Author's Note:

Hey guys, Cait here!

For any of you who just happen to stumble upon my other Hetalia fanfic (which is quite unlikely) I'm not giving it up yet, it's just I have these little snippets of stuff that I have yet to organize. So, don't fret, it'll be out soon...I hope.

Anyways, back to BroCon. I've liked this series for quite a while, and this stemmed from an idea I had while WAY to hyper and I just had to write it.

I hope you like this story, it'll have more chapters later. I'll update...uh, about weekly?

The Other Conflict

Prologue – The Battle Lines are Drawn

Just like all great wars, it all begun with a sentence.

Alright, not all great wars. But it's an epic opening, no?

`You know, I could beat all of you without batting an eyelash.' the second youngest stated.

They were sitting in the living room, the weekly `family gathering' time. To the despair of certain members of family, Ema had left the house for a study camp with a span of an entire week. Tsubaki wanted to follow her, but his twin of course stopped him. So a tearful farewell was bid, and the war for attention in the house had a ceasefire.

Unfortunately, that did not mean that the ceasefire would last.

But they didn't know it yet. So let's fast forward a bit.

So, where was I?

Yes, the family gathering. Silly me.

To be very honest, it was not really a normal, board game-ish family gathering. It is literally, the entire family gathered into the living room. No excuses for getting out of it. Ema had insisted this rule many times when she had first came up with the idea. Of course, not as if half of the family wouldn't want to be in the same room as her. Some of them would want to be in the same bed with her anyways.

Sorry.

Anyways, so, Tsubaki, Natsume, Yusuke and Futo, was (of all things) playing Super Mario Cart in front of the TV. While Iori struck up a conversation with Azusa, Subaru and Wataru, Masaomi constantly covering Wataru's ears while standing behind him whenever the Mario-playing idiots utter choice words that are not suitable for children to hear. Ukyo, Kaname and Hikaru had struck up a conversation as well about wine, and poor Louis was left by himself, reading a new fashion magazine and musing about new hairstyle ideas.

Whew, I didn't get off track...wait.

Damn it!

Back on track, as soon as that holy phrase was uttered, Yusuke almost dropped his controller, Tsubaki did drop his and Natsume accidently crashed Mario into Tsubaki's Princess Peach. Taking his chance to pass them both, Futo cheered as he crossed the finish line first, with the record of six victories in a row.

The other brothers shut up immediately.

`My, my,' Hikaru muttered to himself. `Looks like one of us is starting another game, huh? I wonder if he would win as well.'

Azusa and Subaru were instantly alert, and Iori saw that there was no chance in continuing their conversation and stopped.

Seeing that the chatter in the room had stopped, Ukyo and Kaname stopped talking as well, Masaomi and Wataru looking quizzically at the source of the outburst.

`What do you mean, Futo?' Tsubaki muttered, refusing to meet the eyes of his younger brother. Ema's reject had been a sore point, and the fact that his YOUNGER BROTHER would mention taking them all on at once was like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, it's not really the problem, but it is an excuse to open up an old wound.

Scratch that.

Yusuke was almost on the brink of tears. HE was the one who loved her first, everything JUST had to go wrong, no? And he couldn't even confess to her.

Being one of the saner ones, Natsume knew immediately that trying to kill Futo would not end well. Especially if his fangirls all attend his funeral. Heck, why doesn't that idol just marry one of them?

And Futo?

Well, Futo was referring to the game. I mean, Mario Cart. Yes, Mario. Not the game of Ema's love or whatever. But he immediately understood how his slip of tongue would cause another round of chaos that would pull apart the entire family again.

So, he couldn't NOT do the right thing.

`Heh, you KNOW what I mean.' he started, stressing the word KNOW. `I mean, look at you guys. Pathetic,' he spat, fully enjoying the glares directed at him.

`Futo, shut up and apologize!' came an outburst. Now everybody stared at Azusa, almost amazed at how HE would be the one to speak up.

`Why would I shut up when all I'm saying is true?'

It took Natsume AND Tsubaki (gasp!) to hold Yusuke down, not that they don't want to kill him. Oh no, they want to slowly rip off his face piece by piece on live TV in front of Ema. Although most likely, she'd be feeling all sorry for him or whatever.

`Apologize, Futo.'

Iori decided to speak up. He also loved Ema, but how could he ever admit it since he also loved his dead girlfriend?

Seeing Iori's face, Kaname immediately paled. He also got rejected, but he's Kaname. He can get past that…right?

OK, he admitted to himself. I still want her.

Subaru tried not to think of her words as she rejected him. And tried to avoid thinking of cutting off Futo's head and dunking it like a basketball. He could also see, in his mind, a person who (almost) deserved to die as much as Futo.

Natsu-nii.

He admired him before, but he hated him now. Especially since Ema came. Natsume was a strong competitor, and Subaru would crush him. But he failed, and he lost as well.

And so, he found himself speaking up.

`You know what? I could beat YOU alone.' he challenged, trying to sound as confident as he could possibly be, although a small part of his brain was not very sure on the entire idea.

Almost astonished, the attention of the family was now on him. Futo almost swallowed his tongue when Subaru actually CHALLENGED him.

`Well? Then I hereby challenge all of you, to beat me.' Futo declared boldly.

`I accept the challenge.' Subaru and Yusuke said at the same time.

`I accept.' Tsubaki muttered, his heart still interested in ripping his little brother open.

`Oh, come on,' Natsume said. `This is getting ridiculous!' He liked Ema and all, but this is just an immature brat inviting him to fall to his level!

`Not really. If Tsubaki joins, I'm joining.' said Azusa, to the utter disappointment and shock to Ukyo and Natsume.

