A Munto Fanfiction: Castles In the Sky © RedWingedAngel002
Disclaimer: Munto; Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai © Kyoto Animation; Yoshiji Kigami and Tomoe Aratani
Genre: Angst, Drama, Fantasy, Family, and Hurt-Comfort
Summary: The curse of crossing space-time was a process to grieve.
A/N: Wow, fastest update ever. So forewarning, this chapter hits very close to home and may be one of my most emotional writings yet (in the flashback scene). Although there is often misunderstanding between the two, panic attacks and anxiety attacks are different and both really suck and are utterly exhausting due to emotional whiplash. I know through firsthand experience and wish it upon no one. Please heed with caution.
WARNING: This fanfiction contains ideologically sensitive material that may be triggering for readers. If uncomfortable, please push the back button upon your selected Internet browser and have a good day.
Songs: Broken Inside by: Broken Iris,Ashley by: Hasley, Hide and Seek and The Moment I Said It + Instrumental by: Imogen Heap, Cauterize [youtu . be/kllGVnKsnAQ] and Losing Control by: Red
Japanese Index:
None.
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
Memories/Flashbacks.
Chapter 3: Substitute
Darkness filled his vision. Upon closer inspection, he was smothered against one of his Montaro figures at the corner of his bed. Chikara sighed into the white softness, nuzzling in, and licked his chapped mouth, slowly regaining his surroundings back from the dream realm. His feet were cold; the sheets must have fallen off in the night.
Something disturbed his slumber. That was saying something, considering he was said to be a heavy sleep-talker. But that was how it was now. Everyone in the Hidaka household seemed to be a bit on edge.
Rolling over to the unseen living room below, curtained window panels were illuminated under summer moonbeams. A faint ticking of a clock, the air conditioner hummed as white noise. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. So, what was it?
Then, he heard it: a sob.
Ah… Again?
He hefted himself up, groggy, and rubbed an eye to rid of sleep.
"Sis? You okay?" he called out to the dark.
Taking a side-glance to the hallway on his right, Chikara contemplated whether to wake one of their parents and get help. Yet, the shadowed corners looked very intimidating.
"No, let go," her breath expelled in quick gasps. "Stop!"
That was his cue.
He turned to her bidding and decided to brave this on his own. He was finally seven, now! There was nothing to fear.
Swinging his legs off the bedside, the cool wood nipped his bare toes and he entered his sister's nook of the room. It appeared she too kicked off her blanket as well.
"Mother! Mother, help—!" her chest heaved, hammering and misted between the yellow speckled pajamas.
Huh. She did not usually address her so formally?
Uncertain how to sooth her, he tried to do what said woman would have done and pet her hair. However, she nudged from his touch and he wavered in rejection. Determined, he tried once more.
She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me," she hissed, teeth snapping rabid, and gripped the sheets so. "'m not a parasite! Let go!"
"Come on, Sis, wake up! It's just a bad dream!" His shake on her shoulder grew in intensity from lack of response. "Yumemi…!"
The girl jackknifed up to sitting position and fell into a defense stance. Her body language screamed hostile, and hardened emeralds shown different in the moonlight.
"You!" The uncharacteristic knit at her brow deepened, "What are you doing h—"
Raised arms slowly lowered guard when soaking in the environment she was dropped in, eyes skipping in frenzy all across the second floor.
"What am I…? Why am I here?" she swallowed thick.
Yumemi turned to the window at her bedside, almost ripping the drape open, and placed a hand on the glass when searching out and above. The contrast between the cool and hot air misted a reflected outline of her fingertips, the imprint fading when she resumed to stare mystified at her left palm.
Weird.
"It cannot be. We…" She opened her fist in a foreign fashion; to then touch her hair, face, and stumbled abrupt when hovered centimeters at her breasts. There was a strained grunt from self-rein and the softest apology. Shaken fingers laced through silken bangs in disbelief, "What the hell is going on between us? Is this truly the curse for going against space-time?" *1
"What are you talking about?" Her speech pattern was different. And Lord? What was that about? "Who are you? You are not my sister."
A piercing glare was sent his way, her chin set stubborn without any denial of his accusation.
Jeez, it was like she was a whole different person. This had never happened before.
Actually, no, that was not entirely true. There was that one time, not too long before their trip to Grandma's last month. Now that was strange…
Worried brown eyes peeked in from the door's open sliver, as deep footfalls creaked wooden floorboards and Shigeru's wide frame filled the small bathroom. *2
"Is it happening again, Yumemi?" He heard a whimper and saw her sitting bowed on the closed toilet seat and clutching her chest when their father calmly took knee. It was one of her common hiding spots. "Alright. Hold Papa's hand until it passes. Good breathing, just like we've practiced. Keep that up."
