[IC] katekyo hitman reborn: the Moreno family

[Duthguy]

Several men and women in black suits, all of them carrying a concealed gun, were inspecting a large room festively decorated to make sure there were no booby traps or bugs hidden anywhere that could disturb the ceremony that would be held here. After all every high ranking member of the Moreno Family and some representatives from their allies would gather there. When it became clear there wasn't anything suspicious laying around the rented room the inspectors took their places to guard the entrances. "Still wish Miss Moreno would use the headquarters. That would be much easier to secure." "Yeah as well let our less trustworthy "allies" know where it is."

A couple hours later the final guests ,two teens, entered. These two were specially asked to "object" to the current choice for future leader, in order to test their combat skills. While Brenda had full trust in their capabilities a demonstration wouldn't hurt. Speaking of Brenda Moreno she was seated on the head table together with Zan's grandmother, Carlisle's mother and Dan Barret. As soon as every visitor was seated she, using a microphone, took the word. "As all of you here know, I have been charge of the Moreno Organization for over forty years, and have recently decided to retire. However since I don't have children of my own, I decided to look among the children of high member of the Organization for my replacement and at the moment we have tow candidates, namely Zan Drago, the grandson of a friend and former employee of mine and Carlisle Durnin the son of a trusted member of our proud Organization." When Brenda mentioned their names, that was the cue for the two of them to enter the hall and thus become the center of attention of every single mobster in the room. Seeing how they handled this would be the first test of many to prepare one as the next Boss and the other as a high ranking member.

[Renny]

The news was still fresh in his mind. It was totally unexpected though; his mother, the kind and generous support beam of his life was a mobster. Even as he leaned up against the entrance that he was told to come out of at the call of his name, he was fawning over how cool his mother looked dressed in the formal suit; her smile still kindly plastered on her face.

Arms crossed over his chest, he chuckled loudly to himself. It was never expected that this kind of opportunity would arise, that he would be able to throw his education in the thrash in turn for a easy life of... well, giving orders it seemed.

When he heard his name resound through the immense room, he quickly fixed a few strands of his chestnut hair and straightened his back. He shot the man beside him a rather brutish look as they walked along, one that appeared less intimidating than he wanted because of his youth. The man was taller than him by a few inches but that wouldn't discourage him. It also didn't help that the guy also looked stronger.

Cracking his head, he took the initiative and walked ahead of the guy, his confident smirk on his face as he shot a strong fist in the air. Once in place, he waved at his mother -unashamed- and begun to unravel the sleeves of his poorly-kept school uniform.

“Alright, grandma! Let's get this over with,” he told the elder cheerfully, filled to the brim with energy and confidence.

[McHaggis]

Zan tugged on his earring nervously, the small jolts of ripping pain more than enough to stave off the terrifying realisation that yes, he would be joining the mafia and yes, he was a candidate for leadership. How did something like that even happen? He knew he had the so-called 'family connections' to it, his parents had presumably died in service to the Moreno family and his grandmother was a friend of the leader herself; however, one needed only to look at his school records to see he was unsuitable.

Then again... he shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. If someone out there thought he was strong enough to head such an organisation in the future, who was he to disagree?

Zan followed the younger boy whose name might have been Carlisle, though mishearing it was possible. He didn't seem very friendly, but the taller boy had seen people like that in the past – sometimes good people, beneath that prickly exterior. In the hall, he immediately noticed his own grandmother who was frantically mouthing, 'Tie, straighten your tie!' while drawing a line threateningly across her throat with one finger. He gulped, even if she was only mocking, and did so.

"Nonna," he greeted, bowing his head slightly before both the Drago matriarch and Brenda Moreno in that order. Family first, that was the priority. A gentle, easy-going smile curved across his face, as always.

[Duthguy]

Brenda was impressed, the two boys while clearly nervous handled things well. However pretty she would how they acted in a combat situation. "I am aware that picking two children with no knowledge of our world is a bit strange, but I trust there are no objections." As soon as the last word past her lips, the last two guest to enter jumped up. "And what if we do object?" The fact that every single guard ignored what could be potentially dangerous, clued most of the other visitors in to the fact it was all staged.

Looking enraged Brenda stood up and unsheathed her hidden sword. She even used her Flame causing green lighting bolts to cover the blade accompanied by a buzzing sound. " Doran and Girim isn't? Never thought that two members of my own Family would be reckless enough to humiliate me like this. However rather than the usual punishment I think I'll let the ones you really insulted deal with you, by means of combat in the stage in the next room. Unless either Zan or Carlisle disagrees." The way Brenda looked when she uttered the last sentence made clear that she didn't really care what the boys though and that disagreeing would be foolish.

