TA: This is the revised version of this fic. After I started it, I've
decided to change it in some ways, so I redid the whole chapter one.
Chapter 2 going up for revision soon! I own Keto (pronounced Kay-toe.)
Watase-san owns Kouji, Genrou, and all the others (lucky woman)
~~~~~~
Twins
~~~~~~
Genrou leaned against the wall by his window, counting down the seconds. The bird had done his thing about a minute ago and all he had to do was wait.
"Five, four, three, two, one…"
A scream echoed through the house. Genrou grinned as he heard running footsteps and his door slammed open. In the doorway stood Kaiya, his twin sister. Her hair was cut in the same style as his own, but just a bit shorter.
"Genrou, what the fuck is the point of the hack-job?!" she angrily pointed at her hair. Up until that morning it had been long and, in her opinion, beautiful. Now the majority of it all rested on her bed. Genrou grinned.
"Thought you'd want to be comin along, sis." Genrou smirked.
"Comin along? Fer what?" Kaiya's eyes narrowed at her brother.
"Well, ya kept me n Kouji up half the night hollering at me fer leavin ya alone here. So you comin er what?"
Kaiya sighed.
"You are so gonna fuckin regret the hack job, Genrou…" Kaiya muttered. "Ya got any clothes I could borrow? Ma threw all mine away."
Kouji bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. Kaiya glared at him.
"All my guy clothes ya idiot."
"Sorry…mmph…"
Genrou smirked as he handed her a pair of his pants and a loose- fitting shirt. She snatched them from him and left the room to change. Kouji finally burst out laughing.
"Genrou, ya think it's a good idea…t-ta bring her along?"
"I ain't invoking the wrath of the fuckin devil…" Genrou muttered as Kaiya finally returned.
"Woulda been nice to have a fuckin warning…" Kaiya growled, following them out of the house. Genrou smirked.
"You'd never have agreed. Besides, you're gonna need ta look like a man if ya wanna join with us."
"Which also requires a name change…" Kouji grinned.
"Aw hell Bro…"
Kaiya had a worse tongue than her brother when it came to most situations.
"Don't gimme any shit Kaiya. You comin or not? Cuz if not…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"How's Keto sound?"
Genrou and Kaiya blinked at Kouji.
"Fer what?"
"Yer new name, kid. Boss might give ya a different one, but you'll need a guy's name fer the camp until then."
"But Keto?! Sounds like a…a vegetable er somethin."
"HAH! Keto potato!" Genrou soon regretted that as Kaiya slugged him, right in the gut.
~~~~~~
After "Keto" as she was then called was accepted as bandits of Mt. Reikaku, things went fine. Only Kouji and Genrou knew that she was a girl. The boss had taken a liking to the other twin because of her mischievous nature. A day rarely went by without seeing Keto and Genrou in some sort of fight. The money was always on Keto too. She knew all her brother's tricks, and no matter how fast he moved (which was very fast at times) she always beat him to the punch. Eventually, the bets turned into how long it would take Keto to kick Genrou's ass. At least there were chances with that one. Until one day, when the boss struck ill.
"I'm going!" Genrou growled in the doorway. "If I've got a chance of getting down the mountain an getting somethin to help the boss I'm gonna fuckin take that chance!"
"Genrou!" Kouji rested a firm hand on Keto's shoulder.
"Let him go…" Kouji whispered as Keto looked up at him painfully. "You can't go everywhere with him, and one of you needs to stay here…just in case."
"But…but…"
Kouji smirked.
"There. Temptation gone."
Keto blinked and looked back to the doorway. Genrou was gone, already on his way down the mountain.
"KOUJI!"
Kouji grinned innocently.
~~~~~~
With Genrou gone and the boss on his deathbed, time passed all too slowly for Keto. That is, until the day after Genrou left, when Kouji came running up to Keto when the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.
"ACK! K-Kouji!!" Keto shot deathglares at him as he threw her door open and she pulled her covers up. Kouji was barely able to hold back a nosebleed.
