Chapter Text
Tatsuhiko poked at the squishy cheek of the baby that he was technically looming over.
His mother having an affair wasn't out of the question. In fact it was what probably happened. Tatsuhiko's father had to get his tubes tied soon after Tatsuhiko entered puberty because of. . . . Some reason. Tatsuhiko hadn't needed to remember, so he didn't. So now they had this squishy, little baby in their home. Which they hadn't needed, because his mother wasn't a good person and his father was practically a ghost in their home. Much like how Tatsuhiko was, but that was because Tatsuhiko was trying to find a reason to live, a reason for life to be exciting.
Tatsuhiko sighed. Distantly, he felt, he supposed he felt slightly sorry for the kid. He was going to college soon. So the kid (Tatsuhiko hadn't even learned the name yet, would decide if he needed to later) would be on their own for a bit. And even then, Tatsuhiko wouldn't help the baby. Tatsuhiko wasn't supposed to be an older brother, he certainly wasn't the type to dote over little siblings like how others at school often did. Those siblings were always so annoying.
It was partially why Tatsuhiko had taken his exams early so he could go to college early. So he could get away from those siblings. Although there might be some of the same siblings at college. What a pain. He would deal with them as he met them.
Although, this could be an interesting experiment. That piqued Tatsuhiko's interest. Were Abilities something that came from trauma, or were they hereditary? Tatsuhiko had an Ability, but would this child? Was it something that came from genetics, was someone more prone to having an Ability because of a shared mother, or was it simply trauma based? It would be fascinating to learn. But he wouldn't get to properly traumatize the baby in front of him, his mother would be too protective most likely. Shibusawa Setsuko was like that with children in early childhood, but as the kid grew, they would find out just how apathetic she could be.
His body called for sleep, so Tatsuhiko stepped away from the crib. His blood-red eyes glanced down at the kanji carved into the end of the crib, barely seen in the moonlight.
Atsushi.
Well. Tatsuhiko would observe. For now, he would observe. And should the need call for it, he would intervene for his little brother. If only because it was something that furthered his own goals. And when Atsushi got old enough, should Atsushi ask for help, then Tatsuhiko would help him. That was something siblings did, right? They helped each other, but only when the other asked. So Tatsuhiko would help when Atsushi asked him, and only then.
Later in the night, Tatsuhiko groaned as he slammed a pillow over his ears. He knew on an intellectual level that babies cried. It was something that babies did because the vocal cords and tongue did not have the needed coordination on movements and the brain wasn't capable of moving and creating the sound needed for words. So all babies could do is screech and make sounds that were as loud as possible in order to let their families know that they needed something.
That didn't mean that Tatsuhiko liked the screeches that were effectively like ice picks to the brain.
The baby screeched for a minute.
Atsushi screeched for a minute.
A pause. Probably for an inhale. The screeching continued.
Tatsuhiko distantly wondered where the hell his parents were, he was a mere seventeen years old after all. Surely they couldn't expect him to take care of an infant that they had just brought home this morning.
More screeching. The ice picks had upgraded to chainsaws to the brain.
He distantly remembered reading a note on the fridge that told him that his parents were "going out" for the night.
So it was just him and the infant.
Well then. He supposed this would technically constitute of Atsushi asking for help, since he was the only one home with the newborn and he was using his voice in the only way that he knew how. Tatsuhiko forced himself to roll out of bed, giving a slightly longing glance to the warm sheets, before he walked to the baby's room.
Atsushi's little, pudgy face was red. His eyes were squinted shut. His fists waving around and feet kicking up and down and Tatsuhiko sighed as he reached over and poked the soft tummy that was exposed.
"Kid. Don't you know what time it is?" He asked, feeling exhaustion settle in his bones. The screeching continued. "We're both supposed to be asleep. How about you go back to sleep and I go back to sleep, and we both sleep until our mother and my father returns?"
Atsushi stopped his demonic wailing from hell. Tatsuhiko savored the silence for three seconds before he returned to his yells. He looked to the little mobile above Atsushi that was made of stars, as if it would help him and give him answers that he didn't already have. A tiny hand latched onto his finger that he had left on Atsushi's stomach, and Tatsuhiko froze.
No.
Surely Atsushi didn't want that? Surely not. Maybe a diaper change? Or food? That would be easier. Much easier. Far easier. Tatsuhiko could easily give him food or change his diaper, he had learned in a class in high school—
A soft whimper from the crib, the yelling finally dying down a little at the skin contact.
Oh no.
Tatsuhiko swallowed, feeling a very vague feeling of dread swimming in his chest and trying to clog his throat, but he pressed it down and retracted his finger. Almost immediately, the demonic screeches from hell returned. He ran now free hands through his white hair, ruby-red eyes staring down at the infant in the crib.
"C'mon kid, anything but that." He groaned. "Don't you want to eat? I can give you food while propped up on your pillows. Or change your diapers. It would be so much easier than that."
