Starting Over

FANDOM: ANIME---SORCERER HUNTERS
TITLE: Starting Over AUTHOR: Willie J EMAIL: wmj166@msn.com WEB SITE: N/A
PAIRINGS: Marron/Carrot (and yes they are brothers!) RATING: NC-17 for content DISCLAIMER: Sorcerer Hunters is copyright by A.D. Vision. FEEDBACK: Dear God Yes! DISTRIBUTION: List Archives SPOILERS: SUMMARY: This is extremely A/U...Carrot and Marron are separated as children.


WarniThisThis story may contain themes of rape, slash and incest. If any of this may offend you please stop reading immediately.

A/N: Meet the Sorcerer Hunters: Five extraordinary young humans charged with the task of traveling the land in secrecy, hunting down evil Sorcerers--masters of powerful and forbidden magic who use their dark abilities to enslave, to kill the weak and helpless.

Carrot Glace, a lecherous young warrior, without many other talents, save one: the ability ransransform into various giant beasts by feeding off the power of sorcerers when attacked by unfriendly magic.

Marron Glace, his younger brother and master of the Eastern magic.

Tira Misu, an unassuming woman who, when faced with a challenge, presents her rather dominant alter ego.

Chocolate Misu, her older sister the more forward of the two and even worse when she's ready to kick some ass with her needle tipped garrote wire.

Finally, Gateau Mocha, the muscle of the team with brains.

* * *

Chapter 2

Carrot rested his head on Marron's shoulder as he opened the letter with trepidation....

My darling boy,
If you are reading this letter, then it means
that I am dead and failed to get you out of
Onion's clutches.

I know that he must have told you that I had
abandoned you, but never believe that! You have
always been and will always be my darling boy.

When I found out what your father was doing, I tried
to get help. Everywhere I went, the doors were closed to
me. I even tried the police. They called your father to
come and get me. They old him I was making wild statements.
I didn't know what to do. All my life I had been raised
for one purpose: marry a rich man and be an obedient wife.
But when you came along, all my priorities shifted and now
my purpose in life was to see you grow up, get married
and have children. For the first time in my life, I didn't
mind getting old. I didn't mind getting wrinkles.
Your birth was the single most important event in my
superficial life. Before, I was all about parties and make-up. The
typical things of an empty headed debutante.

How I hated being pregnant. God, I wish I could go back in
time and relish that feeling of having my first born nestled
beneath my breast. I wish I could SLAP some sense into
that empty-headed fool I was.

But all my priorities changed the instant they put you in my
arms. Everything I once was didn't exist any longer, and now I
was simply MOTHER. You, at that moment, became my
reason for being, for living. I knew in that timeless moment,
gazing into your eyes, that I would fight the devil himself
to protect you. And I tried everything I could think of. I even
starting reading mystery novels for any ideas.

And I finally came up with a plan and if you are reading this
you'll know that my plan failed because I was too weak to
protect you like a mother should. But God willing,
I have at least gotten one of you
out of the house. I don't want to think
that I failed you both.

I failed you for not noticing your father's abuse.
At first, I simply thought that he had
been harsh with you and that's why you were so
afraid of him. I learned better. I knew that it
was no use confronting HIM. He would
just deny it and hurt you more.

So, I made plans to escape with you and your brother.
I tried to make sure that I stole some evidence, enough
to force him to leave us alone.

I left a similar letter to your brother, along with tapes
your father secretly made of his sessions with you. And no,
I didn't watch them.

Find your brother, Carrot, if you have not already. And
remember that I've always loved you and am so
proud to have you for my son for such a short time.
I love you,
Apricot Glace
Loving mother of Carrot and Marron

Carrot’s mind was in a whirl of joy and terror. On one side, he was happy that his mother didn't deliberately leave him behind. On the other side was his panicky thought, "They know. They know what he did, what WE did." His body shook. He was going to fall apart right then and there.

Marron felt the body against him first become rigid and then begin to shake. He murmured comforting words and pulled the body into his lap. Slowly he stroked up and down his back as he tried to calm his terrified niisan. He had seen the letter and read it along side Carrot.

"What’s wrong," he asked anxiously.

"You know," Carrot choked out, burying his face in Marron's chest.

"Know what," Marron asked, honestly bewildered.

"You know what HE did, what I did with him," came the shamed whisper. Tears fell down his face, wetting Marron's shirt.

Marron closed his eyes at the softly spoken words understanding finally what his niisan was talking about. "It wasn't your fault. You did nothing wrong," he said firmly, trying to convince the shivering boy in his arms.

"Hey, luv, look at me," he said softly attempting to get his niisan to meet his eyes, not stopping until he had his full attention. His eyes were gentle and open as he looked in the guilt-ridden face. He could see his niisan fighting desperately not to cry. Quivering lips threatened to crumple before firming up. Hitching breaths shook the too-slender form as the boy fought for composure.

"First, Onion was—is—a pedophile. He preyed on your weaknesses and your defenselessness. You were a child. Dear god! Carrot, you were a six-year-old child, luv. He knew better. You fought him. You fought for me, to protect me," helaimlaimed softly, holding Carrot's eyes willing him to believe him.

"I should be the one ashamed. Mother managed to get me to a safe place, and all I did was cry for you," he said tracing a gentle finger under wet eyes.

Carrot frowned as he said, "But you were a baby…" He faltered and then stopped upon seeing the smile on Marron's face. "You were a child, I was a child," he said tentatively peering up at Marron and was rewarded by the widening of the smile on Marron's face.

"We weren't to blame," he continued determinedly, with a firm nod of his head, hearing the voices saying a chorus of 'we told you so's. He scowled at them to shut them up. Marron wondered what that look was for, forgetting the thought as Carrot turned his attention back to him.

Then something Marron said struck him as he asked, "How did you know that...what I…that I did what I did to protect you?" He cringed at the babble of words and hoped that Marron understood.

"Mother made copies of tapes that Onion had made of his sessions with you," Marron said, his arms protectively tight around the suddenly pale and rigid form in preparation for the inevitable reaction to this announcement.

"Nooo," Carrot moaned, his hand clamping across his mouth to hold back the sickness he felt roiling in his stomach. Quickly getting them off the bed, Marron raced to the bathroom just in time to position Carrot over the toilet. Gracelessly he emptied the contents of his stomach, crying at the thought of anyone seeing the tapes.

