The Ninth Nase HOH

"FUCK YOU AND YOUR RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE CAT FOOD!"

Or so he wanted to say. No, that would be unbecoming. He was better than that, after all he was a Mushu. No, no Mooshie needed that cat food. She wouldn’t be happy if he brought home toro instead, like that one time when….

[…]

…it was Mooshie’s first birthday, a year to the day since young Kita had received Mooshie from the Eighth Head of the Nases at  funeral. Following somber memorial rites for their one-year passage, Kita stiffly made his way back to his private estate escaping the apathetic apologies of his uncles and the exaggerated tears of his aunts.

Under the moonlight, he felt something nuzzle his legs. Tears started to well in his eyes as the young boy felt the only genuine comfort he had received all day.

*Meow?*

He picked her up and cried into her fur. Mooshie licked him.

*Grrrrrrllll*

It was only then that he realized Mooshie was hungry. And so was he. What a peculiar feeling it is to feel hungry in all of this. He laughed away his tears and quickly wiped them away.

"How about some toro, old chap?", Kita said as he snuggled her a bit to much for her liking.

Old Nase told him not to ever give Mooshie human food. But it was a rough day and both of them needed a treat, especially with all the kid-snot in Mooshie’s fur, decided Kita. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?

Kita didn’t remember the rest of that evening. Nor any of the next week. There were strange tales of a giant cat roaming the farmlands and the smell of cat piss all over the Mushu estate. But Kita woke up too late for that; these rumors never reached his ears…

[…]

No, it wouldn’t do to start a war just yet.

Screw the scroll. He was far too impatient for that crap. He planted his feet and just charged…

"Hello?" The one who had challenged him became quite silent all of a sudden. Hisoka could only guess Mushu had once again, lost himself in a memory. Likely something about the youmu-cat. Let's face it, nothing could occupy this kid's attention like that furry creature. The eleven-year-old head of household was just about to wave his hand in front of Mushu's face when the other snapped to attention.

Rather fiercely, Lord Mushu made his attack and Hisoka felt the urge to face palm. 

Why was it that nobody ever wanted to sign the scroll first? 

Having no other choice, Hisoka unsheathed his katana. He didn't feel like he needed it but when one was formally challenged in these areas, they must draw their weapon. It would be an insult otherwise. Though Mushu shall be quite insulted by losing the battle anyway, Hisoka figured he should at least attempt to limit the damage he'd do to the kid's ego. 

In the end, Hisoka's counter attack was simple. First, he side stepped out of the way, dodging Mushu's attack neatly. Then, he spun his katana so that he held the blade of the weapon. "Sorry, this is going to hurt like hell." He brought the handle of his weapon down on the back of his enthusiastic opponent's neck.

Thud.

Hazel hues drifted towards Hisoka at his mentioning of research, of course Tadashi didn’t blame him for that. Back then he wouldn’t have thought about it in the least bit, but now it’s something he’d expect of him to do. Though the information that his guardian just spoke of caught his attention. It bothered him ever so slightly that Hisoka didn’t bring it up, but then he really couldn’t blame he older male for that either, Tadashi could remember how he reacted when he finally realized his mother wasn’t going to come and pick him up. 

"Surely I’d still have remembered her, right?" Tadashi spoke calmly, though his voice became void of emotion as he glanced back to Inari. It didn’t make any sense. Perhaps it was something only Hisoka could realize, but he still didn’t trust her despite what was being said. 

Watching silently as Hisoka removed the cloth from the pinkette’s mouth, he could feel a slight pain in his head coming on. The entire situation was confusing, and their current location was rather distasteful. He couldn’t tell what was bringing on the head pain. It definitely wasn’t because he hasn’t eaten enough, maybe it was a lack of sleep topped on top of this situation. 

Then Hisoka mentioned the night of his arrival. That night was still blurry to him, it was mainly a series of treatment, eating very little, and sleep. The day before that was even more blurry, and the thought of it pulled his attention away from the two of them to the wall. Even after he came to call this place home, what he did remember of that night, he didn’t want to talk about.

