The Doctor Is In

Just a warning

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:01:37 GMT

Attention Japan: did it not occur to you that round specs and people with dark hair were around long before Rowling-san?
If anyone. And I mean ANYone. Calls me Harry Potter one. more. freaking. time. I don't care how old they are. I will murder them. Then kill them. And then make them wish they weren't born. In that order.

Gonna go take a nice long smoke and come back to this as soon as my hands are no longer using the "curled around someone's neck and squeezing" position as their default.

To the Japanese Conquistadores

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:37:45 GMT

I don't care if you're going for one day or one year. Get your malaria medicine now or face the wrath of Dr. Shin's Happy Fun Time Malaria Treatments with a bonus performance of Dr. Jou's Preventative Hepatitis Roundup starring your butts and some really sharp needles.

Tickets are on sale now!

Happy Birthday Inoue-san

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:41:51 GMT

If you're lonely, I've got the number of one of those ladies from the club.

Shin and his Bosses

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:48:07 GMT

All Shin could think when he walked into the hospital on this particular afternoon was “it’s about freaking time.” After weeks of watching the summons notice, held to his refrigerator by an Atomu magnet, stain and turn yellow from occasionally spilling water on it while refilling the ice cube trays, the board of directors was finally ready to see him.

His briefcase was full of the mostly necessary documents he’d need to present his case and make everything he said look official, despite the fact that the hospital’s attorney already gave each of the members their own copy, and by this point he knew they’d already made their decision anyway. In his mind he knew that most of the board members were progressive-minded people, but he frankly didn’t care. The only thing that really mattered was that if he were to be transferred, that his replacement would take good care of Jou.

Who, as he expected, was waiting for him in plainclothes near the nurses’ station.

“Shin!” Jou said, his voice and eyes full of worry as he strode to his older brother.

“Aren’t you supposed to be off?” asked Shin as he automatically signed a form a nurse put under his nose with the pen she shoved in his hand.

“Yeah, but I thought I should be here with you.”

“Why? You’re not in any trouble.”

“Well…” Jou tried to dig a hole in the linoleum floor with his toe while he looked for an answer on the ceiling. “I know what they want to talk to you about, and since Rie was my patient, I thought-“

“That you should sit in the hearing with me?” Shin cut in. “I appreciate your concern Kiddo, but it’s not happening.”

Shin started to walk past Jou, who followed close behind.

“But why? Like I said, she was my patient. I should be responsible, right?”

“Correction. I was her attending. Therefore I am responsible.”

“What? But I always-“

“Yeah, I know what you did. I watched you as much as possible.” Shin led them into the staff room, where he proceeded to fix himself some coffee. “But I was the one who assigned her to you, and since you are an intern under my program, I was responsible with making sure that one, you were assigned a case you could handle and two, that I double-checked everything you did and made sure there were no mistakes. Therefore yes, I am responsible for that case.”

“But you didn’t do anything wrong!”

Shin nodded. “Nope. And neither did you.”

“So why the hearing?”

Shin sighed and leaned back against the table as he stirred his coffee. Jou adjusted the collar of his shirt. That posture meant this was one of those subjects that didn’t make Shin happy.

“You see, the reason I decided not to keep my practice in Japan is because a lot of the time, medicine was just as much about appearances as any other business. Back when I started medical school, most doctors were very reluctant to inform a terminal patient of their condition for fear that it would tarnish their image because they couldn’t cure something.”

Jou nodded. “A couple of my professors were like that.”

Shin nodded as well. “It’s getting better, but Japan still has a long way to go. To sum it up, a member of the board happens to be one of these old-fashioned doctors.”

Jou ran his thumb around the rim of his watch. “It’s not Dad, is it?”

“Nah. We’re lucky that Dad is actually really smart.” Shin took a sip of coffee and proceeded out of the room with Jou in tow. “You really should go home, Jou. You don’t need to be here today.”

“I’m here to help you!”

Shin stopped and turned around. His movements were smooth and controlled so as not to spill his coffee, but all the same he looked intimidating.

“And just what will you do, Jou? They’re not interested in you. If you’re out to redeem yourself for Rie’s death, then you’re not going to find it here because in their eyes you haven’t done anything wrong. Even speaking as your brother I’m not sure where you’re going to find that because frankly I am not you.”

Jou opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words, the will to fight back exited his mouth and he closed it. His shoulders sagged with a puff of air from his nostrils and he looked away.

Shin looked at his coffee. “Look, I know you’re still taking her death hard. I can’t really blame you. I can help you do your job, but outside of this establishment you are on your own. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to come to terms on your own.”

“I know that,” Jou said in a low voice.

“I’m impressed though. I thought you’d be a lot worse off, but you’re a lot stronger than I thought you’d be.”

Jou smiled thinly. “Thanks Shin. It means a lot.”

Shin looked down the hall. The boardroom was a few meters away. “Look, after this I have no plans, but I have to be in for work tonight. Wanna grab a burger or some sushi?”

Jou nodded. “Sure. That’d be great. But, can I ask one favor?”

“What’s that?”

“I won’t sit in the room with you, but can I at least wait outside for you?”

Shin smiled. “Can’t wait for the ending, can you?”

“Not this time.” Jou smiled back.

“Knock yourself out, Kiddo.”

“Thanks, Shin.”

Shin turned toward the door and looked at Jou in all seriousness. “No seriously, find some sleeping pills. This could take a long time and these meetings are more boring than daytime TV.”

“But!”

Shin silenced him with a finger. “Ah! You know how useless it is to reason with me, Kiddo. Once I make a decision on something it will take either an act of God or one really good bowl of anmitsu to change my mind. Apart from that my will is law, and as you well know the law is God’s will and justice imparted to mankind for his own benefit, so therefore my will is immutable.”

Jou stood still, staring at his brother as his mind searched for the meanings to the words his brother had just used. While, separately, they all made sense, in context they took on an entirely new meaning which even his bookworm tendencies were having difficulty deciphering. Somehow he came to the conclusion that Shin apparently thought he was God, and that his will was law on earth and that everyone owed him a warm bran muffin.

“Huh?”

Shin shoved him into a waiting chair and patted him on the shoulder. “If you’re so concerned about me, wait here. We’ll go back to your place and hang out for a bit, okay? Or better yet, why don’t we crash Mimi-chan’s place and steal some of her cooking?”

Jou’s hands clutched the seat and his toes curled inside his shoes. “M-Mimi-kun? Why?”

“Because nothing washes down a stressful meeting like a good, home-cooked meal, and I know you want to see Mimi-kun again so why not?”

Jou looked at Shin’s pocket. “I’m not really so sure about that.”

Shin’s trademark smirk dissolved and his brows drew close together as his mind focused. Jou not wanting to see Mimi? Not a good sign.

“Well, it’s time. See you in a bit, Kiddo.”

Shin entered the door and put on his game face. The door closed behind him and left him facing a long table on one side of which sat six older, stone-faced men, one of whom was Shin’s father. His face was just as serious as the others’ as Shin took his seat on the opposite side of the table.

“Did you not bring any materials?” asked a balding doctor with a large mole on his forehead.

Shin shook his head. “You already have copies and I am fully aware of what I am here for. Can we please proceed?”

“Very well,” said the doctor. “Doctor Shin Kido, you are here because we the board of directors believe you may have acted out of line with the Takanuma case. Would you care to explain yourself?”

Shin kept his hands clasped in front of him on the table, his back straight in the chair and his head high. “I acted in what I felt was the most appropriate fashion for the patient’s well-being and instructed my intern to act likewise.”

Another doctor leaned forward, this one stiff and his head crowned by a circle of white hair. “We are concerned, Doctor Kido, with how you informed the patient of her condition.”

“Can you elaborate, please?” asked Shin.

The doctor leaned back slightly. “In the medical practice, the patient’s mental well-being is just as important as his or her physical well-being. If a patient is faced with a difficult situation, a doctor must weigh carefully the consequences of informing the patient of it.”

“Sir, if I have acted out of line, then I apologize, but I feel that I have acted in accordance with my training and experience in the Takanuma case.”

“I understand, Doctor Kido. But did you consider that allowing Miss Takanuma to know the extent of her condition may have affected her emotional status during her treatment, and possibly have led to her passing?”

Shin didn’t flinch. “I felt that it was better that she be aware of her condition so that she might prepare herself fully for what lay ahead.”

“So why did you assign your brother, Doctor Jou Kido to the case?”

This question came from Shin’s dad. Everyone in the room directed their attention to the as yet silent administrator, who’s eyes hammered into Shin’s heart.

Shin’s shoulders sank a little under his father’s gaze. “I felt that the patient’s best chance of survival lay chiefly in her will to survive. While I could easily treat her, I know my brother and felt, no knew, that he was better suited to that aim. All I could do was coach him through the diagnosis and treatment.”

“Thank you Doctor Kido,” said his father. There was a slight pause as the board members exchanged looks, nods, and headshakes.

The doctor with the mole spoke up next. “In light of your testimony and our discussions, we have decided to drop all allegations and declare you not responsible for Miss Takanuma’s death. Thank you for your time, Doctor Kido. Any further comments from the board?” The board members exchanged stern looks. “Very well. This meeting is adjourned.” The board members closed their binders and all of the doctors stood.

Jou jumped when Shin stepped out of the boardroom. After Shin went in he went down the hall to the convenience store and loaded up on onigiiri, soda, chips, and pocky, and he was just unwrapping the onigiiri when Shin stepped out.

“Shin!” he said, fumbling with the contents of his lap. “That was quick!”

Shin sighed. “I said you didn’t need to be here.”

“But it was so quick!”

“There wasn’t much to discuss.”

“Did they say anything?”

“Not really.”

“Did they do anything?”

“Nope.”

Jou stood there, stuffing the contents of his lap back into the convenience store bag. When he finished this, he thumbed his belt buckle and shrugged.

“So that’s it?”

“Yep. Wanna go see Mimi-chan?”

“Sure, why not?”

“I thought you weren’t sure about that earlier.”

“Well now my expectations for today have been dashed. I gotta have something to stress about to relieve the pressure.”

“You’re kidding. You need stress?” Shin's entreprenurial side was trying to figure out how to turn Jou into a prize-winning case study.

Jou nodded as though Shin had just discovered the key to understanding his entire personality. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

Shin shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair like he had just opened the door to yet another labyrinth after finally solving the sphinx’s riddle. “You know, not everyone puts effort into making themselves complicated, and the overwhelming majority of them just end up becoming annoying or smartasses. You, on the other hand, have genuinely made yourself more complicated for no apparent reason.”

Jou looked to the side, hoping to find something distracting, like a bear in a yukata juggling bowling pins while holding a salmon in its mouth.

“Uh, yeah, thanks. Come on, let’s go!” He grabbed Shin’s arm and pulled him down the hall. Right now, any place was better than standing still, so long as he was moving in some direction.

Okay so...

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:44:43 GMT

...why am I being sent before the hospital board of inquiry?

Private

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:06:39 GMT

It's been a whole day since Rie died and I am still as clueless as when I started. I haven't heard from Jou yet and for the record I don't want to. What the hell am I going to do? He's going to find out sooner or later. Medical practice is to notify kin immediately, but Jou isn't Kin. But the amount of work he put into Rie will crush him just as much as if he was her brother.

God, this is frustrating. I suppose I'm going to be the one to break it to him, but what worries me most is that he has to jump right back into work the day after he gets back, so he won't have any time to grieve. I suppose I will go to the funeral, but for once I have no idea how Jou is going to take this. This is going to make or break him. Every intern goes through this, but I'm starting to wonder if it was a mistake to let Jou get this invested.

Shuu coming back when he did is a godsend. I may need his help as much as Jou before this is all over. Jou returns on Sunday. Guess I'd better figure out how to word the news.

Shin Kido, M.D.

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:27:43 GMT

Who: Shin Kido and Rie Takanuma

Where: Waseda Intensive Care Unit

The Intensive Care Unit was not one of Dr. Shin Kido’s favorite places to be at any given time. The patients here were strapped to some of the most delicate and powerful equipment modern medicine could conceive in a last-ditch effort to keep them alive. Death was like a valued customer here.

The one exception these days was a teenaged girl who had recently given birth after a long and difficult labor. Most patients were in the ICU were there to keep them from slipping into an eternal slumber. Rie was there to help her get out of the ICU as fast as possible, which was a rare case in this ward.

For this reason, whenever Shin passed Rie’s bed, he always smiled at her, even if she was usually unconscious, or barely awake when nursing Chihiro. It was nice to see someone in here who stood a chance.

He stopped to examine a patient’s chart. A head trauma had this one in a coma, and he had shown no signs of improvement for two weeks. The next was no better. Pneumonia and getting worse. He sighed and put the charts back and turned to Rie for refreshment. He thought of all the work Jou had put into her and felt proud of his baby brother. Maybe he would go a little easier on him from now on? Nah, he still has a lot to learn. Can’t go soft on him now that he’s probably got an ego boost from all this. Of course he was jealous of Jou. The people he was meeting now would probably change the course of his entire career.

One of the interns approached him – what was her name? Ah, he’d just make something up per usual – and pinned on her name tag.

“I’m here, Dr. Kido!”

Shin smiled. “Great! Thank you for stating the obvious, Miss Obvious. It’s not like I have near-perfect vision with my glasses on and can see you crystal clear or anything, or that I am deaf and can’t hear that ear-piercing shrill that you call a voice when you’re standing right next to me. Again, I must thank you for that grand entrance.”

The intern seemed to collapse in front of Shin. “What do we do now?” she asked meekly.

“Well, since Jou is having fun in the sun and rubbing some high-class elbows in Okinawa, you are going to help me make sure nobody dies.”

“Isn’t that what we always do?”
“Yes, but,” Shin lowered his voice to a respectable hush. “This is the ICU. Most of the time, people die here. I’ve been having a pretty good day so far, so I would appreciate it if that didn’t happen today. Should somebody die, I will thusly blame it on you in an attempt to make myself feel better, understand?”
Terror filled the young girl’s eyes. “Y-yes sir!”

Shin straightened up. “The only exception here is Miss Takanuma, who, unlike the other comatose patients here, is actually on her way out to the recovery ward and then back home. The only reason she is here is because she needs some tender loving care and, in one of my rare moments of weakness, I promised my brother I’d take care of her while he was away.“

“That’s so sweet!” The intern exclaimed.

“And do you know what’s also sweet?” Shin said, a wicked smile crossing his face.

“Wh-what?” she said, smiling nervously.

“The back of your head as you go get me another drip bag for Miss Takanuma as she will need another in about half an hour!” Shin said with a squeal.

The intern saluted, then paused mid-salute, then bowed, then held her finger up in an effort to concentrate her thoughts, and then snapped her fingers. “Yes sir! Be right back!” She bounded away.

Shin sighed and shook his head with a smile. Interns were so much fun to mess with. It was always such a shame once they finished their residency and became full-fledged doctors and had wised up to his tricks. Oh well. There were always more interns. He turned to Rie and found her eyes open.

“Ah, good morning Miss Takanuma. I trust you’re not feeling too nauseous from the medication?”

Rie shook her head slowly. Her eyelids were heavy and her voice was thick. “No. Just tired. Where’s Chihiro? How is she?”

“Resting up in maternity. She’s probably been through more than you, if you can believe it. After all, you’re a teenager. You can bounce back from most anything.”

“I’ll never bounce back from this. I can’t stop being a mother now, can I?”

“Probably not. You just worry about getting better and we’ll bring Chihiro down when she’s hungry.”

“Thanks.” Rie lay still for a moment. Her thoughts came together slowly. “You’re really hard on them. Your interns.”

Shin stuck his hands in his pockets. “I’m only being as hard on them as medicine is on me. After all, we’re dealing with human lives here, not a bunch of paperwork or flowers. They mess up and somebody is in serious trouble. They may be amateurs, but this is one place they can’t afford to act like it.”

Again a long pause. Rie blinked slowly. “If you were a little nicer people might actually like you.”

Shin smiled. “I am nice. I just have unusual methods of loving people. After you go home I’m getting a party together for Jou, and you and Chihiro are invited.”

“Great,” she answered. “I just hope Chihiro doesn’t keep me too busy.”

“I’m sure the girls would love to meet her.”

Rie paused for a long time, trying to think of something, but nothing would come to her mind. Just as Shin was about to turn away she said “I want to see my parents.”

Shin nodded. “Unfortunately, this is the ICU, so no visitors. After we move you to recovery they can visit as much as they want.”

“Good. I miss them already.”

“I know you do. Get some rest. Chihiro will probably be getting hungry soon.”

Rie nodded and closed her eyes, settling into her pillow.

Shin returned to his less enviable task of keeping an eye on the other ICU patients. The intern returned with a new drip bag.

“Should I replace the bag, sir?”

“I think that would be in the patient’s best interests, Miss Obvious,” he said without looking up from his chart.

Shin absorbed himself in deciding what course of action to recommend for the patient. Sometimes he could look at a chart and realize there was nothing he could do, but he had to try something or the ethics committee would be all over him.

“Dr. Kido?” said the intern. Her voice was shaky.

“Whaat is it?” he said without looking up.

“Miss Takanuma is spiraling!”

Shit.

Shin hung the chart back up and leaped across the room to Rie’s bed. A glance at the monitor confirmed it. Her vital signs were deteriorating rapidly and her temperature was already dangerously high.

Shin slammed the panic button on the wall and tossed the intern aside. “Stand over there and do everything I say! Check her breathing.”

“Yes sir!” She dashed to the other side of the bed while Shin tore Rie’s hospital gown open and applied his stethoscope to her heart while the intern leaned over Rie’s mouth.

“Her breathing is really restricted.”

“Heartbeat is showing irregularities,” he said, confirming the monitor’s readout and wiping away any doubt that it was a glitch in the machine. At that moment a half dozen nurses surrounded the bed, one of them pushing a table full of equipment and drugs, the senior nurses calling orders to the junior nurses and Shin calling orders to all of them.

“Temperature thirty nine point nine!” called the intern as she removed a digital thermometer from Rie’s ear.

Shin tore the blankets off of her and a nurse pulled them completely off the bed and tossed them aside.

“Shit! She’s got an infection.”

“An infection?”

“Probably from giving birth. I need antibiotics and I need them now! Get me a fucking OBGYN down here.”

A senior nurse relayed the order to a junior, who ran to the nearest phone.”

“BP one hundred over fifty and dropping,” said the intern.

“Fuck!” How had they missed this? He forced a syringe full of antibiotics into her arm and then reached for one of bufferin. “Don’t die on me, Rie,” he whispered as he leaned over her. Her skin was hot to the touch and she was breaking into a heavy sweat. “You owe Jou as much to show him that all his work paid off.”

“BP still falling!” said the intern.

“Tell me something I don’t know!” The monitor’s rhythmic beeping became more irregular. “Where’s the fucking OBGYN?”

The nurse covered the receiver. “He’s in the middle of a delivery right now!”

“Tell him to put an intern on it and get his balls down here because this one’s circling the drain! Get me a cold compress,” he ordered a nurse.

