[Mushverse: Liveman Family and JK]

[gibken]

So I've decided to not think about my screwed up pathetic excuse for a memory for a few days. I have better things to focus on. Club activities, family crises, Gai getting ready to start school, and most important of all, I found out (possibly inadvertently) that JK's birthday is literally right upon us.

And I want to do something for him. To convince him that he's as important to me as I say he is (though I'm not entirely sure why I feel like he won't believe me otherwise). To introduce him to my parents, too, because even if I am actually a twenty-something space pirate or whatever, they've still taken care of me for this long, and I respect them.

I started smuggling an array of cake baking ingredients into the house a few days ago, hiding them at the back of the bottom shelf of the fridge, and the very back of the lower cupboards.

Tonight I'm just going to make the cake, and try to figure out whether I can afford to order something in to eat for dinner, since I'm not about to spring a multi-person meal on Megumi at the last minute. Maybe Don will help me. I know he's a good cook. I'm absolutely lost outside of baking.

Comments

[yellowlion]

Seems to be my week for busting the kids.

"Whatcha doing?" I ask Joe with a grin.

[gibken]

I'm sort of lost in thought, doing math, trying to figure out how many people are actually going to sit down at this theoretical meal, how much they might want to eat, cursing myself because more than half of my family has black holes where their stomachs belong, and sifting flour.

And then Jou is right there and I jump and spin to face him and flour goes everywhere. "Shit!"

[yellowlion]

Poor kid must've been *concentrating*. He leaps a good foot off the ground, and flour puffs up into the air.

I brush at the front of my hair, and inspect the resulting flurry ruefully. "I guess I deserved that."

[gibken]

I frown down into what was a bowl of carefully measured flour, and is now a mess that I have to clean up before I can continue.

"Sorry." I grumble ruefully. Cursed in front of him too. Great. I set my bowl and sifter carefully on the counter and spin around looking for a towel to dampen. I guess I'll be doing laundry tonight too.

[yellowlion]

I find him a towel and toss it to him. "No problem, unless it's drugs," I say equably. "Doesn't taste like drugs. You got a sweet tooth tonight, son?"

[gibken]

I stare at him for a second with an eyebrow raised, then I shake my head with a snort. "It's not drugs." I take the offered towel to the sink to wet it, then crouch down to start cleaning. From down here, maybe he'll let me go easy.

"I'mmakingacakeformyboyfriend'sbirthdayifthat'sokayIboughtalloftheingredientswithmypocketmoneysoyoudon'thavetoworry."

Half mumbled, all one word, directed at the floor. Yeah, he'll let me get away with that.

[yellowlion]

I take a sponge and start cleaning the mess on the sink, not that there's all that much.

Oh. Oho.

I don't say anything, but I'm sure he can feel the Embarrassing Dad Grin (TM) from down there.

[gibken]

He's quiet. I hate it when he's quiet. That means he's making one of those faces.

I glance over my shoulder. Yep.

"What."

[yellowlion]

"You are extremely cute, Joe," I say gravely, then I let myself grin again. "But you don't have to pay for all this. Let us help."

[redfalcon]

I trace the delicious smell of baking to the kitchen, expecting Megumi or maybe Gai; but it's Joe, "Hey. Didn't know you liked to bake."

[gibken]

I'm doing the bulk of the dishes while the cake cools. I'm not about to skip steps and try and frost a hot cake. JK deserves better than that.

I jump a little when I realize I'm not alone. I need to stop getting so lost in thought.

"Yuusuke. Hi." I turn back to the sink to hide my blush.

[redfalcon]

I grab a tea towel to help dry up the plates, "special occasion?" I gesture towards the cake. Is it his birthday? I can't remember whether we've ever had a birthday celebration for him before.

[gibken]

"Um, no." I didn't realize Yuusuke woke up this early. I should have started baking earlier. Or maybe he doesn't, maybe the smell of the cake baking woke him up. That would not exactly surprise me. "I mean, yes." I stare into the sink as I wash the dishes. I think maybe I don't spend enough time with Yuusuke. "A... friend's birthday."

[redfalcon]

"Ain't that sweet of you." He's a thoughtful kid. Just like Megumi, she never forgot a birthday, "you having some kind of party?" I reach for my wallet. Don't want him to feel embarrassed in front of his friends.

[gibken]

I glance at him and then duck my head again. "I thought I'd have him over for dinner. If that's okay?" When I look up again he has his wallet out.

