Barely given time to process that the one eyed man had personally come for her and stolen her away, Kinu followed him to the hallway. Guilty as could be, she peered up at him, yet he kept his cool demeanor. Appeared mildly amused at her fruitless endeavor. Takasugi's fingers remained pinched at the wrap of her dress as he smirked down at her and tugged at the fabric.

"A little bird told me that there was a kitten trying to be brave."

Snorting under her breath, Kinu dropped her gaze. Shook her head as she murmured back.

"You're stupid."

"Me? Are you sure about that?" Stepping against the girl, Takasugi raised her jaw. Was positive that she was smiling, though she didn't want to be.

"You're the one that did this." The statement was far from friendly, but Kinu grinned up at him despite herself. Couldn't help but succumb to his expert social skills.

"You know what else I can do?" Raising a brow at Kinu the one eyed man smirked. She may have tried to fix the friendship he'd shattered, but that wouldn't stand in the way of the day he'd planned. That was the very reason he hadn't invited Matako. Damn Sarutobi and her big, fat, friendship rekindling mouth. Didn't she know when the drama wasn't appropriate?

Kinu eyed him, yet didn't take the bait. Turned her head as Takasugi lessened the space between them again; still as deviously entertained as ever. His free hand met the one at her jaw and she was forced to look up at the man as he pressed into her and practically wrung a smile out of the girl. Without the squeezing, mind you. The moment he cupped her jaw, the girl leaned into his palms. Gave up on her despondency in favor of the expression she fixed on him. Whatever it was. He wasn't entirely sure what to label it, but if he had to guess, he'd call it adoration. Comfort, even.

Something both relieved and delighted that he had asserted not only his presence but his authority over her emotions.

"This looks like something book-worthy; are you going to write about this?"

"Do you want me to write about this in the book?" Unable to help herself, Kinu laughed the words. Ever aware of the receding lump in her throat and, clogged nose. Her eyes had cleared up, and with each word from Takasugi, all trace of crying was quickly disappearing.

"No, no, only if you want to. It's your record."

"It sounds like you want me to-"

"Bah- no. Of course not." Tilting his head, Takasugi felt himself on the brink of laughing. "I don't care what you write about." He grinned down at the girl as she shook her head. Took hold of his palm and pulled it away as she leaned into it.

"I'm gonna write about it." Biting her lower lip, Kinu tried to keep from laughing. She tried, but the private interaction was hard to conceal when she could barely stop herself. It was true that she was constantly quiet, but that wasn't the case when they were alone, and Takasugi delighted in that fact. Relished every moment he could the second he'd gotten her back to his apartment, though every method hadn't been appropriate.

"You are? Oh, good. I'd love to hear your take on it."

Finally able to break away from his mother and Tsukuyo, Ginpachi glanced over the room. Though Ai had retreated from the pair under the guise of offering cookies to party-goers, she had found her way back to the blonde teacher and he had been hovering nearby ever since he noticed. Made sure Ai didn't offer any private details or toddler pictures that he'd need to nab before they came to light.

A loud laugh caught his attention. One laced with familiarity, and he turned to find Kinu. Expected her to be among the group and clinging to Sarutobi as a life jacket. Even if Matako and her weren't on the best of terms. Then, a weight on his arm drew his attention in, and he found Sarutobi plastered to his side. Smiling up at him in all of her possessive glory. The girl grabbed onto his arm, and Ginpachi scanned the crowd again; looking for Kinu. He'd definitely heard her laugh.

She was still there; nearby, and enjoying her time... But where? Stepping back, the man skimmed over the crowd again. His sister was nowhere in sight, and he knew she couldn't have gotten far. Takasugi wouldn't have dragged her of for indecent things in the middle of her birthday party, right? Right?! He wouldn't allow it! Even if she was eighteen, it was still inappropriate. Taboo and disgusting that his childhood friend would steal her away from the crowd like easy pickings to take advantage to the girl.

She was still innocent. She was! Even if they had done things!

With Sarutobi stuck on his arm, the silver-haired man started towards the hallway; ready to catch them red-handed. Instead, the moment it came into view, he found the pair. Stealing away to private conversation. Kinu had drawn both of her hands up to her mouth and was still laughing. She shook her head to dispel the cheer and looked up at Takasugi suddenly blank again; in her usual severe state.

"Yeah, I'll start it out humble. A bard on the street corner. Then you'll progress to the king's court-"

"Are you serious?" Takasugi couldn't tell if she was joking. Kinu kept the same stoicexpression she usually did. Broke through her smile to peer at him, deadpan. When he squinted at the girl, her lips broke into another grin and she breathed a laugh up at him. As if he should have known better than to fall for her trickery.

