8-9-3

 by Shannon

Part 1

            “Shinya honey follow mommy closer,” Shinya’s mother pulled him into a back alley holding his hand.

            “It’s cold out, can’t we go home?” Shinya asked shivering as he reluctantly followed his mother.

            “Don’t complain at me, you should respect your mother,” his mother said.

            “Sumimasen.”

            Shinya’s mother pulled him to a stop next to some garbage cans filled to brimming with half eaten plates of food that Shinya couldn’t name; she leaned down and looked into his eye. “You’re almost 11, I can’t believe it,” she paused and hugged him, holding him a long while. Shinya didn’t mind, he liked how warm she was against the cold of the snow lightly covering the ground.

            His mother stood and straightened herself. “I have to go somewhere now, you wait here for me,” she said and turned her back to go.

            “Matte,” Shinya said. “You can’t leave me out here it’s too cold.”

            “I’ll be back soon, just keep your jacket closed and don’t make trouble for yourself ok?” She turned to look at him and Shinya was sure he saw a tear in her eye; she started to run away from Shinya and into the cold, dark alleyway.

            “Oka-san,” Shinya whispered holding out his hand to his mother’s retreating form.

            “Kami-sama, fuck it’s cold out here,” Kaoru said as he lifted the garbage can lid dumping a black bag into it. Kaoru rubbed his hands together and pulled a cigarette from its pack; lighting it he took a deep drag and rested against the wall of the building.

            “Hey, Kaoru,” his boss called from within the restaurant.

            “Yeah,” Kaoru yelled, breaking the lit tip of the stick off.

            “You’ve got dishes to wash.”

            “Damn, no time to relax around here,” Kaoru turned to go back inside when he caught a pair of eyes staring out at him from behind a garbage can on the other side of the alley. Kaoru stepped closer to the bearer of the eyes, “Hey, who are you?” A small boy of maybe nine or ten stood up and bowed his head.

            “What the hell are you doing out here in the cold?” Kaoru asked.

            “My mother told me to wait,” the boy said shivering.

            “Come over here,” Kaoru waved.

            The boy took a timid step forward.

            “Come on, I won’t hurt you. What’s your name?” The boy looked up and whispered something Kaoru couldn’t quite catch. “You’ll have to say that louder, I missed it,” Kaoru said with a smile.

            “Shinya.”

            “Well Shinya, if you come over here you can sit in the warmth of the door, and I’ll get you a snack, ok?”

            Shinya’s eyes got a little bigger at the mention of food.

            “It’s a good idea huh?” Kaoru asked smiling. “How long have you been out here?”

            “I’m not sure, maybe an hour,” Shinya said finally coming closer.

            Kaoru put his hand on the boys shoulder and almost cringed at the feel of bones through his skin. “You said your mother left you out here?”

            “Yes, she told me to behave and that she’d be back soon.”

            Kaoru pulled Shinya into the back of the restaurant and sat him on a box of vegetables. “You just sit here for a moment, I’ll bring you something then we can look for your mom ok?”

            Shinya nodded, happy to be in out of the cold.

            “Kaoru, you’re slacking,” his boss called angrily.

            “I know I’m sorry, my sister is sick,” Kaoru tried.

            “I know you don’t have a sister, shut up and get back to work.”

            Kaoru smiled and making sure no one was looking at him he reached into the bread warmer and pulled out three breadsticks; covering them in a napkin he stuffed them into the front of his apron and stuck his hands reluctantly into the dish water.

            Shinya felt his stomach grumble and wrapped an arm around it while he wondered if his mother would know to look for him in here, if she was coming back at all.

            “Here,” Kaoru said, causing Shinya to jump. Kaoru smiled and held out the napkin bundle.

            Shinya bit his lip, “I have nothing to give you for that,” he whispered.

            “I know,” Kaoru said. “It’s on me, no worries about charge ok?” Kaoru waved the bundle in front of the boy. “Come on, they’re hot and ready to go, they smell great, if you don’t take them I’ll just give them to a stray cat or dog or something.”

            Shinya still seemed reluctant.

            “Alright, how ‘bout as payment you can help me take out the garbage tonight, fair?”

            Shinya nodded and smiling took the proffered treats. He had never seen anything like them and the taste was wholly new but very enjoyable as he gulped them down, his stomach overjoyed.

            “Hang on not so fast,” Kaoru said. “You’ll get sick.”

