Apt. #634B - The Makis' House

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"And like I said...Yumi has wreckage of her own. People are drawn to you, too, Aidousan. They want a piece of what you have, because they want to feel as happy as you seem."

Kagayaki shook his head. "No they don't. It costs too much."

"I always wanted a piece of it, until I realized you were never really happy...it was a mask you wore." Yukito added with a solemn look.

Aidousan looked over at him with a curious look. "You wanted to like me, once?" The way he said this was like it was a new idea, something never suggested before. "Yuyukun, no one has ever looked up to me before. And I think you know why." He sighed, shaking his head. "I guess your idea of me is gone, yah? Now you know; being like me is a curse. Being happy like me is a curse. But... I can't help it. I told you. It's how I live."

Yukito had to smirk even more broadly - and even let out a chuckle. "Yeah, Aidousan. I've always looked up to you." He wanted to tell him how much he admired him, his ability to never give up. The fact that he could do something besides dwell on how alone he was. Yeah...he'd always looked up to Aidousan. With a strange feeling, he realized that this fight wouldn't change their friendship or tear it apart as much as gave it a new light and angle. No, they weren't the mushy, girly type of friends that would hug each other and make up, then go out and buy stuff to make their friendship an official 'OK' or anything. But he had to admit, he was glad Aidousan wasn't about to bolt out the door and leave him without anyone to talk to - or not talk to.

"Maybe you don't, Aidousan." he suggested, picking up the now-nearly-empty bowl of ashes and dumping the remains in the trash can. "We all deal with things differently, I guess. But I don't deal with them the same as I used to. I didn't run this time like I did with Yumi, I...I went to Erin and told her I'd be here for her. And that's something big for me, you know..." He met Aidousan's eyes evenly. "I do love her."

With a sigh he looked around the now ash-covered kitchen. "I don't even know what I was doing anymore." he did recall that he'd sat on the counter all day like a love-sick idiot. "We'd better get this cleaned up, man. Or my mom will need new sandwich bags to keep what's left of me in."

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

Kagayaki looked at his friend with wonder. Yukitokun had looked up to him? The idea had never crossed his mind before. He'd never thought that anyone could look up to him. What... What was there to look up to?

Yukitokun laughed a little, but Kagayaki's face was unchanged as he remained in stunned silence. "Yeah, Aidousan. I've always looked up to you."

He felt tears well up in his eyes again, and this time... This time he didn't wipe them away. "Yuyukun...." he whispered, his throat thick with tears. "You don't know what you saying that means to me. You really couldn't know."

"Maybe you don't, Aidousan." Yukitokun went on, and Kagayaki didn't follow this change of subject. Don't what? "We all deal with things differently, I guess. But I don't deal with them the same as I used to. I didn't run this time like I did with Yumi, I...I went to Erin and told her I'd be here for her. And that's something big for me, you know..." Oh, he meant that he didn't think Kagayaki needed to act happy. Or... at least, that was all the older boy could figure. Yukitokun met his eyes again, and Kagayaki shirked back again from the pressure of someone looking into his eyes. He didn't like it when people did that. It felt like they were looking into his soul. He didn't want anyone to see there. "I do love her."

Kagayaki smiled softly. "I know. I've known that the whole time. That's why I came, Yuyukun. That's why I came."

He watched as his friend looked down at the mess he'd made earlier. Kagayaki felt a bit ashamed of himself now, knowing that it was a horrible mess they'd have quite a time cleaning up before Makisan came home. "I don't even know what I was doing anymore." Kagayaki's smile went crooked again, and he shook his head.

"Me neither."

"We'd better get this cleaned up, man. Or my mom will need new sandwich bags to keep what's left of me in."

Kagayaki laughed, and it felt really good after such a long and serious talk. "Well, if we don't get done by the time she gets back, I'll tell her I made the mess. She'll understand." he said, ruffling his friend's wild - and dirty, he could tell - hair. He made a face, hoping to make his friend smile. "Maybe she'll be happier if you take a shower." Laughing again, he ruffled Yukitokun's hair again. "Just kidding. How can I help clean up the mess I made?"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I do love her." he admitted boldly.

Kagayaki smiled. "I know. I've known that the whole time. That's why I came, Yuyukun. That's why I came."

"We'd better get this cleaned up, man. Or my mom will need new sandwich bags to keep what's left of me in." Yukito pointed out, directing his focus on the huge mess of ashes all across the kitchen floor. His friend let out a laugh. The sort of laugh that made Yukito wonder just how much he'd fanned the flame of his friend's pride by admitting that he admired him.

"Well, if we don't get done by the time she gets back, I'll tell her I made the mess. She'll understand." Yukito cringed - but it was mostly for amusement's sake - as Aidosan ruffled his hair. He tried to smother the smirk on his face by turning it into a half-hearted grimace. "Maybe she'll be happier if you take a shower."

Yukito send Aidousan a look, and it made his friend laugh harder and ruffle his hair again. Dang. What if Erin comes in and it's all messed up? "My mom was always a softie around you anyways."

"Just kidding. How can I help clean up the mess I made?"

