Onii-san

"Aniki!" Shou laughed happily as he caught up to a grinning Juudai, a warm smile on his face as he listened attentively to the brunette as he breathlessly said the play by play from his last duel.

Teal eyes narrowed slightly at the title, his mouth was pressed together in a thin line on his pale face as he vigilantly watched his younger brother walk amicably with his companion. Ryou leaned lightly against the tree he was hiding behind, a monotone expression across his face as he watched the top of Shou's cobalt hair disappear in the horizon.

A soft sigh escaped Ryou's lips as he closed his eyes.

Regret? The Kaiser of Duel Academy regretted nothing, yet…Ryou, Ryou Marufuji, was allowed to regret, was he not? Especially when it came to his brother, the brother that thought he hated him.

Hate Shou? His own flesh and blood? Impossible, no matter how hard and cold he seemed his weak spot would always be for his brother. It was a weakness that he could reveal to no one or it would be taken advantage of, just like the duel with Vampire Carmulla when she had taken Shou hostage, forcing him to loose the duel. The thought of allowing Shou to be taken away to the Shadow Realm was a thought worse than the thought of not being able to duel at all.

'Don't sacrifice yourself for a worthless brother like me!'

The last memory before the darkness took him to the Shadow Realm was Shou's distressed voice calling out to him.

'Onii-san!'

Opening his eyes finally, he heard the distant sound of his name being called; most likely by Fubuki wanting to show him his newest modification to his deck. Standing straight up, Ryou coolly walked away from his hiding spot to catch up to his friend, but…not without one glance behind his shoulder where Shou had disappeared too.

"I cannot change the past but…the one thing I will never regret is…having you for a brother."

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SS: I cannot write a good drabble, so bleh. I tried to capture the brotherly feelings of Ryou, but dang, it was hard. Anyway, comments or criticisms are both appreciated.