Part D
Tetsu fell out of the bed with a heavy thump on the cold, hard, wooden floor. He moaned and curled into a tight, little ball. Everything was so hazy?
"Rise and fucking shine you fairies." Susumu's voice drifted down smugly, "Nothing like the fresh smell of someone in shit in the morning."
"Hmm?" Heisuke's sleepy voice floated around in the small room.
Suddenly there was a bright, blinding light flooding the room.
"Turn it off." Heisuke whined and tried to drag the covered back over his head in sleepy protest. Tetsu sat up rubbing his head. Okita was standing with the cord to the blinds in hand, not looking particularly happy.
He took a few swift strides and ripped the covers off the hung over senior.
Heisuke retaliated by dragging Tetsu up bodily and trying to use him to block the morning sunlight.
"Ah, good morn—woah. You people shouldn't get drunk!" Ren chirped and stopped mid-sentence. Despite the fact that he had downed more alcohol than Heisuke and Tetsu put together he looked incredibly chipper. Well, until his eyes landed on Okita. He gave a sweet smile, "So good of you to join us?"
"You."
"Ah-ah, you need to play nice. We wouldn't want to have anyone get hurt again, now would we?"
Shinpachi dragged himself into the doorway and rubbed his eyes with his knuckle. He made a grunting noise and leaned heavily with a sigh.
"Shin, Puppy stole your man!" Ren complained good-naturedly.
"His name is Tetsu." Okita corrected.
Ren paused, "Apologies. I assumed that it was just a cute nickname. Forgive me."
"Yeah, at the bottom of a frozen lake." Susumu snorted. "I don't know why you guys are so surprised. This wouldn't be the first drunken fling that's ever happened."
"Oh really?" Ren chimed in, ignoring the heated looks he was getting from both Shinpachi and Okita. "Do tell. You mean Heisuke I'm assuming."
"I mean both the fuckers." Susumu corrected crossly.
"Enough."
Susumu looked over at Okita, but didn't volunteer any more information.
"Shinpattsan, save me!" Heisuke whimpered, becoming more awake by the second. "It's not what it looks like. I swear on Freud!"
Shinpachi looked uncertainly at his friend before steeling himself, "And what does it look like exactly?"
Heisuke blinked, collecting his thoughts. When nothing came to mind his mouth worked soundlessly for a moment.
"It's all Puppy's fault!" Heisuke blurted and Tetsu jumped. His fault? How so? He was just sleeping!
"That's shameless Heisuke." Shinpachi snorted, "Blaming it on the kid."
"Hey, who's bed is it anyway?"
"Mine actually." Saito chimed in. "You were placed here last night."
"Oh. Well, I didn't go into Tetsu's bed, did I?" Heisuke defended, "It's not my fault he dragged himself over here."
Ren gave a slight grin, "I believe you."
Heisuke sighed in relief.
"Too bad no one else does, you pedo." Susumu snickered. "Okita doesn't really like to share. I learned that the hard way."
Heisuke looked between them and seeing no mercy decided to make one last bid at talking his way out of the mess. He turned his eyes to Tetsu and pleaded, "Help me out! Tell them nothing happened."
"Umm, well, you did wake me up when you were talking in your sleep. Something about 'Shincoon' and this thing kept poking me." Tetsu muttered, saying the first thing that came to mind. Heisuke went bright red and made cutting motions across his throat. Tetsu ignored that and blinked, "I gotta pee."
With that he rose unsteadily to his feet. Usually Okita would help him and ask if he was alright, but the senior was still standoffish. Tetsu wasn't quite sure why, but he would figure it out once he woke up a little more. He wondered if they were going to open presents before or after breakfast. Mostly he realized he was going to have to walk just a bit faster if he wanted to make it in time.
There was a heartfelt scream just as Tetsu flipped the seat up. Suddenly Heisuke had run in the bathroom and slammed the door, turning the lock and panting, wide-eyed.
"You! Now they're trying to kill me!" Heisuke accused with a shaky finger. He was looking rather pale and shaky.
"Can I pee in private?" Tetsu asked sleepily, "No pull ups here. I'm a big boy."
Heisuke only glanced over, "I'm sure you are."
"Heisuke, get out here you coward!"
"Don't, Okita has the hatchet." Ren warned.
There was a huge slam and Sano's big voice proclaiming that Ray was the coolest trucker ever and that the two of them had a wonderful night on the road with his rig. His big voice boomed throughout the house, drowning out any threats and cajoling that were aimed at Heisuke.
"I need a cold shower." Heisuke whimpered, "Watch the door for me, will you? If anyone opens it, yell. Yell really loud."
"Okay. What are you going to do?"
"Jump out that small window and run away butt-naked in the snow." Heisuke replied, stripping his nasty clothing from their ill-fated sojourn to the local bar. "Hopefully hypothermia and frostbite will get me before they do. Oh, and Puppy. Don't tell people what other people do in their sleep. It's embarrassing. Even for me. Okay? Fantasies and dreams are private things sometimes."
"Uh, can I do anything for you?" Tetsu asked, feeling sorry for the guy. Vague piece of the evening were assembling in his mind. "Since I was dying and all and you still helped me out."
"Shit, cold." Heisuke yelped and then added, "Clothing would be nice. So if I have to run, it won't be naked. Snow and naked don't go well together. The Pontiac keys would be helpful too."
"Umm, okay." Tetsu lingered at the door, "I'll tell Okita that it was a mistake, okay? Don't worry. Then we can all have breakfast and open presents."
Heisuke chuckled. "Right now I'm not remotely worried about Okita. It's the other one."
Okay, there were only five "other ones" in the house. Well, it was safe to assume that it wasn't Sano or Saito. So that left Ren, Susumu, and Shinpachi.
Tetsu opened the door cautiously and was surprised to find the short, narrow hallway empty. He strained his ears for sounds and could hear some arguing in the living room. After another second or so he decided it was safe enough to creep back to the room Heisuke shared with the other two members of the trio. It would just be a quick in and out.
He had collected some outer clothing and socks, but he figured that Heisuke wanted everything. That meant going to the dreaded top drawer. Tetsu wasn't sure why, but that seemed to be where everyone on earth put their underwear.
"What are you doing?"
Tetsu turned slowly, looking conspicuously guilty.
"Getting Heisuke some clothes so he can run away from 'the other one?'"
Okita stood sternly in the door. He walked in grabbing Tetsu's wrist and pulling the younger boy down on the bed next to him. He gave a slight smile and scooted away a little.
"Before I kill Heisuke, what really happened?"
"Nothing that I know of." Tetsu blinked. "Was something supposed to?"
Okita didn't look surprised, but he frowned.
"I was really sick." Tetsu considered, "Okay, I was very drunk. All I remember is I kept begging everyone and they all said no. So I waited until they were all wasted and helped myself. I wish I hadn't."
"Are you sure nothing happened."
"Umm… no?"
"I trust you, but alcohol does funny things." Okita remarked and looked out of the corner of his eye, "That's why I don't touch the stuff."
He didn't need to. The guy was already unpredictable enough as it was.
"Are you trying to make me promise not to try alcohol ever again?"
"Ah, maybe? You're a smart cookie."
"Or you're just blatantly obvious." Ren retorted, leaning in the doorway, "If you're done, breakfast is on the table. Since Shin's still nursing a hangover I'm not sure how edible it is exactly. I see you haven't changed much Okita. Still so possessive."
Tetsu stared between the two. Okita had on a face that was eerily similar to the one he made when Ryouma was around.
"Still like an unwanted stray dog." Okita replied lowly.
"Grr. Speaking of dogs, I hear Puppy's yours. Funny, I always figured you were straight."
"How do you two know each other?" Tetsu asked in confusion.
"Summer camp." The two replied at the same time.
"It was very fun." Ren said wryly and snorted. "And educational."
"Yes, yes, and your bid to get rid of me would have worked slightly better if I were actually allergic to poison ivy." Okita pointed out. He had risen and looked for all the world like a dangerous animal on the hunt.
"No, no, you misunderstood. Easy to do when you're so flighty. What with all the sugar and all." Ren said dismissively, "There was a bee. I was simply trying to get you out the way. The ivy patch just happened to be there. It is a weed."
"And the honey was an accident as well?"
"Well, what about the leeches? I know they didn't just crawl out of the creek and into my shower."
"The itching powder wasn't you, I'm sure." Okita replied.
Tetsu's eyes got wider and wider at each prank. Damn! Those two were vicious. He wondered when all this happened.
"Hey, how hard it is to tell everyone breakfast is—oh no, not again." Shinpachi groaned, "This again? That was nine years ago! I mean, come on. Okita you were only nine. How can you still remember this?"
"Yes, I was nine."
"Quite the juvenile delinquent. Summer camp for the bad boy, huh? Your parents couldn't do a damn thing with you, could they? Good thing they found someone to baby-sit you. Good old Hijikata. I bet you spend more time with him than you do with your real family."
"And your parents were asking God what they had ever done to deserve you because you played with mommy's clothes." Okita retorted. "That's why YOU were at summer camp. To make a "man" out of you."
Shinpachi sighed in defeat.
Ren shrugged, "True enough. My parents can be such a bother. Obviously it didn't work in the way they wanted. Being caught playing kissy-face with a teenage counselor didn't go over very well."
"Okay you two, break it up." Heisuke said, "Hey Puppy, could I have my clothes? I was beginning to wonder where you went, but now I see everyone is having a heartfelt get together."
"I've decided not to kill you." Okita announced to Heisuke magnanimously and Heisuke sighed in relief. He gave the purple haired senior a shaky grin and said, "Man, I swear nothing happened! I don't think of Puppy like that at all."
