I am trapped in this never ending cycle.
Chapter 2. Into Her family
Keiko regrets reading the letters. She should not have, maybe then she would not felt this way. She could not even eat properly that morning. After their breakfast, Reiko, her little sister asked her again about the letters.
"Do you really want to know?" she asked Reiko. The little girl nodded.
She sighed. A promise is promise after all. Without smiling and with heavy eyes she started to tell her what she read the night before. She could only hope her sister would lost interest on how it will all end.
Midorima knew it's a bad idea in the first place. Takao was finally coming to his senses and whispered to him that they should go home. However, fate has other plans for them. The weather suddenly changed and dark clouds covered the sky. Rain started to fall leaving Midorima and Takao without a choice but to enter the gate. They alerted their senses as soon as they step inside. They should be careful if they are still planning to leave the house later.
They saw a large pond in the front of the house. A bamboo is filling up with raindrops and then dropping it to the pond. The bamboo's movement sounded like a ticking bomb on them. There are lots of trees at the side, some of which are cut perfectly which they were sure by a very sharp sword. The paths on the way to the house have broken cements which they thought caused by some hard object hitting on it. The old house itself gave some negative vibes on them.
The atmosphere inside was not that different from the outside. If the statues and swords all over the walls were not intimidating enough, the looks of the men felt like they were preparing themselves to kill Midorima at that instance. They were lead to a big room with floors covered with tatami mats. At the center lies a long wooden table.
They were asked to sit down while the other members are gathering in as well. Scary eyes were still following their every move. The men were even holding their swords and polishing them in their front. Takao was hiding in Midorima's back all this time while the green head looked with equaling glare while holding his stuffed bear. Kaminari was nowhere to be found.
"Tomiko aleady told us who you are" a geezer with white balding hair and long beard started. There were at least thirty men in that room plus two female servants wearing old fashioned kimono. Ten people were sitting on the table while the others were standing in the background. All of them bearing at least one sword. Takao whispered to Midorima that the atmosphere felt like they were sentencing them to death. The servers handed each one a cup of jasmine tea but the soothing smell did not ease the tension on the room.
"Your age?" the old man in the front asked again. It took time for them to register what was happening so they could not answer immediately.
"Answer you fool" the two closest that were standing behind them pointed a sword in Midorima's face and the other one into Takao's neck. Midorima could hear Takao's gulp before he tried to answer.
"I'm sixteen, single and still a virgin. I don't want to die yet." Takao answered nervously.
"Not you." shouted the one on the back still pointing their swords on them. All their eyes are on the green head.
"I'm also sixteen" Midorima finally answered. The swords are then removed cautiously but the tension are still there.
"She said you are classmate" the only one interrogating Midorima is the old man on the front. The others just looked at him like waiting for an opportunity to kill him.
"Yes we are" he answered still unfazed by the men's gazes and swords.
"Why is your hair green?" Midorima raised a brow. The man beside the old man whispered something to him. The old man just nod and they heard his low voice saying he was just curious. The other seems to disapprove then the old man returned his gaze to them.
"Why are the two of you here?" asked the old man again completely forgetting the previous question.
Before the two of them answered, another man with mustache and long raven beard stand up and shouted "I would not approve of her bringing someone like him and then marry him. Just look how weak he is"
There were arguing without care for the two visitors. The voices grew louder and Takao became more scared.
"Relax sir, we are not here for marriage, we are actually here for Kami-chan's birthday" Takao manage to say thinking it will tone them down. All people grew silent and looked at them. Later the gazes turn deadlier. The servers seemed to be crying. They did not understand what upsets them.
"Kami-chan? Birthday? That thing you are carrying, are you planning to give it to her as a birthday gift?" Midorima and Takao did not understand the emphasis on the birthday gift. To their horror, the man walked to their front, drew his sword and was about to cut the stuffed toy but since it is his lucky item, Midorima would do the unthinkable.
At the exact time, Kaminari opened the door. The scene in her front amused her. Midorima was blocking the sword of the man. His stance was good for an unprofessional. The weight he exert while handling the sword was distributed throughout the blade that even in the ends, the man could feel his force on it. The man retreated a few steps and was about to strike again, but with Midorima's fast reflexes, he was already pointing the sword in his face.
Kaminari smiled at him. Then everyone became alarmed of her presence. They immediately stand up and bowed to her. Even the man who attempted to destroy Midorima's lucky item was now bowing. Midorima and Takao just looked at each other.
"I would like to personally introduce you to them, but I guess there is no need to." Kaminari finally said as she sat at the front which told Midorima her position in the clan.
The old man and the others are nodding at her statement. Some are still whispering but when Kaminari tilt her head in their direction, they all became silent. For Midorima, he saved his lucky item but unknown to him, that moment the family learned to respect him. They silently acknowledge him as part of their clan. The meeting went smoothly afterwards. Midorima manage to answer all their questions about him. Takao was getting comfortable and even talked more than Midorima. When Midorima looked at Kaminari, she was only looking at her cup. He wondered why he never saw her looked up. He realized that there was something wrong in her eyes.
