Standard disclaimer applies.

A/N: Inspired by chapter 155, I just had to write it.

He's Not Oga

Kunieda x Izou

Six months ago if anyone told Kunieda Aoi that the Touhoushinki were like one big family, she'd send them to the mental asylum immediately. How could the four strongest of Ishiyama ever be anything but rivals? With the dense Hidetora, the arrogant Tatsuya and the violent Hajime, it was all she could do to make sure the balance stays in place. Each Touhoushinki fought to stay on top for many reasons, but familial ties aren't one of them. Ishiyama is a territory, not a heirloom.

But now, she wasn't quite sure they weren't a family. Hidetora and Tatsuya were doing a remarkably good job of being her bullying older brothers, and Hajime was more the aloof but supporting younger one. Nene once hypothesized that it was because she was the only girl in the group and their 'protective instincts' were rearing up... as if. Who needs terrifying, fight-loving brothers like them? And then there's Oga Tatsumi, whose presence was so much like the terrifying but benevolent uncle that everyone has. She'd hate to imagine what would happen if they really were a family.

Enter Aiba Izou, the man who (supposedly) wants to woo her away from her 'family'. Not that anybody minded. Tatsuya for one, was perfectly fine with 'giving' her away. Hidetora didn't seem to care that her future was on the line. None seemed to mind that someone who barely knew her a week had fallen head over heels in love with her. She wondered what Aiba Izou saw in her that she did not see. More importantly, why did Oga Tatsumi not see it?

In many ways the two boys were mirror images of each other. Both were leaders of their respective factions, both were child-carrying badasses, both were somewhat gallant when it came to females. But perhaps that was where the line was drawn.

True Izou could make her heart flutter, but Tatsumi made it beat like mad. Izou was ridiculously strong, but Tatsumi's strength was simply out of this world. In other words, Tatsumi outclassed him in almost every aspect that mattered.

But –

So did Hilda.

Putting aside the obvious difference in male appeal, despite the huge difference in power before and after acquiring Black Techs Hilda's casual remark showed that the demon nursemaid's real strength was far beyond what she could possibly attain. Aoi could make Tatsumi come along to whatever errand she needed doing, but Hilda didn't even need to ask – she just looked at him and he'd do it without a grumble, as if it was the natural order of things. And when push comes to shove, she wondered if Tatsumi would so fiercely defend her honor as he did for Hilda…

Because she got the feeling Izou would.

As they posed for the impromptu photo, she sneaked a glance at Tatsumi and Hilda who were sitting casually, oblivious to the furor behind them. Tatsumi sported a 'whatever' expression as he relaxed with his arms draped across the back of the airport chair. Hilda looking somehow cute and sexy in a jumper and short-shorts, was saying something to Tatsumi, whose response made her kick him. But he soon settled back, this time with a content expression on his face.

"Aoi-chan, look to the front," Izou had crouched on the ground next to her, grinning. It struck her just how… normal Izou was. He was strong, sure. He had followers who were loyal to him, and he to them. He openly declared his feelings.

In short, he was human. And while Oga Tatsumi was still undeniably not of the demonic variety, he was fast blurring the lines.

"One, two, cheese!" Shinjou pressed the shutter and at the end of it, Aoi found herself smiling too. Because while Izou was most certainly not Tatsumi, that was fine.

She wasn't Hilda either.