"I have no brother."

The words cut into him like an icy knife. His brother. His own flesh and 
blood, the other half of his very soul, was turning him away.

"Aniki!"

No response. The other boy turned on his heel and walked away.

"Anikiiiiiiii!"

Suboshi was numb. Those cold, unfeeling eyes, the steely voice...this 
couldn't be! His brother was gentle and sweet, with kind eyes...

"Aniki..."

The events of the day ran over and over in his mind. He'd murdered his 
fellow Seishi Tomo in cold blood, to save his brother. Amiboshi had 
offered him a drug to erase the past...so they could live a peacful life, 
away from the war.

He'd rejected him, saying he loved Yui-sama more. When Amiboshi had given 
him the drug, Suboshi had forced him to swallow it himself.

By way of a kiss. A rather passionate one at that.

After his brother had run off, Suboshi had come after Suzaku no Miko. 
He'd almost raped her until that noble, heroic bastard Tamahome had come 
to her rescue. As always.

Not that she needed it. She'd kicked him, sent him flying backwards to 
land at the feet of angry Suzaku Seishi.

After that ugly incident he'd run off to find his brother and apologize.

He was met with an apathetic stare and cold words.

'I have no brother.'

Unable to take it anymore, Suboshi collapsed to his knees on the cold 
ground, sobs wracking him. The realization of all he'd done hit him.

He'd turned away his own brother in favor of a woman. He'd tried to rape 
an innocent girl. He'd killed an ailing old man and 4 young children.

He didn't like Suzaku no Miko at all. He was still angry about what had 
happened to Yui-sama. He was still angry at Tamahome.

But he'd gone too far.

'Killer. Rapist.'

'I hate you,' he thought, 'I hate you, Suzaku Seishi. I'll kill you all, 
but not before I rape your precious miko and hear her scream, I'll kill 
her before your very horrified eyes. This is all your fault, my brother 
became emamoured with you and your miko, you stole him.'

'No!' He couldn't blame the Suzaku Seishi or their miko. It wasn't their 
idea that Amiboshi pretend to be one of them.

"Nakago." He spat out the name in disgust. The bastard! This was all his 
fault, sending Amiboshi to Konan and allowing this to happen. Damn him! 
Now he was trying to move in on Yui-sama! BASTARD! "I HATE YOU!" he 
screamed.

But he'd joined Nakago's army in the first place. He'd dragged his brother 
into this war, this sea of violence and revenge.

"You."

He stared at his reflection in the nearby river.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" he screamed. "You swore you'd never, ever let 
your brother be endangered in any way! Now look what you've done!" 
Hot tears rolled down his cheeks. "I did this. This is all my fault!" he 
sobbed, slamming his fist into the cold, hard ground until he was sure all 
his fingers were broken. "I HATE YOU, SEIRYUU SEISHI SUBOSHI!" he 
screamed with rage. His knees gave out, and he fell against the frozen 
earth, sobbing until his throat was raw. He eventually succumbed to 
exhaustion and fell into a dreamless sleep.



He didn't even remember what happened when he woke up hours later. His 
mind was blurry, he didn't even know where he was.

"How long have I been out?" he muttered.

"About three hours." A young man of about 15 smiled slightly. "I was 
wondering when you'd wake up." Suboshi yelped.

"Wh-who said that?!" Slowly, his vision came into focus... "Where am I?" 
He didn't remember being indoors...of course, he didn't remember any of 
what happened earlier.

The young man, otherwise known as Kaika, had found Suboshi unconcious by 
the river hours earlier. For some reason he'd felt a twinge of sadness, 
but shrugged it off. Right now it was more important to take care of this 
boy.

"You're in my house," Kaika said softly. "I found you passed out outside 
and brought you here when I couldn't wake you up."

"Huh...?" Suboshi tried to sit up-then nearly screamed in pain.

Kaika placed an arm around Suboshi to support him. "Are you okay?"

"My arm..." Suboshi looked down at his left arm and saw the huge bruise. 
Suddenly, he remembered a bit of what happened the other day... "She's 
stronger than she looks." Then his hand...it drove him insane, knowing he 
hurt himself but not knowing HOW!

