Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ You're one quarter of a million, you are ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Gev listened to the sweet music coming from the bathroom; it's got two lead singers and they're playing one of his favorite songs titled: Wet. Peeking through the crack in the door, he watched the live performance of Yakusoku boning Ludwig in the shower; their lyrical moans sent shivers to his loins. He'd join them, but he's gonna be late for work if he does. But damn. There's just something about those little peeks of meat-stick in a soft place that makes him wanna say "fuck it" to work for at least three days.

'Nope. Nope. Nope. Remember you're working towards fun money to take a vacation with.' The goth sous chef coached himself as he took his leave from the live concert. He'd of had to depart anyway because someone was rattling their cage for attention at the front door. He couldn't help embarrassing himself internally, hoping to see Hakuo standing their with his mad-grin and an air of "Take me to work with you. I'm bored all day". Instead, he found himself getting an eyeful of painted drywall.

"What the fu-"

"Excuse me, sir," came a young voice conducting his gray gaze downward. "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"

Girl Scouts? Was it that time of the year already? Huh.

Her big brown, doe eyes looked at him with confidence that she can sell him a box of cookies. "They're only four dollars a box, except the toffee and s'mores which are only a dollar extra."

"You don't look like the type to keep riding past the house, or spray paint something crude on the mailbox, so… I'll buy some." He was glad the kid smiled, some might have taken him seriously, get all misty eyed then back away apologizing for bothering him. Spineless twits with no initiative. "Two Savannah Smiles, two caramel chocolate chip, and two s'mores."

Brighter than the sun, the little girl thanked him and whirled herself sideways, getting smacked on the cheek by her short brown braid, as she grabbed his purchases. Gev pulled out his wallet and handed her the money before tossing the boxed treats anywhere they pleased to land in the foyer and living room. He'll pick them up as he passes through.

"Thank you!" She grinned and gave him a cheerful salute.

"Mhmm." And he swings the door shut on her. His ringtone sounded that he has a message in text. Checking, he sees its from Hakuo.

It reads: Got the apartment. Come over on the weekend or when you're off from work. Here's the address. Bring the missus, too. And by 'missus' he means Yakusoku and Ludwig. His phone sounds again as another message comes up. Leaving for the apartment. Going to market afterwards. Then there's a dog pile of chipper emojis to show the joy his face or tone rarely expressed.

"Who's throwing cookies all over the floor?" Ludwig asks, when seeing the boxes. "Oh sweet." Picking them up, he set them down on the coffee table before opening the chocolate chips to partake of one.

"You didn't hear Armageddon as a Girl Scout tortured me into buying cookies?"

"Nope." He hummed his appreciation for the sweetness jolt. He had an omelet and toast this morning.

"I'm heading out." He kissed Ludwig goodbye; he then plants one on Yakusoku, who was emerging from the bedroom fixing his belt into place. "Bye."

"Later." He says stealing one more kiss before Gev sped off.

"Bye," Ludwig called to the departing. "I'm heading out, too." He ate another cookie before setting the box down on the stack of others. "I'm giving a brief teaching of the violin to some young hopefuls, who asked if they could come back and show their parents that they've got a knack."

"Good luck; make that sale. Parents are always dumping on a dream because they're cheapskates,"

"I wouldn't go that far; instruments really are expensive." He slips into his sneakers. "Enjoy your euphoria," by that he meant being surrounded by coffee smell.

"You, too. I love you."

Ludwig blew him a kiss then vanished out the front door. Yakusoku tossed a bagel in the microwave, slathered it with cream cheese once it came from the merry-go-round, then left the house; eating breakfast in the car on the way to work.

It was funny. Yakusoku thought, as he drove along; they're all doing what they wanted to do in life - sorta. He doubts Gev ever saw himself working as a sous chef in a smokehouse restaurant, but he is really good at it, and seems to enjoy it. But, he gets to work around his greatest edible love. Coffee.

He'd wanted to be a cop, become a detective, but once separated from Hakuo... the dream seemed to die off. Like it was never really his. Weird. Hn. Or maybe the guy was taking over him more than he knew he could. Whatever the reason, he's happy now. And he knows that this is the right choice for him, because it makes him truly happy. They're all really happy. He hopes that they stay as such.

...

Hakuo was right about boring himself to sleep. One look at this long-winded document from a lawyer, sent him right out like a light. He's not even sure what it was the guy was getting at, but he has to go to this law firm whenever he can to discuss its contents. Great. Probably some dumb document from the hospital, now that he's awake. Ugh.

It was ten in the morning when he woke that day. His whole body aches like he's been up all night partying or something. He'd blame it on the new guy, but he doesn't strike him as the partying, bootycall-sneaking type like Mamoru.

'Hn. I never even got the guy's name,' Frown firmly set into place about that, he got out of bed and headed for the closet.

