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Second Chances	By : walkerofdarkness Category: +G to L > IS: Infinite Stratos Views: 4423 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Infinite Stratos or the characters from it. I do not make any profit from this story. I do own my OCs though.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Tags: M/F, Incest, Minor2, Solo, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Chapter 3

There's not enough magic in a bloodline

to forge an instant, irrevocable bond.

-James Earl Jones

Ichika looked up from his book at the sound of footsteps approaching his bed. Carefully holding the book open with his good arm, he glanced up to see Chifuyu, Assistant Director Bogdanova and Dr. Saunders walk past the privacy curtain. "So," he intoned dryly, "are we going to repeat the same questions again and hope for different answers this time? Because I've got to admit that after a week of being asked the same things over and over, I'm rather bored of it."

All three women exchanged a meaningful look between them before Dr. Saunders finally answered him. "Actually, there's only one question and I have to ask it. Do you want to get out of here?"

Ichika blinked hard at the doctor. "Excuse me?"

Dr. Saunders moved carefully to check his vitals as she talked. "There's no medical reason to keep you here, and frankly, your prescence is causing a bit of a problem for me. So if you want to leave, then you can."

Giving the pretense of considering the question, Ichika watched the other two women for a reaction. "You mean after being poked, prodded, treated as a medical test dummy and nearly had the crap kicked out of me by a seriously pissed off girl all while asked the same questions day after day?" He cocked his head slightly to the side as a wry grin broke his lips. "Nah, I'm living out a dream here." Chifuyu's face broke into a frown while Director Bogdanova's went stone cold. Ichika's grin grew wider, touched with humor. "Of course I want to get out of here. But where exactly will I go?"

Chifuyu relaxed into a small smile of her own. "We'll discuss that on the drive. Get dressed and I'll meet you outside."

<—*—>

Riding along in a nondescript sedan, Ichika admired the water along the bridge leading away from the school. Dr. Saunders had given him specific instructions, ending with a warning to avoid strenuous activities for a bit longer. Keeping his gaze focused out the window, Ichika let his eyes drift slightly towards Assistant Director Bogdanova in the front seat, and the reflection of Chifuyu staring intently from the other side.

"So," he started tentatively, "where am I going to go now that I'm out of the school?"

Chifuyu flushed slightly at the question, her face scrunching up into a frown. "Well—" she started, pursing her lips gingerly. "Since you are a minor, and my brother, it was thought that you would come back and live with me, Ichika-kun."

Ichika turned away from the window to look across from him at his sister. "Are you serious Mi-, I mean Chifuyu?"

Chifuyu noted the slip of the tongue but chose to ignore it. Instead, she reached out and lightly rapped Ichika on the head with her knuckles. "Call me Chifuyu-nee when we're in public. Or nee-san."

Director Bogdanova cleared her throat quietly from the front seat. "As for what else happens to you, it was decided by the board of directors that you will be enrolled in the IS Academy. You start with the next session, beginning in six weeks. That way you're protected by the charter and governance of the Academy. It's not the best solution, but it's probably the most humane."

Quietly digesting that tidbit of information, Ichika let his head bump the window as the car turned. "Sounds interesting."

The Assistant Director's voice conveyed the grin he couldn't see. "After convincing the Japanese government to lose the records of your death, we wanted to make sure you were taken care of properly." Chifuyu blanched visibly at the barb regarding Ichika's death. Ichika, for his part, just let it slide by unnoticed. "In any case," Yelena continued, "you should spend your vacation time wisely. When you start at the Academy, there will be no favoritism allowed. The teachers will push you mercilessly and you will be expected to perform no differently from any other student."

The sedan started to slow as it approached a residential community. Houses lined the street, the two story structures close enough to each other to give a sense of community while not making it intrusive. The black car came into a stop in front of one residence. Calling it a home might be a stretch, given the nature of it. The paint was faded and chipped, the visible shrubs unkempt and wild. A small sign by the front door read "Orimura" and even that seemed tarnished from a distance.

The Orimuras exited the car in their own fashion, Chifuyu wincing at the sight of the sad shape of her house in the daylight hours. Guess I have let things go downhill a lot over the years, she admitted to herself as she walked around the car. A mirrored window rolled down partially to reveal Director Bogdanova's hairline and sunglasses. "We're going back to the Academy now, so you two are on your own."

Neither Orimura paid the sedan attention as it pulled away from the curb. Passing through the gate, Chifuyu felt her memories well up from deep inside and threaten to break her. I should have sold this place and moved somewhere else after—after Ichika died. There are too many memories here now, and most of them are bad, she chided herself mentally. Unlocking the front door, Chifuyu took Ichika on a quick tour of the place.

The tour was brief, but it showed Ichika a lot. All the surfaces showed signs of recent cleaning, while the various items were neatly stored in assorted cubbies and cabinets. Ichika felt a twinge of pain from his side as the smell of cleaner tickled his nose. Chifuyu hid her surprise at the overall neatness of the residence, knowing full well that someone had been in recently. Ending the tour at the kitchen table, Chifuyu found two handwritten notes waiting for her.

