The four of them sat in the sitting room, playing Hearts. They
had decided on playing Hearts, because the other card games
they knew, Spades and Poker, were deemed to be too loud.
With Yusuke sleeping in the attached hospital room and
Alexandria passed out on a nearby couch, the four didn't want
to disturb anyone.
"This is so weird," Hasukawa said as he threw down a card.
"I mean, in the entire family, I didn't Andrew would be the one
to crack."
"Drew is not crazy!" Betty said emphatically as she played.
"He's just...just..."
"Completely out of his mind," Hasukawa countered.
Betty growled at him. "What?" Hasukawa asked, confused.
"I just shared what I thought."
"Idiot," Hamilton said as he played a card.
"That's not very nice," Hasukawa muttered to himself.
"Actually," Kevin chimed in, "I am beginning to agree
with the doctor. With his analysis of the dream, anyway.
Andrew isn't crazy. As this Yusuke he is just able to
deal with a lot of things. Like how he's different
and similar to the people in his life."
"I can't believe we are letting our interactions with
Drew be dictated by some quack," Hamilton shared again.
"I actually agree with Spike boy, for once," Hasukawa
added. "Although," he laughed, "it is funny to watch
him annoy Betty."
"Well, at least Drew didn't beat me up his dreams. I
can't wait for him to get strong enough to deck you."
"Hey!" Hasukawa objected.
"Hamilton," Kevin said to the other young man at the
table as brother and sister quietly argued with one
another, "you are going to have to see him eventually.
You can't put it off forever."
"Hn," Hamilton said.
"Yeah," Hasukawa chimed back in. "I mean, you are his
best friend and all. The least you could do is spend
some time with him."
Hamilton glared at Hasukawa.
"Go easy on him, Hasukawa. He's afraid." Kevin
observed. "Drew has been his best friend for
years. Understandably, he's a little worried about
what happens if he doesn't feature prominently
in the dream world. I don't think he could
handle being consigned to the limbo Alexandria-san's
in. And, if Drew can do that to his own mother,
no one is safe."
"Hn," Hamilton said again, clearly annoyed at being
so well understood. Finally, he muttered, "It's
your turn military boy. Play a damn card."
This Side of Living
Living with Flashes - chapter five
He was having them again. Weird mental trips. Some people
might actually call them memories. He called them flashes.
Usually they were brief. Like he'd hear Kota's voice call
him Andrew and hear his own voice laugh in reply. Or he'd
hear himself say something sarcastic and feel someone hit
him upside the head. One he didn't hear anything, just
saw a room full of darker toned people, he thought the
correct term was African-Americans, laughing over a table
of food as little children ran back and forth through the room.
But this latest flash was different; it was clearer, more
detailed, and more than a flash.
He sat at a table in what looked to be a kitchen. The room
was pretty big and was painted a cheery yellow. Botan
stood by the window, looking out of it and then catching her
reflection in the nearby toaster over and over again. In the
chair next to him sat another young man. The other person looked
a little like Hiei, expect his hair was much shorter...and he didn't
have a third eye.
"So, Drew, why did you want me to come over again?" the
stranger asked in Hiei's voice.
"Because I want you to meet Kevin," Yusuke heard himself reply.
"I mean I think he's a great guy...minus the fact that he
must be a glutton for punishment as he's dating Betty."
"Ooooo!" Botan said as she stomped across the room and hit
him upside the head. "You idiot! There is absolutely nothing
wrong with Kevin, aside from the fact that he actually thinks
you are a decent human being."
"Ow!" Yusuke said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"If this is going to turn into a brother-sister 'disagreement,'"
Hiei began in a disinterested voice, "then I'm leaving."
Yusuke snorted. "No, you won't, Hamilton. Besides the fact that
I know you have nothing better to do today, you wouldn't
leave your best friend to suffer the wrath of his hormonal
sister alone."
"How Keiko puts up with you, I have yet to understand,"
Botan fumed.
Hiei ignored Botan and returned his attention to Yusuke.
"You actually think a lot of this guy?" he asked after
a few moments of silence.
"Honestly, yes, I do. Even though he's at that military
school, he seems to actually be a decent sort...even if
he is both way too vague and too perceptive for my comfort
level." Yusuke shrugged. "I don't know; he's different.
I...just wouldn't mind having to see him at family
functions for a big chunk of my life."
