Chapter 11

Chapter 11:

"Are you serious?"

Kouji was leaning against the wall, arms crossed while Tasuki sat on a chair, elbows resting on his knees and staring at his shoes. Tasuki had told him everything about the day they met her, the journey to Mount Hoshimanji and lastly, the fight. He nodded in respond.

"So, that's it? That's how you two met?"

He nodded again.

He let out a low whistle. "Wow man, I know you love me dude, you should've just told me…." Tasuki looked up at him frowning in confusion. "….but to go find a girl version of me is just wrong! Sad and wrong…" he smirked.

Tasuki snorted. "Wish you'd told me before I met her…" he joked. "No offense, but she's way prettier than you."

"Yeah, she's changed since I saw her last. My lil' sis all grown up now." Kouji whispered wistfully. "And my dad's dead. Arisu's the only family I have left."

Both friends went silent after that, as if respecting the passing of Kouji's dad.

"Sorry 'bout that man." Tasuki whispered after a moment. He realized that his friend looked exactly like Arisu when she was drifting off into her own thoughts, thinking about the past or trying to hold something back, both of which she did quite often. Their resemblances were parallel to a fault that he couldn't believe that he didn't relate her to him earlier. The same dark-blue hair, the same smirk and even their jokes were as lame and corny as the others'.

"And Hisao?? She went and trained with Hisao?! Wow, then it must have been bad." Kouji sighed, massaging his temple. "Eurgh! I'm so stupid. I should have looked for her! I shouldn't have stayed here and…and steal things and booze!! I was having fun with you guys while all the time she was suffering and surviving on her own! Gawd!! What kind of brother am I?!" He smacked his forehead to his hand, shoulders slumped in guilt.

"Kouji, relax dude!" Tasuki grab his friend's shoulders. "What are you worried about? At least she's here now and she's safe here. She's got you and she's got me."

The dark-haired bandit looks up at his friend, looking very dejected. "Yeah, I guess. But Genrou…I…I think that…I mean…."

"Kouji listen. I gotta apologize to her." Tasuki interrupted, combing his hair back. "What I did to her was…well…I won't forgive myself until she has so I better see her now."

Kouji sighed heavily watching his friend leave. "Good luck with that dude."

"Why?" He turned back from twisting the doorknob. "Do I…er…need it?"

"She may have changed physically, but take it from a guy who had grew up with her, you'll definitely need it." He replied, looking amused.

Tasuki just roll his eyes. "I don't wanna know." With that he left the room, leaving Kouji staring at the opposite wall, deep in thought.

Moments later, the red headed bandit found himself in front of Kouji's room, hesitating and contemplating on how to say it, how to apologize to her and really mean it. It's not something that he was really good at, never having to apologize to anyone before. Not to say that he never did anyone any wrong before, he did plenty of that but somehow he always manage to twist the situation around and put the blame on the other person, saving him the agony of ever saying the word 'sorry'. He was actually considering the possibility of twisting this story around but no…he smacks his forehead reprimanding himself. He knows that this was entirely his fault and he just have to suck it up and get it over with.

"Yeah, just suck it up you idiot." He whispered to himself and pushes the door open, looking around for her.

"ARGHHH!!" Arisu shrieked loudly and in the split second that he ran in worried that something might have gotten her, he was immediately struck hard on the head by a lantern and was seeing stars instead.

Arisu who was scrambling to put on her top called out angrily. "What were you doing? Don't you people ever knock around here?!" Turning around, she stared in horror at Tasuki who was getting up from the floor, clamping the side of his head, groaning and cursing loudly. She had telekinetically hurled the lantern in defense when the door just flew open while she was changing her clothes.

"Tasuki!" she gasped, clamping her own hand to her mouth. Oh no, she thought. Now he's really going to be angry with me, probably going to bite my whole head off now knowing his temper.

