Sleepy Matsuokas are just too precious, okay. Sorry, this chapter is kinda boring and deals with not-the-boys but you needed to get this perspective, so. Yep. Sorry.

Chapter 22- Of Choice and Videos
Seijuurou was startled to see the brunette at the toaster when he ambled into the kitchen.

Even more startled when Makoto said, without looking back, "Well good morning, cutie. I'm already working on your favorite breakfast, okay?"

Seijuurou hid a poorly disguised snort under a cough. "Sorry Tachibana, you're good-looking and all, but I'm taken."

Makoto chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. "So am I, Mikoshiba-kun. I was talking to her."
And he pointed with a butter knife to his feet, where a familiar small Bobtail was twining between his legs.

Akiha looked up at her owner and mewed piteously. Seijuurou had to laugh at that as he started the coffee maker.
"Now that is the face of a spoiled kitten."

Makoto snorted. "And she knows it, too."

"Toast all you got planned?" Seijuurou asked as he settled at the table in a relaxed sprawl of long limbs and contented ease.

Makoto snorted dryly. "Maybe some eggs. It's all I'm allowed to make. I can and will burn anything and everything else."

"Oh c'mon, it can't be that bad-"

"You say that, but you haven't seen the stain on the wall above the stove at my place."

Golden eyes widened. "Please tell me you're joking."
After a solid minute without a reply Seijuurou burst into sharp chuckles. "Oh god, you're not. You actually almost burned your house down? What the hell were you making?"

"I was trying to make my favorite curry..."

Seijuurou endured a good laugh at the gentle brunette's expense for a few minutes as Makoto cracked a bunch of eggs before he waved a hand. "So where are yours?"

Makoto's expression softened immediately. "Well, Haru's in the bath-"

"I noticed. Does he always wear his swimsuit in the tub or he just being considerate?"

"Well..."

Seijuurou cocked an eyebrow in blatant disbelief. "...you're kidding. He really wears it in the tub all the time?!"

Makoto shrugged. "Unless he wants something from either of us."

The tall redhead took a moment to think about it and then his face scrunched up. "...oh. Tachibana, that's not a visual I wanted."

Makoto laughed behind the fist holding the spatula. "Sorry, sorry." He glanced at his watch and smirked. "Rin should be down soon. That is, if he can manage to drag himself out of bed..."

"Like brother like sister, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's impossible to wake Go- Kou up in the morning. She grumbles, whines, occasionally kicks, and always, always-"

"Two more minutes!" The pair said in unison in perfectly mocking whines.

Seijuurou smacked the table then pointed victoriously at the brunette. "Yes! That. Exactly! So they both do that, huh?"

Makoto chuckled again, shaking his head in resignation as he turned back to the eggs. "I guess!"

"Hmm... What about Nanase?"

"Oh Haru's easy to get up. Just tell him the tub is ready and he'll be up and out of the bed and halfway down the hall before we even finish saying it."

"Why are we talking about me?"

"Ah! Haru-chan!"

The black-haired boy stood in the doorway to the kitchen, towel hanging around his neck and dressed in one of Rin's baggy tank tops (and Makoto was fairly certain those were also Rin's sweatpants). He tilted his head, blue eyes darting over Seijuurou, and met the warm green stare directed at him.

"We were just talking about Rinrin's horrible sleeping habits."

Haruka snorted quietly. "He's really cute when he wakes up slowly though."

Seijuurou grinned. "Another thing they share, then."

Makoto caught Haru's gaze again and this time conveyed a simple message, which sapphire eyes twinkled at and returned with equal adoration, before they broke the stare.

"...okay maybe Matsuoka was right and that's a little weird."

"What." Haru said sharply.

"The mind-reading thing."

"We really don't-" Makoto sighed and shook his head in defeat, turning back to his cooking attempt.

