Chapter 16: Flashback Chapter (2) - The Price of Survival

Flashback

"Aoki, please don't disturb me. I need to practice 'Für Elise,'" I announced with full motivation and determination as I ran to the music room.

Aoki, looking bewildered, asked, "Young Master?" Then, with a graceful bow, he said, "I shall do that."

As Aoki went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, he muttered, "Madame, Sir, you two truly have a kind child."

I had promised Kaori and Kyō that I would play "Für Elise," a solo piano piece composed by Beethoven, once again.

I had played it before, but I was so bad that I was embarrassed. Despite this, they liked it.

Out of that singular reason I wanted to show them how 'Für Elise' should be played. That's why I prepared myself for three months for this moment.

There was no specific reason for choosing "Für Elise" over other piano pieces. I just wanted to learn and play this masterpiece by Beethoven, one of the most important pieces in classical music history.

Unfortunately, I'm not very good at music, and it took me three months of practice to master it. Normally, I'm quick to pick up every new thing I try on the first try, but music is not my forte.

I really don't have any musical talent…

However, I won't give up.

As their older brother, it's my duty to learn other pieces as well. With newfound enthusiasm, I practiced for another hour until I heard the door open and close downstairs.

Rushing downstairs, I saw a broken and crying Aoki on his knees in front of me. "Aoki?" I asked, seeing sadness all over his face. He hugged me and exclaimed, "Young Master, it's about your family."

"Aoki, what do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Aoki took several deep breaths and spoke. "Young Master, your family was in a car accident," he said, not finishing the sentence.

"Car accident?" I exclaimed, shocked. "Is everyone alright?" I asked, feeling anxious.

Aoki bit his lips and said, "Young Master, I'm here to inform you that no one survived the car accident." He hugged me even tighter.

"That's a joke, right?" I asked. "Aoki, it's a joke, right?" I repeated. "Aoki, please tell me it's a joke," I exclaimed, suddenly feeling the stroke of realization punching me.

I felt my breaths becoming shorter and shorter, until I was gasping for air, seeing Aoki's crying figure the last time, before everything went dark before my eyes.

8 Hours Later

"Huff," I gasped out, as I woke up in a…hospital? I saw Aoki next to my side, looking at me worried.

I turned my head and saw the doctor walking towards me. "Good to see you're awake now," he said, checking my pulse. "Your heart rate is still elevated, but it's getting better."

"What happened?" I asked.

"You had a panic attack, Young Master," Aoki interrupted, as he and the doctor had small eye contact and the doctor left the room.

"Panic attack?" I asked, completely surprised. "Where are mother and…" just as I wanted to speak their names out, I felt memories from yesterday evening flooding my mind.

My heartbeat increased again, however, I felt one person holding my hand dearly, making me calm and stabilizing my heartbeat to some extent.

It was Aoki.

He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and worry in his eyes. "Young Master, I'm here for you," he said softly, as he engulfed me in a hug.

I suddenly felt tears flooding down from my eyes, as I finally realized that I've lost my family.

Mother…

Father…

Kyō…

K-Kaori…

I don't know what I should do without you.

I really don't know…

I continued to remain for thirty minutes in the hug, until I dared to ask a question about proper details about the incident.

"A-Aoki, what happened?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Young Master, your family got into a car accident," Aoki said. "The car suddenly began to…"

"…burn, as your family was still in it," he said, tightening his hug.

"Burned?" I repeated. "A-Aoki…" I said his name, as I felt tears welling up from my eyes.

"W-What did the p-police find out?" I asked, my voice shaking and trembling.

"They suspect…that's a dysfunction of the car," he responded, his tone filled with disbelief.

"D-Dysfunction?" I repeated, surreal about the probability of this case happening.

"Yes, Young Master," Aoki responded. "You should rest for now," he exclaimed, as I nodded, not having the energy to do anything right now.

1 Day Later

"Aoki, I want to go to the police," I announced, determined, as it was my obligation to uncover the death of family.

"Young Master?!" Aoki exclaimed, his tone filled with disbelief. "You can't," he exclaimed. "The doctor still wants you to remain here for another week to check your condition more thoroughly. Only then you're allowed to leave," Aoki explained.

"Aoki, I need to do this," I responded, trying to convey him that.

