Chapter 21: White Clouds Part I
10 years ago…
"Onii-chan, why can't we play outside?" big, brown eyes meet purple. Her innocence overflowing and he was in awe of it.
"Mum and Dad said that it was too dangerous outside Mai" the little girl pouted and disappointment shone in her brown eyes and he hates it when he can't do anything about it. He proceeded to [at her head gently as if offering some comfort. There was a small sigh and a smile broke through the little girl's face.
"Okay, then can you tell me about those fluffy, white cotton candies outside?" she said inquisitively, eager to grab information. Though the analogy made me giggle, my baby sister has a way with words.
"You mean clouds? Well they are pretty high up in the sky so you can't touch them" she gave me a small pout and an 'awwwww' and I smiled at that "But dad told me that these clouds come in many types but here are basically 3 of them."
"Really? What do they look like?" I smile at her curiosity and mentally frown for the reason I can't blame her. If I was locked up in a room without windows all my life, I'd probably sneak out to satisfy my curiosity, but she knows what it does to my parents when she sneaks out.
"Well there are these cirrus clouds that usually appear in bright sunny mornings. They look wispy and dad said that they're the most high up amongst the other clouds. The lowest clouds are called stratus clouds. The big puffy ones are called cumulus clouds. Well the rest of the clouds are the combination of both" I smile as I see her facial expression. She looks up at the ceiling as if visualizing the information. Suddenly the door opens to reveal my mother. She is wearing her white, flowy dress and she knows how I love the feel of its silk when I snuggle with her.
"How are my favourite babies doing?" I frowned at this, my mom still likes to call me a baby when I'm almost 10.
"Stop giving me that pout Senri, you know you'll always be momma's baby boy." She smoothed my raven hair laid my head on her lap as she does the same to Mai.
"But mom, I don't think I'll appreciate that 10 years later when I bring home my girlfriend"
"Well you don't have a girlfriend yet not for the next 20 years though" she smiled playfully as she taps my nose
"Besides, why are you thinking about girlfriends when I'm still supposed to be the number one woman in your life young man. Or perhaps you've already replaced me?!" She feigns a shocked look then squeezes my cheeks gently.
"Replaced who? Well certainly not me then, after all I am married to the most stubborn woman in the planet. I would dare not replace such a terrifying woman" My dad enters the room carrying a rose and wearing a permanent playful smile on his face.
"I'm glad you know your place then, the consequences would have been tragic" she accepts the flowers and rewards him with a kiss.
"Daddy what about me, don't I get a rose?" my dad takes Mai and sits her on his lap.
"Sorry baby, that kind of rose blooms once every ten years. So you'll have to wait another ten years before daddy can give you one" he kissed her chubby cheeks and tickled her tummy.
"Don't worry Mai, I'll get you that rose, and preserve it with rosin so that it won't wither. Well at least it will save me another ten years to give you one again."
"Promise?" she stares at me with eyes full of hope and I grinned.
"I swear"
~Mai's POV
"Nii-san, please wake up…don't….don't leave me…again" I sobbed while I hold his hand. I have his blood all over me now but I don't care, as long as he wakes up and pats my head like he always does. Alexis is doing the CPR trying to get a pulse out of him but so far he is unsuccessful.
"Damn it Eisen! I have not prepared an excuse to your parents for this. Now you wake up and save me from being grounded." He growls. The sky was clear and the sunshine was now back, but my brother's lifeless body made the scenery so out of place. I feel a chill beside me and when I look I see the little girl and she wasn't alone. A woman with long blonde hair is smiling right beside her and they are both glowing. The little girl looked at her mother then to my brother. She reached out her hands and touched his chest all of the sudden my brother gasped a mouthful of air and the next second both spirits vanished. A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived and started strapping him up so that he can be transported to the nearest hospital. I was still rooted on the spot; the world seems to be spinning so fast I can't catch up at how fast things were going, but I was relieved that my brother is okay. When my brother was ready to be put in the ambulance, I reluctantly let go of his hand and watch them load him inside as well as Alexis getting inside the ambulance.
