Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ The Truth Behind Demons ❯ Have You Seen This Boy? ( Chapter 23 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Linkin Fantasy 
Anime/Manga: Beyblade Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Psychological / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.22.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 229 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Beyblade Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Psychological / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.22.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 229 | Status: Completed
A.N: I hate my mother and all the dumb shit she did to this computer. Can you believe this- wordpad! Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Fantasy
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Chapter 23
Brooklyn considered himself to be above average when it came to judging situations and people. When he was a young boy, and his gift had come into play in his life, he would know to avoid certain people and situations. A boy, Marco Gianni, at his old school in Italy used to fantisize about splattering his face into the cement for reasons he could not figure out, but he knew when to take the bus home and when to avoid the cafeteria when the boys malice towards him became too great for him to supress it. Then there was the time he looked out the window and saw a car hit a restaurant he and his family planned to eat at a week from then, so naturally he fakes sickness so they wouldn't go out.
But this time, Brooklyn didn't need his gift to know that he just fucked up, and that something dire was going to happen because of it. He can stop it from happening though, if he could just reach the right person.
Shoving his seat out, he stands and gives a polite little bow to his parents. "Excuse me." Taking off for the phones, he dials Rei's cell phone. It's turned off. That must mean he's still at Tyson's. He didn't know who else to call though. Would Lee be at the Kon home- and if so what if his uncle were there already? He knew by the way the man threw down his apron that nothing in this world would stop him from doing what he set out to do, and that is to hurt his nephew. I'll have to try his cell.... But what's the number....? He closed his eyes to think. He's met eyes with Rei on accidental occation and he knows that somewhere in Rei's lingering memories is his brothers phone number.
That was an odd thing about his gift, normally he can only see into the future, but anytime he looked into Rei's eyes all he could see was the boys past. It made no sense. But it was enough to get him worried about the boy at all times. He prayed he would understand that he didn't mean to tell Stan Kon that he is gay, and that it just slipped out. He wanted to congratulate the man for taking his nephews secret so well, but he had no idea that the secret had nothing to do with the boys sexual prefrences.
"I've got it!" Slamming his fingers into the phones numbers, he waited out the ring tone that Lee had playing. A Korean rap song it sounded like. Finally the phone picked up and a breathless Lee was on the other end. Brooklyn blushed at the sound because from the way it sounded, he wasn't exactly alone and he wasn't working out. "Lee?"
"This is Lee," he replied strangely. Then asked, "Who is this?" since he didn't recognize the voice.
"It's Brooklyn, Rei's friend."
"Okay, Brooklyn. What do you want?" A girl in the background made a protesting sound. He muttered something to her, then spoke again. "Did something happen to my brother?"
"No but," he paused feeling fear rush through him. "I think something might."
"Why?" It sounded like Lee was moving around now.
The unnerved boy was unsure if he should say it in the only way it could be explained since he didn't know if Lee knew that his brother is gay. "I... I'm sorry and you can beat me to a pulp later," always afraid that pain will come his way. "But I said something to your uncle without realizing it and.... and I think he may have gotten angry and now he's out to get your brother."
"What did you say?"
"I... I said, 'I'm really glad you're taking your nephews sexuality so great, my parents would freak out if they knew I was gay.' ......I'm sorry."
"It's okay but listen, is my uncle still at the restaurant?"
"No, I told you he left."
"Shit." He sighed something to the woman he is with, then closed the door. "Do you know where Rei is?"
"He left early and said he was going to see Tyson, he may still be there." He looked over his shoulder at his parents who are watching him with curiosity. He waved to them and went on. "I tried his cell but he turned it off. Please hurry and make sure he's alright I'll check Tyson's house for you."
"Good. Thanks."
He took a breather that Lee didn't sound mad at him. The Kon brothers can be so forgiving. But that only made him feel worse about what he did. He prayed this all worked out. "Bye." Hanging up; he worked out a story for his parents on his way to the table since they planned to go out to the movies after dinner.
That was twenty minutes earlier.
Lee was at his house looking around the blood stained room in disbelief. He didn't know what went down in there but the thing that shocked him more than the blood, is the sight of his brothers long, raven hair laying on the floor from where it was chopped cruedly from his head. He dropped to his knees, touching the silky strands that was once his brother lovely hair. He never could figure out how he grew it so long- personally, he didn't think he could manage that much when it came to keeping it up, which is why he grew his to a point, always trimming it.
What was that? A faint crying sound came to his ears. It sounded not like his brother, but his uncle. Lee saw red as he stood up and sought out the source of the crying. It was coming from the guest room. Walking down the hall, heat seething from his veins to his feet he slammed the door open against the wall, scaring the large, meaty man out of his witts.
"Where's Rei?!" He snapped in a voice he wasn't sure was his own.
