Chapter Text
…hah..?”
Akito randomly fucking showing up. Not dead, not a zombie, not about to eat her brains, was a huge surprise. Not entirely unwelcomed, she wanted her baby brother to be alive and well, but she’s already gone through the 6 out of 7 stages of grief.
Akito stared at her with the same bewildered expression. Kohane, out of the two who weren’t in a complete state of shock, grabbed Tuna from his arms. Slowly backing away and rounding the corner back to An.
“So… long time no seen?”
“You’re supposed to be dead. What the fuck?”
“What a great way to greet your little brother! How about a nice ‘Oh my god Akito where have you been I’ve missed you sosososooo– “He stumbled back when Ena’s body slammed into him, a huff of air escaping his esophagus. “Shut up, shut the hell up.”
She smiled when he reciprocated the hug, barely noticing the one thing that was missing. Kohane came back with An, the two watching from afar. It was a heartwarming reunion to watch. Little brother separated from family, then reunited with older sister at devastating times.
Great movie plot, no?
Ena pulled away and wiped her eyes, now just getting a full view of what he looked like. Clothes obviously dirty and ripped, hair greasy as hell(ew.), missing an arm...
Missing arm!!?
“Where the fuck did your other arm go?”
He scoffed. “Someone found me and cauterized it. The zombie fluid blood thing couldn’t fully enter the rest of my body.”
“Good to know…”
He turned, peered behind Ena and spotted An and Kohane, narrowing his eyes at them and scoffing. “These two look like they’d die within 2 minutes outside.” An gasped and squeezed Kohane. “I’ve been out multiple times and Kohane went scavenging for food with a messed up leg!”
Kohane blinked slowly and shimmied out of An’s grasp. “How many times did the zombie bite you and how aggressive was it.” She tapped her chin and furrowed her brows at Akito’s stub, wincing at the gross gauze haphazardly sticking to his skin.
“…when was the last time you changed that?” She pointed towards the gauze. He shrugged. “Maybe a week ago?” An gasped and shook her head, grabbing Akito by the shoulders and dragging him towards the entrance. “Absolutely not! Are you stupid? You can’t leave on dressing for a week. It can make everything worse!”
Ena and Kohane followed her, Ena snorted when An flicked his forehead. “None of you guys have basic life skills!” She sighed and quickly grabbed wrapping from her bag, hurriedly taking the original off. “Ow– ow that hurts..!”
Ena shook her head, “If Kohane, the smallest and weakest girl I’ve ever seen, can deal with it, so can you.” Kohane frowned and sat down, patting the spot next to her.
She sat next to Kohane and watched Akito closely. She couldn’t believe her baby brother was alive and well, all skin and flesh intact. It was a miracle, some stranger finding him and being kind enough to help.
Who is this stranger in the first place? She needs to personally thank them.
“How’d you stumble across this place, anyway? You just picked this random building out of all of them.” He winced when An tightly pulled on the wrapping. “Uh, so we actually set out to look for you..” Kohane said quietly.
Akito raised his head and gasped. “You left mom and dad to look for me?” Ena sighed and looked at the ground, twiddling her thumbs. “Yeah.. dad is being– y’know dad. And mom isn’t doing great…she was okay with me leaving.” He sighed, “Assuming you’re the daughter of who’s even running the place” He looked at An. “Is your father taking care of the pla–“
“No.”
An ripped the bandage from her teeth and finished with Akito. Kohane winced, knowing Ken was still a sore subject for her. She plumped down on a different chair and groaned.
The air was tense, An staring into space and Akito with a troubled expression. Akito awkwardly shuffled, “Do you guys wanna see where I sleep…?” Kohane shot up immediately, desperate to get out of the awkward moment.
Ena got up too, wordlessly following Akito down the hallway. Tuna meowing and climbing onto An’s lap.
Akito lead them down the hallway and to the stairs. “Elevator doesn’t work so we’ll have to take the stairs.” He looked at Ena, “Don’t pass out” She scoffed and slapped his shoulder. The three walked up the stairway, Ena being particularly exhausted out of the two. He looked at the door numbers and found 67, “Heres where I sleep. The other guy is a few doors down.”
Ena nodded and entered cautiously. Surprised at the cleanliness of his living space. There were dried blood patches here and there, to be expected. But it was neat, pleasant to look at.
Akito plumped himself on the couch and laid back. Watching Ena and Kohane carefully look around.
Kohane looked at the siblings and noticed the tension. It was palpable. She didn’t want or need to stick around for whatever argument they’re waiting to have.
“I’m going to check up on An. I don’t like to leave her alone for long periods of time.” Kohane said quickly before shutting the door.
Akito raised an eyebrow and looked at Ena. “Are they always…so clingy?” She scoffed, “Worse, codependent…”
Akito sighed, “Okay, listen, we need to talk.”