One of the nurses placed a cold pack on Rie’s forehead. She was breathing in gasps and her face was lined with physical distress. The monitor’s beeping grew more frantic.

Shin’s mind went into automatic. He began calling out orders for drugs and equipment at a rate even the most experienced nurse could barely keep up with. His hands flew over Rie’s body as he tried to save her life. Rie’s hands clenched and grabbed the bedding tightly as her body began trembling. Shin filled the air with curses as if they were prayers and he was a priest of profanity.

Then all at once, the trembling stopped, only to be replaced by something even more terrifying. The monitor’s regular beeping became one long peal, and Rie went limp.

“FUCK!” Shin shouted at the top of his lungs. “Defibrilator! NOW! Newbie, start compressions!”

The intern bent over Rie and began compressing her chest while Shin charged the defibrillator paddles. The nurse on the phone covered the receiver again, fear draining the color from her face as she took a breath to address Shin.

“Dr. Kido. The…I can’t get the OBGYN!”

Shin stared at her as though the world was falling apart like a jigsaw puzzle. He forced his focus into Rie, willing her to recover as he yelled “Clear!”

The others took their hands off of Rie as Shin applied the paddles to her chest. He pulled the triggers and the defibrillator shot 120 volts of electricity into her heart, enough power to make her body spasm. He removed the paddles and the intern continued compressions as the defibrillator recharged. The monitor’s steady peal continued unabated. The nurses watched with baited breath and horrified looks as Shin came unglued in front of them.

“Clear!”

Rie’s body leaped once more to the electric shock. Again she did not respond. They repeated the procedure, Shin’s swearing and shouting urging them to continue despite the seeming hopelessness of the situation.

“Clear!”

The defibrillator electrified Rie’s heart once more and the monitor’s peal broke. Rie took in a desperate gasp of air and her body trembled violently. Her eyes started to open and she arched her back even as the nurses tried to hold her down. Her mouth moved. She was trying to speak. It took her several tries, but she forced a single word cut across the chaos.

“D-daddy...”

Her body went limp again and her breath escaped her as the monitor started screaming again.

“Fuck! Don’t die!” Shin shouted as he reapplied the paddles without warning. The others got their hands clear just as Shin pulled the triggers and got no response from Rie. The intern continued compressions, but the sense of urgency had already left the room.

“Dr. Kido?”

“What? What the fuck is it now?” he snarled.

Shin felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the nurse who was on the phone. She looked scared.

“Miss Takanuma’s baby just died. They did everything they could…they said it was an infection complicated by a weak immune system.”

Something closed around the room like a fist. The intern was still doing compressions, but even she could sense the hopelessness in the room. Shin raised the paddles over his head and they paused there for a half second. His arms quivered as he gathered his strength, then released his breath in a curse and hurled the paddles at the defibrillator.

Shin waved to her. “You can stop now.” The monitor was still on. “Someone turn the monitor off.” The nurses hesitated, not sure how close to actually get to Shin. One of them moved, but not fast enough for Shin.

“I said turn the fucking monitor off!” He spun around and slammed the monitor to the floor, shattering the screen and crushing several compartments. He yanked the power cord out the wall as violently as possible and kicked the monitor for good measure. “Call it!” he barked to the intern.

She looked at the clock. “Time of death, 1023.”

“Thanks.” He stripped off his gloves and threw them to the floor as he stormed away from the scene. He kept his back turned as the nurses disconnected Rie’s equipment and covered her up. The intern stayed and watched as the blanket covered Rie’s head. She ran after Shin and caught him at the door.

“Dr. Kido. Will you be okay?”

Shin stopped; the kind of pause that one usually reserves for one his mother has been insulted and that is usually followed by a challenge. He turned around with a sarcastic grin on his face and an equally sarcastic laugh in his voice.

“Me? Oh I’ll be just fine. I’ve lost plenty of patients just like that, so this is nothing new to me. I’ll be just fine.” His voice was hard and icy. He raised his right arm and pointed south by southeast, toward Okinawa. “But what really just has me running up the fucking pagoda is that now it’s my responsibility to tell Jou about this, so the first thing he’s going to find out from home is that this all his hard work was for nothing. No, in the end, my baby brother is the one who’s not going to be alright, not me.” He lowered his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m going to grab a smoke, get a beer from the convenience store, and then come back here and finish my shift.”

He turned and left the ICU, everyone and everything in it.

Note: Read this or a six-toed demon will put Nair in your shampoo tonight.

Now I Need a Vacation

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:17:07 GMT

After a long and stressful twenty-four hour labor, Takanuma Chihiro was born to Takanuma Rie at 0640 this morning, yours truly being the assisting physician.

Mother and child are now in Intensive Care but expected to improve over the week. They should be ready to go home shortly after Jou gets back from Okinawa.

Congratulations again to Jou for his work with Rie and for winning the contest. Don't worry, bro. I'll take good care of them for you. Her parents say they owe your a lot more than just gratitude.

Later everyone. I've got a teenage mom to look after now.

PS. I'll drop the presents off at her house tomorrow. How does a welcome home shower sound?

Getting A Glimpse of Maturity

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:22:39 GMT

Time:April 6, Approx. 5:30pm (Sometime after Koushirou and Mimi left Akihabara)
What: Shin is suckered hearing more drama of which is none of his business, people!!
Where: Nakano-ku, Shin's apartment. Bachelor pad.

At the very least, Mimi was getting a workout that evening. The sound of her fist furiously pounding against the apartment door would have disturbed the neighbors--had they been home.

But it was not even 6pm yet, and most of the residents were still commuting home from work.

"SHIN-SAN! Open up already! I know you're in there!" Mimi's tone was strong and threatening--and loud enough to be heard over her already thunderous knocking.

Shin cringed as his perfect harmony was shattered by Mimi's impromptu drum solo. He slapped his chopsticks together and abndoned his boxed sushi dinner and sauntered to the door.

He unlocked it and pushed it open a crack, holding the handle tightly so she couldn't make a biggerhole and slip past his defenses.

"I'm eating" said the one eye that greeted her.

"Are you drinking along with it?" Mimi leaned her face towards the crack--that way if the brother chose to slam the door in her face (he wouldn't dare) it would result in injury--and thusly treatment.

Mimi was now face to face with Shin. He could smell even her makeup right now as she eyed him like a leopard. "Yes. I am having a nice cup of tea with my sushi like a good Japanese man."

Mimi shoved herself forward into the crack of the door, her eyes locked with his defiantly. By the looks of things, one false move would end up with his glasses split in two.

"You know that's not what I meant." Mimi started to force her way in. "Where are those drinks I dropped off a few months ago? I want them back."

Shin looked at Mimi like she just asked him to repeat the second grade just because she wanted to see him do his Kanji lessons and stood hir ground as she tried to invade his sanctuary. "Where do you think it is? I drank it! There's like one cocktail left in the fridge."

He felt like he was about to engage in a pushing match with the sister he never had.

"Then you better go out and restock, Mister. That baby's mine." With a final shove which involved her entire body, Mimi slammed herself against the door with the intent of knocking back the eldest Kido.

Shin stepped aside, away from the door and let physics have its way with Mimi. No point in making her get upset with him if he held the door and she bounced off of it and got hurt.

Mimi flailed her arms in awkward circles as she stumbled in to the apartment. Catching herself on the wall before crossing over the threshold, her knees hit the floor and she glared up at Shin.

Kicking off her shoes, she wobbled back up, and stepped inside.

"Glad to see you too. To whom or what do I owe the honor of your presence?" Shin casually stepped aside for her and pointed to the fridge."It's in there."

Mimi walked over to the fridge and opened it. Scanning over its contents critically, it wasn't hard to find the solitary can of strawberry cocktail on the top shelf.

After retrieving it and bumping the door shut with her hip, Mimi opened it and took a good chug. "I didn't know you drank such girly stuff."

Shin shrugged and leaned against the sink, idly playing with a clean glass."Normally no, but I'm not so rude as to refuse a gift from a lady, either."

Mimi took another swig. "Is this all you've got? This won't do me any good." She walked over to the small sofa which took up the majority of what would be Shin's living room--but most likely it doubled as his bedroom as well, if the piled blankets and fanned-out magazines were any indication.

She plopped herself onto it, and roughly arranged the pillows to prop her feet upon. "I needed a drinking buddy, and you are the closest person I know of-age." Mimi eyed Shin expectantly.

Shin raised his eyebrows. He already made the connection, but he had to be sure. But now yet. She wasn't drunk yet.
"I am honored, but why not your sempai? I would just as soon call you and your little gang of geeks and freaks my drinking buddies as wear a blouse and change my name to Shiori. And in your case, Tachikawa, I am probably the worst choice simply by fact of my age and marital status."
He gathered and stacked the magazines neatly and pulled up a chair for himself.

Mimi glared forward, and took another sip. "Because he would never allow me to drink myself stupid, no matter the circumstance." She licked her lips, and curled up tightly against the sofa. "Yamato-san dumped me, without warning."

Shin nodded. His suspicions were confirmed, but he was a little dissappointed that he would not get a drunken confession.
"You're still sober and you're spilling your guts. I know you don't trust me this much. Did he give any reasons, if I may be so rude?"

"He said I told him he wasn't good enough." Mimi sniffed, and took another sip. "I never said anything like that--I would never say anything like that! He was just searching for an excuse to break up with me, and that was the best he could come up with, short of admitting that there is someone else!" Her voice began to strain as she continued, and finished the cocktail. She set it down. "What else do you have here? I'm not finished."

Shin sighed and stood up."Wait here. I'll be back with more. Decide what you're going to cry over in the meantime." He put a jacket on and stuffed his wallet in his pocket along with his cell phone."Any special convini requests?"

"Anything sweet." Mimi leaned forward to snatch up the remote control, and switched on the TV. After flipping through a few channels, she turned back to look at him, "And tuna-mayo onigiri. And those Calbee pizza chips. And salad Pretz."

Shin slipped his shoes on. "Buffet. Got it." He stepped outside and closed the door. As soon as the latch clicked, he danced. He chanted "Lucky! Lucky!" under his breath as he did a softshoe down the stairs. He finished with a flourish at the bottom and pointed to heaven and said "you are awesome. Thank you."

Mimi could not match the rejoicing taking place downstairs. She stared at the television screen blankly. Shin was not her favorite person. He wasn't the safest choice, either. Odds were he would make a pass at her at some point during the night. Maybe if she got drunk enough, they would actually have sex.

She tried not to think of that.

What mattered, though, was that, unlike everyone else, Shin wasn't a friend of Yamato's. With everyone else, she had to keep a strong front, act like everything was okay--like it was a mutual decision and that they parted as friends. She had to keep that going for the sake of unity among the Chosen Children. She couldn't let them know how broken he made her.

A single hot tear rolled down her cheek. At least with Shin, who didn't care one way or the other--she could let out all her anger and upset, and it would never go past these walls.

Shin's feet made quick work of the hundred meters or to the convenience store. He loaded up on frilly canned cocktails and included a pack of beer for himself. He stoppedat the food section and filled the rest of the basket with a variety of finger foods.

He paid up and made his way back to the apartment, hoping Mimi hadn't hung herself yet and given him even more trouble.

Mimi hadn't budged from her spot on the sofa. Her cocktail was sucked dry, and she had tightly wrapped one of his blankets around her body. She kept her eyes glued on the television screen, but still offered a polite "welcome back" when Shin returned.

"Thank you," Shin chimed as he slipped his shoes off and went to the main room. He set the bag down beside the chair and offered a cocktail to Mimi.
"Okay, talk." He sat down in the chair and opened one of his beers.

Mimi took the cocktail and opened it. "I don't know what to say." She admitted, and took a gulp quickly. She wasn't drinking for taste tonight--so she didn't mind that Shin got ume--blech. "I've been rejected before, but I've never been just suddenly dumped without a warning."

Shin calmly drank from his beer. He held it between his knees with both hands while he leaned on his knees with his elbows.
"No indication or anything, huh?"

Mimi paused. "Well..." Gulp. "There was a picture in the gossip column of him with this other girl that's a new friend of his--she was paying him a lot of attention before he left, but, you know--" Her voice rose, and she turned to Shin, her expression fierce. "I trusted him! He said she was just a friend, so I believed him! You're supposed to believe your boyfriend!"

Shin was settling into doctor mode. He had seen similar things. Girls who had one drink too many and one last fight with a boy or girlfreind and did something stupid that ended with a trip to Waseda. And every time they decided to vent on *him* for some inexplicable reason.
"So this other girl. I take it she wasn't just a friend?"

"I don't know! He denies it, but I don't know if I want to ever know the truth!" Mimi took another chug, this time passing about five seconds. She exhaled, and slouched back in the sofa. "What kind of guy means it when he says he is breaking up with you because he isn't good enough?!"

"Beats the hell out of me," he replied. "Usually I would say a really bad liar, but I don't know Ishida-san very well." He took another swig."Frankly I think a lot of guys aren't good enough for you and should thank their ancestors for even getting that chance. But that might just be me."

"What would you know." Mimi bitterly muttered. She then remembered that was why she chose him to confide in. He didn't like Yamato, so she could get away with saying anything without being judged. "He should have at least tried! He didn't even try! He wouldn't even give me a chance--and he never gave me any indication that anything was wrong!"

"Sounds to me like he wasn't ready for a serious relationship, but didn't have the balls to tell it to your face before it was too late."
Shin handed Mimi another cocktail."But I don't know what I'm going to do about that. And I won't bruise my knuckles for that blonde any day of the week."

"It wouldn't make any difference--he gets himself beaten up for fun by his best friend." Mimi took a slower sip of her cocktail, and shook it loosely in her hand to gauge how much was left. It was halfway empty already--so she was making progress. "But you're doing fine. Just keep talking." She sighed, and took another sip.

She was grateful. Shin was saying all the things she wish she could say, but couldn't bring herself to.

Shin took another swig."If talking is all it takes to get better, I could be the next messiah, but that's another story. But look, sad to say, what happened sucks. Ishida-san was one lucky bastard to get with you, and I can only hope one day he wakes up and realizes that he lost his chance. And when he does I can only hope you've recovered enough to say"sucks to be you" and show him that backside he no longer has any part in."
Shin punctuated his statement with a long gulp of beer.

A pained look crossed her face, and she polished off her second can of cocktail. Agh. Ume. She prayed that Shin had purchased more of a variety than that. "I just don't know how I will be able to handle seeing him with anyone else. After all that happened--we--we were so close, and suddenly he ended it..." She looked around for the next can to drink from.

Shin handed her an apple cocktail."What were you expecting? You're barely twenty, he's a musician, you're a professional, and so on. At your age I'd as soon as said I love you as quit school. Your still just kids looking for a good time, not adults looking to settle down. I'd almost say I saw this coming."

Psst. The can hissed as she opened it, and Mimi's pouting expression cracked to one of severe remorse. "So it was my fault!" Tears started welling in her eyes, and weren't even given a chance before they spilled over her lashes. She washed any potential sobs back with a long guzzle of apple cocktail.

Shin leaned back, rolled his eyes and groaned. As usual, everyone misunderstood him.
"I was trying to say that if you're going to blame yourself, he's as much to blame for all this. You weren't the one running around with some European with no common sense."

So he was running around with her...Mimi wasn't so much listening to Shin now as she was wallowing in her self-pity again. She took another sip of her cocktail, and licked her lips. "I don't know what my problem is--it can't be a coincidence that all of the guy friends I have ever cared for drop me so suddenly and thoughtlessly."

"Have you ever considered the option that shit happens and maybe it just is?" Shin asked."You can't spend your whole life connecting every bad thing to something you did or you'll spend your whole life making every damn thing your responsibility."

Mimi turned and looked to Shin, her eyebrows furrowed deeply into her forehead. "But you know what happened! With your brother, with Yamato-san! Even Koushirou-kun is being testy with me!" Her voice rose in volume, and her fingertips pressed into the aluminum can in her hands, causing the tin to give a little beneath the pressure. "That can't just be a coincedence! Life is never that unfair!"

"You're asking that to a guy whose job it is to keep people from dying and fails about twenty percent of the time? No, don't talk to me about fairness. Fair would mean all the people who deserve to live did, but that's not always the case. Do they think life is fair? I don't know. They're dead."

Mimi scowled and drank some more from her cocktail. "You're not helping me feel better." She bitterly responded, and reached for another cocktail. That way it was handy and available when she finished this one. "Serves me right for thinking you would help."

"You came to me, remember?" Shin returned her scowl with a knowing grin."And what made you think I'd care? Jou is the only one of you kids I really care about, so who you sleep or break up with is more or less not my concern. But you needed a drinking buddy with no investment in any of your problems so here I am." He was, of course, lying about the whole not being interested in Mimi thing.

Mimi balled a fist, and reached over to Shin. She dug her knuckles into Shin's temples, and twisted it into circles, grinding into his hair. "Keyword being buddy. You could at least be nice to me for tonight."

Shin flinched away and grabbed her wrist."You asked for Shin Kido, and that's what you get." He held her hand a moment longer than neccessary. He stared into her eyes and slowly released her hand.
"I won't stop you, but try not to drink too much."

Mimi rubbed her wrist softly. It hadn't hurt, but Mimi noticed that Shin's palm was sweaty. She looked at him suspiciously. "Don't worry, I know better than to drink myself sick. I know how to pace myself."

"It's a start. Maybe now you have a chance." He finished his beer and set it with the empty cans. "So I take it I'm the first to know?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Mimi dryly responded. "No, Koushirou-kun knows now, too..." Mimi cringed inwardly at the Akiba incident.

"I see. So when are you planning on telling everyone else? This can't stay secret forever, you know." Shin leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles. At the very least, Mimi wasn't a total crybaby.

"Not my problem. If they ask, I'll tell them. Otherwise, let Yamato be the man and have him do it. It was his decision, after all." Mimi
responded bitterly.

"Which means if he doesn't, and so far he shows no indication of doing so, that means you will have to let people assume you two are still together, even if you start seeing other people. You're okay with that?"

Shin leaned forward again and opened the next beer.

"Why wouldn't he?" Mimi said with a pout, and drank her cocktail. "And it's not like I would be dating anyone anytime soon--"

"Because from what I know of Yamato-san, he's not the type to admit things until forced to. Honestly, what kept you with him when he barely gives the time of day?" Shin knew the answer, but it might be good to have Mimi examine it in retrospect.

Mimi stared ahead, her bottom lip pouting out still while she thought it out. "...he was there for me when no one else was." She inhaled, and took another drink. "I guess he had one of his rare moments of security then, because after a few months it was back to the same-old." Letting out a sigh, it was then followed with a loud lament. "I thought I was different!" Mimi dropped her forehead on her knees, and shook her head slowly.

Shin sighed and allowed Mimi to sob for a minute. He rested his chin on his hands and watched her carefully. He really didn't hate Yamato at all, but he did think Yamato had to be one of the stupidest men alive.
"Maybe he just turned out to be an idiot."

