(Thursday-5pm)

I guess we're following the trend. It's nice at least, to finally be doing this-anything to take my mind off of Handa right now...
I want to help, but I don't need his stress piling on top of my own stress. I told him to just apologise to Shirou, but somehow I doubt it will be as easy as that, knowing Han he'll probably just try and avoid him for the rest of his life. Knowing Shuuya, he's probably busying himself with trying to keep his husband as far as is humanly possible away from him.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly and picked the pen back up, continuing the arduous task of signing my name on every sheet of paper put in front of me. Mamoru was beaming from ear to ear as he went, he's wanted this for so long and now it's finally happening. I'm just glad I can still make him happy...I feel like lately we've been, almost drifting apart...but I know this will bring us closer together again.

"So, as you are well aware, these forms assign the two of you to the role of Guardians over the children until a decision can be reached. There's still a couple more preparations that need to be made, and we'll need to send a social worker round to your home to do final checks. And more boring legal stuff." He yawned tiredly, glancing at the clock. "My apologies." He said with a small smile. "My kids kept me up all night."
We were fostering, that was our agreement.

Endou wanted to adopt so badly but after much, much deliberation we realised it would not be the right suit for us at the minute. Okay, maybe I persuaded him it would not be right. It's not the money, or the time it would take to adopt, and god knows the legal process would be as much of a headache as with fostering; I just needed some...time before I committed to something as big as adoption. Besides, the circumstances surrounding these kids meant adopting wouldn't be viable.

"It's been difficult with them." The social worker said, taking the papers from my husband and I and neatly placing them into a plastic wallet. "I was sure they were going to end up in Care until adulthood- I really thought that when they went back to their mother last year it would be the last time, but back they came." He sighed and something in me made me feel very uncomfortable in that moment.

I felt sorry for their mother, we'd been told about her by the Home, she was a nice enough woman, but she had difficulty providing for them, she had addictions too, meant she had to keep giving them up. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her to keep having her children taken from her. I can't imagine how hard it must be for the children...

"It's common practice to split up siblings, but the sister would simply not abide by that. Would fight whenever someone would try and separate them. In the end we decided it better to just keep them together." He continued.
I looked at my husband, he smiled softly. "We would never dream of separating siblings, anyway, I think we always imagined we were going to get more than one." He answered and I could see his eyes sparkling, he really wanted this...

"That's good to hear, siblings aren't very popular, especially when they're not even Japanese." The social worker said, putting our file away. The children's mother was from Osaka, but their father had been an American, she'd given them English names when they were born, in an effort to make him stay. He told her he would help them all get to the US. Then he up and left without her.

It didn't feel right for him to call them that, they were born here, they're Japanese citizens...
"Do they...what did they think of us?" I asked, wanting to move the topic onwards. He shifted a little, leaning closer. "Micah adores you, especially you Endou, he told me you remind him of a friend he used to have." The man stated, pointing to my husband.

"And...Quinn?..."
He sighed wistfully. "She's a teenager, you know what they can be like. It'll take her a little longer to get used to you...her and her brother; they've been in care for a long time, and they've already been through one foster family before- it didn't go well for them, so she's naturally wary I'm afraid. It's more of a mountain to climb."
I nodded, understanding her anxiety. "I know this time it will be different, they'll be our children, we'll love them and most of all, we'll never give up on them."
He smiled at me before adding softly "I hope you're right..."

"I can't wait! Ichirou can you believe we're doing this? Finally!" My husband exclaimed as we walked to the car, his arm tightly wrapped around my waist. I chuckled "Calm down, you heard what he said, they're not even ours yet. And stop calling me that, how many times do I have to tell you!"
He smirked "You had no problem with me calling you that last night~" I elbowed him in the gut.

Just as I was about to rain absolute hell upon him my phone buzzed.

Can we talk? -Han

The corners of my mouth tugged downwards in concern, and slight frustration.
"What is it?" Endou asked and I waved my hand at him lazily, walking a little ways off.

What's up?

..
..I can't tell you..

You can tell me anything Han x

..please, I need to talk to you, in person...

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed, making my way hastily back over to my husband "It's Han, I'm sorry but he says he needs me. I'm going to have to head off." I said, my mind too preoccupied with what was wrong with my friend to focus on my husband's expression. I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I looked up from my phone.

"Kaze?"
I blinked, sudden realisation hit me-what was I doing? "Oh Endou...oh I'm sorry, what was I thinking? This was supposed to be our special time together and I was just going to leave. Sorry, I need to stop putting Han before you." He only nodded in response, becoming uncharacteristically quiet. I turned back to my screen.

