Kazuha became a part of your life afterwards.

Quite literally in fact, because your brother brought him along back home to you every single time. You had no reason to hate him, other than the fact that he stole a tad bit of your brother's attention from you, but you didn't mind it that much. You were old enough not to let childish jealousy take over.

What did bother you was how injured the boy got.

It wasn't too often, but it had occurred where your brother would return rather early, Kazuha tucked in his arms. It was usually an issue with his hand, holding the sword put too much strain on the muscle and let him slip up with the enemy. Even with your brother dashing over to help, it wasn't enough to save Kazuha the whole brute of the attacks.

"Well I'm not accepting this anymore," you mumbled, holding the boy's hand up to scan his swollen thumb. "My brother might be stupid but I'm certainly not."

Kazuha only offered a small smile, silent as you pulled out a roll of bandages. It was usually like that, lips sealed as he listened to your rants or held your hand as you walked him around Inazuma City. He looked so similar to you in age, yet his soft demeanour and hard eyes spoke of experiences and maturity far past you.

"Is she calling me stupid again?" The front door opened with a swing, big footsteps resounding along the floorboards. There was a mumble of curses before your brother stepped past the corner and into the little room where you and Kazuha sat. You'd gotten him to take off the ponytail, white hair spilling along his shoulders. "Feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you." His shoulders seemed to ease when your brother came along, you knitted your brows quizzically.

"Alright, well I'm off to make dinner for you kids!" He bellowed as he started to the kitchen, a cardboard bag filled with ingredients in his arms.

Simply scoffing, you return to wrapping the bandage around Kazuha's hand. "He's what, only a few years older? Dumbass… and he can't cook to save his life either, don't look forward to dinner. If you want I can cook you something afterwards."

When you glanced up, the white haired boy was looking directly at you. "I think I'll be alright," was his answer, a teasing smile lighting up his face when he said. "I'm used to it."

Of course he was- he travelled with your brother.

You would've yelled it out loud so your brother could hear it too, but you were much too stunned with something else. "Your voice," you began, pausing. He hardly spoke, but when he did it was a soft rasp, melodically enchanting. "It's… really nice. I'm sorry if its a personal preference, but I'd love to hear it more."

You could feel your ears start to burn. Oh dear that sounded something along the lines of a love confession-

"Really?" His face portrayed nothing of it, eyes mellowing down to a gentle adoration. "Ah… if that's so, I'll do my best to speak my mind more often. I always think I talk a tad… too much otherwise."

Finishing with the bandage on his arm, you pursued your lips. Too much? Who had told him that? You knew with certainty that your brother wouldn't, and by the way Kazuha reacted around him, he let him speak all he wanted. You wouldn't press into the details, but with light white hair that framed his face and plush cheeks that made his eyes all the more childlike…

He looks so cute.

Kind of like one of the plush toys you had set on your bed, something small and huggable. To be kept tight and protected, loved and cherished.

Gently, you held his hand in both of yours. Bandaged textured rubbing against the pads of your fingers as you looked him straight in the eye. "Theres nothing wrong talking when you feel like it," you told him earnestly. "If anyone tells you otherwise, they're stupid. Go ahead and speak all you want, and please… please tell my brother the next time your hand is really hurting."

You two only stared at each other for a few seconds longer before he nodded. The smile on his face then was more similar to the one you'd seen when your brother came in, and you let yourself believe, if only it were true, that you'd made progress with him.

"They're called Haiku's?"

"Yes, you could simply think of them as a poem if you wish."

The two of you sat perched on one of the Inazuman styled roofs, avoiding your brother once again as he scurried along the streets in search of you both. You'd invited Kazuha along this time, persuading him with the promise that scaling up to these heights were worth it for the beauty.

It was inevitable that the two of you were brought close, visiting after every adventure just to settle down after a little while. Your brother seemed to be happier with a travelling companion, and it filled your heart to see him smile so earnestly. You'd come to love Kazuha in your own way too, taking him to see the sights around the city while he spoke of poems and fancy words.

"They're really pretty," you hummed. Leaning back and letting your legs move back and forth as the breeze brushed your hair. "It's amazing how you can just create them so suddenly too, its like you draw inspiration from everything."

Flattering someone came easily to you, which is why you didn't notice when Kazuha hid his face. Hiding his tinted cheeks with a cough and letting his arm rest over his face, compliments felt… oddly satisfying. "Thank you… Haikus are often based on the seasons and scenery, and Inazuma has a lot to see so I guess it comes easier."

"Inazuma is really pretty… I wish I could travel too."

But you'd tried before, clinging onto your brother when you were younger and asking, pleading to come with him. It was always the same answer, that Inazuma was dangerous, too dangerous for you. You'd contemplated telling about your adventures with the ronin just outside in the meadows, but you thought against it.

It seems he'd probably explained some part of it to the white haired boy, because he just nodded along, frowning. "Your brother worries about you," he mumbled absentmindedly. "The two of you care deeply for each other, I can tell."

You simply nodded, heart pounding in your ears at his words. You hoped, you truly hoped that your brother loved you the way you loved him. That one day he could depend on you, that he'd let you tag along with him and trust you. Because you wanted to protect him too, just like he'd done when you were so young.

"Kazuha…" you found yourself saying, head slowly tilting to meet his eyes halfway. The wind thrashed against your hair, covering half your face and making your face all the more brighter. For the first time in a long time, your eyes held a childish glean. "Can you teach me how to use a sword?"