_Flashback~ Too Late_

          "Sato-nii, w-wait for me!"

           Shutting his eyes in desperation, the three-year-old boy raced straight behind his older brother, even going so far as to accidentally bump into him and tumble right over onto the floor.

          With a sigh, Satoru turned around, staring at the boy who appeared so puzzled at his current position on the ground. At the sight of his older brother, though, he once again grew as elated as he always did, giggling as he clambered back to his feet and went to hug his knees.

           "Sato-nii!"

          "Aki, stop fooling around," Satoru said, taking his younger brother's hand in his. "We came here to see Mom, remember?"

          Aki blinked. Squeezing his hand, he followed his brother who was tugging him along. "Sato-nii, is Mommy feeling better?"

          The five-year-old frowned as his gaze flickered upwards to their neighbour and blackbelt certified, Emiko Inohara, who was leading them through the halls of the hospital. As if feeling his eyes, the lady looked down at them with a smile.

          "I bet you two miss her. You haven't seen her in awhile, have you?"

           "That's because you always take us to the daycare all day," Satoru complained. "Why can't we just be with Mom here?"

           Emiko Inohara's smile wavered the slightest bit. "Even if you want to, I'm afraid you're not allowed."

           "Auntie Emiko!" Aki cried, slipping away from Satoru and running up to her legs. "Why can't Mommy come home often anymore?"

          Emiko paused, seeming at a loss of words. Aki continued to stare up at her with big eyes, fluttering his eyelids opened and closed. After a grudging silence took its place in the hospital, Satoru turned his gaze away. Even at five, though he didn't understand most it, he'd overheard their neighbour talk to many people about their mother. His mother had made frequent visits to doctors and hospitals in the past year but after collapsing a couple months ago she was indefinitely admitted and was only growing sicker and sicker each passing day. Sure he had tried giving his mom some of his favourite snacks since she was constantly losing weight, but even then it didn't seem to be doing anything for her.

          "Aki, let's go see Mom already!" Satoru called out, picking up his pace as he jogged towards the room he had memorized due to his many visits her already. With a smile, Aki pursued his brother with short, wobbly steps.

           "Wait, Satoru, Aki!" Emiko hissed after them. "Come back here—"

           "Mom!"

           "Mommy!"

          As soon as they reached the right room, both Satoru and Aki ran straight towards their mother's bed, where the surprised lady gasped as they threw her into a hug. Wide-eyed, Ume Mitsoyu stared down at her children, a weary smile penetrating her thin lips as she hugged them back.

          "How are you two?"

          Aki instantly pried his face away from his mom's body, grinning up at her. "Mommy, guess what! I drew you a get-well-soon picture."

           His mom couldn't help but return her son's smile. "You did? That's so sweet of you, Aki."

           "But Auntie Emiko has it with her," Aki responded, peering over his shoulder in confusion.

           Right as he did, the very woman came strolling in through the doors.

           "Auntie Emiko, show Mommy my picture! My picture!"

           The older lady sighed as she came into the room, flashing her friend a well-deserved smile. "I'm glad to see you, Ume."

          "You too, Emi. How's your dojo doing?"

          "You know how we Inohara's are," Emiko replied with a chuckle. "Katsura's already making splendid progress for her age."

          "Your daughter is a year older than Satoru, isn't she?" Accordingly, her gaze flickered onto her son who was standing a good distance away from her bed and IV stand. She immediately beckoned him forward, smiling at him. "Satoru, how are you doing? Is everything going all right?"

           "Everything's going fine," he said as his mom ruffled his black hair. "How about you, Mom?"

           "Me? Oh, I'm better than fine!" she exploded. "Especially after getting to see you guys after so long!"

           Satoru couldn't help but frown. She said that every time he asked her. And every time his mom only continued to get paler and more lethargic. Why was she lying to him?

           "Satoru, you're starting first grade next week aren't you?" his mom went on. "I didn't realize you'd gotten so big! Are you excited?"

           "Are you going to come with me?"

          His mom was quiet at first before her nervous laughter ripped through the air. "Ah, I'm sorry. I don't think I can next week... But Auntie Emiko will take you! It'll be fun!"

          Satoru's bottom lip quivered as he wrapped his arms around his mom. "But I want to go with you...."

          Even without having to say anything, Ume Mitsoyu felt her heart squeeze with pain. She met Emiko's eyes who carried a similar amount of sadness. The tension in the air was soon disrupted by Aki tugging at Emiko's legs.

          "Auntie Emiko! I want to show Mommy my picture! My picture!"

          Snapping her gaze onto the boy, Emiko crouched, reaching into her purse as she did. As soon as she pulled out the colourful sheet of paper, Aki beamed as he snatched it out of her hands, running up to his mom.

           "Mommy! Look at it!"

           His mom put on a wide smile. "Wow, it's so pretty!"

           As Aki enthusiastically explained his scribbles to her, his mom listened whilst running her fingers through a pouty Satoru's hair.

           "It's yours to keep, Mommy!" Aki proclaimed after finishing, thrusting it into her hands.

