Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ Starting Over ❯ Chapter 17

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

FANDOM: ANIME---SORCERER HUNTERS
TITLE: Starting over
AUTHOR: Willie J
EMAIL: wmj166@msn.com
WEB SITE: N/A
RATING: NC-17 for content
DISCLAIMER: Sorcerer Hunters is copyright by A.D. Vision.
FEEDBACK: Dear God Yes!
DISTRIBUTION: List Archives
SPOILERS:
SUMMARY:


Warning: This story may contain themes of rape, slash and incest. If any of this may offend you please stop reading immediately.

A/N: Meet the Sorcerer Hunters: Five extraordinary young humans charged with the task of traveling the land in secrecy, hunting down evil Sorcerers--masters of powerful and forbidden magic who use their dark abilities to enslave, to kill the weak and helpless.

Carrot Glace, a lecherous young warrior, without many other talents, save one: the ability to transform into various giant beasts by feeding off the power of sorcerers when attacked by unfriendly magic.

Marron Glace, his younger brother and master of the Eastern magic.

Tira Misu, an unassuming woman who, when faced with a challenge, presents her rather dominant alter ego.

Chocolate Misu, her older sister the more forward of the two and even worse when she's ready to kick some ass with her needle tipped garrote wire.

Finally, Gateau Mocha, the muscle of the team with brains.

* * *

"So, you're not jealous that she dumped you and took up with Marron," Eclair said dryly.

"Hell no!" Gateau said firmly. "Actually, I was grateful when she began making a play for Marron. I felt sorry for him, but I knew he could handle the bitch. Beside, he saw right through all her little head games and beat her at them. He's much smarter than me," he confided to them.

"Nooooo," the girls chorus, before falling over in fits of giggles at the indignant look on Gateau's face before even he joined them in their merriment.

They made plans to take Carrot shopping the next Monday, since Eclair's cast was scheduled to come off this Friday and they wanted to go together, while Gateau was told, over his strident protests, that he was going. They planned to sneak out, hopefully, without Marron noticing that Carrot was gone, even though there was some coolness between the two, he always kept tabs on where Carrot was at all times.



Unfortunately, Toni and Tonio arrived two days later....

Toni arrived at the Church mansion, brushing past the servant that opened the door. She didn't bother to acknowledge the servant welcoming her to the Church home, mentally cataloging what she could see of the interior.

She murmured to her twin, "Let's just stick to the plan. You distract whatever females that are here and I'll concentrate of Marron. I think between the two of us, we'll be able to handle everyone, don't you," they exchanged duo looks of self-assurance, confident in their beauty that no one would be able to resist.

Except Marron, Tonio thought spitefully. He was actually enjoying watching his bitch of a sister get a taste of her own medicine.

She turned an saw a rather plain looking boy step around the corner carrying a glass.

"You there," she said sharply, "Fetch our bags from the car, we're important guests of the Church family."

Tonio licked his lips, eyeing the slight young man. Mentally stripping the loose baggy clothes from the boy's body. He had a sneaking suspicion that the loose unflattering clothes concealed a rather delectable body...one that he would very interested in tasting.

Toni's eyes narrowed as the servant looked at her blankly, "Did you hear me, boy?! Go fetch our bags, NOW!" Turning slightly to Tonio, she remarked, "My God, where does Stella find such ugly, stupid servants," making sure that the boy heard every disparaging word, smiling maliciously at the flinch the boy made.

"I'm sorry but I didn't catch your names," Carrot said quietly, he had a horrible feeling that he knew who this nasty bitch was. Fuck! He thought as the gave him their names: Toni and Tonio Mason.

"Ah, I'll just go 'fetch'," his lips quirked at the word, "Ms. Stella then," he bowed and raced away, ignoring her shouts to 'get back here'.

Carrot slowed to a walk and leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Gateau, coming around the other corner saw him and asked if he was okay.

"Uhm, Toni and Tonio Mason are here," Carrot said with his face slightly averted.

Gateau grimaced, "Damn, I thought that the bitch wouldn't be here for another couple of days," he cursed.

Carrot looked up, startled, "I thought you and Marron liked her," he stammered slightly in confusion.

"Like that...woman?!" Gateau's eyes nearly bugged out, "Liking her is like...um.. you know that old story about the lady or the tiger...I'll take the tiger!"

"Dislike her that much, huh," Carrot said smilingly, his smile fading as he said quietly, "But Marron sorta likes her though," he peeked up at his larger companion.

Gateau rolled his eyes, "Look, shrimp, Marron's a big boy and he sees through all her little games. He's not a fool despite what SHE thinks. He only goes as far with her as HE wants to go and not one inch further. She apparently thinks that she's all powerful because she's lasted the longest of all his girlfriends. Besides, she's not the type that he'll ever fall in love with," he ended gently, seeing the shadows lift from Carrot's big eyes, smiling at the cheeky grin now on Carrot's face.

"So," Carrot said casually, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "What kind of woman would Marron fall for," looking at the floor as if it had the most fascinating design on it.

Gateau smiled, he wasn't fooled by Carrot's nonchalance, "Oh, I think someone that needed him; someone that loves him, mind, body and soul; someone that he is fiercely protective of'; someone with black messy hair and big brown eyes," he tugged gently at a stray lock of Carrot's hair.

Carrot froze as he realized Gateau was talking about him. He lifted miserable eyes tentatively to Gateau, expecting to see rage and disgust...but seeing only love, acceptance and understanding.

"Y..yo..you know? And you're not disgusted," he whispered, searching Gateau eyes as if he couldn't believe what he saw in them.

Gateau flinched at how big of a mistake he had almost made as he watched tears fill Carrot's eyes. He had forgotten how much Carrot had come to depend on them, on their love and support. And he had almost wrenched it right from under him.

Smiling gently, he watched Carrot ruthlessly pull himself together, "No little man, I'm not. Besides, it's between you and Marron what happens. If this is something you both want, then I wish you two the best."

Carrot smiled weakly, "Well, it would be a nice fantasy, but I'm sure he would be horrified to know that I'm in love with him."