"Ugh…damn! What the hell was that?" He saw the lantern beside him and kicked it away. Looking angrily for the assaulter, eager to bash the guilty person up, his irritation began to dissipate when he saw Arisu standing a few feet away from him, one hand closing her mouth in shock and the other holding on to her robes. She was wearing Kouji's yukata wrap that was way too big for her by the way it was exposing a part of her shoulder.

"Arisu." He gulped heavily, still staring pointedly at her shoulder. "I didn't know….I should have knocked…"

"No, its ok…I was just…" She pulls the yakuta tighter around her and secured it with a sash. Staring at him, she felt a strong mix of emotion rushing back. A part of her wanted to run to him and beg him to forgive her but another part of her felt like running away, not wanting to face another bout of rage from him. Looking at him carefully though, she was surprised that she couldn't detect any sign of animosity towards her, instead it looks like he was actually relieved to see her, happy even.

"What are you doing here Tasuki?" She whispered timidly. "How did you know I was here?"

Tasuki got up and level with her. "I didn't. I live here." She frowned at him in confusion. "I'm the Mount Reikaku Bandit's leader. This is my home." He said simply, watching as comprehension dawns her face. But inside he was bursting to say how glad he was that she was here, alive and looking well. To tell her how much he missed her, even the time when he was still angry and how sorry he was at the misunderstanding. He wanted to say so much but he just couldn't form the proper words out.

"And is Kouji….?"

"He's my bestfriend, yeah. He's also the bandit's leader whenever I'm away. I guess it's a great coincidence that you found him here, you know. I mean, if I'd mentioned him to you, you guys would be reunited sooner but I didn't see it, how you know, the two of you looked alike, act alike sometimes. I guess that's why we got along so well 'cause…erm…." he hesitated, realizing that he was babbling.

Arisu just nodded understandingly. He isn't mad with me anymore, she thought silently. Now is the best time as ever to apologize. "Tasuki…you have know that I didn't…do that to you. Back then, controlling your emotions I mean. It was com…."

"Arisu that's…." He started but she stopped him with a wave of her hand. "Wait, I need to say this…"

She took a deep breath and continued. "It's true that Hisao did tell me that my powers extent to that. That I can manipulate emotions and all, he did tell me that but I didn't know how to do it and…and I wouldn't want to do it! Every time I found out about my abilities, I always did it by accident, I didn't plan it." She looks up at him imploringly. "I first found out that I could fly when I was pushed from a rooftop when I was 6 and…and I learned that I could…move things with my mind when a ball came hurtling at my face that one time and I stopped it, without knowing how I did. And do you remember the time we were thrown into the air? It all happened by accident, it was all out of fear."

"But that doesn't…."

"Tasuki….I really think I did controlled you back then. I didn't mean it, but I did." She stressed on it. "You see, I was…afraid of losing you guys. It was the first time I ever had that kind of company and….I was afraid to be alone again. I must have…tapped into the ability out of fear without realizing it and…and made you…like me." She bit her lip worriedly. She had been thinking about this for three months, stirring it over and over in her mind and she was convinced that it was all her doing. "Please…forgive me Tasuki. I'm really really really sorry about this. I didn't mean to." She looked at him with big violet eyes, beseeching him silently.

Listening to her confession, the bandit was biting his own lips anxiously. He knew better and she shouldn't be apologizing to him, he should be apologizing to her! He was about to swallow his pride and say it out loud when Arisu closed the distance between them and was standing right in front of him, whispering softly. "I know how much you hate women because of your past and the fact that you were controlled and…and bullied by your mother and sisters. It must have hurt even more when I did the exact same thing to you, reminding you of it. That's why I understand if you hate me. I hate me….and my stupid powers!" She hung her head, trying to hide the lake that was forming in her eyes, not wanting him to see.

But she had a shock when she felt Tasuki's hand grazed her cheeks and pulls her chin up. "Don't say that, Arisu." He whispered at her sadly. "Don't ever say that. I don't hate you. I could never hate you."

Instead of being comforted by it, Arisu suddenly began to sob loudly. "Of course you couldn't hate me! It's my stupid powers again! I'm probably channeling it right now! Eurgh! This is hopeless!"

