I'm Finding My Way Home (sequel to Finding Out, and in my opinion, a whole hell of a lot better!)

Note: I might go back and re-do Finding out because I'm not very happy with the end. Come to think of it, I'm not very happy with the end of Drowning in the Rain because Drake and JJ are given too much attention. I hate ending my stories!!!

RATED PG13 FOR LANGUAGE

Important note for people reading Drowning in the Rain: Yes, this story has not been updated in a long time, nor will it be updated in the near future. Anyone who has read my bio knows why, but I will say it here too. My AOL has been shot to hell and shows no signs of recovering short of being sent to the computer hospital (aka: Computer Works). My parent's computer, which I am currently working from, hates my compute, probably because I love my laptop more than it, so my word files don't work. Sorry, I love you people, but I'm not retyping the whole damn chapter for you (actually, two chapters if I'm not mistaken) but know that they are finished and as soon as the damn AOL works again, they shall be yours for the taking. Now, on with this story!

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" I growled as I threw his wet towel into the pile of unwashed clothes which would disappear before the end of the day.

"Yes, I'm sure! I want to see my aunt and uncle again. If you really hate them so much then you can stay with Drake for the weekend, or, even better, stay with JJ." A smile played on Ryo's lips, he knew me too well.

"No! I'm fine!" I squeaked. "I'm just worried about you. I know how much they mean to you and, well, He might hurt you again." I hope he knows that I meant emotionally, otherwise I am in deep shit.

"I am a grown man, I don't need to be protected, when will you get that through your thick head? Even if he doesn't agree with it, at least he lets me live my own life! Ever since you moved in with me it has been nothing but trouble!" Ryo's voice took on a threatening tone that I had only heard once before, and it was not a pretty memory. "Now pick those clothes up and wash them!"

"Going!" I grabbed the clothes and headed out of the room. Anyone who needed proof that guys have PMS should try living with Ryo for a while. Like right now, he is being unreasonable! The person who pretty much hates him wants to visit and he flung open the door and brought out the welcome wagon! Does he expect the asshole to have changed his mind in six short months? As much as I love him, he is too naive for his own good.

I shoved the clothes in the washing machine in the basement. Ever since I moved in with Ryo, about three months ago, I have had washing duty. He said that the reason was that there was a lady who was always down there that creeped him out. She was an old hag who seemed to be in love with him. She didn't bother me so I was the one who got nailed with the job of cramming myself into an elevator while carrying a huge basket of clothes and going all the way to the basement, stopping at every floor, naturally.

The laundry room was a mix of smells. It smelled like dirty clothes and like downy at the same time, which is hard to imagine. There was also the normal musty smell of a basement, but I kinda liked it because it wasn't very strong. As for what it looked like, it was too bland to describe, the cement walls were bare other than a ruined instruction sheet and two washers and dryers sitting in opposite corners. Two lamps hung from the ceiling but one of them always had a burned out light bulb. Most of the other residents went to the laundry mat or had their clothes dry cleaned to avoid going into the room. Mrs. McLaundry, the creepy old hag, scared most of them away. It wasn't her real name, but that's what everyone called her.

Mrs. McLaundry was sitting on her chair petting her aging cat. I tried to ignore her but she kept staring at me.

"What?" I yelled at her.

"You are a very nice young lad, coming all the way down here to wash clothes for your friend." She said in her creepy voice. "Very nice indeed, it is so refreshing to see someone so kind."

"Yeah, whatever," I tried to shake off the experience. It was the first time the old hag had ever said anything to me. I didn't know if I should reply and start up a conversation, after all, she had a captive audience for the next half hour. "Um, that's a nice cat." It could not have been farther from the truth. The cat was as ugly and as old as she was.

"Thank you. I would let you pet him, but Bill doesn't take to strangers. He is old and has seen too much pain to trust anyone." She said in a raspy voice, filled with remorse. Bill was not the only one it applied to, I understood. "Most people don't come down here anymore." She stated.

"Yeah, they can't stand the smell." I lied to save her, but I knew that she already knew the real reason.

I spent the rest of my time down there talking to her, but not going in-depth about any topic. The more she talked, the less creepy she got, but I suppose that is true of any person apart from Hannibal Lector. I was far from enjoying her company, but it was better than having her just stare it me like she normally did.

"Well, good bye," I called back as I left. I hope it is a long time before I have to go down there again.

I rode up in the elevator, the clothes basket shoved into my chest by some self important business man with a briefcase the size of my old apartment. Why do I always end up with someone like that? Maybe I can get him to stop yapping into his cell phone if I try to arrest him for drug use because I believe that his overly large briefcase is filled with drugs. The chief would have my head because this guy is probably a lawyer but it would be worth it.

I got back to the apartment and pushed the door open. Ryo was sitting on the couch talking on the phone to who I guessed was his aunt, either that or he was calling his secret lover because he said that he loved them and hoped to see them soon. I hardly believe that Ryo is evil enough to cheat on me or dumb enough to tell the person that he loved them with me standing in the room.

"Aunt?" I questioned.

"No, uncle, he said that they can come up this week. They will stay in Bikky's room and Bikky will sleep on the cough, unless you don't behave yourself in which case Bikky will sleep with me and you will be the one on the couch, got it?"

"Aye aye captain. When are they coming, like what day?" I sat down on the couch next him and put my arm around him. Even though I hated the idea of them coming up, I still loved Ryo and if he wanted it to happen, I would support him.

"Friday, that gives us two days to prepare. Their flight will come in around three in the afternoon and we have to meet them at the airport. The chief has given me that day off, sorry, I tried to get him to let you off the hook but he wouldn't. I also talked to JJ and Drake, they are switching shifts with us so that we have close to normal hours. During that time, Aunt Elena and Uncle Rick can find their own entertainment."

"Wow," I muttered, "You have this all planned out." I don't know why it hurt. I didn't even want them to come, but I kinda wished that he had included me when he was planning.

Updating will come slowly because I am using my parent's computer and thus I must share it with three other people, two of which actually use it on a regular basis and since I can type on my laptop (even though it and I are not on speaking terms at the moment) I come last on the list. That is also the reason that this chapter is so short!!! GAH!

When you review, if you chose to do so, please INCLUDE SOMETHING TO IMPROVE ON, or if nothing else or if you can't do that, tell me one specific thing you liked about it so that I know to include more of it! Please, don't make me beg!