Knock Knock

"Hiroki? It's Takahiro.."

I stood up from the couch, Nowaki following behind. Upon opening the door there Takahiro stood, anxiety and desperation written all over. He looks like shit, bet he hasn't slept in days.

I can't blame him though, his brother is missing.

He always had some kind of obsession with his brother, always talking about him even before his success but when you take a good look at him he's just an average brat who could never turn his damn work in on time.

Right, when Misaki was in university I was one of his professors. Yeah, I threw books at the kids including him but I did care for their education. I was a bit surprised the kid dropped out, I mean he was shit at the subject but he always tried his best. Perhaps I should've encouraged them a bit more, well they were all adults so it wasn't exactly something that crossed my mind.

That is until I saw the brat on TV…

"WHAT? THAT KID DROPPED OUT OF MY CLASS TO SING SOME ASS SONG?"

"Well it doesn't sound bad Hiroki.." Nowaki sipped his coffee enjoying the performance on TV

"Hiroki?" Takahiro called out, still standing outside as Nowaki looked at me in confusion.

Snapping out of my thoughts, "ah…right sorry, come in"

We all sat down at the couch, the silence was well. Suffocating to say the least, I mean what was I supposed to say?

Leaning forward I grabbed a beer can and popped it open, the sound caught Takahiro's eye before he joined in. Slowly and in silence we not including Nowaki who wasn't much of a drinker, drank and drank until one of us spoke up.

"You know…a part of me hopes Misaki's dead"

Holding my beer I looked up at Takahiro, a bit shocked by the unexpected comment.

"yeah? why's that?"

"Well, if he was dead he would be with mom and dad. Then he wouldn't have to suffer."

"But then the other part of me.."

Takahiro paused for a moment, taking a sip from his half empty can.

"has a feeling he's alive and strangely I think I know where"

I wasn't drinking anymore, me and Nowaki just stared at him wondering if he was talking out of his drunken state or if he was really serious.

"Usagi-san"

Akihiko?

"I always felt some sort of brotherly connection whenever I was near Misaki, like the saying of twins having telepathic abilities with one another. I felt his presence the day I visited Usagi not long after Misaki went missing"

"Manami thinks I'm overthinking, but so what if I am?"

Now it was my turn to say something

"Hey Nowaki.."

"Yes Hiro?"

"Remember the car that sped off as we left the store that night?"

"Yeah.."

"What kind of car was it?"

"A red sports car, Why?"

Now it was Takahiro who stared at us in shock, I couldn't tell what was going on in his head. Was it hope?

Regardless we both knew, Akihiko may not have been as clever as he thought he was.

I guess I underestimated Takahiros reaction to this as he lunged at me, spilling the beer all over the floor.

"YOU KNEW? YOU SAW HIM AND SAID NOTHING? WHY? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL SOMEONE?"

He shook me harshly, both hands on my shoulders.

"I.."

"HE COULD STILL BE HERE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? EVERY DAY I WAKE UP KNOWING HES GONE. THAT THERES SO MANY QUESTIONS YET ONE ANSWER TO IT ALL AND I CAN'T FIND IT YET ITS RIGHT FUCKING THERE HIROKI. YOU STUPID BITCH"

"GET THE HELL OFF HIM"

Nowaki pushed Takahiro into the coffee table, breaking it apart on impact.

I didn't know what to say

"I just, I'm sorry. I-I just want him back Hiroki I'm sorry. People are dying, it's just a matter of time before I do too."

Takahiro's mood flipped like a coin.

"He's all my parents ever left me before they passed."

"No will, no money, no home. Just my brother..my baby brother"

The warmth of Nowaki's hands as he wrapped himself around me

The warmth of Takahiro's tears as they quickly rolled down his cheeks burning into his skin like acid, the salty taste tickling your lips as everyone becomes a blurry figure. Your heart feels so full yet empty and your mind spirals into one thing, grief.

I've never seen him cry, I know Akihiko cried for him. I wanted at the time, to see Takahiro cry for once after all the tears Akihiko had shed for him.

Yet here he was, pathetically crying in front of me.

And it didn't feel as good as I thought it would, he didn't deserve this.

"Nothing?"

Takahiro looked up at me in confusion, his tears continued to flow down to his neck.

"What do you mean?" Nowaki asked, letting me go.

Both looked at me for an explanation,

"I'm just saying what the harm is in looking, we both have connections with Akihiko. What will he do with all of us there?"

"R-right.." Takahiro spoke up, "there is um, some stuff I'd like to take from Misaki's home though. I just can't go alone."

