Mitsuki and Kazuki navigated through the small crowd of teenagers
carefully, maintaining a respectful distance between each other at all
times. This distance was not what Kazuki wanted, of course, but every
time he would move near Mitsuki Rara, she would begin blushing
violently or take a good three steps away from him.
Kazuki wanted to be close to her more than anything, or at least he thought he did. The more distance she put between them, however, the more he wondered if he really wanted this or not.
Mitsuki's shy voice could barely be heard over the crowd as it asked, "Kazuki?"
Kazuki stopped and turned to face Mitsuki Rara, hiding his disappointment with the date thus far fairly well. "Yes Mitsuki?"
"Um... That is... Is there any way that we could meet back here in fifteen minutes?"
Kazuki frowned, but nodded. There was an arcade right around the corner that was still open and he was certain he could find something to occupy him for at least that long. "Sure, Mitsuki, but why? Is there something wrong?"
"... No, not really. I just need fifteen minutes..."
"Is it something I can help you with?"
Mitsuki's cheeks reddened slightly. "N-n-no, I think I can handle this alone. Is that ok with you, Kazuki?"
Kazuki nodded. "Sure, whatever you need." He turned and began walking to the next street corner.
Mitsuki Rara remained stationary until she saw him round the bend in the road before crossing the street. Kazuki, whose curiosity had the better of him, had turned around and was watching Mitsuki cross from behind a building. After arriving safely on the other side, she looked around. Kazuki ducked back behind the building and waited a minute or two before peeking back out.
As he did so, Kazuki saw just a glimpse of Mitsuki's back as she entered the lingerie store. Becoming redder than a crab, Kazuki gawked at the entrance to the lingerie shop. The mere thought of what Mitsuki Rara was looking at was almost too much for him to handle. Going against his better judgment, he stepped out from around the corner and began walking towards the shop, merely for investigative purposes of course.
A strange sound from the side alley halted Kazuki in his tracks. He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the poor lighting and tried to make out what was going on. The figure of a young woman ducking out the lingerie shop's back door was slowly coming into focus. After another second or two, he thought he could make out a Nanjyo Private Academy uniform. It looked like Mitsuki Sanada.
"Mitsuki? Is that you?"
The young woman froze in her path and focused on Kazuki. As his eyes adjusted, he could make out her face and the sad look upon it. Why had she chosen this way out? Was it because she saw the other Mitsuki?
"K-K-Kazuki," Mitsuki's voice trailed off and she apparently could not come up with anything more to add. Staring at him for another moment, she turned and ran in the other direction.
"Mitsuki! Wait!" Kazuki yelled, taking a step forward in preparation to run after her.
A soft voice halted his progress. "Kazuki, is there something wrong?"
Kazuki stared somewhat longingly down the alleyway before turning back to Mitsuki Rara. "No, it's nothing." He flashed her a nervous smile and hoped that she'd buy it, knowing full well that she would.
The two began walking away together. They remained a respectable distance apart.
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Mitsuki ran into the night. She didn't really know where she was going; she just knew she had to get as far away from the two of them as possible. She ran past the Academy, past the City Hall, past anything and everything that remotely reminded her of him.
She finally arrived at a small park that appeared to be unoccupied. Finding an out-of-the-way bench, Mitsuki flopped down on it hard, attempting to choke back the tears she felt welling up inside of her.
Kazuki looked so happy, even without her.
How could he be so cruel?
How could Kazuki forget all those times they spent alone together? The big jerk was too busy laughing it up with the other Mitsuki to even notice how she felt.
Maybe that was it! Maybe Yayoi, Dee, the other Mitsuki, Daddy, Akane, Reika, and the others were all laughing at her expense. As for Kazuki, he was probably laughing the hardest. Yes, that must be it exactly.
Rising from the bench, she made a decision. She'd show Kazuki what he was missing. Mitsuki would find someone ten times greater than Kazuki and then he'd see! Kazuki would regret the day he spurned Mitsuki Sanada!
