Number 3! Blame the delay on my account of being distracted most of the time, combined with me trying to avoid procrastination on my homework. Plus me downloading new episodes of Inuyasha, Naruto, and Samurai Deeper Kyo, while looking around for old classics. Which is pretty much futile. *sneezes* Oww..... I hate fall and winter....
Disclaimers: never mine, never will be. Only Shinryuu Kazeki, who is my character.
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Part 3: Family Members Can Drive You Crazy
Slowly, as Sam and Soren warmed themselves up to Ken, they found themselves happily arguing on car chases, gun types, martial arts, breaking-new technology for their departments, and other things guys talk about.
Pleased and happy that her older siblings weren't going to kill her savior, Karen decided to sleep, after nearly having to toss out the cafeteria food, which Sam ate like a starved dog (Soren only shook his head at his brother's antics and Ken stared with wide eyes). Besides, it's not like either patients could leave the hospital until Kevin and Sam signed their hospital papers or when the doctors would let them go after the overnight observation. Speaking of canines, Sax had slipped out of the room and trotted downstairs, startling a lot of people.
Speaking of the older twin, he was currently lounging on one of the couches in the lobby, head tilted back and eyes closed. Of course, he knows that a crick in the neck is most likely but currently, the captain was starting to get exhausted from the days events. It was fairly often the case: wake up, eat breakfast, head to the station, visit some sort of crime scene or chase a moron, get injured in almost every possible way to rival Jackie Chan, get stuck in the hospital with doctors poking at you, become tired, and then....
The sound of pittering and pattering sneakers on tiled floors instantly snatched at his ears, which briefly twitched.
Not even opening his eyes or moving his body, Kevin snapped up his good arm to catch a flying bundle that was about collide with his chest. Slowly, the captain opened one gold eye, expecting the usual thing.
Said usual thing was a mock pouting, wiggling five year-old boy that looked almost exactly like a miniature version of Kevin. Though the kid had a darker shade of red hair that was tied back into a tiny ponytail, not to mention messy bangs dropping over his face. The kid's dark-yellow eyes were sparkling with mischief and innocence, yet with intelligence and a shine of understanding that seemed beyond his age.
"Awww.... Dad!" the little one protested, squirming a bit. "Lemme go!"
"Why do you keep trying that, Keith? You know I can tell when you're coming. Especially the way how you run."
A wide grin that nearly split his face, despite the fact that he was hanging by his jacket collar. "It's fun!"
"Darn. He did it again," came a new voice, wry, slightly sarcastic, and that of a young male.
"You, of all people, know that I can sense people, Ennis," Kevin replied, "no thanks to Shishou." Turning his head back, he saw his wife and young brother-in-law walking over. To Toni, the captain gave a smile, one which she returned. To the sixteen year-old, a smirk that always rattled Ennis' nerves.
"And we all know that you often end up in the hospital, one way or another, no thanks to your wild nature from your father," she quipped back in her soft voice. Walking around the couch, Toni took their son from his father's grip and set the boy down onto the ugly furniture. "What's the injury this time?"
"Laceration to the left shoulder, fourteen stitches. No strenuous activities for a week on it or until the doc pulls 'em out."
Shaking her head, Toni gave him a chaste kiss on the lips before spotting the German padding over. "Sax? I thought the hospitals didn't allow any canines other than guide dogs..."
"They don't but after several, ah, 'incidents' in the past few weeks or so, the hospitals decided to let K-9s in as well."
A low chuckle followed his reply, gold orbs trailing Keith as the boy slid down onto the rug and tussled with the larger dog happily, Toni's younger brother sitting near the rambunctious two. As often the young uncle showed his resentment toward his brother-in-law, Ennis could never bring himself to hate his nephew. The kid seemed to have this thing that makes you become relaxed and be calm even if you're extremely stressed out from a bad day.