Both I and Nowaki nodded, agreeing to company him tomorrow to retrieve some memories for the mourning brother. Or perhaps he had another reason to be there, regardless it was the least we could do.

"For now lets get some rest, Nowaki can drive you home Takahiro"

"T-thank you, I do apologize for earlier. I am very grateful for you two at the moment"

"All is forgiven"


Knock Knock

"Misaki~"

Silence

"Do you want to do something today?"

Once again the room stayed quiet, as if no breath of life existence behind the door.

Creak..

"Misaki, I asked if you wanted to spend time with me"

"Like hell I do" a voice huffed

I smiled, taking a few steps towards the bed I laid my hand onto what I would assume to be his shoulder.

The boy flinched before going completely still, though it hurt I knew he'd love me as much as I love him someday. Or even more...no. That would be impossible.

"Get up, I brought you some more clothes to wear. I want to go to a park today."

"I don't want to" was the response I expected yet hoped not to hear.

"You do."

"No I don't"

"Yes you do"

"Says who?"

"I do because you love me. We're meant to be Misaki"

"Yeah right," the boy scoffed, pushing the clothes off the bed.

"WE ARE, WE ARE MISAKI. YOU LOVE ME BACK OKAY?"

He sat there startled before slowly nodding, not taking his eyes off me. Not even after I left the room I could feel those emerald eyes burrowing through the door.

He just needs some time that's all... I walked downstairs for some coffee, today would be a good day.


Quickly I dressed into my new clothes, a dark grey winter topcoat, cream-colored turtle neck, dark baggy pants with gloves, and a scarf.

Looking out the window as I stepped down the stairs I realized it was snowing. The small flakes glid through the grey-colored sky. So small yet so much.

These small snowflakes managed to cover the whole city, how were we supposed to go to a park? Not that it mattered, this was my time to escape.

I gazed through the glass window, it was beautiful scenery, I wish me and Ni-Chan could play in the snow.

"Then we play together Misaki"

I jumped, had I said that out loud? Turning from the peace I faced war, Usami stood there hands in his pocket.

He wore a long black topcoat, black pants, white gloves and a scarf.

He did look handsome don't get me wrong, but he was far from good inside.

"Um..yeah"

He smiled, satisfied with my answer.

"Come" he demanded softly

Hesitantly I walked over, suddenly my face was covered with a black mask and sunglasses.

Before I had time to react a man came through the front door, he wore all black. Well built, intimidating, and emotionless.

"This man will reassure you do not leave my side, as well as the gun in both our pockets. Do not try to leave me Misaki, I have paid this man a large amount of money so save your knees from pleading for mercy."

He grabbed my hand and signaled the man to follow, "do not remove your disguise until I say, and remember who I am."

Following, I did know who he was. Usami Akihiko is part of the Usami family. The wealthiest and most powerful family in Japan, the police knelt for them at the sight of cash.

Together we walked across the snow-covered sidewalk, I knew the "bodyguard" was behind us. Just a few feet away, once again I felt hopeless. I wanted to run into the nearest store but I knew it was useless.

Usami made me walk on the opposite side of the stores, meaning I'd have to cross him or the road. I was not about to test my luck, not yet at least. Though recently luck seems to be absent.

"U-um, so where are we going again?"

"A park"

"Uhuh..what park?"

"You'll see, you know it very well Misaki"

I just followed the man, the whole place was covered by the unexpected snow. The street lights dimmed as the sky was lit in grey. How early was it?

No cars, barely any people, and the stores were closed.

So much for an escape.

We continued to walk in the cold, and all I could think about was how I could make a run for it. It's not like he'd actually shoot me..right?

Soon I had a familar feeling, like when the car starts going down a known path your brain knows you're almost home.

The tall familiar trees seemed to stare at me, a sense of belonging. The smooth path clothed in white, a wedding.

Soon I recognized the way the trees moved with the wind, leaves or no leaves the branches never fell. The sky welcomed me back as the stars swallowed my gaze whole.

It was the park me and Todo always went to, wait.

How did he know?

My gaze turned to the man, who just stared straight foward as we walked down the path I'd taken many times before.

"I knew you'd remember, though the place may seem dead in winter it still shares it's beauty like spring."

Looking down at my feet we turned to the scenery, the bench would seem like nothing without the shine of the moon.

"Shall we?"

I nodded as we sat in the same place I had studied, ate, worked, talked, slept and enjoyed the view before.

"You can remove it now"

Slowly I took off the mask and glasses, pulling the warm scarf off I felt the cold breeze engulf my neck.

