*~The 'Save Yuki' Foundation~*~...Not.~*

[Yuki]

((Considering this reply took me nearly a week I think we can forgive each other. How often can you get on though? Just so I don't have to get on every hour just to keep up with you...it'd be nice to know.

Oh, and 2 things:
1) Cheesecake? Yuck. But I understand other people like it a lot, right?
2) I have a hard time against Ayame because deep down I want him to win.))

Yuki was drooling. He could feel it. He kept it to himself and swallowed, staring at the cake. It certainly did look pretty good...He tried to change the subject but couldn't take his eyes off of the sight, "Oh? You actually buy things? Using your own money? I doubt that. Don't tell me you took money from an employee." Yuki hadn't eaten yet and Tohru wouldn't be home for a while. Erk. Yuki stood up and started walking away, "It's far more likely that you stole it."

He couldn't resist. He went to the kitchen and grabbed two plates and two forks, along with a fairly large knife. If things turned sour, the knife could have more than one purpose. And no one would ever blame me, I'm sure. They might congratulate me, after all. It'll be one slice then he's outta here.

He came back into the room and set everything down. If things came to it, he had more than enough arsenal. A knife, a fork, and a piece of cake in the face might possibly be enough to deter even the most irritating of insects.

[Ayame-san]

((Herm...When am I on? Well, now that the project is just about wrapped up...I should be on just about every night. Every other night, at least. Oh, except this Thursday.

Tee-hee! I love cheesecake. XD I can't stand regular cake, though.))

Ayame beamed as Yuki returned with silverware and plates. "You know very well that I have only one employee." He stated. "As such, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I borrowed some of her paycheck!" He chuckled. "As it happens, though...I did indeed buy this cake with my own hard-earned money! And I did it for you, my one and only brother!" He proclaimed happily.

"Now...I will permit you to cut the cake." Ayame continued, making it sound as if this were some honor. He then ruined it by saying, "Because I really don't like the idea of strawberry icing all over my hands. Most unpleasant." He smiled again, seemingly not in the least bit deterred by his vain selfishness. Or perhaps he just didn't notice it, which was very likely. This was Ayame.

'Ah, I have outdone myself! Thought the snake flamboyantly. 'Surely, Yuki will have no choice but to adore me after tasting a bite of this delicious cake, from the best bakery in the area! Of course, of course! He will sing the praises of his dearest older brother, from now on!' Unfortunately for Ayame, his confident thoughts were all but wasted. There wasn't really much of a chance that a cake would change their brotherly bond. Unless, of course, Yuki really did decide to kill him. Which would most likely change the bond dramatically.

[Yuki]

(You no likey de regular cakies? You = crazy.)

"Hai, hai, what a caring older brother you are. I'll get you your cake," Yuki said flatly as he raised the knife. In four deft and quick cuts he had divided the cake neatly into eight pieces, then carefully slammed the knife down again into one piece, creating a slightly smaller slice for his "dear, kind older brother." Sliding the neat slice over to his brother's area of the table (Yuki was sitting on the opposite side, and opposite corner---as far away as possible), he took the tiny sliver and a regular slice for himself and settled down to eat it. Thinking quickly he slid the remaining cake out of Ayame's grasp, in case the snake noticed the size difference in the pieces and wanted more. On second thought, he realized he probably should've just taken one piece then give the rest of the cake to Ayame, that way there could be no second servings. Alas, the things one thinks too late.

Yuki picked up a fork and nicked the cake carefully. Tasting a small morsel, he looked at his brother carefully. This is good cheesecake. How unfortunate. "Honda-san does this better. Where did you get this thing, anyway?"

[Ayame-san]

((Yeah...^-^; I get told that a lot. I don't like soda, or most candy, either. I'm not a sweets kinda person...

Crap. I won't be on most of next week, because I have practice every night 'till five, then homework...Eugh. -Sigh- I'll try my hardest to get on, though!))

Ayame happily accepted his rather meager serving of cake from Yuki, not noticing the difference in portion at all. After a flamboyant, 'Artigatou!' Ayame tasted a bit of the cake, and smiled. The strawberry frosting was a nice touch, he decided. "Why, I got it at the pasty chef's store, which is just a few blocks away from my shop! I got Tori-san to drive me there!" He beamed. "But, of course...Honda-san must make it better. She is a lovely cook, after all...Plus, your little--crush, shall I say?--must make her cooking all the sweeter!"

Now, most sensible people wouldn't have said this to Yuki. Especially if they were Ayame. But, Ayame was not sensible, so he said it anyway. A bit of a mistake on his part.

Pity for him.

