Duel Masters – Heart on my Sleeve

OMG seriousness and shonen-ai alert! It had to happen. Nothing too nasssty, but the love triangle has to be developed, and seeing as there is nothing but fluff, as normal, I have veered off track and sailed merrily over the edge. This is Plink's way. So prepared to be disturbed by Hakuoh's kinky obsession with hair, Kokujo's nickname and the man that fathered the master of disaster himself…w00t!

Red Butterfly – Thank you for the kind words. I hope I can keep this up…when on earth does Kokujo return to the screen? The last episode I saw was of Shobu's final battle with Kintaro for the passage into the temple…screams I love the show, but Kokujo is what makes it for me . And I don't know how much longer I can wait! chuckles I have no idea if I've got him in character or not…

Rays Number Gurl –Hehe, I have no requests . Just my own naughty mind! Rakka has a few problems of her own, as we will in time find out. I am very glad I am entertaining you so far nn

Taitofan – Well, I hope you enjoy this part! Kokujo is very silly in my mind. He has two faces, his outside one and the private inner one that few people get to see…

Jamestutz - waves Hi! Thank you for the compliment! As for Shobu and Mimi…well, this is a story 'bout Kokujo. A date with Mimi and Shobu might end up in some very odd shenanigans…XD people forgetting what they're doing, a mad duel with some poor innocent person and plenty of icecream…!

bows to everyone Thank you for the wonderful comments so far. I hope you continue to enjoy what I have to share with you all…chocolate anyone?

Chapter Three: Picking up where we left off.

It was not a dream. It was a memory, and it was one that was not treasured.

It featured a child, and a playground. There was fun, yes, and a figure coming towards him as he played on the swings and with the other children. Ice cream was involved, his father going and getting it, leaving him out of sight for a second-

A woman had come then.

She had stared at him, made him feel uncomfortable, and then she had reached out and touched his face. Then she smiled and there was pain. And screaming.

His screaming.

"Oi."

Well damn. That ruined the mood. "Sorry, what?"

"Kokujo, is something the matter here?"

Awakening from his flashback of rather dire proportions, Kokujo stretched and stared at the body lying next to him. Looking decidedly annoyed, Hakuoh folded his arms behind his head and pouted, fixing Kokujo with a harsh but somehow endearing glare. He'd gone straight to the temple after the disastrous first attempt at dating, and Hakuoh had been more than happy to help him forget; the smaller boy had been extremely happy and that meant only one thing; he'd argued with Master again.

In Kokujo's opinion, Hakuoh got off on the slightest whiff of violence.

Creep.

"Nothing's the matter. Just life and stuff."

"Life bogs you down too much." Stretching sinuously like a cat, the other youth examined his fingernails in a show of indifference. "I know what will cheer you up…"

"Noooo, not right now."

"Tired already? You're slipping in standards. But that's not what I meant." There was a sigh, and Kokujo shivered, feeling that delicate hand that could cause so much pain run up and down his back. "There are a couple of newb's down in the temple I want eradicated. You know how much I dislike the chirpy sweet kind."

"Urgh."

"Yes indeed." There was the hiss of fabric as Hakuoh rolled over onto his belly to examine Kokujo's back, examining the pale skin. "You're so tense…those little pests giving you trouble again?"

"…To the left. You have no idea."

"Oooh, I spy back hair." Hakuoh nipped Kokujo's ear. "Well, you weren't kidding when you told me how annoying they are. Shobu tried to get in again today…To be completely honest I don't know if it's because of me or the buffet."

"Kirifuda is ruled by his stomach and his deck. If either of them grabs his attention he'll jump right in and not bother to look at the consequences…"

"Hnh…"

Silence fell between them again. It was an odd silence, not one that Kokujo was comfortable with; but as it wore on he realised he wasn't the only one slipping in stamina. Hakuoh's breathing became steadier and deeper, the motions stopping until a hand just lay against his back. There was a snort beside him and Kokujo looked down on the now calm face nestled against his shoulder, almost childlike, the soft hair framing his face with an air of delicacy that he could only describe as inhuman. And while Hakuoh dozed and looked hopelessly…sickeningly…cute beside him, Kokujo pondered his position and how he would get out of it.

