Volgan taught Tsugi how to make the tonic in case Yamo gets to a really bad point.
“Is this the same one you gave me the other night?”
Volgan knew immediately what Tsugi wanted and stared at him, unsurely. “You can make yourself some too, but only very little dosages and not so often.” Volgan narrowed his eyes. “If I find out you’re overdoing it or abusing it, I’m cutting you off. Understand?” He raised a brow.
“Understood.” Tsugi nodded, and trudged up the stairs, walking by Yamo’s room. He could hear him sobbing quietly behind the door. Tsugi’s heart broke, for he didn’t know what to do.
He lay awake having trouble falling asleep, so he tried to think of ways he could cheer up Yamo. He woke up early to make a delicious breakfast and brought it to Yamo.
“Yamo?” Tsugi knocked. “Are you awake? I made breakfast.” He carefully opened the door and peeked in. Yamo was on his bed and had his back turned to the door. Tsugi quietly walked in and placed the tray on the table next to the bed before walking back out.
Tsugi went through his day, cleaning the house and organizing dishes. He periodically checked on Yamo, but the food wasn’t touched. Tsugi would eat the cold leftover and replace it with fresh hot food for Yamo.
The day came and went, but Yamo still made no effort to eat. He stayed in his room, and had no energy to leave or do anything. Tsugi kept making food and offered them to Yamo with no success.
Yamo’s night terror’s would wake Tsugi. He rushed down stairs to brew the tonic and swiftly brought it up to Yamo. The revolving dreadful energy also didn’t help Tsugi much, so he too would take small doses every night.
Tsugi began to try something different, he would bring books and sit on a chair by Yamo’s bedside. Tsugi read him stories and legends of mythical creatures. When he received no reaction, he proceeded to read educational books on anatomy and medicine…still no reaction. If anything, it made him worse. He would sob to books about anatomy.
Tsugi thought about how Mare used to comfort him, when he was going through a hard time. He wasn’t sure if it would work, but when Yamo was sitting up on his bed, he went and held Yamo, pulling Yamo’s head into his little chest, like how Mare did for him.
This gesture of care, broke Yamo. He began to sob uncontrollably and wrapped his arms around Tsugi, crying rivers into Tsugi’s chest and soaked his shirt in an instant.
“Shh…it’s okay.” Tsugi whispered softly. “Should you need me, I’ll always be here…I promise.” Tsugi handed him the bowl of tonic. Yamo quickly wiped his sleeve across his face before drinking the bowl empty.
“I can’t believe a grown man like me is crying like a baby, and a child is comforting me.” He chuckled. “It should be the other way around.”
“It’s okay. You were being strong for too long. It’s my turn for a brief moment.” Tsugi smiled. It lightened his heart to see Yamo chuckle for the first time over the last few days.
Yamo’s cheeks had sunken in just a few days after not eating. Dark bags appeared under his eyes and they drooped tirelessly. His beard had overgrown and was unkempt, just like his hair that went astray. Tsugi pulled the tray to his lap and proceeded to feed Yamo, just like how Mare used to feed him.
"Volgan?" Tsugi caught him on the way home from covering Yamo's shift. "Can you show me how to trim and shave a beard?"
Volgan held Tusgi's chin and turned his head side to side. "I think your still a little young to grow a beard bud." He chuckled.
"No it's…"
"I know. I'm just messing with you." Volgan nudged him playfully. "Come on."
Tsugi knew Yamo didn't really like shaving, so he took a comb and a pair of scissors to trim his beard down. Using the blade only to line his beard neatly. Tsugi carefully brushed Yamo's hair making him look more presentable.
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A few more days passed and Yamo’s complexion began to return with Tsugi’s constant care.
Tsugi, Yamo, Volgan and Fay were training in the forest. They were fighting Tsugi, all at once, and he was getting so much stronger and faster. Their fights threw gusts of wind whirling around them, sending snowflakes flying through the cold air. Their fight cleared the area of snow and allowed the grass to pop up underneath them.
“Amazing!” Yamo laughed ecstatically and swung his sword at Tsugi, who dodged it with ease. Tsugi swung a sword around to Yamo’s neck, but Fay’s scythe hooked around him and blocked it. Tsugi quickly escaped, before the chain could bind him in place. Volgan’s kick headed straight for Tsugi’s ribs, but he blocked it and the impact pushed him further into the forest.
“Beautiful.” Yamo stood behind him and held the sword to Tsugi’s neck.
“Defeated.” Tsugi panted and raised his hands into the air.
“You are an absolutely amazing kid.” Yamo grinned and sheathed his sword.
