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?

13. Through the Eyes of A Child

Chapter 13: Through the Eyes of A Child

Saguru yawned and woke a couple days later to find Kaito gone. He sat up, careful of his wrist since it hurt to bend it now that the skin was so tense. He headed to the bathroom first and then to the kitchen. "Kaito? Kaito!" He huffed and looked up at the hole in the roof. "If you want breakfast, get down here!" He waited and got no response. Deciding Kaito was napping, he grabbed some fruit instead and ate that with some milk. Another hour and he started to panic, yelling up more and finally risking it. His wrist killed and he knew some of the blisters burst because of the moisture but the empty roof hurt most of all.

"Kaito... KAITO!" He ran around the edge of the roof to see if Kaito somehow, accidentally, fell off or got stuck but he was nowhere to be found. He dropped to his knees, numb and shocked. Kaito would not leave him. He had been an idiot a couple days ago but Kaito... he promised he would get both of them out. Saguru shook his head. He could not do this alone. He was scared and now, without Kaito, the house was even worse. It only took a few more hours and Saguru had packed several books, blankets, pillows and as much of the food that did not need to be cold and got them to the roof. Kaito had done the lantern yesterday but Saguru sent out another, saying Kaito was gone and he was staying on the roof, he even admitted he was scared. He added a drawing of what he could see and a promise to send another that night before letting it go.

Kaito wasn't all that surprised to have woken on the floor. It was dark though and he was sure he had slept well enough that he didn't feel tired when he blinked his eyes open. It shouldn't be that dark. Looking around... he was downstairs. How had that happened? He quickly found that this situation wasn't as simple as it seemed. It was impossible to get back up, as the door for some reason had some sort of protection on it this time. He tired chipping away at the wall instead to no avail, finally hitting on it, trying to get a response from the other side. He didn't get one. In the dark, alone, and with nothing to eat but what he could pick off from everything else, he found himself huddled in a corner, trying to figure out a way to get himself out.

Shuichi was on his last few days of the week he promised to stay. He barely caught enough to keep them healthy and he was missing his own town. He ventured out each day in search of the children for a bit but came back with little. It was clear that there were a few others venturing into the woods as well, as he could find signs of activity, but nothing from the children aside from a few more of those strange, edible lanterns which he turned over to Toichi whenever he came across them. Finding little to do, he knew he wouldn't be staying much longer and he was afraid of what the man would do when his back was turned, or what he'd do if he became desperate enough.

Toichi had been slightly uplifted with the notes until Shuichi brought back the first one from Kaito and then one from Saguru that said he had been left all alone. The drawing of the tree line was interesting and he hoped that it would give them something more to go on.

Shuichi felt like he was getting closer because he kept finding these little paper things that couldn't survive long if he'd left them. It wasn't truly getting him closer and the next day he didn't go out looking. "This is impossible. If they're somehow being kept from me, since I see no other way I can't have found them by now unless this is some hoax you're playing on me, we aren't going to win. And if I were to believe in all this craziness, I'd suggest something like fighting magic with magic, though I'd have no idea how to go about that myself. We're getting nowhere so writing Yusaku probably wouldn't be the worst idea. I'll leave that up to you though."

Toichi rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. "Makes me wish I knew another witch or wizard. Rumors only help so much and as much as I want it, I have no magic." He clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to have a way to find his boys. "Too bad I can't fly like those lanterns."

"Nothing with the aiming you would want could fly that low." Shuichi had thought about that, unsure if he'd be as lost above the trees as he would below them. Again, considering he'd heard nothing of the house before, it was likely hidden well. "If we did try to make one though, going light and small wouldn't be a bad idea. We'd need someone like a kid though, and I don't think I'd trust only to be able to fly it. I'm no engineer." That old man who worked at the factory was though. That was a bunch more time going back and not having food enough to feed anyone willing to help. "Much as I hate to tell you this, I think any number of people back home would be able to help you better."

Toichi nodded, deciding to leave the house and everything for Sharon to use or sell if need be until he sent for her. Being back at the other town would allow him to work more while working on a way to find his boys. "We can leave by noon and thank you for all your help so far."

