Devereaux Parks and Recreation

[More than Music]

Aug 16, 2009 19:39:16 GMT -5 Elda Forever said:

Yukito Maki


"Woah... Got dizzy. So what's the plan for Cassie's party?" Erin started playing with her toes, probably really happy now that the shoes had been discarded.

"Um...I don't know...." Yukito muttered uncertainly, "It sounds to me you're the one who wants to make the decisions around here." He smirked at her, and she met his eyes, taking a moment to catch up to the verbal poking. Then she let out a laugh, and he started to twist his swing around in circles, releasing it and letting it twirl him around in a steady, calming motion. He felt Erin watching him and looked over to smile at her.

"Hey! Yukitooo!" Erin started pushing herself into a hearty swing once more. "Did you see any water fountains or anything? I wasn't paying attention, so I dunno... I'm thirsty now."

He didn't stop his swing at first, tilting his head up to look skyward, making him feel dizzier than before. "I don't think so..." he halted, hearing a distant sound that would have horrified him if he didn't know what it was...and wondered what Erin's reaction would be. Ice cream. He forced his smile to remain hidden for the moment, stopped his swing, and stood up, "I'm gonna go look for something to drink. You enjoy the free swings. I'll just be a minute, okay?" He started down the path, losing sight of Erin after a few moments, one ear inclined toward the ice cream truck he knew was wandering around somewhere in search of the Erins in the world.

"I... I... I gotted hurt!" a little voice distracted him, and Yukito's head turned over towards the little boy who was throwing his arms around neck of the guy he was playing tennis with. "I gotted HURT!"

Yukito smirked, looking at the pair as one tried to cling and one tried to remove the clingy object. Obviously, the older boy - who looked around his age - had been trying to teach the little one to play tennis, and it wasn't working. He walked over to the fence and watched them for a moment.

Yukito looked up to see the guy with the kid getting more and more frustrated by the moment. The kid had released him now, and Yukito arched an eyebrow as he considered the younger of the two boys. He looked under five years old, with a messy head of black hair and expressive eyes that held apology viewable from a distance. He couldn’t help but notice the kid looked familiar. His older companion, Yukito also noted, didn’t look a thing like him.

“TIMOTHY!” blond guy called out, fury in his tone. Since the kid was kind of adorable, and Yukito wanted to figure out where he’d seen him before, he decided to do the little guy a favor and distract his current guardian, or whatever he could be referred to.

“Hey, do you want to play a quick match?” Yukito asked, “Maybe he’d learn better by just watching for awhile. After a short game he might be ready to give it a shot.”

Yeah, so I sound pompous and like I’m teaching you how to raise the kid. So what. Leave him alone for awhile, will you? And just play tennis. Yukito remembered learning how to play tennis – he didn’t know how old he was, but he couldn’t have been more than six or something like that. The age where age meant nothing, really. But a number to impress your friends with. At lunch hour during school there was a group of older kids that played. He had no real companions at the time, so, bored out of his mind, he had taken refuge in a comfortable tree next to the courts. After a few weeks of playing, he had wandered out and silently inspected all the equipment, and then boldly demanded he be taught how to play. Looking back on it later, he supposed that he had been seen as amusing, so the teenagers had obliged. Soon after his mother had learned about the game sessions, she had indulged in the sport, and Yukito very quickly stifled any of her hopes of him playing for more than his own entertainment. Now, Yukito looked down at the deep brown eyes of a youngster, seriously thinking that watching was a good way to get a handle on the game. And Erin? She would wait for just a few minutes, she had her swings. Besides, could she have said no to the look on this kid's face?

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

Ren was getting very frustrated by Timothy when someone walked up. As per his usual, he didn't look up to see who it was, but he heard a distinctly Asian accent that made something burn behind his eyes.

“Hey, do you want to play a quick match?” a young man who sounded a bit younger than Clarence asked. “Maybe he’d learn better by just watching for awhile. After a short game he might be ready to give it a shot.”

Slowly, Clarence gave in and looked up at the guy, his eyes narrowed with annoyance. 'I can deal with this myself,' he muttered in his head, but said nothing. 'But if you want me to kiss your a**, then I'm totally willing.' He straightened and gave the guy a full look, finding himself frozen in his tracks. His breath stopped almost completely, his heart was nearing a pause. He tried to take a deep calming breath but found he was not able.

"You..." he said, his voice a whisper.

The black, shaggy hair. The brown, almond-shaped eyes. The too-full pink lips. The posture, the height, the very thin form.

This was an exact mirror of the man who had invaded Clarence's life by having an affair with his mother. Timothy's father.

Yukito Maki.

Clarence made himself calm a little, but his eyes narrowed more and his hands clenched into fists. His mother had mentioned a family that the man had left behind. Once or twice. But she'd never told him there had been a son, and one that looked just like him, at that.

Like an older version of Timothy.

Like a younger version of Timothy's father.

He swallowed hard, withdrawing into his shell by pure inner willpower. "Okay." 'In my mind, I'm also kicking his father's a** too. This might be unhealthy but it's worth a try, I guess.' Clarence turned to Timothy, his face relaxing a little as he put his hand on the boy's scrawny shoulder. "Timothy, you go sit down the bench over there while this kid and I play. Then you can see how it works, okay? Got it?" Timothy nodded, his eyes wide. Clarence knew what the problem was. Timothy was scared senseless of his father, and this guy looked just like him. He tightened his grip a little on his brother's shoulder, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "I won't let him hurt you, I promise. Go sit down." He turned to the other young man, his body tense and ready.

A small, challenging smile came onto his face. 'Just relax. Beat him, that's all you have to do.' "Let's see if you can teach my brother Timmy to be a good loser. Shall we?" He swung his racket impressively, throwing the ball up in the air and catching it smoothly. "I'm interested in watching you look like a pansy."

-----------------------------------------

Aug 13, 2009 15:02:48 GMT -5 The Phantom of Paris said:

OOC: Cassayaki date FTW! BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Her hand in Kagayaki's, Cassie walked through the familiar park, swinging the picnic basket in her other hand happily. "I used to come here all the time when I was little," she said, looking around with a smile. "Adele--she was more of a nanny than a cook then--would take me and Shelby and my brother here almost every day." She pointed over to the merry-go-round with a laugh. "That's where Shelby tackled a kid to the ground when he insulted Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter books. She was six or seven, I think...she literally ran after him and tackled him. It was awesome." Shelby used to be awesome.

She sighed quietly as she thought of Shelby and how close they used to be...so radically different from the Shelby she knew now. No. I'm not gonna think about that right now. What used to be isn't important today, what's important is what's happening right now. I can worry about Shelby another day...I'm not gonna worry about her right now. She doesn't even want me to worry about her at all, but I can't really help that. I'm a worrier. It's in my DNA or something.

