Remember when I said last chapter would be the last time-skip? Yeah...that was a lie. Sorry about that! Regardless, this chapter will be something. There's lots of rage there...and someone getting abused. I did warn you guys.

Chapter 3 : Cleaning Out My Closet

March 19, 2006

It is said everyone has their breaking point. That small moment. That straw that breaks the camel's back. That moment that makes a trembling person into an unstoppable force of rage that can make grown men cower.

Carrie White's breaking point was that doomed prom night as pig blood seeped over her new dress and the bucket hit the head of her prom date, killing him.

Anakin Skywalker's breaking point was when he found out his wife had died of a broken heart.

And Tai's breaking point was what had happened that fateful night.

Three days. Akihiro was out for three days. Doing what? Tai didn't know nor he cared. Especially now. And those three days were some of the best Tai and Kari had in awhile after they had been sent to Edogawa. Things had laxed in that brief time. Tai had noted that Kari smiled more often in those three days. She had even brought a nice young man over, a boy in her grade. This blue-haired guy who was captain of the swim team. He seemed to be more of a friend than a crush, Tai deduced, as from what he observed they had spent their time studying for that big final test.

On one hand, Tai felt remorse for snooping on his sister like that. On the other hand, he wanted to make sure in order to protect both Kari and the young man. Akihiro rather violently forbade boyfriends for Kari. Tai didn't want Kari to be hurt like the last time she had brought a male friend over and Akihiro managed to find out. Boyfriends were out of the question. No matter how curious Kari was.

And Tai was pretty sure girlfriends were out of the question as well. Girlfriends meant sweet nothings, chances for the situation to slip out and for them to get out of there, something that Akihiro wouldn't like at all. There were some girls he had been attracted to in his high school career, subtly watching them with their carefree beaming smiles, laughter reminiscent of Christmas bells, and perky voices that were sometimes obscenely cheerful, like artificial sweetener. However, with Akihiro here, Tai mentally kept a vow of celibacy of sorts that he would live by until he and Kari could get out. However, it was quite hypocritical of Akihiro to deny relationships when he brought in a younger, pretty, delusional woman every month.

And even if Akihiro was the type of man who didn't mind Tai bringing in a lady friend, Tai wouldn't give himself a chance to seek one. In his high school years, Tai was almost a ghost walking in the hallways. He was never bullied by any means and he did have casual friends but he mostly kept to himself except for soccer practice and the occasional school events. He knew he was nothing like this back in Odaiba. Then again, back in Odaiba, he had his close friends with him and his mother was still alive.

Keeping to oneself avoided the painful inevitability of having to leave people he had been attached to. So he didn't want to hurt other people who would have sought a friendship with him. He didn't want to stay in Edogawa any longer once now that he would receive a diploma soon. His ticket to freedom. No school meant a chance to get a full time job. Earn money and leave with Kari by his side. One day when Akihiro was out doing whatever the fuck he does. Or at least that's what Tai had always planned. However, fate sometimes has a different plan right around the corner.

Sometimes one's sun sets in this earth before what others' have expected. Sometimes the rain comes earlier in the day before the time predicted by the meteorologist on TV. Sometimes an expectant mother ends up giving birth a month or so before the doctor's seemingly correct prediction.

For it is said that nothing is truly certain in life except death itself. And taxes.

It all started after Tai had picked up his diploma shortly before waiting for Kari to get out of her final test. He glanced at the high school one final time. Fixing the sleeve of his black school uniform jacket, he watched the clock tick and tock, until finally the door slammed open. The sound of excited fifteen-year-olds laughing and whooping was louder than the ancient beehive-haired teacher crying out 'Decorum!' helplessly to these hairless monkeys in black school uniforms. Tai finally caught a glimpse of a young girl walking out, her pink eyes brightening at the sight of her brother.

"Hey, Kari." Tai called out, not hesitating to show the paper in his hands with pride. The ticket to their escape.

"Tai, is that-?" Kari began, in awe and admiration at the Sotsugyō Shōsho in her brother's hands.

Tai finished, proudly, "The one and only. Our ticket to get the hell out of the bumfuck that is Edogawa. The mechanic shop has agreed to interview me this week. The bar also is looking for bartenders, no experience necessary, so there's that if the mechanic shop interview doesn't go well. If I work hard for the money, we'll be out of this place by New Years."

"You think so?

"I know so, Kari. Now, come on, let's go."

"But don't you want to celebrate your graduation?" Kari piped, looking at Tai with those puppy-dog eyes. Tai flinched. Leave it to younger sisters to be able to give those puppy sad eyes that can hit you right at the spot. Especially when said younger sister had lived her life in fear for some time.

"I mean, it's not like I'm going to some university or something." Tai shrugged nonchalantly. That was also something Akihiro wasn't happy about. When Tai admitted that he hadn't applied to any college, Akihiro was livid and screaming every foul obscenity he knew. The older man claimed he was only angry because he loved Tai and knew he could accomplish great things. Bullshit. Tai knew the real reason however. Akihiro was only furious because of the fact that having a nephew who refused to go to college would look bad on him. Typical Akihiro. Always worried about how tragedies and disasters would be of consequence to only him.

