The train stops but he refuses to get up from his seat. He didn't want to look outside. It will only prove the fact that he was back in the city. A noisy place that despite its size and population a person becomes rather predictable to find. And he didn't want to be found.
"Aniki…" the younger decided to stick with this title. It sounded neither childish nor too brotherly sweet.
Kurei looked u from his seat only to find Recca's extended hand.
"You ready?" he asks.
Taking another look out the window, there was no turning back. As soon as he steps out of this train Kouran Kurei is gone.
The train leaves. The fading warmth of the two boys was the only reminder that they had been there.
"We should get you clothes." The younger suggests. "I mean you can keep using mine all the time…it really doesn't do you."
"I do not want to state the obvious but has it not occurred to you that perhaps my account had been tapped and using them would mean instant give away." Placing there backpacks down they began to mend their sore arms as they waited for the bus.
The younger grins at the elder, "What is with that face?…" Kurei suspiciously asks. That smile can never be something good. " I had got a part time job here and there co'z I got pretty bored with doing fire-crackers at my old mans shop. I got a little money to spare." ok so that was not the whole truth. That money was for Yanagi's upcoming birthday. But hey his brother needed this more.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Tadaima!" was the booming voice that greeted the Hanabishi household. Must you say it so loud!" The man behind him complains.
"Old mans probably out back mixing up some sort of experimental fire crackers while smoking. Which reminds me? I should go and check up on him."
Fire crackers? Oh, that is right. Recca and his father make them for a living. He got a glimpse of those once or twice.
"Behave the team will come and pick you u for tests." The girl just stares at her. She was unafraid despite the horrific scenes he described about wan Kouran's men can do to her.
"Recca will come." She states quietly. "You'll see! He promised to protect me at all cost. I know he will!"
Neon lights illuminated throughout the night sky. It was so strange. He had seen so many firework displays but this ones seem to burn with life. It was a cheaply made and its composition was amateur-like but it made it seemed like the lights owed the sky. The girl rushes to the window blocking his view of the unusual event. She murmurs "Recca" and looses consciousness caused by Kurei's hand hitting the back of her neck.
She lay on the floor dead weight as Kurei watched the lights a little moment longer.
There are destructive noises at the back part of the house. He could only assume that it was Recca and his father.
"You stupid old geezer! I told you not to smoke while making these!" he could somehow pick his brother's voice amongst the rest of (he could only assume) objects being thrown.
"You stupid brat!" he heard the elder shout. "You shouldn't have pushed me in the first place! The whole workshop could've exploded."
Standing beside the front door Kurei contemplated if he should follow and see what his brother had gotten himself into. But just as he was about to step forward the two came in, Recca's father hitting the boy with the use of his fist.
"Shit! That fucking hurts old man!" he then threw a kick on his father's face.
How can Recca do this to his father so casually? If he did such acts with his… NO. He didn't even want to consider that man his father. That man didn't need respect he had fear.
"Your brother sure is weird." The voice broke Kurei out of his musings. The old man just grins.
"Since we have a guest…" The man then turns to his son. "Brat Start cooking."
"What! Why me?" his son argues.
"Brat you and I both know that you can cook better. Impress him."
"He has been eating with me and Ka'san for weeks. What's there to impress?"
Recca blushes at his father's…compliment? Why the hell am I blushing it's not like I'm a girl who's trying to impress a lover.
"If that's the case then let him help you."
"I thought you said he was a guest?"
"Just shut up and cook." He throws both of them matching yellow aprons and leaves before they could argue.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"That good for nothing OLD MAN!" Recca shouts as he forcefully rinses the rice. He then remembers that he had an assistant beside him. He turns to his left and sees Kurei quietly chop some sour berries.
He sighs. "That's surprising. I always thought that you had it all and kitchen work was a total stranger to you with you being treated like a prince in that mansion." The younger was now keeping his eyes on his task and he didn't notice his brother's tense posture.
"I use to help in the kitchen when my mother cooks breakfast for me." He states as he places the chopped berries into a bowl.
"Really? From my oka'san's story she wasn't a very nice lady."
"My True mother suffered because of yours you know!" he snaps. Realizing his actions Kurei takes a deep breath. "I am sorry. That was unbecoming of me."
"True mother?..." Recca paid no heed by his brothers sudden outburst he was more interested about the first statement.
There was a long silence.
"It is not like I didn't experience having a normal childhood. That son of a bitch has a wife. She was the one who found me."
Kurei had a spaced out look on his face. " It was short lived but I was able to experience being loved and cared for…I was happy."
"Niisan…" Kurei turns to the source of the voice only to find Recca with glassy and teary eyes. " Wha…what the hells wrong with you."
"I'm so sorry niisan. I never knew. I only wish I was there for you." He says as he dives in attempt to give Kurei a hug (agh! The OOCness)
"Hey! What the hell is your problem?" he begins to push Recca off. "Let go!"
"Brat is dinner re…" and this is how Hanabishi-san found them. Recca was practically hanging off Kurei legs wrapped around the elder boy's waist as the other struggles to push him off.
"Um…I don't have any siblings but I'm not sure if that's how they rough house with each other."
"Ch'…" not used to people near him Kurei struggles to push the younger off and succeeds. Recca pouts and tries to save a little of his dignity by turning his attention back to his dad.
