"M-Mom... D-Dad..."

I hated seeing those crimson flames and those irritating smell of smoke... ever since that 'incident'...

"What's your name, dear boy...?"

But where am I...? That boy crying... is that me...?

"C-Clive..."

Am I in London...? Is this... the same mansion where I used to live with Ms. Constance...?

...Then, I'm dreaming...


Chapter 7: An Orphan in the Flames

"Oh, you poor thing..."

It appears I don't have a physical body in here... I could see through my body... and I it seems no one can see me... in a sense I'm like a ghost in my dream, I guess? Well, it's a dream, anything could happen...

"It's a good thing Hershel stopped you from going inside the burning building, you could've gotten yourself in big trouble if you did..."

So I'm dreaming about my past, huh? From where I'm currently seeing, I could see Ms. Constance sitting in a chair, the professor, and my younger self, sobbing quietly. Now if I remember correctly, this is the living room... The same room where I met Ms. Constance Dove for the first time. Oh, and how could I forget that this was the same place where I was formally introduced to the professor himself? I remember him much more friendly when I was only a kid, and that only lasted for a few years...

I saw myself wiping away tears and sniffled, "U-Um, a-am I really getting a-adopted?"

"Of course! Who would take care of you if you're alone?"

Sigh... adoption, one of my most awkward times ever happened in my life maybe. It felt weird, and saddening at the same time, that I just became an orphan. I have to face the reality that my parents are dead and that I'm now all alone... But really? I would never have thought to be adopted by one of the richest person in England, or maybe the whole world probably.

I don't mind though, Ms. Constance is like my loving grandmother. No... Ms. Constance is just like a part of my flesh and blood.

One part what I like about Ms. Constance is that she's caring and understands my current situation, unlike the professor, who kept teasing me and enjoyed my humiliation with a small laugh. Can you believe it? A small laugh!

"Hershel? Would you mind giving little Clive here a tour around the house?" I was surprised when she said the word 'house' to describe her home, this mansion is even bigger than the one I live right now!

"Of course, Madame."

"Her... shel...?"

"Oh, yes. This tall man beside you is my butler, Hershel Layton. You could call him professor if you want. He's a very kind man, I'm sure you can get along with him easily." If only you knew him better, Ms. Constance... If you only knew better...

"Come this way, Clive."

I slowly walked out of the room with him ahead of me. I was hesitant when I first saw him for the first time, he wore those same attire like he did now. That black tailcoat, those white gloves, the same monocle that made me a bit scared when I first saw it (Don't know why though, it just feels... evil...) and as you can guess the next one, he still wears that same. Black. Top. Hat.

Argh! Now I'm really curious what's under his hat! Even though all of this is just a dream...

"Are you thirsty, Clive?"

"N-No..."

We kept walking and walking until I finally said the words I don't think I will make anytime soon, "T-Thank you... for stopping me..."

"..."

"I-If you didn't stop me before... I-I would have-"

"Let's not talk about that, shall we? I'm sure you have a tiring day today," He said with his sweet and sympathetic tone of his,"might I lead you to your room to rest?"

I can't help but nod at his request.

I wonder why the professor don't say those kind of stuff with that sweet tone? Ever since I became thirteen he's always been the annoying, yet scary, professor I knew now. Sigh... and to think I ever took a nap at his lap...

Walking through the hallway, I always thought I will never get used to the fancy atmosphere I will feel everyday. But time after time I got used to it, and apparently it changed my way of talking a bit; I'm speaking rather formal for my age if you didn't notice...

"Here it is."

The professor opened the door and there I saw a big, empty room. The same room where I slept peacefully when I'm small...

"It's a bit empty, but it's completed with a bed, shelves, and a closet. I'm sure you will fill it up after awhile."

"T-This is my bed? It's huge!"

"Is it to your liking?"

So this is how I'm going to live the rest of my life? A life in comfort? I thought back when I was a child, "I will get you some refreshments, Clive. So please stay here until I come back."

And with that he went out of my room.

The same room where I'm going to live.

Until another one of my closest people I cherished the most died.


It's been a few days but I haven't forgotten about my parent's death.

I would look solemn everyday, even if I'm in front of Ms. Constance, who gave me all the things I thought I would never get. I really try to become happy and cheerful in front of Ms. Constance but what's the point in doing that if all of it is just a lie? So I just sat there, not eating my breakfast and stare at it.

