[That of course catches Minato's attention, and he puts his MP3 player away carefully before sitting up and accepting the tray. There's the smallest of smiles gracing his lips as he tucks in, and he looks up after making short work of the ham.]
It's delicious. I didn't know you could cook like this, is it a hobby of yours?
Oh, yeah. I do it every night when everyone's asleep. Sometimes I bake. It's calming.
[Kaz paused then, having not intended to say that much, but simply rolled with it. It wasn't as if he revealed anything shocking about himself. The only reason he kept his cooking skills under wraps was because he didn't want to get stuck as the designated 'cook'. Like, he enjoyed it and was good at it, but when you had to do it, almost three times a day, for other people... it became less fun]
I'm domestically trained, y'know. Cooking, cleaning, singing... a model housewife, you can say. [he was smiling, obviously proud about these skills despite the fact that some would view them as feminine] But, seriously, you think it's nice? What about the eggs? I think I fried them for too long, the yoke didn't look as runny as I hoped it'd be...
[He peered down at Minny's plate, obviously trying to evaluate the state of the sunny-side up eggs. Ergh, maybe he should fry up another batch, just to make sure]
They taste good. [Minato says this after staring at Kaz and absently scooping up some of the egg with a spoon to taste it- it's not that he thinks housekeeping is unmanly, it's more that Kaz being this forthcoming is about as rare as Hyoubu acting like an actual adult.
And if there's one thing he knows...it's that these occasions are uncommon for a good reason. What is going on?]
You're acting kind of strange though, Kaz. Did the ghosts do something to you?
[Kazuya drew back slightly, looking uncomfortable. Ah, how perceptive of Minny! Or... really, was him being mature that rare of a thing that he instantly pinpointed something being wrong? Kazuya wasn't that childish, was he?]
Ahh, it's, nothing too bad! Haha, I just got whacked with some crazy truth curse, y'know. Uh, it's wearing off anyway, so... it'll be gone by tomorrow. So, ah, yeah.
[Hey, he just calls it like he sees it. Minato continues to stare, although he does go through another quarter of his breakfast while Kaz is talking to him.]
A truth curse... [He mulls this over a helping of bacon, almost as if he's considering taking advantage of it.] I was attacked too, and I lost my ability to feel happy. Are your powers working okay now?
[Kazuya frowned at Minny, though whether it was at the news that he too had been cursed, or the look Minny had given him, or even his question, it was uncertain]
... they're fine. [He clasped his hands before him, his shoulders tense as he intently stared at his fingers. Unsurprisingly, he quickly attempted to turn the conversation's focus back on Minny] Lost your ability to feel happy, huh? That sounds bad. It seems like it's worn off, at least. Unless you were faking that smile when you saw my awesome cooking...
No, it's completely gone now. [And with it the disturbing apathy, which Minato's glad for. The deflection's noticed quickly enough but again he wonders if he should ask about it considering how badly Kaz had taken it the last time.
Then he remembers something he wants to ask Kaz about, and does so.]
Have you been checking in on me while I was sleeping? [Minato's tone is completely level at least, indicating that he's not annoyed or creeped out.] I appreciate it, but I'm fine.
[Kazuya, curiously enough, flushed a little. It seemed he was aware that his "checking in" was potentially weird]
Uh, you noticed? Hm... [After a small pause, where Kazuya seemed to be mulling over his answer, he said;] Yeah, I was. I didn't come into the room or anything, like a creep, I just, y'know, poked my head in and listened for your breathing.
[...wait. That sounded creepy]
H-Heartbeat, I meant.
[Noooo that was even creepier! Damn truth curse...]
Ah. I mean... yes... damn it, I should've just kept it at that.
Yeah, you should have. [And curiously enough Minato's just sighing wearily and flopping down onto his bed again now that he's set his empty plate away, almost as if he's already used to being creeped on.]
...Not that I'm not already used to this. [It's mumbled to himself, suddenly reminded of Aigis and her various antics.] Do you...do this to everyone else too?
[He paused and glanced longingly at the window, as if contemplating doing a sick flip out of it and escaping into the streets below. He refrained, and heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping. Seemed the jig was up]
Yeah, I do. Hyou-Kyou's the hardest one, he's too good at detecting you. I always have to pretend I was going to raid his fridge or something - like, I do anyway, but, y'know.
[Plus, he was fairly certain Hyou-Kyou did his own stalking, which was weird if you thought about it. Kaz stalking Hyoubu stalking other people? Maybe him? Stalking each other? It would be one of those wacky things they'd end up doing]
I- I know it seems weird but, like... [He waved his hand aimlessly] It's just- look, bad things have happened here, alright? I'm just checking.
