Chapter 9: Family Matters (Liam)

The Silver Star Festival is one hell of a special event, it's the one day when everyone comes together not to fight or bicker but to simply enjoy each others company.That's the Silver Star Festival for you. There is no rich or poor, no loved and unloved, just people here to be people. Even the worst of the worst respect this day and put aside their differences. Sure some people will be sour, but nobody would dare fight on this day out of respect for Lord Aamon, my grandfather. It's always held on middle ground in the centre of the island. It's a small six kilometre patch of trees in the middle of the islands desert. Mother and Dad had already left for the festival so I was alone at home packing my gear and putting on my family's uniform. A black tuxedo with gold finishings. (I wish I could rather represent the Dragons instead, now wouldn't that turn heads. But that's not the point, if I win this that means more money and opportunities, which indirectly gives me more status, this could help the dragons in the long run...I have to win even if it means using that form). I then walked to the garage to get my car, it has self driving capabilities so it made the trip really easy.

I arrived at the festival pretty late, Aiko and Julianna were busy battling on polls over a ball pit. The air was warm and filled with laughter, parents and children ran all over from food stall to carnival ride. Everywhere I went I could smell popcorn, hot dogs and ice-cream and an abondance of perfume. Probably to keep us Kara-no-goki's from smelling blood on a peaceful day, last time that happened someone lost his head...he was 15....

Each group wore their uniform, The Peacekeepers wore yellow, black and gray suits with black and yellow fedoras. The Ruff Riders wore black, red and orange leather jackets with vests, kinda looked steampunk like. The head hunters had on fur skin and had animal print tattoos, barbaric in all the best ways. As for the Kara-no-goki's... including me, we wore Gold, silver and black tuxedos. I could see a Ruff Rider girl suggestively dancing with another girl from the Head Hunters, men from the Peacekeepers played darts with members of the Ruff Riders and Head Hunters, and nobody was getting shot or skinned.

Yato was busy dancing with Hida. He had on a large black jacket with neon green lights, it had so many unnecessary belts, kid looked like an eboy. Hida was dressed rather different from her usual look. She had on a puffy checkered blue pants, a white crop top, a baseball cap with a golden wrench symbol and high tops. (Never new this girl had a fashion sense...naaaaah, Vesta probably picked it out for her) I quickly ran over to them to greet.

"Nice move's, never knew you could dance."

"Hey I have an arsenal of skills thank you." She answered.

"Sup Yato, I take it that Vesta told Hida to keep you out of trouble?"

"Ya...Aunt Vesta took her siblings to the laser tag arena so she left me with big Sis."

"Big sis?" I said while giggling.

"Shut up Liam I think it's sweet." Hida snapped.

"Okay okay, by the way, I didn't know that Vesta had siblings, are they also adopted?"

"No they're related, their names are Chrys, Bethany and Sutetchi. Anyway Liam, can you dance?" He asked.

"I've got the dancing skills of donkey, but put me on a Dance Pants Revolution machine and I'll beat anybody here."

"Why not put your money were your mouth is, Captain Delayed." Hida answered with a smirk.

"Let's do it."

We ran to the arcade section of the carnival. The tent had it's lights turned off and had neon beams everywhere, it was like stepping into a cyberpunk fantasy (probably my dad's idea, the goofball). The arcade was bustling with countless kids playing all sorts of games, rich kids having friendly games with kids from the Playground. The Dance machine was vacant accept one person, lucky us. The guy was really good, he hit every note perfectly finishing his dance without a hitch. "Hisashi?" We all yelled in unison. "Hey guys." He yelled back, it was hard to hear him over the music.

"Bro...you play Dance Pants Revolution?" Yelled Yato.

"Boy I'm undefeated."

"Well get ready to lose." Hida said with her tongue out.

First of it was Hida Vs Hisashi, the machine kicked in and the moves came. Hisashi was on fire, Hida hit a lot of notes but kept missing the double notes. Each note was worth 20 points and the doubles were worth 40. In the end Hisashi thrashed her with 200 more points. Next game was yato and I, "Let's choose this song Yato." I choose a fast rap song (he has no chance of winning against me but I don't want to simply beat him no no no. I want to thrash him so badly that he'll have to surrender!)

