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.

11. A House on Fire

Chapter 11: A House on Fire

Author's Notes: Whoop, whoop, keeping up with goals! So yea, same as last chapter, AO3 has smuttacular and FF, you get the not so smuttacular. But, amongst that smut, if you have read some of my other works, you get to see an overlap! Enjoy~

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That was always the crazy thing about Yagami Koji: sometimes he'd say something that sounded absolutely ridiculous but it just…kind of came true.

Shin had to convince himself to do the proper steps and march to base because he was almost dragging his very soul at that point when they got off the bus. The sergeant called roll and sent them to put their duffel bags away. This time they were at least given the luxury of a, albeit tiny, private room. Well, it was only two days.

Returning to lineup, he paused. Across the way was none other than Akiyama Joe. What now?

Shin tried hard not to stare at him, just a bit perplexed because he just told Shin he was going to be transferred to the marines. They hadn't really talked since but, uh, what?

When they were sent to just run obstacle courses, he was able to sort of get near Joe. "Dude, I thought you were transferring."

"Not until June when you go" Joe explained, "Until then, I just need to be in tiptop shape in general."

Oh… "Well, that's cool. Guess we'll be running the same basic schedule then."

Joe winked, "Just make sure your ass can keep up, Yagami. Heard you were busy partying on the low, you might not have the stamina."

"Oh really?" Shin leered, "We'll see."

To be frank, Joe wasn't a hundred percent wrong, the first rope Shin hit trying to cross the sandpit, he felt like he was asking his body to rip apart a piece of steel. However, seeing Joe power through out of the corner of his eye irked him enough to start gunning it too. Tuh! Joe hadn't even been to active combat yet, the ass!

So that was pretty much it? Childish, really, but he spent the entirety of the weekend so preoccupied with making sure Joe wasn't one upping him completely in athletics and shooting, he was startled when they were dismissed to go home. Joe grinned, his duffel bag on his shoulder, smacking Shin's back. "You're a good motivation, Shin. Different than these other dudes!"

"Yea…for real though, thanks, Joe. I was really dreading this and now I'm shocked how fast it was over."

"Of course, dude. Gotta have a motivation."

…Yes. Joe glanced at his leather watch before tipping his head, "I drove here. Wanna ride back with me? We can get a beer."

"Sounds good."

"Great. Can't wait to hear how you're banging the current patron goddess of Wasaba" Joe smirked, walking over to an old maroon with white stripes down the hood Chevelle.

Shin snorted, "Like I can't wait to hear where you got this thing."

"Your mom."

"You know what, fucker-"

Joe laughed as Shin glowered at him, opening the door, "Chill, bro. I was not making some sexual joke about your mom, of all people. She told one of her old Wasaba friends who told my grandpa that she knew a client that was trying to get rid of a Chevelle. My grandpa got it for me for completing boot camp."

Raising a brow, Shin sat down in the passenger side. It had that old leather smell and everything was slightly torn. "…I didn't think my mom had old Wasaba friends."

"Your mom's a legend there too, dummy."

"Not according to 'Mick' or whatever the hell that guy's name was" scoffed Shin, still not over the disrespect.

Old or new, muscle cars were just designed to be somewhat…loud. The engine could possibly rip a steel post down though, he thought absently, listening to it roar as Joe floored it toward the highway. Joe played with the radio, apparently cassette, A-track, nor CD available.

Strollin' to the party like my name is El Nino. Well, I'm hangin' out drinking in the back of an El Camino. As a kid, was a skid, and no one knew me by name. I trashed my own house party cause nobody came. Well, I know I'm not the one you thought you knew back in high school. Never going, never showing up when we had to. Attention that we crave, don't tell us to behave, I'm sick of always hearing act your age. I don't want to waste my time; become another casualty of society. I'll never fall in line; Become another victim of your conformity and back down.

"…What the hell is this?" Shin questioned.

"I dunno, pop punk? Skate punk?"

Shin groaned. "Sounds like my little brother's eventual anthem. Maybe 'punk' incited him to rebel. He decided to drop out of high school because he 'hates school' and he doesn't want to go straight from school to working himself into the grave."

Which sounded like logic the likes of Joe would agree with, really. Alas, Joe shook his head, "Wish my ass had been able to go to high school, maybe I wouldn't be out here risking my neck."

Grimacing, Shin sighed, "Yea…"

"But, in your situation, I guess he would look at it like 'why bother?'. He's not struggling, he's not living meal to meal or worried his family won't be able to eat—ya'll got a big ass house over his head, drive nice vehicles, have nice things—what's it to him to go to school?"

"He didn't earn a bit of it, he's just basking in the glory of it" Shin complained, "And what if something, God forbid, happens to our parents? I can tell you now, the mansion would be the first thing to go because me and twins could not afford that mortgage payment."

Joe shrugged, "You're speaking in hypotheticals, man. IF something happened. Right now, your parents are strong as fuck and life is good. You can't use a hypothetical future to make him do right now in the present."

…Damn. "…Maybe. But any way you look at it, unless he does something spectacular, he is really messing up here and he would have to spend that same hypothetical future fixing it. Like, I don't believe in the 'suffer now and enjoy life later' mantra but don't set yourself up for failure either."

"Are we messing up?"

"What?"

"Are we messing up?" Joe repeated.

… "…Possibly. Probably."

"Life's a fucking mess, Shin. All we can try to do is sort through the puzzle and make decisions that look like they might work. It might work out for your brother, it might not. For all we know, staying in high school wouldn't help him either. We know from experience it certainly wouldn't HURT him but life's a bitch."

Sounded tired and contrived…but that also sounded like life and Shin wasn't a fan. "…You mind if I smoke? It's cool, if not. I'm funny about the twins smoking in my car too."

"Shit, what happened to you over there?" Joe took a moment to raise a brow at him, "Sure, knock yourself out."

Shin sighed and pulled one of the white cylinders out of the pack, sticking it in his mouth, and lighting up. Reaching for the handle to pump the window down a smidge, he absently glanced as the radio shifted somewhere else.

Crawling in my skin. These wounds, they will not heal. Fear is how I fall, confusing what is real. There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface: Consuming, confusing. This lack of self-control I fear is never ending. Controlling, I can't seem…to find myself again. My walls are closing in. Without a sense of confidence I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take. I've felt this way before, so insecure. Crawling in my skin, these wounds they will not heal. Fear is how I fall, confusing what is real. Discomfort endlessly has pulled itself upon. Distracting, reacting against my will I stand beside my own reflection; it's haunting how I can't seem to find myself again, my walls are closing in.

…Shin exhaled a billow of smoke, murmuring, "…Shit, music has gotten dark."

"You ever really listen to the previous generation, man? It's just more blunt now, shit's always been dark."

He hadn't thought about it in years…but yes, he did remember actually listening to the Nirvana lyrics. Some of it was so tortured but it was…so solemn. When he listened to Pearl Jam's Black, there was…definitely suffering. This guy, whoever he was, he'd ask Koji, he…sounded like he might be in pain.

…Was that living?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hybrid Theory. Linkin Park. Per Koji's review, 'Little overdramatic, but really gets you thinking sometimes. Good album'.

