I still don't understand people who insult my story, and yet have the audacity to read up to the latest chapter. Must be a pretty good story. Anyway! Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday!


Chapter 11: Sun and Shade

Len's P.O.V.


Piko and Yohio covered their mouths trying to keep their voices down as I got through telling them what had happened as I tied my apron around my waist. "Anyway, I need to ask you guys something. Kaito wanted me to ask you two if it'd be alright for him to survey you guys. It's for this thing he's doing towards the LGBT community here. He pretty much wants to change things up and gain more equality." I then explained, causing the two to stop what they were doing and eye each other.

The blonde rose a brow at me and said, "I'll wish him good luck and send him a prayer. Does he know how impossible doing that would be? Maybe more possible than finding the cure for aids, but still, everyone knows how everyone is still conservative. It's weird because there's a trend going on around here about guys cross-dressing, but they don't want to support the community. Like what the hell type of shit is that?" He explained rather ... validly? Me and Piko looked at him in astonishment. This had caused him to eye the both of us and say, "What? I notice things around here too, ya'know? ... I don't mean to be negative about things, but it's obvious. I don't see how Kaito will be able to pull something like that off. If people are still sexist, what makes him think we'll gain equality for that?"

"You'd be surprised, Yohio. One voice could really make an impact. It just determines on the way that person does it to make his voice be heard." Piko had then budded in. "But neither one of us could deny how much you're right. Things are still hard. I mean you guys didn't hear from me, but I heard that Luki's sister was fired because her boss found out that she was in a relationship with another woman. Not just some woman, but a co-worker. She lied to the boss and said that she was the one who liked her and sent her love notes, just so her girlfriend could stay working in the company. Some homophobic lady told the boss later that she saw the two kiss, and how they were actually in a relationship, so they were both fired."

"What?!" I whispered loudly before I looked around to see if Luki was near. Seeing that he wasn't, I put my focus back onto the two. "... That's so sad and messed up-."

"No. That's called reality, Len. By the end of the day when we aren't hanging with each other and working, there's still people out there outside of this Cafe that doesn't approve of our lifestyles. Because they don't, we'll get called names, harassed, and possibly harmed. I wish to god that something would change around here, but it's seriously going to take some time. ... We're good at progressing with lame ass technology, but not with the stuff that matters" His expression fell into something more grim before he lit up his eyes and looked at me. "We're going to be risking ourselves getting involved with this, but it doesn't hurt pissing those dip-shits off. Hell! They do it to me every single day by just giving me dirty looks down the streets. Especially my mom! She disowned me when I was seventeen on the day I came out to her. I had to move out and everything, but luckily my cousin took me in and let me crash at his place till I got my own place." He then gave a rather large smile.

Yohio ... was disowned when he was seventeen? I slowly turned my gaze to Piko who gave me a look that obviously said, "I know. Just don't question him." and I didn't.

After a moment or two, Gumi popped inside of the kitchen and pointed to Yohio. "Hey! Get your butt out there! We're starting to get some customers, and Luki just showed up." She nearly hollered at him.

He gave a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes before giving one last look to us. "No wonder that bitch is single. Anyway, I'll see you guys on our break. And Len, tell Kaito that I'm interested in the survey when you get a chance."

With that he turned and walked away.

A minute or two had passed by before Piko pipped up, "As hyper and idiotic he is most of the time, you still have to acknowledge that even He has problems. I kind of knew he had family problems because he never mentioned his parents or anything, except his cousin." He said as he reached over for the dough and pulled a piece off.

I walked over next to him and did the same. "It kind of makes me wonder if it's worse towards family, or walking outside and getting shit." I then said.

"Both is pretty awful. To me it depends how you handle family compared to outside people. ... But it's okay getting shit from both ends if you have a third party to go to."

"Third party? What do you mean?" I asked.

"A lover. Someone to give you love despite your flaws, but what's a flaw? An excuse to damage a person because they're not your type of normal? In truth, I'm glad that you have Kaito. You're going to need some protection, and there's a reason why I say this" He paused from kneading the dough, showing me a slight concerned look. This had caused me to stop touching the dough and raise a brow. "I was talking to Gumi before opening time, and she told me that she was worried about the safety of the shop. Mostly because there have been a group of guys, about four, who walk past this shop in the morning looking through the front windows, and then at night an hour before closing time of the same guys walking near the back door, waiting for half an hour."

"What?" I immediately felt my heart freeze up at the sudden information. "H-How?"

"She had her suspicion by seeing them in the morning, but she found out the rest by looking through the surveillance." His brows had then furrowed. "Yohio is right. This is reality, and because it is, being scared won't help us with anything. Having fear and calling the police won't do us justice. They'd just come late, let us get beaten up, and say they couldn't identify the bastards who did it. And on that note, I'm with Yohio towards the survey. I think we should have some sort of meeting to discuss the situation."

You gotta be kidding me. ... I should tell Kaito about this late.

"I've been meaning to ask. Why did Gumi make you wear pants?" He then asked.

I only shrugged my shoulders and responded, "She didn't say. ... Do you ... think it had something to do with my weight?" I cautiously brought up.