He can still feel the mystery alter's touch. Sticky. Weedy. Like a plant vine split open and secreting some form of toxic substance all around. And it wasn't left outside of his face, it seemed inside. Readily absorbed like something natural, when it's not. Grabbing a thinly knit, soft grey shirt he slips it on over his head, tugging it down over his torso; going to the dresser he rummaged through his jeans.

'Does brown go with grey?' He wondered as he removed a coffee brown pair of jeans. 'Aa, who cares.' Slipping them on; he then made horse-lips as he pondered over washing his hair. He stopped himself as he realized he can't let this state of mind become an all day thing. He's got too much stuff to do! 'Dammit. I'm making lists again… Celes said I should take it easy on stuff like that. Live one task at a time. Today I'm… umm…market! Yes. Perfect. I've got a home, and the home needs a trip to the market.'

Swiping his hairbrush, he brushed his hair and soon regretted it. The cold air turned on him with static charge and made him a human dandelion. Smoothing it down again and again, he keeps it clamped in a ponytail with one hand while he searches for a tie in the dresser with the other.

'Shoot. Where is my hair tie?' Crossing through the hall to his sister's room, he asks. "Celie, do you a ha- oh," his words were smashed back in his face as the door shut abruptly in it. "She hates me." He mused ruefully. Turning away, he travelled downstairs for brunch - well, something to swallow before he leaves for home.

It's a scary thought, but also exciting. He's never lived on his own before; parents leaving you alone in the house isn't even close to it. He has to look after more than a mailbox, siblings, and cooking for himself. He has to be responsible for everything! Can't get cold feet now.

He grabbed the cashew butter from the fridge and stood at the counter waiting for the toaster to release his bread. The slices are abducted onto a saucer, then he slathered the sticky brown topping over both one at a time, but just as he was about to take a bite he froze becoming deep in thought.

'I can't believe he tied those guys together at the park, not to mention the perverted cock in the butt. How could he do it without my gift? What if someone had seen him?' This cannot keep happening. This alternate seems like he has a justice complex. And he isn't careful about how exacts it. That's a very dangerous state of being. 'Where does this guy come from?' Suddenly reanimated, he wanders into the living room with his food. He half expected to hear that Vann Small was found mangled up somewhere; but the news crew were merrily reporting about county fairs and hack fixes for broken this or that's.

His mother looked at him, blinked, then burst into tears! She swooped over to him like a heatseeking missile, her energy was that aimed at him. Her arms wrap around him, and she let her tears pepper his shirt.

He hugged her back then bit into his toast over her shoulder. He was having such a flashback to when he first came home; except this variation has a twist and she's now peppering rapid kisses to his brunch munching cheeks.

"I'm getting toast crumbs in your hair," he informs her.

"I don't care; just look at you… We barely have you home and now you're leaving us," she wept.

Hakuo smiled. "I know."

"Don't just know, change your mind and stay."

He was tempted, but he definitely wasn't going to back out. Not now. "I'm not leaving the country, I live ten minutes away." His heart broke seeing her tear filled eyes not waning from the weep. "Aww, don't look at me like that. I won't go without seeing you at least once a week, and calling you twice."

Emiko scoffed. "Oh sure, Shuhei," she crossed her arms over her first born's promise of the same, and it had been a promise kept for a while. But now, since Hakuo's back home, he's AWOL.

It's only natural, she knows it's not a crime; and it'd be wrong to force him to stay. But he just got out of the hospital not long ago, and she knows how fast-paced her son likes to live. If he'd just stay through the summer season… But looking at him, she knows it's not going to happen in her favor. He's gonna walk out that door and not come back at the end of the day.

Throwing her arms around him again, she again unleashed kisses to his cheek before finally letting him eat his toast in peace.

Groton, Connecticut. Where the greenery is lovely, and the mood of its populace is mellow. Well, maybe not everybody inhabiting the area.

Ai Land just couldn't shake that Zane kid's words; about how his brother had been acting strangely, then blurted out all this nonsense to him about being possessed by a ghost. A rough take on the conversation that happened ages ago. But the wonder it produced remained intact at peak accuracy of curiosity. What would cause a complete stranger to say something so incredibly ridiculous?

Now, if he had said that his brother thought that he was Ludwig, he might believe that. What does he know from reincarnation? Maybe it is just as simple as: Oh. No meat-suit? Well, we can't have that. Try this one on for size! And viola you're on your way to a second or twelfth existence. Maybe Ludwig's soul would have missed the mark and ended up in a guy who was just in a coma.

His brother could move things with his mind. That just spoiled all grasp of reality and its limitations, which meant this theory of his brother taking over Will Hyde's body was entirely possible. He waited for forever to get the chance to drive out to Williamsport to see Hakuo. To ask him, point-blank, what happened? Why this kid would come to him to talk nonsense over the nonsense his own brother said to him? He might know. Hakuo might even be the reason. Or he could be just as shocked as he is, then help him get to the bottom of this mystery.

