When the Summer semester ended, Mika felt like he was going to mentally collapse. Please no more…It was only a few weeks before the fall term and Gen still hadn’t finalized his class selections. Kana had been hounding him to change his major, that he would do better in criminal justice than civil engineering.
“You’re wasting your talents, Eugene!” she had yelled at one point, really pissing him off. He refused to come down for dinner, instead choosing to wait until he knew she was nowhere around to grab the prepared plate in the fridge and took it up to his room to eat at his desk.
Mika was absolutely no help, but he wasn’t nearly as obnoxious about it. All he said was, “You need to figure it out pretty soon before you miss out on the semester all together and your scholarship gets pulled.”
Gen narrowed his eyes. “Do I mean nothing to you?”
Mika rolled his eyes. “Genya, it wouldn’t kill you to take at least one CJ course, just to see how you like it. Who knows, maybe you will and realize that really is what you were meant to do.”
Gen sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “Are there any gen-ed courses that are part of both focuses?”
Mika looked up the course requirements for both through the school website. He sat back and sighed. “Not really, and you already completed most of your gen-eds. You’d have to add it in as an elective at this point.” He folded his arms on the table, his eyes on Gen. “I hate to turn on you, but Kana’s right. So is your dad and Grandad. I know you have these big dreams of building bridges, and that’s wonderful and I support you if that’s where you still feel you should go. But you have skills that could really help in the justice system that most of them don’t even have, not even profilers.”
“Do you know how often profilers get it wrong?” Gen said, head tilted back on the chair, arms dangling. “I can quote the statistics if you like. I can even give you three examples right off the top of my head.”
“I’m good, thanks,” Mika said. He sat back and stretched his arms out, popping his knuckles. “Just think about it.”
Gen groaned. “If I do at least that, will all of you get off my ass?”
“I make no promises,” Mika smiled. “But don’t take too long because final selections need to be put in by the end of the week.”
Gen ran his hands over his face and through his mohawk, sighing loudly. He stood up, kissed Mika on the head, and headed upstairs to get ready for work. Mika grinned as he watched Gen depart, shook his head, and turned back to his laptop. Kana called him back to her room a few minutes later for another costume fitting.
Mika had one more “attack” of repressed memories resurfacing since his birthday, but it hadn’t been nearly as violent. Gen had been right there when it happened and managed to work through it with him. Mika had thrown up for an hour afterwards and didn’t come out of the loft for two days. When Gen asked about it, all Mika would say was, “Just more of the same.” His nightmares had also gotten worse, but eventually stopped after a week or so. It was a lot of sleepless nights for them both, but Gen didn’t mind; he just wanted Mika to be okay.
A few days after Mika’s birthday party, the Parkers and Mika went to Kana’s favorite restaurant for dinner for her own birthday. Gen had given her a typical “you’re old” gag gift, but Mika’s was much more thoughtful. It was a Japanese hair stick for her hair, with her name written on it in Japanese characters and three aster flower charms attached by a gold ribbon at the top. She immediately twisted her hair up and stuck it in, giving Mika a big hug.
The gift they gave her that was from both of them was what made her cry, however. It was a gold locket that had a message carved on the back that read, Thank you for saving us. Inside were two pictures, one of Mika and Gen, the other of all three of them together.
Kana put her hand over her mouth, failing to stop her tears and both boys leaned over, hugged her, and kissed her on the temples. Mika helped her put it on and gave her a solo hug which she returned.
“Love you, stupid sister,” Gen said with a loving smile. She hugged him back, wiping her tears.
“Love you, idiot brother.”
Don had given her a new set of professional grade cooking knives that she had been eyeing for months, plus a coupon for a free day at the spa which she enthusiastically accepted.
“I could use a day away from all you stinky men,” she laughed.
Now, just a week before Halloween, as Mika stood on what Kana called the Hemming Step, a small involuntary smile graced his lips, his new crooked tooth appearing.
When Don had taken him to the dentist shortly after his arrival home, to see what they could do to replace the two missing teeth, Mika had insisted the tooth that replaced the crooked one also had to be crooked. The dentist didn’t even balk at the request. The new teeth were inserted only a few days ago. Gen was absolutely over the moon and kissed it every chance he got.
Kana noticed the smile in the mirror. “What’s on your mind, my little friend?”
Mika shook his head. “Just thinking about everything, I guess.”
“Life is definitely different for you now, isn’t it?”
“Different is a good word for it, yeah. Most of which is better, some of which is still kind of hard but I’m dealing with it the best I can.”
“Have you given thought to Dad’s advice about seeing a therapist?”
“Yeah, I have. Of course, I also talked to Gen about it. He thinks it’s a really good idea and knows it’s something that would be beneficial to me. There’s things he knows he can’t help me with. He said, ‘there may be one or two demons I can’t fight for you, but the psychologist can.’”
“He is such a good boyfriend,” Kana said, gently pushing on his leg for him to turn around so she could pin up the other side of his pants. She sat back on her heels and sighed. “It takes a strong person to admit when they can’t do something, like solve all your problems, or heal hurts they can’t understand. Gen has been through a lot with you, but that doesn’t mean he has all the answers. The fact he’s man enough to own that says a lot about his character.” She smiled and returned to the hemming. “Maybe I’ll get lucky enough to meet a guy like him.”
“Is it too cliche to say you will someday, just give it time?”
“A bit, yeah,” Kana laughed. “But, thank you all the same.” She finished pinning the hem of his pants, stood up, and adjusted his waistband, making sure it sat comfortably just above his hips, then brought out the white belt that would tie the whole outfit together. “Feel good?” she said, when the belt was wrapped around.
Mika nodded, his smile widening.
