"Do you think you can go a little slower?" Finral called over Magna's shoulder, practically shouting over the wind blasting their faces like whips and biting their skin. He was sitting behind Magna on the motorcycle, arms wrapped around his waist and latching on for dear life as his friend rode down the street at a speed Finral was certain was illegal.

They were currently on their way to the old Vaude house on the other side of the city from where he lived, a place he hadn't visited in three years after he was banned from coming back. Taking the train was a viable option but riding on the bike helped ease his stress.

It worked out for the both of them anyway. Magna got to ride his 'baby' for fun and Finral got to experience the dangerous thrill despite watching his life flash before his eyes every time Magna turned a sharp corner. Still, it was a lot better than the train during rush hour in the sweltering heat. The breeze kept him cool against the sun bearing down on his back. And he definitely needed the fresh air for what he was about to do.

The only downside to this method of transportation was that he wasn't wearing a helmet, something he deemed a necessity and had told Magna on multiple occasions to purchase at least two for both their safety, but his friend enjoyed living on what he called 'the wild side'. Whatever that meant, Finral didn't want to find out.

"Huh? What'd you say? You said you wanted me to go faster?" Magna yelled back as he swerved around a stray dog crossing the street and nearly giving Finral a heart attack.

On second thought, maybe Finral should've taken the train instead. "No!" he shouted, squeezing around his waist tighter to show that he didn't find it funny. "Actually, forget what I said just don't crash please!"

Magna barked out a laugh over the wind running through his slicked back hair. "Okay okay no more jokes, I promise. Nothing's gonna happen so just relax!" Glancing at the cellphone strapped to his forearm showing the directions Finral gave prior, he made a sharp turn left and ignored the car he passed honking at them. "So, how are you feeling?" he asked.

I feel like I'm gonna die from a stroke if you keep driving recklessly, Finral wanted to say. He knew what Magna was referring to though. "To be honest with you, I'm kind of nervous," he confessed.

"You only told me a gist of it before we left, but I think it's nice that you're trying to make up with your brother," Magna told him.

"It won't be easy though. I don't even know if he'll listen to me," Finral sighed. The first time he tried talking to Langris it had ended horribly to no one's surprise. Trying for a second time… Finral still wasn't sure if it would work out. Langris had always been pretty adamant with anything he said since learning to speak as a baby. But it's as what Yami said at the shop that helped Finral see the bigger picture.

Langris was only angry at what he did, but that didn't mean he hated him.

Whether it was true or not, Finral couldn't be certain until he tried. As long as he did try, then that was enough. He could figure out the rest after.

"All the more reason why you should do it then!" Magna encouraged, jostling Finral from his thoughts. "Families that fall apart happen that way because they don't talk to each other. If you just tell him the truth why you left and how you feel I'm sure he'll understand. It's the manly thing to do!"

Finral pretended the tears prickling the corner of his eyes were from the wind. He was truly grateful for the support from his friends. Without it, he didn't think he would ever come this far nor have the courage to return to an area he once forced himself to forget.

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you," he smiled.

"Or at least he better understands," Magna continued in a suddenly serious tone, "If you end up crying because of him let me know and I'll talk to him for you."

A sweat drop trailed down his temple as Finral tried laughing away the hidden threat towards his brother. "Uh, you really don't need to do that, but I appreciate the help."

Taking in his surrounding, Finral realized they were nearing their destination and his throat seized up when his childhood home came into view on top of a hill. He removed an arm from Magna's waist and pointed at it to show him. "That's the one," he said.

Magna didn't respond yet, squinting in the direction of Finral's finger up ahead, but when he did, he gasped. "Oh my god, this is where you used to live?! It's freaking huge!" Pulling in front of the house, he screeched the motorcycle to a halt and pushed his shades over his head.

Finral rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. He had expected Magna's shocked reaction. He got off from the bike and stood next to him, waiting patiently as his friend gaped at the sight.

