Chapter 9: My Teardrops

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon.

Author's Note: …Well, wow x.x Um, what can I say? Being a diligent student is hard! I've never had to write and read in such a short time frame in all my life…but as I'm down with a cold and have done my work ahead of time for school, I am breaking out this chappy. I'm sure people have reviewed, it's just been a while so I'll just say thanks for those XD And uh, melancholy on this one but next chapter will be fun XD And having read Leave Out All The Rest and Sacrifice of Angels might be helpful on character development in this one but not necessary.

Happy reading!

And oh wow, I almost forgot but it's kind of sexual at the beginning (lol, what? Who would have thunkit?)

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"…Hi?"

Roomi narrowed her eyes at the woman that was staring at her from inside Jyun's apartment. Well…seems like he hadn't cut back like she had.

…Though she did pick up guys three days in a row. But this was different!

The redhead grinned very nervously before clearing her throat, rushing around her. Roomi scowled and stalked into his apartment, slamming the door behind her. He was sitting on the sofa, looking as if he really hadn't had sex AT all. Glowering, she slammed down beside him, watching as he tossed chips in his mouth.

"So…did you have sex or watch a movie?"

"She wanted to get back at her boyfriend for cheating on her" he informed, munching, "Said she wanted to sleep with someone just so he'd know how much it hurt her. So I brought her here but she naturally didn't go through with it. I told her any guy that would cheat on her isn't worth a second of her time and that she should move on…and that she should leave before my attack dog gets here and kills her."

Roomi smacked his shoulder, glaring, "I RESENT being called a dog, Jyun!"

Jyun sighed, "You know I don't mean ithat/i, Roomi."

"So you're not calling me a bitch?" she grunted.

"I said ATTACK dog, not FEMALE dog, woman!"

"WOMAN?"

Jyun sighed, "What can I do for you?"

"Tell me why I shouldn't strangle you."

"Because I'm a good snuggler" he cooed, turning to her, hugging her tightly, and kissing her neck.

Roomi snickered, kneeing him, "Debatable, Jyun."

"Huggler?" he amended.

"I don't think there's such thing…"

"Of course there is…a huggle is like a snuggle but a cuddle…"

"Jyun" she laughed, shaking her head and standing to grab something to drink, "What am I going to do with you?"

"Hopefully screw the hell out of me. I'm horny and didn't get any."

"From cute to perv in a matter of seconds" she sighed airily, drinking his orange juice.

"Oi, no one drinks my orange juice" he scowled, trying to grab the glass from her.

But she dodged him, drinking it slowly, over-exaggerating, "MMMM, this is SOOO good."

She squealed as he tried to grab her around the waist, nearly tripping over her feet. Jyun, fast as ever, caught her, lifting her into his arms. He glowered at her and she gave him the cutest look she could muster. "Can we share?" she cooed.

He glowered more but sighed, "I guess I can allow the woman that's going to give me head to have some orange juice."

Giggling, she kissed his lips, dipping her tongue between them. He moaned, taking the glass from her to set down, easing his free hand up her thigh. Her heart skipped as his hands unhooked her bra over her shirt, his mouth dipping down her throat, teasing…

Jyun growled loudly when there was loud, annoying knocking at his door. Planting her on her feet, he rubbed his neck, looking miffed. "One sec, Roo, I'll kick his ass then we can continue."

"'His'?"

He didn't answer and opened the door…Kyo? Roomi blinked as Jyun glared at him deeply. "Go the hell away."

"Why? Hey, Roomi is here" the younger grinned, pushing past him.

Jyun's eyes narrowed and Roomi giggled, kissing Kyo's cheek when he wandered over to her.

Jyun rolled his eyes at that and grasped her wrist, pulling her over to the couch, sending a look back at Kyo, "Remember the 'man code' we came up with when you lived here for a few?"

"Sure…"

"Well, you DON'T live here anymore so you should just go away."

Roomi patted him, "Be nice, Jyun…we can wait until later."

"The hell we can" he snarled.

Kissing him to placate him, Kyo rolled his eyes, "You're still way too nice to him."

"Shut the f—k up, Kyo, I know why you're here" Jyun rolled his eyes as well.

"Oh really?" he crossed his arms, "And why's that?"

"He's in love with you, Roomi" he informed her plainly, rubbing her leg.

