Duel Masters – Heart on my Sleeve
-sings- hooooouse-keeeeeeeeping!
snorts, Basil style Are you done yet?
Sorry, didn't mean to go Kohta Hirano on you all XD
Massive shout out to Taitofan and the ever silent but
always disturbingly evil Phelan –grins- you rawk. –fangirl squeal- and Jammerlea, for FUNNIEST SHIZZLE EV4! I await that finished
picture. You're so kewl X)
For those who care and those who don't, uni is interesting, if fraught with extreme periods of travel and stress, squealing and insults at fellow classmates as we jostle for computer and light box space. 'Tis the reason why I haven't written in so long X( My beloved NOiSE and I have been separated, and during the weekend when I touch base at home; work has called me in. Oh well, money in the bank, neh? Anyway, I've been zapped from travelling an hour to uni and an hour back…and that's not even on the 5am start, which lasts for two hours –points at digital lecturer- you're going down, shweetheart! XD
As much as I have my doubts, and my worries about this course, the darlings around me are so supportive nn So…seeing as today was a particularly hard one, this chapter is also dedicated to D00mC00kie, but she will probably never read it seeing as she hates Duel Masters, and knows that my mind has been living in the gutter since I was fourteen… "Eh, you're such a grot, Plinkems! XD XD"
Hee-! cookies to all This is all Phelan's fault. Yes. Blame him.
Chapter Eight: Relate and separate
"Okay everybody! Tuck in!"
Breakfast at the Kirifudas was always an event. Everyone was over – well, everyone in a loose sense; Jamira couldn't be trusted with a plastic spork – and it was very, very fun. Fun because you could gorge yourself stupid and laugh and play and do all the things kids do. Shobu of course had the largest pile of nosh and was gleefully shovelling more onto his plate as Rakuda did his best to secure the last pancake.
He failed, of course.
"Awww, Shobu!"
"Come on, a growing duelist has gotta eat."
"Hnh, I'll say. Though I think it's more in width than height" Came the snort from Toru.
"You saying I'm fat?"
"I'm saying that if you got on a lift you'd set the weight alarm off."
Ignoring the normal banter of the family breakfast, Mimi watched with something akin to pleasure at the blissful normality of the scene. For her it was a joy in being able to completely relax with a couple of morons and watch the fall out of a couple litres of pure sugar can do to the brain.
So, as Saiyuki took a casual swing at Toru over another snide comment and got Rakuda into it as well she tried to ignore her Guardian senses tingling and noticed Shobu actually chewing his food – this meant he was deep in thought. Seems she wasn't the only one.
Mimi smiled fondly at the young duellist, and cautiously nudged his foot with her own. "Hey."
"Huh?" He looked up. Whether it was surprise that he'd had an idea or the fact a girl was trying to get his attention, Mimi wasn't sure.
"You ok?"
"Just thinking."
"New strategies?"
"Nah, not really." He cupped a chin in his hand, giving her the biggest puppy dog stare she'd seen in awhile. "See…yesterday, Rakuda and I were going down to that new place we found…they have a lot of rare cards there I haven't seen before…and we saw Kokujo doing his usual tall, dark and ugly thing…but he seemed kinda upset."
"Maybe he found out there was someone cooler and eviller than him on the duelling circuit?"
"I don't think so." Shobu pushed his plate and away and looked up at Mimi. "It was like he was sad. He was muttering under his breath and all."
"I don't see why that should bother you, Shobu. It's what he does all the time. Probably trying out new evil things to say…or getting on with his singing career!" Both shared an amused shudder.
"Y'know, I'd like to think you were right. But, see…" He lowered his voice. "Mimi, I felt a disturbance."
She felt her heart jump. Oh, no. "KaiJudo?"
"Yeah." Mimi did her best not to seem concerned. "He was channelling some bad stuff. I mean, he does anyway, but I got all cold and shivery, and it was just…weird. I don't normally feel that around him, it's always…he's an enemy sort of thing. Only not. Oh, you know what I mean."
Mimi smiled. "You're concerned for him?"
"Well…yeah. I tried to talk to him but he kept walking away. We lost sight of him and then we got hungry. Then we ate, and by then well, we didn't know where he was." Shobu shrugged. "Normally I wouldn't mind, being evil and broody is what he does best. It's just…this was different. The KaiJudo stuff worried me."
Mimi nodded.
And tried to ignore the smug look on Toru's face.
"You want to see him later?"
"Uhh, maybe." Shobu toyed with his fork. "I don't know. I don't want to stick my nose where it doesn't belong when it comes to tall, dark and ugly. He bites."