"So the little fucker's not good enough for you?" Susumu asked. Okita just gave an ambiguous smile and slung an arm around Tetsu's shoulders.
"Can we open presents?"
"Harada already has." Saito said, startling everyone. He had a bit of red ribbon draped across his shoulders, the work of Ren no doubt.
"What!" Tetsu screamed, eyes bulging out of his head. Sano better not having fucking touched his presents! That bastard was so dead.
They came into the disaster zone that used to be the small den. Wrapping paper, ribbons, and items were flung everywhere with Sano in the middle of it all playing with a new shotgun. He looked at them briefly and mumbled something that sounded like thanks.
"My… my presents!" Tetsu wailed, "He opened all of them!"
"Wow, go Sano. You really trashed the place." Ren said carefully treading into the knee-high mess. The paper rustled under his slippers and he bent down to pick up a random object. Inspecting it carefully he glanced at Shinpachi. "Hey, this one's for you."
Shinpachi waded out and gingerly took hold of the magazine. His face then did a number of interesting color changes before settling on vivid purple from lack of air.
"Heisuke!" He screamed. The brown haired youth blinked in terrified surprised, but didn't try to move as he was tackled violently. The smaller boy hit him like a tornado.
"Shinpattsan, what—ouch, hey—what did I do?"
"You're being a facetious little bastard!"
Susumu was howling with laughter. Tetsu glanced over, considering that he sounded like a hyena off of the discovery channel.
"You people can be so entertaining!" He snickered with mirth and hit the wall with his fist gleefully. "Kill the poor shit."
"Shinpattsan, stop!" Heisuke pleaded, trying to pin the flailing fists. "That wasn't from me. My present to you is under my bed. I was going to wrap it last night… but you know."
Shinpachi's balled up fist paused and he let it drop. "Really?" He squinted suspiciously, but let Heisuke up. "You're not kidding just to get away are you?"
Heisuke brushed a small card out of his hair and smiled mischievously, "I think you owe me an apology."
"What sort?"
"A kiss would be nice. Well, that and you actually saying it out loud and meaning it." Heisuke said wistfully.
Shinpachi looked around before sighing. He walked up to the other boy and put a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"I'm sorry I was sure a jerk and jumped to conclusions…"
Before Heisuke could open his mouth to complain Shinpachi had grabbed his face and kissed him on the mouth soundly.
"And don't say I'm not in the Christmas spirit."
"Great, I'm surrounded." Susumu snorted. "Are any of you even remotely normal?"
Heisuke gave a happy yelp and dashed off to retrieve the hidden present. Shinpachi gave a smug look before following at a more sedate pace.
Ren gave a wolf whistle, "Someone got lucky."
"Why do you say that? We haven't even seen the present yet." Tetsu pointed out, poking around.
Ren gave a patient smile, "I'd say Heisuke is probably very pleased with his, if nothing else."
"When'd he get it?" Tetsu blinked.
"Never mind Puppy."
It took awhile, but they managed to sort out all the gifts to their proper owners.
Breakfast was also achieved with minimum fuss.
"Let's go skiing!" Ren suggested, carefully seated away from Okita. "I'd be a fun thing to do before you guys have to leave."
Sano blinked, "Where?"
"There are slopes all over."
"You have to drive to them, and pay money." Sano pointed out, taking a huge bite of scrambled, and slightly burnt, eggs.
"Skiing does sound like I could ditch you guys and have the day to myself." Susumu seconded.
"I don't know how to ski." Tetsu frowned, his pride pricked, and Okita giggled, "Me neither."
"It is the last day before we have to drive back. We should have some fun." Shinpachi reasoned. "It makes sense to me."
"And since he's the sensible one, I second that!" Heisuke grinned. Shinpachi rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.
So it was decided. They would go skiing. Tetsu didn't know if he liked that idea very much.
He decided he liked it even less when he saw the Bunny Hill.
"No fucking way." He pouted crossly.
Okita, still trying to uncross his poles, looked up and giggled, "Why not?"
"You see those things on it?"
"I see children."
"Exactly. I'm not a child."
Susumu sneered, "So we could take you up on the lift to the steepest slope and shove you off?"
Sano tromped up beaming with the other two members of the Trio not looking nearly so happy. Clumps of snow clung to their hair and clothing.
"Sano, next time you do that, make sure no one's in your way, okay?" Shinpachi grumbled, brushing a bit of snow off his chest. He turned a brushed a bit out of Heisuke's hair. Noticing the inquiring looks he mumbled, "Sano decided to take a suicide leap off the lodge's railing and land in a snowdrift."
"Let's go!" He said with a broad smile, hefting his snowboard.
Tetsu didn't see how he could manage it, with his legs practically tied together. While skiing seemed difficult, snowboarding seemed near-impossible. Especially for the huge, hulking senior.
"Have fun with the babies." Susumu said, walking off towards the lift.
"Hey! Don't you walk off you bastard!" Tetsu fumed, "I'm not a kid."
Ren shrugged, "Of course you aren't. I think a day on the slopes will have Susumu very sore, unless he's used to it. If that gives you any satisfaction."
"Oh."
"Anyway, there's nothing to be ashamed off, starting out on the Bunny Hill. Everyone starts there. If you want I'll take you guys up there and give you some tips."
Okita stared at Ren, but didn't say anything.
"Come on! I'm not going to shove you down the slope or anything. Not that it'd do you any lasting harm. Can't you just accept that I'm being nice just this once?"
"Why are you doing it Ren?" Shinpachi asked curiously. "It seems a little out of character for you to be so nice."
"Haha, I'll have you know I'm very nice. Most of the time. Besides, even if I wouldn't mind that guy busting his ass on the way down, I don't think that's very fair to Puppy." Ren speculated, adjusting a rather bright magenta scarf. He looked up at Okita, "So how about it? Truce?"
"Truce."
"Fine, I'm glad you guys got that all settled." Shinpachi said, "We'll be up on the moderate slopes most of the day, so you know where to find us. If not, we'll probably stop down here again in awhile."
Ren gave a blink of surprise, "Only moderate? Shin, that surprises me. You're much better than that."
Shinpachi flushed a little bit and jerked his thumb at Heisuke, "He's an amateur still. It wouldn't be right for Sano and I to just leave him."
"Ah, of course!" Ren chirped. "Hey, where's Saito?"
The all looked around blankly.
"I hate when he does that. It's so creepy." Shinpachi said, shuddering, "It's even worse when he pops back up."
"Alright, you boys have fun!" Ren grinned, "Maybe I'll see you up there in a bit. These two are bright boys; I bet they'll figure it out real quick with a few pointers."
It took Tetsu a few moments of watching the trio walk off to realize just what he was in the middle of. He just hoped that they would be too occupied with each other to involve him in the middle of it. For once, he agreed with the Tatsu voice.
Ren gave an innocent smile at a pair of guys walking past and one of them smiled back. Okita narrowed his eyes.
"Anyway, this is easy stuff… kid's stuff if you'll forgive the pun." Ren said, leading them over to what looked like an intricate pulley system. He shoved a kid out of the way, grabbed Tetsu, and curled his fist around a handle. With an arm-wrenching jerk, Tetsu suddenly found himself half-flailing for balance and half-clinging for dear life.
He was going to kill Ren. Where was the teach in that little stunt?
He was almost to the top when he realized another slight problem…
…How the HELL did he get off this thing?
"Let go Puppy!" Ren encouraged.
Let go? Hell no! If he let go…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Splat.
"Tetsu, are you okay?"
Tetsu pulled his face out of the packed snow and wiped furiously. Of course he was okay. Peachie-keen! Stupid Ren.
The first thing to greet his liberated eyes was a pair of concerned, violet ones… that were just a little too close.
"Yaaaaah! Don't do that." Tetsu protested after smashing the bridge of his nose against Okita's. The older boy gave an apologetic grin and ruefully rubbed his nose before offering a hand up. Tetsu grudgingly accepted it and Okita gave a reassuring squeeze before letting go.
"Nice one." Ren commented, fiddling with his scarf playfully, "Ready to get down to business?"
Tetsu glared at Ren. Tetsu glared at Okita who had a distinctly humoring look in his eyes. Tetsu glared at those bastard kids that were laughing at him. Then he stabbed his poles in the snow and stared challenging down the hill. He would kick-ass. Nothing less was acceptable.
"Let's go."
"There's the fire I like seeing! Okay, the first thing you need to do… hey!"
Tetsu wasn't listening. He would whip this, and if that meant jumping headfirst down the hill… well, he'd already done that.
The whole skiing thing wasn't as hard as he thought. Except that his skis kept getting crossed from under him and his poles whacked him in the shins. Well, and he was having trouble keeping a smooth flow. At least he hadn't stumbled yet.
"Hey Tetsu, wait up will you?" Ren called down. He was gliding easily with confident swipes. How did he do that? Okita was a bit behind him, doing slightly better than Tetsu. At least he had missed Ren's head with the pole. Then again, maybe that meant he wasn't doing well.
Tetsu tried, he really did. Unfortunately those damn poles seemed to love crossing him. Literally.
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!" He screamed in fury as he tripped and took a sled ride down the hill on his chest and stomach. It was very cold and unpleasant, but not overly painful. Well, not until he hit a pair of legs at the bottom. "Ouchie."
"Ah, er, hello Professor Itou." Ren stuttered, pulling up short with a guilty look on his face.
Tetsu stared up at the man, feeling vaguely out of place. What was with the nails that were better manicured than a woman's? And how did Ren know this man.
