AfterMask: 40

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Nabi was carefully stacking folded shirts in a basket, GamunBe doing the folding as Jin took down the laundry from the lines. "I still don't see why you don't let that gangster just buy and pay for a washing machine and dryer." EunYul complained, doing the same task on the other laundry line.

"The house might be bigger but it still doesn't have that much room in it." The redheaded King pointed out flatly.

The Ox beamed as GaRam and GaBe carried the full basket from Nabi, working as a team. "And it is good to do chores together, EunYul. It builds bonds between people. I certainly don't mind getting to spend time with the others doing things like this." His eyes slid over to the Butcher with a small smirk on his lips. "Or is your next complaint going to be 'I prefer chores relating to the kitchen'?"

"I'm going to give you another scar to make your face equal if you don't shut it." EunYul growled, squealing as Jin pinched his side in reprimand. "WHAT THE HELL JIN?!"

The King was giving him a scolding look.

"What's that talk of my pretty Heroboy's face?" Noah had appeared, back in his red shorts and tank top from the year prior, his hair up in a ponytail. "You better not be talkin' smack, Butcherboy, or you're gonna be in even bigger trouble." Usagi appeared behind his leg and scurried into Nabi's lap, hamming it up by rolling onto his back and kicking his feet.

The Rabbit was grinning as EunYul gave him a dry unimpressed look. "My God it's like you can be summoned just by breathing."

"I can be summoned many ways. For instance, should Heroboy ever lose his shirt-" GamunBe's hands wrapped over Noah's mouth, his face steaming red as everyone in the yard sans EunYul snickered. Nabi was far too enamored with Usagi to notice, twiddling her fingers over his paws to encourage his playing.

Yun poked his head out through the door. "Try to hurry, the news says it's going to start raining today."

"No chance to go and find Joong if we're all soaking wet, cold, and exhausted." GamunBe sighed, glancing over to where SaeHa and his students sat, the SunBi looking morose and angry. "Even those of us who are capable fighters would be useless if we wound up ill."

Haje was hugging Mir as Jenna and Ara brushed out Ha Na Rin's long locks, braiding the long strands and geting them ready to be twisted together in the TAL's preferred hairstyle. "It's best if we refrain from using the Grimoire so soon again. Our luck will likely change if we push for more." The HalMi looked over at Sarah, whom was laying on her stomach touching her head to Lun's book cover, the Duk-Dali frowning deeply. "You can't find them either?"

"Even if a wish was made, I don't know how well it'd end." The Monkey replied, eyes still shut. "Locating Joong-Nim is one thing, but if they've done something to him that I can't reverse..."

There was a tense silence, memories of Logan's words drifting through their heads. 'Something that can't be reversed...' Jin thought glumly. 'Saying that Gasun-Hyung doesn't even want to come home...Can such a horrible thing really be possible?' He slumped a bit, EunYul noticing and wrapping his arm around his boyfriend's shoulders.

"He must be miserable without booze..." Noah uttered. "It's weird not smelling soju around here."

SaeHa managed a sharp, dry laugh. "Soju? As if that's the only thing he enjoys. Anything that's stronger than beer makes him happy." The SunBi had a wry look, red rings in his eyes.

"Ah."

The soft hiss as droplets began to fall rang in their ears, the laundry hurried in as the gray sky overhead darkened. Nabi perched next to Noah, hugging his arm as they watched the drizzle dampen the yard. Her mouth moved a few times as though she wanted to say something, but she remained silent instead, Noah glancing to her and lightly bumping his head to hers.

"I know...Sitting around for the chance of something happening isn't easy." The Rabbit told her. "It doesn't help that this sort of waiting game hasn't given us really great results in the past, either."

GaRam and GaBe climbed into their laps, the cherry-eye hugging Nabi's middle as her lemon-eyed twin held onto Noah's shirt.

"But the elements shouldn't be messed with, and I don't think those guys can move around without risking the same." Noah ruffled GaBe's hair softly, Usagi popping up to nose Nabi's knee. "So it's really all we can do."

As his head was turned towards the girls, Noah failed to see Haje's thoughtful frown, as he glanced from Jenna to Hiljo and back to Noah.

Nabi let out a soft sigh, relaxing a little as she returned the hug with one arm and petted the Yongma's head with the other. "I know... It's just...it's hard not to be worried sick." She replied, going silent for a moment as her expression turned thoughtful. "I guess...that's all the more reason to keep up the effort though, right? We...we will bring him home." Despite the resolute tone of her words, it was clear the blond was struggling to keep optimistic.

"Yeah. He's fam, after all. More importantly, he's the Kings' fam." Noah looked at Jin and Yun, who both gave a nod with fierce frowns.