            Shinya tried to mind Kaoru but his hands and stomach wouldn’t let him. “What do you call this?” Shinya asked holding up the last one.

            “It’s a breadstick. You’ve never had one before?”

            “No, oka-san tells me only to eat Japanese, and not very much of that either, gluttony is a sin.”

            Kaoru sighed, what a strange mother this boy had, Kaoru almost wished she wouldn’t come back, he was so cute and she was just filling him with junk about sin; it reminded Kaoru of his own home and why he left. “Well that is an Itarian side-dish,” Kaoru said doing his best to wrap his tongue around the ‘L’ sound.

            “Itarian,” Shinya mimicked. “I like it a lot.”

            “Good,” Kaoru smiled. “I’ll bring the garbage and drop it in the hallway there,” Kaoru pointed. “And you take it out from here ok?”

            Shinya nodded smiling.

            The night drew to a close without too much ruckus and no sign or word of a woman looking for her boy. Kaoru was beginning to fear the worst as he dried his last dish and placed it in the cupboard.

            “Hey Kaoru,” one of the chef’s said.

            “Yeah Hideki?”

            “You want me to fix you a plate to go home on?”

            “That would be nice of you,” Kaoru said leaning against the sink.

            Hideki smiled, “It’s no problem; you just scrub the pots better and keep the crotchety old boss-pants from yelling at you ok?”

            Kaoru sighed, “I’ll do better on the pots, but I’m not sure I can do anything about the boss, he just likes to ride my ass. Makes you wonder,” Kaoru raised a brow at Hideki.

            Hideki burst into laughter, “Yeah I think he’s after your ass, he used to be after me but hey, now you’re youngest. How old are you anyway?”

            “Well according to people around here I’m 18, but it’s more like 15.”

            “15 wow.” Hideki went to work on some spaghetti for Kaoru. “Hey Kao?”

            “Yup?”

            “You want me to make another for your friend out there?” Hideki asked over his shoulder smiling.

            “You saw him?”

            “He peeked his head around once or twice, but I don’t think anyone else saw, we would’ve heard about it.”

            “If you’d do that for me, I’d owe you something,” Kaoru said.

            “I’ll do it, because I like you. After all you saved my ass from the boss’ evil hentai mind,” Hideki laughed.

            “You don’t think he’ll try anything do you?” Kaoru cringed.

            “Don’t worry man, I got your back.”

            Kaoru raised an eyebrow, and he and Hideki burst into laughter.

            Kaoru pulled off his apron and pulled on his coat, slipping open the bread warmer he grabbed more breadsticks for Shinya. “Thanks again Hideki,” Kaoru called and made his way, carrying dinner, to the back exit.

            Shinya was asleep wrapped in his coat with his head propped against the wall.

            “Hey,” Kaoru whispered tapping Shinya. “Hey, Shinya wake up.”

            Shinya stirred a little and his eyes fluttered open. “Is it time to find oka-san?” Shinya asked groggily rubbing his eyes.

            “We’ll do that in the morning ok?” Kaoru said, hoping Shinya would agree. “It’s really late out and very cold, I’m sure your mother wouldn’t like it very much if you got a chill.”

            Shinya thought for a moment, “I should go back to my home then, she’s probably there waiting.”

            “Look Shinya,” Kaoru said and sighed, kneeling in front of the boy. “Your mother called the restaurant earlier and asked if someone could watch you for the night.” Kaoru tried a lie not sure how to win Shinya over but sure his mother wasn’t coming back.

            “She called you?” Shinya asked. “Did she tell you where she was, when she was coming back, how I can get to her?”

            “Shinya, I didn’t talk to her, she told my boss and he told me.”

            “Where is she Kaoru?” Shinya asked sniffling back tears.

            “Hey,” Kaoru said. “It’s ok kid, don’t cry, you’re safe with me, now let’s go home ne?”

            “To your home?” Shinya asked.

            “Yeah,” Kaoru sighed. “I promise you’ll be safe, and look Hideki even made us food.”

            “More Itarian?” Shinya asked a little excited.

            “Yep, this time it’s called spaghetti,” Kaoru said rubbing his hand through Shinya’s hair ruffling it a bit. “And I got you more breadsticks,” Kaoru smiled.

            “Alright, I’m in,” Shinya said.

            “Good let’s go,” Kaoru said and pulled Shinya closer to him as they walked into the cold.

