Nomad, Shin's Story
Chapter 4: Unforgotten
Author's Note: Hello, all. Man, has it not been…crazy? Like, I have lived through some stuff, ya'll. 9/11 had us suspecting terrorism in every domain, we had anthrax in the mail scares, my area, the DMV as we call it, had snipers taking people out at random—the economic collapse, the swine flu, the bird flu…
I would never…have expected us to be a point in history where we're basically confined indoors because we possibly may be infected by a super virus that most of us can't be tested for but have to treat like we DO have it because it takes two weeks to show up. This is…fiction level nonsense but we're living it.
So, I will not mention it again. It's scary enough and I know people have high anxiety—I have it to a point but I am also incredibly laid back. I'm taking it seriously but also taking it day by day. That's really all we can do at this point. So, in which case, I'll start queuing chapters for this again so I can get back to my SttF Remaster.
As mentioned last chapter, from here forward, this story transforms into the most sexual thing I've written somehow? Like, it's very blunt and crazy, which, dang, this is Shin. This is supposed to be the calm guy! But, well, SttF also seems to be heading that way too. TLDR: , you have the censored version. Go to Archive of Our Own for the real deal if you're…into that kind of thing.
Also, again, not a necessary read for this story but some knowledge of my story Dirty appears all throughout. I try to handhold a bit though. I actually have to update it based off of this too, some elements don't hold true anymore. (I did not post Dirty on because, at the time, that was the smuttiest thing I'd ever wrote; however, given I'm posting this, I'll work on it).
That's all, folks. The release schedule should be Wednesday and Saturday until we're caught up to what I've written. I'm…halfway done. Enjoy!
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"Damn it."
Shin tapped the wall near the phones issued for them to be allowed to make calls. He got three phone calls a week for fifteen minutes. Apparently it was designed to get them used to not being able to speak to people for long spans of time other than fellow soldiers. It was a little…traumatizing at first, given he talked to his siblings every day. And there was no way he was going to be able to speak to all five of them and his parents in fifteen minutes. He…managed it but it wasn't great.
However, at least three minutes of that time was spent trying to get in touch with Lyla.
He'd call her house. They apparently got wise on some 'new tech' called 'caller ID' and were now screening to not answer him. Okay. So, unfortunately, that was literally the only number he had. And it was DRIVING HIM CRAZY.
He tried. He tried to tell himself a kiss on the lips didn't mean anything or it didn't have to. Maybe she was just feeling particularly affectionate.
But nope, it was different. It felt different, it…it felt like a girl that liked him a little differently kissed him and he was…
…He was confused? Sure, it'd been suggested numerous times but he really just thought Lyla was, like…affectionate with him in general! He slipped sometimes too, but it…it hadn't been his intention, right?
"Moshi, moshi, nii-san" Koji sang in a mock-cheery voice.
"Stop it. Have-have you seen Lyla?"
"Since I spoke to you three days ago? Nope. She's away at school, Shin, I don't even know where the shithole teaching her to be a wife is. I'll do some research once I get a fall break but right now, I'm slammed, dude."
Shin rubbed his forehead, sighing, "I know, I know. I…I just don't get it, Koji. I know what you've said for years but for you to end up right?"
"Seriously?" Koji snickered before also sighing, "Shin, look at it from her perspective: here you come, this guy with a family and a family you show you care about. You extend this caring to her, let her eat with us, cook her favorite meals, make sure she gets to go places she wants, open the door to her wearing the clothes she might want to wear sometimes, provide her security in her feelings—fuck, explain SEX to her. You're her…rock or something, dude. Of course she might be into you."
"Her ROCK? Sh-she's gone weeks without talking to me and-and Parsley! She was ready to marry him!"
Luckily he was last and everyone that could be waiting on the phone were back in their bunkroom, not listening in on this. Seriously, he would rather be sharing a bed with Nelly and Koji than sharing the same space as some of these guys but he…guessed he had to get used to that. All the same, he had a hard time NOT exclaiming. Koji scoffed, "Parsley was the easy way out, man. And, the reason she's so dour is, even if you ARE her rock, she knows she can't have you."
…What? "I-I don't know if I'd say all THAT—I mean, I-I now have to consider if I could think of more with her. I-I just never gave it a fair shot, I suppose."
"Shin, you can have a complete turn around and want her all you want too but Okamoto Bajiru made it clear years ago we're not a 'fit' family for his daughter. Parsley…was a promising potential for what Bajiru is willing to accept as her husband. I think you're doing a brave thing, man, but…you're not going to be breaking the bank on this route."
"…Wow."
"I mean, I've looked into it, Shin, it's kind of sad. If ol' Bajiru needs you netting 500k a year, bro—"
"I GET IT, Koji" Shin gritted, "I'm about to be a poor ass hafu who's career might include me getting killed. I am not prime pickings."
"That's all material though, Shin. I…I honestly do believe Lyla needs emotional support more. She's…she'd been told she's not good enough her entire life, told that she's ugly or basically a whore for showing off her damn ankles. I think you're going to be comfortable and successful, Shin, but…Lyla most likely needs you to do what you've always done."
… "That's if that kiss meant what I've been fretting it does anyway" Shin breathed.
"Well, it's been, what? Two weeks? Just five and a half months until you can find out."
Great.
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"Yagami!"
Shin…was in good shape. Or he thought he was in good shape. He excelled in gym and even did track and field club in school sometimes. HOWEVER, when he and his fellow applicants got here, he realized he was…in moderate shape.
