Chapter Text
It started the very first time Mon-chan found Tenko scratching. The boy had been playing outside with Hana, when suddenly he'd paused to rub at his eyes.
"Tenko? Are you ok? Your eyes are wet." Hana took Tenko's wrists in her hands, and the boy looked up at her.
He didn't seem sad though, so why was his boy crying? Mon-chan began to worry.
"Yeah, I'm ok, Hana. It just itches." He reached up, scratching at his skin a bit more.
"Tenko! Stop that! Your leaving marks!"
Tenko froze, frightened by the sudden concern in his sibling's voice. Mon-chan trotted over, worried by the sudden distress he could sense coming from the children.
"I- I'm sorry Hana, I didn't realize..."
Hana brushed the scraggly hair away from her brother's eyes, gently running a thumb over the small red marks.
"H-hey. That stings." Tenko gently pushed her hand away, his eye twitching involuntarily.
"Oh." Hana frowned. "I think you have an ouchie."
Mon-chan perked up again. He knew that word. Ouchie wasn't a good word. Ouchie was the word they used for when Tenko got hit, and needed one of those magical cold healing pack things.
Mon-chan whipped his head back and forth between Hana and Tenko, letting out a little whine.
Hana smiled down at him. "It's okay Mon-chan. It's not a big one."
Tenko glanced at him for a moment, a hand absentmindedly drifting back up to scratch at his eye again.
Quickly, Mon-chan leaped up at the hand that was heading for the already injured skin, and nudged it out of the way. "Ruff!"
Tenko's eyes widened, and he realized what the dog had done. He gave Mon-chan a weary smile. "Thanks, boy."
Hana giggled. "Good boy, Mon-chan." Mon-chan wagged his tail.
"It really itches though... should... should I get Momma?"
Hana took her brother's hands in her own to make sure they wouldn't move. She peered through the windows of their house, anxiously chewing her lip. She could see their mother's silhouette chopping vegetables in the kitchen, but the curtains were closed, even though it was mid-day. Usually that meant Momma didn't want Father to see them playing outside, or didn't want them to come inside while Father was mad.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry Tenko, I don't think that's a good idea."
"But Momma can kiss it better. She always does..." Tenko sniffed. His eyes were watering more now, and he moved to rub them against his shoulder. He was squeezing Hana's hands now to keep himself from scratching.
"Here. I'll do it." Hana gave Tenko a peck on the forehead, and ruffled his hair. "All better?" She smiled.
Tenko wiped the vague tears away from his eyes, and smiled wide. He nodded.
Hana clapped her hands and turned, skipping towards the big tree in their backyard. "Yay! C'mon, let's play 'Eroes-Hay'!" She winked.
Tenko giggled at the silly word. His sister had taught him to speak another language called 'Pig Latin', so that they could talk about heroes without getting caught by Father.
Mon-chan whined. Something wasn't right. Tenko was smiling now, but he still smelled upset. Had he lied to his sister?
When he saw Hana-chan turn around, and skip to the other side of the tree, he also saw Tenko rake his nails across his skin. He made a pained uncomfortable noise, and pressed his hands to his eyes, dragging them down his face, like he was trying to rub away the irritation. Suddenly Tenko made a small "Eep!" And pulled his hands away from his face, his eyes wide and a bit scared.
Mon-chan saw a few tiny gray flakes fly away from between his fingers.
There were bits of red underneath Tenko's finger nails.
"Arf!" Mon-chan leaped.
Tenko's wide-eyed gaze turned to Mon-chan, he held out his hands to catch Mon-chan instinctively, but Mon-chan was too quick. He tackled Tenko to the grass, and began to pepper his face with huge, wet, slobbery doggy kisses.
"M-Mon-chan!" Tenko giggled. "St-stop it! You're getting drool all over me!"
"Tenko?!" Hana peeked from behind the tree. "What's going-?! Oh." Her concerned tone faded instantly.
"Mon-chaaan! You're such a goofy dog."
Nobody noticed the grey flecks that flew away from Tenko's fingers as they brushed against the dog’s fur. Nobody saw them stop when the corgi landed, lapping at the boy's face.
"Hero Hana!" Tenko called between laughs. "Save me!"
Hana grinned, striking a pose. "Fear not, dear brother! I am here!"
"Yay! You hear that, Evil Dr. Pup? Hero Hana will stop you!"
Hana jumped across the yard, coming to her brother's rescue, and scooping up the energetic corgi. "Haha! Take that, Evil Dr. Pup! You've been defeated once again!"
Mon-chan wagged his tail and wiggled his feet. "Ruff!"