Yukazu

Yukazu is the het ship between Yuzuko Kurusu (née Izumi) and Kazuki Kurusu from the Buddy Daddies fandom.

Canon
Kazuki Kurusu is an assassin who was married to Yuzuko Kurusu. It was additionally disclosed how she and Kazuki first met five years ago at a spot abounding in hydrangeas, which Yuzuko explicitly mentions her sister loves. The two of them eventually married and Yuzuko, who was expecting Kazuki's child, died in a tragic accident when Kazuki was on the job.

After her death, Kazuki had severe trauma and refused to get close to anyone. Coping with his loneliness, and the loss of his wife by gambling and sleeping with women. When his roommate and partner, Rei Suwa, brought a stray cat home, this seemed to hit a nerve for Kazuki, who was reminded of his wife. He told Rei that if he wanted to keep the cat, he needed to take full responsibility for it. And knowing Rei, who couldn't, Kazuki told him they couldn't bring someone or something into their life because of their profession, since it was too dangerous. As Kazuki said this, he had a flashback of his wife, who was still pregnant at the time, saying: “Our child can't wait to see Papa...”

During that day, when Rei and Kazuki were on a mission, Kazuki encountered a young girl named Miri, who was searching for her Papa. Kazuki smiled softly at her, and replied: “You're looking for your papa...?” possibly feeling emotional over his wife and his unborn child.

After he saved Miri and decided to adopt her, co-parenting with Rei, Kazuki had frequent flashbacks of his wife. It is in Episode 7 when we fully find out what happened: On a dreadful, rainy day, Yuzuko was walking by a street near where Kazuki was pursuing a man in a dark alleyway, where the man fled in a stolen vehicle. When the guy drives away, Ryo Ogino shoots the tire, forcing the man to lose control of the vehicle he was driving, causing him to crash with an adjacent gas tanker, producing an explosion that caught Yuzuko before Kazuki could warn her. Kazuki could only watch horrified as his wife was caught in the explosion. When Miri came out of the daycare with her umbrella that was similar to Yuzuko's, Kazuki was still and his eyes widened as he remembered his wife's death. Fed up with Rei not pulling his weight in raising Miri, and with the anniversary of his wedding approaching, Kazuki got mad at Rei and Miri and left them alone the entire day. After getting drunk, gambling and sleeping around, Kazuki got in a fight with a random man on the street. After him and his goons beat him up, Kazuki rubbed his head and heard his wife's voice. Eyes shining, he looked up and said “Yuzuko....?” only to realize he was hallucinating, as it was his sister-in-law, Karin.

After sitting down in the same place he met Yuzuko, Kazuki had a flashback of how he first met Yuzuko; with her asking him (when he was injured from a job) if he was alright. Karin and Kazuki then talked and Kazuki finally revealed why he refused to change and move on: he was scared of forgetting Yuzuko. Karin told him that instead of forgetting her, he should move on and make her happy by being living a good life. Kazuki smiled at her words, and looked at the blue, pink and purple Hydrangeas. When he got back home to Rei and Miri, instead of keeping the picture of Yuzuko and himself in his drawer, he took it out and placed it out in the open.

Behind The Scenes
"(Kurusu) Kazuki has experienced lost love."

- Tsuji Mitsuhito.

Quotes
"No, I killed her."

- Kazuki when Karin says it's not like it was his fault that Yuzuko died

"Yuzuko...?"

- Kazuki hallucinating Yuzuko when seeing her sister, Karin

"YUZ—"

- Kazuki calling out to Yuzuko just mere seconds before she died

"Are you alright?"

- Yuzuko when she first met Kazuki

"I'm scared, okay? Scared of forgetting what I did in letting her die. Of being fulfilled by something else. Of her slipping out of my memory. That's why I don't want to change."

- Kazuki to Karin

"Make her happy, huh..."

- Kazuki when Karin told him that him moving on with his life would make Yuzuko happy

Fanon
Yukazu is the only Canon ship in Buddy Daddies, and the second most popular ship, the first being Kazurei. Due to their bittersweet relationship, Yuzuko and Kazuki are loved by fans, but have some controversy surrounding them because of the Kazurei and the "dead wife trope". However, fans defended the ship by pointing out the misinterpretations in the way people viewed Yuzuko and Kazuki. Some fans even ship both Kazurei and Yukazu, and some have them all in a poly relationship.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * In the opening of Buddy Daddies, Kazuki and Yuzuko are either shown together, or symbolisms regarding their relationship are shown; Hydrangeas. Hydrangeas symbolize true genuine love. Blue Hydrangeas symbolise regret, apology, gratitude and understanding, Pink Hydrangeas symbolize romance, true feelings and heartfelt emotions, while Purple Hydrangeas symbolize pride, royalty and understanding.
 * On the description of Yuzuko's character on the official Buddy Daddies site is written: “Beloved wife of Kazuki Kurusu”. In another translation, it's: “Kazuki's beloved wife”.
 * It is possible that Ryo Ogino will possibly meet Kazuki later in the series, as he was responsible for Yuzuko's death. As of Episode 8, whether Yuzuko's death was orchestrated by Rei's father or not will be shown.
 * Kazuki is 28 while Yuzuko was 25. Kazuki might be younger than his wife by 2 years, since her death was five years ago. Making Kazuki 23 at the time.
 * In Episode 7, Kazuki decided to take out the hidden picture of him and Yuzuko and put it up on his computer.
 * After Yuzuko's death, Kazuki kept sending money to her sister, Karin, for 5 years.
 * Kyutaro and Karin were both worried when Kazuki developed unhealthy coping mechanisms after the death of Yuzuko.
 * In the opening, when the line “There you go, you've got me wrapped around your finger again.“ plays, there is a brief shot of Kazuki's back and as it zooms in, Yuzuko is shown surrounded by Hydrangeas.