Rough Doodle Of Sanemi I Did In Google Keep.

Good Morning! Good Evening! Good Night.

Small story about the Shinazugawas

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Okay this is a fluffy piece. With a little angst. There are vague references to past abuse. Also there will be brotherly antics😊.

Word count: 4617

(Also this is inspired by the art I did a little bit ago of Genya having a full head of hair and Kyogo's hair style: post 1 post 2)

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A light breeze blows through the house as the warm glow of the sun shines through the rice paper. A boy with short snow colored hair and wispy lashes scrunches his face at the light. He shifts under the thin covers until his face is pressed to his brother’s dark black hair. Genya shifts, disgruntled by the sudden weight pressed around him. His little face pinches sourly before he sharply elbows a bony elbow into the big thing behind him. Sanemi lets out a strangled yelp of pain, rolling over while gripping his abdomen, finally fully awake. “Ughhh…Gennyaah.” He groans sleepily as he sits up and rubs his eyes, his fluffy hair skewed and messy. He glances over to the now happy bundle beside him that snuggles deeper into the futon. The older brother narrows his eyes and huffs, Smug little twerp. 

“Good morning Sanemi.”

Sanemi looks up away from the sleeping toddler to see his mother hefting a laundry basket inside filled with freshly dried clothing from the night before. The night before he had helped her hang the clothing, now able to reach the same heights as his mother. Her pregnant belly made her unbalanced at times and her feet would swell making it uncomfortable to walk. 

Ma was almost definitely pregnant with twins, was what the doctor had said. It was believed still by a few that twins could bring either good luck or bad. Sanemi hoped that his new siblings would bring good luck with all the trouble they were causing their mother. She was sick all the time, her back always hurt, and she hardly rested anymore, but to be fair Sanemi didn’t think the ‘no rest' was really the twins’ fault.

More often than not she would still be working on the mending when she would send a sleepy, stubborn Sanemi to bed. She never let him stay up late with her, but he knew she was hardly getting more than a couple hours of sleep. Yet despite that she worked hard, rose early, and still looked flawless in everything she did. 

Sanemi shifted to stand, sliding out from under the covers, and stepping down off the tatami mats to the wooden floor.

“You could have woke me up Mama. I would have brought the baskets in.” He blows his hair from his eyes to see better as he reaches out his hands. Surprise briefly flits across her face before a warm smile takes over. Her hands also extending. 

“That’s very sweet of you dear, but you need your rest. You're still a child after all. Still growing.” The basket handles exchange hands and as they do Sanemi sees the bruising across the top of her knuckles and her wrists. His eyes linger as an angry sadness rises up in Sanemi for just a moment before he dispells it. He shakes his head a little, meeting his mother’s eyes as he smiles and jokes. 

“I don’t need to grow! I’m your height now and you can do a lot without being tall!”

Shizu chuckles, a bruised hand covering her smile. 

“And you’d be very short for a man dear. I can’t imagine you’d find a wife shorter than you.”

“Maybe I won’t find one or she could be tall.” He says as he hefts the basket to the genkan. He sets it right by the other smaller basket of mended garments. They would need to fold the clothing by each family. They had a lot of work ahead of them today.

Shizu chuckles, shaking her head at her son. A wave of dizziness hits her causing her to sway before the nausea kicks in. She shuffles across the wood floor and slides the shoji door open to their small kitchen. She sits on the bench by the wooden prepping table. It was a bench she often used to reach the taller cabinets. This was where she also sat to prepare their food, food that for them, was becoming more scarce. And soon they’d have more mouths to feed. She sighs. 

Shizu didn’t know what she would have to do to keep this up, but she knew she would find a way. She supposed that things would become easier for her physically after having the twins, but even so she knew she would need to do something soon. It wasn’t like Kyogo was generous. He paid the bills, but would only give her what he felt would pay for their food. He knew the cost of food was going up and the measly amount he would give her each week wouldn’t cover it. Her fists tighten in her lap. Her kids deserved better and they would get it. 

Sanemi saw as his mother moved to sit down. She looked queasy. They would need to get moving soon if they wanted to deliver everything before nightfall. Everyone in the town knew that it was dangerous after nightfall. Wild dogs and violent drunks were often out after dark. Sometimes bodies would be found torn apart in the forests. The townspeople had been trying to kill off the wild dogs as they had begun to breed with wolves and were becoming more and more dangerous as time went on. Some more superstitious people thought the killings were the work of man-eating demons. Sanemi scoffs at the thought. Some people would believe anything. Sanemi was pulled from his thoughts by his mother.

“Sanemi? Can you wake Genya please?”

He blinks before responding, an amused grin taking over his face. 

“Of course Ma.” He says. 

Sanemi turns and stalks towards the unsuspecting, slumbering lump on the futon. He grins widely as he makes his way back, kneeling carefully. He hovers before he pounces on his younger brother, who starts shrieking Oniichan! as he tickles him to death. Genya squirms and laughs, struggling to get away. Sanemi’s laughter joins the younger’s. Genya breaks free from Sanemi and the blanket, running to their mother’s side as Sanemi gives chase. 

“Get back here!” He yells out. 

Genya lets out a little shriek as he giggles more, running to the open back door. Sanemi can hear their mother’s amused giggles at their morning routine. Genya slides the door closed in Sanemi’s face. It surprises him enough to make him pause, before he slides it open in pursuit of the little rascal. 