Marron flushed the toilet and, wetting a cloth, washed his niisan's face with Car Carefully, as though he feared breaking him, he picked up shivering boy in his arms and carried him back to the bed. Settling him on the bed and then getting in himself, he pulled the shuddering boy firmly into his lap and stroked the shaking back.

"We didn't watch it all," he said in the silence trying to comfort him.

"We?" Carrot moaned at the thought.

"We," Marron confirmed gently, trying to soothe his niisan. "Our mother had left a box with Cinnamon and gave me the key. Cinnamon brought the box here and there were tapes inside. We managed to get through about ten minutes of the first tape before we were all heaving our guts out. Eclair threw a statue through the TV to stop it."

"Tira and Chocolate too," Carrot queried in a small, tremulous voice.

"Yes," Marron said, his arms tight around the shivering form for comfort.

"I'll never be able to look at them again," he moaned into Marron's chest, small sobs shaking his body.

"Oh, luv, they've known for over a week now. Has their behavior changed towards you? No, it hasn't. They still love you and are your friends. When we realized what Onion was doing, it took a lot to stop us from going over to the house and carving Onion to pieces," he said trying to get Carrot to smile, which he did when the boy imagined gentle Tira with a knife in her hands and vengeance in her eyes."You"You don't believe me, do you?" Marron asked observing the small spark of amusement in Carrot's umber eyes.

Carrot shook his head firmly.

"Ask Mama what happened that night. Chocolate and I got into a fight over the letter opener before I won. Then she found a hunting knife and gave one to Tira. We were headed out the door when Mama stopped us." Marron remembered that night with a rush of protective wrath.

"We wanted to make him pay for hurting you. We wanted to slice him and watch him die of a thousand cuts, slowly and in agony," Marron growled, lost in the memory of that night. A gentle hand on his face brought him back to Carrot's worried face. He broke into a shy smile as Marron's attention focused back on him.

"I'm glad you didn't," he said quietly. "I like this ending much better," he added with a small smile peering up at Marron. He yawned suddenly, looking astonished at his tiredness.

"You're tired," Marron remarked with indulgent amusement as his niisan’s big eyes tried to stay open.

"I don't know why.”

"Well, after the day you've had, I think you have cause to be a little tired," Marron mocked gently, pulling on a messy lock of hair. "Come on, let's get you to bed. He prepared to move off the bed to let his niisan sleep, but was startled by the sudden rigidity in the body on his lap, wondering at the cause.

"Can…c-c-can you stay? Until I fall asleep?" Carrot pleaded in a stammering rush, quickly looking down, ashamed to sound so needy.

A hand gently raised his face as Marron said, "I'll be happy to stay until you fall asleep. Just let me go change. I'll be back. I'll bring you something to sleep in too, okay?" He wanted nothing more than to erase the look of unhappiness on his niisan’s face. A fierce exultation shot through his body when he received a tentative smile in return. Quickly he kissed the boy on the cheek before getting to his feet and heading out the door to the waiting crowd of people. They all started asking questions as soon as the door shut behind him.

Raising a hand to quiet them he said, "Look, right now he's okay. He's tired and sleepy and wanted me to stay the night with him. I'm just getting something to wear and getting something for him to sleep in too. We’ll all talk in the morning, okay?" Marron was anxious to get back to his niisan, missing the warmth of his body.

Gateau frowned, wishing that Marron would be a little less impulsive about the situation with his brother. He snorted thinking that he would never have used the words 'impulsive' and 'Marron' in the same sentence before Carrot came in their lives. He just didn't want Marron to get hurt.

Marron watched everyone leave and sprinted to his room. There he changed into his usual night attire: a pair of black silk pajama pants; no shirt since Eclair always wound up taking his and Gateau's to sleep in. Quickly snagging a blue pair that he had that were too small for his long legs, he headed through the connecting bathroom back into Carrot's room.

Seeing Carrot start at his entrance, he explained, "Your room connects to mine." He watched, entranced, as a small shy smile appeared on Carrot's face when he looked around at the richly appointed room.

The room back home was stark in comparison to this room. But the best part of the room, he thought as he struggled into the pants Marron had tossed him before turning his back politely to give him privacy, Was that he was close to Marron.

"Ready," he said with a cheerfully forced smile. He waited for Marron's reaction when he saw his half-naked body and the pale, silvery lines of old whip marks crisscrossing his chest and the redness of the latest. Other that a slight narrowing of his eyes, Marron said nothing.

Carrot sighed in relief as he climbed back into bed. He waiting until Marron had climbed in on the other side and cut off the light before scooting closer. He wanted to feel his arms around him again, giving him comfort and feeling safe. He wiggled with joy as a long arm came out of the darkness and pulled him close. With a smile, he slept and, for the first time in over fourteen, he sleep without nightmares, without waking as each of the Church family and Misu family made their way up to check on the boys. The females smiled softly at the picture the two boys made, curled up like puppies, while Gateau frowned hoping that Marron wasn't making a mistake * * * * *


The next couple of days and nights followed a predictable pattern. During the day Carrot was a chatterbox, always talking about anything and everything. Clearly nervous around Gateau, making sure to keep a respectable distance between them. He was always charming towards any female in sight, especially if she was pretty. The female would react in one of two ways: with a giggle and smile or with a blank look wondering about the intelligence of the boy in front of her.

But around 5 or 5:30 pm he would get quieter and quieter until they began to look at him with concern. It wasn't until Stella finished her last conference call and announced that it was 5:30 pm that she understood the significant of the time. Fury filled her body and she shook with rage. She tried to calm herself as Dota and Cinnamon looked at her with concern.

"That bastard," she hissed, her eyes nearly glowing with rage. "That fucking bastard.” Angrily she paced back and forth, desperately tryto cto calm herself before she appeared in front of the family.

"Stella, what’s wrong?" Cinnamon asked anxiously. She had been hired as Stella's social secretary, taking the burden off of Dota and allowing her more freedom to be with her fiancé.

"Every day, Carrot starts getting quieter around five-thirty. I just figured out why. It's quitting time!" She watched the other two women pale in fury and snarl as the realization clicked in their minds.

Gradually they calmed themselves in order to present the picture of composed tranquility. Gateau and Marron exchanged glances when the women entered. The two weren't fooled one bit and decided to corner the three women as soon as possible after dinner.

When they heard the explanation, they, too, growled and had to calm themselves. Together, they all vowed to help Carrot overcome this.

They retired to bed to seek their rest.

Carrot paced in his lonely room as he waited until Marron was asleep before creeping into his room and climbing gingerly into his bed. He snuggled against his side for comfort. Ever since the first night after he had arrived, he did this and snuck back out at the light of day. However, on the third day, he overslept and was caught.

