So Many Reasons Why
So Many Reasons Why
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So Many Reasons Why
Tal and Thorn
Authors’
Notes:
Not our characters, just our twisted ideas. No money made at all. Trust us. The theory behind this story is
what if Tsuzuki and Muraki met in a past life, the life before Tsuzuki died and
became a Guardian of Death. It’s AU
because it’s based solely on the anime, not the manga at all, and what we came
up with to fill in the gaping holes in both Tsuzuki and Muraki’s history.
obsession with Tsuzuki. Fans of MxT
pairings will not be disappointed.
The
first several chapters take place in the past then we switch up to the present
(which is set about one year after the Kyoto cases).
Running
always running. Away from people who
don’t want me around. Away from what I
am as if I really understand it myself.
Today, perhaps my running stops.
Asato looked up at the serene mansion.
Newly thirteen, this had been his dad’s last resort.
told him to be good…and that was it.
The driver whisked off before he could turn and beg him to bring him
back to the only home he’d ever known.
all of his personal effects, the boy took a deep breath.
that the Muraki family had offered to take him off of his father’s hands at a
chance meeting between Mr. Muraki and his father at the country club.
he would be getting an older brother and another near his age.
terrible evil children chasing him and throwing stones and calling names...
several generations.
Standing here was getting him
nowhere, so he took his first tentative steps towards his new life.
pillars holding up the porch roof, a white shade stirred.
real, stood, clutching a porcelain doll.
Her springy black curls only half-covered the severely cracked
face. The boy stared at Asato, pale
eyes expressionless. “Who are you?” he
asked in his soft voice. “Wait, daddy
said you were coming today. It is you,
isn’t it?” The boy stepped forward,
into the sunlight.
ghost, which was giving the mansion an altogether creepy feeling it didn’t have
before. But he made himself go forward
and managed a smile and an offered hand.
“Um, yeah I think so. I’m Asato
and I guess I’m your new brother…which let me guess is like the last thing you
want.” Already the boy’s insecurities
were showing. “But if you just show me
where to go and maybe how to get some chocolate milk.
used to be pretty, but Saki threw her down the well, and now her face is all
mashed up. I had to make her a new
dress too. Her other one was prettier,
green, not funeral black.” The boy
brought the doll back to his chest.
“But it’s okay, because Saki killed her sister.
Asato’s. “Saki is only half my
brother. His mommy died a long time
ago. Mine did too, when I was a
baby.” He seemed to drift off for a
moment. Blinking he was suddenly back
in the sunshine with Asato. “You can’t
be as bad a brother as him. I’m
Kazutaka, and the chocolate milk is in the kitchen. This way.”
though it was hard not be distracted by the living ice of the boy’s eyes.
moment hoping he hadn’t gone out of bounds touching Kazutaka’s things.
stuff.” He wanted to say and he’d
better not… no he was going to say it… nd
he’d better not touch any of yours while I’m around either or I’ll curse
him.” Asato made a crickling gesture
with his fingers pretending to be scary.
Might as well make light of his situation everyone would find out the
truth soon enough as soon as people started getting hurt but if he could win
this boy’s friendship maybe he’d stay friends with him.
before I was five.”
of a huge willow tree. “You are afraid
of something. Is it me?”
left his suitcase behind. Retrieving
it, he returned to where Kazutaka stood and opened it.
embossed with his name. “I don’t know
how else to show you what I’m afraid of.”
He showed him where so many people had signed.
It’s your fault Katie and Jimmy are gone
Why did you ever come to our school
Don’t ever come back
You’re daddy’s a demon
And worse…
like he was going to cry. “That’s why
my daddy keeps us here. People outside
of the Manor don’t understand. The
family, they’re different. We’re
different.”
Katie and Jimmy... Katie’s mom, too…
cream. I was the only one who survived.
And no one can even say why.
the house. “I was wondering how far
you’d gotten with Asato.” The man
turned eyes only shades darker than Kazutaka’s on Asato.
time I arrived to greet you, it seemed my son had already stolen you
away.” The man laughed, and put a hand
on Asato’s shoulder. “Come on then,
let’s get you settled in your room.
Coming, Kazutaka?”
doll.
Mildred feels better.” Then to Mr.
