Kazuhiko wrapped the fine lambs wool scarf about his neck, before brushing down his coat and stepping into the frigid air. A long and cold winter was predicted and at this moment, he could quite believe it. He was glad that he had decided not to take Kou with him on this outing, he felt that the weather was far to unforgiving at this time. A guilt about leaving his son behind with the nanny still lingered, so he decided to bring back a small gift for the child once his duties were completed. It was not an arduous task, it might even prove to be a futile one. An apparently talented shamisen player had begun busking at a nearby shopping arcade. Due to that person's unusual and expensive choice of instrument, they had attracted attention and they were mentioned by one of Fumiko family's students to their teachers. Their circles were often far too small and talent that learned from their family was pooled mostly from said circles. Should the shamisen player truly prove to be talented, Kazuhiko could extend a hand that could prove beneficial to both the family and to the shamisen player. This was all conjecture, of course, he would not be certain until he had witnessed that person playing. As it was the weekend, Kazuhiko thought it would be better not to drive himself and requested the family's driver to take him and drop him off close by. He didn't feel like navigating the one way streets leading to that shopping arcade and dealing with the city traffic in general. His choice was wise. After being in standstill traffic for nearly half an hour, Kazuhiko chose to walk the remainder of the way and advised his driver that he would make his own way back to the house. The shopping arcade was large, containing a variety of shops, though most were well known and common across the country. Buskers often applied to ply their trade in one of its many open areas, attempting to attract people with their music and vocals. Kazuhiko felt that many of these individuals should simply pack up and go home, that as with him, some dreams should remain only dreams. It took a while to find the shamisen player. The young man attracted a fair crowd, mostly people curious about his instrument. The three stringed instrument with its long neck and small squarish body only very loosely resembled a guitar or banjo and was played using a large plectrum, rather than plucked by fingers or with a pick. Many of the onlookers did not know what it was that they were listening to. Kazuhiko focused on the player and music for a while and noted that the youth did have some skill. Still, he chose not to disturb the young man while he played and simply added a business card as well as a monetary note into his collection plate. Kazuhiko then turned to leave, his thoughts turning to gifts his son might like. He also thought about mittens and a hat. The nanny had already purchased the child one set, but they were rather unlikeable and cheap looking as if no thought went into them. A soft scent of flowers drifted before him and his nostrils immediately flared as if demanding he take in more of the teasing perfume. His lower body stirred, something that had not occurred for more than a year and his head whipped around, was there an omega close by falling into heat? But no one else about him was reacting and while that may be due to a high population of Betas being amongst the crowd, not every single one would be of that gender. And besides that, the scent was oddly familiar. And then he noticed him. His black hair was a longer and its cut more choppy, his waist seemed a little thicker not waif like as he recalled. But there was no denying that brilliant smile nor pale skin. Kazuhiko's heart thudded loudly in his chest as he took a step towards the man who had haunted his dreams with verdant eyes for far too long. However, he hesitated. He had wronged this man back then, claimed and abandoned him. What right did he have to approach him now? As he faltered, that man disappeared into the crowd and Kazuhiko was unable to catch sight of him. With a heavy sigh, he, too, began to walk away. "Fumiko-san," a gentle voice said in startled tones. Kazuhiko gave the girl a fixed smile and greeted her politely. "Miss Hoashi," he said. "Out shopping?" "Yes," she cast her eyes down, demurely and glanced through her thick lashes. "With my girlfriends." She indicated a small gathering of girls similar in age to herself standing close by. The girls automatically smiled at them, some with guileful glances. "Then I won't disturb you," he replied. Her perfume was cloying and a little heavy, especially when compared to his delicate scent. "You are not," Kurea smiled, gently and tilted her head to one side. "May I ask of Fumiko-san's plans here?" "Nothing much," Kazuhiko answered, "I was about to purchase a few things for my son before returning home." "Oh, then you should try visiting Mama Mason's," Kurea suggested, mentioning a shop that catered to babies and children. It was one of the few stores here that were not owned by a chain brand, but was fairly popular with quality products. "I could show you where it is, if you like." "No need, I won't trouble you," the man replied. The girl's friends were giggling close by, carrying several bags of purchases between them. "It is of no trouble," she pressed, waving away her friends, who took the hint and departed, leaving Kazuhiko feeling as if he had no choice but to let the girl accompany him. "It's this way." ***** "What's that?" Kei pointed at the weird 'guitar' that the man was playing in front of them. "That's called a shamisen," Jun advised him. "It's an old Japanese instrument. My grandmother occasionally arranged flowers while this and other instruments were played in the background. People would sit and watch." "Arrange flowers?" Keiichi's small nose wrinkled. "Like that ikki banban thing you used to teach me?" "Hmm, ikebana," Jun corrected him. "My grandmother was the person who taught me." "Do I have to still learn it?" Keiichi asked him, his face turning a little sour at the thought. Flowers were girly. Jun laughed and ruffled his thick blond hair. "Of course not," Jun replied. "Have you had a lesson since your grandmother passed on?" Kei shook his head and grinned brightly. His smile had become a slightly gappy one as he had lost a tooth yesterday. Jun had cleaned it up and placed it in a trinket box with other small treasures he had accumulated over the past five years. They were few, so Jun would never hold back from grasping new ones. "Now how about you take this coin and put it into that plate, to thank the man for his music." Kei nodded and placed the coin in the plate, before running back to his mummy and grasping the man's hand. "Now let's go find you some new gloves and jumpers." "Do we have to?" Kei pouted, simply causing Jun to smile indulgently, but insist softly. They headed to a shop named Mama Mason's which Eiko had recommended. She had fallen in love with the cute and interesting designs, they stood out from chain bought clothes, but with the price tags to match. Jun winced as he caught sight of one small jumper's price tag. It was almost triple that of a cheaper equivalent. It was lovely though, he sighed, but placed the item back onto the rack. They probably should go somewhere a little less expensive. "Kei?" Jun called out to his son, who was glancing over the hats and gloves, but not finding the Kungfu Guardian's set that Abhi had. He glanced up as his mummy called him and walked over. Jun smiled and took his hand and turned to see an unexpected person entering the shop. He felt the blood drain from his face as he looked over at that man, who was accompanying a young woman, before glancing down at his son. It was uncanny how much the child looked like his father and Jun felt suddenly torn. When Kei had asked him about his daddy, Jun had glossed over it, saying that Kei had a daddy, of course, but that his daddy couldn't be with them at the moment. But if there came a time that he could see them again, Jun would introduce him. He certainly was not expecting that time to come so soon and felt immediately reluctant. What if Kazuhiko rejected his son having the fact dropped upon him so suddenly. What if Kazuhiko wanted to take him away? He could not bare to part with Kei now, not after being kept at a distance for so long before. And what about the young woman at his side? If they were entering a children's clothing store, was it for their own child? Then would he not be responsible for upsetting their possible family? Feeling justified with this excuse, Jun cautiously wrapped his arm about Kei's shoulders and guided him carefully out of the shop, avoiding Kazuhiko's line of sight completely.