Nomad, Shin's Story

by Dark Ryuu

Growing up, Shin (Toy) always wanted to do the right thing for everyone that he could, especially those in need. But can he keep from losing sight of himself, his family, and his friends, especially his elusive best friend, Lyla, and new partner in life, Komari? A prequel to Step Toward the Future and Legacy, an alternate universe crossover between all games.

10. Fun

Chapter 10: Fun

Author's Note: Whoo buddy, this one was too tough for me to figure out how to divide reasonably so…yea, AO3, you have almost 70 pages. FF, you are…probably going to have a little less with the smut removed.

Warning: Macabre imagery and drugs. AO3, you have…a little more sex there. Enjoy!

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Shin grimaced, rubbing his temple as he stared out of the window of the plane. Melatonin.

Whatever he'd seen on television that had called him to take this action of joining the military was sanitized. It warned that the images may be upsetting to viewers but it was taking the most acceptable views of this monstrosity and placing it out for public consumption. What was actually taking place was not sanitized.

Sharance was a nightmare and for a couple reasons. The first was it was a damn maze, rooms leading to other rooms that had no outlet. He actually got out a scrap piece of paper to track which rooms they went through that actually got them going to what he hoped was forward. It had so many walls and windows that the Zechs could shoot them from about five different angles at any time. They checked every corner about three times, crouching low where possible, and avoiding all openings. He heard other combat teams taking artillery fire but he and Komari kept pressing their group to stay low.

The second reason it was a nightmare was it was the most gruesome thing he never could have imagined. Limbs were hanging…everywhere. Severed limbs. Just…hanging, like they were fucking curtains or something. Joro had dry heaved but Shin managed to keep himself calm by only a miracle. Blood was just…everywhere.

Komari was the most disturbingly calm. She analyzed the room and whispered to them, "The blood's not fresh at all and the flesh is dried out. This is a previous torture session."

Disgusting. They crept into the next room, finding something more unthinkable from place to place. It was the room with the eyes that almost caved the entirety of them but Shin quickly pushed for them to hustle. Please, just…

they got to a long hallway, there were cages and about thirty different guards. He saw the Terrans there, shivering. At that point? After going through about a dozen rooms full of the Zechs' work or dead ends? For that entire fire fight, Shin snapped. He was glad he managed to scream to the Terrans to 'get down' because he wasn't sure he was discerning very well. It wasn't until the adrenaline settled that he processed that he killed about eight Zechian soldiers. Komari, Joro, Saki, and several others also agreed that what they had seen in the rooms, it was just…dehumanizing, and it made them almost go postal. In that second, they'd…they'd all been dehumanized.

They quickly got into the cells and got the Terrans out. Saki radioed to the other combat teams that they had secured the kidnapped and were now moving them to the Humvees…across this entire facility. Thank God he made a map because he would have just flipped out otherwise.

Managing a scared and horrified group of people was a different challenge in itself. They kept crying and screaming upon seeing the macabre torture chambers and it was drawing a lot of undo attention. By the time they exited the building, around twenty more Zechs had been killed. Sixteen. He had managed to kill almost eight people a day in the last two days.

Komari was back to back with him, shooting as he directed the group onto the truck. There were too many Zechian soldiers. She could pick one, two, three offs but they were starting to crowd. Luckily, the combat team came up from behind and started to mow the Zechian groups down enough for them to get the last Terran on the Humvee…except…

Almuhtal! Almuhtal! Some of them kept screaming that, pointing at one of the Terrans that was about to be placed on the transport. Almuhtal? He hadn't heard that one before. Shin stared at the man. Something…wasn't quite right. Shin had drawled, "…Madha yaeni?" What does it mean? He may not understand the explanation but perhaps it was a warning to heed and he could explain.

The guy froze. What? He learned 'what does it mean?' or 'do you speak English or Japanese?' in a few dozen languages. Farsi then? Some spoke Farsi. He tried again in Persian. The man blanched. Bunun anlami ne? Dani artham emiti? Itan porul enna? Kore ha nan deshou ka? What does it mean?

The guy reached into his pocket but the damage was done, Komari shot him square in the head, Joro rushing over and finding a gun. Shin had gritted his teeth so hard, he felt them creak. He'd grabbed his radio, bellowing, "Ask if there are almuhtal! Ask!"

Komari had been horrified. The Zechs were going to sneak back amidst the group. This was the last group, meaning the others may have 'almuhtal' aboard that were going to shoot the Earthmates or soldiers. She gripped her chest, all of them listening to the radio with bated breath. Please, God, it had…it had been too much.

Shin had almost collapsed when the drivers and soldiers aboard chimed back that the Terrans reported no almuhtal on their convoys. Shin found out it meant, roughly, 'fraud'.

It was a success. They…they recovered every Terran.

Oh, everyone had been thrilled, ready to party when they got back from the base to the barracks. Shin quietly slipped off to the showers, stood in the cold water for about thirty minutes, and went to bed at around 10 o'clock that morning. Yea, they did it. Whoo.

Komari came in around 11, also freshly bathed, and sank down next to him while he was sleeping. Some part of him had been concerned about Teramoto's off-color question of whether he was 'screwing this girl' with that action but the other hadn't cared. She hugged his waist from behind and he needed it.

When Raga was released back to his family, he came to Shin in tears and thanked him profusely, insisting he would never ever forget this and he hoped to be like him one day. Nah. Not…not like this…

And for the next two weeks, they continued to patrol with heavier units, accomplishments like Fashion Week far from his mind. He hadn't talked to his parents since around mid-January but he managed to call to tell them he'd be home on Tuesday, February 20th, 2001. He'd get to see the twins turn nineteen before he was back here, possibly killing people again or coming across severed legs and arms. The little girl that brought him flowers still had made him smile though.

On February 19th, he'd packed and was dismayed he had to wear his fatigues until they got back to the airport. No. He wanted a break from being a soldier.

Komari had been all grins though. "Oh my GOD, I cannot wait to get home to some home cooking, a soft bed, and burying my face in my baby's crotch."

"Just something else, Yamada" he'd smirked.

"Yagami, get yourself some ass because you NEED it" Komari had leered, poking him in the chest, "That's on the prescription, buddy: ass, sleep, relaxation, and calm. It's an order."

With what they'd accomplished, all of them were promoted. Saki and Joro were promoted to Specialist while Komari was promoted to Corporal. He was now Private First Class…because he saved people and killed people in the process.

Komari knew he'd been messed up. She grabbed his shoulders when he sat down and glared, "Yagami, I know this was a TOUGH first deployment. You've been a part of some action that even seasoned soldiers don't see. But you did exactly what you said you were gonna do and don't you beat yourself up for that just because the road was a little bloodier than you were prepared for. When you go home, don't think about this, relax with your family, go to a hot spring, get some pussy, and take some melatonin to help you sleep and avoid jet lag. Got me? I'll see you when we get back in May."

Melatonin. Okay.

He looked up when it was announced they were landing in the Tokyo airport. He didn't even know what day it was now. He left at noon on the 19th from Iraq…calculating, he concluded it was now noon in Japan on the 20th. Crazy.

It was like he'd warped into some foreign universe as he shuffled out with the crowd to the main area to get his luggage. He quietly looked around at the billboards, grimacing when his mind had to readjust to seeing hiragana, katakana, and kanji, what he'd used this entire life until six months ago. Shaking his head, he went and stood by the conveyor belt, receiving stares from passerby. He had lost some of his tan but he was still considerably darker than when he left. Not to mention he'd gotten a bit more muscular and, to his horror, taller. At his last physical he checked in at 6'1", 185 centimeters. Add in the fatigues and he probably looked like a complete foreigner right now.

When he came out to the parking lot, he smiled some seeing other soldiers reuniting with their families. While most were traditionalist and containing their excitement, some had absolutely spazzed with glee. He looked around and…just melted.

Yagami Dana was standing there patiently, wearing a cream colored knee length dress, her hands folded in front of her. Probably a habit from her upbringing, one she never quite lost. Some people were looking at her, possibly recognizing her. God, he…he was home. He had a home to return to after all he'd done.

His mom looked shocked as he approached. "Oh my God, my Sweetie Plum!"

His family was the anti-reserved, he thought with a laugh as she managed to hug him around the neck after lunging at him. Holding her tight, he rasped, "I'm-I'm home, mama…"

She held him, probably feeling unending turmoil in his very essence. She let go to hold his hands, still smiling with tears in her eyes. His mother probably was used to turmoil. "I'm glad, sweetie. So glad. C'mon, let's get you to the house so you can change out of that awful khaki."

He snickered and opened the door to the first vehicle he'd been in that was also not khaki colored or a Jeep or Humvee in months. Climbing into the passenger side, taking a deep breath, he looked back. No one, huh…?

"Baby, can we make one stop?" his mother asked as she eased out of the terminal.

"Of course, mama…" Shin frowned, a bit confused she'd ask.

Dana smiled and nodded, "Your papa is quite, quite upset he got pulled into a complicated surgery. He's taken the whole week off to be here when you got home but Matsushima called him, practically begging. He has to stay there until eleven for postop too."

Oh dang. "Well, that sounds really important, mama, I understand."

"Well, I don't want to ask like you went on a luxury cruise, sweetie, but how was it?"

…How was it. Shin swallowed, trembling as he gazed out of the window, "…Mama?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I…I had to kill people. Enough…enough people that-that if it were me acting on my own accord, I'd be a serial killer but, because I did it in the name of saving people, it's okay. How…how is it okay?"

He wiped his eyes, breathing out. Wow, buzzkill. About to apologize, his mother reached out and held his hand. "Were those people you killed out and about, shopping, eating dinner, going to see their family?"

"What…? No…"

"Were they going to school? To the movies? To see their children be born?"

"No. But-"

"Those people are just like you. They could have been living their life to whatever their ability was and doing anything in the world. Instead of reading a novel or going to the ocean, enriching their lives by whatever means, they decided to take that away from other people."

Shin's eyes widened, looking to her. She was staring at the road evenly. "Those people decided that what made them happy was to kidnap, torture, rape, and murder another group of people who wanted to live their lives comfortably. Those people decided that because that's what made them happy, people like my son who also wants to live his life comfortably have to go and torment themselves, kill when they don't even want to, because they decided this was their path to happiness. They force my baby to be judge, jury, and executioner because they're monsters who had every availability in the world, even if they were suffering. No, it is not okay."

Tears streamed down his face as they stopped at a red light. That crazy calm her and Koji had was all over her face. She stroked some of the wetness from his cheek, nodding, "You saved people? Did you hand the reigns of life back the people those same bastards tried to take it from?"

"…Yes."

"…I wish I could bury your pain, Shin. I just know you need it because you're going back and you have to have it to make you stronger" Dana whispered, "It's too simple to say don't let it bother you. Just know that you didn't start this. These people had all the opportunities we can imagine and more. This didn't start with you."

…Yes. He nodded, sniffing, "You're…you're right, mama, thank you."

"Of course, my Sweetie. Well, did anything good happen?"

Shin smiled weakly, nodding, "I got promoted to Private First Class."

"Congratulations! Uh, I don't know where that puts you on the chain of command, but…"

He chuckled, "Not too high but I'm getting there. I-I honestly got to make a lot of calls that I shouldn't have been able to so I did get a taste of the command life. Probably want to get there if I don't retire after my deployments are done."

"Well, you've led your crazy siblings for years so you have the experience" Dana droned.

Shin laughed at that, shaking his head, "Good lord. In comparison, I had an easier time in the army."

Prepared to ask where any of his five siblings were, he paused, startled, to find them in front of the hospital where his dad worked. Wait… "I…I thought dad was in surgery."

"In about twenty minutes" Dana smiled, pulling into a spot, "C'mon. His mind won't be right if he doesn't see you first."

Was she sure about that? He might distract him more. Swallowing, he got out of the vehicle and followed her in.

Surprisingly, many of the longtime nurses actually completely freaked, squealing and rushing him with hugs and bowing and shaking his hand. He was…touched? He didn't know this many people even liked him. His mom smirked when they wanted to escort him to his dad's floor. "I don't think he'd appreciate too much of a crowd, ladies."

They just laughed and rushed him along. Crowd? He walked aside his mom and felt his heart race seeing the blond haired man among the sea of dark colors, apparently talking. Dana called, "Yama."

Yagami Yamada looked up, quickly turning to them before the biggest smile crossed his face. Yea…this Shin came back.

His dad came to him, hugging him tightly and exhaling. All Shin felt was his relief and it was kind of nice…he could only imagine the stress. Yamada held his shoulders, holding him out a bit and looking him over, "…God, you're tall. Next time you might come back taller than me."

"I doubt it, dad" he grinned.

"God, it's good to see you back" Yamada whispered, "Everything okay? Are…are you all right?"

"Mom kind of talked me out of a dark spot just now. I feel…vaguely better."

Yamada nodded and hugged him tightly again, "She's good at that. We'll talk about it when I get home, okay? I'm so glad to see you."

"You too, dad."

Dana gripped Yamada's hand, kissing his cheek, "Don't be distracted, Yama."

"Never that, dear" he smiled warmly, "Thank you."

Shin sighed as they walked out, rubbing his hands together, "…Little nippier here than it was in Iraq."

"I see that tan. I bet it was scalding hot" Dana gasped, opening the door to her car and getting in.

They chatted until they were in the neighborhood and he started to get excited again. Dana came down the driveway and parked. Getting out, he grabbed his bag and eagerly went to the door. Dana smiled at him as she put a key into the knob, "I am not going to allow you to be stressed during this time, my Sweetie Plum…however, I may need you to beat up one or both of your littlest brothers."

"You got it, mama" he grinned.

Home just smelled a certain way. While it was unusual for a brief second, it just immediately settled right into his soul, just so clean and fragrant. Walking down the hallway, his eyes widened, finding all of his siblings in the foyer arguing and holding signs reading 'welcome home'. He smirked. Home sweet home. "Hey."

They all jumped, having not been paying a lick of attention before suddenly chanting, "Heyyyyy!"

Shin laughed as they all excitably hugged him, talking all at once. He…was glad this felt good. He thought he was losing his mind just an hour ago.

"What the fuck, dude?" Yagami Nerimaru demanded, "You're fucking huge."

"We're the same height" Shin said dryly, as, once again, the twins very much were keeping up with him.

"We're not built like a damn tank though" Koji snorted, shaking his hand.

Shin raised a brow as perhaps Koji wasn't quite as muscular as him but way more muscular than he had seen him. "Yea, not the only one."

"Oh, that's for extracurriculars I can't mention around our dear mummy" Koji smiled sweetly at Dana who leered at him.

"Wow, really?" Shin droned.

"Never mind, I want you to fight all of them except your sister" Dana replied in the same tone.

Jill giggled, hugging his side, "I'm so glad you're safe, nii-san!"

"Me too, nii-san" Shaun agreed, standing with his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.

Woah now, the hell? Jill grinned, swatting at Shaun, "Yea-a-a, someone's voice got deeper."

Shaun pouted, looking sulky. Shin smirked, "What, the twins giving you crap about it?"

"No. Tony does…" Shaun leered.

Shin's smirk widened to find Tony glancing at his cell phone, ever the burgeoning Mr. Popular. "Sorry my arrival is interrupting you, itoto."

"A-Ah, no!" Tony blurted, looking up quickly, "J-Just my girlfriend giving me crap. Sorry. I'm happy to see you too, Shin. Must've been hot as hell over there though."

"Unthinkably" Shin groaned.

"Have a seat, Sweetie Plum, we're going to serve you lunch" Dana gushed, going into the kitchen.

Normally, Shin wasn't the jerk one but he almost found himself laughing to find Jill was actually a few inches taller than Tony right now. Puberty was a hell of a time for him to be away, jeez. Koji and Nelly helped settle everything on the table, the smell so intoxicating he was almost drooling. Jill laughed as she poured cups of lemonade. "Hungry, Shin?"

"I have eaten chahan and watered down curry for two months now" Shin groaned, running his hands down his face.

"Well, sorry to say, we also have fried rice" Koji laughed, setting said dish on the table.

And it was probably a hundred times better than what he had at base. Smiling as everyone sat down for lunch and talked with him, he felt…good.

…That's what scared him, thinking back. How…far he got from that point for so long. He was glad he realized what he wanted for his family to be whole. But then? …Not so much.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Whatcha doingggg, onii-sannnn?"

"…I swear I hate you sometimes."

