Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Family ❯ Ashes, ashes, we all fall down ( Chapter 19 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I looked over to see a jagged shard of glass lying on the dusty floor of the attack, gleaming at me innocently, mockingly. It sparkled and glittered and it amazed me that something so bright was in such a dark place. I got angry suddenly and grabbed it, getting ready to throw it when I stopped. I flipped it in my hands a few times, the sharp edges biting into my skin like a warning. Hmmm�

Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.01.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 284 | Status: Completed

Kento's POV

The restaurant was teeming with hungry customers by the time I'd gotten back up the front. I dodged past a few people and ducked into the kitchen, taking new orders as they came in rapid fire. One thing I've learned is that you really have to have a level head to work in a place like this. And that's the one thing I happen to lack.

My mom came over and patted me on the shoulder gently. “Thanks for all your help today, son.” She said, smiling gratefully. “Your friends should get sick more often!” She smiled at me softly but it turned serious almost instantly. “Kento, what's wrong with that young man in there? He looks like the living dead and he's nothing but skin and bones.”

I nodded and glanced towards the door. “I know what you mean, I asked him earlier what had happened but he never had the chance to explain. I'm worried about him.”

She nodded and handed me the phone. “Well, if anything, I think you should call his parents and at least let them know where he is right now. I'm sure they must be worried sick.”

I looked at the phone like it had spike on the numbers. “I don't know the number.” I said quickly, maybe a little too quickly.

My mother turned around, looking a little surprised. “Well, I'm sure it's in the phone book. Are you afraid of calling his house?”

I shook my head but she had hit dead on. For some reason, I had terrible feeling about calling his house. I couldn't explain why, maybe just a hunch, but I felt an extreme sense of foreboding when just thinking about calling.

My mother watched me carefully, and sat down across from me. “Kento, if there's something going on with that boy in there we need to know. It's unacceptable to have him living in a house that's dangerous for him.”

I nodded slowly, staring at the phone still resting in my hand. “I know. I need to ask him but I'm worried that it may not be anything that serious and then I'd feel like a total jerk for even suggesting it. I mean his parents could be great people (hah!) and I'd just insult them.”

“I know, son.” She began, patting my hand gently. “But if you don't ask he may continue to suffer in silence.” She got up and kissed me on the forehead, turning and walking up the stairs to her bedroom.

I watched her go and thought for a second about how I would ask Cye if his parents beat him. Not the easiest conversation starter if I do say so myself.

I walked into the living room to find Cye where I'd left him. Exactly where I'd left him. Damn, it had been almost 6 hours and the kid hadn't so much as turned over. I thought for a second he was dead but saw him breathing slowly and realized that was not the case.

“Cye.” I said softly, kneeling beside him and nudging him a little.

He stirred slightly but remained asleep.

I shook him a little harder, talking louder as well. “Hey man, come on. It's time to get up, okay?”

Still asleep.

I sighed and brushed his hair away from his face, pausing to feel his forehead. It was still a little warm but nothing too deadly. I shook him a little harder. “Cye, wake up.”

He whimpered softly and curled away from me a little.

I raised my eyebrow in concern. It almost seemed like he was trying to get away or protect himself. This wasn't normal and it definitely wasn't helping resolve my previous concerns about his family. “Cye? You okay?” I touched his shoulder again, softly and comfortingly.
Before I could react, Cye cried out and shot upright, his eyes wide and unfocused.

I jumped and caught him as he hit my shoulder, wrapping my arms around him and holding him gently. “Hey man, it's just me. You're alright. Everything's okay.” His heart pounded against my shoulder and he gripping my arms tightly.

Slowly, reality began to dawn on him and he relaxed, looking around the room carefully and taking in his surroundings. His breathing evened out and his grip on my arms began to loosen. “Kento…?”

I nodded and looked him in the eye. “Jesus, man. You about gave me a heart attack. Are you okay?”

He nodded hesitantly, looking around still as if he was afraid to close his eyes again. “Yeah…I'm alright…I just had a nightmare.”

“Mind if I ask what it was about?”

He looked at me, his blue-green eyes still wide and hazy with sleep. “I dreamed…that someone was chasing me…and I couldn't get away.” he explained hesitantly.

It sounded fake. Like a dream he made up on the spot, but I didn't want to pressure him to continue if it bothered him that much. “Are you sure you're okay?”

He nodded slowly and leaned back a little, hugging the pillow to his chest. His face was pink with embarrassment and fatigue but he seemed a lot more animated than he had earlier.

