Mistakes and Memories

Iyuki took a few steadying breaths and leaned against a rather clean wall. She had grabbed his hand and ran, something he hadn't expected. Instead he had expected her to run and him to follow. He rubbed his hand a bit with his face still red, but he could cover that with pretending to be more winded than he was. Taking a few more deep breaths, to try and rid the red from his face, the young purple haired man looked around carefully as he activated his power.

No colors followed them and one seemed to be prepared to for now, though this was the second time the two of them had ended up in an alleyway in the past hour. His head turned down as his face was covered by his hair, blue eyes staring at the ground. "S-So... yes?"

Muika stood, not quite leaning against the wall as Iyuki caught his breath. Had she run too far? He seemed rather winded, perhaps he wasn't used to running as long as she was...judging by his slightly red face. That was her assumption anyway...

"I...I saw that billboard...?" It came out sounding like a question, she'd immediately been curious upon seeing it; but how Iyuki had acted before they'd run hadn't escaped her notice either...so she wasn't sure if it was appropriate or not to ask.

"Y-yes. You did?" She had. Iyuki kept his face down as it turned so red he could melt the heat of his face alone. If the higher beings or them have any such mercy, they would smite him now. He need not explain the embarrassing fact of that billboard. Of any others they might see. It seemed it had permeated even here. He had thought he was safe and free.

It seemed he had no such luck. What was worse would be if that group saw the billboard and took notice. Or any of the countless others. What if the bus ads started running? If they watched television this could be bad... He was putting Muika in danger. He was the worst human being imaginable. No, he was worse than that. He was an ant, a cockroach. A monster.

Muika watched as Iyuki's already nervous exposure became one that was practically panic at this point. He wasn't saying anything, and she could only assume he was likely in a heated debate with himself or something...or at least, she would be if she were in his state of being anyway.

Perhaps she shouldn't of asked? She looked off the sides not really knowing what to do. She didn't just want to...not say anything? He was struggling and...he'd helped her when she was struggling...although the situations were quite different.

Taking a rather timid step forward she reached out her hand, albeit showing some uncertainty in her actions and placed it on his shoulder in what was meant to be a comforting action.

As Iyuki'd brain tried to put together something coherent to say, Muika's hand jolted him back to awareness of his surroundings. His body slammed back a bit from being startled, he hit his head on the wall as he spoke through one hand covering his lower face. "Itsmyolderbrother!"

The outburst was embarrassing and he stuttered a bit but couldn't get anything coherent out of his mouth. It could have been an apology. For his brother or himself. Either was possible.

Muika let out a noise of slight surprise at Iyuki's sudden movements, the moment his head hit the wall her expression took on a mixture of being apologetic and worried.

"A...Are you okay? S-sorry...that was my fault." She saw it as her fault anyway, considering it'd been her gesture that caused it. "Your...older brother?"

He'd mentioned having siblings, but he'd only mentioned. She'd never seen pictures or had seen them in real life before.

"Not your fault..." His outburst was frustratingly awful, and Iyuki felt contrite as he felt his head for a bump. Nothing seemed to be wrong other than a slight pain when he touched. But he looked down at the concerned Muika and felt worse.

"I am fine, yes. He's... well he was an underwear model. It seems he moved onto to other modeling in the time since I saw him last year." Iyuki was mortified. His brother could do whatever with his life, but not involve Iyuki. Why would he do this?! They looked too similar. Now Iyuki would get drawn in... "He's old for the profession but his looks tend to override it. He is pushing forty, never let him lie to you!...If you end up ever... Not that you would, I promise!"

Despite his words she still felt a little bad, had she not touched him he probably wouldn't have jumped like that...perhaps she just wasn't good at comforting gestures, she was much too shaky when attempting them...

Muika could understand his panic as he explained...considering how similar they looked he was likely to get curious glances every now and then. She couldn't help but wonder how many times he'd had to explain to people that that wasn't him...if he'd encountered that problem before now anyway.