"Ai, please don't be late for school. I'm gonna take your sister to kindergarten."

"Okay, dad, I won't." He replied almost robotically; not because he's trying to be rude or cold, but just because he has a lot on his mind.

Not knowing that as the cause, his father smiled sadly and says. "It's okay to miss your mother, you can go see her anytime that you want. But, please, do it after school. You can't sneak off during lunch period anymore,"

Anymore? He did it one time. And that's only because his mother came and pulled him out to eat with her.

"Sure. Okay."

They divorced. Sincerely. And then they were taken away from their mother to live in an apartment in Groton Towers on Broad st. It's a beautiful building with a fitness center, in-ground pool, allows pets - not that they have one. And the funny thing is, after the custody battle, which was short-lived thanks to Reeve's lawyer friend, it felt so natural to be without their mother. Ai felt that this outcome should have hurt more than the pinch of a needle when you get vaccinated at the hospital. But it didn't. It was simply like that: they caught a case of an absent mother, and were then vaccinated of her.

Fanny protested furiously. Crying, asking where's mommy? When will mommy come live with us? But Reeve held her, told her to hush; mommy is sick and needs some time away. As young as she was, she took those words at face value and gradually stopped wondering. Ai, who knows the truth, was… happy. His father didn't sugar coat his reason. He told him about the initial lie; and when thinking she went to her mother's to cool off, he had to learn that she was serving a sentence in jail! For harassment! Hakuo was bothered that much by her? Who even knew?!

Ai was against it back then. Now he feels this outcome was long overdue.

Getting his school bag from the floor, he dragged it along with him to the front door; he's sure to not let it touch the ground since it's mesh; and for some idiotic reason the design team for the bag placed the zipper on the bottom. Has it been that long since these people were children? Do they not know the weight of a backpack? Now he carries the heavier items in his arms, and tapes up the bottom when his hands need a break.

It was uncomfortable deciding to make a move when finding out that his mother was arrested. Ai didn't want to be next, seen as a harassing person when he only wants to ask a question. A phone could be ignored; a letter torn up, but he can't be so quick to brush him off in-person. 'Oh, gawd, look who I'm thinking that about… Of course he could brush me off. What does he care about my feelings and curiosities?' Thinks Land. 'But I have to know…'

It's the after that he's not so sure about. What if Hakuo had done something? What if his brother really is… alive?

# #

"Mom, you're gonna make me slip into deeper depression, if you don't stop crying," Hakuo states teasingly; he actually doesn't believe it's possible for his depression to sink any deeper than it currently is.

"Don't say that, or I'll go from missing you to worrying about you," she wept, though it became drastically less than it originated.

They're all outside, standing in a row, saying goodbye to Hakuo's residency in the Krenn home. They really never thought they'd see the day come naturally instead of by some awful uncontrolled outside force. It's kind of bittersweet, considering he barely lived with them since his return. It really hurts, but not in such a bad way that they would actually keep him from going.

"I promise… every week with a visit, and two days worth of phone calls. And we'll probably see each other around town, a bunch of independent adults like us always run into each other on the streets."

Emiko and Trevor laughed at the thought of their son lumping himself in with adults. It is going to be strange though, seeing him out there. Shuhei works on campus, so they don't bump into him too often on the streets. But Hakuo said he planned to get a part time until the academy training starts - and that's only if they'll still take him. He hasn't yet spoken to them about that.

"Well, bye. I'll see you this coming Friday." He hugs his mother, who's upper lip has finally stiffened. He then hugged his father, getting a hefty pat on the back.

Hakuo next moved to hug his sister, but she stepped back from him. The looks she received from doing that, you'd swear the girl just grabbed a bomb and threw it into a nursery at the hospital. Celes would never say it out loud, but she loves Hakuo the best. And he loves her. So for her to step away from his hug…. What?! Even more frightening is that Hakuo didn't protest, he seemed to understand!

"Maybe someday, we'll be on better terms again."

Celes's dark brown gaze lowered to the pavers. She has nothing to say. What can she say? Her brother murdered someone, maybe even more than he'd admitted!

Emiko snapped out of her stupor then said very brusquely. "This is not going to be how we part ways; you're both going to tell your side of this..."

Cutting through her mother's words with complaint, Celes protests. "But mom…?"

"Silence. The only thing I want to hear are the reasons why; starting with you, Celes."

Hakuo stepped in this time. "Really, it's fi-.."

Emiko held up her hand to silence him. "I told you, nothing but the reason… Now, Celes?"

The last thing she wants to do is make their parents angry at Hakuo. They'd gone through Hell when he disappeared, they all had. It's alright if she's mad at him. But if they are, it could devastate Hakuo completely. Better to keep it to herself.