           "It's very marvellous, Aki," she said, eyeing the drawing for herself. "You, Satoru and I... but wait, where's Daddy?"

           Aki's cheeks puffed out at the mention. "Daddy is never around anyway! He doesn't even visit you! He doesn't deserve to be in this drawing!"

           Right away to her son's blunt words, sadness took hold of his mom's countenance.

           "Daddy's just a little busy," she tried to reason.

           "He's always busy!" Aki whined. "It doesn't make sense! Even before you came here, he barely came home! He—"

            "That's enough, Aki!"

           Both Aki and even Satoru jolted at the sound of her voice. As if realizing she unintentionally shouted, Ume glanced away. Picking Satoru off of her, she looked Emiko's way who immediately understood. Sauntering forward, Emiko took both Satoru and Aki's hands.

            "We'll come visit again soon," she promised.

           Ume avoided looking at her sons who equally seemed on the verge of tears. "Thanks as always, Emi."

          "You have no need to thank me," Emiko said. "Just focus on getting better, all right?"

          "Yeah... getting better..." Umi tentatively repeated.

           "I'm sowwy, Mommy," blubbered Aki who had broke down into tears. He rubbed at his eyes. "I-I'm sowwy! But pwease get better swoon. Pwease. I wanna go places with Mommy again. I wanna eat meals every day with Mommy again. I wanna come home from the daycare to see Mommy again."

           Not expecting such things to come from his mouth, Ume couldn't withhold the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She clasped her hands over her mouth, turning away her gaze.

           Satoru also sniffled to keep from crying as well, jealous that Aki could admit the things circling around his very mind. But he had to be the older brother. He had to be strong for him.

            "Aki," Satoru spoke after a pause. The little boy craned his neck upwards, fixing his gaze onto his brother through his blurry vision. "When Mom's feeling better she'll come home again."

           "B-but when will she feel better? I miss her!"

           "Soon," Satoru reassured him, "and if not, we can just come visit her here again. Stop crying, you're troubling her."

           "B-but, Sato-nii," Aki started, about ready to sob again.

           "Why don't we go get your favourite snacks before we go home?" Emiko said, joining in. "Then after dinner we can play hide-and-seek with Katsura."

            Stars filled Aki's eyes. "Hide-and-seek?"

            "And Satoru can be it first," Emiko went on, patting his shoulder.

            Satoru made a face while Aki brightened considerably at the news. "Yay! Let's go play! Let's go, Sato-nii!"

           Emiko, with one last nod Ume's way, made her way towards the doorway, hand in Aki's. Satoru stuck around a bit longer before quickly hurrying to give his mom one last hug.

           "Bye. I love you," he said, scurrying out the doorway before she could come to terms with what he'd done.

            Only more tears streamed down her cheeks when she was trapped within the bland hospital walls by herself once again. "I love you too," she whispered.

.

.

.

           They should've seen it coming, considering it was so obvious. But when Ume Mitsoyu passed away the following winter due to the unstoppable growth of cancer cells in her pancreas and the surrounding organs and vessels, it was a loss that would affect both boys for as long as they lived.

*     *   *

           "I can't believe him!"

           Ten-year-old Satoru peered up from the manga he was reading to see his younger brother stamping his foot on his side of the bench at the local park. Used to his brother's whiny behaviour by now, Satoru remained impassive. "We can't stop him, Aki."

            "I know we can't!" Aki snapped, flopping onto the bench with his arms crossed. "But that idiot didn't care about our mom at all and left her to die! And yet he's getting remarried? That's utter—"

            "That idiot is our dad," Satoru responded, grey eyes flickering back to his book. "Even if we don't want to admit it, we're stuck with him."

           Aki sourly puffed up his cheeks, picking up the stuffed bunny he'd decided to treasure after Satoru had won it for him at the local fair. "He's never home anyway," he spoke after a while, voice small. "He's always out fooling around doing who-knows-what. And he finally comes back to Osaka to get remarried? To tell us he found another wife? He obviously doesn't care about our late mom. Even while she was suffering in the hospital he never once... Not even once called or visited to see if she was okay. As if we were baggage to him...."

           Aki buried his face into his bunny, his fingers clenching into tight fists around it.

            "I'm never going to accept her as my mom, if that's what he's thinking," he went on. "And if that lady thinks she can be accepted into this family—"

            "Aki, don't say that," Satoru interjected, setting aside his book and scooting closer to him. "For all we know this Iwasaki person may be really nice."

           "Then I won't forgive Dad! Why's he manipulating innocent people? I bet once he marries her he'll just ditch us again! Ugh, I hate him!" Aki's voice had started to get shaky, indicating he was going to cry.

           Satoru remained quiet beside his brother. Many thoughts consumed his mind, but he didn't know which words to say. But he did know one thing. "Maybe this will be a good thing."

           "In what world?" Aki spat. He rose his head upwards, frowning at his brother. "How can you stay so calm all the time, Satoru-nii? Aren't you mad at him?"

          "Of course I'm mad," Satoru refuted. "But... more than that I want to believe this all won't be so bad. Those who forgive themselves and are able to accept their true nature... They are the strong ones."

