Chapter 9

Gareki's face contorted with irritation, shock and honestly, he was really taken aback. He had no idea that Yogi felt this insecure. The one thing Gareki knew was that this Silver Yogi seemed to know the feelings of his other half while the other half seemed oblivious to the existence. Although Silver Yogi didn't know the same people immediately, as well as blonde Yogi, now that both sides knew Gareki, Gareki realized that this Yogi was not afraid to speak his mind. It was a blow for sure. Gareki's expression was pokered though. He figured he had this coming. He took a deep breath. Silver Yogi however floated down to the ground. "Yogi…" he began but the Silver haired man moved over to Dr. Akari and he held out his hand for the medicine. Surprised at his compliance, he handed over the medicine. Silver Haired Yogi walked back over to stand in front of the screen. Hirato and Tsukumo had walked off to the side. Karoku and Nai looked on as well. Karoku didn't really know what was going on, but at least the attention was off of him for now. He wondered what would happen when they found the sheep's remains in the bathroom.

"I don't want to hear it." Silver Yogi stared right at Gareki. Gareki felt his heart b-thmp. His eyes widened a bit. This had happened before too. At Rinoll. When he'd first met Silver Yogi and he'd been pulled out from the thorny shield by his wrist. Those piercing eyes that seemed to look right through him. Gareki gulped. There was something terrifying about this Yogi. Because it was like if you tried lying, he'd rip your throat out.

Still, he somehow found his voice. He hadn't thought that Yogi would be that bothered. He really hadn't. He figured that Yogi was a big boy. But, here was Silver Yogi, blatantly telling him that he was being insensitive. Gareki took a shaky breath. "Wait!" He said loudly. Silver Yogi paused, injecting the serum into his arm as he turned to look at Gareki. Gareki had his attention, along with the attention of everyone.

"Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to my face with these dumb asses in the room," Silver Yogi said calmly, gazing back at Gareki's face. Gareki didn't want an audience. But he didn't get much choice here.

"Excuse me," the librarian suddenly interrupted the call. Silver Yogi's vein twitched. "Do you have permission to-" her eyes fell to the scene. Hirato cleared his throat.

"Gareki is making a special call, please allow him to continue," he said. The librarian adjusted her glasses and quickly walked away. She knew it was Captain Hirato of the Second Circus Ship. She wasn't going to say no to him. However, she did make a phonecall to the headmaster. He had to know that the computer had been hacked because the librarian was the one who issued access to the video chat normally.

Gareki was silent. But he bit his lower lip. A simple happy birthday would sound so freaking lame at this point. He knew this. But he didn't know what to say to Yogi. So he just took a deep breath. "I've had a lot going on," he lamely said.

Silver Haired Yogi paused. Then his neutral expression turned into a laughing face. He laughed. Everyone was silent. Karoku wanted to slap Gareki. What the hell. What was so difficult about saying "happy fucking birthday?" He'd done it too though half-sarcastically and he barely knew this guy. "I suppose that's true. Little Gareki has so many stones to skip in his lake of wonders." Silver Yogi was making a pun on the fact that Gareki's name meant flower pebble. He was also calling Gareki little since Gareki hated to be called a kid. Though he still totally was one.

Gareki bit back a retort. Right now, he didn't know what Yogi would do if he went awol because of Gareki shooting off his mouth. He grit his teeth. Dammit. I really didn't think...but if Silver Yogi is out then I know for a fact that...Silver Yogi must have come out due to being angry at me? Gareki blinked. Didn't Silver Yogi come out when his "allergies" acted up? What "allergies" caused him to come out right now? It's true his patch wasn't on. Yogi must have been stupid and not taken the proper dose. Gareki would throttle him the next time he saw him. "I...I know that I've not had much time to talk-"

Silver Yogi laughed. "I don't want to get started on your texting history, boy."

Gareki grit his teeth harder. "L-look. What I'm trying to say is…is…" Gareki didn't know what to say. What he would say sounded so lame and uncool. He wished he'd just sent that damn happy birthday text now.

"Too slow…" Silver Yogi's smirk slid off his face. It was replaced with a cold look as he began to put the Serum into his arm.

Gareki blurted without warning as Silver Yogi began to change back. "I-I'm glad that you were born! If you weren't, then I wouldn't have a reason to want to watch your back the way you've watched mine! You've saved me so many times and I know that I'm hard to get along with but that's because you're way overly cuddly and I hate Nyanperowna!" Gareki said in a rush. His cheeks began to burn. He was going to fucking punch the birthday boy for making him say that and in front of everyone no less.