Mimi shook her head. "Is that really possible?" She looked up to Shin with teary eyes. "Doesn't that make me an even bigger idiot for falling for him?!" The look on her face was a tensely fragile one--like a vase perched on the edge of a mantle. One slight push would send her over the edge and break her.

Shin looked into her eyes, poised to either push her over the edge or slide her safely back on the shelf. "Let me put it this way: if you are an idiot, then go ahead and admit it. If not, then perhaps he suckered you in during a moment of weakness, which at your age is nothing to be ashamed of. Either way, he is now just another ex-boyfriend. And no, it's not different because you slept with him and/or said you love him. This kind of thing happens all the time. But the thing that keeps this world spinning every time this happens is that people have themselves a nice long cry, and eventually, take the next step. So if you'd like to start the waterworks now, go right ahead because I have lots of tissues."

That did it. Shin was the first person to actually offer her the invitation. She had already cried so many times before, but it was whenever she had a lonely moment--which wasn't all too often, considering she had Palmon to keep her cheery. She thought about all the anxiety she had bottled up for the past few months, all the happy times she had together with him--the relief he gave her when she thought she was completely unloveable.

She thought about how much she treasured it--and how it meant nothing to him. She thought about how she would never feel that way again--and her hopelessness--as outlandish as it might have sounded to an outsider--consumed her, and she crumbled into a pile of tears.

Shin was moved. A big statement for a hardened, cynical doctor such as himself. It was normal to see people cry after telling them their loved one had passed on, or that they had mere months to live. But watching the end result of one person deliberately destroying another did not come in his training field, but at least he could cover it. "Let me know when you're finished. I can make something for you if you need."

Mimi took a gasp of air between sobs, tilting her head back and staring at the ceiling. The tears ran down her neck and stopped in its gape. She gulped, and lunged desperately for her cocktail. Pressing it to her lips, she grimaced as she polished it off with a long, drawn-out chug.

Shin sweatdropped and quickly opened the next can and handed it to her, worried that in her hysteria she might hurt herself trying to open the can, and more worried that her next lunge would end with her hands around his neck as she took out her anger on the first male in her way. "I'll get more tissues."

Mimi took the can with one hand, and with the other, grabbed Shin by the shirt. She didin't look at him, and instead looked at her cocktail, stiffening her lip and fighting back the tears.

Shin's eyes widened as Mimi took his sleeve hostage. He hovered in the space between her and his chair, waiting for the next thing to happen as if the fuse had just burned its way inside the TNT barrel. "Is there any reason my shirt has to be involved in this, Tachikawa?"

Mimi fell forward and pressed her face into Shin's stomach.

Shin flatstared the top of her head. "It's a handkerchief. Lovely." He laid his gand gently on her head and stroked it. Yamato was definitely stupid.
"I know some guys who would die to change places with me right now."

"Shut up!" Mimi whimpered, gripping tighter onto Shin's shirt. Her shoulders shook, and her tears seeped into the stiff fabric. She sniffed a bit, and pulled away slightly to let the air reach her burning eyes. Koushirou's words returned to her for what must have been the thousandth time. "...am I really destructive, Shin-san?"

Shin paused. Why were women such complex creatures with their oddball questions? No wonder so many men were single. That and not all men had the fortune of being good-looking. "Destructive? By the looks of things I'd say it's you who's been destroyed. I dunno who told you that but it seems to me they're not terribly clued in."

Mimi sniffled, and looked up to Shin to study his face. It was always hard to tell with his tone whether or not he was jesting with her. "Really? Koushirou-kun said--he isn't the type to say something when he hasn't thought it through--"

Shin shrugged and cocked his head to one side. "Beats me. What did you ever do to him?" His face was calm, but concerned; the face of a doctor trying to comfort his patient.

Mimi recognized that face, and frowned a bit. She didn't feel like being a specimen to be analyzed. "Why don't you think back a bit."

Shin looked up and thought a bit."I seem to recall he dated Jou very briefly last summer. Does that have anything to do with it?"

Mimi shrugged, and started to loosen her hold on Shin. "He said it was a big mistake--but--he wants to hate me." Her voice started shaking again. Why would Koushirou say something so mean to her?! "Why would he want to hate me?! We were always friends!!"

Shin put his hand on her shoulder. His face softened and he sighed. "People are just complicated, Mimi-chan. I don't know why he chose to hate you, but if you still value his friendship the worst thing you can do right now is hate him back for it. You might not understand it and you will hate it, but eventually he will have to see that you value his friendship above all else and then have to decide if hating you is still worth it. And since you're dealing with guys, who are naturally bad at voicing their feelings, you will just have to hope that friendship can overcome your conflicts."

"Why would someone hate anyone?" Mimi brought a hand to her face and wiped away her tears. "I don't hate anyone--not even you, when you certainly deserve it--" she hiccuped.

"I know what you're talking about, but I'm going to play dumb right now because tonight is all about you." He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks. "People are naturally selfish and shallow, especially young people. They think that just because you've either hurt them or messed up one of their little schemes they have a reason to put your friendship aside and hate you so they can satisfy their egos."
He paused to brush away a loose strand of hair. "At least with you tonight, your letting it all out on someone you don't care about. That was the point of all this, wasn't it?"

Mimi looked at Shin blankly for a moment--unsure of how to react to his unusual tenderness. It wasn't so much out-of-character for
him--she imagined he had to be that way at some point in order to be a successful doctor...maybe he even had shown a bit of it towards
Jou--it was actually really cute, and had she no memory of the previous slights he had inflicted upon her, she'd had--

--wait, isn't that what he just said? Was she being selfish and shallow for hating Shin, when--in fact, he had never truely hurt her. He had never messed up anything in her life. She could find no blame in him for what happened--even if he had seen this coming.

Was this...

Mimi looked into the dark eyes which were guarded behind the round lenses of the eldest Kido's glasses. Was this what maturity really looked like?

Shin looked back at her. Mimi's makeup was more or less gone, and her eyes were bloodshot and swollen from crying. He smiled at her and handed the cocktail back to her. "You kids are such a mess. But gosh darn it I love ya, if only for Jou's sake."

Mimi took the cocktail, and slowly nursed it now instead of guzzling it. She started to feel a bit woozy--finally the drink was kicking in. It took her a few moments to process Shin's words--it very well could have been a confession, but she couldn't tell. It sounded more like patronizing.

"Shin-san..." She looked at her can, "Is there anyone you like?" Glancing at him to gauge a reaction, she lifted her can and took a final sip. She was there now, no need to over-do it.

Shin nodded."Of couse." Was his only reply as he continued looking at her.

Mimi was disappointed. She was expecting that all the Kidos were the same in this area. Ask anything intimate and you're met with an "EEEEH?!" and promptly thereafter a klutz attack. Shin hadn't even blinked.

A determined frown crossed her face, and she nodded. "I understand."

Shin blushed and sat back slightly and scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's like I said. Us guys aren't prone to talking about our feelings. Especially cynics like me who think emotions are a weakness." Inside he cursed Mimi for coming over at all and ruining his perfect harmony.

Mimi rolled her eyes, her volume rising. "Oh please, how cliche can you get?!" She slammed down her can and turned on the sofa to face Shin better. "It takes more strength to face and handle the emotions that you have than it takes to ignore them! That's what always drove me insane about guys like you--and Yamato-san, for that matter! Always too macho to man up to your feelings, and instead burying them away because you think it makes you a bigger man, well let me tell you what!" She rose a finger, and pointed it at him. She took a breath, waiting for her heart rate to return to normal, and for her finger to steady. "Let me tell you--"

"You know now thatI think about it," Shin said with a snap of his finger,"wasn't it me who said we get each other turned on some months ago, right downstairs? I do recall your face was quite red that time."

Mimi flatstared--she was too smashed to be embarassed by this point. "I wasn't talking about that. Don't change the subject."

"Then remind me. What was the subject? Something about boys and the way they never speak their minds?" Shin leaned on one arm of the chair and drank the beer with his free hand.

Mimi made a fist and lifted it in a determined fashion. "I was just getting to that!"

"So I beat you to it? Do I win anything?" Shin grinned excitedly, as though expecting a prize. "But do go on."

Mimi's fragile countenance began to harden as she glared at Shin. "I was going to announce my decision to stop focusing on my own
love life and focus on my friends' instead, but now it's just anti-climatic."

Shin returned a steady look. "You know it's still going to hurt, right?"

Mimi lowered her fist. "What is?"

Shin leaned closer."You said you wanted to help your friends' love lives. Just remember that until Yamato-san is either forgotten or replaced, you will always look at their relationships and remember what you had and lost. Just warning ynu."

Mimi pressed her back into the couch, feeling her determination dwindle at Shin's words. She gathered up her courage to protest, even though, deep down, she had a feeling that Shin was right, as usual. She closed her eyes and stuck her nose in the air. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. After all, you have to have friends in order to understand what it means to be happy for them."

Shin shrugged and took another sip from his can. He stared at the lid and his eyes glazed over in thought. "I have my brothers. They're enough for me."

Mimi felt something malicious rise in her. She was an only child, so she couldn't in her wildest dreams relate to any of the Chosen Children who had siblings. But additionally, that very same mentality was something that always drove a wedge between her and Yamato. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and her eyebrows arched sharply. "You're a fool to think that they feel the same way. Isn't that draining?"

Shin looked up at her with a sincere look drawing his mouth straight. "Not really. Why should I expect them to? They're different from me. It's easier to let them follow their own hearts and be willing to drop everything when they do call."

Mimi sighed, and shook her head. She stood up to pace away and express her disapproval--but instead of it being a dramatic rise, it turned into a wobbly stumble. She balanced herself on the table, and sat back down. "I won't pretend to understand. Yamato acted the same way--" Mimi looked to Shin pensively. "But I will admit to you that I think you're stupid to be that way." She pointed at him. "But only because I think you can take it."

Shin crossed his arms. "You can call it stupid, but I can't and won't fix everyone's problems. I've tried it before and it always ends with someone angry at someone. However,"
He stood and approached Mimi, leaning on the table and hovering near her face. "Those stairs are steep and you're not making it downstairs without my help."

Mimi leaned in closer to him, narrowing her eyes to focus. Her breathing was full and slightly labored, laced with a mixture of fruit liquors she had consumed that night.

Shin lowered his face so he was hovering just a little above hers. "You should probably lie down" he said in a lowered voice, enjoying the scent of her breath.

Mimi leaned back a bit, and pressed an open palm into his face, pushing him back lazily with barely any effort. "You've already helped a lot tonight."

Shin followed the direction of Mimi's force and glided backwards into the other chair. "I can't help everyone, but I will do what I can for the people I like."

"I'm still figuring out which category I fall under." Mimi grumbled, and pushed herself back up again.

"That's just because you're still too drunk to put the pieces together." Shin leaned back and folded his arms together, watching Mimi to see how she handled herself or what she would do.

Mimi stumbled a few steps and caught herself on the coffeetable again. It had been months since she drank anything--back in January, come to think of it--and she had lost most of her tolerance. She glared up at Shin, "You better not stare at my ass, Kido."

"I'm not," he answered. He was actually admiring her breasts. Not particularly large or anything - quite normal sized for a Japanese girl - but they were very nicely shaped behind Mimi's shirt. "Is it alright if I look at you, though? I mean you are standing there and I do need to watch you in case you lose your balance."

"What, and then you'll catch me?" Mimi smirked and had to laugh at the vision of Shin watching her topple to the ground like a bag of bricks.

Shin shrugged. "Maybe. If I'm fast enough. Otherwise I'll just have to hope you don't hit your head on anything on your way down. I'm not a superhero or anything."

Mimi slumped back into Shin's sofa anticlimatically. "That explains why your 'help' is so underwhelming." She rolled her head over to face
Shin, and pleaded in a meek voice that she usually saved for her father. "Will you take me home, Shin-san?"

Shin leaned over and pressed his finger into Mimi's forehead with a smile. "Sure. Will you need a piggy-back ride? You still seem a little woozy from the booze."

Mimi fell back, and sighed slowly. "As long as you promise not to bounce me. Or else I might puke my guts out."

Shin folded his arms on the arm of the couch and rested his chin on his hands. All the while he kept his eyes on Mimi's. "Don't worry. I'm gentle."

Mimi looked at him for a moment--not sure to be skeptical or charmed by this. Finally--without making a decision either way, she extended
her arms out in his direction to be lifted up.

Shin stood up and reached down to Mimi. He hoisted her to her knees on the couch, then turned around. He bent slightly at the knees and draped Mimi's arms around his neck. He reached back with open arms and looked over his shoulder.
"Okay, get on. Not too rough, okay?"

Mimi silently nodded, and slowly crawled onto Shin's back. Draping her arms gently over his shoulders, Mimi rested her head against the back
of his, and let out a tiny sigh. "Are you doing to be okay?" Mimilazily droned. "I know how you Kidos are." ...and in fact, this moment
had a bit of a deja-vu feel to it...

Shin straightened his legs and lifted Mimi into the air. She felt good. Real good. He felt something stir inside him as her chest expanded and contracted against his back. Sure, he always thought Mimi was hot, but in more of a voyeuristic fashion than this...
"Oh? Just how are we Kidos?"

Mimi coiled her arms around Shin tighter, and settled herself against Shin's back. "You're all a bunch of wussies." She grumbled.

Shin tilted his head to the left and right to make sure his neck was free of Mimi's arms. "That may be true of Jou, and I think Shuu is a little nice for his own good, but stick around long enough and you might find I'm a little different from my brothers."
He took a couple of careful steps to test himself, then headed for the door. "And don't worry, you're pretty light. Just don't move too much when we're on the stairs."
He slipped his sandals on and released his hold on Mimi with one hand to open the door and stepped outside into the cool summer night.

"I already know you're different." Mimi retorted, and shifted slightly against Shin's back. She pressed her nose into Shin's neck--a result
of poor aim, she was aiming to speak into his ear. "You've got guts---but that doesn't mean you can carry me any better."

Mimi's hot breath tingled Shin's neck, causing a pleasant shivering sensation to run up and down his spine.
"We'll just have to see about that. Now stay still or I will drop you on purpose."
He paused at the stairwell and took step by careful step down, reaching down with his toes and settling on the rest of his foot in a controlled manner so as not to bounce his passenger. He repeated this for each footstep as he worked his way down the steep staircase.

Mimi slowly inhaled, sucking in the sweet, cool midsummer night air through her lips. Slowly exhaling, her body went limp over Shin's, her
hands falling down from his shoulders and onto his chest. She let out a quiet moan as she sighed, the numbness from the alcohol starting to
evaporate. She opened her eyes and stared out past the balcony to the brightly-lit cityscape. Moths gathered around the lightbulb
illuminating their path, going close to the bulb, but flittering away before touching the actual bulb.

Shin was halfway down the stairs by now. "You know, I'm tempted to say this is pretty romantic." He focused on the stairs one at a time. Left toe, left heel. Right toe, right heel. Repeating for each step to make the descent as gentle as possible. Mimi now hung from his back like a backpack, which he had to admit was pretty comfortable. Although a normal backpack wouldn't get hurt if he wiped out now.

"Shin-san..." Mimi muttered, resting her chin on his shoulder. She closed her eyes again, "Shin-san..."

Shin paused at the bottom of the stairs. He turned to look back over his shoulder at Mimi. Her chin felt rather nice on his shoulder.
"Yes, Mimi-chan?"

Mimi let out a weak sigh, but didn't move."Would you get the lead out? I gotta pee."

Shin rolled his eyes and started forward. He opened Mimi's door and let her down slowly. "There, my job is done." He turned around and kept a hand on her arm to keep her steady. "Now go do your business, or do I have to carry you to the toilet, too?"

Mimi yanked her arm out of Shin's hold with a forceful indignance."Don't you dare follow me, jerk!" She pouted out her lip in her characteristic Mimi fashion."You're supposed to be making me feel better, but you just make things worse, don't you?"

Shin stuck his hands in his pockets. "I gave you a chance to cry and get everything out that you've been bottling up for weeks for the sake of your friends and your partner. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Mimi balked."Yes, but..." She stoppeed herself. I don't feel any better about myself. Oh, yeah. Real mature, Mimi. Why not just wear a giant sign that says `stroke my ego!'?

She turned to head to the bathroom."Don't follow me."

"Do you want me to bring the extra drinks down?" He asked. "I wasn't sure if you were totally finished."

Mimi waved a hand dismissively. "Nah. Better to have you as a barrier between me and binging again." She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Shin grunted and reached for his cigarettes, but remembered that they were still in his room.
"If you need me again, you know where I live," he called to Mimi as he opened the door.

Shin grunted and reached for his cigarettes, but remembered that they were still in his room. "If you need me again, you know where I live," he called to Mimi as he opened the apartment door.

The bathroom door opened. "Shin-san, wait--" Mimi stumbled towards the door, drying her hands on the tail of her shirt as she met him at the doorway. "Thank you." Her eyes went to various corners of the floor, but avoided ever meeting the eyes of the Kido's. "When you open your mouth, you can be a real jerk, but--you're a good neighbor." She rolled her weight onto the balls of her feet, and stood on her toes to offer a quick peck on Shin's cheek.

Shin paused and looked at Mimi for what seemed like a long time. He brushed a bit of hair off her shoulder and smiled.
"You're a good person, Mimi-chan, but a little shortsighted. Never give a guy who's interested in you a glimmer of hope unless you are interested in him, too."
He smiled softly and gave her a shallow bow. "Night."

Mimi wordlessly watched Shin take his exit. Was she slow, or was the alcohol impairing her judgment? "Night." She responded softly. 'Night?' 'Night?!' She lightly thud her head against the doorjam, watching Shin go upstairs. Stupid stupid stuuuuuupid.

Ow my head

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:08:52 GMT

Geez, I have one murderous headache going on. It feels like something's trying to bore its way out of my head through my right eye. Any exposure to light or sound just makes it feel like someone is tap dancing on my brain.

Because Shuu asked me to be nice to Jou; Koushiro-san, this is all your fault.

Kido Brothers, Unite!

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:05:57 GMT

It's another beautiful day in Odaiba, the sort of day that makes it perfectly clear to all that witness it that summer has finally found itself in the city. Belts of hot summer sunshine hit the streets, covering the city with an irrefutable blanket of warmth. Occasionally, a white fluffy cumulus will trail across the sky, drawing shadows over the building as it passes.

For this reason, Kido Shuu has an umbrella tucked beneath his arm.

On the other arm, he has a bag, filled with notes and newspaper clippings; though Professor Takenouchi had given him a few days off before they began to edit the video, he was still hard at work. After interview after interview, after book after book, after news article after news article, his mind started grinding with its own theories regarding the digimon, theories he was researching for his own benefit.

He rounds the corner, eyes narrowing as they scan for a place to park. Had he not just picked up his vehicle from his parents', he would have taken the subway; the area was well-known for its lack of parking.

And judging from the construction ahead, finding a parking spot would be more difficult than usual.