I can't right now.

He replied instantly.
But I need you

Can't it wait? Until tomorrow maybe?

...please...this can't wait. I need help. You said you'd help me. Kaze, it needs to be now.

I frowned, already being able to feel my husband's eyes burning into me as he read the texts. Why was Handa acting so clingy all of a sudden?
Are you drunk? I asked tentatively.

No.
I just really need to talk to you.

(7.45pm)
This is where he told me to meet him. I'm so confused. I knocked on the hotel room door tentatively, worried at what I might find.
"Kaze, you're here...I was getting worried you'd never show up."
He invited me inside; the room was tiny, with no windows, a bed which squeaked when he sat down on it, and a wardrobe which leaned slightly to the left. My eyes continued to scan the room, the 80's style wallpaper was peeling, revealing cracked and flaky plaster underneath, not to mention the ceiling fan was going at full speed, no doubt just swirling all the dust around the room.

Handa sighed. "This place is pretty pathetic, but it was all I could get at such short notice, and it was close enough to the hospital to walk to so..."
"The hospital?"
He nodded as I took a seat next to him. He looked the same as always, like shit. "That's where I was last night. I was talking to him, well recording it, like you said. Actually I never thanked you for that Kaze." He said, the look in his eyes so far away.

"But I stayed a little too long and missed my bus, that's why I'm here."
"You could have always called me to pick you up."
He looked at his lap "It was really late, I didn't want to bother you. Besides, by that hickey on your collarbone, it's safe to say you were a bit busy." My eyes widened, blushing a deep shade of red 'good thing you wore a button-up to the interview!'

(Handa)
He pulled the neck of his shirt up a little higher, still red. I gave him the tiniest of smiles, but I doubt he saw it. His hazel eyes focused on me again and he sighed defeatedly, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyway..."
I looked up at the fan, my head feeling fuzzy and the constant low drone only served to make me feel sleepy. I would turn it off but the room will be sweltering otherwise.

"Han, you okay?" My eyes snapped back to him, he'd put his hair in a loose bun, pretty cyan locks framing his face. I leant over to him and he placed his arm around my shoulder. "Everything will turn out right in the end, I promise." That was the same thing Fubuki had said, but I was too tired to argue with him. Too out of it.

"Now, what was it you wanted to talk about Han?" He asked softly and I sighed heavily, squeezing my eyes shut. There were so many things. I needed to tell someone, needed to tell him. Someoka, that's what I originally wanted to tell him about, tell him so I don't keep thinking about it...and how weak I became...

I got up suddenly. Running my hands through my hair frustratedly. "Han?-"
"I wanna see Max."
"Okay, well then we can-"
"No. No, actually I want to go home. I've been cooped up in this room too long. God, I need a drink..." I couldn't take the chance, Someoka might be there again. My friend stood up, wrapping his arms tightly around me, I hesitated before wrapping my own around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder "Take me home Kaze, I've had enough of this place."

My phone buzzed but I ignored it, knowing full well who it was.
"Handa? This is you, isn't it?" I nodded, sitting down on the sofa as he flicked through the book. "Jesse Valentine? I didn't think you'd publish under a pseudonym, and an English one at that? How many more of these have you got?"
I smiled a little, happy that at least someone was taking some interest in my work. "That's the only one so far, I've got two others on the go but, I've not really been able to write since..." I trailed off.

I have been writing. Almost everyday. Usually when I've had a lot to drink. I hate what I write now; it's sloppy, disjointed, messy and doesn't make sense. So I stopped.
My phone buzzed again, I ignored it.

"You don't have to stay here Kaze, I'm sure Endou wants you back." I said as he draped his arms over me from behind. "I know, but I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong." He said and I felt him place a soft kiss on my hair, I leaned my head up, catching those warm hazel eyes with my own. What did I ever do to deserve a friend like this?

"It's nothing." I lied, still looking into those eyes that were filled with concern. He was going to protest when a soft ringing disturbed us. His phone.
"That'll be Mamoru."
"It's getting late." I muttered. Kazemaru sighed but nodded, knowing he wasn't going to be able to pry the answer out of me.

"Then I'll be going."

Once he was gone I pulled out my phone, reading the text they'd sent me.
I'm sorry about the other day x

Can I make it up to you? Tonight?

(Later~9.30pm)
(Tachi)
"mmmhhhm...you're so warm..." I sighed, nuzzling closer into his chest. The sand was cold and the waves lapping at my feet even more so, but that didn't matter. My fiancé ran his hand through my hair softly, the sickle moon reflected in his dark eyes.

