DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
Ema and Yusuke both sat on one the two grands beds, not saying much. The air in the room was filled with nothing but tension, it was amazing they could still breath.
"How long do you think they're actually going to keep us in here?" Yusuke finally asked.
"I don't know, but they said they're going to help us get home and I want to trust them," Ema said. Though all honesty, she was hoping she could get some answers from them, like why had the kind's heir wanted them kidnapped and killed? How was it the queen's picture looked so much like her? And was that other picture she saw on the wall really a picture of mother?! Why would a picture of her mother be handing in the castle like that? Assuming that was her mother.
"You okay?" Yusuke asked.
"Just confused and frustrated I guess," said Ema, "Even if I feel we can trust the people who saved us."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Yusuke.
"Hey, Yusuke, can I ask you something?" Ema asked suddenly remembering something.
"Sure, what?" Yusuke replied.
"What were you going to say to me back when were about to die?" Ema asked.
Yusuke gulped.
'Oh shit!' he thought, 'that's right! I almost confessed I in love with her, didn't I?!'
"Yusuke?" Ema said.
"Uh, I can't remember, I was so confused and scared back there! I can hardly think straight as it is!" Yusuke finally lied.
"Oh, okay," Ema said softly as she looked away from him. Yusuke heard her give off a little sigh.
"So," he said trying to distract her, "Should we try calling home? I mean, we do have our cellphones with us."
"I thought they said they were going to bring in a special phone for us to use to call?" Ema said.
"What's so special about it that we should it instead of our cellphones exactly?" Yusuke asked.
"Well, I" Ema tried to think of an answer when there was a sudden knock on the door.
"It's me Chrissy," said the voice on the other side.
"Come in," said Ema. The door opened and the woman Chrissy walked in, wheeling in a cart with a fancy looking phone on it.
"Hello, sorry to keep you waiting," she said, "Do you have your home number or anything?"
"Right here," Ema said as she handed her phone to her.
"Thank you," said Chrissy as she started to dial.
"Why can't we just use our own phones?" Yusuke asked.
"You won't have to worry about charges or things like that with this phone," Chrissy explained.
"I hope they're not too worried about us right now," said Ema, "It's probably really late over there."
"Well at the very least you can leave a message to let them you know you're both alive and will be hopefully coming home soon," said Chrissy.
"Should we try again to send them to bed?" Masaomi asked as he, Ukyo and Kaname looked at their other brothers spread out all over the living room still ridden with anxiety.
"You can try, but they're not little boys like Wataru, they probably won't listen," said Kaname.
"Well I guess there's nothing else left to do but maybe make some more coffee," said Ukyo heading to the kitchen.
"This isn't healthy, staying up like this isn't going to help the situation," said Masaomi.
"Did you get in contact with Mother or Rintaro?" Kaname asked.
"No, I had to leave a message. I can only imagine what Rintaro will be thinking once he hears it," said Masaomi.
Ukyo had just walked into the kitchen, preparing to make some more coffee for his brothers when he heard the kitchen phone ringing.
He looked at the phone a little startled, not sure if he should be answering it so late at night. Who could be calling at such a time?
Slowly, Ukyo reached over and picked the phone off from the receiver.
"Hello?" he said, slightly cautious.
"Hello, is this the Asahina residence?" asked a pleasant female voice on the other end.
"Yes, it is," Ukyo said calmly.
"Is this one of the brothers of Yusuke and Ema Asahina?" asked the voice.
That got Ukyo startled. "Yes, I am, I'm their older brother Ukyo," he said.
"Who's Kyo talking?" Kaname asked looking towards the kitchen at the sound of his voice.
Both he and Masaomi walked over to the kitchen to get a better listen.
"My name is Chrissy Emers, and this is going to sound a little hard to believe but I am with the Royal Security of Elence and we currently have your brother and sister under our protection here in Elence," said Chrissy.
"I'm sorry what?!" Ukyo asked.
"I realize this is quite a shock, but I assure you, somehow, someway, your brother and sister Yusuke and Ema have wound up in the country of Elence. We've found them and they are under our protection," said Chrissy.
"Are you serious?" Ukyo asked.
"Yes, in fact here's Ema now," Chrissy said, handing the phone to her.
"Ukyo?" Ema said.
"Ema!" Ukyo said loudly that the other brothers in the living room all looked up.
"Was that Kyo?" Subaru asked.
"Did he say something about Ema?!" Azusa said as they all hurried to the kitchen as well.
