Chapter 4

When Mikai woke up late Tuesday morning he found himself sandwiched in between the two sturdy bodies of Hisame and Lear. It was a cold, fall morning but he felt warm and happy.

"Well look who decided to join the real world." Mikai felt Lear's warm breath close to his ear making him shiver.

"Good morning1" Hisame piped in from behind him. Mikai winced; he'd forgotten how much of a morning person Hisame was.

"Blarg," said Mikai, "I feel sore."

Lear nodded,

"I told you, you would be."
Mikai pouted,

"I know, but I was hoping I wouldn't be."

"Regardless you – actually none of us, have to go to school today. I called us all in sick," Lear told them proudly.

"You are so bad," Mikai told him happily as he snuggled deeper under the covers.

"Oh no you don't." said Hisame, "It's 10:00 already, and I'm hungry."

Mikai and Lear sighed. Lear rolled lazily out of the bad and onto the floor beckoning Mikai to join him. Mikai moved to join him but groaned in pain as he went to sit up. Damn he was more sore than he cared to admit.

"Problems?" Lear asked him.

"I don't think I can make it…"

"Oh, well that's no problem; I'll carry you."

"Eh?!"

Lear swiftly stood up and scooped Mikai up of the mattress bridal style.

"Wait! Wait! Lear! Come on, put me down."

"Why? I thought you said you couldn't make it."

"Well, yeah but if you drop me I'm screwed!"

Lear scoffed,

"I'm offended. Fine, if you want to be dropped here you go."

"Wait! LEAR!"

Lear let go of Mikai briefly letting him drop slightly before catching him again.

"Lear!" Mikai yelled. Lear and Hisame were both laughing hysterically at Mikai's petrified face. Mikai growled,

"I'm glad you're both finding this so amusing."

"You're just so fun to tease," said Hisame, "but you're right. Enough fun and games! I'm hungry."

The boys walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Hisame hopped over to the counter and started pulling out ingredients for pancakes. Lear set Mikai down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table.

"Looks like I'll be cleaning up the mess of the century," Lear said. He stood up and shooed Hisame away from the kitchen counter. Hisame protested loudly but lost the fight. It was, after all, Lear's house. Hisame took a seat next to Mikai,

"I bet you Daisuke is barking mad right now," he said as a pleased grin crept up on his face.

"That guy is so odd," Mikai stated, "he's so…you know, like, 'high and mighty'. It drives me nuts. I'm so glad Lear's letting me stay with him."

"I'm sure he'll take good care of you," Hisame winked.

"Who's this he?" Lear asked, butting into their conversation as he brought brunch with him.

"This 'he'," said Hisame, "happens to be you."

Lear took his seat and started handing out the pancakes,

"Oh? Well of course I'll take care of my little kitten."

Mikai stuck his tongue out at Lear who shoved a slice of pancake in Mikai's mouth.

"Chew you food."

"Bite me," Mikai said around the slice of pancake.

"With pleasure."

Lear grinned evilly and started to eat,

"So," said Hisame, "what are we going to do on this lovely 'day-off' of ours?"

"Who knows," said Lear, "we're rather limited because of out crip over here," he motioned towards Mikai haphazardly. Mikai began to fume,

"Well excuse me for being such a burden and so useless!"

Mikai pushed himself away from the table and ran up the stairs. Lear raced after him,

"Mikai! Stop!"

Mikai was halfway up the stairs and in a lot of pain. He turned hard on his heels and that was it.

"MIKAI!!"

Lear rushed to catch him but he was to late. Mikai was tumbling down the stairs to Lear's horror.

"Shit!" He ran up to a limp Mikai who now lay at the bottom of the stairs. Lear knelt down beside him, panicked.

"Hisame! Hisame!!"

"What? What happened?"

"Hisame get the phone and call an ambulance."

"Why?"

"He's not breathing!"