Baby brother

Prologue

A young child of around eight years old sat down under a tree to rest his legs for a while. He carefully shifted the small bundle in his arms. He looked down at the bundle and lightly smiled. His baby brother was sleeping soundly with a tiny smile on his face.

Ikki couldn’t help but smile a little more at his baby brother and feel sad at the same time. He had saved his brother only a few days ago. These tall men dressed in black suits had barged into their home and demanded that Ikki and Shun had to go with them.

But Ikki remembered his mother demanding that they leave them alone and to leave their property. But then Ikki remembered his mother being held back while two others tried to grab Ikki and Shun. But Ikki had grabbed Shun and tried to hide from them.

He had heard his mother yelling for him to run away and keep Shun safe. To just head somewhere else where they wouldn’t be found. Ikki hadn’t wanted to leave without their mother but she had kept yelling for him to leave with Shun and hide and that she would find them later.

So Ikki had left the only home he had and ran to places he had never been to. He had been walking for four days. He was tired and wanted to sleep but he was afraid that those men would find them and separate him from his brother.

He had a hard enough time being away from their mother and he knew he couldn’t take it if he was separated from Shun.

During those four days he was on the run, Ikki found that Shun was a very calm and happy baby. The only times he cried was when he was hungry or felt lonely. Ikki didn’t have to worry about his brother being hungry since he had brought a small bag of food for both of them. Shun didn’t eat much so Ikki didn’t have to worry for a while.

Ikki then spotted a tree nearby with a hollow trunk. He got up and walked over to it. Looking inside he saw that it would be perfect to keep them warm and sheltered until he wanted to continue their journey. He went inside and felt the warmth the tree gave off.

He put his small bag down and found a small blanket he had packed. He spread it on the ground and when it was smooth he laid Shun down. He unwrapped his brother and when he did Shun woke up and started to stretch his little arms and legs. Ikki thought that was fine as he folded the baby blanket and put it down. He found another blanket he had brought and used it to cover the hole of the tree so no one could see them. The color was closely matched to the trees so no one would really notice anyway.

But with Shun as energetic as he is, Ikki made sure to lay rocks down across the bottom so the little baby wouldn’t wander outside. But Ikki saw Shun just crawling around on the blanket. He would never understand how his brother could be so energetic and curious. But it made him cute.

“Shun, want your bottle?” Ikki asked grabbing a half empty bottle from the bag and going over to Shun who had just been staring at him. When he saw the bottle he started to reach for it and as soon as Ikki gave it to him he started to drink the milk.

Ikki knew that Shun would fall asleep again since he always did when he drank his milk. Ikki then heard the sure sound of rain. He peeked outside and saw that he was right. It had started raining. He was glad that he had found this tree or else they would have been stuck out in the rain all night. Stepping away from the entrance of their makeshift shelter, Ikki went back to Shun who was lying on his back as he continued to drink his milk. But Shun started to fall asleep and left a quarter of milk left in the bottle.

Ikki put the bottle away and quickly burped his brother before lying him down and covering him with the baby blanket. Ikki then laid down next to Shun and got comfortable. He listened to his brother breathing for a while.

He saw the necklace that he had found and gave to Shun. It was a locket that held the only family picture of them with their mother. Their mother was holding a smiling Shun and a smiling Ikki was right next to her.

Ikki had thought it best if Shun had the necklace that way he could have a physical reminder of their mother in case they never saw her again. He would feel horrible if that happened. Their mother was the only person they have in the world.

Soon Ikki fell asleep with his brother’s little body snuggled close to him.

[][][]

Outside the makeshift shelter where the two Amamiya brother’s were soundly sleeping, a pair of dark violet eyes was staring at the exact place where the two were. The owner of the eyes looked to be waiting for the right moment to strike. But now wasn’t the right moment. Not yet…but soon.

[][][]

The rain lasted for two days but Ikki was just glad that he was able to rest and they weren’t stuck out in the rain. Luckily, Shun had slept half of the time they had stayed in the shelter of the tree. But now Ikki was feeling like they needed to get moving again.

If he got them to a city at least he could at least try to find an orphanage where they could stay and hope that those guys in black wouldn't find them. He didn't want his little brother to be out here like this either.

They couldn't go back to the only home they ever had because those men might still be there waiting for them to return or their mother might not be there.

It was late morning when Ikki finished putting everything back in the bag he had. Shun had finished his bottle and was wrapped back in his baby blanket. As he picked him up, Ikki couldn't help but notice Shun's happy smile. His brother was always smiling about something for some reason.

"Shun, what are you so happy about?" Ikki asked as he started walking. The baby only gurgled in return and made his brother smile too. "You're weird Shun." Ikki chuckled.

