The Witch's Husband

by LostInTheMystery

Twin brothers, twin problems, are faced with the issues of a food shortage and dark intent that lurks around them. Left alone in the woods, they face death when they come upon, of all things, a witch – in a house made of candy. Is this a blessing to the starving village or is the witch looking for more?

4. A Little of Myself

Chapter 4: A Little of Myself

Kaito's voice was staring to get really dry after a while and he had clear it more and more before he eventually put the book down. "It's a long book. I can't run around but you shouldn't be in here all day." He looked out the window at the light. "And I need something to drink. Want to go outside with me?"

Saguru wiped his eyes and nodded, taking a deep breath. "You always like it outside the best but, I agree, outside would be nice." 'Besides, Kaito sat here and read to me.'

Kaito put the book down and not away. He figured he'd be looking for it later at some point if he did. He was careful when he got down, but it still hurt. "Maybe we can find a walking stick or something that's my size. Lunch should be ready by the time we're back in and we can ask the witch about mom and dad. Or mom or dad. Whatever you want." Kaito wasn't particular which of their parents he went to, and for some reason, he felt more like he'd let mom down than she'd let him down. Moms didn't hurt their kids, so odds were he messed up whatever she was trying to do with him when he'd gotten hurt.

Saguru grinned. That was something he could do. "I bet I can get you the perfect branch and maybe if we strap one to your leg that goes below your foot, you could put weight on it again." Saguru thought hard as he jumped up, stopping at the door mid thought to hold out his hand for Kaito. "I can still help you in the meantime."

Kaito shook his head. "I'm not a baby. I'm good." He wanted to look around, though he'd do it from the ground.

Saguru nodded and headed out ahead of him, pouring drinks for both of them before going outside. He set both on the grass and took off along the edge of the actual woods to find a few branches for Kaito.

Kaito sat down, happy to have clean water. He didn't know he could be so happy to have something that seemed so hard for their family to get. The well was good most of the time, but this tasted cleaner, and there was food everywhere. It was all so great. He wanted to go get their parents and bring them here right now, only holding back because he was afraid if he was greedy with a witch, something bad might happen.

Saguru found a few branches, one that he was able to prune so Kaito could hold it under his arm and keep both hands free. He smiled, heading over to Kaito and crouching beside him, dropping a few and showing him the main one. "What do you think? It was the best I could find and if it is too tall, I could whittle it down a little."

Kaito shook his head. Any stick that wouldn't break would be fine. He took it and used it to stand up. "That's good, thanks." He looked around. "Were you able to tell where we are?"

"No, I tried but there was nothing I recognized. There are a few really tall trees that maybe, once your ankle is better, you could climb." Saguru knew there was no way he could do it. Kaito almost lived above ground.

Kaito looked at his leg. He wished it didn't hurt so much. He glanced upward at the trees. No, he probably couldn't do it. "How long do you think it will take? That time dad was hurt, it was a sprain." Kaito didn't know what was wrong with his but the trap had cut into him, so it was probably just a cut. He never had a big cut before.

Saguru had no idea how long really and kneeled next to him. "Maybe a day or two?" He wished he knew more about how to check the injury and how log it would take to heal.

Kaito nodded, looking from the trees to the house. "I didn't think I'd like staying with a witch but this place is cool, the food is good, and I haven't gotten yelled at." He smiled more at that last part. If mom and dad came by, he might get yelled at again, but less so if he still couldn't break anything.

Saguru felt satisfied that Kaito was not putting much weight on the ankle and stood, holding his drink now. "You rarely avoided that, whether it was minor or major." He smirked, thinking about the time when it started for his table manners and went to his last crazy stunt.

"You feeling better, by the way? I'm kind of used it to." Saguru hadn't said he was still hurt and they were on day two.

Saguru shrugged. It had still stung but Kaito was way worse and Saguru had focused on that or anything else. "It is better, yes."

"Good." Kaito bent down and picked up one of the longer sticks, handing it to Saguru before wielding his own like a sword. "On guard!"

Saguru shifted the branch and eyed Kaito. "I do not know if you are crazy for doing this with your ankle or me for thinking I may have a decent chance this time." He held the branch as best he could and tried to get his stance right from the book he had read over the winter.