"So does Hakuoh."
Shobu glanced up. "Yeah. You're right! Toru said they're friends, maybe he'd know."
The girl shrugged. "I think it'd be better if we spoke to Kokujo first. I mean…if we can get around to chat with Kokujo without you challenging him to a duel, it'll be fine, we'll ask. If not, I don't want you whipping out your deck and challenging everyone in your path to get to Hakuoh for a cup of coffee and a chat."
Shobu wrinkled his nose in disgust. "You're no fun."
Mimi laughed and went back to her own plate of cereal. The strange look on Toru's face bothered her. It bothered her a lot.
oOo
People came and went.
Kokujo slipped outdoors, happy to be free of questionnaires and people asking too many things of him. A friend of his father's; a lawyer; had been very helpful in giving advice to the tiny family unit; and to his delight the night previously, they'd called his grandparents and a nice long chat had eased his broken heart.
In fact, he felt so good; he was on his way to see Hakuoh.
Perhaps it would have gone all right if Rakka hadn't found him first.
"Kyoushiro!" Spinning around with the great flare a nice leather coat can give you; he found himself face to face with the princess of geek. Rakka doubled over gasping for breath, then straightened and gave him a grin. "I missed you yesterday. I thought if it was ok; I'd maybe hang out with you or something. I want to meet those…uh, whatdidyacallems…morons."
A part of him cringed. There was a lot of pent up frustration he wanted to sweat out in Hakuoh's bed right now, and seeing this annoying little freak bothered him.
But what bothered him more was the odd squishy warm feeling that was also inside, and was patiently strangling the part called sexual tension. Had to be the look on her face; he'd never seen someone just stare at him like that. "Uhh, maybe. I was going to see a friend."
"And here was me thinking you had no friends!" She said cheerily.
He lightly cuffed her shoulder, only realising what he'd done when she grabbed his arm and hugged it to her side with a grin. He gave up then – you can't fight good naturedness. Besides. Her boobs were soft. Smirking and pulling her along, he decided to wander – Hakuoh wouldn't mind if he was a little late.
"The friend thing is sorta personal. But I don't mind if you need to learn from my obvious superiority."
"Why, yes! I'm failing child-scaring 101 at school." Rakka cried with mock sorrow.
Kokujo laughed. He couldn't help himself.
"…How was the interview?" She continued, having to skip a little to keep up with him.
"I discovered my mother wants me because of some stuff up she made. Or something"
"They always want you for something. Clean your room…scrub the toilet…loans for botox…"
"Is that a guitar strapped to your back?"
"Maybe. Don't change the subject."
"Bah." He wrinkled his nose. He opened his mouth to say something and realised that for once his deck was quiet. It was only ever quiet around his father, or Hakuoh…Rakka too now? Was that possible?
"Kyou?"
"Eh?"
"You spaced out on me again." She was looking up at him with an expression extreme concern. How frustrating! "If you want, we can do this another time."
She let go then, slipping out of his fingers and for a moment clasping his hand with both of hers. It was almost a parody of when he'd first grabbed her, this time, she was the one grabbing him. Cocking his head to the side, Kokujo lightly caught her wrist with his other hand and held Rakka; lightly; not to make sure he didn't bruise her or anything, but just to see if she would pull away. When she didn't, the warm feeling intensified, and he smiled again.
"It's okay. Really it is. I'm going to the Temple…they won't really allow you in, even if you did come as my guest. Fritz is very…how would I put it…particular about these things." He sighed. "I have a close friend up there I talk things over with."
She looked upset.
Only for a moment.
"That bad, huh? Okay then." Now she let go, and Kokujo felt the urge to grab her back. "I won't detain you. Um, just know that you can tell me anything and all. I am supposed to be your girlfriend after all, and they share secrets and what have you. Presumably not to share."
"Exactly."
She raised an eyebrow.
Oh. Oh shit. Kokujo caught on, a moment too late as she put her hands on her hips. "…do you have someone in your life, Kyoushiro Kokujo?"
"I don't have to answer to you."
"You want that kiss or not?"
He glared. "Not." Clenching his fists, Kokujo narrowed his eyes. "I don't actually need you, you know."
Brushing past her, a small part of him deeply regretted it, but what was done was done. He wasn't going to be held hostage by some girl's trivial feelings, no matter how nice she made him feel; his secrets were his alone. That was all.
"Fine." She called out after him.
He paused, smirking. Good, put her in her place, that's the way to do it-
"…I just hope he's worth it, Kyoushiro."
Shit!
oOo
There is something to be said for the handy-dandy mobile-phone camera.
