Puits d'Amour

Kido-Sensei

The palace car pulled into the alley behind Café du Ciel. An attendant opened the door for Jyou, and Osamu opened the opposite one for Yamato. Jyou stepped into a fine late summer evening, clear but muggy.

Jyou stood back as Yamato approached the café's back door and knocked. As usual, he deferred to Yamato's decisions, his pace. He was only first to act when it fell within his scope as Yamato's assistant. This didn't bother him, somehow, maybe because of habit; he was practically assigned as Yamato's companion at age eight. Still, most members of high nobility would be unable to stomach a deferential role, even when serving a prince.

But Yamato saw them as equals, and that made their professional arrangement work. He knew when Jyou was the better source of information, when his expertise was needed. Hell, that was why Jyou was here today.

Sora greeted them at the door. Jyou was glad for the chatter between Yamato and Sora, as it gave him time to sort his thoughts. Why was his position as Yamato's assistant on his mind? Was it somehow related to the Kido hospital, who apparently rejected Hikari's appointment request, or somehow failed to assist her?

The thought made him want to help now. It bordered on rude, but Jyou stepped closer, tacitly interrupting. There was a patient waiting, feeling unwell.

Yamato noticed the movement and said, "Pardon me, Sora-san. I'd love to continue this conversation while Jyou sees your friend."

Jyou didn't absorb that Sora hadn't looked at him yet until now. He was accustomed to being invisible until Yamato drew attention to him, but Sora was usually gracious. The way she shook her head suggested that she caught herself overlooking him and Hikari, too. "Right, of course. My apologies. Thank you so much for being here, Jyou-san."

"Happy to help, Sora-san." Jyou echoed Sora's use of first name, noting that he had risen to it. Apparently, this favor really did carry weight. Sora seemed kind, so Jyou had no reservations about making such a fortuitous connection. And the radiant gratitude of her smile was impossible to miss. It felt nice, being needed by someone beyond Yamato.

But he wouldn't be if his family's hospital provided appropriate care.

Jyou prayed that the errant thought didn't impact his expression, that his mild smile remained intact. "Right this way." Sora cleared the doorway, and the group entered the back hall. "Jyou-san, can I get your dinner order before you start?"

"I'd love to order after. You mentioned that Yagami-kun is in pain, yes? She'll want to get home, I imagine."

"I'm sorry for asking her to come out, but the guards are familiar with covering the café." As Yamato spoke, said guards distributed around the public areas of the café, off to their posts. Osamu stood a few meters off, within beckoning distance.

"It's alright." Sora placed a soothing hand on Yamato's arm, and Jyou hoped he wasn't staring. It was rare for someone to touch the prince outside of etiquette situations, and Sora seemed so… Natural about it. "Hikari-chan and Taichi appreciate the car you sent for them."

Yamato nodded. "Of course. I'll wait downstairs, unless you need me. I doubt Yagami-kun is well enough for unnecessary introductions."

Jyou fought the urge to laugh, which might be misinterpreted. No, most people wouldn't want to meet a prince when they felt like shit.

If Sora saw the humor, she didn't show it. "Alright. Jyou-san, would you mind if I go up with you? I'd like to make the introduction."

"Of course," Jyou replied, with relief. The presence of a friend of the patient would make this strange situation less awkward.

"I'll come back down when Hikari-chan asks me to," Sora said to Yamato. "I've left some records on the sofa near the fireplace. If anyone in your party wants something, please let the staff know. It's on the house tonight."

Again, Jyou fought the urge to grin. Providing records for Yamato was beginning to feel like offering treats or toys to a child. Yamato's scowl hinted that he noticed the "entertain the prince" technique, too. But when Sora laughed, patted his arm, and turned away, he smiled.

There was no time to wonder over that. Jyou followed Sora up the stairs to her flat, leaving the others behind. He entered her living room and found Taichi sitting on the sofa beside a petite woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

Jyou wouldn't have guessed that Taichi and Hikari were related. Hikari was pale, with a pink undertone brought out by her pink yukata. Her hair was lighter brown than Taichi's, and of a simple, straight cut. But perhaps the greatest difference was the aura they exuded. Taichi emanated good health, radiating energy and a sense of fitness. Hikari was hunched forward, arms wrapped around her lower belly. They resembled a blazing fire beside a guttering candle.