"S-sorry!!! The boss wants to see you!! He's on his way out if ya get me…" Kouji was already holding his nose.
"Alright." There was silence for a moment. "Well ya gonna get out or you gonna watch me get fuckin dressed?!"
"Oh! Right!" Kouji waltzed out of the room still holding his nose to prevent a nosebleed. He couldn't help it though, when Keto's door slammed open into his face and the girl bolted for the boss's room. He groaned, then took off after her. When he finally reached the boss's room, Keto was already there, kneeling by his side.
"Thanks Kouji. Look, little fox…" That was the boss's nickname for Keto. "You know I like you and your brother. When he gets back, I want you two and Kouji to take over for me."
"All three of us, boss?" Kouji's eyes widened.
"It ain't nearly enough to fill his shoes…" Keto hissed, jabbing Kouji in the stomach.
"Urk…lay off Kay! Ya already broke my nose this mornin!"
A soft chuckle came from the boss as he smiled at the two.
"You'll be fine. And let Genrou have the tessen when he gets back. Tell him…I said…good…bye…"
With that, the boss closed his eyes, and departed their world. The two were silent for a moment before looking at each other and simultaneously saying, "Alright, who's tellin' the others?"
Later that day a coffin was prepared and the boss was entombed a bit down the mountain.
"Genrou needs to hurry back…" Keto sighed, looking back at the tomb. Kouji looked around at the group of mourning bandits.
"Where's Eiken?"
Keto's eyes scanned the group for the greedy slob of a bandit.
"Hell no…" she muttered, then took off for the hideout. Her feet carried her to the boss's room and skid to a stop. There stood Eiken, holding a fan in his hands, the boss's prize possession, the tessen.
"Drop it Eiken…" she whispered dangerously. The overweight bandit looked over at the smaller one.
"Give me one good reason why I should, and give me another good reason why I shouldn't use it on you…" Keto's eyes widened. With a special phrase that all the bandits had heard used, the fan could shoot fire.
"You wouldn't dare…" her eyes narrowed at him. He smirked.
"You're going to argue with your new boss?"
"You're not the fuckin boss…"
"You say I'm not. This…" he hit the fan in his hand, "says I am."
Keto's teeth gritted together in anger.
"You fuckin bastard!" she dove at his throat. Eiken had anticipated this and swung his large hand at her. She went flying in the other direction and slammed against the wall. A horrifying crack was heard as she hit it, and the girl slumped towards the ground limply. Kouji stopped in the doorway to see her glaring up at Eiken from her place on the floor, clutching her arm. Blood was seeping through her fingers and down her hand. Kouji dashed over to her, ignoring Eiken and his fan. Eiken smiled evilly and walked out the door. From where they were, the two could hear him announcing that he was the new leader, and anyone who disagreed would be hurt. Kouji shook his head.
"That bastard…I'll go get you some bandages…didn't your brother steal some that were saturated in some sort of healing thing?"
"Yeah, they're in our room…" she cringed again.
"I'll go get 'em."
With that, Kouji got to his feet and ran out. Keto sighed, and a tear came to her eye.
"Come back soon Genrou…we need you…"
~~~~~~
Days passed, and there was still no sign of Genrou anywhere. Eiken had situated himself quite comfortably in the boss's chamber. The rules had been changed to suit his greedy wants, and nobody dared argue with him. Tolls were stiffer for those wishing to travel across the mountain, and women were taken hostage for selling or Eiken. Kouji had found the bandages, and sure enough Keto's arm was healed within the day. About a month after the boss had died, Keto and Kouji were patrolling when an old man approached them.
"You're on bandit land, ya know that old man?" Kouji stepped in his way.
"I am aware of this. I'm looking for a young man by the man of Keto. Do you know him?"
"Yeah, I'm Keto," she stepped over to them. "Whatcha want with me?"
"Your brother sent me…"
Keto and Kouji were silent as his words sunk in.
"What is it?? Is everything alright? He's not hurt is he? Anyone in the family?"
The old man chuckled.
