AN: In this chapter, junk happens. No lemony scenes, but Kano has a little adventure. Read and review, please!
Chapter 4: Aizawa's New Assistant and Kano-kun's mini-adventure
---
Hashiba versus Fujimori
Execution: Get Fujimori to admit to what happened
Plan A…
Direct Approach
"We're back!" Nao entered, carrying a paper bag. "I got you those cookies you like."
"…What cookies I like?" Hashiba glanced at him, hiding his notebook under his pillow.
"The ones with the chocolate and the meringue filling."
"…Those are the ones you like."
"Yeah... Well I bought some."
"Okay… so, what happened back in the lab?"
"HASHIBAAA!" Fujimori threw the bag on the ground, angrily. "Quit bringing that up!"
"…Sorry… I won't do it again…"
Plan A…
FAILED
Plan B…
Coy approach
"…It's just… you love me, right?" Hashiba pointed at himself, flashing his biggest, googliest, most watery puppy dog eyes.
"Not enough to tell you." Nao folded his arms, annoyed.
"…" Hashiba glared.
Plan B…
FAILED
Plan C…
Vindictive approach
"But you were the one who owes us answers, aren't you!" Hashiba huffed. "After everything you put us through!"
Plan C…
FAILED
…MISERABLY.
"Nao, come out of there! I said I'm sorry a hundred tiiimes!" Hashiba banged on the bathroom door as Nao bawled inside.
"Why do you keep on asking me! WHY WHY WHY! I TOLD YOU I'LL TALK WHEN I'M READY!"
"Well you said you're never going to be ready! I want to know!"
"WHY!"
"Because you're obviously not over it and-"
"Wuaaaahaaahaaa--Of course I'm not over it! You won't give me TIME to get over it! Waaahaaaa!"
"I know you're fake crying so I'll leave you alone, but obviously, I won't! So I'm going to find out and it's either going to be from you or the journal pages I found! So please tell me!"
Nao's wailing stopped, and silence filled the room.
"…Nao?" Hashiba twisted the knob after hearing a small click.
Nao's cheeks were red and he sniffed before passing Hashiba. "…Why… can't you just be patient?"
"It's been six years. If we don't undo the damage now, there may not be any undoing it, and I WANT to help you. I want you to have a restful night of sleep without having to whimper… or cry…"
"Then get better at-"
"I mean in your sleep. You have nightmares every night. I want you to be happy."
"…" Nao's glare softened and he hugged Sora, sighing. "...But I don't want to talk about it… I want to forget everything… and I have so many regrets. Just the things I thought and the things I felt were shameful…"
"…But they were natural. If I had been the one abandoned… I'd have felt all the same things. Especially since they manipulated you… right?"
"….But…"
"It's alright." Sora hugged him tighter, reassuringly. "…Take your time. I'll always be here…"
"No you're right… I want to be happy with you and everyone…" Nao nuzzled Sora's chest. "…Make me feel better… kuu-chan…"
"After that little comment about my not being good in bed? You're not getting any for a week."
"You can't go a week. You're hard now."
"Hey, guys!" Matsuri ran in, suddenly. "There's someone here who wants to talk to you! I think it might be that Nagase guy!"
"…" The two held each other, annoyed.
"Well, he harshed my boner."
"We need to put a lock on our door." Sunao glared at their blonde friend slash manager.
"Yeah, seriously…"
"It was locked." Matsuri raised a key. "Hurry up. I've been listening in for five minutes and I'm sure he's getting impatient waiting for me."
"MATSURI!"
"MATSURI-CHAN!"
"Come on!" He grabbed their hands, racing down the hall.
---
"…Matsuri- did you make that up?" Sora huffed as the three reached an empty hall.
"No… he was here just a second ago…" Matsuri looked around. No sign of anyone…
"…A criminal always returns to the scene of the crime." Sora pointed out, suddenly. "Let's check the heater room!"
"…I forgot where it was." Matsuri blinked.
"Third floor, fifth door on the right, right?" Nao blinked.
"I think we should check the bathroom first…" Matsuri suggested. "…So what's this Nagase guy look like? Does he have dark hair and glasses?"
