his support.

Yamaguchi wiped furiously at his eyes "What do you mean? And why are you guys here?" He didn't know what he had done to upset Shimada, but knowing he had done something, hurt more than it should.

Yamaguchi saw the two men exchange a glance before Takinou said "you did get the mark, right?"

"I got one, but I didn't look yet. I wanted to be home alone when I saw her name for the first time." It didn't go unnoticed that both men flinched when he said "her." "And besides how did you know I got one?" Hey rolled his eyes "Did coach call you?"

Hey was shocked when Takinou not Shimada walked forward and took his hand. "Tadashi, you need to look."

Yamaguchi bristled a little at the man being so informal with him, "I barely know him."

Still he found himself shivering as Takinou pushed his jacket sleeve down revealing the name, no names on his wrist: Shimada M. Takinou Y.

He ran his fingers over the names before looking up. Now the tears were spilling in earnest. He wanted to turn and run away, but instead found him self rushing forward into Shimada's arms and burying his face in his neck while he bawled.

He heard Takinou say "we should probably go inside." He felt himself being steered in while he clung to Shimada.

Once inside Yamaguchi looked up and mumbled "I don't understand. What happened?"

Shimada gave him a watery smile as he brushed his hair off his forehead "fate happened."