(Lidia-I'm sorry I took so long! I'm sort of grounded at the moment so ya know. It' hard. Lol. But I put up two as an apology so be thankful! Later.)
The Legendary Knight: Big Brother
"I'm sorry, Sasame," Kai apologized as she sat up against the bench.
"Don't be."
"But I should be. Last week, I woke up on Goh's floor. Then under Shin's bed. I think I may have scared him. It's embarrassing." Sasame stared at her for a while, then began laughing. "What's so funny!"
"It's nothing, really," Sasame sighed, letting his laughs die off.
Kai absentmindedly rested her head on Sasame's shoulder. "Why are you so nice? It's a little weird."
"What? Did you not know any other nice people back at home?"
"The nicest person there was my mom and my sister. And even they aren't as freakishly nice as you."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Kai sat up once more with a bright smile on her face. "I want to show you something," Kai said while tugging at his sleeve.
"What is it," he grinned in curiosity.
"Just c'mon."
"I'm not moving until you tell me what it is."
Meanwhile, Mannen and Hajime were tossing the ball Goh got them in the field. Hayate was lying on the grass a few feet away from them.
"I think Shin's having nightmares again."
"What makes you say that?" Mannen asked while throwing the ball back.
"He said there was something breathing under his bed. When I went to look, there was nothing there."
"Sometimes I think Shin's still such a baby." Mannen's boredom grew as he scanned the area in his most dazed expression. Then he noticed Kai trying to pull Sasame off the bench by his arm. Kai pulled too hard and fell back on the floor. Mannen smirked for a while. Then the ball hit him in the face.
"That's not funny," Kai whined. Sasame finally stood to extend a hand. Once she was on her feet, Sasame sighed. "Fine, I'll take a look at it."
"No, no. It's fine. Forget about it."
"Is it that picture of your sister and mother you brought back the other day?"
Kai grabbed him by the ear. "What were you doing in my room?"
"Relax. You just happened to leave the door open and I just happened to see it."
Kai let go of his ear and grabbed him by the arm. "Fine. Then come gardening with me after we find Himeno."
"Do I really have a choice?" Sasame said as he was being pulled along.
"Kai."
Kai halted and turned around to see who called her. "Hey, Hayate."
"I have to talk to you," Hayate said in a stern tone before walking back toward the building. She let go of Sasame and followed close behind as Hayate led her into an empty hall. Once they got there Hayate stared down at her with his ever stern expression.
"Yes?"
"I don't want you hanging around Sasame so often anymore."
Kai paused as if she hadn't heard what he just said. "You don't want me to what?"
"You heard me."
"Since when do you decide what I should and shouldn't do?"
"Ever since you decided to stay here."
"Are you going to give me a reason why?"
"You wouldn't understand."
Kai looked at him like he was crazy. "Is this because you don't want me to or is there something wrong with Sasame?"
"No and no. You wouldn't understand."
Kai became irritated and tried walking away but Hayate stopped her. "What now?"
"You didn't tell him, did you?"
"Tell him what?"
"That I'm your-"
"Brother? No, I didn't. Should I not?"
"Well, it's embarrassing. I don't want everyone to know."
"You don't have to worry about me telling anyone. I wouldn't want people to know that I'm related to someone that finds me embarrassing. After all, you're not my brother, you're my half-brother. Or am I wrong?" Kai pushed passed him and walked back outside before Hayate could open his mouth. Even if he did open his mouth, what would he say? As she walked out, Mannen walked in.
"You sure have a way with words," Mannen grinned.
"How much did you hear?"
"A little."
"How much is a little."
"All of it."
"You eavesdropped on my conversation!"
"For it to be a conversation, it would have had to been a little less one-sided."
"Don't lecture me on how I should talk to my own sis-…" Hayate trailed off.
"What was that? Go ahead. Say it."
"Shut up."
"So that's what that whole Sasame thing was about? You're just looking after you little sister. You know she likes Sasame as more than a friend but Sasame's not going to feel the same way. You don't want her to end up like Takako."
"I said shut up, Mannen."
"I'm right aren't I? You're angry because I'm right."
"I'm not angry."
"Yes you are."
"If anything, I'm angry because you keep saying you're angry."
"…So that means you are." Mannen almost laughed, but now decided to take on a more serious tone. "You should go out there and apologize."
"For what!"
"For what you said."
"I don't see anything wrong with what I said."
"Are you really that much of an idiot. You hurt her feelings. You're practically the only family that hasn't moved out on her. And you forbid her to see Sasame."
"She can still see him. Just not so often."
"She's just going to be with him more."
"Then I'll-"
"You'll what, Hayate. Hit her? I doubt it. Go ahead. Take a peek outside."
Hayate raised a brow at Mannen, but did what was told. Kai was, again, linked to Sasame's arm as they walked away. Mannen peeked around the corner as well. "I was right. Again."
"Mannen-"
"The best you could probably do is tag along. And apologize."
-
"So what did Hayate want?" Sasame asked, full of curiosity.
"Nothing important," she replied coldly. Then she sighed. "I'm bored. Where's Himeno? Is she coming out?"
"She's helping Kei out with something."
"Oh. Can we go back outside? I'm dying here."
"We are outside."
"I mean outside Lefaenia."
"O, sure."
"I hope you don't mind if we tag along." Mannen slapped a friendly hand on Hayate's back. Hayate seemed annoyed.
I told that brat to stay here. I told him it won't seem suspicious if I go alone.
"Sure. The more, the better," Sasame replied.
Kai just stared at the two. I hope they don't think I'm stupid. But then again… "Yeah, sure, we don't mind. At least I won't be so bored." I'll just annoy the hell out of him. Kai grinned to herself. He'll never think about tagging along again. "This is going to be fun."
