Always Together, My Twin

As the sun rose over the face of snowy Tokyo, a boy is running with all his strength while carrying a boy who looks like him, but much paler, shivering and coughing. He decided to take him to the doctor, even though they're all but rich. Even though their parents left them to fend for themselves. He won't stop running, because of his promise.

A few years ago, the boy and his paler twin were left by their parents. They never wanted to see them again. And their faces... One not to be forgotten.

Fury. Anger. Hate. No trace of regret. Not one single tear shed. Not even... saddened. In fact they looked... relieved.

At a nearby park, they decided to stay there for a while. No home, no money. No parents. The boy couldn't take it all in. Why? Just why?

His pale twin was already crying, unable to accept what just happened. He became so angry. But he let it slide. And decided to speak.

“We'll never leave each other. We'll never let go of each other. Even though we'd face many big bumps on the road, as long as you're with me and I'm with you, we'll conquer them all. Promise me this, okay, Azuki?”

The paler boy looked at his twin with amazement. To keep such a promise, even though it'll be so hard for them. He shed a tear and answered, “Okay, Kazuki...”

“So, what are your names?” the doctor asked. “I am Kazuki Ayama, and your patient is my twin, Azuki Ayama.”

The paler twin, named Azuki, slept soundly on the bed. No sign of shivering or coughing. Complete bliss. The doctor looked at Azuki, then returned his focus on Kazuki. “And how old are you two, if I may ask?”

“We're 12, doctor. About to be 13 this December 24.”

“Ah, seems like a month away, huh?” the doctor responded while putting on his stethoscope and placing it on Azuki's chest, checked for his heartbeat.

“It might take a while, so why don't you sit outside?”

Kazuki nodded, and went out. Sitting on a nearby chair, he thought and thought.

“Please, God, please don't take him away...” he prayed while shedding tears. He loves his twin so much that he blamed himself after discovering that the lad had Stage 1 leukemia. Kazuki also has leukemia, but he doesn't want Azuki to see his weak side, because he wants to empower him. Help him get through his leukemia.

*creak*

“Ahem, Kazuki, you can come in now. I have news for you.”

Kazuki then proceeded to the doctor and said, “What is it, doc?”

“I'm afraid to tell you that your brother won't last long,” the doctor said in a saddened tone. And Kazuki looked at him with a poker face, “What... do you mean, doc?” clenching his fist in the process.

“Your twin... has Stage 4 leukemia, and pneumonia to greatly shorten his lifespan. I'm sorry that he's gonna-”

*hic* *sniff*

The doctor was surprised to hear that. He looked at Kazuki, now shedding tears while dropping his knees to the floor. He looked up at the doctor, and, while in a crying voice, replied, “*hic* Please tell me you're joking. *sniff* Please! Tell me that my twin brother's going to be alright! He's not gonna die, right?! RIGHT?!”

And the doctor just shook his head. And Kazuki feared for the worst: his twin's death. He's all the family that he has left. He can't afford to lose him too. He won't be able to survive in the cruel world.