Evenings

Chapter 18: Reconcile

Summary: Miyako is surprised to see Yamato in her shop and decides it's now or never to reconcile their differences.

A/N: Part of Angel and I's headcanon. After the trial, before V.

I know it has been ages since Angel and I posted! We finished moving and got settled in to our new place, so expect updates coming more frequently~ Whose excited for the Tri dub?!

Pairings: None

"You'll keep an eye on them? ...and you won't let them go anywhere alone-"

"Yamato, I got it. I raised you after all."

"...ah, good point... but seriously-"

"Seriously. I'm not that far gone yet. Go before I have a heart attack."

"Dad!"

"Just keep an eye on them, don't let her anywhere near them-"

"Yamato. I'll be here all weekend. There's nothing to worry about."

"But-" Yamato's words were cut off as his father gently closed the door, inch by inch. Finally it closed in his face. The blond sighed and gave his shoulders a quick rotation before he forced himself to walk away. Who could blame him, leaving the kids for the first time since that entire mess was settled? Some would say Mr. Ishida wasn't the most reliable person, either, but he was nearing retirement now and barely worked thirty hours a week. That in itself was a miracle.

I can't be so mean. I've been nothing but a work-a-holic myself, lately. My life is settling down so I have time to focus on myself again. I don't have to worry about them... fuck, who am I kidding? I'm worried sick and I just made it to the bottom of the stairs.

Yamato then cursed and half turned on his heels. I forgot to ask Dad if he wanted to move into Grandma's house after all... even if it is further away... But Yamato knew he couldn't turn back now or he would have to leave with his kids. His hands were shaking as he made his way to his car and as soon as he got reached for a cigarette, hoping to calm his nerves. Although Hiroaki and him just made reverse lectures on one another for quitting at their old age.

Well, Yamato considered himself decently old by now, anyway.

I'm out. If I ask Jyou again, he'll kill me. Maybe I can convince him to surgically replace my lungs first.

Yamato started the short drive out of Odaiba into Koto when he noticed the Ai-Mart and his stomach growling on top of his lack of nicotine. Part of him wasn't sure about stopping in for a visit. Despite Miyako's relentless support of Sora during the trial, Yamato wasn't sure how the entire Inoue family felt about him. His hands were still trembling, however.

He parked and hurried in. Rows upon rows of snacks, many he remembered from the numerous outings of the second gen children years ago. Even the scent of the place recalled the few times he had stopped there on the way to concerts.

Miyako was a stay at home... parent, most of the time, so Yamato fully didn't expect to see her behind the counter when he showed up with a candy bar after spending ten minutes deciding which one. Jyou would scold him for his lateness... but he couldn't worry about that while Miyako was blushing and ringing him up.

"Cigarettes, too. The green ones."

She grabbed them from behind the counter and added them. "It's... been awhile, huh?" she asked finally after a series of nods and scans.

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Sora's doing alright, I guess."

"Right."

"Ugh. Yamato. We can't be like this... you know, this weird thing we're doing..."

"I don't know what to say. It's not like we were best friends before. You helped me on that project in middle school and maybe we caught the occasional word from one another, but..."

"None of that matters. We should be friends. I don't like picking sides, you know? But I was supporting Sora. Next to Mimi, she's my best friend in the world... and she had no one."

"She had no one? Please."

"Don't 'please' me!"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Yamato, I'm being serious! Here, take your shit and come sit down and talk with me on my break. I mean it. I need to get this off my chest."

"Apron kinda heavy for you?"

"No jokes, Yamato. I think you've been hanging around Taichi too much."

"In your dreams."

Miyako huffed and handed over the register to one of her sisters. Yamato gave an equally awkward wave—she had been Jun's friend. Guess that whole mess hadn't played out well, either. She gave him that look Yamato was used to seeing nowadays, or perhaps, that look he thought people always saw in him that he only did... now morphed into something tangible.

"Are you coming?" Miyako insisted. She held his groceries, as if luring him to the small eating area at the side of the store.

Yamato followed and took a seat across from her. He glanced at the clock on the wall and back to Miyako, who seemed to be studying him the way she was staring at him. Her hair was a faded mauve now and of course, her hips a bit wider than when she was younger. Yamato realized just then how long it had been since he saw her really face to face. There was the occasional time during when he first dated Sora and more recently during the trial, but his mind had been clouded and he had thrown a dark veil over her which was creeping up now.

"...you hate me, don't you?"

"Of course not. Sora did all that, not you. Honestly, if Taichi had been in the same position, what do you think I would have done?"

Miyako was fighting back tears. Yamato wasn't sure why she cared so damn much. He had the horrible thought that maybe he was forgetting how to be a friend and somehow taking Miyako for granted. "I'm glad. I don't like to fight, you know? I know I'm opinionated and bitchy, but that's my mother in me, I suppose."

Yamato felt his hands twitch. That word or the remnants of his perdition, he wasn't sure which. "Miyako-"

"I just wanted to tell you that I don't hate you and after all that you said up there on that... stage of sorts, I don't believe you could ever make something like that up. I was talking to Mimi and well, she only confirmed more of that for me."

"Mimi?"

"Anyway, that's what I needed to say. I'm sorry for the way I acted, but I had my reasons. I don't want it to be between us. You know, Ken was really happy the way things turned out. I know he doesn't show it, but I think he looked up to you when we were younger, and he sympathizes—Well, I'm rambling, aren't I? You probably need to get back to Koto. Tell Jyou hello for me."

"Miyako, um, slow down. I never hated you. In a way... ugh... I'mkindagladyouweretheretosupportSora, but you can never tell that scheming bitch that."

"Deal. Just don't call my friend a bitch. How would you like it if I called Taichi a bitch?"

"I'd find that very funny, actually," Yamato nearly snickered out the end of his sentence when a smile spread over Miyako's face.

"Go home. Your husband's waiting on you and so is mine."

"I never got to thank him... he's busy and all," Yamato said. Miyako stood and handed the blond his ransomed cigarettes. He stood, too, and they started out the store.

"I'll tell Ken you said hello. Maybe we can have Michiru babysit for you two sometime. She can almost drive, you know."

"Uh, I'll think about it. See what Jyou says."

"Is he still nuerotic as always?"

"What do you think?"

"Take care, Yamato."