I'm back, with my third fic in this fandom. My school days are so hectic lately... Actually, I had some difficulties with Major Arcana, but I guess I just need some refreshments by writing a new smaller project :) Sorry for the followers of Major Arcana ...

OK, here you go, RnR if you don't mind. :)

His Brother

Matt and TK were visiting their grandmother's grave with their mother when they saw something gloomy not too far away, still in the graveyard area. A group of people wore black-dominated outfit. They were crying. A lady seemed ready to faint whenever because of her crying. A man tried to calm her down. Beside him was a grief-stricken boy, holding a framed photo of an older boy. Nancy-Matt's and TK's mother-was still kneeling down beside the grave (maybe praying, maybe just remembering the old times when her mother was still alive) when TK tugged his brother's shirt. "Who died, Matt?" the younger blond pointed to the nearby funeral.

"Hm, wait," Matt paid more attention on the framed photo and turned sad after he remembered who it was in the photo, "Oh. It's Ichijouji Sam. Remember that genius from my class I ever told you about?"

TK nodded; the news of a deadly traffic accident that killed Sam was everywhere, since the boy was very well-known as a child prodigy. He then realized that the boy holding the photo of Sam looked like Sam. "Is he Sam's brother, Matt?"

"Most likely," Seeing TK bite his lower lip, Matt asked worriedly, "TK?"

Silent tears ran down from TK's baby blue eyes. He looked up at Matt. "He must be so sad right now." TK pointed the raven-haired boy—Sam's little brother. TK was a crybaby, but Matt saw TK's tears differently that time. A strong empathy towards an unknown boy was not something TK (and Matt) used to show. Matt held TK's shoulders. "He'll be OK, TK. I believe he knows that his brother is happy in the afterlife."

"Matt..." TK was now hugging Matt's legs, "I can't imagine how it feels if I lose you."

Matt was petrified.

"Everyone will die someday,right?" TK started to sob, "Does that mean we can't be together forever? That someday, I'll be like the boy over there, crying while holding your photo without you by my side? That someday, I'll lose you forever and I can't visit you again in Dad's place?"

Matt didn't want this conversation to continue, but he must say something to end it. He brought TK up and gave an unwanted answer with a heavy sigh. "Yes."

TK burst into tears and buried his face in Matt's chest. "I don't want to lose you, Matt... It's worst than being separated by Mom and Dad like now..."

Hearing TK sob, Nancy turned around. She got shocked and stricken after seeing tears on her tough older son's face. "Matt, TK?" Nancy walked closer to his boys and patted Matt's back.

"Don't say it...please, TK." Matt said shakily. Nancy was shocked even more when Matt told what he and TK were talking about before. She hugged them both, muttering some encouraging words, and the cry subsided, but everytime Matt imagined what TK said, his tears came out again uncontrollably. He couldn't imagine leaving TK forever. He couldn't imagine TK leaving him forever, either. Matt glanced back at the boy in the mourning outfit, imagining that the boy was TK holding a photo of him. That time, Matt (and probably TK) wanted to rush right away to the boy to encourage him because they understood how it was to share a strong brotherhood, despite being separated miles away.

A week later, Matt and TK saw Sam's little brother again when the two were eating ice cream in the playground. The boy was sitting on an end of a seesaw. No one sat on the other end. Matt sighed sadly. He hated to see loneliness because it reminded him of his old self.

Suddenly, TK dragged him to the lonesome boy. Matt was almost stumbled, but he managed to stabilize himself. The boy looked up after TK and Matt stood right beside him. TK outstretched his hand and smiled. "Hi. I'm Takaishi Takeru, call me TK. What's your name?"

The boy shook TK's hand groggily. "I'm Ichijouji Ken." He said while looking at Matt in curiosity. Matt realized this and introduced himself. "Ishida Yamato, call me Matt. I'm TK's brother." Matt tried to be friendly. Ken only nodded plainly. TK got on the other end of the seesaw. "It's been a long time since the last time I got on a seesaw. C'mon, Ken, let's play!"

Ken turned to TK and smiled. The two played on the seesaw together. Matt was happy to see TK cheer up the lonesome boy. The two began a conversation, from where-you-live-in to school things. Matt decided to buy them ice cream, although it was another cone for TK. When Matt came back, surprisingly, the younger boys were talking about their families.

