He shook uncontrollably, his breathing rapid and shaky.
Mia gently wrapped her arms around him, "Everything will be alright."
"He died in my arms..I had to leave him." Ryon stared at the floor but didn't see it, memories of that night replaying in his mind. "I can't handle this…"
"I'm sorry. I'll be with you no matter what you decide to do."
He finally calmed. "I have to see if it's true.."
"Let's go then," she kissed his cheek.
"Check to see if the coast is clear? Or shall we just disappear?" He gave her a faint smile.
She glanced around a moment, "We're good."
"Alright." He stood and walked into the hall toward the front door.
She followed him closely, worrying about him.
"He's at your friend's hospital."
She nodded and focused a moment before saying the spell to teleport them. They arrived in a dark closet and she opened the door and peeked out before fully exiting it.
He clung to her hand. "I'm scared. If it is him, he's going to think I abandoned him.."
"I'm sure he doesn't think that."
Ryon froze as a white coat approached them.
She held his hand tightly and smiled at the doctor.
"Bad time?" Kouichi asked, his gaze sympathetic. "Is he alright?"
"His brother is here?"
"That's who he says he is." He bent close to Mia's ear. "He looks like he's going to jump out of his skin.."
"His brother supposedly died a long time ago," Mia informed.
The doctor's eyes darkened. "That doesn't bode well."
Ryon's eyes were darting everywhere, his face pale.
Mia gently led him to the room Kouichi pointed to and opened the door.
Ryon took two steps in, looked at the figure on the bed and promptly passed out.
Mia caught him and carried him in, setting him on a chair and kneeling beside him to check him over.
His heart was racing even being unconscious.
Mia said a few spells to help calm his heart rate before glancing at the man in the bed.
He was almost an exact copy of Ryon. Only his eyes were dark, filled with anxiety. "Is he okay?"
"He should be."
"I scared him, didn't I?" The man sighed sadly.
"Well, he did think you died.."
"From what I know, I did.. Or close enough." He fidgeted nervously.
"I'm Mia, by the way," she gave him a small smile.
"Yamae." He carefully climbed off the bed as Ryon stirred. "Hey, snowflake."
The green eyes widened, then Ryon slowly reached out. "It's really you.."
Yamae chuckled. "Yeah."
Mia watched them with a sad smile, wishing she could be reunited with her own brother.
"How?"
Yamae rubbed his neck. "A healer found me apparently. But until three days ago, I had no idea who I was."
Ryon grabbed him in a hug. "I'm sorry..I thought those bastards would let you go if I pretended to go with them..but they didn't."
"I don't blame you." Yamae held tight. "I'm just glad you're safe."
Mia moved to the window, looking outside and letting them have their time.
"Girlfriend?" Yamae's eyes twinkled and Ryon groaned.
"Don't start, charcoal. You behave."
Mia stayed quiet, trying to calm herself.
Ryon moved to her side. "You're upset."
"Sorry.. Just wishing I could see my brother again.." She said quietly, "I don't blame you, I just miss him."
He flinched, looking away. "Look, would you stay with him for a minute?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, "Where are you going?"
"I need to clear my head. I'll be back, I swear." He kissed her cheek hurriedly, then disappeared out the door.
Mia sighed and she went to sit down.
"I see some things never change." Yamae commented quietly.
"Has he always been like that?" She raised an eyebrow.
Yamae chuckled. "Yeah. Everytime he gets nervous. Says the walls start closing in and he's got to get out into open air. Drove our parents crazy." He frowned. "Is he alright? He looks way too stressed."
"He's been through a lot," she sighed. "I'm probably not helping any."
"I shouldn't have revealed myself, should I?"
"He deserves to have you back," she gave him a small smile.
"Not if it hurts him more." Yamae dropped his eyes, fingers picking at the blanket. "He surrendered himself to save our parents and I. But they killed us anyway and he was so unhinged.. He slaughtered the attackers."
"He just needs time to readjust. I know he cares about you, so just give him time."
His brother nodded silently.
Ryon stood outside the hospital, forcing his breathing to slow. How could he have forgotten? Bringing Mia here for this reunion..was selfish and wrong. Why should he get another chance when he'd taken that opportunity from her? He rubbed his face in frustration, then sighed. He reached for his phone, sending her a text before walking away.
Mia heard her phone go off and she quickly checked it.
"I don't deserve this..tell him I'm sorry."
Her eyes filled with tears and she spoke to Yamae, "I'm sorry.. I screwed things up.. I'm going to go find him for you."
"Same old moron." Yamae waved a hand. "Go remove his head from his ass. I'll be fine."
Mia nodded and focused on Ryon before muttering the teleportation spell. She grabbed his arm quickly, "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I should have been stronger.. You deserve your brother and he deserves you. Please go back to him. I'll leave so I don't remind you of things.."
"Stop it. I'm a killer. I don't deserve anything, much less this. Why should I get mine back when I took yours?" He shook his head. "If anything, he deserves someone like you. Be a good sister, okay?" He brushed a hand through her hair gently. "You're such a good person.."