Shuichi nodded, looking back towards the forest. "I haven't been able to do much. At least you know they're out there."

…

Shuichi didn't have much to pack and he grabbed what few of his things he brought before finding Toichi in the house. While he knew the man wouldn't want to leave, as the boy's father and with them so close, this wasn't his job to do either. That didn't mean he could just walk away from it though. "I'll come back with you. I hate something being just out of my reach."

"I would appreciate the help." Toichi slung a pack on his back and took a deep breath. He thought it had been hard backing away last time when they were safe. It was both harder and easier this time. He knew they needed help and where the best help was but going away from them to get that help tore his heart in half. "If you're ready, let's go."

Shuichi nodded. He had a smile on his face. While he didn't know a way around this, they knew what they were up against now and at least that bookworm would have some idea what to do about it.

Toichi had his mind on the problem, knowing he needed to come up with an idea to implement. The flying idea was something he kept coming back to, but the 'how' was harder. It had to be lightweight enough to hold but strong enough to hold his weight. He found himself trying to think of different ways and disregarding them with a slight wave of his hand.

Shuichi traveled back with him, noticing that the man's wife was left behind. He would be back soon and he figured that she could manage on her own. She had before he'd shown up. He was going to rest the night at town though while Toichi gathered whomever he thought necessary.

Toichi headed straight to Yusaku's house once they reached the town, thanking Shuichi once more and letting him know he would find him once they set out again. He knocked on the door, hoping to speak to Yusaku for ideas first before heading home so they could both think during the night.

Shinichi opened the door when he heard someone knocking. He looked at the man outside, tipping his head a bit. He'd seen him maybe once or twice, speaking with his dad. He didn't know what for though. A lot of people spoke with his parents. "Hello."

Toichi blinked, doing a double take as he felt some relief. Saguru had said Kaito had disappeared but to see him here, whole, safe but not seeming to know him. "Kaito."

"Huh?" Shinichi backed up, feeling ill at ease all of a sudden. His parents weren't home, he was old enough to take care of himself, and something told him something was wrong. He went to close the door, stopping halfway with his foot in front of it as much as he could so the man couldn't push it open easily. "My parents aren't home right now. What do you want?"

Toichi was on one knee now and saw the slight differences in the eyes and posture. It was more like a mix of Kaito's appearance and Saguru's stance. He sighed, realizing his mistake. "I'm sorry. You must be Shinichi, Yusaku's son. You look a lot like my son, Kaito. I'm sorry to startle you."

Shinichi slowly opened the door again. "It's okay. Dad's not here right now if you need him, and I haven't seen anyone named Kaito if you're looking for them here either."

Toichi smiled sadly, debating briefly how much to tell the boy but finding himself treating him like Kaito or Saguru and not wanting to hide anything. "Well, I am but he and Saguru were kidnapped last week and I would like your father's help finding where they are."

Shinichi shrugged. "He left with mom yesterday. It sounded like he might be gone a while. Agasa's looking after me until he gets back." Dad and mom went away a lot. It was just what they did. "I'm not sure how you can kidnap anyone though. I mean, there's not a lot of people who could be the kidnapper."

"Unless they're a witch." Toichi huffed under his breath, having become surer it was this Akako behind it, since the boys were at her house and almost completely cut off from them.

"There's no such thing as witches," Shinichi informed him. He didn't think he had to tell a grown up that.

Toichi shook his head. "I said that a week ago too, but I have seen lanterns made of candy and been made to forget my family when I was wearing a necklace. There are things that can't be explained just by science."

"You're just not looking hard enough. If magic is the explanation, fine, then there's logic behind everything - even that I'd bet." Shinichi knew that, given enough time, he was sure science could explain magic, just a different, self-contained logic.

Toichi smiled a little at the blunt, Saguru-like logic. "Maybe you can help me think of a way to fly over the trees too."

Shinichi had to laugh. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I know my sons are in the woods but it's been really hard to locate them from the ground. Saguru sent a drawing of the tree line from the roof of the house." Toichi had been a little hesitant about showing it so soon but he pulled out his pack and carefully removed the picture Saguru had sent.