          Aki considered his older brother's words with glimmering eyes before something hit him.

          "You just referenced something didn't you?"

          "Itachi Uchiha." Satoru timidly grinned.

         Aki rolled his eyes before a tiny laugh escaped his mouth. One that he needed after such a long time.

           "I want to be like you, Satoru-nii." Aki's sudden words came as a shock to his older brother. "You've always been super cool! If I'm tough like you I doubt I'd ever have to feel this crummy again."

           Satoru's eyes which had grown wide shrivelled once again in sadness. "Aki, I feel just as crummy too."

           "But you're just so calm about it!" Aki exploded with newfound enthusiasm, leaping to his feet. "I want to be like that too! I'll get super strong like you. No, even stronger! Then if Dad ever tries something else again I can just give it to him!"

            Aki's words had caused a knot to form at the pit of Satoru's stomach. From his false impression, and his incredulous words. Rising up to his feet, Satoru started, "Aki...."

            "Then I could also give it to my stupid classmates," Aki continued, dropping his head with a pout. "They always make fun of me for no reason. Just because I know more stuff than them. They're so mean. They're always teasing me."

             "I always tell you not to listen to what they say. I think it's amazing how smart you are," Satoru tried to tell him. "You always know information even I don't about that."

             "But you're my brother," Aki sullenly reasoned. "What good does impressing you do if I can't make friends knowing this stuff?"

            "You'll make friends eventually, Aki."

           Aki bobbed his head for confirmation and chewed on the inside of his cheek. "I hope so...."

          As the silence ensued, Satoru craned his neck back to take a good look at the coral tinged sky above them, squinting as he did. He then shifted his gaze onto Aki. "Okay, we wasted enough time here. Since it's getting late we should get back for dinner. Auntie Emiko's family is most likely waiting for us."

            With reluctance, Aki sighed, following after his brother down the sidewalk.

             "Sometimes," he started after a long pause, casting Satoru's curious gaze towards him. "I hear the adults whisper about our late mom like she was some sympathetic case. Even if her sickness wasn't curable, she was still so tough and smiled for us. They just don't know how amazing she was."

              Understanding exactly what he was referring to, Satoru swallowed back the growing lump in his throat. "That's true. They don't know."

            Aki only seemed to grow even more glum and Satoru caught tears fill the corners of his eyes. Not wanting that, he acted quickly, going on as to make the funniest faces as he could. Aki's mood lifted slightly as he blankly stared at his older brother's face.

             "Am I a kid to you?" he deadpanned after a pause.

            Satoru flinched but didn't let it get to him. "Aren't you?"

            His plan seemed to work because Aki had forgotten about the lingering melancholy. It shifted to a more sour demeanour as he hugged his plush closer to him. "Don't make those creepy faces again, Satoru-nii. You almost scared Mr. Rabbit."

            "Creepy?" Satoru demanded in disbelief. "I was trying to make you laugh!"

            "You're not very good at that, then," Aki snorted with a grin. He picked up his pace, jogging down the sidewalk. "C'mon, let's hurry. I bet Auntie Emiko made our favourites!"

            With a sigh, Satoru jogged after him, passing civilians in the street in an attempt to catch up with his extremely spirited younger brother as he always did.

*  *    *

             "You're not so friendly looking are you?"

             Bemusement enveloped the black-haired teen's features. He turned his head in the direction of his seat mate who had been prodding him ever since he transferred into the school a day ago.

             The blond's eyelids rose considerably when Satoru glanced at him, brown eyes wide as well. Was he frowning subconsciously again? Satoru did his best to wipe whatever look he had somehow put on, drawing away from his desk.

             "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. What do you need?"

            A mischievous smile had spread across his face. "I was hoping we could share textbooks since I forgot mine and we're seat mates. Think that's possible?"

            Satoru's eyes flickered towards the male's desktop only to see no signs of a textbook. He'd actually forgotten his? "Sure," Satoru easily concurred.

             As if startled, the blond's eyelids rose the slightest. "Whoa, seriously? You're kind, aren't you? Thanks!" With a whoop of happiness, he rose to his feet to drag their desks closer than it already was. Since classes still hadn't begun yet, most students were out of their seats socializing. "Hey, hey, what's your name?"

             Satoru woke out of his daze to once again find himself staring into the face of the upbeat blond. From their closer distance, he'd even caught sight of the piercings poking out from his left ear.

             Not used to this kind of odd twist of events, it took him awhile to muster his voice. "Oh... it's—"

             "Ryutaro." He'd beaten him to the punch, taking a look at his name sprawled out on his notebook. Satoru's gut churned at the mention. If anything, he'd rather be referred to by his name than his dad's.

             Right as Satoru opened his mouth, he was cut off by a whine from the male.

            "That's way too long. How 'bout I call you Ryu for short?"

             Satoru's eyes widened. "Ryu...?"

             "Yeah, 'dragon' is a pretty sick nickname. It's your surname; why do you look so amazed?" chuckled the brunet. "I take it it's fine if I call you that?"

