Chapter 25: Seeing Red (Part 2 Of 2)

"Y-Yaya-senpai," I sniffed, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "That's so sad..."

Yaya-senpai turned away, and looked up at the stars with melancholic eyes. "You shouldn't cry, Tsubomi."

"Hm?" I looked at her confusedly.

Yaya-senpai lowered her head with a downcast look, and let out a heavy sigh, "...My onee-san didn't die that night."

"What?" My eyes widen.

"Yes," Yaya-senpai nodded. "You heard right. By a miracle my onee-san survived, but the incident... the incident left her in ruins... The doctor said she had fractured limbs, a brain contusion, and some internal bleeding. Everything felt like an unwanted nightmare... To this day, the image of her laying in the middle of the road still haunts me... All thanks to that drunk driving a red sports car who ran over her."

"When I waited for her in the hospital," Yaya-senpai continued. "I was so scared, Tsubomi... I didn't want to lose her... The only person I turned to that night was my itoko-san, Kanami-chan, and asked her to come to the hospital instead of my ryoushin... I didn't bother to notify my ryousin because I knew it was only a matter of time before those two would arrive... Heh, and in record time too. My okaa-san comes running in first, immediately asking the nurses where my onee-san was. She completely ignored me and my itoko-san, but it's not as if we were surprised by it, and my otou-san didn't show up until later on because he was in a meeting and wasn't available to answer his cell. When the doctor finally came out, that's when he told us about her condition... and also told us that she had fallen into a coma... I honestly didn't want to go back home once I heard that, not without my onee-san. Therefore, I waited by her side, only leaving the hospital to take quick showers at home. And my ryoushin didn't questioned me. My otou-san had to take an early flight the next day to meet up with some of his working partners, so he wasn't able to stay with her, and my okaa-san had to fill in for my otou-san while he was away. For fuck's sake, none of them thought of cancelling their plans to stay with my onee-san. That just proves how much money means to them, more than their favorite ojou-san. Fortunately, my itoko-san, whenever she could, would come by and kept us company. I waited for my onee-san for about a week until she had finally woken up from her coma... with memory loss."

"Yaya-senpai, I'm so sorry..."

Yaya-senpai sighed heavily, "She wasn't able to recall anything that had happened that night, but that wasn't what pained me... it was the fact she wasn't able to remember our kazoku... My ryoushin started yelling at me, shouting that it was all my fault for what happened. It pist me off terribly, so I took off, officially leaving my kazoku... I didn't get to talk to her that day Tsubomi, she was surrounded by a bunch of nurses and my ryoushin... Oh, how much I would give for things to be different. If only it were me instead of her... Things would have been better... Regardless if I still had my memories with me, I have nothing to lose in this damned life of mine."

*SLAP*

"Don't talk like that!" I shouted. "You may think you have nothing to lose if anything happens to you, but you would be a loss to me, baka! I care, okay, I care a lot, and I'm not the only one! How could you forget the ones who care about you!? Don't be so stupid. You do have people who care about you. I am positive your onee-san would feel the same, and probably would have slapped you in the face too! Also, all that you have done for your onee-san, I'm sure she would have done the same for you! Now, as for the reason why you left, she would have understood. Please don't talk like that, ever."

"My onee-san wouldn't have been able to do the same things I did for her," Yaya-senpai chuckled. "My onee-san had a face to save, which acted like a brick wall standing in the way of everything she ever wanted to do... just like you Tsubomi... My onee-san wouldn't imagine herself ever going against the rules just so she could do exactly what she wanted. Yeah, I have her support; but it's limited and controlled. Does that sound familar to you, Tsubomi? GREAT for anything that is behind the curtains, but not in public areas."

"You remind me so much of her, especially that one night after the sports competitions a while back," Yaya-senpai continued. "Before we returned to the dorms, you showed a side of yourself that I liked, a side unfamilar to the rest of the public. You were open, carefree, and you didn't even argue with me to let go of you as we watched the fireworks display... it was only when we arrived at the dorms did you turn back into your usual behavior... Hmm, if I remembered correctly, you changed back for a stupid reason... all because there were people watching us... Anyway, my onee-san always had her reasons for doing whatever she did just like you. Reasons, in my opinion, that shouldn't even matter. Heh, neither you nor my onee-san will ever be able to step out of your protective shells. Admit it Tsubomi, you know it's true, you'll never fully change unless it was life threatening... Now that I know about your obaa-san, you wouldn't be able to understand the anger I have within me... we are different, and yet alike... I don't want that for you."

"I'm sorry, Yaya-senpai..."

