What Makes a Family
"So, I'm guessing more coin wishes were made since yesterday?" Artie asked later that evening, once they were all back at the B&B. "Awesome shield, Mr. K! Kind of reminded me of Captain America's, but made from pure energy!"
Paul smiled softly. "That's kind of what I had pictured in my mind when I made the wish."
"Seems like a lot of folks have Superhero complexes," Pam Anderson said, smiling at her husband.
"I didn't even think of superpowers when I made my wish," Sam said. "All I could think was I wish I could be in more than one place at a time. I was torn between protecting Stevie and Stacey and fighting beside you guys!"
"That was a cool wish, Sammie!" his little sister exclaimed as she hugged him.
"Yeah!" Stevie added. "Now you can still play with us when you're hanging out with your friends!"
Blaine had used his gift of Speech to make sure the kids wouldn't talk about what happened in the park with anyone who didn't already know about their quest, not even their parents.
"I used my wish, too," Thad stated. "I didn't even really think about it. I just wished for Quinn to be protected from harm." He didn't add out loud that he'd included Quinn's daughter in that wish, as well. The blonde girl smiled at him softly.
"That's so sweet!" Mercedes said. "I did the same thing with my wish! To protect Sam and his siblings!"
"I still haven't used my wish," Rachel chimed in. "I'm waiting until I think of the best use for it."
"Uh, yeah, me too," Finn said, looking embarrassed.
"Well, not everyone needs powers to fight, it seems," James declared, passing around a pitcher of lemonade. "Carole and Mercedes were doing an amazing job fighting off those creatures today, without magic. Where did you learn to fight like that, Carole?"
The older woman blushed. "I don't know! I've never done anything like that before in my life! I saw those things attacking the kids, and some instinct just came over me!" Burt wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple. Both Peaches and Lord Tubbington were curled up in her lap, purring in content as they dozed.
"I think perhaps you might be a reincarnation," Lizel said, "I just can't figure out of who. Same with Mercedes."
The dark girl looked at her in confusion. "Me?"
"Yes," Grandpa Chang interjected. "I believe many of you are either reincarnated, or descended from Faerie in some way. Danu predicted that as the realms drew close again, that many of the strongest among Faerie would be drawn to the Descendent, and fight alongside them when the Queens re-emerged, and The Queen of Shadows made her final assault."
The teens all looked around at each other. Other than Tina, Nick, and apparently Elliott, none of them had shown any sign of being magical beings. Well, other than Kurt and Blaine, and Grandpa Chang. They all wondered who would be next.
"Where are Kurt and Blaine?" Wes asked, leaning against David as they shared a plate of fruit and cheese, oblivious to the knowing looks several of their friends were giving them.
"They were checking social media, to see how much of what happened today made it online," Artie said, smiling as Trent handed him a plate with a sandwich and chips on it.
"Which apparently is nothing," Kurt informed them as he and Blaine entered the room. "The only mention was on Twitter, and only talked about some sci-fi/fantasy movie being filmed. There was also mention of a runaway horse on the beach and some mystery guy showing up to save the young rider when the horse disappeared into the waves." Both boys looked knowingly at Dave. The jock blushed and leaned into Elliott, who was sitting beside him.
"What kind of creature was that, anyway?" Elliott asked.
"A kelpie," Blaine provided. "It's a shapeshifter. It usually takes the shape of a black horse to lure unsuspecting children to it. Once the child touches it's flesh, millions of microscopic suction cups grip on to them, and the creature drags them into the closest body of water to drown, and then it slowly digests the body."
A couple of the girls shivered at the description.
"Wait," Santana said, "all those witnesses, and there's nothing online?"
Kurt shook his head. "I thought I would have to use my techno-magic to erase everything, but either someone else beat me to it, or some other magic is in play here."
"Not necessarily, Young Master," Grandpa Chang said. "Humans tend to only see what they want to see, to believe only what they want to believe. They may actually prefer to believe that what they saw was a film crew making a movie. You incinerated the bodies of the creatures that attacked. There is no proof of a battle. It is easier to leave it at that."
Kurt frowned, but Blaine slipped his arm around his waist. "Perhaps it's better this way. But Sue is right, we really should leave as soon as possible tomorrow. Seeing us might trigger people's memories, and we wouldn't want people to start asking questions we can't answer yet."
Kurt sighed, but nodded. "Okay. Be ready to leave right after breakfast, then."
"Where are we going next?" Maggie asked.
"Shuri, Okinawa, Japan. Well, Blaine and I and Tina's parents will be going there. The rest of you will be going on to Nagasaki. We'll join you the next day."
"Mike and I are going to Shuri with you, too," Tina said. Kurt looked at her in confusion, but Ji spoke up then.
"My brother will be meeting us at the airport. He is a Society member, and works at the property."
Kurt just nodded, and looked around at the rest of the group. "Anyway, I suggest you all get to bed early. Breakfast will be at four in the morning. We'll be heading to the airport no later than five thirty."
