[Backdated Action] Chirstmas
[OoC: Backdated to 25th December, obviously. Alanna, feel free to kick me at will over Yukito's actions. Nakuru was editted out of the previous action because I forgot she was going to be in the UK. Everybody else, kick me at will too. I am tough where it counts. Like the shins! w00t!]
He was glad he'd gone back to the 'Dateless Christmas' party. It meant he could make sure that all his drunken (oh, so very, very drunken) friends got safely tucked away for the night. Tsukino in her room, Daisuke and Inoue in Daisuke's room, Tsushima on their couch. Dai, Nozomu, and Hayami Risa all went home, home, and Mari's place respectively.
Plus, it kept him busy until midnight. Yukito's birthday. Parking in front of the building, Touya sincerely hoped that Yukito remembered his habit of giving him his birthday present about six seconds after midnight. He really didn't want to walk in on anything. Neither did he want to have to leave without giving the gift, either. He pocketed Haru's keys and went up the stairs. It was Yukito's birthday. Time to give him the best gift that he'd been able to come up with.
"Touya," Yukito said when he answered the door. Fully dressed, unruffled, and unsurprised, Touya was grateful to see. "Did you want--"
"Hey, Nishimoto," Touya cut Yukito off, leaning around him to wave diffidently at Shin. "I'm borrowing Yukito for a few. Right out here in the hall, so you don't have to sneak around trying to follow us or anything."
Shin snorted. "Whatever."
Yukito was giving him a bemused smile as he tugged him into the hallway. "He wouldn't have followed."
"Of course not." Touya smiled and then looked down, fishing around in his pockets a little more than he had to in order to come up with the small, wooden box he'd put there earlier. "First things first--this is last year's gift." When Yukito didn't reach for it he took his hands and put the box into them. "I asked Plushie to give it to you if he felt that he could but he, ah, never decided that I was worthy enough for it. And you never went to get it but..." he paused sucking in a breath.
"Thank you," Yukito said, looking at the box as though it confused him.
"I wanted to give you something you couldn't give back," he explained. "I didn't know how you--so I figured if you read it, you couldn't UNread it. And for this year's gift I really wanted to know that you KNEW you had it." Which sounded stupid because Yukito was giving him a patient look that clearly said Touya made very little sense at all. "It's for you and for Yue. That one and this one."
Yukito's smile was soft and expectant, openly amused and Touya touched the corner of it before he leaned in, his lips brushing Yukito's cheek lightly on the way to his ear. "Yue," he said quietly, "Yue...fall in love with him. The way you couldn't with me."
"What? Touya?" Yukito's face had fractured but it couldn't be helped, Touya figured.
"Yuki...Yukito," he murmurred and tipped Yukito's face up to him. He put everything he could into the kiss. All the things Yukito made him feel--the love and the longing and the comfort, the contentment, the feelings of 'this is home' and the friendship, the happiness...all of it in a kiss that he kept soft and chaste. He pulled back before any other emotions could swim up into the mix. "Goodbye," he said. Soft, quiet, but clear.
"Touya?"
He stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets. "That's it. That's the gift. It..." he couldn't explain it. "I've got to go."
"Touya," Yukito said again, staring at him.
"No, really. The airport...flight leaves in two hours and...can't be late, you know?" He was walking backwards, rapidly.
Yukito followed him a step. "I--"
"Happy Birthday," he said and stepped down the first few stairs, just enough to get a good angle and grip on the rail. Then he swung over and jumped down to the next landing. He really did have to hurry. The fact that each landing he jumped made his ankles sting barely registered.
"Oh, Touya! Good!" Haru was pacing the genkan when Touya got home. "I called Daisuke-kun's house and there wasn't any answer but--"
"I was taking the rest of the party-goers home. Safe as houses," he said. "Hey, peewee! Ready to go?"
Kokoro lugged a suitcase into the hall outside the apartment. "I still wish you were going with, 'Ji-san."
"Not me. I'm looking forward to having the place to myself."
"But you're going to MOPE," Haru said, leading the way back down to the car. "Because it's Christmas and you're ALONE."
"Dad..."
"Thanks, Haru."
"Well it's TRUE! And there's nobody to stop you because Tsukishiro-san WON'T!"
"Dad."
"Haru."
"And Akizuki-chan went home to visit her family..."
"Don't call her that. She's evil, Haru. You don't call evil 'chan'."