"Er…not exactly." He looked at her sheepishly, wondering how to say it. He decided that he should say it in an orderly fashion, starting from the moment he found out. "You see, when you left with Chichiri to the market, Hisao came down to talk to me and told me that you have been controlling my emotions. At first I didn't want to believe him but he made it sound like you already knew how to do it. He made it sound like you did it on purpose. I began to think that it might be true, because well, I don't like girls and that I had fallen…for you was…weird. I dunno…I just went berserk! Arisu…" he cupped her face with both his hands. "I…I'm sorry that I bit you back then…I…I….ugh! It was monstrous! I'm such a moron!!" And with that he pulled her to him and held on tight, surprising Arisu who was silently listening with her heart racing fast. "I never forgave myself for that…even when I was so angry with you. I regret that the most and when the truth came out I felt like killing myself when I found out that you didn't do it. You never did control me, Arisu! I was an idiot for believing that old hag!"

She slowly pulled away. "I don't understand. What do you mean when you found out?"

"Chichiri, he was the one who gave me this potion. I dunno, he said it would cure unnatural heart ailments or something." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Arisu screwed up her face thoughtfully. "You mean the Herutso Potion?? It's pink in color, suppose to cure any external forces to your heart."

"Yeah! That one! I drank it and I didn't feel any different….I still…I still have feelings for you Arisu." He blushed, smiling softly at her, glad that the truth was out. He didn't know what he was so worried about before. And what was Kouji worried about anyway?

"So…" Arisu continued her brows knitted in a frown. "What you're saying is that…I didn't control you? That I don't have the powers?"

"Right!!" He said happily, reaching out to grab her hands but she pulled out of reach slowly.

She implored him quizzically. "But that means that you believed Hisao…what he said over me? Over your trust in me?"

"Er….yes?" he replied tentatively, not knowing what to do as Arisu slowly began trembling with rage.

"So that means that I've spend three months consuming myself in guilt…hating myself and resisted from using my powers, thinking that it only caused me trouble when actually I was…innocent??" She cocked her eyebrows at him, daring him to prove otherwise. He realized that her voice was close to yelling.

"Well… I didn't know it at the time." He was starting to back away, scratching his head sheepishly. "I thought Hisao was telling the truth, you know…"

"But you believed him!" She poked a finger at his chest. "Him! When you knew that he could be full of crap! And you made me believe that I was guilty! Accusing me when you knew that I was vulnerable! And to think I was scared to apologize? I cried for months!! I thought I was…I was completely…I mean you…Urgh!!" She broke off in frustration.

"Hey, wait just a second here." Tasuki felt his temper rising. "You know I get angry easily so it …"

"So that makes it excusable for you to completely jump into conclusions??" She gestured frantically. "So every time that you fly off the handle I just have to understand that you're incapable of keeping your stupid temper in check??"

"Look! I already said I was sorry ok??" He screamed back at her. "Besides, my temper isn't stupid! It's not like I can help it if I get angry! I'm a red head for cripes sake! If you can't handle it, why don't you…. go out with Chichiri or something, huh?"

"There you go again!" She stared back defiantly, poking him again. "You're always accusing that I like Chichiri! That I want to be with him! What's your problem?"

"What?! It's true!" He challenged back, ticking off his fingers. "He's not bad-tempered, always calm and collected. You guys get along well and…and you've kissed him before!! So why don't you just get on with it then huh?"

"Urgh! I told you already! That was a gesture of gratitude! And it was on the cheek, you freak! So stop exaggerating everything! Why are you so jealous all the time??" She smacked him on the chest in aggravation.

He grabbed her offending hand and draws her nearer, hissing angry. "I'm jealous because you're always making me jealous!"

"How am I making you jealous…." She growled back. "…when you're the only person that I've ever been this close with?"