Yagami Shin got the shakes. He swore. He got down to one but he still very much needed that one. What he did not need was his parents seeing him with this habit he formally decried for years. Thus, he went and hid in the space underneath their deck to light up a cigarette, a highly unoccupied area. But naturally, one Yagami Koji popped up upside down right in front of him, having slipped under the railing with that stupid ass grin of his while he was preparing to light a cigarette.

Shin sighed as Koji pushed the rest of his body through, managing to flip over and land on his feet near him. "Y'know, if it didn't put us both in terrible danger, I would say you'd make an unthinkably excellent stealth ops soldier. Give me all the shit you want but please don't tell dad and mom."

Koji smirked, crossing his arms, "I won't…for now. Just wonder what happened to ol' saintly over there."

"…Some bad stuff" Shin muttered, lighting up finally and exhaling.

"It's gonna sound repetitive and dumb as shit, Shin, but don't beat yourself over whatever that 'bad stuff' is. Sometimes there's only one way out" Koji offered, patting his pockets.

Quirking his brows, Shin sighed, "Definitely not wrong about that…"

"You have to do it?"

"…Yea."

Grabbing a black cigarette out of a black packet, Koji knelt and put one between his lips, lighting up with a black lighter because he was the ever loving child of darkness with his black cigarettes. "Y'know, I can't imagine what would even make somebody just murder a bunch of people. Anything else you could be doing in the world."

"…The first time, it…it was in an apartment building basically. They took people out of their homes."

"Imagine us just chilling in the house and somebody runs in to kidnap and kill us" Koji muttered, "People are shit."

Shin grimaced. Yea… "Well, got some good news for me? How is school?"

Koji shrugged, "It's going well. Should graduate after three years like I'm planning. Y'know Keiba came with me and we ended up being roomed together. We also have this new guy named Domon that is in our dorm. Nice guy. Oh, uh, and it's coed so that's been a bit…fun."

Uh huh. "Yea, had my own coed situation. My roommate was the only girl in my barrack or unit."

"…What?"

Nodding, Shin took a draw, "Yamada Komari. A hundred percent sure I wouldn't have made it without her."

While Koji didn't ask, his eyes held the same questions as others had. Shin rolled his, "She has a girlfriend. We are just friends."

"Oh, okay" Koji nodded.

"And, despite my horrendous decisions from last year, I can be just friends with a hetero single girl" Shin muttered.

Koji waved a hand, "Of course, man, but I'm stuck in a meat factory for half a year with a hetero single girl and we're friendly, I'm sorry, my mind might start to wander. And I'd feel weird about beating off sharing a room? Nah, if she was cool with it, some lines were gonna get blurred."

"I s'pose…" Shin drawled, tapping the ashes off, "I'm okay in that domain."

His younger brother snickered, "Oh really? You probably gave the porn we sent you away, especially since you were rooming with a lesbian. Gotta get your rocks off at least once."

"Nope."

"Uh huh" Koji droned, "Well, I unfortunately have to go back to school tonight but Friday? I'm coming to get you and we're gonna at least get your ass wasted."

Shin groaned, "…I guess I can do a few drinks. Update me on some other stuff. What are the kid's up to?"

It was Koji's turn to groan as he stood up, "…Dunno. I think Jill's got some little bastard she's hanging out with but it's a little hard to catch with me being so busy and far away. My worst fear is coming true though: she's gonna be attracting all sorts of creeps. Of course when I look at her, she's my precious baby sister, but I overheard one of her friends suggesting she'd get 'all the boys with her rack'. I almost died that day, Shin, they almost took me out of the game of life."

Shin covered his face, cringing, "I wasn't aware I was that unprepared to hear 'my sister' and 'rack' in the same sentence."

Koji nodded glumly as Shin put out his cigarette, shaking his head, "Well, I'll see what's afoot. Is the game plan still the same where I demand if the kid wants to bang our only sister and we want his brutal honesty?"

"Man, I don't even know anymore" Koji said, disgusted.

Shin was about to remark when he heard light whispering. Hmm? Gazing up, it sounded like someone had come out on the deck. "Look, Setsuna, about last time…I liked it, okay? But you can't just talk to me in public like that."

…Pardon? Why the hell was Tony not letting his girlfriend talk to him in public? He glanced at Koji and was shocked at how his eyes had darkened. What? I mean, it was a dick thing to do but it was nothing to get that mad over. Tony continued, "Yea, I'll come over a little while after school finishes tomorrow, promise. Okay. Later."

Koji crossed his arms, stalking toward the steps leading back to the deck, Shin following quickly. Dang, he hadn't been back a solid six hours yet and he was already back on older brother duty? He groaned to find Koji indeed had grabbed the front of Tony's shirt, the younger looking shocked. "Who the hell is Setsuna?"

"N-No one! None of your business!" Tony barked.

"Oh really? I just think it's weird that I saw you kissing on Taiko last night and today we have Setsuna?"

…Oh really? "Oh, so we're double timing now, are we?" Shin demanded.

To finish this trifecta, Nelly opened the deck door and drawled, "That's the dirt I got from Shaun."

Tony looked pissed. "This is why I hate having so many siblings!"

"Why? Because we're about to keep you from getting your nuts cut off, you dumb fuck?" Koji snorted sarcastically.

Rolling his eyes, Tony sat in a chair, "…Look, I know it's wrong-"

"No, no, no" Nelly interrupted, holding up his hand, "That is the least helpful way to start an excuse, punk."

"You guys have a whole freakin' harem and you're gonna lecture me?!"

Koji smacked his hand into the other, glaring, "We. Don't. Give. Them. Titles. The second I have a girlfriend, my dick's occupied property, dumbass, until otherwise vacated."

Wow. Shin squeezed the bridge of his nose as Tony pouted, shuffling his feet, "L-Look, I like both of them but neither of them are going to not let me give 'titles'."

"So your answer to this is thus to give them both titles that they both think only one of them has" Nelly said dryly.

"I don't know what to do! I don't want to decide!"

Koji exchanged a glance with him, his brow raised. Well, this was different. "…Tony."

"What-t-t-t-t?" he dragged, rolling his eyes.

God, teenagers. Shin glared, "…I'll call my first call for being back: we'll let you play this out. You've never been the kid we could just tell things to, you have to get the lesson on your own. And after you get that lesson, though, I want you to know you're fair game for an ass whooping if you deceive any other human being because you're selfish and for your gain going forward, you understand me?"

Tony looked shocked. Seriously, people made terrible decisions. Swallowing, Tony got to his feet, his eyes narrowed, "…Well, I won't get caught anyway."

"I don't care what the hell happens, do you understand me?"

"…Yes."

He stalked into the house, slamming the door behind him like he was being wronged. Nelly scratched his head, singing, "Dunno how I like that call, Sgt. Yagami."

"Private" Shin snorted, "And you know it's true."

"We also know Taiko has some angry ass older brothers similar to ourselves that will beat Tony's ass before we even get a chance to. And, at that point, what can we do? It's the same exact thing I'd do in their place" Koji sighed gravely.

Shin smirked widely, "You won't even let our sister date unless the boy confesses to us, three rather tall hulking individuals, he has a libido."

"Yea, and the second he double crossed my precious sister, I'd cut him."

Nelly snickered, shaking his head, "Welcome back, Shin."

…No place like home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"…Fuck."

He probably couldn't account for having ever heard his dad mutter a strong profanity like that so Shin was sincerely caught off guard. When the man got home around midnight, he asked if he had it in him to come on a drive with him. Shin was exhausted but he was still pretty amped up about being back in Japan so he agreed. His dad drove him to a diner in Subami and they got a cup of tea. His dad asked…what he'd seen.

Shin disclosed the part that stayed strapped to his every other thought: the body parts distributed across rooms. He told Komari to clarify if he was just crazy but she had whispered 'That fucking eye room, Shin. That shit was evil incarnate in one room'. It was. It…was literally dismantling a person's body and hanging it up to terrify someone into disclosing something and taking that same limb when they didn't.

His dad shivered, taking a sip of his tea after Shin disclosed this atrocity. He'd fallen silent and Shin had said too much. His father tried to save people, he didn't need to hear about separated body parts.

"…A guy I knew…"

Shin looked up, startled, as his father started…and stopped. What? "…Yes, papa? What about the guy?"

"…A guy…I knew…"

All he could be was alarmed as his dad almost started to shake. What the hell? "Dad, dad, it's cool. Whatever you're trying to tell me, it's fine. I-I'm sorry I told you about that. It's awful, I should have kept it to myself."

"No" Yamada hissed. He sounded angry. "No. I don't want you to keep anything like that to yourself."

Yamada set the cup down, folding his hands and tapping them against his forehead, "…A guy…I knew…"

God, was it his namesake? That man was the worst person ever, why? His father just sat there with his forehead pressed to his hands for at least ten minutes. Finally, he murmured. "Me. I'm the guy."

"…Eh?"

"A month before you were born, I—I saw a room full of blood. Dozens of dead bodies ripped apart by machine guns—shot out light bulbs, blood streaming down glass. It was just like an ocean of life…just pouring out…in that one room, that one place. I—I have nightmares to this very. Fucking. Day. And you—you weren't ever supposed to see something like that" he choked.

…Shit. "Dad, I-I can't imagine how you felt seeing something like that. It's…it's chasing me in my dreams too, I can't lie, and I…I think it'll stick with me for some time. Just…I couldn't save THOSE people but I…I'm finding solace in the fact that I did save a lot of people from seeing that same fate. I'm not okay but I'm…I'm going to be."

"…Good. Good" he whispered.

Clearing his throat, he dropped his hands, his face a bit red. That…that took a lot for him to talk about. "I…I guess it's weird it was so easy for me to talk about."

Yamada shook his head, "I hoped—prayed that my children were able to open up to me. I want you to be able to talk to me, Shin—all of you. About anything. I…I didn't have that. And even when I did, when your mother came into my life, I just couldn't bear to put that burden on her. That door…I don't want it to be closed on you all. Not again."

Wincing, Shin nodded glumly, "…He seems in high spirits, like he's doing well."

"Koji will do well in everything he aspires to" Yamada smiled, "He's…odd but he's a very good kid. At times I wonder if your mother was right, just…it feels like a ticking time bomb."

Yea… "Well, hopefully he settles down, makes a good name for himself, maybe get a wife if that…free spirit of his dies down" Shin drawled, drinking.

Yamada smiled more, "What about you? Any thoughts on that?"

"Oh, no, I…I probably wouldn't. I can't see putting a wife through this sort of strife I'm living" he smiled some.

Shin saw it in his father's eyes. He wanted to ask if the truth was Shin wasn't over Lyla and what she'd done to him. No, not even slightly. More so now given how much trust he had in another woman he literally just met. Granted, Komari could betray it, it was just human nature as a whole, just…he expected…so much more from Lyla.

Oh well, he'd…he'd stay out of that domain. Three months wasn't any time to get caught up in anything like that.

"Try this."

"No night…has ever gone well for me when you said that so that'll be a 'no'."

Yagami Koji grinned as he set two cups of blue alcohol on the table they were occupying at a club near his university. Nelly laughed, settling in the seat next to his miscreant twin with his own cup. "It's going to be all the rage, Shin: it's called Hpnotiq."

Which sounded like a terrible, terrible name. Shin made a face, picking up the blue drink and sipping it. Huh. "…That's not terrible which means it's sneaky and I'll wake up naked in another country drinking with you pricks."

Snickering, Koji waved his hand and shook his head, "Nah, man, it's definitely not 151 or Everclear. It can mess you up though but not off one cup. Did you get to drink overseas?"

Shin nodded, sipping cautiously, "They have this drink called arak. It's different."

"Oh man, that's so cool" Nelly sighed, "After our Euro trip, I'm ready for some traveling in my life. It was awesome."

"How was mom's show…? I really wanted to be there" Shin murmured.

Koji smiled, "Awesome enough she'll be back and you'll get another chance."

"Great" Shin sighed, relieved.

When he looked to the dance floor area below them, he raised a brow as someone seemed to be…yelling a song. He made out in English that was giving a very bold demand to 'shake ya' ass' but to also 'watch yourself'. "Huh. Things got a little wild out here, I see."

Nelly laughed, "Rap is definitely holding no punches right now."

"Hell, there's a second dude named Nelly now" Koji teased.

Nelly stuck out his tongue before smiling deviously. Oh no. "So whadd'ya think, onii-san? Gonna get your dick wet tonight?"

"No."

Koji smiled, drawling, "Well, I might."

"Go wild" Shin droned, "I might get a couple more drinks and take a taxi home if I don't see you guys come back."

Both Nelly and Koji sulked at that but Shin still wasn't particularly big on clubs, especially now that he was alone without…

…Whatever, Shin. He sighed, drinking and gazing off into space after the two ventured off. He'd been home for a few days now. His teenage younger siblings tried to hang in there with him but, well, they wanted to be out and about too now. So, he caught up on sleep, music, and some television. In the scheme of things, half a year wasn't too bad? The kids still looked the same except Jill was a bit taller. The music was the same, just some miscellaneous albums. It…was actually a little comforting.

"Hello!"

Shin looked up, jolting, when a young woman in a yellow mid-drift and low-rise dark wash jeans appeared, holding two beers. Eh? "U-Um, hello."

"I'm Naomi. Your brothers sent me over so you don't look like a loser, their words, not mine."

Leering in the two's direction, finding them waving at him from their positions grinding on girls on the floor below, Shin drawled, "…Um, Naomi, that's…nice but I'm not…really looking for that sort of…thing right now."

"You think just because a girl approaches your table they're looking to get screwed?" she gawked.

Holy crap. "Uh! Uh, I-I'm so sorry, oh my God, you're right" he blurted, feeling panic. Jesus, dummy, she didn't say anything like that!

"I'm pulling your leg. Nelly specifically sent me to suck your dick."

Shin groaned loudly, burying his face in his hands as she laughed, taking the seat across from him. "Relax, I know how off the cuff your brothers are. Anyone in the military has to be in another realm of discipline from those two."

"God, tell me about it" he droned, dragging his fingers.

She handed him one of the Heineken bottles, "Well, I come in peace, just curious about the one brother I didn't get to meet yet."

"Oh, uh, yes. Shin" he introduced, shaking her hand, "You go to school with one of those idiots?"

"I actually went to high school with them the last few months. I transferred in last minute when I came to take care of my aunt who was pregnant in Subami. I'm originally from this place called Tsuyukasa, it's near Tadaoka."

Ah! "Really? My roommate in the army is from there."

"Yea-a-a, one reason I jumped on that opportunity. No offense to you or your choice, it's an incredibly brave thing to do, but in our area, that's like one of two available things for you to do aside from just leaving. You probably had a few comrades from there, maybe even my brother. What's your roommate's name?" Naomi asked.

"Yamada Komari."

Naomi looked startled. "…Oh really? That's crazy."

Shin raised a brow, sipping his beer, "Is it?"

"Yea, if you met her…friend, Kasumi, you'd know just how crazy that is" she drawled.

Oh yea… "Oh, I gotcha. I haven't met her yet but Komari told me all about her. Sounds like a…very interesting individual."

Naomi scoffed, relaxing her arm over the top of the booth, "'Interesting', my ass. I don't know what you call her. A piece of work, maybe."

'Interesting'. Shin leaned in, frowning, "To be honest, I told Komari she sounds very possessive and manipulative. She…told me some things about the guys she was friends with and how Kasumi has them…handled. I wasn't a fan of the…thought process."

She smiled. She had dark brown hair cut to her neck and pretty honey-colored eyes. He guessed he'd concede she was cute. "Sounds like you two got very close for her to disclose that, Shin."

"Oh, I dunno about that, we just ran into one of the poor guys subjected to it in Baghdad. Mako, I believe?"

Naomi's eyebrows furrowed. Eh? "…Yea, that's my older brother."

…Wow. "Wow…the world really is quite small" he replied, amazed.

She snapped her fingers, gasping, "He called me and told me he saw Komari cuddled up with some guy at a bar a while back! That was you!"

"Woah, woah, cuddled up?" Shin demanded, holding up his hands, "It was a semi-loud bar and she was leaning in to explain the situation to me, we were not cuddling. I don't know what to make of this Kasumi yet but I'm not a homewrecker."

Granted, she had cuddled him in bed that once but he was falling apart and about to lose his mind. Naomi tilted her head knowingly, "I could see that. But, y'know, you get too close, you heard what happened with my brother. You might find yourself in a live-action interactive cuckhold porn."

"Absolutely not."

