Should be working on my PSY paper…but you know…priorities first…right? Since I haven't updated in a while for this story I decided to work on this chapter instead of doing homework. Since I'll be busy for the next few weeks with tests and later on finals I will not promise any updates for any of my stories. Next month is also when I have to start preparing for graduation. Enjoy.
-Zero
P.S. – Longest chapter yet, so consider yourselves lucky.
Ch. 8 Burning
Masaki was mentally drained from the entire ruckus that Nico's siblings had made during the car ride. Along with Nozomi and Nico herself, the redhead swore he was going to go crazy. They had arrived at the vacation home around eleven a little after Ushio's group.
The bluenette was no different, in fact, he might have looked even worse than his younger colleague. There were bags under his eyes and to make things worse it seems like he was ready to rip someone's head off.
"Ushio...you look terrible." Eiichi stated the obvious earning a low mumble from the bluenette.
"What?" The blonde inched closer to the other man to get a better hearing of the words.
"I'm going to kill him...hehe...if he does anything else that annoys me again...I'm gonna kill him..." Ushio's tired eyes twitched as the disturbing words creeped out his mouth.
The blonde backed away cautiously before looking at the group who rode with Ushio. "What exactly happened?"
"Well...Hotaka-kun insisted that it would be easier if we all got together the night before leaving...so Hotaka-kun and we slept over at Sonoda-san's house...and he and Rin-chan had kept him up with their excitement since..." Haruto explained the situation to the others who were absent at that moment.
"My~ Ushio-kun can be quite scary." Nozomi eyed the irritated bluenette as he continued to mumble words under his breath.
"I have a feeling he going to lose it any second..." Nico made sure to be as far away from him as possible.
Masaki sighed. He was also getting tired of this daily part of their new lives. It was bad for Ushio's blood pressure if those idiots kept this up.
"Come on now, I said I was sorry. How about this, you can have one of my family's famous manjus. I know you'll like it." Hotaka fearlessly shoved one of the sweets into Ushio's mouth.
"As if that's going to-" Masaki words stopped as his and Eiichi's jaws dropped from the blissful face Ushio was making after biting into the manju.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
"H-harasho..."
Kotori patted Ushio's head as he stuffed his cheeks with more of the Japanese sweets. Eiichi and Masaki were dumbfounded by how Hotaka of all people was able to do that. Throughout their whole lives they had never been able to successfully calm the bluenette down in such a short amount of time. The mere thought of being beaten a person who they just met a month ago (and is usually the reason why the bluenette gets angry) made the two fall in defeat.
"What are we waiting for nya~? Let's-"
"We still need to bring everything inside and decide who's going to sleep where." Masaki interjected. "Once that's done, then you people can go and have your fun."
"Eh~." Rin and Hotaka disapproved of the idea.
"Masaki's right, unless the two of you want to do that after having fun when everyone is tired?" Ushio cheerfully explained. The sweets must be getting to his head.
"Hold on. Where's Eren and the others?" Eiichi questioned while looking around. "They said there were going to meet up with us here."
"Anju...Tsubasa...*huff huff* wait up."
All heads turned around to the tired voice. Anju and Tsubasa could be seen walking ahead of Eren as he carried their entire luggage.
"Hello everyone." Anju greeted everyone pretending to not hear her fiancé's plea.
"You're so slow Eren." Tsubasa playfully teased her friend.
"You two...*huff huff* are demons...*huff*" Eren was finally at the front of the door when he fell down to catch his breath.
"Yo, Tsubasa-san!" Hotaka greeted his new friend that he just met yesterday.
"Ah, Hotaka-san." She greeted him back with one of her signature smiles.
"Why am I not surprised that the two of you are already getting along so well?" Ushio could somehow sense that they were going to be nothing but trouble for him. The bluenette sighed and turned the other way rubbing the back of his neck, but noticed that Kotori was not entirely cheerful as usual. Thinking back she was the same when they first met Tsubasa.