Running hand through his white/silver hair (the bottom part from the ear down still black), Ennis knew it was baby-sitting time for him again. Kevin can't exactly drive a stick shift with an injured shoulder, and Toni was sometimes too busy working as DA in Downtown. Cases seemed to be popping out almost everyday and almost everywhere, nearly driving her, the other DAs, and their assistants (most of them students learning a bit more being a lawyer) to near insanity.
Zeke usually took care of Keith but his schedule usually happened to be packed with art galleys, doing the occasional sketching that could almost rival Van Gogh's or Monet's, yet not beat those of manga artists. Not to mention the few concerts he sometimes conducted, being a musical prodigy on composing music that is enjoyed by those old and young.
The rookie's younger brother was still in 5th grade and wasn't allowed to take care of the kid, despite the fact that the monkey brat was more than capable of watching someone five years his junior. Kenneth was out of the question this time, given the same occupation with his brother and the tendency to get injured five times out of ten. Except for the few day-offs he weaseled out of the chief.
Oddly enough, the captain's brother-in-law didn't seem to mind. At times, he often forgot what it was like to be a high school student and became a child again. For all his dislike toward Kevin, Ennis loved to take care of Keith. Maybe it's because of his last words....
"Hey, Ennie?"
Shaking his head out of his musings, the high school student looked at dark yellow eyes filled with innocence. "Something, Keith?"
Even though he was the boy's uncle, Keith never called him by that relation name. Ennis said it made him sound old so the little one stuck with calling the sixteen-year old "Ennie."
"How long are we gonna be stuck here?" Kevin's son lounged over Sax, now napping on the ugly carpet. For some strange reason, the German Shepherd was a bit larger than the breed's usual size; this K-9 was just three-quarters the size of a Great Dane.
"Until your dad finish up some paperwork for your uncle and himself."
Keith wrinkled his nose, knowing that "some" paperwork would be like a stack that could rival his schoolbooks.
"Get used to it, kiddo." Ennis affectionately ruffled the boy's already messy and thick hair. "That's how the system works; they make you wait and then you have to wait longer."
"Hey! Stop that!" The young redhead batted futilely against his uncle's hand before giving up and snuggling back against Sax.
Kevin hid a small smile but frowned when a nurse came up with the forms.
"Uh... sir, here's the forms you need to fill out. When you're done--"
"--take them up to the receptionist and then leave?" Toni finished before her husband's glare could rattle the poor male any further. That gold gaze could leave any person unsettled, though it had the opposite effect on her.
"Ah, yes." Hastily dropping two stacks against the table and leaving a pen, he quickly left, muttering about crazy cops with weird eyes.
The DA gave a long suffering sigh before fishing a pen of her own out of the purse and began filling in the blanks, for her brother-in-law. Snickering at his wife's reaction, Kevin swiftly filled out his own paperwork, still glad to have at least vented some frustration from his systems.
A *fwoomp* from across him sent a few pieces up, smacking his face. Brushing them back into order, Kevin looked up at the person, gold eyes blazing as his Irish temper began to rise again.
"Hey, I thought you were upstairs with..." Sam trailed off when he got a better look at the redhead sitting across him.
"You thought I was with who upstairs?" the captain softly spoke, a slightly feral smile creeping onto his face. Toni grabbed his hand and from his peripheral vision, she shook her head, flicking her eyes to their curious son, peering over the fur of his snoozing canine partner. Immediately, he calmed down, taking in a long, deep breath and reigned in the dragon within him.
The taller man scratched his head sheepishly, hiding his unease around the shorter officer. The FBI agent knew that he might be taller and with a longer reach but Sam could tell that this one could give him a run for his money if they fought each other. IF he got around to having a match with Kenneth.
"Sorry man. You look just like the guy who's staying in a room with my little sis. 'Cept his hair was in a low ponytail and with purple eyes."
"That'd be my twin brother. I'm his older sibling, Captain Kevin Hilmringer of LAPD."
Sam cocked his head, the bandanna ends shifting like feathers rustling, before giving a grin. "LAPD, eh? And who is this lovely lady?"