He breathed, reminding himself that a pull up wasn't only in the arms but the shoulders, and managed to pull himself up a fourth time. The drill sergeant had come to possibly yell at him for taking too long. "YAGAMI."
"Y-Yes, drill sergeant?" he almost choked, dropping to get his fifth and final one.
"Do you know that your time has only improved by fifteen seconds?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
He shook his head, going over to bellow at someone else. While Shin wasn't a hundred percent sure, he knew there was SOME resentment that he was here? He'd heard someone advise another that he was 'Yagada's son' or 'I heard his dad's a really popular doctor'. In other words, what was this rich kid doing here? Shin wasn't sure why it mattered but it led to the drill sergeant advising him he had only improved his time of doing pull ups by fifteen seconds. Finishing his last one, he dropped and breathed, billowing his sweaty shirt away from his chest to fan himself. When he first got here, it took him about five minutes to finish the reps and now it took him a minute, five seconds. Fifteen seconds was improvement from his training last week.
Running to go pull himself up a rope, Shin shook his head. He felt no reason to advise that his family had to pull themselves out of the mud to get to where they were. He wasn't here to prove he was a hardworking person from a wealthy family but to prove he was the right person to help.
"Must be popular back home, Yagami."
Later that night, Shin was scrubbing his boots, startled when a sergeant came in with a box of mail and dropped a rather large stack of envelopes on his bunk. Oh. "Thank you, sergeant."
The man just nodded, handing a few envelopes up to Shin's bunkmate before heading on.
"Have a ton of girlfriends back home, Yagami?"
Shin snorted, dropping back against his pillow and kicking the underneath of the bunk above him. Aden Bjerke was his bunkmates name. "Bjerke, not Bjork" he had groaned when he introduced himself to Shin. He told Shin his family was originally from North Dakota in the U.S. where his dad was a sergeant or colonel before they transferred here about three years ago because his dad was going to be based in the Japanese U.S. military camp. Just so happened, Aden signed up just as his parents were being sent back to the states. 'Could've transferred but my girl signed up here and she means to stay.'
He was a nice guy. Shin had pretty much lost all the friends he had in school because of this venture, the few he had telling him this wasn't an 'honorable' taking of his time. Yea, yea, whatever. It had hurt a little but, well, he was feeling okay making some new companions here.
"I told you, not that sort of guy" Shin murmured.
It seemed like such a strange thing to get a letter. He'd never gotten one, actually, since everyone was near him anyway. He smiled, finding that three of them were from the youngest so maybe they'd been excited to send them. Nelly and Koji apparently tag-teamed a letter as had his mom and dad…he actually held his breath, flipping to the very last one in the stack. Exhaling, his heart started to beat a bit faster to see it was from Lyla. He'd been here two and a half months now and…and he hadn't talked to her yet.
While he…still wasn't certain where they were at, he…he really wanted to save Lyla's for last. He opened Jill's first. Her bubbly handwriting was almost popping off the page and it made him smile. Alas, digging into the letter at hand, he found his eyes closing some as she advised she thought a particular boy or something was cute but Koji had 'meanly threatened him'. Good. If any boyfriend was to be gotten at this young an age for her, he wanted to be a part of the screening. Frowning, he looked around before retrieving a notebook he had brought out of his trunk. He supposed he could answer as he read…
Next was Tony and he had to go slightly revise Jill's after because he also talked about a girl he liked but Shin hadn't had even slightly the same visceral response. Fine, he was protective of his baby sister but he didn't want to be a hypocrite. He told her instead of 'don't meet any boys' to just…practice caution. Lot of bad seeds out there and just MAYBE he recommended he meet them first.
Sighing, he tapped his pen to his forehead as he read Shaun's. Shaun was still the youngest…but what a weird kid. He was jumping from talking about Digimon, an anime he liked, to the psychological effects of warfare within like the spans of a paragraph. Shin told him Digimon sounded cool and…thanks for his concern about his mental welfare?
He smirked some, his brows raising as Nelly and Koji's 'letter' was literally pulled out pages from a porno magazine because what the hell was wrong with those guys? Absently looking at Koji's self-declared and TMI favorite adult actress, Jenna Jameson, he sighed. Only them. He hid the X-rated material back in the envelope and read the letter which wasn't much better, the two apparently honestly thinking they were helping him since he probably hadn't seen anything 'sexy' in months. Well, no, but seriously. He advised them to get their minds out of the gutter but he MAY appreciate it.
Aww, his mama. She sent him a letter that almost sounded frantic, asking if she needed to send him toiletries or new undergarments and towels. While they were provided soap, he…did have a bougie moment and asked if she could send the shampoo and conditioner he used back home in travel size. The stuff they gave here made his scalp burn.
Finally, he looked to his dad's. It looked like he'd scribbled stuff out a zillion times. He had the feeling his dad hadn't written many letters at all in his life. Once there was actual writing, his dad asked how he was doing and general questions before relaying that the whole family now had cell phones so he could reach whomever individually. What? Even the kids? That was nuts! Dad went on to request that Shin try to call them after seven if he could so the call was unlimited and wouldn't eat up minutes. He gave a list of everyone's phone number and told him as long as he wasn't in surgery, he could pick up now. It…had been tough getting his dad on the phone.
…Okay. Carefully opening Lyla's letter, he frowned.
