Title: Brother of Fire - Chapter 1 (revised)
Author: Viper Inferno
E-mail: viperdvman@hotmail.com
Genre: Action Drama
Rated: PG

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                               Brother Of Fire
                              By Viper Inferno

                                  Chapter 1

	"Kyodai, you sure pack light," Rei grunted as she struggled to 
drag a heavy suitcase up the temple steps. Kyodai walked up the steps 
from behind her with two very large suitcases of his own, almost the 
same size as the one Rei was dragging. 

	"Showoff," said Rei, sticking her tongue out at Kyodai. Rei had 
just gotten halfway up the stairs when Kyodai came back down from 
taking those suitcases in. "Kyodai, why don't you help me out a little," 
she demanded, still straining under the weight of that suitcase. 

	Kyodai took the suitcase from Rei almost effortlessly and began 
to carry it up, with his sister following behind. "Did you have to 
bring everything?" she sarcastically asked.

	"I am gonna be living here you know," said Kyodai, "Of course I 
have to bring everything." It had been 4 years since Kyodai had left 
the Hikawa Jinja to live with his aunt and uncle while he went to 
high school. After he had graduated and began attending college at the 
Azabu Institute of Technology, Kyodai resided in the athletic dorms. 
Sure he was close to his aunt and uncle, as Rei was, and somewhat close 
with his soccer buddies, but he had missed the family experience he had 
when he lived with his aunt and uncle. With more people living at the 
temple now, Kyodai had decided to relive the family experience he so 
missed and move back into the temple.

	"Great," she said to herself, frustrated. She turned and stomped 
back down the steps and toward the trailer to grab some lighter boxes, 
"Brother moves out when he goes to high school, now he decides to move 
back in halfway into college, bringing tons of stuff." Rei made it to 
the trailer and grabbed a couple small boxes. Kyodai met her halfway 
up the stairs, "I do thank you for your help, sis," he said as he 
passed by.

	Those words put Rei a little more at ease as she took the boxes 
up to Kyodai's new room. There, she laid them down with all the other 
boxes in the rather dull, undecorated excuse for a room. Sitting next 
to Rei's room, this was a room in the temple that was rarely ever used. 
Since Kyodai moved out 4 years ago, this room was made into a storage 
room, a guest room, and then just an empty room. This was the last of 
the rooms that wasn't taken over by the expanding family their 
grandfather was taking in for Shinto training. Yuuichirou's room sat 
just next door, and another room sat next to his, with two more 
bedrooms around the corner. 

	After bringing the boxes in, Rei went back outside to see Kyodai 
carrying a television up the stairs. "Does Grandpa want you bringing 
that into the house? We have enough TV's in the temple as it is, in 2 
bedrooms," Rei commented, "It's all Romano's fault for bringing his TV 
to the temple when he moved in. Then Yuuichirou decides to buy one for 
his room, and now you bring yours."

	"Rei-chan, I know how you don't like TV, so I'll keep it turned 
down for you," he said, "I'll also turn it off whenever I invite you 
in."

	"You don't have to do that. Romano usually has his turned up loud 
as it is, so I'm used to it. But it is nice of you," she said, 
completely relaxed now after her being upset at having to carry all the 
boxes in. She walked down the steps to grab the last of the smaller 
boxes from the trailer. 

	With the trailer empty, Kyodai jumped back into his car, "I'm 
gonna take the trailer back. Thank you for helping, Rei-chan." 

	"Your welcome," said Rei as Kyodai started the engine of his old 
coupe. 

	"See 'ya Imuto," said Kyodai as he drove off, towing the empty 
trailer without any resistance.

	Rei walked back inside, remembering how excited she was when she 
heard Kyodai was moving back in. She remembered how he had said over 
the phone how he had hated living away from his only little sister, 
even though they annoyed each other sometimes. Sure he came over every 
2 or 3 weeks to visit, except after he entered college, but it wasn't 
the same as living with his sister and grandfather. 