It wouldn't be classified as a mansion per se, but it was significantly larger in every aspect and more spacious than the Black Bulls house despite having fewer bedrooms. Living here had always felt empty to him even when it was the four of them together plus the maid in the house at once.

Built by his father soon after he got remarried, the home lay situated at the top of a paved hill bordered by shrubs and a steel fence. It was separated from the main neighborhood in the area for privacy, and the closest stops were a lone convenient store and a park at the bottom of the hill. Sumptuous to an outsider's point of view, it could be someone's dream home if they had the riches.

The sight of it left a bitter taste in Finral's mouth.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed lush vines beginning to crawl along the brick walls on the sides of the house and curling around the lower windows. It wasn't surprising to see since Liliane cherished her plants, except it was strange. She wouldn't have let them grow out of control, and if father were still alive, he would never approve of something like this.

Goes to show how much could change after three years when he wasn't around.

"Damn, I can't believe you used to live here. Your parents must be stacked," Magna commented after getting over his shock.

"Yeah, you could say that again," Finral sighed and scratched his arm unconsciously. This place had never felt like a home to him. Nothing memorable came out of here aside from his brother but that's all. This place was nothing more than prison he had escaped from.

"You want me to wait for you out here?" Magna jerked a thumb behind him. "I can wait for you at the convenient store we passed so no one accuses me of snooping around."

Shaking his head, Finral waved him off. "No, it's fine I can take the train home. I don't know how long I'll be anyway." He mentally crossed his fingers that he could have at least a minute of conversation with his brother. Would be an added bonus if it went reasonably alright also, but that might be asking for a lot.

Magna seemed like he wanted to protest about leaving him alone, but settled for patting Finral's shoulder. "I hope everything works out for the both of you. Call me if you need anything!" He grinned and flashed a thumbs up for encouragement before revving the bike and taking off down the street.

Finral watched him speed away, and only when his friend disappeared around the corner did his shoulders sag. His old home was an unpleasant sight to see, and just standing in the vicinity of it made him want to throw up. He'd rather be anywhere else than here. The dumpsters would be a better place to visit than this garbage of a home.

However, as much as he wished to be far away from here as possible, he couldn't today. There was something he needed to do, and if he reverted to his cowardly ways and shied away now, he'd lived the rest of his life regretting it.

Well, Yami would also probably beat him to a pulp if he bailed out after all that emotional talk at the shop, so Finral really had no choice.

Sighing, he began walking across the stone pathway on the front lawn leading to the door. Each step weighed him down but Finral pushed through. When he reached the front door, he stared at it like it was the final boss to a video game, its daunting presence making him shiver.

I can do this, he thought. And even if I can't, I have to.

He raised a fist, hovering inches from the wood, and took a deep breath before knocking on it. He stepped back and waited. Seconds ticked by as he jittered in place, and after what felt like an eternity the door cracked open and Finral prepared himself.

He had somewhat expected the family maid to answer since she handled all visitors, or his stepmother, but god forbid she answered. He did not want to see her today. Or ever.

To his surprise, it was neither of them.

Langris peered from behind the door, appearing frazzled and irritated. He looked ready to tell off whoever trespassed and disrupted his peace, but froze when he realized exactly who was standing there.

"H-hey," Finral greeted awkwardly. He took a moment to scan him and his heart sank to the pit of his stomach when he noticed dark bags under dull eyes devoid of brightness.

His brother's mouth hanged open, eyes wide and brows raised as he eyed Finral up and down in disbelief. "Wha-" he sputtered, "Nii-san? What the hell are you doing here?" He opened the door wider to fully face him but didn't budge to let him inside.

Normally Finral would tremble under his wrath like when they met at the college a few days ago, but after seeing his haggard state, he felt a new profound sense of determination. "I wanted to speak with you," he answered.

"And last time I told you to get out of my face," Langris rasped angrily, unrelenting. "Now leave." He moved to shut the door, but Finral instinctively jammed a foot in the crevice, ignoring the jolt of pain shooting up his leg. Langris seemed surprised at the action before glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill it would be this.

