A/n= Hello guys! Sorry for the one-week hiatus! I've been in a pinch lately, so please respect my actions :D It's actually excusable because this is a new arc titled "Dawning"
From this chapter forward, it will be about Akashi and Seijuuro's journey in the past. Yes guys, we were blasting towards the past!
I write this chapter in a day with fast edit, so please remind me if I have some mistakes.
Please REVIEW GUYS! REVIEW! Reviews are highly appreciated! Please R&R!
A hand lashed towards the little boy's cheek.
The flash of pain pushed Akashi Seijuuro to the ground. As he caressed his flaring cheeks, tears prickled on his eyes, his sobbing followed.
The tall man before him folded his hands above his chest and glared at the weeping boy. "What have you been doing? I told you to memorize that poem last night. Did you remember?"
Masaomi's nonchalant, yet condescending tone squeezed Akashi's heart between his ribs. Akashi promised to load extensive knowledge into the young flesh inside his skull, but the coldness in his father's voice sent a chill of sorrow and disgust at his father's actions. Did his father actually care about him? Couldn't he understand his limits?
Akashi shook his head inwardly, dismayed at his father's behavior. He turned to meet Masaomi's icy glare and responded curtly. "I can't read those words yet."
Masaomi's expression morphed from furious into disgust. "Huh? I thought you have memorized the spellings and tones of the modern Chinese!"
Akashi swallowed before speaking, hands trembled. "T-The one you gave me is a Chinese traditional." He sputtered honestly.
"Well, then you can just take the dictionary from my office!" Masaomi's eyes flew wide in disbelief as if it was obvious.
Akashi said nothing.
Gritting his teeth at his son's unresponsiveness, Masaomi sunk to his knees and yanked Akashi's hand upwards, hauling him into a standing position. As Akashi struggled to his knees, Masaomi tilted his chin and let their eyes met.
"You have disappointed me, Seijuuro," Masaomi whispered gently, but his eyes were glowing daggers. "If you fail now, you will fail the entire Akashi household. In a few years, you are going to replace me, son, so prepare yourself."
The fury in Masaomi's face had disappeared, leaving a pair of black rings under his eyes. He smoothed his hand across Akashi's pink cheeks and averted his gaze away from his son. "Is it hurt?"
Sharp pain throbbed his muscles, but Akashi said plainly. "No."
Masaomi smiled and ruffled his son's hair. "Good boy. You're a strong one."
Before Akashi could respond, the double doors flew wide opened and a red-haired figure stormed into the room, her heels clicked hurriedly against the carpeted floor. "Sei-chan!"
Akashi's grim expression glowed and broke off from his father, scurrying towards his mother's approaching figure. "Mama!" he yelled brightly.
Shiori smiled in response and pulled Akashi into a tight embrace. As she buried her son's face on her chest, she fondly stroked her son's red, silky hair. When Shiori saw the new bruise highlighting her son's pale cheeks, her gaze narrowed before she curled their fingers together.
"Let's go to the garden, Sei-chan!" Shiori beamed at her son despite the stiffness in her shoulders. "Mama will challenge you into one-on-one!"
Akashi nodded, his lips twisted into a wide grin. "I accept your challenge!" he said and followed behind his mother's retreating figure, leaving Masaomi behind.
As his wife and son walked away hand-in-hand, the two tiny figures disappeared into the hallway and shut the door behind them. Like the closing prison bars, Masaomi was left pondering on his own actions.
A basketball soared in the air before it plunged straight into the ring. Shiori just performed a successful three-pointer.
Akashi's eyes glowed with admiration and clapped his hands. He hopped from the bench and scuttled towards his mother. "Nice job mama! You really look like a real player!"
Shiori giggled and folded her knees into a sitting position. Wiping the sweat with her handkerchief, she tapped her lap for Akashi to lie on. "Come here son, let's have a good rest!"
Akashi obediently scampered towards her direction and rested his crimson hair upon her mother's skirt. Shiori's fingers combed Akashi's silky, red hair with a gentle smile, and Akashi reciprocated the gentle gesture with a giggle.