His eyes narrow across the silent backyard, looking for signs of a troublesome toddler. The grass was sparse, leaving dirt patches here and there. They, like their neighbors and the other tenants, had a scraggly wooden fence outlining the yard. Almost a year ago they set up multiple clotheslines and made multiple bamboo baskets since they needed them for their little ‘business’. 

Sanemi's eyes are still trailing over the washing basins and boards when he hears it. Small labored breathing coming from the toppled over basket across the yard. Sanemi grins, but pretends to not notice. 

“Where could he be?” He complains loudly in false confusion. 

Small stifled giggles come from the basket. 

“Gen-ya.” He calls out, sing-songing his name as he quietly meanders his way to the toppled basket.

“Come out Genya.” He whines and calls out again and more giggles follow. 

He slowly steps towards the basket, a hand coming to grip the edge before he leans down popping his head in. 

“Gotcha!” Genya shrieks trying to crawl out away from his nii-chan, but before he can Sanemi rights the basket, and Genya and the clothing inside shift with the change in gravity. Genya giggles and cuddles a blanket amongst the clothing.

“Huh!” Sanemi exclaims in mock confusion, ‘thoroughly’ examining the basket as he peers in. 

“I could have sworn Genya was in here, but I guess I was wrong. I wonder what could be the cause of the weight in this basket? Isn’t clothing supposed to be light?” He says as he sways the basket back and forth dramatically. He picks it up and begins walking.

Giggles sound out from inside it as Sanemi makes his way to the open door.

“Nemi!” Genya calls. Sanemi pretends he can’t hear. 

“Nemi!” Genya calls louder. Sanemi pauses, a look of confusion crosses his face as he looks directly at Genya and the clothing below. 

“Clothing can’t talk. What could…”  His eyes bug out. 

“What!? My little brother? You little rascal. You're the reason my basket is so heavy!” He says in mock offense. Genya laughs, little tears leaking as he laughs at Sanemi’s ‘disgruntled’ face.

“Just you wait, Genya. You won’t get away with this.” He narrows his eyes playfully at the little boy in the basket. Genya sticks his tongue out while hugging the blanket closer. Sanemi laughs as he makes his way inside. Sanemi grins at his mother, holding the basket up in accomplishment.

“He’s up!”

She giggles, mirth coloring her voice. “I can see that.”

Sanemi nods and sets down the basket. He looks back at Genya. “You ready bud?” 

Genya shakes his head petulantly. Sanemi arches a brow, raising his tickling fingers. Genya nods his head eagerly then. Sanemi nods back as he scoops up the little tyke who was quite a bit smaller than him. 

Sanemi had, had a small growth spurt since turning eight, but so had Genya right before he turned three. Luckily for him, his growth spurt was bigger and he could still manage to pick up Genya. Unluckily his clothes were getting smaller and would soon become Genya’s. 

“Up we go!” He says as he settles Genya on his hip. “Now we’ve got to hurry or we’ll be late to the beetle races.”

Genya cocks his head. “Beetle races?” He asks. 

“Yeah! If we get home early enough we can do a beetle race!” He says a little awe peeking through as wonder colors his face. The black haired boy’s face takes on a look of wonder of his own.

“How Nemi?” He says excited, bouncing a little in his arms. Sanemi makes his way to where their clothing is stored in the single wooden dresser. Sanemi no longer had a change of clothes though. So he wouldn’t be getting changed. He had grown out of his only other pair of pants and shirt last fall. But his mother was making him a new set out of the old pair. Hopefully she’ll be done with them soon. Sanemi would have done it himself, but the only thing he knew how to do was mend. She hadn’t taught him how to make clothes yet.

“You know those beetles we collected last week?”

He nods quickly.

“Well I’ve been feeding them and they had babies! So now there’s a ton.” He sets Genya down as he pulls out their clothing. 

“Sanemi.” His mother calls from the kitchen.

“Yeah.” He answers absentmindedly while he helps Genya tie his shirt. 

“Can I talk to you?”

“Yeah, just a sec.” He leaves Genya to find his pants as he walks to his mother.

“What is it Ma?” He asks, a little worried at the troubled look on her face. She pauses before she asks hesitantly. 

“What type of beetles are they?” 

“The ones with the horns…Why?” He draws confused. 

She can’t meet his eyes as she says. “I’ll have to look, but I believe those are edible beetles, Sanemi. I don’t want to ask this, but we might need-”

He grabs her hands and shakes his head, voice wobbling even as he meets her eyes. “Don’t worry Mama. It’s fine.” Though he says this, his heart breaks a little. He really likes those beetles. He sees it in her eyes. She can tell he’s sad. He forces a smile.

“It’s okay Mama. Maybe I can raise beetles for us. And we’ll eat the ones that lose.” He says trying to hype himself up and make his smile bigger. She cups his face.

“Are you sure?” She asks firmly. Her brow pinches in worry and guilt and Sanemi’s heart hurts worse than it did for the soon-to-be dead beetles. Mama shouldn’t have to look that way. Not because of Sanemi. Not because of anything. He nods, decisively as his brows furrow. He pulls back, willing all sadness from his face, and puts on a blinding smile.

“Of course! I wouldn’t want to keep the weak ones anyways.” He says, chest puffed, crossing his arms. Mama smiles back sadly. 

“Thank you sweetheart.” She smiles. 

A cry of Aha! makes them both whip around to look at Genya. He’s finally gotten his sandals on, the reason for his exclamation, but he’s currently pantless, his bottom half only covered by his fundoshi.

