Disclaimer: Takaya Natsuki is the rightful owner. I'm merely borrowing her creations for my own diabolical ideals. No, really.

A/N: For those who have waited . . . Literally forever, and are reading this now (though whom probably will not review), I thank you nonetheless. May my unseen gratitude reach you. XD However, expect to wait for a long time again, folks . . . At least I would think so.

Life's Many Indulgences
Chapter 16: Or So We Thought

Today was like any other day . . . Nothing special about it, really. Kyo was sitting up in his room helping his father with his paperwork again, as he continued to type away on his laptop. Though he is working on the papers, seeing the words displayed on the screen only made his mind wander - his thoughts drifted elsewhere. He kept thinking about a certain individual to whom he has become closer and closer to. Strange as it may sound . . . He's come to really like Usuda . . . Almost to the point where he feels he can't control his emotions at times when he's around him.

"Ahhh, this sucks," Kyo muttered. For the heck of it he pressed on one of the keys, creating a long, single line of the exact same letter. "I can't get him out of my head . . . It wasn't like this before."

"Can't get who out of your head, hm?" Shigure poked his head in from behind the bedroom door, a small grin plastered onto his face.

"Gah! What the hell do you want!" His hold on the key was gone, as he lifted his finger away from the laptop. Instead, he used that exact same finger to point at his annoying uncle. "And knock before you open someone's bedroom door!"

"Oh? I didn't think it would apply to you since I am your uncle," Shigure reasoned.

"So what! Go be someone else's uncle for all I care!"

"Now, now, Kyon--"

"Kyo!" Exasperated at the fact upon noticing this was getting old, Kyo let his head fall to his desk, irritated beyond anything worth being irritable about.

"--as I was saying, Kyon, who do you have on your mind?" The only response he received was an angry glare. "You know it isn't good to keep it all bottled inside - doing things like that tend to lead to much bigger problems that can be dealt with when exposed early. I, as your loving, uncle," Shigure spread out his arms dramatically, "will embrace all of your troubles. May it be from woes of love, or unrequited and unfretted feelings looming over your head. Just let uncle Shigure know."

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Kyo asked, head turned to the side and eyes turning into small slits. "I don't think you realize you don't make sense half of the time."

"Ah! My dearest nephew, how can you say such cruel words to one such as I! I am nothing more than a mere romance novelist, eating away at page after page with burning passion. You should read my novel titled 'Under the Willow Tree'. It'll have your heart racing!"

Flushing, Kyo retorted, "like I would read some dirty novel like that! You perverted bastard! Go to hel--"

The bedroom door swung open once more. "What's going on? I hear shouting."

"D-dad . . ." A look of guilt crossed over the red-head's features. If his dad hadn't interrupted, he would have said something horrible to his uncle, though Shigure could have probably guessed what the word was. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure? You were shouting really loudly - I was going to leave you be, but your mother insisted I come check on you. Though if I am a bother I can leave, Kyo."

"Dad, wait" Kyo found himself saying. "Don't leave the room yet."

"Yes, son?" He took on a hopeful look, as if anticipating something.

" . . . I've finished most of the manuscripts. You can take them now if you'd like . . . And don't work so hard. You'll only stress yourself out more than you need to be."

Mr. Mizunashi smiled. "All right, Kyo, I'll try. By the way, when you have the time I'd like for you to come see me - I want to discuss something with you."

"I'll be down shortly," Kyo answered.

His father then promptly left his bedroom, leaving him alone (once more) with his uncle, Shigure. With a little smirk Shigure went towards his nephew and gave him a pat on the back. Kyo looked up at him, perplexed by the motion. Did he do something to deserve this small award?

"That was nice of you, Kyo," Shigure finally voiced. His hand remained where it was - on Kyo's back. "It may not seem like it, but your father is very worried about you. I suppose the talk he was referring to might just be about that. However, I just want to tell you that whatever he says to you, you should respect his concerns and talk rationally about it, seeing as how hot-headed you can get."