"Mama, can I ask something?" Akashi met his mother's gaze.
His mother tilted her head with a smile. "Yes, what is it?"
"Why do you love Papa even though he has Bipolar Syndrome?"
Akashi's question wiped the smile off his mother's face. She stopped stroking her son's hair and was silent for a moment before she asked nervously.
"Where did you hear that word?"
"The Analogy of Human's Minds Chapter six, page seventy-eight until eighty-four," Akashi recited in such obvious tone. "A sudden change of one's temper from one region to another, is that right mama?"
Shiori parted her lips in surprise, but then a tiny smile formed on her lips. Well, it was not surprising coming from her son; Akashi had memorized the entire Physiology Textbook in three nights after all.
"Yes, Papa has Bipolar Syndrome." Shiori's voice was almost a whisper. "But that doesn't mean Mama will stop loving Papa. Do you love Papa, Seijuuro?"
A sunny smile of a child decorated Seijuuro's meek expression. He nodded reassuringly. "Yes! I love Papa so much!"
Shiori giggled at her son's eagerness and teased her index finger upon Seijuuro's tiny forehead. Her son responded with a cute pout. "You know Seijuuro, despite of his Bipolar Syndrome, your Papa is actually an amazing guy you know."
Seijuuro's baby fingers clutched his mother's skirt and mumbled. "Papa is scary when he is mad."
Shiori nodded with a grim expression. "Yes indeed. But you know by the time I realized Masaomi has that syndrome, I already fell in love with him. Masaomi might have flaws, but that's what made him human. I fell in love with his imperfections than anything else."
Akashi stared at his mother with a blank expression, lips forming into a huge 'o'. He didn't know any concept about love aside from storybooks. He was caught in a trance of his mother's words as if she was reading him his favorite fairy tale book.
A mellow, warm feeling curled in his chest. The warmth in his heart drew his hardship and suffering from his father's pressure and bundled all these negative emotions into one. They had become a part of his father that Akashi had come to fear and love.
He didn't need reasons to love him; he loved his father the way he was.
His mother's words made Akashi understood about true love.
"Remember, Seijuuro," Shiori beamed at him, the sunlight peered behind her shoulders highlighted the angles of her face. A face of a smiling angel. "You need to find someone who loves you unconditionally, someone who is willing to accept your strengths and weaknesses. Therefore no matter what situation you are in, you are going to be blessed with genuine happiness."
Akashi blinked, revering the beauty of his mother's words and smile. "Yes, mama."
Eventually, Akashi lapsed into sleep as his mother's lullaby enveloped the Akashi garden. The trees and flowers brushed and rustled against the wind, responding her melodious tune.
One month later, Shiori passed away of a chronic disease.
It all started when Shiori started coughing violently in the bathroom. As she tried to clear the itch in her throat, blood sputtered from her lips and the sink was smeared with blood. Eyes widened in disbelief, Shiori collapsed to her knees and started weeping. When she knew she would be leaving Akashi and Masaomi in the household, her blood under her veins froze. Akashi was still a little child, and Shiori was afraid Masaomi's unpredictable tantrum would affect his overall growth.
Unfortunately, her weeping attracted the maids like bees as the servants rushed to the bathroom. The older servants went panicked when they saw blood on the sink, but Shiori begged them to not tell her husband or her child, for it would only worry them further. Understood and respected their madam's wishes, the servants kept their mouth shut.
One day, Masaomi and Akashi was in a surprisingly good terms with one another and decided to play one-on-one. When Masaomi asked her to join them, Shiori jokingly told him that she had enough of basketball and started pursuing reading as her new hobby. Familiar with his wife's enigmatic attitude, Masaomi willingly bought her lie. She watched Akashi and Masaomi played one-on-one through the window with a weak smile.
Suddenly, her visions started narrowing and she collapsed to the floor. Again, the maids hurriedly carried her to the room and called the doctor. But again, Shiori forbid them and begged them to leave Masaomi and Akashi out of this. When Masaomi found out about her breakdown, Shiori told him she bumped her head to the shelf when trying to reach for a book.
She told two lies.