"It's not important to anyone but us."

Hakuo rolled his eyes. This is exactly what he hates, leaving elephants lying around and making people uncomfortable. "She's mad at me because she now knows about the murders, too."

Celes was about to say something, when her brother's wording played back to her. "What do you mean, "now knows"; you told them? You knew about it?"

Her parents exchanged looks. But, it was her father who took the lead. "Celes, what your brother did, overall, was unthinkable…" he spoke in a halting, uncertain manner.

He can't speak for Hakuo; however, trying to… he can maybe somewhat understand for himself why it happened. Maybe he can give comfort to all of them, even Hakuo. His son may be struggling with answers himself for how he could have done it.

"How it happened came about because he lives in a place so filled with hurt, that… the act itself didn't register as much as the pain working in auto-mode to protect himself from it happening again." He looked between his children, Celes has yet to lift her eyes from her shoes, Hakuo is looking at his sister with a pain so slight in his features a stranger would think he's being indifferent; but Trevor can see the hurt in how tightly his lips are pressed together, and how sharpened his eyes are. "Celes, your brother is not what he's done."

Hakuo's lips parted ever so slightly and he looked at his father in awe. Does he really mean that? Is he not disgusted in him, too? Trevor placed an assuring hand on his son's shoulder, he gave it a squeeze, comforting Hakuo more than he could ever know. Especially with the new alter whispering in his ear telling him otherwise. Is he a murderer? No. Is he capable of killing? Yes. He doesn't seek taking life. But, should it happen, why should he care? They certainly didn't care when they were killing him.

"Do you understand, sweetie?" Asked Emiko.

Celes nods; however, the anger doesn't leave her face or tone. "Yeah. I understand. And it makes sense when dad says it, but, I wanna hear it from Hakuo. I want to him to tell me…"

Hakuo sucked in a breath and released it. "I am not a murderer. However… let someone lay a hand on you as they have to me, and I wouldn't hesitate to kill thirty, eighty, or even a thousand times." He shrugged his shoulder. "That's just the way I feel about it. Tell me, why does that make you sad?"

"…Because I feel like I'm losing you; I don't want to know who you're becoming," she looked up at her brother. "It scares me."

"Few people stay who they were as a child. Growth just takes over you, whether you're aware of it or not." Taking a step back from her, he says. "I'm not hurt by this, Celes. We'll probably never see eye to eye; and if that is your feelings about it… I can't change your mind. I have no intention to."

She sniffles. It all seems so final, the way he's talking like this is the end between them.

"I hope someday you can understand my side, even if you never agree with it."

Emiko was about to object, but what really could she say? She just has to believe this will pass. She can understand how her daughter feels; she herself had been very angry and worried about her son's state of mind, and his ability to grasp the difference between reality and fantasy. But, she has seen that he isn't this sick, demonic person. He's actually just very lost, and very scared within that place which he's lost.

"I'll miss you." He held an untaken hand out to her and said. "Good afternoon."

Turning away, he headed for his car, climbed in, then with a look out the window and a wave of his hand, he then started the vehicle and drove away. Celes, whatever strength she had keeping her from crying outright caved, and she leaned into her father and cried away.

# #

Nathen pulled his cart over to his roommate that he finally spotted since they grabbed a cart and separated in the local Wegman market. "There you are," he cranned his neck until he's close enough to look down into the cart, Small's brows rose as he took it all in. "Let's see here… Trash can, trash bags, Tupperware," he reached in and moved somethings. "Sheet pans, pots and pans, shit you even grabbed mitts, and condiment shakers. I only got snacks."

Hakuo, who's been rummaging through Nathen's cart, replied. "I'm seeing that. Hot dogs, baked beans, chips, five boxes of cereal and, truly the pièce de résistance, a gumball machine with a bag of allsorts candies to fill it."

Regretting his shopping decisions, he sways nervously back and forth; feeling like his five year old self when he'd been caught after having eaten a whole bag of Hershey Kisses, because his parents went next door for five minutes.

"Guess I'd better reprioritize?" Nathen murmured.

Hakuo smiled, and with a light tone says. "What are you stupid? This stuff is great! We've got the college bums essentials; now we need survivalist food, then we're all set. I can get that." Giving his friend a thumbs up, he adds. "Besides, it's your paycheck, you can spend it any way you like."

"Now you're making me feel worse."

Hakuo wondered how? He was being serious. "I seem to be disappointing everyone somehow today."

"Like who?" He says "excuse me" to a woman trying to get by them with her cart; he re-positions himself farther out of the aisle, but Hakuo begins walking so he follows.

"Celes. We're at odds."

"Sorry to hear that; I've seen how close you two are."

"But, we'll be alright. I know it."

