It was high noon. I could tell because the sun's rays bore directly into my skin. Then, suddenly the sun wasn't so intense, and the temperature of the air had dropped. The boy who was carrying me knelt down to his knees.

"It's okay, Nunnally, you can get down now," the voice was calm and assuring.

I unlinked my wrists from around his neck, putting out one arm to find something firm to steady myself against, but found my brother there waiting for me instead. He held my hand and wrapped his other arm around my torso, guiding me as I slid from the boy's back.

"Thank you, Suzaku," I said, smiling as my brother helped me to the ground in the cool air. I felt a tough uneven surface on my back. We must've been sitting underneath a tree.

Of course brother sat down next to me, never letting go of my hand.

I heard the faint, quick, rustle of the fabric of Suzaku's kimono as he walked around me. Brother's grip tightened on my hand. A muffled whimper left his lips.

All the muscles were tense in his arm as he squeezed the life out of my fingers. I was worried. My blindness be damned, something had happened to brother, and I was too helpless to do anything.

As I went to speak, to find the source of the silent torture, brother's grip loosed. His fingers barely laced with mine.

"Su-Suzaku, what-" brother stuttered for the first time in his life.

His touch was soft and gentle, like there wasn't a thing wrong in the world, but his voice was nervous. A nervousness I hadn't heard since he was around Euphy last.

I smiled to myself, shaking it off. Whatever happened, brother would always be safe with Suzaku.