Author's Note: Hi everyone, so I have decided to update this story every Sunday instead every Monday. This story isn't going to be very long, I'm assuming about 10 to 12 chapters max, and thank you all for reading and commenting and favoriting! I appreciate the support. Until next time everyone, have a good day or night!

Maybe coming clean is the ultimate selfish act. A way to absolve yourself by hurting someone who doesn't deserve to be hurt.

-Cindy Chupack

The Truth

Midorima and his sister spent the whole afternoon talking and catching up on everything. They were walking side by side through the park that they used to play at as kids. Maya was telling Midorima about her plans about moving somewhere a little quieter than Tokyo. She was in her final year of college and graduating in the summer. Midorima couldn't believe that she was graduating; he couldn't believe how much he missed in her life in just five years.

Maya told him that she was lucky to have met Hiro and that she was so happy. Her older brother smiled and nodded his head as she started talking about babies and buying a house. He stopped walking and placed a hand on Maya's shoulder. She looked up at him questioningly and smiled weakly. His green eyes bore into her brown ones and he shook his head.

"Maya you really need to slow down," Midorima said to her. "You should enjoy this because you're going to miss it. Trust me." He put his arm around her shoulders and led her over to an empty bench off to the side of the sidewalk. They both sat down and Midorima looked up at the sky through the bare tree branches. In a few weeks, the whole park would begin to bud with the beautiful cherry blossoms. He missed those spring days where he would walk home from school among all the pink petals.

"Shin-chan," Maya said softly and he looked at his sister. Her chocolate brown hair that matched their mother's fluttered in her face from the late winter chill. "Why did you leave?"

"Maya," Midorima sighed as he rubbed his temples.

"No! Look, I've been understanding up to this point," Maya paused for a second when Midorima looked back at her, "I want to know, you didn't just break my heart…you broke our parents heart and Kazu's too." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. For five years, Midorima hadn't told anyone the real reason he left at least no one that mattered. He might have mentioned it to a nurse or patient back in New York.

"I don't want to talk about it," Midorima said flatly as he pushed his glasses up. Maya sighed in annoyance and shook her head as she shot up from the bench. She started walking off and Midorima licked his lips. "Maya!" he called out, but she just waved him off and kept walking. Midorima got onto his feet and followed after her. When he finally caught up with her he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her to a stop.

"Why can't you tell me?" Maya asked, pulling out of his hold. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. Midorima shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Maya raised a brow and gestured for him to say something.

He couldn't bring himself to do it though. How was he supposed to tell his little sister when he hadn't even told Takao? Sometimes he couldn't even believe what he did. As Maya stared at him, Midorima ran his fingers through his hair and groaned.

"You don't have to give me details just a few words to tell me what made you leave," Maya told him simply. She waited, hoping he would open up about it. Maya had been very understanding and patient, but now that she could see him and touch him, she wasn't letting him leave until he told her the truth. "Don't give me the whole fresh start thing because I don't believe you."

Midorima licked his lips and adjusted his glasses. "I can't tell you," he said simply and Maya threw her hands up in the air. She turned on her heels and was about to walk away, but Midorima cut her off. "You still talk to him don't you? If I tell you, the whole damn city will know if I tell you."

"Of course I talk to him, he's family!" Maya snapped. "He was the one who introduced me to Hiro. You didn't talk to me for three years! You didn't talk to dad for a year and you haven't spoken to Kazu in five years. Why, Shin-chan?" Maya looked at him expectantly, hoping he would just finally break down. When he didn't say anything after a few moments, Maya brushed her hair behind her ear. Her bright brown eyes downcast to the ground and she sighed softly.

"I cheated on him," Midorima stated.

Maya's head shot up. She stared at him in surprise and hugged him tight. In truth, Maya had assumed that something like that had happened. She wished he hadn't run away from his problems, but that what Midorima did. He was always so good at running away. When Maya pulled away from him she looked up at him. His green eyes were tearing up and Maya frowned. Midorima swallowed hard and pulled off his glasses, quickly wiping his tears away.

"Five years and it's haunted me every single day," Midorima explained as he put his glasses back on. "I missed him. I missed everyone. I missed home. But I just couldn't come back and face him, I still don't think I can." He shook his head slowly and sighed heavily as the memories of that night came screaming back at him.

"You tell him the truth," Maya said and Midorima looked at her with wide eyes. "It's hard and scary, but you have to tell him." She placed a hand on her brother's arm in a reassuring way. Maya looped her arm through his and pulled him along. They started walking down the side of the road, heading back towards their parents home.

"How is he, Maya?" Midorima asked of his old boyfriend, which caused Maya to smile.

