School's in session [ Raph/Shouhei]

As he walked on campus, Raphael sighed to himself as he checked his pocket watch. There was a bit of a brief period break and he took the time to go to a nearby store in order to get a few snacks for himself. He thought about work for a bit, but he figured that the museum could stay closed for the day until he got himself settled and things of the sort.

"He went to this school and graduated from what i'm guessing. Being here and enrolling would make me somewhat of a later year, but..........."

What was going on anyway? It's been about a week and he still hasn't run into his brother yet. Why was that?

It seemed like Shouhei Kagawa had the same thought as Raphael; getting a snack during a break in between periods was his primary concern.  To his surprise he saw the back of someone he knew- Gabe Gatsby.  What was he doing here at this time?

“Gabe!  Oi, what’s goin’ on?” An eager Shouhei asked, as he tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hands off!"

Raphael jerked away rather violently as soon as he felt someone sneaking up on him. Sure this could be considered as a person who thought it was Gabriel, but with the confusion on Raphael's face, it seemed as if this doppelganger had no clue as to who this was.

"Why do you know that name? Looking at me that way and saying that name......who are you to Gabriel Gatsby?"

He was inquisitive, wondering if he could find answers from someone who associated with him. At the same time, Raphael was also frustrated with his lack of success and closure.

“...Whoa, thought you wouldn’t freak out over that, my fault,” Shouhei held both of his hands up as a sign of non-aggression.  He was a bit confused about Gabe’s words more so than just being surprised.

“...The hell are ya on about man, ya get amnesia or somethin’?  Or you’re playin’ a shitty joke.”

"I'm not Gabriel, I don't know what you're talking about anyway. You got the wrong Gatsby here pal, my name is Raphael. "

Raph calmed down a bit, having a bit of a remorseful expression on his face from reacting in such a way.

"Sorry about that, I wasn't expecting for something like that to happen. I shouldn't be too jumpy, I have a reputation to maintain.....and salvage. "

Clearing his throat, Raphael would start to give Shouhei his full attention.

"So who are you?"

“...Raphael?  Gabe said he was an orphan, so… no way, this is like one of those crazy ass soap dramas,” wide eyed, Shouhei smacked a fist into an open palm in a flash of perception.  “You’re tellin’ me you’re his twin?!”

He then extended an open hand to greet Raphael properly.  “Name’s Shouhei.  Shouhei Kagawa, me and your bro’re buds.  Are ya lookin' for him?”

"He said he was an orphan? Well, I'm not too sure what's surrounding that statement. Technically, for all of you people associated with him, I didn't exist until today. No one knew about me..., I was here to change that...but lo and behold....he's not here. "

There was this uneasy feeling that Raph was trying to shake in regards to the whereabouts of his brother.

"Charmed... I guess this helps me get an idea of who he is by getting to know you..."

Raph said this as he shook Shouhei's hand.

"I can't find him, the Gatsby estate has also been relinquished to the next of kin or family, which is why it's mine now. But it seems as if he lived there until recently. Nothing makes sense..."

To Shouhei, things didn’t make sense either.  Gabe’s estate was now in possession of Raphael?  Where could he have gone?  Shouhei would have understood that the man with everything could have just been busy and blown their arranged meeting off, but when Gabe wasn’t responding to text messages that sent a large, glaring warning sign.

“...I know whatcha mean.  I was s’posed to meet up with Gabe yesterday but I couldn’t get a hold’a him.  I was hopin’ you’d know where he was,” Shouhei answered, followed by an air of uneasiness.

"I never met him, he doesn't even know that I exist. So the odds of that are very unlikely, I understand that this might seem like something out of a soap opera or a comic book. But I just arrived here yesterday night myself and he's missing today. I really don't know...."

But worrying about it could do nothing for Raphael, all he could do at the moment was take a deep breath and rub his temples.

"Since you know him pretty well, how about you show me around the places he frquents often. Do you have time for that?"

A brief grimace flashed on Shouhei’s facade when Raphael knew nothing of his brother’s whereabouts, and claimed Gabe to be missing.  In a world full of demons that was a high cause for concern.

“...For a guy like Gabe, I got all the time in the world.  But knowin’ where a high class, high brow guy like that would go would be the last thing on my mind, sorry,” Shouhei scratched the back of his neck, as if he could pull out more information somehow.  “All I know is that he helped the swim team here, and that’s how I met him, at the Academy pool.  Shit, I wish I could help out more though...”

His fists clenched tightly.  If someone so influential and kind in Shouhei’s life disappeared just as quickly as he came, it would be devastating.  Not like the current news wasn’t.

“...Ah!  He’s got a lady named Susan, too.  I dunno her last name but at least that’s a lead, yeah?” A brief moment of realization struck the simple minded Shouhei as he smiled at the fact that he could at least help in his brother's search.   “But if ya get any better leads- or hear from him- I wanna know.  I wanna let him know I haven’t forgotten about our deal.”

"It's fine, I wasn't expecting anything game changing or anything of the sort. From the time you approached me, I was a little on edge because I wasn't expecting anyone to approach me like that. But it was just a misunderstanding and it seems that we are associated with the same person. So maybe it is good for us to cooperate...."

He kept that name in mind, someone named Susan was his woman.

"Maybe he ran off with his girl and is staying with her for a few nights? I wouldn't put it past any man to have a mini vacation with the current flame of the week. I've done it a few times myself...."

At this point, Raphael laughed out.

"Ah, it must be nothing then. If the first thing you could mention is a woman, that's probably where he is huh? Still doesn't explain why I have ownership of the house now, hm. Oh well....."

“...Even though he said he was head over heels for her, I kinda doubt that’d be just cause for his house to end up in your possession.  Unless…” Shouhei snapped his head at Raphael, and his tone of voice became accusatory, flaring with dramatics.  

“You’re the one that orchestrated alla this!  You’re the evil twin!  Next you’re gonna steal his lady too!  Admit it, Raphael Gatsby!”

"Ahh.... evil twin huh? Well, I guess I would have a chip on my shoulder if I was the one that was left behind. "

It was hard to tell if Raphael really meant that statement, which made it seem all the more dramatic in regards to the situation. It was true, but even with that, the feeling wasn't exactly "animosity" that he had towards it. But it was something else.

"Mind if I get your number? I'll call you if anything comes up Shouhei.."

“...Yeah, sure, I’d like to hear from Gabe as soon as possible,” almost immediately Shouhei reverted to his calm state, but decided to keep the punchline running.  “Also I’d like to get to know how evil the twin gets, and how deep your tragic backstory is.”

"Oh... not sure about that. It's not exactly the bedtime story you tell children at night."

After getting his number, Raphael gave a casual wave as he walked off.

"i'll be seeing you.."