Rim: I know that not a lot of people read this story anymore, or somewhere down the road they got lost from reading this piece. That's okay because I love this story enough to keep updating it no matter how little people read it because it's one of my favorite works. Let's see…for the two that I know are still reading Chaco, B.T., this is for you guys who have encouraged me to continue this anyway.
-oooooo-
"Kenny, you have a visitor," his mother said, walking into the room where the brunette was going over some work problems in his Trigonometry book his cram school teacher gave him to do over the course of the summer break. He wasn't about to send more than an hour each day doing pieces of the work because that would just find his mother an excuse to get him harder books to study and work by to keep him occupied during the break so he wouldn't spend as much time with Tyson and the others as he wanted to. Yes, surprise, but his mother did allow him time during the day to hang out with Tyson, Kai, Rei, Max, Hilary, Kane, and Zeo. Sure it might only be two or three hours, but at least it was a start for now.
Tyson still complained that three hours wasn't enough time to hang out and really do something together, but Max always reminded Tyson that three hours was better than no hours. Max had a part time job working at his father's show in the afternoons, so he wasn't always around, and Rei's work too up a lot of time. Max told Kenny that they were saving up to go on a trip together out of Japan. More precisely they were planning a trip to the U.S. and going to Vegas, or another big city to have some fun. When Kai was around, and wasn't advising one of his grandfather's businesses in the city, he was always busy with his second addiction: drawing.
Another little surprise that Kenny found out about towards Kai. Tyson complained that Kai didn't pay nearly enough attention to him when he wasn't busy and often sat for hours somewhere drawing or painting. It was even to the point where Kai would get annoyed and kick Tyson out of the room until he was finished painting. Whenever Tyson complained over it, Max-when he was around that is-only shrugged, saying that was one of Kai's many charms. Kenny would sympathize with Tyson because Tala had been exactly like that when he got to reading, but most times when he was around Tala didn't pick up a book. He occupied his time with Kenny and the bed.
The second reason Kenny was only doing bits of his over the summer work instead of getting it all out the way, was because it was a damn lot of work which his brain refused to be fried over. Instead of a couple of assignments in his workbook, his teacher had went out and brought him three new, much harder workbooks, delivered them directly to his house, and then wanted him to do every exercise she had marked off. That made up nearly half of each one of the books. More work than probably anyone else in that damn course was doing put together.
He had a feeling this was her revenge for what he did just before leaving his cram school classes for summer break. She intentionally wanted to make his life a living hell on Earth by studying more hours in the day than necessary, and then when he didn't finish all the work, she would scold him for it and tell his mother. Knowing she had given him more work that should be allowed for one person to do by themselves. He would get it all done, without complaining and get it right too. Then that evil bitch-god forgive him for being so malicious towards the woman, but she really did deserve it at times-would have nothing to say to him.
"Kenny," his mother repeated, reminding him why he was brought out of his task of working on his workbooks. Looking up, he found his mother in the doorway with his cousin Jori, in the older brunette's hands where a bunch of books.
"You can send him back," Kenny said, looking at the books in his hand with a frown, wondering if his mother would get the joke or not.
"Kenny, you shouldn't say that about your own cousin, he came to bring you some help," his mother scolded, obviously not getting the joke that her son was making towards his cousin. Now if it had been his sister who came bearing books, then Kenny would have not only told her to leave, but slammed the door in her face and bolted it shut until summer was over. Kenny still had not forgive the bitch-he knows that's his cousin, but she really was as he called it-for all the comments she made towards him and his relationship with Tala the last she saw him.
"I think he was just joking, auntie," Jori laughed, placing a hand on his aunt's shoulder before she got the urge to start on the lecture. "He really doesn't want me to leave, do you little cousin?"
"I don't know did you bring me anything good or is it all bad?" Kenny joked, feeling a smile break in the corners of his mouth. "If you have nothing good for me to use, then don't bother coming into this room, Jori Hayashi."