"Klaus...? Is something the matter...?"

Ah... I haven't heard Ms. Constance said that in many years now... She would always call me Klaus instead of Clive. She thinks it sounds nice if she calls me Klaus but I'm okay with it, as long I live with her, she can call me anything and I will not mind at all.

Although, the name Klaus is... let's just say it has something to do with Christmas.

"Klaus...?"

"Oh! I'm fine..." I said with a small feeling of guilt that I lied to Ms. Constance.

Still, there's no fooling Ms. Constance, there's still concern in her eyes, "Well, if that's the case then maybe you can play play with the professor after breakfast. How does that sound...?"

"Okay..." I couldn't refuse her suggestion.

This was the first time Ms. Constance asked me to actually 'play' with the professor if I remember. Was that an embarrassing day! I'll loath to even remembering those horrid moments... and all of it happened right in front of the professor! I just hope, with my fingers crossed, that someone at least wake me up before I see all these things!

...

Looks like I'm not waking up soon...

"I finish my breakfast, Ms. Constance..."

"That's good to hear."

I saw myself excuse himself and went wandering around this giant mansion, or what I call it, a castle.

"Professor...?" This is the part where I supposedly call out to the professor. I could see my younger self calling him in my apparently 'cute' tone, "Professor! Where are you...?" I don't even know why I was desperate to play with him. I could just do other stuff by myself... Wonder why I never thought of that?

"Professor! Profeeeesssoooor!"

That's when it happened. My eight year-old imaginations came into me and I started to think a lot of nonsense... over-imaginative, Halloween nonsense... "Why is it that the professor always appear at night for the last few days? And why does he dress so weird? And why does the professor don't want to eat the garlic bread I gave him yesterday...?"

"Young sir?"

"AH! Professor!"

The professor appeared out of nowhere behind my younger self's back, "You seem to be whispering to your self, Young sir. Is something the matter?"

That reminds me, I was called Young Sir by the staff at that time. I wonder... how did I get to be called Master? Time passes I guess...

"Young sir?"

"G-Good m-morning p-p-professor..." The sudden appearance had shocked my poor younger self until he barely call the professor, "Y-You seem t-to appear suddenly a-all of a s-sudden la-lately..."

"I do? I was behind you the whole time, Young sir."

That was one of those minor embarrassing moments, 'if you were behind me the whole time, why didn't you answer me when I shouted to you!' was what I was probably thinking that time.

"Were you finding me, Young sir?"

"I, Umm..."

I could see myself fidgeting his shirt and his expression on his face tells that he's dying to say something that was in his mind for days, "P-Professor!"

"Yes...?"

I really don't want to see this part...

"Are you... are you a vampire?" Said my younger self with a very nervous yet loud voice.

Why didn't I keep that thought to myself...?

The professor's reaction was just like I remembered, his eyes were wide but his mouth was closed. It was a very silent moment, it lasted for a few seconds until the professor spoke again, with that same smile and his same gentle tone.

"I'm not a vampire, Young sir."

"Y-You're not?"

"What is coming through the window, Young sir?"

"Um, sunlight?"

"Yes, and I'm standing where the sunlight is shining. But I'm not in pain or turning into dust like vampires do."

"Oh..."

"But why won't you eat the garlic bread I gave you yesterday...?"

"I cannot take your food, Young sir! It's not polite."

"O-Oh... I see..." Vampire... why did I even thought of that! Arrgh... I kept hitting my head into the nice painted wall but it won't wake me up from this 'nightmare'.

I saw myself walking with the professor to that dreadful place which I won't go anytime soon, the garden.

"Have you seen the garden yet? It's quite refreshing, even though we're in a city with bustling noises." The little me nodded, not wanting to say anything because of the embarrassing accusation I just made.

I was at the first floor, so it wasn't long when we went outside. It's a nice and quaint garden, just what I'd expected... except for one thing...

"W-Where are we, professor?"

"This is the garden, Young sir."

"But this is as big as the mansion!"

"Not exactly... but it does make up one-fourth of the Dove estate."

The size of the garden...

"Y-You have to be kidding me..." Yup, one of the biggest attractions there is in my own old home. After hearing the professor about how much land it takes, I was very sure I won't need to go to a camping trip to experience long-distance walks... but this isn't the reason why I don't want to visit the garden.