-
"I'm pretty sure you can walk on your own!" Hayate shouted.
"Aw, but we've been walking all day and I'm tired. Besides, someone as big and strong as you shouldn't mind. I can always ask Sasame to carry me."
Hayate muttered a few curses under his breath, then sighed. "Fine…"
Mannen couldn't stop laughing. "What's up with those two? Does Kai like Hayate?" Sasame whispered to his tearful friend. This certainly is weird. It's just not like him.
"Like Hayate?" Mannen burst out into even more laughter.
"What's going on, Mannen?" Sasame asked in a more stern tone. "Kai's been toying with Hayate all day." Hayate and Kai were a few feet ahead so they couldn't hear Mannen and Sasame's conversation.
Mannen suddenly got nervous and shut his mouth. Jeez! If I say something, Hayate is going to wring my neck. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act dumb, now out with it."
"It's really not my place to say. Ask them." Mannen pointed over to the loud arguing duo.
Sasame walked a little faster to catch up with them. "Hey, you guys. There's a beach coming up. We should take a little rest there before heading back home. It will get dark soon.
Kai smiled widely in agreement. Hayate sat a few long feet away from them on the sand. He was so aggravated he didn't want to be near anyone at the moment. Kai yawned widely and looked up at the sky. "I used to come here a lot when I was a kid. After that…we only came on business trips with my father."
"Your father had a job outside the clan?"
"No."
"Then what kind of business did he come here to do?"
Kai thought a while before she opened her mouth to say something else. "Eh, nothing important."
Sasame looked at her oddly when she hesitated to answer the question but he had a different question to ask. "So, do you mind telling me what's going on? I mean, Hayate doesn't exactly look like he wants to be here so why would he join us?"
"Ask him. Apparently, I'm not supposed to run my mouth without Master Hayate's permission." Kai sighed and looked past Sasame, over to the brute laying on the ground. I don't try to be mean. You just make me SO angry you inconsiderate bas-
"For a second there I thought you liked him," Sasame sighed. "I guess I was crazy for thinking that."
Kai could feel her hair stand on end. "That's disgusting! He's my brother for Christ sakes!"
Sasame's eyes narrowed at Kai as she quickly shut her mouth. "He's, you're brother?"
"Surrogate brother! You know what I meant!" Kai said in a pretend reaction. Damn it.
Sasame, however, wasn't buying it. "O, I think I do know what you meant. So that's why Hayate didn't kill you when you jumped on his back and insulted him the entire way here."
Kai sighed. "Whatever," was all she could manage to say. Before Sasame could open his mouth to ask another question, he was interrupted by the sound of someone calling Kai's name.
"Kaisho Haritanzu!"
Kai was a bit surprised by the sudden shout out. She turned away from the tide to see who it was. Her eyes widened, but soon furrowed in anger. "Yuki Seiko."
"I see you recognize me. Long time no see." The boy seemed pleased by her expression of anger. He mussed his hand through his rich blonde hair and looked at her with eyes like crystals. "I missed you SO much."
"Is this a friend of yours?" Sasame asked. Hayate now had his gaze fixed on the young man.
"I guess you could say that."
"You guess? Now that's no way to talk to me after so many months."
Kai reached down to her side for her sword, then remembered, she stopped carrying it. Damn it! "Go away, Yuki," Kai said before laying back down on the sand. The worst is done. It's not worth it. "He's not important so don't pay the bastard any attention."
Sasame remained alert but pretended to dismiss his presence while Hayate reluctantly followed suit. Yuki walked over to stand beside Kai, who caught sight of his grinning face staring down at her. "We missed you during our last visit. Although I can't say your absence didn't make things easier. Mao wasn't quite as good as you but I managed." Glared at him with, now, even angrier eyes than before. Sasame glanced over toward Kai, then back at Yuki.
"I would appreciate it if you left," Sasame warned the man.
Yuki now acknowledged the other three present. "And who are you?"
"They're friends of mine," Kai replied before Sasame could.
Yuki knelt down beside Kai and now spoke in a low voice. "Now you know I can't leave you here. Now your father made my father a promise. Made me a promise. I know you remember. So say bye to your friends, and come with me."
"You sure talk a lot for a guy traveling by himself. You're still the same. Cocky and stupid."
"Get up," Yuki whispered harshly as he gripped her wrist.
"I suggest you let go of her," Hayate said, his grip increasing in force around the back of Yuki's neck. Yuki was quick to let go. "I don't know who you are, but for now on, when you see her, you pretend like you don't know her. Got it?"
Hayate let go of Yuki as Kai stood. "Well it seems like you've been doing well. You're no good to me deflowered."
"You perv. No I'm not. And I don't like you. What ever promises you made with my father don't concern me. Sasame, Hayate, Mannen, I want to go home."
As they began to walk away, Yuki spoke again. "Maybe I'll see you again then. For a duel. If I win, I get you. If you win, you get my life…"
"Not interested."
"…and your mother."
Kai halted in her tracks. "You liar."
"Now have I ever lied to you?"
Kai thought about it. It was true. No matter how much of a bastard he was, he wasn't a liar. "She died."
"She disappeared. We didn't kill her, yet. She is getting a little old. No fun keeping a hag around. The only thing keeping me from killing her is the idea that you'll be taking her place soon."
Kai made an attempt to run back at Yuki but Mannen enclosed his arms around her. "Leave!" Hayate shouted in a deeply angry tone.
Yuki smirked and began to walk off. At the same time, Kai was being dragged off by Mannen back to Lefaenia.
