When You Wish To Be Wanted
By: Yidkirkin
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
SPOILERS
Takimaru and Aimaru arrived in the 'Craftsman's Forest' just after lunch, a day and a half after they boarded the Gourmet Express Train in Eco Land. The long ride had given the two Knights enough time to further sort out Harry's affairs; Takimaru called Match the moment they were on their way and Aimaru met with an IGO official halfway through the journey. It had taken several long hours to go through the appropriate paperwork for just Takimaru's guardianship, but there were a number of new forms and reports to fill out now on top of that. All manner of documents; about Harry's Gourmet Cells, his location, his former residence and his treatment, doctor's records and an appointment to register his Gourmet ID, and then formal statements about the contingencies to ensure the child's safety should this happen again.
Takimaru had only been present for the most important of those forms, having finally passed out once his adrenaline had run its course, and only woken up two other times the entire journey; once to eat and the other when they had been ten minutes inbound to Skill Garden's station.
Now that they were here, Takimaru's anxiety had risen again, simmering below his skin as it tended to –spurning him into fast, calculated movements through the throngs of people crowding the platform. Aimaru laid a hand on Takimaru's shoulder once they cleared the station, hoping to calm him enough that he didn't accidentally smother Harry when they saw him. They didn't really know how his time away (with his relatives or otherwise) had affected him, no matter how he sounded over the phone; Takimaru being anything other than perfectly reasonable might not go over very well. The younger man smiled sheepishly at his leader and slowed to a halt, taking a few seconds to perform a watered down version of his pre-shot routine that many Knights utilized for everyday focus.
"I –My apologies, Aimaru-san, I'll –I will be fine now," Takimaru said after taking a shallow breath. "I simply cannot stop my thinking, and once it's upon me my body takes leave of my control. Following after Ice Hell it has happened a few times during my periods in Nerg City –it does annoy Match-san to no end, let me tell you."
"It happens to everyone Taki. Just remember to think of Ha-chan firstly, as your personal experience may not carry you the breadth of this path. Parenthood, especially unexpected, will often leave you floundering about things you thought you knew, let alone things you don't," The pair set out again, this time at a more relaxed pace, Takimaru following in his leader's wake and mulling over his advice. When they got further from the station they started to run into Skill Garden's signature specialty restaurants and art shops; there was a cluster of businesses before their ultimate destination, but even from here they could already see the Ehou Maki that Monchy was sought after for, rising above the 'Craftsman's Forest' like a tower.
They stuck to the path but kept their eyes on the enormous sushi roll while they drew closer, eventually catching the sounds of loud cheers and excited yelling coming from the base of the fortune telling food. There was no sound of an announcer yet, which told them more than anything else that they still had a ways to go. Takimaru kept himself calm, and focused on Aimaru's back the rest of the way, not particularly wanting to look around and risk getting ahead of himself.
"-can't believe it! Look at that!" A familiar voice trickled into their ears once they passed a bend in the road, magnified through a speaker so they could hear it clearly but still not see the hyped up owner of the shout. "Hit with a spray! The –uh –Sugar Vinegar Blinding Spray! He has the Ehou Maki backed into a corner!"
"That cannot be who we've come to see..." Aimaru said, but he was grinning at Takimaru, looking about ready to cackle.
"I do think it is," Takimaru laughed at the loud roar from the crowd just visible in the distance.
"And –And now he's wrapping the Ehou Maki in his finishing move! The R-Reverse Rice Suplex Wrap! The Ehou Maki is begging for mercy –it's done for!"A deafening cheer rose as the towering sushi roll was wrapped all at once, and then there was silence. The two Gourmet Knights stopped at the edge of the crowd to observe the Ehou Maki's iconic fall, an event that made all the spectators and the surrounding structures wobble and shake from the sheer weight of the thing. Once the clients started to eat, the audience began dissipating, and the pair finally caught sight of Monchy lifting Harry down from a high stool, the seven year old clutching a piece of paper that was likely a list of Monchy's wrestling moves. The boy was dressed in a well fitting pastel pink polo and brown capris, and fairly glowed from the compliments that some of the passersby gave him on his announcing, looking more at ease than when he'd disappeared from the guest bedroom.
"Don't be an idiot, ya did great! Better than the idiot from last time, I can tell ya that!" Monchy was saying loudly, making the child beside him giggle and smile at the praise. Monchy tilted his head slightly to the side and grinned when he saw the quietly approaching men. "Don't look now, idiot," He said to Harry. "But I think a couple of your idiots just showed up."
Harry stood there unmoving while Takimaru and Aimaru stopped advancing a few paces behind him. The adults saw him take a deep breath before whirling around, fixing his eyes on Takimaru and stilling again like a deer in the headlights; it made the first tier Knight laugh slightly to see it.