"Move your foot," he growled.

Finral did the opposite. Placing a hand on the door's surface, he leaned in closer. "Please, just hear me out, that's all I ask of you. I promise I won't take long and I'll be out of here as soon as I can."

He expected more of a fight from the other to be quite honest. He expected Langris outright refusing the request and tell him off or slam the door on his foot again on purpose.

Instead, to Finral's bewilderment, Langris fell silent at the plea and appeared troubled. He hesitated in the doorway but reopened the door to release his foot and eyed him dubiously. "… And if I say no?" he asked.

"Then I'll just stay outside your door." Finral crossed his arms. "I'm sorry for saying this, but I'm not leaving until we talk and I mean it." He knew he was acting like a petulant child but he was finally getting somewhere based on his brother's hesitation. "I know our relationship has been rocky but-"

"Wait," Langris held up a hand and Finral clamped his jaw shut. Puzzled, he watched his brother look behind over his shoulder silently, attentive eyes darting around the foyer and living room area by the entrance briefly before turning back around and stepping outside.

Langris closed the door with a soft click, though before Finral could ask what he was doing, he grabbed him by the wrist and forcefully pulled him away.

Finral stumbled ungracefully, barely catching himself and got his legs to function in time as they crossed the pathway away from the house. "W-Where are we going?" he asked, confused out of his mind.

Langris didn't grace him with a response. He continued dragging Finral along with a vice-like grip on his wrist, and together they reached the sidewalk and started heading down the hill.

It took a few minutes on foot to reach the bottom and the entire time neither of them said a word to each other. Finral grew anxious from this assertive side of Langris but ultimately decided to trust him and see where he led them.

Turning the corner, he realized they ended up at the park and suddenly memories flashed before his eyes. There wasn't anything special about it that would make a kid excited, it being nothing more than a spiral slide, monkey bars, and a swing set, but to Finral it held years of childhood fun.

It wasn't often, but as kids when they had free time from studying or couldn't play in the house, he and Langris would race downhill to see who would get to the playground first. Finral had won every time to his amusement and his brother's annoyance.

They thought the slide was boring, and they feared trying the monkey bars since they didn't want to risk upsetting their parents if one of them got injured, so they stuck with the swing set. It was their favorite as they took turns pushing each other and imagined themselves flying in the sky.

They didn't have any friends from school and they lived secluded from the neighborhood so the whole playground belonged to them. Finral remembered that he preferred it that way. Just the two of them playing together and no one else to bother them. The only ones to witness their childhood here were the trees huddled in the background, carrying whispered memories in the wind.

Now it was nothing more than an abandoned park, left to rot away because the city most likely forgot to maintain or demolish it. Further examining it, Finral noticed the paint on all the metals replaced with rust and the slide looked on the verge of collapsing if a leaf landed on it.

The entire vibe of the park was unsettling and if Finral were here alone during the night he would feel creeped out.

He was brought out of his thoughts when the grip on his wrist released and Finral turned to see Langris walking ahead to take a seat on one of the swings. The corroded chains groaned under his weight and Finral cringed in apprehension of it breaking apart. "I don't think sitting on that is a good idea…" he tried warning.

Langris didn't seem to care though. He grabbed the chains by his head and stared blankly into the distance. "Now answer my question why you're here," he snapped. "You said you wanted to talk, so talk."

Finral almost did a double take when he heard him. He couldn't believe his ears. His brother was willing to listen? To him? The anxiousness he had from earlier dissolved but he didn't have time to dawdle anymore. He didn't want to keep Langris waiting any longer than he had to and ruin his only possible chance.

Walking forward, Finral sat on the available swing next to him and prayed the wood above their heads didn't give way and killed them. He focused his attention on the mulch dirtying his shoes as he thought back to his previous conversation with Magna.

