Chapter 15: Unhinged

Kaito wasn't sure what had his parents acting so strangely, but whatever it was, he didn't mind. They had seen to him to be both confused and immensely relieved when he'd asked them the next day why he was hurting so much. He remembered vaguely the pain he'd once felt after falling off a jungle-gym and breaking his collar bone... But somehow this pain seemed more deeply seeded and unsettling. He also couldn't comprehend why it was that his throat was so sore, his words coming out scratchy and forced.

His parents simply encouraged him not to speak so that his throat could heal more quickly, told him that there'd been an incident of some sort without going into details about what that incident was, and proceeded to pamper him, as far as Kaito could tell, as they served him a western-styled breakfast of waffles with chocolate ice cream on top, the creamy chocolatey goodness soothing his throat, before encouraging him to go watch TV. Kaito heard them say something about a doctor as he left the room, but he didn't bother with staying to try and eavesdrop; they always caught him instantly when he did that, and he didn't particularly care to hear about a doctor or whatever the doctor had said about something-or-another.

Kaito sat on the sofa in front of the TV and flipped through the channels. Something colorful caught his attention and he stopped on a channel which he had stopped on many times before in his short life.

Animal Planet was playing on the screen, and Kaito's eyes widened as he took in the sight of colorful fish swimming about in the ocean. For some reason... He suddenly felt sick, as if he wanted to throw up the wonderful breakfast he'd just eaten.

Kaito clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from sobbing aloud, feeling ashamed and as if he should keep this to himself, though why, he had no clue. Why was his spine suddenly taut at a sight he used to enjoy so much? Why did he feel a burning shame that made his cheeks turn red and eyes water? He quickly reached for the remote he'd set down beside him and changed the channel, turning it instead to the magic channel where some magician he vaguely recognized, but didn't know the name of, appeared.

He relaxed after watching for a while, his parents coming in at one point and sitting with him. Upon seeing that Kaito was happily enjoying the magic channel, Toichi and Chikage both decided to spoil him a bit by preforming a few tricks for him right there on the couch. Kaito was enthralled, his parents overly pleased to see that their boy was happy and appeared to be largely unaffected by what had happened to him the night before. His memory of the night was spotty, at best, and as far as they could tell, he might actually come out of it without damaging psychological effects. They hoped desperately that this would be the case, and that their innocent little Kaito would never remember the horrors which had taken place.

They remained in the living room for several hours, until it was time for lunch. Chikage excused herself to make sandwiches for them, Toichi following a few minutes behind her to help her finish up the meal and carry it to the living room: Kaito wasn't allowed to eat anywhere in the house except for the kitchen counter and kitchen table, but for today, they figured they'd make an exception.

As his parents were in the kitchen, Kaito continued to watch the magic channel. The time turned to one-o'clock in the afternoon and Kaito realized that it was time for his regularly scheduled favorite program.

The Fishy Magician appeared on the TV. Kaito flinched, tears springing to his eyes. Moments later he'd clicked the television off, pressing the button on the remote with more force than was necessary.

Kaito sat there for several long moments, neither wondering why he was afraid or why the Fishy Magician suddenly held no appeal to him. All he could think about was the terror which seized him. He set the remote down next to him and curled in on himself.

"I'm guessing you want chocolate milk as your drink for lunch, right Kaito?" His mother's voice being carried from the kitchen snapped Kaito out of his terror-filled state. He blinked, realizing that at some point he'd curled up on the floor with his knees pressed tightly against his chest. He reached up and rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear all signs of tears from his face as he stood. His stance was shaky and he held the couch for support, taking a few deep, settling breaths before walking as calmly as possible towards the kitchen.

He hesitated outside the kitchen, taking another deep breath before plastering the biggest smile onto his face he could muster and walking in. "Actually, 'Kaa-san, I think I'm gonna go take a bath, okay? I'm not feeling too hungry yet since we had a nice breakfast." Kaito continued to smile, waving at his parents as he hastily exited the room again, not waiting for a response.

As soon as he'd left the room, Chikage dropped the plate she was holding. Toichi, with fast reflexes and precision, caught it before it could hit the ground and set it on the counter, taking in a rattily breath. They looked at each other, concern and fear etched into both of their faces in ways that only the other could understand.

Their bright, bubbly, happy little boy had never smiled at them with anything less than true, genuine mirth, despite the fact that he smiled all the time, but the smile Kaito had just sent them had been entirely, one-hundred percent forced. Fake. Not at all happy, and entirely unconvincing. It was more than just unsettling...

All hope of their son coming out of this ordeal unscathed shattered.

A/N: Reviews are appreciated~!