╔═════*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═════╗

there is more treasure in books
than in all the pirate's loot
on treasure island

──● walt disney
DISNEY

╚═════*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═════╝

✦

The reading of the will took place after the funeral, and after the polite decline of any press coverage of the family, who, as Keitaro nicely put it, were in a timeline of incomperable grief and mourning, and after this period of relentless, merciless agony, perhaps they could make a comment to a station who didn't care about the coverage of the new orphanage downtown, and opted to bother the Morrigan family in their time of detachment. 

They didn't really ask any more questions after that.

The will reading was to be held at their grandfather's abandoned estate, yet another thing Dai would have to look over when it came to the actual maneuvering of his father's accumulated wealth. Trinkets, and aged furniture lined every corridor and hallway, memories and photos stacked against arched ceilings and winding staircases. The house was beautiful, stunning, actually. It was just a shame it was destined to be empty for a long while.

Dai and his family arrived to Benjiro's home. The sprawled estate lounged over a beautiful view, one that Benjiro had been persistant about not giving up, despite Dai's argument that he shouldn't be living all alone in a big empty house were something bad could happen to him.

Something bad had happened to him, but it hadn't been at any fault of that breathtaking landscape.

They were here now, looking at the vast building in front of them. Dai let out another minute sigh, pushing open the twin mahogany doors of the front, into the entrance of such a prestigious home. He couldn't help but wonder what the ever loving hell he was going to do with it.

For now, however, he motioned all twelve of his children to prattle after him, towards the sun room where they'd be hearing the will to be read. It was more of a formality at this point, everything was going to go to Dai, and his family, although his father more than likely put minature things for each of them as well.

Then there would be the business of going through his things.

He tried not to think about it too much, pushing away his thoughts as the doors to a broad-windowed room swung open. In the center was a simple circular breakfast table, home of many grandfather talks between Benjiro and his numerous grandchildren. On the table, a large wooden chest. An antique lock sat broken against it, but it was never really meant to be locked in the first place.

This had been his father's chest, only meant to be opened after his death. Dai had strictly been told that they weren't expensive things, only something that he wanted to be gifted directly to his grandchildren after they parted ways on the mortal plane. A last present to them, from their grandfather, he had said.

Dai was in no position to debate with his own father, so he relented, and didn't do so much as peak. He didn't really have too, he knew what they were.

Books, of course, from Benjiro's extensive collection. Gathered from years of travel. A library cultivated to every interest imaginable - he could only manage to imagine what his father had gifted each of them.

Dai reached the chest, hearing the shuffling sounds of his kids enter the room. Yume hummed, clicking her nails against the door. "What's that?"

"Gifts, from your grandfather." Kasumi tilted her head quizzically, catching Dai's eye, and he continued. "They're not a part of the will reading, they're his last presents to you, essentially."

"Oh, presents." Jady's voice was overwhelmingly delighted, and it didn't take a detective to know she was just trying to ease some of the looming feelings that were hanging over the entire house. 

Dai managed a short, shaky laugh, opening the casing. As he'd thought, there were a line of books in the chest, a lined piece of paper on the top of them, scribbled with his father's unmistakable handwriting. It had always been quite characteristic. He removed  the paper, scanning it quickly as he picked up the first book. 

"For Jady, a book from my trip to the Chinese ballet, or at the least, inspired by it. A book of dance, from a number of different cultures in East Asia. It does have sprinkles of other cultures as well, but I think the author had a certain leeway towards traditional Asian dance." The book itself was a deep red, with gold withered lettering, and the image of a dancer on the front in mirrored color to the title. 

Jady beamed, taking the book with as much delicacy manageable, and immediately flipping through the pages, "Oh! It's so pretty-"

Yume sighed, "And educational, right?"

"Sure, that too." She closed the book, holding it to her chest, and sending her oldest sister a smile that would turn a sunflower. Yume sighed, rolling her eyes, but ruffled her hair regardless of her kids sister's antics.

Dai chuckled, picking up the next book, "For Elliot, a book on plant life, and botany - one of my wife's favorite books. She'd used it frequently in her own caretaking of plants and her garden. I never had a green thumb myself." The book had a sage green hardcover, with the smallest one word title, Solandis. The author was unknown.