Nathen nods, offering a reassuring smile. Noticing their trek to the freezer/refrigerator section, he asks again. "And you're sure I shouldn't put this stuff back?" He looks at the ramen selections and box of frozen corn dogs.

"Keep it. Really." They stop at the row of dairy products, he grabs a milk. A gallon, judging by the copious amount of cereal boxes in his friend's cart, they're gonna need it. "Look, Nathe, I'm not your parent - or even ridiculously responsible… I'm only thinking about all the stuff we have at my house and mimicking that." He drops 2 packs of cheese into the cart.

"Oh." With a twinkle in his eye, he says slyly using a joyous but haughty tone. "I think you mean your parents' house?"

Taking on a sly, happy-haughty of his own, he remarks. "Oh, that's right. A couple awesome independents like us are only copying our seniors."

Haughty in speech, Nathen adds. "No more chicken nuggets for us, we've moved up to chicken strips. They'll marvel as our string cheese has gone flat."

Hakuo laughed at that. He hasn't had a good string cheese in a minute. Maybe they should get a pack? Returning his tone to as usual, he requests. "Could you get some bread?"

With a salute, he asks. "How many?"

The pair stare at the prepackaged meat selections: turkey of smoked, honey, hot varieties, ham of black forest, honey, smoked, chickens went on for ages in the choices, and there's even beef!

"Better get three bags." He adds before his friend disappears. "And space the death dates so were not eating gone off bread after one bag."

"Sir, yes, sir." Abandoning his party planned cart, he hurries to the bread aisle.

As if he'd been waiting in the wings; a boy that's maybe twelve-years-old approached him after wandering away from his mother. "Excuse me, are you Hakuno Krenn?"

Hakuo nods, but says. "There's no 'n' in my first name."

"Sorry." Standing beside him, staring, he yelped when after a moment of grabbing cottage cheese Krenn looks down at him.

"What? Did you want something? I'm not in your way." No more than anyone else in the lane.

"I just wanted to say.. thank you."

Brows furrowed, he wondered. "For what?"

"My cousin, she used to touch my sister when she was eight. She would babysit when my aunt and uncle went out with my mom and dad. I was usually told to go to bed early or to play in my room;" He swallowed around a heavy tongue. "I wasn't sure what was going on, but I also kinda knew… I even spied once to confirm it, but I never said anything because I didn't want her doing it to me, too." His voice grew small when admitting that. "But, when you spoke at my school.. I knew I had to tell on her. We don't get to see my cousin anymore, but, my sister respects me now. We're like friends..." he chuckled. "It's kinda dorky, but, nice too. We're only two years apart, so we get along easily."

"That's nice to hear," he smiled at the boy, receiving a smile in return.

"Luckily, it only ever happened three times; they didn't visit our family a lot because they live in Arizona."

Hakuo nodded.

"Well, thanks for listening," he started away but stopped when hearing.

"Boy?"

Turning back to Hakuo, he says. "Gus."

"Gus. A word of advice," and Gus perked up as if he were waiting out a lottery drawing for a new bike. "Even once is too much, don't ever say 'luckily' for something like that."

He seemed to understand and nodded. "I won't - again," he laughed from embarrassment of being scolded by someone he kind of admired. Hakuo was able to do for himself what, he, Gus had done for his sister. She's the one who had a hard time of it, and she was fortunate to have had him there for her. Even if he was years late, due to his own embarrassment and discomfort of the matter.

He walked back to his mother, admiring the survivor a bit more, realizing that he was strong enough to be able to be there for himself even though something like that happened to him - a lot.

Hakuo cocked a brow when Gus's mother snatched him roughly over to her when he returned, and after glancing at him she spoke rapidly to her son before hurrying away with the child. Blinking, he thought. 'I'm not a three-headed dog with a dragon's tail… What's her deal?'

Her son saw the contents on Facebook. That was her deal. But, he'd never know that.

"Got the bread," tossing an extra item into the cart, he says. "And some English muffins - plus, paper plates. How's that for being all responsible?"

Hakuo smiled, placing a hand on Nathen's soft-blond colored hair. "Good boy."

# #

The pair dropped off the groceries at their new home. Nathen had just enough time to clasp hands with his best friend and hop around in a circle, gleefully cheering with him: "We did it! We did it!" then it was off to Sweet Frog to get his job on. He boasted about getting bumped up to manager, which is great because he gets more money for fewer hours. He doesn't quite understand how that works, but he's certainly not gonna complain about it.

Hakuo unpacked the food, storing it and plates where needed. He then filled the salt and pepper shakers. He dropped a spool of napkins onto a vertical standing napkin holder, shaped like a stick figure with his arms in the air like he's going down a water slide. They also bought a human shaped knife holder.

"Hmm…?" Storing the knives into it, he imaged it being just any random person on the street.

