Home sweet home
"How was your weekend, Ken?"
"Fine, Mom."
"Did you enjoy yourself, dear?"
"Yes, Mom."
"What's that on your neck, Ken?"
"This? Uh, nothing. I think a bug bit me, and I just scratched at it so much."
"It looks like a burn, honey. Let me look at it."
"No! I mean, really, it's nothing. Just a little bug bite. I'll be fine. Excuse me."
"Ken?"
_____________
"How are you friends, Koushiro?"
"They're fine, Mum."
"How are you doing, Daisuke?"
"Never better, Mrs. Izumi. We got Ken and TS back safe and sound. No problems."
"How's the car?"
"…"
"Koushiro? Are you okay?"
"…"
"Sorry, Mrs. Izumi. We had breakfast at this little pitstop restaurant. The food was really bad. On the way home, almost all of us got sick, but Koushiro, Iori, and Miyako couldn't hold it until we stopped the car. The back seats are a mess, but they've volunteered to come help clean up after they've gone home and rested."
"You seem fine, Daisuke."
"Yeah, well. I didn't eat that much, and it takes a lot more than some runny eggs to make me lose my breakfast."
"That's good, dear." Silence. "Why is he wearing your jacket?"
"…He was cold?"
"Are you blushing, dear?"
____________
"I wish that we'd met those bastards!"
"Stuff it, Matt. We got TK, and Ken, and we're all safe. Be happy."
"That's crap, Tai, and you know it. What happens if they come after him again?"
"…"
"Come on, Tai. Think about it. If they go after Ken again, do you really think that they'll manage to a) find him without TK, or b)leave my little brother alone after he's seen their faces."
"You, Ishida Yamato, are paranoid. Get over it."
"Why did you invite me up? You knew that I'd want to vent."
"Does the fact that we're best friends automatically mean that I have to listen to you every time you want to yell and scream at the world?"
"What does that mean? You have something else you want me to talk about?"
"I'll give you something to talk about."
"I didn't hear you. Stop mumbling."
"I said that we should drop this now, before we start fighting. Again."
"You're right. I'm sorry. I just feel so damn frustrated."
"Hey, I know. Remember? I've been here the entire time. Go ahead. Scream and holler until morning. Mom and Dad are gone, and Hikari's gone to spend the night with Miyako. You have the entire apartment to rant and rave through."
"What are you going to do? Leave, or ignore me?"
"I don't ignore you, Yama. I chose to refuse comment on some of the things you say. I'll sit right here, and you can do whatever the hell you want."
"Really? You mean, you'd sit there and let me eat all of the ice cream in your freezer?"
"…" Pause. "You wouldn't want it, any way. It's some kind of soy yogurt. Tastes really chalky."
"You know, earlier, when you said that I was just lonely?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I think you're right. I'm just feeling a form of empty nest syndrome. You know, where all your kids up and leave? He's my little brother, and he's not little anymore, and now I don't know what to do with myself. None of my friends really need me. Hell, even you don't need me anymore."
"I need you in more ways than you could ever know."
"What? Stop mumbling, damn it! I can't carry on a conversation with you if I can't hear what you're saying."
"I said that you're still my best friend."
"Yeah, well. I've been thinking, since we talked…and I don't think we should be like we are now."
"…"
"Tai, don't leave! I didn't mean like that! Wait, please?"
"…"
"Listen. We've been friends for a really long time, and I know that we'd do damn near anything for each other, right? You know that I'd go to the ends of the earth for you, right?" Pause. Sigh. "Hell, I don't know anymore, Tai. I just know that that's not what I want anymore. It's not what I need any longer. But see, I don't know how you feel. I think that you're happy this way, and I don't want to ruin that by being selfish, but I can't help how I feel."
"Gods, Yama, don't cry!"
"I'm sorry. I just can't stop the way I feel…"
"…"
"…"
"Yama?"
"I'm so sor-"
"…"
"Tai?"
"Hell, Matt, I thought you were telling me that you didn't want anything more to do with me! If I had known that you wanted this…"
"I love you, Tai. As my best friend, and like…like this."
"You, Ishida Yamato, have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that."
"…"
_________
"Your son has a hickey."
"Really? Ken, is that true?"
"…"
"I thought he spent the weekend with TK?"
"He did."
"So, where else did he go?"
"No where. He was with TK, and TK only, the entire weekend."
"Really? But that means…"
"Yup."
"…"
"Listen, Dad, I'm really really sorry! It won't happen again!"
"Why not?"
"Why not what?"
"Why won't it happen again? I like your little blonde friend. He's always very polite, and he cares about you. I approve of him. Much better than Daisuke. He makes for a wonderful friend, but the boy is just a little too high strung for my tastes. I'd much rather you dated TK, than him."
"You're kidding me!"
"Ken, don't talk to your father that way! Of course we love Daisuke. We just don't think that the two of you would mix well, dating-wise."
"…"
"So, when is he coming for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes, Ken. You know, that time in the evening when you eat. Invite him over for Tuesday. I'm sure that I could find something good to make. We can all sit down, and have a quiet conversation.
"…"
"Ken? Are you okay? You look a little red. Maybe you should lay down."
________
"So, Daisuke."
"?"
"How long has this been going on?"
"What been going on, sir?"
"Don't play innocent with me, young man. My son comes home, wearing your jacket, and you swoon all over him to make sure that he's okay, and I'm not supposed to assume anything."
"You know what they say about assuming, dear."
"Go, Mum."
"And you, young man. Borrowing the car and throwing up in it. I wouldn't be surprised if you had an orgy in it."
"We didn't sir. Although I think Mimi and Miya would have liked that idea. Not to mention TX and Ken. Man, were they kissing like-"
"Shut up, Dai. Just shut up."
"Honey, be nice. In truth, Koushiro, love, we approve. We just want you to be happy. That's all we've ever wanted. If you're happy with Daisuke, then we're happy for the both of you."
"Mom! Dad!"
"Damn it, Daisuke, get off my parents!"
