Amidst the shadows and the secrets

Night Sixty-Four

"Everywhere I went I couldn't do a thing, Chisana. I was no longer running the household anymore. Shu stood up for you against your father. Shu was the one comforting you. Shu was the one making you breakfast. Hell, he made you dinner! I am that easy to ignore! I'm not good enough for you. And why him?! He's one year older than me but he always gets everything and I'm stuck in his goddamn shadow! If I wanted something I had to work for it and still I'm not being appreciated!" He didn't stop until he saw her face. She had stopped crying at first, but he found her crying again and it was his fault because he yelled at her. "I... I didn't..." He couldn't find the right words. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I have no idea what came over me." 

Seeing him differently, she went closer to him. "You..." She swallowed because a lot was said by her and by him. "Reiji, you are important, and you are you. It's not even a competition because you two are so different. You said you had to work for it but look at where you are now." She had never seen him cry before, but he here was. In front of her and with tears in his eyes. "I know you went through a lot more than I ever will," she raised her hand and wiped some tears away, "but look at the man you are now. You are doing so much already without realizing it. You are the one keeping the family together. You are running the household. You make sure everyone attends the monthly family dinner. You even took care of me when I needed it, I just didn't realize how much I was relying on you. That is something to be proud of, because if you aren't there... your family would fall apart for real."

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the touch that he put his hand over hers. "And you need to stop keeping everyone happy. It is impossible to do that, and you would endanger your health. But I guess it started with you losing your mother first. Your father was the second in high school because of his work, and you somehow convinced yourself that there was no one you could trust."

She pulled her hand back but he didn't let go yet. "I guess age doesn't mean much. Everyone gets to deal with a lot of things."

Gently petting the back of her hand with his thumb, he looked down at their hands. "I have never shared that much or that I opened up that much to anyone in my life. Can you keep that a secret for me?" 

"You're not going to leave me?" She enjoyed his touch. 

"I'm only going to get us both back home. This is the one place where I can be alone and where no one would look for me." He answered. "Are you still going to let him get close?"

She lifted his head. "I kinda have to, you know. My blood is still important."

"Not for long." Looking at her, he found his answers.

"Why not?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you, woman?" He cupped her face and kissed her.

He... Is this for real? "Yes, spell it out for me," she breathed while looking at him. Wait? Did I... I... I guess I was jealous every time a girl got close to him, she confessed to herself.

"I couldn't stand it that I was replaced or put on the sideline. I wanted you back." He wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her close. "I love you, Chisana."

Hearing his confession, she caught his chin with her fingers. "I didn't realize it until just now. I was so focused on getting answers about myself and how troubling my father was that I pushed my annoyance with the girls swarming you aside. I wanted to tell them to get lost. In my head I did..." Instead of continuing, she stood on her toes and kissed him. It's true?! I went to you for a game of chess. I went to you with tea because I like your company. I liked it when you came to the cafeteria. Initially to give me coffee, but you stayed. Is this what real love is? "I think I love you too." Kissing him again, she put her arms around his neck.