DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
"Um Grandfather?" Ema asked after the meal and she was walking around with King Stephone with Yusuke trailing a little behind.
"Yes, my dear?" Stephon replied.
"How much more family do I have exactly?" Ema asked.
"Are any other of them as crazy as old Robbie?" Yusuke asked.
"Well, it's all a matter of opinion on that," said Stephon, "but you actually do have quite the extended family, including a few more cousins."
"How many other brothers or sisters do you have?" Ema asked.
"Well, aside from Robert's mother, I had two other brothers and one other sister," said Stephon, "Howard, George and Lydia. All much kinder and loyal than Claudia. But they sadly are all gone now too."
"Did they all have children as well?" Ema asked.
"Oh yes," said Stephon, "in fact, when Yolanda started getting death threats from Robert, she started looking to some of them to take Robert's place as her potential successor. But for some reason or another, either they were still too young or didn't really want the position, none were able."
"How is it he's your immediate successor?" Ema asked.
"Well, simple, he's the oldest of all the royal nieces and nephews," Stephon explained, "Claudia married really young in an attempt to be the first among us to have the child so that he would in fact be at the top of the list of heirs. She even tried using the fact she had a child first to put herself in front of me to take over after our father."
"Bet it really pissed her off when you had Ema's mom, huh?" Yusuke said.
"Oh yes," said Stephon, "the day Yolanda was born, Claudia came practically running into the delivery room, almost as though to keep the doctors from actually delivering her! If it wasn't such an intense situation already, it might have been funny. After they kicked her out, you could still hear stomping around on the floor outside in anger. Then, later, when she came back with our other brothers and sister, her face was so red, I'm sure some of the nurses thought she might have been suffocating or something."
"She actually sounds scary," said Ema.
"Well, she popped out the psycho, why wouldn't she be?" asked Yusuke.
Stephon chuckled at Yusuke's comment. "You're quite open with your opinions, aren't you my boy?" he said kindly, "makes me even more interested in meeting the other brothers tomorrow."
"Did she really not think that you would not have a kid and that her son would be front runner forever?" Yusuke asked.
"Well, at least long enough until our father died, and she was the only one with a child herself," said Stephon.
"So, was mother born before your father passed away?" Ema asked.
"Oh yes, she was about six months old when he finally passed away and I assumed the throne," said Stephon, "But like I said before, that did little to stop Claudia and later Robert from plotting to take over someday."
"Did my mother ever try to find someone else to try and her successor over Robert after the death threats started?" Ema asked.
"Yes, of course," said Stephon, "But, at the time, most were either too little or didn't want to king or queen due to various reasons. Either it be that they didn't wish for the job itself or were scared away from it."
"So, no one was ever willing to stand up and take on Robert huh?" said Yusuke, "No wonder your mom wanted to run away."
Ema noticed her grandfather flinch a little at his words.
"Yes, I guess that's true," he said, sounding upset.
"Grandfather, are you alright?" Ema asked softly, patting his back.
"I'm fine, I'm just an old man after all and just feeling sleepy. I should be on my best for tomorrow when we finally welcome your brothers. I can't recall the last time we've had so many guests grace our humble palace," said Stephon.
"Then let me escort you back to your room," Ema insisted.
"You're too kind my dear," Stephone said gently, patting Ema's hand that was helping to support him.
Ema slowly helped walked her grandfather back to his room where Richard was already waiting with another servant of sorts.
"Shall I expect to see the two of you tomorrow for breakfast?" Stephon asked.
"Of course, Grandfather," Ema said without hesitating, "Same time?"
"Yes, that time usually works best for me," said Stephon.
"I'll make sure someone comes and gets you two," Richard promised. He pointed to the other servant at the door, "Escort the princess and Sir Yusuke back to their rooms."
"Yes sir," the other servant replied bowing and started to lead the two away.
"Wait, just a moment," Richard suddenly said. He looked at Yusuke, "Chrissy tells me you were interested in learning some self-defense to help protect Lady Ema."
"Yeah, I would like to know some good moves just, so I can make sure she's safe," Yusuke said.
"I see," Richard, "I'll work something out tomorrow after breakfast and after your brothers arrived."
"Thanks," Yusuke said before hurrying after Ema.
