Sunrisepainter: Golden Skies


A/N: I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! At the end of 2013 I absolutely wanted to post a new chapter. It's still a raw version and I hope you'll forgive me my mistakes ^-^. I'm looking forward to your support in 2014. I'll try to finish this story before I'm too busy with the preperations for my bachelor graduation.

Please enjoy it and have a happy new year 2014!


Who the Hell is that Guy? Her Boyfriend?

The whole thing about Ren being suspended was solved pretty fast. Nobody knew what Yankumi did, but there were rumors about her blackmailing one of the members of the school administration. In the end Ren was allowed to repeat the test, also he had to spent his afternoons helping the gardening club. That was the reason why his friends did not get to see him that much.

"Well, it's better than him not being able to graduate", Kura said as the guys and Nao went to eat takoyaki. It was very cold outside, so Nao pulled her scarf tighter around her neck.

"And how did your exams go?", Ichi asked her and slowed down to match her step.

"I think that I did okay", she answered in a low voice.

"Are you alright, Nao – chan? You sound a little hoarse", he squinted his eyebrow. Four heads turned around immediately.

"Should we go back to the infirmary?", Kengo proposed.

"Do you want another scarf, too?", Shunsuke started to undo his scarf.

"Are you feeling dizzy?", Kura waved his hand in front of her face.

"Calm down guys, she's not about to die", Yamato grunted. Carefully he touched her forehead and then his own. His face was as calm as always.

"You're a little feverish. Maybe you should go home for today", he finally stated.

"I'm gonna take you, Nao – chan!", Shunsuke piped up.

"But I'm feeling totally fine", she objected. Ichi cocked an eyebrow and she released a sigh:

"Alright, I'm going home."

After the time she spent with them, she knew that it was not wise to argue. Before Shunsuke could even open his mouth Yamato took her school bag and walked into the opposite direction. Nao waved goodbye to the others and followed him.


"Maybe you caught the cold from Ren the other day", Yamato presumed as they turned the corner of her street.

She only nodded her head. Yamato noticed that she was not in the mood to start a conversation, so he stayed quiet for the rest of the walk. Now he had some time to look around her street. He was always a little ashamed when he visited one of his friends at home. Whereas his parents had enough money to buy a house looking like a small palace, the people from this part of the city did not even know how to feed all the members of their family. There were kids with thin faces playing in the front gardens. They looked a lot happier than the kids in his own neighborhood. Yamato often wondered if he would have laughed more often if his family had been poor.

"We're here", Naos small voice pulled him out of his own thoughts.

"Oh, so you're actually living in Rens neighborhood", he reasoned. She nodded:

"We just found out recently."

Then she went looking for her key and opened the door. Hesitant of what to say next Yamato run his hand through his hair:
"Uhm...so..."

She flashed him a bright smile which made his heart skip a beat. Well, he was not that different from the other guys in his class. A boy had to be blind to not fall for her sweetness and charm.

"Thank you very much for sending me home, Ogata – kun."

"Y – yeah, well, um", he scratched the back of his neck, "please rest well and come back to school when you're feeling better."

She nodded her head and vanished through the door. Yamato stood a while longer in front of her house and stared at the spot she was standing just a while ago. Then he shook his head, put his hands in the pockets of his pants and walked of. As he passed the front gate, he noticed something strange.

A figure was leaning against the pole of a street lamp opposite of him smoking and observing the house of his school mate. It was a man, maybe in the end of twenty. He wore black leather clothes. His hair was bleached and spiky. His eyes were covered by big sun glasses. All in all he looked very dangerous.

When he caught the school boy starring at him, he stepped on his cigarette and grinned. Yamato cocked his eyebrow. Was Nao involved in something shady again? Just when he wondered if he should go back and take a look at her, the guy walked away. Maybe it had been Yamatos imagination after all. Maybe it was because he was constantly worried about his female friend. He had to trust her. After all the things that happened to her, he was sure that she learned her lesson and rely on them more.

"It's not like your her overprotective brother or something like this", he mumbled to himself and walked off to meet the other guys.


"Could you please let the guys, who helped me the other day, have these?", Mai asked her best friend after work and passed her a paper back.

"What's this?", Nao asked curiously. Her voice was still a little bit hoarse for she had been down with a cold the past three days.

"Just my way of saying thanks", Mai explained smiling, "these are slices of my favorite short cake."