"I...I see." She wondered if his siblings held any concerns for him as of late...considering his recent move to practically the middle of nowhere outside of town...if they knew that much. She wasn't sure how much they knew but she did know they only rarely spoke, so perhaps even with his request for his sister's help they didn't know the particular situation, excluding the whole cult people thing.

"Is it frustrating?" She asked, "being mistaken for him sometimes that is...?"

It was as if a floodgate opened. The normally reclusive man about his past seemed to open up a bit more at this question. His body quivered a bit and he looked to the sky as it it was the most evil memories surfacing. "Yes... He tends to...play up things I am not. So when others see me, they assume I am him or that I am his son or brother and would be the same. I have been touched and felt and...touched! By people he flirts with!"

"AArgh. He just... has no care about how I care for things and when I am home he dresses me up as he wishes! Between them I am a doll to be messed with for their amusement. Why would they make me wear that maid outfit?! I don't even think they needed to, but they wanted to see if my hair would fit in pigtails and...." Iyuki was breathing a bit hard with the effort to speak about this stuff. It was locked away in his deepest chest inside of him. It seemed the billboard bothered him enough to put cracks for now.

She was...quite surprised by the information given. She felt bad for him...being the youngest sibling from the looks of things wasn't the greatest thing...or at least in this scenario. To force one to wear something like a maid outfit against their will...and did he mention something about pigtails?

People in public as well...had they no respect for personal space? Most didn't seem to nowadays. People need their space and people had clearly crossed the line with Iyuki due to them mistaking him for his brother.

Like before, she reached out her arm and placed her hand on his shoulder; albeit a bit more carefully and less shaky than before so not to startle him again, while her free hand moved up to her mouth like it had on the train - likely an action to make up for the lack of shakiness in her previous one.

"Sorry...you had to deal with that stuff." She wasn't really sure what to say, she could understand his frustration despite not being in his particular situation but still she could understand his...feelings on some of the consequences of his siblings actions.

She moved the hand on his shoulder to the left and right slightly as if she were rubbing it lightly, another poor attempt at a comforting action. Normally that was done to the head from what she'd seen...but it was usually guys that did that to girls and Iyuki had just hit is head...so it probably wasn't the best place anyway.

The deep breathing calmed the young man considerably as did Muika's awkward actions. He nodded and kept taking deep breaths, the pain in his head receding slowly. "I appreciate your listening. I do feel a bit better but, I may wish to... cover my head. At least until we are past that blasted billboard."

Iyuki reached up and softly placed his hand on the hand Muika was using to rub his shoulder gently. Giving her a small smile, he nudged his head in the direction of the amusement park.

"Today is a day to make memories, we really shouldn't be spending is in alleys speaking about things better left until we are home. But, thank you Muika."

Gradually, Iyuki calmed down after taking a few deep breaths before thanking her. He was thanking her but she felt she hadn't really done much, as she figured her actions towards him were likely unsure and awkward...but still, he seemed better now and that was what was important.

Cover his head?

"Yeah...It'd probably be best to do that."

How though? The helmets and jackets were back with the bike and he didn't have a hood or anything...and the handkerchief had been used on here so it was dirty. "Do you...want my hoodie to help  cover your face? It's better than keeping your head down...or using your hand or something?"

She hardly ever took it off, even when she slept but it wasn't like it was a necessity. She didn't mind letting him use it until they got in the park as the park wasn't that far away.

Muika gave a nod at Iyuki's final words, "Y-yeah...and no problem."

"!!!" Iyuki's response at the offer of Muika's hoodie was to turn red and shake his head strongly. His purple hair was in disarray as he stared at the hoodie, seeing its..rather well worn state. It was something that protected her, he couldn't take such a valuable thing just to avoid this.

"I shall be quite fine, if I duck my head down and we hurry. Now that you know time is of the essence in crossing that area, we could make better time and get inside with no issues." Adjusting his sweater a bit nervously, he wished he had brought more clothing. Argyle was wonderful but he needed more to distance himself from that rather risque picture.

They really had nothing to cover him up with other than her hoodie, but he would refuse it strongly. It was hers.

