Not a happy fic, people.

This takes a look at Jyou's canon future, his family, but most importantly, his wife. Despite what you first read about Hanako, I urge you to keep an open mind. Human motives are rarely cut and dry, and hers are no exception. The title means "Liar", and has many meanings in the context. I hope I was able to express them all fully.

Usotsuki

Riyuu wa kotaetakunai
Anata wa nani mo warukunai no
Ashita wa awazu ni itai
Wagamama datte wakatteru

She didn't love her husband, and wasn't sure if she ever had.

When she had first met him, while they were both in college, he had seemed comfortable from the start, like a pair of broken in blue jeans or a soft flannel shirt. They had shared many interests and it had seemed natural that the two of them would begin dating.

His father loved her, she had heard him congratulating his son on what a "fine young woman" he had found. The next part of his sentence was mumbled, but it had sounded as if he had said something about "forgetting that nonsense" or something like that. She hadn't paid it any mind.

But for some bizarre reason it popped into her head as she and her lover were curled up beside one another on her futon. Yes, she had a lover. Quite the talk of the neighborhood, actually. If her husband hadn't been so dull-witted…dependable, he probably could have figured out what half those chattering, gossiping housewives had already.

But that was just it. Marriage wasn't what she had thought it would be. Oh sure, her husband was successful, outrageously so, one might say. But well, he was so…well, boring. It was the only word she could think of to sum up his faults in one precise little package. Always nice, always gentle. It seemed like nothing could ever wipe that oh-so-sweet smile from his face.

Sometimes she thought she hated him.

***

Kido Jyou scrubbed the sleep out of his eyes half-heartedly as he went to sign out. A quick glance at the clock told him it was on it's way to midnight…It couldn't be that late already, could it? Hanako was going to be furious, and with good reason. He hadn't even called to tell her he wouldn't be there for dinner.

Never mind the fact that he had been in surgery for most of the day working on a victim of third degree burns… He should have had SOMEONE call and tell her he was going to be late.

He waved a bleary goodbye to incoming nurse before starting a brisk walk to the subway station.

It was one o'clock when he finally stumbled though the front door. He carefully removed his shoes in the front entryway and exchanged them for a pair of slippers. The house was dark and quiet, most likely because all the other occupants were asleep.

Not a bad idea, actually.

Jyou meandered down the hall to the bedroom. After going inside, he carefully stepped over his son, Yamasuke, who was asleep in his futon, the covering half off as he slept completely spread out. Jyou knelt down to gently brush his son's bangs from his forehead and deposited a gentle kiss. Yamasuke made a noise in his sleep before he half opened his eyes.

"Nnn, welcome home, papa…" He slurred, the barest hint of a gentle smile touching his face before he drifted off to sleep again. Jyou's grin was equally sweet as he rummaged around for his pajamas before joining his wife in the futon they shared.

Jyou would walk over hot coals barefoot for his son, if need be.

Hanako instinctively shied away from his cold feet as he slid between the covers, mumbling something gently chastising unconsciously in her melodious voice. Jyou bit back a chuckle; sometimes he'd be willing to swear that there was no sweeter sound in the whole world.

Except…perhaps…

Jyou turned away in a sudden jerky motion, causing Hanako's forehead to wrinkle ever-so-slightly in her sleep in consternation; he was inwardly furious at himself for his weakness. He had a wonderful wife, a terrific son…what more could he ever want or need?

He wouldn't allow himself to answer that question. He never did.

***

Jyou was brutally awakened by a sharp slap to his cheek, flesh meeting flesh. His eyes flew open, and for one wild moment he didn't know where he was. Then the terrified noises next to his ear brought him back.

Hanako was having another nightmare.

Sometimes she would thrash about even more wildly, upsetting Yamasuke in his sleep as well. She was making half sobbing, half pleading noises in the back of her throat as she attempted to beat off her phantasmal assailant.

Jyou was not a violent person, and probably never would be for that matter, but he often found himself wishing that those who had visited these horrors upon his wife would someday receive them back ten-fold. For now, it was hard enough sitting down to an occasional dinner with them, or even let them look at his son, much less allow them to touch their grandchild.

Oh yes, he knew it was them. Hanako had never said so much as a word, but he knew. One just as guilty by ignoring the problem as the other was by causing it.

He gathered her up into his arms, whispering soothing words as he stroked her silky hair lovingly. At first she struggled like an animal in a snare, but finally she relaxed into his embrace, sobs catching at the back of her throat like a lost child's.

***

Somewhere, deep inside, Hanako registered the loving arms around her.

Jyou.

Her calm in the eye in the storm.

Why did he…how could he…

Didn't he realize?!

It took all the strength she had to push him away.

It was the only thing she could do.

Because…

Sometimes…

Sometimes, she thought…

She almost thought she did love him.

***

Hanako sighed and tried to burrow deeper beneath the covers, attempting to escape the light of the morning sun peeking vindictively through a crack in the shouji. Then a delicious scent wafted in from the kitchen. This, combined with the relentless assault of the light finally had her opening her eyes. She rolled over and stretched before kneeling down to awaken Yamasuke.

"Nn…" He mumbled in protest before rolling over. "Mou…sukoshi…"

Hanako allowed a smile to grace her face; she could certainly identify with that feeling. Briefly she considered allowing him his request. Then the motherly side of her took over and she firmly coaxed him out of bed and into some clothes.

When she padded into the kitchen, she discovered what had smelled so wonderful. She had to chuckle at the sight of her husband, bent over a bubbling pot of miso soup and clad in her favorite apron (the one with the flowers embroidered on it).

The sound alerted him to her presence and he met her cheerful gaze with one of his own.