Kaito just wanted to play pirates or something with Saguru. He waited until he had the sword up, hitting it a few times. He never aimed for the person holding the stick when he played anyway, only the stick. The game wasn't fun when he got hurt.

Saguru hit the stick back, circling instead of backing away to make it slightly easier for Kaito. He could never do the voices like Kaito but he id keep one eye closed.

Their dad was gone, they were in the middle of nowhere, and Saguru wasn't sad or missing home or anything. He had to think he felt the same as he did, and enjoyed pretending to be a rival pirate, closing one eye like Saguru and looking towards a tree, pretending it was a ship and the grass at the bottom it's treasure.

Saguru batted him away, trying to keep him where he was and defending his supposed territory. "You are not going to win."

Kaito didn't think there was winning or losing in this game. "Ye can't keep me away from your treasure forever!"

"You will yield first." Saguru responded, swinging the sword and trying to knock the branch out of Kaito's hand before Kaito managed to do it to him.

Kaito laughed, not losing any ground to Saguru but not able to bend down to get anything without having to guard himself right away again. If he had full use of his leg he'd get the treasure, but peg legs weren't as cool as he thought. It was getting dark before he blinked and looked around. "Wow, it's getting late."

Saguru paused and looked up, noticing the same and surprised that they had been outside so long. "Wow. When the last time we lost track of time playing?" He smiled a little as he asked that, knowing it had to have been awhile.

Kaito shrugged. They did chores part of the day and then he was usually off playing with the other kids, trying to get Saguru to come along. "I don't know but I'm hungry."

Saguru nodded and headed toward the house. "What do you want? I bet I coul find some food, if Miss. Akako is busy."

Kaito shrugged. "I don't know. We can pick what we eat?" He'd never done that before.

"That is what I understood. Come on." Saguru left the way in and headed to the kitchen, checking the different cupboards again to find something for dinner. "Well? What do you want? I am not too sure about using the stove alone, but there are plenty of things here, we could even make sandwiches or something with this bread."

If Kaito could have anything he wanted... "I want steak and potatoes."

Saguru grimaced and sighed. "I just said I was not sure about using the stove. Maybe we could cut them into small pieces and hold it over the fire ourselves.. " Saguru was not sure why Kaito ignored half of what he said.

Akako had been up for some time. She had come up only to find the boys outside. She waited until they were back inside, listening a little before she walked into the kitchen. "You were both late for lunch. I didn't think you were coming in at all. Are you making your own dinner plans?"

Saguru spun, blushing a little. "We lost track of time and I was not sure if you were busy."

Kaito had a lot of questions to ask her but he figured food first. It seemed rude to just start in and question her. Plus, he was kind of scared to. "Can we have steak and potatoes?" He didn't know how to cook it, doubted Saguru did, and Saguru had said she said anything.

Akako laughed to herself. "Of course you can. That might take a little while though. If I use magic to flash heat the meat like earlier, it won't cook right. Why don't you both go have a seat somewhere and I'll tell you when it's ready?"

Kaito was fine sitting at the kitchen table. He sat, looking from Saguru to the witch before trying to relax. "Sure, can we talk to you while dinner is being made?" He hoped his pleading look towards his brother was having an effect. He always messes up and didn't want to right now.

"Sure, why not?" Akako turned to the stove, the fire lighting at her own will. The meat she'd have to get out of the storage area.

Saguru settled down next to Kaito, taking a deep breath and sighed. "We were thinking about our parents and we know they must be worried about us. Umm, is there any way you can help us contact them?"

Akako's eyes darkened and she looked towards them without letting them see her expression and she wasn't able to make them out. "I was going to ask you about that. Are they going to be out in the forest looking for you?"

Saguru bit his lip. "Father left to find work and would send for us. I am sure he would when he finds out we are missing. Mother... I have no idea to be honest. She-" Saguru paused. It was one thing to speak ill of her actions with Kaito but it felt... wrong to say the same things to a stranger. Even if she was helping them.

Akako smirked at that, turning from the storage area to kneel next to Saguru. "Is she dead?"

Saguru shook his head. "No, I mean, I do not think so. She was walking away from where I found Kaito, but I do not know if she made it or not.." Saguru blinked, realizing he had spoken that without thinking, or, spoken as he thought instead of wording it after he thought it out.