             It wasn't as if he were amazed, he just wasn't used to anyone referring to him in such a friendly manner. Typically people's sympathy had always left them so formal towards him. "If you want," Satoru responded, realizing he was being weird. "What's your name again?"

             "Mamoru Koshiro!" the blond cheerfully introduced. He then proceeded to stare at him, a hand positioned under his chin as if urging him to say something about it. As Satoru blankly watched him, Mamoru gasped, dropping his arms by his side. "You don't know who I am?"

             "We just met," Satoru tentatively answered. "How am I supposed to?"

            This only caused Mamoru to sigh. Frowning, he shook his head and held up a finger. "Listen and be amazed, Ryu! You happen to be talking to an infamous human being right now."

            "Infamous..." Satoru cocked a brow, attempting to look around. "But I'm just talking to you aren't I?"

            Mamoru's jaw fell and he knocked his head back with a groan. "I am this infamous person!"

            "You are?"

            "I am!" Mamoru insisted. "You have to have heard of the dangerous middle schooler, Mamoru Koshiro, who effortlessly takes out enemy after enemy with a single punch! More than a thousand people who've crossed me have ended up admitted into the hospital with broken bones and tattered souls!"

            As he haughtily laughed, Satoru gawked. "You sent that many people to the hospital?"

            Mamoru's laughing fit came to a halt and he suddenly turned sheepish after seeing how serious the guy was. "Well...no." Without warning, he snickered. "You're taking everything I say so seriously. You're a funny guy, Ryu."

             "...So you aren't infamous?" Satoru inquired in confusion.

            Mamoru only snorted as he picked up his textbook, sending him a wink as their homeroom teacher strolled through the doors. "That's it, I've decided," he said.

             "Decided what?"

            Mamoru only answered him with a grin. His trademark grin that had trouble written all over it.

            "Hold up, so this school already has infamous guys?" Mamoru groaned, dramatically throwing his hands over his face as Satoru toured him around the school building. "What? I can't show myself off then! Ugh and here I thought transferring into Hyou Middle School would be a way to build myself a rep."

            Satoru's brows furrowed together, not being able to keep up with the strange male. Though, seeing that his hair was bleached it was obvious he classified as a delinquent. Not that it bothered him much. "The only guy you should worry about is Raidon Tsuki," Satoru spoke after a pause.

           Mamoru immediately stopped in place, eyes widening. "Raidon Tsuki? He goes here? Whoa, I heard so many rumours of that guy! He's pretty badass."

            "Is he?" Satoru murmured as they took a turn into yet another vacant hallway. The middle school didn't have that big of a student population. "I'm not sure because I haven't seen him before. He's always skipping."

            Despite giving Mamoru the information he was clearly interested in, it only managed to make the blond eye him weirdly.

            "So how about you? What kind of shit have you gotten yourself into?"

            "Meaning?"

           "Fights!" Mamoru cried, going as to punch thin air for emphasis. "Considering your looks you must've knocked some delinquent leaders off their high horse quite a few times."

           Satoru stared at him in disbelief. "I don't know what kind of perception you have of me, but I'm not a delinquent."

           "Really? You're not?" Mamoru whined. "But you look so much like one. You don't find stuff like fighting and being top dog exhilarating?"

            "Why should I?" Satoru frowned at the idea. "That's too much trouble to worry about. I'm fine with just passing classes and... occasional video game tournaments."

            "You did seem very studious in class today..." Mamoru mused. "But c'mon, Ryu! Let's team up and take over this school together! I'll even let you be my right hand man!"

            "Take over? Are we supposed to be villains?"

           Mamoru chuckled, walking backwards in front of him so that he could look him in the eye. There wasn't that much of a height difference between them. "I'm serious. I have to make my name big in this city. As big as Raidon Tsuki's."

            Mamoru brightened as something hit him.

           "Yeah! And if we fight and beat him we'd get such rad rep! Whoa, then we'd be famous!"

            Cheering at the idea, Mamoru threw his arms into the air.

           "You're quite the weirdo aren't you?" Satoru bluntly said.

            Mamoru glared at him. "You just don't understand manliness."

            "How is manliness getting into fights?"

            Mamoru dismissed the question. He rolled his arms behind his head as he continued to amble backwards. "Just be glad you met me, Ryu. I have a lot of plans ahead of us now."

            "I only shared my textbook with you and I'm giving you this tour because you asked. I don't want to get involved in your 'plans.'"

           "Now, now, Ryu. We're gonna be best buds, I feel it."

            "You really are weird."

           With yet another glare aimed his way, Mamoru groaned. "Like I said—"

           His words had come to an abrupt halt in just a moment. Puzzled, both Mamoru and Satoru shifted their gazes behind him to see that the cause had been because he'd bumped into someone. As Mamoru moved away the identity of the short boy with a sour frown pinned onto his face, cheek and face a discoloured and bruised mess, revealed itself, and Satoru gaped.

           "Aki—"

          "Ah!" Mamoru had cut him off, jerking away with flailing arms. "There's two Ryu's!"

