Karneval: Pyromancy
Pyromancy
Author's Note: Ok, I got WAY side-tracked. Time to get Gareki back to school and get this story headed back in the direction it was suppose to go. ... DemonCry, I'm REALLY sorry if this story hasn't been going how you expected it to! Finally reaching Kuronomei in this chapter. I don't think this story is going to be going for much longer, unless DemonCry has any further input on what she'd like to see me do with it. It's not because I'm bored with the story, but because it's gone on a tangent away from what I was originally looking for, so I'm going to have to find a way to breath life back into it and make my way back to the original idea because the relationships aren't supposed to be the main focus of this story at all, they're just there for fun and filler. Don't worry, I FULLY intend to finish this story, and no I WON'T TRY to make it feel rushed. I hate abandoning stories before they're finished... YES, I will eventually get back to Tiara and Graham's Reflections and Sympathy For The Yuma! . I just gotta' rewatch Shamanic Princess and re-read everything to figure out where I was, but not until these Karneval and Shiki plot bunnies are satisfied. And... There goes my ADD again, pulling me off on a completely different tangent, sorry. Anyway, I've been working on chapters 10 and 11, hoping to get two up at once to make up for all my delays. I've been delayed for several reasons; work, lack of computer &/or internet access, The Sims 3 & Pharaoh (when I have gotten time at the computer), my husband's copies of Bayonetta 2/Hyrule Warriors/Sunset Overdrive, house-hunting, and trying to arrange to have the Saturday after Thanksgiving off to spend time with my mother's side of the family before my grandmother goes in to surgery on December 4th. I've truly been limited to my time to actually sit down and write, and I'm sorry. So, FINALLY, here's Chapter 11, I hope you guys enjoy. Oh, and I'm not trying to make Shishi a total ass, he's just being mischievously playful.
Chapter 11: Return to Kuronomei
Everyone returned to the Second Ship early the next morning. "The Sheep have already loaded the damaged travel pod into the docking bay, and already have a fresh one ready for you to depart," Hirato told Gareki calmly. "Given the circumstances, I'll understand if you'd prefer Tsukumo or myself to take you the rest of the way," he offered. "Or even Tsukitachi, it would get him out my hair for a while," he thought.
"No, it's fine," Gareki answered, his hands in his pockets, his eyes cast toward the ceiling. "I was annoyed with Yogi when they told us what those berries were. It's obvious what everyone assumed must have happened," he said looking at the ground, neither confirming nor denying that it did. "But no harm came from it," he shrugged and closed his eyes, "As for his injury, he should be better by now, but even so, I would think it better if you and Tsukumo stayed here, in case you guys are needed somewhere. You would need every able-bodied agent at your disposal," he reasoned.
Hirato smirked. "Keeping the relationship impersonal in front of others, eh, Gareki?" he thought, "You really are a lot like me." Hirato closed his eyes and gave a quiet sigh and nodded. "Very well," he assented, "Yogi shall accompany you the rest of the way. I realize he frustrates you from time to time," Hirato said with a smile as he playfully tapped the jeweled end of his staff on top of Gareki's head, "But do try to send my Lieutenant back in one piece this time?" He gave the boy a gentle pat on the shoulder as he left. "Next time I hear from you, I hope it's only a report that you're making good scores in your classes."
"Heh, Damned Four-Eyes," Gareki scoffed, "Don't expect anything less."
"We're slightly off course," Yogi informed Gareki as they began take off. "We should reach Kuronomei in three days, providing there's no further set backs."
"If there are, I'm sure you can take care of them," Gareki chuckled.
Yogi blushed and smiled. "Gareki-Kun, thank you," he said softly.
"For what?" Gareki asked.
"For not telling the others what really happened, and for deciding to still let me be the one to take you," Yogi replied.
"It would inconvenience both of us if they knew. Besides, it wasn't something you did deliberately, even Jiki said those berries were often confused with a different kind that was safe to eat," Gareki answered, "They like to whisper rumors about Hirato and Akari anyway, as long as we know the truth, who cares what they think did or didn't happen."
"I never did understand that rumor about Hirato-San and Akari-Sensei," Yogi said, "They're always so mean to each other."
Gareki smirked. "That's what happens when two dominant personalities clash with each other. I'm willing to bet old Four-Eyes is the Seme," he joked.
"Gyah!" Yogi closed his eyes and shook his head as he started having mental images of his captain and the one person he feared the most lying in bed together. "STOP IT, GAREKI-KUN!" he scolded, " I DO NOT want images of those two like that in my head!"