"Um...Ushio-san...is she a friend of your's?" Haruto, surprisingly, was the first to question the bluenette about the energetic girl still hanging around his neck.
"Sadly...yes...I am friends with this person..."
"Isn't that a little mean to put it in that kind of way?" The girl detached herself from his neck and pouted at his words. "My name is Kira Tsubasa, nice to meet all of you."
"You're pretty brave for latching yourself onto such a dangerous man." Hotaka eyed Tsubasa. "I like that."
"There's nothing to be feared about him when you know a couple of loopholes." Tsubasa grinned mischievously causing the ginger's eyes to sparkle with admiration.
"I'll be in your care sempai!"
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this..." Ushio rubbed the side of his head.
The two had just met and were already kicking it off together. Everyone welcomed the new member of the group warmly, but there was something strange that was bothering Kotori. Her chest felt strange as her childhood friend and Ushio conversed with Tsubasa, and she wasn't sure why. Hotaka had talked to many people, including other girls, but why did Kira Tsubasa make her feel this way.
"Anyways, let's get everything inside." Ushio pushed the thought out of his mind. "Here Eren, I'll help you with some of that."
"Really? Thanks, you're a lifesaver Ushio...but don't you have to carry other things too?"
"Besides my things and Kotori's not really. You look like you could use the help." With his own bag along with Kotori's, Ushio picked up one of the luggages the Eren struggled to carry flawlessly. The purple haired man didn't know if he should be jealous or thankful to how the bluenette could easily carry all of those things, but he was too tired to care.
"Thank you Ushio-kun for helping him." Anju gave him a smile and received a nod from the dark haired man.
"Says the person who made me carry everything..." Eren muttered under his breath.
Anju smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Eren crossed his arms and pouted at her, clearly not forgiving her. But that all changed when she pulled him closer and whispered in his ear making his face go red. The girl puffed out her chest with pride as lalic eyes beamed with victory.
"Okay, the girls can split and have these rooms while the guys will have these." Masaki stated.
"What are we middle-schoolers?" Nico deadpanned.
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Kotaoru retaliated against his sister earning a nod of agreement from Kokoa.
"I, just want to prevent 'things' from happening in this house. So, yes, I'm going to treat you like middle-schoolers." The redhead glared at his girlfriend, but soon after smirked. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered to where only she could hear. "Unless you were planning on sharing a room with only me."
Over the past month the two were always constantly arguing. Masaki has learned a way to end (and cause) those arguments by clustering the smaller girl.
The comment the redhead made caused Nico to blush furiously and push past him. She dragged her two younger sisters into one of the rooms and closed the door behind them. Masaki chuckled to himself as a sly smile spread across his face.
"Since we're picking rooms you don't mind if I share one with you, right, Masaki-nii?" The question pulled him back to reality and realized the mess he had gotten himself into. Sharing a room with the little brat was not what he planned.
"Sorry, but you're going to have to share a room with Eren and Kousaka-san." Eiichi interrupted their small talk and saved Masaki from coming up with an excuse.
"And why is that?" Kotarou was not pleased to have his interrogating plan ruined.
"Because," The blonde pointed at his younger brother with his thumb. "this person is violent in his sleep if you're not careful. We wouldn't want you to end up with a bloody mouth or bruises in the morning, now do we?"
"Eh~ I was planning to share rooms with Ushio-kun." Hotaka playfully stated.
"Consider yourself lucky that you won't." Amber eyes glared daggers at the ginger haired man causing him to hide behind another.
"Waa~ scary..."
"Since the guys are done with rooming decisions we'll get everything together while you ladies make your decisions and get ready to head to the beach." Eiichi flashed a smile and dragged Hotaka and Masaki back downstairs to get all of the things.
"Ushio-kun is not going to help them?" Nozomi questioned the bluenette casuing him to tense.
