Keith began walking back to the cafeteria. This still didn't feel right to him, but he wasn't sure what bringing Klein to his parents would do to their already tense relationship. As Keith walked down the hallway, his thoughts began to wander back to his childhood days, specifically when Klein began to change. Keith remembered it clearly. He was 10 when the chaos began. And on this very day all those years ago, Keith witnessed his brothers full destructive potential unleashed on a couple of unfortunate souls.

It was spring back in their hometown. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and Keith and Klein were once again in school. It was all as it should be. It was in the afternoon that things began to change. Keith remembered his stroll down the street towards his brother's school, happily skipping down the sidewalk, ready to see his brother again. It was a cold afternoon, and the sky was a warm golden color. Keith finally came to a stop by the local middle school where his brother was and turned towards the playground. And there, he saw an unbelievable sight. Bodies littered the ground, some bruised severely, others left bleeding with minor wounds. And in the center of it all, stood his brother with dirty knuckles and a ruined, torn uniform.

"K-Klein?"

That night, Klein had faced their mother's infamously cruel punishment. And in the discord of anger and screaming, Keith was able to find out that his brother had began a fight in school, which grew into a savage beatdown which drag in even innocent bystanders. Keith had no idea what had gotten into his normally quiet and cool-headed older brother, but he knew he didn't like it. Still, Keith couldn't find it in himself to believe the story. How could he? The Klein he knew wasn't a bully. The Klein he knew would never hurt anyone. But that was only the first outburst. Keith was finally forced to accept reality when his brother continued his wrathful rampage throughout middle school. Pain, destruction, chaos, and tragedy followed Klein wherever he went. Sometimes he'd even lash out against their own parents, though he was never a match for their mother. Keith didn't like this new side of Klein. He wanted his older brother back, the kind, caring, and protective older brother that could do no harm. But that dream was gone, replaced by a cruel reality. And finally, it happened, the final straw that broke it all, the day Klein nearly got Keith killed.

It was a cold winter's night. Keith was 12 and Klein was 13. Keith had been quietly following Klein as he spread chaos and destruction throughout the town hoping to find some way of knocking some sense back into him the only way he could understand, in a fight. They finally reached the harbor, and Keith revealed himself to Klein under the light of the street lamps.

"What're you doing here, Keith?" Klein said turning towards his younger brother.

"I'm here to beat some sense into you," Keith answered sternly.

"Huh?" Klein was not amused, "You gonna fight me or what? I don't wanna hurt you, lil' bro."

"I don't want to hurt you either, but this has to end," Keith stated boldly, "You're hurting too many people. As your brother, I can't let you keep this up. So, I'm proposing a game. First one to fall loses."

"Let me guess," Klein interrupted, "If you win, I have to stop and go back to being a good little boy."

Keith said nothing. His eyes spoke for him. Klein let out a sigh of defeat.

"Okay, lil' bro," Klein said stepping closer, "Let's play your little game."

Keith stared up at his brother with unwavering courage. He knew that Klein couldn't be defeated, the guy was only weak to one thing after all. But that was what Keith was planning on. Since Klein had inherited their father's strength and durability, Keith must've inherited their mother's magical abilities. This was his chance to prove it. This was his chance to defeat Klein and return him to his senses. He was already at the age when foxes discover their powers, so he knew that all he needed was just a little push. Keith hoped that, in addition to getting his brother back, he would awaken his powers as well. At that time, Keith had no idea how selfish his thoughts were, but thinking back to it now, the very thought made him sick. Keith had wanted his brother back, and he had wanted to overpower his brother with the thing that harms him most. He wanted it all, like a spoiled child who wanted the world in his hands.

The fight began with Keith making the first move, a series of forceful swings and sloppy kicks, which Klein either dodged with ease or blocked. Keith didn't give up however. He knew Klein could beat him in a physical fight anytime, but he just needed Klein to fight back in order for him to activate his magic. He thought that his magic would show up when he needed it most, like to defend himself from a killing blow. Keith was betting on it. He knew he was quicker than Klein, so any of Klein's attacks were easy for him to evade. But strangely, Klein never fought swung back. He only dodged, blocked, and parried, but never attacked. Keith was getting frustrated. He didn't understand why Klein wouldn't just fight back already. He can't keep going like this. He'll lose at this rate. Keith's stamina could only hold on for so long. He wasn't as physically fit as Klein. All he could bet on was the magic in his veins, which he can't even use unless Klein attacked him. In frustration, Keith began to lash out more violently against Klein. His claws grew out, his eyes began glowing a fiery hue. He was determined to defeat Klein. No matter what, Keith will take Klein down.

Klein suddenly began having trouble evading Keith's attacks. They were coming to fast, and now with claws and fangs in the flurry, Klein was slowly taking more and more damage. Keith knew well that this wouldn't be enough to bring Klein down. It wasn't just about Klein anymore though. This was about him too. He wanted to be stronger than Klein, his brother who inherited all their father's strength. Keith felt envy rise up within him. Klein had always been stronger than him, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Nothing bothered him. He could survive no matter the situation. But Keith however, he'd instantly crack under pressure. And without his parents, Keith was helpless, a useless lump to society. He hated it. He hated it so much. He wanted to be Klein, to have his strength, his power. Klein had it all, but he instead decided to use all that he was given to cause chaos and misery wherever he went. It enraged Keith. He couldn't take it anymore. And finally, he felt it, the power that flowed through his veins. Keith felt a warmth in his hands; he saw it glow. And Klein saw it too.

Something snapped in Klein the minute he saw the glow. The memories and trauma finally hit him. All those beatings and punishments, they finally caught him. Klein broke. And in an instinctive outburst, Klein bashed Keith hard right in the chest, knocking the air out of him, and sending him flying into a nearby wall. When his rage subsided, Klein looked down at Keith who laid still on the ground before him, blooded and silent.

"K-Keith?" the guilt finally hit Klein, "Keith, get up. C'mon, lil' bro."

Keith didn't move. The air grew colder as snow began to drift down on the brothers. Klein stumbled over to Keith's unmoving body and held him up in his arms. Keith was definitely still breathing. All Klein had done was knock him unconscious. But looking down at Keith's bloodied body, Klein couldn't stop the tears that came into his eyes. And under the falling snow, Klein carried home his injured little brother.

Keith's mind shifted back to reality. We was now standing in front of the cafeteria. In the far back of the cafeteria, his parents sat chatting with each other with a carefree expression. Keith couldn't bare to look at them. It brought back too many memories. Keith didn't approach them. Instead, he let his mind drift back to the past once more, back to the night before Klein's departure.

Keith remember waking up in their mother's room that night. His mother had spent the entire night healing his injuries with magic, something she could never do for Klein. Keith began thinking back to the fight. What had he done? What he did, it wasn't for Klein, it was for himself. Keith felt disgusted by the very thought. He didn't want to think about it anymore, then the realization hit him. All this time he had been receiving everything he wanted from their parents, while Klein got nothing. He never once celebrated Klein's birthday only his own. Klein had never been walked to school with a pair of loving parents. Instead, he walked alone, he played alone, he lived alone. Was that why, why he became the way he was? Keith felt tears swelling up in his eyes. Keith remember finding his brother alone in the living room that night, staring out of the frosted window with a troubled face. They didn't talk much that night, but it was enough for the two to share their apologies.

"Keith, I'm leaving tomorrow," Klein finally said.

Keith stood dumbfounded, "But, why?"

"Mom and dad have had enough of me," Klein replied indifferently, not taking his eyes off the falling snow, "It's time for me to go anyways."

"But, when will you come back?" Keith asked.

"I don't know," Klein answered, "Maybe never. Who knows."

"You don't mean that," Keith said with misty eyes, "You'll come visit me right?"

"Hm, maybe," Klein answered, "I do know that we'll meet again someday. But for now, you should get some rest. I'm not going anywhere yet."

Keith said nothing. He should've said something. He should've told him how much he loved him or begged him to stay. But he said nothing. Instead, he retreated back into his room, and left Klein alone again. That morning, Klein left, and nothing was ever the same again. Their parents just acted like he never existed, or slander his name uncaringly, which never seemed right to Keith. What did Klein ever do to deserve that? He didn't know, but he wanted to know. What was the reason for his parents' neglect of Klein?

Keith walked into the cafeteria, and stood in front of his parents.

"Ah, Keith you're back," Keith's mother said looking up at her son before freezing, "K-Keith? What happened? You're crying."

He was crying. He couldn't stop the tears anymore. They ran down his cheeks like a river of sorrow.

"Mom, dad, we have to find Klein," Keith said finally.