Gateau walked into the bedroom to wake Marron for their early morning jog and discovered Carrot wrapped around Marron. He stood frowning over the pretty picture they made as Marron slowly awoke.

Marron opened his eyes to see his friend frowning at him and asked why he was frowning.

His eyes widened when he felt arms wrapped around him from behind. Twisting his neck he realized that Carrot had crept into his bed sometime during the night. Without waking me, he thought in astonishment. He turned back to Gateau with a puzzled frown as he struggled to untangle the arms wrapped around him. Every time he got one arm off and started working on the other arm, the first arm would come back. This continued and Gateau was bent over laughing, seeing the frown of concentration on Marron face as he tried to escape without waking Carrot.

It wasn't until he asked for help from Gateau that he was able to get free, but at the cost of terrifying Carrot. He realized this as he felt the body behind him jerk away at the touch of Gateau's hand on his arm. The boy screamed. He heard Gateau gasp at the sight of Carrot's lash-md bod body. Quickly flipping over he dragged the shaking boy into his arms. He murmured reassurances and endearments against the shell of the boy’s ear. While he soothed the shivering Carrot, he signaled Gateau to leave, knowing Carrot wouldn’t relax in his presence.

Quietly whispering "I'm sorry" over and over into his ear, he gently calmed the quaking body in his arms.

Waiting until he had calmed sufficiently, Marron asked, "How long have you been sneaking in the bed with me?" He felt him stiffen and slowly stroking the tension from the slender back.

"Since the first night," came the shamed reply. Marron was floored at the thought that Carrot had been creeping into his bed all this time without triggering his deadly reflexes.

"Tell you what," Marron said, raising the woebegone face to his, "Every night, you have my permission to sleep in here with me." He smiled and was rewarded by the wide grin that split Carrot's face. He leaned up for a swift kiss before bouncing out the door, a cheerful song drifting over his shoulder.

Marron smiled indulgently. I have the bounciest niisan in the entire world, he thought with an amused shake of his head before getting out of bed and dressing to go jogging with Gateau.

He decided to take Carrot shopping that day to buy him clothes. He didn’t want him anywhere near the Glace residence and he sure as hell want Carrot to hanythnything from that place. After their jog, he ran up stairs and changed.

He located the little chatterbox flirting with one of the giggling maids. Quickly he seized his arm and dragged him away while Carrot shouting to the girl, "Call me," before being pulled down the stairs. Bouncing along side his taller brother, he asked brightly, "So, where’re we off to." He expected the answer to be the Library, the Den, or the Family Room so he was shocked still at the reply of The Mall. Marron, feeling the resistance in the hand, looked back wondering what was wrong with Carrot. Upon seeing the shocked look on Carrot's face, he, trying to ease away the frown he saw gathering in the wide eyes, said quickly, "I just want to buy you some new clothes. You can't be very comfortable wearing mine all the time."

"You want to buy me clothes?" Carrot said softly, incredulity and written across his expressive face.

"Uh yeah," Marron replied tentatively, hoping that Carrot would agree and not fight him on this. He wanted to give him so much; he hurt with the need to give his niisan anything he wanted or needed.

Carrot looked into the pleading eyes of his otouto and jumped into his arms with a glad cry, trying manfully not to cry othisthis beautiful, generous boy that was his beloved brother. His lips quivered before he buried his face in Marron's neck and his legs wrapped around Marron's waist.

Marron staggered back against the wall with his welcome burden. Feeling the wetness on his neck, he gently stroked Carrot's back waiting for him to calm down, to tell him what was wrong.

Gaining control over his emotions, the boy lifted his head and said simply, "You are the most generous person in the world. No one's ever taken me shopping before." Marron blushed at the praise, and Carrot watched the redness creeping into his cheeks with delight before swiftly kissing each red cheek and unwinding his legs to slide down to the floor.

Seizing Carrot's hand again he pulled him out the door and headed off to the local mal

Trying on clothes in the various shops, Carrot wondered what he had done to make Marron want to torture him. He now had enough clothes to last him for several years. He whimpered as they entered another clothing store and wearily leaned against Marron's side, holding tightly to his hand for comfort. A salesman approached wiggling his hips, eyeing Marron lusly uly up and down, and licking his lips.

"What may I help you with," he breathed, eyes gleaming at the thought of helping the beautiful boy in and out of his clothes.

Marron, recognizing the look in the man's eyes, simply ignored him, squeezing Carrot's hand in reassurance at the fear he could feel radiating against his back.

"We only need a couple of things from here and then we can go back home, okay," he whispered quietly, ignoring the slavering salesman as he pulled Carrot to him.

"Okay, but this is the last one," Carrot said shakily. He was so tired, and he certainly didn't like the way the salesman was eyeing his otouto. He moved slightly in front of Marron and narrowed his eyes fiercely at the twitchy salesman, who drew back in alarm from the fierce little creature with the messy hair. Just my luck, the man thought in disgust, He's already got a boyfriend and a jealous one at that. With that he turned off the charm and politely escorted them to the appropriate section of the store.

Marron selected several outfits for Carrot to try on as the poor boy, aching and tired, stood by wearily. Marron directed his weary niisan to the dressing room. Poor Carrot was so tired that he didn't even bother glancing at the outfits Marron shoved at him; he just took them and stumbled into the dressing room. There he dressed in the clothes and, not even bothering to look in the mirror, walked out.

The salesman gasped at the picture Carrot made framed against the red doors of the dressing room. Marron's eyes narrowed as he looked at his niisan wearing in the black, slim fitting jeans and the almost sheer black top. Wearily Carrot waited for each subtle nod before he turned away and changed again. The salesman was in heaven watching the modeling session. Each selection was more heart stopping than the last.

The salesman, watching Marron's impassive face as he tentatively said, "Your boyfriend has the body for the clothes that you chose for him."

Marron turned and directed a cool look at the man. "He's not my boyfriend, he's my brother," he said coolly before turning away again.

Yippee, the salesman nearly screamed with joy internally, I still have a chance. Again he turned on the charm especially since that Carrot was still in the dressing room.

"Is there anything I can help you with," he purred, moving closer to Marron who didn't move as he gazed at the dressing room door.

Carrot head lifted with a jerk as he sniffed the air lightly. A growl twd hid his lips as he banged out of the dressing room and looked at the salesman oozing charm at HIS otouto. Marron's eyes widened at look of naked aggression on his niisan's face.

