A/N: Thank you all for your reviews! You guys are awesome. There were so many people who put me on Alert you are all welcome to review too! It inspires me to work harder. Time jump up ahead! Let's continue.
Warning for this chapter: mention of abuse!
Chapter 1
Getting to know you
Having Haruto in the family was challenging at times, but Yuugi didn't mind one bit. They had named the raven head Haruto because the green eyed child hadn't known his own name. The raven haired seven-year-old who had been left in their care when no one came to pick him up at the hospital (which didn't seem to surprise Sugoroku) and had grown up to be a helpful and caring ten-year-old. Yuugi's adopted little brother was still struggling at times, having to learn Japanese and their custom's at his age, but Haruto was fond of his caretakers… and games, so he was in the right place. It had taken them a long time to have Haruto open up to them, but Sugoroku and his grandson were very patient.
His grandfather had explained to Yuugi that Haruto suffered from absences, moments where he wouldn't respond to anything or anyone around him. Usually these absences should last for only a few seconds, not longer then a minute, but in Haruto's case they lasted much longer. The doctors at the hospital thought that it might be something to do with the scar on his forehead and they had run a lot of tests in the beginning, but after almost a year without finding anything they just advised them to monitor his absences and have him come in every year for a scan.
Other then that Haruto had been fully healed and healthy. His scars and burns had faded. He was still scared of shadows and he had tried to explain his fear to Yuugi, but it was something the green eyed boy could not explain to his brother. He trusted Yuugi with everything apart from his past before he had crashed into the lemonade stand. Yuugi still heard him cry at night every now and then, less then before, and he wouldn't enter Yuugi's room for some reason. Yuugi had asked him why, but Haruto had just shook his head and told him that the shadows would always whisper when he entered there.
Having a friend and a brother helped Yuugi too, especially now he was about go to Domino High School after the summer holidays* had finished. It meant leaving Haruto alone even though Sugoroku practically home schooled him and hired a private tutor. It also meant that they were slightly more restricted then they usually were, but Yuugi didn't complain. He knew that his brother was trying very hard, but every time they thought they had a break through, Haruto would come back home in a panic. The raven haired child would clean the whole house and the shop before locking himself away in his room without so much as a word. Yuugi would spend most of the night talking to a closed door before his brother would open it and come down for a late night snack with his grandfather. Haruto would remain silent though, eating his food and doing the dishes before hugging his family and wishing them good night.
"Onii-chan?" Haruto's soft whispering voice shook the other boy out of his thoughts. Yuugi turned to see his brother approach him carefully with a big box in his hands. "Onii-chan, I found these last night. Will you teach me?"
Yuugi turned to face his younger brother completely so he could peek inside the box the shorter boy was holding. There were a few old card game boxes in there, together with an old Mahjong set. "Do you mean this Haruto-chan?" Yuugi asked, pointing at the tile set. Haruto shook his head, his green eyes sparkling with hope. He placed the box on the floor between them and moved the Mahjong set carefully out of the way to reveal a first edition of Dungeons and Dragons. Yuugi couldn't even remember how they ended up with this version, but Haruto had an eye for finding lost things. Especially when they were in the fantasy section. The green eyed Brit had a fascination with fairy-tales.
Yuugi crouched down before his younger brother. "I would love to teach you this Haruto-chan, but it is a very long and complex game. We'll set it up tonight when we've had dinner." He smiled kindly at Haruto who looked slightly disappointed but tried not to show it. "We have the whole summer to play this." And he winked.
Haruto blushed, but his smile was heart warming. "Maybe we could play a quick game?" And he held up the old Mahjong set. Yuugi chuckled at the innocent question which would lead to not one quick game but probably various long games. "Ask Jii-chan if he needs any help and then set it up in the shop."
The soon to be freshmen at Domino High School watched his little brother bounce slightly before he took the box back into the kitchen to find their grandfather. The shop had attracted a lot more attention since the day Yuugi had set up the lemonade stand. Yuugi started filling up the shelves again when the bell of the shop drew his attention. "Welcome to the Kame Game Shop," he said turning to the customer only to recognise one of the girls. "Oh hi Anzu-chan, how are you doing?"
"Hey Yuugi-kun," the brunette replied cheerfully. "This is Miho-chan. She'll be going to Domino High too in September." The shorter boy was quickly introduced to the blond girl who was almost as beautiful as Anzu, but since Yuugi didn't know her yet he only replied with a timid smile and a blush. Miho seemed quite uncomfortable too and she quickly asked if she could have a look around. Yuugi replied with a nod and turned back to his friend. "How are your Ojii-san and Otouto doing?"
"They're -" but Yuugi couldn't finish.
"Haruto!" The cry came from the kitchen followed by a crash. "Yuugi help me get Haruto to the bathroom."
