Continuation of Kasai Hachirobei's POV:
I heard a scoff before I was yanked out of bed. "Kasai, get off Haru," Koto hissed. "I swear you two are going to get caught by father if you don't quit. He's still here. You're lucky he hasn't come to wake you yet." Haru whined as he shifted in the bed, looking for me instinctively. I whined and looked down at my twin and reached for him.
"We're not doing anything wrong," I whined out.
"Yes, you are. You're not supposed to be sharing beds," he said then sat me down before he yanked Haru out of the bed and growled in his ear. Haru shivered and curled up before he opened his eyes and sniffled. I frowned and rubbed my eyes before I looked at him.
"Why not?" I asked softly.
"Because... one day you'll have a woman in your bed, and you don't want Haru in it too," he said then tossed Haru lightly towards his bed, making him yelp. "That is your bed Haru! Start sleeping in it!" I frowned and looked at Haru.
"Oh... but... right now... I want Haru in my bed." He rolled his eyes then glared at me.
"Your part of the reason Haru acts up like that," he said and pointed a finger at me. "You're not firm with him. I'm telling dad that you need separate rooms." He walked towards the door then. "DAD! They slept together again!" I frowned and dropped my jaw slightly. No! I don't want to sleep separate from Haru!
"Haru and Kasai?" I heard daddy asking. I could hear him walking down the hall and coming to the door.
"Yes, I think it's time they got separate rooms," he told him and frowned. Haru whimpered and got out of his bed, rushing towards me. I wrapped him up in my arms quickly. Dad investigated the room then and at us before frowning. He gave a small sigh then.
"Alright.... I tried to tell them to quit sleeping together but they're not.... Move Haru out and into the extra bedroom today while I'm at work. You can get Kori to help you." He walked in then and looked at us. "You two know better! You can't sleep together! Now bend over, I've got to punish you. I'm not going to let you keep disobeying me." He crossed his arms then. Haru widened his eyes then started to cry, clinging to me.
"Daddy!" He whimpered and buried his face into me.
"Now." He said in a stern voice. I frowned and rubbed Haru's back before I let him go and nodded. I turned around and bent over like he asked. He snatched my arm and dragged me to him before he smacked my butt hard and let me go before grabbing Haru and smacked him as well. Haru yelped then cried before he clung to our dad and sniffled.
"P-please don't separate us! I'll behave! I won't get in his bed anymore," he said and shook his head. "I don't wanna be in a different room!"
"I think it's time I separate you two for your own good though. You two need to learn what personal space is. You both have your own bubbles... you don't share one. You'll both have your own rooms and that's final." He said firmly.
"Bu-but...." Haru sniffled then. "Daddy, please," he begged and clung to him. "Can't I stay in here? I'll give him personal space. I swear I will! I'll give him space! I want to stay here with him! He's the only one I have!"
"No." He told him. I frowned and rubbed my arm. I don't want to lose Haru
"Daddy, I'll be firmer with him, I promise..." I trailed off then.
"We both promise," Haru whimpered and gripped his shirt. "Please! I want to stay with my bubba! I love my bubba! He's my twin!"
"No!" He told us and hissed. "Stop asking!" He gave us a mad look then. "You're getting your own rooms and that's final." Haru sniffled then broke out into tears, crying as he rubbed at his eyes. Koto rolled his eyes and started to pick up Haru's things, taking them out of the room. I frowned and shook my head quickly before I grabbed Haru's hand. I watched as our dad walked out of the room then. This is all Koto's fault!
"I hate Koto," I hissed out. He squeezed my hand and cried as he sniffled.
"I hate him too! I want to stay with you! I'll sleep on the floor," he said and trembled. "I don't want to be away from you!"
"Sleep with me anyways," I begged. He nodded quickly.
"I will! I'll sleep with you anyways," he said and wrapped his arms around me quickly. "I can't be away from you! I can't! I won't do it!" He knocked us back onto my bed and clung to me. I giggled and turned us over and growled playfully at him.
"Sneak in every night," I purred to him. He nodded quickly to me and gave me a loving look as he wiped at his tears then hid his face into my chest.
"I will," he promised me. "I'll sneak in every night! I can't sleep without you." I nodded in agreement. They can give us separate rooms but he's still in my bed every night! He calmed down after a few minutes then kissed my cheek as he sniffled and clung to my shirt. "I love you bubba. I love you...."
"I love you too," I whispered to him and giggled before I moved out of bed. "Let's go ask Saki," I whispered and winked. He got out of bed and held my hand.
"Ask Saki?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, about the meat last night..." I grabbed his hand and pulled him off to Saki's room to hopefully find her there and ask her about daddy's meat. Saki would know. She's old enough and she doesn't lie or hide things from us like Koto does. She was just coming out of the door, tying her hair with a pretty blue ribbon with my stitches embedded in it, putting her hair into a braid over her shoulder. Haru giggled as he watched then ran up and grabbed her hand as she looked towards us in amusement.
"What are you boys up to?" She asked us and squeezed Haru's hand in hers.
"We wanted to ask you about... dinner," I told her softly and ran my fingers down my shirt. "Haru thinks the tooth wasn't a cow's tooth." She tensed as she watched me then gave me an uncertain look before she scooped Haru up into her arms.
"Not a cow's tooth? Whatever else could it be, boys? Don't you trust father?" She whispered, avoiding eye contact with us.
"I trust daddy," I told her and rubbed my shirt again. "It's just that we're concerned- a little- about the tooth... If we have teeth in our food- maybe we should go to another slaughterhouse to buy our cow meats," I told her. "I mean- there was- an eye in my bowl- not that it tasted foul- but it was still there." She sighed then looked at me.
"Hachi, you have to promise not to tell Uta," she said and pointed a finger at me. "Haru, go play somewhere." She sat him down and gently pushed him down the hall, earning a frown from him as he grabbed her hand.
"No! I wanna know," he said and clung to her. She tsked at him then sighed, kneeling to our levels.
"F-fine... father can't go to another slaughterer. He does it himself," she whispered to us.
"Is that daddy's job?" I asked curiously and giggled.
"W-well... yes and no," she said and frowned. "He... hunts. He has another job, but he hunts the meat." I tilted my head quickly.
"Daddy... hunts.... Okay... So- Koto is going to learn to hunt too?" I asked. Maybe it's deer meat! That's so cool! I thought I was eating cow this whole time! But it's deer! Or maybe moose! Goat?! Goat! Wait! What if it's tiger meat? Not tigers... That would be sad....
"Yes, Koto is learning... to hunt... today," she said and gave us an uncertain look.
"What do they hunt?" Haru asked her curiously.
"H-hum... Does it really matter to the two of you? You'll find out when father wants you to know," she said and frowned, starting to pull away. "You're too young. Even I don't like it, but the meat does taste good."
"What are you talking about?" I heard our father's voice ask as he came out of his room. He stared us down then. "Saki?" She tensed and stood up, looking at him.
"I was telling them that you like to hunt is all," she said and then nervously played with her hair. "I told them that Koto was going to learn how today and that the boys should be happy for him."
"Daddy, when are you going to tell us what you hunt?" I asked and giggled. He smirked as he looked at us.
"I was waiting for you to get curious," he said in a teasing tone. Saki tensed then and gave a smile, starting for him.
