Chapter 2

Rin thought of the upcoming weekend with dread and though she had met up with Tommy three times so far she couldn't take any joy from the meetings. She had to admit she liked him from the start. It was one of those things that she would normally scoff at. She walked into one day and thought to herself he would be a perfect distraction. She needed one. All she could think about was Yukimura and the fact he never called her back after those missed phone calls.

She had not responded to them. He was in her thoughts every day regardless, but this week he seemed to overcrowd them. She was mentally comparing Tommy with Yuki and though there was no comparison. She knew she had to get him out of her system. She had to do something to make herself move on from him.

He had been safe. Everything about him had been safe. He didn't push her to do anything, she had never felt like that. Rin was ready to move on. She knew he would be there no matter what, but it was time. She knew he would always be there in her mind. She was sure of that. It was going to be sink or swim time, and she began to outline her plan at her desk. It was a simple one though it would change everything in her life. She looked down at the last words she had written.

You need to kiss him.

Those four words stood out to her. With one act she could move away from him. She knew she needed that. A simple kiss and be done with him. She knew if there was nothing between them she could start to enjoy other peoples company. A shiver went up her spine as she thought of the alternative.

What is he was everything she hoped for? That thought left her speechless as it crept in silently. What if he was the one? The thought floored her. She had always thought of him as a friend, a weird friend who would always just be there. She thought of him now and knew he was twenty-seven. He would be ready to move on the next stage of life and settle down. The idea of him doing this with anyone else hurt like a dagger being plunged into her chest. Somehow in her mind, he was already hers and hers alone. She had no clue how to get what she wanted done, but she would find a way in the end. She always did.

As she woke up that Friday morning something in the air told her it was going to be a different type of day. Something was going to happen. Something big was going to happen. Though she knew she would be going home today to see her family and Yuki she didn't know she could go through with her plan. Everything in her mind had worked out the plan. She couldn't think of any loopholes, but she knew she wasn't like her dad, the planner of their team. She knew there was plenty of holes. Why did growing up have to be so hard?

"Mitsuhide!", Kit yelled from the first floor of the house to find out where he was.

"Yes, my love. You bellowed?", he said as he walked up in back of her.

"You have Yuki getting Rin?", she asked.

"No I am going up I just think Rin should stay at his place. You know nothing will happen to her if she is there", He said with a smile.

"And who is getting Gabbie?", she asked.

"Masamune will be driving over to get her. He said something about her staying with him though it is her choice of course.", he was grinning like an idiot at her and Kit had to shake her head.

"Did you plan this all out in her head or did you write this down somewhere. Do you not realize as soon as they smell you had a hand in this it might push them away?", Kit asked shaking her head.

"I hinted.", Mitsuhide said.

"That is what matters?", kit asked.

"I didn't tell the guys, hey my daughters are free.", Mitsuhdie said. "Look the girls are old enough to make their own decisions about their lives. I would like to see them make the better choices. The guys, on the other hand, all need a female to keep them in line. All four of them have walked along that line never straying from the path they were on. It is time to cross the lines a bit."

"Like ours did?", she asked.

"I got everything I wanted because Rin has bad taste in boys.", he said with a smile. "At least this one has a chance."

"Do you really think it is a good pair?", Kit asked.

"I think he can handle her.", Mitsuhide said with a smile. "He is someone I could see her happy with."

"I guess I have to agree. He has seen her at her worst and still keeps coming back for the abuse.", Kit said.

"Sometimes we like the abuse.", Mitsuhide said, "It comes with certain rewards."

"You do realize we are talking about our daughter and not you.", she laughed.

"Same difference. She is so much like you I can only hope Yuki is as patient as I am.", Mitsuhide said with a laugh.

"You patient?", she said with a question. "If you were patient we wouldn't have eight kids with nine on the way."

"That is not my fault.", he said his grin deepening.

"Then whose fault is it?", she asked with a laugh.

"I blame you for being so god damn sexy.", Mitsuhide said, and she knew between the words and that grin she was in trouble. She also knew her daughter was also if they were teaming up.

Yukimura was looking over his small apartment as he was cleaning it. He wondered if she would like it here while she was here. He shook his head, she would probably be bringing school work, and she will want to spend most of the time over at the house with her family. He had enjoyed being a part of that while he could. He didn't have that in his own home growing up and when Shingen had offered him a place to stay and a little guidance he swore he was never going to have the same type of family he had when he could have his own. Kit and Mitsuhide had made it work. They were the ones who showed them all how to do it. He admired them. He was slightly jealous of them.