"I wish you had. You can be smart when you want to be." Kari said earnestly. "You're also great at soccer. You could have gotten a scholarship with that. You used to tell Mama, God rest her soul, that you were going to be a soccer player when you grow up. That you were going to be famous."

Tai could feel a lump on his throat at the mention of his mother but swallowed it saying gently, "Kari, that was when I was seven. A long time ago. I also used to believe that monsters lived under my bed, that the hag that was my second-grade teacher was an evil witch plotting to turn every child in Japan into mice, and that the green tea Obaa made was poisonous."

"Well, maybe you can go to college after we leave Edogawa." Kari suggested.

"Nothing is certain yet." Tai shook his head, but decided to keep that suggestion. Kari wasn't wrong. His grandfather, his father's father, had told them time and time that he didn't go to college until he was thirty. It was never too late when it came to education if one set their mind to it. Perhaps he'd find a career that would interest him enough to seek education for it. Once again, nothing truly was set in stone in life.

"Can I say something?"

"Yeah?" Tai asked, looking towards the sky.

"I know Edogawa is where our uncle lives, but when we do end up leaving...I'm kinda going to miss Edogawa." Kari answered earnestly, studying the features of the high school.

Tai said nothing. However it was not out of annoyance or dismissal over his sister's feelings but because of a nagging feeling that something was not to be right down the road. It felt familiar. This feeling. Then he remembered. That gut feeling he was feeling was similar to the gut feeling he had when his mother had been diagnosed with leukemia all those years ago.

Needless to say, Tai felt a dark cloud loom over him in spite of the diploma in his hand.

Tai finally decided to celebrate his graduation with a trip to the park and his favorite treat shop where they served his favorite snack : Castella. There was nothing fancy about either of the two places. The park and treat shop were both located in a more poor part, contrasting greatly with how well-kept the neighborhood they lived in was. It wasn't necessarily seedy but it definitely wasn't 'Snob Hollow', as the students in his (now ex) school dubbed Tai and Kari's neighborhood, another reason Tai didn't want to make many friends. Akihiro had dismissed it as nothing but a slum and had chastised Tai and Kari for liking this place in the first place.

If only Akihiro could open his eyes and see the kindness of the people there and the beauty of the simplicity of this town. Except that would mean that Akihiro would have to actually act like an adult instead of an overgrown brat trapped in a middle-aged man's body.

After taking the bus home, Kari looked at her light yellow wrist watch and said, "It's pretty late. Do you think that Akihiro is back?"

"Who knows?" Tai shrugged, trying to ease his sister's anxiety. He couldn't let her know that he was worried.

The home was silent. Too silent in fact. Tai was worried as he set down his diploma in the desk of his bedroom. Normally, the silence was a good sign. Akihiro had yet to return from whatever he was doing. However, the silence was deafening, leaving a beeping sound on Tai's ear for a moment or so. His heart had inexplicably dropped. Not down to his stomach, not down to his legs, but down to the center of the earth.

Tai was taken aback at this feeling. He almost fell to the seat of his bed. There's that feeling again. Tai thought, shaking his head. Stop it, Tai.

He heard the front door of the mansion slam open and then close. Tai's blood turned cold.

"Lousy good for nothing….DAMN IT!" his hateful voice filled the house. Tai could tell that he was drunk from the slurring in his voice.

"Kari…" Tai muttered in worry and rushed to her room. He saw her, sitting in a pseudo-fetal position on her pink-comforter covered bed, looking at Tai with her eyes widened and huge in her fear.

"He's back…!" Kari exclaimed silently in anguish, "And oh, he's….He's drunk! We're in trouble!"

Tai gently hugged Kari, holding his sister close to his chest, listening closely to the pounding footsteps of his uncle and where they were heading to.

Please, please don't come to this room...trash my room to your heart's content, but leave Kari's alone. Stop. Tai prayed internally even though he knew this was a prayer whatever higher power up there couldn't answer. The steps were getting closer and closer to Kari's room. No! Tai mentally screamed and his heart and stomach dropped to the burning, iron liquid center of the earth once more as the door opened.

Tie askew and a snarl on his lips, Akihiro exclaimed in anger, "You're both full of shit! Every single one of you two!"

Tai held Kari closer, squeezing her trembling hand as she refused to look at the monster that was somehow her mother's brother.

Tai said, trying to make his voice even, "What's wrong this time?"

"Shut up!" The raven-haired man shouted, throwing his shoe towards Tai and Kari, with the former shielding his sister from the attempted attack.

"No good...lousy…..mistake...terminated...cheating…" Akihiro muttered, drool coming out of his lip. This isn't good at all, Tai noted to himself. Whatever had happened in the days Akihiro was out had angered him and now he was taking it out on them instead of the actual target of his rage. The brunet tried to rack his mind on what could have angered him. Fear filled his blood. But there was also this indescribable feeling. What was it?