"They're way too young~ Tell them when they're older," she said and grabbed his hand, starting to pull him off. "Did you get coffee yet, daddy? I think some was made this morning."
"I rather have hot tea," he told her. "Make me some before I go. I think I'll tell them now before one of you tells them. So, prepare something sweet for them." She bit her bottom lip and glanced back at us before she slowly let him go and nodded obediently, walking off down the hall. Haru frowned as he watched her then ran up to our father and grabbed his hand, leaning his head against his leg. I walked up to them and tilted my head a little.
"Is it deer?" I asked. Don't let it be tigers.... They're too pretty.
"No," he told me and chuckled. "This will be something very new to you but in this family it's what we eat and it'll be what we eat for a very long time- so when I tell you, I don't want to hear you cry like Saki did." He suddenly picked us both up and started to carry us to the kitchen. Haru clung to him and shifted nervously.
"D-daddy, why would Saki cry? Is it kittens?" He asked and sniffled.
"No, we don't eat cats," he chuckled out. "That's what our neighbors eat."
"No!" I yelled and gasped. CAT KILLERS! I'LL KILL THEM! HOW COULD THEY EAT MITTENS! THEY DONE IT! THEY DID!
"We eat humans," I heard Koto say as he came out of his room, straightening a tie around his neck. He smirked and sent us a devilish look. "Last night, I bet it was a woman." I frowned and tensed up quickly as I watched Koto. What does that mean? A- a woman? Like Saki?
"D-dad?" I asked softly and sniffled a little. He looked at me and frowned before looking at Koto.
"Koto, that's my job to tell them," he said in a stern voice. It's true?!
"You were taking so long," he said and then walked up with a purr. He smirked at us then and leaned in, sniffing me before Haru yelped and smacked his face away from me.
"N-no! Stay away from us!" He said, panicking as he shrunk against our father.
"Don't hit your brother," dad told Haru quickly. "He's older- respect him." He looked at Koto then. "Don't even think about eating your brother," he said in a warning tone. "Or I'll cook you next," he said and smirked.
"I was only trying to give him a scare," Koto said and frowned, rubbing his cheek. "Damn, I think I'd eat Kori first because at least he wouldn't smack me like Haru."
"Hey!" Kori said and walked up with a pissed look. "I'll eat you too!" He yelled in anger. "I'll gobble you up right now with my noodles I want to make."
"Alright, quit before Uta hears this," dad said quickly. Koto scoffed a little before he smirked and pulled Kori close to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I'd eat the world first before you, Kori. You're my wingman~" He winked at him then let him go before he looked at our dad as Haru trembled. "So... why are you telling them? They'll start turning their nose up at dinner like Saki."
"I told Saki at a late time... If I tell them before they're her age she was then they'll accept it easier... Plus I overheard them wondering." He sat us down then and rubbed our heads. "Look little ones... It's not bad eating others and don't ever think otherwise. It's an eat/eat world out there. You either eat or get eaten." Haru started to sniffle then before he grabbed my hand.
"B-but... they're like us. They have brothers and twins and sisters and... and daddies..." he said and started to cry a little. "We eat them?!"
"Well..." He trailed off as he smirked and then grabbed our shirts and pulled us into the kitchen. He shot a glance at the other two to follow so we would be in the same room with Saki. "We don't eat humans.... We eat wizards," he said calmly. "I didn't tell the older kids this because I didn't want them causing problems at school... But then you two went there and tore it all up for this family by getting kicked out." Saki shot a glance over at our father before she dropped the cup in her hands, making the tea go everywhere.
"W-wizards?" She asked with wide eyes. "I thought it was just... humans." Koto got a mischievous look to him and grinned.
"Great! That's so much better than humans! Let's eat our neighbors next," he purred out and looked out the window towards the other house on the other side of the trees. "I have a bone to pick with one of them. They stole something of mine."
"Ewwwww," I mumbled as I thought it over. That's gross.... Eating people- no matter what species they are- if it has a face.... I've been eating things with teeth and eyes and faces! I gasped then and yanked away from my dad. "I'd like to announce I'm a vegetarian now." Haru nodded quickly and grabbed my hand.
"We both are," he said and went to take off running with me with a frightened look on his face. "We'll eat grass!"
"No, you won't!" I heard my father yell at us. "Dinner is at nine tonight! You'll both be eating it!"
"Oh, come on. If they want to eat grass, let them. More for us," Koto said with a purr as we ran out of the kitchen. Haru whimpered and looked at me.
"We can't eat it. We can't! That's someone's twin!"
"It has a face," I mumbled. "To go with the tooth and eye," I whispered and grabbed my eyes quickly. I ATE SOMEONE'S EYE! I gagged quickly and trembled.
"You're all horrible," I heard Saki whisper before she walked out of the kitchen and glanced around. She spotted us and her eyes softened as she came over then scooped us up, cradling us as she carried us off. "Hey darlings, are you alright?" She asked us and gave our foreheads kisses.
"No," I mumbled to her and shook my head. "Daddy has been feeding us people.... I thought- I thought that people weren't supposed to be on the menu in family's homes."
"I don't know where father got the idea from," she whispered then frowned. "I think he got mommy... but she could have escaped him...."
"You think.... He ate mommy?" I asked softly as I remembered her telling me a bedtime.... Mommy gave the best bedtime stories...
"Hey twerps," I heard Kori say as he walked out to us. "Saki, dad is going to be pissed if you tell them your views. He's wanting us all to have his diet. So, quit putting ideas in their heads right now," he said in a warning tone. "We might eat you~" He licked his lips then. "I bet you'd taste good." Her jaw clenched before she muttered something under her breath, and he was sent flying through a wall.
"How's that for taste?" She hissed in anger. "I hope you like drywall."
"DAD! SAKI THREW ME INTO A WALL!" He yelled.
"SAKI! GET IN HERE!" Dad yelled in anger. "I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO FIX A WALL!"
"I'll fix it later father! Tell my brother to keep his dirty thoughts to himself about what I taste like!" She shouted then smirked. "He was eyeing me over and wanted to eat me!"
"I was not!" Kori yelled.
"YES, HE WAS FATHER! He was licking his lips and said he was going to eat me!" She said and frowned. "He's horrible to me father! He just wants to cook me into a stew and eat me! He deserves to be thrown in a wall for it! I'll fix it later when I get home tonight!"
"Kori! FIX THE WALL!" He yelled then.
"Damn it," Kori hissed out and frowned. She smirked suddenly at him and giggled.
"Have fun brother~ Tata~" She took us down the hall and into our room then sat us down, giving us a wink. "You two play around in here today. I'll see about sneaking you both some cookies... and maybe I can get something else for you to eat tonight if I work hard for my wages," she said and tapped our noses.
"Okay," I whispered and giggled. "Can it be a treat?" I asked softly.
"I can try," she whispered to us, making Haru cheer up a little. "I love you boys. Be careful around the house today. The older ones will be trying to play with you more," she told me and shook her head.
"Take us with you," Haru said sweetly then wrapped his arms around her neck before she could stand up. "I wanna see the shop~ Shop~"
"No, I don't want to go to a girlie job," I said quickly and shook my head.
"But it gets us away from Kori," Haru said innocently. "And we won't have to see Uta all day."
"F-fine," I mumbled and looked up at her with a begging look. She watched us then nodded.
