The Family

Hiei walked down the stairs and into the hall where Syrin had disappeared earlier. Turning a corner, he was confronted by a monster pile of empty beer cans. Zipping up to the top, he heard a tv coming from the left, and slid down the mountain into a room plastered with football posters, furnished with nothing but Laz-E-Boys, a tv, and fat old men. The man sitting in the center heard him enter the room, and invited him in for a beer. Hiei entered the room further, but did not take the offered beer. The fat old man chuckled, and said,

"Wise choice, boy; you don't want to end up like us sad fuckers." The man downed the beer in one breath, and pulled out a new one. He chuckled again, and Hiei realized why he was so familiar.

The fat, wasted old man was non other then Mysa's father. He also put out no exceptional Spirit Energy. The man spoke again.

"Ah, so you must be the young blood stirring up all the trouble in my house. Well, good for you. My name's Myogen. Akira Myogen. I can see you're not dead, so someone must have vouched for you. Bet it was Mysa. Always getting into hot water with the Family, 'mazing she hasn't been kicked out yet. 'Course, she's also the best cook, so it's all good." Hiei decided not to listen to the old man's drunken raving's anymore, and was at Beer Mountain when Mysa's father said something of interest. "... the last time she vouched for a person, she almost died. Now that was a good fight! We lost Harkio that day, but I always thought he was a bastard anyway, not deserving the Family... you should ask to see her scars, she's got an impressive set..." Myogen fell asleep before saying more. While that annoyed the shit out of Hiei, it also made him think, made him terribly curious, about this vouching stuff. What was it all about? What were these rules? He climbed over Beer Mountain and continued down the hall.

Soon he came to a place with three doors. He opened the one on the left, and through it was a vast corridor of doors, with names inscribed on bronze plates on each door. 'This must be where everyone stays.' Sensing nothing, and not wanting to search for the end of the hall, he turned around and chose another door.

This one led to a giant kitchen, where rows upon rows of fridges, stoves, and counters swam before your eyes as far as you could see. A huge group of people were clustered around the counter, chattering over something and scribbling furiously, but as soon as he entered, all hands stopped what they were doing, and all eyes stared at him, some with open hostility.

Not giving a shit, he sauntered in and looked at what they were drooling over. 'A cookbook?' He vaguely remembered Mysa mentioning it earlier. Every recipe was handwritten, with well detailed sketches of the finished product. And, of course, there were doodled katana's in the borders. Of course. With one last glance around the room, he walked back out again, not saying a word. He didn't trust himself to. One of the dead-eyed killers he had seen earlier had been in there, wearing a pink ruffled apron.

As he closed the door, he heard the room come back to life once more, and regaining his composure, he walked through the third door.

Inside was a large dining room, filled to the brim with people from all walks of life. Poor mingled with rich, and goths even talked with preps.

Not a single hint of Spirit Energy.

But a big hint of embarrassing times ahead. Immediately, as he walked through the door, three individuals swooped down on him, flirting shamelessly, petting him and cooing at him. One was male.

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W.W.- Don't worry, this isn't going to suddenly turn into a shounen ai fic. (Sorry if you wanted it to, but it's not going to happen) But come on! Hiei's so cute! If I was a guy, I would hit on him too!

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A knock sounded on Mysa's door.

"Who's there?" She called, already knowing the answer.

"Boo!"

"Boo who?"

"You don't have to cry, it's just a joke." It was really lame, but Syrin had insisted on a password for Mysa's door so it would open when it heard them say the joke. Mysa didn't know why she insisted, but she did, and for so long that Mysa finally caved.

That's why everything was settled with bets now.

Syrin walked in and plopped down on the bed, the stared at Mysa.

"Why do they do they like him so much? They let him in without a protest."

"Dunno. Maybe they recognized that he was like Tashio."

"Maybe. But it took such a fucking lot to get me in! I still don't think it was worth it, Mysa."

