- "Aoba?" He shook the unconscious youth on the ground. "Yo, Aoba? Wake up."
Did I really hit him that hard?
Ran had hit the boy, but he hadn't aimed for the head. However, that hadn't stopped him from passing out almost as soon as contact with the hammer was made and red appeared in the boy's navy hair.
"Come on, wake up!" Ran yelled as if he could hear him. Mixed feelings arose from within him. He felt panic and worry growing, but isn't this what he wanted him? He wanted Aoba dead, didn't he? Ever since he was arrested, murderous thoughts were in his mind and they always included Aoba. So why wasn't he feeling happy?
As Ran contemplated his predicament, Aoba finally stirred.
It was just another one of their fights, but this time the young boy finally was in the wrong place at the wrong time, twisting around instead of dodging like he should of when the hammer made contact with his head. This action sending him dropping unconsciously to the ground with a loud thud as his head hit the concrete first along with the rest of his limp body.
Ringing formed in his ears, almost a voice Aoba thought he recognized, but the more he tried to think on it the more his head hurt. Eyes flickered open, through blood drops that leaked across and down his forehead, cringing at the huge amount of pain that raced across his temple.
His sight was a bit blurred, eyes trying to focus in on the person standing above him, the energy to actually sit up was gone from him the dizzier he felt. "Wh-who are you?" Many more questions raced through his head, 'where am I, what had happened?' all those thoughts coming to a screeching halt when he saw the huge weapon. Fading eyesight picked up on this quickly, searching the man's stature before him, trying to work out if he was the threat or not.
"Wha-what do you want?"
- Ran blinked, even more perplexed. "Who?" he repeated. He lost his memory? Or was he just messing with him? No, that familiar feeling in his gut was telling him he wasn't bullshitting him. Aoba really had no idea who he was.
Ran didn't answer right away. There were so many possibles to take advantage. He could gain his trust and trap him, finally be rid of him. Or….he could fix things. Could he really fix things? Did he even want to? The question swarmed his mind. He'd have to think more on it later. Both options took the same course of action for now. So, for now, he'd be nice.
He shifted backwards and smiled. "Aoba, it's me, Ran. Your brother. Don't you remember?"
Eyes began to finally adjust as a questioning look spread across his face, "Ran?" No, he didn't remember anyone named Ran, but at the same time he didn't even remember his name was Aoba.
Could he really trust that this guy was really his brother, he did have a giant hammer and the young boy had a bleeding skull and was knocked unconscious by something, it was pretty suspicious. Although trusting him would get him a lot farther than where he was, it wasn't like he'd be able to even know where he was at this point or know who to go to.
Aoba smiled barely, shaking his head in disagreement, "I- I don't." He leanded his arm back to keep himself propped up, already having a lot of trouble keeping steady, mostly the result of the head trauma. Aoba didn't recognize that smile, he must of been hit hard enough not to remember his own brothers smile right? "D-do you know why I'm bleeding?" Maybe that's why Ran had a hammer, chasing off the ones who did it?
- Ran frowned, looked disappointed, as if being forgotten by his own brother bothered him. Well, it kinda did anyways, but that didn't matter.
"Uh, yeah, I hit you." He held up his hand and waved it. "It's not what you're thinking. We were just playing a game and I mis-swung." That was true, though he doubt Aoba would agree to call what they were doing 'a game'.
Ran stood and offered his hand to the boy. "Can you stand? We should get that wound taken care of, yeah?"
Hesitant at first, Aoba gave a simple nod grabbing onto Ran's hand allowing himself to be pulled up, being told it was indeed the man in front of him that hit him only made Aoba more hesitant to trust him.
'What kind of game involves the use of a hammer?' he thought to himself, was it a game he forgot about as well?
Either way, even if he didn't full trust Ran, he was offering help that Aoba couldn't refuse in a situation like this. Kept cling to the other's arm, his grip tightened onto Ran's sleeve as he forced himself to stay up, making a small joke as he looked up at him.
