Sibling Rivalry Parts 4-6
Chapter 4
Wednesday - Author and Mamoru's POV:
He watched her from a distance, as he always did. Ever
since he found out who she was, he wanted to know everything about her.
There she was, his angel. He had yet to approach her.
God only knows how many countless opportunities Motoki had given him to
introduce himself to her. But, like a fool, he never did.
To Mamoru she seemed even more unreachable than ever
before. He didn't feel he was worthy enough for her.
He came to the arcade everyday after-school and
practice just to see her, hear her voice, be around her light.
She always came in with one of more of her friends. He
had gotten to "know" them somewhat.
The first one was Makoto Kino, the tall Amazon you
don't mess with. Everyone else seems to be afraid of her, but not
Usako.
Then there was Ami Mizuno, the shy, brainy girl of the
group. She always has her head stuck in a book. Usa, on the other
hand, always tries to get her to do other things. Its fun to watch
Usa do that, she looks so cute.
Next there's Minako Aino. At first I thought she was
Usako, but at second glance, you know she's not. They look a lot
alike. Motoki told me its because they're cousins. Usa's mom is
Minako's dad's younger sister. Usako and Minako are very close and
have very similar personalities.
Lastly, there's Rei Hino, the fiery Shinto Priestess.
She lives and works with her grandfather at the Hikawa Shrine. The
first time I saw her, I didn't like her. She kept teasing my angel
constantly. Although she does this, Rei is very protective of Usa and
considers her a sister. You also have to admitt how cute Usa looks
when she gets angry.
Usa can't stay angry for long though. She is a very
forgiving person that wants nothing more than to help people and make
them happy.
Can't complain there! She's not only helped me, but
made me happy as well. Its like she's this drug that I'm addicted to.
If I don't see her at least once everyday, I have a bad day. Even
Seiya's torment has been easier to bear and less painful.
During the weekends, I still get to stare at her pretty
blue eyes and long, golden hair. Well, she isn't physically in front
of me, but I picture her in my mind. Since I don't see her on
weekends, Motoki was kind enough to give me some pictures of her. I'm
thankful that he did. He also keeps telling me to do something . . .
anything. I know that I should, but I just can't bring myself to do
anything.
I regret never doing anything . . .
Friday - Seiya's POV:
I just don't understand THIS! How can HE be so happy!?
No matter what I say or do, he's always just so goddamn HAPPY!!
I know he doesn't have a girlfriend, cause I would be
the first to hear about it. I also know that he hasn't been laid,
cause he doesn't believe in pre-marital sex!
What could it be!?
Everyday he comes home from practice and he's giddy
and all. Its sickening.
Maybe he's on drugs? No, he's too much of a goody-two
shoes to do that . . . I can't stand it anymore!
There's only one way to find out . . . I'm sure that
Mamoru won't mind if I go in his room and look through his stuff while
he's not home, right? . . .
Monday - Author and Mamoru's POV:
Mamoru parked his car near the Arcade. The day had
turned out to be somewhat normal, as ordinary as it can get on a
Monday.
He hadn't seen his arcade angel for three days. He
missed her on Friday due to traffic because of an accident. So, today
he got out of practice a few minutes early, so he wouldn't miss her
again.
He walked into the arcade with five minutes to spare.
He sat on the stool at the counter and noticed that Motoki wasn't
there.
'He's probably in the back room,' Mamoru thought as he
ran his hand through his silky, jet-black hair and nervously looked
around.
He saw Usa's friends sitting at their usual booth
chatting away with Lizzy. Mamoru and Lizzy made eye contact. She
looked at him gravely as she excused herself from the group and headed
towards him.
"Hey Liz! Where's your brother?"
"Gomen Mamoru-kun. You don't know yet, do you?"
"Know wh-"
"Usa-chan! Seiya-kun! Over here!"
Mamoru looked up and saw his "brother" with his angel.
Seiya had his arm wrapped around her waist possessively. He was
whispering something in her ear, making her blush in response. He led
her to the booth and pulled a chair out for her before sitting down
himself.
Mamoru's jaw tightened as he clenched and unclenched
his fists. His blood was boiling with jealousy, anger, and betrayal.
He felt his heart break into a thousand pieces. Tears welled up in his
eyes, but he would not cry, not in front of HIM.
Mamoru felt a hand on his shouldar and momentarily
looked away from THEM. Motoki looked at him with remorse and sorrow.
"Gomen Mamoru. I went to your practice to warn you.
You were gone by the time I got there. I don't know how they got
together, but that Friday you weren't here, HE came in and spoke
directly to her. There were so many people that I didn't get a chance
to talk to her about it. It all happened so fast, and the next thing
I knew, they were out the door. Mina said that they went out on a
date on Saturday and HE took her to a movie on Sunday . . . Gomen . . .