"You don't... I mean, I can... I've got money." I fall all over my words and pull an odd face at myself. I'd been saving up for something like this precisely because I didn't want them to have to pay for any of it.

[redfalcon]

"C'mon, Joe. You don't get a lot of money, and we want you to be able to have fun. We're in pretty good shape financially, even now that Gai's here." There always seems to be more in my wallet than I remember having. Funny thing that.

"Yeah, sure, when was he coming over? Let us know what he likes to eat. I'm sure Gai and Megumi can whip something up." That kid is a marvel in the kitchen. Puts me and Jou to shame.

[heh, Katsumi I take it?]

[gibken]

"I've been saving." I say quickly. I hate just taking money from them. Usually if one of them tries to force extra money on me, I sneak it back to one of the others. That's one of the many bonuses of having three readily available parents. "I don't-" I cut myself there, because if I finish that sentence it's just going to turn into another one of those talks, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to have one with Yuusuke. I don't want him to get upset.

"I didn't want to bother Megumi. Or Gai. She's just going back to work, and he's just getting ready to start school, and..." And he's right, there's no way I can cook dinner for up to, what, ten people? With my luck.

[jk_style]

I hesitate a moment before ringing the doorbell, running a hand over my hair to make sure everything's in place and not about to tumble down, then smooth my jacket down nervously. It's not too much, right?

I don't know why this is so nerve-wracking, it's just Joe. And his parents, I can't believe I'm actually meeting his parents. Okay JK, grow a spine already and ring the damn bell.

I brace myself and push it, half expecting lightning to strike me for doing something as normal and relationshippy as meeting the parents. But nothing happens and I let out a soft breath of relief.

[ikarigai]

"I'll get it!" I shout to the house at large, tumbling down the stairs and almost face planting into the carpet at the bottom. I manage to stop myself with a hand on the railing (so those are good for something) and sway a bit before continuing to the door.

I've had so much energy lately, sure, the family keep looking at me like I might crumble to dust at any moment, but I really am a lot better. I'm going back to school soon, I should be able to run through the house on occasion.

Joe shouts something from the kitchen that I don't quite catch, something about a friend or something, as I reach the door. I spare a brief glance through the peephole to make sure it's not some obvious evildoer, then through the door wide open.

"Hi!" I beam at the guest, bowing and gesturing for him to come inside. "Welcome to the Amamiya-Oohara-Mori-Kajio-Gibken-Ikari house!

[gibken]

I'm wiping my hands on a towel, totally ready to go answer the door, but then I hear Gai shouting that he's on the task, and I hate to tell him not to, since he's been feeling so much better. He sounds like a herd of buffalo heading down the stairs.

I enter the foyer just as he finishes his introduction of the entire house. I can't help but chuckle a bit. "Hi." I say, waving awkwardly. "JK, this is my new little brother Gai? Gai, this is my boyfriend, JK."

I've been practicing with the 'boyfriend' bit, I can say it with only the tiniest hint of a stutter now.

[jk_style]

"Gai-kun, huh?" He must be the one from the hospital, the unexpected new addition. "Nice to meet you."

I beam over his shoulder as Joe manages the b word with hardly any hestitation now. Now, providing I don't put my foot in it, everything should go fine.

[ikarigai]

"Yes!" I answer, then bow again in greeting. "Pleasure to meet you, JK-san."

I step aside so Joe can greet his boyfriend without me all in the way, shutting the door behind our guest.

"I've been meeting all kinds of Joe's friends lately." Well, okay. Two. Still. I offer to take JK's coat or anything else he doesn't need on him at the moment.

[gibken]

I cross the room to give JK a hug while Gai closes the door. "You look really good," I mumble into his ear as I do. "Thanks for coming."

I could probably kiss him, I don't think Gai would mind, but I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that just yet.

I pull back, and smile at Gai. He's definitely ready to start school. He's going to get along great with Gentarou, I'm sure.

[jk_style]

"Like I was going to turn down this invitation," I tease back, giving him a quick squeeze. He's at home, his parents are probably around somewhere, I have to be on my best behaviour. And he doesn't need to know just how long I took getting ready for this, either.

I look around the house curiously, slipping my jacket off and wondering who else has been around that Gai's been getting to know.

[hotshotlightning]

For once lately I actually make it home on time, no sudden emergencies or kidnappings or anything. I look around the house trying to figure out what's different, peeking into the kitchen to find a load of food spread out.

Were we having visitors and I just forgot?