"Uh, here's your room." Kotetsu said, gesturing to a dusty room beside the kitchen.

"Oh, okay," Barnaby said with a nod. "Where are you sleeping?"

"I'll sleep in the living room." Kotetsu replied, rasping his fist against the door jamb.

Barnaby turned on the light in the small room. It was bare and minimalistic, with only a dresser and a futon and a small circular mirror adorning the wall. "I feel like I'm intruding now."

"No, not at all." Kotetsu answered instantly. "It's just a three bedroom house."

"I should have gone with your brother." Barnaby exhaled guiltily.

"No. No." Kotetsu shook his head in disagreement. "I sleep better in a recliner anyway… I'm old, remember?"

Barnaby stepped into the room and placed his suitcase against the wall. The wall was strange and Barnaby realized after inspection that it was a sliding door. He played with the door, sliding it back and forth and peering into the darkness on the other side. "What is this?"

"It's called a shoji door…" Kotetsu explained. "And you kinda look like an idiot right now."

"Thanks." Barnaby replied dryly, rolling his eyes.

"Sorry… but you're playing with a door." Kotetsu said with a chuckle.

"A paper door." Barnaby grumbled, closing the shoji quietly.

"Is there anything you need?" Kotetsu asked, leaning against the door frame.

"I see the sheets…" Barnaby said quietly. "Where's the bed?"

Kotetsu looked at the futon and stammered awkwardly. "Uh, ah, well, uh… That is the bed." Kotetsu pointed to futon with an embarrassed smile. "It's called a futon."

"Okay…" Barnaby said, his entire face blushing brightly. "Got it."

"It's softer than it looks. It's kinda pliable and…" Kotetsu sighed, biting down on his lip. "Do you want me to take you to a hotel?"

"Absolutely not." Barnaby hissed under his breath. "What would your mother think?!"

"Ma will survive, she'd rather you be comfortable." Kotetsu insisted. "I will take you, it's no big deal."

"Just… just come show me how to make this bed." Barnaby whispered, lowering his voice.

"Why are you whispering?" Kotetsu asked, shaking his head.

"No one needs to know about this." Barnaby groaned. "Ever."

Kotetsu smiled, unrolling the futon and arranging it neatly. "There you go. And in the morning, you just roll it… back… up… like… this…" Kotetsu explained. He sank down on his knees, looking around the room curiously. He shivered and then laughed, shaking his head as he climbed to his feet.

"What's wrong?" Barnaby asked softly, and he reached forward, taking Kotetsu's hand in his. Kotetsu looked down at Barnaby's hand curiously before Barnaby let go.

"Nothing's wrong… why?" Kotetsu asked unsurely.

"You just look so… sad…" Barnaby said simply, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, I'm not." Kotetsu said with a tight smile. "I'm fine."

"Your daughter's pretty cute." Barnaby said, changing topics. "She looks a lot like you."

"Don't say such cruel things." Kotetsu said with a laugh. "She looks like her mother."

"She's funny too." Barnaby mused. "I bet it's hard being so far apart."

"You'd be surprised how easy it is, until I'm here." Kotetsu admitted quietly.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." Barnaby apologized, looking down at the floor awkwardly.

"It's fine." Kotetsu said, waving his hand dismissively. "Why are you being so nice? It's worrisome."

"Your face… it just looks like I should be nice." Barnaby shrugged, crossing his arms and picking at his skin with his fingers.

"I keep telling you, I'm fine." Kotetsu insisted, his amber eyes sharp.

"Okay." Barnaby surrendered, raising his hands peaceably. "Okay."

"If you need anything else, I'm in the living room." Kotetsu said, covering a yawn with his closed fist. "'Oodnight, Bunny-chan…"

"Goodnight, Kotetsu." Barnaby replied with a nod.

"Papa!" Kaede called out, throwing out her arm in an excited wave. "Come look at this one!"

"Hai, hai, coming, Kaede." Kotetsu called out. He smiled at Barnaby and jogged forward to join his daughter who stood staring down at a big, fat watermelon on the vine. "Whoa. This is a big melon. Is this the one, Kaede?"

