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"Yasu, I got a new girlfriend."
He merely chuckled. His older brother, Kashuu Kiyomitsu--- school idol, darling of the crowd, the bloody red ruby, rose among the thorns (just to name a few of his awfully-thought aliases by his avid fans); has professed to him that he has a new girlfriend. He was trying his best to count how many times they've had the same conversation, and how many times his brother said the same line. Obviously, he failed. There were too many.
"Really? That's nice. Good luck, I guess."
"Hey~ that's all you have to say to your loving big brother?"
"Hmmm... Try to make it longer than 5 months?"
"H-HEY!!"
The next he know, his big brother has lunged onto him; tackling him on his bed and ruffling his hair as fiercely as he can. They kept rolling on his bed until they reached the edge and both fell down on their back.
"Uwaa--- ORAA!! Stoooooop!!"
"Only if you say please, my wittle brothaaaa~"
Loud laughter and rambling rang inside the room. It was a usual scene: Kiyomitsu suddenly barging into his room just to tell him things that he doesn't really want or need to know. He'd ask for his opinion at times, but he'll end up being proud that he made the best decisions; to Yasusada would simply shrug off and emphasize how stubborn he can get. In the end, they'd wrestle each other, hitting each other with pillows until they get tired and cannot get up anymore.
But that conversation happened more than a year ago.
"Yasu, it's 11 in the evening! You never get home THIS late! Where have you been?"
Kiyomitsu was siting on the couch; arms crossed against his chest. Brows were furrowed, and his piercing look towards his younger brother was unfathomable. Yet his younger brother simply brushed him off and got passed him; as if he wasn't there.
"You..!! YASUSADA!" He grabbed him by the wrist. To his surprise, there was no resistance. He even almost tumbled and tripped.
"... Kendo practice. I told you earlier this morning while you're on the phone. And you said 'Yeah yeah'."
Yasusada's voice was hoarse and weak. Soft inaudible murmurs followed, but Kashuu could barely hear him. Thinking he might be having a bad day, he gave him a light pat on his head.
"There, there. You can't blame me for worrying. And I was having an important conversation with Sakura so..."
Sakura... Kiyomitsu's girlfriend.
Her. Again.
"Tch," Yasusada yanked his hand off his head. "Sorry for disturbing your important conversation with your girlfriend then. I'm very much sorry."
Long strides and almost bumping against his brother, he told himself he'll resort to just leaving notes on the fridge instead.
But that conversation happened nine months ago.
"What happened?!! And uh... Who are you?"
Muddled was the perfect description of Kiyomitsu's thought at that moment. It was Yasusada's birthday today. Hence, he decided to clear his schedule just to prepare for it. He had spent almost all day going to places just to get him the perfect gift. After that, he cooked all his favorite dishes, and even bought him a celebratory case of beer for them to share. Everything was perfect... Supposedly.
"Yasu's drunk af. I dunno what his problem is, but he did empty a case of beer... must be heavy. Name's Okita by the way."
"Okita-kuuuun... Muh beeeer...."
"Silly, we're at your house already," he gave him a light chop on the head after dumping him onto the sofa.
"Sorry, who are you again?"
"Kiyomitsu. I'm his brother."
"Really? Hey silly, you never told me you have a brother! You should've called him instead!"
"Heessshh prolly busssy making out wizzz his gurlfriend, ya know..."
"Shut up and stop whining. Your brother's here, and you're home already."
"HOME?!! I'm fuckin' alone! Who cares where home izzz... Hic!"
Yasusada murmured more under his breathe as he got himself to dreamland. Okita excused himself right after; leaving the two by themselves. The older brother was completely taken aback from everything that has just happened. Yasusada hated alcohol, but now he's dead drunk. He has this friend named 'Okita' whom he called to take him home instead of him, his brother. His own freaking brother.
He swore to himself that Yasusada will never have a drop of alcohol enter his system. Never again. And if he had to tie him down and take him every time he's going out, then so be it.
But that happened five months ago.
"Wakey, wakey~ wake up, Yasuuuuu~"
"Hnnnngh..."
"Come on, wake up~"
The blanket seemed to have made Kiyomitsu's voice more... effeminate? Or maybe he's just too sleepy, he thought to himself. A few moments after, his precious blanket and body pillow were snatched from him. Rubbing his eyes, pink glowing eyes and pinkish yellow hair came to sight. Wait... pink?
"Good morning Yasu~"
"GAAH-!!"
He instantly pulled the covers to him upon seeing some foreigner-looking girl staring at his sleepy form.
"S-S-Sakura? Why you here?"
"You see, I actually stayed over since Kiyomitsu insisted and..."
Oh God. He closed his eyes and tried to shut off everything she was saying. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear any of it.
"... And so I'm here. Kiyo's still sleeping so I made him breakfast. Of course, the same goes for you."
