It was midnight when Yusei woke up and punched the wall with a loud growl. Whenever he woke up from these episodes, he finished what he started before. He blinked in surprise as he looked about the darkened room. What am I doing in my room? He thought in confusion as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. Wasn't I just about to punch Bumblebee?
Then he remembered passing out.
He threw his pillow across the room in anger. "Well that's just great!" He snapped. "Now the secret's out and everyone's gonna know!" He hugged his knees to his chest as he cried his heart out. Why was he so different? Why couldn't he be normal like everyone else?
There was a gentle knock on his door. His heart dropped into his stomach. Oh great, here comes the lecture. Might as well get it over with, he thought dismally as he swung his legs over the side of his bed and sat up straight. He wiped his tears on his sleeve and took a deep breath. "Come in."
When Itachi opened the door, he found Yusei waiting expectantly. He clasped his hands together in his lap and tried to keep his face expressionless. Itachi just stood in the doorway, trying to get a feel for the atmosphere. He always tried to make his words match the mood, scolding when needed and consoling when needed. The silence was uncomfortable and Yusei started to fidget. His fox ears drooped down and his red and gray eyes looked ready to cry again. Itachi could tell that his son was trying to appear stronger than he really was. He looks so vulnerable, Itachi thought to himself. I'm going to have to be extra careful then. He turned on the light first and then sat beside his son. He put his arms around his shoulders and hugged him close. "Are you ok?"
Yusei hugged his dad back and cried into his shirt. "No I'm not."
Itachi rubbed his back reassuringly. "Why don't you tell me what happened back there?"
"I was just so angry," he blubbered. "I couldn't stand to see him touching her like that and looking at her like that."
"Like what?" Itachi gently prompted him to give voice to his feelings.
"Like…like…" He was clearly struggling to find the words. "Like how you treat mom."
"Is that a bad thing? They were acting like a couple for the play. It made sense."
Yusei shook his head vehemently. "No, that was nothing like the rehearsals. It was very different."
"That may be," Itachi surmised. "But why does it bother you so much?"
Yusei's grip tightened slightly. "I don't want to lose her dad."
"And how would you lose her?"
"If she likes him like that, then she won't want to be my friend anymore."
Itachi chose his next words carefully. "Are you really sure that's the reason this bothers you so much?"
Yusei pulled back and wiped his nose on the back of his hand. He looked up at his father in confusion. "What else could it be?"
"Do you know why I treat your mother the way I do?" Itachi asked softly. "Because she means more to me than anything else. I want her to be happy and to feel special. And with that often comes a feeling of protection."
Yusei still looked confused.
"To put it more simply," Itachi said. "When I was just a little older than you, I saw someone touching your mom like that. It made me really angry too."
He perked up. "What did you do?"
Itachi looked away, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I punched him in the stomach."
"Ha!" Yusei laughed. "For all your sense of manners you are no better than I am!"
Itachi bristled slightly and he shot his son a warning look. "That doesn't mean I did the right thing!"
Yusei cringed under his harsh gaze and Itachi calmed down. "What I'm getting at is that was when I realized that what I felt for your mother went beyond friendship. She wasn't just a best friend anymore; she meant more than that."
Yusei cocked his head to the side. "What are you saying?"
"I think you love Katsuye-chan."
Yusei blinked in surprise and then burst out laughing. "What? Are you crazy? Of course I don't love her! I already told you that I don't believe in that mushy stuff." He patted Itachi's arm in a patronizing way. "Don't worry dad, I haven't lost my mind yet."
Itachi was at a loss of what to say next and Yusei took advantage of the silence as he hopped off the bed and went into the kitchen to get a light snack. Miko stood in the doorway, arms folded casually across her chest as she giggled at his dumb-founded expression. "He's still young Itachi, give him some time."
Itachi shook his head in exasperation as he pushed himself up to stand. "He loves her, I know it."
She nodded in agreement as she crossed the room with arms out-stretched. He held her close and she enjoyed how she felt in his strong arms. "He will understand in his own time. What would you have said if someone had told you that you were in love with me when we were kids?"
Itachi thought about it. "I would have said that you could do better."
"What?" She asked skeptically.
Itachi gently stroked on the side of her neck as he kissed the top of her head. "You were so incredible then too, and nearly intimidating with your confidence. I assumed you would want someone just like that." He let out an exaggerated sigh. "I had no idea you would marry beneath you."
She laughed. "That didn't stop you from asking."
"Hey, I'm not going to question my good fortune," Itachi said teasingly as he gave her a real kiss. His gaze softened and a small smile spread across his lips. "I don't know what I did to make you love me but I am so grateful to have you in my life. You have made me the man that I am and I'd be nothing without you. I hope you know that."
She looked away and blushed in that adorable way of hers. "I do," she said softly. "But you were already a prodigy by the time I met you. So don't make it sound like you were nothing before we met."