*~Days Later~*
"Alright, this is as far as we can go with the travel pod," Yogi announced as he landed the ship. "Before I hail the school with an ETA, do you want me to fly you in, or would you rather walk? I'm sure your friends will be waiting to meet you at the gate."
Gareki smiled, thankful Yogi bothered to ask, rather than simply snatching him up and carrying him Princess Style over the school gates. "Is your shoulder well enough for that?" he asked.
Yogi blinked and looked at his shoulder. "It's had plenty of time to heal," he answered, looking back at Gareki.
Gareki smiled and nodded. "Alright, we'll fly then, it's bound to be quicker."
Yogi contacted the school and announced their arrival would be within the next one to two hours. Just as Yogi suspected, Gareki's classmates were waiting at the gates to greet him. Ranji, Shishi, Sesiri, and Tsubame all rushed forward to welcome him back. Tsubame met her adopted brother with open arms, hugging his neck. "Welcome back, Gareki! We missed you!" she giggled.
"Tsubame..." Gareki tried not to blush, feeling a little embarrassed by his sister's outburst.
Yogi stood back with a quiet smile as the two adopted siblings greeted one another. He felt an unexplainable pain in his heart for a brief moment while watching the two of them together, as another fleeting memory locked away deep inside attempted but failed to surface. He shook the sensation away, thinking it only a moment of weakness in realizing he and Gareki would soon have to say goodbye.
"Ah...? Yogi-Kun!" Tsubame said, finally realizing who had accompanied Gareki through the gates. She rushed up and hugged the blonde as well. "It's good to see you. You..." she tried to choose her words carefully, "Look as though you're doing much better than you were the last time we saw each other!"
Yogi smiled sweetly at the girl. "Yes, much better, Tsubame-Chan, thank you," he replied. "It's good to see you, too. You look well."
"Is Nai-Kun not with you?" she asked.
"Nai's with Karoku," Gareki replied, "He's finally out of bed, but still having a little trouble, so Nai's not likely to get very far from him for a while."
"I see," Tsubame nodded.
"Wait a minute, who's this?" Shishi asked, "Gareki-Kun, do you actually have a friend?" he teased.
Tsubame put a hand to her mouth and tried not to giggle. "Introduce us, Gareki!" Ranji requested.
Gareki rolled his eyes. "Yogi, you already know Tsubame-Chan," Gareki said nodding toward his sister, "These are the other tag-alongs I told you about, Shishi," he pointed to his roommate, "Ranji," to the dark haired 'girl', "and Sesiri," to the girl in glasses with a ponytail. "Guys, this is Lieutenant Yogi."
"Circus Lieutenant Yogi, from the Second Ship?" Ranji asked.
"Um... Yeah," Yogi nodded. "Pleased to meet you."
"Kyah!" Ranji squealed excitedly, "You're part of Hirato-San's crew, then? I have such admiration for him. What's he really like? Tell me, tell me please!"
"Wait... I've heard your name before," Shishi said, "Aren't you the guy who wears the Nyanperowna suit? You must get some serious royalties for that." The mechanics student smiled, remembering the items he'd found inside Gareki's bag he'd left in their room, and putting two-and-two together.
"Oh my, Tsubame-Chan, you already know this gorgeous hunk?" Sesiri whispered.
"Um... Yeah," Tsubame replied with a nod.
"Shame on you for keeping such a secret!" Sesiri scolded.
Gareki closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, choking back a growl. He was fine with how Tsubame had greeted Yogi, but that didn't mean the others could fawn over him, too. Yogi was HIS, damn it! "Oi!" he barked, drawing their attention back to him. "Back off, the lieutenant doesn't have time for all of that nonsense."
Yogi smiled and nodded. "Right. Sorry, but I have to escort Gareki-Kun to the administrator's office."
"Aaw..." the others whined.
"You'll at least stay for Gareki's welcome back party, won't you?" Tsubame asked hopefully.
"If I can," Yogi answered honestly, "I have to be on my way back to the Ship by sundown."
"Then you two had better hurry up and get to the director's office and get what you've got to do out of the way," Ranji said, giving the boys a gentle shove.
"First Lieutenant Yogi of Circus Second Ship Reporting, Sir!" Yogi announced and saluted as he entered the headmaster's office.
"Ah, yes, the Circus Member I spoke with earlier," the headmaster acknowledged, "I understand you're returning our little runaway?" He leaned so that he could see the teenager hiding in the doorway behind the blonde. "Gareki-Kun, come on in here, son." Gareki quietly slipped into the room, from around the still saluting Lieutenant. He was fully prepared for a lecture. "Right..." He turned his attention to Yogi, "At ease soldier."