"Dear cousin," Jori replied, walking into the room, the smile on his face equally wide. "You know that I only came with gifts that will help you along your path to Tokyo University." Walking up to the desk, Jori dumped the books next to the other books that were already on the desk. These looked exactly like the books which his cram school teacher had brought them, but there was a little note on the front on the first book. "These are courtesy of my very own tutor, Miss Akane Morishita, who wishes you the best in your studies."
"Your tutor…" Kenny blinked for a second before remembering that his tutor was a teacher at Tokyo University, and also his cousin's twenty-nine year old girlfriend. Kenny had been wondering since he found that out if it was just natural for members of his family to be either crazy or find love in forbidden places. "Oh, tell her I said thank you when you see her again."
"Of course, she will be happy that you found some use for her old books," Jori grinned.
"You have a friend that was studying for Tokyo University too, Jori?" Kenny's mother asked, still in the doorway. Jori turned to his aunt with a nod, his angelic smile never faltering on his lips as he answered the woman.
"She graduated last year from a different school than I did, but she wanted to go to Tokyo University in order to become a teacher. She helped me study for my exams and she's the main reason that I passed them. I was talking to her about Kenny, and she thought that her old books might help him out with his studies. She said that it would be nice to meet him one day," Jori stated.
"She must be such a nice girl," Kenny's mother smiled.
"Yes, Akane is a very nice girl, maybe one day you will be able to meet her when she's not busy with work. I'm hope she has time during the summer to meet Kenny at least," Jori remarked.
"It would be nice," Kenny's mother nodded, before she heard the doorbell downstairs. "I'm going to leave you two to studying, while I answer the door. Jori make sure that Kenny studies hard, and Kenny if you do well, then I might let you hang out with your little friends."
"Yes mother," Kenny nodded, holding back a sarcastic word or two least he felt like having his mother get on his case about that also. Kenny made a face as he mother headed out the door, closing it behind her. Listening to her walk down the stairs, Jori laughed at the face his younger cousin was making.
"You keep looking like that and it's going to stick that way, so how is the studying going?" Jori replied, sitting on the edge of the desk, looking down at the work that Kenny was doing. "Akane worked all the problems out for you, so all you have to do is copy and study them. Now you'll have more time to hang out with me."
"Oh, great, I can have my sanity driven away from me more with your presence," Kenny said with a light touch of sarcasm and humor before Jori playfully whacked him over the head with his hand. Blue eyes staring down at the younger brunette with a reprimanding look. "Abuse and assault."
"You need to be assaulted," Jori commented. "Are you trying to say that I'm your pest?"
"Isn't that what I just said?" Kenny countered.
"Your boyfriend is going to hate me now when I decide to kill you." Jori whacked Kenny over the head again, hearing his cousin call out assault once more. "I'll do more than assault you, you little brat if you keep up the smart remarks. It's hard to think that you got such a mouth from such a nice person as your boyfriend."
"You should have met him before he became my boyfriend then," Kenny chuckled. "He was certainly something to be reckoned with."
"He couldn't have been worst than you are now," Jori shook his head.
"Oh, you just don't know Tala very well. Believe me, when I say he was something to be reckoned with, he definitely could have been a hurricane of not just sarcasm and cynical nature, but…" Kenny stopped his sentence when he heard the footsteps that were climbing back up the stairs. Or rather the two sets of footsteps climbing back up the stairs. "I'll tell you the whole story later."
"Sure," Jori nodded as the door to the room was opened, and Kenny's mother came back in with a young man with light colored hair and eyes. The newcomer stared at Jori for a moment, studying him, and then looking at Kenny.
"Kenny, you have another visitor," his mother said before exiting the room. "Once you finish with those problems you're doing, I'll allow you to have a break for the day."
"Thank you mother," Kenny called as the door shut. Kenny turned his eyes on Bryan who was studying Jori in silent reflection. "Aren't I just the luckiest person in the entire world? My mommy told me I can go outside and play in the sun and sandbox once I'm finished with my work."