Toshihiko Izawa carefully juggled all of the packages he was carrying, trying not to drop anything. The moving day thus far had gone smooth and he was returning from the local grocery store with a week's worth of provisions. As he walked past the park, Toshihiko noticed all the couples walking happily together and wished he could be in their shoes.
As he was daydreaming, Toshihiko didn't notice the person who stood directly in his path until it was too late. Once they collided, Toshihiko muttered, "Dammit, I'm sorry," and bowed to the person he had bumped into.
Mitsuki's temper was beginning to swell inside her, but one look at the assailant and she instantly cooled. It was one of Kazuki's friends, the one who had wanted to invite her to his love shack or whatever it was. Maybe he'd appreciate what Kazuki obviously could not.
"It's ok, Toshihiko is it?"
Toshihiko's head shot straight up. He couldn't believe it! Of all the people he could bump into, he had to run into the love of his life, Mitsuki Sanada! He began apologizing over and over, hoping that she wouldn't hold it against him for the rest of his days.
"I said it's ok, Toshihiko. Do you need help?" Mitsuki crouched and began picking up the scattered groceries. Toshihiko seemed to share Kazuki's tastes in food, for he had a lot of ramen noodles and instant curry. There were the few assorted fruits and vegetables, however, so there was hope.
"Oh! Thank you, Ms. Sanada, but I can get those!" He bent over and began shoveling the food back into the bag.
As they both hurriedly stuffed the bags, they both reached for an apple and touched hands momentarily. Toshihiko's cheeks reddened as he moved his hand away. Mitsuki smiled, picking up the apple and placing it in a bag.
The couple stood, his groceries bagged up and Toshihiko ready to go on his way. When he reached for the bag Mitsuki carried, she pulled it out of his reach and replied, "Nope. I carry this one. That is, unless the invitation to see your apartment has been withdrawn."
Toshihiko was utterly speechless. Sure, he'd dreamed about this moment for... Well, longer than he could remember, but he had never actually thought that this day would occur: The day Mitsuki Sanada showed interest in him! "N-n-no, it hasn't been withdrawn, Ms. Sanada."
"Good. Let's go, then. I'll cook dinner. I'm sure you're tired and could use a good meal."
"Y-y-yes ma'am. The apartment is this way," Toshihiko pointed with his now free hand. The two began heading in that direction, remaining a respectful distance apart.
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Kazuki glanced at the clock.
It was four minutes past twenty-two hundred and Mitsuki Sanada still was not home.
Of course, neither were any of the adults, but that was to be expected. Yayoi had climbed back to her house through the window two hours ago. Dee had taken Kumu with her to sleep on the futon. The Rara Trio had piled down into the basement and Mitsuki Rara was upstairs fast asleep.
Five minutes after twenty-two hundred and still no Mitsuki Sanada.
At thirteen minutes after twenty-two hundred, Kazuki heard the front gate squeak. Sitting up straight, he listened as the key slid into the lock and watched the doorknob turn.
Mitsuki Sanada entered, a neutral expression on her face. She glanced over at the couch where Kazuki was sitting, but turned and headed towards the stairs.
"Mitsuki, wait!" Kazuki stood up, walking around the couch and approaching her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to make dinner. I trust that you and Mitsuki ate well?"
Kazuki's cheeks reddened slightly. "Yes, we were able to find some food. What about you?"
Mitsuki Sanada made a soft amused-sounding noise that surprisingly lacked the amusement. She walked up the stairs, leaving a very confused Kazuki behind her.
Kazuki walked back to the couch and sat down. He wasn't sure why, but something was wrong. The date with Mitsuki Rara was enjoyable, but something about the whole situation just felt empty. She always wanted what he wanted; there was no conflict to speak of at all. While some would call this bliss, Kazuki found it lacking. Now Mitsuki Sanada was upset, possibly hurt, but she wouldn't even tell him why. The entire situation was frustrating Kazuki immensely, but he couldn't see the way out. All he knew was:
"Women can be so unpredictable."
