Author's Note: LiterallyDirt and KONCT_Chizza_Picken, as always, thank you for the comments. ^_^ Everyone else, thanks for the Kudos. CrimsonLink, thank you for the favorite.

Synopsis:

Karneval: Pyromancy

Chapter 23:

LiterallyDirt and KONCT_Chizza_Picken, as always, thank you for the comments. ^_^ Everyone else, thanks for the Kudos. CrimsonLink, thank you for the favorite.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Gareki sighed. When all the other classes in this course were so easy, why was this one so hard? "It's not like I'm learning an entire dictionary of ailments, or anything. It's just first aid," he thought. He quietly looked down at the book and papers in his lap. "The written part's easy!" he tought, "But putting it in to practice is the difficult part. The doctors that took care of Yogi after the Varuga bit him, they said I did a pretty decent job bandaging his wounds, though."

"And, I didn't know any of this stuff, then," he sighed out loud. "Of course, tending sprains and abrasions doesn't seen to be my problem. It's the CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, and the defibrillator." He began putting his books away. "Maybe the difference is that with Yogi, I had a live subject, as opposed to the school's practice dummies."

He sat his closed books on the dresser next to his bed, stood up, and streatched. Shishi had made plans with some of the guys in the mechanics class, and probably wouldn't be back until curfew or later. "Well, no sense in worrying about it right now, I've still got the rest of the year to get it right." Gareki glanced at the clock. "Looks like I've still got enough time to head down to the cafeteria before they close. I think I'll go get something to eat."

He pulled a comb through his hair, grabbed his coat, and headed to the dining hall. Picking out something to eat, he found an isolated spot to sit. Isolated did not necessarily mean quiet, however, as he soon learned. He tried to ignore the group of older students behind him as they began to gossip. "Hey, isn't that the kid everyone's talking about?" one of them whispered.

"The one being sponsored by Captain Hirato and Technical Trial Officer Tokitatsu?" a second continued.

"Yeah, that's him," a third confirmed, "The kid who somehow disappeared off campus, but was allowed to come back with a whole new course made just for him?"

"Feh, jealous, much?" Gareki thought with a quiet smile, keeping his back turned to them as he took a sip of his drink. "I hear he wiped out a bunch of the training bots from P.T. You think that's possible?" the first asked.

"I dunno, those boys were pretty old, maybe it was possible," the third replied with a shrug.

"The teachers are hailing him as a prodigy, though," the second stated, "Said he managed to hack into Research Tower. I bet Captain Hirato helped him get the codes."

Gareki sputtered on his drink and coughed a couple of times as he regained his composure, before turning around to look at the trio. "Shh...! Not so loud man, I think he heard you!" the first quietly scolded.

Gareki quietly rose to his feet and approached the boys. He looked them over, they we're all closer to Shishi's age than his own. Not that he particularly wanted to get trouble for a fist fight and risk suspension, or worse, expulsion, but sizing them up in case that became an inevitably seemed like a good idea. "Care to say that again?" he asked, "Yeah, everything else you just said about me was true, but where do you get off thinking I got ANY help from Hirato, of all people? For starters, Old Four-Eyes doesn't even know the access codes, besides, they changed them after Dr. Azana defected!" Gareki stared at the second boy, hands on his hips. "I'm here doing this on my own, and I'm not asking anyone for favors."

His voice was calm and even, and so we're his eyes. The boys couldn't even tell he was actually angry, which actually unnerved them more. He smirked, there was a way to dissolve this situation without having to resort to fisticuffs. He quietly pulled out his phone and began pressing a few buttons. He kept his eyes trained on the three of them. "Next time you guys wanna gossip about somebody, make sure they can't hear you, or go talk to them and get the facts, first," he suggested with a click of his tongue, as he went back to his table, grabbed his drink and headed went to put up his tray. All three boys heard their phones buzz, as if they had just received a text.

"What the hell!?" the first one exclaimed, "Who changed the password on my phone!?"

"Yours too?" the other two asked.

"Wait until they see what I set their backgrounds to," Gareki thought with a quiet smile. With that, he headed back to his dorm.

