Title: & Bunny – chapter eight
Author/Artist: Cheza-chan
Pairing/Characters: Kaburagi Kotetsu/Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Rating: PG-15 (overall R)
Genre: Alternate Timeline; science-fiction; superheroes.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, and I definitely don't own the sponsors that they wear.
Summary/Notes:Taking Ben's advice, Kotetsu decides to separate himself from Hero TV and the Heroes of Sternbild (deviated from the original storyline after ep. 16).


Kotetsu was a nervous wreck—had been for two days, awaiting the inevitable phone call from Barnaby, but it never came. He couldn't call himself. Every time he picked up his phone, he chickened out and found something else to do. Kaede would have been proud of him, for he'd ended up cleaning his house just to avoid talking with the King of Heroes.

Barnaby was the center of attention for those two days. Agnes gave him an earful over ruining her show and probably causing the ratings to drop. "And after everything skyrocketed uphill after the Jake incident!"

The following day was spent interrogating the rest of Sternbild's Heroes. Blue Rose was reserved when she told him she'd had no idea that Kotetsu had quit his job as a Hero, but Barnaby could tell she was battling her emotions internally. Did he look the same way she did? He shook his head and moved on. His day ended with several accounts of "no, we didn't know either", and a missing Rock Bison. Tomorrow, he would tackle the suits.


"We didn't want you to lose focus on your own duties. I tried to talk him out of it!" Lloyds cried, hands flat on the desk as he shouted his side of the story. "But the board... Everyone decided it would be best to let him go. They didn't want…" Barnaby's eyes narrowed behind his glasses, sending the middle man into another fit. "Barnaby-kun, please forgive me! Kotetsu-san was as valuable to us as he was to you. The CEO was planning to make… some sort of announcement, but had never specified a date!" Lloyds' hands waved around in an uncoordinated fashion.

"And no one thought that I didn't need to know I would no longer have a partner?" Barnaby finally spoke, his voice clipped, laced with anger.

"Kotetsu-san... promised to tell you. He said he would."

The blond's green eyes widened. Lloyds noticed and took a reluctant seat, hands clasped together atop the table to stop their trembling. "He didn't?"

"Don't try and blame Kotetsu-san for your misgivings. You, too, could have informed me. You were practically kissing his feet to keep him here."

"I already told you I didn't want him to leave."

Barnaby scoffed softly, turning on his heels. He refrained from slamming the door on his way out. As he strode purposely down the long hallway, Barnaby pulled his phone from his pocket, bringing up Kotetsu's name.

x x x

Kotetsu pushed his toothbrush to the left side of his mouth, sitting up in the tub to see the cause of his vibrating phone. He almost choked after reading the name. After having ample time to mentally prepare himself, he still wasn't ready. He dried his hand on the nearby towel, picking up the phone. "Bunny! How are you?"

Barnaby stood with his shoulder against the wall, bangs casting a shadow over his eyes. "I'm just checking up on you. Kotetsu-san."

Kotetsu looked down at the sudsy water he soaked in, glad that he couldn't see his own pitiful expression. "You can just say you miss me, Bunny. I'll be there in no time to keep you company."

"Stop lying," Barnaby whispered into the phone, his shoulders, trembling, hunched up to his ears.

"Eh? Did you say something, Bunny?"

"Stop calling me 'Bunny' and stop lying to me!"

Kotetsu removed the toothbrush from his mouth, sitting up straight in the tub. "Bunny—"

"Unless you're going to apologize, Kotetsu-san, this conversation is going to end."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't believe you." Barnaby snapped his phone shut, crushing it in his hand. It didn't quite shatter, but the screen now had a jagged crack running through it. None of it mattered. He pushed away from the wall, his steps heavy as he resumed walking.

x

Kotetsu held his phone between his forefinger and thumb, arms dangling over the side of the tub. 'Bunny... I really am sorry.' He placed it back onto his previous perch and decided it was time to finish up in the bathroom.

X x X x X

Barnaby refused to see anyone, but the secretary insisted that his visitor refused to go away. With a sigh, he stood from chair, making his way around the woman to the door. He pushed himself into the corner of the elevator, unknowingly sulking as it took him to the lobby. He'd stayed up all night, unable to sleep, unable to wrap his mind around Kotetsu's constant betrayal. He didn't want to find out if there would be a third time and decided that severing ties would be best. 'He did it first,' he told himself, pushing away from the corner of the elevator.

