Another untitled Gaim ficlet, Kappa universe

[estirose]

Kouta has gotten used to a diet of Helheim fruit and nothing else. He's even gotten used to gardening - though it's less gardening and more convincing a bunch of alien plants not to grow outside and not to grow any fruit. It's bad enough that every so often he opens up the door and has to prevent tiny Elementary Inves from escaping and causing a panic.

Someday, he knows, he'll have to move before someone realizes he's not aging. And the garden will have to move with him. This will be a while; he's working with Takatora as they try to get Mitsuzane a little closer to sanity. Kouta thinks that they might be on the way to convincing him that Takatora is Takatora and not Kouta.

He'd let his sister near the garden - she knows it exists, he had to tell her that there's enough Helheim flora there that he won't starve to death - but it's far too dangerous to humans. There's always the possibility that a human will find it and its fruit, and then everything will spiral out of control.

There's a commotion in the shed, and Kouta internally winces. Is he going to find a full-sized Inves in there? Is he going to have to kill another human that was in the wrong place at the wrong time?

He opens the door, and the vines are waving. There's a shape in there, a dark shape, and he realizes after a moment that Mitsuzane found his way in and now he's almost completely wrapped in vines. The vines aren't harming his old friend, but Mitsuzane is struggling. "Teleport," he says, hoping that Mitsuzane is coherent enough to go back to the dock. It isn't Kouta's top choice, but the plant can be overwhelming if one isn't used to it. He himself has to mentally force vines away from his body if he's been gone for too long; he thinks, sometimes, that the plant considers him part of it.

Mitsuzane teleports out, and Kouta takes a deep breath. He looks among the slender vines for a fruit and sees one, probably generated when Mitsuzane came in. He fishes out a bag and seals it, knowing that Mitsuzane must have been hungry enough to find his way there.

Maybe Mitsuzane will eat without being prompted or commanded this time. Kouta always hopes that he will. But that's in the future, and this is now. He must make do with what he has.

Comments

[estirose]

Takatora hasn't known for long, I think, because he wanted to bring Micchy in pretty fast in 16. Kouta's decision to contact Takatora was very fortuitous for Takatora since he didn't want to alarm Kouta and not have him listen. Now he can get both of his brothers working with him to save as many people as possible.

I think Takatora just broke Kouta's brain.

[reka]

I think Takatora needs to realize that Kouta thinks that his life is his own to do what he chooses with. And while he did take up the belt of his own free will, he took it up without knowing exactly what it meant. It'll take some time for him to know how to deal with it. I hope Takatora won't try to force too much while Kouta's still vulnerable.

[estirose]

Yeah, Takatora hasn't quite gotten it through his mind that Kouta doesn't want to go back to being a dutiful Kureshima.

--

"You knew about Mitsuzane being an Armored Rider too?" Kouta asked. He was still processing the fact that he, who had left home to avoid being part of Yggdrasill, was now part of a Yggardsill test.

"Shortly after finding out you were one," Takatora told him. "inluded your contact information...I wanted to talk to you then."

Takatora was trying, at least. Kouta had to give him that. "Oh."

"Kouta... there's a lot you and Mitsuzane need to know about what you're a part of. At least come home to dinner so I can talk to you both at once."

Going back to the Kureshima Estate wouldn't hurt, Kouta knew. He could leave if he wanted. Takatora wanted him to move to his former home and he'd never do that, but he could do dinner. He wasn't part of that family anymore, but he was willing to talk.

[reka]

Takatora protected them from some of the pressures he had to deal with, and that makes it harder for him to understand where they're coming from sometimes. I'm glad Kouta recognizes that it's not Takatora's fault; Micchy has a terribly unfortunate tendency to blame Takatora irrationally.

Micchy will be so unhappy that Kouta coming for dinner doesn't mean he's moving back. I assume that Kouta will tell Akira where he's going so she can at least spend the rest of the day at home. And because he knows she feels responsible for him.

[estirose]

And poor Kouta is going to be under pressure from both siblings to move back home. Takatora because he needs Kouta to be part of Yggdrasill and Micchy because he needs Kouta to run interference with Takatora. He doesn't know what he's getting into.

