Disclaimer says that I still don't own anything. Apparently, I messed up the name of Abe's mother; it's Misae, not Hisae. I've hopefully corrected all of that.

Dear ff.n,

If you don't stop destroying all my italics, I'm going to submit a formal complaint. You also apparently don't like double punctuation which is there for emphasis; stop destroying my writing and keep the original format of the document I upload.

From,

An annoyed author.

Warnings for this chapter:

Suicide, violence, abuse, strong language.

I typically don't like writing about things like suicide because it's not a subject to be taken lightly; it's also usually taboo to do so in writing fanfiction, but it was necessary in this story. Even things like persistent bullying in school has consequences for the person being bullied, and nobody is immune to feeling worthless. It all adds up, and lack of support can make it even harder (whether it's because the people around them just don't care, or because the person has trouble talking about it or doesn't know how to talk about it…or is afraid to or even bullied into keeping their mouth shut).

I'm also going to be hiding for what I have Motoki do in this chapter. There is a reason he reacts the way he does, and it'll be explained later on. He's a kid that's also going through something difficult, so don't hate him (or me!) too much.

The chapter jumps to after the running away…mostly because, when I first had the idea for this story, I didn't plan on having them run away at all. It just sort of took off in that direction.


Chapter 7: Curse Breaking

They had been caught on the third day.

It was really only a matter of time; the train tickets had eaten a lot of their money, and they had been forced to stay at a small inn or two overnight on their way. Once the police came knocking, anyone could identify two elementary school students that didn't often frequent the area.

Still, it had been a fun trip, and the two boys had enjoyed it despite their dwindling funds.

Takaya heard that Motoki's parents were the first to come forward, and his parents only followed. This, he heard after Motoki was dragged off by his irate parents; sometimes not coming home until late was typical for Motoki, but not for Takaya. The two hadn't left a note, either, and his mother actually slapped him.

Takaya was surprised, mostly because it was the first time she really touched him since he got into fights.

"…and your teacher called! Do you know how embarrassed we were! First the fighting, now this…" Misae Abe shouted at her eldest son once they were home.

Takashi Abe, his father, had actually left work early when he heard that Takaya had been found. If Misae hadn't slapped him, Takaya was sure that Takashi would have backhanded him.

His brother, Shun, would probably just look at him in fear as usual when he got home from school; being told from the age of five that his brother was a cursed monster by his mother, he, of course, believed it.

"Your teacher actually called and asked about you!" Misae continued angrily, "I'd never been so embarrassed in my life, saying I had no idea where you were!"

Takaya frowned at his fists, which were clenched over his knees since he sat in a traditional position while his mother towered over him. Not that you care. You never cared.

"Are you listening to me!"

Takashi put a hand on the woman's shoulder, then stepped forward. "Listen to your mother, you worthless boy!"

Takaya's fists clenched tighter. You, as well…a child that doesn't play baseball is useless to you. How petty.

"What's with that defiant look!" Takashi stormed over and lifted Takaya off the ground with one hand. He was, after all, quite a large man in both height and weight, and a good portion of it was muscle despite the large belly.

Takaya just glared. He wanted to be a pro catcher, but was injured in college and couldn't continue. So now, he wants his kids to do what he couldn't. How selfish of an adult, wanting their kids to be perfect or follow in their footsteps as if we don't have hopes or dreams of our own…

Pain caused his thoughts to come to a halt, as Takashi had belted him across the face with his free hand.

"I said, listen, you ungrateful brat!" Takashi bellowed so loud that the windows rattled.

Hisae stood with a disapproving frown on her face, but Takaya figured it was over his running away stunt since she didn't move to separate him from the man that was his "father".

"Disgraceful, useless…! Making your teacher worry about you…!" Takashi roughly threw Takaya to the ground.

Takaya made a small 'oof' noise as his shoulder and part of his back hit the wood floor, but then slowly sat back up. You wouldn't understand…neither of you even asked why we did it.

"We provide a roof over your head, food on the table, clothes on your back…and this is how you repay us! By running away with some delinquent buddy of yours?" Takashi continued to shout, since he was typically the one that did so, while Misae just tended to avoid Takaya like the plague.

Takaya glared up as he got to his feet. "Motoki isn't a delinquent! At least…he's a lot kinder than you are! He understands me…!"

That earned him another hit, which sent him sprawling once again.