"Toni Hilmringer," the shorter man replied, slightly bristling at the 'lovely lady' part, "my wife. And who might you be, Rooster Head?"
"Kevin!"
Keith and Ennis both snickered at the nickname given to the new comer in the dark trench coat. With his red bandanna making the brown hair stand up (literally defying the laws of gravity), the tall man DID resembled a rooster.
Upon hearing that moniker, the agent bristled a bit but held his mouth in check since Keith was present and Sam didn't want to go through another bout of a pissed off/protective mother. The last time that happened was when he was just wrapping up a crazy domestic/kidnapping case and was exchanging a verbal war with the suspect to a point where they on the verge of getting into a fistfight. Both earned hard smacks to the heads due to hyper-maternal instincts and their ears pretty much red after being told off for nearly three hours straight. Death threats to his co-workers was the only thing that kept the other agents from giving Sam hell about that incident.
Speaking of names, the captain's rung a faint bell inside this instructor's head.
"Special Agent Sam Saagra of the FBI, LA Branch."
"What, couldn't afford to go to Quantico or work at DC?" Kevin quipped, still filling out the blanks with practiced ease. He was going to have fun with this guy, being the object of his way to vent out the frustration of work.
"No, I teach at the academy up in Downtown. Defensive Tactical Instructor," Sam replied, gritting his teeth as his pen flew over the paper as if he did it many times (nearly 2/3s of the forms back in the nurse's office file cabinet at the LA branch all contained his signatures, to tell the truth). He was starting to hate this cop's guts. "It's for those who can't go to Quantico or those who can't handle the weather over there."
"Oh?" Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Special Agent, eh?"
"Don't even think about asking if we have anything about a X-files office/cabinet or have Agents Mulder, Scully, Dogget, OR Reyes. That show might have been right in a lot of stuff (namely the necessary actions when a case comes up) but I don't really believe if there's a government conspiracy," the taller man nearly all but snapped. Mentally, he was punching himself upside on the head; rarely lost his temper but this guy was driving him nuts!
"Not that."
Sam paused on ticking off the "Yes/No" part. "What?"
The captain grinned. "Wondering if you ever met Skinner."
Wanting to beat that grin off the officer's face ('When did his teeth look so sharp?'), Sam merely clenched the pen tightly, causing the outer casing to crack. He didn't resort to violence since the guy's son was around, watching the exchanging banter with wide eyes. Being chewed out for cursing was bad enough, no reason to have his ear yanked for violence or kicked out by security for fighting in a hospital facility. Not to mention, Kevin's surname kept on sounding a bit familiar in his mind.
"Nope, and may I ask what you do for a career, ma'am?"
Toni pleasantly smiled, causing some men that were close enough to see/hear the banter to have hearts pop into their eyes or appear over their thick skulls. Ennis turned a teal glare on all of them and they snapped their heads away, sweatdrops forming and all the while shuddering. Keith immediately snickered; he always loved it when his uncle turned those turquoise eyes into teal orbs and directed them onto people who always looked at his mother in a funny way. It was much more amusing if his father did that himself; gold seemed to be more scarier than teal.
"I'm a lawyer."
"What kind of lawyer, ma'am?"
Kevin held in a snicker, nudging his brother-in-law in the ribs.
"Grand Jury District Attorney Hilmringer of Downtown LA, Mr. Saagra."
If linen could get any whiter, then Sam nearly reached that shade. At the same time, he nearly screwed up his signature at the bottom and final page of the stack.
'Oh shit! I've been hitting on the DA one who helped take down that freakin' Columbian drug cartel we were looking for six years ago when she was still in the Narcotics department! Plus the fact that she's this guy's wife, who assisted in the investigation when he was just fresh out of the police academy!! Why didn't I pay more attention during the briefings?!?! He's the cop who took down one of the worst serial killers that was on the top ten of America's Most Wanted and associated to that cartel SHE took out!! Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap...'