Shin raised a brow as he listened to it on the CD player in their small garage, currently buffing the body of perhaps a Yamaha while 'Runaway' echoed in the background. Shaun wanted it to be dark blue with specks of lighter blue or something. He looked up at Shaun who was working intensely on the mechanical portions. "…As awesome as this is Shaun, maybe we could just…get a job together and buy you a bike. I'd trust it more."

"Nah, I want a keepsake" Shaun said simply.

Mmkay. Making a face, Shin shook his head, "I definitely want a professional to look it over before we try it then. Mom's not blaming me for her baby's neck being broken."

"Dad's a professional, right?"

"…Maybe once upon a time?"

Shaun looked up, his dark eyes aglow, "But dad knew how to drive a whole motorcycle! I thought he was a dork!"

Shin snickered, grabbing a lower grit of sandpaper, "Stop it."

It was an unusual birthday but his dad took the day off and took all of them, minus Tony as he was MIA, to some kind of track. While through miscellaneous life experiences, he, Koji, and Nelly knew how to ride motorcycles, Shaun and Jill were novices…which was weird because Shaun wanted Shin to build a motorcycle with him. But their dad rented them all training motorcycles and taught the two youngest how to maintain balance. Jill was a bit fearful at first but once she got the hang of it, she was riding around with them at ease.

He guessed once his dad was satisfied they wouldn't imminently die, he got on a Harley which was a weirdly American choice. While never in a million years would they have imagined their mom would be okay with any of this type of danger, she hopped on the back at ease. He…very vaguely recalled that his dad might have had a Harley back in the day? Weird. It was a lot of fun though and after they finished for the evening, his dad took them to eat hibachi. He…he was glad he got to be home for it.

I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart. What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of time when I tried so hard, and got so far…but in the end, it doesn't even matter. I had to fall to lose it all. But in the end, it doesn't even matter…

Shit. "Tell me if this is too dark for you, Shaun" Shin muttered.

"Aww, nii-san, you're late" Shaun sulked, "Everyone knows this song."

From a…young standpoint, it probably sounded deep or like a vapid complaint. From where he was now, it just seemed a little too on the nose. He snorted. He was a whopping 20.

"We can call it a night, nii-san. I have to find some more bearings and pinions for the transmission" Shaun sighed, standing.

Oh. Shin nodded slowly, "Well, let me get this buffed some more and I'll call a quits."

"Okay! I'll start dinner."

Shin smiled after him, continuing to scrape off the fading paint. It…was nice, he hadn't really thought about getting a hobby to keep his mind off of things. He smirked when his phone rang. Well, aside from this one where he slept with a hot chick from his dad's old neighborhood every other day.

"Shinnnn" Nesha sang when he answered, "Can I make a proposition?"

"Sure."

"I don't want dick today, I just want you to eat my pussy. I'll let you come on my face as a conciliation."

Wasaba girls, man. Shin's brows furrowed, running his hand over the chassis of the eventual motorcycle, "…And how ever would I reach that point, Nesha?"

"Fine, I'll suck your dick."

Smirking again, he dusted off his hands, "I don't mind either way. I'll come after I eat dinner."

Clicking off without much more, he yawned and cleaned his hands in the large sink in the back of the garage. He supposed he'd help Shaun to get things sped up. It wasn't like he had to cook much, it was usually just the two of them.

He walked into the house from the garage door and was startled to find Tony sitting there in the kitchen, looking pissed. Shaun was browning beef…as most things, Shaun's cooking went beyond standard. He'd cooked souffles and shepherd's pie the last few times. Like…rice was fine but he was apparently a master chef somehow.

Shin grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, blinking drearily back at Tony, "Surprised you're home. You get lost?"

Tony shot him a hot glare, "Mom and dad turned off my credit card."

Huh. That was one way to stop the shenanigans. Shaun yawned, grabbing peppers and onions, "So are they gonna turn it back on…?"

"I dunno!" snapped Tony, "This is stupid!"

Not sure he wanted to fight that battle right now, Shin crossed his arms and came to the stove, "…What are you cooking, Shaun?"

"Lasagna. You can fix the garlic bread."

Fancy. Shin found some bread, slicing it, and started to butter it while Tony tapped his toe impatiently. He wondered what was going on in Tony's head right now…

Yagami Jill entered, dressed in the black and gray school uniform of Subami High. She looked weary when she walked in but surprised when she saw Tony. "…Hey, Tony."

"Hi, Jill."

It was weird, despite also being twins, he didn't really get that perception of camaraderie that Koji and Nelly had out of these two. Tony was generally nicer to Jill but that bar could still come higher. She sat down across from him, frowning, "What's going on?"

"Mom and dad turned off my credit cards" he repeated, his face getting more irritated.

"Oh, wow…"

Like they had been preparing for this, both Yagami Dana and Yamada walked into the home. Shin could only stare as Tony leaped to his feet, looking like he was ready to just let loose. Man, spoiled as hell. "W-What's the big idea?! Why did you turn my cards off, huh?! B-Because I'm not going to school?!"

"Hi to you too, dear" Dana said dryly, setting her purse down on the table and approaching Shin to pull him down and kiss his cheek.

Shin smiled at her while his dad kissed the top of Jill's head. Yamada just looked deadpan at Tony, however, "Son, I'm going to stop you on this tirade fast: we did not shut off your cards."

"Y-Yea, you did! I can't use them!" spat Tony.

Dana smirked widely, going into the wine chiller and grabbing a white wine, "Jill?"

The only daughter looked startled by the sudden callout. Hmm? "If you can't use a card and it hasn't been turned off, what's wrong with it?"

Jill looked briefly confused before her blue eyes brightened, "Oh! There's no money!"

….Ahh. Tony looked flabbergasted. "W-What?"

Yamada accepted a glass from Dana as he wandered to stand next to her near the giant island in the center of the kitchen. Tony was almost gawking, "Bu-But…"

Yep, Tony wanted to ask 'why?' but he knew why. Dana crossed one arm to hold her elbow, her eyes half-closed, "There are people incapable for reasons beyond their control or help that cannot work or go to school. They should have access to income as they cannot attain it like the rest of us. That, my son, is not your case."

"We rewarded you for attending school and helping around the house, that was your job. A job is going to be what you do to earn income. As a person not doing a job, you do not earn income" Yamada said bluntly.

Tony looked livid. "W-Well, Setsuna's mom doesn't work either and her husband still gives her money!"

Dana glared, "Oh, so when I was at home with you all while your father was at work when you were younger, washing clothes, cooking dinner, cleaning, making beds, bathing you, and helping you with homework, I wasn't working, huh?"

Oops. Tony gaped, "W-Well, I-I guess that's—that's true, bu-but—"

"Look, Tony, your mother and I aren't the best candidates for understanding what your struggle with this is but we would be setting a poor precedent if we kept feeding your account while you don't even cook or clean or show up to this house or go to school. You would be getting money to do nothing when you are fully capable of doing something" Yamada replied.

"You have a room with a comfortable bed, you have entertainment we have gifted you and entertainment you have purchased yourself, and there will never come a day when you'll have to worry where your next meal is coming from. However, this 'going to the mall' or 'going to the movies and arcade' or spending this money on a girl? Those are extracurriculars that you no longer can earn from us."