	She looked in one of the boxes, where Kyodai had packed most of 
his soccer trophies he had won since he was 7, as well as all his 
academic trophies and medals. She then brought out the wooden shelves 
she had saved as a surprise for Kyodai when he moved in to display all 
his trophies. It took her little time to put the shelves up, especially 
since the pieces were mostly slide together and fit together. She then 
began unpacking all his trophies. She grabbed some brass polish and 
began shining each and every one of them before putting them up on the 
shelves. This was to be her way of showing Kyodai how proud she was of 
him, of everything he's accomplished, and how proud she was to be his 
sister.
 
	She placed them strategically on the shelves according to size 
and type. The larger trophies sat in the middle partition, while the 
smaller trophies sat in the side partitions, larger ones toward the 
back and smaller ones foward. Academic trophies sat with academic 
trophies, and athletic trophies sat with athletic trophies. Finally, 
the older and newer trophies sat together to show just how long Kyodai 
had been winning these trophies. Just as she was placing the trophies, 
her grandfather walked in the front door. "Hi Rei-chan. What are you 
doing," he asked.

	"Putting Kyodai's trophies up," she replied.

	"Well, he 'oughta start bringing home trophies for every girl 
who's asked him out," he commented.

	"Grandpa, don't tease him. You know Kyodai's not the type who goes 
for every girl who asks him out," Rei defended. 

	"Well, a soccer star like him makes for a chick magnet. I'm 
surprised he doesn't have a girlfriend by now. Oh well, at least he can 
bring over all the pretty girls, more so than you do," he said, poking 
fun that Kyodai may bring home more than just Rei's friends.

	"Grandpa, he has other things to worry about besides dating girls," 
Rei explained, "Not only does he spend a lot of energy on academics, he 
also spends that energy training in athletics, martial arts, and even 
maintaining his friendships with Mamoru and his other close friends. He 
hardly has the time for any dating."

	"I see what you mean," said Grandpa, "He's my grandson after all. 
And I love him just as much as I love you."

	Rei smiled as grandpa turned and walked out of the living room 
and toward the dojo, "Thanks Grandpa."

	Rei had just finished polishing the last trophy after Grandpa had 
walked off. She decided to walk into Kyodai's room and go through most 
of the boxes, just the ones with all the room decor. In one box was a 
number of posters, wall scrolls, and pictures of high school and 
college buddies. She found a cork board amongst the boxes that looked 
like it had met the business end of a machine gun and hung it up on the 
wall above the head of his bed. Then she grabbed all the photographs, 
found the box of thumb tacks, and tacked each of the pictures up on the 
cork board.

	Next was his posters. In the mix was soccer posters, an Azabu Tech 
poster, a couple movie posters, a Baywatch collage poster, a Baywatch 
poster of Pamela Anderson, and a Sailor V poster. With little decision 
at all, she lined his walls with them and went for his high school 
spirit gear. Not a whole lot made up that group, some for wall decor, 
and some for table and desk decor. Only his spirit flag and high school 
banner made any kind of wall decor. The pom-poms and various sports 
spirit trinkets sat on his desk, while his 8-foot-long blue and white 
spirit stick leaned up against a corner.

	Last was his cap and gown, his Salutatorian stole, and his high 
school diploma. She looked about the decorated room and found a spot 
above the side of his bed just begging to be adorned. She hung them up 
neatly on small hooks, hung his framed diploma up, and then searched 
through all the other boxes. 

	She had just begun breaking down the empty boxes when she heard 
the sound of Kyodai's car pulling up to the shrine. Excited, she ran 
out to get him. 

	"C'mon Kyodai-chan," she said, grabbing his arm and dragging him 
upstairs, "I have a surprise for you." They quickly made it inside the 
temple when Kyodai saw the showcase, filled with every soccer trophy 
and academic trophy he's ever won. "I even hung your cap and gown with 
your Salutatorian stole up in your room," she said. Kyodai only nodded 
in response, captivated at the sight of his trophy case as the light 
in the temple reflected brilliantly off each of the gold and silver 
trophies. The biggest one, one of his national academic trophies, stood
in the center partition between his 2 high school soccer championship 
trophies.