Stalking forward, eyes blazing he slid between the two, getting up in the suddenly terrified salesman's face, he hissed, "Don't you know the meaning of BACK THE FUCK OFF? Because if you don't, I'll be glad to show it to you—in extreme detail." Deadly rage filled his eyes until he felt a gentle touch on his back. Quickly he backed into the soothing touch, feeling the rage deliquesce under the stroking fingers.

"We'll take everything I picked out, plus the clothes he's wearing," Marron said calmly, continuing his soothing stroking of his almost purring niisan. He gave the man his credit card and watched him goggle at the platinum card and the name on it.

"Certainly, Mr. Church, sir," the salesman babbled out, getting away from the terrifying smaller man.

"Want to tell me what that was all about?" Marron whispered into Carrot's ear, gently enfolding the smaller figure in his arms.

"No," Carrot answered sulkily, his lower lip thrust out in a pout as Marron gently turned him around. Placing a nibbling kiss on his neck, he listened to him giggle at the sensation. He did it again and again, delighting in the giggles shaking the slender frame.

"Come on, tell me," he breathed into Carrot's ear, his hair hiding what he was doing from the salesman.

Carrot sighed. "He annoyed me. You weren't interested and he still kept trying to touch you," he said in an aggrieved tone.

"Gateau touches me. So does everyone at home.”

"Yeah, but they're family and…" he faltered unable to put into words why the thought of the man's hands touching his otouto made him want to rip the man's face off.

"Here's your card, sir, and your packages," the salesman.

Marron murmured thanks. He reached to take the card from the man's hand, but Carrot, issuing a low growl, snatched both the card and packages first. He handed the card to Marron and, retaining the packages, seized Marron's hand and pulled him from the store.

"Carrot we ARE going to talk about this when we get home," he informed him, halting and looking down into his niisan's sulky face

"Fine," Carrot said angrily. He was determined NOT to talk about it when they got home. He had no idea why he was so angry with the salesman in the first place, and, if he didn't know for sure, he sure as hell wasn't about to admit that to Marron.

Marron searched his shadowed eyes and sighed as he read the resistance in his niisan's eyes; they'd only been around each other for a few days, and he already knew it was going to be like pulling teeth to get an answer out of him.

"Come on," he said quietly, gently tugging at the smaller boy. He chuckled tenderly at the sulky face of his niisan and pulled him into a one-armed hug, unaware of a pair of dark eyes that widened at the sight of Carrot with strange, young boy. Zaha smirked at the thought of telling his stepfather that he had seen Carrot with a most beautiful stranger.

The ride home was silent until Carrot screwed up his courage and began talking—babbling actually—to fill the uncomfortable silence between them. Marron reached out and grasped his niisan's hands, gently squeezing to let him know that everything was alright between them. Hearing the happy sigh smi smiled.
If he was able peer into the future, he would have known that the next day was going to bring turmoil back into their lives.

* * *


Onion returned home from his business trip wanting only three things: a hot shower, Carrot's lips wrapped around his cock and Carrot's tight ass impaled on his cock.

He walked down the hall to his room and passed Zaha going the opposite direction. Putting a hand out, stopping the young man, he asked jovially, "Could you asked Carrot to see me in my study in about a 45 minutes. I've got a surprise for him."

Zaha smirked inwardly. "Oh, Carrot hasn't been home for the past several days. I saw him at the mall with a rather beautiful boy. They seemed to be very...fond of each other," he drawled out, carefully watching for his stepfather's reaction to the news that his little fuck toy had someone else.

His efforts did not go unrewarded; his stepfather stiffened and rage glittered in his eyes.

"What did you say," he grated out. Zaha stepped back, a little fearful of the look in Onion's eyes.

"The Misu sisters took him to a fair or something the day you left and he hasn't been home since. I saw him at the mall yesterday, hanging on some boy," he stammered out.

Those fucking girls, I'll twist their little necks. I'll teach them not to interfere in my business, Onion thought venomously as he stalked away from his trembling stepson. Reaching his study, he picked up the phone---stabbing at the buttons and dialed the Misu household.

* * *

"Hello," Tira chirped into the voice piece.

"Where is my son?" a cold voice growled into the phone.

"Excuse me," Tira said quietly, quickly motioning Chocolate and their mother over to the phone.

"I said, ‘where is my son?’ Zaha said that you and your sister," he spat out, "Took Carrot to some sort of event and he never came back home. You know how mentally unstable he is. Now I'll ask you again, where is he?!" He was virtually screaming the last words into the mouthpiece.

"Carrot won't be coming back to your house, Mr. Glace. He's decided to stay with Stella Church and her family. They suit him much better," Tira said coolly into the phone. Inside she was shivering with fury. She had never thought she could possibly hate another human with such passion until Onion Glace.

"What do you mean, he's not coming home? And how the hell does Stella Church know Carrot," he asked coldly, furious that his plans were being overset.

"We introduced him to them," Tira said and hung up the phone, snatching the coat Chocolate tossed to her. They jumped into the car and hastily departed for the Church residence.

"Chocolate, call Stella and let her know that Onion may be on his way there," Cinnamon said calmly as she raced through the city with a fine disregard for the city's posted speed limits. Onion was far closer to the Church residence than they were and would probably beat them there.

Onion growled as he slammed the phone down and strode out the door. "When I get the little bitch home, I intend to flay the flesh off his back," he snarled to himself as he got into the car and drove to the Church's residence.

Carrot sat on the couch of the recently remodeled family room getting ready to enjoy a comedy/horror that Gateau had rented. He now sat curled up next to Marron with Gateau on the other side of Marron. When they had first sat down, Marron had been at the end and Carrot had curled up next to him. When Gateau and Eclair had entered the room with munchies, Carrot had initially took no notice of them other than a wary eye while he chatted animatedly with Marron. It was only when Gateau took the seat next to him that he abruptly fell silent, sitting tense and faintly shaking at the bigger boy's closeness. Pressing closer to Marron, as he stared unseeingly at the blank screen, faint tremors almost visibly shaking his body.

He was trying so hard to control himself and not runaway screaming. He knew he had nothing to fear from Gateau. In fact, the older boy had been nothing but helpful, yet he couldn't help himself. Men had always hurt him. Gateau was a male. Therefore, Gateau would hurt him. He knew he would be closer to winning the war with his instincts if he could just last for five more minutes. Just a few more minutes, he chanted silently to himself.