"So-So that's it, I'm-I'm gonna look like some kind of loser?!" Tony snapped, flying to his feet.

"Tony…" Jill groaned.

Dana shrugged, "If you're so worried about maintaining appearances…go get a job."

It was still odd to Shin, even recollecting this, because at some point all of them had held a job without balking at the idea. They weren't great jobs, no, but it put a little extra change in their pocket of their own without their parents recommending it. Out of six of them, only Tony looked like the very essence of the universe was being ripped at this idea. "A job? W-What the hell?! I don't-I don't want to get a job!"

"Then don't. You'll just be broke" Dana sighed.

Broke. Tony probably wasn't even familiar with the mere concept of 'broke', even Shin had been a little shaken when he was dealing with it last year and he was just getting a little taste of it. Tony's face was bright red as he blurted, "I-I hate you guys!"

Oh jeez. He stormed off, apparently leaving the house and slamming the door behind him. Yamada gazed after his retreat before sipping his wine, "…Y'know, I had assumed the first time I got a taste of an 'I hate you', it would hurt more. Instead, it just kind of tickles."

Shin bit his lip as their mother gave their dad a look. Clearing his throat, Shin glanced to Shaun and Jill, "…Does the concept mom and dad laid out make sense to you two?"

It stood to reason they also might have thought it was unfair and would start to mutiny. However, Jill sighed. "…You don't get free money unless it's a holiday or your birthday. Shaun and I go to school every day and help around the house while mom spends forty hours on a dress and dad cuts people open to make that money to put in our accounts. It's, like, the least we can do."

Yamada sighed gravely, "This is why I wanted more daughters…"

Jill snickered as Dana smacked his arm. Shaun pushed the lasagna into the oven, having spent the conversation composing the layers of noodles and Bolognese sauce, "I mean, that makes sense to me too, dad. Maybe Tony is just dumb."

"Shaun" scolded Dana lightly.

"I guess Nelly and Tony are the middle children…" Yamada mused, setting his empty cup down.

Oh yea…Nelly wasn't the same kind of spoiled as Tony by a long shot but he was very clingy and kind of lackadaisical. Like that night they went to Nesha's party, he didn't come home until like three in the afternoon that next day. His grades were probably suffering via his mad partying skills but he most likely would get the hint early. Now that other one though…

Shaun served the plates as they all sat. Shin glanced at his watch, finding it was 7…so he should be catching up with Nesha around 8. "I'll probably be home late tonight, mama, dad."

His mom ripped the bread, blinking at him, "Oh really? When do we get to meet this young woman you're running out of here to meet every night?"

'Meet'? "O-Oh, well, it's…uh, it's…not that…serious, mom. We're just…friends."

Yea, the friend he stayed over at sometimes and came home still covered with hickeys depending on if they got drunk. Dana sighed, "…I told you you'd be cursed, didn't I, Yama?"

The blond man sulked. What? The man grumbled, "…Do we know this friend?"

Meep. "U-Um, Nesha Johansson."

His dad looked shocked, pausing with his fork hovering, "…Roller's daughter?"

"What kind of name is 'Roller'?" Shaun questioned, wiping his hands.

"Why is Roller's daughter's name 'Johansson'?" Dana asked, also seeming puzzled.

"Wasaba had…weird names going around, Shaun. And, uh, reasons, Dana…" Yamada droned.

'Reasons'. Shin's eyes narrowed, eating a bit of the noodle, "She told me that her dad found out about her after he got married and didn't want anything to do with her so he just paid her mom child support to keep them from telling his wife."

Yamada flinched and Dana gawked, "Yama! Is that true?"

"It's…it's not that uncommon in Wasaba, dear" their dad said slowly.

Their mom glared full double sided axes at their dad, "Oh really? So do you have a son or daughter I don't know about that you're paying hush money to and pretending doesn't exist?"

"No, Dana, I do not have a secret child that I am paying off to keep secret" he countered drably, "I said it wasn't uncommon, not that we all have the same thing going on."

Dana scoffed, "Well, I still wouldn't be surprised…"

"Given my history with my parentage, I will forever pray that is not the case. I'm too old to live with that now."

What now? Dana patted his hand, nodding, "You're a regionally well-known doctor, I'm sure if you had any miscellaneous kids, they would have popped up by now."

Unfortunately, given his extra time in Wasaba lately, Shin couldn't say over a dozen women were misconstruing his father. It sounded like he was well acquainted with a good amount of women. He still heard about these…lingual skills and it made him sick every time.

"I'm still going to have a good talking to to Roller" Dana sulked, "Of all things."

"Dana, this young woman is Shin's age, it's kind of…late to force Roller's fatherhood onto her" Yamada explained.

She suddenly looked puzzled before they started…quirking. He wasn't sure of a better way to say it, it was just when all verbal communication shut down and they were suddenly able to have a conversation through looks. It was honestly kind of scary. Shin smiled as the kids appeared mystified as well. "So, uh, Jill, how was school, imoto?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, it was school, nii-san" she replied, poking at her lasagna absently.

"Is the lasagna not good, nee-san?" Shaun questioned.

"Oh no, it's delicious, Shaun! I'm just kind of tired."

Shin raised a brow at her. She had seemed very tired lately but it didn't seem quite like it was all school related somehow. Looked like she also had something on her mind.

…He guessed he'd get to the bottom of it tomorrow after she got some rest. Wiping his mouth, he took the dishes and started to wash them. The kids excused themselves to their own entertainment while his parents moved to the living room to whisper about…Nesha's parentage? Weird.

Shin took a shower and slipped out into the night, making the now weathered journey to Wasaba. Nelly joked that he was pretty whipped right now. Maybe a tiny bit. And since he never saw her with other men, he never got particularly jealous but he was sure if he did, it'd be like Naomi…

She opened the door before he was able to even knock, tugging him in and pulling him roughly against her. For someone almost six inches shorter than him, she sure knew how to throw him around. He actually kind of liked it though.

"I've been waiting for you."

"I can tell."

Today she was wearing a slinky white tank top dress, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail. Kissing him, she started to unbutton his shirt. She breathed, "No fucking."

Shin grasped her ass, pulling her flush against him, "…I'm disappointed but I can deal."

Nesha wrapped her arms around his neck, rolling her eyes, "…MAYBE I'll let you hit it if you make a convincing…case for yourself."

He pulled up the back of her dress, running his hand down the curve of her bottom. She had on a white, lacy sheer thong today…Nesha yelped when he slapped her ass hard. He smiled smugly as she leered at him. "Keep it up, Pretty Boy, and I won't even suck your dick."

Smacking the other cheek again before hefting her up to carry to her bedroom, he drawled, "Now, now, you said you'd let me plead my case."

After some touching and 'experimenting, indeed getting access to 'hit', Shin lied down as she sleepily lied beside him, looking satisfied. "I'm already jealous of your future wife."

"Yea, what future wife?" he snorted.

She sat up on her side on her elbow, her eyes half-shut as she gazed at him, "You'll have a wife, dummy. And she's going to like you and she's going to get to have orgasms all the time."

