Kitchen Duty {open}

[Sori Higurashi]

It was bad enough that Sori was roped into kitchen duty without a choice but did they really have to make him wear this outfit? The red santa hat with the huge white pompom would have been okay if they had just stopped there. But what really bothered Sori was the apron. It was frilly and girly, decorated in christmas colors and mistletoe. There were little gold bells on the bottom that jingle every time her moved. It was tacky. It was absolutley humiliating.

One would be able to guess that his mood was even worse than usual. He diced the carrots and celery with an unsatisfying vengeance. Maybe it was not such a good idea to put a knife in his hands right at this time. Sori only hoped that his night would go by quickly without any incident or anyone he knew seeing him like this.

[Aione Higurashi]

Ai had a problem with the kitchen, ever since her run in with her 'old friend' Darion left her with a cracked skull and a slice in her palm. Still, she'd heard that some Boogie had assigned her big brother kitchen duty, and she was dying to talk to him and tell him what had happened...about Darion. Not about the certian events that sprang up afterwards.

That was somthing Aione couldn't deal with right now: her issues with Tristan and their newly found love-like-a-sibling-or-are-we-lovers-now problems. It gave her headaches just thinking about it. Which was all of the time. What Ai needed was a pick-me-up. And Kami, seeing the outfit Sori was in was just that. The redhead stepped into the kitchen, took one look at her twin, and burst out in hysterical laughter. Innerai and Ai-chan in unison.

"Oh my God...Oniichan, what are you wearing?!"

[Sori Higurashi]

Sori was in the midst of stirring the main soup, with a little more aggression than was necessary, when he heard Aione laugh. His face went as red as the tomato soup and he turned toward her. The humiliation was only heightened as the little bells made their jingly song as he moved. So much for getting through the night without Aione seeing him. Now he probably won't live this down for a very long time. At least that Tristan guy wasn't here, if he were he would never be able to forget it.

"Shut up Aione! It's not funny!" He growled, "This is abuse. I swear." But he could not be completely angry. He never was able to get that upset with Aione. She could cut off his fingers and he would still love her. That's why they call it unconditional love, right? "What are you dong here anyway? You're not here to cook are you?" He hoped not. He didn't want to hear any jokes about his current girlie outfit.

[Aione Higurashi]

"It's cute abuse. You look like a girl..." her voice trailed of as another laugh bubbled to her lips. It was hilarious. Her brother, Sori the stern one, was in a jingle-bell-apron and a poofy hat. It was a mix of adorable and ridiculous. Mostly ridiculous. "Aw, calm down Oniichan. I've seen plenty of worse outfits they could have forced you into." Though thoses outfits might actually be for girls...

Ai's smile faltered as her gaze roamed around the room. Despite being cleaned, there was still a light brown stain on the lower cupboard across the island. Where she'd hit her head. She remembered why she came here, but was unsure if she wanted to bring up such a dark subject now. Instead, her diamond eyes glimmered and she reached for the soup bowl. "I have a reason, but you're...busy. Need any help, Santa Baby?"

[Sori Higurashi]

Immediately Sori picked up that something was wrong with Ai, something was bothering her. He not only saw the change in her mood but he felt it. Seeing Aione troubled, troubled him viscerally. Lately he has been feeling a little disconnected from his twin. So much has been going on in the six months that he has been in Wonderland that he's had a hard time keeping track of everything and he hasn't spent as much time with Ai as he would have liked. Though that Tristan guy has..

Sori dropped the spoon into the pot of soup he was stirring. If that dumb Boogie ever laid a hand on Aione, he would start the killing spree in less than a second. Sori clenched and unclenched his teeth, "Come on Ai, just tell me. That Tristan freak hurt you didn't he?" He stared at her with all the seriousness in the world.

[Aione Higurashi]

Ai wasn't really surprised that Sori could figure out something was wrong. They'd both been able to read eachother since they were little. Still, it was amazing how he could be so very acurate, and still be off by a mile. Why was it always Tristan? Did those two really hate eachother...? Okay, so the first day they met Sori gave Tristan a right-hook to the jaw, but that was six months ago! They'd gotten over that! ...right?

She rolled her eyes. "No, Oniichan, Tristan didn't hurt me..." Aione emphisized her master's name on purpose, her eyes returning to the light brown spot on the cabinet, "...but someone else...did." With that, she tightened her injured hand, instanlty regreting it as the slice opened a little. Ai wanted Sori to catch her drift. If he saw the dried/almost-cleaned-up blood stain, he'd realize it was hers freak out. It might not be a good idea to tell him she got her head busted by another boogie, but at least he wouldn't be blaming Tristan for a while.

[Sori Higurashi]

"...but someone else...did."

