As promised, Chigiri had gone with Yuuko to pick Reina up from school. He made sure to wear his hair as swooshy as possible. The kids were mildly impressed, but it was the mothers who made a fuss. He'd been polite to them all, answering their questions and posing for a few selfies.

It was enough for Reina to make up with her friends. Kids could fight and make up fast, so he wasn't worried about her. There would be another schoolyard drama next week and this would all be forgotten.

Being part of Kunigami's family, and feeling like he was on the track to success after completing a high profile job and meeting some 'fans', got him to thinking about Miho again. A month ago when she'd contacted him, he didn't feel confident enough to face her, because as much as he'd like a relationship with his sister, he knew he'd have to apologise and work through things he really didn't want to dig up again. He was scared to rock the boat, things were going so good for him, but maybe now that he was firmly on the right track, he could do it with Kunigami beside him.

He sat in the bath, warm water soothing, as Kunigami washed his hair for him. Of course he could do it himself, but Kunigami liked to help, and it was a nice way for them to spend time together.

"Hey, I'm thinking of seeing if Miho wants to meet up." Kunigami understood it was a big deal and the fingers massaging his scalp slowed as he waited for him to continue. "It's just, if I do, I'm gonna have to face some hard truths and apologise for a lot of things. I don't want to mess up what we have now. Do you think it's worth the risk?"

He was kinda talking as he was thinking and wondered if he was saying it right. I don't want to undo everything you've done for me. I don't want to ruin our life because I'm weak and selfish.

"You know I'd do anything for my family, I can't imagine not having them there. I can't decide this for you, but if Miho is important to you like that, and you want to try, I'll support you."

Was she? Was she someone he couldn't live without? He watched the swirling soap suds as he thought it through out loud.

"When we were kids we were pretty close, she was an awesome big sister, fun and cool. She was so good to me the first time I did my knee, encouraging me to get better and play again. Nine months is a long recovery time when you're a kid, but she stayed positive, even if I didn't. Obviously, I lost it the second time around, and nothing was more important than the drugs after a while. She really tried to help, but she had her own life, and I was a total nightmare to be around…" Even this much was hard to admit. Maybe he couldn't do this. But then he looked up at Kunigami, who was looking back with that kindness and patience he'd always had. I want to be better for him. I want to prove I'm stronger now. "I do wonder how her life is going, if she got her degree, if she has a job she likes, if she has someone special too…"

Kunigami gave him a soft smile.

"Then you probably need to ask her."

"If I do, will you come with me?"

"Of course I will. I'd love to meet her."

For some reason that simple statement made tears spring to his eyes which made him feel silly, but Kunigami just touched his chin and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"I've got you."

He knew that was true, because it was always true. How did I ever survive without him?

xxx

Firefighting wasn't all about fighting fires. Sometimes it was about spending two hours pulling a car to pieces bit by bit because someone thought they heard meowing. He worked carefully with Suzuki to pull the engine apart, until they saw a fluffy little grease-stained face looking up at them. The kitten was wedged pretty tight, and they had to work carefully not to hurt it while they dislodged it from the engine.

When it finally came free, he lifted it up for a closer look. It was black and looked a little worse for wear, but it's green eyes looked back at him, full of fight. He couldn't help but think of Chigiri as he held it. He'd love you.

xxx

Miho had agreed to meet him. He'd stressed about asking her, and was stressing even more now about seeing her. It was making him think about his past too, and old insecurities were niggling at him. He was fighting hard to keep it together, trying to focus on work, and trying not to worry Kunigami.

He didn't like being alone, it gave him too much time to think, so he was always relieved when he heard the door open meaning that Kunigami was home.

Today Kunigami was carrying a bunch of shopping with him, and he gave Chigiri a bright smile, that handsome face lighting up. He really should think about modelling too.

"I have a surprise for you. Here." Kunigami handed him a box. "Be careful with it." It was light, and with no idea what to expect he sat down and pulled the lid off. Inside, was a kitten, big green eyes staring up at him from an inky black face. It meowed, and he scooped it out and held it close, nothing left in the world but the pure happiness that was blooming inside him.

Kunigami sat down beside him.

"I pulled him out of a car engine this morning. He was a stray. He's been to the vet and doesn't have any injuries. He just needs someone to love him, and something about him made me think of you."

"I love him already. Thank you."

Kunigami reached out and ran a big hand over Chigiri's head, giving him a smile.

"I thought you might. I bought a few things to get you started, but I don't know much about cats."