Gateau blinked, how in the hell did he get caught up in these crazy conversations, he mournfully thought. Now he was giving advice to Carrot on how to catch Marron!

Cautiously he replied, "Well, it never hurt to ask does it? The worse that he'll do is let you down easily. He'll never kick you out of the house OR his life, ya know. But at least you'll know where you stand, right," Gateau heard the words coming out of his mouth with shock. He glared suspiciously at K'rlman, who shook his head in denial of any involvement. Gateau sagged weakly, for sure he had now entered the Twilight Zone. And surprisingly enough, it was coming to feel like home.

He clapped Carrot on the back, staggering the other, "Let's go get your man," he said enthusiastically smiling at the furious blush covering Carrot's face.

"For God's sakes, not so loud, you friggin' idiot," Carrot said sternly, his lips twitching at Gateau's antics.

"I'll even hold him still for ya, how's that," Gateau offered magnanimously, striking a pose and flexing his muscles. Delighting at the laughter filling Carrot's eyes, "C'mon shrimp, let's go say boo to the Bitch from Hell," Gateau slung an around around Carrot's shoulders, pushing him into the direction of the sitting room.


Stella suppressed a grimace of distaste at the unwelcome sight of Toni and Tonio sitting on the couch, almost regretting the decision to contact the infuriating woman. Best to get the information out of her and send her packing before she disrupts the household, she thought briskly, pasting a smile on her face as she swept forward.

"Toni, Tonio, how very good of you to personally deliver the information," she stated as she sat down. "You really did not need to make such a trip, you know." Her eyes were clear and direct, letting them know that with all their charm, they never fooled her.

The twins exchanged secretly dismayed looks, both thinking that this would probably be harder than they had thought..

Laughing, Tira and Chocolate entered the room stopping short as they noticed Mama with two strangers.

"Oh, Mama we didn't know you had guests, we'll come back later," Tira stammered.

Holy shit! Tonio thought at the first sight of Tira and Chocolate. He couldn't decide which one he wanted more, the tiny girl with the sweet smile or that busty hot little number. All he knew was he was getting one of them and if really lucky he might even get a little menage-a-trois action, he smirked.

"No, my dears, come in. This is Tonio and Toni Mason and they're here to help with our case," Stella explained.

"And to see Marron, of course," Toni said, crossing her legs and smoothing her skirt over her legs. All the while staring challenging at the two girls. As if they could possibly be competition for me, she smirked, I know what a man wants.

Chocolate and Tira exchanged looks and walked into the room surveying Toni coolly, meeting her challenge with frosty narrowed eyes, upping the ante.

Toni stiffened in her chair, her eyes glittering and cold. Anger stirring in her at how the little girls refused to back down.

Stella hid a smile behind her coffee cup, if Toni thinks her girls were going to roll over for her…well, I'm sure Tira and Chocolate won't really hurt her too much, she thought idly.

Marron strolled into the charged, tension filled room instantly aware of the challenge ringing in the air. With a subtle change in his walk, he instantly deflected Toni's attention to himself, he knew just how well she got on with other females. Most times, her challenging stare would work, his lips quirked, but the Misu sisters were made of much sterner stuff. They didn't back down from any challenge, preferring to meet it head on.

Tonio shook his head, how does he do that? All the boy had to do walk into a room and have all the females and quite a lot of the men lusting after him. Fuck, if I had that kinda sexual appeal, you better believe I would be taking full advantage of it.

"Toni, Tonio how good of you to drop everything you were doing and rush here," he said coolly to them.

"Precisely what I was saying," Stella said dryly looking at the now suddenly uncomfortable Tonio and the coolly composed Toni.

"Oh, it was no trouble, really," Toni said sweetly. "We were glad to get away, but we unfortunately forgot to make reservations at the nearest local hotel," and she waited for Stella's expectant response.

Stella gritted her teeth, silently cursing the girl incredible gall. "I'm sure we can find room for you here," she said calmly instead, meeting Toni's triumphant eyes, holding her stare until the girl looked away.

Marron sat on the loveseat as Mama began prying the info from Toni and Tonio. Tensing slightly as a laughing Carrot and Gateau entered the room.

Toni saw Gateau enter, I guess Gateau's not that straight afterall, she snorted. But I think he could have done better than that ugly little runt. She recognized the laughing boy, hmpf, I guess he's not a servant afterall.

Gateau noticed the smirk on Toni's face and the decidedly cool look Marron gave him and grinned wickedly. Sauntering over to Tira, he gave her a long thorough kiss, leaving her flushed, shaken and very, very happy.

"What was that for," she whispered, adding hastily, "Not that I'm complaining, ya know."

"Tell ya later," he whispered back, gazing down into her beautiful eyes. "I don't think you realize just how much you mean to me," he added softly.

"Oh, will you two get a room already," Carrot shouted merrily from the doorway.

Marron was stunned, not Gateau and Carrot?! Feeling a relief rush through him, he wondered why he felt so relieved.

"And this other young man," Stella said proudly, "Is Marron's brother, Carrot Glace." As Carrot crossed and stood by her side, smiling imprudently at the astonished looks on the beautiful twins' faces.

"His brother," Toni questioned, her eyes narrowing slightly at this revelation, "I didn't know you had a brother," she said with a lift of her brow, turning to Marron.

"I was separated from my brother as a child, Mama adopted me and we just recently found each other," Marron said with a shrug, his eyes cool as he watched her.

Carrot tilted his head, peering at Marron. He didn't really know THIS cool elegant stranger. He was used to the Marron that tickled him; that smiled at him; that wrapped his long arms around him, making him feel safe, warm and protected. This man, though, didn't look like he would touch him much less hold him. And he was determined to get HIS Marron back right now!

He knew it would be difficult to recover his place in Marron's life after his recent standoffish attitude the past few days, but he was determined. Tentatively he gave Marron a smile, hoping that Marron wouldn't shut him out completely. And at the slow, swept of Marron's eyes over him, he knew that they had their first step in reconciliation.

