Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Bound Together ❯ Stay With Me ( Chapter 9 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Chapter 9
Stay With Me
Sei stood up slowly and brushed off his loose clothing. He wore a brown tunic with matching trousers. Allen smiled as he bowed for his return. Tai-Li rose and followed Sei as he led Tai-Li and Allen back to his Painted horse.
“Allen, your father is expecting you back soon, so in order to get to your estate before sunset, we must bid our farewells.” Sei said as he bowed and then mounted his horse.
Allen nodded, “Alright…just wait a moment alright?” Allen saw Sei nod and he turned to Tai-Li. “Please talk to him…” Allen held his right hand to his chest. “He feels the same here…”
Before Tai-Li could respond, Allen was helped up onto Sei's horse and he was positioned in front of Sei. All Tai-Li could do was wave the two off. As the horse slowly trotted off, Tai-Li sighed. He turned around and froze as he spotted Tai-Shi entering the estate. Tai-Li held his chest again with his right hand.
“Damn it…why does it hurt so much…”
“Tai-Li!” Sei called from the gate.
“Yes?” Tai-Li slowly turned and held his right wrist in his left hand.
“Rei plans to come back…” Sei called, slowly drifting his sentence off.
“To hell he will!” Tai-Li called as he turned on his heel and walked up on the deck and then followed it around until he was to the kitchen.
Sei sighed as he turned gently kicked his horse's sides and galloped off into the darkening forest.
Tai-Li walked through the kitchen and turned to his left. He grumbled and didn't pay much attention to what was going on around him, because he had a set destination. He was going to stay in his room for the remainder of the night. Upon entering his room, he slammed his door shut and locked the door.
He listened to the echoing of the door slamming in his room until it was gone. He looked at his right hand, feeling a dull throbbing in it as he slowly padded a crossed the room and sat on the corner of his bed. Memories began to flood back as he remembered the night he broke his knuckles. Though, the dull pain in his hand still didn't compare to the pain he felt in his chest whenever he saw Tai-Shi. Tai-Shi…his pained expression…Tai-Li could never forget that.
Tai-Li crawled up into his bed and didn't bother crawling under the covers. He set his head on his pillow and closed his eyes. He brought his hands back up to his chest, “Why…why does it hurt…and feels so empty at the same time?”
Exhaustion took over from there. Tai-Li's heavy body drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Sleep was Tai-Li's only way out of the pain he felt. He knew that it wasn't anything compared to what Tai-Shi felt, and in return, it made him feel even worse. Tai-Li wanted to talk to Tai-Shi so badly, but how? What could Tai-Li possibly say to Tai-Shi to make it up to him? To say he's sorry for not coming when he was called? He knew it wasn't an excuse that he didn't hear Tai-Shi, even if that was true.
Late afternoon turned into dusk, and then into night. Tai-Li opened his eyes slowly. It took him a moment for his vision to get used to the darkness of his room.
When did I fall asleep?
Tai-Li finally sat up and looked out the window. He could see the stars and the moon. Did he sleep through dinner?
Father will be upset with me by tomorrow morning…
It really didn't matter to him. He could care less what his father thought. He just wanted to forget: forget about his family, and forget about their code; forget about the bloodline, he didn't care about any of it. Most of all, he wanted to forget the night of the party, but he couldn't.
Why…
Tai-Li grabbed a hold of his chest and fell back on to his bed again.
Why does it hurt…yet I do not feel anything?
He stared up at the dark ceiling above his head and sighed deeply.
I've had these thoughts recently.
Why?
I don't understand…
Tai-Li closed his eyes and lifted his right arm to hold over his eyes. He covered his eyes and resumed deep thought.
Who could give me the answer?
Mother…where are you…
Tai-Li sighed inwardly.
That's right, you're not here.
He rolled over on his side and faced the wall that had elegant green fabrics with a mix of purple swirling around in the design.
Your boys have grown up.
Tai-Shi's really strong now.