"Sorry, my friend is just a tad bit clumsy. He's new at this; I was just teaching him. Say you're sorry Tetsu."
Tetsu looked between them, then at Okita. And that last look made him nervous. Okita had on a distinctly polite-nothing face. The one that usually meant Okita really didn't like someone, but wasn't going to do anything about it… yet.
"Uh, yeah, sure, sorry." Tetsu stuttered, trying to scoot back from the man. There was just something about him that screamed run away!
Ren prodded him in the back sharply.
"Forgive his impertinence. He's just a kid you know." Ren said smoothly. What the hell was impert-whatever? And since when did Ren use such big words? And why was he suddenly all… eck, butt-kissing?
Itou gave a vague smile, but he was looking at Okita rather than Tetsu.
"My, my, you've grown into quite the young man since the last time I saw you, hmm Soujirou?" He preened. Where did that fan come from anyway? The way the guy was looking out from behind it was kinda of scary too.
"It's Souji now, and if you'd please not be so familiar." Okita replied mildly, the polite look never leaving his face.
"Forgive my overstep." Itou requested, his tone overly patronizing, "Much has changed since we have last met. It was only a minor mistake."
Ren looked between them, "You two know each other Professor Itou?"
The man made a purring sound, "Why yes. Is it not such a small world? Mister Okita went to Junior High while I was in High School. He was quite good friends with one Toshizo Hijikata actually."
"Really." Ren said, shutting up.
Something about that made Tetsu want to back up. Someone was HAPPY about knowing Hijikata. Someone BESIDES Okita? That was just wrong. There was something very wrong about this he just knew it. Unfortunately, the Tatsu voice wasn't offering any insights. Stupid, useless piece of shit. He wanted a refund.
"How is Toshi faring these days? I heard he works at some private school. At least he is away from the scum that mucks up the public system." Itou sniffed disdainfully. "That lot should stay with manual labor for all the brain power they have."
Okita gave a forced smile and said slowly, "Hijikata is quite well, thank you for asking. He has a lovely girlfriend actually. They're engaged."
ENGAGED?!!
Apparently Itou was having similar thoughts because his face twisted in a gross parody of a pleased smile, "Really? I do hope he is not still with that blond whore."
Okita gave a toothy grin back, "Oh no, they broke up quite awhile back. Right after graduation I think. She's doing quite well also, thank you for asking. Married actually."
"I wish the best of luck on the man that married her. The pretentious witch." Itou spat before regaining his composure, "So why are you here?"
Ren shoved Okita slightly and spoke up again, "I was just showing these two amateurs how to ski."
Wha?! That bastard! How DARE he?
Itou gave a cool glance over them, "I hope it is not too tedious."
Tetsu wasn't sure what that word meant, but he was willing to bet it wasn't nice. Well, if Ren was going to be a keener then he was taking off. That skiing stuff wasn't that hard, really. Even if his body was already sore from his impromptu slide down the baby-hill.
Ren looked between them with a slight, nervous smile, "Ah, no, they're both fairly quick."
"Perhaps sliding down the hill like a penguin is fine for such… quaint people, but you know, I would expect better."
Okita looked annoyed. Uh-oh.
"Hey you bastard! What do you mean by that?" Tetsu fumed, tired of keeping his mouth shut. This guy needed some shit shoved up his nose or something. Geez!
Suddenly, Itou seemed to take a keen interest. His sharp eyes flicked over Tetsu with a predatory gleam. A thin smile passed his lips and his shapely eyebrows flicked up.
"My, my. Where does uncouth trash get the nerve to spew such vulgar words in my presence? Boy, were you not taught any manners? You should respect your betters."
"I will when I see them." Tetsu snorted, making a face.
Ren didn't say a word; he just looked stunned.
"Your trivial chatter is annoying." The older man said disapproving.
Tetsu gave an impish grin. The very same one he gave Hijikata (behind his back of course. Tetsu was foolish, not suicidal.
"Good. Does that mean you'll go bug someone else?" Tetsu retorted, ignoring Ren's pleading look. No way he was going to lay off. Besides, how often did he get to ream an adult out for being rude? Never! And no Tatsu to stop him! Bwahaha- cough. Okay, bad idea, that evil laughter.
Ren, tired of the not-so-subtle jabs at Tetsu's calves, lunged forward to shut the boy up more effectively. He pounced on the freshman, knocking him in the snow and out of his skis. The two flailed around in the hard-packed powder. Tetsu wasn't stupid enough to think that since they were almost the same height that they would be equal. Oh no, he would easily whip Ren's sorry ass! The boy was a stick! Not to mention all he had to do was grab onto that flamboyant scarf and tug hard.
So it was quite a surprise when a fist connected solidly with his jaw.
"Shit, that hurt you bastard!"
"It was supposed to! Be glad I didn't bitch-slap you Puppy. Or swat your ass with a newspaper for all your barking!" Ren fumed, still trying to pin him down.
Oh Tetsu would show him 'puppy' alright. This doggie was more bite than bark.
"Tetsu!" Ren howled in shock and tried to drag his arm back. Tetsu's head went with it. "Let go! Bad dog!"
"Tetsu…" Okita voiced hesitantly. He was probably not wanting to break up the fun. After all, Tetsu was doing exactly what he had wanted to do earlier. "…You shouldn't bite people. It's unhygienic."
"Yeah, so get your sewer-mouth off of me!" Ren snarled.
Okita continued, "You simply don't know where he's been."
Tetsu spat the arm out reluctantly, noticing a few trickles of blood. He touched his lip gingerly and winced.
"I think I know too much." Tetsu replied, making a face, "And I was proving a point."
"What point was that?" Ren snapped, "You bite better than a dog? That's not something to be proud of you know!"
"I suggest that you receive your tenuous shot as soon as you return home." Itou told Ren. "The human mouth is one of the filthy things on this planet, in more than one way."
"It was a surprise to see you Itou. I hope your life goes well. If you'll excuse us, Tetsu and I must improve our skiing. It'll take such a long time you know. Such a tedious task deserves our concentration."
"Of course. Perhaps I could show you a few moves that young Nagakura may not know. After all, I am the very embodiment of patience, and I am a professor as well. I am used to teaching…" Itou trailed off delicately and flicked his fan shut. "We will simply leave it at that. You are in for a treat."
"Sure we are." Tetsu mumbled, regaining his skis. The wretched things were starting to look like chains. Why couldn't the guy just go the fuck away? Not only did he turn Ren against them… okay, against Tetsu, but he was just such an egotistical bastard!
Surprisingly, Itou knew quite a few tricks. And he was patient… to a degree.
"So, Toshi enjoys kendo still?"
"Umm." Okita replied, trying to place his feet the way he was show. "Yup."
"I see. Yet he does not compete professionally?"
"Nope."
"Quite regretful." Itou murmured, "He is quite stunning when he is swinging a sword. Brilliant in fact."
Pfft, what was this guy on?
"So what do you think he is doing at this moment in time, Mister Okita."
"Mmm," Okita hummed in thought and smiled, "Riding Space Mountain. He always lies and says he doesn't like roller coasters, but I bet he'll go on it anyway."
"I seem to recall that he gets rather flushed on such violent rides." Itou smirked. Tetsu backed up thinking, and I think you get rather disgusting when you say it that way. Eww! "A pity I am not there to see it. I doubt a mere woman could appreciate such inspiration and beauty."
Ren gave a slight sigh, but Tetsu couldn't understand what it was about. It didn't sound like what it should. Or at least not exasperation. It was more… resigned? And… Tetsu wasn't going to think anymore. It made his head hurt. Or, that could be the fact that he gave himself a nice shiner with the ski pole.
"I think we should try the slopes!" Okita chirped.
"Good idea." Ren agreed. "We should start easy."
"Professor Itou!" A woman shouted from across the way. She was with several other people and they were all looking over in amusement, "Still giving lectures? C'mon, we're on vacation here! Get in the spirit and give the teaching a rest for once!"
A mild look of disgust crossed Itou's face, but he quickly covered it with his fan. Tetsu was still trying to figure out where the hell he stashed that thing when he wasn't using it. On second thought, he really didn't want to know.
"Ah, Miss Klin, please refrain from shouting. As you can see, I am not going anywhere. It would be much more polite for you to come over here and say what you have to say. As for teaching, how can I refuse such needy young men?"
One of the guys next to this Miss Klin choked something that sounded like that word Heisuke used. What was it again? Pedo-pedo- aww shit. Whatever it was!
"Mister Salavin I heard that. If I recall correctly, you were the one indicted on charges of sexually harassing a female student… perhaps several? Ah, my memory is a bit faulty on such disgraceful mannerisms." Itou gave a sinister smile, "In any case, would you like to repeat that?"
"No… no Itou." The younger man paled and stuttered.
"Oh? I apologize. I seemed to have misheard you. What was the one student's name? Jill? A pretty little slip of a thing if I remember correctly. Quite intelligent as well, always did well in our class discussions."
"I'm extremely sorry Itou!" Salavin cried, flaming red.
"I can certainly see the temptation, however, that is something I would not act upon. You see, I prefer my prey to be a bit… more mature."
"Tall, dark, and cranky he means." Ren grumbled bitterly.
Okita gave a cheery grin, "Don't forget handsome. Or at least, that's what the ladies always say. Right after complimenting him on being such a great big brother and how cute I am!"
"Oh shut up. I'm surprised they don't say was a sweet little girl you are." Ren growled.
"Jealous? It just comes natural." Okita purred.
"…Professor Itou…" The man said in a strangled voice before bowing his head, "I'm very, very sorry. Saying something like that was out of hand and very lewd. It just reflects on me being an ass. I apologize professor. It will never happen again!"
