Finding An Answer
Rating: PG - PG-13
Author's Note: I have no idea what kind of classes Japanese high school students take so I've just made up the names of the classes that Tai takes. This chapter explains a lot about Tooya's family and is told mostly by Tai. Hope you guys like it.
Chapter 2: Family Portrait
"So... do you live with your -- our parents?"
Tai blanched slightly at the word 'parents'. She recovered before Tooya could notice the change in her expression.
"No... I live in a condo with one of our... family friends..."
Tooya raised his eyebrows at this. "Oh? Why not?"
She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought of the best way to break the news to him without causing any... unwanted reactions.
"Otou-san and kaa-san... they're dead..." she struggled to ignore the slightly bewildered look that spread across his face. "Tou-san... he died two years ago from cancer. Kaa-san was so devastated when it happened. Tou- san... he left us a good amount of money to live comfortably for the next four to five decades or so... Our family... Well, we're pretty... well-off, I guess. Tou-san was an executive for the trading division of the Mikage business empire... He worked really hard to make sure we had the very best... Even though he was busy with work... he still found time to come to all of our extracurricular events."
Tai smiled sadly. "I remember... this one time, when he came to one of your kendo competitions... He'd told you earlier that day that he wouldn't be able to make it... You were so disappointed, but you sucked it up and told him that it was okay... We were so surprised when he showed up for your last match. Turned out that his business meeting had been canceled at the last minute and he'd rushed over as fast as he could... He so proud when you won the match... We celebrated all night and all of us slept clear till noon the next day.
"We had a private funeral. Only you, kaa-san, and I, as well as a few old family friends and most of our relatives were there. He'd been cremated the night before and we spread his ashes into the river behind our house... You and I... we were the only ones there who didn't cry, strangely enough... Not a single tear... It was kinda freaky... but kaa-san seemed to understand... The others... they just assumed that we were still in shock..." she shook her head. "No... it wasn't that... Wasn't that at all...
"When you disappeared... kaa-san couldn't take it anymore. The invisible walls she'd built around her emotions broke and came crashing down. She came down with a severe case of pneumonia a few days later and had to be rushed to the hospital... She got better... but somehow... I could see past the mask she put on for everyone around us. The doctors told us that she'd made a full recovery and could be released... but... I insisted that she stay for a few more days... Something just didn't seem right... Something was off..." she smiled bitterly. "And I was right. She died in her sleep on the second night of her extended stay... The doctors didn't understand what had happened... They tried to come up with all of these reasons for why she'd died... None of them were even close. But I knew exactly why she'd died that night... Losing tou-san and your disappearance... it was too much for her mind and body to take in all at once... She just lost her will to live... Nothing mattered to her anymore... Not even me..." her voice cracked and a lone tear escaped her eyes and left a single, wet trail down her cheek.
Tooya attempted to hail a waiter, but Tai silently shook her head no.
She let out a shaky breath and said, "I'm fine. Really. It's just... been awhile since I've told this to anyone." she then cleared her throat and continued. "Anyway... I had kaa-san cremated a few days later... After the coroner had her body examined and had the necessary information recorded... I had the funeral take place on the 17th of that month... I didn't bother inviting any of our relatives... I just sent everyone we knew a letter that said that kaa-san had died peacefully in her sleep... They respected my wishes, surprisingly enough... So I was the only one at the funeral..."
Tooya felt a pang of guilt in his chest but remained silent.
"I spread her ashes in the exact same river... The one where tou- san's ashes had been spread a year earlier... I think that that's what they'd wanted all along. To be buried together... Their ashes side by side..." a bittersweet smile made its way onto her face. "After kaa-san's funeral, I moved in with Kai... one of your old friends from middle school. The house is pretty much empty now... I mean, all of our stuff is still there... but... I don't go there anymore...
"Kai and Ariko, his sister, take good care of me. They understand why I act the way I do; why I say the things I say. They're good people..."