Zinv: "Agreed."
"I second that motion," Reika, who had snuck in while Kazuki was off pondering the nature of womanhood, drifted into the living room and sat down in a chair across from the young man. They rarely had an opportunity to sit, just the two of them, and Reika always enjoyed their talks.
"Hello, Ms. Nanjyoin." Kazuki rose and bowed to his elder, who merely waived at him to sit down. "What are you doing home so early?"
"Akane asked me to check in on the house. It appears that it is still standing." She tapped the floor just to make sure before continuing, "So, it also appears that you are having a dilemma. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, not really." Kazuki lowered his head. He didn't understand the situation himself so how could he expect another to get it?
"I see." Reika looked at the tortured young man sitting before her. From her years of experience, she knew that he would come to her when he was good and ready.
It took about two minutes.
"It's just that..."
"Just what, dear?"
"Just that... I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."
"How so?"
Kazuki swallowed before continuing, "Ms. Rara and I went downtown tonight..."
"Hmm," Reika made a mental note to clear some time in her schedule to speak with Yayoi. She would most certainly need a shoulder to cry upon.
"... And well, it just didn't feel right."
On second analysis, maybe Reika wouldn't need to clear her schedule after all. "Go on."
"The whole time we were together, I was thinking of someone else..."
"I see. Why were you thinking of this person?"
Kazuki considered this for a long time. Did it have to do with how Mitsuki Sanada looked in that alley? Was it the sad expression on her face? Or was it something else? Why did being with Mitsuki Rara feel so wrong?
In the end, all he could come up with was, "I-I-I don't know. What should I do, Ms. Nanjyoin? Please tell me!"
Reika's facial expression became one of pity. She realized what this boy-- this young man-- was going through. He wanted to make everyone happy. In theory, it sounded wonderful, but in practice it was almost impossible. It appeared that Kazuki was finally beginning to see this sad fact of life.
Carefully considering how she was going to word this, Reika replied, "Kazuki, how old are you?"
Kazuki looked up at the honorable elder before him, not quite sure where she was going with the comment. "I'm seventeen, ma'am. Almost eighteen."
Reika nodded. "Some would say you are approaching manhood and would expect you to heed the advice of your elders in this transitional time. Others, however, would try to force you into this manhood." Reika contained her usual annoyed expression her face would make whenever she thought back to what Ayuko had done to this poor boy just before Zinv returned. By throwing him in bed nude with her daughter, Ayuko was more responsible for muddying the waters of Kazuki's mind than anyone else in the household. "Either way, you will soon become a man. Part of being a man is making decisions. That is what separates men from boys. Boys follow the decisions of others like leaves follow a river's current. Men are the current and they decide where they will flow."
Kazuki stared at the elder, not quite sure how to reply. He simply nodded, hoping that such a response would be enough.
Reika continued, "Sometimes these decisions hurt others. A river sometimes crosses its bank and floods nearby villages. However, part of being a man is accepting this risk and making what you feel is the right choice."
Kazuki, totally lost by the whole river topic, gave Reika a questioning look. "Um... I thought we were talking about Mitsuki Rara?"
Sighing, Reika rose and Kazuki immediately rose with her. She walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders, staring deep into his eyes. "Decide which way you will flow, River, and do not fear for the villagers."
Kazuki, still totally lost, replied, "Huh?"
Reika sighed even heavier. "You have to make a decision, Kazuki! Either Mitsuki Rara or someone else. You have to choose what's right for you. I can't do that for Kazuki Yotsuga. Only Kazuki Yotsuga can make that choice." No wonder he wanted the other one so badly. Kazuki was so dense that all he understood was direct brute force.
"I think I see. Thank you, Ms. Nanjyoin." Kazuki bowed deeply.