Somehow Tetsu had the feeling that witnessing that would stick with him for the rest of his natural life… and probably into the afterlife as well. He hadn't understood half of what they'd said, but the fact was quite clear. Itou was one mean-ass bastard. Still, if the stupid guy was such an ass-kisser… well, there was no excuse.
"Get out of my sight unless you would like to pay my eye doctor for an examination."
"Yes…yes, sir!"
"Ah, we'll see you later Professor Itou. Sorry to bother you." The woman said meekly, while the rest of them shuffled uncomfortable.
"You do that." Itou remarked, putting his fan away discreetly, indicating he was done.
"You sure showed them!" Ren praised and Okita added, "Quite the display!"
Itou snorted in distain, "I detest faculty bonding sessions. They wish for me to degrade myself by associating with such lackwits? Honestly, how much do they believe I will put up with before I am forced to take action. Because obviously the board insists on hiring them, yet they cannot seem to disciple them."
Ren nodded dutifully in agreement.
"Eh, you seemed able to do that." Tetsu put in. He was tired of dealing with this. He had two days before he went back to school, and he just wanted to enjoy himself! Was that too much to ask?
"I am quite able to outwit them, shame them, but to what purpose? You see, to do so takes precious time and effort. And because they are so pathetic in mental prowess, they do not seem to grasp how to behave. It is simply a waste."
"Ah, sounds so tiring!"
"Let's just go! I'm cold." Tetsu complained.
"Do you feel up to proceeding to the moderate slopes? Despite my initial measures, you both seem adequate enough to handle more than the child's playground."
Tetsu puffed up.
"Moderate it is." Okita nodded, "Right Tetsu?"
"Damn straight!"
The chair lift was a new and exciting experience. Of course, Tetsu couldn't do what he wanted, which was rocking the lift exuberantly. Ren was still a bit miffed from the bite, a fact he kept shoving in Tetsu's face, literally. It almost made him want to bite it again.
"So, you like that jerk?"
Ren's face turned red, "Like? Well, yeah, I mean, that guy's a genius, you know? You should take one of his classes. It's really enlightening. Cool actually. He's not as harsh with people he likes. Not like those idiots from earlier."
"Uh, okay. I don't like school." And Tetsu wasn't too fond of Itou either, from what he'd seen.
"Yeah, and you don't know how to get off? Let's try to land on our feet this time, okay? Just make sure you're not too tense, and that you don't pop off too soon. You should do great, okay? As for the slopes, it's a piece of cake, nothing to be nervous about."
Tetsu bristled. Who said he was nervous? Hell no, he was pumped up! Totally ready. These slopes wouldn't know what hit them!
It wasn't nearly as bad as Tetsu thought it would be. He managed to dismount without making a fool out of himself. And the original drop off, while scary, wasn't all that bad. Skiing was easy, and as much as he hated to admit it, Itou was a fairly decent teacher. Better than Ren anyway.
Yet, somehow, on the way down, he got separated from Okita and Ren. It didn't bother him that much; he was having so much fun. And he'd see them down at the bottom anyway.
"Hey, Puppy! That was quick. I didn't expect to see you here." Heisuke shouted. He looked like he had been having a blast, although he was red in the face from cold and missing a glove.
Shinpachi and Sano whipped past him, hooting and cheering.
Heisuke grinned, "They're nuts. You never know how competitive two friends are until you give them a race that doesn't matter! Where's Ren and Okita? Don't tell me they ditched you in favor of some isolated shed. You know, there's a thin line between love and hate."
"What!"
"Hey, kidding." Heisuke reassured, still in a great mood. "Don't worry about it. From what Shinpattsan said, those two have always hated each other with a burning passion."
"I guess they're around. And Itou too. That guy's crazy."
"Itou! You don't mean Professor Itou? About this high and very professional looking? Carries a fan, right?" Heisuke asked eagerly and Tetsu stumbled, "Yeah, that's him. Do you know him?"
"Know him? You're kidding! The man thought me most of what I know about Freud. He's the one who encouraged my passion for psychology!"
Okay, add another tally to the score. Itou was quickly becoming someone Tetsu figured he didn't want to know well.
"Toudou."
"Professor Itou! How are you doing? You look awesome as usual." Heisuke grinned broadly, slowly to a glide, allowing the older man to catch up.
"I am as I should be." Itou replied smugly and Heisuke beamed. Honestly, what was so great about this guy? Really. "Department bonding is my bane as you know, but I am pleasantly surprised to have met both you and Nagakura, Toudou. It seems an uncanny coincidence."
"Aw, not really Professor." Heisuke said, "I'm assuming you're talking about Ren, right? I forgot I was going to ask him if you took any of your classes. He's my best friend's cousin. We're just taking our break before going back to the grind."
"I see." Itou nodded slightly, "Are you still applying yourself properly?"
"Yes Professor!"
Oh God, Tetsu was going to be physically sick if this went on much longer.
"Very good." Itou nodded again, a thoughtful look crossing his face, "And you attend class with Okita now?"
"Oh, yeah, sure do."
"I may just have to visit my favorite student. If that is permitted of course."
"No problem!"
"Very well. I shall make an effort to drop by in the future."
That sounded bad.
"That'd be great!"
"Farewell Toudou."
"Snotty jerk." Tetsu muttered, "What am I?"
"Mmm, he probably didn't even remember your name. You have to earn his respect, you know. It took me a while too, so don't worry."
Nope, not a problem. Tetsu would be plenty happy if he never saw the man again in his life.
When they hit the bottom, Tetsu was surprised to realize he hadn't tripped up once. Maybe that skiing stuff wasn't so bad after all.
"Hey, is everyone here?" Heisuke asked, looking tired. "I think it's time to turn in."
Shinpachi nodded in agreement.
"Where's Okita?"
Ren tromped up, already having ditched his skis in favor of snow boots. Saito, who had been amazingly absent the whole time, was with him.
"Oh, him. He twisted his ankle so I left him on the mountain. Do you think the frostbite will get him or the bears? Personally I hope it's both."
Tetsu glared, but Shinpachi cut him off, "What did you do? You didn't push him did you."
Ren gave an amazed look, "Damn, now why didn't I think of that?"
"Come on Ren; we're all tired and cranky. Just tell us where you stashed him, and we won't ask the details." Heisuke wheedled, leaning against Sano, who was watching some boarders' antics.
"Why are you blaming me for doing anything?"
"Meaning you did nothing."
"Something like that."
Tetsu wasn't sure if Ren was just jerking their chains or what, but it was pissing him off.
Which left one option: whale the shit out of him properly this time.
Before he could lunge, Susumu came up. The guy looked rather pleased about something. He shrugged and stopped with his hands in his pockets. After a moment of looking like that he asked, "So are we going?"
"You look smug." Ren remarked.
"How can you say that? Don't you see something is missing?" Tetsu fumed.
Susumu smiled, "You say that like it's a bad thing. Stop complaining you little shit."
"You bastard."
"Now, now, let's play nice." Heisuke said playing peacemaker, "We should just go to an officer and see if anything has happened."
"I told you, I left him on the slopes." Ren insisted.
Susumu shrugged. "So that's the story? I found his sorry ass and took him to the car. Figured someone would miss him, and since I wanted to go home, that it would save time."
Everyone's jaw dropped.
"The end of the world is coming!" Sano announced loudly.
"No kidding!" Shinpachi yipped, "Susumu did something nice? Of his own accord? Where's the comet?"
"Lay off guys." Tetsu defended. Susumu didn't say anything, just walked off. "See? He did something nice and you guys act like that? I wouldn't act too nice if people laughed at me when I did it."
"Perhaps he sees something he now desires." Saito replied cryptically, then looked up, "I propose we have soba for dinner."
"Umm, I don't think so Saito. No one really likes it but you, so…" Ren trailed off, "I propose we have pizza! Greasy, cheesy, and fattening pizza!"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Pizza!"
"Sano, don't drool on me. That's disgusting."
"Aw, Shinpattsan, that's Sano you're talking about."
"Hey!"
"Ouch, don't punch me."
Ren smirked, ignoring the trio, and walked up to Tetsu. Tetsu glared at him silently.
"I owe you an apology." The cross-dresser said mildly, "I shouldn't have teased you like that. I met Susumu carrying Okita down early; he told me not to say anything. The only thing I could think of to cover it was to make myself a jealous bastard." He laughed, "Worked well, didn't it?"
Tetsu crossed his arms.
"Geez, that not good enough for you? I swear on my non-existent honor, that I would never actually leave anyone, even our President, on a cold mountain to die. Still friends?" Ren asked hesitantly, putting his hand out.
"Friends." Tetsu proclaimed and grinned broadly. It was nice to be apologized TO rather than being the one doing the apologizing.
"Okay Puppy, let's head back to the car. Okita's probably frothing without sugar intake, so I hope you have something on you. Otherwise I'm popping cough medicine down his throat. Maybe the opiates will calm him down."
Tetsu pulled out a slightly smooshed pack of chocolate chip cookies, "I'm not stupid you know."
"No one said you were." Ren smirked, "Just slow."
"Hey!"
A/N: you know it's scary when things you write about really happen... a tranchula got loose in North (the high school next to where I live). How funny is that? Other than that, this chappie got a bit... long. Just a tiny bit. Then next one is even longer... 30 pages OO Oh, and I got PMK in English dies laughing it was... snorts yeah, funny! But I knew Okita's voice actor wasn't going to work when I saw the cast list months ago. Other than that, I have to special order the manga --;;
Night-Owl123: Well -sweatdrop- it wasn't too ASAP-ish, but it's long!