Taichi began to stand when they entered, but Jyou held a hand out. "Please, be comfortable." He placed his doctor's bag on the low table. It was a handsome thing, leather and made by a luxury brand. Although he was gifted it years ago by his father, it looked new. He didn't have much occasion to use it.

Taichi nodded, but scooted forward on his cushion. Jyou realized he was bodily blocking Hikari, likely unconsciously. He resisted the urge to frown. Whatever was going on with Hikari was sufficient to stir protective instincts in her bother.

"Let me introduce you," Sora said. "Jyou-san, this is Yagami Taichi and Hikari. Taichi, Hikari-chan, please meet Kido Jyou, the prince's personal doctor."

Jyou had a terrible habit of over-explaining his job when he was introduced as a doctor. Alas, dancing around his insecurities always shone a light on them. But today, seeing the dark spots beneath Hikari's eyes, hinting that she hadn't been sleeping well, Jyou neglected to clarify that he considered himself a doctor on paper only.

He wanted to give Hikari confidence and peace of mind, if he could. And maybe himself, too.

Jyou bowed to the Yagamis. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yagami-kun. I'm sorry to hear you haven't received a diagnosis."

Hikari lifted her head, and that small movement seemed to require effort, or at least a conscious choice. Although Jyou rarely saw patients in a diagnostic setting, his training kicked in, and hard. Everything about her seemed sluggish, and she barely responded to his presence and movement, as if her body couldn't be bothered to react. Taichi bowed from his sitting position beside her, but Hikari couldn't seem to manage it.

"Thank you for seeing me, Kido-sensei." Hikari's voice was high-pitched and sweet, but it sounded fragile, weak. A transparent sort of thing.

"Of course." Everything about her pushed Jyou to work, to help. "Would you like Sora-san and your brother to stay, or would you prefer they leave?"

Hikari's large, mahogany eyes leaped to Sora. Her brow crinkled. "Oh... Sora-san, you must be busy at work, right?"

"My shift is over," Sora replied. "I want to do whatever makes you comfortable."

Hikari's gaze shifted from Sora to her brother. "I'm fine with Onii-chan here. Thank you for introducing us."

Sora offered a gentle smile. "Of course. Good luck, Hikari-chan. Let me know if you need me."

With that, Sora returned downstairs, leaving Jyou with the Yagamis. "Pardon me. I need to wash up." Jyou retreated to Sora's kitchen, where he washed his hands with exacting care before returning.

"Do you mind if I have a seat?" Jyou gestured to the low table with its floor cushions. "I'd like to take notes."

Hikari shook her head, so Jyou made himself comfortable at the table. He opened his notebook, that constant companion, and uncapped his pen, aware of two sets of strained eyes on him. The strangeness of the situation seemed to perch on his shoulders, a heavy thing that anxiously chittered in his ear.

Would he be able to help Hikari? Or was he the next in a line of indifferent, incompetent doctors? What could he offer that the others didn't? Did they really not listen to her? All of them?

Jyou had to appear calm for Hikari's sake, but his pulse rushed between his ears, drowning his thoughts. He tried to draw a deep breath discretely, but that wasn't easy with the Yagamis staring at him.

He ran a hand down the inside spine of his notebook, flattening its pages. He wrote Hikari's name and the date at the top of a clean page. Then, with no further ways to stall, he began, "Please tell me about your symptoms. If you could give me a general idea of whom you've seen and what they said, that would be helpful, too."

Recalling that Hikari felt ignored during her appointments, at least according to Taichi, Jyou held her gaze. His brow crumpled with concern. She was sunken into the sofa, still cradling her lower abdomen.

"My, my stomach. When the pain first starts, it's here." She moved her arms slowly, almost cautiously, like an animal unwilling to bare its tender underbelly. She placed a hand on the right side of her lower abdomen. "The pain comes and goes. It usually starts mild and dull, but can build."

"How is your pain level now?"

He hated the dull, hunted look in Hikari's eyes. She reminded Jyou of an exhausted fox that he and Yamato once hunted with a group of nobles. They had a party of men, hounds, and horses. The fox was alone, boxed in by a pack of baying dogs, a horrible din that seemed to echo from all directions, closing in. The fox knew what was coming, but still, the desire to live pushed it to run, hide, and fight until the horrible end.

