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?

14. Golden Apple

Attention from LitD: I'm posting this story all at once. I do not have time to look over all of it, and quite a bit of the old stuff needs fixing when I do get around to it, but I didn't want it to sit on my hard drive and rot away so, here's the rest of the story.

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Chapter 14: Golden Apple

Shinichi grabbed him by the shirt before he ran off, pulling his fingers back out of the bracelet and shaking them. "Sure thing. I'm not doing that again though so don't go back in the house."

"I never want to go in there anyway. Thank you." Saguru crouched and started searching the ground for footprints or marks from Kaito getting away, even if he was starting to doubt that he could if he needed another person. He had almost circled the house, checking up to the trees to find any hint of him leaving.

Shinichi had time on his hands. He was kind of surprised that Saguru's father wasn't here yet, but that could wait. He went inside, touching and... tasting some of the house, seeing what was where. It was interesting.

Saguru bit his lip and circled again before calling out several times for Kaito. His second time around, yelling for Kaito, he heard something in the bushes. It was not quiet, that was for sure. "Kaito!? Kaito is that you!?"

Shuichi was definitively hearing the kids but he couldn't seem to be able to find them. Shinichi had even vanished into thin air. "If you're playing some kind of trick, get your butt or butts over here right now!" He wasn't their father, no, but he was sure hanging upside down from an animal trap for a while would be a good enough threat.

"This is no trick. Shinichi went in the house to look around and I am not leaving him and I am starting to think Kaito is here. There are no tracks. Please, just..." Saguru bit his lip and went to the house, pulling off a piece from the outside of the window and heading back to the tree line. "Here!" He threw the piece into the biggest opening he could, hoping it went far enough that they could find it.

Shuichi sighed, having stayed close to Toichi. "Your kid, right?"

Toichi nodded, finally getting over the lump in his throat at losing another boy and finally hearing one of his boys' voice. "Saguru. Saguru, stay where you are for the moment. This forest keeps turning us around!"

"Father!" Saguru wanted to run to him but he would not leave without Shinichi or not knowing where Kaito was. "The lantern is still attached to the roof, maybe you can see it and use it."

Toichi looked over at his companion. "If we can get a fix on them, do you think you could check for tracks surrounding it?"

"Surrounding the kid? Yeah, I can look for tracks anywhere. Doing it here when we keep walking in circles isn't going to help."

"He said the lantern is still there, we can use it as a central point." Toichi looked around. If he was working with something, he could set up boundaries. "Maybe we can mark the trees once we locate the house. Circle it like a fence, little by little." He looked up, debating on going up the tree himself to get a fix on what direction they needed to go.

"Easier said than done, especially from where we are." Shuichi wasn't even going to bother. He stopped and leaned against a nearby tree. "We couldn't get to it before, we can't get to it now. It kind of makes sense that only kids can find it."

Toichi really didn't want to give up but it would make sense. He heaved himself onto a branch anyway, going halfway up and trying to spot them. "Saguru, Kaito never met up with us and we've been searching since you both disappeared!" He paused to decide how to word what he had to say next but Saguru's voice came through the trees again.

"I understand! It is so great to hear your voice again but if Kaito is still here, I will not leave without him! No tracks... I can have Shinichi try the basement door again!"

Shinichi heard Saguru shout to him from the other end of the house, something about getting through the trapped door. He had been going to try that anyway, once he had a look around. He stared back up at the hole that was somehow still in the ceiling. The house was strange but changes that were made that wanted to be made, stayed changed. "I'll figure it out!"

"Thank you and sorry I cannot help. My father and someone else is nearby but they could follow my voice like you did. Let me know if you want a rock or something."

Shinichi smirked to himself. Oh, he was going to use something better than a rock. "I'm fine!"

Saguru nodded and took a step back, turning to check out the surroundings again. It was great to be outside and he took the chance to break off a tree branch, feeling wood instead of sweets. He started digging at the corner of the house, poking the stick in to loosen the dirt before swiping it away.

Shinichi got up to the roof. There was a fireplace so of course there was a chimney. He picked away at the bricks, the structure itself heavy. He just needed to make a hole in the roof over the trap door.

Saguru sighed, wiping his forehead. He did not want to admit it was not working but at the same time, he could not give up. He already felt a huge amount of guilt that, if Kaito was stuck in the basement this entire time, it was his fault for sitting on the roof, in the sun, instead of trying harder to check the basement. "Kaito, I am so sorry I thought you left. I should have trusted that you would not leave without me."

Shinichi heard Saguru, peaking over the edge of the roof. He still didn't want the other kid back in the house. "Are you talking to me?"

Saguru looked up and shook his head. "No, just trying to see if my brother can hear me."

