Apt. #634B - The Makis' House

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Yukito, when did that happen? That wasn't from--" She caught herself, and Yukito sent her a pointed look, then shook his head, adding,"Eh...I'm fine. It's nothing serious." Erin raised her eyebrows disbelievingly and he only shrugged. "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." Erin frowned a little at that-- it was her fault, after all. God, I've messed up so much! And she was about to apologize for it, too, but instead was stopped from speaking when Yukito asked her, "How you feeling?" She shrugged a little, not really caring to whine on about the little man with a hammer in her head. "If it's like a ton of bricks fell on your head, then you should be fine." He gave her a tiny smile, and she rolled her eyes. "Thanks." With a lingering gesture Yukito pushed some rebellious hair away from her face. She smiled back, it only faltering a little when it occurred to Erin that she was standing in front of three people she wanted to impress with hair disheveled from sleep and from the party, makeup half off and probably smeared, so not put together... and she was standing there, letting him look at her?

The only thing that kept her from excusing herself to the bathroom to fix herself a bit was the fresh presence of Aidousan, both blocking her physically and distracting her mentally. "Good molrning, Saikochan. How doin', ne?"

She smiled at him, he looking totally at home with a towel for a hat. "Fine... mornin', towel-boy."

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

"Ohayo, Aidousan," Yukito voiced. "Your face just looks even lovelier in the morning light. I probably look awesome, too."

Now she noticed the new artwork on Aidousan's face. Did they do that to each other? When? Why?! Is that just a guy thing, to beat up your friends' faces and knock them silly?

Kagayaki laughed and sent his retort in Japanese, to which Erin looked questioningly at Yukito to see if she'd be clued in on the joke.

"Yukitokun, I need you to dice this for me," said his mother, gesturing to a chunk of onion on the counter. Yukito sent Erin a smile and went to his mother's side, and Erin's smile widened a bit, remembering how much he insisted on his inability to succeed at anything in the kitchen. Had she been feeling better, she would have jumped at the chance to help out, too, but she didn't, instead settling on just watching him have a go at it.

Meantime, Aidousan seemed to busy himself with something else, and Erin couldn't help but follow his gaze to a hat that she figured was his that sat on the counter. Curious as to why he was edging toward it like that, so timidly, Erin scampered across the floor and snatched up his hat, holding it out to Aidousan with both hands. "You want this, right?" she asked.

"Aidousan, did mom ever give you your other birthday present?" Yukito sent over his shoulder.

Quickly Aidousan responded with a rattle of Japanese that, of course, Erin couldn't follow, hardly catching the short, "Is, OK!" and gave a smiley thumbs-up.

"She told me it was a good one that we'd all like." Erin's interest peaked at this comment, and she looked over at Yukito with renewed earnest. Having wrapped up his part of the job, Yukito looked over to meet her eyes and he gave an endearing smile. Another wave of gratitude swept over Erin-- how would things have ended if he hadn't come for her? They certainly wouldn't be together now, and she wouldn't feel this right, despite her rough start to the morning.

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

Yukito went to fetch this new, mysterious thing that all three of them would--supposedly--like, just barely touching against Erin as he passed her, making another smile cross her face. And when he came back in a minute carrying a pretty big rectangle of a box, covered in a funky green and yellow pattern, and it looked like it was pretty heavy. At least, that's how it looked in Yukito's hands, and Erin gawked at it a little-- what in the world was in that?

Aidousan seemed floored, too, because he seemed to protest amiably, at least that's how it sounded... mostly in Japanese., and Yukito said --thank goodness, in English-- "Woah. What did you get him, a pool? You know he can't fit in the kiddie ones anymore, okaasan." And he set the huge thing on a free counter. Erin kind of felt the urge to open it up if Aidousan didn't do it first, the dang curiosity... like she was still a kid or something.

Kagayaki laughed openly. "Poolr... big 'nough forl... kodzo, to dus... Du... Du... dus... duz."Erin didn't really follow what he was trying to say, and she felt kind of bad that she couldn't help... maybe if she actually knew more of his language it wouldn't be so often that they both misunderstood each other. He shook his head, explaining, "Wakarimasen! No uns-s-stand!"

Erin chortled, looking over at Yukito. "Me, either," she said quietly, hands raised to her shoulders like a question.

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

Erin shook her head-- no, she didn't even get seasonal allergies, much less food-related ones. Meantime Aidousan asked, "A... Alr... alrelergy? Alrelnelrgis?"

I have no idea how to explain that, Erin thought, looking over at Yukito expectantly. Then she sighed, resting her chin on one hand that she propped on the counter beside the Thing. "Just open it already, Aidousan," she insisted.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Ohayo, Aidousan," He said to his friend with a smirk, "Your face just looks even lovelier in the morning light. I probably look awesome, too." His mind flashed back to when they had been arguing in this very kitchen, just yesterday. It felt like years ago. Yukito couldn't remember the last time he'd felt relaxed like this, even though him and Aidousan had bruised up faces as if they'd tried to make their faces fall in love with iron plates, Erin was hung over, and his mom was still in severe denial about his dad. Still, it all seemed okay somehow. How could that be?

His friend laughed. "You look like you've been hit by a truck, Yukun." Yukito feigned a furious and resentful look at Aidousan, then looked down at Erin, who was sending him a questioning look. He smiled at her, deciding to explain things later. Especially since his mom was shooting them silent questions of her own. He went over to help his mother cut onions, taking care to show off with some speed - since cutting onions was one of the few things he was allowed to do in the kitchen. Korkoro figured that if he couldn't go near the stove, at least he could be helpful in some way.

"You want this, right?" Erin asked, and Yukito glanced over to see that she was talking to Aidousan. And that reminded him.

"Aidousan, did mom ever give you your other birthday present?"

"Iie, iie, daijobu desu. You don't have to give me anything else. Daijobu desu. Is, OK!" Aidousan said, always trying to avoid being the center of too much attention. Especially when he was trying to sneak his hat back with no one noticing.

