Catching Typhoons

Gareki sat at the dining table next to Yogi, a few times he almost slumped into the older boy who sat closer than the day before. His foot see-saw up and down and he actually had breakfast. "Are you still tired?" Yogi mumbled into his ear. But Gareki shook his head. He wasn't really tired. He was actually quite restless. His foot went on see-sawing. He had to go home soon.

"You look a little pale, Gareki", the queen stated softly, "Are you feeling alright?"

Gareki swallowed his food down before answering, "Don't worry, I'll be." He didn't want to lie, but to alarm Yogi's family would be wrong as well, so he kept a soft smile grazing his lips and his voice happy. Ice cubes, he would love to have some ice cubes right now. The cold melting on his tongue- he shook his head.

Yogi blinked, worried. "Gareki…?" he mumbled questioning. Watching the small looking boy taking the next bite of his food, which he seemingly didn't like. So he took the rest of the food.

"You're actually eating that?" Gareki asked.

The young prince smiled brightly. "I actually like that, but I think it's an… acquired taste, I really didn't like it the first time I ate it." Gareki raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything to it.

Then there was a soft knock on the door. Gareki's eyes jumped to the door. Silently hoping for his father. And his hopes weren't destroyed. He jumped from the chair and went over to his father, ready to be greeted. "Good morning, Gareki", his father responded, "How have you been?" He then started to raise Gareki up, but then suddenly stopped and set him back to the ground. "You're all cold, sweetie. You ate didn't you?"

Gareki looked up at him almost apologizing and then mumbled softly, almost too silent for his father to hear, "Not as much as I should have…"

"How can you be so irresponsible, Gareki… You have to take care of your health." He sighed softly and pulled a bottle out of his coats pocket.

Gareki grabbed it and pulled the lid open and poured some tablets in his hand before he gave the bottle back to his father and went back to Yogi, just to steal his glass and drowning the content –orange juice- together with the tablets. He clicked disgusted with his tongue. "Another acquired taste, I am sure", he mumbled giving the prince a sloppy grin and the glass.

Yogi blinked unsure, but when Gareki stepped back, staggering slightly, he let the glass fall in favour of catching Gareki. Even before the glass had reached the ground, splintering in thousands of pieces, the small boy was securely in Yogi's lap, arms around his waist holding him in place while his head was tucked underneath Yogi's chin. Gareki sighed softly. "I wouldn't have broken, idiot", he mumbled and his eyes fell shut. "I'm just a bit tired. The nutrition in your food is really messed up you know?"

"Is that so? I'll bring you to bed", Yogi answered and climbed out of the chair, carefully to not let Gareki slip or stomping on a glass splinter.

And just then Gareki said something Yogi never thought he would hear Gareki saying. "Please stay…"

As devastating as it was, he couldn't say yes, so everything he could answer was, "I sorry, Gareki, but I've got lessons right after breakfast." It pained him to see Gareki like that but he knew if he skipped his lessons again-

"Maybe it's better when you come back to the ship, sweetie, you know it will become worse than that. You know that's not even the start", the ambassador mentioned softly.

Gareki didn't seem to like that suggestion though, his finger tightened their grip in Yogi's shirt. "It's just a pair of hours, I can stay here." And Yogi breathed softly out.

The ambassador leaned down and started to untangle Gareki's fingers with soft force. "Don't you think Yogi will mind when you throw up all over his bed?"

Yogi's eyes narrowed. "Gareki never was ill and his injuries heal so fast as well because of the nanobots." His voice was curious and worried.

"You know? How much did Gareki tell you?" the ambassador inquired curious.

To Yogi it sounded almost like 'How much does he trust you?' He bit on his lip and said. "Enough, I know enough." Because Gareki trusted him. Gareki loved him. He didn't care what Gareki hid.

Gareki's cold hands pressed against his father's chest. "I want to tell him", he said, voice stained. "Everything. I should at least be honest."