Karoku bit his lip to stop from laughing. He hid his face in Nai's neck and shoulder, shaking with laughter. The others were honestly amused as well. Now that the choas had died down, everyone's main concern was Silver Yogi. Silver Yogi's eyes widened in surprise. Even as his hair turned from Silver to blonde, some tears formed in his eyes mostly from surprise. "Ga-re-ki?" The blonde sank to his knees, tears half formed and crumpled. Hirato quickly moved over to his side. Gareki's eyes widened.

"Oi! Yogi!" He was worried now.

"It's alright Gareki," Hirato said, holding up a hand. "He needs a moment."

Gareki bit his lower lip. Would Yogi remember what he'd said? He hoped not. But perhaps it was time he sent a serious birthday text to him. "Hey guys, I'm signing off." He said with a sigh. Nai was the first to speak.

"Ga..reki…" Nai looked up at him tearfully. "I'm sorry, Gareki. I didn't want to cause trouble...for everyone".

Gareki shook his head. "No. I should have just sent the damn text. Bye." He hung up on his end. Karoku swayed on his feet. Nai yelped.

"Karoku!?" He went to try to support Karoku's weight.

"Damn. Well, that didn't go the way I thought it would," Karoku huffed. Hirato passed Yogi's unconscious form over to Tsukitachi before he looked to the others, ignoring Karoku for the moment.

"Everyone, return to dinner. Dr. Akari, you watch Yogi. He should come to in 10 minutes at most. He didn't over-expend too much energy. If not, pump some booster into him," he commanded. Everyone shuffled out. Nai stayed behind with Karoku. Karoku was wary. He watched Hirato as Hirato turned his gaze to the blue haired leanly built young man, who was still hugging the chimera boy rather protectively. Hardly threatening since he looked dead on his feet.

"I do hope you are quite pleased with your "present" for Yogi," Hirato said with a less than amused sigh.

Karoku shrugged. "It was for Nai."

Hirato stared. The lengths this guy went to for Nai to be happy were terrifying. Hirato quirked a brow. "Good to know. Well, if you wouldn't mind, ask next time before you hack."

"There was no guarantee you'd let an ex-Kafka member touch your stuff," Karoku pointed out. "And a normal laptop wouldn't work. The types of signal waves needed another type of electromagnetic field in order to transfer data. A normal laptop wouldn't last 5 seconds."

Hirato had nothing to say to that. Well, he had one thing. "Touche." He held out his hand. "Anyways, give me your gadgets."

Karoku furrowed his brow. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean," he said innocently. Nai clung to his pants leg.

Hirato gestured with his hand. "If you want a pat-down, I'd be more than happy to. I can't promise it won't be unpleasant though." He sounded dead serious. Karoku huffed. He was already in trouble. No point in making it worse. He handed over the make-shift computer chip. Hirato looked at that fake "card" and was secretly impressed and mostly stupefied. This kid had gutted one of his sheep. Expertly. "Any more gadgets." He stared Karoku down. Karoku groaned.

"Fine, I get it. Jeez. Damn Four-eyes." Karoku huffed. He handed over his man-made tazer. Hirato handled that thing with care, dropping it into a drawer to his left in a cabinet. He turned back to the boy. "That's all I have." Karoku held up his hands. "Search my room."

"Oh. I plan to." Hirato's tone was very saccharine. Karoku gulped. Nai just sniffled. Hirato sighed. "Come on you two, let's go back. There's no point in causing a scene. Yogi won't remember any of this anyways."

Karoku blinked. "What...I don't get sent to my room without supper?" He couldn't help but sound cheeky. He was sure he was dead. In fact, he probably still was. But he felt a strange sort of high from what just went down. In a terrifying way, that had been fun.

"Don't tempt me." Hirato pointed to the door. "March."

Nai and Karoku did as told. Karoku took Nai's hand and Hirato led them back to the table. Everyone was there and Yogi was back in his seat. Iva was heating up some of the food that had gone cold. "What happened?" Yogi rubbed his head. He only remembered Karoku setting off the alarm to hack. When he saw Hirato return with both boys in tow, he stood up abruptly.

"Ah!?"

Hirato held up a gloved hand. "Don't worry, it was a false alarm," Hirato explained. "It turns out that the sheep in the control room didn't know Karoku and they told the system he was "hacking" in." Yogi stared for a moment but then he nodded.

"Okay…" He accepted it. They were grateful that this guy was gullible. And that Hirato was a naturally born amazing liar,liar pants on fire. It really helped. "Sorry for passing out. I got stressed," he said, looking at his food. He noticed the disheveled looks of the others. Something more had happened. He couldn't shake this feeling. But he smiled. "Either way, I'm ready-" His phone rang. His eyes widened along with everyone's at the table. He took it out. He stared. "Gareki?" He answered.