"The bar is not high there" he couldn't help laugh.

"Dude, I've been fucking since I was fourteen and since I've known you, I've had more orgasms this month than those six years. It is a rarity, at least in these parts."

While he was still glad they were both on the same page of where this was going, he did blink, flirting, "And you're sure you don't want to keep me for yourself?"

Nesha smirked, rolling her eyes, "You're funny. Do I seem like the type you bring home to mommy?"

"Well now, that's not a fair assessment" Shin pouted, "I would take you home to my parents if we had that sort of relationship. The only reason I don't consider an 'us' is I'm about to be spirited off to possibly die and you probably have more important stuff going on."

She sighed, stroking a loose tendril of hair out of his face, "We're not lovey dovey or any crap, Yagami, but I honestly don't want you to die."

"Thanks" he snickered.

"I'm serious! …Though I mean, that didn't come out with any ounce of affection so I can see why it was funny" she laughed as well, "Wasaba language for you, my guy."

Shin smiled some, sitting up against the pillow. "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends."

"Well…I have a younger sister, right? I have a creeping suspicion but she's seemed out of sorts lately. She's very tired but doesn't seem like it's physical. It's almost seeming…mental. She's usually not so down and I'm thinking she's not going to tell me what's going on."

Nesha snorted, "Shin, you already know that answer."

"Damn it" he mumbled, running his hands down his face.

A boy. He had to go find a boy and murder him. Grimly, he shook his head. Well…he didn't care for killing but there was still room in his heart for killing those that hurt his baby sister. Nesha yawned, "Wish I had had a big bad 'onii-san' to chase all the bad boys away."

"I doubt he'd like me very much then" Shin sighed.

"If you knew the boys I fuck and have fucked around with, you'd know my mythical onii-san would think I'm on the right track with a boy like you" she shrugged, "Your dad continues to be an enigma in these parts, a lot of people simply do not get out of here and do…that much better."

Shin frowned, having to wonder…was she plotting on staying here too?

"It's too early to be done, by the way, this is just a timeout" Nesha informed him, reaching down and stroking him.

…It…it didn't matter in terms of their relationship. In the end, this…probably didn't matter. A future wife? That…that also seemed unlikely.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Let's see if it works!"

Shin stood outside with his dad, Shaun, Koji, and Nelly, all of them silently regarding this…contraption and the youngest Yagami as he sat on…the bike.

It was May. He left next month and he was absolutely…dismayed. This wasn't even near enough time. In fact, he really almost wished they had just run through the rest of the tenure because now he was almost ready to go MIA. Sure, basic with Joe had been fun but they weren't out there killing people. If drill was all the army meant, he'd be in great shape. Instead…

All the same, he just kind of plugged along, helping Shaun with his motorcycle, and failing to get out of Jill who was bothering her. She assured him she was just tired with school and he had no real…reason to doubt her. It just seemed questionable. Kind of like his relationship with her twin.

Tony had remained offended by their parent's rather reasonable decree that all the elective stuff he did did not require their funding. Shin had offered to help him find a job, if it would help, but the punk just bit his head off and CHEWED. He…he just let it go, he wasn't going to force anything if the other party didn't want to. A sad hopefully not conclusion for a sibling but Shin was barely stable enough as was.

As was his faith in this thing they built. Shin's brows raised as Shaun eagerly started to turn the key. It…looked amazing, like, the color scheme Shaun came up with of the glitter navy blue and black and white accents, it was gorgeous. Just…

Their dad, when he could, reviewed all the schematics Shaun was using and he…reluctantly agreed that it all appeared to be correct. Just the fact of the matter was, they were in no way trained engineers qualified to make a damn motorcycle.

As agreed upon, they were going to get it inspected by a professional. However, there was a very…ambivalent agreement that they needed to see if it started first. Shaun was the only one excited. Koji turned and muttered to him, "…What percent chance do we have that this thing blows up?"

"…Uh…maybe…thirty percent?" Shin estimated.

"Hot damn."

Shaun pouted at them as Nelly backed up, "It will NOT explode!"

"Yea…let…me start it up, son" Yamada groaned, saying lightly under his breath 'your mom will kill me if I let you get hurt'.

Koji made a face, "…We need you to have arms to continue supporting our family, dad."

Shin smirked as Shaun looked crushed. "Shaun, we're messing with you, kid. We don't think it'll blow up, it's just…suspicious that we would have somehow created a running vehicle."

"But I think we did!" Shaun said, his eyes aglow.

Their dad sat on the bike, sticking the key in the ignition. They all held their breath as the man turned it over…

…And it choked. Shaun gaped, "Oh no! What's wrong with it?"

The youngest ran over to it as Koji frowned, getting closer to observe the machine. "…Did you get a new fuel pump or find one?"

Yamada's eyes briefly widened, nodding, "We were having trouble finding an adequate fuel pump. We just assumed the one we got would work with the injectors."

"Well, shit, if that's all that's wrong with it, let's go find one" Nelly replied.

With a smile, Shin wandered behind the now more enthused group, wishing for the life of him that his journey didn't require leaving them behind. He…

…He wanted to stay. Most of all…he wanted to stay alive.

"Sweetie Plum?"

"Hey, mama" Shin greeted as he walked toward the bus station which was about to take him away to his last drill before he returned to Iraq.

It was a warm, muggy day, and, competing with Joe or not, he was not looking forward to being outside running obstacles today. Alas, he was about to go back to 45 Celsius, 112 degree days regardless so may as well get used to it.

About to head to sit in the station for the couple of hours before the bus departed, his mother gave him a call. She sounded a little worried. "I understand if you can't, dear, but do you have enough time to check in on Koji? He had a fever the last few days and now I can't get him on the phone."

Figures. Shin looked at his phone. It was only about fifteen minutes away so he had some time. "I can, mama. I'll call you when I figure out where he is."

"Thank you! And tell him to pick up his damn phone if he's just goofing off."

He snickered, heading back toward the university. "Will do, mama."

Making his way to the dorm, he received some stares as usual because of his camo garb. That, or it was weird he was allowed to walk in here in the first place, what kind of security was this? Coming to Koji's door, he knocked a few times. Standing there for five minutes though, he was confused to receive no answer.

Oh damn, he forgot, Koji said he, Keiba, and Domon had asked for a room with a separate bed and desk for all of them instead of the bunk bed situation. Recalling possibly a…four, he decided to call Koji to clarify. No answer. C'mon. "Koji, I have to go to drill soon. Where are you?" Shin muttered to himself.

'Find the number fourteen' kept ringing in his head so, he knocked, prepared to apologize if he was wrong. He was startled to find the movement opened the door a bit, apparently the barrier having been left ajar. He was briefly concerned Koji might be unconscious on the other side… Instead, however, was a young blonde woman sitting on a bed, wearing the shortest pair of jeans he'd ever seen and that was considering Nesha completely and a white tank top. To top it all off, she…very clearly was reading what appeared to be a porn magazine, two naked women on the front. Um…oops. About to apologize for his intrusion, he noted the picture of 'Shaun's soul' over one of the desks and got confused.

"Uh, I'm...I'm sorry, is this Yagami Koji's dorm?" he decided to ask.