The moment she said that, he stopped and was immediately aware of how intimately close they were. In a sudden burst of passion, he forcefully grabs the back of her head and captured their lips together, soft enough to not remind them of their last disastrous kiss but forceful enough to relay on his desperation and longing. He ignored her fist thumping his chest in protest which eventually halted as she slowly snaked her arms around him instead. Never one to reject a kiss from Tasuki, regardless of the situation, she responded by grabbing a turf of his hair and pull more of him onto her and felt her lips almost bruising from the contact. But she didn't care, she missed him and it's obvious that he does too and the longing that they felt were revealed through the heat of desire emitting between them as they grab on to another as if afraid that if they don't close any distance between them, they might lose each other again. And when it looks as if they might go on any longer, Arisu suddenly push him away roughly, a loud smack heard from severing their contact, and Tasuki stumbled back looking astonished.

Wiping his heated swollen lips with the back of his hands he gasped, "Why..?"

She smirked back diabolically. "Don't think that just because of that, I've already forgiven you." And she brushed past him, heading towards the door.

"What the hell?" He tried to snatch her arm but before he realized what was happening, everything that wasn't nailed to the floor began to rain down on him and in seconds he was buried under a pile of clothes, books, knick knacks, and as a finishing touch, Arisu dumped a bowl of fruits on his head emitting a cry from the trapped red head as each fruits bounce off his head soundly. Looking very satisfied, she cheekily blew him a kiss and strut out of the room, leaving him screaming a stream of curses at her.

"Why that little +X!!" he growled angrily, wriggling his body to release himself.

"Careful Genrou…" Kouji suddenly appear, leaning calmly against the doorsill. "…I don't like you mouthing off at my little sister like that."

"But did you see that!! She just…Eurgh!!" Tasuki was practically steaming under all that junk, longing to shake his fist for effect but couldn't really move a muscle. "Kouji! Don't just stand there; get me the hell out of here!"

Kouji walk up to the molehill of his possessions, chuckling quietly. "Bummer man, I guess the luck didn't really work, huh?"

"Ya think so?" Tasuki replied, dripping with sarcasm. "Good gosh, I think it worked splendidly considering the fact that I'm sitting on your stupid stuffed porcupine! If I have more than one hole on my butt, so help me I'm gonna start choking you!"

"Hah! You think you had it bad?" Kouji retorted, grabbing the apple that was sitting on Tasuki's head, polished it off on his shirt and took a bite. "I remember the time Arisu got mad when I did something, can't recall what it is now though but anyway, she heaved a whole haystack at me and I was trapped for hours looking like a human scarecrow. I had to let our old horse and cows to eat off me before I could even get out. I'm telling you, when she's mad, she does it proper."

Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Great! I'm in love with a she-Devil herself! Thanks for reassuring me, buddy. Feel much better now." He began to wriggle his way out, pulling off clothes that were tangled up around his limbs.

Kouji chewed slowly, looking thoughtful, ignoring his friend who was grumbling as he extracted the stuffed porcupine from his behind.

"Genrou…" he started.

"Whaaaatt…?" He replied gruffly, chucking the porcupine far away.

"I want you…no, I need…I need you to stay away." He looked down guiltily. "Stay away from Arisu, Genrou."

Tasuki paused what he was doing. "What? Whatdya mean stay away from her?"

Kouji heaved a sigh. "Just for the time being. She's kinda mad at you anyway so…"

"What are you saying?" Tasuki was beginning to worry. Was he supposed to ask permission from her kin before he can be with her or something? How does this sort of thing work anyway?

"Look, Tasuki….I'm just gonna be honest here. Arisu's my lil' sister, right? And I haven't seen her for four damn years. I just…I feel guilty leaving her to fend for herself like that and I just need time with her. You know, to catch up and bond and stuff. You understand right, buddy?" He clasped Tasuki's shoulders beseechingly. "I know you….love her. But I love her too and I don't wanna lose her again."

"She's not going anywhere, Kouji." He said quietly. "Not if I can help it."