“I’m ready Nemi.” He calls as he runs toward them in full confidence, the waist of his pants flapping behind him with the legs tied in the front, having apparently decided that his pants were gonna be a belt today. He looked ridiculous. Sanemi shakes his head at his brother's antics, before yelling, tickling fingers raised.

“Alright, come ‘ere you pantless rascal!”

—

After getting an unwilling Genya into his pants, their morning continued like usual. Sanemi and Shizu folded the clothing, both cleaned and mended, and separated them by family. Genya would sit waiting until they were done, so he could tie twine around each pile of clothing. He was getting better at that, as was evident with the pants fiasco. 

Once they were done, they fit the piles into baskets, putting them in the order in which they would be delivered. They had two big baskets and one small one, all having straps so they could carry them on their backs.

Sanemi put on his shoes, helping his mother with hers, before helping Genya put his basket on. Sanemi slipped his over his shoulders and opened the door stepping out onto and off the porch. He helped Genya step down, followed by his mother after she firmly shut the door. And they were off. 

Sanemi’s mother would lead the way as Sanemi followed beside her. She would point out kanji she knew to Sanemi, though she herself knew very little. Genya would sometimes go ahead of them or walk beside them depending on his mood. He was their door-knocker. He would announce their presence and then let Mama do the talking.

Their morning was peaceful as it dragged on into the afternoon. Genya was still as energetic as at the beginning. He would dart off the path to pick up grass that Sanemi had to stop him from eating multiple times. Sometimes he would bring back a flower for the both of them and sometimes Sanemi would follow him when he would spot some weird bug on the ground he wanted Sanemi to have. All in all they were having a nice day. 

They went to the base of the mountain a little outside the village to pick the wild vegetables his mother knew of after they had finished the deliveries. Shiroke, nettles, zenmai, and urui were what they usually looked for and if they were lucky they would also find wild garlic. Only Mama picked the nettles though because of the stinging prickles. 

After a few hours they stopped, safely storing the wild vegetables, and the few garlic they found, in Genya’s empty basket because Sanemi’s and his mother’s were filled with clothes. They made sure to find extra zenmai so they could dry it and store it for later. 

Mama often had to sit down on a fallen tree while Sanemi and Genya gathered the shiroke and zenmai ferns. Sanemi watched his mother now as they made their way home in the late afternoon sun. Sweat glistened across her brow causing her to wipe it away with the back of her hand. He hoped she would have the babies soon. They were making her very tired.

They made it home just as the sun had set. Sanemi helped Genya take off his basket and let him run to the backyard. He would probably have to go make sure he wasn’t eating grass again in a few minutes.

He brought Genya’s basket to the kitchen, pulling out the vegetables. The mother and son prepare the ferns for tomorrow after setting up the nettles, urui, and garlic to boil in a pot next to the rice on the stone stove. Sanemi was just putting the ferns into a third larger pot when Genya comes running in. He runs straight into their mother’s back as she sits on the bench in front of the prepping table. She makes a small oof as he collides. 

“Look Mama!” He shouts. 

“Genya,” Sanemi scolds. “You need to not run in the house or into people.”

“It’s alright Sanemi.” Shizu says, waving him off. “Now what is it you wanted to show me Genya?” 

She turns to him and Genya holds up a flower with white petals. “I got you a flower.”

She reaches up, to comb through his hair, noting the length. He’s going to need a haircut soon. She smiles at Genya. 

“That’s very nice. Did you have one for Sanemi?”

“NO!” He yells angrily.

Shizu’s eyebrows raise in surprise. “Why not?” She asks, perplexed. “You did earlier.”

“Yeah why not, twerp?” Sanemi’s sour face appears beside them. He crosses his arms with narrowed eyes. 

“Sanemi.” Shizu scolds.

“What? He’s a twerp.”

“I’m not a chirp. I’m not a bird at all!” Genya stomps his little foot against the wood beneath, crossing his own arms and glaring at Sanemi. 

“It’s tw-erp, doofus.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Yuh-huh.”

“Boys.” Shizu tries to scold, but then Genya blows a raspberry at Sanemi and they’re off, Sanemi chasing the little imp across their home. Shizu sighs and decides to wait it out. She feels she’s getting too old for this. 

The boys race out of the kitchen and on to the futons. They go in circles before Genya makes a mad dash for the back door, but Sanemi cuts him off causing him to go back to the kitchen.

“Get back here!”

“No!”

Sanemi tries to corner him in the kitchen, he should have been able to, but then Genya goes for the door they all know not to cross.

“Genya don’t-!”

No one’s there, luckily. Genya had frozen in place at the fear he’d heard in his brother’s voice. 

“Sanemi.” His mother calls. He looks at her peaceful face and his previously rigid body relaxes.

“It’s alright,” She continues. 

“He’s not home right now. Even so, you both know not to go in there. Get over here please.” 

The sternness in their mother’s voice has both slinking over slowly to stand before her. Once settled she starts with Genya. 

“Now Genya. What’s gotten you so upset? Usually you're nicer to your nii-san.”

Genya doesn’t meet her eyes as chubby cheeks puff out and a foot scuffs the floor. He mumbles something neither can hear. 

“What did you say?” Shizu asks, leaning forward. Sanemi cocks his head lower as he looks at his brother. A clear pout is displayed on his face as he repeats himself.

“Nemi forgot.” He says sadly, confusing the other two, before Sanemi’s face lights up in recognition. It’s no wonder he forgot. He wasn’t looking forward to it anymore. 

“The beetle race.” He says.

“Yeah.” Genya huffs out, his eyes not meeting his brother’s.

“I’m sorry I forgot Genya.” Sanemi says. 

Genya looks up at his brother before he shuffles to lean against his leg. He pats it in reassurance. 

“It’s okay Nemi.”

Sanemi ruffles his head affectionately in return glad that his little brother wasn’t mad at him anymore. As silly as it was, it had hurt when he didn’t get a wilted flower too. 

Shizu watches her boys for a moment before she decides to interrupt. “Genya?”

He looks up at her. “We’ll have to do it tomorrow instead. It’s too late now, sweetheart.” 

“Okay.” He pouts, disappointed, though not as sad as before. 

Shizu smiles sadly in empathy before she says sweetly. 

“Now, go ahead and get ready for bed. And make sure to wash off all the dirt mister. I doubt your brother would appreciate rolling in the dirt with you tonight.” She grins amused and Genya giggles. Sanemi nods in agreement.

“Yeah that’s right! I don’t sleep with dirt balls.”

Genya pouts cutely. “I’m not a dirt ball.”

Sanemi grins. “If you wash off you won’t be.”

Genya scowls as he walks away, but stops in the doorway. 

“And I’m not a bird either.” He says with finality, turning away sharply to walk down the hall. 

Sanemi laughs at that and turns back to their stove, so he can stir the pots again. Shizu hums while they watch the pots boiling. They eventually bring over her bench so she can stir while Sanemi gets more wood for the fire. Shizu is putting a lid on the rice and pulling it off the stove to finish cooking when Sanemi returns.

After stoking the fire a little, he turns towards Kyogo’s room a few feet away. The door is still open he realizes. He walks across the room and closes it. It used to be Mama’s and Kyogo’s room, but ever since the man wanted nothing to do with them, ever since he started hating them, it’s just been Kyogo’s. That’s the way the man likes it. And that’s way Sanemi likes it too even if he hated that he got the best futon in the house, and the best clothes, and the best of anything that made its way through the front door. Honestly Sanemi thought the reason the man let them stay wasn’t because of his pride or image, but because he wanted punching bags at his convenience. 

Their night ends uneventfully, set back into their usual routine. They ate together laughing about Genya’s retelling of the day. He added quite a few details that definitely didn’t happen, but they indulge him nonetheless. Sanemi finds that Genya’s world is much brighter than his own at times. He hopes Genya never loses that world. 

The two boys clean up dinner while Shizu gets comfortable on her futon. She sets up her sewing needles and threads on a small wooden tray before she begins pulling out the first garment from her basket. She hums a tune to herself as she begins working, which makes Sanemi smile. He joins her humming as he continues cleaning with Genya. Once finished, Genya runs off to snuggle beneath the thin blanket on their shared futon. He lays his head on the pillow and watches Mama as she works, being lulled to sleep. 

Sanemi continues rubbing the boiled ferns one by one and then laying them out to dry on the table. This batch would last them a while. It takes him over an hour to finish. He dusts off his hands and makes his way outside to wash off like his brother, scrubbing the stickiness from ferns off his hands and the dirt from his face, feet, and arms. 

He walks back inside and sits beside his mother, pulling one of the garments from his own basket to work on. He grabs a matching thread, threading it through the eye of the needle and tying it off before he begins. He and his mother continue humming the tune while they work. His hands and eyes are tired. He fights back his yawns though, knowing that if she sees them, his mother will send him to bed. It isn’t long before he can’t hold them back anymore and one slips through. 

“Alright Sanemi-” Shizu starts.

“Noooo.” He whines quietly.

“-it’s time for bed.” She continues. 

He sighs, knowing there’s no use fighting her on this. 

“Okay.” He gives. He folds up the garment he was working on, making sure the needle, still attached by the thread, is resting on top before he sets it in his basket. He shuffles to her side and leans against her. She sets her needle and garment in front of her and hooks her arms around him, pulling him in close to her side. The silence of night seeps into the room only disturbed their breathing. Shizu hums again and they rock a little as they sit and listen to the soothing tune. Sanemi closes his eyes wishing this could never end, that days like this one would go on and on. He’d put up with chasing down a thousand pantless Genya’s and putting pants on them if he meant he could have this every day. He laughs a little at the thought. 

They hold each other, rocking slightly as his mother hums a little longer. “I love you Mama.” Sanemi mutters out. He snuggles in deeper into her shoulder knowing he has to go to bed now. She rests her head on his and squeezes him before she mutters out an, “I love you too my little blossom.”

He squeezes her tight before reluctantly letting go. He shuffles across the floor and over to his futon. Sliding in close, with his back next to Genya’s, Sanemi tries not to disturb his brother’s sleep. Genya decides to scoot away. Sanemi and Shizu noticing this, huff in amusement. Sanemi meets his mother’s beautiful blue eyes and smiles.

“Goodnight Mama. Love you.”

Shizu smiles back. 

“Goodnight Sanemi. Love you too.”

Shizu continues to hum through the night as she works and Sanemi drifts off to sleep.

—

Shizu wakes, startled by a sudden noise. She listens closely for sounds of danger, before sighing in relief. It sounded like a drunk had fallen while making his way home at the next house over. Shizu sighs, rubbing her belly. She had fallen asleep sitting up again. Her neck aches and her back is sore and stiff from the bent over position she fell asleep in. She groans as she moves to sit up straight. I need to go to bed, she thinks as she slides her mending off her lap.

