New Blood
by Saber Alexander McConnell
Rated PG13

CHAPTER 16: Changes

In Irwindale, California, the days crawled by. Nohano was woken up one night by a cry from Killian, and he sat up in his hammock, nearly falling out onto the floor. Killian was balled up on the floor, his arms over his head, whimpering with fear. At once concerned for his friend, Nohano slipped out of the hammock and knelt by Killian, grasping his shoulder and shaking him. It wasn't easy; Killian was curled up so tightly that Nohano barely moved him.

"Killian!' he whispered, shaking him a little more vigorously. "Killian, wake up—it's okay!"

The Australian boy sat so suddenly that the back of his head crashed into Nohano's jaw. His teeth clicked together and he recoiled with a sharp yelp. Gregory muttered something, and Nohano glanced around to see he had wakened the guys with his outburst.

"Everything all right?" Aaron asked, frowning, as Killian stared wildly around, his face wet, shining slightly in the feeble street light from outside the window.

"I-I think so," said Nohano, turning back to Killian and grasping his shoulders. Killian looked absolutely terrified, and Nohano wondered what he could have been dreaming about. "Hey—you all right?"

Killian burst into tears, hunching over as he knelt on the floor, his head in his hands. "I want my parents...I want my mum and dad!"

At first Nohano was shocked at the sudden misery, but realized that Killian had not showed much of any reaction to talking about his country or his family. Nohano wondered how he could keep it all in for so long! It was a wonder he hadn't cracked before this! And then he remembered how Killian had comforted him last night—how could Nohano have been so thoughtless as to assume that Killian was okay? He'd gone through more than Nohano had!

Feeling his own eyes burn, Nohano crouched besides his friend and held him, not too surprised when Killian turned and sobbed into his nightshirt. Nohano had never had parents he was particularly close to. His foster parents were friendly enough, and affectionate, but it was an impartial affection. Even Robert was more a brother than a parent. He didn't know how it felt, afraid that you'd lost your mother and father.

He didn't know what to say, but it turned out he didn't really have to say anything. He just held Killian while he cried. He watched the rest of the guys settle back down in their beds, after giving Killian a sympathetic glance or two, and looked back down to Killian.

The boy's straw-blond hair was hanging in his eyes, and Nohano brushed it back, tucking it behind Killian's ears. He reached over and snagged a corner of his blanket, pulling it down from the hammock, and wrapping it around Killian.

Soon Killian began to quiet, but Nohano still said nothing, not until Killian sniffled and wiped his hand across his eyes. "Gods, I miss them," he whispered, hitching in his chest. Nohano leaned over to grab the box of tissues he kept nearby and plucked one out for Killian.

"I can't imagine how it feels," said Nohano quietly. "I'm-I can't believe I never asked you before if you were, you know, okay. I'm sorry, I can be pretty thoughtless sometimes."

Killian shook his head, blowing his nose, and shifting into a more comfortable sitting position. He didn't leave Nohano's embrace, however. "Don't blame yourself, Nohano," he said. "I didn't even know, I mean I thought I was doing okay. They're dead, Nohano. I think I've known it ever since that last attack. But how can you just accept that? How can you just...believe it? I don't want to! And if I try to convince myself they're alive, and then I find out for sure--"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey—easy. Don't think about it just now, 'Lian." The nickname just sorta popped out. It was easy to use an affectionate nickname when speaking to someone who was hurting so badly. "Try not to think of anything. I'm right here with ya."

Shivering, Killian curled up at Nohano's side. "I was dreaming of the attack," he said. "Not the tsunami. I liked the tsunami."

'Insane,' Nohano thought, but didn't say anything.

"But just...and that's not the first attack. It's been going on so long, I just--"

"Hey." Nohano's voice was far firmer this time, and he pulled Killian away just long enough to give him a "don't argue with me" look. "Not just now, okay?" he said gently. "For now just try and calm down, okay?" He smiled and swept Killian's hair out of his eyes once more, and was rewarded with a weak smile.

"Okay," Killian whispered, returning to Nohano's side.

The Australian boy was quiet then, and Nohano closed his eyes, which were a little damp. He wiped quickly at them, but did not leave Killian's side, even when Killian's breathing began to even out into sleep. Instead he just curled up on the floor nearby and closed his eyes. The adrenaline that had coursed on being so suddenly woken was ebbing, and he was remembering that it was way too early to be awake.

That night seemed to cement their friendship. They'd shared their minds, they'd shared misery and comfort. Nohano didn't think that anyone could do that and not bond, unless one or both of the people involved were devoid of emotion. But then a person devoid of emotion wouldn't have been able to share any of that to begin with.

