Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
All right come on. Let me have it. This story is not going in the direction you thought it would go right? This is still Digimon Adventure, but we have yet to get to that part yet. The way it reads it may sound like nothing Digimon related, but I can assure you that is not the case. Rei has been through some traumatizing things. I tell you though watch out looking for the bottom of this misery staring into the abyss. For when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. Not quite sure where I saw this quote, but it sounds good? Anyway it will get better eventually. Just wait for it and hopefully you can withstand Rei's suffering until then.
Chapter Four: The World is Full of Unfulfilled Dreams
Not long after Rei Kurenada's release he had been released into the custody of his father, who he had been informed had begged him to reconsider staying in the main estate. His good buddy Hiroki who he told about the situation more than gladly offered his own home to Rei, a home Rei had never experienced before.
The pain of having lost Sarada afflicted them both, but they stood fast together as they dove into middle school. Hiroki continued playing baseball, donning the number three which happened to have been Sarada's favorite number because of the three of them. Rei Kurenada continued looking more at the possibility of the existence of another world existing as he focused more and more on computer engineering. They encouraged each other, cheered each other on and eventually got into high school with top tier grades.
Rei Kurenada appreciated Hiroki and his family; he only had an older sister named Asaki a ridiculously sounding simplistic name, but somehow had a pleasant effect of bringing out the goofy cheerfulness of her brother. He admired her for being absolutely realistic, but having a touch of cheerfulness in factual things such as a nice home cooked meal, or listening in on a conversation but not answering until everything needed to be said and finished. He admired her greatly not only for her maturity, but she never tried to stand out or appear like something she wasn't. She never had a facade, never asked him about himself, but seemed like an elegant mystery and rarely talked about herself.
While they were engaged in their studies word came around to Rei Kurenada how five other family member's children had died under mysterious circumstances, causes unknown. He had developed a habit of checking the obituary page ever since Sarada's and the inspector's deaths, and, just seeing their names filled him with such contempt for anyone in his family, even his father who had left him with Hiroki.
That morning, it was the death of Amaroya Sariji, a youth whom he had played with when he was younger from time to time and at least had said hi to in the hallways every now and then. He wasn't a bad kid, but he wasn't his friend either.
"Doesn't matter anyway," he said taking the newspaper, walking over to the stove top in the kitchen, and lighting it on fire. He watched it burn, the burn starting to turn the newspaper charred and black, reaching close to his fingertips where he held them.
"Ah!" A familiar voice exclaimed as Asaki rushed over and interrupted him. "How many times have I told you Rei you can't just set whatever you want on fire!" she exclaimed grabbing a bucket, setting the burnt newspaper down and dowsing it with kitchen sink water.
He said nothing, watching her back as she put out the flame, steam rising, a sizzling sound emitting from the bucket from the evaporated water.
He didn't even bother to apologize but looked at the back of her slender neck.
"Why do you always do that?" she asked. "You don't like something, so you burn it up to erase it?"
"More or less," he said indifferently. "I don't want to be held back by the pain of remembering. Time itself will eventually take care of it, but if I don't hang onto it then that speeds up the process."
She sighed turning off the water. "You're so ruthless Rei. Even to yourself," she replied.
"It' s only natural," he said. "But I've seen you. You work hard for the sake of your brother. You even denied yourself going to college to take care of him, but you've also neglected yourself that way," he said. "I suppose you could say it's your caring nature," he said turning around holding his arms above his head.
Her voice grew quiet as if she was keeping something in. "Th-that's not true," she said, Rei barely able to hear her.
"To anyone who looked at our situation and what happened when our parents died in a car accident, it looks like I'm sacrificing a lot to take care of him, but you don't know the heart of someone who experiences something like that," she said.
"Oh?" he said curiously. "Are you saying you're not as saintly as you appear?"
"That's your own presuppositions I suppose," she said. "But really I'm more of a wreck then my little brother is. He has sports, a future lined up for college, and, I only have him and a job. Once he goes away, I'm going to be in a worse situation then after my parents died. Because he was the only thing I had left," she said.
Rei took in her melancholy gray eyes and ash brown hair marveling at them. She seemed so alive, but appeared corpse-like to her, living just to die and passing on her knowledge before she would move on.
"You know if anything happened to you," he said, "Your brother would be sad. And I would to," he confessed. "So don't even think about killing yourself once he moves away," he said. "You'll make us sad."
She only smiled. "I would never do that," she said. "Not when I know my loved ones have so much to live for."
Rei found himself smiling, pleased by her response. Every now and then he had to give her a pep talk of sorts to encourage her. It would be pretty soon before Hiroki and him left for college, that is, if they graduated, but-
-Just then, the front door slammed open, and Hiroki burst on through. "Rei! Sister!" he exclaimed holding up a letter in his hand.
"I got accepted by Hoyu University! A full ride scholarship to play baseball there!"
"Seriously? That's fantastic!" Rei Kurenada said enthusiastically.
His sister ran over to him and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you Hiroki," she said, Rei detecting a slight tone of depression and maybe even jealousy in her voice. "Now you can go live your dreams brother," she smiled. "When are you leaving?"