It strikes her as odd as she looks around in the now dark room. Somehow the lights had been turned off. Maybe it was Kyogo when he came back, which would be very unlike him. If it was Sanemi he would have woken her up to tell her to lay down. It may have been Genya. He had become curious with light switches now that he could reach them, but he should be in bed. Either way Shizu is grateful she doesn’t have to get up to turn them off. 

She slowly crawls under her blanket, easing onto her back. It was a wonder that her husband hadn’t woken them coming back tonight if he truly had come back. Most nights he would wake the whole house, whether it be on purpose or in a drunken stupor. The best and most peaceful nights were when he didn’t come back at all.

Shizu tries to find a comfortable position that wouldn’t have her soon-to-be-born children crushing her lungs or bladder. She shifts around for a few minutes on her side before she finds it, ahh just right, she thinks as the pressure lifts. She rests her head on her pillow, content now, feeling herself fall unconscious. She was so tired. Her achy body was finally unwinding after a tiring day. Her eyes closed as sleep began to seep into her mind. Just as she was on the cusp of deep sleep, fear struck her to her core. She looks up and the shadow of Kyogo looms over her. She screams. 

—

To be continued.

Thank you for reading! I've never written something like this, so feedback is appreciated. I would really like to know if you feel the pacing or relationships feel off or anything else. Thanks!

—

Note: Before Genya came in with the white flower, he did eat grass. He also ate grass when he went to wash up. Sanemi sadly cannot protect Genya’s stomach, but luckily for Genya, we know he can survive eating more than grass 😊

Kid Sanemi 💜

I found my tablet☺️! And it was very dead and the charger was MIA. But then I found a charger and I made an animation! I am also new to animating and did what I could. I just really wanted to draw Sanemi.

(It took about 3hrs and it was tiring🥱, but it was fun! I liked drawing the little pinwheels)

Also this is a picture without the animation watermark:

Mamas and Fathers

A small Kny story

Summary:

“Mama we’re the same.” He said determined. “We’re both Mamas.” Her face stood still for a second before she laughed.

Word Count: 2326

This is a little dark and light hearted? I've never written fanfiction before and have only read it, but I gave it my best shot. Small warning for abuse and talk of miscarriages.

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He was happy, with his mother and father and then they had another added to their family, Genya. Sanemi was in awe of this little squirming thing wrapped in a blanket and when he cried, Sanemi would hold out a finger for Genya’s small hand to grip. His cries would stop and matching lavender eyes would meet his, just like right now. 

“Hey Genya. Don't be sad! Nemi is here!” He told him. He heard voices behind him.

“They’re growing up so fast.” His father said.

“I know.” 

Sanemi glanced away from the toddler to look back at his parents. His mother was leaning into his father’s side. “Gah! Emi!” He looked back at Genya as he called for him, squeezing his finger. “Up Emi!” Sanemi smiled. “Up we go!” He said as he scooped Genya up and stood. Placing him on his small hip and barely able to stand, Sanemi started marching around the room dramatically. 

“We’re going on an adventure Genya! Whoah!” He stumbled a little. “Looks like we hit a rough patch! But we gotta keep going Genya!” He wobbled on purpose now as Genya gripped his shirt like his life depended on it. 

“They’re growing big.” 

“I know, Kyogo” 

“I don’t think I can find any more work. And Gaku doesn't have anything for me.” 

It was these conversations that let Sanemi know that their life was far from perfect. 

Soon his father became frustrated as the cost for providing for two young mouths and bodies became too much. He and Ma started yelling and arguing. Father started to drink, to gamble, trying to drown the fact that he had a family, but was still trying to provide for them. 

His father and Ma had soft moments too, where they cried and father would quit drinking. He still gambled and was pretty good at it. 

Ma became pregnant again and father loved her, but then he hated her again, hated Sanemi and Genya. 

He came home one night drunk and Sanemi ducked under the covers, sliding the covers over Genya as well, hoping that it would protect them. 

“Shizu, where are you?!?” He slurred slightly and shouted as he entered the house. 

“Yes Kyogo?” His Ma answered sleepily next to Sanemi. He could see her move under the covers.

“I’m done!” There was a pause. 

“What?” Her voice shook. 

“I’m done with this family! I don’t care what happens to you or them! You all just drain the money from me like leeches! I can’t even get a drink without feeling like I’m making my family go hungry!” Silence again. 

Sanemi was still. 

“Kyogo?” His mother’s voice shook again, sounding like a heart breaking. 

“I mean it Shizu!” He spat her name like it was vile. 

“I feel like I’m trapped here. No one will let me leave. I can’t leave! If I leave, no will offer me work cause I’ll be the bastard that left his fucking family!” His mother was yanked from beside him. 

“Ma!” Sanemi tried to grasp on to her as she went out from under the covers. Genya squirmed beside him. 

“Do you hear me, woman! This is all your fault! Fluttering your eyes, wooing me back then, when I could have been in the city working! I could have had any woman I wanted! But now I’m stuck here with you and those brats!” 

SLAP! Thud. 

It rang out in the small house. Sanemi pushed back the covers, waking Genya beside him. His sweet Ma was on the floor, crumpled and sobbing. His father started to bring up his foot to kick her. 

“NO!” Sanemi ran and pushed with all his might and the towering man fell from his unbalanced footing.

“You’ll pay for that brat!” He reached Sanemi and grabbed him by his hair. 

“Agh!” He tried to pry his father’s hand from his hair, but it was no use. His father lifted him into the air by his hair. It hurts, why would he do this! Why would he do this to Ma! Sanemi’s eyes burned as lavender met the lavender they were derived from. 

