Ayumu stared at the man in front of him, "K-Kiyotaka? How...you're...but..." Ayumu couldn't comprehend that his older brother that had been missing for five years was just...there.

"Hey, Ayumu, how have you been?" Kiyotaka asked, cool as ever; not at all phased by his younger brother's reaction. Of course, he would have seen it coming, being Kiyotaka and all.

"I...I've..." Ayumu finally grasped the fact that it was his brother standing in front of him,"Where has he been? What changed to bring him back? Is it because of that showdown we had with the Hunters? If so...am I the reason he's back; did I at least help? Has he seen the others? Does he even know them that well?" A million and one other questions like those flew through his head before he shook his mind of them; he have to ask them later. Right now his brother was staring at him, expecting an answer with a smirk on his face, just loving how much he startled the younger one. Ayumu decided to answer, "I've been...good. What about you?"

Kiyotaka smiled, "You're lying; you just came from the hospital. Why?"

Ayumu sighed, he'd forgotten his brother was exactly like Kanone; they both could smell a lie from a mile away. And they both always got Ayumu to talk about it, "Yeah, okay. I've been in the hospital because... I was attacked. By the Hunters." Ayumu wasn't really lying, that was the reason he was originally in the hospital. He'd tell his brother that he was pregnant later.

Kiyotaka's expression changed a little; he wasn't as expressionless as Eyes, he smiled sometimes, even though it was usually that same smug smile he always had when he knew he was right about something. But he was far from emotional, Ayumu couldn't recall ever seeing his older brother cry or laugh out loud for real; he had this fake laugh that no one who didn't know him would think it was genuine, though it was far from it. Kiyotaka smiled again, that same smile, Ayumu had forgotten how much he hated that smile, and yet how much he had missed it, missed him. "The Hunters? So you've followed in my footsteps once again, little brother? Though I can't blame you, you've always followed my lead, I couldn't expect you to do anything else."

Kiyotaka seemed cruel, in Ayumu's opinion, he hadn't seen his brother in five years and he was already mocking him? Ayumu had learned long ago, through Hiyono and the Blade Children and even Madoka, to believe in himself and realize he wasn't anything like his brother...hee was better. It was Ayumu, not Kiyotaka that had been there in the final showdown to save the Blade Children once and for all. And it was Ayumu that the Blade Children had finally trusted and had gotten to know so well. It was also Ayumu that had been there for them in their times of pain and joy, it was all Ayumu, while Kiyotaka had been where? Hiding. Yes, Ayumu was very much superior to his brother, and now he knew that. "You know what Kiyotaka? I haven't followed in your footsteps at all."

Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow and chuckled at this, "Oh, is that so, Ayumu? So you haven't been involved with the Blade Children?"

"Oh, yeah, in more ways than even you could comprehend." Ayumu thought, but he'd save that for later; for now he had to prove his brother wrong, it would make him feel so much better, "Yeah, I have been involved with them, but unlike you, I've helped the Blade Children. I'm not like you at all, instead of just running and hiding, I faced my problems and didn't push them off onto someone else." Ayumu smiled, that should show him.

Unfortunately, another trait Kiyotaka had in common with Kanone, all of the Blade Children, really; he never accepted defeat, "Is that what you think I did? Ayumu, you of all people should know that I would never pass off my responsibilities on others. The truth is, I was never meant to save the Blade Children, that was all on you. I'm actually surprised that you pulled through. I would have figured that you would back out and I would have to step in and finish what you started. But, I suppose you did impress me with that."

Ayumu was shocked, "If I was the one meant to save them, then where have you been these past five years? What could the great Kiyotaka possibly have to hide from?"

Kiyotaka chuckled again, "You think I was hiding? Ayumu, I thought that if I showed up that you would look to me for help, or better yet, that you would try and get me to take care of it for you. That's why I've been gone. But now it seems that you've saved them. So I figured it was safe to come back."

Ayumu stared at his brother in disbelief; mostly because he didn't believe him, "You're lying." Was all he said; it was so obvious.

That took the smile off of his brother's face," What are you talking about? Why would I lie? I have nothing to hide." Kiyotaka said, smugly, knowing deep down that his younger brother was right; of course he would never admit it.

"If you were that worried that I would ask for your assistance, then you would have just told me to deal with my own problems. And if you really believed that I was destined to deal with the Blade Children and not you, you wouldn't have worried that I would ask for your help. Admit it, you were hiding from something...but what?"

Kiyotaka sighed, how had his brother become like this; almost superior to him. "If you really believe I was hiding, Ayumu, then answer this: What could I have to hide from, seeing as how you dealt with everything so easily?"

Ayumu shook his head, "I really don't know. The Hunters? I figured you could outsmart them...although even Kanone had a tough time with that one."

This got Kiyotaka's attention, "You've been in touch with Kanone?" Somehow this surprised the older brother, he had always thought Kanone wouldn't like Ayumu.

Ayumu couldn't help but laugh at this, "Oh yeah, I've been in touch with him alright. In fact, I'm gonna have his baby in a few months." Ayumu really couldn't wait to tell his brother about that, he was looking forward to seeing the shocked expression, nothing ever surprised his brother, "Yeah, we didn't get along too well at first, but we grew together. I guess you could say that for all of them." Ayumu thought about it; it was true. Eyes had been so cold the first time Ayumu met him; telling him he would always be a loser, and just a few days ago he was there to protect Ayumu from Kousuke. Rio had grown to like Ayumu as well, and Kousuke...well, we won't get into that right now. Ryoko, of course, was neutral about it all, but Ayumu thought that he had grown on her as well.

Kiyotaka nodded, "For once I'm in shock, Ayumu. I never thought you'd manage to befriend them; even I couldn't do that. At least willingly."

Ayumu was confused now, "What? Willingly...you don't like the Blade Children?"

Kiyotaka laughed, "No, not one bit. Kanone was the only one I could stand and he was...interesting at best. That was simply because he didn't agree with my views; the only person I've met to do so." Kiyotaka would never tell Ayumu that Kanone was the reason he was hiding; he was terrified of the man. He was scary beyond belief and he challenged Kiyotaka, this had never been done before by anyone. Kiyotaka always seemed so confident that everyone just assumed he knew what he was talking about so they never asked for any proof beyond the physical stuff. Kanone was different and when Kiyotaka couldn't provide him with a definite answer, Kanone became angry and left, vowing that Kiyotaka would pay for taking his friends from him. By this, of course, he'd meant Eyes. Eyes had followed Kiyotaka so willingly, telling Kanone that he was wrong. That was the last straw and Kanone left for several years.

Ayumu looked deep into his brother's eyes and tried to tell if he was lying; deciding that he couldn't tell for sure, he let it drop. He was tired anyhow and wanted to go home, "We'll talk about this later. So are you staying anywhere?"

Kiyotaka grinned and shook his head, "No, I only got here a few hours ago. Are you offering me a room? I would like to see Madoka again."

Ayumu sighed, how was he going to explain this? He decided to go for the basics and hope Kiyotaka didn't ask any questions, "Madoka isn't here, she's gone."

Kiyotaka looked slightly confused, "Gone? You mean...dead?" It would upset him, he had actually loved Madoka, though he had never needed her like she needed him.

Ayumu shook his head, "No, she moved a few years ago. I have a phone number but that's about it."

Of course Kiyotaka would always want the details, "Why would she leave? Did she get involved with the Blade Children as well?" Kiyotaka asked, mildly concerned; Madoka was in no way cut out to deal with them. They were too violent for her.

"In a way, yes. But it's mostly because I got involved with them that she left. Kanone had put her in danger and she never trusted him after that. When she learned that we were...friends," "Not yet, can't tell him yet." Ayumu repeated to himself over and over; even though it was very hard. It was like solving a case where there were very few clues and no one else could figure it out; Ayumu had that same adrenaline rush now; knowing that he would soon reveal the answer, "she left, unable to understand." He finished.

Kiyotaka was surprised for the second time that night. He hadn't realized that Kanone and Ayumu were on such terms as to be called friends, "Friends, huh? You and Kanone? Why don't I believe you?"

"Probably because you weren't friends with him and it scares you that I could accomplish something you couldn't." Ayumu had no idea how right he was.

"Perhaps. I still don't believe that you are friends with any of them, though. You've never had any friends. Why would the Blade Children want to be friends with you? Have you gotten so desperate as to go to such extremes. It's kind of pathetic; I expected better of you."

Ayumu was pissed by now; his brother was still putting him down, "For your information, I'm living with Rio and Ryoko. And I've also..." Ayumu trailed off, now? Was now the right time?

"You've...?" Kiyotaka waited for an answer, "Wait. Living with them? That's a bit above and beyond friends." Henever voiced these suspicions though, knowing that Ayumu would more than likely explain in a minute.

Ayumu decided to go for it; no time like the present, right? He hoped so, "I've been with Kanone and Kousuke. Me and Kousuke were actually dating, but...he's gone now."

Kiyotaka's eyes widened, "He's been with them? What in the seven layers of hell does that mean?" Of course if Ayumu's last statement didn't clarify it enough, his next would.

"I'm also pregnant...it's Kanone's." Ayumu looked away for a second and then back to his brother, realizing that he really didn't need Kiyotaka's approval. The reaction he got was priceless and he wished more than anything that he had a camera with him, talk about a Kodak moment.

Kiyotaka's eyes were bulging out of his head and his mouth was parted. To top it all off, he couldn't form proper sentences, "You're...it's...how...but you're..." Kiyotaka shook his head, returning his face to as normal as it could get at the moment and he cleared his thoughts, "So...you're gay. And you're carrying Kanone's child. But you're with Kousuke...is that it?"

Ayumu nodded, slightly amused; but also hurt at his brother's first statement, "Was that really the first thing that came to his mind when I told him that?" Ayumu didn't need his brother's acceptance, of course, but it would be nice to have all the support he could get; and maybe Kiyotaka cold even convince Madoka to come back home, though he doubted it. She seemed so angry when she left, telling him that she wanted nothing more to do with the entire family. Ayumu turned his attention back to his brother, "That's pretty much the whole thing. Kanone is now with Eyes, of course, and like I said Kousuke..." Ayumu sighed, "He's dead. He... he killed himself." Ayumu figured Kiyotaka wouldn't pry any deeper and just getting those words out was hard enough.

Ayumu was right, Kiyotaka simply nodded in understanding and the two just stood there in silence until a pair of arms wrapped around Ayumu's waist. He froze until he heard that wonderful voice whisper in his ear, "Don't worry, Ayumu. It's just me."

Ayumu turned to face Kanone and he smiled comfortably, "Hey." He looked past Kanone and saw nothing but shadows, "Is Eyes with you?"

Kanone shook his head, "He has to leave in the morning for a tour and he wanted to get some rest. I decided to come and see if you were checked out of the hospital yet since I stopped by your house and you weren't there."

Ayumu smiled, "I just checked out a little while ago, but guess who I ran into on my way home?"

Kanone looked past Ayumu and saw the older Narumi standing there, a look of shock and a little bit of fear on his face, "Oh, Kiyotaka. Finally come out of hiding have you? Well your little brother here has taken very good care of us in your absence." Kanone's tone was one of deep hatred though, instead of fondness as his words might have suggested.

Kiyotaka gulped and tried to put his trademark smirk on, but fell short. Instead he still looked afraid...and kind of constipated, "Kanone. I didn't expect to see you around here, Ayumu told me about you two. I wasn't sure whether to believe him or not."

Kanone smiled, his smirk completely smug; he knew Kiyotaka was terrified of him, and he loved it, "Oh, I've been around. But don't worry, Kiyotaka, I'm here to stay now. I've got a life here that I don't plan on leaving any time soon." Kanone was slightly disappointed that he hadn't been there to see Kiyotaka's face when Ayumu told him the news; but he could only imagine. He smirked again at this.

"Wonderful." Was all Kiyotaka could get out. It may have sounded sarcastic if not for the fear and disgust dripping from his voice.

Kanone smirked at the control he had over the other man and then turned back to Ayumu, "And you won't believe the surprise I have for you."