He rounds the block twice, narrowly avoiding a construction worker who was yelling at him in a thick Nagoya dialect ('Sorry, sorry!' he had apologized, but the construction worker was not subdued). Third time was the charm; a foreign car slipped out of its spot, and Shuu quickly pulled in.

A half block away is his destination; a small indoor cafe that is just a few scant steps away from the loud din of construction. Hands clamped over his ears, he follows the sidewalk to the cafe. A bell chimes his entrance as he steps inside.

As Shuu meticulously searched for parking, Jou and Shin Kido were exiting the train from the Yurikamome line and into the place that brought Jou so many memories.

Jou breathed deep and stretched. "Man, it's been so long since I've been out here!"

Shin yawned and scratched his head. "Normally I like to sleep in on my days off, so count yourself lucky that I could pull this little stunt."

Jou shoved his hands in his pockets. "Oh please. You wanted to see Shuu just as badly as I did."

Shin shrugged. "That was your perception. I had to look desperate for the staff so she'd let us off. Besides, she was cute."

Jou shook his head, then winced as a jackhammer pierced his ears. "I think that was the cafe over there."

They both cupped their hands over their earrs and entered the cafe, which only slightly muffled the sound of the jackhammer.

The place was almost completely empty; save for a bored-looking waitress who was chattering loudly with her handsome co-worker, the building is completely vacant--and judging from the cleanliness of it, it probably has been all day.

It takes a moment for the waitress to acknowledge Shuu's entrance; it's hard to hear anything over the loud din of construction. But when she does, she visibly perks, trailing behind him as he takes a seat in the far corner of the cafe, AWAY from construction outside.

Shuu leans his umbrella against the wall and gives the waitress his order--'three coffees, please'--and sits his bag on the chair next to him. He glances down at his watch; even despite the parking issues, he's still here a few minutes early. They should be here soon.

Jou and Shin entered and looked around. It didn't take long to spot a familiar-looking Japanese man in glasses sitting in a corner of the cafe. Jou's hand shot up and he waved to Shuu.
"Shuu-onii-chan! Over here!"

Shin sighed and slapped him hard on the shoulder. "Don't be so obnoxious, Kiddo."

Shin raised his hand and waved pleasantly at Shuu as they walked toward his table.

Shuu's face brightens at the sound of his little brother's voice. Stepping It's a familiar voice that stirs Shuu out of his daze: "--iichan! Over here!"

Shuu turns his head and looks over his shoulder; a familiar face matches the familiar voice.

"Jou." He steps to his feet, face brightening at the sight of his younger brother. Behind him, another figure comes into Shuu's line of view, and his smile widens.

"Shin."
Shuu gestures to the table as he retakes his seat. "I already ordered us drinks. Hope you two still like coffee."

Jou and Shin stopped in front of Shuu. The brothers stared at each other, letting the fraternal smiled warm each other's faces. Then Jou and Shin looked at each other, eyebrows raised.

"Onii-chaaan!" they both exclaimed simultaneously, latching onto Shuu like a pair of puppies who had not seen their master in months.

A small 'ah' of surprise fell from Shuu's lips as his two siblings suddenly latched onto him. Mouth agape and brows arched high, it took a moment for the middle Kido brother to recover; he had expected this sort of reaction from Jou, but from Shin?

It was unexpected.

His expression softened, and a warm smile tugged across Shuu's face. He curled his arms around his brothers and gave both his brothers a comforting squeeze.

"I missed you guys, too."

Probably more than either of them would know.

Shin was the first to pull away. He cooly disentangled himself from the Kido lovefest and straightened his jacket. "Okay, that's enough of that."

Jou, however, was still latched to Shuu. "I missed you so much! You have no idea how mean he's been to me!"

Shin's eye twitched. "What?"

Somehow, Shuu didn't doubt his youngest sibling's words; Shin could be pretty abrasive at times--whether he meant to be or not. And with
Jou following in his footsteps, Shuu knew that Shin would be harder on his youngest brother than anyone else, but it was only because he wanted to see Jou succeed.
Shuu immediately sensed the conflict; it was plainly visible from the twitch of Shin's eye, from the sound of his voice. And it was a conflict that Shuu wanted to avoid.

A sheepish smile tugged across his lips, and Shuu gestured to the table. "Why don't we sit down?" It was a miserable attempt to avoid conflict, but after months abroad, his mediation skills were out-of-practice. "Jou, how are you doing with your internship?"

Jou sat down at the table and Shin followed suit.
"It's hard work, but I really enjoy it. Every day I'm learning something new. Though we've got this new security guard there who keeps doing weird things around me."

"...weird things?" Shuu's curiousity is piqued. "What kind of weird things?"

Jou shifted in his seat. Normally he tried to forget Pete existed as much as possible. "Like gluing my shoes to the floor to prove a point. Actually, now that I think of it, there was no point. I think he was just doing it for fun."

Shin leaned in while mixing his coffee. "Funny, I don't think I've met any new guards at Waseda. Leastways none with my sense of humor."
Jou looked at Shin and raised an eyebrow. "Really? He's there all the time when I'm on duty."

Shin shook his head. "Nope. Never."

Shuu shakes a packet of sugar, rips the packaging, then pours the contents into his coffee.

"Are you sure there's not a reason for it?" he asks, stirring his beverage. "People don't generally go around gluing other people's shoes around to prove a point."

He raises the drink to his lips, blows into the beverage, and then takes a long sip.

He sets the drink down, then looks to his younger brother. "You didn't do anything to make him angry, did you?"

Jou shivered. Shuu's question took him back a few months, to that awful day in Yokohama with Ken, when he first met Pete. "He...he questioned me when I got accused of shoplifting a few months ago. I think he's trying to make sure I don't turn to a life of crime." Jou felt that might have just been his imagination and Pete was probably just bored.

Shuu's eyes widened with surprise. "You were accused of shoplifting?" He could hardly believe it. Jou hardly fit the criminal profile; how would anyone ever suspect HIM of shoplifting?

"Maybe you should try talking to him," Shuu suggested. "It's probably just a misunderstanding."

Jou's initial response was that it's hard to reason with a tank, but instead he nodded and smiled, saying "Yeah, I'll try it, but he's hard to get ahold of sometimes."

Shin sipped his coffee and turned to his younger brother. "So Shuu, how was China? Is Dr. Takenouchi treating you alright?"

He offers Jou an encouraging smile before turning back to his older brother to answer.

"It was actually pretty good--well, considering I didn't know any of the language when I started, anyway. I picked up a little Chinese along the way--just enough to get by. My pronunciation's still terrible, though." He scratches the nape of his neck sheepishly.

"I learned a lot more than I expected, though," Shuu admits, "Though with every new answer comes another question."

"Professor Takenouchi gave me the next few days off to get settled, so until then, I'm working on my own thesis." A pause. "Say, Jou, do you think you and Gomamon can give me an interview about the Digital World, sometime?" Shuu had asked plenty of questions about the Digimon after he discovered his brother was directly connected to the attacks on the city. But there was still more that he wanted to know.

Jou started. "G-Gomamon?" The thought of giving Gomamon free reign over a microphone gave him cause for alarm. What if Gomamon spilled some of his secrets? What if Gomamon announced his feelings for Mimi to the whole world? He'd be ruined! Maybe, but still!

"Ehh, I'll think about it, Shuu. What did you want to know about the Digital World?"

Shin yawned. Hooray, another discussion on a topic that didn't really involve him.

Alas, once the topic turns to Digimon when Shuu's around, it's hard to shift it elsewhere. "Just questions about Digimon and Digimon culture. There's been plenty of theories on the Digital World and on Digimon--" --many of them pioneered by Professor Takenouchi-- "--but there's been little thought given to their cultural background."

"For instance," he begins, "Nature vs. Nurture. What exactly causes a Digimon to go bad? Are specific digimon species predetermined to be bad? Or is it something more significant?"

He's babbling again.

"I'm sure it'd be easier if I could just observe it, but since I'm unable to, I just have to rely on interviews." He frowned, the gears in his head slowly begining to churn. Another sip of coffee, and Shuu shifted his attention back to his other brother.

"How's work been?" he asked; aside from their brief long-distance phone calls, he hadn't heard much about his older brother's work since he returned to Japan.

"Work is work," Shin replied. "Although fashioning a good doctor out of Jou here has my work cut out for me. Not to mention I have to report directly to Dad about everything."

"I don't think you need to worry about Jou," Shuu comments, fingering the handle of his cup. "I think it's dad you've got to be more worried about. Especially if he's expecting daily reports from you."

Jou's head sagged. "I don't know which is worse. You or Dad."

Again Shin started. "Hey! And you say I'm not very nice!"
Shin turned to Shuu. "Can you believe this? This is why I needed you. I need protection from him, not him from me!"

If there's anything that Shuu hates about being the middle child, it's being stuck in the middle. But now, it's time to put his foot down. "Shin's not as bad as dad," Shuu says, his eyes settling down on Jou. "He's hard on you because he wants to succeed. And I do too, but--" Shuu's gaze shifts to Shin's face "--it's important that you remain supportive and stop being so hard on one another. Shuu's nowhere near as bad as dad. And Jou--Jou, you're going to make a good doctor."

And suddenly, Shuu's reminded of a conversation his brothers had a few days before; Shin had avoided answering any questions at the time, but now seemed like a good time to get some answers. "Oh, Jou. You've got a patient, now?"

Jou shot up straight. Being asked about Rie always put him on edge, but being a doctor had trained him to hide such feelings from others. "Oh yeah! She's a teenager named Rie who's about to have a baby. Right now I'm part of a contest where I get to go to Okinawa if I take good care of her."

"If it's my little brother taking care of her, I'm sure she's doing great." A smile. "Even if you don't win, maybe we should all take a trip to Okinawa sometime. Being cooped up in a hospital all the time probably isn't healthy for either of you--and if I know you two, you probably never give yourselves a break."

Jou and Shin both muttered something incomprehensible and drank from their coffee. Shin finished his sip first and continued. "It's not all for fun, though. If he wins, he gets to attend a conference on caring for critical and terminal patients." He stopped there, waiting for Shuu to make the connection between that and Jou's patient.

"...critical and terminal patients?" This doesn't sound good. This doesn't sound good at all. "You don't mean that Rie is--"

"No!" Jou broke in emphatically. A light flickered in his eyes for a moment. "She's in a difficult situation, but she'll be fine. I've made sure of that."

Shin nodded. "You've done everything you can for her until now. You should try to relax and keep her at ease. Right now she's the one who has the right to be nervous."

Jou nodded, "Yeah, but..."

Shuu forces an encouraging smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Just like I said, she's got my younger brother taking care of her."

"So, when does she deliver?"

Jou swallowed forcibly. "If she doesn't do it herself, we induce labor next week."

Shin nodded. "And we find out the results of the contest at the beginning of next week."

Shuu takes a long sip of his coffee, then sets the cup back down on the table. "You said she was a teenager, didn't you? Is her boyfriend still with her? Emotional support can go a long way in a delivery. You should make sure he's there. It might do her some good. Or," he begins, "barring that, her parents."

Jou shook his head. "If he is, I've never seen him around the hospital, even during visiting hours."

Shuu frowns. "And her parents?"

"Haven't had the chance to meet them yet."

"Do you have any way of getting in touch with them?"

Shin cleared his throat. "They're visiting this week, Jou. I made sure you were on when they show up. All you have to do is be there to meet them."

"I'm sure that the emotional support will really help Rie. There's been a lot of times when crit--" Shuu corrects himself, "when people in Rie's circumstances managed to pull through some pretty bleary circumstances, just because they had someone there that cared about them." He might have only gotten through his second year of med school before taking Professor Takenouchi's course, but he still retained what he learned from those few semesters.

"It was the same for me, remember? When I had the flu when I was younger, I felt MUCH better when Shin and you were around."

Shin laughed. "Like we had a choice. You were such a crybaby when we weren't around! Remember, Jou?"

Jou tapped his chin. "Not really."

Shin turned to Shuu and sighed. "See? He's so neglectful of us."

Jou glared at Shin. "I was like six! What do you expect?"

"Remember when Jou was born?" Shuu can remember little about his life before the age of seven, but if there was anything he could remember, it was the day of Jou's birth.

Shin sighed whistfully. "Yeah, I remember. I was hoping for a baby sister. I even picked out a nice pink blanket for her and then found out I had another brother to watch over."

Jou choked on his last sip of coffee. There was no way he'd let Shin know he still had that thing!

Shuu smiled as his mind pulled forth an old memory. His tiny hands hands were pressed hard against a thick window, eyes wide with childlike curiosity. His dad pulled him into his arms and pointed out his little brother with a fatherly pride. 'That's your little brother, Shuu. Make sure to take good care of him. You're a big brother now.'' It was hard for Shuu to associate that memory of dad with the dad he remembered now; the two didn't seem anything alike.

"Maybe you weren't a girl, but dad was really happy to have you, Jou. I don't think I remember ever seeing him any happier."

Shin pouted. "But, but...I'm the firstborn!" Jou grinned in satisfaction as the construction workers went at their work with renewed fervor, raising the din from an annoying hum in the background to a racket that demanded their attention.

"IT'S GETTING PRETTY LOUD IN HERE!" Shuu says, raising his voice to be overheard above the din. "MAYBE WE SHOULD GO SOON."

Jou raised his voice. "I'm finished here, but sometimes I just love listening to jackhammers and mitre saws. How about you Shin?"

Shin raised his cup, keeping his pinky finger extended. "Oh I'm fine. I just LOVE hearing loss over a cup of coffee." With that he drained the
last drops and set the cup down. "Seriously, let's get the hell out of here."

Shuu fumbles through his wallet for enough to cover their drinks and leaves the money on the table as he rises from his seat. Pulling his bag over his shoulder, he asks, "Do you two need a ride home?"

Shin rose and continued speaking over the noise. "No, but we would appreciate a nice quiet ride home in the Kidomobile."

Jou raised his eyebrows. "Kidomobile?"

Just as the boys were about to leave, a tremendous explosion preceeded a shaking of the whole building. Outside, a construction worker was crawling out of a smoking manhole and fanning the smoke away from his blackened face.

Jou sweatdropped. "Can we go, like now?"

Shuu nods in affirmation; he doesn't want to be in this place any longer than he has to be. "The car's this way," he says, carefully rounding the area that's been taped off for construction.

Jou and Shin walked behind their brother. Things were certainly different than they used to be, but at the very least, they were together again.

Mens' Night Out

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:38:44 GMT

Shin bent low over his bowl of steaming ramen and inhaled the oily fragrance. A slice of pork and a few slivers of vegetables floated on the surface with the noodles lying below in the broth. After a long night at work that culminated in him getting out nearly twenty-four hours later, it was a welcome sight to him. He leaned back and picked a pair of chopsticks from the box and snapped them apart.
"Ittadekimasu!" he whispered below the quiet hum of a busy restaurant. A lone seat was open at the bar next to him, and he was hoping it would stay that way for tonight.

Mantarou sighed as he entered the busy restaurant. He looked for a seat to get off his weary feet and went for the first one he saw. He didn't notice the annoying doctor in the seat next to it, he just wanted to eat and drink with his feet up. He slumped into the seat and sighed, ignoring the world around him.

Shin's shoulders fell slightly when a nondescript form took the empty seat, making the restaurant officially "crowded." He shoved a mouthful of ramen into his mouth and let the steam fog up his glasses.

He glanced at the customer next to him and was startled to see his least favorite doctor. He ignored that, instead ordering his usual grease. Mantarou wondered if the olderman recognized him and whether he would be forced to socialize with him.

Shin swallowed the warm noodles and had the misfortune to glance at the person beside him and thus ruin his otherwise perfect self-harmony. He recognized the eldest Inoue child (it was the hair) and returned to his ramen.
"Didn't know you came here, Inoue-san."

"I don't," Mantarou replied shortly. He had only been in the area because he needed to get out of his apartment before he killed his boss at the restaurant or customers at the store.

"I only come here occaisionally. Usually when I feel like Mimi-chan isn't up to dealing with my wit while I try to bribe her out of dinner again."

"Poor Mimi-san. No wonder she spends sime with my sister so much, much better company," he spoke softly, half mumbling his words.

Shin cupped his ear and leaned closer. His face lit up like he was trying to catch something cool. "What was that?"

"Nothing, Kido-san."

Shin remained in his position. "Are you sure? I could have sworn you said Mimi-san or something and then mentioned that sister of yours, but if you say it 's nothing than I have to take your word for it and assume that it is in fact, nothing despite what my senses and gut instinct say." He shoved another mouthful of ramen into his mouth.

"I'm surprised you take such interest in the words of anyone who is not as elevated as you in stature, but I'm sure you find ever lacking your high standards. It's highly intriguing you attempt to contact the outside world at all."

Mantarou was greatly happy when his food arrived and stood up to find another empty seat in the restaurant.

"There are no more seats, Inoue-san" he said without looking up. "It might surprise you, but I do need people's help and more often than you think."

"For food, as you mentioned before." Mantarou wondered to himself if Shin could cook for himself. "But beyond that, does anyone reach your high level of companionship?" he asked, not expecting any sort of answered as he sat down again and began to consume the much needed meal.

"My brother for one," he answered simply.

"Which one?"

"Guess."

"I'll assume the younger one. I've heard little about the other one. What's his name? Shuu?"

"Shuu? We still keep in touch. Last I checked he was still filming that documentary for Dr. Takenouchi."

"At least I keep track of my siblings," Mantarou almost growled.

"Shuu-san learned to take care of himself a long time ago. I don't need to worry about him any longer unless he's in trouble. Jou, on the other hand, still has a lot of improvements to make."

Mantarou chewed his food slowly, considering his response. "Trying to craft him into another Shin?"

Shin nibbled on the ends of his chopsticks. "I'm trying to make a difference in his life."

The blonde could think of no response to that given his own actions so said nothing and continued eating his food,

"So how are your sisters doing?" he asked as he returned to his bowl.

"Chizuru's busy with school. Kyo should should be busy with school. Momoe's her moody self. All's normal in the Inoue household."

"So does that make me the only one with a whiny brother who drives him crazy all the time?"

"I think the nut would agree with you. She's stalked you, hasn't she?" he said, not explaining he meant Jun.

Shin swallowed a drink of water and sighed whistfully. "If only I could get a stalker. Then I could have someone who always feeds my need to feel important instead of the tiny doses I get from Mimi-chan and the nurses at the hospital. Yamato-san is still one lucky bastard in my book."

"If you're only interested in looks," Mantarou replied inbetween mouthfuls.

Shin snorted. "If that was the case I shouldn't be able to enter this restaurant let alone go to work with this mug." He smiled and pointed to his face.

"Your personality is a fairly good contraceptive," Mantarou mumbled.

Shin looked up at the ceiling and stirred his ramen. "Well then the condom industry better get ahold of me, or else I'll put them out of business."

"No, it helps them because it makes the rest of us look better. I should have you around when I'm trying to get a girlfriend."