But I'm going to worry tomorrow, and have fun with my boyfriend today. She still got a little thrill every time she referred to him as her boyfriend. The whole ordeal had a surreal quality to it, and there were times she thought that it all had to be a dream she would soon wake up from and realize that none of it had ever happened. I don't want it to be a dream.

She stopped walking, looking around at a small grassy field-like area in front of them. "Do you want to sit at a picnic table, or here on the grass?"

Kagayaki Aidou

Kagayaki looked over at Cassiechan with a calm smile as she bounced along beside him. "I used to come here all the time when I was little," she told him, and he looked at her with a bit of interest. His expression was blissful, and he had a feeling he wouldn't remember anything specific later, but he wanted her to keep talking. He loved her voice. "Adele--she was more of a nanny than a cook then--would take me and Shelby and my brother here almost every day." Cassiechan pointed to a merry-go-round. Kagayaki laughed with her. 'The day I met Yukitokun, we played on one of those. I remember I fell off... but it's still one of the happiest days of my life.'

"Mah-ree, r-r-ow-nded?" he asked, trying his best. "Yah?"

"That's where Shelby tackled a kid to the ground when he insulted Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter books. She was six or seven, I think...she literally ran after him and tackled him. It was awesome." she told him, and he heard her sigh. He let go of her hands and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close as they walked.

"Been okay, Cassiechan." he whispered, brushing some hair out of her face with his free hand and kissing her cheek. 'I'll help her feel better. I'll do whatever I can to keep you two happy.'

She paused, glancing around them. "Do you want to sit at a picnic table, or here on the grass?" Kagayaki kissed her lips deeply.

"Here." he said softly, his arms closing in around her and pulling her very close. "Here, okay."

'Just never leave me alone.'

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

“Hey, do you want to play a quick match? Maybe he’d learn better by just watching for awhile. After a short game he might be ready to give it a shot.” Yukito offered, waiting for the guy to look up at him. He took an agonizingly long time to take Yukito in, and he could immediately see the assessment was less than complimentary. Yukito could see tension in the guy's face, but he didn't know what he'd done this time to put it there. But as per usual, he wasn't surprised by that.

"Okay." dishwater-blond said, turning to the younger boy and placing his hand on the tiny shoulder. Yukito's eyes watched the little one curiously. There was something weird in the air, but he couldn't figure it out. Maybe it was the protective way the older boy acting around the little one. Maybe it was because Yukito was reminded of something, seeing the wide almond eyes seeking assurance from the older boy's face. "Timothy, you go sit down the bench over there while this kid and I play. Then you can see how it works, okay? Got it?"

Timothy nodded, looking scared. His eyes flickered over to Yukito, who offered a bit of a smile. It seemed to have a negative effect. and that was confusing. Dishwater-blond guy whispered something to Timothy, making the boy scamper off to watch. He turned to Yukito was a smile that told Yukito it wasn't going to be a simple, easy match. This guy was one of those scary competitive types.

"Let's see if you can teach my brother Timmy to be a good loser. Shall we?" The guy started waving his racket around, trying to be impressive. Yukito said nothing, bending down to pick up the child-sized racket. He would have to make it work. It was just so short. And of course dishwater-blond would use his own racket. It was a distinct advantage, why would he pass that up?

Yukito went into position across the court, looking up just as the guy was tossing the tennis ball carelessly into the air.

"I'm interested in watching you look like a pansy."

He sent the guy a grim smile. "Whatever...let's get started. I'm ready when you are." A part of him felt very proud of himself when the ball was intercepted by the small racket as it tried to fly past him. The hollow-sounding click of the ball against the plastic carried a nostalgic feel, and Yukito bent lower as he prepared for the return, ready and calm, a stoic look on his face.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Is anyone using this swing?" the girl asked, so meekly it kind of threw Erin off. What was she, the swing sentry? It was kind of funny, that level of shyness. So she snickered a little, the action practically involuntary, and told her, "You are."

The girl took her seat a little ways down from her, and Erin realized something. "Hey, I have a shirt just like that!"

"Really?" the quiet girl responded. Erin wondered in the back of her mind if she really cared, and if she was one of those girls that got scared away by too much conversation with a new acquaintance. "It's really comfortable..."

"Yeah," Erin went on, missing the last half of the girl's comment, a smile growing at the words forming on her lips. "It's the one I was wearing when me and my boyfriend started going out,"she voiced, referring to the second time around. Erin kicked at the sand a little with her toes as she drug them along with each swing.

Then she looked back over at this girl that looked so familiar, but Erin had never talked to before. She actually kind of hoped she recognized her from a comment or something on her band's myspace. The idea of fans was a really exciting one. "Um... okay, I know I know your face but I'm going totally blank on how I know you..."

She didn't answer right away, and Erin's gaze drifted back over to look for Yukito. She snapped back though when she heard the girl voice, "Um...I think we go to the same school...you're Erin Spenser. I'm Amane....I'm...sort of a friend of Yukito's."[/b]

"Oh," Erin responded with a little laugh. "I can't believe I went blank on your name and you remembered mine.. that almost never happens, I promise!" she explained, trying to make up for her lapse of memory. Then, "And you know Yukito, too!" Erin briefly tilted her head to the side as a thought occurred to her. Sort of a friend? What's that mean? "Only sort of a friend?" She gave a little half. "Like, only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?" I don't remember him ever mentioning an Amane... She glanced back in the opposite direction. Still no Yukito. "What's taking so looong?"

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

"Okay." Clarence said, perfectly fine with kicking this other kid's a**. He leaned down to Timothy. "Timothy, you go sit down the bench over there while this kid and I play. Then you can see how it works, okay? Got it? Timothy nodded, but he didn't move, looking over at Yukito with wide eyes. Yukito smiled a little at him, and Timothy was obviously more frightened by that. 'Your dad is such a b******... Even more than mine.' Clarence sighed, leaning down a little closer to whisper: "I won't let him hurt you, I promise. Go sit down." Timothy slowly did as he was told, looking a bit nervous still though. Clarence looked at this Yukito determinedly. "Let's see if you can teach my brother Timmy to be a good loser. Shall we?" He played with his racket like he was a pro while the other kid picked up Timothy's racket. Ren smirked, loving how desperate Yukito would likely be, seeing as Clarence obviously had the advantage here. Clarence yawned like he was bored, throwing the tennis ball up in the air. "I'm interested in watching you look like a pansy."

Yukito smiled at him in a way that definitely said he was just as competitive. "Whatever...let's get started. I'm ready when you are."

Clarence felt his entire body stiffen, tense and ready. He served the ball with quite a bit of force, but not too much. He wanted this game to last a while. Not surprising him in the least, Yukito seemed to easily return it. Clarence wanted to laugh. This was going to be fun. He shot the ball back, glancing at Timothy.

'I guess this is for both of us, right?'

It started getting fun about the tenth time Clarence found himself sending the ball back. His eyes flashed.

