[Action] Pay the Piper
[OoC: Backdated to late Wednesday night.]
Yukito tensed when they heard the car stop. Dropping his flashlight, Touya put his hand over Yukito's wrist. But lightly.
"YUKITO!"
He let go of Yukito's wrist and picked up his flashlight again. "Oi! We're back here," he called. And then he went back to the book, looking for something else that should be easy to pick out.
"Yukito!" That was Shin's voice and Touya tilted his head back just in time to see Nishimoto Shin round the building.
Since Yukito was getting to his feet--and opening his arms--Touya got to his feet too. "Hey, Nishimoto," he said in casual greeting as Shin barrelled into Yukito's chest and clung. He looked away, up the hill to Nakuru and her boyfriend. "Hey," he waved. "If you want to join the astronomy class there's still fo--"
The first punch landed on his jaw and split his lip. The second he saw coming through the stars and ducked away from. It glanced off his cheek and knocked him on his ass.
"Kiyoshi!"
"You son of a bitch," Nishimoto Kiyoshi growled, standing above him. "You should thank your lucky stars that I only practice family law. But if you ever hurt my brother again..." he trailed off. It might have been meaningful but Touya had simply turned his back.
He laid down on the blanket again and picked up his book and his flashlight. He wasn't going to wipe away any of the blood he could feel and he wasn't going to react. "Sure," he said. "You know, I'm probably the last person to talk, but you might want to consider letting Shin fight his own battles." He edged the sky wheel back into place. "He's certainly capable."
"Okay."
"Shin!"
Touya grunted, pretty sure he felt at least one rib crack, but otherwise didn't move. "See?" he said.
"Enough!" Nakuru said. "We're going. Now. Kinomoto..."
Hoping he sounded unaffected, Touya sighed. "I'm going to stay out here for a while. We didn't quite find all the constellations yet." He lifted a hand to the sky and listened to the four of them move off through the grass. "Hey," he called out. Talking hurt his lip. "Planet Okonomi is going to be closed Tuesday for a building inspection. Dinner is at seven at my place." He tasted blood and tried to remember that he'd got along well with Nishimoto the last time they'd had dinner. "Haru's got oyster knives, so I'm getting the clams, Nishimoto. If you want to come early and watch the work, you can."
"Fuck you," Nishimoto spat.
Touya did smile then. "I think Yuki might object," he replied.
He was pretty sure that Nakuru's choked-off noise was a laugh and that the struggling sounds were some Moon Guardians throwing in some muscle to wrestle a few Nishimotos back to the car. He kept the smile until he was sure they were gone and began to pack up. The pain in his face and his side chased it away. But he kept the good mood.
"Hi, Kino--DAISUKE!"
He winced at Tsukino's shout. "Brought your car back," he said, handing her the keys. "Thanks for that. I had a good time."
Tsukino's eyes went from brown to black. "No you didn't. And I--"
"Aneeki, please," Daisuke slid past her and put a hand on Touya's arm. "Let it alone." With a gentle flex of his fingers he pulled and even though Touya had meant to drop off the keys and go, he followed.
"Let it alone? Daisuke, look at him!"
Touya let Daisuke put him in a chair at the table. "I'm pretty handsome," he said as Daisuke went into the kitchen. "But my heart is involved so, while I don't mind the ogling, it's best to not stare too much."
Daisuke let out a puff of laughter and came back to his side. He touched his cheek. "This will sting," he said.
"Daisuke!"
"Aneeki, will you please get Kinomoto-kun some ice and some ibuprofen?" He smiled at Touya when she left, "Haru is going to be worse, you know." The stinging cotton ball moved from his lip to his cheekbone. "It's not too bad. Nothing broken except skin. It'll bruise a lot and swell, though."
"Head injuries do that," Touya mumbled, licking his lip and tasting a sharp bitterness. "Thanks for the doctoring."
Daisuke shrugged. "I thought about being a doctor for a while but I don't like to see suffering. Anything I can't see? Aneeki, what is that?"
