A/N: Three more chapters. This one is a two part section and the last one will be a teaser. Mainly cause I don't know what I'm doing right now. xD

Welcome to the Family

"Mother…" Zero held onto the grab handle as Souen swore, managing to pull a U-turn without hitting anyone. He made eye contact with Touya, missing her driving as the ash-blonde pulled into the shopping center. He exhaled slowly as she pulled into the parking space, shaking out her hair. "Just… How did he manage to rip everything?"

"He's Takuma." Touya answered.

"Still… He should be the one buying this." She leaned her head back, stretching out her hand. "Cig?"

"Yeah." Zero handed her the lighter and the pack, trying his best not to flinch. The bruises on his thighs and lower back proved to be affecting him more than he'd like to admit. Souen lit up as Touya scrunched her nose and rolled down the windows.

"One of you is bad enough." She explained unapologetically. Zero shook his head as Souen blew out the smoke.

"How about we do this my way?" He asked.

"Ruuka Souen goes thrift shopping. Hell, Rima Touya goes thrift shopping."

"Hey, some of the stuff is cool." Touya retorted. Upon seeing Souen's tired face, she broke her eye contact. "But, it could ruin my reputation."

"So, I'm expected to go high end?" Zero asked, scoffing.

"If you're a good boy, I'll let you stay in the mud bath for an hour."

"Oh, we're going to the spa?" Touya asked.

"No massages?" Zero questioned, his interest peaking.

"Only one because you deserve it."

"… Fully clothed?"

Souen sighed. "Why do I do nice things for you?"

"Because you're a good person." Touya answered. "And, you're bringing me?"

"No, I thought I'd ditch you right before the spa trip." Souen shook her head. "Dumb butts."

"Duo dumb butts, thank you." Touya grinned, already rearing to get out of the car. Souen followed in suit, leaving Zero to trail after them.

"Okay, pink suits you." Souen stated once he caught up, holding the sweater up to his frame.

"I don't wear pink."

"It'd be better if you did." She hung it over her arm, shuffling through the choices. "And, it's not half bad in terms of fabric."

Touya shook her head. "Ugh, blood red."

"Considering the trade though…"

"No red." Zero stated firmly. "Anything but red."

"Fine." She held up something black. "Difficult to get the blood out… Maybe white?"

"Bleach easy but, the spatter…" Touya shrugged.

"And, cotton… More like a summer country club shirt."

"And, why would I need a country club shirt?" Zero asked. Neither Touya nor Souen answered him. His brow furrowed as he waved his hand in front of Touya's face. The other held up a finger as Souen wandered into a different section. He tilted his head, storming off to another section of the store. He turned back, his eyes on the two girls.

"What are we searching for today?" He spun around, coming face to face with a service woman. She stood on her tiptoes. "One is your girlfriend?"

"Uh…" Stupid mouth. Why can't you work when I need you to?

"It's okay – lots of guys get nervous when they're here." She tried to give him an encouraging smile. He avoided her gaze, eyes widening as he realized he had managed to wander into the bra section. "What does she usually wear?"

Lie. "Lace?"

"Do you mean on the bra or a lace outline?"

"Um…"

"I prefer the outline, thanks." Touya patted his back as the representative nodded, scurrying away to try for the sale.

"No…"

"Lace?" She snickered, slowly leading him away from the area. "Why didn't you just do your usual Zero 'leave me alone' face?"

"Anything other than an actual word would have had me in the small jail." He muttered, slightly stumbling as she gripped his shirts' cuff, her eyes on the alternative section. "Handcuffs?"

"Among other things…" She glanced over at Souen. "Tell Souen I'm just browsing, okay?"

Zero examined the shirt area for Souen, not finding the ash-blonde anywhere. He tried to turn back to Touya, the blonde nowhere. He sighed and walked out of the store, his eyes landing on the tattoo parlor. He approached the clerk behind the counter, studying the differing shapes. "Can I help you?"

"How late are you open?"

"Until seven." Zero nodded. "Do you know what you want or…?"

"Not one hundred percent. Either a piercing or a tattoo."

"Well, piercings don't take long. Where would you want the tat?"

"Around here." He rubbed his inner wrist. "Thinking the characters for White Lily."

"Pet?"

"Something like." He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes drifting to the other accessories. The clerk followed him. "Do you have anything Gothic?"

"We have a mini skull."

Zero nodded, turning the stand. "Do you have anything… Colorful?"

"Well, we have a lady riding a polar bear."

"No…" He kept turning, stopping at the small fake pearl necklace.

