Chapter Text
Thick smoke and car noises, nothing more normal in the big city. Karen tried to concetrate while parking, but these noises were so loud! She could never get used to it. She missed the Mushroom Kingdom, but the city had more job offers. She needed as many as possible to take care of her kids. Well not for long. They're going to collage tomorrow, maybe a bit early for their age, but it was their idea. She turned with the wheel one last time as the car moved to its designated parking lot, like a lego piece clicking with another. She sighed as she kicked the door open bringing her shoulder bag with.
Their house wasnt far, only a small's required. She always enjoyed them, a little time to relax, reminise. Those rare calm moments were always so precious to her. Even back in those assasin days, she apretiated them. "The more calming the more valuable, you used to say, hon"
She spinned her housekey as she was getting closer. Weirdly a small house for a family of 4. She had to sleep in the living room, so the kids can get a room on their own. Never bothered her though, the couch is suprisingly comfortable. She swiched on the outside lights when she was infront of the door. She slipped the key in its hole and twisted it. After a few spins it was open. She pushed the door and it barely budged. The baggages were blocking the way. "Dammit!"
She backed off a bit and pushed the door full force. Nothing. She went off again. Not a move. Her strengh was getting a rusty. She was about to break the windows to get in, when the door magicly whoosed open. Well not magicly, someone opened it from the house. She peeked inside as she saw her son making more space to go inside. He nodded as he opened the door further letting her in. The key rang as she locked the door and turned her head glaring at him.
"Zack. What did i say about staying up so late? "
He stayed silent.
Karen put her carkeys and bag on the table as she searched for a place to sit. As she was about to though, she was grabbed on her wrists and slammed onto the wall by her own son. Anger fummed out of him as he glared. She hasnt felt her wrist being held so tight since those days
"What is this attetude? What did I do?"
The lights dim in the room, gave him an even more serious look.
"The ID card. Where is it."
Karen tipped her head sideways with clear annoyance.
"Zack we talked about th-"
He showed her into the wall with more force, making her yelp. He tipped his head onto her forehead as he intimidated her.
"I could saw through your brains right now, if i wanted to, you know..."
She grunted, but she noticed something. He was shaking, his hand was loosening grip and his cool expresion was falling apart. He was desperate. A clear weakness. "He was like this too, couldnt keep it together forever"
With her legs free, she moderately kicked his toes with that he lost his balance, and started falling. Just in time, she catched her son,so he woukdnt fall on the floor .
She made stand him on his feet as she cleared the dust from her leggings.
"I taught you well, but i wasnt expecting you to use this on me."
He grumbled and cleched his paws. He felt so clueless and that tortured him inside. He slightly shaked his body when his mother suddenly hugged him.
"I know you want revenge for him, but his disapearence is not their fault!"
"How do you know that?!"
Karen stopped as her words were stuck on her mouth. Zack gently pushed her back releasing the hug.
"Thats what i thought"
And just like that he stormed off. Well not yet. As he ran to his room a hand stopped him. He turned his head annoyed as his eyes met a worried mother.
"Promise me that you wont hurt yourself. Don't be like him."
A tiny drop of tear apeared but in the same moment it was wiped. He glared than pulled himself away, muttering to himself.
"Fuck"
Bright light shined on the train station. 3 kids baggages in hand were waiting for the next one to come. Zack with his cocky stance and mohawk, hands in his black jacket's pockets, Katie with her long ponytail and jumper warming her up and Cory in his blue overral and big backpack fidgeting with his fingers. Their mother proudly staired them hands cleched around her chest. She suddenly leaned on the 3 embracing a family hug. Zack hummed annoyed, Katie as if her bones are breaking and Cory tried to get away as soon as possible. He never liked being hugged, he hated not being able to act with his body.
"Mom this is so unnesesery!"
"Cant a mother miss her children? Im just so proud..."
The train huffed loud as it arrived at its spot. All three of them turned around as they got released. They grabbed their stuff and started aproaching the train. Before that Karen called out for them.
"Wait!"
They turned instantly.
"I-if theres anything wrong dont be afraid to call! Or if im too far, my friends are close-by."
Katie reached out her hand to her mother to calm her down. She was stressed of course, she wont know if they're in danger. Something thats very common in this world.
"We'll be fine, of course."
And then they went inside.
The crowd was tight, they could barely move. Many mumbles and whispers, it was suffocating. They stepped on a few pasangers shoes, apologising right after. Squeezed out from the crowd, and they landed on their seats, safe and sound. And like basketballs, they threw up the baggages on their front dedicated basket.