Ara was staring out the door, watching the rain discolor the yard in patches. "Gasun-Nim..."

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"The sun's finally out."

JuJu was staring out the window as Logan finally exited his room, looking somewhat disheveled yet still oddly stylish in his own manner. He was straightening out his clothing when the child spoke. "Ah, good~ Were you waiting long, JuJu?"

"Uh-uh." JuJu ran to him, however, hugging him around the middle. "You smell."

Logan coughed into his fist out of amusement.

"That-" JuJu mumbled under his breath, and Logan choked on a faux cough, "-He said to give Joong this dose. He went out to 'have some fun'." The child said as he gave the adult the vial.

The psychic took the vial and smiled as he swirled the liquid inside around. "Wunderbar." He patted JuJu on the head and stooped to pick up the child in one arm. "But for now, let him schlafen. Twisting up things to make him obedient took quite a bit out of him." Logan smirked at the door, the child rolling his eyes. "But if Fischermen's decided to have his fun it's only geretcht to let him be, isn't it?"

"You just want to watch him get his butt kicked too, huh?" JuJu uttered in a dry tone that cause Logan to laugh.

Percival appeared, Logan's crystal ball clutched in the beast's mouth, and the Yongma proceeded to scale onto the table and place the ball in its pillow, leaping across to the couch as Logan sat down with JuJu in his lap. "C'mere Percy." The child dragged the cat into his arms, the three watching as a screen-like image projected from the stone, showing what looked like a bird's eye view of a street.

And Ji-U, standing in the middle of the street as the Kings' group approached him.

"Ho ho~ What's this?" The blond sneered. "Am I in trouble for being outside?" Ji-U had his Yongma's smaller form on his shoulder, Gip-Yun stationary as its master turned to completely face the angry Kings. "Last I checked it wasn't illegal to go on a snack run."

Jin and Yun had matching scowls, their hands covered in claws. "Y-You aren't getting away. W-We want you to return Gasun-Hyung NOW!"

"The only thing I have right now is my beast." Ji-U pointed at his shoulder as he sneered.

The redheaded King's mouth puckered sourly. "Not what I meant!" Yun stood firmly in place, Gotoya scowling from a nearby building. "You have nowhere to go, Ji-U. Whatever it is you guys are after, kidnapping Gasun-Hyung isn't going to help."

"Oh but you see, child King, the TAL are exactly what we're after." Ji-U's voice had dropped low, and Jin felt his body freeze over, ice in his veins despite the honey in the blond's tone. "What you fail to understand is that in the face of this infectious crisis, the TAL are the key and solution." His Yongma's full form emerged behind him, an enormous Kraken-like beast whose tentacles sprawled for miles, Gotoya and RyuGuheul protectively standing next to their respective masters. "And you're the problem."

The Kings scattered, Jin and Yun leaping in opposite directions to avoid Gip-Yun's tentacles slamming into the pavement. Ryu and Gotoya grabbed the limbs only to be easily lifted into the air and slammed into the ground harshly. Jin switched to a gun he recalled MuYoung using often, copying the shape well enough for it to work and fire several rounds into the tentacles holding the person-like beasts flat on the ground. Gotoya was up first, shooting a volly of arrows at Gip-Yun's face as RyuGuheul shoved the damaged limb off his back. Yun, meanwhile, had reappeared behind Ji-U and solidly clawed the blond across the back, eyes sharp as Ji-U yelped in pain and hit the ground.

The arrows pierced the Kraken Yongma's face, but Gip-Yun didn't react until its master was attacked, turning to swat at Yun and send the black-haired King crashing through the front of a store. Screams from the patrons inside rang out, Yun struggling to pull himself free from the rubbish as the customers edged back.

"Yun!" Jin cried out, squeaking in surprise as one of the enemy's limbs came flying towards him. However, it was suddenly nailed to the street by a bolt, the end still smoking. "N-Nuna-?!" The redhead twisted around, heart jumping as instead he saw the fuming end of a crossbow clutched in the hands of- "Haje?!" Jin yelped upon seeing the once mute in a crouch, his weapon aimed at Gip-Yun with a look of cold-blooded hatred in his starry eyes.

A shout from above, 'YAHOO~!' heralded Noah, Hiljo, Yong, and Mir landing in front of the store where Yun was staggering out from. "Hey my babies~" The Rabbit TAL cooed in English, grabbing Yun under the arm and holding the older King to his side. "Gimme your weight, okay? Recover for now."