"Hey. You're like a sister. There's shouldn't have been any reason to keep you out. Now there isn't, I got a couple... new experiences... and the gene pool was rescued from reverting back to neanderthals."

"NO! FOUL! EXCESS USE OF BIG WORDS! It's summer vacation. No words bigger then... well, you get the idea. Ten pushups! Now, soldier!" Grimacing, Mysa paid the penalty, then laughed as she stood up.

"No wonder I keep in shape... I always have you around to blow the whistle!" They started laughing for no real reason, just from being friends for so long.

When their laughter quieted down, Mysa turned to Syrin. "Guess what happened to–" She was cut off by Hiei suddenly appearing in the door frame. She hadn't even heard him coming. He started to yell.

"What is wrong with these people! I just walked into the fucking room!" Mysa quirked an eyebrow.

"I assume that means you've met Rashu, Tya, and Jing-Quo. One platinum blonde male, one brunette female, and one black haired female, wearing overly revealing outfits?" Hiei nodded. "Did you kill them?" He shook his head. "Well, that's good." Then she turned her back on him nad continued packing. Hiei caught her wrist and spun her around.

"What is up with this place! What the fuck is wrong with all of you!" Mysa glared at him.

"Let me go." He had not really even realized what he had done, he had been to shocked by the episode downstairs. Letting go of her wrist, he backed away. Mysa began to speak again. "It's quite simple, really. My Family are all addicted to or obsessed over something. I, obviously, have a thing for swords. My older sister is obsessed with money. The three you met are addicted to sex. They're the most extreme cases of the addiction in the Family. The others with the same 'problem' are slightly more discreet. Remember Ray-Ray?" Hiei nodded. "He's obsessed with guns. But that's why there are so many rules, and why the punishments are so harsh, because there are members of the Family with illegal obsessions, like blood or drugs, robberies, you know. We stick with our blood, because one could turn against all, but all could also turn against one. We all even keep our original last name, so we can claim sanctuary here if need be. If the Akira's didn't have their own rules, society wouldn't stand a chance." He said nothing to this, and Mysa continued packing. It remained silent until she finished.

"Syrin, it'd be best if you went to the car with Hiei now. We don't want a repeat of events. I'll be right out, just have to say goodbye." Syrin nodded and went downstairs; Hiei followed, thankfully not putting up a fight. Syrin carried Mysa's bag, and the long pouch that contained all three carefully wrapped katana's. The red one was strapped around Mysa's waist. As Syrin stepped out outside the door, she muttered at Hiei,

"Something about this doesn't feel right. The last time she vouched, she had to fight for the right, as is their custom. I wonder why they let it slide?"

"What's vouching, damn it!"

"No one told you!" She asked, incredulous.

"No..." He muttered. Syrin shrugged.

"Well, you'll have to ask Mysa. It's not my obligation to tell you."

"Baka."

"Shorty."

While they were fighting verbally outside, Mysa was saying her goodbyes to everyone not in the dining room, even her father. He smiled at her and said,

"Seems like a good guy... give 'em hell, make me proud, and honor you mother's memory." She nodded stiffly (her dad had no right to mention her mother) at her dad, gather up her cookbook in the kitchen, then placed all the goodbye gifts given her outside the door to the dining room. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on the knob, turned it, and walked through.

The tables had been moved to the walls, where the spectators sat, silently. Only one person besides Mysa remained standing on the open floor.

Akira Tashio. Her big brother. The guy who taught her all she knew.

Paid assassin.

Mysa stood there, sword sheathed, and awaited the formal challenge.

"Akira Mysa, you stand accused of bringing an outsider here, to the stronghold, in the Family's midst. Do you deny?"

"I do not."

"Are you aware of the laws and punishments surrounding this crime?"

"I am."

"Do you wish to battle for your right?" Mysa barely considered.

"Yes. Under the laws of the Family, I challenge for my right."

"Your challenge is accepted. Your weapon?" She patted her katana.

