Forgotten Brother (Stopped for now)

Shielding Shadows

Ari P.o.V.

We arrived in front of Ice cream shop and to be honest I was still shocked that I could talk myself out of doctors doubts. In my mind, there was a voice that repeated again and again "It's simply dumb-luck, nothing extra. Your older brother has still doubt and you know it. Mislead them from this path. Appear happy." as that thought ran through my mind I tried my best to act happy. I heard Wataru asking "Are we getting ice cream?" I nodded and added, "What's the rule for sweets before lunch or dinner?" and I turned to look at Wataru who gave me puppy eyes but I didn't fall for it. giving up as he saw that it didn't work "If I have sweets before the meal I have to eat all on my plate in the following meal. With no voiced objection," I nodded hearing the promise we once made and started to use it as a rule."Very good, now let's go get that ice cream." I said looking at Ukyo who looked to be surprised at our conversation, I saw in his eyes the realisation he had "So all the quiet meals when you ate everything were because..." he said Wataru who only nodded. and was leaving the car, I opened my door "Are you joining us or am I going to bring the ice cream for you? If the later do you still fancy chocolate mint ice cream, am I accurate?" I said to my older brother. I remember father once said that Ukyo liked chocolate and mint flavoured ice cream since very little. "I'm coming with you two, how did you know my favourite ice cream," he asked and I looked at him not giving an answer. I stepped into a shop and there stood Wataru already in line to get an ice cream. "So what flavours you would like?" I asked him as I stood behind him and he started to point and say the names "Strawberry and green tea and peach and chocolate. Can I have them all?" I nodded and heard displeased noise next to me and when I looked at Ukyo I said "No complaints about dinner." and he seemed to understand me in that and smiled. "Cone or not?" I asked Wataru who nodded at the first part of my question. The lady behind the counter looked at us and smiled "How can I help you?" I looked at the selection once more and said "Hello, I would like one ice cream cone with strawberry, green tea, peach and chocolate. One with liquorice ice cream in a cone and..." I turned to Ukyo "What would you have?" I asked and he continued my unfinished order to the lady "One chocolate-mint ice cream in a cone. Thank you." He said and the lady nodded and went to put together our order. Next thing I know Wataru was gone and as I looked around the shop when I located him, he was talking with a boy near the exit. The boy was familiar and I knew I've seen him before. The lady got my attention and as normal I took out my wallet and paid for all the ice creams before Ukyo got a chance to even register what was happening. " I took both my and Wataru's Ice cream and Ukyo took him and we went towards the boy but just before we reached him I heard "Ari!!!" and I was hugged. "Need oxygen," I muttered and next thing I was released from the deathly hug. And then I saw who it was "Bambi, you need to work on your hugging skills or did you actually attempted to kill me?" I asked the girl who now looked guilty "Only half to death. Today hug is half priced." She said all happy and I smiled "Lucky me." I forgot that I wasn't alone as I felt Wataru, looking down and then at Ukyo "Excuse my rudeness, this is Bambi she's a friend." I introduced her "My older sibling Ukyo and youngest Wataru. I said to Bambi who smiled with a smile that could probably burn the sun "Nice to meet you, This is my brother Sora." I smiled at the boy and remembered that playground. "Sora is my classmate and best mate," Wataru said loud enough to everyone in the small group to hear. "Nice to meet you." came Ukyo answer. I looked at Bambi and smiled asking silently if she would like the company and she nodded. Turning to Ukyo "I'm aware you are a considerably occupied with work and if it is acceptable can I take Wataru to the playground. We will attend dinner." I said and he nodded "Thank you, be home at six and no later." He added and I nodded this time and left us in the shop. He recently got a new case and has been working on it at every possible chance. I've seen him cooking and reading about it 3 or 4 times now. I have really light steps so I'm rarely noticed if I walk around the house.  "To the park." Both boys said and started to walk ahead of us as we followed and started to actually get to know each other more thoroughly. Apparently, she likes harry potter too and if I asked what house she belonged the most she said Slytherin. "We Slytherins must keep together. Keep each other safe from the cruel world of muggles and other houses." was what she said exactly when I asked her. That made me laugh and I heard my brother say to his friend "That's probably the first time I hear him laugh with someone other than me." and that actually made me stop and turn my head down but not for long. I learned her favourite colours were silver and black and she liked nature. In one point our conversation turned to future and she asked me "If you could live anywhere in the world, where and why?" and I thought about it "Maybe somewhere in Scandinavia, Scotland, Finland or Alaska. Because of nature and 4 seasons and Snow. How about you? " she took her time and suddenly said "Maybe country side here or something