“Talk about what?”
“Mom.”
Ena stiffened. Was he mad at her?
“What’s there to talk about..?” Akito almost yelled in frustration, “You left mom to look for me!” Ena stood in bewilderment, “A–Are you mad at me because I went to look for you?”
Akito nodded grimly, “I wasn’t going to confront you in front of your friends… But seriously, Ena, what were you thinking?!” He ran his hands through his hair, a nervous tic Ena quickly picked up on. “Mom was okay with it..! She wanted me to go— I didn’t just abandon her!” She quipped.
“I–I would never leave her like that…”
“Well, you did. You left our sick mother to look for me. I wouldn’t even be alive, Ena! You could’ve left for no reason, left the safe place!” Ena stared at him, “But— she said it was okay..”
Akito groaned and threw his hands up. “For fuck's sake, Ena, I could’ve been dead! Get that into your little head and realize you made such a risky sacrifice!” She sniffled and wiped her eyes. Clenching her fist and taking deep breaths, “Did…did you not want me to find you?”
“Of course not!” He yelled at Ena. “I never wanted you to find me, I never wanted you to leave mom alone like you did with me!” All of Ena’s words died on her tongue. “That’s not fair.” She let the tears fall. Warm tears gliding down her checks and onto the dirty wooden floor.
“That’s not fair! I didn’t have a fucking choice!” Ena shakily yelled, voice wavering mid sentence. She felt the pressure in her nose as the tears grew more prominent.
“I’m supposed to be dead! I’m a dead little brother that my delusional older sister is chasing after and left her chronically ill mother for!”
“Why are you saying it like you’re worth nothing! I came back for you because I love you Akito! You’re my little brother and I failed at protecting you!” She bawled at him, heaving over and crying. All the emotions had poured over now, the glass being too full and split over.
“I need space.” Akito sniffled out, avoiding looking in her direction.
Ena didn’t understand. Mom gave her permission to leave and look for Akito— she was okay with her going! Why is it suddenly a bad thing!? An and Kohane didn’t seem to think it was bad…then why did Akito think it was a horrible decision?
Ena hiccuped and wandered the hallways, continuously going up stairs while sobbing. She was looking for the roof. A nice, peaceful place to bawl your eyes out.
Her hands gripped the railings tight, body suddenly weak. Her knees buckled on each step she took, desperately fighting to make it up. Tears split from her eyes and glided down her cheeks.
What did she do wrong?
It made all perfect sense to her.
Why did Akito take it as a bad thing?
Was it a bad thing?
Did she make the wrong choice?
Is her dying mother waiting there with no attention?
Ena slipped on a step and tumbled to the floor, hitting her chin in the process. She fell down with a small wail, body recoiling when pain shot all over her body. Ena wiped her eyes and continued moving.
She walked down the hallway and finally spotted the way to the building's roof. She trudged over and forced open the door, falling to her knees and wailing loudly.
Ena heaved for air while sobbing, hyperventilating. She wiped her nose with her sleeve, snot being rubbed onto her sleeve.
She stared at the pebbles, taking notice of each shape. Huge wails turned into sniffles and breath for air. Ena fixed her position and properly sat up. The sunset shining in her face. Pretty colors of orange and pink mixed.
She wiped her eyes and laid back against a generator. Taking the small bow out of her pocket and gripping it in her hands.
“Ena!?”
“Ena!”
“Ennaaaa!”
She ignored who ever was calling her name. Probably Kohane pitying her.
“Enaaaa?”
The voice got closer, Ena perking up slightly. The voice sounded oddly familiar. Like she’s heard the voice multiple times before.
“Ena?”
The voice was now a few steps outside the entrance to the roof. She rolled her eyes and continued sulking and admiring the sunset.
“Ena..!”
She let out a breath of relief when the voice sounded further away. God forbid a girl wants to sulk in peace.
The way the voice called out for her sounded familiar. And the thought of a certain someone wouldn’t leave her mind.
A special girl.
Ena furrowed her eyebrows and tried hard to gaslight herself that the voice was NOT the girl she was thinking about.
“Enanan..!”
Ena immediately shot up to her knees. “Mizuki?” She clutched the bow tight in her hands as she approached the door. “Mizuki, is that you…!?”
The voice had completely disappeared now. “Mizuki, please is that you?” She begged to no one in particular when she opened the door.
“Enanan!”
Ena froze up, eyes widening and mouth agape.
“Mizuki..?”
Someone slammed into her, sending her back and onto the gravel. Pink eyes stared at her dull brown ones.
Familiar pink eyes.
Mizuki’s pink eyes.
Ena screamed and wrapped her arms around her and pulled Mizuki into a tight hug. “Mizukmizukimizuki..” She bawled into her shirt.
Soft hands went to cradle her head,
“Shhh..I missed you too, Ena