Tetsu fell out of the bed with a heavy thump on the cold, hard, wooden floor. He moaned and curled into a tight, little ball. Everything was so hazy?
"Rise and fucking shine you fairies." Susumu's voice drifted down smugly, "Nothing like the fresh smell of someone in shit in the morning."
"Hmm?" Heisuke's sleepy voice floated around in the small room.
Suddenly there was a bright, blinding light flooding the room.
"Turn it off." Heisuke whined and tried to drag the covered back over his head in sleepy protest. Tetsu sat up rubbing his head. Okita was standing with the cord to the blinds in hand, not looking particularly happy.
He took a few swift strides and ripped the covers off the hung over senior.
Heisuke retaliated by dragging Tetsu up bodily and trying to use him to block the morning sunlight.
"Ah, good morn—woah. You people shouldn't get drunk!" Ren chirped and stopped mid-sentence. Despite the fact that he had downed more alcohol than Heisuke and Tetsu put together he looked incredibly chipper. Well, until his eyes landed on Okita. He gave a sweet smile, "So good of you to join us?"
"You."
"Ah-ah, you need to play nice. We wouldn't want to have anyone get hurt again, now would we?"
Shinpachi dragged himself into the doorway and rubbed his eyes with his knuckle. He made a grunting noise and leaned heavily with a sigh.
"Shin, Puppy stole your man!" Ren complained good-naturedly.
"His name is Tetsu." Okita corrected.
Ren paused, "Apologies. I assumed that it was just a cute nickname. Forgive me."
"Yeah, at the bottom of a frozen lake." Susumu snorted. "I don't know why you guys are so surprised. This wouldn't be the first drunken fling that's ever happened."
"Oh really?" Ren chimed in, ignoring the heated looks he was getting from both Shinpachi and Okita. "Do tell. You mean Heisuke I'm assuming."
"I mean both the fuckers." Susumu corrected crossly.
"Enough."
Susumu looked over at Okita, but didn't volunteer any more information.
"Shinpattsan, save me!" Heisuke whimpered, becoming more awake by the second. "It's not what it looks like. I swear on Freud!"
Shinpachi looked uncertainly at his friend before steeling himself, "And what does it look like exactly?"
Heisuke blinked, collecting his thoughts. When nothing came to mind his mouth worked soundlessly for a moment.
"It's all Puppy's fault!" Heisuke blurted and Tetsu jumped. His fault? How so? He was just sleeping!
"That's shameless Heisuke." Shinpachi snorted, "Blaming it on the kid."
"Hey, who's bed is it anyway?"
"Mine actually." Saito chimed in. "You were placed here last night."
"Oh. Well, I didn't go into Tetsu's bed, did I?" Heisuke defended, "It's not my fault he dragged himself over here."
Ren gave a slight grin, "I believe you."
Heisuke sighed in relief.
"Too bad no one else does, you pedo." Susumu snickered. "Okita doesn't really like to share. I learned that the hard way."
Heisuke looked between them and seeing no mercy decided to make one last bid at talking his way out of the mess. He turned his eyes to Tetsu and pleaded, "Help me out! Tell them nothing happened."
"Umm, well, you did wake me up when you were talking in your sleep. Something about 'Shincoon' and this thing kept poking me." Tetsu muttered, saying the first thing that came to mind. Heisuke went bright red and made cutting motions across his throat. Tetsu ignored that and blinked, "I gotta pee."
With that he rose unsteadily to his feet. Usually Okita would help him and ask if he was alright, but the senior was still standoffish. Tetsu wasn't quite sure why, but he would figure it out once he woke up a little more. He wondered if they were going to open presents before or after breakfast. Mostly he realized he was going to have to walk just a bit faster if he wanted to make it in time.
There was a heartfelt scream just as Tetsu flipped the seat up. Suddenly Heisuke had run in the bathroom and slammed the door, turning the lock and panting, wide-eyed.
"You! Now they're trying to kill me!" Heisuke accused with a shaky finger. He was looking rather pale and shaky.
"Can I pee in private?" Tetsu asked sleepily, "No pull ups here. I'm a big boy."
Heisuke only glanced over, "I'm sure you are."
"Heisuke, get out here you coward!"
"Don't, Okita has the hatchet." Ren warned.
There was a huge slam and Sano's big voice proclaiming that Ray was the coolest trucker ever and that the two of them had a wonderful night on the road with his rig. His big voice boomed throughout the house, drowning out any threats and cajoling that were aimed at Heisuke.
"I need a cold shower." Heisuke whimpered, "Watch the door for me, will you? If anyone opens it, yell. Yell really loud."
"Okay. What are you going to do?"
"Jump out that small window and run away butt-naked in the snow." Heisuke replied, stripping his nasty clothing from their ill-fated sojourn to the local bar. "Hopefully hypothermia and frostbite will get me before they do. Oh, and Puppy. Don't tell people what other people do in their sleep. It's embarrassing. Even for me. Okay? Fantasies and dreams are private things sometimes."
"Uh, can I do anything for you?" Tetsu asked, feeling sorry for the guy. Vague piece of the evening were assembling in his mind. "Since I was dying and all and you still helped me out."
"Shit, cold." Heisuke yelped and then added, "Clothing would be nice. So if I have to run, it won't be naked. Snow and naked don't go well together. The Pontiac keys would be helpful too."
"Umm, okay." Tetsu lingered at the door, "I'll tell Okita that it was a mistake, okay? Don't worry. Then we can all have breakfast and open presents."
Heisuke chuckled. "Right now I'm not remotely worried about Okita. It's the other one."
Okay, there were only five "other ones" in the house. Well, it was safe to assume that it wasn't Sano or Saito. So that left Ren, Susumu, and Shinpachi.
Tetsu opened the door cautiously and was surprised to find the short, narrow hallway empty. He strained his ears for sounds and could hear some arguing in the living room. After another second or so he decided it was safe enough to creep back to the room Heisuke shared with the other two members of the trio. It would just be a quick in and out.
He had collected some outer clothing and socks, but he figured that Heisuke wanted everything. That meant going to the dreaded top drawer. Tetsu wasn't sure why, but that seemed to be where everyone on earth put their underwear.
"What are you doing?"
Tetsu turned slowly, looking conspicuously guilty.
"Getting Heisuke some clothes so he can run away from 'the other one?'"
Okita stood sternly in the door. He walked in grabbing Tetsu's wrist and pulling the younger boy down on the bed next to him. He gave a slight smile and scooted away a little.
"Before I kill Heisuke, what really happened?"
"Nothing that I know of." Tetsu blinked. "Was something supposed to?"
Okita didn't look surprised, but he frowned.
"I was really sick." Tetsu considered, "Okay, I was very drunk. All I remember is I kept begging everyone and they all said no. So I waited until they were all wasted and helped myself. I wish I hadn't."
"Are you sure nothing happened."
"Umm… no?"
"I trust you, but alcohol does funny things." Okita remarked and looked out of the corner of his eye, "That's why I don't touch the stuff."
He didn't need to. The guy was already unpredictable enough as it was.
"Are you trying to make me promise not to try alcohol ever again?"
"Ah, maybe? You're a smart cookie."
"Or you're just blatantly obvious." Ren retorted, leaning in the doorway, "If you're done, breakfast is on the table. Since Shin's still nursing a hangover I'm not sure how edible it is exactly. I see you haven't changed much Okita. Still so possessive."
Tetsu stared between the two. Okita had on a face that was eerily similar to the one he made when Ryouma was around.
"Still like an unwanted stray dog." Okita replied lowly.
"Grr. Speaking of dogs, I hear Puppy's yours. Funny, I always figured you were straight."
"How do you two know each other?" Tetsu asked in confusion.
"Summer camp." The two replied at the same time.
"It was very fun." Ren said wryly and snorted. "And educational."
"Yes, yes, and your bid to get rid of me would have worked slightly better if I were actually allergic to poison ivy." Okita pointed out. He had risen and looked for all the world like a dangerous animal on the hunt.
"No, no, you misunderstood. Easy to do when you're so flighty. What with all the sugar and all." Ren said dismissively, "There was a bee. I was simply trying to get you out the way. The ivy patch just happened to be there. It is a weed."
"And the honey was an accident as well?"
"Well, what about the leeches? I know they didn't just crawl out of the creek and into my shower."
"The itching powder wasn't you, I'm sure." Okita replied.
Tetsu's eyes got wider and wider at each prank. Damn! Those two were vicious. He wondered when all this happened.
"Hey, how hard it is to tell everyone breakfast is—oh no, not again." Shinpachi groaned, "This again? That was nine years ago! I mean, come on. Okita you were only nine. How can you still remember this?"
"Yes, I was nine."
"Quite the juvenile delinquent. Summer camp for the bad boy, huh? Your parents couldn't do a damn thing with you, could they? Good thing they found someone to baby-sit you. Good old Hijikata. I bet you spend more time with him than you do with your real family."
"And your parents were asking God what they had ever done to deserve you because you played with mommy's clothes." Okita retorted. "That's why YOU were at summer camp. To make a "man" out of you."
Shinpachi sighed in defeat.
Ren shrugged, "True enough. My parents can be such a bother. Obviously it didn't work in the way they wanted. Being caught playing kissy-face with a teenage counselor didn't go over very well."
"Okay you two, break it up." Heisuke said, "Hey Puppy, could I have my clothes? I was beginning to wonder where you went, but now I see everyone is having a heartfelt get together."
"I've decided not to kill you." Okita announced to Heisuke magnanimously and Heisuke sighed in relief. He gave the purple haired senior a shaky grin and said, "Man, I swear nothing happened! I don't think of Puppy like that at all."