"You." Ji-U's eyes were fire as he glowered at Haje. "You. YOU. YOU YOU YOU YOUYOUYOUYOU-" The blond seemed to become manic as his voice rose in pitch and volume, Gip-Yun rearing up with a terrifying warble.

Hiljo shot at Ji-U, his own teeth bared as the image of his Mask seemed superimposed over his face. "Have a problem with my boy?"

"Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do." The blond's voice was venom-laced honey, and the red seemed to glow as Ji-U raised his hand and swiped it across his neck. "He's still alive."

Yong summoned his scythe, grinning a feral look at Ji-U. "Too damn bad the same can't be said for you much longer." The redheaded elder growled before lunging. Haje fired again, nailing several of Gip-Yun's tentacles to the ground as Noah, in rampage form, carried Yun to safety near Jin.

"Yun..." The Kings reunited, Jin hugging his brother tightly as Noah healed the injuries from Yun's rough landing. "Hyung, where are-"

Noah finished the process of healing Yun just as Jin asked. "Waitin' back at the house where it's safe. Connected to Yangbanger right now, it's hella not comfy." He winced, probably because of some comment the aristocrat uttered. "NO you can't use your fans to dissect the bad guys, one that's unsanitary who knows where your things have been and two-" Noah jumped, one eye shut in extreme pain. "JUST CAUSE YA KNOW HOW TO TRANSMIT THE ACT OF HITTING ME DON'T MEAN YA CAN WHENEVER YA FEEL LIKE IT!" He yelled with SaeHa's ornery accent seeping into his voice.

"Yangban-Nim, please cooperate, we can't have Hyung distracted right now!" Jin pleaded, relieved when Noah sighed.

Hiljo roaring got their attention, as he whirled about carving long sawblade-shaped knives into Gip-Yun's still-moving tentacles. As Haje fired to keep the beast's other limbs from wrecking the surrounding buildings, Yong was charging after Ji-U, who though injured was still able to move quickly. "That damn- Insufferable- MISERABLE WRETCHED GOOD-FOR-NOTHING TRASH!" The blond was snarling insult after insult after venomous ill-tempered phrase about Haje.

"Your tongue will be the first thing you lose to me. Speaking that way about my child is daring in front of me." The elder growled, Ghost lunging and swiping at Ji-U vengefully.

The blond only smirked. "Trying to make me equal to him then? Or wasn't that on your part, failing to stop Ja-Gwi when you knew of what detestable acts he committed on his slaves?" The verbal jab caused Yong's movement to stutter with shock, Ji-U seizing the moment to use Gip-Yun's tentacle to launch himself past the elder, diving towards Jin. "And you! Running away from the duty you so easily sway people to believe you're eager to carry out."

"I AM carrying it out!" Jin blocked the attack by changing his weapon's shape into a shield. "It isn't easy but I swore to everyone! I swore that I'd work hard to make the happiest ending for everyone!"

Ji-U snorted, Gip-Yun tangling with Yong to keep him busy, throwing the elder into Hiljo and slamming a tentacle into Haje, knocking him into Yun. Ryu and Gotoya dove forward to get the Chachaoongs back on their feet, the other multi-limbed Yongma raising his straps with a glower. "You are NOTHING. You weren't even real until you became King. Your words have no weight." The blond sneered as Jin's stance faltered a bit, knocking the redheaded King off his feet.

"Back off!"

A bolt sliced the air in front of Ji-U's face, Haje's eyes wide and electric with rage. "Jin-Nim is a good King! Yun-Nim is a good King! They aren't perfect but they're trying! They freed us! Hiljo and Jenna and Yong-ji and I can all live together because the Kings!" He fired again. "KEEP!" Again, Ji-U barely dodging the one aimed for his leg. "THEIR!" Haje's face was feral. "PROMISES!"

Gotoya and Noah recalled that night. When Jin promised the Laons would be free, how happy and relieved and safe the trio finally felt after years of abuse at Ja-Gwi's hands. The hope in Haje and Jenna's eyes as they saw their marks go inactive with the slave-maker's death, Hiljo's stiff frame slackening with relief. The beast gritted his teeth as he pulled that very same body to its feet, Hiljo retching from Yong's elbow hitting his gut hard, the beast feeling a fierce sensation in his own body.

"WORDS ARE EMPTY WITHOUT THE SKILLS TO BACK THEM UP!" Ji-U snarled in reply, deflecting one of the bolts and grabbing it in one hand and Jin's shirt with the other. "So why don't I show that this one has nothing to promise with?"

Yun and Haje felt ice flood their bodies as Ji-U aimed the bolt for Jin's heart. Noah's mouth dropped open in horror, still in the process of healing RyuGuheul's wounds from Gip-Yun.

"...JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!"