"Kirino!"

Her name came up first once the front door slammed open and shut behind Kyousuke. His wheezing demonstrated his strenuous effort getting to the house after that odd phone call. He rushed up the staircase to the one place he would check first. He didn't give a courtesy knock before swiftly opening Kirino's door.

"Kirino! Why is that bast-"

Kyousuke stopped short of his accusations upon seeing that the room was empty. Neither Kirino nor that disgusting bastard were there, and based on the clean presentation she had not been in there for awhile. Did she even sleep here last night? He was aware that she kept a near perfect appearance for their father, to ensure that she could continue her front as the best daughter and able to continue the model career at her age, but this level of cleanliness worried him most. Kyousuke diverted his attention back to the hallway and to his room. Surely Isshenji wouldn't-

His door slammed open. "Isshenji!"

Again, Kyousuke was welcomed by an empty room with nothing out of place since he left this morning. He wiped the beads of sweat from his face as he desperately considered the possibilities. They were not upstairs, so they must be-

"Is that you, Kyousuke? Oh you startled me so." Kyousuke turned around to watch his mother climbing the stairs with a towel in hand. "I thought you had your -secret job- today. Were you allowed to come by for lunch? I'm afraid you are a little earl-"

"First things first, is Kirino here? Please tell me she's still here!" Kyousuke pressed his question by holding his mother's shoulders with an urgency. He didn't care to ask why she didn't go to work- this was a more pressing matter.

"Goodness, I believe she left some time ago. Why don't you come down stairs and tell your father and I how work has been so far? We are just dying to know-"

"Was she alone? With her friends? Please, this is important!"

Yoshino finished wiping her hands and pressed a finger to her lips, as if in some deep thought. "Hmm, well she was not alone, but I'm afraid I don't quite know who that fellow was that came by after you left this morning. Speaking of, you missed out on some good breakfast, Kirino even- H-Hey Kyousuke!"

Yoshino didn't get a chance to expand any further as Kyousuke ran downstairs. Although he was tempted to run out the door with feverish gust, he had no idea where to start looking. Instead he darted over to the living room to question someone who would know best: his father.

"Otou-sa"

"Again you forget your damn manners, Kyousuke," Daisuke muttered from his seat. Kyousuke cringed less about the thought of being disciplined so abruptly, but more because of the strong waft in the air. The room reeked of booze and the overwhelming atmosphere emphasized the fact that something tremendously horrid went down this morning. Kyousuke took a moment to regain his breath and retry his entry.

"Good morning Otou-san, do you know where Kirino went to? Who was here with her?" He felt a hand fall onto his shoulder from behind and the previous towel brush against his neck.

"Here Kyousuke, please wipe yourself down. You are sweating so profusely," Yoshino suggested as she moved Kyousuke over to the couch. "I think you should calm down a bit and let this pass. I'm afraid this is not a good time to be asking these questions-"

Kyousuke brushed off his mother and the dejection. "I need to know! This is very serious! Especially if Isshenji came to-"

"So you are friends with that hooligan? How did you fall so low under my sights," Daisuke slurred as he poured himself another glass from a dark bottle. He downed the tan liquor without messing a beat, unlike how he would usually savor the taste. Kyousuke knew that Isshenji had some troubles with the law, and this was quite evident with his father's dire straits.

"I'm not friends with Isshenji, and I think he's trying to get back at me by doing something to Kirino."

"That moronic Henshin juvenile dared to come to my house, after everything he's done: vandalism, theft, public disorder," Daisuke began listing as he chugged another dose. "Even public indecency on several occasions. I can't get a break when it comes to work, and he chooses to waltz right into MY house and take MY daughter. What has this world become?"

Kyousuke's eyes bulged and his hands tightened. Isshenji did what? Take Kirino? "What do you mean by that, Otou-san? Take away? Isshenji broke in here? What does that mean?!"

"Kyousuke, please-" Daisuke slammed his glass down before Yoshino could try to lessen the tension.

"ENOUGH! DON'T EVER BRING THAT BASTARD'S NAME TO MY EARS AGAIN!"

"I won't! But I need to know what happened?! Where did they go?! I must find Kirino before-"

"HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW?! I forbid him from entering my home and threatened him with arrest if he dared to!" Daisuke flung back into his chair with a stern frown upon his face, his arms crossed in a vice. "If that daughter of mine stepped out of this house she's gonna- gonna- hmph!"