Jyou was grateful that Yamato declined to join further hunts. He asked why, even though he knew the answer. "It felt... Unsporting," Yamato had said.

And that was the last time they mentioned it.

Hikari's tongue passed nervously over her lips. "Bad," she murmured. "But it sometimes get worse."

Jyou nodded. He needed the notes he scribbled, but they also gave him a reason to avoid looking at her for a moment. "Anything else?"

"Nausea. Vomiting, sometimes, when it gets bad enough. Low grade fever for a sustained period."

The way Hikari rattled off symptoms, and even the language she used, hinted that she was accustomed to this conversation. Still, Taichi chimed in with, "She hasn't been eating. Probably the nausea and the-"

"Onii-chan," Hikari weakly protested.

"He's a doctor," Taichi replied. Still, he had enough tact to say, "Digestive problems," instead of something more graphic.

"Alright." After jotting everything down, Jyou said, "And how often do you experience these symptoms? For how long?"

Hikari fished a piece of paper from the pocket of the half apron over her yukata. "Here, I've made so many of these... It lists the start and end dates of my symptoms, at least the times they were severe enough to interfere with my life."

Jyou examined the paper. It contained dates with descriptions, listing symptoms and severity. Data, but also a diary of pain, of weeks lost to whatever was happening in her body.

Doctors ignored this? Did you have this from the start? It went back almost two years, with periods of symptoms gradually growing longer and more frequent.

For a while, Jyou was silent, absorbing the information. He flinched when Taichi asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Looking up, Jyou smiled and adjusted his glasses. "I do. I'm curious what the other doctors told you, though."

Hikari scowled, shoulders hunching. Taichi tsked, all bristling fury. "She's just stressed, she has digestive difficulties and should try eating, I don't know, porridge only..."

"The closest thing I've gotten to a diagnosis is ulcerative colitis," Hikari replied. "And various digestive problems that were later ruled out by tests."

"I see..." And he did. Jyou had gathered as much info as he could on Hikari's case ahead of time, with her written permission to access her relevant patient data. The blood work and other tests ruled out the causes that most readily came to mind, given her symptoms. Its periodic nature especially pointed to a stress linked digestive problem.

"Can you show me again where the pain starts?"

At last, something like interest, a spark of some kind, appeared in Hikari's eyes. She placed her hand on the right side of her lower belly. "Just your fingers, please. As specific as possible."

Her brow furrowed, but she didn't hesitate. This likely implied that the pain radiated far out from the source, but was strongest there. She drew a circle with her pointer finger.

Jyou opened his bag, removed a pair of disposable medical gloves, and snapped them on. "I'd like to put pressure on that area. It will hurt, and I apologize, but it's important."

And, again, the fear took over. Hikari bumped Taichi's thigh with her hand, and he scooped it up in his. Her fingers curled around it. "Okay," she whispered.

"I'm afraid you'll need to undo your obi. I have a privacy sheet."

Somehow, Hikari's eyes widened further, but she whispered, "Yes. I know." Jyou handed Hikari a white sheet from his bag and stood.

"I'll wait in the kitchen with Yagami-kun. Call us when you're ready."

"Can you untie me first?" Hikari asked her brother. Knowing he wasn't needed for that, Jyou left.

The last thing Jyou wanted to do was idle in a small space with Taichi after asking his sister to undress, given his obvious protectiveness. But they seemed familiar with the process- too familiar for his liking. When Taichi joined him, he looked troubled, but not angry or annoyed.

When Hikari called them in, Jyou went quickly. The privacy sheet was spread over Hikari's torso and lap, and Jyou knelt beside her, with Taichi hovering over him. He didn't bother asking her to pardon him. When a patient was nervous, it was best to get in and out, before their stress spiked. As the master of stress spikes, Jyou knew what to do.

He reached under the sheet and her open yukata. Gently but firmly, he applied pressure to the spot Hikari indicated. She gasped, a wordless, shocked breath, then tensed all over. Jyou prayed that he didn't flinch. Hurting her caused guilt, but also… Well, he wasn't used to this. He saw Yamato for routine physicals and occasional complaints, and Takeru came to him, too. The staff at the royal estate in the Côtes-d'Armor sometimes approached with their medical problems. But there was an informal feeling to that.