Shinichi took the picture. He knew he couldn't draw much better. It wasn't good and it wasn't any real way to tell what trees. "Where'd you get it? I thought you said they were kidnapped."

"These are what my boys are sending with lanterns made of candy. It's how I know they're in the woods somewhere."

"Well, that one's easy." Shinichi didn't even think he had to say it. "Use the same idea. They're using lanterns, right? Why not use a kite or something?" He shrugged. It would be above the trees then and it'd be really hard to miss.

"They may have tried but have you ever stretched a piece of candy floss through a tree? If I had a way to get a message back to them without scaring the scarce wildlife, I would." Toichi rocked back on his heel and blinked before he started to laugh. "Out of the mouths of babes." He never thought of such a... a child like object. "I never thought to use a toy. Tell me, do you think Agasa could make a few with messages on it for me?"

"Of course. Even I could do that." Shinichi didn't see what was so difficult about it. He'd even made a kite himself with a picture on it.

"That would be great." Toichi thought for a moment before coming to a decision. "Can you write 'Messages received' on one and suggest a kite in return. If he can send up a full time signal or direct us, that would be great..."

Shinichi was stating it, as it was easy to do it, not that he wanted to. He didn't mind though. His mom and dad even had the supplies for it. "'Make a kite' seems like an easy enough thing to write on the second one. They'd have to be blind not to see it if they're just below the tree line."

Toichi managed a smile and nodded. "That would be wonderful." He had so many things he wanted to say but the simple solutions and the offer to help made it harder to get it out. "Can you let me know when they're done?"

"Sure." Shinichi ran a hand through his hair. It shouldn't take him long. "I guess. Mom has some extra cloth I can use. This is kind of boring though."

"I know but it will hopefully help save them and knowing Kaito, he will make sure you are never bored again."

That made Shinichi smile. "I doubt that. I get bored a lot." Even an adult was here, not as smart as he was and asking him for his help. It was all so boring. "Mom and dad are gone. Let me go with you. You believe in witches, right? I'm interested."

Toichi nodded and stood, motioning with his hand. "If you still don't, maybe you can tell me how the boys disappeared from the room without moving the blankets as well as locking the door from the inside. Although, you should let Agasa know you're leaving."

Shinichi nodded. It seemed like fun. He had nothing to do with his spare time and school was boring. Mom and dad took him out enough he was sure no one would care. "Where should I meet you?"

"I'm heading to the mill first so I'll wait for you there."

Shinichi nodded. He wasn't interested in making the kites but the faster he made them the faster he could get to getting out of here. "Sure. See ya."

...

Saguru kept picking up a knife, wondering if he should try and cut the band. His mind said it might work better than teeth but his promise to Kaito not to do something stupid again would make him put it down. He sent another lantern, glad everything kept coming back so he didn't run out. He was up to three a day, just for something to do when he wasn't reading, checking the edges or, less often, crying. Saguru drew the surroundings again and again, taking the time to yell as loud as he could for his brother in between.

After the first day stuck in, apparently, the basement and unable to get out, Kaito was bored. He'd tested the weird vials that he could reach, in the end seeing if any could get the door open. None did and they didn't come back like the house. It was dark down here and he couldn't move very fast or risk tripping over something. That didn't stop him from having another look around. Bored and unable to do anything, he slept on the stairs, seeing if Saguru couldn't get the door open on his end. It wasn't like there was anything to do around here and all he had to eat was candy. He was at least thankful there was a bathroom down here.

Toichi was glad the wind was strong today and he could only hope that it was able to get the kite above the tree line and continue for Saguru to get one of his own up so they could see it and get a fix on him at least.

Shuichi was out here to look for the kids. He didn't fly kites. He left that to the little boy - who'd likely be better at it anyway - and Toichi while he smoked and waited.

Shinichi got out the first kite that simply said 'got ur map' It was shorter and easier to see from a distance. He would have said something more specific but he only picked up the details on the way here. He wanted to have a look around so he handed the kite over. "You know how to fly one, right?"

"It's like riding a horse." Toichi took the kite and set it up, sending up a quick prayer that Saguru would see them as he finagled the first one into the breeze and up toward the tree line.