Dear Shin,
How are you? Is it different there? I worry about you but I know you're probably in decent spirits. Things are about the same here. I'm in a dormitory with one other girl and we're currently learning ikebana which I actually really enjoy. I think you were right, I could have gone into something like that, I bet. You have very good insight, Shin.
He snorted. If that were the case, her kissing him wouldn't have come out of nowhere. He smiled softly when she told him about some of the new music she was listening to. Before he left, he dropped off his portable CD player to her in their secret jungle which she apparently took with her. She wrote that she absolutely loved the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album Californication. She said she couldn't wait to listen to it with him…
…Not one mention of the kiss but he didn't much mind. He…he honestly was happy just to hear from her. She left her dorm address and he…he was going to spend a little time wording a response to her.
…Maybe for her, he was trying to prove himself.
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He shot a gun today.
One of his dad's friends taught him how to use one when they were Wasaba…and that was saying something given Shin left when he was five. He never told his dad because the man abhorred guns, often saying they were just tools for death. Shin held it, shivering in the early October morning. It was freezing but they wanted them used to various elements.
June through September, they went through the first phase. He had to learn how to clean, assemble, disassemble, and hold the gun. At first it seemed weird to spend three months on something so mundane but he quickly came to realize it was probably the most important part. Not only did they learn upkeep, they learned what position to hold it, and how to align. After, they learned…how to breathe.
That caught Shin a little off guard. They were informed that when you pulled the trigger, you hold your breath. 'Breathing will change how the bullet is directed'. Really? Not only that, but they did not 'pull' the trigger, they 'squeezed' it. It…actually was a bit of an ordeal getting it down.
But now? Now, they got to shoot them.
"I hear lighter eyes give poorer vision, Yagami."
Shin somehow couldn't help his 'lighter eyes' from cutting toward the instructor as he aimed toward the targets ahead of him. The man had been snide from the get-go with him and Shin found it quite irritating. Alas, keeping his voice level, he nodded, "I've heard the same, sir."
His father had said he was surprised to learn that fact, given his vision had always been stellar. He naturally took them to get it checked every year to be sure…
There were a lot of things Shin missed. He missed cues with his brother being sick, he missed cues with his parents sometimes—he definitely missed them with Lyla. However? As Koji would sometimes remark snidely, 'in exchange for shitty life experiences, we get a lot of perks'. Shin held his breath and aimed, shooting 35 out of 40 targets. One or two were missed because he breathed.
The instructor stared, wide eyed, as Shin stood, wearing all of his gear as that was part of the training. Yagami Yamada had been a little surprised when Shin continually got very close to 20/10 vision. Not quite but close enough. A…Yagami perk, he supposed. Shin internally rolled his eyes when the man demanded he 'do it again' to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Fine.
He got 36 that time which, 'unfortunately' for the instructor, placed him somewhere at an expert level. It definitely wasn't just vision, no, he had prior knowledge and some slight upkeep when he went to his high school friend's shooting range. But boy was that instructor pissed. Why? Why was it so alarming he could be good at things?
Frustrated when he was advised to go run some laps for no given reason but being told to do so, Shin ran the mile before hitting the showers. Some of the other guy's gave him questioning looks so God only knows what that jerk said about him in his absence. Aden came out of the telephone room as it was call day and snorted. "He said you were just some rich fucking kid with something to prove and that your excelling came from your 'privilege'."
"I run a mile in a solid amount of time now because I've been forced to run a mile for four months straight. I'm proficient at pullups because, again, that's what we've done for four months straight. I fell flat on my face when we first climbed the rope four months ago, now I can climb the rope" Shin listed off, glaring, "Am I missing the point of doing these exercises, Aden? Should I still be struggling after four months? What amount of privilege am I using staying here and actually improving?"
Aden snorted, "They're idiots, Shin. Their suggested privilege, you would have either bought yourself through this or had daddy call to get you out of it with a donation, neither of which has occurred. You have the privilege of an able body which is a blessing."
…Yea. A little…defeated all the same, he waited for his name to be called for the phone call. He…he wasn't sure he wanted to call him given how he felt about this in the first place but…he might know what he's going through.
Shin sat down with the piece of paper sent to him some months ago, dialing in the number, and praying he picked up. It was okay if he didn't, there were tons of good reasons he wouldn't, but…
"Hello?"
But thank God. "…Hey, dad."
"Shin, it's good to hear from you. How are you holding up?" Yagami Yamada replied.
…Meh. "Um, okay, dad. Sort of…"
He imagined his dad was probably praying he find a reason to quit this. No, he wasn't going to quit, just… "What's the matter, son?"
"I…I was really struggling the first month, y'know, dad? I mean, I did well in gym and I've always been in good shape but the exertion is different here, y'know?"
"Of course."
"So…so I worked at it. Like, I toned myself up, I got my time down. I've been here four months, I ought to improve some, right?"
Shin imagined his father nodding, "Doing the same thing daily, I would imagine so. What's the issue?"
Clearing his throat, he tapped his fingers against the metallic table the phone was situated on, "…I did really well on the shooting range today. 36 out of 40. Expert level. You…you know, the good vision?"
"Mm…"
"So, um, my instructor actually made me shoot twice to make sure it wasn't a fluke and I got one more than before so…he made me run laps and apparently told the rest of the squad I was getting by on the privilege of my 'rich upbringing'."
His father actually scoffed, "Hardly?"