Thankful that this conversation was over, she wearily replied, "My pleasure, Mr. Yotsuga." Reika returned the bow and quickly headed for the door before Kazuki could come up with another question. As she darted out the door, Reika wondered why she enjoyed talking to him so much. It always seemed like she needed a week's vacation after every little chat...
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Kazuki reached over and hit the light on his alarm clock for the tenth time. It was twenty-two minutes after one hundred. He'd been lying like this since a little after twenty-three hundred.
Reika's words echoed in his mind over and over. Kazuki didn't want to hurt either Mitsuki, or Dee and Yayoi for that matter, but the elder was correct. He would have to make a choice, but why? Why did he HAVE to choose? The end result would be that someone would get hurt.
That was it. He wasn't going to choose. Kazuki wasn't going to hurt any of them.
"You're going to run?" Zinv's voice broke the silence.
Kazuki whispered, trying not to wake Dee, "No, it's not like that at all. I just don't want to hurt anyone."
Zinv: "And yet it appears that you have."
Kazuki sighed, closing his eyes. It had taken a while, but he finally accepted that somehow he had caused Mitsuki Sanada's sad expression to appear on her face. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Zinv: "Have you ever made a decision that hurt another?"
Kazuki thought about it for a moment before replying, "Not that I'm aware of."
Zinv: "Not even once?"
"No."
Zinv was silent for a moment. Kazuki could almost hear the thought process going through his counterpart's mind. Zinv finally responded, "What about when you chose to come with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I was to be sent back to my original world, I asked and you chose to come with me. Since I have been reactivated, the bond between your elders and their offspring has fascinated me. Where we came from, there was nothing like the bond shared between parent and child," 'we' referred to Dee and himself. Although she showed no evidence in her behavior, Dee was an alien. She apparently had no memories of her alien life prior to this and yet Zinv still existed and remembered. Kazuki wondered at times whether secretly Dee remembered as well.
Zinv continued uninterrupted, "As the world from which you originate dissolved around us, I saw another aspect of that relationship: The pain that comes from loss of a child. Sanada wept as his daughter left with us; wept as he saw his daughter for what he thought was the last time. Tell me, Kazuki, did you have parents in that world?"
Zinv knew the answer to this question, so why was he asking? Kazuki slowly answered, "Yes, of course I did."
Zinv: "And you left them?"
"Not willingly! My being transported to the other world was a complete accident," Kazuki was becoming a bit agitated, his voice rising from a whisper. He tried to calm himself down, but the line of questioning was beginning to annoy him.
Zinv: "The first time, yes, but the second time you went willingly. You CHOSE to come back with me of your own accord."
"Yeah, I did. So?"
Zinv: "Did they weep when they knew you were gone?"
"Who?"
Zinv: "Your parents. Did they weep when you left?"
"I don't know. They thought Mitsuki and I had eloped so honestly, I don't think they knew I had left."
Zinv: "But you did ask Dr. Sanada how they reacted when they were told of this arrangement. And their response was?"
Kazuki swallowed, "... They did."
Zinv: "So, knowing this fact, you chose to go back to the other world?"
"I... I suppose I did."
Zinv: "So, it is safe to assume that you hurt them by making a choice."
"Not intentionally."
Zinv: "True, but nonetheless..."
Kazuki considered his partner's words for a few minutes. "Perhaps I have hurt others in the past through my decisions," the tone of Kazuki's response was distinctly more depressed.
Zinv: "Was it the right choice, though?"
Without thinking, Kazuki replied, "Of course it was! An entire world was depending on me- on us!"
Kazuki sensed the mental nod of agreement his other half was giving him and smiled slightly. Zinv wasn't trying to incriminate him, he was trying to help him understand that this decision wasn't the first or last step he had taken towards manhood, but it was an important one. When he had climbed into Zinv's outstretched hand, he accepted the responsibility of the lives in that other world. It was time for him to accept more responsibility.
