[Toko - week 2]

I had not had a fun week so far.

Not to get into too many specifics but, I've been hearing someone new in headspace. Since Asa and Syo have been formed for years now I can tell when something is up. The voice is small, very excitable and sounds almost like a child. I haven't really dealt with this sort of thing for a long time so I'm pretty anxious to say the least.

"Toko? Are you still with me?"

I blinked out of my dissociative state to look a very concerned Dr. Azuma straight in the eye.

"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine..sorry." I mumbled an apology. I kind of forgot we were still in therapy.

"I was asking about your week? Did anything in particular happen while you were away?" She questioned.

"Well, it's not exactly been easy."

—> 1 week earlier

"I don't have to go into work until 2pm today dear." My boyfriend announced, sitting beside me on the couch.

"Oh? Why's that?"

"One of my coworkers took over an assignment that I was supposed to complete due to her having extra time, so I'm able to take the morning off without missing anything."

"How should we celebrate the extra time?" I thought for a moment before a small voice chimed in: "pancakes!"

"Are you alright love? You look like something startled you?" Byakuya furrowed his brow.

I didn't realize how jumpy the voice has made me until I noticed I had almost fallen on the carpeted floor.

"Oh it's nothing, just thought I heard someone. Anyways, I think that we should make pancakes for breakfast as a special treat." I smiled, shaking the thought of the tiny voice from my head.

"Ah yes, that sounds perfect."

—>

"Okay so just mix the dry and wet ingredients together to make a batter." I instructed.

Byakuya started to pour everything together in one goopy mess before I could stop him.

"Agh no! You need to do it slowly! It helps with mixing." I groaned.

"I'm terribly sorry, I thought that was just in baking." He threw a sheepish grin my direction.

"Here, I'll help mix to get you started."

"Am I doing better..?" He spoke suddenly as I stirred the batter and plopped it on to the hot griddle.

"In what regard?"

"All..this." He gestured to the kitchen and sizzling pancakes in front of us. "I never learned how to cook as a child and I'm worried I'm not doing enough to learn as an adult. I mean, you're the one who makes meals and orders food when you don't feel like cooking. I try to make something every so often and it often ends up in the garbage. I'm trying so hard but I'm failing, why am I failing..?"

"Aw hun, you're not failing. I put a comforting hand on my boyfriend's shoulder. "There's no failing in cooking, you're supposed to have fun with it! It takes a lot of practice to be good. I know you got a lot of help growing up from your servants, you're just not used to domestic life quite yet. But I know you'll get there, we'll grow as a couple and learn new things! But for now, you're exactly where you should be. My perfectly imperfect Byakuya."

He started to tear up a little at my words and buried his head in my shoulder.

"Iloveyou.." He said softly.

"I love you too silly." I laughed while stroking his head.

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!!!!!!!!!!!

"THE PANCAKES!!"

—>

     "Oh dear! Did they get burned?" Dr. Azuma asked, wide eyed.

     "Yes." I chuckled, remembering the look on his face when he saw what had happened. "But it just produced a little smoke, enough for the fire alarm to pick up on it. We cleaned up and made a new batch that tasted great."

     "Well I'm personally very glad you did not burn down your home. I am however, confused. You mentioned this being a hard week? What you've just told me sounds positive..besides the fire hazard and all." She tapped her pen lightly on her clipboard after scribbling some notes.

     "Oho no..I haven't gotten into the details yet believe me."

—> 1 week ago

[Syo]

I'm getting sick of living with Toko's boyfriend.

He stinks up the place I'll tell ya! I'll be trying to relax and have some me time and boom, there he is primed and ready to bug the shit outta me! I told him about five minutes into me fronting today that he better not say two words to me, I am not gonna suck up to his ass like the host.

I steady my hand a bit before tossing my dart in a forward spiral, hitting the 20 point mark on my board. Before I can pick up a second I see a shadow in the doorway.

"The hell do you want buddy?" I sneered.

"I come in peace, I just thought you'd want to do a bet with me." Togami held his hands up as if to prove his point.

"And why would I be interested in that?"

"Because winner gets 5000 yen."

I immediately sprang up and rushed to sit at the nearby table, Togami smirking to himself and taking a seat across from me.

"What's the bet?" I questioned.

"It's this." He responded quickly, pulling out a bottle, some coins, and the 5000 yen he promised if I won.

     He carefully placed the money and the coins on the bottle's top, the note being below the stack of coins.

     "All you have to do is remove the note from the top of the bottle with one finger and the money is yours. However, you cannot move the coins."

     "Easy! Those damn coins don't stand a chance!" I grinned deviously as I started to flick the bill with my pointer finger. It moved a little bit but never did more than shift slightly, not nearly enough for it to fall.

     "Need a little help there Syo?" Togami muffled a chuckle with his hand.

     "First of all it's Ikeda to you asshole. We are not on a first name basis. And second, this shit is impossible! This money ain't moving!"

"I might as well try then."

I begrudgingly switched spots with Togami as he studied the note for a moment before flicking it effortlessly to the table's surface.

"I win." He said in a mock singsong tone.

"Hey! That's no fair! What the hell was that?!" I jeered.

"It's called 'taking advantage of Ikeda's lack of impulse control by placing a bet I knew I was going to win immediately', elementary really." Togami laughed while flicking a 500 yen coin my direction. "Here, buy yourself something nice."

"Yea, a pack of gum maybe." I glared daggers at him. "How..how did you do that anyway?"

"Oh? You'd like to know? Well I suppose I can teach you, just lick your finger."

"Ew fuck no!"

"Trust me, lick your finger and try it again." He repeated, setting the bottle up again.

I hesitantly licked my finger and flicked at the note, surprisingly it stuck and broke free from the coins!

"Huh! You big cheater, of course you won!" I groaned.

"You steal so much money for me in card games, and darts, and all sorts of things. I had to find some way to get back at you." He said with an uncharacteristically soft smile.

"Well color me surprised Byakuya Togami, you do have a trickster in ya!" I said while shooting him a grin.

"Always a pleasure to hang out with you Syo Ikeda."

—>

"I still don't understand your concerns Toko, your week seems to have been very exciting." Dr. Azuma smiled at me.

"I guess the bad stuff wasn't as bad as I initially thought, I bet I'm just overreacting." I hung my head in shame.

"My turn!"

"Hey! Who's there?!"

"Toko...Toko...Toko??"

[???]

"She didn't tell you my story yet."