I want to apologize for how long it took me to get this uploaded! Ipromise it will not take another 3 months to upload the next chapter!
Chapter 4.
In the short time I've spent with my brother's kids I've come to this conclusion:
His daughter is far too much like Mika, and by that I mean she's a total bitch. And his son is a little whore! By the time we had made our way to the car, he had hit on one very large, very muscular, American man, and three bell boys. We were only on the second fucking floor! Even I wasn't that much of a slut. But Eiri did raise them, so they've got to have at least a few mental issues.
Knowing this I took them to the one place I knew I couldn't fuck up: Mama Shindo's. I did this for two reasons.
1. I was already going there. And 2. Mama Shindo raised Shuichi and Maiko, then helped raise Riku and Kouki. She put up with me and Ryuichi, and at one point even put Eiri in his place. Who else is better qualified to battle the mayhem of two bat-shit crazy preteens than her?
Plus, she's one hell of a cook.
I pull up to the house, with about 10 minutes to kill before the award show starts. Riku's car is parked half-way on the curb. The bumper has a rather large dent in it that's a different color than the rest of the car. That kid's always been a shitty driver. I ring the doorbell and can barely hear someone scream, "I GOT IT", over Sayu and Alois bitching at each other In English. I don't know what they're saying, but I've already had to pull them apart once.
The door swings open, and there stands Kouki in a faded black Motley Crue T-shirt and some way too baggy camo shorts. K and I had given that shirt to Shuichi after he got that woman pregnant and was accused of behavior akin to Motley's bassist. It has a picture of four dudes in makeup sitting on motorcycles with the English words 'Girls,Girls,Girls!' printed in red letters. We all thought it was hilarious. Tohma and the press didn't really think so.
"What are you doing here? I thought you didn't need a babysitter anymore?" I ask, mocking him a little. He had thrown a huge fit about it yesterday. Little punk.
"I'm Sick" He fake coughs into his hand.
"Mhm" I scoot him out of the way, and take my shoes off, as Mama Shindo rounds the corner.
"Tatsuha, you're just in time. Dinner is ready" She smiles "and who are your friends dear?"
"Oh. I got stuck babysitting tonight" I look back as the two of them start to walk into the foyer. "Hey! Take your shoes off" I snap then turn back to Mama Shindo "I hope you don't mind. It was kind of last minute. ya know?"
"Oh not at all!" She waves her dish cloth at me " I always make more than enough. I never know who's dropping by the house these days" She chuckles "So what are their names?" She asks seeming very interested.
"Well, this is Sayu" Sayu takes her sunglasses off and smiles like a little snob. "And this is… uh I can't really pronounce it." I jab him in the shoulder with my finger to drag his attention away from his cell phone. "What's your name again?" I ask.
"Alois" he says rudely
"Well, isn't that an interesting name" Mama Shindo says as politely as she can, while trying to keep the smile on her face.
We follow her to the kitchen and watch her scoop some yakisoba into three bowls. I grab a beer and a couple of sodas from the fridge, and lead the little brats back into the living room. I sit next to Riku on the couch, while Mama Shindo takes her place on the love seat next to her husband. Sayu and Alois sit on the floor in front of the TV.
"Kouki" Shindo-san scolds. Kouki has his bowl balanced on his knees in the recliner, with noodles hanging from mouth, and both hands on his DS. He swallows and puts the Gameboy down.
Riku changes the channel over to the award show, just as some actor wins Best Leading Role.
"Oh no. We missed the red carpet." Mama Shindo Sighs. "I always love seeing your sister's gowns Tatsuha"
"I'll bring it over for you. She'll probably never even look at it again." I scoff
The host begins to announce the nominees for Album of the Year, we stop talking to listen. Of course were not surprised when Bad Luck is called.
"These things are rigged" Riku says, sounding a little bored.
"No they're not!" Kouki defends. "Did you want them to lose or something?"
"No. I'm just saying it would be kind of stupid for Bad Luck to still be the surprise performance if they lost"
"Shut up. They're about to start playing" I say as I lean over and snag a piece of chicken form Kouki's bowl with my chopsticks.
"Hey!"
"Enough" Shindo-san says very sternly.
We watch as, pink stage lights flash a few times adding a bright spot light, finally settling on Shuichi and his skimpy stage outfit.
"Oh, Shu that's inappropriate!" His mother says to the TV¸ as if he could hear her. I don't see why it even phases her anymore, but her displeasure causes Alois to look up from his cell phone. He says something in English, which causes Riku to look slightly confused and disgusted at the same time. Sayu just giggles. I can only imagine.