"I...still have to change myself...please don't hold back and make yourselves feel at home. This place may not be much compared to your own, but it's a very important place to Masaki." Ushio bowed to the ladies and walked to his room to change into his swimwear. Nozomi and the others, however, were confused by what he meant with his words.
"IT'S THE OCEAN~!" The childish member of the group shouted out his joy.
"You're very excited even though it isn't your first time being at the beach." Eiichi couldn't help but smile at the energetic ginger.
"It's probably because he only likes to fool around." Ushio deadpanned.
"That is where you're wrong Ushio-kun!" Hotaka stuck his index finger in front of the bluenette. "Coming here is where we can have fun together and deepen the bonds of our friendship!"
"Sorry, but I don't swing that way." Ushio flat-out rejected the ginger's idea of bonding. Hotaka dusted off the rejection and smile mischievously.
"So I presume that you swing THAT way then..." Ushio and Eiichi tilted their heads in confusion at blue eyes until they heard the feminine voices from behind.
All of the ladies were finally done changing into their swimsuits and were making their way down to the beach. Each of them had their own taste in the bikinis they wore.
Nozomi had on a white bikini that showed off her legs while Tsubasa wore one similar to her's just in a light blue color.
Kotori had a light green bikini along with a skirted bottom.
Rin had on boy shorts and an orange sport top.
Anju wore a purple bikini that had a tie side bottom.
Nico had a pink halter top that matched with her bottom piece (although there wasn't much to show).
All of the boys were speechless. The sight in front of them made it impossible to say anything, even Hotaka didn't have anything dumb to say.
Nozomi couldn't help but giggle at them. "It seems like some of you have something to say, right Eiichi."
"Harasho...you look stunning..." Masaki gave the blonde a quizzical look. Did he hear his older brother correctly? Ayase Eiichi was able to compliment a woman without stuttering? Then again, there wasn't much to be surprised from since the blonde was so simple minded.
"Nee~ Eren, how do I look?" Anju tempted her fiancé with a playful smile.
"You look great in that bikini, but you would look even better-"
"Ahem, please do remember to keep your flirting to yourselves while younger people are around." Ushio cut Eren's sentence and reminded the others that there were other people present beside them.
"That fine with me, but before that...Eiichi...your body is more toned than I expected." Nozomi decided to take her teasing to the next level since the blonde was unfazed from earlier.
"Eh, uh..." Azure eyes averted from jade and backed away from the woman closing in on him. Not paying any attention to his surroundings he tripped on one of the cooler and toppled backwards.
"Well I could say the same about you." Nico eyed her redhead boyfriend. She tried her best to not sound as impressed, but that failed as she couldn't take her eyes off of Masaki's chiseled stomach.
"Sadly, my girlfriend has nothing to show off." Masaki smirked. "But that doesn't mean you don't look cute in that swimsuit."
His taunting smile made Nico's face turn so red it would put a tomato to shame. The redness was not from blushing though, it was more of enrage.
"Why you little-"
"Masaki, that's not what you're supposed to say to a lady." Eiichi frowned at the redhead. "Let alone your girlfriend. I think she looks nice in her swimsuit."
Eiichi's compliment made Nico forget the reason she was mad. Her face continued to be dyed in red as she let the words seep into her brain.
"I was just teasing..." Masaki eyed the brunette. The look she was making from Eiichi's compliment was making his chest swell in an uncomfortable way.
Don't tell me she likes Eiichi. If so then why did she ask me to be her fake boyfriend? I don't get it?
Once again Ushio could see the face Masaki was making. He was sure that the face Masaki made was one of discomfort...or was it more of jealously...?
"Why is Ushio-kun the only one who has a shirt on? Are you not hot in this heat?" Kotori questioned the zoned out man.
"Uh, no, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Ushio tensed at the question.
Kotori tilted her head in a cute way, but was wondering why Ushio was so stiff when she mentioned the fact. Then he became stiffer when a pair of arms wrapped around his neck.
