Man-Up [Yumi & Kato]

[Sean Zimmerman]

Digitorum longs… flexus? Sean scratched through another line on his paper, rubbing his eyes with a sigh. He'd been trying to study for this science test for the last three hours, and he was getting no where. Three hours of wasting his time. He leaned forward, putting his feet up on the desk and letting his eyes close. Maybe he could take a nap and finally relax some. His eyes opened into slits as he glanced at his watch. 5:48. Almost six in the afternoon and the test was bright and early the next morning. He straightened back up and grabbed his pencil again, staring at the paper covered in scribbles. It looked like the work of a two year old, not a twenty-year old that wanted to be a scientist… or a doctor. Med school though? If he couldn't survive his first four years of college, then he could wave goodbye a chance at getting into a medical program.

He couldn't quit though, he had to be better than that, if not for his sake than for his family. They could use the money he would make as a doctor. Well, once he paid for med school. Eight years of shelling out money for the chance of making it through. It seemed more than a little ridiculous, but dreaming big was kind of the motto he was trying to push onto his brother and sister. At least, he wanted them to dream beyond their next shot of alcohol or next meaningless one night stand. They were never going to grow up, and every time he saw them, all he saw were two little kids playing grown up. Right now would be a really great time for a time machine…

Speaking of his brother and sister, Sean cast a sidelong glance at the door just opposite of him. Kato had been gone quite a while, and it was always unnerving when he did that. The kid had a remarkable talent for finding trouble and then buying it a drink. He looked around, finally spotting his phone on the corner of his desk. Leaning over, he snatched it, flipping it open and glaring intently at the small screen that deftly informed him he had no unread messages or voicemails. Kato wasn't the only problem though, he hadn't seen Hannah for awhile either. Then again, she had a better excuse, Kato was his roommate and he still remained elusive.

Sean chuckled slightly as he remembered the elaborate lengths he went to, to ensure that he would be rooming with his brother. Of course, Kato was less than thrilled with the idea. Sean shook his head and then stood up, stretching his arms above his head before stepping over by the small window. There were a few students milling around, but nothing remarkable that made them standout. Absentmindedly, he reached into the refrigerator, pulling out a can of Mountain Dew without bothering to even open the door. Phasing had its unique moments of usefulness. With a frown, Sean focused in on a girl with a frantic pace. She looked slightly familiar, but no name stuck out in Sean's mind, and with an almost photographic memory, that meant Sean had never learned her name. Shrugging off the thought, he sat back down on his chair, spinning in a slow circle as he tried to run through the list of vocabulary he needed to know for the test.

[Yumi Zuko]

She walked up the stairs with quickened movement trying to get to her destination faster. The reason for her urgency was she hate walking the halls or around the school anymore. Since her last chat with Kato and other student heard if there conversation student she felt were talking about t her. Some did and other looked at her funny and it hurt her feelings when they say mean comment like. “Learned to keep your legs closed yet”. She tried relieving the stress by talking about it with some neutral friends in Japan. But those girls were scholarly and uptight and replied with insults most being “You ashamed you family’s honor.” An any boys that she hung out with in japan just made her feel dirty with their assumed reasons for her call.

But what family was there to dishonor? She had asked herself as she turned a corner and down a hall of dorms none of which were the ones she wanted. So many but she knew exactly which one she wanted as she remembered it and everything elc as always .She approached the door with nervousness’ but with slight bravery that she tried to get to crawl out of her. Barley any results but what did she expect she was holding a envelope that contained the sonogram of the baby growing in her that the guy she was giving it to didn’t even want. But she felt like he should know…just in case he changed his mind. Her hand knocked on the door three times as her gut got that fear feeling in it when you’re scared and you don’t want to face your fear. Well she was doing it.

[Sean Zimmerman]

Yes! He threw up his hands in a mini victory, doing a little more enthusiastic of a dance than he would readily admit to anyone. He felt like he'd just climbed Mt. Everest, instead, he was staring down at a completed study guide for tomorrow's test. Of course, now he was going to have to look through it a few times. He groaned, slumping back in his chair with an overdramatic sigh. He hated homework. Sure, learning was fun and eventually he would get a well paying job that allowed him to take care of his family, but right now… Well, tests sucked. He was pretty sure everyone who went to school would agree with him on that.

His glance flickered back down to his watch and he frowned. It was driving him mildly insane that he had absolutely no idea where Kato was today. That was fine though… Totally fine. He didn't have to know where Kato was all the time, it wasn't like he was the kid's dad. He huffed and stood up quickly. Okay, so maybe he did need to know where his brother was, so sue him, he didn't want anything to happen to him… Like it happened with… He caught himself before thinking her name. Just thinking about her sweet smile and innocent laugh when he told a lame joke was enough to make him grit his teeth together. His baby sister was gone, and he wouldn't let that happen to anyone else in his family.

To the door then. He threw on his shoes and headed to the door, his hands wrapping around the handle just as the three knocks sounded from the other side. He jumped slightly at the sound, then chuckled at his own skittishness. It was probably just Kato finally back… Then again, Kato would have a key, unless he lost it. Pulling open the door, he stared in surprise down at the girl who was waiting nervously. He smiled brightly at her. Whatever the reason for how upset she looked, Sean was sure that he could get her to relax. After all, most people just needed a kind word.

"Anything I can help you with, Miss?" He pushed back the few loose strands of hair away from his eyes so that he could look down at her with genuine concern.

