Piercing shrieks. . .
The world spins around. . .
Stopping. . .
A. . . light?
“Touch it. . . touch it, guardian. . .”
A long reach. . .
Can’t reach it. . .
It shatters.
“What was that. . .?”
“That was my love for you, otoutosan. . .”
“It. . . it broke. . . shattered.”
“. . .”
“I can’t piece it back together. . .”
“That’s right, Asha. You’ll never again have it. . .”
“Oniisan. . . please. . . please don’t do this to me. . . I beg you. . .”
“Too late. . . you should have thought about it before. . .”
“Oniisan. . .”
“Never again.”
“No, please, oniisan! Give me second chance!”
“I’ve given you plenty. You blew every one. I’ll give you no more.”
“Oniisan, please. I’ll stop my pranks, I’ll stop everything you want me to.”
“No.”
“Oniisan. . .”
“Never again. . .”
More screams.
“NO!! I PROMISE, ONIISAN! PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE!”
Sapphire shook Asha awake, then reluctantly cracked him on the jaw. Asha
looked horrified and Sapphire held him in his arms reassuringly. Asha sank
down into Sapphire’s lap, his breath heavy and his heart racing like mad. It
had only been three days since Diamond had gotten onto Asha and gripped him
about getting into trouble so much. Sapphire patted Asha’s back and stroked
his hair gently. “Are you okay, Asha? You were nearly crying in your sleep.”
“It was a dream. . . a nightmare. . .”
“What about?”
“. . .Oniisan. . .”
“Again?” Asha nodded. “It’s playing on your mind again, isn’t it? He
doesn’t know how much he’s hurt you. . .” Sapphire continued to stroke
Asha’s back and hair. Asha hadn’t eaten as much as he should and he never
slept without a nightmare tugging at his mind. Sapphire whispered to Asha
until he fell back asleep then laid him back into his bed. Sapphire watched
Asha sleep wondering if he was dreaming again and if so, what about. Sapphire
traced Asha’s spine with his middle finger gently. Sapphire saw the glove on
his hand then remembered he always wondered why Asha wore gloves, even when
he was asleep. Sapphire gently took Asha’s wrist and eased the glove off his
hand. “Oh, my. . .” Sapphire was somewhat shocked and already understood why
Asha always wore gloves: his hands were scarred with old bleach burns. His
nails were almost better but still weren’t. Sapphire remembered how Kyoji
used to beat Asha when he about three or four, and always told him to get the
bleach to stop burning his hands. The stupid bastard. . . if he wanted Asha’s
hands unscarred, he should’ve gave up 25 cents to let Asha get some gloves.
And now, Diamond, Asha’s older brother, was treating him as almost as bad as
Kyoji did. Sapphire gently put the glove back in Asha’s hand and caressed his
back.
~*~
“I don’t know what to do anymore. . .”
“Curl up and die”
“I can’t do that. . . I still have people I want to protect”
“Then you cant do anything. You’re no use to me, Asha. You might as well
die.”
“Oniisan, please, please, please don’t do this to me. . .”
“Die. . .”
Asha’s eyes snapped open, his breath heavy again. He was in Sapphire’s
bed, the thick, soft comforters pulled up to his shoulders. He was
practically sinking into Sapphire’s mattress and the blankets hid him well.
Sapphire had his back to Asha and was writing on his clipboard. Probably
doing more math. Asha didn’t know and didn’t really care either. He was too
tired and depressed. He took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes
again. A few seconds later, he felt Sapphire trace his spine. He slowly
opened his eyes and looked at Sapphire, sitting on the bed.
“Feeling better, Ash?”
“. . .a little”
Sapphire dragged his fingertips across Asha’s back gently, listening to
him breathe. They shared a long silence until Diamond walked in. If he could,
Asha would’ve moved out of his reach, but was too weak and tired. “Prince. .
.” Sapphire stepped back away from Asha as Diamond walked by him. He knelt
down to bring his eyes to meet his
brother’s. Asha closed his eyes bracing himself as Diamond reached out.
“Asha. . .” Diamond said quietly. Asha was surprised as he opened his
eyes to find Diamond smiling softly, caressing his cheek. Asha only looked
back, not responding. Diamond’s hand moved to Asha’s tender, warm neck,
brushing his fingers over his pale skin. His fingers went in a circle on
Asha’s neck as he spoke. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t remember or realize
how bad you were beat when you were very young. Can you find it in your heart
to forgive me?”
Asha’s eyes softened as he gazed at Diamond’s violet eyes. He nodded
slightly and his lips curled into a sad smile. “If I didn’t, I would’ve
killed myself by now, oniisan.”
Asha’s voice was quiet, yet loud enough for Diamond to hear, but not
Sapphire. Diamond smiled and kissed Asha’s forehead gently.
“I love you, otuotosan. . .no matter how much trouble you get into.”
“As do I, oniisan.”
“Can I make it up to you by letting you sleep in my room?” Asha nodded,
smiling
sadly. Diamond smiled softly and picked Asha up, carrying him to his room and
setting him on his bed. Asha smiled at Diamond as he threw the blankets over
his head. Asha giggled at Diamond, and Diamond smirked at him. “Go to sleep,
peach fuzz.” Diamond grinned at Asha.
“Fine, bleach.” Asha grinned. Diamond had nicknamed Asha “Peach fuzz”
and Asha had nicknamed Diamond “Bleach”. Diamond walked out of the room
smiling at Asha. Asha smiled back and closed his eyes falling fast into a
dreamless sleep. . .