He'd refused, becoming red in the face as he did so, but despite his refusal she could tell he was still trying to think of a way to hide his face for that short distance they needed to walk. If he used his hands or kept his head low it'd just look suspicious, that's what she thought anyway...even if they did try to steer clear of that billboard...

She looked down at her hoodie while Iyuki was talking. People sometimes used jackets or towels if the sun was too intense, and well...the sun was shining brightly so it wouldn't be very questionable. As Iyuki continued talking Muika removed her hoodie, the black spaghetti-strap tank-top she usually wore feeling the light of day without a hoodie for the first time in what seemed like forever as she handed over her hoodie to Iyuki.

"Just take it...keeping your head down or something seems...suspicious, plus people could see your hair or something and make assumptions from that. Really, it's no big deal." She said, albeit a bit embarrassed herself as she wondered whether or not her words just now had sounded too harsh or something...she was trying to sound reassuring or kind but she knew she still needed practice in those areas when it came to words.

No. No La-Muika. Noooo! Do not do this for such as me! Not your precious hoodie! Iyuki's thoughts were jumbled as he tried to keep from having to take the hoodie. It also had to do with seeing as much of Muika's skin as he had now. He edged away from the Hoodie as if it would bite, still shaking his head and trying to not accept it.

"I can not take it Muika! It is your precious hoodie, it can not be soiled by me." He stared down at it, out of Muika's reach. He couldn't accept this gift. Not...

Wait! Holding up his finger to have Muika wait a second, Iyuki quickly pulled his argyle sweater vest off and then offered it in return for the hoodie. "A fair trade for such things. This was my first vest, I love it so. Please take care of it in return for my care of your hoodie."

"H-huh!?" Muika's face reddened slightly after Iyuki seemed to get some idea in his head before promptly removing his sweater-vest before offering it to her. A trade? She glanced at the vest in his hand for a moment before giving a small nod and taking it; being careful in doing so and putting it on as if were delicate...due to Iyuki having said he loved it, meaning it was important.

Her hoodie, well, it was only hers because she found it. It didn't hold as much importance other than being an article of clothing.

Muika was careful with it. That was a nice gesture. Now he would accept the hoodie and held it up, looking at it as he wondered... The article of clothing was overly large on the young woman, so it seemed like it might fit him decently well. It wouldn't be a perfect fit and might look very odd with his pants and shoes but this was all he could do.

Pulling the hoodie over his head, he quickly moved it so it fit just right. The hood was pulled up to cover his head and he made sure he could hide properly... Aha. Putting his hands in the pocket, he tried to slouch over as he looked at Muika's outfit. It... looked adorable. She looked like she was a bookworm school girl and he blushed, before coughing as he tried to calm himself. "H-how does this work? Does it look fine?"

Muika looked up at Iyuki, her eyese having previous been looking down in attempt to try to look and be sure she didn't look odd wearing Iyuki's sweater vest, a bit red in the face herself as her fingers lightly played with the bottom hem of the sweater vest.

Since her hoodie had been rather large, it for the most part mostly fit Iyuki; it wasn't perfect but it would work. He had the hood pulled over his head to where he'd have his face successfully hidden to which she gave a nod. "Mhmm, w-works fine."

Now that that was settled, they could leave the alleyway! Iyuki still felt weird in this hoodie, not being the type to wear hoodies. They weren't fashionable. At least not ones like this. He sighed as he walked, his face down and hidden in the shadows of the hood.

It didn't take them long to get past the billboard and into the entry area to the park and he quickly pulled Muika over to the side as he pulled off the hoodie. It was a bit too warm for him with his shirt on and he fixed the hoodie so it was properly set for Muika to wear it once again. "Please may I have my vest back? I feel...exposed."

They were almost into the park now, in the shadows of the entry way. As they got closer Muika probably got glimpses of things, but right now she probably couldn't see much. They had the ticket gates to deal with still, but those would be a quick pass... He just wanted his vest back badly.

It didn't take them long to reach the gates, the hoodie successfully hiding Iyuki's face for the duration of their walk until they stopped off to the sides near the gate.