"Young Master, you're just like your father," Aoki muttered, in self-deprivation.

"Thank you," I whispered, thankful about his support.

"Well then, I'm going to prepare everything, Young Master," he said, as he took his phone out and ordered a car.

Within one hour, I arrived at the responsible police station for the investigation about the death…of my family members.

"Aoki, have you prepared everything necessarily?" I asked, as I saw him giving me every detail relating to the car my parents drove yesterday.

I entered the police station and immediately went to the room of the director, while Aoki explained the officer's everything.

"You're…" just as the police director spoke up, I interrupted him.

"Kurushima Kaoru, oldest child of the Kurushima family, who got yesterday into an…incident," I replied painfully, as my presence shocked the police director.

"Ah…" He replied, as the realization stroke him most likely.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, his toke remaining stoic as I saw…veins popping out of his head?

No, no, no, it's simple imagination. I'm just imagining.

"I came here, to move your investigations forward," I announced, as I handed him out everything relating to the car details, as well as the surreal probability of a car burn down to happen.

"What's this?" he asked, as I saw veins popping out of his…head again?

No, no, no, what am I even thinking?

It's just my imagination again.

"Details of the car, which enlists the surreal probability of a car dysfunction happening," I exclaimed.

"There are two people in the car always checking the probability of a car dysfunction hap—" but just as I wanted to finish my sentence, I saw him throwing the…folder in the trash can.

"Wwhaat?!" I exclaimed, infuriated and surprised by his actions. "What are you doi—" before I could finish my sentence, I saw him throwing a…lit match into the…trash can.

"Wwhaat?!" I announced, my tone filled with complete shock. "Why did you d—"

"Listen up brat," he exclaimed, his tone being infuriated. "This was a car accident, where the motor suddenly began to overheat and burn," he expressed. "The camera footage proves that," he said, as he projected the footage in front of me.

"Here," he announced, fasting forward to the minute where the car began…to…burn.

I clenched my fist and bite my lips as hard as possible, feeling myself becoming teary. But for their sake, I need to bring the investigation forward.

Yes, it's not an accident. I know it…

"Then, where is the camera footage in the park house," I said, turning myself away from the projection in front of me.

I felt blood dripping down from my hands, as I could only think of how much they must have suffered.

"Deleted," he declared, his tone becoming even more infuriated by me. "We have everything under control, so you're not needed here anymore," he expressed while pressing a button calling for more policemen.

"Also, the camera here won't be any use, so don't think about that, brat," he announced, as I saw him…grinning wholeheartedly as I heard the sound of two people entering the room.

Suddenly, I felt two people engulfing my arms and dragging me away, as I stared the person in front of me empty in the eyes.

"Goodbye, have a great day," I heard him saying that, as the door slowly closed in front of my sight, seeing him grinning.

"What are you doing to the Young Master?!" Aiko exclaimed, his tone being completely furious.

"Here, take the brat," the two policeman said, throwing me to the ground.

"You should know your boundaries…brat," I heard one of them muttering, as they walked away.

"Young Master?!" Aiko said, running to my direction. "Are you alright?" he asked.

However, I remained completely empty, my expression not even moving a bit. I continued to remain for the whole day like that, even when we reached the hospital.

I heard one of the doctors talking. "It's most likely a trauma," one of the doctor's said.

"I advise, that he goes to therapy," the other one said, as I gave them an empty look, unable to say what happened.

I wanted to talk…

But I couldn't…

Can I trust them?

What if they're also like that?

It's better not to talk with them…

Aoki is the only one…

Flashback End

Aoki…

Thank you for staying with me until now…

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A/N: Well, I hope this Chapter is able to give you a bit more insight about Kurushima´s motives for revenge. Though, the Flashback Chapters are by far not finished and will be only then fully reasonable about his motives when they are finished.

Also, midway through writing the Chapter when Kurushima reaches the police station I couldn´t help but reminscience myself about the similiarity between him and Lelouch at that age, both wanting to find the culprits behind their respective cases.

Not sure at which age Lelouch was, but Kurushima is here at the age of 7 just as a small reminder.

How did you find this Chapter? Good? Bad? Sad?...

Please comment and let me know.

I hoped you liked this Chapter.

Well, that´s all.