Lily was waiting patiently on the porch of her home, swinging her legs a little as she watched cars go by… watching for a familiar figure to pull up.
"Is he home yet?"
Lily looked behind her, seeing Audra poking her head out of the front door.
Lily shook her head.
"Not yet… But we're ready for when he does, right?"
"Yup. Though he better hurry it up. Keiko, Hideki and I are starting to get bored."
"I'll tell you the minute he gets here."
"Alright… Hope everything went okay."
"You and me both."
Lily was left alone again. She sighed, resting her chin on her knuckles, gluing her eyes to the street again. It was quiet for a few moments before she heard the sound of a moped engine. She perked up, seeing Takashi pulling up the road, parking his red moped in the driveway.
"HERMANO!" She cheered, running up to him.
Takashi smiled as he got his helmet off, scooping the young girl into his arms.
"Hey, Imouto!" He hugged her close.
She giggled, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"How did it go?"
Takashi's smile got a bit wider.
"I got in."
"YES!" Lily cheered. "I knew you could do it!"
Takashi chuckled, kissing her head.
"Glad you believed in me."
"Anytime Takashi!" She gave a sneaky look. "And since you got in I think we should celebrate… I got a surprise for you."
"Oh?" Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"Right this way!"
Lily hopped down from his arms, leading him inside by his hand.
"He's here!"
"GET 'IM!"
Before Takashi could react he was knocked to the floor by Audra and two other children who were bit older in age, about young teens. Lily joined them, hugging him tightly.
"Congratulations you nerd!" they all cheered.
Takashi blinked a few times before laughing, bringing his arms around all of them.
"Oh you guys!"
"It's celebration time!" Audra squealed. "And Keiko and Hideki got just the food for that."
"Oh?" Takashi looked to the two teens of the group.
They grinned.
"Pizza. Lots of it."
"... You know me so well."
Hideki smirked. "And we brought the hot sauce too. Challenge time!"
"Oh, this is gonna be good." Lily giggled.
Audra shook her head. "We'll have to start the bets then. C'mon!" She grinned. "Knowing you Taka you'll eat a whole one!"
"Yeah, hope you bought enough for everyone."
"We did!" Keiko chirped. "Actually if I remember right Hideki and I made sure just to get one that was reserved for you."
"Darn right we did. It's got all the good stuff." Hideki grinned. "We wouldn't leave ya hanging Takashi."
He smiled ruffling their hair before he smirked. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"... Lily… I'm scared." Audra deadpanned.
"And you should be." Lily smirked. "Hey Hideki, how hot is the stuff?"
Hideki got a prideful look. "As hot as possible! We brought the Sriracha! The REAL good stuff!"
"... Oh gosh this is gonna hurt."
oooooo
Shaylin was pulling up to the house when she could've sworn she heard a form of someone screaming bloody murder coming from inside.
… Wimps.
Shaylin headed inside, looking to see who was the victim.
Hideki was slumped over on the table, an empty water bottle beside him. "Too… Much… Sriracha…"
"I told you not to put that much on!" Keiko rolled her eyes looking to Shaylin. "Hi Dr. Sky!"
"Hey ya cuties." Shaylin smirked before looking to Takashi who was drinking his own water, but not as quickly as Hideki had. "And I'm guessing you got in?"
"Yup!" Takashi smiled. "I'll be starting next week."
Shaylin made her way over him, giving him a kiss on the head.
"That's my boy."
He kissed her cheek. "Thanks Mom… I'm really happy.. Just finally can get into my dream school."
"More like Nerd School." Audra quipped.
Shaylin shook her head… smirking.
"You're just jealous."
She gave a mock offended look.
"Me? Ha! My dad's Tony Stark, I live in nerd paradise!"
"Here we go." The others rolled their eyes.
"... What?"
Shaylin laughed.
"Ah too fun." She noted the hot sauce. "... Wow you were really gunning for it this time."
"...Yeah, it was a Sriracha off.." Takashi shrugged. "Hideki insisted… He couldn't take the heat though."
Shaylin gave him another kiss.
"You're from my family. Of course you can take it."
He chuckled, smiling warmly.
"What kind of Sky would I be if I couldn't handle spicy food?"
"A wuss." Lily dead panned, giggling a bit.
"Thank you." Shaylin laughed.
"You want a piece Mom? There's still some left." Takashi offered. "I can get you a plate."
"That would be wonderful. Last meal I had was lunch and that was hours ago."
"And it was at the hospital. Not exactly five star food." Takashi got her a piece and a glass of water, setting it down. "You deserve something decent… And you've had a long day.."
"Thank you sweetie." Shaylin sat down, eating her share. "I hope today wasn't too eventful. Then again from the looks of it you didn't need too much to eat."
"Nope, I just mostly hung out after finishing my lunch, and played a bit with this kid I met at the lab. He's a good one." Takashi had a nostalgic look in his eyes. "His name's Hiro."
"Glad to hear it."
"Isn't that the kid you claim Hideki looks a lot like?" Keiko asked, patting said boy's back.
"Yeah. Except for the shorter hair, they could be twins." He chuckled. "But it was nice to see him again, it's been a bit."
"If he's anything like me, he's a wuss at hot food too."
Takashi laughed. "Maaaybe. Build up a tolerance kiddo if you wanna try beating me."
Hideki gave him a deadpan look. "I'd have to have my tastebuds zapped off for that."
"Wimp." Shaylin quipped.
Everyone was silent before laughing.
"Oh my gosh Mama!" Lily was nearly falling out of her chair from how hard she was laughing.
Takashi wiped away a tear from laughing so hard. "That's our mom!"
Hideki laughed shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah laugh it up! I can take a few hits!"
