Push For My Heart: Chapter Four

 

Seven in the morning, Maruki’s alarm was going off, waking both boys simultaneously.  Maruki was the first to move, quickly turning off the alarm. He sat up on his pillow, rubbing his bedhead hair. He looked down at Aiya who seemed to have fallen back asleep, rolling over, nuzzling the pillow and snoring softly.

“Oh, Ai.” Maruki chuckled softly, with a small smile on his lips. He crawled out of bed, removing his sleeping pants again. Being only in his boxers again, he moved to the dresser at the foot of his bed to find some new undergarments.

The soft sound of wood against wood woke Aiya again. His long lashes flickering open again, it was obvious that he had no recollection of waking minutes earlier. Aiya groaned as he sat up, covering his bare chest with the blanket.

“Morning Maru-chan.” Still being half asleep, Aiya had forgotten about the bruises on his face, until he went to rub the sleep from his eyes.

“Itte!” wincing and taking his hand from his face quickly, Aiya woke up from the pain.

Maruki turned, holding his undergarments innocently in his fingertips. He scanned his eyes over Aiya’s face. Over night, the bruises had settled on his flesh, dark and discoloured.  It was nothing too noticeable, fortunately. But Maruki still felt bad for his best friend.
“Would you like pain ointment Ai? Maybe some ice?” Maruki asked in a soft voice, shifting his weight to one leg, and placing one foot on the other. Maruki silently worried for his best friend.

Aiya stood and stretch, making sure he wouldn’t touch his face again.

“No, no its okay Maru.” Aiya smiled sweetly, secretly he wanted others to see those marks on his face, his mother most of all. Aiya stretched again, raising his arms up high.

Maruki dove to the floor while Aiya was still stretching. He quickly picked up Aiya’s shirt and hurled it to his chest.

“Get Dressed Ai.” It took a moment for Maruki to regain his balance. He smiled, giving Aiya a thumbs up as he backed up to the door.

“I’ll be right back, I’m just going to go shower.” The door opened and Maruki left, closing the door behind him.

Aiya was left alone in Maruki’s large clean room. It was almost for the first time that this has happened too, Maruki never left Aiya alone in his room. It was not like he ad anything to hide, or that he didn’t trust his best friend, he just found it rude and unsettling to leave him alone. Aiya readied his shirt before sitting back down on Maruki’s bed.

Aiya dropped his head into his hand, his hurt arm was to rest limply over his lap. Stress took over, his fingers grasped at his thick black bedhead. A soft strained sigh passed Aiya’s lips. He knew Maruki wanted the best for him, but in times like this, Aiya felt that all he was doing was causing him trouble.  Since Maruki’s parents got better jobs, they seemed different. Maruki got a new room, a new computer, even a cell phone. His parents were rich now, they only cared about the money. They were still kind and caring parents, even towards Aiya, but they were still different. On the other hand, Maruki had not changed at all, he still did everything for Aiya.

Aiya’s stressed train of thought was interrupted by a small sound coming from behind him, vibrating. Aiya knew what it was and curiosity took over. He picked up Maruki’s phone, which had slid between two pillows. The screen had shocked him enough to drop the phone on the bed again. ‘Aiya’s Home’ was written on the screen, his mother was calling Maruki personally. He had not heard the home phone ring since he had been awake. Reasoning her calling his best friend was entirely personal.

Aiya let the device ring a couple of more times before he flipped it open, his thumb on the ‘talk’ button for one more vibrate before he answered it.

“He-hello?” A petrified boy, and a shaky voice, he was scared as to what his mother was going to say to him for running away.

To Aiya’s surprise, he did not get the talk he was expecting. His mother who had not expecting her son to answer the phone at all was shocked. She let out a sigh or relief when she heard her son’s voice.

“Aiya!” an exasperated mother who had made a large mistake could feel nothing but guilt towards herself.

“I was so worried about you. I am so sorry, Aiya.”

Aiya had not said anything, though he was happy she found him, and not angry about it, he didn’t know what to say. Small sounds, attempting to be words came from Aiya’s parted lips.

“Kaa-chan.” Aiya mumbled softly, he was almost happy, but something held him back. The conversation that would derive from this, between Maruki and him burned in the back of his skull.

Hokuto sounded as if she was crying, that was very apparent. She was a poor woman that lost her husband and gave up her life to drinking, in hopes it would make her feel better. In the end, she ended up pushing her son away.