Eclair sat frozen beside Gateau. She could feel the deadly tension rippling through the air. She couldn't even turn on the VCR.

Gateau cast a dismayed eye at Marron; he didn't want the boy terrified of him all the time. He had noticed that, whenever he entered a room, Carrot always kept an eye on him as if he expected him to attack him any moment. The boy was getting better at being around him, but he tended to make sure that there was a nice solid object always between them. He was surprised that the boy had lasted this long sitting next to him.

Marron knew that Carrot was trying to overcome his fear of Gateau, of men in general. He was fearless when he thought he was protecting Marron, but, when it came to himself, he was a terrified little boy waiting to be hurt.


Finally, Marron couldn't take it any longer; Carrot's tremors were getting worse. Gateau made to get up, when a gof sof steel on his thigh stopped him. He blinked, realizing that it was Carrot who had stopped him from getting up. Marron eyes narrowed as he settled back to see what would develop. He had a sneaking idea of what Carrot was trying to do.

Carrot abruptly exploded off the couch racing for the window, causing the other three to jump. Leaning out the window, he took deep breaths to calm himself down. I did it, he thought triumphantly to himself, I lasted ten minutes sitting beside him. Composing himself, he turned back to the couch and flushed to see everyone staring at him. He gave a sheepish smile and tried to play it off with a joke.

"Got kinda hot in here; felt like I was about to pass out. Maybe I'll sit close to Eclair and pass out on her chest," he said with a wink and a lecherous wiggle of his brows at her. Her annoyed glance and chiding laughter had him feeling better.

Marron exchanged glances with Gateau and moved over, leaving a space at the end for Carrot. Carrot smiled and gave Marron a grateful look as he curled up in the space provided and settled down to enjoy the movie.

Onion pulled up at the entrance to the palatial mansion and stalked to the door. Quickly calming himself and presenting a smooth, charming façade, he rang the doorbell and was ushered into the home.

"Good evening, I was told that my son, Carrot Glace, was here. If he is here, would you tell him his father is here for him?" he inquired charmingly to a young servant girl. She blushed and stammered that she would fetch him right away. She ran to fetch Carrot, thinking what a wonderful, charming father Mr. Carrot had. With a giggle, she thought, I can see where Carrot gets his charm. Hearing the sounds of laughter in the family room she turned in that direction, and saw Carrot in the hallway heading in that direction.

"Oh, Mr. Carrot your father is here," she called to him excitedly and drew closer in alarm as he seemed pale and sway on his feet.

He smiled to reassure the girl that everything was all right. "Thank you. I’ll go see to him. Could you also let Marron know that Onion is here for me," he said and smiled. Had she been more observant, she would have seen that the smile never reached his fear-dilated eyes.

"Yes, of course, Mr. Carrot. Is everything alright?" she asked anxiously, feeling that something was out of place or that, perhaps, she had done something wrong.

"Yes, of course everything is okay. Just make sure you let Marron know that Onion is here, okay?" he said over his shoulder, moving swiftly to the confrontation that he was about to have. His stomach churned with fear.

"Well, it took you long enough," Onion snapped seeing Carrot arrive from the shadowed hallway. The mask that had so charmed the young girl vanished in an instant. "Get your fucking things, bitch, and let's go," he ordered, his eyes glittering dangerously; a sign that Carrot was intimately acquainted with and what it would mean to him.

"No," Carrot responded calmly. His stomach was threatening to wrap around his spine, but he stood strong before Onion.

"What did you say to me, boy?" Onion growled lowly, his eyes narrowing to glittering slits. Carrot began shaking as old fears overtook him. Onion's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at the fear in the boy's eyes and a singularly nasty smile crept over his face.

"I said NO!" Carrot said, as fiercely as his shaking voice would allow. "I let you do all those things to me because you said you still had Marron, that you would hurt him or worse if I didn't cooperate. You fucking bastard, I let you fuck and beat me senseless believing that you still had him, and I wasted fourteen years of my life letting you touch me, hurt me, abuse me to keep him safe, while I looked for him. And all this time you never even had him.” His voice firmed as rage swept through him.

Brave Carrot, was the thought in the minds of the figures lurking in the shadows of the hallway. Marron wanted to race out and protect his niisan, but knew that it was important for his brother to stand up and face his fears, to face Onion. Marron and Gateau exchanged proud smiles as they listened, waiting for the right time to approach, already having summoned the others.

"What the hell do you mean I never had him?" Onion demanded furiously, wonderingly if the boy really knew the truth.

"He said that you never had me," replied a low, cold voice from the shadowed hallway behind Carrot as Marron walked forward, with Gateau at his back, and slid an arm around Carrot's waist. Carrot backed into the warm support, feeling the arm tighten as Marron registered the shivers coursing through his body.

Onion gasped. "Apricot?! It can't be, you're dead." He gazed in wonder at the pale, elegant figure holding Carrot, not even sparing a glance at the blond boy standing behind the beautiful person.

"No, not Apricot. Marron. So, you do remember me Father," Marron spat out, enraged at the thought of coming from this filthy monster's loins.

"Marron?!" Onion's eyes quickly lost their dazed expression and grew calculating. Seeing the image of the smaller boy clasped protectively in the embrace of the beautiful, elegant Marron, he was swamped with lewd images of the two---naked and writhing against him, against each other. He licked his lips, unaware that his thoughts were fully revealed on his face for them all to see.

"Well, well, well," he purred as a charming, almost seduction, mask slipped over his face. Marron's eyes narrowed as he saw the look on Onion's face and felt Carrot shake even harder.

"I see that my two boys have....found each other," he smirked. "We thought you were dead, actually. Killed by your mother in a fit of one of her insane rages." His face softened and look of sorrowful compassion graced his face.

Carrot wrenched himself out of Marron's arms and screamed, "Filthy, lying bastard," taking an angry step towards him, his hands balled into fists, hearing a whispered "No, Carrot, " from behind. He stood trembling with rage before he abruptly turned back to the comfort of Marron's chest and protective embrace, feeling nausea rise. He couldn't help remembering all the things he had let Onion do to him. He felt his stomach heave in protest at the memories.

"The boy's as sick as his mother was, poor things. Always making up fanciful stories. I just never wanted to commit the poor boy to an institution, but I don't see that I have any choice now. Why don't you go get your things, Carrot and Marron, and we'll have a long talk at home, where you both belong," he said, mock parental concern in the forefront as he moved closer to Marron. He stopped when the big blond moved towards him threateningly.

