A figure darted swiftly across the rooftops, leaping from one to another with practiced ease.
Dressed head to toe in black, a mask covering his face, and a katana strapped to his waist; anyone could tell he was an assassin. And judging from his pace, he was on the run.
He kept running and jumping, stealing occasional glances at the electronic watch on his left wrist. A glowing map flickered on its screen; one he checked repeatedly while calculating his next moves.
"I should be out of here and away from that little devil any moment now," he muttered under his breath.
He looked ahead. Just one more rooftop. Once he crossed it, he'd be free of this cursed place; and, more importantly, far from his pursuer.
But he knew better than to relax. It was always when things looked like they were about to go right that the worst happened.
If only he knew what that "worst" would be…
He leapt onto the final rooftop. Just to be sure, he looked behind him one last time.
No one.
He exhaled in relief. The hands gripping his katana loosened slightly. But halfway across the rooftop, he froze.
Someone was standing at the edge.
A man with violet eyes stared silently at him; calm, still, unshaken. Somehow, he was sitting on a chair, as though he'd been waiting there for hours.
The assassin sighed when his gaze met those piercing purple eyes that spoke louder than any words could.
"I expected anyone, but you," he said quietly. "Why did it have to be you, brother?"
He waited for an answer, but the man remained silent.
"Come on, why aren't you saying anything?"
After a long moment of quiet, the other man finally rose from the chair and began walking toward him. He stopped a short distance away.
"Don't you think you're a long way from home, brother?" His tone was calm, but heavy.
The assassin chuckled. "I know, right? It's a long way from home. But I'm not turning back this time, and you know it."
"What if I want you to come back?"
"I'm sorry," he said firmly. "No one can make me turn back. Not even you."
He stopped in front of the man and placed a hand on his head, staring quietly.
"Look at you, all grown up now, V. That old man sent me away for a while, and when I come back, I'm branded a fugitive."
V said nothing. Ethan sighed softly as he held the gaze of the person before him.
"You've grown. No one's bullied you while I was away, right?"
V shook his head.
Ethan smiled. "Didn't think so. Who would dare cross paths with you, the younger brother of Ethan?"
A faint spark lit in V's eyes, and the corners of his lips twitched upward.
Ethan grinned. "V, wow, you've become a lady-killer! Come on, tell me how you do it. I could use some attention at my age, you know."
V rolled his eyes. "Do you think you'd even qualify as my elder brother if you weren't handsome? The ladies don't ignore you — they call you the 'Ice Prince.'
Honestly, I think they've got the brains of chickens. You treat them like air, and they still fall for you."
Ethan took off his mask, rolling his blue eyes. "Earn what right? You're the one who begged me to be your big brother, now you're talking about qualifications?"
He smirked. "But wait… I think I smell something here, V."
V frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Ethan laughed so loud his voice echoed through the cold night. "Jealousy! Our little V is jealous of me!"
V glared at him. "Don't be a narcissist. It's called admiration. Besides, I'm fifteen; why should I be jealous of you? I'll probably outshine you by the time I reach your age."
Ethan was stunned for a moment before breaking into laughter again. "You basically admitted it, you know. You said it without saying it, haha!"
"When did I say that?" V asked, genuinely confused.
"Just now — indirectly!" Ethan shot back, laughing.
After a while, the laughter faded, and silence filled the air. Ethan turned toward the starry sky.
"All these years," he began quietly, "I thought our brothers who were 'granted freedom' from the family had simply cut ties with us. That's why I could never reach them."
V's eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to say, Ethan?"
Ethan ignored the question. "You tried reaching our tenth brother a few years back, didn't you? How's that going?"
"Stop talking in circles, Ethan."
Ethan nodded slowly. "They're dead, V. All of them. And I believe Father is behind it."
V's eyes darkened, his voice sharp. "Don't slander him, Ethan. I don't want to draw my sword... "
"Yet," Ethan interrupted softly. "I know." He stared at the sky again. "I used to think you were the brightest among us, but now I see it was all a façade. That's probably why he's spared you so far. But one day, you'll see the truth."
"Why are you pushing me, Ethan? What's your motive? I don't understand you," V said, glaring.
Ethan sighed. "You can't understand because you're still lost in their lies. You'll only see the truth when you step into the light, like I did."
He turned slightly, his voice low but steady.
"That man isn't our father. Not mine, not yours, not any of ours. How did we end up here, V? Did he kill our real parents? Did he just pick us from orphanages to play family? What were our real names? Did our parents have enemies? Or were we just pawns — disposable pieces in his grand game? These are the questions that I ask myself when I am alone.
I think our 'brothers' discovered the truth and tried to leave, just like I'm doing now. And he killed them to protect his plans."
V shut his eyes tightly, standing in silence. When he opened them, his gaze was steady.
"I'll ask you once, First Brother," he said. "Will you go back home with me?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "From this moment on," he said, "I'm no longer your First Brother. I'm just Ethan. And I'm not going back, V."
V took a slow breath and closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again. "Draw your sword, then."
Ethan nodded. "I've always wanted to see how far you've come, V. Now, come!"
He unsheathed his katana and tossed it upward. With a burst of motion, he leapt into the air, catching the hilt mid-flight. "Nightsong reports his absence from the Ray family," he whispered, and swung down with all his strength.
V moved the instant Ethan's blade descended. He sidestepped swiftly, avoiding the strike, and in a flash, his own blade found flesh.
The sound of tearing echoed through the night, and then, silence.
V stared wide-eyed as Ethan smiled through the pain.
"Nice move, little brother… but what do you think of my last move, huh?" Ethan forced a laugh, blood spilling from his lips.
"Elder brother… why?" V's voice broke, tears streaming down his face.
"Did you really think I'd ever raise my sword against you?" Ethan whispered weakly. "For seventeen years, I've protected you with everything I had.
I won't be there anymore, little V. Take care of yourself. And… I won't let you see me off this time. Haha…"
His laughter faded as life slipped quietly away.
"No! Don't go! Why didn't you strike back, Ethan?!" V cried, clutching his brother's cold body.
He stayed like that for hours, tears soaking into Ethan's black cloak.
At last, he stood, after a long time, and lay Ethan's body on the cold, metal sheet. He bowed before the corpse seven times after that.
When he was done, he lifted the body into his arms and began walking.
"Let's put you to rest… elder brother."