"Yes Ukyo, it's me, it's Ema," Ema said softly, "I don't know what necessary happened or why, but for some reason, Yusuke and I were abducted on our way home from school and for some reason taken to the country of Elence. Right now, we're at the royal palace of all places!"
"Oh my god! Oh my god this is crazy! I'm happy to hear you're alright, along with Yusuke, but I'm little confused about how you ended up in Elence, was it?" Ukyo said.
"I don't know for sure, I really don't! They said they're going to help get us home as soon as they can though," said Ema.
"Ukyo," Masaomi said walking over to his brother and tapping his shoulder.
Ukyo looked at him before handing him the phone.
"Ema?" Masaomi said.
"Masaomi?" Ema replied.
"Are you really alright, wherever you are?" Masaomi asked.
"For the moment, though I don't understand fully what's going on," said Ema.
"And Yusuke's with you?" Masaomi asked.
"Yes, and he's fine too," said Ema.
"I'm taking care of her as best I can," Yusuke called out over the phone.
"Well, is there any way we can help get you home?" Masaomi asked.
"Miss Asahina?" Chrissy asked, gesturing for the phone again.
Ema reluctantly handed it back to her.
"Hello, Mr. Masaomi was it?" Chrissy said.
"Yes, um who is this?" Masaomi asked.
"Sorry, allow me to introduce myself again," said Chrissy, "My name Chrissy Emers and I'm with the Royal security force. We're currently the ones looking after Ema and Yusuke and helping to get them home. I do have a few numbers you can call there in Japan if you want that may be able to help with our efforts. We have a representative there by the name of John Myers you can call. There's also the Japanese representative we usually work with in regards to our relations with Japan name Minato Shun. If you want to call both of them up and let them know the situation, I'm sure both can help. I can also give you the security number to use so they know your calls are legit."
"Thank you very much," Masaomi said as he wrote the numbers down.
"I realize this is very confusing, scary and frustrating Mr. Asahina, but please rest assured, your brother and sister are in safe capable hands and will be returned as soon as possible," said Chrissy, "Would you like to speak to one or both of them one last time?"
"Yes please," said Masaomi.
Chrissy handed Ema back the phone.
"Masa?"
"Ema, don't worry, we're going to work on getting you both home. So just hang tight and know we care about you both and will help find you, somehow, someway," Masaomi said.
"Yes Masa, we'll both do our best to behave and cooperate until we manage to get home," said Ema.
"Good girl, I'll call you back in the morning, you should try getting some rest, I don't think there's much more we can do at this point," said Masaomi.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Ema.
"Give them the number to this phone so they can call it instead and not be charged," said Chrissy whispered pointing to the number Ema saw was on the tray next to the phone.
"Right," Ema said as she gave to Masaomi.
"Thanks, Ema, take care and looks after Yusuke. We'll get you home in no time," said Masaomi.
"Thank you Masaomi, I trust you, bye for now," said Ema as she gently hung up.
Masaomi looked at his brothers, all looking anxious.
"Well, what's going on?!" Tsubaki asked.
"I'm not sure, but I'll try explain it as best I can," said Masaomi.
"Your brother's right, you should get some rest. You'll feel better afterwards," Chrissy said once Ema had hung up the phone.
"I don't know if I can sleep," said Ema.
"Well, you should try at least, it'll be good for you," said Chrissy.
Just then there was another knock at the door.
"It's me Billy,"
"I'll get it," Chrissy said as she opened the door and Billy walked in with his own cart with a delicious steak sandwich on it.
"Here you go, hope you like it," Billy said rolling it over to Yusuke.
"Thank you," Yusuke said looking at the sandwich in awe.
"Enjoy it," said Billy said as he walked out of the room with a smile.
"I'll arrange some change of clothes for you guys to wear for tonight and for tomorrow," Chrissy said as she too walked out, "Hopefully tomorrow, we'll all have an idea about what's going on and how to get you home."
"Thank you," Ema said as the woman shut the door again.
"Mmm, this sandwich is so good! The royals sure do know how to live!" said Yusuke as he enjoyed the sandwich.
Ema had to smile at Yusuke starting to relax a little. She wondered over to one of the windows and looked out. She couldn't see much due to it being dark out, but what she could make out something that looked kind of nice, a kind of garden of sorts. She could also make out a tree in full blossom just outside the window.
'I wonder if it's at all possible to climb down this tree to escape if need be,' Ema thought.
As she was thinking this, she started to notice the branches shake a little, with some of the blossoms falling off it.
"What's that?" Ema asked out loud as suddenly a figure came into the view. Ema gasped, not sure what it was until she saw it come closer.