Shin smirked, "Dad…"
"Shin, you could ask the most hardened criminal from the poorest slums to run that same course. They might have areas they have experience in but that circumstance doesn't automatically make them weaker or stronger in that area. As such, just because you had a 'rich upbringing' doesn't mean you don't know how to work hard and succeed. Granted, I get what they're suggesting because usually that rich upbringing would keep you from being there but the fact that you're riding this out is probably confusing them, let alone the fact you're good at it."
"…Mm."
"I'm still not on board with this, Shin, to be honest. However, I'm a hundred percent behind you proving naysayers wrong so you hang in there" Yamada said dryly.
Shin snickered, rubbing his face. Figures. "Thanks, dad."
"And stop fudging those numbers too."
Making a face, Shin leaned back in the chair and pouted, "I wasn't. I really missed those four. I…well, you haven't shot a gun but when you're aiming you're supposed to hold your breath."
"Yea."
"So I…I really kind of have trouble with that part. I-I want to breathe."
"…Well, you need to work on that then."
Shin's eyes widened, startled by the brisk tone his father suddenly had. What? He thought they were cool! What was his problem?! "I will. I guess I just can't expect anyone to think I can learn something, huh?"
"You're not going to have a chance to think about how much you want to breathe when you have to eliminate someone looking to kill you."
Shin froze.
"That's what I don't think you've learned, Shin. I don't think you've learned that whatever they think they're preparing you for, they're not. You're playing wargames with simulated situations, shortcuts, and outcomes. You will not have set circumstances when you go over there, Shin. You're shooting a piece of paper with a static target and missing four because you're breathing and they're calling you an 'expert' because of it. There's…there's not a human being that can prepare for that, Shin. It's not possible and…and I don't agree with rolling the dice on if you can or not."
Pressing his lips together, Shin balled his fist. This… "I get it, dad. I get it. You just can't believe in me."
"Shin-"
"I have to go. I'll talk to you later."
Hanging up for the first time in his life on his father, he marched angrily back to his bunk and went to bed without another word. He had been almost Koji-level mad that day and then proceeded to not speak to his dad for the remainder of that month and the next. He had been 'through' trying to explain to people he could do this.
Funny thing was, he guessed that was another Yagami 'perk': stubbornness.
He stubbornly didn't want to admit that Yagami Yamada did have a point.
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"Oh, Sweetie Plum, won't you talk to your papa?"
Shin yawned into the back of his hand before smiling vaguely. He wondered why his mama still called him 'Sweetie Plum' after all this. He was the only one with a nickname like that too. "I'll be home in a week, mama. I imagine he still lives there, right?"
"Oh, of course he does" she huffed, "…It would break my heart if this splintered you two, Shin. I understand you have to do what's right but…but I do love your father and I couldn't stand to see you two not talking."
Honestly, Shin was being petty. He got over what his dad said probably two days later entirely. The man was genuinely right. They could run a whole lot of scenarios and do a whole lot of strength tests and target shooting here but not one thing was going to prepare anyone for someone also trained and prepared to kill them the exact same way they were supposed to be prepared to kill them. The problem? Shin was prepared to roll those dice and he knew his dad had been through enough to want to stay on the safe side of things. He respected that…but his dad wasn't going to back down from his standpoint and Shin wasn't going to back down from his. Phone conversations weren't going to go any better as long as they were at that point.
"That'll be on dad's behalf if it occurs, mama. I…I would never want to stop talking to dad, no matter how tense it gets. I just think for now it's more comfortable if we just don't really talk while I'm here. It's not a topic we agree on and I guess we just haven't had many of those to learn how to properly handle it."
"Mm, that's a good point…" she murmured.
Shin sat up, clearing his throat, "U-Um, on another topic, mama, have…have you happened to see Lyla or her mom since I left?"
"I actually saw Lillian at a party recently. I was able to get to her while her ball and chain was off chatting with his cohorts to ask how she was doing" Dana explained, "She seemed in the average humdrum spirits. I asked about Lyla and she assured she was 'making it'."
Damn it. "That is not comforting."
"No…perhaps on your way back, stop in and check on her, sweetie. I know for a fact no one has gone to see her except your brothers."
What now? "Koji said it was like trying to get into a fort to see her and he could only speak to her for a few moments. Nelly also tried it with minimal success. The idea is to keep unrelated men at bay, if you will."
"Then how will I?" he whispered.
"Hmm, we'll hope for some miracle, sweetie plum. I haven't given up on her having the life she wants. I…I hate to see a young woman go through what I had to."
Shin nodded grimly, "I…I agree."
"Well, you head on to bed, sweetie. I'll see you soon."
"Okay…before you go though, mama, just curious: what makes me the 'sweetie plum'?"
"Have you met your brothers?"
He laughed, shaking his head, "I can't disagree but I don't know if I'm that much better in the sweetness range."
"I know it's embarrassing but…you are my first baby, you know? I…I called you that before you were born and I…I was forced to miss a lot of your baby years. I just guess it might be a connection to the time I lost. I'll try to stop."
"…You don't have to stop at all, mama. Really, just wondered. I love you."
"Love you too, Shin. And your papa did want me to tell you to 'keep giving them hell', whatever that means."
Shin smiled, rubbing his eyes a bit, "Tell him I will and thank you…and…and that I love him too. G'night, mama."
"Good night, sweetie."