Roomi blinked and Kyo crossed his arms, sighing, "I can confess on my own, dick."

Roomi wasn't sure to make of that but decided to just…take it as a joke. It was kind of hard to tell when the two were joking or not. "I'm touched, sweetie, but I don't know if my hubby would like that…"

"I istill/i can make you happier" he sighed airily.

Jyun rolled his eyes before saying weirdly, "I know better ianyway/i."

Roomi glanced at him as Kyo cocked a brow, "What ever do you mean?"

"You just want to f—k her."

Kyo scowled, "Don't confuse me with you!"

"I'm not. I ihave/i f—ked her."

"Boys, boys" she cooed playfully, "Can't you share?"

"No" they said in firm unison.

Roomi snickered, pulling Kyo to sit, "Of course you can…"

Both brothers seemed confused…until she slid down her lacy panties. Jyun scowled as she sat backwards on his lap, reaching back and unzipping his pants.

"I think I don't do what you're planning, Roomi, I'm a bit of control freak."

"I know, dear…"

"I'm still confused" grunted Kyo, watching, kind of disgruntled as Roomi whipped Jyun out.

She giggled and rasped as she rubbed Jyun against her folds teasingly, hot… "Don't worry, it'll be clear momentarily."

Kyo looked very startled as she leaned over him, using her free hand to pull him from the confines of his pants…wow, they were a well endowed family. Smiling, she nuzzled him before flicking her tongue playfully at the head. He moaned throatily as she dipped her mouth down over his shaft, sucking, humming, as she continued rubbing against Jyun.

Jyun mumbled, growing harder by the second, "Roomi…"

She responded, talking over Kyo who groaned loudly at the vibrations. Jyun just sighed, grabbing her hips, rising up further to slide inside of her. Roomi gasped and he sighed, glaring at Kyo, "No penetration for you."

Kyo glowered back and Roomi sighed, rolling her eyes…this was probably her first and last time having a threesome between brothers… Jyun's hips drove against her, Kyo grinding his hips upward against her lips… well, they were a horny two, that was for sure…

...Something seemed wrong though. She'd been going out drinking with them lately and they both felt so very…disconnected from before. Like there was some static going on between the two siblings. Weird…

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The smell of fresh brewed coffee wafted around the little outside shop in a more upper crust part of town. Why she wanted to meet here was beyond her but it was kind of cool in a 'she couldn't afford a thing here' way. Sitting at one of the iron wrought chairs, she sipped a cup of the most affordable drink she could find on the menu, enjoying a slice of simple strawberry cake. She wondered what this was about…the girl had sounded kind of…frantic.

"Hi…sorry I'm late. Traffic over here was kind of rough…"

Roomi looked up and blinked, "Yea, tell me about it. I thought I was a bad driver but these people…what's up?"

Yagami Hoshiko sighed, sitting down, her chin length hair straightened with two braids running to the back in a single bun. Roomi smiled, "You do that?"

Hoshiko flustered, ordering a café au lait, "Yea…I was just kind of playing with it."

"It's cute. You're definitely becoming more of a girl."

Hoshiko sulked at that before clearing her throat, "I…have a…little bitty problem."

"What's wrong?" Roomi questioned, leaning forward.

"I…slept with ihim/i" she groaned, dropping her head on the table.

Roomi's eyes widened, "Whaa! No way. How'd that happen?"

She rapidly shook her head, "I don't know, we were just…talking and the next thing I know we were going at it in my bed! I-I don't even LIKE him! Why?"

Roomi crossed her arms, "Well, you have to like him a LITTLE."

"He's a jerk!" Hoshiko protested, "He was telling me that now I've become just some other skank, dressing like a woman."

"Yea…iespecially/i from ihim/i, I'd tell him to shut the hell up" Roomi rolled her eyes, drinking her coffee.

"You…you think he'll tell someone?" she whispered fearfully.

"Does he have reason to?" Roomi cocked a brow, "You should probably talk to him, hun, tell him it was a rush of hormones, that you're just not that type of girl…"

Roomi's eyes widened as Hoshiko gazed at her lap miserably, "Oh no, he wasn't your…?"

"Yes" she mumbled, sad, banging her head against the table, "I…I was stupid…stupid, stupid, stupid."

"No you're not" scowled Roomi, "You should go tell Jyun so he can beat the bastard up."