"Well, in the alternate universe where you do, I hope you mess her up. I couldn't believe how much neither of them cared about my brother's feelings but I was definitely pissed at Komari. Mako thinks the world of her and they unsettled him" she grunted.

While he really wanted to defend Komari in that vein, he realized she…was kind of going along with it? But… "Not to make excuses for her but she said Kasumi is…very convincing?"

Naomi's brows quirked as she drank her beer, swallowing with a sigh, "Yea, I can't lie, Kasumi is like some kind of savant master version of reverse psychology. She'll convince you that you wanted it, that you consented to it, and that it's all your fault. And it takes a while to dismantle her logic. Sincerely, sometimes I do think she's right."

Shin was appalled. "But it's not right to do. Her girlfriend might find men attractive too but she's committed to her. Yea, Komari told me it was kind of a turn on but it sounded like she was still more into Kasumi's response to it rather than her own. If you have a devoted person, why would you get caught up in what could happen instead of protecting what is happening? And why guys? Komari could be attracted to a whole other woman but it doesn't sound like she makes Komari sleep with them in front of her."

"Not to my knowledge…" Naomi mused.

"It's not acceptable. If it was a guy who managed to convince his girlfriend to sleep with another guy in front of him to prove only he gets her off, it'd be toxic as hell. Just because the genders are changed doesn't make it more agreeable" he grunted.

With a wink, she crossed her legs, "Just be careful, Yagami-san-n-n. You sound like a candidate in the running right now."

Meh. She leaned forward, blinking, "I know from Mako that you can't disclose much but…is it bad over there? Like really bad?"

"Well…yes and no. It wasn't quite the chaos I thought it'd be but when it does become chaotic, it's pretty bad."

She nodded solemnly, her chin rested in her palms, "…I worry about Mako. He's in communications but, y'know, I think the Zechs might get sick of the intrusion one day and just start attacking. They have a goal and a lot of people are just getting in their way, from their standpoint. At some point, they're gonna wanna take care of the middleman."

"And we'll be ready for them" Shin assured.

"I hope they stop soon. I…I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Mako."

Shin frowned, confused. "What level of communications is he in? I mean, it's unlikely that he'll be harmed unless they attack our base and barracks and at that point, it's just a suicide attempt."

"The lines. He…runs the cables for the pop up camps in enemy territory."

…Oh shit. Staring, Shin tried to find…words of solace. Alas, that poor guy literally had to depend on other people to keep him covered while he was out in the open making sure they could get into contact with other bases potentially during a firefight. Naomi smiled wearily, "It's okay. I know he's in danger."

"I mean, just-just hope for the best, okay? I-I felt a lot better when my family was so optimistic and spreading that to me, y'know?" Shin suggested.

She nodded, tilting her head, "You want another drink?"

"Eh? Oh, uh, sure. Here, get yourself something too" he blurted, pulling out some pieces.

"Now I thought you weren't trying to get some, Mr. Yagami" she teased, standing, "I'll be right back."

…Well, time wasn't promised to any of them but he…just hoped that Mako would be okay. He hoped…he hoped the guy saw getting a drink with his old friend that had an overbearing girlfriend…

For the briefest moment, his mind had gone there but he immediately rebuked himself, bitterness making his chest feel hollow. No, fuck that.

Naomi returned with two glasses of…something green and two shots. She grinned, settling one of the glasses in front of him with the clear shot, "You gotta try this."

"…Y'know, Naomi? May I call you Naomi as I have been for the last fifteen minutes?"

"Yea" she laughed.

"Trying things with alcohol has never gone well for me" Shin said simply.

She laughed more, taking her shot, "This may shock and amaze you, but, I have slept with your brothers before and man, alcohol in their bloodstream turns them into certified nymphos."

"More than they already are?" he gawked.

Naomi giggled, "They just become very…thorough and very domineering."

…Oh. Must be a Yagami thing then, weird. Shin took the shot, finding it was probably Smirnoff or something. "…You can not answer if it's TMI as it's actually TMI for me but…do they…double team you?"

She shook her head, "They won't."

"…Wha?"

"Koji and Nelly, they don't do threesomes together. A lot of girls tried and try to convince them but they're both adamantly against it. Now, I've seen them have sex separately in the same room and I can…personally attest they'll swap but like them working together? Nope" Naomi explained, shrugging.

That was hella news to him. Shin analyzed the drink, uncertain what unholy mixture would create this Cell from Dragon Ball Z color. "That's surprising to learn, I just knew they'd…do some kinky shit like that."

"Oh, they're freaks, don't let me steer you that direction, but they're apparently not that scenario freaky. I guess it comes off a little incestuous."

He couldn't help laugh, shaking his head, "Yea, it does, still just surprised that struck them that way. You'll recall one of them sent you over here to their brother."

"Aww, they just want to make sure their big bubby isn't lonely."

Tuh, lonely…maybe. Or maybe just crazy because he tasted whatever that drink was and actually found it kind of strangely tasty? He asked Naomi what it was and she said the bartender was 'keeping it secret' because a guy in the U.S. was trying to trademark the cocktail but wanted to hear what people in different markets thought. Well, it was damn good, just would be nice to know what's in it. But, of course, at some point, given he'd had the Hpnotiq, a beer, a shot of vodka, and one mystery drink, he was happy to entertain another when she offered…

Naomi was drinking hers, now sitting directly beside him as he felt kind of…loose after his third Cell from DBZ drink. She smiled at him, pushing a piece of hair from his face. "I was surprised…how'd you end up with blue eyes?"

"Our ol' man…" he droned, "They're hideous, right?"

"No way…I think they're gorgeous."

"That's…what she said too…"

"Who?"

"…Doesn't matter."

He blinked languidly at her when she stroked his leg to his inner thigh, purring, "You sure you're not interested, Shin-san? I can take care of you for the night."

He really wasn't. His…encounters since he became active were hinged on him having known the woman longer than a few hours while drunk. He liked to build something of a bond.

…He'd known her for thirteen years.

Pursing his lips, sucking his cheek, Shin shrugged. "Sure, what the hell?"

She seemed vaguely surprised before taking his hand, leading him toward an inner portion of the club. Somehow he found himself realizing he was not doing this in a bathroom. He had his limits. However, she opened to what looked like a broom closet which was…slightly better?

Shin leaned against the door at her direction, honestly just an entire novice at this whole function of public sex with pretty much a stranger. He gazed down as she got on her knees, unzipping his pants.

"Oh wow, I wasn't expecting that."

Couldn't say he'd had that particular reaction before. Shin raised a brow as she stroked his length, "What…?"

"Well, Nelly and Koji are circumcised…"

As was Tony. The sons born while his mother was forcibly married to that bastard were circumcised because of some tradition of that house. He and Shaun were not because, well, his dad saw no reason to? "Parents rolled a coin. The twins lost."

She laughed, shaking her head, pulling the flesh over the head of his cock, "You're a mysterious bunch, I know that much."

Their history was a bit unusual. It was nice…he supposed. And messy enough that he definitely wasn't coming to the broom closet of a club anymore, disgusting.

While it lacked all sense, he relaxed Naomi on a box of paper towels to recover, grabbing one of said rolls of towels to…correct his error. Naomi laughed breathily, her chest heaving, "T-That's very conscientious of you. I like it."

"I can't imagine making someone…ugh. No."

She put her clothes back on after a few minutes and she'd caught her breath, running her fingers through her sweaty hair, "Well, maybe next time we can get a hotel so you won't have to worry about that."

'Next time'? He was frankly a little startled as she kissed him, pulling away and walking out, winking, "Just if you're ever feeling…frustrated."

"O-Oh. U-Um, sure" he shook his head, dizzy, "W-Well, wait, where are you going? I'll walk you home."

"I'm actually right across the street" she grinned, "If I'd known you were all such a universally good ride, I'd have taken you home with me."

Shin flustered, walking with her to the door of the club regardless to see her go to an apartment building across the street. She did give him her cell phone number before she departed. What…

…What did he just do? That wasn't him.

Groaning, he ran his fingers through his hair, just wanting to shower and go to bed now. He turned to grab his phone and call a taxi. His hand almost dropped to the knife he kept in his back pocket but found himself leering instead. One Yagami Koji had mysteriously appeared in the darkest alley, smoking a cigarette, staring at him absently. "Y'know, phantom menace, one day you will get your ass kicked sneaking around like that."

"They want it, they can get it" Koji assured.

"Crazy ass. Where's Nelly?"

Koji shrugged, "Hooked up with some chick that wanted him to go home with her and her friends."

Crossing his arms, Shin's eyes narrowed, "…And you didn't want to go with?"

"Nah, I got a little swivel head and figured I was placated for the night."

Shin just stared at Koji who took steady puffs silently. Koji was such a weird guy. Granted, while he would offer Nelly and anyone around them that smoked a cigarette from his stash, as Shin insisted he was going to quit, Koji made it a point not to offer and even gave him nicotine patches instead. He was…supportive.

Taking his pack out regardless, figuring he'd drowned his liver already, he lit up as well and muttered, "Well, I'm 'placated' too so if you're ready to go…"

Koji nodded, leading Shin back up the street to presumably his dorm. They just smoked and walked in silence for a while before Koji said slowly, "So, how was it?"

"…How was what?"

"With Naomi."

Shin made a face, feeling…awkward. "I-I mean, she was really nice, really easy to talk to. We actually have a whole lot of outside things in common. It was a…good matchup."

His brother smirked some at him, "We weren't expecting you to marry her, Shin. She get your rocks off?"

"…Yea."

Koji fell silent and Shin instantly felt annoyed, possibly because it was two o'clock in the morning and he was tired and drunk. Also, because… "I can't believe you're still holding out hope. Stop it. She made her decision and I never want to see her again."

"I know, Shin. Can't I be sad about that though?"

Eyes widening as they came to a dorm where Koji punched in a few numbers on a keypad, Shin swallowed, silently following Koji in.

Could Koji be sad that, nine months ago, Shin would not have been having spontaneous stranger sex in a broom closet with someone that had admittedly slept through two of his brothers? Could he be sad that thirteen years of friendship was wrecked for essentially no reason? Could Koji be sad that that pinnacle of his life crashed into the pit of hell and he had nowhere to go but forward?

Sure. He…he was just going to move forward for these three months and maybe have a little fun. Perhaps it wasn't his nature but so be it.

…It did seem sad.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yagami Shin might have done okay in college.

He stayed with Koji for a little bit after the club. To his somewhat shock, he discovered that Nelly spent an exorbitant amount of time coming to visit. His school was like an hour and a half or more away meaning he was spending almost four hours to get here. Koji just shrugged when Shin pointed this out. "He'll get over it when he gets his grades."

Great. Meanwhile, Koji left him a few times to study so Shin ended up hanging out with the twin's longtime friend, Motosuwa Keiba, and the new guy, Domon. He was pretty cool, also from another affluent area in Japan. He joked that he had never met anyone quite like Koji or Nelly in his neighborhood though. Oh, and he probably never would. Shin realized after a little while though that he hadn't heard Koji mention his best friend, Ueda "Corey" Kurou in ages. Keiba shrugged, "I asked Koji too but he won't give me any details. Sounds like they had a thing."

Koji had known Kurou a long time to fall out over 'a thing'. Shin had tried to ask him himself but Koji avoided the topic like certain death. What even? Did…did best friendships even mean anything?

In the meantime, he got to go to a few college parties because Koji was a balance of discipline and shenanigans that defied all sense. Naomi came to one and while it didn't get to the exact level it did that first night, it got a little…steamy. The next party, he was doing keg stands and playing beer pong and in his drunken stupor, he might have seen her go off with another guy entirely. He wasn't actually sure how Koji and Nelly did it? He was honestly a little hurt.

"Dummy. You don't get feelings for fuck buddies" Koji advised.

The hell? "So you screw her with absolutely no feelings?"

"I mean, I'm going to make sure she's fed if she comes to me hungry, make sure she's not suffering if she comes to me sad, and make sure she's safe if I see her in danger but that's because I'm a decent human being in SOME respects. What I'm not going to do is get upset if I see her fucking another guy. There's no titles, remember?"

That was a tough one to swallow. Like, didn't it seem as if she wasn't…satisfied with them alone? "That would be the point, onii-san. Maybe the free bird style of sex isn't for you."

Probably not, he was way too possessive, apparently. Koji had snorted, "If she was my girl, then, uh, yea, I'd have issues with her sleeping with another guy. But are you saying you want to give Naomi a title?"

…Actually, no. He didn't want to give Naomi a 'title' at all. Strange, he was starting to sound as selfish as Tony, wow. Koji had snickered and told him just to consider Naomi for 'stress purposes'. Oh, okay, sure. No, that…that was about the only deviance he was going to dally in and he was considering that dead too. Just…a little too promiscuous for his personal taste.

The rest of the stay was fun. Koji took him to the arcade and introduced him to 'Guitarfreaks'. Just like DDR, he once again found himself doing something real world like, playing a toy guitar to match a song. It was surprisingly fun though…maybe he'd get a PS2 when he got home. Or steal Tony's since he was apparently more interested in playing a different kind of game right now.

On Tuesday, he went to one of Koji's lectures with him, something like biology or something he'd never consider his business major brother requiring at this point. However, it was a little more…exciting than high school had been. A lot more interactive with the automated machine queuing questions to answer and the lively professor gushing anecdotes as well as science. Huh…maybe he hadn't given this a fair shake.

Once they got out, reconsidering his life choices for that brief moment, he jumped when his cell phone rang. He forgot about that, he hadn't had one in so long. Taking it from his pocket as he walked beside Koji to his next lecture, he found the screen indicating it was their dad. Oh? Clicking the green phone button, he pressed it to his ear, "Hello…?"

"Hello, son. Must be having a great time out there, I wasn't expecting you to stay for five whole days" Yamada said dryly.

Shin snickered, rubbing his eye, "Well, it is a little exciting…"

"That's fine, I want you relaxing and taking a load off. Just you're not here for very long and your mom and I would very much like to spend time with you too."

…Yea. He would be back in the desert, mostly alone, very soon. And this time it wasn't for six months, he was gone for a full year. Swallowing, he nodded, "You're right. I'm going to come back tonight. Uh, maybe a late dinner?"

"Sounds good, I'll let you know when your mother and I are cleared up. Really though, enjoy yourself."

"Nn. See you soon, dad."

Koji snorted as he stopped outside of a building, hundreds of other students pushing past, "I'm trying to imagine dad calling to say he missed me, favorite."

"Go somewhere for half a year and see what happens" Shin scoffed.

Surprisingly, Koji looked off. What? "Uh, are you?"

"…Not right now" he shrugged, "…I was considering it for graduate school though. Mom was considering going to New York Fashion Week next and I went with her for a week in January. I got to visit some campuses over there too and I can't say I'm not intrigued."

Frowning, Shin crossed his arms, "Well, that sounds like an awesome idea, Koji. Down the road too? It should be fine."

"Yea…you just make sure you keep coming back in one piece."

Shin's eyes widened as Koji glanced at his watch, "Domon's at the dorm if you want to get your stuff and head back. You know how flighty mom and dad's schedule can be."

"Ah, right…well, I take it I won't see you for a while then" Shin drawled.

"Nah, I'll come this weekend and have dinner or brunch or something" Koji stretched, "Oh, and in March, I'm taking Jill to see Marilyn Manson with me. You should come."

What now? "Marilyn…Manson. That…really strange creepy guy with the creeper vibes?" Shin droned.

Koji grinned, "Sure?"

"I'll go just to make sure nothing happens to Jill" Shin leered.

"The fuck am I there for? Granted, I'll be listening to the music but I can kick ass to a soundtrack if I have to."

Shin laughed at that, shaking his head, "Yea, I definitely do not doubt that but I'll come as backup. Nice if you would consider going to some not crazy hard rock concerts while I'm here too."

"Pearl Jam didn't announce a tour for this year, Soundgarden is still broken up, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't coming around" Koji said with a yawn, "Might have to give it up for a little while, bro."

Bleh. Patting his brother's shoulder, he wandered away to the dorm. Domon let him in on his way out to get something to eat, advising he hoped he came around again soon. Probably. He actually had to go for basic training one weekend of each month until he left and it was only about twenty minutes from here. Couldn't have him losing his edge, after all.

Some girls giggled as he walked past to get to some form of public transport, looking toward him. What? Smiling at them, confused, they giggled more and ran a little faster toward a school building. What? He wasn't used to society anymore. Speaking of…

He half expected the number given to him not to work, that she was generally just tolerating his presence the whole time. Alas, he smiled when the voice on the other end connected. "Is that you, Blue Eyes? Couldn't stand a week without hearing my gorgeous voice?" Komari sang.

