Chapter 8: World Tilt

Saguru yawned and sat up, noticing it was at least still earlier than it had been the previous day. He climbed down and headed to the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast himself for the three of them. It would not be too complex but he thought it would be a nice way to thank Akako.

Kaito woke up, again without Saguru. He had no idea when his brother started getting up before him. They usually all woke at the same time, or he woke up first, having the guys from around waiting for him. Getting out of bed he was kind of happy that there was always new clothes. It meant he didn't have to bathe. "Hi," Kaito spoke when he heard someone in the kitchen, seeing it was Saguru. "You trying to be a mom?"

"No, I just want to be nice. It is not like we can do much that she cannot so cooking is something I can do, until we figure out about that other thing."

"You can cook? Since when? No better than me." Kaito sat in one of the chairs, not really wanting to help with dinner. He had a lot to think about and yesterday was a nice rest. "Think she can help take us where dad is? I'm worried we'll miss him or mom will get worse."

"Maybe without needing to cook, we can leave sooner. All she will need to do is eat." Saguru shifted a little, breaking a few of the eggs into the pan. "And the first morning here, she showed me how to make these, so there." Saguru stuck his tongue out quickly before he started stirring the eggs from his position on the chair.

"You're going to burn them," Kaito warned. Witch lady wasn't here to watch him and he saw the way she messed with fire. Saguru didn't know how to cook on his own.

"I stirred them the entire time. I am not going to make the same mistake of missing a detail." Saguru had no idea what spices to add but he did pour a little milk in. He stirred carefully but continuously, watching for when it stopped being liquid, making sure nothing stayed on the bottom of the pan long. Now that Kaito had teased him, he was going to prove him wrong.

Kaito went where the juice was and broke off a piece of the shelf. Candy cold was really good. He peeked around at Saguru. "I'll get the drinks then while you burn the food."

Saguru refrained from rolling his eyes and focused on the eggs. As soon as they were all yellow clumps, Saguru moved the pan off the fire, tasting a bit and nodding. Not as flavorful as the other one but still good and they could each add their own salt and stuff. "I told you I would not burn it. Give me your plate."

Kaito went and got plates for the both of them, putting them on the counter. "All yours."

Saguru scooped a third out for each of them, passing one to Kaito. He set the rest aside, turned off the stove, and jumped down, grabbing his plate and going to the table.

"Thanks for making food." Kaito poked at his weirdly shapped eggs but, once he took a bite, they didn't taste so bad. He had them and the juice gone in next to no time. "Think we should knock on the door and let Akako know you made food?"

Saguru had a mouth full of food and a half plate left. He swallowed and nodded. "I thought she might be up soon but you can go ahead while I put hers on a

Kaito got up and went to the door that led downstairs where they weren't allowed to go. He knocked on it. "Hey, there's some breakfast up here if you want it. It'll get cold." He thought about opening it but shook his head, going back to the kitchen when he heard the door behind him open on its own.

Akako rubbed her eyes. That spell took a little longer than she thought and then she was up as she was before the boy's had come over, seeking out what she needed in the forest while she was sure they slept. "Thank you." She followed Kaito in the kitchen, smelling the eggs before she saw them. "You did it all on your own, huh?"

Saguru set a plate of eggs and a cup of juice on the table before going to his chair. "You are a good teacher. It does not have the spices but there is milk in it and it tastes alright as it is."

Akako thought it was bland once she tried it but not bad for a first attempt on his own without knowing what she had put in the first batch or how much. "I can teach you to cook if you'd like. It doesn't seem like something you should learn though." A male cooking was somehow wrong, even if he was human.

Saguru shook his head. "I like learning but I think this is something you are a lot better at." He did not want to admit out loud it was harder than she made it look.

"Hey, my leg feels a lot better." It wasn't all the way better and it still hurt to walk on, but it was much better than it used to be. "Do you think we can go find our dad today?"

"I don't see why not. I'm sure you three have a lot of catching up on. Sitting might still hurt the both of you. I'm sure you haven't noticed it much but it's much more noticeable with a broom. The fawns are too young to go far and anything larger you may fall off of." She smiled and finished eating. "I have a solution though. Saguru, finish eating as well and Kaito you can go wait in the main room, okay?"

