Light feathery touches gently touched the face.
Yuuma was brought into awareness but was too tired to move yet. He simply was left to the element of potential danger without any qualm of doing anything about it. The fingers pinched his cheek before tracing his nose and the shape of his forehead. Irritation leaked as Yuuma's brows furrowed in discomfort, a giggle was heard. The crinkled face abruptly relaxed and a small smile tugged his lips. He stayed obediently still letting the little fingers do what they wanted and before long his hair was being played with.
Yuuma dozed half aware and half unaware but still knew he was getting a free makeover and salon. He was afraid if he looked at himself in the mirror his bedhead would be covered in short pigtails. For a short while, the hands were gone and Yuuma drifted again before his lip was suddenly tugged down.
An exclamation of 'wooow' sank into his ears.
"You have teeth just like a demon! Older brother is a demon brother!" A thunk rang out followed by a pained whine. "How can he be a demon? If he's a demon then our first ancestor was a demon, which means we're all demons. Hmph," Mako whispered harshly.
"Quickly wake brother up, older sister is coming soon," Mako sounded apprehensive at the idea of waking Yuuma as he slowly backed away to the door frame. Ena stuck her tongue out at called, "wimp!"
Yuuma chucked and lazed back stretching his limbs like an ally cat. He glanced over Ena and Mako giving them both greetings. "Ami will be here?"
"Yeah, she might already be here..." Ena said abruptly shoving a hand mirror in his face. The sight before him....Yuuma felt like vomiting blood. His hair truly was a little girl's playground, colorful hairbands gripped the black strands of hair that had been kept cut and clean throughout the coma.
"It's atrocio-"
"-Very creative! It's one of your best works Ena," before Yuuma's thoughts slipped out Mako hurriedly interrupted washing his little sister in praise. Yuuma dully looked at Mako who sent him warning signals through his eyes like laser beams. If this is the approach he'll go with Yuuma won't say anything more.
"I know I know already since big sister is coming I want to show her how much I've improved!" The ten-year-old pridefully held her chin up and grinned. Ena turned out to be a Cheshire cat, Mako a chameleon, he could only wonder what sort of being Ami has become.
An uncomfortable feeling rose in his heart as the two looked at him and declared, "dinner time."
With Yuuma just waking up from a nap he of course doesn't have the energy to do anything productive. He didn't even get the chance to pull a hair tie before he was so rudely slung around and out of the room by mischievous devils.
When he was dragged into the dining room like a ragdoll he didn't expect to meet his butler, and Ami so soon.
"Big sister! Look I've improved haven't I?" Ena the lioness proudly held her tail up high.
Yuuma threw knives at Mako who looked away quickly not even meeting his gaze. It was clear who was laughing on the inside.
"pff-"
Yuuma's frown couldn't deepen more when Kenji decided to throw in his two cents at her work.
Ami's attention was hurled to Yuuma as she stared at him blankly and then she bust out laughing. It was the kind of silent laugh that heaved her chest before choking inhuman sounds came after. With watery eyes, she shook her head 'no' looking to not be able to handle the sight, and ran out of the room.
Yuuma's thoughts were unknown. Perhaps he was recollecting his life, or changing the future and the past.
After they had all settled down the family sat down to enjoy the meal. Yuuma's parents weren't in sight and later was informed that they wouldn't be attending because of other affairs.
Ami came back after twenty minutes. Her face was red and she couldn't help the smile coming back when she saw Yuuma. He still hadn't taken off the colorful mess, for the simple reason; he didn't know how.
Out of all the things he could do in his life, this wasn't one of them. At this time he felt some regret that he couldn't see the future.
"It's very nice to see you again older brother," Ami bowed and only then did Yuuma really look at her. She of course didn't look like her old appearance, but that was to be expected after ten years. She held some scars on her neck and face and had a fierce yet outgoing aura. She had a charm that made people gravitate towards her. But when she was so formal to Yuuma he couldn't stop his tongue from tasting bitter.
He waved his hand in a leisure manner, "formalities won't do, just be natural."
Ami's eyes widened a fraction and then gave a sharp nod and sat down at the table.
The room was filled with some clanks of a fork on a plate or a spoon in a bowl. It was quiet in a good way, as everyone enjoyed their food peacefully. Yuuma eyed the large mystery meat that was in the shape of a chicken near Ami. His mouth watered and he really wanted the thing, no one even glanced at it and just ate the other meats already cut up and served on long plates. Yuuma wanted to feel the bones caress his teeth as he ripped the meat off and savored the game.
It appeared to just be for decoration but was still made with care. He narrowed his eyes, his stomach growled and saliva pooled into his mouth. Yuuma couldn't take it any longer and shot Ami a look as he dipped his spoon into smooth mash potatoes.
Ami felt something prickly stabbing into the side of her temple and tensed. She robotically tried finding the source and found Yuuma with a spoon in his mouth, his eyes lit up. Through silent communication and many looks back and forth from the displayed meat to her, she finally got the gist of it.
She nodded in affirmation and like a mission of life or death was assigned to her she used wind magic to move the tray of fully boned meat to her older brother. It wasn't noticed by the two ruffians who ate without even looking up, but Kenji and some other maids and butlers in the room watched silently stifling laughs.
Ami smiled in succession and Yuuma gave her a thumbs up in approval. She held a permanent smile even when dinner ended. She was both amused and conflicted towards Yuuma. She hadn't seen him in ten years but has a good memory from when she was younger and clearly knew how much of a support line he was back then. Seeing him now with a head full of rainbow pigtails she couldn't help but think he's silly.
That's why when everyone exited the dining room and noticed Yuuma was waiting for everyone to leave she stayed behind. Kenji stayed behind as well but Ami dismissed him and everyone else who was there. The doors closed and it was now officially a private conversation.
Yuuma just wanted everyone to leave and go so he can take the mystery meat that he has yet to taste back to his room. He didn't expect it to turn this way. He swallowed his saliva and stood up straight with the self heating plate to keep the meat still hot and warm an arm's length away.
He had to get serious, it was clearly a serious matter that was about to be brought up.
"Brother, I decided I'm still going to stay in my post," Ami was thinking about this the whole time, and seeing Yuuma who wanted to go in her stead she couldn't let that happen!
"Why?" The question hung in the room and it was silent for a moment.
"B-because I'm used to it already, you don't have any magic you'd be food for those demons," she didn't sugar coat it and explained to Yuuma who clearly had selective hearing.
Yuuma remained blank, "I have ways to deal with it don't fret. Plus it's too late, a messenger bird has already taken the papers away. I'll be gone in two days."
Ami stood stunned, he has already gone so far? She was about to say more but was stopped by Yuuma picking up the large platter of meat without any rejection to its weight and stepped back. "I will be in my room eating this snack, if you need anything just ask," and with that he left, not even stopping to continue to hear her out.
When the door closed Ami couldn't help but think, 'snack?'