Steal smiled as the car stopped and he unbuckled enough to shift and look at Yusai. "Hm, telling a story is a good thing. Story telling is like singing, its a way to get a message out to others." He nodded a bit. "If that is what you want, I would love to be of some help. I do have some money saved.." He smiled warmly and reached across to touch Yusai's hand.

The younger man took a deep breath. "Yusai, do you ever find yourself wishing for more? Wishing that maybe things had worked out for you in the past differently?" He pushed his long hair back and shrugged a tad. "I don't really, but I know that I am not so normal all the time." He gestured out at the world. "This is a great place, it likely holds a tonne of memories but I am sure you wish for other things."

He arched his back a bit and reached down beside his right leg to pull the seat lever and lean back. "I want to know so much more about you. I want to know about all that happened with you, even if you don't want me to know." He was thinking about how Yusai lost his eye, thinking about what brought the other to be living in the apartment. "I wish I had more to tell you."

Steal closed his eyes and crossed his arms behind his head. "I wonder if the person I love will ever see me as someone worth loving?" His voice was soft but he wanted Yusai to hear it. "Anyway, on the positive side of things.. I guess we are here where we can have breakfast. You have to order, the one that arranges the date has to do that you know."

Yusai was humbled at Steals offer to assist him in his alternative dream, should he decide to pursue it. He quietly thanked him for it, between a sheepish grin, but deep down he knew he would never be so bold enough as to take advantage of his friend like that. Steal had already done so much for him in the past year, perhaps not in ways that Yusai could properly verbalize, and he already felt as though he was disservicing his friend enough...

Then Steal asked: Did he wish for for more? Yusai had never really given the thought the time of day. If he had to think about it now and give an answer on the spot, then the answer would be no, he didn't. What more could he possibly want out of life at the moment? He felt he had everything he could possibly desire: he was financially secure, he was enjoying his job, and most importantly, he had someone to share that with.

And it wasn't as though Yusai's life was entirely without purpose until Steal came along. At the very least, he had been content with it, but until he met Steal, he certainly couldn't say he enjoyed the luxuries he had then and now. Yusai liked feeling as though he could share his joys with the people in his life--friends and loved ones alike--but when he thought back to his ex, Cassidy, he hadn't realized just how much she had suffocated his happiness until she left. The freedom and exhilleration he felt afterward--which came as a surprise since for the longest time, Yusai had convinced himself how much he loved her, and how miserable he'd be without her--was a welcome light to an otherwise dark period in his life. He was so glad for the change, and ultimately, so glad he had met Steal.

Yusai had been silent until he untangled his thoughts, and without hesitation he went on to say, "Can't say I could be wishin' for anymore right now... An' well, can't say I wish things had been different in the past, since they all brought me where I am today." The last part he said while trying to quiet a sadness that started to creep up his throat: his words were a double-edged sword. The unfortunate death of his best friend Richard was a tragedy that left a deep wound in Yusai's heart, and in so many ways he wished he could go back in time and do something to prevent it, but at the same time...

Yusai shook his head in an attempt to banish these musings from his mind altogether. He had road ahead and an exit to take, and for now, his primary focus was getting he and Steal where they wanted to be in one piece.

***

They were not far into Utica when Steal had alluded to being hungry again. Yusai's stomach growled in agreement at the suggestion of pulling over for a meal before they headed off to the post, so he drove aimlessly for a few minutes before pulling over alongside a small "mom-and-pop" shop. When he did, Steal had unbuckled and reclined in his seat. Figuring he wanted to stretch out and enjoy some quiet for a bit before sitting down for a meal, Yusai followed suit and turned off the car.

The quiet, which was almost deafening after their long period on the road, did not last long; Steal had turned to him and told Yusai in a feeble tone, that he wanted to know more about him. That he wanted to know everything he could, even all the things Yusai felt he couldn't share with him: the unsteady, weightless feeling that had grappled Yusai's gut the night before was beginning to ease its fingers around his trembling nerves. He had no response for his friend, in spite of the swell of words that were rushing to his mouth, just wanting to say something--anything--that wouldn't ruin the moment.

Then there was Steals heart-wrenching addendum, which Yusai wasn't so sure if he was supposed to hear. He did, however, and allowing himself to be taken by a surge of emotion, he responded,

"I'm sure they will. In fact, I promise it."