Kaito nodded. That sounded fine. It looked like she had an idea too.

Saguru finished the eggs and finished the plate too, leaving no trace. His eyes widened at what she did; it was one trait he thought fit in with genies, not witches, but it would be easy on them, better than a broom at least. "This looks as neat as the seat cushion. Are you going to send it in to the living room to get Kaito like you did before?"

Akako raised an eyebrow, looking from the candy carpet to Saguru. "I was expecting you and I to get on it first."

Saguru had intended to ask to ride in anyway and hearing that that was the plan, he got on. He was a little surprised, finding it similar to standing on the water as it was solid enough to hold him but moved just slightly under him, giving that little bit. He held a hand out to Akako to help her on too.

Akako took Saguru's hand, smiling and letting go more slowly than she should have. She indicated her head, afraid to control the carpet any other way than mentally when were two boys on it too, having it glide into the other room.

Kaito was off the couch and running towards the flying magic carpet. That was so beyond awesome. He hoped on quickly, a grin on his face. "Wow! This is so cool!"

"Thank you... I think." Akako reached over and plucked one of Saguru's hairs, holding it in her fingertips. "Since we don't know where you're father is I'm going to use a spell that searches him out through you. The spell isn't that great, isn't nearly accurate - as its weak and searches him through where he has been and where he might be - but it will get us to the town at least." She glided the carpet out the door, letting the house widen it as they came up on it, and took it to the sky. "If this spell worked right, we'll look like a cloud to anyone watching."

Kaito shaded his eyes, looking over the tree line. He didn't dare stand up but he scooted towards the end. They were going higher and higher, likely to stay away from anyone seeing them too well, and it was giving him a great view.

"Who knows how long this will take. Get comfortable."

Saguru laid on his stomach so he could look out and down at everything without risking falling off by leaning too far over. It was amazing and he could not resist pointing out either cloud formations or the rare animal he glimpsed through the trees.

Akako probably should have expected that an hour flight would have left her with two very talkative kids. She didn't mind that much, picking up more information here and there on them, and circled the carpet when it lead her to a town back the way they came a bit, finding a piece of deserted road to land on. "Okay." Akako looked over her clothes before changing them up slightly and hoping off. "He's somewhere around here."

Saguru was excited about seeing him again, even if he had no idea how to explain how they got there. He decided to ask the first person he could where their father was, figuring it would be easy enough to describe him to someone.

Kaito had seen the town when they were up in the air. It was bigger than home and there were more people out, but he hadn't seen dad. He smiled to Saguru, running off and not caring about his leg. "Come on."

Saguru followed, looking around and trying to figure out who he could ask. "Slow down a bit, we should ask if someone knows him."

Kaito rolled his eyes. "It's the middle of the day and dad came here to work. We'll see him and I'll ask anyone who looks like they might." He wanted to find him faster, and to him, faster meant not stopping until he saw him - not sitting around and asking others.

Saguru huffed, thinking if he was inside for some reason, they would not see him from outside unless they looked in each window on the way by.

Akako simply vanished. She knew neither of the boys were paying her much attention. Hold up Saguru's hair once more, she narrowed in on their father, a spelled necklace dangling from her other hand. It was cruel thing to do to the children, but it would make them hers.

Saguru moved to the side and ran up to the first man that looked like a true local. "Sir, we are looking for our father. He arrived around a week ago."

"Oh, hello boy." The clerk bent over the counter and looked at him. "Can't say I know anyone who looks quite like you and we've been getting a few people coming here, looking for jobs. Of course we've been fine giving them out. Most of the newcomers are all working down at the mill down the ways. You can't miss it. Its a large building full of windows, down the way and a distance from the houses so that the noise isn't distracting. Don't go inside though, it's dangerous. Ask the foreman on duty if you're father's there. That would be my best guess."

"Thank you so much, sir." Saguru ran to Kaito and tugged his arm. "See? That is better than going to every place between here and there."

"That also would have been where we ended up if you hadn't stopped us." Sure they likely wouldn't have gone instead but his way technically would have gotten them there faster.