"Your weight? You're not even fat. I mean you are a little big in some aspects, but it's not like you have a gut. You have thick thighs, and some thick features. Maybe she made you wear pants because your thighs and butt were too much for the customers- haha!" He began to laugh, making me slap his arm with one of the nearby oven-mitts. "Okay! Okay! I'm just kidding, but to be more thorough with my thoughts, you have a boyfriend. ... Do you think he's okay with you showing off skin like that when he's not around?" He paused and lifted a brow at me.

Doesn't want me showing my skin off? ... When the hell did he call Gumi?

"By the look on your face, you know he called Gumi. But hey, can't get mad at him. Give a man a piece of ass, he'll make it his job to make sure no one else gets it. Especially by the way you described what went down yesterday. Mr. Freak is so quick to cover his boyfriend up."

"Oh, shut up. I just didn't think he'd do that. Especially that fast." I then rolled my eyes. "We better hurry and make these crepes. I don't want to hear Gumi yelling at us."

"True enough. Anyway, I think we should include Luki into this meeting. I know neither one of us really talk to him like that, but I think it'd help to have him join."

"Yeah..."

Kaito's P.O.V.

Both me and Akaito sat across from our parents, discussing my idea. "Are you okay after that little incident, mom?" I questioned her, causing her to give a brief sigh and eye me.

"Yeah. You can't really change a person with a mind set like that, especially us. Although we're good friends as far as your relations with her son goes, I try to accommodate around the fact that she's a conservative. I'm pretty sure she does the same with me, knowing how we're more liberal towards things" She then picked up her cup of tea and took a small sip from it. "But it's quite sad to know how she treats her nineteen year-old son like that. Although he's about to be twenty soon, he's still young, and it's not like he's doing anything wrong." She explained.

I became a little surprised knowing how she knew how his birthday was coming up, but I quickly shook it off as our father pipped up, "Those who keeps their mind in the past, thinks backwards. Tsukimi isn't able to move on that easily, but it isn't our job to do anything about it. Backwards thinking can't think forward." The older red-head dug into the sleeve of his gray yukata-top and pulled out a cigarette, sticking it between his lips and quickly lighting it with his lighter. Dad hadn't changed a bit. Both looks and wisdom.

He still keeps his hair into a loose pony-tail, with most of his bangs hanging over the side of his face. Still has a small patch of hair on his chin, keeping his jazzy look. Nothing about him told his actual age because he forever looked thirty despite him being fourty-six. He's always wearing a Yukata shirt that's open, shirt underneath, lounge harem-pants that went down to his knees, and wooden sandals. The most one would get him to "dress" up, is a collared shirt with three buttons unbuttoned with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, vest, untied tie, fitted pants, and casual dress-shoes. His looks matches his personality. ... Carefree, secretly wise, and a little slick if one wanted to get into details.

He blew out a small cloud of smoke and continued. "Now I'm only going to say this to you once, Kaito. When you do something and people question you, you can't say that your action is for a good cause. I say this because anyone can say they did something for a good cause, but everyone's "good" is different from yours. But don't get me wrong, what you're trying to do is needed, but you have to be mindful towards the ones you're getting involved. ... If they want to stop you from spreading a message, they'll break something of value to shut you up. Trust and believe they'll do it the very moment you're not aware." His dark-crimson eyes stared at me intensely.

"You really need to listen to dad on this one. Whatever you value, you better be their eyes too." Akaito had then added, practically taking what dad said and summarizing it. "But if you're being threatened and out numbered, don't hold back from calling my number. Those bastards will be catching some serious hands, dammit" He then balled up his fists and gave a small smirk. He looks like a wife beater doing that. Especially because he's wearing a black tank-top. ... Well, he did just get off from training not too long ago. Of course he's going to take off his bullet-vest and shirt.

"Riiiight" I rose a brow at him for a second before I turned my gaze towards mom again. "Anyway, I understand what you guys are saying, and I'm going to take precaution. Subside from that, I'll make sure I bring Len with me for Kaiko's birthday tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I can get his sister to go for added support."

"That sounds wonderful, honey. I'm sure your sister would like that very much, and it'd be nice to be an artist for her party and do portraits of people. She's inviting her little high school friends, so we're all trying to pitch in on doing something. But I want you to invite Len if he's not busy. I don't want him to come if he's-" "Mom, he'll be able to make it." I said as I stood from my seat.

She gave a small smile and stood as well. "I'm just making sure. In the meantime, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, and I want you to call or text me as soon as you get home."

"Mom, I'm twenty-three."

"So? And I was in labor with you for seven hours, but you don't see me complaining. Plus it doesn't hurt for a mother to be concerned about her son." She walked over and gave light punch on my arm before wrapping her arms around me into a brief yet warm hug. "Tell Len that I said hi, and Kaito"

"Hm?" Retreating her arms, she lowered her voice so the others couldn't hear.

"If you love that boy, you better do what it takes to make sure he's away from harms way. ... And make sure he knows he has family other than blood. Keep that in his mind, and he'll be able to stand tall to tough situations. Just remind him that he's cared for, that he's loved, and that he's supported. ... Now get going. I know you have other things you have to do. I love you, okay?"

Feeling the corner of my lips tug upwards, I told her, "I love you too, mom. And I'll make sure to call as soon as I get back."