He held the kitten up so they could both see it clearly. It was almost fully black, with a tiny white patch on it's chest and white toes. It wasn't super small, maybe eight or nine weeks old. It had a pretty face and long whiskers. It looked between them curiously.

"We'll figure it out, huh? We always do. You got lucky today, cat. A hero found you."

It stretched out a paw to swipe at Chigiri's hair.

"What are you gonna call him?"

Chigiri looked into the cute, little face, thinking about how the kitten's day had started and how it had ended.

"Fuku," he decided.

"It suits him," Kunigami agreed.

xxx

Fuku worked wonders on his nerves. Having him there, spending time with him, needing to take care of him, took so much of his focus that when the day arrived to meet up with Miho, it was leaving Fuku home alone that worried him the most.

"He'll be fine, he's a cat," Kunigami assured him. "It might even stop you wearing a bald patch on him."

Kunigami was teasing him, because he spent so much time stroking Fuku. Maybe it was a lot, but…

"He's so soft," he pouted.

"Come on," Kunigami said, squeezing his hand. "We don't want to be late."

They'd planned to meet at a restaurant in a private room. It would be a nice neutral setting. They got there a few minutes early and were just sitting down when Miho arrived. She was early too.

He stood back up, and they just stared at each other for a while. It was a strange feeling, because Miho had grown up some, she seemed more mature, but she was also the same. He'd meant to keep it together, to play it cool, but couldn't. Not when she was here, looking at him with those same eyes that had always let him get away with too much. He teared up and so did she, and then she was throwing her arms around him, squeezing him tight. He squeezed her too.

"Hyoma… You look so good," she told him. He knew what she meant, for a while there he'd avoided mirrors, his reflection an uncomfortable reminder of how unhealthy he was. He didn't know what to say to her, there was so much. He felt like he might just break down in tears when Kunigami's voice cut through his swirling emotions.

"My name is Rensuke Kunigami," he introduced himself. "It's good to meet you, Miho. Thank you for coming."

Miho let go of him which helped him get himself back under control.

"Kunigami…" she said. "You're the one. Thank you for helping my brother when I couldn't."

"I was glad to. Chi-, Hyoma is very important to me."

Chigiri wondered if she understood what that meant, and then decided he wanted it to be clear.

"Kunigami saved my life. He helped me beat my addiction, and now we're dating. He's an amazing boyfriend."

They shared a smile and Kunigami gave his hand a quick squeeze.

Miho was silent for a moment, he knew it could be a shock, but then she smiled too.

"I'm happy for you, Hyoma."

"Thank you." He really meant that, because he knew his parents wouldn't be so easy to convince, even if he hadn't already disappointed them.

They all sat down and ordered some food.

"How are you, Miho?" What he really wanted to say was 'how has your life been?', 'is it working out like you hoped?', 'are you happy?', but he didn't quite feel like he had that right yet. She was his sister though, and she got all that without him saying it.

"I'm good. I have my own place and a job I love."

"What do you do?" Kunigami asked, and Chigiri was grateful because he was ashamed to say that he didn't even remember what she'd been studying at university.

A sad sort of smile curled her lips.

"I'm a sport psychologist."

It sat there between them all, because it was huge. Again, he didn't know what to say, it felt like she was saying that he had influenced the direction her entire life had taken, but maybe that was just his ego getting out of control.

"That sounds challenging and rewarding," Kunigami offered, saving him again. "I know I struggled a lot with letting soccer go. One day it means everything, and then it's just gone."

"You're not alone. It's a huge issue that not many people talk about. My focus is helping athletes recover from long-term injuries. Whether that means playing again or not."

It was too much.

"Onee-chan…"

"It's alright, Hyoma. You inspired me to do something important. I love my work. I would have liked to help you too."

He was struggling again, lost for words, but maybe he just needed to admit that.

"I don't know what to say..."

He felt Kunigami's hand on his back, and Miho smiled over at him.

"You don't need to say anything. Tell me about you. I saw those billboards. Pretty flashy."

Heat rose in his cheeks and he hid his face in his hands. Having his picture plastered all over the city felt ridiculous now.

"I bought that shampoo," she said. "It's nice." He couldn't help looking up to see her hair, she twirled a shiny strand around her finger.

"Hyoma was approached by an agency when they saw his hair styling videos online. He signed with them and does modelling work now. He has a new campaign launching soon."

"Who for?" Miho wondered. "Wait, am I allowed to ask you that?"

