Lost & Found

Ch.9 - Regret

The next thing the boys heard were numerous curses being yelled in the German language. Clear didn’t waste any time in waking from his sleep mode to hurry to the screams. Mink and Koujaku both were abruptly awaken by such, both falling off their respective places on the sofa onto the wooden floor beneath. Ren rubbed his eyes, thinking that he was dreaming, but as the screams echoed across the house, it only became evident that it was anything but a dream.

“What the hell is going on?!” Koujaku hissed, walking up to follow the screams. He was wearing only pants, his hair a mess. As the boys reached Noiz and Clear, they saw Clear pull the door off its hinges and Noiz scrambling inside. Koujaku was about to make a joke that the brat desperately needed the bathroom, until he felt his foot step on a warm liquid. He glanced down to see the red liquid spreading, from the bathroom door. Who could it-

“Aoba-san!” Clear screamed, running inside. The rest of the group were jolted awake with fear, running to the doorway as they struggled to gain entrance to the small bathroom. The medicine cabinet mirror had been broken, pieces shattered into the sink. There were blood handprints and footprints all over the floor, wall, and the porcelain furniture. In the bathtub, Noiz sat while holding a bloody and crying Aoba. He held a slippery Aoba tightly by his wrists, whose blood splattered and gushed down his arm.  In one of Aoba’s hands was a large broken piece of mirror, covered in blood. It became obvious what he had tried to do.

“Was zum Teufel glaubst du, du tust?!?!”* Noiz screamed, speaking in his native tongue with a sense of fear and anger. Warm tears covered Aoba’s face as he seemed to give up into Noiz’s grip. Noiz glanced up at the group. “…what the hell are you standing there for?! Get the first aid kit!!!” Noiz’s command snapped the rest of the group out of their trance, sending them scrambling like ants in search of the first aid kit. Mink was the first one to find it, hurrying back into the bathroom. Ren and Clear held Aoba’s legs from kicking Mink away, Koujaku used the showerhead to wash away the blood from Aoba’s arms, as Mink proceeded to patch Aoba up. The cuts weren’t as deep as they feared, miraculously.

“We never…” Aoba muttered between his sobs. As the boys looked up at Aoba, his gleaming yellow eyes told them that it was Sly Blue who was speaking currently. “We never got to say we’re sorry…we never got to say goodbye…” Those words stung the boy’s hearts. They knew exactly what he was referring to; Tae. Once Mink was done taking care of Aoba’s injuries, or at the very least stop the bleeding, he gently took Aoba’s hands from Noiz’s grip, tenderly rubbing his thumbs against them.

“I know that you have regret. But killing yourself won’t bring her back to you. Killing won’t bring anyone back. I know that better than anyone.” Mink said, he paused, and moved some hair out of Aoba’s eyes. “You can’t just give up. You have to live on…just like you told me.” Aoba’s eyes changed color to their most gentle color, showing that Sly Blue had faded away and given Aoba control once more. After a few seconds of silence, Aoba threw himself towards Mink, who in return embraced him gently but reassuringly. Sobs continued to spill from Aoba’s lips, his head resting against Mink’s chest. The sweet scent of cinnamon was refreshing to Aoba’s nostrils, much better than the scent of any wine or cake in the world.

“I missed you…I missed you all…so very much…” Aoba whispered. Clear slowly joined in the embrace, and the others followed, Ren, Koujaku, and Noiz, all hugging Aoba, filling him with warmth. For once in a very long time, Aoba felt safe.

Aoba was sung to sleep afterwards by Clear, while Mink and Ren cleaned up the mess in the bathroom, and Noiz went to change to some dry clothing, getting rid of his wet and bloody ones. Koujaku stood thinking in the living room, his glance stuck on a particular picture that hung from the wall. Clear walked down stairs.

“Aoba is fast asleep.” Clear said. Mink and Ren were right behind.

“The bathroom is clean…sort of.” Ren said. Just as Noiz walked in wearing a new set of pajamas, he couldn’t help but to glare at Koujaku, who remained silent.

“What the hell are you doing old man? Right now is not the time to-“

“I have an idea.” Koujaku interrupted. He turned to the group and pointed at the photo he was looking at. It was a photo of Aoba and his parents, Naine and Haruka. The scene was a summer day, with them all wearing swimsuits and having fun.

“We’re taking Aoba to the beach!”

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*”What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” (according to google translator)