It wasn't that Hakuoh was jealous of others attentions. No, he encouraged it. Nothing filled Hakuoh more with glee then watching Kokujo actively flirt with other people…why however, the older boy was unsure, because contrary to popular belief, he was actually an incredibly loyal person. Why Hakuoh always wanted to test him was beyond him…but then, thinking about his background it was quite possibly a power thing. Kokujo understood about that a lot.

Speaking of power-

As if on cue his mobile rang. Body filling with adrenaline, Kokujo slipped out of Hakuoh's grip and fished around in the pockets of his discarded jeans to find the cheap bit of plastic that costed a bomb to keep running. Hissing under his breath and wondering if Hakuoh was awake or not, he answered.

"…Yeah?"

"Kyou, finally…"

Relief. It covered him like a thick rug, and smiling in the half light he sat down on the edge of Hakuoh's bed and cocked the mobile to his ear. The deep tones were soothing to him, the one rock he could hold on to right now. "Hey, dad."

"Just checking up to see if you're okay. I know you hate that, but I'm your father, I have a right to know, it's the summer holidays and the freaks are out of the houses and on the streets."

Kokujo grinned. "Freaks like us?"

"Meh, perhaps." There was an intake of breath. "Kyou, we need to talk."

"What, now?" There was momentary panic followed by guilt, but all was gone in a moment as he rallied himself. "I…I'm kinda not in a good place to talk…"

"No, of course not now. Do you have any idea how much it costs to keep that bloody mobile going?" There was a pause. "Uh, where are you? I can hear chanting…" Another pause. "Oh god, you're in with a cult…"

"No, dad." Kokujo pulled a knee up to his chin, examining his toes with the general air of relaxation. "I am at a friend's place, and we've been duelling all afternoon. You can hear his little sister downstairs watching some sort of movie…probably one of those action flicks."

"Ah. Righto." The smile on the other end of the line was brittle. Something was wrong, and a sick feeling spread inside the youth. "Look, Shuichi's dad was over just now, talking about your behaviour down by the river…Kyou, please, I know I go on, but I worry. Must you keep lording over the little shits like that?"

"If I didn't, they'd never be prepared for real life. Shuichi is a crybaby and I didn't touch him. You know I don't bash people up for no reason, and certainly not at that age."

"Kyou, I believe you. But your reputation precedes you wherever you go. They don't see what kind of person you are at home, so they don't know you." A sigh. "Come home tonight, will ya? Apart from needing a good old father-son chat, I worry."

Kokujo looked down at the lounging youth beside him, and reached out to brush a lock of light hair from the sleeping face with an uncharacteristic gentleness that would make his admirers swoon.

"Kyou?"

"…Sorry, I was…I was looking at his cards. When he gets back, I'll tell him, okay?"

"Good." There was an intake of breath and for a moment, Kokujo could have sworn he heard a sob. "'Cos your mother called. She wants you back."

The phone fell.

oOo

It was raining by the time Kokujo got home, the humidity having finally built up to a nice healthy storm and he was upset at the news, the wet and the rage inflicted on him by Hakuoh. The other boy had been extremely angry that his lover was not staying the night for more fun and games, but how could Kokujo tell him about the problems in his life? Hakuoh, regardless of his proclamations of love, had little regard for anyone else bar his own skin, and family problems were not very high on his priority list.

Keitaro Kokujo was sitting at the kitchen table, watching him as he came in, a mug of coffee in his hands and bags under his eyes. Never before had Kokujo seen his parent so miserable, not even when he lost his job ten years ago. It had been a massively low point for both of them but they had gotten out of it fairly quickly. Now Keitaro worked as a baker, and was surprisingly good at it.

It was easy to see that they were related. Kokujo had inherited much of his looks and attitude from his father and the two had been together from the hour after Kokujo had been delivered at three in the morning. He didn't know the whole story, but his father had been called and then given the basinet and a stern talking to by one of the nurses before the woman who had actually mothered him disappeared from his life.

Keitaro was tall, his dark hair cropped close to his skull and just falling over his ears. He dressed scruffily, having just escaped the kitchens, his body relaxed and in control. He could be mean and cruel, but nothing could come between him and his son.

Except now.

The box from the day before sat on the table. Never before had anything looked so menacing.

"Hey, Kyou. You're soaking…"

"Yeah, it's raining. Duh."

