The Echoes of Nothing 2

"That's fine. I've told you countless times, I don't care about any of that. Why can't you leave me alone?!"

Seiji turned away from his grandfather starting to have anger shaking his arms.

"But it's fun!"

Shoji ran from Yuki over to Seiji grabbing his hand to keep him from leaving. It was an all too common argument for them.

"Please. You're much better than I am."

Seiji ripped free his hand and started to walk from the shrine towards the protected woods below.

"I told you. I don't want your tradition!"

"Watch your tongue, boy!" his grandfather snapped from the shrine staring down at Seiji, who only paused for a moment before he continued walking away.

Seiji was out of sight before long down the stairs not wanting to be followed as everyone already knew. Their grandfather turned to Yuki looking at him through his deep-set eyes and dry lips speaking coldly to the high school student.

"I thought you might have changed him in the past. I thought you might drive him back to where he was meant to be, but I was wrong. You were only a negative influence that encourages his rebellious side. I see that hasn't changed."

Once he was done berating Yuki he turned back and entered the shrine fading into the shadows.

Shoji looked down the path and up at his grandfather before to Yuki. It was painted heavy on the young kid's face how confused he was now. He did not know who to follow and wanted to go with both while knowing that it was completely impossible.

"Yuki…"

"I'm sorry, Shoji."

Yuki was beginning to feel out of place now that the only reason he was at the shrine disappeared. He wanted to leave, but he could not leave Shoji like he was. However, the words that he should say were not coming to him.

"Grandfather and brother always fight like this. Why?"

Shoji collapsed to his knees on the tile with Yuki quickly rushing to his side. He pulled tightly on Yuki's clothes in his confusion.

Yuki thought back to his family for a moment hearing the echoing of his sister yelling at him.

'Maybe that's why Seiji and I got along so well then. We were so similar then.'

He stared into Shoji's face wishing to find the answers that he needed, but still coming up short. This was not something that he was very good at.

"I think they'll always fight because of who they are, Shoji. But don't think this is your fault. If you keep trying and don't give up… Your feelings will make it through."

Shoji wiped away his tears but still had an uncertain questioning look for Yuki.

"My feelings will make it through if I don't give up?"

He nodded with a smile to Shoji to assure him.

"I promise."

"Really?!"

Shoji seemed to return to his cheerful self. He jumped up and hugged Yuki quickly before running off down the stairs in the direction that Seiji had left.

The grounds were empty once more leaving Yuki standing in the wind that blew through. The silence made him awkward and knew that he had already overstayed. He slowly made his way to the front of the shrine to put him back on his path.

'If you don't give up huh?'

Yuki stared down at his hand still confused about the power that was locked inside him.

'I guess I should listen to my advice.'

Seiji sat on a rock a little off the path of stairs that sink into the forest behind the shrine. The shrine was surrounded in a modern city and the last bastion of the old ways was held trapped on all sides by the skyscrapers and highways. It was only held at bay by the small forest and hill that the shrine sat upon for protection. Most just saw it as a city park that was allowed to run wild within a boundary, but for Seiji, it was his only escape from everything.

'I finally managed to talk to him again after everything and I can't say anything to him. Then grandfather has to go and screw things up, making it impossible. I bet Yuki's already left and my chance as well. Since when was I such a coward?'

The rustling of leaves nearby went unnoticed by Seiji as he sat with his hands around the sides of his head. Shoji was standing in front of him without saying a word for minutes just watching his brother and wondering what was going on in his thoughts. It took him that time to get up the courage to speak to his older brother and reach out his hand to touch his arm.

"Seiji?"

"Shoji!" Seiji said pulling back his head and body in surprise.

"How did you find me?"

Shoji smiled back at him.

"You always go to the same place after your fight with grandfather, but I've never told him."

"…I see…"

"Please, let's go back!"

"Shoji…"

Seiji's face darkened a little thinking about what he would have to face back at home. It was still too early for him to return. The shaking had not stopped for him.

"…sorry, Shoji, but I'm not going back yet."

He flexed his hand at his side letting it breathe, but it was still vibrating in anger.

Shoji held his head down hearing his brother's reply but raised his head back up hearing Yuki's words echo through him.

'If you keep trying and don't give up… Your feelings will make it through.'

He narrowed his eyes a little in determination staring at his reluctant brother.

"If I don't give up… If I keep trying…" he said softly, but it pulled Seiji back towards him confused.

"You said you'd show me something, Seiji!"

"Huh?"

"Before, you said you'd show me."

"But…"

Shoji grabbed on to Seiji's arm pulling at his shoulder with him to get him to stand up.

"I won't give up!" said Shoji staring unwaveringly at Seiji as he tried to pull away.

Whether it was his words or his little brother neither mattered at that moment when he stood up and walked away with Shoji back up the stairs.

…

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