Natural Disaster: Chapter 1, Calm

If only things hadn't happened so suddenly. For Ritsuka, Soubi and everyone involved, if they had known sooner, if things had gone more naturally maybe it wouldn't have turned out to be such a disaster. Maybe they could all still be safe. Maybe they wouldn't have discovered the things they had, good or bad.

x

"Storms are expected to sweep through the area Tuesday evening. Residents are being advised to take precautions. This may be a mild thunderstorm but as they say, 'It's better to be safe than sorry!'

Fujiwara-san, would you mind giving us all a reminder of just what residents should do to ensure safety?"

Another voice took over on the glowing screen. He spoke calmly, newscasters were none to urgent. Just another bout of bad weather, it had happened before. "Of course, you see, the storm headed our way isn't anything major but you never know what could happen. The best thing to do is stay indoors. Close storm shutters and keep flashlights nearby in case of possible power outages. For a longer list of things you and your family can do, please-"

Ritsuka sighed and clicked off the small television. He got up from the edge of his bed where he had been watching the weather forecast and peered out of his balcony window. Sure enough, dark, gray clouds were starting to loom in the sky.

He was disappointed about the coming rain, the reason being that he and Soubi had planned to go on a walk the next day. There were some nice trails through the park woods that Ritsuka wanted to check out. He wanted to see the view, take pictures, and just hang out. Autumn was quickly changing to winter but some trees still held their colorful leaves. The leaves would all be gone soon, though a slight rise in the temperature meant the storm coming would be one of rain and not snow fall. Rainstorms meant he and Soubi would have to stay indoors instead of going out as planned.

He looked out the window again, contemplating the possible severity of the weather. It had been pretty dry outside lately with a little light rain now and then. Ritsuka wondered what it would really be like, would even actually rain hard today? He pulled his cellphone out of his sweatshirt pocket and started to wonder if Soubi already knew about the change in weather. Ritsuka scowled out his window, weather was so unpredictable. It was exactly, he thought, as the newsman had said, 'You never know what could happen.'

x

Soubi was very aware of the pending storm, and was indeed not happy about it, he was having quite some troubles due to the massive windows in his apartment. The wall that opened to his balcony was about eighty percent glass. If it happened to hail and Soubi didn't have something up to protect the windows he would be positively screwed. The Zero boys were more or less helping him out.

Thanks to his landlord, each time storms came he had to do this. But it hadn't rained for a while so everything needed to be prepared. He had some sufficient but extremely annoying plywood boards that needed to be bolted in place over each massive window panel.

Soubi sighed in irritation. He hated that he suddenly had so many things to do, especially when he still wanted to make time to go visit Ritsuka that evening.

x

Ritsuka was out on his balcony now. The balcony of that new house of his, the house that was empty of any past. He was used to it there by now, as they had been moved in for quite a while. Seimei had been dead for quite a while. In the beginning Ritsuka was bothered by the berating thoughts of the empty third bedroom, the connected bathroom that was completely his with no one to share it with. The spot on the shoe mat that would never be filled, the one less pair of house slippers, one less coat on the hooks. He hated that his bed was his bed and never to be shared and that when he slept in his new house he never had anyone to sleep with. He didn't explore the house like his old self might've, like he may have gone on adventures through it with Seimei. Now through many everyday trials of just being alone he had conquered it fairly well. All and all, though, he mostly stayed in his bedroom. He would go to the kitchen when his mother called for him, and tried spending time in the other areas of his house but it never felt right. It felt empty. In the past he had made trips to the altar downstairs. The altar that honored Seimei. At first it may have scared him, but Ritsuka grew accustomed to praying at the altar often. He no longer prayed at it. He no longer thought of Seimei there. Not since his trip to Seven Voices. Not since he met Seimei again. Alive.

Ritsuka prodded at the heavy board that was leaning against his house out on his balcony. Instead of a simple roll down shutter to close up glass doors during storms, Ritsuka had a large board that leaned against the wall of his balcony. He figured, and the weatherman had said, it should be put up over his window even in a mild storm. He hadn't used it since last year and his father had put it up then. It was very difficult for him to move and he wished someone else was there to help him out. Ritsuka pulled with all his strength and was able to budge it from the spot it had stuck in. He stepped back a moment, breathing heavy and wishing he were bigger, stronger. Only now, he didn't wish he was as big and strong as Seimei. Ritsuka was thinking it would be nice if he was as big and strong as Soubi.