Yusai reached out and tenderly placed his hand first along Steals palm. A pang of something started to burn in his mind then, though, and unconsciously his hand drifted to his friends shoulder and rested there instead. He was beginning to doubt his gesture of kindness (was that all it was?) couldn't be seen as anything other than an awkward and cheesy flop of mixed up emotions, and was immediately thankful when Steal requested that they go inside and grab a bite to eat.

The silence seemed kind of cruel after all the talking and the driving, and then he had foolishly spoke his feelings and worries aloud, causing another level of awkwardness between him and Yusai. Heh, yeah sure, like someone would seriously fall in love with him. He shifted again, grabbing at Yusai before they could get out of the car. He wrapped his arms around his friend and burrowed his face against the other man's shoulder.

He had to hold onto Yusai as long as he could, his own shoulders starting to tremble a bit. It was hard to keep himself under control but he had to fight back the urge to cry, and within a few moments he pulled away and took a breath. "Thank you, I needed that."

With a sigh he climbed out of the car and arched his back. "Like I said you have to pick the meal for us to eat, I am not so sure that I can pick anything." He smiled brightly and fixed his gloves a bit, before making sure his pants were riding right on his hips. It wouldn't do to show butt crack if he bent over.... or would it?

Steal glanced at Yusai, waiting till the other man was behind him and then bent over to fix the cuff of his pants. BWAHH, eat that Yusai... lets see if these tight pants are doing their job. Temptation, thy name is Steal Masters!

The younger man had to bite back a laugh as he stood upright again and looked back at the older man. Ohhh, what a site. Golden hair catching the light. Yusai made more of a tempting scene. Steal wanted to leap into his arms and just cling. How could the bartender do that to him? Oh, yeah, its because Steal knew him well enough now to know that there was more than the physical. Heck there had to be, nothing physical had happened yet, other than a few accidental contacts.

Steal froze a moment in realization, he had been celibate his whole life. Yusai likely had a few bed mates but not Steal. The horror... no wonder the other wasn't interested, he was .. "I am a pathetic virgin.... ye gads.."

Now Yusai liked to fancy himself a decent man, or at the very least, he'd like think he wasn't being so obvious when breaking his good manners. Steal had bent over to fix a pant leg, and perhaps he didn't realize how ill-lengthed his garment was to begin with, but it exposed quite a bit of his rear-end. It was instantaneous from the second skin started showing, Yusai's eye was drawn to it like a magnet; but what was he thinking! Poor Steal probably wasn't even aware that his butt was exposed like he was advertising a plumbing business.

To try and absolve some awkwardness on Yusai's end--though perhaps not entirely, as there were parts of him that he wasn't completely aware were still showing he had taken a prolonged look--he reached forward and inserted his hand down his rump, just past the waistband of Steals pants, and gave them a firm tug up. The boy shot upright with a yelp, and Yusai laughed, removing his hand from his pants and swooping it in for a hardy spank (which was, in fact, more of a grope, but he would never admit it) They then continued their way inside, both of their cheeks flushed and full with smiles. Or Yusai's were, anyway; he couldn't exactly read Steals expression, but he assumed he had taken the joke in quiet stride as he always did.

The small restaurant was completely vacant, besides a young brunette lady who was propped languidly against the counter, reading a small book, which she immediately closed while Yusai approached her. Her hazel eyes peered up and down the length of him for a second, and before Yusai could say anything to her, she gestured her hand outwardly with a faint smile and said, "Have a seat anywhere you like. I'll bring you two a menu in a second."

So Yusai turned to Steal, shrugged, and sat at the nearest table available. The waitress was quick to bring over a set of menus and place them in front of Yusai and Steal, ask them if they wanted anything to drink, and then disappear to grab them when they made their order. While she was absent, Yusai peered over his open menu and smiled something coy, saying under his breath, "I think we came at a bad time. Think she was achin' to get out of here before we came along."

Before they could have a conversation about it, the waitress returned with two drinks in her hand, and she set them down in silence. She then drew out a pad of paper and a pen from her apron like she was drawing a gun for a duel and asked no one in particular: "You ready to order?"