Although the news of their parents' death had saddened him deeply, Tooya couldn't help but feel slightly wary of this "Kai" Tai had mentioned. Former friend or not, he was still living with his sister. Out of curiousity he asked, "This Kai... You and he aren't... involved, are you?"
Tai shot him an annoyed look. Older brothers... they were all the same... No matter how emotionless they seemed.
"No. Our relationship is strictly platonic. Besides, I'm too moody for him anyway. We just wouldn't click. Although... I do feel like getting in his pants from time to time." she laughed as Tooya's eyes narrowed. "Kidding. Just kidding."
Her face then sobered. "It's getting late. I should be heading home now. Kai will be worried if I don't get back soon." she got up from her chair and slipped her bag over her shoulder.
Tooya stood up as well. "I'll give you a ride. Just give me the address,"
Tai shook her head. "No, that's okay. I live only a few blocks down the street. I can walk home."
"No, really. It's not a problem. Besides, I need to get myself familiar with where you live anyway. I still have a lot of questions to ask you."
It was apparent to her that he wouldn't give up, so she shrugged and followed him to the car.
"It's the building on the left after you take a right turn on the street up ahead." she pointed out as they passed yet another corporate building.
As she got out of the car and shut the door she paused for a moment then asked, "Do you wanna come in? I don't think Kai's back from school yet, so I guess it's okay. He doesn't really like me bringing guys home when he's around."
Tooya thought about it for a second then replied, "Yeah, sure."
"Konbanwa, Tai-san." a boy from behind the front desk greeted as she and Tooya made their way past the sliding glass doors.
"Konbanwa, Kyaku-san." Tai greeted in return.
Tooya noticed the boy narrow his eyes as he caught sight of him.
"Who's that with you?" Kyaku asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Tai glanced briefly between Kyaku and Tooya before answering, "An old friend of mine from middle school. Tooya this is Kyaku Rihoshi, the landlord's son and co-owner of this building."
"Nice to meet you." Tooya said politely.
"Likewise." Kyaku replied, the jealousy in his eyes still apparent.
Tooya noticed Tai roll her eyes slightly in Kyaku's direction before saying, "Well, we'll be heading up now. Have a nice evening Kyaku-san."
"You too, Tai-san. If there's anything you need, just give me a holler." he replied as she and Tooya made their way up the stairs.
As Tai fished around her bag for her keys, Tooya remarked, "That Kyaku guy... he seems to like you a lot."
Tai rolled her eyes and replied, "Yeah. I noticed, too." she inserted a key into the lock and unlocked the door. "He's had a big crush on me ever since I moved in with Kai."
Tooya let out an amused chuckle. "And?"
"And he's been giving me those freaky, love-struck looks ever since. Kyaku's a nice guy and all, but a little too clingy for my taste." she let her bag drop onto the overstuffed couch next to her and pressed a button on the answering machine.
"You have three messages," the machine announced in its mechanical voice. "Message one: Hey, it's Kai. I'm going to be home kinda late so don't wait up for me. There's some leftover pizza from a few days ago in the freezer, if you're hungry, or you can order Chinese or something. I think we still have a menu from Xian's lying around somewhere. Ariko wants to know if you'd like to go to the movies with her and some of her friends this weekend. Call her and let her know, okay? *Beeeep* Message two: Tai, are you home? Guess not, or else you would've picked up the phone already and chewed me out for calling again. Haha. It's Reiji, in case you've forgotten. I need help with the answers to problems twenty six, thirty three, and fifty seven on the worksheet Kinau-sensei gave us today for English. You know I'm failing that class. I swear, Kinau-sensei hates me and damns me to hell everyday under her breath when I can't answer those questions she deliberately asks me in class. *sigh* Well, anyway, call me when you get in, okay? *Beeeep* Message three: Hey Tai. It's Ariko. Just in case Kai hasn't told you yet, me and some of the girls are planning on going to the movies this weekend and want you to come with us. You seemed to enjoy it the last time we went. Oh, and there's this really cute guy we want you to meet. His name's Jin Haisho and he says that he was in your advanced trigonometry class last year. I think you'll like him. Well, anyway, call me when you get in. Peace out. *Beeeep* End of final message."
