Snow On The Peak

Chapter one

It was beautiful.

It had just rained, and the sky was still partially gray from the overfilled clouds above. The trees, the earth, everything below it was now dripping with water. The air smelled of beautiful clean ground, and Ohno Satoshi couldn't help but take a deep breath as thunder rolled gently in the background. He closed his eyes and took it all in as he also felt purified from the rain that the wind had sprayed onto him as he sat outside under the roof. The paper door to his house was open, but his sister had refused to come outside and share this peaceful moment with him.

"Nee-chan," Satoshi called when he opened his eyes. "Come out please."

Naru walked out and stood next to her brother. "Hai?"

"The sun has come out slightly," he told her. "You can see a rainbow within the trees."

Naru sighed. "I don't understand you at all, nii-chan," she said. "You go fishing all day and practice your calligraphy at night, and you would think that a person would get tired of being outside so often."

Satoshi looked up at her. "I enjoy being outside," he said. "It makes me feel like I can feel God's presence more. He made the beautiful earth for us to enjoy, not take for granted."

Naru sat with her brother. "I'm not taking it for granted," she said. "I love being outside as much as you, but it amazes me that you never get tired of it."

"How can you?" Satoshi asked. "It may look like it stays the same, but the earth is always changing."

Naru nudged her brother. "Just like our town is changing and unlike Ninomiya-sama. He said today in town that his son is coming to live with him."

"Ninomiya-sama?" Satoshi said. "You mean the man who always brings women to his house at night?"

"If he wants to be a good father, he must stop that soon," Naru said. "Although it looked like that was very unlikely. He had the sense around him that he wasn't going to change."

Satoshi sighed. "I already feel bad for his son," he said. "To live with such an impossible father."

Naru was silent for a minute before she put her head on her brother's shoulder. "I miss ours."

Satoshi put his arm around her. "I know. So do I."

Another minute of silence passed before either one of them spoke again. "Look," Naru said pointing slightly. "The rainbow. It's brighter than it was earlier."

Satoshi nodded. "Hai, I hope that means good luck."

--

In town, the rain was still very much pouring down hard. Two men walked, soaking wet and freezing from walking in the rain, and they were sure their belongings were also as soaked as they were. They had on their straw hats to keep their heads dry, but that was all.

"Kazu-nii," one of the men said. "Is this the town Okaa-san told us about?"

"I think so, Masaki-nii," Kazunari answered him. "It looks like it might be from what our mother described."

"But... where do we find your father?" Masaki asked.

Kazunari shrugged, but you couldn't really see it. "I don't know yet. We can ask."

They ended up in a bread shop and apologized to the woman in the shop. "Excuse us," Kazunari said. "We're looking for Ninomiya Katsuhiko. Do you know where he is?"

The older woman sighed. "So you're the son. He lives just across the street, but I warn you of what might be inside. I last saw Hana-san go in with him."

Kazunari and Masaki looked at each other before bowing and leaving. They went to the house and knocked. After a minute, an older man answered and stared at the two. "Oh, it's you," he said. "Come in. I'm just finishing this girl off."

The two men looked at each other, not sure if they should enter or not. Kazunari was just glad that the man had on a robe. In the end, they went in and sat outside the room with the door closed. They had no idea where to go, but it was disturbing to hear not only the old man's moans, but a woman's as well. Kazunari shivered and held his hands to his ears, which Masaki gladly did the same.

After a few more minutes, it stopped and a woman, completely dressed back in her kimono, smiled at the two before she left. "Oh my god," Kazunari groaned.

"She's a good time," the old man said coming out to them. "Maybe if she likes you too, you can have a turn."

Kazunari stood up. "Why on earth would I want to fuck a random girl? Anyway, that sort of thing is supposed to be for after marriage!"

"That's not what your mother said when I met her," the man smiled. "But at least she taught you something. Who are you?"

"Ninomiya Kazunari. This is my older brother, Aiba Masaki."

The man pointed at Masaki. "I remember you. You were barely born when I met Kazuko."

"Don't you dare talk to him--"

The man gave Kazunari a hard look. "I am Katsuhiko, you're father. If you know what's good for you, you'll behave and not talk back as much. You're lucky I'm even taking you in and not selling you out on the street. Your mother was a good woman, and I suggest you do her justice by behaving like the man she told you to be. Your room is over there on the other side. You and your brother can share, but no one enters my room if the door is closed. Understand?"

Kazunari couldn't help but return the look as he nodded. "Hai."

Katsuhiko pointed. "Now go."

Kazunari grabbed his pack and lead Masaki to their new room. It was a basic room with tatami mats and a door leading outside, and it was large enough for the two of them. But they were used to sharing a room because they had done so their whole lives. Kazunari closed the door behind him and slammed his pack down. "Masaki, let's just leave and live on our own."

Masaki looked up at him. "Eh? Kazu-nii, we can't," he answered. "Okaa-san said we have to stay here. I don't want to be here anymore than you do, but we have to until we're married. And he's the only family you have, and technically the only family I have also. We just have to endure."

Kazunari frowned at his brother. "It's amazing that you still have this attitude despite what we're going through."

"Better than being sold on the street, right?" Masaki smiled trying to cheer his brother up.

Kazunari chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Masaki then perked up. "Hey, the rain stopped." He stood up and opened the door, overlooking a beautiful green garden. The rain had stopped, and the sun began to shine. "It's making a rainbow," Masaki said.

His younger brother smiled at the sight, and a sense of calm and peace overcame him. Masaki put his arm around him and hugged him. "We're going to be okay, Kazunari."