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While Shin had spent the day in a whirlwind of anxiety, JK had spent his entire afternoon walking on air. His mother had given him some fantastic news over breakfast; the man taht she had been dating for the past several months had invited them both to dinner. She had also hinted that there would be some discussing of affairs once the meal was finished. Which to JK could only mean one thing; his mother was finally getting remarried! It seemed as though it had been too long since it had just been his mother and him; after his father's untimely death, his mother had been very adamant about not seeing any other men for a long time, not wanting to have her heart broken again and have her poor son lose a part of his life that he never should have lost to start with.

But recently there had been talk of a man, someone she had met in a place that she wouldn't reveal to her son; JK had concluded that it had to have been one of the bars that she snuck out to infrequently when she thought her son had gone to bed. There had been phone calls, a few tentative dates, and all the while JK had sat up in his tornado wreckage of a room, crossing his fingers and hoping for the best. Fond as his memories were of his late father, he knew that his mother needed another man; it had been hard for her to adjust to being the only parent, paying all of the bills and worrying about anything and everything. Since she had begun to see this person, she had been smiling a lot more, and JK even swore that he had heard her humming when she had done the laundry.

So the big day was finally here! He could meet the man who had made his mother so happy and put in his piece-of-eight on how wonderful a catch she was. At least he didn't seem to have the wrong impression of her from meeting her at a bar; it wasn't as though she was a lush or anything; she just needed something to take the edge off some nights, and if she ever came home drunk, her own son never knew of it. He didn't object in the least when his mother asked him to forego the street wear for a nice shirt and a pair of slacks, and even used a simple band to push back his unruly dredlocks. He owed it to the guy to look good, and for another reason......he did want to make a decent impression with the guy's kid.

After the announcement of dinner, JK's mother had told him that her boyfriend also had a son, just about his age. She didn't say anything about the possibility of them ending up as brothers, but if the thought of marriage was in the air, it stood to reason. At least it wouldn't be a little brother; he didn't think he was quite ready for that. But a brother might be cool; they could even work together and be double trouble for Shin, once he pointed the little skeez out. He'd better watch himself, that was for sure!

His cheerful demeanor stayed with him the entire car ride, and even the walk to the door of the house; a little small to JK, but it had potential. Thus his smile was still evident when the door opened and an all too familiar voice hit him like a bolt of lightning. No......it couldn't be! Of all the people she could have dated, it just COULDN'T BE! His smile dissolved and was replaced by a look of pure shock, and before he could think, his mouth opened and he gave voice to the thought, word for word, blazing through his head. "Mom, what the Hell??"

JK knew that he had done wrong the instant the echo of his words died off in his ears. He winced even before he felt his mother's hand on the back of his shirt cuff and her angry whisper close to his ear. "Jack Katch, you will NOT use that sort of language here; not in front of our hosts! I taught you better, young man!" All he could do was nod miserably as his mother straightened out and smiled at Shin. "I'm so sorry, Shin is it? Your father told me so much about how kindly and well-mannered you are." It took every ounce of willpower JK had to hold in a snort of disgust that doubtless would have had the resonance of a bassoon in a tunnel. Had Shin's dad told his mother the biggest fish story, or was Shin the one telling the fish story with his father? Either way, someone was most definitely being kept in the dark!

The worst of it was the last bit, when he saw Shin's father come to the door. Or rather, the bottom half of him, since he was too busy lowering his head and feeling genuinely bad for making his mom seem as though she had no control over her son, never mind that he was well in his teens. "I'm very sorry; he's usually not so......verbal around company. Jack, I would like you to apologize, please." Knowing from her tone that the please was just there to make it sound more suggestion than demand (and completely unnecessary in his opinion), JK looked up at the man whom his mother had been 'secretly' dating. He smiled inwardly; he DID look pretty good. At least he wasn't some wrinkly little bald guy like the one from the karate kid movies. He had a sort of grace and poise about him that reminded him of a samurai movie. In all, not much of a chore to envision him as a stepfather, were it not for the equally sulky little lump beside him, holding the door open and probably laughing himself sick on the inside at the other's slacks and tied-back hair.

Clearing his throat a little, he waited until his mother was finished with her embrace, then he met the smiling face of the man and made himself look right through Shin as though he were made of glass. "I am very sorry, sir." He reached out and took the offered hand, impressed with the other's firm handshake. "It truly is a pleasure to meet you too, sir. I was just....startled, is all. I'm sorry." He let go of the other's hand and looked at his mother, who smiled and nodded at him, though a few of the frown lines still lingered. He held in his breath as he and his mother entered, and breathed a sigh of relief that he had thought to change his socks as well when he had gotten dressed up for dinner; he had a habit of wearing socks until they got too stiff to wear. His mother looked delighted as she whispered to her son. "This is a tradition in the far East; this will be a fun learning experience, won't it?" JK mumbled a half-agreement as he pulled off his shoes, his sullen eyes on only one person in that entire house.