"Life isn't fair, okay? Things happen for a reason though. You got your brother back for a reason. He wants you." She sighed and wiped at the tears in her eyes, "You were protecting yourself. It's not like you tried to go kill someone on purpose." She held his hand tight, "Just please go back to him. You deserve happiness after everything you've been through.."
He took a shaky breath. "I.." Tears began streaking his cheeks. "I'm so sorry.."
She wrapped her arms around him gently, "Just take a deep breath and relax. Everything is alright."
He laid his head on her shoulder as he cried softly.
After a little while, she looked at him, "Why don't we go back? I'm sure he's missing you."
He slowly nodded, wiping his eyes. Then his phone rang. He checked the number, then gave her a small smile. "I have to take this. I swear I'll be up in a minute."
"You swore you'd be back then tried to leave.." she sighed.
"Okay, okay." He chuckled as he answered the call.
"Your brother really looks like you.." An electronic voice spoke in his ear. "Then again, this scope makes everyone look alike."
He froze, trying not to panic. "What do you want?"
"You to follow instructions. If you do, he stays alive. And I don't blow her into little pieces on the freeway."
"Where?"
"566 Sycamore. One hour." The call disconnected.
He forced himself to be calm. "I have to go meet the rep for my record label. I'll be back soon. We can get dinner together and you can figure out how I can redeem myself to your clan, okay?"
She nodded slowly, "Alright.. Are you sure you're okay?"
He plastered a smile on his face. "Yeah. He's just bent out of shape about what happened at the concert. Gotta reassure him." He kissed her, then quickly walked away.
Mia stared at him for a moment before sighing and turning to go back into the hospital to talk to Kouichi.
The doctor looked at her warily. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about Ryon."
"What did he do now?"
She sighed, "I'm just wondering if he'd be better off without me around reminding him of past mistakes."
"Can I tell you something?"
She raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"We've spent some time together. He wanted to know you better. Then he told me he honestly thought he'd die without you. That for the first time in a decade, he felt like he had hope for the future."
She nodded slowly, "He made a big mistake in the past though, and I know I remind him of it too often."
"I don't think it's you necessarily. I think it just haunts him and would still even if you disappeared tomorrow. He has to come to terms with it."
She nodded again and sighed, "Alright.."
"His brother is free to go whenever he wants. I've got to go."
"Thank you," she sighed and headed out to go to Yamae's room.
"You look like you just got grounded."
She shook her head, "Just a lot on my mind."
"Where's the idiot?" Yamae tossed the remote to the tv away.
"Said he had to meet with someone," she sighed.
Ryon stepped slowly inside the address given, eyes narrowed. "I'm here!" He called as he moved further in. "Leave them out of this!"
"I'll think about it." The voice on the phone spoke behind him.
He flinched, starting to turn. Something hard slammed into his head, then the world went black.
After a few hours of not hearing from Ryon, Mia began to get worried. "Where is he..?"
Her phone rang.
She answered it quickly, "Hello?"
"Mia.." Ryon's voice was agonized, his breathing strained.
"Ryon? Where are you?" She asked.
"Doesn't matter. He wants you to come but don't..stay safe please.." He cried out as a crunching sound was heard over the line. "Stay away!"
There was the sound of fists hitting flesh, then another voice. "566 Sycamore. Come say goodbye." The line clicked in her ear.
Her breathing quickened as she paled.
"Mia?" Yamae stared at her.
"Ryon's in trouble.."
"Where?" He rose from the bed anxiously.
"You should stay here," she said quietly as she stood and took a deep breath.
"Dammit..fine. Just save him, please.."
She nodded and teleported to the address.
"Welcome." A masked man greeted, a gun aimed at her head.
Ryon lay sprawled on the ground beside him, his eyes panicked as he saw her. He'd been assaulted severely, blood covering him.
"What do you want?"
"I told you. Say goodbye." The man extended a hand to Ryon. It held a single black pill. "A choice. You can take this and she lives, along with your twin. Refuse, and I blow her head off as my associate does the same to him. Which is it?"
Ryon growled, snatching the pill. "You swear to their safety?"
The man dipped his head.
"Don't do it, Ryon," Mia cried.
"I can't let either of you die." He swallowed the pill, then gave her a faint smile. "I love you."
The man spoke into an earpiece. "It's done. Withdraw." He gave a bow and disappeared as Ryon screamed and curled into a ball.
"Ryon.." she went to him and said some spells. She finally lifted him and teleported to the mansion. She quickly brewed a potion and poured it down his throat before reciting more spells.
He lay barely breathing in her arms. He lifted a shaky hand to her cheek. "Live..please." The green eyes dimmed, fixing on the ceiling.
"Don't leave me.."
He didn't respond.
For the next hour she recited spell after spell, doing everything she could to keep him alive.
He gave a final soft exhale, his eyes closing.
She let out a sob, closing her eyes. Suddenly, yellow light poured out from her and surrounded him.
After a minute, he arched his back and sucked in a ragged breath, then another. His eyes fluttered open, then closed again.