Overly
Dramatic Chapter Seven: Shoutei? (My Foolish Brother?)
Yuki:
I was running. Running away from everything that can remind me of that dream I had a few weeks ago. I don't understand. I don't understand why I've been having this dream of my idiot brother being suicidal and why it seems to take over some parts of my life.
Ever since I was a kid, the idiot always resented the fact that okaasan was giving me all the attention. He'd always treat me badly because of it. I've always thought he hated me. Now it seems he's gotten older and has had a change of heart. Sighs But unfortunately the damage had already been done and this change in him wasn't very becoming. So why does he want us to be "true brothers" now?
Honestly, no matter what I say or do, he doesn't know when to leave me alone. Even if I file a restraining order against him, he'll do anything (even break the law) to get close to me.
These days, it's hard to get close to anyone. I guess it's easier to push others away. Ever since Akito had ordered Hatori to erase my childhood friend's memories, because I turned into my nezumi form in front of them, I haven't been the same. Akito was that same cruel person who would call me back into the main house countless times for reasons unknown...
Why am I thinking about this now? Using my night vision, I can almost see that I'm almost at Shigure's house. I was too tired to go inside, so I went to my secret base where no one's going to bother me...
Ayame:
The show was over and it was dark outside. I had to go out alone to search for my naïve little brother, since Gure-san was still in the school signing his books and giving them to the high school girls and Tori-san had to stay behind to keep an eye on him. (Okay so I snuck out!)
I wondered what had gotten into ototosan. He's been acting strange ever since Gure-san and I announced that he'd be in the play along with the other Jyunnishi. But then again, he has always been strange.
He would fill the room with tension whenever he's around and whenever someone would get close to him, he'd push them away. I was the first to feel this kind of dejection—arms thrusting me backwards, angry amethyst eyes showing me no mercy as they're fixed upon me, his feminine voice having a little edge to it. At the time, I was hurt and a little confused, but I now know that it was my fault that he's acting this way and I'm going to do all that I can to strengthen our brotherly bond! Ayame-obsessed fangirls—and probably some fanboys—are clapping and cheering with tears in their eyes as if he's given a great speech.
Thank you, you're all too kind! Then realizes that he's here to tell the story Oops, sorry about that. So anyway, where was I again? Oh yes! Tori-san said that it'll take a while for Yuki to see me for who and what I really am, while Tohru-kun understands that I'm trying my best to be a good brother.
I decided to go to Gure-san's house to see if my little brother was inside. I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Then I remembered his secret base and what a coincidence! I found him lying on the ground, sleeping. What's up with ototosan sleeping in random places? If I was a kid then, I would've either left him there until okaasan became worried or I would've gotten the hose to shoot water on him until he woke up drenched and gasping for breath. No longer that crazy teenager in high school who didn't care for his brother, I will do no such thing.
He sees me as cold and odd, but something tells me that he's changed a bit. I remember after he told me to leave his room, he stopped me by asking me why I had carried him there. When I turned around and walked toward him, I could see the innocence shine through those amethyst eyes. I no longer saw hate or anger in those orbs. Strange! I've never thought about it too much before, but I remembered seeing him looking that innocent when he was a kid. I thought he was like that since he was just a snot-nosed brat who didn't know any better.
Anyway, even though he might ask the same question again, still not understanding why someone like me would do something to help him, I once again carried him to his bedroom. In the end, I hope it will all be worth it...
Yuki:
I woke up in the middle of the night to see that the idiot serpent was at the foot of my bed fast asleep. What's he doing here? I got up and walked outside the room. The house seemed quiet, almost empty. Honda-san, the hentai inu, and baka neko weren't home yet and it was almost 11.
As I walked through the hallway, I noticed a spare room had an open door and it was dark inside. I walked inside and flipped the light switch. I saw colorful women's kimonos hanging up in the closet. Figures! This must be where oniisan sleeps. One of the outfits caught my eye. It was a long-sleeved silk turquoise shirt that had dark brown strings for each button. On opposite of the strings were three nezumi prints. On the bottom were two pockets. I walked over to the Chinese-style outfit and began to fell around. I felt something in one of the pockets and took out a handful of photos. They were pictures of me when I was younger!
"You know you're not supposed to look through other people's stuff!" I froze when I heard that familiar loud voice taunting me. I turned around and saw my loudmouth brother leaning against the door frame, looking very awake.
"Like you would know," I countered. "You went through Hatori-san's stuff and you blackmailed him by threatening to toss it to the audience if he quits!"
"Yuki, I am shocked by your words! You're making it seem like I'm the bad guy!" he exclaimed making a dramatic sigh. I rolled my eyes. I know I had to get through to the annoying oaf somehow and still walk out of the room with my dignity intact. "What do you want?" I asked finally.
