[The ending of previous chapter Four continues on]
Yuki shakes off dust from his shoulder after untying the rope between the siblings' necks. While Yoko bust dusk off from her lap, seemingly trying to shake off the feeling of uneasiness. The night turns into morning as the event between the trio wonder happens. Yoko, who appeared to be in a very bad mood, spoke– "Just you know, you won't get away after what you did to Kael." She gives her warning directly to Yuki who still hesitates to speak up.
Yoko then takes her step away, approaching to get out of the abandoned building without raising her hand to hurt her little brother. It was the first warning by her, reminding his little siblings that, no matter what Kael is number one, none of her siblings matter to her. The warning was a sign that if there were any more necessary means to take revenge then, she wouldn't hesitate, but because Yuki was her little brother, she let it slip this time.
But Yuki turned his head to call his sister out– "Aneue!" Yoko looks back to see her brother seems to be concerned about something. Yoko didn't utter anything but Yuki continued– "I ran out of the house." He statically seemed to be in trouble. Yoko put her palm on her forehead and tried to think it through about the situation her little brother was in.
The scene switch later on were the two siblings in the convenient store.
*Tick*
*Tick*
*Tick*
The cashier scans the food on the table, brought by the two siblings. Yoko mutters– "Don't you think this is too much?" She is wary of the amount of food that needs to be paid. She kept checking her wallet. Yuki replied– "Well I haven't eaten since yesterday after all." At the end, they brought all the food to the outside bench to eat their fill. Yuki took the onigiri, opened it up and munched like he hadn't eaten it for centuries (He is..)
Yoko would take out bento to eat whatever she bought. Together they share this one time again eating as family. Although no one can deny the atmosphere between siblings is thick as fog. Yoko didn't bother to speak. Yuki wasn't able to say a word. But maybe these times are times where we could cherish for our life to carry on. It may be insufficient or unnecessary but blood runs through your vein, yet the cell dies every single day, who to say are you there tomorrow.
Yuki eyes glimpse to the left to see Yoko just deep staring into nothingness. Yuki wanted to say something– "Aneue–?" But Yoko abruptly stood up and muttered– "I wanna go home." Yuki looks up to look at Yoko's facial figure that does not show any sign of emotions. She walked away and left Yuki confused. Yuki thought– 'Should I follow her?'
Left with no home to snuggle in, Yuki follows Yoko home.
As they arrive, Yoko opens the door, she enters and lets her brother come along. Though she didn't utter or give any sign that Yuki is welcome. Yuki, who was embarrassed, heed his head lower since there was no other option. But as soon as he entered the living room, his eyes quickly drew all over the place, spectating the mess of the room. His eyes averted to his sister who was unconcerned. But this revelation of disgrace where there might be some dead cockroach lying around, Yuki couldn't comprehend muttering– "Nee Aneue? Don't you think you should clean the house a bit?"
Yoko, hearing it, responded horribly– "Agh??" It seems the best choice for Yuki is to settle down without causing trouble for his sister. Yoko went to her own room, leaving Yuki in the living room, unsure whether to stay here or out of this household, Yuki reprimand that it is better to stay silent here.
Yuki sat by the cushion in front of the Tv. He worries that opening the Tv might upset his sister. So at the end, he was lying face on the ceiling. In wonder, Yuki had a thought– 'Since when are we this far from each other I wonder.' He reminisced about the time when they were children. Turn to flashback.
#
When I was little, I always thought about what it really meant to have a happy family. A question a little boy shouldn't ask. Though it was not that my relationship with my parents were awful, but I always had this feeling of insecurity toward something. There is always my Sister who would be there with me. Our age is a bit far from each other, while I was in kindergarden, she was already in highschool. So she was just this young girl who was a mystery to me even though I knew she was my sister. While somehow her relationship with our parents is a bit usual or strange to say. Everytime I'm around my parents, she is always not there. She only appeared around me when they were gone.
One day I tried to understand the situation, and coincidently, I wasn't around the moment my parents were in the living room with my Sister. In the glimpse hidden by the gap of the door to the living room, I peek and listen. But soon I realized what was odd, what was usual, and what was strange.
#
"Yoko. How many times did I have to tell you to get high grades in those subjects?" The father spoke toward Yoko who was upset at the scene. Her mother continued– "Yotchan, do you struggled lately?" The mother's soft voice seeking reason. But then Yoko responded– "Why matter? Ah? Why does it matter?" Her replies seemingly look ignorant or don't give any care regarding her future.
Hearing it the father was enraged by the comment and he spoke– "Yoko! What's wrong with you!? Don't you care about your future??" This argument made her father stand up, looking straight at Yoko. But even the one who was supposed to be close to Yoko didn't hinder.
