Wonders

Obstacle

The next morning Shion awoke to muffled yelling. Pans slammed around in the kitchen. He was baffled. His mom always got up early to bake and open the shop. She had never woken him up like this before. He stood up stretched and turned to wake Rat.
The top bunk was empty. Shion frowned at that. How had the boy slipped out without waking him, he had always been a light sleeper. The pale boy made his way through the attic to the stairs. Safu was leaning on the doorframe to his room.
“Is he trying to burn the place down now? She asked.
“Oh no!” Shion hurried past the girl. Rat said he might make pancakes, mom hated to share the kitchen. Shion was the only one allowed to cook in there because he knew how to put everything back.
“I'm trying to be nice!” Rat's raised voice reached him just outside the door.
“You're messing up my system!” Karen sounded like she was laughing more than angry. Shion pushed the door open. With Safu right behind him the stepped inside.
Rat stood in front of the stove. He wore Karen’s pink apron with Shion flowers all over it. His dark hair was pulled back away from his angular face. Karen stood at arms length, as Rat held a spatula threateningly at her, smiling at the boy.
“You need to learn to relax. You're not the only one that can care for him.” He pointed out.
“Pancakes are burning.” Safu said. Rat swore turned and flipped them over expertly. He was also making eggs and sausage. Shion moved to get the cups out. He made coffee and Juice for everyone as Karen and Safu set the table. Shion stole looks at the dark haired boy as he worked beside him. Ever so often Rat caught him looking and would smile.
They sat down to eat. Everything was delicious. “This is really good.” Safu said impressed. Rat just gave her a cocky smile.
“Where did you learn to cook? “ Karen asked. Rat looked down at his food.
“Therapy mostly.” He said. “A few foster home moms liked it when they found out I could cook. They couldn't.” he added. “I cook a lot for the Thomas'.”
“They treat you well?” Karen asked. Rat nodded. He didn’t look up.
“Thank you for this, Rat. It's wonderful.” Shion told him. Rat grinned at him.
“I bet you're a better cook than me.” Rat punched his leg playfully.
“I do alright.” Shion said, heat coloring his cheeks.
“Alright?” Safu exclaimed. “You're a great cook. He cooks most of the time here since Karen is busy in the bakery.” She told Rat.
“Ok, we will try your skills for lunch.” He teased. Shion nodded his agreement.
After they ate Shion cleaned up the kitchen. Rat helped with the dishes. They said good by to Safu who walked home. The two boys went up to the attic room. Rat picked up the time capsule box as Shion walked into the room with the beds. Rat dragged him down on the single bed. Shion grinned awkwardly from his friends arms.
“Let's see what's in here.” Rat said. Shion went to get a knife to cut the wax seal around it. Rat cut the seal. Together the boys opened it. The first thing they saw was a painting of the two of them. Rat's father had been a great artist.
The painting showed the two boys sitting in a large easy chair. Shion's light brown hair curled around his face as he was leaning slightly forward. A huge grin on his face. Rat was leaning a bit back, but his hands gripped the other boys shoulders. He too was laughing. His dark hair was almost to his shoulders.
Carefully Rat took the painting out of the box. It was so well done it nearly looked like a photograph.
“You can keep it.” Shion said. “Your dad painted it.” He added. Rat stood. He walked out to the other room. He placed it where the photograph he had taken had been. He took the photograph out replacing it as well. Shion stood in the doorway.
“I think its best they stay here.” He said. Adding “for now.” Under his breath. Grinning he turned to Shion. “When we get out of school, I mean graduate.” He paused starring at the pictures. He touched a long finger against Shion's childhood cheek.
“Shion, I wouldn’t be alive today if I hadn't met you.” He turned his head away from the boy. “I’ve done things, bad things to people just so I could survive.” He couldn’t go on as the air was whooshed from his lungs. Shion had head-butted his chest in his rush to hug him.
“I don't want to lose you again, Rat.” He cried. Rat hugged him.
“When we graduate, if you would put up with me, I would like to get a place together.” Rat said. Shion was nodding vigorously.
“Yes, Rat!” he cried. Rat smiled.
“There are some things I have to take care of. Things I don’t want to drag you into. Please Shion. The next few days, or weeks, give me some distance. I want you safe.” He said.
“You will still come around on Fridays?” he asked. Rat laughed.
“If I can.” Rat pushed him back a bit. “I might have somethings…” Shion's red eyes locked on him, pleading.
“Shion, I will not bring this to your door. I cant hurt you or your mom that way. Or Safu.” He added with a smirk. Shion chuckled. He took Rat's hand.
“You're here now so let's go see what else is in the box.” He dragged the taller boy back to the bed. They sat, Rat against the wall, Shion in between his legs. The pale boy held the box. There was a picture Shion had drawn of the pair. It was pretty bad and they laughed over the fact he had to label who the stick figures were.
There was a pair of fine bracelets. They were expertly woven together. Rat picked one up. He remembered making them out of dandelion stems. They had fit their wrists over a decade ago. He chuckled at how thin the circles were.
The last few items was a rock sculpture that Shion had made and a letter Rat, then Grey, had written. It was in a childish scowl. It said how much the other boy meant to the quiet dark child. Shion turned in Rat's arms. He pulled the shirt back to show the faded tattoo.