"She told me it was a good one that we'd all like." he said calmly, with a knowing smile on his lips.

"Oh, yes! It's still in my closet. If you would get it, Yukitokun...I think Erin would enjoy it, too." Korkoro sent him off and he came back quickly with the enormous thing. When Aidousan saw it, he started mumbling a bunch of crap about 'too much trouble' and all that jazz. Yukito successfully ignored him, for the most part. "Poolr... big 'nough forl... kodzo, to dus...Du... Du... dus... duz." He shook his head, laughing nervously, "Wakarimasen! No uns-s-stand!"

Erin let out a little laugh, then quietly told him, "Me, either,"

He sent her a smile and scooted a little closer to her. So he was a sucker for being close, even if it was a kiddie thing to do. "He's basically playing the humble card, saying it's too much, or whatever." He rolled his eyes, and ignored how that shot a stinging pain to his head - Erin's head probably hurt worse. Besides, he knew he hadn't eaten lately...how long had it been since she had something to eat?

"He just has to open it and see, now doesn't he?" His mom then turned to Erin and asked if she was allergic to anything that might be in breakfast, and Erin answered no to all of the above. Well, that's a relief, I guess. That means she won't choke on something I give her or something.

"A... Alr... alrelergy?" Aidousan tilted his head to the side, trying so hard to be cute. "Alrelnelrgis?"

"You are allergic to tomatoes, Aidousan." he explained, using an example.

"Just open it already, Aidousan," Erin said, obviously impatient as she stared at the package. Yukito moved beside her, leaning on elbow on the counter.

"Go on, Aidousan." Korkoro said cheerfully. Yukito barely heard her, still watching Erin's face. In the same way he'd listed off in his head all the ways he screwed up, he started a mental checklist of all the things that he liked about Erin. He loved it when she leaned over onto him, and played with his hair. It felt like she needed him most, then. Or when she looked down with a little smile and dug her hands into her pockets or played with something long and stringy because she couldn't stand still. When her eyes filled with tears, or her laughter bubbled over. When she didn't say anything at all. Or she said everything. Now she watched Aidousan's present, and he could tell her curiousity was now itching away. And he decided he just loved her expressions. She's so expressive, that's it. And I'm not, and she makes it seem so easy. Because it isn't an effort for her to be honest and show how she feels to everyone around her.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou


"Ohayo, Aidousan. 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, Yuukun." he said, and Yukitokun looked at him a bit unhappy. He just shrugged. He looked over at his hat, wishing he could put it on without his friends asking questions.

"You want this, right?" Saikochan said, handing the object to him while he was in a half-daze. He looked at her a bit sheepishly, nodding as he took it. Well, she'd be watching anyway, so he just took the towel off, set it in the crook of his arm, and put the hat on, all in one motion. He could just hope she hadn't seen.

"Aidousan, did mom ever give you your other birthday present?"

Kagayaki quickly switched gears as he set down the towel on the counter, saying that it was okay if she didn't give him anything else. The truth was, he didn't want to think about his birthday anymore.

"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."

It was HUGE, whatever it was, and Kagayaki tried not to make a huge fuss over how awkward it was to receive such a big gift for a day he didn't really want to remember.

"He's basically playing the humble card, saying it's too much, or whatever." Yukitokun said, rolling his eyes. Kagayaki shook his head, his eyes still wide.

"Birstday... no... no good." he said, laughing nervously. "No... tis good." He gestured at the box as he said this.

Makisan turned to Saikochan and said something about 'allergies', and Kagayaki tried to echo it, but failed. His accent prevented him from successfully saying the word.

"You are allergic to tomatoes, Aidousan." Yukitokun told him, and Kagayaki's eyes got a little wider. Yukitokun had remembered that! What a good friend he was. Kagayaki smiled softly, nodding.

"OK. Wakarun desho. Uns-s-stand."

"Just open it already, Aidousan," Saikochan urged.

"Go on, Aidousan." Makisan told him.

Kagayaki blushed furiously, turning and opening it with as much endeavor as he could muster, for their sakes. His eyes set on something very familiar, but he couldn't place quite what it was. He saw what looked like guitars, a strange set of drums, maybe a microphone. Kagayaki looked at Yukitokun. "Yuukun..." he said, a bit confused. He continued in a whisper, because the words were very hard for him to say. "I... I... I don't feel good. Can't see good. Can you help me, please?" He pointed at the words. "Can you read this?"

'I don't want to make anyone upset.'

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"You want this, right?" Erin asked Aidousan, holding the hat out to him. It was kind of funny that he was being so timid about it-- if she'd been feeling better she'd probably have yanked the towel off his head and put the hat on herself, but she really just didn't feel like it. He looked at her a bit sheepishly, nodding as he took it, and in a quick swoop Aidousan exchanged the towel for his hat. Erin only smiled a little, amused by the timidity and awareness of his imperfect hair that, no, she didn't miss. Not that hers was perfect right now, anyway-- besides its current disheveled state, she hadn't bothered to keep up a proper dye job since after her birthday, so now dark brown roots bled into the dyed-black strands.

Soon conversation turned all to Aidousan and something Yukito's mom had yet to give him, and Aidousan started tossing out a lot of Japanese that Erin couldn't even try to follow. He did say one thing she caught: "Me, either," Erin said quietly to Yukito, playing off of Aidousan's comment about not understanding, and Yukito moved closer to her and, smiling, said, "He's basically playing the humble card, saying it's too much, or whatever."

Erin let out a muted, "Oooh,", showing her understanding as Yukito's mom was saying, "He just has to open it and see, now doesn't he?"

"Birstday... no... no good," Aidousan insisted, laughing nervously. "No... tis good," he added with a gesture to the package.