I'm so sorry."
Mamoru couldn't deal with any more. He knew that he
had to get out of there, if he didnt' then he knew that he would kill
Seiya or even burst into the tears he was trying so hard to fight off.
He pushed Motoki's hand away and stormed out of the arcade. Motoki
tried to stop him to no avail.
Once outside, Mamoru stopped. He was going to turn
around and look at THEM, HER once more before leaving. He opted not
to though. He was already in too much pain and the last thing he
needed was for Seiya to see him cry. He walked away.
If he had turned around, he would've seen the look of
victory on Seiya's smug face.
Chapter 5
Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . .
Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger,
jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . .
Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger,
jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . .
Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger,
jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . . Pain, anger, jealousy . . .
pain . . .
Those were the only emotions Mamoru could feel as he
struggled to hold back the tears that began clouding his vision. He
was going to drive home, but stopped a little away. He couldn't go
home like this. His youfu would not let it go without an explanation.
Mamoru shut the engine off and did something he hadn't
done in a long time . . . he cried . . . He broke out into
uncontrollable sobs filled with anguish and despair as he bowed his
head and gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. He didn't
know how to deal with this anymore.
Usually, he'd turn to his angel. But with her not
there, Mamoru felt himself being pulled into the abyss of darkness,
never being able to return.
'Why couldn't she be with someone else!?? Anyone else!
But HIM!' he thought between sobs.
"WHY!?!?!?" he yelled to no one in particular, "Oh,
Usako! Why did it have to be HIM?! You deserve so much better! He'll
only break your heart, like he's done so many countless times before
(AN: if you haven't figured it out yet, seiya is a player). Usako!
What am I supposed to do now!?!"
Mamoru stayed like that for an hour before finally
composing himself and driving home . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mamoru walked to the house solemnly. The sun had
already set and a few dark clouds loomed over the atmosphere, making
the sky look darker than usual. Mamoru didn't mind since the dark
setting matched his mood.
As Mamoru shut the front door, it began raining.
Slightly at first, then it started pouring, hard and fast. Mamoru
stared at the rain. He didn't know why, but he felt as if he should
go somewhere. He felt like he should be comforting someone, but
didn't know why. He kept staring at the rain longingly for a few more
minutes before shutting the door and walking to his room to change
for dinner.
Mamoru missed a figure watching him from the shadows
with a concerned look on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mamoru sluggishly came down the stairs and walked into
the dining room where Hiroshi was already seated. He took his seat on
the table as the two waited silently for Seiya to come.
Hiroshi broke the silence, "Mamoru, I wanted to ta-"
"Hey dad!"
"Seiya?! Its about time!"
"Sorry but I can't stay."
"Why not?"
"I'm taking MY girlfriend out."
"But son, look at the weather! Its raining cats and
dogs!"
Seiya looked out the window and noticed the rain for
the first time.
"Master Seiya, a young woman is on the phone for you.
I believe she said her name was Usagi," one of the maids said.
"Oh, that's her. Excuse me. You can start without
me."
Hiroshi sighed and motioned to Mamoru to begin his
dinner. Mamoru played with the food that was on his plate as a pained
expression crossed his features. Hiroshi did not miss the pained look
on his "son's" face.
He wondered why Mamoru was like this today. He
usually came home happier than usual. Hiroshi couldn't figure it out.
Mamoru never gave him problems growing up. Mamoru
was a quiet child, who never bothered anyone. He always did what he
was told, he was and still is very obedient.
Hiroshi tried his very hardest to make Mamoru's life
easier for him. Although he treated both his sons as equals, Hiroshi
tended to give Mamoru a little more attention.
Losing one's parents at such a young age is so hard
to deal with. Hiroshi had even sat Seiya down and told him to be
extra-sensitive to Mamoru's needs. Hiroshi told Seiya how hard it
would be for Mamoru to adjust and how they would have to do more for
him.
Hiroshi was about to say something about Mamoru about
his recent mood swings, but was stopped by Seiya entering the room.
Seiya sat down on the table and began eating his food with ease.
Hiroshi looked from Seiya to Mamoru and back again. He
couldn't take much more of this discord and animosity. He wished that
his wife, Midori, were here. Midori would've made things right. But,
she's not here, so its up to me.
"Seiya?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened to your date?"
"Oh, she didn't want to leave the house during such bad
weather. Also, her little brother is sick, and since they're really
close, she is staying with him."
"You really like her, don't you? I mean, she's the
first girl that you actually gave out your phone number to. She must
be special."
Seiya shrugged and continued eating. Mamoru whispered,
"She is," before excusing himself from the table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later, Hiroshi's Study . . .