"Thank you, old friend."
Zinv: "Thank you, young friend."
Kazuki wanted to be close to her more than anything, or at least he thought he did. The more distance she put between them, however, the more he wondered if he really wanted this or not.
Mitsuki's shy voice could barely be heard over the crowd as it asked, "Kazuki?"
Kazuki stopped and turned to face Mitsuki Rara, hiding his disappointment with the date thus far fairly well. "Yes Mitsuki?"
"Um... That is... Is there any way that we could meet back here in fifteen minutes?"
Kazuki frowned, but nodded. There was an arcade right around the corner that was still open and he was certain he could find something to occupy him for at least that long. "Sure, Mitsuki, but why? Is there something wrong?"
"... No, not really. I just need fifteen minutes..."
"Is it something I can help you with?"
Mitsuki's cheeks reddened slightly. "N-n-no, I think I can handle this alone. Is that ok with you, Kazuki?"
Kazuki nodded. "Sure, whatever you need." He turned and began walking to the next street corner.
Mitsuki Rara remained stationary until she saw him round the bend in the road before crossing the street. Kazuki, whose curiosity had the better of him, had turned around and was watching Mitsuki cross from behind a building. After arriving safely on the other side, she looked around. Kazuki ducked back behind the building and waited a minute or two before peeking back out.
As he did so, Kazuki saw just a glimpse of Mitsuki's back as she entered the lingerie store. Becoming redder than a crab, Kazuki gawked at the entrance to the lingerie shop. The mere thought of what Mitsuki Rara was looking at was almost too much for him to handle. Going against his better judgment, he stepped out from around the corner and began walking towards the shop, merely for investigative purposes of course.
A strange sound from the side alley halted Kazuki in his tracks. He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the poor lighting and tried to make out what was going on. The figure of a young woman ducking out the lingerie shop's back door was slowly coming into focus. After another second or two, he thought he could make out a Nanjyo Private Academy uniform. It looked like Mitsuki Sanada.
"Mitsuki? Is that you?"
The young woman froze in her path and focused on Kazuki. As his eyes adjusted, he could make out her face and the sad look upon it. Why had she chosen this way out? Was it because she saw the other Mitsuki?
"K-K-Kazuki," Mitsuki's voice trailed off and she apparently could not come up with anything more to add. Staring at him for another moment, she turned and ran in the other direction.
"Mitsuki! Wait!" Kazuki yelled, taking a step forward in preparation to run after her.
A soft voice halted his progress. "Kazuki, is there something wrong?"
Kazuki stared somewhat longingly down the alleyway before turning back to Mitsuki Rara. "No, it's nothing." He flashed her a nervous smile and hoped that she'd buy it, knowing full well that she would.
The two began walking away together. They remained a respectable distance apart.
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Mitsuki ran into the night. She didn't really know where she was going; she just knew she had to get as far away from the two of them as possible. She ran past the Academy, past the City Hall, past anything and everything that remotely reminded her of him.
She finally arrived at a small park that appeared to be unoccupied. Finding an out-of-the-way bench, Mitsuki flopped down on it hard, attempting to choke back the tears she felt welling up inside of her.
Kazuki looked so happy, even without her.
How could he be so cruel?
How could Kazuki forget all those times they spent alone together? The big jerk was too busy laughing it up with the other Mitsuki to even notice how she felt.
Maybe that was it! Maybe Yayoi, Dee, the other Mitsuki, Daddy, Akane, Reika, and the others were all laughing at her expense. As for Kazuki, he was probably laughing the hardest. Yes, that must be it exactly.
Rising from the bench, she made a decision. She'd show Kazuki what he was missing. Mitsuki would find someone ten times greater than Kazuki and then he'd see! Kazuki would regret the day he spurned Mitsuki Sanada!
