Title: Cliché
Series: "Samurai Deeper Kyo"
Disclaimer: Akimine Kamijyo owns.
Warnings: N/A.
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Hotaru, Anthony. Anri, Yuan.
Rating: PG

Sometimes, Anthony was jealous of Shinrei. Despite both of the half-siblings always on each others nerves, Shinrei was probably the only person that Keikoku would risk his life for. They claimed to hate each other but they were brothers and had a fierce bond that forced Keikoku to interfere with Shinrei's losing battle against Fubuki.

Keikoku claimed to not understand the concept of family, but he showed what family did when he protected his brother. And maybe he did not understand, maybe he only acted on an impulse, or an instinct that said, my brother is in danger, I have to protect him!

Anthony thought that Keikoku hadn't considered he and his brothers or sisters family. He finally realized that, yes, he did one day.

It was a clichéd ordinary day. Anthony had taken a break from teaching the Mibu children how to read and write to visit his older brothers in the construction of several homes. He approached them, waving in greeting. "Yo," he said.

"Hey," Anri greeted, ducking when Yuan turned, a support beam on his shoulder that had nearly taken his head off three times so far. "Nap time for the kiddies?"

Yuan smirked. "Nap time for sensei?" He teased, taking in his brother's tired posture.

"Aa. Maybe a bit of both?" Anthony shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck where his hair tickled his skin. "Seen Keikoku around anywhere?"

"Yea, he was talking to Akari-nee-chan," Yuan said.

The pink haired cross dresser from the Shiseiten? With the steamed bun breasts? "Oh," was all he said.

However, he heard a familiar voice say, "No, I'm right here." Turning, Anthony blinked in surprise at Keikoku.

"Oh, there you are," he said. "What's up?" Both he and Anri ducked when Yuan turned once again to get back to work.

Keikoku blinked. "I put a caterpillar on Erian to see if he'd jump like Akira did. He thought it was cute..."

Eye brows raised, Anthony nodded slowly. "Okay..." He wouldn't put it past him. Shrugging carelessly, Anthony turned and began to walk off, waving to his brothers and Keikoku over his shoulder. "Gotta get back. Talk to ya later."

Another cliché. It happened so fast that even he couldn't do anything. The rope supporting scaffold above him snapped. He vaguely heard Anri shout a warning, Yuan drop the support bean. He looked up, startled to see heavy wood begin to descend. He tried to move, honestly he did, but his legs seemed to ignore him.

He was aware of a hard body slam into his, knocking him out of the way. Anthony hit the ground hard, skidding to a halt by a newly built house. He blinked several times to clear the dust and shock. "Huh?"

"Idiot," he heard Keikoku's muffled mutter. Anthony blinked and looked down. Keikoku's arms were wrapped around his waist, face buried in his stomach. Keikoku pushed off, glaring at him. "Pay attention!"

"Follow your own advice!" Yuan said above them, looking them over for wounds before he uttered a swear.

Anthony was fine, but Keikoku had a piece of wood pierce his calf. It wasn't deep, but it was long and bled freely. Keikoku glared at it, fishing through his pockets for a rag he carried around. He mopped at the blood that ran down his leg before pressing down hard on the wound, stemming the flow of blood. "Ow," was all he said, rather belatedly.

"Why'd you push me out of the way?" Anthony found himself saying. "We both could have been killed."

Keikoku shrugged carelessly. "We're 'family,' aren't we?"

Anthony blinked several times. Even Yuan seemed taken aback before his grin returned, with a noticeable softness. "Got that right. You okay, Keikoku? Didn't hit your head in the process?"

"I hit Anthony's ribs, I think..."

Anri snorted. "They're fine. Anthony's ribs learned to be tough, and Keikoku's head's hard, right?"

Yuan nodded. "Yea, they're okay. Let's get back to work. Keikoku, make sure you get that cleaned—I don't want Akari-nee-chan hitting me 'cause you died of infection." With that, the older brothers returned to work.

Again, Anthony blinked, standing. He offered his hand to Keikoku, who took it with his clean hand. "Thanks, Keikoku," he said.

Keikoku nodded, a small smile twitching at his lips. "Aa."

I wonder how many people are confused by the random changing of Hotaru's name. His original name is Keikoku and I use that before he met Kyo and them. The exception to this, however, is when Yuan&family calls him Keikoku. Reason being, they met him as Keikoku and can't seem to break the habit. Hotaru's referred to Keikoku in this chapter because it centers Anthony... Hope that makes sense.