As Promised… here is the new chapter. To make up after taking so long to update.
Disclaimer: Nope, brother conflict is not mine!
Natsume was running late because the meeting went overtime. He rushed off towards his two youngest brothers school. He parked in the usual area and hurried towards the school gates where he knew his brothers were waiting for him.
"Hey Riku, Wataru. Sorry I'm late." He apologize when he met them at the gate, "The meeting went overtime, -" He didn't continue with his sentence as he felt something was wrong.
Usually, both Riku and Wataru would greeted him cheerfully but today not only they did not greet him but they looked depressed and sullen.
"Oy what's wrong? Did something happened at school?" He crouched down so that he could be on the same height.
Riku decided to answer, "Nothing happened Natsu-nii." He tried to give a small smile but failed.
Natsume didn't believe him but decided to let the matters drop, for now. He sighed and took each of his brother's hand and led them towards the car, making sure to look both ways before guiding his siblings towards the parking area.
Wataru immediately climbed into the front seat while Riku quietly climbed into the back. Natsume made sure that both of his brothers have fasten their seatbelts before driving towards their apartment.
"So how is school today, Riku, Wataru?" He asked, looking at Riku through the mirror.
Wataru just shrugged his shoulder and pouted, "It was okay."
Natsume was waiting for his other brother to answer but RIku seems happy to just stay silent. Throughout the drive, Natsume has attempted several conversations in which none of them were successful. If wataru answers then Riku would just stay silent while when Riku answered then Wataru wouldn't say anything. It was just a 20 minutes' drive but with the awkward atmosphere inside, it feels longer.
Arriving in front of the apartment, Wataru rushed inside leaving both of his older brother. Riku quietly and calmly went out from the car and thanked his brother for picking them up before going towards the apartment.
Natsume shot a hand towards Riku's shoulder, halting him "Hey Riku, what happened with you two?"
Riku looked to the side, "Nothing happened."
"Don't lie." Natsume said sternly. He crouch down once again and lift his brother's chin so that he could see his brother's eyes. "Clearly something happened, as you and Wataru haven't said anything towards each other."
Riku wanted to face the other way but his brother's grip is strong and wouldn't let him, instead he sighs. "Wataru doesn't like me anymore." He said quietly.
From all the things he expected, what Riku said was not it. "Why do you think Wataru doesn't like you anymore?" Natsume calmly asked his brother, his hand no longer on his brother's chin instead he now hold his brother's hands.
It took a while before Riku continues, "Because he said so..."trailing off quietly.
Natsume sighs, he founds it confusing seeing as he didn't know the whole story. So he prompted his brother to tell him what happened from the beginning. Riku nodded slowly and launched to tell him the story.
"… then he shouted that he hates me." Riku finished retelling the story. They have moved to sit on the bench outside their apartment with Riku sitting on Natsume's lap.
Natsume is in deep thought now, processing the story he have just heard. Looking down at the brother who is sitting on his lap quite sullenly, he ruffled Riku's hair, "Yes, Wataru shouldn't have said those words but you are also wrong in the first place Riku." He reprimanded his younger brother gently.
Riku just looked down in shame, nodding in agreement.
"Hey look at me." Natsume request, when Riku did what he was told he continued, "I understand that you haven't fully accepted her yet but you have to start accepting the fact that she is our sister. She is the daughter of the man whom our mother's marries."
"I know, but now everyone just pays attention to her. No one really talks with each other." Riku said sulkily, "Everytime it's Ema-chan this, Ema-neechan that…"
Natsume laughed at the apparent jealousy. He actually finds it very amusing since Riku has never ever displayed any jealousy towards anyone, sometimes the siblings are worried about him since he is too nice and mature. "Well it's because she is new and we have never had a female siblings before." He explained.
"Do you mean, after a while, everything will go back as it was?" Riku asked hopefully.
Natsume doesn't really know how to answer to that since he realised that some of his siblings had different kind of affection towards their new sister so things might not revert as it was. "I'm not sure Riku, but know this. Every one of us care for one another." He looks at his brother seriously, "We may fight and we may not talk to one another but that does not mean we stopped caring or loving for one another."
Riku nodded in understanding, "like you with Tsubaru-nii?"
"What do you mean?" Natsume asked, he didn't think that his second youngest brother know about his quarrel with the basketball player.
"You and Tsubaru-nii aren't really talking to one another anymore, so I thought you both had a fight or something. But You have always care for Tsubaru-nii."
Chuckling at how percetive Riku was, "Yes that's right, although Tsubaru might not want to talk to me or listen to me, doesn't mean I love him less." Natsume picked Riku up and settled him on the ground.
"Okay, I think you should go inside now. And you should talk to Wataru and explained to him about your actions." Natsume pushed his brother towards the entrance.
Riku stopped walking and turned around to face Natsume, pleading with his eyes."Aren't you coming?"
"Sorry Riku, I have to get back home. Don't worry You'll be fine." He reassured his brother, "If you need anything, just give me a call. No matter what time it is, okay?"
Hearing that makes Riku a bit calmer but he can't stop the fast beating of his heart. After saying good-bye to Natsume, Riku took a deep breathe before entering the apartment. He went to his room to put his bag away and to change his clothes. Riku went to look for his brother, hoping that he was in his room but after there is no answer from inside, He left.
I just hope that Wataru would want to talk to me, Riku sighed. He went to the living, he saw his older brothers lounging but no sight of his younger brother. Giving up for the time, he went back to his room to practice the music score for the upcoming school festival. Not realising that if he had waited for a while then he would have
He sets up the music stand and places the score before picking up his violin from the case. It's been a while; better do some warm-ups first Riku thought. It didn't take long for Riku to get back his fingers and played his scale really well. When he thought that it was enough, he moves on to the scores. He started off slow, making sure he read and understand the passage correctly. There were a few mistakes but he didn't really mind it since he is sight-reading and it is the first time to play the score fully.