After Bad Luck's mini concert is over, Mama Shindo collects the bowls and wanders back into the kitchen to bake dessert, while Shindo-san retires for the evening.
Yoshito Morozumi wins some other fucking award, and Riku sticks his hand under my nose. "You really suck at this ya know?"
"Damn it" I groan and dig another 2000 yen out of my pocket. That little fucker's already cost me about 4500 yen.
Alois turns around when the next category is called. "Hey I want in"
Riku and I look at each other and both say. "How much you got?"
"Uh, about $300"
"American?!" Riku and I exclaim
"Yeah," He gets a little cocky at our reaction.
"Deal. Call it." Riku says and puts down 6000 yen. I start to pull out my bet.
"Eiri Yuki" Alois says with finality and slaps down the whole 300 bucks.
"I fold" I say and shove my money back into my pocket.
Riku snorts his disapproval.
"Hey Im broke dude." I say in my defense " Are you sure you wanna bet that much?"
He's too busy counting Alois' money, but manages to say "No one in Japan is going to vote for that motherfucker" He throws the money back down on the coffee table then turns to me and stares me down, daring me to argue. That kid is fucking losing it.
Alois gives a confident little chuckle, just before Tohma announces the winner.
"What the Fuck?!" Riku shouts in English, as another trailer of the movie plays on the TV.
"Awe don't feel too bad" Alois coos "I'd be willing to let you earn some of it back." He smiles and winks up at Riku.
"No thanks. You keep it."
Alois sighs and leans back against my leg of the couch, and starts flipping through bills. "Ya know?" he says "My dad may be a giant gaping asshole, but he sure pays off sometimes" He runs his thumb through the stack of mismatched currency.
Riku turns to me again with fury in his eyes, after hearing the brat's words. He opens his mouth to speak, and I try to beat him to it. Before either of us can say anything, an ear splitting scream erupts through the living room. Kouki drops his DS to clamp his hands over his ears. We look to Sayu, whose mouth is hanging open in disbelief at the sight of Eiri and Shuichi practically eating each other on screen.
"Ugh" Alois grunts through the moment of silence "Never mind, I don't want him now."
"I thought that was a guy!" Sayu shrieks
"It is" Riku snaps angrily
"Is everything all right in there?" Mama Shindo calls from the kitchen.
I reach forward and clamp my hand over Sayu's mouth. "Yep! Everything's fine!" I shout back. She pushes me off with as much force as she can manage, which really isn't much. The moment I release her Riku grabs me by the shirt and hisses: "Did you know about this?"
I'm stuttering like an idiot. No matter what I say it'll be damning evidence, according to this family. I guess in hindsight... this wasn't one of my better ideas.
"Hey" Kouki chimes in after retrieving his DS from the floor "That's Dad" He looks back at the two of us confused. Riku lets go of my shirt, and tries his best to act like nothing's wrong. Neither of us really wants to say anything else in front of Kouki. We never thought we would have to... but the cats kind of out of the bag now.
"That's your dad?" Alois asks. He smirks. I slap in the back of the head, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
"OW!" He rubs the back of his head and pouts. Well, we are related I guess.
"Who is that? Do we know him?" Kouki asks starting to get a little irritated. He's never really been too fond of any man Shuichi has ever brought home in the past. Matter of fact, he's probably the reason Shu has so many failed relationships.
The sound of the telephone rings out through the downstairs, but nobody moves.
"He's an old acquaintance of the family's" Riku snaps.
"Well, I've never met him before!" Kouki raises his voice.
"Boys! Can one of you get the phone?" Mama Shindo calls from the kitchen.
"You weren't alive back then, twerp!" Riku spits at him
"That's my father!" Sayu shrieks again. "Oh my god!" She whines "If anyone was going to become a faggot in our family I always thought it would have been you!" She cries to Alois.
"DONT CALL ME THAT!" Kouki and Alois shout at the same time.
The phone is still ringing as Mama Shindo shouts at us to answer it once more.
Kouki wastes no time, and launches himself at Riku in a fury of slaps. Riku tries to shield his face, and restrain his little brother, but is failing miserably.
I'm trying my best pull Alois off of Sayu's throat, as Mama Shindo enters the living room covered in cake batter and holding the phone up to her ear at a safe distance. "Maiko! Makio, calm down! I can't understand a word you're saying!"
She stops dead in her tracks at the sight of mayhem in her living room. "What the HELL is going on in ..." She trails off seeing the images on television of her son and the man she vowed to one day castrate. "...Here?"