Touya took the round, white pill she offered him. It was dry but tasteless and it washed down easily with the water she gave him. "Ribs," Touya said. "Got kicked when I decided I was too manly to roll away."
"Oxycontin, from when I broke my arm last year," Tsukino said cheerfully as Daisuke gently probed his ribs.
Daisuke sighed.
Some time later it was Nakuru sighing. It made Touya smile just the same, however. "Heya, Cookie," he said.
"Kinomoto..."
"What the fuck is he doing here?"
Daisuke pushed him gently to the side. "He's here because I'm driving him home and I can't leave him in the car since my sister drugged him."
"And who are you?"
"Don't tell him, he's the lawyer," Touya advised. He smiled at Kiyoshi. "Nakuru's a cop but she might be on our side."
"Kaibara Daisuke. Hold out your hands, please, I'd like to check your injuries."
Touya watched with interest at Daisuke pressed at Kiyoshi's knuckles and then in the spaces between. He made him make a fist and then lay his hands flat asking each time if it hurt. "That's neat," he said.
Daisuke flushed down at Kiyoshi's hands. "I just learned a few things. Does it hurt when I do this?" he asked, holding Kiyoshi's hand upright and pressing his fingers back one at a time.
"No."
"That's good. Ice for the swelling, ten minutes at a time every ha--well, as often as you can manage it. Paracetamol is an antipyretic so try to take ibuprofen for any pain. It's an anti-inflamitory so it will take care of the swelling. You should probably take some now." He turned Kiyoshi loose and looked past him. "Is your brother still here?"
Kiyoshi stepped back and Shin stepped forward. Touya leaned his head against the doorframe. "So, we meet again." The kick to his knee didn't even hurt even though he stumbled back into the wall opposite the door. "That didn't hurt at all," he said smiling.
"That's because Aneeki believes in overkill and doesn't understand that lasting past the dispension date doesn't mean 'outdated'," Daisuke said to him. "Ice please?" he asked Nakuru and Touya smiled at Yukito while Daisuke poked painlessly at his knee.
"It doesn't hurt."
Daisuke pushed him down to sit and put a bag of ice on his knee. "Yes it does, you just don't know it yet." He went back to Yukito's door and gestured for Nishimoto to sit and take off his slipper. "Kinomoto-kun said that you were wearing running shoes. Soft soled shoes aren't very good protection and since he might have a fractured rib, it's very possible that you've fractured something as well. If you feel a sharp pain when I press, let me know."
Touya closed his eyes as Daisuke pushed at the top of Nishimoto's foot. The pill was making him sleepy and the hallway felt warm and comfortable and plush. It was slightly confusing because he knew it was concrete and plaster but he decided to ignore it. Instead he listened to Daisuke's soft voice.
"When you hit somebody, both people get hurt. You shouldn't do this again."
"Not without steel-toed boots, huh?" Nishimoto still sounded mad.
"Not at all," Daisuke said, still calm and gentle sounding. "Kinomoto-kun's friends won't be happy."
"Like I care."
"It also hurts Tsukishiro-san," he went on as though Shin hadn't spoken. "It's not easy to see somebody you love hurting and it must be worse to know that another person you love has caused that pain. You're lucky, no fractures. Ice and ibuprofen for you, too." He opened his eyes as Daisuke stood up and bowed. "I'm very sorry for the intrusion. Good night to all of you."
Standing was painless and Touya smiled sleepily at the door. "'Night," he waved. "Love you."
Daisuke ducked under his arm and put an arm around his waist. "I know it 'doesn't hurt' but put your weight on me as we go down the stairs."
"Sure. Are you going to tell me 'ice and ibuprofen' too?" he asked as they made their way awkwardly down to the car.
"No. I'll tell Haru what to do for you. He'll take care of you better than you'll take care of yourself, once he finishes scolding you."
If Haru scolded him, he didn't remember. The only thing he remembered about getting home was being passed from one warm set of arms to another and then the comfort of his bed and a hand resting warmly against his head.