"Good, cause she's telling the truth!" Audra laughed.
"Yup!" Keiko sighed happily. "Ah this is fun."
"Very." Lily smiled brightly. "And for a good reason too."
"Yep. Congrats again Takashi… You've earned this." Hideki grinned.
"Thanks guys.. Seriously…" He sighed happily. "Just glad those exams are finally behind me.."
"You and me both." Shaylin chuckled. "The future awaits… but for now, time to relax a bit."
Takashi nodded. "Yup. Don't wanna get burnt out."
Everyone groaned.
"What?!"
"THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" Audra put a hand to her forehead. "What is with you and bad puns at times?"
"I don't know." Takashi mused with a smirk.
"Don't tempt him!" Hideki shook his head quickly while Keiko made an X with her arms.
"Gee guys, just chill." Lily giggled. "Don't need to get up so tight."
"Thanks Lily. Knew you were my favorite sister." Takashi laughed.
"Hehe… I'm your only sister."
"True… Mom... How'd I get such a cute little sis?"
"I don't know how I got such cute kids so can't help you there."
Takashi and Lily both shared a smirk before giving Shaylin a matching set of puppy eyes. "Like this?"
Shaylin brought a hand to her chest.
"My… HEART!"
"Oh no! Don't go into the light mom!"
"Get 'er!"
Both Lily and Takashi brought their arms around her, hugging her tightly. Shaylin laughed, hugging them both.
"Oh my babies…"
"Darn right we are." Takashi smiled. Lily cuddled up to her.
"Yeah! You're our Mama!"
Shaylin brought them closer.
"And I love you both very much…"
"We love you too Mom…"
Shaylin kissed both their heads before looking to the others.
"Now… I believe we still have some pizza to finish."
"... ATTACK THE PIZZA!"
oooooo
The house was full of noise for quite awhile before soon things became quiet near the end of the evening after everyone left. Lily fast asleep in her bed, Shaylin up and about. On her favorite couch reading a book.
Nice and quiet…
There was a cough behind her as Takashi came into view. "Hey… You got a sec…?" He asked, looking tired from the day's events, dressed in his pajamas.
She looked up giving a nod, gesturing to the spot right beside her. "Of course kiddo."
Takashi went over, curling up beside her, resting his head on her shoulder. She brought an arm around him.
"Tired?"
"Yeah… Didn't realize how tired I was til a little while ago…" Takashi yawned a bit. "I'm tired but still excited about things… I don't wanna go to bed just yet.."
"I get ya, I get ya…" She kissed his head. "Have something you want to talk about?"
"Yeah… Is… It okay to still get close to my brother again? Even if he doesn't know it's me…?"
"Ah… you mentioned you were playing with him at the lab." Shaylin stroked his hair a little. "I think it's alright to become friends with him again. Best friends at that… but honestly that decision is yours, mi hijo…"
"I'd like to…" Takashi nuzzled her a little. "I miss him… He's grown up so much… Carries himself more maturely now but still the kid I helped my aunt raise…"
"I know you do…" Shaylin had worry in her eyes. "But the last thing I want you doing is hurting yourself."
Takashi looked up at her, nostalgia… And some fear in his eyes. "I know… I know…" He closed them keeping close to her. "I just don't want to be a stranger to him… I just miss him… And of course… Can't even go near the Cafe… If there's one person who'd sniff out the disguise instantly it would be my aunt… She knew me since I was a baby after all…"
"And it's a shame too…." Shaylin sighed, resting her head against hs. "It isn't fair to you that you can't visit home…"
"It sucks…" Takashi sighed as well. "I miss it… I wanna go back but… I'm just worried… I know it'll hurt 'em if they know I've been around but not telling 'em… And I'm still worried I'll hurt Hiro by accident…"
Shaylin took one of his hands.
"Takashi. Tell me something… Would you ever, I mean ever, hurt me or Lily intentionally?"
He squeezed her hand.
"I would rather die than ever do that." He said with total seriousness.
"Then keep that mentality in mind with your brother." Shaylin gave a gentle look. "You've got control of your powers… Accidents haven't happened in a good while now. You're more careful than you think."
Takashi gave her a tired smile. "Had you guys to help me... " He frowned looking at the hand he was holding. "Gosh I still feel horrible about that…"
Shaylin tipped his chin up. "Hey… It was an accident… Don't even think about beating yourself up mi hijo… Understand?"
"Si…" Takashi hugged her tightly. "Thanks Mom…"
Shaylin nuzzled him, kissing his head. "Anything for you. You're my little boy.."
He closed his eyes sighing happily. "Okaasan…"
"You'll find a way... "
"Right…" He yawned again shaking his head.
She hummed softly stroking his hair. Takashi smiled relaxing in her arms as he recognized the song.
"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time… You'll understand now why you came this way… Cause the truth you might be running from is so small.. But it's as big as the promise."
"The promise of a coming day… So I'm sailing for tomorrow my dreams are a dying… And my love is an anchor tied to you.. Tied with a silver chain." Takashi picked up.
Shaylin grinned.
"I have my ship and all her flags are a flying… She is all that I have left…"
"And MUSIC is her name!" They both laughed quietly.
Takashi sighed in relief, laying his head down as Shaylin stroked his hair still singing softly.
He started to drift off, the exhaustion mixing with the sound of her voice.
"Think about… Think about how many times, I have fallen… Spirits are using me, larger voices calling… What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten… I have been around the world… Looking for that woman, girl… Who knows love can endure…" She smiled kissing his head. "And you know it will… Mi hijo…"
He smiled as he drifted off to sleep. All worries gone for the time being.
You'll find a way son…. I know you will… You always have…