Title: The Cost of Living
Fandom: Yami no Matsuei
Words: 280
Rating: PG
Notes: Um. My first time writing YnM and I'm not terribly confident about it. Tatsumi pre-death angst, gen.
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He pulled his knees closer to his chest and thought in numbers.
Food costs eight thousand yen per week, light costs…
Seiichirou! Seiichirou…
If he pawned the music box his mother gave him for his sixth birthday, he could pay the bill that had been delivered three days ago, bright scarlet splashes of colour against plain white paper, a warning for worse. He'd hidden it in his room – no need to hurt his mother more.
If I can just get the money –
He rested his cheek against the cool wall. He could hear his mother sobbing quietly to herself in the next room.
Don't cry, I'll make you better, you won't have to think about Father any more. I'll look after everything. I just need the money.
The music box was valuable, worth perhaps thirty thousand yen. Seiichirou wondered if his mother would notice that it was gone. He couldn't help hoping that she would, and couldn't help knowing that she wouldn't. He picked it up, considered the bright, almost gaudy paint – not faded, he'd always taken care of his things – and noticed a scratch along the side. He winced, setting it down carefully. That would knock some of the price off.
He glanced up at the clock and rose from the bed. It would soon be time for dinner and if he made vegetable soup tonight, there would be enough for breakfast tomorrow. The pawnbroker's would be closed by now, he would go first thing in the morning. He hummed softly as he closed his bedroom door and went downstairs to the kitchen.
If he had closed his eyes and been silent, he would have heard her crying again.