"And Daisuke-kun and Yamada-kun think you're able to handle yourself when you're NOT. You're FRAGILE."
"Haru."
"Dad, you're making it worse."
"And you won't confide in Naoko-san because you think you'll BURDEN HER or something! And you'll be all ALONE and--"
"Haru, just get in the car and let me take you to the airport."
"BUT!"
"Dad, you're not gonna do this the whole way to Tokyo, are you? Because I really think 'Ji-san would drive the car into a pole if you did and I don't wanna die yet and you're really, really making it worse."
He waited until he was sure Haru's plane was off the ground before leaving, just in case. And he meant, truly meant, to go directly home once he left Tokyo but found himself pulling off the road at the Observatory exit. He sat in the car for a while before getting out and going to the back of the building.
He walked down to 'his' spot and looked up at the sky. Should really come out here more often, he thought, looking up at the familiar stars in their constellations, names unknown. The air was clear and sharp in his lungs, as though the cold purified it and he felt...at peace. He wasn't sure if it was a comfortable numbness or true peace or just an emptiness but it wasn't pain and that was what counted.
And the stars were really billions of suns and moons and planets, shining down and adding their energy to his sister. To her magic, her Cards, her smile. Even in the day the stars were there, shining away behind the clear blue sky. A whole world that went unseen and only half understood. The little god was asleep in his river pool and the wise, old god was in the cherry tree at the shrine. If he thought about it, he could probably recall a least a half dozen places where the gods lived. The huge boulder outside of town, at the top of the hill. Kanku, the stone was called. Surely that god was still there. A whole world he didn't have to understand or see to know was there.
Vicki was in England, with her family, probably wishing Yukito a happy birthday. Megan was probably being 'forced' to watch 'Alien vs. Predator, Requiem' with her boyfriend while Hiiragizawa and Spinel stayed home and read and let Nakuru tease them. Somewhere nearby, Naoko was asleep being watched over and loved by her aunt. And Rika was with Terada, in the cozy apartment that was supposedly 'his' but was so marked by her that Touya had guessed immediately that it was 'theirs' to him. Chisato and Mari were tangled up together, surely, in Chisato's apartment that housed at least three pairs of Touya's own jeans and several of his tee-shirts. His father and his sister were at home, waiting for him. Plushie was waiting to kick his ass at Halo3. Rei was waiting to be scruffled behind the ears and taught tricks. A whole world he understood and belonged to and knew was there waiting.
Still, he stood on the hill and watched the stars overhead for a long time.
He made tea because he felt a serious danger of falling asleep on his feet. He hadn't slept the night before, helping Haru finish off his manga and he hadn't slept tonight and it was already gone, fading into dawn. Sakura was going to be up soon. As much as she'd grown up, Touya was glad she hadn't outgrown this. He moved to the tree, looking at the lights, so much like the stars. He smiled over at his mother's picture. "She sure gets into it, huh, Mom? I just know that you and she would run me and dad ragged with Christmas if you could." He heard movement from upstairs. "Don't tell her, but I really wish you could." He turned as he heard Sakura slide to a stop. At least he didn't have to deal with being teased as he teased his sister.
The morning unfolded slowly, sweet and gentle. "What about this one," he slid his new cookbook across the counter, toward his father. "Think we've got the ingredients to make it?" Sakura had gone to fetch his present and so he was in the kitchen, planning breakfast.
"Mm, I think so," his father said.
Rei, head on his paws, barked and sat up. Touya reached down and rubbed his head. "No, you get your present after breakfast. Patience is a virtue." He smiled at his father. "No question that this is Sakura's dog."
"Is everything all right?"
Oh. He turned toward the stove top. "Yeah." And it was. "I'm pretty tired. Getting Haru and Kokoro off to America was hectic and it was right after getting Nakuru to England so..." he shrugged a little. "But things are good now. I miss Mom--" and Yukito "--most on days like this."
"I know." His father's look was warm and understanding.
"I'm just glad it's a quiet day."
He was glad, too, that Sakura came back with his gift at that moment, even if it did make him a little watery at the edges. "I'm going to have more free time this year," he promised. "So I'll be by to practice." He struck a sour note and gave the keys an offended look. "Lots more."