Elliot smiled, a small thing. He'd been less close to Benjiro than some of the others. Dai could blame it on the fact that Elliot was adopted sooner than the others had been, giving him much less time to get to know his grandfather than the others. Elliot nodded, taking the book, "Cool.."

Dai returned to the paper, selecting the next section of writing and picking up a large white book, a gallery of photos of some sort. "For Akiho. This book was a find that I was able to locate in a small town in India. I found it so unbelievably fascinating how intricate - delicate yet strong threaded, the costumes of the performers in the Winter Olympics, especially the figure skaters. I thought you might take some inspiration from them in your own projects."

Akiho blinked evenly, taking the book delicately and flipping it open, brushing gentle fingers over the opening page. It was a one of the competitors, sienna skin stark in contrast against the vibrant shade of red she was wearing, silver and gold snakes running along the curves of her body as she glided across the ice. Delaney hooked her chin over his shoulder, immediately brightening, "Oh! She's so lovely, does it say who took the photos?"

His eyes traveled to the subscript on the page, frowning slightly. "It just says anonymous."

His sister frowned in sync, sighing, "Too bad, are they all like that?" Akiho only responded with a shrug, closing the book up again, and just clutching it in his arms.

Dai continued. "For Merlene. I found this while looking through my collection of books. I used to read this book to you when you were younger, but i'm not sure if you'll remember. It's about this school bus, that somehow (by magical means) gets transported to an island. The students have to learn to survive with each other, and in doing this they manage to discover magical abilities individually. Your favorite character was the girl, Sophie, I think, who discovered she could communicate with animals - she was an archer too! Anyway, I thought you might like to keep it."

It was a smaller book. Thin, and relatively short. A simple paperback, with the image in lineart. A school bus, overgrown with plants and moss. Merlene took it gently, like it was something to be cherished, but didn't say much of anything, staring at the book with eyes of impossible emotion. 

"For Elijah, who regretfully, I'm afraid I didn't know as well as I feel like I should. However, I do know that you're a big fan of science and chemistry, and while I am not sure how vast my scientific collection is, I hope you'll enjoy it nevertheless. There are some excellent indian dishes inside, my apologies if it's not of interest to you" The book read, The Chemistry of Cooking. 

Elijah looked almost hesitant before he took it, hearing Junpei snicker over his shoulder. "When was the last time you cooked anything?"

Eli sent him a half-hearted glare. "I know how to cook, kinda."

"Sure you do, buddy. Sure you do."

Dai ignored them, smiling a little as the solemn pressure allievated against his chest. "Speaking of Junpei - For Junepei, a book on tips and tricks for runners, considering their physical and mental health. I always did love going to your meets, I hope you keep running."

Junpei took the book. It was small and simple. A red cover, with simple lettering and another simple design of the cleats one would use at the track. "Awesome - I don't plan on stopping running, unless Elijah's new apparent love for cooking kills me first."

"Hey."

Jun made a face at him, one that Elijah somewhat returned. Kasumi just stepped between them, looking to Dai for him to continue. Which is exactly what he did. 

"For Jasiri, a photobook. Your mother was an excellent photographer, and it seemed she always took the best photos in the wintertime. I did my best to gather up my favorites that she took in her lifetime. I do admit I am partial to the winter ones, but all the seasons are in there. I hope you enjoy it."

Jasiri smiled warmly, excitedly taking the book and immediately flipping through it. She didn't bother hiding a smile, but stayed mostly quiet. Dai assumed it was out of respect, although that didn't stop her from leaning over to Yume and enthusiastically whispering to her about certain pictures that caught her eye.

"For Delaney, a design book. One that particularly revolves around the evolution of princess dresses and design. I found it in Paris, when I was enjoying an early morning with rich hot chocolate (it's very sweet, I don't recommend it if you don't like rich desserts). There was a young woman, who was selling a few of her second-hand books. I decided to purchase it, I think you might enjoy it."

Delaney took the book gratefully, tears gleaming in her eyes as she clutched the book to her chest like something precious. It was a beautiful book - the cover was intricate and clearly well-done. It had obviously been treasured, and kept in pristine condition. She looked like she was going to say something for a moment, but eventually opted to stay silent. Probably for fear of her voice breaking. Instead, she only nodded.

"For Reysa, my darling." Dai huffed a laugh as he saw Rey hide a small smile behind her hand. "This is a book of fiction. I'm not sure if you've read it, but you told me once that found family was one of your favorite tropes, and considering you have now found yours - I thought you might like it the most out of any book I had to offer you."