“So, uh, where do you live?” I asked innocently, watching his face for any kind of reaction.

“A house.”

“Smart ass.” I smirked and picked a piece of fuzz from the couch, tossing it to the floor absently. “I tried calling your house.”

This did the trick. Cye immediately straightened and sat rigid. “And…?”

“I didn't know the number so I couldn't.”

He visibly relaxed and leaned back again.

“Cye,” I began quietly. “There's something you're not telling me and it's really making me upset that you feel you have to hide things from me. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise, but I can't help you if you won't let me.”

He sat quietly, staring at the floor.

“Cye, listen, I want you to be completely honest with me. Is everything alright at home?”

He was silent for several more seconds, almost like he was debating his answer. “Yeah, everything is okay.” He lied.

I sighed heavily and stood, grabbing a jacket from the coat rack and pocketing my keys. “Come on, I'll give you a ride home.” It sounded a little rude, I know, but I hated seeing him hurt and the fact that he was lying to me wasn't making things any better.

Cye nodded and stood slowly, grabbing his bag and heaving it onto hi shoulder.

I wrote out a note saying “be back later” and pinned it to the refrigerator, walking out to the car and starting it up.

Cye's POV

I gave Kento the directions to my house and stared blankly out the window. I wanted to tell him everything, God I did, but I didn't want to get anyone else involved in the mess I'd gotten myself into. I'm an idiot, sure, but I couldn't bear to have him get hurt because of me. I knew damn well that Takura wouldn't hold himself back from getting to me by using my friends and I wasn't about to let that happen.

The ride there was unbearably quiet and an awkward silence had fallen between us. I knew Kento was angry at me for lying to him but I had my reasons for it as well.

He stared straight ahead, saying almost nothing as he drove down the dark streets.

I sighed softly and gazed out the window. This is going to get worse before it gets better.

The house appeared off in the distance and it took every ounce of strength I had left not to jump out of the car and run for my life.

The car pulled to a stop and Kento unlocked the doors casually.

I stepped out and grabbed my bag, pulling it onto my shoulder. “Thanks for everything.” I said, smiling lightly and trying to lighten the mood.

Kento laughed softly and shook his head a little. “Yeah, no prob man.”

I stepped back and watched as he pulled out of the driveway. Once he'd driven off, I gulped heavily and turned around. I felt like a prisoner walking to his execution.

Vaguely, I wondered how hard it would be for me to climb through the window upstairs. I'd be able to see thankfully, if nothing else. I'd managed to buy a fish tank the other day and set it up without Takura and Shimate noticing. Even though it wasn't that big, it provided light at night and offered some sort of comfort just knowing that the fish were there. They always made me feel better.

I dissed the window idea and went to the front door, opening it quietly and jumping as I saw Takura waiting for me in the hallway. I expected him to jump me or attack but it never happened. I glanced around, making sure me route was clear and took off up the stairs and into my room.

The dark room smelled a lot like a pool and I looked around curiously to find the source of the smell. Oh no…A bottle of Clorox lay empty and open beside my fish tank and all of my fish floated lifelessly on the surface of the water. I bit back a cry and ran over to the tank, sweeping my hand out the water and hoping against hope that at least one was still alive. But no such luck, every single one was dead.

My door creaked open and I looked up to see Takura standing in the doorway, grinning hideously. “Whatsa matter, Cye? Don't you like your surprise? I know how much you loved those little fish.”

My anger overcame common sense and I threw myself at him, trying to cause some kind of damage.

He laughed drunkenly at my pathetic attempt to fight him and shoved me up against the wall, pinning my wrists. “You would make such a pretty girl.” he slurred.

I struggled in vain. “Get off of me!”

He smirked and leaned towards me. “You didn't say please.” And with that he pulled me into a bruising kiss. He bit my lip hard and backed up, dropping me to the floor hard.

I coughed and gagged and spit for a long time, shaking all over.

He stood above me and just laughed, taking another drink of his beer. “You just remember to keep shut about this, you little slut.” He grabbed the door for support and smiled horribly. “You're my property, boy. And I can break you in more than one way if that's what it takes.” He belched and laughed, slamming the door closed behind him, leaving me alone in the dark room.

I hugged my knees close to my chest and drew in a shaking breath. I felt so disgusting!! That man had just violated what little shred of privacy I had left!!

Tears threatened to spill over and I struggled to keep from sobbing. As I went to hang my head, a bright glint of light caught my eye.

Cye: No way, no way!

Me: Oh, come on.

Cye: No!