Part C
"Let's go to the bar!" Sano shouted and Shinpachi groaned, "On Christmas Eve?"
"Sure, socialization." Heisuke supported.
Shinpachi snorted and rolled his eyes, "Did you forget something?"
Heisuke paused, "I don't think so."
"Puppy is too young to drink. They wouldn't even let him in."
Sano blinked and looked down at him, "They let you in."
Shinpachi turned red, "They know me!"
Heisuke leered, "Of course they do. Little boy."
There was this second of pure silence.
"You bastard!" Shinpachi yelled and proceeded to pummel his friend, "Don't. Ever. Compare. Me. Like. That."
Ren dragged his rabid cousin off and flicked him in the forehead lightly. "Calm down. It'll be fine, okay? They'll let him in, but they won't give him a drink. He can have soda." Ren frowned, "I don't think any of you are legal anyway."
There was an uneasy silence.
"Any-way!" Heisuke said overly loud, "It'll be fun. A good way to relax after all the fun and exercise we've been having."
"But maybe not the kind you want?" Ren nudged Heisuke then laughed, "Fixable."
Shinpachi stared at his cousin dangerously, "What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"Ren."
"Nothing! You're so paranoid."
"Uh-huh."
"Let's go to the bar then!" Sano said eagerly, already dressing for the cold. Really, it was ridiculous the way he layered. They weren't going to do anything. Surely the bar was heated?
The group dispersed and Tetsu lingered in the hall, looking for that one stupid snow boot. He set it down right there!
"Shh, this will have to be fast."
"Isn't Shinpattsan going to be surprised?"
"Surprised, yes. Definitely surprised. Happy? That's questionable." Ren replied, sounding distracted, "There. Now you get ready, okay?"
Tetsu almost walked around the corner when he was jumped from behind. Struggling, he bit at the hand over his mouth.
"Stop that." Ren commanded, shaking the spit off his hand with disgust, "You really don't want to go through that doorway right now."
Tetsu stopped struggling and cocked his head curiously, "Why?"
Ren smirked and pulled him slightly to the side. The doorway was in perfect view there.
"Watch."
"Shinpachi hurry up!" Heisuke called out from out of sight.
"I am! Can't you just wait one… gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Shinpachi screamed as Heisuke did a full body tackle. Before the smaller boy could escape, Heisuke grabbed his head.
Tetsu stared with avid fascination, "Is that a French?"
Ren chuckled, "I think that's the whole UN. Whew, too bad I already have someone."
Shinpachi sat panting on the floor, red in the face. He stared for a long moment. "What prompted that molestation?"
Heisuke grinned cheekily and pointed up at the innocently looking clump of some kind of plant, tied with a red ribbon.
Shinpachi looked up and turned a darker shade of red.
"Oh boy." Ren said nervously, "Who has the car keys?"
"Heisuke, you're an idiotic lecher. What if Sano had walked through that door?"
"Huh?" Sano said, standing over the two, who were still in the doorway. They looked at each other. Shinpachi scrambled back saying no over and over, but Heisuke grinned, making a remark that fair was fair. Tetsu covered his eyes.
"Well, are we ready?"
"Quite." Saito remarked from the doorway behind them. He was bundled up in, guess what, black clothing. The scarf was pulled up so far on his face that you could only see the drooping eyes.
Ren smiled and said, "You heard the man, up and at 'em guys. This is no time to play around under the mistletoe!"
Shinpachi gave the finger and Ren smiled sweetly, "You lost your first kiss. Do you really want to lose your virginity too?"
"I can't believe you. It's incredible that you can be so nonchalantly sick like that. To think we're related."
"Tainted blood." Ren barked and Sano, finished thoroughly wiping his mouth, was jingling the keys impatiently.
After Heisuke and Ren had trooped out, Shinpachi growled to the air, "I think some payback is in order."
Tetsu, never one for sense, just had to ask, "Why? You didn't like the kiss?"
"Uh… what kind of question is that? He… he…"
Tetsu wasn't the wait patiently type, "Took… what was that word? Ignitative?"
"Initiative." Shinpachi corrected absently.
Tetsu screwed up his face in confusion and added helpfully, "If you kissed back it might work better."
"Wha—you just… gaaah! Everyone is out to get me! Thank God we're going to a bar." Shinpachi howled and stormed out.
"What'd I say?"
"The wheels on the bus go round and round." Okita sang softly, rocking back and forth slightly. Perhaps the little pixie stick pick me up wasn't such a great idea. Considering it was about midnight and all the other passengers were sleeping.
"Would you fucking shut up?" Susumu demanded from the other side of him. True to his word, the other teen had gotten them a ride to the bus station. Since then he had been rather grumpy.
"Put your headphones on if I'm bothering you." Okita suggested, closing his eyes and changing his words into a hum. "Or, if you're awake enough, we could talk."
"Talk? About what."
"Hmm, well, what do you want to talk about?"
"You're on a sugar high." Susumu accused. "And I don't know."
"A small one." Okita admitted, using his arm to prop himself against the cold window comfortably. "It'll burn off in about twenty minutes."
"I don't know how you can eat that junk."