Tai let out an exasperated sigh. "Why is it that every time that Ariko asks me to go with her somewhere that there's always a cute guy involved?" she ran a hand through her burgundy locks and flopped down onto the couch. "I don't have time or the patience for this matchmaking stuff. Kami, is there some sort of sign hanging around my neck that says: 'I'm single and in desperate need of a boyfriend. HELP!'?"
Tooya took a seat on the couch next to her and replied, "Perhaps, but I think your friends are just trying to help you loosen up."
She snorted. "Loosen up? How will getting a boyfriend help me loosen up?"
Tooya shrugged and picked up a framed picture from the glass-topped coffee table. He scanned it for a moment before asking, "Is that them?"
Tai sat up and took a hold of the picture frame. "Tou-san and kaa- san? Yeah, that's them."
A picture of a tall, burgundy-haired man and beautiful violet-haired woman kneeling next to their two burgundy-haired children, a younger Tai and Tooya, smiled up at them. Tai had inherited their mother's silver- flecked eyes while Tooya had inherited their father's green-gold ones, but both had inherited their father's burgundy hair. Their younger selves sat in what looked like plush armchairs and the backdrop had been that of a starry night sky. Had their eyes been the same color, they could have very well passed for twins. Slight smiles graced both of their young faces and their arms were intertwined around each other in a loving hug.
Now, as their older selves sat together on a couch in a position very similar to the one in the picture, a single tear escaped both of their eyes and splashed silently onto the glass surface of the picture frame.
End Chapter 2
Sooo... what'd you guys think? Too emotional? Too sad? Too... whatever? Reviews will be greatly appreciated.
Rating: PG - PG-13
Author's Note: I have no idea what kind of classes Japanese high school students take so I've just made up the names of the classes that Tai takes. This chapter explains a lot about Tooya's family and is told mostly by Tai. Hope you guys like it.
Chapter 2: Family Portrait
"So... do you live with your -- our parents?"
Tai blanched slightly at the word 'parents'. She recovered before Tooya could notice the change in her expression.
"No... I live in a condo with one of our... family friends..."
Tooya raised his eyebrows at this. "Oh? Why not?"
She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought of the best way to break the news to him without causing any... unwanted reactions.
"Otou-san and kaa-san... they're dead..." she struggled to ignore the slightly bewildered look that spread across his face. "Tou-san... he died two years ago from cancer. Kaa-san was so devastated when it happened. Tou- san... he left us a good amount of money to live comfortably for the next four to five decades or so... Our family... Well, we're pretty... well-off, I guess. Tou-san was an executive for the trading division of the Mikage business empire... He worked really hard to make sure we had the very best... Even though he was busy with work... he still found time to come to all of our extracurricular events."
Tai smiled sadly. "I remember... this one time, when he came to one of your kendo competitions... He'd told you earlier that day that he wouldn't be able to make it... You were so disappointed, but you sucked it up and told him that it was okay... We were so surprised when he showed up for your last match. Turned out that his business meeting had been canceled at the last minute and he'd rushed over as fast as he could... He so proud when you won the match... We celebrated all night and all of us slept clear till noon the next day.
"We had a private funeral. Only you, kaa-san, and I, as well as a few old family friends and most of our relatives were there. He'd been cremated the night before and we spread his ashes into the river behind our house... You and I... we were the only ones there who didn't cry, strangely enough... Not a single tear... It was kinda freaky... but kaa-san seemed to understand... The others... they just assumed that we were still in shock..." she shook her head. "No... it wasn't that... Wasn't that at all...