Yoko proceeded on– "Ah my future? Don't worry about it, I'll manage by." The parents hearing it became more concerned, but her father really took it as an offense and yelled– "You dare speak against me!?" Yoko's face became more saddened and she stood her ground to give one statement! "Get a high grade, then what!? Since I was a little girl, the moment I could write, you guys kept pushing me to get high grades, but then what!?" The father suddenly becomes defensive over how Yoko reacts, sort of confused, sort of half believing what she spells.
Yoko shakes her head while muttering– "Then there is nothing… No gift, no compliment, no couragement, no attention given, nothing. As if it didn't matter. But when Yuki did something, you guys threw all the parties, all the flowers, all the gifts, all the love. You didn't even ask him to get a high grade like me." For word by word, spoken like the truth has been revealed, but to take such strength to let it out was tremendous. It greatly hurts Yoko. Tears wanted to drop from her eyes, red cheeks, bitter grin of sadness. She stood up and ran away to her room. But as the moment the door opens outside the living room, Yuki is standing there, shocked, unraveling. But Yoko grinned at him and ran to her room.
#
That night dinner, my Sister didn't come down to eat. I didn't know what to do, my parents didn't say anything regarding her, they seemed to not bother with it. But as everyone went to their room, I took this time to bring some food to her room.
*Knock*
*Knock*
Then the door slightly opened with a small gap. I gently spoke under my tone– "Aneue, I bring some food." But then–! *Bump!* She closed the door tight… Wary of the situation, I knock once again–.
*Knock*
*Knock*
This time Yoko opened the door with a gap where I could talk. I tried to convince her again– "Aneue! Please let me in! Just a little bit, you can eat later!" After I spoke everything went silent without a word… But before I could give up, I heard some sighs– "Ahh…" Then the door is open, Sister looking away, trying to not look at my face. As given space, I walk inside, put the food on top of her desk.
Sister closed the door and opened up the light in the room. While she goes to bed and rests, I just stand there unsure. I could see she was exhausted. Leaving me here fidgeted with my hands insecurely. But I took the courage to speak up– "Nee Aneue?" She murmurs to answer– "Mm?"
I try to find a suitable word to ask– "Do you…" But I stopped. I couldn't speak up about what I was feeling, I was afraid. But then Sister stood up facing me. She softly spoke– "What is it?" With her gentle eyes, softly whispering, I was scared but I wanted to know. "Aneue… Ah.. Do you hate me?"
The word came out, our eyes couldn't meet. I was sure that she might hate me. But before I realize, Sister comes forward, uses her hand on top of my head, gently patting it. She said– "Why would you think that? Haha, there is no reason for me to hate you Yuki-chan." She smile, messed with my hair, but she didn't show any sign of hatred. All that I was worry I'm the reason for this problem.
But to hear her words was reassuring me deeply. After that, Sister filled her belly with food I brought. We continued the night chatting about grown up stuff. Laugh, give advice, tell jokes. At the end of it, I finally decided to head to my room. While happily enjoying my time with Sister, before I left the room, I saw a knife beside her bed. All this time we spent, the only moment I left I noticed it. I couldn't ask her about it, I was late. The end of it I kept thinking about what the purpose of that knife was.
But the next day went by smoothly. I go to school, attend class, learn, study, and talk with my friend. But the happiest thing I have going around my head was the time last night. I wish when I came home, I could spend more time with Sister.
#
Yuki realizes that he values his time with his Sister. And so he headed back home. But he stopped on the road, couldn't hold his excitement to talk with his Sister, he had a thought– 'Why not just walk around my Sister school area?' He thought that was the greatest idea ever. With a caring step, he remembered the road to his Sister school. He departs on an adventure to find his best friend.
Once he was there, he saw many highschool students exiting the school gate. He wants to approach closer, but holding back as he is embarrassed by the fact that he is just a child. So in return from the far corner, his eyes peeked through to see when his Sister would come out. And there! He saw it!
He's grinning with excitement, yet his face drops the moment later. He saw one tall man walk by his Sister side. They seem close, a little bit too close. Yuki wondered– 'Wait a minute. Is that her crush??' Realizing that last night they did talk about their love interest, with the interpretation of a facial figure, the man beside her might be her crush. Yuki couldn't fathom anymore, he soon followed them secretly. As they walk to the convenience store, Yuki hides behind the corner as they talk on the bench. Yuki deeply listens to their conversation.
