Meeting the Parents

Our press interview was scheduled for the Sunday, three weeks after our fight. I hadn't met up with my team mates once since. It kinda sucked. I was a bit worried about our team. Our chemistry was as bad as could be. Wyatt was the only one to cheer me up, we went running together. I tried to stay in shape. I had been going to the doctor too. It was going well, I was healing fast, the doctor assured me I was going to be good to compete. That was one worry less. Things were going really well with Wyatt too. He was my safety net in a troubled time. I hadn't approached the condom topic yet though. I was too scared. I wasn't sure how he'd react.

The Friday before the press conference he came to my room. I had packed my bags and was just about to leave to go to my Dad's place.

'Hi.' he said. He was smiling so sweet.

'Hi.' I told him too. I pulled him into a close hug.

'I have a question.' he looked nervous.

'Go on.'

'My parents are coming to town. They want to meet you. Is that okay with you?'

Now that was scary. 'Oh wow.'

'You don't have to.'

I should. If I would chicken out it would make them liking me later on even more difficult.

'It's fine.' I forced a smile. 'I'd be happy to meet them.' Such a lie. I was mortified. 'I guess it would only be fair if I would introduce you to my father too, he has been asking about you.'

He nodded. 'Sure. What's he like?'

Hard question. 'His name is Danila, he creates product slogans for an advertisement company, for shoes and cereal and so. He's really young, only 32. He's a bit spacey, hasn't been the most reliable. He's a friendly guy, all in all. Nicer than my Grandfather.'

Wyatt looked excited. 'That will be great, we are both meeting each other's parents. Isn't that cool?'

Not really, but I nodded. I didn't want to disappoint him.

So when my father came to pick me up, Wyatt was waiting with me.

My Dad got out of the car this time.

'Hey boys.'

'Dad, this is Wyatt.' I said.

Wyatt reached out his hand. 'Hi, nice to meet you.'

Dad smiled. 'Nice to finally meet you too, I'm Dan. Where are you from? I think I'm detecting a German accent.'

Wyatt blushed. 'I'm from Liechtenstein, a small country in the Alps.'

'Your name is English, if I'm not mistaken.'

'My father's family is.'

'Interesting. Well, I'm Kiki's father, I live in town now. You're welcome to drop by and visit him any time. Have him give you the address.'

'Kiki, eh? Wyatt was smirking. 'Cute.'

Oh dear.

'We're off now.'

-x-

'So he's the boy whole stole your heart.' Dad said laughing. He was driving and I was sitting in the front seat.

'Oh shut it!' I scoffed at him.

'Why so sensitive? I like him. I'm happy you get on so well.'

'He's the only person I get along with at the moment.'

Dad gentry patted my shoulder. 'Hey, what about me.'

'You're okay, I guess, as long as you don't tease me anymore.'

That seemed to have made him happy.

'I'm meeting his parents this weekend.' I told him.

'Are you nervous?'

I nodded.

'You'll do fine, you're a good kid.'

I dyed my hair for the meeting. I didn't want his parents to think badly of me. So for one day I was a ginger again. I bought one of those hair dye removal packs, and applied it on my head. After half an hour of waiting, washing and drying I looked at myself in the mirror again. I had gotten a lot more grey hairs I noticed. That was the only part I liked. Otherwise, the red hair made me look kind of unfamiliar. Like the exact opposite of a badass. I put on one of those preppy shirts that had the label attached to the chest, - now I looked even dumber. I had bought the shirt that day, just for the meeting. His parents might like me more now, but I thought I looked like a grade A douchebag.

Dad was laughing when he saw me coming down the stairs.

'Wow, you must really like this boy. You look like you came straight from the country club.'

I blushed. 'I just don't want to fuck it up.'

'Start by watching your language.' he advised.

He was right.

'Son, you look good, and you're a great kid. They will love you. Or they're stupid.'

I doubted it. 'You really think so?'

'Yes Kiki, you'll do great.'

The doorbell rang, I answered it. It was Wyatt. He jumped on me when he saw me and hugged me tight.

'Kai, you look so different, all prudish and PG now.'

'You don't like it?'

'No, no, I do. I just didn't know there was this side to you.'

He brushed though my bangs with his fingers. 'I did always wonder how you'd look as a ginger.'

'Enjoy it while it lasts, I'll only be a daywalker for one day.' I informed him.

'You smell good too.' He whispered, his lips close to my ear.

That was the new cologne I had bought too. For him this time, not his parents.

He took my hand and pulled me along to a Limo, yes a bloody Limo.

We crawled in through the door and sat down on a bench, facing his parents.

'Um, hi-hi-i, I'm K-K-iki.' I stuttered. I didn't know what had gotten into me. And Kiki? What the hell, only my Dad called me that. It was a silly nickname. But saying Kiki seemed to have been easier than saying Kai. Oh I was so embarrassed. I could feel my face turning fire red.

'Kai's just a bit intimidated by you, I think.' Wyatt saved me. He took my hand and I could feel my nerves get calmer. I was ready to face the parents again.

'I'm sorry, I'm Kai, nice to meet you.'

His parents introduced themselves too.

His mother was a very was strict looking middle aged woman in a pantsuit. Her brown (less grey than mine) hair was pulled back sharply. She kept eying me with a critical stare.

