Chapter One: The shadow in the corner

It was a normal windy day. There were leaves everywhere; in the streets, in the garden, in the parks, on the roofs. People walk all over the streets wearing sweaters, jackets, some on boots, other with sneakers… warm clothes for the low temperature. But in this ocean of warm people was a boy whose dressing wear provoke some kind of shiver. The boy was around twelve years old and was wearing a short and a hawaiian T-shirt and a pair of slippers. A brat someone says but believe it or not that boy didn’t feel the wind he was in a warm temperature. It was obvious that he was not from this place just by looking the color of his skin… maybe a place with warm weather.

-“Excuse me… I’m looking for the Oak Street. Echizen family”

-“Oh… that’s four blocks down street”

-“Thank you sir!” – The boy was leaving the man in the corner of the street when suddenly he was asked.

-“Aren’t you feeling the cold around here? You should wear a jacket if not you are going to get sick”

-“For me this is not cold but thanks for asking” – the boy continue his way toward the Echizen’s house until he finally gets there. The house looks exactly like the picture he receives two months ago. This was the first time he came to this place… never been in California before… he was living in New York with his mother when the letter of his father arrives. He knew who was his father and knew that the reason he was not living with his mother was his new wife. The true was that she was his first wife because he never marries his mom… God knows why.

At first he doesn’t want to go with his father because it was odd for him. His father visits him regular twice a year so he doesn’t feel like an unwanted kid but it was always strange to know the other part of the family.

What he knew of them was that his wife’s name was Rinko and that the have a son six years younger than him. His baby brother’s name was… Ryoma but he doesn’t have a decent picture of him. His father have send him a few to know his brother but in all the pictures the only part of Ryoma he could notice was his feet, o an arm… maybe a little of his back but his face was a mystery for him.

The wind stops a little when he knocks the door. It was all silence in that house when he feels someone was coming. He turns all over to see who was coming… it was his father.

-“Hey! You finally came here! You have grown up a lot since the last time!”

-“Yeah oyaji! So…” – something catch his attention, a noise that came from the front door. He turns around to see the one who provoke that noise only to see a little shadow

-“Hey Ryoma come here and meet your brother Ryoga!” – The little shadow was cute enough for him. He was wearing a jumper and a red t-shirt and a white baseball cap that covers most part of his face. He couldn’t resist it anymore. He jumps to his side and take him off the cap showing all his greenish hair and with a quick hand move he shake all his head. Ryoma doesn’t know how to react but it was obvious that he doesn’t like that kind of move especially when he is took by surprise.

-“Itai…stop it!”

-“Nee chibisuke kombawa!” – Ryoga hug him like he was a huge teddy bear… he was getting annoyed. Big brother? He looks like more than a baby in front of him.

-“Hey Ryoga, leave the brat alone he doesn’t know when one is joking!” – Nanjiroh, the father said while he grabs the boy’s suitcase and carry them into the house – “Do you know how to play tennis?”

-“Hi! You teach me… don’t you?” – Nanjiroh smiles at the hearing of this and offers the boy a match. They change their clothes and meet again at the tennis field that they have at the backyard. While they were playing the small shadow appears again at the window to watch the match. His eyes were wide open trying to see if this boy has talent or more than he. It seems that he was pretty good but he was mada mada dane in front of his father… just like him.

-“Want to come and play with me?” – he gets distract and when he notices again the match was over and the other boy was asking him for a match. He doesn’t know if he could make it in front of him so he just puts his eyes on the floor and back step.

-“He is shy. Doesn’t know how to make friends but when he grows up he is going to be a professional… he was it all. By now he only needs practice. What do you say?”

-“You want me to practice with him?”

-“Just show him some moves… He is special, he learns fast but he couldn’t make it by now… he needs to grow a little more. Don’t have mercy with him… he is very persistence. Doesn’t know when to stop” – Ryoma sounds interesting to him more and more right now. What he has to do first is try to make him talk. The only word out of his mouth that he heard was… ‘itai’.

