((Look who finally updated. It was me, Dio! Hope you enjoy this chapter guys ^^))

(Friday 4.30pm- the Fubuki-Gouenji residence)
(Fubuki)

"So that was Käthe."
My husband only grunted in reply, flipping through the pages of his newspaper.
"And it looks like you never got back to her about what you're going to do with him. She wants an answer." I said, waving the phone at him to get his attention. He sighed, putting the paper down and fixing me with a fatigued look. "It doesn't matter."
I sighed "Shuuya....he's your son."

"Yes well, Sacha is perfectly fine staying with his mother and Killian. You know how much he hates spending time with me." I placed my hands on either side of his face "He's a just a kid, I'm sure he doesn't hate you as much as you think. Besides, Käthe says she wants you to be a part of his life Gouenji, don't take that away from him..."

He shook his head "He's got Killian for that, he doesn't need another dad, doesn't need me, and anyway, don't you think it's weird that you're so buddy-buddy with my ex-wife? You're always talking to her."
"I don't think it's that weird. I mean we have a lot of things in common; we both like cake, we both know what it's like to be married to you, okay that's just two things but anyway..." Gouenji just sighed again, running a hand through his hair.

"I thought I'd done it right. I went to Germany, I studied to become a doctor, I found myself a beautiful wife and had a kid-everything my dad had wanted me to do. I thought I was happy. But all I could think about was you; and watching my son grow up, all I could think about was all those years-I was not with the one I loved... Käthe knew, it was hard but after some time she accepted the fact that I couldn't stay and carry on living that lie. I just wish I'd listened to you in the first place, just stayed where I was, with you..." he trailed off rather quietly.

I placed a hand on his shoulder "Everything happens for a reason-"
"It does. And that's why I'm not going to let you go, and I'm not going to let anyone else hurt you ever again." He said sternly, getting up from his seat. He mumbled something under his breath and I huffed "Not this again Shuuya. I told you I can look after myself."
"I'm sorry but he can't just speak to you like that, I don't know who he thinks he is-"
"He was upset Gouenji. I've gotten over it, and you need to as well." I replied taking my hand from his shoulder and sighing yet again, walking away from him.

"Just go and speak to your son already."

(The same time-Genda and Sakuma's place)
(Fudou)

"It's been ages since we've seen you Fudou, how is everything? How's the new job?" Genda asked me, handing me a cup of hot coffee.
"It hasn't seemed that long to me, still feels like you two got married yesterday." I commented and Sakuma laughed, which made me smile. It's nice to see he's doing a lot better now.

"It does seem a bit like that Gen, don't you think? But it has been a while, we've not even gone on our honeymoon yet." He stated, rubbing the back of his husband's neck softly.
"You know, Yuuto and I were beginning to wonder about that...did you forget or something?" I asked half-joking
Genda turned to face his husband, they both grinned "Haven't decided where we're going." They said in unison. I would've face-palmed if I didn't have a coffee mug in my hand.

"Let me guess, you don't want to spend too much, but you also want to go somewhere nice, and you can't make up your mind yet?" I asked and they nodded, in unison again, urgh couples.
Genda turned to me "Hey, how's about Amsterdam?" I sniggered "Suuuuure, I'm certain you'll have plenty of fun there..." I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively and Sakuma attempted to hit me with a rolled up magazine, but he missed. It took Genda a minute to realise before he went beet red, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Never pegged you to be the shy type Gend-" that time, that time Sakuma got me.

We went through a couple of honeymoon destinations after that, well they did, I just sat there nursing my wound and grumbling to myself. "We could go to Venice. Just imagine it Jirou, beautiful views, we could go on those little boat things-"
"-Gondolas"
"Gondola, I knew that, we could enjoy great Venetian cuisine, gelato~not the crappy expensive stuff we have here, the real deal! Do you know how many flavours of gelato there are? Because I do, I'm gonna try the pumpkin and goat's cheese-"
"Why would you want to try that?" I interrupted, why would he ruin good gelato like that? There's a gelato bar literally across from our cafe, you don't see them selling crazy flavours.
"Because it's called being adventurous, you should try it some time sometime-"
"Oi you piece of-"

"Why don't we go to Scotland, I've heard it's beautiful this time of the year."
We both turned to look at Sakuma who was sitting in between us with a smile on his face.
"Scotland?" We both said in unison, urgh.
"You mean like Edinburgh, I suppose that could be nice." Genda stated but Sakuma shook his head, pulling out his phone, typing on it "No, I mean somewhere remote, maybe somewhere coastal like...Orkney?" He handed his husband the phone. "It's very beautiful, and very romantic, not to mention quiet and not full of tourists."
Genda pouted "But gelato..."
"But Venice." I chimed in.
"But beautiful Scotland." Sakuma finished.