"Shut up," Jori laughed, playfully hitting his cousin again. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Kenny?"
"You're no one important." This time Kenny ducked under the blow, grinning up at Jori. "Jori, this is my friend Bryan. Bryan, meet my cousin Jori Hayashi. And before you comment on it, yes I know we look like we could be brothers, everyone seems to tell me that when they see me and Jori together. I guess it's just something that can't be helped."
"I was about ready to question if you had an older brother I haven't met yet," Bryan smiled, bowing to Jori slightly. "It's nice to meet you I've been tutoring your cousin for a while."
"He needs more than help, he needs a new brain," Jori teased.
"You know, I could kill you if I wanted to," Kenny threatened.
"I think not," Jori grinned. "Because I'm about to go spend my time with Akane, I'll give her your best wishes and you have fun playing outside in your sandbox." Looking over at Bryan with a smile, Jori nodded a good-bye to him. "I'm sorry that we can't sit down and properly introduce ourselves, but I have a lunch date with my girlfriend. Maybe one day we can all sit down and get to know each other. Kenny, take care and try not to work too hard." Jori got up from his seat on the desk and out the door, leaving Kenny and Bryan to themselves.
"How are you doing today Bryan?" Kenny questioned, starting off the conversation as the fair haired teen walked over to the bed and sat down.
"I can't complain," Bryan said smiling. "How's the studying going for you?"
"Well, I can't complain…too much," Kenny grinned. "My teacher and her damn need to drive me insane with work is not helping. I just want to have a break. I'm starting to think I should just run away and never come back."
"But you won't do it," Bryan stated.
"How do you know?" Kenny questioned. "You're starting to sound like my cousin."
"I can't imagine you running away from school and home. You don't want to worry your parents and you know that Tala will get on your case for doing it," Bryan stated with assurance in his tone. "So you're going to continue doing the work and threatening to run away, but you'll still do the work until it's all done."
"And then commit suicide," Kenny added in.
"No you won't. I might have to begin beating you over the head like your cousin was doing," Bryan laughed. "So, how much older than you is he? You two really could pass for brothers if you wanted."
"He's a year older than me, and already has been accepted into Tokyo University, after his mother pushed him to compete with me. Now I have to study twice as hard to compete with him. It's a real mess, seeing as how I don't really want to go to Tokyo University and Jori had another college in mind before his mother pushed him towards T.U.," Kenny stated, pushing away from his desk, getting up and stretching. "I'm done for today, I can't work anymore. So, what are you doing up and around so early, I didn't think you would be up after partying last night."
"It wasn't a party," Bryan chuckled.
"It felt like one," Kenny replied, walking over to the bed and sitting beside his friend. Weariness was slowly catching up with him, even though it was only three in the afternoon. The night before, he and Bryan had decided to go out doing what was commonly known as club hopping.
-flashback-
"Bryan where are we going?" Kenny questioned, looking over at his friend, the night's attire was a pair of low cut black pants-and when he said low cut, he meant low enough to if Bryan unbuttoned the button, he wouldn't need to unzip his pants in order for Kenny to see anything-with a dark blue shirt which opened at the throat and was zipped up in the front.
The fair headed teen didn't say anything as he dragged Kenny away from the house with a huge smile on his face. Slipping into the shadows of the night, Bryan turned to his friend once they were away from the house Kenny had just exited. "I got an idea for a good time tonight. I want us to get there before it's packed."
"Get where?" Kenny inquired as Bryan continued to pull him towards the downtown district of the city the two were so accustomed to by now. In the weeks that Kenny began slipping out at nights to hang out with Bryan, Kenny learned that whenever Bryan had an idea for a good time, it was definitely going to end with Kenny dragging himself back in the house exhausted. But the promise of fun was always fulfilled. "What do you have in mind for tonight?"