There was also another problem with closing up his door. Soubi. Ritsuka hadn't heard from the man yet that evening. He wasn't sure if Soubi intended to come over, and if he did a large, heavy board in front of Ritsuka's locked door might make it difficult.

Suddenly Ritsuka changed his mind, frowning at his previous thoughts, if Soubi needed to get in that badly he could, or at least call.

With a big tug the board came over halfway more and Ritsuka smiled at his hard work. It started to sprinkle. Rain pattered down softly.

x

"Soubi, Soubi come over here." Natsuo called from the couch, beckoning the man over. His cat ears lied flat on his head, his tail twitching slowly, mirroring the scared look on his face.

Youji was outside repairing a board and Natsuo wished for his reassurance.

Soubi begrudgingly made his way to the couch. "What is it?" He was sure to kick Natsuo out into the starting rain if whatever he had to say was unimportant. Soubi just didn't have the time right then.

Natsuo pointed to the television screen in front of him. The news was on and featuring a weather special. Emergency storm warnings beeped at the bottom of the screen.

"I repeat," the weatherman said. "All residents are advised to go for cover immediately. Evacuation is not possible at this late stage."

Soubi stared at the screen puzzled. What were they talking about? Why would evacuation even be considered? Shouldn't that have begun way earlier if it was necessary?

"Warning, the pending storm threat has increased dramatically. A sudden typhoon has appeared on the map. It is being classified as a strong to intensive storm. Wind speeds may be upwards of 100 miles per hour. Major damage expected in urban Tokyo areas, with the storm currently headed toward area 23. A second, also unexpected, typhoon is headed toward Hakone. This is quite unbelievable.. High winds and rain are to be expected within the half hour."

The emergency weather forecast ended and turned to some reporters discussing the facts with a weather expert.

"This storm has come up quite unexpectedly, what do you make of that?"

"It is extremely unusual for something of this nature to occur, or rather it never has before. Storms of this size cannot just be missed by the radar. No one really understands where this storm has suddenly popped up from or why. What we do know is that it is very, very dangerous. All we can do is hope and pray for everyone's safety."

Soubi eyes were widened. A wave of fright swept over him. Not fearful for himself, fearful for Ritsuka. He had to get to Ritsuka. He had to make sure Ritsuka was okay, a sudden storm of such massive size really worried him. Soubi felt rather defenseless. Storms, weather, he had little control over things like that. And anything could happen. He needed to protect Ritsuka. He needed to be by his side no matter what.

"Natsuo, get your brother, now."

Natsuo got up from the couch at Soubi's command. Soubi was already up and taking out coats. He swiftly put his on and handed the twins theirs. "I have to go check on Ritsuka. You two need to go to Kio's, I don't have time to finish the apartment here. Go straight there. Do what he says, I'll come later if I can."

Youji and Natsuo nodded gravely, clutching each other's hands. They couldn't sense pain but they certainly could sense mood. Soubi's worry was making them concerned as well. Soubi would fret about things often but not so openly, not with such urgent action. They were worried about what was happening around them and didn't understand the suddenness of it, and worse, a bad storm was supposedly heading toward Hokone. Where Goura was. The Septimal Moon Ministry, their home, Nagisa. Would it be okay?

The three rushed out the door with nothing more than cell phones on them. Soubi took one last glance at his poorly prepared apartment and headed out.

x

Ritsuka, unexpectedly, was safe, warm, and comfortable. He held no worries but that shared of the character in his novel. He didn't even have his cell within sight.

After much effort Ritsuka had gotten the storm shutter up properly and could now hear rain drops hitting it with a metallic 'ploop.' It started raining lightly when he was out there so he took a short bath to rid himself of the chill. His damp hair hung recklessly over his eyes.

Ritsuka's feline ears perked as the wind howled and began to pick up. He shivered nervously. Then, immediately, told himself there was no reason to be frightened of an innocent storm and tried to settle into his book again.

'Thump, thump. Thump, thump.'

The storm board rattled annoyingly against the side of the house, propelled by the wind. Ritsuka fretted as to whether he secured it properly.

It was just a small storm he reminded himself, nothing to worry about. Rain was not scary. Wind was not.

Ritsuka had never heard the second newscast.

I want to say a special thank you to Cheywolfe for reading this over, beforehand, and giving me her opinions, it was very helpful!

Thank you.