Marron glanced between the unsmiling Carrot and the gently, smiling Toni. He knew instantly something was very wrong. His niisan ALWAYS flirted with every available (and not so available) female he saw, and he wasn't even trying to be charming to her. What the hell happened that between the two, that had his niisan so cool towards her?

"Toni, Tonio, I have to go, please give Mama all the info she needs and I'll see you some time later," Marron said, smoothly getting to his feet.

"I was hoping to spend a little time with you," Toni murmured, her eyes direct; letting him see the desire in her eyes.

Marron gazed at her lovely face, wondering why in the hell he had ever bedded such a viper. "Perhaps later," he said vaguely. "Besides, I'm quite sure you plan of staying for a long period of time," he said cynically, before turning away.

"Carrot, come with me," he quietly commanded, extending a hand. Tightening his grasp, he pulled his brother from the room. His mouth set in a grim line, they were going to talk and they were going to talk NOW. He needed to know WHY his niisan pulled away from him.

Dragging the silent boy upstairs to the other sitting room, he tugged Carrot sharply in and shut the door…hard.

"Niisan, I can't take this hot and cold attitude," he said, leaning back against the door, watching Carrot pace restlessly around the room.

"I know, Marron, I know," Carrot threw a quick look over his shoulder to Marron. Despite what Gateau said was no friggin' way in hell was he gonna confess is secret desire to Marron. Uh uh, no way sirree!

"When I get things settled in my head, I'll tell you then," he said soothingly, hoping that would appease his brother.

Marron eyes glittered, he had a nasty feeling that Carrot was only telling him partially the truth. He was tempted to ask Yaksha his opinion again, but the other had made all of their feelings plain. Unless it was life or death not one of them were going to betray Carrot's confidence. Marron gritted his teeth, he felt like smashing his fist through the door….only Carrot could make him lose his cool and focus.

Every time he looked at his niisan all these uncomfortable emotions rushed through him, effortlessly splintering the control he had mastered throughout the years, the emotional distance that he was able to put between him and the rest of the world, save Carrot…his niisan. No one had ever caused him to react so completely, so impetuously to their mere presence, their nearness.

Silently he continued his study of his now nervously jittering brother.

"What?! What?!" He was already nervous enough being alone in the room with Marron and under the cool contemplated look in the golden his jitters was increasing. He bit his lip uneasily, wondering in it was time for one of his patented Carrot Glace's looks…that he was only a harmless goofball.

He sighed miserably, what was the use, Marron always seem to see right through it no matter what and call him on it as well. And Lord knows he can't explain the real problem to Marron for fear of rejection. He eyes Marron just as silently until the other broke the silence by changing the subject.

"So, what's with you and Toni," Marron asked, almost sure he would get a straight answer with this question, but with his unpredictable niisan, he couldn't be sure about anything.

Carrot blinked, "Me and Toni?! Nothing, I just met her remember," he said slowly, giving Marron a look that seriously questioned his sanity.

Marron's lips twitched, "No you little baka, what was with you not flirting with her?"

Carrot flushed, "Hey, I don't flirt with every woman I see," he protested.

Maron put his head to the side, thinking. "Actually, you do," he said amusedly.

"Do not," Carrot retorted hotly.

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do not!" Marron's eyes gleamed mischievously.

"Do too," Carrot yelled and paused, reviewing what he had just said, smiling at the laughter in Marron's eyes.

"Well, maybe I flirt a little bit," he said holding his thumb and finger barely apart.

"Niisan, if chasing and flirting with girls were an Olympic event, you would take home the Gold every time," Marron said dryly, crossing to sit on the couch. He watched a smirk appear on Carrot's face at his comment.

"Well, we all have to have a hobby don't we," Carrot said with a smile, "Mine's chasing pretty girls."

Marron looked at him curiously, "What do you plan to do when you catch one," he wanted to know.

Carrot smirked, "Throw her back, of course. Young or old, females like to be pursued. It makes them feel beautiful and desirable to know that some man wants them," Carrot said magnaniously.

"So, you're like performing some sort of community service, huh," Marron said dryly, laughter in his eyes.

"Exactly!" Carrot said happily. They exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. Carrot collapsing on the floor from laughing so hard while Marron fell over on his side.

Wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, Marron said, "Seriously, what was wrong between you and Toni, and don't try to get me off the subject," he warned Carrot. Seeing the disgruntled look appear on his niisan's face at his words, he knew that Carrot was going to try to distract him.

"Nothing's wrong between us," Carrot sighed, staring at the ceiling.

"Then why weren't you flirting with her," Marron frowned, "You flirt with almost every female you claim you're in …," he stopped.

"You don't like her do you," he said flatly, still staring at Carrot.

"I don't know her enough to like or dislike her," Carrot said easily, refusing to meet Marron's gaze.

"That's never stopped you before," Marron pointed out, "So why the change," he mused, still watching Carrot intently.

"Look, let's just accept the fact that I don't particularly care for your friend right *now*," Carrot stressed to Marron. He wasn't totally rejecting the woman and if Marron was friends with her, then he would try to like her, he assured himself stoutly, even though he wanted to punch her lights out.

Marron eyes filled with amusement, his niisan was so funny sometimes. He could practically read the thoughts whirling in Carrot's tiny little mind.

"Well, don't feel to inclined to like her for my sake," he said casually, "I don't particularly like or trust her either." He waited to see how Carrot would react.

Carrot frowned, "You don't like her? But I thought you two were sleeping together."

"We were," Marron nodded his head, "You have to admit that she's very attractive. But the only reason why I wound up in her bed was to get her away from Gateau. She almost had him all trussed up in a nice little wedding bow, he didn't know how to get out of. I pretended like I was interested, she saw my money....," he shrugged, well aware of what attracted most women to him.

Carrot's eyes soften, reading the hurt in his brother's eyes. "Dude, I'm sure she saw more that just your money. You're beautiful, you know, what girl or guy wouldn't want to have you in their bed," Carrot chided him gruffly, a red blush covering his face.

