"Family isn't something I can
Just hold
It's home."
-E. E. B.
YUKO's pov
I have hated my home as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a child, I didn't belong in this empty house. It's extravagant, it's big, but not mine. Nothing around me is mine, but fathers. He is the owner of my room, of my bed, of me.
Once, when I was very young, mother took me out to play in garden. I was always mesmerized by nature and she was one of reasons why I'm not surprised my powers are related to nature. We stayed in garden until night fell. I made her a flower crown that was just perfect on her head. My mother was always so… pretty. I never saw anyone as pretty as mom was.
When we returned home, father was angry I picked flowers from his garden. On that day I learned how nothing belongs to me or mom. Both of us were his.
All I have been doing my life was bow to him as low as I could. Even after I found my powers, I didn't seek revenge.
But they were mine. He could never take my powers away.
And then I met her.
Woman as pretty as my mother.
When I was 14, I was sure that I'll never fall in love romantically. I just never found anyone attractive that way, but I knew I will find someone who will be my home. Just like mom was.
And then I did. I met short girl who had fire for soul and soft heart. Ema. As soon as I saw her, I knew she will be the one I can honestly call mine. Not as a lover, but as home.
"Aren't you mad I'm around Ema so much?" I asked Connor when we returned from Ema's house.
"No. Why should I be? I'm her soulmate and you are her friend. She honestly likes your presence and so do I. You won't steal her from me, will you?"
"I won't. It's just that, how do I put it to words, feel close to her. Safe, I think.", I said to him. It was strange for me to express how I felt.
"That's okay. She is one special girl."
After that conversation, I never doubted Connor. He might look lost in his own head, but he's wise.
"Young master, your father invited you to breakfast.", maid said next to me. I didn't feel like getting up from my bed, but refusing father's invite will only make him angry.
"I understand. Leave so I could get dressed.", I answered and stood up as soon as she left my room.
There is nothing as plain and boring as my closet. Bunch of flannels, pants, jeans and only few t-shirts. I think I did have shorts somewhere deep inside and maybe one bathing suit. It was always easy to buy clothes for me. So I went with classic today and put on a flannel and jeans.
After washing my face, teeth and doing my hair, I was ready for breakfast with devil himself. While walking through halls, I noticed how one hair pin was sticking out so I fixed it. I had three of them in hair well hidden. They saved me too many times in life and not having them around me would be tragic.
Memory of breaking into botanic garden made me smile for a split second. I never believed that someday I won't use my hairpins to free myself from kidnappers, but to have some fun with people I sincerely loved.
"You're late.", father noted as I sat next to him. Two maidens served us breakfast. I started to wonder how amazed Ema would be if she saw maidens and butlers. She was so surprised just to see how my library looked.
"Focus on your food, Yuko.", he noted once again and I felt annoyed. Is it so wrong to daydream a bit?
"I understand, father.", I said, trying not to sound annoyed.
"How is studying going?"
I stared at my still full plate. We had sushi and I would much rather eat pancakes back in Astra's home.
"It's fine."
I picked one sushi roll with chopsticks and put it in my mouth. It was good, but once again, pancakes are better.
"Your teacher told me that you wish to study Croatian, why is that?"
I almost choked on sushi in my mouth. Just why is everything being reported to him?
"I wish to learn language not many people know."
"You will learn Spanish, not Croatian.", he said with no place left to argue. That's okay. Ema can always teach me Croatian. I want to be able to talk to her and understand her sometimes better.
"I understand, father."
"You are being awfully quiet.", he said and I just wished someone sew his mouth shut. Seriously, I wish to sew him mouth with thorns in sleep. "Why is that?"
"I feel tired."
"Did you sleep last night?"
No, I was running around Astra's home with Ema and Connor, chasing after Fran that somehow found all wine that Zack hid from Astra. She was drunk over her head and it was fun to run after her.
"I did.", I said as last sushi roll went to my stomach. Father was done with eating too so we went our separate ways. One maiden walked me to library and I sat down on floor, surrounded by books.
I never did that. I would always sit by table, but after taking Connor and Ema to book shop and seeing them sit on floor, I tried to do it while studying too, and it was more affective then sitting on a chair. It felt more natural.
"Can I come and get you?", Connor asked through link. I looked around to see is maid still there and after confirming she wasn't, I told Connor that he can come.
He appeared in corner of library and took my hand. In matter of moments we were in front of Ema's room. We knocked and came inside just to see Ema sound sleeping on her bed. For some time now she has been calling this house her home. I was always scared of how lonely she felt in her home that this place is what she saw as home. And after seeing her argument with her brother, I understood why is this her home. She needs family that she can rely on and she found that in us.
And I was happy she found it in us, in me.
"Should we wake her up?" I asked Connor. He looked at Ema for a second. She was on top of her blankets, still dressed.
"Yeah, Fran wished to practice with her today and she still didn't finish her homework.", he said and came close to her sleeping body. "I'll wake her up, you find something comfy she can move a lot in her closet, okay?"
I nodded and went to her closet. It was full with all kinds of clothes, but one long white shirt and shorts caught my eyes, they looked like something she will be able to move in freely. I picked them and saw Ema and Connor kiss.
"Get a room!" I yelled.
"It's Ema's room! We did get a room.", Connor said as Ema laughed.
