The next day Conrad awoke to the smell of breakfast cooking and the sound of soft voices emerging from the kitchen.
Sitting up, he winced as he accidentally pressed down on his cast for support.
Gwendal and Gunter's futons were already folded and put away. Upon further inspection, Conrad realized he must have overslept because it was bright outside.
'What in the world is going on with me?' he thought, rubbing his tired eyes. 'I feel dreadful...'
"Good morning uncle Conrad!" Greta greeted him, padding over to him in bare feet and pajamas. "Did you sleep in your clothes?" she giggled and Conrad rubbed the back of his neck.
"Good morning fawn," he smiled at her.
"Pick me up, uncle Conrad!" she smiled, tugging on the man. "Please?"
"Of course, princess." he chuckled, gathering her in his arms and climbing to his feet.
WOW the pain!
Conrad's eyes snapped open, now fully awake as jolts of pain shot like lightening up his left arm; through his shoulder and down his spine.
He promptly spun around and set Greta right back down upon the couch.
"Huh?" she blinked at him, "Up! Up! Up!" she cheered.
"Oof," Conrad shook his head, "Sorry fawn, I think I just pulled a muscle-"
"Pulled a muscle?" she questioned, unsure of what that meant.
"Good morning Con-chan~!" Jennifer waved at him from the kitchen. "How do you like your eggs?"
"Good morning Jennifer. Anything is fine- I have no preference."
"Greta doesn't like eggs." Greta pouted, leaning into Conrad.
"Con-chan, I laid out a fresh pair of clothes for you in the restroom."
"Thank you. I'll be right back, then." he replied, watching Greta jump off the sofa and dart into the kitchen.
In the restroom Conrad stripped down and turned on the shower- looking forward to soaking his aching muscles. Perhaps he was getting old...? Old and useless... The fall yesterday must have done more damage than he'd originally thought.
He was just about to step in when several loud knocks fell upon the door.
"Hey, Conrad!" Yuuri shouted through the door. "Your cast can't get wet!"
"Yuuri?"
Conrad blinked and stared down at the brace around his arm. He then opened the door with a towel around his waist. He was greeted by the sight of a pajama-clad Yuuri who blushed furiously upon seeing him.
"Uh, my mom told me to bring you this- it's a plastic bag." Yuuri explained. "Wrap your cast in it and seal it with this." he said while placing a rubber band in the man's hand. "Also your pain pills are in the cabinet."
"Good morning, Yuuri." Conrad replied, taking the offered items. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mm, yeah!" he smiled, "I slept on the floor- there was no room in the bed at all." he laughed and Conrad felt his heart twinge with guilt. Yuuri should have slept on the couch, he could have slept on the floor...
"But yeah," Yuuri continued. "Make sure to wrap your cast or it'll fall apart."
"Yes, thank you. I shall."
"Okay, good... er.. w-well, e-enjoy your shower, bye!" Yuuri then awkwardly ran back to his room, leaving Conrad alone as he shut the door once more.
As he cleaned up, Conrad found out just how frustrating being one handed was going to be. His right hand was completely, utterly, useless.
His left arm wasn't much better.
When he'd lost his left arm a year ago, the one Shinou replaced it with rarely moved from its resting spot on the hilt of his sword.
This was because he could barely lift his left arm above his head- let alone use it for anything strenuous.
It was mostly for looks; Shinou had said so himself.
If Conrad had defected to Dai Cimaron to collect the boxes without a 'key'- King Belar wouldn't have found a need to keep him around. Shinou's plan wouldn't have worked. So, Shinou welded his ancestor's 800-year-old arm onto Conrad's stump using Maryoku. The Maryoku kept his body from rejecting the limb completely but magic could only go so far.
In the end, it was still someone else's arm attached to his body.
Conrad was learning the hard way just how useless the limb really was. He'd never had to rely on it before, and now it was failing him spectacularly.
To top it off, it constantly ached in protest no matter how small the task.
"Dear Shinou," Conrad whispered, looking at the mess of hair on his head. "How in the world am I suppose to brush my teeth and hair like this. I can't even maneuver a fork."
He must of been taking a long time because a knock fell upon the door once more.
"Conrad, you alright in there? Breakfast is ready."
Conrad opened the door once more- fully dressed this time- and smiled apologetically at Yuuri.
"Oh!" Yuuri said, taking a step back. "You got dressed, that's good!" he praised his knight.
Conrad didn't want to admit it took a lot out of him to even do that much.
"I apologize, Yuuri. But I'm unable to brush my hair." he said carefully.
"I can see that." Yuuri laughed. "Would you like me to help?"
"Yes, please."
