Itsuki Tachibana ran his soft fingers over the thick, coarse rope. The rope that would soon take his life and his soul in minutes. The rope that was his friend, his enemy, his escape. It was this rope that once bound him to Mutsuki, before his own brother stole his life from him.
Itsuki hated himself for that.
His dark chocolate eyes followed the glowing, ethereal crimson butterfly that had fluttered in the window and perched on the rope. The delicate creature beat its wings gingerly, as if inviting Itsuki to take his life. The boy narrowed his eyes, and swat at the butterfly, making it swoop out of the way and watch him from the rafters of the small storehouse.
The white haired boy soon dragged over a small desk, and climbed atop. The rope brushed against his neck, making him shiver at the thought of what Mutsuki felt while he was being strangled by loving hands.
Too loving.
Itsuki closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, as memories of his brother flashed through his mind.
"Itsuki…what do you think it's like to be a butterfly?" Mutsuki asked his twin brother while he lifted his arms, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze and the millions of sakuras swirling around him.
The ebony-haired boy shrugged, running his hands over the delicate petals of a wild jasmine. "Being a butterfly probably…the closest thing to freedom."
"Freedom?" Mutsuki asked, a slight smile forming on his lips, "I wish I could feel what that kind of freedom would be like. The freedom of a butterfly…"
Itsuki smiled as well at the thought. "We will both become butterflies someday, Mutsuki-kun. When we die together, our souls will become crimson butterflies…just like the souls of the Shrine Maidens."
"Really?" Mutsuki sighed peacefully as his brother wandered behind him and wrapped his arms around the older boy's shoulders.
"I promise, Mutsuki-kun. We'll be together…forever. And in the end, we'll become crimson butterflies…we'll be free." Itsuki whispered softly in the other's ear.
Mutsuki smiled again. "I love you, Itsuki."
A tear slowly crawled down Itsuki's pale cheek, as he slid his head in the loop of the rope, the rough material scratching his neck more, "Mutsuki…I'm sorry. I couldn't keep the promise…"
Closing his eyes, one foot ready to stop off the desk, Itsuki heard it.
Ring ring.
The one thing there was left to live for. "Chi…"
The last Itsuki heard, was the ringing of his little sister's bell, before his foot slipped and he fell, his world turning to darkness.
There was always one thing left to live for…Chitose.
"I'm sorry..."