Yoriichi eyed the crawl space, it was eerily silent than it usually was. His elder brother would appear at any moment for their regular playtime.
"Close your ears for me Yoriichi," Michikatsu smiled as he placed his small hands on the boy's ears, covering them. Yoriichi cast him a concerned look but eventually complied. The heavy feeling inside him grew, yet he did not question his elder brother's intentions.
"Once I leave be sure to press them tightly alright?" was what his elder brother instructed before giving him a pat on the head.
A speck of red bruise would be seen on Michikatsu's cheek when he returned to him, the same smile remained welcoming as he approached Yoriichi. He fell and hit his face was always his excuse whenever he was questioned before continuing with what their plan was.
Perhaps his elder brother fell and hit his face once again and did not return. Yet, he was prohibited from moving beyond the tatami room at nightfall.
Footsteps echoed through the crawl space, interrupting the boy's thoughts. Yoriichi approached the crawl space expectantly, predicting Michikatsu's arrival. Yet, the sound appeared heavier than what he was used to; they did not sound like his brother's quick and hushed thuds.
The footsteps belonged to a female attendant as her fabric shuffled amongst her feet. She knelt before the crawl space and announced to Yoriichi: "Lord Tsugikuni requested for you,"
A sense of dread crept into his chest, he remembered the decision was brought to his ears a long time ago where he was to be sent to the temple; yet, he was not of age.
Perhaps it was something else.
He walked out of the room and followed the female attendant.
His mother's muffled cries could be heard from the room on the right corridor. As he passed by, closing into his father's room.
He instinctively gave his father a bow before sitting in front of him.
"You will set off tomorrow in your brother's attire, you will no longer be heading to the temple," Tadamune announced, his interaction with his father was a stark difference from his mother's. There were always greets, her gentle smile would be seen as he entered her room, followed by questions of his wellbeing.
"Understood?" his father repeated impatiently at Yoriichi's lack of response. The boy eventually bowed once again, acknowledging his order before raising himself from the cold wooden floor, and leaving alongside the female attendant.
Michikatsu glanced frantically around the silent corridor in hopes of not attracting attention. He repeated the action as he rushed towards the familiar crawl space. A surge of relief flowed through his chest the moment he saw his younger brother's presence.
"Yoriichi!" the older boy smiled as he popped his head into the room.
"Big brother-"
He was held tightly in his brother's arms, and before he knew it, a damp cooling sensation appeared on his right shoulder, followed by sobs. Yoriichi pat Michikatsu's messy tuft of locks waiting for his announcement.
"Father- is goin- to- send you- away!" was what the older boy could muster in between his hiccups.
"Then you won't fall and hit your face anymore," Yoriichi comforted, causing Michikatsu to freeze, it was not before long his sobs turned louder: "I- don't want- I don't want you- to- leave!"
Yoriichi pat his elder brother's head as their embrace tightened, Michikatsu's wail continued on as the night went on.
It was not before long the two held each other close in each other's arms, the older twin's "no's" became their lullaby.