Yukito tensed when they heard the car stop. Dropping his flashlight, Touya put his hand over Yukito's wrist. But lightly.
"YUKITO!"
He let go of Yukito's wrist and picked up his flashlight again. "Oi! We're back here," he called. And then he went back to the book, looking for something else that should be easy to pick out.
"Yukito!" That was Shin's voice and Touya tilted his head back just in time to see Nishimoto Shin round the building.
Since Yukito was getting to his feet--and opening his arms--Touya got to his feet too. "Hey, Nishimoto," he said in casual greeting as Shin barrelled into Yukito's chest and clung. He looked away, up the hill to Nakuru and her boyfriend. "Hey," he waved. "If you want to join the astronomy class there's still fo--"
The first punch landed on his jaw and split his lip. The second he saw coming through the stars and ducked away from. It glanced off his cheek and knocked him on his ass.
"Kiyoshi!"
"You son of a bitch," Nishimoto Kiyoshi growled, standing above him. "You should thank your lucky stars that I only practice family law. But if you ever hurt my brother again..." he trailed off. It might have been meaningful but Touya had simply turned his back.
He laid down on the blanket again and picked up his book and his flashlight. He wasn't going to wipe away any of the blood he could feel and he wasn't going to react. "Sure," he said. "You know, I'm probably the last person to talk, but you might want to consider letting Shin fight his own battles." He edged the sky wheel back into place. "He's certainly capable."
"Okay."
"Shin!"
Touya grunted, pretty sure he felt at least one rib crack, but otherwise didn't move. "See?" he said.
"Enough!" Nakuru said. "We're going. Now. Kinomoto..."
Hoping he sounded unaffected, Touya sighed. "I'm going to stay out here for a while. We didn't quite find all the constellations yet." He lifted a hand to the sky and listened to the four of them move off through the grass. "Hey," he called out. Talking hurt his lip. "Planet Okonomi is going to be closed Tuesday for a building inspection. Dinner is at seven at my place." He tasted blood and tried to remember that he'd got along well with Nishimoto the last time they'd had dinner. "Haru's got oyster knives, so I'm getting the clams, Nishimoto. If you want to come early and watch the work, you can."
"Fuck you," Nishimoto spat.
Touya did smile then. "I think Yuki might object," he replied.
He was pretty sure that Nakuru's choked-off noise was a laugh and that the struggling sounds were some Moon Guardians throwing in some muscle to wrestle a few Nishimotos back to the car. He kept the smile until he was sure they were gone and began to pack up. The pain in his face and his side chased it away. But he kept the good mood.
"Hi, Kino--DAISUKE!"
He winced at Tsukino's shout. "Brought your car back," he said, handing her the keys. "Thanks for that. I had a good time."
Tsukino's eyes went from brown to black. "No you didn't. And I--"
"Aneeki, please," Daisuke slid past her and put a hand on Touya's arm. "Let it alone." With a gentle flex of his fingers he pulled and even though Touya had meant to drop off the keys and go, he followed.
"Let it alone? Daisuke, look at him!"
Touya let Daisuke put him in a chair at the table. "I'm pretty handsome," he said as Daisuke went into the kitchen. "But my heart is involved so, while I don't mind the ogling, it's best to not stare too much."
Daisuke let out a puff of laughter and came back to his side. He touched his cheek. "This will sting," he said.
"Daisuke!"
"Aneeki, will you please get Kinomoto-kun some ice and some ibuprofen?" He smiled at Touya when she left, "Haru is going to be worse, you know." The stinging cotton ball moved from his lip to his cheekbone. "It's not too bad. Nothing broken except skin. It'll bruise a lot and swell, though."
"Head injuries do that," Touya mumbled, licking his lip and tasting a sharp bitterness. "Thanks for the doctoring."
Daisuke shrugged. "I thought about being a doctor for a while but I don't like to see suffering. Anything I can't see? Aneeki, what is that?"
