The night was silent, no crickets nor birds chirped. The air was still. No movement from the three children, the two men who smoked thick cigars ten meters away from them went about their conversation. The cool night breeze passed along softly by them without disrupting anyone.
"A-Aniki… Sh-Shall we leave?" Haru questioned wanting to escape.
"I- I agree with Haru" feeling uneasy Aika tugged at her brother's clothes.
As the seconds became minutes and the air grew heavier drastically, the three kept watching over their guardian and whom they supposed was his colleague. The curiosity of knowing what his uncle is doing there was higher than the fact that he may have lied to them.
The two older men kept talking but before long the other man turned to face Fujiwara and started yelling at him. The words weren't heard clearly but the anger in them was. Fujiwara yelled back and seconds later dropped his briefcase on the floor, opening it he took something out. It wasn't visible since it was dark but Fujiwara's hand moved, pointing to the other guy.
Then BANG! It went.
Right through the other man's head.
He dropped onto the floor like a lifeless doll. Showing no remorse, Fujiwara went over to the other guy's head and squatted down.
The children who were behind the bushes froze. Unable to move nor make a sound, Aika covered her eyes and started hyperventilating. Daiken and Haru, eyes widened at the sight of seeing their uncle commit a murder, held on to each other squeezing their hands together.
"A- Ani- Aniki…" Haru muttered, unable to speak. "W- Wh- Why… H- How… ?"
Somehow finding the strength to get up, Daiken screamed in his head 'That did not just happen! O- Oji- Oji-S- San wou- would never.' He picked up his brother and sister, brother on his arm, sister on his shoulder, and began to sprint.
"That. Did. Not. Just. Happen!" He screamed while running.
His younger siblings were too shocked to even blink. Aika had tears running down her face but did utter a sound. Haru had his hands on his mouth the whole time. Having witnessed a murder committed by their most trusted, loving guardian the trio felt like their whole world came crashing down. With nowhere to go, Daiken ran home carrying his siblings.
"Wh- What? J- Just happened?" Daiken put his younger siblings down to catch his breath.
Aika shivered as she opened the house door in shock at what she saw. Haru had dried tear marks on his soft cheeks and was still holding onto his Daiken's clothes really tight. It was the first time any of them had seen a gun being shot up close not only but it was by their uncle. The one person who looked after them and cared for them.
"Aniki… What exactly is uncle?" Haru blurted out.
"I… I'm not sure…"
Closing the front door, Daiken went over to their close- to- worn out couch to sit down. He tried the breathing exercises that were taught to his team in the volleyball club. Aika brought him and Haru a glass of water. Taking one for herself, she sat by Daiken.
"Let's- let's get some… some dinner?" He asked the twins, still having fear in his eyes.
"I- I'll help you Aniki…" Haru said giving a hug to his brother since it always gives him peace.
Dinner was dead quiet, all three of them were in their own heads. Doubt either of them focused on what they were eating. After eating Haru and Aika got into their pajamas ready efor bed while Daiken washed the dishes.
"Uh… um… Ani- Aniki… c-can you p- put us to sleep?" Aika asked, head lowered, still frightened about the gunshot incident.
"Sure." Daiken smiled softly, patting his baby sister's soft, fluffy hair. "Why don't you go to bed? I'll be right over."
'I gotta calm down. Aika and Haru have only me.' their lovely smile came to his mind giving him a bit more peace.
Sitting on the edge of Aika's bed Diken stared down at the cute sleeping face of his adorable little sister and brother. Whenever Haru doesn't want to sleep alone on his bed he goes over to Aika's who gladly allows him to.
"Aniki…" Haru kept quiet.
"Don't worry I'll talk things out with Fuji Ji-san, Kay?" Daiken said, giving a peck on their foreheads.
"Aniki, Can you sleep here? In our room?" Aika whispered. Grabbing onto Daiken's shirt.
"Heh, Sure. Why not?" He replied. "Let me go get my futon and pillows." He replied running off upstairs to his bedroom.
Walking up all alone through the dimly lit corridors, Daiken took some time to recollect his thoughts and make up the words for when he was going to confront his uncle. Daiken opened the wooden door by it's rusty handle and went in.
He was greeted by hot air since his room window wasn't open. As he walked to his closet that had a separate compartment to keep futons that were usually for guests, Daiken noticed that the door was slightly open and some sort of light illuminated through.
'One of my hobbies is being curious. As weird as it may sound, I really enjoy learning new things. I found out about many things over the years. I had a fossilbuttoseeitwasjustanordinaryrock collecting phase, a IknowmanysportsandwillprovetoyouthatIwillwinchampionshipsinthemall phase, a Icanbingeread50booksadayandwillrememberalltheirname and many others. I like to prove people wrong. Just like my bizarre phases I have had wack days too. I think this week is gonna be one of the wackiest.'
Daiken got curious as usual and walked closer to the door and opened it revealing a gemstone that almost blinded him but as he grew even closer to touch it, the light started to dim. Like any other person, Daiken touched the glowing gem and what happens next was surreal.
[ Oji-san= uncle
Futon= Japanese quilted sleeping pads that are stuffed with cotton or fiber fill and can sit directly on the floor. (Unlike the sofa beds in the US)
Should I interpretate the long words for you guys too?]