Exposed? She supposed she could understand, although probably not in the same sense as he felt. She wore big clothes not only because she couldn't exactly afford anything better but also because they didn't make her feel exposed...as well, she was rather very self-conscious despite not really showing it. She supposed though that it was obvious with how she hardly ever removed her hoodie until now though...

"Sure." She responded, giving a small nod to Iyuki's request before carefully removing the vest; it only pulling her tank-top up slightly to reveal some belly before she pushed the article of clothing back down again while handing him his sweater vest back before taking her hoodie. Putting on the hoodie, zipping it up about half way, as the sun was rather bright and she hated heat...and the hoodie would just make her hotter but she felt more comfortable with it on.

Iyuki averted his eyes as Muika pulled the vest off. He hadn't caught a glimpse of her belly. No he had not seen such a risque thing! He hadn't... At all. He took a deep breathe in and then out as he tried to push that ridiculous idea from his thoughts.

Accepting his vest back with a small smile, Iyuki quickly put it back on. He smoothed it flat as he looked down at the soothing argyle pattern. Yes, this was his favorite. There could never be another vest as great as this. Even as the fashionable part of him called the rest of him a nerd, he ignored it.

Ready, he moved to the ticket counters and made sure Muika followed as he handed over the two ticket. The person there was a man who wasn't interested in them, luckily, so he paid neither one of them mind. Still, now they were through into the park. It wasn't crowded at all, but there were still screams from the rides and the pervading smell of all sorts of foods in the air. Whichever way they went, there would be tons of things to look at. At the moment though, right in front of them was a fried food stand. Iyuki's stomach growled and he looked down at Muika. "Would you like to try some food right away? Its rather delicious."

The park wasn't as busy as she thought it would be, though that was good; the less crowded the better. She could hear the screams from the rides, though she could tell that they were more so screams of excitement than fear.

At the mention of food Muika looked forward at the food stand nearest to them. It did smell good...

Giving a nod, she moved her eyes from the food stand to Iyuki. "Sure. T...Though what's best to get?"

She was a bit embarrassed to ask, but she would rather get something on Iyuki's recommendation than to get something blindly...as she didn't exactly know what foods were superior to others in this place.

She looked to him for guidance in the ways of park food. Iyuki's inner voice was thrilled. Muika was learning how delicious food was and was learning from a master, he would do his utmost to never let her down. His mission today was to make it the best. He could accept nothing less, and his first step would be food.

Taking her close to the menu, Iyuki spoke softly. "Well, most parks such as this carry more western food in addition to more japanese styled foods. Takoyaki is always a good choice. Fries are a western dish made using potatoes and they are also fried in oil, they are rather good with vinegar or sauces like hot cheese or such. They also carry hot dogs, which are rather delicious and also a western food. It seems this stand also sells fried confections as well. For now it would be easiest to start with those I mentioned."

Muika listened carefully to what Iyuki was explaining to her. She'd seen people eating things like these sometimes when she was running errands in the city, but she couldn't really imagine what they tasted like. So most of it was fried and salted...she'd never tasted anything with vinegar but some of the things apparently went well with it?

"Mm...well I like things with a bit of spiciness to them? Not a lot...I think?" She'd had things that seemed spicy before, and she hadn't disliked it...though it probably wasn't comparable to the things here.

She liked sweets more so but this wasn't the place for that...and it felt a little embarrassing to admit that...even if Iyuki's profession did lean more towards making sweets. She would ask what Iyuki would get but that just seemed even more embarrassing to her, she didn't want to completely copy him...just go by his recommendations...

"Hm, I don't think these have much spice to them. Hot cheese generally refers to cheese that is melted, actually." Iyuki spoke softly, not wanting Muika to get too embarrassed. No matter what she said, he was still her butler. It was his job to guide her.

Walking up to the stand, he swiftly ordered some takoyaki, fries and a hotdog. He also ordered a few fried confections, ones covered in sugar or frostings. As they were given the order, Iyuki paid for the foods and looked down. He could only hold so much at a time... "Muika, would you take what you wish to try first? We can switch off at that table over there."

There was a small shaded area for snacking nearby, and he nodded in that direction.