"Two days, hence we promised, Ha-kun," Takimaru said; Harry's expression brightened like the sun, and he let out a small happy sound before darting forward to grasp at Takimaru's hands, holding them tightly between his own and forcing the Knight to stoop low.
"Ta –Otousan!" Harry blurted out, and Takimaru's face was one of pure shock –when did –had Monchy taught him that? For once Harry didn't notice the change of the man's expression, as he kept smiling brilliantly and went on. "You're here, you're here! I was good like I said, I helped with cooking and Monchy-ji let me announce for his wrestling-cooking –and I learnt lots of stuff about lots of ingredients and –y –you're here!" Fat, slow tears started to drip out of his eyes, and even though he was still smiling he began sniffing and blinking rapidly as well. "I –I want to live with you, Taki –Ta... Otousan! Really, I really do! I wan-anted to tell you –before I left but –but I couldn't and –and-"
"Oh, Harry," Takimaru felt a surge of affection –was this what Aimaru felt towards him, that the older man would call him his son? Harry dissolved into hiccupping sobs and Takimaru extracted his hands from the child's grasp, pulling Harry to him and hugging him tightly while the seven year old clutched at his shirt.
"Maybe we should go inside, have some tea –Monchy-san?" Aimaru asked the chef.
"Just about to suggest that, ya idiot. C'mon," The old man replied gruffly. Takimaru scooped Harry up and stood, following after the other two at a sedate pace so that his passenger could have more time to calm down. The past two weeks had been filled with stress, worry and self doubt for the Knight, but now that he could see Harry, comfort him and talk to him, Takimaru was surprised to find that it had all lessened. There was still an underlying anxiety –they didn't know if or when Harry would phase out of their lives again –but he could manage that just fine now.
"Is –Is calling you 'Otousan' alright?" Harry whispered, face turned away but the back of his neck tinged so dark as to look unhealthy. "Monchy-ji told me all about honorifics after I asked what 'Ha-chan' meant –and I just thought-"
"You shall call me whatever you wish to, Ha-kun. In fact, you should call Aimaru-san with Ai-ojiisan, I think he should rather like the title," Takimaru assured, only partly teasing (the Knight's leader really was as good as Harry's grandfather now). "And as to what you say, about wanting to live with me –as soon as we are back to Simple Diet Hill, you shall be."
Takimaru felt Harry nod against his shoulder as they entered Monchy's home –the personal quarters as opposed to the restaurant. The eccentric chef was already bustling away with the kettle and a small platter of food suited to the Gourmet Faith, so Takimaru took Harry over to join Aimaru at the table in the middle of the room.
He accepted the cloth Monchy offered him once everyone was seated, and deftly wiped Harry's face while the tea was being poured. By the time the group settled Harry was calmer –if a little puffy eyed –and sat in his own chair next to Takimaru, nibbling on a Black Bonnet Cookie.
"Ha-chan, pray tell us what happened two weeks ago?" Aimaru began easily, sipping at the tea; Garnet Orange was a favourite among their ranks for its easy and natural preparation, and he was no exception. Harry nodded, glancing at Takimaru and Monchy before turning back to the Gourmet Knight's leader.
"I was lying down, talking with T... Otousan, after Brunch-san left, when the light came," Harry said this all carefully, trying to remember it exactly –but he didn't really want to remember, and so it came slowly. "It hurt a lot, like before I left Little Whinging. It got dark and cold, and I was scared, but then the nice light came back and I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was back in my cupboard. Aunt Petunia said that Uncle Vernon found me asleep in the backyard, and that I'd been gone a week," Monchy muttered the word 'cupboard' as if he had never heard it before, and Aimaru briefly closed his eyes.
"I didn't stay at number four too much. I felt really, really tired the first week, but I didn't want to be there so I stayed awake. When I got a ways away from Privet Drive I always felt better, so I walked around outside all day when I wasn't at school. Because I used my G-Gourmet Cells, I didn't get any dinner for a while, and the first dinner I got from my aunt –it happened again, but it didn't hurt this time. I landed in Monchy-ji's closet over there and surprised him."
The explanation was simple and probably left a lot of things unsaid, and it was just what the two Knights had expected. Takimaru wasn't going to pry –if Harry wanted to tell him something then he would in his own time –so instead he nodded and added to the mental list he was amassing of preparations for a possible repeat of the situation.
"You were not hurt whilst you were there? Did your relatives do anything else to mistreat you?"
"Dudley kicked me under the table a bit, but that's all."
Aimaru was relieved that Harry hadn't suffered irreversible damage from his stint back in his relative's home, but he knew it would still take a long time to repair the existing harm already done. "Now, tell us, Ha-chan, what did Monchy-san teach you that had you excited so?" Aimaru changed the subject for now, smiling at the cheerful expression on the seven year old's face.
