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Ame stood in the small kitchen packing the bento. She stood back on her heels, observing her work. Nodding with satisfaction, she picked up the lid, securing it and than wrapped the bento in a {14}furoshiki. She looked over as Nami walked into the open door jam.
“Yaa; you ready to go?”
Ame looked to her drolly.
“No; but if I must. Than yes” She smiled gently, handing the bento to Nami. “Let’s grab a couple of green tea {15} ramune on the way”
Nami smiled, holding her thumbs up.
{16} “Rettsugō”
~---------------
Ame yawned as they walked down the sidewalk towards the science building.
“You need to get more rest, Ne-chan” Nami said looking to her. “You shouldn’t get up so early just to make lunch”
“A woman’s worthiness is decided by how well she is able to prepare a bento” Ame said holding up her finger. “One day, young sister, you too will learn this life lesson”
Nami sighed than shook her head.
“Why do that, you have no boyfriend”
Ame cringed, swinging back as she gripped her forehead, Nami stopped and turned back to her.
“That was cold, dear sister. It cut me through the bone” She said dramatically, gripping her chest with her free hand. Nami rolled her eyes than walked off, Ame glanced back.
{17} “Oy; what kind of sister leaves her Ne-chan to suffer?” She asked.
Nami looked back at her, laughing. {18}“Damane yo” She gestured her over. {19} “Isogo, before we’re late”
Ame raced over to Nami, slinging her arm around Nami’s shoulders and the two walked off laughing.
~----------------------
The four watched from their classroom as the two laughed and talked. Kazama curled his fingers into a fist.
“How can they still be able to smile after all of this?” He asked, his voice trembled with anger and his eyes seemed to turn a crimson red.
{20} “Shizumeru, Kazama. We don’t want your powers to backlash…{21}mōichido” Yuuki said grinning slightly.
{22} “Un; it took us weeks to cover up your blunder” Hiro crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair.
“I won’t lose my temper to those brats!” He bellowed, the crystal cup beside him shattered, glass and wine scattered and spilled over the table.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead; Jin-Ho glanced up from his book, watching him.
“If you don’t stop, our families will be on you again” Jin-Ho said sitting up. “They won’t tolerate another outburst”
“And you think I don’t know that?!” He asked.
The three sighed to themselves. They knew it would only be a matter of minutes before Kazama’s temper would go over the edge and they weren’t exactly in the mood to deal with their families right now. Luckily, they all knew the one sentence that would set Kazama straight.
“Do you want Takeshi to come here?” Jin-Ho was the first to say it.
At that phrase, Kazama seemed to freeze. He was ridged down; his movement’s jerky as his temper simmered than dispersed. He sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes. It wasn’t that Kazama hated his older brother, the two were on a casual relationship status; it’s just that Takeshi seemed to excel at everything Kazama could and couldn’t do. One would say he was jealous of his older brother. But; that could go for any of the six ‘Lords’.
~-------------------------------------------
{23} “Shinjiranai!” Ono Katsu laughed heavily, covering his mouth.
The millions of fans screamed out, chanting {24}‘Burakkushīpu’ in the background as the six men sat around the heater backstage. People raced around them setting up for the next song.
“Ye, ye. He looked so stupid with curly hair but no one would tell him” Hagane Takeshi chuckled. “They all lied to his face, but all that did was boost his ego”
They laughed again. Ikeda Masura unscrewed the cap and took a drink of his water.
“Our little brothers can be idiots sometimes” Masura said, nodding his head.
“At least they have all learned to control…well, you know” Bae Hyun-Ki said leaning in closer to the group, dropping his voice.
“All except Kaza” Hyun Seung-Nam scoffed.
“He has his mother’s temper if nothing else” Seong Syun-Shik said nodding, looking the Takeshi. “Remember when she and Yashimura-san would start arguing”
“Un; all too well” Takeshi said. “Its like if a tornado ever met a volcano”
{25} “Itai” They muttered silently.
“Oy, oy!”
The six looked back as their manager raced up to them.
“Let’s go, the concert is about to start, {26} ima” He said as the stylists hurried the six off to their dressing rooms.
~-----------------------------------------------------------
Ame stood in the kitchen chopping the vegetables. She looked at her watch than gripped the hand towel, drying her hands as she gripped the remote, turning on the TV and flipping through the channels. The woman stood holding the microphone.
