A/N: I just finished this chapter a few minutes ago. There will be mistakes because I haven't edited it.

ALSO, WELCOME BACK! I mean, I'm back... kinda. Ok, so I've made a goal for myself. I'm going to finish this story by March. I've been in the groove for writing, hell, in the past week alone I've written SEVEN CHAPTERS for my own story, FORTY PAGES of history for it as well. I've been in the groove... plus I don't want to leave this unfinished. Everythings going to wrap up soon. Aiming for thirty chapters at least. I don't know if I'll start another fanfiction, I have two I've never finished and seem to be way too slack to write anything (plus, I'm lacking ideas... eeep!) So, here's chapter 22. I hope you all enjoy, sorry about the wait!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Everything came in a blur. His body ached, his mind raced. No, this couldn't be happening. They were… no, he couldn't allow this. Just because she turned up didn't mean he couldn't protect Rin. No! They weren't going to take her from him. Even if he had to run, he would. The pain she caused was nothing. He could deal with this; he would deal with this. For Rin…

"…What…?"

Aiko glanced at Len for the briefest of moments before turning back to Kaito. They're history project long forgotten, remained spread out across the library table. Hibiki, who was also part of their group was currently nowhere to be seen. "I don't think sensei cares, Kaito! You can argue with him all you want, but he won't listen. Don't you think Hibiki and I already had this discussion with him.

"Of course," Kaito grumbled back, looking at Len's confused expression. Poor kid, he'd completely tuned out of the conversation and had no idea what was going on any more. "But this is ridiculous! It's not like the school has that much money."

"It was a friend of the school who's doing this. Our school has missed out on a lot of great opportunities, so they want to make it up to them. Besides, we're already stated that we were not going on the school's money. My parents are offering to pay so we can go see Katsurou team swim. If they win, could you imagine the amount of interest they'll receive. We have to cheer him on! I mean, this is getting beyond a joke."

"Wait!" Len spoke out. "What are we talking about?"

"Katsurou and the swim team are being sponsored by the Principle's friend so they could go to the semi-finals," Aiko replied, closing her history book. "Katsurou wants us to go… but the school can afford us to go with them, so mum and dad are offering to pay. Because of that, sensei has been trying to argue with the school that if we go, why can't the rest of the school?"

"Well, we know for a fact that there isn't anywhere for the school to go," Kaito shrugged. "Because of that reason, he's now trying to argue it out with the Principle that we shouldn't go. Of course, we've been to every tournament the swim team has entered. We're not missing this one!"

"Exactly, we're Katsurou's personal cheer team!" Aiko grumped then sighed. "This is a joke. Stupid sensei."

"Who is going then?" Len asked.

"Well, us for starts. Ryu said he he'll be there as well. And a few friends of Katsurou and the swim team are going to be there. Akihiro-senpai, who's the captain of the swim team has offer to pay for a few of his friends to go as well. All up, I think there's going to be thirty of us from the school."

"Thirty?!" Len gasped. "Thirty of us!"

"Uh-huh," Aiko nodded. "This is Akihiro-senpai's last tournament. If he doesn't make it, he's already stated he's giving up swimming. That'll kill Katsu, since he looks up to Akihiro-senpai."

"I've… never met Akihiro-senpai…" Len mumbled.

"He was that really bulky guy," Kaito commented. "Black hair, slight stumble on his face. He's one of the two third years on the team…" Kaito gave it a moment's thought. "He was the one who won silver in the backstroke the other month."

"Oh, I remember," Len answered… but didn't really. He couldn't actually remember the swim team at all.

"Other that Akihiro-senpai, there's Hotaka-senpai whose the other third year. In the second years, there's Isao-senpai, Hideaki-senpai, Norio-senpai and Ryota-senpai. Then there' Katsurou and Satoru-kun, who sits beside Katsurou. You should remember Satoru-kun. Then there's Seiji-kun, who's in the class across from us. He won't be swimming though, since he broke his foot." [1]

They were just names to Len, if he were to be honest. He just nodded as if he understood what they were saying. "Seiji-san is going anyway, though. He wants to see the others swim."

"So… does anyone from the swim team count towards the thirty students?" Len asked quietly.

"Everyone except Seiji is excluded from the number." Aiko replied. "Poor Seiji… he was looking forward to it. I've seen him sulking at practice these last few weeks."

"You've been going to their practice?" Kaito asked with a grin.

"Not really, but Hibiki has been going over to see Katsurou."

"Speak of the devil," Len replied as the library door opened and a sleepy looking Hibiki wandered in. "Where were you Hibiki?"

"Being blasted by sensei," he whined as he plopped down beside Aiko. "Man, he's an ass."

"Which sensei? Our homeroom sensei?"

"Who other. He's still going on about it. But several of the other students going join me… we might win this!"

"I hope so!" Aiko bubbled. "Did you get Norio-senpai go with you. I think he had a bone to pick."

Hibiki nodded but looked a little pale. "Did you know Norio-senpai is a murderer… because the look he was giving sensei could kill. He was terrifying… for someone who was talking through his toothy grin. Man, never put me on the same room as his again!"

"Law enforcer Norio-senpai to the rescue!" [2]

The sun was beginning to set as Len and Kaito left the school grounds. They parted ways with Aiko and Hibiki beforehand. They didn't really want to stick around as the two began to letter a little… intimate with each other. Kissing and flirting was cute, but there was something awkward about Hibiki's attempts to flirt. Since Kaito was laughing more than he should, Len decided to pull the older teen out the room and departed school together.

Yawning lazily, Kaito began to slow his pace a little, forcing Len to slow as well. There was something weird about walking ahead, something that made him uncomfortable. It was a lot nicer walking beside Kaito. How long ago did Len admit he was trans? A month now? Len thought Kaito wouldn't have fussed as much as he did, but lately he'd been a little oversensitive when other guys were around. Maybe telling Kaito wasn't a good idea, but…Len knew it was better telling him than him finding out from someone else.