"Yes Sir," Yogi said, dropping his arm to his side, before tucking both behind his back and standing against the wall. Sometimes, he hated these stiff and formal rules almost as much as he knew Gareki did. He stopped and fidgeted a little with his hat to make certain it was on straight, and brushed a piece of white thread off the shoulder of his new black tux jacket before putting his hands behind his back again.
"You've put me in quite a predicament, young man," the headmaster sighed, returning his attention to Gareki. "Captain Hirato of Circus Second Ship being listed on your registry as your guardian was enough to tie my hands and make me accept your application to this school the first time," he informed the boy, "When you left campus, you were just days away from a very important test in the Circus Course. According to the rules, I shouldn't allow you back in at all as I know you were intending to leave against orders," he explained, "HOWEVER, Hirato-San himself contacted me and assured me that the methods of your departure had been against your own accord and the incident was out of your hands. I was hesitant, but Hirato-San is at the very least a frightfully convincing fellow when speaking with him."
"Hirato-San could charm the honey from a bee without even trying," Yogi muttered quietly.
"And you were just saying you couldn't understand how a relationship between him and Akari would work a couple of days ago," Gareki thought, "You just answered your own question."
"Not only that, but I've recently been contacted by none other than Tokitatsu himself, requesting I allow you to return and enter a whole new curriculum all together. Just who are you that I have not one, but two of the biggest names in all of Circus breathing down my neck?" the headmaster asked.
"I'm no one special," Gareki answered, "Just a stray they decided to take in."
Yogi frowned, he didn't like hearing Gareki talk about himself like that. "He's a very strong and talented person," the blonde corrected, drawing the attention of the others to him. Yogi smiled at Gareki, noticing the surprised look on the raven haired teen's face. "He's been through a rough life, but has survived every bit of it. He's taught himself how to read and write, and how to defend himself. Hirato-San recognized his potential the first time they met. He's assisted us in several missions, even as a civilian. We on the Second and First Ships are proud to have had him with us, and are extremely confident in what he can accomplish here. He's already made great progress in the time he's been here."
"Yogi..." Gareki quietly muttered the name of the Lieutenant.
The headmaster raised an eyebrow. Neither of them had expected the Circus Fighter to interject, especially so adamantly. "Well, whatever the case, I have agreed to the terms Hirato and Tokitatsu have both set forth. Gareki, you will be allowed to return. You have until next week to settle back into your dorm before your classes start. From this moment forward, however, you're expected to adhere to the school's rules and follow orders. I won't be so easily forgiving if such an incident occurs again."
Gareki nodded. "I understand," he answered somberly. He continued determinedly, "I intend to do nothing but my best!"
"Very well, we're going to omit the required entrance exam, as you've already passed it once," the headmaster nodded, "For now, you're dismissed. Your friends have been eagerly awaiting your return and have planned you a welcome back party. We won't be transferring you to a new room, better to keep you with someone you already know. We'll discuss your classes further tomorrow in private."
"Yes sir," Gareki answered with a nod, turning to leave the room, Yogi quietly following behind him. "You didn't have to do that back there," Gareki said, as they walked down the hall, "But thank you."
Yogi smiled, "I only spoke the truth," he stated.
"So, are you headed back now?" Gareki asked.
Yogi shook his head, "I don't have to leave until sundown, and Tsubame-Chan asked me to stay for your welcoming party. Besides... If it's not too much to ask, I'd like to see you try on your uniform." Gareki paused and spun around to look at Yogi, with a raised eyebrow. The blonde quickly took notice of the teenager's clenched fist. "I... I don't mean it like that!" he insisted, flailing his hands about in the air, a blush sweeping his face. "It's just... Hirato-San left me in charge of ordering it for you after your old one was damaged. I just wanted to see you in it before I left, to make sure I didn't mess up the measurements."
Gareki sighed and gave a quiet smile. "Alright, follow me," he said, heading back to the room he and Shishi shared. Yogi smiled and quietly followed. The others, all but Shishi, were already standing outside the room waiting for them when they got there.
"Is your friend sticking around for a while?" Ranji asked hopefully as the two of them approached.
"The lieutenant doesn't have to leave just yet," Gareki answered, "Since Tsubame asked him anyway, he figured he'd stay for the party at least, he's not the type of person to turn down an invitation like that." Yogi and Tsubame both gave a quiet smile, it didn't surprise either of them that Gareki was continuing to act cold and distant in front of everyone else. "If you will all excuse me for a moment," he said, "I need to make sure they sent the right size uniform." He shut and locked the door, leaving Yogi out in the hall with the others. When he emerged, he was wearing his school uniform.