"What were you and Richard talking about?" Ema asked,
"Oh, he's going to help me learn some self-defense moves so I can help protect you against that crazy cousin of yours," said Yusuke.
"Are you serious?" Ema asked.
"Well, yeah, I said I'd help protect you, didn't I?" Yusuke said. He felt Ema take his hand.
"Just don't overdo it or do something that might get you hurt," she whispered.
"Of course not," said Yusuke.
"Did you hear what she said to Robert at dinner?" Stephon said to Richard with delight as he hobbled over to her bed and took a seat.
"You mean that whole, she'll decide where her place is?" Richard replied, "Yeah I heard, pretty ballsy of her, I must say."
"I tell you Richard, that gives me a good sense of hope! Even if Robert does still succeed me, it's nice to imagine that Ema might still give him a little run for his money."
"Assuming she decides to stay here in Elence and not return to Japan," said Richard.
"Even then, I could see her being a slight thorn in his toe," said Stephon with delight, "I bet you anything he's sulking in car aright now on the way home."
Robert stared out the window gloomy.
"You seem pretty down in the dumps," said Henry observed as he sat in the back seat with him, fiddling with his knife.
"She doesn't seem that scared of me for some reason," Robert muttered. At that Henry stopped playing with his knife.
"Come again?" he asked.
"I tried persuading her that she should chose to return to Japan with her brothers after they've come, but she practically told me to fuck off!" Robert.
"Ballsy, isn't she?" Henry said, "Don't worry, I'm sure with her brothers here, we can find more way to help persuade her to return to Japan. 13 different ways I'm sure."
"Alright guys, come on, we need to get going!" Masaomi called up the stairs the next morning when he found himself standing alone in the family room.
"I'm coming!" Wataru shouted as he came bounding down the stairs, "Vacation! Vacation!"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure we'll all have fun on this trip," Masaomi said, "Come on everyone, we don't want to keep everyone waiting for us."
Ukyo suddenly appeared on the stairs going over a list, and dragging his bags behind him.
"What are you doing Kyo?" Wataru asked.
"Just going over everything I have. Have to make sure we keep track of everything," said Ukyo, "do you have a list of everything you're brining?"
"Uh, no?" said Wataru.
"Don't worry, I'll help make a list when we get there," said Ukyo.
"Damn," Tsubaki muttered as he came down the stairs next, along with Azusa, "Why do we have to get up so early? Do royal folks just like making people getting up early?"
"Well he is a king, Tsubaki, I'm pretty sure he has other duties he has to attend to," said Azusa.
"Still, does he make all his guests wake up so early so meet him?" Tsubaki asked.
"If you're that tired you can sleep on the plane, Tsubaki," Natsume muttered as he came in from the hallway.
"Did you just get here?" Masaomi asked.
"Yeah, and just so you know, there's a few vans outside waiting for us, along with those two people from yesterday, I told them I'd come in here and see what's taking you all so long."
"We're coming, don't worry so much, Jeez," Subaru muttered as he came down the stairs next.
"Well, we should get going soon," said Masaomi, "I don't think we should be late. It probably wouldn't make such a good impression on the king if we did."
"Relax, everything's going to be alright," Kaname, "I was making several prayers to gods to make sure our time in Elence goes good and we make a good impression on the king."
"Let's hope those prayers are answered," said Ukyo.
"Oh, yee of little faith," said Kaname.
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Hikaru shouted as he too cam bounding down the stairs looking happy and dresses in a very flamboyant dress.
"Interesting choice of clothes," said Azusa.
"Oh, I can't help it, I feel just like a princess going to meet the king and staying in a palace!" said Hikaru, "I shall surly find some great inspiration for my next story while I'm there!"
"I'm interested in seeing the plant life there personally," said Iori as he came downstairs behind Hikaru, his nose in a book, "Elence has some of the best flowers in the entire world. I hope I get to study a lot while I'm there."
"I could care less," Futo muttered as he practically shoved his two brothers over, "I doubt I'll have much of a fan base in a small backwards place like, what's if called again? Ellen or something like that?"
"Elence, Futo," said Masaomi.
"It would probably be good manner to know how to say the name of the place we're expected to be honored guests at," said Ukyo.
