Ripples in Red Water
Chapter 4: Luminescence
Part 3
Reliving the Past
By: Empathic Soul
Disclaimer: Gravitation is a wonderful anime. It is sadly not mine.
PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
Thank you once again to those who reviewed! I really love the reviews! Hehe! Helps me and makes me inspired to write the story again!
Thank you once again! Please read and review and as Ruruouni Sesshouhen remarked: Read with you heart!
Thank you!
Heh, introducing main character number 4! Now onto the drama part, yet again please read at your own risk! Damn, this chapter got me hooked into typing! It was amazing for me because the angst has come back! Therefore a warning is needed
BE FOREWARNED: This chapter includes angst, drama, and a little bit of violence! Please do read this with care and understanding. Absorb it so that you would get some of the subtle hints for the plot and do so understand the characters as well. Thank you so much!
Shuichi finally caught up with the woman who is still standing near the parking lot by the building. She was about to head for that red Ferrari when he finally grabbed her arm gently causing her to immediately look at him with wide eyes and at the same time take three steps backwards in alarm.
Shuichi smiled sheepishly at her while placing a hand behind his head with a shy expression.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. But it was the only way that I could get your attention." Shuichi smiled softly at the woman who suddenly avoided looking at him.
Shuichi made a face for a while thinking for the reason as to why the woman was actually avoiding his gaze. Why would she do that anyway? And yet being Shuichi, he simply smiled back at her. The woman relaxed a bit and crossed her arms over her chest while looking as menacingly or horrifyingly to the boy hoping to scare him away. Somehow deep inside, that little talk the boy had with Sakuya a week ago was the problem. Sakuya was a pain to Suzu. If he did not approach him then Shuichi would probably still be safe as of the moment from the threats of the past.
But no, the guy just had to interfere and meddle with something that he had no business in.
Always the meddler!
Shuichi knew that the girl was deep in thought but he wanted to ask immediately what was bothering him. For the past week and especially the past two nights, he's been dreaming of things he never thought would be possible. For many times, he believed that those were merely make believe characters that he mentally created due to his lack of sleep, the lack of food, and an overactive imagination.
He thought that the pink haired lady in his dreams, the blue haired man with a suit, the blue haired boy with cold eyes, this lade, and the red head in his dreams were merely a part of his imaginary setting. But then when he saw this woman today, something in him was triggered. It was as if it told him that everything he saw in his dreams were not made up sequences in his mind, rather it was really reality playing back in his mind—flashbacks. It was a memory reminding himself that it existed.
But how can he believe such when he even had his memories back then when he was a child? His memories were perfect and he had a perfectly normal life.
Wait a minute…
Perfect?
Then it struck him…
…perfect?
He looked at the woman who now stared at him with her eyes wide with shock. It was as if she knew what went through his mind just a while ago. It was not difficult for Suzu because Shuichi's eyes were as expressive as they were before. Neither of them noticed the arrival of the people in NG behind their backs. They were just staring at each other like two people in a duel waiting for each other to draw out their guns and shoot.
The girl decided that, it's probably her turn to talk.
"Why do you want my attention, Shindou-san?" She smiled starting to play the game.
But sorry for her, Shuichi was in no mood for a game.
"What's your name?" Shuichi asked, a little roughly for his usual attitude, even everyone behind him seem taken aback by his tone. To Suzu, it resembled the tone he had when he first woke up in the hospital.
Name?
That was the thought that raced on Suzu's mind. He was going straight to the point.
What was she to do?
And contrary to everyone's thoughts and ideas of him, Shuichi was no idiot.
Well, if she's not answering that question, I might as well point out the obvious anyway. Shuichi thought and stared at the girl with a serious expression.
"Who are you in relation to me?" Shuichi asked merely acknowledging the fact that she has her pink hair and she realized the effect of that question.
That simple question seems to ask a lot like: You're not a fan girl, why is your hair pink? Why are you watching me throughout my rehearsal? Why don't you tell me your name? Why do you seem scared at me? Who are you?
