Koji closed the door to his brother's room and went downstairs, wary of Koichi's desire for solitary contemplation but respectful of it nonetheless. He felt guarded, not at ease but not as cut off as he'd been in the preceding days, a small, but appreciated victory for the light twin. And really, what else was there to do? The day had seen enough action, exhaustingly so; it was high time for a little peace and quiet. Sleep remedies all ills, and those it doesn't remedy it helps. At least, that's what Koji told the persistent voices in his mind as they chided him for being negligent. After all, so many horrible things had happened while he was with Koichi it made him shutter to think what could happen when he was alone.

"I'm just down stairs," he whispered to himself, pausing at the banister. "I'll know if something's wrong."

"Koji." He started, turning sharply to stare down the hall into the dining room. Minamoto Kousei, no doubt freshly home from work, was seated directly across from him at the head of the table, hands folded, shoulders relaxed. Just like when he prepared for a particularly ferocious business meeting. This made Koji moderately nervous, the kind of nervous only a parent can cause, which in turn made him irritated.

"Yes," he responded shortly, not bothering to turn his entire body. His father, never one to miss subtle body language queues, pursed his lips but held his ground.

"Where's your brother?"

"Resting. He's had a long day."

"So I heard." There was a tense moment in which the two just stared at each other, each iron will waiting for the other to falter, each refusing to be the flexible one. Both knew what came next and neither was looking forward to it. "Come over here."

"Why?"

"Koji, come over here now." His nostrils flared in disgust and his jaw visibly tightened, but ultimately Koji gave. He walked stiffly to the table and threw himself down opposite and to the right, rubbing his nose with his thumb rudely. Kousei let out a small sigh, briefly looking up and to the left as if to consult some invisible advisor, nodding in agreement with its council.

"So what? What's this about?" He knew full well what it was about.

"Is there anything you want to tell me about today?"

"No." It was more of a snarl than a word. His father looked to the advisor again, his own jaw working in frustration.

"The principal of your school called. He says you caused a scene in World History, skipped out on clean up duty, and never showed up for kendo club."

"Yeah, so?"

"So this isn't the first time you've been defiant of authority. It's a recurring theme with you and as your father it is my responsibility to end it."

"A recurring theme, huh? Did they tell you why I ditched?"

"Koichi had an episode."

"I found him collapsed outside! If I'd been allowed to escort him to the infirmary, that wouldn't have happened!"

"Which is why no formal disciplinary action is being taken, despite your instructor's request."

"Ass hole."

"And that is why we're having this talk."

"Tch. I don't have time to listen to this."

"Do you have something more important to be doing?"

"As a matter of fact I do."

"And earlier today? Yesterday? Last week? Last year? Have you had something more important than your future to attend to during this whole rebellious teenage phase of yours?"

"Koichi needed me-"

"Do not make this about your brother. This is about you and your complete disregard for all things rational. It has nothing to do with him."

Pause. Koji leaned forward, his palms pressing against the tabletop as his features took on a chiseled edge.

"It has everything. To do. With him." He kept his voice low and even, like each phrase was a block to be perfectly stacked. Kousei was unfazed, but not unsympathetic. Satomi had suspected something like this might be the cause of the younger twin's moodiness and had coached him on how to handle it.

"Look, son," he started diplomatically, lacing his fingers and choosing his words with great care. "I understand that Koichi's illness has been hard on the both of you."

"You 'understand' nothing."

"But you need to look at the bigger picture."

"Oh god, not this crap again."

"You will be graduating from high school soon and need to start thinking about university. How do you think this kind of behavior is going to look on your application? Or your grades, for that matter?"

"I couldn't care less about how my university application is going to look."

"Well you should! You're at a cross roads Koji and it's time to pick the right direction. You need to think about your future."

"You're right. Never too early to start planning my career as your protégé. That is what you're talking about, isn't it Dad? I'll go suit shopping this weekend, raid your closet for a tie, cut my hair. Then I can be just like you and you can finally have the son you've always wanted."

"We've received a letter inviting you to a private, grant funded summer camp for gifted students." Smooth. Koji's blood was simmering, but he wasn't so out of control that he didn't recognize Dorian's rouse. Good. The sooner they could get out of here, the better. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms and setting his face to neutral.

"And," he probed, keeping his voice cool.

"Satomi and I have discussed it and we think this could be a chance for you to turn this situation around."

"This situation," Koji scoffed, smiling mirthlessly and shaking his head. Then he returned his gaze to Kousei, eyes serious and hard. "Koichi's coming."

"We think it might be best for you to spend some time on your own. To get your head on straight. Besides, it would be much too stressful for your brother."

"So you think."

"Koji-"

"I'm not going without him."

"Damn it Koji, you have a real opportunity here! Koichi is a great kid, but his condition limits him. You, on the other hand, are strong. You have potential, Koji, and you can't let him hold you back!"

The simmering burst into a boil within Koji's veins. He stood, slowly, focusing intently on controlling the trembling rage that was coursing through his body, growing hotter and hotter with each stabbing tick of the second hand.

"He's your son," Koji hissed, his stare made of a thousand frozen, poisoned pikes. "He's you son and my brother and a better man than both of us combined!"

"I didn't mean to imply any insult to Koichi's character." It was meant as an olive branch, but Koji was past the point of negotiation. If they made it through this crisis with Tache, he would deal with the consequences of this night. And if they didn't, then he would have no regrets.

"We are leaving in the morning," he said through gritted teeth. "Koichi and I are going to this camp and you won't hear from either of us until it's over. You're not going to stop us and you're not going to contact us. You're going to pass the time doing your job, screwing over your clients, and thinking about whether or not you even want to try and repair the damage you've caused."

"Sit down, Koji. We're not done here."

"Yes we are. We've been done for a long time, Dad, and we're not starting again until you figure out how to be a father instead of a manager."