"Yeah…" Hashiba muttered, nervously. So did Aizawa, and Minato, and Soushi…
"Kind of a greenish color of hair?" Matsuri blinked.
Well, that narrowed it down.
"Oh, there you are." Nagase materialized behind Sora, suddenly.
"GYAA!" Sora bolted behind Matsuri, glowering at Nagase.
Well… lesser of two evils at least.
"DON'T SNEAK UP ON PEOPLE!"
"Sorry I took so long." Matsuri smiled. "By the way, I'm-"
"Honjou Matsuri. I know who you are. Everyone at the school does."
"…I didn't realize I was so popular…" Matsuri blushed a little, rubbing the back of his head.
"…You're the student council vice president and the manager of the JOAT club… of course they know who you are. You have your own fan club."
"…REALLY?" Matsuri blushed.
"You're also the president of that."
"…Ahehehehh…" Matsuri chuckled, glancing at Sora and Nao, who glared at him.
"I'm looking for Ga-- Nn… Ichikawa-kun. Have you seen him today?" Nagase asked.
"No… not since last night…" Sora blinked.
"He seemed fine, if that's what you want to know." Matsuri offered, in his friendly manner.
"…No. I'm wondering about today. I tried his room and cell phone, but he didn't answer either time."
"…You seem worried." Nao muttered, distrustfully. "…Is it because you think something may have happened to him?"
"My father." Nagase nodded, and Sora and Nao flinched.
"…" Matsuri glanced about the group, sensing the tension. "…Well… it IS Saturday, but knowing Ichikawa-kun and his love for extracurricular activities, I bet he's got some kind of club or lesson he's taking part in right now, and you'd have to shut your phone off for that, right?"
"…" Nagase blinked before glancing at Matsuri, shocked. So there WAS a brain in that thick blonde head.
"Good thinking, Matsuri-chan. Let's go check near the school." Nao nodded.
"…With him…?" Sora slowly glanced at Nagase, irritated.
"He can't do anything against the three of us, right?" Nao pointed out.
"This could all be a staged kidnapping, you never know…" Sore huffed.
"I doubt he'd try that in broad daylight, I mean, if he was going to kidnap us, don't you think he'd do it at night?" Matsuri asked.
"…Yeah… kidnapper's standing right here." Nagase raised his hand. "Can we just go."
"I hate walking to school if there's no school…" Sora pouted.
"I didn't walk here from the city." Nagase snapped. "I drove my car."
"…Car?" The three blinked, glancing amongst each other.
---
"Tshoo tshoo tshoo…" Minato buttered his bagels before setting them on the edge of the counter, turning to shut off the TV. He turned back to his breakfast and blinked. Only one bagel?
He glanced down at the floor. "DAMNIT! EVERY TIME!" He threw his knife in the sink, furiously.
"What's the matter, Shinichiro!" Nanami came running.
"EVERYTIME, it doesn't matter what it is! Bagle! Toast! Half a sandwich! If it drops, it ALWAYS lands face down!"
"…" Nanami blinked, stupefied, before slowly shifting his gaze to the floor. He raised a hand up to cover his mouth, stifling his laughter.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY!"
"Yes it is." Nanami knelt down, picking it up and throwing it away before taking a wash cloth and cleaning the butter from the floor. "…too much butter, anyway."
"What do you mean?" Minato blinked, hurt. "…Are you saying I'm getting fat?"
"I don't recall saying that."
"You implied it!"
"Ugh…" Nanami sighed before stiffening when the doorbell rang. He headed over to it, picking up the phone. "Hello?"
"HELLO!" A pink rabbit popped up on the screen.
"…Ugh…" Nanami's head lowered as he grimaced, though he highly doubted a stuffed animal could see him. He sighed before raising back up, smiling brightly. "Good morning, Ayano-chan! Have you brought Kano-kun over early?"
"The business trip apparently was today… Somehow I must not have paid attention during the meeting…" Ayano held the bunny behind his back, embarrassed. "…Can you imagine that? OOOH! YOU GUYS GOT A NEW DOORBELL!"
"…No… you being ADD? I can't imagine that at all…" Nanami muttered. "Maa, nothing we can do about it. Come on up."
"No…" Ayano huffed. "I don't have ADD. Kano-kun noticed it, too, na? Kano-kun?" He turned and blinked, looking around.
