Disclaimer: All credit goes to The Literary Dragon!

Teddy looked around the living room, taking in the well-worn furniture stained with the grubby prints of little hands.

"I am surprised, Jiyong," he said in a calm voice. "I was given to believe that you lived in a pigsty. The place is rather clean."

Hojin piped up from beside his father. "Daddy wants everything to stay clean ever since 'Dara-." His sentence was cut off when Jiyong placed his hand over the boy's mouth. Teddy raised one eyebrow, but made no comment.

"Uncle Fluffy doesn't need to know that," he said. "Why don't you take Haeum upstairs and show her your toys." Hojin looked disappointed that he was being politely told to leave the room.

Dara tried to help. She gave Hojin an encouraging smile. "The grown-ups need to talk, Hojin. You'll have lots more fun playing with Haeum." Hojin pouted, but grabbed Haeum's hand. He started chattering about all the cool toys he owned. The little girl resisted and held on tighter to Teddy.

"Go with Hojin, Haeum." Teddy gently disengaged her and gave her a nudge. "It's all right." The girl allowed Hojin to drag her from the room. Dara tried to follow, but was stopped by Jiyong's hand on her arm.

"Stay," he said. His request surprised her. She was touched that he wanted her there. She stood beside him and slightly behind to show her support of whatever he might say.

Teddy ignored the exchange between the two of them. He had crossed the room and was examining the case where Tetsusaiga resided.

"What do you know of Tetsusaiga, little brother?" he asked abruptly. Jiyong didn't know what to make of the question. His brow creased in thought.

"Not much," he admitted. "Father left the sword to me after he died. Supposedly, it was forged 500 years ago, during the feudal era. He talked about another one that complemented Tetsusaiga. But I never learned what happened to it." Jiyong shrugged and tried to look uninterested.

"The other sword is called Tenseiga," Teddy said. "I have it."

"If you have Tenseiga, then why are you interested in Tetsusaiga?"

"Father left Tenseiga to me," Teddy continued as if Jiyong hadn't spoken. "They were forged by a method that is lost to modern science. They were referred to as the 'Ruling Swords.' Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga were the only ones made in this fashion. The legend is that only the rightful ruler of the western lands could use them. Whether or not this is true, they are very rare and very valuable."

Jiyong looked bored. "What does this have to do with anything?"

For the first time, Teddy turned to look at Jiyong. "I want Tetsusaiga."

"WHAT?" Jiyong's shout shook the foundations. "Why should I give Tetsusaiga to you?" He took a step forward and clenched his fists. Dara laid a calming hand on his arm. He didn't acknowledge her, but the muscles under her fingers relaxed slightly.

Teddy sighed, unfazed by his brother's temper. "The swords are collector's items. There are certain people out there who would do anything to possess them. Tenseiga is under the tightest security I could create. Tetsusaiga is virtually unprotected."

Jiyong crossed his arms over his chest. "So?"

"Try to keep up, little brother. Anyone who wants the sword could break in. You or Hojin might get hurt. I am the only one who could protect it."

Jiyong flinched slightly at the mention of Hojin getting hurt. "I can take care of myself and my son. You are not getting Tetsusaiga!"

Dara saw a single muscle clench in Teddy's jaw. He turned his golden eyes on her. "Talk to him, girl. Maybe you can make him see reason."

Haeum appeared in the room, worried by all the shouting. Hojin followed. His Daddy was always yelling at somebody. Lately, Daddy yelled at 'Dara-noona. But he was always glad to see her when she came by.

"Come, Haeum. Let us go." Teddy took her by the hand and strode out the door. Hojin waved and shouted goodbye to his new friend and Uncle Fluffy.

Dara looked at Jiyong. He hadn't moved and his back was tense. "Jiyong?" she said tentatively.

Jiyong straightened slowly. He walked over to Hojin and picked him up. He sat down on the couch with his son on his lap. Hojin snuggled contentedly with his head on his father's chest. Jiyong finally looked up and seemed to remember that Dara was there. His violet eyes were dark with seething emotions.

"Go home, Dara," he said in a quiet voice. Dara started to speak but closed . She nodded and turned to leave. At the door she paused.

"See you later, Jiyong?" It was a question. He inclined his head slightly without looking at her. Dara walked home, leaving Jiyong to think about what his brother said.