A noise crept low into the now almost silent room as Sori took in her words. It was the sound of molars upon molars as Sori ground his teeth to keep from lashing out. He felt the anger build up in him and he could do nothing about it but try to keep from releaseing it. Sori's whole body tightened. His hands took a frightening grip on the ledge of the counter, his knuckles pure white. He was unable to speak at the moment, he knew that if he tried he would only yell and then the rest of him would give into the fury.

Finally he followed her eyes and saw what she had been hinting at all this time. The stain was blood and it was her blood. His face paled and he looked away from it quickly. Nausea overtook him for a moment so he leaned over the sink in case his lunch decided to make another appearance. But it had been a much too small of a lunch too crawl back up his throat. Sori squeazed his eyes shut and held his breath for as long as he could. When he finally released the air he let it out with a question, "Who is it?" His voice was raspy and quiet.

[Aione Higurashi]

Aione hated this. Seeing the hatred and fury in Sori's face, seeing how horrified he was at the blood, her blood, on the wall, and seeing him almost being sick...it hurt Ai even more than the injuries themselves. She hated seeing her big brother hurt. And being the reason, if not a part of it, made her feel even worse. She raised a hand to touch his shoulder as he leaned over the sink...her injured hand was still bleeding, so she kept it back...and a empty smile started on her face.

Funny, this conversation was starting to sound slightly familiar. Like the one four years ago, when she'd first seen...

"It was him, Oniichan. Him. The one from home..." Ai's voice came out sad and slow at first, then her smile became hysterical and her words paniced. "It was Darion, remember? The one who I told you about when we were sixteen...? The 'ghost'? He...He's back...He's going to..." Suddenly she stopped. She couldn't say anymore. For all she knew, the panther, Darion's familiar, was watching her right now. He could be watching. Ai's hand became a fist, clinging to her brother's shoulder.

"He said he's going to kill me. Soon."

[Sori Higurashi]

It took all of Sori's inner strength to keep himself together. His shoulders shook with Aione's words. Where had he been while this had happened? Where was he when Ai was attacked in this very spot? His stomach turned for a second time when he thought of where he probably was. Detoxing. Suffering through withdrawal, searching high and low for any sign of meth in Wonderland. Once again he was off in a selfish quest instead of protecting Aione, like he should of been. Ashamed of himself, he could not match his eyes to his sisters.

This time he was determined not to fail. He knew that he was lucky to have as many chances as he has been given to protect Ai and although each time he has failed miserably, this time it will not end in the same way. Sori calmed when Aione touched his shoulder and looked into her pretty silver eyes that were a copy of his own. Aione was his everything. He reached up and ran his hand through her soft red hair, "I'm sorry I wasn't here Ai." His voice was weak. Sori pressed her face against his holiday apron and wrapped her in a hug. "But you don't have to worry now. I'll be with every minute of everyday to make sure nothing happens to you again... and I'll kill Darion too."

[Aione Higurashi]

Her hyserical smile stayed in placeas Ai was pulled into her brothers embrace, then all pretenses fell and she burst out crying. Only her real brother had ever seen the side of her showing now. Broken. Terrified. Crazy...it was Aione in her purest form. The redhead buried her face into Sori's apron, giggling slightly as the bells chimmed to her touch, and hot tears rolled down her cheeks. This was exactly like back then, only now Sori could believe her. Believe Darion was real.

"I had to find that obnoxiously hard brother of yours. He was a sneaky bastard, but he's here with us too."

Something made Ai pause, her crying and breathing hitched. Darion's voice, her memory, rang clear as a bell, and something didn;t add up. She looked up to face her brother, a question in mind. Somethig she'd never thought to ask...but now had a nagging to. "Ano...Oniichan...Darion s-said...he brought you to Wonderland too..." she pressed aginst Sori again, "How did you get here? I went through the window, but you...how did he get you, of all people...?" It was the one thing that never made sense. How had Sori been dragged into Wonderland? He was strong...had he and Daring fought? The thought terrified her.

She didn't even fathom the real reason.

[Sori Higurashi]

Sori tucked Aione's pretty red hair behind her ear. It had been a long time since he had last hugged her, perhaps the last time was when he had first arrived. Too long. He missed her so achingly even now that they had been reunited he had had to cut time away from her for Sori's own reasons. But now he thought that he would be able to spend more time with Ai, he could handle it without the shaking or cold sweats.

"Ano...Oniichan...Darion s-said...he brought you to Wonderland too..."

So that's who that was, Sori thought, I suppose it makes sense. He didn't quite remember what he looked like. Just a vague shape really and his voice.. his laughter. So strange. One of the oddest trips Sori had ever endured. Darion had took Aione and then came back for him for whatever reason. In a way Sori had him to thank for bringing him to his most dear sister but he would never see it that way. Darion had tried to kill Ai and therefor he was a vile creature that needed to die.

"How did you get here? I went through the window, but you...how did he get you, of all people...?"