"He's okay," she replied with a single nod. "He traveled the world with Hiro for a year. It really helped him, but to be honest I don't think he's moved on. I think he's still in love with you." Maya looked up at him and smiled warmly at him.

"What makes you think that?" Midorima inquired.

"It's just a gut feeling I have," Maya answered. "Don't you think you should go talk to him before my wedding? I'd like it if you didn't steal my thunder by opening the door to the past."

Midorima rolled his eyes and stifled a laugh. His little sister giggled and patted her brother's arm as they walked around a corner. "I'm just going to let the universe decide when we meet, I'm not going out of my way." He shook his head and looked down at his sister for a few moments. She smiled at him and squeezed his arm in a comforting manner.

"If that's what you wanted to do you never would have come back," Maya pointed out, which made Midorima huff. "Who was it, Shin-chan?" she asked, causing Midorima to blink in confusion. He shook his head not understanding her question. "Who did you cheat on him with?"

"Nope, we're not talking about that," Midorima declared and when Maya tried to say something her brother stopped and looked at her. "Not about that, Maya, enough!" he snapped at her, causing her to frown and look away in defeat. Midorima felt bad and muttered an apology for yelling at her. She shook her head and continued to walk in silence. They were back on the street to their parents house. Maya had stopped walking when she noticed Hiro's car parked outside of the house.

"Hiro's here, you can finally meet him," Maya said with a bright smile as she pulled Midorima down the road. "I think you two are going to get along great." She let go of Midorima's arm and ran up to the front door of the house. Her brother sighed and decided that he was just going to have to meet the man who had first traveled the world with his ex and second was marrying his little sister. When he got to the door, Midorima could already hear his sister talking. The sound of the back door opening and slamming shut caused her to go silent.

"Hey Maya-chan."

Midorima froze dead in his tracks at the sound of the greeting. He was about to turn around and run. That voice, he hadn't forgotten even though he hadn't heard it in five years.

"Kazu-kun? What are you doing here?" Maya asked, trying to sound normal.

"Visiting?" Takao tried with a laugh. "Why?" he asked her.

"It's just…well…" Maya seemed to be at a loss for words. Midorima could just imagine the look on her face. Of course, Takao and Midorima would have to see each other again. They were both going to be at her wedding, but this was probably not the way for them to see each other again.

"Are you okay babe?" another man asked, Midorima could only assume it was her husband to be that was speaking. With a heavy sigh, Midorima pulled the front door open and walked inside.

"I'm fine," Maya assured them both. She turned towards the entryway to the kitchen as Midorima started walking up. Hiro and Takao both noticed she was looking at the entrance and turned their attention to it. Midorima swallowed hard and stepped into the kitchen with all eyes on him.

His parents were seated at the table, Maya was standing next to Hiro in the middle of the kitchen, and Takao was leaning against the kitchen counter by the back porch door. Midorima licked his lips and tried not to make direct eye contact with Takao. The grey-eyed man was gazing at him though; he could feel his eyes burning holes through him. Maya looked between Takao and Midorima, looking very worried and anxious. The air in the room had gone completely still and Midorima felt like he was suffocating. When he looked up at Takao, he thought he was going to melt into a puddle.

Midorima's hands were shaking, his palms were sweaty, and he could feel the blood pulsing at rapid rates through his veins. This was not at all how he wanted to see Takao again for the first time. His knees seemed to be buckling and his throat felt constricted. Midorima kept telling himself over and over to just breathe, but it wasn't helping at all. Takao's mouth slowly fell open and he started to shake his head. It was like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. When their eyes locked, Midorima felt like he had just been hit by a train.

Takao couldn't find his voice, he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't even think straight. It wasn't an illusion or a dream Midorima Shintaro was back. He was standing just across the room looking just as scared and nervous as Takao felt. When he ripped his eyes away from Midorima, Takao shook his head and stumbled towards the back door. His hand pushed it open and he muttered an apology as he slipped out of the house.

Everyone was silent for what seemed like an eternity before Maya cleared her throat.

"Hiro-kun this is my brother Shintaro," Maya introduced, gesturing to her brother. He smiled weakly and bowed slightly to Hiro, who returned the gesture.

"Nice to finally meet you," Hiro said as he walked towards Midorima. They were almost the same height, but Hiro was an inch or two shorter than him. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise," Midorima managed to say, but his eyes kept going back to the back door. He wasn't sure if he was waiting for Takao to walk back in or if he wanted to run out there himself. "I'm sorry, could you excuse me for a moment." Midorima didn't wait for an answer as he turned around and walked back out through the front door.

