Leaving Shuuichi to get himself out of the pond, Eiri headed back inside. Really, if the idiot managed to drown in there, it would serve him right.
He slid the screen open and stepped into the midst of a conversation between his brother and his sister. A few moments listening proved it was rather an interrogation of his brother, by his sister.
"So where is Ayaka-chan, anyway?" Mika already sounded furious. But that didn't mean anything, since she usually did.
"Don't worry," Tatsuha said. "She should be home by now. I asked Shuuichi's friend Nakano to take her on his motorcycle."
There was a short silence, and then assorted sounds that meant Mika was killing--or at least trying to kill--Tatsuha.
Eiri turned away from them. He didn't have time to get involved in bickering. What he needed to do was get out of there and go back to Tokyo. Right away.
He escaped quietly and changed back into his own clothes.
He almost made it out of the place. But Mika caught him in the genkan.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving, what does it look like?"
"Oh, are you? What about Shindou-kun?"
"Tatsuha brought him here, didn't he? He can take him home, too."
"That's not what I meant, Eiri."
Eiri glared at his sister. Mika glared back.
In the next room it sounded like Tatsuha was trying to coax Shuuichi into changing.
"No, no, it's all right. I'm fine."
"You're soaking wet, you moron! You'll catch a cold!"
"I said I'm fine."
A sneeze.
"You're getting sick already! Here, I'll help you."
"No--"
"Don't be stupid. Here--"
"No!"
"Shuuichi!"
"I said, "no"! Don't touch me!"
He'd heard enough. Shuuichi sounded nearly hysterical.
Eiri slid open the door and stepped into the room. Shuuichi was shaking, eyes wide and frightened. Tatsuha had, at least, enough sense to step away from him.
Eiri turned to his brother. "Go. I'll take care of him."
He put a hand on Shuuichi's shoulder. "Shuuichi." at least, Shuuichi seemed to wake up at that. "Yuki..." he said in wonderment, like he always did. "Yuki, I'm sorry." He always said that, too.
He was still trembling, though. He was about to cry. He flung himself at Eiri and sobbed silently against his shoulder.
The water from Shuuichi's clothes was starting to soak his jacket, but Eiri held him and stroked his hair. He wondered why he was doing this. He could feel all his resolutions melting away with every second that passed.
Whatever happened, whatever he had to do, he didn't want Shuuichi to cry because of him anymore.
He put his hand under Shuuichi's chin and forced his head up. "Don't cry now. Come on. Just change your clothes and... we'll go home."
Eiri was so glad to see Shuuichi's smile again that he kissed him. It felt like sealing his fate.