The Silent Devil Sleeps

…...

Every thing that lives, sleeps.

Everything that sleeps, lives.

And soon that slumber is cut open, to a waking state.

But the waking state is not always the easiest to achieve.

But hear this, child.

With your hair the color of ravens,

Eyes of the ocean,

Skin like peaches,

I will wake you.

Ravens with horns.

Ocean of blood.

Peaches drowned in snow.

I will wake you.

1:

Jin stood in front of the window, waiting. Vacation had come to an end, and it was his youngest son's first day of middle school. He was overprotective of Jouji. Yes, he is an exceptional fighter, a quick learner, and an incredible child, but his disability had always made him...vulnerable in Jin's eyes, since the April night he was born.

The past twelve years had been hard on the Kazama family. Jouji is truly a gift—Jin had no second thoughts as far as that went—but his mother passed away while she was pregnant with him. Surprisingly, the doctors could save the five-months premature baby, and as small as he was, he was healthy, for the most part. There were a few things off, like his extremely sensitive eardrums, but everything else would become normal with time. Well...most of everything else.

The baby didn't cry. He made no sounds at all, as a matter of fact, and this worried Jin, the twins, and the doctors. More tests were ran, and within twenty four hours, the problem was discovered.

Jouji is mute.

His throat had not developed properly. His neck was weak, which was expected since he was born so early, but a very devastating defect had come with this baby, and it was that he had absolutely no vocal cords. In order for is survival, the doctors placed a thin plate in the hollow area, to close it up so that no internal bleeding could happen there.

Jin would always remember being told his son would never speak.

Jouji grew up very differently from most children. He had to wear a thick brace around his neck until he was about five-and-a-half, and most of the children in the kindergarten class stared at him. They thought it looked funny, and since it was metal they assumed Jouji had to be part robot.

He hears perfectly, exceptionally, as a matter of fact. But in order to communicate, he has to use sign language. Jin made sure his family became fluent in the language, so they could understand Jouji. Even Hwoarang and Xiaoyu, hearing of their friend's baby's condition, taught their own families how to use it.

But Jin knew not every person Jouji comes into contact with would know sign language. And that worried him. The middle school Jouji was attending brought in a lot of kids from different countries, though the majority of them were Japanese. And he knew not all of them would know.

His thoughts stopped when the front door slid open.

"Jouji," Jin smiled, "How was your first day?"

(It was okay), Jouji replied, sighing, (I'm just exhausted).

"At least he didn't have a bad day." Jin said, relieved. "Where are your brother and sister?"

(They were with their friends, last I saw. They probably just started walking home.)

"Sounds like them." Jin sighed. "Well, are you hungry, or anything?"

(No.)

"Well, if you're tired, go take a nap. Training is starting in about two hours, Jou."

(Okay, Dad.) The boy ran upstairs.

Jin sighed a second time. He'd better get ready for training, himself. But since the other two weren't home yet, they might get a late start...

Training the children was enjoyable for Jin. Through years and years of searching and testing things out, he'd found a way to seal the Devil Gene in himself, and in his children. It was extremely hard to seal it in himself, it took nearly seven months to complete, but for his children it was easy. While his wife was pregnant, he sealed the unborn baby. But the child had to be three months or further developed, still inside the mother's womb.

Still, it was great that his children would never have to go through what he did. He'd never mentioned it to any of his children, but Jiyashi and Jun, the older twins, were going to be seventeen soon. He'd have to say something about the faded out 'birthmarks' on their bodies sooner or later.

Jouji closed the door to his room. His eyelids were drooping, nearly falling over his eyes as he slumped down against the door. The first day of school was always the easiest for Jouji...and if he's exhausted like this on the first day...what would the rest of the year be like?

Of course, as soon as he'd walked into the classroom, the teacher had called him up to the front and explained to everyone that he was mute. Every teacher, every class. He felt like an outsider...not only was he the shortest kid in the class (and he's one of the oldest! The schoolyear starts in April, and his birthday is about three weeks from now.), but he can't talk. Oh, what a wonderful life.

He laid on his bed and sighed. He definitely wasn't looking forward to seventh grade.

…

Two weeks and four days had passed. Jouji had made a few friends...but definitely not a lot. He knew his father was concerned about his social life...or lack of, rather, because the only times Jouji left the house was for school and sign language classes...which were only once a week.

But...not so average boys have not so average social lives, he supposed.

"Jouji!" His brother, Jun, had tackled him.

Jouji yelped silently at the sudden attack.

"What's up, kid?"

Jouji shrugged. He wasn't really doing anything. He never really did do anything after training.

Jun patted his brother on the back. "Jiyashi told me you were having a hard time at school."

Jouji looked shocked. (How did she know that?)

"She didn't. I just said she did to find out if you were having a hard time or not. So...I guess you are?"

Jouji pouted. Why'd his brother have to be so damn overprotective anyway? (I'm just not making many friends, that's all.)

"Well why?" Jun smirked, "All my friends are constantly telling me how cute you are. Probably because you look so much like me, and all."

Jouji rolled his eyes. (You're an ass.)

"I'm just trying to help you! Why don't you hang out with me and my friends?"

Jouji blinked. (Really?)

"Why not? I'm not an ass. I don't hog my friends and refuse to let them hang out with other people. What period do you have lunch?"

(5th.)

"Good. I do too. Just find us and you can sit with us. Problem solved."

Jouji smiled. So Jun wasn't an ass all the time.

…

Jouji woke up on the couch. He had been watching a movie with Jun and Jiyashi...and he guessed that he'd fallen asleep.

Jiyashi was gone...she'd probably went to bed. That was like her. To leave her brothers sleeping on a school night.

Jouji checked the time...it was nearly midnight. He shook his brother, then clapped to get his attention.

Jun's eyes opened slowly. "Jouji...? What time is it?"

(Midnight. Jiyashi went to bed, and I'm going too.)

"Me too. C'mon." Jun cut off the TV and went upstairs with his younger brother, careful not to wake their father. If he knew they were up this late on a school night, he'd murder them in cold blood, bring them back to life, and murder them a second time.

Jouji laid on his bed as he heard his brother snoring already, in the bed across from him.

Jouji closed his eyes, and soon enough, he too had drifted to sleep.

But it was less than five minutes later when he heard a strange ringing sound.

He sat up, covering his agitated ears. Looking to his right, he saw his brother, still fast asleep.

Jouji sighed. He had school in less than five hours, and there was no way he would be ready without sleeping. Whatever that sound was, he had to silence it. That, and he wanted a glass of water.

He pulled up his pajamas...okay, so they had kittens on them, big deal, as he tiptoed past his father's door. Then his sister's door. Soon after, he slowly and carefully descended down the wooden staircase, every creak dangerous.

Soon he was in the kitchen, and the sound had gotten considerably louder. Then it stopped.

"You're joking, right?" Jouji thought, pissed that he'd come so far for silence.

He searched the cupboards for a glass, when someone grabbed his arm.