Those were the samples of the other questions that the one Shuichi threw at her implicated. However, Suzu was shocked to have met those eyes that have given her hope all these years. Those violet orbs are now directly staring back at her with vibrant life.
The life that was taken and brought back
The life that she changed and hid away
And possibly substituted with this life in front of her…
The life…
Which according to Sakuya
Was
A LIE.
"Shuichi…" Suzu unconsciously said while the tears that she's been holding up into her eyes started to fall down her cheeks.
To her surprise, it startled Shuichi a lot. His eyes widened at her sudden crying in front of him. She could not help it. All those pent up emotions of not being able to talk to him, to cradle him, to soothe him in his problems, to listen to him singing, and all those other stuff that she missed was giving her a hard time in controlling her emotions. The hidden tears slid down her cheeks as she raised her hand to cover her face.
Shuichi however took a step back. It was not as if he was awkward to see a woman crying, rather, this woman's, this particular woman's crying was freaking him out. It was as it he saw this already, in some unknown dream or probably some unknown time. But her crying is wrecking his heart or shattering it into a million pieces. IT was different seeing her cry. Pieces of the puzzle that was left for him to solve was slowly appearing and placing themselves automatically.
Shuichi tried as he might wanted to at least mutter a word to comfort her. In truth, he was so scared. He was scared of what this girl might tell him. He was scared of what?
…The truth
…The truth that the redhead was right in saying that you lost your memory…
…The truth that you don't know who you are…
…The truth that you're not who you think you are…
…The sad truth…
…That you are alone…
Shuichi started to feel that all too familiar tingling of pain in his head. This mere contact with the girl has caused him several memory flashes. He was certain that this girl knew him, probably much more than he knew himself. That was why he wanted to know. And he's going to find out even if it's the last thing that he was going to do.
"Why, why is it that you're always in my dreams when I have never known you?" Shuichi bent his head trembling this time. His voice was quivering and everyone looked at him in worry.
Yuki debated with himself if he wanted to go to Shuichi and pull him away from this mess. Looking at the boy, he was slowly watching him shatter into bits and pieces that Yuki was uncertain if he could still bring him back together. He was standing there right now, vexing in extreme annoyance with the situation and with himself. Yuki wanted to take him away and run, but his resolve was broken when he saw Shuichi raise his head to face the woman in an almost angry state that he never saw Shuichi give anyone.
Not even Aizawa Tachi.
"Why are you doing this to me now? Now that I have finally had a stable life, now that I have finally had someone to love, not that I have friends, why is this happening to me now? Why did you and that man have to come barging into my life and ruining it in the process?" Shuichi glared at the woman in indefinite and unstable emotions ranging inside him. He was confused, he did not know…
It was too painful.
"W-we…" Suzu stuttered. She was scared. What Sakuya told him last week caused him to breakdown like this?
"WHO ARE YOU!!!" Shuichi shouted and took a step forward that he and the woman are now face to face.
He grabbed her shoulders squarely and looked at her for eye-to-eye contact. The people there would have stopped him immediately if he wanted to harm her but he did not. Shuichi simply wanted her to look at him to get the answers that he wanted or rather needed the most.
Suzu wanted to embrace him at that point and tell him all about it, but no, she will not pull him back to hell. She immediately pushed him away causing the other to lose his balance and tumble a few steps backward almost losing his balance. He steadied himself and looked at the girl who suddenly lost her cool as she suddenly glared back at him.
There was anger in her features. It was seemingly directed to herself than to Shuichi though, but the most obvious feeling was the feeling of longing. She looked hard towards Shuichi and then started to ramble.
"How dare you act angry towards me when I have done everything to give you the perfect normal life that you always wanted? I withdrew you of all the promises that you made into protecting me and always be with me! I withdrew all the love that you promised dad you'll give me! I lost them all when I decided to give you the life that I cannot have and now you claim that I have ruined your life? How could you? How could you tell me, your own blood relative that I ruined your life?" She babbled and suddenly covered her mouth when she realized what she suddenly said.