Okita grinned slightly, "Would you rather I didn't? I seem to break bone when my blood sugar runs low."
"You have a point there."
"Why don't you like Hijikata?"
"That was blunt." Susumu observed, deadpan.
Okita gave him a sharp look and replied, "It seems to be the only way to get an answer out of you. You take the fun out of teasing."
There was a long silence and Okita was afraid he had pushed it too far. He knew that Susumu resented him for several reasons, but the main one was that he was close with Hijikata. It was almost a jealousy issue… almost. Except there was a weird twist to it.
"I don't hate him if that's what you're asking."
"No, I said 'like' actually. But that's not a reason." Okita corrected.
"Whatever."
"So are you going to clam up?"
"Yes."
"You'll explode."
"You will first."
"Will not." Okita said sticking his tongue out. "I talk to people about my problems."
"Will too. And who?"
"My, my, so adamant. Hijikata for one." Susumu snorted, "And Tetsu."
"That punk? I bet he gives really good advice too."
Okita gave a fond smirk, "Yes, he does. He tells you what he thinks. It's very refreshing to get a straight answer." Accusing eyes.
"Look somewhere else. You're not my friend."
Okita sighed. It was a long, pouty sound.
"Can't you at least pretend to be nice? I don't understand how Ayunee could possibly be your sister."
"What do you know?"
"Nothing. I don't have ESP like Saito." Okita pointed out, "Well, it's isn't ESP for him I guess."
"His ghost mumbo-jumbo shit. You actually believe that?"
"Of course. You're changing the subject."
"Am not."
"You are too."
Susumu made a noise of annoyance, but didn't disagree.
"We're some prickly people!" Okita proclaimed, "Why don't we play a game?"
Susumu stared at him.
"I ask a question, you answer. You ask a question, I answer. Simple. Everything is fair and you can refuse to answer any question, but then you lose."
"I don't like that game."
"What? You haven't even played yet."
Silence.
"You'll find some things out."
"Fine, but I get to go first."
"Shoot."
Susumu gave him a serious look and said with a straight face, "How much sugar do you consume in 24 hours."
Okita's hand slipped and he cracked his head lightly on the metal windowsill. Rubbing his head from the surprise and pain, he still managed to smile impishly.
"You did mean 'do' and not 'can' right?"
"Fine, on average. And that's one question you just wasted."
Okita grumbled, "Cheater. I was asking it to clarify."
"It was still a question."
"Well, on average I usually have about three full sized candy bars, some sort of baked thing in the morning, and some random things during the day. I like variety, so it's kind of hard to list it all."
"How long have you been planning this bus trip?"
"A month. Getting Hijikata's credit card was rather difficult and I had to go to the library in Florida really early to buy them online."
Susumu nodded.
"Hmm, that was an easy question."
"I wouldn't want to end this too soon." Susumu replied. "Willing information is hard to come by."
"True!" Okita agreed and considered, "Why did you help Tetsu get back into our school?"
"He was in my way."
"Sure. Your turn."
"He was!"
"I believe you."
"Why'd you pick him. You never showed any interest an anyone before."
Okita grinned, pleased, "Ah, you keep such close tabs! Why? That's hard to answer, but I'll play. Maybe because he's so naïve and open? Well, and very sweet."
"Spare me the 'he's the best boyfriend in the world because…' bullshit."
"You did ask."
"I don't need details."
"Next question then. This is fun. Hmm, why do you hassle Heisuke so much?"
"Besides the fact that he's a fucking perverted fag? He's an asshole. Someone needs to bust his bubble."
"And that someone is you. Got it."
"You can't judge me. There are people you don't like, I'm sure."
"Yes, but I get along with the majority of the population."
"Are you saying I'm a hater?"
"With a passion."
"Fag."
"Hmm, yes, I guess I am."
"Why'd you almost get expelled from your school last year." Susumu continued, like nothing had even happened.
Okita made a grimace, "Itriedtokillateacher."
"What?"
"Ah! You asked a question."
"What did you say Okita."
"Ryoumawasalmosttakentothehospital."
"What the hell? You're not speaking English!"
"I used my skill in kendo to attempt murder on my teacher, Ryouma."
Susumu was silent for a moment. "So you have two questions and then I'm going to sleep. This is giving me a headache. I didn't know talking was so much effort."
"Okay, do you want Ayunee to be happy?"
"Yes."
"And why don't you like Hijikata?"
"Personal. What time are we getting into town tomorrow?" Susumu snapped, turning away.
"Ah, it is tomorrow. We should be there in a few hours, but we'll have to hitch hike some."
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"No way squirt."
"Why not? You guys are all doing it! That's no fucking fair."
Sano looked down at Tetsu, around his glass of hard liquor, "Because Heisuke said no."
"That's not a reason. Besides, he's the guy beating up the jutebox! What a dork! You can't possibly be taking him serious!" Sano looked over the boy's head at his friend, who was indeed beating the poor inanimate music maker.
"What kind of place is this? Who is Creeks and Dung, or Rascal Flats! What kind of messed up name is that? It reminds me of flat raccoons and Shinpachi's driving. Why is all of it coooooooooooountry? Country sucks!" Heisuke said, "And the one semi-good song ate my money and won't play!"
