Not at all shy, Eight took the opportunity to taste him, exploring his brother's mouth with a mix of curiosity and desire. He'd been attracted to Seven for as long as he could recall, and if he was going to be allowed a "real" kiss, he wasn't about to pass up the chance.

Seven allowed it, and even reciprocated to a point before he pulled back, "You know what you're doing?" he asked.

Randy VIII folded his arms. "'Course I do; I done it before," he replied.

"Oh? Who you been kissin'?" asked Seven.

"A girl in my class..." Randy VIII shrugged.

Seven raised an eyebrow, "I see....gettin' to be not such a Baby Boy anymore...huh?"

"Yup." Eight reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "But I guess you can still call me that if you wanna," he added with a grin.

"You got it, Baby Boy!" said Seven giving Eight a kiss.

It wasn't long before Randy VIII's birthday was approaching. Normally, twelve was the age around which training would be switched from simple group courses at the gym to more in-depth one-on-one learning either at home or at a location specified by the coach. As Randy VIII had been deemed a very aggressive special-class and his father was to be his coach, however, the at-home training had already begun. He and his father held regular sparring sessions in the yard, the main focus of which was usually his attempting to pin Randy in a set amount of time. So far, he had been quite unsuccessful, but with his age and lack of experience, it was to be expected. Randy was pleased with his son's progress, despite knowing that his military enrollment was growing closer and closer. It would only be another two years now. While most Schickelgrubers who intended to join the military did so at around the age of fifteen, the special-class were expected to start a bit earlier--just as with their training.

Seven did his best to stay cheerful and enjoy his time with his younger brother...but time was running out, and with the further knowledge that by the time Eight returned from the military Seven might no longer be alive time seemed all the more precious to him and it seemed to be slipping so much quicker....

Though he was unaware of the severity of Seven's condition, Randy VIII intended to make the most of the time they had before he was sent off to training. "You know what I want to do for my birthday this year?"

"What?" asked Seven eager to know so he could fulfill his brother's wish.

"I want to go hang out at Amusement World, just you and me," said Randy VIII.

"You got it baby boy!" said Seven giving him a kiss.

Randy VIII grinned. "You know... aside from the usual birthday party."

Seven gave him a pat, "Of course! But I'm still makin' you a cake!"