"Want to tell me what happened?" Kaika glanced at Suboshi nervously. 
"It must have taken a lot to knock you out for so long."

"I...I don't remember. All I can picture is fighting with this girl...and 
she kicked me." Suboshi's eyes closed momentarily. "I was angry at her-" 
His eyes snapped open as the events of the previous day came rushing back 
to him.

Kaika nodded slowly, his eyes catching Suboshi's. "Anything else?"

Suboshi was unable to speak as tears filled his eyes. "N-no, I don't 
remember anything else," he lied. "I...I don't think I know your name..."

"Kaika." He smiled sadly. "Don't you remember me?"

"No..." Suddenly, it sank in...he looked more closely. Same eyes, same 
hair...he knew the voice had sounded familiar! "...Aniki!" he cried. The 
tears he'd been trying to hold back spilled over.

"Aniki...?" Kaika frowned. This boy may look like him, but... "What 
are you talking about? I don't...have a brother..."

Suboshi cried harder at those words. 'I have no brother'. "I-I'm sorry...
you just...remind me of the...brother I abandoned..." His shoulders shook 
violently. "For a woman! I-I didn't have a chance with her as it was...
even if I did, it was no excuse to hurt the brother I love more than 
anything."

Kaika gently tightened his arm around Suboshi. "Do you want to tell me 
about it?"

Suboshi impulsively buried himself into Kaika's embrace. "My brother was 
all I had for most of my life. Our parents died in the war when we were 
young...we ended up as Seiryuu Seishi. Then my brother was sent to Konan 
to trick the Suzaku Seishi into thinking he was one of them. H-he was 
presumed dead after the ruined summoning ceremony..." Suboshi paused, 
sniffling. "While he was gone...I met Yui-sama, our miko, and fell deeply 
in love with her. When my brother finally did come back to us, it was to 
help the Suzaku seishi and their miko...then he offered me a drug...to 
help me forget the war...but I refused him, in favor of Yui-sama...he 
tried to give me the drug....but I..." His face grew hot. "I kissed him, 
so that he'd swallow it instead! Then I tried to rape Suzaku no Miko...she 
kicked me and I fled before her seishi could destroy me...then...I ran 
into..." Suboshi couldn't continue, his sobs took over his voice.

Kaika froze. Why did this all sound so familiar? Suboshi continued crying, 
and Kaika found himself absently running his fingers through the boy's 
hair, unsure of what to say.

"I've lost him...because of my selfish obsession with Yui-sama and my 
anger...I've lost the one person who's ever loved me..." Suboshi sobbed.

Kaika bit his lip. "Did the drug...kill him?"

"No...but it erased his memory, and I don't know if it ever wears off..." 
Suboshi managed to get out amid gasps for breath.

Kaika nodded uneasily. "Do you know where to find him? Maybe, if you do...
you could try to get him to remember..."

"What's the use? He'd hate me for what I did anyway. Not only abandoning 
him and forcing a drug down his throat...but he had feelings for Suzaku no 
Miko...if he knew I tried to rape her..." Suboshi sobbed.

"But...he's your brother!" Kaiki found himself gripping Suboshi's 
shoulders tightly. "I'm sure he'd forgive you!"

Suboshi latched onto the fabric of Kaika's robe. "There are some things 
even a sweet person like my aniki would never forgive."

Kaika sighed. "I don't think that's true." He stared down at the sheets 
they were sitting on. "If he's your brother...wouldn't he love you no 
matter what?" 

"He shouldn't. I hate myself more than anything right now. I'm a killer, a 
wannabe rapist, and a flat-out psycho!" Suboshi couldn't get over how much 
Kaika resembled his brother. Not that it mattered, though. His mind was 
probably just playing tricks on him anyway.

"Everything does things that they regret," Kaika said softly. "But I can 
sense that you're a good person...I'm sure he'd forgive you!"

Suboshi just continued to cry, unable to say anything. It hurt too much to 
even think about Yui-sama...he loved her, but now in his mind she was the 
reason his brother would never remember him. He'd abandoned his brother 
for her, and now...he'd lost them both!

