The Only Thing I See

Ch.2: Condemned

            Lantis glared at his mother, upset at how she had ravaged his room. She was 'helping' him pack, and in the process ruining his closet. "Mom, I think I'll be all right." He focused his stony eyes on her, making it quite obvious that he was annoyed.

            Hanae Cail shrugged her slim shoulders and sighed. "I know, I know. Your dorm is a haven compared to Zagato's junkyard, but I worry. We haven't visited the Shido's in years, and you haven't even met their daughter, yet! Wait, you were there on the day she was born, right?"

            Lantis paused, and thought about this for a second. Finally, he nodded in confirmation. "I was only about 5 or 6 though. I thought she looked like a pink rat."

            Hanae rolled her eyes. "At least you didn't say something like that out loud, unlike your dim witted brother."

            "He was only 9 or so."

            "Yeah. He was just starting to get out of the whole 'I hate girls' thing." The woman sighed, old memories circling her thoughts. "I'm sure she must be a beautiful young girl, now."

            Lantis paid no attention to the blatant hints his mother was giving him. She didn't expect Lantis to fall for a girl 5 years younger than him, but she DID want him to find a good girlfriend and settle down. Like Zagato and his precious Emeraude. "Whatever."

            "It's been ages since we saw the Shido boys… I remember how happy Saori was at finally having a daughter! Hiroshi was happy too. Especially when he saw how talented his little girl was at Kendo."

            "Do you think Mr. Shido will give me another free Kendo lesson?"

            "I'm sure! He did mention that you had a lot of talent."

            Lantis shrugged, but didn't say anything. The aging woman sighed, "I hope Saori's doing all right. Saori and Hiroshi Shido, they were such a cute couple back in high school. My, my, how years have passed."

            "Mom, will dad be going?"

            "…No." The woman turned away, obviously displeased with the sudden change of subject. "He's at work…again."

            The two continued to pack, but now in absolute silence.

~*~

            Zagato rolled his eyes, and continued to leaf through his thick textbook, only half listening to his girlfriend's chatter.

            "Are you SURE your mother's okay with us going to the beach?"

            The dark haired man nodded and lied, "Of course. It's not like we don't see the Shido's all the time. It's not like we'll be gone the entire time! I'll be back for at least half of the trip. She's fine with it."

            "Well…. Okay…." Emeraude smiled at her handsome lover, and said, "I trust you."

            Zagato's eyes softened and he gazed at her perfectly shaped face.  "… I love you."

            The sweet young woman paused in her crazed organizing to return his affection. She traced the side of his face with her fingertip, enjoying the feeling of his soft skin. "I know."

            There was a sudden crash, and they both jumped. Zagato quickly whipped around to glare at the intruder – Primera, Lantis's loyal dog that had been kicked out during Hanae's stay. Their mother couldn't stand dogs, one of the main reasons for the lack of visits between them and the Shido family. Primera had knocked over one of Zagato's stuffed suitcases. The sweet young puppy gave her temporary master an innocent look, her tail tucked between her legs.

            Emeraude giggled at how her lover immediately melted inside, patting the dog on her head. Emeraude had always found it funny, the way that animal's could so easily sway the two cold sons' of the Cail family. She didn't comment, though, and merely continued to stuff Zagato's entire dorm into suitcases. Already, she had packed his entire wardrobe, and had miraculously only used three suitcases. Now she was in the middle of packing extra's… everything from sun block to each and every book of his library. Just in case her lover got bored. If you had looked through Emeraude's choice of lingerie, though, it was quite obvious that Zagato wasn't going to get a moment's rest.  

            "Emeraude, is it really necessary to take THREE radios?"

            She paused in her packing and looked thoughtful. "Well, one is to play C.D.'s, but it doesn't get good radio reception, the second one is in case we need to listen to the radio, and the third is in case our second radio runs out of batteries or fritzes out or something. I mean, what if we become stranded in the middle of nowhere?!? Look at Gilligan's island!"

            The dark haired man merely shook his head, but didn't comment. He could deal with his girlfriend's lunacy once they arrived at the beach. Till then, he secretly plotted a way to leave behind half of his suitcases.

~*~

            Saori gently stroked her sleeping daughter's face, and sighed. She felt so helpless, watching her daughter slowly fall into complete despair. It still didn't seem real… It was as if God had swooped down and stolen the sun away. And indeed, the light had left Hikaru's once bright eyes, leaving them as lifeless orbs. Truly, it was the most despairing moment of her life. Never before had she encountered such an unfair sentence.

            Kakeru walked quietly into the room, placing each step with care. He sighed silently at his mother's heartbroken face and laid his hand on her shoulder. Saori looked up at her youngest son, and shook her head. Kakeru nodded in understanding, the same misery present in his young eyes. Already, he seemed older, forced into maturity by his sister's predicament.

            "I tried to call Hanae and Akinori Cail's home, but neither of them answered," whispered Kakeru, kissing his mother's cheek.

            "It's all right. The company might be good for Hikaru. Being around a lot of people won't make her feel as trapped."

            "Trapped?"

            "She's forever trapped in a gray jail, now. Thank God she can still hear, otherwise she'd be living in a hellhole for the rest of her young life," explained Saori. The woman blinked, trying to keep herself from crying in front of her children. But to have her precious child, the youngest one, condemned to such a life… It was too painful to even think about.