At least he had a good reason to smile when the brat showed up. Getting him a gift--even something as reasonable as house slippers--made the brat's face go through three interesting colors and two expressions that probably were best defined with swear words. Touya didn't stay to watch him put them ON, though. Instead he went to teach Rei the first part of the hair-ribbon trick--namely, to recognize a treat and how to wait for the right moment to go for it. Besides, the little mutt looked cute balancing the thing on his nose, practically cross-eyed as he waited for it.
After lunch, he slipped out. "I'd stay longer, but I came here after dropping Haru and the kid off so I've really got to take care of things back at the apartment and stuff," he told his father, shrugging into his coat. He wanted to hug his father. "Besides, who wants to watch that?" he jerked his head in the direction of Sakura, snuggled up to her boyfriend. "I'll be back around soon," he promised as he left. "Happy Christmas."
Despite the need to make sure that Biz and the rabbits hadn't destroyed the apartment, he didn't go home. Instead, he went by the Shrine to visit the cherry tree. He was shocked when Kaho's parents joined him, gazing up at the tree he had his hand on. "So," her father said. He sounded serene.
"Yes sir," Touya said, even though her father hadn't said anything aside from that one word. Her mother gave him a bag of roasted chestnuts that had come from the trees in the back and waved to him as he bowed and left.
It was so strange that he would have gone to the river next even if it HADN'T been in his plans.
"No offense, but the book says I have to check the pH levels," he told the god as he dipped a litmus strip into the water. "I'll do the soil ones later." He needed to find a geology student or something. Somebody with an interest, at least. Maybe he could get Vicki to do it. "Because I'll take actual samples of that." He took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants legs, and waded out into the icy water.
"You are insane, you know that, right?" a familiar voice asked.
He didn't bother to turn, just lifted one hand in a wave. "Hey, Nishimoto."
"What are you doing? It's freezing in there. You're going to get sick. You're going to get hypothermia or something."
"I'm going to get pH samples from various parts of the river. There are more test strips on the bank. Go dip one in his pool."
"And piss it off? Go fuck yourself."
Touya finished at the opposite bank and waded back. "Fine, whatever. Have a chestnut. And give one for an offering." He had a few more litmus strips in his pocket anyhow. The water lapped over his waist as he stepped into the little pool. "Sparkling clear," he announced.
Shin was staring at him. "You look like you got hit by a truck," he said flatly.
"You look very natty," Touya returned. Damn it, but Shin DID manage to pull off the pink tie and pocket square. He was almost proud of him.
"No, seriously," Shin said, offering him a hand. Touya let him help him up on to the bank again. "And you're being stupider than usual. What the hell?"
He sighed. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep last night or the night before. I was getting Haru and his kid off on their trip to America." Something suddenly occurred to him. "Shit. I'm soaked."
Shin sighed. "I can't beli--no, no I can. Come on." Tired and cold and wet and amused, Touya followed him without asking any questions. He just knew it would piss him off.
In fact, he kept quiet the whole car ride and the walk up to his apartment--though that was more and more his tiredness catching up to him. He was half dozing when Shin presented him with clothing and ordered him to strip. "I don't think it'll fit," he said, blinking blearily at Shin. When had he gone stupid? "I'm bigger than you are." The second meaning that could have made him snicker. Oh, he was so tired and Shin's annoyed hiss only made him laugh more.
"I'm not letting you into my bed naked even if it means you have to wear your wet pants in there. Now strip." He made an irritated huffing sound and Touya stared at him. Seriously. Shin's eyes went sharp. "They're my brother's. They'll fit. Now get your wet clothes off because if I let you die I will never, ever hear the end of it."
Which made a lot of sense. Touya began to peel out of his clothes. "Probably I'd haunt your ass just because it'd annoy the shit out of you," he said. "Well, I'd haunt Nakuru too." Because that would be hilarious. "Just to give myself something to do, you know? Besides practice the piano." The violin would be too much, but he should be able to handle the piano as a ghost. He'd seen that before. "And look out for my sister and stuff." Naoko would need him around. "And tutor Chisato in math. You're a pushy bastard, you know that?" he asked. There were warm hands on his back shoving him along. And when had he put on the shirt? Or taken off his old one? He hated being over-tired.
"Just shut up and go to sleep or something. I need to buy a bigger couch if you're going to pull this shit," Shin muttered.
"Your pillows smell nice."
"Fuck off."