You must have known him for a long time, if you're brave enough to try something like that. [He sees the hand wave and stares, not wanting to get up.] Anyway...don't worry about it. Like I said I'm used to being stalked...just don't wake me up by pulling my blanket off me.
[A more socially conscious person would have used a nicer word, but as far as Minato's concerned stalking is stalking, no matter what the intention is.]
[Not the reaction he was expecting. So blunt and... open about it. Stalked before? Geeze, what kind of life did he lead before coming to Cerealia?! Was he some sort of, high school heart-throb with a fanatical cult of stalker girls (and boys)? Scary...]
Uhm. You don't care? Like, at all? [The words just tumbled out of his mouth without thought] You even said it: I stalk you. I watch you while you sleep! That's creepy! Totally creepy! You should be, I don't know, getting mad at me, or at least get weirded out! It's not a good thing I'm doi-
[He stopped, bewildered at himself before realising: truth curse. Damn, it was getting nasty in last final hours!]
[Close, but not quite. He had just the one stalker, but honestly she does a better job of it than anyone else possibly could.
Minato just frowns at what Kaz has to say, again reminded of why he prefers to keep his mouth shut about his life before this. Somehow people always had the most outrageous reactions to his everyday life...not that they didn't have a point, but it just gets tiring after a while.]
It's just a word. [Flatly.] Unless you want me to think of you as a creep...
[Kazuya's response was oddly subdued, and he fidgeted with the short sleeve of his shirt. He felt a little uncertain now, and the urge to retreat prodded at his mind. He didn't want to blurt all that out, and now a fresh worry of saying something even worse was creeping over him. After stalking, the next worst thing about himself was...]
But you should still- it's... [he seemed to try and grope with the right word, and came up empty] ...ngh, never mind. I'm stupid. So- uh, you're probably hungry still, black hole that you are, right? I can go cook you up some more breakfast if you want!
[Kazuya sounding subdued is a big sign that something's even more amiss than he's suspected, and Minato lets out a small sigh thinking about just cutting to the chase, which he eventually does.]
I'm fine. More importantly...you're trying to tell me something about yourself, aren't you? You've been acting strange since I saw those claws...
[Kazuya stopped. 'Retreat', something said in him, and he did glance briefly over his shoulder, his feet shifting as if he was about to simply turn around and walk out without another word]
You actually saw...?
[He thought he managed to hide them behind his back before Minny got a good look at them, but he supposed that was wishful thinking. Why didn't he say anything, then? Or, well, he did but, he didn't press the issue, so he thought- and, and... humans don't have claws. He should've demanded- well, it's obvious Kazuya isn't- anything like... a human, so...]
I don't want you to know. [He finally said, and very slowly, he was turning slightly, like he was trying to sort of hide himself while staying in the same place. He could feel the words getting crushed up his throat, that stupid dumb ghost curse trying to force them out, but he struggled against it with great difficulty;] When people know, they get that look. [What is he? Will he attack them? Will he ever lose control? Terrifying. You're scary. You're not human, you're not human, you're not human...] I, even my friends, so... I don't want...
I felt it more than I saw it. [He hadn't questioned Kaz at that time because there were questions a friend just didn't ask during highly stressful times and Laz had insisted he had it under control. Maybe he was right about that and he still is, but Minato can see how Kaz is struggling with the weight of his transformation and how badly affected he is when people perceive him to be different that he simply can't let it go any more.
He looks up at Kaz impassively for a moment before extending his right hand, as if inviting him to take his hand. What could it mean, exactly?]
[Kazuya gave the extended hand an uncertain look, drawing back like some sort of wary animal. For a moment, he felt uneasy, though towards what exactly, he couldn't pinpoint. Did Minny want him to take his hand? Why? What did he want to do?
(And somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could feel Bel stir in response to his emotions, tainting them with a sudden streak of mocking, malicious amusement- "it'd be very easy to break his hand, y'know" - he forced it away.)]
Are... [He swallowed, then attempted to inject some levity in his tone, though it was a miserable failure; it came out more of a quavering croak] Are you wanting a handshake or something?
[Kaz openly hesitated before cautiously reaching out. He knew nothing would happen. His fingers would remain fingers, there'd be no claws, and he would touch his friend without breaking bones, yet, there was an irrational paranoia running rampant through the back of his mind, not helped by Bel's murmured encouragement for violence. What if that did happen? It wouldn't but... what if it did?