Marron smiled at his red-faced niisan, touched at how Carrot was trying to make him feel better, "No guys, just the girls, thank you very much!" he laughed.

"You mean you've never screwed around with a guy," Carrot sat up, his blush fading.

"Niisan, I assure you that I've never had a another man, other than you in my bed, and quite frankly I don't think I ever will," he said dryly, wondering at the returning blush and downcast eyes.

"Too many people assume that because of my looks, I must be gay. It's just like when people see you chasing after girls, they assume you want to have sex with them. They don't know that you're gay they just assume that you're straight." Marron sat back assured of his rational.

Carrot blinked, "Uhm, Marron, not that this is in any way important," he stressed, "But I'm not gay." He shifted nervously on the floor, picking a the carpet.

"Not gay?" Marron blinked.

Carrot shook his head, his eyes beginning to twinkle at the dumbfounded look on his brother's face.

"By not gay, you mean that you're not gay, right," Marron said stupidly.

Carrot slowly shook his head, hesitated then nodded, hesitated again as he reran Marron's words over in his mind.

"You're sure, 'cause it doesn't matter to me, you know," Marron assured him.

"Nope," Carrot said, his lips twitching slightly.

"You're positive you're not gay," Marron said peering at him.

"Yep," Carrot's shoulders were shaking slightly.

Marron's eyes narrowed, "You are to gay!" he burst out.

Carrot couldn't control his laughter any longer at the look on Marron's face.

Marron dropped to the floor and attacked his giggling niisan, both of them rolling on the floor laughing, ending up against the couch.

Finally, getting their laughter under control, they rested with Carrot curled against Marron's side.

"I actually prefer females. There's only one man that I've ever been attracted sexually to," he said sobering up.

"But you act like…," Marron stumbled to a halt, looking down at Carrot's suddenly unreadable expression.

Carrot sighed looking away from the penetrating look, "I only act like that around you, you know. You make me feel safe and secure so I can let myself go and not keep up with the usual manly bullshit. I can cry, act all clinglylike, hold your hand and stuff and know that you won't reject me," he half-whispered.

Marron's eyes softened as he looked at his smaller brother, "There's hasn't been much of the touching lately," he softly pointed out.

"Yeah, I kinda got caught up in trying to act all independent and manly, not need you as much," Carrot said tilting his head to look at Marron. "I had some things to work out in my mind."

Marron sat up and pulled Carrot into his lap, "Have you finished yet," he asked looking down into Carrot's wide eyes and at seeing the smile start deep within the big chocolate drops, he started smiling also.

"Yeah, just about," Carrot said quietly, gazing up into the beloved eyes, seeing something else stirring deep within the golden orbs.

"Then I guess I can wait then," Marron pulled him close and kissed Carrot's forehead, feeling his niisan breath warm his neck.

"You want to go back downstairs," Marron whispered into Carrot's ear, wondering at the shiver that ran through his niisan.

"Yeah, we probably should be down there," Carrot said grudgingly, besides it'll be a lot safer, considering that in another minute I'm gonna jump Marron's bones.


Meanwhile, downstairs, Toni had taken an immediate dislike of Carrot, she didn't believe for one second that the boy was Marron's brother, why they didn't even resemble each other one bit! She fumed silently, all the while answering Stella's questions absently, her attention mainly focus on the doorway hoping that Marron would come back down.

"Tira, Chocolate, please see to it that their bags are taken to the Rose Room and the Gold Room. Thank you dears," Stella said to the girls.

"Yes, Mama," they chorused, quickly racing from the room with Gateau in tow.

"So, that's Marron's brother, hmmm. They certainly look nothing alike," Toni remarked carefully, her eyes sharp.

"Are they girls also your children," Tonio said gesturing after the disappearing Tira and Chocolate.

"Heavens, no!" Stella laughed, "That's just the name the children started calling me, it's either that or Big Mama."

"I can see why they call you Big Mama," he said with a slow appraising eye of a coniseaur over her imposing figure.

He stiffened as he saw a cold dangerous look in her eyes and swallowed convulsively.

Satisfied that she had cowed the impudent boy sufficiently, Stella began prying the information from the two.

She smiled when Marron and Carrot wandered back into the sitting room, she could tell that the two made start at repairing whatever had gone wrong with them.

Toni's eye's narrowed on the unsmiling face Carrot presented to her at the coolness in his eyes. When Carrot sat down beside Marron, curling against him, she waited with concealed glee for Marron to icily blast the imprudent boy with one of his famous glares. And to her astonishment, all Marron did was pull the boy closer!

By a week later, Carrot felt like screaming. If he saw that saccharine bitch put her hands on Marron one more fuckin' time, he was gonna do something seriously violent to her. Between her and her freakin' brother, they were gonna drive him friggin' insane!

That son of a bitch Tonio was always following him around, trying to touch him, flirting with him. He trying to do his best Marron impression of cool disinterest hoping the idiot would get the message; his lips twisted in disgust, no such friggin' luck. He would get up and leave and the bastard would just follow him around, with his shirt open trying to entice him with his body.

Carrot snorted, he had seen a better body on Gateau than Tonio could ever compare to. He was surprised not to find Tonio in the bathroom when he had to take a leak.

His frown cleared, it was sweet how Marron kept trying to deflect Tonio's attention, he shook his head wryly, who knew Marron knew so many cuss words? It didn't help that Gateau and the girls were about to bust a gut laughing at how possessive Marron was acting. He shivered slightly remember the look in Toni's eyes when Marron went off on Tonio, telling him to stay the fuck away from his brother. That bitch was plotting something, he could just feel it.

The only good thing about them being here was they had brought some extremely valuable information about Onion. It seems as if Daddy Dearest had been a BAAAAAD BOY, not only was he selling the computer component, but darling Daddy was also funding his retirement nest with international arms smuggling, drugs and prostitution

Everyone knew that it was practically guaranteed that Onion Glace would be nominated to the Board of Directors of Church Corp, Int'l. It was all over the business community that he would be replacing one of the members due to the death of Charles Rogers. But the No Confidence vote from the board sweep through the business community of both sides of the world and rumors started flying as to why. Everyone wanted to know WHY?!