"It seems the bandit has a soft spot. No, everything's fine. He wanted me to say he'd be coming back soon, his business was almost done."
"Alright…that it?" Keto couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Not quite. You see, I am also a seer. Your brother tells me Mystical arts entertain you, young ones." Keto grinned.
"Oh yeah!" Kouji rolled his eyes.
"You hit his other soft spot old man."
"I'll hit yer soft spot…" Keto muttered, rolling her hand into a fist. Kouji cautiously backed away. The seer turned to him.
"Your friend gave me a small sum to deliver his message, and I agreed to a free seeing for one of you as well."
"I love my brother…you wanna go Kouji?"
"Nah, you go. That okay with you, Kouji? Yeah, fine with me."
"Kouji!!"
The bandit knew that drove Keto crazy.
"Alright, give me your hand."
Keto hesitated for a moment before putting her hand in the man's palm. The withered hand closed around the younger one, and judging by the look on Keto's face, it wasn't a light grip either.
"Shit, old man's got a strong hand…"
Kouji chuckled to himself.
"Let's see now…your brother will indeed be back soon, but I see the two of you waving him away again," the old man spoke to Keto and Kouji while reading Keto's fortune. Then he chuckled. "I see there is more to you than meets the eye, young lady." Keto's eyes widened before a smirk tripped across her face.
"Yer good. Should I ask how you can tell?"
"I'll leave that for the two of you to find out. However, let me just say I see you and a man with a scar……together…yes, that's a good term." Both Kouji and Keto sweatdropped.
"I'm gonna be sick…" Keto clenched her eyes shut.
"Well, I'll traumatize you two no further! Good day!" With that, the man simply vanished. Kouji sniggered.
"Sounds like someone's gonna have more than one adventure," he smirked.
"Aw, shattap…" Keto glared at him. "Long as it ain't you."
"Old man said it was someone with a scar," Kouji motioned to his own. "And he didn't say anything about it being ugly."
"Yer ugly without it," Keto smirked.
Kouji paused as Keto began heading back for the hideout.
"Ooh, that stung. Didn't that sting Kouji? Yes it did, Kouji."
"KOUJI!!"
~~~~~~
Twins
~~~~~~
Genrou leaned against the wall by his window, counting down the seconds. The bird had done his thing about a minute ago and all he had to do was wait.
"Five, four, three, two, one…"
A scream echoed through the house. Genrou grinned as he heard running footsteps and his door slammed open. In the doorway stood Kaiya, his twin sister. Her hair was cut in the same style as his own, but just a bit shorter.
"Genrou, what the fuck is the point of the hack-job?!" she angrily pointed at her hair. Up until that morning it had been long and, in her opinion, beautiful. Now the majority of it all rested on her bed. Genrou grinned.
"Thought you'd want to be comin along, sis." Genrou smirked.
"Comin along? Fer what?" Kaiya's eyes narrowed at her brother.
"Well, ya kept me n Kouji up half the night hollering at me fer leavin ya alone here. So you comin er what?"
Kaiya sighed.
"You are so gonna fuckin regret the hack job, Genrou…" Kaiya muttered. "Ya got any clothes I could borrow? Ma threw all mine away."
Kouji bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. Kaiya glared at him.
"All my guy clothes ya idiot."
"Sorry…mmph…"
Genrou smirked as he handed her a pair of his pants and a loose- fitting shirt. She snatched them from him and left the room to change. Kouji finally burst out laughing.
"Genrou, ya think it's a good idea…t-ta bring her along?"
"I ain't invoking the wrath of the fuckin devil…" Genrou muttered as Kaiya finally returned.
"Woulda been nice to have a fuckin warning…" Kaiya growled, following them out of the house. Genrou smirked.
"You'd never have agreed. Besides, you're gonna need ta look like a man if ya wanna join with us."
"Which also requires a name change…" Kouji grinned.
"Aw hell Bro…"
Kaiya had a worse tongue than her brother when it came to most situations.
