The full chapter fic is here! :)
"Is something wrong with Rin?" Kyodo asked Father Fujimoto as the boys left for school. Shiro raised an eyebrow. He had noticed Rin had been acting strange recently. He was quieter and more distant. Apparently it wasn't just Shiro who thought he was acting odd.
"Not that I know of," Shiro paused. "Did you see him doing anything suspicious?" he added.
"I just noticed that he was quieter at dinner and breakfast is all." Kyodo pointed out honestly.
"Maybe I'll have a talk with his school counselor after school is out.." Shiro trailed in thought.
"You're going to actually go down to the school and ask them?" Kyodo asked.
"Well, or course. Why? What were you thinking of?" Shiro asked. If he could get any thought that would work, he would take it. It was his son – his Rin – on the line.
"Well, I just didn't know you usually went down there and talked to Rin's teachers and counselor." Kyodo said innocently.
"Well, usually I only go down there when Rin gets in trouble or when Yukio gets praised," Shiro admitted. "But I will definitely go down there if they can help me find out why my son is acting so distant."
Shiro Fujimoto walked into the guidance counselor's office that afternoon. He had hoped this person would be able to shed some light on the situation before it all went to hell.
"How was Rin acting today during class?" Shiro asked after a few moments of silence. He had hoped that if he had been acting odd during class, they might be able to find the source of his distance.
"Rin did not show up to school today." the counselor said simply.
"He didn't? Did Yukio?" Shiro asked. This was quite shocking as Rin had never skipped school before.
"Yes." the counselor told after some tapping from her computer.
"So, Rin didn't.." Shiro trailed.
"Is there something going on at home?" the counselor asked.
"Of course there isn't anything going on at home! I would never touch my boys in a harmful way. I promise you, I am only gentle to my sons." Shiro retorted.
"Mr. Fujimoto, you need to understand, you aren't the only one your boys are around. Haven't you even considered that someone else was touching them?" the woman counselor suggested.
Then it all clicked.
Someone could be touching Rin or Yukio in an abusive way and Shiro might never notice it. He just about stormed home. Yukio came home a while later, confessing that Rin skipped school, and that he had no idea where he went.
"I already know. The school counselor told me." Shiro said, not seeming happy about it. Yukio had assumed this reaction of their Father, though he seemed angry about something completely different.
"You went to the school counselor? Why?" Yukio asked. He hadn't gotten any sort of grade back to be praised for, and Rin didn't show up to school to get into trouble.
"I went to find out why Rin has been acting so distant for the past few days," Shiro admitted. "I know you've noticed it, too, Yukio. Don't play dumb." he added.
"I have noticed.." Yukio trailed off.
"Yukio.." Shiro trailed as well. He didn't know how to ask his son one of the most important questions of his life. "Has anyone ever touched you..in a physically harmful way?" Shiro finally came out with it. Yukio's eyes widened.
"Of course no, Father! Do you think someone could be touching Rin harmfully? Like someone's hitting him?" Yukio asked, slightly panicked.
"The guidance counselor suggested the thought to me," Shiro sighed in frustration. "Ever since she did, I can't get the thought out of my head that someone is hurting him behind our backs."
"We have to find him." Yukio said instantly.
"No." Shiro said.
"No? What do you mean no? If we can find him, we can prevent anything he may be doing!" Yukio shouted out, feeling protective of his sibling. It must have been a reaction to Rin, since he usually wasn't this brash.
"We need to wait until he comes home. Then we can talk in private with him somewhat calm." Shiro told. Yukio noticed that his Father was right.
"Alright, we'll wait here.." Yukio trailed off.
Rin only came home hours later when it was dark from the late hours. Though, he seemed more cheerful than he had been all week.
"Dad, Yukio.." Rin trailed off, shocked that they were waiting for him to come home. "What's up?" he asked, getting fidgety.
"Rin, we need to talk to you." Shiro said seriously.
"Boy, wish I could, but I've got make – up work to do from when I was sick." Rin lied – even if it wasn't very smooth.
"Rin!" Shiro shouted after his teenage son who continued to run out of the room they were in and up the stairs.
"He won't talk right now, Father." Yukio informed his Father.
"He will if I give him no other choice." Shiro said with a burning curiosity inside of him.