Carrot smirked, could it be that the videos that Mama showed the members, with his face carefully blacked out, of Onion Glace having sex with a seriously underage? The evidence that Onion Glace was selling on the black market chip components from Church Corp, Int'l?

He came across as such a fine upstanding member of the community especially in his most recent cleverly worded press conference the other day, after there was a call of No Confidence at the Board meeting the other day. Gateau had gotten so pissed off that he kicked in the TV.

From his position curled against Marron, Carrot could only laugh at the sheepish look on Gateau's face when he realized what he had done.

And now, it was almost over….it was Chocolate and Éclair that had put the pieces of Onion's little scheme together, tenaciously tracking down each and every thread. They wanted no mistakes, no way for Onion to move, he had to be nailed down hard because they were almost ready to deliver Onion to the Feds gift-wrapped.

The last step was to zap all his assets, Carrot smirked, and that was his job.

He entered the family room and freezing at what he saw. There she goes again, putting her hands all over his brother. His eyes glittering he stalked forward, neatly intercepted by the very large Gateau who hustled him protesting out of the room.

"Get a hold of yourself and stop giving her more ammunition against you," he snapped at the angry Carrot.

"Ammunition?!" Carrot froze, blinking, "What ammunition, who has ammunition?"

"She does, she thinks," Gateau snorted grimly, hauling Carrot behind him and out the front doors.

Carrot blinked at the sunlight, seeing Tira and Chocolate standing by the 4 x 4 jeep.

"Okay, what's going on and again what ammunition does she think she has," Carrot said as he was forced into the car.

Tira bounced excitedly, "We're taking you shopping!"

"But I have plenty of clothes," he protested, "Marron bought me tons of clothes when I first got here," he said uneasily with the smiles the girls were exchanging.

"Exactly what I said!" Gateau nodded his head firmly, glad to know someone was on his side.

"You be quiet," Tira said fondly.

"These are special clothes we're getting you," Chocolate announced driving rapidly for the closest mall.

"Okay, I'll bite. What's so special about these clothes and why aren't my clothes good enough," Carrot said stubbornly crossing his arms.

Tira touched his arm, "Because what you're wearing won't make him notice you," she said gently.

Carrot froze, turning a horrified face to her, jerking away he met Chocolate's eyes in the rearview mirror and choked out, "You told them! God, Gateau how could you!" He wanted to jump out of the car and die of shame.

"Carrot, listen to me, we're on your side," Chocoalte said calmly, pulling into the mall parking lot. "It took a bit of getting used to the idea but we want you both to be happy." She glanced around and swifly pulled into a parking space.

Carrot choked, his eyes rounding, "You're actually advocating me seducing my own brother," he screeched.

"Speak louder, why doncha, I don't think they heard you in Japan," Gateau said dryly, seeing Carrot flush, he relented, ""Look man, I 'm sorry that you feel that I betrayed your confidence but I was having a problem with you lusting after my best friend, who happens to be your brother," he pointed out and cursing himself as Carrot seem to shrink in self-loathing. "Look I'm okay, and we actually think the two of you look cute together, or at least the girls so," he said hastily, "I just think you guys look happier whenever you are together, so pull yourself together. I mean, with all of us working to land Marron, you're bound to get him, right?" he winked cheerfully at the depressed looking Carrot.

Carrot nodded and feigned a bright cheerful smile at them (had Marron been there he would have told them not to trust that bright smile for anything)


Carrot collapse in the chair at the food court, taking some consolation that Gateau looked as wasted as he. They exchanged weary sneers at the girls who look as fresh as when they walked in.

Gateau wanted to whine, his feet hurt something fierce and he wanted to go HOME. Damn't he wasn't gonna take this, he was going to be a man and if he had to stomp his feet and burst into tears, he was going home! He opened his mouth to demand his rights when he saw six hard-faced men moving purposely towards them.

"Guys, heads up, we have incoming," he said averting his eyes and casually glancing around.

Tira and Chocolate pales slightly, "You two carrying," he said looking around for defendable position and planning their escape.

Carrot's mouth tighten, "Why does everyone get to carry a gun but me," he sulked rising casually to his feet and gathering their bags.

And at Gateau's signal they took off running, dodging shoppers, mall walkers, ignoring shouts of protests then hearing what they most dreaded: gun fire.


Gateau swerved and pulled Carrot around a long stone planter and pulled his gun. Carefully aiming at the men, nodding in satisfaction seeing Tira and Chocolate doing the same.

Carrot tried to stick his head up, feeling a weird tingling beginning in his spine, then hearing a voice screaming his name...

"Carrot!" Marron yelled above the screaming panicking crowd as he came from the side. Picking his targets carefully he fired as he ran, winging one of the men, then feeling pain blossom in his leg.

"Marron!" Carrot screamed in panic, seeing his brother fall behind a stone bench. Snapping his head forward, his eyes narrowing at the man that shoot Marron, he snatched Gateau's gun from him. Ignoring his protest other than a quick cold glare that shut him up, he was focused on only one thing: getting his brother and payback. Checking the chamber, he picked his shots with cold deadly accuracy.

Shooting the guns out of the men's hands, he rose from his crouched position like a avenging demon, terrible in his fury.

And cold silence spread from him, through the war zone as the remaining people fell mute, the hush broken only by slight hiccuping sobs from the terrified shoppers.

"Tira, Chocolate you're with me," he snapped. "Gateau, grab Marron, we'll provide the distraction."

Tira and Chocolate nodded with deadly expression of fury. Carrot took off his love sleeve shirt, wrapping one end around his fist and dipping the rest in the fountain behind them.

And they moved to attack.

Chocolate and Tira calling on Kurrin and Koolin for help, filling strength surge through their limbs.

Tira snatched her long chain necklace from around her throat, flailing brutally at the one of the assailants, while Chocolate and Carrot went after the other men. Blocking, kicking with fluid effortless grace at the men.

