A/N: Thank you for the reviews. Appreciate it. The saga continues with a little extra insert at the end. So yeah, hope you guys will enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter 4: Stepping on the first line

If darkness and rain were supposed to be bleak in Japan, a rainy night in Bangkok silent all sounds except for the wind and the sky charged with lightning incurred the thunder out after clashing with the earth, dissipating all courage from his fingers. It was a rotten judgement to walk in the middle of a rainstorm but Takao held tight to the promise he had made to hang out together. He was willing to just be friends as long as they tied all the loose ends and returned to how they were. Friendship was not something Takao wanted to destroy easily; he went by the policy to keep a person you wanted to be around with longer even if it meant for them becoming just friends.

The blinking neon light of the club's sign flashed in the rainy night. Takao entered the lobby, taking off his plastic poncho ,folded it into a perfect square and kept it in a plastic bag before keeping it in his sling bag. He looked at the crowd, smiling when he saw Midorima sitting at the bar sipping alcoholic beverage. He breathed in deeply before moving through the crowd of dancers to where Midorima was sitting at. He snuck behind the said man, tapping on his shoulder and waved his hello.

"You're late", complained Midorima.

"It's raining heavily out there. How long have you waited?"

"About an hour".

Midorima paid little attention to the music in the background, his mind finally calming down from the alcohol he had chugged down his throat. Seeing Takao again inflamed the hurt of the separation. Even though the decision was his, the ex-doctor realized that to let go was never easy. He had to douse alcohol onto his soul to be able to wear back the mask – his Shuutoku's mask – the confident and resilient asshole he once was. He prayed that the mask wouldn't slip, not in front of Takao. Restlessness had made him called for another shot of tequila.

"How many shots has it been?" asked Takao, partly amused. Only partly because this side of Midorima was new to him.

"The fifth, I think".

"You sure can hold your drink, Shin-chan".

"I've had many practices".

"I thought a doctor would take better care of his body. Must be a fallacy then… but the Shin-chan I know wouldn't carelessly drink like this".

Midorima huffed – he could smell the alcohol from his own breath. Just how much had he drunk?

"People change", he simply replied. Takao pulled the chair to make enough room for him to rest his legs.

"But not like this, Shintarou". The other part of him was disappointed.

Midorima's eyes widened when Takao called him by his first name. The same voice he had longed to hear was calling his given name with such ease almost as if he was living in the past. How long had it been? Why did things have to turn this way for them? The present where they were no longer together, in the past, had he even believed that it would happen?

They couldn't go any further, that much was obvious. No string attached was the simplest way to go about his current affair. He let his gaze fell on the glass, feeling the need to pipe out his frustration elsewhere.

"I'm going down to the dance floor for a bit", Midorima put down the glass and mingled with the dancing crowds. The body heat, the smell of sweat mixing with perfume and alcohol blended within the confined space, he ignored them all; over the years, he had gone from the straight path to where he was now with abundant of regret weighing him and to worry about it now was a little too late. The music decided his movement, meeting each beat with what seemed appropriate and a minute into the song, all eyes had focused on him.

Meanwhile, Takao continued to watch. What he saw continued to deceive his visual but deep inside, everything Midorima was demonstrating to him looked like a farce. An act. A play. A well thought play. That was what this was. Midorima trying to avoid from telling him the blatant truth. That was Takao's conclusion and who would know Midorima better than him?

"Shin-chan, you're an asshole", Takao whispered, already joining the dancing crowd with his own intention. He would not join in the dance – no, he was there so they could talk about them. About the action he should take – whether to glue or to throw it away the relationship they once had.

His fingers encircled the other man's wrist. Midorima felt the pressure around his hand – he couldn't run away, not anymore. After all these years, he was still holding on – now that he knew that, he knew what his action next. Talk it out - talk until they both felt the need to stop.

"Let's talk outside", the green haired man said. Takao was glad that Midorima understood. At least the other was not completely lost to him. They paid the bartender (Midorima did since he was the only one drinking) and exited the night club. It was time, Midorima thought, looking at the dark road ahead. The rain had stopped; splashing sound accompanied them as they walked on the puddles in the darkness of the night. When there was enough light, Midorima stopped dead in his track. He spun around, finally doing something that he had long forgotten; he smiled, albeit sadly at Takao.