Now here he was, jabbing a real patient in her aching gut. He prodded around the indicated source of pain, feeling for signs of swelling.

"Alright," Jyou murmured, withdrawing. "Thank you for your patience. I have a theory, but it will call for further tests."

"She's had so many," Taichi protested.

"Blood work, yes," Jyou agreed. "But not an x-ray, unless I've missed a report."

Hikari shook her head. "No, I've never been referred for one."

"You will be now, if you aren't opposed. Digestive problems that come and go in flare ups are often attributed to stress or chronic conditions like Chron's, but Hikari-san is negative for them. Given the location of the pain, and what I suspect to be swelling there... I think there's a chance you might have chronic appendicitis."

Taichi's brow crumpled. "Appendicitis? I've seen people have that before. It was really dramatic."

"Acute appendicitis is," Jyou agreed. "When the appendix is in danger of rupturing, the pain is intense. Fortunately, this usually ensures that the victim receives timely medical help."

Taichi's grip on Hikari's hand tightened. "Are you saying her appendix will burst?"

Please let me talk. Happily, Jyou had a lifetime of experience interacting with Yamato to grant him patience- and the discipline required to keep his mouth shut when needed. "Chronic appendicitis is different, and far rarer. It's usually caused by a blockage in the lining of the appendix, which leads to infections that flare up, causing radiating pain."

"Will it burst?" Taichi gnawed that fear like a dog gnaws a bone. Jyou couldn't blame him, but that didn't make his harping easier to deal with.

Jyou held Hikari's gaze and spoke to her, as if she had asked the question. "If you do have chronic appendicitis, you probably are not in danger of rupture, at least immediately. But the worsening of your symptoms is worrisome. An x-ray could help determine if the issue is your appendix, or if it is related to the reproductive system."

"What happens if the x-ray shows that the appendix is the problem?" Hikari asked.

"An appendectomy." Anticipating panic, Jyou continued, "Appendectomies are routine, so try not to worry too much. However, it's vital that we don't misdiagnose the problem. If you still have symptoms after the appendectomy, well... Obviously, we want to avoid that scenario."

Jyou was hoping to be upfront and honest, but Taichi stiffened as if he had made a threat. "Doctors go around ripping out organs that were fine?"

Flabbergasted, Jyou nearly dropped his pen. "I- That's why we're taking the x-ray." Unfortunately, mistakes did happen in the medical world. Jyou didn't deal with many patients, given his unusual job, so he had forgotten an important detail: family members were volatile about the health of their loved ones.

"Onii-chan," Hikari murmured. Taichi tsked, but fell silent. "How do I get an x-ray?"

"I'll write you a referral and mail it to your home. From there, you call the number on the letter to make your appointment. If you have any problems, please contact me."

He slipped a business card out of his notebook cover and offered it to Hikari. "Thank you." Discretely, she elbowed her brother.

"Right- Thanks." Taichi was obviously reluctant to offer even that much, but it seemed that he would do or say whatever made Hikari happy, at least to a degree.

Jyou opted not to respond to Taichi. "I can see you're in pain. If you have any questions, I'm happy to take them. If not, perhaps you should rest."

"Thank you, Kido-sensei. I really appreciate it."

Jyou stood, then collected his things. "I'll take my leave. I hope your flare up ends soon."

Hikari bowed from her seated position, and Taichi copied her. They exchanged farewells, and Jyou let himself out, descending to the café on the first floor.

Once there, he poked around in search of Yamato. They usually visited early for a coffee and pastry, but because Taichi was covering for Hikari in the morning, they came in the evening today.

The ambiance was different in the dark, without clear light pouring through the café's many windows. It felt less ethereal, but calmer. While there were plenty of customers eating dinner, there wasn't much movement. Folks calmly ate at tables, or squished together on a sofa and sharing the coffee table, taking their time.

The homey atmosphere was stronger than ever, especially with the contrast of light and warmth inside and darkness beyond the windows. Jyou found Sora and Yamato sitting on the sofa near the fireplace, heads bent together over what looked like a record sleeve. It was a charming, cozy scene.

