Photobooks: Chapter 16.
Photobooks SPECIAL: Akemi Kouhei's Past.
8 years ago.
"Kou-nii-chan? What are you doing?" asked a girl with icy blue eyes, black hair in two pigtails and a pale skin. A boy with brown hair, icy blue eyes and pale skin turned around.
"Ah, Kuro-nee-chan! I was just taking a short walk outside" said the boy. Kuro smiled.
"Okay, Kou-nii-chan!" said Kuro happily. "Can I come with you?" she asked. Kouhei nodded and took Kuro's hand.
"Be careful to not step in the puddles, Kuro-nee-chan" said Kouhei as he avoided the puddles, just like Kuro did.
"Yes, Kou-nii-chan!" said Kuro. "Where are we going, Kou-nii-chan?" asked Kuro. Kouhei shrugged.
"I don't know, Kuro-nee-chan" said Kouhei. Kuro started to hold onto Kouhei's hand tighter.
"Aren't we lost?" she asked. Kouhei chuckled and shook his head.
"I know the way, but I don't know what we're going to do. Don't worry, Kuro-nee-chan!" he said. Kuro nodded and smiled, placing her trust on her big brother.
"Look, Kou-nii-chan!" said Kuro as she pointed to the sky. Even though there wasn't rain, there was a beautiful rainbow.
"That is a very beautiful rainbow. Don't you think, Kuro-nee-chan?" he asked as he looked down to his little sister. Kuro nodded. Then, Kuro started jumping happily as she looked in front of her.
"Kou-nii-chan! There is a beautiful gate!" said Kuro as she pointed to the gate. "Can we go there? Can we?" she asked. Kouhei looked at his old watch, and shook his head.
"Kuro-nee-chan, it's almost time for us to have dinner. Maybe tomorrow, okay?" he asked. Kuro pouted.
"Okay, Kou-nii-chan…" she murmured. Kouhei raised her chin to look at him.
"Raise your head, Kuro-nee-chan. Members of the Akemi Clan should be proud, even when they're sad" said Kouhei with a serious voice. Kuro sighed.
"Yes, Kou-nii-chan" she said, as she raised her head a little. Kouhei kneeled beside her, back facing her.
"Hop on my bag" he said. Kuro nodded, and placed herself on his back. On the way, they commented on the beautiful things they saw. Butterflies, ladybugs, roses, flowers, and more. A few minutes later, they were standing in front of a big white castle-like house. Kouhei put down Kuro.
"Thank you, Kou-nii-chan!" she said. Kouhei smiled and patted her head. A woman with brown hair and dark blue eyes was standing at the door with a smile.
"Kuro-chan! Kouhei-kun! There you are. Did you have fun?" she asked. Kouhei and Kuro nodded. "That's good. Dinner is about to be ready, come in!" she said.
"Yes, Mother" the two said in unison. A man with black hair and blue eyes was sitting with a paper in his hands on a big white chair. "Hello, Father" the two said in unison again.
"Hello children. Had a good time?" asked their father. The two nodded.
"Master, Lady, Young Master, Young Lady, dinner is ready" said a maid. The father stood up, and was the first to sit in the dinner room. The others followed quickly.
"Eat well everyone" said their father with a smile. The others smiled back.
"So, what were you doing in the forest?" asked their mother.
"I saw a big rainbow!" said Kuro with amaze in her eyes. Her mother smiled.
"That's probably because Light Gaia was happy" she said. Their father gave her a warning look. She quickly shut up.
"What did I say about Light Gaia and Dark Gaia?" he asked.
"But, Kuroba-" began their mother.
"No. And that's it" said Kuroba. He glanced over to her, and sighed. "Kumiko, I don't believe in them. There are rules in this house. If you don't like them, then leave" he said. Kumiko sighed.
"Who are Light Gaia and Dark Ga-" began Kuro, but was interrupted by Kouhei putting his hand over her mouth. Kuroba shot a glare to the little girl. Kouhei instantly glared back.
-x-
Next morning.
"SHUT UP!" Kouhei heard someone yell. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Kouhei quickly got out of his bed. He ran towards Kuro's room, and opened it. He saw Kuro crying on her bed. He covered her ears with his hands.
"Shh, don't worry, Kuro-nee-chan…" he said. He let go of her. "Kuro-nee-chan, why don't you go outside to the lake?" asked Kouhei.
"But, Mother and Fa-"
"Don't worry about them. They just have a little fight…" said Kouhei. He walked over to her closet, and grabbed a midnight blue dress out of it. He gave it to Kuro. She put it on. Then he handed her a black vest, black ankle socks and black shoes. He led her to the front door.
"And where do you think you're going?" asked Kuroba as he appeared in the hallway. Kouhei shielded Kuro from their father.
"If you don't want Kuro-nee-chan to get involved, let her go" said Kouhei. Kuroba fumed, and made his way to Kouhei. He grabbed Kouhei by his collar, and faced him.
"Don't talk like that to me, you selfish kid!" he yelled in Kouhei's face.
"Father, this is for you and Mother. If you want to talk, than you should let Kuro-nee-chan leave. You don't want to be interrupted, right?" Kouhei asked. Kuroba slapped his son. Kuro shrieked as Kouhei fell to the ground.
"KOUHEI-KUN!" yelled Kumiko. She ran over to her son. She picked him up, and caressed his cheek.