Whomever this woman was looked up, startled. She had almost crystal blue eyes. Apparently that hourglass shape was becoming more acceptable to their generally biased society because she had it completely. She gasped, "Oh my Gawd, you're so hawt!" What now? Shin smiled nervously, shy, "...U-uh, t-thanks? But uh, is...is my brother here? My mom wanted me to check on him." "Ooh, Koji has SUCH a sexy family" she gasped, standing up and setting the magazine aside, "He went out but you can wait for him here." Who…even was this? No occupants of the room were even here! "O-oh, uh..." This mystery stranger who he had no doubt Koji was banging had him sit on the couch, sitting beside him. He…God, he was on some serious whore shit lately, but he just could not not notice her breasts. They were just so…bountiful.Like she just knew he was in slut mode right now, one reason being he just ogled her chest for a solid ten seconds, she suddenly started to nibble her lip, running her hand up his chest. Woah now. "Ooh, a guy in a uniform is so fucking sexy." May damn DAY. Shin opened his mouth to…say what? What do you say to such bluntness? Thanks again? He lost all words as she sat up on her knees and started to rub his shoulders. What the hell was this? "You feel tense...how 'bout I help?" Her chest was braced against his back and his mind was slipping like Jello. What was even her name? She didn't even know his name? Who starts with a proposition?! "O-o-oh, I can't, I..."…But…well, he…was going to be…leaving the whole country pretty soon, so…

No! No, you don't know who this is or even who this is to Koji! For once on this journey home, stop thinking with your penis, Shin!

…Well…just…

...Well, maybe he...could?

It was…by and large the most impressive bout of sex he'd had thus far. She was…very talented in that area. The only problem? What in the hell? What was her name?!

Before he could fully grasp that he just had the pinnacle of stranger sex and essentially a stranger sex QUICKIE, the door to the dorm opened.

This was a dorm. And not his dorm nor just Koji's dorm, other unrelated people lived here. Almost screaming, he quickly managed to wrangle his penis back into his pants while the blonde seemed nonplussed. Just… 'luckily', maybe? Well, luckily, it was Koji. His younger brother paused at the door, staring in quietly before his face registered confusion. Oh, hell, what if this was his new girlfriend?! Damn it, Shin!

"…Julia, what the hell?"

Julia. She…now had a name. Julia laughed as she grabbed her shorts off the floor, "Just you wait, Koji, I'm going to get through the whole collection."

…Collection? Koji just blinked languidly, "…Do whatever, just leave my sister the hell alone and get outta here."

What now?! Julia seemed unbothered, pulling on her pants and humming, "It was fun, Shin, I wish it could have gone a bit longer without interruption! Take care now!"

So wait…she knew his name? She skipped out like…she hadn't just had sex and Koji closed the door before drawling, "…You've really kind of gone off the deep end, haven't you, oldest?"

"Yes" Shin sobbed, covering his face.

"Well, I am convinced Julia was a succubus in her last life" Koji snorted.

Shin leered, going to the tiny closet sized bathroom in the corner to…compose himself. "This never would have happened if you had just picked up your stupid phone!"

"Excuse you, buddy, but my battery stopped working so I actually was just out getting another one" Koji snorted, "I even talked to your 'commander' on the way back and told her I'm fine. She probably called you too but you were too busy getting your brain fucked out."

Damn it! Shin checked his phone and there was indeed a missed call about ten minutes ago from their mom. "…Yea, well, it was too late by then anyway."

"Impeccable stroke game, right?" Koji said randomly.

"Otherworldly, you mean" Shin droned.

Exiting the bathroom, Shin stuffed his hands in his pockets, finding Koji on the other side flipping the couch cushion. Yea…that was gross too. "…Sorry. I hope she wasn't your girlfriend or potential or something."

"Tuh, don't make me laugh" Koji snickered, "Julia would never, first off, and second off, I would never. We are the friendliest of benefits."

Of course… "You really don't think you'll settle down, huh?"

"Not with girls like Julia."

"Oh, you mean the female version of you?" Shin found himself countering sarcastically.

Koji snorted, sitting at his desk, "I'm not a hypocrite, sergeant. She's polyamorous to the boot, meaning she would want to have an open relationship even if we were committed. I might sleep around right now but when I say you're my girlfriend and you call me your man, I'm keeping it monogamous. That works for her but it's not my jam."

Oh yea…glancing at his watch, he grimaced. "Well, I gotta go before I miss the bus…for the love of God, don't let your phone die again."

"Will do" snickered Koji, grabbing his keys back up, "I'll walk with you. Gonna miss these 'brotherly chats'."

…Right. They strode alongside each other up the roads, Shin gazing up at the sky. "…I know it's hard with college, Koji, but try to watch things at home. I…I want Shaun to stay on the straight and arrow, he'll do well in life. And Jill…"

Koji would run to the mansion right now if Shin told him Jill appeared to have 'boy problems'. He shrugged instead, "She's the one that has to be good out of that combination because Tony is not good right now. I don't want her to get stressed."

The man nodded, his hands stuffed in his pockets, "Will do. And you? Don't crack."

"I will give it my best go…"

"I hope the Zechs would have gotten tired of this shenanigans by the time you go back and are ready to throw in the towel" Koji murmured, "…Just sick."

Oh damn, right! "You just reminded me, Koji: that guy…that guy we saw in the restaurant before I left- Louis? I think he goes to your school, is there any way you could find him for me?"

Koji looked bewildered. "…Well, I can ask around, yea. Why…?"

…At least…one remaining asset came out of that lie. He…really didn't have a lot to show for anything right now, sleeping senselessly with anyone slightly interested, but…whatever.

….Just…just a few more weeks.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"…That is the most illogical thing I have ever heard."

Yagami Shin had convinced Akiyama Jyou to return to Saitama University with him after drill. Koji had called and informed him he 'found the guy' and advised where Shin could get in contact. With the promise of a college party, Joe grudgingly came with him.

Now, they were standing in a private room with anime posters and various plants all over the place along with stacks upon stacks of notebooks. Joe stood with his arms crossed, looking aggravated. "…Who is this guy, Shin?"

Torataro Louis was staring back at them weirdly as Shin relayed the information that the Zechs were supposedly going to be floating submarines to a southern island. Describing the distance and the plot, Louis also seemed in disbelief. Shin tipped his head toward Louis, nodding, "Louis gave me a different perspective on the Zechs' plans. From what I saw overseas, it entirely made more sense so I thought maybe he could shine some light on your situation so you don't go in in the dark."

"Well, you'd have to give me some time on this one, Yagami-san, I'm with you" Louis snorted, sitting in a rolling desk chair, "Crossing thousands and thousands of miles of desert to then go thousands of miles to an island? There would have to be a better way."

Joe blinked languidly as Shin mused. Well…a little group discussion never hurt anyone.

"What's up, Baby Daddy-y-y?"

"Good, your girlfriend isn't around" Shin said dryly, Joe and Louis' eyes wide as he had Yamada Komari on speaker, "You got time to be on my think tank?"

