We're painted red to fit right in

[karappo]

[For the last six months, the Matsuno household has been abnormally quiet.

There's no running up and down the stairs. No boistrous chatter over breakfast. No brawls breaking out in the bedroom at night. No games of Mahjong on a cold night and then yet more fights breaking out over that.

There is silence.

Only three people have been living in that house, and it's quieter than it's ever been. The only brother- the eldest- remaining rarely left it anymore. He rarely left the bedroom upstairs, to be precise. Sometimes he'd venture up onto the roof, but even that got too hard to swallow with all the constant reminders of how they'd all left him.

One by one, they all left. Not a single one of them had come back since, not even to check up on one another.

It had taken about this long for Osomatsu to finally stop caring. After all, it seemed like he cared a lot more than anyone else did. It was the only reason he was still even here, sleeping in an empty futon and eating his meals around an empty table. Eventually he did this less and less and left the futon only long enough to relieve himself. Back to bed, back to sleep, back to unconsciousness where he didn't have to think unless he started dreaming. He didn't talk to his parents much, but when he did he still had a knack for making things seem okay when they really weren't. It's the only reason he was able to scoot by barely living until his body just couldn't take it anymore.

Karamatsu had been sleeping in after having yet another failed interview when he was awoken to Chibita shaking him roughly and trying to give him the phone. "It's for you, idjit," Karamatsu barely made out as he fumbled the phone a few times before blearily getting it to his ear. Within a minute of receiving the phone and hanging it up, Karamatsu had thrown his clothes on and bolted out the door without telling Chibita what was going on. He hadn't even gotten any of his things, he just.

Went.

Osomatsu wasn't doing well. It was like, ever since his brothers left, he just...hadn't gotten better. Matsuyo didn't even know what to do to help her oldest son anymore, but she had known that his brothers would want to be there with him if he was this bad off. Karamatsu, for his part, couldn't believe it. Osomatsu, of all of them? Surely not...

And yet, it was unfortunately true. Karamatsu had actually been the first Matsuyo got hold of since he was living close by with Chibita. It had given Karamatsu a chance to see Osomatsu alone, which he was grateful for. The Osomatsu he'd come home to wasn't the Osomatsu he'd left, wasn't even the Osomatsu he'd dragged out of the room that night before Choromatsu left. He was buried under months of depression and what was left was battered and nearly completely withered away. That alone was enough to completely shatter Karamatsu's heart, but what he really couldn't take was seeing his younger siblings filter home one by one.

Jyushimatsu. Todomatsu. Choromatsu.

Two days passed and only five sons were home. Osomatsu was getting worse. He'd stopped eating entirely and would barely tolerate water. Not only that, but the fourth of their number- Ichimatsu- was nowhere to be found. He couldn't be contacted. No job, no number, no home. It was like he'd vanished off the face of the earth. Before Matsuyo could completely expire from the stress, though, Karamatsu offered himself up to go find him. He'd take Todomatsu's phone with him so he could keep in touch, just in case. The others should stay behind with Osomatsu.

That had been three hours ago, and now Karamatsu found himself in a largely unfamiliar ward of Tokyo. After a light-speed search of their hometown, he'd begun asking around. Have you seen someone who looks like me?

No. Sorry. Nobody like that.

Where was he?

Karamatsu couldn't stop looking, he had to be somewhere here. He didn't care if he got looks for shouting in the streets, because he knew his voice among all of theirs was the most recognizable should Ichimatsu happen to hear it.

He had to be here.]

Comments

[ichimyatsu]

[He stays mostly still against the wall, nodding in hopes of getting Karamatsu to stop hovering, even if he knows it won't work. He swallows, carefully, taking measured breaths, and he curls his fingers into his palm for a moment before he moves his hand away from his mouth. He shifts, then, suddenly looking significantly more tired, but smiles faintly.]

...sorry, choked myself, I guess.

[karappo]

[If this were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have believed him. But Karamatsu has no reason not to, even as worried as he is. Maybe some other time things would have been different, but for now...

He sits back a bit on his heels, giving Ichimatsu a brief once over before murmuring.]

It should be done now. I'm going to get you some water, too. You need to eat and drink.