Yusai casually tossed his menu down on the table and folded his arms across it. Looking up at the woman in the most charming way he could possibly muster (which came quite naturally and easily to him) he replied, "Yes ma'am--think we're just goin' to have a stack of french toast to slit between the two of us."

The waitress didn't appear entirely impressed by Yusai's attempt at charm and whimsy. She simply wrote down the order, collected their menus off the table, and disappeared into the kitchen again. When she left, Yusai looked over at Steal with an air of defeat while maintaining his smile and shrugged again. Can't win 'em all. was his only thought.

Steal gasped when Yusai pulled his pants back up, caught between amusement and upset, until he realized that it was more than just pulling his pants back up, it was kind of a grope... a pleasant grope. Steal glanced back at Yusai his eyes sparking and a laugh starting. He shook his head, tossing his long hair a bit as they walked inside.

As Yusai noticed, so too did Steal, that the girl seemed more than anything to want to head home. She wasn't being rude about it, but she also wasn't taking any flirting very well. It was all good for Steal, he didn't like the idea of girls falling all over himself or Yusai, particularly when he was trying to flirt with Yusai.

Steal covered his mouth when the girl stalked off to get the meals, not even asking if they wanted anything to drink. "I think she wants to get home, pity we can't just go serve ourselves. Likely she will have a replacement here soon." He leaned over the edge of the table and tapped it with one finger. "So handsome stranger, what brings you to a place like this?"

It didn't take much for Steal to fall into a sense of playing as he looked around. "I don't come here often myself stranger.. but you sure do seem at ease." He batted his eyelashes teasingly before sitting back and fanning himself with one hand. "Phewee its hot though.. or is that just you?"

The girl by that point was heading back to the table and she cast Steal a disgusted look before shaking her head a bit. "I forgot to take your drinks... what'll it be?"

Just the look on her face was near enough to make Steal start laughing. He glanced at Yusai and then down at the table, his cheeks brightly flushed. If only Yusai knew how serious Steal's flirting was.

During the period of the waitresses disappearance, he and Steal shared a stifled laugh at her expense, but Yusai tried to defend his amusement, and his uncharacteristic flirting, with the excuse: "I'm just tryin' to be nice so she doesn't spit in our food, eh?" And he was being entirely honest despite saying that through a grin; Steal never had to know about his secret fear of catching a food-born illness, and hoped to keep that secret to himself for a long time.

There was a long period where he and Steal had nothing but their drinks, and the sunshine streaming through the windows between them. The quiet clatter of work in the kitchen being done was the only noise they shared with one another, besides the occasional contented sigh, and then Steal started conversation.

The boy could be funny when he wanted to be, or if that was even his intention. Yusai chuckled at his coo and cawing, and even met the compliment of his attraction with a little flush. "All right all right, you," he said reaching across the table and pinching Steals nose together for a second; he really had no follow-up for that. What could he say against him, since he was enjoying every bit of it?

Steal tried to make another comment but the voice came out a little too nasal, there was little one could say in a serious manner when their nose was plugged. He made a weird face then pulled away, his eyes still sparkling with mirth.

Once the plate of food came Steal smiled more. It all looked so good, the bread wasn't runny with eggs and it didn't look all congealed like some dives made it. "Ohh, nice.. it looks too tasty." He reached for a fork and speared a piece before Yusai could get to it. "Bwahahaha, all the best pieces shall belong to me!"

Steal tossed his hair again and took a bite out of the french toast. "Mmm, is this what you had last time you were here?" How foolish could be be, as if Yusai would remember if he had something to eat here. "Er... if you don't remember that is okay."

As if by magic or called because Steal mentioned being here before, the cook came out of the back wiping his hands. "Repeat customers? That doesn't happen oft' less you are an in towner, not that this is a big town or nothin'." The rather stout man smiled at Yusai then at Steal. "Nice t' be seein' someone bringin' their little sib here. Not oft' that people do that lately."

Steal winced a bit but didn't contradict the comment. It was probably best that the man think that Steal was a kid brother. He just munched on his food with his head down.

The cook smiled. "I done tol Sheila th' boy and you ain't a couple or nothin'. She was all... tellin' me t' kick you out or somethin' less I insult our regs... who as you can see ain't here... so enjoy yer meal."