“Today is day one of the Burakkushīpu’s concert tour. Millions of fans have come out to see this group perform on stage. Their manager has allowed us to film the concerts so viewers at home and all around the world can watch”
The camera’s switched to the stage as the six came out, the roar of the crowd increased. Nami walked down the hallway and yawned as she glanced to the TV.
“Ugh; those guys again” Nami said watching as the boys danced. “Don’t you get tired of those six?”
{27} “Iie; I love them. They’re awesome” Ame said smiling.
“I thought tough girls didn’t like boy bands” Nami said crinkling her nose.
“So much to learn, dear child” Ame said wagging her finger.
Nami rolled her eyes than smiled as the doorbell rang. She walked over, pulling it open and looking up at the two girls. The first had long, bright red hair and mint eyes while the other had short, dark auburn hair and chocolate brown eyes.
“…Pein…Iseul” Nami said smiling softly.
Nami looked back as Ame looked up, pausing slightly. The three girls yelped happily, racing to each other and throwing their arms around one another. They laughed, jumping like preppy schoolgirls.
“When did you two get back to Japan?” Ame asked.
“I finished with my studies” Pein said smiling.
“Dad passed, so I had no reason to stay in Korea” Iseul said wearily.
Ame hugged them again.
“It’s so nice to see you guys again” Ame said.
“We’re here to stay, Ame. And look” Pein held up the dress bang she was carrying, unzipping it to show the Shinobu uniform.
“You guys got into Shinobu?” Ame asked.
{28}“Oye; Cool, right?” Pein asked smiling as she zipped the bag up.
“Where will you stay?” Nami asked.
“Well; I guess a motel” Pein said nodding.
“Motel? Iie, Iie. You’ll stay here” Ame said. “We have a spare room, you guys can bunk together” Ame said smiling.
The two nodded, looking back at Nami.
“So; Nami. Have you gotten yourself into anymore trouble?” Iseul asked.
{29}“Sounee…” Nami trailed off.
“We’ve been in a complex situation. We’ve been ticketed” Ame said.
“Ticketed?” Pein asked. “What’s that?”
“The ‘Six Lords’ who rule the school I guess you would say. We stood up to them, so now then whole school is against us” Nami said twirling her fingers.
“You beat them up, right Ame?” Pein asked.
“Well; no…but I’ve thought of it” Ame said. “I fear that if I go against them they will kick Nami out of Shinobu”
“We’ve got your back Ame” Iseul said. “We’ve brought our bokkens”
Ame watched them and smiled gently.
~-----------------
The six sat in the living room of the large hotel suit talking. Masura scooped rice into his bowl and started eating.
“The concert went so well today” Masura said looking into Seung. “How’s your throat?”
“Sore, like always” He said rubbing his neck.
“Will you be alright for next week’s concert?” Syun-Shik asked.
“Of course, I always am” Seung said shrugging.
“Where is our next concert?” Katsu asked than took a drink of water.
“Let’s see” Takeshi said pulling out his PDA.
He scrolled down the calendar.
{30}“Um; Himeji”
“Really?” Hyun-Ki asked. “We’ll get to see our little brothers”
“I wonder how their doing” Syun-Shik said to himself. “You think they’re still causing trouble with those ‘tickets’”
“Dunno. I guess we will find out soon” Takeshi said than took a bit of the chicken.
~-----------------------
Bae Tae and Min stepped off the plane and smiled, looking down at the four waiting for them.
“Ya; Bae-Tae, Min-Sun. How was Seoul?” Yuuki asked as the two joined the group.
“It was nice to see our family” Bae-Tae said nodding. “They send their blessings”
{31}“Umma got out of the hospital, she’s doing well” Min said. “I was worried about her, but everything is alright”
“So; what’s happened since we left?” Bae-Tae asked.
“Kazama put a black ticket on the two new girls” Jin-Ho said gesturing his thumb back at Kazama.
“Girls?” Min and Bae-Tae asked.
“Since when do girls gain a black ticket?” Min asked.
“They annoyed me” Kazama said glancing off.
“They are of the lower class. The older one, Amaterasu; she scored a perfect 100 three times. She’s the one who went against Kazama. She carries around a bokken” Hiro said.