"Oh dear, it seems the plants are wilting a bit... could you stay here for a while, Young sir? I need to call the gardeners."

"Okay..."

It was relaxing really. That was the first time I felt my mind clear after that incident... and felt the warm sunlight in my face...

"Young sir...?"

I thought it was the professor, but I heard an elderly voice, "Is that you, Young sir...?"

Maybe it was the amount of relaxation I have or maybe not, whatever it is it just made me a bit... delusional...

"P-Professor?"

"...?"

My younger me turned around to see a short elderly man, he has bushy brown hair with a small green cap put backwards, he was wearing a red shirt with a white apron. But it seems the younger me still thought he's the professor...

"What happened to you, professor! Y-You turned to an old man!"

"Young Sir?"

"Don't tell me it's because you lost the powers of a vampire!"

...I feel so ashamed in seeing myself blabbering nonsense, and I was eight that time...

"V-Vampire? Where!"

"Oh no! I-Is it because of the sunlight? Why didn't you tell me the truth, professor!" Great, my younger me was starting to tear up from all this illogical vampire imaginations.

"E-Eh? Young Sir?"

He grabbed his apron and started yanking out of control, "Did you live for too long, professor? Is that why you turned into an old man as a vampire? I don't want to lose you, professor! I don't want to lose anyone anymore...!" Why did I even said that in the first place... I know it's not true

"W-Well I'm not..."

"Young sir?"

And just like always, the man who've I've been crying appear out of nowhere.

"P-Professor...?"

"Oh! Layton! Am I glad to see you! It seems the Young sir has been finding you... and, eh, talking about vampires...?"

It was exactly as I remember. I was mortified to see the professor behind me, and I realize what I just said... which made my face as red a tomato. "I-I thought he was you..."

"Young sir? Are you crying...?"

"N-No I'm not!"

"..." He wiped the tears in my younger self's eyes, "I'm not going to leave your side, even until death."

I pouted, "But you just left me a while ago..."

The professor smiled.

"Oh yes, I haven't introduced you to the gentleman you've been talking too..." It wasn't actually 'talking', more of 'childish ranting'.

"This person here is Cogg, he is in charge of maintenance in the mansion. So he fixes anything mechanical like machines, and especially clocks. He has been working in the Dove Family for many years, far more longer than me. In short, he is one of the most loyal servants the Dove Family have ever hired."

Cogg... did I have good times with him. He also have a wife named Spring. I like to play with those two, more than the professor for sure. They show me parts of clocks from small ones to big ones. It was interesting for me, seeing how the little parts worked together to make the hands moved. Hmm, When I think about it, I got my machine obsession from them.

"H-Hello..."

"Are you alright now, Young sir?" Asked Cogg.

"Yes... I'm very sorry..."

"You know, I think the Madame have some puppies of some sort in the garden, maybe you could feed it to them?"

Oh no... the main event of my embarrassment is starting...

"Puppies? What kind of puppies?" Just look at my younger self, eyes sparkling with anticipation to meet those baby dogs. If I only knew it will put me into shameful situation...

"I think they're playing somewhere in the garden right now, don't know where though."

He turned to the professor, full of glee, "I want to see the dogs, professor!"

"Alright... as you wish, Young sir."

"I need to go back to work now! I have to finish fixing the sprinkler..." I see myself waved a goodbye to Cogg, and continued to walk with the professor.

The younger me looked at the professor with those *ahem*...cute, curious eyes and asked him a question that has been bugging his mind, "Where were you in the last few days, professor? I asked Ms. Constance where you disappeared to, but all she said was you were going somewhere and I should try not to look into your business a lot. But can you tell me where were you?"

"Oh... the madame told you that, did she?"

"So can you tell me, professor?"

"I was..." At this moment, I saw something I didn't remember- his sad eyes, "I was visiting a very close person, it meant a lot to me because I will never see that person ever again."

"Really? But why?"

"..."

I never remember a conversation like this... it must be something that I have forgotten.

"Did that person died...?" Wow, I am heartless, even when I was young!

"...Yes, unfortunately."

Silence was the only thing present after that answer, and younger self's face was flushed after he coldly mention about the whole person thing, "I'm very sorry for mentioning it, professor... I really am..."

"It's alright, don't let it bother you."