When Erin answered to Makisan that, no, she didn't have any allergies, she couldn't answer Aidousan's questioning face to the unfamiliar word, though she enjoyed the moment of watching how Yukito explained it so that Aidousan could remember the English word: "You are allergic to tomatoes, Aidousan." Erin smiled at him without a thought.

"OK. Wakarun desho. Uns-s-stand," she heard Aidousan answer, though she wasn't looking his way. She had fallen into watching Yukito only. She had missed him so much, and so she felt like she needed to make up now for all those missed moments. Every moment mattered, even the ones where he was giving English lessons with vegetables.

Though she did have to admit that as childish as it was, she was really curious as to what lay under that paper, herself... and it was kind of bothering her how Aidousan was beating around the bush to open it, or not to open it, or whatever. Impatiently, Erin propped her chin up with her arm on the counter and insisted, "Just open it already, Aidousan." She felt movement beside her and smiled faintly to glance Yukito at her side.

"Go on, Aidousan," encourage Makisan, and it looked to Erin like he was blushing now as he pulled the box open to reveal its contents. With how she was leaning on the counter, Erin couldn't see what was inside, and despite her curiosity, she didn't want to move from her spot. The medicine had only taken the edge off of the hollow throbbing in her head, and even though she hadn't taken anything for her ADD, she felt zapped of all energy and so was content to just stay there with her chin in her hand. Aidousan, however, was saying something to Yukito that she couldn't have made out if she tried-- it wasn't in her language.

Tired of standing, Erin decided all of a sudden that she really didn't feel like standing anymore. So she sat on the floor by the counter with her legs crossed Indian-style and looked up at the others around her. She smiled at Yukito. "So? What is it?"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Mak

"A... Alr... alrelergy? Alrelnelrgis?" Yukito explained to his friend that he was allergic to tomatoes, and Aidousan's eyes widened. Yukito wanted to ask, What? What did I say now? But Aidousan gave him a little smile and said he understood now. Yukito sent him a questioning look, and they turned their attention to the big gift Korkoro had really gotten for them all.

"Just open it already, Aidousan,"

"Go on, Aidousan."

Yukito wanted to laugh and snap a picture of Aidousan's blushing face, remembering their old joke about how people turned 'cherry colored' when they blushed as furiously as he was. It's good for him to be the center of attention sometimes...he should know we're really here for him... he gently touched his neck, trying to subtly relieve it of some of the pain Aidousan had knocked into it yesterday. It felt like something was pulled, badly. Even when we screw up...he should have a family that's there for him. I guess he's really become a part of our family.

He wasn't even really looking at the gift as the paper was torn away, his focus on Aidousan's face. When a look of confusion - and perhaps embarrasment - crossed it, Yukito leaned forward to see the package, his eyes glimmering a bit with amusement. She got us Rock Band for the Wii!

"Yuukun..." Aidousan said quietly, weakly even. "I... I... I don't feel good. Can't see good. Can you help me, please?" He pointed at the words. "Can you read this?"

Yukito nodded, and Erin sat down, and smiled at the lot of them "So? What is it?"

For Aidousan's sake, he put on a bigger smile than was necessarily needed. "It's Rock Band, for the Wii. I guess she's right that we'll all have fun with Rock Band, Aidousan." He slipped between the two languages as smoothly as if they were one and the same, and he smirked at Erin, "You callin' dibs on the vocals? I'm grabbing drums."

He glanced around, and realized that instead of jumping onto a video game, maybe all of them just needed to go back to bed all day. Aidousan said he wasn't feeling good, Erin was still hungover, and Yukito himself - was trying to make his own soreness less by comparing it to his friends, which as hard as he tried, was not working.

"Breakfast is ready!" Korkoro said proudly, setting everything out nicely on the table. She beamed at them all.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"So? What is it?" Saikochan asked. Kagayaki bit on his inner lip, looking at Yukitokun, who smiled at all of them. That made Kagayaki feel better, so he smiled a bit too.

"It's Rock Band, for the Wii. I guess she's right that we'll all have fun with Rock Band, Aidousan." Yukitokun said, and Kagayaki looked at him with wide eyes. 'Rock Band'? He'd heard of that! At least... he thought so. "You callin' dibs on the vocals? I'm grabbing drums."

He looked at the box again. "Guitar?" he asked, smiling at them but they didn't see him. They'd seen each other again. Kagayaki looked back and forth at his friends. They were so good together. It was like Yukitokun couldn't really be happy without Saikochan, and the other way around too.

Which sort of meant that, after all those years, Kagayaki had accomplished nothing towards helping Yukitokun, but still... he had to get over that. He'd managed to stay friends with Yukitokun through one girlfriend. And this one seemed much better for him.

Besides, now wasn't a time to be selfish. This was Yukitokun and Saikochan's day. They were finally together again, and happy. He didn't think it was fair of him to not be happy for them.

Especially since that would seem like he was jealous of her. And that wasn't it.

"Breakfast is ready!" Makisan said, and Kagayaki nodded.

He felt awful. In many ways. In fact, he wasn't sure if he'd really slept much at all, and that made it worse. It'd been for a good cause though.

On that thought, maybe he should go see Cassie....... just to check on her. Just to make sure she was okay.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Giving into the weak feeling in her legs after ignoring it as long as she could, Erin made herself at home on the floor, at Yukito's feet. She looked up at him and smiled easily, despite it all. "So? What is it?"

Yukito smiled back at her, and glanced at Aidousan, too, as he answered them both, "It's Rock Band, for the Wii." And then he told Aidousan something Erin couldn't understand, and though usually she would love to listen and try to figure it out, or just listen period, right now when she felt bad enough already the switching languages kind of irritated her. Her irritation at the language switch coupled with her sick feeling made Erin forget the excitement she would have normally expressed, and a disgruntled look crossed her features until she found Yukito facing her with that look on his face as he said, "You callin' dibs on the vocals? I'm grabbing drums." And Kagayaki answered something that, again, Erin couldn't understand.