"…Ayano-chan?" Nanami called.
"…Uuuh… JUST A SECOND!" Ayano laughed, nervously, and the screen went black.
"…Ugh… It's too early to deal with him…" Nanami scratched his head, irritated.
"He's the oldest; too, can you believe it?" Minato chuckled, sitting down on the couch.
"OKAY! We're ready!" Ayano's picture popped back up on the screen.
"Come on up." Nanami called, shutting it off.
"It'll be just like having a kid again." Minato teased.
"But he's going on a business tri- oh… you mean Kano-kun… actually…Hashiba-kun, Fujimori-kun and Matsuri-kun were all very outgoing as children. Save for Fujimori-kun, they still are… Kano-kun is different… he doesn't like to even speak to anyone, for the most part…"
Minato mumbled something incoherent.
"What was that?" Nanami arched a brow.
"Uh… I said… Then we'll get along just fine, he and I." Minato huffed.
"…Sounded more like you said, 'he sure is cute, though.'" Nanami grinned, knowingly.
"NoIDidn't."
A knock sounded on the door and Nanami opened it.
"My flight leaves in one hour, here you go, love you, Kano!" Ayano handed the kid to Nanami before setting down a billion packs of luggage. "Thank you very much, please take care of my beloved son." He bowed at the door before hurrying out.
"…" Kano blinked, nervously, reaching for his father and gripping his lab coat.
"Uh-!" Ayano froze before turning, kneeling down and placing his hands on Kano's shoulders. "We've been over this… you're going to be just fine…" He smiled.
"…" Kano's hand slowly slipped from his father's jacket.
"…We'll be back real soon, ne!" The bunny told him.
"…" Kano nodded, sadly before taking the rabbit from his father's hand and hugging it.
"Oh… you want to keep him here? Okay! No problem!" Ayano smiled, petting him on the head.
"…" Kano hugged him and Ayano smiled, smoothing out the boy's hair for a moment before hugging back. "Have fun, Kano!"
"…Um." Kano nodded.
"You two…" Ayano's face took on a look of seriousness. "…No queer stuff in front of him."
"LIKE YOU DON'T RADIATE WITH HOMOSEXUALITY!"
"I'm not gay… well… maybe for myself…" Ayano blinked before glancing down at Kano.
"?"
"Don't worry about it!" Ayano pet his head again. "Bai bai!"
"…" Kano waved as his father darted out the door.
"...So… have you eaten yet?" Minato offered him the bagel that had fallen on the floor.
Nanami gasped, slapping it out of his hand. "SHINICHIRO!"
"…What!"
---
"This. Is. So. COOOOOL!" Sora was hanging out the window, excitedly as they sped down the street.
"What is he, a dog?" Nagase snapped. "You've never been in a car before?"
"Not a convertible! Besides, Soushi didn't speed."
"I don't like it…" Nao held his stomach. "I feel sick."
"You always did get motion sickness…" Nagase shrugged. "I'll slow down, for your sake."
Matsuri glanced at his friends. They weren't exactly… normal…
"Here we are." Nagase pulled to a stop in front of the school.
"How can we be sure Ichikawa's here? Even if it IS open?" Sora asked, getting out.
FWOOOOOOOM!
"WUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A puff of blue smoke suddenly broke through the window of the chemistry lab.
"…"
"Yep, he's here." Nagase muttered, heading in. He hit the button on his remote that locked his car.
"…Dude, it's a CONVERTIBLE! Locking it won't stop anyone from getting in!"
"…Shut up."
---
The four walked up the stairs, nervously. With Ichikawa working in the chem. lab, unsupervised… there was no telling whether or not the school could collapse at any given moment…
Finally, they reached the chemistry lab.
Nagase took initiative, opening the door. "Gaku, why are you- ugh…" His eyes widened.
"Next time use less ethanol." Aizawa instructed before glancing at his son, smirking. "Ah, Kai… and you brought friends… I'm sorry, this section of the school is closed off to students save for one VIP."
"Buchou…?" Ichikawa blinked. "Sora-sempai… what're you guys doing here?"
Nagase glowered as Sunao's eye twitched. Ichikawa was putting out a fire with an extinguisher.