"Call me if you need any help. -Maya" read the first one, in her friend's meticulous writing. The second one wasn't as neatly written, but still legible. "Come by the shop if you have questions or want a meal. -Gen" Smiling weakly at the thought of her friends cleaning up her place, Chifuyu turned back towards Ichika. "I didn't think I'd be bringing you here so soon, so there's a lot of things we need to go do. How about I treat you to a meal and then we'll get some shopping done?"

<—*—>

Walking amongst the aisles of clothes, Ichika tried to hide his exasperation at his situation. Chifuyu's offer of a meal had taken them to a fast food place that was okay, but it didn't seem all that satisfying. Then she had insisted on staying close, almost suffocatingly so, to Ichika the entire time at the stores. Luckily Chifuyu had enough respect to let him enter the dressing room alone. It's like she expects me to disappear, he whined mentally.

Looking over the latest set of options, Ichika debated his choices as he sat down on the small bench provided. Grabbing one set of pants, he set himself to the process of getting changed. Brown eyes tracked up to the mirror, noting his reflection. Ichika's left arm was lightly bandaged, the wrappings covering synthetic skin being used to help it heal. A large patch of gauze covered the stitches on the right side of his stomach, and another wrapping stretched tight across his shoulders.

"Everything okay in there Ichika?" Chifuyu's soft voice intruded on Ichika's thoughts, causing him to jerk. A set of shorts from the pile dropped to the ground as Ichika tried to keep the remaining items from joining it. Fitfully succeeding, he blew a soft breath through pursed lips. "Ichika?" Chifuyu asked again tentatively.

"Everything's just fine, Chifuyu-nee." Ichika snatched the shorts from the floor and started to slide them on. "I'll be out in a moment." Pulling on a shirt, Ichika picked up the pile of clothes, careful to not put any stress on his left arm. Sliding the privacy curtain aside he found Chifuyu and the sales clerk standing near the fitting room entrance. The clerk's eyes were wide with excitement at seeing a potential sale. Chifuyu's face looked worried, but it brightened considerably at seeing Ichika's choice of clothes.

Nodding once at his look, Chifuyu voiced her verdict. "Looks good. Okay, let's ring it up." The clerk tried to hide her grin at the sale and took all the items over to the register. Chifuyu followed suit, reaching into a pocket for her wallet. Ichika stood there a minute, only to start walking after Chifuyu glanced at him over her shoulder.

Leaving the department store carrying the oversized bag in one hand, Ichika tried to keep his face neutral when Chifuyu exited behind him. She had a second bag in her hand, but Chifuyu's eyes tracked around the area before coming to rest on Ichika. Frowning a moment seeing Ichika holding a bag, Chifuyu's eyes scanned the area again. "Think we've got enough clothes for now?"

"Probably. As long as we can get home with them," Ichika replied with a faint smile. His eyes drifted around the shopping arcade, the bright signs proclaiming a variety of services. One sign in particular caught his interest. "Can we try one more shop?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

Gesturing with her free hand, Chifuyu let Ichika walk a couple of steps ahead. "Keep The Beat Instruments," she read off the sign as Ichika held the door open for her. In the dimly lit store, drum sets and keyboards were arranged in neat clumps. Guitars had been set onto holders along two walls, while the third was covered by miscellaneous items.

A young woman with bright pink hair sat on a stool behind the counter top, face scrunched in concentration as she worked on something. Looking up at the sound of the doorbell, she smiled reflexively. "Welcome. Can I help you find something in particular?"

Chifuyu opened her mouth to respond, but Ichika beat her to it. "I was wondering if I could look at a guitar."

The clerk's eyes brightened as she hopped off her stool. "Certainly," she said, walking around the counter to approach the Orimuras. "Do you have much experience playing?"

Confusion clouded Ichika's face for a moment, drawing a worried look from Chifuyu.   "I'm---not sure," he confessed after a moment.

A pink eyebrow twitched up at the statement, but the clerk took it in stride. Placing a stool close to Ichika, she motioned him to sit. As he set down his bag of clothes, the clerk took an acoustic guitar from it's spot on the floor and placed it in his lap. Ichika picked it up by the neck with his left hand and tried to curl his fingers around it, only to wince as pain shot up through his arm.

Chifuyu started forward at the sight of Ichika's discomfort only to get blocked by the clerk's form. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking," she said apologetically. Grabbing a second guitar from the wall, she quickly swapped out the two. "This one is strung up for a lefty."

Flexing his hand tentatively, Ichika placed his fingers on the strings. Looking up at both women, his face broke into a frown. "I'm not sure how good this will be. Normally I'd do this with my right hand."

The first few notes came out of the guitar flat, distorted by the bad placement of fingers. Ichika adapted quickly, his hand repositioning itself for more precision. The next series of notes came smooth and sharp, breaking into a slow mournful pace. Ichika's face went blank as his forehead creased from concentration.

Both women watched in rapt attention as the music washed over them, playing at their emotions as easily as Ichika plucked at the guitar. Changing tempo, he picked up the pace, bridging into a set of higher octave notes. Chifuyu felt her eyes start to tear up, and closed them as she turned away to keep from distracting Ichika.

On and on the music played. The clerk's eyes watered up even as she fought to maintain a critical watch on Ichika's style. A brief jingle broke the trance as the door to the shop opened. Another woman walked in, reproach in her eyes. "Iwasawa, don't tell me you forgot our gig tonight did you? You said you'd have the shop closed by now."