Muraki. “Don’t be mad at Kazutaka, it’s
my fault. I asked him for some
chocolate milk and he was bringing me to the kitchen.”
often. He’s… special.
to see him talking to anything that talks back is a relief.”
sir... Are you dad now or just
Mr.? And can I ask you why if it isn’t
too much trouble. It’s just…well the
whole thing is kinda awkward and…” His
mood changed in mid-sentence. “But I
really like Kazutaka and I hope to be his friend.”
servants, his brother and me. I’m away
much of the time, the servants are very proper, and do not see him as anything
other than the young master. And Saki,”
Mr. Muraki sighed. “Well, he’s 17 and
there’s only so much that can be done about that.”
no good. He really needs a friend.
hands.” Asato blushed.
and deductive reasoning. They wanted to
move me up a grade.”
records. I was quite happy to see how
advanced you were. Kazutaka is ahead of
the children his age as well. You two
will have lessons together 3 afternoons a week. I expect you to keep up with your studies and always do your
assignments. A man is worthless if he’s
an ignorant lump.” Mr. Muraki recited
what it seemed he had to tell at least one of his sons often.
house. “I’ll have one of the servants
give you an official tour… or maybe Kazutaka, later this afternoon.
you. Believe it or not, there are no
more bedrooms left since we converted the east wing to a library.”
will be way too big.” Asato said
crestfallen, “There was a fire…my birthday cake…oh never minon’ton’t listen to
me.”
the way up the winding stairs. “Don’t worry
about it, Asato. Saki put firecrackers
in his 12th birthday cake, too.
Thank god he was born in summer, and the party was outside.”
now?” A tall boy, wrapped in just a
thin silk sheet appeared in a doorway just off the first landing.
n
sn
style='mso-tab-count:1'> Have to get this over with sooner
or later…though I hope he doesn’t always walk around like that.
you had a memorable 12th birthday, that’s all.”
eyes. He bit down on his pouty bottom
lip to avoid speaking out immediately.
He turned a surly expression on his father. “Right, you wanted me up early to greet Kazutaka’s new toy.
I had trouble sleeping last night.”
respond to the boy’s surliness. “Bathe,
then meet us for dinner. It’s at 6, if
you forgot.”
through his disheveled hair, and returned to his room, nonchalantly discarding
the sheet before he shut the door, giving Asato and his father a full view of
his backside.
get in his way.” His tummy
rumbled. “Um, Mr. Muraki can I have a
cookie or something…I don’t feel well if I don’t get lots of sugar.
and tired if I don’t get it.” Please
don’t let this be the no junk food kind of house.
but I’m sure there’s something sweet in the kitchens. Kazutaka has to be careful about what he eats.
at the end of the very top landing. He
pointed up a short flight of stairs.
“I’ll have someone bring you up a little snack.
There are a few things I’ve already gotten for you up there.
have a list ready of what else you need, and we’ll go shopping.
that he might actually belong. Asato
lit up and hugged Mr. Muraki. “Thank
you so much and you are already nicer to me than my dad ever was.
can.”
&nbs[end[endif]>
door. Kazutaka stood on the landing, looking
like he might run back down the stairs at any moment. He’d had to go by Saki’s room to get here.
other way to the attic door. And Saki
had left his door open, laying in wait for his next victim, Kazutaka was
sure. And he didn’t want to be that
victim. After a second knock, he
decided that Asato was probably sleeping or hiding from him, or maybe not here
at all, so he turned to head back down the stairs.
Asato put down the manga he was reading and opened the door to see Kazutaka’s
retreating form. “Hey, did you knock?”
shoulder. “Yeah.
ones I lost in the fire. And a
telescope and your dad is just so nice.
Come see. Come see.”
Kazutaka hesitated for a minute, then shrugged. “But I guess it’s not an attic now, is it?”
all kinds of games too…he must want someone to play them with me.”
games. Saki never played with me
much. He’s a moron and hates to
lose.” Kazutaka entered the room,
looking around with wide eyes. “This is
nice. Walls and doors divide all my
rooms. They’re like a little house all
by themselves. This is much
better. Not so cramped.”
first big mistake. “You can have
it. I am just a stranger here.
absolute refusal. “NO!”
composure. “I’d have to go by Saki’s
room to get here and…. I don’t want him to make me stay in there like he does
to some of the servants. He’s like a
big nasty spider, jumping out and grabbing people if they get too close to his
door.”
Large violet eyes grew larger than their already considerable
size. Then a thought crossed Asato’s
mind. “Oh, I get it.
out of the new guy, isn’t it…and let me guess there’s an evil mad scientist’s
lab in the basement, right?”