Her irritated expression fell into an apologetic one, and, still sitting on the floor at his feet, hugged herself against Yukito's legs, head right at his knees, and sighed. "I'm sorry, Yukito-kun... I really want to but I don't feel good at all..." And besides that, she felt miserable about not wanting to immediately jump up and play like she normally would, keeping Aidousan and Yukito both from enjoying themselves.

Makisan proudly announced a ready breakfast, and it occurred to Erin that she was actually hungry. And tired and sore and overall sucky, but she hadn't been eating very much at all since their fight, and even less since Yukito's first attempt at an apology when she responded with a self-inflicted concussion. And now without medicine to hinder her appetite, and the huge weight lifted from her heart at knowing he really did love her... "I guess I'd feel better if I ate, huh?" she said quietly to Yukito, sitting back from him now so that she could look up to his face. "Help me, kudasai?" Erin asked, hoping she'd remembered the word correctly, having not uttered it in so long, and lifted a hand to him.

"Before I forget," she added, still quiet and so close to his ear, for once not wanting to bring attention to herself, "I don't remember where my phone is, if I brought it in with me or if I left it..." There's probably a million missed calls from my parents... Erin thought with a mental groan. She didn't look forward to the reaction at all. She sighed outwardly, mentally berating herself for being more of a downer, and so gave Yukito a little smile. "Tired... hungry... dunno where to start first!"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"You callin' dibs on the vocals? I'm grabbing drums." Yukito said, smiling at Erin. He was surprised to see a strained look of irritation on her features, and wondered if her headache was getting worse...or what if it was something else bothering her? Something she hadn't told him, perhaps? She hugged against his legs, and his eyes widened at the gesture. She sighed.

"Guitar?" Aidousan added hopefully.

"I'm sorry, Yukito-kun... I really want to but I don't feel good at all..." Erin said, and she sounded as if she meant it.

He crouched down and ran a hand through her hair, his expression sympathetic. She must hurt worse than he did, otherwise she would have tried to keep going, being her usual chirpy self. "Erin, is yo-"

"Breakfast is ready!" his mother unknowingly cut him off, a look of glee on her face. Yukito stood up slowly, peering out at the table, covered with plates already laid out. Mom is fast... He felt a churning in his abdomen, as if his stomach was afraid of being forgotten.

"I guess I'd feel better if I ate, huh?" Erin commented quietly, "Help me, kudasai?" She reached her hand up and he took it, pulling her up easily from the floor. He kept her hand clasped in his, and gave it a squeeze, as if to reassure her. But of what? He wondered. He just felt the urge to reach out to her somehow. To let her know he was there, and he understood her, and he actually cared. Even if he was always at a loss.

Korkoro frowned as she entered the kitchen again, "I'm sorry, Yukito, but I can't stay." she waved her cell phone a bit as if to demonstrate proof, "I have to meet up with a coworker in twenty minutes over the revision of an old project." She smiled at Erin, then Aidousan in turn, "Hopefully I'll see you both later. You take care, alright?" At this last comment she had her eyes fixed on Erin, a little gleam in her eyes. When she'd say her goodbyes, Yukito immediately wrapped his arms around Erin and gave a sad smile.

"Before I forget," Erin said quietly, before he could say anything, "I don't remember where my phone is, if I brought it in with me or if I left it...

Yukito pursed his lips, trying to remember anything about Erin's cellphone...no, he hadn't seen it, although he hadn't exactly searched her pockets when they'd gotten home. If she'd left it at the club, there was no telling where it was now. "We could try calling it..." he sat down and stared at his empty plate.

"Aidousan," he said solemnly, "I know we're all worth out. What would you say to just going back to bed?" he ran his hands through his hair, ruffling it up even more, and sighed, "I don't know how badly you both feel, but I think Chika would have an advantage over me in Rock Band right now." He looked over at Erin with a weakened expression, then shrugged and started piling food on his plate, barely seeing what it was. After all, it was nourishment, and he was eating way more than the nothing he'd been eating. “I can take you home after breakfast, if you want...” But the truth is, I wish you'd say you wanted to stay with me, and curl up next to me again like last night...

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

He felt hungry, but, as he looked up at his friends, he knew that he wouldn't be able to keep it in his stomach. Yeah, he was pretty sure Saikochan felt worse, by the look in her eyes, so he couldn't tell them he couldn't eat, because Saikochan was going to...

Kagayaki just wished he felt better, so he wouldn't have to worry about it.

At least he wasn't alone with the lovebirds, he thought with a bit of amusement, to keep the smile on his face. If he let himself look as bad as he felt, he'd feel all of his pain. And that would be horrible. He had to keep himself out of that rut. For the sake of his friends.

"I'm sorry, Yukito, but I can't stay. I have to meet up with a coworker in twenty minutes over the revision of an old project." Makisan said, and Kagayaki's eyes went wide, his smile faltering. Well, there went his last happy thought. Great, now he needed a new one fast. "Hopefully I'll see you both later. You take care, alright?"

Kagayaki nodded. "Un." he said, without thinking. He blushed a bit, but decided not to indulge in his mistake for using informal terms with a superior. Anyway, Saikochan didn't understand Japanese. "O.K!" He smiled at Yukitokun's okaasan, then at Saikochan. "Yah?"

But, when Makisan left, Kagayaki felt his last hope leave. The only people still there were two of the few people that knew him best - somehow - and he didn't like how awful he felt. They would notice. They would, and here they were, on one of his worst days in a while, looking at him with greater pain.

He felt like such a wimp.

"Before I forget, I don't remember where my phone is, if I brought it in with me or if I left it..." Saikochan said, and Kagayaki watched her with a smile playing at the edge of his lips.

She'd lost her handphone? Oh, he'd done that so many times, it was beginning to become serious. That was why he kept it in his backpocket; he could remember it there.

Speaking of handphones... He smiled a bit more, but tried to suppress it, because he was remembering a certain picture that Yukitokun would probably delete if he had the chance.