Kaika gently held the boy against him. They hardly knew each other, but...
why did the boy seem so familiar? He reminded Kaika of someone he once 
knew...

Suboshi felt sick and torn apart inside. Did Kaika remind him of Amiboshi 
so much because his pain was warping his mind? Was it just a coincidence? 
There was only one other possibility...'No, it can't be.'

"I-I'm so sorry..." He finally managed to choke out.

"Sorry?" Kaika frowned. "Why?"

"For clinging to you...when I hardly even know you. I...I'm just so lonely 
and I can't stand myself..." Suboshi's shoulders shook with every unsteady 
breath.

"Don't be sorry." Kaika smiled sadly. "I know you've been through a lot...
if there's anything I can do to make you feel better, I want you to let me 
know..." It was odd, Kaika knew, but it had felt so *normal* to hold this 
boy he hardly knew...for some reason, he felt like he needed to protect 
him...

"J-just hold me...let me feel like I'm not alone in this world...
please..." Suboshi nestled closer to Kaika, trembling.

Kaika tightened his arms around Suboshi, his fingers clutching at the soft 
fabric of his shirt. What could he possibly say that would make this boy 
feel better? He knew Suboshi hadn't meant to hurt his brother, but how 
could he make him feel less guilty?

Suboshi continued to sob freely into Kaika's chest. His violent anger long 
gone, he now felt lonely and frightened. Yet in Kaika's arms, he at least 
felt safer...somehow he felt a connection with this boy, despite the fact 
that they'd never met.

"If you want," Kaika whispered, "I can try to help you..." He paused. He 
knew it wasn't the most rational thing, but if they at least had *some* 
chance... "I want to help you find your brother."

"H-how?" Suboshi looked up, his eyes bloodshot and tears still dripping 
down his cheeks.

"I...don't know," he said, feeling foolish. "But...if there's any way I 
can help you find him again...I want to. It may be hard, but...tomorrow, 
if you want, I'll go look for him with you."

"Y-you would?" Suboshi looked into Kaika's eyes. The resemblance to 
Amiboshi was almost painful!

Kaika nodded. "But you should rest tonight...you can sleep in here. I know 
that you must be exhausted..." Kaika began to get up from the bed.

"Stay with me," Suboshi asked, then mentally kicked himself. 'You barely 
know him!'

Kaika blushed. "Okay..." He embraced Suboshi again, suddenly jumping away 
a moment later.

"I'll be right over here..." Kaika sat down in a chair across the room, 
chiding himself. He probably hadn't meant to stay in the same bed!

"Thanks." Suboshi sighed, curling up under the blankets. 'I was kinda 
hoping he'd stay in bed with me...' What?! He blushed brightly, burying 
his face in the pillow.

"Goodnight," Kaika said meekly, his face still burning. He hoped Suboshi 
hadn't noticed how embarassed Kaika was. He didn't want him to know about 
Kaika's silly misinterpretation.

By now, Suboshi's tears had stopped somewhat. Fortunately. Even if Kaika 
obviously didn't mind Suboshi still felt a little strange crying in front 
of him...but then again, Kaika reminded him too much of his brother. 
'...No, it can't be!' Still...

"Ano...Kaika-san?"

"Hai?" Kaika leaned forward in the chair, his eyes catching Suboshi's.

"I-I know...you said you didn't have a brother earlier...but...I-I can't 
help wondering if..." Suboshi felt his entire body scorch with 
embarassment. "Maybe...you did have a brother at one point and...l-lost 
contact with him?" 'Oh, that was STUPID!' he thought, squeezing his eyes 
shut.

Kaika sighed. "I...did have a brother," he admitted. "But...he left me. A 
long time ago-" Kaika paused. Had it been a long time ago? It felt that 
way, but...He looked up at Suboshi...

"Ittai!" Kaika cradled his head; it had suddenly started throbbing.

"Kaika-san!" Suboshi leapt out of bed, ignoring his pain. "What's wrong?!"

"Nothing," he lied, his eyes beginning to tear. He felt strong arms around 
him; he looked up at Suboshi. "You shouldn't be out of bed!" he shouted, 
immediately regretting his tone.