“No,” Kazutaka said quite seriously.
garden, in the building behind the main house.
So are his patients.”
“Rrright.”
Asato didn’t know whether to take Kazutaka seriously or not.
“She’s hiding under my bed.
here to visit, and hid. She’s terribly
afraid of going by Saki’s room.”
Kazutaka slid onto the bed that was in the center of the huge
space. He crunched up against the
headboard, and examined the room from there.
“Well we’ll just go visit her after dinner
then…speaking of... should I dress up...there are some fancier clothes in here
than I’m used to.”
Kazutaka shrugged.
“Just don’t look like a servant and daddy will be happy.
and sweaty and in clothes I think he steals from the servant boys.”
“Then this should work,” Asato stood in the medium
sized walk in closet and took off his sweatshirt to replace it with a soft dark
dark blue wool sweater then he walked over to the large oval mirror and touched
it. There was something odd about it no
doubt about that. He could ask Kazutaka
but no doubt the boy would tell him Saki could use it to sneak in his room or
something else like that.
“You’re just a little younger than me, aren’t
you?” Kazutaka asked.
Asato was running a comb through his chocolate brown
hair. “I don’t know I guess I look old
cause I am sad a lot. And I get
mistaken for a high school kid sometimes but I think that’s cause I’m tall for
my age. You just haven’t grown taller yet but I’m sure you will probably any
day now…taller than Saki even.”
“Maybe. Is
this where you’ll bring them?” Kazutaka
leaned forward. “Saki says there’s
something wrong with me cause I don’t want anyone else in my room at
night. He says I’m freakish.”
“Bring who?
You read my yearbook does it look like I have hot dates lining up...
besides hello I’m not even fourteen. Girls
don’t come up to your room till your like sixteen or seventeen…though hey I’ll
bet the telescope might impress them.”
“Saki brings boys to his room mostly.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever want to bring a boy up
here. I mean dad has a friend who is a
guy and he has a guy friend and they’re real nice but um…what do you mean, he’s
bad?’
“He just is.
He… well, he just is.” Kazutaka
shrugged. “Just keep your door locked.”
“Okay and I’ll make sure he knows I don’t want anything
to do with his room…okay?”
Kazutaka nodded.
Then he crawled to the end of the bed, and lying on his stomach, he
looked at Asato very seriously. “My
father told you I was, what does he like to say? I’m mentally challenged, didn’t he?”
“No, he said you were different, very smart, smarter
than most those our age, and lonely.
That’s all. He never said
anything like mentally challenged and from observation if anyone here is
mentally challenged it’s Saki.spanspan>But
don’t tell him I said so.”
“He wouldn’t understand even if I did,” Kazutaka
seemed to be more relaxed and the wounded little kid sound had left his voice,
and he no longer seemed quite so small.
“But, just between us, what do you think he does with those boys?
a girl, but with a boy? I haven’t
figured that out yet.”
“Well… uh,” Asato suddenly found the Kazutaka in the
mirror much easier to talk to than the one sitting on his bed.
and stuff.”
“Yeah, I guessed that much.
thing is a thing, not a hole.”
Asato stole a glance at the clock…damn just a
little to early to say hey look we’ll be late for dinner.
or maybe thingies open up and go inside each other when they touch...
Kazutaka put his head down on his arms.
and pointless, no matter who’s doing it.”
He closed his eyes. “I mean, why
the hell would I want someone’s big drooly tongue in my mouth?
Thank god we are off the s-e-x subject
to be with so much you just want to get closer and closer.
than everyone pushing me away.”
“Close is one thing, drool is another.”
“What? Drooled
on someone? No, I mean I kissed Katie
on the cheek once but she slapped me so I don’t know if it counts.”
“Nah, not really.
Cheek kisses aren’t really kisses.
There’s no drool or tongues or anything. I don’t think I want to talk about this anymore.
“Yeah I’d really have to be crazy in love out of my
head to share someone else’s drool.”
“Let’s go get dinner. It’s probably almost time.”
Asato couldn’t resist. “I’m drooling already.”
“Ack! Gross,” Kazutaka slid off the bed. “Just keep it to yourself.
I don’t want any of it!”
“C’mon…we’ll slip past Saki’s room together really
fast…and then we’ll turn around and make lots of noise so he knows he missed
his chance to catch us.”
Kazutaka shook his head. “You’re going to get me in trouble.” He smiled. “I think I’m
going to like having you around.”
“Yeah, Saki won’t know what hit him.”