[ichimyatsu]

[He waits until Karamatsu gets up before he lets himself slump against the wall, closing his eyes and taking careful, deep lungfuls of air like he was afraid to. His breath continued to rattle slightly for a moment, and he clears his throat, sitting back up before Karamatsu can see. He idly massages below his collarbone and at about his solar plexus, a thoughtful frown on his face, but it mostly just looks like he's scratching an itch.]

...I know you've said it's fine, but I'm still sorry for being a nuisance.

[As an afterthought, he smears the back of one hand across his eyes, realizing that part of the scratch to his voice comes from the fact that before he dissolved into coughing he was in the midst of a crying fit. He closes his eyes. God, he was so tired.]

[karappo]

[Karamatsu doesn't answer Ichimatsu until he has a glass of water in one hand and that small cup of noodles in the other, sitting back down on the floor across from Ichimatsu with both.]

It is alright. We just have to take these things one at a time.

[He gestures a little with the cup that is still steaming a little but otherwise probably okay to eat. Then he gently hands them off to Ichimatsu.]

Take as much time as you need. I need to make a phone-call, but I will be right in the hallway.

[ichimyatsu]

[He settles himself neatly on the floor cross-legged, and takes both items from him. He sets the glass of water down in favor of taking the noodles in both hands and holding it close, closing both his eyes and looking much like a tired, sated cat.]

Mmn, go ahead.

[karappo]

[Ichimatsu seems fine for the time being, though Karamatsu isn't entirely convinced. Not much he can do that he hasn't already, though, so he steps out with one hand in the pocket of his hoodie.

It's been a day and a half since he last spoke to Matsuyo, so he knows she's probably worried sick about him. He needs to at least let her know he found Ichimatsu and that they'd be over at the hospital as soon as they could...and maybe get some information on how Osomatsu is doing.

Ichimatsu will soon be able to hear him murmuring softly just outside.]

[ichimyatsu]

[He's always found Karamatsu's voice soothing when he didn't or couldn't focus on what he was saying. He tended to ruin it with stupid flowery speech, but his tone itself had a lilt to it since puberty that was just... Nice. He picked at his noodles slowly, trying to sort out if he was too hungry to actually feel it or if he had just cycled through so many instances of being hungry that he wasn't anymore. He ate the noodles anyway-- it was a small enough portion that he wouldn't feel like he was forcing himself to eat it, and Karamatsu probably wasn't going to let them leave until they were gone anyway. Intermittently he picked up his glass of water to drink from, and by the time Karamatsu was done on the phone he was about done with the noodles and most of the water in his glass.]

[He didn't really look much different, but there was the faintest amount more color to his skin that made him look slightly less ghostlike.]

[karappo]

[When Karamatsu finally returns, it's a bit too obvious how hard he's trying to seem less exhausted than he is. He doesn't look shocked or broken, which means that Osomatsu is fine. For a given measure of "fine". It can be inferred that he probably didn't tell Matsuyo about Ichimatsu's condition. He's fine, he found him, now we're coming there once we get settled.

Yeah.

Karamatsu kneels back down in front of Ichimatsu, pointedly checking to see how much he'd eaten.]

Feeling a little better?

[ichimyatsu]

[He looks a bit like he could fall asleep sitting up, right there, but he offers a slow blink and a half-smile for Karamatsu's question.]

's probably the most I've eaten in a week, so. [Yeah, that's. Not something you should openly admit to Karamatsu right now, probably, Ichimatsu.]

[karappo]

[NO, NOT REALLY...but scolding Ichimatsu for not eating isn't really something he has energy for right now. Ichimatsu knows he hasn't been eating, but he's had a good reason as to why. It's not like he could help it at all.]

That will be the last time that occurs, so long as I am here.

[He picks up Ichimatsu's glass so he can refill it as he says that, though his mind is already wandering off in different places. He needs to get a bag with some clothes together to bring back to the hospital, both for himself and Matsuyo and whoever else plans on not coming home tonight.

He knows he won't once he finally gets back.]

[ichimyatsu]

[He watches him get up, frowning at how quiet and serious he is.]

...what'd mom say?

[karappo]

[For a moment, the only sound is the water running as it fills up the glass.]

Nothing seems to have changed since I left. He has been sleeping most of the time.

[That's how it was weeks before now, though. He doesn't have the energy to really do anything but sleep. He's too weak, and the will to do anything to recover just...doesn't seem to be in the eldest anymore.]