Toru was feeling particularly bad. He was ever so pleased that he'd been invited to the breakfast. Had he not been, there would have been some trouble with getting this…perhaps not so damning, but very suspect evidence. Tongue between his teeth he cycled through the shots and smirked with glee – they were not very flattering shots. The girl; Kokujo; the holding of hands…ooh, trouble in paradise!
So, midway through deleting those too blurry and those that were just not wrong enough, the phone actually rang and Toru shrieked…well…like a girl.
Pressing the call button, he wondered who was calling.
He should have checked the ID.
"TORU YOU LITTLE HOMO! I SWEAR TO GOD WHEN I FIND YOU I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Another shriek. He almost dropped the 'phone, but managed to save it, just in time to shut his older sister off mid-rant. He hadn't asked to borrow it, and you would hardly expect Toru to own something that was coloured purple with a little Hello Kitty tag now, could you? Of course not.
But in that moment, he had made a stupid decision, and would pay for it later on. But this isn't about Toru-torture. No, he jammed that phone back into his pocket and started to run.
The idea was that he would show this to Hakuoh. Of course, he had never really been inside the Temple before; it never occurred to him to try just yet, seeing as he wasn't confident in his abilities. However, that being said, he was pretty sure he'd be able to get past Fritz. It was finding the master of duelling that bothered him. He had to be in and out before someone caught him and sent him on his way.
So Toru ran.
Why was he doing this? I mean, for what reason did he want to sow discord between two people, and black someone's name? Well, apart from being thoroughly whipped by Kokujo, and the utter disrespect he had been shown on numerous occasions, Toru really didn't have a reason.
Toru didn't like him.
Through the streets he ran. Seeing as we never knew what streets they were exactly, people just turned up at the Temple doors, we could presume he just beamed himself up there, ala a certain sci-fi program…or he just took the bus. Either way, he made it there, and tried to feel confident as he approached the door.
As it turned out, he had arrived at precisely the time Fritz sat down to watch his favourite soap opera, so Toru found himself able to slip in without anyone noticing, and joining the throng of young and hopefuls who would undoubtedly fail when the next KaiJudo master in disguise came along. If Toru had done his homework, or if he was just extremely lucky isn't known. It is, as most authors call it, an Act of Plot.
Toru didn't bother to ask where Hakuoh was. Time was of the essence, and the boy knew that just mentioning the name would encourage a tirade of oaths and curses sent towards the pretty-boy duellist. It always did, and by the time he was able to slip away from the tight ring of pride and obnoxiousness, he would be too late.
He had to show Hakuoh these pictures. He had to make life hell for Kokujo – there was no rhyme or reason for it.
So, intelligently for once for an anime character in this kind of show, he looked for someone who was in the characteristic white uniform he'd seen on TV. And when he found someone, he took them aside.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me out."
"The toilets are too the left." The other boy said quietly.
"No, you don't understand. Uh, do you know this guy?" Holding up the phone, Toru noticed with a strange sense of satisfaction as the other boy trembled.
"Ugh. Yes. I know that guy." There was a gulp. "Mister Hakuoh likes his company for some reason. He's not a part of the temple though."
"Okay. Then hear this. I have a message from…uhh, Mister Kokujo. And he said I had to deliver it to Hakuoh in person, or he'd rip my guts out."
The boy stood there, unfazed. "Yeah right."
"Honestly."
"Why didn't he come himself?" Came the pouted reply. "That weirdo knows hundreds of ways to get in here, we can't keep him out."
Uh oh! Think fast! "Well, if you know him so well, you'd know he likes to show off."
Realisation of a sort dawned on the White Soldier. Nodding unhappily, he sighed. "Oh. I get it now. Geez, they get off on posturing, don't they?"
"You have no idea."
"Right this way."
So, through the corridors they went, quietly and quickly, each minute making Toru's stomach sink with the knowledge that Kokujo could be there right now. Urgh. Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh. No. But things looked up when they reached an ornate door, and his guide lightly rapped on it to see if Hakuoh was in.
He was.
Opening the door, Toru got a peek at some very nice surroundings, impressed by the heavily carved interior windows that gave the place so much light and warmth. Dressed casually for once, Hakuoh cocked his head to the side, and stared.
"…What can I help you with?"
"Um, messenger sir."
"Oh dear. Please, not another Shobu."
"You know Shobu?" Toru yelped, excitedly.
Hakuoh glared at the other boy. "…If I wasn't feeling so good right now, I'd hurt you."
"Yes sir!" Came the nervous squeak.
"But…wow!" Came fanboy-Toru.
"Please. Refrain from raising your voice, thank you very much. Everyone knows that little hell-raiser. What is it?"
