「Tanaka-san. Would you come with me for a moment.」Kazuo looked up from his early morning coffee and newspaper, to see Kaito Yukimura enter the kitchenette of the hotel penthouse. Immediately he gave a deep bow of his head, or at the very least as far as he could while seated at the small side table meant for the personnel and staff.

「Of course sir.」He said politely, as he folded the newspaper up and neatly laid it aside. Perhaps one of the other PAs would enjoy it: he had been up early, and he presumed they were still getting ready.

It did make him wonder why Yukimura-sama summoned him at this time, although he suspected that it had to do something with his love-struck wards not having woken up yet. With a smile and a nod he followed the man into the living room attached to the master bedroom, separate from the main part of the house.

It was so early it was still dark out, which he felt added a layer of secrecy to their conversation. It made him want to be quiet, and respectful of the early morning calm – more than he already was usually.

「Please, have a seat.」Yukimura-sama gestured at one of the chairs. He gave another bow, and lifted the chair to sit down with as little noise as possible. On the other side of the table his boss did the same, and folded his hands over one another.

He remained quiet, as this felt like a serious conversation.

「It is good to be able to hear your reports in person.」Yukimura-sama began, to which he smiled and nodded. 「But, I want to ask for your opinion today. As much as it pains me to say, you have been closer to Hibiki than I have, and he has been keeping secrets. By extension, I think you have been keeping secrets on his behalf, Tanaka-san.」

Kazuo sighed, but then smiled again as he straightened his back out and began to speak.

「It seems to be a natural part of my job to keep some secrets for him. Although I prefer to call it privacy.」

Yukimura-sama gave a genuine chuckle, albeit a short one, and then conceded to that point with a nod of his head.

「We have come to a point where I need to know about it though. I mean, the young man is sleeping in his bed right now, so it is only fair I know who he is to Hibiki.」

Kazuo nodded, and folded his hands in front of his mouth as he thought about it. He glanced sideways in the direction of the bedroom that Yukimura-sama had mentioned.

「I believe, that right now, Tristan means everything to Hibiki. He gives him a purpose, somewhere for all the frustration and sadness to flow towards, and become determination, enthusiasm and care. From what I have seen, he cares deeply. And Tristan cares just as much for him, he has been nothing but gentle – if anything, I'd say Hibiki is the one holding his heart in his hands.」He told the truth, as he had no reason to believe they weren't in love.

「I know, and that worries me. It would perhaps have been easier if this was just a fling, then I wouldn't have to consider the drawbacks he will get for this.」

Kazuo nodded to say he understood, but he couldn't agree with it.

「If you truly want my assessment, then I will say that loving men is never going to be a fling for Hibiki. If it is not him, then the next one. You know as well as I do there is no point in dissuading him. All it would do is hurt him, and we'd end up with him acting out again.」

A heavy sigh escaped Yukimura-sama, and the man ran a hand through his hair as he considered those words. But it was clear that he wasn't truly opposed, so much as worried.

「He has had such a difficult life... I,- Suzume and me, we both hoped that eventually the difficulties would stop.」

The plight was clear, but he knew that if there was ever one moment to convince the man, it would be this.

「Kaito,」He began, saying the name with dead seriousness as he spoke to the man as an equal: as a respected friend he had come to know in the past ten years, and not just a man he worked for.「With all due respect, that is never going to happen. If anything, you forcing him into an easy life will only make his more difficult. He is a difficult person, as in, difficulty is part of him. Because he is unique, and himself, and the more you fight against that, the more he will fight you.」

For a moment the man in front of him appeared to shrivel, leaning forward onto his hands as he carefully considered the words.

「The whole world will fight him.」Yukimura-sama shook his head, concerned with whatever future laid in store for his son.

「Yes but, hasn't it always? There will always be challenges. If you decide to fight him on this, then, he will have to fight the whole world and his parents.」Perhaps it was a generational difference, although Yukimura-sama was only five years older than him in actuality. Maybe it was because he had learnt to adapt to Hibiki, and to plan for him and think with him, rather than make considerations about him. Whatever it was, there seemed to be a fundamental difference in how they looked at Hibiki being homosexual – although the connotations of that word felt wrong, as it seemed far more natural when it was just Hibiki falling in love with a man.

「Hibiki cherishes Tristan, more than he has done anything. I hope you can forgive me for being so brazen, but perhaps it is time to stop thinking in terms of making him fit in, and start thinking about creating a space where he is happy. The world is not going to accept him, but we can.」

It appeared that his words had caused the man to stumble somewhat over his own thoughts, as he had to take a deep breath and recover.

「He really is happy like this, isn't he? I haven't,- I haven't seen him smile so freely and so often since,- you know...」Even just trying to mention Hayate set loose pain, and Kazuo reached in to give the man an encouraging squeeze of his shoulder. Not so much to be patronising, but hopefully to let him know that he understood that too. He'd seen the hurt in Hibiki often enough, and they really were like father and son.

「He is. I know that the situation with his birthday may have given the wrong impression. But I do believe he did that because he wanted to be happy, not to hurt you, or because he was under a bad influence. And, I don't think Hibiki wants much more than to be loved. He wants friends, and people that care for him.」

Kaito glanced up and smiled, even though there were tears welling up. He smiled back, and let out a deep sigh to say it was okay.

「I talked to Tristan today. He was very polite, and intelligent. A bit timid, though. And, he seems good for Hibiki. I do believe he would be gentle, and care for him, and I,- I can see he loves him.」

Kazuo smiled, nodding with slight elation as they had reached the same conclusion.

「That is probably enough for Hibiki.」He added. 「And for me, after all the sorrow, that weighs more than Tristan being a man. So I will support them.」

「Yes...」Kaito said with a nod, as pieces appeared to fall into place. 「It is strange and unexpected, and I will have to get used to this. But you are right: he is happy. I know he is. Thank you for your opinion, Tanaka-san.」

The honourific attached to his name restored their work dynamic, but Kazuo preferred the certainty of that. It had been good to talk openly, but not for too long.

「Thank you for taking it into consideration, Yukimura-sama.」He said with a low, polite bow.

「You may leave, I have to think for a while.」

Kazuo nodded, and stood up as quietly and calmly as he could. Still he smiled as he walked out of the room, knowing that he had done his job well – even if Hibiki would never know the extent to which he had helped him.