He knew that he was trying to get out of it. He was trying so hard to get out of it. He could just let the little bundle of flesh just yell his lungs out and go back to his room and put some earplugs in while he waited for their mother and his father.
But—
But Atsushi was asking for it, wasn't he? Technically, he was. With what limited vocabulary that the infant had, Atsushi was asking to be held. Atsushi was asking for someone to be there. Technically, Tatsuhiko was here. And Tatsuhiko had made that vow earlier, that he would help Atsushi, but only when he asked for it. He couldn't go back on his word. Not for his little brother, he was still under the age of five. After he turned five, he was free game to teach the game of lies and truths to, but before then, he needed to know that Tatsuhiko would keep his word.
"Fine." Tatsuhiko groaned, already feeling his skin crawl with the thought of what he was about to do as he reached his hands into the crib, making sure to support Atsushi's head. He had read that somewhere in a book. "Fine, but if this ends horribly for the both of us, you can't blame me later in life, you understand me?"
Supporting Atsushi's head, Tatsuhiko held him in the cradle of his arms. Gradually, the ear-piercing screeches stopped, and Tatsuhiko was left standing stiffly in the middle of the nursery, not knowing what to do now. Should he rock his arms back and forth? Should he try to hum a song or something? He didn't know any songs that were popular at the time, he only knew classical music.
Wait.
Classical music. Okay he could deal with that. Maybe.
Walking slowly, careful not to disturb the kid in his arms, he made his way to the music room. He had never really felt the need to play music like father did, but he had learned how to play both the piano and the violin, because that was something that father loved that he learned how to do. Standing in front of the piano, he puzzled out how to hold the infant and play a song for him at the same time.
Finally he settled on the piano bench and placed the boy in the divet of his two thighs. He extended his right leg to get to the sustainer pedal, and let out a soft sigh. Atsushi was supported, and he wasn't crying right now. He was letting out soft whimpers here and there, but not crying as he was before. Maybe he just needed to be held and entertained? Well, Tatsuhiko was an excellent multitasker.
"Okay, let's see how you like classical music." He muttered to himself, and started playing. This piece was one that had, surprisingly, had made Tatsuhiko feel frustrated. It was because it was so easy to mess up, but it was beautiful in the fact that it was a rich and lovely melody that could calm the hearts of many. Coordination was key, and he split his focus between his coordination and keeping his support beneath Atsushi.
As he played, he felt a soft smile trying to steal itself across his face, and he allowed it. Primavera was a lovely piece after all, and he was proud of himself for being able to master it. Atsushi had also stopped crying as well.
The last few notes faded into the night, and Tatsuhiko sighed, and looked down to his lap.
And he startled.
Children's eyes were typically blue at birth, before settling into the colors that were decided by genetics. Usually it was brown for the normal population, because most people in the world had brown eyes. Statistically, it was the most normal color for people to have. Blue was after brown, and then green.
Atsushi had none of those colors for his eyes.
Instead, he had eyes that were split down the middle in sectoral heterochromia. On top was a purple hue that Tatsuhiko would ascribe to an amethyst, and the bottom color was something that reminded Tatsuhiko of a yellow topaz necklace he saw once.
"Well then." Tatsuhiko muttered, knowing that his own eye color was unique. Then again, he was an albino. A freak of nature, some of his bullies had tried to call him, but then he had pulled out how statistically, albinos were more likely to commit murder than to be freaks of nature. The bullies had for some reason, left him alone after that. How odd.
"I suppose I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?" He reached under Atsushi's head again and lifted the infant into a cradle across his body again. "I'm your older brother, Shibasawa Tatsuhiko. Should you need help, you will have to ask me. Otherwise, I will not do it."
Tatsuhiko didn't know it, but that caveat on giving his aid to his brother would cause so many problems for the both of them. He didn't know his brother's father after all, but his brother grew to be so very. . . . . stubborn.
~~~~~~~~~~
Atsushi slipped around the edges of the corners of the hallways of the Orphanage. The Headmaster had been upset today, more than normal. He didn't know why, not even with how he stuck to corners and tried to listen in on the whispers of the Orphanage workers. The Headmaster was just angry, and he would take it out on Atsushi, should the seven-year-old allow himself to be found.
He wouldn't let himself be found. Atsushi was good at hide and seek, and even when the worst of the other kids, the older kids, the best seekers, tried to find him, they couldn't. Atsushi was just the best, and so they started excluding Atsushi. But he was still the best at hiding, and no one was able to find him, not even the adults.
Slipping outside, he walked over to the treeline and climbed up a tree. Leaning against the tree trunk as he stared up at the blue sky with fluffy clouds. Thankfully, it was a warmer day, due to it being in May. So he wouldn't have to go inside until dark, and he wouldn't have to eat until tomorrow morning. For some reason, he didn't need to eat every day, but he did need to technically eat.
As he stared at the sky he frowned.
Did his parents have to eat every day to feel full? Did his mom have white hair like him? Did his dad have purple eyes like him?