"Well, I think the guys will appreciate it", Nao smiled back, "are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah, thanks to you I'm much better. Yamada brought it upon himself and I'm happy that all the pictures and videos have been deleted. "

"I'm glad", Nao mumbled.

"You're so lucky. Whereas I fall for the cruelest guy on the planet, you can chose a boyfriend out of more than twenty boys that all care for you", the older girl sighed. Her friend blushed:

"That sounds very strange, Mai – chan. I already told you before that none of them is my boyfriend."

"What a shame. The ones saving the other day you we're pretty hot. May you'll lend them to me from time to time?", Mai giggled, "especially the cute and kind one with reddish hair."

"Are you talking about Ichi – kun?", Nao wondered.

"Even his name is cute", Mai sighed, "maybe I should give him a present."

"A present? Just like this?", Nao was very confused.

"Of course not, baka. Did you really forget that in two day it'll be the 24th?"

"Christmas! I totally forgot about it", the younger girl slapped her forehead.

"So, is there anyone you want to give a present? One of your classmates for example?"

Nao thought about it for moment. Since her parents died she the only person getting a present by her had been Mai.

"I would like to give presents to all of them", she eventually muttered and was a little depressed, "but I haven't enough of money. So, what do you think I should do, Mai – chan?"
"What about baking some Christmas cookies for everyone in your class?"

Naos face lightened up and for in the next moment she was very agitated:
"That's a good idea. It's not very expensive and something coming from the bottom of your heart."

Her older friend smiled:

"I knew that you would say something like this. You're the kind of person who wants to make everyone happy, ne?"

Nao blushed but nodded in excitement.


The next day in school everyone in class was talking about their plans for Christmas. Some of the guys were bragging about a goukon with cute girls and others decided to have a big Christmas party at someones home.
"What about you, Nao – chan? What are you doing on Christmas?", Ichi was the first one to ask her.

"I always spend my Christmas with Mai – chan", she answered, "her parents live overseas, so she's always alone. Just like me. What about you, Ichi – kun?"

"Well, my mother's working on Christmas day, so I think I'll attend Aoshiba's party", he smiled.

"That sounds nice", she smiled back. Ichi was about to give a reply when he was interrupted by one of their classmates:

"Did you also see the guy with motorcycle? He's lingering there since this morning. I bet he's looking for someone. Did one of your friends get into a fight, Ichi?"

"No, I don't think so", Ichi raised an eyebrow, "what does he look like?"

"Dunno. Someone said that on the back of his jacket is a picture of a red cobra. I heard that the teachers are still discussing whether they should call the police or-"

There was a loud noise when Nao's chair crashed to the floor. Immediately all eyes were on her but she didn't seem to notice. Her face was pale and her hands were trembling.

"Nao – chan?", Kura said carefully. She did not respond but instead rushed through the door and nearly bumped into Kengo who was just entering the classroom. Just as everyone else he looked after her as if she was going crazy.

"Let's go after her!", someone shouted and soon the whole class 3-D was following the girl to the courtyard.

Ichi bumped into someone else as the guys suddenly stopped. He was smaller than the ones in front of him, so he had to get on his toes to have a better look on the scene. He just saw Nao stopping in the middle of the courtyard starring furiously at a person sitting on a motorcycle.

"Who's this?", someone whispered but nobody answered. Ichi noticed Yamato tensing up next to him and he suddenly had the feeling that their leader did not see this guy for the first time.

"Hey Yamato, you know him, don't you?", he whispered but Yamato was as preoccupied with Nao as the others. Everyone gasped in shock when the girl suddenly slept the man in the face. It was surprising for Nao to do such an outrageous thing for she was always the silent and calm one. But they were even more confused when she burst into tears and threw herself in his arm.

The guys started to mumble and some of them even wanted to interfere when suddenly Yankumi stepped into the pictures. Furiously she drew herself up to her full height:

"What are you doing here? The lesson already started? What's going on?"

There teacher was as clueless as ever so everyone pointed their finger at Nao and the man. Yankumi turned around and cocked her head to the side:

"Um? Nao – chan?"

Her female students was still in the arms of the young man who looked like a hoodlum.

"Ano, is that her boyfriend?", she asked the one standing next to her. Kura just shrugged his shoulders but he thought that Yankumi was probably wrong. He always thought it was impossible for his female friend to have a boyfriend. She was still too scared of boys as to fall for some stranger and especially someone who looked like a bad guy.