"When you disappeared... kaa-san couldn't take it anymore. The invisible walls she'd built around her emotions broke and came crashing down. She came down with a severe case of pneumonia a few days later and had to be rushed to the hospital... She got better... but somehow... I could see past the mask she put on for everyone around us. The doctors told us that she'd made a full recovery and could be released... but... I insisted that she stay for a few more days... Something just didn't seem right... Something was off..." she smiled bitterly. "And I was right. She died in her sleep on the second night of her extended stay... The doctors didn't understand what had happened... They tried to come up with all of these reasons for why she'd died... None of them were even close. But I knew exactly why she'd died that night... Losing tou-san and your disappearance... it was too much for her mind and body to take in all at once... She just lost her will to live... Nothing mattered to her anymore... Not even me..." her voice cracked and a lone tear escaped her eyes and left a single, wet trail down her cheek.
Tooya attempted to hail a waiter, but Tai silently shook her head no.
She let out a shaky breath and said, "I'm fine. Really. It's just... been awhile since I've told this to anyone." she then cleared her throat and continued. "Anyway... I had kaa-san cremated a few days later... After the coroner had her body examined and had the necessary information recorded... I had the funeral take place on the 17th of that month... I didn't bother inviting any of our relatives... I just sent everyone we knew a letter that said that kaa-san had died peacefully in her sleep... They respected my wishes, surprisingly enough... So I was the only one at the funeral..."
Tooya felt a pang of guilt in his chest but remained silent.
"I spread her ashes in the exact same river... The one where tou- san's ashes had been spread a year earlier... I think that that's what they'd wanted all along. To be buried together... Their ashes side by side..." a bittersweet smile made its way onto her face. "After kaa-san's funeral, I moved in with Kai... one of your old friends from middle school. The house is pretty much empty now... I mean, all of our stuff is still there... but... I don't go there anymore...
"Kai and Ariko, his sister, take good care of me. They understand why I act the way I do; why I say the things I say. They're good people..."
Although the news of their parents' death had saddened him deeply, Tooya couldn't help but feel slightly wary of this "Kai" Tai had mentioned. Former friend or not, he was still living with his sister. Out of curiousity he asked, "This Kai... You and he aren't... involved, are you?"
Tai shot him an annoyed look. Older brothers... they were all the same... No matter how emotionless they seemed.
"No. Our relationship is strictly platonic. Besides, I'm too moody for him anyway. We just wouldn't click. Although... I do feel like getting in his pants from time to time." she laughed as Tooya's eyes narrowed. "Kidding. Just kidding."
Her face then sobered. "It's getting late. I should be heading home now. Kai will be worried if I don't get back soon." she got up from her chair and slipped her bag over her shoulder.
Tooya stood up as well. "I'll give you a ride. Just give me the address,"
Tai shook her head. "No, that's okay. I live only a few blocks down the street. I can walk home."
"No, really. It's not a problem. Besides, I need to get myself familiar with where you live anyway. I still have a lot of questions to ask you."
It was apparent to her that he wouldn't give up, so she shrugged and followed him to the car.
"It's the building on the left after you take a right turn on the street up ahead." she pointed out as they passed yet another corporate building.
As she got out of the car and shut the door she paused for a moment then asked, "Do you wanna come in? I don't think Kai's back from school yet, so I guess it's okay. He doesn't really like me bringing guys home when he's around."
Tooya thought about it for a second then replied, "Yeah, sure."
"Konbanwa, Tai-san." a boy from behind the front desk greeted as she and Tooya made their way past the sliding glass doors.
"Konbanwa, Kyaku-san." Tai greeted in return.
Tooya noticed the boy narrow his eyes as he caught sight of him.
"Who's that with you?" Kyaku asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Tai glanced briefly between Kyaku and Tooya before answering, "An old friend of mine from middle school. Tooya this is Kyaku Rihoshi, the landlord's son and co-owner of this building."
