Element 5: The Scar Whispers, Nobody is in Paradise.
"Wait…" The door slammed shut. Kanami frowned, walking towards the exit. What is wrong with me? The door clicked open.
Fuujin stomped furiously through the parking lot, stopping at a space thirty feet from the entrance. He reached into his pocket, looking for a key to his red Vespa- after a minute he found it. Reaching towards the handlebars he pulled off his helmet, slipping it onto his head.
What's her deal? He steamed. I mean, I know she's lost her brother. That I can never fully grasp. He revved his engine, knocking the kickstand up and out of the way. I've never lost a family member… hell, I've never even lost a pet. And that guy… He sped out of the lot, a lot on his mind. Behind him the building lights switched off.
Emergency Room
"Hold him! I need three CCs of STAT!" detached medical jargon droned on in the background- ignoring it the tired-eyed blonde slept. Or tried to sleep… his mind was still looking back over that instant, pondering it. What had happened? One second that jerk was aiming, the next there was a burst of air and I was lying on the ground! What the hell was that? He driftedinto a restless sleep. At his side a doctor fingered through his charts- the name Fujiwara Gien was labeled at its top. In Gien's sleep he stirred, once more wondering, what the hell happened!
The same thoughts were present in Fuujin's mind as his Vespa came to a stop in front of a drab blue apartment complex. Switching the engine off, he stepped onto the sidewalk, helmet cradled in his arms.
He walked forward, past broken bottles and dying plants, towards a set of black metal stairs near the middle of the complex. Ascending the stairs, he once again contemplated that moment. What? What was that gust? In his mind was the image of him loading the gun fervently, trying to keep pace with his opponent, the stringy-haired guy. Damn! He cursed mentally as he remembered how he'd felt at that moment, seeing that guy so calm, so sure of himself! He hated guys like that- self-confident jerks!He slammed his helmet down on a doormat, stopping in front of a scratched blue door near the top of the stairs- the door's paint was peeling, the number read 42.
"Kimihiro!" he called, knocking on the dingy door. … No answer. He called again, pausing for a moment- put his ear to the door; he could hear the sound of running water. Sighing, he bent over, pushing aside the door mat, and retrieving a key. With a click the lock released and the door swung open.
"Kimihiro?" Fuujin stepped inside, looking around the dimly lit room. His brother was nowhere in sight- must be in the shower. Walking towards the small kitchen he slid his hand over the counter window to snag an apple from the bowl.
The sound of rustling caught his attention- he spun around to face his brother mid-bite. The boy was slightly taller than him, with the same dark hair and glasses. His lower half was covered with a towel, and he dabbed at his hair with a second towel.
Fuujin scowled at him. "Do you have to use all the towels?"
Kimihiro stared right back. "Having a bad day, little bro?" he tossed a towel at Fuujin, who caught it with one hand.
"Yeah," Fuujin said coldly, setting the towel on the counter. He stepped into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. "Where are dad and mom?" he asked, setting a gallon of milk on the counter.
"Work."
"Still?" Fuujin shot back.
"Still," Kimihiro replied, pushing Fuujin aside to get into the fridge. Pulling out a can of cola, he continued… "Don't you remember? Dad had that big meeting tonight, and mom has to work late … why do you suddenly want to talk to them?" he raised an eyebrow.
Fuujin sighed. "No real reason, I just needed to talk with them about some things."
"No real reason? That's a reason in and of itself bro." he paused. "also, couldn't you just talk to me about this? I'm smart too you know!" He snapped.
Fuujin massaged his temples. "… I know," he said tensely, "but I'm not sure if you'd be able to help."
"Well give me a shot," Kimihiro replied knowingly, "I may surprise."
"… Okay," Fuujin sighed, "but you only get one." Kimihiro shot him an abused look, but Fuujin continued- he was uncertain of where to start. "… Well, yesterday something happened, something horrible."
"What kind of something?" Kimihiro interrupted. Fuujin shot him an angry look.
"I'm getting to that- shut up." Fuujin continued, massaging his temples, "This girl, a friend of mine… well she lost something."
"Don't tell me?" Kimihiro interrupted, nodding approvingly. "Fuujin, you didn't?" Fuujin glared at him.
"She lost her brother you jerk!"
"Oh." Kimihiro replied, suddenly serious. "I see…"
"Yeah," Fuujin went on. "I… I don't know how to talk to her anymore. She's not really taking it well. She hasn't really accepted it- she's said she has, but I don't see it. And she's not taking anything seriously anymore."
The room was silent for a minute. "Not taking anything seriously… What do you mean?"
"She's… she's taking unneeded risks. And she laughed at something that really wasn't funny."
"Uh, something funny? What kind of funny?"
Fuujin glared at him. "We can talk about that later. Right now I just need somebody to help me through this. I don't know what to do." he stopped glaring, and looked at his brother sincerely.
Kimihiro stared back. "You need my help? This is a first."
Fuujin turned with a huff. "If you're gonna' be a jerk, I'll just wait for mom."