"Okay, but you have to behave," she said and laughed, picking us both up before she took us out into the hall quickly. "BYE DADDY! I'M TAKING THE TWINS TO TOWN! LOVE YOU ALL!"
"WHAT! YOU CAN'T TAKE THE TWINS TO TOWN! THEY'RE TOO YOUNG AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING SO YOU CAN'T WATCH THEM!" Dad yelled at us.
"Yes, I can~" She sung out as she took us to the front door. "The twins could use a day with some sun on their faces!"
"FINE! BUT DON'T LOSE THEM!" He yelled and sounded mad about it.
"WHERE WOULD THEY GO, FATHER?" She called out and giggled as she kissed our cheeks and got the front door open.
"Bye daddy!" I yelled.
"Bye! STAY WITH YOUR SISTER!"
"Okay!" I giggled out. Haru giggled in excitement then kicked his feet lightly.
"Town! I can't wait," he said and then grabbed my hand. "We get to play in a pretty dress shop with lots of ribbons and silks! We get to stay with sissy today!"
"I want to help stitch things," I giggled out. Haru gave me a sweet look then.
"Teach me to stitch," he said and grabbed my hand. "I can't figure it out. I wanna be like you bubba~" I saw Saki's lips curl into a smirk then as she took us out to our carriage. She got in with us and gave instructions to the man who was waiting to take us- our stable boy, and soon enough, we were off. Haru held my hand then got into my lap, curling up to me with a happy look. "Teach me, bubba."
"Okay," I whispered to him and giggled as I rubbed my arms. "I'll teach you soon."
"Teach me now," he whined and kissed my cheek. "I wanna stitch."
"Now?" I asked before I nodded and took out a needle from my sister's hat and then some string from her pocket- it was already calling out to me at the thought of stitching something with my magic. He giggled then gave me a playful look.
"You can stitch me if you promise to take the pain away," he told me and nuzzled his head against me. "Or you can stitch my shirt to teach me...." I saw Saki tense a little as she watched us closely. I giggled before I slowly poked myself with the needle at the thought of stitching skin. I let the needle go as I concentrated my energy into it and suddenly it stitched up my hand to the tip of my finger and I let out a gasp as a stinging sensation entered my hand. Ow! Haru widened his eyes as he watched then shrunk against me. "Did it hurt?" He asked me softly.
"N-no," I told him and shook my head as I held back tears. I-it hurts! He kissed my cheek and wrapped his arms around my neck.
"You're so brave bubba.... I bet it did hurt," he murmured and then rubbed my cheek as he cuddled up to me. I giggled softly and kissed his cheek.
"Basically, you should pour your energy into the needle," I told him. He nodded and took his shirt off before he took the needle from me and started to try it on his shirt, sticking his tongue out of his mouth as he concentrated hard. He let out a whine when it didn't work and pouted before he tried again.
"You can do it!" I told him. "I believe in you." I touched his chest then. He relaxed a little as he giggled and it suddenly started to stitch up the shirt, making cute lines all over it like patchwork. "Good job bubby!" I told him and giggled as I kissed his cheek. He giggled and kissed my cheek quickly with an excited look.
"I did it~" He purred out then dropped the shirt, wrapping his arms around me quickly and gave me a playful growl. "We did it~"
"I knew you could," I teased him. He looked towards my stitched hand then gave it a small kiss before he held it and looked at the stitches in wonder. I giggled and laid my head against his shoulder before I stretched out my fingers- eyeing the stitching over in wonder.
"You could do the other," he whispered to me and glanced towards my other hand. Saki tsked then.
"I wouldn't," she warned. "Father might already cut the stitches out when you get home."
"Nu-uh," I said quickly.
"Then we'll get you a pair of gloves at the shop," she whispered and eyed her little purse over then started to dig through it, counting up coins in it. "I have enough to get a cheap pair...."
"No, it's okay sissy, don't buy any.... I'll make some."
"I guess.... I'll buy you some knitting materials," she said and looked at me. "You can knit a pair while I work. Haru can help you." Haru giggled and nodded then.
"I'll help~ I'll pick out the yarn!"
"I want a black pair," I told them quickly.
"Nuh-uh! I wanna get the rainbow ones with the glitter pieces in them," he said and whined. "I like those~"
"No!" I said quickly and shook my head. Haru nuzzled his head against my neck then and purred.
"Please?" He asked.
"F-fine," I grumbled. He kissed my neck and curled up into a ball in my lap and giggled.
"Okay bubba~" he said sweetly. I rubbed his back then and giggled. He's such a cute twin... I love him. He relaxed against me and gripped my shirt before he started to hum the song mother used to hum to us. I giggled and hummed with him quickly. We're escaping from Uta today~! He knocked me over suddenly onto the rest of the seat and stretched out on top of me, giving a small yawn as he nuzzled his head against my chest. I giggled and closed my eyes quickly. I guess we could take a nap... Just a small one.... Real quick...
~~~
I ran into the house as soon as Saki got the door open and looked around. I missed home! Today was exciting though...! I saw Koto looking dead at me as I walked in then he grinned, holding a bloody bag in his hand. "Hey brat, welcome back," he growled out. I paused as I looked at the bloody bag and whined a little before I ran back to Haru and grabbed his hand. "Where the hell do you think you're going? Don't you want your treat?" He asked harshly, coming towards us as he started to dig in the bag. Haru widened his eyes and started to tremble against me, holding onto me tightly as Saki frowned at him. I frowned and eyed over the bag.... What if it's a candy?
"A treat?" I asked softly and walked up to him slowly. His smirk widened before he pulled out something then popped it into my mouth, the slimy but satisfying texture making me moan.
"An eyeball, just for you, brat," he said and smirked. "I popped that one out of some man's skull and left him screaming in an alley way without a tongue and no eyes." I paused as I felt sickened by the thought and held my mouth quickly. Oh- no- no! That's terrible- How could I like this! I started to cry as I swallowed it and lowered my head. "Haru, come get yours," he said sternly. Haru yelped and took off out of the door, making a break for it past Saki as she gasped.
"Hey, leave them alone," she told him and yanked me back into a hug as she blocked the door. "They're just children." I clung to her quickly and dug my nails in. How could I have fallen for his trick? He's so mean! He's evil.... I started to cry and hid my face against her. I heard him scoff before he yanked me away from her and shoved another one into my mouth.
"He's a Hachirobei," he told her then growled. "Now get to your room unless you want to wind up in a nunnery, Saki." She tensed then slowly started to walk away, shooting me a worried look. I held back a moan as I swallowed it quickly and rubbed my lips before I tried to yank away from him. I didn't want another! He tsked then got out a piece of raw flesh and put it into my mouth quickly, eyeing me over. "I'll make you eat the whole thing raw if you don't start behaving," he hissed at me. "I'll tell father on you." I sniffled and chewed up what he gave me and swallowed it before I nodded and gave him a smile to make it look like I was pleased.
"T-thanks for the treat," I whispered to him. He smirked then held out one more eyeball to me.
"That's right, Kasai," he purred out. "You're not like Saki. Saki is a wimp... and so is Haru." I nodded and took the eyeball before I swallowed it whole and tried not to think about it- shivering a little as it slid down my throat. He smirked at me then. "I'll tell father that you're behaving," he whispered. "Maybe one day you'll be as good as Uta is, but your twin is no good." He whistled and walked to the kitchen. "HE ATE THREE EYES!"