Kana hugged him around his neck from behind, smiling at him in the mirror. “Gen’s gonna love it. Have you seen his, yet?”
He shook his head. “We want to surprise each other.”
“Aww! Like a bride and groom!”
Mika blushed. “No, nothing like that!” he said, waving his hands in front of him, suddenly embarrassed even though he had no idea why.
Kana laughed. “Relax, Mika, I’m kidding. I still think it’s cute, though. By the way, your extensions came in. We’ll put them in that morning so you can get comfortable with them by the time we go out. I want to make sure the color matches your natural hair first though. I already need to dye the bottom, but if we need to dye the rest, or even your own hair, I’d rather we figure that out now.”
“When are you dying Gen’s hair?”
“In a couple days so it’s good and fresh come party time.”
“Wait, what do you mean ‘party’? Aren’t we doing that community thing at the park?”
Kana grinned. “Did you really think that’s all we were doing?”
Mika groaned and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Why do you have to make everything so ‘extra’, woman!”
“I’m surprised you didn’t think I would!” Kana’s grin was so wide, Mika had to laugh. Leave it to Kana to make everything that much more exciting, even when it didn’t need to be.
“Also,” she added. “Make sure if he decides to pull your hair, he doesn’t pull too hard or they’ll come right out.”
“KANA!”
-*-
Mika had never had his hair dyed before and it felt weird. To Kana’s surprise, his hair was just a shade or two lighter than the hair extensions. She insisted it match so it blended in better. Gen told him not to worry, the stuff Kana used wouldn’t damage his hair or smell bad. His head would just be itchy for a few days afterwards and he couldn’t wash it unless it was with really cold water.
“Even though it’s just black?”
“It helps the color last longer,” Gen explained. “I definitely have to use cold water because of the extra color added to mine. It sucks, but it’s worth it.”
A flash went through Mika’s eyes, a memory he had once repressed, and Gen caught it. He held Mika close to him and said, “You’re in control of how long you’re under the water, Mika. No one else.” That seemed to help and Mika smiled.
“How are you liking the new class?” Mika asked as they walked across campus to their truck.
Gen shrugged. “I guess it isn’t terrible. Intro to Criminal Justice with Professor Godwin,” he sighed. “I can’t say I hate it, even though I really, really want to.”
“I’m surprised the scholarship covered it,” Mika said. “What did you get it for, anyway?”
“Being a fuckin’ badass,” Gen grinned, opening his door and jumping in while Mika did the same on his side.
“Sure, Genya,” Mika rolled his eyes.
Gen laughed. “It was for academic success, high GPA or some crap. It’s free money so I can’t complain.”
“Speaking of money, I need to stop by the bank and pull some cash from my account so I have something to play with tomorrow,” Mika said as Gen drove out of the lot.
“We can use my money, too, you know.”
“I’m aware of that, but sometimes it’s nice having money of my own. It’s definitely different…” He rested his elbow on the door and set his chin in his hand. “I’ve never had anything like that before.”
“Financial independence is awesome, I won’t lie. I guess I just thought you wanted to save it for something.”
“Well, yeah, it’s not like I’m pulling out huge chunks of it at a time. I’m pretty sure my dad would want me to use it responsibly.”
“How responsible is buying your boyfriend bucket seats and a new fancy steering wheel for his really awesome truck?”
“Not at all responsible.”
“Aww!”
Gen headed to the bank as requested and Mika leaned over him to pull money from the drive up ATM. It was all Gen could do not to slap Mika’s ass. Before Mika pulled himself back through the window, they both heard a familiar voice call his name and froze.
Julie and Seth had pulled up in the lane next to theirs. Julie had a big smile on her face while Seth’s was more of a smirk.
“Hey, Mika!” she said. “Didn’t expect to see you here, you look good!”
“Thanks,” he said.
Her eyes flicked to Gen who was glaring at them both. Seth’s smirk left his face and he looked away, suddenly remembering why they were there.
“So I heard Kelly is gonna have a baby in a few months,” Julie said, resting her arm on the door.
“Did you?” Mika said, giving a small smile, resting his elbows on Gen’s door and propping his chin in his hands. “How’d you find that out?”
She shrugged. “I have my sources.”
“Stalking me wasn’t working very well, was it?” he asked, his eyes cold.
Julie gave a nervous giggle as Seth glanced back at Gen who sat with own arm propped on the door, knuckles covering his mouth, his other arm over Mika with his wrist dangling on the steering wheel.
“What do you mean, Mika? I’d never do that.” She tried to look away but Mika held her gaze.
“You know what’s funny?” Mika asked, his grin almost scary. “How Kelly saw you over at the abortion clinic for the third time since March. I thought you said you were a virgin?”
Seth’s glare turned to his little sister while her eyes widened and lips pursed into a tight white line.
“So who’s was it? Kevin’s? Jacob’s? Or Patrick’s? Or maybe all three?” He looked at Gen. “All three, you think?”
Gen nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking.”
“You really need to cut down on the partying, Julie. Especially when it’s with your brother’s best friends. It would be better for your health, wouldn’t you agree?” He smiled sweetly at her as her jaw dropped and Seth’s glare turned white hot, his teeth clenched tightly together.
“Hey Seth?” Mika said, drawing the attention of the angry man his way.
“What?” he snapped.
Mika’s smile dropped and his face became hard and mean. “Stay away from my cousin, you spineless fuck.” The smile returned as his eyes closed and he waved. “Okay, bye!” He flew back into the truck, bouncing into his seat.
Gen revved his engine loudly before peeling out, both of them flipping off Julie and Seth, laughing as they went. When they called Kelly later and told her what happened, she and Riley laughed so hard, they cried.
Kana called out from the den, “And he was such a sweet boy, too!”
-*-
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