Uncreative Disclaimer #4: The author does not own the amazingly awesome manga Amazing Agent Luna. That belongs to Seven Seas, Cristina Weir, Nunzio DeFillipis, Shiei, and anyone whom the title belongs to that I may have neglected to mention. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only.
A/N: Before I forget, this is set during Family Week in Volume 2. I hope you enjoy this short Francesca-centric drabble!
A Spaniard with Red Hair?
After acquiring their lunch, Luna and Francesca wandered around the noisy cafeteria until they found Luna's family. They were already seated at one of the long tables and conversing about the cafeteria food, but they looked up immediately upon the arrival of the girls.
"Ah, Luna and Francesca are here," Mrs. Kajiwara announced as the girls sat down at the table.
Francesca smiled amiably. "It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Kajiwara. Thank you again for adopting the orphan today."
"So polite, isn't she, Benjiro?" Luna's grandmother complimented. Mr. Kajiwara nodded as Luna grinned, happy that her family was getting along with her best friend.
Mr. Kajiwara looked up from his tray. "I meant to ask you earlier, but I missed the opportunity. You are Spanish, correct, Francesca?"
Francesca was secretly pleased to hear her name accented in her native tongue. "Yes, sir. I am," she replied happily. "I was born and raised in Seville. My parents are the Spanish ambassadors to the United States, although they're away on business in Spain right now."
"Well, that's too bad," murmured Mrs. Kajiwara. "It would have been nice to meet your parents, as well. I'm sure they're just as nice as you are." She smiled kindly at Francesca.
Francesca paused for a second, not sure how to respond. The truth was that her parents came home rarely, and during the occasions they visited (unfortunately, "visited" was the proper verb), they fought. There was no need to darken to the conversation with mention of it, though. She simply smiled the comment off.
Luna's eyebrows creased as she sensed Francesca's momentary discomfort. She changed the topic, saying, "So what do you all think of the cafeteria food?"
Dr. Collins was about to comment, but Luna's grandfather sat back in a huff. "How do you kids eat stuff like this nowadays? Surely, you receive better food than this, if you're paying for it!"
Francesca chuckled. "Don't worry, Mr. Kajiwara. No one has died yet, right?"
"Well, if you're paying for it, they really should serve better quality food for you…" he persisted, gesturing to the tiny side salad with wilting lettuce. "Look at that! It probably sat out for a day or two before they served this!"
"I think all cafeteria food is the same," Dr. Collins offered with a chuckle.
"I say that food is food," inputted Control. "It doesn't matter what it tastes like, as long as you have some source of nutrients to keep you going."
Luna grinned at the differing opinions before offering, "I think it's good," before she bit into her forkful of Salisbury steak.
The group chatted amiably about the girls' classes before Luna's grandmother spoke up again. "I'm sorry for changing the subject, but I've been meaning to say that you have gorgeous red hair, Francesca."
Francesca grinned again. "Thank you very much! My grandfather claims that I look just like my grandmother did when she was my age, except that my eyes are brown instead of green."
"Neither of parents have red hair?" Luna asked confusedly. "I would have assumed that you got it from one of them."
"Nope! I got this thanks to my maternal grandmother and paternal great-grandfather!" Francesca replied cheerily with a shake of her head.
"I had wondered about that," commented Mr. Kajiwara. "After all, I have never seen a Spaniard with red hair before."
Luna tilted her head cutely as she asked, looking curiously at Francesca, "Spaniards can't have red hair? Why not?"
"There's nothing saying that a Spaniard can't have red hair, Luna," Control explained. "It's just that, genetically-speaking, red hair does not occur naturally within the Spanish phenotype. Red hair is found strictly in the Irish phenotype, and it occurs in combination of red hair and green eyes, more often than not." Control paused for a second before replying, "I was actually surprised that you didn't inherit the green eyes—since you inherited the red hair—but I guess that the Spaniard blood was stronger in you. Regardless, seeing the red hair come out dominant was surprising, to say the least."
Francesca nodded. "Yes, pure-blooded Spaniards have blonde hair and blue eyes. European Spaniards who have dark-colored hair and eyes have Moorish influence from the time when the Moors had conquered most of Spain. I have some of the eye color—not much, since my eyes are not dark brown—but that's it." Francesca chucked, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I stick out like a sore thumb back home in Spain. I honestly hadn't expected any of you to know about that."
Control smiled lightly. "I studied genetics a long time ago, and still remember most of the information. Phenotypes were simply another chapter that we studied. It was interesting learning where all of the different traits originated."
"It is," Francesca agreed with a nod.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this short, speculative drabble! This sprouted from wondering how Francesca could be Spanish if she has red hair (besides the fact that this is fiction). Genetically-speaking, as far as I have understood, red hair has only stemmed from those with Irish blood, and it either occurs usually or always in combination with green eyes (I can't remember which, sorry). To allow for her brown eyes, I erred on the side of usually. However, I figure that she must have some Irish blood further back in her family tree, most likely on each side, in order to allow the gene to surface. But yes, pure-blooded Spaniards have blonde hair and blue eyes.
No surprise that our genetics expert, Control, offered the explanation.
I will admit that I did not double-check this information online. Everything mentioned here is information that I have learned prior either at home or in class. If something is wrong, you are free to correct me (although please do it politely), and I'll add a note about it. (But just in case anyone wants to jump on me for how/why did I learn this... allow me to explain that I have Spanish blood further back and it was interesting to learn about it.)
Don't ask me how Oliver has green hair, though. That is a phenomenon that I cannot explain… except with the fact that this is manga, lol. BUT who else thinks now that our favorite Spaniard must have Irish blood? :D Please R&R!