"If he can, tell him to stay away from the door. I'm going to try breaking in, 'breaking' being the key word there."

Saguru smiled at that and replied wryly. "He will approve."

"Hey, sometimes you need to use force." Shinichi kind if wished an adult was here to help him push what intact part of the chimney he was going to be dealing with, but it looked like Saguru was glued to the house in a whole different way now. And of course the other kid couldn't help him with this task either because it would involve going back into the house. "Think you can get me some help, actually?"

"What do you need?" Saguru knew he could not help and he had told him father could not reach them but he could put together something from the things around here, having had practice over the past week.

"I need another pair of hands." Shinichi left the chimney. He'd gotten what he needed loose anyway. He'd need to make the hole now. He went to the edge of the roof and looked down, thinking. "I'm not even sure this is going to work. Hhhhnnn. If it's like your bracelet, only the door doesn't open for anyone, I'm not sure what else to do besides brut force. Pretty sure that and magic can't really go toe-to-toe either."

"I would help but even if I went in, my bracelet may hurt more than help. Maybe I could figure out a way to help from out here." Saguru got up and looked through the door toward where the basement was and then behind him at the trees. If he could get something with speed, like a slingshot, it could help.

"Nah. If I'm doing this alone, get comfortable. I'm not even sure where the hole needs to go so it's going to take half an hour at the shortest." Shinichi went to where he had tried to judge the trap door to be. He never stopped something once he started unless he was sure it wouldn't work. He just hoped that, on the off chance that it did, the other kid wasn't going to get hurt.

Saguru sighed before grabbing a thick branch, hitting the floor just inside the door with it. It was a simple message, if Kaito remembered his attempts to teach him how to recognize the taps. 'Three quick taps, one long, quick tap and a long, another long, quick tap, two long. Quick tap long, quick tap two long, quick tap and a long, another long, quick tap, two long. Two quick taps, a long and a quick, quick tap, long and a quick tap, three long, two long. One long and two quick taps, three long, three long, one quick, one long and one quick ' He repeated the four words, hoping Kaito heard.

Shinichi could hear the knocking as he was digging away at the roof. It took him a second run-through to understand what Saguru was doing, thinking he was just digging away - though loudly - again. "You two know Morse code?" He had to admit, he was surprised. His mom had complained that there was no point learning it because he'd never use it.

"I do, I thought it would prove useful. I went through it with Kaito but he was either hanging from tree branches or trying to scale the rafters in the barn. I have no idea if he truly took it in but," Saguru tilted his head a little. "I am glad I am not the only one."

Shinichi didn't know if he was glad, just surprised, and continued picking away as the harder... cookie? part of the roof. He had a small hole and noticed that he'd have to move towards the center more. The roof being at a slant had thrown him off. "I'm the only other person in town besides my parents who would know it, so I'm not sure if you'll ever need to use it again, and your brother... he sounds kind of crazy."

"He is on the crazy side," Saguru replied with a slight smile, "I have called him that to his face, and stubborn, but he is my big brother and I should have known he would not have left me behind." Saguru felt the guilt take over again and knew he would say sorry for the rest of his life to get forgiveness.

"Get out? This house is full of bracelets and locked doors. I'm surprised I got in." And that thought there made Shinichi pause. He stood up from what he was doing and went back to the edge of the roof. "Hey, if they can't find this house, how come I could?"

Saguru paused and looked up, frowning now. "That... I know she said it was protected but maybe the... protection spell or whatever does not count you as a threat? You are not an adult or a wild animal."

"And adults aren't threats. I mean, most of them aren't anyway, not any more than most people our age are." Shinichi didn't like this. He was getting down. He needed to check something or at least speak to Saguru face to face.

"Well, she is a witch so adults might be considered that way to her. She made herself our age when we went to town."

Shinichi went back through the house and looked around once he was back out, happy that he was able to walk out and everything. He didn't want a bracelet or whatever mind tricks were being played to be turned on him. "This witch, what were you saying she did? People can't just... de-age."

Saguru shrugged. "She was a teenager or something when we met her and then, I guess she did not like Miss Akako too much, she made herself shrink to our height, like another eight year old. I would not have believed it if I did not see it either so I can not blame you."

"How do you know she's really a teenager then?"

"Well, I know I can not appear that tall and... well, she had... " Saguru blushed. "I guess, like our mothers."

Shinichi frowned and narrowed his eyes, trying to get his mind around whatever Saguru was saying and failing to do so. "What?"

Saguru really wished he had another way to say it without sounding like an idiot. "Her top was bigger, alright. Only older girls are that way."

Shinichi had to laugh. "Not that. If she can make herself look from teenage age to an eight year old, how do you know she was really a teenager?"

"From what she could do, if she is not a teenager she may be older, she can cook really well, like Miss Azusa."