Expressive seemed far too mild a word for what JK was feeling right at that moment. Then again, he didn't think that a word existed for what he was feeling right at that moment. Anguished that his mother's dream date should be the father of his rival, remorse that the same should be so nice and civil to him as though he never heard about school from his son, sullen anger that he had to waste an entire evening staring at Shin from across a table, and hopelessness that no matter what he felt, he would not jeapordize his mother's happiness in such a way. She deserved to be happy, even if Shin's own father turned out to be the one to give it to her. But what if they DID grow more than merely find of each other? He felt like he would rather go through their boxing match again than live under the same roof as Shin!

He watched his mother sit at the dining room table, already unsure if he should move to push her chair in or not. Deciding that such a gesture was probably best left to her date, he mumbled a barely sincere 'thank you' at Shin before moved to sit beside his mother, squirming at the feel of the unfamiliar chairs. He found himself wondering what they would be eating. Octopus? Sushi? Or would this be more like that movie with the eyeball soup and the monkey brains? He couldn't help but cast a quick glare in Shin's direction; it would be just like him to try and inform his Dad that JK loved to eat eyeballs and brains! Well at least his mother would set that straight if he tried anything; he was sure anything their host whipped up wouldn't be able to compare with his mother's macaroni and cheese; even now he had never been able to figure out just what she did differently when she made it, only that it was the best in the entire world.

JK continued to watch Shin like a hawk as he sat there, feeling vulnerable and cross, even as he felt his mother's hand lightly on his shoulder. "Relax, JK; they won't bite." Won't they? he couldn't help but think, and spent the next few minutes trying to remember if Shin had ever bitten him during one of their school scuffles.

On the opposite side of the table, JK also listened sourly as Mr. Kaneko complimented his mother on her dress. She did look very flattering in it; JK's father had chosen it for her a long time ago, said it went with her eyes so perfectly...... He heard her reply, saying how much she was also looking forward to this dinner and having their families finally meet. He had been so certain that he had given a more exact description of his tormentor at school to his mother; could she really not see that this was the same boy whom he had told her pulled his pants down in front of half the school?? Or was she just doing what she had become so well at all this time since his father left; masking her unease and hiding it under a silky smooth veil of confidence and cheerfulness. Of course, she could very well be drawing strength from the fact that Mr. Kaneko was doing the very same thing. It was like a game, some strange adult game that he couldn't participate in and was left out on the sidelines with the last person he would want keeping him company.

In spite of his dour predictions for what sort of food they would be served, dinner turned out to be a savory lasagna with simple salad and a pretty tasty garlic bread with crusted parmesan on top. In spite of the company glaring at him from over the ricotta and leafy greens, it was a rather enjoyable meal. He liked how at ease his mother was as she chatted away with their host, he himself maintaining a respectful silence as he ate. Normally he and his mother would chat happily at each other over an informal dinner, punctured by her occasional laughing reminder to either chew his food or not to show her his 'see-food' when he spoke with a full mouth. Now he felt a bit left out, but still glad that at least his mother had another adult to talk to, and he couldn't help but feel a little flare of sullen anger every time he saw the strange hand reach for his mother's own smooth, familiar hand, clasping it and stroking it.

By the end of the meal, JK was sullen and moody, but noting at least as he met Shin's glares with his own defiant looks, that the other boy seemed just as upset over the entire arrangement as he was. He could almost bring himself to feel sorry for the other boy; after all, here was, in his own perspective, a strange woman come here to date his father and take away some of his attention, although if he EVER caught the other calling his mother a 'strange woman', he was going to have to eat his next lasagna through a straw.

He felt both relieved and on edge when the plates were pushed back, and his mother's offer to help clear the table politely refused by Mr. Kaneko, who suggested that they all ajourn to the iving room. JK followed meekly enough, but still kept his eyes on Shin, like a cobra slithering around the home of a mongoose.

As he watched his arch-nemesis follow his father into the kitchen, JK almost followed him, knowing full well that he wasn't expected to help any, but might take some satisfaction, meager as it would be, in watching proud Shin washing dishes like a low-level restaurant worker. But he thought better of it as he saw the glint of a dinner knife as it caught the bright lights of the kitchen; did he really want to be antagonizing someone who would have such easy reach of so many sharp, readily throwable things? It didn't occur to him that Shin would probably not risk getting blood all over the pristine floors; wood could take such stains just as readily as carpet.