Komari snorted, "Buddy, we're going to be back in the desert pretty soon, so-o-o-o…"

"Just a few minutes" he requested, "I have my old buddy from Wasaba, Akiyama Joe, and the guy that came up with the capitalist idea, Torataro Louis. Joe is getting transferred from the Army to the Marines."

"Oh dude, we must be in some deep shit then" Komari whistled.

"Joe, Louis, this is my roommate and comrade, Yamada Komari" Shin introduced.

Joe gave him a look and Louis looked very confused. Oh yea, Komari was a woman. "She made a…special request. Anyway, Komari, Joe got transferred because, per intelligence, the Zechs are going to start sending Terran captives through Yemen and are going to take submarines to an island between Africa and Australia."

"So…they're going to spend about two months crossing the desert in almost 120 degree temperatures with a group of people they want to keep alive…to then take them underwater…to get to mysterious island" Komari drawled.

"Yep."

"Yea, you sure they told you right, bro?"

Joe leered, "Yes! That is my mission briefing. The Zechs are calling it the 'Aquana' plan."

Komari sounded like she was drinking something before she rasped, "Well…it's a shit plan."

"It just can't BE their plan!" Louis proclaimed, throwing his hands up, "It's-it's just TOO stupid! It's like setting fire to a house to roast a marshmallow stupid!"

With a sigh, Joe gave him an exasperated look. Shin, however, felt…nauseous. Wait. "…What if that's not the plan? What if…what if Terran are already there?"

Joe raised a brow, "…Ya'll are already saying it's stupid to get them there like this but wouldn't it be just as crazy for them to already be there?"

Louis spun around in his chair, typing, "Well, actually, there were some Terrans that relocated to an island…they called it Fenith. I wouldn't say it's EXACTLY between Africa and Australia but I suppose it's close enough."

Fenith? Komari replied, "I had heard about that but I figured they were safe by distance."

Frowning, Joe sat down on a chair, "…So maybe it's not that they're BRINGING Terrans there. It's that they're going to go try to attack the island."

Louis scowled, "That's kind of a large disparity and, not to force feelings upon you, Akiyama-san, but I'd feel a little irritated if I was under the impression I was just supposed to stop the Zechs in the water versus stopping them from attacking a village."

"Seriously!" Joe sulked, "If that is true, we'd be protecting people!"

"…You know, I bet they were targeting the wrong Terrans."

They all looked, startled, as Komari said this. "…What?" Shin questioned slowly.

"Think about it: they want these secret runes or whatever that help plant life or whatever. We're in the middle of the fucking desert, dude! How many gardens did you see in the town we watched?"

… "…None."

"So what would make them equipped with that knowledge? They don't know anything."

…Wait. Louis's eyes widened and Joe looked…startled. "…I mean, fuck, right: they might be able to grow SOMETHIN' but they probably don't even have the info those bastards are looking for. That's fucked up."

Shin swallowed. "…No. They probably…do have the information they're looking for."

Louis's eyes narrowed, "…They probably know where Fenith Island is. It may not be that they were trying to get the information on how to get the technology from them…"

"They were trying to find out where the island is" Joe muttered, "So one of the Terrans broke."

"Well, I figured that with the shit Shin and I saw in Sharance. It would take a HELL of a person not to break after that sort of torture" Komari scoffed.

Grimacing, Shin nodded. "…So Joe, they…they probably told you that to keep the mission prompt classified but it's most likely you're going to be defending Fenith Island from the Zechs."

"There are still some things not adding up here…" Louis mumbled.

"Yea, he's right" Komari said, "One, if this is some secret island, how does anyone reap the benefits of these runes? They can't just export them if no one knows where they are."

Joe rubbed his chin, "…Something has to be in the desert. The one thing the reports had circled was 'desert'."

Louis was typing, nodding, "…I'll try to come up with something before you're sent back, Yagami-san. I wish you had contacted me sooner. Did Lyla not tell you I went to school here?"

He tried not to get too battered by hearing that name but it caused that storm in his soul that just never seemed to break. "…We're not on speaking terms anymore so I'd prefer you not mention her."

Both Joe and Louis looked up, baffled. Komari yawned, "Well, if you guys don't come up with anything soon, I'm sure the three of us will know pretty quick how fucked up this nightmare is going to be. I gotta go though, my old lady might be coming back."

"All right, Yamada. See you soon" Shin murmured.

Clicking the red phone, 'end', Shin bowed, "Thank you for your insight, Louis. I know you're busy so if you don't come up with anything, I understand."

"No, no, I'll be thinking on it all night" he assured before giving Shin a soft expression.

…Luckily he didn't say anything, walking them to the door after Shin left his number. As they walked the city streets back to the dorm party Koji assured Shin he was going to have, Joe cleared his throat, "…It's okay if you fight me but I GOTTA ask: what happened between you and Lyla?"

Shin inhaled sharply, balling his fists, "…It's no concern, Jyou."

"So I could sleep with her now then?"

"Do whatever the hell you want."

Joe shot him a bland face, "…Was it because she yelled at you for knocking boots with your roommate?"

"What the fuck? No" Shin glared, reaching to get his cigarettes from his pocket.

"I dunno, man, having a chick call you 'baby daddy' can seriously wreck a relationship…"

While Shin wanted to be mad, it was kind of funny. "Man, you're about as off as that Zechs plan is, jeez."

Lighting up, he shrugged softly, "…I gave her a promise ring before I left. She left it on my bed and I stupidly went looking for her. I ran into her dad and he basically told me I'm too lowly for his daughter and disrespected my entire family. She was there for enough of it and didn't say anything. Actions speak louder than words and that act beat into me that I was an idiot for ever being…anything with her."

"…Dunno, Shin. It'd piss me off too, I get you, just…like you're saying with why I'm being transferred, something is just really missing there, man" Joe insisted.

…Then so be it. Like the Zechs' reasoning, her reasoning was probably 'stupid' too.

…So be it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well, this was a nightmare.

Shin was almost petrified as he rode 'Kamex', the name Shaun gave to his self-built, working, motorcycle. It took a bit of rigging but the Yagami men got the fuel pump working and some other belts and, finally, the bike came to life. They'd all been stunned. It worked.

Before Shaun could start riding it, Shin insisted he'd take it for inspection first. Yea, they got it running but that didn't mean it was safe. So he rode it to a mechanic and had them look it over. The guy was very thorough, using computers and tapping stuff with his hammer while observing the inner workings. To Shin's horror, the guy said everything looked 'good'. What though?

So now, with the passing grade of a mechanic, he was driving this thing back to hand over the reigns to its rightful master. God, don't let that kid break his neck on this thing…

Zipping back into the yard, he was puzzled to find only Koji and Nelly outside. Shaun had been busting at the seams to see his creation get ordained, where was he? Pulling up near the twins, he made a face, "…It's good."

"Figured that" Koji droned, shaking his head, "…The kid made a running motorcycle."

Nelly's brows quirked, "…Well, good for him. I'm sure he's glad to have something commemorative for you and dad working with him."

…Yea. Shin smiled and looked around, "Where is he?"

"Oh, he wanted to draw something, surprisingly" Koji frowned.

"Hopefully no more potatoes…" Nelly droned.