The following week later, Shiori's health degenerated as she kept herself under the covers. Akashi constantly stayed in her room to console and cheer her up. Unfortunately, Masaomi was in overseas to find cure when Shiori was in her final days.
"Mama, is your sickness really that serious?" Akashi asked her as he sat by the bedside while spooning herbal soup to his mother.
Shiori forced a smile on her paper-white face. "Of course…not." She tried to hold her cough. "Mama just got a fever."
"Then why Papa needs to go to America to find a doctor?" Seijuuro asked impatiently, his face wrinkled in concern.
Shiori tried to laugh that sounded more of a cough. "You know papa. His Bipolar Syndrome makes him more overprotective and wary than usual."
Shiori's words put Akashi into silence.
She told the third lie, to her son.
"Hey Sei-chan, do you want to sit on mama's lap?"
Akashi's jaw dropped before he broke into a giggle. "I don't want to get affected by your fever!"
"Come on Sei-chan!" Shiori pouted, life brimmed on her face after a week of paleness. "Lend me your power so mama can heal."
Akashi actually laughed for the first time in weeks and sighed. "All right mama."
"Can you open the window to let some air?"
Akashi obeyed and switched the handle, pushing the window open. The autumn air spilled into the room, and Akashi closed his eyes to inhale the Autumn's sweet, yet crisp air that reminded him of raw Minty leaves' scent he found in the kitchen storage.
After revering the novelty of his home garden's scenery, Akashi scuttled towards the bed and hopped to his mother's lap.
Shiori grinned and put her arms around Akashi's body, engulfing the boy with the genuine warmth of a mother's love. Akashi stirred comfortably under her neck and nuzzled against her chest. Even though Masaomi often reminded him of his spoiled behavior, Akashi didn't give any consent to his father's words. He wanted Shiori to heal and play basketball with him again. She hasn't taught him how to dunk; she promised, right?
"Mama, are you good at dunking?"
Shiori hummed before she replied. "I'm too short to dunk, but it's not like I can't do it!"
"Stop being a tsundere, mama." Akashi covered his mouth in laughter.
"Where did you hear that word?!" Shiori yelped, her voice broke into a high pitch.
"From a manga papa gave me." Akashi responded plainly.
Shiori sighed and rested her chin on top of Akashi's hair. "So you and papa can get along huh?" she smiled wistfully as a tear prickled from the corners of her eyes before rolling to her cheek. "Then that means I can leave peacefully then."
"Huh, what?" Akashi looked up to her, suddenly looked bewildered.
Shiori fell silent for a long moment before she placed a hand on Akashi's shoulder and squeezed them gently. "Seijuuro, listen to me. Mama wants to tell you something."
"Yes mama?"
"Please love your father unconditionally." Shiori squeezed his shoulders tighter, beginning to hurt the boy. "Your father has flaws, but it was inevitable. Please keep loving him."
Akashi pressed his mother's hand reassuringly and said. "I love papa, the way he is mama."
"Please, Seijuuro."
"I know mama. I understand."
Shiori hugged her son's body tighter and buried her face behind her son's shoulders. "Sei."
"Say you love papa."
Akashi turned to his mother and grinned at her in reassurance. His bright, wide grin reminded his mother of a chesire cat—the cat that grins in all occasions, despite of the oddity and suffering in this unfair and enigmatic world. She hoped Akashi would learn a thing or two from the tales of her favorite storybook.
"I love papa!" Akashi gave her a toothy grin. "And I love you too, mama!"
Shiori's grip on his shoulders loosened as she whispered. "I'm glad to hear that…Seijuuro. I love you Sei. I love you, Masaomi."
Akashi wrapped his arms around his mother's thin waist and rested his head on her chest. Even though Shiori's chest no longer rose or fell, Akashi grabbed her body in assurance to make sure his mother knew that he was with her, holding her until the last moments.
As hot, silent tears flowed spilled from his crimson eyes, the light breeze from the window gently swept his red locks in a caressing manner.
It was as if Shiori stroke his head for the last time before she soared into the heavens.
Six months later:
Masaomi's dug his nails around Akashi's neck, smothering the air out of him.
