Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 81: FAMILY LINE

Hayate had been in a bit of a daze for the last three days. He couldn't explain it, but the words Katsu had said to him still rung in his head, overshadowing Ryuu's voice in the back of his mind like they were an afterthought.

"Hayate! You prick!"

He was kicked to the floor.

"What the fuck?" he cried out.

Kaguya glared at him. "I should be the one asking that! You haven't answered your phone in three days."

"Why didn't you call Makoto?" he asked as he rubbed the back of his head where she had kneed him.

"Makoto's been on a business trip the last three days, idiot. He got home just now. Something you would have known if there was not something wrong with you."

He frowned at her, then looked past her at the threshold. His eyes widened. It was Jinshiro. Not Jinshiro the Face Eater. His brother Jinshiro. Yes, he still looked like the Face Eater, but instead of malice and contempt in his expression, there was genuine concern. The kind Ryogetsu had come to know.

"Brother?"

Jinshiro nodded. "My memory has been restored." Jinshiro knelt in front of Hayate. He placed the back of his hand against Hayate's forehead. "Are you well? You seem ill."

Hayate sat up straight. He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "Just a migraine."

"Hayate," Satoru stood beside Makoto in the threshold of Hayate's bedroom. "Where is Touma?"

At the mention of the name, the pounding at the front of his skull became worse. He groaned.

"Move, Satchin, let me see him!" Harin said.

Kaguya frowned. "Are you just going to pretend you're a doctor now?"

Harin grinned at her. "Yes. I did heal that nasty bullet wound of yours."

"That does not make you a medical professional, babe."

"I am a magical doctor. And for this situation, that is what's necessary."

She knelt down in front of Hayate. She cupped his face in her hands. Her eyes began to glow, as did her palms. The same way they had when she healed Jinshiro's mind. That bright blue.

Hayate squeezed his eyes shut. His jaw tensed. He did not react quite as Jinshiro did.

Hayate shuddered. Harin took her hands away. He blinked his eyes. There was a dread showing on his face.

Hayate's voice was grave, "We have a problem."

"Naozumi?" Touma asked. His brows furrowed. He turned to Akira. "Why did you bring him here?"

Akira smirked. "To reunite our family." Akira stepped over the threshold. "Besides, you still have business with him, Brother."

Naozumi sunk to his knees. "Yuuki... please... forgive... I helped... escape..."

There was a bitter taste in Touma's mouth. That's right, he had promised, but... he didn't want to.

"Get that thing out of my house." The three brothers rose their heads to Katsu who stood at the top of the stairs.

Naozumi got to his feet. He stayed hunched over, staring at Katsu as if in a daze.

"Fa... ther?"

Katsu turned his eyes to Akira. He repeated, "Get that thing out of here."

Akira pressed his lips into a line, suppressing the smile that played there. "Father, he is your son as well."

Katsu sneered. "No. It is not. I want it gone by the time I get back." He turned around, leaving the three brothers in the lower floor of the penthouse.

Akira giggled. "I knew Father disliked him, but damn." He walked away.

"Naozumi," Touma said, "Why does Father hate you?"

Naozumi looked at Touma's face. "He always... has. Did you... never see the... disdain in his face... when I... entered a room?"

"But why?"

"I remind him... too much... of Mother..."

Touma knelt in front of Naozumi, lowering his voice. "Is it true that your mother was a paedophile?" Naozumi cocked his head to the side, confused. Touma sighed. "Did Momoka abuse you sexually?"

Naozumi's head lowered. "Yes."

Akira had not been lying. Momoka had indeed abused Naozumi for her dark and disgusting desires. Everything he had done to Daisaku and Yuuki during their childhood might have been a cry for help. And in adulthood, he had become the predator.

Touma wished he had been able to see it. Perhaps then, Naozumi could have been an ally instead of a tormentor.

Touma raised to his feet. "Listen to me, Naozumi." Naozumi raised his head. "There are a lot of people you wronged, and I doubt your soul will ever be absolved of guilt. However, you have my forgiveness."

Naozumi raised to his feet. "Thank you..." And his body started to melt like acid. He didn't smile, but Touma felt that it was an easier end than continuing this endless search for forgiveness.

Satoru found Jinshiro by the pool, staring at his own reflection. He stood by the poolside, staring at Jinshiro and yet unsure what he had wanted to say.

Jinshiro glanced at him. "Hello, old friend."

Satoru sat beside him, interlacing his fingers. "Did you know," he started, "how I felt about you when you asked me to protect Ourei?"

Jinshiro sighed. He did not look at Satoru as he said, "I did. I am aware it was cruel, but I loved her. I still do. And I knew what my father may do should I be unable to protect her. Ryogetsu was not there to protect her, so for the time, I needed you to protect her."

"I spent my life protecting her."

Jinshiro chuckled. "You always did take things too literal." He glanced at Satoru. "I did always hope that you would find a way to live for yourself." He glanced at Makoto, who was inside. "It seems you have."

Satoru smiled at Makoto. "He is good to me."

Jinshiro patted his shoulder. "It is everything you deserve my friend. Now," Jinshiro glanced at Hayate, who stood beside Makoto. They were arguing about something the two outside could not hear. Harin and Kaguya were inside, laughing at the two of them. "Tell me about Ryogetsu's love."

"Do you remember the first time he went to war?" Jinshiro nodded. "That's where they met. The Akano boy."

Jinshiro's eyes widened. Then he smiled. "I see. I met him but once, but he seemed quite meek."

Satoru shook his head. "Not meek. Suffering. Yuuki Akano was being abused." Jinshiro's brows furrowed. "They met again about a year after you were taken. Ryogetsu almost killed him, but their boyhood friendship saved him, I think." Satoru straightened his glasses. "He loved him with everything. He still does. We need to find him before the Akano family does something to him again."

Jinshiro nodded. "We will. It is the least I can do, after everything I've done to him."

Satoru shook his head. "It isn't your fault."

Jinshiro shook his head. "Yes, it is. You need not believe this, my friend, but even if Daisaku Akano tortured me, I should have held onto my memories better. I remembered her," he glanced at Kaguya. "And I remembered my father. However, I did not remember my brother. And he suffered because of it."

"You couldn't have..."

"Yes, yes, it was out of my control. I am aware. But I wish I could have retained at least one good memory between us. Perhaps then, it would have been different."