"Wait here," Yuugi told Anzu before he ran into the kitchen. A pan, a lot of steaming water and rice was on the floor. The box with old games was on the table and his grandfather was desperately trying to shake Haruto. His brother was clearly having another absence, spilling rice and boiling water on the floor and on himself. "Jii-chan, take his feet," Yuugi said while he hooked his arms under Haruto's armpits catching as much of the boy's weight as he could.
Together they carried Haruto into the bathroom and into the shower. "There are still customers Jii-chan, I'll take care of Haruto," Yuugi said as he turned on the shower. "When Haruto comes round we'll clean up the kitchen and finish preparing the meal." Yuugi didn't mind that his clothes became wet as the lukewarm water of the shower soaked his brother's clothes. His grandfather left, knowing that Yuugi had done this a few times before and that he could not be persuaded into doing anything else. Yuugi, very gently, stripped the younger boy of his shirt.
Haruto was breathing heavier then normal, not aware of the angry red burn on his chest. Fortunately it looked like a minor burn, something that would fade in a day or two. "Anzu-chan is in the shop," Yuugi whispered, knowing full well that his little brother couldn't hear him, but it seemed to help ease him out of the absence. "You remember her don't you? She's been on holiday since school ended a month ago, but Anzu-chan is someone you can't easily forget. She brought a friend with her called Miho-san. She's almost as pretty as Anzu-chan, though with long, blond hair. It's weird but Anzu-chan always makes me feel like I should have more friends, but when I'm with you and Jii-chan I feel content."
He paused for a second, shifting Haruto slightly so his younger brother was now resting against his other shoulder. "You've grown quite a bit Haruto-chan. Before you know it you'll be taller then Jii-chan and me. Being shorter then average does have its downsides." Yuugi chuckled softly. "Anzu-chan always thought it was cute until I stopped growing. She gave me my first bracelet as a statement, but I think I've told you this before."
"Baka." Haruto's soft whispering voice alerted Yuugi that his brother woke up from his absence. He yawned softly and leaned heavily against Yuugi's shoulder. "Anzu-chan is so girly. She gave you that bracelet because she thought it looked cute on you. I think you should wear something that looks cool." Haruto yawned again, pushing himself away to sit on the shower floor, rubbing his eyes before staring up at his older brother. He stopped questioning the change of scenery when he would regain consciousness. The first few times it had happened Haruto had panicked, but Yuugi guessed he was used to it by now.
Yuugi smiled and turned off the shower. "Let's dry ourselves and get changed shall we? Then we can clean up the mess in the kitchen and maybe Anzu-chan is still in the shop." He saw Haruto hesitate, staring at his soaked jeans. "Come on or we'll catch a cold."
"Yuugi," Haruto said suddenly. "Don't ever leave me."
To say he was surprised was an understatement. Yuugi blinked as determent green eyes looked up at him. Sure there was still uncertainty and Yuugi watched it grow as he remained silent. The older boy smiled and stretched out his hand. "Of course not, Haruto-chan. You'll be with us forever. You're family after all."
Haruto grabbed the hand and the smile on his face seemed to light up the room as determination mixed in with it. "I want to be brave like you," the green eyed boy confessed. "I don't want to fall asleep during the day anymore. I want to go to school like you do and have a friend like Anzu-san." Yuugi tried his hardest not to flinch when his little brother confessed this to him. He wasn't brave and he didn't have a lot of friends because of it. It would take all of his courage to go to Domino High School were he knew no one apart from Anzu. Haruto continued, oblivious to his older brother's discomfort. "I won't let them frighten me anymore, just like the Shadows."
This last statement seemed to make the younger boy insecure again, but Haruto shook his head before trying to look determent again. "Do you… do you think I would be allowed to go to school?"
Yuugi quickly embraced Haruto, who stiffened before leaning into the warmth. "Of course you are allowed to go to school. Let's get changed so you can tell Jii-chan." Haruto nodded enthusiastically and ran to his room. If he can be brave then so can I, Yuugi thought to himself stepping out of the bathroom.
…
Sugoroku had been all for the idea and they had searched for the perfect school for Haruto. The final decision fell on a small institution that specialised in children with disabilities. The green eyed boy would start in September and so would have the rest of the summer to study his books and get to know his new teacher who he would see at least once a week during the summer. They would talk about everything and anything. Things that made Haruto happy (his family!) and things that would make his scared or angry (the shadows). His teacher, a kind woman called Nakada Chiyoko, was more then happy to guide him until he started and would sometimes come to the shop to see if Haruto was doing okay. Especially when he was having an off day she would come round and talk to him, encouraging him without pressuring him to come to the school.