"We could try calling it..." Yukitokun suggested.

Kagayaki nodded. "Good... good idea." he said, smiling.

"Aidousan," Yuyukun said, and Kagayaki heard the seriousness in his friend's voice. It made him a bit tense. "I know we're all worth out. What would you say to just going back to bed?" Kagayaki opened his mouth to speak, but didn't. He was wondering how to say 'that sounds like the best idea in the world' in English. Yukitokun ran a hand through his hair, returning it further to the state it had been earlier. Kagayaki smirked, the picture once again coming to mind. "I don't know how badly you both feel, but I think Chika would have an advantage over me in Rock Band right now."

Kagayaki laughed. "Yah, OK." he said, nodding, then looking around. His nature was standing out like an Amerikajin in Japan. Why was he trying to look like he was okay? No one was paying attention. He sighed, his gaze falling to the floor as he tried to relax a bit. Maybe his head would stop throbbing if he stopped trying to speak so much English. He knew it was easier for Saikochan, but... he didn't feel good. Maybe he just shouldn't talk.

Yuyukun started getting food, and Kagayaki looked at it with a half-disgusted face, even though he tried to suppress it. The idea of food - and the consequences he'd feel later if he ate it - was just disgusting to him right now. “I can take you home after breakfast, if you want...” Yukitokun said, and Kagayaki could only guess that he was talking to Saikochan. Yeah, because Kagayaki wanted to go collapse.

The smell of the food was making his stomach churn. He couldn't stand it. He touched Yuyukun on the shoulder for a moment to let him know he was going and walked out of the room into the bathroom. Kagayaki had tried to sit down but ended up just slumping against a wall.

Anyway, it was better they were alone. They were happier that way, right? He would be okay. He just needed a bit of time.

And maybe something to calm his stomach, although he knew that any sort of medicine would make it even more upset. He sighed, closing his eyes as he tried to weather another storm.

Time would fix all of this, right? That was what made Yuyukun so strong. That was what had brought Yukitokun and Saikochan back together again. He had to make it through this. Maybe something good would come of it. Maybe.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I'm sorry, Yukito-kun... I really want to but I don't feel good at all..."

Yukito crouched down to her level, brushed with his fingers her undone hair, and started to say something but the announcement of breakfast cut him off.

Erin sighed again, resigned. "I guess I'd feel better if I ate, huh? Help me, kudasai?"

Yukito met her raised hand with his and helped her to her feet; she was content to leave it in his, the small gesture carrying an abundance of meaning.

Makisan walked into the kitchen again, and announcing she was heading off, and Erin just nodded with a timid smile, not trusting herself to respond without making herself look even worse, still clutching Yukito's hand. And as soon as she'd stepped out, Yukito pulled her into a hug-- it made her feel better than anything else had. Where would she be know if she hadn't impulsively chosen him to call? Oh... "Before I forget, I don't remember where my phone is, if I brought it in with me or if I left it..."

For a moment Yukito thought about it, and she wondered if she actually remembered a lot less than she had originally thought... Did she not fall asleep right after walking into Yukito's room, and her phone was in there? "We could try calling it..." he voiced, sitting down to eat, and Erin followed him.

She glanced at Aidousan as he nodded. "Good... good idea."

"I forgot about that," she murmured, feeling kind of stupid about it, being so obvious. "I didn't have it with me when we came in last night?" It made her anxious to think about how much a fool she made of herself in front of Yukito, and how little she might or might not remember. I'm such an idiot...

"Aidousan," Yukito addressed to his friend as Erin fixed her plate, "I know we're all worth out. What would you say to just going back to bed?" He rabsently ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even further, which actually made Erin smile-- it was a cute gesture, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She eagerly started in on breakfast. "I don't know how badly you both feel, but I think Chika would have an advantage over me in Rock Band right now."

Erin wanted to laugh at that, but she had her mouth full and besides she still was so burnt out, so she settled for a smile, her eyes on her plate. "Mmmhmm," she confirmed, halfway finished by the time Yukito finally got something on his own plate.

"Yah, OK," echoed Aidousan with a laugh, though he didn't bother getting anything to eat himself.

"I do wanna play, later," Erin said between bites. "Just not now... and I think when we play that Yukito gets vocals and I get drums." She glanced at him and smiled tiredly before taking another bite.

Yukito looked back at her, too, looking more burnt out than she felt-- all bruised and beat and having been awake with her all that time... when was that, anyway? After midnight... what time had they gotten home? She had no idea. What had he done to get hurt like that? Aidousan briefly got Yukito's attention and Erin noticed how Kagayaki looked pretty hurt, too... that couldn't've been from when he'd picked her up from the club, so did that mean that they'd done that to each other? Oh my god, why?

“I can take you home after breakfast, if you want...” Yukito told her, and Erin glanced down at her nearly-empty plate and frowned. "Yeah... I know I need to go," she said, tone full of dejection. "But I just can't yet..." She finished quickly her last few bites of her breakfast and then without a moment's notice leaned over to Yukito and hugged him to her. "I didn't mean to do that, Yukito... I didn't think I even drank that much... I don't like thinking about how stupid I looked to you last night..." She glanced up at Yukito. "Will you still call me your girl?" She then looked down and yawned wide, feeling about ready to collapse, though she didn't release her hold around him.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Before I forget, I don't remember where my phone is, if I brought it in with me or if I left it..." He stared as he held her in his arms. His mother was gone now...there wasn't the strange feeling in the air that he was being too-closely watched and would be asked about everything later. But Aidousan is still here... His mind flitted back to Yumi, and how hard it must have been for Aidousan then...and he hadn't breathed a word. Aidousan hated to complain. Yukito couldn't remember a day when Aidousan had said anything closer to a complaint then 'Heh...I'm hungry!'. Nah...I'll wait until Aidousan drops off and then maybe I can ask Erin to kiss her again, just like we used to...I miss feeling her hair brush against my cheek...and seeing her eyes sparkle when we pull apart at last...