Touya took the round, white pill she offered him. It was dry but tasteless and it washed down easily with the water she gave him. "Ribs," Touya said. "Got kicked when I decided I was too manly to roll away."
"Oxycontin, from when I broke my arm last year," Tsukino said cheerfully as Daisuke gently probed his ribs.
Daisuke sighed.
Some time later it was Nakuru sighing. It made Touya smile just the same, however. "Heya, Cookie," he said.
"Kinomoto..."
"What the fuck is he doing here?"
Daisuke pushed him gently to the side. "He's here because I'm driving him home and I can't leave him in the car since my sister drugged him."
"And who are you?"
"Don't tell him, he's the lawyer," Touya advised. He smiled at Kiyoshi. "Nakuru's a cop but she might be on our side."
"Kaibara Daisuke. Hold out your hands, please, I'd like to check your injuries."
Touya watched with interest at Daisuke pressed at Kiyoshi's knuckles and then in the spaces between. He made him make a fist and then lay his hands flat asking each time if it hurt. "That's neat," he said.
Daisuke flushed down at Kiyoshi's hands. "I just learned a few things. Does it hurt when I do this?" he asked, holding Kiyoshi's hand upright and pressing his fingers back one at a time.
"No."
"That's good. Ice for the swelling, ten minutes at a time every ha--well, as often as you can manage it. Paracetamol is an antipyretic so try to take ibuprofen for any pain. It's an anti-inflamitory so it will take care of the swelling. You should probably take some now." He turned Kiyoshi loose and looked past him. "Is your brother still here?"
Kiyoshi stepped back and Shin stepped forward. Touya leaned his head against the doorframe. "So, we meet again." The kick to his knee didn't even hurt even though he stumbled back into the wall opposite the door. "That didn't hurt at all," he said smiling.
"That's because Aneeki believes in overkill and doesn't understand that lasting past the dispension date doesn't mean 'outdated'," Daisuke said to him. "Ice please?" he asked Nakuru and Touya smiled at Yukito while Daisuke poked painlessly at his knee.
"It doesn't hurt."
Daisuke pushed him down to sit and put a bag of ice on his knee. "Yes it does, you just don't know it yet." He went back to Yukito's door and gestured for Nishimoto to sit and take off his slipper. "Kinomoto-kun said that you were wearing running shoes. Soft soled shoes aren't very good protection and since he might have a fractured rib, it's very possible that you've fractured something as well. If you feel a sharp pain when I press, let me know."
Touya closed his eyes as Daisuke pushed at the top of Nishimoto's foot. The pill was making him sleepy and the hallway felt warm and comfortable and plush. It was slightly confusing because he knew it was concrete and plaster but he decided to ignore it. Instead he listened to Daisuke's soft voice.
"When you hit somebody, both people get hurt. You shouldn't do this again."
"Not without steel-toed boots, huh?" Nishimoto still sounded mad.
"Not at all," Daisuke said, still calm and gentle sounding. "Kinomoto-kun's friends won't be happy."
"Like I care."
"It also hurts Tsukishiro-san," he went on as though Shin hadn't spoken. "It's not easy to see somebody you love hurting and it must be worse to know that another person you love has caused that pain. You're lucky, no fractures. Ice and ibuprofen for you, too." He opened his eyes as Daisuke stood up and bowed. "I'm very sorry for the intrusion. Good night to all of you."
Standing was painless and Touya smiled sleepily at the door. "'Night," he waved. "Love you."
Daisuke ducked under his arm and put an arm around his waist. "I know it 'doesn't hurt' but put your weight on me as we go down the stairs."
"Sure. Are you going to tell me 'ice and ibuprofen' too?" he asked as they made their way awkwardly down to the car.
"No. I'll tell Haru what to do for you. He'll take care of you better than you'll take care of yourself, once he finishes scolding you."
If Haru scolded him, he didn't remember. The only thing he remembered about getting home was being passed from one warm set of arms to another and then the comfort of his bed and a hand resting warmly against his head.