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For the most part, Shigeo had learned to tune out the nail-drilling voice in his head. He’s been hearing it for years, but it’s only gotten louder since Ritsu developed his powers.
“Let me see him!” It’d beg. “I deserve to see him just as much as you do!”
“I didn’t try to kill him,” Shigeo groaned as he brushed his teeth.
“That was so long ago and it was an accident! Please! He can protect himself now! I just want him to know his big brother still loves him!”
Shigeo spit out some toothpaste. “He already knows I love him. He has no need for a monster like you.”
“Then why is he so depressed now that I’m gone? His eyes would shine whenever I showed off. He loved seeing me bend spoons and make water float.”
“I did those,” Shigeo corrected before brushing his bottom teeth.
“Using me! Ritsu knows I was the one who really did these things!”
Shigeo slammed his fist down on the counter. “DON’T SAY HIS NAME! You don’t get that privilege, you god-forsaken beast!”
The echoing voice whimpered. “I-I didn’t mean to hurt him. H-honest…I’m sorry…please just let me see him to apologize and tell him I love him…”
“I am never allowing you around MY brother. You’re lucky I don’t have Master exorcise you altogether.”
“B-but I’m not a the type of spirit who can be exorcised.”
“Yes, you are. Only an evil spirit would lay a finger on him. You’re nothing but a nuisance and I know Ritsu feels the same way.”
The inner shadow floated up things around the sink to hit the icy-cold esper with. While tossing some Dixi cups and dental floss, he whined, “Liar! You’re just being jealous! You know if Ritsu got to see me again, he’d love me more!”
Shigeo let out a heavy sigh. He’s heard it all before, so he waited out the spirits tantrum while he finished cleaning his teeth.
Once he opened the door to the bathroom, he froze. “R-Ritsu, I didn’t realize you were up.”
He lower the fist that was about to leave light knocks on the door. “I sorta heard yelling and thought I’d see if something was wrong, but I didn’t sense any threats around. Nii-san, who were you—”
Shigeo’s face grew pale. Before Ritsu could finish talking, he slapped a hand over Ritsu’s mouth. “Don’t ask! Don’t ask about him!”
Ritsu just blinked a few times to show his confusion because he only heard Shigeo’s side of the conversation. He just wanted to know who Shigeo was talking to, but it was driving Shigeo crazy.
He’s been hearing his over half trying to contact Ritsu ever since that accident on New Year’s. He couldn’t risk hearing Ritsu say he wanted to see him, too.
Ritsu cautiously lowered Shigeo’s hand. “Nii-san, you’re sweating really bad. My room’s closer, so maybe you should rest there for today.”
“You won’t ask about him, right?”
“Sure?” Ritsu had no clue who “he” was, so it was an easy agreement.
Shigeo offered a smile at his promise and let Ritsu guide him to his bed. He let out a gentle sigh once he plopped down onto the comforter. Ritsu’s bed was much softer than Shigeo’s futon, but what he liked most about it was how concentrated Ritsu’s scent was on it.
After Ritsu stepped out to bring Shigeo breakfast, the older brother rolled onto his stomach and took a long whiff of Ritsu’s pillow. It smelled just like their shared shampoo, yet knowing it was from Ritsu made him want to continue breathing it in.
“Oh, so you can be creepy towards our brother, but I can’t even see him for two seconds?”
“Shut up for once,” he groaned.
“I just don’t want him to forget about me. I think about him every day, but what if he forgets about me?”
Shigeo couldn’t enjoy his favorite scent like this, so he rolled back toward the ceiling. “Oh, you don’t have to worry there. I can see in Ritsu’s eyes that he thinks about you every second of every day.”
“Really!?” The spirit let out a celebratory hum.
“Really. He’s in non-stop fear after what you did. He’ll never be able to forget about you and what you did to him.”
“Hey! You’re mean, you know that? You got my hopes up for no reason! When I do get to talk to him, I’m telling him all about how cruel you are!”
Shigeo’s other half was pouting, so he just let out a disgusted groan and rolled his eyes. Truth be told, he would exorcise that shadowy spirit if he knew how. The only that perked him up was when Ritsu returned with some miso soup.
“I thought soup would be easier on your stomach, but I wasn’t sure how to make anything else. I’ll have Mom help me when it comes to lunch, okay?”
“This is perfect, thanks.” He sat up and enjoyed every bite of the home-made meal. Everything made by his younger brother felt crafted by the gods because Ritsu might as well be one.
“Why couldn’t you let me try it?” the echoey voice whined. “One bite wouldn’t have hurt.”
Shigeo was use to tuning the other out around people, so he stayed quiet with Ritsu by his side.
“Would you like more? It won’t take long,” Ritsu offered.
“Ooh! Ooh! Tell him yes! I really want some!”
“No thanks, I’m full for now,” Shigeo replied. “It was great though.”
The brothers smiled at each other until he watched Ritsu’s face turn white. Shigeo thought something did sound a bit weird behind him, so he looked towards the wall.
A purple glow was carving into it and wrote, “I miss you.”
“N-Nii-san?”
“It’s not me!” Shigeo promised.
Ritsu forced down a swallow and nodded. “I know…c-can I talk to him?”
“No! You promised you wouldn’t!”
“I didn’t know he was around anymore,” Ritsu argued.
“You promised!” Shigeo begged.
“You’re right…” Ritsu agreed.
Shigeo tried changing the topic. He went on about school, and his club, and work, but Ritsu’s gaze never broke that the childish hand writing.
He saw the fear but more predominantly the longing in Ritsu’s eyes. Shigeo could never deprive his sibling of anything, so he channeled the powers he had control of to force his other half out. A shadowy being jumped right into Ritsu’s arms.
“Otouto! I’ve missed you so much!”
“Onii-chan? Are you really here? Is this real?” His hands were shaking with too much caution to touch the spirit clinging to him. The shadow didn’t feel like much of anything, but Ritsu felt warmer we’re they touched.
“Yep!” He excited laid kisses all over Ritsu’s cheeks and nose. Shigeo was jealous that Ritsu leaned into the touch, but he bit his tongue because blissful tears creeped up into Ritsu’s eyes. “I love you so much! I couldn’t wait any longer to see my cute little brother!”
“God, I’ve missed you!” Ritsu went in for a tight hug and was thankful his arms didn’t pass through. While the shadow purred, Ritsu looked over his shoulder. “Nii-san, get over here! We can go back to be the Three Musketeers! It’ll be just like old times!”
“Great…” Shigeo said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. Still, he wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to hug Ritsu, so he did join the in.
“I love you both! Nii-san, thank you so much for beinging us all together like this!”
“It was my pleasure,” he forced out. A voice in the back of his head, his own voice this time, wondered if now they were separated he’d be able to exorcise the monster clinging to his little brother.