"You should take off your shirt Ushio-kun. From what Eiichi-san tells me you have the best body out of you three." Tsubasa made a surprise attack on the bluenette when he wasn't paying attention.
"Um- Uh- Tsubasayou'realittletooclose!" Ushio began to panic when the extra body was being pushed against him.
"Hmm, what are you saying? I can't understand you." Tsubasa raised an eyebrow as she asked him to repeat himself.
"Chest. Too close." Amber eyes closed as Ushio's skin complexion became red. "Please get off of me..."
"Fine~." Tsubasa unlatched herself from the blushing man and smiled. "How do I look?"
"It suits you, your swimsuit." Ushio managed to calm himself down and answer her question. Tsubasa pouted.
"I was hoping to get a better praise from you."
"Sorry to disappoint you then."
Kotori smiled at the two as they argued back and forth. One would say they were almost like Masaki and Nico.
"Don't tell me they're at it again..." Eiichi stood beside Kotori and watched over the two.
"Are they always like this?" Nozomi was curious about the relationship between Tsubasa and Ushio.
"Only when they mess with each other." Masaki interjected the conversation.
"You're one to talk." Eiichi gave the redhead a blank stare.
"The two of the get along very well." Kotori stated.
"Well of course, we did use to date." Tsubasa smiled.
"...EHHHH~!" Everyone in the group shouted, even Eiichi and Masaki.
"Hold on! Ushio, you never told us about this!" Eiichi looked at his younger brother.
"Tsubasa-chan, why didn't you ever tell me?!" Anju pouted at her best friend's secret.
"That's becwase-" Her sentence was interrupted when the bluenette pulled on her cheeks.
"It's a lie." Ushio was not amused. "Honestly, what's next, we were engaged."
"Tehe." Tsubasa playfully hit her head and stuck out her tongue. Obviously, Ushio was not happy with the response and hit her on the head. "Ow!"
After all of that was done everyone decided to finally have some fun. Hotaka and the others were playing tag in the shallow waters. Eiichi and Nozomi were walking on the shore finding seashells together. Eren and Anju...well who knows where they went, but surely they were something indecent.
Ushio sat under the shade of the umbrella that they set up. While everyone was out there having fun he watched from the sidelines. He was okay with just watching. Being the observant person he was his eyes kept focus on a certain trio. He noticed how close Kotori and Tsubasa were being with a certain oblivious ginger. He somewhat felt irritated looking at how the ginger disregarded the faces Kotori was making at him and Tsubasa when they were closer to each other than they should be.
"Wait what am I think? There's no way I would know if Kotori likes the idiot or not; I mean...I barely know her myself..." Ushio quietly talked to himself and hoped nobody thought he was crazy.
"Why is Ushio-kun sitting here all by himself?" Nozomi and Eiichi walked up to the spaced out bluenette and sat down beside him.
"Just relaxing that's all. Don't mind me if I look like I'm not having fun. I've always been like this." He smiled at the purple haired girl to reassure her.
"Are you sure? You look kind of out of it Ushio." The blonde was starting to be concerned for the younger male. Knowing what kind of person Ushio was, last night after the others fell asleep he must have been staying up later to get some work done, but only received a shrug.
"Ushio-kun what are you just sitting here and doing nothing? Aren't you bored?" The boisterous ginger approached the sitting trio.
Nozomi noticed that Kotori was acting a little distant and decided to take her mind off of some things. The pair of emerald eyes got up and dragged Eiichi, Kotori, and Tsubasa off to the others where they were currently smashing a watermelon. Ushio raised an eyebrow at her actions but didn't question them.
"Nee nee, Ushio-kun, I have a question for you?"
"What is it?" The bluenette sighed internally. To be left alone with the one person who he could not handle the most was just too tiring.
"Do you like Tsubasa-san?" If Ushio was drinking anything at the moment he would have spitted it all over Hotaka's face.
"W-w-what make you think that?" Ushio face was hinted with pink when he answered the question. What exactly goes through this person's brain?