	"C'mon, I'll show you your room," she said, dragging him to his 
room. Kyodai saw the room fixed up and organized neatly. His diploma 
hung neatly as Rei had planned, and all his soccer posters and high 
school spirit memorabilia added to the wall décor. His dark brown 
blanket neatly covered his bed, with his white pillow placed at the 
head in an orderly fashion. An Oriental rug in the middle of the wooden 
floor made as an excellent centerpiece. "Thank you Rei-chan," he said, 
shocked and amazed at the same time, "It looks great."

	"No problem. I've always been proud of your achievements. I'll be 
sure to be there when you help Japan's soccer team win the World Cup," 
she replied.

	"Rei-chan, you're good. And you were frustrated about carrying all 
that stuff in," Kyodai commented.

	"Hey, I'm not anymore now that all of it's unpacked. Everyone else 
came home just as I was unpacking some of the stuff and decorating your 
room," she said, "Plus, Grandpa helped a little with the room while I 
was working on the display case.

	He hugged his sister, thanking her for her help and for caring so 
much. "You want to go out for a bite to eat? Everyone at the shrine is 
invited, even Grandpa," he said.

	"Sure," she replied, then turned around and yelled, "Hey everybody,
Kyodai's taking us out to dinner as a welcome home celebration." She 
turned back to Kyodai and giggled.

	"I could've done that," said Kyodai as Rei ran off to her room.


	That night...

	Kyodai and Rei took the car while Gabianni, one of the other guys 
at the temple, took Grandpa and the others in his mid-size sedan. After 
a short drive around Tokyo, Kyodai decided to stop at a pizza place. 
They all got out of the cars and joined each other inside. 

	"What will it be," the waiter at the door asked.

	"Table for 6 please," Kyodai replied.

	"Follow me," said the waiter.

	They follow the waiter to a nice large table in the middle of the 
restaurant, big enough for the 6 hungry guests. The waiter handed each 
of them the menus and before he was on his way. 

	"How's meat sound," Kyodai asked. 

	"A medium vegetable sounds good for me," Rei replied. 

	"Just you?" Kyodai asked with doubt.

	"Hey, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten all day," said Rei, remembering 
how she was too excited, then too frustrated, then too proud all day 
long over Kyodai moving back in permenantly to eat. 

	"In that case, I'll have a medium meat pizza with Yuuichirou. Who 
else wants to share?" Kyodai asked.

	"Romano and I will share a medium meat," said Gabianni.

	"Sushi sounds good to me," said Grandpa.

	"On your pizza?!" Kyodai asked sarcastically.

	"No. No pizza for me, only sushi," said Grandpa.

	"That about does it," said Kyodai, "WAITER!"

	Moments later, the waiter came running to the table, sweating a 
near hurricane, "You called?"

	"1 Medium Vegetable, 2 Medium Meat, and 1 platter Sushi, no Sushi 
pizza," Kyodai ordered as he was collecting the menus. The waiter 
jotted down the order on a notepad. 

	"Any appetizers?" The waiter asked.

	Kyodai looked around the table, everyone rather silent for a few 
seconds. Rei was the first to speak up, "I'll have a Caesar Salad."

	"I'll have a small order of breadsticks please," said Gabianni.

	"And I'll have a bowl of rice," Grandpa added.

	"I might as well jump in. Small order of breadsticks," said Kyodai.

	"Make that a large for me," said Romano.

	"Garlic bread for me," Yuuichirou added.

	The waiter tried his best to keep up with everyone ordering their 
side dishes. 'They must be really hungry,' he thought to himself, 
"Would you like anything to drink?"

