Yukito & Erin Maki's Apartment

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"That's what's gonna happen to you if you make me hack up a lung with another giggle-snort fit," Erin chided playfully, resting comfortably against him. "You could make it a new trend.... set examples for all the other fiances, right?"

“As if,” Yukito objected with a laugh. “Don't even think about it.”

"Too late," she retorted back wearily. A pause, then, "It's still hot...."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Erin knew what was next. Oh, the subtle temperature-taking he did with her. “You're still warm. Maybe we should call it quits for now and just go lay down in bed.”

Erin whimpered at the prospect of laying alone sick in bed, automatically curled her fingers into the cloth of his jeans.

Yukito picked it up immediately. “Yeah, I'll go with you. Come on. We can finish the movie later. I'll give you something to bring the fever down a bit and see if we can't get you to get some sleep.”

"I'm not tired, Yuyukun, just hot.... and puffy...." But she complied, knowing in spite of herself that he was once again right. "If you promise to stay it'll be okay, then..." Erin looked up at him expectantly.

[Elda Forever]

OOC: This post made 'extra fluffy' per GG's request, because I was too distracted to finish writing it before she had to go to bed. Hopefully, this satisfies. lol! BIC:

Yukito Maki

He just snorted when Erin joked about putting a cone of shame on him. Yukito could just imagine what people would say when they saw that. Next she would be suggesting a leash for him. Warm, she shifted against him, her voice weak when she complained, "It's still hot...."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, feeling her heated skin against his lips. She felt clammy, and the fever hadn't let up any, he could tell. She looked up at him expectantly, brown eyes wide and questioning. Yukito brushed away the hair from his fiancee's cheek and told her, “You're still warm. Maybe we should call it quits for now and just go lay down in bed.” He figured that if she got some sleep, even a little, then perhaps her body could fight off whatever bug she had. The fact that she had sat still so long for the movie had been astounding, but Yukito's logical brain suggested that this was just an indicator to how bad she was feeling. A natural inclination to wrap her up and put her to sleep took over, knowing she was probably a lot more miserable than she was letting on.

But the instant he suggested moving into the bedroom, Erin gave a little whimper, like a puppy. Her fingers clung to him, quietly begging him to stay with her. Yukito let out a little sigh, his eyes sparkling with the gesture. It felt good to be wanted and needed, sometimes. Reassuringly, he nudged her cheek with his nose, “Yeah, I'll go with you,” he promised. Standing up, he paused the movie and collected a few of their things. “Come on. We can finish the movie later. I'll give you something to bring the fever down a bit and see if we can't get you to get some sleep.”

"I'm not tired, Yuyukun, just hot.... and puffy...." He stopped to send her a look that said he wasn't taking no for an answer. "If you promise to stay it'll be okay, then..." Erin looked up at him expectantly.

For a long second, he just stared at her. Hair mussed, face flushed, eyes sleepy... her whole body posture emanated weariness. But her eyes were still so big and brown, framed in long eyelashes, and her lips pouted just a little as she looked up at him, begging him to offer her a little comfort on her sick day. A smirk floated across Yukito's lips like a passing thought, and he leaned down to kiss her, murmuring, “If only all fiancees were as easy to please as you.” He touched noses with her, wanting to chuckle when he remembered the first day they'd come to the apartment together, and he'd accidentally said aloud the words he'd always thought when they did that. Just like kittens. “Come ooon, Erin. Let's get you into bed so you can sleep...” he considered a moment, then chuckled, adding in a playful tone, “Sore wa chotto etchidesu ne.”

He took several trips back and forth, cleaning up their mess in the living room, getting Erin into bed and getting her some ibuprofen to bring her fever down. That's what it was supposed to do, right? Or was it acetaminophen? He peered at the bottle until Erin called for him again, and then flopped down onto the bed next to her, spooning his body around her protectively and burying his face into her neck. His arms wrapped around her, stronger than they had been before, and he willed her to sleep quickly and deeply, though secretly he knew that the odds were against her being able to go to the Mardi Gras, or any practices for awhile. He would call Jeremy later and give him the news....for now, he would sleep with her happily.

I belieeeeeve Yukirin is done here. Okay, seester?

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

“Come on," Yukito insisted. "We can finish the movie later. I'll give you something to bring the fever down a bit and see if we can't get you to get some sleep.”

She knew he was only doing what he thought was best, but it was hard for Erin to imagine how staring at a ceiling in a bed with covers while she was hot would do anything to help her. It would just be boring and irritating, wouldn't it? "I'm not tired, Yuyukun," she emphasized. "Just hot.... and puffy...."

Yukito stopped to send her a look. And he only sent her looks, Erin had found, when he was being a bit more stubborn than she was. "If you promise to stay it'll be okay, then..." At least I'll have you there, so it can be like old times before the stupid self-instated rule.... I hate that stupid rule....

To her surprise, Yukito responded with a kiss and a closely murmured, “If only all fiancees were as easy to please as you.”

Erin smiled wearily. "Yuyukun, you're gonna get sick like that... I don't wanna have to go to the party without you..."