"Yea, just had to see if you were staying out of trouble between now and June."

"I haven't left my house since we got home there, partner. We are all business in the sheets here."

Shin raised a brow, curious, "Like, she's next to you right now?"

"Nah, she ran out to get some groceries. She's been all gleeful so I probably will not take a…masculine call in her presence until we get to the end of this venture."

Rolling his eyes, Shin noticed a bus board indicating it was going to Shiro Station which was near Wasaba…close enough. Going over to wait for it, he drawled, "Yea, can't have her thinking I'm shafting you from afar, I guess?"

"What can I say, man? She's wild. Speaking of shafting though, you got laid?"

Shin smirked some, glancing off, "Yea. And, actually, it was Mako's sister."

"What now?"

"The guy we ran into at Baghdad, the one you were awkward around. His sister."

Komari inhaled. "You slept with Naomi? Wh-What? How are you around Naomi? I thought you lived in Subami!"

"My brother goes to school here in Saitama" he explained, drawling, "She's very…knowing of them?"

Komari was dead silent. Oops, was this weird? She finally groaned, "Sorry, I mean…she's like a kid sister to me so I guess I'm a little shocked she's…slinging."

"You're like three years older than she is" Shin raised a brow.

"She's still a kid! Keep your dick out of her!"

He chuckled, "And you said I was the protective older brother, nee-san. But don't worry, I'm feeling some kind of way about being that…open, even if it only happened twice."

"Um, da' fuck? I thought you were on some sort of sex vacation for days. Go back and hit it at least three more times then I'll tell you to keep your dick out of her."

Shin laughed despite himself, shaking his head, "Just real special, Yamada."

The bus pulled toward the stop and he sighed, glancing at his watch, "Well, I'm about to get on the bus. You keep busy being tantric, I guess?"

Komari was grinning, he could tell. "Try it, you'll probably be surprised."

"Tuh, yea right. I'll talk to you later."

Climbing onto the bus, Shin quietly took a spot near the front after paying his fare, popping some Soundgarden into his portable CD player and closing his eyes. He asked Nelly and Koji one night when they were playing Uno at the latter's dorm if either of them ever imagined someone like Naomi as a little more than a 'friend with benefits'. Koji shook his head, "The person my imagination conjures for a wife is both supportive and someone I can mesh with AND insta-bone."

Insta what? Nelly had laughed, "So you want mental stimulation and physical stimulation? Good luck."

…He…had had that.

Shin glowered, opening his eyes to gaze out of the window. He…had had that. He thought.

When he got off in Wasaba the hour later, it was about 3 o'clock. There was no way his parents were going to be done any time soon so he supposed he could wander there for a few. He went to his former place of employment to see Ose. The man smacked his back, declaring that he was 'built like a tank' now. Really? Maybe. He laughed when he was offered a job once a week… 'sure', Shin shrugged. Might help him stay in shape.

Once again, he found himself walking past a group of girls who stared at him, unabashed. He must've looked crazy? It couldn't be his fashion, he was literally wearing a white t-shirt and jeans with a leather jacket, was this not a solid look anymore?

"Hey, pretty boy, try to save some for us regular shmucks."

Shin's eyes widened, startled, and came to a stop. Glancing over his shoulder, he almost gasped. "Joe!"

Akiyama "Joe" Jyou grinned, wearing camo bottoms and a white v-neck with a green bomber jacket as he approached, walking up the sidewalk, also pretty buffed up and huge. "Oh, so you just figured I was talking to you, man?"

"Shut up" Shin stuck out his tongue, shaking his hand, "What's going on? You being deployed?"

"Not yet, shit got complicated, I got pulled to do an inter-service transfer."

What? "What-What do you mean? You know how rare that is?" Shin demanded.

Joe waved him on, stuffing his hands into his pockets, speaking lowly, "…What's your involvement level right now?"

"I've…killed sixteen Zech soldiers saving Terrans. Is that involved enough?" he muttered.

It sounded bitter but Joe didn't seem to mind. "Those son of a bitches are fucking crazy. I know you're a good person, Shin, but people that do what they do? They don't deserve your sympathy."

…Damn. "…Right."

"Small island out in the middle of nowhere, sitting a little below and between Africa and Australia. Intel got reports that the Zechs are gonna start routing captives through near Yemen and getting them to that island via submarines. And your boy here has the strongest set of lungs they'd ever seen, according to the powers that be so I'm being sent to the Marines" Joe winked.

…Wait a minute. Shin grabbed Joe's shoulder, stopping him. "…Joe."

"Wha?"

"…How are your geography skills?"

"I'm from Wasaba, Shin. Subpar as fuck."

Shin squeezed the bridge of his nose, feeling a hard migraine. "…Joe, it is like…thousands of kilometers and miles between Iraq and anywhere near Yemen. And I'm having a hard time picturing this miscellaneous island but that's probably another thousand plus miles and kilometers. It can't be true. No one would survive that journey unless the Zechs plan to use airplanes at which point, what are the submarines for?"

"Couldn't tell you, dude. Seems like the Zechs definitely go about things the hard way" Joe shrugged

"Joe-e-e!"

Looking back, a black haired young woman was standing there, pouting and holding a case of beer and a black plastic bag which often denoted booze. Joe waved, "One sec, Shino! How long you back, bud?"

"I leave again in June and won't be back until next June."

Joe shook his head, "Man, long damn haul…but uh, have a favor to ask you. Might piss you off."

"…Wha?"

"So-o-o, before I left the apartment for boot camp, I was taking one last smoke…and, well, while high, I put some of my buds in a floorboard underneath a rug."

Shin stared at him. "…So, if I had gotten caught…"

"I would have totally taken the blame if you told them to dust for prints, all day!" Joe insisted, "However, when I got back, I wanted to retrieve my stash and went to see who has the apartment now…did you meet the person that took over?"

Shin raised a brow, "…Well, I actually gave it over to one of my dad's old Wasaba friend's daughter. Nesha or something like that. Dunno if she stayed."

"Br-o-o-o" Joe sang, shaking his head in amazement, "If it is, when I went to knock, I have never had a boner that fast in my life, I almost fainted."

Smirking, Shin blinked languidly, "As much as you love women, Joe, dunno how much that is actually saying."

"Dude! It can't be the same girl then, you'd have to be blind to not recall how hot this one is!"

"Uh huh…so, what happened? You get your weed?"

"Nope" Joe droned, "I asked her to have my children without thinking and she threatened to rip my scrotum off so I ran."

He was surrounded with the most interesting yet insane people. Shin sighed, "…So you want me to go retrieve your weed for you."

"If you can! And I definitely want to meet back up with you so we can hang out, dude, so you can give me the run down on what to expect out there. For right now though? Gotta run! Your number's the same, right?"

Shin nodded and Joe smacked his shoulder hard, "You're the greatest, Shin! I'll call you tomorrow."

"Kay…"

What a weirdo. Shin blew into his hands as he headed back in the direction of his old temporary apartment and former childhood place of residence. He was half tempted to call Komari and ask if she'd heard anything about this crazy plan to take the Earthmates to a freakin' island. It made absolutely no sense!

…Hmm. Though it…reminded him of her, maybe there was a guy he could get some outside perspective from on that move. Then he would call Komari and run it by her, so long as she wasn't in 'tantric' mode with her girlfriend. He wandered up the steps, shaking his head again. Well, he guessed he was the only one not in the mood for that right now…

Knocking on the door, Shin stuffed his hands into the pocket of his leather coat as he waited. Stood to reason she might not be home, it was 3:30 on a Tuesday. However, after a minute, the door opened.

They actually only ever talked on the phone, the whole transaction was never made entirely in person. She sounded like a Wasabean. They had a brusque no-nonsense tone and he had felt she wasn't going to leave him hanging. It hadn't crossed his mind what she looked like. Alas, when she appeared, he completely…lost all thought.

She…might have been about 5'6", 167 centimeters, long curly golden tresses streaming down her back to about her waist with gorgeous verdant eyes. He had almost always made it a point not to notice things like breasts or hips first but she was wearing a white mid-drift tank top that gave his imagination the day off and a pair of low rise shorts that made absolutely no sense in this weather except to show off she was a perfect hour glass of utter glory. And in that moment, he absolutely understood 'insta-bone'.

"…U-Uh."

"…Oh, hi. You're Shin, right? You're back?" she said, tilting her head at him.

He was who now? Blinking rapidly, he quickly smiled, "A-Ah, yea, I'm-I'm on break. U-Um, apologies, Ne-Nesha-san, right?"

"That's me" she smiled before snickering, "And if you're looking for the weed in the floor, I smoked that ages ago."

Weed? …Oh! "Ah! Oh, well, yea, that's-that's why I was here, ha. So, t-that's all. Take care!" he grinned nervously, bowing and starting to run away too.

"Wait" Nesha frowned, "Come in. I probably have a little bit to replace it."

"O-Oh, th-that's okay, I-I don't want to intrude."

She shook her head, smiling, "You're not."

…Okay. Shin cleared his throat, entering the apartment. Oh, now he got why she was dressed like it was a hot summer day, it was literally a sauna in here. Trudging off his shoes at the door, he jumped a little to find another woman sitting on the couch, wearing a green tight t-shirt and plaid shorts. She had purple hair and amber eyes, staring absently at a magazine. "Odette, this is one of my ol' bastard dad's old friend's son, Yagami Shin. Shin, this is my roommate, Hakuryu Odette."

Odette nodded at him simply and he smiled awkwardly, "A-Ah, nice to meet you."

"Please, have a seat" Nesha offered the seat next to Odette.

Mmkay. Sitting down out of politeness, he was feeling a little…stupid. He didn't know anyone to talk to them or say he was trying to catch up, this was crazy. She already said his errand was gone. Odette looked up suddenly. "Wait, Yagami?"

"Y-Yes?"

Odette suddenly snickered. "Nothing, I just work at a bar in West Wasaba and I can't count the number of middle-aged bitches that come in and get toasted enough to start talking about the old day's and a Yagami's 'lingual' skills from the seventies."

Shin was confused. His dad knew Japanese and English? "Lingual skills?"

This perfect stranger formed a V with her fingers and proceeded to stick out her tongue between them. He stared at her for a long, long moment because absolutely nothing about anything that just occurred would settle into any formation of acceptance in his brain. "…WHAT?"

Nesha laughed as she walked around the kitchen, "Dang, Odette, that's his dad. He might need a stiff drink for that sort of information."

"I need to bleach my brain, you mean?"

Now absolutely thrust back into reality and needing to escape whatever version of that horrid place this was, Shin started when Nesha handed him a cup. "Can I be honest with you, Shin?"

"I'm not really sure how much more 'honesty' I can handle following that information on my dad but sure" he groaned, taking the container and staring at it. Clear so either water or liquor…

"I usually don't let random dudes into my apartment but you're pretty fucking sexy and I'm now second guessing it because the trance is gone" she laughed again.

Shin flustered but smirked. "…Honestly, I wasn't going to come in either but might have had a similar reaction. I can leave, really. Thank you for answering."

"No, no, finish your drink first. I did invite you in, I need to practice some hospitality."

…Kay. He sipped and, yep, vodka. Better finish this and run. Nesha went back to the kitchen and he noticed on the coffee table a clear bowl of those soft mints some of the old auntie's used to have when he was kid. Smiling at the nostalgia, he cleared his throat, "U-Um, you mind if I get one of the candies?"

"Oh, help yourself!" Nesha called.

Picking out a pink one, he popped it in his mouth…and that was definitely not candy. Chewing and swallowing, he slowly sipped the vodka in confusion. Huh…he definitely remembered some sweetness. No, no, that was definitely a medication, oops. He glanced over the table and grimaced to find there was indeed a tray of gummy bears as well. Damn, he might have taken someone's medication! "A-Ah, I-I'm sorry, I thought these round things were mints. I think I may have taken someone's meds, I'm sorry."

Odette quickly looked up from her magazine, her eyes wide, "Oh shit, I thought we put those away."

Nesha almost ran into the room, blanching, "O-Oh shit, let me get you some water."

What? Shin was confused as Nesha brought him a tall glass of water, sitting beside him and urging him to drink it. What? Wait… "…What did I just chew up?"

She groaned, squeezing her temples, "…Don't tell the cops?"

Oh fuck. "What was it?"

"E-Ecstasy" she smiled quickly.

Shin guessed he was the straight edge one because he had absolutely no idea what that meant. "Should I go home and sleep it off?"

"U-Um, yo-you probably won't be able to…" Odette stammered. "U-Uh, you can try though. Just relax. Here, let me take your coat."

What? Shin made a face as they panicked and took his coat, advising him to drink the water. What was it? It wasn't doing anything…

…For about thirty minutes, that was the case, anyway. Eventually, he started to feel…very, very, very relaxed. Perhaps more relaxed than he'd ever felt in his entire existence. Kind of slumping deeper into the couch, he gazed as Nesha continued to urge him to drink more water. Her tits were right in his face. Did she have three nipples per boob? The protrusions looked that way. Staring at them as she spoke to him words he had entirely tuned out into nothingness, he drawled, "…Lemme…lemme see your tits…"

"Uh, w-what?"

"Leh me…lemme see your tits…"

Nesha panicked, "S-Sure, if you just don't tell the cops on us."

Cops on what? He just nodded to whatever that promise was and she quickly pulled the hem of the tank top down under the bountiful mounds. Oh shit, he'd only heard about nipple piercings, two bars pierced through rosy pink nubs. They…they were nice, he wanted to play with them. He winced as his penis was almost ripping through his jeans. What? What was this?

"Oh fuck, it's huge" Odette gasped.

"It's the pill, Odette."

Somewhere in some far region of his mind, every bit of propriety he ever had was huddled up in a drooling stupor, else he would never in his lifetime have just unzipped his pants and started fondling his cock over his boxers right in front of two strangers. It was just weird, he'd never had an erection like this…

"…I mean, Nesha, he's already taken the ex…"

"No, Odette. He doesn't even know what he took!"

Shin stared as the two argued, still…maybe a little lucid? "…What are we talking about?"

Nesha blushed prettily, pulling her shirt back up much to his dismay. "U-Um, u-usually we take that stuff with willing partners? But you made an honest mistake and might not have a complete grasp of what's going on so you might not exactly be willing."

Willing to…? Odette smiled, rubbing his arm, "Or you could be willing…maybe if we take some too?"

"Sure, I'm free for a few hours…" For…whatever he was willing to do.

The blonde groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose, "He's out of it, Odette."

Odette got one of the pills and took it, sticking out her tongue, "Then I'll be 'out of it' with him, you be all nervous."

Oh, so these were drug drugs. Nesha grudgingly popped one as well, leering in Odette's direction, "He might have a big cock, Odette, but he's a rich kid. They typically don't know how to use it."

"Only one way to find out."

Shin squinted, his brows furrowing. What about his penis? Did they know why it was hard like this…? He rested his neck back over the couch as they continued to argue on either side of him. This was nice, he didn't feel any strange panic right now over what was going on out there or whether he was going to die overseas. He blinked languidly as slowly Odette started to also get calmer, curling into his side. "Hey-y-y, Yagami, are you a virgin?"

"Oh no, no" he smiled, "Why do you ask…?"

"Oh, just wanted to know what your experience level is…"

He was confusingly not confused when she kissed him, running her hand up his chest. She gasped suddenly, pulling away and grabbing the ends of his shirt, taking it off. "You're so muscular…"

Shin frowned a bit before she started to kiss him again, running her fingers through the delves of his abs. Well, he had already had stranger sex twice so what the hell? Prepared to suggest they move to a bedroom to make this not awkward for Nesha, he felt the blonde tug his head in her direction to kiss her next. Wait, wait, was he supposed to make a choice? That was rude.

Odette started to nip at his neck while Nesha continued to kiss him hard. Weird, why wasn't Odette upset they were competing?

…Wait a minute. "W-Wait, wait" Shin droned, turning out of the kiss, so puzzled his head was swimming, "…W-What's happening here?"

"What do you think?" Odette whispered, nipping underneath his ear.

Nesha reached down and started stroking him underneath his pants, also kissing his neck. There was no way. "Is…is this a threesome? Those aren't real, they only happen in porn!"

They both giggled and Nesha teased, "Porn had to get the idea somewhere from reality, Shin-san."