She never said much the few number Chikara had witnessed her anxiety episodes; mostly a lot of mumbled crying, more often than not, all in her sleep. Usually one of his parents would usher him out while the other consoled, like he was asked to leave before. Right now, his mother was unaware of the situation and was tending the garden. Curiosity had gotten the better of him.
There was a loud thump, which caused him to jump alert. Her spare right had lashed out, hitting the wall. Later seen, there would be scratch marks left on the beige wallpaper, now glued pristine under an expert hand.
"Everything's on fire," she sobbed, all consumed in a flashback that was not her own. "My home. This is my fault. Everyone is counting on me and I-I failed to protect them. Now they are—"
"Careful, don't bite your tongue. Good girl, sunshine. You're doing good," Shigeru encouraged, low and gentle, and pushed back pale bangs to wipe her twitching brow. She began to pound her knee at an escalating rhythm, the squeeze on his fingers tightening purple. He never faltered to let go. "What is it, do you need to get angry? It's all right. Let it out."
With permission granted, Yumemi gasped and fell forward onto his sturdy shoulder. Grinding teeth bit the navy polo to muffle her scream.
"RAGH…!"
Chills ran up Chikara's spine. Never had he heard something so raw before. As if possessed.
"Whoa, what a big lion roar!" he laughed bittersweet and patted her back when she writhed to gain any means of stability. "Come on, one more time. Don't fight it! You can do it, I believe in you! Roar—!"
"AHHHRAGH…! I HATE THEM, DAMMIT!" she raged. Red faced, her lifeline grip was shaking knuckle white. "Why did they betray me? Those bastards…! 'The sins of the parent shall befall upon the child,' my ass! How dare they! How dare they!" *3
"Who, Yumemi? Who hurt you?" Shigeru pressed, "Tell me, please."
"I'm sorry, I can't! I can't explain it! It's not mine…!" came her wailed plea, rippling deep beneath her subconscious, "It hurts too much, Papa! All I do is run away and hide! I can't fight like him; I-I'm not strong enough!"
"Yes, you are! You are so brave and strong, and have been doing so very well!" his voice cracked, rocking them both and petting her hair to try sooth the anguished squalls. If only he could exchange her pain as his own. "This is steeper up the mountain trek, Yumemi, but that means we're almost at the top, and I'm right here beside you! We're in this together. Every time it gets a little easier, doesn't it? There's progress in every step, even if you feel like you're not moving forward. Don't give up!"
Then the chaos fell silent.
Clammy fingers unhinged and she slumped over, completely drained of all energy and panting.
"I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered listlessly into his collar, "That one was really scary. I don't know what I'm saying."
"I know, sunshine. I know. You made it through." A kiss was placed on her temple, followed by a shared sigh. "All these emotions are perfectly valid. Even anger! It's not bad to get angry, and there's nothing to be afraid of. That's just your body communicating that something violating has happened and wants to gain back control. It's flushing out all that's bundled up inside."
"But I'm so tired. When will it be over?" The question was spoken young and frail.
"Soon, give it time. Be patient with your healing," he reminded, and suggested after a moment of hesitation, "Do you want me to contact Uncle Misaki? He's a nurse, and knows some very nice doctors that can help you more. We can do that?"
A sob sputtered. The slack on his sleeve crinkled taut.
"N-no, I—! If they find out that I can—! T-that it's connected to then, and h-how we—!" The girl struggled to find words without full confession, anxiety spiking like haywire, "NO! I don't w-want them to know! It's… It's embarrassing!"
It was a matter of trust; fear of the mindless unknown and childhood insecurities.
"Alright, that's no problem at all. Shh, take it easy," he chided with utmost care, "You're safe with me, I'll protect you."
The door waxed open at a hair's touch, for Chikara was rooted frozen at the spot.
"P-Papa?" He wrung his striped sports uniform from nervousness.
Shigeru turned over to the entrance, surprised. In a bated breath, his Adam's apple bobbed at the realization of what was witnessed, chest heaving, and then a menacing frown pulled.
Uh-oh.
His heart galloped cold in anticipation. Out of the two, it was his mother who did the scolding; his father rarely ever got upset. *4
Unbeknownst to them, like his sister, he stepped over a line taboo to cross.
"Not now, Chikara. I told you to get your soccer gear and wait for me down stairs!" he flared from the boy's deliberate disobedience and intrusion. "Go to your mother! She'll drive you to practice!"
Past round glasses, there were tears in his eyes.
He caught gaze of Yumemi from behind, perhaps looking for some kind of loophole for his wrongdoing. Bloodshot emeralds were full of guilt and flickered down in shame.