As if it nullified the action, Yukito touched noses with her. He knew he could still make her smile that way, even feeling like crap. “Come ooon, Erin. Let's get you into bed so you can sleep...”

Erin put her arms around him in a hug, only to get a long string of incomprehensibly lovely Japanese in response. "Mmmm...." She hugged him happily, letting him usher her into the bedroom and only dropping the smile when he pulled away to play doctor. "Yuyukuuun... you said you were staying!" He'd gone in and out at least three times already.

He did come back this time, though, and didn't leave. Content with that assurance, Erin finally laid down, feeling his arms acting better than a blanket around her. She felt his lips at the back of her neck, working to make her feel better than any medicine could, Erin was sure of it. She smiled, though he couldn't see it, even through the stubborn cough that now rattled them both, being so close. But at least he was bending the dumb rule a little, because that more than anything else, Erin was sure, would get her to their Mardi Gras party together, the way it should be. With that thought contently resting on her mind, Erin fell back into him comfortably, and into sleep's arms as well.

OKAYDONE : D

[More than Music]

OOC: Surprise! Here's a Clarence/Erin interaction. : D This is set a few weeks after Mardi Gras, btw. Just so there's no confusion. Also, Clarence's hair is shorter than the reference picture, and though his arm's in a cast, he has the sleeve of his jacket covering it up for the most part. Enjoy! :3
BIC:

Clarence Morgan

So, this cast thing was the pits, but at least he was here. Being injured in the army was worse. Of course, it had to be the right arm, of all places. But he'd been pretty clever, managing somehow to cover it up pretty well with the sleeve of his leather jacket. Slipping on a pair of sunglasses, he tried to ignore the aching in his shoulder.

The doc said it would heal up pretty soon -- he'd always been a fighter, always -- but it would be several months at least before he was up to the army's qualifications. Which meant one thing that had brought him here, to Yukito and Erin's apartment.

His good hand in his pocket, Clarence scaled the steps with a smirk. Yeah, no one had any idea he was coming back except Raiu, and he was good at keeping his mouth shut. Luckily, though, he'd found out a few things that would keep him up to speed. Like how Lilith and Cassie lived on the other side of the wall in their duplex, and how Kagayaki -- Cassie's ex, go figure -- lived just one building over.

And that, at the Mardi Gras party, it hadn't been Raiu or Jess that had been hurt. It had been Yukito and one of their friends. Which wasn't any better, definitely, but knowing that Quinn wasn't alone made him relax a little. Still, the first thought after that to come into his head -- after an explicative -- had been: Erin. How was she holding up? Yukito was her fiance, her roommate, her world. As much as Clarence usually disagreed with the whole having one "person" thing, he knew it was just how Erin rolled. Yukito too. So he'd decided that the first place he needed to go was see her.

He'd been careful, lying so low that he was sure not even Lilith and Cassie knew he was there. He'd wanted to take Yukito and Erin with him to go see Timmy, but with Yukito in the hospital, it just didn't seem right to do it without him... so he'd just have to settle for whatever Erin happened to throw at him.

That was one cool thing about Erin. She was never boring. Going at the speed of a caffeinated child, she made things interesting without dumbing them down. Still, there was no telling what sort of mood she would be in.

Taking in a deep breath, he pulled his hand out of his pocket slowly and knocked on the door five times, rapping in a bit of a rough tune he'd been using since he was a kid. He couldn't wait to see her face.

'Hey Erin. Guess what? I got shot in the shoulder, but it's all cool because pain's no big with me. Heard your fiance's in the hospital. What a squirrel. Ah well, how's he doing? Hope he gets better soon. I was totally stoked when I found out I was gonna be here long enough for your wedding, so I hope I'm invited. By the way, I missed you guys. Just so you know.'

[GGJ5]

OOC: I dunno how long Yukito's stay in the hospital for this would be, but I am gonna assume he's still there. Is that okay? If not, let me know! (: But according to google, he's got a surgery and a 1-2 week stay in store.... BIC:

Erin Spenser

The list of advantages to Yukito being away for far too long a time totaled to one: She could blare whatever music she wanted without getting teased for it. Normally playing "Obladi, Oblada" would earn mock ears bleeding, heart failure, or comments about meaningless lyrics that he'd give out just to get a reaction from her. Now she was missing that, but at least she could enjoy what Yukito had basically labeled as her "guilty pleasure music" for a bit. And really, after the first song finished, it wasn't worth it any more. She'd trade the dorky teasing for the missing person in her home.

The first day she'd lived at the hospital. Then the nurse and doctor nazis informed her that visiting hours had long past. She'd immediately protested, not believing they'd actually make her leave Yukito's room-- they were practically two months away from being married, for crying out loud! So maybe she'd gotten a little worked up about being, in essence, kicked out of his room, but was that really a reason to give her death glares every time she walked in the doors?! They were just lucky that she'd promised Yukito not to miss any school, otherwise she wouldn't have left at all.

And school was sucking way more without him home, knowing that when she was taking a test on meiosis, he was getting the bullet removed. Needless to say, her score was not as high as it should have been. And it wasn't because she hadn't studied this time.