"This summer," he said. "And you'll never get what else came in the mail today."
"Something else?" Rei said curiously.
"Take a look!" He grinned holding up a letter for Rei. "Sorry I opened your mail man, but I wanted to be the first to congratulate you!" he said slapping him on the back. "You really got in!"
Rei studied the piece of paper he had been handed amazed. "I only filled that out on a whim. I didn't actually think I would be getting into Tokyo University."
"Your grades were top notch," Hiroki chuckled. "You're so casual about studying you didn't even notice huh?"
"I suppose not," he agreed. "Still though. A full ride scholarship as well? It means I won't need to rely on the filthy Kurenada finances."
Asaki clapped her hands and hugged Rei Kurenada to, something he did not expect.
"I'm proud of you to Rei," she said wrapping her arms around him and pulling him to her chest.
"Look at my boys," she smiled. "You're all grown up now ready to leave the nest."
"Don't get cocky," Rei Kurenada said prying his way around her.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You just wanted us away from here. But I'll be back," he said. "Every holiday. Every vacation. Because this is the safest place in the world," he grinned.
"You like it here that much?" she asked.
"Of course, I do," he said seriously. "That's because it's my home. You and Hiroki both make this world a better place."
"How unexpected!" Hiroki exclaimed wrapping his arms around him. "You've really grown into a fine young man haven't you Rei?"
"L-lay off!" Rei grimaced trying his best to escape his clutches.
"Don't worry," Hiroki sniffed pretending he was sad. "You're such a loner. You had no interest in girls from high school and I don't think you'll have much luck in college."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Rei asked still trying to escape to no effect.
"Well," he said starting to smile, "For a guy like you at least you can marry my sister!" he grinned. "Three years difference but who cares? At least you won't be lonely if you're together!"
Asaki only smiled nodding her head. "Now, now, I'm sure there's a lovely girl for Rei out there somewhere," she said. "She might even be closer than he thinks."
"Nice subtlety sis," Hiroki said with a thumbs up.
"You two are both really annoying," Rei said now in a headlock with Hiroki. "But it's not a bad thing."
The touch of Asaki on their backs seemed to calm him a bit.
"I know your both really excited right now, but let's calm down and have some dinner. I'm sure you're all hungry," she said contently.
"Yeah," Hiroki said. "I'm starved. Let's eat!"
The summer ended without fanfare. Well, at least for one more child family member death. Rei and Hiroki finished their terms out with the school Asaki supporting them the whole way. Eventually it was time for the two of them to say goodbye. It pained Rei to see Hiroki go who was like a brother to him, but he knew he had to let him pursue his dream.
They met up on a fine sky blue filled day with sunshine at the old spot near the baseball field where Hiroki played when he was younger. His body rippled with muscles on his arms which he tried to conceal in his shirt, but Rei did not look any different aside from looking older. He was not much for sports, only activities that stimulated his mind like chess or computer programming.
Hiroki was there waiting for him, his arms above his head looking at the clouds. He wore the high school uniform with Sarada's number on the back, a painful reminder of what happened to Sarada and that she would never be forgotten.
"Yo!" he said, Rei catching his breath leaning against the tree. "You need to work out more," he said. "Coffee and energy supplements won't do you much good health-wise if you don't train your body."
"I could never keep up with your heath routine," Rei said having caught his breath. A slight breeze felt pleasant as they stared across at the old baseball field where even now games were being played.
"Hard to believe we were just in middle school five years ago," Hiroki said. "Time's been moving just so fast. It's hard to keep up with it."
"You're telling me," Rei replied. "But at least things are going in the right direction for us. Even if they are in different directions."
They said nothing for a moment looking down at the ground at the shadow of a tree, and the shadow of the leaves being blown by the wind.
"Sarada would have been going to university to," he said almost painfully. "Knowing her she may have even graduated early and could have been doing field work before landing a job as a dental assistant."
Rei swallowed hating to bring up the past. "I know," he said. "From here on out, we'll be going to the adult world. It's a harder place, but as long as I'm free from the Kurenada influence I am not worried," he said, sad, but his tears had dried long ago.
The two of them then looked at the sky, Hiroki fidgeting a bit. "Hey, Rei," he said slightly. "Make me a promise."
"Is that how you ask someone for a favor?" he questioned. Hiroki had always been imposing with the best of intentions that way.
He looked towards him looking directly at him seriously.
"If you don't meet anyone and you don't fall in love, once you're done, can you return back and marry my sister?"
Rei looked at him flabbergasted. "Why would you even recommend that?" he asked finding himself stumbling with his words.
"Because I know you like her, but I don't know if you like her enough," he said. "And I know she fancies you, but she's too ashamed to say it," he said. "She's always been a closed off person, kind of like you, you know?"
Rei looked at his hand and clenched it into a fist. "You're just worried your sister will be lonely," he said. "Do you feel guilty for her sacrificing her life like that?"
He nodded his head. "I guess so. But, more than that, I actually think the two of you would be happy together. Am I wrong? That way you can stop obsessing about your family and heal. I think it would heal both of our worlds."