"I'm afraid that you are under some misconception, Glace. The boys aren't going anywhere with you. As a matter of fact, the only thing that's going to happen is that you WILL sign over all parental rights to the boys. You will never get you hands on either of them ever again," Stella informed the startled man as she came down the stairs and stood in front of the boys. The look in her eyes, Onion thought uneasily, was the look of a mother wolf protecting her pups.

"I hope you haven't been believing his fanciful tales," he laughed easily. "The boy is as sick as his mother was, and look at what she did with my youngest child. She kidnapped him and god knows where he's b..." He faltered to a stop and looked, for the first time, at the elegant, expensive cloths that Marron was wearing. He came to the conclusion that Marron was the boyfriend of the big blonde—what was his name?—Gateau. He was obviously supplying Marron with his expensive wardrobe. He smirked. He’d do that and much more when he finally got his boys home.

"Oh, but we do believe him," Cinnamon said from the doorway (the Misus had just arrived). Onion whirled to face her, them, and the look on HER face was scary. For the first time, he was seeing her true face, and what he saw shook him a little.

"Surely, you don't think I..." he gasped out, incensed at the thought that these people believed Carrot.

"Surely, I think YES!" Cinnamon said coldly, mocking him.

He stiffened ramrod straight and said quietly, as if what he was about to said pained him, "Well, Ms. Church, since you are my boss, I'm not going to protest or argue with you. You may believe any disgusting," he allowed his eyes to water and his voice to quiver, "thing you want. However, I would like to say that my son Carrot has emotional deep problems. I thought that he was getting over them, but I obviously see that he's not. I don't know how my other son got here, but I will take them both home now.” His eyes hooded at the thought of getting Marron home and the delightfully nasty things he would do to the two of them.

Carrot started shaking harder at his words. He knew what would happen if Onion took him away, them away. His stomach heaved alarmingly. He looked up at Marron with miserable eyes and quietly said, "I think I'm going to be...," and beforecoulcould finished he was messily sick over himself and Marron. He started crying; he was so ashamed and embarrassed.

"Marron, take him upstairs and calm him down," Stella said gently as Marron scooped his trembling brother up into his arms and started up the stairs.

"Hey, where are you going with your brother. I don't know how you got here, but you bring him back down here this instant. I'm taking you both home with me right now. Carrot needs to take his medicines," Onion protested, seeing Marron swiftly ascend the stairs.

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" Stella inquired with a sweet malicious smile, "I adopted Marron about fourteen years ago. He's Marron Church, your new boss. And since Carrot is of legal age and Marron too, I'm afraid that they are going nowhere with you." The venom dripping from her words stunned Onion.

His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. He now knew that she was his enemy.

"Well, I may not have any rights to Marron, but I have plenty of rights to Carrot. I have medical proof that he has an emotional mental problem," he said arching his brow as if to dare her to call him a liar.

"And you, Onion Glace, are a child molester. One that has been abusing and raping his own child for over fourteen years. If you think that I'm going to allow that boy back into your possession, you are out of your MIND." She had begun quietly, but ended in a near roar, vibrating with rage to hurt, to maim him. As one they all stepped forward, growling with the urge to rip Onion to piece, to make him pay for hurting Carrot.

Onion took a swift look around at the menacing faces and tried to scoff at the claim. "A child molester, is that what he's told you? My god, I've always known he was sick, but this," he wave his hand expressively, "This goes beyond what he's done in the past. I'm afraid that this time I’ll have find him a good home, someplace where qualified people can help him help himself." He shook his head, the very image of heart wrenching parental concern, unaware that they already knew the truth.

"Fuck you," Tira said quietly, her voice almost explosive in her quiet intensity.

"What did you say, young lady?" he gasped angrily, "Cinnamon, I think you had better teach your daughter some manners. Speaking to me like that." He snorted with indignation.

"Actually she's being rather mild, considering all the things I want to say to you," Cinn ann answered as savage smile crossing her face, giving her the appearance of a mother lioness protecting her cubs.

"Did you really think we are that stupid, that we wouldn't notice or be concerned with his appearance, his attitude changes? At first we thought that you were physically abusing him, we were willing to go to jail to get him from you. But when we saw the tapes..." Tira choked to a stop. Tears of rage glittered in her eyes as her mother took her in her arms.

"Tapes, what tapes?" What tapes, they couldn't know, he thought frantically. All his plans would be ruined; he would be ruined if they knew. He knew these bitches wouldn't be able to keep their fucking mouths shut.

"Apricot made copies of the tapes you made of your ‘sessions’ with Carrot," Cinnamon said simply as Onion froze in shock at the words.

"This is what you will do: You will lethisthis house immediately. I will have lawyers at you house tomorrow and you will relinquish ALL parental custody of the two boys. If you do this, I won't release the tapes to the media," Stella said coldly, determined to fight for her boys. And they are all my children, she thought wonderingly, including Tira and Chocolate.

"You wouldn't dare," Onion spat out, knowing he had lost, but determined to go down fighting. "You wouldn't hurt Carrot like that. Think hat hat it would do to him.” He was still confident that they would back eventually down and he would be able to reclaim the boy.

"You forget that with the amount of money I possess. I can swiftly have Carrot out of the country and away from the media frenzy that will envelop you. The media will rip you to shreds and the rest of us will be sitting someplace, perhaps on a beach, laughing as they take you away in chains," she continued coldly, a look of dark joy on her face at the thought of his coming humiliation.

Onion paled, imagining the situation going down exa as as she said. He stiffened. They had to be bluffing. Apricot didn't have the intelligence or courage to do something like that, he thought smugly, content with this thought.

"You're bluffing," he said smiling coldly. He saw them hesitate, glancing at each other. Aha, he crowed to himself, I've called your bluff. Now what are you going to do you fucking bitch, he sneered silently at Stella.

Stella sighed. "Eclair, go get a tape and put it in the VCR." Eclair ran and quickly selected a tape and placed it in the VCR before reporting back.

“Mr. Glace," she said, her lips twisting as if she had tasted something nasty in her mouth, "After you." She gestured towards the direction of the family room.


Upstairs, Marron got Carrot into the bathroom. Carrot was shaking so hard that he couldn't even undo the buttons on his fouled shirt. His fingers were slimy as were the buttons. Marron quickly shucked his befouled shirt and helped Carrot out of his cloths. Then he got him in the huge shower stall anrnedrned on the water. He swiftly stepped in getting his pants wet upon seeing Carrot collapse on the floor of the shower. He quickly peeled off his pants and tossed them onto the tile floor and gently picked Carrot up. Holding the shaking and shuddering boy against him until he became calm. Gently he ran his hands up and down the shuddering back and waited for the shaking to ease.