"Well...you see...I was wondering, since the two of you are so close, you would have some kind of feeling for her...hahaha..." Hotaka nervously laughed and averted his eyes. The bluenette noticed how nervous Hotaka was when he responded.
Don't tell me...
"Kousaka-san, what do you feel about Kotori?" The words slipped out of Ushio's mouth unconsciously. He stood up and stared off towards where everyone else was and the endless body of water.
What am I saying?
"Eh? Why are you bringing up Kotori? What does she have to do about this?" The ginger cocked his head in confusion and stood up like the other. Something inside the bluenette became irritated again.
Ushio sighed and stared into blue eyes. "What do you see her as?"
"Well isn't it obvious, she my childhood friend. Wait does it look like we're closer than that? Oh no, what if Tsubasa-san thinks we're dating or something." Something inside of Ushio snapped when Hotaka said those words.
Before he knew it his fist had already connected with the ginger's jaw. He could feel the adrenaline rushing to his brain. His right fist that punched the downed man shook furiously as he tried to hold back is anger.
"I wonder what goes through that brain of your's when you're not fooling around!" Ushio's words came out from gritted teeth.
"What the hell was that for?!" Hotaka rested a hand the left side of his cheek where he was punched. His lip was slightly bleeding from the physical contact.
"I can't believe that you're so blind with what's in front of you." Ushio fought the urge to punch Hotaka again.
"All I did was ask a few questions! What's your problem with opening up once in a while?" Hotaka was now standing up. "You're always so secretive. What exactly are you hiding under that shirt? Some kind of tool to hurt someone?!"
Ushio couldn't hold back anymore. Once again he lifted up his right fist. "What would you know?! You don't even realized that Kotori-"
*SMACK*
"That's enough!" Ushio felt a sting on his left cheek from the slap. He was in shock and had snapped out of his rage. The sole reason why the conversation had escalated was standing right in front of him. Minami Kotori.
"It's not your place to tell him about that Ushio-kun!" Kotori's eyes were on the verge of tears, but Ushio could tell that she was holding them back, for that person's sake.
Everyone else surrounded the three. While Eiichi and Masaki were concerned about the reason why Ushio punched the ginger, everyone else was worried about Hotaka.
I'm a fool for letting my emotions get the best of me...
"I'm...very sorry...for my actions...I...promise it won't happen again." Dark blue hair covered his amber eyes. And with that he began to walk in the direction of the vacation house.
"Ushio-kun, where are you going?" Nozomi was worried about the bluenette. She wasn't sure if anyone else saw it, but his face looked like it was in pain.
"Shopping, I just remembered that there's no food in the fridge..." The tone he spoke in was so monotonous.
"I'll come-"
"It's fine, I'll go alone." Ushio continued to walk without looking back at the others.
"But-"
"Let him go. It's best if we let him cool down by himself first, then we can ask him about the issue latter." Masaki stopped Nozomi from persisting anymore and then looked at Hotaka one more time before walking away.
"That friend of your sure has a temper." Nico added in.
Eiichi shook his head. "He's usually the calm one out of the three of us. It must because of his lack of sleep and possibly because he was up even latter last night doing work. He tends to overwork himself when there's something he doesn't know."
"Wait, but we didn't fall asleep until one in the morning nya!"
"But why was he up latter than that?" Haruto questioned.
"Probably because it has to deal with the incident from last month." Masaki and Eiichi's faces darken a little. "We're still trying to find the person behind it. If that isn't the reason then that idiot must have said something that struck a nerve."
Hotaka was completely quiet. He didn't notice how stupid and inconsiderate he was. Now he felt bad for saying all of those things to Ushio.
INSERT LINE BREAK
Ushio fumbled with the keys to the front door. Once he was finally able to open it he stumbled onto the floor. He was able to catch himself with the support of the wall, but the splitting headache he was having didn't help. What was worst was the feeling of his body overheating and his back felt like it was on fire. Forcing himself back up he dragged himself upstairs to get his car keys and head to the nearby supermarket.