I lost....

We spent a few hours taking turns, never thought I'd laugh so much. We even tried teamwork on the same machine, I mean of course we sucked but still...there was no place I'd rather have been. Eventually I got tired and decided to join Hida, she was sitting alone at the arcade entrance looking at everyone celebrate. She had a rather distant and sad look on her face.

"You thinking about your brother?"

"Oh...a-ah Liam, I didn't see you. It's kinda hard not to, he knows about us. He might even turn us in and their is nothing I can do about it, we could all get arrested and it...i-it would be all my fault." I could hear her choking back tears as she finished. (Damn it, she's probably been thinking about this for a long time and I never noticed, some leader I am. I gotta tell her it's not her fault)

"You may be right but that's nothing to cry over." Hisashi came in.

(Dude!! Not cool) I gave him a danger face but he promptly ignored it.

"Look, we all knew what we were doing, we all knew the risks. Hida, I know right now you are thinking that you shouldn't have joined us but truth be told, without you Liam and I would be dead already. Remember the job at Hanger K, when Liam suggested plan T for the first time."

"Hey plan T worked the time before and it usually gets us out of trouble." I snapped back.

"Ya but it also causes utter destruction."

"No it doesn't." I responded smugly.

"Liam, last time we blew up a boat!"

"Technically it was ship."

"THAT'S EVEN BIGGER! Before that we nearly wiped out a coastline."

"Now hold on, that was circumstantial. Besides it was only three kilometres wide."

"The fact that you don't realise how big that is just proves my point about Plan T."

Hida began laughing historically, "you two are hopeless."

"My point exactly...even under those circumstances, you always pulled through and save our butts. We love you Hida, and if we are gonna make it, we need you at one hundred."

"Well sis, what do you say?" Yato chirped in.

"Alright, I guess I can't leave my boys hanging." She gave us a big smile.

"ALRIGHT! Now let us get cotton candy. My treat!" I yelled

"YAAAAAH!!" They all shouted.

A few hours passed as the day went on, we met Vesta's younger siblings and I gotta say they were really cute. Chrys was the oldest, 15. Then came his two younger sisters Bethany and Sutetchi both 12. Chrys and Bethany both had black hair and green eyes while Sutetchi had Vesta's sandy brown hair and brown eyes. For people that lived with Yato they sure we're very well mannered, Bethany was a bit outgoing and was a very kind child, she reminded me of Aiko. We enjoyed the many festivities up until late in the afternoon.

"Well well well, if it isn't my little errand boy." The snarky voice came from a group of people behind me. It was lead by a tall black haired kid with deep red eyes. He was built like a praying mantis, skinny but deadly none the less.

"Itsuki. Keep talking down to me and I'll paint the city with your blood."

"Oooooh scary, and yet you've never beaten me before."

"We were children back then and...."

"Now you think you've changed, sure sure little Liam."

"Alright go ahead and prop yourself up but let's be honest, your only power comes from your little posse."

"YOU KNOW I COULD....hahaha, nevermind. Hey Liam, Aiko's family has been looking for a familial connection to the Kara-no-goki's trading company. So it's going to be you who would take her hand thanks to your friendship right....oh wait, you have been disowned haven't you. It's okay though Liam, the next of kin will take good care of her." He walked close to me and smiled, "I wonder what her lips tastes like...mmmmmh... strawberries." He began walking away from me and his group followed. An electric shock ran through my spine and I dashed at him with my first clenched. I was about to punch him then suddenly something yanked me to the ground. He looked back at me and smirked as he walked away. I looked back and saw a red hook attached to my tuxedo collar with a red-milky rope leading to Vesta's hand.

"Not now Liam, this isn't the place for that." Something about her voice was so calming.

"Alright Vesta, alright." I tried to get up but my legs felt numb, (damn, I almost wasted that form on a stupid skirmish). Vesta began coiling her red string, that's when I realized...(that smell, it's made of blood).