Ennis smirked at the tall man's reaction upon hearing his sister's occupation, knowing that rooster head was probably remembering about that cartel/killer case six years ago. The other time something similar to this happened was when another moron actually fainted. Due to either brain overload or from the double death glares, he couldn't remember.
"There, done." Dropping his pen onto the table, Kevin massaged his hand, frowning at the slight cramp. "I hate filling out forms."
Sam clicked his pen back into his coat, flapping his left hand to loosen up the joints. "Che, yer not the only one."
Toni merely shook her head, replacing her writing tool back into her purse. "Will both of you two please stop this? We're in a hospital, not a dojo."
Having met several of her husband's Asian relatives during the Japanese festivities (namely Lunar New Year since almost everybody gathered at one of the larger homes), the DA came to appreciate and enjoy the Japanese culture. Some of the female relatives even took to her as a sister or cousin, given Toni's long black hair and dark-brown eyes. Despite the difficulty of understanding each other due to the language barrier (they were often correcting each other on proper usage), they all still got along like teenager girls in high school.
Giving one last glare, the tall FBI agent swept up all of their papers and dumped them with a loud bang onto the check-in desk, startling a starting to doze off receptionist.
"Oh, all done?" asked the nurse.
A sharp nod before mahogany spheres glowered at gold orbs. "I'll see ya around, CAPTAIN."
"Same to you, AGENT."
Sparks momentary flew between the two law enforcers (sending some people scurrying in fear) until Sam whirled around and walked off abruptly, his trench coat flapping and showing off the kanji. Many of the innocent bystan--er--witnesses all signed in relief. A whole bunch of them were almost expecting an old Wild West standoff... with guns blazing and bullets ricocheting.
Ennis blinked at his elder brother-in-law with turquoise eyes, exchanging looks with his nephew before the younger Hilmringer just shrugged. A "your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine" look on Keith's face.
"C'mon, let's go home," Kevin sighed, grabbing his leather jacket, trying to hide the cut.
Toni narrowed her eyes and paused a bit as her son and brother went on ahead to the Firebird.
"Kevin."
He immediately froze, knowing that tone of voice. A child would recognize it as the "you're-in-big-trouble-young-lady/man" tone and a husband would instantly know that if he doesn't give a good and honest answer soon.... Well, shall we say temporary banishment from the bedroom?
"Hai?"
The DA's eyes narrowed a bit more since her husband only spoke in Japanese when he was either serious or trying to hide something.
"Let me see the jacket."
Reluctantly, he turned his arm back and handed her the garment with the air of a condemned man.
Sticking a finger through the hole on the upper left sleeve, Toni glared at her husband before turning on her heel and walking off to the car. "
"Toni! Wait!"
Kevin followed his wife like a dog with his tail between his legs, or more accurately, a dragon hatchling with the tail in between the legs. Ennis was laughing his stomach out from the backseat while Keith and Sax only sweatdropped. This officer might be one of the most notorious in the police force of the Orange and LA Counties (as well with the CHP) as a "bad cop" but when it comes to his angry wife, he really doesn't stand a chance.
"You know that this was a gift!"
"I can explain..."
"It better be good mister!"
"Not my fault that Udian always carries a katana--"
"But you knew that he does!"
"I KNOW that but the ground was still wet..."
"Then why were you wearing those Oxfords? You do know that they aren't exactly the best on wet pavement."
"Er, Sagi had the dress code on at the station?"
A dark glare before she continued on, her back hiding the slight smile from Kevin.
"Toni! Hold on a moment!"
Ennis continued laughing, prompting his older brother-in-law to drive a bit recklessly on the way home and prompting a slight smack to the head after several protests that went ignored. Keith didn't quite understand what his mother said, just that "setting a bad example on how to drive" and "a bad model" was yelled at his father. Sax merely covered his eyes with his paws, still pondering about how he survived four years with these humans that had emotions which bewildered him beyond his canine senses.
* * * * * *
"So....." Karen started nervously, twisting the sheets.
"So....."
"....."