"Don't gimme any shit Kaiya. You comin or not? Cuz if not…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"How's Keto sound?"
Genrou and Kaiya blinked at Kouji.
"Fer what?"
"Yer new name, kid. Boss might give ya a different one, but you'll need a guy's name fer the camp until then."
"But Keto?! Sounds like a…a vegetable er somethin."
"HAH! Keto potato!" Genrou soon regretted that as Kaiya slugged him, right in the gut.
~~~~~~
After "Keto" as she was then called was accepted as bandits of Mt. Reikaku, things went fine. Only Kouji and Genrou knew that she was a girl. The boss had taken a liking to the other twin because of her mischievous nature. A day rarely went by without seeing Keto and Genrou in some sort of fight. The money was always on Keto too. She knew all her brother's tricks, and no matter how fast he moved (which was very fast at times) she always beat him to the punch. Eventually, the bets turned into how long it would take Keto to kick Genrou's ass. At least there were chances with that one. Until one day, when the boss struck ill.
"I'm going!" Genrou growled in the doorway. "If I've got a chance of getting down the mountain an getting somethin to help the boss I'm gonna fuckin take that chance!"
"Genrou!" Kouji rested a firm hand on Keto's shoulder.
"Let him go…" Kouji whispered as Keto looked up at him painfully. "You can't go everywhere with him, and one of you needs to stay here…just in case."
"But…but…"
Kouji smirked.
"There. Temptation gone."
Keto blinked and looked back to the doorway. Genrou was gone, already on his way down the mountain.
"KOUJI!"
Kouji grinned innocently.
~~~~~~
With Genrou gone and the boss on his deathbed, time passed all too slowly for Keto. That is, until the day after Genrou left, when Kouji came running up to Keto when the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.
"ACK! K-Kouji!!" Keto shot deathglares at him as he threw her door open and she pulled her covers up. Kouji was barely able to hold back a nosebleed.
"S-sorry!!! The boss wants to see you!! He's on his way out if ya get me…" Kouji was already holding his nose.
"Alright." There was silence for a moment. "Well ya gonna get out or you gonna watch me get fuckin dressed?!"
"Oh! Right!" Kouji waltzed out of the room still holding his nose to prevent a nosebleed. He couldn't help it though, when Keto's door slammed open into his face and the girl bolted for the boss's room. He groaned, then took off after her. When he finally reached the boss's room, Keto was already there, kneeling by his side.
"Thanks Kouji. Look, little fox…" That was the boss's nickname for Keto. "You know I like you and your brother. When he gets back, I want you two and Kouji to take over for me."
"All three of us, boss?" Kouji's eyes widened.
"It ain't nearly enough to fill his shoes…" Keto hissed, jabbing Kouji in the stomach.
"Urk…lay off Kay! Ya already broke my nose this mornin!"
A soft chuckle came from the boss as he smiled at the two.
"You'll be fine. And let Genrou have the tessen when he gets back. Tell him…I said…good…bye…"
With that, the boss closed his eyes, and departed their world. The two were silent for a moment before looking at each other and simultaneously saying, "Alright, who's tellin' the others?"
Later that day a coffin was prepared and the boss was entombed a bit down the mountain.
"Genrou needs to hurry back…" Keto sighed, looking back at the tomb. Kouji looked around at the group of mourning bandits.
"Where's Eiken?"
Keto's eyes scanned the group for the greedy slob of a bandit.
"Hell no…" she muttered, then took off for the hideout. Her feet carried her to the boss's room and skid to a stop. There stood Eiken, holding a fan in his hands, the boss's prize possession, the tessen.
"Drop it Eiken…" she whispered dangerously. The overweight bandit looked over at the smaller one.
"Give me one good reason why I should, and give me another good reason why I shouldn't use it on you…" Keto's eyes widened. With a special phrase that all the bandits had heard used, the fan could shoot fire.
"You wouldn't dare…" her eyes narrowed at him. He smirked.
"You're going to argue with your new boss?"
"You're not the fuckin boss…"
"You say I'm not. This…" he hit the fan in his hand, "says I am."