"Lee, you're back..." the man turned around, sitting on the floor his back to the bed. Blood on his finger with little cuts keeping the streams flowing caught Lee's attention. "Did you know about this betrayal, did you know your brother is..." He wouldn't even let the disgusting words cross his lips. He hated to think about it. It damn right sickened him!!
"Where is he!!?"
"I sent him away! I told him to gather his things and leave.... He's a disgrace to our family, a DISGRACE!!!" The man spat. "All this time living under my roof...." He watched his eldest nephew approaching. "What are you doing?" The man asked when his shirt was jerked into a strangle hold.
"If I weren't such a decent person I would kill you- you fat bastard." Spit the boy, his voice just reaching ear range. "I'm going to look for my brother and when I find him I'm going to have you arrested for abuse." Slamming the mans back into the bedding, he stands and hurries out of the room, leaving his uncle confused, angry and maybe a bit frightened.
He can't have gotten far. Taking his keys from his pocket, he left the house and got in the car. Just as he drove away from the curb his phone rang. "Hello?"
"He wasn't at Tyson's, he said that Rei went home." Says Brooklyn in a paniced voice. "Did you... find him? Is he ok?"
"No... No, he's not. I don't know where he is, but I'm looking. He may have gone back to Tyson's after..... I can't even say it but, I'm gonna try there again."
"Okay... Can I help you look?"
"If you can."
"I think I can. I just have to tell my parents... Lee?"
He waited.
"I'm really sorry about this."
Slightly angry at the odd boy, Lee let out a sigh. "It's fine, just look for him anywhere you think he'd go."
"Mmhm." He hung up.
Lee sped down the street to the Granger Dojo, parking at the side of the building, not even turning the engine off. He rushed out of the car to the front gate pressing the intercom button. He didn't think anyone would be sleeping since it was only about 9:20, but you never know on a school night.
"Yo dude, talk to me." Came the old mans voice, full of teen spirit. He must be a handful if he still teaches Kendo with an inner child running around inside of him.
"I need to see Tyson, is he home?"
"Yup. T-man had a visiter not too long ago- he in some kind of trouble?"
"No. I just need to speak to him right away, it's about my brother."
"Door's open." There was a crackle from the speaker and the man was gone.
Pulling apart the double doors, he stepped inside the spacious outter area of the long building. He wondered which room was Tyson's since he's never actually been to the boys house before. He only prayed that if his brother is here, that he isn't in the middle of something, because boy would his face be red.
"Lee. Oh WOW it really is YOU! Here at my house!" Tyson emerged from what seemed like nowhere. Happy as always, though, there seemed to be a hint of sadness in his tone. Lee could be wrong. "What are you doing here?"
"Have you seen Rei?"
"Rei?" He quieted all of a sudden. "Earlier. Why? What has he told you?"
"He didn't tell me anything, I haven't seen him since I left the restaurant. That's why I came here, so where is he?"
Tyson looked at his feet; his hand grabbing his pajama covered arm so he could scratch it. "About that.... Me and Rei kinda had a fight."
"About what?"
Looking up, he frowns. "Do I really have to tell you, it's kind of embarrassing."
"I really have to know! My fucking uncle went nuts on Rei and now he's run off!"
"He's run off..... I'm sorry but, I don't know where he is." Frowning, he mutters. "Maybe he went to Kai's- after all, it's not as if we're tied together anymore."
Kai! I should have thought of that since he isn't here. "Thanks for the tip."
"Lee! If you find him.... Can you tell him that I'm really, really sorry." He looked hopeful. "He listens to you."
"Tyson, I don't even know what you're fighting about, but keep your ears and eyes peeled for him. I'm really worried that he might get hurt." He starts for the door.
Rei's a tough guy, why would Lee think he'd get hurt? Wonders the popular young boy. "I'll be sure to do that." He shouldn't do it, but he had to- how often do chances like this come up!? "Lee, I just wanted to say.... I think you're really cool."
Lee looked as though he were just hit with a snowball, recovering he shook his head and muttered a 'thanks' before walking out. Flipping open his phone, he dials Kai's number- he remembered it because the boy left ample notes with it enclosed back when he had a crush on him. "Kai." He says when the phone picks up. "Have you seen my brother?"
"No, why?"
"He's missing. So if you see him, can you please keep him there and give me a call so that I can come get him?"
"No chance. I'm gonna look too." Kai gets up from the dinner table and leaves the room. "I'll tell the help to look out for him if he comes by."
"Thanks. But I'd rather you be there, he won't take off if someone he knows is around."
"But-..."
"No." Hanging up, he pulls away from the house and travels down the street. With night just beginning, things would be difficult for his little brother and in his condition it terrified him to think of what he'd do, or where he'd end up for shelter.
