This was supposed to be posted on the 25th (in my timezone), to fulfill my birthday tradition of posting something on my special day... but at least it's still the 25th in other timezones, so technically, it's still in! xDDD

Anyway, this is a partner fic of Hidden, though it's not necessarily required that you read both to understand stuff (though that'd be wonderful too~) ;)

So enough ranting for me, please enjoy reading~


Him.

It had always been him.

Whenever a nightmare, a fever, or just a thunderstorm would cost her sleep, or whenever she gets excited with a new discovery, or even when she just wanted to talk, Kido would always, always go to Kano.

Their bickering did escalate when they got taken in by the Tateyamas, but by morning the next day either one of them would be found on the other's side of the bed, snuggled up to each other, petty fight long forgotten.

Kano had always been hers, and Kido had always been his.

Or at least, that's what he wanted to think.

Because right now, he was frozen by the doorway—not because of Marry again, but he sure preferred that right now. For in that state, he'd be somehow unconscious for a while, and he wouldn't have to see Seto sitting on the couch comforting someone with green hair, instead of the usual fluffy white.

The small, warm, and painful ache in his chest started again. Yes, this wasn't just the first time. It was like a cycle, which goes way back when they were still little Kousuke, Shuuya, and Tsubomi.

He loved being with the two of them, but as Kido gradually grew attractive in his eyes, he found a new reason to stay with them all the time: he doesn't want the other boy to get too close to her.

Kano knew it was selfish, knowing Seto's clinginess was due to the latter's little control over his ability back then. Nevertheless, Kano didn't like it when Seto held Kido's hand, and had once even unintentionally scared the poor boy with his thoughts. Seto eventually took the hint and resumed with clinging onto Kano like before at the orphanage, until he found it unnecessary anymore as he grew braver.

Kano could never forget how he almost sighed out in huge relief when the (used-to-be) smaller boy entrusted him the secret behind his frequent trips to the forest: a strange girl named Marry, who Seto obviously has a serious crush on.

But then their beloved older sister had to leave. And because of certain matters he needed to attend to first, Kano couldn't be there for Kido most of the time. She never held it against him though, and even did her best to look out for him. But that left her and Seto to be each other's pillar of strength. Kano didn't notice at first, considering their brokenness over Ayano, but soon he found Kido opening up to Seto even more.

Then Marry officially joined their group. She's been inseparable from Seto since then, and the said guy was so equally smitten. By then, Kano got convinced this was all a cycle, which he hoped would finally end at that.

He thought it would be okay. He even reached the point of getting amused at how ridiculous and pointless his worries were. He had convinced himself that Seto would never look at Kido the way he does, that what those two have is only a pure brother-and-sister relationship.

But the sight before him now still hurt. And the ache in his chest got him thinking if the cycle really was broken already.

Kano had never seen Seto comfort Kido before, but that's because it wasn't necessary. He had sworn to himself to be within Kido's reach more so than before. But Kido had been sleeping soundly these past few nights, and no thunderstorm seemed likely to come soon, so Kano resumed his nightly walks.

But he should've just come back sooner.

Kido's head was buried against Seto's shoulders as she hugged him loosely. Meanwhile, Seto had one arm around her, gently rubbing one of her shoulders. He'd only have to pull her closer and rest his chin on top of her head, and this would've been his usual position with Marry on those nights the medusa stayed up late to wait for him to get home from work.

Surely Seto had comforted Kido before, probably over their older sister's death.

So was this how he usually comforted her? Kano thought, looking away.

He wanted to speak, but he found he couldn't even announce his presence. And the two didn't even seem to notice him arrive, too caught up in the moment. Just as he was wondering if this was how Kido usually felt back then, Seto's head snapped up.

"Oh Kano," he called softly, "welcome home."

At the sound of his name, Kido looked up as well, revealing her puffy eyes. Although still looking shaken, Kano was relieved that she wasn't trembling like how she usually does on nights like these, but immediately grew bothered that he wasn't the one who calmed her down this time.

But as Kido straightened up and called out, "Kano," with her voice still laced with exhaustion, Kano created a mask of concern to cover up the sour expression that usually comes with this ache. Well actually, he really is concerned.

So I guess I'm half-masked? Kano had to smirk under it as he hurriedly made his way to them. But then...

BAM!

"I was about to warn you of the slippery floor," Kido continued in a monotone.