Unable to resist farther, Kyousuke lunged forward to grab his father's shirt by the collar, a fist rearing to go trembled in front of them. "You know exactly where they would go! Isshenji wouldn't waste a breath not to gloat about it! Tell me now or I'm gonna do something we'll both regret, you worthless man!"

The regret came with great face value when Daisuke stood up, lifting Kyousuke from his feet within a deadly lock of arms behind his head, some resemblance of a reverse full nelson. Kyousuke clinched as the pain kicked in as though his arms would tear out of socket.

"Don't you dare presume you can antagonize me like that, Kyousuke! I'd beat the shit out right now if I felt like it!"

"Darling please! That's enough! Kyousuke is just worried about his sister!" Yoshino butted in with arms prying behind the hold. She was successful within a few seconds as Daisuke reclaimed his composure. Though his arms twinged and hung limp at his sides, Kyousuke was ready to fight as needed.

Instead, Kyousuke peered into his thoughts at the possible areas that he would know Isshenji visited. Despite not being around the womanizer long, he could only thing of one place that knew his name and reputation well. That would be his first target. However, before so-

"I'll drag her back. I'll bring her back in your stead since you can do nothing more than sit on your ass and drink the problem away! I don't need you! We don't need you! Just watch me!" Kyousuke spit out and ran back to the door, giving little chance for either mother or father to give a word. Despite the dire fatigue devastating his body, his determination carried him onward to Beyond the Sky before anything else could possibly develop further...

"Haha, exactly what I did! Even the great Henshin can only some mercy to the less fortunate and desperate!" Isshenji burst ino a mighty laugh, adding fuel to his pompous tale. The large crowd surrounding him gave a cheer to the claim, somewhat hearing a few mixes of hearty guffaws and snickering remarks to the truth of it all. Isshenji, of course, couldn't resist adding more and more gestures and onomatopoeia to his details.

"The lowly Mansaka cowered at my strength, "Oh boo hoo Henshin-sama, please go easy on me!" Isshenji mocked the statement by wiping his eyes. "Oh I need to win for my little sister who doesn't get anything she ever wants! Boo hoo! Oh how she looks up to you and would want to be on top of you! Haha, of course the last part is just a tad off, but you get the gist!"

"Harr harr boy, you don't know when to quit do ya?!" An elderly fellow equiped with beard and leather jacket exclaimed amongs the grouping thicket, just a common praise given among the cheers. The great Goliath took it all in great stride.

"Hell no I don't! When the star soars it soars through the heavens! No single sane man would dare come up to me and-"

"ISSHENJI! GIVE HER BACK!"

Isshenji snickered at the familiar sound, but didn't give the courtesy of turning around. He took a swag from his bottle then clapped aloud. "Well if it isn't Mr. Macross himself! Coming to join the fun, am I right?!"

The crowd followed the commotion with whistle and cheer as they turned and welcomed the panting hero. Kyousuke ground his teeth in sheer anger as he peered into the group, seeking his sole target. He marched forward as he steadied his exhausted breath and armed his resolve. Just a few steps away, Isshenji swirled on his stool to greet the companion.

"Welcome to the joint, Mansaka! What can I treat you to? Some schnapps, whiskey, vodka? Name it champ and I'll treat ya-"

*SMACK*

Isshenji was stopped short with an array of knuckles across the cheek. Although the strike had all of Kyousuke's momentum to it, Isshenji did not flinch, still giving his wicked, taunting grin.

"How about some punch, you son of a bitch. Tell me where she is. What did you do with her?"

Isshenji didn't even move away from the rocking fist against his face, only bringing the bottle neck to his lips for a sip. "You're gonna have to be more specific than that, Mansaka. I've seen a few broods recently. Also nice punch line."

"You know damn well who I mean. Where is my sister?"

Isshenji snickered before he finally brushed Kyousuke away. "What, the big bad brother coming in to protect her? I knew you had it in you, Mansaka! That's just the fire you need to hang around here-"

"Enough of your bullshit, Isshenji! Tell me right now or-"

"Or what? Want to actually fight? Haha, with me? I appreciate your ferocity, but you got no chance in hell with dueling a god!" Isshenji countered in a mighty jeer which riled his groupies and bystanders into laughs. Kyousuke obviously dispersed that noise as only the single thought occupied his focus: beat the crap out of this enemy.

"I may not be as strong as you, but that won't stop me from making sure you don't ever see Kirino again. For the rest of your foolhardy lying life." He raised his fist up and shook it towards his target. "I'll gladly break this fist into pieces just to teach you this important lesson."