He's kind…like you….
But something's happened.
Tai-Li sighed as he opened his yes and removed his arm from his path of vision. He stared at the fabrics and then turned to look at the mirror close to the door.
I've hurt him…
You told me to protect him, but I didn't…
Tai-Shi…I don't know what to do…
I hurt, and I don't understand why.
He slowly rolled to his stomach and crawled to the top of his bed. He reached over and opened a drawer of his desk. He reached in a gingerly and withdrew a blue-green ribbon. It was once his mother's.
Mother…it hurts when he doesn't speak to me.
He's the only one that understands me…
He hurts…and I can't do anything.
He's hurt enough…I don't want him to hurt anymore…
Tai-Li jumped and instantly put the ribbon back into the drawer and shut it.
“Who's there?” He called out quietly in his room.
Tai-Li heard the sound of something shifting and then saw a small light appear from under the green fabric on the opposite wall from the bed.
“Who is it?” Tai-Li ordered at once. Though, he quickly stopped and looked at the small form that appeared from the passage. It was—
“Tai-Shi?”
Tai-Shi looked up at Tai-Li with glassy eyes.
“Tai-Shi? Are you alright?” Tai-Li began.
“Does Tai-Li hurt?” Tai-Shi asked forcefully.
“What?” Tai-Li didn't understand. “I should be asking you that.”
“Does Tai-Li hurt inside?” Tai-Shi asked quietly as he put the candle on the floor away from all the fabrics in the room.
Tai-Li didn't understand…
“Allen said Tai-Li hurt here…” Tai-Shi placed a hand over the left side of his chest. “Does Tai-Li hurt?”
Tai-Li finally understood.
“Tai-Shi hurts…” Tai-Shi went on and tightly shut his eyes. “Tai-Shi hurts here also cause Tai-Shi thought Tai-Li abandoned him like everyone else did…”
“Tai-Shi…” Tai-Li said softly. He scooted over in his bed and patted the spot next to him.
Tai-Shi slowly rose; he placed the candle on Tai-Li's desk and slowly sat on Tai-Li's bed next to Tai-Li.
“I'm sorry…” Tai-Shi said softly before he placed his face into Tai-Li's lap and softly began to cry.
“No…Tai-Shi…you shouldn't be the one who's sorry.” Tai-Li said softly as he wrapped his arms around his younger sibling and pulled him to sit in his lap. “You've done nothing wrong…”
“No! I said I hated you…I don't hate you…” He slowly began crying louder.
“It's alright…” Tai-Li said softly, trying to comfort Tai-Shi.
“No it's not!” Tai-Shi choked on a bit of air and clutched Tai-Li's shirt tightly in his fists. “I…I mean I shouldn't have said that.”
“Tai-Shi…something horrible happened…it's alright…that night…there just…it was just…” Tai-Li stumbled to find the right words.
“I didn't like not seeing you…” Tai-Shi said softly, leaning his head down on Tai-Li's shoulder.
“I know…it feels like it's been…” Tai-Li began.
“Forever…” Tai-Shi softly finished.
“Yeah…I'm sorry Tai-Shi…” Tai-Li said softly, holding Tai-Shi close to him.
“Tai-Li shouldn't be sorry…” Tai-Shi replied.
“Yes…I didn't come when you needed me most…I didn't protect you. I let Rei wander off…I wasn't thinking he would do anything …” Tai-Li choked on the air as he fought back tears.
“No! Tai-Li shouldn't hurt! It makes Tai-Shi hurt as well…” Tai-Shi began to cry harder once again.
“Please…don't cry Tai-Shi…please…” Tai-Li said as he held the boy close as a single tear fell from his eyes.
“Who's crying?” Tai-Shi pouted with stained teary cheeks as he watch the single tear slide down Tai-Li's face.
“I guess we both are…” Tai-Li softly smiled.
Tai-Shi gently reached up and wiped the tear away. Tai-Li smiled as he did the same for Tai-Shi.