…Nothing…could prepare him for what he could face. Not a damn bit of training was going to make him a hundred percent ready for what he might face on that other side.
…All he could have was…knowing what was at stake here. That was it. Many before him had the exact same thing and it still didn't matter, just…
He'd roll the dice.
"You want this old rickety thing, kid?"
Shin looked up, shocked. "Huh?"
Where he had been based only really had a small town around it. While they could leave base on the weekend, it would take at least five hours to get anywhere fun or worth going and that same time to get home. Thus, he and a majority of the other privates did not really…leave base. On occasion but probably only a handful.
That was a mistake. When Shin did finally leave after the completion ceremony, it was like he was walking onto a new planet. The sounds, the smells, the people—he felt like an alien. Aden was waiting for his girlfriend to come pick him up so he walked around the small town with him. Shin…actually hadn't thought about how he was going to get home. He guessed he could call Koji.
Of course, they had wandered into an old consignment shop type place with all sorts of knickknacks. Shin had meandered through the jewelry and did a doubletake seeing a vintage Chanel bracelet for fifty gold pieces. He had told himself there was no way it was real before picking it up and…being blown away that it was very much real unless his mother-given skillset of recognizing real jewelry was rusty. He slowly walked over and asked if maybe a zero had rubbed off but the man shrugged. "Just some old crap jewelry. 50 pieces."
It was worth 200 times that. Aden also was very confused, directing Shin to look at some art and…mind, it was a small painting but it looked like a very authentic Picasso. Art was very easy to forge though…but Shin wasn't certain when he found a very much genuine first edition version of The Tale of Genji scroll for 10 pieces. "Just a shitty piece of paper."
Shin could…sort of understand if the man was a foreigner but he wasn't. Maybe since he was in the middle of this town without internet connection or apparently a library, he didn't know how valuable these things were. Shin wanted to give him…at least a little more but the man said him simply, 'what it's worth'. Oh…okay.
Now they had wandered into the 'scrap metal' yard. There was super valuable stuff in here too but nothing Shin had ever been intrigued by. Until he saw this motorbike, a 72' Honda XL250. He stared at it, wondering who just dropped it off. Something had to be wrong with it…
Then the fellow came and asked if he wanted this 'old rickety thing'. What? "U-Um, does…does it run?"
"Yea, might need some maintenance. Some dude dropped it off for a quick thousand last week for pachinko."
…What. "And…you're asking?"
"2000."
…So, Shin started it up to prove to himself this was crazy. It was sputtering a bit but otherwise, just perfect. Shin slowly gave him the money and asked where he could purchase some oil.
"I talked with that dude."
Aden was sitting on the dirt ground on top of his duffel bag on the outskirts where he was going to be picked up. He said his girlfriend was coming in a truck so they could take him until they started going toward the airport. Shin mapped it and found it was going in the general direction he needed so he agreed. Currently, he was fixing up his new investment, shivering a bit in the cold air. He briefly glanced at Aden before drawling, "You mean the dude I just bought priceless things from for a whopping 2060 pieces?"
"Yea. He said it's his dad's old shop—or more like a family owned shop, right? He wants nothing to do with it but his other siblings are adamant they keep it and have shamed him into feeling responsible. So he said he's been stuck here for thirty years doing what he doesn't want to do. No matter how low he prices stuff, the locals keep the place afloat. Y'know, on top of the family owning the building. That's why he was like that: he doesn't want to be there."
Shin frowned at that, spinning a wrench the man in question gave him for free, "…But you know the worth of things regardless, Aden. I was supposed to be a doctor, man, and I didn't want to. That doesn't mean I go start committing malpractice just because I don't want to do it. I mean, that's just embarrassing at that point what that guy's doing. I have millions of gold pieces in my duffel bag right now, man."
Shaking his head, Aden groaned, "…Yea. If that stuff is legit, he could sell the shit and have other people run this place. Some people are real shortsighted."
Mm. Well, that Shin knew a little bit about in a few different regards. Sitting on the bike, he drove it a little ways up the path before wheeling back around to Aden. It wasn't exactly the smoothest ride but a classic Honda like this? It was awesome. Aden smirked, rubbing his hands together. "Man, are you going to ride that thing the rest of the way home? You'll have got through basic training and died of pneumonia in your mansion."
Shin snickered, turning the bike off but remaining on the back. "I'm going to ride it to see my friend, Lyla, but I'll probably just take a bus back to Hondo and ride it to the house."
"You gonna be okay carrying all your stuff?"
Oh yea…Shin played with it for a little while, managing to get everything into his duffel bag and strapping it on the front. He didn't really have that much stuff so it shouldn't be too front heavy. Just having figured out his game plan, he looked up when an old Jeep Gladiator suddenly rounded the corner. Aden stood, grinning a bit as it came to a stop beside him. Shin was a little startled to see a pink-haired woman behind the wheel, wearing fatigues. "Jeez, did they post you up in enough of a Hickville?"
"Probably where they send the unsavory types" Aden joked, walking over to the driver's side. "How was it in good ol' Okinawa?"
"Probably too much fun" she droned, giving him a kiss, "I thought about driving down here a few times but I wouldn't have made it back to base in time. I missed you."
Aden hugged her shoulder, kissing her temple, "You too, babe. I can't wait to get to a nice hot shower and fucking."
Shin smirked, raising a brow, as she swatted at Aden, "Such a prick. You better get me dinner first, dumbass."