A distant memory whispered in his mind, of piano music and long white hair and red eyes. A soft smile of someone who was happy. Or at the very least, content as they played a piano with Atsushi in their lap.
Whoever that was, clearly they were happy in that memory. Surely, surely Atsushi had made his parents happy once, right? Because that parent had been smiling in the memory. Surely Atsushi had made his parents happy. At least before they threw him away in the trash.
Maybe in another life, he would be happy with his parents. Maybe he would have siblings. He would like a sister. Or maybe even a brother! None of the Orphanage children here particularly liked him, so he really would like a little sibling.
"What are you doing out here?"
Atsushi froze.
What?
Surely whoever this was, they weren't talking to him. They couldn't be. No one could find Atsushi when he was hiding. He was the master of the "hide" part of hide and seek. No one could spot him, even when he wasn't really trying. Surely, whoever this was, wasn't talking to him.
But—
But just in case—
He peered down the trunk of the tree, through the branches that spread outward and obscured the vision of the ground and himself from those down on the ground.
A man stood there. He was a younger man, looking around the age of Takahashi-san, who taught mathematics. He had white hair that was around shoulder length and held back in various braids, and his face had on a rather bored expression. His skin was so pale too! Like he didn't go out in the sun when he needed to.
But it was his eyes that captivated Atsushi. They were red as rubies, and even though the man looked bored, there was a gleam in them. He couldn't place the look, and a seven-year-old wouldn't understand the feeling either.
(The liberation of stress that one has been holding for seven years. Seven years. Coming home and finding the nursery empty and his mother unremorseful and his father unable to meet his eyes. He would have killed them if he would have thought he could have done it in a fit of passion. But Atsushi did not ask for that, and while the rage called for it, he was not an emotional person. So he left them alive, in an empty house devoid of the children they had destroyed.)
"Are you—" Atsushi started, squeaking and clinging to the trunk of the tree. "Are you looking for me?"
"I have been." The man said. "I am Shibusawa Tatsuhiko. I work for the government."
"Oh." Atsushi frowned. He didn't understand. Why was someone who worked for the government here? "Why are you here? Looking for me?"
"Because," the man paused. "Hm. I suppose you wouldn't remember, would you? You were just an infant."
Hope sparked in Atsushi's chest. It soared with the flame of a thousand fires.
"Did my parents ask you to find me!?"
Maybe Atsushi had been kidnapped as a baby! Maybe his parents had been looking for him this entire time and they wanted him back! Maybe this man was going to take him back to his home, his rightful home!
"Oh no." Shibusawa-san snorted, but there was no amusement in his voice. Did he have any emotions? "I don't know about your biological father, but our mother could care less for you."
Atsushi's hope crashed down to earth under the water of this person's words. Oh. Of course his parents hadn't wanted him. The words on the bag that the Headmaster had found him in was "trash," after all. Of course his parents didn't want him.
"Oh." Atsushi muttered. His fingernails sunk into the bark under his hands easily, much more easily than it normally did. He must be really angry. Like the Headmaster. That wasn't good, he didn't like being like the Headmaster. He should calm down.
The red eyes studied him.
"I would apologize." He said. "But I think you needed to know that our mother didn't care for you."
Atsushi blinked. The man, Shibusawa-san, had said that before too.
"Our mother."
"You're my brother?" Atsushi asked.
"I am." Shibusawa-san confirmed. "We share a mother, but not a father."
"So my—" Atsushi perked up immediately. "My father, he could want me, right?"
Something flickered in Shibusawa-san's eyes. It was too fast for Atsushi to see, he was too elated to know that his father could be out there, wanting him. Too happy to know that someone could possibly want him. Atsushi was distracted.
(Tatsuhiko was hurt.)
"I suppose he could." Shibusawa-san said slowly. "I wouldn't know where to start to find him though."
"I'll find him myself!" Atsushi said with determination. "Once I leave this place, I'll find him myself when I leave this place and then everything will be okay."
Shibusawa-san stood as still as a marble statue, but then nodded slowly.
"Then I'll leave you to it."
He turned around, and started to walk away from the tree that Atsushi was up in. Something panged deep in Atsushi's heart, and he scrambled down the tree, holding onto it and staying under it. Almost like his feet were rooted with the trees. He felt like he should run forward, run after the man. But he felt like he couldn't move.
So instead he did the only thing that he could do.
"Shibusawa-san!" He called, as loudly as he dared. Who knew if the Orphanage matrons were around.
The man paused, and then turned to look at Atsushi with those ruby-red eyes. There was a veil of curiosity in them, but nothing more.
"Would you—" Atsushi's fingernails sunk into the bark of the tree. "Would you mind, visiting me?"
Was he really asking him that? His half-brother was a grown man. He probably had his own life. There was no reason for him to do such a thing—
"Since you asked," Shibusawa-san said, "I will."
Something flickered in those eyes, and again, Atsushi couldn't place it.
That was fine. He had all the time in the world to get to know his half-brother and find his father.