Sano looked back at Tetsu and shook his head. "No."
"Why not!"
"Because Heisuke said it would get him in trouble."
"You're no good!" Tetsu waited a second, "Now can I have some?"
"Why don't you have another coke?" Shinpachi suggested. They'd already been in the dark, hick bar for nearly two hours and he couldn't convince anyone to let him drink. He wasn't asking for much! Just a beer or something. Not the stuff that Shinpachi and Ren were using in their drinking game. Come to think of it, Shinpachi was looking a little glassy eyed.
"No!" Tetsu retorted. "You guys brought me here to temptation then say I can't have any? That's no fucking fair. Give me some!"
"Eh-eh, you should play nice. Getting drunk isn't all that much fun." Ren chided, waving his finger about unsteadily.
Heisuke stomped back over with a growl and threw himself on the bench.
"This is crap. No good music, no cute guys, just those old geezers Saito is terrifying, and no sports. I can't breath because this smoke is so thick and you three are getting sloshed."
"That's what bars are for. Drinking." Sano pointed out, going through another glass like it was water.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't get in any fights this time Sano. That last guy woke up in the hospital." Heisuke said, ordering himself a beer. "And you two are going to be in a world of pain tomorrow. What proof?"
"40." Ren replied. Shinpachi tried to turn, but weaved, almost off his chair. He was red in the face and holding his bottle menacingly, "What do you mean 40?"
Ren chuckled nervously and slid away, "Aren't you drinking 40 too?"
"No." That came out as a feral growl. Apparently Shinpachi was a very violent drunk. This should be interesting. Hopefully Sano wouldn't be too incapacitated to stop him from killing his cousin.
"Now, now, Shin. I'll just let you win, okay? Because you've already had twice as much as me." Ren soothed. "How does that sound?"
"It sounds like you're a dirty cheater." Shinpachi accused, with his eyes locked on his cousin. With one quick, practiced motion snatched up the hunting knife from the man next to him.
"Just calm down." Ren said without moving.
Heisuke and Sano's eyes were wide. Heisuke stuttered, "Ren—Ren, move! He's serious."
"What? Shin wouldn't hurt me."
Slash.
"Oww! What was that for?"
"Baby." Shinpachi snorted, and tossed the knife back at the guy. The poor man dodged and the heavy knife slammed into the wooden floor with a thunk. "I don't feel so good."
"Gee, wonder why." Heisuke said sarcastically and slammed his head down on the bar, "Can we go home? Ren's trashed and bleeding, Shinpattsan's sloshed and violent, Sano… Hey, Sano! No!"
Sano and a big trucker were circling each other. The bar tender was trying to run interference, but both combatants easily outweighed him.
"You touched my butt!"
"Fuck no. Why would I touch a punk-shit like you?"
"You did! You got in my bubble space. I don't like men! You want something like that go over there!" Sano said, pointing in the vague direction of Tetsu and Heisuke, "Just because I'm with them, I'm not one of them!"
The trucker half-turned to walk away when Sano's fist connected soundly with his jaw. There was a painful crack as the big trucker's head snapped back.
He spat out some blood. It was obviously that he wasn't intoxicated in the slightest by his movements. Tetsu watched in fascination. He'd never really seen Sano fight hand-to-hand.
"Hey Heisuke… wanna make a bet?"
"I'm betting on Sano." Heisuke said sourly, "Even up to his ears in scotch he'll kick ass."
Okay, apparently Sano wasn't the only one who had impaired judgment.
"If I win, er, the trucker wins, then you have to buy me a drink. Just a beer! That's all I'm asking for."
"Sure, but don't get your hopes up." Heisuke said blackly, helping himself to Ren's abandoned drink.
Before the brawl could finish, the bar tender had managed to get some help. The two were ungracefully thrown outside. Good thing Sano had the keys.
"Fuck, Sano has the keys. He better not leave us here!" Heisuke snarled, but made no move to get up. He looked around, "Where'd Shinpattsan go?"
Tetsu decided that Heisuke was far gone now. He won't mind then if Tetsu helped himself to a little left over. Not at all. Right?
Tetsu knew that the only one who was remotely sober was Saito. Ha, the guy was too busy talking with the old geezers about their dead loved ones. What a weird guy. Besides, he wouldn't stop him.
Grabbing Shinpachi's forgotten leftovers he forced himself to swallow it in one gulp.
"Gah, I'm going to die!" He tried to howl. It came out more of a sickly choking gurgle. His throat was burning and he tried desperately to hack his lungs out. Shinpachi was drinking that shit! How? Why?
In the middle of those two wonderful sensations he started feeling the bile rise in his throat. Falling on hands and knees he started depositing dinner on the ground.
"I'm going to die." He whimpered and tried to curl up. Something nudged him. Weakly he tried to swat it away. The nudging persisted and there was this annoying sound that accompanied it. It seemed like he should recognize it, but right now he just wanted silence… or death.
"Tetsu, you're a mess." The annoyance said. It sounded like it was yelling at him. Maybe it was one of Saito's ghosts come to take him to Hell. "Where's Heisuke and Sano?"