"Hello," Jyou said as he approached. They looked up and smiled, and he found himself smiling back. It lifted his mood to make others happy just by entering the room.

"Have a seat," Yamato said, and Jyou took the final space on the sofa. There was a stack of records on the table. "Sora-san is lending me these."

"That's kind of you," Jyou replied. "I'd like to listen to them, too, if you don't mind telling me when you try them."

Yamato nodded, and Sora said, "Thank you again for seeing Hikari-chan. I know it's not my business, but were you able to give her any clarity?"

"I'm hopeful that I did, but I can't say much more," Jyou replied. "I'm glad Yagami-kun has people looking out for her."

Sora smiled, but the worry in her eyes was evident. "She's the type you can't help but dote on, especially since she never thinks about herself."

Yamato laughed softly, and Sora blinked. "Did I say something funny?"

Yamato's jaw tightened as he hastily looked away, an overwhelmed maneuver that Jyou knew well. "It's not... It just sounds like you're describing yourself."

Jyou felt oddly like he was intruding. Had he ever heard Yamato say something like that, especially about someone beyond his tiny circle?

Color darkened Sora's cheeks, another interesting tidbit. "If that's so, then I'm glad. But we're all here to support each other. And speaking of, I wanted to introduce you to someone. Are you two having dinner here?"

"I was planning on it," Yamato replied. "Jyou?"

"Of course." Luckily, the café offered a selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads. Jyou didn't join Yamato every time he came, but he had already eaten here many times. The food was good, with plenty of light and healthy options, so he wasn't bothered. And meeting new faces was appreciated, even if he'd rather be catching up on work.

Sora excused herself, then returned a few minutes later with a second young woman. Sora placed a hand on the stranger's shoulder and said, "May I introduce you to Inoue Miyako?"

Yamato and Jyou stood and bowed. "Our pleasure," Yamato said.

Jyou hoped he wasn't staring. Miyako was tall, but if he had to guess, she was a little younger than Sora. But her height wasn't her most eye-grabbing feature; that was won by her long, lilac hair and trendy, round frame glasses. She wore a powder blue shirt under a sleeveless black jumpsuit. Similar garbs were usually meant for manual work, but Miyako's was fitted, and seemed to be made of material similar to a suit. She wore the black Café du Ciel apron over that. Her expression was eager, eyes bright, sparkling and fixed on the prince.

"Miyako-chan, meet His Highness, Ishida Yamato, and Kido Jyou."

"Hi!" Miyako chirped. "It's so amazing to meet you both! I've been waiting for you to visit in the evening!"

She shook hands with Yamato, and then with Jyou, with a firm grip. "I'm so excited! You both really are handsome, like Mimi-san said!"

Heat rushed over Jyou's body and settled in his cheeks. Miyako kept talking, and her smile broadened as she watched him. Jyou wondered with horror if she was monitoring his reaction- and maybe reporting back to Mimi. "Thank you so much for seeing Hikari-chan. She's my best friend, and she's been so sick for so long."

"Of, of course," Jyou stammered.

"Mimi-san's shift ended," Miyako continued, in that same cheerful, energetic fashion. "She asked me to have you call her. Here!"

She handed him a business card with embossed letters. It displayed Mimi's contact information, along with a brief note on the back:

Call me! Heart, Mimi

"Um," Jyou squeaked. "Thank you."

"Call her today, okay? She's waiting!" Though her tone was friendly, Miyako mercilessly drove her point home.

Jyou gave Yamato a panicked look. Apparently he felt magnanimous today, bless him. He switched the subject to, "Inoue-san, what does your family do?"

"You call Mimi-san by name, right? You can call me Miyako! And my family owns a chain of convenience stores."

"Alright, Miyako-chan, can I ask about your hair?"

"Eee!" Yamato's first distraction was short lived, but the second landed. Miyako held her arms up, bent at the elbow, apparently tickled by his casual language. "Of course! Isn't it perfect? It's a hair dye exclusive to my family's stores! It's easy to use and long lasting! Do you dye your hair, Your Majesty?"

"You can call me Yamato. And I'm afraid I don't."

Miyako pumped a fist. "If you ever want to, you know where to find me! I'm an expert!"

Yamato managed a grin, but Jyou knew he was forcing it. Yamato didn't have control over his haircut. There was no way he would be allowed to dye it. Still, he thanked Miyako and turned the subject once more, a conversational roulette.