"How does it feel, Gareki?" Tsubame asked.
"It fits just fine," Gareki answered.
"Whoever ordered it must have known your exact size, huh?" Shishi asked.
"I guess so," Gareki said.
"Never mind all that, come on, we've got a party to get started!" Ranji said, catching Gareki and Yogi both by the wrists and pulling them along.
Ranji had left Shishi in charge of double checking to make sure everything was as it should be at the last minute, so he was already there waiting on them, and he was ready for some mischief. He passed around the drinks and gave everyone some time to eat and talk first, a playful grin adorning his face the entire time as he had already put two and two together between Gareki, Yogi, and the contents of the bag Gareki had left behind.
"Hey, Gareki-Kun," Yogi called, passing the teenager a small red candy sucker, "Tsubame-Chan brought some great lolipops, you should try one."
"You know I don't eat sweets," Gareki scoffed, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Just play it natural, Gareki, Yogi's not acting any different from how he normally does," he told himself.
"Aw c'm'on, I'm sure you'll like it," Yogi baited, waiving the sucker in the air in front of him.
"Alright, fine!" Gareki growled, "But if I don't like it, don't be surprised if I shove it down your throat." Yogi simply smiled and nodded as Gareki snatched the small hard red candy from his hand. Gareki popped the sucker in his mouth with a sigh, then blinked. Something about its flavor reminded him faintly of the way Yogi's bath soap and shampoo smelled when the blonde was fresh out of the shower. He hoped he wasn't blushing. "Hmph, not bad," he muttered.
Shishi smirked, thinking now was the perfect time to start making his mischief. He slipped around next to Gareki and put a hand on the younger teen's shoulder. "So, Gareki-Kun, I hear they're letting us stay as roommates."
"Uh... Yeah, I guess so," Gareki acknowledged.
"That's great. I was getting use to having someone to sleep with," Shishi chuckled. Yogi raised an eyebrow at Shishi's choice in wording but didn't say anything. He figured the sleeping arrangements for Shishi and Gareki wouldn't be much different than they were for Gareki and Nai back on the ship.
"I KNEW it!" Gareki thought, "He was trying to claim his territory on the travel pod." One sideways glance toward the blonde was enough for Gareki to recognize the lieutenant's unspoken jealousy. "Don't say it like that, it'll give people the wrong impression!" he scolded the eighteen year old.
"You know we really missed you, Gareki-Kun," Shishi said. Shishi could feel Ranji's eyes staring a hole straight through him, the Student Body President having already figured out that he was up to something, but he ignored it. Shishi smirked and reached into a book-bag that had been left sitting on the nearby table. Everyone had ignored its presence until now. "All of us have," he chuckled, as he pulled out the stuffed Nyanperowna doll that had been tucked away in Gareki's bag.
Every hair on Gareki's head stood on end. "What the hell!?" he exclaimed, jerking away from Shishi and spinning around to face him. Shishi smirked, watching the blush sweep across Gareki's face.
"I thought you said you didn't like Nyanperowna, Gareki-Kun?" Shishi teased playfully, "So why do you keep one?"
"Shishi you bastard, where did you find that!" Gareki growled.
Shishi chuckled. He started moving the Nyanperowna as if it were talking, "It's not his fault you left your bag out in the open unattended for so long. It was only a matter of time before its contents were discovered."
"Damn it! I told you not to go snooping in my stuff! Give it back!" Gareki exclaimed, reaching to snatch it from the older boy.
Shishi quickly jumped away with a laugh, holding the stuffed animal above his head. "Why hide something like this, Gareki-Kun? If it's so important, you shouldn't be ashamed of it."
"Shishi, give it back to him!" Tsubame scolded, "I told you not to let him know you'd found those!"
"So, what's the story behind this, Gareki-Kun? You always act like you hate Nyanperowna, but not only do you have a stuffed one in your bag, but you come back to school in the company of the very person behind the costume. Did the lieutenant give it to you?" Shishi probed. Ranji started to move to catch hold of Shishi, determined to give the mechanics student a throttling he wouldn't soon forget. However, before Ranji could move, Shishi, who wasn't paying attention to where he was going, bumped into the Circus Lieutenant in question.
Yogi's arms wrapped around the eighteen year old and held him fast. Yogi was all for fun and games, but even he knew there was a limit, especially where Gareki was concerned. "I suggest you give it back to him, if you know what's good for you," Yogi warned as Shishi turned his head upward to look at the Circus Fighter.