Yukito returned to his usual thoughtful expression, and went to get a broom, everything between him and his best friend in the world seemingly back to normal again.

Done with this interaction!

~~~~

OOC: At a later time. BIC:

A streetlamp and a couple of apartment windows was the only illumination outside their building, and Yukito held her tightly in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Erin, I'll try harder..." he whispered, "I'll try..."

"It's okay," she said in a slurred voice, "Really, it's all okay, 'cause we're together, just like it's supposed to be... And as long as you want me, I'm here..." He smiled at that, and she reached up to start playing with his hair again. "I didn't mean to do this, Yuyukun... but I do love you... I never could stop loving you. Please be okay now..."

He nodded, took in a deep breath of air, and slowly released her. "Yeah, I'll be fine. We should go, now." Yukito took her hand in his without a thought and made extra sure she didn't fall on their way up to 634B, opening the door with one hand still holding hers. The apartment was dark and empty, and Yukito somehow knew that Aidousan and his mother weren't there. Cassie would have called him by now, and his mother had pretty much promised earlier that day that she wouldn't be back until early in the morning. Yukito hesitated, then led Erin to his room, gingerly laying down beside her and wrapping one arm around her as if he could be a human shield for her. "Your head is gonna be killing you tomorrow," he whispered, his right hand propping his head up and his left hand trailing down her cheek. "Sorry, but there's nothing you can do but sleep off whatever you did tonight."

He watched her face with a strange expression, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'll be right here, okay?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Erin didn't want to let go of Yukito's hand, unable to describe what she had been feeling since he'd taken her into is arms again. Sure, she was happy... but she had been happy before, too... Were she really thinking about it, and not spinning so much, and not so captivated by the sight of Yukito so close to her, holding her, walking with her, looking at her, being with her....

She hardly noticed entering Yukito's room, though it occurred to her after a minute, and Erin gave a little laugh; briefly she tightened her hold on Yukito's arm, staggering backwards as she looked from him to his room and then back again. "I'm in your room," she muttered through her smile, leaning into him so that her nose touched his shoulder. "I missed it a lot..." she added, lying down without having even thought about it, eyes growing heavy for sleep. Erin sighed again, happily, when she realized Yukito was next to her. And keeping her.

"Your head is gonna be killing you tomorrow," he whispered, and her only reaction was to let out another giggle as he touched her cheek. Then, "I'm kinda dizzy now, Yuyukun..."

"Sorry, but there's nothing you can do but sleep off whatever you did tonight."

Even though her eyes were closing as she said it, Erin still protested, "But if I sleep, I won't get to be with you..."

Erin felt the kiss on her cheek as Yukito responded, "I'll be right here, okay?" It made her smile.

"Okay... but not ready yet..." She curled up catlike, comfortably, sleepily, eyes closed, but she still told him, "'M'sad we didn't get my six sweetteen together... an' tomorrow tell me... you love me again, so... I know it's not a dream..." But then she was asleep.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I'm in your room," Erin said, and Yukito tried not to respond, focusing on her unsteady feet. "I missed it a lot..."

"Just lie down, okay? Before you fall down." He curled up next to her and wrapped his arm around her, feeling the weight of his eyelids now, at last. When did I sleep last? I can't remember... "Your head is gonna be killing you tomorrow," he pointed out simply.

He trailed a finger down her cheek and she giggled. "I'm kinda dizzy now, Yuyukun..."

"Sorry, but there's nothing you can do but sleep off whatever you did tonight."

Her eyes closed as if resigned, but she continued to argue weakly, "But if I sleep, I won't get to be with you..."

He kissed her cheek and tried to reassure her. "I'll be right here, okay?" Yukito watched her lips curve up into a delicate smile.

"Okay... but not ready yet..." Erin snuggled up to him like he was a large teddy bear, and he wondered if she cuddled like that with other people - he certainly didn't. "'M'sad we didn't get my six sweetteen together... an' tomorrow tell me... you love me again, so... I know it's not a dream..."

He made a sound so show his assent, but it sounded like she'd already drifted to sleep, still and quiet in his arms with just the sound of her breathing breaking the silence. Yukito smiled, and brushed her air back from her face, slowly. "I'll make it up to you somehow." Not five minutes after Erin had knocked out, he felt his own eyes clamping shut as if some switch had shut off his power and ability to keep them open and alert. Oh yeah...I didn't sleep last night at all...and that was so long ago...at least, it feels like it. It would feel weird, to fall asleep lying next to Erin. He tried to focus on the fact that he should stay awake, to wait until she was really, fully asleep, then go lay out in the living room or something. His mom might come home early, he feared. And he needed to call Cassie and let her know everything was alright. But every time he moved to get up, he felt her warmth, and told himself that maybe she wasn't quite asleep yet. And besides, Aidousan was staying the night, right? That's what they had said earlier. Even if he wasn't sure where Aidousan was right then, he still had dibs on sleeping place-choice. Besides...he was too tired to move away from her...and it was so late...

And he was already asleep, his face nuzzled up into Erin's neck and his arms around her tightly, as if he'd never let her go.

~~