"It's all right!" Suboshi tightened his hold on the other boy. "It doesn't 
hurt...and I'm more concerned about you, Kaika-san."

"I'm...fine," Kaika managed, his headache getting worse. "You should get 
back into bed ..."

"I...I'd feel better if...you were there with me." NO! 'Damn it, why am I 
acting like such an idiot!' Suboshi berated himself.

Kaika blushed, turning away. "Don't worry about me... I mean, I don't have 
to lay down..." He forced a smile. "I'm fine over here..."

"Please...or let me stay here," Suboshi pleased. Why was he suddenly 
wanting to be close to this boy he hardly even knew?

"Well, I can't let you stay in this small chair with me all night," Kaika 
said shyly. He began to walk Suboshi over to the bed.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's come over me...suddenly I just want to be 
close to you as much as I can." Suboshi looked down at his hands, 
embarassed.

Kaika's face burned. "Really?" Kaika shook his head absently. He was 
acting so ridiculously; Suboshi had gone through so much and wanted 
comfort; all Kaika was doing was blushing like a silly, lovestruck girl! 
That comparison made him feel even more ashamed.

"Yeah...I hardly know you, but I...I feel strangely...attracted to you," 
Suboshi said. 'YOU IDIOT!' He wasn't falling for him at first sight...he 
couldn't! Not after Yui-sama...

Attracted...? No; he couldn't have meant it in *that* way! "Ano..." Kaika 
didn't want to say anything; he was scared he'd make a fool of himself if 
he kept on jumping to insane conclusions.

"I'm sorry!" Suboshi immediately sprang apart from Kaika.

Kaika stood up slowly. "Don't be..." He sighed. "I shouldn't be keeping 
you up...you need to rest..."

Suboshi collapsed into the bed, sniffling. "Thank you for being here..." 
he mumbled, curling up and burying his face in the pillow once more.

"Goodnight," Kaika whispered again, reaching out at Suboshi instinctively 
before stopping himself. He turned around, ashamed. "Just call me if you 
need anything..."

"I need you," Suboshi mumbled absently.

"What's wrong?" Kaika asked.

"It hurts inside...I'm so lonely and you're the only one who cares." 
Suboshi didn't notice his words much now, he was too tired and out of it.

"I'm sure we'll find your brother," Kaika said. "Then you'll be with him 
again..."

"What if we never find him or he never forgives me for what I did?"

"I know he'll forgive you...and I know we'll be able to find him." Kaika 
looked at Suboshi. "I can sense it, somehow..."

"Just stay with me...for now..." Suboshi sniffled.

"Okay." Kaika sat down at the foot of the bed.

"Thanks." Suboshi smiled a little and closed his eyes, exhausted. His mind 
swam with confused thoughts, emotions, and questions...why did he feel so 
attracted to this boy he just met? Why did he look so much like his 
missing brother?

Kaika watched Suboshi, his eyes beginning to burn. He leaned slightly 
against the bed, trying not to disturb Suboshi...he just felt so tired...

Suboshi fell into a fitful sleep, still shivering slightly.



Later that night, Suboshi awakened in a cold sweat. Sobs wracked him once 
again as he tried to force the images out of his mind.

"NO! Stay away from him, Nakago, you bastard! Don't touch him!"

Kaika rubbed his eyes. He had fallen asleep at some point, while sitting 
up and watching Suboshi...Kaika saw Suboshi crying and quickly wrapped his 
arms around him. "Are you okay?!"

Suboshi blinked several times, then remembered he was in bed, at Kaika's 
home. Unable to speak, he flung himself into Kaika's embrace, sobbing.

"You must have had a bad dream." Kaika's heart was still pounding from 
nervousness. "It's okay; you should just try to go back to sleep..."

"It was horrible...N-Nakago...found out what I'd done to Amiboshi...and 
convinced Amiboshi to fall in love with him..." Suboshi sobbed.

"Don't worry," Kaika said gently. "None of that really happened..."