"Aww," Kano grinned, ignoring the slight pain on his side, and resumed walking like nothing happened, "Leader still manages to look out for me~" Reaching the couch, he tried squeezing in between them.

But Kido pulled him into a hug before he could even fully sit down. "Shut up," she said, leaning heavily on Kano, too tired to hit him.

It was then that he discovered she's still shaking, until he hugged her back. And Kano smiled at the idea that Kido still needed him to fully calm down. "Sorry I'm late," he murmured into her hair, not really referring to the time.

"Don't be," Kido, not really understanding that, breathed against his neck.

Kano only pulled her closer, eyeing Seto's arm that had slid off Kido's shoulders.

"So," the green-clad boy stood up and stretched, "I guess I could leave her in your care now?"

"Yes," Kano turned his head to face him and smiled as genuinely as he could with a new mask, "Kido will be fine with just me here."

Seto smiled back knowingly before retreating to his room.

Kano played with Kido's hair as few minutes of comfortable silence passed, before he finally decided to speak. Noting the fair weather and her normal temperature, he assumed she just had a nightmare. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Kido only shook her head. "In the morning. Maybe."

"Okay," Kano sighed in understanding. Even he has dreams he could never bring himself to talk to anyone about. He then shifted, startling Kido for a moment, and in the next instant they were both lying side-by-side on the couch, his arm draped around her waist, pulling her close. "Then Shuuya would just chase Tsubomi's nightmares away, just like old times~"

Kido smiled, and with the moonlight shining down on her face, Kano was glad his mask could hide his pink cheeks. "Thanks, but there are already four of us in this house." Despite her words, she rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes.

"What's wrong if Marry sees us like this? And your actions contradict that statement, you know."

"I never said I would leave though," she said, her eyes remaining closed.

"Ah, because you know you still can't sleep without me on times like this, right?"

Kido sighed. "Unless of course if you won't shut it." She turned her back on him then, choosing to face the sofa's backrest.

He chuckled and hugged her from behind. "Whatever you say then, Kido."

"Yeah, now let's both get some sleep. I still need to wake up early to prepare Seto and Marry's lunches before they go to work. It'd be a waste if they have to buy—"

"Yeah, yeah I get it." Seto again, he sighed internally. "I'll shut up, if you promise to eat breakfast with me. It's unfair that they get their food prepared by you while I—"

"I prepare your three meals everyday, Kano."

"But without love."

Kido groaned. "Alright, alright!" she pinched his arm on her waist. "Now go to sleep already!"

Kano snuggled closer and spoke just behind her ear. "Good night then~" He felt her face heat up for a moment, and he had to stifle a laugh.

After a while though, just as he thought she's already fast asleep, Kano heard her mutter, "And don't you ever think that." But he was already dozing off to the scent of her hair he's buried his face into, the scent he would fall asleep and expect to wake up to, to even comprehend her meaning.

The next time Kano opened his eyes, the scent was still there to greet him into waking up... in the form of Kido's blanket. He was faced with the sofa's backrest, not a Kido sound asleep. Kano held the blanket closer to him, not liking the cold feeling of being alone on the sofa.

Then he heard voices behind him, and among those were hers, so he created a mask to look like he was still asleep as he turned over.

He found Kido and Seto sitting on the couch across from him, Kido counting the money Seto gave her to be budgeted today.

Must he really sit that close to her? Kano frowned under his mask.

Seto looked over her shoulder, his chin almost resting on it, as Kido wrote something down on the small notebook she puts her budget lists in. As she finished, she smiled at Seto as she handed him some money to pick up cat food.

As if on cue, a small mew came from a corner. Apparently, Kido found a stray kitten this morning when she took out the trash. And Seto, the big animal-lover he is, happily accepted the money and stood up.

That's when Marry entered his field of vision, clinging onto Seto as they made their way to the door. Kano wondered if she was aware of those two's sudden closeness.

Or maybe I'm just imagining things, Kano lay on his back and closed his eyes, taking his mask off. Seto was just a really nice guy and a brother who cares for his sister in nothing more than a brotherly way, right?

The soft mews echoed across the base, and it irritated him by the second.

And he, my brother, my best friend, knows how I feel for her, plus he's already got Marry, so he just can't possibly—

"Hey," Kido's voice floated above him, interrupting his thoughts, "until when are you going to pretend sleeping? I'm starving already."

