Karneval: Pyromancy

Pyromancy

Author's Note: If you go here: : / / w w w . fan fiction my forums / Salt-the-Catgirl / 239962/ (delete the spaces), you can find my fan fiction . net forums, where you will find a whole section dedicated to this story for feedback. The only poll for this story still open is whether or not to ship people, but as you can see, HirAkari is already in full swing, and there's been a slow build up for YoReki, which are the two highest standing voted Ships. Oh, and when Gareki's talking about Ranji, I'm going by the assumption that he didn't catch on to what Shishi meant when he told 'her' "You're like a guy too, only you wear a dress." ChaelRi Reika, DeathBringer13, OldManGoatFace-Cheese, DemonCry, and AlicAlrres, thank you all so for your comments, favorites, and Kudos on this story and on "I'm No Snitch".

Chapter 7: Catching Up

Gareki sat, quietly staring at Yogi from the passenger side of the travel pod. Not awkwardly staring where it was noticeable, of course, but looking from the corner of his eyes, trying to pretend his focus was somewhere other than the blonde fighter whom he'd come to be foremost in so many of his thoughts and memories as of late. Safely away from any chance of bumping into Dr. Akari, Yogi was his usual cheerful self. But that wasn't why Gareki was staring at him.

The fifteen year old fidgeted a moment, debating whether or not to say anything. Finally, he breathed out a sigh and looked at the former prince. "Yo?" he called.

Yogi flinched, Gareki had been silent ever since they left Research Tower, so hearing him finally say something was slightly startling. "What's up, Gareki-Kun?" Yogi asked, his fondness for the raven haired boy dripping in his every word.

"What's with the fancy get up?" Gareki asked, "I thought you guys only wore those tuxedos when you were on a raid or a mission?"

"Eh? Hirato-San wears his all the time," Yogi pointed.

"Hirato doesn't count!" Gareki scoffed, "That damned four-eyes is your captain, he has no choice but to wear one everywhere."

"Do you not think it suits me?" Yogi asked, looking down at his black tux, curious as to why Gareki was asking.

Quite the contrary, Gareki thought Yogi looked devilishly handsome in it. His royal roots positively shined through to their utmost in that outfit. "That's not what I mean either," Gareki answered, skirting a direct answer. "I the only time I've seen you in yours was when we raided Smokey Mountain. What's so special about taking me to Kuronomei that you're wearing it now?"

Yogi chuckled, finally understanding Gareki's reason for asking. He reached across the pod and wrapped his arms around Gareki. "Taking you to school is a mission in itself, Gareki-Kun," Yogi proclaimed happily.

"I'm sorry I asked," Gareki groaned, trying to push the over excitable blonde away, and hoping to high heavens that he wasn't blushing as he did so.

Yogi chuckled as he returned to his seat. He'd been learning how far he could push the younger male before passing the boundaries and becoming a punching bag. Still, he couldn't resist stealing the occasional hug. "In truth, Gareki-Kun, I have no choice but to wear it right now." The blonde stretched. "I prefer my other clothes to this uniform, it always feels so stiff and formal, I think Sheep-San uses too much starch when cleaning them or something. So, I'm always thankful when Hirato-San tells us we're allowed to wear something else. But to go to Kuronomei..." the lieutenant trailed off.

Gareki blinked. "But to go to Kuronomei, where Circus members are trained, you have to wear the official uniform, just like how the equipment isn't allowed near the school?" the student surmised.

"Bingo!" Yogi answered with a smile. "The only exception is if we receive a visitor's pass to visit a student. Since I'm dropping you off, rather than visiting you, it's considered official business, and I have to wear it."

"Just another annoying rule to follow, huh?" Gareki sighed.

"I knew it," Yogi said, "You don't like it on me."

"I never said that!" Gareki objected, refusing to look at the blonde, almost certain there was a blush on his face now.

"Ne, Gareki-Kun...?" Yogi started curiously.

Gareki slowly turned his attention back to the older male. "What is it?" he asked cautiously.

"What's it like going to Kuronomei?" Yogi asked.

"You went yourself, didn't you?" Gareki pointed, "Why are you asking me what it's like."

The blonde shook his head. "I mean, what's it like for you?" Yogi replied quietly, "Is it lonely? Is there too much pressure from tests and classes? You never answer me when I text. I never know if you're ok or not."

"I'm not weak enough to feel lonely," Gareki lied, "Besides, Tsubame-Chan is there, and I have a roommate, and there's two other students who tend to hang around with us. The tests and classes..." Gareki trailed off for a moment, thinking of the best way to answer. "I'm managing. Though, I'm sure I'll have a lot of catching up to do."

"Distant as always, Gareki-Kun," Yogi thought with a sigh, "But at least you're opening up to me a little." He fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke again. "I'm glad, Gareki-Kun," he said quietly. Gareki blinked at the blonde. "It's lonely on the ship without you. But I'm glad you're getting to follow your dream, and that you're not lonely or having trouble in school."

"I will admit I'm a bit nervous about going back, though," Gareki said absentmindedly, not realizing he'd said it out loud until too late.

"Nervous, why?" Yogi asked.

"Forget it," Gareki said, shaking his head.

"No, if something's bothering you, you should get it off your chest," Yogi said, once more turning his attention to the teenager. "Gareki-Kun?" Yogi blinked. Was it really nothing, or just that Gareki didn't want to talk to HIM about it? He reached across and put a gentle hand on Gareki's shoulder. "Like I've told you before, Gareki-Kun," he said softly, "If you have anything you want to talk about, I'm always willing to listen."