That night. 11:48 p.m. Brooklyn looks out the window, eyes sad, heart sank. How could he do this to the one person who actually liked him? He didn't mean to. But who was he to congratulate the man for being an upstanding person? It was stupid... lots of things he did in his life ended up badly mostly because of his gift- which is why he never wanted to look anyone in the eyes, he didn't want to know about peoples futures because he always felt obligated to say something to them. But this was the kicker of dumb things.
Hmm? Looking out the window at a moving thing that caught his eyes, he squinted into the darkness for a better look. He could be mistaken but it looked like-... ".......Rei?" Getting out of bed, he snuck quietly outside into the front yard. "It is you," he whispered. "Rei, your brother is worried sick about you.... Are you... ok?"
The frightened teen turned around, tears in his eyes. "Please help me."
"Of course. What do you need." He knelt down in front of him. He wasn't sure, due to lack of light, but it looked as though Rei had been in a boxing match... and lost.
"Can you let me sleep in your parents car? Please? I'll be gone by morning but right now I need somewhere to sleep."
"You can come inside the house and-..."
"No! No, they'll call my uncle and he'll come and get me." He began to cry.
"...Rei." Wrapping his arms around the boy he went to stroke his hair and his breath nearly suffocated him as it sucked back so quickly. His hair was gone! Nothing left but a slight dip between his shoulder blades. Did he do this? Or did his uncle? "I'll open the doors, you just wait right here okay. Don't move."
Leaving the hurting boy alone, he scurried into the house to get the car keys and the phone. He had to tell Lee. He promised he would. Hearing the popping sound of the car locks; Rei opens the door and slips in, closing it after him. The car seat is nice and cushy, he feels sleep coming over him right away; something about this felt familiar to him, but why? He bares his teeth as a memory runs through his head; his hand coming up to his heart from the strain he feels with in it.
"I brought the first aid kit... and the phone. I thought that maybe you might wanna tell your brother at least that you're alright?"
"I told you NO!" His voice sounded strange, as if it didn't belong to him. Is he getting worse? "I'm sorry Brooklyn but it's not as if I didn't expect this to happen.... I can take care of myself when it's daylight but for right now I just need a place to sleep." Laying back, legs bent in the air, he closed his eyes.
Brooklyn looks down on him, worry on his face. Rei really does look to be in bad shape. Opening the kit, he pulls out some anitbiotics to clean the boys cuts. Rei might not sit up but he can still get the job done for him.
Taking a cotton swab into his fingers, lacing it with the liquid in the bottle he leans his arm over the front seat- a bench seat- and dabs it to Rei's face. The boy cried out in pain as the sting reached his open cut. The psychic child soothed him with hushes and pets on the head. How could an uncle or ANY family member hurt one of their own? It isn't right- especially for such a stupid reason! Rei opened his eyes looking at the boy.
Turning his gaze away Brooklyn says in a heart felt tone. "I'm sorry, Rei."
Knowing that it wasn't for the pain to his cut, he replies with "Sorry for what?"
"For having this happen... I'm.... I'm the one who told your uncle that you're gay." He looks down at him to see his reaction. He was surprised to see that he looked nuetral about it, almost as if he expected it.
"It's oka-..."
Cutting him off he shouts. "It's NOT! Don't you get it? You should hate me! Be mad at me- hit me, do something!"
Rei closed his eyes, sad. "Why do you beat yourself up so much.... I think you do it more than the kids at school- why is that?" Brooklyn didn't know what to say. He never really thought about it. Does he really have a low self esteem? "I think that you're afraid of people getting to know what a great person you are because they might be a little cautious of your abilities. I should know because I think that same way.... Everytime I walk out the door I wonder who's judging me and how they plan to abuse me..." He looks up at the boy again. "So I try to detach myself, sit within it while still on the outside so when it's all taken away I won't hurt so badly but...."
"But?"
"In the end... I just lost everything I had because of all my doubt in people's ability to love me."
Brooklyn wasn't sure what problem Rei could have, but it sure sounded serious and he is right, he does keep himself at a loss of friendly ties because he's afraid that people will always be hostile around him- that or they'd ask him over and over to look into their eyes and tell them things that they maybe shouldn't know. But... If Rei thinks that he's normal than maybe he is and maybe he can help him with whatever his problem is. Looking down at the boy he swallows hard as their eyes meet and he's jumped back into the boys past instead of his future.
He can see him... Rei. He's in front of the mirrror in his bedroom an odd smile upon his face as he moves a hair brush over his bare chest as if he's cutting himself with a knife. It's weird though, his lips are moving like he's speaking with someone, but there's no one in the room. Just then, the door swings open! Stan walks in- stomps in! He spins his nephew around shoving him to the floor, finger pointing at him accussingly. It looks as if Rei is denying anything, but he can't tell. The man seems unconvinced as he picks him up and smacks him in the mouth. Blood drips to the floor and he continues to bellow at the poor child.
