Promise me that you'll always be a hero, no matter what happens.
Kotetsu had this dream almost every night. Just before he could answer her, her body would be engulfed in green flames. The image would crinkle and curl away like a photograph to reveal Alice's brother, writhing in agony. Every night Kotetsu didn't help him. And every night they died together. He was sure that if he saved the boy, the dreams would stop, but to do that, he'd have to forgive him. And so, the boy would burn.
When he woke up, Alice would always be sleeping next to him. When Alice was awake, the lights were off. Kotetsu saw fires dance in the darkness and waited for blows that never came. When she slept, the lights came on.
Sometimes, she would try to pretend she was asleep, just to get him to turn on the lights quicker... It never worked.
…...
Muramasa worried about Kotetsu. He hardly let his guard down. He couldn't stand to sit in a chair for for than 30 seconds. He avoided rooms without windows. He hated the dark. Sometimes it seemed like his little brother was still locked in a hole somewhere. Other times, Kotetsu watched his loved ones like if he took his eyes off them for a second; they would be taken from him. He tried to get Kotetsu to talk at the bar but his brother was stubborn. Finally he said, "If you don't tell me what's going on with you, Kotetsu, you're not welcome in my bar." Without a word, Kotetsu had gotten up and left. He hadn't come back since.
…...
Water from the shower head dripped down Kotetsu's head and back. Fear. It followed him there. Even though he exercised every day to keep his mind busy, every now and then it would inevitably drift back to buckets of cold water and pain. Sometimes his memories seemed closer to reality then the life he was living. Sometimes, he panicked. Thinking that being safe and home was nothing but a happy delusion and soon he'd wake up and find himself bound to a chair. He tried not to stay in the shower for very long.
…...
Kotetsu had adopted Alice soon after their discharge. Muramasa had done most of the paperwork but Kotetsu had signed on for guardianship. She had made an astonishingly fast recovery. One of Kaede's friends had a mom who was a hair stylist. She had offered to fix Alice's hair so that it covered her missing ear, but Alice had refused, saying resolutely, "I'll wear my scars with pride. They've made me stronger, after all." Kaede had to suppress a snicker. It sounded like something her father would say.
Kaede was good to Alice. She helped her try on her clothes and they went shopping together. Sometimes, Muramasa would take them out to ice cream. She was moving forward. Kotetsu could see that. It was about time he did the same.