Well, damn. "Well, I…I have to…to make you both come equally in that case, right?"

Odette looked…surprised, "Well, I mean, I appreciate the idea, but-"

Both women gasped as he managed to pick them both up, grunting, going toward the only bedroom. The bed wasn't very big, about a full, but he supposed he could manage. Setting them down, he dragged out, "Get…get naked, I have work to do."

"You're kind of crazy, Yagami" Nesha snickered.

"Hey, he said he has work to do, Nesha" Odette replied, seeming almost coy before reaching out to remove the blond woman's tank top.

Huh…insta-bone.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Where in the hell was he?

Yagami Shin stared at…some ceiling. It was kind of pulsing which meant either someone was about to crash through or he got clubbed over the head. Trying to readjust his eyes, he realized that…he couldn't. What the hell? Was…was this what poor vision was like? This was shit. And why were his arms so heavy, was he tied up?

Managing to move his head with his out of focus vision to look to the source, he paused to find Nesha lying there, sleeping heavily. She…was quite naked, her creamy body very apparent even in the dark. But why…was she naked…? And…why was he naked? How did they come to be naked together? What was on his other arm?

Slowly turning his head, his mind was not able to compute why Odette was also naked while he and Nesha were naked and almost in a comatose like sleep on his shoulder. Once again, he…woke up with no comprehension and feeling…sticky. But there were two women here, what sense…

… Shin stared at Odette before looking back to Nesha…and back to Odette again. Turning to stare at Nesha again, he…

"…Oh my God."

What the living fuck happened?! He thought he was hallucinating! Carefully sliding his arms from underneath their heads, he sat up…and almost crashed back into bed. It felt like he weighed a thousand pounds. "H-Holy crap…"

What time was it? What day was it?! Gripping his skull, he tried to search a memory bank that seemed full of holes and was also on fire. He…he was coming here…to get…weed? What? He didn't smoke weed, why did he come here for weed?!

Finding his phone in his pants' pocket, he breathed out, relieved to find it…was what he assumed was the same day he thought it was but it was like 7 o'clock. Okay, time…time to make an escape here because he had no human grasp on how this occurred.

Going into the bathroom and taking a quick rinse, he'd…tried to wash off…parts but he just grazed his nipple and got excited? What the hell was wrong with him?! Finding himself beating off, he recalled…holy crap, they had taken drugs!

Staggering out of the bathroom, he pulled on his clothes and gazed around for a piece of paper. Okay, if…if this went left, he could at least leave his contact info. This…was not anything he thought would ever take place in his life.

Shin set the paper on Nesha's nightstand before covering the two in a blanket he found in the closet. Huh…two more women he had to apologize to because he had absolutely no idea what he'd done to them.

Honestly a little scared, he managed to get out of the building…and it was weird getting home. He kept getting sidetracked by seeing the old record store where he and the twins used to go, the old ice cream shop where he got milkshakes…his heart felt like it was getting tight and he found himself almost crying. Why? It paced away though and he continued toward his childhood home feeling…airy. He just sincerely felt…blissful? Despite having lost four solid hours of his life apparently having kinky sex with not one but two strangers, he was just feeling kind of good. Nirvana.

It was about eight by the time he was walking up the long driveway to the Yagami Mansion. He wasn't sure what kind of witchcraft he consumed but he was still almost walking sideways and feeling just as loose and limber as a cloud. Shin smiled some when he saw his dad getting out of the car, holding his cell as if he'd just gotten off a call. He loved his dad…

Oh Jesus, his dad. "Hey, son. You're just getting back?" Yamada questioned, closing the door to his SUV.

"Ha…ha, yea…" Be cool, dummy.

"Your mom said she'll be home in about an hour and I know a good place for us to get something to eat when she gets here" Yamada nodded, taking out a bag from the backseat.

Shin nodded rapidly, "That-That sounds wonderful."

Yamada raised a brow at him because Shin was outside of himself but he knew everything, even his mannerisms, were off as hell. "…You okay, Shin?"

"U-Um fine."

His dad stared at him as they approached the front door, the man unlocking it and immediately turning on the lights in the entry. Shin stumbled in behind him before straightening up, smiling widely when his dad turned to look at him again. Be cool, DUMMY.

Alas, one Yagami Yamada gave him one look over before grabbing his jaw and staring him straight in the eye. "…Son, your pupils are so dilated your iris is almost black. What were you doing?"

Damn it! "I-I really didn't mean to, papa, I-I was visiting s-someone in Wasaba and-and I thought they had a bowl of mints on the table and-and it…it sure wasn't mints."

Even impaired, that story sounded like bull. However, Yamada groaned, releasing him and shaking his head, "…Some things never change."

Eh? Yamada sighed, "When did you take this not mint?"

"A-Around 3:30, 3:45…"

"And you're still feeling it?" Yamada questioned, startled.

…Wow, that was weird, that was almost five hours ago. Yamada made a face and shook his head, walking toward the kitchen and getting something out of the drawer. It was yet another pill. Grabbing a bottle of water, he handed it to Shin and droned, "Take that and go sleep it off on the couch."

"O-Okay. What's…what's this?"

"It's something we have in testing phase but it's either going to work for you or it won't."

What now? Shin just nodded dumbly and took it, setting the water down. "So-Sorry, dad. I would never want to disappoint you doing something this-this dumb."

Yamada patted his back, "I know, son, you're fine. Just don't accept mints in Wasaba."

Yea, no kidding. They both went into the living room and Shin lied down on one of the elongated pieces while is dad stretched across the other, turning on the television. Grabbing the throw and going to sleep, Shin couldn't help remember that…whatever that sleep was on that drug, he didn't have one thought about severed limbs or eyes hanging from walls. The cost was him having a kinky threesome with two strangers. Albeit very, very attractive strangers, but still strangers.

…Huh. He guessed he was following his 'nee-san's' orders, he thought sarcastically as he drifted off.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Yagami-san…you can have whoever you want."

He must've still been high as hell.

He was in a room with most of the women he'd had a sexual relationship with, around seven, and…Komari. She was the one that said that and it creeped him out. Unfortunately, he knew what Komari looked like naked and he knew what she sounded like flirty so his imagination had all the material it needed. He held up his hands. "Komari, that's-"

"You know you're curious."

… "I…"

Nesha and Odette were curled up on the bed with each other, his other high school partners staring at him drearily, also naked. Naomi was smirking at Komari. "Fuck her up."

"What in the HELL. No."

FINE, was he VAGUELY curious? Yes. Was he also not eager to be in that situation with Komari because he honestly valued her friendship and camaraderie more than a quick romp? ABSOLUTELY YES.

"Shin?"

He froze. What?

Slowly looking over his shoulder, his throat went dry to find Lyla just on a separate bed entirely, staring at him, doe eyed. "…I love you."

"Shut up."

"Please…look deeper."

"Shut up! I fucking can't STAND you!" he screamed.

Her eyes closed and he was shivering with rage. Why was she here? Why…why couldn't he get her out of his head? This-

"…Fucking hafu."

Shin glared, glancing to his left. Standing there was not only Lyla's bastard father but Sato, a rather racist duo if anything. Shin opened his mouth to say something to them, to tell them…something. Alas, Bajiru snorted, "…Fucking hafu with your broken ass brain. Like you could have ever been worthy of her."

"Shut the hell up, I was!"

Turning to her, about to demand why she wouldn't just SAY something, the air was snatched and dragged out of his lungs instead.

He covered his mouth, trying not to scream when Lyla and the other women were replaced by the limbs and eyes from Sharance. Sato chuckled, "Fucking hafu."

Shin inhaled hard, sitting up stiffly. Fuck.

"Sweetie Plum, are you okay?"

Startled, he looked to the side and saw his mom standing there, wearing a sleek high waisted pair of dark pants and a white scoop neck shirt, her hair up. He almost didn't recognize her, she rarely wore…pants. Holding his chest, he smiled, strained, "I'm-I'm okay, mama."

She came over and hugged his head to her stomach, stroking his hair, "…It's all right, baby."

"I…I know, mom…" he rasped, "…I just don't…don't know how to forget."

"…I don't know that you can, sweetie. Not normally anyway."

…Right. She kissed the top of his head, murmuring, "You were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you. C'mon, your papa wanted to take us to dinner."

He was…not slightly hungry after that dream but he just nodded. "Okay."

Shin yelped, once again alarmed, when his mom gave his ear closest to her one firm pinch and dragged it. Damn, that hurt. He had only ever watched the other sons get it, why?! Dana smirked, letting go, "And keep it in your pants, young man."

EH? Shin gaped as she walked away, bringing to his attention his dad standing in the large entry way, leaning against the doorway with a smirk on his face. How-how did she know-? "…I could help you with the other thing, son, but you're literally covered in hickeys. You have one on your jaw."

WHAT? Clambering to his feet, he stared into one of the mirrors on the wall and almost died. Well, while he was high out of his mind, he failed to notice his neck looked like a constellation of disaster. Blushing deeply, he was…mortified. Panicked, he blurted, "I-It's not what it looks like!"

"Son, we know you're a healthy young man" Yamada yawned, stretching, "Just be safe. C'mon, let's get something to eat."

Ugh. Bashfully sticking his hands in his pockets, he wandered to the foyer where Shaun, Jill, and his mother were putting on jackets. Maybe…he had a turtleneck? About to resign from this dinner out of shame, Yamada rounded the corner and cheerfully hustled them out. Great.

Shin wanted to sit in the trunk, honestly, when they got in the SUV but the kids commanded the back because he guessed that was cool. Riding solo in the middle, he drearily gazed to the passenger seat where Dana hummed. God, his mom thought he was a slut. And based on the last 48 hours, he was.

"Sweetie Plum, how was Koji doing? Is he goofing off?" Dana asked.

What miracle let him keep 'Sweetie Plum' status? "Oh, uh, not really, actually? He was like he was at home during school, he had a segment for goofing off and a segment for school and he maintained both equally. The other one though…might be some concern there."

"Other one?" Yamada echoed.

"Yea, Nerimaru was there a little too often…"

Their parents exchanged a quick look as Yamada stopped at a stop light. "…In Saitama? He's traveling all the way there?"

"Yea, but I wouldn't say anything. Koji said once Nelly got a dose of reality, he would stop. I think it's true, Nelly just needs to get used to not having Koji around all the time."

"Poor baby" Dana pouted, "I really wish Koji had decided to go to school with him."

Yamada shook his head, taking a turn, "Koji's just not that kid, Dana, he's not clingy. Nerimaru was clingy from the start. He does need a little separation."

Mama sulked because she wanted all her babies to be happy, Shin thought with a smile. He guessed she could have made a bigger fuss about him coming home covered in hickeys. Shin scowled when Shaun suddenly popped over his shoulder. The youngest whispered, "…Dalmatian neck."

"I'll show you Dalmatian neck-"

Shaun laughed as Shin put him in a neck lock, Jill snickering. Dang kids. Wait a minute. Glowering back over his shoulder, still holding Shaun, he realized… "Where's Tony?"

"Oh, Tony is far too popular to eat dinner with us" Yamada said dryly.

"Hey, get your twin" Shin grunted at Jill.

Their only sister shrugged, "He's turned into a jerk lately. It's like he got that bad side of Koji's but it doesn't go away at all."

Huh. Shin released Shaun, advising him to put his seatbelt on, and drawled, "Oh, I guess I'll be home more to observe that 'bad side' then."

"You sure?" Dana smirked over her shoulder, "You're not going back to your brother's for a week and coming back with a hickey chain?"

"Mama!"

They laughed, much to his intense embarrassment. Wasn't this a little disappointing? He was generally the good one and over the last week he'd taken a chapter out of Koji and Nelly's playbook! He had to have lost some Sweetie Plum status!

When they pulled up to apparently a Thai restaurant and were seated, however, the younger kids were talking to their parents normally and his parents were talking to him normally...he awkwardly eased himself back in to talking to them normally…

…They were fine? Like, that's it? Other parents would flip. Of…of course, his mother just saw it looked like he had been attacked by a vacuum cleaner, not that he'd had stranger sex with one of the twin's friends with benefits and then an even more stranger danger threesome after taking drugs accidentally. But…

Shin swallowed as he ate his jasmine rice, feeling…ill. Hafu. They were…a normal non-judgmental family…and there were a segment of people like Okamoto Bajiru and Sergeant Sato who looked at them and thought they were vile. These…these were good people.

Angry again, Shin swore he'd fight all of that in the future head on. They…they had no right. None. His parents had been through so much and they had every single right and purpose to be bitter and tired. Instead, they took their kids out for dinner because they wanted to spend time with them after a murder shift on both of their parts. They laughed, they talked—this was normal. Or at the very least it was good.

Like a phantom, alas, an image of the decaying fingertips of maybe an adult, maybe a child, suddenly gripped his memory and shredded it to pieces. Trembling, forcing his general wellbeing to pick up the good and put it back together, he smiled weakly.

…They…might not have been right about the 'hafu' shit.

…They sure might've been right about his broken brain though.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"…You had what?"

Yagami Shin groaned as he slammed down on the sofa, alone on a Wednesday night. Mom had to stay late and work on a wedding dress, his dad was on night duty, and Jill was working on a project with one of her friends. Shaun was also working on a project but advised he only wanted Shin's help 'once I get the parts together'. Oh lord. And the other one, Tony? God only knows, he was borrowing the whole Narrative of Koji and Nelly at this point and adding chapters because the kid was gone all night. On a weekday though?

He'd honestly called Koji to say the whole system was falling apart with no one here but the jerk instantly started heckling that he heard about the 'hickey debacle' from Jill. God. So…he just confessed to Koji what occurred.

"I had a threesome…while high on drugs."

"Dude."

"I know, Koji" Shin grunted, turning on the television, "Highly out of character for me, I promise."

Koji echoed, " 'Highly out of character'? That's not even in your realm of existence, saint, what the fuck?"

Shin rolled his eyes, flipping through the channels, "I am human, Koji. Anyway, that's not why I called you."

"I beg the fuck your pardon? You'll call me, tell me you got fucked up on drugs, and banged two women at the same time and that's 'not why you called me'?"

Smirking, Shin shrugged, "You're coming Friday right? We'll discuss it then. For now, what the hell is going on with Tony?"

"What's the little prick doing now?"

"He has been gone…almost all week. The only reason we know he's alive is he comes home in the morning, exhausted, takes a shower, and goes off to school. I don't know if he's doing homework, I don't know if he's sleeping—hell, I don't know if he's going to school at this point. And having a passing conversation with him—he's a little asshole! What happened?"

It sounded like Koji was writing something. He probably wasn't thinking anything about home, he was trying to get out of college in record time. "Well…"

"What?"

"We never quite equipped him with being the oldest in this situation. Y'know, at any one given time, we were there and making sure they were doing homework, getting their rest, getting fed—really, can you say that you're not seeing some of that in Jill and Shaun too?"

Shin paused. Slowly looking up, it…dawned on him.

Koji was right! Jill was rarely home either, Shaun was off doing…something, gathering parts, whatever that meant! Not one of them had made dinner and he hadn't seen not one of them sit down and do homework! Jill might not have even been at a friend's house working on a project! "Ugh, Koji."

"I know, man. The other half might be in trouble."

"Well, I'll…put my foot down then."

Snorting loudly, Koji said dryly, "You really think you can run in there now and commandeer this situation? And then commandeer it for now like two-ish months and expect it to stay working?"

… "Damn it."

"Nell's coming Friday too, we can discuss some reconnaissance efforts but, fact of the matter is, Shin, they're growing up. They…have to make mistakes."

Shin grimaced at that, rubbing his brow, "Yes, I…I know."

"Easier said than done though, especially for Jill. We can talk about it later."

"Yea…" Shin murmured, "Sorry, you're trying to study. Just was bugging me."

The cantankerous fellow scoffed, "Concerns about the family are valid, Shin. I would want to be involved in rectifying where I can. Don't worry regardless though, we want you chilling."

"Yea, yea…I'll see you in a few days."

Clicking off, Shin absently stared at Inuyasha and wondered about his life. It was like seven o'clock and he was stretched out on the couch like an old man. Not that he minded but…

He jumped when his cell phone rang. Eh? Taking it out of his pocket, he was confused by the number. Who was this? Pressing the green phone button, he pressed it to his ear. "…Hello?"

"Oh! Hi. Shin, right?"

…Nesha? His heart started to race, sitting up quickly. What the hell? "A-Ah, yes, th-this is he. Ne-Nesha, right?"