Grabbing the shower gel, he swiftly lathered up a cloth and began washing the smaller body pressed against him, murmuring soothing nonsense into the shell of his ear. Feeling the quaking slowly subside and knowing that Carrot was listening, he quietly said into his ear, "I was so proud of you.” He leaned back and looked into his niisan's wide eyes. A tender smile curved his lips.

"Y-you were?" Carrot stammered out, blinking furiously against the water dripping from his wet hair. A warm glow spread through him at the praise. "But I was so weak and cowardly. I was terrified and shaking like a leaf. If it hadn't been for you holding me up, I would have collapsed on the floor. And then to thrown up all over you."

"You were terrified, but you STOOD up to him. You were shaking like a leaf, but, Carrot, you defied him. You were strong not weak," Marron reassured him. He grasped Carrotace ace between his palms and searching the wide eyes, willing him to believe him.

"You think so," Carrot asked, a shy, pleased smile crossing his face at the words. I did stand up to the bastard, he thought wonderingly, I did it! And a wide grin settled on his face. Marron, seeing the look, braced himself.

"Yeah!" Carrot cried,pingping up and wrapping his legs and arms around Marron. "I did it!" he crowed, flinging back his head in delirious joy. Marron gritted his teeth to stop his body from reacting to the wet, naked body rubbing against him. An involuntary reaction, he told himself grimly.

Abruptly, Carrot jumped down, and Marron sighed in relief. Then groaned as Carrot turned around and pressed back against him, lifting his face to the water. Grabbing Marron's hand with the washcloth, he swiftly turned around and began washing Marron's front.

"Yeah, we showed him," Carrot said fiercely as he washed Marron's chest and stomach, still thinking the confrontation he had with Onion. He failed to notice Marron's reaction to his touch. Marron swiftly grabbed the cloth back and turned Carrot around, ignoring his protests. He did not wanting to scare his niisan with his obvious hardening. Holding the squirming Carrot with one hand and pushing open the door with the other, he got them out of the warm shower. Quickly seizing a towel, he wrapped one around his narrow hips and grabbed another and proceeded to roughly towel the complaining Carrot. Gradually he gentled the rough toweling until he managed to get Carrot to giggle from the ticklish sensation. Finally, he relaxed seeing the beautiful smile on his niisan's face and feeling his disturbing arousal die down. He wrapped the towel around Carrot's waist.

And pulling the warm, laughing boy to him, he slipped an arm around slender shoulders as they walked into Marron's room. "Do you want to go back downstairs," he asked quietly as he gathered a pair of silk pajama bottoms from the drawer for him and a pair of the new ones for Carrot.

"I dunno, do you think we—I—should?" Carrot asked hesitantly, dropping his towel and pulling on the thin silk black pants. He looked over at Marron, who was just bending over and pulling on his white silk bottoms, and felt a hot, tingling rush go through him. Pressing a hand to his stomach, he wondered if this was the first symptom.

"Carrot," Marron said as he turned and noticed Carrot had a hand pressed against his stomach and an odd expression on his face. He watched as Carrot jerked his hand away and the expression disappeared before Carrot's jester's mask slid firmly in place. He wears it even with me, Marron thought in shock and some anger. His eyes narrowed.

"Aw, it was nothing," Carrot said waving a hand in dismissal, "I was just making sure that I had emptied my stomach. I'd hate a repeat performance.” He finished the performance with a wide grin and a wink. He blinked at the cool look Marron gave him. As if he knew I was lying, he thought uneasily and closed his mouth. Shirtless they walked out the room and, hearing the voices coming from the living room, they wandered in that direction. Carrot breathed a sigh of relief seeing that his messy little accident had been cleaned up. Could have been worse, he thought, I could have shit in my pants. I was so scared.

Seeing everyone simply sitting down anlkinlking he wondered.

"What happened to Onion, did he leave," he asked looking around. He avoided eye contact with Marron, who seemed to be angry at him. And I don't know for what, he thought miserably to himself.

"He's watching the tape," Stella said quietly, her eyes sympathetic as she saw Carrot pale alarmingly. He glanced at his otooto before biting his lips and sitting down in a chair. He looked so lost and alone with his arms wrapped around himself for comfort. She and everyone else looked accusingly at Marron, who took no notice as he regarded his niisan. Stifling a sigh he stalked over to the chair, scooped up his squirming niisan, sat down and pulled the stiffening Carrot into his lap.

"I don't need you to comfort me. I'm not weak. I'm not a baby that I need to sit in your lap. I can stand on my own. I'm your older brother, I'm supposed to protect you. Not the other way around," Carrot said quietly, turning to look Marron in the eye.

Marron smiled. "What makes you think it's for your sake that I want you to sit in my lap," he said equally quiet, "Did you ever think that it comforts me to have you so close, to feel you, to touch you and finally know that you are real and not my imagination; to know that my niisan is finally with me. You have no idea how much it comforts me to have you like this." He gestured to their current seating arrangements. "Of course if you were bigger," he teased trying to get a smile out of his niisan, "I'd be sitting in your lap." He watched with satisfaction as a smile bloomed on his niisan's face. He should always be smiling, he thought with wonder. His face is made for joy.

Carrot leaned his head again Marron's shoulder with a sigh. Puzzled at the looks he was getting from everyone else, he stiffened slightly. Marron accurately reading the looks on everyone's faces, rolled his eyes and glared at them all as they turned away with smirks on their faces. They were getting a big kick out of seeing Marron act mushy with his niisan.

The door to the family room opened. As one their eyes hardened as they turned their attention to the man frame in the doorway. Onion took no notice of them. His eyes were fixed on his two sons cuddled together in an easy chair. Sick rage burned in his eyes as he took in the protective way they clung to each other. He saw the enraged fury glowing in Marron's eyes. He saw how Carrot gently rubbed his hand up and down a tense arm, the look they exchanged at the touch, and how the rage and tenseness ease in Marron's eyes and attitude.