Rei looks genuinly confused by it all as he takes blow after blow from the mans large hands. As he's smacked loose from the mans grip his head hits the desk just above his temple. The young boy lays there in pain, coughing from lost breath; he looks in the corner of the room at the invisible person he was talking to, face pleading for help.
The man shouts something at Rei just before he rips his head from the floor by the hair and begins hacking away at it with a pair of scissors that he found in the dresser. With no regard for his now cut and bleeding fingers, or his nephews scratched neck the man threw him back to the floor saying one last thing before storming out of the room, leaving Rei crying.
Brooklyn's breathing is shallow and scared as he pulls back from Rei's mind. The Chinese boy looks his friend over with concern knowing what he just saw. But what he doesn't know is what was said. How his uncle accussed him of being gay, and beat him until he admitted it. How the man told him he is nothing to him anymore and an embarrassment. He grabbed his head and asked how he planned to get mens attention when he didn't look like a woman, this happened right before he tore the hair from his head and dropped him to the floor. After that his uncle ordered him to pack some things and get out.
Reaching up, he comforted Brooklyn by caressing his cheek. "I've got money saved up. I'm gonna be fine."
Brooklyn shook his head. The feeling, all that pain still fresh in his mind while rippling through his body as if it were he who had received the beating. Rei looked at the boy another moment, before his eyes just drifted off to sleep. He only hoped that his friend didn't have any more slip ups while he slept, all he wanted was one night to recover and he'd be gone.
2 weeks later..........
Everyone is at school. Lee is still looking for Rei, only now he has his own apartment in the city- two bedrooms. One for him and one for Rei... once he finds him. And he will. he assured himself. as they reached the third week of his brothers disappearance. Miki says she hasn't seen him in a long time and wasn't sure that he'd come to her even if he were in trouble they had kind of a bad fight the last time they spoke. Lee had met with Dr. Saldivar the next morning as planned, he asked the man if there were a cure for his brother but only received news that he could be 'well off' but not cured. This was not good news to the lion-like male as he wished bad upon his uncle for doing this.
The doctor asked about Rei's medical records and he told him as much as he knew, but the man said that chromosonally there was no way for Rei to have gotten the disease so he had to have gotten it from another sorce a blow to the head he asked. Lee couldn't think of anytime that had happened, at least he wasn't sure until he started to leave and it came back to him that when his brother was five he took a nasty fall from the mountain path and popped his head against a rock. Rei didn't cry, he didn't even seem hurt so they didn't take him to the hospital as they should have and when he got home he went right to sleep. Lee never would have guessed that the small bump on the head could do so much damage just because his brother fell asleep. That bump was more than a bump it was the end of a small boy who never got a chance to find himself in the world.
"I'd like you to bring your brother in so that I can have a look at him, check out this medicine he's been taking." Says the Doctor. "Most patients become dependant on their medication and I would like to see to it that it's properly distributed if he must use it."
"Of course." Said Lee. "Thank you for seeing me."
"My pleasure."
Only problem was, he had no clue where is brother is- or if he has his meds with him. Lee searched his bedroom where they were last but found nothing. Rei either took them, or he moved them but it wasn't looking good for the hometeam. He hoped that Kai was having better luck in the search than he is. Brooklyn told him, two weeks back, that Rei had spent the night in his parents car and was gone before he could wake up. That kid was screwing up left and right, but he couldn't count him out, the more searchers the better.
* * *
Tala walked into the middle school at free period. His ice blue eyes skim the hallway for only one person, while others walking back and forth nearly hurt themselves staring. If that was high school looks than the boys couldn't wait for next year especially if they had a chance of being accepted by someone that looks like THAT.
He has to be here somewhere. Hopefully in one of the front classes, just the thought of stepping any further into this place is sickening me. His face lightens to a smirk. There he is. Strolling down the hall over to the row of lockers, his hand comes out slamming the metal door that was just opened.
"What the- Tal-a." His words are choked as he's hoisted onto the lockers.
"Where's Rei?"
"What business is it of yours? He's myyyy-..." he grunts in pain as his head is slammed back against the locker.
"I didn't ask what his relationship status is with you. I asked if you knew his location, a simple yes or no." He loosened his grip almost letting the boys feet hit the floor. "Now. Where is Rei." He said it slowly as if speaking to a glue-factory retard.
"I... I don't know."
"Now was that hard." He drops him to his feet. Just as he is about to leave his phone goes off. "Hello?" He speaks in his tongue to the person on the other side as it sounds, to Tyson, that this person is doing the same.
Boy for a jerk he sure smells good. Thinks the Granger boy up until he hears the name-..
"I just asked him, Kai. He says he doesn't know."