"All the more reason we should be going," said Natsume.
"Right, are we all here, shall we head out?" Masaomi asked.
"Wait, where's Louis?" Iori asked.
"Yes, and Ema's little pet friend," said Hikaru.
"Right," said Masaomi, "Everyone else can head out, I'll go get him."
Louis sat on his bed, taking deep breaths.
'Why is this so hard?" Louis thought, 'I don't even know what the king wants to ask me! Why am I so frighten by the notion?'
"Louis? Louis?" Juli called out to him" We have to get going or we'll be late." He shuddered at the thought. "not that I'm too eager to see the king again, or my aunt!"
"I know Juli, I know," said Louis, "I'm just, I'm just trying to collect myself."
"It'll be fine, you'll see," Juli tried to comfort him.
"Louis, are you coming?" Masaomi asked as he walked into his brother's room. He found his young brother sitting on his bed looking upset, "Everything okay?"
"I'm just, just trying to make sense of all of this," Louis said, "Don't worry I'm coming."
"If you need to take a minute or two, go ahead, I'll take your bags down myself," said Masaomi.
"Thank you," said Louis. He waited until Masaomi was gone out of the room before he turned his attention back to Juli.
"Juli, the king, is he normally a good man?" he asked.
"Oh yes, unless you get on his bad side," Juli insisted, "I know he's probably going to be mad at me for not telling Chi about her true heritage, but I doubt he's going to anything drastic about it. Try not to think about it too much Louis. I'm sure he's going to like you and if you give him a chance, you'll like him. Just wait and see."
"I hope you're right," said Louis. He finally managed to get up from his bed and lowered his hand down for Juli to jump up and scamp up to his shoulder, "Let's get this over with."
"Hmm, Hmm," Wataru kept humming as he kicked his legs in the air in the van the brothers were all driven in to the airport, "Vacation is so much fun! Vacation is so much fun!"
"How much of a vacation is this really if we're going there as ambassadors?" Natsume asked out loud, "I assume we're going to have some important job to do or something like that."
"I'm sure the king's going to allow you some time off to enjoy yourselves," said Elizabeth Smith, "in your guys' cases the title of ambassador is just that, a title. I doubt you'll be called on too much to do any real diplomate work."
"Are you going to be staying in Elence the whole time we're there?" Masaomi asked.
"I am instructed to make sure you gentlemen arrive in Elence safely. Should I be required to remain or return to my duties in Japan will be decided after that," said Elizabeth.
"Are you really okay with that? Being told where to go and when?" Azusa asked.
"That's a part of the job when you work for the ambassador department," said Elizabeth.
"Yes but, what about like your family? Do you ever get to see them?" Azusa asked.
"Well, sometimes staff will bring their family with them to where they are sent or like myself, I don't have much of a family so it's no big deal for me to move around," said Elizabeth.
"Are you at least happy you're going back to Elence for a while?" Natsume.
"Oh yes, I'm super excited to be home for a while, get to rest up in my apartment for a while. But at the same, I do have a lot of connections to Japan so, I'm just as anxious to return to it," said Elizabeth.
"Which place do you prefer?" Wataru asked.
"I couldn't say, I'd like to see both places as a home for me," said Elizabeth.
"I wonder if Ema's going to feel that way between the two places," said Azusa softly.
Juli looked back at him.
'Would Chi ever accept Elence as her home?' he wondered.
"And here we are," said Elizabeth said after a while when the van finally arrived at the airport. As the brothers all piled out, they were a little surprised to see an elaborate airplane sitting on the tarmac.
"Is that the plane we get to ride one?!" Wataru asked excited.
"Yes, please go ahead and get on board, we'll just get your luggage loaded up and take off," said Elizabeth.
Natsume slowly walked around to the back of the van and opened it himself, "I'll just take on my cats on myself, if you don't mind."
"Yes, that's fine," said Elizabeth.
"Come on guys," Natsume said as he carefully picked up his cat carrier containing his pets Tsubaki and Azusa who were meowing and howling to be let out. "It'll be fine, you'll see," he tried to assure them as he carried them to the plane.
"I want a window seat! I want a window seat!" Wataru called out as he hurried onto the plane. Inside, it looked like some sort of a limo with several single seats all next to a window. Three flight attendants stood in the middle of the row bowing their heads.