I tilted my head, stealing a kiss from him quickly and smiling. I felt his arms suddenly get tighter around my waist
"Hey, Yuuki?"
"Yes love?"
He moved around underneath me, causing me to sit up. "What's up?"
He sat up as well, chewing his lip.

"I think...I've been thinking Yuuki and...well I...I think we should invite your parents to our wedding."

I laughed lightly, he was joking right? "Good one Jousuke." but my husband-to-be was not laughing. "Jou..suke..you aren't being serious? Please, tell me you're not serious!"
"I'm being deadly serious, for once in my life." He said and for a minute all that could be heard was the soft crashing of the waves on the sand.

"Tsunami, that's...you can't ask them-"
"-But I think it's the right thing to do-"
I balled my hands into fists, I hadn't had to think about those...those...monsters for so long and now Tsunami was suggesting I let them back in my life again?!
"Tsunami they HATE ME, they hate YOU even more. I don't EVER want to see or hear from them ever again!" I exclaimed exasperatedly, looking into his eyes with utter disbelief.

Tsunami placed his hand on my trembling one gently, his other hand settling itself on my cheek.
"As much as...as much as I know they've hurt you...they're still your parents at the end of the day. They must still love you, deep down. We should at least give them the chance, they may have changed their minds."
"Changed their minds? People like them aren't capable of that." I mumbled, earning a sigh from my fiancé.

"Okay; well then I at least want to prove to them that I am worthy enough to be your husband. You said it yourself; they think I'm a player, someone that just wants you for your body, someone who'll just throw you away when I'm done.
They don't understand our love, they don't think it is love, but maybe, just maybe this could change all that. I want to show them that I do love you, and that I'm serious about you, crazy about you Tachi! That I want to spend the rest of my life with you, grow old with you..."

I felt a lone tear slide down my tanned cheek. My lips quivered, my mouth feeling dry.
'He has a point. You can live with your parents hating you, but all those TERRIBLE things they said about Jousuke...'
I stared deeply into my fiancés eyes-Tsunami's always been such a goofball, lately however, he's become so mature. I forget sometimes, the age gap between us; he's all grown-up whilst I'm failing at this whole 'how to be an adult' thing.

I'm still acting like a kid. And with this now, I'm being childish.

I'm sorry. But I'm going to be childish a little longer. I'm not ready to be a grown-up yet.

I leaned forwards so that I was now a slumped mess in the arms of the man that seemed to be the only good thing I looked forward to everyday.
"Jousuke...I'm sorry but...I just can't let them come near my life again..."

Tsunami nodded, placing his hand under my chin before placing a soft kiss on my waiting lips. "If that's what you want Yuuki, I'll respect that.."

We soon got to talking about the single most important thing that was going on in our lives- our upcoming wedding.  "So Iako's been bugging me about this, what do you think about having our wedding...on the beach? Like, right here?" I smiled softly, feeling the damp sand between my toes. I looked at the band on my finger "I think that will be perfect."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
(Omniscient)
The brunette looked down at his phone. There were so many things.

~(two days prior)~
"It's like I said, you need to get out more. If you stay indoors all day you're just going to get more depressed about everything." Fudou remarked, his newly-acquired friend barely batted an eyelid, leaning his head against the passenger side window.

"Some music, a chance to let your hair down a bit, meet new people, make new friends-that kind of stuff." He continued, pulling up outside the nightclub. The shorter brunette didn't respond.
It was loud. Very loud.

"I'm popping out for a cigarette, be back in a few." Fudou said, leaving the brunette to take a solitary seat away from the raucous crowds. He sat, an absent look ghosting over his chocolate brown eyes. There was only one reason he'd agreed to his friend's offer, and by the number of sweaty, drunk people crowding the dance floor, Handa's suspicions were proven correct. This place sold cheap alcohol.

And thus, he began his usual routine.

He was only on his second glass when an unstable blob slumped down next to him, followed by another, more stable but incredibly loud blob. The first blob leaned over him, groaning as laughter erupted from the other male to which Handa shrunk in on himself even more, just wishing they could leave already.

"Let's-a go already, you are-a so drunk!" The second male exclaimed, through a thick Italian accent, getting up. His friend groaned and swatted the other away.

The man on the brunette's shoulder shifted a little, lifting his head up with curly magenta locks bouncing around his face as he did so. "One...more...dance..." he mumbled, suddenly finding some energy before grabbing Handa and pushing him towards the horde of sweaty bodies.

