Chapter 4: Homecoming
"Hm…. looks like they're sleeping in late today." Solomon commented, looking up from the eggs he was working on. "Good thing it's Sunday or I would be getting them right out of bed."
"Just wish they would wake up so I can give them both a big hug."
Akira was seated at the dining table, the man currently looking over notes from his latest excavation.
"Was looking forward to surprising them with the fact I got to come home one week earlier than expected."
"Well, you'll still get to do that. We just know better than to wake the sleeping princess."
"Oh yes… I remember what happened when I last dared to wake Natsuki up when she was sleeping in late."
"Uwah! N-Natsuki, sweetie it's me-"
Natsuki held onto his arm, glaring at him.
"If you dare awaken me from my slumber, I will banish you to the shadows for one thousand years, mortal…"
"I swear, if I didn't know better I'd have thought that was a pissed off spirit, not my little girl."
Solomon chuckled.
"There's a reason she's often referred to as a jackal pup."
"Yep… Though maybe…" Akira glanced out of the corner of his eye to the stairs. "I could go check-"
"Dad!?"
Yugi was at the top of the stairs, his eyes wide in surprise.
Akira smiled.
"Ah, speak of the devil. There's one of them."
Yugi laughed, running right to him, throwing his arms around him.
"DAD! When did you get in? I thought you weren't due till next week!"
"Well, we got done early and I wanted to surprise you all. I just got in late last night so I was over at Mahad's to get some rest. Got dropped off here this morning."
"Certainly surprised me." Solomon commented, smiling. "But a happy surprise to see my son home."
"Thanks, Dad."Akira turned his attention back to Yugi, looking him over. "Well… is it just me or do you look a little taller since I last saw you?"
Yugi chuckled, giving a shrug.
"I'm not sure about my height… but something good did happen last night." He grinned, holding up the puzzle that was hanging around his neck. "Ta-da!"
Solomon nearly dropped his chopsticks.
"My word! You solved it!?"
Akira's red violet eyes went wide.
"When did this happen!?"
Yugi smiled, holding his head high.
"Last night! Natsuki and I both finished it."
"Glad you remembered to give me credit…" A tired voice said from the top of the stairs. Natsuki was still in her pajamas, hair a mess, pillow tucked under her arm. "Wha's all the commotion for…?"
"This way Nat."
"Huh…?"
Akira leaned over so he was in her line of sight.
"There's my princess."
Natsuki's eyes widened before she ran down the stairs, letting out an excited squeal.
"DADDY!" She jumped the last step, tackling him as she did so. "YOU'RE FINALLY HOME!"
THUD!
Yugi had gotten out of the way in time to avoid being knocked to the floor with Akira and the chair he was sitting in.
"Ooof! Watch the ribs kid!" Akira laughed, hugging her close.
Natsuki giggled, hugging him tightly.
"Sorry, I just missed you a lot… Oh, it's so good to see you!" She laughed. "I guess Yugi's cursed puzzle does have a use!"
"Hey." Yugi pouted a little. "We talked about that."
Natsuki looked at him… sticking her tongue out.
"Nyope."
Akira shook his head, getting up, resetting his chair before sitting down with Natsuki again.
"I don't believe cursed is the correct word for that puzzle… Unless someone has been telling stories again." Akira looked at Solomon with a slight glare. "Dad?"
Solomon didn't meet his eyes, just focusing on what he was cooking.
"I don't know what she's talking about. Must be on that "world wide web" thing. I wouldn't know how to check that though."
Yugi and Akira rolled their eyes.
"Nice deflection, Grandpa."
"What? I spend a lot of time in the library with my friends." Natsuki huffed.
"Coven." The others corrected.
"Heeeeey, just cause we meet in the library and read old books on the occult and mess with tarot cards-"
"Witchcraft." Yugi deadpanned.
"Cursed."
"Alright, alright, quit bickering and c'mere." Akira brought them both into a tight hug. "You solved a challenge that not even my team could. You should both be proud."
Yugi and Natsuki smiled, both bringing their arms around him.
"Thanks, Dad." They both said.
Akira smiled, kissing their heads.
Misaki… Wherever you are, I know you're proud too.
They all stopped short, sniffing the air.
"Hey, what's that weird smell?" Natsuki asked.
Solomon cursed under his breath.
"Not. One. Word."
Natsuki turned to Yugi, pointing to the puzzle.
"I'm right."
"That's an entirely different incident. Causation, not correlation, Sis."
"Daaaaad! Back me up!"
"Actually, better plan. Who wants to go out for breakfast?"
All hands shot up.
"Get in the car."