"Here we are, Uncle's home!" Big Sis said, pointing to a midsized house built on top of a hill. It was on a secluded edge of the city across the bridge from the academy Maki's brother ran.

"This is a better place than I expected," Hideo said, staring at it.

Onami narrowed her eyes at him. "And why did you expect less, Mister?"

He sighed. "Let's just get a move on."

Was it because Yuko's family was poor? Well, expected to be.

"Surprised you have family," Roa said, walking on ahead.

Yuko narrowed her eyes at him. Yuko didn't like Hideo and Roa before, much less now.

"I expected it to be a place in the woods," Borasco said.

Sirocco sighed. "Why did you have to add your two cents?"

"What? Everyone knows tanuki live in forests!"

"Not all do," Onami mumbled.

Kiara giggled. "It's nice to see you two bicker again."

"It is?" Borasco asked.

"Can't believe I'm saying it, but I have to agree with the idiot," Sirrocco said. "How is it a good thing?"

"Hey, don't call me an idiot!"

"Means you must be feeling better," Kiara said, grinning. She sure was a ray of sunshine like Yuko's master.

"Yeah," one of Hideo's female teammates, the one that looked like a singer, said.

Sirrocco snickered.

Borasco smiled slightly.

"Let's get a move on. We don't have all of the time in the world," Hyosetsu said, striding ahead.

Yuko blinked. Why did he keep reminding Yuko of that king? They weren't very similar. Yet, it felt similar to when Yuko was around Master's doppelgangers. Maybe Hyosetsu was that for the king of Kasai no Ki.

"Come on, it's fine to stop and smell the roses every once in a while," Kohri said, running up to him.

Hyosetsu glanced at Rosa and scoffed. "I've had enough of roses."

Rosalba blinked. "Is he talking about me? Thought we were buddies now," she whimpered.

"Don't take it too harshly. Hyo's still burnt out from the trial," Setty said.

Hyosetsu looked down as he rang the doorbell.

Hideo furrowed his brow and sighed. "Can't blame him. I am too."

Yuko's ears twitched as she heard a pair of jumps.

"I'll get it!" a voice on the other side of the door said.

The door swung open. The smell of food tickled Yuko's nose. It was a good thing Yuko ate before coming here. Although, it still made Yuko a tad hungry.

"Cousin Onami!" a little boy said as he jumped at my sister.

Onami giggled as she spun him around.

"You must be Yuuta, right?" Yuko asked, smiling.

"Yeah!" He hugged Yuko. "Long time no see, Cousin Yuko."

Yuko giggled. It was nice to be remembered even though we had only met once or twice.

"What's with the crowd?" Yuuta's twin asked, jumping as soon as he walked to the door.

"Must be Yuko's friends."

"More like acquaintances," Roa said, grinning.

"Hey, aren't you the guy who pretended to be a member of our national team?" Yuuto asked.

Roa pointed at himself and laughed. "Yup, that was me!"

Yuuta pouted and stomped his foot. "You ruined the games!"

Etsuo bowed. "I'm so sorry about that!"

Suzuki grumbled. "Why do you keep apologizing for what your people did?"

Hideo scoffed as he glared at Etsuo. "Like apologizing will make up for what your ilk did."

"Hide, be nice!" Kiara said, jumping in front of him.

Her brother sighed.

"Can I ask where Uncle is?" Onami asked, patting the cousins' heads.

"Dad is cooking with Mom," Yuuto said.

"Octopus balls?" Yuko asked.

Yuuta giggled. "Nope, it's omurice!"

"Woah, this world has omurice too?" Roa said, whistling.

Yuuta nodded. "Want some? I can ask Mommy and Daddy to make more."

Yuuto narrowed his eyes at his twin. "I don't think we have enough eggs to feed everyone."

"It's okay, we just ate," Setsuko said.

"Speak for yourself!" Roa said. He grinned at Yuko's cousin. "I'll take two!"

Hyosetsu shook his head.

"He's more shameless than me," Tetsu mumbled.

"Anyone else wants some?" Yuuta asked, glancing at the rest of us.

"I do, I do!" Nat said, waving his hand in the air. "I love omurice! I can share with my siblings."

"Aww, thanks, Nat," Lay said. "Although, is one enough?"

"I'll have one," Dossie said, smiling.

Hideo raised his hand but quickly brought it down.

"You should eat some. Coffee isn't enough to get you through the day," Ki said, shaking him.

He coughed. "Fine. I'll have one."

"You only drank coffee? Wow, boss!" Borasco said.

"I'll go tell Mommy and Daddy then!" Yuuta said, running off.

Yuuto sighed before chasing after him. "This is our home, not a food stand at a festival!"

Tetsuya grinned. "Those two really are a lot like you two."

Kohri laughed.

Hyosetsu scoffed. "I can say the same to you."

Teresa scratched her head. "I don't think I'm as serious as Yuuto."

"But you scold Tetsu from time to time," Rosa said, grinning.

Master nodded. 

"True," Teresa said slowly. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, let's go in."

Hyosetsu turned away. "Think I'll wait here."

"Sir Hyosetsu sure?" Yuko asked.

He averted his gaze. "Yeah. If all of us go, we will cause a stir."

Rosa smiled. "Think I'll stay out here too."

Hyosetsu blinked. "Why?"

She took a deep breath. "Well, you know how I can be."

"Kiara should stay back then," Silas said, smirking.

Ki punched him softly. "Meanie, Sy!" She giggled. "Although, you're probably right."

Marina giggled.

Her father grabbed her hand. "Let's stay back too, Missy."

She grinned. "Okay!"

"Wow, she really can listen," Sy said, blinking.

"She might be loud, but she's respectful. Unlike a certain twerp," Ki said, grinning.

Silas grumbled.

"Think I'll stay out here too, enjoying the fresh air," Eiichi said, walking over to a pine tree.

Sabine followed after him.

Rosa stared at her with curiosity. As if trying to decipher something.

"Omurice, omurice!" Nat sang as he walked inside the house.

Sy sighed and followed after him. "Don't go on without us!"

"I should've figured it was you and your friends, Onami," Uncle Yusuke said as he walked out of the kitchen with Yuuta in his arms.

"They're the ones who asked for the four orders of omurice. Well, five since there's a hungry shameless guy who wants two," Yuuta said.

Roa blushed.

Yuuto walked up to us and held out his hand. "Since we're taking orders, pay up at least."

"It's not good to be greedy," Piedad said.

The kid scoffed. "I'm not. I'm only being fair! We aren't rich like some of you snobs."

"Uh, we don't have any of this world's money," Tetsu said, digging into his pockets. Right, Master used all of what Akane had exchanged last time we were here.

"It's fine. We won't land in the poor house simply by giving a few away," a lady with short brown hair said as she walked out of the kitchen with several plates of omelets with ketchup on top.

"Omurice!" Nat said, rushing over.

Sy grabbed his arm. "Hey, watch your manners!"

Nat sniffed. "Omurice!"

Yuuto scoffed. "At least someone knows their manners."

Silas sighed. "Sorry about that. Nat can be a little intense at times."

"Omurice!" Nat said, flailing.

Amu grumbled. "Maybe I should've stayed back with Mom and Dad."

"Here you go, cutie!" Yuko's auntie said, smiling at Nat.

Nat's eyes sparkled. "Thanks, Miss! You're an angel!"

"Uh, we're the angels here," Hideo said, furrowing his brow.

"He means it figuratively," Amu said.

Cami giggled as she stood behind us.

"I knew that! I was just messing with the kid is all!"

"Sure..."

"So, what brings you here?" Uncle asked as he got closer to Onami and me.

"Yuko wants to train some more. I taught her what I knew. Well, except for that one technique..."

Did Sis mean the alcohol technique that made those that drink it super strong but berserk?

"I see. It would be dangerous to pass it on."

"You know a super cool technique?" Yuuta asked.

Yuuto sighed. "He just said it's dangerous."

"Dangerously cool?"

Yuuto facepalmed.

Uncle smiled. "Sure, I can teach you a couple of stuff." His smile vanished as soon as he saw Master. "Seems you're still with this guy."

"W-we aren't together!" Yuko said, blushing.

"I think he meant literally. Or at least less figuratively than you're taking it to mean," Amun said.

Yuko lowered her head. "Ohh."

Uncle scoffed. "He should if he has any smarts."

Tetsuya sighed and turned around. "Think I'll go join Hyo and Rosa outside."

"Think I will too, cuz," Amun said, joining him.

Yuko smiled as Nat handed over the spoon to Dossie to eat her share of omurice. Made Yuko wish she had a brother.

Uncle gasped as he noticed Roa. "You're that rotten guy's nephew, aren't you?"

Hideo nodded. "Yup."

Roa furrowed his brow but grabbed his omurice anyway. "Yeah, I am. What of it?"

"He's just as bad as his uncle," Hideo said.

"Hide!" Kiara yelled.

Uncle crossed his arms and scoffed. "Figures he would be so shameless."

True. Roa was just like that mean mister.

Teresa frowned but kept quiet. As did Takuya. They both knew their father had done not-so-good things.

"Yeah, yeah," Roa said, waving his hand. "I'm a baddie."

"Don't just say that!" Kiara snapped. "You're not a baddie."

Roa laughed. "Forgot that I took away your brother?"

"That was because Dan wanted to go with me, wasn't it?"

He tilted his head and sighed. "You're a weird one. Or are you Dine?"

"I'm sure Dine would feel the same way!" She gripped her head and started to sway.

"Hey!" Roa caught her as she fell back. "Are you okay?"

"Ki!" Dossie, Nat, Alex, Lay, and Cami said in unison.

"Lady Ki!" Sirocco said, eyes wide.

"Get away from her!" Hideo yelled, snatching her from him. "W-what did you do to my sister?"

"I didn't do a thing! You saw!" Roa said.

"He's right!" Etsuo said, stepping between them.

Hideo scoffed. "You abysmals are crafty. How do I know you didn't use some hard-to-detect technique?"

Roa scoffed. "You really are an irrational guy, aren't ya?"

