A/N: Written for the Digimon Bingo – the non-flash Version, #230 – prompt: red. And this is actually a bunch of snippets to a larger, Macbeth-inspired idea, but I think I like it better in its condensed version so I mightn't ever expand it (I've got enough stuff to write as it is, lol).
Anyway, enjoy. :D
.
.
Blood Red
.
His brother is smiling at him, covered in blood. Bright red blood that makes him almost wonder if someone hasn't just dumped a tin of paint all over instead. But it flows, runs down his body and into his clothes like rail. Paint is thick.
And that smell. Paint has an entirely different smell. Just as nauseating, but stronger: a blast in the face. Not like that copper tinge that always seemed to cling to those dark dreams –
And Kouji wakes up and looks at him and smiles that same smile and is none the wiser.
.
Kouji is a little concerned now. He notices his brother's been sleeping less: falling asleep later, waking earlier. He notices his brother's been starting at him more often, that there's something getting darker behind those eyes.
Kouji wonders if they're nightmares, but Kouichi denies that. Kouji wonders if his brother's just lying anyway.
Kouichi doesn't think he is, because nightmares aren't reality.
.
Kouichi wonders how the blood never seems to bother Kouji. How he can walk around like he isn't drenched with blood, like his clothes aren't permanently stained, like there isn't some gaping wound that's washing him from head to toe in blood.
He knows it can't really be there; no-one can lose that much blood and not be aware of it. No-one can lose that much blood and still walk around as if everything's normal, everything's okay.
He's the only one who's seeing it's not okay.
.
His brother's looking for something. Kouji knows this, but he doesn't know what. He knows it's on him though – but not, because Kouichi hasn't found anything yet.
Kouji asks; Kouichi's eyes go wide and his voice gets stuck in his throat and Kouji just shakes his head and leaves it alone. He knows it's something his brother can't tell him, and he has to accept that.
Doesn't mean he has to like it though, particularly when it looks to him sometimes as though his brother is drowning in the blood of the past. Being too careful as if Kouji's made out of glass and will crumble. Being too tender as if a knocked off skin cell will cause him to fall apart.
It's starting to scare Kouji.
.
Kouichi wonders why his brother covered in blood seems to sparkle sometimes, like he's happy like that. He doesn't ask though; the question slips out in its own even though he was trying to hold it back.
Kouji just gives him an odd look and he quickly back peddles, damping the question, giving it substance. It's just the first reason that pops into his head, but as Kouji's blank look turns to understanding, Kouichi things it might be the right one.
Why Kouichi is the only one who sees the blood on his brother, the only one to mind. Because Kouji forgave that would on his back long ago, and he sees no scar.
.
Kouji is still smiling, still covered in blood, and Kouichi can't rid the image from his mind. Neither than Kouji now, since Kouichi has, perhaps unintentionally, given him enough pieces to put it all together.
But if total forgiveness isn't enough, what is he supposed to do?
He finds that answer, by accident. They're sparring together. His kendo sword slips, cuts through skin. Leaves his brother's arm covered in blood instead.
Kouichi sleeps properly that night, but Kouji can't.