Chapter 2 Miso Soup

He couldn't see anything. His eyelids were too heavy to lift them open. He knew he wasn't home. The songs of birds were replaced by the faint sounds of cars passing once in a while. The smell of daisies was not present at all, instead there was a barely noticeable smell of gunpowder throughout the place yet he knew he was within the warmth of a home.

"…Finally awake?" He visibly groaned. He now knew who's house he was at of at least a hunch.

"Well good morning to you too." Good morning indeed. He couldn't stay here. It's not the danger he is bringing here but him being found is his major concern.

"You shouldn't be moving you know." He turned to glare at the owner of that overly calm and feminine voice.

"You should not be so concerned Kagero-dono." The said lady remained with her sitting position. Her face hasn't changed. The curse…

"Stubborn as always Kurei but if I let you go now the trouble Recca had to go through to get you here would be a waste of effort." Yes Recca found him. He didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Walking calmly through rickety old but somehow stable wooden floors, Recca carried a warp bowl of Miso soup. He cooked it himself. A little hard to believe but he was watching Kagero cooking dinner and for some odd reason he asked if he could help. He took it like a fish in water. From that day cooking became his side hobbies.

Speaking of which, he wondered if Kurei was already up. If he knew Kurei he was already up and trying to get up. Recca knew he can't though. His body was bruised and battered and he was running a high fever due to the rain last night. What was the other flame caster doing outside shirtless on that kind of weather and why was he so concerned? Probably because they were brothers…even so…they only shared half a blood and that is all to it. They we're enemies for KAMI'S SAKE!

Reaching the room he quietly placed the tray on the floor and knelt down tapping gently at the rice paper walls. A soft "come in" was heard as his cue to enter. He got up almost forgetting to bring the food and scolded himself for his nervousness.

"He fell back to sleep." His mother stated. "You mean he woke up.?" He really didn't sound surprise but for some odd reason he was glad to know that the dark flame caster was able to wake up.

"Yes, a couple of minutes ago. He was eager to get up but he's body couldn't handle it." She turned to look at the tray on her son's hands. "You should heat that up so it's still warm by the time he gets up." Recca nodded but made another reply.

" It's ok though to stay here for a few minutes?" Surprise at the sudden eagerness of her son wanting to spend time with Kurei, Kagero could only nod in return before she went out not forgetting to close the rice-paper doors. (What do you call these things anyway!)

The room was quiet. The only thing he could here was his half-brother's even breathing and his rapidly beating heart. He was nervous. BUT WHAT FOR! He could not comprehend.

He made his way to the small table and placed the food there. I guessed one way or the other he did look up to Kurei as his older brother. Ever since he found out the truth it was always been… Kurei is strong, Kurei is smart, he already knows what I'm planning…I want to be stronger to beat HIM! Ever since he met his brother his goal in life changed. He hated to admit it but the desire to protect his hime came in second over the longing for the trill or being able to surpass the elder when the final battle grew near in the tournament. He didn't know why.

Hard violet eyes were staring at him.( I could have sworn his eyes were purple-violety thingies) It was like it was piercing into his mind. Recca was shocked out of his wits. Kurei was awake the whole time he was consumed with his thoughts…and watching him. OH SHIT!

"AH you're awake." Recca tried to smile to hide his state but the other seemed to have given notice as he only received a narrowing of eyes in return. The Younger scratches the back of his head and proceeded to make his way beside the pale one. There were so many questions Recca would like to ask but he was 99.9 percent sure that the person in the mat won't entertain it. He wanted to start a conversation DAMN IT!

"So how are you feeling?" There a fifty-fifty question…unless you include the ice-prince not answering at all. But it was a START!

"Like hell." an unexpected answer yet I found it was so like him. His answer was the truth. Short yet simple but the way he said makes it sound I'm-not-ok-but-I-don't-like-you-to-give-a-damn-about-it sound even though it was barely audible.

So what next? Silence filled the room once again. This is really awkward.

" Shouldn't you be asking Your questions now?" He's plane voice startled the younger or the two.

"I would but I don't know which questions to ask and if it would be answered."

The dark flame caster just stared. Recca felt like some animal in display and it stirred some unexplainable emotions inside of him and instinct told him to shove them away.

"I was running away." It should have sounded like a cowardly act but coming from this man it sounded that it was something important.

" …from Kouran."

"Aa. Sort of" Kurei stated. "It would be better if I should go."

"Is he here?"

"No. The Japanese government won't allow him back in Japan. But even so I cannot stay." He sighed. He made a move to sit up and just as about he was to mentally congratulate himself he felt something heavy being placed on his lap.

"It's not as warm as before but it's still serves its purpose." The boy defended. "You need to eat." Kurei only stared at the barely steaming Miso soup. Recca shook his head. "It's not poison." He took the spoon and scooped the warm liquid from the bowl. He gently blew it but he really didn't need to and presented it in front of Kurei's mouth. Its smell was overwhelming and he heard his stomach growled in agreement. He looked down on the spoon and saw that the soup was about to spill. Instinct took over and he took the spoon in his mouth. Second later both brothers realize that Recca had just spoon fed Kurei. Recca blushed beet red but Kurei managed to keep a straight face.

Silence once again filled the room, both boys looking at their lap.

"Please Stay." He didn't know why he said it but he knew he didn't want to see this man get hurt. Yes he didn't want to see his brother get hurt by that man. He finally knew the hardship his older brother went through and if it was possible somehow he wanted to ease it so he added. "Niisan." With a hint (more like an obvious) of worry and desperation.

Kurei stiffened at the title and Recca wondered if it was the right thing to say but he held himself.

Minutes have past and Recca suddenly felt a hand prying his hand that was still holding the spoon, to open. Kurei took the spoon and scooped himself a spoonful of Miso soup. Took a sipped and without looking at the younger male he said.

" This Miso tastes good."

Somehow Recca knew the answer to his question.

TBC

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!