Music Playing: God's Creation by daniel mp3
I don't know how well she remembered that. Mother's beating. I don't remember what for, but I remember that I was trying to keep Ryuuko quiet, though I couldn't stifle my own tears. I was already hit earlier for something perhaps unrelated. I was hit hard enough to bruise, and, in retrospect, I felt worse because Ryuuko, in her innocence, was trying to make me feel better. I didn't want her to get upset so I just held her close and told her "Hush." I was telling her how sorry I was, I think, for getting our mother so upset.
That was wasn't the only time and the beating that came after that one was little worse, as I was hit hard to enough to spit up blood. I don't remember the exact reason why I was spitting up blood but I think I had broken teeth. I was also bleeding from my nose. I ignored my own bleeding just wrap Ryuuko in my sweater, before holding her close. There were more blows and my body shielded her. The only thing I could really think to do was to keep her quiet, so Ragyo wouldn't hit her that day. Still, in her innocence, she wanted to make me feel better and would have started crying, if not for my humming her a song.
When I wasn't there, she knew to be quiet so Ragyo would just ignore her but, when I was there, I'd take a beating that, otherwise, would have been for her. It was a common thing, to where I knew to keep Ryuuko quiet and conceal my bruises even in the dead of summer. It was a silent agreement that Ragyo and I had—If I got home before x time, then Ryuuko wouldn't suffer for it.
I remember that beating pretty well. I sat in the corner, trying my best to keep Ryuuko quiet, while Ragyo delivered blows to my back. One blow was hard enough as to where I accidentally bit my lip, spattering her with a bit of blood. As I was trying to comfort Ryuuko, I was trying my best to not cry out so loudly, but I wanted to. No, I couldn't chance it. I had to keep Ryuuko quiet. When it was done, Ryuuko tried to make me feel better. The only thing I could do was apologize for that.
Thinking about it now, I think I can still taste the blood in my mouth, from that occasion and the time I got home.