"So the little fucker's not good enough for you?" Susumu asked. Okita just gave an ambiguous smile and slung an arm around Tetsu's shoulders.
"Can we open presents?"
"Harada already has." Saito said, startling everyone. He had a bit of red ribbon draped across his shoulders, the work of Ren no doubt.
"What!" Tetsu screamed, eyes bulging out of his head. Sano better not having fucking touched his presents! That bastard was so dead.
They came into the disaster zone that used to be the small den. Wrapping paper, ribbons, and items were flung everywhere with Sano in the middle of it all playing with a new shotgun. He looked at them briefly and mumbled something that sounded like thanks.
"My… my presents!" Tetsu wailed, "He opened all of them!"
"Wow, go Sano. You really trashed the place." Ren said carefully treading into the knee-high mess. The paper rustled under his slippers and he bent down to pick up a random object. Inspecting it carefully he glanced at Shinpachi. "Hey, this one's for you."
Shinpachi waded out and gingerly took hold of the magazine. His face then did a number of interesting color changes before settling on vivid purple from lack of air.
"Heisuke!" He screamed. The brown haired youth blinked in terrified surprised, but didn't try to move as he was tackled violently. The smaller boy hit him like a tornado.
"Shinpattsan, what—ouch, hey—what did I do?"
"You're being a facetious little bastard!"
Susumu was howling with laughter. Tetsu glanced over, considering that he sounded like a hyena off of the discovery channel.
"You people can be so entertaining!" He snickered with mirth and hit the wall with his fist gleefully. "Kill the poor shit."
"Shinpattsan, stop!" Heisuke pleaded, trying to pin the flailing fists. "That wasn't from me. My present to you is under my bed. I was going to wrap it last night… but you know."
Shinpachi's balled up fist paused and he let it drop. "Really?" He squinted suspiciously, but let Heisuke up. "You're not kidding just to get away are you?"
Heisuke brushed a small card out of his hair and smiled mischievously, "I think you owe me an apology."
"What sort?"
"A kiss would be nice. Well, that and you actually saying it out loud and meaning it." Heisuke said wistfully.
Shinpachi looked around before sighing. He walked up to the other boy and put a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"I'm sorry I was sure a jerk and jumped to conclusions…"
Before Heisuke could open his mouth to complain Shinpachi had grabbed his face and kissed him on the mouth soundly.
"And don't say I'm not in the Christmas spirit."
"Great, I'm surrounded." Susumu snorted. "Are any of you even remotely normal?"
Heisuke gave a happy yelp and dashed off to retrieve the hidden present. Shinpachi gave a smug look before following at a more sedate pace.
Ren gave a wolf whistle, "Someone got lucky."
"Why do you say that? We haven't even seen the present yet." Tetsu pointed out, poking around.
Ren gave a patient smile, "I'd say Heisuke is probably very pleased with his, if nothing else."
"When'd he get it?" Tetsu blinked.
"Never mind Puppy."
It took awhile, but they managed to sort out all the gifts to their proper owners.
Breakfast was also achieved with minimum fuss.
"Let's go skiing!" Ren suggested, carefully seated away from Okita. "I'd be a fun thing to do before you guys have to leave."
Sano blinked, "Where?"
"There are slopes all over."
"You have to drive to them, and pay money." Sano pointed out, taking a huge bite of scrambled, and slightly burnt, eggs.
"Skiing does sound like I could ditch you guys and have the day to myself." Susumu seconded.
"I don't know how to ski." Tetsu frowned, his pride pricked, and Okita giggled, "Me neither."
"It is the last day before we have to drive back. We should have some fun." Shinpachi reasoned. "It makes sense to me."
"And since he's the sensible one, I second that!" Heisuke grinned. Shinpachi rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.
So it was decided. They would go skiing. Tetsu didn't know if he liked that idea very much.
He decided he liked it even less when he saw the Bunny Hill.
"No fucking way." He pouted crossly.
Okita, still trying to uncross his poles, looked up and giggled, "Why not?"
"You see those things on it?"
"I see children."
"Exactly. I'm not a child."
Susumu sneered, "So we could take you up on the lift to the steepest slope and shove you off?"
Sano tromped up beaming with the other two members of the Trio not looking nearly so happy. Clumps of snow clung to their hair and clothing.
"Sano, next time you do that, make sure no one's in your way, okay?" Shinpachi grumbled, brushing a bit of snow off his chest. He turned a brushed a bit out of Heisuke's hair. Noticing the inquiring looks he mumbled, "Sano decided to take a suicide leap off the lodge's railing and land in a snowdrift."
"Let's go!" He said with a broad smile, hefting his snowboard.
Tetsu didn't see how he could manage it, with his legs practically tied together. While skiing seemed difficult, snowboarding seemed near-impossible. Especially for the huge, hulking senior.
"Have fun with the babies." Susumu said, walking off towards the lift.
"Hey! Don't you walk off you bastard!" Tetsu fumed, "I'm not a kid."
Ren shrugged, "Of course you aren't. I think a day on the slopes will have Susumu very sore, unless he's used to it. If that gives you any satisfaction."
"Oh."
"Anyway, there's nothing to be ashamed off, starting out on the Bunny Hill. Everyone starts there. If you want I'll take you guys up there and give you some tips."
Okita stared at Ren, but didn't say anything.
"Come on! I'm not going to shove you down the slope or anything. Not that it'd do you any lasting harm. Can't you just accept that I'm being nice just this once?"
"Why are you doing it Ren?" Shinpachi asked curiously. "It seems a little out of character for you to be so nice."
"Haha, I'll have you know I'm very nice. Most of the time. Besides, even if I wouldn't mind that guy busting his ass on the way down, I don't think that's very fair to Puppy." Ren speculated, adjusting a rather bright magenta scarf. He looked up at Okita, "So how about it? Truce?"
"Truce."
"Fine, I'm glad you guys got that all settled." Shinpachi said, "We'll be up on the moderate slopes most of the day, so you know where to find us. If not, we'll probably stop down here again in awhile."
Ren gave a blink of surprise, "Only moderate? Shin, that surprises me. You're much better than that."
Shinpachi flushed a little bit and jerked his thumb at Heisuke, "He's an amateur still. It wouldn't be right for Sano and I to just leave him."
"Ah, of course!" Ren chirped. "Hey, where's Saito?"
The all looked around blankly.
"I hate when he does that. It's so creepy." Shinpachi said, shuddering, "It's even worse when he pops back up."
"Alright, you boys have fun!" Ren grinned, "Maybe I'll see you up there in a bit. These two are bright boys; I bet they'll figure it out real quick with a few pointers."
It took Tetsu a few moments of watching the trio walk off to realize just what he was in the middle of. He just hoped that they would be too occupied with each other to involve him in the middle of it. For once, he agreed with the Tatsu voice.
Ren gave an innocent smile at a pair of guys walking past and one of them smiled back. Okita narrowed his eyes.
"Anyway, this is easy stuff… kid's stuff if you'll forgive the pun." Ren said, leading them over to what looked like an intricate pulley system. He shoved a kid out of the way, grabbed Tetsu, and curled his fist around a handle. With an arm-wrenching jerk, Tetsu suddenly found himself half-flailing for balance and half-clinging for dear life.
He was going to kill Ren. Where was the teach in that little stunt?
He was almost to the top when he realized another slight problem…
…How the HELL did he get off this thing?
"Let go Puppy!" Ren encouraged.
Let go? Hell no! If he let go…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Splat.
"Tetsu, are you okay?"
Tetsu pulled his face out of the packed snow and wiped furiously. Of course he was okay. Peachie-keen! Stupid Ren.
The first thing to greet his liberated eyes was a pair of concerned, violet ones… that were just a little too close.
"Yaaaaah! Don't do that." Tetsu protested after smashing the bridge of his nose against Okita's. The older boy gave an apologetic grin and ruefully rubbed his nose before offering a hand up. Tetsu grudgingly accepted it and Okita gave a reassuring squeeze before letting go.
"Nice one." Ren commented, fiddling with his scarf playfully, "Ready to get down to business?"
Tetsu glared at Ren. Tetsu glared at Okita who had a distinctly humoring look in his eyes. Tetsu glared at those bastard kids that were laughing at him. Then he stabbed his poles in the snow and stared challenging down the hill. He would kick-ass. Nothing less was acceptable.
"Let's go."
"There's the fire I like seeing! Okay, the first thing you need to do… hey!"
Tetsu wasn't listening. He would whip this, and if that meant jumping headfirst down the hill… well, he'd already done that.
The whole skiing thing wasn't as hard as he thought. Except that his skis kept getting crossed from under him and his poles whacked him in the shins. Well, and he was having trouble keeping a smooth flow. At least he hadn't stumbled yet.
"Hey Tetsu, wait up will you?" Ren called down. He was gliding easily with confident swipes. How did he do that? Okita was a bit behind him, doing slightly better than Tetsu. At least he had missed Ren's head with the pole. Then again, maybe that meant he wasn't doing well.
Tetsu tried, he really did. Unfortunately those damn poles seemed to love crossing him. Literally.
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!" He screamed in fury as he tripped and took a sled ride down the hill on his chest and stomach. It was very cold and unpleasant, but not overly painful. Well, not until he hit a pair of legs at the bottom. "Ouchie."
"Ah, er, hello Professor Itou." Ren stuttered, pulling up short with a guilty look on his face.
Tetsu stared up at the man, feeling vaguely out of place. What was with the nails that were better manicured than a woman's? And how did Ren know this man.