Akako looked between them. "You are brothers, right?" It sounded more as if Saguru and Kaito found each other by accident. "I think you should start at the beginning. Here." She picked him up as she had before and put him in a chair, grabbing a few steaks and letting the fire cook them as she sat next to him. "I'm listening, unless you don't feel like telling me. I can't understand what you want me to do though if I don't know what's going on."

Saguru looked at Kaito, not sure why he wanted to tell her but feeling bad that Kaito still had faith in mother after what she did. He started with how badly the village was suffering after the harsh winter, then the cow incident, leaving out the punishment but telling her that father left for work because of it and how mother suddenly took Kaito outside with her, telling him to stay, and how he followed, hearing the yell and seeing mother pass in the other direction without Kaito. He spoke of finding him and finished with her finding them. "Father will listen, he would see you are helping us. Mother, she may, but she was the only one that knew where father went."

"Hm. I don't know." Akako was truly thinking on this. "Your mother sounds untrustworthy. I can likely find your father, but there will be a lot of people to go through and it could take some time, as I'd have to go on a description from the two of you. There is a town on the other side of the forest, but it's a few days journey, and this whole area has suffered from the winter." She stood with a smile and placed a hand on Saguru's head. "How about the both of you stay here longer, until I can find your father?"

Kaito fidgeted. He still wanted to see mom. it would be nice seeing dad but mom had to be really worried with both of them gone. Going back to town after he was better seemed like a better idea to him, though he didn't want to object.

Saguru looked over at Kaito and could read some of his face. He exhaled and looked up. "Can Kaito and I talk about it first?"

"Sure thing. There's no need to rush to any decisions just yet. I am just alone in these woods, and it's nice to have company." Akako stood. "I'll be in the other room. The food will cook itself. I'd like to talk to you both tonight after dinner as well."

Saguru nodded and looked at Kaito as she walked away. "Kaito? I know what you think but, I don't know what to think anymore. I want to go home but if she can find father first, he can talk to her. On the other hand, I do not want to make him mad if it is not true, I just..." Saguru clenched his hands and shook his head.

"Hey, Saguru." Kaito looked down, putting his hands on the table and making nervous gestures with his fingers. "I do a lot of stuff wrong. Mom always got madder that dad but I know why. I could have broken someone or hurt someone or something like that. If she was punishing me for something I did, and going to come back after scaring me, I don't know if that's wrong. I mean, I wouldn't do it, but I don't always understand mom and dad. Dad's gone now, and mom's all alone with no idea that you were going to be gone too. She could have been looking for us both, not expecting us to have disappeared. She's alone and could be scared and dad told me to look after you both and I... I don't know if I already messed that up but I don't like her being alone. I didn't want to be alone." He met Saguru's eyes. "And you saw to that. We should make sure she's not alone either."

Saguru teared up and swallowed, hating the thought that it had been to scare Kaito for some punishment. "And leaving me all night and maybe most of the day alone until she returned would be alright?" Saguru knew that either way, they had the answer but he still wanted his own answers from her when they returned. He nodded before Kaito could answer and sighed. "Mother first then."

Kaito smiled, happy Saguru agreed with him. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you alone either." He got off his chair and went over to hug his brother. "We're a family, no matter what. We'll be alright."

Saguru nodded, even though he did not fully believe it yet, he had his brother and he returned the hug. "You tell her so you can give your reasons."

"I'm just going to say I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but I mess up a lot, so either way I'll be sorry." Kaito backed off, putting his hand on Saguru's leg. "And mom left me alone. I know what that means. I was hurt and she left me." There were some tears in his eyes. "I don't like that at all, but I don't think I care. Like I said, she's mom."

Saguru shook his head, still not believing Kaito had done anything, but mother was, well, lik Kaito said, their mother. "I guess it will get us home faster, either way. Maybe father will send for us by then."

Dad had made it sound like it would be a while, but he wasn't going to say anything about that. Mom had let him alone in the woods. Who knew what could have happened to him? He didn't like being abandoned like that, but he wasn't going to leave mom alone when he promised dad he'd look after her. He nodded. "Just don't be too mad at her. I promised dad I'd keep us all safe, so that's what I'm going to do."

