No set ages
/
"I heard there's a monster living there."
"Unnatural things happen. Just last week-"
"-a demon-"
"-idiots! It can probably hear-"
Ryousuke pulled his hood down lower and tried to block out all the conversations. He hefted the bags of groceries and picked up his pace. He ignored the strange glances he was given and continued through town.
He hated going into town, but they were low on food. Hopefully they'd be able to make everything last for a while. He ran the last stretch to the bus before it could leave and put the coins into the bin before nearly collapsing into an empty seat.
He frowned to himself when the two behind him started talking about the supposed 'monster' living secluded in the woods. 'Don't they have anything better to talk about?' Ryousuke thought to himself. He turned his attention out the window, ignoring everyone else.
Multiple stops passed until the bus was empty except for him. Finally, after about an hour and a half of riding, Ryousuke got off. He adjusted all his bags and pulled his hood a little lower before he started trudging into the woods.
He started out on a path for a while before splitting off and weaving through the trees. Before too long, a small house appeared in a clearing. Ryousuke smiled when he saw it and pulled out his key, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
Once the door was shut behind him and locked, he pulled down his hood and brought the bags inside, setting them down on the kitchen table. "Haruichi!" He called out as he started putting things away.
He heard a creak behind him and turned to find Haruichi peeking into the kitchen. "Come here," Ryousuke said, reaching his hand out and motioning his younger brother closer. Haruichi darted forward and clung to Ryousuke. "What's the matter?" Ryousuke asked, rubbing a hand on Haruichi's back. Haruichi was shaking and looked close to tears.
"You were later than usual," Haruichi said, burying his head into Ryousuke's shoulder, "I-I thought that…that you were-"
"It's alright," Ryousuke cut him off, "I'm alright. There were more people than usual and I got more than I normally do so it could hopefully last us longer. Here," He put his hand under Haruichi's armpits and lifted his younger brother up. Haruichi wrapped his legs around Ryousuke's waist and kept his face buried in Ryousuke's shoulder.
Ryousuke pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, rocking slightly and running a hand through Haruichi's hair. When Haruichi started calming down, Ryousuke said, "Let's get all this put away, alright?"
Haruichi rubbed one of his eyes as he pulled back and looked at Ryousuke, nodding silently. Neither spoke as they finished putting everything away.
"Onii-chan," Haruichi said when he and his brother were lying in bed. Ryousuke turned to Haruichi and waited for him to continue. "Are we monsters?"
Ryousuke's eyes shot open and he looked at Haruichi in both surprise and alarm. He pulled Haruichi close and asked in a slightly shaking voice, "Where did you get that idea?"
"We're all alone," Haruichi said, his voice muffled by Ryousuke's pajamas, "And we're not like everyone else." He pushed away from his brother enough so he could look him in the eyes. "Isn't that why mom and dad left us?"
Ryousuke sighed and sat up, bringing Haruichi with him. "We're not monsters," He said softly, looking at Haruichi seriously. "And mom and dad didn't leave us; they were killed. Listen to me Haruichi, they loved us very much. They never would have left us by choice."
"But they were killed protecting us," Haruichi said, "We were the ones who should have died." Tears gathered in Haruichi's eyes as he spoke.
"We're different," Ryousuke said softly after a few moments of silence, "But we're not monsters. People out there can't understand. They're scared of things that are different, but that doesn't make us monsters. If anything, they're the monsters for killing our parents. Don't ever think that we're the monsters. Do you understand me?" He waited until Haruichi nodded slightly before pulling him into a hug. "We're special; especially you. Don't ever be ashamed to be who you are."
"If I shouldn't be ashamed, why do I have to hide?" Haruichi pushed his brother away, tears back in his eyes. "Why do I have to hide even when nobody else is around?" The temperature in the room started to drop. "If I'm so special; If I should be so proud, why do I have to stay locked up in here? Why can't I at least go outside?"
"Haruichi," Ryousuke began as frost started forming in the room.
"I'm sick of being locked up! I'm tired of hiding when we're the only ones here!"
"Haruichi," Ryousuke tried again, reaching toward his little brother.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE ANYMORE!" Haruichi screamed, wind picking up and snow billowing around the little room. Tears were streaming down Haruichi's cheeks as he got up and tried to run to the door. Ryousuke tackled him to the ground before he could leave, shivering at the freezing temperature in the room.
Haruichi was struggling under him, trying to get away. Ryousuke frowned and slapped Haruichi hard, causing his younger brother to freeze and all the snow and wind to stop. "You're not alone," He said quietly, placing his hands on either side of Haruichi's head. "Don't you ever say that you're alone again." He stared at his wide eyed little brother, tears in his eyes. "I'm right here with you. I will never leave you alone."
Tears welled up in Haruichi's eyes. "But you're not here all the time," He whispered, looking away from his brother. "You leave, you go outside, you go to town, you walk around with everyone else. You could leave and never come back."
"I told you," Ryousuke said, lowering his head until his forehead was on Haruichi's, "I'm never going to leave you alone."
The two stared at each other before Haruichi closed his eyes and said, "You should." It was so quiet that Ryousuke almost didn't hear it.
Ryousuke felt cold at the words and pain filled his eyes. It was like a knife through his heart. "Is that what you want?" He asked, sitting up. He tilted his head down so his bangs shadowed his eyes. Haruichi sobbed and nodded, his eyes still closed. "I see," Ryousuke said softly as he stood up. Haruichi didn't move. He walked to the door and put his hand on the knob. "I'll be gone in the morning then."
Haruichi waited until the door had shut and he couldn't hear his older brothers' footsteps before he curled up into a ball and cried.
In the morning, Ryousuke was gone.
With a strangled sob and shaking hands, so was Haruichi.
/
So...um...when I started this...it was supposed to be a happy ending. It was also going to be longer...I don't know what happened.
Also, this was partially inspired by the new Disney movie 'Frozen'. Just in case you were wondering, Ryousuke is also included in the 'different' I used. I was originally going to tell you why in the story, since he didn't have the 'powers' that Haruichi did, but I think I'll let you come up with an idea yourself.
Anyway, I swear, the next chapter won't be...like this. But, yeah, review :)