"What are you thinking about?" Keiji said, cocking his head at the small girl. She had closed her sketchbook and was now staring into space, twirling her hair absently. Ami jumped slightly, and shrugged,
"Nothing really, Keiji..."
"Hmm" Keiji said, unconvinced. He closed his book, The Little Prince, and put it on his lap. Ami smiled,
"Are you reading that again?" she teased
Keiji nodded
"It's my favorite." he said simply. It was the truth. The book had been the last thing his mother ever gave him, claiming to be her favorite story. That alone made him love it.
Ami opened her sketchbook again. She rubbed her middle finger across the page, blending the colours together and staining it a deep orange-y red. Keiji couldn't help watching her. Ami always got so interested in her art, so lost in her own world, it was hard not to be fascinated. He wished she would show him her sketchbook, but it was no use. The one she was drawing in currently was her private book. She never showed it to anyone. Ever.
Ami glanced up, as though she'd felt his eyes on her.
"What?" she said, blankly. Keiji felt himself flush lightly. He quickly opened his book, though he still watched her from the corners of his eyes, waiting for her to start drawing again.
Instead, Ami closed the book, and began organizing her supplies. Keiji sighed, again wishing she would show him the content. Ami carefully laid the book and tools her art trunk, taking care to arrange everything just so.
The trunk was an old wooden thing they'd found in one of the many storage rooms. They'd been exploring one stormy day several years ago, when they discovered it. The trunk was covered in dust, and probably well over 75 years old. Ami had fallen in love with it though. Keiji didn't really understand why, but whatever. She seemed content.
She begged to let her keep it, and spend several days going through the content (old letters, photographs, some moth-eaten clothing, zodiac figurines(that she gave to him)), and painting it. He studied the pictures on the side, a starry sky with a rainbow shooting through it, the Zodiac drawn as Anthros, and a forest amongst other things. The pictures only brought back thoughts of the forbidden sketch book though.
"Keij, I'm going to take a shower, Kay?" Ami said. Keiji nodded, not bothering to correct the nickname she insisted on calling him She dashed out of their shared room, grinning brightly. As soon as Ami disappeared, Keiji sucked in his breath. He had to know what was in that sketchbook!
Keiji stood and strode to the trunk. He pulled up the lid, and saw the various supplies stacked neatly. In one corner were her sketchbooks. Keiji glanced around guiltily and pulled out the private one.
He sat, cross legged on the floor and opened it. On the inside cover a drawing of a dog looked out at him saying "Property if Ami Sohma."
A girl with curly messy hair, Keiji recognized it as a chibi-fied Ami, stood next to the dog saying
"If you're not Ami, please put this book away!"
Keiji ignored the drawing, and turned the page.
On it a drawing of a girl dancing with skeletons looked out into the distance. The girl was happy and carefree looking, but the skeletons weren't. Some of them looked empty, others pained, some angry or tired. Others just looked sad. A title was written in the upper left corner Corruption. For a moment Keiji was startled at the sheer darkness of the art. He shook it off, and turned the page.
This was of a volcano. Ash plumed from the top, grey against the clear blue sky. Sketched into the ash were faces. They looked tortured, and were screaming. Written in Ami's scrawling print was the word pain across the bottom. Keiji quickly flipped the page - the faces were to real looking for his taste!
The new picture was a sketch of a child sitting hunched over in a forest, staring out at Keiji. Her eyes were scared and wild looking. Keiji tore his eyes away from the girl, and looked around her. It seemed normal enough, but when he looked closer he noticed small things. Up in the treetops snakes curled branches, rearing up as if about to strike. The shadows that fell on the ground seemed sinister, one even appeared to be a silhouette holding a knife and about to strike. It sent chills down his back. Who knew Ami could be so dark?
The new one was of a girl looking into a mirror. Her eyes were totally empty, staring out at him from the mirror. Her expression looked false and painted on. The reflection repeated itself endlessly. Keiji searched her eyes for a few minutes, looking for something in them. Anything. But they were blank and unfocused. The word empty was written on her forehead.
He flipped to the one she was working on. It was a girl on one side, a man and a women on the other. Both Man and Woman were faceless. They were surrounded by flames, their clothing charred and burned. The man and woman were both reaching hand toward the girl, and she extended one towards the couple. Their hands were only inches from each other, but they could reach no farther. Each group had chains keeping them from advancing. Written across the top was {memories}.
Keiji studied the girl. Everything about her looked sad, desolate - her tattered clothing, pained eyes, streaming with tears, tangled hair - everything. Except her mouth. She was smiling. But the smile looked strange somehow, false. Keiji was struck by how breathtaking it was.
"Um, doesn't that say private?" Ami said suddenly. Keiji jumped and looked up. The girl was right behind him, wearing pajamas, a towel draped over her head. She glared down at him, looking angrier then he'd ever seen her before.
"Oh, you're done," Keiji said coolly, "Did you enjoy your shower?"
Ami continued to glare at him. She grabbed the book and pried it from him, briefly looking down at the picture he was looking at. Ami put the book away and sat on the trunk.