"What if Nakago...found Amiboshi and brainwashed him, though?" Suboshi 
sniffled, clinging to Kaika.

"You shouldn't be worrying like that now," Kaika said. "What's most 
important now is that you get some rest. That way we can look for Amiboshi 
tomorrow-" Kaika froze. Amiboshi...? Why did that name sound so familiar?

"H-hai..." Suboshi looked up, confused. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing...It's just..." Kaika sighed. "I feel like I've known someone 
with that name, but...I can't remember who it was." He looked away. He 
hadn't told Suboshi about his past yet...

"I see..." Suboshi nestled closer to Kaika. "I'm afraid to go back to 
sleep..."

"I'll be right here," Kaika said absently. His "parents" had found him 
with amnesia and started taking care of him, saying that they'd lost him 
before...Kaika never really worried about his past since then. But now 
that he'd met Suboshi, he kept having random visions...was he remembering 
what he had forgotten?

"Thank you...y-you're much too kind, to care for me...so much. I-I'm being 
so clingy and unstable right now," Suboshi sniffled. Kaika smiled sadly.

"Don't worry about it...it's okay, I'm here," he said softly, holding the 
other boy closer. He couldn't explain it, he felt such an urge to comfort 
and protect Suboshi...he couldn't get him out of his mind! 'Why do I feel 
like I know him so well?!' Suboshi's crying eventually stopped; he lay 
against Kaika, breathing steadily.

"Sleep well, Su-chan," he whispered. 'Su-chan?!' Where had that come 
from?! 'You're just tired,' he told himself. Without thinking, he gently 
kissed the top of Suboshi's head and closed his eyes.



Suboshi awoke the next morning with an overwhelming sense of warmth. Eyes 
still closed, he nestled further into the gentle, loving arms encircling 
him.

"Good morning," a soft voice whispered. "Did you sleep all right?" Suboshi 
opened his eyes to see Kaika's warm, shiny ones looking down at him.

"Never better," he murmured, still in his sleep-induced haze. "You feel 
so good, Kaika-san."

"Feel any better?" Kaika asked, smiling softly. Suboshi's reply was a 
wordless murmur as he cuddled closer to Kaika's chest. Kaika laughed 
slightly.

'He's so sweet,' he thought as he began to get up.

His smile faded when he realized he couldn't move his arms...they were 
wrapped around Suboshi.

'I...I didn't! Please, tell me I didn't fall asleep holding him...I-I 
just met him last night! I'll scare him away!' Kaika blushed furiously. 
'He might be oblivious now, but when he realizes...'

Obviously Suboshi wasn't oblivious. But it was still so awkward!

"Ano...Suboshi?"

"Hmm?" Suboshi murmured.

"I...it's not that I mind you being here, but...I'd like to get up now," 
Kaika stammered. Suboshi sweatdropped and pulled away.

"Sure...sorry about that. I got too comfortable, I guess," he mumbled.

"No...I'm sorry I fell asleep with my arms around you like that." Kaika 
slowly got out of bed.

"You shouldn't be. I really love to be close to you like that," Suboshi 
said. 'AUGH!' "I-I mean-" He bit his lip. What was with him?!

"Really?!" Kaika's blush deepened. "...I-I'm glad..."

"I know we just met," Suboshi said quietly, "yet...I feel like I know you, 
like...I've known you for years, Kaika-san."

"Hmm?" Kaika glanced over his shoulder. "Did you say something?"

"N-no, it was nothing," Suboshi stammered. Just then, his stomach growled, 
reminding him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.

"Maybe I'd better fix you something to eat. You look hungry," Kaika said.

"N-no thanks," Suboshi said. He was starving, but he couldn't bring 
himself to eat anything. In addition to lingering sadness and anger, he 
was confused. With the exception of Yui, he never warmed up to anyone he 
just met, he didn't trust strangers. But Kaika...he'd not only shared a 
bed with this boy, it felt so RIGHT! 'I don't GET it!'

Kaika smiled. "You wait right here, Suboshi," he said, then left the room. 
He returned a few moments later with a bowl of rice and a cup of steaming 
hot tea.