"Club hopping," was all Bryan said as he continued leading the brunette downtown.
"Club hopping?" Kenny repeated blinking a bit confused.
"Exactly," Bryan nodded.
"Um…" Kenny started before Bryan cut him off.
"You'll see," Bryan assured.
"Okay." Kenny was going to wait and see exactly what this club hopping thing was about, trusting that it wasn't anything dangerous or illegal…as Dizzi would often comment when he told her about things he and Bryan did on their night outs. Though she still thought that the faired headed older had a crush on Kenny and taking him out was technically like going out on dates.
"Don't sound like I'm going to kidnap you, then bury your body off in a dumpster or something," Bryan teased, looking back at the brunette whose hand he was still holding. "I may have been evil once, but that doesn't mean that I have some interior motive to kill you."
"I know," Kenny flushed with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to sound like that I just…didn't know what club hopping was."
"You're going to find out real soon." The two continued towards their destination, wherever that was. Eventually, Kenny realized that Bryan was leading him to a cluster of night clubs to the far end of town. The music of the latest house, pop, dance, techno, and rap playing on the airwaves were filling the air, as people went in or came out of the local clubs. Some people were listening to the music outside of the clubs and talking on the sidewalks, while some seemed too drunk to move from the area. "And here we go."
"Okay, so what now?" Kenny said.
"We hit our first club," Bryan replied simply, pulling the brunette to one of the nearest clubs they were at. The guy standing at the door looked at Bryan with a questioning stare. "I'm looking for Shihara, he around."
The man at the door looked surprised when Bryan asked for Shihara who was associated with every club on that strip. "What do you want with him?" the man asked in a gruff voice.
"Tell him that Bryan's looking for him," Bryan said. "I'm sure that he told everyone I would be coming tonight." The guy at the door nodded, stepping aside, seeing as how he had got the word three hours ago to let in a man that fit the description he was given. "Thanks a lot, come on Kenny." Bryan pushed the brunette inside the club, techno music was bouncing off the hallway walls.
"Hey Bryan, whose the person you were talking about?" Kenny asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Shihara? He's just someone that I met one day while I was hanging out in the park on my own. He was getting hassled by a bunch of guys, and I helped him out. He told me that his cousin had a bunch of clubs and if I wanted to come hang out, then I'm welcomed to," Bryan responded as they reached the entrance into the club. Bryan walked into the large room where light strobes hanging from the ceiling flashed different colors of light, the sub woofers pumping out music above. Letting his eyes look at the people on the dance floor, some against the walls, and a few more at the bar, Bryan turned his eyes to see what Kenny's expression was, smiling to find astonishment in the blue eyes.
"Wow, there are so many people," Kenny blinked.
"You've only seen half of the people that are suppose to frequent places like this," Bryan grinned, leading Kenny by the hand around to the bar and sitting him on a empty seat. The man behind the bar looked over at Bryan before walking over and leaning against the bar.
"Well, well, look who it is finally," the man spoke with a foreign accent, but looked Japanese for the most part. Well at least the black hair and brown eyes thing going for him put him in the category to be Japanese. Bryan seemed to know this guy and turn a glance at him. "I thought the place would never been graced with your presence, Bryan."
"Howell, Shihara hanging around somewhere?" Bryan spoke a familiarity to the bartender that Kenny was being to wonder what exactly Bryan did when he wasn't hanging around with Kenny. Not only did he know some guy who was really important at this club, but the bartender also. Bryan was wrapping up a ton of little mysteries which were going to nag at Kenny until he found them out.
"Shihara somewhere around 'ere," the man named Howell shrugged. "He was chasing after Hikage about something or another." About this time, the man noticed Kenny, his eyes looking him over. "Who's your friend? I know you aren't going to not introduce him to me, are you?"
"You don't need to know him," Bryan stated.
"Don't you think that's a little harsh?" the man named Howell countered.
"He's taken," Bryan replied.