Shinichi knew he couldn't cook but he'd never really tried. His mom had tired to get him to do it a few times and he'd slipped away with the help of his dad or a book. He wasn't sure how young girls learned stuff like that. "I don't see why it would keep out adults though... I wish I'd gotten to look around. Your dad was all into finding you and I never had time to do anything other than the kites and then heading over here. I'm going to go find them. If I found you once, I'll find you again."

"Alright, their voices were coming from that way and I could hear them clearly so you should not have trouble." Saguru pointed straight at the opening to the left of him.

Shinichi nodded and darted towards the area he had pointed. He was a bit worried that it had been a fluke that he had found Saguru at all but at least the other boy could leave now as well. That left only one more. This was fun and exciting but he didn't want to be trapped in that house and he had a bad feeling that he might be. That was something he wanted to talk to the other two adults about. They were hard to miss, what with the smell of smoke, and Shinichi walked up to Saguru's father before looking back the way he had come. "Something is keeping you away from the house, isn't it?"

Toichi breathed out in relief when Shinichi returned and nodded. "Whenever we tried to get closer, we circle it. How is Saguru?"

"Hm... upset I guess, but happy kind of? I think he has some abandonment issues but, considering I can't get him to leave of his own free will, I'm not sure. He's a weird guy and I didn't know him before now. We can't seem to find his brother so we're working on that. I'm worried though. It really is a house... made of candy. You can even eat it and it's not stale or anything. That seems like a big trap to grab kids." If he stayed it might get him too. "I want to help but I can't get him to leave and I don't know if I want to get trapped in there too."

"He wouldn't leave his brother but days on his own could do that. I'm glad he's not hurt. Maybe you can lead us yourself."

"I was hoping I could but you can't see the house from here at all so I can't be sure if I lose my bearings or not." Shinichi was hoping for something to look for to lead them back but even the trees seemed to shift now. "Magic kind of sucks."

"If you can follow Saguru's voice, maybe you can guide us."

Maybe he could. That had been how he found him to begin with. "Hey! Keep talking again! Round 2!"

Saguru looked over and straightened. "Alright! I tried to dig a hole into the lower wall but that seems to be resisting as much as the basement door inside! I have heard no replies either to my messages so either he is unable to understand of unable to answer!"

Shinichi was more than a little surprised when he was able to make it back to the house, seeing that Saguru had moved a bit to be able to shout to them. "Huh."

"Father!" Saguru ran over, not caring that he was crying now as his father knelt and wrapped his arms around him. He heard his talking but just let it wash over him, not paying attention to the words.

Toichi held Saguru tightly, apologizing for taking so long and how thankful he was Saguru was alright. His eyes drifted to the house where Kaito was likely still trapped and, even believing the boys, it was a shock to see in person. He looked back down at Saguru and carefully tried to move him away so he could check him over himself.

Shuichi whistled, putting out his cigarette. Wow, it really was a house made of candy. And he hadn't been able to find it. If that wasn't magic he didn't know what was. He went over, checking it out, not daring to trust this newly discovered phenomenon enough to step inside.

Saguru kept his eyes down when his father saw the bandage on his wrist and had to tell him about how he tried to get it off. He waited for it to be unwrapped and checked, wincing a little when he did something before wrapping it again. "Sorry, father. I know it was stupid."

"It's alright, I did some stupid things trying to find you two. Promise you never do it again, deal?" Toichi made sure to make Saguru look him in the eye when he said that and the nod and 'yes' were enough for him. "Now to figure out how to get Kaito."

"I'm not even sure he's still here." Shinichi put a hand to his chin. "The basement was her room, yes? If it was he would have come across her, right? You said some weird things about the way they vanished from the house. I'm not all that surprised there aren't footprints but that doesn't help anything." Shinichi frowned, wishing he'd read more books on magic.

Shuichi knocked on the side of the house. "Honestly I'm surprised we even found one of your kids. This all is pretty insane. I doubt you were involved with this witch before you came to town and the second you leave all of a sudden there's one. It seems strange."

"Well, she found us after mother left Kaito in the woods. I think it was our fault." Saguru looked over and took a deep breath. "I never told Kaito but, after we were back here instead of with father, I thought maybe she made him forget, to get us to go back to her like we did when mother was still strange when we got back to her. The thing I still am not sure of is, if she was, why did she never show up again."

Shuichi walked over to the kid, putting a hand on his head. "Not a bad thought but that's the question, and it leaves a alot of other questions and situations that could have different answers. We found you. We'll find your brother. You should really get back home though. Toichi, go on." He nodded his head. "If Shinichi can go back and forth we don't have to worry about finding this place again and I'm not going anywhere."