          Satoru didn't appreciate Mamoru's comment and quickly steered around him, planting his feet in front of the source. "He's my younger brother," he enlightened him, eyeing his brother's face with sudden incredulity. Aki only averted his gaze to the ground. "What the heck happened to your face? And what are you doing here during school time? This is my middle sch—"

          "Ah, there you are!"

         Blinking, Satoru rose his gaze only to find his step-mom come speeding down the hallway. More so, when she placed her hands on Aki's shoulder, bending over slightly to catch her breath.

          "Aki, why'd you run away from me?"

         "Leave me alone," Aki responded.

         Saori Iwasaki frowned at that. "Aki..." she started again. "You even hurt yourself somehow. Where'd you go?"

          "I said to leave me alone!" he snapped.

          With a look from Satoru alone, Aki immediately shut up, veering his gaze. Satoru trained his gaze onto his step-mom.

           "Wait, why are you two here?"

           "Oh, thank goodness! Great timing, Satoru!" Saori said with a smile. "Aki passed the middle school entrance exam so he's officially transferring here."

           "Huh?" Satoru demanded. "But Aki's still in his last year of elementary school."

           "Not anymore," she responded. "He really wanted to come to this school a year early and since he's smart enough they decided to accept him here. Now you two can go to the same school after so long! Isn't that great?"

           Satoru's narrowed gaze didn't lighten the least against Aki. He hadn't even told him that important fact?

           "Wow, so you're Ryu's mom? You're so pretty!" Mamoru's interjection didn't go unnoticed. "Am I meeting the entire family at once? What an honour."

            Once all eyes were on him, Mamoru posed a bow before rising back up with a friendly smile.

           "All I need is to greet the father and then—"

           Before he could dare finish his words, Aki had grasped his collar with a vigorous tug and sent him a glower dark enough to send chills down anyone's spine. "Don't bring up that asshole in front of me."

           Mamoru was shocked, but as if used to the hostility, he returned a smirk, raising his arms in defence.

           "Aki!" Saori hissed, yanking him away. "Oh gosh, I am so sorry about him! I have no idea what has gotten into him these days."

           "It's fine," Mamoru assured her. "It seems somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning... 'Aki' was it?"

           Satoru watched as his brother went on to spit, rolling his eyes. He pushed their step-mom's hand off of him—a gesture that had proved his strong dislike of her hadn't wavered the least over the course of the years. "Whatever."

            He didn't give up at that. "I'm Mamoru Koshiro. Ryu's new best friend!"

            "Ryu...?"

            "Best friend?"

           Both his step-mom and even Aki looked interested as Mamoru slung his arm across his shoulder.

           "Hey—" Satoru started.

           "Ryu's been helping me out since I transferred here!" Mamoru also snagged Aki, bringing him close also. "And if his younger brother will be attending, I promise I'll keep a good eye on them both! You have nothing to worry about, Mrs."

            "O-oh," Saori stammered, speechless. "Is that so? Um, thank you. You're a very sweet boy, aren't you?"

            "Ha ha, that's kind of you to say, but this is nothing." Regardless of the struggling the two boys had under his cobra-like grip, Mamoru was grinning from ear to ear. "I'll take care of these two very well. Don't worry about a thing."

*    *             *

            "Aki, you're getting into a lot of fights recently."

            "What I do with my life shouldn't concern you."

           "I'm your brother. It should concern me. You barely even come home anymore."

          Aki hesitated, raising his gaze from the ground and drink he'd gotten from the vending machine to look at his exasperated brother. "Why would I want to come back to such a constricting place?" Aki eventually said. "We were right; Dad doesn't come home anymore, and even that disgusting lady—"

           "She's a nice lady!" Satoru asserted. "You have no right to treat her the way you've been."

           "And she has no right to pretend to care about us," Aki responded, malice evident in his voice. "She obviously didn't marry our dad to look after us kids. Sooner or late she's going to divorce him and leave us like our mom."

            "Aki—"

           "Why don't you get it, Aniki? Why should I have to get attached to a goddamn lady I know is gonna leave me one day?" Aki's shout had shut Satoru right up. "You can go right ahead and fall for whatever shit she's been making up. Saying things like 'we're a family.' Just like every other adult, she freakin' pities us; that's why she's still here."

            Satoru knew he should refute; he knew better than anyone that it was because Aki was immature that he didn't see it. The truth. He was always trying to avoid it. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Satoru stared at the bruises scattered across his younger brother's skin, and his scuffed knuckles.

            "Who'd you get into a fight with?"

            Aki scoffed, tipping back the can of juice down his throat. "What does it matter?" he said after finishing and pushing the tin into the recycling bin.

             He was met with nothing but a glare from Satoru. Aki frowned, but remained silent as he fixed his gaze onto him.

            Eventually, Aki caved, averting his gaze. "A guy called Raidon Tsuki," he murmured.

            Satoru's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Raidon—"

             "Before you freak out, it's not what you think," Aki said quickly. "I'm not stupid. I didn't fight the guy himself. He... kind of helped me out."