Stunned silence settles over the room. The kids stop fighting, shocked by the normally calm women's sudden outburst.
"Mom? MOM!" Makio's muffled words ring out from the cordless receiver still clutched in Mama Shindo's hand, as Riku and Kouki freeze in their places hoping not to be noticed.
I take this as my queue to leave. Yanking the brats up by their arms, I head straight for the door. Sayu slips into her flats with no problem, but Alois' boots stall us.
"Kouki" Mama Shindo's tone is menacing. "Go to bed. NOW"
"What?" Her grandson whines "Why? The show isn't over yet!"
"Because I said so, and you have school tomorrow!"
"No I don't! I'm suspen-" Kouki coughs as believably as he can "I mean I'm sick"
The second Alois has the zipper pulled up on his shoe, I push him out onto the porch and shut the door behind me. I make a b-line for my car, barely looking back to make sure the kids are following.
"What just happened?" Sayu asks jogging to keep up with me, as I practically sprint down the drive.
"Nothing. Lets just get the hell out of here" I answer
"Then why are we leaving?" Alois scoffs.
"Just shut up and get in the fucking car!" I snap as we reach the curb.
"TATSUHA!" Riku shouts angrily from the door. I can hear the thump of the porch under his bare feet as he races to catch up. I fumble with my key fob. As soon as the locks open, Sayu scrambles in to the back seat but Alois lingers by the passenger side.
"TATSUHA!" Riku shouts again. He's closer this time. I can't help myself. I just can't ignore him. As soon as I turn around… WHAM! My face collides with frame of my door, slamming it shut again.
"Ah. Shit! " I curse. He hit me! He fucking hit me! I touch my swollen lip, and look down at my hand. My fingers hold a trace of blood. Riku is still seething.
"What's going on?" Alois calls to us.
"Nothing! Just get in the car!" I yell. Trying not to sound panicked.
"But" He tries to argue.
"Just do as I say, please" I ask him as calmly as I can. He does as he's told, but slams the door making his displeasure known.
"What the hell Riku?" I stand and look him in the eye, wiping blood from my mouth. Without warning he launches himself at me, grabbing my shirt and forcing my back against the car.
"Did you know about this?" He sounds hysterical "Did you know he was coming back to Japan?"
"Well yeah, but I -" I'm cut off as he shoves me backward again.
"Did you know where he was back then?"
"No! I had no ide-" again he slams me backwards
"Did you know he was going to leave that morning?!"
"No! Riku I-" that last one hurt.
"Don't fucking lie to me Tatsuha! Did you know? Did he call you? He must have told you something, you're his fucking brother!" Tears are streaming down his face. This is painful for me, and not just for its physical abuse. This breakdown has been years in the making. I'm fool for not recognizing it sooner.
"Riku" I plead "Stop. Just listen to me"
"Shut up!" He screams, slamming me back once more "I thought we could trust you! That you were on our side! And here you are hanging out with his kids, while we all thought you actually gave a SHIT about our family!"
"Whoa! Hang on!" I manage to shove him off of me and stand up straight "You really believe that I don't give a shit about you?" I shake my head, trying to calm myself down. "That hurts ya know that." I pace for a moment, if I don't calm down I'm going to say something I regret. "Just who do you think has been there for you all these years huh? Me." I stop and look him dead in the eye, as he tries to stare me down.
"And Hiro" He said in matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes and Hiro" I agree still clinging on to my last shred of patience "But who was it that stayed up with the two of you that first night? Me. Who spent months at a time making sure you and Shuichi were still functioning? Me! I was there for every birthday, every graduation, every break up! I taught Kouki how to ride a bike! Taught you AND Shuichi how to fucking drive! Showed you how to pick up women! And I covered for you many times when you should have gotten your ass beat!" I point back to his grandparent's house. Shuichi, even though he likes to think otherwise, lets his boys get away with just about anything.
"I put my hand into raising you, Riku. Do you understand that? I let my father's temple run itself into the ground. So don't you DARE try to tell me that I didn't care for the three of you!"
"You never wanted to run that temple, and you know it!" He snaps back at me.
"That's not the point!" I'm getting dangerously close to yelling. "Look. I chose you over my own family, saying that I still have my obligations to them, and that includes my asshole brother. But it doesn't change a goddamn thing! Do you hear me?"
"Obligations to him?!" He scoffs back "If you cared about me at all, you wouldn't have anything to do with him! He killed my father! He should be in prison!"