Korkoro slipped as quietly as she could into the apartment, trying to mute the jingling of her keys with her hands, and slipping her shoes off at the same time. Her lips were pursed and her face tired, and she automatically went to her room and put her purse away, opened the curtains to let in the morning light, and went to check on Yukito. Sometimes he locked his door, but she always had to check.

She was shocked by what she found there. Yukito was curled up next to Erin Spenser, and they looked like they had been there all night. In the dim light entering the doorway, she confirmed that Yukito still had his shoes on, and breathed a sigh of relief. With a curious look, she pulled the blanket up over them both, giving a little shake of her head. What happened?

Korkoro went about her morning things as usual, but her mind kept wandering to the sleeping teenagers, every time the thought passed by a concerned frown came to her face. She hoped that everything was alright with Erin...and hoped her parents knew she was okay...

With a sigh she leaned against the kitchen counter, taking thoughtful sips and wondering just how much Yukito tried to be different from his father. When a form entered the kitchen, she looked up with a little smile and a hint of surprise in her expression - even if she had known for an hour or two by now. "Why, good morning!"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

It took some time for Erin, coming out of sleep characteristically reluctant, to realize first that the room she was in wasn't hers. And then a little longer to realize it was Yukito's room. And then it was sort of like a brick wall-- oww...-- remembering why she was in Yukito's room to begin with and feeling the throbbing in her head.

Though when she saw that Yukito was still sleeping beside her, still felt his arms around her, Erin smiled at him. Not only because he looked totally endearing and precious when he was asleep, but because she knew he loved her. She remembered that he told her so, and that they'd talked, and that he'd smiled at her, and she smiled, because it really was all okay. At least, between them... if her parents knew, she'd be in soo much trouble.

But really, she didn't want to think about that at all right now. It would ruin the sweet moment of watching him sleep for a few minutes, and the sweet moment of her thinking of how he loved her, and still wanted her, and...

And she just couldn't keep still when she couldn't sleep anymore and a little person was taking a hammer to the inside of her skull and she really, really wanted some water.

So, leaving Yukito still asleep as before, Erin slipped out from underneath the blanket-- When did that get there?-- and pulled off the bangles she'd had on all night, having made red marks on her arms from where she'd slept on them. She left them in his room, along with the shoes she pulled off --I hope I didn't mess anything up in their house with them!-- and fixed her skirt and shirt and left for the kitchen in her black-stockinged feet for some water.

She froze on the threshold, though, when Erin realized that the kitchen was already occupied-- and by Yukito's mom. Oh my god, what am I supposed to tell her?! It could get super awkward super fast...

"Why, good morning!" Makisan chirped, and Erin wasn't sure if she was supposed to take that literally or if she meant that as a kind of tongue in cheek way, and Erin should start off apologizing now. But even as she thought on which response would be best, her tongue had another idea of its own, and she found herself stuttering, "H-hi...." She swallowed, sounding a little hoarse to herself. "I... um..." Erin bit her lip and then suddenly burst, "I'm sorry!" Please don't ask what happened, please, please don't ask, because I really don't think you'd like me as much as Yukito said you did... and you'll have to tell my parents... and it'll just be really bad...

[Elda Forever]

OOC: I guess I'll still title this Yukito, even though it's his mom. XD BIC:

Yukito Maki

Korkoro looked up and smiled at Erin as she walked into the kitchen, "Why, good morning!" she said in a cheerful voice. Obviously, Erin hadn't expected to see her there. And why should she? Yukito knew full well she'd be gone most of the night anyways. The suspicious gleam was hidden behind her smile. Her mind screamed to ask what they had been doing all night, but she didn't expect to get an honest answer to that.

"H-hi...." Erin stuttered with a surprised look. "I... um..." Erin bit her lip and then suddenly burst, "I'm sorry!"

Korkoro's friendly smile disappeared rather quickly for seeming so genuine, and she turned to pick up her magazine on the counter, looking at it with much less interest than she normally did. It was more to keep her eyes busy on something besides Erin, of course. "I'm not looking for an apology, Erin. But if you think your parents aren't going to find out, you are sadly mistaken. I just hope you two are perfectly innocent of all crimes you'll be accused of." She opted to leave her magazine on the counter and went to stand in the doorway of Yukito's room, still holding her mug with both hands. She looked over at him and sighed, taking a drink as if the warm liquid could thaw out her now-icy expression. Korkoro looked over at Erin.

"He won't tell me. He hasn't spoken more than two words for me for months now." Another sigh, then a smile came to her lips, a sad sort of expression that didn't hide the weakness in her expression. "Would you believe me if I told you used to be the most outspoken little boy? Always in trouble, and never holding still." She looked at Erin, "As soon as the old Yukito left, the new Yukito moved in, as silent as a ghost."

[GGJ5]

OOC: yeah, I say that's fine... I mean, it's not like we can't figure it out anyway.... ^.^ <3 you! BIC:

Erin Spenser

"H-hi.... I... um..." Erin bit her lip and then suddenly burst, "I'm sorry!"