His father reached out his hand to me. He was a lot friendlier and laid back looking than his ex-wife. He was a bit on the heavy side, but had soft smile like Wyatt's, and puffy red cheeks.

'To be honest, we never expected that when our son would introduce us to his first partner, it would be another boy.' his mother said stoically.

I turned red again and looked down. They hated me! By default.

'Heh, I thought we agreed not to talk about that.' Wyatt hissed.

'Don't worry Kai, we still have another son to continue the legacy.' His father said. He laughed for a bit. When he realised that nobody else was, he attempted to explain the joke. 'I mean babies.'

I forced a smile.

'Yes, we all got that, and it wasn't funny.' Wyatt exclaimed. I had never seen him this agitated before.

The uncomfortable atmosphere lasted all the way to the restaurant. Once we arrived, we were seated near some tacky fountain and Wyatt's family went on to discuss matters that were none of my business, yet I was forced to awkwardly eavesdrop. At least his father made eye contact with me from time to time, his mother didn't even look at me.

I managed to go the entire time from placing my order to receiving the appetiser without talking. It was Wyatt who sought contact.

'That looks good, can I try some?'

I nodded, grateful for the social interaction.

He reached over to poke his fork in my antipasti and took a few pieces.

'Oh wow, this is amazing.'

'There's plenty, take some more, we can share it, I'm not too hungry.'

'Awesome.' he flashed a large, happy smile.

I smiled back at him out of reflex. It probably looked somehow dreamy or lovey-dovey, I didn't quite know. Point is, his mother noticed and she was not pleased.

'Wyatt, please, public displays of affection are a sign of poor manners!'

'We didn't even do anything, we were just going to share an appetizer.' Wyatt protested.

'Let them be. You can still indoctrinate Bryce. Everything you say to Wyatt just makes him do the opposite.'

Wyatt laughed. 'True, true.'

Even I couldn't help but giggle. 'You really do have a problem with authority figures.' I whispered. His parents heard it, but avoiding that wasn't the point. I was merely too shy to speak any louder.

His mother crossed her arms in front of her chest. 'We'll see how long you keep up this gay act. It must get tiring when we are not around.'

Wyatt's jaw dropped, I could see how he was straining his face, probably thinking of numerous insults to yell out.

I squeezed his hand, that seemed to bring him back to reality.

'Don't.' I told him. It wasn't worth it. Causing a scene would just make things worse.

I could tell how he was fuming, and he almost crushed my fingers when he was taking his deep breaths but at least it seemed to calm his nerves. He was getting more relaxed and finally just sighed.

'Impressive.' his father said.

I turned towards him and sent him a confused look.

'Normally Wyatt goes off like a fuse, and nothing can stop him.' he explained.

So did that mean his father thought I was some good influence on him, like that I had him under control?

He nodded as if he had read my thoughts.

Well that was a good step in the right direction, Wyatt's Dad seemed to like me. He was starting to get more interested in me now too. Started asking me questions, about my family and life here. I told him my parents were separated, didn't go into the scandalous details of how they never were together; and that my grandfather was a weapons manufacturer, and I didn't care to mention he was in jail. But Mr Smithwright was a smart man, it didn't take him long to figure out who I was.

'You're Kai Hiwatari.'

I nodded, kinda scared of his reaction.

'I should have known, you look just like Dan when he was your age, we met in boarding school too. He was a few of years under me, when I was a senior. We used to sneak off to smoke pot behind the bushes after supper. Though we never went the extra step to hook up like you guys did.' he laughed.

That was a pleasant surprise. Well, not that my Dad used to sneak off with my boyfriend's father to do drugs, but that they were friends in some way. I felt a lot more comfortable now.

The evening was rather uneventful after that. Wyatt's mother remained hostile while his father was friendly to me. They dropped me off at home and drove off to their hotel.

Well, at least that was behind me now. First time meeting the parents should be the worst time, at least that's what I hoped for.

-x-

My Dad took me to get my cast removed the next morning. The doctor took some final x-rays and confirmed that I was all healed and able to compete within 2 weeks.

'You really are a fast healer.' he confirmed.

I smiled. 'I told you so.'

So the high protein and calcium diet had paid off. I knew it! Nothing can bring Kai Hiwatari down that easily.

I dyed my hair back to the grey colour I had come to love and headed to Takao's dojo. The place was surprisingly quiet, so I decided to check if anyone was home. As I peaked inside I saw Ray Kon staring straight back at me.

'Ray! Good to see you old friend.' I said and gave him a hug.

'Good to see you too Kai, although I got to confess, I didn't remember you being this touchy-feely.'

I blushed and pulled back.

'I'm just teasing, Kai.' Ray laughed, then he hugged me back. 'I didn't expect to see you around, I only just landed yesterday and decided to sleep in today while the others went to train. But the guys filled me in last night. They said you had a fight, and that you hurt your hand somehow.' He looked at my arms.' ...Which seems to be all healed now.'

I nodded. 'Yea, I think they might have kicked me off the team, I came over here to beg for my spot back.'

Ray was shaking his head in amazement and then giggled briefly.

'First you hug me, and now you're gonna beg them, who are you and what have you done with Kai?'

-x-

Are the Bladebreakers going to let Kai back on the team? How will the press conference go? Will Kai finally get to use his condoms? Find out next time!