I don't own anything from Danball Senki/W/WARS
Do review! (Is it really that hard to simply type a few words and hit a button?)
"When is mama going to come back?" Mia sighed as she rocked Nana while strolling around the gardens. "Even Master Yuko is not around."
"I am back now." Yuko said tiredly from behind as she walked over to her and bowed. "Forgive me for disturbing you."
"It's alright." Mia waved it off with a sigh. "It's not like I have anything better to do anyway. Where's my mother?"
"She should be back soon. She already has what she wants." Yuko explained but refused to elaborate. Knowing her student very well, she may not be able to handle the news that her mother has found her long lost brother and that he is going to live with them. As far as she could remember, Mia was the apple of her mother's eye and is spoilt by her, but in a good way, in Yuko's opinion. It helped ease the pain from losing the king on both mother and daughter and not to mention, Mia doesn't act like a spoilt brat like some of the other officials' children but is a good person at heart. But even so, Mia was not the most generous person when it came to her mother's love. Hopefully, she'll get over it soon and get along with her brother.
'Maybe between both Mia and Muraku, Queen Kinako might agree to forget about this whole revenge thing and focus on reviving the kingdom instead.' Yuko hoped. Her family had been loyal to the royal family for generations and she was not about to stop that. But Queen Kinako was only part of the royal family by marriage so she is not liable to agree with her ways. But for Mia's sake, she kept quiet all this time given that she was the only existing descendant of the Houjou family until she had Nana and Queen Kinako told her the truth about her other child.
"Master Yuko, what is my mother doing anyway?" Mia suddenly asked her.
Yuko shrugged and gestured for her to follow her. "I'm afraid I can't say a thing about it. Queen Kinako is very strict on keeping this secretive. I don't think she wants anyone to know about what she's doing until she tells us herself."
"Mama and her secrets." Mia sighed. Nana stirred in her arms and waved her chubby hands around until Mia stroked her hand around it. "I'm going to back to my room. Please call me when mama comes back."
"Of course." Yuko bowed and watched her student head down the halls to go back to her room. She sighed and went down to the main room to wait for Queen Kinako and Muraku to pass time. "Mia is no longer the happy go lucky girl I once taught despite the fact that she was able to put up a front in front of everyone. But from what I gathered from Reika the last time we spoke, she was genuinely happy when she confronted Yoshimitsu Kaidou and possibly Queen Renneton too. I guess she's too caught up with the memories of him here…"
"Caught up with who?"
Yuko jumped and quickly bowed down. "Forgive me, your grace. I was just talking to myself."
"Never mind." Queen Kinako waved it off and gestured for her to get up. "I'm sure that you have met him before, but I'll introduce the both of you properly now." She stepped aside, revealing Muraku who was shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "Muraku, this is Yuko Kuriko. Her family has served ours for generations and has trained Mia in martial arts. She will also be in charge of starting your training."
"Training for what?" Muraku asked with dread.
"In martial arts of course." Queen Kinako said smugly. "I would rather my children learning to protect themselves instead of relying on others to protect them. Bodyguards can betray you at the very last minute."
"…I see."
"So, Yuko, see to it that Muraku learns to fight." Queen Kinako ordered her.
"Of course, it will be my honor too." Yuko bowed although she was not certain that this was a good idea, especially if Mia found out.
"Where is Mia?" Queen Kinako asked, sitting down at the large chair at the end of the room.
"She is in her room." Yuko answered.
"Call her down and ask her to bring Nana as well if she is awake."
"…Yes, your grace." Yuko said hesitantly, something that Muraku did not miss.
Queen Kinako turned to her son and offered him a smile. "Why are you still standing around? Sit down." She gestured at the chair beside her. Muraku slowly made his way to the chair and sat down. Queen Kinako was satisfied at that and smirked. "Later, you will be meeting your sister and your niece. Do greet her well."
"If you don't mind me asking, is Mia married?" Muraku asked.
Queen Kinako's eyes darkened and for a moment Muraku thought that he did something wrong until she shook her head. "Not anymore. Her husband died two months ago during an outbreak of malaria."
Muraku flinched at that and lowered his head. "Oh."
"But never mind, she's getting over it. However, I advise you not to bring it up. It is a sore subject in this household."
"I understand."
The doors opened and Yuko stepped in with Mia and Nana in tow. Once Mia spotted her mother, she ran over but halted in her tracks when she saw Muraku and her mouth fell open. "Mama…who is he!?"
"Quiet Mia, or you'll startle Nana." Queen Kinako said sternly, making Mia flinch. She turned to Muraku and introduced him. "Mia, this is Muraku. He is your twin brother."
"That can't be!" Mia shook her head in disbelief. "You raised me as a single child!"