[Yuki]

(Don't worry about it. I'll be spending next week on my animation projects, so it's likely that we'll both be MIA a few times. As for the candy? I don't know what to say. I'll bet you don't get a lot of cavities.

I don't like chocolate. There, now we're both freaks.)


Yuki nearly choked on his second bite, "She is not my crush! Where do you get these r-r-ridiculous ideas, onii-san?! Her cooking is good because she's had practice! That's all there is to it! Honestly, saying such things. You really are..." he clenched his hand into a fist and was surprised to see that it still wanted more cake. The fork was in his mouth by the time he managed to get that far, leaving him unable to say anymore. Instead he silently fumed at his baka brother.

Fuming and enjoying the bite of cake, of course.

[Ayame-san]

((Why, yes! ^-^ We are now, aren't we? I haven't eaten anything for two days, though...Flu. Bleh.))

Finishing Yuki's sentence for him, Ayame exclaimed, "I really am observant, aren't I?! A genius, if I do say so myself!" He nodded, taking another bite of cake, before continuing, "Of course, my dearest little brother, it is only natural for you to have a crush on Tohru-kun, when she is such a cute girl...And living with you, no less!" He laughed, twirling his fork in his fingers. "Of course, the Prince must win the Princess in the end, correct?" He raised a brow. "Now, Yuki, I'm sure you've had your share of lovely fantasies about Tohru-kun..." He paused for a moment, as if thinking. "Which I commend you for!" He exclaimed finally. "It is only a sign that you have grown into adulthood at last! Ah, I am going to cry tears of joy! My little brother has grown up!"

This was Ayame had his most annoying. He obviously hadn't noticed the large, pointy knife with which Yuki had cut the cake.

[Shigure]

(I hope you don't mind if I join...this just looks like so much fun!)

Shigure walked through the front door, he had just finished some business that he had to take care of at the main house. He walked into the room that Ayame and Yuki were sitting in. First a look of surprised crossed his face, but soon was replaced with a look of joy. "Aya! Ohayoo!"

[Ayame-san]

((Tee-hee! I don't mind at all, Gure-san!))

A look of equal joy made its way onto Ayame's features as he waved excitedly to Shigure with the hand which was holding his fork. "Ohayo, Gure-san!" He called melodiously. "Yuki-kun and I were having a brotherly moment! Aren't you so proud of me, Gure-san?!" The snake wanted to know. It was obvious by his posture and his tone of voice that he was extremely proud of himself.

[Shigure]

Shigure gave a thumbs up. "I can't see how anyone can resist your efforts," he looked at Yuki and winked showing that he was obviously enjoying this situation he walked in on. "Hmm, well if you guys want alone time..."

[Ayame-san]

Ayame returned Shigure's thumbs-up, before exclaiming, "I am rather hard to resist, aren't I, Gure-san?" He then pounced on the novelist before he decided to leave. "And as such, it would be perfectly lovely if you stayed!" He told the dog pointedly.

[Shigure]

This is exactly the reply that Shigure had wanted. "Even I find it hard to resist, Aya..." his voice slightly lowering.

Shigure quickly sprang down to the table to join them. His voice returning to it's familiar pitch, "Well, in that case I'll join you. Yuki-kun, would you mind cutting me a slice of the cake?"

[Yuki]

Yuki's hand was already on the knife, but for a very different reason. He had been trying to ignore the idiocy of the two supposed adults in the room while they chattered on, but it wasn't easy. He changed his mind about the knife's destination and cut the dog a large piece of cake. The faster they finished it the easier it became to find an excuse to leave.

In fact...

"Well, you two look happy. I'll go...uh...read something. Upstairs." Yuki stood up, bringing his fork, plate, and cake with him, and started to make his way out of the room. "I'm sure you both have so much to talk about that couldn't possibly interest me anyway."

Yes! An opportunity!

[No! An opportunity! Welcome to the thread, Inu-san.]

[Ayame-san]

((Tee-hee! Sorry, Yuki, but Aaya won't let ya go that easy!))

Ayame waved a hand in the air. "Nonsense, Yuki-kun!" He exclaimed. "I'm sure that any topic of conversation we may have would interest you immensely!" He turned to Shigure. "Correct, Gure-san?" Without waiting for the novelist's reply, Ayame continued. "Well, being the considerate brother that I am, I will allow you to pick the topic of discussion, Yuki-kun!"

[Yuki]

"How to Deep Fry a Snake." Yuki replied immediately, stuck in the doorway, "It's a wonderful recipe I just learned. Shall I demonstrate?"

He didn't want to enter the room---that was giving in---but he couldn't leave now. Instead he just turned around and bit into his cake standing up.