Chapter Ten: The Confrontation

Yao marched into the small on-campus study room, face livid and fists clenched. Classmates who would have normally greeted Yao with a smile shrank away to clear a path for the usually kind brunette who was currently muttering in loud, very angry sounding Chinese.

Ivan was studying, quite effectively monopolizing the largest table in the room, his books and papers scattered about in an unorganized array, and his terrified dorm mate serving as his captive tutor.

Yao stopped about five feet from the table and threw a mangled sunflower bouquet at him, hitting him square in the chest.

"Ivan!" Yao yelled at the shocked Russian, causing everyone in the room to stop what they were doing and watch the pair. "I tell you to stay away from me so you start bothering my little brother?" Yao growled and narrowed his eyes. "Stay away from Yong Soo!"

Ivan giggled uncomfortably. "I do not understood. Vhat is little Yao talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, aru!" Yao snarled.

"It's, like, not an act." Feliks snickered from the crowd.

Yao either didn't hear this or he chose to ignore it. "I found those flowers in Yong Soo's room," His slender shoulders shook and he gestured violently, "And Lee told me he saw you skulking around in my yard this morning! When I said to stay out of my life, it included my brothers, aru!"

"Aaah, but Yong Soo vant me to visit again."

"He doesn't know you, aru! Unfortunately, I do and, as his older brother, I don't want him spending any time with someone like you!"

"I don't think is your choice, little Yao." The air in the room grew heavy as Ivan lost his smile. He stood and walked over to stand in front of Yao, effectively dwarfing the shorter man.

Yao, however, was not the least bit intimidated. "I mean it, aru."

"Hit 'im!" Gilbert shouted out, grinning like a kid who was just told that Christmas was coming early this year. "Use those awesome kung fu skills! Kesese!"

Yao was only too happy to comply, immediately taking an attack stance. "Fine. I guess people like you don't understand anything else, aru."

Ivan couldn't even try to hide his shock. Yao was going to fight him? But- but Yao was so good and gentle! He hated fighting, he even told Ivan so! There was just no way he was serious about this!

But Yao was. He took advantage of Ivan's surprise, rushing forward to sweep his leg under Ivan's feet. Ivan tumbled backwards and landed with a loud crash, breaking the chair behind him.

Ivan gasped. It hadn't really hurt, but it had sure knocked the wind out of him. He tried to pull himself to his feet but Yao didn't let up on the offensive. He swiftly kicked Ivan in the shoulder, attempting to knock him over again, but this time Ivan was ready for him. Not only did he not budge an inch (in fact, he barely flinched) but he also grabbed Yao's ankle, flipping him onto the ground.

Ivan then stood, looming over Yao. His aura darkened and a disturbing smile split his face. "Kolkolkolkolkol..." He leaned down and grabbed Yao by the neck, his large hand easily circled the smaller boy's slender neck. He lifted Yao above his head and spoke in a childish lilt that belied his anger. "Very vell, Yao. Ve vill play now, да?"

Ivan didn't even glance over when Toris's chair clattered to the floor and he ran from the room. If he had, he might have noticed the albino rushing at him, red eyes lit up, lips curled in a mad grin.

Gilbert leapt onto Ivan's back, wrapping one arm around the Russian's neck in a strangle hold and pulling his hair with the other hand. "Take that, Russkie!"

Ivan unceremoniously dropped Yao to the ground among the splintered remains of a chair and swung around wildly, trying to throw Gilbert from his back. He tugged at Gilbert's arm, but the albino had a solid hold and just began flailing his legs about and kicking the back of Ivan's knees.

Yao coughed and rubbed his neck gingerly, but rose to his feet. Blood dripped from a wound on his forehead into his eye, but Yao would let nothing deter him from protecting his baby brother. Yong Soo was immature, irresponsible, and just plain ridiculous at most points, but he was family and there was nothing more important to Yao than his younger brothers.

By the time Ivan had finally pried Gilbert's arm from his neck, Yao was back in the fight. Yao gracefully weaved his way around Ivan, punching holes in his already weak defenses. Gilbert just punched wildly, laughing all the while.

