Ah, right on time! Heading back to the East Coast for a week, so not sure when the next chapter will be finished, but I'll still be working on it, so hopefully it won't be too long. Thanksgiving definitely delayed this one though. Sumimasen!

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter Thirty Eight

Clarity

Saya knew when Junya was up to no good.

Unsurprisingly, neither he nor Ryo were exactly as they once were…which was to be expected. But enough was the same that, for her at least, it was very easy to slip back into their own dynamics...individually, anyway. Adjusting to having them both together was new, but with Junya's seamless ability to adapt to anyone, there was very little difference between her friendships with them now from what they were like then.

Her dynamic with Ryo was always one part partner, one part confidant, and one part sister. She'd spend hours collaborating with him over an experiment or debating the latest article in the science journal he'd picked up. And perhaps because he'd been so…disconnected from society as a whole for the most part, he was the only one she'd ever gambled on and told her secrets to. Her status as a hybrid…the longer life span…everything. And while his eyes had lit up in scientific curiosity, it hadn't been out of a desire to synthesize any revolutionary elixir to make him young or anything like that…he'd just wanted to know, because she was a living and breathing scientific mystery. And he loved mysteries…solving them especially. It was through his help she'd found out a lot of the limits her abilities had, and while she'd sometimes felt like a lab rat with all the blood draws, Saya had always appreciated his honest curiosity and drive for knowledge…for the truth. Though for all his intelligence, it bemused her to no end that he could forget simple things in his single-minded focus on his projects and mysteries. How does anyone forget to put on pants before they go out? Though…that WAS pretty funny.

With Junya, the dynamic was different. With him, she'd confided in him to a certain extent…but she always knew he was someone with a ruthless practicality that rivaled hers who hid most of his thoughts behind a multitude of smiles and grins that it'd taken a long time for her to decipher. There was a certain danger because she'd never known if he would spill her secrets, though Saya had continued to be drawn to him anyway. And similar to Ryo, they'd worked…ridiculously well together. Two halves of a whole, and their…creative financial endeavors had proven even more plentiful than generally expected most of the time thanks in large part to their efficiency. It'd taken a while to realize he was actually a loyal guy to those he liked…and his boundless confidence had been…infectious. Appealing too, though he hadn't known she was a girl for long before Kento had intervened. If he'd ever entertained any feelings like that for her, he'd never said, either, though she'd thought he might've.

I spent a lot of time watching him, Saya mused amusedly, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she watched him cook early one morning. So I know when he's up to something. And he's been grinning THAT grin since last night when he and Ryo huddled together to have that secret talk of theirs.

"You're thinking." To her side, Ryo was smiling, staring at her thoughtfully as if he were trying to see something just beyond his field of vision. It was a fairly good morning for him too, his eyes bright and alert with little distress. All thanks to mother and her visits. There was…a lot of guilt inside her over him in particular and Saya knew it. It was hard to look at him on his bad days, because she couldn't help feeling like it was her fault, somehow. If I hadn't told him as much as I did, maybe he would've been killed quickly. Maybe he wouldn't be having these issues that he is now. But I couldn't just abandon him to a life of being drugged up when he isn't crazy. "Deep thoughts?"

"Not really." Turning her head to face him, she leaned it against the back of her head and regarded him. Between the two of them, he's the most likely to give me an answer. "Na, Ryo-chan, you'd tell me if he were up to something, ne?" Though it wasn't necessary, she motioned behind her lazily towards the 'he' in question.

He nodded, though the sparkle that was in his eyes was…odd. Ryo's sense of humor was always an odd thing…striking suddenly and usually leaving the recipient blinking in confusion because it came so quickly and suddenly before retreating again. She could see that humor sparkling in his eyes now and like she had many times before, Saya blinked in confusion as her mind tried to come up with a reason why…and came up frustratingly blank. "You like games," he said with that smile of his that made it impossible to get mad at him – innocent and almost childlike. "It's a mystery."

"It's a mystery game," Junya agreed, grinning as he brought breakfast to the table and chuckled under his breath. "Just something for us brothers to bond over, Saka-chan."