"What is that supposed to mean? Why would I get past my boiling point with my father?"

"I didn't say you were going to explode in front of him. I'm simply saying it can be a possibility, although I would like for you to avoid getting that worked up in the first place."

"Fine, whatever . . ."

"I'll take my leave, too, because I don't think you want to see me anymore as it is." Kyo nodded and this caused Shigure to laugh. "It's too bad I have to go home later today, for I would love to stay here for a couple of days. Your mother's cooking is exquisite and it fits someone's taste buds such as mine."

"Your plight is none of my business and neither is it my concern. Now get out, will you?"

"Yes, yes, Kyon, as you will for it."

XOXOXOXOXOX

"Yuki, I've baked some cookies and have leftovers to spare. Would you like some?"

Yuki looked his mother and said, "not right now, but I'll make sure to eat some later. Maybe it can be my dessert after dinner."

"You know how to please, don't you, you little tyrant!" The gray-haired teen laughed at this - he hadn't heard his mother say this ever since he was eleven-years-old. "You think it's funny? I remember how you would smile sweetly whenever I said it to you; thinking back to those days, I feel were probably some of the most wonderful moments in my life."

"Is that so?" A sudden, unsettling feeling came to Yuki and he didn't know what the cause of it was coming from. His mother noticed this and was about to say something about his expression, but he beat her to it. "No, you don't need to ask. I'm okay, really. I was just thinking about something, that's all."

"Yuki . . ."

"I've put you into a worried mood, haven't I?" Yuki mused, a small smile hinging on the edges of his mouth. His mother frowned at his question. "I don't want you to be in such a state, mother. Whatever is troubling you concerning me, you can ask me directly; I won't mind."

"Well, Yuki, saying that so blatantly, it makes your mother wonder what she should say." Quite flustered, Mrs. Usuda tried to find the right words to express her thoughts. Yet, what was really unsettling, she didn't seem to want to utter a word about. "I've noticed some things about you lately, that I didn't notice much sooner, that I feel I should have. As your mother . . . my son's well-being comes to me first and foremost before my own." Yuki merely looked at her, seemingly unaffected by her words. This only made her more troubled, so it seems. "It's . . . it's hard for me to express myself clearly. How . . . I--"

"Does it have anything to do with my sexuality, by any chance?" Yuki asked.

This caught his mother by surprise and she faltered for a moment, as if losing her balance, but that was not the case at all. "What on earth? No, no, Yuki! That's not it at all! I'm fine with it - your father and I agreed upon it at the time of your coming out."

"I see. Then what's bothering you? Will it hurt me in some way if you tell me?"

This assertive side of Yuki was new to Mrs. Usuda. She had never seen her son act so straightforward and really . . . so demanding. What a sudden change in attitude.

"What I want to tell you has nothing to do with whichever gender you like. It's something far more deeper than that . . ."

"Huh?"

"I shouldn't say it now, not without your friend's mother's permission first anyway. I'm sorry, Yuki, this discussion will have to wait."

"You met with Mrs. Mizunashi?" Yuki sounded astounded.

"Yes, I have," his mother replied. "Is it really that surprising?"

"I haven't told you about Kyo at all . . . So . . ."

It then dawned on Mrs. Usuda - she unintentionally blurted something she shouldn't have. What had been said couldn't be taken back. How was she going to explain this to her confused son?

"Ah, you see--"

"I'm home!" Mr. Usuda called from the foyer, saving his wife the unneeded moment of having to answer. "Yuki? Honey? Are you two home?"

"Yes, dear! We're over here!" She spared her son a nervous glance, and was grateful he didn't notice. He, too, was looking in the direction of where his father's voice resonated. "If you're looking for something to eat, I'll prepare it for you right away!"

"That'd be nice," he replied, sounding really happy. "I've been working on an empty stomach! Didn't have the time to eat anything today!"

