Aberrance

To xDizzyx and Vault: Thank you so much for your reviews. You have no idea how happy it makes me to know that I'm accomplishing what I set out to do when I began this fic. I hope you continue to enjoy it in the future!


Tristan yawned as he padded downstairs to the kitchen. He faintly heard his mom and then a male voice and then laughter. He stopped dead in his tracks and listened for the voice again. Once he heard it he breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't Kyo so he didn't have to go scurrying back upstairs. But now he was curious. He thought about tiptoe-ing his way to the kitchen and peeking around the corner to see who it was. A moment later he was chiding himself for acting like a baby. This was his home so there was no need for him to act in such a way. Stifling another yawn he walked into the kitchen and then stopped dead in his tracks again. There at his kitchen table sat none other than Kaoru Niikura, the lead guitarist in his fathers band and one of his most respected idols. Kaoru was the one who inspired Tristan to pick up a guitar three years ago and learn to play it. Yet here he was, in his home, sitting at his kitchen table, drinking tea and laughing with his mom. Tristan didn't know what to do so he just stood there openly gawking at the back of his idol. Then something else occured to him. Kaoru was in his fathers band. The father that didn't even know he existed. The father that he bore an uncanny resemblance to. Oh fuck. He wanted to turn and run but he found himself frozen in place. He did the only thing he could. He stood there and waited for the inevitable.

Kaoru felt someone's eyes on him and turned around in his chair. He came face to face with a boy standing in the doorway with a deer-in-the-headlights look plastered on his face. Upon further inspection, he noticed that this kid looked a hell of a lot like Kyo, so much so that it was almost scary. An alarm went off in his head. Turning back to look at Jae, he saw that her expression mirrored that of the boy's. His mouth fell wide open as the revelation hit him full force. This was Jae's teenage son. If he remembered correctly, Jae said he was fifteen. Kyo and Jae had been intimate before he left Kyoto, when he was also fifteen. They were both thirty now. Kaoru felt as though he was looking at a younger Kyo when he first glanced at Tristan. Could Kyo be his father? Glancing first at Jae and then at Tristan, it was obvious that something unspoken had just passed between the two. This made him feel even more like his hunch was right. Clearing her throat, Jae spoke up.

"Kaoru this is my son, Tristan. Tristan, this is Kaoru." Before Kaoru could even formulate a response the boy spoke up.

"Mom, I know who he is. Anyone with half a brain knows Kaoru-sama! He's only the best guitarist ever!" Shortly after he slapped a hand over his mouth looking absolutely mortified. Kaoru couldn't help it as his mouth broke into a grin. He also couldn't help the blush that rose to his cheeks.

Stifling a laugh he spoke to the boy. "It's nice to meet you Tristan. But please, just call me Kaoru."

Tristan nodded. "It's nice to meet you too, Kaoru." Kaoru noticed Tristan's nervousness and got up, making his way to the tea kettle.

"Why don't you sit down? I'll get you some tea." Tristan quietly shuffled over to the table and sat down next to his mom, still a little starstruck. Kaoru came back and set two steaming mugs on the table. Tristan quietly thanked him and sipped on his tea. "So you play guitar?" Kaoru asked.

"Yeah for almost four years now. I was taking lessons but my teacher was an idiot so I decided to teach myself. I taught myself all of your parts." Tristan smiled a little as a blush crept over his cheeks.

"That's cool. Maybe we could play together sometime" Kaoru repled with a smile. Tristan was sure his eyes were wide as saucers as he nodded dumbly. Kaoru realized Jae had been unusually quiet this whole time and he turned to look at her. "Jae are you alright?" Turning towards Kaoru, she nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Sorry I was just thinking." There was that sadness again. He turned to see Tristan looking at his mother over his mug, brows knitted in concern. He must've heard it too. Jae stood up slowly. "I'm going to take a quick shower. You guys think you can entertain yourselves while I'm gone?" She smiled.

"Yeah I'm sure we can find something to do" Kaoru said as he winked at Tristan, earning a smile from the boy.

When Jae came back downstairs she found Kaoru and Tristan in front of the tv playing videogames. She watched them with a smile, listening to them taunt each other playfully. She was glad Tristan was more at ease around Kaoru. She sat down on the couch and Tristan turned to look at her.

"Hey Mom" he said with a grin.

"Hey yourself. Mind if I watch?"

"Nah I don't mind if you watch me kick Kao's ass." He turned and stuck his tongue out at Kaoru, who in turn smirked as Jae laughed at their antics.

"We'll see who kicks whose ass!"

Tristan scowled. "Kao you cheater!"

"I didn't cheat! You just don't have mad skills like me. But don't worry, the great Kaoru-sama will teach you everything he knows." He smirked and then burst into laughter, shortly followed by Jae and Tristan. Glancing at the clock, Tristan's eyes widened.

"Shit! I have to get a shower before Ayumi's mom comes to pick me up!" With that, he jumped up and bounded up the stairs. Once he heard the water running, Kaoru decided it was safe to voice what had been bothering him all morning.