            Shinya shivered against Kaoru as they made their way to the train station. “What’s that?” Shinya asked as a train pulled into port going the other way.

            “That’s a train, we’ll be getting on one but going this way,” Kaoru pointed.

            “Is it scary?” Shinya asked nervous. “It sounds scary.”

            “It just sounds bad; it’s really nice and warm inside with sort of comfortable seats.” Kaoru looked down at Shinya. “How old are you?”

            “I’m 11 in a few days,” Shinya smiled.

            “Have you never been outside your house before now?”

            “I’ve been to the park right outside the place where oka-san and I stay, but never further than that and I can’t go out when other children are out,” Shinya said.

            “You’ve never been to school?”

            “What’s that?” Shinya asked looking at Kaoru puzzled.

            “So you just sit inside all day and wait for your mom to come home? What do you do all day?” Kaoru asked grabbing Shinya’s hand.

            “I play one-man oicho-kabu, until the sun goes down then I play pretend that I’m fighting the demons that oka-san sometimes tells me about, she fights them too, sometimes she comes home with bruises and bloody lips. Once she came home and her eye was swelled shut, that was a bad night.” Shinya squeezed Kaoru’s hand as the train screeched to a halt in front of them.

            “You ready to take on the train demon with me?” Kaoru smiled. Shinya looked uncertain. “Come on,” Kaoru said and pulled Shinya onto the train.

            Shinya opened his eyes once he heard the doors close behind him. “Wow it is warm,” he laughed as he found a seat.

            Kaoru sat next to him and tried to imagine keeping this sweet kid locked up all day, what a sick person. I really do wish his mother doesn’t come back, Kaoru thought.

            Shinya yawned but kept wide awake on the short train ride to Kaoru’s stop. Shinya asked a few questions but generally minded his own business it was rude to pry after all, oka-san had taught him that, with a few bruises to prove her point.

            “Here’s our stop,” Kaoru smiled and got up, Shinya following him off the train.

            “Can you handle walking about three more blocks, or are you too tired?” Kaoru asked Shinya.

            “I can try,” Shinya said.

            Kaoru led the way through the snow covered streets past other apartments and houses and Shinya was keeping pretty good pace; until the third block when he stopped and squatted taking a breather.

            “Am I walking too fast?” Kaoru asked leaning down.

            “A little,” Shinya panted.

            “I have an idea,” Kaoru said. “Get on my back and I’ll carry you the rest of the way.”

            “I’m too heavy for that, oka-san says,” Shinya said shaking his head.

            “Well I’m not your mother, I’ll be fine trust me, now get on please it’s cold out here and I want to go home,” Kaoru moved so that his back faced Shinya and after a little pause Kaoru felt a slight weight added as the boy climbed on.

            “See you’re light as a feather,” Kaoru said standing, and cringed at how true that was. “Here hold the food. How many times do you eat a day?” Kaoru asked.

            Shinya thought about the strange question before putting quite bluntly, “Once, don’t you?”

            Kaoru tried hard to not get angry, his mother is starving him, he thought, starting to walk the last block home. “Do you get to eat very much?”

            “I eat a bowl of rice and soy beans about the size of my fist,” Shinya said holding his fist out in front of Kaoru’s face. Kaoru nodded and Shinya rested his hand back on Kaoru’s shoulder. “I hope we get to spend more time together,” Shinya said, snuggling his face into Kaoru’s back. “You’re really nice Kaoru.”

            Kaoru heard a yawn and smiled. “I hope so too, Shinya, you’re a good kid. Just don’t fall asleep and drop the food.”

            “I won’t,” Shinya said and tightened his grip on the rustling plastic.

            Kaoru trudged up the three flights of stairs, At least they’re indoors, he thought; then walked to the third door on his right. “Alright Shinya, we’re home,” Kaoru said and let the boys’ feet fall from his waist.

            “Hey Kaoru,” Shinya said, “There are nine stairs on every flight, three flights and three blocks and three doors to your right and two stops on the train, that makes twenty, twenty is a hard hand to get out of, and you were dealt it first.”

            Kaoru stared at the boy beside him. “You lost me somewhere how does that make twenty?”

            “Three, six, nine; flights, blocks, and doors; and nine and nine are 18; that being the stairs on one flight and the previous nine; last two, two stops on the train. 20,” Shinya smiled up at Kaoru. “It’s kind of round about,” Shinya shrugged seeing Kaoru perplexed.          