Shinichi took the other kite. It would be hard for a kid in the woods, who could somehow see over the trees, to miss the white flying objects. He wanted to check the place out still but he was interested if they would get any type of response.

Toichi kept the kite above the tree line, watching the trees so he knew when a breeze was coming and could adjust so that the kite wasn't pulled away. "Shinichi, how good are you at climbing trees?"

Shinichi raised an eyebrow. "Pretty good I guess." Getting up was fairly easy. Getting down, well, as long as someone was there to catch him, wasn't that hard. "Why?"

"If he sends something up, you would see it faster up there."

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "We'll see it soon enough if he can make one. It's a kite." Really, this guy was a little crazy.

Toichi smiled. "True, however we have no idea how far in he is and it would be easier to see from higher up than try to catch it at an angle."

"I can't really fly this and climb, and getting it up after I'm in the tree is impossible." Not to mention he'd have to find a tree taller than the other trees with a thick enough branch higher up. He probably could, but he'd have to walk around and find one that fit that description.

"I have two hands so I figure, in an hour or so, you can check."

Shinichi looked up at the kite, shading his eyes a bit. "Sure." He'd look around the forest after. He didn't know anything around this area.

Toichi shifted the kite, glad the boy could check for him. He would tie off the kite and climb it himself if he had needed to. Toichi checked the sun for the time and took a deep breath. One hour, please let Saguru see this and signal them back.

Saguru had been drawing another picture for his next lantern when something to his left changed. It took a while to realize it was neither a cloud nor a bird but a kite, two of them, with writing on them. He laughed for the first time since Kaito had disappeared and wiped his eyes. They were looking. They were still looking. He had stuff for his lantern and if he used his laces and his belt, he could make a strong enough cord to keep it nearby and the lantern would shine in the dark too. It would be perfect. He set to work getting his laces off and tying everything off, double checking it before sending it up and making sure the end was tied to his wrist so he couldn't lose it.

Shinichi handed over his kite when his dad's friend asked him to, running around the perimeter of the forest and looking for the tallest tree. He climbed up one he noticed sticking up a bit above the others, easily finding hand holds. Trees were about the only thing that kept him away from his mom when she was in a mood. He looked over what he could see of the forest once he reached the tallest point, having to climb a bit more on an unsteady limb to see further than a couple dozen feet. He didn't miss the other strand-thing in the sky. "Well, it's not a kite. What an idiot." He'd never be able to keep track of something so short. He had wanted the other kid to 'cast out' towards them so he could follow the kite or, if the house was as impossible to get to as he said, let the kid crash the kite and they'd grab it, almost like a fishing lure. "Worth a shot though." He just had to try and find the location. It looked pretty far into the woods.

Toichi glanced over again to check on the boy only to see him take off away from him and into the woods. "Shinichi? Where are you... " Toichi huffed. With the similarities to his boys, why would he be surprised the kid would take off on his own?

Shinichi couldn't see the weird thing in the sky from down here but he knew around the spot where it had to be coming from. He kept going, turning back only when he was sure he'd gone too far. He circled around, frowning. Something wasn't making sense. He was sure he was off course when he noticed the sun was more left of him than it should be. He tried heading towards it, seeing when the sun would shift at an angle even if he wouldn't move at one - at least not on purpose. "Hm." He sat down in the grass, his hand on his chin. Magic, huh? "Hey!" he shouted. "Are you out there somewhere?!"

Saguru almost cried with relief at the sound of another voice. "Hello! Tell me I am not delusional!"

Shinichi couldn't believe that he was actually hearing someone. "You're not! Keep talking! None of us can seem to get to you!" If he used the other kid's voice he might be able to pinpoint him.

Saguru took a deep breath to compose himself and started talking. "Alright. I have not seen Miss Akako since we got here and my brother went missing from beside me and I have not seen him since." He gave what information he could, describing the bracelet, what Miss Akako if he saw her as well as what Kaito looked like, in case he was out there somewhere, hurt and unable to get back to either of them.

