Ripples in Red Water
Chapter 2:Shards of the broken mirror
Part 2
The Broken Mirror
By: Empathic Soul
Disclaimer: Gravitation is a wonderful anime. It is sadly not mine. This chapter is quite violent, so it might be PG13 and R to an extent. It borders in between. Again violence and nothing much! It's a flashback to help set the plot. It'll help understand the rest of the story.
PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
Thank you once again to those who reviewed! It was wonderful! I would appreciate any help from anyone! As I may have mentioned, this story is finished and all that I have to do is retype the entire thing. Sigh...I have actually decided to cut chapters into several parts because they're just too long that I could not even begin to imagine how I managed to write such long chapters before!
I appreciate all those reviews and would continue to work on this to make it better. Your reviews are very important to me! Thank you once again! Please read and review and as Ruruouni Sesshouhen remarked: Read with you heart!
Thank you! And bear with me! There will be times that I might not write! Thank you for those who loved my fiction! I wanted something new...but I also wanted something close to who they really are as well. A blend perhaps. Thanks again! Please continue to review! It helps me get inspired in retyping everything! It is indeed dark like one of the reviews that I received. But this would set the plot, so it seems to be necessary.
I am sorry if I offended some with the heavy angst. But do please continue to review. It is much appreciated and the rest of the chapters wouldn't be that heavy or even angsty.
A little spoiler: There's always a rainbow after the storm.
"Okaeri…Chi-chan. Welcome home."
That was sick.
Shuichi knew. It was so maniacally sick that he resisted the urge to vomit at that instant. He saw his sister being dropped on the floor unceremoniously, still looking at him with eyes that are stern enough to send him a message to run away.
Shuichi noticed that his brother stopped in his tracks and looked around the room. He gazed at everything for a while and looked back at him with an eerie smile.
"Don't you like it, Chi-chan? Everything is painted in crimson…not white. White has been always a very disturbing color. It does things to your brain you know."
Why? Shuichi looked at the monster, his previously called brother, his idol, his…
He could not even make himself speak much less move. Everything in him was…
Petrified!
"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you love the way the room is painted now?" Shun turned around and stared at his mother. For a while there, Shuichi thought he saw a flicker of emotion but it was gone as fast as it appeared.
Mother…Shuichi looked at her and he could almost feel the pain that he had to go through. He saw his brother stomp over to him and then paused.
"You know Shuichi, Suzu was mean. She went to call the police saying that I AM CRAZY! I only did this for the two of you that was why I had to punish her. It was her fault, she made me do this." Shun pouted looking evilly at Suzu who looked in pain far worse than Shuichi could ever imagine.
"So I yanked her out of the way and took the cord out!" Shun laughed and looked at Shuichi.
He bent forward leaning so that he and Shuichi were almost nose to nose. He placed a hand and touched his hair and then caressed his cheek. The blood in his hand smeared across the younger boy's face.
"You're very dirty. Where have you been?" Shun grunted and shook his head. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Shuichi's face with a smile. "There all better."
Shuichi felt like he was unable to move. His brother started to walk towards the direction of the bed where he pulled out a small knife. He smiled wickedly and looked at Shuichi then to Suzu.
"Time for the dissection to begin." He trudged his way towards their sister and Shuichi could not think anymore.
He could not believe it. His brother…no his sister…he would kill her!
Shuichi made a mad dash towards the man and tackled him to the floor causing him to knock down some furniture. The older Shindou made a move to stand up slowly, while the younger one ran to his sister to check if she was still alive.
"Sis! Sis!" Shuichi knew that it was futile but at least he's there. If she's alive, he's taking her with him.
"Run…" It was a soft plea but Shuichi knew that he would not be going anywhere.
He smiled towards the older sister and placed her head on his lap. Suzu looked at him pleading to leave this place immediately.
"I'm not the running away type. I am never leaving you." Shuichi whispered as he looked at his brother who stood in front of them glowering with anger.
But as bad as Shuichi could get, he mustered a smile on his face as he looked at his older brother. The other one instantly grabbed his arms and pushed him to the wall having a knife in his hands as well.
"What are you smiling about?" The older man gritted his teeth and Shuichi's face suddenly looked sad. The other was taken aback but did not loosen his grip on the younger man's neck.
"You look sad…" Shuichi muttered the simple words that triggered the man's anger.
"What do you know about sadness? You, always the favorite, you who is always loved, you the perfect little boy! How dare you tell me that I AM sad? You don't even have the faintest idea on what THAT word means!" His brother pushed him roughly on the wall and slammed him repeatedly causing painful gasps of pain eliciting from the mouth of the younger Shindou.
Why was he angry? That was all Shuichi wanted to ask. That was what he wanted to know as he felt his back continuously collide against the wall.
The pain was gone now. It was not like the fist slam. His back felt numb now as he gazed at the animalistic eyes that his brother had as he continued to scream offensive accusations towards him. HE could not see why his brother was doing such an act…why he…
To the side, he saw his sister trying to say something but he could not hear at all. Shuichi looked back to his brother who simply glared at him. The last time he was slammed, his head hit the wall and it sent strong gushes of pain as Shuichi gave out loud groaning sounds. His brother's attention suddenly got caught at the first sign of expression that his younger brother had through all the banging that he did. He let go and watched the other fall on the ground.
Shuichi felt blood from his head and though it was nothing compared to the "paint-job". He glanced up only to find that his brother immediately knelt down on the floor in front of him and touched his head gently.
