Family Matters Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Glancing down at the figure in his arms Asami inquired “Do I know you?”
Familiar hazel eyes looked up at him. Peachy lips replied “don’t tell me you forgot? Nii sama it’s me Akihito, Ruri nee’s brother?”
Rurika’s little brother? The scrawny punk who challenged him when he went to ask for Rurika’s hand in marriage? The one who looked at him with adoration? This heavenly creature nestled in his arms is that little Aki?
Composing himself Asami looked at Akihito with cold eyes and said in a neutral voice “Welcome Akihito. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” He realized he was slightly miffed that the boy didn’t bother attending the funeral of his only relative.
Akihito for his part looked sheepish. “Well sorry for dropping by unexpectedly, it’s just that my plane landed a few hours ago and I thought I’d like to meet nee chan and see the baby before I went home. I was kinda worried since she hasn’t been answering her phone or any of my e-mails. I guess it’s a bad time huh? I’ll come see nee chan later then Nii sama, take care” saying that Akihito gracefully hoisted his bag onto his shoulders and turned around to leave.
Asami was truly and beyond puzzled. What the hell was this punk talking about? Didn’t he know that his sister had passed? “Wait Akihito, I think we need to talk. Please come in”
“Sure thing Nii sama” saying so Akihito cheerfully walked into the apartment oblivious to the news he was about to receive.
“Want something to drink?”
“No thanks. I just wanted to see nee chan and the baby”
“Exactly how long ago did you talk with your sister Akihito?”
“Umm…I think about four months ago. After that I got busy finishing my work and school so I really didn’t have any time to talk to her. I e-mailed her a lot, but she never answered them” Akihito said in a sad voice.
I guess he really doesn’t know. Feeling a twinge of sympathy Asami prepared to tell him the sad news.
“Akihito I am extremely sorry to say this to you but…” suppressing a sigh he continued “your nee san is…no more”. The boy said absolutely nothing, just sat there and stared at him.
“Huh? Come again?”
“Rurika passed away three months ago. I’m sure the funeral notice was sent to your house, but since you weren’t here you wouldn’t know about it so…”
“What the hell are you talking about old man? Is this some kind of joke? Look man I’m sorry for dropping by without any notice but c’mon don’t you think it’s a little too much?”
Gritting his teeth Asami said in a deathly calm voice “Do you think I will joke about something like this Takaba?”
“The hell not? You never liked me from the beginning did you bastard? For all I know this could be your way of kicking me out of nee chan’s life. Well newsflash you asshole I am not leaving so easily and further more not without seeing my nee chan.”
“So”, Asami began in a chilling tone “you want to see your sister is it? Well…let’s go then”
Suddenly Akihito found himself being dragged by the old devil. He looked up to see his ‘Nii sama’ bark some orders at someone. What the hell is his problem? I hope nee chan is fine. Should’ve known he’d go senile one of these days.
Without a backwards glance he pushed Akihito into the car closing the door behind him. For the next few minutes a tense silence rang in the car with neither party acknowledging each other.
Finally the car stopped and once again Akihito found himself being dragged. Suddenly the pair stopped in front of an elaborate tomb stone. The stone was made up of pure marble with nadeshiko flowers etched on its surface. Right above the flowers the name Asami Rurika was penned elegantly on the surface of the stone.
A sense of foreboding spread all over Akihito rendering him breathless. This has got to be some sort of sick joke elaborated by the old man right? His nee chan is probably hiding in the apartment punishing him for not calling her. Silently he crept over to the stone softly tracing the lettering with a delicate finger.
Looking back at the man behind him the sharp retort stopped in his lips. His face was as calm as usual; however Asami’s eyes were glowing with regret. Even if the face could lie, the eyes told the truth. Shaking his head in disbelief Akihito stalked over to the man.
Clutching the front of Asami’s suit by the lapels Akihito shouted “You bastard, you promised you’d take care of her. What happened to that promise huh? How could you? How could you?”
He began hitting Asami’s chest with his fists chanting how could you? over and over again while rain poured over both of them expressing their grief with them.