Toru gulped, stood up, and faced directly ahead. "Private message for you, sir. From Kokujo."
This caught Hakuoh's attention. Nodding to the other boy to leave them be, he invited Toru in and bade him to sit down in one of the gothic chairs by a heavy table, just inside the door. Sitting on the plush seat made Toru smirk, only just able to hide his excitement.
Hakuoh sat down on the other, and gave Toru a stern, yet slightly worried look. "Private message?" He asked. "Why on earth wouldn't he deliver it himself?"
"He's, ah, caught up at the moment."
And then, gleefully, Toru showed Hakuoh the pictures. One by one. And out of order too. Toru was enough of a tech-head to understand his sister's tiny piece of mass-produced money drainer. Instead of being a meeting of two friends, and then leaving again, it showed them walking apart, Kokujo grabbing the girl, then holding her close. And then some of the short walk.
For a moment, Hakuoh looked rather upset. Then he raised an eyebrow and looked Toru square in the face. "What is this?"
"He's cheating on you."
"I beg your pardon?"
"He. Is. Cheating. On. You. Would you like me to draw a diagram?" Came the frustrated reply.
"May I see those images again?"
"Of course."
The phone was handed over. Fiddled with. Hakuoh then cycled through, nodding to himself, and looked up, partially surprised. "Okay, fair enough. Ah, nice phone by the way."
Toru went red. "It's my sister's."
"Uh-huh." Hakuoh smiled at him in an unnerving way. "Would you like me to get someone to show you out?"
Toru mumbled an affirmative and skulked away. That had not had the desired effect – yes, Hakuoh had been surprised, and better still, shown signs of true upset! But then he looked again, nodding to himself, and was calm. What the heck?
It never occurred to Toru to look at the pictures again. To see them for what they were – saved by time and date. And how, after Hakuoh had had the 'phone, they were back in order.
oOo
They sat down together in a restaurant, two very different people, and two very different stories. Fresh from listening to his lawyer's advice, Keitaro ordered a coffee and watched Hitomi sit, perfectly poised.
He wasn't sure what to say.
She had been a major factor in his life, back when he…well, was Kyou's age. He had chased her, and chased her, never sure how to act around her gilded form. Nontheless, the shy goody-two-shoes had brought a lot of light and confidence into his own, shy, life. She had been warm, and sweet. She had been a pillar of strength to the group of friends he thought he had.
But, of course, one night had changed it all. One party. One mistake.
The mistake being, he had been with the wrong person.
Quickly, over that thought, he remembered his son, and felt a slight smile touch his lips. Mistake? Yeah. Sleeping with her. But Kyou' hadn't been asked to be born, and Hitomi didn't have to carry him to full term. Therefore, the kid was free of blame. This was between two adults.
'Sides. Kyou was a part of him. 'Nuff said.
"So." He began. "My people spoke with your people. You wanted a meeting. Here we are."
She ignored him. Continued to watch the street.
"…Hitomi?" He paused, wondering if it was okay calling her by her first name. For all his darkness, his own brooding, Keitaro didn't want to hurt anyone. "…I want to know why."
"For once in your life, be quiet."
That irked him. What was so important? "Hitomi. Please."
She glared at him then, and pouting she slunk back into her seat, batting those cold eyes of hers. "Fine. Geez…"
He slumped too, but for a different reason. "What's this all about, girl? I have been out of your hair for ages. I didn't ask for child support. I didn't ask your parents for money. I skipped town and took Kyou with me. Why now?"
"Why not?"
"That's a stupid answer."
"Keitaro, the boy is old enough to make a decision on his own."
"That's not what you were saying the other day."
She glared at him. "Fine." With great care she reached into her purse and pulled something out, something that made Keitaro gasp – a ring. An engagement ring. She slipped it on her finger and looked up at him with a mixture of loathing and pity. "The editor of the magazine considering me is my fiancé. If he found out about our son before we married, it'd kill me…this is the first time a man has actually seen me as more than a trophy girlfriend."
"Hey…"
"Not you, Kei." For once, she looked…sorry. "In hindsight, we could have been good together…we were just too young."
"Yeah…well…you know what they say about love and money."
"Exactly. We're both still very young in this modern age. And…I don't want it to happen again, if you get my drift."
Oh shit. It clicked then, and he nodded, coldly.
"I have worked really hard to get where I am…we'd only just graduated high school…I was supposed to be doing university, get my degree in journalism…the year off almost killed me. But it gave me enough time to find and to offload my 'problem' onto you, and then heal enough to start again. I was scared, Kei. I didn't expect it. And I was so scared when I found out."
