The name of this story is: Bunny, Bunny
Author: Kaida
Fandom: DOLLS by Naked Ape
Pairing: Mikoshiba ShoutaxToudou Usaki; given name last
An author's note will be attached to the beginning and end of each chapter. For any additional information, please do not hesitate to review or PM O.Y.F. I will respond ASAP.
Be patient, as this irregular posting pattern is a horrid habit of mine. It is short, it is most likely unsatisfactory, but I'm doing what I like to do--write. Anyway...
Let the madness begin.
:--:
Chapter Four
How long had it been since he had sat with a person, let alone two of them? After Iori's accident, he had isolated himself to the point of extinction: It has been reported that the last of the conscious breed of Toudous, Usaki, has been declared extinct. Whatever an Usaki was.
Dinner was simple in the apartment. Omurice with random leftovers thrown in. Tamao picked at his plate, his nose crinkling a little after the quiet, polite 'itadakimasu' thrown in by Usaki.
"What's in here, Shou-chan?"
"Leftovers." A curt answer.
"I mean, is it edible?"
"Only if you make it out to be. I'm not wasteful with food unlike some people…"
"Stop telling off your elders!"
Here, Usaki couldn't help it—his eyes grew wide and he coughed, a mangled mix between a choking gasp and a snort. Tamao leaned over and gave him a gruff smack on the back.
"Hey, hey! I'm two years older than this brat! Don't tell me you thought he was older than me!" Usaki looked at his half finished omurice blankly. The inspector glared a while longer at the blonde before he threw up his hands and cried, "I can't even tell what you're thinking—or if you're thinking at all!"
The First Division Tokkei snapped up their heads so fast, they ran the risk of whiplash. Usaki was filled with a strange sense of déjà vu, despite the fact that this man was nothing like—
"Whoa, wait, idiot! Why're you putting so much ketchup on my food?" The brunette snapped, cutting into the blonde's thoughts.
"I was gonna draw a bunny!" The chihuahua cried.
Shouta smacked his head down on the table, shoulders quaking as he silently roared with laughter. His look said it all: Usaki is an Usagi~ An Usagi in the First Division~ Seiju would die to hear this~
Usaki thought that dinner would never end.
~:--:~
Tamao leaned back on his chair, stretching and rubbing his stomach. He gave a contented sigh.
"That was good…"
"Where are your manners, Tamao?" Shouta scolded him lightly.
The small man scowled, but sat up and sighed: "Gochisosama."
Usaki looked on, amusedly, seeing that his captain never lost his maternal instincts, even at home. He set his chopsticks down, inclining his head and uttering the same thing as the small inspector.
Shouta sighed, rolling his eyes at Tamao. "You put too much ketchup on my omurice! It ruined the delicate flavors of—"
"Of what? Leftovers? I can cook much better than that."
"Well now! You're being rude, elder. Poor Usa—Kenji—is left sitting while we quarrel like boys!"
A thought hit the blonde, almost violently. Iori. He stood up.
"I…it's all right. I have to go now, anyway. But the food was great, really. Thanks, Mikoshiba-san, Tamao-san." Gathering his jacket and readjusting his glasses, he quickly made his way to the front door, slipping on his comfortably worn tennis shoes.
There was a rustle and when he turned his head to the side, his captain was standing behind him, face serious and completely devoid of the mirth that had surrounded his aura just moments before.
"What's wrong?" Shouta demanded. Usaki looked back down at his shoes, pretending to retie them.
"I forgot that I have a few errands to run; I've been out too long." Mindful of the policeman's presence in the next room, he shrugged. "I…need to see about those job offers."
Shouta still threw him an incredulous look, but shrugged. He turned, bellowed: "Tamao, I'll be walking Kenji down—don't burn the place down!" and opened the front door, ignoring the indignant squawk from his roommate. Usaki followed, trying not to think too much on what the captain was doing.
When Shouta stopped abruptly as they walked down the hall, the blonde tried his best not to trip, staring incredulously at the taller man.
"Is something the matter, Mik—"
"What's wrong, Usaki?" The blonde widened his eyes in slight disbelief at the casual use of his real name.
"…Nothing's wrong. It's no business of other people, anyway."
"I know that!" Usaki's head snapped up at the sudden explosion of noise. "But if it interferes with work—"
"Is it, now." The cold, chilly tone that the blonde's voice had acquired stopped the brunette. "I didn't realize."
"No, wait, I didn't mean it like—" At the sudden shock of seeing slate grey irises glistening with annoyance (emotion), the captain stopped once more.
"Nothing in my personal life shall hurt this operation anymore. You have my word. Now, if you will excuse me," throwing an impeccable salute, "I have a job to search for."
Shouta was surprised by the amount of ice dripping from the normally stoic teen. He had involuntarily taken a step back.
~:--:~
When Usaki had stepped into the hospital, the receptionist—although a different person—smiled at him in a business-like recognition. He had practically made this place his second home.
She, this time a middle aged woman, with a stern figure and expression, nodded to him curtly, smile gone and long forgotten. He stepped towards her.
"The doctor will have a word with you."
His heart sped up as she waved him to the room he knew so well; the room that he had waited in for hours at a time to hear exactly how his twin was faring.
"Toudou-san, how nice to see you again."
He nodded politely, mutely.
"Please, relax. Your brother is doing quite all right. However…"
Don't say it.
"I will ask you once more—it has been quite a long time since he's shown any sign of consciousness…"
Don't.
"Life support is expensive. You are the only living relative, I understand?"
Oh, the speech. Get it over with.
"There is always the option of taking him—"
"It's fine. I am well-provided for—he will be fine."
"You understand that the longer he stays in this state, the less likely—"
"I am well-provided for. He will be fine," Usaki repeated icily.
"Yes, of course. One more thing—I apologize," the doctor faltered for a split second before continuing. "Your information that you have given us. Your occupation leaves a little too much to the imagination—as you must know, there's a large possibility of legal matters being dragged into this if the money is not obtained legally—"
If tax-payers money is considered fraudulent or illegal, then sure. The blonde would be messing with the law. Himself.
"I assure you, doctor, this money is clean."
"I cannot know that unless you give me something more solid than a statement like that."
The blonde adjusted his glasses on his face deliberately; he sat up and looked at the other man in the eye. "It is the most solid answer that someone in your jurisdiction is allowed to receive. I am convinced that we have been over this before."
"I agree; you were about sixteen, if I recall correctly. I also never knew where you attended school."
"All you need to know is that I am financially able to take care of my brother. Good day."
For the sake of business courtesy and reputation, the doctor stood silently and bowed as the nineteen year-old swept out of the room.
:--:
I bow to you, reader, as I am very pleased to see that you have completed this third chapter of mine, on the very first story, Bunny, Bunny. You make me feel terribly accomplished as you finish this piece, and I thank you for your tolerance and indulgence in this one particle among giants.
Treat me well, and I will do my best to fufill your dreams.
Again, I know that this is a ridiculously short chapter after a lengthy wait. As it is, I hope you find the writing satisfactory. Constructive reviews, flames, cookies, Usakis, Shoutas. Throw what you like at me--I won't break.
Again, an author's note will be attached to the beginning and end of each chapter, and for any suggestions or questions, please do not hesitate to review or PM O.Y.F. I will get to you ASAP.
Thank you, again, for your indulgence.
:-Kaida-: