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Chapter Thirty: Waiting on a Friend

Joji stared at the misty doorway to the gymnasium, the same one he and his crew had emerged from earlier that day. The smell of smoke lingered. His legs ached and his eyes watered with exhaustion. He had been standing there for almost a half-hour.

There was no sound of disturbance nor a cascading shadow; but Joji could sense the overwhelming feeling of a presence coming from behind him. An all too familiar presence.

"What are you doing here...August?"

The response that came asserted Joji's inclination. "I flew right over after I heard the news this morning."

Joji did not move. He didn't even cock his head to the side when he said, "Ain't you still on tour?"

August move closer, almost within reach of the hefty Shepkita.

"Ended last week. But that's not important," August placed his hand softly on Joji's shoulder, almost begging for some kind of reaction, "I'm here, bro."

Joji still only stared at the doors to the gym in silence. But a beast of burden seemed to be suddenly lifted from his body with his brother's touch. August closed in, his muzzled almost against Joji's pointed right ear as he whispered, "You were there for me during the attack, after I got out of rehab, and...after the accident..."

Joji's mind flickered with an array of images. Two years ago...August, bruised and bleeding, kneeling over the hospital bed of his dead wife...Jesse...crying...screaming her name as he clutched onto her beautiful white, Husky fur, which had become red, black, and blue. Joji could see himself sitting next to his brother during the funeral, having to prompt him up again and again as he nearly passed out a dozen times.

He remembered staying at August's apartment in San Francisco for over a month, spending the entire time sustaining his brother as he lay on his bed, staring off into space. It got to the point that Joji got despite and forced his brother into an argument. It was a bad one: shouting, screaming, name calling, and even threats. But it worked, because August got out of his bed and slammed the door to his apartment behind him. After a day of being gone, he returned late that night. He hugged his brother, and that was the end of it. Well...at least the stillness.

"...Now it's time for me to return the favor..."

Joji just realized that his brother was now face to face with him, "...that's how it's always been." Even in the darkness, August's deep green eyes seemed to glow in radiance. With them they brought years of brotherhood.

"Oh August," Joji almost fell onto his brother, clutching him with a tight embrace. August only returned the gesture.

"What are you doing out here?" asked August smoothly.

"I had to clean up the blood. I...I don't want anyone else to have to see it again."

August pushed Joji off a little so that he could look into his brown eyes again, "Then we'll do it together."

Joji gave a grave look, "You sure? I mean...you stable enough to handle that?"

August smiled, "We've been through worse. A lot worse."

Joji smiled back.

The two turned, placing their arms across each other's shoulders as they headed toward the doorway.

"Hey Joji, you still got that spare room in your basement?"