Yuuri nodded enthusiastically as Conrad sat upon the closed toilet lid and allowed the boy to comb his hair. The silence between them was peaceful as Yuuri hummed tunelessly. Yuuri didn't mind in the slightest- he knew Conrad would do anything for him and he was determined to show the man he would readily return the favor.
"How's that?" he asked, looking Conrad over.
"It's perfect, thank you."
Yuuri had brushed all of his hair straight back- but it didn't bother him. It was much better than what he started with.
Yuuri stared at his hands and fidgeted quietly.
"Yuuri?" Conrad asked, reaching out to touch him.
"Um well, I w-was just w-wondering... I had planned a bunch of activities to take everyone to, you know? Like visiting an outdoor onsen or ice skating; also cherry blossoms and stuff. If you're feeling up to it would you like to go w-with me? I mean- everyone's coming along but- y-you know..." Yuuri fidgeted, his dark eyes locking on Conrad's lighter ones.
"I would love to." he said softly. "Wolfram has never been ice skating- I'm sure he and Greta will love it."
"I'm pretty excited about it. Don't forget to take your pain killers." Yuuri reminded him, taking the pills out of the medicine cabinet and watching Conrad take them. "You ready?" he then asked, motioning towards the door so they could have breakfast.
Conrad nodded and followed Yuuri to the kitchen, a smile on his lips.
Christmas wasn't a big deal in Japan but because Jennifer loved it so much, their house took on a very Santa-themed appeal during this time of year. The group had arrived in Japan 3 days before Christmas and would be celebrating Christmas and New Years in Japan before heading back home.
Yuuri had planned it this way so that the bulk of their time could be spent doing activities that would allow his retainers to get a good feel for Japan and Earth.
Those activities included: ice skating, a visit to the winter cherry blossoms, visiting a shrine, snow men, hot chocolate, snow ball fights, painting ceramics, Christmas lights, a festival, new years, gift giving, making mochi, eating new year's soba and getting good luck charms.
He wasn't sure if they'd be able to do it all, but he was determined, so immediately after breakfast was finished the entire group, (Ken, Jose, Gunter, Gwendal, Conrad, Yuuri, Wolfram, Greta, Shouri, Jennifer and Shouma) took separate cars to the main attraction of the day: an outdoor ice skating rink.
"Wow, papa look!" Greta gasped "What are those?"
"Those are ice skates," Yuuri explained, sitting Greta on a bench near the registration center so he could check her shoe size. "In a minute we'll be out there, too."
"Ohh, Conrart do you remember when we skated at Rockefeller center?" Jennifer swooned, leaning into Conrad's side with a dreamy sigh.
"I was there too, you know." Shouma laughed.
"Mmm, I remember. It was very crowded." Conrad said while attempting to shove his injured hand into a glove to no avail.
Shouri huffed as he stuffed his hands deep into his jacket pockets, glaring at Conrad. He didn't like how much attention his mother gave the guy. It set off warning bells in his head.
"What if the ice breaks? Ohhhhh..." Gunter said nervously, eyeing the numerous skaters warily.
"Don't worry, it's frozen solid." Ken chirped, patting the older man's back. "This is a man-made rink so there's no need to be concerned."
"It's too cold." Wolfram muttered, wrapping his scarf more securely around his neck. "How long until I can have the chocolate drink."
Yuuri laughed at this, looping his arm through Wolfram's. "You mean hot chocolate, right? Remember I brought it to Shinma last year?" he smiled, "There's a tent over there that's selling it but you have to wait until I can get everyone's skates for me to go with you."
"I'll go with you." Conrad said hesitantly, smiling at his brother. "We can buy it while Yuuri gets everyone situated."
"Fine." Wolfram grumbled as Yuuri handed him Earth currency.
"Conrad, can you get everyone a cup?" Yuuri asked, "This should be enough money."
Conrad nodded as he followed Wolfram to the tent on the other side of the rink.
"Are you going to get on the ice?" Wolfram asked Conrad as they waited for their drinks.
"No, I don't think so." Conrad laughed. "I would be in real trouble if I fell and broke something else."
"People break bones doing this?" Wolfram gasped, "What's the point to this horrible past time!?"
"It's for fun, Wolf." he chuckled, ordering the correct amount of drinks for the group while showing Wolfram how to pay. "Greta looks excited."
"Hmph, I guess..."
When the beverages were ready Conrad tried to pick up the bulk of the drinks before quickly realizing he was outnumbered. Even with the help of drink holders, there was no way for Conrad to carry more than three individual cups at a time and even then- he was carrying them in the crook of his arm.
"Ugh, step aside." Wolfram groaned. "Let me take them, you're useless."
"Thank you..." Conrad muttered as he watched his brother collect the drinks. "They're hot so just be carefu-"
"Eiiii hot! What the hell!?" Wolfram shouted, nearly dropping the drinks as one began to spill onto his hand.