"Ramen shops are a pretty bad place to start, Inoue-san. But if you like, I do know of a place where there are plenty of them." He lifted some noodles from the broth. "And even if that's not the case, it's always a great place to unwind after a bad day."

"If you're interested," he added after a long pause before slurping up the noodles.

"I'm not, but thank you for the offer. I actually have a girlfriend."

Shin shrugged. "You still look like you had a bad day, and since you're here alone I can only guess that all your friends are busy right now. And you don't have to answer that because I know I'm right, so since you have no reason not to I am going to reccommend that you join a fellow oldest brother and man for a couple of drinks to unwind and forget about today for an hour or two."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm really too busy. I need to go home, work at the store, call my girlfriend. I'm sorry. I know that you're desperate for friends, but I guess you'll have to keep looking." Mantarou commented as he finished his bowl of ramen dreading whatever idea Shin had.
Shin put his chopsticks together and laid them across the bowl as he gathered his check and wallet. "I really didn't want to resort to this but, it'll be my treat."

That made Mantarou perk up slightly, but he still wasn't sure if he liked the idea. "Really, Kido-san, that's very kind of you, but I'm sure we're both very busy."

Shin slipped to the other side of Mantarou to pay the cashier. "Well I know I'm through for the day."

"Lucky you," he responded even though he too was done for the day.

Shin paid his bill and thanked the cashier. "Well, I need a smoke before I can do anything. Meet me outside by the time I finish my cigarette. If you're too busy I don't mind drinking by myself. Say hello to your sisters for me." He put his wallet in his bag and turned to leave.

Mantarou gathered money to pay his own bill and considered the invitation. A few free drinks were always good. He had swindled enough out of Fumio. He considered his options as he paid his bill and decided that it was always nice to get free alcohol without having to beg. Shin might be more pleasant drunk. He gave the money to the cashier and went to meet the older boy outside.

Shin's cigarette was three-quarters of the way burned when Mantarou exited the restaurant.
"Perfect timing! Grant me one more puff and we're out of here."

Mantarou nodded and crossed his arms, feeling awkward waiting. "Where are we going?" he asked.

Shin exhaled the smoke from his cigarette one last time, then dropped the butt in the public ashtray while nodding over Mantarou's shoulder. "A little place down the street. I promise I won't keep you long."

"Lucky me," he commented, following Shin. He tried to remember what places were in the area. There were a couple of bars, if he remembered right.

Shin led Mantarou down the street like a Shepherd leading his sheep to a very bad place. He looked left and right, not quite sure which side of the street it was on. When a sign hanging above a stairway leading down caught his eye, he exclaimed "ah!" and stopped. A young man in a black suit with an earpiece and plenty of gold jewelry stood in front of the staircase. He eyed Shin suspiciously for a moment, and then the light of recognition appeared in his eyes.

"Ah! Kido-sensei. It's been awhile." He eyed Mantarou. "And is this your friend?"

Shin nodded. "Yeah, I know. Been busy. And yes, he's with me."

Mantarou looked the man in black over and then back to Shin. This had happened to him a few times before out with Fumio. That didn't change the sinking feeling in his stomach that he had made a bad decision. "What kind of place is this?"

"A fine establishment!" Said the young man with a courteous bow. "Just one question, you are over twenty, are you not?"

"I'm 26 ," he said getting out his wallet and ID for the man.

He carefully examined Mantarou's ID and nodded, his spiky hair bobbing slightly from the movement. "Okay, you may go inside with Kido-Sensei." He reached for the device clipped to his belt and pressed the reciever into his ear. "Two coming down. Kido-Sensei and freind."

After a moment, he nodded to Shin and stood aside. "Please enjoy your stay. We have a special on Kirin tonight."

Shin bowed to him. "Thanks. Okay, Inoue, let's go."

Mantarou bowed before following Shin cautiously inside.

Shin descended two flights of stairs before arriving at a heavy wooden door. Muffled pop music leaked from around the door, and a sign read "no minors allowed." Shin pulled the door open and stepped aside to allow Mantarou into the ebony-colored darkness of the cloak room.

He raised an eyebrow at Shin and removed his jacket to hang it up. When finished, he move aside to allow the older man to do the same.
Shin waved a dismissive but thankful hand at Mantarou's gesture. "Don't worry. They like the lab coat."

"Maybe I'll try that next time I'm looking for a girlfriend. After you," he gestured to the door.

"Thank you, Inoue-san. By the way, I wouldn't mention that here." Shin opened the inner door on a smoky, dark, izakaya-like establishment, only more spacious and making some sort of attempt at being trendy. He stepped inside and pointed to a small, empty table against the wall opposite them.

"What kind of place is this?" he asked again, walking to the table as his eyes adjusted to the dark.

As if to answer his question, an attractive lady in a pair of very short shorts and a tight halter top approached and handed them a pair of menus.

"Good evening, gentlemen," she began. "Tonight we have a two-for-one special on Kirin beers and all cocktails are % off. Can I start you off with anything?" She rested on her heel in just such a fashion to make her hips sway in a highly suggestive manner.

Shin looked to Mantarou and raised an eyebrow.

Mantarou looked over the female carefully. He glanced back at Shin. "Lovely," he murmured, looking down at the menu. "Kirin beer," he said, glancing up briefly at the waitress.

Shin looked at her. "Same. Oh, Saori. This is my friend Mantarou. Take good care of him."

The waitress nodded at Shin and smiled courteously yet suggestively at Mantarou. "A pleasure. I'll be right back."

Shin settled back in his seat and looked at Mantarou. "Did I mention this was a hostess club?"

"No, you didn't," Mantarou gave a fake laugh. "How often do you come here?"

"Used to be more often after I finished my internship. I was pretty popular here back in the day, but I haven't really been back since I left for Malaysia. Would this be your first time in a hostess club?"

"No, actually, but my first time at this one. They're always an interesting experience, I've found. I take it you know all the girls."

Shin took a moment to look around the room. "Not all. I see a few new faces, and some I'm missing. Guess it's to be expected after five years, you know?"

"How much older are you?" Mantarou asked.

"Actually I'm not much older than you. . " At that moment a pair of slender feminine hands appeared on Mantarou's shoulders. One of them slid down his chest and then up again as the original waitress returned and set four glasses of beer on the table.

Mantarou's body went stiff when he felt the hands on him. His face went red as he struggled to say something. He was used to being invisible when he went out to bars and such. He gritted out a smile and took a big gulp of his beer, draining half of the glass.

"Thirsty aren't you, tiger?" whispered a voice connected to the hands.

Shin chuckled. "Careful now, Inoue. We both have work tomorrow and I always make it my policy to match my drinking buddy."

"Good thing I have a tolerance and I'm not paying," he commented having some more, although it was only a sip this time.

"Exactly," said Shin, downing half his glass, then punctuating it with a small sip. "Don't worry about Misa behind you, there. She knows what to do."

He looked up at Misa, "I have a girlfriend," he announced, trying to scare her off. He knew his complete lack of money would also be a turn off, but couldn't say so out loud, especially in front of Shin.

"Me too!" she hummed back.

"Lovely," he said again as he cracked his knuckles. He drained his glass and looked at Shin, waiting for him to mirror his movement.

Shin did likewise. He cracked his knuckles, then drained his glass in one swift movement. "So how is life treating you?" he asked as he took the first sip from his second glass. Mina began plying the muscles of Mantarou's shoulders like an expert sculptor.

"I've been bu-" Mantarou's tried to say before his vocal chords suddenly seized to work due to the fantastic hands massaging his back. After a moment, he was able to continue once he had brought his head back together. "Busy, very busy. You can probably tell," he said to the girl with the magic hands.

Misa nodded. "Oh yes. You boys work so hard all day long. Just relax and let us take care of you, okay?"

"How has your life been, Kido?" he asked, truly trying not to enjoy this too much.

Shin took another sip of beer and sighed contentedly. He always liked being asked this question. "My life? Oh my life has been nothing but great. Unlike a lot of people I know, my life is good. This is because, within this sarcastic framework of mine, I am a good person. I've known this since I was little. That's why I'm a winner. And winners have good lives, Inoue. That, in a nutshell, is the story of my life."

"Wow...so if anyone ever has difficulties with things, or if life doesn't go there way, it's because a bad person?" he asked, thinking of his own life, wondering what that meant for him

"Nah. It just means they're not a winner, or at the very least, not as big a winner as me. I am what you call an all-around winner. Bad things can and do happen to me, like being summoned from my life's calling to take care of family business, but when they do happen, I eventually come out on top via the merit of my own personality or dumb luck. "

Mantarou figured it was the latter, mostly due to the luck of having money, but rolled his eyes in response.

"And when you're a winner, Inoue-san, you touch people's lives," Shin continued. "That's why I have to be a winner, because otherwise I won't be able to make a difference anywhere."

Mantarou drained more of his glass. "Feel you have a higher calling, it seems," he spoke absently.

Shin nodded. "More or less. I just want to be wherever I can make a difference in other people's lives, if you want me to put it in layman's terms. That was why I left Japan in the first place. I felt like I couldn't do what I wanted here, so I went somewhere else. Did a stint in Africa, then found my home in Malaysia, and now I'm back here keeping an eye on my baby brother and raising more support for whenever I go back."

"Do you know when you're going back?" he said, making conversation.

Shin shook his head, then drank a little more beer. "Not really." A hostess sat down next to him. A bright-eyed young woman with brown hair and legs that went on forever. She set down a pair of sake cups and filled them. "On the house," she said.

"But you didn't bring any for my friend?" he said, indicating Mantarou.

The woman looked at Misa, who was still plying Mantarou's back like a swimmer. "He is taken care of, don't you think?"

Shin shrugged and lifted his sake cup. "So he is!"

Mantarou rubbed his usually sore shoulder, his back was feeling better, all the stress worked out of the muscles. "You can stop now, Misa, if you want." He had more beer, he didn't feel drunk enough yet.

"You should feel lucky, Inoue. Misa is a professionally trained masseuse. I remember once I was having the worst month of my life during my internship, and she told me it was all because of this knot in my back that was blocking all my positive energies. I didn't believe her at first, but after she got done with me I felt a whole lot better, let me tell you." He noticed Mantarou seemed to be getting a little impatient. "So, did you want more, or shall we make this our last call?"

He shook his head, "No, just an old injury bothering me. I don't think I've gotten enough beer out of you, yet." He drained the glass quickly.

Shin turned to the girl beside him, who had started to stroke his leg. "Another round of beer, please!" The girl pouted and stood, dusting her skirt off a little much before heading back to the bar.

Mantarou looked at his watch and was surprised at the time. It was going to take over a half an hour to get home and he had first shift tomorrow. "This should probably be last call, it's late, unfortunately."

Shin stared at his sake cups, and then at the hostess who was preening in a compact mirror. "Then let's drink to our siblings."

Mantarou raised an eyebrow and lifted a glass, "We can try, but I don't think there's enough alcohol in the world for that."

Shin raised his sake cup. "As they say in America, Amen. And here we just say-"

Mantarou threw back the glass and gulped down the burning liquid. "That's good sake."

Shin choked on his Sake as Mantarou missed his line. "I was expecting "kanpai," but that'll do."

Shin and Mimi : No Where Is Safe (From Vengeful Fangirls)

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:18:31 GMT

"Here before you is Mitsukune of Mito, uncle of the Shogun!"

The attendant flashed the inro, decorated with the prestigious Tokugawa crest, in the faces of the leaders of an angry mob of fishermen. Their faces melted with fear and respect of the sudden arrival of someone with unimaginable power, and the men fell to the ground and groveled at the feet of an old man dressed in pauper's clothing and carrying a cane.
"Lord Mitsukune!" they cried. "Please forgive us!"

The crowd behind him, a motley crew of farmers and fishermen weilding farming and fishing tools as weapons, did likewise and fell to their knees before the Shogun's uncle at the line where they were ready to slaughter one another. In a tiny fishing village that violence and greed was about to rip apart, peace was restored.

"If only it was that easy," Shin muttered into his can of beer as he freed the final drops from their aluminum abode.

Pale blue light flickered across his glasses while he reclined in his chair in front of the TV. A long-running drama wound to a close before him, one of his dad's old favorites and one he used to watch with him while Jou and Shuu usually fell asleep. Shin's father had long before decided that Shin would be the one to carry on the family's long legacy, and tried to instill a sense of Japanese pride in him for as long as he could remember.

On the floor beside the chair lay a pile of graded papers from the interns. As usual, they had all acheived high marks - a product of his exhaustive coaching no doubt - and Jou's was the most marked up as usual. Not that he'd made the most mistakes, but Shin made it a habit to be more rigorous with Jou's grades than the others in an effort to make him improve. On top of that, Shin always enjoyed the look on Jou's face when he saw so much red ink on his hard work.

Shin squinted into the metallic innards of his can in disgust and rose from his chair. He dropped it into the non-combustibles garbage can and opened his fridge for another. The can hissed and popped when he opened it, and he sucked the extra foam off the can as it poured out of the opening. The apartment shuddered as an express train flew past on the tracks below. Shin paused to pick up a lighter that fell off the refrigerator from the shaking. His thoughts were on Jou. Now that Yamato was out of the way - however temporarily - did that mean he'd make his moves on Mimi? More specifically, Shin wondered if he would even do anything about it. Part of him wanted to believe Jou was responsible enough to balance a relationship and manage a career, but his skeptical side didn't like giving Jou much credit.

He returned to his computer and logged into his email. Jou had emailed him his latest report, and while it loaded Shin sat back and sipped his beer.

"God," he mused, "Will Jou or anyone else ever become as good a doctor as me?"

As if in response, the electricity in the apartment died, leaving Shin bathed in the cold glow of his computer screen.

Shin looked at the ceiling. "I will take that as a no. Thank you God. You are so good to me!"

Shin curled his fingers over the keyboard and prepared to start typing. They descended to the keys and Shin's ears caught the sound of voices coming from downstairs. His first thought was that Mimi had brought another one of her psychotic friends over for a visit, since he knew Yamato was out of town and Jou would never come here without a damn good reason, but neither of the voices were Mimi's. He sighed and shook his head. Damn kids. Probably jealous fans leaving hate mail in Mimi's door again. He'd been regularly removing it from Mimi's box, so he'd probably think of something to get from the convini again in a few minutes and remove the offending fainmail.

He opened the next email, from one of the other interns. Mostly the usual chatter and assignment stuff, but one line caught his eye;

Doctor Kido, I recently treated the president of a fan club who recieved a letter laced with pepper spray, which she was highly allergic to. The treatment is going okay, but she took it really hard. Should I call in the psychiatrist?

Shin's hand went still. He looked at the clock. Mimi would be home soon. He strained his ears. No more voices from downstairs.

He threw on a shirt and headed downstairs after resetting his breakers. He knew the stories of especially vicious Japanese fans. He also knew Mimi was expecting a package from the last time he'd checked her mail. He came to Mimi's door and gave the mail slot a critical look. Nothing was sticking out. He reached for the mail slot just as a sharp female voice stopped his fingers inches from the slot.

"OI!" it cried. Shin looked up and saw Mimi walking toward him with a hurried and purposeful step that made her hair and certain other parts bounce in such a way that made her positively delicious in an intimidating sort of way. "Of all the nerve, now you're going through my mail? Is this Dr. Jekyl or Mr. Hyde I'm addressing?"

Shin bowed and smiled. "Don't you want to find out?"

Mimi stopped several feet away and stuck her jaw out. "Not in the mood you creep. Now get away from my door before I call the police for real this time."

Shin's eyes creased with hurt. "Call the police? You've never threatened to do that on me, Mimi-chan."

Mimi fished her purse for her keys. "Only because I was trying to be a good neighbor and maybe even give you the benefit of a doubt. But now that Yamato-kun is gone I see you've decided to show your true colors at last."

Shin leaned over and looked into her purse as though he could help her find the keys. "You are so cruel, Mimi-chan! After all the effort I go through to keep your cooking skills sharp since some people don't appreciate your fine cuizine."

Mimi flashed her keys and swatted at him in one smooth gesture. She rested on one leg and lowered her bag. He was right about at least one thing...

"The fact that I even let you smell my cooking should be grace enough for the likes of you, Kido-Sensei."

"You know if you'd just let me I could educate your buddies about just how good a cook you are. Really!"

Mimi diverted her eyes from him and focused on the door handle. She remembered all the leftover food from the hanami party that no one had even touched. Shin had helped her get rid of it, but the sting of all her hard work being ignored hadn't left her yet. "Maybe they will one day, but I certainly won't need you to help me. Why are you here anyway?"

Shin leaned against the wall. "Did you have a packaged delivered? I thought I heard someone at your door."

Mimi stuck the key in the deadbolt and turned it. "Don't be stupid. I wouldn't have scheduled a redelivery when I wasn't even going to be home."

Shin shrugged. "Well you never know, what with you being such a busy girl and all. We all make mistakes."

Mimi smirked and reached for the door handle. "The only mistake I've made is not moving away from you yet."

A loud pop accompanied a burst of sparks as she gripped the handle. Mimi shrieked and protectively withdrew her hand so violently she fell down, cradling it by the wrist in her other hand. Shin jumped forward and pulled her away from the door. Mimi's hand began tingling as the numbness slowly faded, but she otherwise could not get her hand to move. She stared at her hand and then the door in bewilderment, her hyperventilation preventing her from speaking.

"Wh-wh-wh-"

"Goddamn bitches wired the door!" Shin shouted angrily before inspecting Mimi's hand. A white mark appeared on her hand where the handle was and her hand was limp at the wrist.

"What?" was all Mimi could say.

"Someone connected your door to an electrical current."

"Who?"

Shin stood and helped Mimi up. "Probably fans of Yamato."

"What?!" Mimi exclaimed as she stood.

"Let's get you inside. I don't think it's safe here." Before Mimi could protest or ask any questions, Shin escorted her upstairs and hastily ushered her inside his apartment. He locked the door behind him and ordered Mimi to sit.

"Wait right here," he said as he went to the kitchen.

Mimi sat at the table in shock. Did someone just actually try to hurt her? Sure, Digimon were one thing, but to think an actual human being had done something like this...

Shin returned with basket full of supplies. He took her hand and coated her hand with a noxious-smelling ointment.

Mimi wrinkled her nose at the smell. "Eww, does all the good medicine smell this bad?"

Shin flatstared her. "No. But this one will keep the swelling down and prevent scarring. I can go find some weak-ass minor strength stuff that smells pretty in the drugstore if you like. It might not prevent scarring and swelling as well as this, but it will smell like lilac."

Mimi blushed profusely. Leave it to a doctor to outsmart her when she actually needed him.

Shin carefully wrapped her hand in gauze. The cool ointment felt good on her now-stinging hand, which thankfully was beginning to regain motor function. Her anger at her assailants was giving way to frustration. This wasn't something she didn't know about. She knew and had reported on cases of fans crazed with jealousy going to exotic lengths to harm people they viewed as enemies to their fandoms. Had she become an enemy to Yamato's fans?