Nao still did not seem to notice the commotion she was causing by now. She was too wrapped up in her conversation with this stranger. The guys had to admit that she had never looked as calm and happy as now and Ichi noticed that especially Shunsuke was on his toes. It was just a matter of time until his lovesick friend would cause a display of his jealously. Ichi took a deep breath and went over to his female friend. He could feel everyone watching him with anticipation.

"Ano, Nao – chan", he carefully touched her shoulder, "who is that?"

Nao turned around and eventually saw all of her class standing on the school yard. Immediately she blushed and bowed her head:

"I'm so sorry, guys. And you too, Yamaguchi – sensei. I was just happy to meet my onii – chan that I forgot about class."

"Onii – chan?", they asked in chorus. The young man took of his sunglasses and smirked at them:
"Nice to meet ya. I'm Katsuragi Tatsuya."


Nao had a lot of explaining to do. Now, the whole class came to know about her sad past.

"Can I join you?", her brother asked Yankumi. The teacher just nodded her head. She was speechless, just as much as her students. And confused. She was told that Nao lived on her own and had no family at all and now all of a sudden her big brother appeared.

"You're thinking that the whole thing is very strange, don't you?", Nao asked when she caught her teacher starring at her brother in disbelief.
"Yeah, we don't get it. Why did you hit your brother and why doesn't he live with you?", Kengo was the first one to ask.

"Please, calm down, guys", Nao took a deep breath and stepped in front of the class. Her hands shook like crazy and she didn't dare to look at them, instead she decided to fix her her gaze upon her teacher. For some reason it was easier pretending to talk only to Yankumi.

"I already told some of you that my father was actually the head of a big cosmetic company. Last year he and my mother died in a traffic accident. My brother was told to take care of me but he was fired from his job and didn't have enough money to take me in. Additionally, he was in motorbike gang and I haven't seen him since he left home after school."

"I always had a bad relationship with my father. He wanted me to take over his company, but I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to", her brother explained and scratched the back of his head, "I always brought trouble for my parents and acted like a delinquent. Now, I know that I was wrong and that I shouldn't have left Nao on her own."

"It's okay", Nao smiled at him, "I'm not mad for leaving me."

"You said you had no money, but didn't Nao tell us that she inherited some money. What about you, Katsuragi – san?", Ichi wondered.

"Well, as I already told you I was a hopeless case that time and therefore my father decided to disown me, but I was in charge of Nao's share for she was still a minor back then. I'm really ashamed of myself, but I was pressured by my gang and very desperate, so I took all the money and went to Taiwan."

"What? That's disciple!", the guys yelled.

"What a bad thing to do!"

"Poor Nao – chan!"

"Calm down everyone", Yankumi raised her hands to shut them up.

"But don't you feel the same way, Yankumi?", Yamato asked.

"Of course", the teacher nodded her head and turned around to face the young man: "But you learned your lesson, ne?"

"That's the reason why I came back", Tatsuya said.

"What happened as you went in Taiwan? Are you still in that gang?", Nao asked quietly as if she was afraid of her brothers answer.

"Don't worry, Nao", he ruffled her hair, "I cut ties with them month ago. I lost all the money with gambling and after I lost everything I met this old man. He took me in and taught me a lot of things about life itself and woodcraft. I realized that leaving my sister alone was the biggest mistake of my whole life. Nao, I don't need you to forgive me, but I just wish you would let me stay with you from now on. Please, let us start over again", to her surprise Nao's brother got even on his knees to beg her.

"I was so angry", Nao whispered, "when I saw you today I was so angry that I just had to slap you. I'm sorry, onii – chan. Yeah, I want you to stay with me. Please, come back home."

Crying she fell on her knees and hugged him as hard as she could.

"This is so touching", Yankumi sniffed and the tears out of her eyes, "there's nothing more touching then the love between brother and sister."

"Are you sure about this, Nao – chan. He deceived you. He let you face all this hardships on your own", Ren seemed to be angrier than Nao herself.

"I can understand that you're worried, Kazama. But this isn't your decision. The only one who can blame him is Katsuragi. And aren't you the same as him? You all mess up sometimes and do things that are wrong. Isn't it fine if you realize your mistake and try to fix it? I'm sure, Katsuragi – san knows that he has to protect his little sister from know on."

"You're teacher is really great", Tatsuya remarked. Yankumi blushed and slapped him on the shoulder:
"Yadda, don't say something so embarrassing, Katsuragi – san. I would never date my students family members."