Another, slow, measured annoyance said, "I believe Harada was thrown out for unruly conduct and Toudou is passed out in the men's room. I assume you found Nagakura."
"Thank you Saito." The original annoyance said and suddenly something was trying to take Tetsu's body. He started flailing. He wasn't going anywhere with some evil annoyance! He wanted to die in painful peace damn it!
"Tetsu, stay still. Saito and I are taking you back to the cabin, but you have to cooperate. Susumu already took Shinpachi." A cool hand stroked his brow and he calmed down a little. His head still felt like it was going to fucking split in fucking half and he couldn't see a damn thing. All of it was black.
"Can't see." He whimpered.
"Perhaps if you opened your eyes you would have vision." The deep annoyance suggested calmly.
Fuck that. It sounded too hard.
"If you could please get Heisuke, we should leave."
Suddenly Tetsu felt himself up on his feet and stumbling forward.
"Come on Tetsu. Please don't make me carry you like a baby. It would be awfully embarrassing."
He jutted his jaw and ignored the sudden blast of air. No one was fucking carrying him around like one of those shit-making squallers!
"Better." The annoyance encouraged. Would it ever shut up?
The rest of the ride home was a blur alternating with a haze. The last thing he remembered was puking all over Heisuke, while sobbing that he was going to die cold and alone. The senior wasn't particularly appreciative of that.
"Gerroff Poopy." Heisuke slurred, trying to shove him away. It only made Tetsu cling harder, sobbing. "Yer makin' a scene."
"Who was killing Jimmy Buffet?" Tetsu accused, immediately regretting opening his mouth. It fucking hurt.
"It deserted it." Heisuke mumbled and closed his eyes.
"We're here!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Tetsu screamed in agony. If it shut up he could die happy.
This time he was carried like a baby. Well, if you call slinging a baby over your thin, bony, hard, painful shoulders carrying them. And throwing him was totally inappropriate.
"You're going have a painful hangover in the morning Tetsu. Sleep well. There's a bucket to vomit in beside your bed." The annoyance brushed something across his forehead and walked out.
Another bout of nausea swept through him.
"I'm going to die."
"Stuff it. Tryin' ta slee'." A thick voice demanded from the other side of the room. Instinctively Tetsu started to crawl towards it. It was his biggest fear that he would die alone. Being incredibly confused, he let his instincts lead him to the only other living body in the room.
He grabbed at the blanket that dangled down and pulled himself up into a half-upright position. The occupant lashed out blindly.
"Leave me th' fuck 'lone!"
"I'm dying." Tetsu explained.
"So? Go'way."
Tetsu ignored the command and tried to climb up into the bed. His attempts were met with a solid smack to the face and a hard floor at his back. He wasn't discouraged. As long as he got up there before he died, he was okay. Or at least that's what his brain told him.
"'Mmm. Get'way." The other persisted, but didn't smack at him this time.
"No."
"Fin'." Suddenly a hand grabbed at his arm and dragged him up. Tetsu proceeded to do something he hadn't done since his parents died. He curled into the other being with his head against their chest and his fists clutching cloth tightly. The arms came around him loosely and the breathing deepened.
A/N: There you go, more cabin fun, combined with the ever-bad drinking! Mmm, what will morning bring? -evil chuckle- Anyway, true story. I got attacked by a raccoon the other evening. It charged me and my dog Shadow, changed it's mind, and jumped down the sewer. Aside from being terrified, then laughing to hard so I could hardly breath, I decided it was a sign from the Fanfic (or maybe Raccoon?) Gods that I should stop picking on Shinpachi so much. I will try to comply with their wishes because I love the little guy, really.
O-O: Wow pokes one sitting? Is your brain toast? With jelly? LOL, the chapters just seem to keep getting longer and longer. It's quite disconcerting actually X.X I'm glad you got some good laughs. I wasn't sure about starting a multi-chapter PMK AU, but I think it turned out nice! Yes, I wish it had more fanfiction... well, in English, so I could actually read it. waves Have fun in Lala Land, it's such a lovely place to visit. They know me quite well -
Fyyrrose: FGs or YFGs? Or could I keep them both happy? Well, minus the yaoi, because I'm chicken! I see Sano slinging fangirls all over the place like a bunch of attacking rats. They'd squeal, run back up, and he'd toss them around again - How am I? I don't know. I blame you. You wanted ShinHei, not me. I'm just trying to make it work. And failing that, there's always the other pairing I want involving Shin -snickers- Sorry, Hei-kun, but I could do it, so don't piss me off. Remember that one fansite? Think that, but worse! As for that conversation... -whistles- based on real conversation. Okita, the homicidal teenager without Hijikata to bring him in line... 207 isn't average! BSR was like 200 pages COMPLETE, well, and Drifter. Everything else is like 100 pages! And I'm not threatening reviewers...
-shifty eyes- You hear that people? She says I should threaten all you invisable people! Are you going to stand for that? -backs away pretending like nothing happened-
Anyway, it'll slow down now that I don't have any premade chapters again. Although I did introduce Tetsu to Tokio earlier this evening when I had just finished the next chapter of Curses!