He had to yank himself back to reality, the lapse of attention barely noticeable, and only a few blissful seconds of remembering. Oh, yeah. Erin's cell phone. That's what they'd been talking about. "We could try calling it..." he muttered as they sat down to eat breakfast. He really didn't remember if she'd brought her cell phone with her...had she been holding her cell phone when he buckled her into the car? He wanted to smirk as he recalled that. She'd been totally grinning at him as if he was some sort of rock star that had fallen for her, or some cute thought had passed through her mind that concerned him and buckling seat belts. She's really adorable when she grins like that.

"Good... good idea." Aidousan said in response to the 'call Erin's phone' idea, and it seems as if he was reminding Yukito that he was still there, after all.

"I forgot about that. I didn't have it with me when we came in last night?" she said, looking disappointed.

Yukito worked his bottom lip a little as he realized she had expected him to remember to pick up her cell phone. Oh, yeah. I totally went digging through the alcoholic beverages, pushing porn magazines on that little coffee table aside until I found your cell phone. Then I punched out your band mate and drove you to spend the night at my house. Because I always keep a totally clear head in situations like this. You could say I have a cell phone radar in my head. Even if it looks like the lump on my head from slamming into the kitchen cupboards yesterday afternoon. "Sorry, but I wasn't exactly thinking of your cellphone at the time..." he mumbled. He looked over at her face, and instantly felt a bit guilty for being so rude and sarcastic about it, even if it was all - mostly? - in his head. We were both a little distracted, Erin. He smiled a little. "We'll call and see. And we can check the car, too. You might have had it in your pocket and it fell out." When you tried to leap out of your seat and glomp the driver.

The conversation continued, albeit slowly, and Yukito suggested they all just go back into zombie-mode for a few more hours, instead of playing the new game. "I do wanna play, later," Erin said as she gulped down a meal as quickly as possible. "Just not now... and I think when we play that Yukito gets vocals and I get drums."

He arched an eyebrow at that comment. "Um...I guess. Why? You interested in drums now?" he smirked. Maybe she wants me to keep teaching her stuff? She seems to like that. His smile stumbled a little - if a smile could stumble - as the bruise on his cheek sent a stab of pain across his face. It seemed to send pain straight to his head.

“I can take you home after breakfast, if you want...” Yukito told her, noticing with a bit of surprise that Erin had almost finished her breakfast while he hadn't eaten a bite. Woah...she must have been hungry. He managed to take a bit of the omlette, but mostly ate it because his stomach was churning at this point and he didn't want to upset it more by ignoring it much longer.

Aidousan laid a hand on Yukito's shoulder, and he met his friend's eyes with concern. What is it, Aidousan?

Without a word Aidousan left, and he watched after him for a moment. He would have gone up and checked on him, but he remembered the last time he followed Aidousan when his friend had decided to leave the room...and decided against it. Aidousan knew where he was. Aidousan probably needed a moment. But I need to offer him some decent place to catch some Zs...I don't even know where the guy slept last night...or if he slept...

"Yeah... I know I need to go," Erin's solemn tone almost made Yukito spit back out his miniscule bite to explain that he didn't want her to go. God, I did it again?! I didn't mean to say that I- "But I just can't yet..." He relaxed, and smiled at her. Okay, false alarm. Bite number two...man...I'm hungry, but I don't feel like I can eat much. What's wrong with me?

His bite number three was happily disrupted by Erin wrapping her arms around him, somewhat pleadingly, somewhat helplessly. "I didn't mean to do that, Yukito... I didn't think I even drank that much... I don't like thinking about how stupid I looked to you last night..." She glanced up at Yukito. "Will you still call me your girl?" His eyes widened slightly, amazed that she would even ask, and she let out an enormous yawn. Yukito mentally melted into a puddle. Man, she makes even yawns look absolutely cute.

He sighed and wrapped one arm around her, the other determinedly forcing bite number four down before he answered her question. Can't end up in the hospital for malnutrition and leave my girlfriend behind. "Erin, you shouldn't even have to ask." He kissed her head, "You made drunk look very, very hot."

Yukito wrapped his arms more tightly around Erin, his eyes becoming distant and his voice quiet as he murmured, "I'm lucky to have you, Erin. I was about to really go crazy without you." he smiled a little, "Which is weird, because I used to try so hard to not need anybody. To be okay on my own..." he sat up reluctantly - for one, because his head was feeling very heavy, secondly, because how he'd been sitting allowed for a very comfy Erin-smelling spot - and stared dully at the huge breakfast getting cold. He made a face at it, then buried his head in Erin's hair again. When he spoke, his words carried the tone of a child resigned to his fate of green beans. "I don't want to eat, Erin. But I need to, I guess. I can't remember when I ate last." He prodded himself into elaborating, and sighed. "I've hardly eaten anything lately. I think I'm about to disappear." To demonstrate he poked himself in the stomach, and he could see how his shirt looked much looser now than it had when he'd bought it...and he was already pretty scrawny. "A week ago the wind blew and I had to be careful not to fall over."

Okay, smart-aleck. Focus.

But how can I when she looks so sleepy and hot? Look, her hair is standing on end all around her head, and her eyes look so heavy.

Eat and go curl up with your girlfriend, in a totally innocent way! Then you can kiss her while she's sleeping.

He smiled, then pulled her gently to lay against him as he finished breakfast as quickly as he possibly could - he settled for half the plate, then turned to her as if for approval. "Do you want to go back to bed for a few hours before I take you to your house?" What do you want to do, Erin? Just tell me and we'll do that. Anything, but bungee jumping or running marathons at this point.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I forgot about that," Erin said about her phone. She looked at Yukito, asking, "I didn't have it with me when we came in last night?"

She thought Yukito looked a little agitated at her question, though it was hard to tell, but she knew it had bothered him when he responded, "Sorry, but I wasn't exactly thinking of your cellphone at the time..."

