Coffee and Cake; Bitter and Sweet

[Zephel]

After three or so years working at the Oishi Taberou as the accomplice of a highly skilled Japanese baker slash dessert-expert, Zephel found himself now working inside a newly opened cafe in Evnae...under the bakery section. All the pastries ranging from mouth-watering soft-textured cream puffs, appetizing strudels, neatly-made sausage rolls to pies and cakes such as moistly chocolate cakes, creamy cheesecakes, sweet-smelling honey cakes, the ever-popular Boston cream pies and tangy lemon meringue pies to name some, neatly placed behind the glass of the counters...are all unbelievably hand-made by a person who has no apparent liking to sweets or cakes at all.

His name is Zephel, and he has declared that he has no sweet tooth since he first breathe in this world. But yet, he is incredibly skilled in making the very thing he hates; sweets and cakes. His former mentor back at Oishi Taberou, Furukawa, waved his final goodbye to his protege by giving Zeph a card...apparently embellished with golden embroideries and Japanese words he has no idea of.

Well...that is, until he showed the card to the manager of the cafe, whom is a ironically Furukawa's colleague back in baking class. Zeph got the job as the Senior Pastry Chef in the blink of an eye. Heck, the manager even called him 'cordon bleu', much to the young man's confusion. He didn't ask for all these, he didn't want to be somebody's mentor in making cakes, even his juniors are way older than him, that's the weird part. He's used into making Japanese sweets, and now he's forced to bake Italian sponge cakes.

"All I want is to be stationed at the corner of the kitchen in the dessert section with a gorilla-like mentor bossing me around... Is that so hard?" He muttered to himself, sipping a newly-brewed coffee while pleasurably sitting at one of the tables near the window of the cafe.

There's already a few customers in the cafe, but Zeph doesn't care. It's his break time, and he's spending it in any way he likes it, or they'll get his sword stuck to their guts. He had already thrown off the ridiculous chef hat back in the kitchen, so now the only thing that can make people tell he works here is that white apron donned on him.

"Who knew...bitter and sweet would make such a great combination." Zeph sets down his coffee as he picks up a silver fork besides a small slice of rich genoise to cut a modest piece and slowly consuming it in his mouth.

[Saiya]

Saiya and Eyami have stepped foot onto the city of Evnae, the pollution have made it more in a foggy situation; but not that heavy to not see her acquaintance. Saiya looked over at Eyami and nodded as she took a couple of steps towards the inner city and guided Eyami on their way.

"Truly, I don't know what part he was in here. But maybe into the stores to have a money for a living..." she explained as Gwen perched onto her shoulders. Looking from side to side. She glanced over at Eyami. "How about you? Do you feel anything that would consort of finding him?" she asked innocently, not knowing what to say at this quiet guy.

Once they were at the inner city, she glanced from the shops and centers the Evnae city has; she furrowed her eyebrows. Albeit the steamed pollution of the place, there still has people who likes to walked and live at this place.

[Eyami]

Eyami's emotionless stare blocked his distaste for the smoggy city. He wondered why in the world his brother would be working here. He recalled the small appearance of the place he saw his brother at in his vision and realized the inside of that place wasn't as bad as this outside he saw. Feeling uncertain about this city, Eyami followed Saiya through the streets.

Eyami walked in silence as she spoke, looked around at each of the buildings they passed but none of the insides looking anything like his vision. He grew angrier inside but that could not be read from his emotionless face and his calm blood pressure. "Is there a sort of cafe or something around here?" Eyami asked Saiya with an empty tone, not looking at her, as he continued to calmly look through each window from where they walked along the sidewalk.

[Saiya]

Saiya looked over at the polluted country, she somewhat took pity on such place. But its the human being who's at fault of this. Nothing in this world can be blamed at such disaster and such, for all the man whom made nature at this. Deep from her thoughts, she was pulled back by Eyami who is at her side.

She smiled apologetically and nodded, Gwen at her shoulder perching. "Ah... maybe we could go at the... uhh... maybe we could go at the Cake Cafe nearby..." she let out, looking at the flyer posted on a wall. "They said it has the scrumptious cake they baked... and the nearest." she smiled sheepishly at the thought of craving such cakes. Ah, who wouldn't have a sweet tooth for cakes and chocolates?

"Shall we then. ah... there was it. So near," she chimed, as she looks at the ever so big cake cafe in the place. There were few customers, but she could see the satisfaction in them. They stride their way at the place, entering the cake shop. Saiya could already smell the sweet taste, she looked over at Eyami, "Eyami-san, we're here now..."