'But he's not going to give up easy. What gets to you, little Yukito? What makes you angry, sad, excited? What makes you so furious you can't do anything? What could I do that would make you stuck and helpless? What about blind with rage and senseless? How many different ways can I paralyze you, verbally, emotionally?'

'What makes you scared most?' His eyes flickered over to Timothy, then back to Yukito. Amusement flickered inside the shades of blue. 'Your father?'

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Mah-ree, r-r-ow-nded? Yah?" Cassie laughed at his attempt at the probably strange-sounding English word. "Hai!" she said happily. "Good job. Yep, it's a merry-go-round, and I have some very fond memories of it...That's where Shelby tackled a kid to the ground when he insulted Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter books. She was six or seven, I think...she literally ran after him and tackled him. It was awesome." Back when Shelby cared about something other than herself. And anime. Back when I thought we'd always be there for each other, even if one of us was in trouble. I'm not sure what to believe now. Not after...not after what happened.

Not after she left me alone.

She left me alone with him.

He must have seen the look on her face, because his arm slipped around her waist in what he probably thought was a comforting gesture. "Been okay, Cassiechan."

No, it's not! she wanted to shout. Don't you see that? It can't be okay, because I'm afraid you're going to hurt me! You can't touch me, can't do things like that anymore. I don't like it. I do, but I don't. God, that doesn't even make sense to me, how the hell could I ever explain it to you? I hate this! I hate feeling so uncomfortable around you now! I hate it! It's definitely not okay!

"Do you want to sit at a picnic table, or here on the grass?" she asked. Instead of an answer, she got a kiss. A kiss that was just a bit too deep, just a bit too lingering, and a little too much like his was.

In short, a little too familiar.

She tried to go along with it at first, but her heart was racing and her blood roaring in her ears as she fought to control the overwhelming urge to run away. Her mind raced with fear no matter how much she tried to quiet it. Don't do that...and don't touch my shoulders. Don't you dare touch my shoulders.

Cassie couldn't do it--she had to pull away. She had to. But his arms wrapped around her then, anchoring her to the spot and for the first time ever feeling oppressive rather than comforting. "Here. Here, okay."

She yanked herself away from his embrace, stepping back a bit. "No," she said, her voice shaking. "No. I'm sorry. I..." she trailed off, kneeling on the ground to open the picnic basket and spread out the blue gingham blanket she'd brought. "I can't. Not...not now."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

The usual assortment of pompous phrases and cocky smiles was sent back and forth across the court, a verbal tennis match of its own. Then in the same instant, the two boys crouched over into their positions, ready for anything. Within a few returns, Yukito could tell neither of them were trying very hard, so he started to slowly pump it faster, hitting harder and harder with an easy look of determination on his face. He didn't have much time to ponder, but he did notice the strange expression of his opponent. One thing he had told himself never to do was underestimate the guy on the other team. But there was something very strange about this guy. He didn't exactly look like he was enjoying the game - even though an eerie smile was on his lips - and he didn't seemed ready to spout off a bunch of pompous remarks - though Yukito knew he was probably thinking them. There was something weird with the guy, Yukito decided. A glance towards the little kid made Yukito curious, and he looked Timothy's way, too.

Why do I feel like I just walked in on a very strange situation?

A little pang-like sound as he sent the ball back. It moved faster and blurred more in the race to get to the bounding sphere sped up considerably. Yukito's breath was starting to come quicker, now, and he wondered if all of it was because of the game.

He felt like this guy was trying to say something, with the weird looks and the little boy who looked familiar. He felt like he wasn't getting something that no one was saying out loud.

Yukito swung fiercely at the ball but missed, the first point to Strange Guy. With an inward sensation of a heavy object being unloaded in his abdomen, he met Timothy's gaze.

He looks just like me. Just like I did when I was little. There was no lame-a** assumption that it was a coincidence. A simple fact that his mind kept repeating then rejecting.

Timothy looks just like me.

He looks just like my dad.

