Demons in Our Hearts 1
10 Years Ago, July 15th
The sun's heated rays beat down on residents of a neighborhood park, panting dogs and sweaty humans alike resting in the shadows. It was hot, a baking 92 degrees without a cloud in the sky.
A graying man with tinted glasses settled contentedly into a tree's shade, his rapidly cooling body praising a break from the heat. His sons fared no better, their once active play dwindling down as their bodies shook with labored pants. With long, exaggerated steps they made their way from the playground up the hill, collapsing at their father's side and gasping for water.
With chuckles that shook his chest he complied, opening the ice chest and pulling out two water bottles slick with perspiration. The children let out gleeful squeals, snatching the bottles in their small hands and attacking the caps.
The younger, glasses adorned brother opened it with patient ease, bringing it to his dry lips and letting the icy liquid roll soothingly down his throat. Occasionally his eager gulping would become sloppy, and slow, glistening drops would slide down his chin. The other boy hadn't his siblings aptitude for waiting, and after a failed attempt at removing the plastic he groaned, pressing the bottle his sticky forehead in an attempt to cool off. The bottles perspiration mixed with his sweat, and the child's thick locks were soon stuck curled to his scalp.
Their father chuckled, leaning forwards and taking the bottle from his exhausted yet grateful child. The youngster wasn't the type to ask for help, he oftentimes didn't seem to know how. Breaking the plastic bond with a satisfying snap the father removed the twisted cap and returned it to his child, who eagerly grasped it. "You should ask for help Rin," The gray haired man scolded, a smile tugging at his lips as the youngster downed the beverage, vibrant blue eyes fluttering shut in pleasure. Quickly he drained the liquid from it's source, dramatically dropping the plastic container and collapsing to the ground. The younger and surprisingly neat twin returned his cap to it's home, holding the chilled bottle to his cheek as he leaned partly back. His position was continually shifting in his attempt to mirror the causal ease of his father, the heat beginning to lose it's oppressive hold as he cooled off.
Shiro sighed, leaning back against the massive tree that proudly shaded the family. He and his son's watched the quiet goings of the park, Yukio occasionally glancing to his father for a sign of approval. Rin was an excitable six year old, and as he laid in the thick grass he searched for ants. The insects busied themselves with foreign objectives, either oblivious or indifferent towards the alert blue eyes following them.
A sharp but distant bark of laughter, the heavier tones of a man's uplifted by the ringing mother's. Down below, where the park's grassy edge curled into the sudden embrace of the pond, a family of four played. Two boys, one considerably taller than the other, played eagerly with their smiling parents. The older one, as though imitating the proud, ruby breasted robin, hopped carelessly by the shore's edge. Just as his mother warned, he fell in, and the resulting scowl sent his parents into peals of laughter.
Shiro, although initially drawn to the sound, lost interest and focused yet again on the actions of his boys. To his surprise, Rin and Yukio neglected the refocusing of their attention. They continued to stare at the family, a still air settling that was strange in it's association with the young twins.
Curiously, the older of the two, with black hair falling across his sweaty face, turned to address his parent, nose twisted with a question. Nuzzling into his father's lap he blinked owlishly up at him, cheeks red. "Daddy, why don't we have a mom?"
Shiro sucked in a breath, the ever intelligent Yukio also turning to his sole guardian. The child rubbed at his glasses, not quite used to them, and nodded firmly in agreement. "Yeah Daddy how come?" The younger twin reverted back to his crawling, approaching Shiro then leaning against his side. Although their close proximity helped not with the heat, it did provide a calming sense of comfort that his children, like others, needed.
Shiro hid his discomfort behind his smile, his voice rough from years of smoking. "Why so concerned? Don't you think Daddy takes care of you fine on his own?"
While Rin relinquished a smile at this, Yukio frowned, brows furrowing adorably. "Well, yeah.." He began, only to be interrupted by his gray haired parent. "Let's go get popcicles on the way home, sound good?"
It was as though they had been given the world, their vibrant blue eyes lit with the fires a joy. Both the boys cheered, troubled thoughts forgotten with the exciting thought of frozen treats to come.
Shiro gathered their things, leading his son's down the hill with a quiet smile. He understood that in a few years, the question wouldn't be avoided so easily, and it was a prospect that sent chills down his spine.
So this is an idea that I've been kicking around for a while and I've decided to go for it. A drabble type series about their lives before the show, and maybe some after.