"Say the next line properly!" Masaomi commanded, his eyes blazed in fury.
Akashi coughed and wheezed, trying to suck in air with his mouth. "I don't remember, Papa!"
"What the hell have you been doing?" Masaomi roared and released his grip before shoving Akashi to the ground.
Akashi's knees knocked to the ground with a loud thud. As the red-haired boy pressed his throbbing knees, he grounded his jaw and turned to his father with a pair of fiery, angry eyes.
"I don't even know what I'm doing." Akashi's voice was surprisingly calm, and the unusual patronizing tone in his voice made Masaomi's eyes flew wide. "But I've been doing my job as usual. Ever since mother's death, all you do was shoving thousands and thousands of shit to me for your own amusement, father."
Red and brown eyes met. They locked their gaze together in apprehensive silence. The fury in Masaomi's eyes never wavered, but his son mirrored the exact, cold eyes as he did. Masaomi had never seen those eyes from his son—the Akashi he had known was full of love, meek and cheerful. Masaomi suffered guilt on daily basis, especially from beating his son by his random tantrums.
But now, the change of Akashi's behavior crashed his guilt trip; he called him 'father'.
Despite of his son's indifferent glare, Masaomi's knees sunk to the ground and lend him a helping hand. The action itself tickled his muscles with genuine fear and hesitancy.
"Sei-chan," Masaomi whispered, his face gradually softened into a weak smile. "It's all right. You can memorize your poem tomorrow. Now look it's getting late, let Papa bring you to your room."
Akashi said nothing.
Sighing, Masaomi scratched the itch on his head. He knew he wasn't cut out for to be a parent. A part of him wanted to toss and beat up the hell out of the little child in front of him, but Masaomi knew it was only a temporary emotion followed by regret.
Masaomi took Akashi's hands and clamped them together in a gentle squeeze. "Let's go to your room, Sei-chan—"
Akashi slapped his hand away.
"There is no need for such hospitable service from you." Akashi's voice was void of remorse. "I will see you tomorrow in your study, father."
Akashi stood up to his feet and stalked out of the library. Ignoring his servants' bewildered stare and his father's incredulous gaze, Akashi continued his march.
Once he was in his room, Akashi slipped into the covers and ruffled against the pillow. Tears escaped from his eyes, the little boy sniffed. "This is not like me. What happen to me? I shouldn't treat father like this!"
Akashi's stomach was flooded with guilt. As his gut constricted, Akashi pinched his stomach to lessen the pain, yet the raw throbbing in his heart only made his body shivered with disgust at his own behavior.
Mama would be disappointed in me.
Suddenly, Shiori's angelic face flashed on the back of his mind. Akashi screamed. The crimson-haired male grabbed a pillow and clawed the feathers from the poor headrest. As his shrilling scream reverberated through the ceiling, Akashi tiny fist flew towards the mirror and formed a huge crack. Scarlet liquid oozed out of his palms, followed by a sharp pain.
I'm sorry, mama.
Since Shiori's death, Akashi barely had time to mourn over his mother's passing. After his mother's funeral, Masaomi called him to his room and gave him a whole new set of textbooks for each subject. He purposely changed the curriculum to nurture new knowledge to his son, but the new subjects overwhelmed him, especially if he needed to memorize the same poem for three different languages each day.
He was too busy grieving for his mother's death.
"I can't take this anymore!" Akashi shrieked, clasping his hands between his ears. "I don't want to study anymore…I want mama. I want papa. I want to play basketball with mama and papa. But…if I don't study, the Akashi household will…"
Akashi collapsed to the ground, his body showered with new bruises by his own doing. He sunk his teeth into his tongue, welcoming the hot, salty sensation on his tongue. After wiping the blood off his lips, Akashi hauled to a sitting position and murmured to himself.
"I need help…" his eyes resembled a dead fish. "But nobody can help me…except myself."
He turned towards the mirror beside him. A huge dent had been formed in the center, decorated with a few splotches of blood. His reflection stared at him. His pathetic self.
