Chapter 3: Together
Kaito found out the witch meant they really couldn't go outside without getting her permission. She had given them a bedroom with only one bed, but it was large and he didn't mind sharing. There was some weird green cream on his ankle and it was bandaged well enough that he'd gotten curious after Saguru had fell asleep and Kaito had tried peeking around outside the house. He physically couldn't get past the door and was left with no choice but to crawl back into bed and see if she couldn't make some exceptions too her rules. Magic was cool but it kind of sucked.
Saguru woke early and peeked at his brother before slipping out of the bed and heading to the door. He thought maybe he could help with breakfast without messing up so that he could prove that they could be trusted while there.
Kaito rolled around the bed when he noticed Saguru was missing after he woke for real. He stayed where he was, not wanting to walk around again, and let himself rest some more. it wasn't home but it was nice and he wasn't really scared anymore. Maybe it was the light that was coming in one of the sugar windows that made those fears go away.
Saguru had not expected the food to be inside but had set about doing what he could to make breakfast. He wondered if he would be allowed to give Kaito his in the bedroom, since the entire house was food anyway. He chuckled quietly at the thought of eating the floor when trying to eat off the floor.
"Oh? Who's this wandering around so early in the morning?" Akako normally worked only at night and thus, was a late riser, but the new movment in the house has gotten her up.
Saguru spun, startled at the voice, and almost dropped the hunk of bread he was cutting. "Miss Akako. Sorry. I hope it is alright, I thought I could make breakfast."
"A young boy making breakfast? I haven't heard of such a thing. You have free use of the house though. Most common food products I get at night and you'll find them around the kitchen, as I'm sure you've noticed. Anything that will spoil is spelled so that it won't, so with some of the meat I have you don't need to worry about it or anything else being old." She smirked, rumming two of her fingers together to start a flame above them that quickly went out. "Magic is rather useful."
Saguru's eyes widened at her making and holding a flame in her hand and wondered if all witches could do that. Saguru looked at the fruit and bread he had been laying out and than back at her. "I never cooked anything, mother always did that part." He had thought about using the embers from the fireplace to cook too but at the time he had not been sure the stove would hold the fire if he did it instead of her.
"Maybe you should let me do it then." Akako could cook just fine. Most of her help wasn't tall enough to reach the stove or knew what she would or wouldn't eat. She put a hand on top of his head and bent down to his level. "What would you like?"
"We usually have eggs for breakfast, besides bread and fruit." Saguru had not really thought about anything else, that was their normal morning meal. "What do you usually have?"
"Fruit and some honey and pastries. I know how to make eggs though. How about you help me out? You have the bread already, and i I can brown it in the pan after cooking the eggs. There should be a basket of eggs in one of the cabinets. Go fetch them for me and I'll get the pan."
"Yes, Ma'am." Saguru knew exactly where it was, having seen them when he was browsing earlier. He opened the door and grabbed the basket, balancing it carefully as he took them over to the stove. "Here you are, Miss. Akako."
"Thank you." She reached down and set the basket on the part of the counter nearest the stove before taking one out, making sure the fire was at the temperature. Cooking was easy for her, always had been, because the flames did all the work. "How do you like your eggs?"
Saguru tilted his head and blinked. "There is more than one way? mother only did it normal, or, I guess fried with runny yolk. If there are others ways, I would like to know, please?"
"There are dozens of ways. Here. I do have a fridge. There should be a carton of glasses filled with milk. Can you go get me one?" She cracked a few eggs into the pan while he got he milk, seeing as he didn't have to see her do that to understand.
Saguru returned and held it out to her, unable to resist commenting that their cow never gave them enough milk to save.
Akako took the milk and added it to the eggs, standing back before bending down and touching the floor. She waited a few seconds as it bent to her will, creating a little three step ladder so Saguru would be able to reach the stove. "While I take care of the rest, I'll tell you exactly how to make these and help if you need to. Want to give it a try?"
Saguru bit his lip. He loved learning and maybe it would be better if he knew how to make something, instead of leaving it to mother, if she even cared anymore. He took a deep breath and nodded, going up the steps and still finding it strange it held his weight. "Alright, I am ready, Ma'am."
Akako handed him a wisk. "Here, stir them gently for a while. They'll get thicker. I need to add something." She went over to the fridge and got out a tomato and a bit of meat that she'd fry up first, without the strove. "You don't have anything against tomatoes or meat, right?"
"No, Miss. Akako," Saguru replied as he stirred the eggs, watching them become less liquid and more like... he was not sure. Maybe cotton-like? "Oh, but Kaito does not eat fish."