Toshihiko Izawa carefully juggled all of the packages he was carrying, trying not to drop anything. The moving day thus far had gone smooth and he was returning from the local grocery store with a week's worth of provisions. As he walked past the park, Toshihiko noticed all the couples walking happily together and wished he could be in their shoes.
As he was daydreaming, Toshihiko didn't notice the person who stood directly in his path until it was too late. Once they collided, Toshihiko muttered, "Dammit, I'm sorry," and bowed to the person he had bumped into.
Mitsuki's temper was beginning to swell inside her, but one look at the assailant and she instantly cooled. It was one of Kazuki's friends, the one who had wanted to invite her to his love shack or whatever it was. Maybe he'd appreciate what Kazuki obviously could not.
"It's ok, Toshihiko is it?"
Toshihiko's head shot straight up. He couldn't believe it! Of all the people he could bump into, he had to run into the love of his life, Mitsuki Sanada! He began apologizing over and over, hoping that she wouldn't hold it against him for the rest of his days.
"I said it's ok, Toshihiko. Do you need help?" Mitsuki crouched and began picking up the scattered groceries. Toshihiko seemed to share Kazuki's tastes in food, for he had a lot of ramen noodles and instant curry. There were the few assorted fruits and vegetables, however, so there was hope.
"Oh! Thank you, Ms. Sanada, but I can get those!" He bent over and began shoveling the food back into the bag.
As they both hurriedly stuffed the bags, they both reached for an apple and touched hands momentarily. Toshihiko's cheeks reddened as he moved his hand away. Mitsuki smiled, picking up the apple and placing it in a bag.
The couple stood, his groceries bagged up and Toshihiko ready to go on his way. When he reached for the bag Mitsuki carried, she pulled it out of his reach and replied, "Nope. I carry this one. That is, unless the invitation to see your apartment has been withdrawn."
Toshihiko was utterly speechless. Sure, he'd dreamed about this moment for... Well, longer than he could remember, but he had never actually thought that this day would occur: The day Mitsuki Sanada showed interest in him! "N-n-no, it hasn't been withdrawn, Ms. Sanada."
"Good. Let's go, then. I'll cook dinner. I'm sure you're tired and could use a good meal."
"Y-y-yes ma'am. The apartment is this way," Toshihiko pointed with his now free hand. The two began heading in that direction, remaining a respectful distance apart.
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Kazuki glanced at the clock.
It was four minutes past twenty-two hundred and Mitsuki Sanada still was not home.
Of course, neither were any of the adults, but that was to be expected. Yayoi had climbed back to her house through the window two hours ago. Dee had taken Kumu with her to sleep on the futon. The Rara Trio had piled down into the basement and Mitsuki Rara was upstairs fast asleep.
Five minutes after twenty-two hundred and still no Mitsuki Sanada.
At thirteen minutes after twenty-two hundred, Kazuki heard the front gate squeak. Sitting up straight, he listened as the key slid into the lock and watched the doorknob turn.
Mitsuki Sanada entered, a neutral expression on her face. She glanced over at the couch where Kazuki was sitting, but turned and headed towards the stairs.
"Mitsuki, wait!" Kazuki stood up, walking around the couch and approaching her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to make dinner. I trust that you and Mitsuki ate well?"
Kazuki's cheeks reddened slightly. "Yes, we were able to find some food. What about you?"
Mitsuki Sanada made a soft amused-sounding noise that surprisingly lacked the amusement. She walked up the stairs, leaving a very confused Kazuki behind her.
Kazuki walked back to the couch and sat down. He wasn't sure why, but something was wrong. The date with Mitsuki Rara was enjoyable, but something about the whole situation just felt empty. She always wanted what he wanted; there was no conflict to speak of at all. While some would call this bliss, Kazuki found it lacking. Now Mitsuki Sanada was upset, possibly hurt, but she wouldn't even tell him why. The entire situation was frustrating Kazuki immensely, but he couldn't see the way out. All he knew was:
"Women can be so unpredictable."
