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The Fourth Drop

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Yoake no Akai Sora

Red sky in the morning; shepherds warnings. A storm was coming and a warning was given but it was idle. Nothing could be done except watching silently. It would be unforgetable day. Everything looked so holy…so innocently seducing to let go of everything. He could easily smell the death smile in the air yet that smell was mixed with something fresh. A fantastic mixture of life and death. His subconscious acted as if the trip was approaching its close despite his weak attempts to concentrate on anything other than the suffocating air of death. A calm smile brushed his lips gently sympolizing both sides' futile efforts. He would wait and see.

His pale fingers closed the window and released the dark curtains from their grip omitting any evidence of ever touching it. Kouichi left his place by the window's side and moved towards his brother's bed. Seriously, what had gotten into him to go to Kouji's room? Maybe it was possible to open the younger twin's window unlike his own window. It was carefully locked after all.

He felt a sudden pang of guilt when he looked at Kouji's peaceful features. He didn't really understand the reasons but a part of him wanted to apologize.

A mystery, soft, soothing and gentle, like the whisper of a child murmuring its happiness in its sleep: 'Kouji.'

A deal was quickly signed between his conscious and subconscious. He wanted to stop thinking about all the morning's signs. It was much safer not to torture himself with things he wasn't cablable of understand so ignoring it would be much better. As illogical as it sounded, an off button seemed to be pressed. And he didn't care anymore about what that sky might offer to him. If it had been decided, it would be over. No point in over-thinking about it. Destiny had the final word after all.

A voice soft and sweet as a tune that one adores. 'Hey Kouji~ wake up.'

He called again in the same musical, comforting symphony. The repetitive calls were childish. They held a degree of nagging. It was almost fun to be carefree and childish…even if his attempts were artificial. He had never been used to act in that way. Acting like a child was something he deprived himself of either because of illness or being a smart stubborn idiot as Kouji called him once.

'Kouji, com'n!'

Kouji continued hiding under his mattress for another few minutes, ignoring the call and surely wondering in his subconscious why on earth would anyone wake him up so early in a holiday(his biological clock didn't kick in yet so it was early)

Being rude had never been one of Kouichi's characteristics but he couldn't help the small amused smirk he expressed when he continued shaking Kouji's shoulder's gently, repeating the same call. Kouji answered grumpily with "five more minutes, 'Kaa-san"

That made Kouichi giggle and nag even more. Everything seemed like it had changed. Miraculously, his health was better in the last few days. He only had a slight fever the previous night and it had decreased by the morning. Even the doctors seemed surprised of that. In the past few years, he couldn't even raise his head from the pillow for days before his birthday and he would be forced to visit the hospital once he completely collapse which usually happened a day before his birthday. Shockingly, he was really fine, much better than how he had been for the last whole year and his birthday was less than 20 hours. He had even eaten something quick after waking up without his mother's help and had climbed the stairs to Kouji's room. It had felt too normal to be hungry after staring at the room ceiling for the whole night. He couldn't sleep, afraid that he would drift to one of his fantasies. He loved his dreams but when the fear of becoming worse hovered, staying awake became much better and even easier. He had experienced the lack of his fantasy dreams for at least three days before every birthday and this year wasn't much different.

'Kouji enough sleeping already!' That wasn't fair and he knew it. His brother hadn't enjoyed much of sleep the previous night. Today was the supposed date for the festival-the waited day to go out. Kouji was surely anxious as much as him or even more but he couldn't do anything to relieve his tension except re-assuring for the millionth time that he would be fine-that he would celebrate his birthday on time with Kouji and his parents.

'If you don't wake up, I won't come back to your room!' He wasn't sure if that was a threat. The last time he came to Kouji's room was two years ago and threating him with that wasn't helpful but somehow it did the trick and forced Kouji to throw the mattress away and open his eyes with rapid blinks.

Kouji's sleepy midnight eyes gazed at his skyish eyes. A small grin curled the elder twin's lips as he chirped sweetly. 'I am glad you decided to wake up.'

It was fun to watch Kouji stare at him as if he had never seen him before and it was even funnier when Kouji jumped from his bed and clutched his shoulders as to make sure he was there. Half a minute passed and Kouji didn't shout with "what are you doing up here". Instead, he blinked for the tenth time and asked in confusion, all sleepiness had escaped. 'Nii-san?'

Kouichi chuckled at that and patted Kouji's head like a mother comforting her kid. 'You look totally different when you wake up,'

That was true in several ways. Kouji's hair was loose, no bandana or ponytail to keep it tamed. The mask he showed to the world was completely lost, revealing a child's confusion and surprise.

The younger twin sighed at his brother's teasing and rubbed his brows, trying to push the headache he felt because of jumping this quick after being nicely lying on his bed. Before he could start pouring questions, Kouichi answered hurriedly with a shy timid smile, 'It is five in the morning. I couldn't sleep last night.'