Hiroshi sent one of the maids to get Mamoru. He was
going to sit both children down, separately, and find out the truth
and set things right, as Midori had done so many countless times before
she died.
A soft knock broke him out of his thoughts. He knew
it was Mamoru because Seiya wouldn't have bothered to knock.
"Come in."
The door creaked open and a figure waited in the
doorway.
"Mamoru, its you."
Mamoru nodded.
"Well, why don't you come in. There are a few things
that we need to discuss."
Mamoru nodded and entered the room, shutting the door
behind him . . .
Part 6
One week after Hiroshi spoke to Mamoru and Seiya . . .
Hiroshi/Author
The large mahogany desk was situated in the farthest
corner of the room.
The elaborate patterns engraved on the legs and base
gave it an antique
look, which matched the color of the walls and the
paintings. A dim light
emanated from the lamp situated on the desk. The
light scarcely reached the
shelves that lined the walls of the room. The shelves
contained shelve upon
shelve of books. The light did however reflect an
outline of a lone figure
that sat in a black leather couch.
Hiroshi sat in his study. It was almost time for
dinner and both Mamoru
and Seiya were at home. He thought about the last two
weeks and sighed in
defeat. Nothing had changed. The situation between
his sons was pretty
much the same.
'No, its not,' he thought, 'its even worse than ever
before.'
Hiroshi couldn't figure out what brought out this
renewal of animosity.
He had sat both of them down and asked them what was
wrong. Both of them
denied that anything was wrong.
Mamoru sat and listened the whole time. He only
nodded a few times and
when he spoke, he only gave one or two word responses.
He was so distant
that night. Hiroshi had never seen him like that. It
was as if Mamoru had
closed his heart off completely, feeling nothing, no
emotions, nothing.
Seiya wasn't too different. Rather than being
distant, he was more
evasive. He kept trying to change the subject or
pretend he didn't hear the
question.
Hiroshi sighed. That idea went down the drain.
Something was wrong with
his sons, and neither would tell him what it was. It
was really frustrating
to say the least. Hiroshi was broken out of his
thoughts by the familiar
voice of the butler,
"Sir?"
Sigh. "Hai?"
"Dinner is ready."
"Arigato. I'll be there in a moment."
Hiroshi sighed once again as the butler bowed
respectfully and took his
leave. Hiroshi got up and shut the light. He was
about to close the door
when an idea suddenly popped into his head.
'Well,' he thought, 'if my sons won't tell me what's
wrong, perhaps
someone else will.'
Hiroshi smiled at the thought. He knew exactly what
to do. This time he
wasn't taking no for an answer . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dinner . . .
Author
Everyone sat in their seats and ate their food in
silence. Everyone, that
is, but Mamoru, who still played with his food.
"Mamoru?"
"Hai Youfu?"
"What's bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"Then why won't you eat your food?"
Mamoru shrugged in response.
"You haven't eaten well in over two weeks."
Mamoru shrugged again. Hiroshi looked at Seiya who
had his head bowed.
Seiya continued to eat as if nothing were wrong.
"Mamoru, I'm very worried about you. I got a phone
call from your coach
today. He said that you haven't been the same, that
you don't put
everything you have into practice or any games."
Mamoru didn't respond. He kept his head bowed and
still toyed with the
rice and vegetables on his plate. Upon hearing this
piece of information,
Seiya looked at Mamoru with an expression of something
in his blue eyes.
Hiroshi sighed. He didn't want to really do this, but
he will not allow
this to go on anymore. He had given them ample time
and countless
opportunities to talk to him. Now, he had had enough
and it was time to put
his foot down. He dropped his fork. It made a loud
clattering sound with
the plate. Mamoru and Seiya's heads shot straight up.
They looked at their
father with shock and confusion. Hiroshi looked at
each one of his sons
before speaking in an authoritative voice,
"I've made a decision, and I don't want to hear any
objections."
Mamoru and Seiya continued to gape at their father.
They didn't know what
to say . . . never had they heard him speak in such a
tone to either of them
. . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Dinner . . .
Mamoru/Seiya/Author
Mamoru walked into his bedroom and shut the door.
Many things were
running through his head . . . things he couldn't
comprehend. He lied down
on his Queen-sized bed. The room was dark. Mamoru
hadn't bothered to turn
on the lights. As always, Mamoru stared up at the
white ceiling. He
watched as the shadows cast by the trees outside
played with the pallid
whiteness of the wall. The shadows of the leaves
swaying in the slight
breeze reminded him of two lovers trying to reach out
to each other.
Something is coming in their way . . . it won't let
her go . . . it is
holding her back . . .
'Not something,' Mamoru thought bitterly, 'but
someone.'