Ryoga went to his new room to un packed his stuff when he notices him again. He must be hidding behind the door or maybe in the closet. He pretends not to see him and continue doing his stuff waiting for Ryoma’s next move. Ryoga sit down in his new bed and look toward the door… Ryoma’s shadow was there until another voice was hear…

-“Try to talk to your brother, don’t be shy brat!” – Nanjiroh practically shout and the younger boy’s ear making him jump like a cat and run away – “Hey boy come here! Don’t be rude and talk like the man you are supposed to be! I don’t know what else can I do for him” – with that the man continue walking toward his room perhaps.

Ryoga begins to explore the house when he finished with his stuff. The house was a little bigger than his mother’s one. The kitchen was big and yellow with a window that looks at the backyard, the dinner room was décor with old wood and have flowers everywhere. The living room was very simple all paint in cream. The house also has a laundry, a bathroom for the guests, a tv room, a study room. In the second floor was the principal bedroom, and another three bedrooms. One of him now another one that was little and the last one at the end of the corridor… that must be Ryoma’s bedroom.

If Ryoma doesn’t want to talk him then he was going to begin this conversation. He did what Ryoma had and took a peak into the room. Ryoma was lying on his bed fast sleep but his room was a mess. It seems that his walls were full of Tennis posters but now those posters were down and shattered in the floor. Ryoga tries to get a closer look to Ryoma and walk trying to skip all the broken stuff and stands up by the bed. Ryoma was fully sleep but his eyes were wet… was he crying?

He didn’t know what to do because this was the first time he has a baby brother… well maybe not baby but Ryoma was cute and very small. He covers him with the bed clothes. If he wants to know him then he has to investigate more about him and the perfect place to begin with this was his bedroom. What he likes to do, what he dislikes, what he does… everything. His books told him he was in first year of elementary, he was a good student and it looks like he love cats because he has a lot of drawings and cat’s pictures. His clothes were there but what he has more of was shorts. He has a little racket and lots of balls in a box. He was a strange kid because he doesn’t have games like cars and action men or table games like monopoly or legos. His tv was on the sports channel what kind of live this kid have? Maybe tomorrow morning he could see his scheadule… that could be a start.

Time later Rinko call him to dinner. Nanjiroh was already there but Ryoma was not there… was he continue sleeping?

-“Where’s chibisuke?” – both look and continue eating.

-“He must be playing somewhere… I think he gets out when I arrive… but he must be here any minute” – and so it was. The door open and Ryoma came in with his racket at his shoulder, he was all cover in sweat but he never stops by the table, he continues walking toward his bedroom. – “Don’t take to much time your food is already in the table”

-“Yada… I’m going to sleep”

-“Sure?”

-“See you tomorrow” – and he disappear in the ladders. He was not a normal boy, he was like an adult, so serious.

-“Well tomorrow is a school, day but you could take it off to rest, only if you want of course” – Rinko was a good mom in the way of taking care of his house, feeding them. She also works in a company doing God knows what. But in my house if I say that to my mom she probably yell at me and make me eat even if I didn’t want to eat. Why is she so carefree?

-“Don’t worry about the little brat… he eats a lot in the afternoon so he is not hungry now. He sleeps too much, he loves to sleep”

When they finish their food they went to bed and rest. Ryoga told them that he prefers to go to school the next day. If he stays at home he could get bored because he would have nothing to do. School was always a good thing to spare the time and make new friends.

He was lying in his bed looking at this new place. It was defently different from his home in New York. He has a lot o freedom here, his dad at full time, lots of new places to go and explore, a tennis field where to play, and a cute little baby brother. Tomorrow was going to be a good day, he was going to talk with Ryoma and try to be his friend. Everything was going to be perfect.

-----------

He hear his name very far form him. It was warm where he was now and the only idea of leaving that place was out of question. The covers were pull out of him showing himself like a puppy curl in bed. He wants to continue sleeping but he couldn’t say something like that… not now, this was his first morning here so he needs to give a good impression. He stands up and walks toward the bathroom to get ready for his first day of school. He really should had think a little more yesterday when he said he wants to go to school today, he could had the day off resting but now it was to late to change his mind. When he goes out of the bathroom toward his bedroom he could hear some kind of yelling from Ryoma’s room. He couldn’t stop his rising curiosity and goes to see what was happening there.