"Good!" I heard my dad yell back from inside the kitchen. I watched him and gagged quietly as I went outside to go find my brother. EW EW EW EW EW! That was someone's eyes! I want to run away! I don't want to eat dinner anymore. I caught sight of him up in a tree, hiding on his favorite branch as he stayed near the trunk of the tree.
"Haru! Come down," I begged as I walked up to the tree. I reached up for him quickly and sniffled. He looked down at me then shook his head quickly.
"You ate them," he whimpered and clung to the tree. I started to cry then as I watched him.
"I didn't want to," I told him quickly. His eyes widened before he was down the tree in an instant and tackling me into a hug.
"Hachi," he said then wiped at my tears. "Don't cry bubba~ I love you!"
"I love you too," I mumbled and leaned into his neck. "I don't want to eat dinner tonight...." I sniffled and rubbed my throat. "We should leave." He nodded then.
"Let's run away," he whispered. "We'll take Saki with us and run far away from them! We'll go live with tigers!"
"Maybe somewhere less dangerous," I giggled out. I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the house. "Let's ask Saki to leave with us." He nodded and squeezed my hand tightly as we went back inside then to Saki's room. I saw her sitting at her vanity as she brushed her hair out with a disappointed look on her face before she sighed and sat the brush down, rubbing her temples. Haru watched curiously then snuck over to her before he crawled into her lap, making her laugh.
"Hey," she whispered and kissed the top of his head. He giggled and wrapped his arms around her.
"Run away with us," he whispered into her ear. "It'll be just the three of us and we can be vegetarians together," he said and then gave her a hopeful look. "I don't want to stay here with daddy anymore- neither does Hachi. They'll cook us for dinner one day... or Uta will eat us!"
"What?" I heard Koto ask sharply from the door, having stopped as he passed by. "Run away? Are you mad? How ungrateful of you, Haru." I tensed up and looked at him before I ran over and shut the door in his face quickly.
"None of your business," I told the door sharply. He hissed then.
"FATHER, THE TWINS ARE TRYING TO RUN AWAY!" He shouted quickly, making Haru yelp and shrink against her as he started to cry in fear.
"HARU! KASAI! GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE!" I heard our dad yell. I trembled then and shook my head no as I heard him. "KOTO! BRING THEM!" Koto threw open the door then snarled, snatching me up. Saki yelped and got to her feet with Haru as Koto glared her down and held me tightly by my arm and yanked me towards them. He ripped Haru from her arms and snapped his teeth at her nose, making her yelp and fall back into her seat with a terrified expression as he dragged us out and into the kitchen where our father was. He threw us towards him and tsked, crossing his arms.
"They were asking Saki to go with them."
"You two want to run away?" He asked us sharply as he turned to face us and looked angry. I tensed up and shook my head no. Haru sniffled and quickly shook his head too, gripping my hand.
"Nuh-uh daddy," he said then tried to give him a pleading look. "We... we wanted to learn to hunt like Koto," he said, trying to cover it up. I heard Koto scoff at that.
"Don't lie to me," daddy said quickly as he crossed his arms. "I hate liars. I don't want my kids lying to me. Did you just lie to me?" Haru yelped then hesitated before he nodded.
"I'm sorry daddy. I am! I love you," he said then whimpered. "I won't ever lie again!"
"You're going to learn from lying to me," our dad said to him then looked at me. "You lied too, didn't you?" I tensed up and got scared quickly. W-what should I say? I gripped my shirt quickly.
"N-no," I whispered. I don't want to get in trouble for lying. Haru sniffled then before he let go of me and slowly walked towards our dad, hanging his head.
"Hachi wouldn't lie," Haru said and then looked up at our dad with a frightened look. "I'm sorry daddy. I'll behave. I promise." He frowned before looking at Koto.
"What did you see?" He asked him as he suddenly placed a spatula on the fire and two spoons. Haru's eyes widened and he started to tremble as he looked towards it then started to cry.
"Haru was in Saki's lap, asking if she wanted to run away with them," Koto said and leaned against a counter. "Hachi slammed the door in my face when I confronted them."
"Go get Saki," our dad said calmly as he suddenly placed another spatula on the fire. Koto nodded and started to walk off, whistling. Haru whimpered and looked at the spatulas then backed away slowly as Koto shut the door behind him.
"Sit down," he told us and as he watched Haru and glared him down. I sat down at the table quickly and hung my head low. Oh man... We're going to get punished... Haru yelped and rushed towards me, sitting beside me quickly.
"D-daddy, we wouldn't ever really run away," he said and gripped the table tightly with a scared look. "Please don't punish us. We'll behave. I promise daddy! We'll eat all our dinner!" I caught my dad placing two more spatulas down on the fire as he got quiet- waiting on Saki and Koto to come back. Haru shut up quickly as he watched then slowly sunk in his seat, crying softly as he trembled. Koto walked back in then threw Saki at our father's feet with a pleased look.
"There we go," he purred out. "One Saki."
"Saki, take a seat at the table," he told her calmly. "I want you to listen to the story I'm going to tell the twins." Saki widened her eyes and slowly got up.
"Father, you don't think they were serious, do you? They know they have nowhere to go," she told him. "They're just frightened. You're going to scare them more."
"No, this is a lesson. Now sit down." He told her calmly. "Koto, sit with her."
"You're going to burn them," she hissed, giving him a sharp look before she eyed over the spatulas and spoons.
"Sit. Down." He hissed at her as he got down a jar with a purple liquid inside it. "They won't get burned if you shut up and let me tell them the story. The quicker, the less hot they're going to be." She clenched her jaw and glared him down before she stormed off and took a seat right beside us, tilting her chin up at him as she gave him a defiant look but stayed quiet. Koto smirked at her then sat down and grabbed her hand to make sure she couldn't get up. Our dad started to open the jar as he watched us.
"You know what you two remind me of?" He asked as his eyes landed on me and Haru. "Two cats that are both solid black. One is the trickster while the other is the good boy... but because they're both the same color- no one knows which one is good or which one is bad..." He trailed off then as he looked us both over. "So, they both have to be punished." Haru grabbed my hand quickly and shrunk down, yanking me with him.
"D-daddy," he whimpered and then started to cry as he squeezed my hand. I could feel him trembling as he watched him. He picked up the two spoons and walked with them over to us as he scooped out the substance with one spoon.
"Open up Haru," he told him. Haru whimpered and eyed it over.
"What is it?" He asked and squirmed. Saki eyed it over with a frown and clenched her jaw.
"Open up. I'm your father and you have to obey me." He held it out to stick in Haru's mouth. Haru trembled and slowly opened his mouth obediently, giving him a frightened look.
"This is going too far," Saki muttered. He stuck it in Haru's mouth and made Haru close his mouth. I could hear Haru's scream start up from the burning metal and his face turned sour like the liquid was a bad flavor. I tensed up quickly as I watched. My dad turned to me as he scooped out another spoonful and forced it into my mouth. I whimpered and gagged at the taste. It was like- like eating rotten flesh or something! It was terrible- like eating- eating sun baked fish that's been out in the hot sun for days and was wrapped in sunk! It was horrible! Then there was the burning metal spoon! It made my mouth burn!
"Think about this the next time you try to lie," my father hissed at us. "Because I'll give it to you again when I catch you lying." Haru nodded quickly as tears ran down his face and he tried to stop screaming. Saki growled suddenly at our father but shut up quickly as Koto squeezed her hand with a threatening look. Our father eyed us over.