If Yusai had any doubts about his accent being hard to understand (and it often was) the cook that came out and started talking to them certainly took the cake in that department. Assuming he had asked a question, and not wanting to be rude by not responding in some way, Yusai simply smiled, waved, and nodded until the stocky man returned to the kitchen. When he did, Yusai turned to Steal and asked, "... You get any of that?"

No matter. There was a meal on the table to enjoy, and if he didn't hurry, Steal would have it all to himself. He began to peace-meal bits of the delicious toast between Steals share, until suddenly their silverware collided; and even before Yusai could think to start a fork-duel, the waitress had mysteriously re-appeared beside their table and threw down a check book, stopping him in his tracks for a moment.

"Pay whenever you're ready," was her dead-pan request, then she turned and clacked back to her place behind the counter, muttering something under her breath that Yusai couldn't quite make out. Steal apparently did, however, and Yusai saw the quick transition of happy to sour wilt on his face. Yusai's mood wilted instantaneously with Steals expression, and the resolve to give the waitress a piece of his mind ignited in his gut.

But first, he'd need to know what was said--too many times had Yusai witnessed fights spurring out of gross misunderstandings, and he didn't want to be a part of that scene--so he leaned across the table and whispered with utmost seriousness to Steal, "What? What'd she say?"

Steal didn't realize just how backwater this place was until the second time he heard a comment about him and Yusai. Not the brother one, that he could have dealt with, but the sexual one.

The waitress came over, tossed down the bill and he clearly heard. "They are fags... get out of here already." His face crumbled, and with it went his appetite. Sure the food was good, but it was hard to be positive when you are sure that everything is going to be ruined.

He looked at Yusai and waved one hand. "It doesn't matter what she said Sai.. it doesn't matter, don't let anything bother you, we should just be going." Yeah before we get lynched or something, or at least I do.

Trying to plaster a smile back on his face he put down his fork and took a breath. "I just don't think she needs a tip, getting one from us may insult her a bit." He looked over and shrugged one shoulder. "I didn't realize people with certain attitudes were in this part."

Unfortunately that was not going to be the end of it. Paying went fine but as soon as they were outside the waitress came out again. She looked at them then put one hand on her hip. "Your kind are not wanted here. Don't come back with your boyfriend again... Fag."

Steal recoiled as if shot, tears in his eyes before he stalked up to her. "Look, I may be, but that doesn't mean He is. We are friends, He doesn't see me as a lover, so stop being rude to him!"

Yusai had been busy unlocking his car and quite a distance away when he heard his friend yelling at the waitress in the entrance of the restaurant. He was unsure what all the commotion was about, but in spite of his uncertainty, he didn't want things to spiral out of control. He tucked his keys into his pant pocket, dashed around the front of his car, and hopped between the two before anything else besides verbal assault could happen.

"Hey, hey! There ain't no need for any of this--" Yusai broke in as he swooped his arm around Steals waist and gently turned him away from the waitress. "We're leavin', all right? We won't come back here again, trust me." he tried to make the last of his sentence sound as bitter as possible, but even that was difficult for Yusai to muster in despite the rudeness he and Steal had faced.

He turned back to his car and put his hand around Steal's shoulder, guiding him back quietly, though the waitress desperately wanted to have her say. She didn't cease her belligerence, even after they had loaded back up in his vehicle, and it was all Yusai could do within his will power not to just start up his car and run her over, especially when he heard a few choice cuss words that didn't sit too well in his gut. "Faggot" pierced his ears and echoed in his mind; not even the roar of cars engine starting or the sound of his wheels peeling away from the curb deafened its power.

Yusai drove along in silence, the whole situation stirring his mood into an ugly stew. Steal's pleading couldn't even turn his mood around, and as much as he wanted to be able to just laugh and forget the whole thing ever happened, he couldn't.

Faggot. The word was getting quieter, but its burn in his mind didn't get any duller. What could he say to such an insult? How could he respond to hate like that? Above all, why did the word bother him so much? Yusai, in an outward way, didn't understand how it disturbed him as much as it did: in an inward, secret way, however, a small part of him felt ashamed, and embarrassed, and scared that it was true. The tiny part that made his legs quiver and his stomach flutter and his cheeks burn red, when his subconscious enjoyed those little touches, hugs, kisses, gropes between Steal... That tiny part of him felt crushed, offended.