"That don't mean a thing, does it lovely," the man winked at Kenny. "I'm sure your boyfriend wouldn't mind us having one little night in the back room, would he."
"And you see the reason why I wasn't going to introduce you," Bryan said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not his boyfriend, and I'm not getting into any more trouble with his boyfriend than I already am in over you screwing him in the back room. So get off it." Bryan watched Howell seemingly pout like a five year old and sulk back over to where he was standing near the drinks. "And stop acting like that you're nearly twenty-seven."
"You won't let me shag the hottie," Howell sniffed.
"You're twenty-six he's too young for you. Get over it and find a wife," Bryan snorted. "And stop acting like you're still thirteen, it's not cute anymore."
"Screw you," Howell stuck up his middle finger at Bryan, who gave him a cool look.
"You wish you could screw my ass," Bryan smirked. The twenty-six year old was about to say something but let it go. "I win, I thought so." When it finally seemed that the banter had stopped, Bryan tilted his head to the side, watching Kenny try to cover a laugh that was bubbling up. "You find him funny huh?"
"I find you both funny," Kenny corrected. "You're just a massive ball of surprises. I wonder what I'm going to figure out next."
"Well…who knows. How about we go dance for a bit then see what's happening in the club down the way?" Bryan grinned, pulling Kenny up from the seat.
"Bryan," Kenny said, being dragged onto the dance floor.
"Yes?" Bryan looked back at his friend who has broken out in a patch of color. Studying the brunette's face for a long minute, a smile curled his mouth into a warm gesture of reassurance. "You don't know how to dance do you? Don't worry about it leave the dance moves to me. I haven't let you down yet, have I?"
"No…" Kenny allowed himself to be led to the dance floor where people paid them no mind and continued to dance. Looking up expectantly at Bryan, he felt another wave of color strike his face when Bryan turned him to the crowd of people and pressed his back to Bryan's front. And it certainly did not help when Bryan wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning down to Kenny's ear so he could be heard over the loud music above them.
"When I move just follow my lead," Bryan said, his warm breath hitting Kenny's ear as he repressed a shiver. "Want to try?"
"I…I guess so…" Kenny gulped, his heart pounding a mile a minute at the close contact.
"Just follow my lead then, and move your hips with mine," Bryan instructed as he began to move his hips in motion to the rhythm of the music. Despite the blush that was coloring his cheeks, Kenny did as he was told and he moved his hips in the same motion of Bryan's. "Move your hand up to my shoulder and hold on." Kenny did as instructed before feeling Bryan sway their hips then dipped before rocking their hips to the music once more.
The music continued to pulse around them while they danced, the motions of the dance sometimes speeding up or slowing down just a little bit. After a while of listening to Bryan's instructions, Kenny got more into the dancing more, moving his hips with Bryan's and dipping them at the precise times. Once or twice Kenny was aware that people on the dance floor was watching dance, of course he didn't seem to notice too much with being carried away by the music and the obvious sensual dancing he and his friend were conducting, which did nothing to quell the many-and when he mentioned many, oh was he ever not exaggerating that point-naughty thoughts roaming through his head.
He even had to keep reminding himself that he was only just friends with Bryan, and they had nothing going on. Eventually, Bryan pulled away from him some twenty minutes or so later, Kenny moving his hands from Bryan. Looking at his friend, he found the fair headed eyes shining. "You just pick up everything easily don't you?"
"I keep telling you I have a good teacher," Kenny said, a little out of breath. His eyes looked at the sheen of sweat on Bryan's brow, and reached up, wiping it away. "I think we need a break."
"I think that would work out well," Bryan said, taking Kenny by the hand, leading him back to the bar. "So, you want to head over to the next club after we catch our breath?"
"Sure, so I guess that's what club hopping is about huh?"
"You're starting to get it."
-flashback ends-
"Hey…Bryan…" Kenny laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"What?" Bryan followed example, staring at.