"What in the hell are YOU doing here?" Sora snapped. "and with that guy no less!"
"…" Ichikawa blinked before glancing at Aizawa. "He's in charge of the chemistry section and he called me today to ask me to assist him with a new experiment, why? Do you guys know him?"
"He's Aizawa!" Sora snapped and Ichikawa's eyes widened as he stumbled away from the creepy man with spider-like bangs.
"…Ai… zawa? The scientist who-"
"We're in the middle of an experiment here." Aizawa unfolded his arms, setting a few folders on a desk. "Would you all kindly leave?"
"…Why are you using Gaku?" Nagase snapped.
"He's my new assistant for the weekends. Since you convinced me that he's such a good assistant, I offered him a scholarship in exchange for weekend services."
"Well he doesn't accept." Nagase grabbed for Ichikawa's wrist, but Ichikawa pulled away, smiling.
"Please don't be upset, Buchou. I've already accepted, and besides, I don't mind being his assistant. He's testing honest experiments, and it's presumptuous of all of you to just assume he's doing anything otherwise. Aizawa-san is a very skilled and talented scientist who is sincerely interested in the expansion of human science, so please excuse yourselves." He bowed, politely. "And trust in the both of us."
"Ugh…" Nao and Sora exchanged looks as Nagase stared, stupefied.
"Heh." Aizawa smirked. "Well put, assistant."
"No." Matsuri grabbed Ichikawa's hand, suddenly. "No jobs. It's against the rules."
Nagase glanced at him as Sora and Nao sighed with relief.
"It's not a job." Ichikawa shoved his hand away, irritated. "It's voluntary work, and his paying for my tuition at a college is voluntary as well."
"…" Matsuri huffed. No fighting that…
"Fine… I'll stay here. Voluntarily." Sora huffed, taking a seat. "And watch. Since you two aren't working, it's okay for me to watch."
"Yeah, me too." Matsuri snapped, sitting beside him.
"I'm going to get something to eat from the vending machine, does anyone else want anything?" Nao asked.
"I want a water." Nagase sat down, too.
"I want pretzels!" Ichikawa exclaimed.
"Gaku, pretzels have a lot of sodium in them, which isn't necessarily good for you."
Aizawa growled, annoyed. He couldn't commence with his latest experiment with spectators…
"Well, we've been working for two hours now… I think it's safe to call it quits." Aizawa smirked, gesturing to the blue liquid all over the floor. "And since you're all volunteering to watch, you can volunteer to help clean up, too. Good day." He headed out and Nagase followed him, annoyed.
"WAAAAH… that guy really IS evil…" Sora whined as Ichikawa blinked.
"I'll do it. You guys go home, I made the mess."
Matsuri knelt down, scrubbing the floor. "No, we don't mind it."
"Really?" Ichikawa gasped.
"Since you're paying us, that is."
"…" Ichikawa's eyes narrowed, annoyed.
---
"Father." Nagase slammed the door closed when Aizawa tried to open it. The older man glanced his way, annoyed.
The two had arrived downstairs.
"You were right about that boy. He's a very good assistant." Aizawa mocked. "I just hope he doesn't fall for me."
SLAM!
Nao watched from around the corner as Nagase shoved his father against the wall.
"Zakennai yo." Nagase seethed, gritting his teeth. "What're you up to? You never involve yourself in what Gaku would consider an honest experiment. Yours all revolve around people, the human mind, the human will- in particular, controlling it.
"…" Aizawa pushed his son away, gently. As soon as he felt his father's resistance, he let up. Adjusting his lab coat, Aizawa glanced in Nao's direction.
Nao, glaring, stepped out of his hiding place, revealing himself to Nagase who merely gave him a sideways glance.
"We won't let you bring any harm to Ichikawa-kun." Nao snapped.
"Why would I wish to bring harm to my own assistant?"
"…" Nagase moved so Aizawa could leave.
"Keep your eyes open…"
"…" Nagase turned, heading over to Nao and passing him, walking up the stairs. "If Gaku doesn't refuse… there isn't anything we can do…"
"…If Ichikawa-kun doesn't refuse? Why would he willingly do this?" Nao pouted, following him. "You don't think he's already under Aizawa's influence, do you!"