I folded my arms "Would you rather go to Venice Sakuma or Scotland? Scotland. Think about it carefully now."
"Scotland. Hands down." This boy is not messing around.
"I'm not saying that's a terrible idea, but that's a terrible idea."
"I hate to say it but I'm siding with Fudou on this one."
"Oh come on Gen, it'll be fun, you're always saying we should be more adventurous so why not? Besides, I want to see what you'll look like in a kilt..."
"Aaaand that's an image I did not need." It was time for the magazine roll again, this time, courtesy of Genda.

My phone rang in my pocket as Sakuma was busy 'comforting' his husband, saying things like "you've got great legs, you should show them off!" He only succeeded in making Genda go even more red-much to my delight.
My smile fell however, when I noticed who was calling me.

"What do you want?" I said, getting up and walking out into the hallway.

The voice was quiet on the other end "I didn't think you'd pick up..."

"Well I did, anyway you're one to talk, I've been trying to call you since Wednesday morning!"

He didn't say anything for a moment or two, then he got his voice back "...sorry...about Tuesday, I...I wanted to talk to you, I did but-"

"That's what you called me up for? Handa, you couldn't explain yourself then, I doubt you're gonna be able to explain yourself now."

"I know that Fudou, and I don't want to talk about it either I just...I wanted to talk to you...I need to talk to someone..." I pulled a hand down my face-so he wants to talk about it but he also doesn't want to talk about it? The fuck?

"You're not making any sense Handa."

"Ah you know what just forget about it, it...it's not important anymore..." Okay, now I was getting annoyed.

"It does fucking matter actually! You know what? I can't-I can't have this conversation with you over the phone, we're gonna talk this out in person. Where are you?"

He sounded rather taken aback "I-I'm still working-"

"I asked you where."

"The Metropolitan Library..." he replied in a quiet voice, I nodded. "You don't know where the library is do you?"

"Shut up, of course I know where it is." I said before hanging up. Ay ay, the things I do for people...
I walked back into the living room where the happy couple where cuddling and being all couply.
"Hey, where's the library?"

"It's in the centre of town, opposite that boutique store Chaya's always getting me to take her to." Genda replied and I tried to picture it in my head.
"Why the sudden interest?" He asked and I just sighed. "I need to talk to Handa, or rather, he needs to talk to me."
"Since when did you two become friends?" Sakuma this time.
I huffed, zipping up my jacket.

"It's complicated."

(Genda)
"Oh hey Yuuto, how are you?" I asked letting our weary friend in.
"I'm alright, just finished a meeting with a nightmare client; do you know how many shades of purple there are? Because I do. And she didn't like any of them. Gah I wish I could just quit this but unfortunately we can't afford it right now." He said, taking off his coat.

"I'm sorry to hear that."
He sighed longingly. "Shō ga nai. No use complaining. Hey anyway is Akio here, I got a text from him about half an hour ago saying he was at yours." He asked, looking around.
"Fudou? You just missed him, he went out to the library." My husband said, coming up behind me and wrapping his skinny little arms around my waist.

"The library?"
"Yeah, he said that he needed to talk to Handa about something, that it was 'complicated'...I don't know. He said he wouldn't be too long though, you just sit tight Ki and we'll get you something to drink." I said, my husband smiled at him.

"Oh...okay..."

(Fudou)
He looked up from the book he was reading "We need to talk. Now."
I glanced around the room, I guessed it was nearly closing time since there were only a few stragglers left.

"Shouldn't you be at work or something?"
"I finished early."
He gestured to the clock on the wall "Well I'm still working and this is a library so..." he said in a hushed voice.