They snickered and Koji reached into his pocket, pulling out his traditional black cigarettes, and stuck one in his mouth. Just as Shin was about to do the same, a gray car suddenly came up the long driveway and pulled up right in front of them. Hmm? Who was this?

"Aww, shit" Koji muttered under his breath.

What? Three rather bulky looking guys got out of the car and Shin quickly looked to Nelly and Koji who appeared dismayed. What? Those two sometimes fought as a hobby, were they scared?! The oldest appearing one came to a stop a few feet away, his face stony. "…Is Tony here?"

Aww, shit. Koji scratched his cheek, "…Yea, he is."

"Call him out."

Nelly slowly walked to the front door and called from the foyer. Shin walked closer to Koji and turned, muttering, "…Please tell me these aren't her brothers."

"Bingo."

Damn it! Pinching the bridge of his nose, he was at a total loss when Tony came down the steps, looking pissed since that was his default right now…before absolute horror stretched across his face. "Oh shit."

"So you thought you were going to two time our sister, huh?" spat one of the brothers, coming forward with a crowbar in hand.

Shit, shit, shit. Tony blanched, shaking his head rapidly, "I-It wasn't even like that!"

"Oh, so you're calling Taiko a liar, huh?!" snapped one of the others.

While anyone else with an ounce of sense knew they'd dug themselves a hole, he was pretty sure the trio of older brothers had an insular 'where in the hell did we go wrong?' moment when Tony countered back, "Maybe she is!"

"Oh-Okay, okay" Koji actually blurted, quickly holding up his hands.

The fact of the matter was, under probably zero circumstances would Koji have been on this end of any argument. It was a little different communicating in a fight you both didn't start and wanted no part in. Now, in another plot twist, he was about to play peacemaker, "Look, we are all the older brothers of this family and, let me tell you, I've been in a shit load of fights over our only baby sister so I a million percent get where you're coming from."

"Oh yea?" snorted the oldest, "So you'll let us beat your little brother's ass, huh?"

"He really-y-y-y needs an ass whooping, I can tell you that, but I know I couldn't stand here and watch it happen" Koji relented.

Oh God. The guy stepped right up to fucking Yagami Koji's face and snarled, "Then leave."

"Didn't say I was above kicking your ass either, buddy, so I recommend you relocate my personal bubble while I'm in mild spirits."

"Please, he's insane" Nelly actually pleaded.

Shin also held up his hands in a sign of…hopefully good faith, "Look, if we swear to you that Tony will cut all contact with Taiko and stay away from her, can we forego this…punishment? As Koji said, we are incredibly sympathetic to you wanting to protect your sister. We would definitely be doing the same thing as you. Just…can we call it even this once?"

The three brothers of Taiko looked at each other before the eldest representative drawled, "On some conditions."

Oh boy. "O-Okay."

"He needs to come clean to Setsuna too that he was two-timing her with Taiko."

Tony gawked, "N-No way!"

"Done" Koji amended.

"We also want him, before he leaves our sister the hell alone, to apologize to her for hurting her feelings. She really liked this bastard" the man grunted.

Incredibly reasonable. Tony was shivering though before he turned bright red, "Fuck you! I won't apologize for shit!"

Shin scratched the back of his neck as Koji simply smoked his cigarette, staring absently into the sky while Nelly smiled grimly. Honestly, would it be wrong if they joined Taiko's brothers…?

At some point a crowbar was swung. Shin managed to hook the guy's arm and bring his knee up into his stomach. Damn it. Koji ducked a punch before shoving the guy into a neck lock…then kneeing him hard in the gut. The man groaned in agony as Koji quickly released him, looking alarmed, "Fuck, how do you fight when there's no animosity on your end?!"

"Like this" Shin snapped.

Koji was fucking right, they had about as much reason to fight these guys as someone they passed on the street or something, this was ridiculous! So, surprising generally everyone, he snatched Tony, who had recoiled despite this being his fight, up by the back of his shirt and shoved him right in front of the fray. "He's yours."

"Woah, Shin, hey…" Nelly said slowly.

"Fuck it, Nerimaru! He wants to act like he's so big and bad, not wanting to listen to anyone and doing what he wants, let him figure out his own mess and fight his own fights! He gets to sound all pompous because he can hide behind us and I won't be a part of that shit!"

The twins were hesitant as he started to head for the house. Fine, they could fight. He couldn't even believe someone in their family was acting like this! He hated comparing turmoil but he literally saved the life of a kid no older than Tony that had his family kidnapped by terrorists. Shin would be damned if he fought some concerned older brothers because his brother was a cheating bastard!

"…All right."

Shin paused. What? The brothers had recovered but looked…solemn. What? The oldest muttered, "…We got knucklehead younger brothers too, we know it's no picnic dealing with their stupid years. We'll just tell Taiko to keep away from him and leave it at that. He harasses her though, the deal is off."

They simply got back into their car and pulled off without another word. They all just quietly stood there for some odd amount of minutes, just…

"…Holy fuck, we lost that fight" Koji rasped.

Nelly buried his face in his hands, shaking his head, while Shin felt sick. Hell yea, they did. And of course, Tony was too stupid to understand that. "They left, didn't they?! N-No thanks to you!"

Says the one that did nothing but start that fight. The dangerous thing about Koji was you never quite knew what he was thinking so a lot of his actions came just as a distinct surprise. However, when Shin actually was able to see Koji's ears turn red, that was about all the signal he needed as he quickly bolted back to the yard to keep Koji from ripping Tony to pieces.

"You stupid, fucking, lousy ass, motherfucking piece of cumslut SHIT" Koji roared as Shin quickly held him back along with Nelly.

"Tony."

Shin looked up, surprised, when the front door opened and Jill and Shaun appeared. Their only sister looked…angry. "You were cheating on their sister. That should be the end of the story but you need end notes, apparently. In the alternate universe where I got to date, and that guy cheated on me, then you wouldn't want to intervene, huh?"

Uh oh. Tony looked…shocked. "W-Well, o-of course I would, Jill-"

"Oh, so you would do what they just did, huh? What about when he yells that I'm a liar? Or when you ask him to just apologize and be truthful and he says 'no way, I'm not doing shit'?" Jill spat, her fists balled as she got closer to her twin, "And how about when his brothers try to make things right and he's busy spouting off garbage then you find yourself fighting THEM because he's too much of a punk to fight his own battles?"

Oh damn. "I-I…"

"Koji—Koji didn't even want to fight, Tony! And then you're so stupid in the head, you don't even realize that those guys who came here out of rightful concern for their sister basically pitied our nii-sans so much that they just relented that you're just a terrible person!"

Tony blanched as Jill stood level with him. Oh…Tony had grown a bit. "That's right, futago. They didn't leave because they realized they were wrong or whatever ignorance is going through your head: they said, 'oh, this kid doesn't even respect his own brothers. He's garbage to begin with'. I can't believe you're standing here, yelling that they didn't do anything. They shouldn't have had to. They only had your back because you're they're brother but you were still wrong."

Tony trembled as Jill huffed, marching back into the house and slamming the door behind her. Well then.

…Instead of anything reasonable in that moment, Tony just basically ran out of the yard. Nelly watched after him before droning, "…We were taking care of him kind of stupid young. We didn't drop him or anything, right?"