Hoshiko looked horrified, "Please don't tell Jyun! You don't know how bad the males in our family are, they're like these crazy alpha males that murder any outside male that tries to come in!"

"Why are you protecting him?" Roomi demanded. Alpha males…?

"I-I'm not! I-I just don't have to run to my big brother for protection! I'm not weak!" Hoshiko blustered.

Roomi sighed, "Fine, fine…"

"Besides…" she muttered, her shoulders drooping, "Jyun and I are finally getting along for once and I…I don't want him to think I'm a whore or something…"

"What! One, he's your brother, he wouldn't think that. Two, JYUN is in no place to even think something like that" Roomi snorted.

Hoshiko just sighed and Roomi sighed as well, "In a time like this, dear, you shop away your worries."

"That doesn't sound very healthy…" Hoshiko frowned.

"Just every once in a while" Roomi smiled, grabbing her arm as she paid her tab, "Let's go, we'll find you something extra pretty and 'skanky' to wear to work."

Hoshiko groaned but complied either way…Roomi knew deep down what was going on with all this though. It was simple elementary school puppy dog love…this guy liked Hoshiko. And he probably was either A, not used to liking people, or B, just not sure how to approach a girl like Hoshiko. But calling her a skank? He was acting like a brat.

Speaking of brats…"Your brother's are acting like brats" scowled Roomi as they went to a nearby boutique.

"Yea, that's shocking" Hoshiko snickered dryly.

"I don't know what the deal is! Usually they seem cool but now they glare at each other and make sharp, cruel snippy remarks…it's dumb."

"Kyo probably likes you."

Roomi paused, looking at her, startled, "Wha…?"

Hoshiko shrugged, staring at a cute aquamarine skirt, "When we were younger, that's pretty much the only thing that put the two against each other: liking the same woman."

Roomi frowned for a second and cleared her throat awkwardly, "Jyun did say Kyo was in love with me but I thought he was joking…"

"The two joke about everything…except that."

Staring at a pair of orange heels half-heartedly, a strange disappointment filling her, she sighed, "Oh…"

"Do you have feelings for him?"

"Kyo…? No, no. He's like my buddy…though I probably did something I shouldn't have to him yesterday if he thinks he's in love with me" she coughed.

Hoshiko smirked, "Good job…but I don't mean Kyo."

Roomi paused, seriously considering the red 5-inch heel pumps, before glancing back at Hoshiko curiously, "Wha?"

"I mean my oldest brother…y'know, Jyun."

Roomi laughed nervously, grabbing the shoe and quickly walked past her to request it in her size. Hoshiko followed, holding the skirt that had surprisingly caught her fancy, remarking, "I knew it! You like Jyun."

"D-don't be silly. That'd be entirely inappropriate!" Roomi protested.

"You and Jyun ibreathe/i inappropriate" snickered Hoshiko, "He likes you too, y'know? He talks about you a lot."

Roomi scoffed, blushing a little at that, "Jyun doesn't 'like' me…"

"I want to tell you my brother is capable of something like 'love' but…he's just not that type."

Sighing, Roomi shook her head, "I know that…"

"But who knows?" Hoshiko shrugged, "Jyun just needs to get over it. I mean, he was like seventeen."

The employee brought the shoes to Roomi as she cocked a brow, "What do you mean? What happened?"

"Oh, it was some girl he was completely infatuated with…they dated but seems she just dated him to get to one of his buddies she didn't have the courage to ask out" shrugged Hoshiko, "Jyun was pretty crushed. That's when he swore off relationships completely."

Roomi scowled, "Just because of some stupid bitch? Just like that?"

Hoshiko shrugged again before blushing, pouting at the skirt, "This would make my thighs look big, wouldn't it?"

She couldn't help but laugh, standing and grabbing Hoshiko's hips, "It would if you HAD thighs, you're more curving in the other way."

Hoshiko sulked, "So would it look okay?"

"Try it on, I'm sure it would compliment your skintone well."

Hoshiko sighed, wandering away to the dressing room. She hated trying on things, it seemed. Roomi sighed though, slamming down on the couch again…she wished she knew who this woman was that made Jyun just pretty much give up on…being with someone. She'd knock her face in…

Kyo, huh?

…She was a little disappointed. She wanted to hear that from the other brother…she DID like Kyo, just…not in that way.

…Because he wasn't Jyun.