"May I have your attention please?" It was a loud speaker, a woman was on the other end addressing us (it's probably Grandfather's secretary.)

"Could all Kara-no-goki's please assemble in the Undercroft of the Mausoleum for a meeting."

"Looks like I won't have to wait long. See you guys later."

"Good luck Liam, we may not be allowed to cheer for you in the ring but we'll be watching." Said Vesta, I don't know what it was about her voice but for some reason...I felt calm, what that idiot Itsuki said to me felt inconsequential, (nobody's ever done that to me...odd).

The mausoleum was....grand to say the least, in there were the remains of our Islands leaders dating back almost three hundred years, it was situated on a hill high enough to view the entire island from the Playground to the Star City. A place worthy of emperor's, It's walls were ebony and it's fittings were pure gold. Each grave had a jade statue of its leader wearing a necklace representing their clan, some names I did not recognize due to their extinction but others I knew all too well. I stopped Infront of a statue of a man wearing a fur coat and a necklace of sharp teeth, he had on what looked like slacks and a belt with a skull in agony.

"Mokele Mbembe...the river-shutter."

"I see you've finally taken an interest in history, huh Liam?" It was Mr Lee.

"Wait... Mr Lee, what are you doing here, you could get yourself executed for trespassing even if it's a day of peace." I snapped back in a hush but frantic tone.

"I may be new to Okina but I'm no fool Liam, I know that. I'm married to your aunty, Mrs Yukio Kara-no-goki."

"I....I had no idea, you could have told me."

"My main job is to teach you, not be your uncle...speaking of which, you didn't show up when I told you." He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Oh...uuuuh, I can explain."

"Aggg say no more, anyway I could tell that you were distracted, does this have to do with your family?"

"In some ways yes. I'm stuck sir, if I win this match I might end up being forced to join one of the Kara-no-goki family businesses, but if I lose..."

"....if you lose, the winner can decide to take your life."

"WHAT, no I'm more concerned with the fact that it would mean that Itsuki would win...bad joke?"

"Yaaaaa." He chuckled.

"Haha, yaaa. Anyway yes, it's possible that I'd be killed, what sounds worse here?"

He shrugged, "Is spiting your family name worth your life? If not, fight Liam... fight." We walked together into the main hall to the extended family section, about seventy people were in the hall so it was quite loud with chatter and music. The Undercroft was just as grand and traditional looking as the outside, the chairs were a soft black silk with long backs, they always reminded me of the thrones of evil emperor's. There were four main sections, the bottom, middle, front and top. The bottom is where we sat, right underneath the middle area, we couldn't really see the stage unfortunately, didn't matter though since we basically had no say in the goings on in the family decisions. The middle level was where the cousins, aunts and uncles would sit, the branch family... filled to the brim with some of our most devious members. Think about it, what happens when you chain someone to a tree just a few metres from paradise...they'll get creative. The upper level is were I used to sit, the main family, only those directly related to the head of the family, those who have married into the family, those who earned their position or leaders of the other gangs sat there. Then came the front, this position held the most honour. It's a large stage with a long chabudai made of lapis lazuli with cracks all over it showing were each gem was placed and fused together. There sat four people, my mother, grandfather's secretary Miss Saeko Emia, Yomoh Kara-no-goki who's my direct uncle, and Satsui Kara-no-goki. Everyone sat down as soon as Miss Saeko put her laptop between her and my mother. She flipped it open and on it a red, black and gold Oni symbol appeared (our family crest...how appropriate), a voice from the computer broke the silence.

"Greetings Kara-no-goki's, and to the new members...welcome." The tension in the air rose up drastically, no-one dared to make a sound. His voice was harsh but melodic, deep but soothing, commanding but persuasive. Listening to him, despite all my best efforts to ignore him, felt like a privilege. I guess it makes sense that head have such a voice, this man has ruled a small country for sixty two years yet only ten people actually know what he looks like and seventy percent of his citizens don't know what he even sounds like, he is his own myth.

"Miss Saeko, start the announcements."