"We should ask BBJ!" Kaede suggested, pink staining her cheeks.

"Ah, of course, BBJ…" Kotetsu began, his eyes sparkling as he spoke the nickname. "Would you do us the honor of judging our watermelon selection?"

Barnaby walked quickly through a tangle of leafy vines and stood in front of the watermelon, inspecting it critically. He stared at the fruit for a long time before looking up at Kaede. "This is the one."

"Mura-ojisan!" Kaede called out, waving to her uncle happily. "I found the best one."

"Coming…" Muramasa replied, lifting the sheers above his head.

"We don't need your uncle to cut the vine, Kaede…" Kotetsu muttered, kneeling down on the ground. He twisted the thick, dry vine and it broke, freeing the watermelon easily. He smiled and lifted the melon as he climbed to his feet. "See? Papa can manage."

Muramasa and Anju Kaburagi, Kotetsu's mother, approached slowly. Muramasa wiped a bit of sweat off his brow and looked at Kotetsu and then Kaede, his stern face splitting into a smile. "Idiot carries the watermelon home."

Kaede laughed, covering her mouth as she giggled. She looked at her father, who looked rather peeved, and patted his arm comfortingly. "I always say that to Oji-san… it's an inside joke…"

"Your poor uncle…" Kotetsu replied, balancing the watermelon on one hand like a football. "He's getting old and infirm if carrying a watermelon is a chore." Kotetsu reached up with his free hand and ruffled Kaede's hair. "Pick a few other good ones. We'll have to show Barnaby how to play suikawari."

"Really?" Kaede asked, smiling from ear to ear. "I'll find the best."

"Boys," Anju warned in a low voice once Kaede had taken off. "Kaede isn't a toy. Behave yourselves."

"Ma…" Kotetsu groaned in complaint. "He cuts me down every chance he gets!"

"You've always been so sensitive…" Muramasa grunted, eyeing Kotetsu lazily. "A forty year old titty baby."

"Fuck you." Kotetsu snarled, stepping up to face his brother.

"Kaburagi Kotetsu!" Anju snapped, clapping her hands. And then she began to speak in her native tongue. Barnaby looked around the field, feeling rather out of place as the family argued.

"Papa!" Kaede, who was out of ear shot, called again, looking toward the adults expectantly. "I found an even bigger one!"

"Coming…" Kotetsu yelled back, waving his hand in gesture. He turned toward Muramasa and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but then he just spun on his heels, walking away wordlessly.

They returned to the house a short while later and everyone was excited about some game they wanted Barnaby to play. He smiled politely but was secretly dreading board game hell. Barnaby was surprised when they began setting things up outside. They laid a flattened cardboard box down on the ground and placed the watermelon in the center.

"Alright, it's easy enough…" Kotetsu explained, holding a blindfold in one hand and a stick in the other. "It's Japanese piñata."

"Okay." Barnaby said with a laugh.

"I'll blindfold you, spin you around three times and then give you this bokken. You try to hit the watermelon with the bokken. First one to crack the watermelon wins…" Kotetsu continued. "And then we eat. Easy enough."

"I'm going to look foolish." Barnaby whispered as Kotetsu began blindfolding him.

"It's all in good fun." Kotetsu said, grabbing Barnaby's shoulders and spinning the young hero around in a small circle. He steadied Barnaby before handing him the bokken. "Good luck. Don't kill anyone."

Barnaby lifted the stick and lowered it unsurely, striking the ground. He exhaled shakily, feeling embarrassed, before attempting again. He heard Kaede giggle and he nearly ripped the blindfold off but the next strike was true. He smashed the watermelon open, a small spurt of juice spraying him.

He tore the blindfold off and looked down at the cracked open watermelon. The Kaburagi's clapped and Kaede cheered. Barnaby smiled, adjusting his glasses. "So, now we eat?"

"Well, we should let the next person play…" Anju said with a warm smile, her eyes creased in the corners. "These boys can eat a whole watermelon each."

"Mura-ojisan is a big eater." Kaede explained with wide eyes.

"I'm still growing." Muramasa said, winking at his niece.

"Kaede, you should go next…" Barnaby suggested, blindfolding the girl as Kotetsu moved the smashed watermelon. "I promise I won't laugh when you miss…"

"Sorry, Bar-na-by…" Kaede called out happily. The inflection in her voice was so much like her father's that Barnaby could only smile like an idiot. "I wasn't laughing at you… I was laughing at Papa!"

"Oh?" Barnaby asked, slowly turning to look at Kotetsu suspiciously. "Why's that?"

"When you missed he, uh, moved the watermelon closer…" Kaede said, her voice bouncing as Barnaby spun her around.

"Did he?" Barnaby asked, smirking at Kotetsu in annoyance.

"K-K-Kae-de…" Kotetsu groaned. "You've betrayed your Papa."

"Nonsense…" Anju excused with a chuckle. "When these boys were little, they would move the melon further away from their brother. Sometimes, when their tricky little luck ran out, they would get a bokken on the head. That's true justice…"

"Sounds like a handful." Barnaby said with a laugh, smiling at Anju. "I can only picture Kotetsu as a kid. I imagine you've replaced everything you own at least once."

"We're lucky the house was still standing." Anju admitted with a chuckle.

"Alright, alright…" Kotetsu said, clapping his hands. "That's enough talk."

That night the Kaburagis prepared a feast. Barnaby sat on the picnic bench uselessly while Anju and Kaede prepared the chilled food. Kotetsu had gone in the house some time ago for something and he had yet to return. Muramasa manned the grill expertly. He was an odd man with a very cool exterior, but he genuinely seemed to care for his family.

Barnaby watched Muramasa with interest. Muramasa was methodical in his work, as if barbecue was an exact science, but every moment he could spare he stared up at the house, his deep brown eyes lost in thought. Barnaby considered starting a conversation with Muramasa but in the end he found himself too nervous to speak up.

Kotetsu eventually returned and Barnaby considered strongly that he had simply hid inside the house until the work was done. He carried drinks and placed them on the picnic table with a sigh. He twisted the cap off of a beer and took a quick swig, plopping down on the bench.

"All that work make ya thirsty?" Muramasa asked, his eyes settling on Kotetsu.

"Yeah." Kotetsu said with a shrug.

"Bring me one." Muramasa said with a nod. Kotetsu pushed off of the picnic bench and grabbed the beer from his brother's spot at the table. Kotetsu held it out but Muramasa shook his head. "Come on, I'm busy… open it." Kotetsu twisted the cap off wordlessly before offering the beer once more to Muramasa. "Thanks, Kote-chan."

"Smells good." Kotetsu said, leaning forward and inhaling the aroma of cooking meat.

"It's almost done." Muramasa said. "You should go help Ma."

"I offered them help," Barnaby said guiltily. "They said they were fine."

"Did she use the word 'fine'?" Muramasa asked, exchanging a worried look with Kotetsu. "'Fine' is the opposite of fine…"

"'Fine' means get your ass in this kitchen and help…" Kotetsu added, shuddering. "But you're a guest, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it…"

"Yeah, it's probably nothing." Muramasa agreed. "Did she look mad though?"

"Or hot?" Kotetsu asked, his amber eyes wide and curious.

"I'll just go…" Barnaby said, shaking his head in confusion.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Kotetsu insisted. "I'll go. You're a guest."

Barnaby settled back down on the picnic bench with a heavy sigh. He drummed his finger against the aging wood and began to look around again. He felt strange sitting so close to where Muramasa stood grilling. The silence felt heavy and unnatural, but he also sensed that Muramasa viewed talkativeness unfavorably. Barnaby cleared his throat and shook his head. What was going on? Was he trying to impress Kotetsu's family? Barnaby was confused and his head sank into his hands.

"Excuse me." Muramasa said quietly, placing a plate of sizzling meat in the center of the table. The smell was enough to make Barnaby's mouth water.

"That really smells amazing." Barnaby complimented, his stomach growling.

"Thanks." Muramasa said simply before taking a swig of his beer. He sat down on the bench across from Barnaby, his legs wide apart and his posture slouched. He turned his head to the side and cupped his hand to his mouth. "Ma! Kaede! Dinner's ready…"

"We're'a comin'." Kotetsu exclaimed, placing a plate of cabbage rolls in front of Barnaby. "Ma made these 'specially fer ya…"

"Your country bumpkin is showing…" Barnaby teased and then he looked up ruefully at the three other people at the table. He smiled apologetically, cursing himself under his breath. "This looks wonderful, Mrs. Kaburagi."

"Thank you," Anju said, passing several dishes around the table. Barnaby took a bite of grilled meat and his eyes nearly watered. It was so juicy, so flavorful. He took another greedy bite, nodding his head in approval. Anju smiled happily, "Muramasa, the beef tongue looks wonderful."

Barnaby's fork stalled midair. He looked down at his plate in horror, swallowing a mouthful of beef tongue. He took a drink, swishing it around in his mouth. Kaede popped the meat into her mouth and nodded, chewing quickly. "Beef tongue is my favorite."

Barnaby thought he might gag as the rest of the family ate obliviously. Kotetsu leaned over, whispering in his ear, "Oh come on. It tasted good didn't it?"

"It's a tongue… a tongue on my tongue… chewing a tongue…" Barnaby shuddered in disgust. "I don't mean to be rude… it's just… uh… culture shock…"

"Ham is a pig's ass." Kotetsu said quietly, patting Barnaby's leg sympathetically. "What makes one part worse than another?"

"I just love cabbage rolls." Barnaby said aloud, stabbing a roll with his fork. He noted that the others had chopsticks and he once again felt like an idiot. He took Kotetsu's chopsticks from his plate and used them slowly, grabbing the roll and bringing it to his mouth.

"Oh, dear, you can eat those with your hands…" Anju explained quickly and kindly. "If you want to use the chopsticks, you just cut it into small pieces…" Anju leaned across the table before pulling back. "Oh, Kotetsu-chan, help him…"

"He's fine, Ma." Kotetsu grumbled, grabbing Kaede's chopsticks. "Let him do what he wants." Barnaby's face was simultaneously stark white and blindingly scarlet. He looked as if he wanted to die. Kotetsu smiled encouragingly and leaned forward stabbing the chopstick improperly through the middle of the roll. He picked it up and began to gnaw at the end. "This's actually way easier," he said, his mouth full.

"I don't even like eating with chopsticks." Kaede said with a shrug. "It's embarrassing."

"Kaede, you should never be ashamed of your culture." Muramasa said sternly. "But neither should Barnaby. He's trying his best and honestly I'm impressed." Muramasa smiled at his niece. "After all, it even takes us years to learn how to do it."

"That's true." Anju agreed. "Your Papa was still a hopeless case at your age, stirring the soup and such…" She smiled at Kotetsu. "He's always done things his own way. I remember when…"

"Yikes." Kotetsu complained. "Can we just save up all the stories for a time when Barnaby isn't here?"

"Absolutely not." Barnaby said with a mischievous smile.

"Grandma…" Kaede pleaded, grabbing Anju's arm. "Don't scare him off…"

"He already knows your Papa…" Muramasa interjected. "If he's here that means he's a very brave man."

"Well, duh." Kaede scoffed. "He's a hero." Kaede swooned at the table, kicking her legs back and forth. "What's it like being a hero? Who's the nicest? Who's a jerk? Is Blue Rose dating Sky High?"

"Well," Barnaby began slowly, watching Kotetsu out of the corner of his eye. "I became a hero to catch the man who killed my parents…" Barnaby took a sip of wine and smiled sadly at Kaede.

"I wasn't allowed to watch that episode." Kaede pouted.