"Maybe you'll feel better once you've had some nourishment," he said, 
placing the cup on a nearby table and handing Suboshi the bowl.

"Thanks..." Suboshi smiled a little and began to eat. It was a bit under-
cooked, but otherwise not bad. "You made this yourself?" he asked between 
mouthfuls.

"Hai. My parents are still asleep and I didn't want to disturb my mother. 
I'm afraid I'm not a great cook. But I didn't want you to starve." 
Suboshi couldn't help smiling.

"You're really something," he said, setting down the nearly-empty bowl and 
picking up the still-hot cup. "You're being so nice to a complete 
stranger." He sipped the strong tea, the vapors soothing his still-sore 
throat.

"I wouldn't do this for just anyone, Suboshi," Kaika said warmly. "You're 
very special." Suboshi blinked.

"I-I am?"

"There's just something about you...it's like I know you, even though I 
don't know you," Kaika said. Suboshi nearly choked. He'd just been 
thinking the same thing about Kaika!

"I-I feel the same way!" he blurted out. "I-I don't know what it is, but I 
just feel so...so SAFE with you around! Just hearing your voice makes me 
feel warm inside."

"I can't understand...how I can feel this close to you, so fast," Kaika 
said. "I get this feeling...that I was meant to find you out there, like 
it was...it was..."

"Fate?" Suboshi set the cup down for a moment and moved closer to Kaika. 
"Maybe. I can't bring myself to believe in fate anymore, though...after I 
lost my brother and the woman I love," he sighed, remembering how little 
Yui had cared that he'd forsaken his brother to be with her.

"Hmm..." Kaika thought for a moment. "Suboshi?"

"Hai?"

"I'd like to hear a little more about your brother...that is, if you don't 
mind talking about him," Kaika said. Suboshi closed his eyes in deep 
thought for a moment.

"He was so sweet," he said quietly. "He worried about others a lot, never 
wanted to hurt anyone even if they hurt him. He just let it roll off his 
back most of the time. What people thought of him wasn't very important. 
He'd just smile, be content to stay in the background and play his 
flute..." A smile crossed Suboshi's face at the memory. "He played so 
beautifully...I could listen to him play his flute for hours on end. He 
always took care of me, especially after our parents died...sometimes, no 
matter how bad things seemed to get...as long as I had Amiboshi with me, 
everything would be just fine."

"It sounds like you're really close to him," Kaika said. Something about 
the description Suboshi gave sparked something deep within Kaika, but...he 
wasn't sure what.

"Was..." Suboshi's eyes filled with tears. "I-I've ruined the relationship 
we had...I-I know it was my job to protect Yui-sama, but when I told her...
she didn't care, she said that the way I rejected Amiboshi's offer was 
mean! She doesn't love me..." A tear ran down Suboshi's cheek. "It just 
hurts so much," he choked, nestling against Kaika.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems," Kaika said, a bit absently as he 
wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulders. Random visions continued to 
flash through his mind... 'Am I sure we've never met before?!' It was 
beginning to drive him insane, this feeling of knowing, yet NOT knowing 
someone...

"I want him back," Suboshi cried, pressing his face into the fabric of 
Kaika's robe.

Kaika looked down sadly at the crying boy. What could he say to him? 
Gently stroking Suboshi's hair, Kaika felt for the slim instrument in his 
pocket. "I can play the flute," he said quickly. 

"What?" Suboshi looked up at him through swollen, blinking eyes. Kaika 
blushed.

"I...thought that maybe I could play something...to make you feel 
better..."

"...Y-you would?" The sense of familiarity overcame Suboshi again. "I-I'd 
love to hear you play..." he whispered, blushing.

Kaika placed the flute against his lips, hesitating as he decided what to 
play. He decided on a light, peaceful melody; one of the first songs he 
had learned. As Suboshi settled against him, Kaika's mind wandered 
dreamily.

Suboshi felt the same warm, loving sense he'd felt that morning as he 
listened to Kaika play. Smiling dreamily, he snuggled closer, images of 
the past flooding his mind.

As Suboshi lost himself in the music, an image formed in his mind...