	"I'm in a tea mood," said Kyodai, "How 'bout it, everyone?"

	Everyone nodded in agreement since tea was served quite often at 
the temple, a taste they've learned over time to develop. It was drank 
at the temple for meals, alone, or ceremonial purposes, especially 
since Grandpa was quite adept with the rituals involved with the tea 
ceremony. The waiter finished taking the orders, took the menus from 
Kyodai, and walked off.

	With plenty of time before the pizza was to arrive, Kyodai sat 
back and thought about how great it was to be back with everybody from 
the temple, and this time on a permanent basis. Now that he's a 
permanent resident again, for the first time in 4 years, he can get to 
know the 3 guys Grandpa had taken in over the years even better. Life 
at the temple is something Kyodai had missed. And now, with the family 
ever so growing, life at the temple's going to be much more interesting 
that it was 4 years ago. Kyodai already knew that just from his usual 
visits.

	Later on, he had just begun to share a nice conversation with 
Rei and the others when he heard a voice call out his name from the 
other side of the restaurant. Quickly, he turned to the other side of 
the restaurant where it came from to see Mamoru waving him over. "I'll 
be back guys," he said as he got up and walked over to Mamoru's table.

	"You visiting again?" Mamoru asked.

	"No," said Kyodai, "I just moved in with them."

	"Really? And you never told me? But at least you get to see Rei 
24-7," Mamoru responded, "Have a seat, stay a while."

	Kyodai took an empty chair and sat across the table from Mamoru, 
his back turned to his family and temple workers. "Yeah, we may annoy 
each other, but I love my sister," said Kyodai.

	"Don't you have soccer practice today?" Mamoru asked, remembering 
it was after 6pm and the Azabu tech soccer team was supposed finishing 
their practice.

	"Not today," Kyodai proudly answered, "Coach let me out for the 
day so I could move back into the temple."

	"What about tomorrow?" Mamoru asked, making sure Kyodai attends 
his practices.

	"It's Saturday, you bonehead. You know there's no practice on 
Saturdays," Kyodai answered back.

	"Duh," Mamoru said, slapping himself in the head for being stupid, 
"Well, looks like you have a free weekend. What're your plans for 
tomorrow?"

	"I'm gonna spend some time with Rei. I haven't seen her since we 
graduated from high school," Kyodai replied, "With my classes and my 
soccer practices, plus me enjoying a little bit of college life, I 
didn't really make the time to visit Rei. At least now I have no 
excuse."

	"Sounds good to me," said Mamoru, "I have an exam I need to study 
for. Other than that, I pretty much have the apartment all to myself."

	"Hey Kyodai-chan. Pizza's here," Rei called out to her brother 
from his table. In prompt response, he got up to leave.

	"Food's here. See 'ya, Mamoru-kun," Kyodai said as he walked back 
to his table.

	"See 'ya, Kyodai-kun," Mamoru replied as continued to wait for his 
food.

	As the gang of 6 dove their pizzas and sushi, they began sharing 
conversation.

	"Kyodai-san, it's great having you back with us after 4 years." 
said Yuuichirou.

	"At least you're around 24-7 now and not just every other week," 
said Romano.

	"Are you gonna take martial arts classes with us?" Yuuichirou 
asked.

	"Of course, you could learn a few things from a 2nd degree black 
belt," Kyodai responded, "Besides, I've trained with Rei and Grandpa 
before."

	"Last I heard, you were a brown belt," said Romano.

	"I took classes when I lived with Aunt Ryeka and Uncle Saki," 
Kyodai explained.

	"Not quality Hikawa Jinja training, but it's better than 
nothing," Rei sarcastically commented.

	The conversation prompted Grandpa to look up from eating his sushi, 
"It's a good thing Kyodai's moved back in with us. Now he can actually 
start bringing girls over. You never brought any over all those times 
you visited."

	"Grandpa," Rei scolded, with a little steam coming from her ears.