Touya was about to respond to that, about to let Nishimoto know that right at that moment he really, really reminded him of his cat, when he remembered his cat. "Damn." He was too tired to move and he was pretty sure that Haru's car was at the green grocer's yet. He sat up and groped for his phone, forgetting for a moment that he was in borrowed pants. "Biz and the bunnies," he muttered. "Daisuke's got a key in case of emergencies or somesuch." Who only knew with Haru, really. It was just as likely given out because Daisuke was a sweet guy who once came over and made cake with them.
Shin's hand on his head was rough as he shoved him back down and so Touya was pretty sure that the gentleness of his sigh had to be resignation. "I've got it. Go to sleep you moron."
He woke up warm and groggy. He hadn't slept enough to feel rested but he didn't feel drunk with lack anymore. He turned his head and then slapped a hand quietly over his face. "My life," he whispered soundlessly, "is so messed up." He slid out of Nishimoto's bed, careful not to wake Shin. "Thank the gods you don't sleep naked," he said, pulling the blankets up around the sleeping man's shoulders.
His clothes were in a clean, dry pile on the sofa and Touya changed, folding the other clothes neatly into their place. Manners demanded that he do something in exchange for the favor that Shin had done him and yet it was just past one in the morning. Making breakfast was out of the question.
"Seriously, you're insane," Nishimoto was leaning in his bedroom door.
"Seriously, I've got to take care of some animals," Touya said, putting his socks on. "Go back to sleep."
Nishimoto yawned behind his hand. "I called Kaibara for you and he did it." He glared. "What? You said 'Daisuke has a key' and it's sort of hard to forget the name of the guy who makes sure that you didn't break your foot from kicking his friend in the ribs, okay?"
He had a vague memory of that. "Yeah, he's a memorable guy that way." He didn't want to stay. He couldn't. "I'm taking Haru's early job for him anyhow." Entirely true. Also true was the unspoken factoid that Haru's early job was two days away.
Shin made a grumpy noise. "Give me a minute to get dressed," he said.
Oh, Touya thought. "Nah. Go back to sleep." He went for his shoes and stopped. His scarf was hanging beside Nishimoto's coat. He didn't look back as he ignored it, putting on his own coat. "I owe you one," he said and let himself out.
The air was cold, but still. Touya stopped on the sidewalk to adjust the laces of his shoes--the new running shoes he'd bought while out with Syaoran--and then began to jog, breathing it in.
He was glad he'd gone back to the 'Dateless Christmas' party. It meant he could make sure that all his drunken (oh, so very, very drunken) friends got safely tucked away for the night. Tsukino in her room, Daisuke and Inoue in Daisuke's room, Tsushima on their couch. Dai, Nozomu, and Hayami Risa all went home, home, and Mari's place respectively.
Plus, it kept him busy until midnight. Yukito's birthday. Parking in front of the building, Touya sincerely hoped that Yukito remembered his habit of giving him his birthday present about six seconds after midnight. He really didn't want to walk in on anything. Neither did he want to have to leave without giving the gift, either. He pocketed Haru's keys and went up the stairs. It was Yukito's birthday. Time to give him the best gift that he'd been able to come up with.
"Touya," Yukito said when he answered the door. Fully dressed, unruffled, and unsurprised, Touya was grateful to see. "Did you want--"
"Hey, Nishimoto," Touya cut Yukito off, leaning around him to wave diffidently at Shin. "I'm borrowing Yukito for a few. Right out here in the hall, so you don't have to sneak around trying to follow us or anything."
Shin snorted. "Whatever."
Yukito was giving him a bemused smile as he tugged him into the hallway. "He wouldn't have followed."
"Of course not." Touya smiled and then looked down, fishing around in his pockets a little more than he had to in order to come up with the small, wooden box he'd put there earlier. "First things first--this is last year's gift." When Yukito didn't reach for it he took his hands and put the box into them. "I asked Plushie to give it to you if he felt that he could but he, ah, never decided that I was worthy enough for it. And you never went to get it but..." he paused sucking in a breath.
"Thank you," Yukito said, looking at the box as though it confused him.
"I wanted to give you something you couldn't give back," he explained. "I didn't know how you--so I figured if you read it, you couldn't UNread it. And for this year's gift I really wanted to know that you KNEW you had it." Which sounded stupid because Yukito was giving him a patient look that clearly said Touya made very little sense at all. "It's for you and for Yue. That one and this one."