[Yumi Zuko]

She felt sick. Not physically like a illness but more of the fear kind. Mostly of possible public humiliation again from Kato. What if he yelled again what if her got even madder what if more student heard about it and called her more names. She couldn’t take any more of it normally she could by threats but now they had a cruel comeback all the time and she couldn’t disagree or say it’s not true because its growing in her at the moment. Which brought her to another thing why is it her that’s getting so much insults. Kato’s the one didn’t take the responsibilities she did she could have easily terminated the pregnancy early on but she thought it was cruel to end someone’s life.

She saw the door open it wasn't Kato. It was a black haired guy standing in front of her not the one she expect but none of the less she didn’t want to stay long enough for a insult even with his nice greeting .She gripped the envelope harder in her palm. ”Yes you may please give this to a Kato Zimmermen please.” She doesn’t give him much time to reply wants she puts the envelope in his hand and she turned her body going from the way she came. Biting her nails wondering if it was the right decision Kato said he basically didn’t want to help but she thought maybe she could give him a chance to take responsibility. Because honestly she couldn’t raise a kid financially she could with any job she wanted at her grasp but emotionally she thought she couldn’t take it. Yumi then thought maybe she was second guessing herself as she walked away and down the stairs once again with a even worse case of nerves.

[Sean Zimmerman]

There was some kind of sadness that lingered around her, a disheartened mood that filled the room as he opened the door. Offering her a smile, he leaned to the side, against the doorframe as he watched her shift nervously in front of him, gripping an envelope in her hands. His glance flickered down to the crumpling paper and dread gripped him, twisting tighter until he thought that he might faint. Maybe she was just a girl who Kato had toyed around with, the kid never did know when to get serious with a girl. A love letter then, he tried to convince himself. She was here to deliver a love letter to Kato, what else could it be, right?

His smile tightened and he could barely get himself to remain standing as she practically shoved the envelope into his hands, and then she was gone, darting out of the dorm like he was going to chase after her. Would he have a reason to, if he knew what was inside? Warily, he looked down at the mystery she'd left him. Technically, this was Kato's mail, and Sean had no right to open it. But he was the brother, the older brother who was supposed to be the protector. This letter was an obstacle stopping him from protecting Kato, and he wasn't going to allow that to happen.

Turning around, he slammed the door behind him and settled down on the couch in the middle of the dorm room. The white envelope stared at him mockingly, reminding him that he had to do this. It was his duty, his job… The paper tore so easily, and then he was left staring at a black sheet with a grainy white image on its slick surface. Denial wrapped slender fingers around his throat, tightening until air came out in ragged huffs. Like a storm settling in to rain all night, he sat back on the couch, a flash of lightning anger in his eyes. Kato would have to come home sooner or later...

[Kato Zimmerman]

Kato hadn't talked to Yumi since their last little spat. Every time he heard her voice or even her name, he ducked around another corner. Her very face drove him into busy classrooms. He was - in all meanings of the phrase - avoiding her. But while he hid from Yumi, he could not deny the facts; she was harboring his child. His child! Somehow a couple minutes in a gas station restroom had created... life? Or trouble. Quite frankly, Kato was too frightened to stick around and decide whether or not this baby would be a miracle or a curse. He still had so much in his life to figure out! There were jobs to be had, relationships to fix, and habits to drop. Carrying for a baby was not in his plans, and Kato didn't want to even consider changing his mind.

Honestly, he thought Yumi had given up too; or maybe that's just what he wanted. He certainly did not expect for her to visit his dorm room, let alone drop off a sonogram... which was now in his nosy brother's possession. And it was with an unsuspecting and oblivious mind that Kato entered his dorm room. "Sean?" He glanced around the room and - there he was! "Hey Sean, you ever fooled around with that Jackie girl?" Heh, Sean fool around... almost laughable. "I mean, have you ever met her? Damn she's a hot one.. kind of a bitch, but that's what makes her so- ... who died?"

Kato knew Sean's angry face... and this wasn't it. This was the I'm-going-to-murder-my-brother face. The trouble-making eighteen year old fixed an uneasy grin on his face and took a step back. "Ugh... sup, buddy?" His eyes traveled downwards to the paper in Sean's hands. That paper - whatever it was - seemed to be the source of his older brother's distress. The boys heart thudded dully in his chest, and with every beat came a single questions; what is on that paper...

[Sean Zimmerman]

Kato swept into the room will his usual blather of nonsense, something about a girl named Jackie. The only name that kept repeating in Sean's mind was… Wait, he didn't even know the girl's name. He didn't know the name of the girl who was carrying his niece or nephew. His eyes narrowed into slits as he sullenly stared back at Kato, who was happily prattling away until he seemed to realize something was wrong. Always slow on the uptake… He crossed his arms over his chest, the words slowly taking form in his mind. Kato had barely been out of juvie, and now he was already getting into more trouble than he could handle. God, a baby? A baby? Their family was screwed up without a surprise addition.

"As of right now, I'm not your buddy. You don't have a buddy, what you have is…" He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage that was making his voice shake. Standing up, he glared at Kato, who was grinning at him uncomfortably. Sean opened his mouth to yell, but the words came out in a whisper, "A baby. A child. A responsibility." His eyes widened and he threw his hand out, smacking the sonogram against Kato's chest and then drawing back, shoulders heaving with his outrage. "God, Kato, look at that. You can't ignore that."

He knew Kato's M.O. though, he knew his little brother would want to run. After all, why would he give up the freedom he'd just gotten back? But Sean wasn't about to let him run out on some poor kid, he wasn't going to let that boy or girl grow up without a real family. He stepped forward, still now that his breathing had calmed, and he fixed his gaze on Kato's face. The stupid little brother that he had wanted to protect, standing there. "Don't be one of those guys that leaves a girl to deal with it on her own… I hate those guys."