"What do you study?"

"Foreign languages! I want to travel the world!"

Sora leaped in, a bit desperately. "Why don't we have the gentlemen place their orders before we continue?" This confirmed what Jyou suspected; if given a chance, Miyako could talk for a long time.

Yamato, Jyou, Osamu, and the guards gave Miyako their order. "I'll be right back!" she promised, before hustling to the kitchen.

"I envy her energy," Yamato murmured to Sora. She grinned.

"I do, too. On that note, I'm exhausted. Taichi and Hikari-chan must have headed out by now, so I'll retire."

Jyou glanced at the clock on the wall. It was early evening, but then, Sora likely had to be awake in the small hours for work. "Good night, Sora-san."

"Good night. And be sure to call Mimi-chan, okay? She's looking forward to it."

The teasing smirk Yamato generously bestowed on Jyou softened as he turned to Sora. "Sleep well. Thank you for the records."

"I'm happy to share them with you. Good night, and enjoy your meals."

Sora retreated down the hall. Jyou dearly wanted to ask some pointed questions about Sora, but a glance around the busy café quieted him. The last thing he and Yamato needed was rumors about his romantic entanglements, whether founded or not.

Still, Jyou tucked this tidbit away before turning his attention to the records. If Yamato could harangue him about his romantic past, then Jyou could tease him about his present. In fact, it was probably demanded in the fine print of his job description.

XXX

When they returned to the palace, Jyou had a tea tray made. A servant delivered it to Yamato's office and placed it on the coffee table. A new record player, selected with input from Koushiro and possibly gifted by the Tachikawas, stood ready and waiting for the pile of borrowed records nearby. "Don't start a record without me," Jyou said as he poured two cups of tea. "I'll be right back."

"Good luck with your call."

Jyou wasn't sure if luck was what he needed, but the ability to parse how he felt about calling Mimi would be a good start. Emotions mixed into an indecipherable blob, which resolved into anxiety- fantastic. If he didn't even know how to feel, then how was he supposed to act? What could he say? Hello, Tachikawa-san. I heard you would like to go on a date with me, and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to engage in unsanctioned acts of romance.

Yes, riveting, and totally sensible.

Jyou sighed as he navigated Yamato's personal quarters, a suite far larger than the average Nagano apartment. The office was in the back, beside the bedroom and dressing room, furthest from the social areas. Jyou left the suite, then continued down the cavernous palace hall.

His footsteps echoed, a ghostly sensation. This part of the palace was barren, still and empty save for servants here to clean, run errands for the prince, or bring food. The walls were of dark wood on one side and shoji doors to the other, letting in filtered light. The wooden flooring and intricate patterned ceiling spoke of money freely spent. If he didn't know the layout, Jyou might have imagined that the halls simply went on forever, never yielding to an entrance, exit, or even an open space, an endless tunnel to nowhere.

The more modern of the two Nagano palaces was even larger than the older one. The suite shared by the king and queen was a good walk from the crown prince's quarters. Normally, Jyou suspected that a personal assistant wouldn't be placed as close to Yamato's living area as he was, but his rooms were just down a branching hallway.

Jyou unlocked his front door, entered, and locked it behind him. His quarters featured a small entryway, a bedroom, a bathroom, a toilet room, a kitchenette, a living area, and a study. It wasn't nearly as large as Yamato's suite, but everything was clean, well kept, and luxurious. Recently, his study even featured direct access into Yamato's private garden and a view into it via a new glass wall, at the prince's request.

Jyou owned next to nothing, but his personal items were of obnoxiously high quality. Even he was unsure if this was his preference or an expectation of his lineage, impressed upon him until it was second nature. Or perhaps it was a symptom of his position, a noble playing at belonging with a royal. Whatever the reason, the suit jacket and tie he shed and placed in his bedroom closet cost more than most palace employees made in months.

Essentially, he was well taken care of, and grateful for it. Jyou even had his own phone, so that his many calls to various medical personnel, palace staff, and other connections wouldn't bother Yamato.