"Wow," Botan said quietly.
"Hn," was all Hiei said, but he also appeared to take
the strong character reference under advisement.
Yusuke laughed, "I think I can even forgive his
red hair."
"Red hair?" Hamilton asked.
At that point, a cough was heard from the other side of the
room. Turning toward the far kitchen door, Yusuke saw
the short-haired Kurama standing in the doorway. "Excuse
me. I hope I not interrupting anything. Your mother
mentioned that you were back here and she sent me on
ahead."
"Oh!" Botan exclaimed as she blushed. "Just give me five
minutes," she said as she moved to rush out the other
kitchen door. "And you," she said as she hit Yusuke again,
"be good. That goes for you too, Hamilton." And, with
that, she raced out of the room.
"Well, I see there are benefits to appearing ten minutes
early at your request, Andrew," Kurama commented as he
neared the table. "Betty is ready about twenty minutes in
advance."
Yusuke laughed. "Have a seat, Kevin." After the young
man had sat down, Yusuke said, "I asked you to come
early because I wanted to meet Hamilton." Gesturing over
to Hamilton, he continued, "I figured the two of you would
get along or something."
Kurama threw Yusuke a look with a raised eyebrow, but then
returned his attention to Hamilton. "It is nice to meet
you, Hamilton."
"Hn," was all Hamilton said.
Yusuke felt his mouth open, but Kurama was the one who
spoke. "I understand," he said. "I don't automatically
get approval. There has to be a trial run, so to speak."
The redhead shrugged. "That's only fair. It is probably
a good thing. Drew accepted me rather readily. I'm not
sure that's always a good thing." Noticing the surprised
look on Hiei's face, Kurama added "I take it that instant
acceptance is not normal?"
Hiei snorted. "Not in anyone except Alexandria-san,
anyway."
Kurama nodded. "Point taken."
"I'm ready," Botan said as she breezed back into the
room.
"Of course," Kurama said as he rose from his seat.
"Shall we go?" he asked as he offered Botan.
She beamed. "Yes, we shall."
As the couple walked toward the door, Yusuke shouted,
"Kev, as much as I think you are a good guy, cool it
on the gentleman stuff. Keiko will start expecting it
out of me soon."
Botan had snorted at that and looked over her
shoulder at him, "No, she won't. She's with you after
all."
He was pretty sure he would have objected to that statement,
but awareness of the world outside his head began to
filter back in. He sighed. These flashes did unnerve
him a bit, but he wasn't sure to whom he could talk about
them.
As he began more and more aware of his surroundings,
he realized that he was being watched. He tightened his
fists, but immediately felt pain. 'Damn physical
therapy,' he thought.
"Look," he said loudly as he looked around the room,
"whoever you are, I know you are out there. Come out
into the open and state your business before I kick your
ass."
A snort was heard from his far left, "Ikeda, you couldn't
kick anyone's ass in the shape you are in and you know
it." Before that sentence could die in the air, a young
man looking a lot like a certain demon stepped into Yusuke's
line of vision.
"Hiei?" Yusuke asked.
"Hn," was all the young man replied as he sat down in the
chair next to the bed.
Oddly enough, seeing the demon that obviously wasn't a demon
in this reality was comforting. And it was comforting on
several levels. Reflecting on the flash he had earlier today,
Yusuke turned to his anti-social companion and asked, "So,
who are you to Andrew?" Yusuke asked quietly.
That seemed to be the wrong question, as the young man got
up in a huff. "Everyone else made be prepared to pander
to this stupid dream of yours, but I will not."
"Okay," Yusuke said quietly.
"I'm not anything to some person you can refer to in the
third person. I'm someone to you. And I won't tread lightly
because some quack doctor tells me to," the young man groused.
"Um..."
"Look, I'm your-" the young man paused, "best friend. And
I will continue to be until you get your head straight."
This made Yusuke laugh.
Hiei's eyes narrowed. "What is so funny?"
Through his laughter, Yusuke got out, "It just fits. It
explains so much. And the fact that your attitude hasn't
changed either. God, it makes sense." Yusuke smiled.
"You gave me a kick in the ass then too."
"Hn," Hiei said as he returned to the chair. After a few
beats, he said, "So, I take it that I was a part of that
little dream team in your head?"