"The last time you said something like that to me, you and Soushi-chan ended up getting chased around Tokyo by the police for assaulting an officer," she groaned. "Please don't get Ryo-chan arrested when Chizuru-haha is just starting to make notable progress with him."

He sighed dramatically, clearly not worried. "No concern for me, Saka-chan? That hurts."

"I've seen you escape from jail with no less than four guards in plain sight of you and with no one the wiser," Saya retorted dryly, lip twitching in reluctant amusement as she matched his grin. "So no, not particularly."

Junya chuckled wistfully. "You realize I'm not actually a thief this time, right? I'm just an upstanding citizen this time."

"Whose father is a police chief," she snickered. Saya still felt like dying of laughter at the irony in that. "Please. I'll eat my sandals if you can't still pick most locks in under a minute."

"I never said I didn't have some of those skills still," he stated with no small amount of his familiar pride and an arrogant quirk of his lips. "Not that I can use them anymore, really. Tou-san is such a stickler about laws…"

"Solving a mystery is fun." Ryo eagerly filled his plate with food, oblivious to both of them. "Solve the mystery, I can help Saya-chan. Just like before." He paused, turning to look at her pensively. "I helped, right?"

"Ah…" The confirmation slipped out automatically, though the rest kind of…confused her. "What mystery do you need to solve, Ryo-chan?" Her eyes darted towards Junya, who was making silent signals at him to stop talking, but she pushed her hand into his face and ignored him, her attention completely to Ryo who remained ignorant to both of them.

She was hoping he'd keep talking on his own and, for once, luck was on her side as he did continue talking. "Good or bad? Good or bad? It seems good, but can't be sure…have to test." Ryo stared pensively at his plate of food, troubled. "Wouldn't be good if he hurt you. Always sad. Soushi-san. Always troubled. My fault. Trying to fix it." Ryo closed his eyes, his mood deteriorating slightly. "It's…hard. It hurts…pain. Didn't want to die. Didn't want to agree. Terms were unacceptable and it made him…mad. Very mad. But it was…past? Past no more, but still feels…" He hugged himself then, shivering, though she could see it wasn't from being cold.

"Aw, and he was doing so well…" Junya sighed, his own good mood diminished as he came to squat next to Ryo's chair as his younger brother began to rock back and forth, muttering incoherently. "What do you feel, Ryo-chan? Tell us."

Please don't. The selfish part of her really wanted to say that, her heart pounding heavily in her chest as she focused on a piece of wall just past his head. Anything to keep her from looking completely away, but not head on. Not fully. This is partially your fault. You shouldn't look away after what he endured. You saw it. The blood. The bruises. The broken bones. If the blade hadn't killed him, something else would've.

Saya's determination nearly faltered when he responded, his voice shaky and small. Nothing like Ryo. "I don't want to die…"

"But you're not." Junya's voice was calm. Soothing. "That's not you, remember?"

"Not…me?" Again, that small childlike voice, heartbreaking in its confusion. "It feels…like me. I feel the pain, but I don't see…" Ryo looked at his hands, his confusion growing. "Where are the cuts? I don't understand." He looked to her then, blinking rapidly, and she swallowed hard in the face of what she saw there. His dilated pupils relaxed and his eyes actually focused on her in a way she hadn't seen at all since she'd broken him out of that sanitarium. "Saya-chan?"

Even the timber of his voice changed. Deeper. More mature. More…him. "Ryo." Her own voice barely came out in a broken whisper, the need to cry clawing at the back of her eyes.

"I'm…me? But not me?" He leaned his head into his hands, grimacing. "And…drugs. Lots of drugs. Messing with my head."

"Ryo." Junya stared at him intently, drawing is attention his way as he turned his head slightly. "Do you know who I am?"

He paused for a moment, thinking on that. "Ayakashi Junya. My…brother? I have a brother?" Ryo blinked, thinking that over. "Brother…yes. Older brother. And I was an only child…before. Two memory sets?"