"But, what if Kaito thinks I abandoned him? He may already since it has been so long." Saguru wanted to stay but he also wanted to be as far away as possible.

"Then we tell him that you didn't. Go home, go rest, and both of you try and take it easy. I have to get back there or they'll be no dinner anyway so it won't be that long. Shinichi." Shuichi didn't like leaving one of the kids here but he wasn't sure what would happen if he left now. They may not be able to get back so this was the only time he could assuredly have a look around. "We'll head back in a few hours. Are you okay with that?"

Shinichi nodded. As long as there was an adult here he wasn't all that afraid of getting trapped. If this witch went so far as to keep out just older people she'd never trap him here with one. "You really should go home. You look like you're ready to cry again."

Saguru hastily rubbed his eyes and made a face before straightening and holding out his hand to the adult. "Thank you, sir. For helping my father and for staying for my brother."

Shuichi smiled and took his hand. "Half of it is out of personal interest but you're welcome."

Saguru smiled back. "I can understand that too. I guess I will owe you for the other half."

"Fine then. You get to do chores around the house until we get back. Can't eat at a dirty table now, can we?" It would give the kid something to do and it would be helping them all. He reached into his pocket. "Here. Pick up some drinks in town too."

Saguru nodded, accepting the money. "I will, sir." He turned back to his father, feeling better that this man would take care of things before pausing and looking back. "Sorry, you knew my name so I never asked, what is your name?"

"Shuichi Akai. I was getting sick of 'sir' anyway. You can call me Shuu though." The kids usually did.

"Alright Mr. Shuu, I guess I will see you back at the house. Bye Shinichi, and thank you too, for getting me out."

Shinichi nodded, going back into the house. He'd need help with the roof.

Shuichi sighed. "Just Shuu please. There is no 'misses' so it sounds weird to me. Sound's like I'm married to a shoe."

"Yes, Shuu. Bye."

Toichi had been trying so hard not to laugh at the back and forth but quickly hid it to take Saguru's hand and meet Shuu's eye. "Thank you from me as well. See you back there."

Shuichi nodded to him and turned to the house. He'd have to check it out long before he made any attempts to search for the other boy. A house of magic likely had its secrets.

...

Saguru could not believe the number of people that thought he was dead. He did not want to gossip too much but he did not like when he was asked about mother taking them into the woods herself the first time. Heading to the house with father and the drinks, he had asked if mother was better and about any necklaces or anything but father said there were none. He was worried still but as they approached the door, he hoped she was better. "Mother?"

Sharon heard who she thought was her husband return until she caught Saguru's voice as she entered the room to great him. She smiled and bent down, happy to have him back. "Oh, Saguru. I missed you. Where were you?" She had not believed her husband but he had not lied to her before. She simply wanted Saguru's input.

Saguru felt the drinks taken from his hand and, hoping she was better, took a few steps toward her. "You were different and scary, so we left with Akako to find father so you would get better. He had no idea who we were until Mr. Yusaku took that cursed necklace off him. Before we could come back, Kaito and I woke up at Akako's candy house again and we could not get, no matter what we tried. These stopped us," Saguru said as he held out his arm to show her the bracelet.

"Saguru, if I scared you it was because I was trying to teach you." Sharon did love her children. It wasn't anything as powerful as she suspected it should be, but she did care what became of them. If she led them towards a certain outcome, that she didn't mind. She didn't like her power over her family being taken in this way though. Kaito she wasn't sure if she cared as much of, but there was a principal there still. She held her arms out. "Come here."

Saguru was still uncertain how Kaito would be taught by being left in the woods but he did close the gap and hug her. It was nice and a much better reception than last time. He knew he should start on those chores and starting in the morning, he would head to town again to work. Cooking on his own had helped a little and he could use that at least.

"Saguru." Sharon ran a hand though his hair. "Don't run away again."

Saguru breathed out and smiled. "Never again, I promise."

Sharon still thought that there should be some punishment for that but there were bigger fish to fry... mainly this witch girl. While she didn't care much for her wayward son she knew it would cause problems not to have him here. The rest of her family, for one, would never shut up about it. It would have been better if he died before Toichi ever returned. Since he hadn't it was better to have him and be the victor than to have chaos in her own home and lose to someone. Being an actively practicing witch was just asking to be killed in any case. "When's the last time you bathed and had something to eat?"

"Umm, I made some eggs this morning but have not washed since yesterday." Saguru blushed and looked down. The digging had got his clothes pretty messy and he was sweating after it and the return trip home. Even with the dirt he could smell the sweetness of the house and hated it.

"Go bathe. You smell a bit unpleasant." Sharon smiled and let him go, running a hand across his cheek. "And you've been crying."

Saguru cringed a little but nodded, looking up to try and recover a little. "I will clean up the house as soon as I am done. I promise."