"Swallow that and suck on the spoon." He told us as he took the jar back to where he got it from. "That was some medicine to help with the burns you're getting from the metal. But it's also got a bad taste to teach you a lesson." Haru obediently swallowed and cried out as he almost slipped out of his chair from the pain of the spoon. Saki clenched her jaw and glared our father down before she looked at us worriedly. She glanced back at our father then at us before she relaxed a little and eyed the spoons over. I swallowed the liquid and started to suck on the spoon- sniffling at the pain. It hurt- but the bad taste was knocking out what could have been worse. I rubbed at my cheek and looked at my dad as he took two of the spatulas then.
"Haru, I want you to take your shoes and socks off." Haru's eyes widened before he spat the spoon out and took off running for the door quickly with a shriek.
"Koto, help your brother take his shoes and socks off," my dad said calmly.
"Fiiine," Koto said then waved his hand. My brother was right back where he started, and his shoes and socks were yanked off his feet with an unseen force. I suddenly felt mine go bye byes as well, being flung across the room far away from us. Saki narrowed her eyes and looked at our father.
"Don't you think a spanking is enough?" She asked him sharply.
"No," he told her. "I've tried spanking them but they're troublemakers." He walked over and placed the spatulas down on the ground. "Stand on these Haru," he told him. Haru sniffled and shook his head before he looked at our father.
"P-please no," he begged. "I promise I'll be a good boy. I'll be just like Uta!"
"Stand on them," my dad told him firmly. He suddenly grabbed him and yanked him into a standing position on them. "Stand there until they cool down." Haru shrieked and started to cry, gripping our father's arms before he fell over from the pain, his knees giving out. Our dad looked at me then before he smirked. I widened my eyes and trembled. Oh no! I'm next! I got up quickly and started to cry as I thought about running for it. He walked over to the stove and grabbed the two spatulas remaining on the fire. I heard my sister mutter under her breath about our dad before she yanked her hand away from Koto and got to her feet.
"I'm not staying while you torture them," she hissed. "You're a rotten father sometimes." She walked towards the door then slammed it behind her as she left.
"Koto, can you bring your sister back... Silly girl.... She didn't realize she's next." Koto got to his feet then and sighed.
"Want me to cut her magic while I'm at it?" He asked and looked our father over.
"That's a great idea," our father sighed out. "Little brats today.... Your siblings are so ungrateful."
"Then just eat them," Koto laughed out and walked out. "Saki! Where are you hiding~?" My dad turned back to me then. I tensed up as I eyed over the spatulas....
"I'm sorry," I whispered as I held the spoon to do it.
"You should be," he hissed out. "I'm not burning your feet. I just needed to burn Haru's. He can't run off now and you won't run without him." I could see Haru still on the floor out of the corner of my eyes as he trembled, his feet a sharp red from the burns on them. He had curled into a ball and was holding his head as he sobbed. I whimpered as I watched him... poor Haru. He's not going to be able to walk straight for a long time.... I'll have to help him... I sniffled and lowered my head. This is my fault for suggesting to run....
"It's all my fault," I whispered softly.
"Koto! I need Saki now!"
"Just give me a-" I heard a few crashes before Koto dragged her back in by her hair, wincing as he had blood dripping down his cheek. "Here," he said then tugged on her hair, making her yelp as she gripped at his hand.
"Saki, don't ever leave without being dismissed," father told her in a stern voice. "You're my daughter. You need to respect me! Don't think I'll treat you any different from your brothers because you're a girl. Now bend over and pull your dress up. You're getting a special whooping for being disrespectful to me." Koto smirked then.
"Father, are you sure about that? If you put a blemish on her, it'll be harder to get rid of her," he purred out. "You could easily just cut her magic from her for a few weeks."
"I'm positive. I want her to remember this more than she would remember that. If I have to put more on her then I'll send her away to a nunnery and forget about giving her to a man next year." Koto shrugged then and hauled her to her feet, making her yelp.
"Have it your way then," he purred out then made her bend over as she started to struggle with a growl.
"Hike up the dress," dad told him. He obeyed and held it up, making Saki's face go red.
"H-hey! That's my skirt!" She said and then glared at him. I looked away quickly and after a few seconds I heard the spatula collide with my sister's skin. She let out a small cry but didn't scream, probably biting it back. I heard the next one hit her before my father stepped away and the spatulas clattered in the sink.
"Go to bed without supper," he instructed her. I heard her shove Koto away from her before she walked off slowly.
"Fine," she muttered under her breath, sounding upset. I looked back quickly and rubbed my tears off my face as I saw my dad stirring the pot calmly.
"Thank you, Koto," he told him. "You want a treat?"
"I'm a big boy. I don't need one," he purred out and walked over to our father before he looked down at the pot. "Just your trust."
"Here," my dad purred out and pulled out something in his pocket before revealing a caramel wrapped up in a gold wrapper. "There's a small treat." Koto looked it over longingly then looked at our father, slowly taking it then pocketed it.
"I'll eat it later," he said then kissed our father's cheek. "Thank you for it."
"I'm going away for a few days," he told him calmly. "So, you'll have to take care of everyone again while I'm gone." He patted Koto's head.
"Where are you going?" He asked and frowned before he crossed his arms. "You're going to leave me with the brats? At least one of them can't walk anymore."
"I'm sure they'll behave," he said. "If they don't you can teach them a lesson for me. I'm going to the wizard's realm again. Because it's different than here, it'll take longer to get back to you in your time but in mine it will be a short visit."
"Why the wizard's realm?" He asked and wrinkled up his nose. "And what about Haru? Want me to just lock him up in his room and give him dinner only every night? I doubt he'll be able to eat much with that wound in his mouth."
"Haru is going to be in his bed the whole time.... Kasai can stay around the house... as for your sister... She's only allowed out to work.... and Kori is busy writing me that essay on what not to do to his siblings." He chuckled lightly. "You'll be fine.... Cook dinner and so on and so forth. I'll return with more to eat~ Something good from the wizard's realm. I have to go there for a court meeting." Koto nodded then before he looked back at me.
"Take your brat brother to his bed and leave him there. Come straight back," he instructed then gave me a sharp growl. "Don't give me a reason to make you bedridden too." I yelped and ran up to my brother- whimpering at my burning tongue as I sucked on the spoon and helped Haru up. He let out a cry of pain and slumped into me before he started to shake his head quickly at me and whimpered. I slowly helped him out of the room- taking it easy with him to get him to his bedroom. When we were out of the kitchen, I spit out the spoon and looked at him.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to him. "This is my fault..." He looked at me then shook his head before he cried and clung to me.
"Nuh-uh," he whispered and then gripped me tightly. "No, it's not... just... promise me we'll still play ships and sailors.... I don't care if my feet hurt. I'll still play...."
"I promised," I whispered to him and helped him inside his bedroom and over to his bed. I helped him onto it and covered him up. "Stay off your feet," I told him and rubbed his hand. He nodded then gave me a loving look through the pain before he gripped my hand.
"I love you, bubba," he whispered.
"I love you too," I whispered to him. "I'll come crawl into bed with you tonight," I promised. "We'll sleep together." He nodded and relaxed a little before he gave a small giggle.