I was startled when an EMT blocked my view and drew a light pen and examined me.
"Make her sit down properly, she's in shock" he said
"Can you follow my fingers" I snapped out of my trance when I involuntarily followed the subtle motion of his finger left and right.
"I'm sorry, I-I guess I spaced out for a moment" I buried my face in my hands hoping that it will calm my racing heartbeat and my jumpy nerves.
"Take it easy miss, you've been in shock. I suggest not to stand up immediately. I'm just going to take your blood pressure and once you feel all better that you can go visit your friend in the hospital." After he said that I was good he boarded the second ambulance with the rest of the EPA. Martin and the head-of-security guy is currently talking to the police. Kyle, monk and Jose said that they are going to look around and the rest are probably trying to calm their nerves after the near encounter with death.
"Are you okay?" I feel Naru take a seat beside me, I look up at him and see his usual stoic mask but his eyes give away the concern he has. I gave him a smile and look at my lap.
"I'm okay, I'm just…very confused" I sigh and look at the sky. I can't believe how blue the sky is, there are traces of cirrus clouds and a few of those puffy ones. I feel a hand on my back rubbing me gently, I realize that Naru is giving me some kind of comfort and is feeling awkward about it. I smile and lay my head on his shoulder. He didn't seem to mind and it made me happy.
"Thank you Naru…"
Eisen's POV
I wake up with a groan, my eyes slowly adjusting to the bright light of the room. When my eyesight became less blurry, the first thing I see is Alexis and his scowling face. I gave him my best disappointed look and he just rolled his eyes at me. Well the first thing I expected to see if I survived using my PK is of course Mai, but it has to be Alexis of all people. I'm not ready to be lectured first thing after waking up in a coma.
"She just left actually" he said as I continue to stare at the ceiling.
"You didn't tell me she was your sister" I see him drag a chair beside my bed.
"I never told anybody" I said sarcastically
"Your parents should be here around 6:30" now this had my attention.
"You told them?" I glared at him
"Nope, they figured it out when there was a medical bill worth two nights in the ICU attached to the report." He gave me smug look on his sarcastic remark
"Could help me come up with a hundred of reasons why I'm here?" I asked
"Sorry, but I need a degree in Law to stand up against your mother" we both smirked
"Oh man, I'm screwed" I sighed
"Right you are, I'm calling Anise to fetch us some lunch, do fancy anything?" he took out his iPhone and dialled her number.
"What am I going to tell her?" I mumble
"Uhhh, what you want to eat for lunch?" he raised an eyebrow at me and I scowled
"Mai…" and there was silence until I hear Anise on the other line. They talked for a moment while I stare at the window of my hospital prison.
"What she wants to know?" I chuckle
"If it's Mai she'll want to know everything…" I smile at the distant memory.
"Well you just answered you own question dumbass" he points out and I laugh
"Must be the coma…" I try and sit up but Alexis noticed me wincing so he helped me
"Must be the brain damage…" he retorted and I laugh again.
"Hey guys, I brought your food~" Anise comes in like a freight train carrying several bags with her which I assume is her clothes and not our food. I am starving! I have been IV fed for two days I need real food and fast. I see Cloi come in with several plastic bags I silently thank the heavens.
"So while you were slacking off I took the liberty of touring Japan and dragging the girls and your favourite sister with me to a shopping spree!" Anise said clearly very happy of today's events and I;m also happy once I started chewing this burger steak so just nodded.
"Oh and she's here by the way" I stopped chewing and swallowed the food causing me to cough once and clear my throat.
"She is?" I sipped some water and see her standing by the door, reluctant to come in.
"Well I guess I'll leave you two alone for a while" she winked at me and dragged Lia, Cloi and Alexis out of the room and pushing Mai inside at the same time then locking the door shut. There was a wave of awkward silence until my defiant stomach growled.
"Sorry about that, it kinda missed the real food. Had nothing to digest for two days after all, I guess it was bored." She giggled and I relaxed knowing the tension dissipated a little. She took a seat in the chair beside the bed and watched me eat like a cow. Dang! This is making me nervous, what the hell can you say to your sister after being separated for so many years.