Shin was on the phone. "Jou? Yeah, it's me. Look, Mimi-chan's been hurt...yeah, someone wired her door handle and she's been burned." Mimi could hear Jou shout something on the other end. "Jou, are you okay? Geez, calm down before you break something else. No. Look, if it's busy there I want you to stay there. I will bring Mimi-chan to the hospital. Yes. No, she's fine, I don't think its serious. Okay? Jou. Jou! Calm down. I will bring her around shortly so we can look at her there. What? She is? They are?! Oh that's just...look, I'll see you soon, okay? Yeah, see ya."

Shin hung up with a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. Mimi brushed a strand of hair out of her face with her free hand. "What was that about?"

Shin shook his head. "Nothing. I'm going to bring you over to Waseda and get you looked at. It doesn't look too serious, but I want to make sure." He disappeared into his room, leaving Mimi alone with the computer and a strong tension hanging in the air.　

Mimi looked at her bandaged hand. The ointment was soaking through the gauze and her hand was tingling uncomfortably now. She blew air through her lips and shook her head. When Hiroaki-san finds out about this, there would be trouble. If Yamato ever found out about this, he'd go through the roof. Mimi continued to stare at her hand, still in a state of shock. She found herself asking if the love of a man was worth all of this.

Screened from Jou

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:29:04 GMT

Bask in my presence while you can.

I wanted to drop by to let you all know that right now Jou stands a pretty good chance of winning this contest. But he really needs your support right now, especially from you kids in Japan. He's becoming a total zombie at work lately when he's not with his patient. He's way too quiet and it's driving me nuts. Lately it takes all my strategems to get so much as a dirty look from him, and I really cannot stand to let that continue. My life is no fun if I cannot mess with my baby brother, so I have to swallow my pride and ask you guys to get his spirits back up.

Yes, I am asking you for help. Enjoy it while it lasts.

If you're not going to do this for him, do it for me. My life is a little less fulfilled without getting his awesome reactions from my antics. It's what makes him special.

But really, he may be going to Okinawa in a matter of weeks and he's taken a personal interest in the life of a kid no older than you guys. If he blows this at zero hour because he thinks that everything is riding on his shoulders and he can't handle it I am going to hold YOU personally responsible, at which point I will become a more or less permanent fixture in your lives whether you want me to or not.

And for the love of Pete. Yamato-san, Miyako-san, Sora-san, anyone. PLEASE find a way to get Mimi-chan out of her slump. I have been listening to sad, depressing music coming from downstairs ever since blondie went to France and it is dragging my jolly self down with each tear-jerking chord.

~~I swear her and my brother are connected. There is no other explaination for why they are both killing my mood at the same time. I don't know how yet, but I will find out!~~

Okay, enough of that. Time for me to ascend back to my glorious mountaintop from which I can go back to handing down judgments on humanity.

Added: Koushiro, did you still want to "hang out" or did you finally get over whatever meaningless, overblown drama was afflicting you at the time?

Private

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:40:27 GMT

I need to blow some steam off again. Antagonizing teenagers is fun, but it's not having the same effect as my normal methods. I need to vent to someone face to face. Preferably someone of drinking age so I can let the whiskey do half the job for me. Then we can share our sorrows for an hour, we go home, and the next day I go back to being Darth Vader.

It's not that work is particularly bad, but day after day of dealing with crazy, needy people wears on you after a while, even if it's when doing something you love.

What's really busting my hump is that Jou told me that some other doctor is trying to convince Rie to abort the baby. I know the chances of the baby's survival are slim enough as it is, but the fact that someone, whose job it is to heal people mind you, is poisoning a patient's mind and making them lose hope makes me so angry I can't even swear properly. I am going to track this bastard down and make him eat scalpels for this.

Jou has his work cut out for him. The baby is due in the next couple of weeks and we're all getting nervous. There's a pliable tension in the air now when she's around. We can all feel it when Jou goes to take care of her. He's got some excellent staff and facilities backing him up, but every time I watch him go talk to her I can't help but think he's really going in alone.

Goddammit, now I really need to get out. Why can't all these lousy kids be 20? Why is Jou working too much? That does it. I am grabbing him after work tomorrow and dragging him to the first bar or izakaya I find. Then maybe I can resume my rightful place at the top of the world.

EDIT: I'm out of cigarettes. That explains a few things.

You guys are funny!

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:05:20 GMT

I just wanted to say that watching this so-called drama unfold in your lives has given me more laughs than I've allowed myself in a long time. So let me allow another one before I return to my normal cynical, sexy self:

Ah-haaha!

There. Now I must reserve my precious laughter for things that are actually funny, like paying an intern-induced visit to the hosptial one fine Monday night and finding Jou wearing the cutest pink scrub top I've ever seen! Pictures (of which there were plenty) don't do my brother justice. The best part is he wears it so well! I envy you, Jou. Girls always appreciate a guy who can do pink.

However, the fact that you went to see Mimi-chan all by herself, on your own initiative mind you, and nothing happened truly disappoints me. I haven't lost hope in you yet. A few more months under my tutelage and next time that happens there will be something to report back to me with!

Oh, and did you know that while you kids are running around, screwing around with each other and the digital world, I am actually making a difference in other people's lives? See, that's what makes me better than you. I'm practically running a hospital in another country from here, so that means I can make people's lives better in two places at once! If you guys would actually listen to me one of these days, you might actually evolve from self-serving brats into real human beings! Wait, I can't allow that. That means you'd be as great as I am, and I just simply cannot allow that. Okay, so don't listen to me. Carry on, carry on!

Jou, you did great on your midterm. Congratulations. Now how is your research thesis coming along? And are you thinking about your semester thesis yet? And don't forget to kick some ideas around for your summer thesis, too. Don't start slacking on me just because some teenager in maternity is your only ticket to the only real vacation you're going to have for the next four or five years!

To the newcomers: welcome. I can't wait to find things to humiliate and demoralize you about. It shouldn't be hard. You guys treat this like a diary. Crushing self-esteem is one of my many personal hobbies.

To the old crew: remember that Jou is the only thing standing between me and you.

Okay, back to being awesome.

Time to Kill Someone

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:04:58 GMT

Hey kids? You know what's really fun and exciting? Abusing your status as minors to the detriment of Japan's already fucked medical system!

That's right! The next time you get yourselves knocked up or infected with an incurable STD, instead of accepting responsibility for your idiocy and listening to my advice about what will more than likely affect your useless lives (if you can't vote to lower my taxes you are useless to me!) for the next several years, why not go whine to your rich daddy and threaten the hosptial with a lawsuit! Or better yet, waste valuable time I could spend treating you and trying to make your life better by going somewhere else for a second opinion with a doctor you trust to tell you what you want to know!

See, this is how it's supposed to go; you come in with a problem. I examine you and run some tests to figure out what's wrong. After determining what's wrong, I tell you the treatment I think will work best for you and you follow it to the letter.

No, you don't stop your antibiotics when the symptoms go away. You stop taking them when my goddamned prescription says so. Ever tried treating an infection that's grown resistent to almost every known antibiotic known to man? It's FUN!

No, do not go for a second opinion. If you don't like what you hear, ask for another test. If you still don't like what you hear, then shove an ice pick down your ears so you can't hear anymore and let me do my job!

And for the love of God, get some rest. Half of the people I treat are sick because they work so damned much for reasons they don't even know. Sorry, but five hours of rest and drinking a bottle of sake every day is NOT enough. If you can't find time during the day, it's because you suck at scheduling. Why not do me a favor and quit your job, get the rest your body is craving, and let me treat patients with real problems? There are reasons I don't like Japan, and you, Mr. Salaryman, are one of them.

I have to prescribe anything above minor strength ointments. You can't get decent allergy medicine without my signature. If you are sick, stay home and stop spreading it to the rest of this close-packed populace.

My name is Dr. Shin Kido. My life's calling is to treat people and make a difference in their lives. And as long as someone or something stands in the way of me living out those goals, I will continue hating everyone. Good night.

P.S.

Jou. Your midterm is due Monday. Have it in my hands or I am having your ass used as an example for reattachment surgery.

Mimi's Surprise White Day Date

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:55:16 GMT

Shin busied himself with his dress routine. After so many years of wearing mostly scrubs and lab coats (or in the case of Malaysia, anything that wouldn't suffocate him in the heat), he found it was taking him a number of tries to fix his tie properly. After a fifth attempt he finally had the two ends at the same length. He adjusted the knot and gave his reflection in the bathroom mirror a satisfied nod.

"Ah, if good looks could kill, I'd be a mass murderer," he said aloud.

And he had to look good for tonight. His father was sending him to an important medical meeting in his stead, which meant he had to rub elbows and hobnob with some of the most important faces in Japanese medicine. If he was lucky he might even be able to secure some help for his eventual return to Malaysia.
Still, even as he straightened his coat, he couldn't help but feel he was missing something.

Every step to the next floor was a trial for Mimi. It was only 6pm, but it felt like it was 10. Normally the days at the news station were slow and dull, but today Ishida-kaicho had required her to interview a witness for an accident scene, which required her to be on camera. Her once-curled hair had now gone flat from exposure to the site, and her camera makeup (which she never had a chance to wipe off) was starting to cake.
10:28 PM She was counting down the steps it would take to the shower, where she could just melt under the streaming torrent of steaming water and unwind...catch up on e-mails, check in on the latest in the Digital World...

Shin shrugged his overcoat on. Screw it. He'd figure out what was missing when he got there and make up for it. Wait a second, belt? Yep, still there.
He slipped his shoes on, made sure he had an ample supply of business cards, and stepped outside. As he descended the stairs he found a rather quaint surprise: Mimi was coming up as he was going down.
He stopped to let her pass, watching her as she did so. He noticed that she was dressed rather nicely tonight. He found himself looking her up and down, and then a light went off in his head and shone in his eyes.

Intentionally ignoring the eldest Kido, lest she strike up a cordial conversation with him, Mimi dug into her purse for her apartment key, suddenly realizing that it should be open, with Palmon home.

Shin tapped his chin. Her hair was a little messed and her makeup needed a touchup, but otherwise...
"Perfect," he said, grabbing her arm and yanking her with him. "You're coming with me."

Just as Mimi reached for the door handle, she saw it start to slowly float away, her feet scampering lightly below her. "Huh? Wha-?" She asked in a tizzy, and turned to see that, in spite of her blatant disregard for his presence, Shin had once again invaded her very precious personal space and was dragging her off to some unknown destination. "Wait a sec! I just got home! Where do you think you're taking me?"

Shin looked at her seriously, as though he was on his way to save someone's life as he subconsciously padded down the stairs. "Something important came up. I may need some help, and you're the only one I know who can."

Mimi blinked, He sure was dressed nice. "Must be pretty darned important for you to bring out the threads."

Shin continued down the stairs with her in tow. "Shit happens. Now hurry up before it's too late! I'm not losing everything because you were dragging your heels while lives are at stake, Tachikawa!"

Wow. This sounded serious. "Okay! Okay!" Mimi picked up her feet and followed Shin close behind, only slowing down once they reached the parking space where his motorbike was stationed.

Shin wasted no time putting his helmet on and straddling the motorcycle. He reached into his motorcycle bag and tossed Mimi a pair of goggles. "Sorry, but I don't have an extra helmet. Fix your hair when we get there." He patted the seat behind him and held the handlebars expectantly.

Mimi looked at him defiantly. "It better be closeby then, because I am not about to risk my life for you."

Shin smiled from behind his helmet, thankful that if she decided to finally kill him, at least he could be buried with his gorgeous face intact.
"You leave the driving to me. Now stop wasting time and get on. I'm in a hurry here!"

Mimi couldn't find a suitable arguement for Shin, so simply rolled her eyes in an exaggerated gesture, and climbed on behind him. She remembered the last time she did this, and wrapped her arms around his chest, squeezing painfully tight this time with a smirk.

Shin clenched his teeth as her arms squeezed his ribcage. He mentally dulled the pain by wondering if this was what she was like in bed as he cranked the kickstart and the engine throbbed to life. He snapped the visor shut, put up the kickstand, and rocketed out of the parking garage.

Mimi pressed her cheek against Shin's back and closed her eyes. If she just emptied her mind of all the events of today, the ride would be over in seconds...

Shin drove about a kilometer down the road and brought the bike to a stop in front of an upscale hotel. He lifted his visor and announced gaily, "We're here!"

Mimi opened her eyes. Wow. It worked. She looked up at the hotel, and quickly grimaced. "What the--"

Shin gave her no time to grow suspicious. "Go ahead and fix yourself up in the bathroom while I go park this. Meet me in the lobby and for the love of God you'd better smile. Well don't just sit there staring at me like a pigeon, Tachikawa! Go! Go!" he said with an impatient shooing motion as the fingers of his other hand idly tapped the throttle.

Mimi stuttered. "But--but--!" She stood there aimlessly as he drove off to park the thing. She stratched her temple, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and then threw her arm down. "Great." She turned and looked at the grand entrance of the hotel. "...this is nicer than the one I went to last Christmas..." She muttered, and walked inside.

Shin parked his motorcycle sideways in a parking space to make sure no one would try to squeeze him between their car and his, and also to satisfy his own morbid sense of humor. He hung his helmet up, fixed his hair in his reflection in another car, and then hurried to the hotel. He checked his watch and swore.
"Dammit, I'm already late." He could blame himself for waiting until the last minute, but it made him feel much better to blame it on Mimi dragging her feet so much between the apartment and here.

Mimi knew it was hopeless. Arranging her hair up, down, in a bun, in a twist--parted to the left, right, center--each one looked flat and limp. Her eyes looked puffy, and her lips were dry and pale. She SO did not belong in this hotel. She pinched her cheeks a few times and bit down on her liip in an attempt to give them a hint of color, and walked back out into the lobby.

Shin met her just as he walked inside. "It's about time! I'm already late no thanks to you. And good lord, did you even try to fix yourself up? Oh well, I guess it'll do for now."

Mimi puffed up her chest indignantly, and opened her mouth to protest. "Now wait just a moment here--"

Shin cut her off by holding up his finger in her face. "Ahh-ah! Not another word! We have to get in there right now!" He paused for a moment to look her over. His face slowly melted into disapproval and he growled.
"Gah, this will never do. Must I do everything myself, Tachikawa? Hold still."
Without waiting for her consent, he yanked the clip out of her hair ran his fingers through her hair roughly and then reset the clip. "There, much better."

Mimi stood, frozen in bewilderment that this...this KIDO just handled her...her most precious hair!!!! How dare he touch her in such a sensistive area! She felt so...so violated!!!

Shin sighed. "Geez! Again with the pussyfooting, Tachikawa! Now come on!" He took her arm and led her to a pair of polished Ebony doors. "Now try not to make a complete fool or yourself for once, okay?"

Mimi yanked roughly on his arm. "What do you mean 'for once'?!"

Shin rolled his eyes. "Oh you kids. I give up." He pulled the door open and led Mimi inside. Within the lavish party room meandered about two dozen doctors, all wearing their Sunday best, most of them far grayer than Shin hoped himself or Mimi would ever get.
He led Mimi inside and ran into one of his old colleagues. "Doctor Ookana! Good to see you again!"
The other doctor was a little older than Shin and starting to bald. "Doctor Kido! Good to see you again! Back from Malaysia I see?" He spotted Mimi. "Oh, you brought a date?"

Mimi felt her face flush at hearing the "d" word. "Uh--"

Shin once again cut her off. "Yeah! You know, it's White Day, and I haven't done anything really nice for her lately, so I figure she could at least make do with some good catered food. This girl hardly ever gets out. She's in broadcasting, you know."
Doctor Ookana nodded in classic doctorly fashion. "I can imagine. You do look a little worn down," he said to Mimi. "Stress of the working world, right?"

Mimi smiled adoringly to the doctor, her teeth clenching. "Tell me about it." She cast a glance to Shin, her smile frozen in place.

Ookana nodded once more. "Ah, well I'm afraid business calls. Good to see you again, Kido-sensei!"
"Same to you." They bowed and parted ways. Shin turned back to Mimi. "If you're hungry, there's some great Japanese catering here. Why don't you get yourself some refreshments? I need to go greet my old residency director."

Mimi stuck out her tongue. "I'm gonna run for it, you fink."

"Aww, why is that? Are you not enjoying yourself, my dear?"

"I have better things to do than play your date, Shin-san." Mimi retorted. Like shower. And sleep. And--

While she was making excuses, a handsome young doctor with brilliant eyes and flowing hair approached Shin.
"Doctor Kido!" His voice was like a spring breeze. "How was Malaysia?"
"Hot!" Shin quipped. "But rewarding. Did you get my proposal?"
"Yes," said he honey-voiced doctor. "And I submitted it to my contacts. Best of luck to you." And then he spotted Mimi and bowed courteously. "And you might be?"

Bishounen. Mimi felt her face flush red. "Muh...muh..."

Shin rolled his eyes and shook his head. Just like a record. He lightly kicked Mimi's shoe with his own and tried to appear unconcerned. After all, she didn't want him around, didn't she?

"Mimi!!" She barked like a dog responding to a whistle.

Shin laughed with delight inside. He always loved seeing Mimi crack like this. With Jou it was just too easy.
"Mimi-san, nice to meet you. Doctor Shinzo. I studied with Doctor Kido, though he was a year my junior. Are you here with him? Very unusual, I would think."

"Uh...yeah." Mimi dumbly replied.

Shinzo smiled kindly while Shin ate the scene up. "Well I hope we don't bore you. I'm afraid putting a bunch of doctors in one place doesn't make much for social conversation to those outside our field."

Mimi recollected herself. "Well!" There we go. "Who says you have to talk about your field all night?" That would do it. That would put Shin in his place--flirt with the other doctors!

Oh no you don't.
Shin crossed his arms and flashed Shinzo a friendly smile. "So how is your wife doing?"
Shinzo laughed. His laugh was like sweet cream. "Wonderful! Thank you for asking. She's getting ready to put on her first exhibition, so she's a little nervous."

Mimi felt her face flush red with embarassment. Oh crap. She had just been served.

Shin nodded. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Good seeing you again."
Shinzo bowed. "You too. Nice meeting you, Mimi-san."
Shin looked at Mimi in concern. Well, faked concern. Secretly he wanted to laugh his head off. "Do you need something to drink, Mimi-chan? You look a little red."

"Sure." Mimi responded tursely.

Shin led her to the punch bowl and poured her a cup of the sweet, bubbly beverage. "Don't worry, this one's straight. I know you have to work tomorrow, so I'd just hate to send you home with a hangover, Mimi-chan."

Mimi narrowed her eyes. "I don't get hungover, Shin-san."

"You only say that because you haven't had one yet. Don't worry, you're still young." He handed her the drink and pointed to the table filled with a variety of Japanese foods. "And feel free to help yourself if you need a bite to eat."

Mimi eyed him suspiciously. "And how long do I have to keep this up before you take me home?"

Shin looked over her head. At the other end of the room stood a prestigious-looking doctor who was surrounded by a crowd of doctors and exchanging pleasantries with them. Shin took Mimi by the shoulders and turned her around.
"Tell you what, get me past that crowd to the sea-dog in the middle and that will be all I need from this snakepit."