            “Wow, Shinya, you’ve got an interesting way to look at things,” Kaoru said as he unlocked the door and flicked on the lights.

            Shinya’s eyes widened, “You have light? Only the park has lights at night,” he said.

            Kaoru smiled and thought oh boy have you got a lot to learn. “Yup, I rent this little place and pay another little place that let’s me have light when I need it.”

            “This is a really big house,” Shinya smiled kicking off his shoes and beginning to explore.

            “Hey,” Kaoru said. “Before you get carried away let’s eat.”

            “Oh yeah, I almost forgot,” Shinya held out the bag to Kaoru and he took it into the kitchen. “You have so many rooms here Kaoru,” Shinya stared.

            “Did you only have one or two where you lived?” Kaoru asked opening the bag and throwing the containers in the microwave.

            “Where are you putting the food?” Shinya asked stepping over.

            “It’s a microwave, it reheats cold food,” Kaoru said. Shinya’s eyes got wide. “Do you want to push the buttons that make it work?” Kaoru asked the excited boy. Shinya nodded shyly.

            “Ok, press this,” Kaoru pointed. “Then this, this, and that.”

            Shinya pressed and jumped a little as the microwave went to work. “Wow,” Shinya awed.

            Kaoru let him watch the plate spin the food around while he grabbed chopsticks and a couple of forks, and smaller plates to serve it on. “Have you ever used a fork?” Kaoru asked as the microwave chimed its readiness.

            Shinya jumped and smiled at Kaoru, “No, what’s that?”

            “Push that big button on the bottom and bring out the food, but be careful it will be hot ok?”

            Shinya pushed the button and the opening door wafted out the delicious smell of the itarian within, the scent was so strange yet it caused his mouth to water and his eyes to close halfway as he breathed; his stomach growled in neglect. Shinya felt the edges of the containers and pulled them out where they were coolest to touch and placed them on the table Kaoru had set up.

            Shinya sat down and looked at the food longingly; he recognized a breadstick lying invitingly in the corner of a container and looked up at Kaoru questioningly. Kaoru smiled and nodded his head and Shinya happily took the bread and began eating it. “Oh,” Shinya said covering his mouth and putting his stick down. “Sumimasen, Kaoru. I forgot to say, ‘Itadakimasu.’” Kaoru just smiled and told him not to worry about it as he dug into the containers piling the food onto his plate. Shinya watched him eat the long red stringy things and wondered at them, they smelled good, but what were they? Shinya had seen worms in the park before and these kind of reminded him of them and he wasn’t sure if he was interested; but Kaoru was eating it, and liking it and he wouldn’t lead Shinya astray.

            “Try some spaghetti Shinya,” Kaoru said seeing the boy staring at him.

            “What is it?” Shinya gulped.

            “They’re noodles with a sauce on them that makes them red, they’re very good,” Kaoru said taking another bite trying to prove it to the boy.

            Shinya reached with his fingers and took one long tendril from a container and bit the end of it, he let it sit in his mouth then began chewing and a burst of flavor complimentary to the breadsticks washed over his tongue filling him with relief and extreme joy. “It is good,” Shinya smiled and grabbed a container moving some onto his plate with chopsticks; he made a bit of a mess as some of the spaghetti slopped out. He watched Kaoru again eating the noodles with his chopsticks and mimicked the movements.

            Kaoru smiled to himself as he watched Shinya copying him, he’d never had any siblings but this was a wonderful feeling. Kaoru felt himself wanting nothing more than to protect the boy in front of him from all the horrible mothers out in the world. Kaoru noticed Shinya having a little trouble with the chopsticks and laughed. “Try the fork,” Kaoru said pushing one towards Shinya.

            “How do you use it? Shinya asked.

            “Like this,” Kaoru picked up his fork and twirled it in some of the noodles. “You catch some of the noodles in the tines, those are the separate parts at the end, then you spin it on your plate and once you think some are stuck you lift up the fork and eat,” Kaoru demonstrated.

            Shinya tried it and smiled as he got the hang of it and began to eat easier.

            “Can I have some more?” Shinya asked after cleaning his plate, his stomach was growling, nearly content.

            “Of course you can,” Kaoru said leaning up and putting more on Shinya’s plate. “Eat until you’re full, or at least until that monster in your stomach quiets down.”

