𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑪𝒀𝑶𝑵 𝑶𝑩𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑰𝑶𝑵 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

Warm ~ Age 13

Minato noticed. Of course he did. How could he not? Aizen was his brother, there was no way Minato wasn't going to notice something had happened.

He had heard a small noise come from his room and he quickly made his way there, concerned about Aizen's well-being.

The last time he saw him, Aizen was falling in and out of consciousness from a fever. Really... He couldn't even remember when was the last time Aizen had a fever. But this time? The fever was making him delirious. Aizen would whimper and gasp, incoherent words escaping his lips. He'd thrash and kick, forcing Minato to hold him down. It pained him to do so. It pained him to see his little brother in a state like that.

So now, as he went there, he was met with a sight he didn't expect.

Aizen was sitting upright, hands lightly gripping onto his covers. His hair was sticking to his sweat-layered skin. Then, Minato watched as Aizen reached a hand to his stomach, fingers wrapping around nothing but thin air, "They're... not there." The boy mumbled out, further confusing Minato.

"What's not there?" The question left the man's lips before he could stop himself.

For a moment, Aizen made no move to even acknowledge his existence, before his cerulean irises slid to Minato's own, "Did I wake you?" The boy asked him.

... What?

"Are you all right?" Minato stepped closer to him, warily trailing his eyes over him. Something... seemed to be off? "Does anything hurt?" He reached his hand forward and placed his palm atop Aizen's forehead.

At least his fever seemed to have gone down.

"Mhm. I feel better." The boy's answer was... unusual.

Well, there's nothing Minato could do about that. He seemed better and that's all that mattered, "That's good... Are you hungry?" He sat down besides Aizen, lightly dipping the bed.

"Yeah, I want ramen. Spicy."

Minato nodded, fondly smiling at the younger blond, "You're in luck. Kushina brought over a lot of ramen." Seriously, she ate nothing but ramen, as it would seem. She had a habit of bringing in bags filled with it.

The mention of Kushina made Aizen glance at Minato, "Is she here?" He asked, seemingly excited.

"She's in the living room, we just finished having dinner. You wanna see her?" Minato could see his brother's expression instantly shift at the question. It was as if his whole face lit up.

"Yeah." He really was excited.

_

"Kushina-neechan!" Aizen whined through the hallway, arms already extended towards Kushina, "I haven't seen you in forever!" He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his cheek against her chest.

The woman seemed surprised at his reaction, before she quickly returned the embrace, "I could say the same, little one!" She pressed her lips atop his head.

Minato leaned on the door side and watched the scene unfold with fondness shinning in his azure irises. He missed it. He missed seeing his loved ones interact like that. He really did. It lightened the pressure around his heart, allowing him a moment to breathe. It allowed him a moment of relief — happiness.

His heart ached.

"You've grown since the last time I saw you, haven't you?" Kushina asked, leaning back to take a better look at Aizen, "At the rate you're going, you're gonna grow taller than Minato!" She grinned, twirling a blond lock between her fingers.

Aizen furrowed his brows at her, staring up, "Taller than aniki?" He asked, briefly glancing in Minato's direction, before turning back to her, "I'm never gonna be taller than aniki!" He grinned, tilting his head.