Of all the world's injustices.


~~~~~~

Amane Ourmura

"It's the one I was wearing when me and my boyfriend started going out," Erin said with a smile, referring to the shirt that mirrored the one Amane had chosen to wear today. There was a fierce jab in her stomach at Erin's words - she could easily believe they had been said on purpose, to rub in the fact that if Erin wore the cute shirt, she was sure to be noticed by Yukito. If Amane, stupid, unattractive, nobody Amane was to wear it, nothing happened. Except for a cruel comment that made her want to cry. Amane said nothing, staring with a blank face as Erin continued happily swinging. She felt all the injustice of the moment, and for Erin to continue to not care hurt almost as much as being in love with Yukito and never having the guts to tell him. It hurt. That was the only word she could put to it.

Amane's eyes fell to her feet, dangling underneath her as she struggled not to show the stupid anger bubbling up in her. "Um... okay, I know I know your face but I'm going totally blank on how I know you..."

Of course you don't know me. But you should. Because I'm the one who is going to be with Yukito. You think you know him but you don't. You don't. And someday, he is going to find that out.

She forced herself to take a demure breath, trying not to draw attention to the bitterness and disguising it as her usual timidity. "Um...I think we go to the same school...you're Erin Spenser. I'm Amane....I'm...sort of a friend of Yukito's." I suppose it can be called that. I'm there for him more than you are.

"Oh," Erin responded with a little laugh. A careless, unabashed laughter that sounded to Amane like mocking. "I can't believe I went blank on your name and you remembered mine.. that almost never happens, I promise!" Amane just smiled briefly, unable to respond beyond that. I didn't know talking to you would be so difficult. And you aren't even the one I really wanted to sit next to on the swing.

"And you know Yukito, too!" Amane looked up to see Erin tilting her head to the side, she supposed in an effort to look cute. And of course he would fall for that. she grumbled to herself, He's so susceptible to things like that. At least you know how to work him. Perhaps that's one point in your favor...and perhaps it's one against it. How would you like me to tell you that? "Sort of a friend? What's that mean? "Only sort of a friend? Like, only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?"

Amane's lips curved upward, as she imagined Yukito having a checklist of who was his friend on which days. It would probably be a bigger list than her own. She was always too shy. Too afraid for her own good. But she saw things and heard things, when people thought no one was paying attention. "Well, it's more like we know each other, but...I guess we don't hang out very much....he's been kind of preoccupied lately..." she tacked on to make it seem less creepy, "I guess..."

Erin, however, was so easily distracted. And by the very thing Amane wish she could be looking forward to see was her point of interest. "What's taking so looong?"

Amane followed the girl's gaze across the park. "He'll be back soon, I bet." Her smile softened into a more natural expression as she stared off in the distance. "How has he been lately, by the way?" she breathed, looking over at Erin with a serious gleam to her eyes, "He was really torn up after...well..you know..." She shrugged, as if the whole ordeal hadn't torn her up inside as much as it had either of them. Okay, so maybe not quite as much as them, but enough that she was always questioning how quickly she could get closer to Yukito after his awful break up with Erin. It had taken her too long, apparently, before he had repaired things up with the lucky star next to her on the swing set. She wondered if Erin could possibly have any idea how lucky she was. She had watched them too much, maybe.

I can't believe I was actually there to see them get back together. After passing by his usual parking spot in front of his apartment building, she had found good reason to linger around for an hour or two nearby. It had been late when the familiar Volvo had pulled in, but she had felt relief wash over her in practically a monsoon of happiness.

Then, he had slipped out, looking beaten up and disheveled, but somehow so much happier than he had been in forever. She had watched unseen when he helped Erin out of the car. She had listened to them promise each other to fix their relationship, to hold each other in a way she had always wished someone would hold her. Even though Erin had been completely drunk, and Yukito so blissful that he was practically drugged metaphorically anyways, they had patched things up that night. Of all nights.

There's no hope for me if I can't get the courage somehow. If there is no way to show him how I could make him so happy.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Only sort of a friend?" She laughed a little at the strange choice of words. Erin could never imagine herself calling someone "sort of" a friend-- either she liked them and they were friends, she couldn't stand them and she knew the feeling was mutual, or they didn't know each other at all. "Like, only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?"

The girl-- what was her name again? It sounded like 'anime' except not at all like 'anime'... Amane? Aname? Well, whichever she was, she gave a little smile at Erin's comment. "Well, it's more like we know each other, but...I guess we don't hang out very much....he's been kind of preoccupied lately..." For some reason that didn't quite make sense to her-- why would you care if someone was preoccupied or not if you didn't even bother to consider them a friend? Amane/Aname must have seen the confusion on her face, because she tacked on, "I guess..."

A mental shrug. Meh... whatever. Yukito still hadn't made it back yet, and Erin looked back over expectantly. Nothing. Ugh. "What's taking so looong?"

"He'll be back soon, I bet," Amane-- Amane! That was it! Haha!-- Amane commented.

A smile grew on Erin's face as she told her new acquaintance, "Yeah. But I think he likes to make me wait on purpose sometimes, just to mess with me." And I kind of love it.

"How has he been lately, by the way?"

"Huh?" Erin turned back to look at Amane, breaking from her reverie.

"He was really torn up after...well..you know..." She tacked on a shrug.

"Oh," Erin said, suddenly realizing what Amane meant. "You knew about that?" She was surprised at first, since Amane had said she didn't know Yukito all that well, but then Erin relaxed when she remembered just how well publicized the whole ordeal had been. And of course it was my doing... well snap. She laughed a little to hide her mistake. "Wait, everyone knew about that..." Then she glanced across the way from her, at the grass where a few kids were messing around with a soccer ball, and she seriously responded to Amane's statement. "Yeah... it sucked for both of us. It was stupid, the whole thing was really stupid. And it was stupid that it took us so long to do anything to fix it." Her face fell at the thoughts, darkening as she remembered the weeks filled with more sleep than anything else-- no music, no laughter, nothing to eat except what her parents watched her force down for dinner. The pain. "God, it was awful..." The most awful time of my life.

But she wasn't going to tell that to a practical stranger. And this practical stranger had asked how Yukito had been now, lately. And lately, everything had been... great. A new smile grew on Erin's face at the thoughts of their renewed time together. "Everything's really great lately," she mused aloud in answer to Amane's question. Erin glanced her way. "And his best friend is dating my best friend so it's like we have this really cool little group of awesome going, and he's been really just, like, happy lately, and--" she cut herself off with a content sigh. Then suddenly, "Oh, look, he got this for me!" Proudly, she showed Amane the bracelet he'd gotten for her, the one she always put on her wrist before leaving the house. Unlike her necklace, that she didn't even take off when she went to sleep. "He's so sweet, and I don't even know if he means to be or not," Erin mused wistfully.

[More than Music]

Sept 5, 2009 10:04:36 GMT -5 The Phantom of Paris said:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Mah-ree, r-r-ow-nded? Yah?" Cassie laughed at his attempt at the probably strange-sounding English word. "Hai!" she said happily. "Good job. Yep, it's a merry-go-round, and I have some very fond memories of it...That's where Shelby tackled a kid to the ground when he insulted Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter books. She was six or seven, I think...she literally ran after him and tackled him. It was awesome." Back when Shelby cared about something other than herself. And anime. Back when I thought we'd always be there for each other, even if one of us was in trouble. I'm not sure what to believe now. Not after...not after what happened.