"Sort of… but I bet I can break it." Nagase huffed.
---
"So… we probably don't have the kind of food you like… what do you eat?" Minato asked.
Kano sat on the couch, kicking his legs back and forth, quietly, hugging the bunny to himself as he stared up at Minato.
"…You can talk, right?"
"Shinichiro." Nanami admonished before sitting beside Kano. "Would you like some eggs and steak? Kano-kun?"
"…I ate already." Kano raised the bunny to show Nanami. "When is he coming back?"
"In about a week!" Nanami smiled. "Like he told you."
"…I miss him."
"HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN GONE AN HOUR YET!" Minato snapped and Kano cringed, hugging his bunny and standing, hurrying into another room.
"Keep your voice low and calm, Shinichiro." Nanami scolded. "The poor thing has never been away from his father for so long since he met him."
"…Well…" Minato huffed, standing. "Maybe we should get his mind off of it… I'll go rent a movie or something."
Kano peeked around the wall as Nanami and Minato spoke. His young ears picked up on 'rent a movie' and he scurried over to his shoes, unseen by the two. He put them on as Minato headed to the door, turning.
"What should I get?"
"You should get a few for him. Some children's movies… and maybe one for us for later…" Nanami wrapped his arms around Shinichiro's neck, kissing him.
"Mm…" Shinichiro returned the kiss, sneaking his hand behind his back and opening the door. "I'd better go now… besides… Ayano said none of this in front of Kano-kun."
"Kano-kun isn't in here…" Nanami whispered, kissing his lover again.
Kano, who was contradictorily sitting at their feet when Nanami had said that, finished putting his shoes on and he headed out the slightly cracked open door.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Nanami handed him a stack of movies. "Return these, too, and pay the late fees for them."
"NANAMI!"
"…Grab some snacks, too." Nanami gave Minato one more kiss before shoving him out the door and locking it, giggling.
'And while the kid watches movies… heh heh heh heh…' Minato headed down the hall and Kano silently followed, holding his bunny, following less than two inches behind Minato.
"…" The school teacher slash detective stopped before blinking. He heard two foot steps echoing his own before also stopping. He glanced over his shoulder and saw no one.
Kano glanced up at him before glancing over his own shoulder, wondering what he was looking at.
Shrugging, Minato continued down the hall. Kano kept staring, wondering if maybe the detective had noticed something behind them, before glancing back at Minato, then hurrying to his side, opening his mouth to ask what Minato had heard.
Minato, alarmed by the sudden quick sounding pace following his own stopped and swung around, staring up and down the halls.
Kano shut his mouth. His father had told him many a bed time story about the great adventures of detective Minato Shinichiro. Maybe someone was stalking them?
"…?" Scratching his head, said 'great detective' turned as Kano headed back to do a double-check to make sure no one was following them. Upon realizing Minato had continued on, he followed him, keeping his foot steps quiet in case someone else was following them.
Once outside, Minato shuffled through his keys, trying not to drop the movies. He clicked the remote control and the car unlocked. He set the movies inside before standing, looking for the key to the ignition. Kano got in on the passenger's side and buckled up as Minato got in, closing his door at the same time as Kano, who smiled, pressing his bunny to the arm rest and using him as a pillow as he laid down, shutting his eyes.
The car started up and they were on their way to Blockwood Video.
---
The boys were just about finished cleaning the mess back at the lab. Nagase wasn't helping.
"Gaku… you can't work for my father." Nagase huffed.
"Why not?" Ichikawa blinked, finished with the floor and moving to clean the walls. Nao just sat beside Hashiba, drinking a soda.
"…Because that scholarship is for me."
"You're you! You can get a scholarship anywhere." Ichikawa huffed, throwing a bucket of water across the wall.
"…" Irritated, but not yet defeated, Nagase tried again. "I don't trust him. I think it's a bad idea, you working for him."
"But you were the one who wanted him to be a good person, naa, Buchou?" Ichikawa smiled, scrubbing the wall.
"…" Nagase sighed, annoyed. "…He's just using you. For an experiment!"
"But I'm using him for an experiment, too!" Ichikawa admitted. "I'm going to get HIM to change! Jaa!"
