AN: Yay, 20 reviews! I just want to say thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their day to review this fic, it really means a lot to me! And a special thank you to Zena Silverwing whose reviews always make me smile 3

Restraint

Chapter Eight: Massacre

Brother has been consorting often with Matt. Too often. Matt's been stuffing brother with disgusting homosexual ideas. Matt believed I hadn't observed his and Blondie's relationship. I'd discerned them performing sinful actions at least twice before, brother even more so. Brother didn't think it was wrong.

That was Matt's influence.

I stilled - voices around the corner, in the sleeping room. Sometimes Matt, Blondie and Girly slept here. They had homes to return to. Brother and I slept there every night and most mornings. We scavenged for food in the afternoon and evening. There were people searching for us now. There were images of us on televisions. I wouldn't let them take brother.

"Mmm… not now Mello."

I heard Matt's soft, virtually inaudible groans, and suppressed a shudder. Brother was here too. He'd better not have seen. He'd taken to watching them occasionally, it was extremely sick.

Matt's fault.

"Why not now? I wanna now!"

"Ryuuga's skulking 'round here somewhere. You know how he gets…" I peered around, ears perking at my name. They talked about me? Blondie was perched on the faded green couch that we usually habituated, a breathless Matt beneath him. I blanched, withdrawing my burning eyes. Brother wasn't there – not that I could see.

"Who the fuck cares 'bout some psychotic brat?"

"Me. Stop it Mello! Plus if Hideki sees… you know what Ryuuga'll do to him." I tiptoed into the room, glancing at the couch in distaste. They'd rearranged now, Mello leaning comfortably next to Matt. Cuddling into his chest. Someone should destroy them. I sneered, remembering my mur- kill. I could assassinate them. But not yet. No, not yet.

Soon.

"He's absolutely insane. 'Ave you seen how he commands the mini brat? I saw 'im lock Hideki in the fridge once. Told 'im he couldn't come out until he obeyed. Disgusting."

I rolled my fiendish pupils. They didn't understand. None of them understand. Not mother, not father. Not Near. Not them.

Brother must obey. He had to. And if he didn't… My hands tingled pleasurably. Then he'd pay.

"Yeah. It's like Hideki's a pet. I'm astonished he doesn't physically hit him. Guess Ryuuga has some self restraint."

"Psh. I wou-"

I tuned them out. They weren't important – I'd sighted my disobedient brother. He was concealed in one of the tattered cupboards strewn around the room, peeping out at the two boys; soft lips agape in scandalous fascination, cheeks stained with scarlet. Bad, bad boy.

He hadn't perceived me, was still surveying delightedly. I edged closer, scrutinising the two boys. They'd stopped talking now. Matt's fingers were running contentedly through Blondie's tresses. Surprised he wasn't a girl really, with hair as silky as that. Perhaps he used to be.

Brother's thumb was resting soothingly on his bottom lip, tugging at the skin. He'd picked the habit up from me – it was my thinking face. Thief.

He blinked.

I struck.

I covered his mouth with my fingers, preventing him from alerting them.

He struggled, tears already sliding like moonlit icicles down his pert cheeks.

I giggled passionately, nails clawing into his delicate skin as his body writhed, resistant to my command.

This had become somewhat of an obsession for me. Restraining him. Observing him powerless under my control. Thrills trilled through my brain, my mouth sliding into a small, deranged, smile. It wasn't normal, I knew. But I wasn't normal – I was extremely brilliant. So brilliant that an orphanage for intelligent children had attempted to recruit my brothers and I. That's why we left England. So we wouldn't be taken.

They should've left us there.

I wrenched brother from his hiding place, his body feeble compared to my omnipotent strength. I sighed, satisfied, and hauled him from the room.

It was afternoon. The sun was soon to set. We had to go hunting.

月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月

I breathed in the fresh evening air with relish. I'd been stuck in my musty office for hours. Actually doing work! Work! It was wicked, the way Wedy was locking me in there, all for two little brats. After they'd executed a child trafficker, the Chief of Police had been outraged. I'd been officially assigned the case – but that was weeks ago. These two were clever. But I wasn't worried – I would win.

I'd had a call from an affronted police officer. Apparently, about an hour ago, a little black haired brat had kicked him when he'd been questioned, and then fled. It was a gamble – but given Lawliet and his brother's obvious dislike for authority, it was my only chance.