She didn't dare hope, but Saya could feel it trying to take root in her chest, ruthlessly squashing it down. "Yes. One from before. Long ago. Another life."

While Ryo mulled that over, Junya's phone chose that moment to go off, his alarm jolting him from his thoughts as he cursed. "Of course it's time. I need to start getting ready for work."

Right, Kin-san's restaurant opens today. It was more of a café than a restaurant really, but it was big and centrally located close to the university where everyone else took classes. Kin had all but forced Junya to take the cook position she'd had open once she learned he was an actual chef, though it hadn't actually been that difficult to convince him to say yes since they'd already agreed he should look for a job. Saya had far more flexibility since she didn't require the money and could keep an eye on Ryo easier while he worked. She'd intended to take a few classes if things ever righted themselves though; once Ryo had hopefully regained some stability. As it currently stood, she and Junya hadn't been able to leave him alone on his own due to his somewhat fragile mental state. But can he really…? So soon…but he SOUNDS like Ryo. Soft spoken, intelligent Ryo.

Junya turned to leave and get ready, but before he did he leveled her with a stare that was just a few steps below a glare. "I know you've been having issues with the past, and don't think I don't want to talk to you about our own history, but you have to talk to him, Saka-chan. This could be our shot to really get him better."

I know that. She listened as Junya's footsteps slowly faded away, moving towards his room that she'd given him when they'd decided to settle down here. Mentally, I know that, but…

"What's going on, Saya?" Ryo was confused, but there was no trace of that childlike tone he'd had in his voice. He looked and sounded…sane, for lack of a better term, though he instinctively reached out to hold onto something – to steady himself as she could see the intelligence in his eyes and his mind rapidly trying to work out what his memories were telling him.

Without thinking, Saya grabbed onto his hand firmly, steadying him as she had many times before. The grounding force to keep him tied to earth while he floats in the sky with his fanciful ideas. Her other reached up to touch his cheek, gently turning his head so he could look at her. His expression was that of someone not comprehending what was being told to him, but as his eyes met hers she could see the recognition that immediately sparked inside of him; the moment when he put two pieces of a very large puzzle together.

"This is more of your weird stuff, isn't it?" he mumbled, looking around the house as if he were just seeing it for the first time. Perhaps, she mused, he was. She'd never been able to tell if Ryo really payed any attention to the house aside from the gardens, which he'd tended to with a skill she'd never known him to possess. "Like the hybrid thing?"

Saya laughed, despite herself, though it annoyed her as she held her hand up to her face and continued to laugh that she could feel actual tears leaking out. "Yes, Ryo, it's more of the weird stuff. Just another mystery."

"Hnn…" Her answer seemed to relax him, and Ryo leaned back into his chair with his arms crossed, smiling wistfully. "I always did like a good mystery."

Tears streamed out her eyes, but it satisfied her that this time, at least, it was from her laughter.

Souji hated ties.

They were an evil thing, made only to confound the unaware. He'd always been good with his hands, but tying ties was probably the only thing Souji always had difficulties with. Rather enviously, he watched Hajime make quick work of his own in a mirror, his lips twitched into the slightest of smug expressions.

"I've had practice," he noted lightly.

"Cheater," he grumbled half-heartedly, giving up and fishing for one of the clip-on ties Kin had gotten for him many years ago. "We should probably get going, huh? Chizuru-chan might actually get mad if we're late."

"I'd be more worried about Kin-san noticing we're late," Hajime muttered with a grimace. It amused Souji to no end that of his sisters, Kin getting mad worried Hajime more than Mitsu did. Of course, the latter was often angry, so it could just be desensitization. He was fairly sure it was more the desire to not disappoint her, though.

It was rather funny, actually. Unlike Heisuke, who'd had a tepid relationship with most of his family at best, Hajime's family was always on good terms with him. He'd met his older siblings, Katsu and Hiroaki, numerous times and both were pleasant, if mildly eccentric, people. The older brother had a bit of a stick up his ass too, but then, so did Hajime sometimes. One would think he'd be more concerned about his own siblings then his, but Kin had said it herself once before; she'd taken care of Hajime and Heisuke nearly as much as she had him. It made them instinctively want to make her proud as much as their own families.