Haruka scooped up the threesome's kitten and sat at the table with her. Seijuurou watched the tiny calico suspiciously for signs of food-theft but she seemed perfectly well behaved. She sat on the black-haired teen's leg, paws wrapped around his knee, and regarded the fiery-haired male with big ocean-colored eyes.
"Dang you guys found a cute kitten," Seijuurou admitted, reached forward to scratch under Akiha's chin.

The kitten relaxed into whole-body vibrating purrs, big teal eyes slipping closed, and Haru dumped her in the older swimmer's lap to rescue the eggs from his boyfriend. Seijuurou watched the pair of lovers stand shoulder to shoulder and speak softly if at all as they cooked. He smiled down at the small kitten in his lap. As he stopped petting her Akiha's big eyes slowly cracked back open. With a quiet laugh Seijuurou lifted the Bobtail and rubbed noses with her.

"You're loved, you little fluffball, you know that?"

Makoto glanced back at their kitten- dwarfed in the redhead's large hands- and smiled.
"Just missing Rinrin and Kou-chan." He remarked.

Seijuurou snorted aloud and Akiha squirmed free of his grip at the abrupt noise. She fled to press herself, arching her back to appear imposing, against Haruka's ankles.

"What's-" a yawn- "so damn... funny?"

Glancing at the door Makoto caught his bottom lip quickly between his teeth to forestall the bark of laughter that threatened to bubble out.
Drowsy, swaying on their feet, maroon hair protruding in a half-dozen different directions simultaneously, the Matsuoka siblings had finally made their halted and stumbling way into the kitchen. Gou groaned and shuffled to her boyfriend's side, falling into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. She nuzzled his shoulder and sighed.

"Morning," she mumbled.

"Morning," Seijuurou replied as he embraced her. "I know you slept well, so I'll just point out that I already have coffee started."

Rin forced an eye halfway open to glare at his sister. "Since when d'you drink coffee?" He slurred, treading heavily to his lovers' sides.

"Nagisa," she said back and that was somehow ample reason to Rin.

Rin draped himself over Haru's back with another long yawn.
"You're letting Mako cook?"

"No," the older replied tersely. "He can make rice, you know that."

"Mmm, yeah, but those are his signature burnt eggs."

The brunette's ears burned pink and when Rin snickered about it Haruka shouldered his boyfriend off so that Rin could plaster himself to Makoto's back instead.

"Hiiii~" He purred to the brunette.

Makoto chuckled and shook his head. "Hi. Do you need coffee too?"

Rin wrinkled his nose. "No. I'm just still tired. Sofa bed's big and all but it's not exactly comfortable."

"Especially when you spent most of the night half off of said sofa bed?"

"Ugh!" Rin buried his face between well-defined shoulder blades. "Don't remind me. I'm being the middle tonight."

"How much longer you guys think you'll be staying?" Seijuurou asked.
It wasn't said unkindly. It was an open-faced, honest question, spoken with curiosity and concern.

Haru sighed and both of his lovers turned to him. "They can't possibly stay more than a week at most. Father has to work. We shouldn't be here too much longer, but..."

He stilled, staring down at his hands and the food he was halfway through preparing. Makoto reached over and gripped the black-haired boy's shoulder and Rin transferred lovers again, pressing butterfly kisses to the older teen's neck.
"It'll be okay, Haru. They won't kick you out."

"And even if they do, we'll never leave you. You know you're always welcome at my house."

"And you can stay here as much as you need, Haruka-senpai." Gou spoke up. "Mom absolutely loves you."

Rin groaned against his lover's neck. "She does?"

"Oh yeah. Can't get enough of him."

"Wonderful. Where is Mom, anyway?" Rin asked the brunette, forehead dropping heavily to his boyfriend's shoulder.

"She said she was going out for a while and that she'd be back in a few hours."

"That was all she said?" Rin asked.
Both Matsuoka siblings looked a little put out by the wording but Makoto could only shrug.

Gou looked troubled and Seijuurou dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "She usually tells us exactly where she's headed so we can call her..."

"Been that way since we were kids," Rin added.

"Maybe she doesn't want you to know where she is?" Haruka said.