Without warning, Akihiro seized Kari, to Tai's shock. He began shaking her, as he screamed, "Stupid bitch! Nothing but a damn whore!"

Kari struggled to get out of her uncle's grip as she pleaded helplessly, "Please, don't...stop... I didn't do anything wrong...I…."

"I'm gonna kill you, you miserable piece of shit!" Akihiro bellowed, ready to attack the trembling fifteen year old.

That was perhaps Akihiro's biggest mistake in his life.

Tai snapped.

All the years of physical and emotional abuse and it was that one comment that broke the camel's back. And the adrenaline in Tai's body was now wedged to fight mode.

At this point, Tai saw nothing but red. He charged at Akihiro, hate and rage dangerously filling in his heart. This released Kari out of Akihiro's grip as she scurried to her bedroom, watching in horror. Akihiro punched Tai in the gut, "Stay out of this, you-" only to win a bite to the cheek.

"YOU BE SILENT OR YOU'LL BE THE ONE WHO DIES TONIGHT!" Tai roared in a wrath neither Akihiro and Kari knew Tai possessed inside of him. Tai kicked Akihiro in the stomach, leaving the man to double in pain. All those years of soccer can give quite a kick to a person. This did nothing to mollify Tai as the metaphorical bull in human's clothing grabbed Akihiro, pinning the man to the ground in a painful thud that made Kari flinch, and began beating him with merciless fury.

"Tai, stop!" Kari cried out in horror. Not because she loved Akihiro or believed he was in the right. It was out of fear that police could be called upon and he'd be the one to blame.

This all fell on deaf ears as Tai continued attacking him. Akihiro fruitlessly tried to put his hands up in defense, hoping that it could, by miracle, stop the blows of this monster attacking him.

Tai stopped after a seemingly horrifying eternity for Kari, glaring deeply at the man on the floor. Bloodied nose, his eyes wide in horror that Tai had only seen when Akihiro had messed with the wrong person, bruises on his body, and eyes both blackened. Tai grabbed the man and made him stand up.

"Get your ass out of here if you know what's good for you…." Tai snarled, the fire in his eyes growing. "You return….game over."

Akihiro stumbled, only infuriating Tai more. This caused the brunet to push Akihiro as he yelled, "FUCK OFF NOW!" Akihiro finally left Kari's room, limping and doubling slightly. After a few seconds, Tai and Kari could hear the car of Akihiro start up. Finally, Akihiro was gone again. Most likely for a few other days.

Kari ventured, "Tai?..." She quickly moaned in anguish, "Oh my God, Tai, what have you done?"

Tai breathed in and out, and turned to Kari, his facial expression still filled with anger but his eyes had softened slightly. He said, "I couldn't let him do that you….we need to get out of here now."

"Wait...now? Like, leave Edogawa?!" Kari yelped in shock.

Tai's facial expression softened to a determined look, "Yes. Pack your things. We're leaving now. I won't let Akihiro kill you. We're getting the fuck out of here. Besides, Akihiro's going to squeal about what I did to him. So there's no point in staying anyway."

Kari nodded slightly but said nothing. Grabbing a few suitcases, hidden in her closet, she began grabbing her clothes, fearful at what would happen next.

Tai readied to leave to his room to pack, before turning around with a remorseful expression on his face, even if Kari hadn't noticed. It was not remorse for what he had done to Akihiro but instead remorse for having to have Kari witness a darker side to him.

"Kari, I'm sorry…." He said ruefully.

"Last call to Odaiba."

"That's us." Kari called out excitedly to Tai. As they grabbed their admittedly-heavy suitcases, they entered the doors of the train, anticipation in their hearts. The night sky was clear. Akihiro hadn't returned home. It was the perfect opportunity in Tai's eyes. Besides, he was confident he could find a job in Odaiba as well. It wouldn't be hard.

"Do you think anyone will remember us?" Kari said to Tai as they sat down.

"Who knows?" Tai shrugged. Nothing was concrete in life.

No Sora in this chapter sadly. My apologies there. Don't worry. The next chapter will be (mostly) Sora focused and may include the moment you Taiora fans have been waiting for in this story~

The title 'Cleaning Out My Closet' is a song performed by Enimen, calling out his implied abusive mother for not being truly there. Guess what happens in this chapter, hmm?

To state the obvious, the comment of nothing being certain in life except taxes and death is a common phrase used to say nothing in life is certain. It is often believed that Benjamin Franklin first uttered this line. However, in reality, it's actual origins came from Christopher Bullock's The Cobbler of Preston, published in 1716, while Franklin did not utter such a statement until 1789. Apologies for that history lesson.

Edogawa high school uniforms, from the limited research I was able to do (blame Conan Edogawa for that), are black from what I've gathered. Do not hesitate to correct me if this is an error.

Sotsugyō Shōsho is the term used for diplomas in Japan.

Castella is a Wagashi, or sponge cake, that is a popular dessert in Japan. It sounds rather tasty just reading it.

I do not own the canon characters listed there. Reviews, especially constructive ones, are always favored so I can now what I can improve. I do hope those who've read the story up to here enjoy it.