After Kaede and I had a staring contest, me being the winner when Hunter foolishly punched Kaede's shoulder, we all moved back to my bedroom. I sent Oliver and Matthew away for the night and curled up on my bed. Kaede was ready to jump on my bed, on top of me, but I rolled away and to the floor because I knew she would possibly break the whole bed. She was careless sometimes.
Luckily, the bed stayed intact, but Kaede bounced off the bed onto the floor opposite of where I hid. I army crawled under the bed and grabbed Hunter's leg, effectively making him scream like the 'man' he was.
"Revenge o' the Irish!" I shouted, muffled by the bed, before pulling his ankle and making him join me and Kaede on the floor.
Kaede literally rolled around laughing while Hunter repeatedly smacked my hand to make me release him. I reverted to my fairy form and snuck my way out of the room, barely missing a certain trigger-happy unit. I flew downstairs and decided to follow an unused passageway. Most of the passageways were unused, but this one led to a place no one saw but once in a long while. Except me, since I do what I want.
I grudgingly became my human form again as I pushed against a stone panel. I didn't understand why everything had to be too heavy for magic. When I was inside the room, the panel closed behind me. I smiled sadly as I looked around at the name markers.
A shiver ran down my spine at the purpose of the massive underground room. I sneezed at the dust I had incidentally churned up by walking into the chamber. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned a jacket to keep me from freezing in the 20 degree mausoleum. I usually came here to think and talk and ask for answers.
The stone altar in the center of the room held an array of candles. I smoothly made my way up and lit two of them, one smelling of lavender and the other smelling of sandalwood. For me, the two scents cancelled each other out. Sandalwood gave me a massive migraine while lavender soothed me. It was a ritual that was used long before my clan was formed and proved to work in luck for the family. I took a deep breath that ended in a sigh and sat in front of the altar, leaning my back against the chilly stone.
"Pops, I don't know how you did it," I began. "This is beyond me. You are probably the only chief that could do it and your reign was peaceful." A small whisper made its way to my ear, making me shiver again. "But I can show them. I think you're right. Show them even the young can pull through."
I looked slowly around the chamber as another whisper flitted through the frigid air. The only thing I could see was my breath coming out in puffs of air that quickly dissipated. I drew in a large breath and watched the steam puff out with my exhale. Another whisper made me look up behind me at the altar.
"Maybe that is the thing. It's a balance. A gamble," I chuckled. "Pops, you always said that the old fashioned way is the best way."
I relaxed against the stone, immediately regretting it as raw ice seemed to claw its way through my jacket. Regardless, I refused to pull away, closing my eyes to submerge myself in the glacial feeling around me. The whispers continued, but they weren't directed toward me.
I continued to think of a plan to beat our clan enemy, using the bare murmurings to aid my process. I occasionally tossed out a verbal idea and waited for any response.
I don't know if the whispering stopped or I fell asleep, but I stood up a while later to find that the candles were burning low. I looked around the chamber one last time with a quiet word of thanks before blowing the candles out and speed walking from the room. The door closed once again and I morphed to fly back to my room. Kaede and Hunter were gone, the house was silent, and I had nothing to do but sleep. That's exactly what I did.
Several hours later, the doorbell broke the small semblance of a dream I was just starting to have. I trudged to the door and growled at the delivery man, despite me being unlike the others of my clan.
"It's a gift, not from the company. From a friend of yours." The man said, holding out a clipboard.
"Friend my arse. She's my cousin," I grumbled, signing the paper.
I looked at the nameplate as the delivery man wheeled the crate inside. With a begrudging 'thank you' to the delivery man, I accepted the manual and closed the door, locking it. Reading over the manual, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. It would be in my best interest to 'take one for the team' and deal with the torture.
I calmly walked up to the box, despite my inner turmoil, and opened it as quietly as possible. I quickly grabbed the tie of the unit and pulled hard.
"Brother, make me a sandwich. I'm hungry." As soon as the unit's eyes opened, I let the tie go. "I need a sandwich, brother, I'm hungry." Cue the tackle.
As soon as I could regain my breath from the fall, I squirmed out of his hold and huffed. "I'm still hungry."
"Me too. Make me a sandwich. Do you have any beer?" I pulled his tie again at the comment.
"You're the big brother. You make the sandwich." Another tight hug from the unit later, Matthew walked into the kitchen and started on pancakes. I squirmed free for a second time and bounded over to Matthew happily. "Can I help?"
Matthew nodded. "I need milk and the measuring cup."
I swiftly moved to gather the two items and watched as Matthew began to make the pancakes themselves. I nearly panicked as two arms wrapped around me again before remembering the new unit.
"No fair, I'm way more awesome th- Who are you?" Matthias asked.
"He's Canada. And Prussia is more awesome than you," I countered, not bothering to leave the eternal hug. Matthias didn't let me go, obviously ignoring the jab.
Yao and Katyusha entered the kitchen to ask what breakfast would be and if they could help. Matthew politely declined both. Upon noticing Matthias, Katyusha brightened.
"Another unit?" she grinned. "The last one wasn't so nice." She frowned.
"The last one?" Matthias questioned.
"That would be me, love," Oliver pranced into the kitchen.
"Everyone out. Matthew needs to cook," I shouted at the units. I grabbed Matthias' tie, since he was still hugging me, and pulled him to the dining room. The other units followed. Even so, I didn't miss the quiet 'thank you' from Matthew.
Ivan and Vash were already sitting at the table, evidentially having a staring contest. I forced Matthias off of me and sat down before Vash could notice I was in the room. Ivan was smiling like he won the contest, but I knew better. Alfred and Antonio were the last to arrive, both donning sleepless looks.
"Rough night?" I asked the two. They nodded silently. I heard a snicker come from Oliver's direction and let my face meet the table. Hi table, how are you. Hopefully better than those two idiots.
As if to prove me wrong, Oliver stabbed a knife in the table, causing Vash to snap his gun up at the psychopathic unit. I saw a glint of silver from the corner of my eye to indicate Ivan had his pipe out. Out of my other eye, I noticed Matthias had his battle axe ready. I commended the units mentally for being ready in a moment's notice. If the enemies attacked, we would be ready.