Not after she left me alone.

She left me alone with him.

He must have seen the look on her face, because his arm slipped around her waist in what he probably thought was a comforting gesture. "Been okay, Cassiechan."

No, it's not! she wanted to shout. Don't you see that? It can't be okay, because I'm afraid you're going to hurt me! You can't touch me, can't do things like that anymore. I don't like it. I do, but I don't. God, that doesn't even make sense to me, how the hell could I ever explain it to you? I hate this! I hate feeling so uncomfortable around you now! I hate it! It's definitely not okay!

"Do you want to sit at a picnic table, or here on the grass?" she asked. Instead of an answer, she got a kiss. A kiss that was just a bit too deep, just a bit too lingering, and a little too much like his was.

In short, a little too familiar.

She tried to go along with it at first, but her heart was racing and her blood roaring in her ears as she fought to control the overwhelming urge to run away. Her mind raced with fear no matter how much she tried to quiet it. Don't do that...and don't touch my shoulders. Don't you dare touch my shoulders.

Cassie couldn't do it--she had to pull away. She had to. But his arms wrapped around her then, anchoring her to the spot and for the first time ever feeling oppressive rather than comforting. "Here. Here, okay."

She yanked herself away from his embrace, stepping back a bit. "No," she said, her voice shaking. "No. I'm sorry. I..." she trailed off, kneeling on the ground to open the picnic basket and spread out the blue gingham blanket she'd brought. "I can't. Not...not now."

Kagayaki Aidou

He kissed her, showing how much he loved her. Because it was so important that she know he did.

But something was wrong. He didn't know what was wrong but he didn't like how hesitant Cassie seemed to be when he held her.

Actually, he hated it. That was how Yumi had been not long before he'd figured out she'd been in love with Yukitokun the entire time they'd been together. He never wanted to relive that with Cassiechan. She deserved better, and he never wanted to feel that pain again, much less put Cassiechan through what him and Yumi had had to feel.

'Cassiechan... I don't understand...'

He could feel her heart racing, and something told him it wasn't because he was kissing her. Then she pulled away like he would hurt her if she'd stayed there in his arms any longer. "Nani?" he breathed.

"No. I'm sorry. I... I can't. Not now."

Kagayaki felt a huge weight in his chest that made his lungs feel lower than his stomach. Unable to fight the hurt and confused look on his face, the only thing he could do to make it easier on her was to force his worry to the surface. She spread out the blanket and he turned around, putting his hands in his pockets as he closed his eyes tightly to fight tears.

'Don't be such a baby. She isn't Yumi. She loves me... right? Yeah, of course she does. She's the one that asked me if we could date. She asked me to be her boyfriend. It's gonna be different this time... It just has to be. Everything's different because she's a very different person from Yumi and... and I have to stop comparing the two! Just because I'm afraid to be hurt like that again doesn't mean they're the same at all! I love Cassiechan... she's gonna be difference. She's the one. I just know she is. She has to be. I can't be wrong this time, it's too strong...'

"I... I don' und... understand..." he said quietly, opening his eyes to look over at Cassie but not moving any closer. He was afraid to.

Afraid.

Afraid.

What was this about? He was suppose to be better this time. He couldn't be afraid of Cassie! He couldn't be afraid of loving her. It wasn't fair to either of them and Cassiechan deserved just as much of a chance as he'd given Yumi, if not more because she'd made the first move. And they'd shown each other that they were in love before dating. That was good, right?

But he was still afraid...

"I don' kn-n-now... wha' I done... bad..."

Sept 6, 2009 22:02:52 GMT -5 Elda Forever said:

Yukito Maki

The usual assortment of pompous phrases and cocky smiles was sent back and forth across the court, a verbal tennis match of its own. Then in the same instant, the two boys crouched over into their positions, ready for anything. Within a few returns, Yukito could tell neither of them were trying very hard, so he started to slowly pump it faster, hitting harder and harder with an easy look of determination on his face. He didn't have much time to ponder, but he did notice the strange expression of his opponent. One thing he had told himself never to do was underestimate the guy on the other team. But there was something very strange about this guy. He didn't exactly look like he was enjoying the game - even though an eerie smile was on his lips - and he didn't seemed ready to spout off a bunch of pompous remarks - though Yukito knew he was probably thinking them. There was something weird with the guy, Yukito decided. A glance towards the little kid made Yukito curious, and he looked Timothy's way, too.

Why do I feel like I just walked in on a very strange situation?

A little pang-like sound as he sent the ball back. It moved faster and blurred more in the race to get to the bounding sphere sped up considerably. Yukito's breath was starting to come quicker, now, and he wondered if all of it was because of the game.

He felt like this guy was trying to say something, with the weird looks and the little boy who looked familiar. He felt like he wasn't getting something that no one was saying out loud.

Yukito swung fiercely at the ball but missed, the first point to Strange Guy. With an inward sensation of a heavy object being unloaded in his abdomen, he met Timothy's gaze.

He looks just like me. Just like I did when I was little. There was no lame-a** assumption that it was a coincidence. A simple fact that his mind kept repeating then rejecting.

Timothy looks just like me.

He looks just like my dad.

Of all the world's injustices.

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

'Ha! Point!' Clarence couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as Yukito missed. "First point!" he said, trying to keep the pompous sound out of his voice. "Your serve!" He crouched down and prepared to return it but Yukito looked distracted. Clarence's eyes narrowed as he watched Timothy looked at Yukito.

'Timmy, does he scare you?' He swallowed. 'Or do you like him?' Shaking his head, Clarence swung his racket angrily through the air.

'I promised I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. And I'll keep my promise.'

"Just a minute," he hissed, going over to Timmy and putting his racket over his shoulder. And he spoke very quietly, looking right at his little brother. "Timmy, are you okay?"

"Mm-hm." Timmy was staring at the ground with a blank expression. Clarence put his free hand on Timmy's shoulder.

"Timmy," he said, sternly. The boy only looked up and met his eyes, nodding. That was enough. 'Okay. I'll keep him busy so you won't be scared.' Turning back to Yukito, Clarence returned to his spot and position. "Sorry. Your serve."

'Let's get this kid beat.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Hope you don't mind that I'm jumping into the allergy scenario. If you do, though, just let me know...BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

If she'd known how his reaction would have been to her pulling away from the kiss, she wouldn't have done it. Or, she would have tried not to, at least. I'm sorry...but I just can't! And I can't tell you why, because I'm scared that if I do he'll find out, and he'll hurt me more and then he'll hurt you, and he'll hurt my mother and Shelby and Erin and Yukito, he'll hurt him most of all, except maybe me. Because Yukito's the only one who knows, and he fought him, and...I'm sorry! I would tell you if I could, but I can't!

"I... I don' und... understand..."

Of course he didn't. How could he? Cassie still hadn't told anyone even after she'd promised Yukito she would. And it was killing her, every day walking around with that terrible secret hiding just behind her lips, threatening at any moment to break through the surface. But she couldn't tell them, not yet. Not when it was still too close, too fresh in her mind, too real. Not when the danger was still there.

I will. Eventually. But not yet.

Cassie smiled sheepishly. "Don't even worry about it, it's not a big deal, really..." Liar. Liar, liar, liar. Cowardly little liar.

"I don' kn-n-now... wha' I done... bad..."