"He was a bad man." Barnaby said simply. "It shouldn't have been televised, he sorta hijacked the station…" Barnaby cleared his throat. "But the nicest is Sky High. Like, he is sickeningly nice. It's annoying how nice he is." Kaede laughed, clasping her hands in approval. "The worst is Rock Bison. He's… a blockhead." Barnaby leaned forward, speaking quickly to Kaede's delight. "Blue Rose is nothing like her alter ego. She's a bit shy in real life… and she has a crush on someone else…"

"Who?" Kaede asked, gripping the table so hard her knuckles turned white.

"Wild Tiger." Barnaby admitted, clocking Kotetsu's startled reaction in his peripheral vision. "She can barely stand to be in the same room…"

"Really? Wild Tiger?" Kaede's eyes were wide.

"She's a decade or so too young for Wild Tiger, don'cha think?" Kotetsu asked through a tight smile.

"Papa, do you get to see the other heroes?" Kaede asked, turning to her father unexpectedly.

"Well, not really, maybe, just a little… why?" Kotetsu lied shamefacedly.

"Who's your favorite?" Kaede pressed.

"Iv, uh, I mean Origami Cyclone or Fire Emblem…" Kotetsu said after a moment.

"But Origami is even worse than Wild Tiger…" Kaede said with a disappointed sigh.

"Hey!" Kotetsu scowled. "There is no such thing as a bad hero. It's actually very competitive to get a sponsor… hundreds of NEXT are turned down…"

"Wild Tiger is my favorite." Anju interjected with a smile.

"Jeez, that's great, Ma." Kotetsu groaned.

"She thinks he's handsome…" Kaede explained to Barnaby. "She says it all the time…"

"He is." Barnaby said, so suddenly even he was surprised as it escaped his lips.

"What is the plan for tomorrow?" Muramasa asked. "I can't be your chauffeur. I have a store to run."

"Kotetsu, you should help your brother tomorrow." Anju suggested. "Kaede and I can take Barnaby up to the mountain shrine. I think he'd enjoy that."

"Ahhh, Ma…" Kotetsu complained. "I like mountain shrines…"

"Your brother closed the shop to drive us around today. It's the least you could do…" Anju replied, patiently. "Besides, your name is on the building too." Anju took a sip of water, eyeing her son pointedly. "It's your father's legacy…"

"I'm supposed to be showing Barnaby a good time. He's supposed to be having fun." Kotetsu argued. "My job is on the line here." And Kotetsu had the feeling that wasn't an exaggeration.

"I'm fine going with the ladies." Barnaby offered. "I've never been to a shrine."

"B-B-B-Bunny! Read the mood…" Kotetsu stammered unhappily.

"It's not as glamorous as Sternbild, but I promise hard work never killed anyone…" Muramasa spoke up, the lip of his beer bottle, his fourth or fifth, inches from his mouth.

"Kae-de…" Kotetsu attempted. "Don't you want Papa to come with you tomorrow?"

"Papa…" Kaede said sternly, her hands on her hips. "Behave."

"Hai, hai." Kotetsu surrendered.

"I'm heading home." Muramasa stood up, swaying slightly. He pat Kaede on the head and pecked his mother on the cheek. "I'll see ya in the morning, Kote-chan…" He paused and his face split into a smile. "And don't be late…"

"I'm always late." Kotetsu said unapologetically.

"It's never too late to change." Muramasa replied.

"I'm not changing for you." Kotetsu snapped.

"I don't think there's anyone you would change for…" Muramasa argued. "You don't love anyone more than you hate yourself…"

"And who-" Kotetsu roared, bringing his hand down on the table hard enough to scatter the dishes. He stood, his body roiling upward with strength and agility. His heart was pounding so loudly he thought everyone must be able to hear it.

"Boys!" Anju clapped her hands loudly. Kotetsu looked at her, his body freezing in place. She gestured to the disheveled plates of food and frowned. "Help your mother clean up, would you, Kotetsu?"