[Eyami]

Eyami immediately recognized the inside of the place as they approached the cafe. He felt his muscles begin to tense a little as he entered the cafe and spotted Zephel almost immediately. His eyes fixated on his brother for a few moments while he breathed to clam himself a little before walking slowly to where Zephel was seated.

"It's been a while, Aniki." Eyami said to Zephel, using the most informal way of calling him brother. Eyami stood there with an empty expression though he was truthfully anxiously awaiting his brother's response.

[Zephel]

Zeph has his elbow on the table, his chin rested at the back of his hand as he stared outside the window in quiet content. He heard the door open with a chime, but he didn't want to ruin his peace by turning. Instead, he stared at the reflection of the glass to see.

The mirror image made him blinked.

Zephel continued to stare at the window, but his attention are not towards the view outside anymore, rather to the approaching figure to his table. He could feel a peculiar aura nearing him, and then came a voice.

'...Aniki?'

The chef turned, facing up the young lad standing right beside his table. His expression mirroring the young man's, empty and straight-faced. The only impact by the presence of this boy that might be apparent is possibly how his red eyes waver slightly. The aura is getting intense.

Zeph parted his lips, seeming as if he's about to say something, but just paused like that. Very slowly, the tensing muscles around his face lessens, and just as slowly, it dawned on him who this guy standing beside him is.

"Eyami.." His voice was as if it was carried by his breath. It escaped his notice how his past self usually addressed the darkness-wielder by and the way he called him now might just pointed straight out he can't even remember the boy. He can't tell what's so similar, but somehow this guy reminded him a bit of Hikaru...that's why Zeph concluded that he must be...a brother.

[Eyami]

Eyami stood there rigid as he watched Zephel turn to face him. He felt a tension rise as he awaited his brother's response, wondering if he would remember, hoping he would.

When he heard his name, Eyami for a moment relaxed a bit, his eyes opened just a little wider with hope that this means Zephel remembered him. As he continued to stare at his brother, however, he realized the truth in Zephel's eyes. He had truly forgotten his own brother.

Eyami's head lowered slightly for a moment and his muscles tensed again. Then, in one swift moment, Eyami looked back at Zephel and pulled his fist back and punched his brother across the face. Afterwards, Eyami dropped his arms weakly beside himself and his eyebrows contorted down into a hurt glare.

"You really forgot us.... All of us...." He said a bit quiet and breathy, though his real emotions were saying 'you forgot me.' He lowered his head a bit and looked away, letting out a sigh.

[Zephel]

Despite noticing how the boy's muscles began tensing up, Zephel took the hit, flinging back with his chair until he crashes the vacant chair behind him, and then to the table. The ruckus attracted a few attention their way.

Zeph stayed there, seeping in both the pain and the realization for a moment, before moving his limbs and tries to stand up from the crashed table. He caught sight of Eyami's glare. Painful pair of red orbs glowered at him, and then Eyami finally spoke what bothers him in a whole.

In that moment, Zeph knows he deserves that punch. He deserves a lot more than a hit on the face. He did frequently wondered how the other siblings are going to take this, and now that he finally met the other brother, Zeph can guess how hated he is.

"Eyami," for a brief moment, he wondered if he pronounced it right. It pains him that he can't remember the slightest bit about this young man, in exceptional of Hikaru's rambles and stories, and what's more is there's nothing he can do.

"..Eyami, I can remember, bit by bit, if you let me," That's what Hikaru said. He did remember slightly of Hikaru after years spending time with the boy, and through the memory of Hikaru did he remember the vague silhouettes of the rest of the siblings.

But first thing's first. He has to make it clear.

He took a step forward from the crash site, attempted to lock eyes with his younger brother but ended up staring down instead, "I know this isn't enough.. I'm sorry," that he didn't care. That he doesn't remember.

'How can I care for something that I can't even remember...?'

[Saiya]

From the very start, Saiya had been unease when they first step into the Cake Shop and saw Zephel on the other side. She look meekly at the gray-haired guy beside her; she sighed, nonetheless a bit worried as she look over at Gwen who perch on her shoulder.

She stayed silent for a meantime, waiting or doesn't make any ruckus for the moment to be stop. But, she was also confuse that Zeph seems to forgot or has his memories erase... because he doesn't know Eyami at first.

And that made Eyami emit an aura of anger, making him punch the said big brother of him. A gasp escape her lips as she stood there silently, she bit the bottom of her lips as Gwen flew away from the scene. Letting the black-haired girl handle the situation... a bit.

