This might get slightly confusing so this is an IMPORTANT NOTE!

Shinta suffers from MPD (multiple personality Disorder). Hanamichi does not.

So in other words, there are a lot of people living inside Shinta and using his body when hes resting or hiding. More explanations as the plot moves on

"..." - speech

OOOOOOOOooooooooooo.

Shinta settled himself comfortably on a tattled green sofa, eyes glued on some Japanese soap opera, heedless of the garbage he had just pushed onto the floor.

It was good to be home.

He hadn't been home for a long, long time.

His onisan, Hanamichi, was calling for pizza. Funny how some things never change. They both adored pizzas, Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Vegetable ... it doesn't really matter which kind, as long as it doesn't have the dreaded green peppers.

Back in the old days, mother used to make her special pepperoni and mushroom pizzas every Friday night when she got back from work. They would sit down happily together and eat the golden toasted crust topped with melted cheese and secret herbs. Even after their parents divorced, Shinta forced to go with his mother amidst waterfalls of tears, every Friday night Shinta would always find a frozen supermarket-bought pizza in the freezer. They weren't as delicious as mothers but at least she remembered. At the age of 10, the pizzas stopped their magical appearance. 3 years later, a cop caught them rummaging in a trash can for a few bites of turkey the store owner had just thrown out.

Shinta still missed those pizzas.

"It'll be here in 40." Hanamichi called as he hanged up the phone. "Can you lend me some money?"

Guess some things would never change.

The bittersweet memories of the things that were.

OOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo

"Ryochin's the so-called captain. I'm the real captain. I'm in charge of the whole basketball team because I'm the best shooter and the King of Rebounds. No one can beat me! I'm the genius! The one and only Tensai! Did I tell you how I beat that stupid Gori? I" and so it went. A typical Hanamichi genius monologue whipped with extra flaunting, arm movements and many choice unpleasing terms for others.

Shintas violet eyes widened with awe at his twins tirade.

Hanamichi bubbled with pleasure at his one, and possibly only one, adoring and attentive listener. Hanamichi knew his younger brother would react this way. Shinta had a very trusting soul and wouldn't know a tiger from a lamb.

//Sugoi! Onisan's amazing!// Shinta thought as he soaked up the story of how Hanamichi defeated Shoyo's four eyes, Hanagata. Another exaggerated and untrue account of victory.

//Oh?// The voice answered amusedly.

//Perhaps he's telling a partial truth.// Another voice quipped wanting to placate the other two.

//Im sorry de gozaru// Kenshin mumbled.

"Shinta!" Hanamichi screeched, shaking his twin so roughly by the shoulders that the shirt was stretched permanently afterwards, revealing one of Shinta's snowy white shoulders.

"OOOooorrrooo?!" Kenshin's swirly violent eyes came back to focus.

"Get the pizza. I'll make some space for it." Hanamichi waved at the sagging table piled with unfinished and unstarted homework, dirty clothes, unwashed dishes and a few flying cockroaches.

"Hai onisan." Kenshin stood up unsteadily, still hearing Shinta's and Teruo's voices arguing. They seem to have moved onto something called television. Dimly Kenshin wondered what that was. They didn't have this television where he came from. They didn't have pizza either.

The red headed bishounen opened the door to reveal a raven-haired boy with something round and orange tucked under his left arm. It didn't look or smell very edible but if that's a pizza ....

Kenshin looked up questioningly at the boy who glared back with something akin to jealousy and hatred flickering in a pair of beautiful ice blue orbs.

"Is that a pizza de gozaru yo?" A polite alto voice asked the boy.

" ... " This was the first time the dark haired boy encountered a person who couldn't tell a pizza from a basketball.

"Yo Rukawa." Another black-haired boy appeared, holding a flat box that, even to Kenshins Meiji era senses, smelled delicious. "Didn't know you live here. I thought this was the baka's place."

"Michy! What the hell are you doing here?" Hanamichi's head popped up from behind Kenshin's, brown eyes widened in surprise when he saw a kitsune was also standing by the door.

"Didn't know you have a sister Hanamichi." Mitsui said appraisingly, opening staring at Kenshin's fair face and bare shoulder with interest. "What's you're name, neko?"

//I told you to tie your hair back!// Teruo growled indignantly. Kenshin mentally fought for control before Teruo detached Mitchys head from his body.

OOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo......

Shinta picked up the receiver, grinning at Hana who was currently verbally assaulting Rukawa. Screams of 'smelly kitsune' and 'do'aho' fell thick in the air like bullets.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Is Teruo Sakuragi there please?" A deep bass voice asked.

"Speaking." Teruo answered, hastily shoving Shinta aside and putting up mental barriers.

"This is Yue Takewara of the Japanese Branch. Are you free tomorrow? We need to give you a briefing along with your supplies."

"Tomorrow will be fine. May I ask what you will be supplying me?"

"Two .88 revolvers, left and right leg holsters, fully loaded, a steel double bladed dagger, right arm, communicator and mobile phone."

"Make that one .88 left leg holster and a short sword for the right. Scrap the dagger."

"Alright. By the way, make sure your weekend nights are free. You're on duty."

"Not one of those street-walker jobs again I hope."

"You're in luck."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

//Don't worry. This is our secret de gozaru ka.// Kenshin promised, smiling slightly when he saw Rukawa subtly inch closer to the oblivious Hanamichi.

They don't need to know the truth.

They're innocents.

I will protect them.