But to Yusai, these were all feelings and things he simply couldn't--or perhaps refused--to understand, and to him, it was just a hate-filled word blindly backed by ignorance, said to ruin his day with his friend.

Steal punched at the dash of the car lightly, he wasn't angry enough to do damage to Yusai's vehicle. "Why do people have to keep acting that way? Is someone's sexual preference such a threat to them that they need to make a scene or drive others off?" He groaned and shook his head before looking at Yusai, who also looked disturbed. Well, there it is.. its all out in the open there is no way for him not to know.

"Yusai I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I really should have. I just didn't want you to be mad at me." He sighed and leaned back, tossing one arm over his eyes. "Please don't be mad." Never did it cross his mind that Yusai may not have known yet, that he may not have realize that her comments were because of Steal not Yusai.

"She is just ignorant, she didn't know what she was talking about and she just wanted to make you mad... it wasn't about you at all.." He looked over again and reached to grab at Yusai's arm, pleading starting. "Please, I .. I don't want today to be ruined because of this. Please just tell me what I can do to make things better."

There day could not end the way it was. It couldn't because he wanted to.. he wanted to just relax, to get to know Yusai so much better but if there was tension that could never happen. "Yusai, please, lets just go to the water where you said, lets be alone and talk and make things good again. I don't want you mad because I am gay! I promise that I wont .. I wont do anything to make you ... I will behave!"

Tears started to fill the younger man's eyes and he punched the dash again. "I hate this! Its like.. its like Cort's shit all over again. He said he couldn't trust being alone with me and I don't want you to feel that way too!"

Yusai had once read in a book of poetry, that bad thoughts were like a living beehive. When something negative enters your head and is allowed to sit there long enough, it becomes sweet honey. That honey will eventually attract one bee, and just when you think that bee has had its fill and is going to leave, another bee approaches. Then another, and another, and another, and soon your head is a fragile, buzzing swarm; any sudden idea or thought can provoke a bee to sting, and when one starts in, so does another.

It was in this mess of buzzing and stinging that Yusai hadn't realized Steal had been talking to him for quite some time, only catching a few words and the tail end of his last sentence..."mad"... "gay"... "cort"... Whatever it was he had been saying, Steal seemed quite upset by it, and if Yusai could wager any guess as to what he was talking about, it'd be in regard to the horrible things the waitress said.

"Oh--I'm sorry, Steal," Yusai started with a shake of his head, "I... Got a little caught up in my own world there. What were you sayin'?" he shook his head again, slower this time, "Nevermind. It don't matter. Don't let the things that lady back there said get to you, all right? We came out this way to have a good time, and that's what we're goin' to do." Yusai said this with what started out as a forced smile, turned genuine when he saw Steal relax a little in his seat.

The drive from then on continued quietly; it wasn't a very long drive, and Yusai was thankful for that. A little break of silence was needed after the mess of yelling that took place in the restaurant, but he didn't want to let the situation stew between the two of them for too long. By the time Yusai had pulled over along the side of the road, he was already back in his good spirits.

"Here we are!" Yusai said as he stepped out of the car, peering around at the beautiful, natural surroundings. The sun was high overhead, which was melting what little mounds of snow that were left in the otherwise temperate spring weather; as a result, everything glistened and glimmered; it was a truly beautiful sight. However, Yusai couldn't help but notice that Steal hadn't yet come out of the car, and he bent down alongside his window and grinned at him.

"You comin' along?" he asked. He hoped the boy wasn't still doting on the nasty situation, though he couldn't exactly blame him if he was.

Steal winced when he realized that Yusai just didn't seem to hear him. He had finally felt comfortable enough to open up to Yusai only to know that the other didn't want to hear what he had to say. He cringed and bowed his head wanting to just sink down and hide.

Even the playfulness from Yusai just came of feeling like a slap, and he shook his head a bit. "Why wont you hear what I have to say? I.. I was trying to t-tell you something important Yusai... I wanted to let you know something important." He slid out of the car and hugged his arms around himself.