	"Yeah, you know I don't spend much time with girls," Kyodai 
pointed out.

	"Well, you're on the soccer team," said Grandpa, "Girls would give 
anything to date a soccer player like you."

	"Especially if they're making him the only freshman starter, just 
as good as some of the upperclassmen," said Gabianni.

	"Plus a guy who's also good looking like him and me," Romano added. 
Kyodai only lowered his head response, sweatdrop hanging, wondering why 
Romano had just made that remark. He knew Romano was straight since he 
was dating a girl the last time he visited, but that last remark 
sounded both arrogant and a little gay.

	During the conversation, Mamoru walked over to the table after 
finishing his rather small meal, "Mind if I join you guys?"

	"Sure Mamoru-san, have a seat," Rei replied. Mamoru grabbed a 
chair and sat between Rei and Kyodai.

	"I couldn't help but over hear that last one, but I'm not much for 
spending time with girls either," said Mamoru.

	"Yeah right," said Rei, "You make fun of Usagi an awful lot."

	"I thought you didn't like her much either," Mamoru argued.

	"I don't like her all that much, she's a ditz. But I know you like
her," said Rei.

	"I don't LIKE her, she just... annoys me sometimes," said Mamoru.

	"I bet she thinks you're annoying," said Kyodai, "I've seen how 
you are to this one girl at school."

	"Ariana acts like a lunatic," Mamoru responded, "I don't even know 
how the college admitted her. She's only there to be a cheerleader."

	After a half-hour of conversation, talking about old times, they 
all got up and went over to the counter. Kyodai paid for his table of 
six while Mamoru pays for his spaghetti dish. "I'm going to the arcade,"
said Mamoru, "Wanna go with?"

	"After I drive Rei home," Kyodai answered.

	"I can't believe you still have that old jalopy?" said Mamoru.

	"That old jalopy pulled a near 1000lb trailer to the temple. It 
may be old, but it still drives great," said Kyodai, "Besides, I'm 
getting me a fast sports car next year."

	They walked outside as Kyodai and Mamoru continued their car 
conversation. "What kind?" Mamoru asked.

	"I don't know yet, maybe an American car," Kyodai replied.

	"What, WE don't make good enough cars. Why not go European?" 
Mamoru asked sarcastically.

	"Too much luxury, most of those Euros are. Plus some of the more 
sporty ones cost an arm and a leg compared to ours and the Americans," 
Kyodai explained.

	"Show me the catalog sometime," Mamoru suggested.

	"No problem. Maybe that'll help me choose a car," Kyodai replied.

	"Alright, see 'ya later Kyodai-kun," said Mamoru as he turned to 
walk toward his little sports coupe.

	Kyodai walked up to his car, finding Rei sitting in the driver's 
seat. "Rei-chan, you're not old enough to drive," he said, waving her 
over.

	"Fine, I see how you are," said Rei as she hopped into the 
passenger seat. Kyodai opened the door and slid inside. After getting 
comfortable, he started the engine and drove toward home.

	Later, at the arcade...

	After taking Rei home a while back, Kyodai pulled up by the 
arcade, with Mamoru waiting at the door, "C'mon Kyodai-kun, I'll play 
you in Sailor V Challenge."

	"Yeah, and watch me clean your clock," Kyodai challenged.

	"You're on," Mamoru answered.

	They walked over to the Sailor V Challenge arcade and slipped 
their quarters in. In the only Sailor V fighting game, they battled 
fiercely as if their lives depended on it. 

	"That's Kyodai 4, Mamoru zip," said Kyodai, beating Mamoru again.

	"One more game," said Mamoru, "I'll beat you this time."

	In the middle of their battle, Yoruno Obake, one of Kyodai's 
soccer buddies walked up to the two gladiators and watched. "Hey 
Kyodai-kun. Hey Mamoru-kun," he greeted.

	"Hi Obake-kun," Kyodai greeted back as he continued laying the 
smackdown on Mamoru.