Erin's face fell at the sarcastic jab, and she turned back to her plate, poking the food a little. Sorry, she thought at him, guilt for causing him such trouble and frustration washing over her again-- and, for no apparent reason, the urge to cry-- though she didn't give into it. How come I'll cry around you?

She chanced another glance at Yukito, and was surprised to find him smiling at her. Her expression softened, too. "We'll call and see. And we can check the car, too. You might have had it in your pocket and it fell out."

She nodded, pleased enough by his answer and his expression to return to her breakfast eagerly.

When Yukito and Aidousan brought up sleeping again instead of playing with Aidousan's new gift, Erin paused in her meal to add, "I do wanna play, later. Just not now... and I think when we play that Yukito gets vocals and I get drums."

She smiled at the surprised expression on Yukito's face. "Um...I guess. Why? You interested in drums now?" Erin gave a little laugh at that, missing his slight wince of pain. "I like playing around, is all." And I want to watch you singing.

Yukito mentioned that he could take her home after breakfast, and Erin made a face at her plate, now nearly empty. "Yeah... I know I need to go," she said, tone melancholic. "But I just can't yet..."

She hurriedly finished breakfast and threw her arms around Yukito earnestly. "I didn't mean to do that, Yukito... I didn't think I even drank that much... I don't like thinking about how stupid I looked to you last night..." She glanced up at him. "Will you still call me your girl?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Erin couldn't suppress the long yawn that came to her, briefly closing her eyes in the motion. I didn't sleep enough...

Erin heard Yukito's deep sigh and the pause before his voice broke the silence again. "Erin, you shouldn't even have to ask."Her heart jumped at his words-- it meant she hadn't just made it up in her head-- he did still love her, even after seeing her being totally stupid. He kissed her head. "You made drunk look very, very hot."

Erin snickered, burying her face in Yukito. "Yeah, if you're into loud, clumsy, and clueless." She grinned, though, as she said it.

Yukito wrapped his arms more tightly around Erin, and she breathed in the moment happily. "I'm lucky to have you, Erin. I was about to really go crazy without you. Which is weird, because I used to try so hard to not need anybody. To be okay on my own..."

Erin shifted a little, not knowing what to say to that... it was kind of awesome, actually, how he confided in her like that. How he needed her like she needed him. "Me, too," she whispered, only referring to his first two statements. What else can I say? You floored me again.

This time Yukito shifted position, sitting up straighter now, and glanced disinterestedly at his food. Erin frowned, concern on her face, and smiled at him as Yukito buried his head in her hair.
"I don't want to eat, Erin. But I need to, I guess. I can't remember when I ate last." She felt her concern grow and wanted more than anything to make sure he at least finished. "Eat, then," she insisted. "I've hardly eaten anything lately. I think I'm about to disappear." By way of demonstration, Yukito poked his stomach, his point clear as crystal. Erin frowned deeper. "Why? Yukito, finish eating!" It worried her, how he'd not been eating. Not like she'd been eating when she could avoid it, but it was different when it was Yukito, and plus, she had an appetite now, with him by her. "A week ago the wind blew and I had to be careful not to fall over."

Erin chuckled at his humor. "I don't remember, either... except for just some candy last night, but I don't think it did any good, 'cause I felt drunker afterward... I just didn't feel like eating real food when I was..." She broke off for another yawn. I'm too tired.... "...When I was sad. You know? It's fine now, though, so..."

Yukito smiled at her, gently drawing her to lay against him as he finished eating, and Erin relished the moment. Unfortunately, Yukito didn't relish the meal, so the moment didn't last long... she could have fallen asleep right there, but instead he turned to her when he was finished, as if waiting for her to excuse him. It was cute, really. She smiled at him, happy that at least he ate moderately.

"Do you want to go back to bed for a few hours before I take you to your house?" Yukito asked, and Erin felt her eyes closing as he said it. She blinked to keep them open, but nodded. "Mmhmm... where can I lay down? Just for a little while..." She covered her mouth with her hands to hide another yawn.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I don't want to eat, Erin. But I need to, I guess. I can't remember when I ate last."

"Eat, then," she insisted, looking up at him.

"I've hardly eaten anything lately. I think I'm about to disappear." To make it seem like a light-hearted joke, he prodded his own belly, and looked up with a ghost of a smile, but Erin frowned. He had to admit - at least to himself - that he got a little kick out of making her look so worried about him. He liked to see and hear that she actually cared.

"Why? Yukito, finish eating!" he smiled at her commanding tone. Yukito couldn't resist making a joke about the wind going to blow him away - and gratefully received a giggle in response. "I don't remember, either... except for just some candy last night, but I don't think it did any good, 'cause I felt drunker afterward... I just didn't feel like eating real food when I was..." she was interrupted by an even larger yawn, "...When I was sad. You know? It's fine now, though, so..." He smiled, and replied by pulling her close enough to feel her against him while he reluctantly ate a good half of his meal. When he looked over at her for approval, and she smiled, looking pleased.

"Do you want to go back to bed for a few hours before I take you to your house?" Erin's eyes blinked hard, as if her eyelids were covered in wet cement that was drying quickly.

"Mmhmm... where can I lay down? Just for a little while..." She covered her mouth with her hands to hide another yawn.