"I'll call for you if you don't," he told me then curled up. "Could you ask daddy for ice for my feet? They really hurt...."
"He'll say no," I mumbled. "I'll find something for them though when he's not looking." He nodded then before he rubbed his head against my hand.
"Get something for your tongue first," he told me. "I don't want you hurt.... I'd rather be hurt than you." I shook my head before I rubbed his chest.
"I'll be back.... I've got to go before I get in trouble for not coming straight back to Koto." I leaned down and gave his cheek a kiss. He kissed me back then nodded before he turned away from me slowly and gripped his pillow tightly in his arms. I walked back to the kitchen and entered it cautiously. I don't want to get in trouble for being too late in returning! Koto glanced at me then looked back towards the pot with a hungry look, practically leaning over our dad to get closer to it. He must not think I was very late.... I walked over to the table and set it up before sitting down at it and hung my head. I'm a bad brother and son... I got my siblings hurt... After a few minutes, Koto walked over and smirked, popping the caramel into his mouth then eyed me over before he snatched my gloved hands and yanked my gloves off. He tensed as he saw the stitches then busted out laughing.
"You stitched your hand? How ridiculous~" I frowned as I watched him.
"I made those gloves," I told him and reached out for him. "Haru picked out the colors..." I heard my dad walking over then before he snatched my hands and let go of the one not stitched.
"Hachi," he said in a warning tone. "You're going to get infected keeping these stitches in your hand," he told me as he eyed over the stitching. "My grandfather did this to himself..." He trailed off before rubbing the stitching. I winced as I watched him. "You want to keep this?" He asked me. I eyed over the stitching and nodded slightly.
"Y-yeah," I whispered.
"I've got something in the family spell book we can cook up to put on it. It'll make it to where you can't feel the pain and your tiny wounds won't get infected. We'll cook it up after supper." He let my hand go and looked at Koto. "Koto, you know where the spell books are kept... Go get volume two, I think it's in that one. You can help me cook it with Kasai and work on your cooking spells. I know you don't get to do much of them, and this will be Kasai's first-time learning." He patted Koto on the back. "While you're on the way, let Uta and Kori know it's dinner time. You can stop by and let Haru know that Kori will bring him some after he gets done eating." I smiled a little then and giggled. Wait- I get to learn a spell?! I looked at Koto quickly- I wonder if he'll be excited too. We get to learn a family spell from the books. I saw a slightly excited look in his eyes, but he hid it as he threw the gloves back at me.
"Alright father," he said and started to walk away, but I noticed his walk was a lot less heavy- more cheerful than usual. He must crave our dad's attention and knowledge.... I guess who wouldn't want to be daddy's favorite.... that's why he tells on us all the time to make us look bad and him good. He paused at the door then looked back at our father with a purr before he gave a playful growl. "Oh, and father... I think that you did excellent on punishing the twins. It's a shame you didn't burn Hachi's feet too."
"He's being punished by not being burned. I want to teach him he's a different man from his twin. He's going to learn fast that he's his own person."
"Hmph, you just like Hachi more than Haru because Hachi is more talented," he muttered.
"That's not true.... I like him because he's my son just like Haru is." He eyed me over and smirked- watching me while I put the gloves on my hands.
"You still like Hachi better than Haru," he muttered. "I know you play favorites with each of us. You favor Uta over a lot of us... and you favor me... but out of the twins, you favor Hachi."
"I don't play favorites... I give Uta attention because he's growing and still needs it. You're growing up and becoming a man right now, so you need my guidance." Koto smirked then.
"I'll let you say it... but we both know that you still have your favorites," he whispered. "I'll miss you while you're gone~ and if the neighbors are gone by the time you come home~" Our dad smirked then and shook his head.
"That's my boy.... eating everyone that he finds distasteful."
"Stay home for an extra day and eat them with me," he said and smirked before he gave a playful growl. "It'll be a father-son moment... to eat our neighbors."
"Wait to eat them when I come back home." Koto watched him then nodded.
"First thing when you come home," he told him then pointed at him. "I won't wait a second longer~" He walked out then, whistling as he shut the door behind him. I watched as my dad went back to the pot and brought it over- pouring out our portions and sat it in the middle. He sat down then and eyed me over in slight amusement.
"DADDY~!" I heard Uta yell as he ran in and climbed up into Haru's chair by me and giggled as he took his bowl and placed it there. I sent him a glare then.
"That's Haru's chair," I hissed out in his ear. I'll kick his butt if he stays in it.
"He's not here and his name isn't on it," Uta sassed back to me. I heard Kori walk in then and sit down at the table. Koto came back after a few minutes and sat the book by the stove before he came over and sat down right next to our father, starting to eat.
"Are you sure you don't want to feed Saki tonight?" He hummed out and smirked as he watched our father. "She's pacing her room."
"Why should I feed her? She's ungrateful," my father hissed out. "I have a good mind to send her to a nunnery... She's working her way there." I blushed then.
"Thank you, daddy for supper," I told him quickly. I hope he doesn't send me to a nunnery.... they talk like it's a bad place. Koto started to chuckle darkly as he eyed me over then smirked like he was planning something.
"Maybe we shouldn't feed Haru tonight too.... He was rather ungrateful with his ideas of running away," Koto suggested and looked towards our father.
"No, I want to feed him. I want to make him use his burnt tongue." I looked at the food before I tried it- wincing as it touched my injured tongue.
"Hmph alright," Koto grumbled as he took another bite of his food then moaned as he slipped an eyeball into his mouth that had been in his bowl. He started to eat with a greedy growl, slurping the food down. I ate my food quickly as I tried to get it down quick and not have to irritate my tongue for a long time. Koto pushed his bowl away then sniffed the air before he looked towards the pot and reached for it slowly to see how much was left over. There was still Saki's share in the pot. He smirked and started to dish himself another bowl out, taking it eagerly before he ate it a little slower to savor it. I heard another moan escape him before he dug in, ditching his fork as he used his teeth.
"Slow down," my dad chuckled out to him. I noticed that Uta finished and was crawling under the table- sneaking out of our sights to leave. Koto growled at our father then yelped as he yanked back as the bowl shattered from him biting it. He spat out some glass then glared at the bowl, starting to pick through its ruins for the meat as he ignored the vegetables. Kori frowned and scooted away from him as he dragged his bowl away from the running broth. Koto looked up sharply then slowly smirked as his eyes lingered on Kori, and I saw him leaning towards him a little with a hungry look. Kori frowned and handed him his bowl.
"Fine, take that." He shoved it out of the way and snatched Kori's arm, yanking it towards him with a growl. Kori widened his eyes and smacked Koto hard across the face with his fist. The colliding effect was nice and slow as he tried to bruise Koto. Koto yelped and yanked away quickly, rubbing his face before he narrowed his eyes and returned to picking through the pieces of his bowl with a pissed look. Kori smirked and went back to eating the food out of his bowl.
"Did you really think I would eat you?" Koto muttered under his breath, his fingers twitching as he accidentally cut himself. He tsked then managed to get another glass-free piece of meat.
"I'm not going to let you sit there and threaten me with growls and tugs. Play with me differently. I don't like it when you make it look that real." Koto glanced at him then leaned over and kissed Kori's cheek.
"Fine," he muttered. Kori smiled and kissed him on top of the head before he gave the rest of his bowl to Koto. He stood up and walked over to our dad and hugged him.