"Nn. Are you busy right now?"

"N-Not at all." What…what was going on? Did something happen?

"If I give you an address, you think you can come by tonight?"

…What? "Uh, I…I think it can be arranged. I can head out here shortly."

"Ah! Great! The address is…"

…What? Shin hung up and stared at the screen as the credits started to roll. Huh. Guess…he should go figure out what's going on. Standing and grabbing his coat, he wrote a note to his parents that he might be back late and he'd try to call before he came home. But…late? What? If she was confronting him with what happened, it…should be pretty quick. Unless…she was having him beat up for what he did. Oh man.

Getting into his car which he'd spent the day tuning up, he drove into West Wasaba. Truth be told, he…had never really come here since he was a small child. In the rungs of worst sections, it was one up from the bottom. It…was where his dad was born and raised but it…

Okay, it might have been a bit prejudiced but he drove out of West Wasaba and parked in North Wasaba to walk into West Wasaba. Was it dangerous walking? Absolutely. But if someone stole his car, he couldn't account for that. He…definitely could account for beating someone up though.

Alas, the walk was innocent enough. Sure, he saw some hookers and pimps and a couple drug dealers but it wasn't like someone was just shooting at random. He actually got stopped by an older woman sweeping outside of a diner and asked if he was Yagami Yamada's son and to tell him 'hello'. His dad was a celebrity here, it was kind of surreal.

Going into an old apartment building, he looked at the slip of paper where he wrote the address Nesha gave him down. 2-8. Second floor, apartment eight…

Wandering to the bare wooden door after taking the worn stairs, he took a deep breath. Here goes. He knocked and stuffed his hands into his pockets as he awaited an answer. It was just so crazy to think that yesterday he…he was having sex with this stranger? Like, this was going to be the most awkward thing ever, what even got into him to have gotten as far as he had yesterday?

The door opened and Nesha appeared, wearing a pair of torn red short shorts exposing her thick thighs and a black Henley tank top that sat low on her chest. Shin stared at her face. Oh.

"Hi! Come in. I hope it wasn't hard to find."

How many what now? He mindlessly followed her in, kicking his shoes off at the door, "U-Um, not…not at all. My…my dad lived around here somewhere, I think. Where are we…?"

"This is my sister's apartment. She's working the night shift so I asked her if I could use it."

…Why? She had her own place. Shin raised a brow when she grabbed his hand…and pulled it around her. Wait?

"…U-Uh-"

She hugged his neck, staring up at him with half-closed green eyes. "I know it sounds dumb as hell but I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since yesterday."

Meep. "U-U-Uh."

"I woke up before Odette did last night and saw your number. I hid it" she purred, kissing his jaw, "I knew next time I didn't want to share."

…Next time? Shin almost gawked as she kissed to his neck, nipping. What the hell was happening here?! "U-Um, Nesha-san, I-I am so, so flattered, but-"

"Hmm? But-t-t-t?" she sang, pulling away to take off his jacket.

Shin was alarmed when she pulled him to the couch, pushing him there to crawl and sit on his crotch. What was even happening right now?! About to say something, his brain liquefied when she took off her shirt. The nipple piercings.

"N-Nesha" he blurted before he teetered over the edge, "I-I mean, you are a—a gorgeous…sexy…"

"Go on" she teased as he trailed off, kissing the corner of his lips.

Yea, Shin, what were you trying to say? "I-I don't—I don't know much about you!"

"What's to know?"

Shin swallowed as her tongue flicked at his throat, "L-Like! Like, how-how old you are?! Are you-Are you even-even old enough?"

She smirked, stroking his chest over his shirt, "We're almost the same age. My birthday is December 8th, 1981."

…Oh. "W-Well, okay, that's—that's not sketchy but-but you are my dad's friend's daughter!"

Nesha grabbed the ends of his shirt while he fought this losing battle with apparently whatever was about to happen here. He rasped as she kissed him, so sultry with the way she dipped her tongue into his mouth and withdrew so playfully, returning while he was still recovering from the last play. Fuck. Between kisses, she purred, "Well…my bastard dad…knocked up my mom…on a drunken binge…he got married…and found out about me later…and refused to acknowledge me…"

…What? "That's—that's terrible" he rasped, closing his eyes.

"Mmhmm…he just paid my mom…under the table…child support…to keep us secret…so you'll excuse me…if I don't care if I'm fucking his good friend's son…"

…Damn. Kissing back, he murmured, "Are…are we fucking?"

"Are we?" she whispered.

Damn, she was so hot. She giggled when he reversed so he was now on top of her, frantically reaching for her pants. It was like getting doused with cold water and good sense when there was a hard knock at the door. Sitting up stiffly, he stared as Nesha sat up as well, clearly annoyed. "Ooh, that bitch."

"W-What?"

Marching over, Nesha didn't…bother to put a shirt on as she tore the door open. He gawked to find Odette on the other side, looking pissed. "I knew it, you damn skank!"

"I don't want to share!" Nesha hissed.

"Oh, so you won't even let me contact him at all, huh?!"

"Andrew gets out tomorrow, just wait to fuck him!"

…Maybe if he just… casually climbed out of the window. Actually going to weigh this option and the amount of height off the ground as they argued over him, of all people, he yelped when Nesha snapped. "Fine! This one last time!"

What now?! Shin looked up from pulling up the window, confused, as Odette scoffed, walking in, "That's all I need anyway."

Wait a damn minute here. Shin threw his hands up, shaking his head, "L-Look, that-that threesome whoredom was while I was out of my mind on that pill. I-I have no confidence in my abilities sober and sane."

"It's okay" Odette purred, hugging him from behind.

"Yea, as long as you stay hard, we'll take care of the rest" Nesha assured, pressing her naked chest to his.

No! Like, this was insane? Two threesomes two days in a row?! Who did this?! Just 'stay hard'?! He wasn't their stud! Nesha got down on her knees, alas, and his mind went to goo again…maybe…

…And here he was worried about the kids. He was just as reckless and careless on his own too! Just…

…Maybe it…wasn't that bad an idea though?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Dude…what?"

Shin groaned loudly, standing under the deck with now not only Koji but Nelly. Nelly got suspicious and came to investigate when Shin moseyed out casually with Koji on an announced smoke break, probably thinking it was weird Shin went with him. Now he really had to quit, he could not have them thinking he was their smoking buddy as all three of them stood around smoking.

Koji heckled him to finally tell the story. Nelly asked 'what story?'. The story of his threesome. Great.

Nelly stared at him, bewildered, "…You? You had multisex?"

"On drugs" Koji added.

"…On drugs?"

Glaring at Koji, Shin stuck the cigarette in his mouth, annoyed. "…I ran into Joe, right? Joe…told me he left some weed in the apartment he gave me under the floorboards. He said the girl he ran into that I gave the apartment to had him all dumb in the brain and asked if I could go retrieve it. I go…and the girl had me dumb in the brain too. The end."

"Oh, shut the hell up" Koji snorted, "'The end', my ass. What happened?"

Shin rolled his eyes, sighing gravely, "…She invited me in apparently because she also thought I was attractive. I sat on the couch and felt stupid because I didn't know her. I was talking about some craziness with her roommate when she offered me a drink. She said she didn't know me and I was like, yea, that's true. She insisted I finish the drink because hospitality and I was like, okay. On the table though, there was a bowl that looked like those pastel mints, right? So, I asked if I could have a candy, she said 'yes', so I…took a candy."

"…Which was…?" Nelly hedged.

"…Ecstasy?"

"MD damn MA" whistled Koji, "Shit will fuck. You. Up."

Shin leered, "You better not be taking that shit, Koji."

"I've taken it a few times but I'm just not a pill popper" Koji shrugged.

Nelly shook his head to the negative, "I took it once at a rave…lemme tell you, I don't remember a portion of my life well for that night so I knew then and there it was not for me."

Groaning, Shin shook his head, "Well, I can also say it's not for me. I swore I was hallucinating. They freaked out because I was like, I took someone's medication, and I realized there was another thing of candy on the table so there was some confusion. I…started to get dazed and next thing I know, I was agreeing to a threesome. I woke up, like, three hours later, dazed and confused, staggered home, dad gave me something, I went to sleep, and…that's it."

"Wow" Koji shook his head, "That's wild."

With a smirk, Nelly gave Shin a knowing look, "One of the kids told me you're still going out late at night there, nii-san. You make some kind of freaky connection?"

Damn it. Koji raised a brow as Shin groaned, burying his face in his hands, "Now I didn't hear about this. What's going on?"

"…After I got off the phone with you Wednesday, I got a call from Nesha, the…the very hot one that makes me all stupid in the head. I left my number in case, y'know, there was some confusion over what happened."

"Uh huh" Koji smirked.

"Anyway, she called and asked if I was busy. I wasn't so…I went over, expecting to be beat up. She…almost immediately starts coming on to me and…yea, I buckled like a wet piece of paper. And…Odette showed up."

The twins stared at him silently before Nelly cleared his throat. "…You had a second threesome…the next day."

Shin nodded wearily. Koji scratched his brow before saying: "…Wow."

"And…Thursday and Friday afternoon, I…may have gone over to Nesha's place, as Odette has relocated to live with her boyfriend, and slept with her a few times since."

"How hot are we talking here?" Koji questioned, puzzled.

"Yea, she's got to be like, off the charts" Nelly droned.

Shin exhaled with a 'fwoo', shaking his head in just…awe. "…I don't even know how to describe her. She's just…fucking gorgeous. She has the perfect amount of curves, this long thick blonde hair, thick thighs, pierced…locations."

"And currently you're dick choice number one for this goddess?" Nelly glowered.

"I am sure she has other partners" Shin rolled his eyes.

As if answering this declaration, his phone suddenly rang. The twins smirked widely at him as he tried not to fight them. Sure enough though, it was Nesha… taking a deep breath and preparing to turn her down for the first time this week, he answered, "Hello?"

"Oh, hey. I forgot to tell you last night, I'm having a big party at my sister's place and you're welcome to come if you're available."

Shin raised a brow, a little surprised the call changed up. "O-Oh. Well, um, I-I would but my brothers have come home from college to visit so…"

"You can bring them if they want to come. No big deal if you can't."

That was one thing about Nesha, this was definitely a 'do or don't do, I don't care' situation. He…kind of appreciated it, he had to acknowledge to himself this was almost a hundred percent lust based. They had…fair conversations but nothing too deep. "Okay…well, I'll talk it over with them and I guess we can just show up?"

"Door's open at a Wasaba party, man."

A Wasaba party…clicking off, he made a face. Nelly tapped his ashes off, drawling, "Booty call? Or…wait, is it a dick call when it's the woman calling?"

"I'd say so" Koji nodded.

Shin leered at them, putting his cigarette out, "No. She invited me to a party. I am allowed to bring you two… if you want to go."

Scoffing, Nelly blew a smoke ring, "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Yea, we want to go, dumbass."

The miscreant's twin just snickered and Shin sighed deeply. "Fine, fine. Let's eat dinner first. Oh, and before we do that, let's discuss this younger trio situation."

"I gave Nelly the footnote edition" Koji drawled, "He thinks we just need to let it be."

Shin gawked as Nelly nodded. "Let it be? They're going to flunk out of high school."

"And that shit is on them, Shin! We didn't raise those punks like that, we didn't raise them to be out all night AND not doing homework or going to school. We taught them balance and they're out here diving off the scales head first into the ground" Nelly countered.

Damn it though. "Jill too though? We want Jill failing?" he protested weakly.

"We don't want any of them failing, bro" Koji insisted, dusting off his hands, "…We don't have a hand on this one. We're the older siblings. Yes, we played a lot of parent but, end of the day, they're at the stage where listening to us might be major hit or miss."

Ugh. Nelly stroked his chin, "…So?"

"So, as I was telling Shin, we didn't exactly purpose Tony to take over the role of 'oldest'. And, to be honest, our parents are just a little too passive sometimes. Maybe…time for them to step up to the plate?"

Oh dang. Shin's brows furrowed, drawling, "…Mom would obliterate those kids."

Collectively, he, Koji, and Nelly were pretty contained. They did what they were supposed to…now, that did not mean when they weren't doing what they were supposed to, their mother didn't come in ready to smite them. Usually it had to get to the advanced step of a school official reaching out but that…really only had to happen once for any of them. Save Koji who was just going to fight regardless. But that other stuff like missing homework or failing quizzes? Nope.

"We can talk to them. They're still our younger siblings, I still feel like we did raise them somewhat. Just if that older one gets mouth and I don't want to knock it in, mama will have to get them right" Koji shrugged.

"To be honest, I think it would only be Tony that would give us lip. As weird as the kid is, I think we can reason with Shaun and Jill definitely will at least hear us out" Nelly nodded.

True… "Whatcha doing?"

Shin's eyes widened, looking over his shoulder, finding Shaun standing there, looking at them suspiciously. "When'd you start smoking under the deck?"

"This is our secret meeting spot, you little ninja" Koji snorted, "What are you doing?"

"Well, I was hoping I could tell nii-san about my project but if you're busy."

Shin shook his head, "No, I've been dying to hear this one. First though, let's have a chat."

"Can I smoke a cigarette too?"

"You can get your ass beat too" Nelly offered.

Shaun pouted as Koji smirked at Nelly, "We are not setting a good example in this domain, Shaun. We don't want any of you younger kids following us on this one. Cigarettes are very bad for you, we just were really stupid to start smoking them and it's not a good idea to."

Shin nodded emphatically. Shaun frowned, "…Well, they do smell funny. What do you want to talk about? Am I in trouble?"

"No, no…just, how are your grades? Don't lie either, we can find out" Shin replied.

Counting on his fingers, Shaun mused, "I have three As, two Bs, and one D."

"Well, that's impressive, you're doing great" Koji nodded, "Is there anything we can do to help you with that D?"

Shaun shook his head miserably, "It's in art so I have to work on my skill."

A D in art… "Eh, maybe I need to speak to that teacher, sounds like they're being tough on you" Shin groused.

"I'm not good at the totally creative stuff we draw. I like the technical drawing but my teacher says I have to be good in both."

Nelly frowned, "Well, as long as you're trying that should be good enough. We want you to get admitted to Subami High School, no problems, and having a stupid D in art because you're not Picasso is going to be an issue."

"I kind of want to go to North Wasaba High."

… "…Why for?" Koji questioned after a long moment of silence.

Shaun shrugged again, "See how the other side lives."

"You know that sounds elitist as shit, right?" Koji smirked widely.

The youngest looked surprised before crossing his arms, looking thoughtful, "…I thought it was a good idea to get a better perspective but I hadn't thought about how it sounds like I'm going to observe some other species or something…"

"Dad would never let you go anyway" Shin assured, "Don't be put off of the idea, of course. I'm glad you want to get out of the Subami bubble and meet other people. You'll get that in college and maybe even in high school since they have immersion and expansion programs."

"Yea, I don't mean to say 'stay with your own kind' or any equally classist bullshit, just don't go to a high school just so you can see less…affluent people" Koji amended.

"I understand" Shaun nodded.

What could they really say here though? If these grades were accurate, Shaun was maintaining all of the subjects he really could be focusing on here at home. Sure, he could draw all night and see if it got any better but art was subjective anyway. Maybe he would go speak to the teacher. Nelly rubbed his hands together, "You're doing great, Shaun. Just try to keep this 'out all night' thing to a minimum and make sure to maintain your chores. You're becoming an adult and these are important life skills you'll be responsible for your own soon."

Sulking, Shaun mumbled, "You guys stayed out all night…"

"Didn't we maintain our grades, chores, and make you dinner almost every night?"

"…Yes" Shaun conceded.

"You've got the grades, just try to maintain the chores and feeding yourself not junk" Koji nodded, "You're doing fine. There's others we're more concerned about."

"You should be" Shaun smirked.

What now? "What are you guys doing? Do I want to know?"

Since when was their backyard a popular hangout with such high traffic? Shin nodded at Jill as she approached with her arms crossed. "Hello, imoto-chan. Come have a chat with us."

"Oh my God, why?" Jill groaned.

"Hey, hey, no lip" Koji said dryly, "How are your grades? No BS, we'll check you."

Jill stood between Nelly and Shin, blinking languidly, "I have all As but I do have a low C in math. I am going to cram school, I also don't want any lip."

Glowering, Nelly grunted, "Oh yea? What's all this late night weekday shit? You got a boyfriend?"

"Did you ask Shaun that?" Jill demanded.