What to do now? He sounded like a sulky kid, but he was hurting inside now. How was he supposed to get up the nerve to tell Yusai again? This seemed like the best chance to do it too, to tell him in the car, to tell him when something that had brought it up was there.

He glanced around, it was a nice place to be, but there was not going to be a place to sit. "Yusai... I don't know what to do now, if you don't want to hear what .. oh forget it... I guess..." He shook his head and walked toward the water, not really looking at much other than the sun reflecting on the clean glass-like surface."

Give up, you are just a kid... just a brat and he doesn't need to hear your issues.

Yusai had been busy venturing closer to the lake shore, kicking up a few rocks between the occasional, prolonged peer out to the lake. It was completely placid, reflecting the beauty of nature that surrounded it like a mirror, and each time he stared at it, memory upon memory streamed into his head from that day years ago: the longer he stared, the more he felt himself becoming immersed in those thoughts, and soon he was swimming in them.

He couldn't recall the things he, Ruth, and Richard had discussed that afternoon that day, but he remembered the little things like Richards laugh, his little jokes, his sudden periods of solidarity, and that look that came into his face when he became quiet and solemn like that. Yusai remembered the way the sun had hit his profile, how it had illuminated his face and made him glow like an angel... He remembered his smile, the ones that started out uncertainly, but then spread across his cheeks as if he had just found out a secret that no one else knew.

Yusai remembered how on that day, he didn't think there would ever be greater times than these. He remembered how he felt that day, sitting by Richard, throwing stones into the lake together, and how he knew then, that he....



And then suddenly, he couldn't remember anything. Or, he didn't want to. When the reality of the present resurfaced, Yusai didn't realize how long he had been standing out staring at the lake until he blinked, half blind from the brightness the lake reflected. He groaned and rubbed his eye, feeling like quite the idiot. He only hoped that Steal hadn't been looking, or he might think the same.

Speaking of... Where is the guy? Yusai thought, squinting into his surroundings to see where Steal had wandered off to. It didn't take him too long to discover his slender little frame hunched over on a rock in the shade of a large pine tree; he appeared to be simply staring out into the lake, as he had been doing. His expression, though it was hard for Yusai to tell very clearly, didn't read as one having a particularly good time, and Yusai wondered if perhaps Steal was still mulling over the incident at the restaurant.

A pinch formed in his gut: admittedly, Yusai had only thought about getting over the incident himself, and didn't take into account how the boy might've been dealing with it. His occasional bouts of insensitivity could usually be overlooked (and it's not as if Yusai didn't feel bad about them) but in this instance, where Steal had been so involved in the cross fire, he couldn't assume that he'd be over it as quickly. Yusai felt more like a jerk the more he thought about it, and in an effort to both comfort Steal and ease his conscious a little, he trekked up the small hill leading to the rock Steal sat on to talk.

When he approached Steal, he immediately knew words were not going to sooth him, nor would they come easily. He could read the expression bent on Steal's pink lips, knotted across his slate eyebrows, and pinched between his blue eyes that he likely did not want to speak or be spoken to for a while--if at all, for the remainder of the afternoon. Yusai couldn't live with that, however, and made his best effort to bring some closure to the past events, and brighten his mood a little.

"Look, Steal... I really hope the things said back there didn't get to you too much. That waitress don't know the first thing about respect or anythin', or what it even means to be a decent human being." He said this sternly, and sat down beside Steal. "It don't matter if you're gay or straight or black or white or any of that, and you know what? If she has to fuss every mornin' thinkin' about people to hate for any stupid reason, based on nothin' she doesn't even know about, then that's her own problem. Feel bad that she has to wake up every day and be miserable over nothin'." He let his his words swirl into the breeze for a minute before turning to look at Steal, who he was having a difficult time reading. Unsure if he was making things better or worse by talking, but still wanting to change his mood from something other than misery, Yusai returned his focus back to the lake and simply asked,

"So... How d'you like it?"

[double post]

There was something particuarly painful about trying to speak to someone that seemed suddenly to forget you exist, something that leaves you feeling empty. Yusai was walking away, seeming in his own world, leaving Steal speaking to himself... again.