As was usual, Hajime drove – mostly because he didn't actually trust him to drive anymore. Souji didn't actually mind it; it gave him time to think and collect his thoughts about stuff that nagged at his mind lately. He'd always believed that when he got older, he'd take up a job at Shieikan teaching and maybe – eventually – take over after Kondo retired. He still wanted to do that, but even he knew that wasn't a sufficient solitary source of income for a man who wanted a family.

And he wanted it badly.

If Saya had always wanted a father's presence, being around her as much as he was drove it home that he wanted to be that father. Fate had robbed them of the chance to be a traditional father-daughter…and they were more or less OK with that. She felt like a close cousin or younger sister for him, though Souji would always feel a special affection for her. He would always listen when she needed him to. But he wanted, more than anything, the chance to be a real father to a child of theirs. To be that father of a child made of the very best (hopefully) of him and Chizuru. And if we're lucky, they'd come out half as good as Saya and Soushi did. It was never my dream to have children, but funny how it's become one. "Ne…Hajime-kun?"

His eyes never strayed from the street in front of them, but Souji could almost feel the slight shift in attention and knew Hajime was listening.

"Did you plan it?" Souji leaned his head on the back of his hand, staring thoughtfully out the passenger side window. "Having kids, I mean."

He was quiet for several long moments before answering. When he did, Hajime's voice was quiet and almost sounded ashamed. "No. I…wasn't entirely thrilled when I first learned I would be a father, either." Shaking his head, he mused, "Thinking about your own future, I take it?"

"Something like that."

Hajime nodded, looking almost pleased. "That's natural, I think. Have you talked to Chizuru-san about it?"

Not like I should've. "Not yet. I've just been…thinking. I keep thinking I would've liked to be a father." His eyes glanced towards him thoughtfully. "Until a few minutes ago, I'd have said the same about you."

"I didn't dislike being a father." He actually turned his head just enough to give him a bit of a stink eye. "Quite the opposite, in fact. It was an enlightening experience. But when you find out you're going to have a child when assassins are still routinely trying to kill you, it takes away from the joy, somewhat."

"Fair enough." Souji had other stuff to pick Hajime's brain about, but he pushed it into the back of his mind as they parked and he saw Chizuru trotting over from where she'd been waiting outside, smiling widely. Though Kin's restaurant was rather casual, they'd all dressed up semi-formal anyway and he let his eyes trail over the curves outlined by her nice dress appreciatively…and just long enough that she noticed and gave him that charming blush that brought a smile to his face. "Looking nice, Chizu-chi."

"You always did clean up very nicely," she murmured thoughtfully, her smile almost impish in return. To Hajime, she smiled more naturally and said, "You too, Hajime-san."

Hajime's lips turned up just slightly before he bowed in acknowledgment. "It would seem we are fashionably late?"

"Just a little." Surprisingly, she didn't seem overly put out about that. Souji narrowed his eyes, humming thoughtfully as he regarded her. He knew Chizuru's habits only too well and if anything, she seemed…worried.

"Why do I think you weren't waiting for us just to see my sexy self?" he sighed with a wry grin.

"I can see you whenever I please," she retorted primly, that impish expression on her face stoking the fire in his own chest. You can see whatever you want, Chizuru-chan, if you keep looking at me like that. "But you're right. I was waiting so you wouldn't be surprised, Hajime-san."

Hajime's eyebrow quirked inquiringly. "Has something happened?"

Chizuru fidgeted with her fingers worriedly. "In a…manner of speaking. Isa-chan came with me, as you know, and…well…she saw…and kind of invited…err…"

His friend had realization dawning about the same time it sank in for Souji. His blue eyes closed and he inhaled sharply, only to let the breath out between his teeth in a slight hiss. Only one person that he could think of would make Hajime have that sort of reaction. Tokio-chan is here, I see. Well, dinner just got much more exciting. It was hard to say whether Hajime looked like a man walking to his own execution or if he was actually excited, considering his gait was just a fraction quicker than usual. Even he can't make up his own mind.