Cassie quickly shook her head. "No! It's not you! You didn't do anything, I promise..." Eager for a distraction, she reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a blue checkered blanket, unfolding it and spreading it out on the ground so quickly she almost dropped it. "It's just...sometimes I get a little self-conscious, you know? And..." She frantically searched for another excuse. "And...it's been a long day, and I'm really hungry, and..." She stopped, deciding that if she gave one more lame excuse it would sound like she had something to hide.

And I do.

"I'm sorry. Can we please just forget about it and eat? Please?"

As if to prove her point, she took out a candy bar from the basket. "Life is short, eat dessert first," she said vaguely, unwrapping it and taking a huge bite. Food. The perfect distraction.

Such a good distraction, in fact, that she forgot to check the label.

[Elda Forever]

Amane Oumura

Erin was having a hard time staying in the conversation. "What's taking so looong?" she called out after Yukito. Her boyfriend. The guy they both loved.

"He'll be back soon, I bet," Amane commented, with a little smile. Erin's face lit up. Perhaps it was because they were actually talking about something they both liked.

"Yeah. But I think he likes to make me wait on purpose sometimes, just to mess with me."

Amane's smile grew at that one. I don't think he would on purpose. But it's a cute idea. Like he wants to hear you worry about him. Her thoughts turned more serious. He probably would, then. Because who else does he know who worries about him like you do? And you actually do something about it. You tell him. "How has he been lately, by the way?"

"Huh?" Simple-to-please Erin. Head-in-the-clouds Erin. The Erin that made Yukito smile.

"He was really torn up after...well..you know..." She tacked on a shrug.

"Oh, you knew about that?"

Amane just stared at Erin. You kind of screamed in his face in front of the whole school. I was right there. He talked to me that night. I made him try and guess who I was. I tried to make him smile the way you did, but you weren't there to make him happy again, and so he left before I could tell him. I wanted to tell him then. I was wearing a mask, so it would have been easier to hide behind it. You broke up with him on your birthday, at a party. You didn't hear each other out and instead let it explode in public, with everyone watching. When you knew he couldn't really fight back. He couldn't break down for you to see. So you both just made up walls. She pushed back and forth on her swing a little. Of course I knew about it.

Erin let out a laugh that Amane couldn't understand. She shouldn't be laughing about it, should she? "Wait, everyone knew about that..." Duh. "Yeah... it sucked for both of us. It was stupid, the whole thing was really stupid. And it was stupid that it took us so long to do anything to fix it." Amane glanced up curiously to see the serious look on Erin's face.

"God, it was awful..." You don't know the half of it. Did you know that the next time I saw him at school he didn't just ignore me. He shoved past me. I fell down and he didn't even see it. He was thinking of you. Trying not to. Thanks a lot for stabbing us both.

"Everything's really great lately," Erin mused aloud. Their eyes met. "And his best friend is dating my best friend so it's like we have this really cool little group of awesome going, and he's been really just, like, happy lately, and--" she cut herself off with a content sigh. Amane's gaze dropped to the floor.

"Oh, look, he got this for me!" Erin crooned with pleasure, holding out her bracelet. It was covered in bright colors and was very shiny. Amane leaned over at the sight of some letters. Their names were on it. Yukito and Erin. It was like digging a cigarette butt into an open wound. It even stung like one. b]"He's so sweet, and I don't even know if he means to be or not,"[/b]

Amane struggled to keep her smile from being strained and false. Bitter or hurt. "He doesn't seem like the type to do it for points. I think he really cares about you, and maybe that's his way of showing it." She pushed back and forth on the swing, unable to keep looking at Yukito's gift to the wrong girl anymore. "What are his plans? Music-wise, I mean. He hasn't been doing much playing or anything, and I would've thought he would find a new band by now."

---

Yukito Maki

By this time Yukito had almost completely forgotten Erin waiting on the swings, and the treat he had planned on bringing back to her. At this moment, he felt thrown. He missed the ball, and his opponent crooned. "First point! Your serve!"

Yukito just stared over at the boy. Timothy. He didn't look like a Timothy - he looked like Yukito Maki the third. His hair was ruffled up in the same way, he had the same strange dark eyes, small but very distinct. He had the same girly, thick lips that seemed always to be pouting about something he was musing over. Who are you?

In the corner of his eye, he saw the older boy shaking his racket angrily through the air, a silent shout of 'hey! pay attention to me!' that was childish at best. Yukito looked his way, but said nothing. He couldn't feel his face, as weird as that sounded.

"Just a minute," he hissed. The guy walked over to the boy and started speaking to him quietly. The boy, his eyes wider than they appeared capable to go, stared down at the ground. Yukito's mouth hung open a bit in surprise, unable to react to this new idea. He wasn't even questioning it - he felt like he knew. And that was the strange part. But how could he wonder about it, when this kid looked like a smaller, younger him? The older boy's hand was on Timothy's shoulder, and the little kid nodded almost apologetically. It reminded Yukito of when his dad had promised him to be back soon, and they both knew he was lying. But somehow it had been okay for his dad. He had always felt like he should apologize for it.

"Sorry. Your serve."

"It's not." he said, jerking his arm out a little in a dismissive gesture. "You got the point. You serve next." He tossed the ball back over towards his opponent, meeting his eyes levelly in a challenge. "Is that your brother?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

It was kind of weird talking to a near-stranger about her relationships and everything. But then, she also really liked talking about her and Yukito, so it canceled out the weirdness factor.

"Oh, look, he got this for me!" she chirped, gesturing to his latest gift. "He's so sweet, and I don't even know if he means to be or not."

Amane didn't seem too interested, but she struck Erin as one of those "be polite and smile and nod" kind of people. Fine with me, she thought, mentally shrugging. I'm gonna talk as long as you listen, you know... "He doesn't seem like the type to do it for points." Erin smiled, because that hadn't been what she'd meant, exactly. "I think he really cares about you, and maybe that's his way of showing it." She pushed back and forth on the swing a little.

Erin kicked at the sand a bit, distractedly. "I know it is. I just mean, I dunno if he knows how much it means, you know?" she asked breezily.

"What are his plans?" Amane asked out of no where.

"What?" Erin looked at her, thoroughly confused, and maybe a little accusingly. She was asking a lot of questions about Yukito and talking like she knew him oh-so-well, but she hadn't even called herself a real friend. Just a sort-of friend. Suspicions edged around inside of her.

"Music-wise, I mean. He hasn't been doing much playing or anything, and I would've thought he would find a new band by now."

Erin couldn't resist answering this one more question. Amane had hit a sweet spot, whether she knew it or not. "I'm working on it..." she started, a smile growing in spite of herself. "I bet if you check on the MySpace for Veritas in a month, you'll see his name on the band member list. But we're keeping that on the 'down-low' right now," she added with a wink and exaggerated gesture of silence.

Another look back down the way he'd disappeared. "Okay, seriously, I think aliens abducted my boyfriend...." she muttered jokingly before tugging out her phone and giving him a call. Halfway through the ringing, though, Erin realized that Amane was sitting right in earshot and Erin wanted to say something kind of personal. She hung up and sent a text: Where r u??!! Im stuck here next to sum girl tht keeps askin abt u... its weird!! i miss u. come back.

[More than Music]

Oct 4, 2009 16:31:35 GMT -5 The Phantom of Paris said:

OOC: Hope you don't mind that I'm jumping into the allergy scenario. If you do, though, just let me know...BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

If she'd known how his reaction would have been to her pulling away from the kiss, she wouldn't have done it. Or, she would have tried not to, at least. I'm sorry...but I just can't! And I can't tell you why, because I'm scared that if I do he'll find out, and he'll hurt me more and then he'll hurt you, and he'll hurt my mother and Shelby and Erin and Yukito, he'll hurt him most of all, except maybe me. Because Yukito's the only one who knows, and he fought him, and...I'm sorry! I would tell you if I could, but I can't!