"He is Kyo's son isn't he?" Jae looked up at him sadly and nodded, not trusting her voice."You have to tell him, he has a right to know."

"Don't you think I know that?!" she snapped and then sighed, giving him an apologetic glance. "Sorry, you didn't deserve that. I just don't know how to tell him. I wanted him to know as soon as I found out I was pregnant, but obviously that was impossible. Now that I know he has a girlfriend it makes things even more difficult."

"I'm not trying to tell you how to handle this because I myself have never been in this situation, but the longer you wait the harder it's going to be."

"Yeah I know. Part of me wants to tell him now and get it over with but the other part of me knows that there's a time and a place and this just doesn't feel right." Kaoru fixed her with a wistful gaze.

"Maybe there isn't a right time. I'm going to tell you something because I care about you and I think you need to know. I don't think you should worry too much about Hitomi's feelings. I can assure you she gives less than a shit about yours. She's nothing more than a manipulative gold-digger. I know that it's Kyo's choice who he gives his heart to but if you're putting off telling him about Tristan because of her then I wish you wouldn't. I would much rather Kyo be with you and Tristan where he belongs."

"He loves her Kao. I can see it in the way he looks at her. I'm glad you told me about her though, it confirmed my first impression. But his heart is his to give to whomever he chooses and he just happened to have chosen her. I don't want him to suffer, not because of me." Kaoru got up and sat next to her, pulling her gently into his arms.

"You're so selfless. But you shouldn't sacrifice your happiness for the sake of another. You don't deserve to suffer either Jae." She rested her head against his shoulder. "I've been thinking and I hope you won't think I'm weird because of what I'm about to say. I want to make you happy. I mean truly happy. Don't think I don't hear the underlying sadness in your voice. Sometimes I can even see it on your face. You've been so wrapped up in keeping everyone satisfied that you've let your own wants and needs fall by the wayside. When was the last time you did something for yourself, can you even remember? Will you give me this chance?" Jae lifted her head up and regarded Kaoru. She could tell he meant every word he said and he was right too. Kyo had Hitomi so what would be the problem is she decided to start dating Kaoru? Tristan liked him, not that she would ever dream of trying to replace his father in his heart. She knew Kaoru would never want that either. She leaned forward and kissed him softly then pulled back smiling a little.

"That made me happy, that's a step in the right direction isn't it?"

He smirked. "Being a smartass are we?"

"In all seriousness I think you're right. If this is really what you want, then I'd like to pursue a relationship with you."

"Good, I was hoping you wouldn't reject me." He gave her a small smirk and pulled her closer, claiming her lips in a kiss.

"That's twice now you've gotten to kiss me and we haven't even had our first proper date. What gives?" She giggled a little and Kaoru made a face.

"I'm not really good with dates. I'd end up picking a girl up and having no idea where to take her. But how about lunch? We can go where ever you'd like." He gave her a sheepish grin.

"Are you blushing Kao?" She smiled

"Yeah Mom he's definately blushing." Tristan had a grin on his face as he watched them from the doorway.

"Dude, you're not supposed to take her side! You're a man, you should side with me!" Kaoru feigned looking hurt.

"No way, she lets me live here. There's no way I'm getting on her bad side!" He chuckled. "Anyway I'm gonna go wait outside for Ayumi and her mom. Will you be here later Kao?"

"I'm not sure. We might have to practice seeing as how we've got a show in a couple days."

"Oh yeah it is coming up isn't it? Well I guess I'll see ya whenever I see ya then right?"

"Yeah I'll be around. See ya later Tristan."

"Later. Bye Mom!" Tristan grabbed his bag and headed outside. Jae curled up against Kaoru's side.

"I'm glad he's warmed up to you better."

"He was probably just nervous, or shocked, or both. It's not everyday you see one of your idols sitting in your kitchen having tea with your mom." He cracked a smile as he started to rub her back. Jae sighed contentedly and snuggled deeper into his embrace. Then her stomach rumbled. Kaoru let out a chuckle. "How about that lunch?"

"Sounds good, but I need to stop by the club afterwards. I'm sure there's more mountains of paperwork awaiting me."

"I can keep you company again tonight if you want."

"I'm sure you can think of better ways to spend your time Kao." She gave him a small smile.

"Ouch."

She playfully poked his side. "I didn't mean it like that. I like having you around, but I honestly can't understand why you would want to stay cramped up in my office while I pour over paperwork."

"I just want to be near you. I can't really explain it. I feel so calm around you. I don't have to be the strong, imposing Leader-sama everyone else sees when they look at me. I can just be Kaoru, and that means a lot to me." He closed the short distance between them and kissed her deeply. When they broke apart for air, Jae smiled as she ran her hands over his chest.

"I'm glad you feel that way. I always want you to be yourself around me. I don't expect anything else from you. Now how about that lunch? I'm starved." Kaoru smiled and pulled her up with him.

"Well we can't have that. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let my girl waste away before my very eyes?" He chuckled a bit as they walked hand-in-hand out to the car.