Genrou watched from the porch as Kai carried two buckets of water from the well, one in each hand and hurried up to the back of the fortress where the kitchen was. He couldn't help but be a little impressed by the boy, who hadn't even been able to carry one bucket when he first arrived. He could still remember shaking his head when he saw Kai slop an entire bucket down his front when he was trying to make it up the slight hill but now the boy was getting stronger.

Still kinda scrawny-lookin,' Genrou thought. He was beginning to think Kai really had stopped growing, which would mean he hadn't been lying about being twenty. He was fascinated by him in many ways; his slight build, his petulant nature, even the way he talked. His words weren't the rough ones of a mountain bandit, and he remembered Kai saying that he had gone to school. Maybe a merchant's kid or somethin.' Wonder where he came from?

"What's up?" Kouji stepped out onto the porch. He looked at where Genrou's eyes were trained and saw Kai heading down for more water. "Hope he thought to start boiling the water for laundry before he went back down this time."

"Probably not," Genrou said. "Kid's a scatterbrain. He oughta write stuff on his arm. At least he's gettin' better about some stuff." He sighed. "Some stuff he's still an idiot about, though. He's still tryin' to get on that horse."

"They're all too big for him," Kouji said in agreement. "Maybe we better have Nami show him how to drive the wagon before he falls off and breaks his neck."

"Maybe," Genrou said. "The last thing I wanna deal with is burying a kid out back. But I dunno. I saw him use the salt block to get up on the horse last time. He'd probably get excited about learnin' to drive the wagon, though." He chuckled. "One thing ya gotta say for the kid is that he's always excited about stuff."

"That'll stop soon enough. He's only been here a couple of months. You were the same way. Lookin' around at everything like you were a country hick in the big city." He smirked at his best friend. "You were the biggest pain in the ass I've ever known."

"Comin' from you, that's a compliment," Genrou said with a grin. They turned away from the window and he leaned on the wall, looking at Kouji. "Gonna be another long one today, huh?"

"Yeah. And hot." Kouji laughed. "Hey, remember when you used to wear that black coat all the time? I thought you were gonna pass out when summer really got goin' around here. Where did you even get that thing?"

"I dunno. It was in our stuff, or it musta been. How do ya remember stuff like that from way back then anyway?" The picture in his room flashed briefly in Genrou's mind. He supposed that Kouji wasn't the only one that could remember things from that far back in the past. Not a day went by that he didn't think about the other Suzaku Shichiseishi, even if it was only for a moment when he glanced down at his arm. Rather than let these thoughts continue so early in the day, Genrou looked back outside. Kai was following Nami out toward the gates, his sword across his back.

"How could I forget? You were the only one around here that dressed that flashy. You still do, as a matter of fact. I mean, those earrings." Kouji reached over and flicked one of the aforementioned earrings and Genrou gave him a haughty look that was completely out of place on his face.

"You're just pissed they wouldn't look this good on someone like you."

"What do you mean 'someone like me,' you little bastard?" Kouji took a swing at Genrou, who ducked, laughing. "I don't care how big you've gotten, you're still that brat who couldn't keep his mouth shut! I'll take you anytime!"

"Sorry, Senpai, you're still too slow!"

000

By the time they'd finished tussling and straightened their clothes, the fortress was all but abandoned with the exception of the guards stationed by the gates. Still inseparable after so many years, Genrou and Kouji went out into the mountains to see how everyone was getting along. It had been Genrou's idea, mostly so he could see how Kai was measuring up after being in his new post for a couple of weeks.

As he'd expected, Nami wasn't thrilled with his new partner. Putting aside the fact that he already had to share his room with Kai, he was one of the best swordsmen among the bandits and often manned the posts around the fortress. Being put down on the road was something of a demotion for him and he'd had no problems letting Genrou know how he felt.

"All right! Let's hurry up and check on everyone so we can get down to some real work!" Even though he was the leader, Genrou still liked to work down on the road or on the paths of the mountain. Kouji hadn't been kidding when he said that Genrou was like a kid who never grew up and this was one of the things that made him so popular with the other bandits.

"Let me guess, you want to go check on Kai and Nami."

"Sure, why not," Genrou said with a shrug. "Might as well see how the kid is holdin' up." He frowned slightly. "What made ya say that?"

"Nothin.'"

Genrou tried to get a straight answer out of Kouji most of the way down the mountain, but if there was one thing the older of the two men was good at it was keeping his mouth shut. As always, it drove Genrou up the wall and he was about to resort to threats when his next step sent an unpleasant feeling through his body. He stopped short on the path and Kouji almost ran into him.

"What's wrong?"

"Somethin' ain't right," Genrou said, almost under his breath.