Mimi blinked. "And how, pray tell, would I do that?"

Shin sighed in flamboyant disappiontment. "So you're saying you can't? I should have guessed as much. I guess it was too much to expect from the likes of you, Tachikawa."

Mimi twitched. "Of course I can do it!"

Shin felt so proud of himself. She was so easy to play right into his hands, and yet she never ceased to amuse him!
"Then hurry it up so I can go home."

"What's his name? Gimme a 101 on the guy." Mimi's face went stone in determination.

"His name is Dr. Kobayashi Isamu. He's on the board at Waseda University and is involved in the World Health Organization, and is a leading expert on disease control. Basically, I need his help for whenever I go back to Malaysia."

"Got it." Mimi took Shin by the elbow, and started bee-lining towards doctor. "OmiGOSH. Omigosh, Shin-chan, omiGOSH!" She gawked at the target in sight, cutting straight through the crowd. "No waaay! Is it really you?!" She got right up in Dr. Kobayashi's face. "I cannot believe it!" She turned to Shin, and slapped him in the chest. "Get OUT! Shin-chan, you didn't say HE was going to be here!"

Shin's face lit up in surprise. The professional expression on her face moments ago left him expecting something more professional. He was not expecting a fangirl. He instantly recovered his senses and jumped into the act.
"Yes I did!" he said defiantly, edging closer to the doctor. "You just never listen to me!"

Mimi rummaged through her purse, looking for some of her namecards. "Oh. My. GOSH. I am SO glad I actually had these with me!" She pulled one out, and bowed, presenting it to the doctor. "I am Tachikawa Mimi, I am a reporter at Fuji TV--and I have heard SO much about your work from Shin-cha--oh, I'm sorry dear--Dr. Kido!"

Shin sighed and bowed to the Kobayashi. "Please pardon her impudence. She's just a little excited. Maybe a bit too much wine, too."
Kobayashi returned the bow and laughed. "It's okay, Dr. Kido, was it? Tell me, miss, how did you hear of me? I can't say I'm exactly a celebrity."

Mimi giggled and hugged onto Shin. "Dr. Kido told me all about you. He's such an admirer, you know! Sometimes I think he loves you more than me!" She smiled adoringly up at Shin. "I get soooo jealous."

Dammit! Wasn't expecting this! Shin blushed slightly and he wrapped his arm around her playfully and smiled. "Nevermind her. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She's probably just still glad I'm back in Japan."
Kobayashi's thick eyebrows rose in recognition. "Ah, now I remember why your name was familiar. You were in Malaysia until recently, were you not?"
Shin nodded. "Yes I was. You've heard of me?"
"Yes, one of my associates mentioned you just moments ago."
Shin smiled inside. So far everything was going exactly the way he wanted it...

"Aww, that is so great, isn't it great honey? Just great!" Mimi waved a hand to beckon Kobayashi closer. "Do you think I could ever get an interview with you? Shin-chan has told me sooooo much, and I must hear more!"

"Oops! That was so forward of me! I'm soooo embarassed!"
She leaned her head on Shin's arm, and pretended to act all bashful. "It's just after hearing so much about you, I just had to meet you! The man who will deliver our future children!"

Shin's face went blank behind a severly-forced smile. Oh hell, now she was using both barrels. He grinned and looked at Mimi.
"Deear, I thought we weren't going to talk about this until later?" He said through his teeth.
She was going to burn for this one.

Mimi put a hand to her face and smiled cutely. "But darling! Who knows when I would ever be able to see him again!"

Kobayashi chuckled. "I appreciate the offer, Dr. Kido, and I will consider it when the time comes, even if gynecology is not my specialty. By the way, Miss Tachikawa, what was this interview you mentioned earlier?"
Now Shin was really getting annoyed. She was stealing his spotlight!

Mimi grinned. "Well, Fuji TV is always looking for human interest stories, and I am sure your Organization would appreciate the free publicity, right?"
Mimi winked, and crossed her index and middle fingers. "I'm real tight with the Executive Producer, you see..."

Kobayashi clasped his hands behind his back and leaned in, taking new interest in Dr. Kido's arm toy. "Oh really?"
Shin deliberately squeezed Mimi's arm a tad too hard. "Yes, she is! And I've been working on a project recently that might benefit all of us."
Urge. To kill. Rising. Turned on. Completely.

Mimi felt the pain elevating in her arm. She winked unflinchingly, and pointed to her card. "Think it over, and mail me with your questions." She smiled up at Shin. "I'm going to go get a drink. Can I get you something, sweetie?"

Yes. Your bra.
Shin shook his head. "Not really, but thank you anyway, honey."

Mimi turned to Dr. Kobayashi. "Doctor?"

Kobayashi waved his hand dismissively. "No thank you. But Dr. Kido, do tell me about this project of yours?"
Shin's face recovered its color. Finally!
"Yes, you already heard about my work in Malaysia, and during my time here I've been trying to raise support for the clinic I ran. I've been trying to turn it into a full-fledged medical center."

Mimi smiled in accomplishment. She got the job done and got a good jab in at Shin. She deserved a real drink.

While Mimi was getting herself a victory drink, Shin and Kobayashi talked shop and Shin did his best to sell his ideas. While the doctor seemed interested, it was probably something he was very good at during functions like this. Shin felt a sense of despiration mounting as he continued the conversation. How would he know if he'd hooked the doctor?
"Well, I'm afraid I have more to discuss with my colleagues," Kobayashi said at last. "Here is my business card. I will call you tomorrow and we can talk more on this."
Shin's face lit up as he accepted the card and bowed. "I will be waiting for your call. Thank you, Dr. Kobayashi!"

He rejoined Mimi by the bar and crossed his arms. "Well, Mrs. Kido, feeling accomplished tonight?"

"Quite." Mimi didn't turn to face him but watched the quartet as she nursed her appletini.

Shin ordered a glass of scotch and leaned on the bar beside her. "Tell me, do you do these kinds of things to me, or do you naturally like to completely embarass every man around you? Because either way you are really good at making me look like I'm robbing the cradle even though we're not actually dating."

"Do I do what kinds of things to you?" Mimi asked with a lewd smile. She brought the martini glass back up to her lips. "Apparently you aren't that much of a cradle-robber, if I was able to order a drink on my own."

Shin sipped his drink calmly. "So you're admitting you look older than you actually are?"

"I carry myself more maturely." Mimi corrected, shifting her weight to one foot and swinging her hip to the side.

Shin watched this movement out the corner of his eye. People often complained about the plainness of Japanes women's work clothing, but he always found something irresistible about it. Especially now that Mimi's backside was filling out the suit rather nicely, he added mentally.
"Well, a deal's a deal. Shall I take you home, or do you want to flirt with some more married men before you go?"

"Bed sounds lovely right now..." Mimi lifted her martini glass and swirled the neon green contents.

"Don't tempt me, Tachikawa. I'm drinking." Shin watched the lights reflect off the surface of the brown liquid and ice cubes in his glass.

"I never invited you." Mimi lulled over her drink.

"Well then, you have a standing invitation from me, since I'm such a nice guy and all," he said with conviction.

Mimi glared at him over the rim of her glass. "You're a creep."

Shin smiled at that comment. "I know, it's the best. You should try it sometime. It's one of the few things in this snakepit of a society that gives me true joy. If I can't be a creep, then I will have to forfeit all reasons for living short of proving to everyone why I am better than they are. When that happens I will finally be able to rest in peace."

Mimi's smile shone through her dark, cloudy expression.“Well, it's a good thing I intend on giving you a long, hard time, then.” Her voice went quiet so only Shin could catch her words over the quartet.

The party continued around the two of them like water outside a bubble. They might as well have been alone, which suited Shin just perfectly. It was far easier, though not as much fun, to seduce and/or torment people alone.

"Oh good! That means I win in the end!" he said cheerfully. "Now I know I will die happy after all!"

Mimi's eyebrow twitched.“As long as I'm not bothered by you, be my guest.” She touched the tip of her tongue to the rim of her glass before meeting her lips to the remaining drink. The sooner she finished, the sooner she could go home.

"Then I'm afraid you will be out of luck, Mimi-chan, because once I am the best I will have to continuously remind everyone of that fact, which will amount to daily broadcasts of my greatness on every form of media. And being that's your specialty, I'm afraid you will have to deal with it first hand, no?" Shin finished by tilting back the last of his Scotch. Damn, he felt good.

“And that, Shin-san, is where my giving you a hard time comes in.” There was no appletini left, but the glass still lingered near her lips.“Because as long as I have to put up with that cigarette stench and insulting smirk on that face of yours, I will always be better than you.” She lifted her glass in a salute before setting it on a passing tray.“More at eleven.”

Shin flashed her his trademark grin. "And with a closer like that, you're my first choice for my official global news anchor. Stick with me and you'll go places." He slid his glass to the bartender and tossed him a couple of coins to pay for it.

“I decline.” Mimi stuck her nose in the air.

Shin shrugged. "Then I guess you're walking home tonight. See you later, Mimi-chan." He turned to leave.

Mimi went rigid at that, and leapt to run after him.“W-wait! You can't do that!” The jerk!!

Shin feigned annoyance and tried to shrug her off. It was like playing with a needy kitten. Make her think you're going to ignore her and she just begs for attention. "Why not? I don't want to take anyone along who 'isn't interested.' Obviously if you don't need me you'll be just fine walking home in the chilling breeze we've got going tonight!"

"But I have no idea where the heck we are! How can you expect me to know how to get home?!" Mimi tagged along anxiously.

Shin paused in the lobby to throw on his overcoat. "Beats me! What's with all this clinging all of a sudden? Most of the time I tell people like this to get out of my sight before I kill them, but in your case I'll just settle frequent harassments and shoe cameras."

Mimi found herself whining. "You can't just abandon me! You BROUGHT me here!"

Shin crossed his arms and bounced on his heels impatiently. He saw his chance and dove for it. "Fine! I'll take you home. Geez, you're whiny. But only under one condition."

Mimi backed up. "What?"

Shin held out his finger, then looked up as he tried to think. He slowly shook his finger, tapped his foot, and bit his lip as his brain continued to churn out little more than fumes.
"I...I'm not sure right now. I'll tell you when we get home."

Mimi suspiciously glared at him. "...fine."

"Good," Shin said conclusively. "Come on before I leave you again." He led her outside to his motorcycle, which remained parked sideways in the parking space. Someone had left an angry note on the seat, which he promptly disposed of while unlocking the helmet.
"This time pay attention so you don't get lost! I don't have time to babysit you, you know."

"I have no plans of coming back here, so I don't see any reason to!" Mimi wasn't up to arguing much longer, but her pride wouldn't let it go.

Shin handed her the goggles as he swung the front of the motorcycle out and started the engine. "Well hurry up and get on, Tachikawa! I don't have all night you know! I need my beauty sleep to keep my flawless complexion in shape! It's a lot of work staying beautiful!"

Mimi snapped on the goggles, and mounted the bike. "This is NOT how you treat a girl on a date!" She shouted over the motor.

Shin made to open the throttle, but instead he stopped and looked back. He flipped his visor up and looked at Mimi quizically.
"Date?" he repeated. "Mimi-chan! I had no idea you thought about me that way!"

Mimi arched her back indignantly. "I don't think of you that way!"

Shin's face melted into a sad puppy face, which was half concealed behind his helmet. "You don't? I guess I was wrong about you, then!" He reached up and put his fingers on the visor. "I'll just have to rest easy knowing I finally took you out on a date." He flipped the visor shut and gunned the throttle before Mimi could say anything.

Mimi clutched tight, losing her chance to retort. It's okay...she knew what she was going to say, and she would have her last word once she got to her apartment!

Shin swung the motorcycle casually out of the parking lot and opened the throttle as soon as they hit the road. His helmet hid the huge grin on his face as he felt Mimi's arms wrap around him yet again. He found himself rather liking this position and his mind went to work translating it to the horizontal position. Alas, he did not have long to ponder this for another kilometer-long ride brought them to the apartment building.
"We're back!" he announced cheerfully as he brought the motorcycle to a stop beneath the apartment building."

Mimi carefully dismounted once again, and rested a hand on the seat of the bike to steady herself. Peeling off the goggles revealed a nasty glare aimed in the elder Kido's direction

Shin turned off the bike and directed a questioning stare from behind the safety of his helmet. Gotta protect his face.
"What?" he asked innocently. "I thought you wanted to go home. I mean, I can take you back to the hotel just as easily if you want."

Mimi rolled her eyes and sighed, walking past him towards her room.

Shin smiled to himself as he took off his helmet and fished in his pockets for cigarettes and a lighter.
"Oh and Mimi-chan?"

Mimi stopped, and looked over her shoulder. "What?"

Shin took a breath. "Despite what you may think, you looked totally do-able tonight! You made my life a whole lot easier tonight!"

Mimi's eyebrows arched, but quickly relaxed and turned to walk up the stairs. "I am not going to risk breaking a nail to beat you up."

Shin pulled a cigarette from the box. "While I am grateful that you will spare my precious face, I am also rather disappointed that you won't show any appreciation for the one guy who actually did something for you on White Day. It only stands to reason that you would at least mutter a little "thank you" for not only breaking your precious routine, but also setting you up with a very important figure for a future interview that would just look lovely on your portfolio. And while I would just lo-hove you to be nice to me, I fear you doing so will break my wonderfully fulfilling lifestyle of driving every single human being on this planet absolutely nuts while I work at proving my genius over them."

Mimi unclipped her hair and shook it. "Well mission accomplished Shin-san. You drive me nuts--if that is what you consider genius, give yourself a freaking gold star!"

Shin put away the box and lighter and approached Mimi with the unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth. His long strides quickly closed the gap between the two, and he stopped beside her. He put his arm around her shoulders and looked closely into her eyes.

Mimi blinked, and stuck out her chin. She held her breath and looked up at him defiantly. "You can't kiss me with that cigarette in your mouth."

Shin took the cigarette out and stuck it behind his ear while keeping his eyes fixed on Mimi's. His hard stare tried to penetrate her eyes and look into her mind. "Let me tell you a secret. There are two kinds of people in my world; the ones I hate and the ones I drive insane. Do you know what the difference is?"

"Their intelligence?" Mimi stuck out her tongue.

Quick as a snake, Shin grabbed her tongue with his free hand, leveling his quick eyes with hers in a pose he reserved for women he was about to kiss. He was close enough to smell the remains of her makeup, and he thanked his lucky stars he'd brushed his teeth already.

Mimi's eyes crossed angrily, and she waved her arms in protect. She let out a frightened gasp, roughly slapping Shin on the shoulders.

Shin hunched his shoulders against the blow, but remained calm and grinned slightly. "The ones I drive insane are the ones I actually like." He released her tongue and replaced the cigarette in his mouth.

Mimi screeched and started hitting him harder. "I'm NOT going to let you win this, Shin Kido!"

He fended off her blows with one hand, smirking all the while. "I'm afraid you're too late, Mimi-chan! You lost the moment we crossed paths today, because I always win."

Mimi threw her arms down in a fit. "YOU are the reason I am SO GLAD I am an only child!"

Shin lowered his arm, but only halfway. "Really? I figured after what happened between you and Jou on your birthday HE would have been the reason for that line of thought."
Melissa: Mimi gasped. "That is LOW."

"Now you're defending him."

"I am not!" Mimi flushed.

"And now she's turning red!" Shin observed with the flair of a game show announcer. "Oh my gosh, don't tell me you actually like Jou?"

Mimi went still. If she denied it, would it be lying? If she admitted, no doubt Shin would go and tell him. No matter how she answered it, Shin would make the worst of it. "It wouldn't matter how I answered you! You think the way you want to!"

Maybe it was the scotch, maybe it was his overcoat in the mildly cold air, but either way, Shin was feeling rather warm.
"And that's what makes me happy, Mimi-chan. I do and think what I want. I'm not in this game called life to make everyone so gosh darn jolly to see me because I trip over myself to appease them. No, I do and think what I want to do, and the people who really matter to me will admire me for that. The only reason I ever kiss up to anyone is for personal gain, and even that has its limits. You and I are kinda similar like that, you know?"

"I don't see the connection." Mimi squirmed her shoulders uncomfortably.

Shin planted his hand on the wall behind Mimi. "We both have mountain-sized egos, we both hate to lose, and we both totally turn each other on because of that."

Mimi's voice caught in her throat, and her face turned red.

Shin cocked his head to one side. "Nothing left to say? Oh well, I guess I'll let you go to bed now. If you come up with a proper fitting retort in the morning, you can slip it in my mailbox on your way out and we can continue this discourse via postcards. Otherwise I will consider myself correct as always. But don't worry, I'll keep this between little old you and me. What do you say?"

Her mouth gaped open, and moved slightly--how to respond to that? How dare he imply that she was turned on by--wait, did he say he was turned on?! Omigod, omigod, omigod--

Shin stood back and ran his hand through his hair. His eyes were half-open like a man who had just accomplished a great feat, and he stood ready to recieve a laurel wreath for his efforts. "I really should be going. I have a busy day tomorrow." He looked at Mimi smoothly as he started back up the stairs. "Have a good night, Mimi-chan."

Private: One Straw Left and One Drink Too Many

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:00:01 GMT

(screened to all but Jou)

Not that it needs repeating, but I hate you all. And that doesn't really matter because you can't read this anyway, so ha! I can say whatever I want!

Frankly the only one of you I have any real personal investment in is Jou, and that's only because if he blows it we both catch Hell from Dad, and I'd rather not have to put up with that. In all honesty I want to go back to the clinic in Malaysia. I was much happier administering Malaria vaccines without the hassles of the Japanese medical system, even if it meant I had to live with no air conditioning or even sleeping in a hammock.

Frankly, I think Jou is about the most normal of all of you. The rest of you are a bunch of hormonal little freaks who can't keep their pants or their tempers on for more than ten minutes. I swear, I've never seen such blatant displays of adolescent sexuality and egoism in my life outside my own. At least I don't pretend to be better than I actually am, because I am already better than all of you, even you, Mimi-chan. Though to be fair I will never have as nice an ass as you.

As for the rest of you, I would quite happily let you all go to hell and it wouldn't bother me in the least. Don't even think for a second I care about anybody beyond the simple needs of a good laugh. And laugh I shall. HA!

When you kids get some REAL problems, come see me. Jou and I see death almost every day, so don't even BEGIN to THINK you've got it bad until you have to tell the Yamazakis from down the street that they now owe half a year's salary for saving their dear old mum.

Jou. I love you. Don't change a thing. Even if you're a whiny, pessimistic dork who I cannot believe came from between my own dad's legs.

And don't worry about Mimi-kun. At the rate you're going, you'll be sharing sheets with her in no time!

Jou, this is important.

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:51 GMT

You've probably heard this before, but medicine is a highly competitive field. The only way to move up in this field is to prove that you are better than every other sycophant in scrubs around you in any way possible.