"Always! Sonja, I told you about my buddy here, Yagami Shin. Shin, this is my girl, Sonja Piehl."
"Nice to meet you" Shin bowed.
"Hey, same! Aden said you were gonna ride with us a ways so hop in!"
Thanking her, Shin settled his bike into the bed of the truck and raised a brow when Aden slid into the middle seat. "I mean, dude, I'm the third wheel, I can ride the middle."
"No offense, Shin, but I've been nestled next to men for the last six months, I need a break" Aden laughed.
Oh yea, that might be awkward anyway. Sonja smirked widely, shifting the truck in gear and taking a u-turn, "Dunno how you put up with him as your bunkmate for half a year, Yagami-san, I can barely do it and he's my boyfriend."
"He was a handful" Shin teased.
Aden scoffed, turning on the radio. "Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me; I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed."
"My sister says this is all they play in the states right now" Sonja groaned.
Shin and his siblings didn't generally listen to pop. Well, the younger kids did but he just put on milder rock if he was driving with them, not…this. He raised a brow, questioning his English understanding at first or if these were some hamfisted metaphors. 'We can all use a little change'.
"Do ya'll believe these Y2K rumors?" Sonja asked along the way.
"That we're about to hit a technological apocalypse? Doubt it" Aden shrugged, "A new millennium though. Wonder what's in store."
…Yea. He'd been away from home for half a year now. What…was he about to walk in to?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
There were days of note in everyone's lives. Good or bad, they left some sort of impression in the memory. Shin would say that, after having a good journey with Aden and Sonja, that that day had been one of those days.
They stopped just a little ways from Tokyo which was about two hours from Subami, give or take twenty minutes. It was about a thirty minute drive from the small 'lady's school' Lyla was supposed to be at. Shin went and shook both of their hands, thanking them. "Call and tell me when you get to the states, Aden. And let me know where you two end up posted."
"Will do, bro. Hopefully fate will put us back in the same place."
Hopefully. Shin hadn't considered the fact they might not cross paths again…
They waited for him to boot up the bike one more time to make sure they weren't leaving him stranded. It started like a dream, like it had just been waiting for this moment. Shin waved as he zipped off west at around 3 o'clock that afternoon. He…would be lying to say he wasn't excited to see her.
It felt ever so slightly warmer in this direction but that wasn't saying much. If he hadn't had his thick army parka, he may have died by now, he groaned in his head. And to know he probably couldn't go in somewhere to warm up briefly wasn't very pleasant...
He stopped to verify in front of a large brick building. It sort of looked like a campus, several other similar buildings lined up symmetrically behind it. Looking at the map, he frowned and glanced up to find some sort of sign. Lady Margaret's School of Wifeliness. His eyes almost rolled into the back of his head. This was crazy.
Parking his bike, Shin wandered around before being struck that he saw…absolutely no one? Like, not a soul, literally. He knocked at the administration building's door and…nothing. It was a Thursday, it seemed a little…unusual to be closed.
Okay. So, Lyla had written her dorm number on her letters so he could start there. Wandering to the building, he looked around. Mm, he would have to go in and he didn't want to alarm anyone. Damn.
Mother, mother: how's the family? I'm just calling to say 'hello'. How's the weather? How's my father? Am I lonely? Heavens, no.
Hmm? Shin raised a brow, looking up when he heard the song in the near distance. Readjusting his duffel bag, he followed the sound. Just maybe…
When you sent me off to see the world, were you scared that I might get hurt? Would I try a little tobacco? Would I keep on hiking up my skirt?
Shin couldn't help smile though Okamoto Lyla had her face to her knees, his old CD player in her hands, sitting on an old wooden bench. I'm hungry. I'm dirty. I'm losing my mind…everything's fine! I'm freezing. I'm starving. I'm bleeding to death. Everything's fine!
"Dramatic much, Lai?"
She squealed, leaping to her feet. Her hair seemed a little bit longer than last he saw her but same ol' Lyla. Her green eyes suddenly filled with tears. "OhmyGod, Shin."
He pouted, setting his things down and holding his arms out where she pretty much barreled into his chest. Hugging her tightly, he sighed, "Sorry. You probably have all the reason to be dramatic."
"I-I've missed you so much" she rasped, embracing his neck, "A-And I thought I-I wouldn't get to see you."
"Oh, I would never let it get that crazy" Shin assured, holding her waist as he looked around, "I mean, where is everyone? Are you here by yourself?"
Lyla sighed, resting her ear against his chest, "It's a Catholic school so Christmas is very important. They closed the school so everyone went home…except me."
Shin frowned, confused, "Why?"
"…Well, father didn't really want me to. He…he said he wasn't going to be able to send anyone out here just because the school closes for the month."
Son of a bitch. "…Are you able to eat? Are there cooks here?"
"Mm, they…they left me some supplies but probably not much to last past this weekend. I don't blame them, they…they really thought everyone was going to go home, that it was in the agreement."
Shin's eyes narrowed and he released her, "Well then, naturally, you're coming home with me. I'm not leaving you here to fend for yourself because your dad can't be bothered."
"Oh Shin, papa might see me…" she sighed gravely.
"So? Let him" he snorted, "The Yagami can be 'bothered' and he can be mad about it."
Lyla smirked at him, her eyes closing some, "You haven't gone off and become a hothead too, have you?"
Snickering, he picked his bag up, "Maybe just a tiny bit. C'mon though, I'm serious. You have a backpack?"