It had occurred not too far from where I'd sighted Lawliet at the lolly shop. Which made it all the more likely that it was them – or maybe less likely. Would such an intelligent pair believe it safe to stay in the area?

Who knows.

Currently, I was loitering near a dimly lit Western Restaurant, tucked into a revolting alleyway. If I was lucky, the children would be sticking to uncrowded areas in order to stay unnoticed – their images had been plastered across every news channel in Tokyo. There was even a reward on their heads. I was hoping to cash in and buy Wedy a lifetime supply of instant Ramen.

I chuckled to myself, leaning on the rotting bricks. My shivering fingers safely tucked away in toasty pockets. It'd been a rough winter. It should've been spring by now, but Yuuki-Ona was still roaming the heartless mountains preying on the old and weak; and Jack Frost still sticking to many a frostbitten corpse. Two boys had been sighted here once, by an elderly lady, and I was hoping this was a regular haunt.

"Stay behind me. Don't talk. Disobey and I'll hurt you."

English? I stiffened, grey coat blending me into the wall. Could it be?

Two boys edged past my alleyway. One was huddling meekly behind the other, safely tucked into his shadow. They both had snow-coated hair, their skin as white and delicate as alabaster. They were tiny. Just the right age for my brothers.

I stepped out of the lane, before them. I couldn't see their irises, couldn't distinguish between the two. But it didn't matter – I could figure out which was the leader later.

They glanced up with twin expressions of shock.

"Hello there Lawliet and Beyond-" They were the right pair, the one behind gasped, "-I've heard all about how smart you two are. The smartest thing to do now would be to come with me. I'm Aiber. I met you before, haven't I, Lawliet? You remember me. Come on, there's no poi-"

They bolted, breakneck, back down the frozen street, slipping and sliding away from me. I shrugged, smirking.

They could run – I had larger legs.

I jogged behind the fleeing children. They were careless, dashing into a more populated district, one I was very familiar with.

I gripped my phone, puffing softly in the bright, artificial streetlights, and called for reinforcements. Best to be prepared. Not that there children were particularly dangerous. I had my suspicions about them causing the death of that trafficker.

Anyhow. They wouldn't hurt me.

月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月

NonononoNO!

This was all brother's fault! He begged to come back here, to the yummy western food place. I had listened to him! And now look. They were gonna get us. They were gonna separate us. I HATE him.

I could hear him sobbing ahead of me. He knew that he'd done wrong. He knew this was all his fault. I spat on the ground. It was time for me to take control. I had a plan. A risky one, but a plan nonetheless. I diverted down an alley, grabbing brother by his padded sleeve, yanking the breath from his lungs menacingly.

I could hear the rhythmic thump thump thump of Aiber behind us. He was right – there was no use in running, not unless we could daze him. Do something that he won't suspect. I had just the thing in mind.

I pulled brother into a crowded, family themed street. Further and further from our hiding place. No point in going there now. It would only lead him to our home. I had a much better destination in mind. People screeched as we whipped by, my hands eagerly shoving them into each other, causing confusion. Brother was trailing behind now, breathless. I gripped tightly onto his wrist, and he screeched in pain.

Aiber increased his pace. We hadn't lost him yet.

Hopefully we wouldn't.

月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月

"Yeah, see you soon, Wedy!" I shouted, voice barely audible in the panic. The kids were clever, attempting to loose me in all the people. But I'd been trained for situations like this, and I could easily slip between crowds. Go unnoticed. Wedy was a master at concealment, and I'd been stealing her ideas for years.

"AIBER! Hey, hey Aiber!"

Mikami?

I turned, and sighted him with his mother. Mikami was smitten with me. He preferred me to his father, and constantly came to harass me at work. I welcomed it. He and his ideals were more thrilling than my job.

Perhaps I should've become a babysitter.

"Hey kid, can't stop, gotta catch someone!" I yelled, waving slightly at his bewildered expression. The brothers had incited a young child, and its wailing prevented all communication.

"Wai-"

I turned as Mikami extracted himself from his mother's grasp. He wouldn't follow me. I was much to stealthy to be stalked by a 1-something-year-old. I discerned the brothers duck into a deserted alleyway.

I still had it.

月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月

We were nearly there, and Aiber was sprinting behind us. Good. I could set my plan in motion. I breathed deeply, the salty air stinging my burning lungs. Brother was coughing beside me, unable to keep up. He was so pathetic. Why didn't I annihilate him? He deserved to die.

