The sun shone brightly upon the congregation of Usamis, even when the members of the family looked at each other with such darkened expressions. Off to the right, there were picnic tables piled with all sorts of foods, and a long table dedicated to drinks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic alike. By the time Misaki and Daichi arrived with Akihiko in tow, there was already enough tension in the air, Misaki thought he would have trouble cutting it with a chainsaw. Perhaps a visit from some non-Usami members would help the family connect, Misaki thought, and he tried his best to make conversation with Usagi-chichi, while he could feel the heated gazes of Akihiko and his half-brother on his back. But it was to no avail, and he ended up giving the two of them angry glares any chance he got.
Daichi, on the other hand, was indulging himself in some of the pastries his aunt, Kaoruko, had made, and played with a couple of the children that were there. They laughed together, running around the small field that the reunion was hosted at. As he was chasing a number of kids around the grassy plain, one child pulled on his pant leg, looking at him with honest eyes.
Daichi smiled. "What is it, Takashi?" He said gently, and the boy pointed to the silverette's leg where a small scrape was beginning to bleed.
"Tag me if you're hurting, Daichi. I don't want you to hurt anymore. I'll tag people for you, I promise." The boy pressed a small kiss to his knee, then looked back up at the silverette. "Go see my mommy. I think she has a band-aid." Takashi ran off after the other children as they screamed and giggled, and Daichi took a small break, heading over toward the adult conversations.
"Excuse me, Aunt Kaoruko." Daichi said softly, tapping the woman on the shoulder, and backed off when she bristled slightly.
"How many times have I told you not to touch me so casually?!" She glared at him.
"Sorry, sorry!" Daichi flinched under her iron gaze. "I just wanted to tell you how nice Takashi is." Daichi forced a smile, looking around to avoid eye contact the scary woman. But she stopped glaring at him when he mentioned her son, instead giving him a bright smile.
"Mizuki!" Kaoruko called to her husband, and he turned as well. "Daichi says that Takashi is nice!" Mizuki gave an astonished look, blinking at his wife while Kaoruko looked at the silverette. "Is he playing with the other children?" She asked, and Daichi nodded, backing away from the woman, because, any moment now, Kaoruko would either become a demon, or squeal in delight, and both reactions scared the absolute hell out of Daichi.
So he busied himself with snacking and drinking, watching the children run around the field and listening to the adults shout at each other angrily.
"You seem lonely." Someone said, and he flipped around, meeting the gaze of an older man. He looked about his father's age, and Daichi blinked.
The man held out his hand, and the silverette shook it firmly. "Usami Haruhiko." The Usami sat next to him, sipping at his drink while Daichi shifted nervously. The man was giving him weird looks, and Daichi finally understood why his father never told him about his family. They were kind of creepy, Daichi thought. Sure, they had good intentions.. right? Or maybe they were just creepy..
"Daichi." Akihiko called, glaring at his brother warily. The way the older man was looking at his son made him just as angry as when the older Usami looked at Misaki. He motioned the boy over. "Stay away from him." Akihiko whispered in his son's ear, and Daichi looked at him, confused.
"Why? Who is that?" Daichi asked, giving the man a glance. He was sipping his drink, giving the two silverettes an icy glare.
"My brother." Akihiko's glare intensified as Haruhiko stood, moving to converse with the silverette's brown-haired lover.
"Ah, Usagi-ani." Misaki plastered a smile, ignoring the glare from Akihiko. "How have you bee-"
"I still love you, Misaki." He rumbled, caressing the brunet's face as he ignored the younger man's disgusted look. "Please, choose me-"
"Usagi-ani, I thought we settled this a long, long time ago. I have a child, and I'm never going to choose you!" Misaki frowned, glancing at Akihiko for help. "Please, just give up!"
"No, Misaki, I'll always love you." Haruhiko said, and Akihiko growled, peeling himself away from the conversation with his son to save Misaki from his older brother. The author pulled the brunet flush to him, glaring at his dark-haired half-brother.
"You got his answer years ago." Akihiko held Misaki around the waist, narrowing his eyes at his the man. "Fuck off."
Misaki gasped. "Usagi-san, there are children here!"
"I don't care." He held Misaki until Haruhiko stalked off, dark aura coming off him in waves. They stood like that until a voice broke the two of them apart.
"Uncle Misaki!" The brunet squirmed in Akihiko's grip, turning to find his nephew running to him with a wide smile. Misaki smiled back, welcoming the hug that he received from the boy. "Uncle Misaki, what are you doing here?"
Misaki smiled, stroking the boy's hair. "I should be the one asking you that, Mahiro."
"Oh, that's easy! I'm here with Usami Ryouta, my boy- mmph." Mahiro's mouth was covered with a foreign hand, and a pair of hazel eyes glared at Misaki.