	"Can I play the winner?" Obake asked.

	"You're looking at him," said Kyodai.

	Kyodai and Mamoru continued to play, with Obake watching. Mamoru 
was sweating bullets as Kyodai turned the match into a slobber knocker. 
"I win," Kyodai blurted.

	"Great game," said Mamoru.

	"You wanted to play, Obake-kun?" Kyodai reminded.

	"Sure," Obake replied, "Mamoru-kun, watch a real fighting game 
master show you how it's done." Obake got on the game with Kyodai and 
took to him. After a 5 second game, Obake emerged victorious. 

	"I rest my case. See you at practice Monday,"  he said as he 
walked off.

	"Sure thing buddy," Kyodai replied as he turned to Mamoru, "Care 
for another round, Mamoru?"

	"Yeah, I see how Obake embarrassed you," he responded as he jumped 
on.

	There, they played a few rounds, with Mamoru going a little bit 
more on the offensive. In the first game, he fell again. But he only 
went at it again, confident that he was going to beat Kyodai. Mamoru 
did much better this game, taking it to Kyodai fast and furious. After 
he had seen Obake's tactics, sweating up a storm while applying those 
tactics to his battle against Kyodai, he emerged victorious. "There, I 
finally got you," he said, celebrating.

	"Took you long enough. That makes it Kyodai 7, Mamoru 1," said 
Kyodai.

	"Hey, it's getting late. I gotta go home," said Mamoru as he began 
walking toward the exit.

	"Yeah, I'm going places with Rei tomorrow. I'll see 'ya later 
Mamoru-kun," said Kyodai as he walked to his car.

	After a short drive through town, he pulled up in his new parking 
spot in a covered carport next to the temple steps. He had just gotten 
out of the car and began walking up the steps when Rei dashed down to 
greet him.

	"Did you clean his clock?" she asked excitedly.

	"Whooped him good," he replied with a little arrogance, then 
changing the tone, "Until one of my friends, Obake, jumped in and 
whoopedme pretty quick."

	"Did Mamoru win any?" she asked.

	"Only once," Kyodai proudly replied. They walked up the steps and 
into the living room. Just this room alone reminded Kyodai so much of 
what life was like here 4 years ago when he was living here, and how 
much it has changed over the years as he had seen through his visits. 
Then, he remembered his sister, one of the big reasons he came back to 
the temple to live there, and turned to her. "So Rei-chan, what do you 
want to do tomorrow?"

	"I gotta have you meet my friends," she immediately responded with
enthusiasm, "They're some of the best friends of mine you'll ever meet. 
Maybe I can meet some of yours sometime."

	"Sounds good to me. We'll find something to do tomorrow," he said,
hugging his sister.

	"It's great to have you living with us again bro," said Rei.

	"Same here," Kyodai agreed. They let each other go and made their 
way toward their rooms. As Kyodai entered the doorway to his room, he 
turned to his sister, "Good night Imuto. Sweet dreams."

	"Good night, Onii-san. You too," Rei replied as she entered hers.

	Kyodai walked into his new room and closed his door for the 
night. There, he lied on his new bed, with thoughts of being back at 
the temple again with his sister, his grandfather, and the guys at the 
temple going through his mind.

------------------------------end of chapter 1-------------------------


...Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and most of the characters ain't 
mine, but to Naoko Takeuchi. And God bless that woman for creating such 
great entertainment for all of us with a lot of free time on our hands 
to enjoy. The English dub belongs to DiC Entertainment and Cloverway, 
and all I thank them for is bringing' it to America, nothin' more. But 
Russell Hino/Hino Kyodai, Tuxedo Inferno, Titanius, and Deanna 
Kokorono/Kokorono Meijin are MINE (in a growling voice). So, please don't 
sue me. I'm just a lonely man who ain't got anythang but his pride. Well, 
y'all enjoy this fanfic and e-mail me.


Have fun Sailor Moon fans,
Viper Inferno