Work Text:
I
Minori was the name of a glimmer of hope. Blessed by the fruits of purity, Minori faced the world with a smile even in the darkest days.
Kei took in his hand the one that belonged to his younger brother, leading him down a hall. He admired Minori’s presence, it was all he had in those lonely days. Minori was of utmost importance to the young Kei, and for that reason, Kei provided him with salvation and shelter from the harsh world. In return, Minori was a happy boy for his older brother.
“Kei-Chan.” Even back then, Minori called Kei that. Kei paused, looking down at the wide eyes of Minori. “What are you showing me?”
Kei, only 10 years old at the time, contemplated between revealing the secret now or letting Minori see it first. After hesitation, he started walking ever so slightly faster whilst gripping Minori’s hand tautly. “It’s a surprise, Minori.” Kei said under his breath gently.
Minori got excited as expected. Any kid loved surprises, but Minori especially did. Despite being in the orphanage for so long Minori had an abundance of genuine joy, it never wilted as long as he had Kei.
Before they reached the door, Kei glanced around. He twisted the knob slowly, careful not to make any sound. The room the siblings had just entered seemed to have been an auditorium in the past, maybe for events. It was since abandoned, dust swarming about. Minori caught the dust in his throat, coughing out. A single light was on, trailing down and pointing at a piano.
“This is it.” Kei brought Minori over to the piano, sitting him down in front of it. Kei slowly lifted the fallboard, then gently placed his fingers on the keys. When he pressed down a low melodic note came out.
Neither Kei nor Minori knew how to play piano, but since discovering this Kei had practiced slightly. Minori’s excitement got the better of him, smashing the keys in. A loud string of notes ensued, all sounding horrid together.
“We’re allowed to play with this, right?” Minori asked, gazing up at Kei with admiration. He buzzed with questions, ones Kei couldn’t recall now.
“Mhm…” Kei nodded curtly, focusing his eyes on the piano and playing a song.
It was out of tune, some keys not as loud as others, and the seat was frayed and worn. Kei almost feared it’d fall apart before them, but he kept playing.
“Minori, can I teach you what I know?” Kei stopped, looking at Minori. Minori nodded, beaming with anticipation at what Kei would show him.
Kei was no teacher, but for Minori, he was willing to guide him always.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
II
Minori was the name of warmth on those cold winter nights, huddled close and sharing a single small blanket. Kei shivered, pressing as hard as possible against his smaller brother’s side.
Minori’s arms welcome Kei, pulling the blanket closer. It wasn’t much, but it was all they had in the orphanage. Kei made the mistake of trading his own blanket away in hopes of getting a new toy for Minori, and here he was.
Between the two children was a stuffed rabbit, the same toy Kei got his brother. Earlier that day Minori commented on how closely the rabbit resembled Kei, the two shared a laugh. The more Kei thought about it, the toy did look like him. Its long ears were almost as messy as Kei’s hair, the fur a peach color, and its beady eyes were brown. Kei thanked god for this gift, one he was able to give his brother.
Anything for the sake of Minori had been Kei’s motto. The moments they spent apart were rare, when they did occur Kei waited patiently to reunite with Minori. They always shared one big hug, happy to be together once more.
The two boys, now 11 and 9 years old, would be happy as long as they were together. Even though they were raggedy, cold, and hungry Kei didn’t care; Minori could easily make him forget these ailments.
The thing that bothered Kei the most was Minori’s shivering. Kei regrets trading his blanket away now, maybe if they had two they could share them both as well as the warmth between their bodies. Kei rubbed his hands together to produce heat, moments later pressing them against Minori’s ice-cold face. Minori giggled quietly, his eyes opening and peering at Kei with curiosity.
“Kei-Chan, it tickles.” The younger brother said through hushed laughter, careful not to wake the other children up.
“You’re cold.” Kei whispered. “Next time, we’ll share two blankets.” Though he was unsure, Kei wanted to keep this vow. Kei reminded himself, anything for the sake of Minori’s happiness, even if it meant doing more trades.
Minori beamed, nodding slowly at Kei. Kei wanted to laugh with him, but all he could think of that time was being warm with Minori in the future.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
III
Minori was the name of the brand new year. A month had passed and it was finally Kei’s 12th birthday. Birthdays were rarely celebrated in the orphanage, but Minori insisted on having some sort of celebration. It was small, only the two brothers in the auditorium while Minori played piano.