Iwasawa turned to face her bandmate, quickly shushing her with a gesture. Ichika looked up at the sharp sound of the newcomer's voice, his playing forgotten. The last few notes hung on the air for a moment as he noticed the tears in both Chifuyu's and Iwasawa's faces. "Sorry, I think I got carried away."

"Don't be sorry," Iwasawa corrected. "That was fantastic." Walking back to the counter, she leaned and snagged a recorder from under the lip. Flipping it on, Iwasawa set it down next to Ichika as she reached out to grab the first guitar a second time. One foot cocked on the stool Ichika sat on, Iwasawa grinned as she settled the guitar on her extended leg. "Can you play that again?"

Blinking at the request, Ichika started to replay his piece of music. Iwasawa broke into accompaniment after twenty seconds, Her notes were two scales higher than Ichika's, but it complimented beautifully regardless. The newcomer watched for a moment longer, then grabbed at a set of drumsticks in her back pocket before sitting down at one set. Favoring a very light style, she joined in softly in a manner that completed the music.

Chifuyu watched as the three played, weaving a hypnotic melody between them. The two band members glanced back at Ichika, then dropped out to let him pluck a few last strings before he stopped. Glancing up from the guitar, Ichika found admiration in the eyes of all the women on him.

Iwasawa reached out to click off the recorder. "That sounded beautiful. Seemed a little Spanish guitar in it's origin, but not like anything I'd heard before." She cocked her head to the side a little as a huge grin broke her lips. "If that's how you play injured, I'd kill to hear you play when healthy. Hell, I'd give you a job in the band just on that piece alone."

The drummer's head bobbed enthusiastically behind the stack. "Oh yeah, anytime."

Ichika blushed at the compliments, and started to hand back the guitar. Iwasawa took it and placed the left one along the wall. Holding her own guitar comfortably, she looked at Chifuyu. "You are one lucky lady to have a boyfriend like him. I envy you for that luck."

Blushing furiously at the statement, Chifuyu shook her head once. "He's not boyfriend. He's my younger brother."

Now it was Iwasawa's turn to blush. "My apologies to both of you." She turned to face Ichika more directly. "With your permission, I'd like to use that song. I need to work some lyrics first, but I'm sure I can come up with something. When I get it ready, I'll give you VIP tickets to the gig where we debut it."

Ichika glanced at Chifuyu, looking for an answer and getting nothing. Thinking furiously, he nodded his head once. "Deal," he stated simply. Standing up from the stool slowly, Ichika bent back over to grab at his bag of clothes. Chifuyu followed suit, grabbing at her own purchases.

Iwasawa watched the two turn towards the door before calling out to them. "Hold on a minute please. After that performance, it would be a crime for you to leave without a guitar of your own." She hefted the acoustic she was still holding by the neck. "And I always discount for the serious players."

Ichika looked back at Chifuyu to see her nod marginally with a tight little grin on her face.

<—*—>

"Welcome to the Gotanda Eatery," said a middle aged woman behind the counter as the small bell rang. Blazing red hair was liberally streaked with grey, but the face was only lightly creased with wrinkles. Her hands were invisible from behind the counter top, but the damp spots on the apron suggested some sort of cleaning. Amber eyes lit up brightly seeing the new guest to the restaurant. "What can I get—Hey Chifuyu!"

Motioning slightly at the entryway, Chifuyu held the door ajar. "Hey Gotanda-san. Is there a quiet table I can get?"

Ren blinked hard at the unusual request. "Sure, come on back, we'll put you at our family's table. But I have to ask why?" Chifuyu beckoned back out the door to Ichika, who was careful to avoid bumping his injured arm on the frame. Heavy looking bags bounced between the door and his leg. Ren's face drained of color as recognition flashed through her brain, causing her to drop the dish to the floor with a loud crash.

"Hey Dad, got visitors for you!" she called as she locked the door to the restaurant, silently glad that it was too early for the dinner rush.

Gen Gotanda came out from the adjoining kitchen, his grey hair hidden beneath a short chef's hat. Rubbing his hands on a towel produced from his apron, he looked around inquisitively. "Visitors?" he asked, scanning the empty room before settling on Chifuyu near the counter. A second person was looking at a menu, their face obscured by the laminated paper. "Hello Orimura-san."

The second person's menu flopped over and Gen caught a look at the face. Gen's mouth flopped open for a second as his complexion took on an unhealthy hue. "Ichika—?" he struggled out as Gen's brain tried to force itself to accept the situation before him.

Ichika frowned a moment at the reaction, unsure of what he should do. "Yes sir?" he replied tentatively.

Gen's blue eyes tracked from Ichika to Chifuyu and back again. "How?" he stammered once. "What exactly is going on here?"

Chifuyu kept her voice neutral even as sympathy radiated from her face. "I can explain, I think. But you might want to sit down first."

Sitting down at the Gotanda's personal table both Orimuras relaxed marginally. Ren set a small serving caddy down as she went back to grab some glasses to fill. Gen had disappeared back into the kitchen, claiming to check on his stove. Chifuyu worried slightly about his condition. Gen hadn't seemed any better when he left the room.

"So Chifuyu-san," Ren started, her tone politely probing. Gen returned to the kitchen carrying two plates laden with food piled high. Setting the plates down with a flourish, he and Ren sat down opposite the two Orimuras.

Thinking fast about her situation, Chifuyu stole a fast glance at Ichika as he started eating. An idea came to her quickly enough. Looking back over at the Gotanda's, she tried to keep her voice calm. "Is Dan-kun and Ran-chan here? It'll be easier if I have to go over this once."

Ren's eyes narrowed at the thought, but she got up and disappeared up the stairwell to the bedrooms. Chifuyu took the reprieve to start eating, trying to ignore Gen's heavy gaze resting on her forehead. After a moment, the stairs creaked as the Gotanda siblings arrived.

Brother and sister took a single look at their grandfather sitting at the dinner table, surprised that he was inside the residence and not working. Leaving the stairwell, they saw the Orimuras nearly simultaneously. Bracing herself for the reaction, Chifuyu took a breath to steady herself.

"What—ICHIKA?" Both siblings cried out at the same time. Ren arrived an instant later, pushing them towards empty seats. The two teens sat down, mouths running furiously with question after question. Ichika tried to finish his current mouthful of food before opening his mouth to answer one of the interrogatives. Seeing Ichika's predicament, Ren Gotanda slapped the back of the heads on both teens.

"He is a guest sitting at our table," she scolded harshly as the siblings rubbed the now sore spot. "Remember your manners and let him eat." Ichika flashed a grateful smile behind his chopsticks and proceeded to chew some more.

Swallowing a mouthful of tempora, Chifuyu reached out for the glass of water to help her suddenly dry throat. "I am going to tell you four something, but only on the grounds of absolute secrecy," she paused a moment to catch the eye of everyone present. "If you talk about this with anyone outside of this group, in any kind of setting, we could all go to prison for a very long time."

Dan and Ran looked unconcerned at the statement. Ren's face flushed and looked at her children worriedly. Gen's demeanor became an unreadable mien of stone. "Are you sure that's wise, Orimura-san?" He asked the question with a neutral, almost cold voice.

Clearly he doesn't like these implications, Chifuyu thought. Can't say as I blame him. Shaking her head once, Chifuyu never let her eyes drift from Gen. "Wise, Gotanda-sama? No, I don't think it's wise. But I do think it's necessary."

Eyes narrowing in thought, Gen Gotanda nodded his head slightly. "Please go ahead then." So Chifuyu told them the entire story of Ichika's return. The break-in at the Academy, his time in the infirmary. What was going to happen to Ichika when classes resumed, and how they had spent the day.

As Chifuyu's story ended, Gen walked over to one cabinet. Reaching up high, he produced a small bottle of scotch and a glass. Pouring himself a generous dollop of the amber liquid, he started to cap the bottle only to frown as Ren snatched the glass away. Putting the glass to her lips, the woman drained the scotch in a single pull and set the glass down again. Gen smirked as his daughter tapped the glass with a single finger, prompting him to refill it before getting his own tumbler out.

Dan's face was bright with admiration. "Dude, that just rocks," he added with a grin.   "You come back from the dead, and then you get yourself into a little slice of nirvana. All those lonely girls at the IS Academy, and you'll be the only guy. You'll be up to your neck in hotties by the end of the first day. I might have to come visit to help you take care of them all."

Gen coughed on his scotch at the statement, while the ladies present all turned to glare at him. Ran reached out and slapped Dan on the side of his head hard enough to put stars in his vision. Turning to face his sister, Dan caught the full glare from his mother and Chifuyu and promptly wilted in his chair. Muttering something under his breath, he slumped down further into his seat to avoid accusing eyes.

Ran turned back to Ichika, the frown on her face disappearing as she moved. "I'm hoping to get into the IS Academy myself after I graduate next year." One hand came up to tease her long mane of hair playfully. "Maybe I'll have the chance to call you sempai."

Feeling the warmth of the scotch in her stomach, Ren cleared her throat lightly, gathering everyone's attention. "So Orimura-san, why trust us with such a big secret?"

Chifuyu blinked hard at the formality of the statement from a friend. "Why don't we let the kids talk in private a minute?"

Both adults caught the hint, and stepped away from the table. Chifuyu set her chopsticks down quietly and easily joined them. The teens, lost in their own conversation didn't notice as the adults moved to a far corner of the kitchen.

Keeping one side facing Ichika, Chifuyu dropped her voice to a confidential whisper. "I've got a handful of reasons for this. First off," she started, letting her eyes meet with the two older adults, "there's the simple fact that I'm not sure this IS Ichika." Recounting the incident in the music store briefly, Chifuyu's gaze went back to fall on Ichika laughing with the Gotandas. "Ichika-kun didn't play the guitar, and he sure has some skill with one."

Gen started to put a tumbler of scotch in Chifuyu's hand, only to have her push it away to the surprise of both Gotanda adults. "No thanks. I've done enough of that already, and I'm not sure I would want to stop if I started now." Chifuyu took a deep breath as she continued. "Second reason is a bit more practical. Whomever this person is, and I'm not saying it isn't Ichika, he's got holes and problems. There's a lot of memory loss that the doctor couldn't explain, and things that Ichika should know but doesn't. Maybe, just maybe, if I expose him to some people he might know, it'll jog a memory, kick-start his brain." Chifuyu noted both Gotanda adults frowning at the statement. "I know, it's weak," she said sympathetically, "but it was the doctor's idea.

