Crossover

Challenges

The next morning Nai was standing by the front door. He had his backpack on clutching his lunch bag in one hand. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for his brothers to get ready. Shion and Allen were yelling about something. It hurt Nai's ears to listen to, so close to them. He covered his head.
Shion was the first to come to the door. He hugged the smaller boy to him, kissing the top of his head. “Sorry, little man.” He whispered. Nai hugged him.
“It's ok.” He mumbled. Shion gave him a big smile. Allen came around the corner shouldering his bag.
“Are we ready?” he sounded irritated.
“Yeah.” Shion frowned. He didn’t look at all happy to be heading off to their second day of school. In fact, Nai thought, he hadn’t looked very happy since the other boys left the day before. Shion was usually the bubbly one and often playful. Instead last night he had locked himself in his room. He hadn't even let Nai in. Now Nai slipped his hand into Shion's as Allen opened the door. What greeted the boys, shocked them.
Kanda  was leaning against the fence post at the end of the driveway. There wasn’t a fence, just the one lonely post. Rat was across from him on the sidewalk hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. Neither were looking at anyone. Gareki was the only one staring at the house. When he saw Nai his face split into a huge grin. Nai ran up to meet him.
“You know, with brothers like those two, I guess I would become good at reading people too.” Allen hissed to Shion. The other boy just nodded as he stepped onto the sidewalk.
Shion said nothing to the waiting boys, instead he just started walking down the sidewalk. Since they lived on a dead end street he at least knew which way to begin walking.
“What are you guys doing here?” Allen asked as he came up beside Kanda.
“Thought we would make sure you got to school alright.” Kanda growled shoving off of the post.
“What's Shion's problem?” Rat asked. Allen looked at his brothers back.
“He thinks he insulted you too much with the name thing yesterday, now he is just being a bitch.” He yelled the last word so Shion could hear it. The other boy flipped him off but kept walking. Rat hurried up to walk beside the other teen.
“Hey.” Rat said in greeting Shion glanced at the others feet as they fell in step with him. The pale head stayed bent. They reached the end of the street. In order to not cross in front of Rat, Shion turned left. He heard a soft grunt, then something caught his wrist.
“Wrong way, genius.” Rat mocked pulling the boy along with him. He let go of him once he knew he wasn’t going to turn away. “Look, I'm not mad about yesterday!” he snarled.
“Really?” Shion asked. “You act like you are.” He pointed out.
“I'm pissed that you weren’t talking to me!” Rat pointed out. Shion smiled.
“Oh, well then….” Rat groaned as Shion launched into a tale about what they were studding in science. He didn’t stop talking until they were at their lockers.
“Maybe I was a bit hasty on the silent treatment.” Rat grumbled. Shion saw the slight curve to his lips, showing he didn’t mean what he was saying. He laughed. Nai and Gareki walked past them.
“Those two..” Shion started.
“… are unique.” Rat concluded.
“Oh god, you're finishing each other sentences after one day!” Allen cried with a smirk. “That's it gonna have to separate you two. It's the big brother rule.” He stated elbowing in between them. Shion laughed, Rat grabbed hold of Shion and wouldn't let Allen get between them. It looked like the three were wrestling. All were laughing.
“Stop rough housing!” an older teacher poked her head out to yell at them. She slammed her door shut as the three separated. They day went on. Rat and Shion moved along from class to class as without any further negative behaviors between the pair.
Allen was still trailing Kanda. The only difference was that the dark sulky boy was actually waiting for the pale teen between classes.  Kanda wasn’t one to talk much. It wasn’t until lunch time that they pale teens had the dark brothers together.
Gareki and Nai found a table for them. Nai sat happily between the dark teen and his pale brother. Shion laughed at how Nai bounced in his seat as he talked with Gareki. The dark teen was telling Nai about a video game he was currently playing.
“We don’t play video games.” Allen jumped in. “Single mom and all.” He added.
“Do any of you have jobs?” Rat asked. The three pale teens looked around.
“No. Shion and I have been looking but we just moved here.” He said. Gareki narrowed his eyes at the boy.
“Why can't Nai work?” he demanded. Allen smiled at the boy.
“Because Nai is a really great cook and we like to have meals when we come home.” He ruffled the boys hair. Nai swatted his hand away.
“I work at dojo. I know they are looking for someone to stock and clean mats. It’s only part time but I can take you there after school today.” Kanda offered Allen.
“That would be great!” Allen beamed. Kanda just tsked at his enthusiasm.
Rat was watching Shion. The pale boy had a cell phone out. He was frowning down at it. He typed something in then set the phone on the table between him and Nai. The younger boy leaned away from it. Rat wasn’t sure if he was trying to distance himself from the phone or just get closer to Gareki. Nai was a sweet kid.
Gareki didn’t make friends easy. He was by far the most outgoing of the brothers. Even then his ability to tell when someone was lying made people tend not to like being around him Nai looked to be the antidote to that. He was an open book. Whatever his brothers were hiding, Nai had little to no knowledge of it. The phone on the table vibrated, shaking the whole table.
