"Are you... really Brother Shouto?"
Satsuki looked perplexed, completely bewildered by the man's sudden appearance after all this time. His eyes didn't wander from the cold face he remembered too well even though the man looked different and more dignified than he used to.
"Long time no see, Satsuki."
The corner of Satsuki's eyes felt hot all of a sudden. He was overwhelmed with emotions. His pale face reddened. The man took a seat beside his bed.
Satsuki took a careful look, he was afraid it was just an illusion.
"It's really you," muttered Satsuki.
"Yes. Although Gensai Shouto isn't my real name." The man smiled.
"What... what are you saying?" Satsuki lowered his voice. "You're my Brother Shouto. You want to come back to us, that's why you reappear right?"
The man shook his head. He said firmly. "Indeed, I come back because of you and your sister. But Gensai Shouto is just my fake identity."
Seeing the man's expression, Satsuki knew he didn't make a joke. A cruel realization downed onto him. He clenched his fists, lips quivering. He returned the man's firm gaze.
"So... you lied to us?" Satsuki looked hurt.
The man nodded. Traces of guilt crossed his face. "I'm so sorry, Satsuki. My real name is Fuse Ren. But you could continue calling me Shouto."
Satsuki felt enraged all of a sudden. He pounced on the taller man, sending both of them to the floor.
Ren didn't struggle, didn't even fight back against Satsuki's tight grip on his shoulders. He calmly looked at the teenager's eyes, now flowing with tears.
"What do you mean you lied? You're my Brother Shouto! My brother didn't lie to me! So why did you come back if you were just lying to us from the start? Why did you come back? Why? Why?"
Ren pulled Satsuki and hugged him. He let the boy cry, venting out his emotions. He didn't say anything, he just wanted Satsuki to calm down even though the boy was struggling to get off him.
If he tried explaining himself when the boy was in such a state, he knew things wouldn't go well.
"You're okay, my little crybaby troublemaker?" Ren sat up, letting go of Satsuki after his sobbing decreased.
"I'm not a crybaby nor a troublemaker." Satsuki glared at him. He threw a punch at Ren's right shoulder before standing up and going to his bed.
Ren bit a smile. The young man was now leaning against the bedhead, looking outside the window. Clearly, Satsuki still didn't want to see his face.
"I come back because of you and your sister," Ren repeated himself. He stood up and sat on the chair. "I know I shouldn't be dragged away like that, leaving you without any contact. But I want to change what happened before. I won't let myself be gone from both of you again."
Satsuki didn't say anything but Ren knew he was concentrating on what he was saying. He sighed. Satsuki was a good boy but sometimes his temper got the better of him.
"I know that your sister didn't remember me. At all."
The sentence took over Satsuki's anger, he turned his head towards Ren. His eyes widened, completely in disbelief.
"You... knew? How... did you meet her already?"
Ren nodded. "I didn't say anything about us. But she clearly didn't have any recollection of me."
Satsuki looked guilty for treating Ren with a cold shoulder. "It must be hard on you, seeing her like that."
"I tried to find out what had happened but someone covered the entire accident up. I just knew that your sister lost her memory due to the accident."
"Yes. We didn't know who, but someone came to see Uncle Takashi. Sis was still in the hospital. After the man left, Uncle gave me some money and disappeared ever since."
Ren's face turned grim. It was indeed like what he had thought, someone powerful was behind the accident. But, he still couldn't understand why Tsubaki lost her memories of him at that time.
"But, why did you lie about your true identity? Was it because you ran away from home, bro? And... Fuse Ren was your name? Please don't tell me..."
Ren could figure out what Satsuki had been thinking. He didn't have a reason to hide his identity anymore. "Yes, I'm the head of Fuse Family. I'm not lying this time."
Satsuki's jaw dropped. It was just his suspicion when Ren disclosed his real name but he never thought the man he had always regarded as his real brother was one of the most powerful men in the city.
Fuse Family topped the other prominent and ancient families. But since the new family head didn't appear in the media, only certain people knew him personally.
"Bro, you're awesome." Satsuki closed his mouth and stared at Ren incredulously. "Could you give me half of your assets?"
"No will do." Ren laughed, Satsuki's expression was too funny to be seen. "It's your sister's."
Satsuki pouted. "Yeah, yeah. Knowing you, you would leave your entire fortune in her name."
Ren raised his hand and ruffled the boy's head. Satsuki grunted, he pretended to be annoyed. He was just feeling shy. He never knew he could see his brother again.
"Please keep our past relationship a secret from your sister. I'm trying to win her over even though she forgets about me. I don't want her to be surprised if she knows we are already close."
"Are you certain sis would fall for you for the second time?" Satsuki smirked. He raised his brows, giving Ren a challenging look.
"This is your brother. I don't have to put too much effort because your sister only sees me." Ren looked smug. Satsuki's face fell.
He was so shameless!
"About your condition," Ren changed their topic. He squeezed Satsuki's hand. "I've already contacted several acquaintances of mine. I believe you could find a suitable donor soon."
Once again Satsuki's eyes felt hot. He was so touched because even though it took them five years to meet again the man in front of him was still worried about him. Satsuki nodded, he covered his crying face with his hands.
Gosh. I'm really a crybaby.