Just tell him the truth, Magna had said. Yami and Vanessa had told him something similar, and Finral wouldn't let their advice be for nothing.

Taking a deep breath, he started calmly. "I know you're angry with me and you have every right to be, but I've missed you, Langris. That's one thing I could never lie to you about."

There was no response from the other but Finral merely waited and played with the mulch using his foot. He knew what was coming.

"You've missed me," Langris deadpanned after a while, repeating it slowly and mulling it over in his head like it was some foreign language. From the corner of his eye, Finral could see him gritting his teeth and he swallowed roughly, preparing for the worst.

"You've missed me?" In a seething rage, Langris gripped the chains tighter, jerking them under his shaking fists. He still wasn't looking at Finral, but the menacing aura he emitted was all that was needed to make him wince. "That is such a load of crap. If this is your attempt at trying to get along with me it's not working. I knew it, this is a waste of my time."

He made a notion to stand up and leave but Finral was faster. "Wait!" Reaching out, he caught him by the sleeve. Langris yanked his arm away and finally turned to scowl at him with eyes set ablaze. It twisted Finral's insides at seeing how much pain he caused his little brother.

"Please, Langris," he pleaded, trying to get him to understand. "I just wanted to see you again, I really did miss you. Even if I haven't said anything for the past three years, I still thought of you every day."

Based on his brother's expression he didn't believe a single word and surely enough, he exploded. "You don't get to do this to me!" Langris pointed an accusing finger at him. "You don't get to just leave and then come back out of nowhere and pretend what you did never happened!"

"You have to understand that it wasn't my intention!" Finral's voice rose. He had to calm down or else this would turn into an ugly shouting match. He took another breath and tried to relax. "I just couldn't handle what father expected of me."

Langris rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Because you're weak. You can't listen to what's asked of you and you ran away to avoid your responsibilities."

"You're right," Finral didn't deny him. "I left because I couldn't handle the pressure, but that didn't mean I wanted to leave you. I had originally planned to visit you often but father made it very clear I wasn't allowed to return home after I told him I didn't want anything to do with his business."

He paused as he pushed the ground with his shoe, causing him to rock back and forth slightly on the battered swing. He never liked thinking about his parents as all it did was diminish his self-esteem, but honesty mattered in this conversation. And it especially mattered to his brother if Finral wanted to fix this rift between them.

"They made me feel so… so worthless. And I knew it wasn't right," he admitted for the first time. Not to just Langris, but also to himself. It was a fact he had blocked out his whole life until now.

A parent should never treat their child like they meant nothing. Finral had accepted every punishment and insult thrown at him with a nod and smile, and it wasn't until he moved out and started living on his own that he realized how cruel his parents were. He had left Langris with them because it was obvious at how much they favored him over Finral and he assumed everything would be alright.

So, he left home without turning back. He took up his biological mother's last name and refuted any connections with his parents when someone so much as even thought of it. The company was well known to the public and Finral didn't want to be associated with any of father's affairs.

Days had turned into weeks, then months, then years without contacting his parents… and sadly his brother.

Now here they were sitting on rusting swings in a decaying park. Feet apart in distance, miles apart as brothers, the cracks between them so wide Finral would fall to his death if he tried jumping over.

And it happened because he didn't have the courage to do something about it three years ago.

"I left home because of them, not you," Finral continued when his brother didn't speak and noticed how he flinched at the words. "You don't have to forgive me, Langris. I'm not asking you to."

"Then why are you here?" Langris demanded.

The answer was plain short and simple. Determined, Finral turned to face him. "I want to make amends with you."

"You what? You're telling me we should just start over and everything will be fine and dandy?" Langris threw his hands up in exasperation. "You're hilarious, Nii-san. You should go work for the circus I'm sure they'd love to have you."

Finral bit his lip. This isn't working. His hands fiddled with the hem of his shirt as one question fogged his mind since his talk with Yami. He hadn't planned to bring it up because it petrified him to know the answer but he wasn't getting anywhere with Langris. At this rate, Langris was going to leave and Finral wouldn't be able to stop him a second time.

As much as it hurt to ask, he had to. Because if he couldn't, then everything he did up to now would be for nothing.

"Do you really want me out of your life?" he asked, refusing to look his brother in the eye.

"Excuse me?"

"If you do, that's okay. I won't hold it against you," Finral reassured. "I mean, it'll hurt, but I know that it'll be what you want. I'll be fine if you say yes. I just want you to say it."

It would hurt him no doubt if Langris said yes. He would probably become a sobbing mess in his bed as soon as he got home, but the choice was up to Langris and he wasn't leaving until he received an answer.

He was so, so tired of running away.

Langris fell silent and Finral glanced up to see him staring at the ground conflicted, lips pursed and brows pinched together in thought. Finral opened his mouth to say more but stopped himself. It wasn't an easy question for Langris, and he needed time to think it over.

Finral would give him all the time in the universe if it meant he said no, though.

"You can't pretend the last three years never happened…" Langris murmured after a deafening minute, having no bite to his words for the first time since they started talking.

"You're right and I'm not going to, but I'll make sure it never happens again," Finral vowed. He swore on his life that he'd never make the same mistake twice. His brother had suffered long enough.

Chewing his lip in consideration, Langris then sighed, "You're not leaving are you." It wasn't said as a question, but Finral knew better.

He smiled solemnly, "Only if you want me to."

Langris eyed him warily and waited, as if he was expecting Finral to laugh and say that everything he had told him was a joke. When nothing happened, he dragged a hand over his face, making the dark circles under his eyes more prominent. "I swear you can be so insufferable sometimes," he groaned. "Fine. Since you asked nicely, I guess I'll say no. That doesn't change anything though."

"Then do you hate me?" Finral blurted out. He couldn't help asking otherwise he'd never be able to rest. He desperately needed to know whether his brother sincerely despised him or not.

Langris appeared taken aback by the abrupt question. Glancing away, he twisted his fingers together in that nervous habit of his as he struggled to respond. "I- I don't necessarily hate you," he admitted tentatively.

A wave of anxiety dissipated from Finral as he sagged in his seat. He doesn't hate me. Yami was right. Langris doesn't hate me! A thought soon came to mind, and he gasped in realization. "T-Then does this mean everything is okay between us?"

Suddenly blue eyes narrowed and pierced through Finral like needles. "Don't misunderstand me," Langris warned, "Just because I said that doesn't mean I'm going to accept you in my life so easily. You'll have to earn my trust, and we'll do it on my terms."

Standing up from the swing, Langris walked a few paces forward and Finral briefly panicked, thinking he had changed his mind and was leaving.

Eventually though he stopped, and without turning around he clenched his fists. "This isn't an act of forgiveness, Nii-san," Langris started. Finral knew he wouldn't, but that didn't stop his heart from sinking when hearing it. "I'm not forgiving you. In fact, I don't think I can ever forgive you. But… if you say you're not going to run away again and own up to your mistakes then maybe…"

Langris trailed off and turned around to gaze at Finral with such intensity that he couldn't move. His eyes wavered, blue orbs swimming full of doubt, yet somewhere within there Finral could also see a sliver of hope.

"… Maybe I can give it another try too."

Time seemed to stand still, the only ones moving being the trees behind them swaying in the wind. Leaves drifted through the air and scattered across their feet as Finral soaked it in.

Langris didn't forgive him, that part was evident. He didn't and he probably never will but-

His heart fluttered rapidly against his ribcage, and before Finral realized it, he was out of his seat running.

"What are you- oof!"

Langris was cut off when Finral wrapped his arms around his neck, bringing him in a firm embrace. "N-Nii-san?!" he sputtered. His arms hung loosely by his sides, befuddled and at a loss of what to do as he stood there trapped inside his brother's arms.

"That's all I needed to hear, thank you." Finral wept against his shoulder, his tears falling and staining his brother's shirt. His legs trembled and he would've collapsed on the ground if not holding onto Langris, but he was completely overjoyed and beyond relief. He had his little brother again. He couldn't believe it.

The younger was quiet for a moment, taking into account Finral's gratitude before speaking. "I haven't forgiven you yet," he reminded severely.

"I know," Finral said, still crying and not letting go.

"I'm still angry with you."

"I know and you have every right to be."

"You're an idiot."

Finral tightened his hold around him and smiled against the tears. "I'm the biggest idiot in the world."

"I should hit you," Langris threatened, but there was no real malice behind it.

"You can hit me all you want after," Finral laughed. "I just missed this. I missed you. You have no idea how happy this makes me."

No amount of reconciliation could ever restore the cracks in their relationship, but it was the start of something new between them. A start to a new beginning as brothers, and it was everything Finral could ever ask for.

"Why are you doing this?" Langris whispered weakly against his chest, referring to the embrace he didn't return. Said in such a fragile voice like he was afraid to know the truth. Like he feared Finral was going to crush any chances of miniscule hope for him.

The answer came out without thinking. "Because I'm your older brother," Finral replied honestly, "I'm sorry I wasn't better at it until now."

Nothing else was said and after a while Langris started fidgeting in his hold, signaling Finral to finally release him. He was reluctant to do so, but he didn't want him to become uncomfortable. "Is your phone fixed yet? We should exchange numbers so we can keep in touch!" he suggested while wiping his tears with his sleeve.

Langris blinked in confusion as he slowly processed it before rubbing an arm and glancing to the right. "No, it's still broken," he said to Finral's disappointment. "Don't worry though, I'll contact you somehow."

"Oh, that's fine! When can I see you again? Tomorrow? Next week?" Finral couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice while standing on the balls of his feet, ready to bounce up and down. He was already looking forward to seeing his little brother again.

"Quit asking so many questions it's annoying," Langris huffed, "I said we'll do it on my terms, which means I'll reach out to you whenever I'm ready. Just-" He threw a quick glance over his shoulder at the house up the hill before facing Finral. "Don't come back here unannounced anymore. Mom's not going to like it if she sees your mug around the house."

"Yeah, that's true," Finral smiled sheepishly. "I'll wait to hear from you then, but promise me you'll actually do it?" He didn't want to come anywhere near his old home again if he could help it, but he would have to if Langris ended up changing his mind and tried ghosting him.

Langris leveled him with a grim expression. "I don't need to make promises to keep my word. We're not children anymore." He took a step back and Finral realized that he was about to leave. "I'm going to head home now, goodbye Nii-san."

Not bothering to wait for a response, Langris turned on his heel and left the park, leaving the other by himself.

Finral cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "I'll see you later!" With a wide grin, he waved goodbye as he watched his brother's retreating form until it vanished around the corner.

Later that day Finral walked out of the nearby convenient store munching on a treat as he headed towards the train station. Once he returned home, he was going to tell his housemates everything that happened. He had rewarded himself with a snack after a successful turn of events and was high on cloud nine for the rest of the day, and possibly the next few days.

To be honest, an immense part of him had expected to get rejected harshly again. He knew Langris well enough to know that he was the type to hold a grudge against someone, even if that person was Finral. Fortunately, that tiny amount of hope he had grasped onto worked out for him in the end.

By no means had Langris forgiven him, absolutely not. Finral wouldn't have forgiven himself either if he were in his shoes. He was simply astonished that Langris had willingly agreed to let him back in his life.

Did he think he deserved it? Not really. Even after their talk, Finral still didn't think he did. He hadn't said a single word to him in three years after all, so it was justifiable if Langris held some sort of resentment towards him.

But when Finral embraced him for the first time in years and wasn't pushed away in disgust, lashed at, or even ridiculed for doing it…

It gave him hope that perhaps maybe, just maybe, Langris had missed him too.