Chocolate, with a side kick to one of the men, sent him crashing into a wooden bench. And when the man got back to his feet, he was armed with broken splintered pieces of wood in each hand, grinning viciously.

He charged her and she side-stepped around him. He whirled to face her again and she deflected and blocked his strikes and kicks. She could hears screams of pain behind her, but she remained focused on her attacker.

She backhanded him in the face and followed up with a roundhouse kick to his stomach. She sensed someone behind her and turns around in time to backhand punch
an incoming assailant, she jumped up and brought her foot down to smash the back of his knee, hearing his howl of pain. She headbutted him in the face and shattered his other kneecap.

Her first assailant recovered and responded with an kick to her back slamming her to her knees over her prone assailant. She rolled to the side, watching as he plunged the sharp piece of wood into his comrade's stomach. She rolled into side kicked, slamming into his head staggering him and rolled to her feet, coming back at him.

He quick got to his feet and spun into a backhand strike with the splintered piece of wood but she caught his hand and sent a left cross into his face followed by a backhand with the same fist. She swung him around and slammed him head first into the wall, watching as he slumped to the floor.

Carrot, started lashing at his assailant with cold accuracy, a cold smile on his face at the howl of pain, as his make-shift whip, caressed his assailant's eye and the blood coming from the damaged socket.

Abandoning his weapon, he then sent a left cross to the man's face followed by a right. The man fell over on his back and he jumped on top of the man, slamming his fist brutally into the man's face...once, twice, third times seeing the eyes roll up.

Unconscious.

He rolled to the side, kicking up, catching his other assailant at his back by surprise. He side-stepped a the blow but the man tries to catch him in the face with a kick, and he stumbled back barely avoiding the man's boots. He stepped in punching the man across the face staggering him. He grabbed onto the man's shoulder and yanked the man's body down to meet his knee, getting the man twice in the gut and then in the face, releasing as the man's body slumped to the floor.

Tira at first began flailing at the men with her whip, yanking viciously when it wrapped around one an assailant's arm, hearing him scream in pain as the chain cut into his flesh.
She felt herself grabbed from behind and held with her arms behind her back. She tried to to get free by snapping her heel backwards and struck his kneecap. That has no effect in freeing her, so she snapped her head back and butted him dead in the nose, but the man still didn't let go of her.

The second man laughed and launched into a half spinning kick intended for her, but she ducked it and the man holding her took the blow, finally letting go of her and went down.
She flew into full spinning, jumping crescent kick, hitting the second man hard in the face and sent him spinning to the ground. At the noise behind her, she whirled to see the first man getting back to his feet.

When he rushed her, she quickly wrapped the chain around her hand and making a fist, punching him in the gut, twice in the face, and kicked him in the chest. He looked her in wide-eyed shock and then slid to the floor, unconscious.

Carrot jumped to Tira's aid, kicking and connecting with Tira's second assailant's jaw. The man tried to block his blow and dropped a bit, but Carrot managed to punch him in the face anyhow, slamming the man heavily to the ground. He pulled out his gun, ignoring Gateau's urgent yell to 'Let's go', this was the man that had shot his brother. His lips drawn back in a ritus snarl as he slowly raised his gun aiming at the man's head, relishing the fear, the terror in the man's eyes.

The man bubbled in fear, seeing death raging in the boy's eyes, cursing his greed fro accepting this fuckin' job.

Tira, Gateau and Chocolate cried out to Carrot to 'Stop', knowing he was about to kill the man. It was only Marron's pain filled whisper of 'Niisan' that stopped him from pulling the trigger. So instead he slammed the butt of the gun brutally against the man's temple and stalked away, his eyes arctic.

Suddenly, gunfire sprayed around them and they fled, seeing their assailant's reinforcement coming.

~"Where too," Carrot silently asked Yaksha showing that he would know how, why and where Marron came in.~

~"This way," Yaksha said~

Ducking and weaving as information poured through their minds along the links of their alien counterparts. Until they came to the second level of the mall seeing no way past the men coming after them.

Carrot looked wildly around, seeing nothing but glass planes, store fronts and shrieking people. He exchanged glances with Tira and Chocolate.

Marron had time for a shout of 'NO Niisan!' before the three were racing for the huge plane of glass, firing, emptying their guns. Holes appearing in the glass, weakening it.


Eclair sat in one of the cars waiting anxiously for the furious Marron to come back with Carrot and the rest in tow. She smirked, glad for once that she had been forced to stay home. Boy oh boy, were they gonna get it when Marron finds them.

She glanced in the rear-view mirror seeing Tonio tapping his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel of the other car. Smirking again, recalling the enraged look on the man's face when Marron coldly told him, *ordered* him, to stay in the car. She chuckled remembering the look of fear in the man's green eyes as Marron just *Looked* at him before sweeping to the entrance to the mall, his face set in lines of icy rage.

Her attention jerking forward as people ran out of the mall screaming, her heart pounding in fear, she made to stumble out of the car when her cell phone rang. Debating briefly, she answered t, her eyes fixed on the entrance of the mall.

"Hello," she snapped.

"Listen, stay where you are. There's trouble. We're going to be coming out hard and fast, so be ready," she heard Marron say tersely before he hung up.

She motioned Tonio to her and swiftly explained what was going on, his eyes growing hard as they both put on their Hunter faces and attitudes. He rushed back to his car and they both started their engines, ready for anything.

Anything but the sight of the huge glass window shattering and four bodies hurtling out of the window.

They gunned their engines and raced towards the figures coming towards them. Chocolate and Tira tumbled into Tonio's car while Gateau got into the back of Eclair's with Carrot in the front, screaming "GO! GO! GO!"

Tonio jetted after Eclair, seeing another car roaring after him. He glanced at the cold faces of the girls, one behind him one next to him.

"Someone following us," he said just before the rear window showered them with glass.

Hissing in pain from a shard of glass lodged in his shoulder, he frantically regained control of the car.

Other than his harsh breathing, the car was eerily silent as the girls pulled out fresh magazines, twisting and taking aim at the pursuing car.

His cell ring and he reached for it with his undamaged arm, rigidly keeping the car under control with his damaged arm.