A scenario where he's going one way and a person is coming towards him. Just as they're about to pass by each other he'd… His grip tightened around the handle, but he does not shove the knife in. But, upon replaying the same scenario, only this person had hurt him, the knife met its mark… about ten times. Ten strong, force filled, times.

The rest of unpacking wasn't anything more than storing his clothes on the hangers, in the drawers, and on the shelf. Clothes were all he and Nathen needed in the move-in-ready home. Their old bedrooms would remain in tact for as long as they're welcomed back in their family's home.

It's later that day, 8 o'clock. Nathen is monitoring hamburgers on the stovetop griddle, Hakuo is opening a couple cans of Pringles chips to dump into a bowl, then he moved to the sink to make some iced tea. He figures tea is a good in-between winter and spring drink because, unlike lemonade, when tea gets warm after sitting around it isn't a weird tasting letdown. It's win-win.

"They should be here in a minute."

"I hope so, the burgers might go South on us," Nathen tapped at them with spatula like someone nervous to a phobia of burnt food.

Having not thought about their guest being late, Hakuo reached over the grease snapping griddle to reach the oven panel, which he set on a warm 190 degrees. There. That should do. The doorbell rang for attention, but before he sprinted to answer it, he had to reassure Nathen that they'd all get along. It's nice to meet new people, you don't always have to keep them in your life, if you don't want to.

"I can't believe we're here," Yakusoku was saying to his husbands.

"I smell a disaster brewing, too," Ludwig mused ruefully. "a fight, spilled drinks that may or may not be on purpose…"

Gev shook his head at their fears. Why are they being so dodgy all of sudden? They didn't seem to mind seeing him in the hospital. Is his awakened state so horrible or frightening? He's not a boogeyman. When the door pulled open, Hakuo gave them each a polite nod, but Gev's was adorned with a smile.

"We've got burgers and chips." He says.

"That's some upscale menu," Ludwig laughs at his own jest.

Hakuo blinked. Sensing the uncomfortable air, he played along. "Yeah, and an aged tea, made.. ohhh, I'd say minutes ago." Noticing their sneakers and boots, he says. "Iriguchi de kutsuwonugu."

Ludwig and Gev looked lost; Yakusoku, who was already doing as asked by stepping out of his sneakers, translated for them. "He said to remove our shoes and leave them here," he then walks farther into the nicely done-up apartment home.

"Very good, Land." He praised him for keeping-up with his Japanese lessons, or simply remembering what he'd learned. After the short time he'd spent in the thirteen-year-old, who knows what was lost to him mentally. "We're not just upscale, we're also multilingual." He said adding to Ludwig's earlier comment.

"Hn. I don't know whether to be annoyed," Gev is saying as he exasperatedly removed his boots. "Or cheer for them to screw each other while talking dirty in a foreign language."

"Being agitated is quicker," comments the other guest, who is lost in translation; he's balanced himself with his arm on his husband's hunched over form while he toes himself out of his sneakers before following Yakusoku.

It's got cappuccino brown walls, accents of grey and white furniture, the wood finishes are made of Beech wood. And judging by the softness of the glow the place has dimmer lighting. There's no carpeting like their apartment, but it does have a large textured throw rug centered on the floor.

"Pretty shway, right?" Hakuo asked Yakusoku, knowing that he'd know the Batman Beyond lingo, of something "shway" being "cool".

"Very. We've got carpeting, though." He boasts. In the winter, full carpeting is a must, but the newly housed pair will get by in house slippers and socks.

"Dinner's ready," Nathen announced from the kitchen.

After everyone fixed their plates; more than surprised by the cooked sliced carrots and spinach mix provided as vegetable - that each, but Gev, felt obligated to take some of, the group sat down and ate a meal together.

"You guys, this is Nathen Small. He's my first best friend, and only friend."

The trio said "hello" in their own style. Nathen replied in the same.

"Nathe, this is Eason and Siegfried, and you already know Gev."

"Vaguely, but yeah. Hi." He lifted his burger then bit into. He chewed, and from the side of his eye looked at the pair he knows by name but not face. "You're the guys from the hospital, the ones who were in a coma. It seems to be a pattern with this group," He swallowed the bite then adds. "What were running experiments to see what one was like - like in that movie? Then figured you'd try it for yourself, Hak'?"

"Naah, I needed vessels."

The trio stilled, Nathen ate a sour cream chip while Hakuo beamed a smile like a searchlight that's found a prowler in the dark.

"Vessels? For what?"

"Not what, whom." He waved off the severe looks he's receiving from the group.

What do they know what his friend can take? Besides, it's not like some witches' curse, where if someone finds out they're all dead. It's a simple matter of soul displacement. He'll understand. Or have a complete meltdown, and end up in the corner trying to figure out how to walk up walls, while he sings in a dead language. Either way, Hakuo was getting a kick out of their reaction.