Mamoru sighed and reached for a pillow with one
hand. He placed it under
his head and continued staring at the ceiling. He
sighed and placed one of
his arms under the pillow. The free hand reached up
the bed and grasped the
remote control. His long fingers traced the "soft,"
rubbery buttons
slightly, searching for the one placed strategically
on the upper right
side. He pressed that button gently. A small red
light on his stereo
turned on. The sound of the cd's shuffling could be
heard. Once it
stopped, Mamoru moved his pointer finger a few rows
down and to the left.
Fingering the button, he pressed it and the sound of
cd's could be heard
again, then the sound of the stereo scanning the cd,
before playing the
song,
I see what he's doing to you
And it hurts me so
I wish I could steal you away
But you just won't go
Something's holding you close to him
something I can't see
But come the say that you've had enough
I pray you come running to me
'Cause if you were mine
You'd know how good love could be
And if you were mine
I'd love you eternally
If you were mine
Mamoru sighed. A small smile tugged at his lips.
No matter how he felt,
there was a song that seemed to describe his feelings
. . .
Every time I see your face
It lights up my day
But I watch you passing me by
And my sky turns gray
Maybe someday you're gonna see
I'm the one for you
Till then I'll just have to wait
For my dreams to come true
Mamoru thought about the events that had just
transpired this evening. He
couldn't believe his father's behavior tonight. His
youfu had never spoken
in such a tone, nor had he ever gotten upset like
that. Mamoru was a little
afraid. He never knew that his father could be like
this. He always
thought of him as this gentle, kind, caring person,
not the person he was
tonight. However, it wasn't his father's behavior
that had stunned him, it
was what he had decided on doing Friday night.
'Cause if you were mine
You'd know how good love could be
And if you were mine
I'd love you eternally
If you were mine
Mamoru chuckled slightly. The smile still stayed
etched on his face as he
recalled his "brother's" jaw dropping at Hiroshi's
unexpected announcement.
Mamoru himself was just as shocked. None of this made
any sense. Their
father's idea came out of nowhere.
Mamoru thought that after the meeting with their
father, Hiroshi would let
the whole thing go. But, he obviously didn't.
'How could he not?' one side of his brain asked,
'We're his children, his
family, we couldn't have expected him to let this go
without an
explanation,' it continued.
Mamoru sighed, overcome with a feeling of
butterflies in his stomach. He
had just realized what the whole thing meant. It
meant that finally they
would come face to
face . . .
My friends keep telling me to let it go
But what I feel they'll never know
I can't stop my heart beatin' for so strong for you
But you're with him and not with me
Baby it's as sad as it can be
Mamoru's hand dropped the remote control. It made a
soft thud as it hit
the mattress. His hand then flew up to his mouth. He
barely breathed,
"Oh Kami . . ."
But if you were mine
You'd know how good love could be
And if you were mine
I'd love you eternally
If you were mine
A sudden knock on the door broke him out of his
thoughts. Thinking it was
his youfu coming to check on him, he said,
"It's open Youfu."
Mamoru stayed lying on his bed as the door creaked
open and then shut. In
the darkness of the room, he saw the outline of a
tall, lean figure, resting
his shoulders on the frame of the closed door. That
was not his youfu.
"Its just you," Mamoru said coldly, turning his
cobalt eyes away from the
figure and toward the open window. He noticed that
the black clouds were
being moved to the left by the wind, revealing the
luminous moon. It cast
its light into the room, illuminating parts of the bed
and nightstand. The
figure was still shrouded in the shadows of the unlit
room.
After a few moments of silence, the figure said,
"We have to talk."
Mamoru didn't respond. He just kept staring at the
sight the moon made,
thinking of a certain someone.
The figure walked across the room and stared from
the window to Mamoru,
and back again, "I don't get what you're looking at,"
he spat
sarcastically.
"If you would stop and admire the beauty of nature
once in a while, you
would appreciate everything more," Mamoru said in an
annoyed voice.
Seiya rolled his eyes before speaking, "Listen,
dad's idea is not gonna
work."
"Why not?"
"You know damn well why not! Baka! I'm not even
gonna be here! I have
to go on that stupid trip to Kobe and will be gone for
at least two weeks!
YOU know THAT!"
"You're right, I do. You shouldn't be talking to me
about it-"
"I know! I already talked to dad and he wasn't
listening. He didn't care
that I wouldn't be there!"
"Why should I care again?"
"I KNOW you Mamoru."
"And?"
"I know what you'll do when I'm gone."
Mamoru smiled, "The great Seiya, insecure! Are my
ears deceiving me?"
"Matte! I'm not going to let you get away with
this! I only came here to
warn you. If you try anything, I mean anything,
you'll live to regret it!"
Seiya responded, leaving the room and slamming the
door behind him.
"I already do."