"You're not funny..."

Everything in Ginpachi told him that this was wrong. He couldn't believe it. Even witnessing the one eyed man smiling down at his sister with no hint of malice wasn't enough. Takasugi was up to no good. He just knew it. But the way they were standing; close enough to kiss and locked onto one another. Grinning and snickering in private... He didn't buy it. Not Takasugi. That idiot hadn't even been that way in the past.

He wouldn't fall for that innocent hand that grasped Kinu's side as they stifled their chuckles and leaned into one another in secrecy. The dumb, conflicting way that Takasugi allowed the girl to tuck her face into his chest and wrap her arms around him to smother her laughter after a murmured line that he couldn't hear. No. He wasn't as gullible as Kinu.

"Kitten," Takasugi grasped the girl's shoulder and she leaned back to peer at him as he lowered himself to her ear. Whispered something that was meant for them and them alone, but made Kinu beam with a laugh that was caught on his sleeve and trailed to the crook of his neck. Looked like it turned into a kiss.

Takasugi was just using her. Ginpachi knew it. He did. Nothing could convince him otherwise. When Kinu leaned back, she kept her voice as low as the one eyed man's and they were reduced to snickering again as she smacked his chest. Her hand was grasped, fingers entwined, and before Ginpachi's disapproving gaze, Takasugi dipped down to capture the girl's lips. Right in front of him! It was an outrage! Wrong in every way that should have been enough to prevent what he was seeing, but before he could move, a voice at his side snapped him from the disgustingly terrible sight that should have sent him into a frenzy and pried Takasugi off his sister.

"Told ya." The main accomplice herself was standing at his side; pipe in hand and ignoring the fact that Sarutobi had latched onto him. He glared at Tsukuyo as she raised a brow. Tilted her head towards him as if it would convince him that his disapproval was moot. Just because they were happy in the hallway, and Takasugi wasn't displaying any obvious evil, ill-intentioned ways or expressions.

Groping his sister should have been enough to incriminate him. Dead stalker or not, they'd established that Takasugi was indeed permitted below her belt and that was the worst possible place for his hands or anything else to be.

"Sweetie, it's time for cake!" Ai snapped the silver haired teacher from his stupor and gave him and Tsukuyo enough warning to duck away before the pair in the hallway turned back towards the crowd. Good. Something needed to break them up.

Sarutobi was still heavy on Ginpachi's arm as he rejoined the festivities. Kawakami and Ai had set the cake in question on display. It was a humble size, just enough for everybody to have a piece with only a few left over for any especially greedy guests. A smooth coat of pink fondant was topped with a figure of a brown bear surrounded by simple branches and cherry blossoms. There was no writing on it, and while Ai poked candles into the top, Kawakami prepared the other boxes he'd brought. More food; of the lunch variety. Sticks of beef, miniature burgers, topped with bear eared buns and face designs.

Even the fruit sticks and rice balls kept to the odd bear theme.

Takasugi and Kinu returned to the living room and peered at the food arrangements as everybody gathered around, and Ginpachi spied the sharp glare Takasugi set on his friend. Kawakami grinned back and shrugged. Had taken initiative with the edibles, apparently, and the one eyed man didn't find it as funny as the deaf man.

Frowning up at the man behind her, Kinu paused. A pink cake and weird bear foods. Just great. Takasugi was going to kill Kawakami the moment the deaf man wandered to the bathroom alone. He'd made Kinu's eighteenth birthday into a kiddie party. If anything, there should have been sake, the most expensive cuts of sashimi, and maybe a balloon or something.

"Did... You pick this?" Uncertainty hung in the girl's voice, yet her expression remained even. As usual. Unnaturally intense and down right oppressive if Takasugi had to say. He stared back at the girl for a moment, then allowed his eye to flick to the oversized navy blue splotch behind the girl in a promise for revenge. Soon. The deaf man smirked and lifted a beef skewer to his mouth. Crossed his arms as he leaned back; just waiting for Takasugi's answer.

"Uh... Maybe." Denying would prove that he hadn't arranged everything himself. Accepting would imply that he had no knowledge of the girl and questionable taste. He didn't want to back himself into one of those categories.

A sharp snort and nod was Kinu's response. The girl covered her mouth and nose as she squeaked; trying to muffle the sound with her palm, but her efforts fell short. To the amazement of the people that had gathered around the table, the girl exploded into a fit of giggles. The room fell silent as several pairs of wide eyes fell on her, and Takasugi glared down at the girl as she waved towards him.