It was late afternoon when everyone returned back to the vacation house. Everyone was tired mentally and physically from what had happen today. Masaki walked into the kitchen and noticed the note on the counter.
There's curry in the fridge. Heat it up for everyone. I already had my share so don't worry about me. I'll be upstairs sleeping.
"What's that?" Eiichi looked at the note.
"A note from Ushio. It seems like he was tried. I'm gonna go check on him."
"Just make sure you don't wake him." They both shuddered at the thought.
Worst. Mistake. Ever.
Everyone was getting cleaned up for dinner as Masaki made his way upstairs. He knocked lightly against the door and peeked inside. Ushio could be seen sleeping on one of the beds in the room. When Masaki went back down stairs everyone was already present.
"Where's Ushio-kun nya?" Rin looked around for the bluenette.
"Already asleep. And if you want to survive the rest of the day, I'd advise you to not bother him, especially since he's asleep." said Masaki.
"Why?" Haruto was curious. Eiichi and Masaki looked at him.
"You don't want to find out." They both answered simultaneously.
Kotori didn't say anything. She felt bad now that she knew Ushio was overworking himself, especially the fact that it was for her sake. Nozomi, being the persons she is, decide to change the mood.
"Shall we get dinner ready then?" All head turned to the purplette.
"Ushio already made some curry and put it in the fridge, so don't worry about it. We just have to heat it up." Eiichi answered. After eating dinner everyone decided to go and get some rest.
Smoke filled the air as the pair tried to escape from their pursuers. A woman and a child ran down the hallways of the large home.
"Mommy, I'm scared. Where are we going? Where's Daddy?" The child was completely frightened from the flames that engulfed their home. He was, after all, only seven and knew nothing about the current situation.
"Daddy has something to do. Whatever happens don't stop running. We have to get out of here safely."
The mother held tightly onto her child's hand for fear of being caught and losing their lives. Making way around the corner they bumped into a man. The woman screamed as he held onto to her wrist tightly, but soon stopped when she was pulled into a comforting embrace. The man had dark blue hair and amber eyes, a complete reflection of her child only older.
"Kaito..." Her eyes brimmed with tears as she returned the embrace.
"Ayane, thank goodness you're both okay..." He took in her scent of flowers that was mixed in with the smell of smoke. He parted from her and looked into her eyes. "We have to go now."
She nodded at his words. It was only a matter of time before their pursuers caught up with them.
"Daddy, where are we going?" The small child tugged on the sleeve of his father. The man bent on one knew to be face to face with his son.
"Were going to get out of here and got to Grandpa's." He gave a reassuring smile to the boy and grabbed onto his wife's hand.
They made their way around the flames of the fire that was slowly destroying their home. Pieces of the house were beginning to fall down causing the little boy to cry in fear.
Gunshots were soon being pointed in their direction. The man pulled out a handgun and pulled his wife and child into a quick embrace.
"Whatever happens, get out of here safely."
"But-"
"Go!"
She hesitated, but she knew if they stayed here any longer the all of that running was for naught. She picked up her son in her arms and ran without looking back.
The boy looked over his mother's should and saw his father firing shots at the unseen opponents. Never have he saw his father so scared in his life. Just when they turned the corner all time went in slow motion when multiple shots were fired back at the man.
The boy's eyes widen at the scene. The strong body that belonged to his father slumped down as he struggled to stand back up. Another man dressed in a black suit stood in from of him and pointed his gun to the downed man's head.
*BANG*
"Mommy, Daddy's still back there! We have to go back!" The mother cried as she listened to her son's words. As much as she wants to go back she knew she couldn't, not when her son's life was also at stake.
"It's okay. Your father is stronger than you think."
The small child struggled in his mother's arms. Before they knew it the pursuers had already caught up to them.