Saguru nodded but he silently wondered who would keep Kaito safe. He silently promised it would be him as he looked over at the door to see if Miss. Akako was returning yet, before looking back at Kaito. "I know you will."

Saguru understood a little of what he was getting at, and that was good enough for him. He went back over and sat on the chair again, curling his hands around his head and resting until dinner was ready. "I still think this place is awesome though."

Akako came back in, a pot of water and potatoes over the fire in the other room. She had waited until they were done speaking, having listened in even if they thought they were alone. "It won't be much longer. The steaks should be done by now." She went over and got them off the stove, putting them on plates before placing them on the table and getting a large bowl to put in some of the mashed potatoes instead of carrying the big pot in here.

Saguru had smiled at Kaito in agreement and stood when their hostess started putting the food on the table. "What do you want to drink? I can get them."

"There should be a pitcher of juice in there. we can all have some of that if you want." Akako was liking this boy more and more. "There's milk or lemonade in there as well."

Saguru grabbed the lemonade and juice, trying to balance them and looked at Kaito. "Which do you want?"

"Umm, what kind of juice?" Kaito turned around, seeing it was kind of brown. It was probably some kind of apple juice. "I'll take the juice." He had an instinct to get down and help, but he really didn't want to walk anymore today. "Sorry. Thanks."

Saguru shook his head, glad Kaito had stayed put, and poured a glass of lemonade for himself and juice for the other two before putting the pitchers back and taking the cups to the table. The food smelled just as good as breakfast had and he regretted missing lunch.

Akako sat after they all had some steak and potatoes. She didn't think she had to cut it up for them. They looked old enough. It had been a while since she had this meal in particular and started eating.

Kaito had had steak before. He had. What he was eating now tasted nothing like steak though and he didn't even touch the potatoes as he ate. It was so good.

Saguru tried not to either laugh or roll his eyes and apologize for Kaito's actions. The food was delicious but Kaito looked like he was a wolf, or a cub anyway, going for just the meat and ignoring everything else. Saguru went back and forth until some of the mashed potatoes got on a piece of meat. It tasted really good together so he kept doing it. "Thank you, Miss. Akako, this is really tasty."

"You're welcome. Do you mind sitting together after this with me and simply talking with me? There are a few things I don't know and a few things we should probably get out of the way."

Saguru shook his head. "Not at all, Ma'am." He was interested in asking her a few things but had no idea how to do it without possibly offending her and hoped she asked her questions first.

Kaito didn't mind either. He didn't know what he could ask that he hadn't already, but why she was helping them was a good place to start. He didn't care about that currently, as she was, and her reasons could remain her own for the time being.

Akako smiled and nodded her head before returning to what was left of her food and drink.

Saguru finished and sat back, noticing Kaito had devoured his steak without touching his potatoes. He leaned back and wondered if they could just break off some candy as dessert.

Kaito poked at the table, wondering for a while now if it was made of something too. He held onto a little bit of it and broke it away, seeing that it came away as easily as the rest of the house. He licked it before chewing a small bite, seeing that it was something with the texture of a cracker and the sweetness of a cookie. "Wow. How do you get everything to, you know, not be candy when you don't want it to be?"

"That's how magic works. If I don't want it to break, it won't. If I want it to move, it will form into what I want it to form into. I have to use hard candy or sweets for anything like a table or the chairs, and softer things for anything more delicate though. I can't completely bend something against it's will."

That was pretty cool still. He'd never thought of eating the chair before. It was probably something like the table.

"If you're both done, do you mind coming with me now? I can get some sweets and tea and we can talk for a bit."

Saguru nodded and jumped down, peeking over his shoulder to see Kaito still nibbling on the piece of the table. "I think the tea will be fine. Kaito may just eat the cup instead." He smiled slightly at Kaito.

Kaito though about the dishes and looked down. He lightly picked up the plate and put his teeth to it, finding he could eat it. "Wow. Maybe I will."

Akako shook her head as she walked out of the room, watching the kids come with her. She didn't fail to notice that Kaito had a stick and had brought it in the house, using it to help him walk. She'd have to treat his wound again, but she could get to that later. "Both of you sit. I'll be right back."

