Forced to take a vacation, Otomo tries to relax, but a revelation from Lemres shatters everything he ever knew for the best. Requested by huskynator on tumblr!

Suddenly Siblings

Coffee wasn't the best for nerves, but Otomo didn't care. He sipped his sugary drink despite his throat aching for water. He sat as stiff as a board in a coffee shop, his legs wanting to desperately bounce, but his anxiety forced them to remain. Like a machine, he brought his drink to his lips, gingerly sipped, and set the cup back on the coaster.

When Salde ordered him to take a vacation, he hadn't been expecting it to be so nerve-wracking. Any time away from the prince only meant that his ward could have gotten into trouble. It wasn't an average day without him racing after Salde in hopes of forcing him to maintain his dignity. He had a kingdom to serve, but he had no choice but to belay his orders when Salde demanded he take time off, using his leverage as prince to overpower any other decree.

Drumming his gloved fingers on the table, he glanced out the window. Suzuran hadn't been terrible. He wasn't used to the bustling people or automobiles shooting by him, but he supposed it was pleasant. At least the cream in his coffee suited his sweet preference.

With a sigh, he finished his drink. He was tempted to order a second one, but his nerves were already through the roof. He wasn't sure what else to do in Suzuran, and groaning, he wished he learned how to pop Puyos to return home.

"Care for a cake pop?"

He yelped, the cookie dough treat shoved in front of his nose. Gasping, he blurted, "A-ah, it's you!"

"It's me," Lemres replied, popping the cake pop into his mouth and chewing it off. Swallowing, he chuckled and asked, "This place really has the best coffee, huh?"

"Oh, oh, yes." He nodded and cleared his throat. "Um, is the prince okay?"

"Kid told me to tell you to stop worrying and start relaxing." Lemres sat down across from him and rested his elbow on the table, his face in his palm. "What I wanna know is when you're gonna visit your family."

He leaned back as if dodging a punch. "E-excuse me?"

"When are you gonna go back to your family? You can give them a courtesy visit instead of rushing back to your kingdom."

As Lemres pulled out a strawberry lollipop and began sucking on it, Otomo uttered a disgruntled, gargled sound. He wasn't sure what noise he made, but it was enough to cause a fervent blush to reach from ear to ear when other patrons glanced his way.

"I-I-I don't know what you're-what you're implying." He jerked his attention back out the window and watched a cat amble up the sidewalk.

"Hm, maybe you don't know." Leaning back, Lemres retrieved a crinkled paper from his pocket. He smoothed the creases and handed it to Otomo. "I was doing some research and came across this. Might wanna take a look at it."

"I'll assure you that...that I..." He trailed off, and the world crashed around him.

For a moment, nothing made sense. Everything curved and split in two as he tried to make sense of reality. Fragments of understanding slipped into his brain, but he rejected them. Shaking his head, he looked to Lemres for confirmation only for the simple smile he received to force the pieces back together.

"Mail's here!" Amitie called, racing back into her home. She tossed her mother's cards and father's bills on the table and dashed up to her room. In her hand was a rather soggy letter, but she was still delighted to have someone write to her.

Sitting down at her desk, she tore open the letter and yanked out a flimsy piece of paper. Tilting her head, she read, "'Dear Amitie, I hope this finds you well. This may come as a surprise, but it seems that our friend Lemres has uncovered something you should know. Enclosed, please find the other document that will piece together the proof needed for his claim. I hope to get to know you better as my prince has given me permission to visit you soon. Your brother, who was left in the noble hands of the Ocean Kingdom, Otomo.' Wait, brother?"

Tossing the letter, she ripped the envelope to shreds. She snatched the faded family tree, which indeed listed her name underneath Otomo with the same parents conceiving them. Leaning back, she vacantly gazed at the ceiling only to emit an unearthly screech, one that filtered around Primp Town and beyond.

"This is so wicked! I have an older brother!" She jerked to her feet as her parents barged into her room, concern written all over their faces. "Mom! Dad! I have a brother!"

Her parents blinked, the proclamation too shocking to reply to as Amitie darted towards them. Her mother and father exchanged a wary glance, the past having finally caught up to them. As her mother bowed her head, her father scratched his neck and sighed.

"We weren't...off in a good way, Amitie. We had to give him up before you were born," he admitted, and her mother closed her eyes.

"But that's okay! We can bring him back!" She cheered, tossing her arms up. "I'll go find him, and bring him home!"

Before they could stop her, Amitie burst past them. She already knew where he would be and made a beeline for the ocean. She knocked past Sig, who merely wobbled back and forth, in the garden and leaped over Gogotte before he could sell her some soup. Coming across the sea, she cupped her hands over her mouth and sucked down a deep breath.

"Otomooooo! Come on out! I wanna meet my brother!"

She waited, her fists clenched by her neck. The waves rippled and tickled the golden shoreline. She listened to Suketoudara snore on his beach towel while Draco suntanned on a particularly large boulder. Lowering her shoulders, she wondered if she could grow gills to meet him underwater.

As she began turning away, she noticed a flash of yellow. Grinning, she took off her shoes and socks and skipped into the sea. She watched him rise, his clothing immaculate and evidently waterproof. Throwing her arms out, she embraced her lanky brother and beamed brighter than the sun.

Otomo hesitated. It felt too sudden to accept her as his sister, but his arms moved anyway. The glare his prince was giving him out of the corner of his eye also prompted him to move. He hugged his shorter sister, an odd, peaceful sensation swelling in his heart.

"I can't wait to get to know you! We have so much to catch up on!" She took his hand and guided him out of the water, her parents hurrying through the sea grass and welcoming him with tight embraces.

"Erm...you know what, Amitie?" Otomo smiled and hugged his parents. "I think...I think I'd like that. Yes, I think I would."