At least she could still give him decent food. Erin had gotten into the very quick habit of bringing Yukito food from home, since everyone knew how hospital food was basically crap on a plate. He wasn't going to touch the stuff, anyway, and Erin had a mental image of him having withered away during his stay there because of it. In fact, just then, Erin was in the middle of finishing the dessert for his "take-out" dinner: mini-cheesecake. She'd crushed up the golden-type Oreos and put them in tiny mini-muffin tins as the crust for tiny mini-sized cheesecake bites. After tasting one, she was glad she'd made so many, because as much as she loved Yukito, he was not going to get the whole dozen of them.

Just as Erin slid the dessert to chill in the refrigerator, a knock came on the door, short and strong. She let the fridge door shut itself as she raced to peer through the peephole in the door. Her eyes widened.

"Clarence?" She opened the door wide for him, but stepped out anyway to give him a hug. "They kicked you out of Iraq?!" she teased, laughing. "I have mini-cheesecakes. You can have one," Erin rattled off, slipping back inside and automatically finding a cooled cheesecake bite for him. "It's for Yukito's supper, since hospital food is crap on a plate, but I already decided he can't have the whole batch. They're sooo good!" Without missing a beat, Erin's thoughts jumped to another subject:

"How long are you gonna be here? Are you gonna come with me to hang out with Yukito tonight? I was gonna leave as soon as all the mini-cheesecake things were real cold, so they'd stay like that during the ride. Are you coming?"

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

He thought he heard a surprised "Clarence?" on the other side just before the door opened wide. There was "Erin Soon-To-Be-Maki" coming in for a classic Erin hug. Clarence wrapped his good arm around her strongly, closing his eyes for just a second.

'It's good to be back home, babe.'

"They kicked you out of Iraq?!" And there was the classic tease-and-greet. God, he'd missed her, even if she acted like she hated him sometimes.

"Not exactly," he muttered with low laugh, slowly making himself release his grip on her. "But don't get me wrong; they weren't too hot on me getting shot."

"I have mini-cheesecakes. You can have one," she said, quickly moving from one thing to another as she slipped back into the kitchen. Smiling softly, Clarence followed her inside and pushed the door shut with his foot. She came back with one for him, even though he hadn't asked, and he couldn't even eat it yet, just watching her bounce around. "It's for Yukito's supper, since hospital food is crap on a plate, but I already decided he can't have the whole batch. They're sooo good!"

Clarence laughed, leaning back on the counter. "Well, I know hospital food," he said, smirking. "One more reason to get out of there as fast as possible. Wish I'd had a girl like you to make me something else, though."

'And you would have, wouldn't you? You're caring to a fault.'

"How long are you gonna be here?" she asked, moving around.

He shrugged. "A few months," he said, unable to keep from smiling as he spoke.

'Betcha know what that means,' he thought, watching her closely.

"Are you gonna come with me to hang out with Yukito tonight? I was gonna leave as soon as all the mini-cheesecake things were real cold, so they'd stay like that during the ride. Are you coming?"

"Sure thing, babe. I'd love a chance to challenge Squirrelly on who's battle scar is worse." He paused for a second. "And to make sure he's okay, of course." He tried the treat, shifting his eyes away as a weird sadness found a place in his stomach, a wish that he could be a part of her family with Timmy.

'Come on, grow up. You can be a part of this family if you want to, now. Just act like it.'

"Hey, by the way," he said, making sure his mouth was still full as he spoke. "How's my kiddo, Timmy?" He swallowed. "Haven't heard about him for a while. My cousins a total ditz."

'I really wanna know what happened at that freaking Mardi Gras, but I'm sure it's too touchy right now. which is why it's good you offered for me to go see Yukito with you. Maybe I can get him alone for a minute to talk about it. I heard Yukito got shot, Erin wasn't there, Cassie was there but okay, and that Kagayaki kid's girlfriend got shot... Shelby wasn't there... Oh yeah, that one.'

"Oh, hey," he said in another bite, though his eyes were serious now. "What do you know about that Preston guy? I want a consensus here and you're one of the most honest people I know, so don't you dare skimp on details. Shelby's important to me, right up there with you and Yukito, so I gotta know."

'I trust her, but I haven't been too careful yet.'

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"They kicked you out of Iraq?!" Could they kick you out of a country? Erin wondered fleetingly for the first time. She'd never thought of it before. It would actually be really hilarious and believably for Clarence to get kicked out of a country for, like, bashing the president or something.

"Not exactly," Clarence mumbled, making Erin think he was a little disappointed he didn't have a hardcore I-got-kicked-out story to share. Figures. "But don't get me wrong; they weren't too hot on me getting shot."

Quickly inside, Erin's desire to play hostess kicked in and she headed the few steps off to the kitchen. "I have mini-cheesecakes. You can have one," she called over her shoulder as Clarence closed the door. "Don't forget to lock it; I saw a creeper out there the other day!" Just as promptly, Erin returned to offer up the tiny golden-oreo-crusted dessert proudly. "It's for Yukito's supper, since hospital food is crap on a plate, but I already decided he can't have the whole batch. They're sooo good!" Erin realized afterward it sounded like all she was giving Yukito for supper was cheesecake, but really, he probably wouldn't have minded that anyway.