"That's okay. I don't use fish in my eggs." Akako laughed a little, not trying to make fun of him. She held the dried pieces of meat in her hand, heating them instantly as she went back over to Saguru, dropping bits in the eggs as he continued to mix. She only needed to tap the tomato to have it diced up, adding that as well. "I think I have a better idea than bread. You finish that up. The fire will go out when it's done. You can stop stirring before that, in another minute or so, when all the liquid is gone."
"Yes, Ma'am." Saguru tilted his head and smelled that food, finding his mouth watering more now than when mother cooked. "If Kaito smells this, he will try to come out here sooner rather than later."
Akako could barely hear what he said and left it at that. She went into one of the higher cabinets, getting out the pastries she had made earlier that week. They'd do with breakfast and, even if they were a bit sweet, the apple in them balanced them out well. While she was at it she took out three plates, placing one on each and hovering her hand over them a few seconds to make sure they were warm and chewy. "Maybe your brother should eat out here. If he's having trouble walking still, I can help with that." She snapped her fingers, one of the chairs shifting back from the table as the cushion came separated and floated a foot behind Saguru. "You can leave the eggs now. I'll get them."
Saguru stepped back and down off the ladder, eying the floating cushion. "Will that carry him like the branch did?" It was still a little scary but he could not resist the desire to know answers.
Akako went over, since her hands were free, and grabbed Saguru up before putting him on the cushion. "Go get the other one," she instructed the furnishing. It listened better.
Saguru gripped the cushion as it took off on its own. The door opened and he saw Kaito still in bed. "Kaito, breakfast is almost ready."
Kaito gripped the pillow, tipping his head towards his brother while his eyes slowly opened wider and wider. "What were you eating? Fairy dust?"
Saguru smiled slightly and held out his hand. "Nothing yet, but I was helping to cook eggs a new way. Come on."
Kaito was all up for trying it if Saguru thought it was safe. He smiled and took his hand, trying not to knock his brother off. "This is so cool. I bet mom and dad would freak out if they saw this."
"If I saw it without knowing, I would think you were pulling some trick on me."
Once Kaito was seat the magic.. cushion started moving forward and he yelped and held tighter onto Saguru as it brought them both into the kitchen and onto a chair. "I wish I could do that, as long as the villagers didn't kill me."
"Like anyone would mistake you for a witch." Saguru looked at the table, the smells now that he was back in the room were really good and he looked forward to eating a real meal. "Thank you again, Miss. Akako."
"Of course." Akako took the plate and placed them in front of the two boys. They were young enough they could share a chair in her kitchen and old enough that they looked funny doing it. She sat across from them with her own plate. "I hope it's to your liking."
"Oh, wow!" Kaito looked at the eggs and milk and juice that was in front of him, along with something that looked like a small, spiral-like muffin. He went for the eggs first, hungry for something besides candy.
"How's your leg doing?" Akako asked. The salve would have taken away any infection and dulled the pain, for a while at least.
"Umm, still hurts a little. It's easier to walk though. Thanks for helping us yesterday. We were really in trouble for a while there. And thanks for helping us today. These are the best eggs I've ever eaten!" That was all the time he was going to spend wasting on words instead of stuffing his face.
Akako watched them, a smile on her face. Well, the boy was thick headed, that was for sure.
Saguru smiled to himself, glad he could share the praise for his part in making it, and started eating himself. It was really good and he wondered if he could learn new things for dinner that night. If he learned what he could now and Kaito continued to heal, they could make it home in time to go meet up with father and he would have useful skills that he actually knew how to use.
Kaito moved onto the pastry, finding it even better then the eggs. It was warmed up apple and spices all in some weird, soft bread. It tasted great and he needed the juice to finish that. "That was awesome." He let in and let out a breath, smiling up at the witch. "I have a question. I know I'm still healing but can we go outside? Just a little? I wanna look around the house."
"Right now?" They had just eaten. It was a little soon to be playing.
Kaito shook his head. "I mean whenever. We don't know where home is, so it's not like we can leave and tell you. These are keeping us here, right?" He raised the bracelet upward. "I tried to go outside last night and I couldn't. Can't you make your spell thing so we have a little more room to walk around? I like going out."
"Hmm." Akako tapped her cheek. "I suppose I could make it so you can't go further than ten yards from the house or something, so you could have some freedom." There was no harm in that unless someone should see them. "But you have to promise me if anyone comes by you walk right in here and tell me."