Nelly tipped his head toward Shaun, drawing out, "You have a boyfriend, Shaun?"

"…No."

Hmm? Shin blinked as Shaun looked a little offstandish. Odd but… "If you…wanted a boyfriend, I can't speak for the others, but I would be okay with that."

"What are the rest of us, some assholes? Of course we're okay with that" Koji snorted.

Jill and Nelly nodded in agreement while Shaun looked a little startled. "W-Well, I-I don't have a girlfriend or-or boyfriend! I like robots."

"Don't worry, that'll be a sexuality at the rate we're going too."

"Not like that!"

Shin laughed, "Way off topic, guys. Jill, you are also doing well in your first year of high school and we're all proud of you both. If you need help with math, I will be available for a little while."

"Yes. And if you have a boyfriend, I'll kill him" Koji nodded.

"Wow, so you guys will let Tony two time two girls but I can't have one boyfriend?" Jill leered.

…Well, shit. Koji was dead silent as Nelly looked to Shin, appalled, "…I knew your call was crap, oldest! How the hell do we argue with that?!"

"I…"

"What are you losers doing?"

The final boss. Koji's brow was twitching, indicating he was about on one percent patience right now. Tony looked at them like they were measly lowly beings. Shin took a breath. Okay. "…Talking about you."

"Oh really?"

"Yea" Nelly said simply, crossing his arms, "We were asking the others about their grades in school right now. How are yours?"

"What's it to you?" he scoffed.

Jill groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose as Shaun snorted, "Nii-san's not even been going to school the last month."

"Hey!" Tony snapped, "I told you I'd beat you up if you told, Shaun!"

A month? Koji chuckled. "I guess he figures he has the proper back up right now."

"S-So what? I'm not scared of you!" Tony spat, balling his fists.

Shin honestly could only sigh when Koji managed to dry lift Tony off the ground by the front of his coat, shoving him against a post. "Wow, that month of missing school must've made you dumb as a fuck then!"

"Ah! Nii-san!" Jill pouted, grabbing Koji's arm.

Nelly looked…baffled. "Dude, what…what would make you skip school for a month? Why haven't the teachers said anything?"

The second youngest brother just looked annoyed. Shin gave Koji a look, "Let him talk to us, Koji."

While Koji looked far from prepared to do so, he lowered Tony to the ground and silently retrieved another cigarette out of his pocket. Alas, Tony looked ready to stalk off. "Oi, dummy, you're on our radar now. Where do you think you can run to?"

"Just tell them, Tony" Jill sighed.

Hmm? Tony stopped, crossing his arms. "…I hate school."

Shin blinked languidly, "…Kay."

"W-We all hate school so why should we be forced to go, huh?!" Tony hissed, wheeling back around, "Just wasting our whole lives just—just sitting in a stupid classroom learning boring shit all the time! And then I have to go work forever to make it?! It's bullshit and you all know it!"

Koji took a long puff, staring at Tony emptily before his dark eyes cut to Jill. "…You agree with this."

Their only sister grimaced, shrugging, "I-I don't want to drop out or anything but I do hate school. Just…Tony decided to drop out and I didn't."

Nelly gestured incredulously, saying in a mocking voice, "'Oh, okay, cool, that sounds great'. What do you plan to do then, Tony?"

"What I want" he said sharply.

"Om mani padme hum" Koji muttered lowly under his breath, covering his eyes.

Yea, now he was getting pissed off. Shin glared, "What…exactly do you grasp the human condition as, Tony? You say your plan is to 'do what you want'? And what is that? Lie around? Have fun? Sleep with multiple girls? All of this, nonstop?"

"Yea, what you guys do without school and without the military!"

Koji laughed. Oh no. "Oh really? With whose money, dumbass?"

Tony leered as Koji gestured at the younger crowd, "This goes for all of you and you need to put this into whatever you have going on in your heads: our dad? He came from fucking nothing. You have come from something at every point in your life so you don't even grasp that he came from the bottom. He started working at the age of ten, before you even had any idea what working was. He told me he worked as many as three jobs in the past. I don't know what the fuck the details are but you don't work three jobs because you want to. He raised Shin while he was fucking in college and working. And you want to stand here barking that you 'hate school' and your big plan is to 'do what you want' which is jackshit?"

Shin swallowed as Koji glared darkly, "Our mom didn't have to work at all if she didn't want to but she does because she knew what she wanted came with work. So I don't know what flimsy shit ideas you all have in your heads about sitting around scratching your asses is but our parents aren't going to play that shit with you. As long as you're trying, mom and dad will take care of you. As long as you're an adolescent, they have no choice. But the second your sorry asses hit sixteen, they can cut you slam the fuck off."

"And when that occurs? I can promise you, you will not be able to do what you want at all" Shin added.

Frowning, Jill looked up slowly, "…What if we don't want to go to college though, nii-sans?"

"Then don't go to college, imoto, we're not holding a gun to your head to go that far" Koji sighed heavily, "But don't expect to just be sitting around, twiddling your thumbs, that's all I'm saying. It's a society run off the fact that we contribute to it and I'd like to think the three of you aren't selfish enough to expect only our parents to do the contributing in your name."

"Why not?" Tony scoffed, almost gritting his teeth, "We didn't ask them to bring us into such a society."

"Neither did they or the other billion people in the universe. Take it up with the ancestors" Koji countered sarcastically.

Nelly rolled his eyes, "And it may kill you guys to realize this, but our parents won't always be here. And if by some miracle we have families? We won't support you. Regardless. And if you all have families, it's the same. You don't have to think about the future deeply but think about the garden you think you want to grow."

Jill looked startled while Shaun nodded, "I want to go to college and build robots."

"And that's your garden, Shaun. If you want to grow roses now but decide down the line, you want sunflowers, that's cool too" Nelly assured.

"Your plot shouldn't be fucking empty though" Koji uttered.

Mm. Tony shivered, shaking his head, "…I don't care. You won't make me go back."

"…What in the world?"

They all jumped about a mile, looking toward the opening of the deck near the stairs. A bit confusingly, Yagami Yamada was looking at them, bewilderment high in his blue eyes.

"Uh…" Shin drawled, at a loss.

"…I made sure I got a whole entire mansion for you all… and you're outside, in Winter, convening under the deck."

Yep…that…was what they were doing. Tony was silent before huffing, stalking off toward the front yard. Their dad gazed after him before tilting his head, "C'mon, I bought pizza for dinner and your mom just pulled up. Maybe we can hear whatever this titillating banter you have going that has you out in this frigid weather."

Jill grimaced, wandering to hug his side, "…You probably wouldn't like it, papa."

"Oh?"

"…We'll be in in a second, pop" Koji murmured.

"…Okay. And stop smoking, you're killing yourselves."

Koji waved him off, Shaun following after them back up the deck. Listening for the door to close to the house, Nelly grunted, "Idiot. Balls drop and think he's some sort of genius or some shit."

"If he's dropped out…" Shin muttered, "…He can't get back in. He'd have to reapply and he might end up graduating with Shaun."

"Then let him, smart ass that he is" Koji sneered. "…I didn't think we were that bad an example coming up. Yea, the parties, the drinking…"

"Balance. I thought we showed them balance" Nelly sighed.

…Were they balanced? Maybe…it just looked too hard. Koji looked exhausted because he was trying to speed through college, Nelly looked exhausted because…who knows, and he…he didn't sleep every night because corpses were haunting him.

…Was there balance here?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Fine. They all had an internal code they followed: no snitching unless it was life or death.

As they were setting out plates for the pizza their dad had brought, Shin noticed Jill looked troubled as she put out glasses. Okay, would he prefer her to go to college? Probably. But who was he to say that when even he wasn't going right now? So Shin patted her on the shoulder and murmured, "It doesn't matter if you don't go to university, imoto. Just…you know, high school is like the BARE MINIMUM unless you're thinking about being an idol or something…"

Jill snickered, "No way, nii-san. No, no, I…I think I get what Koji is saying. And Nelly too, if…if we do have our own families one day, I would be expected to do something. Even…even if I don't, I can't be a leech. Tony is just frustrated though, he felt…trapped."

…Mm. It was trapping. Eight hours in school, two hours in cram school if necessary, and two hours of studying? That was twelve hours, half a day. Put into account that they ought to be getting eight hours of sleep, that left…four hours of free time? That was like a sixth of the day. No, he GOT it. He just wasn't comfortable Tony understood that the trade off wasn't having 24 hours of free time.

So, yea, he broke the no snitching on this one.

Yagami Yamada and Dana stared at them as they relayed the information that apparently Tony had dropped out of school. They all kind of…squirmed. Oops. Finally, his dad leaned back, quietly eating his pizza again and sipping his lemonade. His mother folded her fingers and smiled. "I'm gonna kill him."

Meep. "Mom…"

"So what HAS he been doing then, Jill? Shaun?" Dana questioned, pinning them with a look.

Jill winced and wiped her hands, "…Um, what…whatever he wants. I think he said sometimes he goes to the arcade or walks around the mall…"

Yagami Yamada smiled. It was a weird smile and often Shin got the creeping suspicion again that really his dad was just the original version of Koji. He was probably about to break this table in half. "…Imagine. Imagine…I have a son that drops out of school to hang around the mall."

Tony's twin looked a little shocked before blinking slowly, "…Well, when you…put it like that…"

When you put it THAT way to a person like their dad, Tony was comparably a brat. Just… "I will say, dad, that it's been indicated he feels trapped, that…that he's wasting his time in school when as soon as he's finished with it, he has to go right to working his life away" Shin added.

Their father was gentling massaging the bridge of his nose, silent as they all dared to nibble while he apparently…thought on what to say. However, after about eight solid minutes, he finally said: "…I can't handle this one, Dana. I…I don't have this life experience, I had the ENTIRE opposite."

Damn. Dana scoffed, dabbing her lips, "Yama, I don't think EITHER of us have this life experience. Trapped? Trapped in an affluent school with decent allowances and the freedom to do what he wants as long as his grades are good? Just 'good', not excellent or above and beyond? And not once have we insisted any child of ours just HAS to go to college? Meanwhile, when you were his age you HAD to work three jobs to pay rent? And when I was his age, I was engaged to a psychopath and expected to stay sheltered until I married him? I'm sorry, this isn't one we're going to relate to well."

"Maybe he feels trapped by that feeling, mama, papa" Shaun said slowly.

Hmm? Nelly frowned toward the youngest before nodding, "…Do I feel sometimes like I don't have room to complain when I remember where you're coming from? Yea."

Koji grabbed another slice of pizza, blinking slowly, "…Well, yea. But I don't know if my response is spit on all their efforts and not do anything."

Yamada looked…aghast. "…You kids don't owe us anything, I-I would never want you to feel that way. And I've always said I don't want this to be a competition. Whatever it is you're going through, I want to hear it. Whatever I WENT through, that's got no bearing on what it is you're feeling now. And…I'll figure out a way to commiserate with Tony. I guess he would keep this a secret if that's how you all are considering it."

Yes, Shin imagined Tony was a little intimidated by the idea of telling his dad that 'school was too hard' when, again, the man was working three jobs as a child to make sure he had a roof over his head and food. Or the mom that bore them while forcibly married to a yakuza bastard. It was…complicated.

Tomato sauce.

Staring at the empty box before him as the other's chatter turned to a dull hum in his ears, Shin stared at the miscellaneous dripping of sauce. Dripping…like the blood…in the maze…

He inhaled sharply, refocusing with a rapid shake of the head. He excused himself to go rinse his face in his room, dizzy and nauseous. What he was feeling now, huh…?

…Fucking crazy. He…he told his dad he wanted to do this because it was the right thing. To tell him that doing the right thing was ripping his sanity a part?

…He guessed he could commiserate with Tony on that much. Some things weren't an easy conversation to have.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I can't believe…we just found out our younger brother has dropped out of school…and you two still wanted to come to this party."

Yagami Shin was honestly in disbelief when, after he got himself together, he came out of his bathroom and found the twins in his room indicating they were 'ready to go'. The party with Nesha was so far out of his head but meanwhile those two were hyped up.

So, advising he didn't desire to stay long, the three of them left their family home in Subami to travel into Wasaba, the birthplace of their father. Once again, he parked in the apartment building in North Wasaba and they started to walk west. Koji was smoking a cigarette as they made this venture, his hands in his pockets. "I can't believe we're walking in fucking two degree weather."

"Look, I know my car is older now but the radio is still pretty valuable" grunted Shin.

"Man, you're right, it's already been four years" Nelly gasped, "Time flies."

Yea, it did…he turned 20 in a week. His first year without…

…Shut the fuck up, Shin. Growing disgusted with himself, he grunted to Koji, "Let me have one of your fancy black cigarettes."

Was he surprised when Koji instead handed him a piece of nicotine gum? No, but he sure wanted to fight his ass. "I don't want gum."

"Look, all three of us can't die from lung cancer, bro."

"Then you chew the gum and give me the cigarette!"

"Testy, testy" Koji sang, "You're already on your way to weaning."

Shin calculated if maybe he could now take Koji. He was military trained to subdue an offender. Except, as scary as it was to think, the Zechs were still slightly more predictable than this guy. Grudgingly popping the gum into his mouth, he raised a brow as they got closer, noting a lot of people were hanging around the building. Some of the guys gave them looks as they walked in and Shin wondered if there was going to be trouble.

Koji snickered suddenly, having been holding up the back, "Wow, nii-san, they're talking about you hanging around this Nesha."

"What?" Shin scowled.

"Said you were fucking around with her and she's all hung up over you."

"You sure heard a lot in the five seconds we were passing" Shin snorted, "It's not like that, we're just…well, we're just screwing around."

Nelly grinned, walking up the steps behind him, "And sounds like you're her current screw of choice, oldest. I mean, how hot is she if you got them jealous of even the sight of you?"

Rolling his eyes, Shin noticed people were almost spilling into the hallway from the designated apartment. All sorts of combinations of people were leaning against the wall, either chattering, making out, or seemingly about to take it a little further. Koji and Nelly seemed unbothered but Shin was definitely not used to the type of PDA where a couple were about to have penetrative sex in the hallway with a dozen other people around.

Entering the apartment, it wasn't that much better, people were just on the couch about to have penetrative sex. Shin gawked when he saw a group of girls snorting cocaine off a coffee table. Oh, hell no, they had to leave. "We gotta go, if this gets busted, my ass is grass."

Koji snorted. "They don't bust Wasaba parties, Shin. They want them to OD and die."

Well, that got dark in absolutely zero seconds. Before he could respond to this, he heard a gasp, "Hey! You made it!"

Shin looked to the voice and his eyes widened. Today, Nesha had on a short, short black leather mini skirt and a lined white mid-tank mid-drift, her green eyes popping with dark liner. She just kind of made his mind soup, honestly.

He wasn't surprised when she came up to him, hugging his neck and kissing him hard. That was pretty much the beginning of most of their interactions. Just, today, had…company. "A-Ah, Nesha, bef-before that, the-these are my brothers, Koji and Nerimaru. Nerimaru, Koji, this is Nesha."

Nesha frowned, looking to them before she gasped again. "Oh my GOD, I've never seen identical twins before! This is awesome!"

"A-Uh, yes…" Nelly drawled, "T-Thanks for having us."

Koji didn't say anything, just kind of staring before nodding. Yea, she had that effect. Nesha clapped her hands, "Thanks for coming! Such a sexy ass family too. Oh, I just remembered I have to go get something from my sister. I will be right back! Get yourself some drinks or weed!"

She started to scurry off…but berated someone that dropped a smoldering joint on the ground, bending down, rather agile, to get it up before darting off. Koji stared before looking to Shin, bewildered, "…Oh my God, I hate you?"

"That is just handpicked perfection" whistled Nelly, "Enough it makes you wonder."

"Yea, yea" Shin snorted, wandering over to where the drinks were. What could he say though? She was pretty damn beautiful. Three guys had caught and were talking to her, googly-eyed. Just…lust, Shin.

The Yagami sons stood around for a few minutes together, sipping a simple vodka and tonic while they chatted. Alas, like the college parties he'd gone with the two to, girls came over to flirt with them. Another cute blonde was hitting on him…when Odette came over, telling the girl that 'Nesha will beat your ass' before exiting. Shin watched in honest amazement as the girl quickly walked away. Koji and Nelly smirked a him before being taken off individually by the women interested in them…well, damn! What if Nesha went off with another guy?