Yukito's smile was soft and expectant, openly amused and Touya touched the corner of it before he leaned in, his lips brushing Yukito's cheek lightly on the way to his ear. "Yue," he said quietly, "Yue...fall in love with him. The way you couldn't with me."
"What? Touya?" Yukito's face had fractured but it couldn't be helped, Touya figured.
"Yuki...Yukito," he murmurred and tipped Yukito's face up to him. He put everything he could into the kiss. All the things Yukito made him feel--the love and the longing and the comfort, the contentment, the feelings of 'this is home' and the friendship, the happiness...all of it in a kiss that he kept soft and chaste. He pulled back before any other emotions could swim up into the mix. "Goodbye," he said. Soft, quiet, but clear.
"Touya?"
He stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets. "That's it. That's the gift. It..." he couldn't explain it. "I've got to go."
"Touya," Yukito said again, staring at him.
"No, really. The airport...flight leaves in two hours and...can't be late, you know?" He was walking backwards, rapidly.
Yukito followed him a step. "I--"
"Happy Birthday," he said and stepped down the first few stairs, just enough to get a good angle and grip on the rail. Then he swung over and jumped down to the next landing. He really did have to hurry. The fact that each landing he jumped made his ankles sting barely registered.
"Oh, Touya! Good!" Haru was pacing the genkan when Touya got home. "I called Daisuke-kun's house and there wasn't any answer but--"
"I was taking the rest of the party-goers home. Safe as houses," he said. "Hey, peewee! Ready to go?"
Kokoro lugged a suitcase into the hall outside the apartment. "I still wish you were going with, 'Ji-san."
"Not me. I'm looking forward to having the place to myself."
"But you're going to MOPE," Haru said, leading the way back down to the car. "Because it's Christmas and you're ALONE."
"Dad..."
"Thanks, Haru."
"Well it's TRUE! And there's nobody to stop you because Tsukishiro-san WON'T!"
"Dad."
"Haru."
"And Akizuki-chan went home to visit her family..."
"Don't call her that. She's evil, Haru. You don't call evil 'chan'."
"And Daisuke-kun and Yamada-kun think you're able to handle yourself when you're NOT. You're FRAGILE."
"Haru."
"Dad, you're making it worse."
"And you won't confide in Naoko-san because you think you'll BURDEN HER or something! And you'll be all ALONE and--"
"Haru, just get in the car and let me take you to the airport."
"BUT!"
"Dad, you're not gonna do this the whole way to Tokyo, are you? Because I really think 'Ji-san would drive the car into a pole if you did and I don't wanna die yet and you're really, really making it worse."
He waited until he was sure Haru's plane was off the ground before leaving, just in case. And he meant, truly meant, to go directly home once he left Tokyo but found himself pulling off the road at the Observatory exit. He sat in the car for a while before getting out and going to the back of the building.
He walked down to 'his' spot and looked up at the sky. Should really come out here more often, he thought, looking up at the familiar stars in their constellations, names unknown. The air was clear and sharp in his lungs, as though the cold purified it and he felt...at peace. He wasn't sure if it was a comfortable numbness or true peace or just an emptiness but it wasn't pain and that was what counted.
And the stars were really billions of suns and moons and planets, shining down and adding their energy to his sister. To her magic, her Cards, her smile. Even in the day the stars were there, shining away behind the clear blue sky. A whole world that went unseen and only half understood. The little god was asleep in his river pool and the wise, old god was in the cherry tree at the shrine. If he thought about it, he could probably recall a least a half dozen places where the gods lived. The huge boulder outside of town, at the top of the hill. Kanku, the stone was called. Surely that god was still there. A whole world he didn't have to understand or see to know was there.
Vicki was in England, with her family, probably wishing Yukito a happy birthday. Megan was probably being 'forced' to watch 'Alien vs. Predator, Requiem' with her boyfriend while Hiiragizawa and Spinel stayed home and read and let Nakuru tease them. Somewhere nearby, Naoko was asleep being watched over and loved by her aunt. And Rika was with Terada, in the cozy apartment that was supposedly 'his' but was so marked by her that Touya had guessed immediately that it was 'theirs' to him. Chisato and Mari were tangled up together, surely, in Chisato's apartment that housed at least three pairs of Touya's own jeans and several of his tee-shirts. His father and his sister were at home, waiting for him. Plushie was waiting to kick his ass at Halo3. Rei was waiting to be scruffled behind the ears and taught tricks. A whole world he understood and belonged to and knew was there waiting.