"What," he snarled, pain radiating from his shoulder.

"What the hell is going on back there," Eclair said shortly at the other end.

"Well, we could be having fabulous sex in the car, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON!" he screamed at her, hearing someone else fumble for the phone before another voice spoke, he shivered suddenly at the inhuman coldness in the voice.

"Tonio, we're going to split up. Marron's been shot so we need to get him back to the mansion quickly. Follow Chocolate's direction and she'll direct you along an alternate route. We should be able to divert the car towards us and you'll be able to come up behind them," the voice said calmly.

"Carrot?!" Tonio said in total astonishment.

"Look, man we can go on endlessly, calling each other's name, however, Marron's hurt," Carrot said urgently.

Tonio smirked on surer ground, "Hey, I don't have a problem with your screaming my name under the right circumstances," he leered into the phone, pleased at having made the other chuckled. Glad that the coldness was gone from Carrot's voice.

Carrot rolled his eyes, "You're impossible," he laughed feeling better as he closed the phone. Twisting around he met Marron's cold glare, his smile fading as he saw his otouto's bloody thigh. His lips tightened back into the dangerous mask he had worn in the mall: Someone was going to pay and he knew just who it was, he thought coldly.

Marron was startled at the cold deadly look on his niisan's face, "Hakaishin?" he questioned softly, seeing those hard eyes soften.

"Nope, just me," Carrot smiled, trying to remove the alarmed look in Marron's eyes.

Marron blinked and settled back against Gateau, watching his niisan, this bore careful scrutiny.

Dodging through traffic, running red lights, other cars with horns blaring, trying to head the pursuing car away from traffic. Eclair drove rapidly, her attention focused on getting away from the populated area, Marron home and them out of danger. Even with all the shooting and danger her heart was pounding with excitement, the struggle against evil, she snorted at her fanciful imagination, but knowing it to be true. Knowing damn well who had sent those goons after them, broke her legs and had almost killed Cinnamon: Onion Glace.

She glancing into the side view mirror and shouted, "Everybody down!" seeing a gun protruding out of the pursuing car's window. Glass erupted around them sparkling like acid raindrops. Biting at their exposed flesh. Cutting. Cruel.

Carrot shook his head free of glass and twisted to make sure Marron and Gateau were okay. Seeing they were he looked through the shattered glass. Loading a fresh clip, he smiled coldly as he saw Tonio swing behind the pursuing car, seeing the alarm on the driver's face as they realized they were trapped between the two cars.

Silently he gave the order to Kurin and Koolin who relayed his words to Tira and Chocolate. Simultaneously, they opened fire on the car. Viciously satisfied to see one of the men slump over, his bright blood spraying over the driver.

His vision narrowed to a point on the driver's forehead as he began to squeeze the trigger, snarling in rage as the driver wrenched his car up onto the pavement and through a side street, quickly disappearing from view.

"FUCK!" he cursed, slumping in his seat.

"Carrot," Eclair questioned, her eyes darting to him, feeling the deadly rage emanating from him.

"Get us home," he ordered, pulling out his cell and dialing home. Tersely informing Mama what had happened.

They speed home, pulling up into the circular driveway the gates already opened for them. Carefully, Gateau eased Marron out of the car, hearing Toni's exclamation of dismay. Ignoring her, he strode into the house closely followed by Tira and Chocolate. Pausing he gazed at Carrot who simply jerked his head for him to continue up the stairs. Tira and Chocolate shifted and flowed up the stairs before him, six pairs of deadly eyes looked at Mille standing at the head of the stairs, waiting for them. His eyes equally hard as he took in the white faced Marron clenching his teeth against the pain.

"Carrot," Stella ordered in a voice of steel, "My office NOW!"

Tonio watched uneasily as Carrot stalked after her. He remembered a scene a few years back of a black panther he had seen in a zoo. Beautiful. One minute gracefully reclining on a branch staring imperiously at tourist oohing and ahhing over it. Bored disinterest in it's gaze at the gawkers. The next, a raging demon as a zookeeper mistakenly let in a another panther.

Carrot looked back, his lips quirking in an odd smile before he disappeared behind closed doors.

Tonio released his pent up breath, damn but that boy had him coming and going. He turned to leave stopping abruptly at the sight of Dota and Syrus watching him coolly.

For the first time uneasy before the pair of them.

Glancing at each other, Dota snapped, "What happened?" Her normally bubbly expression absent and a cold, intent warrior stood in her place. For the first time Tonio finally understood her true role in Stella's Church's household: she was Stella's bodyguard!

"Well, I'll be damn," he said quietly, wondering what other surprises the Church household held.

"What. Happened." Dota repeated irritatedly. Mama had only enough time to snap orders out and to tell her to expect the police. Her head cocked to the side, hearing a car drive up, as Tonio rapidly explained.

Glancing at Syrus, she ran to the window, seeing two police cars and an unmarked car parked in front of the house. SHIT! she thought, they forgot to close the gate.

"Police," she explained tightly to Syrus' inquiring expression.

As they heard voices, Tonio mouth dropped open as he watched a remarkable change overtake Dota and Syrus. Gone were the two deadly warriors and in their places stood a bubbly, cheerful young woman and a mild mannered young man.

"Miss Dota, these gentlemen are the police and they need to talk to Mr. Gateau and Mama," the servant said uneasily, reassured by Dota's bright bubbly smile.

"Okay, I'll go get her," Dota chirped eagerly, grabbing Tonio and dragging him with her.

Knocking on the door, she entered, seeing Carrot sitting on the couch crying with Mama next to him, gently rubbing his back.

"Mama, the police are here," Data said quietly, her heart twisting at the misery on Carrot's face.

Tonio stood by silently watching Stella and Carrot.

Stella came to her feet with a sigh, stroking Carrot's head tenderly, "You need a haircut," she said absently, smoothing back the silky locks; cutting herself on glass still in his hair.

"I'll come with you," Carrot said quietly, getting to his feet. Taking a deep breath and wiping at his eyes with a tissue.