"He's here with me. Got a problem?" Misaki blinked at the boy, taking in his physical features. Deep red hair that spiked in all directions, hazel eyes that looked as if they had no bottom, with a certain mixture of perversion and protectiveness, and he was tall, with broad shoulders. It reminded him of the earlier days of his and Akihiko's relationship, and brought back some happy but nostalgic memories. But to be on the receiving end of the jealous glares was a bit unnerving, and Misaki felt uneasy, even when Akihiko wrapped his arms around his midsection.
"I didn't know you were coming, Ryouta." Akihiko grumbled, watching as Mahiro struggled slightly against the other boy's hand. Ryouta sighed, wrapping his arms around Mahiro's waist protectively.
"I didn't expect you to show up either." Ryouta narrowed his gaze, furrowing his eyebrows as he watched his older cousin. How long had it been since they had last seen each other? Five or six years? And his contempt for the silverette hadn't waned one bit.
"If I had known you were going to show up, I wouldn't have come." Misaki squirmed, looking at Mahiro with an apologetic smile, as the younger boy chuckled nervously.
"Now, now, you two, calm down." Mahiro smiled uneasily at Akihiko and Misaki, reaching up to cup Ryouta's face softly. "And play nice."
"What if I don't want to?" Mahiro's brown eyes darkened slightly, turning to whisper something that made the other boy's face turn the color of his hair, and Ryouta let go, stuttering about something as he went to make conversation elsewhere. Mahiro turned back to his uncles. "Sorry about Ryouta." He said with a slight smile. "He can be pretty possessive sometimes." Akihiko grunted softly in affirmation, peeling himself away from Misaki.
"Mahiro!" The three of them turned to see Daichi barreling toward them, almost knocking the other boy down with the force of his hug.
"Daichi!" Mahiro wheezed, chuckling breathlessly as he petted the silver hair of his younger cousin. "Still as silly and hyperactive as ever, I see."
"Of course!" Daichi answered, looking up at his cousin with gleeful eyes. "Y'know, the other day, I made this cake that was sooo big, and-"
"USAMI-SENSEI!" Daichi turned to the interrupting voice, watching as the demon editor made her way to his father, waving her arms in a panic. "Where are your manuscripts?!" Akihiko groaned. How did she find him here of all places?.. He stole a glance in his half-brother's direction and saw him playing around with some of the buttons on his phone. Damn bastard...
He turned back to Aikawa. "I haven't done them."
"WHAT?!" Daichi flinched. His father was going to be in so much trouble with the editing company now. Aikawa was wailing on Akihiko, scolding and chastising while a select few of the family actually took notice of the woman's presence, and laughed at Akihiko's bad fortune. Ryouta laughed as well, but Mahiro shut him up with quick elbow.
Ryouta wheezed, doubled over in pain. "Damn, you are the demon child.."
"Hm? What was that?" Mahiro asked, looking over him with an innocent smile.
"N-Nothing.." Ryouta groaned, and Mahiro pet his head softly with angelic eyes.
Daichi watched them, smiling a bit. It had only been a couple of days since the outing with Katsuo, but now he wished that the boy would come back to him, and they could act like lover's, going on dates, kissing each other, and the like. It almost pained him to watch his cousin and Ryouta converse and interact, knowing that he could be that happy. He would gladly take an elbow to the ribs if it meant sharing his life with that special someone. If it was Katsuo, then so be it. He didn't know yet, but something about the boy intrigued and excited him to the point of arousal, and he couldn't deny it.
He wanted the blond, and he just hoped that the blond wanted him back.
A/N: GAHH I'M SO SORRY! This is soooo late! *wails* I just.. I had exams! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! Also, Ryouta=fan-made character, from Usami's father's side. And I'm really starting to like Mizuki and Kaoruko together...
invisiblemage: I know, I didn't really add much Mahiro, but how was he? I hope I wrote him all right... I mean, there isn't much in the manga to go off of, but I tried? *hopeful smile* I'm sorry if he didn't turn out the way you wanted... or if I got some major character development problems.. that'd be weird though.. And of course you learn lessons! If you didn't, what would be the point of fanfiction? (coughsmutcough) Huh, what, nothing! Nothing! Nothing tralala! Also, about Katsuo and Yuki, well, you will learn soon. Very soon. *Evil laugh* *Stops* Wait, the apocalypse?! *opens random closet to hide and is buried under an avalanche of Suzuki-sans*
pinky5907: *shoos Anna to go find Yuki* Huh, yeah, well, everyone needs a Nowaki... So um, about that autocorrect... *Flees* IT'S NOT MY FAULT! (conscience: yes, yes it is. Say thank you.) *sighs* That time it was totally me.. sorry you keep finding all my spelling/grammar mistakes.. But thank you for pointing them out! :3