"Don't be Tsubomi, it's just like you said, don't be a superhero... it wouldn't be the first time I failed to do so anyway... I wasn't able to be a superhero for my onee-san when I could have at least tried to. I blame myself for what happened that night, I mean, I could have done something to prevent it, anything... "

"It's not your fault for what happened. It was the guy driving when he shouldn't have been in the first place."

"I know, but I feel responsible for it. I knew I should have just stayed home, but she wanted to go to the park. Tsubomi, how was I supposed to say no to her? I couldn't. If I could change one thing about that night, it would be to stay home, and perhaps my onee-san would have been safe... That is why I want to protect you Tsubomi, I care about you, and I want it to be different with you. I don't want to fail you, and end up finding out something has happened to you when I could have done something about it."

"Yaya-senpai," I began softly. "I'm touched that you want it to be different with me, but please try to understand that I don't want to see you get hurt trying to do the right thing. In a way, but not entirely, my obaa-san is just like your otou-san, and just like how much you hate your otou-san, I hate my obaa-san. You haven't been home for a long while, right? You have found a temporary solution to ignore going home, and that's what I want to do with my obaa-san. Just find a temporary solution to stay away from her. However, you have someone who supports you in the very place you hate, I don't. I know it may sound crazy what I'm about to say, but I honestly think you should try to go see your onee-san and-"

"Wait, what? Tsubomi, it's been almost a year since the last time I was home. I'm not going back," Yaya-senpai interrupted me, frowningly. "My onee-san doesn't even remember me."

"How would you know if you haven't gone home for almost a year?"

"...Because I spoke with her before."

"Amaranthus blitum... looks good this time of year, doesn't it?" Came a soft voice.

"Hm?" I lifted my head from my knees.

I froze.

Onee-san...

"Hehe, perhaps you have forgotten how to speak?" The girl giggled.

"Ah! Um, n-no it's just... I thought I was alone," I replied quickly.

"Is that so? Hmm, should I leave?"

"No," I shook my head.

"Alright, would you mind if I sit here then?" She asked, pointing at the empty space beside me.

"Go ahead, I don't mind," I replied.

"Thanks," She smiled. "What's your name?"

"Yaya."

"Nice to meet you, Yaya. My name is Nanto, Yasuko."

"Likewise, Nanto-san."

"Call me Yasuko, Yaya-san."

"Oh, okay... Yasuko-san."

"There you go," Yasuko-san giggled. "Yaya-san, do you like the purple amaranth?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Because my onee-san does..."

"How sweet, is your onee-san here as well?"

"...Yes."

"That's great, I bet she looks just like you."

"Um, yeah... What about you, Yasuko-san, do you have any siblings?"

Yasuko-san sighed, "Yes, I have an imouto-san, but I have never seen her."

"What's her name?" I asked, looking down at my shoes, ignoring her gaze. "If you're fine with me asking."

"It's fine Yaya-san, but unfortunately I don't remember her name," Yasuko-san gloomily replied. "What saddens me more is that I can't remember her face either... I often dream of this spot, just me and her together; and every time I dream of her, her face is blurry... I know one day I will find her. That is why I have been coming here... Just waiting for a sign."

"Um, how did you forget how your imouto-san looks like exactly? Surely, you must have some sort of mental image of her..."

"No, sadly I don't. The reason is because I was involved in an incident with an incoming vehicle a long while back. I suppose the hard hit I took on my head was the cause of it? My imouto-san wasn't the only one I have forgotten, but somehow remains the most important to me. That is why I hope to one day find her, Yaya-san."

"...Don't you remember me?" I whispered softly.

"Did you say something?" Yasuko-san asked.

"Oh, I said I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you, Yaya-san. Hmm, you said your onee-san was here, right?"

"She is, but at the same time she isn't..."

"Yaya-san... your onee-san isn't here exactly, is she?" Yasuko-san asked softly.

"I guess so," I sighed. "But, I hope to one day find her again."

As a whole...

"We're kind of in the same predicament then, huh? Finding each other's sibling... let's do our best, Yaya-san."

"Yeah, let's do our best..." I said softly.

"Hey, do you like lavender tea?"

"...I do."

"Great, I know this small place nearby called Yasashi Tea that sells some amazing hot tea. Would you like to come with me Yaya-san? I invite. Lavender tea helps one relax, besides chamomile tea of course."

"I'm sorry Yasuko-san, but I have to go," I stood up.

"Oh, okay... maybe next time then?"

"...Yeah, I'll see you," I walked away.

"You did? When?"

"I spoke with her a couple of days ago when I was in the park, before I bumped into Harumi," Yaya-senpai began. "I sat down in my onee-san's favorite spot, near the purple amaranth. I was alone at first, but then she appeared, as if she knew I was going to be there. Or maybe she didn't, who knows? Our talk... yeah, it hurt... I left right when I couldn't take it anymore. I guess that day wasn't my day after all..."