The fight dragged on while the crowd hooted and cheered. Gilbert grinned through a busted lip and slapped Yao on the back. "Kesesese! Damn, Yao! We make a pretty awesome team! I wish you had my back more often!"

"Shut up and focus, aru!" Yao snapped. He didn't understand how Gilbert could be smiling; Yao was tired. His back hurt. His throat hurt. He had blood in his eye and pouring out his nose. But Yao could tell Ivan was tiring as well, and he wasn't about to let up until he had taught the Russian a lesson.

"Stop! Please-please stop!" Yekaterina stood in the doorway, out of breath with tears streaming down her face and Toris cowering behind her. "Vhy vould you do this, Yao? I-I thought you vere friends!"

Yao stopped what he was doing and his arms fell to his sides. Disbelief painted his face; what was he doing? He had gotten into a fight with another student, destroyed school property, and most unbelievably of all, he listened to Gilbert of all people...

"I-"

"Sorry, chicky." Gilbert interrupted, the frown on his face mocking his true feelings. "Can't stop what's been started." And when Ivan turned to look at him, Gilbert punched him right in the face, ignoring Yekaterina's scream.

-o-o-o-

"안녕하세요, Yao-hyung! I'm home!" Yong Soo announced, bursting through the door with a wide grin. "Today was great, da ze! I- Whoa! Oh my gods, what happened Yao-hyung? Are you okay?"

He rushed over to where Yao sat on the couch. Dried blood caked his nose, mouth, and forehead, a dark purple ring circled over half his neck, and his torn shirt revealed several more bruises.

Kiku clicked his tongue disapprovingly and began wiping the blood from his older brother's face with a damp cloth. "Ivan happened to him."

"What? N-no, that's-"

"Yes," Kiku interrupted. "He fought with Nii-san and Gilbert-san"

"Wait, you mean Ludwig's older brother?"

"はい. Now maybe you'll believe that he's dangerous and-" The phone rang, its shrill chiming stopping Kiku mid-sentence. He sighed. "Please answer that, Yong Soo." He shook his head and started to bandage Yao's head wound.

"Okay, Kiku-hyung..." He crossed the room to the phone. "여보세요, this is Yong Soo."

"Y-Yong Soo?" A soft, teary voice answered. "Oh, good. This is Yekaterina. Vanya's sister?"

"Uh... who?"

"Oh! Ivan, I mean. I'm sorry. I called because...Vell, I vanted to know if- I mean... I-is Yao okay? Vanya is just so upset."

"Um... one sec." Yong Soo covered the receiver with his hand and looked over at his brothers. "I'm- I'm gonna take this is my room. It's, uh... Matthew." And without another word Yong Soo took off running to his room. He flopped down on the bed, gave one suspicious glace at his door and then responded. "Okay, I'm back, da ze."

"G-good. So, is-is Yao alright?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Oh thank goodness! Vanya vas so upset!"

"So- so what exactly happened? I can't believe that Ivan would hurt Yao-hyung..."

"Vell... I vasn't there, but Toris told me vhat happened. He said that he and Vanya vere studying and Yao came in and started yelling about you. Then they started fighting! Doesn't that just sound awful? Toris came to get me and I tried to stop it, but Gilbert vouldn't stop! I-" she hiccupped. "Please don't be mad at Vanya, Yong Soo! He is so vorried that you von't vant to talk to him anymore. Brother doesn't have many friends and he really likes you! I know your brothers don't vant you to see him, but- but please. Yong Soo he vould be heart-broken!"

"." Yong Soo stared at his open doorway in growing disbelief. "You mean that the fight was about me?"

-o-o-o-

A/N: Ugh. This had to be the hardest thing I've ever written. I've never written a fight scene before. I do hope it's up to standards? Well, regardless, 'til next time!

Translations:

Да – Yes (Russian)

안녕하세요 – Hello (Korean)

はい – Yes (Japanese)

여보세요 – Hello; used for over the phone (Korean)