Yusuke smiled. Although the young man asked in an off-hand
way, it was clear that the answer was important. "Oh yeah,"
Yusuke confirmed. "You saved my life a time or two as well."
"Hn," was the reply
After a few second of quiet knock could be heard before a
voice entered the room, "Good afternoon, Yusuke. I hope
I'm not interrupting anything."
Yusuke smiled at the person standing in the doorway. "No.
Come in...Kevin."
The redheaded young man smiled as he entered the room. As
he walked toward the bed toward the bed, he noticed the other
occupant in the room. "Well, Hamilton. I see you finally
made it. Did you find the answers you were looking for?"
The young man in the chair nodded, saying only "Hiei."
Yusuke groaned from your bed, "Really, guys, I'm going
to start charging both of you for being vague."
"But Yusuke, it's probably the only way to get you to listen
to us," Kevin observed.
"Oh, ha ha, fox boy," Yusuke said.
After a few more minutes of general talking, Yusuke took
a deep breath before asking, "I realize that this is going
to sound strange, but...um," Yusuke looked over at the
Hiei look-a-like. "Do you have a sister? A half-sister
who doesn't know she is your sister?"
At his question, the other two boys looked at each other.
"I'm not answering that," Hiei said.
"Look, Andrew knew before," Kevin said quietly. "If I
remember correctly, he was probably the first person you
told." At Hiei's dirty look, Kevin continued, "I really
see no harm in telling him again. Besides, he must have
had a reason for asking."
The Hiei look-a-like just snorted.
Kevin smiled, "I'll take that as permission to share."
He turned to Yusuke, "To answer your question, yes.
Hamilton, I take it you call him Hiei, does have
have a half-sister. One that doesn't know about him
due to...family issues." Kevin smiled slightly, "Her
name is Yolanda. She's a very nice girl,"
"Hn," Hiei grunted in agreement.
"To make things more complicated, she's also dating
Andrew's younger brother...who doesn't know she's
related to Hamilton."
"And I'd like to keep it that way," Hamilton insisted.
"Fine, fine," Yusuke agreed as he smiled.
As the young man looked at the two other people in the
room, he thought to himself, 'I still don't understand
what is going on, but moments like this. I don't mind
not understanding what is going on.'
- to be continued -
had decided on playing Hearts, because the other card games
they knew, Spades and Poker, were deemed to be too loud.
With Yusuke sleeping in the attached hospital room and
Alexandria passed out on a nearby couch, the four didn't want
to disturb anyone.
"This is so weird," Hasukawa said as he threw down a card.
"I mean, in the entire family, I didn't Andrew would be the one
to crack."
"Drew is not crazy!" Betty said emphatically as she played.
"He's just...just..."
"Completely out of his mind," Hasukawa countered.
Betty growled at him. "What?" Hasukawa asked, confused.
"I just shared what I thought."
"Idiot," Hamilton said as he played a card.
"That's not very nice," Hasukawa muttered to himself.
"Actually," Kevin chimed in, "I am beginning to agree
with the doctor. With his analysis of the dream, anyway.
Andrew isn't crazy. As this Yusuke he is just able to
deal with a lot of things. Like how he's different
and similar to the people in his life."
"I can't believe we are letting our interactions with
Drew be dictated by some quack," Hamilton shared again.
"I actually agree with Spike boy, for once," Hasukawa
added. "Although," he laughed, "it is funny to watch
him annoy Betty."
"Well, at least Drew didn't beat me up his dreams. I
can't wait for him to get strong enough to deck you."
"Hey!" Hasukawa objected.
"Hamilton," Kevin said to the other young man at the
table as brother and sister quietly argued with one
another, "you are going to have to see him eventually.
You can't put it off forever."
"Hn," Hamilton said.
"Yeah," Hasukawa chimed back in. "I mean, you are his
best friend and all. The least you could do is spend
some time with him."
Hamilton glared at Hasukawa.
"Go easy on him, Hasukawa. He's afraid." Kevin
observed. "Drew has been his best friend for
years. Understandably, he's a little worried about
what happens if he doesn't feature prominently
in the dream world. I don't think he could
handle being consigned to the limbo Alexandria-san's
in. And, if Drew can do that to his own mother,
no one is safe."
"Hn," Hamilton said again, clearly annoyed at being
so well understood. Finally, he muttered, "It's
your turn military boy. Play a damn card."