"Yeah," Rei admitted. "I suppose you're right. I don't know if I tell you this enough Hiroki, but you, you're really strong."
"I know right?" he grinned. "Got to be to be a professional baseball player!"
Rei dared to walk really close to Hiroki and placed his hands on his shoulders. "As for your request, if she still feels that way about me, and if I don't meet anyone then I promise I will," he said.
"Good!" Hiroki started to laugh. "I hope you'll stay a loner, Rei! Then you'll be my brother-in-law one day!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rei started laughing, the two of them entertained. They continued reflecting on old times until the sun started to set and Hiroki had to leave to get on his flight for college.
A few weeks had passed since Hiroki had left. Rei was set to leave for his college in a week or so himself, but Hiroki had a head start because he had to get ready for the baseball season and needed to practice with the new team. Rei had to admit he missed Hiroki terribly, and he realized as well that without him and it was just him and Asaki alone, there was an incredible tension between them bordering between familial love and genuine love for each other as a man and a woman.
Rei had to be careful as just brushing by her or making any contact triggering a storm of emotions within him for her; emotions he contained by studying for his schoolwork.
A couple days before he was set to leave, they were eating lunch together and she joked about them being husband and wife what with how it was just them now. Rei had not expected that but went along with the joke. He didn't realize how lonely she must have felt without her brother there and maybe he was just a stand in.
The way she smiled and went about with her work around the house started to infuriate him a little bit thinking like that. That very evening it built up so much pressure within himself he had to confront her. He would have gone crazy otherwise.
"So, tell me, " He said seriously, "Asaki, what am I to you? Am I just a stand in for your brother because you miss him so much? That's pretty horrible if you really see me that way."
Her response threw him off as she smiled and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"Yes," she admitted. "You are a Kurenada. And I can't help that you are. Like my brother who gave me purpose you also give me purpose. You give me something to do with my life. I don't know what I would have done without you or Hiroki," she smiled tearing.
Rei hesitantly placed his hand on her head and rubbed her hair. She lifted up her face towards his longingly and he forgot about everything for an instant as his lips met hers. She kissed him and caressed him also frustrated, but he realized the truth.
Oh, I get it now, he thought to himself. She may be using me, but she doesn't know any other way to handle herself dealing with the pain of her parent's deaths and her brother away from home. What an amazing, yet pitiable woman.
Her moist lips attracted his to return affections and eventually they had knocked over the chair he had been sitting on releasing their vented passions for each other into the melancholy afternoon.
In the morning Rei noticed that Asaki was not in the bed they had shared with each other that evening. In fact, now that he looked at the time it was 11:30 am.
He put his hands on his eyes and shook his head. "My goodness," he said. "How will Hiroki feel when he finds out what happened," he smiled. "So much for seeing if I like other girls."
Just then his phone started ringing, Rei instantly recognizing Hiroki's number. Something seemed wrong. Hiroki never called him this early in the day. His schedule was too busy for him to talk with him now.
He clicked the answer button and hesitated.
"H-hello," he said, a voice immediately responding after.
"Is this Rei Kurenada?" a male voice asked, the voice shaking.
"Yes, it is," he said. "This isn't Hiroki. Just who are you?"
"I-I am, I mean, I was Hiroki's teammate Masa Rinkochi," he said.
Rei's eyes widened. "Was?"
"Yeah," the voice replied. "I don't know how to tell you this, but, Hiroki? He's dead."
The shock floored Rei who started screaming into the phone.
"What do you mean dead?!" he shouted. "Hiroki is the strongest person I know! He can't be dead! You're lying!"
"I-I'm sorry," Masa stammered. "Truly, I am."
"What happened? I demand you tell me!" Rei exclaimed.
Masa's voice kept stammering. "The truth is after the game yesterday Hiroki came down with a terrible cold. He didn't take any medicine. It did not seem that bad. He was laughing and joking like he always had. But, this morning, when we went to wake him up, he was already-"
Rei Kurenada gritted his teeth, the phone clenched in his hand so hard he thought he would snap it in half.
"This can't be happening," he said. "Hiroki? You're gone?" he said aloud. The voice on the other end of the phone seemed to be talking to him, but he ignored it.
"Hiroki," he said starting to tear, his stomach lurching. "Hiroki!" he cried.
All of a sudden, he thought he heard the sound of a thud from the kitchen. He tried to push aside his grief but realized he had been screaming so loud Asaki could hear him.
"Asaki!" he shouted getting up and racing into the kitchen. He bolted over her where he saw she had been slicing and preparing vegetables. But their, on the ground he watched horrified as she sat motionless, her eyes open. A slit had been placed on her neck, her lifeblood having recently poured out of her, a kitchen knife on the floor beside her.
"Asaki!" he shouted panicking. He went over towards her and placed his hands on her neck to stop the bleeding, blood soaked in his hands.
"Asaki!" he kept shouting till he was hoarse. "Asaki!"
Her body felt completely limp as he realized she had already passed. He stared at her dull gray eyes and lost it screaming out into despair until he could not take it anymore collapsing in grief.