"Oh," she said in surprise when the figure turned out to be a squirrel. As she looked at it closer, she was even more surprised to see it looked a lot like Juli. Almost everything about it looked like him, except for it had a pink belly and pink inside of its ears.
The squirrel looked back at Ema curious, tilting its head as though studying her.
"Hello," Ema said at last, "It's nice to meet you. I wish I had a peanut or something to give you, but I don't think I have anything edible you might like."
"That's very kind of you,"
"Huh?" Ema said confused looking around, trying to figure out where that new voice had come from.
"You don't have to worry about feeding me though, I'm still full from my dinner,"
"Who's saying that?" Ema asked.
"I am,"
"Who?" Ema said.
"Right here, in front of you,"
"What?" Ema said looking straight ahead at the squirrel.
"Hi," she said waving to Ema.
Ema looked at her in confusion.
"Did, you, just speak to me?" she asked.
"Well, yes, yes I did," said the squirrel, "the real question is, did you hear me?"
"I think I am," said Ema in confusion, "but, I don't, I don't understand! How, how am I hearing you?! I mean, I mean, I, I know I've been able to understand Juli but…,"
"Juli? Did you say Juli?" the female squirrel asked as she climbed into the room and sat on the windowsill.
"You know Juli?" Ema asked.
"Well I should hope so, he's my nephew," said the squirrel, "I'm his aunt Marion."
"You're Juli's aunt?!" Ema asked.
"Sure, Juli's an Elence squirrel like me," said Marion, "If we're talking about the same Juli."
"Juli never mentioned having a family," said Ema, "Or being from Elence."
"Hmm, that's interesting," said Marion, "I know we haven't seen him in a long time, not since the day the princess left."
"Left?" Ema said.
"It's a long story," said Marion, "One I'm sure they'll tell you once you've gotten some rest."
"But I don't understand, how is it I can understand you?!" Ema asked.
"You mean you never questioned how or why you could understand Juli while no one else could?" Marion asked.
"Not really, now that I really think about it," said Ema, "I was just always able to as a child that it felt almost natural to me."
"Hmm, interesting," said Marion, "Well, is Juli okay?"
"Yes, he's been doing fine, he's been my best friend and protector all my life and I love him dearly," said Ema.
"That's wonderful to hear," said Marion, "We'll have to figure someway for him to get back here so his family can see him again. A lot were starting to think he was dead. It'll be so nice to tell them he's still alive and being well taken care of."
"Yes, yes, I hope they are happy to see him," said Ema, "Does he have a big family?"
"You'd be surprised how close Elence squirrels stay together compared to other squirrels," said Marion. "I should go now, I think you should get some rest. I'll try to stop by later."
"Yes, sure," said Ema. She watched as Marion jumped back onto the tree and disappeared among the blossoms again. She couldn't help but feel even more confused than before. Also, if she could understand other squirrels like this, did that mean Louis could as well?
Marion ran as fast as she could through the trees and on the palace ledge until she arrived back in the room of the king.
The king and Richard were still in his room waiting for her.
"Your majesty," she said running over to his bed.
"Marion, you're back," said the kind with delight as Marion jumped up, "Did you see her? Did you talk to her?"
"I did and she understood me!" said Marion.
The king gasped with delight.
"She did? She understood you like a normal person would?!" he asked happily.
"Yes, we were able to have an actual conversation!" said Marion.
"That proves it! That proves she's Yolanda's daughter and my granddaughter! It has to, or at least a member of this family! It's long been known that only members of the royal family, especially those worthy of the throne could ever understand Elence squirrels!" King Stephone said with delight.
"And that's not all," said Marion, "she knows of Juli. Juli is apparently her pet."
"Juli? That little scamp?! He's still alive and he's been living with her this whole time!" said Stephone.
"Apparently, he never told her about her true heritage though," said Marion.
"Hmm, well I'm sure he has his reasons," said Stephone. He looked at Richard, "Richard!"
"Yes, your majesty?" said Richard.
"Make arrangements for tomorrow for me to have breakfast with our special guests. I want to tell this girl Ema the truth myself."
"As you command your majesty," Richard said as he walked out of the room. Stephone looked at Marion once again.
"I can't tell you how happy I am about all of this Marion! Even if she can't become my heir and it still has to go to Robert, I think I can die a happy man knowing I still had family in this world I can maybe spend time with before I go."
"I hope so too, your majesty, if anyone deserves a little happiness in this world it's you," Marion said kindly.