“No not like that!”

Kairi bit her lower lip and stepped back, patiently watching Jiyoon show her how to handle a katana. After a week of trying to figure out which sword worked with her best, Kairi was now stuck with this Japanese masterpiece, only to realize that handling it needed as much work as any other weapon she was least compatible with.

Over the two weeks that she had spent in training, one thing she had learned was that the Family, as she now called them, liked to associate themselves with fighting styles or weapons. Apparently Seohyun and Hoya, who never communicated with each other in the house, were a match made in heaven as bomb experts. While Hoya knew the technique and the complex facts, Seohyun had the calmness and quick-witted mind to work it out during the times when luck was needed more than experience. On a similar plane were L and Yoona. Constantly yapping against each other like rival dogs, L and Yoona were the best partners in crime when it came to getting physical. While L was one with his nunchucks, Yoona was swift—with and without the knife hiding in her back pocket.

Sungjong and Luna, though the youngest, were amazing at conning people. So when it came to sneaking into forbidden territory and getting away with information as classified as possible, the maknaes of the Family were the ones to go to. Though Nicole was not so much of a field expert, she worked with SungGyu to stand right at the front line, picking out the weaknesses of the other side and making their team more proactive.

Hyoyeon and Sooyoung were the most cunning, along with Hara and Hyosung. What completed their essence of being all-rounders was their charm, which was as dangerous as any revolver in JunHyung or Sungyeol’s hands. The weapon supplier was none other than Donghae, who during his student days had formed loyal allies.

“Remember Bang and Zelo?” Hara later asked Kairi.

“Bang who?” Kairi furrowed her eyebrows. L burst into laughter, only to quickly shut up and leave the room. Kairi blinked at his back then turned to face Hara who was rolling her eyes.

“Yong Guk and Jong Hoon, the two brothers who died in Paragon.” Hara watched as Kairi’s face fell, shaking her by the shoulder and throwing a small smile.

“The reason why I mentioned them,” Hara continued, “is because I wanted you to know more about us.

“Bang and Zelo, as we called them, were like Laurel and Hardy. A more efficient version of course. Bang was crazy but also someone we all respected. Zelo was bipolar, one minute he was wild, the next minute he was as serious as a stone.”

Hara then jerked her thumb towards the tunnel L had walked out of, mouthing, “Like him.” This made Kairi chuckle.

“Right,” Hara smiled. “Start smiling.”

Kairi’s laughter faded away and she sighed. “I’ll try.”

Hara knew she was being honest. She was trying. Succeeding? Far from it.

                                                *****************************

“We need to change plans.”

The room started buzzing like bees, the sound of different voices echoing against each other. Woohyun pursed his lips and tilted his neck. The voices stopped.

“It’s obvious that we’re too small an army,” Woohyun started. “It’s also obvious that despite us being amazingly trained, we will falter.”

“Be positive Woohyun,” Dongwoo complained. Woohyun frowned and replied, “Be realistic Dongwoo.”

Hoya sensed the tension in Woohyun’s words and cleared his throat. “Okay,” he intervened, placing a hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “Let’s move on and listen to what you have to say.”

Woohyun gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. Once calm, he continued. “We will be shifting base.”

The bomb was dropped. Chaos erupted. Leeteuk, Donghae and Yoona faced the other seniors, ready to start their explanations. The juniors stood up and raised their arms, trying to show their opposition without earning a punch from the resident angry man. But Woohyun knew this would happen. He stayed quiet and watched the drama unfold, waiting for everyone to realize that the decision would be binding and not change no matter how much they shouted.

Right then and there, someone caught his eye.

Woohyun’s face loosened up as he watched Kairi bite her lip and try to avoid his gaze. She finally exchanged glances with him and as the people around them continued to vent, the two people understood what was happening and why.

“Even if your father hasn’t reacted yet,” Woohyun murmured, “we still cannot take the risk.”

I nodded. I had not really been accepted as the member of the family but I had certainly come under the influence of his leadership. Despite his incomprehensible temperament, Woohyun was someone everyone turned to in times of need. I was starting to too.

“You want to train with us,” Woohyun continued, placing his elbows on his knees as the two faced each other on separate armchairs. “But you have to understand that this is not the right place to train. This is a box. You cannot understand our passion for what we want, for what we are fighting for without going out THERE.”

My eyes widened. “If I step out… I thought you…”

For a moment, no one said a word. Woohyun continued staring at me, sighing now and then. I blinked at him, waiting for a response. Finally, he his lips and said, “It’s for your good.”

A strange feeling erupted inside me. It was like something had collapsed and at the same time, been awoken. “I don’t get it…”

Woohyun stood up and turned around, so that his back faced me. “Believe it or not Kairi, I trust you. And as a normal human being, I want to test that trust. There are two directions where we can go towards. One is Paragon, where a whole army is waiting to destroy us but at the same time, itching to publicly disown you. The other side is…. Us. I myself am not sure of what I should do. In fact, common sense tells me to just stay here and take the safe path but there is no safe path anymore.

“There is a small village about 500 kilometres from here. It’s not so remote that it becomes suspicious ground for people like us. But it’s not so well known either that Paragon city people land up there for vacation. It’s the perfect place for us to settle down and for you to see where we come from and why we do what we do.”

“You just said you’re not sure,” I said, slowly standing up.

Woohyun took a deep breath in and put his hands in his pockets. “I need time to think. But I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. It’s worth it really. It’s the safest out of all the risks I can take right now.”

He took the risk.

As Kairi heard people debate as to why Woohyun was suddenly changing directions, she understood that a silent ritual had been performed.

Kairi had just been accepted as a member of their family. A family that Woohyun was a part of. A family that she never had.

A family that she knew she was going to lose.

"But the risk is worth it," Kairi murmured to herself. She headed back to the tunnel, feeling the burn from a certain man's gaze on her back. A burn that felt good. A burn that made her feel secure.