“(whistle)...” Volgan approached. “You are learning really fast in a short amount of time.”
“Keep up the good work Young Master.” Fay nodded politely and put her weapon away.
“Let’s go!” Tsugi skipped through the forest. “I’ll make dinner!” His heart felt light and he was filled with joy. “Come on!” He turned around, but no one was behind him. “Very funny!” He called out. “Aren’t you guys hungry?” No answer, only a cold wind blew by. “Yamo?...Volgan?...Fay?...” Tsugi’s heart raced and he began to panic. He raced back through the woods and ran amok looking behind every tree screaming their names. His eyes quickly filled with tears, blurring his vision. A sense of trepidation replaced every feeling in his heart.
“Yamo?!” He saw a figure standing in the distance. He ran toward it, but he didn’t seem to be getting any closer. The figure slowly turned to look at him. Tsugi’s feet managed to slowly bring him closer and he could see tears welled up in Yamo’s eyes, a wistful smile on his face. His lips mouthed something, but Tsugi couldn’t quite make it out. A great powerful dread filled Tsugi.
Yamo’s neck snapped, like he had been dropped from high above with a rope tied to his neck and he dropped to the floor with a thud, throwing a puff of snow around him.
“NO!” Tsugi sat straight up in bed and stared around the room in a daze. The fire was still crackling in the corner of his room. He could feel the cold breeze coming in through the window, yet the warmth of the fire could also reach him. Tsugi got up to pull the curtains close. Dawn was upon him and the smell of snow filled the air. Their first snowfall of the year should be coming soon.
Tsugi went down the hall to check on Yamo.
“Yamo, did you want any…” Tsugi entered the room, but Yamo was nowhere to be seen. “Yamo!” He ran through the room and checked everywhere, before running through the house frantically. “Yamo!”
“In the kitchen bud!”
Tsugi ran into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Yamo’s waist, breathing heavily.
“Whoa, whoa! Everything okay bud?” Yamo froze, startled by Tsugi’s outburst. “Did you have a nightmare?” He reached a hand down and patted Tsugi on his back.
Tsugi’s shoulder vibrated and he fought back his tears. “I was afraid something happened to you.” His voice was muffled. He quickly pulled away and looked up at Yamo. “Are you okay? You feel better?”
Yamo let out a chuckle and continued to cook. “Yes, I’m fine, bud. Hey…thanks for taking care of me. Why didn’t you just let me be?”
“You’re family. I’d never leave my family to suffer alone. I’ll always be there to pick you up when you need me.” Tsugi smiled and went to grab plates.
“It’s not your job to worry about me bud. It is I who should look after you, not the other way around.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind. It gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel useful.”
Yamo removed the pan from the fire so it wouldn’t burn and knelt down, pulling Tsugi to face him. “You don’t need to worry about being useful to me. Just you being here is enough for me. I’d never ask you to do anything for me. Families don’t need to find a use for each other, just existing is plenty. Don’t you ever let anyone else tell you otherwise, you understand?” Tsugi nodded. “Good.” Yamo stood up and ruffled Tsugi’s hair before placing the cooked food onto plates for them.
Tsugi was curious, but he never asked Yamo about the event. He didn’t want to bring up any unnecessary memories, and he figured, if Yamo wanted to tell him, he would do it on his own accord.
***
Winter arrived and snow covered the ground. Training began to get more intense and dissecting became more intricately artful. Volgan had taught Tsugi how to train the creatures that they’ve captured. Most of the time the training was pretty similar, with a few minor changes in the approach for a few creatures.
“Deacon!” Tsugi had the pleasure to name the eathero, as she was closest to him. According to Volgan, her bones were healing beautifully and she should be able to be released soon. Deacon landed in front of Tsugi and threw snowflakes in his face. She pranced excitedly and nudged her head into his chest waving her wings, kicking up more snowflakes into the air. Tsugi had taught her hand and arm signals.
With each command, she flew into the air and did loops; dives; charged; she would land swiftly and quietly, crouching into the ground to hide herself behind her wings. She even laid on her back and pretended to be dead by spreading her wings and sticking her tongue out of her mouth.
“Good girl.” He rubbed her belly, which reminded him of Ruzo, bringing tears to his eyes. How was the little pup doing? Did it get any bigger? Is he doing well? Did the pup miss too? He sniffed and wiped his face with his sleeve before leaving the enclosure.
Tsugi always had to make sure to bathe and ensure he was extremely clean after playing with Deacon. The thought of him slowly decaying from the inside out or vice versa didn’t sound very appealing.
“Enron.” Yamo came up from the cellar. “Are you ready to up your training regiment?”