Nyanko da! (ft Natsume): A Brothers Conflict Fanfic

Chapter 53: Downpour

Lightning flashes outside the window. When the sky dims the two of us shake like leaves. 

Well, I am, anyway. 

I don't know Natsume that well, that's true. But he's a big guy. And I can see that under his own wet shirt that he's no stick figure. He could take me down if he really wanted to.

Shin, having only just met him, doesn't realize that. Or rather, he doesn't see it despite all the evidence staring him right in the face. 

My younger brother glares defiantly up at Natsume, disregarding the fact that he is clearly an adult who could definitely get himself out of trouble with the law to beat up a high schooler. 

Ukyo-san could do it if he really wanted to, I bet.

Gulping, I quickly try to smooth things over. 

"Shin, apologize," I hiss through gritted teeth. "You shouldn't have said that."

"And so what if I did?" Shin gripes back. 

"Shin, you're being rude to my friend. You shouldn't go around talking about people like that!"

Heat rising in my cheeks, I slam my hand down on the table—not that it makes much of an impact to Shin. 

"Your sister is right." Natsume flashes a pinched smile. He looks ready to thrown down. I think I preferred it when he frowned! 

Kowai yo!

Shin doesn't take the hint and digs his grave deeper. 

"So what? She acts like she's right all the time, but she's not." Shin narrows his eyes at me again. A creeping sense of foreboding grips me. At least Ema's no longer his focus.

"I wish I was wrong about you now," I retort. "You've been nothing but rude to everyone since you got here and it's not cool. I don't remember you being such a brat."

"Hmph. Well maybe I've changed since you last saw me. Ever think about that, huh?" Shin barks. "Oh, wait, that means you'd have to come home, so that's not happening."

"What are you trying to say? I came home for New Years and—wait," I catch myself, "This isn't about me! This is about you running away from home and then being mean to everyone who's trying to help you!" I lean over the table, glaring.

"I never asked for your help!" Shin fires back. 

"What else were you going to do, huh? Where else were you going to go? Did you even have a plan for what you were going to do once you got to Tokyo?"

"It's—it's none of your business," Shin snaps. "You don't know anything!" In the heat of the argument I miss the hurt in his voice.

"I don't know anything because you won't tell me," I argue. "I wasn't going to ask because I didn't know if you wanted to talk about it. Kaasan told me—"

"Yeah, because she tells you everything, doesn't she? You two are so close that you share secrets. You're just like her and it pisses me off!"

"What's the problem with that? I like being close to our parents. I like talking to them. I wanted to talk to you more, but you're always texting that you're busy or can't talk."

"Well, you could choose your timing better, for one," Shin grumbles.

I put a hand to my face, trying to soothe over the rage building inside me. I don't want to snap at him, but he's not making this any easier. What am I supposed to say to calm him down? How am I supposed to be a good older sister right now?

"If you didn't want anything from me then why did you come along? Why not take another train to another city?"

My questions hit Shin. He stumbles and fumbles with his reply. His face reddens and he sputters, "I-I wasn't coming to meet you at all! I just happened to get on this train. Anywhere that's not home. So quit whining like you have to take are of me all of a sudden. I'm not a kid."