Ryousuke bit the inside of his lip slightly, wanting to call out to his little brother and tell him there was something in his way, but he'd been told to be quiet so Haruichi could practice using a cane to feel around for things. He winched slightly when the younger Kominato banged his shoulder into a pole he'd missed. Excusing himself, he went to wait outside, not wanting to watch any longer. He didn't know how long he sat there before he heard the sound of tapping coming toward him. He looked up in time to see his little brother making his way slowly down the hall by himself. Not caring that he wasn't supposed to be helping, he went forward and took Haruichi's elbow, getting a smile in response, and guided him to the bench he'd been sitting on.
"Are you alright?" Ryousuke asked when the younger Kominato laid his head on the elders shoulder. Haruichi nodded but didn't say anything, simply laying like that. It wasn't uncommon, as Haruichi hardly talked now. That didn't matter to Ryousuke who could still understand what he wanted or needed without words, but that didn't mean he didn't miss his little brother's voice. He missed Haruichi running into his room early in the mornings and yelling 'Onii-chan, Onii-chan, play with me! Wake up! Onii-chan!' and tugging on his arm or sitting on him and shaking him until he woke up.
He missed making shadow puppets with a flashlight when it was dark and his little brother was scared. Most of all he missed his laugh. The younger boy hardly smiled, let alone laughed. He'd screamed until his voice was raw and cried until there were no tears left because he'd always been scared of the dark, and now he was stuck in it. Ryousuke still blamed himself. He'd told Haruichi to go back without him so he could play with others. He'd told the boy he didn't want him around right then. He'd yelled at him to leave.
Running his hands through his little brother's hair, he felt the tears falling as he closed his eyes. 'I'm sorry Haruichi,' He whispered softly, 'I'm so sorry.' Eyes closed and tears falling, he decided then that if Haruichi couldn't see, he wouldn't either. No matter how hard it was, his eyes would stay shut so he'd be the same as his baby brother. It was only fair, since it was he was the one who ruined the boy's life.
Words were a weapon. Ryousuke leaned that the hard way.