"I love you dad. I'm going back to writing that essay. I'm almost done." He walked out of the kitchen room after our father gave him an approving nod. Koto glanced the bowl over with a hungry look then started to eat it slowly, going back to his fork as he took care not to break this one.
"He didn't have to give it to me," he murmured under his breath after a few bites.
"I think he just loves you so much to give you some more since you looked so hungry," I told him sweetly. He sent me a look but relaxed a little before he scarfed down the rest of it and pulled away from the table as he sat back in his seat.
"We should start making more food.... Everyone is growing," he told our father and looked at him then smirked. "Uta's appetite is going to get bigger real soon."
"You're right.... We'll harvest more from our hunts," our father said calmly as he rubbed his stomach. "Let's make that spell- no wait... Let's take Haru his food first. Hachi, go take him some dinner while we set up in here." I nodded and grabbed Haru's share before I took off with the bowl and ran it to his room. I walked into the room and sat it down on the nightstand then gave Haru a huge smile.
"Haru~!" His eyes fluttered open before he looked towards me then smiled happily.
"Hachi~ my sweet bubba," he purred out then slowly turned to face me, giving a small wince as his feet brushed up on the covers. He looked towards the bowl then at me as he started to sit up and reached for me. I leaned in and kissed his cheek. I crawled into bed with him quickly and hugged him. He hugged me back and giggled then kissed my cheek before he leaned his head against me and started to nuzzle me. He purred as we fell over and he crawled on top of me then clung to me. "I love you." I giggled and nodded.
"I love you too," I gasped out to him. "I've got to go back to the kitchen," I mumbled. He whined then and gripped my shirt.
"Nuh-uh, stay with me," he begged.
"I'll be back," I promised.
"B-but... I missed you," he whispered and then hid his face against me. "It's so lonely in here without you...."
"I'll be right back," I promised him again. I giggled and kissed his cheek. He sniffled and sat up, looking down at me before he got off me and crawled away with a pout.
"F-fine," he muttered and snatched the bowl, curling up with it as he started to pick at the meat. I leaned in and kissed his cheek one more time before I got up and ran back to the kitchen. Koto glanced over at me as I walked in then tsked.
"Take Uta to his room, will you? Tuck him in," he told me and waved me off. I spotted Uta struggling on the ground a few feet away like his feet where stuck to it before he suddenly was able to move. Why was Uta stuck on the ground? I smirked and walked up to him before I grabbed his hand and took him to his bedroom. I got him under the covers and left him in his dark bedroom without a single word to wish him good luck. I hope the shadows eat him! I hope the monster under his bed takes him away into the night. I stomped my way back to the kitchen and up to them. I better not go on another task to keep me further from Haru. "Go outside and get me some of these," he told me and shoved a paper into my hand with a list of plants on it. "Just the leaves."
"What?" I asked and dropped my jaw. "Why didn't you do it while I was gone?" I asked him.
"Because that's the youngest's job... and I was busy cleaning the spatulas that were used on Haru," he said and smirked down at me devilishly. I wrinkled up my nose a little before I huffed.
"No," I told him and gave it back to him. "I'm done running tasks. Go do it yourself."
"I'm not the bitch of this spell making task," he growled out then shoved the paper back into my hands. "Get going." I groaned and stormed off for the outside door. EVIL! EVIL! I wanted to get back to Haru quicker. I huffed as I walked out to the garden and hunted down the list, he gave me- getting everything I needed. I carried it back to the kitchen and rolled my eyes a little on the way. He took it from me quickly then dumped them all into the pot before there was smoke. He chuckled darkly then whistled before he dumped a few more things in it then stirred it. "Alright, now go get a pot for your spell." I huffed as I looked around for daddy but found him gone. I guess he left it to us? I walked off to the pots and got one before giving it to him. "Good boy," he told me then put it on top of the stove. "Go get me these," he said and shoved another slip of paper into my hand, a list of elixirs that we had around the house. I huffed as I walked up to the nearest elixir cabinet and threw it open. Hopefully this has everything in it. I hunted down what he wanted and brought it to him. "Pour it all into your pot then start stirring." I nodded as I poured it inside the pot and started to mix it with a wooden spoon. I looked up at him nervously. He turned the heat up a little before he muttered something as he touched the pot and pulled away as it began to glow. "When it begins to boil, add a mint leaf then turn it off and bottle it up then pour some onto your stitches... or you can drink it for an effect all over your body if you want to make more stitches soon." I nodded and giggled a little before I eyed over my bowl. I looked at him then and blushed.
"Yes sir," I whispered.
"Good boy.... I'll give you a treat if you do it right," he said then smirked before he pulled out a caramel candy and showed it to me. I eyed over the caramel candy and tilted my head. How'd he get that? I want it! "Father gave me a small handful to reward those who behave while he's in the wizard realm." I giggled and looked at my pot in anticipation. I want one! "You have to make it perfect to get it," he warned as he pocketed it. I frowned and eyed over the pot. Perfect? "You can do it," he purred out then turned his part of the stove off. "Trust me. I was younger than you and made a perfect potion. You can do it... and if you can't, you're not worth the time."
"Uf," I looked at him and narrowed my eyes. "I am worth the time," I told him. "Just watch me. I'll do it right."
"Good, because I'll tell father you screwed it up," he warned as he took his pot over to the sink and waved his hand. Vials appeared by the sink then started to fill up magically as the liquid in his drained. I watched him and frowned.
"What'd you make?" I asked softly. I looked at the pot and placed a mint leaf in it as it started to boil.
"Paralysis potions," he said then smirked. "Don't misbehave while father is gone."
"Okay," I mumbled as I eyed over the pot. What was I supposed to do next? I frowned and rubbed my head.
"Turn off the stove," he told me as he didn't even look in my direction. "Pour it into vials and bottles then drink it or pour it on your stitches." I nodded slowly and blew out the fire before turning off the stove. I ran over to a few empty vials in a cabinet and got a few out before bringing them back. I got some into the vials before pouring the rest onto my stitches and down the sink. I put up the vials in a few cabinets and turned to him when I finished. "Clean what you used. I'm not cleaning your mess up." I sighed and cleaned up the pot and wooden spoon before putting them up.
"There," I told him. "What does Paralysis potions do?" I asked him softly.
"It makes it to where you can't move for an hour or two," he told me and smirked.
"Why'd you make it?" I asked and tilted my head.
"To punish those who misbehave~ Plus I want to use it on my victims next door," he told me then swirled one of the vials, eyeing me over. "Want to see if it works?" I eyed it over before blushing.
"Okay," I mumbled. He opened it then walked over and grabbed my jaw, forcing it open before he started to pour it down my throat with an evil laugh. I widened my eyes and tensed up. I didn't realize he'd use it on me! I grabbed his hand quickly as I felt my body going numb and I fell against him. He pulled back after he had gotten the last bit down my throat then smirked, letting me fall to the floor.
"Does it work~" He teased me then nudged my head with his foot. He dropped a caramel right in front of my face then, still in its wrapper. "There, little brat." I eyed it over and tried to move but I couldn't. It worked.... Wait! How long will this last!? "Enjoy your rest," he said cheerfully and walked off as the vials on the counter disappeared suddenly. I heard the door shut as he ditched me on the cold ground, leaving me staring at the caramel candy. WHAT! He's going to leave me here!? Well.... I guess it would be worse.... At least he's not staying here longer to torture me.