Saguru rolled his eyes but he could not stop grinning as they made their way to the other end of the town. A few people spotted them and he heard 'hellos' a couple of times. Being polite, he returned the greetings, still smiling. He almost thought he overheard someone say 'going to see their father, I bet,' but he brushed it off as someone else.

Konosuke liked the less labor-intensive job he found himself in his old age. The people who worked in the mill were friendly and more than able to do what was needed. They were never short on labor or, recently, a new face. He hadn't expected two young boys when he was called forward, though their age and almost opposing features made him smile and figured they were the kids that new guy wouldn't stop going on about. "Hi there. What are you both doing here?"

"Hello sir. We came to see if our father, Toichi, was working here and if we could talk to him, please?"

"Sure thing. He's on the floor right now though. Do you mind waiting outside? I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." Konosuke patted the boy on the head.

"Yes, thank you sir." Saguru smiled and looked at Kaito, feeling a little antsy now. As soon as the man left he lowered him voice. "Do you want to tell him about mother or do you want me to?" He did not want to seem like he was exaggerating but at the same time, it would be hard to explain how they came all the way here alone, and why.

Kaito bounced on his heels a little, grinning. "Who cares? I just want to see him right now."

Saguru turned back to the door, his stomach flipping a little. It had been almost a week and seeing father again was something he wanted even more since he had followed mother and Kaito into the woods.

Toichi had no idea what 'visitors' he would have that didn't know he was working and could talk to him later. He stepped outside to see two young boys standing there. "Yes? Where you the ones that wanted to see me?"

"Dad." Kaito hugged his dad, not caring he smelled kind of funny and was dirty. It wasn't like the clothes were really his anyway, or couldn't be cleaned. "Sorry we came to see you but a lot happened. It's all confusing but don't worry, nothing really bad happened."

Saguru took a deep breath, wanting to say something too but seeing Kaito move made him want to hug him as well. He grabbed a hold of his father as well, burying his face in his shirt and holding tight.

Toichi looked down at them blankly and tried to dislodge them. "Dad? Is this a joke?"

Kaito felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up, frowning. "No, why would it be. Dad? Is something wrong?"

"The two of you acting like I'm your dad, for one. Whoever put you up to it, you can tell them it's not funny."

Saguru had been moved back as well and could only look up, feeling his heart break. 'No... no, this is wrong. You are our father. You promised you would send for us after a week when you left. Mother is... she is not acting like herself. Please, father-"

"Stop." Toichi holds a hand up, now glaring at them. "I do not want to hear it. You can take your jokes and use them on someone else. Now, if you want to bother someone, it can be my boss." He almost threatened them with the sheriff but he didn't want to bother Ginzo with a childish prank.

Kaito thought made dad was playing some trick on him. Maybe both his parents went crazy when they parted though. There were tears falling down his cheek and onto his clothes. "Dad, it's not a joke. Don't you remember our house? Mom? We lost the cow and you said you'd come here and try to get more money for us? Don't you even remember coming here for that?"

Toichi blinked at what looked like honest tears from both boys. He shook his head. No matter that it looked like, they were serious, and nothing in his memory said he had kids. "Look, whoever told you this was wrong. Maybe your mom was mistaken." He pulled away, going to see if Jii could handle sending the boys away.

"Please don't go." Kaito wanted to cling to dad and yell at him and call him an idiot and a bunch of things. Some part of him even wanted to hit him until he remembered them again. Another part of him suddenly just felt very alone, even with Saguru by his side. He wasn't his mom or his dad and there was only so much... protection he could feel from his brother. He needed his dad. "Please. You told me to take care of them. I've tried. I can't do it anymore dad."

Toichi looked over his shoulder after calling in for his boss. "Sorry boys, I can't take care of you, I have to get back to work. Maybe Mr. Konosuke can help sort out what's wrong."

Kaito fell to his knees, putting his hands on the ground to hold him up. What had happened? Dad had to have gotten hurt or maybe something attacked him on the way here and it messed with his memory. Whatever it was, Kaito felt like all the hope he had riding on the fact that dad could fix everything was gone. They were alone. His tears wouldn't stop and he heard himself choke on a few breaths but tried to not get hysterical. He was angry but mostly he was just very upset and lost.