“How about we go check on Aidousan and just go back to my bed?” he suggested, smirking. Yukito abandoned his unfinished plate and lifted Erin up with one hand. He watched her for a second, his face falling from an entertained smile to a sort of distant reverie. "Erin...." he managed, tucking her hair behind her ear. I don't think there's a good way to ask to kiss you again, Erin. To say that you have to promise to be mine, now that you've taken me back. Because to screw it up twice with you would be too much for both of us. His mind taking him back to the first time she'd kissed him, a quick peck that was riddled with her fears and anxiety. He had only waited a few moments to return that kiss to her, but more confident, more amused and relaxed. He returned a kiss to her now that he'd been wanting to give her since October thirty-first, when he'd gone home quietly, without telling Erin 'I don't love Blair Vanderbilt, I love you. And I'll do whatever you ask me to do to prove that back to you.' Yukito couldn't help but smile into the kiss - a personal habit of his that he couldn't help, something about kissing a pretty girl made him smile. The shaky breath he took in after he had pulled far enough back for her face to come into view with perfect clarity was accompanied by an anxious look in his eyes. "I missed you, Erin." That kiss settles it - I'm a total romantic wuss, because I can't stand to even think of not kissing her anymore. But it's worse because it goes deeper than that - Erin never said 'That's stupid of you', or 'You were a total idiot', or 'Why can't you do better?' Even if he had disappointed her, she wouldn't just abandon him. He found himself believing that, and easily.

"Daisuki,"

He gripped her hand in his, and went looking for Aidousan. A look of confusion flitted across his face, and he called out, "Aidousan? Ogenki desu ka? Where are you?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

His head was bowed as he stared down at the floor, a blank look on his face. He was trying to clear his head up, then maybe his headache would let up.

Then he heard someone calling him. "Aidousan? Ogenki desu ka? Where are you?" Yukitokun's voice came, and Kagayaki looked up.

Oh. His friends. Yeah, he hadn't told them why he'd left... so they didn't know where he was. Kagayaki put one hand on his stomach. He still felt nauseous but that didn't matter. It wasn't like he hadn't weathered this before. Using something - he didn't look to see what it was - as support, he pulled himself up onto his feet again. Yeah, the world was spinning. A hand instantly went to his face. Oh, yeah, it was definitely spinning.

"Y-" began, but his stomach lurched before he could finish. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "Yuyukun, am... in here!" He had to keep breathing evenly... "Genki-genki!" It was a lie. A complete lie. But he wanted to be okay for a while. Being alone made him depressed. He walked out of the bathroom with a bit of a stumble in his step, but he walked nonetheless. His smile came back as he saw his friends. Well... yeah, they were his friends! He could see Yuyukun's hair, frizzed up and looking like L from DeathNote. He let the smile take over his tired face. "T-t-tilred." He nodded, agreeing with himself. "Yo..." He gained a look of concentration for a moment. "You," He finally pronounced it right! He was doing better! "You, tilred, ne?" He looked back up at Yukitokun and Saikochan with a smile. "Ne?"

He just wished 'tired' was the only thing wrong with him right now. But he could only guess his friends thought the same thing.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Do you want to go back to bed for a few hours before I take you to your house?" Yukito asked, to which Erin nodded simply, head still resting against him. "Mmhmm... where can I lay down? Just for a little while..." The sentence was punctuated with another yawn that she attempted to hide behind her hands-- for some reason she didn't want to appear as tired as she was, but it wasn't working at all...

“How about we go check on Aidousan and just go back to my bed?” he suggested, smirking. As he pulled Erin to her feet once more, she started, "That could sound so controversial to an outsider." Instead of a yawn, this time she punctuated her words with a quiet chortle, keeping her hand in his that had pulled her up. "Sleep sounds so good right now." She wanted him to say something back, to joke or tease or say something sweet and wonderful that would make it impossible not to smile, and she watched as the expression shifted on his face, not knowing what in the world to make of it. Did she ever?

Yukito didn't say anything to her for a moment, just reached out to tuck her hair behind an ear, the gesture making her smile despite how burnt and worn she felt. "Erin..." he started, sounding like he wasn't quite sure where he was going with addressing her. She put her arms around him again, by way of encouraging him to say what he wanted to get out.

However, instead of meeting Yukito's words, Yukito met her lips, and it said so much more than anything he might have tried to say. He didn't need to say anything because of that kiss, that one where she could feel him smiling, because she could make him smile, and because it meant that he really did care about her enough to risk it all again. He loved her just as much as she loved him, and he didn't want to let her go, either. She didn't want him to pull away from her, but it couldn't very well last forever, and when he did-- Erin reluctant--, Yukito looked at her as if she might then decide to get up and leave him. I don't even want to let go now-- I never want to be like we were again, I can't do it.

"I missed you, Erin."

She hugged him closely, burying her head under his chin, eyes closed. There was nothing she could think of wanting more than to be in his arms, secure, wanted. "I missed you, too. I told you that, didn't I? I think I did, but I know I meant it. I missed you, and I love you." Don't let me go again.

"Daisuki," he replied, and she smiled, content to savor that moment until she fell asleep right there in his arms.

But he moved. He took her hand in his and did what he said he was going to do before Erin could go back to sleep. He wanted to check on Kagayaki, and Erin followed willingly-- albeit with heavy feet. Can I collapse yet? Aidousaaan, stop hiding already...

"Aidousan? Ogenki desu ka? Where are you?" Thank god he translated... I don't feel like trying to figure it out right now... "It's a small place," she murmured. "It's not like he ran away... he's probably asleep already, Yuyukun."

She heard Aidousan's reply from inside the bathroom and looked up at Yukito with a questioning eyebrow raised, taking her hand from his and putting both arms around him again. Make up for lost time. I miss doing this. And then Aidousan actually came into view, looking worse than Erin felt. It didn't make sense-- what was wrong? What happened to him, anyway? "What's wrong?"

He smiled by reply, and Erin realized that even though it seemed genuine to her that Aidousan was the kind that smiled for others' sakes and not his own. "T-t-tilred." He nodded, agreeing with himself. "Yo... You, you, tilred, ne?" Erin sighed, leaning her head against Yukito with her eyes closed. That's not all you are, Aidousan, okay? Stop trying to pull things over on me, I don't feel like playing that game now. "Ne?"

"Mmmhmm," she replied, position unchanged. To Yukito: "We found him, can I lay down now? I'm about to fall." She opened her eyes and said quietly to him, "That made me feel better, though... kissing you." Kiss me goodnight.