Karneval: Pyromancy

Chapter 19: Special

"Ne, Gareki-Kun, are you sure you're gonna be ok?" Yogi asked, now that he was in the solitary confines of his own room, "That was a lot for Hirato-San to drop on you back there."

"I'll be fine, Yogi," Gareki assured him, "So I'm a freak of nature? Doesn't make me any more or less who I've become, or why."

Yogi pouted. "Don't talk about yourself like that, Gareki-Kun" he scolded, "So you were born with natural Incure Cells? Lot of Circus agents have children born with them, especially when both parents are Circus members."

"Yeah, but aren't they usually trace amounts that go unnoticed?" Gareki asked.

"True," Yogi admitted, leaning against his dresser, "So you have an unusually high count." The blonde jumped on top of the dresser and crossed his ankles, "That doesn't make you a freak, it makes you special."

Gareki blushed and fell silent for a moment. "Yeah, but, Yogi, you've always thought I was special, haven't you?" he asked.

Yogi smiled. His face flushed red and the whole room sparkled like he'd just decorated for Christmas. "About time you realized it," he chuckled.

"I've always known it," Gareki admitted, "I just... I just never knew how to handle it."

Yogi froze and blinked. "Gareki-Kun already knew?" he thought. The blonde placed a hand over his heart, it was thumping wildly against his chest. "And he just admitted it so nonchalantly?"

"I had my suspicions the first time your eyes landed on me, but," Gareki blushed a little and failed to hide the laugh in his voice, "I think it became a little more than obvious when I first sat on you."

Yogi blushed even brighter. He couldn't deny it, he'd been attracted to Gareki on sight, and yeah, when Gareki first forced him down on the couch and say on him, he hated to admit it, but it had turned him on a little. "Wait...? You felt that!?" Yogi exclaimed.

Gareki started laughing. "It was kinda hard not to," he admitted.

"Gareki-Kun, I swear I wasn't trying to be so obvious," Yogi insisted.

"What's past is passed," Gareki said , "If I'm being honest, I think you're the first person to ever see me that way without expecting from me straight away."

Shishi was outside the room, his hand on the doorknob. He paused hearing Gareki say this.

"Gareki-Kun?" Yogi breathed.

"My mother risked her life, and mine, for the sake of a science experiment. The Katashi couple saw me as a burden that they were happy to be rid of the moment they thought they could make money off of me. Tsubaki felt sorry for me and while she may have grown to think I'm special, she originally felt obligated to help me because how close in age I was to Yotaka and Tsubame. To Nai, I was someone who had just saved his life and agreed to help him find Koroku. Admittedly, neither Hirato or I had positive first impressions of one another, and don't even get me started on Kiichi and Jiki. But you... The moment our eyes first met, I could tell you we're different. You were looking for companionship and nothing more. I didn't know how to feel about it, so I pushed you away," he took in a deep sigh. "I'm sorry," he said, almost so quiet Yogi nearly missed it.

"That almost seems like an unfair evaluation of Tsubaki, but then, I wasn't there," Yogi said.

"Maybe you're right," Gareki sighed, " Maybe by then, I was already so twisted, I just misinterpreted her reasons."

"Ne, Gareki-Kun? I thought you said you were going to be ok?" Yogi said, his voice ful of concern.

"I am!" Gareki insisted, "Maybe a little lonely," he muttered, "But I'm fine!" Gareki sighed, "I'm sorry, Yogi, I know you guys miss me. I was hoping that if Naira was a success, I could build four more Sheep and at least one Bunny just like her to send back to you guys."

"Four more?" Yogi asked in surprise.

"One for Tsukumo, one for Koroku, one for Old Four -Eyes, and a special one just for you. And MAYBE a Bunny for Tsukitachi, personal assistants. But, as Hirato stated, it's not a good idea to draw attention to myself. And in hind sight, unauthorized modifications to the Sheep are a risk should a hacker find a back door and hack either of Naira's systems. I can remote access her systems right now and adjust her to spend a little more time with you, too?" he offered.

"No, no, Gareki-Kun, don't do that!" Yogi protested, "You made Naira with Nai in mind. I may be a little jealous, but not enough to behave like a spoiled child and take her from him. Just as long as you keep answering my calls and texts, I'll be alright," he promised.

Gareki smiled, "You've got yourself a deal," he assured the blonde. His eyes flicked to the clock. Shishi should be back by now. "Wow, I wasn't paying attention to the time. I'd better let you go. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Sure thing. But, we may be out of signal range for the next few days. I'll call you back as soon as we're back in range, alright?" Yogi offered as he leapt back to his feet.

"Sure thing. Big mission?" Gareki asked.

"Something like that," Yogi admitted.

"Alright. You guys be careful. Good luck," Gareki bade.

"Will do, you too, Gareki-Kun," Yogi beamed.

Yogi froze in place. He just faintly thought he heard Gareki say it as he hung up, but it was so faint, he couldn't be sure he heard it. But as the words, "I love you," rang in his ear, the blonde couldn't help blushing. "G-Gareki-Kun...?" Gareki had already hung up. "Surely I'm hearing things?" He smiled as he hung up his phone. Even if it had been wishful thinking, "I love you, too, Gareki," he said quietly.