"Irrational? I'm more rational than you!"

"I hate to side with Roa, but you're being irrational, Hideo," Teresa said, sighing.

Setsuko sighed. "This reminds me of the last time we were in this realm. At least no one's getting a gun pointed at them, yet."

Serrano patted her shoulder.

Takuya put a hand over Kiara and frowned. "Seems her mana levels are off."

"What does that mean?" Hideo asked.

Master's brother furrowed his brow. "Her mana isn't flowing as it should which is making her faint."

Kiara smiled slightly. "I'll be fine."

Teresa put her hands on her hips. "Like I buy that. I got a lot of that from Mom and the runt growing up."

"Same with my mom," Nico said, shaking his head.

Kiara grumbled.

"Mom does say that Ki's a lot like her. I can see why now," Hideo said, scoffing.

"She says the same about you," Silas said, smirking.

Hideo jumped. "I'm not like that!"

"If it's her energy levels that are off, I think I know someone who might be of some help," Auntie said.

"Who?" Alex asked.

"He's a co-worker of mine at the academy. His name is Mr. Suzuran." She ran over to the kitchen and brought back a piece of paper and a pen. "I can give you his address. Although, he might be at the academy, working on a new potion."

"Isn't it the off-season?" Uncle asked.

"Yeah, but the full-time teachers are allowed to use the facilities to conduct research."

"Nine Petal Academy, right? Isn't it a high school?" Silas asked.

"Yeah, but it isn't your run-of-the-mill high school. It's one of the highest acclaimed high schools in the country. There are some students who have managed to make a name for themselves there without having to go to university. It all depends on how well one uses the opportunity."

"Woah! I wanna go there!" Nat said, jumping up and down. "Maybe I can learn to help Ki with her issue!"

"Nat, you're six," Sy said.

Setty laughed. "It's never too early to decide what school he wants to attend."

Nat nodded.

Yuuto scoffed. "It isn't that easy to get into. But a rich boy like you can probably pay for admission if he wanted to."

"Yuuto, stop being petty," Yuuta said, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

"I'm not!"

"Jealousy isn't a good look," Nori said.

"Indeed, it isn't," Xime said, clenching her necklace. "Jealousy can bring down kingdoms."

Yuuto pouted.

His mom sighed and picked him up. "They're right, Yuuto. Just like the rich shouldn't look down on the poor for having little money, the poor shouldn't look down on the rich for having loads of money."

He hugged her back.

"Sorry, big bro can be a little funny with money," Yuuta said.

"I noticed," Piedad said, frowning. Did money talk make her uncomfy?

"Think he's just hungry," Auntie said.

"I want my omurice," he mumbled.

"Let's get Kiara to this Mr. Sururan guy!" Hideo said.

Silas took the note from Auntie. "Hope that Mr. Mizu no Kin knows where this is at."

Auntie gasped. "Mr. Mizu no Kin? So that's how you found this place!"

"Yeah, but we had Onami too," Kohri said.

Onami laughed awkwardly. "I, uh, might have guessed."

"Ehh? You mean you could've gotten us lost if it weren't for Marina's dad?"

Onami grimaced and nodded. "Uncle used to live in the apartments not too far from here. This is actually my first time visiting their new house."

"Oh. Well, that makes sense! Thought you had absolutely no idea for a second there."

Onami elbowed his. "Let's get going."

"Ouch..." Kohri said.

Yuko patted him. "You okay?"

He smiled slightly. "I'm fine."

"Seems we're out of eggs," Yuuta said, rushing back

"Eh? So no second omurice to take with me?" Roa asked.

Hideo grumbled. "Your priorities really are different from ours..." He turned around and matched off.

"I can buy some eggs," Nico said.

"You would do that for us?" Auntie asked.

Nico smiled. "Yeah."

"Won't you get lost?" Serrano asked.

"I'll be fine! I can read Xelerian."

"Huh? How is that possible? I can't read it when away from the knights. Nor understand it for that matter," Teresa said.

Nicolas frowned. "My dad taught me. His father is from this world."

"Oh. Hopefully, your grandfather is less of a jerk than that guy is."

Serrano stepped closer to Nico.

"What?" Nico asked.

Serrano turned away. "You look a bit like someone I fought when I was last here."

Nico scratched his head. "Oh..."

Was something bothering Nico?

"Yuko can accompany you," Yuko said. "It's for Yuko's uncle anyway."

Nicolas smiled. "Thanks, Yuko."

"I'll come with you too," Teresa said. She stared at her phone and glanced at Zafir. "If you need anything for Kiara, call us. Okay?"

Zafir nodded. "You got it."

She smiled. "Thanks."

Nicolas stared at the two and lowered his head. It was like Yuko around Master and Rosa.

Yuko poked him.

"Hmm?" he said, blinking.

"Yuko will help ya!" Yuko whispered.

He blinked. "With what?"

"Love."

His face flushed. "Uh, what?" He blinked. "I, uh. Okay."

Yuko grinned. Yuko might've represented faith, but Yuko could still be as much of a cupid as Rosa!

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^^. Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?**