Character(s): Yamano Jun, Shuu Rei Fuan, background characters

Warning(s): /

Like My Little Brother

The mood around them was dark, metaphorically and literally speaking.

It used to be a wonderfully sunny day in Tokyo, the air still a little crisp from the wind, but the spring light had more than made out for the inconvenience. People had been mingling around without a care, enjoying a day off for most of them, chatting and laughing and being careless.

Now, though, the streets were utterly empty of life but for a few strays and dark and unnatural clouds were filling the skies, hosts to a floating castle where a Demon Emperor dwelled, and only a pale, sickly light filtered through.

In the relative shelter provided by a subway station, Jun waited anxiously in a corner in the company of one of the newly revealed 'Samurai Trooper', the Chinese boy who had introduced himself as Shuu.

Nasutei-neechan, the older girl who had also been taken hostage by the monster and who had likely saved Jun's life by pushing him out of the way of an attack, had gone to pick snacks and drinks for everyone, accompanied by Ryo-niichan. The other three Troopers and the white tiger (which Jun still couldn't help but think of as awesome) were patrolling the platform or the street above, acting like lookouts in case the Youja came back.

Which they would, eventually.

Jun sighed. He was getting… bored, as weird as it was. He was eager to see everyone come back and finally explain the situation in more details to him. He was grasping the gist of it – monsters, superheroes, beat the bad guys, save everyone, and vanquish evil, but he didn't know much more.

Shuu, for his part, kept glancing at the younger boy in a pensive way that gradually started to turn more and more protective as he scanned their little tagalong for any sign of injuries after his ordeal with the Youja. There didn't seem to be any on him, and neither did Nasutei appear injured beyond a bruise or two, which was a miracle in itself. The scare asides, they were unharmed. But it could have easily ended very badly for them… and it had almost been the case.

Shuu's eyebrows furrowed as he growled for himself. What sort of cowards and monsters were the Youjakai soldiers, to go after a little kid and a defenseless girl?

For a second, in the midst of the fight, as the little boy cried in pain, Shuu hadn't seen him; no, he had seen someone else instead and…

He swallowed.

No. The person he was thinking about was safely at home in Yokohama, with their Ma to watch over him. But still… it had frozen him to the bone, this split second where it hadn't been little Jun, but his youngest brother's face he had seen contorted in pain. Shuu's little brother could have been – and could very well still end up in, his mind whispered to him cruelly – in Jun's position.

It was difficult to contemplate.

Poor kid, he thought as he glanced at Jun again. He was all alone… and probably scared witless deep down.

"I got a brother your age, you know," he found himself confiding aloud to the younger boy.

Jun blinked and furrowed his eyebrows as he looked up at Shuu. What did it have to do with him? That being said, he couldn't help but find himself jealous of the other boy Shuu had so casually mentioned. How great must it be, to have a boy like Shuu, a Samurai Trooper, an actual hero, as a big brother? Not that anyone knew he was a hero yet, Jun amended. But still…

Nibbling on his lower lip, Jun gave Shuu another cautious look. So far, the little boy hadn't had the chance to really get acquainted with all the Troopers. There had been so many things happening all at once: meeting Ryo and Byakuen in the middle of the street, the dark clouds, the thunder, the broken, exploding windows, the panicked crowd separating him from his parents, the Youja taking him hostage with Nasutei-neechan, the other Troopers rushing in, the Four Masho taunting them, the hideous floating head and the castle appearing from nowhere, finding a place to rest and hide for a bit…

His parents…

His heart gave a pang as he thought about them. Were they alright? Jun had no idea. He hoped they were. They were… they were smart and careful. They must have fled when things got weird and made their way back home (without him? No… they wouldn't have…). Yes. They… they had to be home, scared by the whole experience and worried sick about where Jun must have ended up. Perhaps they have called the police to report him missing… perhaps they were searching for him even now…

It filled him with shame, the idea they could be so worried about him when he was perfectly safe. Or, well, as safe as he could be at the moment, with actual heroes here to make sure he was alright. But if his parents were out searching for him, then THEY weren't safe at all, especially if they ever met one of the Youja…

The thought alone terrified him to the core.

No. He didn't want to think about it anymore. He needed… he needed a distraction. And since Shuu was talking about having a brother…

"Oh? How is he called?" he asked politely, hoping he hadn't waited too long to answer. It would have been rude. He didn't… he didn't particularly care about the answer, but anything, anything to help him not think too much…

Shuu, it seemed, was only waiting for the question to launch himself into a monologue.