Clarence laughed, leaning back on the counter. "Well, I know hospital food," he said, smirking. "One more reason to get out of there as fast as possible. Wish I'd had a girl like you to make me something else, though."

"Yeah, except cooking like I do is a sign of commitment and that's against your morals, Don Juan." She made a face at him before pouring a tiny glass of milk to go with the tiny cheesecake and offered it, meanwhile asking, "How long are you gonna be here?"

He shrugged. "A few months."

The comment zoomed by Erin for the moment as her own thoughts took the forward place. "Are you gonna come with me to hang out with Yukito tonight? I was gonna leave as soon as all the mini-cheesecake things were real cold, so they'd stay like that during the ride. Are you coming?"

"Sure thing, babe. I'd love a chance to challenge Squirrelly on who's battle scar is worse."Erin shot a glare at the nickname, and Clarence added before she could reprimand, "And to make sure he's okay, of course."

"Mmhmm." Erin pursed her lips, though she couldn't hold the attitude too long. He was eating her food, after all, and had promised to see Yukito. And he was staying for a few months, and-- Her train of thought derailed. "How many months? Until the end of June?" The excitement that rested at the end of June sent her voice an octave higher.

"Hey, by the way," Clarence said, ignoring her question and exposing half-chewed cheesecake. Erin wrinkled her nose. "How's my kiddo, Timmy?"

"I dunno, I don't speak Cheesecake," Erin half-teased.

He swallowed. "Haven't heard about him for a while. My cousin's a total ditz."

"You know, you could just do this thing called write letters and Skype and stuff? The internet's a nice way to avoid having to wait on someone to give you an answer." She smiled. "He's good-- my parents have planned a vacation with him this summer to Florida, and, not gonna lie, I'm pretty jealous. I'm sort of in love with the beach." The smile turned into a grin, fueled by memories. "They're going right after my wedding, I guess so Timmy won't miss us being around for that time, and it's like a special time just for him, too. But I'm just sayin', we never went to the beach when I was his age." Erin pouted, her comment true, but playful since the fact that she got a honeymoon trumped a family vacation. By a long shot. Briefly Erin wondered if the whole gunshot thing could possibly ruin that months from now.... she'd have to remind herself to ask the next time she was able to speak to the doctor. "And he still won't stop talking about you. Especially at the grocery store. My dad says he now knows all the contents of your pantry."

"Oh, hey," Clarence shifted subjects, seemingly sudden. "What do you know about that Preston guy? I want a consensus here and you're one of the most honest people I know, so don't you dare skimp on details. Shelby's important to me, right up there with you and Yukito, so I gotta know."

Erin raised an eyebrow, amused by the level of gusto. Part of her wondered if it was more than brotherly-affections, but she decided not to tease him about it quite yet. "He's quieter than most jock-types, and sings better, too, and he's sweet, but we don't, like, go out for tea or anything," Erin ended with a laugh. Suddenly she reached up and poked the stiffness she'd noticed in his arm. It was secured in plaster, just as she'd suspected. "Aww, you're broken! They kicked you out of Iraq because you threw shoes or something so your punishment was a broken arm, right? You're not supposed to throw shoes there! Don't you remember that journalist dude that did that? Gosh." She rolled her eyes playfully, though really, she was concerned. "And was the cheesecake good??"

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

"How long are you gonna be here?"

He shrugged, keeping a cool look on his face, hoping she'd pick up on it on her own. "A few months."

"Are you gonna come with me to hang out with Yukito tonight? I was gonna leave as soon as all the mini-cheesecake things real cold, so they'd stay like that during the ride. Are you coming?"

Yeah, she totally missed it. But she'd think of it in a minute. It was only a matter of time before she realized that 'a few months' meant way past her wedding date. And, judging by the fact she was sharing food with him, he was still invited, so those were both good signs.

"Sure thing, babe. I'd love a chance to challenge Squirrelly on who's battle scar is worse." He got a look from Erin, so he added quickly, "And to make sure he's okay, of course."

"Mmhmm." She pursed her lips.

He smiled, trying to look innocent, besides being anything else. "Whaaat?"

"How many months? Until the end of June?" she asked, her voice going up.

...Naw, he'd make her wait a little longer.

"Hey, by the way," he said, noticing Erin make a face when she spoke with his mouth half-full. "How's my kiddo, Timmy?"

"I dunno, I don't speak Cheesecake."

"Well, you should. It'll come in handy when you have kids," he put in before swallowing. "Haven't heard about him for a while. My cousin's a total ditz."

"You know, you could just do this thing called write letters and Skype and stuff? The internet's a nice way to avoid having to wait on someone to give you an answer." She smiled and Clarence shrugged. Maybe he'd try when he went back out. Maybe he'd wait and bug Yukito into helping him figure it out. Yukito was always more nerdy than he was. "He's good-- my parents have planned a vacation with him this summer to Florida, and, not gonna lie, I'm pretty jealous. I'm sort of in love with the beach."

