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Despite the glamorous mansion they lived in, the way wealth flowed easily within their family, it didn't mean they were a happy family nor one without dark secrets. Ran knew that more than anyone, as he was one of the few who had to deal with it. Steeling himself, he let his mask fade over his face, he couldn't be weak. He wasn't allowed to. In the end, without strength what was he.
"We've arrived, young sir."
Sliding his eyes over to the driver, who flinched as their eyes connected, Ran scoffed and looked away dismissively. Stepping out of the car, he stood alone and watched as it speed away. No one but family was allowed past here, it was still a 10minute walk to actually reach the mansion doors, for entrance to their house and even then, there was still so many secrets hidden away in there. After all, what family of four need such a large house?
Wild ruffled his blonde hair and pulled back and forth at him as he walked to the entrance, lugging his suitcase behind him, observing the overgrown garden. His father was mad, unwilling to let a simple gardener come in and clean it up yet was all about self image and reputation.
Knocking three times, with heavy hits, he waits a beat before knocking three more times. Knowing his paranoid father wouldn't let him in until he finished the sequence, which would take awhile, he knocked again, only once after four beats, now waiting another six until he would then knock eight times. Hiding a frustrated exhale under his breath, he kept his composure.
This was why he hated visiting home. He only came for his brother, who was too attached to their mother to see reason. He had enough connections throughout their extended family to get his brother out of their father's control but their mother, he could do nothing for. He was still just a heir compared to his father who led the family.
Pausing before knocking again, Ran listened to the sound of small quick footsteps come towards the door, faintly hearing the jingle of keys. Ah. Rindou was coming, which means their father wasn't home.
Stepping back, Ran adjusted his hold of his suitcase. One of the, too large, doors opened inwards as his brother's face appeared. Pale with glasses covering his face, overly formal wear for home where no one but him visits, blond hair done up in a neat bun.
"Ran!" A bright smile curved his brother's face, obviously eager to see him. Ran allowed a touch of softness to enter his ever present smile, happy to see his brother as much as he was happy to see him.
"I'm back Rin."
Ran loved his brother, he loves him. Rindou was his everything, but he wasn't Rindou's. That was his fault, for letting Rindou stay with their mother. Their weak mother who became Rindou's everything.
"Mum's been asking to see you. She misses you."
Hiding his bitter anger under his smile, "I know, she always does."
"Then why don't you visit more. I miss you too." There was a prominent pout in Rindou's voice.
"You know why."
Ending the discussion, Ran dragged his suitcase behind him as he entered the house.
"Did you bring any presents?"
Ran anticipated his question even before he asked it. He always asked it. Not that Ran held it against him, he hadn't left home since- he hadn't left home in so long. Rindou was trapped in this foul house.
Rindou might look patient but that was just an act, he knew the other was never very patient, he had a range of small tics that gave him away. Like swaying on his heels, constantly moving on spot, repositioning his feet every few seconds, the growing annoyance in his eyes that Rindou had yet to learn how to hide, the way his right arm would tense and start twitching.
"I brought some new candles, they're flower scented this time."
A specifically flower scent which he took the time to find. After all, flowers are complicated within their family, everything has meaning. Like his own name, or his brother's, it's something which will always be in their lives, simply easily to embrace than reject.
"Mum will like that! She's loves enjoyed flowers."
Mum.
Of course.
"I suppose she's in her room like always."
Father forbid she leave it, there was no way that she wouldn't be there.
"Yeah, I wanted to go to the library with her though," Watching Rindou's lips down downwards out of the corner of his eye, Ran's own tighten in the corner. His feelings about their mother were more complicated than he liked to think. "you know, so we could read books together, but mum was too weak to and dad's rule, of course. Don't tell him I tried." A more pleaded edge entered Rindou's voice. As if Ran would ever sell him out to their father.
"I won't."
Rindou's shoulders relaxed, "I had to just bring the book to her."
"Will you show me the book?"
A small flush grew over Rindou's ears, "Of course, It's in mum's room. We weren't finished reading." A small eager smile flourished on his brother's lips. Ran loved it. He loved everything to do with Rindou. At least, everything besides his attachment to their mother. Always Mum this, mum that, it's only ever about her.