"As long as you're not gonna hit me with that hammer again."
- The moment Aoba clung to his arm, Ran had a feeling of deja vu. Aoba hadn't clung to him since they were both kids, it was almost surreal. He gave an awkward grin at Aoba's statement and said, "Don't plan on it. Just keep your head out of it's way next time," he joked.
"I think that's enough games for tonight. I'll take you back to my place and get you patched up. You live with mom, but she's kinda far from here and it's late." He pulled out his phone and called a number. He seemed a bit nervous, he hadn't spoken to his mother in a long time.
The conversation was brief, and he soon hung up. He pocketed his phone and sighed before speaking. "That was mom. Just letting her know you'll be with me tonight." It'd be troublesome if she thought he was in danger and had the police looking for him. Besides, he still wasn't sure which he'd prefer.
He reached over and ruffled Aoba's hair. "Let's go." And he lead the boy down the street.
Well at least he knew Aoba's mom, that was at least a good sign that Ran was in fact his brother? Or at the very least someone who knew him. Keeping up pace with the taller man as best as he could while his balance was very much dependent on Ran's. These streets were very unfamiliar which only made him positive that it was a good idea to go along with the other, if not he would of probably run into something he didn't want to.
Finally reaching the place which was Ran's home, Aoba let out a small sigh of relief, walking became much more difficult with his head throbbing the way it was, "Do you know how to even fix wounds like this?" Could of sounded like something offensive if it was any other time, but he wasn't too sure how good his 'brother' was at doctor kind of work.
- "Eh?"Ran responded to the boy's question once they were inside his apartment. Closing the door behind them, he turned on the lights and looked at Aoba's wound briefly before saying, "It looks pretty minor. Some disinfectant and bandages and it'll be fine in about a week, at most."
Ran placed his hammer down by the entrance for now and removed his jacket and shades. "Oh yeah. Mom wants you to call her in the morning. Wants to make sure you're okay…." That could be troublesome, depending what she told Aoba. Luckily though, Ran had his own place so their dad was completely out of the picture now. No worrying about that asshole.
"Anyways, follow me." Ran lead Aoba into the living room. "Sit there and wait," he instructed before going to the bathroom to collect the first aid.
Well that certainly confirmed that this was his brother, at least seemed like a caring enough brother, but what was he going to exactly say to his mother that he didn't even remember. Would his brother get in trouble?
Listening to what he was told he followed Ran into the living room briskly following behind, sitting on the couch as his eyes began to explore the other's place. Aoba really wished any of this seemed familiar, it was driving him up the walls not having any knowledge.
His hand went up to his head, wiping some of the semi dry blood off his forehead with his sleeve, wondering how he managed to get hit that hard. "Uh…Aniki…" Aoba called out, "Wouldn't mom get mad at you for this?"
- Ran returned with the first aid and sat besides the boy on the couch. He opened it up and started going through it when Aoba spoke again to which he paused briefly before continuing.
"Looks like calling me 'Aniki' is natural to you. It's all you've ever referred to me as. Never called me by my name or anything else." 'Aniki' wasn't the only term he could use nor was it the most respectful. But it's what he's called him ever since he learned how to talk.
He grabbed the disinfectant and some cotton balls, placing the rest on the coffee table as a small smile pulled at his lips. "This is gonna sting," he said as he started applying it to the wound. "Anyways, yeah. If she finds out I bashed your head in, she'll be really upset, accident or not. I told her you were with me and not feeling well, so you'd be staying with me tonight." It wasn't a lie, not in the least. Ran was better at walking around the truth rather than flat out lying.
Ran finished cleaning up his wound and bandaged his head. "There. Hm…How's your head? Still hurt?"
At least that made sense, when Aoba first said the name Ran he could feel that it didn't feel right to him, this thought only bringing a smile to his face. He remembered something. At least there was a hint of a smile before he hissed out in pain at the stinging sensation on his head that only brought more pain.