"Kai." He whispers and strains his ears to listen to the guys voice.
"I'm keeping an eye out but I doubt that he'll-....."
Just then the double doors open at the end of the hall and in walks none other than-...
"Rei," both boys say.
............................
Chapter 23
Brooklyn considered himself to be above average when it came to judging situations and people. When he was a young boy, and his gift had come into play in his life, he would know to avoid certain people and situations. A boy, Marco Gianni, at his old school in Italy used to fantisize about splattering his face into the cement for reasons he could not figure out, but he knew when to take the bus home and when to avoid the cafeteria when the boys malice towards him became too great for him to supress it. Then there was the time he looked out the window and saw a car hit a restaurant he and his family planned to eat at a week from then, so naturally he fakes sickness so they wouldn't go out.
But this time, Brooklyn didn't need his gift to know that he just fucked up, and that something dire was going to happen because of it. He can stop it from happening though, if he could just reach the right person.
Shoving his seat out, he stands and gives a polite little bow to his parents. "Excuse me." Taking off for the phones, he dials Rei's cell phone. It's turned off. That must mean he's still at Tyson's. He didn't know who else to call though. Would Lee be at the Kon home- and if so what if his uncle were there already? He knew by the way the man threw down his apron that nothing in this world would stop him from doing what he set out to do, and that is to hurt his nephew. I'll have to try his cell.... But what's the number....? He closed his eyes to think. He's met eyes with Rei on accidental occation and he knows that somewhere in Rei's lingering memories is his brothers phone number.
That was an odd thing about his gift, normally he can only see into the future, but anytime he looked into Rei's eyes all he could see was the boys past. It made no sense. But it was enough to get him worried about the boy at all times. He prayed he would understand that he didn't mean to tell Stan Kon that he is gay, and that it just slipped out. He wanted to congratulate the man for taking his nephews secret so well, but he had no idea that the secret had nothing to do with the boys sexual prefrences.
"I've got it!" Slamming his fingers into the phones numbers, he waited out the ring tone that Lee had playing. A Korean rap song it sounded like. Finally the phone picked up and a breathless Lee was on the other end. Brooklyn blushed at the sound because from the way it sounded, he wasn't exactly alone and he wasn't working out. "Lee?"
"This is Lee," he replied strangely. Then asked, "Who is this?" since he didn't recognize the voice.
"It's Brooklyn, Rei's friend."
"Okay, Brooklyn. What do you want?" A girl in the background made a protesting sound. He muttered something to her, then spoke again. "Did something happen to my brother?"
"No but," he paused feeling fear rush through him. "I think something might."
"Why?" It sounded like Lee was moving around now.
The unnerved boy was unsure if he should say it in the only way it could be explained since he didn't know if Lee knew that his brother is gay. "I... I'm sorry and you can beat me to a pulp later," always afraid that pain will come his way. "But I said something to your uncle without realizing it and.... and I think he may have gotten angry and now he's out to get your brother."
"What did you say?"
"I... I said, 'I'm really glad you're taking your nephews sexuality so great, my parents would freak out if they knew I was gay.' ......I'm sorry."
"It's okay but listen, is my uncle still at the restaurant?"
"No, I told you he left."
"Shit." He sighed something to the woman he is with, then closed the door. "Do you know where Rei is?"
"He left early and said he was going to see Tyson, he may still be there." He looked over his shoulder at his parents who are watching him with curiosity. He waved to them and went on. "I tried his cell but he turned it off. Please hurry and make sure he's alright I'll check Tyson's house for you."
"Good. Thanks."
He took a breather that Lee didn't sound mad at him. The Kon brothers can be so forgiving. But that only made him feel worse about what he did. He prayed this all worked out. "Bye." Hanging up; he worked out a story for his parents on his way to the table since they planned to go out to the movies after dinner.
That was twenty minutes earlier.
Lee was at his house looking around the blood stained room in disbelief. He didn't know what went down in there but the thing that shocked him more than the blood, is the sight of his brothers long, raven hair laying on the floor from where it was chopped cruedly from his head. He dropped to his knees, touching the silky strands that was once his brother lovely hair. He never could figure out how he grew it so long- personally, he didn't think he could manage that much when it came to keeping it up, which is why he grew his to a point, always trimming it.
What was that? A faint crying sound came to his ears. It sounded not like his brother, but his uncle. Lee saw red as he stood up and sought out the source of the crying. It was coming from the guest room. Walking down the hall, heat seething from his veins to his feet he slammed the door open against the wall, scaring the large, meaty man out of his witts.
"Where's Rei?!" He snapped in a voice he wasn't sure was his own.
"Lee, you're back..." the man turned around, sitting on the floor his back to the bed. Blood on his finger with little cuts keeping the streams flowing caught Lee's attention. "Did you know about this betrayal, did you know your brother is..." He wouldn't even let the disgusting words cross his lips. He hated to think about it. It damn right sickened him!!
