NOTE: Today is December 7th! My birthday! It's also December 8th in Japan, Yukiko's birthday. So, I felt that writing this was a good little gift. I wasn't going to do another birthday chapter. If you want that then go reread the birthday chapter in Priestess 10.
Also, feel free to leave more prompt ideas if you want. I'll be getting to some more of those eventually. Don't worry.
Enjoy and Review!
Log 21: Big Siblings
Cover Image: Yukiko hugged four teddy bears tightly. One of them wore Gwen's clothes, the one next to her looked like Ben, the third one resembled Chie, and the final teddy bear looked like Yu.
Yukiko stretched her limbs as she finished reading her latest book. The heiress hadn't had much time to read it, because of all the chaos that's normally surrounding her and the Tennysons. Luckily the day seemed to be a pretty tame one, so it gave her time to get some reading done.
"Uh… Yukiko?"
The heiress turned around to see Kenny walking over to her, looking a bit apprehensive. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Something you need, Kenny?"
"Uh… yeah." Kenny rubbed the back of his neck, blushing a bit. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Yukiko was puzzled. "Thank you? Why are you thanking me?"
Kenny took the seat next to her. "Ah… well. It's just that I appreciate all you've done for Gwen and Ben this summer." Even after he cleared that up the heiress still looked a bit puzzled.
"I'm not sure I understand. What have I done for them besides pick up after their messes?"
Kenny shook his head. "It's more than that, Yukiko. I've known the two since they were born, Ben is just as much of a little sibling to me as Gwen is. It sucks a lot that there isn't more that I could possibly do for them back in Bellwood. I'm not one of the first people Gwen would go to to talk about her problems and Ben much rather shoulder his own problems than ever talk about them." Kenny stops for a moment, seeing the realization setting on Yukiko's features. "I've seen those two open up to you more than they've ever opened up to anyone before. I really just wanted to say thanks for helping them so much."
Yukiko gasped slightly, she hadn't realized just how much her presence seemed to have helped the two trouble makers. She suddenly remembered her talk with Max in the park about how she was affecting the two. "I guess that's what Grandpa meant back then." Yukiko smiled warmly at Kenny. "You don't have to thank me for that, Kenny. I'm just being me and I want nothing more than for those two to know how much I love them."
Kenny rubbed the back of his neck. "When you say it like that it makes me feel pretty bad."
"Why?" Yukiko asked, concerned.
"You make it look so easy as if talking about the things bothering you isn't such a difficult issue. I've never been able to do that, so I guess I'm a little jealous too. I know it sounds selfish, but I just wish that Gwen would look to me for advice just as much as she goes to you." Kenny stared at the table, downtrodden.
Yukiko hadn't realized that Kenny felt this way. The older brother had always came off as a go with the flow kinda guy to her, especially with how quickly he grew accustomed to all of their crime fighting escapades. It seemed that she still had a lot to learn about her cousins.
She placed a comforting hand on Kenny's shoulder, bringing his attention back to her. "I don't know what your and Gwen's lives are like back in Bellwood, but from what I've learned about the two of you so far during this summer has told me more than anything else that Gwen does value you more than you think."
"Really?"
"Yes, I do. Gwen probably finds it easier to talk to me about things, because I'm a girl as well. There are just some things that she can't really speak to her older brother about."
Kenny furrowed his brows. "But she doesn't even bring up stuff like what you guys talk about with mom."
Yukiko's face scrunched up a bit. "I haven't met Aunt Natalie yet, but from what I've learned about her so far tells me that she isn't the easiest person to talk with."
Kenny had to give her that one, because even he finds it a bit difficult to talk to his mom sometimes. It's where Gwen got most of her mannerisms from as well. "But are you sure that Gwen really looks up to me? Someone she can trust with her feelings?"
"Have you tried speaking with Gwen about this?" Yukiko asked back.
The older brother faltered for a moment. "N-not really. I didn't want to risk making her uncomfortable. Whenever I tried to speak with her in the past she brushed me off. Eventually… I just stopped trying."
"Then try now. Trust me, if there's anything I learned from last year, it's that talking about our problems with someone helps us understand ourselves better than just bottling it up. I think that finally having a talk with Gwen could do more good for you than it might her."
"More good for me?" Kenny blinked. "Do I really wish for Gwen's recognition to help her or for my own safety as a big brother?" He turned back to her. "How are you so good at this? Talking to people?"
Yukiko giggled happily. "I learned from the best. Yu-kun would talk with us about our problems or more so it was that he barely talked. It was mostly me who did the talking whenever we hung out. But even with the few responses he'd give, it was as it was the key needed for me to figure it all out." The sunlight broke through the clouds outside, shining through the Rustbucket's window. It illuminated Yukiko, making her look even more beautiful to Kenny and giving her words more weight. "He has a presence that compels you to open up to him, like you could honestly trust him with your biggest secret. It's something that I love and admire about him and wish to reciprocate to everyone I love. It's what I desire to give to Ben, Gwen, Granda, and you Kenny."
"It's never too late to talk with Gwen. I'm sure she feels the same and just never understood her own emotions. Even if she pushes you away, never stop trying. You're her big brother and no matter what you'll always have a special place in her heart." Yukiko's bright smile was almost blinding. The heiress' words had struck Kenny right in his heart.
"A special place in her heart, huh? Maybe, I should talk with her more, because the last thing I'd want is for our relationship to fall apart." Kenny stood up from his seat, a determined look fixed onto his face. "Thank you, Yukiko."
"It's no problem. I'm always here if YOU want to talk, Kenny. You don't have to keep your problems bottled up either." Yukiko responded.
Kenny smirked. "Then the same goes for me. If you have anything you want to get off your chest, Yukiko, feel free to come to me."
The heiress thought back to her conversation with Max in the park, and how she dumped all of her fear and emotions onto him. Just like she did with Yu back in Inaba. At some point back then she had forgotten how good it felt to get all that weight off your chest and she was thankful to Max for lending her his ear. The heiress nodded her head at Kenny. "Of course."
Yukiko felt that she and Kenny grew closer after that day.
Log End
NOTE: Originally this log was going to feature some stuff from Ben and Gwen, but I felt that it just being her and Kenny was better. The two deserved some more bonding time.
I hope I captured Kenny's fears pretty well here. He just wants to be a good big brother but is scared that Gwen doesn't value him as one. Hopefully this talk with Yukiko helps them grow even closer as siblings.
I at first felt that mentioning Yu undermines Yukiko, but then remembered that he IS a big part of her world. Not even just romantically in this story, but just in general. He changed her life for the better and owes him so much. So much that she wishes to emulate the way he reaches out to people. Like what she did with Edwin.
Hopefully you all enjoyed and wish a happy birthday to me and Yukiko!