“I am so sorry. I would never consciously do such a thing to you. You know that right?” recollection of the night before was flashing before her eyes. She screamed inside. She didn’t show it often, but her son was her life.

Aiya cried inside, his heart in his throat. It was getting harder to swallow. This was exactly what his mother said the last time. His heart filled response was what he said the last time as well.

“I know kaa-chan. It was an accident.” It only happened twice, but it felt like dozens. It was getting harder to believe his mother the more it happened.

Aiya didn’t utter another word, it gave ample time for the door to open again, a wet, half dressed Maruki stood in the door with a towel over his dripping wet hair.

“Ai, what are you doing with my phone?” The slight petrification struck the young boy. There was nothing personal in the call or text history, it was the notes that Maruki was worried about. Maruki stepped farther into his room, still drying his hair. Aiya was his friend, he trusted him, but this small act was very different for Aiya, not what Maruki expected of him.

Aiya stood, his hand covering the receiver. He knew Maruki had a possibility of being angry, but the innocence in Maruki’s eyes proved that Aiya’s thoughts were already wrong.

“It’s my mother Maru-chan, she called.” An awkward paused hung in the air, Aiya needed to finish his thought.

“I assume she called to talk to you.” Not another moment passed before Aiya slowly handed the phone over to Maruki.

Maruki reached for his phone, thoughts running through his head in almost hyper-speed. He knew the main reason as to why his mother would be calling him personally.

“Hello Hokuto.” A rude greeting towards an elder as soon as Maruki placed the phone to his ear, calling them by their first name, a good conversation or not, Maruki was not prepared to be respecting towards Aiya’s mother.

Hokuto sniffed once, regaining herself. She new that Maruki was not as easy to break as her son was. A stern strong tone took over Hokuto’s whiny motherly voice.

“You were always such a rude kid, things never seem to change.” There was nothing worse then a mother being in denial about being a bad mother.

“I should have known that he would come running to you. You have that kid wrapped around your finger more then I do, don’t you?” a child abused is worse then a child neglected, somehow Aiya was both.

Maruki placed the towel used to dry his head, around his shoulders. He may have been young, but he was mature and intelligent. His cool headed personality could withstand the hot-headed personality of Aiya’s mother.

“I’m sorry Hokuto. But if it weren’t for the legal system of this country, he would no longer be your son. I will not allow my friend to be treated in such a manner from a so-called ‘loving mother’. Unfortunately for the sake of our friendship, I have to forgive you for a second time. Considering the circumstances that you will not do it again. Unlike a fish like yourself, I actually love your son, as does my mother. So think twice about what you do next time. Intoxicated or not.” Aiya stood off silently, struck deeply by Maruki’s maturity towards this whole situation. The Maruki he rarely saw, was once again taking his heart into his throat.

Hokuto chuckled slightly, it was an accident that the incident occurred. It wasn’t an accident that she knew it happened due to her drinking. Though she loved her son, she would not stop drinking for him.

“Maruki my dear boy, I will make no such promise. Now, if you do not allow my son to come back after school today, I will be forced to call the authorities and report this as a kidnapping.” There was no arguing this, Hokuto was going to get her son back, one way or another.

Maruki felt defeated. He would not put his mother and father’s job in danger, just to fight with Hokuto. They alone knew very little of Aiya’s situation at home.

“All right Hokuto. Aiya will come home after school today.” It may have endangered Aiya’s safety. But refusing would take away his refugee for good.

All the while Aiya was leaning against the desk chair, tuned out of what was going on. His main focus was on Maruki’s actions not his words. The fact that he had indirectly said that he loved Aiya was completely missed.  Maruki’s maturity was far beyond his age, the amount that he cared for Aiya was more then brotherly love. He accidently lost control and let the chair slip back under the desk. A bright pink blushed formed on his cheeks when he hit the floor.

Without saying another word to Hokuto, Maruki hung up the phone, throwing it onto his bed rather angry. Maruki rushed to Aiya who sat embarrassed on the floor.
“Ai, are you alright?” Knowing Aiya was already hurt, he didn’t want to see anymore wounds on him. A caring hand gently pressed against Aiya’s back, the main part of him that could have been hurt, as it scraped against the handles of the drawers.

Nothing was faltered, just red marks from pressure lay across his flesh. Maruki let out a sigh of relief and stood, taking the towel off his now dry shoulders. Maruki patted Aiya’s shoulder and went to get his uniform, which was tossed lazily over his dresser, where he had also placed fresh socks as well. This was his boring attire for the better half of his school life.