I have a mental image of Micchy saying that Kouta doesn't have to assume all the responsibility of being a Kureshima by moving back home.

[reka]

Careful, Kouta, Micchy's just saying that in hopes that it'll inspire your sense of guilt.

It must've been really hard for Kouta to leave his brothers alone. Maybe he thought removing himself would help them figure out how to talk to each other on their own. Finding Micchy in Gaim and talking to him probably quashed that hope really hard. I hope Akira can help keep Kouta from caving. It won't help anyone if he returns to being the go-between, but the temptation to do a quick bandaid solution is there.

[estirose]

Yeah, Micchy knows how to guilt-trip Kouta, and he's not afraid to use Takatora's desires to get what he wants as well. He knows Kouta felt guilty about leaving him with Takatora, and he's not beyond band-aid solutions.

Actually, getting his brothers to communicate better wasn't one of his reasons for leaving. He mostly didn't want to be any part of Project Ark (and look where that got him).

--

"I can do that." It wasn't like Takatora was going to trap him there. Maybe try to convince him to stay, yes. But he couldn't force Kouta to become what he didn't want to be anymore.

There was relief in Takatora's eyes. "Thank you."

"But I'm not moving back." He thought he'd make that clear to Takatora before his brother got any ides about Kouta's future. "And I have work in the morning." He looked at his file. It had to be in there that he was a construction worker.

There was an almost audible sigh from Takatora. "Just come to dinner. In fact, I'd be happy to take you over there."

"Okay. Let me call Akira so she isn't surprised when I come back. Excuse me, please." Kouta headed off to his room so that he could dial Akira. He got her voicemail, which was not surprising as his almost-sister was popular. "Akira, this is Kouta. I'm going off to spend some time with my brothers. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

And with that, he took a deep breath and returned. Takatora was still waiting for him in the breakfast nook. "I'm going to put these in the sink, and then we can go."

Whether it was a good idea was another question, but Kouta was willing to try if it got Takatora listening to Mitsuzane.

[reka]

Not so much a reason to leave, but as a way of justifying the choice when he was (and still is) needed so badly. Poor Kouta. One on each end and him in the middle. It reminds me of Mai's situation in canon a little.

Does Takatora also want Kouta there as support for Micchy and doesn't want to say so? It would make sense. Of course, Micchy already knows a lot of it, and unlike Kouta he probably won't be as forthcoming about what he knows. Did the files Takatora showed Kouta also reveal Zangetsu, or is Takatora saving that reveal for family dinner?

[estirose]

Takatora certainly wouldn't mind if Kouta was there for Micchy when he does the reveal. The files don't include Zangetsu because they're all on Beat Riders, but Takatora is going to do some show and tell.

(And goshdarnit, Micchy, no you cannot curl into your slightly older brother....)

[reka]

Well, Takatora really isn't the touchy-feely type. Kouta is tactile enough that he'd at know what to do with an armful of sibling. I also wouldn't be surprised if Micchy made some use of that trick to hide his face during revelations he already knew, too. It would play on both of his brothers' emotions pretty well too.

[estirose]

Kouta let Takatora take him home- or rather, he let Takatora's driver take him home. It felt odd to have a driver after two years.

It felt even odder to walk into the house right after his older brother, as if nothing had changed. Even though he knew he wasn't part of the family annymore, it felt like he had never left.

"Mitsuzane should be upstairs," Takatora told him. "We'll have dinner in a while, but I'm sure you want to spend some time with him."

Kouta couldn't help but wonder if Takatora was trying to guilt trip him. But then again, Takatora had no idea how Kouta felt about their youngest brother.

[reka]

Well, I'm sure he knows something. He did see them interacting for about fourteen years. Not that he's perceptive or there all the time, of course. Takatora does remember that Kouta and Micchy see each other regularly, right? Maybe the guilt trip thing has some merit. Or maybe Takatora just wants the time to collect himself.