"Wait, wait! I'll be good!" Fuujin turned to look at him.
"You'll be serious?"
"I'll be serious."
"Okay." Fuujin turned around, pulling up a chair to sit next to Kimihiro. "I'm ready for your opinion, now shoot."
"… I think you're overanalyzing things." Fuujin sweatdropped.
"What?" he asked, resetting his chair.
"I think you're overanalyzing things. This girl is obviously trying her hardest to be strong- to make it easier for those around her."
Fuujin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "… you think she's trying to be strong for those around her? I told her she could cry- I told her she didn't have to-"
Kimihiro grabbed his hand, silencing him. "She knows those things already. You don't think she's been crying? Like I said, she doesn't want others to feel her pain, or feel sorry for her. That's what I think."
Fuujin stared at him. "you're serious?" Kimihiro nodded.
"Yeah, I am."
Fuujin paused, adjusting his glasses. "Well I think you're full of it."
"Think what you will," Kimihiro said, raising an eyebrow, "but whatever you're feeling right now, she's feeling even worse. Give her time."
Fuujin shrugged, and walked out of the room.
7:00 PM
Kanami walked silently towards the darkened entrance. As she stepped into her house her father stopped her.
"… Kanami, where have you been? How are you?" a look of concern was on his face. Averting her eyes she strode past him.
"… I- I've been taking the ranger exams."
Words formed in her father's throat, but he couldn't get them out. Feelings of concern mixed with pride in the pit of his stomach.
"Kanami, I.. I'm-"
"How's mom?" she interrupted, turning to face him. He took a breath, regaining his composure.
"She's… not taking it well." his voice wavered. He expected a comment back from her, but received none- she just turned and walked up the stairs towards her room.
As she walked past her mother's room she heard muffled crying- covering her ears she ran to her room, slamming the door.
What was she doing? Uncovering her ears she looked down at her hands. This was exactly what Fuujin had been getting at. She knew it, but couldn't accept it. Thinking hurt. Thinking about it hurt… all those memories flooding back, but she wasn't sure which she could trust. Memories of laughter and happiness, dashed against the rocks. Memories of eating with him, roughhousing, parties, and arguing all gone, replaced by that image- the moment his life was snuffed out.
"Yakedo," she nearly choked. "A burn, a scar left by fire- that's what your name means… Meant," she corrected herself. "That's what it meant, and that's what it means to me. A wound." tears welled up in her eyes.
"No! That can't be right! What is wrong with me!" cold tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she fell to her knees.
"That isn't me! Me… I'm the problem aren't I, Yakedo?" in her crying she didn't hear the sound of a door creeping open.
"Don't blame yourself."
Kanami closed her eyes as if the thought pained her- she could have sworn she'd just heard her brother's voice. Seen his smile present in her mind- she shunned the thought away.
"Why does it have to be this way? Why did it have to be you?" her voice grew as she began to yell. "Why! Why couldn't it have been me?… you were always so much better than me." her voice dropped with the last part of the sentence, her head dropping sadly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she buried her head in a pillow.
"And why?" she snapped. "Why! Why are you here Fuujin?" she turned to burn a glare into the center of his chest. Her eyes narrowed.
Fuujin stood blankly in her doorway.
"I… I don't know. But I do know you're hurting, and that I… just can't let that be." he looked down at her with concern- she clutched the pillow tightly to her chest.
"How much?"
Fuujin's brow furrowed. "How much what?"
"How much did you hear, Fuujin?" she said through gritted teeth. Fuujin gave no answer.
"You had no right." she snarled silently. "No right. These are my thoughts to think, and mine alone!"
"I'm here to help."
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO INTRUDE UPON MY SOUL!" rising to her feet she threw the pillow into his face- he pulled twisted metal from his face and tossed his glasses aside.
"I want to help you." he really had no idea what he was doing. He was treading on very thin ice.
"You have no idea what you want."
"You don't have to blame yourself."
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" she threw a book at his chest.
"It wasn't your fault."
"Leave me alone!" she threw a lamp.
"Blaming yourself will solve nothing." He felt the warm trickle of blood down the side of his face. Blaming him wouldn't solve anything either.
"Please… calm down." he stepped towards her.
"I HATE YOU," she beat against his chest.
"Fine. Just don't hate yourself." he drew her close. "It's okay to cry- he's gone. It's not because of you. There was noth-" he felt a knee to his groin. "Nothing," he continued, pitch rising, "that you could do." he finished, holding back a scream.
"No. He can't be-!"
"He is."
"I don't want him to be!"
"He is." Fuujin's voice rose slightly.
"No." Kanami's voice was weak.
"Yes," Fuujin held her closer. "I'm sorry." he whispered into her ear- she buried her tear-streaked face into his chest.
"And you're set to go Hirameki-san," the doctor smiled, setting paperwork down on the front-desk.
Raito smiled back, then pulled his hood over his head, hat and all, turning to leave.
The doors opened, letting a warm breeze in from the night outside, and scattering papers- Raito silently slipped through them, and out into the bright city lights.