Still, he stood on the hill and watched the stars overhead for a long time.
He made tea because he felt a serious danger of falling asleep on his feet. He hadn't slept the night before, helping Haru finish off his manga and he hadn't slept tonight and it was already gone, fading into dawn. Sakura was going to be up soon. As much as she'd grown up, Touya was glad she hadn't outgrown this. He moved to the tree, looking at the lights, so much like the stars. He smiled over at his mother's picture. "She sure gets into it, huh, Mom? I just know that you and she would run me and dad ragged with Christmas if you could." He heard movement from upstairs. "Don't tell her, but I really wish you could." He turned as he heard Sakura slide to a stop. At least he didn't have to deal with being teased as he teased his sister.
The morning unfolded slowly, sweet and gentle. "What about this one," he slid his new cookbook across the counter, toward his father. "Think we've got the ingredients to make it?" Sakura had gone to fetch his present and so he was in the kitchen, planning breakfast.
"Mm, I think so," his father said.
Rei, head on his paws, barked and sat up. Touya reached down and rubbed his head. "No, you get your present after breakfast. Patience is a virtue." He smiled at his father. "No question that this is Sakura's dog."
"Is everything all right?"
Oh. He turned toward the stove top. "Yeah." And it was. "I'm pretty tired. Getting Haru and Kokoro off to America was hectic and it was right after getting Nakuru to England so..." he shrugged a little. "But things are good now. I miss Mom--" and Yukito "--most on days like this."
"I know." His father's look was warm and understanding.
"I'm just glad it's a quiet day."
He was glad, too, that Sakura came back with his gift at that moment, even if it did make him a little watery at the edges. "I'm going to have more free time this year," he promised. "So I'll be by to practice." He struck a sour note and gave the keys an offended look. "Lots more."
At least he had a good reason to smile when the brat showed up. Getting him a gift--even something as reasonable as house slippers--made the brat's face go through three interesting colors and two expressions that probably were best defined with swear words. Touya didn't stay to watch him put them ON, though. Instead he went to teach Rei the first part of the hair-ribbon trick--namely, to recognize a treat and how to wait for the right moment to go for it. Besides, the little mutt looked cute balancing the thing on his nose, practically cross-eyed as he waited for it.
After lunch, he slipped out. "I'd stay longer, but I came here after dropping Haru and the kid off so I've really got to take care of things back at the apartment and stuff," he told his father, shrugging into his coat. He wanted to hug his father. "Besides, who wants to watch that?" he jerked his head in the direction of Sakura, snuggled up to her boyfriend. "I'll be back around soon," he promised as he left. "Happy Christmas."
Despite the need to make sure that Biz and the rabbits hadn't destroyed the apartment, he didn't go home. Instead, he went by the Shrine to visit the cherry tree. He was shocked when Kaho's parents joined him, gazing up at the tree he had his hand on. "So," her father said. He sounded serene.
"Yes sir," Touya said, even though her father hadn't said anything aside from that one word. Her mother gave him a bag of roasted chestnuts that had come from the trees in the back and waved to him as he bowed and left.
It was so strange that he would have gone to the river next even if it HADN'T been in his plans.
"No offense, but the book says I have to check the pH levels," he told the god as he dipped a litmus strip into the water. "I'll do the soil ones later." He needed to find a geology student or something. Somebody with an interest, at least. Maybe he could get Vicki to do it. "Because I'll take actual samples of that." He took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants legs, and waded out into the icy water.
"You are insane, you know that, right?" a familiar voice asked.
He didn't bother to turn, just lifted one hand in a wave. "Hey, Nishimoto."
"What are you doing? It's freezing in there. You're going to get sick. You're going to get hypothermia or something."
"I'm going to get pH samples from various parts of the river. There are more test strips on the bank. Go dip one in his pool."
"And piss it off? Go fuck yourself."
Touya finished at the opposite bank and waded back. "Fine, whatever. Have a chestnut. And give one for an offering." He had a few more litmus strips in his pocket anyhow. The water lapped over his waist as he stepped into the little pool. "Sparkling clear," he announced.
Shin was staring at him. "You look like you got hit by a truck," he said flatly.
"You look very natty," Touya returned. Damn it, but Shin DID manage to pull off the pink tie and pocket square. He was almost proud of him.
