Lying is a Sin, A Sin Hanagaki Takemichi Commits Too Often

Meeting Ms Sato

June 21st, 2017

"Ken, if something was up with Manjirou, you'd tell me right?" Shinichiro asked over the phone.

"Is he still sulking?"

"So there is something you know about?"

"He's upset over Takemichi, he uh, well he saw him with someone else," Draken mumbled, feeling awkward, especially with certain pieces of information he knew.

"Oh. Is Take-kun happy? In this relationship?"

"Uh...it's not really a relationship. God, I feel bad for saying it. But uh, Takemichi was hooking up with a guy that we had trouble with when we were teenagers. Mikey and I walked in on them, about to uh, y'know..." he trailed off.

"Hahhhh, I don't know what to do with him. Take-kun told me a little while back that he wished he could be with Manjirou but there was something he couldn't explain that was stopping him. I'm guessing it was because he was seeing someone else?"

Draken tensed. He knew damn well Hanma wasn't the reason, it was the fact that Takemichi had terminal cancer. But he couldn't tell Shinichiro that, he had promised Takemichi he wouldn't tell anyone. He just hopes Takemichi does it himself before people find out too late.

"Yeah I guess."

"I feel bad for him 'cause he's my little brother, but you can't force a relationship and I want Take-kun to be happy too. Don't know what to do with the little rascal though, Izana leaves to go back to the Philippians in a few weeks and I was planning on heading off not too long after that."

"L-leave?" He didn't want them to leave, not with Takemichi, as much as he hates to admit it, about to die.

"Awe, you gonna miss me Ken?"

"No way. I just, don't you and Takeomi still have things to work out?"

"My love life is doomed, you know this. But is there something else? I'm honestly looking for a reason to stay, so just give me one and I'll take it."

No, he couldn't do it. He promised Takemichi. But Shinichiro was so responsible and he could probably help.

"I can't say exactly why, but I think you should talk with Takemichi."

"Take-kun? I'm not going to convince him to get with Manjirou if that's what-'
"No, nothing like that. You should talk to him, push him until he tells you something. I know that sounds bad but I can't directly tell you anything."

Shinichiro sighed over the phone, "Fine, I'll go see him later."

"Thank you."

.

Shinichiro looked down at his phone, deep in thought. He wondered what Draken meant exactly. He knew Takemichi's birthday was in a few days, maybe it was to try and figure out what he wanted for his birthday.

.

"Detective Tachibana? I prepared the file for you, all good to go and her address is on the front," Watanabe said, handing the small stack of paper to his superior.

"Thanks Watanabe, I'll treat you to a meal tomorrow."

"Thank you sir!"

Naoto entered the address into his GPS, he was doing a good thing, right? He thought it would be really nice for Takemichi to reconnect with his mother on his birthday, especially with his shortened life span. Naoto didn't really know too much about Takemichi's relationship with his mother, but from what Takemichi had told them when they were younger and from the state of his empty house, he just assumed that because his mother worked so often, they never got to be close and when Takemichi was old enough, he moved out and lost connection with her.

It was a bit of a drive, but it was nice to see the suburbs. He was typically stationed in the busy city areas within his job, it was so green and quiet out here. He neared the address, it was a small traditional looking home from the outside. He parked and walked up to the door, wiping his feet on the mat before knocking. The door opened a few minutes later revealing a short slender woman. Naoto wasn't exactly sure what he had expected, he had never seen her before, and there was never any pictures in Takemichi's old house. But she looked absolutely nothing like her son, assuming that the woman who opened the door was Mrs Han- Ms Sato Jun.

"Good afternoon, sorry to bother you. Are you Sato Jun?" he asked.

The woman nodded, looking up at him in confusion, "Yes I am. Can I help you, officer?"

"I'm here to talk to you about your son, Hanagaki Takemichi."

Her eyes snapped open wide, "O-oh, it's been so long since I've heard that name."

"Would you be interested in meeting him? I'm sure you know his birthday is in a few days, and I was hoping to help you two reconnect."

She nodded slowly, "Right...his birthday...um, why don't you come in? What was your name?"

"Tachibana Naoto, I'm an old friend of his. My older sister used to date him, do you remember that?"

A flicker of a smile appeared on her thin lips, "Ah yes, I remember him telling me he got a girlfriend all those years ago. I was so glad that he strayed away from hanging out with those boys too much."

Naoto raised an eyebrow but followed the woman in any way. He couldn't shake this feeling of uneasiness, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

.

Roses are red, violets are blue
Naoto get the fuck away from her

Well poems were never my forte.

How are you all? I hope I'm hurting your feelings :)

I always think its so funny when people comment 'im so sad' 'im crying' 'this is heartbreaking' on early chapters becauses babes, you aint seen nothing yet. prepare your tissues for future chapters.