'You're in my room, right?' The question came in a form of silly wondering after he processed Kouichi's answer to the non-existent question.

Kouichi nodded.

'And we don't have school?'

'We're in holiday, Kouji.'

Kouji collapsed on the bed and muttered, 'After all this nagging to wake me up, I'm not so sure.'

Kouichi laughed. A true laugh that abandoned worries and fears. For few seconds after the small heartily laugh, he wondered silently when was the last time, he laughed without needing a reason. He missed laughing-missed being normal even though he had never been normal to remember how it felt. The thought made him feel down. Traces of happiness faded as he gazed at the tangled bed sheets under him. What if he couldn't keep his promise to Kouji? What if he was too weak to fight to be like anyone else? What if it was impossible to act like anyone else? Wasn't it enough to scare and worry his family for him? What if the nagging feeling of wrongness… of the barely ignored feeling of the end was true? What if the words he uttered to gain their mercy and approval were true? He told them that he wanted to go for the first and the last time. Would he collapse there and…die?

'Nii-san!'

He raised his head slowly to meet Kouji's concerned ones. He had made him worried. Again.

'Yeah.' He tried to smile but it came fake.

Kouji noticed that and sat crossed legged in front of him. 'So what happened to be so annoying and wake me up this early?' Trying to lighten the mood wasn't easy. But as he had said nothing before to make it gloomy, playfully blaming his brother would make things better. And he was right. Kouichi returned all energetic again and smirked like a small amused kitten.

'Told you. I couldn't sleep so I waited the sun to rise and came to you.'

'You climbed up the stairs on your own?' There was a hidden worry in the amused question Kouji asked.

'Yep. 'Kaa-san and 'Tou-san are still asleep.' Kouichi answered proudly which made Kouji smirk evilly before asking: 'So they don't know you're up here. You'd be in trouble, Nii-san.'

The elder twin pouted. 'They'd come up here to ask you if you know something about my disappearance so that's okay.'

He said his words good naturally but the word disappearance made Kouji wince. Wasn't that what he was scared of? Wasn't waking up one morning and discovering that his brother wasn't in his room what terrify him? Those trance-like moments took his brother away mentally. Could they take him away physically? Could the mysterious wings he was so sure of their existence steal his brother from him…forever.

'Hey Kouji. You okay?'

'I'm fine. Just thinking.'

'About what? You didn't change your mind about going out tonight, did you?' Kouichi sounded scared, his hands, fisting the bed sheet worriedly.

Ironically, Kouji had momentarily forgotten that it was the supposed day. He had forgotten why he couldn't wake up easily like always. Staying awake till half past three in the morning. He was doing nothing but thinking of what he should do if something went wrong.

He shook his head calmly and gave his brother a sweet smile to placate his worries. 'Of course not, Nii-san. It was a promise after all.'

He wished it wasn't.

Kouichi returned the smile but a yawn cut that smile, causing Kouji to giggle mischievously. 'You need to sleep Kouichi.'

'I'm fine.' Another yawn finished his answer.

'You can sleep next to me. I'm still sleepy anyway.'

'I'm sorry for wa-

'Don't be.'

Kouji prepared the bed for his brother and brought the mattress he had thrown. After smoothing the bed carefully, he sat down and patted the place next to him. Kouichi who had been standing by the bedside during this, slipped easily under the light bed sheets. It was summer after all.

Their eyes locked for a while before Kouji cut the silent conversation. 'It'd been a while since we slept like this.'

'Yeah.'

The room was slightly dark even though the sun was up. The curtains prevented any light from entering. They lied next to each other, shoulders touching slightly. The last time he had slept like this beside Kouichi was when they were six. Kouichi was sick as always and Kouji was too stubborn to understand that he no longer should sleep next to his brother. They were old enough to sleep in separated rooms besides his parents were worried that he could get affected by his brother's disease-whatever it was. Back then, he sneaked to Kouichi's room and slept next to him, pulling him into a hug and causing him to wake up. Kouichi had been too happy to see him and few minutes later they drifted into peaceful slumber. Their parents were angry at him but they didn't punish him. His brother's fever went down by the morning so they had allowed them to stay together the whole day.

'Kouji?'

'Yeah.'

'D-do you mind? I- I mean. It's just. I…I'

Kouji smirked to the darkness. His brother was surely blushing while struggling to form words. They were twins. Surely, Kouichi had remembered the same incident. His fingers traveled slowly till it touched Kouichi's check. It was warm but not dangerously warm to express a fever. Kouji strocked his brother's cheek gently then brushed the soft looks from his eyes. Kouichi was surprised when that started but then he lent into the touch and smiled contently, closing his eyes and preparing himself to sleep. Kouji was there. Beside him. There was no way he wouldn't be fine even if in another world.