More gunshots were fired at the mother and child. One shot was able to pierce the upper shoulder of her right arm. The sudden force causes her to trip and drop the boy. She turned around to face her enemies and looked into their eyes as she faced her end.
"Take my life if you must, but please spare the child."
Her body shook in fear as the suited men stood in front of her. She presses her hand into her bleeding wound as she prayed for the safety of her son.
"Mommy!"
She turned around one more time to have a look at her child.
(IN ITALICS) He looks just like his father. I hope that you will have the chance to be kind and strong just like him. (END ITALICS)
"Ushio...my beloved son..."
Flaming debris fell in between the two, some crushing the small frame as he watched a gun pressed against his mother's head.
*BANG*
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
The boy witnessed the scene as the body of his mother fell down, not making a single movement. The intense heat from the debris burned into his back just like the scene of his mother's death was burned into his memory. The pool of blood that she laid in had reached his constricted body.
"Now all we have to do is kill the boy." One of the three men smile at the small boy. The man slowly made his way towards the child, but more debris fell down and blocked their way.
"Forget about the boy. I just received orders from Azuma Renji to leave the building. The boy won't be surviving the fire. As long as Sonoda Kaito and Sonoda Ayane are dead we're done here."
"The boss sure knows how to make things easy." The man looked at the child. "Your father made the wrong move to cross paths with our boss. Azuma Renji is the man who ordered for his death. Well, it's not like you'll be able to do anything about it. You'll just die a painful death in this fire. Just like how it's going to be interpreted by the news and media."
They all left as the boy struggle to free himself. Every movement he made hurt, but all he wanted was to see his mother's kind smile and hear his father's gentle voice.
The smell of smoke and blood filled his lungs. His vision began to blur in the heat of the flames. He reached out in hope that there would be someone to save him, only to find himself losing conscious.
Ushio woke in a cold sweat. His heart was beating rapidly against his chest. He rested his arm on his forehead and took deep breaths to slow down his heart.
That dream again...
He sat up in bed and realized that it was only three in the morning. Not able fall asleep again he decided to get some fresh air.
He made his way downstairs and opened the sliding doors that lead to the deck. The scent of the ocean breeze made him calm down even more. He wasn't sure why, but it made him feel at peace being able to hear the smell the ocean.
"Are you okay?" Ushio's head shot back when he heard Masaki's voice from behind.
"Just a bad dream that's all." The bluenette returned his gaze back towards the sounds of the constantly moving ocean.
"Your memories...their starting to bother you again...aren't they..." Masaki tried to cautiously approach the matter without pushing too many of his older brother's buttons. "Is this why you haven't been sleeping properly? Why didn't you say anything?"
"What difference would it make?" Surprisingly Ushio was calm when the words came out. "It won't change the fact that all I can remember is the death of my parents."
"Have you been taking your medicine recently?"
"You know the effects of those drugs so why are you asking me?"
"If you don't take them then your headaches are going to become worse." Masaki scrunched his eyebrows. He was worried for Ushio mental health.
"And put not only your's and Eiichi's, but also Kotori's life on the line? No way in hell."
"What good would you be if you're constantly in paint then?"
"..."
"Please take the medicine Ushio. Until you regain your memories those headaches will not disappear. What if it appears when we're in a pinch? What are you going to do then?"
Ushio sighed. There was no way he could argue with Masaki when it came to something that required extensive amount of medical knowledge. "...Fine...but, I'll only be taking half of the required dosage. If I don't then my motor skills will be too slow to keep up with the two of you."
Masaki have the bluenette a small smile. "I'm sure you were planning to do so even if I said to take the full dosage."
The two males smiled at each other and let the silence return back in its place as they stared off into the distance. Ushio unconsciously touched his upper right shoulder and gripped it tightly with his left hand. The mark of his past still continued to burn into his mind. No matter how much he wished he could forget those memories and remember the good ones, they always found a way to haunt him in his dreams.
Until Next Time…