This Side of Living
Living with Flashes - chapter five
He was having them again. Weird mental trips. Some people
might actually call them memories. He called them flashes.
Usually they were brief. Like he'd hear Kota's voice call
him Andrew and hear his own voice laugh in reply. Or he'd
hear himself say something sarcastic and feel someone hit
him upside the head. One he didn't hear anything, just
saw a room full of darker toned people, he thought the
correct term was African-Americans, laughing over a table
of food as little children ran back and forth through the room.
But this latest flash was different; it was clearer, more
detailed, and more than a flash.
He sat at a table in what looked to be a kitchen. The room
was pretty big and was painted a cheery yellow. Botan
stood by the window, looking out of it and then catching her
reflection in the nearby toaster over and over again. In the
chair next to him sat another young man. The other person looked
a little like Hiei, expect his hair was much shorter...and he didn't
have a third eye.
"So, Drew, why did you want me to come over again?" the
stranger asked in Hiei's voice.
"Because I want you to meet Kevin," Yusuke heard himself reply.
"I mean I think he's a great guy...minus the fact that he
must be a glutton for punishment as he's dating Betty."
"Ooooo!" Botan said as she stomped across the room and hit
him upside the head. "You idiot! There is absolutely nothing
wrong with Kevin, aside from the fact that he actually thinks
you are a decent human being."
"Ow!" Yusuke said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"If this is going to turn into a brother-sister 'disagreement,'"
Hiei began in a disinterested voice, "then I'm leaving."
Yusuke snorted. "No, you won't, Hamilton. Besides the fact that
I know you have nothing better to do today, you wouldn't
leave your best friend to suffer the wrath of his hormonal
sister alone."
"How Keiko puts up with you, I have yet to understand,"
Botan fumed.
Hiei ignored Botan and returned his attention to Yusuke.
"You actually think a lot of this guy?" he asked after
a few moments of silence.
"Honestly, yes, I do. Even though he's at that military
school, he seems to actually be a decent sort...even if
he is both way too vague and too perceptive for my comfort
level." Yusuke shrugged. "I don't know; he's different.
I...just wouldn't mind having to see him at family
functions for a big chunk of my life."
"Wow," Botan said quietly.
"Hn," was all Hiei said, but he also appeared to take
the strong character reference under advisement.
Yusuke laughed, "I think I can even forgive his
red hair."
"Red hair?" Hamilton asked.
At that point, a cough was heard from the other side of the
room. Turning toward the far kitchen door, Yusuke saw
the short-haired Kurama standing in the doorway. "Excuse
me. I hope I not interrupting anything. Your mother
mentioned that you were back here and she sent me on
ahead."
"Oh!" Botan exclaimed as she blushed. "Just give me five
minutes," she said as she moved to rush out the other
kitchen door. "And you," she said as she hit Yusuke again,
"be good. That goes for you too, Hamilton." And, with
that, she raced out of the room.
"Well, I see there are benefits to appearing ten minutes
early at your request, Andrew," Kurama commented as he
neared the table. "Betty is ready about twenty minutes in
advance."
Yusuke laughed. "Have a seat, Kevin." After the young
man had sat down, Yusuke said, "I asked you to come
early because I wanted to meet Hamilton." Gesturing over
to Hamilton, he continued, "I figured the two of you would
get along or something."
Kurama threw Yusuke a look with a raised eyebrow, but then
returned his attention to Hamilton. "It is nice to meet
you, Hamilton."
"Hn," was all Hamilton said.
Yusuke felt his mouth open, but Kurama was the one who
spoke. "I understand," he said. "I don't automatically
get approval. There has to be a trial run, so to speak."
The redhead shrugged. "That's only fair. It is probably
a good thing. Drew accepted me rather readily. I'm not
sure that's always a good thing." Noticing the surprised
look on Hiei's face, Kurama added "I take it that instant
acceptance is not normal?"
Hiei snorted. "Not in anyone except Alexandria-san,
anyway."
Kurama nodded. "Point taken."
"I'm ready," Botan said as she breezed back into the
room.
"Of course," Kurama said as he rose from his seat.
"Shall we go?" he asked as he offered Botan.
She beamed. "Yes, we shall."
As the couple walked toward the door, Yusuke shouted,
"Kev, as much as I think you are a good guy, cool it
on the gentleman stuff. Keiko will start expecting it
out of me soon."
