Aniki
Where is Keith?

The adults said things were for the best, and yet Shiro felt rather ill. His uncle lifted him up and carried him back to his room. The man pulled back the cover of the futon, before placing him in. A fever wracked his body from staying out like he had, but also the amount of time spent in the dojo. His eyes closed, and he felt a few tears in the corners of his eyes as he fell asleep. He awoke to see his grandmother sitting near him.

"Shush."

"Keith…"

"Akira is being taken care of."

"I want to see him."

"Go to sleep little one."

Shiro dozed off, waking to find the sun starting to set as his grandmother spoke to his grandfather who sat in the porch area of the home. "Are you ever going to tell the boys the truth?"

"About Ayumu, as we called her?" The old man sighed. "What use is it to the children to let them know their mother was a tenshi himi at this point? They don't need to know…"

The seven-year-old fell asleep and awoke again sometime the next day. His grandmother sat nearby. Shiro sat up, wondering what he just dreamed, turning to look at the woman. The dream from the night before became forgotten. He leaned forward, tilting his head to look the woman in the eye, unsure of what to say to her. He knew, though, that Keith was gone. He felt empty, without purpose, and yet he was only seven.

"How are you feeling?"

Shiro took a deep breath, unable to say anything. He wasn't sure what to do now that Keith was gone. He didn't know where his grandfather sent his younger brother, or how to find him. He was, after all, seven. He didn't know what to do and simply sat there, letting it sink in how much he couldn't do at the age of seven before his grandmother spoke up again.

"You're under your grandfather's orders to rest a few more days. Meals will be brought to you until then."

"What about Keith?" The child opened his mouth, wanting to say something, to find his brother, and yet didn't know how to deal with the adults who seemed to know what was best for everyone. He remained complaint, gathering his thoughts until his breakfast was brought to him. He ate but found himself eating slowly. He didn't feel like staying in his room despite the fact he was under orders to do so and got up, feeling the need to walk.

He tucked his hands into the sleeves of his clothing, before heading out. The estate was large, with various places one could get lost in. His grandfather's voice called out to him, making him turn his head. "Takashi. You're supposed to be resting."

Shiro turned to see his grandfather sitting with a man in military uniform. "Grandfather."

"Come and sit. This is Commander Iverson. He's in charge of one of the garrison schools in America."

The boy complied, sitting down, feeling a little dizzy. The man named Iverson spoke up. "I hear you're going to be going to one of the schools which fast track into the garrison career." The news meant nothing to him, and he simply sat there, not at all sure what to say. Iverson continued. "I'm sorry for your loss, young man." He didn't know what to say. "Anyways, I'll take my leave, sir."

The man left, and Shiro thought carefully about what he saw. "So…"

"Use full sentences."

"Are you part of the military?"

"The entire main branch is military orientated."

"So, I will be expected to also go into the military?"

"Yes. Like your father."

"And what about Keith?"

"Your brother's name is Akira."

"Fine. What is expected of Akira?"

"I've no expectations of Akira at this point, other than for him to have a normal childhood."

"Okay." Shiro looked down at his hands. "Would it be possible for me to see him?"

"Akira is getting used to his new family."

"That doesn't change the fact he's my brother." Everything felt like it had been ripped away from him at that point. He'd lost his parents, their family home burned down, and now Keith was taken away. "I don't think I could ever get used to him not being here."

"This is the way things work."

"I don't like how they work."

"Takashi…"

"I don't think it's right that you're telling me I've no say, but that I've no control over the matter. I'm expected to take lessons from my tutor, train in the dojo, and go to this school you want me to, and yet you've taken away something I care about a lot. No, since my parents are gone, he is the most important thing to me.

"I didn't say you couldn't see him. You do need to give him time to adjust."

"Adjust to what? Ke… Akira's may seem like, I don't know."

"Use full sentences."

Shiro pushed his lips together. "I don't know how to put it. Akira's never been without mother, father or me."

"So you're worried about him." Shiro's grandfather tapped the table. "I don't see why, if you don't do well in your schooling, if you can't visit him at least once a month."

"You mean, in order to see my brother, I have to achieve excellence."

"That's not…"

"I'll do it. I'll do anything to see Akira. I'll become the perfect heir you want, if only it means I get to see him, spend time with him." Shiro didn't catch the look on his grandfather's face, but the determination was there.

~V~

In truth, he'd always hated school, and found it boring, hating the memorization. The repetition of the math tables only became somewhat fun when he started going over them with Keith at home, and it became a game. Making a game out of memorizing the family lines, but also the many different rules simply didn't seem possible. The reward though was worth it.

He also hated his uncle Takeo, who continued to push him. At first, it wasn't as hard as before he got sick, but then Shiro pushed back, only to be cut back once he started school. There was even a bit of tutoring to catch up to his classmates when he entered the school. He arrived at the school, not at all sure what to think. He was driven there in a limo, his grandfather not coming with. Instead, it was the butler.