But something was wrong with Kaito. He wouldn't say, but he was agitated about something. Particularly when it came to shower time after sports. Len still went off before everyone else and was dressed before they got it, but Kaito was acting weird. Maybe he should… say something?

Glancing at Kaito, he wondered whether he should speak their mind. They were officially going out now, so he shouldn't be scared to say something. Or maybe… maybe Kaito was picking up something was wrong? Len had something important to say but…

Just as Len got the courage to speak up, Kaito halted, searching his pockets. "Shit, Len. I left my wallet. Go on ahead." And almost immediately, he bolted back to school. Was he… avoiding him? Len was sure Kaito had picked up his wallet and put it in his bag.

He was… avoiding him.

Suddenly Len felt incredibly hurt.

Len was going to wait. He needed to find out what was bothering Kaito.

Kaito found his wallet just outside school and sighed with relief. He'd put it in his bag, but had taken it out and hid it in his back pocket. Bad idea, clearly. Stuffing his wallet back into his bag, he headed towards home. What was he doing? Why was he being so sloppy lately…? Everything felt weird. He expected something different to happen right? Like… Len being more assertive. Hell, it was Len who'd been in love longer than Kaito. Why was Len… distant?

Was he doing something wrong? Ok, he was annoyed at the other guys who'd begin to say weird things like "Len has become cute…" or strange comments about their own sexuality every time they saw Len. They never said things like that before? Ok, Len had become a little sweeter since he confused… and Kaito kinda hinted at them that he and Len were together, but still. They weren't teasing either of them, they were dead set.

This swim thing scared him too. What happens if people found out? They still lived in a society that were abrasive to gay, lesbian and transgendered people. They didn't know for sure Kaito was gay, nor that Len was trans. But… what would they say? Would Len get teased because he wasn't "the norm"? It worried him to no end. Len was perfect to him. So what if he was born a girl and wanted to be a boy? That was his decision. Just because he never went through with the operation didn't change anything. If Len wanted to be a boy, then screw physical appearance and attributes, Len was a boy.

Which makes Kaito gay. And he was perfectly fine with that tag.

While he grumbled to himself, he noticed Len hadn't move from the spot he'd left him and cursed. Ok, Len was bothered by something. Maybe Kaito was doing something wrong. I am so not used to this!

"Len, I thought I said to go on ahead."

"You put your wallet in your bag," Len replied, almost accusing him of lying.

"I did, but I took it out and put in my back pocket. I did drop it," Kaito replied. "I wouldn't abandon you over nothing, Len."

Len pondered for a moment then winced. "Sorry… I shouldn't accuse you like that."

"It's fine," Kaito smiled back. Why was he so damn meek? "Come on, it's getting late. Your sister is probably wondering where you are by now."

"Gakupo would have her," Len reminded. "He…he's a better big brother than me sometimes…"

"Are you kidding yourself?" Kaito grumbled. "Len, Rin adores you. You're doing the best you can for her. She understands that."

"She should have parents… a mum and dad who love her… a bigger home, toys, games and movies…" Len looked miserable. Then suddenly he began to sob. Oh god, this wasn't a good sign.

"Len, come here" Kaito whispered, pulling him close. "Tell me what's wrong. I can't help you when you don't tell me."

"It's nothing," Len choked out between sobs. "I just feel like… everything beginning to go wrong again. I feel confused and… and completely fucked up. Am I… am I doing something wrong?"

"No, no Len, you're doing the best you can. Don't worry too much about it. If you need me, or Aiko or Hibiki, you know where we are. We'll help you if you ask us too."

Len mumbled something but Kaito didn't grab it. "Sorry… maybe I'm more of a girl than I thought," he laughed bitterly. "Girls are always overly emotional."

"Now that's kinda sexist. Men can be emotional too, idiot." Kaito laughed softly. "If you need to cry, just cry. It's better than making yourself numb to it." Then a thought popped into his mind. "'Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long,' right? Don't fret too much about being emotional or crying, Len," Kaito whispered, wiping away the tears. "We naturally cry when we are hurt, or feel threatened emotionally. So don't fret too much. Plus, I'm always going to be here, so you can always cry on me. I won't mind."

Len's laugh was a mixture of sadness and sweetness. "Idiot."

"Well… that makes two of us," Kaito chuckled.

Len stepped away and brushed the tears away from his eyes. "Kaito… I've decided on what I'm going to do," Len looked up at him, suddenly confident. "I'm going to save the money I've been working on for my operation towards my college fund instead. I don't… I don't want to change anything else about myself anymore. I want to become a psychologist and help people who are going through the same thing as me."

Suddenly surprised, Kaito took it all in for a moment then smiled back, nodding. "I think you're perfect the way you are, Len. If you feel confident about your body the way it is, then there's no point changing it. If that's what you want to do, I'll support you the best I can."

His eyes lit up, and suddenly Len gave him the biggest, sweetest grin his could muster. Len knew what he wanted. That was the most important thing.

Aiko stepped in through the front door. "I'm home," she called before walking into the kitchen. Her parents sat across one another, piles of papers between them. They had a concerned look on their face, and were lost in thought. "What's all this?" Aiko asked, stepping closer.

"They want us to take in some more children but…" her mother began, looking towards the photos at the end of the table. "What do you think?"

Aiko picked up the photo, went pale and looked at them. This couldn't be… right…

[1] They are named, but not necessary important. Though you'll meet Seiji and Satoru. But they are not that important, just guys on Katsurou's swim team.

[2] Norio means "Man of Law" in Japanese, hence the nickname "Law enforcer Norio.