"Well, at least the company on this trip will be nice," Kaname said as he checked out the different ladies.
"Wow, they go all out for the royal family, don't they?" Tsubaki as he looked around at the fancy design.
"Please hurry and take your seats, the pilots will like to take off once we have all of your baggage loaded," Elizabeth asked. She moved to a seat closes to the cockpit.
"Window seat for me!" Wataru said as he flopped down in a seat close to Elizabeth.
"Aren't they all window seats, more or less?" Futo asked annoyed as he took a seat too. He put a sleep mask over his eyes, "Wake me up when we get there, I must have my beauty sleep for the sake of my voice."
"At least hopefully that'll make him quiet through the trip," said Tsubaki as he and the other brothers started moving around and taking a different seat. Right away, the three flight attendants started going around, offering services and items to the men.
"Is there anything I can get you sir?" one asked Kaname.
"Just the pleasure of your company on this trip my lady," Kaname said kissing her hand.
"Please don't try and start an international incident before we've even left!" Ukyo snapped at him.
"Um, Miss Smith?" Masaomi asked as he came and took the seat closest to the woman at the front of the plane, "Has there been any more updates on whether Ema is in fact the king's granddaughter?"
"Well, the main factor, the DNA test, still hasn't been finished yet," said Elizabeth, "At least not from the latest I've heard of."
"I hope there isn't going to be any problems if she doesn't turn out to be the princess?" Masaomi.
"Oh, no, no, the king has assured me that you will be treated as the most honor guests no matter what and you'll just be allowed to go home and get on with your lives," said Elizabeth. Masaomi nodded.
"Well, even if Ema doesn't end up as the princess, I'd like to stay for a while," said Hikaru, "I'd like to get more inspiration for my next book."
"I'd like to stay to study more of the plant life here," said Iori, "I bet it would be a great place to learn more about the proper care and life of plants."
"I'm sure we can make arrangements for you and any other brother that wishes to stay in Elence to be allowed to, even if for some off reason, your sister isn't the princess," Elizabeth assured them.
"Do you believe Ema might be the princess?" Masaomi asked.
"Well, based on what I've seen, I'm incline to think she is actually is. There's so much pointing to her being the king's granddaughter," said Elizabeth, "But like I said, we'll wait for the DNA results."
"Sir, are you sure you want to go all out for the Asahina Brothers arrival?" Richard asked as he watched the king getting ready in a full formal attire.
"These men are Ema's brothers, and Ema is my granddaughter. So if they're her family, they should be treated as honored guests," Stephon insisted, "Speaking of which, have they gotten the DNA results back for her? Just so we have actual proof rather than speculation?"
"I will check on it as soon as I know you're fully prepared," Richard promised.
"Good, the sooner we have the actual proof, the sooner we can try taking more action against Robert," said Stephon as he started to get excited.
"Careful sir, don't overwhelm yourself," Richard said.
"Mmm, man, the kitchen staff sure know how to make a good meal," said Yusuke as he and Ema walked around together, doing their best to mostly ignore the guard behind them.
"Yes, I would imagine they would want to be the best seeing as how they're serving royalty," said Ema, "How much longer do you think it'll be before our other brothers finally arrive?"
"I don't know, and I don't really care," said Yusuke, "I'm not too eager to hear Tsubaki's teasing or that damn Futo's bragging and loud mouth, or even Wataru's annoying running around."
"Don't talk about our brothers like that," Ema said, gently slapping his arm.
"And what's worse is I'm sure nearly every one of them is going to make some stupid comment or remark over how I didn't protect you enough and let us both get kidnap, like we did," said Yusuke.
"I'm sure they won't be that hard on you," said Ema.
"How well do you know our brothers again?" Yusuke asked.
"Excuse me, Princess, Lord Yusuke, but your brothers plane has landed and they will be arriving at the palace soon," a servant said suddenly running up behind the two of them.
"Oh good, we should go towards the front doors so we're here to meet them when they first arrive," said Ema, tugging at Yusuke's arm.
"Yes, let's go get the hazing started," Yusuke said reluctantly as he let Ema pull him along.