Soren warily glared at the red haired officer, academy training kicking over (not to mention still in "protective-big-brother" mode). Even with the slightly feminine looks, this investigator could tell that this sergeant will be someone worth interesting to duel out on the mats. Karen looked at her guest, who was staring at her intently with eyes that could rival her father/sensei's the first time she had picked up a shinai as a child. Finally, she could bear it no longer.
"Is your hair dyed?" she blurted out before clamping a hand over her mouth, forgetting the mask that was still present.
Blinking several times and a soft "oro?", Ken gave out and chuckled, running his right hand through the unruly crimson bangs. Soren merely shook his head at his sister's question.
"Sorry...."
"Don't worry." He smiled reassuringly. "I get that a lot. It's natural, from my father's side, three-quarters Irish and one-fourth Scottish. My eyes are from my mother, who is Japanese."
Karen perked up. "Really? I don't really know too many Japanese folks with different eye colors, save my family."
"Heck, we're almost the only family with blue eyes," Soren added, "and bluish tints to our hair."
Ken smiled sadly. "Blue eyes... Father used to call Okaa-san that all the time, even though she kept on saying her eyes were violet."
"What happened to her?" the SFPD investigator asked.
A low sigh. "Cancer, five years ago. Being in any hospital always remind me and my brother of the time we spent with her before she passed away."
Soft yet slightly rough hands held his calloused one lying on the sheets. Sympathy and understanding, along with warmth. "Tell me more about your parents? How they met? I bet it was romantic."
Lavender orbs brightened a bit, a little mischief that Soren didn't seem to like.
"Father came upon Kaa-san when they were still high school students. Back then, they often saw each other but never talked to either one since it was only about twenty years or so after World War II. Antagonism against Japanese was still going strong, along side the beginning signs of paranoia against Russia. Going through the gangly stage at that time, Dad often found himself in fights. Either because of his temper or our bright red hair, since no one else at the school had such a shade that shifted color according to his mood, I'm not really sure. Not to mention gold eyes that could either warm and comfort you or freeze you in place. Let's just say that he's been in more fights than my older sibling was in while in high school.
"If you must know, Dad was born in Ireland but moved here when he was still a child, along with several the other families wanting to leave the chaos at that time. Most of our Irish relatives that live back in Ireland have, easily said, wild sides that could make your head spin. One warning if you ever get dragged into one of our family reunions: keep away any present or available alcohol."
Soren immediately bursted out laughing, slapping his thigh and clutching his stomach. Karen quickly admonished her brother all the while apologizing. Ken merely waved a hand nonchalantly, smiling widely before continuing.
"Kaa-san is a sansei, having been born after baa-san and her family were released from Manzanar when the war was over. Even though she grew up here all her life, my maternal grandparents kept our Japanese tradition and kept on teaching to our third-generation relatives. My uncle, somewhat the black sheep of the family and my mother's youngest (not to mention only) brother, had left to return back to Japan, Kyoto more precisely. When Grandfather asked why his son was going back, Shishou had replied he wanted to be stronger and to educate himself further. Essentially, Shishou took up kenjutsu and finally became a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu master. Well, the successor is the correct term."
"Shishou? Master?" Karen blinked. "You call your uncle that?"
The red-haired sergeant smiled. "When Kevin and I went to visit him the first time for lessons, he insisted that we call him Shishou. It got stuck ever since we were children. Kevin's my older twin brother."
"The one who fought against that maniac who pretty much trashed my car?" she asked with a frown on her face.
A quick nod, noting the scary look.
Soren's furrowed his eyebrows upon Kevin's name. "Kevin... Captain Kevin 'Battai' Hilmringer? Wasn't he the guy who took out that cartel--whashis name, oh yeah, Big Tani--six years ago just after graduating from the police academy?"
Ken grinned. He always got a kick out of people reacting to his elder sibling's reputation. "Yep. Met him?"
"Once. I was in the same unit he was in before moving up to San Fran." The older Kamaryn looked at Ken for a moment, scrutinizing his facial details. "I knew I recognize that red hair but your eyes was the difference, plus the fact that he has a vertical scar on his left cheek while you have a horizontal one."