"Monchy-ji let me help with cooking his really small Fortune Sushi! He taught me how to cook a bunch of different types of rice and told me all about some of the live Ingredients people've brought him!" Harry gushed promptly, staring at the old man with a bright smile. "I've always cooked at home, but I helped Monchy-ji so I liked it this time. And everyone who came into the restaurant for a meal were always really nice to me –even the older ladies! I thought they might not be, 'cause no one in Privet Drive can stand me for very long, but they said I was cute and asked if I wanted to hear some stories."
It's not just his family? Takimaru thought, incredulous. What kind of place does Harry live in, that the community would treat a small child badly for his Gourmet Cells? Perhaps an area that's had bad experience with users in the past?
Harry didn't notice Takimaru's thoughts, and continued on with gusto. "Monchy-ji showed me some of the shops too; I got to have Fissure Tea at the Steaming Kettle because he said it would help me get better faster! We picked out new clothes, and Monchy-ji bought me new shoes too –see?" Here, Harry pushed out his chair and displayed the sturdy, black slip-ons they hadn't noticed before.
"You were very kind to do so, Monchy-san," said Aimaru, making the chef bluster and cross his arms.
"Y'idiot! I couldn't let the little idiot wander around barefoot and stinkin'! 'Sides, I ain't hurtin' for money," Monchy grumbled the last part, hoping the idiot didn't insist on thanking him further. Aimaru just smiled serenely and turned back to regard Harry, just as the seven year old perked up and called out to him.
"Ai-ojiisan, when are we going back to Simple Diet Hill?"
Takimaru chuckled at the look on his leader's face.
Vvv
Due to the sheer size of the influx of tourists the Gourmet Train brought with it to Skill Garden, there had been a long standing agreement between the station and businesses that after the noon train left, the one from the oncoming direction would delay its arrival until noon the next day, and then there would be two days with no trains set to arrive. Luckily for Harry, the train that Aimaru and Takimaru had boarded had been the former of the two, and so they only ended up staying at Sushi Fortune-Telling Monchy for the one night. Harry was eager to get back to Simple Diet Hill, of course, but that didn't stop him from being very sad that he would now have to leave Monchy, whom he had grown to like very much in the two days he had stayed with him.
"For the nth time, I don't mind, ya little idiot!" Monchy reiterated on the station platform, ruffling Harry's hair firmly but grinning despite. "Ya've got my number, so call whenever! 'Specially if y'r idiotic Cells act up again and you're nearby! Got it?!" Harry nodded and adjusted the new back pack he and Takimaru had picked out for him (inside it was the paper with Monchy's phone number on it, his extra clothes, and a Citrus Banana), squeezing the Knight's hand as he did and drawing a smile from the man.
"We shall make sure he visits sometime, Monchy-san. I do thank you again for your hospitality," Takimaru said, bowing deeply before looking over to the station's large clock. "We best be boarding. Come on, Ha-kun."
"Okay. Bye, Monchy-ji!" Harry bowed as well and waved as they entered the train, and was quiet up until they had arrived at their small room halfway down the carriage. The trip lasting two days, the little compartment had three bunks bolted into the far wall, a table surrounded on three sides by cushioned seats underneath a large window, and an attached bathroom. While Harry clambered onto the far couch to stare out of the window, Takimaru stowed their luggage in the closet and then followed Aimaru to the table as well.
The first few hours of the train ride passed in relative ease; Harry alternated between staring at the passing scenery fascinated, or reading one of the books a train attendant had procured for him. They visited the train's cafeteria car around suppertime, and Aimaru worked through a stack of forms after that; Takimaru occupied himself by describing where they were passing by, helping Harry with unfamiliar words or concepts in his books, or doing reading of his own. Both adults were waiting until Harry had fallen asleep to discuss the elephant in the room, so they could work out the finer points of it without worrying about being interrupted.
When Harry passed out around seven in the evening, tuckered from his own enthusiasm and his full stomach, Takimaru took a few minutes to transfer him over to the lowest of the three bunks before he rejoined his leader at the table. Just finishing up the last of an IGO report, Aimaru didn't speak for a minute.
"He is as buzzing as a Watt Bee," Takimaru commented fondly, a noise of agreement sounding from his leader. "I wonder if it is not something to do with his cells –he told he felt chronically tired while at his relatives and awake when out of the house, and here he has barely been able to sit still."
"I've thought about it, last night," Aimaru said. "His cells may be linked more directly to his emotions than others. He did not want to be at his relatives; therefore his depressed mood slowed his Gourmet Cells down, resulting in even more of a lacklustre state until he was able to gain a reprieve. He is happy to be back, so apply the same concept. It only means that along with meditation, we should teach him rudimentary Cell exercises so he won't get caught in a spiral."
