You guys are the best! I keep meaning to stop writing this story because it's so stupid, but you guys are so kind about it, you keep me going.

Chapter 9

After Takumi landed in the courtyard, he walked over and picked up the photo. He was putting the picture back in his wallet when he heard the school bell ring. The halls would soon fill with students who would then bubble out into the courtyard. He remembered Misaki's advice. Falling was supposed to hurt. He wished she'd been a little more specific, but then again, she didn't have too much time to explain.

Hummm… what sort of pain should he be feeling? Was it the pain of embarrassment for being so clumsy as to fall off a roof? Was it emotional pain brought on by the realization he couldn't fly? Was it physical pain? What was that last bit? Oh right, 'you will be hurt… or killed'. She must have meant physical pain. But what part of his body should be in pain? His ears and nose stuck out, were small and made of cartilage. They were kind of weak. And his baby toe was a very small bone, maybe it was also more fragile. But the force of gravity does have the biggest impact on large things, so maybe one of his leg bones should be injured. He decided to play it safe and just lie down and look sad. Maybe Misaki would give him more clues once she got there.

He didn't need to wait very long for her to arrive. He could hear her yelling at the crowd to get out of her way and sure enough, she was the first person to coming running through the doors to the courtyard. The look of worry was so obvious on her features that his heart fluttered yet again. Oh no! Was that fluttering a sign his heart was breaking? Ugh! Why had he bought the upgrade on the skeletal structure and not splurged and bought the upgrade for the organs?

"Oh my God! Are you crazy?" Misaki stammered as she reached Takumi. She was looking him over to verify he was, in fact, still alive.

Crazy? Crap! Crazy in love…. had he read something about that? Was that a thing? Was that another possible side effect? Why was she asking him this? If you go crazy, is there some sort of look on your face to warn others? Definitely should have paid for the organ upgrade! "I don't think so," Takumi ventured.

Maybe he was being a hypochondriac. She was probably just trying to explain how he was supposed to play off this whole falling thing. There were other people around so she couldn't just say to him, "act like your arm is in pain." Maybe asking him if he was crazy was her way to say his head should be the biting him that was hurting.

That's when he noticed that on her chest were two soft little built in pillows. Why hadn't he noticed those before? Something about them seemed quite appealing. He wanted to reach up and squeeze them. There was one for each hand. How convenient. How nice it would be to lie his head on one of those and have her stroke his face. Yes, she must be suggesting he play that his head was hurt. "My head sure does hurt though," he said. "It would be nice to have a soft spot to rest it."

Misaki nodded. "Goda, get over here and let Takumi put his head in your lap while I run and get the nurse!" Goad complied and sat on the ground. He then gingerly set Takumi's head in his lap. Goda had just finished Rugby practice and hadn't yet had a chance to shower. Takumi's eyes watered as his nose picked up the smell of Goda's sweat. Takumi was further repulsed when he felt an occasional drop of sweat fall from Goda onto his face. This was not what he had in mind. Meanwhile, Misaki had run off to fetch the nurse.

Before Misaki could return, a large black limousine pulled up to the court yard and Gerald emerged. He walked over to where his brother was lying down. He frowned slightly. Takumi hadn't said what type of human he'd fallen in love with. Could it have been this rather odiferous, sticky male human? Takumi did have his head cradled in his lap. Gerald wasn't very pleased. If this human was willing to show such affection publicly, the relationship must be more serious than he'd thought. Very soon, he would need to explain to his younger brother why he could never be allowed to have a relationship with a human. "Takumi," Gerald said drily, "I have come to drive you home."

Takumi could not have been more grateful for a reason to leave. He started to spring up when Goda pulled him back down onto his lap. "Sir," Goda explained, "it seems Takumi just fell from the roof! He needs medical attention!"

Gerald looked a bit baffled. Takumi rolled his eyes. Right. He was "hurt". It would seemodd to just leave. Also, it was pretty clear that Gerald was also unaware of exactly how frail these pathetic human were. He'd need to subtlety tell him about the ruse. "Yep," Takumi piped up, "I fell off a roof, and being the regular, normal human guy I am, I injured my head."

Gerald eyes widened in understanding. "Yes. Yes, of course you did." He jumped aboard the wagon train. "I, being your concerned human brother, will be bringing you to a hospital to get that frail little head of yours examined. Get in the car." Takumi nodded and hopped up. He practically bolted for the car.

Goda was a bit taken aback by the weird conversation between the two brothers and he was shocked by Takumi's ability to move so gracefully with an injury. Gearld could see his shock and believed it was caused by hurt feeling that his brother had departed from the loving embrace so quickly and without a proper goodbye. "Don't worry son,"he said kindly, "I am sure that what you and Takumi had was very special, but the relationship was doomed to fail. I'm sure you'll meet another special someone someday." He smiled and left, leaving behind a puzzled and rather embarrassed Goda behind.