Kaito nodded. He wasn't about to give away the witch lady that had helped them so much.
Saguru swallowed his last bite and nodded as well. "Yes, Ma'am." He did not want to be mistaken as an animal by a hunter anyway and he did owe her enough to not get her hurt either.
Akako took them at their word, extending her fingers where they were and focusing on the spell around the bracelets to give them a little more freedom. It took only a second and she stood after. "There. I'm going to go back to bed. This is a little early for me. I'll see you both for dinner. You can grab whatever you'd like for lunch. I don't have much in the way of entertainment but in the main room, in the desk, is pen and paper. There are some cards in there as well. If you'd like something in particular, I'll have someone keeping an eye on you. Just ask the fireplace and if I can get it, I will."
Kaito was pretty stuck off his feet for the next however long so he was good with just sitting around. He wanted to talk to his brother anyway.
Saguru was glad he had finished eating because he was sure he would have choked when she said to ask the fireplace for something. It would have been strange and she was not gone yet. "Umm, do you have any books somewhere?"
"Yes, I do. I have a few dozen fictional and non-fictional. You'll find the small library in the room after the bathroom, near where you have been sleeping. My personal books are downstairs with me."
Saguru brightened at that thought and wondered if there were any he had not read. Being a witch in a candy house, he had to think there were some that were new to him. "Thank you. Sleep well."
Akako nodded and left the two kids, yawning when she was out of their sights. Kids were a handful but they were getting on in age and would work perfectly for her.
Kaito watched Akako leave, getting up and limping a bit as he went around the corner to check. He came back into the kitchen and sat next to Saguru, wondering if she had some way of listening in on them still. "Hey, I'm so confused. I thought everyone told us witches were mean and they only wanted to kill us. Why is she being so nice and... human."
Saguru had thought about that most of the morning and sighed. "I have two ideas. One, she really is nice and most people only know about or talk about the bad ones. Like how the ladies at the barber shop always talk about the bad things others do and not the good. Two, maybe it is like a werewolf or something, where they are 'human' most of the time and become mean once a month."
Kaito had never heard of something like that but Saguru distracted him and he had to laugh. "You listen to lady's a the barber shop?"
Saguru pouted and crossed his arms. "I never try to but unlike you, I do not amuse myself painting the mirrors with the shaving cream."
"Hey, they like my drawings."
Saguru rolled his eyes and jumped down, taking the empty plates to the sink. "At least there is nothing you can use like that here."
Kaito wasn't sure about that. There was probably whipped cream somewhere with all this candy. He let it go though, getting off slowly and tried not to put too much weight on his leg as he looked around. He still didn't understand it. Did the adults lie to him? He'd heard stories about witches but, now that he thought about it, he never personally knew anyone who had encountered one. "Maybe they just got it all backwards."
"Maybe." Saguru kind of doubted every story was wrong. He had thought about that but there had to be a reason so many exsisted, which was how he came to his two conclusions. He really hoped it was the first one and Miss. Akako was a rare, nice witch but if it was the second, Saguru hid a shiver, not wanting them to be there if she did suddenly become mean.
"Why doesn't she go to town with us. Maybe the people would be scared at first but this," Kaito broke off a piece of the stove they must have used, finding some chocolate and pink filling inside of it before it repaired itself. "This could save everyone. Dad left because he was worried about food. This is unlimited food." He spread his hands, thinking that that would be a great solution to everyone's problem.
Saguru touched the repaired area and bit his lip. "Would they let her live?" Saguru looked at Kaito. "Sweets are great but you know it is not real food and I read historical books about people that had gold mines and stuff but they were killed by others just to take it for themselves, and they were not even witches. If we take her with us, we need to make sure they do not kill her first. She is helping you, she saved our lives, so we need to know what to do first. Father is not there to convince the rest of the townspeople for us." He looked down, wishing again that he was, just so they could tell him first.
"Well, I'm sure mom could do it too. They're all probably more hungry then scared. We could just bring food from here to the town too, so they don't have to know where she lives. I don't know how to make it so they don't follow us, but I'm sure there's a way or mom can get them to agree at least on that."
Saguru knew she could but would mother do that. He had started getting a twist in his stomach whenever he thought of her and his heart hurt when that happened. "We can try." He smiled and tilted his head. "I want to see what books she has. Maybe one of them will help us."
Kaito wasn't sure what they could find in a book that would help a town get over it's fear of witches but he nodded. At least he'd be doing something while he laid down. "Dad can come home then too."