Killian went with Nohano to Robert's funeral that day, and he was never so grateful. He had seen funerals on television, but never been to one in his life. The casket was open, something he hadn't been prepared for, and it was a shock to see Robert lying there, his eyes closed, as if he were just taking a nap. Killian had to gently tug Nohano to a seat.

Neither boy was wearing a suit or a tie, because neither of them owned one. Robert had been dressed up in one though, which made Nohano clench his fists; he had never seen Robert in a suit, and he doubted Robert would have enjoyed wearing one! It would have been more appropriate to dress him in his No Quarter garb. It was more Robert. But he said nothing, only sat numbly as the rest of the guests arrived.

The ceremony was short. Robert's mother and two older sisters were there, crying silently through the whole funeral, which only made Nohano cry harder. He tried to listen to the nice things the priest was saying, but couldn't seem to focus on them. All he could see was Robert's white face, and all he could hear was him singing in the group.

The guys were there of course, and Gregory wept silently, the others looking as if they were close. Killian didn't cry, but stayed right by Nohano's side the whole time.

Nohano had never met Robert's family, and was not able to face them. He was half afraid they might accuse him, as Gregory did even though they didn't know of his involvement, but the most of it was that he couldn't bear to see their grief. Killian steered Nohano out of the church, where they sat in the van until the rest of the group had come out as well.

The trip home was silent, and no one said much the entire day. Nohano refused to eat anything, no matter how much Killian tried to persuade him. The others guys stayed put, commiserating. Gregory even hugged Nohano, telling him without words that he had forgiven him, and was sorry for hurting him.

The funeral had been awful, but in a way, Nohano was relieved. It no longer hung over him, something that he dreaded. It wasn't as simple as dismissing the whole thing as concluded and getting on with his life, but it had taken a huge burden from him.

The next day, Gregory said that he wanted to keep No Quarter going, and Nohano realized he was very glad. It would be different with Robert not there, but it would be even more wrong to disband the group, and everyone else thought so, too.

Gregory reminded them that although the faire had been canceled, there was the one just outside San Francisco in a week or so. "We've also got a possible semi-permanent gig at the new pirate theme restaurant that's opened in the city itself," he said. "Seasonal," he said. "We'd have to cut our faire times a little short, as the gig would run from September through April, but that still leaves us four months for faires."

"That'd be awesome," said Manny. "That's a permanent job." They often had to take odd jobs during the off months to pay living expenses, but with a permanent gig, that would not be necessary.

"We'd be playing in the hour or so before the actual dinner," said Gregory, "then waiting until some of the other acts have gone through their routine. All in all, we'd play three times during the night. They don't open until September, so we have until then to decide."

"I think it's a good idea," said Nohano. "We all live nearby." He blinked on thinking about living arrangements. He was alone, now; Robert had always roomed with him. He glanced at Killian, realizing he would be his new roommate, but it was a little bit intimidating. As long as he'd been on his own, he'd never actually lived without an adult in the same apartment. 'Well, guess I'd better learn,' he thought.

Gregory nodded. "All right, well, we'll bring it up again come August or so. If we still wanna do it, we'll send word then. In the meantime, we're gonna be heading back to the city." He looked at Nohano and Killian, and sighed quietly. "I dunno anything about where you came from, kid," he said to Killian. "But we're gonna have to get you some citizenship papers if you're gonna stay here. We should be able to get you some refugee status. We can easily enough register ourselves as your sponsors."

Nohano stared at Gregory for a moment, then looked at Killian. He hadn't realized that Killian could actually get into trouble, being here without a passport. He'd known it, but it hadn't crossed his mind. Killian only nodded, though he wasn't entirely happy. Nohano didn't blame him.

"Nohano, I know that you normally roomed with Robert. You gonna be okay getting a place? You know you can stay with us until you get situated."

Nohano blinked, then smiled in appreciation. "Thanks," he said. "I guess me and Killian'll be bunking together, but we should be okay getting a place. But we can stay with you at first. It might take a few days to find a place. It'll be the first time I'm getting a place on my own; it's a pain, trying to prove to the churlish adult population that yes, I'm allowed to rent a place by myself."

Manny protested being called a churl by association, and Aaron pointed out that Manny was a churl. When Manny couldn't deny it, Nohano finally laughed.

"All right. We'll leave in a couple of days then," said Gregory, looking mildly entertained. "Make sure you two have all your things together, and we'll pack up the instruments tomorrow."

'Damn,' Nohano thought. 'We're gonna have to tell the other Ronin.' That presented a problem; most of them hadn't gotten lodging just yet, but Amaya was renting a house. He didn't think it was a great idea for them to all be scattered across the state. They really needed to meet, and soon.