Maybe it was those words or the fact that Kyousuke didn't back off, but something caused Isshenji's ever-present sneer to mellow into a frown. He cracked his neck with a bit of agitation showing on his expression and stood from his stool. "You might as well stop right there, Mansaka. It's not funny anymore. I did you a favor up to this point, but rubbing in any more will get you in a world of hurt."

"...I've been in a world of hurt long before you stepped in. Now tell me where she is."

Time lapsed for a while as the two stared each other down. The suspense grew as the crowd grew silent unable to carry on any spirit. Everyone's eyes were stuck on the taller man as he seemed to study the resolve of the brotherly figure. Isshenji finally broke the standoff by bringing his hand to his forehead, a laugh seeping from his lips.

"Heheheh, this is just gold. One gives me shit then the other does. What a family you have, Mansaka. Never giving me a chance for a good time. Very well, let's do this." Isshenji jested to his opponent by raising his hand, lifting 4 fingers upward. "You get 4 free shots. Better make them count."

Kyousuke expected this type of response, this type of opening from Isshenji, but he could not move forward despite his heightened spirit and adrenaline. His breath staggered and rushed in wild tempo as he thought of how to approach. After all, he knows damn well what will happen after that fourth hit. Severe pain of no measurable magnitude. He saw a taste of what this man is capable of at Waterpark, and his body still ached from just the small aftermath. What awaited him here-

'No, I must do this. For Kirino.'

Kyousuke's untamed breath began to lessen as he readied his hands once again. He focused his strength to his right leg, knowing that he should lead low for a cheap shot. That would be the best route to start a combo here. Damned if he would be called a coward if he can help his sister from choosing such a foul future.

On mental mark, Kyousuke darted forward with a trained knee to the crotch. Isshenji's brows rose at the prospect of the first shot, and his body coiled into concentrated stance to take the blow. Knee connected with the area, an impressive clap filled the air and everyone 'ooh'd' at the low blow. Kyousuke didn't hesitate to follow up with a hooked right into the left handle.

Shortly, Kyousuke continued the motion with a left straight into the chest. He realized this was a foolish point to select as he left his fist crumble against the hard rigid surface, but he took no time to register the pain as he pulled all his power and focus into his right hand, reared back at his hip and aimed to Isshenji's chin. This would be his final move, so it must count.

Kyousuke turned his body into the motion back and forward straight up to the small target above. His coiled knuckles tightened and grew speed as they grew near. As if making a desperate plead, Kyousuke let out a loud cry and closed his eyes as he waited for the feel of connection.

*SMACK*

There it was- the hit was a success. Was it a good choice though? Did it make any difference against such a person? Kyousuke felt tears grow and drop at the corner of his eyes knowing if not, the pummeling would commence and his life may end. He knew his fist was still tight and trembling on point, and seemed that nothing would ever follow from here. Before he could dare to open his eyes to see the damage, he heard the worst possible thing right then: a taunting chuckle.

"You chose surprisingly well for your targets, Mansaka. I might just praise you there." Kyousuke let out a defeated sigh and fought back the urge to let out profanity. He could tell his efforts made no difference in the end. When he finally opened his eyes, he found that his last hit was caught in Isshenji's left palm- the magnificent fighter just standing there unphased.

Isshenji tightened his grip on the clutch and raised Kyousuke into the air effortlessly. "So you go for the nut shot, try to hinder my kidneys, and finally go for a Shoryuuken. You've got a lot of guts! You've earned this one, Mansaka. Hissatsu!"

Kyousuke didn't have time to register when the hit connected nor when he was slid along the ground towards the exit. It was an impressive distance at least despite his inability to breath or see clearly. He could barely see the bar let alone the gathering in the distance. His half-shut eyes recognized that a body was getting closer, then felt a hand grab him by the neck.

He was looking down now, watching the ground move on its own as more light gathered behind him. He squinted when the light became too much and chocked profusely as water poured down his throat. Was he being attended to? His mind began to return as he caught on to a conversation happening in front of him.

"-So you are lucky I'm being this considerate. Usually people- and don't even bother coming back here until you get stro- Heh, you got guts though, Mansaka. For that and surviving the Star Bullet, I'll tell you-"

'What is he saying?' Kyousuke barely managed the thought as he held on to his chest. It pinged with such severe pressure, as though he was rammed by a huge truck then shot point blank by a shotgun. He could see Isshenji pouring water atop his head as if to summon him from the stupor, but that did little good at this point. Kyousuke managed to look up and catch the last portions of Isshenji's speech.