"Where is he!!?"
"I sent him away! I told him to gather his things and leave.... He's a disgrace to our family, a DISGRACE!!!" The man spat. "All this time living under my roof...." He watched his eldest nephew approaching. "What are you doing?" The man asked when his shirt was jerked into a strangle hold.
"If I weren't such a decent person I would kill you- you fat bastard." Spit the boy, his voice just reaching ear range. "I'm going to look for my brother and when I find him I'm going to have you arrested for abuse." Slamming the mans back into the bedding, he stands and hurries out of the room, leaving his uncle confused, angry and maybe a bit frightened.
He can't have gotten far. Taking his keys from his pocket, he left the house and got in the car. Just as he drove away from the curb his phone rang. "Hello?"
"He wasn't at Tyson's, he said that Rei went home." Says Brooklyn in a paniced voice. "Did you... find him? Is he ok?"
"No... No, he's not. I don't know where he is, but I'm looking. He may have gone back to Tyson's after..... I can't even say it but, I'm gonna try there again."
"Okay... Can I help you look?"
"If you can."
"I think I can. I just have to tell my parents... Lee?"
He waited.
"I'm really sorry about this."
Slightly angry at the odd boy, Lee let out a sigh. "It's fine, just look for him anywhere you think he'd go."
"Mmhm." He hung up.
Lee sped down the street to the Granger Dojo, parking at the side of the building, not even turning the engine off. He rushed out of the car to the front gate pressing the intercom button. He didn't think anyone would be sleeping since it was only about 9:20, but you never know on a school night.
"Yo dude, talk to me." Came the old mans voice, full of teen spirit. He must be a handful if he still teaches Kendo with an inner child running around inside of him.
"I need to see Tyson, is he home?"
"Yup. T-man had a visiter not too long ago- he in some kind of trouble?"
"No. I just need to speak to him right away, it's about my brother."
"Door's open." There was a crackle from the speaker and the man was gone.
Pulling apart the double doors, he stepped inside the spacious outter area of the long building. He wondered which room was Tyson's since he's never actually been to the boys house before. He only prayed that if his brother is here, that he isn't in the middle of something, because boy would his face be red.
"Lee. Oh WOW it really is YOU! Here at my house!" Tyson emerged from what seemed like nowhere. Happy as always, though, there seemed to be a hint of sadness in his tone. Lee could be wrong. "What are you doing here?"
"Have you seen Rei?"
"Rei?" He quieted all of a sudden. "Earlier. Why? What has he told you?"
"He didn't tell me anything, I haven't seen him since I left the restaurant. That's why I came here, so where is he?"
Tyson looked at his feet; his hand grabbing his pajama covered arm so he could scratch it. "About that.... Me and Rei kinda had a fight."
"About what?"
Looking up, he frowns. "Do I really have to tell you, it's kind of embarrassing."
"I really have to know! My fucking uncle went nuts on Rei and now he's run off!"
"He's run off..... I'm sorry but, I don't know where he is." Frowning, he mutters. "Maybe he went to Kai's- after all, it's not as if we're tied together anymore."
Kai! I should have thought of that since he isn't here. "Thanks for the tip."
"Lee! If you find him.... Can you tell him that I'm really, really sorry." He looked hopeful. "He listens to you."
"Tyson, I don't even know what you're fighting about, but keep your ears and eyes peeled for him. I'm really worried that he might get hurt." He starts for the door.
Rei's a tough guy, why would Lee think he'd get hurt? Wonders the popular young boy. "I'll be sure to do that." He shouldn't do it, but he had to- how often do chances like this come up!? "Lee, I just wanted to say.... I think you're really cool."
Lee looked as though he were just hit with a snowball, recovering he shook his head and muttered a 'thanks' before walking out. Flipping open his phone, he dials Kai's number- he remembered it because the boy left ample notes with it enclosed back when he had a crush on him. "Kai." He says when the phone picks up. "Have you seen my brother?"
"No, why?"
"He's missing. So if you see him, can you please keep him there and give me a call so that I can come get him?"
"No chance. I'm gonna look too." Kai gets up from the dinner table and leaves the room. "I'll tell the help to look out for him if he comes by."
"Thanks. But I'd rather you be there, he won't take off if someone he knows is around."
"But-..."
"No." Hanging up, he pulls away from the house and travels down the street. With night just beginning, things would be difficult for his little brother and in his condition it terrified him to think of what he'd do, or where he'd end up for shelter.
That night. 11:48 p.m. Brooklyn looks out the window, eyes sad, heart sank. How could he do this to the one person who actually liked him? He didn't mean to. But who was he to congratulate the man for being an upstanding person? It was stupid... lots of things he did in his life ended up badly mostly because of his gift- which is why he never wanted to look anyone in the eyes, he didn't want to know about peoples futures because he always felt obligated to say something to them. But this was the kicker of dumb things.