"Riku" I scold "you need to stop right there. You're about to get into a topic that you're not going to understand! Eiri went through a lot concer-"
"Understand?!" he interrupts "Oh I understand a lot more than you think I do! I may not know what your precious brother went through but I know what he's done! And it's his fault I had to grow up never knowing my father!"
"Because your father was a horrible person!" I blurt. Shit. I shouldn't have said that. Even just that simple opinion goes against everything Shuichi, Tohma and I had agreed on. But the damage was done long before we ever made that decision.
"What did you say?" Riku fumes. The look in his eyes are similar to what I had imagined when I was a child, the night Eiri finally told me what had happened to him. Whether it was a moment of brotherly bonding or he just wanted to watch an eleven year old squirm... I never found out.
I sigh "There's a reason my brother isn't rotting in an American prison right now."
"I can't believe you! You're actually going to try and defend him aren't you?"
"You don't get do you!" Well I just opened Pandora's box. I can't close it now "Your father wasn't someone you wanted to know! And you're damn lucky you never had to meet him! Buddha only knows what would have happened to you." I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. I'm probably going to die for this. "Look. A lot of what happened the night your father died left my brother emotionally, and for a time even mentally, crippled. What took place between Eiri and your father has haunted my brother since that night, and it will follow him to his grave. Yuki Kitazawa did unspeakable things to Eiri, and he's never been the same because of it. Never even came close."
Riku runs his hand through his honey colored hair, and sniffs back a new wave of tears. He still angry and I've only confused him further. Only the chirping cicadas fill the silent void left by his confusion.
"So what was it?" He asks in a small voice. "What was it that was so wrong he deserved to die, and leave me behind?"
As a Buddhist monk, I'm supposed to say that no living thing deserves to be killed. But, in this case, I can't honestly believe Kitazawa didn't get just what he asked for.
In a comforting gesture I rest my hand on Riku's shoulder, as he wipes the tears from his eyes. "I'm sorry" I tell him, because I am. I really am. "But, I can't tell you that"
"Why?" He sobs "Why not?"
"Because it isn't my place to say" I let go of his shoulder and turn to leave, but he catches the front shirt and spins me back toward him.
"NO!" He cries "Don't tell me that! Why is it when I bring up my father that you and dad and uncle Tohma just freeze? Why won't anyone tell me?!"
I sigh and hug him close as I rub his back, like I used to all those years ago. "I blame myself, just as much as I blame Tohma and Shuichi for keeping it from you, but you just wouldn't understand it coming from us. It just isn't our story to tell." I let him go, still keeping my hand on the side of his neck I force him to look at me. "My brother loved you Riku, even if he never admitted it. The only time I remember ever seeing him truly happy was with you and Shuichi. Hell, he probably still loves the both of you. He's just too damn stubborn to say anything" I chuckle and watch as Riku smiles back at me, just a little.
"But" I say seriously "If you really want to know that badly, you'll have to ask him yourself. He owes you that at least, after everything" I look back to the car. Alois has his face plastered to the window, watching us unabashedly. I smack the glass with my open palm. "Ow" he cries and grasps his nose, as he slinks back to the passenger seat. I look back to Riku. I can almost see the wheels spinning in his head.
"How long his he here for?" He asks.
"I don't know" I lie. Hoping that it's better that discussion happens sooner rather than later.
He chews on the side of his cheek awkwardly, embarrassed by his behavior earlier. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Of course buddy" I smile "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright. Well Later" He turns and walks back to the house. I watch his hunched shoulders as he crosses under the light of the street lamp and into the shadows of the lawn.
I slide into the driver's seat and start the engine.
"Sooo. What was all that about?" Alois asks as I pull out into the road.
"Oh like you didn't hear everything?" I say incredulously
"You guys were talking so fast I couldn't understand what you were saying!" He pouts.
"This is the most we've ever had to use Japanese" Sayu chips in from the back seat.
"Ah" I say "well, It's none of your business"
"Hmph" He pouts again.
"How can you even care about that at a time like this?" Sayu whines to her brother "Arent you freaking out at all?!"
"What? That dads gay? Pfft. please" Alois waves her off. "You don't see him flippin' his shit about it" He gestures to me.
"Yep. Sorry but that's old news kiddo" I pitch it for the fun of it.
"Why do you think they got a divorce" He adds, whipping out that damn cell phone.
"Because dad had an affair!" Sayu snaps back at him
"Yeah" He says as if it isn't already obvious "With a guy genius!"
I have to laugh at their wit. I guess these kids aren't that bad.