Rin's expression twisted a little. "I don't like the idea of that..."

"A black eye?!" Matsuoka Kimiko spat, crimson eyes huge in her face. After a long moment she distractedly took up a napkin and dabbed at the corner of her lips.

"I thought he was at your home?"

"I got home late last night, they were all asleep. I didn't want to wake them. Though I couldn't help but notice my son's sleeping habits have remained the same- spread all over the place. I couldn't see poor Haruka-kun though; he had his face in your son's chest."

"Of course. Well, this was more a large bruise on the side of his face, I guess I should say, but I've never been so angry. Haru-chan doesn't deserve this treatment. Takao has always been an abrasive man but to hit his own child-" Tachibana Megumi shook her head and gripped her teacup to halt the furious tremor of her hands. "It's unforgivable."

Kimiko sighed sharply through her nose. "I'm even more proud of myself than I was before," she grumbled. "Of course I thought being with a man was unusual but to have a third man? That's stepping right out of normalcy and social standards. But once I saw how happy Rin was, I wouldn't dream of telling him he's not allowed to love those boys."

Megumi sighed. "Makoto and Haru-chan have always been so very close. Nobuo and I fully expected the two to end up dating and so we had plenty of time to accept it all. Your son was unexpected, I'll admit, but he completes them. Makoto never smiles truer than when he's around them both."

Kimiko opened her mouth to respond but a teary voice interrupted her.
"I want what's b-best for my- for my son."

Nanase Setsuna stood a few feet away, wringing her hands and fighting back tears.

"Setsu, you're here, finally!" Kimiko exclaimed, standing and guiding the shaking woman to the empty seat at their table.

The outdoor café was the ideal place for their meeting. The tables were spaced far enough apart to offer the three women some privacy for the talk they needed to have. Setsuna appeared nervous, glancing around, but Kimiko and Megumi were perfectly at home. Megumi waved down a waiter and requested a third cup.
It was a cool afternoon in Iwatobi for early spring but not chilly. Megumi sat in a simple sweater and slacks as she sipped her tea. Kimiko, as usual, looked sharp and intimidating in her two-piece skirt suit. And Setsuna... To put it kindly, Setsuna was a nervous wreck. She fidgeted and plucked at her long skirt, biting her lip and dashing tears away whenever they began to spill down her cheeks.
The waiter approached with the third teacup and set it before the sniffling woman, looking mildly discomfited by her crying but remaining professional, politely asking if they needed anything else. Kimiko waved him off with a smile and they turned back to their sniffling friend.

"Setsu, how have things been?"

"I think my son hates me..!" The raven-haired woman whispered. "He was very curt and cold the other day and he- he-"

Kimiko snorted. "No, Haruka-kun is just like that. He was like that as a kid too, I recall."

"Never to me!" Setsuna said. "He was always loving to me. Now he's just so angry..."

"Well he has been kicked out of his home by you and your husband. Takao debased and slandered his whole way of life in less than twenty minutes. Of course Haru-chan is upset with you!"

Setsuna shook her head. "Why is he... Why did he choose to... Two boys, why..? I just don't understand!"

Kimiko snorted. "And we did? You think we do? Setsuna, we can't claim to understand this relationship either."

"All we know is that it works for them. It's what makes them comfortable and I've never seen my son- our sons- so blissfully content as they have been since they came together. They're so happy, Setsuna. Just the way they are. They weren't before but they are now. The relationship needed-"

"Makoto." Setsuna broke in. "I know. He told me."

Kimiko yanked out her phone. "Maybe it would be best to just show you. Their friends recorded their entire Christmas party and that adorable Nagisa sent me copies of them."

Megumi laughed. "Oh, I love these videos."
The three women edged around the table and Kimiko set her phone on the table between the three of them and pressed play.

The home movie appeared to be about a dark red blur.

"Hey, Rei-chan, is it on?"

"Yes, Nagisa-kun, and you're too close."

"Eh?! Sorry, sorry!"

