Poofing back into existence always left Yuki nauseous. As they did so in the confines of his own room, it took all he had to not hurl the leftovers from that mornings breakfast onto his dear brother.

“I will never get used to that.” The prince steadied himself, gripping tightly to Sal’s cloak before casting a glance up towards the other. He took two steps back, remembering what led to such an entrance in the first place. “Sal, explain to me what the hell that was?” He placed his palms to his hips and tipped forward in an annoyed fashion.

However, an explanation was furthest from the thing the king did next. Extending his arms out, he pulled his younger sibling into a tight embrace. “I thought I lost you too.” One of his hands cupped the back of Yuki’s head, cradling it as one would a newborn. “Don’t scare me like that.”

Yuki felt shivers travel down his spine from how unsettling both the action and the phrasing made him feel. In an attempt to pry Sal off, he reached an arm between them, pushing his hands against the others face. “Don’t get your snot on me old man.” With one last successful shove, he was freed. “I mean it Sal. What was that.”

“I-” It was blatantly obvious how much he was struggling with how to phrase his next words. How bad could it have been? Apparently, enough to force him to switch topics right away.

“Yu, I smelled magic before I arrived. Was that-did you-” For a brief moment, the elder brothers face lit up in delight, only to regain the memory as to how the ability was lost in the first place. His hands were visibly shaking. “How?”

Now Yuki was torn between being mad and comforting his blood relative. He chose the latter first. “The one I was with. Vayne. I found him injured and…” ‘Broken.’ Clearing his throat, he continued on after voicing the last addition in his mind. “It just sort of happened.” He shrugged.

Sal clenched his fists, attempting to keep his very own emotions at bay. “It doesn’t just...happen.”

“Well, it kind of did.”

I kind of just...happened, as you put it dear Sal. Perhaps it does.

“That isn’t how it works!” Without meaning, the elder raised his voice, tsking afterwards. “Magic doesn’t just manifest out of nowhere after a year of being extinct.”

Snapping, Yuki took a step forward defensively. “You’re the one who asked what happened. I’m answering you truthfully. Do you not trust me?”

“Yu that isn’t-”

“That’s exactly how it is!”

Sal himself took a step forward now to where they were each neck and neck. “It's him I don’t trust! Yu, what makes you think he wasn’t acting like that to try and harm you? He could have hurt you! Why can’t you understand that? I can’t lose you too! Especially not to a Belmont!”

As Sal spoke, Yuki found it hard to find another place to counter argue, for the shadow growing behind him felt darker and loomed even more precariously than it had just before. If he squinted hard enough, he could even see a pair of eyes staring back.

“I forbid you from stepping foot out of this castle for the foreseeable future.” Finally, the King concluded, laying down a final command. It wasn’t just as an older brother. It was as his King.

Yuki stood stunned for a few seconds before his blood began to boil in anger. “ForBID ME?” He loudly bit the last part out. “Excuse me?”

“You’re excused.” Sal folded his arms over his chest. He wished to be done and over with this conversation. It was already stamped and sealed with his insignia.

The prince raised a finger up, attempting to start a sentence, but chose to stop halfway. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Unbelievable. What am I, a maiden caught by her father sleeping around too much and finally gets locked up for her behavior?” How oddly specific. “You know, I could just sneak out a night right?”

“Already placed preventive measures to that.”

“Oh wonderful! He curses me too! What more will this slave driver do?” Yuki threw up his arms in defeat. Currently accepting things as is, he headed towards the door. “I hope you know, I really, really, really don’t like you right now.” With that, he left.

Hate was too strong of a word to use, even for someone such as himself. He'd thank himself later for such too.