Ema and Yusuke hurried to the front of the castle, they saw the king coming towards the doors as well, looking very regal.
"Wow Grandfather, you look amazing," Ema said, looking at him in awe.
"Thank you, I wanted to look my absolute best when your brothers arrive. They are sort of like family in their own way," said Stephon.
"They should be here soon," said Richard.
"I hope they're not too upset about all that happened," said Ema.
"We'll have to issue a formal apology to them for what we've put them through with your abduction," said Stephon, "Even if it turns out you have connections here."
"Is that them?" Yusuke asked as they walked out the doors and saw a caravan approaching the castle gates.
Ema gasped with delight, "I'll be so happy to see them again."
"Wow," Wataru said out loud as van past by the palace, "It's so big."
"And beautiful!" said Hikaru, "Oh I can already feel my creation vibes flowing!"
"That's sounds a little disturbing," said Natsume right as the van the brothers were all in came to a stop at the gate. Elizabeth got out and walked over to the guard at the gate, showing him a badge of sorts.
"Elizabeth Smith, here to escort the Asahina brothers in," she told him. The main guard walked over to the van and opened one of the side doors and looked in at the different brothers while another started walking around their van, inspecting it. Two more guards moved over to van behind them that contained all the bags the brothers had brought and started to inspect it too.
"Go ahead, we'll take the bags around back," said main guard.
"Thank you," said Elizabeth as she got back into the van.
"Why are they taking our bags around back?" Azusa asked.
"Well, they're going to want to inspect the bags, just as protocol," Elizabeth explained.
"Would they want my list at all?" Ukyo asked, holding it up, "a few of our brothers failed to make a list, but most of the items should be on there."
"Let me see," Elizabeth said as she took it and handed it the guard still by the van, telling him what it was. The guard merely nodded before another punched in a code at the gate, opening them and allowing the vans in.
"Oh, I think I can see Big Sister there at the front," said Wataru looking eagerly out the window.
"And the dumbass Yusuke," said Futo.
"Be nice Futo," said Masaomi, "and Wataru, remember, don't jump out and run to Ema when we get out. Contain yourself."
"I will, I will," Wataru tried to insist, even though he looked like he was going to bust through the closed van door.
"You better grab on to him just in case," Ukyo advised.
"Yeah, don't worry, I'll have him," said Masaomi, already grabbing onto the youngest's brother's shoulder.
"Is that the king with them?" Louis asked out loud, even though it was beyond obvious.
The other brothers all looked back at him at his question.
"Are you okay here Louis?" Hikaru asked.
"He's just, a little bit more powerful looking in person," Louis said softly.
"You'll be fine," Hikaru assured him.
"Yeah, of course you will," Juli also said to him.
"Right," Louis said, not sounding convinced.
"Don't worry, I'll stay by your side the whole time," Hikaru said to comfort Louis.
"Thanks," was all Louis would reply.
"Big Sister!" Wataru shouted right as the van doors open. Luckily, Masaomi kept a firm grip on him, and helped him climb out of the van slowly.
"Hello, everyone!" Ema called out as he brothers all filed out of the van. Louis could feel Hikaru's kind grip on his own shoulder as the two climbed out last.
"It's good to see the two of you are alright!" Masaomi said happily.
"Oh yes, we're quite alright," Ema said happily.
"Well, we're happy to know you're alright," said Tsubaki, "Can't say the same for the red-haired idiot next to you."
"There it goes," Yusuke.
"Don't listen to him Yusuke, we were actually worried about you too," Natsume insisted as Azusa smacked their triplet upside the head.
Just then King Stephon cleared his throat, "Welcome Asahina brothers, to Elence," he said in a booming and regal voice.
"Thank you for having us here, your majesty," Masaomi as he bowed his head. Most of the other brothers followed suit, with the exception of Futo, who was acting like he was too important to bow and Louis, who was still lingering behind most of the group looking at the king nervous.
"Please come in, come in and let us get more acquainted, I'm sure there's much for us to discuss," said Stephon.
"Yes, please come in, we're all super happy you're here!" Ema said as she motioned for her brothers to come in.
"Looks like things are about to get a lot more interesting," said Hikaru as the brothers all proceeded into the castle, still holding onto Louis's shoulder for support.