"It's- It's adorable-"

Rolling his eye, Takasugi focused his attention on Kinu's friends and family. They hadn't moved. Even Tsukuyo had stopped smoking, and the shocked frowns that had taken everybody but Ginpachi and Kinu's mother warranted some kind of response.

"She does that." The gloomy doll had more settings than stare, hum, and sleep, and from the looks of things, that hadn't been made known yet. He wasn't sure if the guest's reaction was relief or unease, but he flicked Kinu's ear. To break her from her laughing spell and draw her towards the table. It hardly worked.

The cake ritual and food induced mingling went without a hitch. Takasugi stuck to the counter top with Kawakami; people watching. Murmured with the man and smoked as they observed the snug group. Kawakami had used the bears and pink cake as pay back for all of the paperwork Takasugi had stuck him with. It backfired. Kinu liked it. Takasugi's attention honed in on Sougo, pulling Kinu aside and speaking to the girl.

"Think she still wants to gouge his eyes out?" The question was muttered to Kawakami, and the deaf man snickered under his breath as Takasugi turned and emptied the contents of his bowl into the sink. Tobacco was pushed back into the pipe, and it was lit as Kawakami shrugged.

"There's only one way to tell."

"Knock him out and tie him up as a birthday present?" Takasugi's words earned another chuckle. More of a loud laugh that was met with a wrinkled brow. Crossing his arms, the one eyed man squared his shoulders. Sougo wasn't any competition. If they still needed to prove it, Takasugi would gladly best that sadistic brat. Any day.

The crowd naturally migrated to sitting in the living room. Passing around small boxes and gifts, and Takasugi took his rightful position beside Kinu as Sougo handed her an unwrapped book.

"Captive tent? Didn't you steal this from me?"

"Ki-Chan, that doesn't sound very appreciative." Smiling at the girl, Sougo took a seat in an arm chair. She eyed him and lifted the cover. Thumbed through to make sure that all of the pages were intact. Her spot had been lost long ago.

"It was already mine..." Grumbling under her breath, Kinu tucked the book beside herself as Sarutobi placed an unusually long, flat box in her lap.

"Open this one next! It's from me and Matako-Chan!"

Nodding, Kinu smiled up at the girl, and Takasugi resituated himself beside her to allow the gift partially into his lap as well. As Kinu pulled at the green ribbon off the box, Tsukuyo took a seat on the armrest of Ginpachi's chair, and Ai and Matako sat together, lightly chatting and smiling. Sarutobi plopped between them and the women welcomed her with open arms and a laugh that could have warmed Takasugi's heart if he hadn't been dead inside. Slightly dead inside.

Okay, like a quarter dead, but that was enough to claim it on his taxes, probably.

Kawakami had pulled a chair from the kitchen; mindful of the seating arrangements and excessive number of people in the apartment. The moment Kinu pulled the top off of the box, her eyes went wide, and Takasugi's hand slammed it back shut. He hadn't gotten a full look, but what he'd seen had been more than enough to tell him that the gift would have been better suited for the privacy of their bedroom. Handcuffs. A collar. He thought he'd seen a spreader bar and paddle, but he'd have to look another time.

As if he'd been personally called out, he grinned at Sarutobi and couldn't help but chuckle to mask the collective awkwardness.

"Thank you." Guess he didn't have to get that collar himself. The spark of excitement was clear enough when Kinu smacked his arm and squinted up at him.

"What?" Innocent as could be Takasugi beamed down at the girl and her lips twisted to the side.

"You had a stupid perverted grin."

"You weren't even looking at me! How would you know?!"

"Oh, I know..."

Glaring down at the girl, Takasugi took hold of the box and pulled it away. He'd just take that. Fit it into his collection later. Kinu had no use for the items and he wasn't letting her get her hands on handcuffs again. If she was good, he'd show her what she'd been given. Later. After everybody left and they were alone. Matako had been frowning at Sarutobi, and likely had nothing to do with the odd gift choice, of course, but Kinu was more focused on studying his face until he showed any sign that she was right.

As they were eying one another, Kawakami reached towards the girl with a small rectangular box, and she gingerly accepted it. Once the lilac lace ribbon was removed, Kinu opened the container to find an overly ornate fountain pen. Jade designs branched across the black handle and for a second, Kinu thought that it reminded her of Takasugi's eye. A bit dark. Then she realized that it was in the same fashion as the book that Takasugi had given her and that Takasugi had been glaring at his friend the entire time.