The burgundy blur backed up and became a short blonde boy with big pink eyes wearing a maroon sweater at least a size too big for him.
"Is that better?"

"Very much so."

The blonde boy- Nagisa, the name sounded vaguely familiar- giggled. "Good! Then we can begin our evil plan!"

"Really, Nagisa-kun, it's not evil-"

"Not yet!" Nagisa cheered. "But it will be! Now come on, you're taller and can help me pin them up!"
The boy behind the camera named Rei sighed, sounding far too used to the blonde's antics, but still followed him as they set up sprigs of... mistletoe? over every doorjamb.
It was as the camera changed hands that Setsuna finally caught a glimpse of the cameraman (it would've helped had the blonde been focusing on Rei's face and not his backside) in this silly adventure. A blue-haired boy with red glasses pinned the mistletoe carefully up, readjusting it a half-dozen times until he was apparently satisfied (to Nagisa's loud complaints).
Rei took the camera back with what sounded like a kiss.

"This is gonna be the best Christmas party ever!" Nagisa cheered as he set up the last bunch. "Rin-chan's back, Ai-chan and Ken-chan are coming, Sei-chan and Gou-chan will be here soon, and the best part?"

"Wh-what's the best part?" Rei spluttered as the blonde hopped off the stepladder.

"The best part issss..." Nagisa drew the word out as he came closer to the blue-haired boy. The view became a blurred burgundy sweater again but Rei tilted the camera just enough to catch what looked like Nagisa throwing his arms around the taller boy's shoulders at the edge of the frame. "The best part is Rei-chan's here too."

"Ugh already? Come on, Nagisa, let the guy breathe for ten fucking minutes before you kiss him again. None of the rest of us want to see it either."

"Aww, Rin-chan, we don't complain when you kiss Haru-chan or Mako-chan!"

"Yeah, but I'm not making out with them every fifteen damn seconds."

Rei readjusted the camera suddenly as Nagisa bounced across the room and threw himself at the surly redhead. "You want to though," the blonde said under his breath.

"Get the hell off of me, brat!"

"Nagisa, leave Rin alone."
Makoto arrived on-scene with soothing tone and gentle expression ready, coaxing the hyperactive blonde off the redhead, giving Rin a quick kiss once Nagisa had let go.

"Oi!" Someone boomed from behind the camera. "This stuff's almost done! Someone wanna help me?"

A redheaded girl with her crimson hair in a tight plait darted past the three in the doorway, stopping abruptly to grab Rin's hand and yank him after her, laughing and smiling.
"Come on Onii-chan, you can help Sei and I."

Setsuna beamed, recognizing the girl now. "Little Gou-chan has grown up, hasn't she?"

Kimiko chuckled with a hint of pride. "Turned into a beautiful girl, much to the chagrin of her brother. Attracted a damn good man though. You wouldn't believe what a perfect gentleman that Seijuurou is."

The camera panned slowly from Rin, walking back across the floor with a steaming platter of steaks and hamburgers that he was eyeing hungrily, over to Gou, who stood next to a very tall young man bundled up in a bulky snow-covered coat. She squealed when he shook his head and a couple of flurries fell on her but retaliated by snatching the hat off of flame-red hair. He pulled her close to kiss her and the camera turned away again: Rei had a sense of decency, clearly.

"Haruka-senpai," the blue-haired boy called out, "Is there anything else you need?"

Setsuna blinked at the sight of her son- looking so domestic in a dark blue apron and filleting a fish- seeming so relaxed, even with Makoto's hands on his hips and molded to his back as Rin hung indolently from his shoulder. Even as a child, Haruka had hated to be touched... But he seemed so at ease with their closeness. There was a comfortable set to his shoulders, his back, his lips. Not only did he want their touch, he welcomed and sought it.

Before she could marvel at her son's comfortability he spoke up. "You could prepare some of the vegetables. Makoto isn't allowed to touch them."

"Or anything," Rin snickered.

"Or anything," Haru agreed with a decisive nod that had Makoto burying his nose into the shorter boy's shoulder.