"Since Ran and Dan were Ichika's friends before he...died," Chifuyu said, hanging on the word for a long moment before continuing, "I was hoping they could hang out with him while they are on their summer break. Nothing dangerous or particularly wild, given Ichika's recovering from injuries, but anything they could do would be appreciated. The last major reason is more of one that's really personal, but I wanted to ask anyway."

Ren motioned for Chifuyu to continue as Gen's expression relaxed into something sympathetic. "I've been...well, in a really bad place the last few years," Chifuyu started, focusing on keeping her voice as level as possible. "I'm not looking for sympathy or even pity. But I think I need to get myself straightened out a bit, and I can't entirely be sure I'll have the time to do that and take care of Ichika. I was wondering if I could ask for a bit of help from you about that."

Reaching out to grab the young woman with a stained hand, Gen pulled Chifuyu in a one-arm hug. Ren sniffed a little as she helped to embrace Chifuyu as well. "Chifuyu-chan," she started, quiet to avoid attracting the attention of the teens in the room, "I've loved you as much as my own children. In a lot of ways you're the sister I never had. Seeing you destroying yourself over the years has torn me up almost as much as it's hurt you." A few tears ran down Ren's face to land on Chifuyu's forehead. "Of course I'll help you and Ichika-kun."

Gen leaned in closer to Chifuyu and dropped his normally deep voice to the barest of whispers. "When I lost my wife a few years back, I went through a lot of the same things you experienced when Ichika died. I always wanted to help you get past it, but I couldn't figure out a good way to bring it up without hurting you more." A toothy grin broke across his face. "Now would be as good a time as any, I guess."

"EWWWWW, that's just gross!" Ran squealed, catching the attention of all three adults. They turned to see the teens staring, faces bemused at Ran's actions. "What a sappy hallmark moment."

"Yeah, get me a bucket before I puke on all this sugar," Dan chimed in with an impish smirk on his long face.

Chifuyu felt her cheeks flush red as Ren sighed in exasperation. Gen lifted his tumbler back to his lips, but the glass couldn't hide the amusement on his face. Ichika went pale for a moment as he observed Chifuyu's reaction, only to smile when she blew out a breath through pursed lips and began to relax. Turning back to his plate of food, Ichika picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat, feeling comfortable at last.

<—*—>

"Okay Ichika, the bath is all yours," Chifuyu stated, using one hand to keep the towel wrapped tightly around her body. Walking the half dozen steps to her bedroom, Chifuyu heard the bathroom door click shut before pushing on her own door. The lightweight wood came to rest against the frame, but failed to close. Not even noticing, Chifuyu walked to her dresser and opened the top drawer as she pulled away the towel and tossed it on her bed. Rummaging around idly, she pondered what to do next as her hand dug through various colors of panties.

Inside the bathroom, Ichika carefully started to strip his clothes off with only his right hand. Experience told him that twisting his left arm in most circumstances would hurt tremendously, so he avoided using it whenever possible. His pants dropped down easily, but his shirt was a different matter. The humidity in the bath caused the lightweight cotton to stick to his skin, especially the spots closest to the bandages.

Tugging the shirt smoothly, Ichika had it over his face as the damp fabric stuck to the bandage covering his shoulders. Frowning inside his cloth prison, Ichika tugged harder on the shirt as he tried to spread his legs for a better stance. In his focus to get the shirt off without injuring himself, Ichika had forgotten that his pants were around his ankles, and still constraining him. The combination of events, coupled by the water on the floor, caused Ichika to slip on the tile and fall to the floor.

Instinctively throwing out an arm to catch him, Ichika managed to only succeed in placing his injured limb under his body. Landing hard on the wet tile, the pain from compressing the burned skin caused Ichika's vision to dim as he screamed in absolute agony.

Chifuyu heard the scream and reacted instantly. Forgetting her state of undress, she threw open her door and began pounding on the door to the bathroom. "ICHIKA-KUN," Chifuyu bellowed in between knocks on the door, "are you okay in there?"

Not getting any response, Chifuyu opened the door cautiously to find a strange scene before her. Ichika was lying on the ground on his right side, holding his left arm close to his body by the wrist. His boxers were visible from Chifuyu's position, but Ichika's face was hidden in the folds of his dark t-shirt, with only the top of his unruly hair poking out from the clump of cloth.

Walking tentatively inside the bathroom, Chifuyu crouched down next to Ichika. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly in a worried tone.

The bundle of cloth twitched marginally as Ichika's head cocked on the voice. "Chifuyu-nee?" he stated simply. A grunt came out from the shirt for a moment as the cloth shifted again. "I'm not entirely okay. I fell and hit my bad arm, which hurts. A lot. And I think I'm stuck in my shirt for some reason."

Faintly smiling, Chifuyu crawled around to his front, then reached up to grab the t-shirt. "Here, let me help," she insisted with a firm tone. After a moment's efforts, Chifuyu had Ichika seated on the floor and his head freed from the offending apparel. Scanning over Ichika quickly, she let her brown eyes rest on his blue ones. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you," Ichika said as tears still streamed down his face as his breathing came in short, rapid pants.

Chifuyu noted the pained expression and gently wrapped a hand around Ichika's elbow. "Here, let me take a look at that." Rolling the arm as carefully as possible, Chifuyu examined the limb for new injuries. There was a small spot of blood on the covering that caused her some concern, but it didn't seem to be growing rapidly before her eyes. Running one finger lightly along the gauze, Chifuyu probed the spot and found it was dry.

Glancing up at Ichika, Chifuyu let her eyes ask the question directly. Ichika met the gaze for a moment before breaking contact, shifting his eyes to a spot behind Chifuyu's head. "Happened at the music store. Might have opened the graft a little when I tried to grip that first guitar."

Frowning at the explanation, Chifuyu's eyes hardened slightly. Ichika's eyes tracked back towards her face, noting the darker expression in an instant. "Alright, nee-san. I'll try to be more careful in the future."

Chifuyu's concern for Ichika faded as the adrenaline surge started to wear off. Her rational mind began processing again, coming to a realization that she was kneeling in front of Ichika while wearing only a pair of panties. Blushing furiously, Chifuyu raised her right arm across her breasts, trying to provide herself with some measure of decency. Putting the free limb on her bent knee, she started to push off and stand up only to have Ichika stop her by catching her left hand. Eyes flaring wide, Chifuyu looked hard at Ichika's inquisitive face.

Rolling the captured hand in his possession, Ichika saw a series of scars on Chifuyu's wrist. Using his injured hand, he grazed one pale scar that appeared deeper than others. Ichika's gaze drifted up from Chifuyu's hand to lock onto her brown eyes without asking the question so clear on his mind.

Throat tightening up, Chifuyu let her eyes drift to the tiles, trying to admire the simple porcelain. Ichika put one hand on her narrow chin, gently lifting Chifuyu's face to meet his again. Summoning up her courage, Chifuyu took a shallow, unsteady breath. "It happened that first year Ichika—you were dead," she admitted as tears clouded her vision. "I was working in Germany, to repay a favor. They gave me info on where he—you were, and I'd help them with there is program for a year. It was good work, kept me distracted. Until I was looking at a calendar and realized it was Ichika's birthday tomorrow." The tears ran down the outside of Chifuyu's face as her voice broke. "I started to think 'I can't believe I forgot his birthday, I'll need to mail him something early and call him that night'. Then it all came back to me again."

Chifuyu paused to sob a moment, a piteous moan escaping her lips. "I remembered him dying in my arms. I realized I'd never be able to forget it completely. And I decided I'd never be able to forgive myself." Her trembling lower lip came up as the memories started to overwhelm her. "I broke the mirror in my bathroom," she continued, her voice deathly calm. "Took a shard in my right hand, used it to slash my wrist. Repeated the motion, then I started going up the arm."

Motioning at the longer scar, Chifuyu started crying again. "One of my trainees came in to check on me because I wasn't at dinner with them. She found me, called for help, they managed to save my life." Sobs wracked slender shoulders as Chifuyu's head dropped down, long hair obscuring her face. "I just wanted to die," she moaned softly in her grief. "Why couldn't they have just let me die?"

Ichika reached out to the crying woman with his good arm, pulling Chifuyu by the shoulders until her head rested on his bare chest. He felt her hot breath on his skin as tears ran off Chifuyu's chin and onto him.

The two Orimuras remained in that position for what seemed to be an eternity. Chifuyu's sobs grew softer as the time passed, quieting down to a point that Ichika started to wonder if she was still awake. Chifuyu slid a hand up on Ichika's chest and gently pushed them apart. Relaxing his grip, Ichika watched Chifuyu carefully.

Long wet tracks glistened on Chifuyu's cheeks, and her brown eyes seemed to float in a sea of red. Her lips were pursed as the lower one trembled almost uncontrollably. Realizing something needed to be said, Ichika frowned for a moment in thought. "Chifuyu-nee, I might not know much about myself, you, or even Ichika," he stated hesitantly, "but I doubt he would have wanted you to die."

Chifuyu mulled over Ichika's words, letting the implications sink into her consciousness. With each repetition a little bit of the pain she felt faded away. Closing her brown eyes, Chifuyu took a series of deep breaths. Each breath dimmed the pain a bit more, until it finally settled into a sort of numbness. Not quite a pain, but not happiness.

A weak smile cracked through the sadness on Chifuyu's face as she wiped away the last of her tears. Rolling on the balls of her feet, Chifuyu rose up smoothly to a standing position. She felt Ichika's eyes on her body as she moved and tried not to let it distract her. Grabbing a towel with her free hand, Chifuyu saw Ichika's face scrunch up as he watched carefully. "What happened there?" he asked politely.

"Where?" Chifuyu replied, pausing as she wrapped the towel around her torso.

"Here," Ichika said, raising the fingers on his good arm to graze the skin under her breasts. A faded scar ran across the entire width of her chest just above Chifuyu's stomach. Ichika's fingers ran the barest of touches across the scar tissue, sending an electrical shock through Chifuyu. Her nipples hardened instantly as Chifuyu felt her face flush; Ichika whipped his hand away in response to her reaction. Some tiny part of her brain was filled with desire; a need to lose herself in the moment. In her mind, Chifuyu dropped to her knees and leaned forward to kiss Ichika on the lips. Coming into contact, she noted his eyes wide with shock as she wrapped an arm around his back, being careful of his injuries. Holding him close, Chifuyu slid her tongue against Ichika's thin lips seeking entry; upon acquiring it, her tongue dueled with his relentlessly. Reaching down for Ichika's hands, she put his left on her hip and the right on her breasts. Chifuyu felt Ichika try to move the offending appendage, but her own hand kept it solidly in place. Giving up on seeking release, Ichika squeezed the firm globe tentatively.