Later

Gareki Sat in the cafeteria, quietly staring at the clock and calendar on his phone. "It's been almost two weeks, and I haven't heard anything back from any of them. Wherever they went, I can't even reach Naira," he sighed. He leaned back in his seat took a sip of his drink through his straw, and flipped his phone shut. "Well, I guess it can't be helped. I suppose it's a bit unrealistic to expect them to be back so soon, but tomorrow's opening night. It would have been nice for at least one of them to wish me luck on my first official play, even if they couldn't be there."

"That doesn't sound like you at all, Gareki," Tsubame teased, with a slight giggle, playfully ruffeling a hand through the back of his hair as she joined him at the table. She smiled at him, "You've changed a lot, since you've been with them. But, I believe it's been for the better." Gareki looked at he, quietly for a moment, and took another dip of his drink through his straw. "Which part?" he asked. /p

Tsubame blinked at him. "Huh?"

"Which part doesn't sound like me? My lamentations that they can't be here, or the fact that I'm not breaking things over it?" He was being facetious.

"Both," she answered teasingly.

"Wha!? Why you! Oh yeah?" He poked her right where he knew she was the most ticklish.

Tsubame squeaked and jumped away with a laugh. "No, don't start tickling," she protested , "You know I'm weak against that!" She closed her eyes and sighed. "Your birth family can't be there to wish you luck, neither can your chosen family, but what about your adopted one? Let's wish each other luck for tomorrow night," she suggested.

"Geeze, get a room you two, or at least save it for when you go on stage tomorrow," a voice cut in.

Gareki and Tsubame looked up to find the three guys from earlier taking a seat across from them at their table. "Friends of yours?" Tsubame asked.

"C'mon, Tsubame, you know I don't make friends," Gareki answered, "These guys are just a group of gossips I had to put in their place a few days back. So, how'd you guys like the backs on your phones?"

"Wait? You changed the backgrounds, too?" the second and third both exclaimed.

"We still haven't figured out how to unlock them yet!" the first exclaimed.

"Gareki, what did you do?" Tsubame asked, half teasing, half scolding.

"I hacked their phones, changed their background images, and locked them out," he admitted, "But I thought they would have figured out to unlock them by now.

"I take it all back, you're hopeless," she giggled.

"Gee, thanks," Gareki said flatly. "So, what, you guys want me to give you the password?"

"Actually, we thought we could make amends, maybe talk you into a friendly game of Poker?" the first offered.

"Poker?" Gareki and Tsubame both asked, with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, we win, you give us the password, you win, you'll never hear another word of negative gossip out of us about you again," the first offered.

"Poker? I don't know anything about poker," Gareki said, "Hell, I don't even know you guys. I may have a class or two with you, but I don't think I actually know any of your names."

"Why don't you guys just let him give you the password and let bygones be bygones?" Tsubame asked, "Or are you hoping you can trick him into becoming friends, so you can make him do your homework?"

"Tsubame, I'm surprised at you. ...But I like it," Gareki retorted.

Tsubame blushed. "You two seem pretty close, is this your girlfriend?" the third one asked.

"Yeah, we are. But no, she's not. But before you ask if that means she's available, this is a military school, I'll be surprised if there's anyone in a ten-mile radius that fits her physical preference," Gareki said.

Tsubame blushed and swatted him on his shoulder. "GA-REKI! I know I blurted that out in front of Yogi without thinking, but you don't have to tell everyone!" she protested.

"I didn't say a thing," Gareki shrugged. But he was mostly right; chubby with kind eyes, she had said. Chubby would be difficult, as the military had a certain weight limit. Kind eyes? Well, if everyone here had been effected by Varuga and their power holders, most of the Kuronomie students were probably already just as jaded and hardened as he was.

"To answer your question, Miss, we could do it that way, but this is just more fun," the second boy explained.

Tsubame shook her head, "Whatever, seems like a waste of time and energy."

"So, how about it, Gareki? Does that sound like a fair deal? I mean, it's not like you have anyt hung to lose," the first one asked.

Gareki drummed his fingers on the table, in a moment of thought. "So, two questions, what are the rules, and what are your names?" The first boy smiled and reached across the table to shake hands. "My name's Takeshi," he introduced himself, he pointed to the seco nd boy, "this is Junyard," then to the third, "And this is Otto." They explained that the basic rules of Poker 7-Card Stud, and agreed best four out of five, as if any one of them won, it would count against Gareki, and he claimed to be new to the game.