“Bokken? Could she be in a yakuza gang?” Bae-Tae asked looking to Yuuki.
“If she is than I’ve never heard of her” Yuuki said. “Maybe if I knew her street name I could place her…”
“She’s a nut, that’s what she is” Kazama said walking off. “Come on; Bae-Tae and Min are back and the Six Lords are one again. Lets celebrate”
~-----------------------------------------
Ame dug through the hallway closet than pulled out the large blanket.
{32}“Mo; Ne-chan”
She looked back at Nami than to the furniture pushed back against the walls, leaving a large clean spot.
“Lets all sleep here tonight; like a slumber party” Nami said smiling. “Remember when Pein and Iseul used to sleep over at the orphanage with us and we would take all the blankets and lay them on the floor?”
Ame smiled reminiscing than laughed.
“Sounds fun” She said nodding than walked over, unfolding the blanket and throwing two corners to Nami. The two laid the blanket out.
“Go get some pillows” Ame said.
Nami nodded, prancing off down the hall and returning seconds later with a large heap of pillows. She tossed them into the center of the blanket. Pein and Iseul walked from the bathroom in their pajamas than looked into the living room.
“Just like when we were little” Pein said smiling.
“We have a big day ahead of us. It’s the day that we take the ‘Six Lords’ down a notch” Ame said holding up her clinched fist. “Gambatte!
{33}“Gambatte!” The three yelled in unison.
{34}“Oyasuminasai” They all said, bowing.
The four laid down, their heads together, and fell into deep slumber.
~---------------
“Pein, Iseul, Nami!” Ame yelled out. “You guys ready yet?”
The three walked into the kitchen as Ame handed Nami and Iseul each a bento.
“Nami and Iseul will carry the bento. Pein, you and I will carry the drinks” Ame said. “What type should we get today?”
“How about {35}Match? It’s been awhile since we’ve had that and there’s a vending machine on the way to school” Nami said.
“Sounds like a plan” Pein said smiling.
“Rettsugo” Nami marched from the apartment happily.
~---------------------
Kazama yawned heavily than looked around at the others. Yuuki sat at his desk slumped over, his head rested on the mahogany. Min rubbed his temples, glancing over at Kazama.
“Why did I let you talk us into partying all night?” He asked than sighed heavily, “My head hurts”
Murmurs of consent echoed as moans followed. Jin-Ho looked up from his book, smiling.
“I told you guys not to party and drink on a school night”
“Why are we even here?” Yuuki asked. “It’s not like we would be counted absent”
“I’d rather not be home; those maids coming in and out of my room at all times of the day. It’s bothersome” Kazama said leaning back in his chair.
The door swung open, banging against the wall as the group grimaced heavily. They looked over, hesitating. Kazama slowly stood.
{36}“Nani-?” He asked.
Pein and Iseul walked into the classroom with Ame and Nami close behind, the three girls held their bokkens in their hands.
{37}“desgraciado” Pein hissed angrily.
“Ya; what the hell are you guys doing?” Kazama asked.
Pein and Iseul swung their bokkens forward as Kazama jumped back.
“You better leave Ame alone, you hear me; {38} pusnaegi” Iseul said watching him.
“Fine, fine. Just stop yelling” Kazama said as he sat back down.
“What’s up with you guys?” Pein asked looking around the room.
“They all got drunk last night” Jin-Ho said.
“Serves them right” Iseul muttered.
{39}“Imma” Min said looking up at Ame. “Do you know how to cure a hangover?”
“Yes; quiet well actually. These two used to have a hangover almost daily” Ame said throwing her thumb over to Pein and Iseul.
“You guys are supposed to be men. What kind of man doesn’t know his own limits?” Pein asked scowling.
“Can you cure it or not?” Kazama asked.
“I don’t see why I should help you, Kazama. But my motherly instinct will not allow me to just walk away” Ame said crossing her arms. “So; show me to a kitchen”
Bae-Tae pointed to the back of the room, Ame walked pass them and down the small hallway, into the small kitchen than started digging through the pantry.
Thirty minutes later Ame brought the tray of {40}Bloody Mary’s out, setting one on each of their desk; skipping over Jin-Ho and Bae-Tae.