He gazed back at Aiya, who still leaned against the desk. Maruki grabbed the whole of his uniform and returned to his bed to put it on. Aiya sat up slightly while looking up at Maruki.
“What did… what did my mother say Maruki?” Aiya asked as a mere whimper, already aware himself what she had said. But he wanted to hear what she said to make Maruki talk back to her in such a way.

Putting on his socks, Maruki looked down at Aiya who still had not gotten dressed.

“She wants you to go back home today.” Maruki didn’t look at Aiya, he didn’t want to see any distrust in his eyes. Knowing the low monotone voice he used was going to get questioned. Finally dressed, Maruki looked like everyone else again, only his tie needed adjusting and he was finished.

Aiya stood, rustling the black mess on his head. Deciding to get dressed in order to not be late of their first official day of school.

“And you let her win?” Aiya sounded angry to the point of curiosity. Then it struck him. Maruki never backed out of any fight unless he knew something bad would come out of it. Talking about his mother as if she was the enemy was rare for Aiya.

Maruki began placing the knot in the tie, having done it a thousand times, he could do it blind folded. His round eyes gazed up to Aiya.

“She would have kept you from coming here for good.” A soft low tone and indirect eye contact showed Maruki’s feelings of embarrassment. It was a rare sight indeed. Maruki always became defensive when it came to Aiya.

“Let’s just forget about it okay Aiya?” A small hurt filled Maruki’s heart, knowing things at Aiya’s house would never change.

Maruki smiled to Aiya, bending down and picking up his uniform and bag of clothes. Aiya sighed softly, and took them with a small nod. To Aiya, the slight embarrassment on Maruki’s face was cute.

“Forget what?” Aiya joked playfully, pretending he had already forgotten what Maruki just told him.

That brought a small smile to Maruki’s lips as he ruffled Aiya’s hair gently. He then got up and got his bag ready for school.

“Hayaku Ai-chan. Bokutachi ga jikan dayo.” In a stern, yet playful tone, Maruki demanded back to Aiya. The obvious confusion showed on Aiya face greatly, making Maruki smile slightly.

“You need to pay attention more. Just come on Aiya!” slinging the bag over his shoulder, Maruki opened the door.

“Hurry up, or we’ll be late.”

Even repeated in English again, it still took Aiya a few seconds to catch on to what he was saying.

“OH!” Finally getting it, Aiya finally put his uniform on quickly, rather then just standing there is just his underwear. Aiya was attempting a few times to get his tie in a knot, but was failing greatly. This is where Maruki came in again. The year before, Maruki found himself adjusting Aiya’s tie almost everyday, and it seemed like it was going to be the same this year.

Maruki stepped close to Aiya, his small hands reaching for the untidy knot of the silk tie. Without even looking at his hands, but at Aiya’s eyes, the working of the tie was done slowly. Aiya was looking out the window at the times, lost in space somewhere. Finally regaining focus inside, his eyes caught Maruki’s, staring at him. Without realizing it, Aiya’s face lit up in a rose blush.

Pulling the tie close to Aiya’s neck, Maruki was finally finished.

“You are going to have to learn soon Aiya.” Maruki teased, adjusting the strap of his bag.

“And clip-ons don’t count.” He continued playfully, stepping to the door of his room. Maruki nudged his head, telling Aiya to come out with him.
“Well get a snack before leaving.” It was a small suggestion from Maruki, but a smart one. A rice ball before school was always Maruki’s quick snack if he didn’t have time for a full breakfast.

Aiya puffed out his cheeks at Maruki teasing him. It was a common occurrence with Maruki, he just hadn’t gotten used to it yet.

“Maa, Maa.” With a mumbled tone, and a small grumble, Aiya lazily grabbed his bag and slumped to the door, deliberately bumping shoulders with Maruki. Closing the door behind him, Maruki followed right behind Aiya, who left straight for the kitchen down the stairs.

Saeko stood in the by the chilled pot of sticky rice, her eyes lit up at the sight of the two in their uniforms.

“Off to school Maruki?” A sweet tone, no stress, no worries, this was not the mother that Aiya had remembered from years before. Though he didn’t remember much from younger childhood, that he did remember.

Maruki loved his mother, even when she spoiled him. A quick nod answered her question as they approached her.

“Yeah. But we don’t have time for breakfast Kaa-chan. Can we just get a snack?” it was obvious now, there was no disrespect in this family anymore, not after Maruki’s parent’s promotions.