A few yapping was heard, it was coming from one of those maze bushes where you could get lost easily, "I could hear them, professor!"

"Yes, be careful though, Young sir, they are rather violent and-"

But he didn't listen and went dashing through the maze. That was the beginning of my very deep humiliation... I should've listen what the professor said, I really should... "Where are you, doggies! Come out and play!"

Despite later being humiliated, I followed around my younger self through the maze. Maybe I will find it funny if it happened to him instead of me! But... he's still me...

Going deeper through the complicated maze, a small black dog with some brown in the paws and face emerged yapping and probably trying to find a way out of this maze. It was a real small one, but I only judged it's cute exterior... "Aww, what kind of doggy are you? A labrador?" I thought it was a Labrador at first, but I was COMPLETELY WRONG.

"Let's see what you are..."

His hands reached to grab him, and what I did next must've been heard all around London.

"AAAHHH! Why did you bite me!"

That's when the little boy here realize it was a fearsome, pint-sized rottweiler with a very annoyed temper, "Uh oh..."

"Grr... Bark! Bark!"

"I better run!" He ran frantically and turn to every open way he meets, but instead he found out that there's more than one dog in the maze- there was ten. "I thought there's only two!" He ran until he bumped into a dead end, just like what happened to me this afternoon.

"Oh no..."

The ten miniature dogs surround him like a prey; snarling and growling at the little me. And out of nowhere, the professor appeared in a blink of an eye ...as usual.

"There you are, Young sir." The puppies stood away from the professor, whimpering as if the professor was giving them punishment. Maybe they could sense the professor's evil aura that I was never sure if he had one? Or is it because of that intense glare he shows if he's mad? "I told you they were a bit fierce, you should've listen first before running ahead of me to meet them."

"I-I'm sorry, professor..."

The dogs were still whimpering, the little me leaned down and tried to pat one of the dogs head. I thing I should've done before at that time- don't ever pat a dog's head when they're angry, especially dogs just like rottweilers with sharp teeth, no matter how small they are.

"It's all right now, doggie. We could get out of-"

"BARK!"

The dogs regained their confidence and jumped off to the surprised me, "Waaah!"

Out of a second, he began running from them again, I'm pretty sure the professor sighed at me for running from him again.

Now THIS is the climax of what happened to me eight years ago. Somehow, the eight year-old me and the chasing pups was able to come out of the maze with no hesitation, but it didn't help my case at all, "Stop chasing me! I'm not that tasty to eat!" Yes, I said that out loud from desperation.

Here comes the worst part, one of those dogs bit my pants from the back.

Was that clear of an explanation?

No?

...

...One of the dogs bit my butt...

"AAHHH!"

I am soooooo not remembering this ever AGAIN! I saw myself running and running until... Splash! I fell into a fountain which seemingly had appeared out of nowhere, the dogs didn't fell to the fountain or get soaked, unfortunately. I struggle to get up with pain all over me and specifically in my bottom. Worse, there were gardeners at that area.

The professor rushed over to see me.

"Are you alright, Young sir?"

"I-I'm fine..."

I stood up. Everyone was quiet, even the professor. The little me took a look at the ten puppies. They were biting off ferociously of something that seems familiar to the younger me, something important, something that was suppose to wear at all times.

Could you guess what I'm talking about? Pants? Yes, my pants came off and now I can see myself without it.

And it's still embarrassing...

"M-My... My pants! Give it back, you tiny puppies!" The gardeners couldn't help but stiffer up their laughter from the scene I'm making. I turned red and tried to cover my exposed area with my hands as best he could do. Like doing it will cover up the whole area.

"P-Professor, help!"

"Of course..." And just for a second, just for a second... the professor turned his head away from me and do that annoying small laugh I hated so much! "I will try to *pfft* get your garment from those violent puppies."

"It's not funny!"

"Yes, yes..." Before the professor could even move, the dogs had already ripped off every part of my pants and shred to pieces as if they were as easy to tear out like tissue, "Oh dear, this is not good."

"That means I can't wear it anymore!" This is so painful to watch...

"I will get you another one. In the mean time, could the Young sir wait here for a moment?"

"I have no where else to go!"

"Oh, I forgotten about that," Liar! "I will be back in a few minutes..."

"Wait!" My younger me lift up his foot from the fountain. His feet was freed from the wet fountain and reached for the ground. but there is a trap that has been laid at the ground, "I told you to wait, profe- ACK!"