"Let's go to the bar!" Sano shouted and Shinpachi groaned, "On Christmas Eve?"
"Sure, socialization." Heisuke supported.
Shinpachi snorted and rolled his eyes, "Did you forget something?"
Heisuke paused, "I don't think so."
"Puppy is too young to drink. They wouldn't even let him in."
Sano blinked and looked down at him, "They let you in."
Shinpachi turned red, "They know me!"
Heisuke leered, "Of course they do. Little boy."
There was this second of pure silence.
"You bastard!" Shinpachi yelled and proceeded to pummel his friend, "Don't. Ever. Compare. Me. Like. That."
Ren dragged his rabid cousin off and flicked him in the forehead lightly. "Calm down. It'll be fine, okay? They'll let him in, but they won't give him a drink. He can have soda." Ren frowned, "I don't think any of you are legal anyway."
There was an uneasy silence.
"Any-way!" Heisuke said overly loud, "It'll be fun. A good way to relax after all the fun and exercise we've been having."
"But maybe not the kind you want?" Ren nudged Heisuke then laughed, "Fixable."
Shinpachi stared at his cousin dangerously, "What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"Ren."
"Nothing! You're so paranoid."
"Uh-huh."
"Let's go to the bar then!" Sano said eagerly, already dressing for the cold. Really, it was ridiculous the way he layered. They weren't going to do anything. Surely the bar was heated?
The group dispersed and Tetsu lingered in the hall, looking for that one stupid snow boot. He set it down right there!
"Shh, this will have to be fast."
"Isn't Shinpattsan going to be surprised?"
"Surprised, yes. Definitely surprised. Happy? That's questionable." Ren replied, sounding distracted, "There. Now you get ready, okay?"
Tetsu almost walked around the corner when he was jumped from behind. Struggling, he bit at the hand over his mouth.
"Stop that." Ren commanded, shaking the spit off his hand with disgust, "You really don't want to go through that doorway right now."
Tetsu stopped struggling and cocked his head curiously, "Why?"
Ren smirked and pulled him slightly to the side. The doorway was in perfect view there.
"Watch."
"Shinpachi hurry up!" Heisuke called out from out of sight.
"I am! Can't you just wait one… gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Shinpachi screamed as Heisuke did a full body tackle. Before the smaller boy could escape, Heisuke grabbed his head.
Tetsu stared with avid fascination, "Is that a French?"
Ren chuckled, "I think that's the whole UN. Whew, too bad I already have someone."
Shinpachi sat panting on the floor, red in the face. He stared for a long moment. "What prompted that molestation?"
Heisuke grinned cheekily and pointed up at the innocently looking clump of some kind of plant, tied with a red ribbon.
Shinpachi looked up and turned a darker shade of red.
"Oh boy." Ren said nervously, "Who has the car keys?"
"Heisuke, you're an idiotic lecher. What if Sano had walked through that door?"
"Huh?" Sano said, standing over the two, who were still in the doorway. They looked at each other. Shinpachi scrambled back saying no over and over, but Heisuke grinned, making a remark that fair was fair. Tetsu covered his eyes.
"Well, are we ready?"
"Quite." Saito remarked from the doorway behind them. He was bundled up in, guess what, black clothing. The scarf was pulled up so far on his face that you could only see the drooping eyes.
Ren smiled and said, "You heard the man, up and at 'em guys. This is no time to play around under the mistletoe!"
Shinpachi gave the finger and Ren smiled sweetly, "You lost your first kiss. Do you really want to lose your virginity too?"
"I can't believe you. It's incredible that you can be so nonchalantly sick like that. To think we're related."
"Tainted blood." Ren barked and Sano, finished thoroughly wiping his mouth, was jingling the keys impatiently.
After Heisuke and Ren had trooped out, Shinpachi growled to the air, "I think some payback is in order."
Tetsu, never one for sense, just had to ask, "Why? You didn't like the kiss?"
"Uh… what kind of question is that? He… he…"
Tetsu wasn't the wait patiently type, "Took… what was that word? Ignitative?"
"Initiative." Shinpachi corrected absently.
Tetsu screwed up his face in confusion and added helpfully, "If you kissed back it might work better."
"Wha—you just… gaaah! Everyone is out to get me! Thank God we're going to a bar." Shinpachi howled and stormed out.
"What'd I say?"
"The wheels on the bus go round and round." Okita sang softly, rocking back and forth slightly. Perhaps the little pixie stick pick me up wasn't such a great idea. Considering it was about midnight and all the other passengers were sleeping.
"Would you fucking shut up?" Susumu demanded from the other side of him. True to his word, the other teen had gotten them a ride to the bus station. Since then he had been rather grumpy.
"Put your headphones on if I'm bothering you." Okita suggested, closing his eyes and changing his words into a hum. "Or, if you're awake enough, we could talk."
"Talk? About what."
"Hmm, well, what do you want to talk about?"
"You're on a sugar high." Susumu accused. "And I don't know."
"A small one." Okita admitted, using his arm to prop himself against the cold window comfortably. "It'll burn off in about twenty minutes."
"I don't know how you can eat that junk."