"I... I don' und... understand..."

Of course he didn't. How could he? Cassie still hadn't told anyone even after she'd promised Yukito she would. And it was killing her, every day walking around with that terrible secret hiding just behind her lips, threatening at any moment to break through the surface. But she couldn't tell them, not yet. Not when it was still too close, too fresh in her mind, too real. Not when the danger was still there.

I will. Eventually. But not yet.

Cassie smiled sheepishly. "Don't even worry about it, it's not a big deal, really..." Liar. Liar, liar, liar. Cowardly little liar.

"I don' kn-n-now... wha' I done... bad..."

Cassie quickly shook her head. "No! It's not you! You didn't do anything, I promise..." Eager for a distraction, she reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a blue checkered blanket, unfolding it and spreading it out on the ground so quickly she almost dropped it. "It's just...sometimes I get a little self-conscious, you know? And..." She frantically searched for another excuse. "And...it's been a long day, and I'm really hungry, and..." She stopped, deciding that if she gave one more lame excuse it would sound like she had something to hide.

And I do.

"I'm sorry. Can we please just forget about it and eat? Please?"

As if to prove her point, she took out a candy bar from the basket. "Life is short, eat dessert first," she said vaguely, unwrapping it and taking a huge bite. Food. The perfect distraction.

Such a good distraction, in fact, that she forgot to check the label.

Kagayaki Aidou

"I... I don' und... understand..."

"Don't even worry about it, it's not a big deal, really..." she said. He saw the weird smile on her face and he didn't like it.

"I don' kn-n-now... wha' I done... bad..."

She shook her head but he knew that face; she just didn't want him to talk like he was to blame. Even though they both knew he was. "No! It's not you! You didn't do anything, I promise..."

Kagayaki looked at his girlfriend, confused. 'Why are you lying for me? I don't need you to lie. I need you to be honest with me, so we can figure this out. Please?' "If I... no done bad... why you scareded wi' me?" He didn't understand.

Ignoring his question for the sake of the mood, Cassiechan spread out the blanket she'd brought. "It's just...sometimes I get a little self-conscious, you know? And... And...it's been a long day, and I'm really hungry, and..."

What was this? Weren't they both trying as hard as they could? What was he doing wrong that she would act this way?

'I'm not that stupid, Cassie,' he thought to himself, his expression showing a little disappointment. 'I can tell when you're hiding something. This isn't like you. I hate it when people try to hide stuff from me. I thought this was different from everything I've known, everything I've been through. What are you trying to do here?'

"I'm sorry. Can we please just forget about it and eat? Please?"

He sighed, sitting beside her. 'I guess I'll pretend. I guess I'll hide my hurt. If that's what you want, I'll let it tear me up inside. I don't want to argue with you, even if it's not fair that you're undoing everything I'm trying to do. You have a reason for it, don't you? You'll talk about it when you're ready, won't you? I can't rush you or I'll lose you, and I can't let that happen.'

She took out something from the basket. "Life is short, eat dessert first," she told him, making him smile a little as she took a bite.

But something didn't feel right.

Tilting his head with a little curiosity, he looked at what she was holding. 'A candy bar?' He took hold of her wrist, turning it so he could look at the picture on the label. Some voice in the back of his head was screaming. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Hadn't she said she could only eat certain ones? Plucking the candy bar from her - admittedly a bit rudely - and stared at it. Determined to read the tiny words in bold - where his mother had taught him the allergy warnings were - he fought to understand what it said. Narrowing his eyes, he inspected every letter, wishing he could read it clearly, to check for any of the words she'd mentioned to him that night. His memory was foggy, and his eyesight worse, but something definitely didn't feel right about one of the words on the label.

Slowly, he looked up at her. One thing she'd said kept ringing in his mind: "No almonds though, I'm allergic. I could die."

His heart nearly stopped. He checked the label again. A...l...m...o... was that an 'n'? He thought so... and a 'd'... maybe an 's'. He held it up to Cassie, shock on his face. She'd been so distracted and upset about what'd happened she hadn't checked the label. "Alrengy!" he cried, shoving the item back into the basket like it was an akuma or a ticking bomb. "Bad! Bad!" Kagayaki grabbed her hand. "Cassie!"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Oct 10, 2009 0:17:15 GMT -5 Elda Forever said:

Yukito Maki

By this time Yukito had almost completely forgotten Erin waiting on the swings, and the treat he had planned on bringing back to her. At this moment, he felt thrown. He missed the ball, and his opponent crooned. "First point! Your serve!"

Yukito just stared over at the boy. Timothy. He didn't look like a Timothy - he looked like Yukito Maki the third. His hair was ruffled up in the same way, he had the same strange dark eyes, small but very distinct. He had the same girly, thick lips that seemed always to be pouting about something he was musing over. Who are you?

In the corner of his eye, he saw the older boy shaking his racket angrily through the air, a silent shout of 'hey! pay attention to me!' that was childish at best. Yukito looked his way, but said nothing. He couldn't feel his face, as weird as that sounded.

"Just a minute," he hissed. The guy walked over to the boy and started speaking to him quietly. The boy, his eyes wider than they appeared capable to go, stared down at the ground. Yukito's mouth hung open a bit in surprise, unable to react to this new idea. He wasn't even questioning it - he felt like he knew. And that was the strange part. But how could he wonder about it, when this kid looked like a smaller, younger him? The older boy's hand was on Timothy's shoulder, and the little kid nodded almost apologetically. It reminded Yukito of when his dad had promised him to be back soon, and they both knew he was lying. But somehow it had been okay for his dad. He had always felt like he should apologize for it.

"Sorry. Your serve."

"It's not." he said, jerking his arm out a little in a dismissive gesture. "You got the point. You serve next." He tossed the ball back over towards his opponent, meeting his eyes levelly in a challenge. "Is that your brother?"

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

He didn't like this kid. Timmy was acting weird around him and Clarence wasn't sure if it was a bad sort of weird or a good one.

He hated not knowing.

But what he hated more, was the brain-to-tongue translation messing up, making him look like an idiot when he told Yukito it was his serve.

What he hated more, was someone else being right.

"It's not."

It took a moment to catch on what had just happened.

"You got the point. You serve next." When Yukito tossed the ball back, Clarence moved quickly and caught it easily. Too bad his words weren't as smooth as his tennis. "Is that your brother?"

Clarence's eyes narrowed a little, a habit of his when he didn't know what to think of something. He looked over at Timothy for a moment, then back at Yukito. "Yeah, half-brother," he said, his voice calm once again, as if he didn't totally have a problem with penetrative questions and being wrong. To help his mood, he decided to prod back. "Same mom. Different dad though, thank God." He stepped back into position, looking at Yukito with interest, wondering what sort of reaction he'd get. "You ready?"

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Guys, I looooove these interactions, but they are way behind a lot of stuff. Can we get re-meetings later, and have these over with? BTW, MTM and I talked about who could/should win the tennis match, so it's not godmodding or anything really. Just wanted to toss that out there. If there's a problem/issue/question, let me or MTM know please. BIC:

Amane Ourmura

"He doesn't seem like the type to do it for points." Amane offered, not wanting to really come off as creepy by explaining just how sweet she thought Yukito really was. "I think he really cares about you, and maybe that's his way of showing it." She pushed back and forth on the swing a little, seeing a smile on Erin's face.

"I know it is. I just mean, I dunno if he knows how much it means, you know?"