[Renny]

When he looked at the elder woman. No... correction, the head of the Moreno family, all he saw was aged experience. The air that drifted from her was a type of authority that was absolute; and in all honesty, it made Carlisle envious. While she spoke to everyone, the ears of the intimidating men around them were solely on her. He had felt then, that more than anything else, he wanted to be seated where she was. To be recognized not as a wimp but a person of strength.

Two sudden voices drug him out of his thoughts. Looking around for confirmation of what was going on, he was ready to ask her what she had said when she had addressed them. Object? were they really defying her? well maybe her rule wasn't as absolute as he had thought. He turned his side to the duo that had spoken out, a rather bland expression on his face. It didn't seem like too many people had cared about their objection, which meant in the end, they were extremely weak.

When he turned around to look at Brenda, he physically winced at the malice in her eyes. Woah, what the hell crawled up her panties?

Pouting his lips comically and waving a single hand back and forth in front of him, Carlisle said. "Eh, I guess I don't mind beating them up. Its isn't like their invading my turf or anything but teaching them a lesson should be fun," He chuckled.

[McHaggis]

Zan ended up shrugging at the prospect of beating up the two unruly members of the Moreno family. What else could he say? His was taught better than to refuse the 'request' of a lady. It was the blade that worried him, even more so than the mysterious power that Brenda summoned that called to him even from his faraway position. "Sure," he said simply, folding his hands behind his back. He never was one for useless words.

He raised an eyebrow at his grandmother, sceptically. Was he meant to fight with his bare hands – he had been accustomed to it on the streets in his younger years, recently not so much – or would he be given his staff? He was sure otherwise his supposed 'opponent' Carlisle (who he saw as an ally, not an enemy) would show him up completely in a hand-to-hand fight as the boy seemed rougher than he was!

[Duthguy]

Dan could barely hide a smirk when Brenda put on the angry, those who knew her pretty much agreed she could have made a decent actress. Even Doran and Girim despite knowing her outburst was fake genuinely were affraid they had actually pissed her off. Nervously the two walked up to their stage, after picking up their weapons from one of the guards.
The elder of the two who looked to be about nineteen years had short red dyed hair and wore two leather gloves covered in spikes. While the younger one who looked about fourteen had an earring in his left ear and relatively long black hair, but from the way he carried his yari, claerly wasn't someone to be messed with. While the two of were were collecting their weapons Brenda, who had resheathed her sword, signaled one of the other guards to go get Zan's and Carlisle's weapons. "Now those fights shall be one on one. And because by a stroke of luck there are similarities in their weapons Zan will be facing Girim and Carlisle will be up against Doran. Of course Brenda picked Girim and Doran specifically because of those similarities, having been told what Zan and Carlisle's fought with by their grandmother and mother respectively.

[Renny]

Carlisle had tugged at the sleeve of his uniform until it came off with a fabric-ripping tear. He didn't necessarily like the idea of rolling his sleeve up just to accommodate his gauntlet and in his head, his gauntlet had been the more important item. With his back towards his mother and the others, he could hear the former's grunt of disapproval, obviously she was upset that he was ripping up his clothes.

With a joyous smirk on his thin lips, the blue-eyed youth sincerely thanked the person that had brought him his weapon. Which was more than most could say they'd ever gotten from him. He latched on the menacing black armament, the points at the fingers sharpen to a sword-edge, and the surface of forearm reinforce with shelf-layers of metal.

Its nice to feel the weight again, He thought to himself, rotating his left arm while walking to the stage. I hope this guy wasn't all talk.

Lining up across from the red-head, Carlisle sized him up for himself. A natural fit for his first opponent, seeing as his only competition was nearly the same size and build. It would be good practice if they ever had to fight each other.

A abrupt second later, he was sprinting into action. With a powerful leap, he spun in the air and dove down towards his opponent; his gauntlet leading, his eyes scanning, and his body nimble. “Ready-Set Go!” He burst out after the action.

[McHaggis]

Zan ran a hand through his hair nervously as he accepted his staff from a guard, distraction evident in his face as he looked towards the impassive face of his grandmother. This wasn't his usual training staff, mostly harmless but designed for extensive use. This was the family staff which only left the house on special occasions. He trusted its dark, polished wood, but not in his own hands. After a few tentative spins, he decided it was eerily easy to remember how he had used it last time in a spar and lost.

His own opponent was both younger and slightly shorter than he was, dark haired and using some sort of long spear weapon. It was similar in length to his own staff and, if he was honest with himself, the whole thing seemed premeditated; however, he believed the best of the Moreno family. He wouldn't doubt them.

"Hi," Zan said with an unusual amount of cheer. The boy named Girim glared back at him. Ooookay then.

As the fight started, he held back from initial instinct to rush and rush now. He was not nor would he ever be an aggressive fighter – not since his grandmother had trained him out of that particular bad habit. Going on the offensive was for blades and idiots, or idiots with blades. Clearly Carlisle didn't have the same problem, but the staff was a nobler weapon than some gauntlet monstrosity.