"T- Thank you..." The words were carried on a breathy laugh, and Kawakami nodded. Smirked back at Takasugi, knowing full well what he had done.

Ai was the next to offer a gift. Handed Kinu brown paper wrapped object that the girl carefully undid, so not to mar the wrapping. When she pulled the object out, she found a book. One she had never heard of. It seemed to be a special edition, decorated to fit with a laminated cover, but when Kinu turned it over she came face to face with a black haired, yellow eyed poet that she had wished to never see again.

"No-" The word jumped from her throat before she could approve it, and despite herself, more poured out. "He's dead! He's dead- he can't!"

Frowning down at the girl, Takasugi took hold of the book. Kinu kept a firm grip on it; still staring into the face of the man she had killed and babbling nonsense. The last thing they needed in front of a party. She just wasn't cut out for murder yet; she'd be fine in the future, but maybe being threatened had traumatized her or something. Takasugi knew she still had nightmares about it. That he would get up after she finished stabbing him and profess his undying love to her. Claim that it wasn't her fault and that he'd forgive her, because they were so deeply enamored with one another.

"Revenge! He can't! He has to be-"

"Oh, he's dead." Pulling the book away, Takasugi tucked it under the box at his side. His arm slid around the girl and tugged her near to stave the flow of what was bound to turn into an admission of guilt as Ai nodded.

"Yes, he died, sweetie. Was attacked by a bear!"

"Didn't you see the news?" Carefully murmuring to the girl, Takasugi patted her knee to bring her back to reality. Kinu gawked up at him. Eyes impossibly wide and blank faced. That was her "getting shipped to America" face, and he couldn't help but snicker as he shook his head.

"Oh- yeah- he's dead, Ki! Super dead! Gone for good!" Obvious was an understatement. Ginpachi awkwardly fumbled over the words, and Takasugi broke his gaze from Kinu's to narrow his eye at the man. He wasn't helping. If anything, that made it sound more suspicious.

"Gone for good..." Kinu repeated, and Takasugi cleared his throat.

"Yes, for good. Some people just aren't made to leave civilization. And some people aren't made for it." Still staring at Ginpachi, the one eyed man ignored the sharp bite that requested he clarify. Tore his gaze from the snarling teacher and smirked down at Kinu. "And he wouldn't have a chance; taking revenge on a bear. Why, he couldn't even harm a kitten."

Nodding, Kinu drew in a shallow breath. She touched her pointer fingers together as the man tightened his grasp on her side and turned back to the crowd.

"Anything else? Are we done?"

"Our gift is back at school. We'll have it set up Tuesday." Tsukuyo took a drag of her tobacco and leaned back into Ginpachi as he nodded. It wasn't much. A private party with a cupcake, so Ginpachi could have his sister without a condescending bastard wrapped around her. Tsukuyo had gotten the girl a pipe that she swore was decorational, and Ginpachi had made the girl free passes to skip her weekly cleaning of his apartment. Thoughtful of him.

"Ki usually skips a day for her birthday."

"Good. We already have plans. I trust you can take care of any students?" The one eyed man was met with three nods; the extra being Kawakami.

People were starting to stand. Making their way to the open kitchen for more food and playful banter. Matako was glued to Ai's side and Takasugi caught the tail end of their conversation as they shuffled away.

"The best way to deal with a bastard is to put a bowling ball behind the newest liquor bottle. It looks like an accident then, and he's probably already tried to take it from the shelf. But the shelf has to be really high! Make sure you leave, too. You can't be there when it happens, that's how cops convict you."

He could have laughed. Hoped that Kinu's father, Riku, had actually fallen for the bait, but they'd have to wait and see. Kinu's defense that he could sober up in the future was flimsy at best.

"Ya'll are gonna check out that college?" Tsukuyo's question received a wide smirk that bloomed into an even grin from Takasugi, and Kinu turned her head. As Ginpachi glanced up at the woman, Kawakami took to his feet.

"Good luck." He offered one line before joining the crowd at the table. Claiming a bear burger as his own.

"You know about it?"

"I suggested it!" The blonde woman nodded as she spoke and Takasugi glanced down at Kinu. Wondered if she had recovered from her shock of the stalker looking back at her.

"It's fitting. She's excited about it, but she's been difficult. Thinks she needs to help with the bills, but I told her..."