"Are you sure, sweetie?" his father questioned worried. But Yogi knew somehow that he wasn't worried because of Gareki's delicate condition right now, but because of what Yogi's reaction could do to Gareki. "Let's wait, you can tell him then, like tomorrow, that's fine as well right?"

Yogi could actually see that it was fine with him, Gareki fell back on his father's chest seemingly all energy had disappeared. "I hate being poisoned…" he complained almost inaudible to anybody else than his father who didn't contradict him, just stoked carefully up and down his back in calming motions.

But as written it was just 'almost inaudible'. "Poisoned? What does Gareki mean?" the king asked curious and worried. "Why?"

Before the ambassador could even answer Gareki whined softly. "Hurts…" And Yogi knew one thing: He hated seeing Gareki like this. He would protect him. He'd do anything just for the pain to stop.

The ambassador didn't seem really bothered, but surprised. "So early?" His voice was still compassionate. "I can't help you, sweetheart."

"I'll bring you to my room", Yogi suddenly said. "It's closer and I'll be skipping lessons today. Throw all the workload you want at me as soon as Gareki is fine again, I won't complain."

Gareki's father shook his head softly. "He'll throw up. It's better when I bring him back now, Yogi. There actually is nothing to lessen the pain." He shifted Gareki slightly, trying to make the boy more comfortable, "As hard as it may sound, it's his fault for being inconsiderate of his health."

Yogi shook his head. "I don't care! Can't you see he's in pain?! Come with me!" He turned authoritatively around and stepped out of the room, he heard the softly considerate steps following him, as he led the ambassador on the shortest way to his room. He then opened the door for the ambassador so that Gareki didn't need to be moved more than absolutely necessary. But he didn't go into the room himself, the ambassador realized as the door closed.

He put Gareki on the soft sheets. The small boy immediately curled into a tight ball clutching his stomach. Pain written on his face. The breathes were swallow and sweat ran down the pale skin. The ambassador caressed the raven hair softly, caring. "It's going to be fine, Gareki", he mumbled comforting.

Just then the door opened again. The ambassador saw Yogi slipping in, a bucked in one hand while he had a glass of water in his other. "You said he'll throw up, right?" Yogi set the bucket silently down next to the bed while he put the glass on his bedside cabinet. "Is there something else he could need? We don't have any ice cream though…" Yogi's eyes wandered to Gareki's face and he dropped down on his knees next to the bed.

"Ice cream?" the ambassador questioned irritated.

And Yogi nodded. "It won't make the throwing up any better, but the taste afterwards would be better. I can't do that for Gareki, I can't do anything." He averted his gaze, starring at his own shaking hands.

Suddenly there was small hand in his hair. Yogi's gaze snapped up, looking into pools of pained blue. "Yogi… you're here." There was a tiny smile on the pale rosy lips, sweat still running down.

"Of course I am!" Yogi answered slightly offended. What was Gareki thinking about him? Right. That schooling was more important than him. What had he done?

The hand slipped slightly down, resting on his cheek now. "Don't look so devastated. Fine", he whined softly as another cramp hit him, "Going to be fine. Smile for me…"

Yogi carefully took the small hand in his. Forcing a smile. "You're the ill one, Gareki, not I." He placed soft kisses on his knuckles. Careful.

All of the sudden Gareki chocked. The prince helped him up softly, raising the bucket at the same time. The ambassador pulled his hands back and watched the children in silence. Yogi seemed to know what to do. And then Gareki threw up, Yogi's hand ran up and down Gareki's back while he mumbled comforting words. There were tears collecting in the blue eyes. And then Gareki fell against Yogi's chest, tired. "Why did you poison yourself with iron, that's dangerous", Yogi mumbled without awaiting an answer, grabbing for the glass. Gareki took a sip, cleaning out his mouth before taking another sip, drinking it this time. Yogi then set the glass back on the cabinet again.

"I'll tell you", Gareki promised him shakily. Hands still clasping into the thin cloth of Yogi's shirt, body heat radiating though it, while the only thing that kept him sitting semi-steady was the arm around his waist.