Gareki was in his bunk back in Kuronomei. He let some time pass before he figured normal Yogi would come to. It'd been about maybe 15 minutes since the call, at tops 20. He took a deep breath, secretly relieved that it was normal Yogi who picked up. "Hey, put me on speaker." Yogi blinked but did as he was told. Gareki could feel his face growing hot. This was embarassing. So friggin' embarassing. Here goes nothing. "Happy Birthday, Yogi."

Yogi sat in stunned silence. Everyone stared at him. When the tears silently began to roll, everyone got worried. Before they could speak, Yogi's face broke out into a wide grin. They all knew why. Karoku slumped in his chair. He rested his head in his arms. "Fucking finally," he muttered. The sentiment that everyone had been waiting for.

"Thank you," Yogi's voice wavered. Gareki knew he was crying. What a cry baby. He covered his face with his hand. He wanted to hang up. Not because he was mad at Yogi. But because he was embarrassed as hell.

"I...don't have anything to give you," Gareki began but Yogi stopped him there.

"Nonsense," Yogi said warmly, " You and everyone here, are celebrating my birthday with me. I have everyone at the table. That includes you now. I couldn't ask for more."

Gareki's eyes widened a little. He was silent. "That's...stupid." It was the only thing he could think to say. Yogi blinked.

"Eh? Gareki? Hey?" his voice came through Gareki's speaker but Gareki was burying his face in his pillow. That damn blonde. Saying mushy shit. Such fucking mush. The fucking mushiest shit that mushed. Gareki didn't know what to do about this warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't know how to take this kind Yogi's words. Gareki realized that what really put him off wasn't Yogi. It was his kindness. He was so gentle and unlike anyone Gareki had ever met. He never had a hidden agenda. He was almost as naive as Nai. If someone were to throw a punch, Gareki would be ready. But, for someone to be as kind as Yogi was even though Gareki was aware that he had hurt him, and not blame him and be grateful even that he even called. Gareki felt like the ass that Silver Yogi accused him of being.

"Damn…" he whispered. He grabbed the phone and pushed it to his ear, as he lay on his side on his bunk, one cheek pushed into the pillow as he closed his eyes to try to settle the guilt and the embarrassment burning on his face. "Ah, I'm here. Sorry I was getting ready for bed." It was the best excuse he could think of. Iva set the heated food back on the table with Tsukumo and Kiichi's help. They all took their seats.

Yogi's face fell a little. "I understand. Thank you for calling-"

"Idiot. I can talk for a little longer. It's not much, but I'm yours for the night." Gareki gecked. Everyone sat in stunned silence as his words hung in the air. Tsukitachi had to bite back a laugh. "I-I mean! That's not! I'm not saying that like anything weird!" The teen hotly corrected himself. God he felt like a fool. Yogi just sat in stunned silence. Everyone watched as a red blush creeped into the blonde's face. Hirato waved a hand in front of it. But Yogi didn't react immediately. The tears started up again.

"No...it's alright," he finally said, setting the phone down on the table. His hand was shaky. "You have school, Gareki. So...so you need your rest, right?"

Gareki was really getting irritated all over again. He hated this rollercoaster of emotions this bastard was yanking him on. "I said I'd stick around until midnight! Don't make me take it back!" He threatened sounding cranky. Yogi chuckled weakly.

"O-Okay," he said meekly. Gareki huffed.

"Good." He said, still a little cross. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, running a hand through his hair, as he held the phone to his ear.

Everyone resumed eating. Gareki closed his eyes. That blonde Bastard was going to give him a heart attack one of these days. "Tell me what you get," Gareki continued. Yogi paused. "I want...to know how your birthday goes. Even though I can't be there, I ...want to be a part of it."

Everyone smiled to themselves. Karoku just began to wonder if Gareki had the hots for this guy. He wasn't going to eat but the look on Nai's face made him eat what was placed in front of him. He couldn't stand that Niji's tears. He watched as Nai got up. Nai walked over to Yogi. He gave him a hug. "Ah-Nai?"

"I...I want you to ….have a good birthday." He said weakly as he looked to Yogi and he looked at everyone and then the phone. "Gareki… thank you. For spending his birthday today with us all. You are as much a part of this as anyone else here."

Gareki felt his heart b-thmp. He didn't like birthdays. They were a problem. They were useless. Another reminder that you weren't dead yet. But the way Nai said that. Gareki smiled into his arm as he covered his warm face. "I already know that, dummy." His voice was warm though and Hirato chuckled along with Tsukitachi and the girls. Akari stared at his greens with distaste. Jiki was keeping an eye on Karoku. Karoku waved at him innocently and Jiki flipped him the bird in response.