[estirose]

Takatora mostly wants time to collect himself, I think.
--
"You probably know I see Mitsuzane a lot," Kouta said carefully. He didn't know if Takatora was testing him or if he suddenly forgot that Kouta and Mitsuzane were on the same Beat Rider team.

"I know, but you don't get to spend time as brothers." Takatora gave him a smile. "I need to assemble some things before dinner, so take your time."

Mitsuzane appeared on the landing on the top of the stairs, all excited, and Kouta had to wonder if his siblings were coordinating things.

[reka]

I admit to not being in anything resembling their situation, but I am pretty sure that whenever I'm interacting with him that we're interacting as siblings. Team Gaim does know their relation, too, so it's pretty clearly Takatora having no idea how to say "please leave me alone for a minute."

They obviously aren't, but they do want the same thing here. And Micchy may be hoping that Kouta's presence means he's thinking about it. And he's definitely not above overplaying his excitement.

[estirose]

Kouta was thinking he should have expected the whole thing. No matter what he said, his brothers obviously thought he should return home. Still, Takatora probably had Yggdrasill business to attend to, and he should really tell Mitsuzane he was trying to get Takatora to pay attention.

As long as he got home to Akira and got to work the next day, that would be all that mattered. He really did want to find out what was going on with the Drivers, though, and Mitsuzane deserved to hear the truth.

He went upstairs to let Takatora do what he needed to do. Mitsuzane grasped his arm as soon as he reached the upstairs landing. "I'm glad you're here," Mitsuzane said. "Let's go to my room."

"Okay," Kouta said doubtfully. He wanted to wait until they got in there to discuss things with Mitsuzane.

Mitsuzane closed the door and then plopped down on the bed. "I didn't think big brother would be coming home with you."

Kouta took a deep breath. "Our drivers are Yggdrasill technology," he said. "He wants to discuss that with both of us."

Mitsuzane's smile dropped. "So that's why...."

"It's worse. He knows we're both Team Gaim."

[reka]

And that's one of the parts Micchy didn't know. I think it's reasonable to assume that Takatora would find out from the parts he already knew, but I'm not sure Micchy was thinking of that. He's a smart kid, but thinking things through to their logical conclusion is not something he does. He wants Kouta to come home, yes, but what then? Some nebulous "then it will be better," I think. Gaaah, I love that kid. On that note, I'm also not sure how Micchy would feel about Kouta telling him that he's trying to get Takatora to listen more-- it means that Kouta isn't planning to move back. It's a better solution in the long run, I think, but it's not the solution Micchy envisioned.

[estirose]

"We're going to have to see what he says," Micchy said after a moment's thought. "I'm not giving up Team Gaim."

"I know, but I think if we present a united front, he'll still let you be in Gaim." Kouta felt fortunate that he wasn't in Mitsuzane's situation. Akira might have frowned a little about it, but she didn't try to stop Kouta from being in the team, especially since it let him talk to Mitsuzane.

It was one of the reasons why he wasn't eager to return to being a Kureshima. He knew that Takatora's sense of duty required him to bring Kouta back in, and he was just as sure Mitsuzane wanted him back because Takatora could be a little oblivious.

[reka]

"A little oblivious" is such a kind way of putting "does not understand how to raise a teenager at all."

Kouta's also someone Micchy feels he can trust with the things that make him happy. He feels like he can't be himself because Takatora will take it all away. Kouta can't be completely trusted because he's disappeared before, but at least he's never threatened to separate Micchy from anything. Of course, part of that is just because Takatora has the parental responsibility and Kouta doesn't. Micchy tries really hard to establish himself as his own person, but he doesn't realize that just being oppositional to Takatora isn't independence. He doesn't notice how sheltered he's been. (Sorry, I could tl;dr about Micchy all day.)

Yeah, Akira's parenting style is much more hands-off. The team rankings and stuff might be distractions, but having a social life and being with friends isn't a bad thing at all. Social skills are really important things. Takatora might have more of those if he hadn't embraced his duty so hard that basically nobody knows how to talk to him.

[estirose]

Takatora in this AU is not doing well at all with his siblings. He's had one sibling pretty much disown the family.

