AN:
Yersi Fanel - Thank you very much.
RobinIV - Hehe, yeah, it seemed right for Ittouju to be all chibified too.
mischievious-lil-kitsune - Good thing with the photos, this is a Cloudshipping free zone! Lol.
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"Lights out!"
As soon as the lights were out, Kumo stripped off his nightclothes and pulled on his ordinary clothing again. With a wince he reached for his holster, its bottles clinked together slightly and he winced again; the last thing he wanted was for one of the others to wake and report him to the officials. He slipped from his bed and fastened the holster at his hip; it was then that he became aware of them.
A small light sat on the table, Ame sitting one side of it, with Arashi at the other side, between the two there was a card game being played. "Your going to see your big brother, aren't you?" Ame accused, tossing a card on the pile that Arashi claimed, adding them to his hand.
"No," Kumo lied defensively, distressed by the fact that he would not get out now without the pair knowing.
Sapphire eyes drifted to his face, "You can buy my silence, whitey locks," Arashi said, his good eye going back to his hand once more. "You just have to take Ame and me with you," Kumo's eyes widened, was it possible that the boy who had picked on him so much was trying to connect with him? "You know Ame wants to be a swordswoman more then anything and this'll surprise you to high hell but I was in training once too." Grudgingly, Kumo allowed the pair to follow him, worried as to what Kiri would say about it.
"What are they doing here!" Kiri snapped when they appeared, Kumo explained what had happened, drawing Kiri's eyes to Arashi. "You've got some nerve, boy." He sneered before it developed into a slight smile. He passed the training sword to Kumo, still looking at Arashi. "And maybe we'll see what your girlfriend can do too?"
Ame and Arashi shared a look, "Yuck!" Ame deactivating her mask in order to stick out her tongue, "You have to be joking, Arashi's too busy being bitter and surly."
"You two won't be here much longer will you?"
Kumo started to work through his basic sword Kata, sword moving quickly through the strokes and techniques that he needed. "I've got about half a year," Arashi said, leaning against a nearby wall with his eyes closed. "Ame's still only eleven. The big wigs are already trying to fine me a job, because I'm 'damaged'."
Flicking the Maken, Kiri moved to spar his brother, "I can see that," He said, "And I don't mean your leg." Kiri's sword connected with Kumo's and the younger brother leapt back, drawing the sword into position. "If you have to pick on a nine year old who's just lost his parents then you have to be pretty screwed up."
"Kiri,"
"No Kumo, don't try and defend him, no one has the right to pick on you!"
"He's lost his parents too and he doesn't have a big brother to watch over him."
Kiri stopped, looking his brother dead in the eyes, "That shouldn't matter." He muttered, turning his gaze on Arashi who had since opened his eyes. "He's a kid, someone who everyone expects to go into a small room in less then three months and pick up a sword that will be linked to his soul for the rest of his life." His voice broke as he grew more emotional, "He doesn't need you getting on his case!"
Unable to see his big brother getting so upset, Kumo dropped his sword and ran to hug him; Kiri, who would usually ignore these outbursts on his brother's behalf, hugged him back. "It's okay, brother," Kumo insisted, biting back tears. "I'll be okay, I can choose my sword. I'm not angry with Arashi, people have always picked on me and I'm alright with that too because I've always got you to go home to."
Arashi pushed away from the wall, "He's just the easiest target," He growled, throat tightened by the display of brotherly love he had never experienced. "All the others have been here for long enough to retort and let's face it I'm easy prey if I'm not being the biggest bully."
The as so far silent Ame moved forwards a few paces, "But your not," She interjected, "Arashi, when you show people the real you they can see your not a bully." She looked towards Kiri, her turquoise eyes were filled with anger. "Your brother might be nine, but Arashi's been here since he was five and a half, just like I have. At night, Kumo can remember his family but we haven't got that, we can try but the memories are dying."
"That's enough Ame," Arashi instructed, he crossed to her side, "We can try and explain forever but the grief they feel is too near." Grudgingly, she nodded her head. Kumo released Kiri and moved towards Arashi, looking up at him.
"This place has ruined your soul,"
"Yeah, I think so, it ruins us all given time Kumo, so get out of here."
Crossing to stand close to Kumo, Kiri looked Arashi in the eyes, "I think I misjudged you," He admitted, holding out a clenched fist, a Misterian sign for friendship and teamwork. "I'm sorry; I'm not like Kumo when it comes to temperament." Arashi's knuckles touched his, Kiri looked towards Ame and Kumo, taking the unspoken hint Kumo's hand joined theirs and Ame's soon followed it. "You two should be sure to keep in touch."
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Arashi and Ame had kept in contact with the two brothers, closer contact then Kiri had expected between Kumo and Arashi. Smiling at the memory of their first real contact, Kumo's memory leapt to another event that he would always hold in his heart.
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To be continued.