Yukimura knew Rin had stayed away from the idea that there was something between them. That there could ever be something between them. He had no idea how to change her mind. She never called him back. That stung him in a way he didn't understand. She had always listened to him. She had always been there just as he had been with her.

He thought he knew her well enough to try something. He was not going to do this game anymore. He wanted more. If it wasn't with her, it would hurt, but in the end, he would still be her friend. It was just time to end this dance they were doing. It was now or never, and he would remain her puppy for the rest of his life. he thought his plan through, and though he could see many different ways this could go, he was hopeful it would be the way he wanted too.

The answer was simple. He needed to kiss her.

The thing that he wanted to do was the thing he needed to do. It was the when of the kiss that scared him. If it wasn't in a good place or a good time he had no idea the different routes it could take. He wanted it to be special for her. He wasn't willing to risk his future on his plan either. He knew there were too many holes. He wondered if he should ask Mitsuhide for advice or even Shingen who had his own way with women which Yuki didn't understand.

He continued cleaning when a surprise knock at his door had him jump for a second. He walked over and opened the door, and to his surprise it was Masamune. Though the two were close in age and they worked together, they had never hung out much. Yukimura had always been more interested in Rin while Masa had spent the time cooking.

"What do you want?", Yukimura asked and realized too late that it din;t sound the way he wanted it too.

"Rin is staying here this weekend right?", Masamune asked as he took a step in.

"Yeah.", Yukimura replied.

"I want Gabbie to stay with me.", Masamune said in a voice he didn't even know he had.

"So ask her," Yuki replied.

"I tried.", he said. "I don't think she understands."

"I know the feeling.", Yuki replied as he sat down on the couch.

"At least you got her to stay with you.", Masa said with a slight smile.

"That was Mitsuhide's doing I think," Yuki said. "I called her, and she didn't call back."

"Why are they so difficult?", Masa asked.

"Because they are females.", Yuki said flatly. "I don't think they know how to be any different."

"When is the last time you had a date?", Masa asked looking at the other man.

"I don't know maybe four years ago.", Yuki said.

"So all this time?", Masa prompted.

"It isn't a secret except maybe to her how much I liked her.", Yuki admitted. "Mitsuhide and Kit both knew."

"Do you think Gabbie has a clue?", Masa asked.

"About you?", Yuki asked.

"Yeah.", Masa replied sounding defeated.

"I didn't even know that you liked her.", Yuki said.

"Damnit.", Masa said softly.

"Look Gabbie is the sensible one of the bunch. Just talk to her.", Yuki said.

"She has this way of not listening to me.", Masa said softly.

"I know that feeling as well," Yuki said.

"I don't know what to do.", Masa replied.

"Neither do I.," Yuki said, "We have to do something though."

"We could team up.", Masa suggested.

"We could.", Yuki said. "I think that may be a good idea really."

"We can then attack.", Masa said with a grin.

"I see what you are saying.", Yuki said as things seemed more clear now that he knew he wasn't alone. He looked at Masa who seemed to be making his own plans. "What is it about Kit's daughters that make us act like lovesick puppies?"

"Probably they are more like their mother then any of them wants to admit.", Masa said with a smile.

"I think we have a war to win. We should start planning it.", Yukimura said with a slight smile towards the other man who nodded as they both began outlined their plans.

"So divide and conquer?", Masa asked.

"I think that would be the best thing. Mitsuhide will keep Kit busy so she won't interfere.", Yukimura.

"Do you think she would?", Masa asked.

"No, not really. I think she knew along at least about me and Rin. I don't think she will object to you and Gabbie either.", Yukimura said.

"She did pick Mitsuhide for herself.", Masa said with a laugh.

"We all know he was in the right place at the right time to get her.", Yukimura said.

"True.", Masa said. "So I think this will work."

"You do?", Yukimura said.

"If everything works out you do realize we could be brothers, right?", Masa asked.

"Don't make this weird.", Yuki said as he looked over to Masa and realized he was right. They wouldn't be getting just the girl of their choice. They would be getting a whole family. Including a teammate as a father-in-law. Yukimura Sanada thought for a second and smiled, A family like theirs wouldn't be all that bad.