Barnaby strolled across the floor, eyes scanning the lobby to see if he could spot who was here to see him. His gaze swept over the odd pair once, but was drawn back immediately. The young, chestnut-haired girl was the one here to see him. Kaburagi Kaede; Kotetsu's daughter. A security guard stood beside her as a temporary guardian, until he reached them. The uniformed man bowed with a slight tip of his hat, straightening up to walk away. Barnaby stared down at the child that practically glared up at him.

"Barnaby," she huffed

"Kaede," he stated.

"Please listen to me. My dad is an idiot."

Barnaby's eyes widened in surprise.

"There's no denying this fact," Kaede continued in a sigh, lowering her head, shoulder-length hair falling forward to hide her right profile. "But he really wants to talk with you. We've yelled at him enough, and he's realized his mistake."

"He sent you in his place?" Barnaby's eyes narrowed and he was now ready to walk away; that wouldn't have been nice, though.

Kaede's head snapped up, the glare returning, "It's not what you think. I came here on my own. Please talk with him."

"I have no desire to do so because he didn't believe it was necessary to tell me that he quit his job. And since you're here, talking with me, I'm sure you know what his job is."

Kaede chewed her bottom lip, reigning in her emotions. She released it, letting out her voice, "You're both idiots! I'm ten and that was the most childish answer I've ever heard. I don't care if you talk with him or not. I'm a Wild Tiger fan now!" With a smirk, Kaede turned on her heel. She never expected to run into a brick wall, or something similar to it. She reached upward, tightly gripping the hand that grabbed hers.

A bright smile was directed at her from a blond-haired, blue-eyed man. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," she murmured, hypnotized by the sapphire eyes. Kaede was pulled from her reverie when the stranger's expression turned to one of confusion. She also became aware of the fact that she no longer had to look up at him. Glancing down, the young girl found that her feet were no longer touching the floor. "Wha—" Her head snapped up.

No one was expecting what happened next, and employees and visitors alike of Apollon Media were scattering throughout the lobby. Body outlined in blue, Kaede found herself propelled around the spacious area by the strong gusts of winds that were coming from her. Fear had taken over her rationality, and she lost control over an ability that wasn't hers. Barnaby reacted first, as he was the only person that could; Sky High was out of uniform. He caught the yelling young girl, guiding her and letting her push them towards the elevator. Activating his powers, his feet touched the metal doors. They bowed under their combined powers, but he focused on keeping them from completely buckling. The wind stopped almost immediately and the blond flipped down to the floor. Kaede clung to his arms, body still alight and trembling very much.

"Calm down," Barnaby instructed, his voice soothing in the chaotic moment.

Kaede was turned around and immediately buried her face in his jacket. "What's…?" She took a shuddering breath. "Call my dad, please…"

"Aa," Barnaby sighed. Given the turn of events, it was inevitable.

X x X x X

His phone began ringing and Kotetsu snatched it up off the table, not even bothering to check the contact name. "Bunny?!"

"No!" Anju sounded just as frantic as he did.

"Kaa-chan…"

"Kotetsu. Please… Please tell me Kaede is with you."

Kotetsu felt his stomach twist, bile threatening to rise into his throat. He swallowed, his tongue suddenly dry. "I saw her off at the station two days ago. Kaa-chan… Please don't…" Tears burned the corners of his eyes; he had no shame in letting them fall, especially if his world had just been ripped out from beneath him.

"She never came home," Anju stated softly.

The phone fell to the floor, its travel distance short as he had been sitting on his sofa, and Kotetsu bowed forward, burying his face in his hands. His shoulders shook as he sobbed, the wretched sound muffled. He no longer heard his mother's voice calling out to him and the line eventually went dead when he gave no response. The screen darkened, as did Kotetsu's heart.

It had been her wish for him to do his job, and so he'd left Tomoe to be a Hero. A useless title—he couldn't even save his own daughter. Kotetsu moved his hands away from his face, fisting them over his ears in a desperate attempt to stop the taunting voices. His phone rang at his feet, but he didn't hear it. It was the "cute bunny" taking up most of the screen that drew him back to a reality even harsher than his own thoughts. "Bunny…" Was he calling to inform him that they'd found Kaede's body?