Keto's teeth gritted together in anger.
"You fuckin bastard!" she dove at his throat. Eiken had anticipated this and swung his large hand at her. She went flying in the other direction and slammed against the wall. A horrifying crack was heard as she hit it, and the girl slumped towards the ground limply. Kouji stopped in the doorway to see her glaring up at Eiken from her place on the floor, clutching her arm. Blood was seeping through her fingers and down her hand. Kouji dashed over to her, ignoring Eiken and his fan. Eiken smiled evilly and walked out the door. From where they were, the two could hear him announcing that he was the new leader, and anyone who disagreed would be hurt. Kouji shook his head.
"That bastard…I'll go get you some bandages…didn't your brother steal some that were saturated in some sort of healing thing?"
"Yeah, they're in our room…" she cringed again.
"I'll go get 'em."
With that, Kouji got to his feet and ran out. Keto sighed, and a tear came to her eye.
"Come back soon Genrou…we need you…"
~~~~~~
Days passed, and there was still no sign of Genrou anywhere. Eiken had situated himself quite comfortably in the boss's chamber. The rules had been changed to suit his greedy wants, and nobody dared argue with him. Tolls were stiffer for those wishing to travel across the mountain, and women were taken hostage for selling or Eiken. Kouji had found the bandages, and sure enough Keto's arm was healed within the day. About a month after the boss had died, Keto and Kouji were patrolling when an old man approached them.
"You're on bandit land, ya know that old man?" Kouji stepped in his way.
"I am aware of this. I'm looking for a young man by the man of Keto. Do you know him?"
"Yeah, I'm Keto," she stepped over to them. "Whatcha want with me?"
"Your brother sent me…"
Keto and Kouji were silent as his words sunk in.
"What is it?? Is everything alright? He's not hurt is he? Anyone in the family?"
The old man chuckled.
"It seems the bandit has a soft spot. No, everything's fine. He wanted me to say he'd be coming back soon, his business was almost done."
"Alright…that it?" Keto couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Not quite. You see, I am also a seer. Your brother tells me Mystical arts entertain you, young ones." Keto grinned.
"Oh yeah!" Kouji rolled his eyes.
"You hit his other soft spot old man."
"I'll hit yer soft spot…" Keto muttered, rolling her hand into a fist. Kouji cautiously backed away. The seer turned to him.
"Your friend gave me a small sum to deliver his message, and I agreed to a free seeing for one of you as well."
"I love my brother…you wanna go Kouji?"
"Nah, you go. That okay with you, Kouji? Yeah, fine with me."
"Kouji!!"
The bandit knew that drove Keto crazy.
"Alright, give me your hand."
Keto hesitated for a moment before putting her hand in the man's palm. The withered hand closed around the younger one, and judging by the look on Keto's face, it wasn't a light grip either.
"Shit, old man's got a strong hand…"
Kouji chuckled to himself.
"Let's see now…your brother will indeed be back soon, but I see the two of you waving him away again," the old man spoke to Keto and Kouji while reading Keto's fortune. Then he chuckled. "I see there is more to you than meets the eye, young lady." Keto's eyes widened before a smirk tripped across her face.
"Yer good. Should I ask how you can tell?"
"I'll leave that for the two of you to find out. However, let me just say I see you and a man with a scar……together…yes, that's a good term." Both Kouji and Keto sweatdropped.
"I'm gonna be sick…" Keto clenched her eyes shut.
"Well, I'll traumatize you two no further! Good day!" With that, the man simply vanished. Kouji sniggered.
"Sounds like someone's gonna have more than one adventure," he smirked.
"Aw, shattap…" Keto glared at him. "Long as it ain't you."
"Old man said it was someone with a scar," Kouji motioned to his own. "And he didn't say anything about it being ugly."
"Yer ugly without it," Keto smirked.
Kouji paused as Keto began heading back for the hideout.
"Ooh, that stung. Didn't that sting Kouji? Yes it did, Kouji."
"KOUJI!!"