Gareki quickly snatched the stuffed animal from Shishi's hands. "This one's special, that's all there is to it!" he growled, holding it close, knowing his face had to be redder than Tsukitachi's hair at this point. Yogi's violet blue eyes widened upon hearing that, his own cheeks turning a slight shade of pink as his eyes settled on the raven haired teen. "Don't go around playing with my stuff!" He scoffed and turned his head, not paying attention to how close he was holding the stuffed animal. "Yogi, it's alright, let him go." Yogi's hold on the older teen loosened. Shishi stood, blinking at Gareki for a moment, then gave a light chuckle. "What's so funny?" Gareki asked, turning his attention back to Shishi.
"I'm sorry, Gareki-Kun. I didn't mean to make you so mad," Shishi apologized, sincerely. "But, you standing there right now, with that sucker in your mouth, and that stuffed animal hugged up in your arms..." Yogi blinked, thinking he already knew where this was going. It was easy to forget Gareki was fifteen, given how mature he usually acted, and how tall he stood. But like Shishi said, with a white sucker stick poking out of his mouth, and a stuffed animal hugged close, just under his chin, the boy's age was slightly more apparent. Though none of the others were brave enough to voice it, they all found the scene cute, and Sesiri quickly took the chance to take a picture without the flash, so as not to draw Gareki's attention to her. "It's a reminder of how much of a kid you really are."
Gareki's grip on the stuffed animal tightened, it's head and limbs nearly bulging from the stuffing in it's midsection being pushed in other directions. "I am NOT a kid!" he snarled.
"SHISHI!" Ranji finally interjected, catching the older teen by the collar, "Leave Gareki-Kun alone!" Ranji gave a forceful tug and drug Shishi out of the room.
"It was only a matter of time before he did something to get Ranji to beat him up today," Tsubame sighed.
"I think he likes it," Sesiri piped in.
"Gareki-Kun?" Yogi cautiously approached him. He felt like somehow this was his fault. Gareki didn't like to be teased or embarrassed, and he'd just had both happen at once, and Yogi felt responsible for it.
"It's not your fault, Yogi," Gareki said quietly, as if reading the Lieutenant's mind. "I'd left the bag out in the open," he hugged the stuffed animal close and rested his chin on its head, his actions seemed subconscious, as if he wasn't paying attention to what he was doing, "and he found out what was in it. It was only a matter of time before he asked about it." Gareki sighed, "I just would have preferred he'd waited until we were back in our room, rather than in front of everyone else."
"Gareki-Kun, if you're embarrassed about the stuffed animals, I can take them back," Yogi offered, sitting back at one of the tables and gently pulling Gareki into a chair next to him. "I would have to find a place to hide the stuffed Niji so that Tsukumo-Chan and Nai-Chan don't find it and get the wrong idea. We gave them to you so you wouldn't feel lonely, but you've got yourself some good friends here, you don't really need them, do you?"
"What are you talking about?" Gareki asked, finally looking up at Yogi, "Ok, I admit it, I've got good friends here, like you said." Tsubame and Sesiri both froze hearing that confession; they exchanged looks that seemed to suggest they both wondered if the boys even realized they were still in the room. Of course, Gareki knew, but he didn't care. Tsubame was family as far as he was concerned, and Sesiri was, well, Sesiri, information was her business. "But, Tsukumo-Chan spent all night sewing that stuffed Niji for me. It's mishappened, but it was sweet of her. These things are keepsakes from you guys; just like the goggles from Tsubame-Chan's grandfather. Like I said, they're special, and that's all there is to it."
Tsubame smiled. "Gareki... You really have learned to open up, haven't you, Little Brother?" she thought happily.
Yogi smiled and nodded, happy with that reply. "I knew it," the lieutenant beamed, "You do miss us when you're here."
Reflexes took over and Gareki elbowed Yogi in the side. "Don't go getting all sentimental on me now," he scoffed. "I told you, I'm here so I can earn my place on the ship. Of course I miss you guys, but I refuse to be a charity case. Give me a year or two, or however long Tokitatsu's course is expected to last," he said determinedly, "And I swear I'll finish it and come back."
Yogi smiled and ruffled a hand through Gareki's hair. "I know you will, Gareki-Kun. The rest of us will be cheering you on back home, too." Gareki smiled and nodded.
Ranji reentered the room, pulling along a battered and slightly bruised Shishi, holding him by the ear no less. "Now, you apologize to Gareki-Kun for ruining his welcome back party," Ranji scolded.
"Geeze, Ranji, you didn't have to be that hard on him," Gareki said.
