Chapter 2; a new Family
-Dream/Flashback-
"Hey have you heard about that cursed child?" a kid said looking at Hazuki.
"Yeah, I heard he caused his mother's death and now his father is an unemployed drunk widower." Another child said.
'No, it's not my fault. It's not!' Hazuki thought to himself.
"And have you seen his eyes?" a boy said.
"Yeah I know creepy right? They're two different colors. A clear sigh he's cursed." A girl replied.
'That's not true, I can't help that my eyes are different colors. It doesn't mean I'm cursed.' Hazuki thought hurt. He ran home as fast he could.
"I'm home," He calls when he got home.
He finds his father slumped on the floor surrounded by empty bottles and cans of alcohol again. "F-father?" he says. The man looks up at his son and scowls. "Fath…" Hazuki started.
"Shut up!" his father said and started beating his son again. "Why the hell were you even born?! Because of you I lost it all! My love, my job, my friend! I wish you were never born you demon child!" he curses and yells in anger, while slapping and punching Hazuki over and over again.
"F-father, please stop!" Hazuki mutters. "Please, it hurts! Please no more! No more Father! Please!" after his father finally stops, Hazuki quickly rushes to his room and locks the door. He sits down and starts crying again. He looks at a book on the floor by the author 'Akihiko Usami'.
'The stories he writes are sad, but, they always have a happy ending.' Hazuki thought to himself. 'He must be a really nice man.' He picks up the book and looked at the picture of the author on the back. 'I wish you were my dad.' Hazuki thought and continues sobbing while hugging the book.
-End of Dream/Flashback-
-Hazuki's POV-
I woke up to unfamiliar warmth. When I look in front of me I see my favorite author.
"So last night wasn't a dream." I think and hop out of the bed.
I look around and find the room field with toys. I giggle softly at the thought of a grown man to own all these. I quietly walk out of the room and downstairs.
I stop by the door when it opens and a beautiful being with dark chocolate brown hair and the deepest emerald green eyes I ever saw, comes in. For a moment I'm stunned seeing such a creature. He looks at me and seems to be surprised.
"Um…who are you?" he asks baffled. Then father comes down groggy.
"Oh, Misaki you're back welcome home." He says and I look at him.
"Father, do you know him?" I ask and the green eyed man seems surprised.
Father sighs. "Misaki this is Hazuki. Well from now on he'll be our son." He says and the guy, Misaki, just stands there frozen. "Hazuki, where's Aki-chan?" he asks and I notice Aki-can gone.
"I guess left him upstairs, I'll go get him." I say and walk back up the stairs to retrieve my precious teddy bear.
-Misaki POV-
I was excited to see Usagi-san after getting home but I didn't expect what I just found.
"Um…Usagi-san, what do you mean that kid is going to be our son?" I ask totally confused. Usagi-san never liked kids. He's even hostile towards Mahiro.
"I mean I'm adopting him and he's going to be our child from now on." Usagi-san replies and takes out a cigarette and lights it.
"Are you serious?" I ask.
"Yes," He replies bluntly and sits down on the couch.
"Wait, where did that kid from anyway? Is he a relative or something?" I ask and sit across from Usagi-san.
"No, I met him in the park last night and he ended up here." He replies.
"Huh? Then what if he has a family?! You can't just take a kid in that belongs to someone else!" I scowl at him.
"He does, but, I'm not taking him back." Usagi-san replies.
"You can't take someone else's child, you stupid Rabbit! His family must be worried sick! And besides I thought you hated kids?!" I yell at him.
"You saw his face." He says to me. I did and he had few bruises and scratches. "Last night he took a bath and I saw his body. He was covered with bruises and scars all over."
"What?" I asked. Does mean Hazuki-kun is...
"Hazuki was being abused by his own father." He said. "So I'm going to raise him myself." I stare at him for a moment.
"Are you serious?" I ask.
"Yes I am." He says with a serious expression.
"Okay. But if you're going to keep him, I'm helping." I tell him.
