He is standing in a room; the bedroom of a young man he has dreamt about his entire life. The boy is named Takeo Arakawa; a teenager from a land he has never heard of in his waking hours but knows is called Japan.

The room is unusually clean compared to his other dreams where books and clothes are strewn about haphazardly.

In all his dreams it is as if he is the boy just living his life. This dream in particular is his least favorite of all. He goes about placing books and other materials in a bag made of an unfamiliar fabric.

He then slings the bag over his shoulder before turning to look in the mirror. He smooths out his hair and musses it where needed. He is conscious of the dream enough to question whether he has ever seen another person from this young man's nation.

Takeo is taller than most of the other children his age, and his features aren't the same. Where as most of the people he comes across in these dreams have one hair color Takeo's has a reddish-brown tint to it.

Satisfied with his appearance he goes to the bedroom door and opens it. Running out and knocking over his, no, the young mans brother. His name is Haruki and he is starting the tenth grade today. He is a kind boy but prone to being overtly serious around anyone other than his older brother. Though he can't speak their language in his waking hours he always understands what they are saying in the dreams.

"Watch it big brother, you don't wanna get caught picking on your under class-men the first day of school."

Takeo reaches down and helps his younger brother to his feet. Upon doing so he immediately puts his brother in a loose choke-hold with one hand while messing up his hair with the other. "I guess I'll just have to get it out of my system on the walk there." 

Takeo's brother begins struggling and the two end up wrestling to the ground. The boys' mother shouts up the stairs just after they land with a thud. "No fighting, last one down gets half a bowl of rice." 

Both brothers freeze momentarily before scrambling to their feet. They race down the stairs side by side. As they reach the bottom Takeo reaches up and pulls back on Haruki's collar causing the boy to stumble long enough for Takeo to reach the dining room first. Their mother, Nao, greets him with a knowing look before he sits down at the table triumphant.

Haruki slinks into the room and can't bring himself to meet his mother's withering gaze. "Sorry mother."

She turns back to preparing their food and Takeo takes the opportunity to give his brother a playful push before sitting down. While waiting for their mother to serve them they speak. 

Takeo looks at his brother, suddenly serious. "Have you made up your mind whether to do kick-boxing or train swordsmanship?"

Haruki scrunches his eyebrows and huffs a sigh as he regards his brother. "I wanna do both, like you."

He feels Takeo's agitation at his brother's stubborn desire to be by his side. "What about drawing? I thought you were going to focus on improving your skills for art school?"

Haruki shrugs his shoulders before speaking, his voice low. "I can draw at home. I want to do the same clubs you did."

Takeo shakes his head and nods towards the kitchen where their mother is cooking. "I know she gives you a hard time over drawing. She thinks it's a frivolous hobby. If you don't take the opportunity to practice at school you'll never get any better."

His brother lowers his head. Muttering under his breath. "I just want to do what's expected of me."

It's at moments like these in these strange dreams where he truly feels like it is a memory of his very own. "Let me be the one to meet mother and father's expectation's. I will join the military, marry a good-hearted woman and have many children. Then you can be the free spirited ne'er do well of the family."

Their mother comes in bringing their rice. She scowls at both of them before handing them their bowls. True to her word she gives Takeo a larger portion of rice. She goes back into the kitchen to grab the rest.

Haruki grabs his chopsticks before looking back at his brother. "I really do want to train with you though."

Takeo takes his bowl and swaps it with his brother. "Then whichever one you choose besides art club we'll do the other here at home."

The brothers eat with their mother before leaving the house. Falling in with the stream of other kids walking to school. The sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly. A light breeze the only thing disturbing the peaceful nature of the morning.

Haruki is quiet with his eyes looking down. Takeo doesn't say anything for several minutes, knowing his brother sometimes needs time to figure out how he wants to speak his mind.

Finally he brings his gaze up and regards Takeo. "Are you really okay with doing all that our parents ask of you?"

He can feel the calmness within Takeo as he stops, turning to respond. "I don't have a dream like you little brother, At most I'd like to see more of the world and hang out with my friends. I suppose I like fighting and training to become stronger. Mother wants me to follow in her and fathers footsteps and join the military. I am fortunate that what they ask of me is what I already want."

Haruki nods his head and grips his book-bag tighter. Takeo raps him on the shoulder with his fist and chuckles before starting forward.

Haruki turns his head up at his brothers retreating form. "Do you really not have any dreams?"

Takeo stops, turning his head. The cocky smile he wears falters for a moment. He remembers his father introducing him to his gaming collection when he was younger. Takeo's mother had not been too keen on him playing such games; any games actually. He had taken on the mob, traveled the stars, slain zombies, saved princesses and averted the apocalypse. 

All while his father beamed with pride. Telling Takeo about how gaming had been his favorite pass time while stationed around the world. His father wasn't stern or cold like their mother. 

But the patriarch of the family had a world weary aura about him. Only during their gaming sessions had he gotten the chance to see the light in his father's eyes come to life.

Coming out of his memories he smiles, although in a bittersweet way at his brother. "I think being the hero that saves the world is out of the question. Let's get going, if you miss morning ceremony mother will sense it." 

The brothers carry on towards the school, now at the back of the group making their way there. They approach a bridge following a fair distance behind two sporty girls who are walking ahead of them.

The girls are chatting loudly, ignorant of the boys. Gossiping about boys and what girls they hope aren't in their class. One of the girls starts putting on lip gloss as she walks.