Kotetsu reached down hesitantly, not ready for the news yet, and picked up his phone with shaky fingers. He swiped his thumb across the screen, accepting the call, and lifted the phone to his ear. "Yes?"

"Your daughter's at the Tower."

Kotetsu's eyes widened. "Is she…?"

"She's fine. A little shaken up, but… It's better if you come over here."

"Bunny…"

"I'll see you when you get here."

With a breathless laugh, Kotetsu pocketed his cell phone, and jumped up from the couch. On the way to the Justice Tower, Antonio called, per Anju's request to check up on him. Shouting passed as a conversation, Kotetsu all the while speeding through the city. He barely remembered half of the drive, just that he made it, and would be seeing his daughter.

x x x

Kaede stuck herself in the corner of the sofa, Barnaby watching her from the right, Keith from the left. No one else had been contacted, and Karina was still in school. Kaede paid them no mind.

The doors whooshed open and a red-eyed Kotetsu ran in. "Kaede!"

"Otou-san!" Kaede dared not move.

Kotetsu hurried forward to reach his daughter. "What happened?" Hand to her shoulder, he glanced over his shoulder, looking between the two Heroes. "What's... going on?"

"For a while, she appeared to have acquired my abilities," Keith spoke up.

Kotetsu looked down at the quiet girl. "You have more than one?"

"I don't know!" she yelled, ducking her head, hiding her face in her raised knees. "I don't know what I can do from what I can't!"

Kotetsu smiled sympathetically, placing his other hand to her shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. Let's go home."

With a weak nod, Kaede unwrapped her arms from around her legs, lowering her feet to the floor. She didn't take his hand, but pressed against his side, warily eyeing the smiling blond.

"He's harmless," Kotetsu told her, placing a hand to her back to guide her forward. Kaede's gaze swept across the room and fell upon a sulking figure. She glanced up at her father and found that he, too, was looking in Barnaby's direction. She rolled her eyes and nudged him before stepping away. "Go talk to him. Please. He looks…" She didn't want to say "pathetic", but there was no other word that came to mind.

"Kaede—"

Kaede was already heading back to the couch to sit and wait. Keith took a chance and sat beside the young girl. Kaede inched away, but still acknowledged his presence. "You're… Sky High?"

Keith smiled widely, "Yes."

"Barnaby took your title. Were you upset?"

The brightness of the blond's smile waned a little. "At first, I was. But then two amazing people reminded me… about me." He laughed softly.

Kaede found herself smiling at the sound. "Otou-san had that title once. You don't need a title to be a good Hero." She looked at her father, her smile widening.

Kotetsu sighed. Bested, as always. Inhaling deeply, he released his breath in a long sigh and moved towards the other side of the room. Barnaby glanced over his shoulder, turning around to give the other man his full attention. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Bunny..." Kotetsu curled his fingers into a fist.

"My name is Barnaby. I'm tired of telling you this. I've already listened to what you had to say and you've already told me your lies."

"I didn't mean to lie to you, Bunny!"

Barnaby's eyes narrowed behind his frameless glasses. "It's Barnaby! I don't want to call security to escort you out, old man. You're no longer a member of Apollon Media, and you're definitely not a Hero. This is a restricted area." Barnaby wouldn't be swayed by the hurt look reflected on the man's face. "I overlooked the infraction because of the earlier situation, but now…" His rant was put on hold when his phone rang. Turning his back, he answered it.

Kotetsu listened to the bits and pieces of the one-sided conversation, but Barnaby's answers were too vague for him to put together anything.

The red mobile device—a new one, since he'd all but destroyed his first phone—was closed and slowly slipped back into the pocket of the gray pants Barnaby wore. Even after the show he'd just put on, he relayed the news to Kotetsu, his subconscious reminding him that he would have never defeated Jake had it not been for the veteran Hero. "They say Kriem-san has woken up."

Kotetsu's eyes widened, but he couldn't find the words to speak.

"You should go home with your daughter."