            Shinya giggled and continued to eat.

            Kaoru stretched back and patted his stomach. Shinya smiled content and rested his head on the knee he had pulled up to his chest.

            “I’ll toss the garbage and take care of the dishes; you can have a look around the place if you want,” Kaoru looked at Shinya.

            “I’ll help you, and then you can show me around ok?” Shinya asked.

            “Nope, you’re a guest; you just sit and wait for me this wont take long.”

            Shinya smiled and watched as Kaoru threw the empty containers in the garbage can hidden in a cupboard and began washing the eating supplies in the small sink. Shinya thought about what it would be like to take Kaoru home with him, how fun it would be to play cards till dark, then fight against the demons; Shinya smiled again scratching his cheek.

            “Alright, the grand tour,” Kaoru said drying off his hands. “This as you know, is the kitchen, where we ate is the main living area and down this hall is the room,” Kaoru led Shinya down the hall and opened the door, stepping into his small bedroom. “I sleep here and through there is the bathroom,” Kaoru pointed to another door. “That’s it, home sweet home,” Kaoru smiled and went to the corner of the room where his futon was rolled and brought it out to the middle and spread it open.

            Shinya stared, “What’s that?”

            “You’ve never slept on a futon?” Kaoru asked staring at Shinya, his mouth falling open.

            “I sleep on the floor with my small blanket.”

            “Kami-sama… Well tonight you’ll sleep here next to me ok? We can keep each other warm,” Kaoru smiled.

            “I’ve never slept next to someone,” Shinya bit his lip.

            “It’s ok, I haven’t really either, it’ll be ok though, we’ll fight another demon together ok?” Kaoru said reassuringly.

            Shinya yawned.

            “I’ll take that as a yes,” Kaoru laughed. Kaoru stood up and went to the small dresser in the corner of the room; he dug through the drawers and finally found it. “Here kid,” Kaoru said flinging an overlarge shirt to Shinya. “Go into the bathroom and take those wet old clothes off and change into that ok?”

            Shinya held the shirt close and nodded, heading toward the bathroom.

            Kaoru finished setting up the bed; he’d gone to the closet by the front door and grabbed another blanket, thicker and warmer, to add to the mix. Kaoru was fluffing up his pillows as Shinya made his way from the bathroom in the shirt that went nearly to his knees. “You ok?” Kaoru asked seeing a shocked look on Shinya’s face.

            “I’m fine; I just don’t have any big clean mirrors at home, only a small dirty hand held from my oka-san. I’ve never seen all of myself at once like that,” Shinya said a little shaky.

            “I’m sorry Shinya, I should have warned you,” Kaoru said.

            “It’s ok, I liked it; I’ve just never done it before.”

            “Will you sit here for just a second while I change?” Kaoru asked, standing up and pointing to the futon.

            “Sure,” Shinya smiled kneeling down and pressing his hands into the incredibly soft material.

            Kaoru was quick about it, pulling off his clothes, barely looking twice at himself in the mirror as he washed his face and brought a comb through his growing hair. Kaoru slipped into his pajama bottoms and a shirt and opened the door to the bathroom. Shinya was curled on top of the futon with his head on one of the pillows; soft snores were pushing through his nose.

            “It’s better if you’re under the blankets,” Kaoru whispered as he lifted the boy up and pulled the covers from him. Kaoru pulled the comforters up around Shinya’s neck then climbed in behind him with his back to the boy.

            “Kaoru?” Shinya asked.

            “Yes?”

            “Can I lay closer to you? Will you hold me? I’m scared and kind of cold.”

            Kaoru rolled over and pulled Shinya closer to him; Shinya twisted around facing Kaoru. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in here, I’m here and I’ll protect you from everything out there ok?” Kaoru pulled Shinya to his chest and wrapped his arms strongly and protectively around the boy.

            “Kaoru?” Shinya breathed into Kaoru’s chest.

            “Yes?”

            “Arigato gozaimasu,” Shinya yawned. “Oyasumi nasai.”

            “Oyasumi nasai, Shinya-kun,” Kaoru whispered and fell asleep.

*******************

The first part of a very long story I have rumbling around in my head. I can’t wait to introduce the others and let them all grow up :D *evilly rubs hands together* And once they are fully grown I have many things to put them through hehe.

 Anyway…

S

verility@hotmail.com

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