Oblivious of her surroundings she trips on a raised portion of the walkway. Stumbling before falling forward and having to catch herself by placing her hands on the ground. Her skirt lifts in the processes and when she comes to rest it is resting on her lower back, displaying her underwear to both of them.

Haruki's eyes bulge in their sockets and he makes a sound that sounds something like a giggle mixed with a chuckle. Takeo has to poke him in order to silence him. "Be careful, you'll get labeled a pervert by your whole class before you've even introduced yourself."

They both turn around and wait for the girls to begin moving again. A gust of wind causes both of them turn to shield their eyes, noticing a storm front moving in. Lightning strikes off in the distance followed by the corresponding thunder.

Haruki brings up his hand to shield his eyes from the wind. "Did you hear anything about us getting a storm this morning?"

Takeo shakes his head. "No it's supposed be sunny and…" 

Another strike lands less than two hundred feet away from them. After the initial surprise Takeo grabs his brother by the shoulder and drags him along. On the other side of the bridge is a bus stop with a covered roof.

Up ahead past the bus stop the road curves up into a hill. Takeo can see a supply truck stopped at the top, the driver inside nervously watching to see if the storm will subside.

The boys begin running, gaining on the young girls up ahead of them. Before they can reach them another lightning strike hits a metal trashcan less than twenty feet away. It as if for a moment he loses all of his senses, before he feels the crack of the thunder.

The ground shakes and his ears are ringing painfully. His vision is blurry and his legs feel wobbly. He is on his knees as his senses right themselves. He sees Haruki stumbling over to the railing for the bridge. He can see one of the girls went over the side and is holding on for dear life and Haruki is going over to help. The other girl is not visible on the bridge and he imagines she went over as well.

The younger boy looks back at Takeo and says something but he can't hear it over the ringing. As he begins to stand another lightning strike happens in the periphery of his vision. He looks around as he makes his way over to help save the girl and sees the supply truck from earlier. 

It is careening down the hill, the truck is badly damaged from what he can surmise is the strike that just happened. The truck glances off a vehicle on the other side of the road, causing it to turn and point towards them, towards Haruki. It is always at this point in the dream that he loses himself. He is no longer a mere watcher; he is Takeo.

Adrenaline dumps into his system, he bursts into a sprint and screams his brother's name. "Haruki!" 

He can hear his brothers name muffled in his ears, knowing the boy can't hear him. He has mere seconds to reach him. Time slows and he remembers; remembers being two years old and walking into the recovery room for his mother.

Being directed up to the bed where she is holding a small blanket bundled up. He is introduced to his little brother who is sleeping soundly. His father put his hand on his shoulder and tells him he's got a lot of responsibility now, he's a big brother and that means he's gotta look out for him.

He remembers being six years old and standing between his mother and Haruki. Juice got spilled on the carpet and she's blaming the four year old. He tells her he bumped the table and and to punish him instead.

He remembers when he was ten and Haruki got sick. He stayed home and took care of him. Watching cartoons with him later in the evening since both of their parents were busy working.

He remembers being fifteen, finding a group of boys bullying Haruki. He stops them and tells the leader if he alone wants to challenge Haruki then go ahead. Afterward on the walk home Haruki excitedly cheers how the stuff his brother taught him worked.

He remembers all this and a thousand other moments where he's been there for his brother and best friend. In his mind he analyzes the situation. At the angle it's going the left side of the truck is going to hit the railing a few yards past the girl and Haruki and on the opposite side of Takeo.

It will scrape the railing before plowing through them. He doesn't have enough time to get there and pull him back. If he merely tackles Haruki to the ground they'll both get run over.

His only hope is to barrel into him and launch him forward past where the truck will make contact with the railing. He imagines that he can hear his shoes slapping the ground. He gave up track club years ago for reasons too painful to mention.

But he still runs everyday; his only time where he is not expected to be perfect. He tells himself this is how it was all meant to be. He will make it in time, there is no other option. 

Several more lightning strikes happen in quick succession in the immediate area but he pays them no mind. As he comes within ten feet his brother turns his head and makes eye contact right as Takeo slams into him.

He has his elbows tucked to his side, his hands braced against Haruki's back and side. He pushes with all of his might, transferring his forward momentum into him. He hears the scream of the dangling girl as she begins to fall twenty feet to the water below.

He idly hopes she can swim, or that Haruki will be able to pull her to the bank. His brother is stumbling forward as he tries to keep his feet underneath him. His body spins as he turns in midair.

 Time slows to a crawl as the cab of the truck comes into his field of vision. The left side of the cab glides past Haruki, he can see where the tip of his brother's shoe barely scrapes the truck.

He barely manages to make eye contact with his brother. Smiling warmly as the sun gleams off his eyes and the tears beginning to form. The image of his brother is obscured as the truck bounces off the railing and points towards him. 

As he blinks he can smell ozone. The ringing in his ears becomes a hum and his body feels weightless. His eyes open and—.

He bolts upright in bed, turning one way or the other as he comes back to himself. He brings his left hand up to his face, attempting to wipe the sleep away as if he can forget the dream. He flops back in the bed, it strains under the mass of his body and he hears the creak of the wood. He turns to look outside, seeing the sky is still black. 

As much he hates the dreams when they come, the only thing he hates more is waking up.

End of Prologue