Shiro took a deep breath, noting how much larger this school was than his old elementary school, which was only one room. He pulled his backpack to his chest tightly, his jaw tightening as a bit of dysphoria set in. He closed his eyes. "Takashi, you know this is so you can see Keith. So, you go and put these fears of your aside. You've got to be strong with him."

"Takashi!"

The familiar voice made Shiro's eyes open up, and he turned his head to look at his cousin. "Shinji-san."

"Just Shinji, okay." The eight-year-old smiled down at him. "I heard today's going to be your first day here."

"Yeah." Shiro felt a shudder run down his spine.

"Are you okay?"

Shiro bit lightly at the inside of his mouth but didn't say anything.

Shinji sat down on the other side of him, leaning over. "You're not okay."

"I've got to be. If I excel, then I'll get to see Akira."

"I'd forgot. They separated the two of you. Akira's with Aunt Seki and Uncle Ohori."

Shiro felt the tension from the last week or two melt away. "You know where my brother is?"

"Since our mother is a Kagone, we end up seeing the members of the Kagone branch every so often." Shinji's smile faded. "Aunt Seki absolutely adores your brother, but…"

"Your uncle doesn't?"

"Well, there is that, but she kind of treats him more like he's only a year, instead of four like he is. It doesn't help that he really, really misses you, though, and is having issues."

"Then, they were wrong?"

"I…" Shinji paused. "Look, there's no point in arguing with the adults in this family. Even adults have problems going against the decisions of adults. In this case, the decision was made by the family head and the head of the Kagone branch family. Aunt Seki's always wanted a little one of her own, but Uncle Ohori…"

The eight-year-old paused, before continuing. "Uncle Ohori is heir to the Kagone family, so not having a child of his own is honestly a major blow to his ego. Honor, duty and all. That's important in this family, and if you can't live up to it, you get sidelined."

"And…"

Shinji took a deep sigh. "There's a high chance Akira's going to get sidelined in all of this. That's why grandfather and my father both felt it was best he be placed in a branch family where there would hopefully be less pressure. However, they stuck him with the wrong family. Aunt Iori and Uncle Ohashi were both looking forward to having Akira, after losing their own child, but Uncle Ohori won out being the heir to the headship."

"Why would they be better?"

Shinji let out a laugh. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It may just be that I've never liked Uncle Ohori. After school, would you like to see Akira?"

Shiro took a deep breath. "Grandfather's not said it's okay. If it's not okay, and I visit, I might not get to see him for a long time."

"Takashi, grandfather's not that strict. And if anybody ends up taking blame it will be me. You and I will simply be visiting my aunt and uncle like I do every so often after school. I'll show you how to get from this school to their place, so you can go when you want."

"But…"

"You're the young master of the Shirogane family. Being the family heir does have some perks to it." Shinji took a deep breath. "I'll make it work out."

"Okay, I guess."

"In the meantime, the actual reason I came here. Normally, it is supposed to be your class representative who shows you around the school, but I'm going to ask the teacher's if I could stop by during lunch time to guide you around." Shinji watched the look of confusion on Shiro's face. "What?"

Shiro took a deep breath. "The last school I went to, I didn't need someone to guide me around."

"Wow. So you went to a school in the countryside before this. What was it like?"

"Akira was supposed to go with me in a year or two."

Shinji tilted his head. "Your life really was planned all around Akira, wasn't it."

"Hey, Shiro." The words played in the back of his head in his mother's voice. "If anything ever happens to me and your father, protect your little brother. He's special."

"Special?"

"Yes. Akira's special. Don't you feel that special bond with him, like you, do with me?"

"Yes. It's that funny feeling that isn't there with papa, and yet…"

His mother kissed him on his forehead. Shiro placed his hands on his knees. "I don't know how to put it. I've always known Akira's different, but so did mother. She made me promise."

"Yeah, but Shiro? What are you going to do once Akira no longer needs you?" Shinji let out a sigh. "You really don't know, do you? Well, I guess you've got your duties as the head."

"Which I don't want."

"Don't let anyone hear you talk like that. There are people in the family who would love to find a weakness anywhere so that they can get ahead. My father always told me to be cautious."

Shiro took a deep breath, looking up. "What do you know about my mom?"

"Your mother?" Shinji looked over. "Why?"

"The family doesn't seem to like her."

"About that…" Shinji took a deep breath. "You should know that your father was supposed to marry my mother, but when he met your mother, things changed. My mother got booted to the second son. Beyond that, I don't know the details. You and me, though…" The older boy stood up. "Neither one of us would exist if it weren't for her, or at least, we wouldn't be who we are now. So, I know there are people in the family who hold that against you, but I can't. I won't."

Shiro looked up, more confused than ever.

"I'll see you at lunch, and then after school."