Shinichi half closed his eyes, trying to forget about the sun and where it was, thinking only about the voice and not tripping over any sticks. He was rather surprised when the trees thinned out suddenly and he was in front of a house. He blinked at it a few times, walking up along side it and touching it. It smelled like.. candy. He could hear the other kid still, yammering away about his family. How could he hear him and not see him? It kind of sounded like the voice was coming from above him. "Hey, you can be quiet now. Can you get down here?" This was all so weird... and interesting.

"I need to go down through the house, I can open the door but I can not make it passed the outside of the- " Saguru pressed up against the barrier, leaning on thin air was disconcerting but it was all he could do, finally making out the boy down below. "Ka-Kaito? How... did you forget me like father did? Kaito, it's me, Saguru." He felt his heart tear as he turned and hurried down the makeshift pile. He ran to the door and threw it open, hope and hurt mixed when he thought Kaito had been cursed. "Kaito."

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Your dad did that too. Why in the world do I look so much like your brother?" They certainly didn't act alike, if even half the stories he heard about the other were true. He wasn't about to get tackled by the other kid for his mistake. "I'm Shinichi. I'm not, and never have been, your brother. I don't even live around here. My dad is Yusaku Kudo, not your dad. I'm not sure if you met him or not but your dad knows him."

Saguru nodded, noticing the difference now. "I know Mr. Yusaku. Your mother bakes those really good cookies and even figured out about the cursed necklace on my father." Saguru pressed against the invisible barrier and looked around. "Is my father here? Or yours?"

"He was behind me somewhere." Shinichi looked back into the forest. "Are the kites still up in the air? He stayed back if they are."

"Hmmmm, by the time I heard you they had moved a little and one of them collapsed, the other bounced the entire time... I wonder if he tied it off like I did to the lantern." Saguru tilted his head. "You have no bracelet right, like this?" Saguru showed the one on his hand.

Shinichi checked over the bracelet Saguru was wearing. He looked at his own wrists just to be nothing had appeared since he last looked. "Doesn't look like I do. Here. Maybe I can take it off. Your dad was kind of talking about everything that happened, even if it wasn't all in order. If my mom and dad got his necklace off, maybe I can get your bracelet off."

Saguru nodded eagerly. "Please, do. This is as far as I can go."

Shinichi looked around the door as he took a step in. He couldn't believe someone could get locked in here just because of a bracelet, but his dad had made it seem like there was some type of something going on with the necklace. He was guessing hypnotism by whoever gave them the items, making them think they couldn't do or remember this or that. It made sense to him. He stopped before doing more than shifting the bracelet. "You're hurt."

Saguru shifted and looked down. "I wanted to try and get it off so we could escape. It withstood the candle flame better than my wrist. Kaito already yelled at me for it... he disappeared by the next morning. Please, just get it off me."

Shinichi shrugged, shifting it around a bit. There didn't seem to be any catch holding it closed and it was too small to just pull off. "I'm not really sure how to." He looked past Saguru and into the house for some idea, marveling at how nice it looked, and smelled, inside. "It feels stronger than rubber so nothing sharp will really work and you can't really get it hot enough to break it with just a fire." He let go of him, putting a hand to his chin while he thought. Pulling him out was an option if magic wasn't involved, but to save the other kid's mental state he had to find a way to get the bracelet off.

Saguru clenched his fists, leaning fully against the open air of the doorway, eyes searching for his father between the trees before something occurred to him. "Shinichi, were there any signs of someone else out there?"

"I didn't really see any obvious ones, but I wasn't looking. Your dad wanted the kites up first and then I went after you so there wasn't much time." Two heavy things attached to it might work but it would be hard to pull off without a machine. He was sure if there were clippers that Saguru would have tried them. He sighed. "This... witch, was a girl, right? She's got a nail file somewhere. Move a second, I'll go find it."

Saguru moved back a moment. "Wait, only come in a little, make sure you can get back out. As glad as I am to have someone to talk to, I do not want someone else stuck here too."

Shinichi had already only come in a little to be able to touch him. He took a step in though and then a step out. No one had time to either hypnotize him or spell him. "I'm fine." He entered again, looking around the rooms to find either a girl's bedroom or the bathroom.