Ranji sighed and nodded, playing with a strand of hair, "I admit, I got a little carried away. But, there was no call for his actions."
Shishi appologized, and he and Gareki shook hands in a truce. The rest of the afternoon was spent without any further mishap, and enjoyed by all. When it was time for Yogi to leave, the others said goodbye, and Gareki walked him out to the gate.
"I won't have to worry about you so much now, Gareki-Kun," Yogi said with a smile as they walked out to the gate.
"Huh?" Gareki looked up curiously at the blonde.
Yogi chuckled. "You never answered my messages, so I always worried about you. I know you're strong enough you can take care of yourself, you were doing that before you came to Circus," he acknowledged, "But after spending so much time with us, I was worried you'd be lonely here. But, you've got friends here, and they're great people, so I know you're going to be ok."
Gareki smiled and stifled a laugh. "Don't be such an idiot," he said, "I don't need anybody, you know that. But still..." he looked back over his shoulder toward the school, "I've grown fond of them. More to the point, are you and Nai going to be ok while I'm gone?"
"Nai-Chan will be fine, he's stronger than he looks," Yogi pointed, "But it doesn't mean he won't miss you."
"And you?" Gareki asked.
"I'll miss you, of course," Yogi said, rubbing the back of his head, "It's not the same on the ship without you, but I understand why you're doing this, Gareki-Kun."
Gareki smirked, there was a hidden hint of jealousy in Yogi's voice, and written all over the blonde's face. "Hey, don't worry about Shishi," Gareki said, catching hold of Yogi's wrist, the one adorned with the leather bracelet.
"What are you talking about, Gareki-Kun?" Yogi asked.
"Don't give me that," Gareki laughed, "I've seen it in your face ever since we started talking about the gang here at Kuronomei before the crash. You're jealous of him. If I hadn't said something, when he bumped into you back there, you probably would have killed him before Ranji even caught hold of him." The next sentance was whispered, "Just like you almost let that Varuga do to those guys back in Karasuna."* Gareki shook his head, "He's nothing but a roommate, just like Nai," he assured the blonde, with a smile. "You've got your own keepsake from me, remember?" Gareki smiled, running his thumb over the bracelet, "Not even Nai can claim that. I never had a hero to look up to before I met you, Yogi." Gareki looked away and slightly tightened his grip on Yogi's wrist as he admitted this, "I'm here to become something the rest of you can be proud of, not to sow my wild oats." He looked up at Yogi and smiled. This was as close to an 'I love you' confession as the former prince was going to get from the raven haired teen. "I'm going to finish this course and come back home, as fast as I can," he promised, proudly, and full of determination. "Wait for me until then, ok?" he whispered. He glanced around to make sure no one was looking, then leaned forward, pushing his lips gently to Yogi's.
Yogi blushed, his own eyes darting around to make sure no one was there to see them. They had agreed that anything beyond friendship between them would be kept secret. The lieutenant relaxed, seeing they were alone, and gave in to the kiss. He hugged Gareki and smiled as he pulled away from the kiss. "Don't worry, Gareki-Kun," he whispered, "I'll wait." He glanced up and saw the door to the school starting to swing open. He released Gareki from his embrace and smiled at the raven haired teen. "Take care of yourself," he said fondly.
Gareki smirked. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he replied. "Hey," he called, pulling out his phone and holding it up for Yogi to see, "Let me know when you made it back." Yogi smiled and nodded, waving goodbye as he passed through the gate.
"Hey, Gareki-Kun," Shishi said, as they climbed into their beds that night, "I really am sorry about today. I didn't just apologize because Ranji beat me up. I was just having a bit of fun, I didn't think I'd make you so mad."
"Forget it, next time, just don't go through my stuff without asking," Gareki replied, plopping both stuffed animals on the bed. There was no point in hiding them now that his friends knew they were there. "It's not like I play with these things or anything, they were gifts. They're sentimental and irreplaceable."
"Family? Friends?" Shishi asked curiously.
Gareki hesitated for a moment, looking down at the two stuffed animals. His memories turned to Yogi, Nai, and the others and the adventures he'd had with them up until this point. "Both," he finally replied as he turned off the lights and settled in under the covers. "Goodnight Shishi."
Shishi sighed, realizing that was the most he was going to get out of the younger teen on the subject. To be fair, it had been more than he'd expected. "Good night, Gareki-Kun."