"I think he didn't mean it that way", Kura mumbled.


"So, are you really going to live with your brother again?", Ichi asked after school as they went home together. Her brother already went home after the vice principle came bursting into the classroom to tell Yakumi off. He even threatened them to call the police if the stranger would not leave.

"We don't want to meddle, you know. We're happy for you, but I'm with Ren this time: Your brother cause you a lot of trouble", Shunsuke put his hands into his pockets.

"I know", she smiled a little, "but he's still my brother. I can see that he has changed. Don't you think everyone needs a second chance?"

The guys remained silent. They all had gotten second chances in life. By Yankumi, by their friends and classmates, by their parents and not long ago even by Nao.

"The good thing is, you're not alone anymore", Ichi tried to look at the bright side of the situation, "you actually have a family again."

"Thanks, Ichi – kun", she send him her brightest smile, so that the others were kind of jealous. When Nao did not look he smirked at them and showed his tongue. Shunnosuke was burning with anger. If Kengo had not stopped him, he would have started a fight.

"So, I'm going first. I still need to go to work", Nao was as clueless as ever.

"But since you have someone to take care of you, doesn't it mean you don't have to work anymore?", Kura asked bluntly.

"Well, my brother is still looking for a job and I like my work."

The guys nodded and Nao waved goodbye.


When Nao got home after work her brother was already waiting for her. He even did the cooking.

"Well, it's just some junk food", he said, "but please dig in. You look really thin."

"Thank you, onii – chan", she smiled. She was thankful that he was back but it was still a little awkward having someone waiting for you at home.

"You know that I'm not that good at chores", he seemed to be embarrassed.

"I don't care. Tomorrow I'll cook for you, okay?"

"Oi, my little sis is so grown up and cute", he ruffled her hair and she giggled as she did several years ago. During meal he told her about his adventures in Taiwan and about all the nice people he met.

"Since I came back I decided to open my own joiner's shop."

Nao was surprised:
"Don't you need money to establish your own business?"

"You learned a lot from father about commerce, didn't you? Indeed, I need to invest some money first. I have still some of the money left I earned in Taiwan. I plan to give you half of it back. It's still not as much as I took from you inheritance, thought", he explained and smiled apologetically.

"Don't worry, onii – chan. I want to do everything to support your dream." She was happy that Tatsuya found something he wanted to do.
"I guess oto-san would be very proud of you."
"Well, maybe after he had given me a great beating", the young man laughed and swiftly wiped a tear off his eye, "ah, I really regret a lot of things. Please, believe me, sis, I wanna change from now on."

"For starters it's enough if you'll stay with me for Christmas", her eyes gleamed with joy.

"Well, it's good that you brought this up", he had a quite guilty expression on his face, "would you mind if we spent Christmas evening at the house of someone else?"

"Someone else?", she was surprises, "what do you mean?"
"Well, when I came back to Japan a few days ago, I met a beautiful girl. I fell in love with her at first sight and we decided to go out. She actually asked me to bring you along and to get to know her and her eight – year old brother. I think you'll really like her. What do you thing?"

She did not know what to say or how to feel about this situation. On the one side she was afraid to have to share her brother with someone else. On the other side she was happy that Yuichi found someone to love. She pressed her lips together and slowly nodded her head:

"Sure, but could you ask if I can bring my friend as well? Mai and me use to spend every Christmas together and I don't want to be her alone this year."

"I think that'll be okay."

On the morning of the 24th Nao and Mai wanted to meet to bake cookies together, but the ladder called her friend to cancel their meeting.

"I'm very sorry, Nao – chan, but my parents asked me to come home this Christmas. My grandma is very ill and it might be her last one. I actually wanted you to come along, but since your brother came back..."

"It's okay, Mai – chan. Don't worry about me, but what about your present for Ichi – kun?"

"Well, there's still Valentines Day, isn't there?", but in fact she sounded a little disappointed.

"You're always so optimistic, Mai – chan", Nao laughed, "I think Ichi will totally fall for you."

"You think? After all the trouble with Hiroshi I hope my love life will move on a little", Mai sighed. , "please wish me luck."

"Of course. He's one of my best friends and a great guy. I'm sure he won't disappoint you", Nao promised, "please call me as soon as you're back in Tokyo, alright?"

"Sure. I wish you and your brother all the best for Christmas. Bye."

"Thanks, goodbye."


End of Chapter Eleven.