"The place shines brighter during the winter you know" Usami spoke up, his purple gaze taking in the moons aurora.

"How so?"

"Because though it may look dead and empty, in just a few months the place will blossom."

"So?"

"So, it's still a sunflower isn't it?"

Silence, I glared at the man wondering what he knew about beauty.

"Does the flower have to always shine for you to cherish it?"

He didn't say anything after that, and neither did I.

Together we sat, gazing in the cold.

He viewed the moon, while I viewed the fog I exhaled. Reminding me I was alive, everything that was happening was real.

Something I've struggled with many times before, confusing reality.


"Which of the following conditions on Mars would be the first to kill an unprotected human?"

A) low air pressure

Sighing I reached into my bookbag, grabbing my water I heard the door open.

Naturally the whole class turned, many seemed surprised.

A man with a santa suit walked through the door, he held a big candy cane prop.

I smiled, it was almost christmas.

BAM

The man passed through all the children, his gaze never breaking from mine.

"Hello" the man smiled

"Hi"

He just stood by me, staring down at my paper waiting for me to finish.

Sighing I picked my pencil up once more.

B) High Co2 atmosphere

A piano played soft tunes in the background, my teacher loved to play music when it was silent.

C) Colder than Antartic temperatures

Sk-

Soon the music seemed to disorientate, an interruption of a womans voice began to take over.

Maybe an ad?

"Junjou high-"

The familiar melody continued

D) Excess solar radiation due to-

"Evacuate"

Looking up towards the class no one seemed to notice the interruption

Once again the piano sung

-a missing magnetic field

"Now at Japan's local news we are live at Junjou Highschool, guns have been fired inside. Police say there are hostages kept inside the last class room, now all we can do is pray for the kids well being."

Click

I dropped my pencil in shock, slowly I picked it up.

Staring at the blood soaked wood.

BAM

Looking up from my seat, the class room was splattered in blood, flesh, and bodies of my once classmates. The teacher sat, face into the table as blood poured from her head.

"Misaki"

BAM

Everything began to come together, I could suddenly hear the police chatters, helicopter wings, crying and wimpering from the corner of the room."

I couldn't move, neither could the bodies that laid beneath me.

Chuckle

The man, whom I thought was dressed in a santa suit spreading holiday cheer.

He stood in all black, a mask in which all you could see were his blood shot eyes, the cane was now a gun and his gaze was colder than the blood he shed.

"What is your name?" he asked

"Misaki"

Creak..

I turned to the corner where 3 students sat, a girl.

She moved the table, reaching out her hand she called for me. "Misaki"

"Come"

Himari, she was a friend of mine. Her long brown hair, dark eyes and soft red lips. I admit, I had a crush on her.

She was the first crush I had, sweet, loving, gentle and talented.

We shared the love for baking.

She also played piano, I recongized the music playing as her own.

Slowly, began to stand. Reaching my hand out, even if I died I wanted to be by her side, touching her soft skin once more.

Himari smiled, her last.

BAM

Screams echoed from the 2 teens who were hit with blood and brain.

Thump

Himari's body hit the ground, her face played the same smile she died with.

"Death comes unexpected, yet expected." the man said

Himari was a blood bath, yet she still looked beautiful.

E) none of the above


It was quiet early for a walk, but I couldn't sleep.

I had to figure out what to do, walking down the path layered in snow I looked up at the trees.

Making the familiar turn I realzied someone was already sitting at the benches, two men.

Sighing, I no one would be here at such a time.

Before I could walk away, "Todo?"

The voice..

Looking once more a tall man turned his head to me, Usami Akihiko.

I recognized the celebrity as many would.

His purple gaze piercing through me, sharp like broken glass.

My eyes glanced at the shorter man who seemed to be in distraught, it was hard to see from afar.

Waiting for my eyes to adjust, they soon widened.

The celebrity walked towards me

Still, those green eyes brought shivers yet relief, gasping. Chesnut brown hair, he lit brighter than the moon.

"Misaki"

"MI-"

Click

"NO" the boy jumped up

BAM

I could tell you my life flashed before my eyes when the bullet shot unexpected through my body.

But it didn't, Misaki clung onto the slender figure as the man missed the shot thanks to the boys sudden touch.

Usami stared at Misaki, Misaki stared back.

"Please don't, I promise I'll love you forever Usagi please"

Crunch

"Just this one thing, I'll stay by your side forever"

Purple orbs stared at me, then behind me. He nodded.

Looking behind a tall man suddenly hit my head, I collapsed against the snow.

"Forever?"

"Forever."

Green and purple shined with the grey moon