"Haha, Yotchi do you really think like that of me?" The man laughed happily while talking to his sister. Yuki notices that the man calls his sister 'Yotchi.' Somehow Yuki is getting more and more uncomfortable with the situation. Then suddenly– "So? Are we going out tonight?" Yuki's sister mentioned going out at night today and this made Yuki confused. But he couldn't hold on anymore, something in his heart felt so bitter, it's like you chew on a bitter leaf. With a withering heart, Yuki ran away, headed home in desperate need of an answer.
#
"Ah.. Ah… Ah…" I couldn't catch my breath as I ran for miles in a hurry. Arrive home, I completely ignore my mother and head to my room. I was lying on my bed, looking at the ceiling, I couldn't understand the purpose of it. Why did he call my sister "Yotchi"?" Is that not a bit too close? I didn't even call my sister by her name. And what do they need to go out at night? What do they want to do? I couldn't know, I was too young to know. There is no way.. Are they.. Doing lewd stuff??
There is no way.. There is now way.. There is no way.. There is no way.. There is no way… There is no way.. There is now way.. There is no way.. There is no way.. There is no way… There is no way.. There is now way.. There is no way.. There is no way.. There is no way… There is no way..
#
The night comes, Yuki waits patiently for the right moment.
*Tok-tok*
As soon as the sound of someone walks away in front of his door, he gets out and enters his sister's room. He knew he needed to be quick, so he went to his sister's desk, seeing a bag, he grabbed it– wanted to open it up but only to have this weird sensation of realizing what was inside this bag. The bag itself doesn't retain any shape, the stuff inside could be felt from outside just by holding it. This tough, sharp-looking shape with a handle? Yuki quickly drew his thoughts–! 'A knife?'
*Tok-tok*
Someone is coming to the room! Yuki puts down the bag, swiftly scrambles to find a spot to hide, but no matter how much he meddles, he can't be hidden! So he decided on one last trump card!
The door opens wide and Yoko enters. Yoko's eyes avert to Yuki, but she won't believe what she saw. Yuki! He was on the ground, on the cloth shelf, open wide, head wearing a panties hat, both hands grabbing his sister's panties. He leaned to look at his sister. That day a maniac was born. "Iyaaaaaaa!!!" Yoko screamed.
At the end of it, Yuki is on the ground apologizing over and over while his sister tries to comprehend his little brother's perverted behavior. Yoko spoke– "Nee? You, my little brother, we are siblings." She shook her head while saying– "who would teach you this kind of stuff?"
Finally Yuki gave his answer– "Gomen Aneue, I learned it from manga. I didn't know it was wrong." He admitted his own fault, but his thought was different– 'aw.. I didn't expect to go this far… But still, I could prevent an accident from happening.' Yuki stood up from the ground, and apologized one more time before heading to his room. But he didn't go back to his room, instead he secretly sneaked out from the house. He headed to find this man.
"Ah.. Ah… Ah… I have been running around the neighborhood, but where is this man really??" Yuki desperately tries to find this man even without knowing where they're gonna meet. Yuki knew that if he didn't find this man now, an accident would happen!
While running around the neighborhood, Yuki notices one odd abandoned building. 'What an odd building.' He thought, but he ignored it. But then, he saw from his far eyes corner, a man! The same man who talks with his sister walking beside the road. His heart raced so fast, knowing if you had one opportunity, would you let it loose? Without giving extra attention, he crossed the road! His eyes lock on, undeterred, determined to save everything! Though he saw light flicker on the road, Yuki turned his eyes to the truck heading his way, he realized he might be screwed this time.
With all blood pumping, his heart beat stopped the moment he knew that one might lose thy life. He tried to embrace by using his arms, covering his face, but a mere child couldn't comprehend the momentum of a high speed vehicle.
"Look out!" Then before Yuki knew it, someone jumped over, grabbed his attired body and swung it all the way across the road! He uttered– "Wow that was close~" Yuki still was under his right arm, holding him like a bag of rice. He put down Yuki, but Yuki was left shaken by the event, he required some time to process everything. Seeing Yuki so spook, the man mutter– "Oya~"
The scene switches to a park where Yuki and the man sit on the bench with a can of oranges.
#
I couldn't speak after that truck almost hit me. And the man beside me is also the same man who is going to meet my sister. He sipped a drink and talked– "You calm down already? I bet you are so scared you pee your pants! Haha." He was jokingly amused by my fear of death. I fought back– "I'm not! I didn't pee my pants!" He replied– "Aight-aight, jeez.."
He continued– "Oi boya? Why are you out in the middle of night?" Hearing his question sparked my memory to remember the reason I'm here and this man is beside me! I quickly came to my mouth to inform him of the upcoming dangerous situation– "Onii-san! Listen to me!" He murmured an answer– "Yeah, yeah what's up?" I continue– "Look, someone will kill you tonight! If you don't head home right now, it's coming!" I shouted my lungs out, hoping he would listen to me.