"I said I was sorry," the brunette said petulantly.

"You had the knife for two minutes-" Rin was cut off by a sharp grumble.

The redhead laughed and ruffled short hair as Haru leaned his head against the brunette's with a soft smile.

"I've heard tales of your kitchen debacles, Makoto-senpai. No need to repeat them. Nagisa-kun! Take the camera or I'll turn it off."
Some reply too quiet to hear came back and the video ended.

"Is that-" Setsuna didn't want that to be the end. Her son's smile wouldn't leave her mind's eye and she had hoped there was more than that...

"Nope, next one is... this one."

Seijuurou and Makoto were setting the table; Nagisa was bouncing around and setting down dishes of food while chatting with Gou. Haru and Rin had settled down at the table, held hands casually resting atop the wood, while they watched the other bustle around.

The camera turned toward them. "Why don't you have to help again?" Rei sounded a little put out.

"We cooked. Ai and Kenji should also be sitting here but instead they decided to finish dessert."

"So everyone is helping but you two!" Rei squawked.

"Hey, I'm hosting the party. I can sit as long as I want to."

"Rin-senpai is just lazy," an unfamiliar silver-haired boy laughed as he came in with a gorgeous Christmas cake.

"Hey, Ai, what the hell?!" The redhead growled. "I am not!"

"All right, all right. Aiichirou-kun, don't tease your senpai. Rin you are lazy."

Rin turned wounded ruby eyes on his boyfriend. "Aww, Mako, not you too!"

The brunette chuckled and simply handed a heavy casserole dish to the pouting redhead. Suddenly Rin was gaping at the taller boy.
"When did you put your glasses on..?"

"Can't read recipe books without them," Makoto commented blithely.

And after that Haru was glaring at the redhead's constant and close attention to their bespectacled lover. Eventually Rin's scrutiny got to be too much and Haru snapped, "Rin. He's not a piece of meat."

The redhead chuckled, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and baring his teeth. "Maybe not, but I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into him."

"Oh! As expected, Rin-chan is a mighty predator!"

The camera went zooming toward the redhead with a cry of "Nagisa-kun!" following it.

Rin regarded the device with impunity and shoved it down so it focused on the table. A low, threatening growl echoed from above the captured camera. "I swear to god, Nagi, if you don't keep this thing outta my face-"

"Waaaah, Haru-chan, Rin-chan's being mean!"

"Rin. Stop teasing Nagisa."

"Oi! He's making fun of me!"

"Nagisa, stop filming Rin."

"Ehhhh?! Haru-chan gives in too easy..."

"Don't you think we should turn the camera off while we eat at least?" This new arrival looked a little nervous as he spoke, clearly more on edge around the rest of the group, and Setsuna didn't recognize this boy either.

"Kenji-kun is right. Nagisa, turn the camera off and let's eat."
So the brunette with gold eyes was Kenji. The screen went dark and Kimiko swiped through a couple of photos to find the next.

"It is almost time for my plan to be put into motion..." Nagisa trailed off, winking suggestively at the camera, and looked back into the living room. "Soon Rin-chan and Mako-chan will come out of the kitchen and I'll push Haru-chan over there so they have to kiss!"

"Nagisa-kun..." Rei's voice was one of a man who'd suffered similar schemes for a long time. "I'm sure they wouldn't need your intervention-"

"It's time!" The blonde crowed, completely disregarding his boyfriend's words as he leapt out from his hiding spot only to shove the black-haired teen under the leafy little decoration.

"Nagisa, what-"

"Stay right there, Haru-chan!"

"What for..?"

"What's all the noise now?" Rin grumbled off-camera.

The redhead and the brunette appeared, flanking their lover on either side, and both stopped short at the sight of their little blonde friend. Nagisa was now sporting a downright devious smirk and it was a small wonder they looked so wary. Makoto winced, clearly knowing to expect some sort of prank, and Rin scowled. But before either could ask Nagisa decided to tell.