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Tetsuo stared in disbelief at the little dresses and shoes that Roomi cooed over, asking Kotomi if she thought it was cute. They were so…itiny/i. Those went on a living human being…?

Kotomi flushed, looking uncomfortable, "I…I don't know what we should get. Tetsuo, she's your sister, pick something out."

"I don't know anything about buying anything for a baby!" the male protested, "You're the woman…"

"What is THAT supposed to mean?" demanded Kotomi, "I never picked out baby clothes, I haven't had a baby!"

"Which we're not, right?" Tetsuo quickly asked.

Kotomi rolled her eyes, "No, we're not."

"You two suck! I want a baby" pouted Roomi, "And I'll never be Aunt Roomi…"

"Just hope whoever you marry has a sibling then" Kotomi waved a hand, "How about diapers? I heard babies go through plenty of those."

Roomi's eyes narrowed, "Yea, if you just want completely practical and boring as hell."

"Sounds perfect!"

Roomi rolled her eyes when Tetsuo snickered, "The hell is this…?"

Roomi followed her future brother-in-law's eyes and did a double-take herself. Jyun…?

He was wandering around the section a few spots over, having not noticed them as he gazed at the little dresses, his eyes wide, hands stuffed in his pockets. Tetsuo whistled.

"I knew you'd knock someone up one day."

Jyun looked up, startled, as Roomi frowned…what was he doing here?

"What are you guys doing here?" questioned Jyun awkwardly before his brows rose, "You haven't knocked up Koto have you, Tets?"

Tetsuo scoffed, "Uh, no…"

"Good, because that'd be one ugly kid if it looked like you!"

Tetsuo punched at him playfully and Kotomi flustered. Roomi propped her hands on her hips, "What are iyou/i doing here?"

Jyun sighed, "My cousins are having a baby and having this huge baby…thing and I need to bring a gift. Thing is…I don't know what to buy a baby."

"Diapers" Kotomi advised.

"That's a sucky ass gift" snickered Jyun.

Kotomi glared at him as Roomi laughed, taking his arm, "That's what those two are getting for Tetsuo's sister…"

"WHAT? Natalie is having a baby?" Jyun demanded, shocked, "Is she married?"

"Yea…you should see the father…he's like 5'2" and looks like he's fifteen" snickered Tetsuo, shaking his head.

Jyun laughed, "Sounds a little creepy…your sister's hot, by the way."

"Bastard" Tetsuo flicked him off, "You still have to stay away from her."

"Why? She's married now!"

Kotomi looked at him plainly, "Did Jyun sleep with your sister, Tetsuo?"

"Let's just say it's lucky he still has a face…"

Jyun grinned, unrepentant, as Roomi rolled her eyes, "Whore."

"Anyway, now that the baby question is solved, let's go to the bookstore" Kotomi replied, grabbing Tetsuo's arm.

"I'll pass" Roomi stated dryly.

"You can help me pick something frilly and completely useless" Jyun sighed, staring at an almost Lolita dress for infants.

Roomi giggled happily and Kotomi sighed, "Fine…meet us back in the food court, Roo?"

The two departed and Jyun turned to look at shoes, "So yea…about Friday, Roo…never freakin' again."

She pouted and hugged his waist from behind, "I'm sorry…I didn't think Kyo had…real feelings."

Jyun snorted, "Kyo? He only thinks his feelings are real."

Roomi scowled as he wandered to stare at something, "How can you say that? You can't know what he feels!"

"I can't, but I do. Kyo falls out of love with women right and left, Roo, and I'm going to count on his little crush on you being no different" Jyun remarked.

"You sound rather cynical" Roomi crossed her arms, following him.

Jyun sighed, "He's my little brother, Roo, I love him but…like I said, I know him. The way he's acting right now is completely the way he acts with all his other 'loves'. Now, if he was acting differently that'd be a whole other story."

"So you think he'll get over it?" she questioned, trying to mask her hopefulness.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it went on for a while. It has to be a very special woman to, y'know, catch his fancy, if you will."

"Aww, he thinks I'm special?" she cooed, "I think I like him now…"

Jyun scowled at that, "Kyo isn't the type to make any woman happy."

Roomi cocked a brow at that, "Look who's talking, dick."