Yogi bedded him carefully back on his bed and shook his head. "You don't have to do that, Gareki. Just get well soon", he pleaded him.

"I'll tell you…" Yogi bit onto his lip when Gareki's eyes closed. He threw a quick glance at the ambassador who just watched them without muttering a word.

The prince carefully cuddled up next to Gareki. As if he tried to protect him from the outside world and reconsidering the happenings he probably was. "You can chose to do that if you want. But it won't change a thing, Gareki. I love you, I love you so much." And there was a short silence. "Please take care of yourself. I don't want to see you in pain. It hurts."

Gareki blinked lazily and his small hand tangled tighter into Yogi's shirt. "Love you too, idiot." His eyes dropped again and his face hid underneath Yogi's neck when he whined again. "It hurts…" He pressed his face more into the warm skin, obviously seeking some comfort. "Sorry…"

"There is nothing to be sorry about, Gareki", he mumbled calming, then he pressed another kiss into the soft hair. "When you're fine again, let's do all sorts of relaxing stuff. We could go to the lake or in the park, you like birds so we could go to the falconry", when Gareki started to choke again, Yogi helped him carefully up again, but he never stopped talking even when his grip around Gareki's waist got visibly more tight as soon as Gareki started to throw up blood.

And every time that happened, Gareki seemed to sink into the soft blankets a little deeper, energy draining more and more. And eventually he just fell asleep in Yogi's arms who curled up to him protectively again. "Every time it takes longer until he passes out", the ambassador mumbled, lost in his thoughts when he caressed Gareki's hair. "Thank you for staying with him, Yogi. I can't thank you enough."

Yogi looked at Gareki's pained sleeping face for quite some time before he answered. "There is nothing to be thankful for. I'll always stay with Gareki, I'll never leave him alone." His thumb stroked over the pale cheek, "Because he's my whole world."

Gareki's father smiled at him, "He'll sleep through the rest. When he'll wake up he should be alright again." He took the bedspread he had earlier put aside and tucked the children in. "It doesn't look like he'll let go of you", he justified his actions almost sheepishly. "So try to catch some sleep as well."

"Can I ask you something?" Yogi asked while he cuddled a little closer to Gareki.

The ambassador was still watching them and then nodded. "Sure, why not?"

And then Yogi's finger tangled almost embarrassed into the fabric of Gareki's shirt, "How old are you? You seem awfully young to be an ambassador much less a father… I'm sorry if that sounds rude! I'm just curious." He then hid in Gareki's hair.

Just to hear the adult softly laughing. "Well, I'm not old, that much is true." He brushed softly though the golden hair. "I'm just twenty-two." He then pulled his hand back. "But let me tell you a secret, back home we're of age with sixteen, it's easier for the government to control what their young generation is doing when they still don't really know what they want to do with their life. The ones who are able to see though these kinds of politics often become –no-, persons like that are rewarded with high positions."

Yogi heard disappearing footsteps and then his door being closed. He starred into Gareki's face in wonder. 'Think for yourself and of yourself as well' the ambassador had told him, did that actually mean he should look for the reason, that he should try to get to the bottom of everything and use it for his own gains? And then there was something else bugging him. Had Gareki heard that often as child? Had he lived with this piece of wisdom even though he hadn't remembered it? Maybe Gareki had never really forgotten but his mind had blocked all memories out to protect him… Yogi closed his eyes. He would definitely protect him this time. With that thought and to the soft noise Gareki did when he nuzzled closer he fell asleep.

The prince was speechless when he woke up.

Gareki's skin was still pale, but in the normal healthy way, the hands were warm again. There was a soft, almost playful smile on the rosy lips. "C'mon, Yogi, wake up. I wanna do some sports or play some piano or draw or anything really. Just not sleeping, sleepy head! I'll tell you in the evening, that's soon enough right? I gotta think about how to tell you first…" And he talked his head off. Like a child.

And everything that slipped out of his mouth was, "The hell?"