An unsettling feeling hung around the base of the mountain and Genrou looked carefully around before he stepped onto the path. Kouji had felt it too, he could tell by the look on his face. Kouji took out his sword while Genrou put his hand around the handle of his tessen. He pulled it cautiously from his belt and held it in front of himself. There were no obvious enemies about but it didn't mean there wasn't anyone hiding. With a flick of his wrist he unfolded the iron pleats of the fan, ready to shout the incantation as soon as an enemy appeared. The two of them split up and went in opposite directions to check more effectively but before too long they met up again.

"Ya see anyone that way?"

"Nope. They could still be hiding around here, though. Gotta keep our guard up," Kouji said, and Genrou nodded his agreement. He put the tessen back on his belt for the moment and they returned to the path. "You think anyone else noticed anything?"

"We can always ask around. C'mon, those guys should be up here." The possibility of someone who shouldn't be in the mountain lurking around made him all the more anxious to check on Kai and Nami. The boy still wasn't good enough with his sword to hold his own in a fight and Genrou was starting to regret not giving him that knife. He quickened his step and Kouji followed as always.

At first they didn't see anyone on the road in the usual place and Genrou fought the urge to pull out his tessen again. Kouji shook his head. "Maybe they're just up a little bit. It wouldn't be weird for them to move around." They continued down the road until they heard familiar voices.

"So come on, tell me. Where are you from?" This voice was Kai's, and it sounded as energetic as ever in spite of the full load of chores he had done before coming down to the road. Genrou smiled with relief at the sound before he realized he was doing it, and the weary reply that came only made it better.

"Do you ever shut up?"

"I will if you tell me where you're from." When he came around the corner, Genrou saw Kai half-sitting on a rock by the side of the road and Nami looking as if he wanted to strangle the boy. "Come on, I told you-" At the movement he caught from the corner of his eye, Kai saw Genrou and Kouji come up and scrambled off the rock to stand up straight. "Kashira! Kouji Aniki!"

"How's it goin' over here?" Nami gave Genrou a telling look and he grinned. "So everything's goin' good, I guess. You gettin' many travelers?"

"A couple," Nami said. "We're keepin' an eye out for a couple of guys that were bragging in the restaurant about how they bought up debt on some houses and are squeezing the owners for the money. They should be here soon."

"Good job. How'd ya find out so quick?"

"I sent this one to check in with the guys down there," Nami said, jerking his thumb at Kai. "Came back with the info before I even had a chance to really enjoy the silence."

"Told you I was fast," Kai said, grinning brightly. "If you want someone to deliver messages for you, I'm your man!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Genrou said. He looked at Nami. "Ya got everything handled over here?" The larger man nodded. "Good. I'm countin' on ya to keep this one in line." The look on Nami's face was one of a man who was at his wits' end and Genrou shrugged. "At least keep from killin' him."

"I should get a raise for this," Nami muttered. "I didn't sign up to be a babysitter."

"You're takin' one for the team," Kouji said, patting him on the back as best he could. He turned to Genrou with a smile. "Just think, if it wasn't for Nami-"

"Kashira!" Suddenly Kai leapt forward and with a burst of strength that surprised everyone around him, shoved Genrou off the grassy patch and into the road. At first, Genrou didn't know exactly what had happened and he turned to snap at Kai, stopping short when he saw the boy clutching his arm. The right sleeve of his tunic was red with blood that was spreading rapidly from beneath his fingers. He looked around to see what could have caused the injury and saw an arrow's shaft sticking out of the tree just behind where he had been standing.

"Who the hell shot that?"

"Probably guys from Mt. Kaou," Kouji said, taking out his sword again. "We'll go check it out. Maybe we can chase them down to where Goh and Yuzu are and take them out that way." He looked at Kai, who was still holding his arm. "Unless you want me to stay with the kid."

"Nah, I've got him." Kouji and and Nami nodded together, then hurried down the road with their swords at the ready. Genrou turned back to Kai, who was still holding his arm. It hung limply by his side while his left hand clutched it tightly. Drops of blood had fallen into the grass and they were quickly turning dark and sticky as they stained the leaves. Little rivulets of blood ran down Kai's arm and dripped from his index finger. The hand he had pressed against the wound was shaking slightly and his lips were pressed tightly together. "You okay?" Kai nodded stiffly. The place where the arrow had sliced into his arm was burning and Genrou hoped there hadn't been poison on the tip but he wasn't about to give voice to this concern for fear it might make it real. "Lemme see it."

Reluctantly, Kai moved his hand and Genrou pulled aside the fabric to see a clean, deep slice in the boy's upper arm. It didn't seem to want to stop bleeding and without a moment's hesitation, Genrou unwound a long strip of cloth from around his forearm and used it to bind the wound tightly. The sleeve of his shirt was pushed up and Kai saw that there was something on his arm, something red, and for a moment he was worried that he hadn't been quick enough, that Genrou had been injured too.

"Are you all right?"