Hmm? Looking out the window at a moving thing that caught his eyes, he squinted into the darkness for a better look. He could be mistaken but it looked like-... ".......Rei?" Getting out of bed, he snuck quietly outside into the front yard. "It is you," he whispered. "Rei, your brother is worried sick about you.... Are you... ok?"
The frightened teen turned around, tears in his eyes. "Please help me."
"Of course. What do you need." He knelt down in front of him. He wasn't sure, due to lack of light, but it looked as though Rei had been in a boxing match... and lost.
"Can you let me sleep in your parents car? Please? I'll be gone by morning but right now I need somewhere to sleep."
"You can come inside the house and-..."
"No! No, they'll call my uncle and he'll come and get me." He began to cry.
"...Rei." Wrapping his arms around the boy he went to stroke his hair and his breath nearly suffocated him as it sucked back so quickly. His hair was gone! Nothing left but a slight dip between his shoulder blades. Did he do this? Or did his uncle? "I'll open the doors, you just wait right here okay. Don't move."
Leaving the hurting boy alone, he scurried into the house to get the car keys and the phone. He had to tell Lee. He promised he would. Hearing the popping sound of the car locks; Rei opens the door and slips in, closing it after him. The car seat is nice and cushy, he feels sleep coming over him right away; something about this felt familiar to him, but why? He bares his teeth as a memory runs through his head; his hand coming up to his heart from the strain he feels with in it.
"I brought the first aid kit... and the phone. I thought that maybe you might wanna tell your brother at least that you're alright?"
"I told you NO!" His voice sounded strange, as if it didn't belong to him. Is he getting worse? "I'm sorry Brooklyn but it's not as if I didn't expect this to happen.... I can take care of myself when it's daylight but for right now I just need a place to sleep." Laying back, legs bent in the air, he closed his eyes.
Brooklyn looks down on him, worry on his face. Rei really does look to be in bad shape. Opening the kit, he pulls out some anitbiotics to clean the boys cuts. Rei might not sit up but he can still get the job done for him.
Taking a cotton swab into his fingers, lacing it with the liquid in the bottle he leans his arm over the front seat- a bench seat- and dabs it to Rei's face. The boy cried out in pain as the sting reached his open cut. The psychic child soothed him with hushes and pets on the head. How could an uncle or ANY family member hurt one of their own? It isn't right- especially for such a stupid reason! Rei opened his eyes looking at the boy.
Turning his gaze away Brooklyn says in a heart felt tone. "I'm sorry, Rei."
Knowing that it wasn't for the pain to his cut, he replies with "Sorry for what?"
"For having this happen... I'm.... I'm the one who told your uncle that you're gay." He looks down at him to see his reaction. He was surprised to see that he looked nuetral about it, almost as if he expected it.
"It's oka-..."
Cutting him off he shouts. "It's NOT! Don't you get it? You should hate me! Be mad at me- hit me, do something!"
Rei closed his eyes, sad. "Why do you beat yourself up so much.... I think you do it more than the kids at school- why is that?" Brooklyn didn't know what to say. He never really thought about it. Does he really have a low self esteem? "I think that you're afraid of people getting to know what a great person you are because they might be a little cautious of your abilities. I should know because I think that same way.... Everytime I walk out the door I wonder who's judging me and how they plan to abuse me..." He looks up at the boy again. "So I try to detach myself, sit within it while still on the outside so when it's all taken away I won't hurt so badly but...."
"But?"
"In the end... I just lost everything I had because of all my doubt in people's ability to love me."
Brooklyn wasn't sure what problem Rei could have, but it sure sounded serious and he is right, he does keep himself at a loss of friendly ties because he's afraid that people will always be hostile around him- that or they'd ask him over and over to look into their eyes and tell them things that they maybe shouldn't know. But... If Rei thinks that he's normal than maybe he is and maybe he can help him with whatever his problem is. Looking down at the boy he swallows hard as their eyes meet and he's jumped back into the boys past instead of his future.
He can see him... Rei. He's in front of the mirrror in his bedroom an odd smile upon his face as he moves a hair brush over his bare chest as if he's cutting himself with a knife. It's weird though, his lips are moving like he's speaking with someone, but there's no one in the room. Just then, the door swings open! Stan walks in- stomps in! He spins his nephew around shoving him to the floor, finger pointing at him accussingly. It looks as if Rei is denying anything, but he can't tell. The man seems unconvinced as he picks him up and smacks him in the mouth. Blood drips to the floor and he continues to bellow at the poor child.
