Ginger.
The cat was finally named.
It was already past 12. So they were thinking about what to eat for lunch. Ginger was on the lap of Aki. No matter how Aki tries he cannot forget about that hazel eyed cat of Joshua's.
"Though Ginger is different, their look in the eye feels similar for some reason. And moreover, who brought back Ginger home is the quest... "
The sound of pressing the lock Password broke Aki's thought process.
"Deja vu…" Aki feels that similar situations have occurred before.
'Oh ! You are home ! That's surprising.' A beautiful woman enters with two kids who are five or six. Aki realizes it's already been a month since he last saw them, 'Mom!'
'I thought to check on you early this month. I have to go somewhere far away this month. Oh! Noah ! You are here too!' the lady was really enthusiastic seeing Aki and Noah
Noah greeted the lady and she kept the food in the kitchen while talking with Noah, 'How have you been?' Aki's mother hugs Aki tightly while asking Noah.
'As usual.'Noah smiles while arranging the food.
'Aki you don't even notice me.' the baby girl pouts . Aki dies over the cuteness.
'How can I forget you, my kitty!' Aki was about to lift her up, and at that time the little boy stopped him.'What about me!'the boy demands to lift him up as well. The room gets filled up with laughter. Aki can still carry them both as they are not very heavy.
'Kids ! I told you not to insist on getting carried!' their mother forbade them.
'But..but..Ayan doesn't like it when brother only carries Aysha.'he pouts from staying in Aki's arm. 'Kitty!!!' suddenly they see the cat and jump down excitedly from Aki's arms
'Kids!' Mom and Noah panics. Aki loses balance and puts them down as they wanted to get down. Holding his breath in Aki lets go of them. Seeing the situation she asked Aki to confirm if Aki was ok and not hurt.
'Yeah! It's nothing!' Aki tried to ease her tension.
'What do you mean by nothing?! You know you are not supposed to carry weight, still you pick them up.' his mother starts to scold him.
Aki smiles while scratching on his cheek, 'Well ,they will grow up soon. I won't have the chance to do that anymore.'
Mom doesn't say anything after that. She sees the cat. The cat also looked at her as well. She felt a chill as soon as she looked at her.
'Tanya has returned.' Mom tells Aki.
'Ya! More than two weeks maybe.' Hearing Aki answer her without emotion made her realize that they have broken up.
'Is everything alright? Between you two?' She wanted to confirm her doubts.
'No! And we won't be. I cannot ruin her life. I would only hinder her.' Aki says while sitting on the sofa.
'I bought some lunch. Let's eat.'she tried to change the topic.
Noah arranged everything before she could help. Meanwhile, she wanted to check Aki's heart. So she quickly checked with a stethoscope while the lunch was getting ready.
'Where is Ayush?'Aki sits obediently as his mother starts examining his heart.
'At Uni.' She answers.
She also tells Aki that Ayush would join them after Ayush has finished his lectures.
'Breathe.' She reminded Aki to breathe properly. He nods. Aki keeps taking long breaths.
Ayush is his little brother. But they don't share the same mother. Aki looks at his mom. This person is not her mom. She is the twin sister of his real mom. When Aki was 3 he saw the cruel death of his mother which had tainted his mind. He could not cope up with the fact that he lost his mother.
How can one?
Aftershocks resulted in several days of fever which made Aki collapse. At that moment, he saw Sara. He thought she was his mom Sakura and held on to her like crazy. After a few months, upon seeing the improvement of his mental and physical health she decided to stay with him as she loved him and her sister so much unconditionally. The parents of Aki's father and Sara's family wanted Aki's father and Sara to get married. Both Sara and Aito married thinking of Aki's health. But at the end his father was unable to forget the one who was his highschool sweetheart, Sakura.
So they could not have a happy ending. Sara has found her soulmate after the divorce with Aito and has a happy life now but what kills Aki the most is the fact that, after so many years Ayush was born he realizes she was not her mom and he remembered how Sakura had died. The marriage fell apart and Ayush had to live a life just like his. Ayush mostly lives with Sara as their father is a businessman,he seldom could give time to Ayush. Ayush too has already settled down in his job as a professor.
Aki and Ayush don't share the same mother but they are close. He is glad that Ayush was capable of coping with any situation unlike him. But that doesn't mean he is not responsible for these three people messing up life. A sharp pain is always there in Aki's heart as he feels guilty.hurts him whenever he recalls and feels guilty.
''Your heart is…' Sara found his heart unsettled.' Sara hears Aki's heart getting irregular.
'oh,sorry! I was lost in thoughts.'Aki apologies.
'Everything is ok. I don't think there will be a problem but still be careful.' removing the stethoscope from her ears she warned Aki to take care of himself.
'My heart has been alright since the operation.' Aki assured her.'
But Sara still warned Aki to be cautious.
'Don't worry Aunty. I'm here. I will check up on him when you stay out. But aunty isn't it alright now that it's been 15 years?' Noah assured her.
He was young and his body adapted well but still it makes Sara anxious if she doesn't see him every month.
'There are actually many things that began…' She notices the newspaper with a car accident heading. She looked up at Aki. He tried to avoid the stare'.
'Are you having those nightmares again?' she frowns.
Aki never understands how Sara can always catch things too quickly.
'No! Not like' Aki tried to avoid.
'Do you...see her as well?' again she interrogates Aki.
'I...not really !' Aki stopped talking.
Noah stopped setting the food and looked at them. Noah is in a dilemma if he should tell her about the fever and all things. But at last he stays silent. Aki and Noah look at each other. While Noah makes a gesture to Aki to tell her that Aki had a fever and she saw what they were trying to hide.
'So you did see her. I knew it. I was informed that you didn't go to your doctor as well. Do you wish not to go anymore?' Sara emphasises on the last line.