"Perhaps you should shower after then. I've been keeping the house clean but I don't mind some help. Getting dirty twice is silly." Sharon stood, looking him over a second time. "Though I don't suggest kneeling on the floor if you wet it. Are you hurt more than just your wrist?"

Saguru touched his bandage and shook his head. "No, this was the only injury." His heart hurt a little, or a lot, thinking of his brother, alone inside, but he was going to do what he could.

Sharon frowned and bent back down to his level. "What's the matter?"

"I used to want it to be quiet but when Kaito disappeared, it drove me crazy. I could not think and I just worry, if I thought about cutting this off when I was able to sit on the roof in the sun, what would he be thinking about doing to escape?"

Sharon brushed his hair back. "Don't worry about it. Your brother will be just fine."

Saguru smiled a little and nodded. "Shinichi did get me out and he does not have this to restrain him, with Shuu," Saguru took in a deep breath and let it out, "I know they will find him. Kaito's too stubborn to be worse off than me"

"He is. Let me see your hand a moment." Sharon extended her hand, waiting for Saguru's

"Father checked it already, the burn is healing and it does not hurt unless I bend it too much." Saguru held out his hand so she could check it herself, he knew he would if it had been Kaito, just to prove it.

Sharon held him still, using her other hand to touch the bracelet. It was a link and she wasn't about to let it be used against Saguru again. He was hers. Tracing a finger over it as if using it like a knife, she cut the bracelet, holding it in her hand while her finger went up and touched Saguru on his forehead. "You're best off forgetting that I removed it. It fell off in the forest as you were walking back here."

Toichi blinked from where he was standing in the doorway. He had taken the drinks from Saguru and put them away and watched the reunion, happy that Saguru seemed to relax more. He could not, however, believe his eyes when his wife touched the bracelet, the one he had tried so hard to remove and resigned to needing cutting tools from mill, and it simply came apart before touching Saguru's forehead, causing his eyes to become unfocused. It was all so quick before he blinked and acted normal again. He wanted to throw up but he forced himself to remain cool. He had left and she had, according to Saguru, turned on the boys, or Kaito at least. Now she removed a cursed bracelet with a touch and he had no idea what she did to him next. He realized he did not want her to know he saw it and shifted before calling out. "Sharon, are there any chores you haven't got to yet?"

Sharon smiled, standing up. "I doubt it's that bad." She turned her attention to her husband. "What about you? Are you hurt? Come here."

Toichi went over and put his arms around her, grabbing his own wrists to keep her close. "No, I learned well enough to take care of myself so I could take care of the boys when we found them." He forced himself to think only of the woman he had married, thinking back to when everything was perfect in their lives.

Sharon rested her hands on his back. She needed eye contact as well as physical. "I'll always be here if you do get hurt. Something's the matter. What is it?"

"I... I feel like I failed you. All three of you."

"And why is that? We're perfectly fine and I'm sure you'll bring Kaito home soon enough."

"They should never have been in this situation in the first place." Toichi tightened his arms a little and made sure to show regret when he looked at her. "Our boys were kidnapped when they were sleeping in the same room as me and before that, I put a lot of stress on you when I left and I feel that caused all of this. Can you forgive for everything?"

Sharon smiled kindly to him. "Of course I do. You've made my life interesting, to say the least, and I'm sure everything will work out. I think you're worried about all this magic going around. It wasn't me." She kept the eye contact. "And you're going to forget all about anything you've seen me do that has anything to do with magic. You also remember that the bracelet fell off of Saguru while you were walking back here." She didn't want her husband to think their son crazy after all. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Toichi blinked and nodded, smiling at her. "Just worried about Kaito now, that's all." He kissed her before taking a step back. "Oh, I never got an answer if there were any chores left?"

"No. I haven't had much to do and keeping the house clean while everyone has been out is easy. Saguru's going to help me make sure that I didn't miss anything. Maybe you should go sit down and rest."

"Let me know if you need any help."

Sharon nodded and went back over to Saguru. "Come on. I'm sure there's not much to do and then you can take your bath."

...

Shinichi hated losing. He hated it. He wasn't sure if it got that trait from his mother or not and he preferred not to think on it. He went around the house, stomping on the ground. Everything was edible or able to be picked at and destroyed. Why wasn't the basement? How was that even possible? Air was getting there so he was pretty sure he could get water down there but that wasn't much and didn't help him get down there. If burning the bracelet didn't work he didn't think starting the house on fire would either. "This sucks!"

Shuichi smiled in the house at the kid. "I bet your dad could figure it out." He didn't want to be berate the kid for trying though. "I don't think much will work. Sound can't pass through. Think about that." Shuichi tapped the side of his head. "I'm pretty sure that means nothing can."