Nanjiroh and Rinko were there trying to wake up Ryoma but without lucky. The boy continues sleeping or maybe trying to hear them. This situation seems to be getting harder because Nanjiroh trying to trough him a glass of water just to wake him up. He wet his fingers and split them in Ryoma’s face… now the boy was awake.

-“Baka! I want to continue sleeping!”

-“I don’t care about that! Now get ready to go to school, I’m going to take you there” - Rinko reaches some clothes to the boy and kiss him in his forehead before leaving him alone.

-“Hurry up chibisuke!” – Ryoma looks at him now with a killer face, grabs his things and past by his side without saying a simple word. He was too tired to talk with him so it was better to ignore him.

The breakfast was noisy like always. Nanjiroh enjoys making fun of Ryoma and his tendency to sleep too much. Rinko was trying to make him stop because the little boy was starting to get annoy. Ryoga instead was hearing everything trying to get what exactly happens here every morning. Of course he laughs too about his father’s jokes, they were funny specially when he acts like Ryoma something that the boy really hates.

-“When you came back we are going to play just to practice a little bit. You didn’t practice yesterday with me Ryoma… it was because Ryoga is better than you?” – that was the limit. The boy hit his cup of milk and pour it, he was angry now.

-“I’m in the car. Hurry up, I don’t want to be late”

-“Hey it’s not my fault you oversleep every single morning!”

-“Stop it Nanjiroh! You make him angry again, what are you trying to do?” – Rinko leaves the table following Ryoma into the car. She was right, that was not a good move… was this the real reason why Ryoma was angry? Was it for him or because he was sleepy?

-“Did you think I do it wrong?”

-“Yes… I think he doesn’t like me… I want to talk to him but he doesn’t want” – nanjiroh was thinking now

-“He just needs time to think… he is a bonehead and sometimes he is really mean so try not to believe him” – they got up and go to the garage. Nanjiroh drives them to school leaving Rinko in the way of her job. Ryoma was still angry and didn’t say a word. When the car stops in front of the school he gets out of the car and run inside. Ryoga fallows him and looks for his class. He doesn’t like to be the new kid but he has to admit that the sensation was good… he was really excited.

To resume all Ryoga’s day it was fine. He was a very friendly person and funny too. Everyone talks to him and tries to catch some story of him and his live at New York. Everyone thinks he was a really cool boy and by the lunch time he was consider one of the popular kids in his grade… pretty good for his first day there. He enters into the cafeteria with his new friends that were a couple of girls and one of her boyfriends. This cafeteria was a little smaller than his school in New York but it was really nice. The food smells good. He grabs some spaguetti, a brownie, and orange ponta. He sits down in one of the tables in the middle of the place. He could see everyone from his place, even his little brother that was making line to get his own food.

Ryoma takes his food and sits in one corner alone. He doesn’t have friends at his side and eats in a very slowly way, to be true he was more like playing with his food. It seems that he was eating some fried chicken, a brownie too and milk. Now that he looks him better Ryoma was a tennis freak because he has his racket next to him. Did this school have tennis fields? Was Ryoma in some kind of self training?

-“What are you looking?” – one of the girls ask him. He react smiling at her and stands up.

-“I’ll be here in a minute!” – he began walking toward Ryoma’s table only to sit by his side – “So… how was your day chibisuke!”

-“Itai” – was this the only thing he says? The boy tries to get off his big brother and continue eating. – “My live is not your business so leave me alone”

-“But chibisuke we are brothers! Come on… say me something!”

-“Go with your friends… they are calling you” – Ryoga watch again at his table. He was saying the truth, his new friends were calling him. – “See you later then!” – he was really mean. Ryoma continue walking to his place when he heard another boy and the familiar voice of Ryoma’s one.

-“Hey Echizen… give me your brownie!”

-“Get yours baka!”

