Warnings: Slight not really kiss thing and rating changed because the f-bomb is used a lot.

Rikuo stepped back from the brick wall and looked at his almost finished piece, not feeling satisfied with it at all. This was one of the reasons why he hated spray painting on brick walls, the indentations of every single brick threw off the lines and the maroon color was hard to work with. If he wanted to use a lighter color, he needed to use more coats than want he wanted if he didn't want them to mix. He much preferred his usual concrete walls compared to bricks.

However, Rikuo was not in his usual part of town and took what he could get. Being too far from his father's home could end up with him getting lost, and then he would spend longer than needed trying to find his way back. And this building seemed abandoned enough, with it's boarded windows and for sale or lease sign on the door.

Usually, he wouldn't go out on his nightly adventures when he visited his father and his family. It was way too risky, and he could make a lot of noise trying to get out and getting back. But, his last piece was unfinished and he just felt...empty? Rikuo couldn't describe the feeling, it was so alien to him. Though he wouldn't deny that he felt somewhat pissed at himself, for not finishing and getting almost caught by one of his father's most trusted officers.

I should have been more careful.

Shaking the white spray can, Rikuo went back to finishing his picture. On the wall, was extravagant ruined buildings of different heights in yellow. Some were in the mist of crumbling, others had missing pieces, a few rested against others and some where even on the ground. Red dust was tinted over them, coming from the ground they all laid on. It was just a small city, the only one on the red planet. Colors of mixed purple, blue and black was the sky and the white dots were the stars.

Finishing up the picture, he felt at least a little satisfied with the simple piece. Rikuo pulled down his gas-mask and pushed up his goggles, smiling at the picture. He had to admit, even with his drastic lack of colors it came out alright. Putting his cans back into his duffel bag, Rikuo was ready to make his way back to his father's home.

The shuffling of pavement against shoes caught his attention, and Rikuo cursed himself for not being more careful the second time around. Maybe it was Kubinashi or another of his father's officers, they were all know for being quiet, sneaky bastards. Just as he was about to high tail out, the person's deep voice stopped him in shock.

"Well, well, that's a nice piece of work you have there."

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck...

It was Rikun. His fucking older brother had caught him and, who knows how long the guy has been there. For all Rikuo knew, Rikun could have been there the entire time! Well, it could have been worse. At least it wasn't his grandfather or father and just his brother. Compared to the other two, Rikun wasn't nearly as threatening.

Well, maybe he is a little more intimidating than grandfather.

"You know, I was always curious how you spent your time Rikuo. But I didn't think you had the balls to do graffiti!" Rikun said with a mocking tone, like he didn't just find out Rikuo's biggest secret.

In his panic, Rikuo did the stupidest thing he could have done. He ran away from Rikun as fast he could. As he sprinted away, Rikuo heard his brother's shout of "Hey! Rikuo!" and the footsteps that were already gaining up on him. He wasn't surprised, Rikun was the star striker on the soccer team and one of the best runners on the track team. How the hell was he suppose to get away from Rikun? Rikuo sure as hell didn't know, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.

Every chance he got, Rikuo took a turn and tried to avoid going in straight paths as long at he could. If there was an obstacle in his way, Rikuo would climb it or jump over it while Rikun had to take the extra time to run around it. Like in the case where Rikuo jumped over some concrete stairs, while Rikun carefully ran down them. However, Rikuo soon started to run out of breath. He was never use to sprinting for this long, it was usually a leisure run at his own pace. Knowing his brother, Rikuo was sure that Rikun barely even broke into a sweat.

As Rikuo turned another left, he was met with a narrow dead end. Cursing his luck, Rikuo looked to the fire escape with the ladder still hanging against the railing. It looks like it hasn't been used yet.

"Rikuo!" Was the not so far away yell from his brother.

Taking a deep breath and dropping his duffel bag onto the ground, Rikuo ran to the wall on the other side of the fire escape. He ran up it as high as he could, before propelling himself to the other wall. In the split second before he was going to fall, Rikuo grabbed at the ladder. His legs were swinging under him, and felt a bit out of breath. Looking at Rikun, who was gabbing at him, Rikuo climbed up the ladder and walked across to the other ladder. He kept going this, until he was at a decent height higher than the building next door. Standing on the railings, Rikuo jumped off and landed into a roll on the other buildings roof.

As he was making his way down the back of the building, Rikuo wondered how he was going to explain all of this to his brother. All he could do was hope that he made it back home before Rikun did.

It was tough, making his way back into his room. Climbing the iron gate was no problem but climbing back up to his room, that was a different story. Though, without his duffel bag weighing him down, it was much easier. Lucky for him, trees were a common front lawn accessory for almost all homes. Climbing up the tree, Rikuo was able to get onto the second balcony. Standing a bit shaky on the railings, he grabbed at the iron bars above him and climbed up. He did this two more times before standing in front of his balcony door.

Sliding it close behind him, Rikuo let out an exhausted sigh.

"Tired, Rikuo?" Was the voice of his brother, who was leaning against his closed door.

Goddammit Rikun!

"How the hell did you get here so fast!" Rikuo ask raising his voice a little, pointing to his older brother.

"If you lived here as long as I have, you start to know the in's and outs and every short cut." Rikun said with a wink. "By the way" he said while pulling out a cigarette from his pack and a lighter "I brought back your duffel bag."

Rikuo looked to where Rikun titled his head, and he saw his said bag on the chair. Not moving from his spot in front of glass door, Rikuo let out a disgruntled thanks.

"So...why do you do it?" Rikun asked, pulling his lighter away and the stick in between his lips.

Crap, he didn't come up with a story. It wasn't like he could anyways, Rikun had caught him red-handed. There was no way of getting out of it. "Mind your business. It has nothing to do with you," was the harsh reply Rikuo settled on. "How did you find me anyways?"

"I have my ways," Was Rikun's vague reply.

Taking a deep drag from the cigarette, Rikun made his way over the bed and sat at the edge. Removing the stick from his lips, he exhaled and a puff of smoke rushed out. Rikun looked over to Rikuo who still stood at the balcony door, giving a small smirk as he patted at a spot next to him.

Rikuo scowled a little behind his gas mask but took the gesture and sat down next to his older brother. He pushed the gas mask down so it hung around his neck, and pushed the goggles up on his head. They sat like that for a few minutes, the silence hanging over them with only the inhale and exhale of Rikun taking a drag cutting through. Rikuo fell backwards and looked up at his ceiling, tracing the lines to find patterns. "You're going to make my room smell like smoke, I hope you know," Rikuo informed his brother, his nose making a small twitch.

Rikun released a little chuckle before taking in another inhale. He paused for a moment and took a side glace at Rikuo before speaking. "Hey, Rikuo."

"Hmm?"

"Do...do you hate us? I mean...old man, mom, gramps and me. Do you hate us?"

Rikuo continued to look at the ceiling, still trying to trace any of the patterns he could fine. He pressed his lips together before answering. "No, I don't you guys. Why would you think that?"

Rikun took another pause and brought the cigarette to his face. "Because you seem to distance yourself from us. Don't try and hid it, even mom picked it up...I..I think, this is the first time since you've started coming over, that you actually talked to us outside of meals...even if it was only for five minutes."

Rikuo sighed, bringing his hand to remove the uncomfortable goggles from his head. He thought he had been hiding that so well. Feeling a bit hesitant, Rikuo licked at his dry lips and turned his head to his brother before replying. "It feels...wrong, you know? Being ordinary among extraordinary."

"W-what?" Rikun asked and looked at the teen lying on the bed.

"You...Yamabuki...dad...and gramps, you're all so...unearthly." Rikuo started, a pit of nerves growing in his stomach. "I mean...Jesus Christ...Look at all of you!" He sat up and looked up at Rikun. "You're all just wonderful people! You guys would do anything...anything for this city and it's people. You...father...grandfather, you three are just...just so charismatic! So lively! So...fucking fiery! And, Yamabuki too! Maybe not charismatic but just so fucking charming!

Not mention, all of you are so unnaturally pretty. Even grandfather who is in his 60s is pretty!...Compared to me...and to mom...compared to me and mom, you're all fucking perfect. Just fucking perfect." Rikuo said with slight desperation him his voice. The back of his eyes stung, and his heart started feeling heavy; he wanted nothing more than to crawl under his blanket and cocoon himself from the world.

"What do you mean compared" Rikun dropped the word like it was laced with venom and narrowed his red eyes "to you and Wakana?"

Ignoring his brother's anger, Rikuo swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't think it would be...be this hard, telling someone all his insecurities, especially his brother of all people. Mr. fucking Perfect.

"What I mean...is" Rikuo took a shaken breath, "compared to Yamabuki...doesn't mom seem a little plain? Don't get me wrong...I love her...I love her a lot. And yeah, they share a few similar qualities but, your mom is charming, and pretty and gentle. Yamabuki is like a princess come to life. My mom..." Rikuo paused, not liking the intense stare he was receiving from his brother. "Isn't. She's quirky, if not a little clumsy and she isn't really gentle but...more kind.

"And...compared to you...I mean, Goddammit, I am so lack-luster!" Rikuo said, putting his head into his hands, tightening his fingers in brown strands. Sighing, he looked back at Rikun and gestured a hand towards him. "Rikun, you're the perfect son. You're a straight-A student, you're good at sports, you're a leader, and handsome! And., look at me!" He took a breath and swallowed, his throat suddenly became dry.

"I'm average at best! I'm just skating by in school and I suck at almost every team game! I can't be a leader, I'm...far too hesitant. Hell, I can't even talk to my friends without feeling a bit awkward. And, I'm not even close...to the handsome like you, father, and grandfather are. Brown hair, and brown eyes? Glasses? That's nothing in comparison."

Rikuo panted a little, the breath he took in earlier suddenly gone from him. He glanced to the side, not wanting to see Rikun's intense glare at him. "Plus, you get along with them...so much better than I do. I can't even understand anything they are talking about half the time. With these high class parties or council meetings. It all...goes over my head." He said, his voice becoming lower with each word spoken.

"It feels like I don't belong h-" A sudden burning sensation on his cheek stopped him from finishing his sentence. Cupping his red cheek, Rikuo turned to look back at his brother. "What was that for, you jerk! I pour my heart out to you, and you slap me?!"

"You should be glad it was only a slap, I wanted to punch you. However, I would have broken your nose." Rikun said, dropping the butt of the cigarette onto the dark carpet before stepping on it.

"Rikun! You can't do that, you'll put a hole in the carpet!"

Rikun waved off Rikuo's loud complaint and went to light up another cigarette. "You know, for an artist that wants to see everything in color, you have a very monochrome perspective."

Rikuo didn't say anything, he was at a lost of words. What did brother mean that he had a monochrome perspective?! He was just stating the facts was all!

"You don't belong in this family? Don't give me that bullshit, you're part of this family as much as the rest of us. Didn't you see yourself earlier, how you cleverly out maneuvered me? Or, how you walled jumped to a fire escape and then jumped onto the roof of the closest building? Jesus Christ, Rikuo! I thought you were going to die when you did that!" Despite himself, Rikuo laughed a little which caused Rikun to pause and look at his younger brother with a smile.

"If anything, you're more impressive than the rest of us. And not getting caught spray painting for four years? That's pretty good, usually there are witnesses around all over town." Rikun told him, taking a deep inhale before blowing out the smoke in rings. "And you-know, not everyone understands politics. It's boring most of the time, if you ask me."

Rikun patted his younger brother's hair, ruffling it a little much to the annoyance of Rikuo. "Plus, what's wrong with your looks? You can wear a lot more colors than I can. Do you know how hard it is to find a color that doesn't clash with sliver? Most of my outfits are only dark colors!

"Old man and gramps? Handsome? That's a laugh, they're just a couple of old men. You won't have to worry about them for long." The rather tactless joke made Rikuo snicker a little.

Rikun dropped his hand from his younger brother's head and gave a small smile. "Rikuo, you think we're perfect from a superficial point of view." Rikun then offered his already lit cigarette to Rikuo, whose eyes widen at his brother. Rikuo reached out to it with a shaky hand, before pulling it back. "You've never spent any time with us in the last four years. Maybe if you didn't only come over one weekend a month and, didn't just stay in your room like usual, you'll see we have our flaws and weaknesses. That...we're not as unearthly as you thought.

"You fit in with this family more than you think, Rikuo."

With new found determination, Rikuo took the cigarette from his brother. He stared at the stick for a moment before putting it between his lips. After his first inhale, Rikuo quickly removed the cigarette and started hacking. He beat at his chest to stop while his brother laughed beside him.

"How can you stand these things?! That was the worst thing I have ever tasted in years!" Rikuo said, handing said thing back to his brother, who accepted it back without hesitation.

"You get use to it after a while." Rikun responded, his voice laced with mirth.

Rikuo went back to laying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling again. Maybe, his brother was right and he should spend more time with them. Now that he thought about it, maybe it was actions that made him feel like an outcast from his family. His mind drifted to meal times, and he recalled when either Yamabuki or Rihan would invite him to Rikun's soccer games. Or, when they would go out to eat. There were even a few times that Nurarihyon would ask him to join him for tea, or watch a movie together. He would always decline, saying he had a lot of homework to do.

Why hadn't he noticed those disappointed looks before?

"Hey, Rikun?"

"Hmm?" Was the uninterested reply.

"Thanks...you know. For making me feel better."

Rikun smirked at him, before blowing out another set of rings. "Hey, Rikuo?"

Rikuo hummed in response, feeling somewhat tired.

"Next time you paint on a building, think you could take me along?"

"...What? Why would you want to go?"

"Well, what's a better bonding experience than two brothers committing a crime together!" Was Rikun's jolly answer.

Rikuo rolled his eyes at his impossible brother before closing them. "Fine, whatever. You'll probably follow me anyways even if I said no."

A sudden dip bed caused Rikuo to open his eyes, and when he did he was greeted by his brother's face. Rikun was above him, the hand not holding the cigarette was keeping Rikun up while, the one with the cigarette cupped Rikuo's face. The sent of the stick burned Rikuo's nostrils, and the back smoke brought some heat to his cheek.

"Rikun...what the hell do you think you-" Rikuo was suddenly cut of when his gas mask was suddenly moved to cover his face. The action caused bits of ash to fall onto Rikuo's cheek, causing him to flinch from the sudden burning.

"Good night, Rikuo" Rikun said, wiping off the ash which left gray smears on Rikuo's cheek. Rikuo's eyes widen when he saw his brother lean in close to his face, and promptly kissed the gas mask. He then pushed himself away from Rikuo, gave his brother a small smirk and walked out the door with a "What the fuck was that?! You FREAK!" following him out.

Beams of light shined through crystal windows in the dining room, showering the room with a glow. Tentatively, Rikuo ate at his omelet ignoring the stare his brother was giving him. Like last night at dinner, conversation flowed around Rikuo. The topics weren't too different from last night, instead of reviewing their day it was what they were planning to do. Again, Rikuo didn't join in but, not because he felt unattached but because he had nothing planned, at all. Usually he just sat in his room reading or watching TV.

However, whenever Rihan or Yamabuki spoke of their plans, Rikun would stare at him. Rikuo felt uncomfortable under the red eyes. It was like his brother was silently saying Well aren't you going to join them?

Aren't you going to give them a chance?

Rikuo sighed, drawing curious glances from the rest of his family. He wasn't sure how to even start, everything they planned were uninteresting to him. While he wanted to be closer to his family, he didn't want to insult them by being bored at their events. Maybe he was just rationalizing his selfishness.

"So, Rikun when is your soccer game again?" Rihan asked, taking a sip from his drink.

Rikun broke his stare and looked to his father. "It's at three," he answered, taking a bit from his french toast.

Rikuo's ear caught the conversation, and he straightened his posture. Putting his fork down on his plate and taking a deep breath, he looked to his father. "Hey, fa...dad, do you think I can come too?"

Rihan looked at Rikuo, shock all over his face as well as everyone else besides Rikun who was smiling. It's been years, since he heard his youngest son call him 'dad'. Putting his cup down, Rihan smiled at Rikuo; he felt very elated at finally being able to have some time with his son. "Of course you can Rikuo."

"Ah, Rikuo. Won't you be bored watching my soccer game?" Rikun said, with a teasing smirk. "I mean, the activity you like to do is so much interesting than soccer."

"You have an activity Rikuo?" Yamabuki asked, setting down her now dirtied napkin.

Rikuo was a lost for words, he really didn't know how to say. He wasn't even sure what Rikun was talking about and, he was fairly sure his brother wasn't talking about his graffiti.

"Aye, mom. Rikuo likes parkour."

Oh, that was what Rikun was talking about.

"Parkour? What's that?" Nurarihyon spoke up, seeming to take interest at the topic.

"Basically, it's where Rikuo jumps, vaults and stuff off buildings." Rikun said, waving off his grandfather.

"No! It's the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle by adapting to the environment!" Rikuo corrected, feeling somewhat annoyed that his brother downgraded one of his favorite pass times.

"Jumping off buildings." Was his brother's final response.

"Rikuo!" Yamabuki said in shock, looking to her step-son. "That's far too dangerous, you can get seriously hurt!"

"It's not too bad...the only serious injury I got broken ankle, and that was because I landed wrong..." Rikuo was his nervous reply to calm down Yamabuki.

"A broken ankle?! Rikuo! Does Wakana know about this?"

"She encourages it, actually..."

Everyone besides Yamabuki and Rikuo laughed, the female being the only one to gape openly at Rikuo. Rihan shook his head, propped up his elbow onto the table and rested his head in his hand. "That's just like Wakana..." he trailed off, seeming to lose himself in this thoughts.

Yamabuki looked back to her husband that was seated right next to her, and gave him a small smile like she knew what he was thinking. " Isn't it?"

An odd silence fell over the remaining occupants, none of them being quite sure if they want to break Rihan and Yamabuki from their thoughts about Rikuo's mother. Rikuo, however, looked at his father and step mother in wonder. Why did bringing up Wakana put them in such a dreamy state? Was it always like this, when he mentioned his mother? Now that he thought back on it, he recalled the disappointed faces of theirs when he gave vague answers to their questions about this mother. He even remembered their relieved faces when he denied that Wakana had ever dated anyone after Rihan. Rikuo somewhat understood his father's relief but Yamabuki's?

The sound of wood scrapping against marble broke Rikuo out of his thoughts. Nurarihyon had apparently finished his breakfast already. "I'm going out back for a smoke." He announced before making his way to their back door.

As he passed Rikun, Rikuo noticed that they gave each other some kind of knowing smirk. Briefly, he wondered what that was all about.

Did you catch it? It was Nurarihyon that saw Rikuo sneak out.

Well, if you didn't catch you now know.

Was that a little too soon? With Rikuo trying to spend time with his family, and how was it? I'm not sure if it was as emotional as I planned it.

This chapter would have been out sooner, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to include the thing about Rihan, Wakana and Yamabuki. But, I felt it wouldn't flow right, so that will be next chapter.

Any constructive criticism is welcome.