In the meantime, Micchy muse is still working on ways to get Kouta to move home, though some of it will depend on what Takatora has to tell them.

(I love talking Micchy, he's so interesting!

[reka]

Yeah, and while Kouta definitely didn't mean it that way, it's kind of a judgement and disowning of Takatora himself. Micchy might feel abandoned, but Kouta didn't leave because of anything Micchy did or didn't do. If Micchy was the issue, Kouta could've just ignored him or something. Takatora is the one who made him leave, really, and I wouldn't be surprised if Takatora feels completely responsible.

I bet. The vulnerable younger sibling card would probably be the easiest to play, but depending on how it all plays out, there are other options. He could try to get Takatora to let him overnight with Kouta, maybe, but I think both brothers would have something to say about that.

(I like talking Micchy a lot too. Part of it is that I identify with him a bit-- I also had a "I can do this myself" thing that kept backfiring horribly and I absolutely kept secrets from my parents because I wanted to fix the problems myself. Of course those issues were more homework than the apocalypse, but it's still a weird self-destructive impulse. I also just really love characters who delude themselves because it makes for a really lovely and meaningful character arc.)

[estirose]

Yes, I'm the same way, the "do it myself" thing.

---
A while later, dinner was ready and Takatora was happy to see three place settings in the dining room. Kouta wasn't back home yet, but Takatora had confidence that once Kouta knew what was going on, he'd come home. He'd always been responsible, which was why Takatora had been so confused - and he hated to admit it, but upset - when Kouta had disappeared.

He wished that he could let Kouta have his new life, but as a Kureshima, Kouta just didn't have a choice as to his destiny. The sooner he understood that, the easier it would be on all of them.

Besides, it was clear that Mitsuzane missed his older brother being at home. Takatora had extremely mixed feelings about Mitsuzane being in that Beat Rider group, but it had gotten Kouta back in a strange way. So he couldn't really argue with that for the moment.

Obviously, Kouta knew at least some of his responsibilities. He was a lot like Takatora, which had made it even more bizarre that he'd run away from home and tried to repudiate his name. Takatora had spoken to their parents, telling them about Mitsuzane reconnecting with Kouta, and his father had agreed that if Kouta came back to the family, all would be forgiven.

[reka]

What is the all that will be forgiven? Considering that neither Kouta nor Micchy seem to care about their parents at all, I don't really think that's an issue. Oh, Takatora. Why wouldn't you be upset at your brother suddenly leaving?

Ah, the lack of choice thing. Takatora is very good at holding himself responsible for the Kureshima Destiny, isn't he? But he was born to it just like his brothers.

(I had more to say, but my brain abruptly decided to shut off at midnight. Tomorrow is another day, as they say.)

[estirose]

I'm thinking (my brain went away around nine pm, so you did better than I) that if Kouta moves back home, they'll treat his two-year departure as a exploration of the world and not him going off and forsaking his responsibilities for two years. Not that Kouta *cares*, but that's what the parents are aiming at.

And yeah, Takatora was very upset when Kouta took off. It's just that he's had two years of big, important stuff going on so he's calmed down.

I think, though, that if Kouta moves home it'll be thanks to Micchy; he'll be convincing Kouta that if he wants to fix things/help Team Gaim, it's best if he comes home and pretends to cooperate (at least a little)....

[reka]

(I'm pretty sure I had a shorter/less stressful day than yours, so it makes sense.)

Of course, Kouta coming home to pretend to cooperate means he will cooperate because he can't manage deception like that. Poor Akira. She wanted him to reconnect with his brothers so he'd be happier, not so he'd go back to the same intolerable situation. Neither Takatora nor Micchy will really understand if he goes back, but Kouta can be a little too accommodating sometimes.

[estirose]

Yeah. Kouta is kind of thinking of putting a foot in both worlds. He'll find a different part time job that'll allow him to spend time with his family (and his family's business) while tryin to help Micchy and Takatora communicate. He might move partially home if it will get his goals (to try to find a way to not need Project Ark and also to get Takator and Micchy o communicate better).