'It's not like I was unwell. I just don't need it anymore. I am not depressed.' Aki feels contradicted even when protesting.
Sara explained to Aki that she didn't advise you to do that because Aki was depressed. 'You are the type to hold back your thoughts and be considerate to others. I want you to at least share them with your doctor so that you don't feel burdened.
Aki smiles,'Mom,I'm not like that. You know that very well.'
'I'm not sure anymore. You have become like one after...anyway this person is very well known for being a modest and respectful human being rather than a psychiatrist. I haven't met him yet,but he is of your age and I heard he meets with his patients outside too. So if you want to avoid being stuck in a treatment room then you can meet with him outside. But please don't think I'm forcing you. Sometimes there are things inside us that we don't even know exist. Just like this cat. You never thought you would adopt one but you did and I bet you are finding it amusing.
Noah agreed with Sara and told Aki to at least try to visit once. If Aki doesn't feel good then he can leave it. Aki glares at Noah, seeing him side with Sara. Sara sees that too.
'He knows it will be good for you.' She said. Aki agreed to visit the doctor. Sara smiles widely
Ayush arrived there at 5. He has got the gene of their father Aito but Aki is the spitting image of his mother,Sakura, which is why Aito has more affection towards Aki even Ayush can feel that difference. But that never bothered Ayush. They kind of grew up with each other from the start so they have a better understanding.
The moment Ayush sees the cat his jaw dropped, 'You...have a cat?!'
'Yup! Meet ginger.'Aki pushes Ginger on his lap.
'Woah!! Isn't it just like Mei used to have?', Sara slaps on Ayush's head.
'I know. I am surprised as well. He got adopted by himself.' Aki smiled instead of feeling sad.
'It came to you? No wonder he is fat! It must be the type to get loved so much. It's not even afraid of me.'Ginger scratches his face. Sara smiles, 'Good! You offended him. You deserve it.'
'Ya! Ya! Anyway! What have you been doing? Why didn't you come to university? I had checked on you.'
Aki made an excuse that he has been busy with the company. So he had to reschedule.
Ayush nodded,'Oh! And how are your eyes doing? Is there any…'
'Nothing! Everything is fine.' Aki didn't let Ayush finish.
Aki offered him lunch as he guessed Ayush must have not eaten anything. Ayush was hungry so he immediately started to eat. Everyone left in the evening. He then cleans the room. Putting the headphone on, everything becomes silent. He inhaled a deep breath.
Opens the door of his darkroom.
For a while he stared at the Photos on the hanger. Then I started to develop some more photos. Ginger watches him. Its tail was continuously moving but its stare was on Aki. As if the cat was analysing Aki. Aki sees that from the corner of his eyes. It's as if he is being watched.
At the train station,a few people entered the stationmaster's chamber. Joshua enters after them. But another Joshua, was sitting on his chair. He changes his appearance into a guy who looks like Mei. He greets the real Joshua, 'Brother.'
Joshua responded to his greeting by nodding and asked, 'How was everything?'
'All good!' He smiled.
Joshua sighs, 'Why did you postpone the order? Because of you we have lost the culprit.'
'Doesn't that mean he is not the one. The real one has realized we are looking for him. So he has stopped working. I don't think he is the one.'
Joshua started to tell him, 'He has canceled his classes as well as he was the one at the border. And the entity follows him. All the evidence…'
'Brother,they are all fabricated. Those pieces of evidence were too easy...and I know something is definitely not right with this guy but he is not the one we think he is. I am sure of it.'
He pauses then continues, 'There are only a few human beings who are descended with the ability to see through us. He is one of them. So he is not someone who would do that. And...I also want to see why the entity is following him.
Joshua was frustrated,'Reiji!! Why are you being stubborn? You never showed any interest in anything other than…'
'I don't know and I want to know that too. And anyway I can always kill him if he is the one and...you know that.'Reiji assured Joshua.
Joshua wonders, 'Surprisingly! The tea didn't seem to work on him. He didn't forget anything. If he doesn't,that will be a problem. I heard you met him. Did you make him forget?'
'No. I didn't…The hazel eyed cat rubs its body on Reiji and he yelled, 'what the hell are you doing?'
Joshua's eyes widened as he became angry , 'Why the hell are you scolding him?'
Reiji bites his own tongue realising the mistake, 'I thought it's mine. Wait...Where did my one go?'
'Go home now. Do your job. Mother will be meeting you soon so arrange the evidence to support yourself.' Joshua advised him with a voice that made him seem irritated.
'Why did you tell her?' Reiji became worried.
'I didn't. She knows sometime before we say anything.' Joshua didn't admit his doing.
'I bet you didn't shield your mind again.' Reiji clenched his teeth while saying to Joshua.
'I never do. She will know even if I put a shield. She can see through the lie.' Joshua stood leaning on the lamppost.
'Well!yes.Mom is awesome. Oh! How is Mei?! Why did he collapse again?' Reiji's face seemed worried and Joshua sighs,'He is alright now. Thunder Lightning has shown him something again.'
Reiji was not surprised at that, 'What was it?'
Mei doesn't remember. Reiji knows,giving Mei some time to relax would make him remember. They stood there silently for a while. With the cat beside Joshua kept moving its tail like Ginger. The fellow who was standing behind them bade them and left. Joshua looks up in the sky, 'It's gonna rain again.'
'Ah! I have an appointment tomorrow. I don't want to go.' Reiji was really unwilling.
Joshua scoffed, 'Why do you feel annoyed when you just have to erase them. Easy work.'
'Huh!'Reiji mocks Joshua's silly suggestion.
Aki lay down for a while.
Still keep listening to the song.
Holds up the business card with his hand. The address of the psychiatrist was not far away from his office. Aki falls asleep within a moment holding it.