"Don't you dare raise your voice to me!" Takashi warned. "Someone useless like you, who only gets into fights and causes trouble…who brings misfortune wherever he goes…a cursed existence like yours…you have no right to complain!"

Takaya trembled as he managed to sit back up. "Why did you come get me, then? If I'm such a problem, why not just leave me with the police?"

"I don't have to answer stupid questions from an evil existence." Takashi narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Just shut up and listen for a change! You're still young, so you think you know everything! You know nothing of how the world works! You know nothing of the world of adults, and how hard it is for us! Let alone to have to deal with a good for nothing monster like you!"

Takaya surged to his feet once more. "Yea, maybe I don't know! Maybe I never want to know why adults are so selfish that they can't look past their own problems to the suffering of others! Even Shun…did you even ask him if he wants to be a catcher? Maybe he wants to play another position, or another sport…!"

That earned him another cuff.

"Don't you dare speak your brother's name from your defiled lips!" Misae was the one to scold him though Takashi was the one to knock the wind out of him.

Takaya coughed.

"Keep your cursed mouth shut, and stop spewing nonsense!" Takashi commanded. "I want you to just shut up and listen, and listen well! Your mother was embarrassed at the situation! You've been nothing but trouble since you entered the second grade! I'm willing to bet that kid you were with was a fine boy until he met you and was cursed! You know nothing!"

"Maybe…" Takaya finally managed to get his breath back. "…I don't. But I still at least know what I want."

"What's that? To ruin this family? Sully our name? Send kids to the hospital?"

"To be accepted!" Takaya interrupted, back on his feet again. "Is that really such a hard thing to give!"

"You have to earn that, and you've repeatedly failed!" Takashi roared.

"Bullshit!" Takaya stomped his foot. "It's respect that's earned! Acceptance is given by open minded people…!"

The next thing he knew, he found himself against the wall akin to how he had pinned Shuugo just a few days ago, though due to the size difference, Takaya's feet didn't touch the ground.

"Don't you dare…don't you dare…raise your voice to me!" Takashi snarled. "You run away from your problems, then dare to blame it on someone else? It's all your fault! It's all what's going on with you! We aren't doing anything wrong! In fact, you should be grateful that you have a home! You just freeload here because nobody else would be willing to put up with your shit!"

Takaya gritted his teeth, but knew that if he talked back, he would get even more lashings, both verbal and physical. Is it…really my fault? I know I'm a curse, but do I really cause that much trouble for people? Just by existing?

Takashi let go of Takaya's collar, then grabbed him by the arm hard enough that it would leave a bruise.

Takaya cringed, but had stopped verbally crying out in pain long ago.

"Monster doesn't even cry or scream…" Misae could be heard as she trailed along behind the two.

"We're getting in the car, and going to the school! You're going to apologize to your teacher for causing so much trouble!" Takashi all but threw Takaya into the back of the car.

The only blessing Takaya had was that by the time they got to the school, classes would be over and the only ones there would be teachers. Even the kids on cleaning duty would be finishing up.

Shun was on cleaning duty for his class this week, which was why he wasn't home yet. He would probably be getting out as they came in.

Takaya slumped a bit in the back of the car as it roared to life. He'll want to follow along and watch. See the cursed existence be humbled. I hope at least Motoki isn't having as bad of a time.


Sure enough, when they reached the school, small amounts of kids were filing out after having done their daily cleaning duty, Shun being one of them.

As soon as he heard the situation, he, as predicted, wanted to come along and was allowed. Though, his reason was that he had never heard his brother apologize to anyone before, and was curious about it.

Misae hissed a warning to Takaya not to talk to his brother; that he didn't deserve to speak to someone pure like Shun.

Takaya just kept his hands in his pockets and his gaze on the floor in front of him the entire trek up the two flights of stairs and to the classroom.

Misae knocked on the door, and Oki looked surprised when she answered.

"Oh! Um…?" Despite having called them, Oki had actually never met Takaya's parents.

Misae smiled pleasantly. "Sorry to disturb you, sensei. I'm Abe Misae…Takaya's mother."

Takaya cringed; his name coming off his mother's tongue sounded foreign, since she just typically called him "cursed child" or something similar.

"Oh! Did…did they find him?" Oki asked with baited breath.

Misae nodded, again, with the gentle smile on her face that made Takaya want to throw up. "Yes. Just this morning. We got back this afternoon, and had a talk with him. There's something he wants to tell you."