"Huh?" Genrou frowned at him. "What're ya talkin' about? You're the one who's hurt." His sleeve fell back down his arm and covered the mark. Genrou tied the ends of the bandage together. "Sorry if it's tight, I'm tryin' to keep it from bleedin' any more than it is. Hurt much?"

"Not really," lied Kai. In addition to feeling like he'd been seared with a hot iron, the wound stung like he'd run his arm through a bush of nettles and he suddenly wondered how he would be able to tell if there had been poison on the tip. Genrou gave the boy a close look.

"Ya don't feel dizzy or nothin', do ya?"

"No," Kai said. "At least I don't think I do."

"Good. Then you probably ain't poisoned." He sighed and looked in the direction Kouji and the others had gone, then nodded toward the fortress. "C'mon. Ya need to get back. I'll come with ya just in case there're others out here."

"Are you sure? Shouldn't you go with the others? I can get back up on my own." Kai definitely wouldn't mind being escorted back up the mountain by the leader but he also didn't want to get on Genrou's nerves.

"You're gonna be useless in a fight with your good arm hurt," Genrou said, motioning for Kai to follow him. "Keep an eye out, though. They're pretty sharp if ya can see an arrow comin' like that."

"I didn't exactly," Kai said, hurrying to match his pace. "I felt it more than anything, like you said. Then I saw something glint and I didn't want you to get hurt." He realized how this sounded after he'd said it and blushed a little. "I mean, it came right at you. Someone was shooting at you."

"It ain't the first time someone's tried to kill me," Genrou said. "Probably won't be the last either." He turned to look at Kai, who face betrayed the alarm he felt. "Don't worry," Genrou said. "I'm gonna be stickin' around a long time yet."

"I hope so," said Kai, his mouth moving again before he could stop it. "I-I mean you're a really great leader. We'd be in trouble if we lost you."

"Thanks," Genrou said with a smile, leading Kai back up the mountain and into the fortress. As if he was afraid that someone might be waiting in the shadows to attack Kai, he walked the boy straight to his room and stood outside the door. "Get yourself cleaned up," Genrou said. "When everybody gets back I'm gonna have someone else take care of dinner tonight. I don't want ya tryin' to carry those plates with that arm."

"Thank you," Kai replied, reaching over to touch his throbbing arm instinctively. "I think I could do it though. I just wouldn't be as fast as usual."

"Nah, don't worry about it. We got stuff done before ya got here, we can do it again." Genrou turned to go, then stopped and looked around. "Hey, Kai?"

"Yeah?" Surprised by the fact that Genrou had used his name instead of just calling him 'kid,' Kai looked up at him and he gave him a smile that sent warmth through Kai's entire being. It was different from his usual grin.

"Thanks for shovin' me outta the way. I owe ya one." He thought about this for a second, then shook his head. "Nah, I owe ya way more than that. Anything ya need, it's yours. Just don't ask me to let ya outta chores for more than a couple of days. Don't want anybody thinkin' you're gettin' special treatment around here."

"No. Of course not. But thank you," Kai said. "I'll be ready to do chores first thing in the morning, though."

"Nope. You're gonna rest it and there's no point in arguin' with me. I'll make Nami lock you in your room if I hafta." Genrou nodded toward the aforementioned room. "Go take care of your arm. I'm gonna go back down and see if they caught anybody."

"Right," Kai said, still cradling his injured arm with his left hand. "Thank you, Kashira."

"Ain't that supposed to be my line?" Kai opened his mouth to reply and Genrou made a shooing motion in his direction. "Go on. Some of the guys'll be back soon so ya won't be here alone too long." Before Kai could tell him that he didn't need any of the other guys around to feel safe, the leader had turned and was walking down the hall to the entrance doors.

When he was gone, Kai pushed open the door to his room and went inside. He lit the lantern with one hand and some difficulty, then sighed. This was definitely not how he had planned his day to go, especially when he had thought things were going so well.

"Ugh," Kai said with a look down at his arm. The makeshift bandage Genrou had tied around his arm was stiff with dried blood and he carefully untied and unwound it so he could take off his shirt to tend to the wound properly. My shirt's definitely ruined, he thought with a sigh. He was busy thinking about how much he had liked that shirt and wondering if he should start rummaging through the storage room for another or just wear his old shirt and didn't hear the door opening behind him just as he took off the bloody shirt.

In spite of the constant air of exasperation he projected at the much smaller bandit in training, Nami couldn't help worrying about him a little when he was injured. They hadn't found whoever had shot the arrow and with Genrou returning to help search, he didn't think he'd be missed if he went back to the fortress. He'd figured that Kai went straight to their room to clean up and he wanted to make sure the kid didn't need any help, since it looked like he'd been hit in his good arm. Their door wasn't locked and he pushed it open, half-expecting his roommate to be bleeding all over his bed and practically asking to be lectured.

What he hadn't expected to see as Kai turned to him was breasts.