"I should have mentioned he was here, I'm sorry," Maya said the moment she heard the front door close. She ran her fingers through her hair and shook her head. "That was not how I had envisioned them seeing each other again." She frowned and looked to Hiro as he nodded his head knowingly. His tawny hair fell in front of his eyes and he looked over to Hotaru and Tadashi.

"The truth of the matter is," Hiro began as he pulled Maya close, "no matter how they met again it was going to be rough."

"I didn't think it would go like that though," Maya said as she walked over to the table and sat across from her parents. "I thought it would have been a better reunion to be honest."

"They'll work through it, Maya-chan," Hotaru said as she reached for her daughter's hand and squeezed it gently. "These things take time, they both love you so they won't ruin your special day." Her mother smiled at her and nodded her head.

"Your mother's right," Tadashi agreed. "Let them work it out on their own. They'll be civil for you."

"I don't want them to just be civil," Maya replied as she sank back in her seat. Hiro walked over to the table and sat down beside Maya. "I want them to be happy again." She sighed softly and looked at her future husband, who nodded his head in understanding.

"Let's just let them work this out for now," Hiro suggested with a smile as he leaned over and kissed Maya's cheek. "How about I make dinner for us?" he offered as he stood up and wondered over to the pantry.

-###-

Takao walked into the club Kasamatsu owned and went straight to the bar. He climbed onto a stool and laid his head down on the counter. It was only five, so for the most part the club was completely empty aside from a couple of workers. He heard someone walk up to him and lifted his head from the counter assuming it to be Kasamatsu. Sure enough the dark haired man raised a thick brow at Takao.

"Get me a double," Takao said before burying his face back in his arms.

"Of what?" Kasamatsu inquired as he dried a glass and hung it up on the rack overhead.

"Anything!" Takao's muffled response came.

Kasamatsu clicked his tongue and placed a glass in front of Takao. No ice and poured some whiskey into it. He pushed it towards Takao and leaned on the bar. "What's up, Kazu?" Kasamatsu inquired with a raised brow as he watched Takao down the drink like a fish out of water. Takao gestured for another, and Kasamatsu obliged. "Okay, I'll wait until you get drunk then." Kasamatsu put the bottle down and pushed the glass back towards Takao.

"He's back," Takao muttered.

"Come again," Kasamatsu said, gesturing for Takao to speak up.

"He's back," Takao stated firmly and clearly. He picked up his glass and threw it back, allowing the liquid to burn down his throat and into his stomach. Kasamatsu just stared at Takao in disbelief. "And he looks good, that's the worst part." He slammed the empty glass down on the counter, taking the bottle from Kasamatsu and filled it up again.

"Midorima Shintaro is back in Japan?" Kasamatsu pieced together with a raised brow. Takao grabbed the glass and stared at it. He nodded his head slowly and Kasamatsu pulled the glass away from Takao. "Your emotions will make you drunk enough, no need to add fuel to the fire." Kasamatsu downed the drink for Takao and smiled weakly when he slammed it back down. "So what are you going to do?"

"I have to do something?" Takao asked as he reached for the whiskey bottle, but Kasamatsu moved it from his reach. He put it on the glass shelf behind him and looked at the grey-eyed man.

"You haven't let go," Kasamatsu said to him, and Takao pressed his lips together. He looked down slowly at the counter of the bar and let out a shaky breath. "And since you haven't let go that means you still love him. So are you really not going to say anything? What about the wedding on Saturday?" The owner of the club leaned on the counter and waited for Takao to look at him again.

"Can I simply not go?" Takao asked with a cheeky smile, and Kasamatsu chuckled. "I mean I'm only—"

"The best man, so yeah you gotta go," Kasamatsu interrupted. "And think how disappointed Maya and Mika would be."

"My sister would get over it," Takao grumbled as he rubbed his finger along the top of the glass. He knew that Maya and Hiro wanted him to be there and they would be devastated if he didn't show. Of course, it was all talk, whiskey talk really. Takao would go; he would just avoid Midorima like the plague. Although, Takao didn't want to avoid him, he wanted to talk to him. He wanted to walk right up to Midorima and kiss him so hard that he would be sorry he ever left.

"Yes, but Hiro and Maya are counting on you," Kasamatsu stated simply with a small shrug. "So you can either go out there and find Midorima, or you can wait until the wedding and make a spectacle out of it."

"Those are my only options?" Takao inquired, meeting Kasamatsu's pretty blue eyes. When he nodded, Takao sputtered and buried his face into his folded arms. "I don't like them."

"Doesn't matter," Kasamatsu replied with a shake of his head. The bells on the door jingled and Kasamatsu looked up and smiled. "Better start acting happy before Ryota gets a hold of you,"

Takao turned around and sighed when he spotted Kise walking into the club.