The bandages soaking up the disinfectant slowly made the pain in his head fade as he opened his eyes back up trying to determine how well he felt, coming to the conclusion that it's as good as he was going to get considering the actual damage.
Nodding in agreement he brought his hand up to the bandage, trying hard not to mess with it. "Kind of…you made it sting." A small childish pout later he winced as he touched a sensitive part of his head.
"Wouldn't she be a little..I don't know. Suspicious of a bandage around my head?"
- "Well, that's what happens." He poked Aoba's forehead.
"Yeah." He shrugged and leaned back on the couch. "Tell the truth, or make something up." Your good at that, I'm sure you can manage even in this state. "I don't care which. I just don't need mom panicking in the middle of the night." It wasn't that late, but he was sure the boy got his point. Having to deal with her right now would just be a headache.
He stood up. "Do whatever you want, just stay out of my room." Ah, now that was too familiar. "And uh…call me if you need anything." Just don't hassle me. He left the room, heading back to the entrance to grab his hammer, and went into his bedroom with it.
Aoba watched his brother began to head out of the room, a slight bit of panic overcoming him, he had no recollection of anything and was in a 'strange' place. In his eyes at least.
Eyes searched the room out of curiosity, trying to place all the pieces together and also questioning why his brother would just leave him alone after all this.
Sitting there for a few minutes he decided to get up, walking slowly and quietly to his brothers door, standing just outside looking at the door knob. He could easily open it if it wasn't locked or anything. Not knowing why it would be locked in his own house.
Fidgeting for a bit, he decided against it, he didn't want to anger the only person who he knew in that moment, or at least the only person who he could remember. Walking back away he laid down on the couch, finally just falling asleep. Hoping maybe his memory would come back by morning.
- Ran shut the door and leaned back on it with a sigh. This was weird. They've barely seen each other in years and now Aoba was in his home. What was he suppose to do? He still haven't decided if he should play him or make up. Maybe he should sleep on it. Yeah, that's what he'll do.
Ran looked over his hammer. There was a bit of dried blood on it. He thought about cleaning it, but then he realized; leaving Aoba alone right now probably wasn't the best idea. Giving a groan, he pushed off the door and placed it on his dresser. He could do it later.
Ran opened his door, and exited his room. Heading back to the front room, he looked for Aoba. At first he didn't see him. Did he leave? Ran did leave him on his own long enough, he could had suddenly remember and decided to get the fuck out of there before Ran came back. But then he heard something. Looking, he saw Aoba had fallen asleep. Of course he was on the couch.
"Do you really trust me that much, or you just that tried, buddy?" He reached over and patted Aoba's head. A small smile came on his lips before a frown took over. Ran grabbed the nearest blanket and placed it on Aoba. "Good night, kiddo…" I'll figure out what to do with you tomorrow.
Ran himself stretched. It really was late, he should sleep himself. So, he sat in the chair by the couch, settled into it and closed his eyes. Soon, sleep over took him as well.
Night came over and it was gone, brown eyes opened up slowly to observe the room in front of him. It was still so unfamiliar yet he remembered sleeping here at least. Using his arms to push himself up into a seated position, Aoba rubbed at his head, making a yelp sound when he touched the mark on his fore head, that hid underneath the bandages.
Somehow he remembered getting to this place, but not the injury that caused him to be here, before he had the chance to wonder if his brother was awake something moved from the corner of his eye.
Did Ran really fall asleep there? When did he come out there?
Nervously he looked around the room standing up and walking through the home, quietly of course, his need to observe and investigate over took him. The need to know his surroundings seemed to at least come back, soon growing bored of circling and sitting back on the couch he leaned close to his brother, shifting his body weight onto the arm of the couch to get closer to the chair, whispering slightly to wake his brother up.
He didn't really know if his brother would get angered or not from being woken up or if he was a deep sleeper.
"Aniki…?"