“I hate you!” His father’s-Kyogo’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightened. Kyogo’s mouth opened. 

“Kyogo!” Kyogo’s eyes snapped to his mother behind him as he squirmed mid air. 

“Let him go.” 

“Shizu…” He growled.

“YOU can hit ME, but don’t touch the children.” She snapped darkly. 

Sanemi had never seen Mama so angry, not even when he had stolen Genya’s toys. The large hand released his hair and Sanemi fell to the ground, with a thump, hurting his elbow and leg. He looked up as Kyogo towered over his small mother. Ma stared into Kyogo’s eyes. Her stare was hard, determined, heartbroken and pitying. 

“Sanemi.” She spoke. 

“Y-yes?” 

“Get Genya back to sleep.” 

“B-but,” She turned. Her eyes were hard and determined, but were also filled with her love. 

“Now.” She spoke softly. 

“And don’t get out of bed,” She said softly. “You’re supposed to be asleep.” 

Sanemi’s bottom lip trembled as he stood there. He could hear Genya sniffling behind him now. 

“O-okay Mama.” He wiped his nose and turned back to Genya. He crawled under the covers and covered Genya’s and his head again with them. It was a fragile hope to think the covers would protect them, but it worked. He just wished it would work for Mama too. 

—

It was a few weeks later that they found out the baby had died in Mama’s belly. A miscarriage they had called it, but Sanemi knew better. His father had kicked it out of Mama. Kyogo had murdered his unborn sibling. He hated Kyogo.

Ma was silent after that for a while. He would find her holding her belly sometimes, frozen and sad, like she wasn’t there. Sometimes when she was frozen she’d turn and see Sanemi and her face would brighten like the sun. Ma was still kind no matter what. Sanemi loved that about her. Sanemi swore her smiles made cuts and bruises disappear.

She relied on Sanemi more and asked him to do more for her, while she mended garments for the neighbors. She taught him how to sow, to help her with the mending, and how to change Genya when he soiled himself. She taught him how to feed Genya when she couldn’t and how to rock him to sleep when she stayed up to wait for Kyogo. She taught him to help, to care, to mend, but would never let him help her against Kyogo. 

One night when it looked like Kyogo would be staying out for the night, as he would sometimes do, Sanemi slid over to his mother and poked her side. She rolled away from the door to face him. 

“Mama we’re the same.” He said determined, little brows furrowed. Her own brows came down and she hummed in confusion. She was beautiful. Her face was smooth beneath the moon light and her pale blue eyes were stunning. He would bet that there was no one as pretty as Ma. He would tell her this, but there was something far more important that she needed to know.

“We’re both Mamas.” Her face stood still for a second before she laughed. A smile brightened her face.

“Sanemi you can’t be a Mama, you're still a boy and you're not even fully grown.” She mussed up his hair with a delicate hand as she lay on her side to face him more. 

Sanemi huffed in indignation, pulling out from under her hand and scooting closer to Genya, feeling betrayed. His eyes slid to hers again.

“How come I can’t be a Mama? I can do all the same things you do!” Sanemi yelled, but both froze as they waited to see if Genya would wake, but all he did was stir a little. Sanemi brought his voice down to a whisper, face pulled into a pout as he scooted back towards his Ma in order to be heard. 

“I can be a Mama.” He reassured her. His eyes stared into Shizu’s petulantly, daring her to tell him otherwise. And she did. Shizu shook her head. 

“Sanemi, you’ll be a father.” Sanemi jerked back, eyes wide, as if slapped. How could she? It hurt. His heart hurt as he heard her words.

“I don’t want to be a father!” He shouted. He looked like Father didn’t he?! With his face and eyes. He hoped he never towered over Ma like him, never grew that tall. He lowered his voice darkly, eyes wide in anger, spitting out his words. “Fathers are mean and they hit Mamas and they kill babies!” 

Silence.

Tears started to stream down his face, so he rolled on to his other side away from Shizu.

Sanemi hiccuped, scrunching his hands into the covers as he sat up and whipped his face angrily. Shizu slowly sat up with him, placing a hand on Sanemi’s back that he scooted away from. He didn’t want to cuddle after she said something like that. He pulled up his knees and covered his face with folded arms. Her hand hung in the air before she shifted to hug her own knees like her son. 

They both listened to his hiccuping and Genya’s small snores until Shizu spoke again. “Sanemi, I want you to listen closely.” She paused and waited, watching his small figure.

Sanemi leaned his face a little bit her way after a minute, but only a little, so she wouldn’t think he was listening. Shizu saw though, as all mothers do, so she continued. 

“I had a father and he wasn’t like yours at all. My father was like me.” Sanemi peeked at her from under his folded arms. Shizu pretended like she didn’t see him, a knowing smile on her face. 

“And he was endlessly kind. Every day he would come home from work with a pink flower for me and for my Mama. Sometimes the flowers would be orange or white or yellow, sometimes all three!” She giggled and Sanemi did too under his folded arms. 

“But he always came home with a smile even though we didn’t have enough food, money, or clothing.” Shizu watched him with a tilted head laid on her arms. 

Sanemi raised his head, knowing what she was implying. She sighed looking down at her arms resting on her knees, before meeting Sanemi’s eyes.

Shizu shifted to kneel and rested her hand on her knees, palms up, waiting for Sanemi to follow. Sanemi shifted to kneel and placed his palms into her waiting ones. Shizu held his hands lightly and rubbed her thumbs over his small knuckles. She brought them up slightly, as her blue eyes stared into his. 