He took Minny's hand, gently, like it was made out of glass. No claws appeared. Nothing broke. That small, painfully tight knot in his stomach relaxed a fraction]
Like that. [Minato sighs softly, weariness drifting slowly onto him like mist, but he's relieved to see that Kaz isn't overreacting to his simple request as he has a point to make about what looks for all the world like a simple handshake.]
You didn't lose control. [He's blunt and a bit wry about that.] Whatever you are or people think you are, you'll always be Kaz to me. [And that explains the handshake- he's not going to judge people for giving Kaz looks as their fear was just as valid as Kaz's own fear of people judging him, and in the end it didn't matter what people thought of his friend: Kaz is Kaz, and he never has to fear anything as long as he remembers that.]
[He didn't even know what Kazuya was! He was touched, he was, but at the same time, a tiny flame of frustration sparked in him. It was easy to say that - "you'll just be Kaz" - but it never did end up like that. He... even Hyoubu had viewed him with brief suspicion, when he told him, and he was...]
I'm- [He lowered his gaze to their clasped hands, his grip tightening a fraction] I'm a demon, Minny. The sort who... they eat humans and they're cruel and... and I'm one of them.
[There. The deepest and most painful shame. He swallowed as he relaxed his hold on Minny's hand, certain he'd pull away at this point]
Keeping control of that, it's... it's difficult, sometimes.
I know. [Minato's stare is unrelenting and his hand is perfectly poised so it doesn't move even in the slightest, not when Kaz tightens his grip and not when he loosens his hold.]
It doesn't change who you are though. You wouldn't have tried to resist eating humans and being cruel if you thought of yourself as a demon...all those excuses you made before were to prevent yourself from losing control, weren't they?
[Kazuya didn't immediately reply. He kept staring at Minny's hand, still grasping his own, with something like disbelief. Not even a flinch. Even when Kazuya admitted that he had the potential and yearning to eat humans, that he wasn't anything resembling human, he was... an indescribable emotion was twisting in his stomach, making his throat close up and his eyes burn.
Oh. No. No no no. No]
You're... you're such a weirdo. [He practically choked this out, sounding like he was half a breath away from either laughing or crying] You don't even care. Don't you- why don't you...
[He had to stop, to take a few deep breaths to keep his composure. He already broke down once in front of Kevin, and he wasn't going to do so again in front of anyone else. It was a strange feeling though... it was like when you needed to puke to feel better when ill, except in the emotional sense. There was something telling him to just kind of, messily break down to feel better - it sounded like Kevin's voice too for some reason - but he resisted. Minny already had a stressful night yesterday playing Ghostbusters and this probably wasn't pleasant to deal with either so. Okay. Deep, quick breaths. One, two, three... one, two, three... there. Everything felt steady again]
[Minato stares at Kaz silently, expression stoic even as he watches his friend's emotions leap like the sparks of a flame- just how long had he kept his emotions hidden was hard to say, but if he had to make a guess it was unlikely that Kaz had trusted many people with this secret, if at all.
He makes no motion to move, eyes dull even fixated on Kaz when he's called a weirdo, when he's said to not care, asked about why he doesn't care- he neither confirms nor denies it, but it should be clear from how little he says until Kaz calms down that he doesn't think anything of Kaz being a demon.
One, two, three...Minato counts the breaths silently now recognizing that it was how Kaz coped with his emotions before he speaks up again.] Because you're my friend. ...And I know how it feels like to be thought of as being different. [No one had ever spoken ill of him out loud while he was within earshot, but it's hard to forget the whispers he hears when people think he's not listening. Bad luck, unfortunate and so on...there might be many things Minato's quiet about and many more he wouldn't judge, but he can't say he was happy being called such names.]
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It's delicious. I didn't know you could cook like this, is it a hobby of yours?
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[Kaz paused then, having not intended to say that much, but simply rolled with it. It wasn't as if he revealed anything shocking about himself. The only reason he kept his cooking skills under wraps was because he didn't want to get stuck as the designated 'cook'. Like, he enjoyed it and was good at it, but when you had to do it, almost three times a day, for other people... it became less fun]
I'm domestically trained, y'know. Cooking, cleaning, singing... a model housewife, you can say. [he was smiling, obviously proud about these skills despite the fact that some would view them as feminine] But, seriously, you think it's nice? What about the eggs? I think I fried them for too long, the yoke didn't look as runny as I hoped it'd be...
[He peered down at Minny's plate, obviously trying to evaluate the state of the sunny-side up eggs. Ergh, maybe he should fry up another batch, just to make sure]
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And if there's one thing he knows...it's that these occasions are uncommon for a good reason. What is going on?]