"It is really all conjecture at this time," Takimaru pointed out. "Until Ha-kun is able to feel his cells out on his own, we will not know for sure what is happening to him, even with Brunch-san's assessment offering guidelines. And it does seem that it is going to happen again, before he can gain mastery of his abilities."
"We shall prepare him the best we can. We have already been doing so, in a manner," Aimaru said diplomatically, folding the forms up and stowing them in one of the little drawers underneath the table. "His check up with Amara-san comes the day after our return and his Gourmet ID registry the day following that, so his health we can put out of our minds for the moment. You were at rest when I made the statements, but I have already set into motion several fall backs should this happen to Ha-chan again."
"You have?" Takimaru had suspected, but it was a relief to hear it confirmed. "What manner of fall backs?"
"The IGO and Gourmet Police have a watch bulletin prepared in advance, to put it in motion we only have to call them. Once Toriko returns from his and Komatsu-san's impromptu vacation, I'm going to ask him to familiarize himself with Ha-chan's scent and cells, so he can locate him from far off if the need arises," listed Aimaru calmly. "On our front, I have prepared a letter for him to give to his aunt and uncle if it comes to that... strongly worded is putting it mildly. I will have a talk with him about all of this, perhaps after his Gourmet ID registry, and you shall take him to get essentials for his bag –clothes, a sleeping mat, map and tools –as well, I've already sketched a tentative schedule for lessons. He shall start on meditation, focus training and mindfulness firstly, so as not to lose control of his cells accidentally, and once he gets a grip on those I plan on starting him on his Gourmet Cell manipulation, geography, compass and map reading, survival skills and basic cooking knowledge, maybe a simple pre-shot."
"How do you do it, Aimaru-san? I did think of only half those things, and certainly not to the extent of you," Takimaru waved off his own question and sighed. "Shall I even do much for Ha-kun hence?"
"You only need to be there for him. What Ha-chan needs, more than preparation, is someone to watch out for him and guide him, love him, as a father would. What if I said he needed to be your top priority, Taki?"
"I want him to be my top priority."
Aimaru sat and thought on his son's words for a few minutes, and then he leaned across the table and took Takimaru's hands in his, smiling with an apologetic glint in his eyes. "...You know, when you came back from Ice Hell, I did think that something had changed. How stubborn you were, how bold, making me realize I should take that Life medicine, making me see how foolish I was acting; dear Acacia, I'm forever grateful you did. Then you were at the Cooking Festival, and I saw something else," Takimaru blushed and smiled awkwardly, unsure of where this was heading. "You fought alongside the Gourmet Mafia and Gourmet Hunters without pause, and you had become stronger, much stronger than you were before I fell ill. Toriko left to retrieve Komatsu-san, and I'd never seen you work so hard before, I'd never known you to be so dedicated..."
"Aimaru-san?"
"Looking at you now, I truly feel a fool. How could I not have seen how far you've come?" Aimaru shook his head and squeezed Takimaru's fingers. "I didn't see it after all the time you spent in Nerg and Jiddal, working tirelessly with the Mafia and the IGO. Not after the months you spent with that Teppei, coordinating with the younger generation of Gourmet Revivers. Not even when you came home carrying Ha-chan, straight backed and gentle and more than you had ever seemed before. How short sighted I have been... Taki, you have long since earned a place in the second tier, can you ever forgive me?"
Takimaru stared at his leader in shock for a good thirty seconds, hands slipping out of his hold without his permission as he tried to process what the other man had just said to him. "There's nothing to forgive," Was the first thing he said; immediately, faintly, like he was convincing himself just as much. Then, "Aimaru-san –you think –am I truly ready?"
"Mm. The mere fact you are unsure means you are," Aimaru held a closed fist over his smile and let out a slow breath, thinking about his next words. "You... asked me to keep you in first tier until you had reached your full potential, because you felt it was expected of you. Taki, you have grown far beyond first tier, far above that which you seem to have set as your limit. I want you to continue to grow; first tier is there for those who want stability or a place to thrive, second tier is for those who see their own flaws and will –want to rise above them. Accept my judgement; surpass your limits, keep on with your own endeavours, and take the time to learn how to see Ha-chan as your son."
"...I shall. Thank you, Aimaru-san, for this opportunity," Takimaru lowered his head in a bow, still sitting with his hands outstretched on the table. "Ha-kun will be my top priority. I shall call Match-san and Teppei-san about reorganizing our efforts for the next few months at least. I shall be the one to take charge of his meditation and focus lessons; I may not be an expert at much but this I know how to teach. And I'll also have to write to these... relatives of Harry's," Takimaru glanced over at the still sleeping child and a dark glint bloomed in his good eye. "Would ye'mind terribly if I was to look over the letter ye've already addressed? In so I don't... retread any old ground."
Aimaru stared for a minute before shaking his head. "How did I miss it?"