Itachi turned her chin so he could look into her eyes once again. "I wasn't exaggerating Miko. You helped me realize that there are more important things in life than just being the best. You opened my world to new possibilities and opportunities, motivating me to use my talents for more than egotistical purposes. Your love and confidence in me, even at my lowest point, helped me rise above my grief and guilt. That is what I meant when I said I wouldn't be who I am without you. I just wish that I had done the same for you."
She raised a questioning eyebrow. "What makes you think you haven't?"
His face fell. "You were banished because of me remember?"
"Oh that," she said lightly as she shrugged. "That wasn't so bad."
"But it is," he said firmly. "I dragged you down because of my selfishness. If it wasn't for me-"
"I would all alone," she interrupted him gently. "I don't think you realize how terribly stifling it was being a messenger. Endless rules, no questions asked, no sense of self." Her eyes looked haunted as she recalled. "They were not cruel to me, but to deprive me of my individuality was damaging." She looked back into his eyes and a smile spread across her face. "And then I met you. You worried about me, cared about me, and took care of me no matter how much I stubbornly refused you. It helped me realize just what I was missing in my life." She reached up to stroke his cheek. "You were not to blame for my banishment. I chose it of my own free will because I realized what you did."
"And what was that?" He whispered.
"That fate is not something set in stone. We chart our own course by our actions and so my destiny led straight to you." Her eyes shone. "I wouldn't be who I am without you. Thank you Itachi, for giving me the freedom to be me."
He felt like a huge weight had lifted off his shoulders. So she really didn't blame him after all. She had never said anything about it, but he had wondered if she secretly did. It also made him glad to hear that he did as much good for her as she did for him. He pressed his lips against hers. They forgot where they were as their kiss deepened but they were abruptly interrupted as Yusei shoved them in the direction of the door. "Out! Out! None of that in my room! Out!"
They laughed as they broke apart. He frowned up at them. "It's not funny."
"And neither was your little tantrum tonight," Miko said firmly as Itachi left the room. "I sure hope you don't do stuff like that in school."
He flinched. Now he was getting the lecture. "No mom, I don't. I'm sorry-"
"Don't tell me," she said as she held up her hands to stop him. "Tell Yasashiku-kun."
He scowled. "Why? I didn't end up hitting him anyway."
"But you were trying to," she reminded him. "Make peace with him and you might find he's a nice kid after all." Yusei looked skeptical and she sighed as she hugged him close. "You have to give others a chance. Those who teased you before gave you a second chance. That's the beauty of life; things don't have to stay the way they are." She lifted his chin so he could look up at her. Her expression softened. "Have you forgotten that he is Katsuye-chan's friend? You might have hurt her feelings too you know."
His eyes widened as this dawned on him. Why didn't he think about that before? While he didn't really care about Yasashiku, he did care about her feelings. And if making peace with him would make her feel better, he was willing to apologize to the little bug. "I'll tell her I'm sorry too."
"That's better," she said as she bent down to kiss his forehead. "Its time for bed now so get some rest."
He hugged her tightly, afraid to let go. "What will the other kids say now that they know I'm narcoleptic?"
"Make it look cool," she said with a wink. "I bet you could pull that off."
He grinned back. "Yeah, I think I could."
"Good night," she said as she pulled away. "We'll see you in the morning."
The next morning as Yusei stepped outside to go to school, he was surprised to see Katsuye waiting for him on the porch. She looked upset. He swallowed nervously as she approached him. "Look Kat, about last night…"
"I'm sorry," she said softly, her eyes downcast. "I should have told you before."
He blinked in surprise. He wasn't expecting this. "Told me what?"
She bit her lip nervously. "Yasashiku and I are dating now."
His eyes widened as he felt his heart drop into his stomach. "What?"
She looked up at him. "He asked me during the festival and I said yes. That is why we deviated from the script and kissed. I didn't think it would matter to you so that's why I didn't tell you before. But judging from your temper last night, it must have."
He turned red, shoved his hands into his pockets and stormed off the porch and down the front path. "What are you talking about? I could care less if you want to waste your time with him."
She hurried after him and grabbed his arm to stop him. "Yusei please don't be angry."
He shook her off. "Just leave me alone!"
"This doesn't change anything," she insisted. "We're still friends."
"Not if you're dating him!" He growled as he rounded on her. "You obviously like him more than me but it doesn't matter! I don't need you anyway!"
He froze as he watched tears well up in her eyes. He had never made her cry before. In fact he had always been the one who dried her tears. Her face grew stormy. "You can be such a jerk sometimes, you know that?"
He opened his mouth to reply but she brushed past him as she ran away still crying. He felt awful as he watched after her. "Wow, you really blew that one," Tsuki voiced at his feet.
"Yeah," Yusei whispered dismally. Why didn't he think before he spoke? Him and his big mouth.
Tsuki looked over his shoulder. "Here comes Yasashiku. Don't make the same mistake."