You're acting kind of strange though, Kaz. Did the ghosts do something to you?
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[Kazuya drew back slightly, looking uncomfortable. Ah, how perceptive of Minny! Or... really, was him being mature that rare of a thing that he instantly pinpointed something being wrong? Kazuya wasn't that childish, was he?]
Ahh, it's, nothing too bad! Haha, I just got whacked with some crazy truth curse, y'know. Uh, it's wearing off anyway, so... it'll be gone by tomorrow. So, ah, yeah.
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A truth curse... [He mulls this over a helping of bacon, almost as if he's considering taking advantage of it.] I was attacked too, and I lost my ability to feel happy. Are your powers working okay now?
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... they're fine. [He clasped his hands before him, his shoulders tense as he intently stared at his fingers. Unsurprisingly, he quickly attempted to turn the conversation's focus back on Minny] Lost your ability to feel happy, huh? That sounds bad. It seems like it's worn off, at least. Unless you were faking that smile when you saw my awesome cooking...
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Then he remembers something he wants to ask Kaz about, and does so.]
Have you been checking in on me while I was sleeping? [Minato's tone is completely level at least, indicating that he's not annoyed or creeped out.] I appreciate it, but I'm fine.
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Uh, you noticed? Hm... [After a small pause, where Kazuya seemed to be mulling over his answer, he said;] Yeah, I was. I didn't come into the room or anything, like a creep, I just, y'know, poked my head in and listened for your breathing.
[...wait. That sounded creepy]
H-Heartbeat, I meant.
[Noooo that was even creepier! Damn truth curse...]
Ah. I mean... yes... damn it, I should've just kept it at that.
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...Not that I'm not already used to this. [It's mumbled to himself, suddenly reminded of Aigis and her various antics.] Do you...do this to everyone else too?
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...well.
[He paused and glanced longingly at the window, as if contemplating doing a sick flip out of it and escaping into the streets below. He refrained, and heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping. Seemed the jig was up]
Yeah, I do. Hyou-Kyou's the hardest one, he's too good at detecting you. I always have to pretend I was going to raid his fridge or something - like, I do anyway, but, y'know.
[Plus, he was fairly certain Hyou-Kyou did his own stalking, which was weird if you thought about it. Kaz stalking Hyoubu stalking other people? Maybe him? Stalking each other? It would be one of those wacky things they'd end up doing]
I- I know it seems weird but, like... [He waved his hand aimlessly] It's just- look, bad things have happened here, alright? I'm just checking.
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[A more socially conscious person would have used a nicer word, but as far as Minato's concerned stalking is stalking, no matter what the intention is.]
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[Not the reaction he was expecting. So blunt and... open about it. Stalked before? Geeze, what kind of life did he lead before coming to Cerealia?! Was he some sort of, high school heart-throb with a fanatical cult of stalker girls (and boys)? Scary...]
Uhm. You don't care? Like, at all? [The words just tumbled out of his mouth without thought] You even said it: I stalk you. I watch you while you sleep! That's creepy! Totally creepy! You should be, I don't know, getting mad at me, or at least get weirded out! It's not a good thing I'm doi-
[He stopped, bewildered at himself before realising: truth curse. Damn, it was getting nasty in last final hours!]
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Minato just frowns at what Kaz has to say, again reminded of why he prefers to keep his mouth shut about his life before this. Somehow people always had the most outrageous reactions to his everyday life...not that they didn't have a point, but it just gets tiring after a while.]
It's just a word. [Flatly.] Unless you want me to think of you as a creep...
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[Kazuya's response was oddly subdued, and he fidgeted with the short sleeve of his shirt. He felt a little uncertain now, and the urge to retreat prodded at his mind. He didn't want to blurt all that out, and now a fresh worry of saying something even worse was creeping over him. After stalking, the next worst thing about himself was...]
But you should still- it's... [he seemed to try and grope with the right word, and came up empty] ...ngh, never mind. I'm stupid. So- uh, you're probably hungry still, black hole that you are, right? I can go cook you up some more breakfast if you want!
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I'm fine. More importantly...you're trying to tell me something about yourself, aren't you? You've been acting strange since I saw those claws...
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[Kazuya stopped. 'Retreat', something said in him, and he did glance briefly over his shoulder, his feet shifting as if he was about to simply turn around and walk out without another word]
You actually saw...?