"-So there you have it, by now she should be back at your house. Don't know how you missed her if you came running from there. Oh well, doesn't matter." Isshenji patted Kyousuke on the shoulder once then gave him a smile once more. "Now I see where her resilience comes from, huh? Like brother like sister. Seriously, to turn me down is way too bold. Anyways, later... Kyousuke."

Kyousuke closed his eyes then reopened them. Isshenji was no longer there, probably went back inside. Looking to his sides, he could determine must have been discarded outside, slumped against the building with an unopened bottle of water. He surveyed his throbbing wound with a wince: his chest was on fire, but he would have been out of his mind if he thought there as singed bits on his clothes. Was he punched that badly in body or out of his mind?

'Whatever, still hurts like hell,' Kyousuke mused to himself as he reached for the water bottle. He had enough strength left to unfasten the top and bring the neck to his mouth. He almost choked on the flowing refreshment going down his throat. Now he had time to recuperate and think about the situation.

'At the most, Kirino was not here. Though what Isshenji said... what did he say?' Kyousuke focused on those words spoken in his wary state. 'She... rejected him? Wait, why am I surprised, of course she would. She wouldn't dare be seen with that guy. Where did they go then? Why would she not be at home or answer her phone-'

"Ahh, because of last night," Kyousuke realized with a foolish chuckle to himself. Of course after his outburst and his sudden disappearance she would react in such a way. Probably had something to do with their parents being home too. However, as Isshenji mentioned she probably went back by now after everything. What would he say to her now?

"Let alone explain this -urgh- new wound," Kyousuke stated as he gathered his strength to his legs, just enough to lift himself into a lean. His legs trembled underneath him as he clung to a nearby pole. The objective right now was to get back to the house and make sure Kirino was safe and sound before all else. Just by chance he wondered how much time lapsed since he took his break from work.

"Oh Chang is not going to like me coming back in this shape... Only worked a few... hours..." Kyousuke trailed in his thoughts as something lit a bulb in his brain. What was that about time? That seemed important somehow, but not work related. Something was lingering in his thoughts about the time lapse that he was suppose to recognize, but from where-

["-You just don't understand-"}

'What?'

[-don't understand the way-"]

Kyousuke blinked as short memory segments came to mind. What was he suppose to remember? The way about what?

["-It's more about actions than the words."]

Kyousuke recalled those words. Kirino spoke them that night, coming back from this same place after Ayase tazed him. He felt his chest, ironically the same place where he was attacked before. Seemed like fate was trying to repeat himself for no reason-

["Not like I wanted to celebrate the week with you anyways!"]

"?!" Kyousuke shot up despite the sharp pain that it brought. Celebrate? What was there to celebrate other than the horror that has occurred during that whole week between... them during the...

"Relationship..." Kyousuke breathlessly spoke as the revelation hit him. That's right, today would mark the first week since... Kyousuke shook his head upon realizing the error he mistakenly made by accepting the job for this day. No wonder Kirino was not there and things elevated to such an extent. Now he had to make up for it for sure. How he would do so would require some thinking.

"No, I don't have time to -urgh- to do that. I need to find something and fast," Kyousuke committed aloud as he breathed deep and mustered the energy needed to start walking. Thankfully one place in mind wasn't too far from here, maybe he could salvage this after all.

A/N: Definitely quicker than 2 years this time around. Now that I do not deal directly with annoying customers, I found more time between programming breaks and time at the new apartment to put pen to paper to complete the long overdue details for the story (plus I can stop myself from weeping at not being at certain persons' sides). I had considered to use 3 chapters here, but considering how poorly my derivative from the serious perspective of the relationship was received, I figured it can be condensed into one and get on to the true route. As you may suspect above, this will serve as a separation point from Isshenji in the story... for now. Ever since chapter 15 I felt having his zealous, masculine counterpart in a series that lacks it would prove beneficial to Kyousuke's perspective on the relationship, seeing that Kirino is appealing to others (since that oddly didn't occur much in the original, at least what I remember now). Hopefully Kyousuke can fix his dilemma now after this realization... See ya'll soon (uh oh, still have a Texan accent).

hidaruma: I appreciate the criticism regarding the Waterpark arc and Isshenji. I tried to integrate a new style into the story as I wanted to try more action-oriented writing and letting some characters get light. Alas, maybe I should have reserved that for another story to follow. I wouldn't say I'm weary of the available cast, but I wanted to use a different approach in settling and revealing the relationship later down the road. So many bricks to lay down on this epic... Hopefully I'm unravel a compromise that will be more befitting in these next few chapters.