~ In the living room ~
Iori was lounging at the living room, reading a book to pass his time. Today his university class was cut short because of a teacher falling sick and his girlfriend having some fun with her girlfriends so Iori is left with doing nothing but to go home. He saw his older brother in the living with Ema, doing her hair.
His daze was cut short when he heard the familiar violin tune, Iori turn his head towards the window.
"Ri-chan is practicing." Louis commented, finishing Ema's hair with a cute heart pin.
Louis nodded, closing his book. "It's been a while right Louis-nii."
For Ema, this is the first time she has heard his second youngest brother playing the violin. Sure she heard about his talent but never has actually heard it. "Wow it's really beautiful." She commented after listening a bit.
Louis nodded happily, "Yes, out of us all, only Ri-chan plays the instrument."
"We always wonder, where he got his talent from." Iori added, smiling softly while listening to the sound.
The three of them were enjoying the sound of Riku's violin when Wataru entered the room.
"Onee-chan!" He screamed happily at his sister, twirling around her, "I miss you." He said innocently.
Ema blushed at the innocent confession, "Ah, he-hello Wataru-chan. I miss you too."
Wataru seemed happy at the reply and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Well, Louis-san was doing my hair when we heard Riku-chan playing the violin."
Wataru turned a bit down at that statement, "Ah I see."
Seeing the usually happy brother turn depressed and a bit angry made both Louis and Iori looked at each other in confusion.
"What happened Wataru-chan?" Louis asked, patting the empty spot beside him.
Wataru shook his head, he is already annoyed at the mention of Riku and he is determined not to talk to him or even about him. "Nothing. But anyway, here Ema-neechan." He gave the cookies to her.
Ema thanked him automatically, "Uwa, Wataru-chan this looks good."She praised.
Wataru beamed and began to tell her all that happened at school sans the incident with RIku.
Louis and Iori only looked at each other in concern, they both don't like the sound how Wataru just brushed it off and switched the topic. Usually the Wataru they know would have cheered for Riku and praised him non-stop. They looked at their brother who is conversing with Ema seriously. Something must had happened, thought Iori and Louis.
An hour has passed since Riku's started practicing and now the violin sound has stopped signalling that RIku is finished. But no one seemed to realized it since the two older brother is busy watching their youngest brother.
Ukoyu has come home and now is preparing dinner for the family, Ema and Wataru are helping him by setting up the table. Not long the rest of the family gathered in the living room, the brothers are all here except for Fuuto, Hikaru, Natsume, and Tsubaru.
Riku turned up last, seeing he was doing his homework and cleaning up his violin, as well stalling meeting Wataru. However just as he expected Wataru ignored him as soon as he saw him. He didn't want to make a scene at dinner so he avoid talking to his brother, but the older siblings seems to notice that something is wrong.
"Oya." Tsubaki called out, "It's rare that Wataru didn't seat next to Riku nee~"
Riku and Wataru tensed at the statement but Wataru seemed to recover quickly, "To-today I want to sit next to Nee-san…" He managed to cover his slip-up with a big smile.
Riku just smiled awkwardly and decided not to comment on anything. Well the rest of the odler siblings let it slide and resumed eating their dinner. By the time dinner was finished, nobody seemed to remember what happened during dinner and went off doing their own activities. Iori, Kaname, and Louis retired to their room, while the rest hangs out in the living.
When Watar decided to go up to his room, Riku thought this as an opportunity to speak with his brother alone. He catches up to Watar at the elevator.
"Wataru." He calls, panting at the slight quick steps up on the stairs, "Can-can we talk."
Wataru stop still at the call but few seconds later without even looking just pressed on the button for the elevator.
Riku felt a bit sad that his brother wouldn't even acknowledge him, "Wataru, please I know what I did was wrong but please let me explain." Riku pleaded softly, not wanting to make a scene.
Wataru felt his anger build up by the minute, both by the slowness of the elevator and Riku pleas. He decided to take the stairs, he turns and brushes past his older brother.
Riku felt a bit of hope when Wataru turns around but soon became disappointed when Wataru just walk past through him. However he is determined not to give up this time and followed his brother towards the emergency stairs.
When they reach the stair, Riku grabbed onto one of Wataru's arm, "Wataru please, just give a second to explain. I don't want to fight."
Wataru tugged his arm hard but when his brother didn't budge, he grew even angrier, "Let me go!" He hissed quietly, which makes him even scarier.
Riku flinched at the cold tone but didn't let go, "Wataru, I know I was wrong telling you off like that but I can explain-"
"Then why didn't you explain before!" Wataru yelled, "What is it so hard for you to tell me?"
Riku become quiet at that for a moment, "Please just come to my room and I will explain."
Wataru decided that enough is enough, "No, I don't want to hear anything. I hate you and I don't want to talk to you! Now let me go!" He struggles to tug his arm so hard that he forgots that they were near the stairs.
Riku attempt to grabbed his brother's arm again so that Wataru would listen to him, "Wataru, please."
Wataru had enough, "No, just go!" Wataru push his brother, not realizing that behind Riku was the staircase.
Riku was shocked to feel his brother pushed him and he felt slowly falling, Wataru shocked face etched on his mind. He feels like was floating until his head hit the floor hard and knocked him out.
How was it? I know I'm such a cruel person to do this, especially to the sweet Riku.
You know after writing this, I regret it coz writing about falling down the stairs and making scene with all the brothers is not easy!
So please review and cheer me and also complain how dramatic I made the story...