"Don't fuck around with me Handa, we need to get to the bottom of this!" I said angrily, the stragglers turned their attention to us, Handa gave them an apologetic look before turning back to me and speaking in a quiet, rushed voice "No we don't. It was just...just some stupid...urgh I can't explain why I did it okay I just...I thought that..." he sighed out frustratedly, looking at the clock before swearing under his breath. "Fine. Have it your way."

I stood outside the back of the library, cigarette in hand, waiting for him to show up. A few minutes later he showed up, clutching the strap of his bag tightly.
"For a moment there I thought you were gonna do a runner." I said, taking in a drag. "I didn't say anything at the time but...I couldn't stop thinking about it, I mean what the hell-"
"I already told you, I don't want to talk about it..." he ran a hand through his hair stressily.

"I don't care if you don't want to talk about it, that's what we're going to do until you can give me some sort of an explanation." He sighed about to push past me but I pushed him back.
"Who was he?" I gripped his arm tightly "A friend or something?" He just kept looking at the floor.
"He was no one." He said quietly, I blew out a puff of smoke.
"What?"
"I mean, I didn't know him, he kind of just...was there..."

His phone beeped in his pocket and he sighed "He keeps texting me, saying we should meet up. He asked me out on a date this morning..."
"And what did you say?" He dropped his eyes to the floor "...I thought it would be better just to ignore him..."

I let go of his arm, turning him to face me "Look, I know you have a drinking problem, but I also know you don't get drunk easily, so it can't have been that. So what was the reason then?"
He spoke in a voice just above a whisper "There wasn't one."
"You just wanted to?" I tried to sound more curious than judgemental, but I'm sure that didn't translate across to him because a second later he started sniffling.

"No don't cry. Oh man don't cry. Please don't." I hate watching people cry, I never know what to do. He looked up at me, his cheeks flushed and his lips trembling "I'm not gonna cry I'm just...frustrated!" He almost shouted before looking back at the floor again. We were both standing in silence, neither one of us knowing what to say. I took another drag of my cigarette, watching as his gaze followed my actions. "I remember why I used to carry that old lighter around with me for years now." He said suddenly, I fixed him a confused look. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "It's because I knew I'd never quit. Having that there, it was like it was reminding me just how easy it would be to slip back, reminded me how weak I was; that I'd quit and yet would still keep it with me.

I never used to drink when I was a smoker, Kaido's drunkenness was enough to make me never want to drink. His lips always tasted of alcohol...I hated that...So smoking was how I coped, it was only when I stopped that I started drinking." I was going to ask who Kaido was but assumed he was just an ex.

"It's like one or the other with me, but my...my drinking's getting out of hand...Fubuki said...Fubuki said I was killing myself...A-and I am, because I-I just can't stop. So I thought I would-"
"-Get something else to take your mind off of everything." He shook his head
"I thought that's what it was, another thing to be addicted to, another thing to take my mind off of everything. But it wasn't that."

It was only then that I started to understand what he was talking about, remembering something from that night.
"He...he said something to you, like-"
"Is that what you needed." He looked up at me, all life seeming to be gone from his eyes. I replayed those words in my mind, he nodded slowly, eyes swimming with tears. Shit he's gonna cry again.
"I thought that was all there was to it! But I was so wrong. Everything is always wrong and I won't ever get it right and I'm gonna lose Max forever!" He exclaimed, tears falling from his eyes. I just stood there, not knowing what to do.

"Please say something! Please say you understand, I'm not going crazy I just love him so much! So much that it hurts! I just want him to love me, I thought everything would be fine, I don't understand why I can't just be happy Fudou! Why can't I be happy? I don't know why I do the things I do, why I drink so much I much pass out, why I'm horrible to everyone who cares about me, why I suddenly want to go make out with every guy I see, why I really really want a cigarette right now, none of it makes sense! Help me Fudou, please!" He was tugging on his hair, sobbing loudly. I just panicked, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him into my chest as he broke down "Sssshhh you're gonna cause a scene!" I think he mumbled an apology but I wasn't too sure.