Gareki fell around his neck and pressed a kiss on his lips. Yogi fell back on his pillow in shock, pulling Gareki with him. His arms wrapped around Gareki's back when he kissed back. The pleasant song of the bond resonated deep within his soul, and Gareki's smell was the only thing filling his lungs. His hands roamed, wandering over the clothes. There was the taste of blood in his mouth, Gareki's blood. But somehow he couldn't quite bring himself to care. Gareki was right here, his tongue slipped into his mouth playfully fighting. And Gareki was fine. He was fine.

And everything was perfect.

A soft knock on the door. Gareki sat up, slipping into the bed next to him. The door opened.

The moment was destroyed.

Of course it was. They were children no adults anymore.

His father raised an eyebrow. "Did I interrupt something, Yogi?" he asked. And Yogi –immediately- blushed deep red. And Gareki just smiled like the most innocent angel ever. The king shook his head in irritation. "The only thing you father mentioned about that incident earlier was that your iron level got to low, Gareki, and judging by your comment about orange juice earlier I thought it would be nice if you tried some other juices that have vitamin C. So I asked a servant to bring some, is that alright?"

"Sure", he answered and sat up a little bit straighter, leading Yogi to sit up as well. "I'm sorry to destroy the breakfast. But I didn't want to get Yogi killed by my foolishness, I wasn't aware that the denial of one meal could have such a follow-up. The nutrition here is different than home."

The king shifted slightly, then turned Yogi's chair around and sat down. "You don't have to be sorry, we have to be sorry. We made you uncomfortable all evening and then even a bit more. But yes, the nutrition is indeed different here than in other countries were Cradle cells are not the norm, our animals and even we humans have and need less iron, I don't think that there is much of a difference in the flora." Gareki nodded briefly. "Why do you dislike me so much, Gareki?"

Gareki's eyes narrowed in irritation. "I… don't dislike you", he then answered pensively. "Why did you arrive at such a conclusion? You don't treat me like a toddler, you look out for my wellbeing, you actually go out of your way to ask me what I want. There isn't any reason for me to dislike you…"

"But you seem nervous around me, you're even more formal than with my wife or any of the advisors. You don't take my hand and when I ask if I can teach you something you refuse", the king told him, "I know you aren't a child, but…" He paused, the small boy had averted his gaze entirely. Yogi watched him concentrated, probably trying to guess what exactly he was missing.

The former thief shook his head. "I'm sorry", he mumbled, "It's just… you told me I was family and… I don't think I know what family is anymore, my mother died, my father was always traveling and as much as I love him I feel like I have to please, after all he goes out of his way for me so that I don't have to stay in an empty house all day long, Karoku-nii-chan has his own studies and my aunt and uncle are never at home either. It isn't that I don't love them, but…" His hands cramped slightly, the knuckles white. "I'm just looking for a place I can belong to without having to be who I am not. And I don't know if belonging to another family is what I need. I don't know anything anymore, it's just so intimating."

Yogi paused for a second. Then his eyes widened. "Did… Did I make you think so as well? That you couldn't be who you are around me?"

"You're different", Gareki mumbled. "You would travel through the time with me and believe in me when I couldn't. So yes, sometimes I try my very best around you just so that your hopes stay in place, but I know that when I don't reach the goal that you will look at me with the very same smile, trying to comfort me. And I know that everything is fine as long as your light guides me."

Yogi reached out to caress the silken black hair then. "Then let me show you what family is, I'll share mine with you. I'll share everything with you. And if there isn't place I'll make one."

Gareki blinked and then smiled. "That isn't something you can decide, idiot." Suddenly he was lying on his back, breathing in the odd mixture of sunshine and roses. "Y-Yogi?"

The beautiful violet were oddly unforgiving. "Don't tell me what I can do and what I can't. You'll be my family and I'll be yours. That's fair, right?"

There was this soft tickle, just a whisper. Gareki's eyes once again clear. A flowery breeze played with his golden hair as he looked into the distance. It felt like all happiness had been drained from his very life. His hands rested on the cold flat surface. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. A whisper of 'Sometimes it's better to part, before anything goes wrong' still ringing in his ears and his contradiction of 'But everything could become even better' still in his mind. He turned around and wiped away his tears before he left the hated place.