She gulped nervously, stepping between both men; halting someone... if someone would punch the other guy again. "This isn't the right place to fight on... let each of you explain one's story..." she blurted out calmly, though she was a bit nervous. Why was she nervous anyway? Because of the dark element Eyami emits. She's weak on those type of elements since she controls fire... which is affiliated on the light element.

She sighed, smiling nervously. "Can we discuss this properly, ne?" she asks in a calming tone.

[Eyami]

Eyami stood there and painfully listened to his brother speak. He kept his eyes to the floor and away, clenched and unclenched his fists a couple times. He didn't look up even when Saiya came forward to try and help them work things out.

Eyami closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and let it out. "There's nothing left to discuss." Eyami said finally, staring at the floor again. He eventually looked up but still averted his eyes from Zephel. "I must remain at your side now, Aniki, even though you've forgotten." He said with disdain for his brother and his voice lacking energy. "It's imperative that I do. I'm sure Hikaru explained." His expression was now back to blank but there was a sort of sadness in the back of his eyes that he refused to show to Zephel.

[Zephel]

It snaps Zeph back to place from only focusing on Eyami when this young lady stepped up in between the brothers. He only gave her an unfocused glance, then realized that they're still inside the cafe. Broadening his vision more, he could see the boss stepping out of the office room.

"..It's...it's alright," he announced to the circling crowd, raising a hand to the boss to calm him down. Zephel sighed at Saiya's attempt to ease the situation, but grateful for it either way. At least she snaps him awake.

Eyami's icy voice had frozen Zeph's stance for a while, his eyes stared to the blank space in front of him. It felt like a blade cutting through him, it's painful, but Zeph's sure this boy feels a lot worst. He heaved out a light sigh, silently wondering what does it feel like to lost a brother...

"...Uh..what?" Eyami's last sentence impelled Zephel to a state of confusion. For that moment, he tried to recall the moment he met Hikaru, and sure enough he can remember everything worth recalling, important things especially.

...But never an explanation.
Hikaru never explained anything to him.
The kid just strutted his way to Zephel and blatantly confesses he's his brother.

"...Explained...what, actually?" Zeph's finger twitched. That's a sign Hikaru must have screwed up in this section.

[Saiya]

Saiya stood there silently, she doesn't know what she'll do next. This is a family problem, and she was not included in one of them. She just hope, though, that things towards them would be alright. She sighed as she look at the customers then at the curious manager. Zephel's voice were a bit cranky when he let out an 'It's alright'.

She sighed, shaking her head as she took a sit at one of the benches near them. Watching the two as the surrounding were more tense, because of Eyami's rage.

She'll just have to wait what may come. And... she won't do anything but to stop them from biting each other.

[Eyami]

Eyami's eyebrows creased inwards at Zephel's confusion and he finally looked back at his brother. "Hikaru didn't explain everything to you properly as I instructed?" Eyami questioned, a somewhat concerned look in his eyes.

Eyami let out a sigh and lifted his hand to grip the back of his hair then released it and lowered his arm again, opening his eyes and looking away from Zephel but facing his direction. He looked at Zephel again, a slight glare in his eyes but his face otherwise blank as he slowly stepped towards Zephel and stopped in front of him. "I will explain later in secret."

Eyami's glare as he looked at Zephel longer twisted back into a hurt expression in his eyes right before he turned to the side in attempt to hide the sadness from him. "If you have more business in this place for now, I will wait for you to finish then I will stay with you tonight and explain everything properly as Hikaru was supposed to do." Eyami said in a dutiful manner.

He pushed the sadness back and looked at Zephel again with a seemingly emotionless look. "Do you have reason to remain here longer or shall we leave?"

[Zephel]

Zephel huffed sideways, dusting off the side of his pants a bit, "Hikaru never really did anything properly.." The element wielder then turns around, mostly to distract himself from watching this boy who happens to be his younger brother, in pain.

He sets the broken table by the wall along with the chairs, as he thought what he had possibly missed. There are a lot of things he doesn't know, and the things that he does know at one point, Zeph happened to forgot about it. He took in a deep breath as he thought about it, it's frustrating but...at the same time he feels completely innocent and guiltless of all these that has happened. He lost his memories, after all.