"When are you planning to have the wedding?" the old man suddenly asked causing Midorima to divert his gaze to him.
"I am not ag-" Takao cut him off.
"Yes, I think we should prepare the wedding immediately" Takao answered for him. "Excuse us, for a sec" Takao smiled as he dragged Midorima outside.
"Do you want us to be killed?" asked Takao when they are already outside.
"It's my future we are talking about and I don't care if you die, idiot" Midorima answered him.
"Shin-chan, always a tsun-tsun." Takao tried to tease him. "Come on, I still wanted to play in the winter cup."
Midorima looked contemplating. Takao's right, he needed him in the winter cup so he decided to spare him for now. He was about to say something when he saw him patting a big white tiger stuffed toy in the front door.
"It looks very real" Takao said as he pinched its face. Kaminari then came and sit down in the porch near them. She looked at Takao playing with the cat. Midorima ordered Takao to stop whatever he was doing but he did not listen to him.
"It's unusual for someone like you to own something cute as this." Takao said to Kaminari. Takao stopped playing with the cat then he and Midorima sat beside her.
"I hate cats, I just don't feel being around them" Midorima said to Takao.
"It's a tiger, not cat and its cute just look at those white fluffy furs." Takao said to him.
"Tigers, cats, they all belong to the same familia, idiot" Midorima answered him.
"But he is not a cat, he is a family. And his name is Shiro" Kaminari answered and to Midorima's horror something licked his face. Slowly he turned his head to his right.
A shriek echoed the Kaminari residence afterwards.
Takao and Midorima were about to leave but the others ordered them to stay. They said they have important family gathering that evening and Midorima is a family now, he should be present. Takao was about to refuse saying something about a show he had to watch but Midorima did not let him leave. He told him that if he left early, he will tell them that he is refusing the marriage and Takao should be ready to be hunted down by yakuza members.
When they went inside the room again, the members are now all sitting. There are chips and beers in the floor and a large television is in their front. Much to Takao's enjoyment, the important family gathering was watching a poorly made drama that he also wanted to watch.
Takao excitingly sat beside the man pointing a sword in his neck earlier and they talked about the main character of the show. The others seemed to be as enthusiastic as him.
Midorima excuse himself saying he needed fresh air.
"Just come back immediately or you will miss the good part" the old man said to him.
He went to the porch again and tried to comprehend the trouble he got himself into.
"Without Takao, you are gloomy" he heard a voice said. Kaminari then stand beside him.
"Is that so?" He looked at her and again she was only looking down. He tried to observe her eyes but he could not see it clearly.
"Why are you always looking down? You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious" Midorima said while fixing his glasses to avoid looking at her.
"I guess I have to tell you the truth now, I really could not see" Kaminari started.
"Wha-what do you mean? You're blind?" he asked her, still confused.
"My family met an accident a few years ago and this is the result." Kaminari told him.
"That's explain why your eyes don't move" Midorima said.
"Now that you know, are you still marrying me?" she asked him.
"I did not agree on it in the first place." he answered.
"So that's it. Thank you for being honest with me." Kaminari said then she left Midorima and went inside.
Midorima was shocked. He wasn't able to read her expression. He was afraid that he hurt her for telling the truth. However his future is more important than her feelings. As he was having an internal turmoil in his head he heard a loud noise coming from inside the manor so he thought they are already killing Takao. He panicked and run inside thinking he could still save Takao but instead they are still in the same position as he left them. The loud voice was the cheering when the show has started. Kaminari was sitting at the front.
"Midorima, sit down, I thought you are going to missed the show." the old man told him.
"You don't have to run you know? The flashback of the previous episode is still on" another man said to him.
"Old man, is it true?" he asked.
"What?" the old man replied
"That she is blind?" Midorima asked again.
"Yes, the accident happens when she was still a child. Her parents are in the car with her and then a truck without break crashed on them. Her parents died and then she became blind" the old man explained to him.
He sighed but then his brow raise at the next words of the old man. "If you listened to the flashback carefully, you will know that she tried to live a normal life. Now the question is if the man will still marry her."
"Flashback?" he asked.
"Yes, Monako is blind and the guy won't accept the fact" the old man answered
"Monako? Flashback?" Midorima then saw Kaminari smiling while looking at a chip she was holding. She fooled him. She was telling him the story of the drama.
"Kaminari" he said loudly and he was immediately shushed by all people including Takao.
As the drama goes on, the old man went out to go to the toilet. Midorima then got a chance to ask the old man about her. He followed him outside.
"Old man, tell me what really happened to Kaminari's eyes?" Midorima asked him.
"Her eyes?" the old man looked at him questioning his motive but then he sighed. "I guess its okay to tell you. You're part of the family now."
"Tomiko's grandparents lead the yamaguchi clan for a long time." Yamaguchi rings a bell to Midorima.