"Hahaha. I was just looking for you, but I can see you're here. So is my little naïve brother finally realizing his big brother's excellence?" he teased, winking at me. Then he stopped talking as we both heard stomping on the roof. "I guess Kyou-kichi decided to come home after missing the play! The nerve of that guy! I'm so glad you didn't sink so low to ruin it for everyone! It's not like I wouldn't have noticed that there would be anyone missing. And I wasn't surprised that Haru didn't come. I mean, the stupid cow probably couldn't find the school and it's...what...the same school you guys attend?"
I didn't say anything. Why was he happy that I was there? I came because Honda-san said it would be nice to see me on stage and that she didn't want me to disappoint that idiot who was now talking to me. At that moment, I've wondered if it would be right to break it to him that I came because of Honda-san and not him, therefore destroying all his childish hopes of ever becoming real brothers.
Ayame:
"What are you thinking over there? Don't keep it to yourself!" I teased Yuki, who was obviously quiet. He was looking down at the handful of photos he held, but as soon as I said something, he looked up at me, regardingly. Then he spoke.
"Ayame," he said, his feminine voice sounding serious. "We both know the reason I went is because Honda-san talked me into it. You keep having this idea that we're getting closer." He sighed. "But you don't know the first thing about me!"
I stood there, feeling helpless. All those years of taunting my little brother came crashing down on me. He had grown to become so complex! I couldn't figure my brother out when I was a kid and now he's saying that I'm not close to figuring him out now! It seemed like a no-win situation, because even though I desperately wanted to know what I didn't know about him, Yuki never seems to want to open up to anyone. Oh how I wish that I could joke with him, convincing him (and myself) that he was wrong, but the feelings of denial and deception suddenly dashed away leaving me with my hopeless little brother who I never seem to say the right thing. I lost myself in reverie, knowing that I have failed him for the umpteenth time.
"Ayame?" I snapped out of my thoughts. It was obvious that Yuki wanted to state more of the painful truth. Or so I thought. He motioned me to come in and I obediently walked in the room and sat the bed cross-legged. If only Tori-san, Gure-san, even Tohru-kun, were here to help me in this situation. All I could do was hope for the best...I guess...
"Look, I'm sorry, but I meant what I said. I-" I stopped him from speaking any further by holding up my hand. I lowered my head as if afraid of how my little brother would react if he saw the real me underneath all that beautiful, confident exterior. I mean, this was ME I was talking about—beautiful, confident, happy, secure ME! But that's how everyone saw me. I wasn't used to showing the real me to anyone. It was my moment of truth to tell my little brother how I was really feeling.
"Yuki, you don't have to explain anything to me. I understand. All I wanted to do was to make up for treating you badly in the past. But I know now...that I could never get close to you, because you'd rather be close to Tohru-kun. It may come as a surprise to you that even though you never gave a damn about me, I still cared about you." I sat there, still feeling helpless. It's not like I've finally gotten through to him. Who was I kidding? The room was so quiet that he must've walked out of here by now.
Suddenly, I felt a hand gently placed on my shoulder. Tension seemed to fill the air once again. I looked up and I couldn't believe my eyes! What I'm about to tell you might make you think I'm making up another story, like the time I convinced the principal to keep my long hair (I'm sure glad I talked with him tonight, not to mention amazed his wife. I wonder if she'll come to my store tomorrow) or the time I saved a bunch of students from getting expelled or... Random fanboy: Can you please get on with the story! Oh sorry!
So...anyway, I found myself staring into those amethyst eyes. "Yuki?"
Yuki:
I'd never seen him act like this. When he said my name, he said it in a low, solemn voice. I never thought I see the day when he confesses that he'd ever care about me. I felt a lump in my throat... All those times Shigure-san would bother me, telling me how Ayame was doing and I would act as if I didn't care. That's all the hentai inu would talk about! He'd always tell that Ayame would always be my brother whether I liked it or not. "Ayame...um...have you always cared about me? How? Why? I didn't know..."
"Yes, I've always cared about you. It took me a while to realize that. I grew up resenting the fact that okaasan loved you more." Ayame sighed deeply. "I guess it's too late to make up for what I did in the past now. You haven't changed. If it makes you any happier, I'll be leaving tomorrow." I could no longer stand to see him in such a saddened state. I felt the urge to embrace him, which I did.
It was going to be long night.
End of Chapter
BSCW: This is becoming my favorite story and I hope you like it so far! I never knew I could get five reviews and possibly growing. I'll keep you posted for some updates, but for now R&R!