"Mako-chan, Rin-chan! You just walked under the mistletoe with Haru-chan! You both have to kiss him now!"

Green eyes looked pleadingly at a point just above and to the right of the camera. Red eyes glanced up at the seemingly innocent plant. "Tch. You really are some kind of demon, Nagi. Makoto, we've got no choice."

The brunette flushed. "R-right."

Haru glanced back and forth with palpable surprise but then each lover claimed a corner of his mouth in a kiss and his surprise melted into a warm look of such utter contentment and happiness Setsuna choked on a sob.

Kimiko went to the next video, this one of Haru asleep on the floor, relaxed and calm. Nagisa's voice carried loud and clear.
"Haru-chan's asleep! Hey, Mako-chan, Rin-chan, what do we do?"

Makoto chuckled off-screen. "We'll handle it."

The redhead stepped into frame first, crouching next to the sleeping teen and brushing his bangs back with a soft laugh and a loving smile. "He's awfully cute when he sleeps."

Makoto hummed as he passed the blonde recording the video. "Haru-chan's always cute."

"True. You're taking him?"

"Yeah, be easier that way."

Gently the brunette slid his arms under their sleeping lover and with help from Rin's careful hands he cradled the black-haired boy to his chest. Haru mumbled, eyes cracking open blearily, chin tucked to his chest, and the redhead was quick to soothe him back into slumber. Haru nuzzled into Makoto's embrace with a comforted sigh.

Setsuna was crying freely as Kimiko exited the video and locked her phone. Megumi watched with sympathetic eyes, reaching out to rub her old friend's shoulder, and offered the black-haired woman her own tea cup.

Shaking, Setsuna took a sip. "He really is- so happy, isn't he?"

"They all are," Megumi responded as she took her cup back and Kimiko poured their friend a refill of her own cup. "It's why Nobuo and I would fight you to keep your son here. I can't bear the thought of how upset Makoto would be. I simply can't."

Kimiko nodded decisively. "And Rin's come so far since they've been in his life again, I don't want that to change."

Megumi eyed her weeping friend sadly. "What happened to you, Setsuna? You used to be so bright and..."

"Fiery." Kimiko supplied.

"Exactly! Thank you, Kimi." A nod. "You used to be bright and fiery and never gave in. You had Takao wrapped around your finger from day one! What happened to that? Is he abusive to you?"

"N-no!" Setsuna squeaked. "No, never. He's just... over the years he's become so cold and... and rude and dark. I don't know how to reach him anymore. He's not the man he used to be. And I guess... I guess I'm not the woman I used to be either, am I? We've both changed, and not for the better."

"No, not for the better," Megumi agreed. "Takao hit poor Haru-chan two days ago, Setsuna."

The black-haired woman's eyes widened. "H-he what? He hit our son?!"

Megumi nodded seriously. "He still has the bruises."

Tears dewed at the corners of gray eyes. "What's happened to him? The old Takao would never have hit our child!" Sniffling, she looked to each of her childhood friends. "Kimi, Meme, what do I do?"

"Setsu..." Megumi said slowly, resting her hand on the black-haired woman's. "I think you need to sit Takao down and talk to him. Really talk to him. You need to let your problems out, both of you."

"Y-yes." Setsuna wiped her eyes. "Yes, you're right. Thank you. And... I'll convince Takao to leave the house to Haruk- to Haru until he graduates, at least. I'll make sure of it."

For a second, a spark ignited in gray eyes and both Kimiko and Megumi smiled to see it back.

"Please do!" Kimiko said with a roll of her eyes. "The longer they stay at my house, the more texts I get from my daughter that she can't have her boyfriend home because Rin keeps attempting to strangle him."

Megumi laughed aloud. "Rin's a good big brother, isn't he?"

Kimiko laughed with her. "Or something!"

Setsuna smiled at her long-time friends. "I've missed you two."

"We've missed you," Kimiko replied past her chuckles.

Blargh chapter is blargh, so sorry. Will get to work on the next one promptly *grovels for forgiveness*