"No." Kotetsu shook his head, reaching out to the young man. He curled his fingers into a fist, drawing his hand back. "What can I do to prove how sorry I am?"

"Go home like I told you to," Barnaby stated coldly, brushing by Kotetsu to reach the door.

Kotetsu stared after the blond, wondering why every instinct in his body screamed 'run after him'. He reminded himself that his orders were to go home. Kotetsu turned around with a deep sigh. He feigned a look of reassurance. Kaede sprang up from the couch, heading to where her father waited for her. She waved to Sky High before they left together.

"Am I going to get in trouble for knowing your identities?"

The question pulled Kotetsu's thoughts from Barnaby. "I hope not. You're in enough trouble already."

Barnaby had his eyes closed, thus missing the looks the Kaburagi father and child threw his way right before the elevator doors closed. He'd told Kotetsu to go home, so why did he feel like he'd just made a mistake?

X x X x X

Kotetsu couldn't find the strength to be angry. He wasn't an angry person by nature, and probably the reason why it was so difficult. Kaede was sitting beside him on the couch, legs folded beneath her, hands fisted atop her thighs, and head bowed low. They hadn't spoken a word for over twenty minutes after returning to Kotetsu's apartment.

Kaede's tiny fists trembled as she worked up the courage to break the silence. "I'm sorry," she whispered, ducking her head lower. "I'm sorry… Otou-san, I'm sor—" She gasped softly, eyes wide. Slowly, her arms wound themselves around her father, who had her locked in a crushing embrace.

"Please stop scaring me. I'm old… My heart can't take it!"

Kaede laughed softly, her hand rising to curl over his shoulder. "I didn't help, did I? Barnaby—"

"That's not important right now." Kotetsu eased the young girl back, large hands still gripping her shoulders. "Why did it take you so long to get back to Sternbild? Two days!"

Kaede avoided his gaze. "They kept me at the station. I told them… I was an orphan trying to get to Sternbild. I ran away from the attendants after we got to the city." She faced him after feeling the hands on her shoulders tighten their grip. "I had enough money to make it to Apollon Media!"

"You owe… everyone an apology. Your grandmother, your uncle… even Antonio! When Bunny called… I thought…" Kotetsu shook his head and pulled his daughter against his chest again. He couldn't stop his heart from racing, and he was sure Kaede could hear it. Even though she was in his arms, he still couldn't stop the thought that he'd finally lost her. "You're moving to Sternbild. After high school, you'll be enrolled in Hero Academy. We can go ice skating as much as you want. Actually… scratch Hero Academy. You'll become a figure skater!"

Kaede giggled. "Okay."

"Definitely moving in with me," he repeated in a soft mutter, more for reassuring himself than anything else.

"Don't forget we still have Grandma to go through."

Kotetsu hummed softly. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

X x X x X

If Barnaby was an avid drinker, the floor of his suite would have been littered with empty beer cans or bottles. But there was one, and he still clutched the half-empty aluminum container.

He didn't kill your parents.

Barnaby's fingers tightened around the can, causing it to bend a little under the force, and he lifted it to his lips, emptying it.

Your parents were killed twenty-one years ago on Christmas Eve. That was the day when Jake-sama kidnapped me.

His glasses rested on the small table, next to the keepsake from his parents, and he stared blankly at the wall of images layered upon images; all were images of Jake Martinez, every shot ever posted, official or unofficial, from every angle. Beneath them were useless articles. But the one thing that he did learn after his extensive search was that Jake Martinez did not have a tattoo on the back of his hand.

I hope the past tortures you for the rest of your life!

Barnaby closed his eyes, emitting a frustrated noise. Uncurling his fingers from around the beer can that had been completely crushed, he stood from the lounge-style chair, dragging himself across the floor in a half-hearted attempt to reach his bedroom.


A/N: Merry Christmas~! A little early Christmas present. Sorry their confrontation wasn't longer, and the chapter itself was short *ducks head* They'll have later chapters to work out their differences and come to terms with it all. This chapter went through two overhauls before I decided I liked this version. My distant, second hahaue keeps saying I'm feeding the boys too much angst… I can't help it. Sunrise started it :/ …that, and I like angst, and I give 'em a happi endo~ (sometimes) xDD