"Yes Master. But before we begin, Peacekeeper representative....ummm..." She adjusted her glasses "Gamer?"

A young girl in a pink and black techno hoodie stood up to her balconies mic, "Yes ma'am." (that is way too big for her small frame...is she even a fighter?)

"...your leader is required to have a meeting with Master, please inform him upon your return to The Playground."

"No problem ma'am."

"Good. Now we may start with basic news..." She went on for about two hours mentioning territorial rights for the Peacekeepers and the Head Hunters. Apparently the two sides had been at war about the shipping ports on either side, then she spoke about trade disputes and money distribution.

"Ruff Rider leader Ahiga, it says here that you have a complaint?" Ahiga stood up from his balcony and and spoke into his mic "Yes ma'am, the Phantom Dragons are causing...ummm...causing a lot of trouble." He was trying his best to speak formally, "they are...undermining our authority as territory leaders, they need to be stopped before they carve out their own land from one of ours."

"Phantom...Dragons?" Aamon asked.

"It's a minor gang of thieves Master," spoke Miss Saeko, "it's composed of three, supposedly misoless, members but recent reports state that two new members have joined...one of them being the infamous bomber Shockwave and the one of our former assassin's Blood Work, though the last one is mostly speculation."

"I see, no matter. Let them do as they please for now, I'm curious to see how far they go."

"WHAT! But sir they are dangerous."

"Ahiga, have you been drinking again?"

"N-no sir."

"Really, that is surprising, you would never dare question me while sober. Unless you are telling me that I'm wrong." He gulped so loud that we could hear it through the mic.

"Now let me ask you again, have...you...been...drinking?"

"Only today sir."

"Ahiga, in the end alcohol bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter the perverse, you know this yet you still drink. Ahiga, you are a disgrace to your heritage." (Geez, that was harsh...maybe decapitation would have been a mercy). Another hour passed as each group give their reports.

"Now for the main event, the tournament. Ruff Riders...who do you pledge?" Ahiga stood up, "We the Ruff Riders abstain this year."

"Understood, Head Hunters?"

"A muscular man in a fur coat stood up "we the Head Hunters abstain this year as well."

"Peacekeeper's?"

"We abstain." Answered the hoodie girl.

(So it's only Kara-no-goki's again. Makes sense, this is only the first one, it would be smarter to watch and learn about the other gangs pledgers then use that information in the real tournament next year.)

"Alright then, extended family, who do you pledge?" (Alright, the extended family may have a lot of real fighters my age, but few can beat me. They have to pick me to represent them if they hope to win.)

A man, probably one of my uncles, stood up. The man was practically a giant with bulging muscles. He spoke with a deep husky voice that sounded familiar.

"I pledge my daughter, Amber. It's time she learned not to be such a cowardly stress ball." (Dude...not cool, also how come they didn't choose me, damn it. It's fine... besides, the main family only has seven children and all of them are younger than fifteen, they have to pick me. As long as it's not uncle Yuno they'll pick me.)

"Mr Haverd correct?"

"Yes."

"Understood, next is the branch family."

"We nominate my son, Itsuki."

"Good and finally the main family." Uncle Yuno stood up. (DAMN IIIIIIITTTT!!!!)

"We nominate Tsuki, she may be young but she has potential." My heart sank, (a seven year old...he picked a seven year old over me)

"Now hold on." My mother was speaking from the bleachers, "I'd rather not let Tsuki participate. She is still young, and needs time to mature before she is trained for the responsibilities of running the family businesses."

"Then do you have a better candidate?" Asked Miss Saeko.

"Yes actually, in keeping with today's trend I pledge my son, he may be banished but he still is a member of the main branch, he will do use all proud."

"Liam Kara-no-goki hmmm," it was Grandfather, "So Liam, will you pledge?"

I stood up quickly. "I'll do it."

"Alright, then it's decided. Amber, Itsuki and Liam will have a three way battle in two hours. The winner will elevate the privileges of those they represent. The losers will have to face a potential execution by the hands of the winner...Master."

"Yes that is all, dismissed."