Did she just call him 'Kiyo'? Great. Just great.
"S-Sorry, Sakura. I-I... I... I gotta leave."
"But it's just six in the morning."
"Kuh-P-P-Practice! RIght! Kendo practice! Gotta run! See you and uhh thanks for the breakfast!"
Leaving the puzzled girl in his room (oh man, he just left a girl in his room; this is so great), he rushed out to get his bag and left as fast as he could.
Ever since that day, Yasusada never had breakfast at home.
But that happened two months ago.
"Kiyomitsu, I'm going out."
"... Huh?" He snatched his alarm clock on the desk. It's two in the morning.
"The hell, Yasu. You're not leaving."
"Okita-kun's sick. I gotta go to his apartment."
Okita. That name. Again. He decided to make a different approach.
"But what if I'm sick too? Won't you stay and take care of your brother?"
"You're a bad liar, Kiyomitsu. And... you can just call in your girlfriend. That's how things work nowadays, right?"
There was something about Yasusada's way of speaking that made his nerves tingle in a very bad way. It was borderline sarcastic... Disrespectful.
"So, are you Okita's girlfriend now? Rushing to his aid whenever he needs you?"
Yasusada's lips were in a thin line. He was obviously equally displeased with what he's heard.
"A friend who happens to be a boy. Yeah I'm one of his 'boyfriends'. Happy now? Can I leave? Okay, bye."
A slam of the door followed. Next time Yasusada will meet Okita, he'll make sure that prick will have a piece of his mind for snatching off his precious time with his precious brother.
But that happened three weeks ago.
THUD!
Harder. Harder.
PAK! PAK! PAK! PAK! PAK!
Stronger. Faster.
BAM! PAK! VLAM!
One last strike--
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"Okay, stinking men. Sparring's over. Cool down and we're done for the day. Dismissed!"
Yasusada fell onto the ground and their match was cut short, in favor of his partner. He held his hand out onto him; to which he gladly took. They ended their match with an exchange of bows, and his partner seems to be delighted that their match has come to a close. Removing their protective helmets, Yasusada approached his partner and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"You're really good, Captain. Well, I've always admired you... Your technique, your passion. You're just amazing," Yasusada gripped the other's shoulder as a sign of affirmation.
"So... Still not good enough to beat me, Vice captain Yamato?" his closest friend, Okita gave a beaming smile. "Look at everyone. Most of them joined the Kendo club after seeing you last year slamming your way to the regionals. The first year student who made his way to the regular lineup, and then competing against Kansai reps, and getting invited overseas and--- ah, so many achievements!"
"T-Thanks... It's not a one-man thing. You were there too."
Okita only sighed. "You know, he could have been there, too. But, you never told him."
"I always left a note. He never came. None of my competitions," Yasu helped Okita removed his armor as he spotted him while doing sit-ups.
"Hm. Maybe her girlfriend threw all your notes. Girls can be scary at times."
They exchanged places and spotted each other for more cool down exercises. From a distance, the captain can see a certain trendy-looking guy with a pink-haired girl clinging onto him.
"Oooh Yasu. Your brother's here to get you."
"Yeah. Promised him to go with them watch some movie."
Okita groaned as Yasu pushed his back. "So you're a freaking chaperone now?"
"You make it sound so bad."
"Your face makes it look so bad, Mr.Third Wheel."
"Wha--"
Before Yasusada can retort, he was already being called by his brother. Oddly enough he could hear his footsteps loud and clear. Seemingly similar to an impending doom, he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Okita's expression turned stern; placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Okita, I have to go."
"You don't wanna go."
"I---"
"Such a bad liar, you poor thing. If you're just worried you're gonna lose your damn brother, then drop the act."
With one swoop, he pulled Yasusada to him and walked towards the couple. His friend of a martyr was too confused with what was about to happened, and it was for the better.
"Yasusada, we're gonna be late. Let's go."
"Yeah I'm just pack---"
"Sorry, he's not going."
Kiyomitsu and Yasusada were both taken aback.
"He's not going?"
"I'm not going?"
"Uhmm... what's going on? We're really gonna be late, Kiyo..."
A trace of a grin was found on Okita's face.
"Loads of work to do. Training, fixing lineup... Brotherly bonding."
The red-eyed brother narrowed his eyes. This cheeky, self-effacing prick, he inwardly cursed.
"E-Excuse me? He's my brother."
"Yes, you are his brother. But the thing is, he happened to be the big brother of the entire Kendo team. Anyway, we gotta go Yasu."
"Kiyo, we're late already~ Let's go! He's busy! We can go without him.
As the brothers were being pulled away from each other's gazes, their thoughts have already converged...
"She's calling him 'Kiyo'."
"Bastard's calling him 'Yasu'."
It seemed almost a long time, and without them realizing...
"He's been taken away from me."
They both let out a sigh and never turned back.