Title: Big Changes
Summary: It was a home full of memories.
The door still creaks as he pushes the door open. The photos are still gleaming in the moonlight - he can only sneak out during the night - and dust has settled on them.
He wipes the frames clean and sets them back on the mantle, turning towards the kitchen.
One mug sits on the counter, its contents rotted and evaporated. Another is broken on the floor, a stain that was never wiped away coloring part of the white floor a light brown.
The last moment of calm, before all hell broke loose.
Kaito smiled as he mixed in marshmallows, just the way Haruto liked his hot chocolate.
Only to drop a mug in surprise as screams filled the air. He ran out the door to the sight of his brother being dragged into a helicopter, all the while screaming for Kaito.
He never made it before the helicopter, which had the Heartland logo on it, flew away. Kaito sunk to his knees, feeling the prickle of tears at his eyes.
He had never come back to this place, well, until now.
It was full of good memories, but the reminder of his failures made itself clear as Kaito looked out towards the empty swing.
He shook his head, and climbed up the stairs, pausing at Haruto's room before hesitantly pushing the door open and walking in.
Nothing had changed, from the star wallpaper on the ceiling to the small toys Haruto had kept scattered on the floor. It all looked so familiar, so inviting- no, he couldn't dwell on the past...
Nothing he wanted existed in any of the other rooms, so he picked up a few of Haruto's toys - an old rubber ball, a few books, a block, because Haruto had nothing up in Heartland Tower, and he would be bored - and slid down the railing back to the first floor.
- Father used to lecture me about sliding -
And Faker didn't give a damn.
Kaito took all the family photos and kept them in a bag, along with the toys, before leaving the house.
By habit, he locked the door.
One last glance at the swing brought tears that he furiously swiped away.
He had already failed his mother's wish.
"Look out for Haruto, and keep him safe."
He had already failed his little brother once.
"NII-SAN!"
He would be damned if he let them hurt Haruto again.