Sitting on the couch, sipping his drink, he observed the amount of…human relations taking place. No, he wasn't watching people bang but people were doing drugs, playing cards, or dancing. It was actually kind of fascinating.

Shin people watched for about 45 minutes but was over it. Prepared to ask his brothers if they were ready to leave, his eyes widened when Nesha finally came back over with a joint. "Sorry about that, Shin. Sometimes you have to…assuage some egos."

Raising a brow as she sat beside him on the couch, resting her legs in his lap, Shin drawled, "…I see. Did they…assuage yours?"

"Well now, that's why I called you. With them, there's literally no guarantee of…assuaging, but you? Never a question" she blinked slowly at him, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.

Huh. "Glad to be of service, I s'pose…" he murmured, gazing at her.

Despite the fact the last time they did drugs together, it…didn't go exactly how it should have, like it should have anything, he accepted the blunt when she passed it to him. He inhaled, knowing how to draw and everything…he was okay with weed in so much that it did absolutely nothing to him. This alcohol was more of a risk than this. Nesha took it back, just seeming…calmer. "…What made you join the army, Shin?"

"Hmm? Oh…I saw a news special. They had babies in cages and were putting all these people in the ground. I…I wanted to help" he muttered. That…sanitized version got him there.

Nesha shook her head, drawling, "People here need help too though."

"I know…but, I dunno, I…guess I feel like the people over there are helpless and I can do something about it. Here, I…don't know how to fight this kind of helplessness."

Oops, maybe too deep for their 'relationship'. However, Nesha nodded, "Yea, you're right. Over there it's an evil villain trying to hurt mostly innocent people. Black and white. Here, this spectrum of gray…where do you even begin? What do you tackle first? I get it."

"…Kind of wish it was black and white" he murmured, "I don't think I'd feel as bad."

"What do you feel?"

"…Like a monster. Like…I don't deserve to come home."

Her brows furrowed and he knew that was too deep. The alcohol had his tongue loose. Nesha shook her head, drawling, "I don't know what to tell you on that one, Shin. A gang member will drive through here and shoot into a playground then go to sleep at ease right after. You might have ended up killing someone that was raping women and children and murdering them and you feel like a monster or don't deserve to come home? Get your priorities straight."

Shin grimaced, rubbing his forehead. Right, right, bad people were bad and he was killing bad people. Just… "That gang member in that scenario…why did they do it?"

"A whole litany of reasons, I'm sure" Nesha shrugged, "Money, tyranny—depression. Fact is though, Shin, you have other avenues available. When is just randomly killing people gonna be an answer to whatever their situation is?"

…Right. Right. End of the day, these people…were hanging up severed limbs in a room to terrorize people. He didn't want their lives on his hands but…they sure didn't mind having life on theirs. His nose wrinkled, taking the joint back from Nesha and taking a deep puff. "What about you, Nesha?"

"What about me?"

"I mean…what are your plans?"

"I'll speak my plans when I know they're coming true. In the meantime, they're just 'plans'."

Shin made a face before having to nod, "Gotcha. Guess all I'm doing is 'planning' too."

"Your case, you should speak it into existence. You have a lot more riding on what you're doing than I do…all I've got riding over here is affecting me alone."

Mm. She slid completely face forward into his lap, kissing him deeply. He tasted the sweet flavor of the paper on her lips as he set down his glass, hugging her tightly to his body. He…

…Was not making out in a room full of people! Sulking, he pulled away and pouted, "Look, Nesha, might be the 'bougie' side of me but I cannot…perform in a room full of people."

Nesha smirked, "I dunno, your brother seems to be doing fine."

What? Glancing over his shoulder, there was another loveseat or something. It was the back of one of the twin's heads he saw but he was a bit disturbed by one of the women who had approached him currently bucking up and down on his lap. Oh…wow. "…And now I have to leave the room for other reasons, oh my God."

With a snicker, Nesha grasped his hand to pull him to stand, leading him to yet another broom closet. Dang, they had a bed! Sighing, he pulled her back against his chest, kissing her neck as he worked to get her going. "Mm, Shin…? You don't mind wearing a condom, do you?"

… "Uh, a-actually, I would prefer to." Crap, they'd had sex…several times now and he wasn't even thinking about protection.

Nesha did glower a bit back at him, "Oh, because now other dick has been inside of me?"

"Because I have had one too many pregnancy scares in my life already."

She smiled, pulling a condom out of her shirt to unravel and roll out over his shaft, "You a daddy, Shin?"

Swallowing, he simply shook his head. Nesha kissed him teasingly, nipping at his jaw, "Mmm, too bad we'll only ever be fuck buddies, our children would be gorgeous…"

Children. He wondered if he'd have children. Children to pass this fucked up world on to. Turning her back around, bending her over against the wall, he murmured, "Yea…too bad."

…Their children would have been gorgeous too.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Shin? You ready to go?"

…Okay, maybe Nesha had different weed than he'd tried.

Shin had dozed off on the couch apparently, something he didn't even recall doing, Nesha fast asleep against his side. While they'd been screwing in the closet, he started TRIPPING BALLS. Everything was like a weird painting or he was in that a-ha video. Whatever, and he meant WHATEVER, Nesha had access to he had no business taking. It was…kind of fun banging a 2D Nesha though?

…Honestly, he couldn't recall if Nesha finished or not, but given she hadn't spurned him and was curled up with him, he must've done okay. Looking to his side where Koji was lighting up a cigarette, Shin nodded slowly. "…Yea. Where's Nelly?"

He caught a glimpse of a clock, it was three in the morning but Nelly was still talking to a brunette young woman…Koji smirked toward him, drawling, "Nell, you coming home with us, futago?"

Nerimaru leered back at him and Koji's smirk widened, "Nope. Let's go, Shin."

Wha? Shin gave Nelly a look before shaking his head, moving his arm from behind Nesha's head. She stirred a bit, looking at him languidly, "Leavin'?"

"Yea. You…safe amongst all these miscellaneous people?" he drawled, looking around and seeing a lot of sleeping bodies.

Nesha stretched, rubbing her eyes, "…Mm, I probably will go back to my place."

It was a trifle awkward but she walked back with them toward the apartment building he temporarily stayed in, Koji just silently smoking his cigarette while Nesha was almost sleep walking. Frankly…for the first time, Shin was a little nervous walking around Wasaba. The people out at three in the damn morning looked like the type of people that would just be loitering the streets at 3 am for no reason. He glared when one of the guys whistled at Nesha and asked 'how much?'.

She completely ignored the guy and Shin shivered with irritation when the bastard hooted to 'have fun with the two hafu'. God, he hated people sometimes…Koji suddenly snickered. "I don't know if it was a GOOD idea to leave the car in North Wasaba or a bad idea."

Definitely was 50/50 right now which meant they probably shouldn't have been there to begin with. Relieved when they arrived at Nesha's place, he walked her upstairs to make sure she could get in. She snorted at him, "Not one of your Subami girls, Shin."

"Nesha, I don't know what the hell you had in that pot but you're not enough of a Wasaba girl for me to not make sure you're not too high to get into your apartment."

"Cheeky fucker" she snickered, pulling her keys out of the pocket of her leather jacket.

Shin closed his eyes as she pulled him roughly against her, kissing him hard, "Mmm, if your brother wasn't waiting for you, I would say come in for a little morning fuck…"

"Well, I'm a little sleepy so maybe I'll take you up on that another time" Shin replied, a little uncertain what level of affection was appropriate here so he let her call the shots.

She patted his chest, blinking at him solemnly, "…Don't lose sleep over other people's bullshit, Shin."

"…I'll try. Night, Nesha."

Wandering out of the building, yawning, he climbed into driver's side of the car. Koji was cuddled up in the passenger seat like he was asleep. Shin knew better. "I think she's a little tougher than what I've seen you go for."

"That would be why we're just screwing around" Shin assured, putting the key into the ignition.

"I don't mean to say she would be BAD for you, just…well, it'd be different. If you're both agreeing it's for fun, no harm there" Koji murmured.

Shin eased out on the street before cutting his eyes at Koji momentarily, "…I just wish you'd get your mind out of the gutter. It won't happen. That's dead and done. I don't even want to think about it."

Koji smiled. What? "I think YOU think about her more than I do, Shin. Nesha could work if you wanted to—hell, Naomi could if you both wanted it to. All of it could possibly work if both parties want it to. I don't recommend shit because I'm not the one that can make it work. So, I am not recommending you reconcile with anyone you don't want to under any circumstance."

"Good."

"Could've worked though."

Shin stared into the deep darkness ahead of him, all of the buildings closed for a few more hours. There was very little light except the sparse few streetlamps ahead of them. The road seemed so much longer.

…Yea…it could have.

Yagami Shin did not miss holding a gun. He also very much did not miss these fatigues.

Miserably walking into his brother's dorm, he shook his head. He was just going to training for the weekend but…he really just had hoped to have a solid break. He'd be back to this full time in June. Now he got to go shoot targets shaped like people for two days then go celebrate his birthday two days later. Life was kind of nuts…

He had a little time before the bus came though so he thought he'd pop in and share his 'research' with Koji. Knocking on the dorm door, he raised a brow when he heard Koji say sleepily, "Come in…"

Opening the door, Shin gave his brother a look. His first thought was the man was sick. Now he knew he was hung the hell over, draped across the small couch in the one room like he was on his last leg. "Koji…do you have to party that hard all the time?"

"That damn Everclear almost did me in this time…" Koji droned, his hand draped over his eyes, "That or the 151…"

"…Which you drank both in the same night."

"Yea…"

They probably tag-teamed and almost took him out, the dummy. Shin sighed and took a copy of a piece of paper from his bag to give to Koji. "For you to keep and ponder."

Koji weakly accepted the image, staring at it with half open eyes…before one of his brows dropped. "…What am I looking at here?"

"Shaun's soul."

"…Pardon?"

Yesterday, Shin decided to do a pop in on some of Shaun's teachers. Wednesday, he had done so for Jill and confirmed the information she had given was correct. Thursday, he checked on Tony and also confirmed that he had not been there for…well, a little bit more than a month. What they hadn't known was he essentially submitted the paperwork to drop out. On the one hand, that was irritating, on the other, it…was kind of responsible? Shin hadn't seen the kid since the blow up, so…

Shaun's information was also truthful so Shin mostly targeted his energy to this art situation. The teacher was a middle-aged woman who looked…dismayed? She advised him that Shaun was 'not living up to his potential on purpose'. Shin tried to protest that that was a very difficult call to make in something like art. He had thought about it and Shaun wasn't even that kid that would give them pictures of things he drew, really. Like, he'd draw squares to make robots or whatever but like, organic things? Never.

That's when the woman, deadpan, brought out this picture that Shaun drew. She gave them some very…metaphysical philosophical topic to draw what they thought their soul looked like. All media was available so the options were endless. Apparently Yagami Shaun chose a white piece of paper with a pencil and drew what appeared to be a potato with stick arms, stick legs, two hollow circle eyes and a simple smile. Shin had taken the piece of paper and stared at it long and hard in the midst of the woman before clearing his throat. He'd explained that Shaun was a very…interesting child.

The teacher indicated she was well aware and that, perhaps, Shaun needed to be told to think within the box. Shin had never heard such a depressing suggestion in his life…but his brother literally thought his soul was a potato so, maybe he did need to bring things back into a…smaller perspective.

Shin sighed, sitting down on a desk chair Koji had, waving a hand, "The art teacher wanted the kids to draw their souls. They had access to all colors of paper, all types of paints and pencils and hues…Shaun took a white piece of paper, drew a black and white potato with a face, and turned it in."

Koji continued to gaze at the piece before replying: "Well…glad you made that visit…because there was no way I was making it through that meeting with a straight face."

Shin snickered as Koji cracked up, shaking his head, "What the hell is wrong with that kid? I swear."

Smirking, Shin also shook his head, "I had to ask…he said it was because a potato was capable of being so many different things—French fries, a baked potato, pierogis…it's capabilities, per his words, 'are endless'. I mean, what could I really say to that?"

"Ah, Shaun, you sweet child. Don't ever change" laughed Koji, managing to pull himself up and stagger to his desk.

Watching him tape the picture over his desk, Shin smiled some. "…I told him, just for this lady, to think 'within the box' and see where it got him. I felt bad even telling him that shit but there was this weird…glimmer in his eye like something just clicked so we'll see what happens."

Koji sat down on the couch again, musing, "…It is possible he wasn't restraining his thoughts and the possibilities, he's got a pretty vast imagination. Sometimes the big picture doesn't fit a small frame."

Huh. Shin pondered over that as Koji shut his eyes. "…We always kind of joked about how weird he is but he is a good kid. He wants me to help him build a motorcycle from scratch. And I told dad and he says he wants to help as well when he can which Shaun finds exciting."

"Dad was a mechanic at some point, right?" Koji yawned.

"So he says…"

"Jack of all trades, man. What about the other kid?" Koji questioned dryly.

Shaking his head, Shin sighed gravely, "…I think mom and dad are at a loss? Like, any way you look at it, Tony's gone off the rails. Jill might say she 'agrees' but her grades are almost immaculate. I just…don't get it."

Shrugging, Koji yawned, "He'll either figure it out or he won't. All mom and dad can do is start charging him rent or something, they can't put him out and all they can do as far as school is drop him off. They can't make him study or even stay."

…Sad. Shin frowned, sighing, "…Maybe I should have just stayed at home and got a job so I could see them through."

"Idiot" Koji snorted, "It's not you that made Tony go off the tracks. Like I said, they're growing up, it's time for them to learn from their mistakes."

"…Koji."

"Wha?"

"…I think I made a mistake."

His brother looked to him slowly, confused. Shin gripped his forehead and felt…dread. He…he was talking about not wanting to go to basic. He was almost to the point he didn't want to go back at all. Now that he was home again, he…he wanted to stay. He could have a decent life here, he didn't…

Didn't want to see anymore suffering…

"Shin, bro, I can't tell you I know what you're going through or what you saw" Koji said softly, "…But I don't think you made a mistake. I just think it was more traumatic than you were expecting. Winning a war…is not fulfilling. There's going to be bloodshed."

… "…You're right" Shin whispered, "I thought it was going to be fulfilling, like I…I was doing these people a favor. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not? This…this isn't fulfilling at all."

"Well…you want a medal?"

Shin smirked some, shutting his eyes, "…Nah, I want people to stop being shit."

"Ha, don't hold your breath. You've done a good thing, Shin. And bro, honest, you might go and have fun this weekend."

Yea right! Fun. He…

He was going back in two months. Fun.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End Notes:

So, of course, Google translate is still a bit sketchy. Some of those lines probably don't translate to 'what do you mean?' but okay. Additional, almuhtal probably doesn't mean fraud either but, for our purposes.

So, I've mentioned this in a few other stories but it was my cousin's childhood innocent remark that rendered the name 'Nelly'. I basically advised her she should marry Elli and she was like 'if she's Elli then he needs to be Nelly!" and the rest is history. This was, naturally, circa the intro of 2000s rapper, Nelly. The song that Shin is like 'well, that's crazy' is 'Shake Ya' Ass/Shake It Fast' by Mystikal, another 2000s rapper.

Naomi is based on one of the playable protagonists from the new remake. You can possibly take 'Mako' for the male character.

So, the drink that Shin is calling 'Cell from DBZ' is called The Incredible Hulk. It's a blend of Hpnotiq and Hennessey…aka, why?

Marilyn Manson is occasionally mentioned throughout the series but the king of shock rock, he probably really isn't Shin's cup of tea…

Joe was hanging around with Shino, a nod to Rune Factory 3. It is supposed to be, by real standards, pretty rare to go from, say, the Army to the Navy as an inter-service transfer.

So this one might have flown over some heads but Nesha is a slant to Ganesha from Rune Factory Frontier. While I've of course kept names like "Popuri" and a few other bizarre ones, Ganesha just seemed odd. Ganesha was the elfin blacksmith in the game. Odette is from Tides of Destiny/Oceans.

Ecstasy doesn't necessarily work this way from what I've researched but hey, maybe the Harvest Moon mushrooms make them act differently.

Inuyasha was an anime that came out around the time setting of this series and I'm HYPED about the sequel I didn't know what coming around the time I wrote this!

When Tony is explaining his plans to the older siblings, Koji mutters the Buddhist chant "Om mani padme hum". It's supposed to provide a clear mind and enlightenment.

Shin's talking about the iconic a-ha video 'Take on Me' which is still pretty neat if you haven't seen it, even if it's from the 80s.