Moon Princess
Gumption

"I don't care that he's my older brother and I've not seen him for over a year. I don't want to see him ever!" Ryo stood looking up at the large clock tower at Tokyo University, watching the clock hands tick away.

"You've not seen him in two years. Aren't you glad he's alive?"

"I don't care that it's been two years, and no. I'm not glad. He's not him!" Ryo clicked the button which hung up the phone, not caring about the lack of decorum he showed. After a few seconds he calmed, noting in the back of his head how the old man always treated him differently, giving him a bit more leeway. The family head was known for being strict, and yet for some reason let Ryo deal with his baggage the way Ryo so choose. "I'll apologize later. Goodness knows I won't be able to avoid Takashi forever."

"So, it is true?"

Ryo paused, noticing a couple of his female classmates approach him. The first who spoke dressed in a scant manner, but the second constantly looked at the ground. "You said he's not him? Does him mean, say, a boyfriend?"

"I wish they'd get their mind out of the gutter." Ryo smiled. "Apologies, but this is a private family matter. You shouldn't be listening in on the conversation."

"Are you leaving Ryo-kun?" The first whined.

Ryo flinched. She'd used his first name so casually, yet he didn't know her. "I'm going home for the summer holiday. Enough said. Chao!"

He waved before hoisting his backpack up further on his shoulders. He thankfully didn't miss his bus, but found himself glad most of the trip went off without anyone recognizing him. Getting closer to Shurubabare though meant people would easily recognize him despite the sunglasses. Takashi coming home leaked, so everyone was curious. He kept conversation, though, to a minimum. At least until someone asked, "Are you sure you want to come here to Shurubabare? I'd have thought you'd have rushed to the garrison with your grandfather and uncle, Ryo, once you found out your older brother is actually alive."

"Yeah. I thought you'd be pleased with the fact Takashi's alive. Didn't you wish…"

The comment filled him with anger. In all honesty, he'd been looking forward to purchasing a cold soda after the long bus ride from his grandparents shop and enjoying it without any conversation on the subject, and yet there he was. "That I'd wish Takashi were alive? That I'd consider that some kind of wish come true?" The anger in his voice was likely evident. "It's not! Of all the people to come back from the dead, he's the last person I'd want. It's a shit miracle, that's what it is, and I'll have…"

A red blur and thudding sound caught him off guard. A person landed in front of the group, a stranger of sorts and yet no stranger, for the face was recognizable.

"… nothing to … do with…" Ryo stared, his mind still processing the site in front of him. Lying on his back was a boy who looked a lot like him, except with slightly longer hair. One of his friends from the village – if he really could call them a friend – noticed and commented on it, which resulted in the "look-alike" cursing. And yet, Ryo couldn't help but speak in a softer tone. "Akira…"

He watched Akira's facial features, for who else could that be, twist suddenly in shock before he bolted back into the small store, but his grandfather refused to let him in. The pain welled in his chest, remembering how everyone choose to forget, and yet now he yet again found himself shut off from his twin. Reluctantly, he left, knowing full well his grandfather was already upset with him for not going to see Takashi.

Yet, it festered.

There was no way he wouldn't recognize his own twin.

He found himself sitting in the karaoke room with the few friends he'd arrived in town with waiting for the others to arrive. "Hey? Ryo. Want to pick a song? This is really your thing?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"Then I'll go first while we wait."

The music turned on, and Ryo found himself looking up at the ceiling. After sitting through a few badly sung songs, he spoke up. "Not where I want to be right now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Tilting his head up, Ryo noticed a couple of other guy enter alone with three young women. The one who spoke, Ryo recognized as a Shirogane family member, yet brushed it aside. One of the girls spoke as Ryo reached for his soda. "Ryo's talking about the fact he's not at the garrison?"

"Nah. He was quite adamant he didn't want to see his older brother." One of the guys sighed.

"Then it's not a rumor? Why wouldn't you want to see him?"

Ryo tilted his head, finding everyone an annoyance. "Nope. He and I weren't on speaking terms when he left."