'Do you want a hug?' Kouji's flushed question made Kouichi's face redden so quickly and obviously even in the darkness. It wasn't wrong. That is for sure but they were thirteen. Quite older than the last time they hugged while sleeping. Sure the hugs were familiar between them but…

Kouichi nodded, abandoning his thoughts and snuggling closer to his brother. 'I wanted to ask that.'

'I know.'

'Kouji?'

'Yeah.'

'I'd be fine. I'll try. I promise so you don't have to hug me desperately as if it'd be the last time.'

Kouji blushed darkly, admiring his brother's intelligence and ability to read his heartbeats. Kouichi's head was securely leaning against his chest, hands clutching him tightly but not as tight as how Kouji was pulling him to his chest. Kouichi was right. He was scared. Scared of not holding him again but even Kouichi's muffled and sleepy words couldn't make him easen his grip. They made him feel better and stronger.

Here and now, he was able to hold his brother tightly. He could protect him from the world and from whatever was going to happen. His hands traced Kouichi's back where the wings should be. Nothing was abnormal there but Kouji felt glad and even a bit hysterically proud that his fingertips were touching that specific place as if he could prevent those wicked wings from appearing again. He wouldn't let them or anything else take his brother away. No matter what.

'You look adorable!' Minamoto Tomoko clasped her hands together and chirped happily. The sight of her elder son in his black and violet Yukata was thrilling.

Kouichi continued blushing which made him even cuter. As a result, Tomoko couldn't stop herself from giving him another hug.

'Hey, are you ready?'

Kouji and his father entered the living room. Kouji smirked at the scene.

Their mother undid the hug and turned to face them. She scolded immediately upon eyeing the younger twin's outfit. 'I told you to wear your Yutaka, Kouji! You can't go out like this.'

Kouji crossed his arms and protested. 'I am not wearing it even if my life depends on that.'

'And why not?'

He wanted to shout with how embarrassing would it be if he wore it. He wasn't a child to wear it when he was about to turn fourteen. He wasn't able to utter a word with Kouichi there. And if his mother kept pressing, he might end up wearing something like that.

'It's all right, Tomoko. What matters is that they have fun.' His father came to his rescue. For a moment Kouji felt that he really, really loved his father. Tomoko sighed in defeat and went back to admire Kouichi's clothes. Kousei gave his younger twin a supporting smile and Kouji replied it with a nod as if saying that he owned him one.

The twins were ready to leave after about five minutes.

'Don't eat a lot of sweets or fast food in the festival. Stay away from strangers. If something happened, call immediately. Check your mobile every five minutes. Don't be late. Take care of yourselves...' Their mother continued pouring them with instructions and warnings. Her voice was strong and determine in the beginning before it completely broke to turn into a sort of plead.

'You will…be…fine.' She whispered, tears struggled to convey their fear and concern.

Kouji smiled warmly. 'Of course. Don't worry.'

She nodded as if forcing herself to believe in his words. Her tearful eyes gazed at her elder son who looked at her hesitantly.

She knelt in from of him and hugged him again but the hug was different. She stroked his hairy gently and muttered in his ears. 'You'll come back, right?'

Her question tore him apart. And a tear like silver, glistened in the corner of his eye. He didn't know the answer yet couldn't remain speechless when she was begging him for reassurance. A nod was all what he could offer her.

With a wave, they left.

The mother looked at them till they disappeared behind a corner in the main street. Kousei closed the door behind them.

Tomoko couldn't hold any longer. Her knees gave up and she collapsed, sobbing. 'He…He won't…c-come back. I-I feel it.'

Kousei didn't even try to comfort her. He bit his lower lip and gazed at the closed door. 'I trust them. They would be fine.' He breathed heavily. 'Besides there's nothing we can do. We can't keep him in prison forever. He needed to go.'

'It was wrong to let him go! He was fine here. He was happy...' She cried out.

'He wasn't. Maybe…maybe we didn't have the right to keep him here. He's the one who should decide. It's his life.' His voice was low and trembling.

He walked towards his wife and kneeled beside her. 'That's the only thing we can do as his parents. He should decide whether to stay or…'

Her agonized cry cut him. She collapsed between his arms and cried. 'I don't want to hear that. He would come back. He would come back.'

Because he promised to celebrate his birthday with them…

To Be Continued ...!~...

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Author Note

Title Translation: Red Sky in the Morning

And so it is done. Banzaaai~! I can't Believe myself. Geez, I felt as if I won't be able to write anything again. An idiot sort of writer's block which ganged with boredom and laziness against me. I can't assure that I am over that block but it is a good step, ne.

Ah, the first scene is a bit contradicting with how the chapter went but I needed it. Consider an off- button for Kouichi to act as naturally as possible. Forget how illogical it sounds.

Thank you all for your support and sorry for not being responsible enough to update regularly*bows* Please tell me what you think. Whatever it was *winks winks*