"Are you sure you're up to this," Stella said, her eyes searching his pale face.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. It's just that I almost lost him today," he whispered, his eyes growing darker as he remember the terror that seized him the instant Marron was shot.

"Carrot, it's okay," Stella whispered, pulling the shaking boy into her arms. "He's going to be okay. Mille would be highly insulted at you questioning his skills," she teased gently, smiling at the wan smile she got in return.

Ignored for the moment, Tonio tried to reconcile the fierce deadly Carrot and this small, trembling boy, wondering how both personalities could exist simultaneously and more importantly which one was the real Carrot. Because if it was the deadly fierce man, then he was thinking about warning his sister to back off, no sense in getting herself killed over a pretty face.

Putting her arm around Carrot's thin shoulder, Stella guided them all into the sitting room where the police were waiting.

Detective Collins looked sourly at the women and men. He recognized Carrot Glace after having numerous run ins with his father. He wondered idly what the hell the boy was doing here, involved in this shit. He sneered, wondering what they were going to say to get out of this mess.

"Miz Church," he queried, waiting for the nod of acknowledgment before continuing, "We received some information that members of your household were involved in some sort of shootout at the mall, recklessly driving through the city streets and another shootout chasing another car." He waited, sure that they were going to say something stupid.

Carrot looked at Mama for encouragement before he stepped forward, "I was there I can tell you what happened," he said in a low quiet voice.

"And you would be," Detective Collins said, in feigned ignorance. How the boy was involved, he had no idea. Usually his father kept him on a pretty tight leash, chained to his side. But that other boy, Zata or something like that, was a fuckin' hellraiser. Onion was always bailing the little prick out of some shit.

He frowned, though funny he couldn't recall hearing about any of the little prick's activities in the past few months.

"Please tell us what happened then and perhaps we can get a statement from everyone else," he inquired with a studiously blank face. He figured that one of the rich little bastards would trip himself up, he thought cynically.

"Gateau, Tira and Chocolate took me out to buy some clothes and we were sitting down in the food court, you know? When Gateau noticed some men coming towards us and we got up and started away and they came after us and started shooting at us," Carrot said, his eyes wide and his body shaking as he remembered Marron getting shot.

Collins was taking notes, "Who's Gateau, Tira and Chocolate?" he already knew who they were.

Stella eyes him coldly as Cinnamon limped into the room, leaning heavily on her cane.

"Gateau is my nephew and Tira and Chocolate are Cinnamon's daughters," she said gesturing to her.

Collins turned and blinked in shock seeing the bruises speckling the woman's face and the cane. Every instinct was screaming that some funny shit was going down.

"What happen then," he said calmly, turning back to the shaking Carrot.

"We hid behind some big heavy planters," Carrot said. "Marron came running and shooting at them and he got shot!"

"So what you are saying is that you and your friends were minding your own business when some strange men started shooting at you," he said making sure they heard the disbelief in his tone. He saw them exchange glances, his suspicious nature swiftly rising. There was something going on and he was going to get to the bottom of it, rejoicing that Carrot Glace was involved. Finally he had the weapon needed to bring Onion Glace down, he gloated.

"So this Marron fellow was shot, huh," he said, "And just who is he," he asked.

"My brother," was the quietly reply.

Collins looked up in puzzlement, "Your brother, but he's dead. I remember thinking that it was a shame that such a beautiful young lady and cute kid died like that."

Carrot's mouth lifted in a very unamused smile, "The rumors of their demise was greatly exaggerated."

Collins squinted at him, "I think I'm gonna hafta see this Marron, ask him some questions," he said challengingly.

They nodded and escorted the detective up the stairs.

Opening the door all he could see was the backs of people as they fussed over someone in the bed.

Hearing a voice, fast losing patience saying, "I'm perfectly okay." Soft music played in the room.

"Mille, how is he," Stella asked her physician.

"I'm right here why don't you ask me yourself," Marron interrupted rudely.

Everyone shifted allowing Collins to get his first glimpse of Marron for the first time.

He gasped seeing the golden eyes flick to him before shifting to Carrot, standing silently next to him an odd tension he could feel practically running through the slender body next to him.

"Holy shit! You must be Marron," Collins blurted out. "I only saw your mother that one time but you look amazingly like her."

"You've met our mother," Carrot asked quietly by his side.

"Yeah, she came in about 13, 14 years ago, claiming that your father was abusing....," he stopped as everyone froze and slowly looked at him. His mind whirling, remember how Onion had swept in and spoke with the top brass. After that everything was hushed up and she was laughed at every time she came to the station. He focused his attention on Carrot, peering into his eyes, finally realizing why they looked so familiar. He saw that look on every teenage runaway he saw on the street. Haunted. Ancient. Full of pain.

Carrot met his eyes, "You should have listened to here," he said quietly, rage flickering in his eyes.

"Yeah, somebody should have," Collins whispered, sicken at the depravity of Onion Glace. Quickly he asked his question, essentially confirming what they boy had told him.

Snapping his notebook shut, he announced that they would be further contact. Stella and Mille escorted him downstairs, leaving Toni, Gateau and the girls still in the room with Marron and Carrot.

Carrot looked at Marron and quietly said, "Get out."

Toni looked up from fussing over Marron's injury at Gateau's touch on her arm.

"What is it," she snapped assured that her display of concern would surely convince Marron of her sincerity. She had been working on his since she had arrived and it it wasn't for that idiot brother of his, constant interruptions, she was sure she would have had him in her bed by now.

She gasped in shock as Gateau grabbed her roughly and jerked her to her feet.

"What the hell is your problem," she demanded, struggling in his grasp.

"Carrot wants us out," Gateau explained as he kept a firm hand on her arm, taking her with him as they left the room over her sputtering protest.

She had time for a quick cry of 'Marron!' before the door shut in her face and she heard the lock click.

Shaking Gateau off her arm, she went to pound on the door, feeling her arm seized in a steely gripe. She opened her mouth to yell and looked into Chocolate's glittering eyes and slowly closed her mouth, silently leaving the hallway.