She was relieved to hear about you.

[ichimyatsu]

[He nods, making a largely noncommittal sound of acknowledgement. Sleeping... It wasn't good, but it wasn't worse, at least. He sets the cup of noodles down to the side of him, empty save for broth and a few stray noodles and rehydrated vegetables, and draws his knees back up to his chest.]

[He frowns at them when he's brought back into the conversation. It wasn't that he expected anything different, but... He almost didn't want her to be. His gaze shifts to the cup of noodles, and a thought occurs to him. He looks back up to Karamatsu.]

...when's the last time you ate, anyway?

[karappo]

[Oh.

Um.

Karamatsu is frustrated at himself that he actually has to stop and think about that.]

Early yesterday. Before I found you.

[ichimyatsu]

[Huff.]

Make yourself some noodles, too, then.

[karappo]

[Mm.]

I will. But first...

[First, Ichimatsu doesn't need to continue being on the kitchen floor.]

Let me take you upstairs. You can rest until we're ready to leave.

[It will give him a chance to eat, clean up himself, and get ready. He'd take Ichimatsu into the main room, but...where Osomatsu was is still there, and he's pretty sure he doesn't need to see that right now.]

[ichimyatsu]

I can rest right where I am, Karamatsu. I've been sleeping leaning on dumpsters for six months.

[His tone is flat but oddly serious. It's true, too-- he could nap right here. He might, if Karamatsu lets him. The whole thing has him torn, because he doesn't know he wants to nap in the first place, but he probably should so he looks less dead to the rest of his family, but he's also not sure he could handle sleeping alone in their bedroom right now.]

[karappo]

[Judging by the face he makes at that, he isn't pleased by the suggestion. Even if Ichimatsu wouldn't mind it himself.]

...just let me know what you would prefer.

[ichimyatsu]

[He huffs, reaching out. The gesture is oddly like that of a small child requesting to be picked up.]

...come here, help me up.

[karappo]

[That's better.

Karamatsu leaves the ramen cup and glass where they are for now so he can loop am arm around Ichimatsu's shoulders to help lift him from the floor. Getting upstairs will take a bit, but at least he'll feel better knowing he's sleeping on something soft and getting some real rest.]

[ichimyatsu]

[His arms loop around him and he leans, pressing his head against Karamatsu's collarbone, the gesture not unlike a hug.]

...can I just. Sleep on the couch upstairs.

[karappo]

Mmhm. That is where I was planning on taking you.

[Again, he's not going in the main room if Karamatsu can help it. No time to really bother with the futon, either.

C'mon Ichi, time for bed.]

[ichimyatsu]

[He nods, then, relaxing slightly. He hadn't even realized he was tense.]

[karappo]

[From here on it is a simple matter, at least, to get Ichimatsu upstairs and settled. Instead of spending time pulling out a blanket, Karamatsu pulls off his hoodie and drapes it over Ichimatsu once he's laying down, telling him that he'll let him sleep an hour for sure, longer if it takes him a while to do what he needs to do.

After that, he heads off to take a bath of his own, as well as actually eat something. The third matter at hand is to prepare a bag of things to bring over to the hospital. He's pretty sure he's forgetting something, and...

...he gets another phone call.

Soon enough, Ichimatsu will feel his shoulder being gently nudged.]

Ichimatsu. Come on, wake up. We need to leave.

[ichimyatsu]

[He curls up on his side almost immediately to being set on the couch, facing the back of it to avoid looking out into the bedroom. He's content to just curl there on his own, and jolts when Karamatsu lays his own hoodie over him, and is startled by the warmth and comfort it provides. Ah, he'd been wearing that...]

[He waits until Karamatsu has left the room again before he shifts around under the hoodie, pulling one of the sleeves down to clutch between his fingers, burying his face in it and dropping off quickly into a nap more restful than probably most of the sleep he's gotten in the last six months.]

[He's still tangled in the sleeve when Karamatsu shakes his shoulder gently, and he startles awake in alarm, immediately rolling onto his back and sitting up. He drags the hoodie close like a lifeline for the scant few seconds it takes him to recognize where he is and who's talking to him, but the tension in his shoulders never quite leaves.]

[We need to leave. There was a sense of urgency to his tone that made Ichimatsu's stomach twist, and he nodded, sliding his legs off the couch to let his feet touch the floor.]