The distance between Zan and his opponent was made longer by the combinations of long-distance weaponry; however, he knew Girim would attack first. That's what spears were for!

[Duthguy]

While Doran was surprised by the sudden attack from his opponent he managed to decrease the amount of damage he took, by deflecting the gauntlet striking it with both hands from the right. While this hurt his hands, he did it to ensure his face would go undamaged. However because he didn't expect the fingertips to be sharpened, Carlisle still managed to leave a cut on his cheek despite the lessened contact. "Not bad-bad." As usual when he felt stressed, Doran's stutter began acting up.However he wasn't gonna let that distract him, and quickly shifted his weight to his right foot while at the same time bending his right arm, immediately after that he swung his arm, intending to hit his opponent in the liver.

It quickly became clear to Girim that Zan, cheerful as he was, had no intention of attacking first. So that would be up to him. Wanting to see what his opponent was capable of he decided to begin with a simple straight forward thrust naturally not aimed at a vital area, as he had no intention to kill or even seriously hurt him. Girim carefully and slowly got a bit closer to minimize the time Zan would have to react, knowing how dangerous this was. While moving he tightened the grip on his yari and prepared himself to strike when he felt the moment was there. All of a sudden he thrust the stick forward, wondering if and how Zan would block it.

[Renny]

Under the shadow of the situation gleamed a confident smirk. This was just like one of those mangas that he always read. It was filled with the type of action that pumped gallons of adrenaline into his body, it felt awesome. “Thanks, but I was aiming to take you out with my first blow.”

A ribbon of red buzzed towards him as Doran pressed forwards. It was all clear to him though, his movements, his actions. While a bit unpredictable, he could see from the motion he was going for a side shot. In the heat the of the fight, he had several thoughts cross his mind. One of which took the cake from all of them.

This is a test! A test by the grandma at the head of the table. She wants to see what were all about, what our guts are made of. I'll show her exactly what I'm all about!

In a subtle movement Carlisle let his defenses down and allow the shot to pound into his liver. The pain that ripped through his body was almost crippling. Unfortunately for Doran, a fractured rib, a couple of stabs, and badly bruised liver wasn't enough to finish him off.

He pulled his left arm all the way back out of instinct before launching it towards the man's face, aiming with all his strength to pummel the his jaw.

[McHaggis]

Zan was sure that the spear was at least slightly similar to the staff, even more so when Girim's first action was a thrust to the left side of his torso. While a bit closer than he would have liked, he was able to swing his own weapon in a defensive maneuver, enough so to turn what would have been a sharp stab into a glancing blow that ripped through his shirt and sliced the flesh there. He'd had worse from his own grandmother before, he thought, jaw set stoically against the pain. And even the kids in his neighborhood could do worse than that, if he let them.

Seconds later, with Girim's spear still outstretched but on the retreat, he managed to twist around – ignoring the sharp stinging of his side – while the staff slid down so he was holding it by nearly the end. The added length and the momentum from spinning made it more powerful than his defensive motion earlier as Zan aimed for the boy's feet in an attempt to sweep him away from the floor.

[Duthguy]

While Girim was impressed that his opponent managed to deflect his thrust in that small amount of time,he was sure that the pain would at least slow Zan down a little bit. Because of this he didn't pay as much attention as he should, and before he knew it he felt how the staff hit him in the leg.While the hit itself didn't hurt that much, he quickly realized what the point of the attack was, as he found himself laying on the ground. Though he quickly tried to get up, he knew he was wide open for a few seconds. "This guy is better than I expected."

Doran was actually disappointed that his attack hit so easily. After witnessing Carlisle's first move he had expected more from the kid. "I take back my earlier compliment." Sure that the fight was over he let his guard down completely. By the time he noticed what his opponent was doing, the gauntlet had already connected, and he was send back staggering. While his jaw wasn't broken two of his teeth did get knocked loose, not wanting to swallow them he spit them out. " "Luckily Miss Moreno agreed to cover the cost of any injuries we would get during this fight."

Brenda who had been watching both fights decided it was time to end the show. "Well I think it's clear who the winners are"

[Renny]

As he looked down at his opponent, a noticeable smirk pulled his lips to the side. Carlisle had felt more than victorious, more than confident that he showed his guts. That he was willing to take blows to end any and all conflict. No matter the cost, I'm going to sit in that spot.

Holding his side, he turned to face Brenda. The elder lady still held the presence of a boss, royalty even. It made him want to know more of this world that he was involving himself in... it made him want to delve in his family history. He could feel the warm liquid trickling from his side, dying his white dress shirt red.

“Yo, Grandma? You plan on covering these injuries as well?” he wondered, feeling the sting more prominent now that it was over. “Cause this hurts like hell,” he added with a lighthearted smile.