Sighing, Jyou sank onto his sofa, undid the top few buttons of his shirt, placed his teacup on an end table coaster, and cozied up into the blankets waiting there. Palace staff hadn't retrofitted his study to feature a fireplace, like Yamato's. He wondered if he dared request one. Fireplaces weren't as common in Japan as Autun, but Jyou was fond of them. Failing that, he could request a kotatsu.

Jyou stared at the phone on the end table, as if it were issuing a challenge. He sighed- at this point, the hot air from his sighs could functionally take the place of a fireplace- and grabbed the receiver.

Nerves jittered in his stomach. The receiver was already slick with sweat. With no other options (besides bailing, which would only prolong his torment), Jyou dialed the number on the card Miyako gave him, then directed his call via an operator.

Maybe she won't be home. Jyou had no idea if that was a good or bad scenario. A young woman responded, most likely a servant at the Tachikawa home.

"Ah, good evening. My name is Kido Jyou. Tachikawa Mimi asked me to call."

"Yes, sir. One moment please."

Jyou tried to rehearse what he would say. His mind, so sharp and active, was an absolute void. Then a sweet, lively voice was in his ear, crying, "Jyou-san! You actually called."

Jyou clung to his knee. He thought talking to Mimi over the phone would be easier, as he couldn't see her- and more importantly, perhaps, she couldn't see him. If he was manifesting visible signals of... Whatever it was that made everyone tease him about Mimi, then there were no witnesses (crucial to every crime, and also every cringeworthy moment).

But Mimi's voice was more than enough to make Jyou's stomach flip. He pinched his eyes shut and swallowed, trying to force that treacherous organ to settle.

"Ah, good, good evening. Inoue-san asked me to call you. Is now a good time?"

"It's a perfect time! I'm off work. How are you?"

Jyou stared blankly at the office wall, painted an impersonal beige. He had barely exchanged a few sentences with Mimi. What was he meant to say? "W-well, thank you. And yourself?"

"I'm great! I saw so many of my friends at work today, like always. And Taichi-san has been in better spirits since you agreed to see Hikari-chan. He's been surly and tense for weeks!"

"I'm glad he's feeling better. I hope Yagami-kun receives the care she needs."

"Me, too! It was too bad you couldn't make Koushiro-kun and Eimi-chan's party. I missed you!"

Oh, god. Jyou had dinner with his parents and brothers that evening, something he was loathe to cancel, as gathering all the Kidos was no mean feat. But suddenly, he wished he had made his regrets to his family instead of Koushiro and Eimi.

"I heard it was a fine party," Jyou replied. "I wish I could have made it. But you mentioned a driving trip to the prince?"

"You can use his name with me, I have permission!" Mimi was all pep and enthusiasm. Her energy was overwhelming, but Jyou found himself grinning, soaking in her positivity.

"Alright. Yamato said you're looking to take a drive into the country."

"That's right! We have some beautiful cars. If you're interested, we'll drive a scenic route to see the leaves in a few weeks. I'll even pack a picnic!"

"Oh, I... I am fond of driving." What was he saying? Jyou had no clue. He knew what he wanted to ask, but fear that it was rude, or that it would cause Mimi to lose interest, made him hesitate.

"That's what Sora-san and Yamato-san said! I like driving, too, but it's so much more fun with good company, don't you think?"

Jyou hesitated. Now that he considered it, a solo drive into the country sounded lovely, an amazing opportunity to unwind and let his thoughts quiet as he absorbed new views and places. Yesterday, going alone would have been his preference.

Today, the company sounded better by far.

"I, I agree," he stammered. "Ah- But, Tachikawa-san..."

"Mimi! Call me Mimi!"

Jyou assumed Mimi was about one to four years his junior, which meant that san might be odd, at least if they were on a first name basis. But kun felt strange, somehow, and chan was even worse.

"Mimi... san?" he managed.

"San! You're so funny! You're older than me, and you're a Kido!"

Jyou's eyes drifted shut at the sound of her sweet laughter. A sensory memory rushed to the forefront of his mind, the sort buried deep until something yanked them to the surface. Time and space shifted, hurtling backwards. He felt the stifling air of blazing summer days spent flopped on an outdoor veranda as a child, sweating in a yukata, watching wind chimes shift and sing overhead with a blessed breeze.

"Mimi-kun," Jyou amended. It felt almost sacrilegious, as if a god would materialize and scold him for being too familiar with this beautiful, ebullient girl.