That was a good point. They couldn't hear anything. There was no way if sound wasn't even getting through that air was. That meant... Shinichi scratched his head. "I hate magic. It makes no logical sense."

"That is what magic is, logic-defying and all."

That comment ticked Shinichi off more because he wasn't sure if the man was right or not and had a sinking feeling that he was. There just had to be a way. They had to use something that wasn't just brut force. Obviously the other kid couldn't open it from the other side if he was down there. So... if air could get in between it couldn't be a barrier, it had to be the door itself. That meant the only area that was really accessible was the area between the cracks. Doing anything to anything around it, even if it was meant to open upwards, didn't work. "It's not possible," Shinichi concluded. "It's just not.

I give up." Shinichi let out a breath. Saguru was a rather depressed kid and he hadn't wanted to just let this go but there was nothing more he could do. Even the hole he had made earlier was fixed now and the chimney was back in working order.

"Come on then. Nothing goes better with bad news than some dinner. I'm starving."

...

Saguru made sure everything was sparkling, thrilled that the stupid bracelet was gone. He was curious about what his father was up to but knew better than to read something meant for someone else. knew he would find out later. It had to be a big surprise or something, if they were keeping it from mother. He felt great after bathing and even though he still felt weird without his brother there, it was nice to not see candy everywhere.

Sharon hadn't been able to do much on her own since the children and Toichi had been gone. She'd, of course, made a meager living in town but it wasn't enough to have more than just some simple fruits and bread. The man her husband had brought with was a godsend and she could do nothing until he came back with a meal for her to cook so she simply prepared the plates and made a small salad to go with whatever he brought back.

Toichi had no idea why Saguru had winked at him before going outside. As much as he wanted him to stay in the house Saguru wanted to wait outside for when the others returned. He went over to Sharon and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad you and Saguru have started clearing the air."

Sharon put her hand over his. "I was trying to make sure he made the right decisions. It seems it just leads him away from me. It would help if you were the bad guy once in a while."

"I doubt they'd take me seriously if I tried. Maybe I'm too much of a kid myself."

"Being easy going is fine but they need to learn the right way too. Saguru has changed." Sharon noticed it and she liked it. "He's a lot more courageous and self-sufficient now."

"I noticed. I feel horrible for admitting it, but this may have been a good thing. I hate that it came this way and so fast but with the circumstances... " Toichi turned his hand to take hers. He could only hope that Kaito's reaction was similar and he was stronger too. He knew there were negative effects or worse outcomes but Kaito had to pull through. He knew Saguru would be close to falling a part otherwise from guilt alone.

Sharon tightened her hold on his hand a moment, letting him know she wanted to hold his hand as well. "I've missed you."

Toichi smiled and kissed her temple. "I missed you as well. It won't be long before the house is complete. I will be working to pay it off but Mr. Suzuki is having it built ahead of time."

"That's very kind of him. I'll make sure he get something special once I have food to work with again." They would be paying off a lot for some time to come but they'd have a house and income once more.

"I don't know how many sweets our boys will stand after that house but I'm sure Mr. Suzuki will enjoy them. Did you know Saguru said he doesn't want to eat chocolate ever again?"

Sharon wanted to see this house at some point. "He never liked it much to begin with and, with how hard it is to get any, I never looked a gift horse in the mouth. I'm sure I can make something other than sweets too."

"I know you can." Toichi nodded, even if he thought it was strange coming from a kid. he wondered if Kaito would have the same aversion.

...

Shuichi had a fox and a pair of jackrabbits. It was more than they needed and he was going to pass the rabbits off to a neighbor. The second he was able to see the house he noticed Toichi's son and had to sigh.

Shinichi hadn't really wanted to leave. Saguru looked really depressed but he had no idea what else there was he could do. Staying out in the cold all night wouldn't help and he was hungry.

Saguru had searched for Kaito with his eyes and could not help deflating. He had been so sure they would succeed. He headed toward them, trying to cheer up as he thought of something. "Hey, we can have a good supper tonight and I can help tomorrow. Maybe we can plan something."

"I told you I..." Shinichi looked Saguru over again. "Hey, the bracelet's gone."

"Oh, yeah." Saguru smiled. "It just came off when we were almost home. Maybe it got weaker when it was away from the house." Saguru dug into his pocket, taking out the note that father had given to him while mother had been hugging him. It seemed like it was something that should be kept secret and it had Shuu's name on it. "Here, dad gave me this for you, I think."