[McHaggis]

Zan wasted no time in kicking Girim's spear away from him, exhaling sharply through his nose and placing a free hand on his wounded side. Ouch, ouch, ouch. He hated bladed weapons and spears were just one more to add to that very long list. He smoothed his hair out with a slightly bloody hand before turning to smile at his grandmother.

She raised an eyebrow in that imperious way of hers, eyes darting down to the boy her grandson had just defeated.

"Oh, um..." he started, moving towards Girim's spread-eagled form. "Are you okay? Hitting the floor like that can't be good for the bones..." While moving to see if his opponent was alright, he kept a wary hand on his arm to prevent him from attacking again. His grandmother might enforce the rule of 'always nice' but that wasn't necessarily incompatible with 'paranoid'.

"Mrs. Moreno? What are you going to do with these two?" They were easy to defeat, certainly, and Zan suspected they wouldn't last long in the outside world of the mafia without the Moreno family's protection. It was slightly suspicious, too.

[Duthguy]

"While I won't personally deal with your injuries, I will see to it that they are treated." After saying that Brenda gave a nod to one of the women on another table who walked over to the stage. Yellow sparks emerged form the ring on her right hand. The woman first focused her attention on Doran. "I can't replace your missing teeth, but I can at least do something about the pain."She then used her Sun Flames to accelerate the healing.

Girim might not have been happy with the outcome, he definitely wasn't gonna do anything and attempt to resume the fight. That said he had no intention of being nice to Zan."I'm fine." He wasn't lying either, the fall might have hurt him, but there was nothing serious wrong.

The unknown woman in the meantime had done what she could for Doran and moved on to Carlisle. "Like with Doran all I can do right now is decrease the pain, that said you'll want to take it easy for a while."After talking she began sending her Flames into his body.

The last person she focused her attentions was Zan."A nasty cut, but fortunately this is the easiest type of injury to deal with."Not wasting any time she began to heal his injury.

Brenda decided to tell the two boys the truth in response to Zan's question. "I'm not gonna lie to you, this was all staged to test your combat capabilities. As well as to see how you would act under pressure and forced in an unfortunate situation. So I won't be doing anything to them."

[Renny]

The mystic yellow flames eased his pain well enough, leaving him to consider the strange power. At first he was certain that they were going to burn, but to be honest, it was more of a soothing feeling that grazed against his side. It was refreshing. The white core, yellow flames, and star-like sparkles that rose off of it was beautiful. Almost, innately, he had felt he was accustomed to seeing something like that.

Rolling his shoulder around in its socket, Carlisle gazed up at the Brenda. “So what happens now? Do I finally get to fight my competition or what? And... another thing, what's up with that fire? It doesn't burn at all and it seems almost like magic.

[McHaggis]

Zan felt a bit ill at ease as the mysterious flames approached him, mostly because they were completely different from his grandmother's blue coloured ability. He had no idea what this one would do but stayed deathly still as the hand approached his wound. Instant relief from the spikes of pain that jolted down through his body from the cut. Oh, so they could heal? He smiled and thanked the woman graciously.

That seemed like a very interesting thing to be able to do -- he was a bit jealous.

It turned out that Zan's suspicions about it all being a set up by Brenda Moreno were correct; however, he couldn't fault her for eventually telling the truth, even if she had concealed it in the first place. "You just got told to take it easy and yet you want to fight more?" he asked Carlisle, trying his best not to sound accusing -- in reality it was fascinating, especially since he was still covered in blood and a lot of it his own.

[Duthguy]

Brenda ignored Carlisle's comment about fighting the competition, knowing that in time he would see that Zan and he, at least until the next leader was chosen, were supposed to form a team. " In time Dan here will be teaching you about the Flames and how to use them. But for now let's just continue the celebrations."When she mentioned Dan's name she pointed at the blond twenty six year old guy also sitting at the main table.

The only reason Dan was allowed to sit at the main table was so that he could use this time to get acquainted with his two new pupils, and as such he had been studying them during and after their fights. It seemed that Carlisle was more impulsive and aggressive, while Zan was more patient and kind. Neither of them seemed stupid however and he suspected they both figured out that everything was staged before having it revealed to them.

[Renny]

The feeling of his arms folded behind his head had become a familiar one, even with his injuries he was able to do that much thanks to the healing. He looked towards Zan with a warm smile, his own blues closed from the humor that struck him. “I guess so. Whatever it takes to be number one. I'm willing to go the extra mile,” He chuckled lightly.

While listening to Brenda, he found his wondering stare floating to Dan. The man sat comfortably, even when surrounded by mobsters and the boss. That meant he was use to being in the inner circle; he was strong. A light smirk pulled on his lips as thought about his situation. “So can everybody do that? The healing thing?” He asked casually, his curiosity for it overflowing.