It took him a little while to calm down, and I was glad when he did. I let go of him and he just stood their awkwardly, sniffling and wiping his eyes. He looked really pathetic. But I didn't want to just leave him.
"Listen Handa. We don't have to talk about this again, okay? But I don't want you going back to a big empty house. Come with me, it will be nice to interact with people, it'll make you feel a lot better, trust me."
He sniffed "That's what you said last time."
"Yeah well I'm not taking you to a club this time."

"Hey Fudou, you're back, just in time." Sakuma said as he opened the door, I could hear voices coming from the living room-one of which sounded like Kidou. "Hey, what? Also is it okay but I brought Handa with me, he uh, needs some company right now." I said walking in, Handa just behind.

Sakuma laughed "Why would we mind? Come on in Handa." He said, before moving me to the side and giving Handa a warm hug, I was kind of surprised at first but then I remembered, Sakuma had been going through a rough patch before, if anyone knew what that was like it'd be him.

"We've really missed you Handa, and I just wanted you to know that we're here for you, me and Gen. Don't feel like, just because we don't know you that well, that you can't talk to us, because you can okay?" He said before letting go of him. Handa gave the tiniest of smiles.

"What time do you call this then eh?" I turned to see my boyfriend leaning on the doorframe, I walked over to him, giving him a quick hug "Sorry, got a little...sidetracked." He chewed the inside of his cheek, something he does when he's slightly pissed at me. "Lame excuse but okay." He gave me one of his rare smiles, but it fell when he saw Handa walking up towards him.

"Hey Kidou."
"Hi." was all he said before giving me a look, turning on his heel and walking off into the living room.
"He's just in a bad mood." I said, hoping Handa would buy that, but I don't think he did.

When I walked into the living room I heard a voice that I definitely wasn't expecting. "Fudou mate!"
Tsunami.
Tachimukai and Tsunami were Skyping. "How are you doing bro it's been ages since I've talked to you!" I said, leaning over the couch, genuinely happy to see him.

Sakuma leant over to me "They've been asking us a bunch of questions about the wedding, trying to get our opinions on stuff, aaaaand since apparently I only give terrible ideas, it's your job now."
"You're just gonna keep milking that aren't you?"
"Hell yeah Akio."
"Well you should, because it's tru-"
"It's really hard to concentrate with you two yapping away like that." I turned to see Kazemaru coming in presumably from the kitchen, Endou right behind him.

"Really Jirou? I leave for like five minutes and you invite everyone here. This was supposed to be a 'Fudou and his bros' time. Not cool man."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh yeah?"
"Oh my god you're doing it doing it again." Kazemaru said before pushing past me "Hey Han, what are you doing here?" He asked, sitting himself down on the couch next to him. "Hey, you alright?" He continued, quieter this time, slipping an arm over Handa's shoulder. He mumbled something in response but I didn't hear it.

Endou sat on the arm of the sofa since their was no more space left. "Now that everyone's settled- Tachimukai you were saying." Kidou said.
"Right. The flowers. Jousuke and Iako said red roses, but I was thinking we should get white roses since we're doing a beach wedding so it will look better." Genda turned to me "It's a draw so you get the deciding vote."
I scratched my head "Uh I don't really know anything about flowers so..."
"Cop out."
"Sakuma, please."
"What about you Handa? Red or white?" Kazemaru said, giving him a squeeze.
"Um...white I guess...I don't really-"
"White it is then." Kidou interrupted and I saw Tachimukai ticking off what looked like a list.

This is going to take all night.
"Alright next one. Suits-"
"Grey." I said, nodding my head.
"But I didn't even get to tell you the cate-"
"My answer is still grey. Trust me, just go for it." There were murmurs of agreement around the room.
"To be honest that's what I was going to say-"
"Don't listen to Sakuma Tachimukai, he doesn't know what he's talking about." I remarked, earning myself a smack across the back of the head with a much bigger rolled up magazine.
I really need to take that thing away from him...

((Haha ending it here because why not?
I hope it was...okay?...
I can't believe I actually stuck to that whole 'I won't be updating during my exams' thing! So yeah, DEDICATION!

I wanted to make this chappie somewhat light(?) but obviously my angsty side came out so yeah..
Anyways, enough from me, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter I will be updating Zombocalyse soon but will probably not update this book for a bit because of school (although I probably will knowing me ^^)