“Tell me about this?” he asked. Rat didn’t need to look down.
“I have a skin graft there. It was wrinkled and ugly.” Rat started. “A friend, well he was a counselor at one of the juvenile detention centers I was in, Rikiga, he brought in this tattoo artist. I wasn’t old enough but enough money can get you anything. He paid the guy, asking me what the most beautiful thing was I could think of.” His voice trailed away.
“You told them me, but they thought…”
“The flower. I thought it was close enough.” Rat agreed. Shion smiled. He pressed his lips to the tattoo. Rat stiffened holding himself rigid against the rush of feelings flooding him.
“Thank you, Rat.” Shion whispered turning away. Rat blinked back the sting in his eyes.
Shion's phone dinged. A text came in from his mother. “please come down, bring Rat.” It said.
“She probably needs help. Come on.” Shion said enthusiastically. The two boys hopped up to go assist in the bakery. When they got there, there were several police officers in the store. This wasn't unusual since many came to buy pastries.
“Grey, um, Rat.” One officer addressed the boy. “You need to come with us.”
“Why? I haven’t done anything.” Rat said. Then a women stepped inside. This was someone Rat knew well.
“They are turning me out?” he asked. She shook her head no.
“I'm sorry, Rat. Mr. Thomas’ died in his sleep last night.” Rat locked his knees so he wouldn't fall. Shion hugged him from the side. Karen gasped.
“Mrs. Thomas had a heart attack when she noticed this. She is in the hospital.  She won't be able to care for you any longer.” The woman said.
“I can.” Karen spoke up. “Let him stay here. I have a job and plenty of room for him. Shion can show you our living area. He will have his own room.” She turned to look at her son.
“The bedroom in the attic.” She told him. Shion nodded.
“Come with me. I can show you.” The woman looked at Rat.
“Please , Ms. Cavers, I…” he stopped seeing the hurt look in Shion's eyes. He didn’t want to hurt the boy. If he stayed here what would he be bringing home to them? Those red eyes haunted him.
“I would like to stay here with my friend. I can stay in the same school.” He added.
“Very well, if that is what you want. Let me go get my kit. I can do a home survey now.” With that she went back out. Karen and Shion packed up two dozen donuts to give to the policemen.
The officers left. Many bought pastries to take home. Ms. Cavers came back in. She went with the boys upstairs. Shion showed her his bedroom, pointed out his mother's room and where the bathroom was located at the bottom of the attic stairs. He showed her around the second level of the shop where their living room kitchen and dining area was. They also had a small patio balcony.
He took her up to the attic. He pointed out how the shelves were bolted in for safety measures he had taken when converting the space to his play area. He lead her into the back room where the beds where. There were two windows here.
“This one opens onto the roof above the patio.” He pointed out. “There is a ladder bolted to the wall to climb down to the patio. The other window has a fire escape that goes down to the back alley.” He didn’t add this was how Rat would sneak into his home.
“Young man this looks like a great place you have set up.” She smiled at him. “How often does your mom check on you?” she asked. Shion smiled.
“Well until this year, I was homeschooled. Which meant I was down in the store most of the time. Now I am going to public schooling. I check in with her when I come home. We visit, then I do my homework. I come down after that to see if she needs any help.” He said. “if she needs me she texts.” He added seeing a doubtful look on the women’s face.
“She doesn’t come up here to check on you?” she asked. Shion looked confused.
“Well when she can. She runs the store though.”
“I will be helping out in the store as well.” Rat said. “after school and weekends. I will be under her immediate care and watchfulness." He added. She gave him a smile.
“This sounds like a very nice fit for you.”  Shion beamed. “I have to talk with your mom about some things. Can you watch the store so I can?” she asked the boys. They agreed and headed down to the store.
Karen went into the kitchen where she could see the boys through the window opening. Ms. Cavers sat down with her.
“I need to look at your finances.” Karen showed her the books for both her store and personnel finances. Both were well off. Ms. Cravers noted her net worth.
“How often are you supervising the boys?” she asked.
Karen waved a hand toward the window. “When they are down here which is after school and weekends they help out. Then of course once the store closes at six. I am then upstairs for the rest of the evening. I do get up early to start baking. I wake the boys and watch them get ready for school.” Ms. Cavers nodded.
“They are teenagers.” Karen stated.
“Correct.” She agreed. After filling out her paperwork she finished up. “I see no reason to take Rat from here this weekend. I will run everything through my supervisor on Monday and get you know if anything changes.”
“Thank you.” Karen said. Ms. Cavers went out to tell Rat who was pleased to remain with his friend. Ms. Cavers took him back to the Thomas' house to get more of his things.
Shion had taken down the bunk beds by the time he got back. “I wanted to give you more space. I have a desk you can use for school work. I took all my things out.” He showed him a built in desk in  the attic. Rat thanked him.
“Shion, this arrangement…” he waved his hand.
“I know you feel you might bring your troubles here. But don’t you think you might not have to face them alone?” He asked.
“I won't hurt you or be the cause of you getting hurt.” Rat told him. “But I won't runaway either.” He added. “it's the best I can offer you right now.” Shion grinned.
“Then I accept.” Rat hugged him.