*~One Month Later~*
Gareki had settled into his courses. He had been allowed to stay in some of the Circus Course classes, whether he liked it or not, that included all of the theatrical classes, as well as the fighting classes. He was also given some classes in the Biomedics Course so that he would know how to give himself or others first aid. He was also entered into some of the classes from the Mechanics Classes with Shishi and the Information Classes with Sesiri and Ranji. All of these were classes he would need. Being part of the Mechanics Class, he was finally able to take apart and put back together both a Ship 1 Rabbit and a Ship 2 Sheep that were being maintenanced by the school. He rather enjoyed it.
Four Courses, five and a half school days a week. Monday was his Circus Course, Tuesday his Biomedics, Wednesday he would be in the Informations Course, and Thursday was his Mechanics Course. Friday he would pick two classes from each course and spend an hour at each. Saturday, as it was a half-day and he had so many classes, it was arranged as a day for Study Hall, if he wasn't in the library, or the lab, he was expected to be work on his physical training. Sunday was a day of rest and relaxation, where and the others could do whatever they wanted on the school grounds.
The Fighting Classes for the Circus Course were among his favorites. He showed amazing progress, the instructors said he was better now than he had been before he left. He reluctantly acknowledged what they said had been true; he'd never faced a Varuga with killing intent before, as they'd all wanted to kidnap him. However, after the raid on Smokey Mansion, the Varuga were much more interested in killing than kidnapping. Maybe that had made the difference, maybe it had been how Karoku was willing to nearly kill them both to keep Nai safe when he thought Gareki was a threat. He couldn't be sure which.
However, as he'd expected, his favorite Course was the Mechanics Course. After a month of classes, he'd been tasked with building one of the Sheep for Ship 2. He built it to the specs he'd been given, but put in his own little touch so that when it arrived, the crew would know it had come from him, fashioning a small pair of goggles on top of it's top hat.
"The goggles, Gareki-Kun, what function do they serve?" the instructor asked.
"Nothing special, they just differentiate it a little," Gareki answered, looking back over his shoulder, slightly leaning his chair back a bit.
"So, the goggles, they do nothing?" the instructor asked.
"Like I said, they differentiate it. The crews on the Ships have trouble telling one Sheep or Rabbit apart from another, because there's so many and they're all uniform. If one is sent away to do something, they get confused as to which one it was later," he explained, "The snowman is the exception, because he's the only one of his kind."
The instructor shook his head with a sigh. "I'm not sure how you know all that, but very well," he consented, "Leave them there, I suppose." Gareki smirked, pleased with that answer, as he finished the project.
Another class he attended that was split between both the Informations Course and the Mechanics Course was a Hackers' Class. It was no where as fun as Gareki had hoped, mainly because he was able to do it so easily. What the students were allowed to 'hack' was all routine, and as easy to him as picking a lock. He looked to the instructor and issued a challenge. "Tell you what, if instead of the School's Computers, how about you let me access the phones and computer data base for the Crew on Ship Two for some extra credit?" he asked.
The other students around him all laughed, thinking he was joking. "Gareki-Kun," the female instructor sighed, "Not even our graduated hackers can access the computers on the Second Ship, or Round Table Z. They're locked up tight. If you can access those, I'll not only give you extra credit, but I'll give you a week's worth of classes off."
Gareki smirked. The challenge had been issued. "Alright, I'll let you know when I'm in." Again the other students laughed. Gareki ignored them. First, he tried accessing Yogi's phone, specifically the folder he'd been told to stay out of back in Vantnam, when they met Yanari. Big mistake. He found the folder was indeed mostly work related as Yogi had insisted, but most of the files were reports about his time watching over Nai and Gareki, and within was a hidden sub-folder, one that only Yogi should know how was there. Gareki figured out the password to access it easily. 'Nyanperowna' of course. His eyes widened when he saw what was in the folder, however. He quickly exited the program and jumped from his seat.
"Gareki-Kun?" the instructor asked.
"Um, it's nothing," he said. "I'm aborting this hack. May I be excused for a moment. I'll try again when I get back." The instructor nodded, quietly, assuming he had to go to the restroom. "Thank you, I'll be right back," he said with a quiet bow, before ducking out of the room.
"I'm going to kill him," he muttered to himself as he stormed into the bathroom. Checking to make sure he was alone, he pulled out his phone, and took a deep breath as he pulled up Yogi's number. No, a text message wouldn't work in this instance. He hit the call button.
"Hello?" Yogi's voice came from the other end of the phone. Gareki wasn't surprised the blonde stopped whatever it was he was doing to answer when his name came up.
"WHAT THE HELL, YOGI!?" Gareki exclaimed at the top of his lungs, "I thought you said that folder on your phone was for work purposes?"