-“I hate when you do that! Why can’t you be normal and speak in English like everyone?”

-“Get out baka!” – Ryoma continues eating but now he grabs his brownie to put it in a safety place far from the other boy. The other boy sees this and grabs Ryoma’s arm and squeeze it until he drops the brownie. Now he gets the brownie and walk away leaving Ryoma there. He couldn’t let this happen, his has to do something to protect his little and defenseless brother but when he was going to talk with this bully boy and orange came flying and hits the bully’s arm making he drops the brownie this time.

-“You are as good as dead Echizen!” – Ryoga didn’t react at first when the boy pass by his side but when he turns to see what was happening he could see it. It seams that Ryoma has hit the orange with the racket, it was a pretty good shot… and only at six years! But now the bully has Ryoma by the collar of his t-shirt and was shaking him violently. The other kids were watching this but no one say something more than ‘Fight, Fight!’

-“Stop! Leave him alone if you don’t want to go to the principal! I promise you I’m going to bring him here if you don’t leave him!” – the bully was scared now and leave Ryoma alone. – “You are ok… chibisuke?”

-“I didn’t need your help. Just leave me alone and get a live!” – Ryoma grabs his stuff and walks out the cafeteria.

What happen with this boy? He was crying for help! Well maybe not crying but he really was needing help. Was ‘Thank you’ a hard word to say?

-“Did that kid say you something? He is really a stubborn. He always ends like this… well this was the first time he finally hit the other boy. That orange must hurt!”

-“He is very antisocial. My brother has a few classes with him… very strange kid”

-“They say his father was tennis pro and now he is trying to teach him how to play like he has but the boy couldn’t make it” – this things were real? – “I saw him the other day playing against the wall. For me he is begging to learn how to do it but a good thing is that he is persistence… he stays until night practicing near my house”

-“Really? Then that resolves the mystery” – his friends didn’t get it – “That tennis freak is my little brother… half brothers”

-“No way! You are so different!”

-“Yeah… I know… So where do you live Dereck?” – he tries to get data about his brother during the lunch time. For just doing nothing he was well known by everyone and not only him, his whole family too. – “Maybe I could go to your place and play a little, I don’t know anyone here, I arrive here yesterday” – they all were with their mouths open. He gets what he wants, he had surprised them all.

Classes began again. History class was very boring so he decided to go to the bathroom to wash his face but once there he preffer to use one of the cubicles. When he was there someone comes in to wash his hands. Ryoga tries to see who was the one and took a peak. Ryoma was washing his hands that were all cover with red paint, it seems that he was having and art class right now.

-“Hi chibisuke! How was your day?” – the kid tries to wash his hands as fast as he could to get out of there – “Are you trying to ignore me chibisuke?” – He hates being called by that.

-“Finally! You get the message then!” – the boy finished and walks toward the door but Ryoga was bigger and faster and stand between Ryoma and the door. – “Get off of my way!”

-“You are so mean… just like…”

-“Just like dad told you! You shouldn’t be that surprised then now let me go” – This kid was getting him out of mind, he really was annoying. Ryoga grabs his brother by the shoulders and shakes him until the boy close his eyes trying not to get dizzy. – “Itai…”

-“Itai… it’s the only thing you say! Talk to me like a normal boy and at least try to act like my little brother and then I will let you go!” – Ryoma looks scared. This was the first time someone shakes him like that. He doesn’t get it, everyone say he was not normal but he really was trying to act normal… what was he doing wrong?

-“I have to go to classes… my teacher is waiting for me” – he get off of his big brother and goes to his classroom. He wants to cry to he will never cry, not in front of him, not in front of anyone.

Ryoga stays exactly were the kid left him for a few seconds. This was not a good start. He gets out of the bathroom and saw the boy in the corner of the hall.

-“Hey chibisuke… wait for me when your classes finished… I’m going to pick you up to return together!” – Ryoma only raised his arm to confirm him and he disappear. It was bad that the only way he heard him was that, by the force or scaring him to death.