Onii-san responded back– "Kill me? Haha, are you telling me to go home? You need to go home! You funny kids." He laughed as if I was joking. He continued– "Okay-okay, how about I walk you home? Cool? Though you need to wait a bit, because I'm meeting my highschool friend." Suddenly we glimpse someone walking to the park beside the road– "Oh look? She's here."
Realizing that my sister would be here any second, my heart completely ran off track, adrenaline getting higher, I started to sense the tense air around my neck. I scream–! "Onii-san! Come with me!" I grabbed Onii–san hand and pulled it with me. He tried to respond– "Hey-hey!? What's going on?"
As they leave, the person who walks past enters the park– "Mm? I saw someone running off." It was Yoko who supposedly needed to meet her friend here. But the scene quickly switches to Yuki and Onii-san.
#
'Ah, ah, ah,' without realizing it myself, I brought Onii-san to the old abandoned building I saw early. Onii-san is very confused right now, what should I do? He mutters– "nee? What's wrong boy? I really need to meet her." Onii-san tried to go back, but I couldn't let him go!
"Onii-san, you don't get it! You meet her, you dead! You need to avoid her!" I yell desperately trying to reach Onii-san. He responded– "I'm dead? What? Are you saying she's gonna kill me? Haha, is she playing a prank?" Onii-san still believed it as a joke no matter how much I tried to convince him. He continued– "Wait, she had a little brother, if I'm correct, don't say…" Suddenly out of the mist, Onii-san starts to play around in his head, realizing the truth! "You must be her little brother then!? How great! Come on, join us! We're gonna have some fun tonight."
He then takes a step away, reaching further and further from me. Suddenly everything becomes slow like I'm the only one who is allowed to move around this zone of slow mo. My heart, I believe, has exploded. My ears are ringing. Skin felt cold, yet my thoughts were racing. 'What does he mean to have some fun tonight?' He is playing around? Did he like to fool around, that having me as well, doesn't bother him? With my sister?
Before I knew it, I saw a metal pipe on the floor beneath my legs. I grab it, take my step forward. I was unsure whether this is the correct choice to make, but I know I'll protect my sister and I swear I will prevent Onii-san from dying.
#
"You join us?" The man turned his head only to see a metal pipe swinging into his head.
*PANG!*
*Bumb*
The man dropped to the ground, shaken profusely… His eyes averted to search who did it and saw the same boy who was so afraid of dying standing menacingly. He used his last strength to mutter– "Naze?" Blood began to seep out of his head, the hit was too strong but it was just from a child, but again even high schoolers should know the momentum of speed.
Metal pipe grab by both hands. Yuki trembles in fear. Not only has the man fallen, unshaken, but Yuki also felt the sense of fearness running through his body. "Ah.. Ah.. Ah.." Yuki gasping for air. Yuki continued to speak– "I'm sorry… I'm sorry Onii-san… I'm sorry…" Yuki apologizes, even tears fall, since he sincerely felt bad. Then Yuki pulled high to hit the man back!
"Argh! Ergh.. Ah…" The man gasped for air as every hit dimmed his body.
Yuki continued apologizing while hitting the man's body with the metal pipe– "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I know you are a kind man! You were kind to me! You saved my life! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He sincerely apologized, but his hands couldn't stop! He was crying and crying! But he sought a better chance of protection! For what he did is right! To protect his sister! To protect Onii-san! To prevent unnecessary suffering! Yuki is right! Yuki the hero! He is protecting his sister! "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN PROTECTING PEOPLE!" Yuki screamed.
Yuki stops at the end after losing all strength. He leaned downward to face the man– "Nee Onii-san. From now on you will never approach Yoko any more, okay?" Yuki then noticed a bump on the man's pocket. He took it out and it was his wallet. He peered inside and saw a picture of a girl the same age as him. He smirks– "Aw…" He then showed the man the picture to say– "nothing happened today, okay? Look, is this your little sister? Oh wait, I think she is in the same school as me?" Yuki amusingly gets reminded by the girl's picture face, he continues– "Ah you don't want to know what I do to her, if this day ever slips your mouth. Ahah." Yuki smirked, stood up and walked away. His last word was– "Jaa nee."
As Yuki left, all left the man who was still in tears falling. He murmurs to questioning his life– "Is it wrong to Moonsight…?" He then proceeds to cry as pain devours his body.
Later…
Yuki walked around the same park and saw his sister looking at the sky alone. Yuki smiled and headed home.
#
'Now I remember it, was it all because of my jealousy like Big brother mentioned?' At the end reminiscing, all I could do is to sigh like history had already been written. And I know, nothing can be changed. Nothing. Oyasumi.
⁂