Saguru jumped up onto the couch and sighed as she left, looking at Kaito. "I admit, I thought about that too but I can not believe you actually did it."

"I wanted to know what it was. Tasted like chocolate." Kaito licked his lips and smiled. "The toilet probably is candy and I dare you again to eat it."

"You first and I still will not promise that I will too." Saguru made a face and shook his head. "It still sounds disgusting."

Right, Kaito had never said he would, but Saguru had gotten out of him wanting to get him to try it. He shrugged and smelled the tea as it was placed in front of him, a cup handed to each. He noticed a candy cane in it and smile, licking it before sticking it back in. There weird doughnut stuff she brought it, covered in different colors of the rainbow that she brought in after. He put his tea down and took one, taking a second before he sat comfortably.

"There, we're all settled now." Akako sat down with her own sweet and tea. She dipped it in the tea. "I asked you about the both of you and I got a story about a mom leaving her children alone in the woods, purposefully or not. I take it your father is away and the four of you live together in a poor town. Is there anything else you'd like to share? I can answer some questions as well. I'm sure, being children, you have some."

"Yes, I had taken that to mean about how we got there but you do have the basic idea. I am not sure what else to add, you can ask if you want but I was wondering... how did you get here?"

"Me? Well I can't live in town now, can I? And no one wants to live with their parents forever. Most stories you hear about are of finding witches in out of the way places, are they not? What better place to stay unseen."

Saguru bit his lip. He really did not want to upset her but this was all so new to him. He could not believe someone would leave their parents. He would have said never to both before but he really did not want to leave his father now. "Did they, I mean... so you left on your own? Was your mom one too?"

"My mother was. I'm not sure if my father was. I'm not even sure if he was human, though in all likelihood he was. You see, witches don't meet other witches too often, and most of us are female, so it's hard to find someone out there who's not going to try and kill us or capture us or use us for their own purposes. And no, unlike your brother there, I was not left out on my own. Witches... tend to go their own way. She raised me and then, when I was old enough, I left. I've learned all I needed to from her. There was no reason to stay." Akako smiled. "Are you afraid your mother abandoned the both of you?"

Saguru felt bad about his answer but he did answer. "She had told me to stay behind so, both of us, no. I am just afraid she was doing it to my brother and want to know if it is true."

Kaito bowed his head a little, looking at Saguru. "I... I don't know. There was probably a reason, or she did." He shrugged. He would feel bad if she had but... if he was feeling anything stronger, he couldn't tell.

Akako nodded. "And this is the woman you wanted me to see before. Did you still want me to show you how to get back?"

Saguru looked at Kaito and nodded, stealing himself. "Kaito says she has a reason," Saguru turned back to the woman. "I want to know either way and father will send word there anyway."

"Okay. I think I want to go with you. After all, I can probably get word to your father faster, and I want to see the town. It's been a while." Akako looked down at her robe and the cape, touching the tip of her hat. "Though I think I'll need to change into something more like you people."

Kaito wasn't sure if mom really had a reason but he did and that was all that mattered to him. He had to blink at look at the witch though. She'd go with them? "I thought you couldn't go in to town."

Akako laughed. "Boy, I can go anywhere I want. You're the only two who will know what I am, and I'm sure you won't tell anyone. Why? Don't want me going with you? Did you plan on not coming back here with me? You can't find my house on your own."

A witch was coming with them to town... Was that a good thing?

Saguru felt insulted. "We would not do that. Even if someone asked, I would just say you were the nice lady that helped us. I do not know if they would believe us either way, about you being a witch, since, well, to them, most are evil and ugly, not nice and pretty."

"I'm flattered. To be fair, we do all come in different shapes and sizes, just like you humans do. I believe you."

"Why are you helping us? Can I ask? Is it just because you saw us in the woods? Even for strangers that's pretty rare and you seem like you don't get along with humans much." She used the word so Kaito used it back. He wasn't sure what else to call himself and Saguru and 'normal people' seemed wrong.

"You were close to my house and I do go out often to get ingredients or other such essentials. I admit, I wasn't sure how well you'd take to me, or I to you, but I like the both of you. I hope you're not still both afraid of me."

myself: Kaito shook his head but he wasn't sure if he could speak. He wasn't completely comfortable with her either, but she was mostly a stranger still.