Saguru watched their father, the man he and his brother admired the most, turn from them and speak into the building, no doubt to bring back the man. Kaito disappearing from the corner of his eye made him jerk and started his mind going faster. Saguru knew about memory loss in some people but they were hurt in some way and their father looked fine but he did not want to believe that he had really abandoned them either because that would hurt even more. He felt too stiff to wipe his eyes or even kneel beside Kaito. This was all a nightmare, it had to be.

Toichi forced himself not to look at the boys. They were either very good actors, very confused or had been lied to about their dad's identity. He was relieved when his boss returned. "Mr. Konosuke, sorry to bother you like this but could you deal with these boys. I don't really want to involve the sheriff with it but they think I'm their father."

"You aren't?" Konosuke has assumed that these were the two boys that Toichi had been speaking of so enthusiastically. They had fit his description of them remarkably well. "Well, that's a shame. I thought seeing them would have cheered you up. You've been wanting them to see this town since the day you came here."

Toichi gave him an odd look and shook his head. "I never had kids," he said as he passed him and headed back to his work.

Konosuke was surprised that the man so adamant about helping his family was suddenly saying he had none. No work related injuries were reported. It was very out of character for the man he only knew for the past few days, but thought he knew fairly well. He went outside to find the two children crying, making it very unlikely that he had misunderstood something. He bent down near them. "I'm sorry boys, I don't know what to tell you. You're Kaito and Saguru, right?"

Kaito didn't feel much like talking anymore but he nodded his head, swallowing when he did try to speak.

Saguru looked at the man, trying to say this without breaking up too much. "Please, was he hurt or something? Mother is not herself anymore and," Saguru choked on a sob, "I don't think we can go back to her without him."

Konosuke's eyes grew worried. This change had been so sudden. "I don't know of him getting hurt. Are you here with your mother now?"

Saguru bit his lip and looked down, shaking his head.

"Okay, well then." Konosuke let out a breath. He couldn't very well let two young children wander around while their father may be injured and was very much unable to care for them. "Why don't the both of you stay with me for a while? I don't have an extra room but I'm sure I can find space somewhere. Your father is staying with me too. Maybe some time with him will help."

Saguru looked up hopefully. "Thank you sir, we will stay out of your way and help any way we can, I promise. Maybe I can find a book on amnesia, I think that is what it is. Maybe we can fix father."

Two more people was a lot to put up but Konosuke felt he should. He nodded and realized he had the new problem of having children around while both he and Toichi needed to work. "How about we make today a learning experience and you can watch everyone work? You can't go down on the floor though, no matter what, and you need to stay near me."

Saguru nodded. "We helped the baker last week and he had the same rules at first." Saguru managed a small smile and reached down to touch Kaito's arm and help him up. "Kaito, come on."

Kaito wasn't getting up. He didn't want to watch the people in there working. He didn't want to see dad. "Go on," he spoke quietly. "I'm not going anywhere. There's not even anywhere to go."

Saguru knelt and gripped his arm. "We can fix this, together. Do not give up yet. You were the one that was sure mother could be changed, I am just as sure we can change father back too. Trust me. Maybe we can figure out what happened."

"Let me go!" Kaito tore himself away from Saguru. He glared at his brother, finding a place to put his anger. "Just leave me alone!"

Saguru stood quickly, tears prickling again. Now his brother wanted to be alone too, because father forgot them. "I will fix this. It was my fault in the first place, no matter what you said, I will get our family back together."

"Fine, go try!" Kaito was sick of trying. He got to his feet and took off, wanting to get away from the pain. This seemed the best way to do it.

Saguru held a hand out toward Kaito but when he ran off in the past, Kaito usually would run further if he was chased. The mill was easy enough to spot but what about that night, when they all went to their houses? How would Kaito find them. It tore Saguru's heart in two. "Sir, where is your house from here?"

"I live in town with the others, at least a ten minute walk from here. I'm not sure you'd be able to find it on your own." Konosuke didn't know how to help the children nor did he have the ability to chase the one that ran off.

