[fic] Cosmic Child - Chapter 2
Title: Cosmic Child
Author: jayeanne
Pairing(s): Akanishi Jin x Kamenashi Kazuya
Length: multi-chapter
Rating: PG (for now. will go up in succeeding chapters.)
Genre: AU, drama, adventure (lol, srsly..?)
Summary: When it comes to fixing things, Kazuya was truly a genius. The perfect skill for someone living in the Other Side.
Warning: Lots of OC. Cross-posted in akame_.
A/N: Urgh, I suck at updating. ;_; Anyway, here’s the second part. It’s awfully short, but at least I’m crawling my way out of the dreaded writer’s block. And hopefully, won’t be plaguing me anytime again, soon.
Comments are love!
Chapter 1||
Chapter 2 after the cut. :)
“PAPA!”
The man was lying on an old couch that had clearly seen better days. He was rather big and tall, surely a strong man at first glance, but the sunken cheeks and unseeing eyes belie his condition.
“Pippa? Did you find your brother?”
Pippa kisses him on the cheek, “Hello, Papa.”
“Salman,” Kazuya says, as he removes his worn-out sneakers, lining them up neatly beside the door. “I was just out for a while. You didn’t need to get Pippa to go look for me.”
The older man turns to him, clouded eyes unstaring, “I told you, Kazuya. It’s dangerous. Did you --?”
Kazuya flops down on the chair in front of the couch where the older man was lying down. “I did.”
Pippa looks up from where she was currently kneeling beside her father. “Kazuya, you sneak! You told me you were just gonna go visit Mr. S--!”
“I lied. Sorry.”
“Kazuya.”
Kazuya places the pouch of money in front of him. “I have to do it, Salman. Otherwise you -“
“Stop worrying about me, Kazuya. I might be blind now but I still can-“
“Kazuya,” Pippa admonishes him, “we can get by. I can sell my special cookies you know. People still need them.”
“No,” Kazuya replies flatly. “I told you Pippa. Just concentrate on studying -
“But there’s no more school-“ Pippa bursts out, “You can’t make me! I want to help--!”
“Pippa, Kazuya,” Salman sighs, “Stop. I understand the… circumstances now. As much as I’d like Pippa to stay at home and study, it’s not an option anymore -“
“See!” Pippa says triumphantly, sticking out her tongue at her older brother.
“But Salman, you can’t possibly ---“
Salman raises his hand. “Wait, I’m not finished yet. Yes, Pippa you can go out with your cookies, but please, baby girl, only in the mornings. I’ve managed to wrangle special permission for you, but still. It’s dangerous, Pippa. We don’t know who’s watching.”
“But, Papa!”
“No more buts, missy.” Salman turns his attention to Kazuya, who had been silent all this time, “And you, young man -“
“Salman,” Kazuya says flatly, “you can’t make me. And that special permission that you got from the Chief only applies to your own children -“
“I know that, Kazuya. I know. But I can’t have you roaming the streets at all hours. You’re playing with, danger. You know that -“
“Pippa, go to your room,” Kazuya says in a quiet voice.
“But--!”
“No buts,” Kazuya repeats, “just go.”
Pippa looks at the two in front of her. True, Kazuya wasn’t his real brother and nor was he her daddy’s own son. But she knew that between her and his father, they loved Kazuya as if he were a real son and brother to them. Kazuya did, too. That’s why he kept going through such lengths but he was always, always holding back.
“Fine,” Pippa pouts and stomps out of the room. “It’s not even like I don’t know, moron!”
“Kazuya,” the older man says tiredly, “Pippa is right. She knows enough.”
“Salman, please. I-I …”
Salman casts a long look at the boy in front of him. Kazuya has certainly grown up over the years that he had been watching over him. Physically, he was a far cry from the skinny five year old boy he was, the day they had found him abandoned in that car. However, Salman thought as he fixed his gaze on the boy in front of him, there was still the same streak of stubbornness in him. He could see it in the way those brown eyes were steeled into that defiant look that he was so used to by now.
Salman closes his eyes, drowning out the voice of his bickering children. Kazuya was like a son to him. Though the boy did regard him with a certain degree of love and respect, he never did feel comfortable enough to call him ‘dad’. Truth be told, Salman would have liked that. Saori, too, he was sure. To have Kazuya think of them as his parents. As family.
“Hey, “ five- year-old Pippa suddenly asked his father, eyes still glued on the TV set currently showing a re-run of An American Tail “why does Kazu never call you ‘papa’?”
The said boy suddenly looks up, the small matchbox toy in his hands falling to the floor. He stares at Salman, eyes wide, as if the question hadn’t really entertained his mind.
Salman gives the twelve year old a smile before turning to his daughter, “Well, Pippa it’s up to your brother. To call me -“
“ Pippa” Kazuya butts in, picking up the fallen toy on the floor. “Salman’s not my real father. I shouldn’t call him that.”
“He’s not?” Pippa replies, eyes wide, “but, you’re my older brother, right?” She stares at both her father and Kazuya, her face now crumpled into a puzzled frown, “How can that be?”
“Well, I am your older brother. And Salman is like a father to me, too, but…” he glances up and fixes his gaze on Salman, “he’s not my papa or my dad. I can’t call him -- ”
Salman says quietly, “Kazuya, you’re welcome to call me papa, daddy or father ---“
“No,” the boy softly replies, his eyes reflecting his resolve. “I’m sorry but I can’t.”
“Salman?” Kazuya calls, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Are you even listening to a word I’m saying?”
“Kazuya,” Salman says firmly, “it’s still dangerous. Yes, you’re not my real son, but I do give a fuck about what happens to you. And what you’re doing is more than enough.”
“It’s not,” Kazuya replies, an edge to his voice, “you don’t know what’s happening now, Salman. Almost all the kids … they’re all in the city, doing god-knows-what. And nobody here can do nothing! I -I can’t stand it. The guys… they’re all gone.” he chokes out, “I don’t want… them to disappear, too. Not like mommy and daddy.” He looks up at Salman, eyes glistening, “I have to save them, Salman…! I have to ---“
Salman stands up somewhat unsteadily, and moves closer to Kazuya., “Shh…” he whispers, stroking the young boys’ hair, “they’ll come back, Kazuya. They will.” His own eyes were moist. Those bastards. “We’ll make sure they will.” He wraps his arms around the silently crying boy, “I promise you.”
And this time, I’ll make sure that I’ll be keeping my promise to you, Kazuya.