"Ah, Hajime-kun!" Isa, of course, was in fine form. She waved from her spot at the table they'd commandeered – certainly the one belonging to the largest party and the one closest to the kitchens where he could distantly see Saya's friend, Junya, slaving away with the same single-minded focus Kin got in the kitchen. A stroke of luck that he's a trained cook. I thought Kin-neesan might actually give up if she didn't find someone to help run the kitchens in time.

"Isa-san." Hajime bowed slightly, ever the old fashioned gentleman, before his gaze turned towards the source of all his current turmoil. "Tokio-san."

"Hajime-san." She smiled, though her gaze was searching, as if trying to gauge his mood. "Isa-chan was kind enough to invite me to sit with everyone."

"It's not like there isn't enough room," she said breezily, her brilliant smile dimming somewhat as she admitted, "Since Shiori-san couldn't come, there was an extra seat and all."

Nothing I didn't expect. Even knowing so, Souji still felt a little disappointed that Saya wasn't there. Since the brother is here, that had to mean she would need to stay back with the other one.

"Disappointed?" Chizuru teased lightly, linking her arm with his and hugging it closely.

"Maybe a little," he admitted, grinning at her. "You have to admit, it is more fun when the kid is around."

"That it is," she agreed, "But even the parents have to have private time too, you know."

Souji looked around the large table, filled with his friends and family, and snorted. "I'm all for private time, Chizu-chi, but this is hardly what I'd be thinking of when I think of…"

"Maybe so," Chizuru conceded with a gentle smile, "But gatherings like this are nice every so often, right?"

"Yeah." He eyed Mitsu as she stood up and left the table to step outside from the looks of it, as well as Hijikata who had a frustrated expression on his face as he watched her step away. It was the kind of look someone might have if they were being told they were wrong for thinking the sky was blue. As much as it amused him to see Hijikata frustrated, this wasn't the type of frustration he meant…especially since Mitsu was clearly upset about something. With a long suffering sigh, Souji knew what he was going to have to do. "Chizuru-chan…"

"I'll wait for you right here," she promised, her smile warm and understanding. I really don't deserve you, he mused for the millionth time, bending down to kiss her before he followed Mitsu. He actually passed Heisuke on the way, smiling and charming a group of girls at a table as he took their orders, and Souji patted his shoulder once in greeting on his way out before stepping out front.

"Souji." Mitsu sounded surprised as she turned at the sound of the door opening…and maybe a touch disappointed. "I wasn't expecting it to be you to come after me."

"You've got Hijikata-san so tied up in knots he doesn't seem to know what to do," he noted idly, snorting. "Were it not so depressing, I'd actually be pretty damn impressed."

"You think I'm being ridiculous?" she wondered archly, arms crossing in a defensive gesture that didn't go unnoticed.

"I can't say seeing as that would assume I knew what was going through your head." He shook his head ruefully. "I've never been able to follow what goes on in your mind, Mitsu-neesan. I can say I think he's upset that you're not happy about the baby though."

"I know he is." She looked down, scratching the back of her head. "He should be happy. It'll be his first child. It's something to be happy about. It's not even that I'm not happy either, I just…"

"Don't tell me." Souji's abrupt words obviously startled her from the way Mitsu's head came up in surprise, blinking at him in confusion. "Not that I'm not flattered, Mitsu-neesan, but shouldn't you tell him first?" Besides, I'm fairly sure I have some idea. "You know how he gets. If you tell me first, he'll probably start scowling and pouting at me until my little niece or nephew is born."

"He does that anyway since you love to torment him," Mitsu noted, lips quirked in amusement, "but I hear what you mean. You understand though, Souji…I know you do."

It wasn't often he had these moments with Mitsu – moments where he felt, at least briefly, as close to her as he was to Kin. And he'd wanted his oldest sister in his life – more than she was, be it now or back in the days long past. "Yeah. I think so. Just talk to him, Mitsu-neesan, before he really gets annoying."