"I know that. But I need time with her; I need to be her big brother again. It's just….I just…" Kouji sighed heavily. "I'm the only family she's got, you know. And she's the only family I got."

Frowning, Tasuki considered what his friend was saying. Seeing Arisu everyday, he won't know how long he could stand not touching her or kissing her or... anything. Even if it meant he would be buried alive constantly, it didn't matter. But regardless, he nodded his head to Kouji in agreement. "All right, all right…" he rolled his eyes again. "I won't hog her for myself or anything, just you know…grab her once in awhile." He smirked evilly.

Kouji immediately grimaced in disgust. "Aw, man…I don't need to know that!! You're unbelievable! She did this to you and you're still gung ho over her? Sheesh."

Tasuki flashed his fangs. "What can I say, man. I like 'em fiery!"

"Ewww…shuddup…." He bonked his friends head with a random walking stick.

"So, all of them are orphans?" She stares incredulously at her brother. "And you guys just take them in and train them to become bandits?"

"Yup," The other dark blue-hair said simply looking quite at ease leaning against the tree trunk. Both reunited siblings were sitting under the shade of an old tree in the garden and Arisu was listening to Kouji describing his life with the Mount Reikaku Bandits and the things that they do. She was trying to come into terms that her brother had turned into a bandit and was living off of stolen things. "But don't make it sound like we look for every single person who lost their parents and just recruit them. We're not an orphanage! These kids come to us when they wanna join the group and they earn their keep by joining the gang."

Arisu rolled her eyes and sighing. "This is too weird. Whenever I thought of you, I'd never imagine you being a second in command to a pack of thieves. I thought you'd be doing something…I dunno…nobler."

"Well, it's not as bad as it sounds." He replied defensively. "It's not like we steal from poor farmers or anything. We steal things from rich people who have more than their share of money and most of them are corrupted and oppressive anyway, so it kinda goes back around ya know. Besides, it's not like we rob people just for the fun of it. We steal things to survive and to provide our gang with food and shelter. It's better to steal rather than become slaves like what they do to most orphaned children."

"Ok ok…I guess when you put it that way…" She drifted off. Even though the so-called profession seemed less than revered, she had to give them credit for having an honest purpose behind it all. As an orphan herself, she knew how lonely and depressing it feels to lose one's parents and to suddenly be thrust into the world alone. She'd even heard of children becoming slaves to work off their dead parent's debt and even exploited into child labor. At least the Mount Reikaku Bandits sort of provide a dysfunctional type of family and spark of a new kind of hope with each member connected by the same misfortune.

She realized that even though we are all born alone and would die alone, we mask that reality by seeking other's company so that we won't need to feel alone and that ultimately, we'll be alone together. United by the same fate.

Watching a couple of young boys walking past them, laughing and pushing each other playfully, she remembered how depressing it was when she suddenly had no one anymore, not knowing where to go or what to do and the only clearest goal she had was to find her brother and to just survive. Thinking about it, she suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of fondness and pride for her brother. A tear suddenly sprung out from the corner of her eye and she sniffed to hold it in.

Noticing it, Kouji sat up quickly and clamped his hand over hers. "Hey, what's wrong? Did I say something?"

"Oh nothing. I'm glad is all." She smiled at him, showing him it was happy tears and wiped it away. "Hey, does this mean I'm eligible to be a bandit? You know, being an orphan and all."

Kouji just laughed. "You a bandit? I don't think you're cut out for it sis."

Arisu crossed her arms, feigning irritation. "Oh really? I'll have you know that on a good day, I can take on all of you bandits together without breaking a sweat!" She bragged.

"Oh please, don't kid yourself! We're a bunch of real tough, street-smart guys and we've faced all kinds of dangers. We even fought in a war. So don't get way over your head on it, little kid." He chuckled, ruffling up his sister's hair.

"All kinds of danger huh?" She pushed his hand away. "Well I bet it can't be compared to the type of dangers that I've faced and survived. You guys are tough together, but I had to do it all alone. Hah! Beat that!" She smirked broadly not realizing that Kouji wasn't laughing anymore.

