9/9/14: Currently being rewritten

Disclaimer: Don't own them…rub it in why don't you

Ease My Mind

Prologue

Witnesses claimed the driver had been veering dangerously into the oncoming lane. They recounted tales of blaring fog lights, the horrific sound of bones crunching, and screams that emanated into the night. One witness swore it was suicide.

Souichi Tatsumi wanted to punch said witness.

How dare he assume that just because Kurokawa had leapt into the road to pull Tomoe back that he was attempting to die along with him.

Die…his brother…dead.

Tears sprang to his eyes almost instantly and he scrubbed at them angrily. He was so tired of crying.

A warm hand crept slowly across the table to lie atop his and he couldn't even find the strength to push it away.

"Senpai?" He made no move to answer. "Senpai, I'm going to go to school for an hour or two just to check up on everything ok? Are you going to be alright?"

When he barely grunted in acknowledgment the hand disappeared and he felt a stab of cool air. A tender kiss was placed atop his head.

In any other time or place he would have grabbed the assailant's shirt and landed a good punch to the jaw. But he allowed the affectionate gesture, even going so far as to close his eyes at the touch, and listened for the sound of the front door as Tetsuhiro left the apartment.

The room felt like a vacuum, suffocating him, stealing his breath. He had to do something or he'd go insane with his thoughts.

Bones crunching

He paced. He sat down. He pulled at his long hair and repeated the process. Tomoe flashed through his mind with every step.

When he tired, he stumbled into his room. Face down he could bury his head into his pillow and block out the noise.

Quick knocks at his bedroom door and one glance at the clock was enough to set Souichi in a mood. He intended to ignore it. Whatever Tetsuhiro wanted could wait till morning.

"Senpai? Souichi! I need to come in, it's important." Souichi turned over on his side, squinting at the door.

Despite his silence, Tetsuhiro opened the door and strode over to Souichi's bedside.

"Huh? HEY! GET OUT OF HERE YOU-"Souichi stopped when he saw Tetsuhiro's face. Tetsuhiro was paler than he had ever seen, and he looked like he was on the verge of tears.

Something was very wrong.

"It's…Senpai it's…your brother…he and…he…" Tetsuhiro started, anxiously twisting the phone Souichi now noticed was in his hands.

Souichi sat all the way up, grappling for his glasses until he felt them being pushed into his hand. He went to stand only to be pushed down again with a firm hand to the shoulder.

"No I…think you should be sitting." Tetsuhiro said. Souichi obediently waited for him to continue, his stomach in knots. "Your brother he…he was hit by a car…him and Kurokawa and…well…it isn't..."

The words washed over Souichi, icy cold and stabbing. No, this wasn't happening.

"No." He said firmly. He didn't have to look at Tetsuhiro to know that this one word probably broke his heart and when a hand tried to rest on his shoulder he threw it off angrily.

"NO!"

"Souichi please I…"

"Where is he? Where is he?" Souichi demanded, leaping up and yanking the phone out of Tetsuhiro's hand.

"He's…Senpai please where are you going?" Ignoring the voice behind him, Souichi stalked through the living room and out the front door, clad only in pajamas and Tetsuhiro's coat he'd grabbed from the couch. Tetsuhiro hurriedly climbed down the front steps with him.

"Stop Senpai! It's almost 4 in the morning where are you going?"

"Matsuda's. She must know, she has to know, I have to be there. FUCK! Your phone doesn't have service." He grumbled and Tetsuhiro jogged to catch up to his fast gait.

"Wait! Wait just a second I don't think…" Souichi halted suddenly and glared in his direction, the force of it making him stumble back.

"NO! I have to know what's happening! Don't you dare try to stop me idiot!" Souichi's voice cracked, his eyes were full of determination and worry, and he made to storm off. Tetsuhiro stopped, taking a shaky breath.

"…he's dead. Souichi, he died."

Chapter One

Five cultures, three stacks of paperwork, and a quick consultation with his professor later, he was on his way home. A few of his peers had eyed his hasty work, one even asking why he was in such a rush. But it was hardly his place to say. Souichi wouldn't appreciate the whole world knowing.

His heart hadn't felt so heavy in a long while.

It was Thursday so it had only been a few days. Souichi had barely left his room, and the rare times Tetsuhiro had seen him he looked pale, sickly, and his eyes were puffy and red. The only food Tetsuhiro had watched him eat was half a sandwich which he abandoned to retreat to his room again.

The day before Tetsuhiro had managed, with a lot of persuasion, to get Souichi to take a bath. Tetsuhiro had drawn it up himself, making sure the water was just hot enough, and left him to his own devices. Souichi slammed the door in his face before he could ask if he needed anything else.

Instead of feeling dejected, Tetsuhiro had taken the opportunity to clean Souichi's room a little. Somehow he hadn't expected Souichi to grieve in the same way as most people did. But tissues littered the floor and glass from a shattered picture frame still dangerously strewn next to the opposite wall. The worst part was the pillow; some of the feathers were protruding from it as if it had been punched several times and it was still damp.

Tetsuhiro had cleaned up the tissues, replaced the pillow with a fresh one, and left a few snacks by his bedside table before retreating to his own room. He had stared at the wall for a very long time and felt tears of his own.

Hopefully, he mused as he opened the front door quietly, Souichi was feeling a bit better today. He scanned the living room where he had left Souichi and felt a slight twinge of disappointment when the spot was empty. He considered calling his name but he anticipated another uncomfortable silence.

He edged towards Souichi's bedroom door and went to knock. Souichi had been sleeping for days at a time so he pressed his ear to the door and once he confirmed he could hear nothing, he twisted the doorknob.

Souichi was face down on his bed, his hair splayed about his head and on his pillow, the covers were tangled in his legs.

Tetsuhiro could do nothing more than gaze at him from the doorway. He knew he should not push Souichi in his condition even if he thought it would be best to talk it out. He had already risked it by holding his hand and placing a kiss on Souichi's head.

It was almost like Souichi had lost the fight in him.

"I want to see Kanako." Tetsuhiro almost jumped out of his skin. He could have sworn Souichi was asleep.

"Wha-? Oh, oh yes of course Senpai, I'll contact her right away!" He closed the door once more and allowed a small smile.

This was the most Souichi had spoken in four days.

Kanako was holding up better than either of them thought she would. She had been at school when Matsuda appeared outside her dormitory room with news that left her crumpled in the hallway.

She cradled her brothers hand in her own as she talked to Tetsuhiro, always strong and brave.

"Father is…well he won't be here for awhile unfortunately. The funeral is set to be Saturday and Matsuda…well, she's better than she was. She's managed to set everything up so, Nii-chan, you don't have to worry okay?" She said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.

Souichi glanced at her, a gentleness overcoming him for a moment, and nodded before turning his head away from both of them.

"Kanako, are you alright staying with Matsuda or would you like to stay with us?" Tetsuhiro asked quietly; he felt like he was intruding but she had insisted he stay.

She gave a watery smile. "I'm fine Morinaga-kun; Matsuda has always taken care of me but thank you all the same. I just wonder how…" She stopped, looking to the ceiling as if the answer was there. Tetsuhiro waited patiently for her to continue and with a gentle inquiry, she surprised him with tear filled eyes.

"I just wonder what will happen to their baby…to Maya."

The phone rang. The trio allowed it to go to voicemail.

"This message is for Souichi Tatsumi. My name's Hana Maruyama. I would appreciate you giving me a call back when you have the chance. We need to discuss a specific portion of the will Tomoe Tatsumi left with us. There is a matter of great importance that needs to be situated as quickly as possible."