Instead, JK continued to follow his mother into the living room, where he eyed the simple furniture with suspicion, as though it would reach up and swallow him as he sat down. In reality he felt almost afraid of it; it all seemed so......so clean! Not that they were a sloppy household, but there were always those elusive stains that even a cleaning magician like his mother could never completely wash away. Their couch was no exception to that rule, faithfully preserving every jelly stain and soda spill that he had bestowed upon it throughout his childhood. This loveseat that he joined his mother on looked as though it had come straight off of the delivery truck, too new for even dents to appear in the cushoins from the various bottoms that parked themselves on it. He settled for sitting right on the edge; the better to be if Shin should try anything....cute.

And as he watched him emerge from the kitchen carrying little cakes on a tray, JK seemed to pick up the mischievous vibe and was over half-expecting the other boy to dump the gooey cake into his lap. He was genuinely surprised when all he received was another angry glare, and JK returned it in kind before staring at his cake; had Shin shown any signs of singling this one out just for him? Had he gone and put bleach in it while he was getting them ready to be brought out here? He leaned close and sniffed the top, not caring at how he looked; he would rather look silly than spend the night in the bathroom yakking. How he wanted to make some snide remark about Shin walking around with his little tray of cakes, but he had already blown it at the door by shooting off his mouth; his mother would be watching him more carefully for the rest of the evening.

But then there was the announcement, the tender clasping of hands, and any thought of poisoned cake was forgotten. Mr. Kaneko wanted to.........MARRY his mother?! It felt as though his entire head was filled with a rush of blood; it sounded like white noise, crowding his mind until it seemed to leak out of his ears. Since his father's death, JK had wanted his mother to be happy again, even if it meant finding another man. But why THIS man?? He seemed like a decent guy, but......of all the possible children to come with him, why SHIN?? Why NOW?? Why AT ALL?? The constant crowding of why's in his head caused a tiny, "Why?" to escape from his mouth, the shock and agony just as plain in his voice as it was on his face.

If JK had expected to get another stern look from his mother for yet another inappropriate question, it was surely diverted by Shin's own outburst. Had it been ANY other circumstances, any at all, JK would have doubled over laughing at Shin's over-the-top and indignant spew of Japanese, the color high in his pale little face and jabbing his fork in JK's direction as though he would love nothing better than to stick him with it. He chanced a quick look at his mother, who seemed just as surprised as he was, and his eyes narrowed a bit as he looked toward the other boy. If any of that gibberish was in any way insulting to his mother, it had better be kept from him, or he would be more than happy to pick up his own fork and take a stab at stabbing his foe across the table.

He felt more at ease and even a bit disappointed as Shin's father would react; surely if it was anything truly demeaning, he wouldn't react so....not calmly, but with composure. He saw his mother's cheeks turn slightly pink; apparently not as sure as he that the words were not the passionate outburst of a son who thought he knew what was best for his father. Well, at least now HE wasn't the one making a scene. The added comment about bad grades even caused him to bite his lip, hiding his amusement behind a careful mask of anxiety at all of the happenings. He found himself inching a bit toward his mother, as though reminding her of his strong presence, and swallowed his amusement to give Shin a warning look; not to help him avoid further scolding from his father, but to remind him that h was there to defend his mother's honor if he turned out to be taking it out on her as well.

Relishing the opportunity to act as the opposite of Shin, JK tried to make himself the very picture of well-mannered dignity by carefully cutting small bites from his own cake piece and putting them in his mouth, even though the cake itself was so good that he wouldn't have minded just chowing down the way Shin was, even if it was for an entirely different purpose than taking one's rage out on their food. He offhandedly wondered if Shin himself had made this; JK wasn't much of a cook unless it came to microwaveable hot dogs. Always his mother had been the one to cook the meals; imagine what she could do with this sort of fare!

Inwardly though, he was still really upset at the way the evening was turning out. He had expected to just sit and behave for one simple date, and here was a proposal already and SHIN of all people as a sibling! It all seemed to be rushing by so quickly, and in a way he knew he wouldn't be able to stop, not even if he feigned an attack from Shin and sent himself to the emergency room. He listened as his mother was quick to respond to Mr. Kaneko's conversing. "Oh goodness, I don't want to impose on either of you; I can always rent out a storage facility for most of it, since there will more than likely be some funds left if we both pitch in on the bills and such...." He wrinkled his nose and focused on spearing the bigger crumbs of cake with his fork, trying to tune out the conversation and keeping away the thought of some of his things being gnawed on by rats in some warehouse.

But at the same time Shin's head came up and his exclamation was voiced, JK's came up as well, almost spearing his upper lip with his fork, and he found the exact same word escaping his mouth. "What?!" Share a bedroom with SHIN??? He would rather live in the warehouse with the rats! He could picture the little freak's room; antiseptically clean with wood floors and weird, Japanese paintings....not like his own room with comfy rugs and clothes scattered about....a regular guy's pad! How would they ever be able to share such a space? They'd have to draw a chalk line on the floor like a freakin' cartoon!