Okita grinned slightly, "Would you rather I didn't? I seem to break bone when my blood sugar runs low."
"You have a point there."
"Why don't you like Hijikata?"
"That was blunt." Susumu observed, deadpan.
Okita gave him a sharp look and replied, "It seems to be the only way to get an answer out of you. You take the fun out of teasing."
There was a long silence and Okita was afraid he had pushed it too far. He knew that Susumu resented him for several reasons, but the main one was that he was close with Hijikata. It was almost a jealousy issue… almost. Except there was a weird twist to it.
"I don't hate him if that's what you're asking."
"No, I said 'like' actually. But that's not a reason." Okita corrected.
"Whatever."
"So are you going to clam up?"
"Yes."
"You'll explode."
"You will first."
"Will not." Okita said sticking his tongue out. "I talk to people about my problems."
"Will too. And who?"
"My, my, so adamant. Hijikata for one." Susumu snorted, "And Tetsu."
"That punk? I bet he gives really good advice too."
Okita gave a fond smirk, "Yes, he does. He tells you what he thinks. It's very refreshing to get a straight answer." Accusing eyes.
"Look somewhere else. You're not my friend."
Okita sighed. It was a long, pouty sound.
"Can't you at least pretend to be nice? I don't understand how Ayunee could possibly be your sister."
"What do you know?"
"Nothing. I don't have ESP like Saito." Okita pointed out, "Well, it's isn't ESP for him I guess."
"His ghost mumbo-jumbo shit. You actually believe that?"
"Of course. You're changing the subject."
"Am not."
"You are too."
Susumu made a noise of annoyance, but didn't disagree.
"We're some prickly people!" Okita proclaimed, "Why don't we play a game?"
Susumu stared at him.
"I ask a question, you answer. You ask a question, I answer. Simple. Everything is fair and you can refuse to answer any question, but then you lose."
"I don't like that game."
"What? You haven't even played yet."
Silence.
"You'll find some things out."
"Fine, but I get to go first."
"Shoot."
Susumu gave him a serious look and said with a straight face, "How much sugar do you consume in 24 hours."
Okita's hand slipped and he cracked his head lightly on the metal windowsill. Rubbing his head from the surprise and pain, he still managed to smile impishly.
"You did mean 'do' and not 'can' right?"
"Fine, on average. And that's one question you just wasted."
Okita grumbled, "Cheater. I was asking it to clarify."
"It was still a question."
"Well, on average I usually have about three full sized candy bars, some sort of baked thing in the morning, and some random things during the day. I like variety, so it's kind of hard to list it all."
"How long have you been planning this bus trip?"
"A month. Getting Hijikata's credit card was rather difficult and I had to go to the library in Florida really early to buy them online."
Susumu nodded.
"Hmm, that was an easy question."
"I wouldn't want to end this too soon." Susumu replied. "Willing information is hard to come by."
"True!" Okita agreed and considered, "Why did you help Tetsu get back into our school?"
"He was in my way."
"Sure. Your turn."
"He was!"
"I believe you."
"Why'd you pick him. You never showed any interest an anyone before."
Okita grinned, pleased, "Ah, you keep such close tabs! Why? That's hard to answer, but I'll play. Maybe because he's so naïve and open? Well, and very sweet."
"Spare me the 'he's the best boyfriend in the world because…' bullshit."
"You did ask."
"I don't need details."
"Next question then. This is fun. Hmm, why do you hassle Heisuke so much?"
"Besides the fact that he's a fucking perverted fag? He's an asshole. Someone needs to bust his bubble."
"And that someone is you. Got it."
"You can't judge me. There are people you don't like, I'm sure."
"Yes, but I get along with the majority of the population."
"Are you saying I'm a hater?"
"With a passion."
"Fag."
"Hmm, yes, I guess I am."
"Why'd you almost get expelled from your school last year." Susumu continued, like nothing had even happened.
Okita made a grimace, "Itriedtokillateacher."
"What?"
"Ah! You asked a question."
"What did you say Okita."
"Ryoumawasalmosttakentothehospital."
"What the hell? You're not speaking English!"
"I used my skill in kendo to attempt murder on my teacher, Ryouma."
Susumu was silent for a moment. "So you have two questions and then I'm going to sleep. This is giving me a headache. I didn't know talking was so much effort."
"Okay, do you want Ayunee to be happy?"
"Yes."
"And why don't you like Hijikata?"
"Personal. What time are we getting into town tomorrow?" Susumu snapped, turning away.
"Ah, it is tomorrow. We should be there in a few hours, but we'll have to hitch hike some."
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"No way squirt."
"Why not? You guys are all doing it! That's no fucking fair."
Sano looked down at Tetsu, around his glass of hard liquor, "Because Heisuke said no."
"That's not a reason. Besides, he's the guy beating up the jutebox! What a dork! You can't possibly be taking him serious!" Sano looked over the boy's head at his friend, who was indeed beating the poor inanimate music maker.
"What kind of place is this? Who is Creeks and Dung, or Rascal Flats! What kind of messed up name is that? It reminds me of flat raccoons and Shinpachi's driving. Why is all of it coooooooooooountry? Country sucks!" Heisuke said, "And the one semi-good song ate my money and won't play!"
