[A/N: sorry had problems with my machine so late on the posting]
...
"Rinji? If you can hear please let me in. I don't think I can bear seeing you in such a state. Please talk to me. I know we haven't been that close in a long while but we are still family, aren't we? So please let me in." She sound sad.
She hadn't left? I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone. If I know her Orino, she's probably perched right out the door sitting on floor leaning her back and head to the wall and she probably would leave till I speak to her. But I don't want to indulge her. Hear her sad vice made me even feel more pathetic.
"…Leave me alone."
I said to her. I'm not in the slightest mood and besides I'm still scared and I don't want anyone to see me like this.
"Mhmm"
She let's out a sigh… a rather depressing one.
"If that's the case I need to use the place."
I know she's trying to be brazen. I can tell she's probably hurting as much as I am—and that is making me hurt even more—after all she is my sister and she does obviously care about me but I just don't want to see anyone.
"…Go downstairs."
"…Right… I know something happened and it's serious enough that you don't want to talk about it. I don't know what it is but you should know you can talk me, to mom, dad. All of us. We are family after all."
She said solemnly.
"..."
I don't know about that exactly. How would you believe me? How would anyone believe me? Because of how the situation is, I doubt anyone hearing this story will believe me. They'd definitely stick me in a straitjacket and lock me in a madhouse when they hear it. The second thing is: me being here has probably put you all in danger and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything should happen to you guys.
Even though it's faint I hear her footsteps faint, walking away…
"Even if I wasn't weak what way would I have ever beating a creature like that. Such a thing shouldn't even exist!"
I say to myself.
Sitting down there like that I ended up drifting into sleep…
...…
SHIIIIIIIIIII…
What's wrong with you, brother…? I know it hasn't even being a day, but it feels like an eternity you've been ignoring me. I know you're probably going through your own hell and that it might take sometime to open up to me but I can't stand it!
Right now, I, Orino Nonako, am in the bathroom. I'm currently sitting on the floor hugging my knees to be chest—of course I'd be naked, I came in to bath but I just couldn't bring myself to do so. I couldn't even start because I feel hurt—I can only sit and let the cold water rain down on my head from the showerhead.
I can't help it but feel rather depressed, seeing Rin in such a state is excruciating. I sat like this beside the door, wanting him to talk to me, but he didn't even want to see my face. What happened to make him like this?
We've been close since were kids. Sure, he's been perverted but he is 'my' perverted brother and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Though it's not my fault, I can't help but feel partly blamed for this: It's probably my fault for always making him think I was pushing him away but… I just…
Seeing him like that… It felt like someone had ran needles through my chest. That anytime I breath it hurt so much. Yesterday was much worse, it felt like a stake had gone through me.
I was worried for him already being late coming home. Anytime he left for Kufo's Eye Candy he'd be home not long, that is if it was empty or latest by 8PM when it's crowded, but it's already 45 past and I couldn't help but feel worried. My heart wouldn't stop thumping hard and fast, as if telling me that something bad had happened to him. What made it even worse was the new we heard on the TV. My mind was simulating crazy things that might have happened.
I was on edge sitting on the couch, so was mom and dad who were sitting at the table as we waited for him.
"You got through?"
"No, it's still, off."
I called him a few times but his phone was off. I was worried. What could have happened? Why was his phone off?
Then we heard the door shut and we dashed towards it with mom n the lead.
"Do you know what time it is, Rin? Do explain yourself?"
"Where have you been? I called you but your phone was off."
I felt like my heart shattered when I saw him, he was without his bag, had scratches all over, his dress dirty and there was 5 sharp slashes on it as when. He looked rugged and exhausted… He stood swaying as we spoke, as if he couldn't hear us and finally when he spoke he only said it was nothing he was going to bed and left… Even that only felt like an instinctive reply… What exactly happened to make him look this way?
...
SCREECH… SCREECH
After he went up Mom and dad pulled back the chairs and sat themselves at the dining table, they wore a disturbed look on their faces. Dad had his hands clasped together to his chin and mom also, but she had hers on the table.
I close in and I asked what was on my mind. He was without his bag and I only guessed that might have been the same for his phone since it would have probably been in his bag.
"Hey dad, what do you think happened to him? You think he got mugged?"
"It's a possibility."
Dad answered, which also made me think. His dress didn't seem like it would be one from a mugging. He had no distinctive bruise rather scratches. And before I could even say thing about it mom said it:
"Seems like he got attacked by some stray dogs."
Yea, his dress was just duty and a few rips which wasn't from anything sharp but what made it cross our minds was the five claw like cuts that when through the dress and to his skin making him bleed. But it didn't seem like claws either…
"Also a possibility… though I have my doubts. But that doesn't explain the finger-like slashes on him."
…they where too clean a cut… I think dad caught on to that as well. A knife, perhaps? I do thank the gods because from the looks of it, seems like they missed their mark otherwise I don't think my Rin would have come back to me.
"How's that?"
Mom asked.
"True that being mugged is surely a terrifying thing if your life is being threatened but I think it's something else. I doubt he'd actually have a secret life we all know what he's like."
Dad continued analyzing the situation like some pro, we don't disagree. Rin is an all around pervert, even though I doubt he has done anything perverted—I think, but he's too much of a wuss go join the underground… Maybe he could have hidden it from us…? No! There's certainty no way that he is one of them.
"You think he saw something he shouldn't have?"
"Yes, quite possibly. Something he feels would be bad for us to know." He answered. "Or maybe absurd that we wouldn't believe." He muttered.
"You really think so?"
Mom asked and dad replied with a nod.
That might be it. I don't know what happened but he might have seen someone and they might have been the ones that did that to him.
"What of the scratches? I don't see any bruises."
I had to ask because I doesn't explain how he'd only get scratches if he was attacked.
"I don't know but I can only assume he managed to escape but maybe the person was still after him so he must have gone through places that made him end up like that…"
That spoke with a bit of certainty.
"That… could be… possible."
Mom said as she gave it some thought.
"It's highly possible. Just look at the state he's in… It's more than just a mugging. I doubt he could even see us before him. He was barely standing. He's was probably unconscious so much. If you ask me he made it home by sheer luck and adrenaline"
Dad added.
"And how do you know so much?"
Even in his state of seriousness, suddenly his eye sparked.
"Always happened in the movies."
[—Obviously, that would be his answer.]
Pretty sure mom thought the same thing I did since she wore the usual look when dad does or says something expected.
"… That aside. The experience must have been traumatic…" He said going back to his stern look. "If that was the case then the question is: what did he see to make him end up like that?"
And if we do that take that he was part of the underground works as well then… [what did you get yourself into Rin?]
"I guess we would have to wait to tomorrow to speak to him as at the moment he's just not himself… If not eventually he would open up and tell us."
"Hmph"
A sigh escapes me as I cling tightly to my legs. I don't want to see my brother ever like that again.
"Oh big brother…"
It's eating me on the inside. I want to know what happened. I want to be there for you, big brother. I want you to always rely on me. Don't ever push me aside. I wouldn't be able to bear it if you don't ever talk to me.
"I hope what dad said true. I hope you talk to us, me at least."
