The Older Brother was often victim of nightmares. Most of the time, he awoke to the worried, muffled voice of his Younger Brother. This often enhanced the guilt that was brought on by his nighttime terrors.

The Younger Brother was timid at approaching him at first, fearing rejection. After many nights of interrupted sleep, the Younger Brother advanced to the point of wrapping his arms around the Older Brother.

The Younger Brother wasn't a conventional younger brother, his body was naught but a large, hollow suit of armor controlled by the cheerful spirit of a ten-year-old boy. (Who would be fifteen if they still celebrated his birthday.)

One night, the Older Brother's nightmares were particularly haunting. It was taking the Older Brother a lot longer to calm down than what was usually necessary.

The Younger Brother was very worried for his big brother, but he did not know what he could do to help. After a few moments of thinking, the Younger Brother opened up the breast plate of his armor body.

"Niisan, climb inside, so that you shall be shielded and spared from these horrifying dreams."

The Older Brother obeyed the Younger Brother's request and climbed inside the opened breast-plate. While he was inside, he felt warm and safe, despite the cold metal against his skin. It only took moments before the Older Brother was able to fall asleep.

Upon waking the next morning, the Older Brother looked around him and pondered his settings. He felt mildly guilty for using the Younger Brother like this.

"Otouto, good morning."

"Good morning, Niisan." The childish voice was all around him. It was like hearing the voice being shouted from a valley and the echo being powerful enough to ricochet from every inch of surface.

The Older Brother stretched out his legs a little bit. In response to the clatter, the Younger Brother opened his chest-plate.

The Older Brother was starting to climb out, but something crossed his mind. It was the Blood Seal that was used to bind the Younger Brother's soul to the suit of armor. Something compelled him to stay in that suit of armor and give the Array a closer look. Upon looking closer, his breath flittered over the Circle of Blood.

"Niisan? Is there something wrong?"

The Older Brother did not respond; instead, he closed his eyes, leaned close, and brushed his lips over the center of the Array.

The Older Brother was awarded with a sudden gasp. "Niisan? What are you doing?"

The Older Brother again did not respond. He started climbing out of the armor torso, feet-first. As soon as his feet were on the ground, the Older Brother looked up at the argentine face of his Younger Brother.

"Were you able to feel that, Otouto?"

"Yes. Well... I don't know."

"What did it feel like?"

"I don't know. I know I felt. I felt like you were close, right beside me. Close enough that I could hear you breathing. It was like I could see you, and hear you, but at the same time, I could do neither."

"I see. That's good then."

The Older Brother began his morning routine. The Younger Brother watched him in silence. If there was any way for steel to smile, then he would have been.