Ginpachi's indignation took another blow at the one eyed man's words. He raised his chin and crossed his arms. Couldn't take offense. Was Takasugi really that bad? Despite their personal issues, if the man was trying to get Kinu to apply to a college and was perfectly willing to support her while she did... Could he still be angry? If Kinu was at home, she would have kept working. Wouldn't have tried to pursue higher education. But Takasugi was giving her a clean chance to both, and Ginpachi couldn't hate him for it.

He wanted to.

He wanted to so badly.

But Takasugi wasn't being a devious, slimy asshole, and he knew it.

Tsukuyo turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Didn't allow him to further analyze the freaky, appropriate relationship that he so loathed.

"I suggested literature, but she wanted to go for robotics. Said she's got more experience with it."

"Oh... Yeah..." Murmuring back, Ginpachi carefully eased himself to his feet. He didn't want to look at this anymore. Kinu had leaned into Takasugi's side and closed her eyes. Wasn't even paying attention to the conversation about her future. Didn't seem worried at all. As he moved, Tsukuyo took his seat and kept her conversation with Takasugi going.

"Got a few friends up there; I can make some calls."

"By all means, it would be appreciated. I already have, but more can't hurt." The one eyed man ran a hand over the girl's head and smoothed her hair down as she tilted over into his lap. Laid down. Though he'd fully intended to walk away, Ginpachi found himself staring. Watching with unnatural focus; as if Takasugi would abuse the girl in front of him or prove himself unworthy of her affection. But he did no such thing.

Instead, he stretched out to give her room and kept his attention on Tsukuyo while his fingertips innocently prodded Kinu's scalp and toyed with her hair. As if it was normal, and he didn't think twice about the girl's decision to clock out from her own party.

"You were intentionally sending her to me, weren't you?"

A displaced laugh escaped Tsukuyo and she turned her head. Took care to focus on her pipe as the one eyed man revealed his own and set a flame to the tobacco.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Not at all. But now that I think about it..."

The party continued without Kinu. She remained on the couch long after everybody left the sitting area and indulged in the childish food choices. The girl didn't stir at the sound of laughter, or party tricks that set the guests amazed, nor did she perk up at the TV being turned on. In the same breath, nobody minded her sleeping. Figured it was nearly the same as if she was present, but it was only when Sougo walked over to the girl and started to jab at her face with a fruit skewer that Takasugi finally found his chance.

He prowled over to the boy, straight faced and glaring. Sure that this was the challenge he'd been waiting for. Without warning, he snatched Sougo's arm and smirked down at him.

"This is my turf." The wide eyes that gleamed down at Sougo spoke of danger that had far surpassed mere warning, and in a split second, he was shoved onto the balcony. The door was slid shut and clicked with a lock as Takasugi grinned down at him. Had no pity or remorse for locking him out on a windy day with scattered showers, and let the blinds fall shut to conceal his crime. Isolated Sougo with no chance of rescue.

Ginpachi had been watching Takasugi all day. Even the early half of the night was filled with him just waiting for one inappropriate move that would be enough for him to slam on breaks for Kinu. Maybe hit Takasugi's head on the dashboard, if he was lucky. When the one eyed man scooped her up from the couch and carried her off, he was presented with the perfect opportunity. Enough to slink off behind him and catch Takasugi in the act.

Rescue his sister from what was bound to be abuse and hardship. He watched as Takasugi carried her off to their bedroom and laid her on the right side of the bed. Kinu turned as he pulled the sheets back and started to cover her. In a gasp of air, the girl reached up and took hold of his arm wide eyed as if she had just been shocked from the dead.

"He's here! He's come back to get me!"

Pausing, Takasugi frowned down at the girl. The covers remained at her hip as he released them and grabbed her hands. Carefully pried them away.

"Kitten, it's just a dream. Go back to sleep, he's not coming back. We took care of it, remember?"

"But... That grimoire in the library... It said that he'd come back if we didn't put a coin on his grave..." Nearly humming the words, Kinu fell back against her pillow. She kept hold on Takasugi's hand as he tried to ease her off himself and pull the sheets over her. Wouldn't let go.

Ginpachi kept his hiding space just behind the door as Takasugi shook his head and managed to unclasp one of the girl's hands. He brushed her black bangs out of her face and revealed her darker eye. Pressed his thumb into the girl's chin, just under her lower lip, murmuring back to her.

"He doesn't have a grave, Kitten. Burying is beneath us and above him. Alright?"

His reasoning drew a slow nod from Kinu. She finally let go of the man's hand and leaned up in the bed. Turned to stare at the sheets as she ran a palm over the collar of her dress.