Saguru sighed. That made it harder. Maybe, when they left, he could leave a trail. He could not bear the thought of losing Kaito again. He also did not want to be all alone here either, but Kaito would come back. He used to... Saguru shook his head. He would. He had to. They needed each other but, while Kaito was upset, just like he was, father did not remember them. He needed to remember and Saguru could remind him.

"Come on, boy. I'm sure he won't have gotten far. Let's go inside. Which one are you?" Konosuke put a hand on his shoulder. He knew their names but couldn't remember which was which.

"Huh, oh, Saguru, sir." He looked over his shoulder once more, promising to leave a trail Kaito would be able to follow if they left before he returned. He looked back up at the man and started into the building. "I am sorry about that. It has been a really hard week and, I guess we both thought father would just, make everything better like he used to."

"Don't judge your father too harshly. I'm not sure what happened but the entire time he's been here he's only been thinking about the two of you. Not a meeting goes by that he doesn't mention you both in some way. I'm not sure what happened but I'm sure it won't last too long." Konosuke hoped so at least. The children would have to go to an orphanage if their father abandoned them and they couldn't return home. He didn't have the resources to care for them as his own and he didn't know how to even if he wanted to. He had never had children of his own.

Saguru sniffed and wiped his face, nodding. "Thank you. I-wow." Saguru had never seen a mill like this but it was fascinating. Even after those flying objects and a house made of sweets, this was something real people had done, not a witch with magic.

"Impressive, isn't it? Steel is the way of the future. We use it around here all the time. It holds up better than wood and the railroads are always in high demand of our product." Konosuke was rather proud of what they were able to accomplish. This town had more than just its crops and livestock to rely on for income. Since he was a boy he had dreamed of bending metal the way the blacksmiths would forge steel blades and armor. It was a craft and one he was grateful to be a part of.

"I have read a bit about it but I never thought things were that big. The illustrations never captured this." Unless it was that the people were just that small compared to it. They didn't have a train near them and seeing the size of the metal, it was as long as a tree truck but shining like silverware.

"Everything is bigger in person but it's also dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If you see, everyone is careful. I've never had a single person injured aside from their own carelessness. The machines help with a lot of the work though molding isn't perfect. It's the workers that help with that. Maybe one day you'd be interested in being an iron worker too?"

"Maybe. I love learning everything I can so I think it may be hard to pick just one thing to do. I know I was not that good with a cow, Kaito was better with her."

"Oh yes, I remember hearing about that. Your father was saying how badly he felt for you boys because you had lost your cow. I'm not much of an agricultural person so I couldn't relate well. You might find you're better in this business as well. You can always go into weapons too. Finding work as an ironworker is fairly simple, and it has a large range of jobs. A few people here used to create pistols and other types of guns."

"Hm, I guess sheriffs and hunters do always need new weapons. They are getting improved too, right. I think last summer, someone said a really fast and accurate gun was being made."

"Everyone's trying to make them more accurate. Traps, to me, are just as effective when hunting game. Guns are just used on people." Konosuke sighed. "People in a cosmic battle to figure out how better to kill something, including other people. I can understand the logic of it though. I was never much into guns myself. It sounds like you know more about it than me." He put a hand on the boy's head. "How about you try your hand at that then? Not all guns are bad and you seem like someone whose time would be better spent improving the world than working with us mediocres here."

"Father said there is no mediocre. You either do good, bad or nothing." Saguru tilted his head up. "You are working hard and you are not bad so you are good and good is never mediocre."

"That sounds like something he'd say." Konosuke smiled, reminiscing a bit. "I'm getting old though. All I can do is teach the new generation and they're getting better and better at it than even I was. I suppose that's the good I'm putting out into the world." He looked down at the boy. "I'm sure if you keep thinking that way, it will get through to him. I know I don't know you well but I feel as if I do. Living with your father, he loves you. I have no doubt in my mind about that. Look, there." Konosuke pointed into the back of the room, where Toichi and a few others were pieces together ladders and windows for homes that were going to be sold elsewhere. "Your father is trying his best too."