And immediately she wished she could have taken it back, feeling sure that it would have been better to pretend like nothing was out of the ordinary and just ask if she could get water and then... well, none of that mattered, since it looked like she'd already flipped a switch with her words, with Makisan looking much more solemn now than she had a second ago. Why do I keep messing up like that...?! I thought apologizing would be a good thing, and it's not!

She looked away from Erin and turned her attention to a magazine instead. The subtle gesture made her feel worse, and she pressed the heels of her hands to her forehead, trying to massage out the soreness. "I'm not looking for an apology, Erin. But if you think your parents aren't going to find out, you are sadly mistaken." At that, Erin looked up, ready to just about beg her to refrain from telling them, but Yukito's mother continued, unfazed, "I just hope you two are perfectly innocent of all crimes you'll be accused of."

It hadn't occurred to her until then just how things looked to someone who didn't know what had actually happened, and for one of the hand-fulls of times in her life that she could remember it, Erin felt the heat in her face so strongly that she knew it would show. She nervously tugged at a strand of hair, which lay disheveled atop her head, and tried to figure out a way to say how Yukito hadn't done a single thing wrong-- Everything he did was right!-- without making herself look worse and worse in his mother's eyes. And in her parents' eyes. She hated how she could hear the change in their voices when she disappointed them again. "Yukito didn't do anything wrong..." she said quietly, partially because of her hoarseness and partially because she was actually kind of scared. "I..." Erin trailed off, trying still to figure out what would be the best way to say anything... she couldn't let Yukito become a 'suspect' or whatever-- he was only saving her from her own stupidity. But there was no way she could tell that to his mom, who would in turn tell hers...

As Erin's last word trailed off, Makisan walked past her, stopping to stand at Yukito's door, and Erin followed, like a puppy on a leash.

Both glanced at Yukito still sleeping, Erin feeling a surge of affectionate gratitude toward him, though she shoved it down when she knew his mother didn't feel a thing similar right now, and the contriteness and embarrassment resurfaced.

"He won't tell me. He hasn't spoken more than two words for me for months now." She sighed, and Erin felt like she should start apologizing again, because it was kind of her fault, wasn't it? The apology was already in her eyes and on her lips when a pensive smile crossed Makisan's face as she told Erin, "Would you believe me if I told you he used to be the most outspoken little boy? Always in trouble, and never holding still." She looked over at Erin, who couldn't help but smile a littler herself at the mental image-- and the familiar characteristics, though she'd never have associated them with Yukito. Whether it was a rhetorical question or not, Erin shook her head a little, because it was sort of hard to imagine him like that. "As soon as the old Yukito left, the new Yukito moved in, as silent as a ghost."

Erin's eyes flitted from Yukito back to his mother then, because the experience of a broken family was so unfamiliar to her personally, her only experience coming second-hand from Cassie. And even that was filtered-- Cassie tried so hard to make her sister feel better. Yukito had barely ever said a word about his family, about his dad, except for that one time. That one time where she'd gotten a glimpse of his thoughts and his heart a bit more than she normally would expect. She'd never really thought too long on how those things in his family affected him, and by extension, others around him. Or how much he might still hurt from it all. She'd never really even considered.... "I didn't know that," she muttered, not noticing how totally pathetic or lame she probably sounded until after the words left her mouth. Of course you didn't, idiot. He made sure you didn't, because people don't go around blabbing about all their personal issues.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I'm not looking for an apology, Erin. But if you think your parents aren't going to find out, you are sadly mistaken. I just hope you two are perfectly innocent of all crimes you'll be accused of."

Erin tugged on her hair, and quietly commented, "Yukito didn't do anything wrong..." Korkoro took a quiet breath in - preparing herself for excuses didn't mean she expected Erin to try and cover for Yukito alone. She didn't claim that she hadn't done something, only that Yukito hadn't. Which in her mind, meant one of three things; either she was lying, she knew she wouldn't be able to get out of what she'd done and at least wanted to keep Yukito out of it, or Yukito really hadn't done anything, and she couldn't explain to Korkoro what had conspired between the two of them.

"I..." Erin started, but Korkoro instead started towards Yukito's room. The light from the doorway fell across his face, and Korkoro watched her son silently. She could see him much better now that there was more light, and less Erin to block her view of his face. The bruise on his cheek was enough to tell her they had not spent the entire evening in his room - that wouldn't make any sense at all.

"He won't tell me. He hasn't spoken more than two words for me for months now. Would you believe me if I told you he used to be the most outspoken little boy? Always in trouble, and never holding still." She sent Erin a sad smile, and it was return with a little one. Sheepishly, Erin shook her head, unable to imagine Yukito as the loud, blunt, and often obnoxious little boy that he had been. She felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to take Erin to their family videos, and let her see just what he had been, to let her see the ear-to-ear grins she herself hadn't witnessed in what felt like eons. She sighed. "As soon as the old Yukito left, the new Yukito moved in, as silent as a ghost."