Sano looked back at Tetsu and shook his head. "No."
"Why not!"
"Because Heisuke said it would get him in trouble."
"You're no good!" Tetsu waited a second, "Now can I have some?"
"Why don't you have another coke?" Shinpachi suggested. They'd already been in the dark, hick bar for nearly two hours and he couldn't convince anyone to let him drink. He wasn't asking for much! Just a beer or something. Not the stuff that Shinpachi and Ren were using in their drinking game. Come to think of it, Shinpachi was looking a little glassy eyed.
"No!" Tetsu retorted. "You guys brought me here to temptation then say I can't have any? That's no fucking fair. Give me some!"
"Eh-eh, you should play nice. Getting drunk isn't all that much fun." Ren chided, waving his finger about unsteadily.
Heisuke stomped back over with a growl and threw himself on the bench.
"This is crap. No good music, no cute guys, just those old geezers Saito is terrifying, and no sports. I can't breath because this smoke is so thick and you three are getting sloshed."
"That's what bars are for. Drinking." Sano pointed out, going through another glass like it was water.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't get in any fights this time Sano. That last guy woke up in the hospital." Heisuke said, ordering himself a beer. "And you two are going to be in a world of pain tomorrow. What proof?"
"40." Ren replied. Shinpachi tried to turn, but weaved, almost off his chair. He was red in the face and holding his bottle menacingly, "What do you mean 40?"
Ren chuckled nervously and slid away, "Aren't you drinking 40 too?"
"No." That came out as a feral growl. Apparently Shinpachi was a very violent drunk. This should be interesting. Hopefully Sano wouldn't be too incapacitated to stop him from killing his cousin.
"Now, now, Shin. I'll just let you win, okay? Because you've already had twice as much as me." Ren soothed. "How does that sound?"
"It sounds like you're a dirty cheater." Shinpachi accused, with his eyes locked on his cousin. With one quick, practiced motion snatched up the hunting knife from the man next to him.
"Just calm down." Ren said without moving.
Heisuke and Sano's eyes were wide. Heisuke stuttered, "Ren—Ren, move! He's serious."
"What? Shin wouldn't hurt me."
Slash.
"Oww! What was that for?"
"Baby." Shinpachi snorted, and tossed the knife back at the guy. The poor man dodged and the heavy knife slammed into the wooden floor with a thunk. "I don't feel so good."
"Gee, wonder why." Heisuke said sarcastically and slammed his head down on the bar, "Can we go home? Ren's trashed and bleeding, Shinpattsan's sloshed and violent, Sano… Hey, Sano! No!"
Sano and a big trucker were circling each other. The bar tender was trying to run interference, but both combatants easily outweighed him.
"You touched my butt!"
"Fuck no. Why would I touch a punk-shit like you?"
"You did! You got in my bubble space. I don't like men! You want something like that go over there!" Sano said, pointing in the vague direction of Tetsu and Heisuke, "Just because I'm with them, I'm not one of them!"
The trucker half-turned to walk away when Sano's fist connected soundly with his jaw. There was a painful crack as the big trucker's head snapped back.
He spat out some blood. It was obviously that he wasn't intoxicated in the slightest by his movements. Tetsu watched in fascination. He'd never really seen Sano fight hand-to-hand.
"Hey Heisuke… wanna make a bet?"
"I'm betting on Sano." Heisuke said sourly, "Even up to his ears in scotch he'll kick ass."
Okay, apparently Sano wasn't the only one who had impaired judgment.
"If I win, er, the trucker wins, then you have to buy me a drink. Just a beer! That's all I'm asking for."
"Sure, but don't get your hopes up." Heisuke said blackly, helping himself to Ren's abandoned drink.
Before the brawl could finish, the bar tender had managed to get some help. The two were ungracefully thrown outside. Good thing Sano had the keys.
"Fuck, Sano has the keys. He better not leave us here!" Heisuke snarled, but made no move to get up. He looked around, "Where'd Shinpattsan go?"
Tetsu decided that Heisuke was far gone now. He won't mind then if Tetsu helped himself to a little left over. Not at all. Right?
Tetsu knew that the only one who was remotely sober was Saito. Ha, the guy was too busy talking with the old geezers about their dead loved ones. What a weird guy. Besides, he wouldn't stop him.
Grabbing Shinpachi's forgotten leftovers he forced himself to swallow it in one gulp.
"Gah, I'm going to die!" He tried to howl. It came out more of a sickly choking gurgle. His throat was burning and he tried desperately to hack his lungs out. Shinpachi was drinking that shit! How? Why?
In the middle of those two wonderful sensations he started feeling the bile rise in his throat. Falling on hands and knees he started depositing dinner on the ground.
"I'm going to die." He whimpered and tried to curl up. Something nudged him. Weakly he tried to swat it away. The nudging persisted and there was this annoying sound that accompanied it. It seemed like he should recognize it, but right now he just wanted silence… or death.
"Tetsu, you're a mess." The annoyance said. It sounded like it was yelling at him. Maybe it was one of Saito's ghosts come to take him to Hell. "Where's Heisuke and Sano?"