"No, seriously," Shin said, offering him a hand. Touya let him help him up on to the bank again. "And you're being stupider than usual. What the hell?"
He sighed. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep last night or the night before. I was getting Haru and his kid off on their trip to America." Something suddenly occurred to him. "Shit. I'm soaked."
Shin sighed. "I can't beli--no, no I can. Come on." Tired and cold and wet and amused, Touya followed him without asking any questions. He just knew it would piss him off.
In fact, he kept quiet the whole car ride and the walk up to his apartment--though that was more and more his tiredness catching up to him. He was half dozing when Shin presented him with clothing and ordered him to strip. "I don't think it'll fit," he said, blinking blearily at Shin. When had he gone stupid? "I'm bigger than you are." The second meaning that could have made him snicker. Oh, he was so tired and Shin's annoyed hiss only made him laugh more.
"I'm not letting you into my bed naked even if it means you have to wear your wet pants in there. Now strip." He made an irritated huffing sound and Touya stared at him. Seriously. Shin's eyes went sharp. "They're my brother's. They'll fit. Now get your wet clothes off because if I let you die I will never, ever hear the end of it."
Which made a lot of sense. Touya began to peel out of his clothes. "Probably I'd haunt your ass just because it'd annoy the shit out of you," he said. "Well, I'd haunt Nakuru too." Because that would be hilarious. "Just to give myself something to do, you know? Besides practice the piano." The violin would be too much, but he should be able to handle the piano as a ghost. He'd seen that before. "And look out for my sister and stuff." Naoko would need him around. "And tutor Chisato in math. You're a pushy bastard, you know that?" he asked. There were warm hands on his back shoving him along. And when had he put on the shirt? Or taken off his old one? He hated being over-tired.
"Just shut up and go to sleep or something. I need to buy a bigger couch if you're going to pull this shit," Shin muttered.
"Your pillows smell nice."
"Fuck off."
Touya was about to respond to that, about to let Nishimoto know that right at that moment he really, really reminded him of his cat, when he remembered his cat. "Damn." He was too tired to move and he was pretty sure that Haru's car was at the green grocer's yet. He sat up and groped for his phone, forgetting for a moment that he was in borrowed pants. "Biz and the bunnies," he muttered. "Daisuke's got a key in case of emergencies or somesuch." Who only knew with Haru, really. It was just as likely given out because Daisuke was a sweet guy who once came over and made cake with them.
Shin's hand on his head was rough as he shoved him back down and so Touya was pretty sure that the gentleness of his sigh had to be resignation. "I've got it. Go to sleep you moron."
He woke up warm and groggy. He hadn't slept enough to feel rested but he didn't feel drunk with lack anymore. He turned his head and then slapped a hand quietly over his face. "My life," he whispered soundlessly, "is so messed up." He slid out of Nishimoto's bed, careful not to wake Shin. "Thank the gods you don't sleep naked," he said, pulling the blankets up around the sleeping man's shoulders.
His clothes were in a clean, dry pile on the sofa and Touya changed, folding the other clothes neatly into their place. Manners demanded that he do something in exchange for the favor that Shin had done him and yet it was just past one in the morning. Making breakfast was out of the question.
"Seriously, you're insane," Nishimoto was leaning in his bedroom door.
"Seriously, I've got to take care of some animals," Touya said, putting his socks on. "Go back to sleep."
Nishimoto yawned behind his hand. "I called Kaibara for you and he did it." He glared. "What? You said 'Daisuke has a key' and it's sort of hard to forget the name of the guy who makes sure that you didn't break your foot from kicking his friend in the ribs, okay?"
He had a vague memory of that. "Yeah, he's a memorable guy that way." He didn't want to stay. He couldn't. "I'm taking Haru's early job for him anyhow." Entirely true. Also true was the unspoken factoid that Haru's early job was two days away.
Shin made a grumpy noise. "Give me a minute to get dressed," he said.
Oh, Touya thought. "Nah. Go back to sleep." He went for his shoes and stopped. His scarf was hanging beside Nishimoto's coat. He didn't look back as he ignored it, putting on his own coat. "I owe you one," he said and let himself out.
The air was cold, but still. Touya stopped on the sidewalk to adjust the laces of his shoes--the new running shoes he'd bought while out with Syaoran--and then began to jog, breathing it in.