"Sorry, my friend is just a tad bit clumsy. He's new at this; I was just teaching him. Say you're sorry Tetsu."
Tetsu looked between them, then at Okita. And that last look made him nervous. Okita had on a distinctly polite-nothing face. The one that usually meant Okita really didn't like someone, but wasn't going to do anything about it… yet.
"Uh, yeah, sure, sorry." Tetsu stuttered, trying to scoot back from the man. There was just something about him that screamed run away!
Ren prodded him in the back sharply.
"Forgive his impertinence. He's just a kid you know." Ren said smoothly. What the hell was impert-whatever? And since when did Ren use such big words? And why was he suddenly all… eck, butt-kissing?
Itou gave a vague smile, but he was looking at Okita rather than Tetsu.
"My, my, you've grown into quite the young man since the last time I saw you, hmm Soujirou?" He preened. Where did that fan come from anyway? The way the guy was looking out from behind it was kinda of scary too.
"It's Souji now, and if you'd please not be so familiar." Okita replied mildly, the polite look never leaving his face.
"Forgive my overstep." Itou requested, his tone overly patronizing, "Much has changed since we have last met. It was only a minor mistake."
Ren looked between them, "You two know each other Professor Itou?"
The man made a purring sound, "Why yes. Is it not such a small world? Mister Okita went to Junior High while I was in High School. He was quite good friends with one Toshizo Hijikata actually."
"Really." Ren said, shutting up.
Something about that made Tetsu want to back up. Someone was HAPPY about knowing Hijikata. Someone BESIDES Okita? That was just wrong. There was something very wrong about this he just knew it. Unfortunately, the Tatsu voice wasn't offering any insights. Stupid, useless piece of shit. He wanted a refund.
"How is Toshi faring these days? I heard he works at some private school. At least he is away from the scum that mucks up the public system." Itou sniffed disdainfully. "That lot should stay with manual labor for all the brain power they have."
Okita gave a forced smile and said slowly, "Hijikata is quite well, thank you for asking. He has a lovely girlfriend actually. They're engaged."
ENGAGED?!!
Apparently Itou was having similar thoughts because his face twisted in a gross parody of a pleased smile, "Really? I do hope he is not still with that blond whore."
Okita gave a toothy grin back, "Oh no, they broke up quite awhile back. Right after graduation I think. She's doing quite well also, thank you for asking. Married actually."
"I wish the best of luck on the man that married her. The pretentious witch." Itou spat before regaining his composure, "So why are you here?"
Ren shoved Okita slightly and spoke up again, "I was just showing these two amateurs how to ski."
Wha?! That bastard! How DARE he?
Itou gave a cool glance over them, "I hope it is not too tedious."
Tetsu wasn't sure what that word meant, but he was willing to bet it wasn't nice. Well, if Ren was going to be a keener then he was taking off. That skiing stuff wasn't that hard, really. Even if his body was already sore from his impromptu slide down the baby-hill.
Ren looked between them with a slight, nervous smile, "Ah, no, they're both fairly quick."
"Perhaps sliding down the hill like a penguin is fine for such… quaint people, but you know, I would expect better."
Okita looked annoyed. Uh-oh.
"Hey you bastard! What do you mean by that?" Tetsu fumed, tired of keeping his mouth shut. This guy needed some shit shoved up his nose or something. Geez!
Suddenly, Itou seemed to take a keen interest. His sharp eyes flicked over Tetsu with a predatory gleam. A thin smile passed his lips and his shapely eyebrows flicked up.
"My, my. Where does uncouth trash get the nerve to spew such vulgar words in my presence? Boy, were you not taught any manners? You should respect your betters."
"I will when I see them." Tetsu snorted, making a face.
Ren didn't say a word; he just looked stunned.
"Your trivial chatter is annoying." The older man said disapproving.
Tetsu gave an impish grin. The very same one he gave Hijikata (behind his back of course. Tetsu was foolish, not suicidal.
"Good. Does that mean you'll go bug someone else?" Tetsu retorted, ignoring Ren's pleading look. No way he was going to lay off. Besides, how often did he get to ream an adult out for being rude? Never! And no Tatsu to stop him! Bwahaha- cough. Okay, bad idea, that evil laughter.
Ren, tired of the not-so-subtle jabs at Tetsu's calves, lunged forward to shut the boy up more effectively. He pounced on the freshman, knocking him in the snow and out of his skis. The two flailed around in the hard-packed powder. Tetsu wasn't stupid enough to think that since they were almost the same height that they would be equal. Oh no, he would easily whip Ren's sorry ass! The boy was a stick! Not to mention all he had to do was grab onto that flamboyant scarf and tug hard.
So it was quite a surprise when a fist connected solidly with his jaw.
"Shit, that hurt you bastard!"
"It was supposed to! Be glad I didn't bitch-slap you Puppy. Or swat your ass with a newspaper for all your barking!" Ren fumed, still trying to pin him down.
Oh Tetsu would show him 'puppy' alright. This doggie was more bite than bark.
"Tetsu!" Ren howled in shock and tried to drag his arm back. Tetsu's head went with it. "Let go! Bad dog!"
"Tetsu…" Okita voiced hesitantly. He was probably not wanting to break up the fun. After all, Tetsu was doing exactly what he had wanted to do earlier. "…You shouldn't bite people. It's unhygienic."
"Yeah, so get your sewer-mouth off of me!" Ren snarled.
Okita continued, "You simply don't know where he's been."
Tetsu spat the arm out reluctantly, noticing a few trickles of blood. He touched his lip gingerly and winced.
"I think I know too much." Tetsu replied, making a face, "And I was proving a point."
"What point was that?" Ren snapped, "You bite better than a dog? That's not something to be proud of you know!"
"I suggest that you receive your tenuous shot as soon as you return home." Itou told Ren. "The human mouth is one of the filthy things on this planet, in more than one way."
"It was a surprise to see you Itou. I hope your life goes well. If you'll excuse us, Tetsu and I must improve our skiing. It'll take such a long time you know. Such a tedious task deserves our concentration."
"Of course. Perhaps I could show you a few moves that young Nagakura may not know. After all, I am the very embodiment of patience, and I am a professor as well. I am used to teaching…" Itou trailed off delicately and flicked his fan shut. "We will simply leave it at that. You are in for a treat."
"Sure we are." Tetsu mumbled, regaining his skis. The wretched things were starting to look like chains. Why couldn't the guy just go the fuck away? Not only did he turn Ren against them… okay, against Tetsu, but he was just such an egotistical bastard!
Surprisingly, Itou knew quite a few tricks. And he was patient… to a degree.
"So, Toshi enjoys kendo still?"
"Umm." Okita replied, trying to place his feet the way he was show. "Yup."
"I see. Yet he does not compete professionally?"
"Nope."
"Quite regretful." Itou murmured, "He is quite stunning when he is swinging a sword. Brilliant in fact."
Pfft, what was this guy on?
"So what do you think he is doing at this moment in time, Mister Okita."
"Mmm," Okita hummed in thought and smiled, "Riding Space Mountain. He always lies and says he doesn't like roller coasters, but I bet he'll go on it anyway."
"I seem to recall that he gets rather flushed on such violent rides." Itou smirked. Tetsu backed up thinking, and I think you get rather disgusting when you say it that way. Eww! "A pity I am not there to see it. I doubt a mere woman could appreciate such inspiration and beauty."
Ren gave a slight sigh, but Tetsu couldn't understand what it was about. It didn't sound like what it should. Or at least not exasperation. It was more… resigned? And… Tetsu wasn't going to think anymore. It made his head hurt. Or, that could be the fact that he gave himself a nice shiner with the ski pole.
"I think we should try the slopes!" Okita chirped.
"Good idea." Ren agreed. "We should start easy."
"Professor Itou!" A woman shouted from across the way. She was with several other people and they were all looking over in amusement, "Still giving lectures? C'mon, we're on vacation here! Get in the spirit and give the teaching a rest for once!"
A mild look of disgust crossed Itou's face, but he quickly covered it with his fan. Tetsu was still trying to figure out where the hell he stashed that thing when he wasn't using it. On second thought, he really didn't want to know.
"Ah, Miss Klin, please refrain from shouting. As you can see, I am not going anywhere. It would be much more polite for you to come over here and say what you have to say. As for teaching, how can I refuse such needy young men?"
One of the guys next to this Miss Klin choked something that sounded like that word Heisuke used. What was it again? Pedo-pedo- aww shit. Whatever it was!
"Mister Salavin I heard that. If I recall correctly, you were the one indicted on charges of sexually harassing a female student… perhaps several? Ah, my memory is a bit faulty on such disgraceful mannerisms." Itou gave a sinister smile, "In any case, would you like to repeat that?"
"No… no Itou." The younger man paled and stuttered.
"Oh? I apologize. I seemed to have misheard you. What was the one student's name? Jill? A pretty little slip of a thing if I remember correctly. Quite intelligent as well, always did well in our class discussions."
"I'm extremely sorry Itou!" Salavin cried, flaming red.
"I can certainly see the temptation, however, that is something I would not act upon. You see, I prefer my prey to be a bit… more mature."
"Tall, dark, and cranky he means." Ren grumbled bitterly.
Okita gave a cheery grin, "Don't forget handsome. Or at least, that's what the ladies always say. Right after complimenting him on being such a great big brother and how cute I am!"
"Oh shut up. I'm surprised they don't say was a sweet little girl you are." Ren growled.
"Jealous? It just comes natural." Okita purred.
"…Professor Itou…" The man said in a strangled voice before bowing his head, "I'm very, very sorry. Saying something like that was out of hand and very lewd. It just reflects on me being an ass. I apologize professor. It will never happen again!"