Beginning the walk to he deepest part of the house, mother's room, Ran observed the house. Dust lined the decoration, it looked as if no one lived there. Bleak. Which was to be expected, he didn't visit often, nor did their father. Simply Rindou and mother resided here, mother unable to clean and Rindou too young. He wished father brought back the maids or at least let the butler enter the house and tidy it. All their butler did was drop food off, not even able to enter the house with father's rules. Meaning Rindou had to walk out to the gate every time to pick it up, at least that meant he'd be going outside.
Rindou was only 10 years old and expected to take care of himself, seeing as their mother was unable to do that as she is. His brother has always been thin but it's clear he's underfed, he was either forgetting to eat or their butler was skimping duties, but Ran doubts he would dare, if he did, Ran wouldn't show him any mercy. Nonetheless it was doubtful, considering how scared he was after witnessing how their father dealt with the old maid. A good tacit to keep him in line, perhaps he should visit their butler on his way out, to remind him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hmm?"
"You have the same smile as father does whenever he sees a bird when shooting"
"That's pretty specific."
Their father only went shooting when he was in a joyful mood, usually after scoring a good deal and the smile he'd wear would be full of bloodlust. Probably imagining the bird as his prey. It's quite amusing that Rindou would connect him to that.
"Yeah but I'm right. So what were you thinking about?"
"Ahh~ Not anything you'd need to worry about, simply planning a visit."
The slant of his lips showed Rindou annoyance. With a pleasant smile, Ran twirled his finger through his blonde hair, fidgeting as mother's room came into view. One of the doors open, Rindou speed up and entered before him. Ran dreaded this room, he hated it.
The room smelt of artificial scents and withering flowers. On the bed sat mother, a book loosely sitting on her lap, probably the one Rindou had been talking about. Her lips stuck in a blank smile yet her eyes were so full, Ran averted his sight from them.
Gaze sliding to the candle sitting innocently in the gift bag he had brought. He had been told it had a strong scent. Leaving his luggage at the door, he picked up the candle and moved to bedside table.
"Hello Mother."
Turning his back to her, He could faintly hear her greeting in response. His fingers fumbled with the lighter for a few seconds before it finally ignited, bringing it to the candle wick, lighting it.
"Mum, Ran said he wants to hear about the book too."
Rindou had layed his head on their mother's shoulder and was sitting with her on the bed, the book in his hand, his eyes never straying from her. All of his attention focused on her, listening intently to her reply.
"Restart? But we just got to the good part."
Rindou frown was immature and rather cute. He really was his adorable younger brother. Indulgingly Ran spoke up, "Continue on from wherever you were at." He didn't particularly care about the book, he just wanted to know what Rindou has been up to while he was away. He was interested in Rindou's interests.
Flipping through the book eagerly Rindou searched for the page he had been reading, Ran caught the moment he went stiff and started to glower at the page. "I know, I know." His brother muttered angrily. "shut up!" He had turned his body to glare at Mother.
It was odd for Rindou to lose his patients at mother, rare. Was it getting worst? Eyes cold, he reached forward and gripped Rindou's hand before the younger boy could shove her. "So what page were you up to?"
He didn't hear Rindou's reply, too busy looking and noting the new additions to mother, eyes lingering on the hazardly sewed stitches. Ran wasn't surprised to see them. Nor the way purple was seeping through her clothing.
brring- brrring-
Rindou had frozen at the sound. Ran reached into his back pocket and eyed the caller ID.
Of course father was calling.
"I'll take this outside, okay Rin?"
brrring- brring- brrring-
"You'll come back, right?"
The book clutched tightly between Rindou's fingers gave away how nervous he was.
"Definitely."
Swiftly leaving the room, shutting the door quietly behind him, and answering the call, Ran continued walking down the hall way. Not wanting Rindou to hear anything between him and father.
"Must it take you so long to answer?"
Time is money Ran, remember that.
"I was with Rindou and mother."
"..."
"Rindou's malnourished and both are getting worst."
"sigh"
"If you let at least one servant-"
"No. We've had this discuss before Ran. My answer won't change."
"He can't look after himself and you know that."
The sound of father scoffing was followed by his next words, filled with mockery.
"He has my darling wife to care for him, does he not?"
"Sure. As if she isn't a fucking corpse. How long are we going to keep this façade going on for. This act isn't helping him anymore. He got mad at her today, he never does that."
"Forever if we must. Him believing his own lie full-heartedly only helps me Ran. No one knows about it, now do they?"
"Just for mother's family's support? As if you aren't rich enough?"
"You can never be too rich."
Anger ran hot through his veins, his next words were without thought.
"Mum's dead, can't you just put her to rest."