"So that's why you and your brother have different family names." Ken concluded. It seemed like the two were talking about Matt's divorced parents. "Yes, but I still can visit him sometimes, so can he," TK then gave Ken a compassionate look, "Matt and I saw you at the cemetery last week. Um, Matt said it was the funeral of Ichijouji Sam... Is he your brother?"

Ken simply nodded. Matt elbowed TK, asking him not to ask further. Matt turned to Ken, kneeling so he could see Ken's eyes. "I'm sorry for TK's straightforwardness."

Ken washed away his swelling tears. Boys don't cry, he said to himself. He smiled. "It's OK, Matt."

Matt gave the two their sundaes. They sat on a nearby bench. TK chattered about a sweet girl named Kari in his school, a brat that liked to play pranks on others named Davis, a group of boys who thought they were the coolest guys in the school, and this and that. "Hey, TK, give Ken a chance to talk." Matt pointed to Ken. TK pouted. Matt ruffled TK's hair. "We'll talk about your mates on the way home. I promise to listen."

TK was cheered up. "OK," he licked his ice cream, "Ken, it's your turn."

Ken seemed nervous. "Um... I guess I have nothing to say..."

Just after Ken said so, some colourful bubbles flew towards him and the blonds. A group of boys blew them, competing to make more bubbles than the others. Past flashed before Ken's eyes. Sam cut a plastic straw and prepared the liquid soap to play with. He let Ken play first because he wasn't good at making bubbles. Ken made big ones with the help of plastic straw. He laughed proudly and Sam smiled. "You're great, Ken. Make some more." was what he said next. Yes, Sam said Ken was great, but actually, Ken was nothing compared to Sam. Sam achieved nearly everything in school while Ken didn't even set goals for himself. Sam's parents were proud of him, so was Ken, but it changed to complete envy when Sam got all the attention Ken wanted. The envy turned into a very dark thought: if Sam disappeared, then things would be much better.

TK was popping the bubbles playfully when Ken started crying. Matt panicked. "Hey, hey, TK, stop popping the bubbles! You make Ken cry!" Matt brought TK up to stop the shortie, but Ken quickly shook his head, indicating that it wasn't TK who made him cry. And Ken spilled everything.

"You wished your brother disappeared?" TK stared at Ken in horror.

"Yes, but now I realize that it was the worst thing I've ever wished because I miss him so badly once he'd gone..."

Matt didn't know well about other kids younger than him except TK, so he didn't know how to comfort Ken. He stroke Ken's shoulder gently without saying a word. TK stepped forward and followed his brother maturely. Matt smiled on this sight and his smile grew wider after TK said sympathetically, "I will lend my brother to you if you don't mind, Ken..."

Ken's cry subsided. "Look, your ice cream start to melt," Matt licked the melted side of Ken's ice cream, "If you're not going to finish that up, TK will, so hurry up before he springs upon you."

Ken let out a small weary laugh, but as TK pouted and punched Matt continuously and said, "I'm not an ice-cream addict!", Ken laughed more freely. TK stopped punching his brother, blinking in disbelief, then opened his mouth in excitement, "Ken laughs!"

The sun was settling down when TK and Ken finished their sweet treats. "Ken, TK and I will walk you home. Can you show us the way to your house?"

"Sure."

The three walked hand-in-hand to Ken's house, with Matt holding the younger boys. TK tried to pull Matt to himself several times with jealousy; he didn't really want to share Matt, but Matt reminded him of his promise. "Ken is alone without Sam. Please be kind." Matt whispered to his mini version.

TK nodded. He clutched onto his brother's hand tightly as if saying, "You're still my big brother, Matt, even when I'm sharing you with Ken." Matt held his giggle to see TK's selfish expression. He loved the possessive TK, but for a moment, he must be Ken's brother also.

"Thank you for walking me home, Matt, TK," Ken stood in front of his apartment with a delightful smile, "Next time, let's play again."

Matt and TK agreed and finally, they bid farewell. When Matt was turning away, Ken suddenly tugged Matt's black shirt. "What is it, Ken?"

"Thank you for being my brother for a while. It's fun," He said shyly, "You too, TK. Thank you for lending me your brother."

Matt only ruffled Ken's hair and gave him a you're-welcome smile. TK nodded several times quickly. "But he's still my brother." He said, holding Matt's sleeve.

"TK!"

"Of course he is," Ken giggled, "See you later, guys."

Ken entered his apartment, and the Ishida-Takaishi brothers walked home.

Thanks for RnR! And also, thanks for the one following my previous stories, you're great :)