And so the cycle of life continues
Aiko slowly roused from his sleep, the familiar sight of his room greeting his sight. He turned the valve on his oxygen tank, effectively damming the stream of oxygen to his mask. He set his oxygen mask on his nightstand and sat up, turning to see the current time. 2:47 PM, would be quite an unusual time to wake up for most people. Aiko was not most people. He tended to stay awake quite late, sometimes even up until daybreak. His doctor recommends he sleep at a more regular schedule but he can't seem to break his pattern. He simply enjoys the night too much to bother sleeping until his tiredness overcomes him.
He spent a good half an hour or so getting up from bed, engaging in his usual morning routine. He dressed up in his usual apparel, a black dress shirt with long sleeves, black dress pants and comfortable black house shoes all appropriately tailored to his size, and equipped himself for another long day with a touch screen phone and a black pen. He went over to his calendar which was amusingly enough a zodiac animal themed one and marked off another day. The act of recording the passage of time got him thinking about the topic, a topic which depressed him.
Every time I look at that calender I swear time is moving faster. The days fly by so quickly and yet each and every one feels like an eternity. He stepped away from the calendar to face the door. His door was made from solid metal, something he had custom designed for him. First he unhooked the chain lock, then the unlocked the Dead bolt, and finally he scanned his identification onto a key card reader, the reader being his latest addition to his personal security. He stepped from his room and immediately began locking his door behind him, going down through each lock with a rapid efficiency that could only be born of much repetition. Some may call him paranoid but he believes paranoid is just something people call him to get him to drop his guard.
As he walked down the halls he came to a set of window beaming sunlight through. Instead of simply passing through said beams he took the time to lower the blinds on each window, all while trying to avoid looking into the light as it would make his eyes hurt. His eyes were currently adjusted to the dark and the sudden brightness of the outdoors would make them hurt. When the hallway was dark again he continued on his way. As he traveled through the darkened halls of his estate his mind was left to wander while his body autonomously went about it's duties.
Since the beginning of time the stories have been a staple of humanity, an archetype. The authority rules using it's power but no matter how long it may take, no matter how daunting the challenge, someone always rises to the challenge and defeats the authority, stripping him of everything he owns and casting him down only to take his place.
This story repeats endlessly, no matter the culture. The greek titan of time who is slain by it's own progeny, The shogun who is slain by the son of a murdered samurai family out of revenge, The cruel baron who is bested and robbed by the forest dwelling hero of the people, The cruel landlord who is shown up by the kindness and perseverance of the happy family and supportive neighborhood.
I did not defeat the authority and take anything away. I was given this, trained to become this by my father. I am the authority, I am destined to be overthrown. If that was all I had to fear that would be enough, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only am I the authority but as part of the curse my health will steadily deteriorate, leading me to the same death which claimed him. No matter how I look at my situation, I lost before I was even born. Still, I must not surrender to despair. I was trained since birth to lead this family, I shall do my father proud no matter what.
But how?
He accomplished so much before his death. He managed to lead these people and command their respect, bringing fortune and prosperity to this family and all while raising me. How can I possibly compare to accomplish so much with as little time as I have. Not only must I work to reinforce and maintain the respect and obedience of every family member but I must also guide them, protect them and help them become the best they can be. On top of that, I have to account for our household's wealth and find time to bring a son into this world to take my place when the inevitable fate laid out for me takes it's course.
This life is hell. I cannot stand it. I cannot stand these people and I barely have the constitution to focus on living each day. Yet here I am, leading this family as my father and each father before him has. If each of them has had the same afflictions I now bear then how? How do they do what I find to be a task beyond my ability to accomplish.
Oh, what I would give for their secrets...
He checked the clock in the main reception room. The others should be home from school any minute now He confirmed, all preparations done. He wasn't in school himself, he was always tutored within the safety of the household due to his inability to endure the rigors of travel beyond these halls. His tutor would see him later in the evening, a convenient arrangement considering his sleeping habits.
Aiko had set out seats and various home comforts to welcome those in the family who wished to speak with him. His general melancholy soured into downright reluctance, his enthusiasm for seeing and talking with other people being at it's usual low. As much as he didn't want to speak with them, he knew he needed to. It was his duty as the head of the family to listen and assist his family members, to ensure each one of them is safe and content. He was pretty terrible at hiding his true feelings towards these people but he would try, oh how he would try, to maintain the family harmony.
He waited, standing tall and professionally for a young man despite his diminutive size. He was dressed appropriately for the occasion, more formal than any of his family members would likely make of it. He made sure to try and bottle his honesty and put it away while he stood waiting to greet the other members on their way.