"Not really. I admit, I think it is just the newness still, any stranger, witch or not."

"Was there something else you wanted to ask me, or just why I wasn't living with my mother?"

"Are we the first non-witches you, you know, interacted with?"

"Interacted with?" Akako thought about that. "Well, I've been too a few towns before, but of course I've never gone as myself. I do trade and buy things from humans occasionally. Aside from a short conversation though, I suppose you are."

Saguru shifted a little. "Maybe you can find others like us in town, show them you are not like the stories. Not everyone can be mean. I know I could never stand being alone all the time. You could make some friends."

"But I have made some friends, or do you not count yourself as such?"

Saguru blushed. "I... I guess. I never thought of having friends that were not our age. It seems... " Saguru had no idea what word to use. He was fine with helping like an adult but being friends with an adult. It was like befriending a teacher or one of the adults that worked in town. It was strange.

"I only have about ten years on you. I'm only seventeen." Akako had to laugh to herself. "You're young, but you're not that young. We close enough in age that we could be siblings, so I dont' think friends is too far a stretch, or will age be a problem?" Akako raised her finger, twirling her hand a few time times, rewinding. In a few seconds she was their age, and her clothes had shrunk to match. "That better?"

Saguru jerked back, his eyes wider than when she had done her trick with fire. That was all things, this was her actually shrinking in age. "How... ten years?"

"Mmm." Akako shrugged. "I was aiming more for relative size than years. It's easier that way." She took off her hat, too short now and it shading her eyes too much. "I hope I'm still pretty, even younger." She made sure to turn a little, letting it shift her hair and show off her eyes.

Saguru blushed and nodded before he realized it. Even based on the other girls at school and in their class, she was prettier. He had never even thought about it before that moment and wondered why.

Kaito was amazed she could turn back time like that. It was awesome. He had to wonder if she could do it for more than herself. Then she would have been able to heal him then. With witches it was all so confusing. "Why don't you just go like that? No one will think you're a witch and we can tell mom you're a friend from around town. She'll never know."

"It will be harder to reach everything but I can easily let the house take care of that." Akako blinked her eyes slowly at Saguru. The other boy was clearly too immature for girls. "Do you mind?"

"Ah-no. I mean, you can." Saguru looked down briefly, trying to figure out why his face was so warm and a snap startled him. H blinked and noticed he had broken a bit of the teacup off. He tried to make it seem intentional and put it in his mouth.

Akako smiled mischievously to herself. It might be easier to get what she wanted than she would have thought. Using one brother to get to the other didn't even seem necessary anymore. "Well, if you don't have any more questions, I'm off to bed. You can leave the dishes where they are by the way. The house is food, remember? It takes care of itself."

"Good night, Mi- Akako." It was strange calling her 'Miss.' when she now looked their age.

Kaito was still looking at her, amazed, even as she left the room. He jumped up a little in his seat. "That is so cool! I wonder what else she can do! She can make things fly and turn back time and make really, really good food. There should be more witches like her!"

"If there are, I doubt they would look like her. She did say they were all different."

"Why would they not look like her?" Kaito was confused but he didn't miss Saguru blushing and grinned, getting it. He raised both his pointer fingers and moved them in a tick-tock motion. "Saguru and Akako sitting in a candy tree. K - I - S - S - I - N - G."

"Kaitooo." Saguru grabbed the seat cushion and threw it at Kaito, blushing deeper. "You are crazy and on a sugar high, or both. Now I'm going to bed too."

"Hey!" Kaito moved the cushion, following after Saguru and having to stop to get the stick. "Am not! Besides, what's wrong with having a witch wife? I bet she can even teach you how to fly. Wouldn't that be so cool!" He coughed to himself. "'Course kissing her would be kind of gross."

Saguru shook his shirt out, realizing it was almost three days now since he had put on a clean shirt and he could at least air it out tonight. "Who says?" He crawled into the bed and stuck his tongue out at Kaito, not wanting to say what he was responding to, maybe everything, but it was still a bit new, any of it. It was not like he had never seen mother and father kiss but it was something adults did.

That was a weak response that didn't make much sense. Kaito got in bed with him though. "Those who deny it so strongly secretly want it more." He snickered, closing his eyes. This little brother was so fun to tease.