"As you know, it was once the biggest yakuza here in Tokyo. The government even recognized it and allowed its officials to handle weapons like swords. Not that they could do anything if the clan decided to handle weapons themselves. Tomiko's mother was supposed to inherit the clan while she was still young but she was not interested in the family business. She rebelled and then met her father. They got married and have Tomiko outside the country, but our oyabun, her grandfather, still looked for them." The old man walked slowly while Midorima was trying to understand his words.
"After long years of search, some high ranking members thought there would be no one to inherit the position so they took interest on it. Kenichi, the second in ranking is the most persistent one. Her grandfather was killed in the battle so they targeted her parents afterwards, they did not want her mother to reclaim the position. Somehow they found them." A chill run down on Midorima. He imagined being hunted down by powerful yakuzas.
"The fatal one happened when she was still a baby. The family's car was crashed and her parents died. Her father's body was never found. We knew it was not an accident because her mother was not killed by the crash but by a sword impaling her chest. Under her, she was protecting something, her baby who lost a lot of oxygen before being rescued.
"The damage to Tomiko gets serious as she got older. There are parts of her body that she can't move. They were paralyzed by the trauma of the accident. Like the muscle of her eyes, that's why she always looked down, though her sight is not affected, she could not move them. The two fingers on her left hand were also immobilized and she could not raise her left arm." Midorima understood now the feeling he got when looking at her eyes.
"Yet, she is the strongest woman we've known. She learned wushu and sword fighting by herself." Midorima thought she was not bad at all. Considering her disability, learning martial art was a great feat.
"The yamaguchi was divided and all was taken away from her. There are few of us who remained by her side. The others died trying to save her from Kenichi. We are here to protect her. She is still our only oyabun.
"It angered us when you said that you are here for her birthday, the truth is, we don't know when it is and we never celebrated it" the old man told him. Midorima now realized why they don't like weaklings. They were looking for someone that could protect her. He wasn't fit for the job. Somehow he got relieve that he could reason it to get away from the marriage.
After being told of her story he could not react. The more he knew the more curious he got. But he remained silent. He would not endanger himself with their troubles.
He and the old man return to the room. In his surprise, the scary looking yakuzas are all wiping their tears. This is not what he expecting them to be. His view on yakuza completely changed that day. They are humans after all.
They watched for some time but he could not take the drama. He would rather watch basketball or any other kind of sports. He was the only one unaffected and Kaminari who maybe already asleep.
At the end of the show Takao noticed him yawning. He then angrily said to him "You have no heart, we are not friends anymore and I will never pedal for you again." He then left the confused green head.
Midorima had no choice but to walk home alone as Takao left with the rickshaw. The sky is now dark and the rain was still pouring heavily. Kaminari gave him umbrella and offered to walk him until he got to the main street. They walk in silence in the cemetery.
"The old man told you right?" She broke the silence.
"Hmm" he wasn't sure what to reply.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"It's must be sad for you not knowing what star are you born" Midorima said.
"Stars?" asked Kaminari. She looked confused by Midorima's statement. She did not particularly care about stars and signs.
"Yes, your horoscope" replied Midorima.
"What about it?" she asked.
"It's for guidance. It will help you improve your way of living. It -"
"Is that so?" she cut him off and then she tilted her head upwards as if directing her gaze to him. It's the first time she looked at him. The moon accentuates the color of her eyes.
"Yes, I always follow fate. That's why I always succeed" he adjusted his glasses to avoid the gaze.
"That's good for you. At least you know how to your live your life." She is still looking at him.
Midorima contemplate for a moment then said, "At least I don't have to worry if we are compatible" Having Takao around is as troublesome as it was, he thought. He could no longer afford his luck to be ruined by another one.
"Do you care if we are compatible or not?" she asked interpreting his statement incorrectly.
"No, of course not, I-I don't care ab-"he stuttered. He realized he sounded differently from what he meant.
"Good, you are not allowed to" she replied back without letting him finished.
The next moment was spent in awkward silence, or at least on Midorima's part. When he felt they are walking endlessly, he remembered Kaminari was not good in direction. He cursed her in his mind and questioned why she even bothered to walk him. It ended him finding the way back to her home and spent few hours of his evening walking in the cemetery alone.
The next morning he asked Takao if it was his plan to leave him with Kaminari but Takao denied his accusation. He cursed Takao and decided to pay him back in the near future. As for the time being, he could only tell him Kaminari's situation.
… Kaminari always spent time with us after that. I must admit, she was not that bad. Takao is much more annoying than her. However I would not still approved being her husband and all. I only cared about my fate and my fortune.
When she came into my life, the balance and harmony I protected were destroyed in an instant. The feeling was similar when I spent my time with the psychotic basketball teammates in middle school. Speaking of them, I remembered the time they met her. It was a disaster. It was another mistake I made.
I shall tell you all about it in my next letter. As for now I must rest.
Yours Truly,
Mid**** Sh*****u
tbc 3/9