.
.
Even though it was bright outside, the room where Kiyotsugu studied was dark, the only light coming from a small rectangular window near the ceiling. The room was dusty and dark, and his brother frowned, itching uncomfortably as his little brother worked. The sound of a brush dipped in black ink was louder than it should have been, and in the silence he could see Kiyotsugu's face furrowed in concentration.
He dragged him into the courtyard. "Here," his brother said, and he shoved a wooden sword against Kiyotsugu's chest. "You and I are gonna practice."
"Why?" Kiyotsugu said. "I'm not joining the imperial army, I'm studying to be a scholar."
"Because you're a fucking pussy and it's getting really embarrassing!" His brother puffed out his chest and took a stance. "Here, Little Brother. Hold your fucking sword."
In the distance, on the top of a grassy hill, Yato and Bishamon both watched the scene unfold in front of them: Kiyotsugu protesting loudly while his brother whacked him on the chest and arm with the sword, hard enough to bruise. He was an egotist and a bully and both Yato and Bishamon started as Kiyotsugu tried to fight back, but only got knocked over.
xXx
.
Somehow, even though Kazuma erased his brother's memories, his brother still took notice of him. "Yo, four-eyes!" his brother said, and Kazuma sighed annoyed as he closed the door to his mailbox. "Is it really true you're hitting that?" That being Veena, which made Kazuma bristle defensively.
"I'm not talking to you," Kazuma said. He started walking up the stairs but his brother cheerfully followed him.
"Perhaps we should move," Bishamon said. She watched as Kazuma paced around, agitated. "Of all the apartment buildings we could have rented, we somehow picked the one inhabited by your older brother. The situation is untenable and is causing too much stress to you."
"Are you feeling ill?" Kazuma looked up, alarmed. "Veena, my apologies, if my mental state is affecting you-"
"Hush, it's not that, I'm fine," Bishamon said. "I only say this because I'm worried. Even if he doesn't have his memories currently, your brother really hurt you."
"We signed a lease," Kazuma said, sitting next to her. "And I'm not going to let my brother drive me out of this apartment."
"We have a home in Takamagahara, we can break the lease at any time," Bishamon said, gently.
xXx
.
There was a thunderstorm outside. Kazuma watched as Veena looked up delighted from the balcony, watching the rolling dark clouds and slashes of cold rain. "Kazuma, look," Veena said, and Kazuma peered behind her and laughed as he saw Takemikazuchi riding Kiun, the lightning dragon whipping violently through the dark sky.
"I'm going to get the mail," Kazuma said, and he gave Veena a quick kiss on the cheek and bounded down the metal steps. His brother was standing in the courtyard.
Kazuma ignored him. One of the perks of being from the Far Shore was that humans rarely took notice of him. Most of the time he could successfully avoid his brother so long as he didn't make eye contact with him.
Takemikazuchi was laughing maniacally, hair whipping around in the thunderstorm while Kiun threw thunderbolts and redirected lightning. Well he certainly is enjoying himself, Kazuma thought. He went to lock his mailbox when he saw Takemikazuchi land on top of the building, Kiun's lightning form curling around him, surveying his good work.
"What the fuck," someone said, and Kazuma turned and saw his brother staring at them.
Shit. Kazuma waved frantically to try to get his brother's attention. "Hey!"
"Oi!" his brother said to Takemikazuchi. He ran up the metal flight of stairs, taking two steps at a time. "Oi! Over here!"
Takemikazuchi glanced back at Kazuma's brother briefly, then looked back out into the storm. The human after all probably wasn't talking to them.
"Hey! Oh shit! Is that a lightning dragon?!"
"Nii-san!" Kazuma ran up to him. "Don't bother them- BIND!" Kazuma said, and his brother froze halfway up the stairs.
Takemikazuchi got bored standing on the rooftop. He leapt forward, jumping onto Kiun's back and diving headfirst into the storm.
xXx
.
"Who are you?! How did you stop me?! Are you some kind of freaky wizard or something?!"
"What? No! Remember," Kazuma said, and his brother's eyes widened.
"Kiyotsugu, what the FUCK," his brother said. Kazuma sighed and shook his head.
"That was Takemikazuchi-sama," Kazuma said. He pointed. "That's his shinki, Kiun."
"The lightning dragon is a fucking person?!"
"Indeed. And you would be well advised to ignore them."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, ever since you cast your voodoo bullshit on me I've been seein' stuff," his brother said. He crossed his arms. "It's all fuckin' phantoms and monsters and gods and shit. Kiyotsugu, what the fuck?"
"That's probably my fault. As you know, Nii-san, you murdering me left me stranded between the Near Shore and the Far Shore. That we interacted brought you partially there as well."
"Wait, I'm half dead?!"
"No, but you can see the undead, such as we are."
"Hold up, are you a fuckin' ghost?!" his brother said. Kazuma frowned at him.
"Do I look like a ghost?"
"I know you're hookin' up with that hot chick - wait a second, you didn't reincarnate just like I did?"
"I really don't want to have this conversation," Kazuma said. "Forget."
A flash. His brother blinked at him.
"Yo four-eyes, did you see that guy riding that dragon?"
Kazuma stared at him. His brother laughed.
"Jesus Christ, what am I saying? Am I fucking high?"
Kazuma rolled his eyes.
xXx
.
"Kiyotsugu, wait! Don't erase my memories! Wait, wait!" his brother said, and Kazuma lowered his arm.
"Look," his brother said. "I fucked you over. I shouldn't have strangled you. I'm sorry."
Kazuma scoffed. "That apology is two hundred years too late," Kazuma said.
"Look, Little Brother, I'm being serious. I killed you and Father gave me the business."
"It sounds like things worked out well for you," Kazuma said, dryly.
"It ate me up inside," his brother said. "Listen to me, Kiyotsugu, you probably don't believe me, but you were my little brother, man, I never wanted to hurt you."
Kazuma's jaw tightened. His brother clapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey? Buy you a drink so we can talk about it?"
Kazuma sighed. "Fine."
xXx
.
Bishamon watched with increasing trepidation as Kazuma and his brother started to talk.
"Yatogami, should I be worried?" she asked, as Yato joined her on the rooftop, watching as Kazuma and his brother exchanged pleasantries, his brother jostling Kazuma and punching him lightly on the arm.
"His brother's an asshole, that's for sure," Yato said.
xXx
.
The next day, Bishamon and Yato flanked Kazuma's brother, two vengeful gods backlit by sunlight.
"Okay, okay! Shit! Okay," his brother said, holding up his hands. "I promise I won't fuck over Kiyotsugu."
Yato and Bishamon's eyes both narrowed.
"Good."