             Satoru's brows furrowed together. "Helped... Aki, you shouldn't get involved with—"

             "But the guy... is actually really cool," Aki murmured, his eyes gaining a glint. He quickly looked at Satoru, waving his hands. "Don't worry, I still think you're awesome, Aniki, but Raidon Tsuki is such a cool guy. He doesn't care about anyone or anything and he does whatever he wants...."

           "Don't tell me that's why you came to...."

           "That is a perk," Aki admitted. "But getting away from my crummy elementary is something I needed, too. Either way, since I'm here I want to get closer to that guy. I wonder if he'd let me...."

           Since the longest time, Satoru had never seen Aki look so joyful. It'd caught him off guard. Aki had found something to admire in such a fearful guy? A delinquent?

           Satoru's lips came together in the form of a frown.

            "Holy, he's right there!" Aki was already racing down the cement steps before Satoru could come to terms with what was happening.

            His eyes widened when they fixed themselves in the distance where that dark haired male was exiting the school premises, hunched over, hands stuffed in his pockets. Satoru's expression fell as Aki strayed a good distance away, hiding behind trees and gawking at the guy with stars in his eyes. Ahead of him was a brunet doing a similar thing—cowering behind trees as he pursued Raidon like a puppy. It was an action Keisuke Yamasaki was famous for throughout Hyou Middle School. Ever since the beginning of seventh grade he'd been following Raidon around with looks of awe.

            "Getting into fights and now he's going after the toughest bad boy? You two really are exact opposites."

           The sound of the voice startled Satoru into flinching. His head jerked downwards to see that clingy blond crouched between the spaces of the vending machines. Turning up his head, he grinned as he rose up from his ankles.

            "Mamoru?" Satoru demanded. "Did you follow me here?"

            "I was honing my stalker skills," he chuckled. "I'm pretty slick, aren't I?"

            Satoru stared at him in disbelief. Considering he heard everything, though....

            "He totally doesn't see much in you to admire," Mamoru pointed out, strolling up to his side and looking into the distance. "Even though you're his older brother."

             "It's not like I want Aki to admire me," Satoru responded, his gaze flickering away from him. "I'm the last person I want Aki to try to become. I'm glad he's realized that, but...."

            "If he's throwing himself towards a negative life, you don't want to watch him go and hurt himself."

          Satoru didn't respond. For somebody he deemed as an idiot, he really knew how to read right through him.

           "He never used to be like this."

           "People change, Ryu." Mamoru shrugged. "And if you don't want to be left in the dust, you've got no choice but to change too. If you don't like it so much, why don't you just join him?"

             With one incredulous look from Satoru, Mamoru erupted into a fit of laughter.

             "I'm just saying, if Aki likes strength, if you become recognized by Raidon it'd be the only way you'd be able to keep him on a leash, right? I wouldn't mind having such a strong guy backing me up, too." A smirk crossed his face. "So how about it? Want to get close to the Raidon Tsuki together?"

            Satoru glanced in the direction his brother had run off in, his features hardening. "You really are a weird guy."

            A boisterous chuckle left Mamoru's mouth as he wrung his arm around his neck. "Nice to know I have you on board, Ryu."

*   *    *

             It wasn't easy getting close to Raidon Tsuki. The guy was very difficult to please and he really treasured his personal space. Regardless, neither Mamoru nor Aki were going to give up. And after about a month, they finally succeeded in capturing the guy's attention, and in response to doing everything the guy willed, Raidon gave the noncommittal signal that they could become his followers or whatever.

           Mamoru and Aki were both beyond jovial. Well, Mamoru—who was a big dreamer—only insisted that it'd be a matter of time before the guy learned just how tough he was and swore loyalty to him instead. And Keisuke, who'd been trying for years to get the guy to notice him, instantly withheld animosity towards the three of them, continuously glowering at them from a distance.

            From Mamoru's influence, Satoru and Aki ended up getting ear piercings. Though, unlike his, they were attachable ones since he said they needed a tougher look. And after losing an immature bet against Aki, Satoru and Mamoru were stuck dying their hair wild colours to stand out. Satoru dyed his hair orange and Mamoru who'd already dyed his hair from brown to blond was forced to dye it his least favourite colour: neon pink (he'd accepted the decree, though, since he was a 'man'). Aki had wanted to dye his hair burgundy for awhile anyway so he did also.

           The three of them had become inseparable in just a year. With the wave of Raidon's hand, they got themselves into rather crazy situations where survival was debatable. Satoru was never a good fighter but Mamoru was. Aki settled on using his smarts to create vast inventions and pranking his enemies.

            Raidon's once infamous name had grown even more throughout the city by the time their third year rolled around. Keisuke, Satoru and Mamoru, considering they were all in the same class, were always on the same wavelength and could talk eye-to-eye. Thus, Aki, though he never said anything, always felt like the outsider. The idea that they were all advancing to a school without him for a year rubbed him the wrong way as well. He'd never tried getting along with his classmates—well, he was already an outcast due to his connection with such an infamous group—but that was why from the beginning of his second year, he'd tried all he could to wheedle his way between them to be seen as an equal.

