Disclaimer: I do not own Durarara! or any of its characters or themes!

AN1: just a precaution, I have no idea the current exchange rates between the yen is, so... yeah. BE WARNED!

AN2: Tag to episode 7. NO ShizuoxKasuka! Just some brotherly fluff :)

As always, be prepared for some OOC-ness in my fics.

.

.

More than just brothers

.

.

The youngest Heiwajima brother walks into the kitchen, spotting his older brother sitting at the kitchen table... fuming.

It was a sight that was hard to miss...

He was sitting with his arms crossed over his chest, a deep frown eteched over his face. He always seemed older when he worried like this.

Kasuka finally walks over to fridge and drags two milk bottles from the fridge, one in each hand. He digs his thumb into the one bottle's foil top and takes a swig. Even whilst drinking, he hands Shizuo the other bottle.

With a sigh his brother takes it from him, but he merely sets it down in front of him.

The younger brother finally sits down, positive Shizuo won't let this go until he's satisfied. Which may take a while.

"Kasuka?" Shizuo finally says, his voice sounding tired and low-key.

"Yea?" came the innocent response, as always.

"Do they pick on you?"

Kasuka blinks, 'Who in their right mind would ever pick on me? I'm your brother! Shizuo Heiwajima's brother! I'm like Fort Knox wrapped in barbed-wire!' he thinks morbidly, but finally just outs: "Who?"

"That gang at school… I saw you walking away from them yesterday… were they…?"

"No."

Shizuo stares down his brother, definitely not satisfied with his answer.

"They won't."

"…. Because of me, right?"

"No. Not because of you."

"Then, what was going on?"

"I was bribing them," Kasuka said, offhandedly.

Shizuo's face suddenly turns purple, a strange mix of fear and anger filling his expression. "WHAT THE HELL FOR?"

"It's was the only way to get them to stop attacking you during your exams."

"…. Wha-"

"I paid them per week. Two weeks before your finals started and then onwards… I wanted to give you some time to study in peace…"

"Are you serious? … How much did you pay them?"

"Not much. Lousy negotiators," Kasuka said and almost smiles. Almost.

Shizuo isn't exactly impressed though, "How much, Kasuka!"

"… ten yen per week."

"They wouldn't have settled for that."

It's Kasuka's turn to stay silent. He frowned and took another swig of his milk, trying to pull the old 'don't talk with your mouth full'-routine.

"…. Kasuka…" Shizuo's voice sounded almost pleading, his face still twisted in an almost anguished expression.

"One thousand yen per week."

"For all of them, right?"

"… no."

"You paid each of them a thousand bucks per week?" Shizuo said, his voice showing his disbelief.

His little brother merely shrugged, "It's not that expensive…"

"Of course it is! Where did you get the money for all this anyway?"

"I work part-time at three different stores during the week… "

A deep sigh parted from Shizuo as he shook his head, almost angry. Almost. "So… when you told me… that you were going to basketball practice every day…"

"I didn't expect you to approve. That's why I didn't tell you."

Shizuo sighs deeply, dropping his head in his hands. He shook his head and growled. Why did his brother always do this? Why did his brother always have to look out for him like this?He could've handled it just fine on his own.

"It's not because you're my brother," Kasuka said, like he was reading his brother's unspoken thoughts like a book. Just like always.

Shizuo blinked, confused, "Eh? What then?"

"You're more than that," a small smile appeared on Kasuka's face. His smile was such a rare gift.

"I am?"

"You're my best friend."

Thanks for reading!