"He always does," Saguru muttered more to himself, watching their father bring two pieces together like it was nothing. From this distance, it did look a bit like magic. Everything they were doing did. "That is neat how you line every metal step up and then push both sides on it. It must be easier than trying to do it one at a time."

"We try to make everything as simple as we can. Sometimes it requires more but in most cases this type of forging is fairly easy. It's easy to teach and pass on and I'm sure in time it will get even more simple. I don't look for hires who can simple work, I look for ones who want to work. That's really what makes a quality product. I don't mean to pry but why would you boys come here alone? I had heard that Toichi lived a good distance away."

Saguru opened his mouth, swallowed, than decided if he knew, at least someone would and it was obvious he was close to father too, even after just a week. "Mother kind of, snapped, I think. She acted, different, wrong. She was not herself. We made a friend in the woods and she helped us come here. We kind of lost her when we arrived. I had hoped father would help us repay her too. She was so nice to us, like you are."

"Well, you're all free to stay as long as you need. I'm sure you'll find your friend again soon enough. We're not a small town but we're not a city town. I hope your mother gets well. I'm sure your father would be worried about her too." Konosuke didn't know what else to say to the young boy. He looked upset and he had good reason to be. "I'm not sure what else more I can do to help you."

"You are helping already, letting me see my father and being his friend. Before we go, I want to know if there is a way I can gather some pebbles, so I can leave a trail for Kaito, in case we miss him."

"I have a better idea. I can draw up a map for him and place it on the door. I'm sure he'll see it. A trail of any kind would likely get wiped away with all the road traffic."

"You can use up paper for that?"

"Of course. I have a few sheets whenever I need to give notice when I step out." Konosuke looked back at the boy and away from the workers. "It's ink that's a bit expensive, but not hard to come by. There's no paper at your house?"

"Not usually, we would just remember everything we need to go to town or tell someone if we were going somewhere."

"It's not as easy to do that when there are a lot of workers here. I use it to keep track of when everyone comes in and out, as well an information I may need. I can typically recall where everyone lives but there are some things I need to write down. My old age is catching up with me." Konosuke chuckled. "But I like to think being young at heart makes up for it."

Saguru tilted his head. "I guess... unless my forgetting to tie the cow off just shows we all make mistakes. At least I don't forget things I read, just things I guess I do not notice." Saguru made fists. "I promise to look at every little detail from now on before I take any action."

"That seems a little harsh. Paying a lot of attention to every little thing will wear you out. We are meant to make mistakes, all our life, constantly learning from them. Your father was more saddened that he had to leave home than the cow being missing. I barely heard about the animal compared to hearing about you two."

"Maybe, but I still want to. If I do that, I can make less mistakes and my big brother and my father will never have to leave me again."

"I think your brother was just upset, and you are too. You were crying pretty badly out there, and I know how people are, not liking others seeing them cry. If I had known that something was wrong with your father, I would have said something or stayed with you three. He seemed just fine this morning when he came in."

Saguru blinked and looked up, then looked closer at the people working with his dad as they lifted a completed ladder upright. "Maybe one of them knows if something happened. Like, lifting a ladder hit his head. He may not have complained but it might have messed him up a little." If there was a bookshop around here, he could read more on it.

"I have people report injuries to me so that seems unlikely, and your father never works alone. While I'd like to call him off the floor..." This wasn't all about money and the man had something wrong with him. Konosuke knew he wasn't responsible if the man had gotten himself hurt but it seemed they would need to talk. "Go, wait outside. I'll be right there with him. If he's hurt he shouldn't be working."

"Alright, and maybe Kaito came back." Saguru smiled. "I told you were good." He turned and headed out the door, looking for Kaito and hoping maybe he was somewhere nearby.

Konosuke went down to the floor, careful of the heated metal and sparks. He made his way over to Toichi and tapped the man on the shoulder. "I've been a friend to you since you came here, offered you my home and a job. I need you to come with me now. We need to talk to one another."

Toichi was confused but nodded. "Sure thing. Mind that third wrung, it feels a little loose." He passed the ladder to one of his co-workers and made sure he had it steady before turning to follow his boss outside. "I am a little surprised you want to talk now rather than tonight."