Jyun sighed and turned to face her, resting his elbow on top of a display, "Look, I KNOW I couldn't make a woman happy, that's why I don't even try. But I know for a damn fact that no woman could put up with Kyo's lifestyle. Would you like a guy that just ups and leaves without warning? Won't call to say where the hell he's at? Ever heard the song Free Bird? That would totally be his theme song if he ever needed one."

Roomi frowned at that before shrugging, "I think he'd change if he found the right woman though…I heard love can do that to you."

She should know…she was growing increasingly disinterested in going out to pick up men. The three she had picked up was…well, to try to boost her interest again. It hadn't really worked…

Jyun stared at the ceiling, his eyes unreadable before he shifted his shoulders, rolling them a bit, "I wouldn't know."

She wished he knew how much that depressed her.

"Anyway, enough of that. One of the babies is going to be a girl so I need to get something…girly" he changed the subject.

Roomi quickly smiled, hiding her melancholy, "You should get her a frilly dress then."

Jyun stared at one that was pink with white ruffles and lace off the ying yang. "…Why?"

"Why not?" Roomi countered.

"I mean…okay, frills and lace and all those stereotypically girly things are…interesting. But why should the baby look like she wandered out of a shojo magazine?"

Roomi couldn't help laugh, picking up a lavender one, "I don't know. It's kind of fun though. You can get her something practical but you might as well buy her diapers if you do that."

Jyun's nose wrinkled, shaking his head, "I'd look like a dumbass. Natalie will probably chuck them at Tet's head when she gets them."

Roomi giggled and he picked up a pink, simpler dress, "Now this looks like something Carrie wore when she was little…"

"It's cute" she cooed, "You can get some matching ribbons too."

"Hmm…"

Roomi watched him wander over to the shoe section, staring at the display. Her heart fluttered when a little enigmatic smile crossed his face, picking up a shoe.

"Shoes for babies ialways/i kind of fascinate me, y'know? I can't believe that something could wear this and it barely fits on my thumb."

"That's…strange" she murmured.

"Is it?" he laughed lightly, replacing it, "I don't know, maybe it's just me."

"Did you…ever want kids?" she cleared her throat, walking over to him.

Jyun paused and stared at a tiny little sneaker before smiling faintly at her, "C'mon, help me pick out these ribbons…"

…What was that? Roomi had never seen that before…

He'd seemed…unsure?

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"Ah! It's so cute, daddy" Inaba Carrie cooed, holding up a pink blanket with unicorns.

Izumi Cliff blushed a bit, sending a look at Jill, "Well, your mother picked that out, I wanted the blue one…"

"It had Godzilla on it!" Jill protested.

"It wasn't Godzilla, it was a dinosaur…" he corrected.

Jill glared at him and Carrie laughed, "Godzilla or unicorns, I love it."

Hattori Jilliana giggled, also receiving gifts as she was just as pregnant as her sister, holding the little frog hoodie that her parents had given her up to examine, "I wish Azu was here. He's been pretty excited about getting things for the baby."

Carrie rolled her eyes, "And I wish Kurt didn't have to keep his psycho relatives busy."

Inaba Joe, Kurt's brother, sighed, "He's a good one. I wouldn't try to distract them, especially grandmother…"

Yagami Koji and Nelly wandered in, having been in the kitchen, talking, and Koji smirked at him knowingly, "Where the hell are your kids?"

"I've learned not to ask that question often" Nelly sighed, drinking some punch.

"So how does it feel, onii-chan, being the only one that doesn't have any grandchildren yet?" Jill teased.

Nelly snorted, "Pretty good. I don't ever want to be called 'grandpa'."

Jill stuck out her tongue and Cliff chuckled, "It is a tad surreal…but I'm sure one of your kids will settle down."

"Uh, yea, which one?"

Cliff pondered over that and Jill laughed, "It's okay, Nell, you're not alone. Shin-sama isn't a grandpa yet either."

"Not if Joe can help it" smirked Carrie at her brother-in-law.

He flushed and glared at her as Shin just sighed. Carrie looked up when the door opened and squealed, "You jerk, you're late."

Carrie waddled over to Jyun and he chuckled, slinging his arm around her, "Sorry, boo. I procrastinated on a present and was shopping."

The door opened again, this time yielding Kyo who sent a rather aggressive look at Jyun before stalking around him. Jyun cocked a brow, "What?!"

"Leave me the hell alone."

Jyun's brows furrowed and Carrie's eyes narrowed, "What's going on?"