Yogi's eyes snapped open again. There. Gareki was there. And suddenly he was on Gareki hiding his head in his neck, breath unsteady. "What did you see? Yogi?" Gareki could feel the warm wetness trailing down his neck. "I'm sorry, Yogi", he mumbled his hands trying to pet Yogi's messy soft hair.

His answer was so silent, Gareki thought he had missed it at first. "You weren't there… Stay. Please. Don't leave me alone…" Because without Gareki there was no home, no rest, no family, no love.

"I'm here", Gareki answered, "I'm right here, you idiot. Do I look like I'm about to leave?" And Yogi smiled. He shook his head almost shyly against the neck. Because Gareki was right there. And he was not leaving.

Another knock, a servant came in with a tray full of juices. Yogi greeted the servant cheerfully and the servant greeted with a gently smile back and the others. The tray was set down on the bed side cabinet with a soft clatter. "So is there anything you like?" the king inquired softly as he saw Gareki gazing intently at the juice selection.

He then smiled and took a glass. "Cranberry, right? That's not too sweet. Orange juice is alright at the Capital but it's awfully sweet here."

Yogi looked at Gareki. "That's disgusting. In cranberry juice is no sweetness at all." And then there suddenly was strawberry juice all over Yogi, leading him to blink surprised. The now empty glass still in Gareki's hand.

"Seems like we have to take a bath together then", Gareki said seriously. "You seem to have gotten yourself dirty as you talked my opinion of good tasting juice bad with the explanation that it isn't sweet enough for a sweet tooth like you."

As nice as the servant was, he had already disappeared again. "You're teasing, Yogi, are you?" the king said amused. "What would happen if you'd still be in your real bodies?"

"Maybe Yogi would finally asking me out. That would be a start, yes? We only went on a single date after all and it was more or less just called that. I mean we went shopping because Yogi thought my closet was to empty and complained that I was almost only wearing his old ones." The king smiled softly. "You already guessed, right? Afterwards maybe Yogi and I would get down and dirty, but his morals would probably not let his hands wander beneath my waistband. But-" There was a hand on his mouth. Yogi's hand.

Whose eyes seemed oddly panicked. "You are not going to talk about what I think you are going to talk about, right." And Gareki shut up.

"I… am sorry. Being finally on normal iron levels makes my tongue loose."

Yogi grabbed his hand and pulled him carefully up. "Let's go take a bath then, before you tell my father how I'm in bed or anything related to it." He threw a quick glance to his father. "Can you take care that we have some clean clothes and towels waiting for us later on?"

His father nodded. "I'll see to it. Go on then, stay decent and keep him from spreading the fact that your time traveller over the entire kingdom."

Yogi starred at the beautiful eyes that looked so determined at him. "It's what makes me inhuman, like your Cradle cells make you inhuman to the rest of the world. So you see? There is nothing odd with me", Gareki concluded his explanation and leaned back in the warm water. The prince thought that Gareki looked maybe a bit too comfortable in the warm water.

And he couldn't find the words which would Gareki make understand that he had understood without offending him. So he did something he did rarely. He kept his mouth shut.

Long time not updated. I was actually not sure whether or not I have written too much or too less about Gareki's let's call it 'condition' which sounds like a supernatural thing but it's not. I don't like that stuff after all. So I'll either explaining it further in Gareki's 14th or 15th year of life her or in the very end. Yogi's little time adventure will probably be self-explanatory in the end. Did I let anything out?

It's 0:22 right now, so the end will be really sloppy but I don't have much time the next few days, still 2 years of story to sort and I think 90% of my old stories (before Karneval [which is why nobody is interested in it]) is lost, because the laptop I used for storing them died all of the sudden. But I still have all the handwritten stuff to sort and that still includes drawings.

Sincerely, Mal (who is rambling more than she should