Saguru breathed out and motioned to him. "Her room and things are down in the basement but it sealed off. She has shelves of potions down there and I tried getting to them after Kaito disappeared, to get this off. It may be the bracelet stopping me so you may be able to get to it."

Shinichi nodded and went to where there was an obvious trap door in the floor. He pulled on it, repositioning his grip, and pulled on it once more before letting out a heavy breath. "Nope, I can't get down there either." He was still going to check the bathroom, and he had a fairly good idea of how to get down the door.

Saguru sighed and walked toward the bathroom he had been using, snapping the handle off and toying with it. He was so sick of the house and doubted he would eat anything overly sweet ever again. "This is the only other one."

Shinichi turned at the noise and blinked at Saguru. "How did you do that?"

Saguru looked down and shrugged. "It's just like breaking a piece of chocolate. The small part of the handle breaks if I push down on the big part hard enough. I do it every time I go to the bathroom." He held it out to Shinichi. "I do not eat it anymore. I cannot stand it. You can try it if you want."

Shinichi took the handle on instinct, nipping a bit on it and finding it really was chocolate. He had thought that the house was some kind of... set up or something. "That's... pretty amazing." Was it magic? Was it something else? Had someone met up with him and he hadn't noticed? He shook his head, looking around. Magic, huh? Magic was going to beat a file, even if he found one. The house, the bracelet, the necklace. Candy and jewelry. It definitely spoke of a woman but... he'd never had to figure out magic before. He couldn't figure it out. No one had... a few people had written books on it but it was all fictional. Shinichi sat down on the floor, feet up and his hands steepled under his chin. "Give me a minute."

Saguru had to fight a laugh, seeing someone that did still look like Kaito acting like that. He had tried figuring things out but, like the cow, maybe he missed something without meaning to.

The bracelet was magic. The house was magic. The house could be broken, the bracelet couldn't, but they were somehow connected to one another. It was like a.. field or something. But it wasn't just the bracelet that couldn't pass, it was Saguru, so... Shinichi stood up fast, grabbing Saguru's unharmed hand and running to the door with a smile on his face. "I have an idea."

Saguru gasped and hurried to keep up, confused for the moment before seeing that he was not going to stop. He felt sick to his stomach, certain that it would hurt but, maybe with Shinichi holding him, it would work. He closed his eyes, waiting for the impact but hoping it never came.

Shinichi skidded to a halt near the door, wanting to roll his eyes when he turned and Saguru made a face like he was about to throw him into a wall. "Think about it. You were leaning on thin air. That means the bracelet isn't the thing that's stuck in the house, it's you, the person wearing it. Well, what if we trick it?" Shinichi stood just outside the door and held his hand back inside. "Put your hand out as far as you can."

Saguru shrugged and reached out, feeling when he was stopped at the doorway itself. "That is as far as I can go."

"That's fine." Shinichi grabbed hold of his hand. He brought his other in the house and slid his fingers under the bracelet some. It was tight enough not to come off but it wasn't like it was against his skin. "This might hurt but I want it to work, okay?" 'Wearing', hopefully, was a loose term when it came to magic.

Saguru nodded, kind of seeing where it was going and it was something he and Kaito were unable to do in their own. "If it was not crazy enough that I would be an idiot, I would have cut it off by now. I would take any pain to get out."

Shinichi winced, trying to get his hand under the bracelet then. It wasn't like he was getting it off but if the house thought the wearer was outside, odds were Saguru would be able to just walk out. He didn't think that a bracelet could tell the difference between two people, and even if it could, he doubted it could tell which one its wearer was supposed to be. He got four fingers under it and left it on his palm, hurting the bone a bit to do so, knowing his thumb would never fit. Hopefully the sliding didn't bother the bandages much. He was pretty sure that pressure didn't matter. "Okay, try and walk out."

Saguru bit his lip and took a step forward, a smile spreading when he took another and another. He was out. He was OUT! He wrapped his free arm around the other boy's shoulder, hugging him quickly and thanking him a few times before pulling away. "I need to look around. There has not been a storm since Kaito left so if he did, there has to be tracks around here."