"His name is Mei-Ryu… and he's a pain in the arse," the Chinese boy actually laughed, a short, barking sound that was pleasant to hear. "I love him alright, but he's a right little monster. His greatest goal in life is to drive me half-made with worry with all the tricks and stunts he pulls on me, on Ma and Pa and on our other siblings. I think he managed to land himself in trouble more often than all of us together," he confided with a wide grin. "I lost the count of how many band aids I had to put on him since he has been able to walk and run around, and don't get me started on antiseptics and balms for bruises," he rolled his eyes. "And even before that, he was the loud one – and he still is. I'll tell you, if that boy's knees aren't scratched from falling over, then he's likely sick."

Jun couldn't help it; he giggled at the description. Shuu's brother sounded like… something. And for all Shuu 'complained', it was clear from his voice he genuinely liked his younger brother. The orange-clad Trooper kept grinning, eyes turned toward the ceiling, looking lost in his fond memories.

"That being said, even if you have the same age, you don't look that much like Mei-Ryu," Shuu commented again, and Jun's amusement faded. Shuu's smile turned gentler. "Personality-wise, I think you're more like my other brother, Yun. Now, he's a little older than you, but he's a sweet boy. A bit shy with strangers and often overwhelmed by the rowdiness, given he's a quiet one in nature, but he's always thoughtful and kind. He's like… well, I'm a rock," he tapped his fist against his chest, "all strong and unbreakable but Yun is, like, a cornerstone. You can steadily rely on him, just like me."

Jun felt his chest puff out in pride. That didn't sound bad, being compared to a boy both older and considered reliable…

"Courage-wise, though, I think you're like Rinfi – that's my sister," Shuu continued, and Jun frowned. Being compared to a girl wasn't nearly as nice…

Noting his look, Shuu chuckled and tussled the younger boy's hair.

"Hey, trust me, it's a big praise. Rinfi has quite the sharp tongue and she knows how to stand her ground. I'm my Ma's prized pupil, but I think Rinfi will be the one who will outshine us all in the end," he confided with a wink. "She has opinions and isn't shy about letting them know. She hates 'crybabies' and cowardly individuals and she's never afraid to try and face up against boys bigger and tougher than hers – even if I have to save her half the time," he sighed. "Ma thinks it's all my fault and that I had a bad influence on her when she was younger, but I think she should be more worried about Rinfi's influence on ME," he grinned again.

Jun grinned back.

"And you, kiddo; got any brother or sister?" Shuu inquired gently.

Jun just shook his head. His parents had never seemed in a hurry to give him a sibling, apparently happy with just him. Until now, being an only son hadn't truly bothered him, but as he listened Shuu talk about his siblings, he couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't missing out on something.

Shuu eyed him for a moment longer before nodding and kneeling in front of the younger boy and putting his hands on his shoulders.

"You know what, Jun? Once we're done with kicking Arago and the Youja's a… butts," he corrected himself, "I'll take you to have dinner at my family's place. We own a restaurant in Yokohama, the food is just delicious, you'll see. My Ma is the best cook ever! And my sibs wouldn't mind having a new playmate to hang around with, especially Chun Fa – that's my youngest sister and the family baby, unless Ma decides she's not done with just the five of us," he winked. "She's a treasure, Chun-Fa – all small and dainty like a doll, with the cutest smile and the biggest eyes – bigger than mine, even! She loves getting hugs and being everyone's Princess. I'm sure you'd love her at first sight too." He chuckled. "So, how does that sound?"

Jun could only nod in answer, a small smile on his lips.

The way Shuu was presenting things was tempting, Jun had to admit. The fact he was sharing so much about his family, when nothing was forcing him to, and the way he seemed so sure they were going to win already soothed a knot of tension in Jun's stomach.

A few minutes later, Nasutei-neechan and Ryo-niichan were back, arms full of wrapped hamburgers (sweet! They almost never had them home, Dad disliking western food) and fizzy drinks cans, and everyone followed after them, the group taking the time to eat and better present themselves to each other.

It was… nice. Peaceful. And of course it didn't last.

Much later, after many eventful days, many battles and many near misses, Jun thought back about that first day in Shinjuku, and what he had felt before and after talking with Shuu so openly for the first time.

Before, Jun had been scared. After, gained by the Kongo bearer's enthusiasm and certainty, Jun had forgotten to ever consider that his new friends might have ever failed in their quest.

Truth to be told, seeing Ryo in action for the first time had already more or less given Jun the idea that the Troopers would win, but it was really Shuu who had cemented this feeling in the younger boy.

Just by being himself, just by being a Big Brother, Shuu had managed to preventively derail a lot of Jun's insecurities and doubts in the future. Shuu hadn't clearly said 'I will protect you, kid', but the feeling had been there, in his gestures, in his eyes, in his smiles, and so Shuu had become Jun's second favorite Trooper with just a few words in a dark subway station.

He had also, as Jun belatedly realized later, pretty much stuck a tag on Jun's forehead with the words 'new baby brother' words printed on it, but honestly?

Jun hadn't minded then, and he still didn't mind today – and he'd never mind in the future either.

Not ever.

End