"What do you want?" He says annoyed while his right hand rests on his hip.
"I was just gonna ask what's for dinner. Geesh with the way you act around the kitchen you seem more like my overprotective daughter than a son."
"WHAT!" this time both his hands were resting on his hips. "GET OUT!" he shouts as a spatula was thrown.
"Stir fried vegetables, beef teriyaki with sesame seeds and thick barbeque sauce, and we have sweet onigiri for desert." The brothers placed the served meals on the table.
"Jasmine Tea?"
"Me and Kurei had Green Tea for the past weeks. He got tired of it so I thought Jasmine would be a nice change."
"It's good you're now more open then. Last I heard Kagero-san and Recca barely got a word out of you." He receives a nod in reply. "We'll I guess not that open yet."
"Hey come on the make the food wait." Recca interferes.
"Itidakimasu." They say in unison as they start to dig in.(AN: I really can't find a direct translation it could be said as "let's eat" or "this is what I'll eat" but still won't sound right)
Dinner went almost peacefully with Recca and his father's petty arguments as Kurei silently eats. Yes it was a normal dinner. To Hanabishi-san's surprise Kurei manages to finish almost half the onigiris. He ain't looking like a person who has a sweet tooth. Guess they're brothers alright.
"Ni'san, your mind's in space again. What are you thinking?" elbows rested on the table to provide support to his head he looks at his brother with an amused grin.
"Nothing." He mumbles as he finished his latest grabbed rice cake.
"If it's nothing then why do you have a piece of rice on the side of your cheek?" He brings his hand up… "Here let me get it of you." and wipes the sticky rice off. He then notices that Kurei was too quiet. He was about to tease him about being out of it but stops as he sees that Kurei was focused on his face.
"What is it?"
"Your father is right."
"Huh?"
Kurei touches the cheek where Recca had recently touched it. It was warm. He didn't know though if it was caused by Recca's sealed hand or the starting blushed caused by his denied embarrassment.
"You really act like more of an overprotective sister." Both prepared for Recca's temper but were actually surprise to find the youngest turn red as a tomato. He quickly takes the dishes and rushes out to the kitchen head down
Though he barely understood nor considered it his business Recca's dad felt that what he witnessed is not something that he should be seeing. He didn't know why. It just felt that way. But then again the whole situation is messed up. Your former rival and mortal enemy is now considered your closest half. So definitely they would seem really awkward to each other.
"Dad! I have school tomorrow but I'm taking ni'san to the mall for some clothes." He hears his son talk from the kitchen.
"Don't go asking money from me I'm broke."
"You're just stingy!" he heard him reply. "Anyway we could manage on our own."
Pouring a cup of sake for himself he offers Kurei a drink. " No thank you. I prefer the tea for my stomach." The quiet one replies.
Reaching at the left side back pocket he hands Kurei a small brown envelope. "Here." He states. "It's not like I don't like Recca holding it. It's your clothes after all."
"It is not like I do not appreciate your help. But I would prefer if I do not receive anymore of your pity. I have been in debt to you too much already."
"Recca is the first and last stray I'll ever pick up." The middle-aged man jokingly replies. "This is more of a welcome-to-the-family-gift." With a serious but warm smile he continues. " I would appreciate it if you would accept it."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Both boys fully awake lay quietly on their Tatami mats. Recca's room was small. Their mats were so close to each other they we're almost touching.
"I'm skipping school tomorrow. We really need to buy you stuff." The teen breaks the silence. Knowing that his brother is still awake he still turns to his side to check. "I am afraid I cannot agree to that." A monotone voice was the reply.
"Sheesh. It's only been weeks and you lay the older brother lecture on me." He turns to lie on his back again with his arms tucked under his head. " It's not only the clothes. We have to meet someone tomorrow."
" And who might that be?" Kurei narrowed his eyes. It did not hurt to be suspicious now.
"It's a secret."
Although he cannot see his other half's face from his voice he can tell that he had a smug grin on his face. He shuts up and faintly smiles. It was odd. He lived in a life so full of treachery and deceit. Trust was just a fantasy. It cannot be gained because it does not exist. Fear is the only thing that makes people bow down to your every whim. And yet here he was. A smug grin the only means of assurance of his safety and he somehow trusted him. Was this another part of a brother bond? How can it be gained so easily when they had just turned on the same side just recently? It was nerve wracking at the same time somewhat comforting.
"Don't you trust me?" he whines. This made Kurei do something he'd wanted to do for quite sometime. He flicks Recca on the nose.
"Ow!" Recca yelps in surprise. Holding the injured nose. He sits up only to find his brother beginning to tuck himself in the covers. " What did you do that for?" He retorts
" I don't trust you. Now go to sleep." It wasn't a harsh tone. In fact it sounded endearing. He didn't know how he could already read Kurei so easily but he was not complaining.
"Oyasumi nasai too nisan." He quietly replies as he buries himself in his covers. Of course he wouldn't see the other brunette smiling in reply.
tbc...
at last! hehe i can't belive i had yime to go to ffnet and actually send it. to tell yah the truth i had finished this chapter earlier just can't find the time to send it...o.O actually what surprise me is that there are people who actually like my weird story o.O that so cooL anyway thank you. the next one is half done i hope i don't get cought up at work again
review please and thank you