"I still say this is a waste of time," Tsubame sighed, "It's not like you're betting on food or money, or something of tangible value. But, what ever."

Gareki lost the first round, but won the second, and the third. By the fourth round, they had gained a small group of spectators. Gareki was remarkably calm when he lost this round, too. By the middle of the fourth round, Takeshi, Junyard, and Otto were starting to realize Gareki knew more about the game than he was letting on. He'd lost the first round on purpose, losing the second time had been a fluke. Gareki smiled at his opponents as the end of round five drew closer. "You SURE you've never played this game before?" Takeshi asked.

Gareki shrugged. "Beginner's luck," he bluffed, "You guys still wanna go a sixth round?" he asked.

"No!" All three of them replied.

"We've been at this for hours, already," Otto groaned.

"Should have just apologized and asked him for the password," Tsubame quietly giggled.

"Enough, I fold," Junyard sighed, dropping his cards on the table, revealing his hand.

"Me too," Otto said, copying Junyard.

Gareki's hand was worse than Junyard's, but better than Otto's, but Gareki's facial expression remained unwavered.

"That just leaves you and me, Takeshi-Kun, still wanna try your luck?" Gareki asked, calmly.

"No," Takeshi sighed, "If Jun's hand couldn't beat you, I certainly can't." He sat his cards down, revealing his hand, it wasn't as good as Junyard's, but was still slightly better than Gareki's.

Gareki smirked, and laid his cards on the table, face down, as an audible groan came from the audience of on lookers. "Good game fellas," he said, jotting something down on a piece of napkin. "So, I have your word, no more gossip, right?" They nodded. "Great," he said , folding up the napkin, "No hard feelings, guys. Next time you want to play for real steaks, look me up. " He passed the folded napkin to Takeshi. "But you know, nobody liked a sore winner, anymore than they do a sore loser. Like Tsuba-Chan said, all you had to do was ask for the password." He smiled , "Just do me a favor, and wait until I leave the room to unlock them."

^¥4^p390WN4

"What is this?" Takeshi asked.

"It's leet speak," Gareki answered, as he took his tray to be put up.

"How were we supposed to figure that out?" Otto groaned.

Gareki put his tray away and left the room, but stayed close enough to listen for their reactions. "Jun?" Takeshi sighed as he started typing in the password, his hands almost trembling.

"Yeah?" Junkyard asked, he and Otto both typing the password in as well.

"Turn his cards over. I get the feeling we've been played," Takeshi said.

Junyard reached over, took Gareki's cards in his hand, and flipped them over. "Oh come on, are you serious!?" Otto exclaimed, "Guys, I would have lost, but you both totally could have beat him with that hand!"

"Damn, this kid's good," Takeshi sighed.

At just that moment, all three of their phones buzzed and lit up as several missed text and voicemails buzzed in, letting them know they finally had access to their phones. "GYAAAH!?" they all exclaimed, turning blue in the face, seeing their new backgrounds. Nothing obscene, but childishly silly. Otto's background had been changed to a photographed image of the Rissun holding a large cake dotted with strawberries, while Junyard's was now a photograph of Nyanperowna holding up a giant lollipop, half the size of hir head. Takeshi's was a picture of both mascots, just barely squeezing in underneath an umbrella together. All three photographs were part of a photo shoot to promote Yanari's upcoming Mascots Theme Park. Yanari had sent sample fliers to Gareki and Ship 2 and these three had been part of t had packet. The fliers even said, 'Half Price For Military And Their Families, With Proof At The Door'.

"There's a little free publicity for you, Yanari," Gareki chuckled as he started back toward his dorm.

"Oh, hey, Gareki," Shishi greeted him as he entered the room. "You excited for tomorrow?"

"What are the odds, the first time I ever get sick in my life, being the same day I'm supposed to make my first appearance on stage?" Gareki snarked, flopping into his bed.

"I take that as a 'No'?" Shishi sighed, as he sat tinkering with some sort of mechanical looking box. "I guess you're not expecting anyone from Ship 2 to make it?"