"Doesn't really suit you."

"If it wouldn't suit me, it'd suit her." He muttered, turning back to the clerk. The pain in his head forced him to coddle it, rubbing the back of his head.

"What is with you and unsanitary areas?" Souen asked, studying the clerk. Touya sidled up to Zero, spinning the display case.

"Hey, a skull. That's cool."

"You're like a wannabe Punk Goth Victorian." Zero teased as Souen started down her line of questioning with one of the artists. He offered a pitiful smile towards him, handing the fake pearl necklace and skull piercing to the clerk as Touya started exploring the other options. "You're open until seven, right?"

"Is your…" He gestured to Souen.

"No, she won't be here."

"And, just a tat?"

He glanced over to Souen, swallowing slightly. "And piercing."

"Two massages." Souen insisted, falling into the manicure chair. Zero insisted on a shirt and pants. Touya flopped into her seat, her eyes on one of the customers who came through. "Hasn't anyone told you it's impolite to wander off, Kiryuu?"

"Only you." He answered, sitting next to Touya.

"What were you even doing in there?" Touya asked.

"Bothering the poor clerk, probably." Souen answered.

"No, that was you." He smiled at her glare.

"Didn't you have a bag with you?" Touya asked.

"Yup. You'll get it if you get rid of the two massages."

"… One massage. Deep tissue."

"Not Shiatsu?" Touya pouted.

"Better than sport massage…" Zero sighed. "Fine."

"And no mud bath today." Souen stated.

"But, I like the mud bath…"

"After what you pulled?"

"Fine, fine."

"What about facial massage?" Touya questioned.

"Facial scrub and then relaxation mask." Souen reassured.

Zero enjoyed the majority, trying to focus his breath through the deep tissue. Souen sighed and leaned her head to the side, forcing a satisfying crack. Touya clapped. "Okay, prezzies!"

"You'll get yours once we're home." Zero insisted, pulling out the fake pearl necklace.

"What's this for?"

"Repurchasing things that ripped." He told her, watching her scrutinize the necklace.

"Plastic." She shook her head.

Zero shrugged. "It'll last forever."

"No, true pearls last forever." She muttered. Again, he shrugged, stepping out of the car. When he turned to shut the door, he pretended not to notice that she was wearing it.

"Now, my prezzie?" Touya asked excitedly once they stepped through the threshold.

"We just got home." Zero complained, peeling off his shoes. Touya pushed her bottom lip out, crossing her arms over her chest. "You have a belly button piercing, right?"

"Mm." He handed her the gift, throwing the bag in the recycling. "Oh! Is this cause I saw it?"

"Ish – oof…" He flinched as Touya almost knocked him over, her arms wrapping around one of the bruises. "It's not onyx or anything…"

"I love it! Thank you, Onii-chan!" She managed to get her voice higher, forcing Zero to cover his ears.

"What is with you and Souen and high frequencies?"

"That's how you know we're cute!" She sat on one of the stools, already starting the sterilization process.

"Annoying, maybe."

"No, that would be the 'kyaa' soundtrack." She grinned as he flipped her off. "But, you should have told me where you were going."

"I didn't even know I was going there. I didn't see Souen and you disappeared into the kinky toy section…"

"Says the man who wound up in the lingerie section." He felt his face warm. "Still, mama Souen –"

"Mama Souen?"

"Yeah. She literally referred to herself as that."

"When?"

"When you wandered off."

"Full story?"

Touya sighed. "Well, you wandered off and she was looking for you all over the store. She found a security guard and started on the 'help! I've lost my son!' spiel. When asked to describe you – stop laughing."

"Sorry…" He pressed his lips together. "Continue."

"He's about yea high and silver hair and a grown ass man child. He thought she was nuts."

"Who told her where I was, then?"

"The nice customer service rep. By the way…" She pulled out the bra. Zero inhaled, his eyes raising to the roof. "Purple is my color."

"You do one nice thing…" He shook his head. "So, she referred to herself as Mama Souen?"

"Yup. Honestly, if you gave her a short haircut, she could pass for a Karen."

"So, if she's my mom… Does that make Hanabusa dad?"

"No, I think it makes him dada."

"… No."

"Papa?"

"Closer."

"Da?"

"Now you're playing."

"It's a serious question." They fell silent again. Touya toyed with the ends of her hair. "She also wants you to keep the white suit impeccable."

"Why?"

"Well… There's a chance A-kitty can't come to the wedding."

"And…"

"… Aidou and Ruuka were talking about having you replace him as best man."

A/N: Just Mama Ruuka.