Oh no…my feelings…emotion…I got carried away…
She looked at Shuichi who seemed to have taken in everything that she said, to the very letter. Everyone that was watching also seemed to look at her with a gasp or a gapping mouth but none of them mattered. Shuichi was the most important person at that instant. He looked at Shuichi who had a blank look in his eyes and saw the boy suddenly place his right hand over his face. He glided it and stopped it over his forehead.
Shuichi could hear her voice and her words echoing in his head mixing along with the beat of his heart. His head is pounding loudly as eh sorted out those words. He knew those words well. His head is starting to ache but he felt like he's got no power over anything now.
He started to grow apprehensive as he heard those words echo in his mind. Those words came back with a flash of his memory and with each single flash, it was accompanied by a strong gush of pain blowing inside his head. He felt himself weaken, but he would not let it. He wanted to know, he needed to know
Then there it was again, echoing
Flashing
Beating
Remembering
A Perfect Normal Life…
"Be a good boy now, I know you'll be happy with this new life…" Suzu whispered to Shuichi seven years ago as they brought him to his "parents" house.
The house was simple. There were three people waiting for him by the door of the house. One was a girl possibly older than him and two were probably what this lady beside him told him would be his "parents". He looked at the house as if it was the most unfamiliar thing to him. True, he had lost his memories as this pink haired girl told him, but that does not mean that he did not feel familiar about things.
For one thing, this house was anything but familiar. The people that smiled upon his so-called return merely appeared to look with forced enthusiasm and he did not even feel any sense of familiarity towards these people, this place, and even the household rules and regulations.
Nothing was familiar to him.
But then again who was he to speak? He had lost his memories and barely have an idea where and who he is. He only watched the two people that looked and felt familiar disappear after placing him in this house and never return again.
Promises…
"I promise you dad, I'll take care of mom and sis. I promise that I'll be strong…" Shuichi whispered to the tombstone of their father as the burial finished. "I'll be their knight in shining armor and protect them from harm. I would use my martial arts too!"
"Oh yeah, by the way, I beat up this group of thugs because they were trying something on Suzu. So I kinda got a bit carried away. Hehe, I kicked their butts on the ground…though, Big Brother helped a lot too." Shuichi glanced at his non-emotional brother.
He made a small action of pinching in the air. But who was Shuichi kidding? Look at him, his tears are falling down his cheeks as he stared at the tombstone of their father who died in a car accident. TO be honest, he was scared, scared out of his wits. He was scared of the responsibilities that now lay ahead of him. His father and his brother would usually assure him that everything would be alright, but it seems that his father would not be able to say it anymore and his brother was not likely going to talk anytime soon.
He simply placed on the smile that he created as a mask and looked at the grave.
I won't cry anymore…
I promise…
He took the oath to himself as he readied himself to go back home and fulfill those promises.
Dad…
The father smiled. Shuichi was cute, a very cute little boy. He knew that Shuichi had always been very keen, observant—sometimes even too smart for his own good. Usually though, he puts on that façade that he's some king of hyperactive, stupid, and idiotic brat—spoiled son of renowned Shindou Shinji. But that was just some mask he tries to put on, or rather the role he prefers to play. He hides himself—deep inside. Shuichi always wanted to bond with other people—so he guessed that being a smart and rich boy would only fail him in getting true friends. They would look at his material wealth—toys according to him—and then they would not even appreciate who he really is.
Smart?
Of course!
Shuichi felt his father staring. He tilted his head to the side and observed his father's gestures carefully. Then he looked at the door and then back to his father.
"Daddy, why did big brother do that?" Shuichi looked at his father with a confused look. "He slammed the door really hard, doesn't he love you at all?"
"He does. It's just his way of showing it." The father assured him, looking straight into the boy's eyes. He placed a hand over his head and nodded slightly.