[Graude Foundation]

"Mr. Kido, the last two children have escaped and we're not sure where they are." Tatsumi said.

"They're just children. They couldn't have gotten far. How old are they?"

"The older one, Ikki, is only eight years old and the baby is only a few months old. We have their mother though." Tatsumi answered as Ms. Amamiya was brought into the room.

"You mean they're not orphans like the others?" Mr. Kido asked in shock.

"No sir." Tatsumi answered.

"Ma'am, do you know where your children are?" Mr. Kido asked.

"No, I don't." Ms. Amamiya answered. "Even if I did there is no way that I would let you know and take my children away from me!"

"Ma'am, your children are needed for a very important matter. Believe me when I saw that I did not know that they still had a mother." Mr. Kido said.

"Just what exactly do you want my two sons for?" Ms. Amamiya demanded.

"I'm afraid I can't let you know that miss." Mr. Kido said. "But I can assure that they would be taken care of."

"Absolutely not!" Ms. Amamiya yelled. "Your men barged into my home and tried kidnapping my children! What makes you think I would even consider approving you acting like they're your children?!"

"Ma'am, your two little boys are both a great matter of importance. Not just to me." Mr. Kido said and signaled for Tatsumi to leave along with anyone else except Ms. Amamiya. The doors were closed and Mr. Kido asked Ms. Amamiya to sit down.

She did but kept her anger the way it was.

"Ms. Amamiya, your two sons, along with several others, are a great matter of importance like I said. And this is the reason..."

[elsewhere]

Ikki looked around as he walked down a seemingly deserted sidewalk of the city they had entered. Shun was softly snoring away and Ikki was trying to figure out where an orphanage might be.

His feet were killing him and his arms were tired and sore. But knowing that Shun was there was giving Ikki continuing strength and energy. Ikki looked up at a building that had drawings in the windows obviously done by children and he could easily hear the laughter of children inside.

Luckily, he knew how to read but there wasn't a sign that said if it was an orphanage or not. Deciding to take a small break, Ikki sat down on the front step. His feet right away thanked him for sitting down.

If this was an orphanage, how long would it be until their mother found them? He hoped that it would be soon. He hated being away from his mother and he was sure that Shun felt the same way. He was just a baby after all and he needs his mother.

"Ikki!" a voice yelled. The young child stood and saw a young girl about his age wearing a slightly torn white dress and she was holding something in her arms. It couldn't have been a baby because he couldn't see a baby in the blanket she was holding.

"Who are you?" Ikki demanded.

"I am Pandora and you must give me that baby you are holding."

"Why in the world would I give you Shun?" Ikki demanded.

"Because he is my baby brother." Pandora answered.

"What?" Ikki gasped. "He can't be your brother. He's my brother."

"You don't understand." Pandora replied. "That baby you hold is very important. He is the reincarnation of Hades. His body will become one with this soul."

Ikki now had a clear view at the 'face' of the 'baby'. He was able to see the universe. The planets and stars floating around inside. Ikki took a step back from the girl. He wasn't feeling very well around her and whatever she was holding.

"Hand him over now." Pandora demanded.

"No!" Ikki yelled. "You'll never have him. I won't let you have Shun."

"Then I must take him from you then." Pandora said as her eyes started to glow. Right then, Ikki saw a bright red light form around Shun and he felt great pain shoot up his arms.

"Let go now or your hands will be useless to you." Pandora said with a small chuckle.

"No." Ikki yelled in great pain. "I won't ever let you have Shun."

He struggled to walk away hoping that the pain would stop but soon he felt his energy leave him and he fell to the ground with one arm around Shun. Pandora smiled as she walked around them to be right in front of Shun.

"You're very strong Ikki." She said. "Vowing to protect your little brother even when your life was at risk."

Shun opened his eyes and looked up at Pandora. The girl kneeled down and smiled at him.

"Hello your highness." she greeted. "It's time for us to go now. Soon you will be in the Underworld where you shall reign powerfully as Lord Hades."

Pandora reached down toward the baby as she laughed happily and evilly.

[][][]

A black limo pulled up to an orphanage and stopped. A body guard opened the limo door and a woman and older man climbed out. They walked up the stairs and entered the building where they right away saw a nun tending to a small boy.

"Ikki!" Ms. Amamiya declared and hurried over. The little boy rushed over and jumped into his mother's arms.

Mr. Kido walked over to the nun. "Where is the baby?"

"I'm sorry sir, what baby?" the nun asked in return.

"This boy had his baby brother with him." Mr. Kido said. "Where is the baby?"

"Sir, he didn't have a baby with him." The nun answered and walked off.

Ms. Amamiya looked down at Ikki to see that his eyes were full of tears. "Ikki, where's Shun?" she asked.

"Someone took him." Ikki answered with tears forming in his eyes.