A/N: If you read my fic "Symmedians", then the last paragraph or so of this chapter may seem familiar. This fic kind of span off from just that paragraph. Anyway, as always, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Conversations

"Dad and I aren't sure how to explain things to Takeru, but we figure he's old enough now that he should know. I guess."

Jyou poured artificial sugar into his tea as his boyfriend went on about worries. A typical afternoon after a long day at school for him and a long day at practice for the other. "You don't sound so sure."

"Well, won't this completely destroy his perception of his mother?" Yamato remarked, resting his forehead on the table. The cloth underneath, soft on the bottom and plastic on the top, stuck to him when he lifted his face again. "It's not like she's ever done anything to him."

"Then, is there really a reason to explain?" Jyou questioned.

"...he's been asking me ever since they moved into town about why can't Dad get back together with Mom or why won't you come see Mom, brother? Ugh. I'm tired of it."

"More coffee sweetheart?" asked a passing waitress.

"Just give me the entire pot," Yamato remarked, holding out his mug.

"Drinking caffiene this late has adverse effects on you," Jyou noted.

"You're drinking tea."

"Decaf," Jyou smirked. When the blonde didn't smile- and he usually would –Jyou gave a sigh, "Whatever advice I give you would only be my opinion."

"You know Takeru better than me," Yamato said. He took a sip of the coffee and burned the roof of his mouth. He stifled a curse admist the patrons around him.

"How many times do I have to remind you to let things cool? Why do you think they have those assanine warning labels on the cups? The freaking cups. What idiot..." Jyou found himself going into a tangent. "Anyway, how the Hell do I know your own little brother better than you?"

"Taichi and you always took better care of him," Yamato said, giving a psuedo smile down at his coffee. He swirled to drink to distort his reflection. "What do you think Takeru would do, nonetheless?"

"Do? Would it really upset him that much?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you!" Yamato said, throwing his hands out in front of him.

"Relax," Jyou whispered, reaching a hand over to the other for a moment. He quickly pulled away, however. No one really knew of their relationship, not even Takeru. Imagine if they dropped that bombshell while they were busy explaining the truth about the kids' mother. "I guess, if I had to guess... Takeru would probably be in denial. He loves his entire family equally and in his eyes you three are infallible."

"Is it that obvious?" Yamato pondered, finally able to sip his drink. "So, see, I can't tell him. He'll only give me weird looks."

Jyou snorted, "I don't give you weird looks and as far as I know, you, me, your father, and well, your mother, are the only ones that know what happened."

"My father has barely spoken to me since I was seven and my... well, I haven't spoken to her in nearly six years."

"Except that time Takeru made you three get together for a family dinner a year ago. She was at your graduation, too, although I guess you were a bit drunk to remember."

"I wouldn't have been wasted if it wasn't for her showing up. I told her to stay the fuck away from me," Yamato hissed. "Oh, and the family dinner thing, you're right. I told her I hope she dies and that demons-" Jyou began to glance around, catching the blonde's attention. He looked around and lowered his steadily rising voice, "Well, I won't repeat everything else. God damn, she makes my blood boil."

"I didn't mean to bring it up," Jyou sighed.

"You didn't. This is about Takeru anyway," Yamato concluded. Jyou made a mental note of his lover's temporarily-permenant stare of death. "Dad wants me to tell him, so I suppose we will either way, and if Takeru hates me that's that."

"If he hates you? Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"Well, he won't be able to look at me," Yamato remarked, "Still, I'm not the best influence for him. So mother says."

"Enough with her," Jyou pressed. "So, basically, you invited me all the way out here in the rain to bitch about your mother?"

"You like it when I'm angry, don't you?" Yamato teased.

"Yeah..." Jyou swooned, "But I could have been studying. In fact, if I don't get back soon, I'll be in huge trouble."

"I don't know why you just won't let me come by," Yamato replied. "I know your family are a bunch of closet wierdos, but can it be better than an ex-alcoholic, a rapist, and an annoying brat?"

"No, it really isn't. I'm rather envious of your family sometimes, believe it or not," Jyou said, gathering his coat.

Yamato scoffed, "I don't get you sometimes. Your family makes no sense to me. At least hate each other if you're going to live under the same roof and ignore everyone else."

"Sometimes being numb is better than being blinded with rage, sweetie," Jyou remarked. He unfolded his umbrella. "Now, go get some rest. You look like Hell, as usual."

"Shuu?"

"Yeah. Dad's not home. He had an emergency call a few hours ago. He was steamed then, but I'm sure by the time he gets home, he won't care anymore."

"He will when he hears about my A minus," Jyou sighed.

"Where were you, anyway?"

"At a friend's house."

"Yamato's?" Shuu teased.

"So what if I was? I was trying to help."

"Trying to help? So you didn't actually accomplish anything," Shuu chuckled. The two began walking down the hall to their rooms. Jyou glanced over at the living room. His mother was in her chair, staring off into space. She was always like that when she actually took her medication. It made him sick. He remembered how his Mom used to be, before Dad forced her to take them. She was lively and creative and beautiful... and then, damn near suicidal for weeks at a time, before the process started all over again. He knew this was better for her, but he couldn't believe it was better.

"It's complicated," Jyou continued, stopping at his own room. "What do you care, anyway?" It's not like any of you ever come out of the woodwork except to pry into my personal life.

"Something crazy must be up if you're being this much of a douche, Jyou," Shuu sighed. "Still... how long do you think you can hide this from Dad? He thinks you're at an extra cram class and he's going to look into it."

"I'll take care of it, Shuu, now leave me alone," Jyou remarked, storming into his room and shutting the door. He removed his glasses and ran his hand over his face. "...because I always have to take care of things. I have to."