Kaito was gasping by the time he had reached his home. Surprisingly, the lights were off. He slowly went up the front steps. Trying to be as cautious as possible, he slowly opened the door and picked up a flashlight. He didn't dare on a light.
        He went to Akaito's room. He was surprised to see that Akaito wasn't there. He forced himself to enter his parents room. They were there out cold. Kaito snuck out and willed himself to enter the living room, the place where he usually woke up after a faint. When he saw Akaito, his stomach dropped. Akaito was lying             spread-eagled on the floor, with his red scarf tied around his neck, tightly. Kaito quickly untied it and Akaito gasped for air. Then he fell into a coughing spree, Kaito trying to shush him.
        But it was too late. He heard his dad stomping down with his mom, saying " Seems like the brat is awake now. He better tell me where the failure went."
     Kaito did the only thing he thought. He grabbed Akaito by the arm ? tried to drag him behind the couch. If they were lucky, their parents would be drunk at the point where they couldn't have noticed him.
        No such luck. Kaito felt himself get dragged out by the scarf. Akaito yelled in pain as his father dragged him out by his hair.
         That was Kaito's last straw. He couldn't bear to see his brother get abused like that. He ripped his scarf out of her hands and pulled Akaito away from his father.
         " Kaito?" Akaito coughed. Before Kaito could run, a sake bottle crushed his head, and everything went black.