"Yes…"
"Grab some clothes and throw it in there. Or, if you really don't want to, I'll set my tent up out here and we can forage."
She pouted at him before looking around, waving him on. "C'mon, so you can warm up."
While he was reluctant, wondering how they really could just leave one student here all by themselves, Shin followed her to her dorm. She apparently had the keys to both the entrance and her own room which was down a long hallway of other doors. It had been years since he saw Lyla's room back home. Alas, entering this one, he knew this was not how she kept it…
It was so sterile. White sheets. White blankets. White walls. There wasn't a single decoration anywhere and her clothes were neatly in her closet. It felt…really awkward. Looking around, he drawled, "I…take it your roommate is a neat freak?"
"Hmm? Oh no, her name's Reiko and she's actually super sweet and would love to put up some pictures. We're not allowed to though, it's unseemly" she explained, getting something out of a drawer.
Shoot him. "Lai…"
She hummed as she settled some clothes in her bag, "How was it though, Shin? Did you have fun?"
"Definitely wasn't summer camp" he laughed, leaning against the doorway. "…Well, guess I wasn't allowed to decorate either." Just he went to join the army.
She bundled up tight per his suggestion, putting on the backpack because there wasn't going to be a more comfortable way. She sulked when they got out to his motorbike. "Those are dangerous, Shin."
"You can wear the helmet" he assured, setting his duffel bag back where it had been.
"That's not the point!"
He blinked at her languidly, drawling, "Well, we can sit here and discuss some things then. Like that kiss from when I left."
"Give me the helmet."
Uh huh. Shin smirked, giving her the safety mechanism, kicking the bike into gear. She hugged his waist tight and he revved it up before zooming up the road. Figured. He had asked in the letter, actually, about it because he wanted to know if it meant anything in particular. His best friend literally wrote back 'nothing in particular' and went on about a whole other topic. 'Nothing particular', his foot.
But, well…that could be conversation for later.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Mm, this is nice, Shin."
Shin munched on chips, lying in bed, as they watched a game show. Man, he just missed the simple things like this. Going to bed when he felt like it too…though he was starting to feel a wee bit drowsy.
As they were driving, it started to snow heavily and he didn't trust himself to navigate safely. So, he found them a hotel and called his mom from there to advise he had to stop due to the weather. She had offered to come get them but he assured they'd be fine until the morning.
So, things felt awesome when they were walking around the little city, looking at the storefronts. Lyla was delighted to see all the lights and décor, grasping his hand and dragging him around. It…was like old times. Except, he noted, people were giving him a weird eye. He…was still wearing his camouflage. He probably looked like a foreigner.
"Shin, you know you got taller, right?"
"What? No, I didn't."
Lyla had said that when they went into a store so she could try on some strappy heels. He thought they were pretty cute, paying the shopkeeper while she was looking around to have them sent to their hotel secretly. Alas, Lyla had come near him and still was only to his shoulder. He hadn't really thought he was that much taller but, at Lyla's behest, had the shopkeeper measure him. 185 cm. He had only been 180 when he left. He was six feet tall now, wow.
Lyla had giggled when they sat down for dinner at a hibachi place, just…delighted. They sat by the window and could see the whole city aglow like she was. He had smiled, in the back of his head thinking he hoped he could put a smile on her face this whole time. It…sounded like she'd gone from one prison to another.
Around nine, they went back to the hotel and she went to the onsen for women while he went to the men's. It was everything he needed. His muscles weren't sore anymore but they sure were beat. He had meandered out after a while, putting on the yukata before going back to his room.
Lyla had already returned, blow drying her hair and also wearing the yukata. He stared at her as she smiled at him, rosy from the warmth, her hair kind of curly. Woah there, buddy. Clearing his throat, he suggested they eat the snacks they bought and lie in bed. She…had been the one to say one large bed was fine.
Shin rolled the bag up, standing to go wash his hands in the bathroom. "So Lai…let's talk."
"Shin-n-n."
His eyes narrowed as he came back, settling in bed beside her again on his side. She tried to pout to get out of it probably but they'd skirted the issue enough. "Look, Lai, it's not a big deal, I just…wonder, is all."
She made a face, picking up the remote to turn off the television. "…I don't want you to laugh at me. I don't want you to feel sorry for me either."
Tilting his head, he murmured, "Never…what is it?"
"…No one's ever said they love me before."
…Shit. "Lai…"
"So that was it, okay? I…I don't know if you meant it but it was the first time so I got moved by the moment."
Glowering, he grasped her hand, "I wouldn't just say that, Lyla. I do love you. I…I get it now."
Lyla snorted, "Yea right. I guess you can 'get it' but you don't know anything about what it's like for me, Yagami Shin. I don't know what 'love' is. I only returned the sentiment because I think you're as close as I've gotten. I…I don't know anything."
Shin frowned, deliberating, "…I…I guess how do you feel about me, Lyla?"
"How do you feel about me?" she countered dryly.
Pursing his lips, he turned on his back and stared at the ceiling. "I feel like you're my best friend who's been with me a long time, Lai. We've been together since we were five, six years old, y'know? We've come through stages together and I want more than anything for you to be happy in this world. I was trying to run away when I found you but you…you made my insecurities at the time better. You're…you're very important to me."
"Baka" she mumbled, hugging her knees, "You're gonna make me cry."