Her eyes snapped towards Hisoka. Brought to him? That meant…her mother… The spot above her eyes started to ache and she sucked in a small breath through her nose before letting it out again. She wasn’t ready to quite let go of what she had been believing but…perhaps she’d been wrong about the Nase’s. Maybe…just maybe…someone else had killed her mother. The fact that he had researched about Tadashi didn’t surprise her. She’d have done the same thing given his situation.

The first thing she did when the gag was gone snap her mouth shut and turn her eyes towards a wall. What exactly did on say to the man you had attacked hours before and a brother you hadn’t seen in years?

"….I thought you were dead at first." Her eyes snapped from the wall to his eyes. The were almost the same shade as hers. "And then I was told you were kidnapped by the Nase family after they’d killed mom. I was too young at the time to really do much other than wait." She squeezed her eyes shut a moment. "I’ve been training, researching. Trying to find the best way so I could come and get you back."

Hisoka didn't want that.

He couldn't find a reason logically. First, this kid was nothing but trouble. He also ate enough for a person twice his size. The medical bill was heavy during the drier seasons and...The Nase household could do without Tadashi. Hisoka himself, however, might not function as well if the brat left. Looking for him has become a part of his daily routine. It had gone from being irritating to almost entertaining. 

"At least he is well. That must set your heart at ease." Hisoka walked over to Tadashi, lifting one of his arms. "See? Nice and healthy. Clearly well fed. He's not being treated as a slave, but a child. I was made a father at the age of eleven." The head of the Nase household turned away from Inari and focused instead on the child he had raised. "Tadashi, decide if you want to leave with her. You have three days."

Important question, serious moment. Perfect time for comedy relief. A furry creature had somehow wormed its way into the top secret torture chamber. For a moment Hisoka just stared at it, speechless. It totally ruined the atmosphere. "I am sure you two have a lot more to talk about. I will go take a walk...And send this little intruder back to where it came from." With a single hand, Hisoka scooped up the 'cat' and carried it out of the room. 

     And yet he was brought here.

     When hazel eyes fell on another body, a bit of worry struck him. Tadashi didn’t dwell on it for long though, naturally he trusted whatever decisions his elder made but even so, bringing him here was pushing it a bit. He wasn’t allowed to be in this room on his own, and from the way it looked on the inside, he didn’t want to be in here accompanied either.

     "Is this going to become a thing? Are you just going to introduce me to your attackers? If it is, I’d prefer if it didn’t." The strawberry blond male spoke lazily, but his interest was attained with the showing of the ring. Taking it from Hisoka, Tadashi looked it over, and after feeling the special material his eyes immediately looked to his left hand where his own ring usually rested. It was indeed there, then why would she have one too? Sister?

Then a boy came in. Not much younger than either Hisoka or herself. Even if she hadn’t seen him in almost twelve years, she knew instantly it was Tadashi. The same shade of hair, the eyes that looked like their mothers, the face shape she saw every time she caught a glimpse in the mirror. This just had to be him. Her gaze shot back to her captor when he spoke and she forced herself not to roll her eyes. Instead she began to think of how she could tear him limb from limb when she was let go.

Her rinng. Why did the bastard have her ring? And how did he know her name? She hadn’t given it when she attacked him. Honey colored hues drifted back towards her brother.

"I don’t have a sister. I never did."

"...I did some research after your mother dropped you off. Don't blame me, I could hardly accept someone I know nothing about." He gave Tadashi a look. Likely the kid wasn't going to be mad, but Hisoka didn't want him to leave with the impression he was distrusted. "The information I had claimed you had a sister by the name of Inari Kuriyama. Her whereabouts are unknown. I didn't talk to you about her all this time because I assumed you knew...And I figured she was dead." Clearly though, he was wrong about the dead part. His captive was quite healthy in body and spirit. Capable fighter, too.

If Hisoka tried a little harder, then maybe he could have found Inari. For a few reasons he chose against that. Number one and most selfish was that he didn't want to take in another Kuriyama in his house. Tadashi was already an exception that other clans wouldn't have made. Why bring more trouble for his household when he didn't need to? In addition, if he found out the location of the girl and that information leaked out, then her situation could become very dangerous. He didn't want to indirectly kill her. 