"Kazunari", he spoke the name he had wished to say so sincerely, "I love you".

Perhaps, Takao was expecting it but still, not being able to tell for sure the reason why Midorima took off from what they had left him confused. With this, it was confirmed that Takao heart was unchanging in a sense that he still did love Midorima– so was Midorima. So why the break up?

"If you feel that way, Shintarou, why did you leave me?"

"You are persistent as always".

"I was hurt", Takao said quickly but firmly. That was the weight Midorima couldn't get rid of. He had hurt Takao. That fact simply stuck like a sore thumb in his romantic history.

"I am aware that I was and am hurting you but I was protecting you and still am".

"What are you protecting me from, Shintarou?"

"I am simply protecting. That's all you should know".

Takao's brows furrowed. Whoever or whatever Midorima was protecting him from, he had the right to know. He grabbed Midorima's shoulders with both hands and looked straight into the other's eyes.

"I am a man. I can protect myself. Tell me, Midorima Shintarou. Who are you protecting me from?"

"This is not just about you, Takao. There are more people who would be directly involved. I am simply a distraction from the actual truth".

"You can't handle everything yourself, Shintarou", Takao released Midorima and pushed back his bang in exasperation, "I thought you had changed but all this time, you are just bounded by your sense of responsibility. I don't know if I should hate that part of you".

Takao breathed in deeply, putting a pause on the conversation when a passerby crossed the road in their direction. There was no need to embarrass himself in public. He tapped his feet lightly, cursing underneath his breath. Why won't this pedestrian just hurry up and get lost already?

He heard a groan and saw the pedestrian running away into a dark alley. He turned to look at Midorima who was slouching and holding his abdomen.

"Shintarou?" Takao reached out to the ex-doctor.

"Don't", Midorima pulled back to stop Takao from peeling his hand from his abdomen. Takao's gaze fall on the hand – the shirt was soaked with liquid of darker colour.

"Shintarou!"

Midorima was stabbed – Takao called out for help at the nearest restaurant in the street.

Taking a flight was always an exhausting experience. Everytime, they would end up cuddling on the sofa in Akashi's office, bodies entangling with Akashi simply taking a short nap from the exhaustion and Furihata studying Akashi's face. Well as much as it was fun to watch Akashi sleeping, he had been doing the same thing for five years and a bit more. Setting his foot on the ground and stretching his back until it cracked (ouch), the brunet man decided to do a little exploration around the room. He gathered a few files, reading the previous contracts the previous presidents and Akashi had signed off. He read the papers like reading a novel for leisure read, taking note of every agreement they had approved.

There was however, a contract that caught his attention. "Hm… this one with Dot Net", he mused. He read the first agreement – the company will merge under a condition that Akashi Seijuurou's takes his rightful place in the corporation.

"Well, not something new coming from him", Furihata snorted.

The second agreement was – the company will be supporting all deficits Dot Net has faced; this includes the losses affecting Dot Net company.

It was just something the companies do. Nothing strange there but wasn't Dot Net was Higashi's corporation ally before merging with Akashi Corporation? The Higashi Corporation didn't waver – in fact Dot Net looked stable in the stock market closure. The past statistics of Dot Net didn't even show a wavering company waiting for its downfall. This clause simply didn't click with any data they had had from Dot Net.

"Could it be -?" Fake audit report? The respectable Dot Net Company produced a fake audit report? Furihata found it hard to believe that line of thought but it wasn't impossible too.

The third clause stated that Akashi Corporation will return 5% from the shares the corporation is holding every year. The fourth clause stated that all rights on Dot Net products are patented on Akashi Seijuurou's name.

"Does this mean that this merging is… not permanent? What is going on here?" He read every clause again; he couldn't fathom the context of the contract – Akashi Corporation was profiting but the profit was only at the minimum ceiling. If only he could obtain the past audit on Dot Net account before and after the merging… he would have to go to the record room to search the files containing the data he required himself.

