Fate of the Dreamers

Chapter Sixteen - I'm His Long-Lost Brother

Rawri dragged Pen's rigid body along the road back to the bus station. His shoulders burned with the effort, and with each step he took, he wished with all his heart the things he'd done wouldn't bring upon the end of the world. Rawri withheld tears full of anger at himself, resorting to clenching his jaw and pulling Pen with more vehemence.

JYP had told him where the weak spot was in the apartment building, and he obeyed his order to bring it down. Lusi almost died because of that.

He told JYP what subway line they were on, so along came his backup-dancer-goons and a poison dart in Lee Know's heart. Now he and Lusi were missing, and now something was going on with Pen.

"ARGH!" Rawri shouted. He could hardly believe himself. "Why am I such an idiot?" He faltered on his next step. "But JYP has to know what he's doing. I hardly know these people, so..." he looked at the ground, wet with the recent rain. "...why do I need to worry about them?" He hastily took another step. "JYP asked for my help, so that's what I'll give him—OOPS!" His grip on Pen loosened, and the rest of Pen's body fell to the ground, splashing into a puddle.

A throaty noise left Pen's mouth, a sound that in other instances would have filled Rawri with dread. Now, however, Rawri had hope.

"Pen?" He shook his shoulders firmly. "Are you awake?"

Pen's voice croaked. "Yes." Rawri helped him up to a seated position. Pen looked behind himself with half-open eyes. "Why...am I wet?"

Rawri laughed and hugged Pen before bringing him to his feet. "No matter. I've just been dragging you from the train to the bus station. You've been unconscious all this time!"

Pen slowly blinked, his mouth slightly open. "I just had one of the dreams Zoey and Lusi told me about."

Something within Rawri jerked, along with a brief ringing in his ears.

"I wonder why I haven't had one before," he said, looking in the distance before locking his gaze with Rawri's, his eyes glistening. Nothing was said between them for a time Rawri felt was too long to be normal. Pen pivoted on his foot and started to walk. "We should get back."

Rawri fell in beside Pen, his thoughts rushing around his brain. So Pen isn't just a Dream Catcher: he's a Dreamer! He slid his hands into his pockets. How do I tell JYP without being suspicious? Do I need to... he glanced at Pen. ...knock him out? I'd rather not, but if that's the only way, then that's what I have to do.

Pen flinched when Rawri wrapped his arm around his shoulder as if they were old friends, but before Rawri could do anything Pen froze and collapsed. For a moment, Rawri stood over him, at a stand-still as to what to do. Well then. I guess this is my chance!

He removed his phone from his pocket and opened the chat he had with JYP.

"HA!" Pen shouted from the ground. With a manoeuvre Rawri had not thought possible for him to do, Pen kicked the phone out of Rawri's hands and wrapped his elbow around Rawri's neck. "He's in your head, Rawri. Let me remove him."

Despite his best efforts to stay standing, Rawri was brought to the ground, his head hitting the road with a muted thud.

The dance studio faded into view from a blinding white light. Rawri stood in the middle, alone.

He rubbed his head, the faint memories of a falling building and a train evading his attempts to secure them. He shrugged and pushed them aside, focussing on what was real.

He looked at his hands—no, paws—and his reflection in the mirror. Giddiness rushed through him at the sight of him wearing his dog fursuit, the sparkling blue eyes and soft, pink fur representing the happiness and optimism inside him.

He walked to his phone sitting atop the speaker beside the mirror and pressed play on the music, the celestial stringed intro of Sweet Juice by PURPLE KISS filling his limbs with the desire to move. Shuffling back to the centre, his dancing shifted from flowing and graceful to jerked and coordinated, matching the rhythm of the vocals and bass. He closed his eyes and let the music move him, the smile on his face being the most genuine smile of his for far too long a time.

He was where he always wanted to be, and he was who he always wanted to be. Both his worlds combined in perfect harmony. This was his dream.

He swished his tail with the beginning of the chorus and pretended to be Yuki rapping during the verse after. Dancing in JYP's studio felt so liberating, and he no desire to leave...ever.

His ears twitched at the sound of knocking at the door. He ran to the phone and stopped the music as the door opened, JYP and a young man walking in.

JYP looked at Rawri, slight concern in his face as the other man kept walking towards Rawri. "I'll give you two a moment," he said, hesitating before closing the door.

The man who stood in the studio with Rawri looked familiar, but Rawri couldn't place his snout on it. The man couldn't have been much older than him. Instead of standing awkwardly, Rawri held out his paw. "I'm Rawri. Who might you be?"

The man went for the handshake but at the last second pulled Rawri into a hug. "I'm so glad to see you after all this time," he said, his voice deep and lathered with emotion. He stepped back with a solemn smile. "I'm your long-lost brother."

"My...brother?" Rawri wheezed. "I thought I was an only child!"

"You were, but only in your Fur-Family."

Rawri looked up at him through his fursuit eyes.

The man continued. "I'm your real brother. From before furries, before K-Pop."

Rawri could hardly breath inside his suit. He twisted the head and removed it, placing it on the floor. He studied the man's face. "But...shouldn't I remember you?"

"Do you remember your parents?"

Rawri thought for a moment before shaking his head. He had been pretty young when he was taken in by his loving Fur-Parents. If he couldn't remember life before becoming a furry, how was he supposed to remember his brother? But something still seemed off about the man in front of him...

The door opened again and JYP stormed in. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave," he said to the man, his voice firm and confident. "You are not who you said you are."

"What?" Rawri said. The man remained silent, and a mixture of anger and sorrow welled up inside of him. "Why would you lie to me like that?"

He turned to Rawri, his own voice sincere. "Because this man is evil, and you need to rid yourself of him."

JYP yelled as Pen stretched his hand out, his fingers brushing Rawri's forehead.