It wasn't too shocking then, to find that when Yusai finally came back to speak to him, Steal was in a sulky mood. Twice he had tried to take the moment to speak to his room mate about something not only very serious to him, but something that had been festering inside, and twice the other man tuned him out. This time Steal just looked up blankly. "Yeah.. nice.." He sighed and slumped down, sitting on the wet ground. "Come back for me when you remember that I am alive and may want to do more than follow like a zombie."

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared off into the distance, fighting to keep from cursing under his breath. A moment later everything inside snapped like a broken bone. "I stopped giving a shit what she had to say miles back! Its YOU that seems to be trying to piss me off! I have only been speaking to myself for the last few hours! Heck! I probably am doing the same thing again right?" He scowled darkly before kicking at an offending stone. "I give up! I completely give up, nothing I say seems to get through. Screw it Yusai, if you don't want to hear what is important to me why do I try? WHY??"

The frustration inside finally got to be too much and Steal leapt to his feet. "Do you even notice me at all? What is it going to take for you to see me as more than an object living in your house? I try to break through and its like.. you take that moment to tune me out completely... Do you even want me around anymore?" Tears of upset started to slide down his pale cheeks and he brushed them away with dirty fingers. "M-maybe I should ask Otto if he still wants someone to rent his garage apartment.. that way you can get back to your life."

That wasn't what Yusai had wanted, not at all. None of the things Steal was saying were what Yusai ever thought, or even considered, and his words came like a dagger straight into his gut. He didn't think it was possible for words to hurt as much as they did, and it wasn't as though Steal was saying terrible things... Yusai simply didn't realize that he had been the cause of so much agony to his friend, and he felt truly awful as he saw Steals face wilt into tears.

He felt a ball drop down his throat, into his stomach, and its weight seemed to spread from there to his arms and legs when he heard Steal talk about leaving. Move out? Yusai especially didn't want that, of all the things Steal had been talking about. As if on two planes of thought, one part of Yusai didn't want Steal to leave on account of something he had done, to leave because he felt unwanted.

On another level, on that secret level that had been offended by the waitress, that had taken delight in Steals company, that wanted nothing more than to embrace the boy and hold onto him forever, it was crushed by the idea of never having Steal around. That part of him could barely imagine waking up each morning to an empty apartment, to an empty bedside, to never hear his laugh or see his smile or touch his skin was pulsing, aching, in agony.

Perhaps acting on behalf of both trains of thought, Yusai lept up from the rock and embraced Steals trembling little body, and held him tight against his own. He held him there for a while in silence, trying to steady Steals nerves and his own, which shook with the boys. The weight that had spread into his body was beginning to form a ball again, and was working its way up Yusai's throat the more he heard Steals quiet sniffling; the sound was simply heartbreaking, and a certain sense of helplessness surfaced within Yusai.

He didn't know what he could do or say to make things better, if there was anything to do or say. Yusai just didn't know what to do. It was a feeling he hadn't had in such a long time, and in such a big way: the last time he had ever felt so feeble had been when Richard died. It was funny how his thoughts worked like that sometimes, always coming back to Richard in some way... Atleast, since Steal had been in his life. His memory flickered between the loss of his friend then, and the prospect of losing his friend now.

It took every bit of strength for Yusai not to begin sobbing as he finally plead into Steals ear, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry." He tucked his chin down between the nape of Steals neck, as if to stop himself from letting too many things escape his mouth. "You're me best... You're me best friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Fear pooled momentarily in Steal's body as he thought about what would happen if Yusai had taken him up on the offer, if he had to move in with Otto. He didn't really have anything against the other man but he didn't want to have him as a landlord. Thankfully it seemed Yusai didn't want to face that thought any more than he had.

Steal wept bitterly against Yusai's chest, clinging like he never had before. He was even moderately aware that Yusai was crying too, which seemed a bit strange. What did Yusai have to cry about? Steal had been sure he was offering the other just what he wanted, freedom to have the life Steal stole from him.

Through both of their tears he could hear Yusai saying that he was sorry, and Steal managed to choke out that Yusai really had nothing to be sorry for. Why be sorry that he didn't want to hear the whining of the younger male? Steal just kept murmuring that it was okay, his eyes closing slightly.

There were still problems though, how was he supposed to finally let Yusai know what he wanted to tell him? Should he hold it in more? No, he couldn't do that, it was tearing him apart and if it kept up he would end up sick, or a nervous wreck.