[He thought he managed to hide them behind his back before Minny got a good look at them, but he supposed that was wishful thinking. Why didn't he say anything, then? Or, well, he did but, he didn't press the issue, so he thought- and, and... humans don't have claws. He should've demanded- well, it's obvious Kazuya isn't- anything like... a human, so...]
I don't want you to know. [He finally said, and very slowly, he was turning slightly, like he was trying to sort of hide himself while staying in the same place. He could feel the words getting crushed up his throat, that stupid dumb ghost curse trying to force them out, but he struggled against it with great difficulty;] When people know, they get that look. [What is he? Will he attack them? Will he ever lose control? Terrifying. You're scary. You're not human, you're not human, you're not human...] I, even my friends, so... I don't want...
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He looks up at Kaz impassively for a moment before extending his right hand, as if inviting him to take his hand. What could it mean, exactly?]
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[Kazuya gave the extended hand an uncertain look, drawing back like some sort of wary animal. For a moment, he felt uneasy, though towards what exactly, he couldn't pinpoint. Did Minny want him to take his hand? Why? What did he want to do?
(And somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could feel Bel stir in response to his emotions, tainting them with a sudden streak of mocking, malicious amusement- "it'd be very easy to break his hand, y'know" - he forced it away.)]
Are... [He swallowed, then attempted to inject some levity in his tone, though it was a miserable failure; it came out more of a quavering croak] Are you wanting a handshake or something?
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Um.
[Kaz openly hesitated before cautiously reaching out. He knew nothing would happen. His fingers would remain fingers, there'd be no claws, and he would touch his friend without breaking bones, yet, there was an irrational paranoia running rampant through the back of his mind, not helped by Bel's murmured encouragement for violence. What if that did happen? It wouldn't but... what if it did?
He took Minny's hand, gently, like it was made out of glass. No claws appeared. Nothing broke. That small, painfully tight knot in his stomach relaxed a fraction]
Like this...?
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You didn't lose control. [He's blunt and a bit wry about that.] Whatever you are or people think you are, you'll always be Kaz to me. [And that explains the handshake- he's not going to judge people for giving Kaz looks as their fear was just as valid as Kaz's own fear of people judging him, and in the end it didn't matter what people thought of his friend: Kaz is Kaz, and he never has to fear anything as long as he remembers that.]
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Minny... it's not that simple.
[He didn't even know what Kazuya was! He was touched, he was, but at the same time, a tiny flame of frustration sparked in him. It was easy to say that - "you'll just be Kaz" - but it never did end up like that. He... even Hyoubu had viewed him with brief suspicion, when he told him, and he was...]
I'm- [He lowered his gaze to their clasped hands, his grip tightening a fraction] I'm a demon, Minny. The sort who... they eat humans and they're cruel and... and I'm one of them.
[There. The deepest and most painful shame. He swallowed as he relaxed his hold on Minny's hand, certain he'd pull away at this point]
Keeping control of that, it's... it's difficult, sometimes.
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It doesn't change who you are though. You wouldn't have tried to resist eating humans and being cruel if you thought of yourself as a demon...all those excuses you made before were to prevent yourself from losing control, weren't they?
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Oh. No. No no no. No]
You're... you're such a weirdo. [He practically choked this out, sounding like he was half a breath away from either laughing or crying] You don't even care. Don't you- why don't you...
[He had to stop, to take a few deep breaths to keep his composure. He already broke down once in front of Kevin, and he wasn't going to do so again in front of anyone else. It was a strange feeling though... it was like when you needed to puke to feel better when ill, except in the emotional sense. There was something telling him to just kind of, messily break down to feel better - it sounded like Kevin's voice too for some reason - but he resisted. Minny already had a stressful night yesterday playing Ghostbusters and this probably wasn't pleasant to deal with either so. Okay. Deep, quick breaths. One, two, three... one, two, three... there. Everything felt steady again]
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He makes no motion to move, eyes dull even fixated on Kaz when he's called a weirdo, when he's said to not care, asked about why he doesn't care- he neither confirms nor denies it, but it should be clear from how little he says until Kaz calms down that he doesn't think anything of Kaz being a demon.
One, two, three...Minato counts the breaths silently now recognizing that it was how Kaz coped with his emotions before he speaks up again.] Because you're my friend. ...And I know how it feels like to be thought of as being different. [No one had ever spoken ill of him out loud while he was within earshot, but it's hard to forget the whispers he hears when people think he's not listening. Bad luck, unfortunate and so on...there might be many things Minato's quiet about and many more he wouldn't judge, but he can't say he was happy being called such names.]
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good time to wrap this thread up me thinks