I've just heard on the grapevine that the big wigs at Waseda (including dad) are starting a contest of sorts. The intern with the best bedside manner will get a 15-25% payraise, plus a trip with one of our attending physicians to Okinawa for a special conference on bedside manner for terminally ill patients. I went to this conference when it was held in Tokyo, and it is really worth it. The speakers are great and the seminars are enlightening.

They're going to start observing all of the interns sometime this month. Jou, if you want a hell's chance at succeeding in this career, you would be a damned fool not to go all-out for this.

But...dammit! Why didn't they do these kinds of things when I was an intern? I so would have aced it!

(Private) Re: Jou and Mimi

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:17:03 GMT

That was awesome. I am so proud of my little brother, I could almost cry!

Oh wait, that's just allergies.

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:23:19 GMT

Shin continued chewing Jou out all the way up the stairs until they were securely back in his apartment. Shin shoved Jou into the room and hastily closed the door, flattening himself against it as if he was barricading the door from within while wearing a sly grin that curved beneath his glasses. His right hand smoothly slid toward the lock. All the while, Jou glared at him with a mix of bewilderment and indignation.

“Shin! What the hell are you…what the hell are you doing?”

The grin never left Shin’s face as he twisted the lock shut. “Spill it.”

Jou blinked. His wet toes curled uncomfortably against the still-cold water. He had a good idea what Shin was talking about, but he wanted to assume for the moment that Shin was thinking of better things.

“Spill? What’s to spill?”

Shin’s grin spread. “You know damn well what I’m talking about, so spill your guts, bro. No wait! You’ll catch cold in those and you won’t be able to speak clearly! Let me get you some dry clothes!” Shin sped past Jou in a blur and returned the next instant with a clean, dry pair of pants and socks for Jou. “Here! Put these on! I think I’m a little bigger than you but they should be fine. Oh you must be freezing. Let me get you some tea!” Shin shoved the clothes into Jou’s arms and hurried to the kitchen in a frenzy.

Jou’s mouth hung open as he watched Shin’s frenetic hospitality. “Hey, these are warm! How did you get them warm so fast?”

Shin busily prepared some hot tea for Jou. “Don’t worry about that.” He looked back at Jou and raised his eyebrows in annoyance. “Are you going to take your pants off or do I have to do it for you?”

Jou grimaced at the idea of being stripped by his brother and dropped the dry, warm clothes and frantically peeled off his soaking wet pants, replacing them with the new ones with a sigh of relief. Shin swept past him and scooped up the clothes.

“I’ll hang these out to dry! You can pick them up later!” He returned a moment later and shoved Jou into the reading chair and draped a blanket over him. “Make yourself comfortable, okay? I’ll be right back!” he sang.

Jou sat in the chair in utter bewilderment. His mind reeled from the sudden display of unwarranted hospitality from his brother. Just what the hell had gotten into Shin? Jou’s stomach was still hurting from getting stepped on and his neck still hurt from being dragged up to the apartment. This was truly strange behavior on the part of his brother. At least when Shin was being mean he was easy to predict. But with him being so nice, Jou was actually MORE afraid.

Shin returned a moment later with a steaming cup of tea and a warm scone on a plate. He handed them politely to Jou and then pulled up a chair from the table. He sat in it backwards with his arms crossed and resting over the back with that same excited grin pastered to his face while Jou sipped the tea cautiously.

Shin waited for Jou to finish his first sip and waited for that satisfied sigh before breaking in.

“So?”

Jou took a bite of the scone. “So what?”

Shin nodded at Jou. “Well? Go on, tell me all about it? How were they?”

Jou swallowed. “Shin, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Shin bobbed his head toward Jou like a bird and raised his eyebrows. “How were they, Jou? You know?” Shin cupped his hands over his chest and rotated them to imitate a pair of breasts.

The gesture was lost on Jou for a moment, and then the pieces fell together like rain on pavement as he connected Shin’s excited behavior with the events of a few minutes ago. “What? Shin, I didn’t see anything!”

Shin narrowed his eyes at Jou. “Don’t lie to me, brother. I know what I, or rather, you saw, and you are going to tell me about it.”

Jou clenched his teeth and groaned. “Shin, even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you even under pain of death.”

Shin slapped the back of the chair and pointed at Jou. “This isn’t about life or death, man! This is in the interests of science! As a representative of the scientific community, it is for the benefit of medical science itself that you must tell me what you saw in the last ten minutes!”

Jou groaned again. “Come on, Shin! I’m not going to break Mimi’s trust by telling you what she looks like naked. I mean come on, you’re a doctor, you should be able to picture it yourself!”

Shin shifted in his seat. “So are you, and could you picture her naked before today? Come on, tell the truth.”

Jou grumbled as he munched on the scone and glared at Shin.

“I thought so. Come on, Jou! A lot of men would give an eye to see what you just saw today!”

“And then she’d take the other one when they did!” he fired back.

Shin shrugged. “Hey, nothing’s free in this world.”

Jou sighed. “I don’t believe this. I almost got killed and then you humiliate me further and then expect me to satisfy this sophomoric curiosity about a woman just for kicks? I’m sorry Shin, but I am not going to participate in this degradation of Mimi-kun’s character!”

“I think you’ve already taken care of that.”

“Oh you’re just a world of help Shin! I’d rather have walked home in wet clothes than deal with this…this…juvenile behavior from you! And I wish you hadn’t given me this tea and the scone. Okay, so I finished them both off, but that’s beside the point!”

“And your point is?”

Jou pointed to himself. “I am not going to talk about Mimi-kun behind her back!”

Shin sighed and hung his head. “Geez, why didn’t you say that earlier? Geez, you’re no fun, Jou.”

Jou threw off the blanket and stood resolutely. “Thanks for the tea!”

“Shin swung his legs around so he was seated sideways in the chair. “You’re welcome. And what about the clothes I’m so graciously lending to you?”

“They’re too big around the waist!” Said Jou indignantly, as though Shin had just trampled on one of his most basic human rights.

Shin put his hand to his forehead and swooned. “Oh Jou! You wound me with your ingratitude! Oh thank the gods that our beloved mother isn’t here to see how her youngest son turned out!”

Jou’s eye twitched and he clenched his teeth. “RRRRRGGGHH! Good day, Shin!” He snatched up his wet bag and marched out the door, stopping to slip his shoes on.

Shin followed him out and leaned against the door frame as Jou walked down the hallway. “Hey Jou!” he called. Jou stopped and looked back. “Why’d you do it anyway?”

Jou looked out across the clutter of brown and gray apartment buildings in the increasing twilight. “Because I thought she might appreciate me if I did.”

Shin shook his head. “You’ll have to try much harder than that, Kiddo.”

Jou nodded in assent. “Yeah, I know.”

“Oh and Jou?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you enjoy the view?”

Jou flatstared. “Drop dead, Shin.”

Shin grinned. “Not likely. See you tomorrow, Jou.”

Continued from here.

Whatever

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:51:59 GMT

Happy Valentine's Day, you little hormonal brats. I hope you enjoy your youth while it lasts. In a mere forty years you'll look about as good and have about the same sex appeal as the wrinkly old cronies who lurch in here for their medication that I see every freaking day. And believe me, forty years seems like a long time, but one day you'll wake up and think "holy shit, I'm 60!" And then you'll look at the person next to you and think "Holy shit! He / she is old now!" Then it will all be over.

Muahahaha!

You Kids are Weird

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:44:05 GMT

So I was sitting at my desk last night plotting world domination (read: grading my interns' examinations), when I heard the most desperate, frantic knocking at my door. At first I thought it was my drunk neighbor from down the hall again, having mistaken my portal for his own, so I was inclined to ignore it. But being the kind soul that I am, I decided the least I could do was redirect him to the proper threshold and the relief therein. So, donning my favorite flannel shirt to hide my irresistible body from the world for its own protection, I left my very important work at my desk and answered the door.

But when I opened the door, lo and behold, there stood an angel, robed in light and bearing gifts as a reward for all my good deeds. At last! Heaven was finally rewarding me for my lifelong toils! This was it! Good guys do win in the end! A golden, heavenly light formed a beautiful halo about my angel and danced off her already brilliant brown hair and her beautiful, brilliant brow. Such glory I beheld! I had to cover my eyes just to keep looking without going blind!

I held my hand up to cover that damned bright light over my doorway and found Mimi-chan standing in front of me with a re-heally pissy expression carved into her face and an armful of cheap liquor (mostly fruity cocktails that I hate with a passion. Only people who can't hold their alcohol drink those things). I'm pretty sure the sweater she was wearing had not been washed in at least a week, and I thought it was a little too cold for that particular pair of shorts, but I wasn't about to complain.

And that was when I recieved the gifts heaven had witheld from me for so long as a reward for my perseverance. Mimi-chan shoved the alcohol into my arms - I'm pretty sure it was every drop she owned - saying, "It's just not worth it!"

Now, I know I'm a genius. I keep my genius certificate hidden in a safe place so people don't get jealous and steal it. Not that it would matter because being the genius I am I could easily track them down and return it to its rightful owner (me), but sadly, God decided not to reveal all of his greater mysteries to me in a blinding flash of light (I may have blinked at the wrong moment), and among these mysteries to which I am bound to mortal comprehension is women. I admit, I was a little confused.

I attempted to procure the reasoning behind her kind offer of cheap alcohol and the crow-killing expression in her eyes with my certifiably seductive voice (I have another certificate for that one), but all she did was mutter incoherently and say something about this being all Jou-sempai's fault. Without so much as a "good night," the angel departed for her heavenly abode. I watched her leave with great interest, mesmerized merely by her backside (and what a nice backside it was. I can't wait for summer), until fate once again separated us.

After the elevator doors closed behind her, I went back inside and set the alcohol aside. I'll get rid of it somehow. But at the moment I'm sitting in front of a pile of half-graded exams with a cigarette burning in my mouth and one question burning in my mind:

Jou, did you finally sleep with Mimi-chan?

Shin and Mimi: The Earth Trembles

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:36:34 GMT

"Grr, freaking interns and their freaking questions," Shin grumbled as he glanced over the magazine rack at the convini near his apartment. "You're doctors too, YOU make a decision for once in your goddamn lives. I'm not getting paid to be your babysitters while it's your watch, or else I'd actually be working there!"

So violent and stormy was his growling that bystanders reading the magazines actually stood aside for him. The scrubs hiding under his jacket went a long way to emphasize this effect, along with the faint smell of antiseptics still clinging to him should one get close enough. Shin theorized the smell hightened his moods, but he had yet to prove it. All he needed right now was some tofu, rice, and vegetables for dinner. He flicked a tuna/mayo onigiiri into his basket and went back to fuming at his clueless charges.

"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn interns. Graarrr..."

Mimi internally moaned and kept low as she, like the other unfortunate souls to share the convini with the charismatic but moody doctor, tried to avoid crossing his path.

Honestly, for someone so self-declaringly “brilliant,” he sure could benefit from some stress management therapy or something.

Shin paused in front of the alcohol cooler. He saw the familiar labels and let a small, but difficult smile cross his face. He opened the cooler and removed a can of his favorite brand of beer, one of the few small comforts in this world he could rely on. Satisfied with his beverage purchase, he turned around and spotted the backside of a young woman in a pink jacket and brown hair. Try as she might, there was only one woman in the world right now who would be trying to hide from him, save for Mika in pediatrics.

He nonchalantly strolled up the aisle, picking up a bottle of sanitizer along the way as he approached her from behind.

"You know you look even more conspicuous like that," he said while looking over the brands of chocolates.

Mimi straightened up, and looked over her shoulder. A tight smile stretched across her face. It lacked its typical warmth, though a fiesty heat competitively radiated from her eyes.“Now you're just saying that to flirt.” She drawled in a low voice.

Shin found his favorite brand of Crunky and tossed in his basket. "That might be possible Tachikawa, but also I just couldn't help but notice you because everyone else here is actually making an effort to act normal."

Mimi bared her teeth and made a squeaky growl at the eldest Kido brother.“Only because they, unlike ME, are scared spitless of your little temper tantrum.” With a grandiose gesture, Mimi kept her legs straight as she swept down to retrieve the handle of her shopping basket. She straightened back up and shook her hair out of her face.

Shin smiled a little. Slowly he was forgetting the antagonism of his interns. The curvature of Mimi's butt certainly went a long way toward that. He was even feeling a good mood starting to come on.
"Then why were you trying to hide from me, Miss I'm-not-afraid-of-you? Last I checked, people hid from things they're afraid of."

Mimi glanced to the floor. They bore such a resemblance to eachother, the Kido brothers...Mimi looked back to Shin. But as soon as Shin opened his mouth, the similarity ended.

“I wasn't hiding.” Mimi lied.“I was looking for something on the bottom shelf.” She looked back to the referred area, and felt a huge sense of relief that it wasn't condoms or diarrhetic or some other appalling product.

Eyedrops! Yes! “The weather has made my eyes dry.” She quickly nudged a box with her toe, sneaking it into her basket.

"Oooh, well pardon me," Shin said with a roll of his eyes. "My mistake. And here I was getting a meager bachelor's meal, despite having the prestigious title of "Doctor" affixed to my name. Funny that people who make a living taking care of others can barely take care of themselves, don't you think? Obviously this is the price we pay for all our hard work."

“Cooking is a skill all bachelors should pick up.” Mimi leaned over to glance in his basket and then looked to him pointedly.“Especially the eternal ones.”
She nodded to his basket.“Just what do you expect will come of what you've got in there?”

Shin looked in his basket with her. "Well, the beer is to wash away the unfettered anger I'm feeling with my interns right now for paging me on my days off, the onigiiri is a snack, and the chocolate is because deep down inside, I'm actually a really sweet guy, Tachikawa. And sweet guys need to be fed sweet things every once in a while in this cold, cruel world we live in. And given enough time, I might just add some tofu, vegetables, and perhaps some oodon to this meager catch and call myself a dinner. Unless that is, of course, you deem this a dinner, in which case I will go home and bring myself one step closer to malnutrition."

Mimi was fighting a smile and losing. She figured it out. Shin was the worst combination possible; he had the Kido looks and her quirky charm. No wonder he was so disarming.

“It looks promising...” Mimi looked up to him.

Shin grinned. "Remember the last time we were this close together?" he said in a low voice. Oh he just had to see her reaction to that.

Oh no. Mimi wasn't going to give him a giggle at her expense.“Can't say I recall.” She breathed nonchalantly.

Hah. Try to have fun with THAT, Doc.

Shin leaned a centimeter closer, just enough to be noticeable, and raised an eyebrow. "Would ya like a reminder?" he breathed with a slight growl.

Okay! Not fun! Mimi doesn't wanna play this game!

“Have you been smoking?” Mimi nervously blurted for lack of better responses.

Wow. Wowwowwow. If only Yamato or Jou was this aggressive...

Shin looked away as he walked through his day. "About twenty minutes ago, I think. I always smoke when I get pissed off. Gives me something to focus on aside from the faces I want to break, but can't for fear of maintaining my career."

Mimi took that opportunity to back up from Shin. As much as she wanted to tease, she was in no mood to put herself at risk for another lip-lock with Kido the elder.

Shin straightened up and looked around. Mimi may think she's so tough, but she's such a pushover! Oh if only Jou had the right experience.

"So, were eyedrops the only things you came here or were we fated to cross paths yet again?"

Mimi flatly stared at Shin, and lifted her basket. It was filled midway with strawberry milk, collagen water, salad Pretz, and menstrual pads.“It's destiny.” She retorted.

"Destiny, you say?" Shin replied. "It seems to me that our gastronomic destinies are intertwined this evening, wouldn't you say?"

“Are you asking me to dinner?” Mimi quipped, lowering her basket.

Shin put one hand in his pocket and tilted his head to one side. "Well maybe not to dinner, but definitely for dinner, I'd say."

“What's the occassion?” Mimi suspiciously rose an eyebrow.

"Oh it's a very special occaision. It's "Doctor Shin is hungry and bored, and might enjoy some company day." And while I can cook for myself well enough, I'd much rather it be from your hands than mine. After all, a doctor shouldn't risk injuring his valuable hands to the knife or flame." He held up his free hand and wiggled the fingers, examining it as if it were bejeweled with expensive rings.

Mimi's jaw went slack, but she quickly closed it and recovered from the initial shock.

“Hmm!” She let out a haughty smirk.“Why don't you ask sweetly, or do you have to eat your chocolate first?”

Shin looked into his basket thoughtfully. "As much as I love chocolate, a brilliant mind needs delicious food. So Tachikawa-san, would it be possible for you to cook dinner for the two of us if, say, I buy your things there and perhaps pick up some food for your cats?"

“Well when you put it that way, how can I refuse?” She turned over her basket and emptied its contents into Shin's basket.“Here.” And Mimi strolled casually to the register, tossing her hair over her shoulder.“It's for the cats.”

Shin followed her to the register and set the basket on the counter. While the cashier emptied the contents and counted up the items, Shin turned to Mimi and said, "so what were you planning on tonight? Pizza Hut or curry?"

Mimi watched as her groceries were packed with Shin's. It gave her stomach an uneasy, flighty feeling. She looked to Shin for a moment. Oddly, his face was straight.“I wasn't sure yet.”

"Oh, that's cool," said Shin as he paid for the food. "That means we get to decide together!" he said playfully. "We'll be like best buds!"

“More like the heroine and her crazy neighbor.” Mimi muttered below her breath.

"Crazy what?" said Shin as he turned around with bags in hand. "Sorry, my ears are super-sensitive for comments and phrases being directed toward me. Luckily I've learned to screen such comments that do not have any bearing on my immediate satisfaction, such as interns and medical students pegging me up for questions on procedures a fifth-grader would know."
He turned to the exit. "At any rate, do we need to stop at the grocery store, or do you have everything you need?"

Mimi nervously waved her hands in front of her face.“I-I-I don't even know what I'm making! Give me some ideas!”

Again, such a pushover.
Shin looked at the ceiling in thought. "I wasn't in the mood for anything particularly fancy, but I am hungry. What tastes good and is easy to make for dinner?"

Mimi thought for a moment.“Italian.”

Shin nodded. "Then will we need noodles?"

Mimi shrugged.“I always manage to keep some in supply.” She stepped out and had her breath taken away by a gust of cold air.

The Doctor Is In

Just a warning

To the Japanese Conquistadores

Happy Birthday Inoue-san

Shin and his Bosses

Okay so...

Private

Shin Kido, M.D.

Now *I* Need a Vacation

Getting A Glimpse of Maturity

Ow my head

Kido Brothers, Unite!

Mens' Night Out

Shin and Mimi : No Where Is Safe (From Vengeful Fangirls)

Screened from Jou

Private

You guys are funny!

Time to Kill Someone

Mimi's Surprise White Day Date

Private: One Straw Left and One Drink Too Many

Jou, this is important.

(Private) Re: Jou and Mimi

Whatever

You Kids are Weird

Shin and Mimi: The Earth Trembles

Now I Need a Vacation