"I didn't know that," was what she received in response. Korkoro's gaze fell to the floor of Yukito's room. Of course she wouldn't know.

"That is my fault, mostly. I let him." was all her explanation. "But I want you to know... that Yukito doesn't often let girls stay over. That has never been like him." She felt the tears coming, now, and she turned away from the room to meet Erin's eyes. Searching for some time in this girl's eyes for something without a name to it, she spoke barely above a whisper, "Whatever happened, he will talk to you about, I know."

She let out a breathe that was meant to calm herself, and leaned against the door. Korkoro had decided, for the moment, that whatever had happened between the two of them, it hadn't been her original thought. In all likelihood, it was nothing compared to what Yukito's father and her had done when they knew her parent's wouldn't be there. With a little smile, she added in a quiet voice, "He once told me I'd be his only girl. He was....seven, or eight I think. We had just come home from a movie, and he took my hand and told me in this very serious voice that I was his one, because I took care of him and gave him his favorite breakfast cereal, and because..." She'd started crying at some point in her little story, and had to choke back a sob, "Because I was the only one there when he woke up screaming every night. 'And that's love, mommy' he told me. And he said that in return, he would give me a hug every day until he got too old to even eat all his dinner, and that I'd have to understand that." She turned to Erin with a weakened shake of her head, "Don't let him stay silent anymore, Erin. He needs you, now. Because I lied to him too many times." She smiled, then turned away from the doorway completely, unable to look at him anymore. Wiping her eyes, she let out a little laugh, "Look at me, I'm rambling on like a crazy old lady, and I probably sound like my mother."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I didn't know that," Erin responded quietly. Lame, lame, lame Erin...!

"That is my fault, mostly. I let him," Makisan responded simply. "But I want you to know... that Yukito doesn't often let girls stay over. That has never been like him." Stay over? Oh... I guess that is kind of what I did... but he only let me because he had pity on me, because he's nice... Erin suddenly felt like she was witnessing something very personal when Makisan turned to her with watery eyes and said almost in a whisper, "Whatever happened, he will talk to you about, I know."

Erin didn't know how to respond. Not at all. Not even whether she should nod or smile or work up tears, too, so it wasn't quite as personal and weird. So she just waited for Makisan to continue, as she habitually rotated the red stud in her ear. It was hard for her to imagine that even she thought Yukito treasured her that much. And Erin felt pretty sure that that was saying quite something.

With a slow exhale, Makisan shifted to lean against the door frame, and Erin was reminded again of how crappy she felt, once more massaging her forehead and ignoring the weak feeling in her legs. Immediately, however, at the sound of Makisan's voice, Erin returned her attention to her, hands finding themselves in her skirt's pockets. They were empty, except for her house key. "He once told me I'd be his only girl. He was....seven, or eight I think. We had just come home from a movie, and he took my hand and told me in this very serious voice that I was his one, because I took care of him and gave him his favorite breakfast cereal, and because..." Erin couldn't decide between grinning over the adorable mental image of a little kid Yukito being totally endearing and precious to his mom, or to be solemn, because she was being a typical mom-in-inner-turmoil, and as cute as the story was, it made her cry. "Because I was the only one there when he woke up screaming every night. 'And that's love, mommy' he told me. And he said that in return, he would give me a hug every day until he got too old to even eat all his dinner, and that I'd have to understand that." Aw... Oh my god, that's one of the sweetest things I've heard in so long...! And he said it... He's so much more wonderful than he even knows, sweeter than he lets on to anyone else. Even if it was a fairly typical childhood conversation, and Erin knew that because she heard the comments from her dad if he happened to be watching one of those home video shows, when it was with Yukito as the central figure, it was just much sweeter. It was different. It just was.

"Don't let him stay silent anymore, Erin. He needs you, now. Because I lied to him too many times." It seemed weird to Erin that she punctuated this command with a smile, so sad like that, and turned so that the inside of his room wasn't in her view anymore. Erin felt like she should say something, like she should promise to help Yukito, though she hadn't thought he'd needed help or that now that she knew, that she could do anything to help... instead, she noded meekly.

Makisan wiped away the motherly tears she'd worked up and laughed at herself. It felt weird seeing an adult, especially one not related to her, and even more especially one that had always seemed to be distant, and on top of that, Yukito's mom... it felt weird to see her being so open. But at the same time, she was kind of grateful, because it was sort of like Yukito was being open, too. "Look at me, I'm rambling on like a crazy old lady, and I probably sound like my mother."

Erin smiled and shook her head. "No, just a little bit too much like mine."

I don't know how I can do what you're asking me to, Makisan. But I do love him, so I'm gonna try, I really will... just please don't be disappointed in me if I don't do any good. I'm kind of afraid I won't... "He really didn't do anything wrong, I promise," Erin insisted again, though softly. He was still sleeping, after all. "He was doing good, Makisan... he helped me." There. That was vague enough without making herself look even worse, right? She hoped so.