Allen glanced up. He had been talking to Kanda about the dojo. Shion flipped the phone over read something, then looked up to Allen. They shared a conversation in just that one look, Rat was positive about that. When Shion typed something into the phone, Safu came up behind him.
“What’s a Cross Marian?” she asked pushing Shion over to sit between him and Allen
Rat was between his brothers on the other side of the table.
“What?” Nai's head spun around. Eyes wide he fixed them onto Shion. Shion flashed him a smile.
“Don't worry little man. Mom was just going through the usual precautions.” He showed the boy the phone.
“Then answer the question.” Rat said. Once more Allen and Shion's eyes locked.
“He's our father.” Nai said looking sadly at his hands. “He's the reason Allen has his scar.” He added. He was wringing his hands together. When he looked up at Shion he looked about ready to cry.
“Hey, it's ok. Come on, let me buy you an ice cream.” Shion pulled Nai up with him. The two walked over to the line of desserts.
“You're farther abused you?” Gareki asked looking at Allen. Allen snorted.
“You could say that.” He was watching his brothers. Shion was pointing out different treats to Nai.
“You and Shion took most of it, didn't you?” Kanda interjected. Allen blinked pulling his eyes from the two boys.
“We do what we can to allow Nai to have a childhood.” He said. The others let it drop. When Nai came back he was carrying a chocolate and vanilla ice cream cup. Happily he ate it with the small wooden spoon.
Shion looked to Allen but neither said anything. When the bell rang they headed out to their next class. At the end of the day Shion was leaning against the lockers reading something on his phone.
“What is it?” Allen asked. Shion smiled.
“The library in town is looking for a part time person to restock the books.” He said. “I have a GPS directions there.” He added.
“Yeah, but I'm going with Kanda to apply at the dojo.” Allen said.
“I can walk Nai home.” Gareki said. Shion saw the look on Nai's face. He was first happy about that but then a worried look came over his face. Gareki had been the one to find the photograph the day before. If their mother wasn't home what else could he find? Shion couldn't allow the kid to wander around their house.
“I am going to a library.” He said to Allen. “I’m sure he can read a book or something until I’m done.” Allen looked thoughtful about this.
“Yeah, sure. Take him with you.” He said as if he had finale say over what the other two did. Gareki snorted.
“Let me at least go with you. I don’t trust the fact that you can find the library even with the GPS.” He snorted. They had walked out of the school.
“Yeah, ok.” Shion said. They said good bye to Kanda and Allen who went in the opposite direction. Rat seemed to be just wandering with them as he walked in a bored daze slightly behind the other boys. Gareki kept trying to see the GPS. He laughed when Shion almost went the wrong way for the fifth time.
“Do you even know how to follow that!” he demanded. Shion glared at him.
“Not really.” He admitted. Gareki shut it off and took the lead. He walked the remainder of the three blocks to the library. As Shion went up to the desk, Gareki took Nai to see the fish and Rat wandered off to the Shakespeare section.
Rat picked up a book. He walked to the twin chairs sitting beside the railing. Here he could see Shion at the front desk. He was talking to one of the two ladies there. Rat sat in the chair putting his feet up on the table. He saw the smile touch the scarred face. The Liberian handed him a clipboard with several papers on it.
Rat slide lower in the chair. The pale boy had taken too much of his attention over the last twenty four hours. Was an abusive father the only thing the triplets were hiding? If so why did Nai act so much younger than the other two? Gareki wasn’t the only one that saw the division in the three.
Shion took a seat beside a shelf of books. He filled out his paperwork. Gareki walked past leading Nai who smiled at his brother. The duo walked up a flight of stairs. Nai found a section of books that seemed to interest him. He ran a small pale hand over it. He found one that came free at his urging.
Rat’s smile twitched as Nai sat down in the center of the row, legs crossed he set the book in his lap. He heard Gareki's laugh as he tugged the boy back to a set of chairs. They sat together to read their respective books. Nai didn’t look up as he pushed himself into the chair.
Rat's attention went to Shion as the pale boy stood. He walked back over to the desk where the Liberians sat. He handed over his clipboard. The Liberian spoke to him. Rat saw the smile touch his lips again. It didn't reach the red eyes. Shion stepped back. His eyes went skyward to lock onto Rat's.
The dark teen stood in one fluid motion. He whistled which had Gareki's head snapping up. The other boy looked around until he found his brother.  He touched Nai. The pair moved toward Shion.
Rat put his book back on the shelf, he walked down the stairs. He reached the front as Gareki helped Nai get a library card so he could take out the book he was so fascinated with. Rat stopped beside the pale teen as he watched his brother closely.
“Shion?” an inquisitive voice called from behind them. The boy turned.
“I am Gwen. The head Liberian.” She gave him a wide smile. “Can you come with me for a few minutes?” she asked. Shion asked Rat to watch Nai. At his affirmation Shion walked into the back with Gwen.
Shion came out about ten minutes later. A huge grin on his face. “I start tomorrow.” He said.
“Congratulations.” Gareki said. Nai hugged his brother tightly. Rat shook his hand. They walked to the triplet’s house together. There they met up with Kanda and Allen. Allen had also gotten the job he had hoped for.
“Then we can celebrate.” Karen said happily.