"Hold on, wait a minute," I stopped her. "You spoke with your onee-san and then you left, and that's when you met that Harumi-san? Are you stupid or something? Why did you leave her? You should have stayed with her!"

"I know, but the way she acted towards me... it hit a little too close to home... She spoke to me with such familiarity it was difficult for me to accept that she still didn't remember me... I almost broke down when she invited me for some lavender tea, our favorite tea, and at our favorite place... I just couldn't."

"Hmm, I'm sorry but I'm confused. Don't you have any pictures of yourself at home? Surely your onee-san must have seen them and wondered about you, and it could be that once she saw you she acted that way?"

"I highly doubt that," Yaya-senpai sighed. "All of my Kazoku pictures are in stuffed boxes."

"...Why?" I asked confusedly.

"My ryoushin just doesn't bother hanging any of them," Yaya-senpai replied.

"Okay... and what about her cell phone?" I continued. "Now she must have some pictures of you saved."

"We never took any pictures together."

"You're kidding, right?"

"No."

"Ugh, that's ridiculous Yaya-senpai, and I suppose I shouldn't ask if your go ryoushin mentioned you either?" I frowned in annoyance.

"Heh, they wouldn't. I pretty much left them, and stayed with Hikari. My onee-san wanted me to get away from that place anyway, so I did. Also, my onee-san literally had everything set up for me already. I guess she figured to plan ahead in case of an emergency of some kind. She placed money in an account for my itoko-san to give to me whenever I needed it, and or for emergencies. Surprisingly, my itoko-san hasn't taken any money out for herself. I guess she rather support herself alone, I dunno... By the way, my itoko-san is the one who calls me, not my okaa-san, but I guess you figured that out by now. I sometimes wonder if there's a chance my onee-san might call one day... but after my recent talk with her, I guess shouldn't hope for it..."

"Hmm, I honestly think you should try talking to your onee-san again."

"Yeah, but I don't know what to say. It's difficult for me to make the call first, and then explain to her the girl she met at the park was her own imouto-san..."

"It's not hard at all, pass me your cell phone."

"What? No!"

"Yaya-senpai, your onee-san was your support whenever she could be. Perhaps not as much as she wanted to be, but nonetheless she tried. Now it's your time to be hers. Forget about your ryoushin, you don't have to go home. Go back to the park, and wait for her in her favorite spot. Become her friend, and invite her to tea. You need her; and she may not know it yet, but she is going to need you too."

"You say it as if it were so simple to do..."

"It's because it is," I smiled. "I must make it simple for you. I want you to have someone who will support you in my place."

"...I don't plan on replacing you."

"Thanks, but I'm not asking you to. Tomorrow, I will only have three days until my flight. Three days will go by fast, and... I just don't want you to be alone anymore that is why I want you to talk with your onee-san, and be her friend. Please, do it for me. As my last request."

Yaya-senpai patted my cheek, "There's no convincing you to stay, huh?"

"I'm sorry."

"...Tomorrow, you'll be seeing your obaa-san, right?"

"Yes."

"I want you to call me once you arrive in Tokyo, also when you are finally with your obaa-san, and again once you leave her. I will catch the earliest train ride out of Kyoto, and come find you if anything happens."

"Thanks... and I want you to keep me updated on your onee-san."

"Alright, I will."

"Also..." I lightly blushed. "I want to spend my last day with you, so keep that day open for me no matter what."

"Of course."

"It's getting cold, I'm going inside."

"Hey pinky, since you're leaving tomorrow morning. Would it be okay if we... slept together?"

"Huh!?" I blushed heavily.

"Why are you blushing like that? All I asked if it would be okay if we... haha, oh my god... haha! No, I didn't mean that!" Yaya-senpai bursted out laughing. "I meant like, well, you know... Just not that, haha."

"Baka, be careful with your words!" I huffed.

"You're the one who thought of it," Yaya-senpai giggled. "So, what do you say?"

"Yes, it would be okay," I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Okay to... what exactly?" Yaya-senpai smirked.

"Ugh! That's it, I'm sleeping with Su-chan," I started walking back inside.

"Wait, I'm kidding!" Yaya-senpai laughed. "Come back, pinky!"

"Just keep your hands to yourself while I'm sleeping baka; or else, I will go to sleep with Su-chan."

"Haha, okay."

A/N: Looking ahead, Tsubomi's obaa-san will be making her first appearance. Additionally, Yasuko-onee-san will be introduce bit more.

Till next time. Have a wonderful day and happy early Valentines day. (I'll be celebrating with a bottle of whiskey) Heheh. :P