Instead, he was rewarded with a chirped, "Good job, Jyou-san!"

Oh, gods. Oh my god. That praise, and the obvious teasing pleasure Mimi took in giving it, did things to Jyou that he would strongly like to ignore- and couldn't, damn him and everything else. He moved the phone away from his face as he cleared his throat and shifted on the sofa.

New subject. Absolutely mandatory. "Can I ask you something? I have no intention of offending."

"Of course!"

Jyou hesitated, unsure how to phrase his question- or if asking was a massive mistake. "I'm honored that you want to spend time with me. But can I ask why? We've only interacted briefly at the café."

"Well, how else will I get to know you?" The words were blunt, but Mimi spoke as cheerfully as ever- though with a dash of teasing that Jyou suspected he would soon grow familiar with. "Why wait until we've spent more time together to spend time together?"

"Um." Mimi made it sound so… reasonable. And yet, Jyou always imagined courtship as a slow, stepwise thing, with a proper sequence and decorum. They barely knew each other, let alone their family histories and prospects.

"How do you know you want to get to know me?" Why, why, why did Jyou insist on kicking this dead horse? He cupped his forehead with a slick, clammy palm. Apparently, when presented with a treat, his instinct was to be suspicious and confused, not happy.

That was probably worth considering later, although the sick feeling in his gut whispered the likely reason. He had precious little experience with courting, and it was far more bitter than sweet.

"Are you fishing for compliments now?" Mimi asked, laughing. "You're interested in me, you're cute, Yamato-san thinks highly of you, and Sora-san thinks highly of him."

"Oh." Where the hell was Jyou supposed to start with that? Or end with it, for that matter? "T-thank you?"

Mimi laughed harder than ever- it was shifting from chiming to shrill. "Oh, gods! Cute outside and inside! Of course I want to get to know you more!"

"Um. Is that- Is that alright? I don't, um- If we'll be alone most of the day, should I..."

"Jyou-san!" Mimi drew out his name, raising and lowering her pitch like a musical groan. "This isn't a courtship! Just a date! Do you not know about dating?"

"My family is... traditional." Jyou knew what the initial steps of the Kido marriage process looked like, thanks to his brother… But only the initial steps. And he knew what it looked like when everything came crashing down.

"Is that a problem?" Mimi asked. "My parents are fine with me casually dating, so there's no objection there."

Jyou paused, considering. He suspected his parents would not look kindly on casual dating. Anything that could possibly reflect poorly on the Kidos was a no in their books.

But then... Would they even know? Jyou's relationship with his parents was... Was there a word between fine and good? They didn't fight, and Jyou had fond memories of his early childhood. Back then, he didn't understand what it meant to be a spare child, with no family estate or business to inherit, but all the restrictions and responsibilities his older siblings bore. There were no fights or strong points of contention.

But Jyou was palpably aware that his parents didn't follow the progress of his life the way they did his older brothers'.

"I'm... not sure," he admitted at last.

"Well, do you want to go?"

"I do." The response came automatically, with a certainty Jyou wasn't expecting, even as something twisted in his gut. When was the last time someone other than Yamato asked what he wanted?

This time, Mimi's laugh was warmer, lower. Something shuddered down Jyou's spine, making him shiver. Mimi clearly had a hold over all of his body parts. Should he be this attracted, this fast? Was that normal? Absolutely not, at least in his experience.

"Then let's go! When are you available?"

Jyou pulled his notebook out of his blazer's inner pocket and flipped to his schedule. "Let's see..."

On this day and this day only, Kido Jyou was not remotely daunted by attempting to squeeze social time into his packed calendar. Not another thought for his family popped into his head for the duration of the call.

Author's Notes: JYOU IS BEING JYOU INSTEAD OF KIDO SON #3. ALERT, ALERT! You're doing amazing, sweetie!

I hate to say this, but my personal life is jam packed the next few weeks/months. I can't predict right now when I will next update this story, although I do plan to update Tri: Integrity Lens in October. If you want to stay up to date on my plans/writing news, please check out my Digimon fandom Tumblr (username: ahiddenpath).

Thank you so much for reading PdA! Please let me know what you think! I'll be back before you know it! Be well, my darlings.