A rake was lying on the ground and he stepped it... with the handle landing in my face...

"O-Ow..." Soon, he blacked out.

The whole place around me turned black, it must be because I didn't see anything after I fainted, and I'm sure the gardeners were laughing at me, but who wouldn't? Although it was one of those days that I wish I could forget, I have to admit that it was a fun day. I get to meet Cogg that day, and I get to see the ten miniature puppies that turned out to be my loyal pets in the future. And... I get to remember a lot of things that I didn't...

Is this the end of my dream? I think it is...

But... I could see light from behind... I turned around, and that scene terrified me. The mansion is burning!

What is this! This happened five years later after I met Ms. Constance! T-This has to be some memory I didn't...

I realize my clothes were the same as that time when I lost Ms. Constance... The mansion... the very home that welcomed me to live there for five short years! Everywhere around me was the same setting as where I witness the burning. People were watching, smoke was drifting into the night sky, and the staff went outside with fear in their eyes.

The professor, loyal to the Dove Family 'till the very end, couldn't save his superior from the fate she was about to face...

And all I could do is watch it burn down...

N-No... No! Why am I seeing the day where I lost the one I care for the second time? I want to wake up... I can't stand seeing those flames... I don't ever want to see another burning home... I... I...!

NOOOOO!

Please... I don't want to remember all this anymore... please...

"Clive..."

...! L-Luke?

"Clive... Clive...!"

Luke...? Luke...!


"Wake up, Clive! There's school today!"

My eyes opened up. Without hesitant I sat up with my head down. The smell of sweat came from my body, my mind was not even clear, and I didn't know Luke was standing beside the bed, until he spoke again, "Clive? Are you alright? You're sweating so much! Did you use more that one blanket last night?"

I didn't answer.

My eyes were hazy. I kept staring blankly at the little brother; with the shouting of my name when I was dreaming in my mind.

"...Luke..."

"You're finally awake! Today is the first day of school for us, Clive! If you don't dress up now, the teac-" With no reason, I hugged Luke with the feeling of sadness that still clung to me. I didn't even thought of what will Luke say to me after I end this hug. But, this is my third chance, a third chance to start over again... with a step-brother that came from the rain.

And he needs his older brother, the one who came from the flames.

"Clive...?" He gently pulled me away from him. I was still speechless, as if I don't have a mind of my own.

I heard the door open, and I knew who exactly it was, "You're awake now, Master Clive. You don't seem in good condition, is your head injury all right?"

The words are finally coming to me, and I answered in a low voice, "Yes... it's alright... I just have a dream, nothing you need to concern about." It wasn't enough to convince the sharp-minded professor though.

"Please go to the dining hall first, Master Luke. We will meet you there later."

"Alright. But hurry! This is our first day of school!"

He happily went out with his usual sunny face. That boy is really innocent in so many ways.

"It's surprising you didn't make any remarks about Luke, Master."

"...That boy is too cheerful. There, I made one."

The professor chuckled, "Oh yes, a letter has arrived this morning, Master. I don't want to burden you with more work, but it seems you have to handle this one also." He handed me the letter. I was now fully conscious.

"What is this? From the mining?"

"No, it came from your 'other' work." Ah... Has been awhile that I've taken a break from that work. Hmph, whatever it is they're brave enough to disrupt my little vacation.

"Now let's see here..." I read through the whole letter, and gave it back to the professor, "I'll deal with this later, I need to go to school after all..."

"School is your excuse, Master? How childish."

"It's all because of you, you know."

"I will take my leave." He left the room with a smile on his face. He's enjoying his little plan just a bit too much. But I can't think about this now, I have a more pressing matter to attend to later, and it's not about mining or about this whole school fiasco.

It turns out I need to have contact with the underworld again...


FINALLY! seventh chapter finished! With 5,000 words! New record! But anyway, I'm really sorry for not uploading for like, a month? Sigh, and I need to update a bunch of stories too. If you read my fic titled My Highschool Days, I'm making the second chapter already. Triton Manor is still continuing, Maiden Love is Halfway finished, and upcoming One-shots are halfway finished too. Actually, one new story is coming up, but the title is still not yet decided. Here's the trivia of this chapter: Flora could be a teenager, at least older than Luke.

Please review! Next chapter is school!