He had almost missed an important detail when he was loss in his assumptions– a detail so small that it was almost insignificant. "This date… It happened during my pregnancy period…"

He heard Akashi shuffling on the sofa. The brunet man rushed to keep the files where they belonged the way they were originally arranged. He couldn't afford to be caught reading about the contracts – Akashi had made him promised to stay away from the files at the beginning of their marriage. Akashi made a soft grunt as he stirred from his sleep while Furihata acted as if he was just about to make coffee for himself.

"I smell coffee", he heard Akashi muttering.

"Ah, yes, do you want me to make some for you?" asked Furihata, adding sugar into the cup.

"I would love to".

"Why don't you rest some more? You are still tired from the flight and the business in Paris".

Akashi read the time on his watch. They had to pick Yuki up in an hour. "No, I am fine. I've rested enough".

Furihata made the other cup of coffee without sugar and brought it over to Akashi. He could never understand how anyone could swallow the bitter liquid without adding sugar but the oddity of Akashi's love to bitter coffee had a ring to attractiveness. He still found it weird.

"I really think you should rest a little bit more", said Furihata, "your face shows your hard work these three days. You hardly slept the whole time we were in Paris".

"Kouki, we can't make Tetsuya wait and the coffee will keep me awake for a few hours".

Furihata sighed. Akashi was a stubborn mule. Nothing new there.

"You should take a day off tomorrow then. I will tell Naoto about your absence tomorrow".

Akashi sported a small smile. "You're spoiling me too much".

"Anything for a stubborn man like you".

"Should I punish you for that disrespectful remark?"

"Not a chance. Our dear daughter will save me like a legendary heroine from this evil Emperor".

"I will put this in my memo later. In due time, it will get to you".

"Uuh, scary", Furihata giggled, after that finishing the last of the coffee. They left behind the cups; the cleaners would take care of it. Naoto sat behind his desk like usual. Furihata bowed, saying, "Thank you for your hard work". The secretary returned the bow and continued with his work with the same vigor as if he was never interrupted.

Furihata never spoke a word; letting Akashi took another short nap before the bundle of joy returned to their side. He entertained his thought with the Dot Net contract instead. He was unsure why he felt the need to probe deeper but since he couldn't shrug the feeling off, he should just try to satisfy his curiosity.

There's still a lot to learn about the company.

And Furihata would never stop himself from learning. Not a chance.

Three days. Three days and Midorima had yet to regain his consciousness. Takao had remained seated next to the man in the same period of time, finding no comfort in sleeping. If he slept, the nightmare would haunt his sleep and each time, the ending was with Midorima dying in his arm. His head would tip to the side, his eyelids would shut but without fail, he would jerk himself up to try to remain conscious. Midorima's fingers moved lightly, curling and straightening in lapse. The doctor finally opened his eyes, looking confused as to why he was looking at the ceiling. The smell of the disinfectant reminded him of the ones they had in Osaka General Hospital. He looked to the side. He was in a sickbay. He felt a déjà vu – something similar had happened before.

"Shin-chan?" Takao spoke, afraid to touch Midorima's hand, afraid that he would wake up to a corpse from a dream.

"Ta-Cough –Takao". His throat was parched. Talking became a difficult chore but he ignored his own discomfort.

"You're alive, right? This is not a dream, right?"

"What – huff- What are you talking about?"

"Three days. You were out for three days and I was very worried".

"I'm –cough- sorry".

"No, don't apologize", Takao heaved his relief. He took Midorima's hand and brought it to his forehead until their skins touched. "This is not funny anymore, Shin-chan. Just tell me the truth. You were assaulted and I could only watch. I feel useless but I", Takao paused when his pitch climbed up by a notch, and "I want to be your support, just like those days in Shuutoku".

"Those days are –cough- over, Takao".

"Please, I am begging you. If this happen again, I don't know what I would do, Shin-chan. I don't want to", his body trembled and he tilted his head downwards. His tears fall down onto the bed sheet as he said, "I don't want to lose you".

"Same", he managed a short response.

"You don't understand, do you? I'd rather fight alongside with you. I want to come back to you". This was the decision he had made after realizing that he couldn't possibly lived a life without Midorima.

"Takao, you – cough- should not involve yourself –cough- in this".

Takao tightened his grip on Midorima's hand, a dark cloud hovering above his head. "Do you think I would just leave you like this when I know you are in some shitty situation? Fuck it, Shin-chan! Protect? If you die, do you think you can continue to protect? Who makes you the king of every single fuck out there worthy enough to decide who you want to protect?"