            "Mom, should I make some tea? I'll get some water for Hikaru too… I guess she'll need a straw."

            Saori nodded, it was too soon to train Hikaru. For now, they would pamper her. Afterwards, they'd probably need to get her a seeing eye dog. The mother felt a pang in her heart… her daughter would never be able to become a seeing eye dog trainer, like she had always wanted.

            Hikaru stirred in her sleep, and shifted slightly. Besides the red welt across her eyes, she looked like the healthy child she once was. She didn't scream 'blind child, blind child!' like Saori thought she would. No, Hikaru was as beautiful as ever.

            Kakeru had returned, and gently set the tea and water down on Hikaru's mahogany desk. "…Do you think she'll be all right?" He looked down anxiously at his little sister's sleeping form, and hesitantly stroked her face.

            "Hikaru… Hikaru is always all right. Even if she's suffering through the worst pain in the world, she'll always say she's okay."

            The worried brother smiled sadly, "Yeah… I know. I know."

~*~

            Hanae glared at her husband, trying to calm herself. "So. You're leaving again."

            "It's not my fault! I have a very important job, Hanae. I am sorry, though," heaved Akinori, avoiding his wife's eyes.

            "Oh, NO, it's NEVER your fault! How can you do this? We haven't seen the Shido's for 14 years… because of YOU! You were one of Hiroshi's closest friends… Hell, do you even know what friends are? Because you obviously don't know the meaning of family or the importance of them!"

            "LOOK! I do what I do because I KNOW it'll pay off one day. I WILL find that cure."

            Hanae took a shaky gasp of air, and her hand tightened on the glass. She tilted the drink into her mouth, desperately trying to become drunk.  Obviously, she hadn't drunk enough at the beginning of the argument.

            Akinori took a deep breath, and faced his wife as calmly as possible. "I'm only going to be in New York for a few days. I'll be back soon."

            "That's what you always say," she replied, bitterly. "You know, you haven't even met Emeraude yet, have you? Her and Zagato are nearly engaged, and you have no idea what she even looks like!"

            He looked at her, obviously exasperated. "Let's not involve Lantis and Zagato in this!"

            "Oh, that's right. Your sons are NEVER involved! Do you even know what they LOOK like, now?!?"

            Akinori shifted his eyes away from hers, and replied, "I'm sorry, all right? I might be able to make part of the visit."

            "Forget it. I'm going to sleep." With that, the furious woman pushed back her chair, and walked off.

            "I'm sorry…" Akinori sighed. There was no way this was going to be resolved tonight. He picked up the glass she had left behind, and dropped it into the dishwasher. His fingers trembled as they ran through his hair, and he gave one last, longing glance at the bedroom door. "I truly am sorry." He slipped on his leather coat, and walked out of the house and even farther from Hanae.

~*~

            The next day, Hanae was far from happy. Not only had she woken up with a killer hangover, but there was a note on the kitchen counter. It was from Zagato…God knows how he put it there.

Dear Mother.

            I will be leaving for a short period of time. I apologize. It is unknown when I will return. Much love. Zagato.

Dear Mrs. Cail,

            I apologize for Zagato's note. Apparently, he believed it would be FUNNY. I am sincerely sorry about the trip being announced to you in this manner, he told ME that he already told you. But we should return in time for most of your trip to the Shido's!

            Very Sorry,

            Emeraude

            In a way, it was pretty funny. Hanae crumpled the letter in her hand, and stared at it for a few minutes. Was her life ever like that? So carefree and happy? God knows… It certainly didn't feel like she had ever been that young. Hanae sighed, and walked out to the garage. No time to dwell on such unhappy thoughts. She had to go pick up Lantis… it had been years since she had seen her good friend.

~*~

            Hanae stood in front of the door, marveling at how everything still looked exactly like how she had remembered it. The soft blossoms of the peach tree gently embracing the way, and the warm glow the house held… All of it was the same. Lantis waited patiently for his mother to ring the bell, but didn't say anything. He knew how important the Shido's were to her. That was why they had been keeping their distance, for the past couple of years. Hanae's hair was beginning to turn gray from the stress of her marriage, although it was hidden under the black hair dye.

            Hanae just didn't want Saori and Hiro to know about her problems with Akinori. As close friends as they were… it was just so uncomfortable. Damn him. Damn him. DAMN HIM! On such an important week, Aki would have to go to work!

            "Oh, well, here we go!" muttered Hanae, more to herself than anyone. With that, her gloved finger pressed down on the plain looking button.

            The chimes rang throughout the Shido house, and Kakeru scampered to answer it. Trying to smile as sincerely as he could, despite the darkness of his sister's predicament, he opened the door.

~*~

Author's Note: ^^ Next chapter: LANTIS AND HIKARU MEET! Bwahahahaha! Oh, the evilness. So, Saori and Hiroshi are Hikaru's parents.  Hanae and Akinori are Lantis's parents. Will they be important?

Damn straight they are!

^^  And I promise you: THIS WILL BE LANTIS AND HIKARU! No doubts! No if's, and's or but's, this is Lantis/Hikaru!

So enjoy the ride.