"Yeah." Kotetsu agreed, turning his attention to the messy table. Barnaby was a little surprised by the exchange. Everyone had been having a great time. The light and fun atmosphere was dragged downward as Kotetsu stacked the dishes noisily. Barnaby stood up, offering his assistance.

Kotetsu was silent as he cleared the table but Barnaby could see his hands shaking. The plates clanked together noisily and the liquid in the cups splattered over the side. "Are you okay?" Barnaby asked, shaking his head with worry.

Kotetsu nodded wordlessly. He finished stacking the plates and cups and then he stalked off toward the garden. He moved quickly and Barnaby followed out of concern. Kotetsu took a few steps around the corner and then he staggered, nearly falling completely over to one side. His breathing escalated and he struggled for air.

Kotetsu was on the ground before Barnaby could close the distance between them. Kotetsu wheezed loudly, gasping for breath. Barnaby kneeled beside him, pulling him into his lap. "Do you need an ambulance?" Kotetsu shook his head back and forth as his lungs labored for air. "Fucking hell, Kotetsu. Are you sure?"

"He's fine." Muramasa spoke suddenly, coming around the corner and around the fence. He pulled a brown paper sack out of his pocket and handed it to Kotetsu. Kotetsu took the wrinkled bag and began exhaling and inhaling inside of it. The bag crinkled noisily until Kotetsu managed to regulate his breathing.

Kotetsu balled the sack and threw it at his brother, pushing himself to his feet. Barnaby stood unsurely, looking between the brothers silently. "Get the fuck outta my face."

"You're welcome." Muramasa shook his head in annoyance.

"Get the fuck out of my face!" Kotetsu repeated louder.

"Take control of yourself." Muramasa barked. "Or you're going to look foolish or worse, scare Kaede…"

"Don't… don't act like that…" Kotetsu groaned, pointing his finger at Muramasa accusingly. "I don't want you to bring Kaede into this."

"Kaede is already in this." Muramasa yelled, the veins in his neck throbbing. "Her pathetic fucking father left her for me to take care of!"

"I didn't leave her for you!" Kotetsu shouted back. "Ma's taking care of her!"

"In case you didn't realize…" Muramasa shot back. "Ma is getting old. Ma isn't going to be around forever! I have to help Ma…"

"She's mine…" Kotetsu argued. "She's not yours… and you have no business holding her against me…"

"I'm more of her father than you'll ever be." Muramasa spat, bumping his shoulder against Kotetsu's.

Kotetsu raised his fist, striking Muramasa in the cheek. Muramasa spit blood into the grass and then, unexpectedly, he threw his head against Kotetsu's. The head-butt knocked Kotetsu off of his feet. The hero was sent into a patch of cabbage and he cursed loudly as he climbed back to his feet. "Fuck you, Muramasa."

Barnaby was completely caught off guard. He stood between the two brothers, unsure of how to react. He thought for a moment that Kotetsu might activate his powers but Kotetsu had no intention of doing so. He merely stalked back and forth angrily, muttering to himself as Muramasa walked away.

"Hey…" Barnaby said after a few minutes. "You okay?"

"Fucking peachy." Kotetsu growled.

"I'm not really sure what to say…" Barnaby admitted, licking his lips. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Take me home." Kotetsu whimpered, crouching in the center of the garden. He covered his head with his hands and inhaled sharply. "I just want to go home." Barnaby looked toward the house helplessly. Where did Kotetsu consider home to be?

"Let's go inside." Barnaby suggested, walking toward Kotetsu and extending his hand. Kotetsu looked up at Barnaby, slowly taking his offered hand. Barnaby smiled encouragingly and helped Kotetsu to his feet. "It's okay…"

Barnaby felt like a fraud. He had no idea what was happening and he had no right to tell Kotetsu anything was okay. How would he know? He walked along beside Kotetsu, following the older hero into the house. Kotetsu opened a cupboard in the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of liquor. He opened it up and swallowed greedily, slamming the cupboard shut. "Cheers," Kotetsu said, lifting the bottle into the air. He walked from the kitchen slowly, sinking into the recliner without another word.