I left the room with Connor so Ema can get dressed. In few minutes she was out and I was right, she did look well in clothes I picked.
"You surprise me every time, princess.", Connor said in awe. Even if I loved to complain how they were all over each other, I actually found them adorable.
Ema blushed a lot. She usually does when someone, especially Connor, compliments her. I found it very sweet how no matter how many times someone compliments Ema, she always has same reaction.
"Yuko, can you help me study today?"
"I can. In return, can you teach me Croatian?"
I saw her eyes lit up all of a sudden and Connor giggled after seeing that.
"Yes! Yes, I can!" she said with excitement all over her face. We walked to kitchen so she could eat something with Connor.
"I'm making pancakes. Want some?" she asked me. Even though I already ate at home, I couldn't say no to pancakes.
After making pancakes, we ate them still in kitchen because Connor and Ema were too hungry to actually take them to dining room. We washed dishes and cleaned table we used.
After breakfast we started to walk through link, but outside of window we coughed glimpse of Fran and Zack. They were both in garden. Fran looked exhausted. She had lightning swirling in her hand and wall made of earth in front of her. She easily jumped over it just to hit another one. We could see how she got enough of jumping over walls so she mad lightning in her hand much bigger. After a second it was as big as wall in front of her, but instead of hitting wall, she touched ground. Lightning easily traveled to Zack and when it reached him, he jumped and created another wall to stand on. Now he was high enough for Fran to see him. She jumped on wall in front of her and attacked him.
It was fun to watch them fight.
"Would you fight against me, dear?" I asked Ema.
"I would. But go easy on me, okay?"
I nodded as we reached dining room. It was empty, probably because Malia and Astra were in garden, cheering for their soulmates.
Ema took few of her books and set them down. She started to write something on papers, probably her homework, so I decided to make myself busy too.
Her homework was easy. I was used to much harder question and being watched all the time while studying. This was my first time I actually did someone else's homework and found it fun.
Connor sat down next to us too, but decided to draw something instead of helping us. He was only few days without drugs and we could see it on him. He did hide it well, but Astra would often complain to me how it was hard to get up in middle of night just to see if Connor is alright. He said how Zack always went to check on him and, most if the time, found him puking in bathroom.
I was proud of him for deciding to stop doing drugs, but also afraid for him. He was just a kid who wasn't loved as a child. I had my mom when I was younger, but he had no one.
At least now we both have Ema.
"This is finished!" Ema said proudly, lifting few papers up. "Can we go fight?"
"Eager.", I commented, but went with her and Connor to garden.
There were Fran, Zack, Malia and Astra. Fran looked exhausted and done with living. Zack, on the other side, didn't look tired at all. He was probably used to this after training with Astra and Connor.
Ema went to one side of garden and I went to other.
"Ready?" Astra yelled. We both nodded. "Fight!"
I decided to run towards her and catch her off guard, but suddenly everything went black. I couldn't see anything. Especially not where I was heading to.
Then I felt how grass moved beneath her feet. That's right. I didn't need my eyesight right now.
One root from tree next to us went to Ema's leg and she silently screamed. She was quickly on ground, trying to free herself, but it was useless.
Then she decided to make another move. For a moment, I was sure my normal eyesight was back, but it was just another hallucination. I saw Ema free herself, but I could clearly feel her still struggling on ground. She noticed how that tactic didn't seem to work.
Just as I was about to completely tie her up with roots, I saw Connor run to me. I moved roots from her leg to him, just to see how they went through him.
But how?
Oh.
I'm such an idiot.
Ema was around me, holding my hands with two fingers pointed at my head.
"Bam.", she said and moved her fingers like a gun would.
I was fooled by her.
Ema moved one step away from me with a huge grin on her face and I suddenly didn't mind that I lost which is not something I'm used to. In past loosing meant worst punishment possible. But here, now, it meant seeing Ema smile. And I was okay with that.
After seeing Fran and Zack fight once again, we went to cuddle room. Astra sat in between Zack's legs, Fran went to shower so Malia sat next to them, waiting for her soulmate. Ema sat in between Connor and me and I didn't hesitate to pull her in a hug. She didn't mind and reached for Connor too.
"Stop stealing my girl.", Connor commented, but he was in bright mood so I knew he didn't actually mind.
After Fran returned, we watched TV until it was lunch time back at home. Connor took me to Japan and left to go back home.
I felt happy. Happier then I can remember.
"What is happening to you nowadays?" father asked as we ate.
"I don't understand your question, father.", I said, putting salad in my mouth.
"You are grumpy for breakfast, happy for lunch and sad for dinner. Why is that?"
Probably because in morning I remember just how lonely I am, later I feel better because I spend time in England and before bed I remember how I'll never find a way to leave this house and stay with people I love.
"Puberty.", I said and continued to eat. Father hummed in response. I am sure he already found Spanish teacher for me.
That night I went to bed, but was woken up by Connor. He shook me and, when I opened my eyes, Ema's pretty face came in my view.
"What are you doing here?" I asked both of them silently.
"We just thought you might need cuddles.", Ema said with a smile.
"She thought that!" Connor added, but still made himself at home in my bed. Ema hugged me and I felt loved.
Father can't take them. Both of them were mine.