“Sanemi, there are no good Fathers and Mamas, and there are no bad Fathers and Mamas. There are only good and bad people.” Tears pricked Sanemi’s eyes again as he looked into his mother’s kind and troubled face. Something shined in her eyes as she spoke. Maybe it was the sorrow for having married a person she thought was good, maybe it was sorrow for losing her unborn child to him. Her soft hands gripped his smaller ones. “Sanemi, promise me you’ll be a kind person. Promise me you’ll look out for your brother, even if he takes all your toys.” She said drawing the last part out. They both giggled at that as silence followed. Then Genya snorted like a pig in his sleep. Causing more giggles to slip out. As they quieted, Sanemi grew still.

Sanemi looked at her eyes before glancing down, speaking timidly, voice shaking. “Does this mean I have to be a father?” 

Shizu’s eyes softened. “Only if you choose to be.” 

He nodded. She brought a hand up to tilt his face to hers. 

“And if you do choose to be, you’ll be a great one, because Sanemi?” His eyes widened as he saw the look on his mother’s face. It was a look that told him she spoke the truth, that he could believe her.

“You are the kindest, sweetest person in the whole world. And You my precious boy-”

“Are Good.” 

Sanemi froze, like his world was shaken, eyes wide before they squeeze shut. His frame crumples, crying once more. Shizu pulls his shaking form towards herself. 

“I-I’m not like h-him?” He asks.

“No honey.” She hugged him tightly, as her own frame shook. 

“Not even a little bit?” 

“No. Never.” She shushed. 

He sobbed because he wasn’t like father. Like Kyogo. Mama would know if he were. He squeezes her around the middle until his sniffles calm down. Until his heart beat slows and his arms loosen. His mother was so kind and beautiful. She was a good person too.

“Y-you’re beautiful Mama. I l-love you.” 

“I love you too sweetheart.” 

“And you're a good person too.”

Her arms tighten just a little more.

“Thank you Sanemi.”

“I love you Mama, a whole lot.” 

“I love you too, my little blossom.” She says as she nuzzles his hair.

He squeezes her again, determined.

“I-I’ll be the best brother! And when I get older I’ll be the best f-father too! Better than Kyogo! I promise!” 

Tears fall from Shizu's face onto the snow white hair of her son’s head as her jaw trembles. She squeezes him back ducking her head to lay on top of his. 

“And I-I can’t wait to see it! You’ll be the strongest, kindest person ever, my little blossom!” She says as she begins tickling his sides.

Sanemi squirms and giggles as they lay back down. He snuggles up to Shizu’s side while she gets comfortable. 

“Love you Mama.”  He squeezes her.

“Love you Sanemi.” She squeezes back.

She rests her hand on his head, combing softly through his hair.

“Good night.” He whispers, resting his head on her chest.

She lays a kiss atop his head as he begins to drift. 

“Good night Sanemi.”

-------

Sorry if the characters were OOC.

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Edit:

Here is the Second Part.

Cover Your Ears

2nd part of previous post

Summary:

“I’ll help Nemi, so spiders don’t eat your head!” He paused, seeming to think about something before he looked worried. “You’ll protect my head too, right Nemi?”

Sanemi smiled, wrinkling his nose at him. “Of course silly, that's what big brothers do!” 

-------

Word Count: 1147

Warnings for referenced spousal abuse/rape. (Nothing is witnessed. I promise) It's only insinuated and is mainly about the kids. Also I don't think you can read this as a stand alone as there are many references to the first post.

Previous post

-------

It was a few months later….

THUNK-BANG.

Crashing sounds woke Sanemi, Genya, and their mother up. 

“AGHHH!!”

…..that Kyogo lost his job.

It was their father, Kyogo. He was back from drinking all night. It sounded like he was throwing things outside. 

“FUCK YOU GAKU!” 

His anger was different this time, Sanemi could sense it. His mother could sense it too by the nervous look on her face. Kyogo continued to scream curses outside and Sanemi waited for the tyrant to come inside. To come inside and swing at them and break their things that they couldn’t replace. A hand shook his shoulder. He looked at the face connected to it. 

“Sanemi, I want you to take Genya and hide in the backyard.” 

“But-” 

“No.” She said firmly. Her eyes darkening. Ma was never like this. She never had that look in her eyes. His Mama was scared. 

“He’ll hurt you.” He whispered. 

“I know.” Her head bowed. 

“But worse!” 

Her head stayed bowed. 

“Mama please-” She cut him off by picking him up. 

He stood, now on his feet, watching her. 

She grabbed Genya under his arms and quickly went to the back door with him on her hip. Sanemi followed, flinching as he heard more things break outside their front door. She set Genya down in one of their very large laundry baskets that he had helped Mama make from bamboo. She grabbed a spare blanket that had been drying on the clothes line. She looked at Sanemi now. 

“Get in.”

“No.” 

“Now, Sanemi.” 

“You’ll be alone!” 

She looked at him, an unknown emotion flitting across her face, before she kneeled and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Listen to me.” He wouldn’t look her in the face as tears pooled in his eyes and ran over their lids. 

“Hey none of that.” She chided gently. She titled his chin to look her in the face and she smiled. The smile that made bruises and cuts disappear, the smile Sanemi loved. He sobbed. She shouldn’t be wearing that smile. Not when she was one who was going to get hurt! His arms reached around her neck as hers wrapped around his middle. 

“I don’t want you to go.” He sobbed.