After a few hours, I finally felt stinging in my fingertips before it spread throughout my body, tingling as the numbness began to wear off. I could hear the crickets chirping outside, the kitchen dark from the night. I slowly started to move before I let out a sigh of relief and grabbed my caramel. I got up and made my way to Haru's bedroom and snuck into it- looking for him. He was curled up tightly to a pillow in the bed, a hint of loneliness on his angelic face as he slept. I could see his knuckles were white from holding the pillow too hard like he was afraid it would leave him. I walked up to the bed and slipped out of my clothes- keeping on my underwear and crawled into bed with him. I wrapped him up into my arms and closed my eyes quickly. Haru~! He tensed before he slowly let go of the pillow and I could feel his weight shifting as he turned to me then as his arms wrapped around me sweetly. He smelled me before he slipped closer and relaxed instantly. I giggled in his ear and kissed his head. My bubba~! He giggled a little in his sleep then nuzzled his head against me as he grew still. I closed my eyes quickly and started to pass out with him. We'll play tomorrow~ together... for a long time in here.
It took a couple of days for father to come back, but by the time he did, Haru was starting to limp around the house, finding it easier to move about on his own. Our tongues had healed up, but his feet were still a little burned. Saki had given us something to help our tongues when no one was looking... and she had gotten a little more reserved around Koto, watching him every single time he walked past her. Koto had used the paralysis a few times on me and Haru and for some odd reason, Uta, but he was more generous with his caramels than father and would encourage us to do things for him with them. I eyed over the door as he walked in- we were all waiting for him- Like Koto said would be a great idea. I grabbed Haru's hand and giggled lightly as he walked in. He was carrying a bloody bag again with him. Koto rushed up to take it from him and smirked, snatching it before he ran off with it to go prepare to cook it. "Saki got us bread to enjoy with our dinner tonight!" He shouted as he rushed off. "Don't worry about cooking it, father! I can do it all for you! Rest!" Saki blushed as she watched our father then walked up and gave his cheek a gentle kiss. He hugged her and smiled.
"Okay," he told him as his eyes scanned us. They sort of looked hungry to me. I watched as Kori walked up and hugged him before going for the kitchen. Saki pulled back and then walked off as she went back to the halls, a soft smile playing on her lips as she hummed our mother's lullaby under her breath. Haru watched her go then blushed before he squeezed my hand. I squeezed his back as I watched daddy walk off to his bedroom and shut the door behind him. I pulled Haru to the side quickly.
"Daddy looks hungry," I told him and kissed his cheek. He looked at me then kissed my cheek.
"He does?" He asked innocently then gave me a sweet smile. "Tag~" He let go of my hand then went to run but yelped and limped towards the couch to get away. I smirked and let him go.
"I'm not chasing you, silly. You're still healing." I giggled at his effort to get away. He whined as he fell onto the couch then looked towards me.
"Sailors?" He begged then gnawed on the couch's arm as he gripped a pillow. I nodded and ran up to him before I boarded his ship.
"I wanna play," Uta said as he ran over and giggled. Haru widened his eyes then.
"Play? Who said anything about play," he asked quickly and shrunk back, eyeing him over nervously. Uta poked out his cheeks in anger then before he stomped into the kitchen. Haru waited till he was gone before he giggled and tackled me, knocking me back on the couch. "Arg~ Prepare the sail~" he told me then giggled, kissing my cheek. I nodded and flipped us before I got up and started to drag air rope downwards. He watched me then dug between the couch cushions before he pulled out our play map of the world and started to study it, tracing his fingers over the map before they rested on Madagascar. "Let's go to this island~" I nodded and giggled.
"Let's go," I told him. "Captain." He nodded then started to make ocean noises as he pretended to grab a wheel and steer us, barking out orders every few minutes to me like a true captain. I giggled and done the orders. He's a cute captain~! My twin is so cute... I giggled and tugged on his shirt a little. He looked at me then paused before he gave me the sweetest look ever and pulled me into his arms, kissing my cheek.
"Hey~" I giggled and buried my face into his chest.
"I think we should hunt down treasure," I told him.
"What kind of treasure?" He asked curiously then rubbed my back. "Do you want to find the other sunken ships at the bottom of tub land?"
"No- I want to find them on a map." I told him and giggled. "Let's ask Saki to make us a map." He nodded then picked me up, starting to carry me with a small struggle as he giggled happily.
"SAKI! MAKE US A MAP!" I giggled as I wrapped my body around his and clung to him. He kissed my cheek and took us into the hall as he held back a small yelp from his feet. Saki poked her head out of her room and looked down at us before she smiled and slipped something into a bottle and brought it over to us.
"I figured you'd want one sooner or later. I even hid you some treasure in the house if you can read the map right," she told us and winked. I giggled and gasped a little before I looked at him then at her.
"Thanks Saki!" I giggled and looked at him. "We've got a treasure hunt!" He sat me down hurriedly as she went back into her room and started to pull the paper out before he unrolled it and looked at the map. It was an exact replica of the floorplan of our house, a few small red x's here and there on it: one in the kitchen, one in my bedroom, one in Haru's, and one in the living room.
"We'll start with the bedrooms," I told Haru as I eyed the paper over. "Better there, the living room, then the kitchen." He nodded then started for mine quickly with a giggle.
"Okai! We'll check yours first!"
"Okay!" I giggled out to him. This is exciting! He looked around curiously as we entered it then started to look under my bed then around it before he found a small box under my pillow with my name written on it. He handed it to me with a giggle and bounced from his excitement. I giggled and opened it up to look inside. Upon looking inside, I found a few peppermints, a small stuffed bunny rabbit with a top hat, and a book on spells. I giggled and eyed them over before pouring them out and onto my bed. I put them up in my room before looking at him.
"Your room now," I told him. He nodded and ran off as fast as he could with his limp before I heard him tearing up his room, looking for the other x. I giggled as I ran into the room and eyed it over- looking around to help find the x. I wonder if it will have his name on it... I found it under his bed, hiding with our teddy bear he must've snuggled in here. It had his name sure enough, written in pretty silver letters on it. I heard him rush up to me before he opened the box and looked inside to see a matching bunny, needle and thread, and peppermints- the thread a sign of Saki's belief in his ability to improve. I giggled and eyed the gifts over.
"Pretty," I told him and giggled. "That's just like mine," I told him as I pointed to the bunny. He giggled and kissed my cheek before he tossed it aside and tackled me.
"I don't care about it as much as I do you though," he purred out then kissed my jaw. "My twinie." I giggled and looked at it.
"It's still cute," I told him and tsked. "Sleep with it too," I told him.
"Sleep with me," he whined. "We'll sleep with each other and our bunnies."
"Okay," I giggled out. "I'll bring mine in here tonight and we can sleep with them together." He looked up at me then nodded quickly.
"Maybe if we show dad that we're really sweet and obedient, he'll let us get back in the same room together, and maybe we can push our beds together~" He said sweetly and looked excited at the thought.
"I don't think so... He wants us to be separate now," I told him and rubbed my neck. He pouted and kissed my cheek.
"F-fine," he whispered then pulled away as he looked towards the rabbit in delight and pulled it out, giving it a hug. "Let's go look in the living room!" I nodded and giggled as I took his hand and dragged him out into the hall.