"You didn't tell me."
"You were in the biggest duelling competition this country had ever seen!"
Keitaro's face flushed and he looked away.
"Y'see? If my mother hadn't gone in there and grabbed you the day before it was all over, you'd have won and had enough money to set you and…Kyou' is it? Yeah…Kyou' up." Hitomi buried her face in her hands. "Mama didn't want me to get attached to him when he was born. Quite frankly, through all the drugs I had pumped into me, I couldn't much be bothered with it. But…I did see the end. Samara taped it for me."
"She did?" The buxom beauty made him smile again at the childhood memories.
"Yeah. Did you know she runs a shop now? Anyway, I saw you, and it all came flooding back, and then you lost…and I swear I thought you were going to die."
"Family curse, Hitomi." Keitaro muttered.
"…What? Oh, never mind." Hitomi waved a hand, dismissively as the waiter came and set the drinks on the table – a coffee and a mineral water. Both took their drinks. "Jiyoji loves me. I love him. But his family is another thing entirely, and if they find out for sure…"
Keitaro shook his head. "Then why were you so bloody abusive in front of Kyou'? Do you still have problems controlling that temper of yours? No, don't answer that. It's not the way you greet someone after fifteen years. Not the way you greet your son."
Her eyes flashed then, that murderous anger showing through. "That, coming from you?"
"You abused me in front of your son. You said some terrible things that really hurt him. And hurt me."
"He'll get over it."
"Let me explain something to you, Hitomi. Children, teenagers, adults, do not forget." Keitaro shook under the strain of his words. "You should know that better than anyone with the way you acted the other day. I can understand your anger at me…but Kyoushiro didn't ask to be born. He is our…my…responsibility. Taking your anger out on the pair of us was a stupid and childish thing to do."
She snorted then, looking away again. "…That's what my lawyer said."
"Are you really going to take him away?"
"…Yes."
"What makes you think he'll go?"
"I'm his mother."
"Being tied by blood doesn't mean ownership. Mother is just a label for you, Hitomi. You have to earn a child's trust and respect." Keitaro watched her over the rim of his drink. "You have missed fifteen years of his life. Every time I have let him see you, he came back either crying, morose, or both."
"What?"
"The park for instance. Do you remember?"
She flushed.
"Yes, I thought you did. That was brazen. Really cold. Small children do stupid things. It's part of being a kid – you don't ridicule them. You don't, under any circumstances hurt them." Keitaro set the cup down and ran a hand through his hair. "I…was disgusted at your behaviour. I still am. But I acknowledge you wanting to see him, and have contact…but his safety comes first."
"Kei!" She snarled, glass trembling in hand.
"Calm down now. He's headstrong. He's…goddamn, he's like me. That's scary in itself, but for the love of God, please don't see me in him and take out your anger on someone who doesn't deserve it. If you really think you can just waltz in and take him away, be instant friends with him, you're going to have a hard time. He doesn't know you. You don't know him. You haven't been there for the bad, as well as the good. You can't just leave the responsibility with me, and then reap the rewards."
Hitomi just stared at him.
"Well?"
"…there is no contract." She said, coldly.
"No contract of what?"
"On him."
"He's not a piece of property."
"I have every legal right to see him and take him away if I see fit! You signed no legal papers to say he's yours, no adoption, no nothing, you have no right whatsoever to keep him!"
That was enough for Keitaro. He stood then, leaving the half finished coffee behind, and then shaking his head. Quietly he fished into his wallet to find some cash, and then put it down on the money for his part of the bill.
"You are not walking away from me."
Keitaro did not answer.
"Keitaro – Keitaro Kokujo!" She cried, standing too. Now everyone turned, and stared at the flustered and expensively dressed woman standing there, chest heaving, and the slightly shabby man walking away from her. "Damn it! If…" Her eyes hardened. "If the courts find anything fundamentally wrong with him, you will be in for it! Anything and everything!"
Keitaro paused for a moment, as if to look back. Then he continued walking, not wanting to hear anymore. He knew what she was saying; and he knew he couldn't help in that matter. Kyou was Kyou. An evil, annoying little snot. A master of his game. A foul minded smartarse. Just like Keitaro could have been.
But that didn't matter.
The woman was clearly unstable. Trying to validate something. Instead of wiping it clean.
Stupid…stupid cow.
Jamming his hands in his pockets, he walked to his car, got in, and drove off. Things were not looking up.
to be continued.
I wanted to try and salvage Hitomi's character, seeing as no one would really, honestly try and get their kid back for money. Then I remembered the world as it is today and wasn't so worried about it XD