“Drink up” Ame said. “And than get some rest”
Hiro tasted the drink than scrunched his face.
“I know it’s spicy, but you must drink it all” Ame said.
He nodded.
“Thank you; {41} Noona” Bae-Tae said smiling, than looked around at everyone’s empty glasses; all of them were asleep. He smiled back up at her. “Thank you Noona, I appreciate it”
“Why did they get drunk on a school night?” Pein asked.
“Min and I just got back yesterday from a month long vacation to Seoul. They celebrated and went a little overboard”
{42}“Aren’t you guy’s underage?” Nami asked.
“All but Jin-Ho, who didn’t even have one drink” Bae-Tae said. “But; because of our social class, we are an exception”
“I can’t see why Kazama would put a black ticket on you, Noona” He said looking up to her.
“Kazama is a spoiled brat, that’s why” Ame said crossing her arms.
Jin-Ho watched her than smiled slightly, looking down at his book.
“What about me, Noona?” Bae-Tae asked.
She looked at him beaming up at her; she smiled and ruffled his hair.
“You’re alright, Bae-Tae” She looked back at Nami. “Nami; take Iseul and Pein and show them around. I’m going to clean up some”
Nami nodded as the three walked from the classroom. Ame picked up the tray and walked around the desks, picking up the empty glasses.
“Bae-Tae. Do you want to help me cook some stew?” Ame asked. “They will be hungry when they wake up”
Bae-Tae smiled, nodding happily.
~-----------------
Kazama yawned heavily than opened his eyes, he sat up than looked at the bowl of stew. He paused slightly than glanced around at the others sitting at their desks eating.
“What’s this?” Kazama asked.
Bae-Tae looked over at him.
“Noona cooked stew for you guys before she left”
“Noona?”
{43}“Ame-Ssi” Bae-Tae smiling.
Kazama looked down at the stew again.
“After you guys fell asleep she cooked the stew and washed the glasses” He said than pointed over to the front of the classroom at the small table with {44} incense burning gently. “She found some lavender scented ones, she says it aids in peaceful sleep and eases headaches”
Kazama looked back down to the stew; he picked up the spoon, scooped some up and slid it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring the flavor than swallowed.
“She never even asked about revoking the black ticket” Jin-Ho said without looking up from the book.
Kazama looked to him, his eyebrows creased together.
What is wrong with this girl? She should have been on her knees begging to have the ticket revoked from her sisters and herself. Why would she do all this for us? Is she acting like some saint or something?
~-----------------------------
Ame walked down the pathway and sighed, looking up at the sun.
“Why did I help those brats?” She asked herself. “…I got too caught up in Bae-Tae’s {45}Kawaiiness…”
She sighed again. The two underclassmen walked form the science building and looked over to her and pointed. One pulled the water balloon from the plastic bag and cocked it back, sending it flying across the courtyard. It hit her square in the back, exploding as water soaked her. Ame stopped, gasping as she looked around. More water balloons struck her body as she covered her face. The raid stopped as she looked up. From the roof of the science building a small cluster of freshman heaved a bag onto the railing than dumped the white baby powder onto of Ame.
She gasped heavily, coughing as she whipped the powder off her face. The students had gathered around her in a large crowd and laughed, snapping pictures on their cameras and phones. A sophomore pushed her back into another student as they laughed and pushed her around the circle. The crowd parted as she stumbled, a girl tripped her as she fell against the ground. They laughed harder, kicking her. A boy stomped his foot against her chest as the rib fractured, Ame screamed out in agony that carried throughout the school.
Bae-Tae looked out the window. “Noona!”
The others looked back at him.
“What’s wrong, Bae-Tae?” Jin-Ho asked.
“They’re hurting Noona!” He yelled frantically, throwing the window open.
The five raced to the window, gathering around it and gaped at the scene before them.
“They’ve never been that violent to a ticketed person before” Hiro said quietly.
Jin-Ho gripped the pane, leaping onto the balcony as the others followed him, he gripped the iron rail, opening his mouth to yell.
{46} “Yamete yo!” ~ {47} “Geuman!”
The six paused, looking over at the main gates.
“No way…”
Ame looked over, pausing as she starred up at the six men standing at the front of the school.
“Burakkushīpu…?” She asked.