"My sword, decorated with my own symbol." (That's the character on the pommel, looks a bit like a waterfall, and three gulls, with a tree hanging over the waterfall) "My skill, my honor, my steel. I claim my weapon." Her brother repeated this almost word for word, patting his own sword. It was a serrated battle sword, that could break her katana in half if she wasn't careful.

The formal challenge over, they got down to business, closing the gap between them, though neither drew their sword. They stopped when there was about ten paces between them. You could have heard a feather drop. A slight spark went through the air, as the combatants subtly changed their stances. The audience held their breath.

The battle began.

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After a while Hiei and Syrin stopped fighting. Syrin was too worried about Mysa to concentrate, and Hiei didn't want to fight with an unworthy opponent.

"What's taking her so long? Goodbyes shouldn't be this lengthy." He muttered. Syrin did not respond. She had a fairly good idea about what was going on inside.

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Mysa unsheathed her sword in a burst of speed and rushed her brother. He waited for her, sword still shut. Recognizing his stance, yet unable to stop, Mysa tried to dodge. She almost made it, but her brother moved swiftly, pulling out his blade, spinning and attacking all in one motion, the serrated edge catching her across the shoulders, just missing her neck. However, because she was still moving, it only struck a glancing blow. Hitting the floor face down, she quickly jumped up, katana at the ready. Her brother was just standing there like nothing had happened, blade resheathed, same stance.

This time Mysa circled him warily. He turned with her, never presenting his back. Then he ran at her, silently (It's so stupid to yell out your moves. Damn that annoys me). Ducking, she brought her sword up sharply to strike his arms, but he danced out of harms way. Now the score was even, though. Mysa had struck and drawn blood.

Finally they put the game to rest, and each attacked head on. Blades ringing, the met and parried, performing various arduous moves, with really long names, neither gaining the upper hand. Until Tashio pulled a fake, going for her head, almost hitting it, then striking lightening fast with his foot to bring his sister down. She fell face first, then as Tashio was going to strike the finishing blow, his blade was deflected at the last moment by hers, though she had to twist around painfully to do so. The force of the blow sent her skidding across the room, crashing against a wall, her katana flying out of her hands. The serrated blade still managed to catch the flesh on the back of her left arm, tearing into it, making it bleed profusely, though Mysa refused to cry out, no matter the pain.

Her brother crossed the room to where she lay, propped against the wall slightly. Putting the tip of his blade to her throat, he did not look triumphant, but very sad.

"Yield, sister. Please." Mysa's choices were: yield or die. Either way the whole household would converge on Hiei, and he would be killed. Mysa started her brother full in the face, and stretched out her neck. Her brother was startled. This was not the Mysa he knew. Yes, she would rather die then yield, and he had started this fully prepared to kill his own blood. Still, she should either be still trying to fight him, or daring him to do it. She was doing neither, just staring at him, waiting. This is when Tashio goofed up. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see himself end his sister's life.

Mysa snatched the part of the blade nearest her throat and pushed upward. The pommel smacked into Tashio's chin, and she kicked him in the side with a sweep of her foot. The combination caused him to fall, and Mysa pinned him to the floor, the hilt of his sword in one hand, the other still holding the tip, pressing the edge against her brother's neck. Blood started to trickle from where she was pressing, but she did not let up.

Tashio did not yield when she asked him. Mysa leaned close, looking like she was going to kiss him goodbye, but instead she slammed her head against his. His head hit the wall, knocking him unconscious.

"Brother, you're such a softie, but you're like the rest. You never think outside the box." She got off him and turned to look at the gathered Family. "The battle is over, I'm the only one standing. My brother did not give up his honor. Since his life is now mine, I choose not to end it, but keep it safe. When he wakes up, tell him I said that he has to go out and have some fun, and tell him I love him." This satisfied all the rules that they could think of, so they nodded and let her leave. Gathering up her katana, she hurriedly went out, cleaning off the blood with her shirt.