Snow poured from the sky as I glimpsed rough waves rasping unharmoniously on unyielding boats.

Yes.

I darted to an abandoned warehouse, lugging brother behind me, thrusting him onto the door. We strained against it, fingers shivering on the glacial metal. Aiber was closing in.

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

The door creaked open. Sea salt had made it weak. We darted into the damp, musty silence, glancing around for camouflage. Cranes loomed above us, gaping ghastly. Beams swung sinisterly, otherworldly. Brother shivered in fright.

Perfect.

I crept over to a dim storage box as Aiber strode through the entrance. I fixed my palm over brother's mouth, stifling his rapid breaths, calming my own. No need to alert Aiber so soon. Let him fear first.

His footsteps quietened, his breathing as fast as brothers. I crouched, transfixed, as he shuffled closer. Brother moaned into me, quivering like an apprehensive bunny. Piteous.

"I know you're in here."

His voice rang in the dank serenity. Rats squeaked in terror, and I blanched as they scuttled over my feet. I loathed rats. Brother shoved his nails into the crate, attempting to pull himself away from me, but I held him tighter and tighter until he was motionless.

"You could make this a lot easier if you just came with me. There's no other way out. Just this door. C'mon. Lawliet, you trust me right? I gave you a humbug… how about you repay me?"

Was that a tinge of anxiety in his voice? I chuckled diabolically, psychotically. The sound echoed, and little brother snivelled. Aiber pivoted toward the noise, snorting in triumph.

It was time.

I tossed brother down, divulging myself to the victorious Aiber. Oh yes, he'd captured us. His pupils shined with joy as he scuttled toward me.

"Given up, have you? Goo-"

The words caught – a strangled noise. An exciting noise. I quivered, fingers resting on the hard, iniquitous, obvious gun.

His hands instantly raised. I smiled. He stepped backward.

He'd thought I was a mere child, that I wouldn't hurt him.

He hadn't armed himself.

Idiot.

"Don't!"

I growled as my brother screeched, gripping my arm. Aiber exhaled. I cocked the gun at him. Brother tried to yank it from my fingers. I kicked his leg, delighting in his torturous squeal.

"Don't tell me what to do." I hissed, disregarding his heart-wrenching weeping. This man was trying to separate us. He needed to die.

Brother wailed, and Aiber comforted him in a low, fatherly voice. Shocking him into silence. He missed father. Aiber was reminding him of things that saddened him. I would show no mercy.

"Any last words?" I asked casually, gun now pointing to Aiber's chest. The man turned pale, beads of sweat dribbling down his forehead. I giggled. Brother curled into a ball.

"You don't want to do this," Aiber murmured, somewhat shakily, slipping closer to me. "They're going to put you in jail if you murder me. They're going to separate you and take you far away from each other."

I stood motionless. He continued with more fervour.

"That's right. But, if you just come with me now, quietly, I'll tell them this was all a big mistake… So put down the gun, and let me deal with this, okay?"

He was lying.

But brother believed him.

"P-Put the gun down, like he says… I d-don't wanna loose you."

He spoke softly, his voice raspy. Brother didn't speak often. He crawled toward me ominously.

Had he chosen this beast's side?

"No!" I snapped. Brother shook. Wet and hopeless and weak. He knew there was no stopping me. I'd made my mind up.

This man was to die.

"Whoa, whoa, you should listen to you bro-"

"Aiber? Aiber, you in here?"

Wait

He hadn't been trying to convince me. He'd been stalling. Stalling so his abhorrent friends would come and save him.

And capture us!

Aiber swore, turning around to the door.

Angry? Why was he angry? He should be triumphant.

Then I regarded Aiber's mystery saviour. A little boy, the same age as me. I chuckled, and the kid paused, glancing at Aiber from behind frosty glasses.

"Mikami… Don't move. Just back out. Back out now!"

"No." I shouted, and the boy stared at me in horror. Surges of power jolted through me. "I'll only let one of you walk through that door. You, Aiber, or your little friend there. You've got one choice and one minute. Choose, Aiber, or I'll massacre you both."