Shuichi frowned, taking the note and unfolding it, seeing the quickly scrawled out writing of his name and the few words that very important letter contained. "Saguru, you and Shinichi stay out here. It seems your father wants to speak with me alone." He let the children read the note, a finger up to his lips. "Just stay outside for a few minutes. This shouldn't take log." Shuichi wasn't too sure what he was supposed to do but it looked like Toichi had gotten himself in danger. Looking around the yard, he spotted a bat the children had lightly used to play ball. "How about you clean up the yard while I'm inside? The food won't be ready for a while." It also gave him a good reason to have his improvised weapon on his shoulders, watching the children see if there was anything else around the yard but both were too still and watching the house more than the area in front of them.

Being a quiet as he could, Shuichi went to the door, peeking in and seeing the woman facing away from him and intent enough at the counter. Luck must have been smiling down on him. He had no idea how to fight magic but she looked human enough and she was facing away from him as he swung the bat as hard as he could.

Toichi heard the sound and rushed to the kitchen, seeing Sharon on the floor and Shuu standing there with a bat. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked as he hurried over to check on her.

"Don't touch her just yet. Your son ran up to me and gave me this note. He said you handed it to him." Shuichi grabbed the note out of his pocket and tried to get into Toichi's way. "I figured this was the easiest solution."

"I never gave him a note," Toichi tried to say but he did catch sight of the note, enough to see his own handwriting. It was enough to make him look at the words themselves before shaking his head. It was hastily written but unmistakable and his.

Shuichi threw the bat down, going and borrowing some of the rope they had in the corner before tying up his wife. He noticed he'd made her bleed some but it shouldn't be life threatening. "So what are we going to do about all this?"

Toichi was silent for a little bit before meeting the man's eye. "Make her tell us how to get Kaito back. I know there is no way I would write this unless I was certain and that means she did something in front of me that gave herself away." He looked down, checking himself for anything different; a necklace, a ring, something he could remove to lift what had to be a blank in the recent few hours since he and Saguru arrived here. "Am I wearing anything different since I left you?"

Shuichi patted him down just to be sure and shook his head. "Nope, you're the same as you were earlier."

"Last time I lost memories was that necklace that suppressed them. This time it's like they are just gone. Did Saguru say anything to you? Did he see it too?"

Shuichi nodded. "I showed it to him. He and Shinichi are safe. He didn't mention any knowledge about it."

"That doesn't sound like him, unless he was made to forget too." Toichi cursed quietly, even though the boys weren't nearby to overhear him.

"If she's a witch we aren't going to overpower her. I took her by surprise but that's different." Shuichi went to his bag and pulled out a hunting knife, passing it over. "It's up to you."

Toichi looked at the blade but he knew he couldn't do it yet. "If we do that now, I don't know what'll happen to Kaito." He wished he knew more about a real witch's capabilities so he knew how to hold her. He closed his eyes, trying to recall when and how she managed to hypnotize him. "...hypnotize... "

Shuichi kept hold of the knife, just in case, watching Toichi think. "You're going to need a watch for that and I doubt you know how or that it will work on her."

"I wonder if it's what she used. That note proves I knew she was a witch but it was written quickly, as though I had no time so she had to be quick too but unable to see the note. Maybe witches don't need a watch." Illusions were one thing, this was so far from his comfort zone. "Too bad we can't take her there without the boys."

"Take her where? To the house? If you think I'm taking her on in her own place your out of your mind."

"Hm, if I had Kaito back, I'd burn that house in front of her."

Shuichi shrugged. "Kill her. I'm not sure how much I believe in these myths but we're living one. If the witch dies her magic ends. If you can't do it, I can."

Saguru slammed the door open and ran in, looking around before spotting his father and Shuu in the kitchen with their backs to him. "Father. The bracelet never fell off in the woods. Joji saw it still stuck on me on the way here. You were right but I remembered something. When Kaito and I left here with Miss. Akako as cats I could hear mother too. If mother," Saguru took a deep breath, looking at her sitting in the chair, tied to it really, and exhaled. "If mother's a witch, there are two."

Shuichi was staying armed but the kid storming in and his words got his attention. The first didn't make any sense to him but he could understand his second statement. "And here I thought one was stretching things."

Toichi was sure his hand was shaking when he knelt in front of Saguru and rested it on his shoulder. "Saguru, are you one hundred percent sure on that?" His son nodded and he studied his eyes, nodding when he saw his boy was telling the truth.

"Do... do you think she can break the spell on the house too? She had to be the one to take this off, since nothing else did."

Toichi glanced over at her and tilted his head. "She does hate losing anything." He looked over at Shuu, trying to figure out a plan.

Shuichi shrugged. "It's your family, literally."

Shinichi had come in a little after Saguru, trying to figure out what was going on. Magic was the best way to fight magic but he had no idea if Saguru's mom would help them. She'd been making food but hadn't gone out into the woods with them. It was all very confusing.