Zinv: "Agreed."
"I second that motion," Reika, who had snuck in while Kazuki was off pondering the nature of womanhood, drifted into the living room and sat down in a chair across from the young man. They rarely had an opportunity to sit, just the two of them, and Reika always enjoyed their talks.
"Hello, Ms. Nanjyoin." Kazuki rose and bowed to his elder, who merely waived at him to sit down. "What are you doing home so early?"
"Akane asked me to check in on the house. It appears that it is still standing." She tapped the floor just to make sure before continuing, "So, it also appears that you are having a dilemma. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, not really." Kazuki lowered his head. He didn't understand the situation himself so how could he expect another to get it?
"I see." Reika looked at the tortured young man sitting before her. From her years of experience, she knew that he would come to her when he was good and ready.
It took about two minutes.
"It's just that..."
"Just what, dear?"
"Just that... I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."
"How so?"
Kazuki swallowed before continuing, "Ms. Rara and I went downtown tonight..."
"Hmm," Reika made a mental note to clear some time in her schedule to speak with Yayoi. She would most certainly need a shoulder to cry upon.
"... And well, it just didn't feel right."
On second analysis, maybe Reika wouldn't need to clear her schedule after all. "Go on."
"The whole time we were together, I was thinking of someone else..."
"I see. Why were you thinking of this person?"
Kazuki considered this for a long time. Did it have to do with how Mitsuki Sanada looked in that alley? Was it the sad expression on her face? Or was it something else? Why did being with Mitsuki Rara feel so wrong?
In the end, all he could come up with was, "I-I-I don't know. What should I do, Ms. Nanjyoin? Please tell me!"
Reika's facial expression became one of pity. She realized what this boy-- this young man-- was going through. He wanted to make everyone happy. In theory, it sounded wonderful, but in practice it was almost impossible. It appeared that Kazuki was finally beginning to see this sad fact of life.
Carefully considering how she was going to word this, Reika replied, "Kazuki, how old are you?"
Kazuki looked up at the honorable elder before him, not quite sure where she was going with the comment. "I'm seventeen, ma'am. Almost eighteen."
Reika nodded. "Some would say you are approaching manhood and would expect you to heed the advice of your elders in this transitional time. Others, however, would try to force you into this manhood." Reika contained her usual annoyed expression her face would make whenever she thought back to what Ayuko had done to this poor boy just before Zinv returned. By throwing him in bed nude with her daughter, Ayuko was more responsible for muddying the waters of Kazuki's mind than anyone else in the household. "Either way, you will soon become a man. Part of being a man is making decisions. That is what separates men from boys. Boys follow the decisions of others like leaves follow a river's current. Men are the current and they decide where they will flow."
Kazuki stared at the elder, not quite sure how to reply. He simply nodded, hoping that such a response would be enough.
Reika continued, "Sometimes these decisions hurt others. A river sometimes crosses its bank and floods nearby villages. However, part of being a man is accepting this risk and making what you feel is the right choice."
Kazuki, totally lost by the whole river topic, gave Reika a questioning look. "Um... I thought we were talking about Mitsuki Rara?"
Sighing, Reika rose and Kazuki immediately rose with her. She walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders, staring deep into his eyes. "Decide which way you will flow, River, and do not fear for the villagers."
Kazuki, still totally lost, replied, "Huh?"
Reika sighed even heavier. "You have to make a decision, Kazuki! Either Mitsuki Rara or someone else. You have to choose what's right for you. I can't do that for Kazuki Yotsuga. Only Kazuki Yotsuga can make that choice." No wonder he wanted the other one so badly. Kazuki was so dense that all he understood was direct brute force.
"I think I see. Thank you, Ms. Nanjyoin." Kazuki bowed deeply.