"Of course, he needs a mother figure after all." He says and I blush red.
"Not funny." I grumble feeling embarrassed, then look up to find the kid.
-Hazuki's POV-
I grabbed my teddy bear that father gave me (which was still in his room) and hug it close to my chest. Usami was really a nice man and I was happy when he said he'd take me in. I then walk out of the room and started to go back downstairs. I freeze when I hear father and that Misaki guy talking.
"Are you serious?" Misaki asks.
"Yes I am." Father replies.
"Huh? Wait serious of what?" I think and continue to listen
"Okay. But if you're going to keep him, I'm helping." Misaki said.
"Wait, do they mean me? Does that mean they're going to keep me?" I thought.
"Of course, he needs a mother figure after all." Father replies.
"Mother figure, what does father mean by that?" I continue to listen.
"Not funny." Misaki grumbles then looks up at me.
"Oh no, I've been found out." I thought nervous.
"Hazuki, it is okay, come down here." Father told me and I obeyed, I walk down and sit next to Father.
"Hazuki this is Misaki." He introduces the guy.
"Um…nice to meet you, I'm Hazuki." I introduce myself.
"From now on, he'll be like a mother to you." Father says and Misaki blushes.
"Usagi-san," He grumbles.
"Um, father, why does he keep calling you Usagi-san?" I ask.
"Oh, it's a nickname." He replies.
"Well I better get started on breakfast, what would you guys like?" Misaki asked us getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen.
"…." I keep quiet.
"I know how about some pancakes, eggs and octopus dogs Hazuki?" Father asked.
"Sure, that sounds good." I replied.
"Okay I'm on it." Misaki said and stared cooking.
-Time skip; Normal POV-
Hazuki and Akihiko both sat down at the table as Misaki walked in and set out the food.
"Itadakimasu"
They all say and dig in. It was the best Hazuki had ever tasted and so he ate it hungrily. At home he ate very little and his father never ate with him.
"This is really good." he says.
"Why thank you." Misaki said. "Hang on you got something on your cheek." He says and wipes some egg off Hazuki's cheek. He felt like he was really part of a family.
"…" Hazuki suddenly goes quiet.
"Hazuki is something wrong?" Akihiko asked.
"Does the food not taste good?" Misaki asked.
"No, it's just you're the only true family I ever had." Hazuki replies.
"Yeah I heard." Misaki said. "But it's okay Hazuki we'll be taking care of you from now on."
"But you won't want me after I tell you all about me." Hazuki says.
"Go ahead tell us." Akihiko says.
"Ever since I was born, I only ever brought misfortune." Hazuki began.
"What do you mean?" Misaki asked.
"My mom died when I was born and my father lost his job not long after. He began drinking a lot and whenever I got too close he would hurt me saying that it was all my fault. Things got worse when a friend would come to help father. He was nice, but when we were alone he would undress and touch me weirdly."
Misaki and Akihiko freeze when they heard.
"Not only was he abused, but he was also molested? No wonder he wasn't very trusting." Akihiko thought disgusted.
"Father eventually found out and broke it off with his friend, but he blamed me for it as well. So I ran like he told me to." Hazuki finished. "I guess you don't want me now huh." he says looking down as small tears fall from his eyes.
Misaki stands up and walks over the boy hugging him gently.
"Of course not. Nothing of that is your fault, and we'll still keep you as our son." He said.
"Really?" Hazuki asked.
"Yes," Misaki replied.
"Then can I ask you something?" Hazuki asks.
"Yes," Misaki replies. "What's on your mind?"
"May I call you mom?" Hazuki asked. Misaki blushed while Usagi silently chuckled.
"I guess so." Misaki replies.
"Okay, Mom." Hazuki says and Misaki blushes even redder. Usagi smiles and joins in on the family hug.
-Hazuki POV-
I couldn't believe it, I was part of a real family. I couldn't help but feel happy.
And that's the end of chapter 2.
Next chapter will feature Hiroki and Nowaki, so stay tuned.