Minori had improved significantly since starting to learn the piano. It was less than 2 years since he began, but he was quickly adapting. Minori particularly enjoyed hearing Kei play and then replicating it to the best of his memory.
Since it was a special day, Minori asked Kei to listen to an original song he made. It was quick-paced, notes being in the higher range, though some moments of slow tranquility contrasted the rest of it. Minori admitted to making it up on the spot.
“I didn’t have a chance to make anything for you alone.” Minori said with a curtsy at the end of his song. Kei would be lying if he told Minori it was the best thing he ever heard, but he refused to make Minori feel bad.
“I can’t wait to hear more of your future songs. This is a good first song.” Kei responded, giving an awkward smile. Minori rocked side to side in joy, the future seemed exciting at the idea of newer and better songs!
“Oh! Before I forget, I have a gift for you!” Minori rushed to climb off the stage, stumbling into the middle of the auditorium to the back. Shoveling through a pile of chairs, Minori emerged with something large and knitted, a color just several shades lighter than his eyes. It was a blanket. “Surprise! Happy birthday, Kei-Chan!” Minori gave a beamish smile, lifting it up.
“Minori…” Kei took it in his arms, holding it close to himself. “Where did you get this?” He asked. Kei’s fingers traced alongside the messily woven yarn, the touch of it reminiscent of a dove.
“I made it! I asked one of the caregivers to teach me. I started working on it almost over a month ago, but I kept messing it up and had to restart a few times.” Despite his struggles, Minori didn’t show even an ounce of embarrassment.
“Tonight, we will both use this blanket to be less cold.” Kei declared. A wonderful day like his birthday was meant to be shared, and the blanket was meant to be as well.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
IV
Minori was the name of a shared duet between two brothers. They sat side by side on the bench, weaving their notes together to make a beautiful song.
Kei wrote it for Minori so they could always play together. Minori was a quick learner, adapting to the notes. A shared song that only they knew, something beautiful and perfect, exclusive to their unique bond as brothers.
The dedication of the brothers to always be together was perfectly represented by this song. Even though they were almost too big to sit on the bench together, they still would. It was growing weak, someday it’d be too small for the two. When that day happened, Kei would happily offer the bench to Minori. On the stand, the stuffed bunny watched them play together.
Towards the end of the song, Minori messed up. He was still learning this part, it was fine. Afterwards, Kei would praise his good work, regardless of the small mistakes. Kei did mess up a few times too, after all, they were both humans.
The things Kei would do to preserve the joy of Minori were impossible to describe. Words in the dictionary were for naught.
For Kei the things he said were far and few, only actions could show how he felt. He would always be the most gentle person he could be towards Minori, but he didn’t say to Minori how much he meant to him enough. Kei knew that someday they’d be apart, though he wasn’t sure when. Minori would grow up and one day Kei will have to support him in different ways. Though, Kei didn’t want to think of it now.
Minori and Kei were good kids, they stayed out of fights, helped around, and got along with the others there. Kei was sure that he’d get into heaven and Minori would be there at his side.
Minori turned to Kei and grinned at him. “Kei-chan, you’ll make more songs for us together in the future, right?” He asked, with eyes wide and bright.
“Of course, Minori.” Kei stared at the piano, thinking of other things to teach Minori. “Someday we should take proper piano lessons.”
“I only want to learn from Kei-chan.” The younger brother bubbled, shifting slightly to look at Kei better.
“I’ve taught you everything I know, Minori.” Kei laughed, patting him on the head.
“Then let’s learn more together!” Minori declared. Kei smiled and nodded.
That song was the last they played together.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
V
Minori was the name of something long gone, a distant memory.
“Minori is elsewhere, you won’t see him again.” A voice said to Kei when asked about his whereabouts. Kei searched everywhere for his brother but he was nowhere to be found.
The colors of Minori’s voice started to grow brighter and more intense as Kei looked further. In dark corners of streets, in the back alleys of the slums, and in the parks where children would play. No matter where he checked, Minori was gone.
In the time spent looking for Minori, Kei discovered idols. People who made music for the sake of other's happiness. If Kei was unable to save Minori, maybe he’d be able to bring salvation to others.
After a long night of writing a new song for Minori, in remembrance of their childhood together, he fell asleep at his desk. When he woke up, he was surrounded by the comfort of the small blanket created for him and the bunny that once belonged to Minori wrapped in his arms. Realistically, someone in the apartment moved him to his bed but Kei decided it was an omen from god that Minori still was waiting.