`Natsume, you're joining, right?' Tsubaki perked up immediately. `Sure,' Natsume sighed, admitting defeat to something he's going to regret.

`Oooh! Oooh! I'm joining, I'm joining!' said….oh no….Wataru. As all the brothers gaped at the innocent kid, Masaomi mentally facepalmed. He was slightly aware of the tension involving Ema, but…either WATARU is going to join this fiasco, or he doesn't understand. And Masaomi is praying that it is the last.

`I'm joining with Wataru, then' he smiled sheepishly, trying to classify the challenge as purely a fun family activity. He fails.

`Wait, then I'm joining.' Iori said.

`LIKE, NOOO!' The loud outburst from Kaname irked Iori. `I mean, isn't it a little immature for even YOU to be joining?'

Translation: I know what you are thinking, NO you are not going to okay, I am not going to let you fall into depression if somebody brings up your ex or something like that, stay away from your own sister to avoid trauma…

`I think it is fun,' Iori said, his eyes staring into the soul of Kaname. `And let's not stop there. I challenge you, Kaname.'

Kaname wanted to cry. Not just from Iori's creepy and soulless eyes, but from the struggle between whether to join for Ema's sake or forfeit to keep Iori out. And there was one side that had a clear victory.

`Alright, alright. I'm in,' he sighed, already regretting his decision.

`This should be interesting,' Hikaru smiled, itching to grab his laptop and recording the new turn of events. `I'm in, and I'll be challenging you, Ukyo.' Plus, he added in his mind, I said I'll be part of this conflict.

Ukyo sighed. `And I thought that you would be slightly more mature. I am not joining in this childish…'

`Awww…Kyo-nii, come on, it'll be fun! I challenge you!' interjected Wataru. And with one look at Wataru's Bambi eyes Ukyo decided that if he made his youngest brother cry he'll be skinned after Futo.

`Fine,' he muttered under his breath as he collapsed into the couch, already having a headache.

Hikaru was still chipper amongst the rest. `And you, Lou-'

And for the first time in this chapter, Louis voices out the question that had been hiding in the reader's mind.

`What is the challenge anyways?'

Oh.

`Uh…did I just enter myself into a challenge that I didn't know?' Ukyo glared at Hikaru as he grinned sheepishly.

`So, Futo. What's the challenge?' Subaru asked, secretly hoping it was sports related. I'm going to beat you, Natsu-nii, he thought.

Futo was momentarily stunned. He was so caught up at watching the others react he forgot to state the most important thing. The CHALLENGE.

Immediately, his mind starts planning. Not fame, he's got plenty of that (also, the last time he tried beating Iori in that he failed miserably), not love, since Ema isn't here, not…

Wait a minute.

He basically has the entire family at his command. And this time, he doesn't have to worry about the outcome. And it will only be one thing.

`Prank war.'

`Oh, come on, now you're just kidding me,' Natsume banged his head on his controller.

Ukyo decided that the outdoors looked very nice today, and tried to get out, only to find the door padlocked and Hikaru swinging the keys on his finger.

Azusa started regretting his decisions.

Iori's smile faded a bit.

Kaname prayed that he could go back in time.

And Masaomi winced at the thought of the house getting destroyed in the process.

`Sure,' everybody had never heard Tsubaki so serious. `No matter what, I'll beat you.'

Futo almost stepped back from the venom in the last word. Quickly regaining his image, he smiled at everyone, and in the most dramatic voice he could issue, he opened his mouth and-

`LET THE GAMES BEGIN!'

Everybody stared at Wataru.

`Sorry, I thought it sounded appropriate.'

Futo facepalmed. The dramatic line he had though so deeply was butchered by his (only) younger brother.

`Right, right. Something like that.' he said, and walked out of the room, mind already buzzing full of ideas.

`Natsu-nii!'

The yell echoed through the room Futo just left.

Natsume looked at Subaru. Oh no, he thought. `What do you want, Subaru?'

Subaru mustered up all of his courage, anger and hate. `I challenge YOU.'

Well, things did escalate quickly in one single chapter, no?

Natsume stared right back at his brother, remembering those days when Subaru actually looked up to him. There was only one answer.

`Alright, Subaru. Prepare to GO DOWN.'

`Well, from the way things are going, I guess this is an all out war, no?' Hikaru mused to himself as he started to walk out, already planning a new chart, most important players etc. `But no matter what, I'm going to be interested in how this would affect the entire history of the family…'

Chuckling to himself, he left the room.

Natsume found himself being beckoned over by Tsubaki.

`Hey, Natsume,' Tsubaki started with a low voice.

`What's the need for such a soft voice, man?' Natsume grumbled while using the same soft voice.

`Like, do you want to be my ally? We could be the Triplets Team again like when we were kids.'

Natsume almost scoffed. `Did Azusa actually agree to this?'

Tsubaki slapped himself in the forehead. `OI, AZUSA! YOU WANNA BE MY ALLY?' he called all the way over the room to Azusa, who was talking with Iori.

Azusa looked briefly at him, smiled and gave a quick nod.

`Yup, Azusa agreed! You joining?' smiled Tsubaki.

Natsume was almost tempted to say yes, but a small voice reminded him that Tsubaki is the enemy as well.

`No thanks, I want to beat Subaru all by myself,' he said, watching the eldest triplet droop a little.

`Alright, then,' Tsubaki laughed, `I'll be going shopping for supplies for now. Good luck, brother.'

`Hey, Masa-nii, we're a team, right?'

`Hmm?' Masaomi was taken back to reality as he looked at the expectant face of Wataru. `Ah, sure.'

Wataru's face sparkled with excitement. `Then let's beat ALL the others!'

And thus, the war begun.

And who will win?

Author's Note

Ah, and it's the end of the first chapter!

Please review, and I'll update faster, okay?