"B-But Sis is—!"
He visibly flinched when the door was slammed shut. All he could register was the pulse ringing loud in his ear…
…And the anger bubbling in his chest.
Could they not see that he was worried, too? Just because he was young, it did not mean he was undeserving of respect. Yet, they always hid him from everything, like some kind of baby!
He had power! It was in his name! And he was willing to fight for what he believed in: that his sister was still in there.
"You're the reason she's been acting so weird lately!" he shoved, and her flickered shock veered up to the challenge. "Give her back, stupid ghost!"
"Well, you certainly are siblings," Yumemi muttered, deadpan.
No, she would not act so conceited!
Growling, he lunged forward and tackled her against the mattress, hitting wherever his flailing arms could reach from her block.
"Kid! Do not be foolish, this is—!" She took on his beatings without offense. "Tsk! Quit fighting me! This is not of my will, Chikara!"
His frustration grew. Why was she giving up so easily? He wanted her to push back, to bicker at his taunts like they always used to. Not this lifeless doll that always stared out the window.
However so, in the recent rarities her spark would return with enough playful jibes, it was never fun or jest but bristled hot under a scorching tongue. At one point, he was gently pulled aside and asked to give her some space and not take her reactions too personally.
But how could he not take it personally?
This was so stupid. He missed her.
"I'm going to protect her no matter what!" he declared with such ferocity. "I said give her back…!"
Yumemi wheezed at the harsh impact on her stomach, curling inward and gasping deep from the knocked wind. Scurrying, he huddled at the bedside, intently watching her dazed profile stare at the ceiling, to flicker back at him in confusion. Breath held tense, a trickle of sweat streamed down his temple.
"…Sis?" he swallowed as she sat herself up, wincing while clutching her middle.
Green moons blinked owlishly.
"Eh?"
His brown welled with tears and he clung to her tight in an embrace.
"Sis…!" he exclaimed in relief, full of emotion, "You're back!"
Gentle hands smoothed his shoulder and nape, leaning forward and close to his ear.
"Chikara?" she whispered, almost afraid to break the silence, "Did something strange happen just now?"
"Yes! You were having a nightmare and I tried to wake you up! But you weren't you! It was really freaky!" His arm flexed to show his strength, "I Ultra Punched that jerk right out!" *5
Yumemi was quiet.
"So that wasn't a dream," she murmured to herself, lost in thought.
"I'm sorry for hitting you," a small palm patted her cheek for forgiveness. "Who was that?"
"A friend. Don't worry, he won't hurt me," her soft smile turned fleeting and she bit her lip, "It's hard to explain. I'm still figuring it out, myself. Please don't tell Mom and Dad."
"But—!" he wined in protest.
"Please," long lashes waned closed. There was a quiver in his peripheral. "I'm not ready."
"O-Okay," he hooked their pinkies together in promise.
"Don't worry, everything will be all right," was her encouragement. He could see right past her weary facade, as she ruffled his locks, "Thank you for saving me."
Chikara sniffled and hugged her once more, unable to shake the lament swelled in his throat.
How could she be so strong to withstand her suffering in silence?
Eventually the nightmares calm and fall quiet, as does she, and by the time Halloween cycled once more, they all had adjusted to a new normal. *6
A/N: Remember: fight, flight, or flee. Pain has a ripple effect and is coped differently to each their own. Love can heal just the same.
The final two chapters may take longer to update this time around, since both are over ten pages in dialogue alone. Thank you for your reviews and feedback!
—Ari [4.2.21]
*1: A more comedic switch: [deviantart red-winged-angel/art/Switched-843558098]
*2: Unlike America, Japan toilets and bathtubs are in separate rooms. The toilet rooms are mere stalls, sometimes compacted with sink-toilet combo, due to size.
*3: Hopefully it's clear that these flashbacks were the United Army's initial attack upon the Magical Kingdom. Part of the quote was taken from Dragonball S, while the following line was also inspired by Sixth Sense. The present portion of Munto calling for his Mother will be explained later in Soft Spot.
*4: Taken as extra info from the OVA II character sheets: "Shigeru Hidaka: Yumemi's father. He is an ordinary father who always takes care of his family as the family's mainstay. He understands his wife's feelings more than anybody and supports her strongly, because he knows the past of his wife, Nozomi. He works for the advertising industry and usually he returns late at night from his company, but he does family service sufficiently on holidays. He doesn't become unsettled easily, which gives sense of security to his family."
*5: From the Ultra Montaro theme song: "Mon-Mon-Montaro and us will still be friends with us on the other side of space. He has the smiling power, so he'll never lose! Let's go, Ultra Jump!"
*6: Five months, five visits (in OVA I). This same number will show again in the final chapter.