Blinking repeatedly, Karen took a closer look and noticed the dark brown line hidden amongst the red bangs. "Hey, how'd you get that?"
He rubbed it with his good hand, a bit thoughtful. "Kaa-san accidentally cut me with a sashimi knife when I was still a kid. We don't know why but it stayed and it continued to bigger as I grew older."
Shaking his head and checking the clock, Soren stood up and snatched his coat. "Welp, gotta go back to the motel."
"Awww... No staying for dinner with us?" Karen pouted, cutely in Ken's mind.
'Don't fall for it... Don't fall for it... Don't fall for it.... Her cooking is much worst than airplane OR hospital OR during academy training....' The investigator merely smiled. "Sorry, sis. I know it's almost dinnertime and I, for one, do NOT want to risk my stomach with hospital food. Hell, even airplane food is better!"
Walking to the door, Soren paused, turned around and grinned. "Then again, hospital food tastes more pleasant than your cooking!"
Karen was ready to throw some more objects again but her older brother had already left. Instead, the plastic water pitcher found its mark on the innocent one who was just walking in.
"ARA!" Arms flailed to keep a wrapped box from spilling its contents onto the floor.
"Oro? Oh, hello Zeke." Ken quickly grabbed the container from meeting its fate and placed it onto the rolling table. "What brings you here?"
Immediately getting up, and startling Karen at his speed, the young rookie reflexively smiled and wagged a finger. "Sore wa himitsu desu~u."
'"That is a secret?" What kind of answer is that?' Karen thought, looking at the teen. 'Though, there seems to be more than just a teenager....'
Zeke settled himself down into a chair that wasn't mauled by Sam's immense strength. "Actually, I'm here to pick you up when you get out, plus some dinner for you guys. Not to mention, your Camry is at the body shop for repairs, I'll have to drop you off as well."
"Hey! You have to be at least sixteen in order to drive a car legally! You don't look older than seventeen!"
A laugh, his hand behind his head. "Actually, 16-and-half, nee-san. I got special privilege since I'm a Rookie back at the department."
Sapphire eyes popped open as she stared at the slightly large blue uniform on the teenager, as if he has yet to grow into it. Ken unpacked the bentos the best he could without stressing his shoulder any further, all the while smiling.
"Miss Karen Kamaryn, I'd like you to meet Kazeki Shinryuu, my ward. We call him Zeke since it's easier for the other boys as they often have some troubles pronouncing it correctly. He's quite the accomplishment for someone near 17 years of age. Child prodigy, let's just say, in many things."
She had a look that plainly said, 'You're kidding.'
A sheepish smile as Zeke brushed away green-black bangs from his face, only to have them sweep back. "Maa maa... aniki. Just eat your dinner and I'll see that Kevin-san filled out the papers, along with yours, Karen-san."
After the rookie left the room, Ken offered Karen an onigiri. Looking down at the rice ball, she only blinked a few times before taking a bite from it. Suddenly her face screwed up as she chewed the grains slowly. He looked at her in concern, nibbling on a piece of tempura.
"Something the matter, miss?"
"No way...." The UCLA student stared at the rice with the sour plum inside.
"Kevin-san and your elder brother filled out the pa...pers.... Daijoubu, Karen-san?" Again, the younger officer took his seat, a question mark popping over his head.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She held up a finger, an odd look on her face. "Its just that I don't like it when other people can cook better than I can, especially when it comes to Japanese food."
As if frozen, Zeke fell off the chair after a few seconds' pause. Dimly, Ken swore he heard a Zen/Buddhist temple bell go off as he sweatdropped with an "oro".
* * * * * *
Callused and tanned fingers tapped against the mahogany desk, slightly impatient as the ringing on the other side continued. Finally, the sound of someone fumbling to pick up the phone.
"*yawn* Hello?"
"Yello? Yo, bro!"