"I sent him away years ago when you were only toddlers because it was too risky for me to keep both of you at once." Queen Kinako said calmly. "Come, greet your brother and let him meet Nana."
Mia glared at Muraku and jealousy and anger swelled up in her chest. 'That's my seat he is sitting on! Does this mean that everything that is mine will be his now!?'
"Mia, go on." Yuko lightly pushed her forward.
Muraku shifted his feet awkwardly and got up. "You should be the one sitting here. You can't keep on standing with your child in your hands."
"Ah, you're quite a gentleman." Queen Kinako nodded in approval and turned to Mia. "Well?"
Mia begrudgingly went over and lowered her head at Muraku. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." Muraku forced a smile. Mia however returned it with a glare and sat down, staying quiet while rocking Nana. Muraku frowned and shifted his gaze to Nana who cooed at him. He had to smile at that and reached for her when Mia suddenly jerked away.
"Mia." Queen Kinako scolded her.
"Mama, Nana is still small and is very vulnerable to sicknesses. I don't want her to fall sick just because a stra…someone else other than me and the nurse touch her." Mia justified her actions.
"You're right." Queen Kinako sighed. "Yuko, bring Muraku to the third room upstairs. From now on, that will be his room. Muraku, get cleaned before dinner and you can hold Nana then."
Mia had a look of pure horror at that suggestion and stood up. "Mama!"
"Mia, stop it." Queen Kinako held up her hands. "Muraku is your brother so he is staying here. You are brothers and sisters so I expect that you get along with him."
"…Yes, mama." Mia said through gritted teeth and stormed out of the room.
Yuko sighed and gestured for Muraku to follow her to his room.
"Why does she hate me?" Muraku wondered quietly once they were far away from the main room.
"Well, she's been raised as an only child and I admit that Queen Kinako had spoilt her in more than one way." Yuko said sheepishly. "So for her to learn that you are her brother…it's making her think that you'll replace her."
Muraku frowned and clenched his fist. "I shouldn't even be here."
"There's no helping it. Once Queen Kinako sets her mind on something, she'll see that it will succeed no matter the cost." Yuko shrugged. "But, I was hoping that the both of you would convince her to stop thinking of revenge and focus on building up the country again. However, based on Mia's current resentment towards you, it may take a while."
Muraku looked at her in surprise. "Why…"
"I spoke too much." Yuko shook her head. "I'll explain another day, but not now."
Muraku narrowed his eyes at her but she did not say anymore until they reached a room. The room was fairly big like his one at the Kaidou Palace but the bed was made of wood instead of brass and there was a cupboard and table at one end of the room.
"This will be your room. Her grace has already prepared your wardrobe in that cupboard." She said pointing at the said cupboard. "Please be ready before the sun sets."
She bowed and left Muraku to her own devices.
Meanwhile, Mia was silently fuming in her room as to not disturb Nana from her nap.
"Mama, what are you thinking?" She grumbled as she paced around her room. "He's not my brother, he's a complete stranger. I refuse to accept him as my brother."
"But you'll have to by your mother's orders." Yuko said softly as she came in. "Forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to see how you are faring with the news."
"I don't understand. How can mama simply let him stay? We barely know him at all." Mia growled as she sat down on her bed.
"Mia, I know that it is hard, but no matter what you think, he is your brother and you share the same blood in your bodies." Yuko said patiently. "Besides, think about Nana. Do you want her to grow up like you without a father in her life? Muraku can act like a father figure for her."
"But still…"
"Your father will be unhappy if you keep up that attitude." Yuko said firmly, knowing that she was pushing it but it was the triumph card which will always succeed.
Mia pursed her mouth shut and stormed over to Nana's cradle, rocking it with some force but not enough to wake her up.
'I guess that worked well.' Yuko thought sarcastically to herself and went back down to the main room to report to Queen Kinako.
"I take it that Mia is still fussing about this." Queen Kinako sighed when Yuko came in.
"I'm afraid so. I believe that she needs some time to come to terms with this truth." Yuko said, kneeling down.
"It can't be helped I suppose." Queen Kinako waved her hand and Yuko rose. "But on the other hand, having Muraku back with me lifts the burden of guilt off my heart for not being with him to raise him."
"Please forgive me for saying this, but I have reason to believe that Mia is jealous of the attention that you are giving Muraku." Yuko spoke carefully.
"Ah, it's about time she learns that she cannot have all of my love and affection to herself since Muraku is going to stay with us." Queen Kinako said in mild amusement. "I admit that there is still room for maturing for her."
"I suppose that is true." Yuko said with a small smile.
"In the meantime, I have a few errands to carry out next week and will be gone for a few days. That should be sufficient enough for them to have some bonding time."
Yuko looked up at her in surprise, wondering what 'errands' is she talking about but knew better than to question her. Instead, she nodded. "If that's the case, I wish you well and hope that they will indeed bond."