So first off, chapter 21? I added Tsubaki's POV at the bottom so if you want to go back and read that small part, cool. I added something new.
I hated doing Wataru because on one part, he is a cute energetic kid that likes sweets, and on the second part, he is KINDA mental. You know Kanato. But in any case I really need to ignore the fact I go from one topic to another bit to quickly.
Also, a chapter solely in the POV of Ema's friends? Consider it done. I already know what chapter would be perfect for it.
If you ever think something could be written better or have an idea, comment and tell me it. 75% chance I'll screw it in somewhere and make it sound right.
"Chii."
For some reason the name sparked memories. I recall my father calling me it at various times. As well as a little squirrel I kept around. As silly as it sounded, when I was younger I was pretty sure I could speak with this little grey squirrel that would stick around the house. I don't know what happened to him after I left. I just hoped it was all right.
I planned on asking Louis why he called me that but he left before I could. Masaomi went to work. Kaname and Hikaru disappeared, literally, leaving me alone. Despite the doctor telling me it was best to rest up, I went to the roof to grab the sheets. I felt fine and thus so saw no reason not to.
A warm gust of wind blew me backwards a step as I went out onto the roof. It was actually quite nice up here, with benches, plants, rails, and a lovely view. Yet my mind drifted back to when I was last up here. Hikaru left many questions unanswered that night, and I doubted I would get to know them any time soon.
The brothers tended to leave larger sheets up here to dry by the sun or wind. I folded the few that were still there and ventured to see if there were any clothes in the top floor washer but first grew tempted to look over the rail.
Right under me, a figure knelt along the vegetation growing in the beds alongside the house. Iori tended to some flowers moving as silent as a ghost. I watched the silver dot beneath me for a little bit. It went together I supposed. The colorful, vibrant plants and his silent, desolate self coinciding. Suddenly he paused and tipped his head back. My heart leaped as I pushed myself off the railing to avoid being spotted, even though it was to late. My heart stopped the moment his eyes found me.
Hurrying off I grabbed the brothers laundry and made route. The laundry was kept and done on the top floor because apparently it was the best washer and dryer. They were already organized in their respective groups so all they needed to do was be delivered.
Taking the elevator and wobbling down the halls, I was relatively uninterrupted. The only hindrance was little Wataru who barreled into me with such force I barely managed to stay upright. The preteen leaned onto me dizzied and glanced up. "Oh. Hey Hinata. What's up?"
Kaname and Hikaru burst down the hall in full force just as Wataru had. They stopped a few feet from us. Wataru ducked behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He stuck a blue-tinted tongue out at his elders.
"Rather poor barricade." Hikaru clicked. "I rather think that Kaname was a better block."
The suave monk winked. "Is that why you always call me a blockhead? In any case I think its best that you and your little ally come along silently. Right Pancake~?"
Wataru grabbed the rim of the basket saving me from awkwardly responding. "Are you doing laundry? Whose?"
"Um Louis', Fuuto's, yours, and maybe Subaru's." I recounted.
Kaname's face scrunched up in annoyance or disgust. "Really? You're still chores for the brothers? After what we just went through earlier. Do you like playing the role as maid? That's not necessarily a bad thing but..."
"Mine!" Wataru shouted startling all of us. "My clothes! Masaomi said he could take me out to get ice cream later if I clean my room! If I don't get to them now I might not get to it later, then no ice cream!"
Hikaru deadpanned at him. He chuckled placing his lightly tinted nails on his head. "No...that's not...that's not going to work..."
The child grabbed my arm and dropped a small stuffed animal in front of the boys. Kaname leaped forward and did something. I didn't really see because Wataru was tugging me back. He muttered something. I watched as his stuffed toy came to life and quickly started advancing on the two. Two bats came from down the hall behind Kaname.
What else happened I didn't see. The next thing I knew I was in a room with bright colors and various stuffed animals. Wataru let out a sigh flopping onto his bed.
I'd never been in the child's room and I was too nervous to even breathe. But after a moment I felt I had no choice. "What exactly was that all about?"
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and started to whine. "Ehhh. We were in one of the sitting rooms and it ended up with Hikaru trying to spray me with his perfume or cologne or whatever. And Kaname stole my Usa-chan!" He exclaimed sitting up.
The frown on his face made it look like he just as young and innocent. He held his arms straight out and the bear he had tossed appeared there. He checked it over for injuries before clutching it tightly. I nearly never saw him without either the bear or the bunny.
"Yes but what happened in the hall? How did you do that? I know some of the brothers have some abilities..." It only made sense considering how keen the brothers could be and how easily they moved from place to place so quickly. And it didn't take much to figure out how strong they were.
He nodded absently. "Kana-kun and I have the ability to make familiars."
"Familiars?" I put down the basket and started sorting through to see which clothes could fit an eleven year old.
"Dumby." He muttered placing down the bear. It was brown with a large head, little vest, and a black eyepatch on it left eye. "A familiar is when I take a nonliving object and make it living at my biding. Though that wasn't what I did for the two. I transferred a soul from hell into Teddy to fight Kaname's watcher bats. See?"
The bear stood up on its hind legs suddenly as I stood. This was a mistake seeing as it launched itself at me clutching onto my neck. I fell to the ground under the force that it initially hit. It beat at me with its stubby arms cotton arms. I had a feeling it could do a lot more but it probably wouldn't be smart to question it now.
Wataru walked over and picked it up. "Yeah they're not that good yet. My best works are in another room. Maybe I can show you them later?" He bounced with a childish glee, manic filling his bright eyes. I agreed regardless.
He cheered and started grabbing his clothes. When I moved to help he shooed me away saying that if I helped than Masaomi would think I did all the work or he was slacking. Before I left he made sure to remind me that if I get the chance I should try to get his bunny back.
I doubted I would be able to get that back but it didn't really matter. I headed to Azusa's room next. My initial plan was to go do Fuuto's clothes first but I wasn't sure I - or he- was ready for that yet. And considering Azusa's room was on the same floor I settled for his. It wasn't a shocker to see Tsubaki down the hall taking a call either. He only spared me a glance before going back to concentrating on whoever was on the other side.
I knocked lightly his twins door wondering if he was even home. I waited a few moments before rapping on the door harder and called his name lightly.
"Hey!" I turned to Tsubaki who moved the receiver away from his mouth. "Just go in." He mouthed walking up. He unlocked the door and pushed it open a notch. He went back to whoever he had on call as if I never existed, striding back to his original position.
I had been in the dark haired mans room before when I was asked to rehearse lines with them. I already how spotless and organized the room was compared to the room on the other side of the wall. I wasn't expecting to find Azusa half on the ground half on his bed. I dropped the basket and rushed to his side.
"Azusa? Azusa! Come on get up." I pleaded lifting up one of his shoulders to push him back on. His arm shoved me back surprisingly. He slowly stood as if his lanky appendages were betraying him.
When he had fully risen he still didn't speak. But I noticed he left his glasses on the floor. I carefully moved to pick up his glasses from by his feet. He still didn't move when I stood on my tiptoes to place them back on properly. "You look more yourself with them on." I gulped.
"Thank you." Azusa uttered when I moved back. "I see you've brought laundry. I had forgotten I had some left up there."
He took a step to grab them when his legs gave out from under him. He clutched his head. "Azusa! Forget the clothes. Are you alright?" I placed a hand on his forehead. He waved me away sitting himself on his bed.
"I'm fine. I guess I just haven't gotten much sleep recently." He took a glance at my tilted head. "Fine. I've just been thinking a lot about Tsubaki and I's audition."
I knew what he was talking about and recalled the hug. "It didn't go well?" I asked tentatively.
He sighed a tired sort. "No. Not really. I got the role he was after. Things certainly didn't go well between the two of us. I cant give him the role back and I don't want it. And he's mad that I'm not taking it now."
"I've noticed you guys haven't been so close recently. Is that was caused the split between the two of you?"
"That," Entered a voice. "And other things."
Tsubaki leaned against the doorway. Azusa opened his mouth. "Don't." Warned the white haired. "I don't want it."
The tension was stifling the room. It was amazing that two people close enough to read each others minds could be so cold towards each other. It felt so weird being on the floor between these two.
"You know I cant take that role. You don't want to hear this? I don't want to take it. I only became a voice actor for you." Azusa reasoned.
"Well that was my mistake! Azusa Asahina, if you don't take that role, you're no longer my brother!" He shouted at his bewildered sibling.
Azusa stood. "You cant mean that."
The fury behind Tsubaki's eyes was one I had never seen or wanted to see ever again. Especially not directed at his own brother. "Oh I mean it. Do you think I care about what you want to do or not? You might as well be tossing away your career. Do you understand that? Everybody wants it to be so give the people what they want!" In a rage he disappeared from the doorway.
Azusa ran to pursue but fell feet from the door. I rushed to his side only to be taken by the shoulder and tossed out the room. The last thing I saw before his door slammed magically was him kneeling on the floor clutching his hands to his chest. Tsubaki was nowhere to be seen in the hall.