"Chi-chan! You've been so naughty! Look at what you made me do to you!" Shun embraced him tightly making him choke at the pain. "There, there, now, no one is going to hurt you anymore."
His brother is sick…
His brother is mentally sick…
HE needs help…
His brother needs help…
Please…
Please save him…
Shuichi could not even take it anymore. He was not at all feeling any anger like he felt when he entered the room, or when he saw what his brother was doing to his sister. This time, he felt remorseful about what his brother would actually be feeling.
How did eh end up this way?
Why?
When did it start?
Who did this?
Was it me?
Was it because he was right?
Perfect?
Me?
Shuichi wanted to blame it all to himself. Was this all his fault? HE did not know anymore. He only felt like it is. It was true enough. Ever since he could remember, he was always praised. At having known every martial art their grandfather knew, of course, his grandfather was proud. Having great academic achievements, his grandmother was proud of him. Having exemplary behavior, his mother was proud of him. Having known how to do all the household chores, his sister always was proud of him. Having the best set of musical talents, his friends admired him. Being athletic, his teachers were proud of him…but…
Is that is?
IT was Shuichi's turn to feel remorseful. This time not about anyone else, but it was more about himself. HE was nothing of the such! He was certainly never perfect! HE was a dumb spoiled brat!
I am not perfect!
He shook his head. He knew deep in his heart. He was never and could never ever be perfect. He was…
An IDIOIT…
He pretended to be one!!!
Therefore he is, because he pretended to be one.
Now his head hurt because he's confused.
HE steadily pushed his brother away who was embracing him for the longest time only to find that he has reverted back to his monstrous self. He held Shuichi's arms tightly and looked at Shuichi with a lot of emotions playing in his eyes. Shuichi could not decipher any emotion.
Shuichi felt a slight tug on his side only to find his sister pulling it slightly. She looked up to him, her chocolate eyes clouded, almost blank as she muttered a few more words.
"L-leave…please…run…" She pleaded even more as she looked at him with so much care and love.
"Sis…"Shuichi placed her hand in between his and kissed it lightly. "No, not without you…"
"Shuichi, he…" She was not able to finish when Shuichi was pulled up only to come face to face with a knife.
Shuichi narrowed his eyes on the small shining object when his left hand was suddenly yanked up. He looked at his brother alarmingly all of a sudden when his brother ran the knife on his wrist. He was so shocked at the sudden movement.
His left wrist was bleeding…too much…
That was the end, wasn't it? He slumped to the ground almost feeling heavy. His eyes were suddenly feeling like it would close forever. He heard small sounds of footsteps by his side and when he heard a muffled scream from another person, he knew it came from his sister.
Through his almost closed eyelids, tears mixed his own blood on the floor as he pushed his right hand up to get himself standing. He mustered the rest of his strength to push his brother away from his sister, which happened to be very successful. His sister ran immediately to him and took out a piece of cloth to wrap his bleeding wrist.
This time, it was his turn. He looked at her with pleading eyes saying the exact same thing that she was telling him a while ago.
"Run…" Shuichi whispered weakly to his sister who placed his head over her lap.
And again, it was her turn to smile.
"I'm not running away, Shuichi. I was never really the type." She replied using the same words that he used to reply to her plea.
Shuichi did not know what to do anymore. There was almost no hope to all these. Their own brother would kill them. And no one is there to stop and prolong the inevitable. He slowly closed his eyes wanting to at least be able to think at peace, when all of a sudden a huge number of people entered the room. They had guns and they were wearing police attires.
A man came in a short while and Shuichi could barely recognize who the man is. His deep red hair and green eyes slowly came to focus as the man shouted his name repeatedly.
Shuichi!
Shuichi!
He was calling him, but his body won't move or his mouth could not open to reply.
Shuichi!
Shuichi!
Again…and again…he was calling him. He felt his head lighter this time and then suddenly felt like he was being pulled up from the ground. He was placed on a soft bed that felt like it was being carried away to this van. He heard a loud siren being turned on and he nearly winced at how loud it could get. It was a wonder how he did not feel any more pain…but he winced at the sound.
Quiet, please keep quiet…
I can't sleep.
Shuichi tried to concentrate and at least think about where he is. He suddenly darted his eyes to look at the people in there. He saw his sister beside him, crying her heart out as the same man with red hair embraced her tightly. He was soothing her and saying different words to which Shuichi thought would be very comforting words since her crying bout receded.
So tired…
But that instant, Shuichi smiled. Everyone in the van seemed to have looked at him as he smiled and words were starting to form from his mouth.
"Shuichi?" Suzu's soft voice came into his hearing. He loved that voice, sweet and full of love…
"Hurry, please hurry to the hospital!" The mysterious man shouted towards the driver and felt them speed up even more.
Shuichi smiled.
He would be happy.
At least he would leave his sister to someone who can take care of her.
Yes
He knew this man could take care of her…
Assurance
Happy
At least…
One of us is happy…
Shuichi took out his right hand to grasp his sister's hand near it. Shuichi knew that she was shocked but leaned down so that they were face to face. Shuichi looked at her face and started to memorize all the details. It was not as if he would remember it in heaven, wouldn't he? But he wanted to remember it. He wanted to cherish the moment. But his body could not last longer.
He opened his mouth as the words started to come out, the words that he never told everyone, except his father who is now dead.
He smiled.
"I love…you…" Shuichi smiled and then he never saw anything after that.
Darkness invaded him and he knew that his one may be the last time he would see the light.
TBC
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