"Okay..." The girl nodded again. Finally accepted that she was safe from the ghost of her nightmares and snapped back to the reality of the stalker being nothing more than rotten meat. "Stay with me..."

Chuckling under his breath, the one eyed man shook his head. They had an apartment full of guests and she was supposed to be with them. Enjoying her birthday. If she wasn't there, at the very least, he needed to be.

"I have to go back." He denied her request, but Kinu grabbed his hand as he smoothed out the covers over her. Didn't let him lean up or step away from her side.

"Please?"

Again, Takasugi frowned. Stared at the pleading expression and froze to consider her request. Maybe for a few minutes. Until she went back to sleep. He'd need to see everybody off and make sure none of them stowed away in his apartment; snooping for incriminating evidence. Ginpachi. With a sigh, the man allowed himself to be dragged onto the mattress. He maneuvered over Kinu as she turned back to face him and pulled the comforter up to his jaw, pleased with her accomplishment.

"Fine." Breathing the word back at the girl, Takasugi pulled her into his frame. He snickered at his own lack of opposition. His failure at turning the girl away, for the umpteenth time. "For a little while." As he spoke, Kinu nuzzled into the crook of his neck, and he wondered if he would actually be able to escape. If he couldn't, Kawakami was sure to secure his apartment after everybody left.

The deaf man could be trusted with that much.

From the doorway, Ginpachi looked on with a distinct lack of a scowl. Nothing to prove that his premeditated interruption and hostility was valid. He expected violation, or at the very least, unnaturally indecent, cruel behavior.

What he found was the opposite. Takasugi soothing his sister and giving into her requests as if he was spoiling the girl and uncharacteristically caring for her like an actual girlfriend. weird. Ginpachi wanted Takasugi to fuck up. He wanted the man to prove himself inept and impossibly spiteful. Show he had only started the relationship as revenge. But the conversation and actions were stacked against him.

Hadn't alluded to the dead friendship or backhanded retaliation aimed towards Ginpachi in any way.

They seemed normal.

Close.

As if they had actually bonded over something other than their mutual connection with him, and had their own private world under the covers to retreat to at the end of the day. Free of Ginpachi hate. Genuinely bonded. Somehow. Despite the fact that he was positive that Takasugi had only targeted Kinu to bother him.

But maybe he hadn't...

Maybe Ginpachi had been wrong, and whatever they were doing was valid. Had nothing to do with the issues still brimming between him and Takasugi. Just like the one eyed man had said. The way they had been the entire night; Kinu laughing and Takasugi smiling back at her. Stealing away for privacy. Depending on one another without needing to say a word. Ginpachi's disdain was out of place, and he knew it.

The invitation to the party had been his chance to expose Takasugi, but the exact opposite had happened.

He almost approved. Almost.

Quietly as possible, Ginpachi eased the door back to a crack and gave the couple privacy. As he did, a white kitten dashed by his feet and through the doorway to join his owners. They were just laying there. Weren't moving, but whispered between one another about things he didn't care to hear. Takasugi wasn't taking advantage of Kinu.

He rejoined the party, nearly relieved, and acutely aware of Kawakami and Tsukuyo eying him from the corner of the kitchen. Yeah. He understood now. He'd leave them alone, and eventually, Takasugi would rejoin the group.

The one eyed man stayed with Kinu as long as he could without falling asleep himself. When she finally stopped talking to him, he gave her a good five minutes and unlatched her from his torso. They had a big day planned for tomorrow, and the girl needed her rest. Likewise, the people in his living room needed entertainment and to leave, and were only permitted to drink after Kinu fell asleep; seeing as to how she loathed alcohol. Rightfully so.

The party continued without her, and as the teenagers weeded themselves out, Takasugi took pleasure in silly drunken games between himself, Kawakami, Ai, Tsukuyo, and Ginpachi. Takasugi didn't win, but it was fun all the same. Surprisingly, Ai dominated a better portion of the games; possessed an ungodly poker face and an eye for winning combinations. They lasted to the early side of Midnight, until the apartment was dark and empty, and he was allowed to crawl back into bed with Kinu; half drunk and far too pleased with himself to speak.

She'd agreed to fill out the college application before the meeting tomorrow.

As the man closed his eye and turned onto his side, a single thought crossed him, and he snickered under his breath, into his pillow. He'd forgotten Sougo.

A/N: So that's it! Please let me know what you think! Drop a review to let me know if you think I've gotten outta that writer's block funk that cut off all my stories! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!