"Nice to meet you." Tooya said politely.
"Likewise." Kyaku replied, the jealousy in his eyes still apparent.
Tooya noticed Tai roll her eyes slightly in Kyaku's direction before saying, "Well, we'll be heading up now. Have a nice evening Kyaku-san."
"You too, Tai-san. If there's anything you need, just give me a holler." he replied as she and Tooya made their way up the stairs.
As Tai fished around her bag for her keys, Tooya remarked, "That Kyaku guy... he seems to like you a lot."
Tai rolled her eyes and replied, "Yeah. I noticed, too." she inserted a key into the lock and unlocked the door. "He's had a big crush on me ever since I moved in with Kai."
Tooya let out an amused chuckle. "And?"
"And he's been giving me those freaky, love-struck looks ever since. Kyaku's a nice guy and all, but a little too clingy for my taste." she let her bag drop onto the overstuffed couch next to her and pressed a button on the answering machine.
"You have three messages," the machine announced in its mechanical voice. "Message one: Hey, it's Kai. I'm going to be home kinda late so don't wait up for me. There's some leftover pizza from a few days ago in the freezer, if you're hungry, or you can order Chinese or something. I think we still have a menu from Xian's lying around somewhere. Ariko wants to know if you'd like to go to the movies with her and some of her friends this weekend. Call her and let her know, okay? *Beeeep* Message two: Tai, are you home? Guess not, or else you would've picked up the phone already and chewed me out for calling again. Haha. It's Reiji, in case you've forgotten. I need help with the answers to problems twenty six, thirty three, and fifty seven on the worksheet Kinau-sensei gave us today for English. You know I'm failing that class. I swear, Kinau-sensei hates me and damns me to hell everyday under her breath when I can't answer those questions she deliberately asks me in class. *sigh* Well, anyway, call me when you get in, okay? *Beeeep* Message three: Hey Tai. It's Ariko. Just in case Kai hasn't told you yet, me and some of the girls are planning on going to the movies this weekend and want you to come with us. You seemed to enjoy it the last time we went. Oh, and there's this really cute guy we want you to meet. His name's Jin Haisho and he says that he was in your advanced trigonometry class last year. I think you'll like him. Well, anyway, call me when you get in. Peace out. *Beeeep* End of final message."
Tai let out an exasperated sigh. "Why is it that every time that Ariko asks me to go with her somewhere that there's always a cute guy involved?" she ran a hand through her burgundy locks and flopped down onto the couch. "I don't have time or the patience for this matchmaking stuff. Kami, is there some sort of sign hanging around my neck that says: 'I'm single and in desperate need of a boyfriend. HELP!'?"
Tooya took a seat on the couch next to her and replied, "Perhaps, but I think your friends are just trying to help you loosen up."
She snorted. "Loosen up? How will getting a boyfriend help me loosen up?"
Tooya shrugged and picked up a framed picture from the glass-topped coffee table. He scanned it for a moment before asking, "Is that them?"
Tai sat up and took a hold of the picture frame. "Tou-san and kaa- san? Yeah, that's them."
A picture of a tall, burgundy-haired man and beautiful violet-haired woman kneeling next to their two burgundy-haired children, a younger Tai and Tooya, smiled up at them. Tai had inherited their mother's silver- flecked eyes while Tooya had inherited their father's green-gold ones, but both had inherited their father's burgundy hair. Their younger selves sat in what looked like plush armchairs and the backdrop had been that of a starry night sky. Had their eyes been the same color, they could have very well passed for twins. Slight smiles graced both of their young faces and their arms were intertwined around each other in a loving hug.
Now, as their older selves sat together on a couch in a position very similar to the one in the picture, a single tear escaped both of their eyes and splashed silently onto the glass surface of the picture frame.
End Chapter 2
Sooo... what'd you guys think? Too emotional? Too sad? Too... whatever? Reviews will be greatly appreciated.