"That's right. You didn't go to the launch."

This comment made Ryo's head snap up, as not many were purvey to that particular bit of information. The girl plopped down between Ryo and one of the other guys, her hands touching his leg. "None of your business."

"Yes. But if you're not wanting to be there, then where."

Ryo watched one of the girl's lips twist into a frown, her eyes watching the other girl carefully. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything the girl climbed into his lap and locked lips with him. The girl who sat down next to him let out a sound of annoyance. "Tsuya! That's so not fair!"

For a brief moment the festering thoughts stopped, his mind focusing on something else. On one side, Tsuya wasn't a bad kisser, but on the other hand her personality was always super annoying. "Ryo, are you okay?"

His eyes snapped open and he pushed Tsuya away slightly. "What?"

"You normally wouldn't let Tsuya or any girl…" It was the same guy from the same family. Tsuya forced her lips back onto his, and his body tensed up

"He's probably distracted by the fact he wanted to beat up that look-alike?"

"What…"

Tsuya continued kissing him, his mind still floating between pleasure and dislike of the girl.

"Ryo called him Akira."

Thankfully, the girl made the decision for her. "His name's not Akira."

The other Shirogane family member took a deep breath. "We're not allowed to mention that name."

"What name?"

Ryo felt a little ticked off with Tsuya. "Akira."

"Yeah, but you said it."

"That's different," the other Shirogane family member muttered. "He's the only one the head allows to, and even then Ryo rarely says…" The person paused. "Did you really…"

"There is no way that's his name."

"You saw the Ryo look alike, Tsuya?" The girls were obviously interested for obvious reasons.

"Now hold on…" The obvious reasons – hitting on Akira, simply didn't sit well in Ryo's mind. He attempted moving Tsuya off his lap, but as he attempted wrapping his arm behind her so she wouldn't fall as he tried adjusting his position he found her latching on using her hips. "Just my luck."

"Yeah. He said his grandmother was sending him on an errand. Kogane Kenji was with him, and they were headed to the shrine."

"Wait…" Ryo's eyes blinked. Tsuya's words indicated Akira was no longer under their grandmother's roof. She locked lips with him again, this time catching him off guard, but making the situation a bit more uncomfortable.

"Yeah, but what was his name."

"Kogane Keith, though he accidentally called himself Keith Kogane."

"What." Ryo started, accidentally knocking Tsuya out of his lap. She gave him a rather indignant look, but for a brief moment he thought he got a glimpse of something he'd rather not.

"Oh my gosh. What an idiot!"

"Excuse me?" His eyes narrowed, super frustrated.

"Not you. That Kogane kid."

"I've got to go." Ryo stood up, ignoring the pout on Tsuya's face.

"Hey. If you want to go and beat up this guy, we can…"

"Stay out of this."

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

Ryo stopped at the door and turned to look at Tsuya. "For what? Leaving early? Sorry for being such a party pooper."

"For dumping me on my butt you idiot!"

Ryo narrowed his eyes, before turning around and leaving. He quickly headed from the karaoke bar to the shrine, stopping when he heard someone behind him. He turned to look at the other Shirogane member. "I thought I said to stay out of this?"

"You called him…" The other young man sighed, closing his eyes. "Need I remind you he's dead?"

"They also said the heir apparent was dead as well and look who else is back."

"Isn't that a different situation? Shirogane Takashi – he was considered missing in action with the rest of the Kerberos crew. There was always room for him being alive. For all of them being alive."

"You don't think I wouldn't know my own twin brother?" He turned, knowing full well the other Shirogane family member would continue following him. While this one wasn't so discrete, a personal bodyguard was still a personal bodyguard. As he neared the top of the shrine.

"Keith, did you just mention Voltron?"

Ryo found his head spinning, his anger and frustration at Shirogane Takashi increasing by the moment. Until this point he hated him for replacing Akira. Now, he hate him for not saying Akira was alive. He still took a deep breath, watching his brother carefully. "Akira?"