XOXOXOXOXOX

Tooru watched her brother pace back and forth, back and forth, back and forth . . . He looked nervous.

"You look agitated, Kyo," Tooru stated.

"I am, that's why."

"Why are you nervous?" she asked.

"Because dad wants to have a little talk with me, and god knows what it can be about. And with the warning Shigure gave me, it's driving me insane just to think about it now. I should have never listened to that annoying bastard."

Tooru smiled at this and said, "you and dad hardly ever talk one on one. I think this can be considered quality time together - father and son. Promise me you won't go hard on dad if he says something to upset you?"

"I can't guarantee anything, so don't go raising your hopes for me. I'll see when the time comes, all right?"

The edgy tone he was using with his sister didn't bother her in the slightest. She was used to this sort of verbal communication from him to her, and it is because she was such a kind-hearted girl that she was able to put up with almost anything her brother said. Though it didn't mean she didn't hurt secretly from time to time, having been stung by vengeful words. They usually gnawed away at her until she was ready to let it go, persuading herself to think her brother was simply having a bad day (which was mostly likely the case, anyway).

At last . . . The time came for their little discussion, whatever it may be . . .

"Have a seat, son. Why look so nervous in front of me? You're making me look like you're a salary man and I'm your boss." He chuckled at this, taking note he acted this way around his own real boss at work.

Kyo sat, softly eyeing his father. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Your gentle side, Kyo, can't you show this to other people, too, besides just me and the family?" he asked.

"Wh-why should that matter?"

"Doesn't it make you feel like you're pushing people away rather than bringing them in close?" Kyo shrugged, not wanting to answer the question. "Your uncle Shigure--"

"Did he say something stupid again?"

Mr. Mizunashi sweat dropped - his son was awfully quick in badmouthing his most hated uncle. "No, he didn't. You ought to be relieved, I suppose, but do believe me, he's a good uncle." Kyo snorted in response to this. "However, my main focus is not on Shigure. It is on you."

"Okay." He gulped, impatiently waiting for what his father was going to say to him next. "And what about me?"

"I want you to stop helping me with my paperwork . . ."

"But you always get more than you can handle."

"That may be true, but as a father and man, I want to do it alone from now on. I want to support this family on my own - people at work have been talking about this."

"So what if they say such things about doing things alone? That shouldn't be your problem now, should it?"

"It's hard to explain, Kyo." Mr. Mizunashi scratched at his head, unable to calm the upcoming anger radiating from his son's form. "Once you become a father and have kids, then maybe you'll understand this feeling, eh? For your old man, do me this one favor, okay? I'll do everything from here on out."

"Are you a moron or what! Succumbing to the words of others, and in the end only wearing yourself down much faster! If you die before your time you'll get me really pissed!"

"I didn't mean it in that way . . ."

"Quit your job! Find a less strenuous one! You can at least do that, right?"

"Kyo . . ."

"Dad, listen to me, dammit! You're such a push--"

"Kyo, I am listening."

"No, you're not!"

"Kyo!" His father snapped, silencing his son with his sudden outcry. Despite his trembling he managed to speak in a much calmer tone than anticipated. "If you really want to work, I suggest you go get yourself a part-time job. In this way, you'll be paid and you can buy some of the things you've always wanted. Doesn't that sound nice?"

The red-head sighed. The anger was subsiding, but he didn't feel the time was right for him to speak. If he did so now he was surely going to say more spiteful things, and he didn't want that.

His father sensed the urgency for silence from his son. "This was all I wanted to talk to you about. Although I am guessing Shigure warned you beforehand about your temperament with me. It's all right - I can see how you'd be upset about all this."

"I'm sorry." Kyo finally said, after a long lapse of saying nothing. "If you really want it like how you say, then I don't have a reason to prevent you from doing it. Don't carry all the burden alone though; if you ever need help you can always know you can come to me."

"I know, son. I've known that all along."

Chapter 16: END