Kano opened his eyes right then, a bright grin instantly spreading across his face. "You would really eat breakfast with me?"

Kido, who was leaning behind the sofa, stared emotionlessly down at him. "Well what does it look like? But fix your 'bed' first." With that, she left for the dining room.

Kano, having (sloppily, for he was in a hurry) finished folding the violet blanket and arranging the sofa cushions, happily took his seat across from Kido moments later.

"Oh, finally," she sighed impatiently and started eating. "Now eat up your breakfast 'made with love.'"

Kano stopped after his first bite and stared at her.

She raised an eyebrow. "What? Not good enough?"

"You took it seriously again?" he grinned. "I was just kidding last night, okay? I know you put in lots of love in—ow!" he rubbed the leg she just kicked.

Kido huffed and continued eating, until something soft grazed against their feet. Taking a peek under the table, she smiled. "It must be already hungry."

"So you're keeping that?"

Kido nodded, reserving a piece of her omelette for the kitten.

"Kido really likes cats, hm? So since I have cat-eyes, does that mean Kido likes me too?"

Her eyes widened for a split second, and her face visibly reddened. "O-of course I do. You're my... favorite brother."

"Really now?"

"Really."

"I thought it was the giant frog."

"What?"

"Oh you know, his goggles, green jumpsuit. Seto the Giant Frog."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well you have lots of similarities."

"Like?"

"Like being animal-lovers. Surely you'll get more time to bond now that you'll take this cat in. Oh, and being crybabies. Crybabies that both turned into responsible young adults in the present. You're practically the Dan's Mommy and Daddy."

Kano was trying his best to keep the bitterness from showing in his voice as a thought occurred to him—even if Seto doesn't have feelings for her, what if Kido does? He knew Kido never crushed on some boy from school, because she never bothered to talk to people who can't even notice her. Only he and Seto could, and with Kano always messing up and annoying her while Seto seeming to be more reliable and grown-up...

Kido smirked. "Right, and you and Marry are the little children."

"Hey!"

"Well who started it?"

"Hah, fair point," he smirked and leaned back on his chair. "Well it looks like he's better at comforting you. Don't you like that more?"

She set her chopsticks down. "If it's about last night... I've actually been having a recurring nightmare for a few nights already."

"Then why didn't you come to me?"

"It's not like you were here lately." She paused, seeming to backtrack through her words, and looked away. "But I don't blame you. You need it."

So she knows, Kano stared down at his plate.

Yes, he needed it. He needed to at least air out his feelings every once in a while, to tell them to someone who could understand and be ready to listen. He doesn't need an answer back, he just wanted someone to listen.

And when it comes to wanting to talk about his feelings for the green-haired girl, his neechan was the perfect person to go to, for she was the only one who knew about it. Not that Seto could not talk to him about it - obviously the guy knows just by Kano's thoughts - but he's always busy with other stuff, and most probably he would never an option after last night. Marry does not seem to know much about trivial things like these, and of course, Kido's long been out of the question.

"But you could always tell me in the morning, like what you're doing right now."

"I didn't think it would last this long. I expected it to stop by the second or third day, so I didn't want to bother anyone about it."

"Well how long has it been now?"

"A week and two days."

"Kido—"

"I know. But I..." she sighed, "I need to learn to face this on my own. I'm not a little kid anymore."

"But apparently you still can't."

"I'm trying, okay?" she frowned. "Until last night, when it was just too much, I ran into Seto."

Kano opened his mouth, but stopped when Kido looked back at him.

"But I was actually waiting for you."

"Oh." He blinked.

Silence heavily weighed down upon them right then. Kido didn't dare to move, and she stared down at her plate, the food not appetizing to her anymore.

Finally Kano reached out for her hand across the table. "Believe me, I never once minded. So don't think twice again, I'll always be here to do anything for my favorite sister."

"That's a lie."

His eyes widened. "What is?"

"Me being your favorite sister."

Kano only smiled and sat back down to pick up his chopsticks and continue his meal. "Not really."

But you're right though, because you were more than a sister to me.


Rushed. This fic was rushed. I actually really planned to post this on the fifteenth, but school requirements just ate up all my time, I was rarely ever home xD

Anyway, how'd you like it? I'm really nervous about finally writing for KagePro, so please tell me what you think of this through a review~ ;)

Hope I can update soon. I want to update next week, but we'll see about that. :)