It's almost two in the morning and I've just finished writing this in the spur of the moment. And I had to post it.

I don't even know.

(Sorry if it doesn't make much sense!)

Forgotten bonds

"My name is Kuga. Kuga Yuuma."

Hasekura-taichou jumped in his seat, feeling the sudden need to pay the new Border recruits more attention.

He had only considered attending the induction ceremony because it was his chance to assess how well the new members of his team – Yagami and Fujiwara – were doing. (Those two were diamonds on the rough, fast and very talented, even if they were always at each other's throats. Heath knew that had more to do with repressed sexual tension than actual dislike, though. Ah, the joys of being teenage boys.)

Jin-san may have hinted that something very interesting was going to happen during introductions, and that might have influenced his final decision to attend, just a little. (Nana-chan's big puppy dog eyes pleading to accompany her to cheer for Riku and Takeru might have helped, too.)

As expected, after hearing such a statement the room started to buzz with excitement; all the present members of Border above C-level murmuring eagerly; rumors starting to spread like wildfire.

"Did he say Kuga?"

"Kuga…?"

"As in…?"

"That Kuga?"

The boy – who couldn't be older than twelve, and Heath scowled at the thought, because it had always made him feel powerless, to know that they needed the assistance of children to fight if they wanted to keep their city and its citizens safe – blinked in confusion, bright red eyes seeking his teammate's for help. She shrugged uncomfortably, unsure of what the fuss was all about. (Another young bird. Heath was suddenly feeling very protective of them, no matter if the boy was or was not actually related to–)

"Yuuma?" A deep male voice asked from somewhere behind him, and Heath turned to see his partner walking briskly down the stairs towards said boy. "What are you doing here? Where's father?" He asked with almost palpable concern.

As abruptly as the buzzing had started, it ended. Everybody was paying close attention to what was going on with the newbie and the Kuga Kyousuke, number two sniper of Team Runruly.

"Father?" The boy asked, and though his expression was rather hard to read, Heath was familiar enough with a very similar one that he was able to discern that Yuuma was as lost as everybody else – himself included. "Who are you?" He asked, puzzled.

Kyousuke stopped just inches before the small boy, and watching them side by side, Heath couldn't deny the resemblance. Even with the huge difference in size, the hair color and the shape of their faces and bodies were unmistakable. The older boy's hand wavered for a second, as if wanting to touch the kid's fluffy locks, but then closed in a fist and rested beside its owner. Kyousuke bit his lower lip slightly and Heath knew that something was causing him distress. His face smoothed out immediately, though, and most would assume they had imagined it. Heath knew better.

"You don't remember me." It was a statement, not a question. His voice had a sad undertone that probably nobody apart from Hasekura was able to pick up. "I'm Kyousuke, your older brother."

The kid's eyes grew as wide as saucers, and then he blurted: "What? Are you a Neighbor, too?"

It was as quiet as the grave for about two seconds, and then all hell broke loose.

Heath groaned and massaged his temples, slumping back in his chair. It seemed that his boyfriend had several things to explain. Not about being a Neighbor – Heath was well aware of that fact, thank you very much – but about having a little brother who he apparently had not been in touch with from quite some time.

But first, he had a room full of confused, trigger-happy newbies to control.