Saguru watched his father think for what felt like forever before looking at her. He tried to figure out something to help before remembering something. "Miss Akako told us she lives in the woods because others won't accept her. If mother was hiding it, she must not want anyone to know. I know it is mean but, we could tell her we will let everyone know if she does not help."

Toichi had not thought of that and outing her would be a permanent punishment. "They do seem to suspect her of enough and I doubt she is oblivious to the talk."

Shuichi laughed quietly. "Your friends already thought your wife was a witch and that didn't clue you in to any of this?"

Saguru snickered. "They said Kaito could fly. Granted, he never told me what he did to make them think that, but they latch on to anything they can talk about if things get slow."

"Well, maybe your brother can fly." Shuichi hadn't ignored the connection. "Your mom is a witch."

Saguru frowned. "If he had something, why could he not get us out? He can do tricks and things but most of the time, if I am there, I can figure it out."

Shuichi shrugged. "I'm just saying. If you out her you better be careful."

Saguru took a deep breath and walked over to his mother. He hated being betrayed almost as much as the thought of betraying someone else. It hurt him so much but he would give her the chance to prove herself. "Mother?"

Her head hurt terribly but there was something inside of her that forced Sharon to open her eyes. Her son was talking to her. She slowly became aware that she was tied up and pulled on the confines gently, looking around the room before her eyes rested back on Saguru. "And what is this?"

"You lied and tricked us. If you just told us, helped us get Kaito, did you really think we would care that you were a witch? Instead, you made me forget, and then father, right. It is the only order that makes sense. Why did you want to keep it hidden instead of helping us?"

Sharon had to wonder how all this had gotten out. Maybe she was spied on. In any case, she remained silent and smiled. "Do you think that little of me? I'm your mother."

"I thought far more of you but just stop lying." Saguru tried to fight the tears as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He thought he heard him say he didn't have to do this but Saguru needed to be the one. He knew more from his time with Miss Akako. "I can do this, father." He straightened and exhaled. "You looked at my bandage, I remember father in the doorway, watching, then you said it would be fine and walked to him. He hugged you and held something out to me. A piece of paper he forgot about writing or passing on. Joji said I still had the bracelet on when I was in town but I seem to think it fell off in the woods. NOONE should have known about it if it had. You lied and now, you need to make up for it. Otherwise... otherwise we will tell everyone about both of you."

Sharon smiled. "Did you know there's a vast difference when it comes to inherited magic? What would you have thought of me if I simply found the house with the rest of you? What you're thinking right now. You're assuming I've cast some kind of spell on you. Did you ever think that maybe there's a reason I can't help? You're a smart boy, Saguru, my favorite. You know better than that."

"You could have admitted that or said you had been scared. Even Miss Akako admitted it to us why she lived away from town. We would have kept it a secret if you wanted us too. Help us rescue Kaito and prove you are still our mother."

"You're young. You would have found some reason to brag to your friends. In any case, I'm not the kind of witch you think I am. I'm an enchanter that favors non-physical spells. That bracelet tells me the witch you've been so enamored with works with the physical. If we had to actually fight one another, I would lose."

Saguru managed a small smile at the admission and was grateful for the explanation. "Physical spell fights aside, can you break a spelled wall like you did the bracelet?"

"I might be able to, depending on how strong it is. I haven't had to cast a spell since today in over ten years." Sharon smiled up at Toichi. "Since I realized I could like someone without having to make them like me in return. It seems you no longer trust me now." The ropes and the head wound spoke for themselves. There was true sadness in her words. "I'm sorry to know that."

"If you had told me openly, I would not have cared. I did love you and while Saguru and Kaito are young, I am not. I would have protected you and loved you the same. I am sorry to know you never trusted me." Toichi was beyond hurt, beyond crushed. He would have done anything for her. He had thought there were no secrets between them. "Our son is still in danger and I want to know, can I trust you this time, to help and in return, you trust me to clear your name."

Saguru looked up in surprise, not sure what his father was planning but he felt him hold him closer to his side and faced mother, waiting for her answer.

"What would it matter if I told you? After I met you I was never planning on using it again. In a sense, I wasn't a witch while you knew me, not until now. And I do not need you to clear my name. If you want to tell the world I am something I rejected, I do not mind." Sharon had loved him, truly and deeply in every sense of the word, enough to give up her birthright and have children with him. She knew now that something had grown entangled in that bond. "I'll help as much as I can but that witch, there is no way they would have been taken back without her having an active part in it. There will be a fight, and I will not stand with you." There was something cold in her husband right now that she did not want to be near. She met Saguru's eyes and smiled. "But I'll stand with you and with Kaito. I admit I've wronged him and will say I did it out of fear when I normally wouldn't have. I will not let this witch keep any son of mine."