Botan had snorted at that and looked over her
shoulder at him, "No, she won't. She's with you after
all."
He was pretty sure he would have objected to that statement,
but awareness of the world outside his head began to
filter back in. He sighed. These flashes did unnerve
him a bit, but he wasn't sure to whom he could talk about
them.
As he began more and more aware of his surroundings,
he realized that he was being watched. He tightened his
fists, but immediately felt pain. 'Damn physical
therapy,' he thought.
"Look," he said loudly as he looked around the room,
"whoever you are, I know you are out there. Come out
into the open and state your business before I kick your
ass."
A snort was heard from his far left, "Ikeda, you couldn't
kick anyone's ass in the shape you are in and you know
it." Before that sentence could die in the air, a young
man looking a lot like a certain demon stepped into Yusuke's
line of vision.
"Hiei?" Yusuke asked.
"Hn," was all the young man replied as he sat down in the
chair next to the bed.
Oddly enough, seeing the demon that obviously wasn't a demon
in this reality was comforting. And it was comforting on
several levels. Reflecting on the flash he had earlier today,
Yusuke turned to his anti-social companion and asked, "So,
who are you to Andrew?" Yusuke asked quietly.
That seemed to be the wrong question, as the young man got
up in a huff. "Everyone else made be prepared to pander
to this stupid dream of yours, but I will not."
"Okay," Yusuke said quietly.
"I'm not anything to some person you can refer to in the
third person. I'm someone to you. And I won't tread lightly
because some quack doctor tells me to," the young man groused.
"Um..."
"Look, I'm your-" the young man paused, "best friend. And
I will continue to be until you get your head straight."
This made Yusuke laugh.
Hiei's eyes narrowed. "What is so funny?"
Through his laughter, Yusuke got out, "It just fits. It
explains so much. And the fact that your attitude hasn't
changed either. God, it makes sense." Yusuke smiled.
"You gave me a kick in the ass then too."
"Hn," Hiei said as he returned to the chair. After a few
beats, he said, "So, I take it that I was a part of that
little dream team in your head?"
Yusuke smiled. Although the young man asked in an off-hand
way, it was clear that the answer was important. "Oh yeah,"
Yusuke confirmed. "You saved my life a time or two as well."
"Hn," was the reply
After a few second of quiet knock could be heard before a
voice entered the room, "Good afternoon, Yusuke. I hope
I'm not interrupting anything."
Yusuke smiled at the person standing in the doorway. "No.
Come in...Kevin."
The redheaded young man smiled as he entered the room. As
he walked toward the bed toward the bed, he noticed the other
occupant in the room. "Well, Hamilton. I see you finally
made it. Did you find the answers you were looking for?"
The young man in the chair nodded, saying only "Hiei."
Yusuke groaned from your bed, "Really, guys, I'm going
to start charging both of you for being vague."
"But Yusuke, it's probably the only way to get you to listen
to us," Kevin observed.
"Oh, ha ha, fox boy," Yusuke said.
After a few more minutes of general talking, Yusuke took
a deep breath before asking, "I realize that this is going
to sound strange, but...um," Yusuke looked over at the
Hiei look-a-like. "Do you have a sister? A half-sister
who doesn't know she is your sister?"
At his question, the other two boys looked at each other.
"I'm not answering that," Hiei said.
"Look, Andrew knew before," Kevin said quietly. "If I
remember correctly, he was probably the first person you
told." At Hiei's dirty look, Kevin continued, "I really
see no harm in telling him again. Besides, he must have
had a reason for asking."
The Hiei look-a-like just snorted.
Kevin smiled, "I'll take that as permission to share."
He turned to Yusuke, "To answer your question, yes.
Hamilton, I take it you call him Hiei, does have
have a half-sister. One that doesn't know about him
due to...family issues." Kevin smiled slightly, "Her
name is Yolanda. She's a very nice girl,"
"Hn," Hiei grunted in agreement.
"To make things more complicated, she's also dating
Andrew's younger brother...who doesn't know she's
related to Hamilton."
"And I'd like to keep it that way," Hamilton insisted.
"Fine, fine," Yusuke agreed as he smiled.
As the young man looked at the two other people in the
room, he thought to himself, 'I still don't understand
what is going on, but moments like this. I don't mind
not understanding what is going on.'
- to be continued -