similar like you...but I'm not that much of an enthusiast about snow and cold so maybe more south like North Europe or Somewhere UK or Northen parts of US but there's always the chance of New Zealand because the nature there. It depends if I ever make it as a dancer. I wouldn't like to leave my family behind but knowing my dad he would say to chase my dreams." She said and I smiled remembering my dad who had the same attitude, always pushing me to make friends and study about everything that interests me and I remembered the saying he always used. "It might take a year...it might take a day...but what's meant to be, will always find its way." unknowingly I said it out loud hearing "That's a wise saying, where is it from?" Bambi asked and I raised my shoulders "My dad used to say that when ever any of us tried something with enough passion. But I don't know if it's his original quote or if it's borrowed from somewhere." I said with a sad note "Either way it's a wise quote. You miss him, don't you?" she said after a little pause and I nodded. We sat down on the bench seeing that two boys were already playing at the playground. "Swings?" she asked and i nodded, she ran towards it and i only smiled at her child like behaviour that showed at random times. "Push me, please." She said and i did as asked keeping eye on both boys too. The topic went lighter after that and we talked about almost everything in alphabetical order, it was her idea. It was in the end very fun because few letters didn't have a good explanation and at Q she said she liked quacking like ducks to annoy her grandmother. Who apparently doesn't like ducks because the way they walk. to which i said well penguins are way weirder at walking. We got to laugh quite a lot and then she looked at the time and it was almost 5.30 and I said that I gotta go. "We need to get together again. you're fun to hang out with." I said to which she answered "Sounds like a plan how about tomorrow...of wait it's a school day. We do go in the same school but if I'm correct you're in advanced classes right?" I nodded "Tommorrow after school I'm picking up my brother at his school but after i'm free." I said and she said, "Well, same so they can study together and we can do the same with the difference that you will probably help me more than I'll ever help you." She mumbled "I'm using you for brains tomorrow if that's okay with you?" and I nodded and went to Wataru and he said good bye to his friend and we went home. We went in the house and right away my eyes started to water and coughing started. "Go ahead, dinner is about to start soon, I'll be in my room and maybe join for dinner in few minutes." I said not planning to join because I felt my coughing get worse. I went to Stairs corridor and as soon the door behind me closed it was slightly easier to breathe "That fluffy rat has been everywhere." I said to no one and started to walk the stairs still having slight trouble with coughing. As I reached my level the breathing was easy and I remembered what happened in morning so I breathed in deeply and opened the door and went to my door only to find it unlocked and when I went in I saw Ukyo on my bed reading my note book from my secret box. I Closed the door making him look up and went to open the window. It was quite easy to see that I wasn't pleased "Intrusion of privacy is not tolerated. Please, disappear and never appear in this place again." I said the coldest voice I could assemble and with body language that said how deeply disappointed I was with a hint of run or be killed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." he started but I raised my hand to stop him right there "Leave, non-essential explanation contains vain regrets."  With that, he left and I locked the door after him not leaving the room till morning and not letting anyone in, not even Wataru because I didn't want him to be exposed to my emotional unbalance yet again. I made yet again few more cuts but that didn't seem to help so I did what I do when nothing seems to help. I drowned myself in music and created songs. I almost broke the drum set in my room and then I cried like there was no tomorrow. "Maybe it's better to end it all?" I said out loud and then it leads to other thought "What about Wataru? He's too young to lose a family member. He didn't know father so it didn't affect him like it did to me." having a conversation with no one "I'm going insane, aren't I? What would you do father? Is it a peaceful place where you are? I just made a very first true friend and here I am alone talking to myself and asking advice from the ones who escaped life. Is my life ever be worthy of the pain I have endured so far." I looked at the window  "Only 7 floors, it's not enough to be certain so that's out, maybe sea, or the forest? But then I have to leave the house. What would happen with my music career? I have to stay strong, for Wataru for my new friend Bambi.They are my shielding shadows and I have to be theirs as well." looking at my covered hands "It's not yet time to leave...not before I know that Wataru won't need me. I laid in my bed as sleep took me in the hands of familiar warm darkness.

A/N: Probably longest chapter I've written here and I know it's not that good and the song I chose kinda fit's good in my opinion. if you follow my way of thinking you will understand what i mean, i hope at least. Thanks for reading. Snow is up, up and away.