Another, slow, measured annoyance said, "I believe Harada was thrown out for unruly conduct and Toudou is passed out in the men's room. I assume you found Nagakura."
"Thank you Saito." The original annoyance said and suddenly something was trying to take Tetsu's body. He started flailing. He wasn't going anywhere with some evil annoyance! He wanted to die in painful peace damn it!
"Tetsu, stay still. Saito and I are taking you back to the cabin, but you have to cooperate. Susumu already took Shinpachi." A cool hand stroked his brow and he calmed down a little. His head still felt like it was going to fucking split in fucking half and he couldn't see a damn thing. All of it was black.
"Can't see." He whimpered.
"Perhaps if you opened your eyes you would have vision." The deep annoyance suggested calmly.
Fuck that. It sounded too hard.
"If you could please get Heisuke, we should leave."
Suddenly Tetsu felt himself up on his feet and stumbling forward.
"Come on Tetsu. Please don't make me carry you like a baby. It would be awfully embarrassing."
He jutted his jaw and ignored the sudden blast of air. No one was fucking carrying him around like one of those shit-making squallers!
"Better." The annoyance encouraged. Would it ever shut up?
The rest of the ride home was a blur alternating with a haze. The last thing he remembered was puking all over Heisuke, while sobbing that he was going to die cold and alone. The senior wasn't particularly appreciative of that.
"Gerroff Poopy." Heisuke slurred, trying to shove him away. It only made Tetsu cling harder, sobbing. "Yer makin' a scene."
"Who was killing Jimmy Buffet?" Tetsu accused, immediately regretting opening his mouth. It fucking hurt.
"It deserted it." Heisuke mumbled and closed his eyes.
"We're here!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Tetsu screamed in agony. If it shut up he could die happy.
This time he was carried like a baby. Well, if you call slinging a baby over your thin, bony, hard, painful shoulders carrying them. And throwing him was totally inappropriate.
"You're going have a painful hangover in the morning Tetsu. Sleep well. There's a bucket to vomit in beside your bed." The annoyance brushed something across his forehead and walked out.
Another bout of nausea swept through him.
"I'm going to die."
"Stuff it. Tryin' ta slee'." A thick voice demanded from the other side of the room. Instinctively Tetsu started to crawl towards it. It was his biggest fear that he would die alone. Being incredibly confused, he let his instincts lead him to the only other living body in the room.
He grabbed at the blanket that dangled down and pulled himself up into a half-upright position. The occupant lashed out blindly.
"Leave me th' fuck 'lone!"
"I'm dying." Tetsu explained.
"So? Go'way."
Tetsu ignored the command and tried to climb up into the bed. His attempts were met with a solid smack to the face and a hard floor at his back. He wasn't discouraged. As long as he got up there before he died, he was okay. Or at least that's what his brain told him.
"'Mmm. Get'way." The other persisted, but didn't smack at him this time.
"No."
"Fin'." Suddenly a hand grabbed at his arm and dragged him up. Tetsu proceeded to do something he hadn't done since his parents died. He curled into the other being with his head against their chest and his fists clutching cloth tightly. The arms came around him loosely and the breathing deepened.
A/N: There you go, more cabin fun, combined with the ever-bad drinking! Mmm, what will morning bring? -evil chuckle- Anyway, true story. I got attacked by a raccoon the other evening. It charged me and my dog Shadow, changed it's mind, and jumped down the sewer. Aside from being terrified, then laughing to hard so I could hardly breath, I decided it was a sign from the Fanfic (or maybe Raccoon?) Gods that I should stop picking on Shinpachi so much. I will try to comply with their wishes because I love the little guy, really.
O-O: Wow pokes one sitting? Is your brain toast? With jelly? LOL, the chapters just seem to keep getting longer and longer. It's quite disconcerting actually X.X I'm glad you got some good laughs. I wasn't sure about starting a multi-chapter PMK AU, but I think it turned out nice! Yes, I wish it had more fanfiction... well, in English, so I could actually read it. waves Have fun in Lala Land, it's such a lovely place to visit. They know me quite well -
Fyyrrose: FGs or YFGs? Or could I keep them both happy? Well, minus the yaoi, because I'm chicken! I see Sano slinging fangirls all over the place like a bunch of attacking rats. They'd squeal, run back up, and he'd toss them around again - How am I? I don't know. I blame you. You wanted ShinHei, not me. I'm just trying to make it work. And failing that, there's always the other pairing I want involving Shin -snickers- Sorry, Hei-kun, but I could do it, so don't piss me off. Remember that one fansite? Think that, but worse! As for that conversation... -whistles- based on real conversation. Okita, the homicidal teenager without Hijikata to bring him in line... 207 isn't average! BSR was like 200 pages COMPLETE, well, and Drifter. Everything else is like 100 pages! And I'm not threatening reviewers...
-shifty eyes- You hear that people? She says I should threaten all you invisable people! Are you going to stand for that? -backs away pretending like nothing happened-
Anyway, it'll slow down now that I don't have any premade chapters again. Although I did introduce Tetsu to Tokio earlier this evening when I had just finished the next chapter of Curses!