XIX. Judgmental

There was a lot that would deem Seishiro and Fuuma as complete opposites.

While Fuuma basked in the glow of the light, Seishiro preferred the dark of the twilight. While Fuuma was more emotionally involved with others, Seishiro stayed away from them as much as possible.

Fuuma gave.

Seishiro took away.

The yin and the yang to each other, subconsciously.

There was one occurrence of this that stood out in Seishiro's memory, one instance in particular that proved this.

It wasn't too long ago, actually. It had been a sunny day, and the two were sitting on opposite side of a tree trunk, Fuuma in the sunlight, Seishiro in the shade. Sakura blossoms were afloat in the wind, only to finally fall onto the ground moments later. They happened to be discussing the other people in their lives – friends, and otherwise.

"You really don't get out much, do you?" Fuuma remarked, his sunglasses at the bridge of his nose.

Seishiro turned to him, speculative. "What makes you say that?"

Fuuma shrugged. "I dunno – you just don't seem like a people person. Plus you're pale as hell."

The hunter had to chuckle at that. He had a point. "I can't help it. It's in my nature – I don't believe I can do much about it. There are some troublesome things that come with being too much of a people person, you know."

"Don't I know it…but it's not all bad. Sure there are some things that can be bad, but you get past them and then you move on. You can get a lot of things from other people – a lot experience, a lot of laughs, a lot of memories…all that fun stuff. Then there's you – someone who is content in their own world, their own ascertains about people. You don't even care if something happens to someone else, good or bad. I don't mean to arbitrate but…you are not the easiest person to deal with."

This made Seishiro laugh even harder, so much that his shoulders started to shake, his eyes shut, and his ribs soon began aching. He had never heard of anything so silly. And yet it was accurate.

He had underestimated Fuuma.

Once he got his composure back, he looked at his younger brother out of the corner of his right eye, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Judgmental, much?"

Fuuma grinned. "Only as much as you, brother."