"Where were you?" Bankotsu barked as his sister came back in the hospital room.
"I was….I just…." She stammered.
"Were you….crying?" He frowned and she took the seat beside his bed. She folded her hands on and looked down to her lap.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You were gone for hours…where were you?" He repeated and she glared.
"I said I don't want to talk about it." She glared.
"Masumi, don't play games with me! You went to see that bastard…didn't you?" He growled.
"It's none of your fucking business what I went to do!" She stood up.
"Don't you dare raise your tone to me!" He retorted.
"Then don't question me!"
"I'm supposed to question you! You're my fucking baby sister and I'll be damned if…"
"I'm not a fucking baby like you want me to be! I'm old enough for you to stop bossing me around and lecturing me and making my decisions and for you to stop lying to me!" She yelled and he blinked.
"So you think because you're eighteen now you can understand the real world? Hate to break it to ya, princess, but nothings what it seems." He answered seriously.
"I know it isn't you liar!" She yelled and he stared blankly at her. "He helped you!" She waited for him to respond but he just stared at his lap, as if confused. "He helped you and you lied to him!"
"You don't know what you're fucking talking about!" He snapped.
"You sold women!"
"Masumi!"
"You did drugs!" She continued and he grabbed her wrist and roughly pulled her to him.
"Do not fucking listen to him. Anything I did was to protect you. Don't believe him." He spat through his teeth and for the first time in her life, she feared the look in her brother's eyes.
"Bankotsu…" She whispered.
"He fucking lied to you. How dare you go and visit him after what he did to you."
"Have you ever forced a woman?" She whispered and his grip tightened on her arm, causing her to whimper.
"Masumi, I've only told you what you need to know….take that much with gratitude."
"My arm." She hissed.
"Do not believe him over me!" He snarled.
"Bankotsu…you're hurting me…." She frowned and his eyes revealed a familiar softness he had for her. He let go and she rubbed the red spot on her arm.
"I'm sorry." He went to touch her and she flinched. "Masumi…" He frowned.
"Don't touch me…" She glared.
"Don't be like that….I didn't mean to hurt you…" He gave her a sympathetic look. "Who do you trust?" He asked seriously.
"I…..I don't know." She looked up to him.
"Are you serious? I'm your fucking blood! How can you trust him?" He demanded.
"I don't know who to believe!" She defended.
"I don't believe you, Masumi." He leaned back and glared.
"Y-You're just like him…." She mumbled.
"Huh?"
"You and Hiten are the same. You're angry and abusive…."
"I've never abused you!" He snarled.
"You've hurt others! You know what he did to me because you've done it before….haven't you?" She stood up.
"Masumi, please…" He gave her a sympathetic look.
'I don't believe you!"
"Masumi!" He called as she stormed out.
-
It had been one week and Bankotsu would be coming home. She was staying with Jakotsu for the week and had avoided visiting her brother altogether. She anxiously leaned against the bathroom sink and felt tears well up in her eyes.
She saw a blue plus sign on the stick and she felt nausea all over again. She didn't know if it was fear or what she just found out. There was a knock on the door and she jumped.
"Masumi?" Jakotsu called. She cleared her throat.
"Yeah?"
"You ok?" He asked and she threw away the pregnancy test and box before opening the door. "Fine." She smiled.
"Liar….what took you so long?" He crossed his arms.
"N-nothing…." She restrained her tears.
"Is this about Banks? Look…you can cry I'm not going to bitch at you its just…" He stopped when she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
"I'm scared…." She whispered.
"Masumi….he isn't going to hurt you…" Jakotsu cautiously patted her back.
"I-I know…I just….I don't know what to do…." She cried.
"Masumi…this is about Bankotsu….right?" He cocked his head. She just sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I don't want to talk about it…"
"Not Hiten again." He groaned and she fell to her knees. He felt a pang of guilt as she buried her face in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably. "Masumi…"
"I didn't mean to…" She mumbled.
"Did you see him again?"
"Not since a week ago…" She looked up and he wrapped his arms around her.
"So what's wrong?"
"J-Jakotsu….can you keep a secret?" She whispered and he crossed his arms.
"Depends."
"P-please….I-I don't know who else I c-can tell…." She stammered.
"Fine, but it better not fuck me over in the end." He frowned.
"I…I think I'm pregnant…" She whispered and his eyes got wide.
-
Bankotsu nodded in thanks as Renkotsu opened Jakotsu's door for him. He sighed when nobody was in sight.
"Ja? Masumi?" He called. Renkotsu sat beside him on the couch. Jakotsu ran out and embraced his 'brother'.
"Bankotsu! I missed you so much and…." He started.
"You just saw him yesterday." Renkotsu stated bluntly.
"Way to kill a moment, asshole." He plopped between them and nudged Renkotsu.
"Where's Masumi?" Bankotsu whispered. Jakotsu looked down nervously.
"She….uh…"
"Hi." She smiled and walked in. She pecked Renkotsu's cheek and did the same for Bankotsu before sitting down. He cleared his throat and glared at Jakotsu and Renkotsu. They obediently left.
"I want to talk to you about…"
"I'm sorry." She cut him off and he frowned. "I…didn't mean to snap at you and…..I'm confused." She whispered.
"Its ok…Masumi….we're going to court for him in a few weeks."
"Don't make me! Please….don't charge him for what he did to me." She pleaded.
"He'll only get about three years for breaking in and assaulting me! Then he'll get out and come after you! If we can get him for rape…"
"No." She crossed her arms. "I don't want him in jail…" She whispered.
"Masumi."
"Please don't make me go to court for him….please…..h-he scares me." She whispered and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I won't make you if you really don't want to…..but I just……he needs more time."
"J-just don't send him? Please. I need to talk to him and…"
"No! If I fucking don't make you go I'll be damned if you talk to him again! He's a fucking possessive lunatic and I don't want you near him!" He snapped and saw tears in her eyes. "Please….you owe me that much…" He whispered.
"Don't charge him…." She whispered and leaned against his chest.
"Why? He's fucking manipulated you into believing…"
"I-I n-need him…." She mumbled and he snarled.
"Don't you ever fucking say that again! My mind is made up. We're moving after his ass is in jail where it fucking belongs!"
"No!" She jumped to her feet. "You can't make me leave! I'm eighteen now!"
"Masumi, you are coming with me!" He stood across from her.
"What about you? You belong in jail but you aren't there!" She argued.
"Masumi, grow the fuck up! You. Are. Moving. That bastard will not find out where we live ever and you'll be safe!" He snapped.
"I hate you." She whispered before bolting out of the room. He sat down and took in a deep breath. He picked up the remote, the first thing he grabbed, and chucked it at the wall. He heard it shatter and groaned, burying his face in his hands.
Why wouldn't she just listen? She always used to…