That stupid cunt, he thought foully, if she were alive, I would love to wrap my hands around her fucking throat and choke the life out of that bitch! Knowing that, with the tape, he didn't have a snowball's chance is hell of getting either of the boys, much less Carrot, back into his clutches. He smirked inwardly thinking of his plans. All I need is another eight months. If I can just hold on for another eight months, I'll be able to have both of my boys. I'll still have my revenge. First on those Misu bitches. I know the perfect people that would love to have the two young and sweet and undoubtedly virgin bitches like Tira and Chocolate, and I know just the person for that cunt Cinnamon. As the nasty thought emerged, he nearly laughed at the expression of horror and terror that would soon sweep over the Misu household, or should he say the ‘whore’ household.

Carrot shuddered. He recognized the look on Onion's face and knew that it wasn't over. Not by a long shot. Onion still had some tricks up his sleeve and everybody had better be on their guard.

"Well, Ms. Church, it appears that you have me by the short hairs," he said coolly, inwardly raging at her. He would destroy her. If it was the last thing he did, he would destroy her, see her crushed in the dirt and filth. He would watch the knowledge dawn in her eyes as to who brought her low.

"So it would appear, Glace," Stella said quietly, watchfully. She had faced too many opponents in her life to be a fool at this point. He hadn't given up; he had just changed directions. Her eyes narrowed in calculation. He would bear careful watching. She made a mental to step up their campaign against Onion Glace. She had a feeling that whatever was going to happen would take place within the next few months, and they would need all their resources to battle this evil man.

"I will then await your lawyers at my home tomorrow," he murmured coldly and departed.

Carrot held himself tense in Marron's lap, feeling his hand stroking gently at the small of his back, pleasure easing the tension from his too tight muscles. He shifted subtly in Marron's lap, arching to get more of that wonderful touch. Marron laughed softly at the movement, seeing Carrot's eyes close in pleasure.

"I can't believe it," Chocolate cried out hearing the door slam and the car roar off, "We won!” She excitedly grabbed her sister and they danced in enjoyment at their victory.

Carrot's eyes snapped open as he flowed out of Marron's lap and stalked over to the laughing girls.

"Silly fools," he hissed watching in dark satisfaction as they froze at his tone, "Do you honestly think he's given up this easily, this quickly. Do you think he's risen to the top of Church Corp. without being utterly ruthless.” He stalked around the motionless girls.

The others eyes widened at this abrupt change in Carrot's attitude. One moment he was sweet and cuddly in Marron's lap and the other he was this dangerous predatory creature. Syrus' eyes narrowed at the change.

"You have no idea of what he's capable of. He perceives you three," gesturing to the three Misu women, "As the weakest link and he will go after you. First Tira, next will be Cinnamon and last will be you Chocolate. He will want you broken and terrified like little mice." He continued, speaking quietly, stepping into Chocolate's face and watching the fear fill her face, "And when you are finally out of you mind with terror he’ll strike, and by that time you will welcome anything and everything he will do to you."

"Back off," Tira said angrily coming out of her horrified daze and pulling her trembling sister into her arms. "Just because he broke you and did that to you..." She broke off ashamed, holding Chocolate tightly in her arms.

Carrot smiled strangely and stepped closer to them, his eyes distant, "Do you remember when you had kidnapped me to get me to the doctor because you thought Onion was abusing me?" He waited for their nods of assent as the other exchanged puzzled glances. Marron waited knowing that something horrible was going to issue from Carrot's mouth.

"Onion found out and took me to this place simply called The House. He intended to put you all there," Carrot said, remembering the horror of that place. His eyes snapped back to the Misu sisters as he reached out a hand and gently stroked Chocolate's cheek. He stepped closer and crooned, "Beautiful, lovely Chocolate with the most beautiful eyes a woman can have, he had such plans for you. He would have put you in with the rest of them, in the Hall of Screams. Your beautiful body dangling from the ceiling, screaming and writhing under the whip as it caressed your bare body with lightening pain; screaming as untold number of strange men savaging your body while you're chained down, pissing on you, shitting on you, cutting strips of flesh from your body, raping you; and when you are finally broken you'll be sold as a slave, collared and branded 'Property of' some other sick bastard. You would have begged for death and he would have laugh as you serviced your 'Master'.

"And I mustn't forget you, my sweet, gentle Tira," he purred switching his attention to the quivering younger girl, "Lovely, quiet Tira. Oh how he would have loved making you scream. You have such hidden reservoirs of strength within you that he's itching break. By the time he and they would be finished with you, you would have been crawling on for them, waving your pretty little ass, doing anything so that they wouldn't hurt you." He circled around her and enfolding her in his arms as he stroked his cheek against hers.

"Stop it, stop it," Tira cried tearing herself out of his arms. Carrot advance on her as she backed up in fear.

"It took me over two weeks of begging him, satisfying him, letting him do every little filthy thing he wanted to me before gave up his plan of putting the two of you in that place," Carrot hissed. "It took me two weeks of total bed rest to heal both the internal and external injuries."

Carrot cocked his head to the side and smiled strangely. "Did you honestly think that Marron was the only one he held over my head." He shook his head watching the horrified realization on all their faces as they comprehended that Onion had also held the Misu family hostage against Carrot.

"But he never broke me, not like he will if he gets his hands on the three of you," Carrot continued calmly turning to leave the room. "I learned a long time ago to sacrifice the outer me and how to protect the inner me. I'll see you upstairs Marron." With that he exited the room leaving a horrified silence behind broken by only Tira and Chocolate's muffled sobbing. Cinnamon hurried over to her sobbing daughters, trying to comfort the girls as they kept crying, "We didn't know, were sorry! We didn't know!"

Syrus turned to Marron, "I need to see him in my office as soon as possible. He has problems I think he hasn't faced yet. I don't care what he says; he's been through too much not to have been affected by Onion's abuse, especially without a support system in place."

"Yes and I'll need to see him also," Mille said quietly. "If what Onion said was true, I'll need to know what medicines he gave Carrot, in addition to getting a full physical and blood work done on him. There's no telling what he's got running through his system."

"Okay, I'll talk to him about coming to see you. Alsoma,"ma," Marron said quietly, knowing that everyone was erneerned about his niisan, "I think that we need to get someone to work with Carrot to teach him self-defense. We're not always going to be around and if Carrot needs help, I want him able to defend himself until we can get there."

"I was just thinking the same thing. Also, I want you all assembled in the War Room at eight am. We need to escalate our plans against Onion as soon as possible. Like Carrot, I don't believe for a minute that it's over. In addition, Cinnamon, I think you need to move your daughters and yourself into hou house for your own protection. I don't think I like the way he was looking at the three of you. Take a couple of my guards and go home now and pack everything of importance to you and get back here." Stella summoned her bodyguards and gave them orders.