"It seems important. Do you remember anything of our conversation this morning?" Toichi had, once more, spoken about his kids eating breakfast with him and how they were trying to grow up too fast. He wondered if the man even had recollection of it.

"This morning? We didn't talk about much besides... I think I mentioned an idea for a different window design but other than that, just normal things, why?"

"What normal things? Try and remember. We only spoke about the window as we were walking out the door and to the factory. You do remember eating breakfast with me, don't you?"

"Comments on the food itself, how there was milk for the coffee, that we were glad the storm blew over last night. What else was there?" Toichi eyed his boss and roommate, wondering what he was trying to get at.

"Toichi, in all seriousness, we were speaking about your family, as we have since you arrived. I know as much about your wife and children as if they were my own. I think you may have gotten injured on the job. I'm not one to make jokes like this and there are two little boys, one now run off, that are as worried about their father as I am. Did you get injured recently and haven't told me?"

"No. If this is about those two kids, I have no idea who they are when I have none. If anyone was injured, I fear it may be you, to think I have kids."

"Toichi, your wife's name is Sharon. You had two kids with her, twins that look nothing alike, named Kaito and Saguru. You left your home with them to come here and make a living so that you could help support them. You've been working on saving money to buy land out here so your family can move out here. You can ask any worker here." Konosuke waved his hand to the others. "You've talked about your family with all of us."

Toichi stopped mid-step and raised an eyebrow before starting to smirk. "Alright, alright. So you came up with this joke. Is this an icebreaker thing or a hazing because I am still new here?"

"If I hazed every new worker I'd have my day so full I'd never be able to do my job. Do I look as if I'm joking to you?" Konosuke was very worried now. Toichi didn't even have any memory of the conversations they had had. "I'm worried about, Toichi. I think you should take the rest of the day off."

"What? But I need to work. There's that large order we need to finish, not to mention I need to save enough for that deposit-" He did remember that patch of land and that he wanted to buy it but, for the life of him, he could not remember why. He could easily just move into one of the boarding houses.

"Toichi, you're not well. You're taking the day off, that's an order from me. I won't have you working while you're confused. You may hurt yourself or someone else on accident. I'm sure neither of us want that." Konosuke put a hand on his new friend's shoulder. "You need to get your house back in order before you're working in mine again. I know you need the money but maybe you need to look for a doctor first."

"I didn't feel hurt until just now and it's just a headache but... maybe, are you sure you are not pulling my leg?"

"I wouldn't make someone think they were crazy as a joke. Come, I'll walk you home. Your children will be staying with me too. You can talk to them, see if it helps any." Konosuke kept his hand where it was to help Toichi, should he need it. He'd ask the doctor to come see him tomorrow if he still wasn't well.

Saguru looked up when the door opened, seeing Mr. Konosuke come out with his father. His eyes lit up for a moment until he noticed his father had a hand to his forehead. "You were hurt. I knew you would not have abandoned us, I knew it." Saguru's eyes welded up with tears, half joy that his father had not ignored them but still have worry and fear that he was hurt bad enough to think he had no kids.

Toichi blinked at the boy that ran over and stared up at him. He felt, oddly, no connection to the child, even if a part of him didn't like seeing the tears. Maybe he didn't like seeing kids cry at all but, if Mr. Konosuke was telling the truth, he himself had talked about this boy and the other that morning. "Hello again."

Saguru reached up, taking a part of his father's sleeve, and smiled, trying not to cry harder. "I will help you remember, father, I promise."

"Come on, both of you." Konosuke nodded his head towards the road. "Toichi, if you are not well tomorrow I'm going to have the doctor come see you. You may have some injury that I cannot see and he will know better how to treat it." He hoped it was nothing serious, as Toichi likely didn't hit his head hard, if at all. "Saguru, you watch over him today. If anything happens go next door and have them contact the doctor, okay? I'm sorry Toichi, but someone needs to look after you and the boy is free." He smiled, turning forward and leading them back to the house. He was sure Toichi could get there on his own normally, though currently he wasn't as certain.