Saguru truly brightened at that and nodded. "Remember not to walk on that too much." He teased as he headed toward the room they used, looking to bury himself in the books and find something that could back up one of their suspicions or ideas.
Kaito was going to follow him anyway and he wasn't about to walk like a dog in someone's house. He followed Saguru down the hall, peeking in the bathroom. "I wonder if the toilet is editable. Ew." He laughed, tapping Saguru. "I dare you to try it."
"Not a chance. I am never doing one of your dares again. Remember that frosted pole last winter? Hey, stop laughing, it was not funny. I was stuck there forever before father found us."
Kaito continued to chuckle. "And after. He made you breath on it breathe on it and when I tried you told me my breath stank."
Saguru wrinkled his nose. "Well, it did."
Kaito rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Says you." Saguru was just too picky.
Saguru could not believe Kaito still tried to brush it off. "Smell your own breath some time and then tell me that."
Kaito cupped his hand over his mouth and smelled his breath. "Smells great. Like apples."
Saguru sighed, broke the door handle, some kind of gummy candy thing that he knew had liquid inside it, and threw it at Kaito. He smirked and ran inside the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Hey!" Kaito got some weird goo on his shirt and grinned, trying to get in at Saguru. The handle wasn't back yet and there wasn't anything to gab off the door to break into it. "Cheater!"
Saguru could not hide the laughter as he leaned against the door. "You have done that to me so many times, consider that my payback."
Kaito wasn't stupid. He dug his finger in the hole. All he had to get do was get that part that kept the door closed out. Saguru could just break the handle again.
Saguru felt the door shift against his back and his mouth dropped. "Are you eating the door?"
Kaito thought he might as well eat it so he did, breaking part of the door to get to the weird part that was something chewy. "Yep. Coming to get you!"
Saguru slid to floor, trying to hold the door shut, torn between amusement, shock and maybe a bit of fear because Kaito had a very vivid imagination when it came to payback. "Come on, you are not being fair." Saguru looked around, wondering if he could get out the window before Kaito made it through the door.
Kaito just needed the latch and he took it out and ate it, pushing one the door and keeping his hand there so it wouldn't reform right away. He broke away a bit of the door while he did, to actually eat through it if he had to. It was chocolate and something with some kind of spice. It didn't mix well with breakfast but it was worth it.
Saguru bolted for the window, hoping that, this one time, he could beat Kaito. There was a small reading table under the window but he needed to pull the chair out first. He had no idea why he was smiling either.
Kaito felt the give when nothing was holding the door back anymore. He stumbled in, looking around and finding Saguru trying to make a get away. He was going for the pillows first.
Saguru glanced over his shoulder at the same time he felt something hit him from behind. "Hey."
Kaito laughed, going for the second and only pillow. Saguru had one of his own so it was a fair fight.
Saguru grabbed the pillow laying near him and held it up. more as a shield than a weapon like Kaito was.
Kaito didn't know if the pillow had anything weird in them but they felt like pillow and he didn't mind winning this pillow war.
Saguru quickly held up the pillow, blocking the first swing and ducking the second. He was not sure he wanted to risk trying to hit him back as it would leave him open. He was stuck on the table, unable to turn and get out or get down.
Kaito didn't let up, having fun. He and Saguru played a lot, but never in the house where 'something could break' and mom always yelled when he tried to take a pillow outside. He couldn't break anything here except Saguru and his brother didn't look like he was going to fall.
Saguru ducked a few more times, trying to stay balanced and backing away when he tried to block a hit. He had nowhere to go and, on a whim, shoved himself forward, pillow first, to tackle Kaito.
Kaito had his arm across him, ready to backhand with the pillow, when Saguru trapped it where it was and took them both to the floor. He had nothing to hit him with, what with his arm at the strange angle, and instead pulled at his clothes to get him off, laughing.
Saguru shifted, trying to stay on and smiling, trying to just hold Kaito down. "Just admit I won." He reached down and tried tickling Kaito to get him to let go of his clothes.
Kaito laughed, unable to curl up in on himself and block his body while Saguru was on top of him. He tired to tickle him back but it was hard when he already started. "Fine! Fine! You win!"
Saguru laughed and sat back, letting him up. He breathed out and then looked down at Kaito, tilting his head. "Is this how you always feel when you beat me?"
"No. Usually I'm scared you'll go crying to mom and dad." Kaito grinned, holding his pillow up and taking a bit. "Hm. Fluffy candy." He had been wondering.
Saguru rolled his eyes and looked at the pillow. "How can you still eat more after breakfast?"