Reysa pursed her lips together, disguising her exponential delight at receiving such a gift. Merlene sighed, obviously teasing. "Well, now we all know who the favorite was."

Her sister snorted, swatting at her with a free hand, "Oh stop it, I can't help being the favorite, it just happens to me."

Mer dodged her hand in response, hiding behind Keitaro, and sticking her tongue out childishly in an articulate response that certainly must have been the product of plenty of expensive tutoring. 

Dai buried a soft laugh, and suddenly that looming grief that had been haunting the house for the whole time seemed a little bit lighter, a little bit easier to bear. "For Kasumi, a book on the hundreds of styles of art, and how it's developed over centuries. It's so interesting, to me, to see all the different kinds of art and artists that scatter across the globe, and still, you're one of my favorites. I don't exactly recall where I found this book, somewhere in the back corners of my library, no doubt. I hope you like it regardless."

Kasumi reached for the book, decorated in splatters and splotches of vibrant paint. It was a large book, and it looked somewhat heavier than some of the others. She smiled warmly down at it, nodding her head in thanks, and then looked to Yume. She naturally returned her enthusiasm in full, smiling right back, speaking in that telepathic language that somehow only sisters could understand.

"For Keitaro." Dai watched his son shift, Merlene still peaking behind him, wary of how Reysa was inching closer to her, step by step. "Piano music, although there are lyrical sections as well - there's a number of songs in here, most of them foreign. There is a large amount of Europe-originated pieces, but there are other cultures as well. There's a particular piece I love, although I cannot remember the title. I'll just have to listen to them from the afterlife, I'm afraid."

Keitaro hummed, stepping forward, and breaking from being Merlene's source of protection. The music was in a spiral case of a cover, elongated slightly to fit on the shelf and desk of the piano. It was simple in color, and unspecial, but the cover wasn't really the most significant part of the book - or any of the books, for that matter.

"Wow, another excuse Kei has for playing piano now." Yume teased, smiling innocently at her twin brother.

Kei rolled his eyes, "Just cause you can't."

"I can too! I'm just not very good at it."

"Excuses." Kei scoffed, ducking his head, but it was clear there was no malice between the two. The twins didn't fight often, but when the did, it felt like the whole house had to shut down. A fight between the two of them only resulted in the rest of the family taking sides, and most of the time, if they didn't make up, it only ended in a rapid decline of positive interactions. Although, Jady and Elliot often could conspire well enough to get them to at the very least make amends.

Dai shook his head, warmth spreading in his abdomen as memories of childhood and bedtime stories rimmed his thoughts. "For Yume." They all quieted, and Yume clasped her hands together patiently, looking onward. "I really wasn't sure what book to give you, because you have such a love for every book you've ever read. You once told me it was impossible for you to pick a favorite. So I decided to give you your grandmother's journal - my wife's journal. She was all over the place oftentimes, so there may be years between entries, but I thought it'd be nice for you. To have something you've never read, and something that no one else has."

Yume blinked for a moment, taking worn and whithered pages from her father's hand, staring at them with wide-eyes, and a slacked jaw. Dai knew he'd be receiving his father's journals, wherever they might be, but he hadn't even known his mother had kept one at all. Yume chewed her cheek, them smiled fondly at the pages like they had just become her entire world.

A soft silence settled over the group as Dai closed the now emptied chest, setting the paper down against the table. It was fortunate for him, that he was able to clear this small, somewhat unproffessional will with his father's attorney before the official will-reading. It had been important to him, and to Benjiro, that his family have this before they were overwhelmingly flooded with the monstrosity of his father's wealth and estate. No doubt there would be public clamoring over any donations that his father had made. 

A quiet knock inturrupted the thought. Dai excused himself, motioning for his kids to sit so he could answer. Likely. it was just the will-reader and any witnesses that were necessary for the legal process.

That was a foolish assumption.

Because when Dai Morrigan opened the door, who else was it, but his first [ex] wife, Sara Briars. 

✦

✦ OPHELIA ✦

- here's the next chapter
hope you enjoyed it !!

- please don't forget to
vote + comment (share if
you want) so I know
you read the chapter !!

- i hope you all have
the best day <33

what is your characters favorite
book , or audiobook ? 

──● answers