The change in Haruto was inspiring to Yuugi, who often asked Anzu if he could spend the day with her and Miho when Haruto was away. Sugoroku encouraged it too even if it meant that he would have to take care of the shop on his own. But he was happy to see both of his boys gain courage from their outings. It even inspired him to take his two boys on different outings on Sundays. The two of them had protested at first, but soon they gave in when Sugoroku promised that they didn't always have to spend a lot of money to have a good time.
And so the little family enjoyed themselves that summer until that fateful letter arrived. It was Monday morning, a week before Haruto's birthday, when the letterbox flapped startling the little family. "It's a bit early for mail isn't it?" Yuugi asked with a questioning glance.
"We'll never know what it is by continuing to sit at the table," Haruto said, curiosity shining in his bright green eyes. He looked up at Sugoroku expectantly who sighed with a chuckle. "All right, finish your breakfast and then you can go have a look. And open the store door while you're there. It's about time to open up anyway."
Haruto quickly gobbled down his breakfast and raced to the front of the shop before his grandfather could tell him to slow down. Yuugi's amused chuckles followed him all the way until he saw a heavy, yellowish looking envelope lying on the doormat. Frowning slightly Haruto first unlocked the door before bending over to pick it up. If felt as heavy as it looked and the address, written in English, was in green ink.
Mr Haruto Mutou,
Apartment above Kame Game Shop
Second Bedroom
Domino City**
Japan
He turned the envelope around so he could inspect the wax seal. A large 'H' with four animals surrounding it. "So what is it?" asked his brother who was now standing behind him and Haruto turned around. He shrugged his shoulders and held up the envelope. Yuugi took it with a frown, silently moving his lips as he read the address. "You didn't open it yet." And he waved at his brother to do so.
Haruto peeled the seal open and took out the letter, which was made of the same heavy paper. It was all written in English, which Haruto found strange since he didn't know anyone in England apart from the family he had been living with before he came to Japan. His memory had become fuzzy concerning that house and the family. Only when he dreamed did he sometimes remember them more clearly, but even those dreams had started to fade.
Sure, Haruto could still read and speak English, but these days it was with a Japanese accent since they never spoke English inside the house or the shop. He started to read, mouthing the words slowly and his confusion growing. "I don't understand," he whispered trying to keep from panicking. Haruto looked up at his brother, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He handed Yuugi the letter. The younger boy waited patiently for his brother to finish reading when Sugoroku entered the shop, moving behind the counter to add some money to the cash register.
When Yuugi finished reading the letter he looked up at his little brother, confusion clearly shining in his eyes. "It must be a joke or something," Yuugi said softly, but Haruto shook his head. He pointed outside where he had spotted an owl sitting on a lamppost. "A really good joke," Yuugi whispered as he stared in awe at the bird.
"What have you got there boys?" Sugoroku called from the back of the shop.
Haruto quickly shook his head at his older brother and rushed to grab a pen from behind the counter. "Just a joke Jii-chan," Haruto whispered to his grandfather when the older man looked at him questioningly. His mind had become oddly blank since he had read the letter, but he knew just what to do with it. He wasn't leaving Japan, not in a million, gazillion years. Haruto took the letter from his older brother, sealed it again and wrote 'no thank you' in shaky letters before exiting the shop.
Something told his that this wouldn't be the end of it as he sends the letter back with the owl, which was surprisingly very calm and collective under it all. Haruto asked Yuugi not to tell their grandfather about the letter. They would probably never hear of whoever had sent it again anyway, so there was no point in telling Sugoroku. At that moment Haruto wanted nothing more then to lock himself in his room and bury himself under his blankets, but he had promised not to do that anymore. Besides, his teacher was going to be here soon and she would drag him out off bed.
So Haruto hugged his brother tightly before running to his room to grab the book they were working on, kissed his family goodbye and ran out the door again to wait at the corner of the street for his teacher.
…
That night rain and thunder ruled the skies, causing Yuugi to wake. He shivered violently as another thunder clap rolled around the house. Realising he wouldn't fall asleep anytime soon, the soon-to-be-freshman made his way to the kitchen to make himself some warm milk. Yuugi had stayed to help in the shop that day. It just didn't feel right keeping a secret from his grandfather, but he knew that something about the letter had scared Haruto into keeping quiet. He would wait until his younger brother decided to tell grandpa himself.
Something about the letter had bothered Yuugi as well. How could it have been that detailed? And who would write to a nearly eleven-year-old about a magical school? No one would believe in that kind of stuff when they were eleven. But it sounded so sincere and real… Yuugi shook his head and poured the heated milk into his mug before taking it upstairs again.
