It had been a month or so since their parent's funeral, Takashi Takahiro and his younger brother stayed at their parents home since the funeral. The stress of taking care of his younger brother and maintaining a part time job had him tired, exhausted by the time he hit the pillow. Being only eighteen, everything seemed so surreal, one moment his parents were there, supporting him and taking care of Misaki, and the next they're in two caskets, being lowered into the ground. A tear slipped down his face, before it could fall from his cheek he had wiped it away, there was no time for tears now.
Bills were scattered around him, covering the table, late notices, demands for rent, all of it was overwhelming, the constant demands of the world outside his home seemed unrealistic. He knew better though, this was reality, and he needed to get everything together soon, he didn't want to get kicked out because he was too stressed to simply send in some money. If it was for his brother, then he'd send his entire paycheck if had to, anything to keep his brother with him.
"Nii-chan," He turned to see Misaki at the kitchen doorway, wearing his light blue teddy bear pajamas and a stuffed bear with a stripped ribbon on it. "I can't sleep nii-chan,"
Takahiro smiled and hurried to his brother, scooping him into his arms so that he could cradle the little boy against his chest. Thin arms wrapped around his neck, and short legs wrapped around his waist, a mess of chocolate brown hair was buried under his chin. As he was getting ready to tuck Misaki back into bed, several sharp knocks made him freeze, he looked at the clock; almost ten thirty at night. His blood went cold, who would be there so late at night? Assuming the worst, he put his little brother down, telling him to go wait in the kitchen for him, being only eight, he nodded and did as he was told.
Several knocks echoed through the small apartment as Takahiro made his way, slowly, to the door. He looked through the small hole in the door, relief washed over him in waves. He opened the door without further hesitation. "Usami-san," he said, smiling brightly, never had he been so happy to see his best friend, "what are you doing here this late?"
"You haven't been answering your phone, I got worried," He said, adjusting his glasses. "You haven't been at school either, so I couldn't talk to you there. Have you been sick or something,"
"Nii-chan," The small, sleepy voice came from behind Takahiro, they both looked down and saw the little boy rubbing the sleep from his eye, "what's going on?"
"Nothing, Misaki, go back to your room and I'll be there to tuck you in in just a moment," Takahiro gave his brother a warm motherly smile, without complaint, Misaki retreated back to his room, dragging his teddy bear behind him. Takahiro looked back at his friend who remained passive of any emotion.
"So he's the reason you haven't been in school?" He asked bluntly, "I thought I told you to tell me when you needed help, I could send over a nanny to watch him while you work or go to school,"
"I don't want him brought up by nannies, Usami-san, I want him to know that no matter what happens I'll be there for him. If I let other people raise him, then he'll think I don't want him around, I don't want him to think there's no one he can rely on. I'm sorry, but I can't do that, and I dropped out of school a week ago so I could work more, so don't blame him for it." There was a firmness in his voice that made his friend stop questioning him, a sternness that made him more of a man than anything.
"Then let me take care of him," The offer threw Takahiro off, never would he think his friend would offer something like babysitting. Surely he was joking, with his sadistic humor it wouldn't surprise him in the least.
"It's alright, I've got everything under control," He said, trying to give a smile to prove so, he flinched when he felt the constant jabbing of a finger to his head.
"And that's why you look like shit," The bluntness should have been expected, "I'll take him to my apartment for a few days, the kid's on break right?" without waiting for invitation, Usami-san let himself in, pushing past his friend.
"U-Usami-san!" He exclaimed, following the man to his younger brother's room, "it's fine, really!"
"You have work tomorrow don't you, do you plan on taking him to work with you?" The silvery haired man, went through drawers, opening and closing them and pulling out a few clothes, little Misaki sat in his bed, a bit frightened by the man who had stormed in and began going through is things. He held his bear close when cold lavender eyes had their sights on him, "You should get a bag so for your stuff," fearful of the man, Misaki grabbed an old backpack from his closet, bringing it over to the man, before said man could take it, Takahiro had snatched it away.
"He's not going, thank you for your offer but he doesn't need to go anywhere," Never had his brother's voice been so demanding, so forceful, the other man he had heard been called Usami-san, seemed to only make things worse.
"Two days, he can live without you for two days," the icy response sent chills up his spine, he looked at his brother who looked a bit hurt from the cold answer. Without waiting for his answer, Usami-san took the backpack and shoved the clothes inside before picking up the little boy who yelped in surprise. "I'll see you then,"
Misaki looked over the man's broad shoulder, watching his brother's sad expression as he left, he waved bye as the door was closed, he hoped his brother saw. He was carried down stairs to the parking lot, the dim street lights were the only thing that made it able to see, he was placed in the passengers side of a bright red car, he thought he had seen one just like it in a car magazine somewhere. He was buckled in and given his bag, his bear still close to his chest when Usami-san had gotten in on the other side and buckled himself in.
"Where are we going," He asked meekly, the last thing he wanted to do was anger the man who had taken him against his brother's will.
"My apartment," was his simple reply. Misaki looked down, already he missed his brother, he wanted his brother with him so that he knew he would be able to sleep soundly. Tears had already built in his eyes, spilling over, he pulled his bear closer so that the man wouldn't see him cry. He couldn't stop the small, but audible whimper that escaped from the back of his throat, the car came to a sudden but smooth stop, he guessed they had come to a stop light. He jumped when he felt the buckle slide off of him, he only looks up when large hands pull him over onto Usami-san's lap. One arm wrapped around him, and the other on the steering wheel, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic beating of the man's heart against his chest where his lullaby that night, he quickly slipped into a peaceful sleep by the time they were half way to the apartment.
Usami-san parked the car in the garage that was connected to the building of his apartment, he unbuckled himself and slipped out of the car with Misaki and the bear and backpack in arms. He carried the little boy up to his apartment, struggling to find his keys and keep Misaki from falling out of his grip, after a few minutes he successfully made it inside without dropping a thing. It was only then that he realized that there wasn't a bed for little Misaki to sleep on, he thought about it for a moment, the guest room was filled with toys so there wasn't a bed for him to sleep on with all the plastic toys that were scattered on it, not including all the fan mail and gifts that he had also stocked in there.
The other room was his office, so obviously that wouldn't work, the next option was his room, not as many plastic toys and it was rather big so it'd be perfect. He laid the backpack on the couch, and carried the child up to his room, stepping over toys and a train set, when he reached the bed he gingerly tucked Misaki under the covers. He removed his coat and scarf and laid them on the dresser, he stripped himself of his slacks and shoes and put on a pair of pajama pants and a thin long sleeve shirt before he joined Misaki under the warm covers. Just as sleep had pulled him in, he felt something small, but rather warm snuggle up to his chest, cracking open an eye he found a mess of soft tendrils of brown hair against his chest, smiling he wrapped an arm around the tiny body, pulling the warmth closer.