"I don't follow." He replenished his potato chip pile from the bowl placed in the center of the small kitchen table.

"Remember the guy from the news, there was a theater fire?"

"Nnn… Hmm… maybe."

Hakuo explained the situation then points to Eason Treanor. "I give you Ludwig Ballantyne."

"Yeah right," Nathen chuckled.

"Yeah. Right." Nods Hakuo. "And this guy is Yakusoku Land. Now a real living boy."

Nathen looked between the two, then he looked at Gev. "And is he really someone else?"

"No."

Nathen scratched his cheek contemplatively, the itch seemed alive as he then scratched his collarbone, then neck. He must be breaking out in a hive of disbelief. "...Hmm… I think if I ever needed to start drinking, this would a pretty good time. Or maybe I could learn how to deliver an appropriate scream that doesn't sound like it belongs to a little girl."

"Ohh, pish-posh, you understand. You remember how I had a gift right? Well, I could do all kinds of stuff with it - not just moving things and reading minds."

"Wow." He plays on the hamburger bun, still at a loss of how to feel as he tries to thoroughly understand the situation. Both of displaced souls and psychic ability. "I guess I can't not be ok with it. It doesn't really hurt me or anything, right?"

Smiling, Hakuo nods. "So, anyone seen any good movies in the past two years?"

Smooth transition. The small crowd mixed and mingled conversationally, telling each other this and that, or asking getting-to-know-you questions. Hakuo waited for just the right moment of Nathen getting all techno genius with the pair to steal Gev away to the balcony.

"You had to tell him?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Because he's my most cherished friend. He should know."

Gev shrugged. It's whatever it is then. Besides, the guy does seem to understand - for the most part. "You look good."

"Thanks. So do you." Looking out at the view of the forest, he then looked back at Gev. "The police academy said I need to keep giving them progress reports on my physicals until the next enlisting starts, but that I still have a place in the academy, if the hospital shows that I'm good from randomly falling brain dead somewhere."

"Oh."

"In the meantime, I'm gonna part-time somewhere. Probably the market."

Gev laughed. "I can see you behind a register."

"Don't underestimate me, I could be a stock boy. Or cart guy. I might even be afterhours janitorial material."

"Always good to have options."

"Mhmm." Glancing in the house, he sees that Nathen has now started in on showing the pair their goofy videos. He decidedly adored his best friend right now. More time with Gev, on this nice warm night. "Can I see you on Sunday?"

"Oh you mean actual Sunday?" Gev laughed heartily at the annoyed expression on Hakuo's face, false as it is, it was funny that he got the little twerp.

"Screw you, London, but yes, actual Sunday." He smiled.

Gev smiled softly while looking at Hakuo; pointing at him with the potato chip in his hand, he says. "I like that."

"What?"

"You look really good when you put on a real smile, you should do that more."

"Keep giving me reasons, and I will." And damn Gev for keeping that honest smile going, too. The suddenly shy feeling of having feelings for someone this strongly could sneak up on him, that they're still so foreign. And the warmth in his body baked happy-cheeks high enough to blind him from his eyes closing.

Gev laughed again, giving his back and forth crush a nudge. "I'm free, by the way, on actual Sunday."

"Good." Says Krenn righting his emotions. "I'll pick you up around noon."

By the time the party broke up, Yakusoku and Ludwig knew more about the inner workings of Nathen Small's world than they probably cared to. Hakuo learned about their lives thus far, since when he hit the floor to when he woke up from it. Moving. Living. Job hunting. Struggling even as three people splitting rent because of Yakusoku's medical bills. He was a waking coma patient, just as Ludwig. They needed the therapy and whatnot just as Hakuo is currently undergoing. But, they've evened out, and are now living comfortably well for themselves.

"I like your friends, I'm still tripping balls about it all, but they're nice." Nathen reports once they're home alone again.

"Yeah." He's a bit distracted, rifling through the mail he's been ignoring.

"I'm gonna turn in."

"Good night."

"Good night." He grabbed his phone then opened the mail once it came on.

Sending an email to a Timothy Applebaum, he agrees to meeting with the man's son. It took him a good several minutes to figure out who the hell the guy was asking for him to come and see his kid, and then leaving him with all these means of contact information. Then it dawned on him. Marriott parking lot, fist in the stomach angry couple husband. He told the man that he'd speak to his son, if he thought it would cure him of his muted state.

Hakuo might have said "Get real". However, he changed his mind about it. The kid from earlier at the market made him realize that it's not about how the parent feels about him, it's how he can - if he can - help victims like himself.

He supposed he'll hear from Timothy Applebaum in the morning. Who knows when the letter was written. They could have been holding it for him. He'll likely end up explaining his situation as to why he gave him the brush-off.