"Got me. Oh well, here you go, Car" he rolled his eyes, ignoring his brother, and handing Carrie her present.

She swayed back to the couch and Jyun leaned over, kissing Jilliana's temple, handing her a box, "For you, dollface."

Jilliana giggled, opening the box before cooing, "Oh, look at the tiny little sneakers! They'll match the froggy hoodie mama and daddy gave me. Thank you, Jyun."

"Aww, this is so delightfully girly, Jyun!" Carrie teased, holding up the ribbons with the dress, "And the tint even matches the dress."

Nelly stared at him, "Are you gay?"

Jyun scowled at his father, "I had HELP. I did pick out the dress though…it reminds me of stuff you wore when were little."

"Aww" she squeed, kissing his cheek.

"Hey, sorry we're late…" Keiji entered, Kaede behind him.

Yukina Felicie walked in, newly learning how to walk while Yagami Lara, Keiji's only daughter, cried, babbling about something, also walking. Koji grunted, walking over and snatching her up, "What's my precious crying about?"

The baby whined and buried her face in her grandfather's shoulder as Keiji rolled his eyes, "I had to…raise my voice a bit. She wouldn't let me carry her and was trying to wander out into traffic and wasn't listening to me…"

"Aww, pookie…you don't want to get run over, do you?" Koji cooed, kissing her cheek and wandering over to the couch.

Abruptly, and completely random, Felicie jumped up on the side of the couch on the arm pretty effortlessly before jumping across in a single bound to the other, perching there and looking around with sleepy eyes. Everyone jumped a little and Koji stared at her, wide-eyed, "Uh…"

Kaede just sighed and Jyun stared as well, confused, "Why's your baby a ninja?"

"She's not a ninja" grunted Kaede, "She's just doing what she sees her brother do…"

"Yea, except she's a BABY."

Felicie, oblivious, crawled into Koji's lap. Lara, already irritable, swatted at her, hitting her in the head. Felicie cried and swung back, yielding to a baby brawl. Koji scowled, picking up Felicie and Lara in either arm, kissing her cheek before kissing Lara's, "Now, now, grandpa loves both of you…don't fight."

"That'll be our kids, Jilli" Carrie commented, chuckling.

"Maybe YOUR kid" Jilliana countered.

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean?"

Cliff sighed and Jyun carefully pulled Carrie up, sitting in her place and letting her sit in his lap, hugging her waist. "I can see it now…a complete and total Carrie clone."

"God forbid" Joe snickered.

Carrie glared at him and Jyun laughed, "It'll be cute…"

Jyun looked up at Kyo who was prowling around like some kind of caged animal, sending pretty heated glares in his direction. Jyun rolled his eyes and set Carrie down next to him, standing and pushing his hands into his pockets.

"Okay, fine, I'll bite. What's wrong? What have I done?"

"I told you not to talk to me!"

"Then STOP glaring at me" Jyun countered, "You're annoying me!"

Kyo laughed incredulously, humorlessly, "I'M annoying you? You have EVERYTHING but no, no you don't even want it!"

Jyun stared at him blankly, "You've lost me."

Kyo didn't seem to have a response…either that, or he was so blinded by rage, the next step was iobviously/i to punch Jyun square in the eye. The women gasped and Jyun probably would have demanded 'what was that for'…

Course, he assumed only cogent people asked questions first.

He launched forward, angrily tackling Kyo, slamming him down into the hard wood floor, "You little prick!"

Nelly just wandered over casually to them as they started to punch at each other wildly. Like he was completely used to this, he snatched up Jyun by the back of his collar and Kyo by his front, holding them apart.

"Stop it" he said calmly, "Why don't you two TALK this out outside…instead of in the middle of your cousins' baby shower, hmm?"

Jyun grimaced and looked back at Carrie sheepishly who just kind of cocked a brow, "It's fine…just completely random."

Jyun sighed as Nelly pushed him and Kyo out the front door…Kyo was seething and glared at Jyun, "I called Roomi."

Jyun's eyes narrowed, "Why did you do that?"

"Because!" he barked, "I…I told her how I felt…"

"Uh huh…"

"But of course, once again, I'm nothing but a friend" he sulked, "And once again, you win."

"Kyo…" Jyun murmured.

"Oh shut up. She loves you. She loves you so much and you're such an asshole you won't even try to reciprocate!"