            Having his brother apart of his group didn't allow for that. Satoru had always treated him as a little kid, always acting as if he had to babysit him. Aki hated him for that. He had to prove himself to him somehow. Somehow....

            That 'somehow' would be his mistake.

            "No means no."

           "I didn't ask for you opinion," snapped Aki. "I'm doing this if I want!"

            "No, you're not," Satoru responded with a scowl. "Not by yourself. It's too dangerous!"

            "Raidon doesn't deserve to be treated like that!" Aki's anger wasn't lifting in the least. "If you don't want to tag along 'cause you're scared, fine. But don't get involved with me then."

            Before he could dare slip past him Satoru clasped the cuff of his sweater. "Stop being ridiculous, Aki. It's late and it's raining. We'll regroup tomorrow and reach a conclusion on what to do."

            Aki gritted his teeth as he ducked his head. "As long as you're there I won't get to do anything again...."

           Satoru blinked. "Huh?"

          "You're always trying to act like some honourable older brother so you're constantly trying to 'protect me'!" Aki shouted, balling his fists. "At least Raidon treats me like an equal. Aki, do this, Aki, do that... I don't boss you around so you don't have the right to tell me what to do every single time either!"

            With one forceful tug, Aki broke free of Satoru's grasps and ran out the door of their base and onto the road, dashing across the soaked asphalt.

             "Aki, wait!" Despite the teeming rainfall, Aki managed to sustain his footing. Satoru hurriedly ran out into it also, shielding his eyes as he scanned for sights of him. "Aki!" he called again.

             When he realized he could no longer see him, Satoru clicked his tongue, coming to a halt. He returned back into shelter, cursing under his breath as a swarm of thoughts encircled his mind. He reached into his pocket to whip out his cell phone, dialling Aki's number.

            He'd tried at least three times but it all went straight to voicemail. His fingers grew jittery with nerves as his gaze landed upon the next name in his contacts: Boss 🕶. The male had altered it without his permission. Shaking past his reluctance, he dialled the number immediately.

             He waited two agonizing rings before the call finally went through.

            "Yo, Ryu!" Mamoru's voice resounded through the receiver. "Listen, you know that game you told me you really wanted to play—"

            "Mamoru, Aki's being an idiot!"

           "Is he?" Mamoru tentatively responded. He chuckled. "I'm teaching him well then."

            Even though Mamoru's nonchalance typically relieved Satoru at times, this time it didn't exactly work out that way. "Mamoru, I'm serious."

            "You typically are. Chill out, Ryu. What's going on?"

            Satoru chewed on his lip. "Those guys... The ones from earlier today."

            "The ones that ridiculed Raidon?" Mamoru asked. "They were a little cowardice considering how big in number they were and yet they only resorted to talking shit. Raidon said to forget them but even as we were leaving Keisuke and Aki so looked ready to beat them to a pulp. But... why? What about them?"

             "Aki just ran off to return the favour."

            Mamoru went silent for awhile. Satoru swallowed hard.

             "Where are you right now?" Satoru asked. "Do you know where their base is? Mamoru?"

             "I think they went to Seisein," Mamoru finally spoke. "I'm nearby the school. I'll head there now."

            Satoru's nerves settled at the news, and he exhaled a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "Thanks," he exhaled. "I'll go there too, then. Should I call Raidon and Keisuke?"

             "There's no point now that the amazing Mamoru Koshiro is on his way," Mamoru chuckled. If Satoru listened closely, he could hear the footfalls and the scatter of the rubble as he ran. "Besides, these guys are all talk. If I can beat Aki there and stop him from doing anything stupid like I would, we can settle this peacefully."

          "Are you sure?" Satoru pressed. "I can come over—"

          "Don't worry, Ryu," Mamoru cut him off. Knowing him, a wide grin was most likely prominent on his face. "I don't want you to get hurt. Besides, once I get that rascal back I'll make sure you make amends. You two have always been so stubborn so I guess Big Brother Mamoru needs to be the mediator like always. What were you two fighting about this time?"

          Satoru could find relief in the words of his best friend. As he'd always been able to do. Even though he didn't want to admit it, the guy had grown into such a substantial existence in only a year. "I don't know," Satoru murmured with a sigh. "He was mad at me."

            "Again?" Mamoru tsked. "You need to try harder at this big brother business, Ryu."

           "I can never understand him."

           "When do you ever come to understand a person?" Mamoru mused. "Sometimes younger brothers just want to be recognized by their older ones. Prove that they can make it without being protected all the time... Maybe Aki just feels that way and you haven't noticed it yet?"

           Satoru frowned. "Why do you always seem to know everything?"

           Mamoru only laughed his trademark laugh. "You two are just easy to read," he admitted. "And it's not that I know everything. You two just remind me of my brother and I."

            "Your brother...? You have a brother?" Satoru asked.

           Mamoru, like always, didn't elaborate. "I'm almost there. Don't stress yourself worrying all right; I'll call you back as soon as I find him. Talk to you later!"

            The line proceeded into a deafening beep, and Satoru slowly dropped his arm by his side. His insides felt heavy with concern but the idea of Mamoru being the one to go lessened the tenseness a bit. Mamoru always had a knack for knowing what to do in fights, even if his nonchalance didn't make it seem like it.