It was the question Sori wished Aione would never think to ask. He took a step backward from her, not sure what to say. He didn't want to lie but she couldn't know. He was already such a disapointment to Aione... she would hate him. How many more chances was she willing to give him? Every time she needed him the most he had failed her. "I was looking for you." He began, pausing as spoke, " I had no place to stay so I slept in front of this hotel. It had a overhang so that I wouldn't get wet from the rain. It was very dark except for light from the hotel and I didn;t see him approach. I thought he was trying to mug me. So I fought him. I had a knife I kept in my back pocket but somehow that wasn;t good enough. He was strong. I thought he had killed me. But I woke up here."

[Aione Higurashi]

Aione felt Sori back up at her question, and part of her wanted to cry even more. Why was he backing away? Had she said something wrong? Was he mad at her? Slowly, her hands still reached out for him dropped to her sides, and a confused look echoed in her eyes...the same as his. Silver coins and diamond studs. Ai loved Sori dearly, he was her other half and often times her opposite, and she needed him. As friedns went, she couldn't ask for a better one. But as a sister, as a twin, Aione knew when something was wrong.

She listened to his story, nodding at parts she could agree with or imagine happening. She hated the idea of a fight between her brother and her nightmare, but if that was what happened, she was just glad he wasn't dead. Ai believed everything. However, someone else didn't.

Yes, of course, Innerai had been listening. She was the first Aione, thus the one who knew Sori best. Could you picture 'Ai-chan' lasting as long as she did in that house? No? Didn't think so. Simply put, Innerai knew Sori longer, and she knew when he was lying. And this was one of those situations. For a second, those perfect diamond ords went wide, then darkened to more of a faded silver. More like Sori's. Innerai sighed.

"Oniichan, cut it out. You think I can't tell when you're telling a fib?" the darker Ai muttered, "How did Darion really get to you? I won't get mad..."

...at you....

[Sori Higurashi]

Sori's insides knotted. He had just witnessed something strange, he knew he did. But he couldn't quite tell what it was. He had a weird feeling suddenly. He felt a little uncomfortable being with Aione all of the sudden. Something had changed. The sparkle left her eyes.

"Oniichan, cut it out. You think I can't tell when you're telling a fib?" the darker Ai muttered, "How did Darion really get to you? I won't get mad..."

Sori was taken back. Aione hadn't spoken to him like that since he had gotten here. It was a possibility but Sori really didn't think that she could see through him so easily. Maybe she couldn't. Maybe she was just testing his honesty. Did Aione not trust him anymore? Aione had every right not to but the thought hurt Sori deeply.

It was a lie, his whole story was. But Sori felt that Aione did not need to know anything about his drug addiction. It was in the past and he did not want to bring it up again. If Ai knew it would only hurt her more. The thing that mattered now was that he and Aione were together again and the focus point was to keep it that way. Drugs didn't matter anymore. He shook that bad habit. "Aione. I am not lying to you." His voice was firm.

[Aione Higurashi]

Can he tell it's the old me? Huh. I wonder... Innerai mused, but the frown stayed on her face. Why was he lying, so blatantly, obviously lying, to his own sister? It confused both Ai's, and made the dark in her eyes grow. Being lied to was the worst feeling Aione ever felt, and it had been like that since she'd been in the human world. Sori should have known this...so why? What was so terrible that he couldn't even tell his own twin? It scared her to think of reason, most of which she prayed were wrong.

One of them was right.

"Oniichan..." the sound of er voice was even colder now, and it would be familiar to Sori. Aione had taken that tone of voice only once before...in the human world, just mere hours after the first Darion sighting. The darkness in her eyes, the ice in her voice...she wasn't even a sliver of this new sweet Ai-chan anymore. And Innerai wasn't one for taking shit.

She walked up to Sori until her face was only inches away from his, piercing stone-cold silver. "Cut. The. Crap. Sori. What happened? I know you're lying."

[Sori Higurashi]

Anger flared inside of Sori. That burning, uncontrollable feeling. He gripped the edge of the counter that he was leaning against so hard his knuckles were white. Her words cut deep into him and stung with emotional infection. Who was this angry girl? Sori didn't understand. Aione was never like this. At least not anymore. She was sweet, loving, and sensitive. Anger was something Sori was filled with not Ai. Not anymore.

Confusion and hurt were getting all mixed up into a batter that was going to be baked by the heat of his growing anger. It was going to be a bitter cake that if he was not careful, he would cram down Aione's throat piece by ever-loving piece. He gritted his teeth. Sori didn't want to hurt Aione's feelings but the frustration was growing. "What is the matter with you?" He growled, "Just drop it! For gods sake!"

It took a lot of self control not to push Aione away from him and walk out of the room at this moment. He concentrated his raging eyes on the unfamiliar set of his sisters.