"Well?" she said, her voice quiet, but angrier then she had ever been before,
"Did you not notice the private label on it? Did you not remember me telling you that book is mine, and mine alone?"
Keiji rolled his eyes, trying to hide how ashamed he felt for betraying her trust. Not that it should matter, but the sketchbook was the only thing she'd asked him not to touch. The only thing that was hers, and hers alone.
"It's no big deal Ami," he said, "It's just art."
Ami's eyes narrowed slightly, and she twitched an eyebrow.
"Just art?" she said, her voice hardly louder then a whisper, she chuckled softly, then fell silent and stared at him for several minutes.
"Keiji," she said, finally, "I'm leaving now."
She stood, opened the trunk and took her sketchbook. She walked toward the door, and paused looking at him.
"I'll come back tomorrow for my other belongings."
Keiji smiled cruelly,
"Where are you going to go?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. Who did she think she was, walking out on him? Ami shrugged,
"I figure I'll stay with Natsumi until I can find a job and an apartment." she answered,
"I'm never living here again." she gestured around her, and slipped out of the room.
Keiji watched her go without moving. Fine. If she wanted to be like that, fine. It was just some dumb art anyway! What's the big deal if he looks at it? If she wanted to move out he'd let her! May she be very happy wherever she goes. Keiji didn't care what happened to her now. As far as he was concerned they no longer were related! Just like he and Natsumi! Let her die on the streets for all he cared!
Keiji sighed, unconvinced by his lie. Who was he kidding? He loved that crazy kid to much to not care! Besides, he didn't want it to be like Natsumi. Abandoning Natsu-Chan was the worst mistake he'd ever made - Not that he'd ever admit it! A man has his pride! Keiji ran his fingers through hair, and tugged on the two long strands Ami always insisted he have.
Well, that was that. He was now hated by all of the zodiac. It was his fault though, and he knew it. That just made the hurt worse though, as a sudden deep loneliness fell over him. Keiji blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. He refused to cry! Gods don't cry! he reminded himself, ever
He stood, and walked over to his bed, burrowing into it. It seemed strangely empty without Ami. Keiji looked around their room. Most everything in it belonged to him, but he could see hints of Ami in it. The line hanging from one corner to another with paintings hanging from it to dry, the drawings pinned to the wall, the books on technique were obvious signs. More subtle hints included the handful of candle holders, there because Ami thought they looked cool, empty because she was hated fire.
Ami had been terrified of fire ever since she and her parents had been in one when she was two. Everything in her house was destroyed. Ami's father had drug his daughter from the flames. He'd left her in the care of a neighbor who was watching with horror as the house burned.
Her father had plunged back in to try and find his wife. He never came back out. Though Ami had no visible scars, she was harmed none the less. Though she'd once admitted to Keiji she couldn't remember her parents faces, she remembered watching her house collapse on itself. Ever since, even a lit match made her nervous. Campfires were enough to make her cry! Her lungs were still scarred from the intense heat, and the ash she'd breathed in.
Other things about the room were Ami too. Like the DnD books (version 3.5 of course) stacked on the shelf. The half finished sewing project spread carefully on the desk.
Keiji rolled over in his bed. What had he done? The person he was closest to, the only one who'd ever seen him breakdown, the only person who really knew him. Gone. Keiji blinked again, trying very hard not to cry. It was no use. The tears fell anyway.
He pulled a pillow over his head, and sobbed softly.
"Keiji?" Ami's soft voice startled him, and he sat up. She was standing at the foot of the bed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Are you OK Keij?" she said, sounding concerned.
"Ami," he said desperately, "Ami, I'm sorry I looked in your sketchbook. I'm sorry I called your art just art."
He stared at the girl, waiting for her reaction. Ami sighed deeply,
"Keiji," she said, "I would still like to move out. Live by myself."
Keiji's mouth opened, but he said nothing. He couldn't find the words to say. Ami continued nervously,
"I've been thinking about it for a while, I think my leaving would be a good thing."
Keiji could tell by looking at her she had her mind made up. He nodded his consent, and collapsed onto his pillows, sleepiness suddenly hitting hard. Ami climbed up next to him, and snuggled in.
"Ami?" Keiji said quietly, "Why did you come back?"
Ami stirred next to him,
"I" she began, then paused, "I didn't want to leave during a fight. It felt wrong."
"Why?"
"I don't know! It just did!"
"But why?" Keiji insisted softly. He felt Ami move around more until she got right next to him, and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Because," she said softly next to his ear, "I love you to damn much!"
Keiji wrapped his arms around her, and nuzzled his nose deep in her soft hair. He was silent for several moments. The girl relaxed, drifting off to sleep.
"I love you too Ami."
---
a/n: Gosh, when I was writing that last part it felt like a romance, haha! For some reason though, I think the idea of Ami and Keiji together in totally cute! Or at least, Keiji having had a crush on her at some point!
By the way, the way I figure it is Keiji's not all bad. He at least tries sometimes.
