Tokusatsu musebox

"You're leaving tomorrow?" I frown. They're never here for long, but I do miss them every time they leave. Even though they'll be back soon enough. Yoko-chan cries whenever they leave too, "okay, okay. Let's go up to the roof." Sempai should see Emi, in case he doesn't get a chance to say goodbye to the twins tomorrow.

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"I think so." Sometimes, alright, a lot of the time I lose track of our schedule. But we travel a lot, so really, it's only a matter of time.

"I was gonna go anyway." I tell him with a little laugh. "Even though you want me to go to bed. I'm really not tired, and I'd like to say goodnight to whoever is still up." I'm nothing if not conscientious.

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"Emi ..." He's so stubborn. He just does what he wants even if it's dangerous or gets him in trouble, "all right. But I'm staying with you." I can't allow him to get lost or injure himself.

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I grin at him, maybe a little cheekily, but I know what he's thinking. That I'm going to get up to all kinds of mischief or get myself hurt, and why can't I be more like my brother, aren't we twins? Aren't we identical?

I know he's thinking these things because I've heard other people say them, and with the same look on their faces.

I neglect to point out that I think Etienne and Ryuuji are the weird ones. Not enough adventure in their lives.

I haul open the door to the roof and wave Ryuuji through.

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"Sempai!" It's a big roof. He could be all the way over on the other side. I clutch onto Emi's little hand just in case he's getting any wild ideas about running away.

I bet sempai's having a cigarette up here. I've told him a hundred times that he has to give up. Doesn't he know how bad for you second hand smoke is? Just by being up here, Emi and I are already at increased risk of asthma, emphysema and all kinds of cancer and heart disease.

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I swallow quickly, which I don't normally do, but there's only one person that ever calls me 'sempai', and it's the fastest form of cleanup. Too bad Kurorin won't have that long to bask in the afterglow.

I stand, leaning in close to Kurorin while I zip his trousers back up. I don't know how close Ryuu-chan is to us, but there's no way I'm letting him see Kurorin with all his bits hanging out.

Once everything is back in its proper place I pull away from him, moving back to lean against the wall beside Kurorin. I light up another cigarette, and try to keep my legs from shaking while I wait for the inevitable scolding I'll be getting from my, ah... 'kouhai'.

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I jolt backwards, banging my head hard enough on the wall behind to see stars. Jin's zipping me back up.

Those kids.

Those goddamn kids.

I plaster a scowl on my face because between the afterglow, the concussion, and the searing terror that they SAW SOMETHING, there's no goddamn way I can manage to speak just yet.

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I'm sure Jin-san is smoking, but I hardly think it's Ryuu-san's job to make sure he quits. Really, the guilt tripping about our precious health is bound to just make someone like Jin-san smoke more just to be contrary.

I give Ryuuji's hand a little squeeze then bolt forward, heading for the housing wall he usually leans against, where they have a bucket for their cigarette ends.

"Jin-san?"

Jin-san isn't alone, I notice as we round the corner. He's with Kuroki-san. Maman doesn't have as much to say about Kuroki-san but she doesn't have anything bad to say about him like she does some of the other people work here, so I smile and wave at them both.

"Bonsoir!" It's a bit cheeky of me, to be sure, but if we're going to interrupt them we might as well make sure they know from the start that we don't have any intention of being shooed to bed.

Well, I don't anyway.

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... What did I just see? It was pretty quick, but it looked suspicious. Why -

And then Emi's calling out and waving cheerfully. I let go of his hand. He's usually quite well-behaved around the adults, even though he won't do a thing I say, "Emi's leaving tomorrow. He wanted to say goodbye to you before he goes back to France."

I deliberately take a step back to avoid all the nasty cigarette smoke wafting around me. It's no use, of course, over 70% of the toxins in cigarette smoke are invisible. Not that it bothers my sempai. He's on the fast train to cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol, "please put it out, sempai. It's very bad for Emi and me."

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"Just let me finish it, it's no good wasting it, and a re-lit cigarette always tastes like shit." I'm going to keep smoking it no matter what Ryuu-chan says. He is the one that followed us up here, it's not like I'm smoking in his bedroom.

He's a sweet kid, and smart as fuck. I really enjoy getting him all worked up over stupid shit. Hopefully, maybe, in ten or so years, he may calm down a bit about the little things. Like smoking, and drinking, and other small vices and comforts.

I am resting practically up against Kurorin, our arms flush against one another, thighs brushing. I'm enjoying his warmth. I think we may also be helping one another stay upright after... well.

"Aw, Emi-kun," I take another drag, and at least consent with Ryuu-chan's wants far enough to exhale above the kids' heads. "How long will you be gone for this time? Are you excited to get back home?"

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I've probably bruised something vital, such as my inclination to ever let myself a) listen to Jin ever again and b) ever have a sexual impulse ever again.