He sneaked trough the hallway, trying to make as little noise as possible, when he heard soft crying coming from Haruto's room. Frowning, Yuugi crept to his brother's room and knocked softly on the door. "Ru-chan?" he whispered through the door and Yuugi heard the crying turn into sniffing. For a moment Yuugi wondered if Haruto had gone back to sleep when the door opened and a tear streaked Haruto stood before him. One look at his younger brother and Yuugi knew enough, pulling him in a one armed hug before guiding the younger boy to the bed.
Yuugi placed the mug on the desk and took a seat on the bed, where Haruto immediately flung himself on him. His younger brother started sobbing again, tears soaking Yuugi's pyjamas but he didn't mind. "Shh," he whispered, pulling his little brother closer to him and kissing the top of his head. They sat like that, huddled together on the bed, as the storm continued to rage on outside.
"I used to be so scared," Haruto suddenly whispered. He had stopped crying a little while ago and Yuugi thought he might have fallen asleep, but apparently something was keeping him awake besides the storm. "The family I lived with, they weren't very nice. They used to hit me when I would fall asleep during the day or when I did something wrong. The woman, she said she was my aunt, but soon they told me I didn't belong with them. They only took me in because my parents are dead and they didn't want the neighbours to talk. But the Shadows…" he stopped, shuddering against a force Yuugi still didn't understand. "They were so bad in that house. They even came into my cupboard until the light was put in. The street was full of them as well. Everywhere I went… I was so scared."
The raven haired child buried himself into Yuugi's chest again. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Yuugi told his little brother, kissing the top of his head again. "But know that I'll always be here if you want to. I won't ever leave Ru-chan, I swear."
Haruto shook his head. "No, I want to," the younger boy whispered. He was silent for a few seconds, as if gather his courage, before starting again. "The family… they had a boy the same age as me. I used to be so jealous at first, because he didn't have to do anything to get their attention, but I was different. I was always different. Things used to happen around me, things I couldn't explain but would earn me time in my cupboard. When I was really scared the door sometimes used to rattle and I would hear glass breaking in the living room. The man, he used make me clean up and take the payment out of my flesh. One cut for each glass broken."
Yuugi's insides turned to ice. Payment for something which wasn't even his fault? "The boy used to chase me on the streets with his friends when I had to go outside. Calling me weird names, because I didn't have one. The man and woman called me freak and boy you see. I didn't dare ask the name my parents gave me and since I never was called out at school, I never found out. The teacher used to always make me sit in the back so I would stare out the window until we would go back home. One day, when the boy and his friends were chasing me, I ended up on the school roof. I still don't know how I did it, but whatever it was the man tried to beat it out of me."
The red head began to understand just why Haruto had been so silent and obedient when he had first entered their little family. "I don't want to go back there Onii-chan," Haruto whispered. "Not now that I have a family of my own. I love you and grandpa too much. Please don't send me away."
The letter had brought out old insecurities and painful memories. "Of course we won't send you away Ru-chan," Yuugi whispered. "You told them no didn't you?" Haruto nodded into his chest. "Then everything is fine. But could you do something for me?" A nod again. "Could you tell Jii-chan in the morning about the letter? You don't have to tell about England and the family you used to live with, but Jii-chan would want to know about the letter. Tell him we think it's a joke anyway so he doesn't have to worry."
Haruto detached himself from Yuugi's side and stared into those blue eyes that lit up violet in the light of the thunder. "Okay," he whispered. "I'll tell Jii-chan in the morning. Could you…? Could you be there too when I tell him?"
Yuugi smiled and reached for the mug of now cold milk. "Of course. We'll tell him at breakfast. Let's get some sleep shall we?"
When Yuugi moved to stand up he felt Haruto tug at his pyjama top. "Will… would you sleep here tonight?"
In all the years Haruto had been in their family, he had never once asked for Yuugi to sleep in his bed or to sleep in Yuugi's bed. Not that he would enter my room, Yuugi thought bitterly. "Sure," he said when another thunder clam rolled around the house. "Do you want some milk as well? It's a little colder then it was, but it should still work."
Haruto nodded and waited patiently for Yuugi to take his share before finishing the rest of the milk. Together the crawled under the blankets, lucky they were both small or they wouldn't have fit together on the bed. "Oyasumi Onii-chan," Haruto whispered.
"Oyasumi Haruto-chan."
A/N: a short chapter, but as you can understand the trouble will only starts here. Leave a review below to tell me what you think.
Chiyoko means thousand/generation/child
**Okay so Japanese addresses are almost impossible.
Updated 21-07-2013
*Okay so I noticed it when I re-read this story to continue. I probably wrote that Yuugi would start High School after the summer holidays because it would be in one line with when Hogwarts would start. We know that schools in Japan run from March till March and that summer holidays are usually about two weeks in July or August. Sorry if anyone got confused by this bit.