For now there was Yusai though. Lifting his head again Steal peered at the blond, lifting a gloved hand to wipe his eyes again. "How am I supposed to tell you though? How can things be fixed?" He was aware that the question held the same crypticness that seemed to cling to the rest of the day.

He pinched his eye shut to ward off the impending tears that were beginning to form; he was starting to feel foolish. There was no reason for tears at a time like this, and it certainly was no time to show Steal any sign of weakness, especially when he needed someone to support him. Yusai pulled his head away from Steals neck and sighed, patting the back of the boys head.

"Hey... You don't need to be afraid to tell me anythin'. It's what I'm here for, ain't it?" he looked into Steals eyes and smiled a little with the corners of his mouth. "I mean, for that, and pay your rent, heh." he ran his fingers up Steals neck and along the back of his head to mess with his hair for a minute, adding quietly, "I'm only kiddin'... We need each other for a lot more than that, don't we?" Yusai was content not to receive an answer to that, if Steal didn't have one.

With Steal still in his arms, Yusai returned his gaze toward the lake, which had taken on a new glow with the passing sun; it was not quite sun set, but it was definitely later in the day. Time had gone by a lot faster than Yusai had realized, but it was no matter: he and Steal had no place to be, and nothing to do today. Their time could be wasted as they wished, and the way they were spending it now was good enough for the bartender.

He was getting a little desperate to lighten the mood--today wasn't supposed to be a day of sadness and resentment, it was supposed to be fun and relaxing--and in an attempt to settle themselves down, Yusai asked idly, "... You know how to skip stones?" he then reached down and took Steals hand into his, and started guiding him down by the lakeside.

Through the underbrush that grew just a few feet from the wet shoreline, Yusai had fished out a few stones that he assumed would make great skippers. Admittedly, he was no expert on the art of stone skipping, and he couldn't really remember the techniques Richard had taught him years back; it was ironic in a way, that Yusai had spent the majority of his high school years playing a sport that required a certain level of skill, to throw and catch a ball, yet he couldn't throw a rock and have it hop on water.

He handed a small handful of rocks to Steal, and shuffled the remaining load he had in his palms. "Now, I forget how to do this, but ah..." Yusai started to ramble while he fumbled with a rock between his fingers. "... I think you're s'posed to hold it like this," showing Steal how to hold the rock, he continued with some hesitance, "... And then, uh, you... Uh. Throw it? Like this...?" With some finesse, which was mostly all show and little skill, Yusai threw the rock toward the lake. It soared through the air for a split second, and then dive-bombed into the lake with a dull "PLUNK".

Yusai scoffed at himself, putting one hand on the back of his neck and the other against his hip. "Guess I'm not very good at this, eh?" he said with a sheepish grin.

Steal didn't want to feel bad that day either but it was hard to let hurt feelings go. He sighed and shook his head slowly. "I wouldn't just use you for rent.. I .. don't think I am like that, you mean a lot more to me than that.." He sighed and just leaned back a moment, resting against Yusai for security.

The trick to getting through the rest of the day was going to be keeping himself composed and trying to get a grip on his feelings. Steal mentally told himself to wait till they were back home or something before talking to Yusai, perhaps then there would be less distraction.

"I am sorry, I don't mean to ruin today." He gave a fragile smile and let Yusai lead him to the water. When he was holding the skipping stones he looked down at them in confusion. Never before had he even tried to do something like this before. Rolling one of the flat stones around in his hand he watched Yusai for instruction, letting the cool breeze blow back his long hair and cool his flushed skin.

"So.. we are supposed to just toss them in the water? I don't see why that is called skipping." He shrugged and tossed one out as well, watching it sink with a plunk. "Not too impressive." He glanced back and watched the other man trying to shift the stone around to make it skip properly.

Creasing his brow a bit Steal tried to shift the stone in his own hand, matching the way Yusai was trying to show him. He then tossed the stone flicking his wrist in some strange way, which actually made the darn thing hop three times. "Whoa... uh.. I couldn't even tell you what I did to make that happen..." His blue eyes were wide as he looked at Yusai, a bit of excitement raising back into his voice. Soon Steal was tossing the stones out faster, not able to replicate what he had done that once. "Darn.. I think they are broken!"