“I know.” She ran her fingers through his hair as her other hand rubbed his back. 

“I hate him.” He said.

“I know.” 

Sanemi hiccuped and squeezed her tighter. Maybe if he squeezed tight enough she would stay. Maybe they could run away and he’d help her raise Genya, he’d show Genya how to be a brother, how to be a father, and how to sew and mend and how to help Ma too.

He squeezes her as she squeezes back. 

“I love you Mama.” He pleaded.

“I love you too, my little blossom.” He could tell she was crying too.

 They heard another crash from the front of the house. 

“I have to go now Sanemi, you have to let me go.” Tears ran down her face.

“But I love you!” He sobbed, clinging harder. She pulled away. And Sanemi stood there staring at her as she stood up. She stooped over into the basket and kissed Genya on his head. He blinked his big eyes at her and smiled. He made grabby hands, so she would pick him up. Tears fell as she smiled back. 

“Bye-Bye, love you Genya.”

Genya giggled and waved. 

“Bye-bye.” He repeated softly. 

She stood back up and looked at Sanemi. She sighed before bending and picking up Sanemi under his legs and back. 

“Hey!” She placed him beside Genya, who immediately clung to his sobbing brother’s arm in worry. 

“Don’t go!” He pleaded again.

She smiled sadly before she dried her tears. She lifted the blanket and covered them both. 

“I love you.” She said above them as Sanemi heard her footsteps retreat. 

“Don’t go.” He whispered as his crying made his body tremble. 

Genya continued to cling to him as he cried. He wanted her to come back. He heard the door close. He wanted Mama to come back.  He heard their muffled voices. He wanted his Mama. Sanemi buried his face in his knees, waiting for Ma to come back for them. After a moment, something began wriggling and digging in between his hand and his leg. Sanemi stopped crying to look. Genya was trying to inch his finger in between where his hand tightly gripped his leg. 

“Genya. What are you doing?” Sanemi was confused. He raised a brow. 

Genya looked at Sanemi and went back to what he was doing. He looked to be on a mission. Genya’s face became more determined and his finger more persistent until one of his little fingers finally breached his tight clasp and Genya whipped his head full of hair around with a determined look and said, “Hey Nemi! Don’t be sad. Genya here!” he cheered. He beamed at Sanemi. And Sanemi froze, before he wetly chuckled and wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand that wasn’t occupied with holding Genya’s finger. He gripped Genya’s finger and met his eyes.

“I won’t be sad, Genya.” 

“Yay! Genya here! Nemi here!” He cheered as he practically hugged Sanemi's hand with his whole body, but the joyous atmosphere dropped as they heard the scream. Mama’s scream. Genya whimpered beside him. Sanemi pulled him close as her screams grated against their ears. Tears dripped from his eyes again. There was nothing they could do. There wouldn’t be any “Genya here! Nemi here!” for Mama. A small hand gripped his shirt, but… 

“H-hey Genya.” He looked up at Sanemi. Fear was quivering in his eyes. 

“Can-can you do something for me?” Genya nodded, a diligence taking over, though he still looked a little shaken.

“I want to cover your ears and I want you to cover mine.” 

Genya tilted his head. “Why?” 

Sanemi smiled. He leaned closer as if to divulge a secret. “I don’t want spiders to make nests in my ears.” 

Genya looked affronted and grossed out. “Ew! That gross Nemi.” 

Sanemi giggled weakly as he heard another scream. “I-I know!” 

Genya got a determined look again. “I’ll help Nemi, so spiders don’t eat your head!” He paused, seeming to think about something before he looked worried. “You’ll protect my head too, right Nemi?” 

Sanemi smiled, wrinkling his nose at him. “Of course silly, that's what big brothers do!” 

Genya beamed and scooted closer. Sanemi crossed his legs and pulled Genya into his lap. 

“Up you go.” Genya giggled. 

“Now what Nemi?” 

He grabbed Genya’s hands and placed them on his ears, while he reached around and put his on Genya’s. 

“Now you hold my ears and I’ll hold yours, like this. Sound good?” He felt Genya’s nod with his hands. Genya began to nod off not long after and with it his hands slipped, allowing Sanemi to hear the screams again. Genya slept peacefully and that’s all that mattered.

Sanemi's vision blurred in and out, trying not to succumb to sleep. Maybe he’d see Mama in the morning, he hoped he would, but Kyogo might kill her like the baby. Sanemi shuddered. No. He would see her. She’d come get them in the morning. She would… was his last thought as he drifted to sleep.

—

The next morning Shizu wouldn’t wake Sanemi and Genya. Sanemi would wake with the sun and find her passed out on the floor, bloodied and bruised. And after two weeks they would find that Shizu was pregnant once more.

Baby Genya again (but slightly older)

I tried to draw baby Genya crawling and now he kind of looks like Sanemi??? 🤷‍♀️I don't know, they're brothers they look alike.

(Also drawing crawling babies is hard.)

Baby Genya

I feel like his hair would have looked like this before his mohawk. (Like he got the mohawk cause his hair looked like Kyogo's and gave Shizu PTSD sometimes 😥🥲. I really want to write about this). I did a rough sketch and then outlined it, so sorry for the mess😅.

Also! I was inspired by these (Idk who the artists are, just found them, and they are amazing!):

Edit: The first one was @task1111 on Twitter. (Thanks @xuxueee) Also they said not to repost their work, so I’ll just link it.

Edit: I haven’t found creds for this one ⬇️ yet.

Edit: for the one below creds to Calovity on TikTok.