“You're tired…” Tai-Li said softly.
“No I'm not…” Tai-Shi said as he looked away and spotted something hanging out of the drawer of Tai-Li's desk. “What's that?”
“What's what?” Tai-Li turned as he watched Tai-Shi crawl out of his lap and look at the small cloth that was hanging out of his drawer. It was the ribbon.
“It's really pretty.” Tai-Shi smiled as he pulled it out and held it in his hands gently.
“Ya…” Tai-Li agreed as he watched Tai-Shi gently rub it against his face.
“It's so soft…” Tai-Shi smiled.
“It was mother's…” Tai-Li barely said above a whisper.
“Mother's?” Tai-Shi asked as he looked down at the cloth.
“Yes, mother used to wear it in her hair. Here…” Tai-Li took the ribbon from Tai-Shi's hand and grabbed a lock of hair from Tai-Shi's head and gently tied the ribbon into a bow. “Mother would wear it here.”
Tai-Shi immediately crawled out of the bed and ran over to the mirror. He looked into it with the little light from the candle and frowned. “Was mother pretty?”
“Yes…very…she was so kind and gentle.” Tai-Li said softly.
Tai-Shi continued to stare into the mirror, a sad face still lingered.
“What's wrong Tai-Shi?” Tai-Li asked.
“I killed someone so kind…” Tai-Shi said softly as he slowly removed the ribbon from his hair.
“Tai-Shi!” Tai-Li quickly jumped to his feet.
“I don't deserve to wear this…mother would be—” Tai-Shi didn't get to finish.
SLAP!
Tai-Shi held his right cheek and looked up at the teary eyed Tai-Li.
“Tai-Li?” Tai-Shi's eyes once again brimmed with tears.
Tai-Li didn't say anything but wrap his arms around Tai-Shi.
“You idiot…you didn't kill her. She died because she was sick. How many times do I have to tell you this?” Tai-Li asked as he tightly shut his eyes.
“But that is why father hates me…he hates me for killing mother and for being a boy.” Tai-Shi said between sobs.
“Just shut up…I don't care what father thinks…and neither should you.” Tai-Li growled. He felt Tai-Shi shutter. “I'm sorry…here.” Tai-Li slowly took a hold of Tai-Shi's hand, and slowly let him towards the bed. “We'll sleep…” Tai-Li said softly.
“But…” Tai-Shi began.
“No buts…” Tai-Li said as he threw the covers back and pointed to his bed. “You're on the inside.”
Tai-Shi gently smiled as he placed the ribbon on the desk before crawling under the covers Tai-Li held up. Tai-Li soon crawled into the bed and looked over at Tai-Shi.
“Goodnight…” He said with a soft smile.
“Night…” Tai-Shi paused. “Tai-Li?”
“Yes?” Tai-Li asked quietly.
“You'll stay with me?” Tai-Shi asked.
“Yes, of course I will.” Tai-Li replied as he closed his eyes.
“You'll be there for me when I need you right?” He asked.
“Always…” Tai-Li said with a light yawn.
“Thank you…” Tai-Shi smiled as he closed his eyes and cuddled up close to Tai-Li for body warmth.
“Your welcome…” Tai-Li could barely say before he drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
~*~
Author's Note: Well it's me again. Sorry it took so long to get Ch. 9 out. I still have to edit. I finished my outline in three pages…so I went back and added in Tai-Li talking to his mom. I thought it was one of those precious moments that touched upon the heart…you know? I also really had no clue what to call his chapter. I just randomly thought of it.
A few songs inspired this chapter. “Savin' Me” by Nickelback and “Broken” by Seether featuring Amy Lee. They made me think a lot about the emotions between Tai-Shi and Tai-Li at this point…and no! They aren't in love. There's still hints to it. So if you want to see them fall in love, you'll have to read more. I don't like characters falling in love quickly. It has to be drawn out…and pulled together so then it's natural.