"It's fine," Chigiri said, telling her the name of the label.

"Oh wow."

"It's the spring collection, so it's not just me."

"Oh, come on," Kunigami said. "You've gotta tell Miho who now."

"Is it someone famous?" she asked excitedly.

"Takato Saijo and Nagi Rokuya."

"No way. That's big time, Hyoma. Well done."

"Thanks. But it's nothing compared to what Kunigami does."

"That's not true," Kunigami said.

"What do you do?" Miho asked.

"I'm a firefighter," he told her.

"Impressive."

"It really is," Chigiri said. "It's how we reconnected. Kunigami pulled me out of a burning building. He saved my life."

"Oh, Hyoma… I had no idea. Were you hurt?"

"No, I wasn't. Thanks to Kunigami." He reached across and brushed his fingertips over Kunigami's scarred forearm. "He wasn't quite so lucky though…"

She looked down and then back up at them.

"You got hurt rescuing my brother?"

"It's all part of the job."

"No, it's more than that. Thank you so much," she bowed. "For helping my brother in all the ways I couldn't."

"Oh, it's really okay. You don't have to thank me. I love him, what else am I gonna do?"

Chigiri felt his cheeks warm up, but Miho just smiled.

"I'm so glad Hyoma has you."

It was getting way too mushy.

"What about you, onee-chan. Are you dating anyone?"

"No, I'm between boyfriends at the moment."

Now that he had Kunigami and had experienced how amazing it could be to have someone beside you, he felt a little sad for her.

"Don't look at me like that. It's not as though I haven't had boyfriends, I just haven't had one stick yet. Don't worry though, I do plenty of trial runs."

He couldn't help laughing at that. Here was an unexpected thing they had in common. It made him happy too that she was comfortable enough to be this casual with him.

"Okay, have fun on your search then."

"If you wanted to introduce me to some of those hot celebrities you work with, I wouldn't be opposed."

"Sure, I'll see what I can do."

They just chatted then as they ate their lunch, getting to know each other again. It was weird how easily they fit back together, almost as though no time had passed in some ways. But it had, and there was one hard question that he had to ask.

"How are our parents?"

"Fine. As far as I know."

"As far as you know? You don't keep in touch with them?"

"I didn't agree with the way they did things, so I don't speak to them."

He felt awful. It's my fault.

"You mean me. I screwed things up for you too."

"No. They did. You were a kid that needed help and they abandoned you."

"I did some really shitty things…"

"Don't blame yourself, Hyoma," she said, reaching over and taking his hand. "Let's put it behind us and be friends again. Okay?"

He wanted to say yes, that he'd love that, but the words stuck in his throat. Then he felt Kunigami's big hand on his shoulder.

"Hyoma would like that. I have two sisters, we often have dinner with them. You'd be welcome to join us next time, if you like?"

For the first time Miho looked truly shocked, and Chigiri knew what she was thinking.

"This is what he does," Chigiri said fondly. "You're part of the family before you know it. You should come, Miho."

"I will," she accepted. "Thank you for the invitation, Rensuke. Let's keep in touch, Hyoma."

"I just got a kitten, Kunigami rescued him. I'll spam you with photos."

"Okay," she smiled. "I'll look forward to them."

They all exchanged contact info.

"We'll message you with a date for dinner."

"Sounds great."

She gave him another smile.

"It was so good to see you, Hyoma. I missed you."

"I missed you too," he admitted, only realising now just how much he'd leaned on her as a kid. They shared a hug and said goodbye, Miho leaving first.

Kunigami turned to him.

"That was okay, huh?"

Because you helped me.

He tucked himself under Kunigami's chin and waited for those big, strong arms to fold around him, feeling safe and secure when they did.

"I don't deserve all the amazing people in my life. She should hate me…"

Kunigami's arms tightened around him.

"You do know forgiveness is as much about the person doing the forgiving as it is the person being forgiven, right? By doing this Miho is saying she wants to move on with her life, that she wants to be happy, so all you have to do is accept her forgiveness and let her. I could tell you guys were really close and reconnecting is gonna be good for both of you."

So I just need to let Miho be happy, and then I can accept my own happiness too. I guess that's simple enough.

He snuggled in tighter just for a second more, once again grateful to have such an incredible person in his life to support him.

"Thank you, Hero. Somehow you always know just the right thing to say…"

AN: I'm going to Japan for a few weeks, so it will be at least a month before I post another chapter. Thanks to everyone who's made it this far :)