"Let the kid go. He doesn't deserve pity from someone" said Kuroba cold. Kumiko glared at her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
"You hurt your own son! Are you mad or something?" she asked. She picked up Kouhei from the floor, and hold Kuro's hand. She led them upstairs. She grabbed three suitcases from under their bed, and put it on the bed. She grabbed Kuro's, Kouhei's and her clothes and put them in the suitcases.
"Mother, where are we going?" asked Kuro.
"Somewhere far away from your father" said Kumiko. Kuro stayed silent after that. She walked towards Kouhei, and planted a kiss on his forehead.
-x-
5 weeks later.
"Kou-nii-chan? Where is Mother?" asked Kuro. She had turned 9 this week, and Kouhei 11. Kouhei shrugged as he was cooking the rice, and baking the meat.
"Mother is probably late again" answered Kouhei.
"Ah, okay" replied Kuro. Kouhei was done cooking dinner. He put the food on table, and sat down, next to Kuro. Their mother's dish in front of them. When they were done, Kouhei tucked Kuro in her bed.
"Goodnight, Kuro-nee-chan" he said as he stroked her hair.
"Goodnight, Kou-nii-chan" she said with a smile. When Kouhei was about to leave, Kuro tugged his shirt. "Will everything be alright again?" she asked. Kouhei smiled, and kneeled next to her bed.
"Everything will surely be alright" said Kouhei. "Do you believe in the Gaia's?" asked Kouhei.
"Yes, I do! But Father refused me too" Kuro replied.
"Then, ask Light Gaia if she can make everything alright. Then ask Dark Gaia if he can bind Father so that he won't do anything to us" said Kouhei. Kuro nodded.
"Okay! I will!" she said.
"Sleep well" Kouhei said before he closed the door behind him. He sighed. He walked off the stairs, and sat on the couch, facing the wall. He lay his head on his knees, which he had tightly pressed against his chest. Suddenly, he heard something at the front door. "Mother?" he asked. He saw a woman laying on the ground.
"K-Kouhei-kun…" she said.
"Mother! What's wrong?" he asked. He picked up his mother, and threw her arm around his shoulders. He lay her on the couch and rushed to the kitchen to get a cold towel for her head, which was burning.
"It's nothing, Kouhei-kun. I'm just a little sick…" she said and coughed. "Kouhei-kun, thanks for taking care of Kuro-chan" Kumiko said, and stroked her sons' cheek.
"No problem, Mother. I do what it takes to protect my family" he said as he smiled back.
-x-
4 years later.
Kouhei grabbed Kuro's hand, as they started walking. It's been two years since the death of their mother. Their father is still on search for them. Since they were from the Akemi Clan, they had several spies looking out for them, to protect them from any harm.
"Say, Kou-nii-chan. We still haven't got to the Southern Gate yet. When are we going?" asked Kuro. Kouhei looked up in the sky. Kuro turned 13 last month, and Kouhei 15.
"There is not bad weather today, so we can go to it today, okay?" he asked. Kuro smiled, and nodded.
-x-
They arrived at the Southern Gate, which was red and covered with red, spade-like leaves. Kuro smiled, and let go of Kouhei's hand.
"Watch out for the rocks!" Kouhei yelled after her. Kuro smiled, and nodded. Kouhei smiled a faint smile back.
"Kou-nii-chan! Come here!" yelled Kuro and waved. Kouhei sighed, and walked towards her.
"What is it?" he asked. Kuro pointed to a light blue stone.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" she asked. Kouhei nodded. "I wonder how it will be if I'll be The Ruler…" said Kuro as she stretched her arms. That hit Kouhei.
"Kuro-nee-chan, I have to tell you something" said Kouhei. Kuro stood up from her position, and nodded.
"What is it, Kou-nii-chan?" asked Kuro.
"I am going to become The Ruler" he said. Kuro widened her eyes.
"W-What? Kou-nii-chan! You're too young!" said Kuro. Kouhei sighed.
"I'm… sorry, Kuro-nee-chan" he said. Suddenly, men in black came rushing towards Kuro, and grabbed her by her arms.
"KOU-NII-CHAN!" she yelled. "HELP ME!"
"I'm sorry, Kuro-nee-chan" he said again. He stretched out his left arm, and pointed his fingers to Kuro, which made her widen her eyes. Suddenly, a big icy blue crystal started appearing on her feet.
"What are you doing, Kou-nii-chan!" she asked with tears in her eyes. "You're my brother… right?"
"I am. But I don't want you to be The Ruler. I am going to be The Ruler!" he yelled. Kuro smiled a sad smile, while tears streaming over her pale face.
"Then, I wish you good luck… Kou-nii-chan…" she said, and the crystal was surrounded over her full body.
"Carry the crystal to the garden of my new home" Kouhei said, and walked to the black car which had arrived earlier. "34th World Street" Kouhei said.
"Yes, sir" said the driver, and started driving.
"I'm sorry… Kuro-nee-chan…" he said.
Inspire-chan (2012): NOTE! Kouhei is 18 as The Ruler, and Kuro (BRS) is 16. So they are now 10 and 8 years old. I noticed nobody knew something about their past, so I made a special chapter for them (:
Please listen to Killigrew's "Liquid Hearts" and "Memories", which are the main themes for this chapter! I'm not doing any advertisements!