"Cold love?" Shuichi smiled. "Hehe, that's so cute! Big brother really is a softie isn't he?"
"Softie?" Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Cold love? Interesting term, Shu-chan."
Shuichi smiled…or rather grinned at his father.
Love?
"Shuichi…" His father's tone changed into something more serious. "If you were to love someday, how would you show your love?"
Shuichi raised an eyebrow. He looked up at the sky pondering at the idea for a while.
"Odd question…" Shuichi muttered softly then turned back to his father. "Maybe…just maybe daddy, love isn't something that you could explain. It just makes it less…truthful
Mother…
"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
Sister…
"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.
Brother…
His brother slowly turned to him. And at that instant, he knew that this was not his older brother anymore. HE was someone else. The coldness in his eyes was deep and his breathing was uneven. His shoulders were slouched as he looked straight to the invading person. This man was not the brother he grew up with. He was no longer the person that would carry him on a piggyback ride….
This person…
He is a monster…
YES!!!
A monster!!!
There was no other fitting description. Only a monster would be able to do this…this kind of brutality, animalistic attitude! His brother chuckled dangerously as he saw him by the door, staring at the sight with wide, confused, and unbelieving eyes.
"Okaeri…Chi-chan. Welcome home."
But then again, after a few moments, another memory flashed as he remembered the part where his brother pulled him up and was about to slit his wrists. Shuichi looked shocked and then Shun whispered something in Shuichi's ear that bought the boy into a trembling fit and his mind into confusion. Shuichi merely took a glance at their brother as the words finally registered into the mind of Shuichi.
"Shuichi…I'm sorry…I don't want to do this…"
It was a weak statement of apology while a tear fell down slightly in his cheek. It was not obvious but it was there. Those simple words, simple actions were enough to make Shuichi question the situation. Now he did not know…
He wanted to ask…
Shun…
Big brother
What happened?
Why?
It was then that Shindou Shuichi's scream brought people there into disarray.
TBC
Please Read and Review
Thank you Very Much once Again for reading and reviewing this fiction
This is probably the most dramatic part of all, next to my climax of course! hahahaha!
Silver on the tree: well hi there! thanks for reviewing my story and please do continue to read!
clarichan: sadly school started about 3 months ago, and exactly 4 months now, since it's 12 in the evening of september! damn...oh well, I got lots of exams tomorrow and I just want to upload this for you people! heheh
ddz008: I always look beyond the exterior! It really helps to make better characters that do not sway too much from their original traits adn develop them to something new! hehe! thanks for the compliments hope to hear from you again!
Spiral Fish Cakes: Okay now you don't need to give yourself physical pain! hahaha!
Reiannah: Remember to write your story too! I'm waiting for it! hahahaha! I'll give you a Sakuya plushie and Ramune soda also! Plus some Pocky! heheh! Well, I'm grateful with your song and I do think that fits with Shuichi! But read on and you'll see some important twists! I love your reviews and I totally appreciate you reading this! Thank you and I am very honored!
Oh and yeah, I like Sakuya hell a lot better than Suzu! (Biased writer...hehehe)
cetsunai: well here's another chappie! Thanks for the compliments! they are taken here in my heart...sigh!
deppfan1016: well I would probably act like some authors and keep my mouth shut for the plot. I wanna say it now but that would ruin it right? hehehe! So keep reading and I am thankful for your reviews once again!
iloveathrun: thanks again!
kanilla: Keep on reading and I'll make you realize some of the most important twists of this story! heheh!
CHAPTERS:
Well, I must say that I am really happy with how many people are reading this fic! I am flattered! Please do continue to read it and I am gonna go write some more! We're in the fourth main chapter now and only 6 more to go! waaaaaaaaahhhh! 6 divided by 3 equals...damn...18...how am I gonna write that!
Well to give a little teaser, only two more main chapters before more of the plot would show up! continue to read and review okay, helps me get motivated! See you all soon and I am eternally grateful!