He chuckled, awkwardly stretching his arm to rub her back, "So now can I get an answer?"
As usual with Lyla, she hadn't said anything for a while and he actually dozed off once in between. However, she murmured, "You've always been there for me. The day we met, I know you were off to do something more important but you stayed for me. Even when you overheard my father say that disgusting thing about you and your family, you didn't turn me away. You made sure I got to go to my first concert and…you've always made sure your hand was there to hold. I've…I've never had that from anyone. I…I didn't want it to sound like that, what I said. I know I love you."
She made him all nervous and shy with that. Pinking a bit, he nodded, "I-I understand."
"However."
"Oh good, there's a however" Shin groaned.
Lyla intertwined her fingers, outstretching her arms. She pressed her lips together before drawling, "…I think it's awkward. I feel like I could tell you everything but this so it must be."
Curious, Shin turned back on his side. "Tell me."
"…Remember we were talking that once about me sleeping over? You know, the 'parts' talk?"
Racking his brain, he slightly recalled that. Oh. She said she trusted him above anyone else. "…Yea, I remember. What about it?"
"It's not ladylike, you see."
"Lyla, your school literally has 'wifeliness' in the title. Please don't mention ladylike to me" Shin grunted.
Lyla sighed airily, "The classes taught me it's even more unladylike! The woman mustn't have the same lascivious desires the man does."
"That's bull—wait, what?"
She gazed at him and he slowly did some…math? She was saying then they couldn't sleep together now because they have…parts. And it wasn't 'ladylike' to have 'lascivious' desires. Glancing off to the side, he ran the equation a few more times before…blanking. "…Lyla, what exactly are you getting at right now?"
"I don't know exactly. I guess I want what you taught me."
What he taught her? He didn't-
While he didn't mean to, he inhaled sharply, drawing back a bit. Lyla blushed and sighed, "I knew you wouldn't take that well."
"Lyla—Lyla. I-hell, I don't know what to say to that" he blurted, sitting up.
"Really?"
Yea, unfortunately, he didn't have a good response for his best friend wanting to have sex with him. He also wasn't too positive about his response when she got up on her haunches, leaning in to give him a kiss. Oh boy.
"Lai…" he shook his head, flustered.
"Relax, Shin" she said faintly, kissing his lips again, "…The healthiest way to live is to make a way for yourself, right?"
"I-I suppose."
"But sometimes you need a little help, right?"
He stared into her eyes and wondered if this was deliberate because he was a hundred percent certain he was being seduced. "Y-Yea…?"
"Then…won't you show me how to make myself happy?"
Shin could barely swallow as she looked at him hopefully. "W-What…? What does…what does that entail?"
"Show me how to touch myself."
Yep, Koji put her up to this, there was literally no way. Rapidly looking around, he blurted, "T-That's really funny, Lyla. You guys really got me this time."
Nope, she gave him the most sincerely petulant look. "I'm not joking, Shin! Show me. I…I got nervous when I tried and it didn't feel like anything."
His face was literally burning, he could feel it. "L-Lyla-"
"I promise, I'm a quick study, Shin" Lyla said just a little too eagerly, "Then maybe I won't want anything like that from you."
Was this actually serious? Was she literally wanting him to show her how to-to…? Running his hands down his face, he remembered to breathe and drawled, "O-oh, man."
"You're not sexually attracted to me, Shin, so it shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"Lyla, me-me showing or-or handling anywhere in that dimension of your body is a little past our friendly zone. I mean, if-if I had to, a matter of life or death or something, yea, b-but there's porn that can show you this! I can buy you porn!" he gasped, relieved at his epiphany.
She frowned thoughtfully, "But I thought porn was unrealistic?"
Oh, porn was super unrealistic, almost every woman there was faking, he sobbed into his hands again.
…Okay. Okay! This…this was weird. Hella weird. And it'd probably be one-sided awkward since Lyla didn't feel even slightly awkward asking so it was his responsibility to deal with the awkward. He took a long deep breath and mumbled, "L-Lie on your back."
"Okay. Should I get undressed?"
His mind was in a far-off galaxy of oblivion. Staring at her, wondering if maybe he'd hoped one of those 'wifely' doctrines was at least in play in their current situation, Shin smiled blankly. "S-Sure."
And if it stopped at showing her how to make her happy, it would have been…awkward but it didn't. He…he got a little too invested.
It was as if nearly thirteen years of friendship did not matter. He had been a soldier for that line for so long and suddenly, she reached out and dragged him over it. This…this should not have happened.
Feeling almost ill, Shin bowed his head and shook it. This…this was not going to be an awkwardness he could get over. He felt…disgusting.
Suddenly, hands reached out and grasped his hand. He miserably looked to Lyla and found her looking pleased. Why? What made this okay to her? "I…I just knew it would hurt, no matter what. That's what they said, that you're just supposed to take it to please the husband but…it didn't at all with you, Shin. Thank you."
…Man. Hugging her shoulders to pull her to him, he kissed her temple. "…I'm glad I could be an example, Lai. I…I don't want you thinking you're supposed to be hurt."
…He probably was one of the only people she trusted, that's why.
Lyla got up, pulling him to take a quick rinse with her. After a pretty anticlimactic shower, he absently pulled on some basketball shorts and a shirt while she changed their blanket. Climbing into bed, he smirked some when she went out like a light, her mouth agape. He knew he wouldn't be so lucky but…
He would never forget this night.