The cool, composed, and completely unbendable sister he'd always known visibly came back as she stood tall and eyed the restaurant's front doors as if she were going into battle, but Mitsu surprised him by looping her arm around his neck and leaning on him just slightly. "I'm glad you worry about him too, Souji."

"Not likely." He snorted derisively at the idea, though he knew it was something of a lie. He didn't…hate Hijikata. And he'd been there for him as he'd grown up…again. Then and now, he'd been there for him. The stick up his ass was as bad as it ever was, and he really did need to lighten up…but under all the sarcasm and verbal jabs he gave him, there was a small – really rather tiny – flicker of grudging respect there.

Though it really was incredibly small.

Mitsu just smiled at him, as if she knew exactly what he was saying, and the expression lightened her face and made his heart ache just a bit. I haven't seen her smile like that in a long time. I guess I can deal with Hijikata's hack poetry and annoying face if he can keep her smiling like that.

"Just promise me you won't let him name the kid," he sighed heavily with a grin. No use arguing with her. She's as bad to argue with as Sanan is.

"Oh, hell no," she agreed vehemently, and he chuckled as they stepped back inside and made their way back to their table. "You should've heard some of the name ideas he's been tossing around already…"

Needless to say, even Chizuru's half-hearted attempts couldn't prevent Souji from poking the demon commander all night over the idea of naming a child 'Hijitsu'.

To be honest, Heisuke didn't even realize he was smiling about an hour into the opening.

The expression was fixed there on his face until he slipped out to leave at almost two in the morning. Everyone was still at the restaurant celebrating an all-around successful opening, and Heisuke himself was thrilled for Kin, who was the star of the night. He was bone tired from running around all night, but more than that it nagged at him that for the last hour of the party, all he could find himself thinking was that he wished she was here.

Which is ridiculous, since I knew she wouldn't be here. As much as Junya irritated him, he was a damn impressive cook and had worked incredibly well with Kin all night keeping food going out in a steady stream. He wouldn't have been there, however, if Saya weren't at home with Ryo keeping an eye on him.

He'd smiled and borderline flirted with customers all night, but Heisuke really wished she'd have been there. Of course, he'd probably have been distracted the whole night, too…but his eyes had glanced at the doors briefly all night, as if she would walk in with a grin on her face.

When did she become so important to me? He'd never thought about it before…not really. Heisuke knew he liked her; talking to her was always beyond easy and he enjoyed her impish nature despite her tendency to embarrass him.

He didn't even realize he'd made his way towards her house until he found himself on that familiar road, the front gates just a few houses down from where he stood. The dim lights gave off a soft glow, almost beckoning him forward, and Heisuke knew he should probably just turn around and actually go home, considering it was really late and she would be sleeping by now.

So why were his feet not listening to him?

As a boy, he'd scaled the fence in the middle of the night a lot of times – enough that Kin had never really been shocked in the mornings to find an extra person in Souji's room by the time junior high rolled around. She'd actively begun to leave a spare set of blankets and a pillow in his closet just for that reason, he suspected, though Heisuke had never actually asked her about it. Now that he was older and taller, climbing his way over the fence was even easier, landing almost soundlessly into the garden that, like most of the house itself, was dark.

Because who in their right mind is up at two in the morning, Heisuke you idiot?

He knew she'd taken over Mitsu's old room, as master of the house, and he really only meant to peak in and see her because it'd been over a week since they'd gotten to sit down, even just to talk. He really did. So when he slid the door open a crack, he almost jumped when he heard her voice in the air, like a faint whisper on the wind.

"Heisuke…"

Is she…? No, not awake. Sleep talking. Heisuke let out a breath he hadn't realized he started holding, though he grinned slightly in self-satisfied pride once his heart settled back into his chest. She's dreaming about me? Quiet as he could, Heisuke slipped over to kneel by her bedside, his face level with her own that was relaxed in a deep sleep. Saya looked…infinitely younger as she rested. Untouched, somehow. Not quite so jaded as he knew she was.