Oki looked around the woman, and her eyes misted up at seeing Takaya. He had been absent from class for four days, and she was wondering if he would ever be found before the weekend. But here, on a Friday afternoon, there he stood. He looked just as moody as ever, though this time, she was easily able to detect the uneasiness in his posture.

"Hands out of your pockets!" Misae instructed her son, then stepped aside and motioned for him to step forward.

Takashi just stood in the back with Shun, arms crossed.

Oki smiled at the boy. He has a couple new bruises, but he's in one piece, at least. I wonder where he went…

Takaya bowed, much like he had the first day, and said in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry for troubling you, sensei."

However, unlike the first day, there didn't seem to be much emotion behind his words…no, it's more like…his tone is just so empty.

Oki knelt down in front of him. "Raise your head, Abe-kun. I'm not angry with you. I was worried."

Takaya frowned, though he obeyed the instruction. Worried? How could anyone worry over me? Ah…she's probably just saying that because she wants to save face or seem like a teacher in front of my "parents". They wouldn't care either way, sensei.

"If something troubles you, come talk to me about it, alright?" Oki smiled at him.

Takaya thought he saw movement near the back of the room, but his attention was drawn back to the teacher. "…right."

Oki smiled and stood up, then thanked him and the parents. "I have a couple children in here serving detention, so…"

The Abe family nodded, and excused themselves.

When the door closed, Oki turned to her two fighters, then frowned when one of them stood and went to the door. "Hatake-kun, back to your seat. This is detention, and you're supposed to be writing lines."

"I have to go to the toilet."

Oki gave the boy a nod and let him leave the room, then sighed. Abe-kun looked even worse than before he left. I really do wonder what happened while he was gone. To run away…was it because of bullying that he did it?


While the teacher pondered, the Abe family was heading down the stairs. Takashi was in front, with Misae slightly behind him.

Shun was awed that his brother had actually apologized to someone, but finally hurried along.

Takaya brought up the rear, not too thrilled to be going back home. Maybe I'll slip out and go to Motoki's place…see how he's doing.

Suddenly, he felt something push him from behind just as he started down the stairs. This made him stumble and slam into Shun, who was in front of him. Takaya managed to grab onto the railing to steady himself as he crashed down to one knee and nearly went head first in a tumble down the stairs, but Shun wasn't as lucky, and actually did wind up tumbling down the stairs.

There were shouts, calls, and yelps. It was like watching a train wreck, and was more painful than being in a fight to Takaya. He didn't hold much attachment to his younger brother, but sometimes, Shun disobeyed his parents to ask Takaya a question, or just watch him.

There was also the time after baseball practice when Shun vented to Takaya since he knew his father wouldn't listen, that he wanted to play third base, not catcher.

Awareness hit Takaya again in the form of crying, coming from the bottom of the stairs.

Misae was crouched over Shun, cooing to him and all but in a panic to find out what was wrong and if anything was broken, while Takashi…

…was glaring up the stairs at Takaya.

Takaya shook his head slowly. It wasn't me…something hit me…

"Get down here." Takashi's voice was cold and hard. The commotion hadn't been too loud, and the remaining teachers on the floor were at the other end of the hall. It could be possible that Oki heard, but with some kids still leaving from cleanup duty, she might have written it off as being some of them making noise.

Misae couldn't get the story out of Shun, who was sobbing and clutching his arm. "It might be broken…we need to get him to the hospital, Takashi!"

Takashi, meanwhile, had all but dragged Takaya back down the stairs by his ear, more angered than the latter had ever seen.

"I didn't do anything!" Takaya protested as his father grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around the corner in case one of the remaining teachers came out.

"You pushed him down the stairs."

"It wasn't me!" Takaya's left knee ached fiercely, and would probably be a nice bruise later from where it had collided with the stairs. His left arm, too, had hit the stairs, while his right had gone out and managed to catch the railing.

Takashi backhanded him so hard that he nearly fell down the other set of stairs they were near. "Don't lie to me, bastard child…"

"Takashi!" Misae had gotten Shun to a seated position, but though it didn't seem as if he had a broken leg, she was still afraid to have him stand. "This isn't the time for that!"

Takashi snarled at Takaya. "Leave. Go back home, and wait there. We'll have a talk when we're back from the hospital."

"I…"

"I said, go!" Takashi aimed another fist at the boy, who quickly scurried down the stairs so fast he nearly tripped.

Despite the pain in his knee, fear overrode any other instinct, and he ran as fast as he could. He didn't even stop to get his street shoes, and just continued out of the building.