Ryoga return to his classroom too and tries to pay attention to the history class one more time. This was really boring but he has to listen… the teacher’s words make him sleepy… why this things has to be this boring? After History class he has to go to the science one… this was not to bored but the smell of the room make him dizzy so one more time he gets out of the class to the bathroom. Wetting his face was not enough for him so he tries to drink some water… his throat was dry. The science class was a little far from the other classes but it was close to the art one… maybe he could go there just to see what Ryoma was doing.

The art class was really close to the science one. He stops there looking for his brother by the window. All the little kids of the school were there painting with the fingers, others with all hands, no one seem to use the brush for it. Ryoma was there, it doesn’t surprise him to found his little brother in the corner all cover in paint. His face has green, red, and blue spots while his hands were cover with yellow paint. Ryoga couldn’t resist anymore so he sneaks into the classroom and tries to look a little close to the paint. He has draw himself playing in the tennis field of his house with his mother, Rinko and Nanjiroh near him…

-“Stop following me!” – Ryoma takes his drawing and squeeze it trying no one to see it. His little hands in fit were waiting for something but couldn’t do anything against Ryoga’s fast moves. His face was soon dirtier this time with black paint. Ryoga’s fingers had drawn in his face a cat nose and three lines like a cat mustage.

-“You are just like a cat! Kawai chibisuke!” – Ryoma was now all in red but this time red paint have nothing to do… he was blushing madly – “Blushing? You have blood then chibisuke! You look more cute like this!”

-“Young man, what are you doing here?” – The teacher have found him. Ryoga just apologized and went out toward his classes once more. When he was getting out he could hear the teacher was having problems with the kids, it looks like that now everyone were trying to paint each others faces.

Well this time was the last time he gets out of the class. He doesn’t have another opportunity to get out and bother his brother because the smell has gone. The class wasn’t boring hopefully and today’s assignment was something he had already done at New York. This wasn’t a bad day for him. He had friends, his brother was scared of him, they have some machines that sells soda… this was the paradise! He fixes his back pack and goes to pick up Ryoma at his class but Ryoma was not there anymore. He looks for him around the school but never found him… where does he go? Couldn’t he wait just a little more?

Ryoga returns to home looking for his brother in the way back. Once home he tries to relax but he couldn’t… maybe he is practicing… he has his racket after all… yes that might be! He begun doing his homework and then practice a little bit. When he got bored he goes out into the mini forest toward the cliff. This little forest has a lot of orange trees so he pick up some ones and puts them in his pockets… he could eat them later. At the cliff he saw the sunset and then everything turns dark… this was a warn night if you want to compare it with the other ones of the week. He continues walking until he found a street, a very lonely street. He wasn’t scared but this was a place that could turn your skin really like a chicken one…this was very lonely. He decides to get out of there as fast as he can but then he heard a children’s cry… he knows that voice…

He tries to see where does this cry came from… and then he saw it… the alley. The noises were from the alley, He hides behind the trash cans and saw it all. A drunken man was pulling a little child into the corner of the alley, he couldn’t see the boy’s face because it was really dark…

-“Shut up brat! Now I’m going to release your mouth but try to make no noise… if not you are as good as death!” – the boy was breathing hard and was in a mix of crying and trying to stay calm. The man in the mean time touches his little face with his hands and squeezes his cheeks…

-“Itai..” – Ryoga recognized that voice now… it was Ryoma… that boy was his brother!

-“What did I told you!” – the man hits the boy directly on the face making him fall… but Ryoma never cries. The man was now on the top of him trying to touch him, sliding his hands under Ryoma’s pants… Ryoma was really scared now… he couldn’t move but then…

A flying orange came from nowhere and hit the man at the back of his head. A lot of orange where hitting the man making him run outside the alley. Ryoma tries to stand up but his legs were not helping. He saw a new shadow in the alley and imagined the worse. He tries to hide under his hands like if it could work. Two hands pick him up and carry him out of the alley. Now the lights of the street revealed the face… it was his big brother… Ryoga has saved him… now he really needs to sleep… his eyes close… he was saved now…

TBC…

.