"Samson, do you know what time it is here?" Clipped tone, grumpy, and a bit sleepy.
"Er... 3AM?" 'Uh oh...'
"To be precise with Greenwich Mean Time, approximately 0430 hours, Samson."
Said FBI agent flinched when his name was said that way, leaning back against his chair back in his office. It often meant that the older stepbrother was in no mood for any kind of teasing. "Dude, sorry. I keep forgetting 'bout the time zones. Man! Ya really got to relax one of these days! It'll do you some good! Hey, I thought you were still with the UN Peacekeepers in Bosnia."
"Unfortunately, my current occupation prevents me from, as you say, 'relaxing'. And I'm currently attending an international police organization convention here in London."
"London? Damn! No wonder. Not even relaxation on the day offs?" Sam asked in disbelief, pausing on playing with a spare pen.
"Yes, not even on my free days." Forceful, the 'get to the point' tone and the sound of an older sibling pulling rank.
"Fine. I'm just calling cuz little sis got landed in the hospital today around noon on our side."
Rustle of sheets in the background and the creak of bedsprings, as if the person across the Atlantic was sitting up in an instant.
"Is she alright? Why did she go to the hospital?"
Sam chuckled softly, noting the sudden change in his stepbrother's voice. Even if the eldest Kamaryn brother was an asshole most of the time, mention anything about their baby sister and the man would probably move the heavens or mountains to find out. Well, bowl his way through a crowd of people, be it medical personnel or criminals or fellow officers, is the most likely case.
"Calm down, Ash. Karen's fine, just stuck there for the ol' 24 'cuz she nearly died due of lack of air for 8 minutes."
"Full detailed report, Agent Saagra," the older sibling nearly all but snapped.
"Alright, alright. Jeeze....." The tall federal officer propped his feet on his desk. "Karen was supposed to pick up Soren for lunch earlier today (our time) but then this maniac comes out of nowhere, shooting at several civilians. Of course, probably seeing her as the 'weak-defenseless-girl', he carjacked her car and her as hostage. You know how it's like down here, so bring in the black-and-whites. From what I can gather from some of the other officers, a standoff took place after the chase ended up at San Pedro. The wacko wanted a duel with one of the cops there, using katanas. Since he didn't want any interference, he 'froze' little sis in place. In the end, the cop's little bro saved her from a bullet before the crack head bought the farm."
Silence.
"Ash?"
"What was the suspect's name?"
Sam scratched his head for a moment. "Erhm......"
A frustrated sigh. "You didn't ask."
"Hey! I wasn't there! If you want to really know, go ask little bro! He was at the scene when it all started! Wait, scratch that, or you could just find out by hacking into their database."
"Very well. Since you disturbed me from my sleep, I might as well call Soren. Your phone calls are starting to rack up quite a bit on the long-distance bill."
*Click* Sam stared at the phone whining that annoying sound for a moment before shrugging.
"Feh. He sure could use a girl friend...."
Placing the handset back onto the cradle, Sam smirked a bit. 'If that girly cop thinks I'm gonna go easy on him, wait till he meets Ash. That shrimp is gonna get his ass whooped.'
Ashley Shriomoin Kamaryn may be Karen and Soren's oldest half-brother but he still packed quite the punch when it came to his family. Chuckling, Sam remembered the time when they were still kids, just a new family. Karen was picked on by a bunch of bullies on the front lawn when she was still a toddler, just barely five years old. Ash had pretty much beaten the stuffing out of the boys and got a good tongue lashing from their mother after she had found out. Brooding in his room, Karen had toddled in, climbed up onto the bed, smiled and wrapped her small arms around her half-sibling. Not a word was spoken. Sam and Soren couldn't believe their eyes when Ash smiled a bit and returned the hug upon spying through the ajar door. The two younger brothers, in near complete shock, stared at each other before slumping to the floor, back to back.
He smirked, thoughts drifting back to the present. "Wonder if the fox is available...."
* * * * * *
Next day.....