"Heisuke…?" He saw her eyes crack open, but it was immediately apparent that she wasn't entirely awake. The usually vivid green was glazed over, clouded by the blanket of sleep that was already trying to drag her back under even as she shifted her hand to reach out slowly. "Am I dreaming…?"

"Yes." It's easier then explaining why I felt like acting like a stalker tonight. "Just a figment of your mind."

Her eyes shut and Saya let out a small sigh, sounding almost disappointed. Her hand connected with his face, and it took everything in him not to jump from the sudden touch. "Should've known. Real one…doesn't like me that much."

That did make him reel, as if struck, and he frowned. Part of him knew he shouldn't ask – she wasn't even fully awake and aware of what she was saying – but he couldn't leave that alone. What the hell does that mean? "Sure I do. I like you a lot."

Her breathing evened out, and he could tell she was sinking back into her deep slumber, but he still heard her mumbled response as if she'd shouted it. "Not…more than Mother…"

Heisuke sat back on his heels, stunned, and for several minutes just sat there staring at her. It was almost unfair how peaceful she was, when he was feeling pretty damn bothered at the moment…and not in a good way. That's what you get when you do stuff you shouldn't, Heisuke. You find out things you'd really rather not. You should go. Quietly as he'd come, he backed out of her room, though he gave her sleeping face one last lingering look before he shut the door between them.

"A little late for a visit, don't you think?"

Heisuke whirled, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as he spun to face Ryo who stood there with a tea kettle in one hand and a flashlight in the other. "I…ah, yeah, but I just…" He frowned, staring at him pensively. "You seem…different." He seems more…here.

The young man smiled softly, motioning with his head towards Kin's old room down the hall. "Will you join me? I was a bit restless and wanted some late night tea."

"…Ah." Curiosity getting the better of him, Heisuke followed Ryo back to his room and sat down, watching him pour them both some tea before setting it aside. He'd never been unable to do tasks like pouring tea, but up until now Ryo had almost reminded him like a fairy – his head in the clouds with a childlike smile plastered on his face.

The guy before him gave off a totally different impression. Though he was looking into his cup of tea, Heisuke still got the impression that Ryo was very much aware of him and focused on the here and now. It made him a little uneasy, just because it felt like he was meeting someone totally new that seemed to almost be sizing him up without actually directly looking at him.

"Much better." Satisfied that the tea was just right, Ryo finally looked up at him with what Heisuke could only call a pleasant but evaluating expression. "I suppose I do seem different to you, ne, Heisuke-san?"

"Yeah." Even the pitch of his voice is different. Deeper. Definitely not 'childlike' in any way, shape, or form.

"I'd like to believe this isn't a momentary thing," he said with a wry turn of his lip. "I haven't felt very…myself like this in a long time. Did you know some medications can take months before the effects fully dissipate? I'd like to think that's it, but I find myself…hesitant to sleep and risk it at the moment. Besides, I've been wanting to talk to you, Heisuke-san."

"So you're…you?" He waved his hand in the air absently. "The real you, I mean? That's…Saya must be thrilled." And relieved. I know it hurt her to talk to him like…that.

Ryo's eyes focused on him and he smiled a little wider. "She's…cautiously optimistic. It's still rather confusing, but I'm starting to understand it a little. Memories of a past life…what a concept."

Heisuke had to cough to hide a slight laugh. He sounds like Sanan-san. Fascinated. "No kidding. I know I had a rough time of it for a while before I finally…stabilized." He tested his own tea, hissing as it nearly scalded his tongue. Too hot. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

He gave him a look as if the answer were obvious. "Saya-chan, of course." His eyes shifted to look in the general direction of her room, his head shaking. "I can't say my motivations are the same as Junya-niisan's, but I do agree with him about her. She's surprisingly fragile about certain things. I always knew her to be fearless, but time hasn't been very kind to her, and some of the damage she's accumulated was my doing, it seems." Ryo sighed, regretfully. "I hope to rectify that, and to prevent her from getting anymore hurt then she already is." He looked at him square in the eyes at that, his expression serious. "I want to know if you're going to hurt her, Heisuke-san, seeing as you're the one in the position to hurt her the most."