"Allright Arisu…" his voice implored silently. "…cmooon…tell me already about what happened to you. I did my share of catching up but now it's your turn. I wanna know what you've been up to after dad died. And what kind of dangers are we talking about here, huh?"

Arisu sighed heavily. She had been postponing telling him the story of her miserable life because she didn't feel like reopening healing wounds at the moment not to mention facing the look of horror and guilt on his face once he knew.

"Just tell me Arisu. Don't keep things like this from me." He shifted till he was sitting directly in front of her, urging her on through pleading eyes. "Genrou told me you trained under Hisao."

"What?! He told you that already?" She straightens up in shock. Oh no, now I really can't dodge it.

"Of course! He also told me that you've been attacked and captured countless times before. He was there when you were attacked that one time."

He was looking wide-eyed at that, desperate to know. She suddenly recognized the protective brother she remembered long ago. Dang it all, she thought ruefully. She was hoping that by letting him do all the talking, he'd forget about asking her in turn. He would eventually ask, and she would eventually have to tell, she knows that, but by then she had hoped to have figured out what to tell him and what to leave out.

"Oh look!" she exclaimed brightly, making to get up. "There's Tasuki! I just remembered I have to go…strangle him or something.…."

"Ohhh….no you don't." He pulled at her long braid till she tumbled back down. "You're not going anywhere till you tell me!"

She laughed pitifully at him. "I'm not a kid anymore Kouji, you can't make me by just pulling my hair!" And with that she started to float up wards trying to make an escape. But suddenly Kouji retorted "Oh yeah?!" and lunged at her, grabbing her around the waist till they both fell back down on the grass. Arisu shrieked in tortured glee as Kouji tickled her mercilessly and soon both of them were out of breath, looking very much like playful little children.

"Ok ok! I give!" She gasped in defeat, tears streaming down her cheek. Kouji collapsed beside her and they both catch their breaths, just staring up at the clouds with their matching dark-blue tresses seemingly attached together as it formed a dark pool beneath their heads.

"You moron." She kicked playfully at his leg.

"You're the moron." He retorted. "C'mon. I promise I won't interrupt. Now speak, woman!"

Arisu sighed and began reluctantly. She realized it seemed easier to address the sky instead of telling him face to face. Occasionally while she was recounting a particularly torrid detail, she could hear negative inflections in his voice ranging from a rueful clucking of the tongue to a distressed grunt. She made sure to retell the good parts too, like the times she saved someone by using her gift, the time she met Emiko, the rare but caring strangers she met who offered temporary food, work and shelter like Sakura and her husband and even her period spent in Tsukanin village and Mount Hoshimanji where she found solace in the people who were just like her. That was right before she met the Celestial Warriors and their Priestess. Right before she met Tasuki.

Even though she promised to not leave out anything, she was reluctant to elaborate on the exact times that she had been caught by mobs and that viciously persistent gang. She never told him of the times after she escaped how she had suffered to sustain her injuries from prolonging and how she managed to heal herself in silent agony. He was unaware of her suicidal notions and how at some point she just gave up and gave in to circumstances. She didn't feel it was necessary since it only happen the first couple of years after their father died. Never told him how time seems to drag on when she was alone which felt like a decade when it actually was a few years of misery.

She much rather tell him about the eventful year where she was safe in Tsukanin village with Emiko and her mom and the wonderfully gifted people she befriended and the things she learnt from Hisao. Kouji seemed most interested in Hisao and inquired a lot about the old man. Already having met and lived with him, she tends to forget that Hisao is this powerful legendary unsung hero that only few have seen and many wondered about. His foul-mouth and harsh countenance was what she clearly remembers about him and which she cheerfully relays on Kouji who was mostly amused at her description.

"I really think that he was the one who originated vulgar words and spreads them around like a plague. He sure is old enough to be." She said as she dishes out every single awful thing he's said and done while Kouji chuckled appreciatively beside her. "In his nastiest mood, he'd call me shitface but when he's most creative he calls me a belligerent butt-kissing nincompoop or something as mouthful. I'm telling you, I can write a whole book on curses now and they'd sell like hot cakes!"