'...That's one lowly reason you just thought of there, Zephel. Way to blame it on the memory-loss..' He turned around just in time to see Eyami stepping up in front of him and tell him he'll explain later. Zeph was caught on the spot since he can't distract himself off of this now, and blinked in surprise when he saw a flicker of something different in his brother's eyes, but those eyes was then averted away from him.

"Eyami--" Zeph was about to reach out to his shoulder in an attempt to turn the young man to face him, but his hand stopped in mid-air when Eyami turned formal on him again, laying out his plans. Zeph's hand clenched into a loose fist before he pulled his arm back and turned to the rest of the others there in the restaurant staring at them.

Even though Eyami gave him an option whether to stay or leave, by the sound of it, he really wants Zeph to choose the latter. The older one heaved off a deep sigh and nodded, "Yes, I do have a reason to remain here, but I really wish to know on what the hell is going on...so just follow me."

He removed his apron and gave it to the nearest staff there, then he picked up his plate of unfinished piece of cake, walked towards Saiya and gave it to her. "Thank you...for guiding my brother here. I deeply appreciate your help," his face is solemn when he thanked her. After asking the waiter nearby to provide Saiya free refreshments, he gestured at Eyami to follow him.

Zephel headed his way to the kitchen, walked across the row of tables and ovens, and head out the back door. The sun is blinding from outside, so he closed back the door, picked up a couple of mineral water bottles from the fridge, and want back to the door. "Move fast," he instructed Eyami, and then went out of the door, going down the metallic stares to reach the back alley of the building.

As they reached down, the shadow of the buildings around them completely shadowed the whole area, and Zeph silently made his way around the junk and broken furnitures that was thrown there. He made a sharp turn to the alleyway in between the building of the cafe and the shop beside it, only to found the area slightly furnished. Not enough to be called homey, but enough to actually be a sort of friendly grouping area.

There's a few used beanbag chairs littering against the wall, as well as a patched up but usable carpet. There's even a small fan to keep the area cool. What's more surprising is aside from the furniture, there's also a large white dog lazing around as well as a blue fire-lizard near the fan. Both seemed to be asleep.

"Sit down. It's too hot to travel all the way to my place, so for now, this will do," Zeph throws a bottle of water to Eyami and settles himself on one of the beanbags, the closest to the white dog. Hikaru had at least supply him with information that Eyami gets cranky under the sunlight, so Zeph takes that in consideration before deciding to go here.

[Eyami]

Eyami was glad that Zephel would take him some place to listen to him immediately. He nodded in response and followed his brother. To some, Eyami may have looked like an eager pup following his parent though his face remained blank. He kept his posture mostly composed as he followed his brother through the kitchen.

He was a little surprised to be told he had to move fast, but gladly accepted the order and quickly followed closely behind his brother, not once taking his eyes away from Zephel's back as memories came to him in floods. Eyami noticed he felt a little more energized as they moved around between the buildings but didn't quite make the connection of them being in the shadows nor did he bother to check his surroundings. He instinctually made it across the area, avoiding all the clutter with ease.

Eyami quickly followed Zephel around the corner and kept up close behind him and was caught off guard when he was told to sit down suddenly. He stopped in his tracks, looking at Zephel, then finally looked around at where they were. He noticed some types of chairs and a dog and something else he didn't recognize. He wondered what it was but decided to wait upon inquiring.

Eyami watched as Zephel settled onto a bean bag chair, surprised as he saw a water bottle being tossed towards him. He grabbed it in the air then let out a sigh and walked closer and sat on the one near the opposite wall across from his brother. He sat down, finding the bean bag chair a bit uncomfortable but still tried to sit up straight. He watched his older brother as he recognized the form and mannerism Zephel portrayed. The familiarity made Eyami's face brighten somewhat before he looked down to remind himself why he had come and pulled the serious look back to his face. Eyami sat there for a minute, staring at the ground before speaking.

"Aniki..." He began before looking up to face his brother. "The most important thing Hikaru was supposed to tell you... involves all of us as siblings, including you." He paused a moment and looked away to take a deep breath. "The farther apart we are from each other, the weaker we get... If one of us is missing and no one knows where he is, we all become significantly weaker. That is why it is imperative that you stay with us from now on." He looked back at Zephel, showing a face that means he is being completely serious.

His eyes slowly appeared in pain again as he watched this person he remembered and loved with such clarity, knowing that Zephel had forgotten everything. He looked away again and let out a sigh. "Aside from that.... we miss you. I.... missed you..." He said a lot quieter, his eye brows pulled in a little as if in a glare but his eyes were sad as he didn't want to look back at Zephel yet.