"Wha…what?!" He couldn't quite keep his tone as quiet as he wanted too, blinking rapidly in disbelief. "Why would you think I'd hurt her?"

Ryo was surprisingly direct, which was a little unexpected. "Because you like someone else too, do you not?" Heisuke grimaced, but there was no judgment in the other man's face, at least. "I understand why. Chizuru-san is a very kind and compassionate woman. As I understand it, you really liked her in the past and still do despite her obvious preference for…Souji-san is it?"

Heisuke's grimace deepened. "More or less, yes, but I'm fine with it. It's a non-issue."

He shook his head almost immediately. "For Souji-san and Chizuru-san, perhaps. For Saya-chan though?" Ryo frowned deeply, troubled, but changed his tactics at the last second as he noted, "You know she loved Junya-niisan before, right?"

Despite himself, he could feel a scowl crossing his lips. "I'm aware…yes."

Oddly, his expression seemed to please Ryo. "Junya-niisan's very annoyed with you, truthfully. He wouldn't appreciate my telling you this, but the feeling wasn't one-sided. He still loves her very much, in fact." After a thoughtful pause, he added lightly, "He's probably quite jealous of you, in fact. Once he can convince her to sit down with him, I know he plans to tell her as much."

Despite the gentle delivery, the words still hit him hard, and he felt his heart plummet to somewhere in the vicinity of his shoes. "I…see."

"Do you know why? Well, I suppose not, considering your own circumstances." There's an insult in there…somewhere. But he just says it with a smile. "Saya-chan…really likes you, Heisuke-san. She mourned over Junya-niisan years ago and moved on after his death though. He needs to do the same, but he can't do that without a proper rejection." Ryo laughed quietly, "It still annoys him greatly that he had his chance stolen from him though."

"Real one…doesn't like me that much." Just remembering her softly uttered words hurt. Heisuke hadn't thought much about confessing to Chizuru at all, truthfully, because he couldn't see a point to it, but…It's been bothering her – hurting her – a lot more than she's told me. Why didn't she say anything? But she wouldn't…would she? Because it never means anything if you have to tell someone to do something.

"I…" He inhaled deeply before facing Ryo head on. "I'm not going to hurt her. I can't say I love her, but Saya is special to me."

"That's good to hear." Ryo looked slightly relieved, smiling wistfully. "Though I suppose it doesn't change anything for me." There was a little…edge to his smile as he told him lightly, "I've yet to figure out if you're worthy of her yet."

Heisuke damn near spat his tea out that he was in the middle of drinking; as it was, some did actually dribble out of his mouth as he sputtered, "What?"

"Saya-chan's quite dear to me as well, Heisuke-san," he pointed out, as if it should've been quite obvious. "Our reasons are different, but we can't let just anyone steal our little dear one from us. Especially in the dead of night." With a sigh, as if he didn't just essentially put him on notice, he told him, "Now it seems I really should sleep. I trust you know the way out?"

He was so stunned, it took a moment to register the dismissal for what it was, though Heisuke did gather his wits enough to promise him before he left, "I'll prove it to you, you know. Both of you."

"I hope so, Heisuke-san. I really do."

I will. He hopped the gates again to leave, though he paused to stare up at the moon that was high in the sky. To them, but more importantly, I'll prove it to Saya too.

So a little more clarity on Junya and Ryo. =) I actually like these two a lot, though boy, Ryo has a little peevish side. Hahaha. Heisuke forgot that to get a girl, you have to make sure her friends approve. And both boys have their own reasons to want to give him a hard time! How's he going to handle it, huh? Heh.

And I totally see Hijikata being just that dorky. Hijitsu…sigh. Mitsu is overdue for that talk with him though, so they best get to it I suppose. (As should I with a name for the Hijikata-spawn. Hmm…)

Anyway, as always, feedback is much appreciated. =)