Kouji grinned. "If then, Genrou would buy a whole bookshelf of it. And he's not known to read." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "I'd like to see both of them in a room. They create a whole new batch of words, don't cha think?"

"Humph! They sure get along well enough." She said bitterly, the memory in the cave came slipping in her train of thought.

He was silent after that, realizing what she meant by it. "You know, Genrou told me all about it, about what happen and what Hisao told him."

She stayed quiet hoping he didn't expect her to retell her side of the story. They lay watching a flock of birds gliding carelessly overhead. She suddenly felt the need to join them.

"Arisu," he treaded carefully. "As your brother, I could kill Genrou for what he did to you, you know for hurting you and all. But, I know him as a close friend so believe me, he was just being him and he really didn't mean it. He shoots before he aims, that Genrou. I'm sure you're aware how he can be a bit temperamental…" Arisu snorted scornfully. "…ok, a LOT temperamental. But that's only because he's a sensitive kind of guy. He's like, you know…." He snaps his fingers erratically, as if struggling to find the right word. "…like a girl in the inside but a man on the outside."

The sentence just hung in the air ridiculously, and then they both started laughing. "Oh man…he wouldn't like that now would he?"

Arisu just smiled. "How about like a crab. You know, red and hard on the outside but white and mushy in the inside."

"Yeah," Kouji nodded in agreement. "Plus, he can be pretty crabby, so it's perfect."

"Yeah," she echoed and they fell into a vat of silence once more.

"Anyway…" He cleared his throat loudly, meaning to change the subject. "What else did Hisao taught you anyway? What other superpowers are you hiding huh sis?"

"Oh, plenty," she smirked cryptically. "You should be afraid big brother. Be very afraid."

"Hah! I should huh? Tell me, can your new powers stop me from doing….this?!" And he dove at her swiftly to start another bout of tickle fight.

They rolled around on the grass again, emitting loud flow of laughter, dodging and aiming at the other's stomach. "No…"Arisu gasps, struggling to fend for herself. "But I can do this!"

And with that, she telekinetically willed him away and he suddenly found himself suspended in mid-air, looking down at Arisu who was grinning smugly. Getting over the initial shock quickly, he whooped gleefully. "Wow! This is awesome!! This is friggin' awesome! You can make me fly!!" And he tested it out by hovering from side to side.

"Yup." She said proudly at her new found skill. "Not only that, now I can join you!" And she lifted of the ground to join her brother.

"No way!!" He exclaimed excitedly as he watch his sister fly circles around him. "You've learnt how to concentrate? Aw man, I still remember when you started out; you keep falling from the sky. And we ran out of bandages to wrap you up with."

She chuckled as they flew further away from the stronghold. "Yeah well, just make sure you're in my line of sight. If I can't see you I might drop you."

Blood drained out of his face as he realized how far the ground was. "Hey, wait! Arisu….AHHHhhh…don't turn around! Look at me!" And he started dog-peddling towards her in panic. "Don't you drop me! Don't you dare!!"

She laughed loudly, amused at her brother's antics. "I'm kidding! I won't drop you. Just stop doing that, you doofus! You're flying, not swimming!" She took his hand and guided him. "Here, like this. Just glide..…there you go."

"Man…" he murmured in awe. "...so this is what it's like huh? It's so…free."

She nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Now c'mon…show me around Konan, big bro. What's so great about this place that you need to move in here?"

"Well…" He started, face grinning wide.

"And if you tell me it's because of hot girls, I'm gonna smack and then drop you." She retorted knowingly.

He clamped up at that, fighting back his grin. Ah, she still remembers me, good ol' sis, he thought proudly. "Allright then, we'll do it your way.' And he soared ahead of her.

"Of course….the only fun way." She replied and followed his lead into the horizon, like she always had when they were little.