Erin swallowed again, her throat feeling as dry as the proverbial desert, and without thinking about it, pressed her hand to her head again... Yukito had been right, it hurt. "Sorry," she apologized again. "Could I get some water? I just don't feel good is all."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Look at me, I'm rambling on like a crazy old lady, and I probably sound like my mother."

Erin smiled and shook her head. "No, just a little bit too much like mine." Korkoro nodded. "He really didn't do anything wrong, I promise," She gave another nod, slowly this time. "He was doing good, Makisan... he helped me."

She smiled and patted Erin on the cheek. "You're a sweet girl, Erin." Yukito was very right in saying that his mother adored Erin. She liked how the girl's eyes sparkled when she smiled, and she loved the way she spoke and held herself. It reminded her of when she had been a teenager, and it felt like it hadn't been long ago, when Erin was around. Already in her mind she wished for Yukito to let her be around Erin more than he had been, so she could pamper their more-than-just-a-neighbor with afternoons of chatter and fun. She knew Erin liked to cook, and she often thought about how interesting it would be to share recipies with the girl.

"Sorry," Erin apologized, as she touched her head as if it was a huge source of pain. "Could I get some water? I just don't feel good is all."

Korkoro's face fell instantly from a smile with a glimmer of hope to the aghast expression of a mother. "Oh, I'm sorry! Come on, we can get you something to drink. Does your head still hurt? I have some painkillers in the kitchen, if you want some."

Not five minutes after they had left, Yukito stirred. Exactly five seconds later, he realized that his hand was not touching Erin's arm, but nothing. With a start he leapt up, and flew to the doorway, about to run outside to find her. With a short thud he caught himself from bolting back the kitchen by slamming one arm on the corner. He did a double-take, looking from his mother to Erin, then let out a sigh. Of both relief and exasperation. He slumped his shoulders and looked back and forth between them, one hand reaching up to scatch his head as he yawned.

"You scared the hell out of me, Erin." he found himself saying, still half-asleep. He wasn't sure why it had freaked him out to find her gone - it wasn't like Trent or some other lame-o was going to come snatch her away while he slept - but something about her not being where he had left her when he woke up had robbed him of most logic.

His mother, by way of response, smiled a little, hiding the expression behind her coffee cup. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Yukitokun."

"Ohayo," he muttered indifferently, rubbing his eyes. Erin was still blurry, and he didn't like that.

[More than Music]

OOC: Domo kawaii XD
BIC:

Kagayaki Aidou

It'd been a long night. That was all he could say. In fact, in addition to the fact it had been a long day before that, and a long night the night before... Kagayaki was nearly all burnt out. He'd woken up after getting back to the Makis' and had fallen asleep that was without revitalization.

But, there was one thing that had given him the energy to get up and pull himself together. Kagayaki flipped open his phone as he laid sprawled on the floor, and put one hand behind his head as he looked at the picture of Erin and Yukito he'd managed to steal. It was his desktop picture on his phone, and while all the words around it looked blurry, he could still see them. They were sleeping, and he'd found it so endearing he'd snapped a picture on his cellphone.

And on the small camera his mom had sent with him. One of the kinds of cameras he loved; the ones that spit out a picture after you took it. So now, even after he found something else to put on his phone, he'd have a picture of Erin and Yukito that he'd taken. They were finally together again, after all the trouble he'd gone to for them, Kagayaki got more peace of mind and soul and body than they'd ever know.

It had taken the pain away, at least for a little while. To know that, maybe, just maybe, he'd helped a little. Just a little, that was all he needed to know.

So, slowly getting up, Kagayaki slipped into a very hot shower and tried to wake himself up before anyone else got up. It wasn't working, even if it felt good. His back was hurting from sleeping on the floor, but he wouldn't tell Yukito that.

He had more important things to be thinking about, for sure.

With a sigh, Kagayaki braced himself, and did what his mother had always done: he turned the water on cold.

Oh, wow. Now he was definitely awake. So he ran the water warm a bit longer, so he wouldn't look like a cat thrown into a bath, and got out. Oh, wow. That was what he'd needed. He'd heard the phrase - somewhere - that taking a cold shower woke you up. Now it made sense. It was like an ice cube down your shirt, or his mother's personal favorite: a bucket of ice water.

And his friends wondered why he was always, always, always on time for school.

Getting dressed, Kagayaki dried his hair a little, then looked in the mirror. Something looked very wrong. Well, he had plenty of bruises, but those would go away. Those had been on his face enough during high school that they didn't bother him as much as they once had. He soothed them with cold water as much as he could before he looked up and really realized what the problem was. Goodness. His hair was really growing out. He had to go find his hat again. He looked like some sort of anime character with the line around their head too thick. Walking out of the bathroom still drying his hair, Kagayaki looked around for where he might have put his hat. Oh. On the kitchen counter. His mother would have never let him get away with that.

