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“Bye Ryuu! You be safe, yeah?” Gin grinned as they gave Ryuunosuke a tight hug.
“I’ll try.” He chuckled, a soft laugh shared as the siblings released their embrace. Ryuu gave her a small smile as Gin walked back into the parking lot of the apartment complex. She was moving out, clear by the boxes carefully strapped to the top of Higuchi’s car.
The blond smiled as Gin entered her small car. She gave Ryuunosuke a wave, one that he returned. Soon, the little car was leaving, Ryuunosuke headed back to the elevator. As he pressed the up arrow to call it, his smile faded.
He was happy for Gin, don’t get him wrong. For the past month his sibling had been talking so excitedly about moving in with her girlfriend, and that she hoped Tachihara would be able to move in too. But it was still bittersweet for him. After all, he couldn’t remember the last time they had been separated like this. In the slums, they were almost always attached by the hip, always protecting one another. She had always been there, after Ryuunosuke was badly injured from a fight or other activities, and he had always been there for her, when nights were cold and they could only huddle together with Rashoumon for warmth. Hell, she had even been there when Ryuunosuke was training under him, no matter how angry or tired they both were.
Ryuunosuke had never lived alone before. He knew Gin would love their new home, with their girlfriend. And Ryuunosuke knew he would adapt. He always had before, why would this be any different?
By the time he had run this train of thought through, he was at his door. He shook his head, trying to clear it as he unlocked and opened his door. Out of habit he quickly relocked it, then the other two little locks. But as he turned around, looking around his living room, he already felt… off again. The plants Gin took care of were gone, in a box in a trunk. The same was true for Gin’s favorite mugs and other knick knacks. She had always been more of the decorative type, especially compared to her big brother. He sighed, voice soft in the empty apartment.
His own favorite mug was soon filled with a warm tea, one that almost certainly had a concerning amount of sugar in it. He sat in one of the two armchairs that sat in his living room, setting his mug on the wooden coffee table in front of him after taking a small sip. He turned on the T.V. It made good background noise but that was all. He never cared much for T.V. and his thoughts were far too persistent. He did wonder how he would fair without Gin being there. He could take care of himself of course but… it was easier, when she was here to help.
It was years before. Ryuunosuke didn’t have his piercings, he was scrawnier, and shorter.
And he was very actively bleeding from both his nose and a wound in his abdomen. Gin was home, thankfully. Her training wasn’t nearly as rigorous as her brother’s. When they spotted him, they were quick to move him to lay down onto their dark leather couch. If it were anyone else, the young boy would have pushed them away, cursing their existence. But for his sister, he complied. When she came back with their often restocked first aid kit, Gin could see tears threatening to spill from her brother’s eyes. It seemed as though today, training inflicted worse mental than physical wounds. Carefully, Gin made sure his nose was alright, thankfully it was unbroken. Ryuunosuke avoided eye contact, so they sighed and moved to carefully push up his shirt until the wound was uncovered. Gin’s face contorted into frustration and concern as she saw the bruises, red marks and welts that covered her brother’s abdomen. Though, even they wouldn’t be able to get much out of him. They were both stubborn for sure, but him slightly more so.
She cleaned the wound, stitching it as well before placing gauze over it. Even if it would surely reopen within the next few days, and leave a nasty scar. Her footsteps were quiet as they ran to grab clean clothes from Ryuunosuke’s bedroom. But when she arrived, their older brother was crying, silently. His face was twisted in anger and hurt. Gin quickly moved over, hugging her big brother. It was hard for them to see him in pain but knowing they could do nothing about it.
Ryuunosuke remembered that night vividly. His tea was lukewarm now, but he still drank it. He was never one to waste food after all. He has very few memories of tending to Gin’s wounds, though she was always far better at avoiding being injured. Akutagawa shut off his television. It wasn’t very late, barely even four in the afternoon. But something about today had drained him. So, he set his mug in the sink before walking around the house and checking that all the windows were padlocked shut. He had invested in having indoor padlocks that were damn near impossible to pick from the outside long ago.
He did hesitate, when he reached Gin’s old room. After a moment, he elected to keep that door shut. Moving to his own room last, he changed into comfortable clothes. Baggy, slightly worn sweatpants and a lavender sweater. As he curled up in bed, under god knows how many blankets (curse his shit circulation) he looked to his phone. Grabbing it and checking his notifications, he saw that Gin had sent him a photo.
> Attachment.
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Hey Ryuu! Got everything moved in already >;D. Have a good night
Ryuunosuke laughed as he saw the photo. It was of Higuchi very clearly struggling to move the last box inside while Gin shot a thumbs up to the camera. The picture made him happy, a reassurance that Gin would most certainly be okay. Quickly he typed up a response.
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I am glad. Update me if anything goes wrong, and you have a good night as well.
The were-tiger had often told him that it was hard to tell how Ryuunosuke was feeling because of how he texted. Speaking of, it looks like they had sent him a message as well.
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Hey! Heard about ur sister moving out, u gonna be ok? If u ever feel lonely, just shoot me a text ok? Maybe we could get some tea, I heard from Dazai that you like tea after all!
Ryuunosuke was… surprised by the message. After their battle with Fitzgerald just a few weeks ago, the two were certainly on better terms but… Atsushi reaching out was still a surprise. One that made his chest tighten, though not in the way that led to minutes of coughing. Ryuunosuke found himself hesitating again that night before responding.
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I may have to take you up on that.
Quickly he realized how… not like him that sounded.
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Were-tiger.
That was better.
It would be hard, dealing with living by himself now but… Ryuunosuke thinks he will be okay.