Chapter Text
It was a cold and misty day for most places in the nation. The weather unseasonably chilly for the warming rays of the sun people had started to grown used to, hidden behind the snow falling down on the land.
For many, it was an unexpected but beautiful phenomenon- snow mixing in with the early blooming cherry blossoms that had already begun to sprout with the longer and warmer days.
For Akira Kurusu however, it was at first a delaying nightmare wrapped in the temporary distress of being homeless with their brother and no trains available until the 7th of April.
Granted, they both had plenty of money and they had their phones, they had each other and they had a plan. That didn’t mean he had to like it. He never did when they both had to use one of his brother's emergency plans. He hated that Ren even had to think of them.
He’d have to call Mr.Sakura once they got a room and explain why they would be over a week late. He would understand like any rational person would, but it also didn’t leave the best first impression.
For his brother Ren however, it was a blessing in disguise- it was more time to calm down and plan on what to do when they actually met their temporary guardian for the next year.
Shizuoka was beautiful this time of year. The tourists weren’t coming for another few weeks, so they could wander around the ice and snow filled wonderland. The stalls around town had had enough time to collect some Cherry blossoms for culinary use.
Even if Ren hadn’t said a peep since all of this happened, he seemed relaxed the further and further away they got from their parents house. His curious nature took them all across the city as the snow swirled around them like a dying winter wonderland.
Akira couldn’t help but feel thankful however for how level headed his brother could be. Buying snacks and making sure they had a decent room at one of the inns that littered the city, making sure Akira got a nice dinner while looking a bit too unsettled still to eat anything himself.
He still hadn’t spoken a word however, using his phone to order things and ask for directions. He knew better than to push Ren during all of this, he was stressed out of his mind and couldn’t speak much.
He could try and coax a few words in sign language out of him once they were settled properly for the evening, his voice would come back eventually.
He had everything handled, even if he had lost his voice at the moment. He didn’t have to baby him in that regard.
It seems Ren had informed Mr.Kirijo about what happened- giving them a heads up about where they were staying, the man’s texts making it clear that they would update the probation officer about the train wreck and the estimated timeframe on when they’d be in Tokyo proper.
While he was trying to bully his brother into eating something, and counting it a victory when they ordered some hot chocolate, he frowned when he saw who was texting him.
They were making sure he was okay and alright, and if he needed anything sent to him or even a proper ride to Tokyo- they could probably get away with doing so despite court orders because of the train wreck delaying things greatly.
He even saw that they transferred him some money into his family account.
The messages pissed him off.
While he brother wasn’t looking, he quickly traded phones and knew that he was only going to grow angrier.
Checking the bank app however he relaxed, seeing that his parents hadn’t tried to take any of Ren’s money.
The texts however… he was glad his twin gave him the okay to check his texts until they got settled.
They were blaming Ren for all of this again. Accusing him of being the reason that the train derailed and how they were this close to calling the cops on him and carting him away.
The only reason they didn’t was that Dojima was back in town, and they knew they couldn’t get through to such a ‘rude, arrogant man such as a single father.’
And how they might forget about all of this and actually see him as family if he tells the cops that it was his fault and not Akira’s fault about what happened.
It made his teeth ache reading such things.
Ren knew it was bullshit, he knew it was bullshit, thankfully the rest of the family knew it was bullshit- even if they couldn’t do much about it.
He hated the favoritism their parents had towards him, but he hated how they treated Ren even more.
Ren was the one with the perfect grades, the one three steps ahead of everyone's plans, the one who would think ahead, the one who would often offer to help others if they were having trouble with something, the one who worked three jobs just so they could have spending money and save for college.
Yet Ren was unwanted.
Because they expected one baby, and had gotten two, and Ren was born second.
He wasn’t the worst son they could have had, he got great grades as well and would also help people out if he felt like it, but it baffled him how he was the favorite sometimes.
Ren was his best friend, he was his baby brother, he was wonderful.
Yet even when Akira himself would do something bad, they’d claim it was Ren and give him a reward for being such a good child while punishing Ren.
He needed to stop clenching down on his jaw, his teeth ached whenever he thought about this stuff, he couldn’t help it however.
Something in the back of his mind always wanted out whenever things like this happened. He didn’t want to think about it at this time.
They’d never change, even if someone stole all the cruelness out of their hearts.
All while their parents offered to pick himself up and drive him to Tokyo like they wanted to originally but he denied, while denying the same kindness to Ren, even letting Ren be stuck in an unfamiliar city all alone, hoping he would break parole for some reason and be carted away to never see the light of day again.
He couldn’t help but feel bitter and angry about all of this, as he held his brother when he finally slept. Akira was the one who got arrested, he dragged his brother into his mess, ended up getting his brother kidnapped by the cops and arrested too because they assumed he was him and their parents-
Akira let himself take a deep breath and tried to relax, his brother's face was squished into his shoulder to hide away from the chill the room had.
They’d opted to share a room in case an emergency happened. They’d rather have each other and be in danger than be safe and alone.
His anger had a time and a place, and this wasn’t the proper time or place. Pulling his brother closer, he forced himself to relax a bit, smiling a bit as he heard his brother's sleepy murmurs of wanting to sleep more and about how his old little Crow plush was stealing pancakes.
At least one of them were peacefully sleeping, hopefully tomorrow would be gentle on both of them as they wait for the repairs to finish up.
They would be okay. They had to be, he’d make sure they’d be.
He needed to be strong for his brother.
He wouldn’t let anyone step all over them again, he finally had the opportunity to do that fully.
This was a new chance for both of them to finally get out of the horror show that was the Kurusu household. No one would be there to judge them on their clothes, or their friends and company, or even their hobbies or clubs they’d join.
This could be a good thing, he just had to put the work into it to make sure it ended up good.
Pulling the blanket up more, he let his eyes close. Focusing on his own breathing and his brothers.
They’d survive.
They’d have to, even if he had to kill someone, this would be a blessing.
From the shadows, something smiled, knowing the contract in the human’s soul was already sealed. The price of their Justice, an act of sacrilege, was set in motion. The wheel of fortune was now in motion, the Arcana by which all will be revealed would soon set in motion a most wondrous tale of bonds and betrayal.
In due time, the Justice that evaded them both would be written in the blood of those that had wronged them the most.
The thought shouldn’t have been as comforting as it was.
But he was a demon, and what was a demon but something that relished in the acts the future would hold.
Akira wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but it was the most calming rest he had had in years.