~Flashback~
It was nighttime, the stars were beginning to come out. A young boy, about 
9 years old, sat peacefully in a field, playing his flute. Another boy-his 
identical twin brother-was lying at his side, looking tired, yet peaceful. 
As the melody played on, the boy snuggled against his brother's side.

"Aniki, I love hearing you play," the nearly-asleep twin murmured. The 
other boy stopped playing and smiled softly.

"Thanks, otouto," he said, gently running his fingers through his 
brother's hair.
~End Flashback~

'Otouto?!' Kaika snapped back to reality and stared at the flute in his 
hand. Otouto...had he just said that out loud?

Suboshi snapped out of his own trance and looked up. 'You only imagined 
that,' he told himself. 'You only imagined Kaika called you 'otouto'...
"Kaika-san?" he asked softly.

"H-hai?" Kaika slowly looked at Suboshi, eyes mirroring confusion. 
Suboshi's mouth became dry. Should he really ask if Kaika had just called 
him 'otouto'? He remembered the night before...Kaika had looked like he 
was in such pain when Suboshi asked if he had a brother he didn't remember!

"I-it's nothing," he mumbled.

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Suboshi shivered. Kaika frowned, gently touching Suboshi's cheek.

"Here," he said, wrapping a blanket around Suboshi's shoulders. "Can't 
have you catching cold." Suboshi nodded, swallowing a bit. His throat was 
still a bit sore from last night.

"Thanks...I'll be all right, though. I hardly ever get sick," he said, his 
voice a bit scratchy. Kaika glanced at him.

"You'd better stay in bed today," he suggested. "You still don't sound 
very good, and after a night like last..."

"Kaika-san, I-I'm not getting sick. I'll be-" Suboshi's protest was 
interrupted as he sneezed. Kaika smiled a little, shaking his head.

"I thought so," he said, slowly getting up and gesturing for Suboshi to 
lie down. "Come on, get under the blankets. You stay in bed and get your 
rest; I'll take care of you." Suboshi smiled a little. He couldn't refuse 
that!

"All right..." He nestled under the blankets and buried the side of his 
face in the pillow. He did feel a bit under the weather, he realized. 
Kaika smiled.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked.

"No...just stay here with me, please?" Suboshi said.

"Sure," Kaika said. He sat down at the edge of the bed next to Suboshi. 
"Is that all?" Suboshi was about to say yes, but suddenly remembered what 
Amiboshi used to do for him when he was sick, when they were younger.

"I...I know this might seem a bit strange, but...could you stroke my hair, 
and rub my back and shoulders?" he asked. Kaika blinked.

"Ano..."

"I-I know, it sounds stupid...just touch me. Your hands are comforting," 
Suboshi mumbled.

"My hands?"

"Yeah..."

For what seemed like the millionth time since he'd found Suboshi, Kaika 
felt something spark within him. A vision flashed through his mind: 
Himself, at age 12, comforting a sick boy... 'Suboshi?' he thought.

"Sure...I'd be glad to," he whispered, gently placing his hands on 
Suboshi's shoulders and rubbing softly. Suboshi sighed, almost immediately 
melting at his touch.

[Come back later]

~

"Aniki...ANIKIIIII! No...I'm sorry...forgive me...forgive me, aniki...
Y-Yui-sama...aniki...forgive me...!"

"Suboshi?!" Kaika gently shook his shoulders.

"Aniki!" Suboshi woke up with a start, sweat and tears dripping down his 
cheeks. His eyes flew open as he found himself in Kaika's protective grip. 
"...K...Kaika-san..."

Kaika tightened his arms around Suboshi, caressing his arms and his back 
softly. "It's all right now," he whispered. Suboshi's shoulders heaved as 
he tried to regain his breath. A few minutes later, he managed to calm 
down a little.

"Are you okay now?" Kaika asked. Suboshi sniffled and shook his head. 
"Want to tell me about it?"

"I hurt him..." Suboshi choked. "I hurt my only brother. She...didn't love 
me, and...I chose her over the one who did love me..."

"Suboshi..."

"My only aniki...I promised I'd be with him forever...until we died...
now...he's gone..."