"First off" Jyun hissed, "Roomi and I iagreed/i that-"

"That what? That she would avoid falling in love with the guy she sleeps with? That she should stop herself from feeling? Not everyone's a cold bastard like you" Kyo interrupted, irritated.

"Look, Kyo-"

"She was upset when I called, told me that it was nothing but I knew once she told me she'd just been out with you that it was your fault" he snarled, "Tell me, iJyun/i¸ how many times do you intend to make Roomi cry…y'know, since her loving you violates your terms?"

Jyun stared at him, startled, before pursing his lips, turning away, "Tell Carrie and Jilliana I'll talk to them later."

He didn't wait for a response, stalking off towards the ferry to return to his apartment…

How many times…had he made Roomi cry? …He'd…he'd imade/i Roomi cry? He…didn't want that…

…Had she…told Kyo that she…loved him? Why…?

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Roomi frowned as she walked up the steps of the apartment complex, pondering over what exactly was going on. Jyun called her a few minutes ago, asking her if she was free to come over so they could… 'talk'. She wasn't used to that at all.

And he sounded kind of upset…she hoped that Kyo hadn't told him anything.

He'd randomly called once she was home after Jyun left her. She was a little mixed up in the head, thinking about the children thing. She had come to realize that now…now telling Jyun that she 'cared' about him just wasn't enough. She wanted to tell him that she'd do anything for him…that she wanted to wake up to him everyday…

That…she would have his children if it ever urged him to have any.

…She loved him so much. 'Caring' was a laughable substitute.

So dumbly, she told Kyo who swore that she was better off without him. She'd countered that she wasn't, that she'd fallen in love with him…he'd seemed irritated, saying Jyun wasn't worthy of her love. But…she couldn't help it. She…couldn't. Or…could she yet she didn't want to?

Kyo had told her that he hoped the best to her then, that Jyun wouldn't ever change. She kind of knew that…but did that matter?

Now her only concern was that he'd told Jyun about her confession, that now that he knew, he was going to bring this whole thing to an end. It seemed both welcome and horrible in a strange sense…but she knew she'd start to crave him if he said 'good bye', that she'd start to miss him endlessly if he let her go…and that almost hurt more than the fact that he'd never love her.

Knocking on the door, she frowned more as it opened slowly. Jyun stood there, looking a tad confused and…melancholy. Roomi swallowed. Stupid Kyo.

"Uh, hi?" she smiled quickly.

"Hey."

He turned and walked to the table he had centered between the kitchen and living room, turning around so his back was facing her in one of the chairs. Sitting on the table was a vase of daffodils…her favorite. Blinking, she walked over and sat at the table. He was silent for a long few moments…

"Roomi…do me a favor, okay?"

"Okay…" she murmured.

"That's…two dozen daffodils, okay? 24…I…I want you to take out…the same amount of times I've made you cry."

She gaped, stunned, "What?"

"Just…just take out how many times I've made you cry."

"Jyun" she gasped, "What are you talking about?"

He was quiet, still facing away from her…ugh, stupid Kyo, she thought again, standing, frustrated. Crossing over so she was facing him, she knelt, touching his knee. Poor thing looked as confused as ever…sighing, she rose to kiss his forehead.

"I'll give you 'one' because I'm about to cry now."

"Roomi…if I…hurt you in any way, that's…that's as bad as anything. So be honest" he whispered.

Roomi shook her head, resting her ear on top of his head, "You haven't…Jyun…"

He stood quickly, starting to pace, "Then what is Kyo talking about, huh? Why do I feel he knows more than I do?"

She grimaced and grabbed him, holding his waist, "Jyun, baby…if…if I did…have feelings for you, what would you do?"

Jyun quietly gazed straight ahead for a moment before finally shaking his head slowly, whispering, "…I would…I would break up this arrangement. That we have to return to our previous relationship."

"…Would?" she whispered.

"…But since it's you…I…don't know" he mumbled.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek, "I've never been in love, Jyun…"

Jyun seemed to ponder over that for a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist, rubbing her lower back, "Good."

Walking her back towards to the couch, he slammed down on it, snaking his arms around her even more, almost immediately dozing off. Stroking his hair back, she kissed his lips and bit her lip, preventing an audible whimper from escaping as a tear ran down her cheek.

Until you.