            Ten minutes of watching the rainfall drench the sidewalks did a bad premonition begin to gnaw its way at the pit of Satoru's stomach. He continuously picked up his cell and set it back down, understanding he was getting worked up for no reason. Even if something were to happen, Mamoru would just run away.

            But would he do that without Aki?

           Satoru nudged aside the terse thought. Even without Aki, Mamoru would be smart. He'd think it through properly. Like always. He was always their strategist since day one.

           When thirty minutes passed, Satoru began to fidget. He clenched his teeth as he crouched and anxiously rose back up again. Flipping on his cell, Satoru stared at his name propped upon his glowing screen. Would it take this long to find Aki? Satoru frowned. Why was he getting so worked up, anyway? Things would be fine. As always, Mamoru would call any second now and cheerfully prod him about being a worrywart; Aki with him on the call as well.

            Satoru inhaled steady breaths. His false state of peace was soon washed away with the vibration and ring of his cell phone. The Caller ID immediately sparked relief through him. See, he was worried for no reason at all.

             "Hello?" Satoru pressed as soon as he answered. "Did you find him?"

             "R-Ryu..." Mamoru's shaky intervals shot a sliver of fear up Satoru's spine.

             His heart rate quickened as he sprung up to his feet.

            "Wh-what? Mamoru, what's going on?"

            "A-are you sure Aki came here?" His voice barley escaped a tremor-filled whisper, bouncing off the walls and echoing—as if he were hiding. As if he were in pain. "I've been looking f-for him but he's not... Shit. Oh no, get away from— AHHHH!"

           His octave rose to a high-pitched scream of agony. The distinct sound of metal connecting—crushing—something rang in Satoru's ears, tuning everything else out. It felt as if ice were travelling through his veins. All he could hear was the erratic pulse of his heart in his ears and his now hyperventilating breathing rate.

             "M-Mamoru? Mamoru!"

            Static reached his ears, riddled out by cackles and inaudible voices. "Shit. Freakin' ch-cheaters...!"

            Mamoru's voice was distant. Rain was pattering off what sounded like metal, buzzing and slush noises originating from the wet grass.

           "Mamoru!" Satoru bellowed again, without a care for passersby glances or not. "I-If this is a joke—"

             "I'm the one asking if this was a freakin' prank, Ryu!" Mamoru gasped. "I'm—shit. Shit," he grunted. "I-I don't think I can move. I c-can't...."

             "Oh, shit. He's bleeding pretty bad," a voice cried.

             "Get out of here, quick!" one urged.

             The stampeding of feet led to the crushing of the phone. Satoru had gone utterly limp even before the line went dead.

           'It's a joke. This has to be a joke.'

            But even when Satoru had gone bolting to his rescue, tripping and slipping from the rain, there was no way for him to ever un-see the blood covered body of his unconscious companion on soiled grass of the Seisein Academy field.

          "He hasn't woken up yet?"

           After the nurse had made her appearance after nearly twelve hours, a soaked Satoru bolted to his feet, complexion without any colour in the least.

            "Well," she'd gone on, sombrely, "clearly he was struck in the head by a blunt weapon of some sort. But, considering his condition... I'm sorry, but even if he does wake up, I'm afraid that regardless of any surgeries we may perform... there's the potential he'll be paralyzed for the rest of his life."

           "You tricked me!" Satoru had shouted to his younger brother's face as soon as he stepped in through Mamoru's hospital room. "Liar! You didn't plan on going to that hideout by yourself!"

            Despite wielding his collar by a fierce grip, Aki grounded his teeth as he met his eyes. "It's not my problem you assumed I would!" he snapped, brushing his hand off. "Nor did I ask you to call Koshiro. You're the one that told him to go alone."

             "I didn't—"

            "—Besides," Aki cut Satoru's whimper off with a yell, "even if I did follow through with it, I didn't need your guys' backup. I never did!"

            Incredulous to the words whistling past his ears, Satoru's grip loosened. "I was... He was worried about you!" He gripped both his shoulders, tears filling his eyes. "Mamoru wanted to make sure you didn't do anything stupid alone! Why... Why can't you understand that?"

             Aki smacked away his hand, briefly looking in the direction of the male that slept absolutely still on the bed, breathing mask over his face. He shut his eyes and glanced away, murmuring, "Don't bring me into this—this isn't my fault. It's all your fault."

              Aki had shrugged him aside in a manner similar to how he would their kindhearted step-mom, and anyone else that had tried to approach him. He was in his 'safe' bubble; one he'd always used to block everyone out; ignore the truth right in front of him. He continuously mistook kindness as pity; strength as power....

           Satoru's shoulders shook and he clasped his hand over them to stop it. He was already in his own thoughts.

           If he hadn't agreed to following a delinquent like Raidon. If he didn't let him go through with this alone, no matter how tough he seemed....

           "Mamoru wouldn't have ended up like this."

           But Satoru had noticed that fact a little too late.

_________

Some graphics I made for the chapter: