Note – All of the names for family names are random except for Ryo. The GoLions incarnation of Shiro actually had a younger brother who replaced him named Ryo. Except, they looked so much alike, they both became Sven in Voltron. That said, there are differences between this Ryo and that Ryo.

To answer the anonymous reviewer's question, it's four-year-old knowledge.

Aniki
Family Hatred

The seven-year-old closed his eyes, his cheeks heating up when the two female servants came to help them change. Keith dodged away when one of the women attempted to grab him, forcing Shiro to dress him when they finished with them. The two servants then led the two children to the family room. Shiro felt his little brother cling to his side, getting closer when they arrived among a bunch of strangers.

The room was large, with a rather long table with many people around the place. Their grandfather sat at the kamiza, or seat of honor, his wife sitting on a pillow next to his side. His calloused hand waved at the pillowed seats. This meant walking from the entrance to the other side of the room and watching the rest of the family look the two brothers up and down while Keith moved to the opposite side, still clinging.

Upon arriving at the seats, Shiro sat down, noting the casual nature everyone in the family took on and proceeded to sit down on the cushion. He hoped Keith would sit on the pillow allocated for him, but instead found Keith clinging to his side, the child froze as his dark blue eyes stared at the person sitting across from Shiro, for the man was named Takeo.

"Before the meal starts, I will introduce you to the family whose here." The old man turned his head to Takeo, making Shiro realize everyone in the room happened to be the same family, making the color drain from his face. Keith's locks of hair remained damp from the water, but his eyes focused on the man, and the man glared back. The other older males in the family noticed, as did the boy sitting on the other side of the woman next to Takeo.

"You've already met your uncle Takeo. He is the second son. The woman next to him is his wife Michiko of the Kogane branch. In her arms is their first born daughter Rei. Sitting next to them is the first born son of the second son, Shinji."

Shiro's eyes widened, noticing that his cousin looked to be around the same age as him, only for his dark eyes to blink a couple of times when the young man bowed to him, making Shiro wrap an arm around Keith, who'd somehow managed to get part of his brother's kimono in his mouth. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am eight years of age." The young man turned his head to the child sitting next to him. "This is the second son of the second son, Ryo. He is the same age as the second son of the first son."

"He means Keith, though why he didn't use my brother's name, I do not know." Shiro noticed the eyes of the other four-year-old glaring at his little brother, making him nervous, resulting in Shiro worrying his lip. He also couldn't keep the various cousins straight in his head but found out that the oldest of the girls was Yugane Kyomi, the first daughter of the first daughter, and the other was the first daughter of the second son, Shirogane Ayami. Kyomi was eight, and the other girl six, not to mention Yugane was yet another branch family.

After the long introduction, the family head motioned for everyone to start eating, while Keith remained glued to Shiro's side. The oldest brother attempted to follow whatever the proper protocol was for the family, but nobody said anything in regards to what he was doing wrong, or right, reminding him that their father and mother always told them something. His dark eyes observed everyone looking in their direction as they ate.

None of the looks were aimed at him, but at the small child at his side. A shudder ran down Shiro's spine realizing many of these looks showed a major dislike of the small child. Shiro finally nudged his brother. "Hey, Akira, aren't you hungry."

"It's…" Keith's head finally darted up, only for the boy to completely freeze upon seeing the look Shiro gave him. The dark look was meant as a warning, but something told him that said look fed the anxiety directed at Keith, but he couldn't understand why. "Yes."

Shiro watched as his little brother turned to his chopsticks, picking them up precariously. Keith's mouth pushed together as he looked at the food, not moving. Ryo narrowed his eyes, and Shiro noted his young cousin actually managed to hold the chopsticks correctly. "You know, it's not polite to hold your chopsticks over the food."

A shudder ran down Shiro's spine as Keith's lip began to tremble, and tears began to well in his eyes. "But…"

"Um…"

"Just pick up a piece of food and eat it."

Shiro's lips pushed together, noticing how well Ryo spoke compared to Keith, who was of the same age, but also how he didn't struggle with using the chopsticks. Turning to look at Keith, he saw the look of determination on the four-year-old child's face. The chopsticks, however, spread apart in a manner which would not pick up food, and Keith attempted to pick up a piece of food. The determination turned to shock when the food didn't pick up, and he attempted it again.

"If you touch a piece of food, you've got to eat it."

Shiro gritted his teeth together, annoyed at his younger cousin. Keith's chopsticks hovered over the food, wanting that one piece, while everyone else seemed to just stare, not wanting to help, despite the fact the normal job of an adult was to help a small child struggling like this. Keith getting frustrated was never a good thing either. "Where am I supposed to get a rubber band, and piece of paper."

"Oh."

Shiro started, hearing Shinji speak up. His dark eyes blinked a couple of times, watching as his older cousin turned to their grandfather. "May I go and get something?"

The old man lifted up one eyebrow but then indicated the young man should leave. Keith looked at the bowl of rice, which told Shiro that his younger brother was ready to lift the bowl into his hands and plow his face right in, which would result in a major embarrassment for the two of them. He didn't notice someone coming up behind him, until Shinji touched Keith's shoulder, making his younger brother spaz out.

The look on Shinji's face said a lot, as Keith's reaction to being touched left a lot of desire, particularly with such a simple touch. Ryo glared from across the table, and some of the other cousins stared at the strange newcomer with mannerisms none of them would ever use at the table. "Could I see his chopsticks?"

Shiro carefully picked up the sticks from where Keith dropped them and handed them to the older boy. He watched as Shinji placed a piece of paper and rubber band on the end, before going back to sit in his spot. Relief washed over him, but he still noticed the stares directed at Keith. The correct thing to do in such a situation was to say thank you right away, but everyone watched as the child's eyes widened, and he lifted up the piece of food, eating it.

Then came the thank you, with a big smile as the chopsticks, pointed at Shinji. Shiro pushed Keith's hand down, leaning in close. "Hey. You're not supposed to point chopsticks at people, remember?"

Keith's eyes blinked a couple of times, a smile still plastered across his face. "Sorry."

The sorry came without any real look of sincere guilt, but then the four-year-old didn't understand certain mannerisms. Shiro knew everyone also noted the fact the apology was directed at him instead of their cousin, making matters worse. "Hey, Shiro-nii."

Mutterings came at the utterance of the odd nickname. Shiro leaned in a little closer. "What…"

The next thing he knew, Keith managed to shove a piece of food from the plate into his brother's mouth, causing Shiro to gag, dropping his chopsticks as his hands went to his mouth. One hand then slammed the table unintentionally as he attempted to chew and swallow the bite, his face turning red. Out of the corner of his eye, Shiro watched his oblivious little brother smile at him. "Isn't it yummy."

The seven-year-old finished and didn't attempt to look up at the rest of the family, the embarrassment setting in. Shinji spoke up from the other side of the table. "I like you two."

Shiro's dark eyes drifted up to look at his cousin, noting the rather disturbed looks on the faces of the adults, but also the way Ryo glared at Keith. The four-year-old next to Shiro finally relaxed, and pointed his chopsticks at Shiji. "You're nice."

Shiro pushed down the chopsticks. "Hey! Don't point your chopsticks at people like that."

"Oh yeah!"

"He doesn't have any manners."

"I don't know. I think he's a lot politer than you are."

Shiro felt confusion spread across his face, watching as Ryo glared at his older brother. He wasn't sure how to interact with the family, but looking at Keith, he saw his younger brother act like himself, oblivious to the family turmoil, but also the fact a gaping hole was left in their lives.