"D'you wanna shower before dinner or something?"

"Probably…" Among other reasons. He'd taken the long way round to try and rid himself of the smell of sex, and provided he could get to the shower in time, his father wouldn't know. Nodding, he quickly ran upstairs and did what he needed to do.

By the time he came down, damp but clean, the cold feeling in his belly had become a feeling of nausea. Dinner was already ready, and the smells awakened the dormant hunger he'd earned during his exercise earlier that evening regardless of how bad he felt. As Keitaro continued to stir their meal, Kokujo set the table, and sitting down, he smoothed back his hair and watched as his father set the bowl of pasta down and gave them a bowl each. They ate in silence, and when Kokujo could not longer stand it, he looked his father straight in the eye.

"Talk to me."

Maybe another father would have skirted around the point, but Keitaro hadn't raised his son in that way. "I found the box. Why didn't you tell me she was contacting you?"

Silence. Kokujo swallowed an overly large mouthful and then looked at his plate. "This is probably the first time since…since the park." His fork trembled. "I got it yesterday…You were…y'know, the job and shit."

"Hey, no swearing at the table."

"Sorry. Look, I know you need your mind clear when you're doing the really big things, and a wedding is about as big as they come. I didn't want to tell you. How did it go by the way?"

"Don't change the subject." Keitaro's face softened and he cocked his head to the side. "Buuuuuuut…It went pretty well. The only hitch was that the dogs at the wedding got to the cake before the guests did…but everyone had a good laugh, and I think we may have some new commissions from it. But that," Keitaro gestured with his fork. "Is behind the point. How did she get our address?"

"I don't know. Dad…there's a uniform in there."

"I know. Birishima Finishing College."

"I don't want to go."

"You're not going to. She can't just storm in here and take you away from me like that." Keitaro sat back. "We moved here to get away from her."

"I…" Kokujo didn't want to admit it. His mother was the only thing he feared.

"Kyou. It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. She called today, left a message. And when I got back from work, she managed to contact me again…she was talking to my boss. It's crazy, and thank god I've been working there for as long as I have…"

"…She's spreading dirt about you?"

"Does a bear shit in the woods?"

"Dad, no swearing at the table."

"Hnh." Going for seconds Keitaro, probed the thought further. "Welfare. Has to be welfare."

"Welfare?" Kokujo asked. "We don't do welfare."

"I know. But when you were just born I had to. I was a school kid, Kyou."

"Don't remind me. I don't need the guilts."

"Hey, I picked up chicks with your help." Keitaro grabbed his son's bowl and went to fill it. "See, the thing was that the children services were all up in arms over you because of what happened. I mean, your mam just upped and left, and well…" He shrugged. "You were given to me, because I was family. No court battles, no signing, I won you be default."

"That does not help the old self esteem, dad."

"Kyou, you know I love you."

"That sounds so wrong."

"Yeah. I take it back. You're my son, let's leave it at that. But if your mother does want you back, I don't know how I can fight – you're still in that sticky age bracket that allows them to take you away. You're not considered an adult yet regardless of you being…you." Keitaro prodded the mixture with his spoon. "So she's coming back into town, apparently meeting up with some old friends…and wants to check up on us."

"We're not here at her beck and call, dad."

"I know. But…I want you to be on your best behaviour. If either of us step out of line, she'll pull all the tricks in the books to lay me low and take you back."

"But she has no right!"

Keitaro's eyes were cold. "In a world where a woman can claim compensation against a man she hasn't met for a child that isn't his, is a world where a mother can come back and claim her son from his father. I'm screwed, and it's up to her to see where I go. I have no papers linking you to me apart from your birth certificate. There wasn't time and there wasn't funds, Kyoushiro." He sighed. "And she's probably going to do all she can to get you back."

to be continued.

In actual fact, that story is true. One man was besieged with angry letters demanding compensation for a woman he'd never met and a child he hadn't fathered by the government. When they finally met, she didn't know who the hell he was and demanded he get off her property, only saying then that it could be any number of guys who fathered her child. As far as laws do go, I presume that a mother could do what is happening to the boys. They do, after all, have right of way as it were. In some ways this is a very good thing -eyes family warily- but in others it's not. So why now? After all these years? And how does Kyou's current situation tie into it? I don't know, but it's going to be fun finding out!