A/N: Thanks to the brilliant Icewyche for beta reading and suggestions. I don't own them and make no profit from them. Aniki means big brother; otouto means little brother, both in Japanese. Enjoy!

"I wish you didn't have to go, aniki." Shiro looked up from his packing at the quiet voice, giving one of his rare smiles to his indigo-eyed little brother blinking at him sleepily from the door.

"It's only six months, Keith," he answered gently, sitting on the edge of his bed and patting the space beside him. Keith shuffled over and joined him, scowling at the floor. "I'll be back before you even miss me. This Kerberos mission is a once in a lifetime chance; we may very well find the first signs of extraterrestrial life! I can't pass that up."

"I know." He had to smile at the petulance in Keith's voice. "I just wish I could go WITH you! I'm as good a pilot as you are; all the instructors say so." Indigo eyes met steel blue, and Shiro swallowed hard at the determination and vulnerability there. "And. . . I just. . . I—I'm afraid you won't come back, Shiro!"

"You can't think like that." Shiro threaded his fingers through the younger boy's hair, drawing Keith against his shoulder. "It's not the same as your parents; I'm good at what I do, the ship's the best the Garrison has. It'll be fine, little brother; I promise. When I come back, I want to hear that you've blown all my records away; that no one even knows who Takashi Shirogane is anymore. Can you do that for me?" He ruffled the wild bangs, laughing at Keith's protests.

"I can," Keith finally promised, "And I will. You have my word, aniki. I'll make you proud of me."

Shiro chuckled softly. "I already am, otouto. Never forget that, hai? No matter what happens. Now. . ." he nudged the younger boy, "Suppose you can help me find the spare batteries for my datapad?"

Keith rolled his eyes. "They're in your top right desk drawer. Like they always are. Maybe I SHOULD go with you; you need a keeper."

"Oh, is that a fact?" was all the warning Keith got before Shiro tackled him, tickling him mercilessly. All-out war soon ensued, ending with the boys sprawled across Shiro's bed in an exhausted heap. Keith burrowed into Shiro's side, seeking rare comfort the way he did when Shiro first pulled him in from the streets. Shiro looked at him for a minute, one of his rare smiles crossing his face, then reached for his datapad, holding it up and snapping a picture.

The next day, Keith turned out in full dress with the rest of his class before dawn to watch Shiro and the Holts board their ship and take off. When he finally returned to his room to change, he found an envelope on his desk, addressed in Shiro's precise script. Shakily he opened it, and sat down to take out the contents. First was a photo of the two of them, clearly taken the night before. Keith traced Shiro's face with careful fingers, then set the picture aside to read the note that was with it.

Hey little brother, it began, and Keith smiled, hearing Shiro's calm easy voice in the words. Gods, it's weird writing you a letter, when you're six feet away snoring on my bed. But I need to. I'm out of time, and just haven't been able to say what I need to say to your face. Keith . . . little brother. So angry, so talented. You have so much potential; to be even better than I am. Heh, listen to me, all sappy. Like I'm not going to be there to watch you tear the Academy up. Anyway. . . I want you to know that I love you, I have since the day I found you trying to steal my wallet. I swear I'm coming back; I'm going to be there when you become the legend I know you will. I have to go; sneaking out to say goodbye to Romelle and give her this to leave for you. Be awesome for me. Your aniki, Takashi Shirogane.