But I can't fault him right now, given everything that happened. Bastard. He's leaning against me, and we're keeping each other upright. I'm a horrible mix of head pain, adrenaline, sleepiness, and blissed out limbs.

He really shouldn't smoke around the poor children, though. I think. Yet another reason why I'm glad I don't have to look after children.

...hell. I completely forgot they were leaving. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I start to curse under my breath, but turn it into a safe word as swiftly as my brain will allow. I'll have to redo all the duty rosters again.

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I try not to smirk and scoff at Ryuuji's cautious words, but I give Jin-san a wink when I'm sure Ryuuji won't notice.

I'm hardly fussed by his cigarette. Maman et papa both smoke, and while they do make an effort not to do it around Etienne and I, it's not as though I'm not aware of the action, or the purpose behind it.

"Je ne sais pas." I pipe up when Jin-san addresses me. "They never tell Etienne and I, do they? Though it's rarely more than a few months."

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"Sempai! Please don't swear." I'm still looking suspiciously at him, and then at Kuroki-san. I'm sure I saw sempai zipping him back up, and now they're all flushed and leaning against each other.

I'm not an idiot, you know. But sempai might be. Why on the roof? Where anyone could see you? What if Emi and I had arrived a few moments earlier?

I give sempai my best look of disapproval. I'm going to tell him off later.

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I sigh, exhaling more smoke than I mean to with it, but it was an unplanned sigh.

"Aren't you fifteen now?" I begin, my voice entirely teasing. "Shouldn't you be out in some back alley smoking with your friends and cursing and trying to act cool?"

Of course that's ridiculous, I don't even know if Ryuu-chan has any friends outside those of us he hangs around at EMC, and if he does they're probably just like him.

Which isn't a bad thing, not at all. He just needs to loosen up a bit.

I look back to Emeric. "You'll be back in time for the Christmas party though, right? I hear it's always a great time."

Too bad I never get to go.

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I shudder a little at the thought of the Christmas party. I do my duty if I have to at these social things, but I'm really not a fan.

Parties.

Ugh.

Ryuuji looks quite appalled at the thought of being in some back alley smoking and cursing.

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I smirk a bit at Ryuuji-san's insistence that Jin-san shouldn't swear. I think Ryuuji-san needs to get out more, maybe.

I shrug at Jin-san's question, and raise an eyebrow curiously at Kuroki-san's obvious distress. He probably does not care for the Christmas party. He is a bit too serious, I think.

"I hope so."

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"I don't have time for any of those things," I say in response to sempai's question, "I have lots of studying to do ... and I come here." It's vital for me to put in the hours if I'm to stand a chance of going to a good university.

Emi should really be in bed now. I nudge his little shoulder.

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I'm still leaning practically all over Kurorin, and I can feel him tense at the mention of the Christmas party. Maybe he and I can have our own little private party that night. If I'm not working, of course.

I laugh softly, shaking my head at Ryuuji's words and taking the last drag off my cigarette. "You need to loosen up a little. I'm not saying you should turn into a delinquent, but it's okay to have fun once in a while."

I crush the butt of my cigarette out in the little sand bucket, then sigh as I check my watch. "I guess I should probably get back to work."

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Words. I can find words. I can speak.

"Jin," I say hoarsely. "Don't lead the children astray. Though children who are up here at eleven at night are pretty far astray already."

I sigh nearly simultaneously with him. "I'll come with you. Ryuuji. Emeric. You should be at home or with your parents. Asleep, preferably." I manage a forced smile. Kids are difficult things to connect with. "You don't need to devote your lives to EMC like we have."

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I pull a face at Ryuuji when he nudges my shoulder. I'm not about to go back downstairs by myself. I'm gonna see this through for the duration.

"There's nothing wrong with fun." I agree with Jin-san, grinning up at him.

"My parents are asleep." I muse thoughtfully. "So is Etienne. But I'm still not tired."

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"Why aren't you?!" We can't let Emi stay up all night, his parents will be angry with us. At least they're travelling tomorrow, though, so he can sleep on the plane, "thank you, sempai, but I think I'll pass."

I turn to Kuroki-san, "Kuroki-san ... would you be able to give Emi a lift?" It's a little too late for us to be out alone, and Kuroki-san is less likely to be tired and/or under the influence of the alcohol than is my sempai.

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I let the back of my hand brush against Kurorin's as I detach from him and head for the door.

"Have a safe trip," I give Emi's head a small pat on my way past, it would have been his shoulder, but at his height it's easier to reach his head. "Give my best to your brother."

I toss a smile over my shoulder, a private note of fondness in my eyes, there just for Kurorin. "Have a good night, Kurorin~. You too, Ryuu-chan."

I flash a V with my fingers on my way back inside.

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