"AN EVICTION NOTICE?!?!?!?!?!?!" Karen shrieked, her voice pretty much rattling the surrounding windows, door frames, and teethes. A hand snatched up the pink paper and crunched it under a fist with knuckles turning white. Both LAPD officers, their hair sticking in random directions, stared at the young student with wide eyes.
"Hey, girl, keep it down, why doncha?" Heads turned, locating the fat landlord, stuffing his mouth with chips.
She whirled on him, blue eyes flaring. "I'm getting evicted just because I was behind ONE FREAKING MONTH'S PAY?!?!?!?!" A stream of curses followed, causing several eavesdropping folks to faint or have nosebleeds. The two cops turned a bit pink at the words coming from her mouth, neither expecting such a colorful vocabulary.
"You know the rules: you slack behind, you're out of the place. Be glad that I'm letting you have a week until I call in to move your stuff out, girl."
"But-but-but--"
Leaving behind a trail of crumbs, the landlord shrugged and left, still eating away.
"AARRGGGHH!!!!!!" Karen tugged her hair in frustration. "That man! I hate him! Insufferable, a pig, noisy (and he complained about my stereo), so slow..." She continued to rant on until finally Ken gently placed a tanned hand onto her shoulder.
"Miss Karen, I was wondering...."
"Eh?"
"Aniki?"
"Would you consider boarding at my place?"
Karen and Zeke stared at him as if the sergeant had sprouted wings, tail and horns.
Ken sweatdropped. "What?"
--tsuzuku
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Long-winded Author notes #3:
Ashley is British for "From the Ash Tree", the long version of Ash. The name "Ashley" can be used for either gender.
"Shriomoin" is by fooling around with "Shinomori", and in this reality, Ash took it from his mother's side. Oh, to clear up on legal things, Kamaryn-san remarried after the death of his first wife. So, no worries about bigamy or stuff like that. Hey, I know my limits!
The scene where Zeke brings in the bento (lunch box) and Karen commenting about his cooking better than hers is directly ripped off from the first episode. ^\^ Kazeki, or Zeke, is of Chinese and Japanese heritage and being forced to take care of himself and his little bro made him an excellent person to be in the kitchen, be it Japanese osechi for Lunar New Year or Chinese rice-wrapped-in-bamboo-leaves for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Mr. Fat Landlord is based off of Yajirobe from DBZ. *shrugs* He was the only one who could fit into my description of a lousy apartment owner in which the other tenants would complain about.
And the first scar on our beloved redhead's (well, the nicer twin, that is) cheek is revealed! Really, I had no absolute idea on how to implicate the scar onto Ken. Kevin's scar was easily thought out, as his is vertical. Ken's horizontal scar took a little brainstorming and some creativity. I didn't want him getting it from the job so I decided a little twist; get it accidentally. Brain warp, no?
I know, Zeke driving at 16-1/2 is a bit odd but in California driving laws, you're allowed to take the written test and drive once you hit 16 years of age. First six months after passing the written test is practice until you take the practice test. After passing the driving test, you have to wait another six months before you can fully drive by yourself, save between midnight and 5AM. Well, according to the California driver's book. Zeke driving is me pulling on RK physics. I should know the deal with practice driving. -\-;;;
Tada!! Surprised about Kevin and Toni's chibi? Maybe not, for the few I had a few emails with. *wink* Keith is more like his father, rambunctious and, to quote an Irish uncle, "clever little bugger". Firuze had commented about Keith being a headache on two legs, though I see the kid as of more of a mature version of Kenji. "Keith" means "the wind". In what language, I don't know.
"Ennis" means "island" in Gaelic/Celtic, which suites our white tiger quite well. Hey, the grand finale of RK took place on his island, so why not? In most fics that deal with reincarnation, Enishi still hates Kenshin, one way or another. Here, Ennis resents Kevin but deep inside, our white-haired teen cares for the man. Oh, BTW, on his hair color, think Hatsuharu from "Fruits Basket". Black from the ear down and white at the top.