"What are his plans?"

"What?" Amane couldn't blame Erin for the completely oblivious look - that one had kinda come from the random chasms of her mind - but Amane didn't know how to better explain it. She fumbled around in her head for the right words. This was a good chance to find out how Yukito was doing, at least through Erin's eyes. Just don't ask her what it feels like to kiss him, or if he is warm when she cuddles against him, or if he holds her with gentleness, strength, or both... No. Those are definitely in the creepy girl category. You'd take home the prize, Amane, in one fell swoop of adoration.

"Uhh.. music-wise, I mean. He hasn't been doing much playing or anything, and I would've thought he would find a new band by now."

"I'm working on it..." Erin smiled. "I bet if you check on the MySpace for Veritas in a month, you'll see his name on the band member list. But we're keeping that on the 'down-low' right now," she added with a wink and exaggerated gesture of silence. Amane had to smile a little bit. If she had acted disappointed it would have made Erin notice. Because Erin was obsessed with music almost as much as Yukito was.

"That would be awesome," Amane said, almost meaning it. She started to picture Yukito playing music again, like he used to. She knew he was happy then, no matter what went on in his life.

"Okay, seriously, I think aliens abducted my boyfriend...." Erin joked, staring after the place Yukito had vanished, then whipping out her phone. She tried to call, but then opted for punching buttons on her phone. Amane was tempted to try and sneak a peak - what did they text each other about? - but refrained. Amane let out a little sigh, watching out for Yukito.

What else was there to say? They didn't talk about anything except for Yukito, and that was hard for her to talk to people about at all - much less the one girl who really stood in her way now.

"I...I should probably go. Sorry I couldn't keep you company until Yukito came back, though." She stood up from the swing and sent Erin a smile. "It was nice meeting you."

I'm sorry, Erin. But things are going to get worse for you and Yukito. And if you let him go - even for one second - I want to be ready to be there for him. Then, I can really tell him all the things you could, but don't. I can't stop it. I love him.


Yukito Maki

"You got the point. You serve next." Yukito tossed it back, and the guy caught it easily. Yukito couldn't keep himself from asking, in a solemn, challenging tone of voice, "Is that your brother?"

Eyes narrowed in his direction. They both looked over at Timothy. The kid's eyes were huge and nervous. Yukito stared back at the older kid, quick to take his eyes off Timothy while he could. He really had nothing against either of them, but he hadn't liked the way the older guy kept bossing Timothy around. Now this was getting really weird.

"Yeah, half-brother," he said. It was a contemptuous statement. "Same mom. Different dad though, thank God." Now, who else on earth would get that sort of reaction from the guy? Yukito pursed his lips. It was one of those situations that he kept repeating in his head but didn't actually compute. He wanted to ask, 'Who is he? What is his dad's name? Who?' but he saw no point now.

"You ready?" Yukito nodded, and they continued to play. The match was actually quite short, but to Yukito it dragged on forever as his mind twisted around his options. He could freak out - a natural reaction - and find out if this Timothy kid really was who he seemed to be, or he could ignore it and walk away - an easy reaction - and forget about it, if that was possible.

The match was close. Yukito hadn't met with an equal match very often, and for a long time neither of them were able to score any more. They were both sweating by the time they got down to the final point. They were tied. Yukito swung his racket hard. Why are things so freaking complicated? The ball careened across the net and bounced once, twice. Point. He'd won. It hadn't been by a long shot, certainly, but he was able to let out a proud sigh. He met the older boy's eye and nodded, adding with honesty, "Good game."

His eyes automatically fell on Timothy then. He didn't say anything as he walked over, his racket held limply in one hand at his side. Yukito stopped in front of the edgy-looking boy just out of arm's reach. He didn't smile, but held an expression of solemn disbelief. His mind just kept rejecting it, over and over.

"What is your dad's name, Timothy?" he asked, his voice sounding hollow and far away. His cell phone rang in his pocket, twice. But he ignored it. His next words crackled, foreign to his own ears as a language he hadn't learned. "Is it Yukito Maki? Is Yukito Maki your father?"

His expression didn't change, but the racket fell from his hand with a clatter.

[GGJ5]

OOC: Mascii, you can either assume Erin left a voice mail or Yukito answered her, whichever works better into you and MTM's plots. (: BIC:

Erin Spenser

"Okay, seriously, I think aliens abducted my boyfriend...." Erin said, once more peering down the path Yukito had left. Bored with talking to Amane (why did she only want to talk about Yukito, anyway? It was weird.), Erin started to call him, and then shifted to text him. Where r u??!! Im stuck here next to sum girl tht keeps askin abt u... its weird!! i miss u. come back.

She kept the phone out so she'd see it as soon as he replied. And maybe Amane would take the hint that either she needed to say something interesting or she needed to leave, because Erin was bored with her. Maybe it was a mean thing to think, but god all she wanted to know was stuff about her boyfriend. And it was getting annoying fast. And kind of weird. It unsettled her a bit. Then Erin wondered if she was just being paranoid, like last time. And the time before that... Yeah... great, a trend.

Amane got the hint, she guessed, because she stood up and told Erin, "I...I should probably go. Sorry I couldn't keep you company until Yukito came back, though."

"Oh, it's totally cool, really," Erin responded automatically. Maybe too quickly, but whatever.

"It was nice meeting you," Amane said with a smile.

"You too," Erin echoed with a little laugh and a wave. Then she looked back down at her phone and pouted at the empty screen. No reply. She was a little mad at him too for leaving her like that and then ignoring her. So she called him again. "Yukito, where are you? Come back, it's so boring here without you and this weird girl wouldn't quit asking me stuff about you, and she said you were kinda friends which I don't know what that means 'cause I don't think she really knows you at all, and I want you to come back, Yukito. Please? I miss you."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She had to change the subject, and in Cassie's family, doing that usually involved some sort of food. Reaching into the picnic basket, she pulled out the first thing her hand came into contact with--a chocolate bar. She tore it open, quickly enough so that he wouldn't notice how much her hands shook. "Life is short, eat dessert first," she said lamely before taking an enormous bite. It was good, chocolatey with nougat and a hint of something else...slightly bitter but still appealing at the same time. I don't think I've ever had this kind before...pretty good...

Kagayaki reached forward to grab her wrist, and Cassie had to fight the urge to tear herself away from him. She focused on her chewing, which she noticed was becoming a bit more labored and difficult to do. There must be caramel in here somewhere...something sticky. "What?" she tried to say, but what came out was a garbled syllable from the chocolate in her mouth.

She was still chewing that first bite, and her neck itched for some reason. She slowly reached up to scratch it, noting how her body seemed to have slowed down. Weird...

Kagayaki took the rest of the candy away from her, but by that time Cassie hardly noticed. She couldn't swallow it. Why couldn't she swallow? Was she really that nervous about the whole date thing? Or...

Oh no.

She couldn't breathe.

Because she was having an allergic reaction.

Because she'd ignored what she'd been taught her whole life, to carefully check the labels on everything she ate.

And there had been nuts in that candy bar.

"Alrengy!" Kagayaki cried, apparently on the same wavelength as her. "Bad! Bad! Cassie!"

She couldn't breathe, and his voice sounded far away. With shaking hands, and far too slow, as if she were watching the scene from above, she reached into her purse and pulled out her epi-pen from it's special pocket. "It--will--help," she managed to choke out. Her throat was starting to close up, she could feel it. Cassie mimed sticking a needle into her leg with her finger while holding out the epi-pen for him to take. "Then--call--help..."

How could I have been so stupid?