Thankful that this conversation was over, she wearily replied, "My pleasure, Mr. Yotsuga." Reika returned the bow and quickly headed for the door before Kazuki could come up with another question. As she darted out the door, Reika wondered why she enjoyed talking to him so much. It always seemed like she needed a week's vacation after every little chat...
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Kazuki reached over and hit the light on his alarm clock for the tenth time. It was twenty-two minutes after one hundred. He'd been lying like this since a little after twenty-three hundred.
Reika's words echoed in his mind over and over. Kazuki didn't want to hurt either Mitsuki, or Dee and Yayoi for that matter, but the elder was correct. He would have to make a choice, but why? Why did he HAVE to choose? The end result would be that someone would get hurt.
That was it. He wasn't going to choose. Kazuki wasn't going to hurt any of them.
"You're going to run?" Zinv's voice broke the silence.
Kazuki whispered, trying not to wake Dee, "No, it's not like that at all. I just don't want to hurt anyone."
Zinv: "And yet it appears that you have."
Kazuki sighed, closing his eyes. It had taken a while, but he finally accepted that somehow he had caused Mitsuki Sanada's sad expression to appear on her face. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Zinv: "Have you ever made a decision that hurt another?"
Kazuki thought about it for a moment before replying, "Not that I'm aware of."
Zinv: "Not even once?"
"No."
Zinv was silent for a moment. Kazuki could almost hear the thought process going through his counterpart's mind. Zinv finally responded, "What about when you chose to come with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I was to be sent back to my original world, I asked and you chose to come with me. Since I have been reactivated, the bond between your elders and their offspring has fascinated me. Where we came from, there was nothing like the bond shared between parent and child," 'we' referred to Dee and himself. Although she showed no evidence in her behavior, Dee was an alien. She apparently had no memories of her alien life prior to this and yet Zinv still existed and remembered. Kazuki wondered at times whether secretly Dee remembered as well.
Zinv continued uninterrupted, "As the world from which you originate dissolved around us, I saw another aspect of that relationship: The pain that comes from loss of a child. Sanada wept as his daughter left with us; wept as he saw his daughter for what he thought was the last time. Tell me, Kazuki, did you have parents in that world?"
Zinv knew the answer to this question, so why was he asking? Kazuki slowly answered, "Yes, of course I did."
Zinv: "And you left them?"
"Not willingly! My being transported to the other world was a complete accident," Kazuki was becoming a bit agitated, his voice rising from a whisper. He tried to calm himself down, but the line of questioning was beginning to annoy him.
Zinv: "The first time, yes, but the second time you went willingly. You CHOSE to come back with me of your own accord."
"Yeah, I did. So?"
Zinv: "Did they weep when they knew you were gone?"
"Who?"
Zinv: "Your parents. Did they weep when you left?"
"I don't know. They thought Mitsuki and I had eloped so honestly, I don't think they knew I had left."
Zinv: "But you did ask Dr. Sanada how they reacted when they were told of this arrangement. And their response was?"
Kazuki swallowed, "... They did."
Zinv: "So, knowing this fact, you chose to go back to the other world?"
"I... I suppose I did."
Zinv: "So, it is safe to assume that you hurt them by making a choice."
"Not intentionally."
Zinv: "True, but nonetheless..."
Kazuki considered his partner's words for a few minutes. "Perhaps I have hurt others in the past through my decisions," the tone of Kazuki's response was distinctly more depressed.
Zinv: "Was it the right choice, though?"
Without thinking, Kazuki replied, "Of course it was! An entire world was depending on me- on us!"
Kazuki sensed the mental nod of agreement his other half was giving him and smiled slightly. Zinv wasn't trying to incriminate him, he was trying to help him understand that this decision wasn't the first or last step he had taken towards manhood, but it was an important one. When he had climbed into Zinv's outstretched hand, he accepted the responsibility of the lives in that other world. It was time for him to accept more responsibility.
"Thank you, old friend."
Zinv: "Thank you, young friend."