Akashi crawled closer to the mirror and ran his nails across the mirror cracks, purposely cutting his fingers. "If only there would be two of me…I can finish everything on time. I can memorize more Latin Poems. I can do three biology papers a day. I can make…papa happy. I can succeed."
As Akashi's hands warily traced across the mirror, a cold pang spiked his forehead and he let out a muffled scream.
"Do you need help?"
Akashi's eyes flew wide, surprised at the new voice ringing from his head. As he stole vigilant glances around his surroundings, Akashi rubbed his throbbing arms for reassurance.
Then his eyes fell upon the mirror.
He saw a boy, who looked exactly the same as him. He reflected the same agony expression as himself. He had the same crimson haired and pale skin.
That boy was himself, except his iris—his left eye blazed in shockingly yellow color that reminded Akashi of gold, but his right eye remained scarlet.
A normal person would scream, but Akashi asked the mirror weakly.
"Who are you?"
His reflection looked alarmed at his question and formed a gentle smile on his lips. "Are you calling for me?"
"Are you me?" Akashi asked.
The reflection nodded and grinned toothily. "Yes I am you. Thank you for acknowledging my existence."
The heterochromatic boy in the mirror smiled in gratitude. His smile was so radiant that Akashi couldn't help but to smile back.
"Your welcome." Akashi whispered. "I just need help…after all…"
The boy in the mirror blinked, his eyes tilted to the side. "What kind of help?"
Akashi ended up spilling all his frustration and suffering tearfully to the reflection in the mirror. He didn't care if the mirror was a ghost, at least it was able to listen to him and offered him some responsive nods.
After wiping the tears from his eyes, the reflection in the mirror spoke thoughtfully. "So you need help in order to shoulder your studies?"
Akashi shook his head with a thin smile. "It's all right. I just need a friend to listen."
"I am willing to help you."
"What?"
"You have acknowledged my existence!" the mirror said with a genuine smile. "You make me real, you bring me to this world. In return, I shall help you with your studies!"
Akashi's eyes brightened and he asked the mirror hesitantly. "Are you sure?"
The reflection grinned. His heterochromatic eyes twinkled in delight. "I don't mind helping you! It's the same as helping myself! From now on, I will be your friend, Akashi!"
Akashi started sobbing and placed a hand on the mirror surface. Surprisingly, the reflection placed his hand under Akashi's, firmly pasting their hands together. The two identical males smiled at each other and giggled at their newfound friendship.
"Hey, what should I call you?" Akashi asked him curiously.
"My name is technically Akashi too, isn't it?"
Akashi hummed, rubbing the invisible beard under his chin. Suddenly, he clicked his fingers in resolve, as if a light bulb appeared beside him.
"I will call you Seijuuro!" Akashi said excitedly. "We are the same person, so we can share our names huh…"
The reflection looked taken aback by the sudden gratitude before he smiled back at his host. "Thank you for the name, Akashi!"
"Your welcome, Seijuuro!"
The two boys shared a warm laughter. Their giggles replaced the recent distress and melancholy in the room, engulfing the room with warmth.
Meanwhile, Masaomi had been watching his son through the tiny openings from the window. As he watched his son laughed and giggled with the mirror, Masaomi's knees crashed to the ground and sunk his nails into his skull.
"What have I done?" he cursed at himself, his eyes shadowed under his thick, brown fringes. "Because of me…Akashi had lost his mind."
Replies to guest reviews:
Reine: No plans for sequels I'm sorry :( But I can write extra chapters or epilogue if the readers want to ^.^Thanks for the review Reine-san! Nice name btw!
Hana: 2 reviews in a row? Wow I love you girl. You should make a username or ffaccount so I can stalk your account and give 10 reviews to each of ur chaptered story :D thanks for the regulat reviews btw ^.^
Yeah I use your quote in chapter 3 for ch. 11. It's such a coincidence nee~~? But yeah I use your idea because the thought kills me, I just know where to put it hahaha :D Yeaht his chapter onwards will discuss about Akashi's you're like a psychic!
Looking forward for your reviews, Hana-san! I love you!
Guest: I've updated. are you satisfied XD