Clarence leaned back a little. "I don't blame you. I'm kind of jealous of the kid too."

Her smile grew. "They're going right after my wedding, I guess so Timmy won't miss us being around for that time, and it's like a special time just for him, too. But I'm just sayin', we never went to the beach when I was his age."

Clarence laughed. "Well, if it makes you feel better, me neither."

"And he still won't stop talking about you. Especially at the grocery store. My dad says he now knows all the contents of your pantry."

Raising both eyebrows, Clarence thought for a second. "Pantry? There's no pantry anymore. It comes in the door and gets eaten." He smirked, reaching over to touch his stomach. "Naw, really, he's just the sort to remember every kind of food a person eats... I think that nerdy stuff comes from his other brother though." He winked. "Good thing though."

There were a few things Erin and him had in common. One of them was how they often though of something else while still in the middle of a conversation and didn't bother to wait for a transition.

"Oh, hey," he said, looking around and trying to seem aloof. "What do you know about that Preston guy? I want a consensus here and you're one of the most honest people I know, so don't you dare skimp on details. Shelby's important to me, right up there with you and Yukito, so I gotta know."

"He's quieter than most jock-types, and sings better, too, and he's sweet, but we don't, like, go out for tea or anything," she said, and he couldn't help but laugh with her.

"Trying to figure out... good thing or bad thing?"

She poked him in his bad arm, once again a transition-less change of topic. "Aww, you're broken!" she cried, making him shake his head a little hopelessly.

"I've been broken before," he said, puffing up his chest a little.

"They kicked you out of Iraq because you threw shoes or something so your punishment was a broken arm, right? You're not supposed to throw shoes there! Don't you remember that journalist dude that did that? Gosh."

He stared for a second, then fell into half-surprised half-amused laughter. "Throwing shoes? What do you think I'm doing over there?"

She rolled her eyes and moved on. "And was the cheesecake good??"

"Of course," he said, smirking. "Need me to help you with anymore?" He winked. "With my arm like this, I'm walking everywhere instead of driving, so being fat won't be an option anymore."

He looked around. "Hey, do those have a bit to cool? I think I'll use your bathroom before we go..." He shrugged. "I ain't gonna lie. Hospital bathrooms give me the creeps." Clarence thought for a second, then pointed towards the bedroom. "That way."

Wandering back, it only felt slightly familiar here. It felt like so long since him and Timmy had come here for the first time on Christmas. He glanced around the bedroom as he went in, unconsciously half-shutting the door behind him. It was pretty small for two people. They needed to get a house, or at least something bigger. Seriously.

He almost made it into the bathroom before he saw the drawing. The style looking freakishly familiar. It was of Yukito sitting on a bench, with a fountain behind it. Clarence stepped forwards, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He didn't know many artists, but he knew that hand. He was sure of it. It wasn't like anything else he'd seen.

Thinking back, it took him a bit to recognize the signature in the corner. His eyes widened. Natalie?

He opened the bedroom door again, leaning out. "Erin, this picture here..." He gestured behind him with his left hand. "Of Yukito, by the bathroom door. Was that done by a girl named Natalie?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"What do you know about that Preston guy? I want a consensus here and you're one of the most honest people I know, so don't you dare skimp on details. Shelby's important to me, right up there with you and Yukito, so I gotta know."

Erin thought for a second, then answered easily, "He's quieter than most jock-types, and sings better, too, and he's sweet, but we don't, like, go out for tea or anything."

"Trying to figure out... good thing or bad thing?"

"Um, definitely good," Erin added with a laugh. Suddenly she noticed the cast arm, poking it to be sure. "Aww, you're broken!"

Clarence shook his head. "I've been broken before," he said, puffing up his chest a little.

Erin snickered. "They kicked you out of Iraq because you threw shoes or something so your punishment was a broken arm, right? You're not supposed to throw shoes there! Don't you remember that journalist dude that did that? Gosh."

For a second Clarence was silent, then finally he must have picked up on her joke, because he laughed a bit. "Throwing shoes? What do you think I'm doing over there?"

"Playing golf," she retorted sarcastically. She rolled her eyes and moved on. "And was the cheesecake good??"

"Of course," he said, smirking. "Need me to help you with anymore?" He winked.

"No!" Erin squealed in objection. "They're for Yukito, you can't take them all!"

"With my arm like this, I'm walking everywhere instead of driving, so being fat won't be an option anymore."

"Doesn't mean you can steal my kareshi's get-well dessert! It's his favorite!" She stuck her tongue out at him and walked to lay against the fridge so he couldn't get in.

Clarence seemed distracted. "Hey, do those have a bit to cool? I think I'll use your bathroom before we go..."

Erin laughed a little. "Thanks for sharing, but you don't need my permission."

He shrugged. "I ain't gonna lie. Hospital bathrooms give me the creeps." Clarence paused for a second, then pointed towards the bedroom. "That way."