Midorima was absolutely stunned. He had never seen Takao acting this serious before. Was this how the good cop and bad cop method felt like? Carried out by a single man, was Takao always this bipolar?

"Whether you like it or not", Takao hissed angrily, "I will stick around you so deal with it".

Takao had his arm crossed and his legs crossed – there was no sign of him moving away from his position. "By the way, I'm dragging your ass back to Japan with me. I've booked your ticket and have your passport you kept in your pocket. If you have any goddamn thing left behind, forget them because our flight will be the day after tomorrow after your discharge and it will be the first thing in the morning".

Midorima knitted his eyebrows together. This was probably the worst case scenario he would like to avoid.

And now, it was turning into reality.

"Otou-san, look, a bird", Yuki pointed at the flock of pigeons eating the bird feed.

"Hm, this is a pigeon", Akashi said, catching one and letting his little princess rubbed the pigeon's head.

"A pishen?"

"Close but not entirely correct. A pigeon", Akashi repeated himself again. They were in the park, only the two of them since Furihata had to go to work. Yuki had taken a day off too – stayig a night together in her parent's bed wasn't enough for her. Today was something alike to a father and daughter outing. Yuki cooed at the bird. She was fascinated at how the pigeon would change its head position rapidly. When she tried to touch its beak, the pigeon's head curled inside.

"Doesh pishen eat cake?"

"No, they eat bird feed".

"Bird feed? What's bird feed?" Akashi put the bird down. He took the plastic bag with the bird feed and showed Yuki how to give the bird feed to the pigeons. He took a handful of the feed and scattered them to the ground. The pigeons hopped away when the feed rained on them but they came back once they sensed no more movement,pecking on the grains while some cooing in delight.

"Can Yuki try too?" asked the little girl, climbing onto Akashi's lap. Once she was comfortably seated, Akashi let the girl took a handful of the grains and mimicked Akashi's movement.

"Good girl", the red head ruffled the girl's hair as he praised her.

"Otou-san, Yuki wants water", the girl said after a while.

"Alright, let's go", Akashi picked the girl up and carried the girl to the vending machine. He popped the coin and selected on the water. Yuki asked if she could do what Akashi had done again and the man allowed her. He popped in some coins, giving her the honour to press on any of the button. The girl had chosen Pocari – something that she cannot have yet and he sneakily exchanged the previous bottle with the Pocari bottle.

Yuki sipped the water, chortling when she poured down too much. She simply laughed when her shirt was damp, wiping the remaining water from her mouth sloppily. Akashi took out his handkerchief and wiped his daughter's face gently. Then, he snuck a light kiss on her cheek – Yuki giggled while jokingly making the 'ew' sounds.

Then, she returned a light kiss on his nose. "I wove you, otou-san".

"Well, I love you more", Akashi said. It was just three days but in those three days, he was working as fast as he could in the hope that he would not need to extend his stay in Paris. All for the sake of coming back home to where his little princess was – Furihata was the same too. Mothers probably had to endure more than fathers when it came to their children.

"Otou-san, I want to marry you when I grow up".

"Oh, so you're proposing to me?"

"Hm, but I wike Kanda-kun too".

…. Alright, who was this brat Kanda-kun?

"Oh? Tell me more about this Kanda-kun".

He flinched when Yuki hid her face from embarrassment. Wait a minute! Weren't she growing up a bit too fast?

"Kanda-kun is like a prince! He has a horse in his room! And he is very brave! He beats evil people with his swords last time! Woosh, like this!"

A horse? "Otou-san has a horse too".

"Weally?"

"Yes, a big white horse. Why don't I show you the horse when I got out from work tomorrow?"

"Eh? Okay! Can Yuki play with the horse too?"

"Whatever you wish, my dear princess". As long as I could get rid of this Kanda-kun from her mind. If it takes a horse to impress her, then so be it.

This was a story how Akashi found out that he was a really over-protective father. When the story was told years later, (at the time Kanda-kun appeared again in his life), he became a laughingstock for getting jealous over a little child.

That, however, was still a far stop from current checkpoint.