Rei looks genuinly confused by it all as he takes blow after blow from the mans large hands. As he's smacked loose from the mans grip his head hits the desk just above his temple. The young boy lays there in pain, coughing from lost breath; he looks in the corner of the room at the invisible person he was talking to, face pleading for help.
The man shouts something at Rei just before he rips his head from the floor by the hair and begins hacking away at it with a pair of scissors that he found in the dresser. With no regard for his now cut and bleeding fingers, or his nephews scratched neck the man threw him back to the floor saying one last thing before storming out of the room, leaving Rei crying.
Brooklyn's breathing is shallow and scared as he pulls back from Rei's mind. The Chinese boy looks his friend over with concern knowing what he just saw. But what he doesn't know is what was said. How his uncle accussed him of being gay, and beat him until he admitted it. How the man told him he is nothing to him anymore and an embarrassment. He grabbed his head and asked how he planned to get mens attention when he didn't look like a woman, this happened right before he tore the hair from his head and dropped him to the floor. After that his uncle ordered him to pack some things and get out.
Reaching up, he comforted Brooklyn by caressing his cheek. "I've got money saved up. I'm gonna be fine."
Brooklyn shook his head. The feeling, all that pain still fresh in his mind while rippling through his body as if it were he who had received the beating. Rei looked at the boy another moment, before his eyes just drifted off to sleep. He only hoped that his friend didn't have any more slip ups while he slept, all he wanted was one night to recover and he'd be gone.
2 weeks later..........
Everyone is at school. Lee is still looking for Rei, only now he has his own apartment in the city- two bedrooms. One for him and one for Rei... once he finds him. And he will. he assured himself. as they reached the third week of his brothers disappearance. Miki says she hasn't seen him in a long time and wasn't sure that he'd come to her even if he were in trouble they had kind of a bad fight the last time they spoke. Lee had met with Dr. Saldivar the next morning as planned, he asked the man if there were a cure for his brother but only received news that he could be 'well off' but not cured. This was not good news to the lion-like male as he wished bad upon his uncle for doing this.
The doctor asked about Rei's medical records and he told him as much as he knew, but the man said that chromosonally there was no way for Rei to have gotten the disease so he had to have gotten it from another sorce a blow to the head he asked. Lee couldn't think of anytime that had happened, at least he wasn't sure until he started to leave and it came back to him that when his brother was five he took a nasty fall from the mountain path and popped his head against a rock. Rei didn't cry, he didn't even seem hurt so they didn't take him to the hospital as they should have and when he got home he went right to sleep. Lee never would have guessed that the small bump on the head could do so much damage just because his brother fell asleep. That bump was more than a bump it was the end of a small boy who never got a chance to find himself in the world.
"I'd like you to bring your brother in so that I can have a look at him, check out this medicine he's been taking." Says the Doctor. "Most patients become dependant on their medication and I would like to see to it that it's properly distributed if he must use it."
"Of course." Said Lee. "Thank you for seeing me."
"My pleasure."
Only problem was, he had no clue where is brother is- or if he has his meds with him. Lee searched his bedroom where they were last but found nothing. Rei either took them, or he moved them but it wasn't looking good for the hometeam. He hoped that Kai was having better luck in the search than he is. Brooklyn told him, two weeks back, that Rei had spent the night in his parents car and was gone before he could wake up. That kid was screwing up left and right, but he couldn't count him out, the more searchers the better.
* * *
Tala walked into the middle school at free period. His ice blue eyes skim the hallway for only one person, while others walking back and forth nearly hurt themselves staring. If that was high school looks than the boys couldn't wait for next year especially if they had a chance of being accepted by someone that looks like THAT.
He has to be here somewhere. Hopefully in one of the front classes, just the thought of stepping any further into this place is sickening me. His face lightens to a smirk. There he is. Strolling down the hall over to the row of lockers, his hand comes out slamming the metal door that was just opened.
"What the- Tal-a." His words are choked as he's hoisted onto the lockers.
"Where's Rei?"
"What business is it of yours? He's myyyy-..." he grunts in pain as his head is slammed back against the locker.
"I didn't ask what his relationship status is with you. I asked if you knew his location, a simple yes or no." He loosened his grip almost letting the boys feet hit the floor. "Now. Where is Rei." He said it slowly as if speaking to a glue-factory retard.
"I... I don't know."
"Now was that hard." He drops him to his feet. Just as he is about to leave his phone goes off. "Hello?" He speaks in his tongue to the person on the other side as it sounds, to Tyson, that this person is doing the same.
Boy for a jerk he sure smells good. Thinks the Granger boy up until he hears the name-..
"I just asked him, Kai. He says he doesn't know."
"Kai." He whispers and strains his ears to listen to the guys voice.
"I'm keeping an eye out but I doubt that he'll-....."
Just then the double doors open at the end of the hall and in walks none other than-...
"Rei," both boys say.