"Yeah, like it's so hard to get lost here!" Erin called after him, then realized he was going into their bedroom. Where she might just have her dirty clothes out waiting for laundry day. There were underwear in those dirty clothes.... and that was NOT okay!! Ugh...

From the back, a minute or so later, Erin heard, "Erin, this picture here..."

Erin walked back. If he was talking to her, he must be "done", right? "Hmm?"

"Of Yukito, by the bathroom door. Was that done by a girl named Natalie?"

"Yeah," Erin answered, assuming he'd seen the elegant signature and made it out. "She was super important to Yukito, but she passed away so that's a pretty special memory from her, you know? We were really lucky to get to keep it and all.. But Yukito's really shy about her, so, uh, don't tell him I told you, okay?"

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

"They kicked you out of Iraq because you threw shoes or something so your punishment was a broken arm, right? You're not supposed to throw shoes there! Don't you remember that journalist dude that did that? Gosh."

He hesitated, then laughed. "Throwing shoes? What do you think I'm doing over there?"

"Playing golf," she shot back, rolling he eyes. "And was the cheesecake good??"

"Of course," he said, smirking. "Need me to help you with anymore?" He winked.

"No!" Erin protested in a girlish squeal. "They're for Yukito, you can't take them all!"

"Pft, I didn't say all," he said, amused. "With my arm like this, I'm walking everywhere instead of driving, so being fat won't be an option anymore."

"Doesn't mean you can steal my kareshi's get-well dessert! It's his favorite!" Sticking her tongue out at him, Erin laid against the fridge so he couldn't sneaky any. He laughed, then looked around.

"Hey, do those have a bit to cool? I think I'll use your bathroom before we go..."

Erin giggled. "Thanks for sharing, but you don't need my permission."

"Hey, wouldn't want you to think I was looting your house or anything." He shrugged. "I ain't gonna lie. Hospital bathrooms give me the creeps." Clarence hestitated, then pointed towards the bedroom. "That way."

"Yeah, like it's so hard to get lost here!" she called after him, and he just ignored her.

'Hey, it's a house I'm not used to. I could get lost in a trailer...'

He did get lost, sort of, seeing the familiar handiwork of none other than Natalie Cross. Even ten years later, he recognized it. Her style was that distinct to him. Plus, her signature was in the bottom corner.

Now he had to know... when had Natalie drawn a picture of Yukito? Neither of them had ever mentioned Natalie to each other.

He poked his head out the bedroom door. "Erin, this picture here..."

She peeked in. "Hmm?"

"Of Yukito, by the bathroom door. Was that done by a girl named Natalie?"

Less than subtle, but it would do the job, right?

"Yeah," she said, simply. "She was super important to Yukito, but she passed away so that's a pretty special memory from her, you know?"

Clarence felt his chest tighten, but he said nothing. Natalie was dead? It seemed so impossible, remembering her as so vibrant. So blunt. She'd been so... alive. But maybe that was the cloud of a ten-year-old's memory? No, he was sure. Natalie had been more alive than most people he'd known. But a hardened reaction to death was all Clarence had ever had; his face became blank, his line forming an almost-straight line, his vision seeming just a bit darker.

But no anger. No tears. No frantic questions. There was no way he was going to let Erin know he was upset by this. No way.

"We were really lucky to get to keep it and all.. But Yukito's really shy about her, so, uh, don't tell him I told you, okay?"

"Yeah, I get that," he muttered, shrugging, feeling it sort of fall off of him to cling like weights to his ankles. "Alright, give me a minute." He slipped back into the bathroom. It wasn't long before he reappeared, and he didn't even look at the picture as he went by.

'It's in the past. Forget it. Just forget it. That was ten years ago, remember? I was a different person then. Just move on. Back when I wore glasses, and Mom packed me lunches. Back when sneaking into a theater was innocent. Back when first kisses were happening.'

He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets, looking up at Erin. "You need help carrying those to the car?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Erin, this picture here..."

She peeked in. "Hmm?"

"Of Yukito, by the bathroom door. Was that done by a girl named Natalie?"

"Yeah. She was super important to Yukito, but she passed away so that's a pretty special memory from her, you know?" Immediately Erin thought of Yukito and how he would respond to the way she'd rattled that off so easily. A twinge of guilt nestled in her stomach. So, she added, "We were really lucky to get to keep it and all.. But Yukito's really shy about her, so, uh, don't tell him I told you, okay?"

"Yeah, I get that," Clarence replied. "Alright, give me a minute."Apparently he had not taken care of business. Erin gave a thumbs up sign, quickly returning to the kitchen to get her things ready for Yukito.

"You need help carrying those to the car?" Clarence asked when he reappeared.

Really, she didn't, because it was sort of a challenge to see how she would get it all to the car, and it was actually something she was pretty good at doing. And his arm was in a cast, but he wasn't totally broken. She paused for a second, thinking. Then, "Yeah, carry the tray and don't let the cover come off, because it's already sorta broken, and I don't wanna break it anymore. I'mma get his laptop and iPod and stuff in this bag and take that. 'Kay?" Inside she'd also stuffed a couple of his t-shirts and pajama pants that he favored, anything to change up that hospital feel into more of a bearable room until he could come home.