Gareki sighed. "It's just, I have no idea how to explain what happened when my classmates start asking questions, and I'm curious how this new curriculum is going to work. If it's tailored just for me, doesn't that mean I'll be the only one taking the course? People are likely to end up asking questions, but there's too many secrets involved in why it's been set up."

Gareki didn't talk much, but when he did, he made it count, and the blonde hung on his every word. He reached across and rustled a gentle hand through Gareki's hair. "I'm not sure how to help you with that, Gareki-Kun," the blonde answered honestly, "If Hirato-San or Tsukitachi-San where here, they'd probably suggest you be yourself and tell people asking questions you can't talk about it, that sometimes 'It's Classified' is the best answer you can give. But I'm not either of them."

Gareki smiled. "And yet, I think you just gave me the best answer you could have." He smirked as he moved the blonde's hand from his head. "I guess Kiichi's wrong, you're not COMPLETELY useless," he teased.

"That's cold, Gareki-Kun," Yogi complained. He blinked, then smiled, "But I'm glad I could help." Another moment of silence passed. "So... Tell me about your classmates? I'm sure Tsubame-Chan loves having you so close since it's been two years since you left her house, but what about the others? You mentioned a roommate?"

"What, are you trying to protect Nai's territory?" Gareki snarked.

"Not funny," Yogi retorted.

"Or are you trying to claim your own?" Gareki thought. "Not like it matters, does it? Nai's always with Karoku now, do you mean to tell me he's really sleeping in our room by himself when I'm not there?"

"He was until Karoku-Kun finally remembered him," Yogi admitted, "Little Nai's missed you more than he let on. He's stronger in that regard than I am. He didn't want you to feel guilty for having left. Until they disappeared, Karoku-Kun kept pushing him away. Something happened while they were in Satanika for Karoku-Kun's memories to come back. Nai-Chan's been quiet about it, not wanting anyone to worry about him. Me on the other hand, I've done nothing but bother you, haven't I?"

"Why would you think...?" Gareki started.

"I missed you when you left," Yogi said, "My text messages have been long, trying to tell you everything that was going on, so you didn't feel left out of the loop when you came home." Gareki gave a quiet flinch at the end of that sentence, but bit back any comment. "And... I'm sorry for waking you up the other night, it was selfish of me."

"Definately trying to claim your own teritory," Gareki thought, trying not to chuckle out loud. "You're just being you, I've come to expect that," he said. He sighed. "Ok, so my classmates, then!" he decided to quickly change the subject, it wouldn't do any good to have a depressed pilot. He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. "There's Tsubame-Chan, of course. But then, there's my roommate Shishi. He's in the mechanics division, but he doesn't seem to take his classes seriously. Ranji's always reprimanding him for slacking and skipping. At first, I thought he was going to be a lot like you when I met him, but he's actually a bit more laid back than I expected. He has a tendency to come into the room, right when I'm falling asleep and waking me up though." Yogi flinched, suddenly feeling even guiltier for his outburst the other night.

"So, who is Ranji?" Yogi asked.

"She's student-body president, or something like that. She enforces the rules of the school and is a member of the Management Information Course. Her prime target is Shishi, I don't think she's near as strict on anyone else as she is with him," Gareki noted.

"Maybe she likes him," Yogi suggested.

Gareki shrugged, "Maybe."

Yogi smiled, "In any case, she sounds like a woman who means business, like Iva-Neesan."

"You could say that," Gareki replied.

"And the other one?"

"Sesiri, she's also in the Intelligence Course with Ranji," Gareki said, "She has a bad habit of sneaking up on people and taking photos when they're not paying attention."

"Oooh," Yogi said in a playful tone, "Any chance I could buy a few candid photos of you off of her?"

Gareki glared at the blonde. "You so much as try and I swear I'll kill you," he warned.

Yogi chuckled. "I take that to mean it is possible."

"Yogi, I mean it!" Gareki growled.

Yogi smiled. "So, what about those gifts we gave you when you left?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Huh?" Gareki blinked.

"I don't actually expect you to hug and talk to them when you're lonely. As nice as that would be, it's just not you," Yogi admitted, "But did you at least keep them?" Yogi's eyes quietly shifted back toward Gareki, asking the question he dared not voice, "Or did they wind up in the trash?"

"Gyah!" Gareki face palmed as he realized where he'd left the bag with those items. "No, they're still in that bag. I'm going to kill Shishi if he looked through it!"

"Eh!? You still have them?" Yogi asked sounding completely surprised.

Gareki looked away. "Tsukumo-Chan and Nai worked so hard on that stuffed Niji, I couldn't just throw it away, I had every intention of returning it to them when I came back." In truth, Gareki did sometimes hug those dolls when he felt lonely, and he knew Shishi wouldn't be back from his classes for a while, but the boy was too proud to admit it.

Once more, silence fell over the capsule. Yogi didn't know where to take the conversation from there, and Gareki offered nothing further, either. "It's a long trip, Gareki-Kun, it's already getting dark, and we're miles away from anywhere to stop and eat," Yogi eventually offered, noticing the younger male beginning to look bored and weary, "Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you when it's dinner time."

Gareki begrudgingly nodded. He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. Yogi smiled as he watched the raven haired teen drift off to sleep. Hours passed before Gareki began to stir again. He felt something on the horizon. Something, not quite right. His stormy blue eyes opened wide, he'd felt this once before. The air around them felt the same as it did the night the slave ship sank. "Yogi, quick, take us down!" he exclaimed.

"Eh?" Yogi flinched, startled by Gareki's sudden outburst, having thought his passenger was still asleep.

"There's a storm coming," Gareki said.