"Fuck, maybe" Koji groaned.

Shin patted Koji's shoulder, "….Well, we did an okay job on one of them, apparently."

"I'm not stupid either, no matter what you guys say!"

Looking back to Shaun who looked huffy, Shin smiled softly, "You're not stupid at all, Shaun. None of you are, just…whatever you may end up going through next year, please, please try to talk about it with someone."

"I still won't be that dumb" Shaun said dryly.

Koji smirked some, "Just because you made a whole motorcycle doesn't make you an emotional genius, kid. Come on, let's ride Kamex."

Shaun excitably jumped on his bike while Shin wandered to find the keys for his Honda and the twin's Yamaha they got for their birthday…

Man. He…he had to go back to Iraq and deal with other people's problems. He…was barely able to handle it here.

…Talk about a nightmare. He…kind of missed a broader perspective on sibling matters…he missed talking to someone else at all.

No. Fuck her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was the week before he left. His dad was getting angsty again, his mom was trying to be the strong one, and the youngers were dealing with school. Well…almost all of them. Tony started to stay at a friend's house because why not? Shin gave up.

While he was still her 'prime choice', near the end of May, Nesha stopped calling him. He thought maybe she'd moved on. Alas, she called him Friday and asked that he come over. Well…may as well get one last hurrah in, he supposed. She teased that she'd let him come inside of her as a parting gift. Not necessary but he was a little sloppier as a result…

When they were finished, he noticed some boxes in the corner. "You moving?"

"Yea."

Shin glanced at Nesha as she stared at her nails. Okay… "…I like you, Shin. You're really loyal, y'know? Or at least diligent, you always made time for me. And you never made it too deep when we were talking. I wasn't stressed out by you."

"Well…"

She sat up on her side, gazing at him, "…You deserve someone that gives you the same energy back though. Someone that can give you the emotional support it takes to get you through what you're going through. I don't know about your dad but…being from a place where it's commonplace to see people get gunned down or bodies on the street, it's hard to commiserate sometimes."

Shin grimaced, "No, I understand that, Nesha, really…"

She rubbed his bare chest, murmuring, "…You should also find someone willing to be a little more open with you about even basic shit. Like…I never mentioned I go to school in the mornings."

…Huh? "You…you do?"

"Mm."

"O-Oh. Well, that's neat though. What's your major?"

"Mining and Mineral Engineering."

…Okay, didn't expect that. She sat up on her haunches, stretching, "…And, because the opportunity presented itself, I am transferring to the University of Utah."

…Utah. "So you're transferring to the United States? That's awesome, Nesha. Congratulations."

"You mean that?"

"Of course I do" he assured, sitting up to lean against the headboard, "When opportunities you want present themselves, it'd be crazy not to take them. I mean, I don't know if you've wanted to leave but…I guess I just kind of assumed since it's Wasaba."

Nesha laughed, "You're right, I have dreamed of getting out of this shithole. People don't understand though…Odette's mad, my mom and sister are kind of mad…I guess it's because, should I make it out there, I don't intend to come back."

Shin swallowed that. "…Little tough to swallow but I get it. Nothing really here to hold on to."

She smiled. She had a gorgeous smile. Tapping his cheek, she replied, "You came close, you cheeky fucker."

Smirking at that, he stretched a bit, "Well, I'm glad for that, I guess. Not like we had much hope, we started on a mistaken drug binge fueled threesome."

With a snicker, she pinched him, "Yea. Next girl you fuck around with, try to make sure you have a little less…pizazz in your intro."

"If there's a next girl."

"There will be, if you haven't already found her."

…Nope. She looked at him seriously, "…Be safe over there, Shin. Don't let me see you as a statistic on the news."

"…I'll try, Nesha."

Well, no Tony.

Shin smiled but he didn't feel it. No, he felt like…he wasn't going to come back to these people ever again.

They all, again, minus Tony, drove here. This time, they were normal. Kind of quiet but talking when a conversation came up. He wished for the life of him he wasn't going.

Standing in the airport terminal in his fatigues, he took a deep breath and hugged Shaun. "…Thanks for a fun visit, Shaun. I really enjoyed making the motorcycle with you. Don't break your neck on that thing and send me pics when you go to high school."

"Okay, nii-san…" Shaun frowned, "And you're not visiting when you're here, y'know? Come home safely."

"You're right" Shin chuckled.

Jill smiled…sadly. Ugh. Shin hugged her tight to his chest, muttering, "…I really wish you'd have told me what was going on, imoto, I feel like a failure."

"Baka" she snorted, wrapping her arms around his waist, "I…I'm just sad that you're leaving and my twin brother is such a failure."

"Oh. Well…I don't know, Jill. Honestly, he's gone in a direction none of us are used to but…don't fret. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, nii-san."

Koji whistled, shaking his head, "…A year this time. What will they expect the next go? A year and a half?"

"Please let me get through this first" Shin groaned, shaking Koji's hand, "…Keep doing good in school and watching out."

"Of course. I'll be waiting for you, Shin."

Nelly sighed, "Just take care of yourself, Shin. We're trusting you to come back in one piece."

Shin simply nodded, hugging Nelly, before going to his dad. Yagami Yamada looked…perturbed. "…A year this time, huh?"

"Yea" Shin smiled wistfully.

The man exhaled before hugging him tightly, "…A year is going to be an eternity but…but like your brother said, just get back here to me in one piece and I'll be happy. Don't…don't try to be a hero over there, son. Just…just come back."

"…Will do, dad."

His mama was teary eyed as she kissed his forehead, "…I will send you as much shampoo as I can. I'll be waiting for you when you come home too, okay? I love you, Sweetie Plum."

His mom just always got him a bit disheveled…swallowing, he smiled and nodded, hugging her tight, "…I love you too, mama."

Bowing as they were starting to get called to board, he murmured, "I love all of you. And…and tell Tony I love him too. See you all soon."

They nodded, waving and giving their affections as well as he headed back toward that damned plane. He stopped when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a slip of pink disappear into the lobby.

Staring long and hard, his heart was racing and telling him some nonsense like 'go after her'. His anger said 'no'. Firmly turning toward the line about to spirit him away again, his chest felt like stone.

Round 2.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End Notes:

"Strollin' through the party like my name is El Nino" has to be Top 50 most early 00s opening lyrics I can recount now to anyone. This song is Fat Lip by Sum 41.

Sigh. Just big ol' sigh. Shin hears Crawling when he's in the car with Joe and listens to In the End with Shaun, both by Linkin Park and off their debut album, Hybrid Theory. BREAKS MY HEART.

Okay, in one of my most read works, Yume, in Chapter 13 Reverse, the character Julia, from Island of Happiness and Sunshine Islands, is introduced. This scene with Shin first appeared there. I won't spoil why she's mentioned again that much into the future but she takes on at least a secondary character role.

Fenith Island is the island where Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny/Oceans takes place. So, Aquameleon is a boss in the Zechs/Sechs Territory, a copy of the water dragon. Its nickname is 'Aquana'.

'Kamex' is the Japanese name for Blastoise, one of my favorite Pokemon ever.