"Eh? Let go of me!" Handa protested but the drunk man wouldn't listen, pressing himself tightly to him and swaying drunkenly out of time with the loud music. The brunette shivered when he felt the other's lips being pressed to his neck, the man was muttering in Italian now, his grip growing even stronger. "I said get off me you-"

"Marco!" Suddenly the two were pulled apart. "Are you alright?" Handa turned to see a man with dark brown hair, similar height to himself and deep blue eyes. Above the loud music he could just about make out an Italian accent, it was fainter than the other two's but still there. The one dubbed 'Marco' was looking between the two brunettes in sheer confusion.

"Wha?" He slurred, the brunette next to Handa sighed "I guess they must have thought you were me."
"...Just a simple mistake...alright..." Handa mumbled, seeing that not only did the two share a similar appearance, but they were wearing a similar outfit too.

"Idiota. Let's-a go home, before you cause-a more trouble."
"Aw Jean-Lu-"
"Don't-a start. Mi scusa." The man next to Marco said, gesturing to Handa.
But Handa didn't reply, merely sighed before walking off, probably to find the elusive friend who dragged him here.

The other brunette stared at the disappearing stranger and frowned "I will...see you back at-a the hotel soon guys..." he said before following after the male.
"Hello? Mi scusa, I just wanted to apologise for what happened." Handa turned around, ears straining over the loud music.
"We should go somewhere quieter." The slightly taller man advised, towing Handa through the crowds and out a back entrance into the cool night.

"Sorry, he was just drunk, didn't mean it." The male urged but Handa just shrugged his shoulders, muttering that it was okay.

"Are you two a couple then, you and...Marco?" The brunette asked quietly, shivering slightly at the memory of that guy.
"Ha no, he just can get a little uh...how you say...touchy feely, when he's had too much to drink." The other replied, smiling a little.
"Oh..okay..."
"Yeah..."

Handa sighed, feeling the conversation going nowhere. The stranger spoke up.
"We're in town for a football match actually, you?" He asked and Handa thought for a moment.
"I just...needed to get out..." he replied cryptically to which the other gave a slow nod.

The two continued their conversation and Handa hated to admit it, but he was actually almost enjoying talking to the other brunette. He seemed like a very interesting man, living the kind of life Handa could only dream of. He was so charismatic and engaging, able to hold the conversation despite the other's one-sentence replies. The taller male looked at his watch, realising the two of them had talked for almost fifteen minutes now, though it hardly felt like five.

He sighed. "I should get going but...can I give you my-a number?" Handa stepped back a little before remembering something 'It's like Fudou said, this is a chance for you to actually make some friends, you'd be a fool to let this chance pass by.'
The shorter brunette nodded his head slightly, bringing his phone out.

Fudou was currently in the midst of his hunt for the brunette that had seemingly eluded him. He had only meant to be out for a little bit, but then he'd got chatting with an old friend...and now he was frantically looking around the bar he was so sure he'd left him moping in. After five minutes he decided to just call the other.

"Great, voicemail. Where is he?" He questioned frustratedly before his eyes trained on a girl stumbling out of a back door with her friends. The one place he hadn't checked. He walked out, turning down into an alley of sorts.

That's when he saw it, he wasn't sure at first but then it soon became a lot clearer.
They were kissing.
Handa and this random guy, kissing. Fudou quickly hid himself around a corner, out of view, eyes wide and hand clasped over his mouth. His mind was swimming with so many questions. He didn't know who initiated the kiss, but Handa wasn't pushing him away. Was he drunk? What about Max? Who was the other guy?

"Is that what you needed?"
"I don't know...I just needed to feel..I don't know- I'm s-sorry, I n-need to go..."
The shorter brunette walked away from the other without another word, his heart burning fiercely in his chest. It had just been a question, a stupid question that popped up in his mind-but a question he needed answered.

Fudou didn't say anything. He was going to shout at him, until he saw the tears. The tears cascading down his cheeks followed by the choked sobs. The taller brunette's eyes softened as they looked at each other; he wasn't sure what to say, he'd only wanted to help and now...this had happened. Fudou was implicated now too.

People often say there's nothing worse than not knowing a secret; but right now, Fudou wished just that.

Fudou just continued to watch as the other was frantically trying to dry his eyes, breath continually hitching in his throat. And then just as quickly as it had begun, the crying stopped; an exhausted Handa collapsed onto his friend's shoulder.
"I just want to go home."