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Tachihara hadn’t been with the hunting dogs for long, but he knew he had to be strong. They were the military, and he was certain they’d have no place for him, since he was a bit of a crier. He had been working to contain his feelings since he joined, a few weeks earlier.
However, getting picked up by the military, after being a criminal, and being alone in the world was hard to adjust to. There were nights where all he thought about was his brother, and how he wished to be hugged while he cried. The only things he’d learned since joining were how to fight, and how to cry so quietly that it can’t be heard.
Covering up his feelings with falsifications of happiness. Tachihara was trying his best to be strong, but it was hard when he felt so alone. Knowing he’d be just another super soldier for the government to call on. It felt like he was going to lose himself.
That was why he was curled up in a ball, close to the entrance to the kitchen, crying in the middle of the night. He missed his brother, the only source of comfort he’d had in his life. One that had been ripped away without warning.
His tears kept falling, despite how he tried to make them stop. To hide his feelings away in a back corner of his mind and forget about them. It would be better that way, and he’d have less to worry about.
Unluckily, Tachihara wasn’t the only one up at such a late hour. Jouno had heard the footsteps heading away from the bedrooms, and had been curious about why their newest member was up at such an hour. So, getting up and following him quietly, he found out what was going on.
Hearing soft sniffles, that would be impossible to hear to anyone else, he stilled. Approaching, he feared, would cause Tachihara to go on guard, and hide his feelings away again. Yet he knew leaving him alone was also not the best plan.
So, he made his presence known, “Tachihara, are you alright?”
The teenager was startled, and his heart rate grew faster as he realized he’d been caught crying, “I’m fine. Nothing to worry about!”
“You cannot lie to me, I can hear your lies,” Jouno informed him, coming over to sit down.
“Sorry… it’s stupid anyway,” Tachihara tried to brush it off.
There was an annoyed sigh from the blind man, “It doesn’t matter if it’s stupid or not, since you are upset over it.”
That shocked him, as no one had ever cared that much, besides his brother, “Thank you, Jouno.”
Tachihara leaned into the man’s shoulder, and was softly pulled closer, and held like he mattered. It brought a new wave of tears to his eyes, that poured out. Gently, Jouno rubbed his back, and did his best to bring him comfort and a feeling of safety.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jouno finally asked, after a few minutes of tears falling.
“I guess… I still miss my brother. He was the only one who cared about me, and then… he was just gone,” Tachihara’s voice broke, and a sob ripped out of him. “All I wanted was for someone to care about me.”
The heartbreaking confession brought about feelings that had long been locked away, “... I understand. It’s hard, being thrown into a life like this. We’re just criminals that they have to keep a tight leash on here, not people who are still grieving what we’ve lost. Back when I first joined, I’d only been blind for a few months, and longed to be able to see. No one cared, though, and I had to learn to see without sight, so they wouldn’t throw me away.”
It was the first time Jouno had ever admitted his struggles to someone. Talking to Tachihara just felt natural, like he could share anything with him, and their conversation would forever remain between the two of them.
The boy chuckled sadly, “Of course, the government doesn’t care about our feelings. We’re not supposed to have them, since we’ve done bad things. My brother… the government let him die, by sending him to war. Cursing him to stay on the battlefield, with a demon disguised as an angel. Sent to lock him there until he died.
“I’ve heard of the soldiers who were trapped during the war, I heard it was annihilation. They didn’t stand a chance. Although, I never would have thought I’d meet someone who was related to one of the soldiers that died there,” Jouno was trying to avoid saying the wrong thing.
“My brother was the best, he didn’t deserve to die like that. He was caring, and always took care of me, even when my parents looked down on me with hate. They wished I had been the one to die, instead of him,” Tachihara curled in on himself, hidden away in Jouno’s arms.
Lithe fingers brushed through his hair, “Bad parents raise children who are more likely to turn to crime. If anyone is to blame, it’s them. They should have shown you love after losing your brother, since it’s clear you two had been close.”
A small nod of the head was given in return, “We were.”
“As long as you're a Hunting Dog, I will keep you safe, for your brother. I feel like he would have wanted his little brother to be taken care of,” Jouno promised.
—
When Tachihara went missing, Jouno knew he couldn’t keep his promise. However, he tried to get revenge, only to be cut down as well. As he was carried through the vents, blood leaking from his body, he whispered, so quietly no one could hear.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep my promise. I hope you’re happy, being alongside your brother again. I’ll see you soon,” then, Jouno felt the effects of blood loss cloud his mind, and he lost himself.