There was no way he was going home. He looked angry enough to kill me. I'm sure he will…I'm nothing but a burden and a curse to them…that, or he'll beat me senseless. I'm not going to sit around and wait for that to happen!

Before he knew it, his legs had taken him in the direction of the house where Motoki lived…he had only been there once, before the two ran away, but he already knew the direction.

His left leg sent out a shock of pain from his knee, which caused him to stumble and skid on the ground.

For a few moments, Takaya just lay there, breathing hard. Then, he looked up and realized that the skid had taken him the final leg to the gates of Motoki's house.

Takaya pushed himself to his knees, and nearly fell back over when he heard shouting from inside the house. He couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but male and female voices were alternately shouting angrily, and it led to another voice shouting back, and the front door slamming.

The boy got to his feet and saw Motoki walking away, hands clenched into fists at his sides, radiating anger.

Still…

"Motoki!" Takaya called out. He was sure he looked like a mess, but Motoki had seen him at his worst, so he wasn't worried.

Motoki stopped walking and just stood there, his back to the boy.

Takaya blinked, and stepped forward. "Motoki, are…?"

"Get away."

"…eh?" Takaya paused.

"Don't come near me right now, Taka," it was said so lowly and dangerously that it could have been mistaken for a whisper of the wind if it wasn't for the undercurrent of anger in it.

"But…" It was suddenly hard to breathe, and Takaya didn't understand. Even when they had been caught, Motoki had just sworn and pouted, then gave Takaya a reassuring smile even as the two were pulled in different directions by their "families".

Takaya reached out, but before he could touch the other, Motoki's hand swept out and slapped his own away.

"I said, get the fuck away from me right now!"

Takaya looked up, and froze.

Motoki had glanced behind him, and though the bruise on his face stood out even in the darkening light, what caught Takaya was the dangerous, almost feral look in his eyes; like a cornered, wild animal about to strike out.

Takaya knew that Motoki's parents never hit him. They shouted at him and took out their own problems on him, but never hit him, so the bruise was a surprise. Still, it was Motoki's eyes that had drawn his attention.

Pain, hate, anger…

Takaya took a step back, tears in his eyes. Does he…hate me, now? Does he blame me for what happened? His parents hit him…they never do that…I caused this! It's my fault!

The younger turned on his heel and ran as fast as he could away from Motoki as tears streamed down his cheeks. Dammit, dammit, dammit! I caused more misfortune! Wherever I go…I really am cursed! I made his parents get angry enough to hit him…I caused him to hate me…

Takaya stumbled again, but didn't stop. He couldn't feel the pain in his knee, or the scrapes that had been stinging just a few moments ago. All he felt was how his chest constricted, and it felt like there was ice forming within him; a hollow feeling forming in his chest and spreading out to the rest of his body that seemed to make the constriction of his lungs and throat even worse, and caused his eyes to burn and blur with tears.

He didn't realize he had run into the park, which was his haven. He used to run there when he was bullied, and he and Motoki sometimes found a secluded spot to hang out at after school.

There were people all around, and some kids playing, but Takaya didn't even notice them, and he felt like he could just walk right through them. He couldn't touch them, though…that could transfer his curse.

His legs finally gave out amidst some trees, just short of the small clearing that was his haven, and he leaned against one of the trees and just stared blankly at the grass for a few moments, chest heaving with gasping breaths as his thoughts swirled and dove.

My parents don't want me…my classmates won't accept me…I brought misfortune to all of them. Even if I didn't actually push Shun down the stairs, if I wasn't there, he wouldn't be hurt.

…if I wasn't there…

Takaya blinked, which caused fresh tears to course down his cheeks. That's right. If I'm not around, they won't be plagued by misfortune. Motoki's parents won't hit him, and mine won't have to deal with being cursed. By existing, I curse people…

He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the switchblade he carried with him, then made the blade spring forth. Such an easy solution…why didn't I think of it, before? If Oki-sensei was telling the truth, even she was troubled by me. Honestly…what good have I done all my life? Just causing trouble to others…nobody likes me, anyway. Nobody will ever like me.

Takaya closed his eyes as his shaking hand brought the cool metal of the blade over his opposite wrist. I'm scared. But…nobody wants me alive, anyway. Even I hate myself, now. I caused Motoki pain…that was the last thing I ever wanted to do. The hated go to hell where they belong. And the curse…ends tonight.

TO BE CONTINUED…