Karoku just silently munched on his food. He didn't look at anyone. The sheep bleated, still stuck in their giant ball outside. Karoku got to his feet. "Hirato, I need to see that tazer. I can undo the sheep." He held out his hand, walking over to Hirato. Hirato nodded. He had one of his banshee retrieve it and bring it to him and he handed Karoku the tazer, sending Tsukitachi to keep an eye on him. Nai watched Karoku leave the room. Yogi meanwhile was eating a bit more though he was mostly moved to tears of joy.

A few minutes later there was a sea of bleating as the sheep came apart in the hallway. Tsukitachi yelped. "No! He's not a threat! Don't attack him!" Everyone looked at each other as the sheep bleated in anger in the hallway. Some laughter burst out from Yogi. It was kind of comical now that the initial shock had dissipated.

Everyone smiled. Karoku returned with Tsukitachi. Karoku handed the tazer to Tsukitachi and he sat back down in his seat with a sigh. Nai hovered near Yogi. Yogi looked to him and Nai cleared his throat. "I...I want to thank Karoku!" He blurted loudly. Everyone paused. Karoku froze. He didn't look at anyone. He didn't like this attention. He felt self-conscious.

Yogi blinked at him. "Karoku?"

Nai nodded. "Karoku...worked hard to make your wish come true." Yogi blinked. He looked towards the blue haired young man whose ears were turning red. Everyone found that amusing. Karoku wanted everyone to stop seriously staring.

"My wish?" Yogi asked puzzled.

Nai knew there were two personalities and that if Yogi knew they both existed that it would be bad. But he couldn't help himself. He had to say something on Karoku's behalf. He was really happy that Karoku had tried to make Yogi's birthday better by including Gareki. "Yeah. Karoku told Gareki that it would be really cool, if he could call you." Yogi figured the others had to make Gareki call him. He was insecure again.

Gareki huffed on the phone. "Yeah. Alright. The others bugged me. But you know, if you have something to say, say it next time. Because… sometimes….sometimes I can be an ass," he admitted, trying not to grind his teeth from the humiliation of having to admit such a thing in front of everyone.

"Gareki. I don't blame you," Yogi said instantly. Gareki paused.

"Tch." Gareki took a deep breath."I called you because I wanted to! It doesn't matter how it happened. But it did! And Karoku did have a hand to play in it. Because of him, I have no choice but to talk to you or I can't hold my head high."

Yogi chuckled weakly. He wasn't quite sure if Gareki had called him of his free will. Though he was happy none-the-less. It would be nice to know that Gareki wanted to call him. He didn't want to be a charity case. "It's alright Gareki."

Gareki was quiet. "No. No it's not." He bit his lower lip. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his messy locks. "I...Karoku went out of his way to give you the present of being able to communicate with me." He left out the video call but he wasn't being entirely untruthful. "And… I didn't do what I should have done sooner." Gareki felt the most uncool right now. But, he hated how kind Yogi was being. Get mad, idiot. He swallowed.

Yogi could tell that Gareki was trying to apologize. "I understand," he said, smiling warmly. "Karoku, thank you, for giving me the chance to hear Gareki's voice tonight," he said, refraining from calling him his "best" friend since he didn't want to step on Gareki's toes. Karoku just shoveled some turkey into his mouth. He kept his eyes plastered to the plate. Was his face hot? Yep. It was hot. And everyone was fucking staring. Fantastic. "And Gareki, thank you for calling. And everyone, thank you for spending my birthday with me."

Gareki's voice died. He wasn't able to say what he really wanted to say. Thank you for being born. It sounded lame. It was definitely lame. If he said it he knew that he'd never be able to take it back. Birthdays were dumb. Stupid. They meant nothing. A celebration of not dying yet. "Thank...you…" Gareki said, unable to stop himself. He had to say somethin.g Something sincere. How could he make that idiot understand that he cared. That he wasn't goaded into this? Gripping his bangs, he heard Yogi go quiet on the other end. "For being born."

There he said it. Now he was a jackass with a heart. Goddamit. Gareki's face was in the pillow as soon as those embarrassing words had managed to tumble out of his mouth. Please may this pillow kill me now in my sleep.

Everyone was watching Yogi. Yogi's smiles up till now had been gentle but sad to an extent. But this one was a pure radiant smile. "Gareki!" He crowed through the phone. Ah yep, there was the hyper idiot that Gareki was used to. "I'm happy you were born too!"

Everyone had to stifle their laughter in various ways. Hirato settled for stifling it into his arm. Tsukitachi settled it into Akari's sleeve of his coat to his chagrin. Kiichi just hid behind her hands. Tsukumo had a small smile. Iva was cackling already. Karoku was subtly amused and Nai happily chimed in. "I'm glad everyone was born!"

That did it. Laughter erupted. Gareki was going to strangle Nai. It was official. NO amount of cute eyes was saving him. His face burned. "Ugh… Gareki was dead. He was done. And he still had 3 hours on the phone left.