"I'll be surprised if they can, " Gareki admitted, "It's been two weeks since any of them have had phone signal." He subconsciously pulled the Nyanperowna plushie closer to himself.

Shishi took notice and quietly smiled. "Tsubame-Chan said she didn't have any family who could come, either, you know," he offered as he adjusted his glasses, "So Ranji promised her that we'd both be there every night, with Sesirie in order to cheer you both on. I can bring Nyanperowna and the Niji with me, if you like?"

Gareki suddenly realized he was holding the little orange car plushie and quickly put it back in it's place. "No way!" he declined. "Neither of these stuffed animals leave this room until I graduate!" he insisted. He smiled as Shishi's hands went up in the air, as open as they could be, without dropping his screwdriver. He realized the older teen wasn't trying to tease or antagonize him, but offering moral support. "Put your hands down, Shishi, I know you're kidding me," he said with a slight laugh, "No, I don't need you to go that far. Just knowing you guys are there will be enough... But, thanks."

Shishi smiled, "Sure thing, Roomy."

The Next Day

"You guys actually came!" Tsubame exclaimed, hugging Sesirire and Ranji.

"I said we would, didn't I," Ranji giggled, "Every night, just like I promised." The crossdresser took Tsubame's hand in his own and gently spun her around. "Look at you! Tsubame-Chan, you're so cute!" he gushed. "I'd pat your head, but I don't want to mess up your hair."

Gareki quietly joined them backstage. "Wow, Gareki-Kun, is that you?" Sesirie asked. She blushed a little, herself. "Who did your makeup? You look... Wow..."

Gareki smirked. "Tired?" he asked.

"I was going for dashing," Sesirie said, curling her hand at her chin, "But now that you mention it..."

"The opening scene is an auction when Roul is in his 70's," Gareki explained, rubbing the back of his neck, "'Course, I can't really credit the whole look to the makeup artist."

Shishi sighed and put a gentle hand on Gareki's back. "Poor guy was up late, last night," the older teen said. "Nightmares again, Gareki?" Tsubame asked worriedly.

Gareki sighed, looked away, and have a begrudging nod. "Yeah, but not like my usual ones," he admitted.

"I still think you were just nervous about tonight," Shishi suggested.

"You may be right," Gareki acknowledged. "I certainly hope that's all it was," he muttered under his breath.

"Gareki, are you going to be ok to go on stage?" Tsubame asked, "We can call in your understudy if we can need to?"

"No, there should be no need for that," Gareki assured her, "I've pulled heists with less sleep than this, " he whispered, "I should be fine."

The musicians began their warm up. "Five minutes until curtain! Everyone, take your places!" the director called.

"We'll be in the front row, cheering you on, good luck!" Ranji said, linking arms with Shishi and Sesirie, leading them back toward the auditorium.

"Well, I guess that's my cue," Gareki sighed.

"Gareki, you'll be ok?" Tsubame asked again

"I'll be fine, Sis," he promised her. He gently squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm sure Tsubaki and Yotika are looking down and watching us tonight, let's go out there and make them proud."

Tsubame smiled and nodded. "Right, so your best tonight!" she cheerfully encouraged.

"You too, Tsubame," he nodded.

"Good luck," they both said.

Author's Note: This chapter would have been longer, except that I've only ever played Poker twice in my life, and with the rules I found online, I wasn't certain how to properly convey any of the rounds Gareki and the other boys played. I also wasn't certain what kind of nightmare Gareki was having. It seems like he has them pretty commonly, and in the last one I saw in the Manga, Tsubaki 's spirit was leading him somewhere dangerous, and blaming him for what happened to her, but Nai managed to reach into his dream and pull him back to safety. I was thinking about jumping to a scene where something happened to Yogi while on the mission and Gareki jerking awake from a nightmare, but wasn't sure how to make it work out, I also was going to add the opening scene for the play, but it's already 10:30 pm, and I've got work at 6 am. Real quick, though, let me ask you guys something, and, KONCT_Chizza_Picken, you may be able to answer this, as you've admitted to rereading it, but is it just me, or has there been a noticeable shift in the tone of the narrative? Is that just me? Also, can anybody figure out the leet speak?