Evenings

11

[Immune]

Summary: Yamato takes Tsukuyomi to the hospital for immunizations.

Warnings: None

Pairings: Takari, Sorato

Yamato sighed, looking over at his now one year old son. He had a tuft of red hair growing in and his auburn eyes would one day be a reflection of his mother's. The child was going on about something or other as the father climbed from his car and rounded to the other side. He opened the door and unbuckled Tsukuyomi, lifting the toddler into his arms. "Who wants to see the doctor?" The baby made a face at him and Yamato mirrored the expression. "Well, we're going anyway."

Yamato started from the parking lot towards the hospital, along the way noting a somewhat familiar vehicle. He couldn't place it. He knew Jyou was working here, but probably not at these hours, so he dismissed that little glimmer of happiness for a moment as he took Tsukuyomi inside and confirmed their meeting for his immunizations.

While waiting, Tsuku stumbled nearby, calling, "Dad!"

"I see you, Tsuk," Yamato replied with a smile as his son tried to walk again.

"Ishida, Yamato?" called a voice from the closed door beyond the reception desk. Yamato gathered his son and the tote bag and headed into the office.

"Ah, Sora usually does these things. I'm afraid I don't remember your name..." Yamato admitted, sitting down. He held his son in his lap, enjoying what little time he could spend with his own child without being berrated, like at home.

The doctor gave a smile and replied, "Itsuwari, Tomaru."

"Well, this is Tsukuyomi."

"Tsuku!" cried the toddler in his father's arms. "I Tsuku!"

"That you are," the pediatrician replied. Yamato studied him as he handed Tsukuyomi over to go through the basic check up. Tomaru had dark hair that wafted to one side and curled around the other edge of his face. He had a somewhat round chin, giving him a baby-like face, which Yamato found fairly fitting. The most striking thing was Tomaru's blue eyes- unusual, yet for Yamato, found this as a somewhat comfort as his blonde hair and blue eyes had turned people away most of his life. "Tsukuyomi looks just right. You two must be wonderful parents."

Yamato blushed a little, taking back the child. "W-We do our best."

"Well, I'll be back in a moment with the you-know-whats."

Yamato grinned. He knows not to say 'shots' in front of the kids, I see.

Tomaru left and returned a few moments later, carrying two seperate shots. As he readied everything with the alcohol on Tsuku's skin, the two talked.

"You know, you remind me of a friend of mine..." Yamato started. "Kido, Jyou."

Tomaru's pupils widened suddenly as he turned back to get the first needle. "...oh?"

"He works here," Yamato replied.

"...I don't believe I've met him," Tomaru responded, turning back.

"Yeah, well, he just got his certification after like, a million years of schooling. He's a specialist."

"...I see."

Tomaru stuck the needle in rather suddenly. Tsukuyomi cried out, but this was expected. Still, Yamato felt a weight in his chest as the child began to reach for him and tears streamed down his face. "Dad! It hurts!"

"I know. Just one more, okay?" Yamato replied uncomfortably. He turned away this time. He wasn't good with this kind of thing and the crying took the breath out of him.

Tomaru sneered at Yamato, grabbing the second needle as the infant struggled slightly. He was used to this at least. Instead, a smile formed on his face, "So, how do you know each other? You and Kido. I mean, he must get you special treatment here."

"N-Not at all," Yamato breathed, "Can we just get this over with, please?"

"Certainly. I won't waste your precious time." Tomaru made sure Yamato was still looking the other way as the needle went in and he held it there for a time as the child tried to tug it out. He quickly pulled it from the baby's skin as the father turned back, the child's crying absolutely unbearable.

"Are you sure he's alright?" Yamato insisted.

"Yes, they all cry like this," Tomaru replied, flashing that same welcoming smile as earlier.

"...I have to admit," the blonde started as his child was handed back to him now with little Ninja Turtle Band-Aids. "He's crying more than I expected."

"Yes, well, maybe your child is just not well behaved as others," Tomaru hissed, gathering his supplies. He was starting for the door when he heard Yamato huff to himself. Tomaru grinned.

"Come on, Tsuku."

"Da—Dad! Hurt me!" Tsukuyomi bawled into his father's chest, clinging to his blue dress shirt.

"It's just a shot, Tsukuyomi. They keep you healthy."

"Hurts!" Tsukuyomi insisted, screaming.

Yamato felt his face burn red as he juggled the child and the tote bag in his arms and headed out. The other parents gave him near-pitiful looks that made him feel a mix of further embarassment and mutual understanding.

Yamato patted Tsukuyomi on the back gently, lulling him with his voice. It felt odd. He rarely got to comfort his children at home in any way- he supposed Sora felt that was a mother's job. Also, he hadn't sang anything in years now and he could hear the own graveliness of his voice from the smoke he had taken in over the years.

When he reached the end of the hall, at the elevator, a voice called out to him from behind. Tsukuyomi was still sniffling and snotting all over Yamato, but that was as settled down as he could expect from the kid.

"Yamato," Hikari greeted with a smile, but Yamato couldn't do the same. He glanced beyond her to Takeru. Yamato's eyes noted his younger brother's hand, toying with the rosary in his pocket. He didn't see Kazuki with them, so the visit initially seemed unusual.

"Hello," he said, still trying to settle down Tsukuyomi.

"Shots?" Hikari chuckled. "It's okay, little guy. It's over now." Hikari reached out to the boy and he batted at her, but this only made her chuckle more. She had been through similar things with her own offspring.

Takeru continued to say nothing, merely observing the wriggling child, until he turned to Hikari, "Go ahead and wait in the car. I'll be with you in a minute."

Hikari looked at him, unsure, "Takeru, let's both get going."

"No, I should tell him."

Yamato recognized that tone from how he spoke of others he disliked himself and sighed, "Tell me what?"

Takeru's head snapped over to Yamato. "Mom's upstairs."

Yamato wrinkled his nose. "Oh."

The next-to-nothing comment angered Takeru quickly and Hikari urged the two to seperate before they had better reasons to be in such a place. Takeru ignored her, "She's not doing well. I wonder why."

Yamato just laughed off his brother's comment. "We can talk about this another time. I don't fight in front of my children."

"...I find that hard to believe. You fight with almost everyone else. Broken any arms lately?"

"That wasn't me-!" Yamato hissed.

"May as well have been," Takeru grinned, bringing up things that hadn't been relevant for years now.

"Takeru, if you want to pick fights we can do this later."

"Mom was asking for you."

"Don't try to provoke me," Yamato breathed in disbelief, looking first at Takeru and then pleadingly to Hikari.

She reached both hands over to Takeru, urging him to make a stop in the hospital chapel before leaving. That would shut him up. Takeru agreed, but he had to open his mouth again, "I mean it you know. Mom really wants you." Takeru held a certain disdain in his voice as he started back.

Yamato couldn't control his own mouth, per usual, "Did she how? Because that really makes all the difference!"

Takeru turned and Hikari forced him to turn back towards the chapel, but Takeru shoved her away. "I don't understand how she holds such high respect for you. She's heard the lies you spread about her! I just... I don't understand it! You don't deserve half the love she gives to you!"

"Goodbye, Takeru," Yamato breathed, hoping he wasn't squeezing Tsukuyomi too tight. He still had to pay and leave and hurried to the reception desk in hopes not to cause a further scene.