"Mm…" Kenny closed his eyes, not saying anything else.
"You still alive over there?" Bryan asked, turning his eyes on Kenny.
"No," Kenny mumbled.
"Oh," Bryan chuckled.
"Bryan…" Kenny said again, cracking his eyes open slightly to stare at the ceiling through blurry slits.
"Do you just like saying my name or do you have something you want to say?" Bryan inquired.
"Something to say."
"Go ahead." Silence filled the room as they laid there waiting for Kenny to say whatever it was that was on his mind. Bryan closed his eyes, letting the silence waft between them. Kenny tilted his head to the side, thinking about the previous night and what Dizzi always was commenting on. Last night made Kenny realize for the first time that maybe it was true. Maybe Bryan really did like him more than he was letting on and taking him out was a way of showing it. Or it was just his imagination working overtime, along with the words of a paranoid bit beast trapped in a computer.
"Tell me the truth okay," Kenny finally said.
"Okay, my hair isn't naturally this color," Bryan teased.
"Funny," Kenny smirked.
"You told me to tell you the truth. Do you want to see proof?" Bryan grinned, propping himself up on his elbow and turning on his side to look down at Kenny. Brown hair swept over one eye while a smile played on the brunette's lips.
"You're trying to blind me now, huh?"
"What's that suppose to mean?" Bryan frowned.
"Nothing," Kenny laughed. "You know I wouldn't be that cruel."
"I don't know, you are turning out to be a real bad ass lately," Bryan thought.
"Oh, look who's helping me to be one," Kenny pointed out.
"Who?" Bryan looked innocent as he stared at Kenny with anything but curious eyes. It was enough to make him laugh, but aware of a small part of himself that longed to do just a bit more. He had realized a while ago he was crushing on Bryan, and that was not a good thing. He loved Tala, he was not uncertain about that one bit, but the more he was around Bryan; the more he found about the older that he liked.
"Never mind." Kenny rolled his eyes. "What was the purpose of coming here so early in the afternoon?"
"Were you expecting your friends to come over?" Bryan inquired.
"Nah, Tyson went to the beach with Kai. Kai finally had some time off from helping his grandfather and all, so he promised to take Tyson to the beach today. I think Max is hanging out with my other friends Kain and Zeo. At least I think so," Kenny said, trying to remember what everyone was doing that day. If he remembered correctly, Rei had work. "Rei I think is working at the restaurant he's employed at."
"So everyone's out today and you're stuck here," Bryan commented.
"With you no less," Kenny added in.
"You should watch those comments, I'll push you off your own bed," Bryan threatened.
"Cruel."
"Thank you," Bryan said. "So what were you going to say?"
"What are you doing over here so early?"
"Before that," Bryan remarked.
"Answer my other question first." Kenny closed his eyes. "It's not really important I can ask it at any time I want."
"You sure?" Bryan quirked a brow.
"Absolutely," Kenny nodded. "So?"
"Well, I came by to ask you if you want to do a little bit of bar hopping tonight," Bryan said, falling back on the bed to look up at the ceiling. "But if you aren't--"
"Sounds good," Kenny interrupted. "About the same time as usual, right?" Kenny opened his eyes, to see Bryan nod before closing them again. He could ask Bryan later if he felt anything more than friendship for Kenny. There was always enough time after night to do so. Why be in such a rush, right?
-oooooo-
Rim: Hm…or is there? Woo hoo I got to write a little bit of dirty dancing into this thing. I blame those people singing the sexy songs…and one of my reviewers. (You know I'm just teasing, I don't blame you buddy…well except for the Suavemente thing…nah, just kidding, don't hurt me.) Well, now I have a good ledge for setting the turning point of the story: chapter 15. I know I said I would try to update everything in three days, but I'm slacking and feel lazy so anyone who's reading Sympathy and Aster, everything will be finished by Sunday, I promise. Now I go to bed before I get in trouble.