"What have we here?" He opened the next envelope. Reading it. He read it over again. The words aren't changing, more importantly neither are the numbers. "No way…" He muttered, surprised that he could actually speak, because he's just so shocked, jaw dropped and floored by the amount of money staring him in the face. "Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars…" He was nearly breathless saying such a figure.

What happened to twenty-five hundred? What, did his parents lie to him to get a joy-photo from the shock factor? Or maybe the hospital felt that bad and slipped in a few thousand extra bills into the till. Whatever it was, the bank was asking that he contact them to sign off and claim it.

'Shit. I need to get my ID redone.' He thinks.

Tomorrow is Saturday, the DMV is gonna be swamped, but at least the bank is still open. Hopefully, he can get that over with quickly so he can go and get paid. No. Not paid - crazy paid! He and Nathen can live comfortably for the entire years worth of lease they have here. He can slow down with getting a job. With this money, he can exist a little as a young man, and see what's out there. He's really going to enjoy Sunday now.

...

"Thanks for taking me to the DMV." Hakuo says to his brother that Saturday afternoon.

He's been on Cloud 9 all morning. He told Nathen about the cash, and was practically shoved out of the door to go and get it. He told Nathen they could split it, but his friend declined. However; Hakuo refused to let him. He wanted to split the money with Nathen. And he plans to give some to his family as well, because they made it possible. He hated the fact that such an event occurred that would make this all possible… But, he can't disagree that it was a nice take-away from something terrible.

Tony Diaz paid his dues. He's dead now. And the neglectful hospital, well, this is a nice contribution for their part in the crime. We give what we must when justice is being served. Someday maybe he'll even get what's coming to him for what he's done. Maybe…

"What "thanks"? You asked me and I agreed. It's not like you're going to the dentist or doctor's office, you really don't need an escort."

"Sure I do. You weren't there when I left home, this is a great excuse to see you."

"Hold me hostage, is more like it." Replied his brother. "The DMV, bro. We could be here all afternoon."

"Good thing you like me." He grinned.

Shuhei gave his brother a playful shove. "Here we are."

"Yes. Yes." He climbed out of the vehicle when it came to a standstill in a space. Looking around, he nods. "It doesn't look too crowded in the lot, maybe we're lucky and nobody wants to be out this early,"

"Good. We'll still have time for you to buy me lunch."

"I will."

Shuhei walked towards the building with his little brother following right at his side. He will always be beside Hakuo, acting as a barrier between him and the rest of the unpredictable populous. It's what he can do. Shield him. From cars. The wrong kind of people. Hell, why not even bird poop?

He can't believe Celes is giving Hakuo the cold shoulder. He'd heard about it from her and then a little later on from his parents that day. He was angry - mostly shocked - but then angry when he found out about the murders. He wanted not to associate his brother with such a dark existence, not when Hakuo could be so bright and happy - like he is today. Strange and happy. That is his brother. He's not this murderous stranger. It's almost as if he's two people sometimes.

He side-eyes Hakuo when his brother paused to grab the door and hold it open for him. How gone is Mamoru? He wondered. Would the amorous alter be the murdering type as well? Victims of D.I.D. have little to no control over their alternates. They can live completely independent lives from their creators at times - most of the time.

When Hakuo took his number and walked into the waiting room slash holding cell, he asked him once they're firmly planted in one of the uncomfortable mesh-metal chairs. "How are you feeling lately?"

"Mmm. Normal."

"Good." Shuhei is happy to hear that.

"And you?"

"I'm great! Najeli is giving me the go ahead for some extra perks in our relationship."

Hakuo smiled with mirth. "Never introduce me to your girlfriends, because you're always on to a new one. I don't wanna mix 'em up and get you screwed."

"Bum."

"Hey look, I've got the next up!" Lucky!

And within twelve minutes they were out of there and back on the streets. Greatest early-to-rise choice ever! Hakuo had to wonder where the end was, because he's sure in his tainted existence, this much good just does not happen to him. Maybe he'll get his check, cross the street and get hit by a car? Maybe he'll get mauled by a rabid dog - or worse, lose the money in a robbery. Well, jokes on them, because he's not gonna bring it all home in bills to "make it rain" as Nathen requested. He's going to show up. Sign his name. Then leave after taking out a hundred dollars, which is for treating his big brother to a good meal at a nice restaurant.

The ticks counted down. 1. It took an hour to even be seen by a teller. 2. He was brought into another room due to the nature of his check. 3. The money, as it turns out, was not from the hospital settlement as he'd presumed. It was from Marissa Ashford. She'd opened a trust for him. It was the accumulation of money his body and visuals earned, with interest, invested for him. It was being withheld until he was twenty one years old.

So, it would seem, the other shoe had decided to fall after all...

x x x

Commentary: Thank you for reading and reviewing. If you've been reading since Silent Worlds, wow, thank you. I hope you're liking it.