Chifuyu moaned into Ichika's mouth at the feel of her breast being teased and doubled her efforts with her tongue. Emboldened, Ichika started to knead and squeeze the cloth covered mound. Each motion gave Chifuyu a tingle in her sex, causing juices to drip down into her panties. Needing more, she removed her encompassing hand and reached up to untie the towel around her.

Ichika startled slightly as the cloth pooled around her waist, momentarily trapping his left hand. The right hand returned to it's position on Chifuyu's now exposed breasts, giving her the skin on skin contact she craved. Rough fingers danced on delicate skin, exploring the new territory. Ichika's hand drifted in larger circles before grazing upon the hardened areola. The shock of having her nipple touched caused Chifuyu to gasp and break contact from her brother.

Not wanting to lose what advantage he might have, Ichika continued to play with the raspberry colored skin. Growing bolder, he bent his head down to the free nipple, taking the turgid nub between his lips and earning an explosive burst of breath from Chifuyu.

Feeling too passive in the moment, Chifuyu skimmed her hands down Ichika's lean form until they came to rest on his underwear. The boxers were bunched up into a tight wad on the stool, but they clearly defined a bulge. Chifuyu traced the shape lightly before reaching underneath to grab Ichika's swollen cock. Grazing the plum sized head with a finger, she noticed how sticky he was from just a little foreplay. Using a free hand to get a hold of Ichika's bunched up underwear, Chifuyu pulled in an attempt to free up the object of her desire.

Ichika rose to a half crouch to help Chifuyu, trying not to stop his ministrations on the woman in his arms. Fumbling in her excitement, Chifuyu slid the cloth covering off. Breaking the kiss let her start moving her lips down along his neck to nip playfully at his chest.

Reaching Ichika's lap, Chifuyu smiled as she opened her mouth and took his blood engorged member in one motion. Ichika stiffened abruptly as warmth enveloped him, his good arm intertwining with Chifuyu's dark hair. The hand started pushing lightly in an increasing need as Chifuyu adopted a slow rhythm; down to the base with her nose in his pubic hair, up as she swirled her tongue around the shaft, then off with a quick kiss at the tip. It was a technique she had used to great effect over the years. Feeling a need building inside him, Ichika tried to push her head down as he started jerking his hips in time to her strokes.

Chifuyu smiled lightly as Ichika grew more erratic and tried to force her into a faster pace. Sliding her hands along his thighs, she felt the tension in Ichika's body as he neared his climax. Abruptly stopping, she stood up, towering over Ichika to his surprise. A feral smile graced her face as she stuck her tongue out and caught a dribble of pre-cum from her lips.

Encompassing the hand that was still on her hip, Chifuyu felt Ichika's fingers slide inside the waistband of her black panties.   His arm started to drop down and drag the silk along her thighs, exposing a dripping sex hot with her lust. Chifuyu reached down with one hand and gave his twitching shaft a gentle squeeze, then held it upright. Squatting over her intended target, Chifuyu groaned loudly as the tip slid inside.

Ichika's eyes went wider, his breath growing ragged from his own lust. Not wanting to torture him too much, Chifuyu sunk down his full length, savoring the sensation as their pelvic bones collided. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, she pulled him up to her chest. Ichika's face buried itself between her cleavage for a minute and she feared he missed the idea. Then his hands came up to her sensitive nipples as she felt kisses rain down on the skin between her breasts.

Emboldened, Chifuyu started to move, a tiny part of her mind proclaiming caution for Ichika's injuries. The feeling of him buried completely inside her was intoxicating; she was left unprepared for the intensity of the situation. Ichika's legs grew tense as she felt the muscles in his back tighten up. So close now, she thought. Chifuyu knew from previous experiences how near she was to her own release; his cock hit all the right spots as she bounced on it. She pressed her head into the crook of Ichika's neck and kissed his collarbone gently.

Grunting into her chest, Ichika came hard inside his sister. A body running purely on instinct kept thrusting reflexively for a minute. Chifuyu felt the warmth splash inside and her own orgasm claimed her. Always a vocal lover, she arched her back and pressed her breasts harder into Ichika's face as a guttural scream ripped from her lips. A flood of her juices slid out past the fleshy plug to soak both sets of legs as a moment of bliss started to fall on Chifuyu.

Breaking the vision with a jerk of her head, Chifuyu fought for control over her hormones. What brought this on, her rational mind screamed. There were a ton of one night stands, even more quickies than I care to count. Memories flashed through her mind of various sexcapades, vague faces of men and women from all the encounters over the last few years. A few images stoked the fire of Chifuyu's lust. Others, like being pressed against the wall in a bathroom stall, only served to smother it.

Rationality finally won out and came up with an answer. The problem is that even though I was fucking my brains out, there wasn't any real connection to those people, Chifuyu realized with a flash of insight. Sure, we were connected on the physical level, but I was looking for an escape from the sadness. Most of the people who screwed me knew who I was and it was a point of pride for them to have scored me. I was a notch on their belt, nothing more. Looking back at Ichika and his worried expression, Chifuyu felt a minor resurgence of the earlier desire. Focusing on calming herself, she prayed Ichika wouldn't be able to smell her excitement or see it running down her leg. The reason I have desire for Ichika is because Ichika seems to care about me. He might only be doing it because he trying to find something to latch onto, but he genuinely seems to care.

Realizing Ichika was still waiting for an answer, Chifuyu allowed herself to blush at the situation. "An accident while I was learning kendo," she admitted, a note of embarrassment in her voice. "Luckily the sword was clean and sharp. You've got good eyes though. Normally folks can only really see the scar when I've gotten a lot of sun anymore."

Privately congratulating herself at lying to Ichika, Chifuyu traced a hand over the injury. Tabane did good work. You wouldn't imagine that it's only a week old. The thought of her old friend and the scar brought Chifuyu to another jerk. I don't have any way to contact Houki-chan, and she really ought to be told about Ichika. Hopefully Tabane can get a message to her. "So..." Chifuyu started, making certain the towel was tied tightly, "can I wash your back for you?"

Ichika turned away from Chifuyu, wordlessly allowing her access. She reached out and snagged a washcloth, wringing it out in her fist one handed. Touching the damp cloth gently to Ichika's back, Chifuyu started making small circles across his skin.   The fabric skimmed as close as she dared in her job while being careful to avoid getting the bandages wet. Noting a shiver in Ichika's shoulders, Chifuyu looked up to see his face in the mirror.

The humidity fogged glass obscured a lot, but it did show some of Ichika's face. His brown eyes were closed; a ghost of a smile on his lips. Feeling a smile break her own lips, Chifuyu paused her motions. "What's going on Ichika-kun?"

Opening his eyes at the question. Ichika stared into the mirror to catch Chifuyu's gaze. "It tickled just now." The smile grew into something natural on his face as he continued. "Did you do this a lot for Ichika?"

"When he was young, quite a bit actually." Chifuyu conceded, eyes drifting back into memories. Her smile and voice both grew brittle as other memories came to the front. "Not so much after our parents left. I was always too busy then."

"Oh," Ichika said in a muted voice. "Sorry, nee-san. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

"It's okay," Chifuyu acknowledged as she tossed the washcloth into the corner of the tub. "Alright, I'm done here. If you have more problems just call and let me know." Ichika watched in the mirror as Chifuyu got to her feet and walked out of the bathroom. Pulling off his remaining clothes, Ichika sunk himself down gingerly into the warm tub, a single thought focusing his mind.

What's going to happen to me now?
***---+---***
Entering her room, Chifuyu pushed the door shut with a solid click. Her body tingled from the time in the bathroom with Ichika. The terrycloth towel rubbed on sensitive nipples while her panties got soaked in her own juices. Chifuyu looked around the room, frantic to find a means to get satisfaction.

Checking the various drawers increased her frustration exponentially. Damn, Maya was thorough, Chifuyu thought ruefully. All of her hiding spots were empty; the bottles they had once contained missing. Every motion pushed the towel against her body; the soft fabric grazing and touching skin playfully like a lover.

Finally coming to a moment of near desperation, Chifuyu's mind presented an option. Haven't tried that in years, she thought with a grimace. But I wasn't in this sort of situation before.

Pulling the towel off her body, Chifuyu quickly splayed herself out on her futon. Elegant fingers reached out to tease stiff nipples, alternating between gentle rubbing and hard tweaking. Her breath started coming out in faster pants as she felt her sensitive nubs grow larger, increasing in size with excitement.

Unsatisfied with her current actions, Chifuyu drifted one hand down into her panties. Skimming the dripping folds of her sex, Chifuyu caressed her labia lightly before sinking one finger inside. Intense heat washed over her hand as chocolate colored eyes glazed over in anticipation of the outcome. Needing more, Chifuyu slid a second digit inside and felt her body clench it tightly.

Keeping her free hand roaming her breasts, the two enveloped fingers started working in and out in a rhythmic fashion. An image of Ichika drifted in front of her, naked and engaged in the action. Her fingers became his cock and his mouth on her breasts. Chifuyu imagined the feeling of Ichika's wet body on top of her; the residual moisture between their bodies serving as a natural lubricant. Ichika held himself up carefully, thrusting inside her with youthful enthusiasm. Grabbing at her hips, Ichika would roll her over and slam into her dripping sex with animalistic abandon.

Biting down on her lip to stifle her screams, Chifuyu spread her thumb and let it caress her clit as she continued to masturbate. The additional stimulation worked, bringing Chifuyu to a hard orgasm. Her toes curled in the afterglow as spots danced at the edge of her vision; the tension in her body drained away . Feeling like a sated kitten, Chifuyu slowly withdrew her fingers from drenched underwear.   Rolling over bonelessly in the middle of her post-orgasmic bliss, Chifuyu pulled her sheets up to cover her exposed breasts as sleep laid it's claim on her. The last things to drift through her mind were straightforward concerns: I'll have to be careful from here on if Ichika can bother me like that. The other one brought a smile to sleepy lips: If you are watching Tabane, I hope you enjoyed that show.
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Second Chances