"…" Nagase glanced at Matsuri, Sora, and Nao, who all shrugged.
"… Alright… I'll pay you idiots if you can convince this idiot."
"Sorry, the jack-of-all-trades is powerless against extreme stubbornness." Matsuri shrugged.
"Not if we fight stubbornness with stubbornness." Nao stood, heading over to Ichikawa. "Ichikawa-kun… if you don't quit being Aizawa's assistant… I'll never eat again until you do!"
"…You're going on a hunger strike!" Ichikawa snapped. "That's not fair!"
"Too bad."
"…Wait… you don't eat, anyway!"
"YES I DO!" Nao snapped, annoyed. "I eat a lot! See!" He grabbed Ichikawa's pretzels and ate one. "SEE! SEE! I EAT!"
"…Your hunger strike didn't last long, Fujimori-sempai…"
Matsuri and Sora busted up laughing as Nao gawked, tossing the pretzels on the floor and stomping on them. "STARTING NOW!"
"Okay…" Ichikawa pulled some cookies with chocolate and meringue filling, munching on one.
"…" Nao's eyes narrowed as Sora stifled his laughter.
"…YOU BELONG WITH AIZAWA! YOU'RE EVIL!" Nao snapped, turning and folding his arms. "None the less, I will not eat. Hmpf!"
"…?" Ichikawa stared, confused, still eating.
"Gaku, cookies contain too much sugar."
"And fat… but they're sooo goooood!" Ichikawa whined.
Nao started grinding his teeth as Matsuri and Sora sweat dropped.
---
"The late fee is fifty dollars!" Minato snapped.
"Twenty five movies, each two days late." The man shrugged.
"…Can I pay for it when I check out the other movies?"
"Sure. But you can't check out anymore until you pay."
"Fine with me." Minato snapped. "Where's your adult section?"
"In the back. Duh."
"And your children's section?"
"We don't carry THOSE kinds of movies…" The man arched a brow.
"NO, not in the adult section. Kids' movies! Something a little boy would wat-… this is starting to sound bad…"
The man arched a brow before glancing over the counter at Kano, who was picking out some movies.
"Ah. Babysitter, huh? How old is the boy?"
"Four or five."
"Then… back on that wall, there's some good ones." The man pointed.
"Thank you." Minato grabbed a basket, heading over to the wall. Kano had already picked out five. He watched as Minato tossed four in the basket, and then headed over to the adult section. Kano stopped at the door as Minato set the basket down right outside the curtains before heading in.
Glancing over the selections with displeasure, Kano took them out before putting his in… but wait…
Minato had put in four, and Kano had five… that meant he had to put one back… How unfair! Fine…
He picked two mecha ones, trying to decide which he wanted. He then glanced at the ones Minato had gotten and looked them over… No… why would Minato think he liked stupid shows like these!
He took the cooler mecha DVD and put it back in the basket before hurrying around the store to put the rest back. He then noticed a play area for children and he headed over to it, playing with some legos. When Minato came out of the adult section, Kano grabbed his bunny before following him.
Paying for the videos, and the absurd overdue fee, Minato collected his things before heading out. Kano followed him, waving goodbye to the clerk, who waved, kindly.
Minato once more fumbled with his keys before setting the new pile of movies down, then getting in. Once again, Kano's door closed at the same time as his, and he laid down.
---
Opening the door to their home, Minato gawked when he saw the place a mess. Kano blinked, pushing the door open a little more, confused.
Nanami ran out into the living room, hair disheveled and face looking quite panicked.
"I CAN'T FIND HIM!"
"What do you mean!" Minato snapped, and Kano blinked.
"Who?" He asked, and the two gawked, glancing down at him.
"…"
AN: Okay, so this was a short chapter… I just thought this was a good place to leave off for now. I think it's more fun to have two plots going at once, one more serious, and one more relaxed. It's hard to think up ways for a young boy to tag along with you on a trip unnoticed when the person he's tagging along with is actually a detective… you know? Anyway, the next chapter gets more heated when Aizawa manipulated Ichikawa using Nagase, and he also manipulates Nagase using Ichikawa. He also manipulates everyone else- even one of our two main protagonists- but which one? Nao? Or Sora? I don't know yet. I haven't written it… later, 543013-fans!