Somehow Tetsu had the feeling that witnessing that would stick with him for the rest of his natural life… and probably into the afterlife as well. He hadn't understood half of what they'd said, but the fact was quite clear. Itou was one mean-ass bastard. Still, if the stupid guy was such an ass-kisser… well, there was no excuse.
"Get out of my sight unless you would like to pay my eye doctor for an examination."
"Yes…yes, sir!"
"Ah, we'll see you later Professor Itou. Sorry to bother you." The woman said meekly, while the rest of them shuffled uncomfortable.
"You do that." Itou remarked, putting his fan away discreetly, indicating he was done.
"You sure showed them!" Ren praised and Okita added, "Quite the display!"
Itou snorted in distain, "I detest faculty bonding sessions. They wish for me to degrade myself by associating with such lackwits? Honestly, how much do they believe I will put up with before I am forced to take action. Because obviously the board insists on hiring them, yet they cannot seem to disciple them."
Ren nodded dutifully in agreement.
"Eh, you seemed able to do that." Tetsu put in. He was tired of dealing with this. He had two days before he went back to school, and he just wanted to enjoy himself! Was that too much to ask?
"I am quite able to outwit them, shame them, but to what purpose? You see, to do so takes precious time and effort. And because they are so pathetic in mental prowess, they do not seem to grasp how to behave. It is simply a waste."
"Ah, sounds so tiring!"
"Let's just go! I'm cold." Tetsu complained.
"Do you feel up to proceeding to the moderate slopes? Despite my initial measures, you both seem adequate enough to handle more than the child's playground."
Tetsu puffed up.
"Moderate it is." Okita nodded, "Right Tetsu?"
"Damn straight!"
The chair lift was a new and exciting experience. Of course, Tetsu couldn't do what he wanted, which was rocking the lift exuberantly. Ren was still a bit miffed from the bite, a fact he kept shoving in Tetsu's face, literally. It almost made him want to bite it again.
"So, you like that jerk?"
Ren's face turned red, "Like? Well, yeah, I mean, that guy's a genius, you know? You should take one of his classes. It's really enlightening. Cool actually. He's not as harsh with people he likes. Not like those idiots from earlier."
"Uh, okay. I don't like school." And Tetsu wasn't too fond of Itou either, from what he'd seen.
"Yeah, and you don't know how to get off? Let's try to land on our feet this time, okay? Just make sure you're not too tense, and that you don't pop off too soon. You should do great, okay? As for the slopes, it's a piece of cake, nothing to be nervous about."
Tetsu bristled. Who said he was nervous? Hell no, he was pumped up! Totally ready. These slopes wouldn't know what hit them!
It wasn't nearly as bad as Tetsu thought it would be. He managed to dismount without making a fool out of himself. And the original drop off, while scary, wasn't all that bad. Skiing was easy, and as much as he hated to admit it, Itou was a fairly decent teacher. Better than Ren anyway.
Yet, somehow, on the way down, he got separated from Okita and Ren. It didn't bother him that much; he was having so much fun. And he'd see them down at the bottom anyway.
"Hey, Puppy! That was quick. I didn't expect to see you here." Heisuke shouted. He looked like he had been having a blast, although he was red in the face from cold and missing a glove.
Shinpachi and Sano whipped past him, hooting and cheering.
Heisuke grinned, "They're nuts. You never know how competitive two friends are until you give them a race that doesn't matter! Where's Ren and Okita? Don't tell me they ditched you in favor of some isolated shed. You know, there's a thin line between love and hate."
"What!"
"Hey, kidding." Heisuke reassured, still in a great mood. "Don't worry about it. From what Shinpattsan said, those two have always hated each other with a burning passion."
"I guess they're around. And Itou too. That guy's crazy."
"Itou! You don't mean Professor Itou? About this high and very professional looking? Carries a fan, right?" Heisuke asked eagerly and Tetsu stumbled, "Yeah, that's him. Do you know him?"
"Know him? You're kidding! The man thought me most of what I know about Freud. He's the one who encouraged my passion for psychology!"
Okay, add another tally to the score. Itou was quickly becoming someone Tetsu figured he didn't want to know well.
"Toudou."
"Professor Itou! How are you doing? You look awesome as usual." Heisuke grinned broadly, slowly to a glide, allowing the older man to catch up.
"I am as I should be." Itou replied smugly and Heisuke beamed. Honestly, what was so great about this guy? Really. "Department bonding is my bane as you know, but I am pleasantly surprised to have met both you and Nagakura, Toudou. It seems an uncanny coincidence."
"Aw, not really Professor." Heisuke said, "I'm assuming you're talking about Ren, right? I forgot I was going to ask him if you took any of your classes. He's my best friend's cousin. We're just taking our break before going back to the grind."
"I see." Itou nodded slightly, "Are you still applying yourself properly?"
"Yes Professor!"
Oh God, Tetsu was going to be physically sick if this went on much longer.
"Very good." Itou nodded again, a thoughtful look crossing his face, "And you attend class with Okita now?"
"Oh, yeah, sure do."
"I may just have to visit my favorite student. If that is permitted of course."
"No problem!"
"Very well. I shall make an effort to drop by in the future."
That sounded bad.
"That'd be great!"
"Farewell Toudou."
"Snotty jerk." Tetsu muttered, "What am I?"
"Mmm, he probably didn't even remember your name. You have to earn his respect, you know. It took me a while too, so don't worry."
Nope, not a problem. Tetsu would be plenty happy if he never saw the man again in his life.
When they hit the bottom, Tetsu was surprised to realize he hadn't tripped up once. Maybe that skiing stuff wasn't so bad after all.
"Hey, is everyone here?" Heisuke asked, looking tired. "I think it's time to turn in."
Shinpachi nodded in agreement.
"Where's Okita?"
Ren tromped up, already having ditched his skis in favor of snow boots. Saito, who had been amazingly absent the whole time, was with him.
"Oh, him. He twisted his ankle so I left him on the mountain. Do you think the frostbite will get him or the bears? Personally I hope it's both."
Tetsu glared, but Shinpachi cut him off, "What did you do? You didn't push him did you."
Ren gave an amazed look, "Damn, now why didn't I think of that?"
"Come on Ren; we're all tired and cranky. Just tell us where you stashed him, and we won't ask the details." Heisuke wheedled, leaning against Sano, who was watching some boarders' antics.
"Why are you blaming me for doing anything?"
"Meaning you did nothing."
"Something like that."
Tetsu wasn't sure if Ren was just jerking their chains or what, but it was pissing him off.
Which left one option: whale the shit out of him properly this time.
Before he could lunge, Susumu came up. The guy looked rather pleased about something. He shrugged and stopped with his hands in his pockets. After a moment of looking like that he asked, "So are we going?"
"You look smug." Ren remarked.
"How can you say that? Don't you see something is missing?" Tetsu fumed.
Susumu smiled, "You say that like it's a bad thing. Stop complaining you little shit."
"You bastard."
"Now, now, let's play nice." Heisuke said playing peacemaker, "We should just go to an officer and see if anything has happened."
"I told you, I left him on the slopes." Ren insisted.
Susumu shrugged. "So that's the story? I found his sorry ass and took him to the car. Figured someone would miss him, and since I wanted to go home, that it would save time."
Everyone's jaw dropped.
"The end of the world is coming!" Sano announced loudly.
"No kidding!" Shinpachi yipped, "Susumu did something nice? Of his own accord? Where's the comet?"
"Lay off guys." Tetsu defended. Susumu didn't say anything, just walked off. "See? He did something nice and you guys act like that? I wouldn't act too nice if people laughed at me when I did it."
"Perhaps he sees something he now desires." Saito replied cryptically, then looked up, "I propose we have soba for dinner."
"Umm, I don't think so Saito. No one really likes it but you, so…" Ren trailed off, "I propose we have pizza! Greasy, cheesy, and fattening pizza!"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Pizza!"
"Sano, don't drool on me. That's disgusting."
"Aw, Shinpattsan, that's Sano you're talking about."
"Hey!"
"Ouch, don't punch me."
Ren smirked, ignoring the trio, and walked up to Tetsu. Tetsu glared at him silently.
"I owe you an apology." The cross-dresser said mildly, "I shouldn't have teased you like that. I met Susumu carrying Okita down early; he told me not to say anything. The only thing I could think of to cover it was to make myself a jealous bastard." He laughed, "Worked well, didn't it?"
Tetsu crossed his arms.
"Geez, that not good enough for you? I swear on my non-existent honor, that I would never actually leave anyone, even our President, on a cold mountain to die. Still friends?" Ren asked hesitantly, putting his hand out.
"Friends." Tetsu proclaimed and grinned broadly. It was nice to be apologized TO rather than being the one doing the apologizing.
"Okay Puppy, let's head back to the car. Okita's probably frothing without sugar intake, so I hope you have something on you. Otherwise I'm popping cough medicine down his throat. Maybe the opiates will calm him down."
Tetsu pulled out a slightly smooshed pack of chocolate chip cookies, "I'm not stupid you know."
"No one said you were." Ren smirked, "Just slow."
"Hey!"
A/N: you know it's scary when things you write about really happen... a tranchula got loose in North (the high school next to where I live). How funny is that? Other than that, this chappie got a bit... long. Just a tiny bit. Then next one is even longer... 30 pages OO Oh, and I got PMK in English dies laughing it was... snorts yeah, funny! But I knew Okita's voice actor wasn't going to work when I saw the cast list months ago. Other than that, I have to special order the manga --;;
Night-Owl123: Well -sweatdrop- it wasn't too ASAP-ish, but it's long!