Yogi blinked. "Folder...? Ah!? Gareki-Kun, you mean the one I told you not to look into?" the Lieutenant asked.
"Yes, that one!" Gareki snarled.
"It is for work," Yogi replied. His eyes shifted around curiously, why was Gareki calling him about that now?
"Never mind the why or how I know," Gareki snapped, once again seeming to read the blonde's mind, "If it's for work, then what the hell's with those pictures of me in the hidden subfolder? And before you say anything, I don't mean the ones from Sesiri that I told you not to buy from her!" He huffed, thinking, "She would have sent him that one of me holding the Nyanperowna doll while sucking on that stupid sucker, too..."
"You mean the ones of you asleep back in Karasuna?" Yogi answered innocently.
"YES! Those! What the hell?" Gareki exclaimed.
"Gareki-Kun, calm down! It's not what you think... Well, ok, maybe it is what you think, NOW," Yogi sighed, "But not when I took them. It was the most peaceful I'd ever seen you. You seemed to be having a good dream, and looked so..." he couldn't think of a better word, "CUTE, so peaceful. I took the picture because I knew it was something that wouldn't last. You're usually so angry, and Nai said you don't normally sleep so soundly. It was nice to have something to remember the moment. You can never have too many pictures to remember someone by." Gareki sighed and pinched between his eyes, remembering who he was talking to. Yogi had known his family, but didn't remember them. Believing they were alive, however, he didn't have any pictures to remind him of them. Under the circumstances, he thought he might could understand the former prince's reasoning. He sighed and calmed down. "You don't want me to delet them, do you, Gareki-Kun?"
"No," Gareki sighed. "I was just surprised to find them, is all. As long as no one else finds out about them, I suppose it's alright. Anyway, I've got to get back to class. I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing."
Gareki returned to the classroom, much calmer than when he'd left. He figured he'd try something else, this time. He pulled up personal records on himself, Tsubame, and Yogi. At first, he pulled up only the official records, the stuff that anyone could easily access, the stuff that only the government would allow the public to access. Just as Hirato had promised, all traces of Gareki's criminal record was gone. After a few minutes of finagling, however, he pulled up the REAL records. He froze once more. "Gareki-Kun?" the instructor asked. She walked around behind him. She confirmed that this was official Circus information, he had done what he had set out to do. But even she wasn't ready for what was on the screen. She placed a gentle hand on Gareki's shoulder. "Gareki-Kun, you're dismissed for the day," she said, patting him on the shoulder. "As promised, a week's worth of classes, a whole five days, free."
"Yeah," Gareki nodded, "Thanks." He got up and left the room, while the instructor quickly closed out the screen before any of the students could see what had pulled up. Gareki returned to the bedroom, flopped on the bed and called Hirato.
"Hello?" Hirato answered smoothly.
"So, UNCLE Hirato, when did you intend on telling me we were related?" Gareki asked.
"Excuse me?" Hirato blinked.
"Just now in my Hacking class," Gareki said, "I pulled up my personal files."
"Anyone can access those," Hirato said, sounding slightly confused.
"The real ones, not the public ones."
"No one has access to those," Hirato said.
"That's why it's a Hackers' Class!" Gareki shouted. He sighed, "Anyway, it lists you as my Uncle, and Arumerita Nie as my birth mother!"
"It what!?" Hirato exclaimed, nearly spilling his tea on himself.
"You didn't know?" Gareki asked.
"I assure you I didn't," Hirato stated. "So that's what Akari-San was up to?" Hirato sighed and leaned back into his chair, crossing a leg. "Alright, Gareki, don't panic. I'll talk to Akari and get back to you. Who else knows?"
"Just the teacher," Gareki replied.
"Very well, I will be in touch with that teacher shortly," Hirato sighed.
"Hey, Damned Four-eyes? You promise you didn't know?" Gareki snipped.
"I swear, I didn't know," Hirato said. "At least not until that day you and Yogi went missing last month," he thought. The captain hung up the phone, and called up a four-way conference with Tsukitachi, Akari, and Tokitatsu. "Gentlemen, I just got off the phone with Gareki-Kun. ... He knows..."
Author's Note: *See "I'm No Snitch" it's a short story I wrote that can and actually is meant to be taken as a stand alone without shipping the two, but can also easily fit into this story's universe, so I decided to reference it here, it is also referenced in the next chapter. But it is meant to be nothing more than a reference.
Oh, and by the way, if you caught it; yes, that WAS a reference to the Spoony One, just like Nai's counter song in VTR was too. (Hint, the part about the Sheep)
