4 Brothers

Chapter 7

Yukio POV:
It's been to long, since Aki „went for a walk" it's already the next morning and neither me or my brothers got any sleep.
We searched half the night for him and we would've continued if our master didn't brought us back.
But we couldn't sleep.
I've been thinking about sneeking out, but the first time I tried my master found me and literally put me back in the temple.
Now my brothers and I are sitting in the entrance of our temple Ryō is leaning onto Haru searching for comfort.
We are never separated from each other for long, mostly only a day and never the night, but now the youngest is out and not coming home, this just feels weird and I'm scared.
As I stand up to go the Haru as well, the door from the temple opened.
The sun is shining through the door and I can see a figure entering the temple.
It's Akira, my feet are moving faster than my mind and I'm almost crashing him in a hug, but before I get to grab my arms around him I stop, he's bleeding, his left shoulder is soaking wet from blood and he is holding stuff, I'm so confused I just look at him but he is just looking at the ground. Ryō is coming from behind probably with the same intention as me,
but before he can hug him I put my arm between him and Aki in order to stop him from hurting him more than he already is.
"What are you doing"Ryō is asking me probably looking confused and angry.
But I don't look at him I just stare at Aki.
"Aki what the hell happened to you?" Haru asked looking shocked.
My little brother doesn't respond, just staring to the ground, after a few seconds of silence what felt like an hour he finely looked up while not meeting our eyes he just said "I need to talk to our master".

"What do you mean, I mean you can but but" I struggle to tell him. "You're hurt Aki and bleeding, you're quick talk to our master can wait till we treat your wounds" Ryō said while taking Akis shoulder, "and you please explain what in the would happened out there" Haru continues his voice sounding worried.
Aki is just nodding and without saying anything he's beginning to walk to the dojo.
"Wait you're hurt be careful" I try to help him with his walking but he's just ignoring me.
This is not like Aki at all, he is always kind and quiet and laughing a lot but he just seemed tired and emotionless
and he would never purposely ignore us.
And I'm getting angry I don't like this at all and I'm worried sick about him so I just kick him in back of the knee with my foot so he sinks to the ground, but before he can hit the ground I'm already under him, so he falls on my back.
As I'm lifting him up, I can feel him struggling and trying to get out of my hold but this is not going to happen
I just hold him tighter not saying anything as I walk him to the dojo.
When our father saw Aki he was almost running and looking at him, he didn't ask anything but start treating his wounds.
His shoulder looked the worst and his arm had some dark bruises. He probably lost a lot of blood. I can feel anger, who the hell did this and why wasn't he talking to us, as I look to my other brothers I can see similar emotions, we are just confused.
"So what happened my son?" Our father ask as he almost done treating his wounds. Akira sighs still looking to the ground and not meeting our eyes.
"I was in the forest training and thinking but then I heard screams and met this man who was holding this in his arms..."he's showing us the thing he was holding the whole time, it looks like a huge egg, I just get more and more questions but before I can ask them he continues.
"He was fighting against a group of men who probably tried to kill him since I jumped into the scene to help the man" my eyes widen, Aki never tried to fight someone before and then a hole group of men.
"It was okay, I had no problem but as I was holding back most of the men, one managed to escape, it happened so fast and the man pushed his sword in the other mans chest.
"He looked to the ground again, I'm shocked I just want to take him in my arms but as I move closer to him I can see Aki with a face full of anger and tears in his eyes.
I've never seen this look before on him or anyone in general.
"He died... but before he passed away he gave me this egg and some of his stuff, he wants me to bring this egg to Fukunawa, it's an egg of a dragon and he was a Dragon lord, and I want to help him with it".
"Wait, wait you want to what ?
Just going to Fukunawa bringing the egg and then just coming back? Are you out of you're mind? You don't even know this man" Haruki said his voice filled with worry.
"I have to bring this egg to a magician in Fukunawa, he can probably also teach me something so I'm gonna stay there longer".
Now it was Ryōs part to be angry "are you crazy Fukunawa is over the ocean, you're not capable of doing such a trip".
"It doesn't matter if I'm capable or not, it is my duty and my responsibility and in addition a opportunity to learn more" Aki said with a steady voice and eyes that don't leave room for discussions.
He looks straight forward and for now he seems more mature and like an adult than any of us. This is just weird he's supposed to be the youngest.
"You still haven't explained why you're arm is sliced?" Haruki asked
"well after the man got attacked I saw someone trying to kill one of there own so I jumped in between" Aki explained with such calmness as if it didn't matter
"you did what? You could have died you know that right, and that for someone who isn't even one of the good" Ryō yelled at our brother.
Suddenly Aki stood up and looked at Ryō with pure anger and tightly closed fists.
"I will not let anyone die again, it doesn't matter if the person is good or bad, a person is still a person, and I didn't came here to ask for permission,
I just came to let you know" Now Aki and Ryō where standing nose to nose against each other both angry, but Aki looked more determined and Ryō almost unsure. Akis eyes softened as he said "I know we have a mission to keep the people safe, but no one ever said that there were exceptions, I'm sorry but there's no way you can stop me "with that he stood up and walked to the door.
"That might be true but still, I won't let you go if you're hurt understand?" Our master said, why did he agree so easily?
Aki just nodded and bowed and then he was out of the dojo.
As soon as as he went out of the door Ryō sank to his knees. "What was that?"
"He is trying to find himself and what he wants to do, we'll see what will happen, but if he really want to go, he can " our master replies. And all of us are looking at him shocked and sad.

After we split up I see Haru talking to Ryō who's looking at the ground, I make my way to Akis room and knock against it.
I don't have a plan or anything but I just have to look if he's okay.
As the door opened I look at Aki, as soon as he sees me he just turns around and sit on his bed because he didn't close the door I invite myself.
„Hey little bro, how are you?"
I ask nervously, he's not looking at me and I'm kind of embarrassed, what am I even doing here. I sighs and start again „look, I just wanted to say I'm...I'm sorry about yesterday morning, I shouldn't have said that your not trying enough"
Now he's looking at me confused.
"That's what you wanted to say? Your not trying to change my mind or tell me I'm stupid for doing such a trip?".
"Well don't get me wrong, you are pretty stupid for doing such a trip, but... I wanted to apologies first, and maybe then help you...figuring stuff out... or talking to you...I don't know....Just looking at you and seeing that you are alright right now is enough I think"
I stand up and go on my knees right before him and take his cheeks between my hands, so he has to look at me.
"When I saw you're wounds at the entry, after not finding you all night, I got scared.
Listen, I don't know what exactly happened and I don't know if there is stuff you're not telling me but whatever happened,
it changed you and I don't want you to do the changes alone,
I'm here alright and I get hella scared if there is a possibility that I could loose you alright"
Now his eyes are getting teary and he finally looks like Aki again, the next thing I do is just hugging him while he cries into my shoulder.