There is, at least for me. But I don't expect others to understand it.
Though, it should be enough of an answer to know that they were your little brothers.
[It should be enough, yes. What older brother wouldn't want to protect his little brothers? To give up his own life so they could go on living? Ikki can't think of not wanting to do that for Shun, it's the only thing for which he's grateful for being a phoenix, he will always rise again, he will be able to protect Shun even if it requires his death. But that's also a curse, because when the day comes that he can't protect Shun anymore, that Shun dies, be it by the hands of another being, by illness or age... What will he do if the phoenix keeps rising? What's the point of a live in which you can't do what you want to do the most anymore and are denied the chance to join those who left you?
Marco may have more little brothers than Ikki does, but sooner or later, they all will meet their ends and in both their cases it'll probably be sooner than they would wish for. And having more siblings only increases the burden, more people to protect but still only one phoenix to do the job. Even if he rises back from his ashes, it won't always be enough, there will always be someone left unprotected, someone who dies, no matter how fast and strong Marco becomes. Ikki's sure Marco knows that, and has known that for a long time, Ace's death only cements that knowledge. Ikki may act tough and cruel, saying mean things when people seem to find this place as a good one if only because it allows those who died to keep on living, but deep down he knows how precious that is. How happy Marco must had been, not just because they were with him but because they were alive, living on one day after another when they shouldn't be able to. But now they are gone and Ikki knows that no matter how much it was extra time, it wasn't enough for Marco.
It wouldn't be enough for him either, if he was in Marco's position.
He says nothing of all this, though, Marco said he doesn't need words and Ikki's sure nothing he can say is new for Marco anyway. So he just raises an arm and puts it over Marco's shoulders in an attempt for a one arm hug.]
[Action]
Though, it should be enough of an answer to know that they were your little brothers.
[It should be enough, yes. What older brother wouldn't want to protect his little brothers? To give up his own life so they could go on living? Ikki can't think of not wanting to do that for Shun, it's the only thing for which he's grateful for being a phoenix, he will always rise again, he will be able to protect Shun even if it requires his death. But that's also a curse, because when the day comes that he can't protect Shun anymore, that Shun dies, be it by the hands of another being, by illness or age... What will he do if the phoenix keeps rising? What's the point of a live in which you can't do what you want to do the most anymore and are denied the chance to join those who left you?
Marco may have more little brothers than Ikki does, but sooner or later, they all will meet their ends and in both their cases it'll probably be sooner than they would wish for. And having more siblings only increases the burden, more people to protect but still only one phoenix to do the job. Even if he rises back from his ashes, it won't always be enough, there will always be someone left unprotected, someone who dies, no matter how fast and strong Marco becomes. Ikki's sure Marco knows that, and has known that for a long time, Ace's death only cements that knowledge. Ikki may act tough and cruel, saying mean things when people seem to find this place as a good one if only because it allows those who died to keep on living, but deep down he knows how precious that is. How happy Marco must had been, not just because they were with him but because they were alive, living on one day after another when they shouldn't be able to. But now they are gone and Ikki knows that no matter how much it was extra time, it wasn't enough for Marco.
It wouldn't be enough for him either, if he was in Marco's position.
He says nothing of all this, though, Marco said he doesn't need words and Ikki's sure nothing he can say is new for Marco anyway. So he just raises an arm and puts it over Marco's shoulders in an attempt for a one arm hug.]