Wandering out, he froze as he heard people talking. Wow. He must have gotten up later than he'd thought. They were up. He could hear Makisan - who actually got up rather early - and... Saikochan. Oh! Saikochan was up! And Yukito. Kagayaki took a few steps back, covering up his head with the towel. They'd see his hair! Oh no! He bit his lip. Maybe he could just do what anime characters did, and lay the towel over his head. Maybe it would make them laugh, and they wouldn't ask questions. Yukito wasn't really the type to pry much, but he didn't know about Saikochan.

He'd have to take the chance. His only chance of hiding was between him, and everyone out there.

So he just wandered in, as casually as he could manage, hands in his pockets. He had to make it look like he wasn't scrambling for the hat when he went by, because then they would ask questions. He felt really awkward for the fact that his true hair color was showing, and he didn't want his friends to see it. It was really embarrassing, but he couldn't fix it.

It was okay. He looked at Yukitokun and Saikochan with a smile that came very easy as he remembered the picture he'd taken. "Ohayo..." he said, looking at Makisan. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Makisan." He glanced into Saikochan's face for a moment - avoiding her eyes with a talent he'd learned over the years of his growing up in Japan - and spoke to her directly. "Good molrning, Saikochan. How doin', ne?"

His eyes flickered over and he saw his hat. But he couldn't go for it now. He had to go over slowly. Hopefully she would just find the towel adorable - girls thought anime characters with towels are they heads was kawaii, what difference did it make for him to do the same? - and not ask questions.

He hated questions.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Sorry," Erin apologized, getting burnt out on ignoring her crappy feeling. "Could I get some water? I just don't feel good is all."

"Oh, I'm sorry! Come on, we can get you something to drink. Does your head still hurt? I have some painkillers in the kitchen, if you want some." Thankful, Erin nodded and followed Yukito's mother back into the kitchen.

Though it wasn't long before suddenly she heard a loud thud and her eyes flew to turn to the source: a frazzled and half-asleep Yukito was standing there, staring at both her and his mom and letting out a sigh. Gah-- so cute and frazzled! Sleepily, Yukito let out a yawn and informed her, "You scared the hell out of me, Erin."

Erin just smiled for a second at him, taking in how he looked, and remembering his face when he'd been sleeping, and that he'd run in here all frantic just because he'd missed her when he woke up.... "Sorry," she said, grinning at him now, not really meaning it at all.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Yukitokun,"[/i] greeted his mother, to which Yukito returned an apathetic, "Ohayo,"[/b] and rubbed his eyes, still waking up.

While he was still occupied with waking up, Erin greeted him with a grateful hug. "Ohayo!" She looked up at his face, now much clearer in the morning light and without the fuzziness from last night. She gasped a little, finally registering what had made him "look different" last night. "Yukito, when did that happen?" she asked, voice heavy in concern. "That wasn't from--" she cut herself off, recalling the other presence in the room and not wanting to make things awkward....er.

She dropped her arms and stepped back, just as--to her surprise-- Kagayaki came in. What in the-- why does he have a towel on his head like that? The strange appearance made Erin laugh a little, despite the residual headache and overall uncomfortable feeling. He smiled as he looked over in her and Yukito's direction and it occurred to Erin that she didn't know how much Kagayaki knew about her stupid escapades last night. It sort of embarrassed her to think about it... the second time in one day she felt like she was red in the face, two times out of a handful in her entire life. Jeesh, what's wrong with me?

Kagayaki first greeted Makisan, then to Erin, "Good molrning, Saikochan. How doin', ne?" He looked so dorky sounding so casual with that thing on his head. She kind of wanted to go over there and pull it off. Just for the laughs. But she wasn't sure how to respond to Aidousan, since she wasn't sure how all much he knew about her lameness last night. She didn't remember calling him, but she couldn't be positive... So, she settled for the boring, "Fine... mornin', towel-boy," she added with a smirk.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"You scared the hell out of me, Erin." He stated, trying to lessen the blow of awkwardness he experienced had almost bolting out of the apartment to find Erin, only to realize she was hanging in the kitchen with his mother. In response, Erin smiled at him.

"Sorry," she said, not sounding like she meant it in the least.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Yukitokun," came his mother's voice, and he responded mechanically, trying to rub the sandman's work from his eyes.

Suddenly, Erin leapt into a hug with him and cheerfully added her own, "Ohayo!" Yukito paused with a surprised look, one hand still paused in the middle of fixing his left eye, then he smiled down at her beaming face.

"Ohayo," he responded with a more interested tone this time.

He watched her expression as she relinquished a gasp, and it took him a moment to realize what she was surprised to see on his face. "Yukito, when did that happen?" Yukito's eyes slipped off to one side, not feeling anxious to answer her. "That wasn't from--" He looked pointedly at her, glad she had cut herself off. Yukito shook his head, trying to decide whether to tell Erin he'd explain his alleged 'war wounds' until later. When his mother wasn't standing nearby pretending to be preoccupied with making breakfast, a little smile on her lips at their standing so close right now.

"Eh...I'm fine. It's nothing serious." he shrugged his shoulders, "It's actually kind of a funny story, but I'll tell you later. I'm starving right now, and I don't feel like I slept at all." he started to move away, then looked at her face with concern of his own. Quietly, he asked, "How you feeling? If it's like a ton of bricks fell on your head, then you should be fine." A little smile, and he brushed the hair away from her face, lingering when he touched her cheek.