My monotonous voice reverberated, masking the light chatter of rats . Brother was crouched beside me, rocking, peeking out from behind his hands. Crying no, no, no. Aiber stood paralysed, eyes absorbing Mikami's. He knew there was no guarantee that if he sacrificed himself I wouldn't assassinate the boy. Mikami was no threat to me, though. If I eliminated Aiber I would only have one shot left. I would have to save it. Guard it.

"Kill me." Aiber's voice was soft, and he flinched as Mikami and my brother screeched. I shrugged, leering at him. He positioned himself between Mikami and my gun. "As soon as you hear the shot, Mikami, run. Just run. And keep running. My friends will be here soon, and they'll catch this bastard and put him in jail. Okay?"

Mikami bawled. I pouted at the use of 'bastard'. Really, I wasn't all that bad. It was his fault anyway. He was the bastard. Trying to separate us.

Oh well.

BANG.

Brother dived at me.

He was too late.

I laughed breathlessly as the bullet connected with Aiber's chest.

As he fell to the ground.

As he uttered his last, blood drenched breath.

It was time for us to leave. Mikami had already fled. I gripped brother's arm. But he fought me. He bolted toward Aiber's convulsing body.

I seized him by his tartan coat. He yelped. I dragged him downward.

He screamed and screamed and screamed.

I jumped on top of him. He wouldn't run away from me. He couldn't run away from me. Then I'd be alone. All alone. I would not let him leave me!

"I hate you!" He screeched into my face as I clutched his fingers. "You don't mean that." I whispered huskily into his ears, nuzzling my face into his hair, "You love me."

He clenched his eyelids, attempting to flip me over. "Stop it." I growled, nose touching his. He tried again.

I threaded my fingers through his oily hair and pulled.

He cried and moaned and howled, but I didn't respond.

"No…" He muttered, searching for pity in my dispassionate orbs. There was none. I sneered, jerking again, and he collapsed.

"Aiber?"

A female voice this time. I glanced down at Aiber. Unmoving, face concealed in the dust and grime of the warehouse. Dead.

Fwip Fwip Fwip Fwip Fwip!

Helicopters?

I ignored brother, concentrating.

No!

I could hear their blades, spinning, twirling outside the warehouse. I hadn't foreseen this. We were trapped if they'd surrounded the perimeter. My muscles stiffened. Sirens. I could hear sirens now.

Wee-ooh wee-ooh.

Not the police. No…

Brother quietened as I rolled off him, huddling behind the crate as a woman entered. I didn't know if there were other exits. I didn't know that Aiber would go to such lengths. Had they found out about my first kill? No!

"Oh my God! Aiber!"

She rushed toward us. I tugged brother further into the building. He resisted at first. But I yanked harder, and he complied in silence.

The building was dark. Too dark. I could hear water sloshing, dripping.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

We moved further in, past the cranes and their gaping mouths, closer to the sea. I was hoping for a door. A loose plank. Anything to get us out of here alive.

"Wedy-sama? Are you in here?"

"Over here… I need a paramedic. Quickly! Aiber's not breathing!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Their voices made me jittery with anxiety. Was Aiber right? Would they separate us because I destroyed him? It was self-defence. Brother would vouch for me. My fingers moved from brother's hair and into his little hand. I squeezed it, but he didn't return the gesture. He would soon though, when he realised he had no one left.

No one but me.

"Light up the warehouse. Torches, lamps, anything. His killer could be in here."

I froze, snuggling brother. No. If they lit up the warehouse, we'd be found easily. There weren't enough crates. There'd be no shadows to lurk in.

"Yes ma'am."

I dashed from the voices, into the void. It was dangerous. I couldn't see.

They brought light.

There were thousands, millions of voices, of echoes. Crowding my mind. Disrupting my thoughts.

Brother tripped. Shrieked.

The voices stopped, the echoes calmed.

Tranquillity reigned.

Light shined upon us, a woman with hair as blonde as Mello's peered into the darkness.

And spotted brother.

"No!" I howled, scaring her. I hauled brother closer by his neck, listening to his hoarse breaths.

Police jogged toward us, illuminating us both.

The blonde woman snickered, eyes tainted with bloodlust.

I rose the gun. The smile dropped.

"Don't even try to execute me like you did Aiber. I've got backup. We'd get you first."

"I wasn't planning on it," I muttered breathily, delighting in her perplexed expression.

It cleared when I pointed the gun at brother's head.

月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月とエルと月

AN: Mini~poll: Which brother is which? :3