I can be good today. Hanako thought, as she regarded her husband. I won't call him. The memory of last night was still painfully fresh in her mind, and the thought of calling her lover as usual made something within her twist in agony. I don't…I don't even really n-need… The thought refused to be finished. That was too much for her to consider; if she thought about it too much, she would cry.

Doesn't everyone have their own crutches? Somehow, that little, sly, mocking part of her always managed to get the last word in.

But she wasn't going to think about it.

"Mou! Anata…" She teased, coming in to inspect the soup more closely. "How many times have I told you? The kitchen is off limits!"

"Hey, I make a good miso soup!" Jyou protested lightly. Hanako giggled.

"Last time, you forgot the miso!" She laughed. Jyou thought for a moment.

"Hmmm…" He murmured, before remembering. "Sou…" He admitted before joining in her chuckling.

***

"Hanako-chan~~~?"

"What is it now, Jyou?" She struggled without success to keep the mirth from showing in her voice as she cradled the phone in the crook of her arm. It was amazing that a person so bewildered could laugh so often.

Maybe it was true, what they said.

That when you laugh, it's because you're even closer to crying.

"What makes you think I want anything?" Jyou replied.

"Because you only call me 'Hanako-chan' when you want me to do something." Hanako said. "And, besides, I'm looking at the papers you left behind on your way to work right this very instant."

"Is there any chance you could drop them off at the hospital?" Jyou asked.

"Sure. I have some quick errands to run before Yamasuke gets home from school, so I'll drop them off then."

***

She had only been to her husband's workplace once or twice in all their ten years of marriage. Hanako usually told herself it was because she didn't want to disturb him, or that she didn't really have any business there. If she had let herself acknowledge the truth, however, she would have admitted that she hated hospitals.

To her, they represented thinly buried memories of pain.

It was the place she had first learned how to lie.

To the doctors.

To the nurses.

To herself.

Hanako had become quite the good little liar.

***

She steeled herself and walked into the spacious lobby with resolved steps, only noticing her slight shaking when she reached the front desk.

The place she had first learned to lie.

"Hello," She greeted the secretary, pleased to find her voice was firm and strong, with no sign of the inner wavering she felt within. "I'm delivering this for Kido Jyou." She showed the carefully wrapped package to the impeccably groomed young woman at the desk. The secretary smiled, with real warmth and politeness.

"I'm sorry, he just left on his lunch break." She explained. "But if you leave it with me, I'll make sure that he gets it, Ms…um…"

"Kido." Hanako said quietly. That's right, he left before I could pack him a bentou. "I'm his wife."

The secretary seemed vaguely surprised. "I could have sworn that…" She murmured, seemingly forgetting that Hanako was still standing right in front of her.

"Pardon?" Hanako prompted.

"Oh," The secretary shook her head apologetically. "It's nothing."

Hanako smiled before bowing her thanks. As she left, she had to restrain herself from running out of the building as fast as she could.

***

Hanako was at war with herself.

On the one hand, she had just done something incredibly difficult, and one part of herself exclaimed that she deserved a small reward. Like treating herself to lunch. The other part scoffed scornfully. So you walked into a hospital. Big deal. Your husband does it every day. Hanako shook her head wildly; that was her mother speaking. Unconsciously, she cupped her hand to her face, almost as if she had just been slapped.

No.

She was no longer a little girl. She no longer had to answer to her mother.

Hanako went to lunch.

***

There was a place not far from the hospital that was near and dear to her heart. It was a rather upscale café that catered to many of the doctors from the hospital. She had worked her way through college there…it was where she had first met one shy intern with a sweet smile – though she would discover they went to the same college later. And it was the place that same shy intern had proposed to her.

She had smiled and said "yes".

If she had it to do over again, would she give the same answer?

She answered herself in a heartbeat, and the response scared her.

***

"Irasshaimase." The waitress bowed with a smile before showing her to her table. Hanako vaguely noted the slight changes in uniform since she had worked here. After receiving the coffee she had ordered, she people-watched quietly, content to immerse herself in the flood of life swirling about her. In back of her, Hanako heard two waitresses gossiping about a pair of customers. The excited whisper of their voices brought back nostalgic memories in the café. She smiled around the edges of her cup.

"Hey, did you see them?"

"Yeah…do you think they're doctors?"

"I hope not, it means they're too old for me…" There was a sigh, and Hanako had to restrain herself from chuckling.

"Older men are better, though."

"Not too much older…did I tell you about that one pervert I ran into the other night?"

The conversation veered off into an explanation of a masher one of the girls had met on the subway after work, before finally meandering back to the two mysterious "ii otoko".

"Which one do you want?"

"Etou…anou…I don't know! Both maybe? Do you think the blond is a gaijin?"

"Maybe. He looks like he's half to me, though. Look at the eyes."

"Hmm, they're together right? Maybe they aren't 'interested' in girls."

"You're probably right…what a shame."

Now Hanako's curiosity was piqued, and she peered over her menu to the table to the right of her. The two giggling girls had been right; they were both very attractive men. The blond looked vaguely famous, as if she had seen him picture somewhere before, but couldn't quite recall where. But the dark haired man was what really caught her attention. He was absolutely radiant, an affectionate smile stretched across his face as he talked to the man in low tones. Very attractive in a way that made you look at him more than once. They both were. The blond said something, and rich laughter came floating her way.

It took a few moments for the realization to sink in.

The menu slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground like a wounded bird, shot in mid-flight.

That dark-haired man was her husband.

tsuzuku

Ending notes: Well, next part we get Jyou's perspective on his lunch, and perhaps a few things will be cleared up. Or not. More on Yamato, what he's doing there, and exactly what is going on. It's not what you think. Trust me.