Hisoka pulled the wad of cloth from where it was inelegantly stuffed in Inari's mouth. Likely she'd want to speak at this point. Since it was clear by her eyes that she recognized Tadashi, Hisoka felt safe letting her loose. After all, she would hardly want to hurt her brother. "When Tadashi was brought to me, he was injured and bleeding from the head. Someone might have hurt him and made him forget you." These words were for Inari Kuriyama.  

Lord Mushu was determined to change everything today. It had since been four years after his parent’s death and four years since the spiritual world had revealed itself to him unwelcomely. Four years of being his uncle’s puppet lord. Four years of feeling less than he believed himself to be, he who was meant to be the best. And four years coveting the supremacy held by the spirit warriors from the world of the ordinary. The Ninth Nase Head represented all that to him.

“Quit the banter. You know why I’m here.”

Indeed, one would have to be a fool not to. Sword in hand, there was little trace of his habitual politeness and political pretension. Today, he was to prove his worth.

“Arm yourself.”

He seemed to have missed a step here. Hisoka didn't recall promising training sessions as well as youmu food. "Look, it's good that you are here. I really wanted to talk about charging a fee for the cat food." After all, it's been four years already and the Nase family hadn't seen a single cent. That cat was no ordinary cat and while Lord Mushu thought it was just a poor creature with an unexpectedly adorable mutation, it was in fact a youmu. Youmu food wasn't hard to make, but it still took time and effort. Those servants who labored over it deserved to see some money for their fine work. 

"I was thinking three silver pieces each month. How does that sound?" It was too expensive by far, but Lord Mushu could afford it. If he was prideful like his father before him, then he'd pay the sum even though he knew he was being cheated, just to show he could. "Now, if you want to have a friendly spar while you think this over, it's fine. I just need you to sign this..." 

                                    Ａ ＭＯＮＳＴＥＲ 

"Aww. What a cute kitten!" Such a soft spot for animals she had. Kneeling down in front of it, she gently scratched at it’s ears without much of a second thought. No collar or tag meant that it was either stray or its owner didn’t care.

A shadow covered his sunlight, making Hisoka the cat shiver. He turned around with a meow of protest, only to find himself staring at the woman who tried to kill him a few days ago. He held up his...Uh, paws and readied himself to attack. He may not have a katana but he still got his nails and they certainly looked sharper than before.

The woman surprised him by not acting out in any form of hostility. Instead, she pulled him up into warm - can't deny that - arms and scratched his head. That actually felt pretty good. Now if she could just do that again, his head would be less itchy. Hisoka bumped his head against the woman's hand, demanding a little more attention even though he should be displeased at being called 'cute' and 'little guy' at the same time.

Little puppy Nori sat in the grass outside the Nase household. She had no idea what had turned her into this, but she didn’t think she liked it. She growled a bit under her breath, displeased with her current situation. She then heard, or more so smelled, someone coming near. She jumped up on her four legs, barking and wagging her tail as the stranger came into sight.

"You've chosen the wrong time to wander upon the Nase household, little one." 

   ” Me lucky? ” His tone of voice was raspy. It was completely different from before. He could remember everything. How they killed her. Every single thing they did to her. How cruel could a Spirit World Warrior could be? She was just an innocent girl. Isaac saw as her head rolled down to his direction. They tore her limb from limb. That wasn’t a pretty sight. Especially for Isaac.

   Anger building up within him. Hisoka was getting him angered. Just by what he was saying. Not having a shred of human within him. Having to fight to keep himself alive. It was either be killed or be eaten by your own youmu side. Isaac was truly cursed.

How interesting. 

A half youmu, once taken completely over by their dark side, should no longer be capable of taking personal offense to the words of another, correct? What did that mean, then? A part of Hisoka told him to not think too much of it, for being distracted during a dangerous battle was a terrible idea. Yet, this was important. Something he said triggered Issac's remaining human side. Just a little, but enough to show it still existed. 

"The situation just got more complicated, but I like it." Morbid curiosity kicked in. He must know how much of humanity was still inside of the half youmu standing opposite him. Something he said earlier triggered the human Issac's anger, and Hisoka must figure out exactly what it was. His questions could, however, wait until after this battle.