A Letter, An Old Photograph

Fubuki nodded. "Yes, we were close. We attended to the highschool together, "

"He was always talking about you… his little brother, Ren. Always talking about all the great things you will do and the man you'd become, he was really proud of you. "

Ren felt a lump in his throat. "I... I need to know what happened to him, "

"No, " Fubuki sighed softly. "It's a very long story, and not a nice one to tell.. "

"You don't have any right to decide that!, " Ren shot back angrily at her for her reply.

"Hey brat, " a drunken voice from behind him called out. "Mind the way you talk to Fubuki-chan, "

Ren turned around sharply, surprised to see a disheveled man with his head resting on the table, a half-empty bottle in hand. He banged it on the table to draw attention, sending a clang echoing through the quiet cafe.

"When did he get in?, " Ren wondered aloud. He had been on edge, hyper-aware of any movement around him, but he hadn't heard the door jingle to indicate someone entering the establishment. .

The man lifted his head slowly, revealing bloodshot eyes and a scruffy black beard. His gaze fixed on Ren with a mixture of drunkenness and mild annoyance. "You got a problem with me, kid?, " he threatened, his words slightly audible.

Ren clenched his fists, fighting the urge to react aggressively. He knew picking a fight with him wouldn't solve anything. "I don't have a problem with you, " Ren replied evenly, trying to diffuse the situation.

Ren was never one to be afraid of a fight but he knew when to back down and this was definitely one of those instances.

The man scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin. "Good. 'Cause I don't have a problem with you either, " he said, taking a giant gulp from his bottle, emptying it completely.

Ren took a step back, keeping his distance but remaining vigilant. He knew he needed to tread carefully.

The man's grin widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "You're alright, kid, " he said, his tone slightly more friendly now. "Just watch your mouth around Fubuki-chan here. She's family to me, "

Fubuki let out a relieved sigh, her hand still resting on Ren's shoulder. "Finish your meal first. We'll talk more after, " she whispered, giving him a small smile.

Ren nodded, his heart still racing from this brief confrontation. He glanced at the man, who had returned to nursing his drink. He returned back to his seat, trying to shake off the sudden adrenaline that had briefly flooded his system.

Ren dug into the food like a dog, not savoring each bite. As he ate, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort in this small café, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Once he finished his meal, Fubuki stood up and left again before she returned some moments later holding a white envelope.

"Here. He wanted you to have this, " she passed him the envelope.

Ren swiftly took it and opened it wasting no further time. The envelope had three contents inside; a letter, an old photograph and a gemstone necklace.

He picked up the old photograph, its edges dirty, worn-out and faded with time. It showed a younger Kaito, smiling widely with a group of 5, Fubuki among them. There were two other guys and a girl with a white labcoat who Ren couldn't recognize.

They were standing in front of the café, arms around each other, the cherry blossoms in full bloom behind them. Ren's heart ached with a mixture of longing and sorrow.

"That's from one of our best days, " Fubuki said softly, peering over Ren's shoulder. "The cafe had just opened, and Kaito was so happy, he made us all take that picture. "

"He talked about you a lot, you know. Always said you were going to do things greater than he ever did; even save the whole world he said once hhhh, " she laughed.

Ren swallowed hard, emotions welling up inside him. "I wish I could have been here with him too, "

Fubuki placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your parents divorce made it hard for him too.. but he had to respect that, "

Ren continued to sift through the items, coming across a the letter with a ribbon. He untied the ribbon and carefully unfolded it. The handwriting was familiar— it was Kaito's.

"Dear Ren-kun,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I miss you, little brother. Life here in Yugen City is so different, but it's also beautiful in its own way. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom now, and the view during spring festival is the most beautiful in the world, I really can't wait for you to come see them too. "

"There's so much I would like to tell you, but it's very hard to put them into the right words. Just know that I'm always thinking of you and that I'm proud of everything you're doing and will do. "

"Dad and Mom have speaking alot lately and they said they might allow you come here for awhile, so stay strong, Ren. We'll see each other again very soon. "

Lots of love,

Big Bro Kaito "

Ren's eyes brawled over in tears as he read the letter. The only time he had seen Kaito since their parents divorce was when he died. He felt a connection to his brother always, as if Kaito was standing right beside him now. He folded the letter back up and placed it gently among the others.

"Fubuki, do you know what happened to Kaito?. " Ren asked, his voice trembling.

"this town used to be really unsafe then with fighting between various gangs and organizations. The most violent town in Yugen City we were hated by the neighboring towns. "

Fubuki sighed, her expression turning somber. "He got involved with some dangerous people. There were things happening in the city—dark things. He really tried to help, but it was too much for him. One day, he just... disappeared. "

"Then one day, I got a call saying he was dead. " She finished, as a tear rolled down her emerald eyes to her cheeks.

Ren clenched his fists, a mixture of anger and determination bubbling within him. "I need to find out what happened to him. I can't let this go; his murderers must be brought to justice."

"No," she said, her voice firm yet sorrowful. "I can't bring myself to send you to certain death."

"Don't decide that on your own!" Ren flung the plate away in anger, the porcelain shattering against the wall. "I'm his only brother, his family. I deserve to know what happened to him!"

"Hey, I thought I told you to keep your voice down," a gruff voice interrupted. A drunk man, with an imposing presence, placed his hand on Ren's shoulder. "And watch how you talk to Fubuki-chan."

Ren was shaken; he hadn't sensed the man's approach. One moment, the man was across the room, and now he was right beside him.

"Tch, I'll find my answers," Ren said, shrugging off the man's hand with a defiant glare. "Thank you for nothing." He dropped some money on the counter and stormed out.

"Hey!, where are you going?, "

"None of your business!, " Ren angrily slammed the door.

"He has that unyielding fire in his eyes too," the drunken man remarked, watching Ren's retreating figure.

"Yeah, unfortunately, that never does anyone any good," Fubuki replied, her tone laced with resignation.

The man slumped back into his seat, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He lit one and took a deep drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Hey, Fubuki, do you think we deserve to die for our 'sins' too?" he asked, his voice heavy with a mix of melancholy and bitterness.

"Who knows," she replied, picking up Ren's abandoned plate. "And I thought I said no smoking in my shop." With a swift motion, she snuffed out the cigarette, leaving only a wisp of smoke curling into the air.

"You were never any fun," the man grumbled, rising unsteadily to his feet and making for the door.

"Where are you going?" Fubuki called after him, concern threading through her voice.

"To find out if I deserve to die too," he replied over his shoulder, pushing open the door and disappearing into the night.

Fubuki watched the door swing shut, her thoughts a tangled web of worry and unresolved questions.

She sighed, turning back to the now quiet cafe, her mind lingering on Ren's fierce determination and the drunken man's cryptic words.

The world outside was unforgiving, and she could only hope that Ren would find the answers he sought without losing himself in the process.