"Uhm, I'm kinda confused on what to call you…" she said nervously while playing eith the hem of her skirt. I slowed eating and realized that her words stung. Well, of course she won't see me as her brother anymore. I left her for 10 years…
"Well I thought you won't appreciate being called Senri since your team mates have always known you as Eisen and well I was thinking that maybe I should just call you-" I slammed the plastic fork down that it broke into two. She was obviously startled and her bottom lip started quivering, shit!
"Uhhh, no I mean, uuhhhh. Sorry, you got me nervous there for a second. Mai, after ten years seriously that's what you're worried about? I thought you would scream, cry and rant at me about what a shitty brother am I. I thought you're to blame me that you suffered for years and I just showed up now and-" I stopped when she started sobbing
"Hey, don't cry, sorry I didn't mean to rant like an old lady I was just uhhh- look I'm sorry Mai please don't cry" I wipe her tears and pat her head. She sniffs and wipes her tears then looks up
"You're not a shitty brother, and I don't blame you for anything…I-I just missed you, that's all" she sniffs and feel like I'm about to cry.
"Oh Mai, come here…" I pulled her for a hug and squeeze her tight. I missed having her close to me, she still smells like vanilla and I'm assuming that even her memories cannot keep her from using her favourite shampoo.
"Nii-san…" she sobs in my shirt and I it takes all of my will not to cry
"I missed you too baby sis…you have no idea how long I waited this" I caressed her brown locks. I missed her long hair but I guess just holding her like this now will suffice.
"I'm still very confused but I know that you really are my brother…I just-" I put my finger in her lips to stop her from talking. I have no idea what she's going through but I don't want to burden her by not fully remembering me.
"It's okay, I understand." I pat her head softly
"I remember how much I loved it when you pat my head like that" she giggled
"Oh really?" then I ruffled her hair while she squeaked
"And how much I annoyed that!" she playfully swatted my arm away and I grinned.
"Hey were back! Eisen why did you make her cry! We still have to go through a makeover you know! She has an important date today and I can't let you make her eyes swollen and red" she grabs my sister's hand while giving me a mock glare. As her words sink in my face suddenly turned dark.
"Date?" I asked lowly
A/N: Okay I hope I did good with this chapter. I absolutely have no idea how to write this story anymore! I ran out of imagination until the next twist...Oh and school starts tomorrow and my class schedule is a living hell (but it's the best among the three sections) I am definitely excited for Christmas break hopefully 5 weeks will end so soon. I know Eisen is a bit different here but come on, give the guy a break! He hasn't held her beloved sister for ten years! of course his facade will break.
Oh and this is Part I because the title still isn't explained well. Anybody want to guess what the title is about? Mehehe here's the hint: It appeared twice in the story I think, usually in A/Ns mwahahahah
let's see if you read my A/Ns
Thank you for these people who have continued to make my day with their lovely reviews. Your words are greatly appreciated :)
Nala Moon: Thank you for the amazing review, maybe I'll post the sequel on the next side-story. But don't get your hopes up yet...I'm not too sure about it
Treelow955: My ever best friend, thank you for the encouragement. After I finish this (which I don't know how...) I will publish the second chapter, but I think if the poll cannot be used I guess I'll just post the sequel for the next side-story ;) Don't count on it yet, I'm still not sure you see
The Bakura's Muffin Company: Your pen name is very delicous ;) thank you for the feedback, I guess I will continue it. I can probably start after this story is finished and my other story is all lined up. ( I decided to stop being lazy and do have a layout so that I won't waste my time spacing out on what to write)
MistressSleepwell666: Haha, sorry about the side-stories, I kinda feel obligated once I started it. I hope this chapter will make up for it
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MzShellSan: Hey, couldn't forget our NIA conversation. I really racked my brain on what it meant, at first I thought that its a typo and you meant Mai but that sounded so wrong... xD
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Eron Elric aka the malchemist and the guest reviewers as well!