"Ready, let's go!"

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

It really wasn't something he'd expected to be reminded of, when he'd known Natalie. He'd been ten, he remembered that. In many ways, she'd been his first girlfriend, hadn't she? If someone could really have a girlfriend at ten, that was. He was pretty sure she'd been his first kiss, if nothing else. She'd teased him relentlessly, and he'd tried his best to get her back, but she was hard to get at. They'd snuck into a theater that night, alone... it had been the most fun he could remember having back then. That had been before the big fallout with his dad too.

So much had happened since then. How long had she been dead? He didn't even bother to ask. If he asked questions, Erin would catch on. As of right now, she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was upset at all. Good. It should stay that way.

"You need help carrying those to the car?" he asked, going with the idea of keeping his hurt to himself.

She hesitated, seeming in thought. "Yeah, carry the tray and don't let the cover come off, because it's already sorta broken, and I don't wanna break it anymore. I'mma get his laptop and iPod and stuff in this bag and take that. 'Kay?" she said, slipping away. Clarence shrugged, picking it up. Things were harder to carry with the cast, but that had never stopped him before. He couldn't let 'difficult' be an impossible word.

Always going at the speed of a bullet train, Erin was back in the room faster than he'd expected.

"Ready, let's go!" she chirped, holding a big bag. He almost suggested they switch, with him carrying the bag -- since it looked heavier -- and her carrying the tray, but he knew better by now than to try and change Erin's mind. If she couldn't carry it, she'd tell him to do, cast or no cast.

"Alright then," he said, smiling. "Let's go grace your fiance with the gift of us."


Clarence is done here

[GGJ5]

Erin Maki

While Erin and Yukito celebrated their marriage on the beaches of Florida, the Spensers and associates had delivered their wedding presents into the apartment. A whole mountain of them. Boxes and bags coated in shimmery white or silver paper (with a couple of gold ones tossed in) redecorated the living room wall with a metallic checkerboard. Later the newlyweds would discover they were now the proud owners of at least four different types of toaster ovens, but just as they entered their new home, such trifles were the farthest thing from their minds. At least, Erin could say that for herself. Her mind was focused on Yukito's arms supporting her as she was carried over the threshold of their home, now entering it for the first true time as husband and wife. And then on his face as she beamed up at him, her toes sinking into the carpeted floor. And then on his lips, just before she leapt to kiss them again. "Okaeri," Erin told him proudly, turning her hold on his hands into a sudden, excited hug.

As she dropped her purse onto the couch (the luggage was still in the car-- they'd get it later), the weight of the camera jolted Erin's memory. "We should upload all the pictures! Well, maybe not all of them..." She giggled as she turned to hastily yank out the camera, pressing the silver button that should have flipped it on.

Nothing happened.

Erin frowned, turning the camera about in her hand, even though she knew what it was. "Yadoroku!" She looked up at him, seemingly wounded. "The batteries are dead!"

She hopped up to go on search for batteries that they normally kept in a drawer in the kitchen. But like lightning, her synapses fired in a dozen directions faster than a non-dead camera could capture. First she stepped to the drawer, then thought that they were probably out of that kind, so maybe it was time to open the presents and see if someone gave them batteries. Then after two steps or so to the metallic checkerboard, Erin turned to tell Yukito her thoughts, only to remember the way he'd just carried her in, as his wife, in his arms, and she ran to him again, holding him tight around her. "You should carry me again!" She announced with laughter. "Because you looove me! And want to go back to the beach with me right now! Right?" Erin looked up at him and giggled again before kissing his nose, then pecking his lips, then ending in quite a prolonged kiss that was quite proper to her newlywed self.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

Certain words liked to echo in Yukito's mind with increasing purpose. Ours. Home. We. Yes. Maybe it all flew past Erin in a whirlwind and she preferred it that way, a roller coaster of emotions and movements that she loved. Sure, he had to admit he dwelt a little too much on certain traditions that Erin took for granted, but at least some they could share enthusiasm for (in their own personal fashion).

“Here we go,” he declared, bending over to lift Erin up off her feet and carry her – princess-style – across the threshold of the apartment. Their home. He carried her easily, glad that he'd prepared at least for that. But somehow, as they stepped into the doorway, her cradled against him, it felt...heavy. They were older now, they were different. What he had thought would feel like a weight lifted only made him feel like he'd lost a support system holding him just off the ground, a jolt of something intangible that lowered him a little bit toward the earth. After the fact, as the honeymoon continued and the kisses and caresses proved themselves to come just as frequently the fifth day of 'being married' as the first day, he figured it wasn't a matter of a weight being lifted or not, but of being more firmly placed upon the ground with every step. He was grounded now, more matured. He held less fear now, with every passing moment, and it felt like sinking into a happiness. Now all he had to fear was taking that for granted.

“Tadaimaaa..” he drawled, smiling.

Erin beamed up at him, a strange mix of excitement and strange, unspoken maturity. Her feet delicately fell to meet the floor, and her lips rose to meet his. "Okaeri," Erin told him proudly, turning her hold on his hands into a sudden, excited hug.