Kei was now 18 years old, having started to do music as a job. Leaving the home to pick up new equipment, he passed a place where street musicians usually played.
A crowd gathered around the piano player. Kei wouldn’t think much of it if it wasn’t for the fact that the song was so familiar. A rush of fall-like colors flooded Kei’s senses, bright and colorful, nostalgic.
The sound of that piano playing surely was the song Kei and Minori played that last time together.
“Excuse me! Can I pass through please?”
Kei rushed through the crowd, the boy at the piano’s eyes were focused on the keys. The familiar light apricot-colored hair, fluffy and unkempt, crimson eyes, and unusually sharp teeth were all the same as Minori’s. Beside him stood a boy with glasses, his gaze piercing and gold as he watched over Minori. In every way was he neater than Minori, though his gaze read with a sense of collection and focus. There was no doubt in Kei’s mind…
“Minori!” He shouted, running up to the pianist. Kei heaved desperately, holding back a big hug. What if this was a slip-up? But it couldn’t be… “You’re Minori, aren’t you?”
The pianist stared at Kei, his eyes the same innocent ones Minori would stare at him with. There was a cross of confusion and shock.
“Eh?” Shock slipped through the mouth of the taller boy. Everything about him screamed Minori, Kei knew his brother like the back of his hand.
“It’s me, Kei! I’m your elder brother!”
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
VI
Minori is the name that’s meaning was lost to Rokuta. It was years now, and after being under Alter Trigger’s watch for so long Rokuta lost all his memories of his life before then. What he did know was that now he had Itsuki, the boy who stood by his side as they endured all sorts of dangerous testing, and Kei, his brother from his life before. He did recall one thing, the meaning of Kei’s name.
Kei is the name of someone who protects, someone who loves. It’s the name of the past that fails to come to Rokuta, as well as the future they will create together.
In the comfort of their shared home, Rokuta sits on the couch between Kei and Itsuki. Itsuki stares at the television, and Kei stares at Rokuta. This was always their set-up, even when they slept on the futon together Rokuta always insisted on being between both of them. Both of them who dearly loved him would smile and hold him between their arms, sharing him. In a way, it felt like it symbolized his brotherly bond with them both.
Often enough, Itsuki would chide Kei for spoiling Rokuta. When Kei was in charge of dinner, he almost always made kaarage for Rokuta. When the three go shopping together Kei buys silly little things for him. It felt like Kei was making up for the conditions of their childhood; he could afford to get random stuff for Rokuta so he did.
As for Itsuki, he never complained when it came to Rokuta. He was patient, assisting him, and always finding ways to work around Rokuta’s horrible memory. Itsuki almost always had extra snacks on him in case Rokuta’s condition worsened, and even if he wouldn’t admit it to Rokuta’s face, he was just as worried for him as Kei was.
They were both Rokuta’s brothers, only in different ways. That was all that mattered to Rokuta, the comfort of both of them at the end of the day.
“What do we even watch on this…” Itsuki mumbled out loud, surfing through the channels. Rokuta stared right at the screen, it seemed to be some sort of cartoon.
“How about a movie?” Rokuta suggested, not knowing many movies but something was surely on.
Wordlessly, Kei reached for the remote which Itsuki handed him without sparing a glance his way. Rokuta wondered if they had started learning non-verbal cues from one another. Maybe they were getting closer?
“Hm, I think there’s some good movies on here.” Kei changed the channel to the tele-commercial one, all sorts of random knickknacks shown off. It all seemed like random trash to them. Kei quickly changed it to the news. “I don’t remember the one with the movies…” He mumbled.
“That's fine, Kei-chan! It’s the one with the fan-shaped icon.” Rokuta pointed at it. He somewhat wished he could take the remote himself and do it, but after accidentally breaking 3 previous remotes Rokuta was no longer allowed to touch it.
Kei switched it once more, finally where they needed to be. It was in the middle of a comedy film. Rokuta ended up finding it boring but tried to pay as much attention to it as possible. In the end, he fell asleep between Itsuki and Kei.
Warmth buzzed in Rokuta as he found 4 loving arms wrapped around him, the familiar shapes of Kei and Itsuki’s protection pressed close. Rokuta didn’t open his eyes, accepting it. This was how things were meant to be.
The meaning of Minori is something the three of them will never know now. Itsuki never met him, Kei lost him, and Rokuta was no longer him. However, the meaning of Rokuta would forever exist, now woven into songs, and a saga.