Itami

Chapter 11: Realization

Yuki kept staring at the little girl crying louder and louder. Her face turning red, her father looking panicked. The girl was making a scene and everyone in the area was looking at the poor embarrassed man. Yuki sighed heavily and went over to a nearby stand where they were selling panda plush toys.

"Give me your biggest panda." Yuki demanded pulling out his wallet.

The young man behind the stand couldn't have been more than sixteen years old. He gave Yuki a crooked look.

"The biggest panda?"

The young, almost barely-there man looked back at the largest panda in the stand. It looked as though it were about four feet tall. It was bigger than that whiny little brat.

Yuki grimaced at the teen.

"Yes, the biggest panda."

The teen still looked confused. This guy in a suit, all by himself wants a big giant panda?

"Sir… are you sure that's what you want?"

Yuki looked at the teen with a cold stare. He was beginning to get annoyed.

"Yes. I want the goddamn panda! I am the customer, I have the money, you need to give me what I want."

The teen looked a bit taken aback. He took Yuki's money and gave him the panda. Yuki held his glare and grabbed the massive panda.

"Thanks."

Yuki hauled the big panda over to the screaming child who had thrown herself onto the ground and began kicking at the air. He dropped the panda on top of her.

"Here."

The quiet was instantaneous. She sat up, regained her young lady composure and snuggled into the panda that towered over her. She beamed up at Yuki.

"Thank you mister!"

Her father looked beyond relieved, as the man in the panda suit ran away. The man walked over to Yuki.

"Thank you so much sir."

The man looked at Yuki with such gratitude, such relief. Was this what all fathers felt like? Isn't it a good thing that Yuri isn't his child? He wouldn't have to deal with this? Yuki looked at the man.

"Do not mention it. Really. Ever."

SWITCH

Hiro cleared the table as Shuichi sat at the table finishing his juice. Well. Now breakfast was over, what else was going to happen that day? Should Hiro try and send Shuichi on his way? Will Shuichi decide to go find Yuki? Hiro couldn't let this day end. Not yet. It had been awhile since he could do something with Shuichi without Yuki popping up in conversation or in person, and being represented like some kind of God. Today, Yuki was just another guy occupying Earth, same as Hiro, same as everyone.

"That was good Hiro. But now-"

Hiro turned around quickly; not quite wanting to know what Shuichi was going to say next. Hiro couldn't let Shuichi get away. He deserved one more special day with Shuichi.

"Shuichi! Let's got to the amusement park!"

Shuichi's eyes got big. His smile grew.

"Hiro! That sounds like a great idea! I can't wait to go! But now…"

Oh no. Hiro's plan to distract Shuichi didn't work. Hiro began to hang his head in disappointment.

"I need to shower. Do you have any clothes for me?"

Hiro lifted his head. That was it? Shuichi wasn't trying to leave? The brunette let out a sigh of relief. He went to his closet and pulled out an outfit Shuichi had left at his apartment a year or so ago.

"I think it'll still fit you, Shu-chan."

Shuichi ran over to Hiro and grabbed the outfit and held it up to himself. It was his Halloween costume.

A pale pink belly dancer costume.

SWITCH

Mika slammed open the door once more.

She angrily looked around. She sniffed the air. There was a faint scent of cigarette smoke. Eiri had been here. She looked into the trash bin in the kitchen to see a new beer can and her note.

"EIRI!"

Still no answer. He had come and gone.

Mika's eyes narrowed.

"I will find you."

SWITCH

Yuki walked around the amusement park, feeling confident that he was safe from his problems here. Who would look for him at the amusement park? Apparently, Yuki was no fun. Not ever.

He felt better now that there were no crying children.

Yuki walked by the games and looked to see the same zombie hunter simulator he had wowed Shuichi with. He watched as a young boy tried to impress the girl next to him. He was sucking, to put it nicely. Yuki felt like telling him that he was blowing it.

The girl laughed, and picked up her own gun controller and pointed it at the screen. With three quick shots she took off the heads of the three zombies terrifying her date. He turned and looked at her, laughed, and remarked how he would feel a lot better being with her if there were ever a zombie take over.

And then… She kissed him. Why was she interested in this powder puff? Isn't the man supposed to be the tougher one?

"It's a good thing that I love you, Akihiko!"

Maybe Yuki didn't know as much as he thought he had. Maybe it was time to do things differently. Yuki looked up at the roller coaster. Not the same one that he and Shuichi had gone on last time he was at the amusement park, the big one Shuichi was scared of with three loops and the big almost straight drop.

Maybe it was time Yuki let himself have some actual fun.

A/N: Ummm yeah. In my defense, at least I am continuing! ^_^ I've just got a busy life, what with growing up and having a job.