“It's strange to be back...” He looked around the apartment, eyes wide as he took a step toward the Berlin Wall of gifts, inspecting the ribbon on one curiously. Erin, meanwhile, tossed her purse onto the couch, as at home as ever.

"We should upload all the pictures! Well, maybe not all of them..." She giggled, not noticing Yukito's flushed cheeks while she yanked out her camera. Certainly some memories should be kept a little more private. She now had a little flair to it of as a picture-taking veteran. They'd had to buy an extra memory card on the trip in order to accommodate her photo-flashing madness.

"Yadoroku!" He looked over to find her pouting his way, camera still dark and powerless in her hand. "The batteries are dead!" She instantly hopped up to go find batteries, but was suddenly quite flustered, moving toward the junk drawer, then the shimmering gifts, then raced over to Yukito, throwing her arms around him.

“It'll be fine. We can plug it up later. I doubt anyone will be looking for photos the instant we get back..” He lifted one shoulder flippantly, “I'll do it when you go to take a shower or something, and then leave it to you to tag things as you will.” He also wanted a chance to tuck some of those photos away before she lost what little control she still had. Yukito kissed her forehead gently.

"You should carry me again!" She announced with laughter.

He arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

"Because you looove me! And want to go back to the beach with me right now! Right?" Erin looked up at him and giggled again before kissing first the tip of his nose, then his lips. Then she came back in for a more lingering reunion. He fell gently back onto the couch, pulling her after him into his lap and entangling their legs and arms quite nicely.

“That I do,” he whispered to her, meeting her eyes, “And that...I do.” After a beat, he chuckled and added, “But right now I have no energy to do anything, and no money, either.” His head dropped back against the couch. He wanted to add that tonight would be the first night in a long time they could really share the silly futon bed in the bedroom, but felt that would be a little premature. Sleepy or not.

[GGJ5]

Erin Maki

“Tadaimaaa..” Yukito called quietly, gently letting Erin out of his arms. Her feet sank into the carpet, but her heart was still in the clouds, along with her head and her spirit and everything else that didn't have to stick to gravity.

She grinned at him before giving him another kiss. "Okaeri," she told him proudly, suddenly enveloping him in her arms. It felt a hundred times better hugging him now, because they were now together forever, and it was the most beautiful thing ever.

“It's strange to be back...” Yukito commented as Erin dropped her purse (and herself) onto the couch. Their wall covered in gifts looked just gorgeous. What was in there? But the weight of her purse reminded her of something else.

"We should upload all the pictures! Well, maybe not all of them..." She giggled, sure Yukito would be squirming inside. Now she had full legal permission to tease him to no end!!

The camera, however, just stared at her. Blank and black and boring. She pursed her lips in a pout. "Yadoroku! The batteries are dead!" Suddenly finding herself in need of batteries, Erin felt like a momentary pingpong ball bouncing about the house until she ran back into Yukito's arms, her mind returning to his carrying her over the threshold.

“It'll be fine," Yukito said calmly. He probably didn't care about the pictures all that much, himself. "We can plug it up later. I doubt anyone will be looking for photos the instant we get back..” He lifted one shoulder flippantly in response to Erin's whimper. “I'll do it when you go to take a shower or something, and then leave it to you to tag things as you will.” Yukito gently kissed her forehead, making a smile come back on her face.

"Awww... You should carry me again!"

He arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

"Because you looove me! And want to go back to the beach with me right now! Right?" Erin looked up at him and giggled again before kissing first the tip of his nose, then his lips. Then she came back in for a more lingering reunion. He fell gently back onto the couch, pulling her after him into his lap and entangling their legs and arms quite nicely.

“That I do,” he whispered to her, meeting her eyes as her heart leapt into her throat. “And that...I do.”

Easily molding into his embrace, Erin giggled, her face resting against his chest. "Mmmm... I love you."

After a moment, Yukito chuckled and added, “But right now I have no energy to do anything, and no money, either.”

"Aww... no energy? Maybe you need sugar...." More giggles as she kissed him again. Sure, the jokes were kind of corny and dumb but they were so much fun! "Maybe I'll be contagious to you..." Even though she knew she'd crash so hard at probably an inconvenient time later... The thought brought a new realization to Erin's mind and she announced giddily, "Yukito!! Tonight you don't have to sleep on the stupid friggen couch! You can sleep with me!" She paused for a moment before bursting into laughs. "See what I did there!? Oh hey, wanna open some of the presents? Or look at the pictures?!" In her excitement, Erin enveloped Yukito in another tight hug, only to momentarily feel a warm, fuzzy nudge at her elbow.

"Aww, Leigh! Hey, sweetie!" Erin pulled away from Yukito to take the little blonde kitten into her arms, as the creature let out a little mew in response. Little Leigh had been pampered during the week they were away, thanks to friends' visits to her. "You're not gonna get jealous now, are you, Leigh?" She kissed the top of the kitten's furry head. "Maybe Leigh wants to see the pictures!"