Finally sitted down, the trio sighed in releaf. They took a set in a 4 people booth. Zack took the double seats, while Cory and Katie sat next to eachother. All of them had a spare bag with all of their food, drinks and stuff to do while they wait for the ride to end. Katie yawned, and immediatly put in her earphones, long morning wore her off. Zack turned to his backpack shufling and searching while Cory pulled out a device he made trying to fix it.
The train huffed with the coal turning into steam through its chimney. The gear moved its wheel and slided away. Outside the mother waved to her kids goodbye, though because of the crowd inside she couldnt actually see them. She sighed as her wide smile faltered and she lowered her hand. She grabbed a card out of her purse; an ID card to Hitman INC. She grumbled and tossed it away.
Back at hussing train, the cat twins were still doing what they've been doing before. Suddenly, Zack pulled out a bunch of papers and snapped his fingers to grab his siblings attention.
"So that now we're going back, we need to go back to Hitman INC-"
"Absolutely not"
He glanced up as he saw his brother's intimidating face. He blew his hair away from his face to convince again.
"Are you serious? Last time went so well!"
"We almost died!"
Cory's eyes dilated as he noticed his sister suddenly bumping on his shoulder, dozing off on it. He glanced at her then back at his brother.
"You know what happened to her after that, right? I dont want her to go throught that ever again."
Blood pumped faster in his chest. He hated being wronged. They always stuck together, and ever since he got in the picture, they've tried everything to get revenge againts their mother's old company. To be forced to work there, it was disguisting. He cant just stop there.
"F-fine! Keep being a coward, bumass!"
The screwdriver in Cory's hand creeked more as he got back to its fixing. His legs constatly tapped on the ground, feeling that he betrayed him. Guilt grasping back, he sighed and with his free arm, he handed over a complete device.
"Paint bomb. If you need it."
He grabbed it immediatly, acceptong the help and put in his backpack to, hide it. He deep down understood why they dont want to participate, but anger clouded his judgement. The paper in his hand lost its stable smoothness as he clenched it. He turned his head away as he whispered below his whiskers
"Thanks"
Hours have passed and the train was still moving. Cory finished his tinkering and was scrolling on his phone letting out a laugh or two, with his headphones on him. Zack was eating a sandwich that their mom prepared for this long trip and looked outside the window. And Katie well, she was still sleeping, though her breathing started becoming more unsteady. Her heart beating quickened, her face muscles started going crazy, as her breath turned into panic. Zack noticed the sudden change of behaviour, put down his edibles, and grabbed her face. From there he shaked the heck out of her until a deep breath with open eyes accured.
He loosened the grip and calmed down himself.
"You okay?"
Instead of answering, she smoothly touching his hand, trying to swipe it away.
He groaned in response.
"Sure, dont tell anything"
She looked away, as he released her chin. He leaned back to his original position, fist on his cheeks leaning towards the window, sandwich in his free hand, with a kind of bored look.
She was about to go back to her doing, when suddenly the anouncer spoke:
"Attension, all passengers! The final destination is reached within 5 minutes!"
Katie streched out his arm to grab his bro's attension. A bit disturbed Cory took down his headphones and was about to strike back with words when he heard the annoucment's repeat.
The 3 looked at each other and nodded. In record speed, all 3 of them standed and pulled down all of the stuff they threw up on the shelf. In classic teamwork fashion, Cory and Zack grabbed them down, while Katie prepared their landing. A few of them was a bit too heavy though, but this was expected since they'd need all of their clothes and things to make their dorm feel more like home.
3 minutes later, they managed to bring all of them down, and walk to the cramped exit in time. The people were moving closer to it, since its about to stop.
Just like that, the train's steadiness slowed down, the wheels met the rails as they gave out that earwrenching sound. After a bit it did stop with the train speed reaching zero. The sudden stop gave the passengers a slight bump, making a few of them fall to the ground or cling to whatever or whoever was close by.
The door opened then everyone rushed out.
The kids attached themselfs to their baggages, not to lose them in any way possible. After the crowd cleared, the kids turned to themselfs to discuss the plan.
Zack stood tiredly, as he streched his body making all kind of noises, when he asked his question.
"So where is that shitty place?"
Cory pulled out his phone to search in Google map. A few swipes later, he turned his head up.
"Its actually just a 3 minute walk, pretty lucky i guess."
"Lets just go already! This place stinks!"
The others followed Cory's direction, who was very focused to not be distracted. Since well… they havent been in the Kingdom for years. They missed this place, even if it held many traumatic events. People seemed so much more peacefull, then after they left. Katie was amazed by the less grey tone of outdoors. "I wonder if that blue castle is still here" She thought.
After a right turn a wide building apeared. It was protected by a huge wall, but they could hear the many noises coming from inside. They stepped forward where the main enterace was, where they could see a huge sakura tree inside.
"We're here!"
