*Again, Shiox finds himself struggling to form a reply to his brother's words. He's thrown off by that quiet tint to his smooth voice, the abrupt change in his demeanor. Normally, a response like that would be given with a cold stare or cocky grin; the 'are we really brothers' line isn't exactly an unheard of insult coming from the always distant kokuei, but... this time it's different.
This time, he can feel fear, pain, and that... that's... that's not right.* You... you are to me? Whether you see it or not, you're... you're my idiot older brother. That's never changed... never will. *he quietly remarks, taking a hesitant step closer to Ryuuji. He isn't sure why the man's upset—it's so frustratingly difficult to get even a trace of insight into his thoughts and feelings—but he... he doesn't like it. Even if he is an obnoxious bastard.*