^**^

Dara read the problem on the page for the tenth time. Muffled booms and a shout came from the room down the hall.

She marched to the door and yanked it open. "Turn down that racket, Sanghyun!" she shouted. The noise went from ear-splitting to merely deafening. Dara growled and shut the door. She plopped down on her chair and reread the problem she had been trying to solve for the last hour. She caught herself staring out the window, watching a lone brown leaf twist in the breeze.

"I need a break," she declared, slamming her math book closed. Dadoong opened his eyes and meowed. Dara didn't respond and he went back to his nap.

Dara's mom was hanging up the phone when Dara came into the kitchen, intent on finding something to eat. She pulled out a Pepsi and a bag of Fritos. As she sat at the table, her mom gave her a look. It was the look that says 'I have great news and you had better think it's great too, because there's nothing you can do about it.' Dara knew that look, so she put on her interested face.

"I have great news, darling." Dara waited patiently for her mother to tell her what the great news was. "Do you remember your cousin Jinu?"

Dara nodded. "You made us go to the wedding when he remarried three months ago."

"Well, he and Hye Young are going on a cruise," her mom said. "And he wants us to take care of his little boy."

Dara frowned, trying to remember Cousin Sean's son. Now she remembered. That was the little boy who bungee jumped into the cake at the wedding. He was hyper and adorable. She had actually gotten along really well with him.

"They'll be gone for four weeks," her mom continued. "If I remember right, Harang's only a year older than Hojin. I thought you could take him over there to play when you go see Jiyong."

Dara blushed. It seemed to be an automatic reaction every time someone mentioned his name. "Mom!" she protested. "I don't go over there just to see Jiyong."

Her mom wasn't listening. "Halloween is only three weeks away," she mused. "You could take the boys trick-or-treating."

Dara recognized a lost cause when she heard one. "When are they coming?"

Her mom smiled brightly. "Silly me. They'll be here in an hour."

Dara sighed and slumped forward to rest her forehead on the table. Her mom seemed to enjoy complicating her life. How was she ever going to get any studying done with a five-year-old underfoot?

^**^

The whole family sat in the living room waiting for Cousin Sean to arrive. Sanghyun looked bored. Mom had convinced him to put away his video games. Actually, she had told him that he was going to come down and talk to his cousin or there were going to be no video games for a month. Sanghyun got the point.

Dara idly counted the leaves on the potted plant next to the couch. She couldn't remember anything about Harang except that he was five and adorable.

Mom was the first one to hear the car. She ushered everyone outside to stand in the cold. Dara shivered, wishing she'd worn pants instead of a skirt. Cousin Sean got out and went around to the other side to help his wife. He looked just as she remembered him. He called greetings to them in a booming voice. Bushy red hair topped a smiling face.

"Dara," he boomed, taking her hands. "You get lovelier every day. He turned to Sanghyun before she could respond.

"You must have grown a foot, Sanghyun." He laughed. "Soon you'll be as tall as me."

He enfolded mom and grandpa in crushing bear hugs. He turned to Hye Young and ushered her forward. She was petite, dark-haired, and quiet. "You remember Hye Young?" There was another round of hugs and greetings.

Dara looked over when she heard a car door. Little Harang slipped off the seat and approached his parents. He was adorable, just like Dara remembered. His hair was tied back and his sweet face and tiny body made Dara just want to hug him.

Cousin Sean took Harang by the hand and brought him forward. "Harang is a little nervous. We convinced him that he would have a lot more fun here than on a boring cruise with us."

Dara knelt down so she could look the child in the eye. "Hi, Harang. I'm your cousin Dara. I babysit a little boy who's just about your age. I'm sure Hojin would love to play with you." She held out her hand and smiled.

Abruptly, Harang made his decision. He jumped into Dara's arms, nearly knocking her over. All the adults smiled sappy smiles at how the two had taken to each other. Sanghyun just made gagging noises in the background.

Cousin Sean and Hye Young finally left, leaving Harang happily asking questions about everything he saw. Just before bedtime the phone rang. It was Jiyong. He wanted to know if Dara could come over for a couple hours after school. He thought that bringing a friend for Hojin sounded wonderful.

Dara hadn't gotten any homework done, but she went to bed happy. Tomorrow promised to be memorable. She turned out to be more right than she would have guessed.