When Erin stepped back, Yukito discovered that Aidousan had stayed the night after all - he came in with a towel on his head, obviously coming from a morning shower, a towel on his head and a very clean look to his face. This was a bit surprising to Yukito because even if Aidousan and him had slept over at each other's houses, or rented hotel rooms together, he rarely - if ever - recalled having been awake when Aidousan was still getting ready for the day. Normally, he would have slept in several more hours, as much as the band and school would allow. Unfortunately, he'd been abruptly awakened by a certain someone going missing.

"Ohayo...Ohayo gozaimasu, Makisan." Aidousan greeted everyone in turn, receiving a quietly reply from his mom. The morning introductions from Clean-and-shiny-san included Erin. "Good molrning, Saikochan. How doin', ne?"

Yukito's face went into a kind of smug look, and Erin chirruped, "Fine... mornin', towel-boy,"

"Ohayo, Aidousan," Yukito tried to subdue the amusement in his voice, "Your face just looks even lovelier in the morning light.." he reached up to tentatively test the large bruise on his cheek just below his eye. A slight wince at the throb of pain. "I probably look awesome, too."

"Yukitokun, I need you to dice this for me." his mother said gently, handing him a knife and half of an onion. Yukito sent Erin a smile and went to his mother's side at the counter, all his mind still on how his girlfriend was actually standing in his home, smiling at him again.

"Aidousan, did mom ever give you your other birthday present?" Yukito sent over his shoulder, "She told me it was a good one that we'd all like." He pushed the onion bits back from the edge of the counter and washed his hands of the onion smell, forcing himself to not watch Erin the entire time. When he was done he couldn't help meet her eyes, and that made him smile awkwardly.

"Oh, yes!" Korkoro added, "It's still in my closet. If you would get it, Yukitokun...I think Erin would enjoy it, too."

He slipped past his mom and started for her bedroom door, making sure to brush shoulders with Erin as he passed. It didn't take him long to saunter back carrying an enormous box of a strange, rectangular shape. It was probably three feet long or so, and maybe a foot and a half to two feet wide. It was just as high as it was wide, and heavy. "Woah. What did you get him, a pool? You know he can't fit in the kiddie ones anymore, okaasan." He set the present, wrapped in colorful green and yellow confetti-decorated paper, onto the kitchen counter. His mother looked up with a mischievous smile from her omlettes.

"He just has to open it and see, now doesn't he?" She turned to Erin with a smile, "Now, dear, are you allergic to mushrooms, cheese, or anything like that?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou


"Good molrning, Saikochan. How doin', ne?"

"Fine... mornin', towel-boy," Saikochan replied, and Kagayaki had to laugh.

"T...Towlr bo-y?" he chuckled. "Yo, funny, Saikochan."

"Ohayo, Aidousan," Yukitokun said, smiling a bit, in a way that made Kagayaki smirk. Yukitokun's face was all bruised up. "Your face just looks even lovelier in the morning light. I probably look awesome, too."

Kagayaki laughed. "You look like you've been hit by a truck, Yukun."

Makisan then asked Yukitokun to cut up something for her, and Kagayaki watched the movement of the knife blankly, his eyes flickering over to his hat again. He moved over slowly to the object, slowly reaching for it, trying to make it look subconscious.

"Aidousan, did mom ever give you your other birthday present?" Yukitokun said. Kagayaki winced.

"Iie, iie, daijobu desu. You don't have to give me anything else. Daijobu desu. Is, OK!" he said, giving Makisan a thumbs-up and a chibi-smile.

"She told me it was a good one that we'd all like."

"Oh, yes! It's still in my closet. If you would get it, Yukitokun...I think Erin would enjoy it, too."

Now, what was he to say to that? He couldn't still say no, because then he'd be depriving his friends of their fun. But... he didn't want to think about his birthday anymore. He hated his birthday. He hated that party, even though he was grateful for the effort Makisan and Yukitokun had tried to make for him.

His birthday wasn't all that much to him anymore, except that it hurt. Yes, they'd all pulled through it. But still... the reminder of that feeling of failure and how little he'd ended up feeling like he mattered still lingered so fresh inside.

He didn't want to think about his birthday.

Yukitokun came back into the room with a big box. Kagayaki's eyes were drawn to the beautiful and bright colors of the package, but his jaw dropped with the size.

"Makisan!" he cried, gawking at the huge package. "You didn't go through trouble for me, did you! Oh, I'd feel bad if you spent a lot of money on me! Too big, too big!" He tried to laugh to make sure she didn't feel offended, but really. She'd gone through way too much trouble. Yes, he'd gone into his party with hopes of not worrying about anyone else but himself for that day, but... that didn't matter anymore. He shook his head, smiling. "Makisan...Arigato gozaimasu. You didn't need to get me anything else."

Yukitokun looked just as shocked at the size as Kagayaki. "Woah. What did you get him, a pool? You know he can't fit in the kiddie ones anymore, okaasan."

Kagayaki laughed openly, feeling a bit out of place from such a big gift. "Poolr... big 'nough forl... kodzo, to dus..." he began, then pursed his lips. "Du... Du... dus... duz." He shook his head, forcing out a laugh. "Wakarimasen! No uns-s-stand!"

"He just has to open it and see, now doesn't he?" Makisan said, then turning to Saikochan. "Now, dear, are you allergic to mushrooms, cheese, or anything like that?"

"A... Alr... alrelergy?" Kagayaki echoed, tilting his head a bit to the side. "Alrelnelrgis?"