"I just wanted to taste it." Kaito relinquished his pillow by throwing it at Saguru. He really liked being here and not being yelled at for doing what he wanted. "This place is awesome."
Saguru licked his lips and brushed a stray piece off. "You just have a sweet tooth bigger than this house."
"I'd eat this house then and then eat again. The food here is good though. I wonder where she gets her food like the eggs. Did she say?"
Saguru paused before shaking his head. "No, she just said she had it and there are spells to keep it from going bad. She said she would get anything we wanted but not how."
"Well, she has all this food and a pretty nice place. Plus she's a witch and can get things then. How about if we can't bring her to town first, we get mom and bring mom here? Send word to dad? If they both accept her and where the food comes from, the town would be easy."
Saguru nodded. "That sounds good, plus, I am sure father would want to thank her for saving us too."
Kaito watched Saguru messing with the pillow and not looking all that happy about the idea. "You're still mad at mom, huh?"
Saguru blinked before looking down at the pillow and blushing a little before huffing. "She left you behind. Until she gives me a really good reason for that, yes."
Kaito shrugged. "I'm sure she does. I was hurt and it was dark and there were probably animals out there. Because I was bleeding, maybe she was afraid taking me back would have drawn something hungry to us. I don't know where she was trying to go or do, but she's our mom." Kaito got up, careful on his leg, and offered Saguru his hand. "It hurts to think bad things so I'd rather believe good things."
Saguru took Kaito's hand, unsure he could be that willing to believe it yet, but stood more on his own so he did not pull Kaito down. "Fine, but when we get back, can I ask you a favor? I want you to stay back a little and let me ask her first. I remember when you thought mother had no idea about one of your tricks, you would tell things differently than when you knew she knew."
Kaito shrugged. "Sure, I guess, but that's kind of mean. I'm sure she's been worried about both of us. I didn't think you were that kind of person."
Saguru looked down. He had not thought she was either and he wanted her reactions, her reasons, first. "I just need to know if she'd lie. If she tells the truth, I will take all the blame but... I just need to know."
Kaito nodded. "Reasons aside, we still have each other. Thanks for coming after me."
Saguru looked up and smiled. "We are brothers. I think this is the second time I ever directly disobeyed mother, first time I have no regrets attached."
Kaito nodded. "I was scared. I didn't want to go out alone at night with mom. I thought I was getting in trouble. I don't really know. Maybe I was in trouble for something and I just got hurt."
"It was not anything in the last two days because we were together all day the first day and you worked yourself more than me the day fa...the next day. Was there anything big you did the day before we milked the cow?"
Kaito thought about it. "I have no idea. Most of the time I don't think I'm doing anything wrong and I get yelled at, so maybe. If dad was closer, with you mad, I'd say we get him, but I have no idea where he is or how to send a message. Only mom would know that."
Saguru dropped down into the chair and sighed. "That would be... maybe we can ask Miss. Akako if she can find him herself."
"You're really mad at mom." Kaito tipped his head. "But sure, we can ask."
Saguru dropped his face into his hands. He never felt this way before, even when she was punishing him. "I do not like it, I just... am." He sighed and stood quickly. "I am going to read for a bit. You should get off your leg for a while."
"I'll sit next to you and watch you read. I don't have anything else to do and I'll end up walking around anyway if I don't. A book is a bit boring but I can read."
Saguru was a little surprised but he honestly found he did not mind having his brother close to him. He nodded and stood, going to get a book, choosing a fiction book and leaning against the headboard so Kaito could be beside him and read as well.
Kaito closed his eyes after he sat, not bothering with a book. Saguru said he was looking for something but, when he peeked over at his brother reading, it didn't look like a book that actually taught you anything. He held his hand out for it. "Can I see?"
Saguru blinked, realizing he had stared at the first page without getting past the first sentence, and held it out to him, more out of shock that Kaito was asking for a book than anything else.
Kaito turned it over to see the cover. He hand seen this story book before, but it was a story book. He smiled, flipping to the first page. "I hope you didn't get far." He cleared his throat, being dramatic about it with his hand up to his mouth, before resting the book comfortably in his lap. "We called him Old Yeller. The name had a sort of double meaning." He didn't think he'd ever read a book to Saguru. Mom or dad would usually do that, and with both of them. It felt kind of nice though.
Saguru leaned back and closed his eyes, letting Kaito read and picturing the scenes as he read them. It reminded him so much of being home he had to hide the tears from that feeling with the sadder parts of the story.