…
Apparently one of the perks of having a fleet of private planes was being able to spread out over two flights. Since most of the group would be going directly to Nagasaki, they boarded one of the larger jets in The Society's fleet, while Kurt, Blaine, Mike and the Cohen-Changs boarded a smaller private plane that had separate compartments. Kurt and Blaine liked Mike and Tina, and Tina's parents were sweet, but the two of them had had very little privacy since leaving Ohio.
They'd sat in the common area during take off, but had excused themselves as soon as they had been given the okay to undo their seatbelts and had slipped into one of the small sleeping compartments. The room was very small, with basically nothing in it but a double bed and a wall mounted TV. There was a cubby for their shoes, and a small, fold out table for meals.
They snuggled on the bed, facing each other. Blaine smiled at the pale man. "This is cozy. I wonder what they are doing on the other flight?"
Kurt smiled back, reaching out to brush a stray curl from Blaine's forehead. They'd been in a rush this morning, and the darker boy hadn't had enough time to properly gel his hair. "Well, I'm pretty sure Dave and Elliott are talking about what to do with the green pouch we gave them before we left."
Both boys smiled at the memory. They'd been rushing out the door when Kurt had pulled the two older men aside. Rachel had been hovering nearby, fussing with her luggage, when Kurt had presented them with the pouch. The petite diva had looked a little envious as Finn had taken the suitcase from her and led her out, while Dave and Elliott looked like they weren't sure if they should accept or not.
"Are you sure?" Dave asked, looking at Kurt.
"Being the Lords of Dunaire means we can tell when a pair has a strong bond, and my heart is telling me that you two have a very strong bond. I know you are still getting used to things, but I know that this feels right."
Dave looked up at Elliott, who just smiled at him, and nodded. Dave smiled back, and took the pouch.
"I'd recommend not putting them on on the plane, though," Blaine advised. "Take the time during the flight to think about what you want, and put them on once you're someplace private, and make sure you open the windows if you're inside."
Kurt's smile grew as he remembered the kiss the other two men had shared in the back of the transport van when they didn't think anyone was looking. "Rachel is probably grilling them both, trying to figure out why they got rings and she hasn't."
Blaine laughed softly. "She does seem to be fascinated with the rings. I hope she understands that it's nothing against her personally that she hasn't received one."
Kurt frowned as Blaine's words triggered something in the recesses of his mind.
"But why, Nivek? It's not fair! Why can't I have what everyone else has?"
"I'm sorry, Nireailema, it's nothing personal against you. But you are the Queen of Spring, and as such your magic is linked to your purity and innocence. You will need your powers when The Queen of Shadows returns, or both realms will be lost to her darkness!"
"It's not fair! I didn't choose this!"
"I know, dear si-"
"Kurt?" Blaine's voice cut through the pale man's thoughts, and he blinked.
"I...I think I just recalled something. A conversation between Nivek and Nireailema. She didn't want to be a queen. And somehow, her powers were linked to her innocence. I think she might be a virgin."
"Okay," Blaine said in a thoughtful voice. "That narrows things down some. I don't suppose you saw who she was?"
Kurt shook his head no. "I didn't see anything, just heard their voices. Nivek's voice didn't sound like me, and I didn't recognize Nireailema's voice either." He sighed in frustration.
Blaine rubbed his back soothingly. "At least you are starting to remember, though."
"Have you remembered anything?"
The darker boy shook his head. "Not exactly. Just a general feeling of being awed by her magic."
Kurt sighed a little, closing his eyes. "Maybe we should sit down with Dave some time and just talk, see if anything triggers more memories."
Blaine nodded, kissing his forehead. "That's not a bad idea, but don't count the rest out, either. Who knows, someone could mention something in passing that could be important, or help us remember."
"True," Kurt murmured, nudging his nose against the shorter boy's, ghosting their lips across each other's. "I still can't believe Sue showed up in San Francisco, and she really didn't seem too surprised to see dozens of supposed mythical creatures everywhere."
Blaine hummed, skimming his lips over Kurt's jaw. "I don't know why you are surprised. From what you've told me about her and what I saw at Prom, I thought she was a mythological being."
Kurt snorted. "I just hope she's not Queen Nireailema. That would be so awkward."
Blaine let out a little giggle. "She could be Rowenna. Dave said she had a temper, and Sue definitely fits my definition of a crone."
Now it was Kurt's turn to giggle. "Well, at least we know for sure she's not Megira. Your queen is the Mother, after all. I'm pretty sure Sue has never had a child."
"Hmm, didn't you say Nireailema was a virgin?" Blaine said, straight faced. "Maybe Sue is your Queen!"
Kurt groaned, "bite your tongue!"
Blaine smiled. "Why don't you do it for me?" He pressed his lips to Kurt's, licking at his bottom lip until the other boy opened for him, and stroked his tongue along the velvet ridge of the paler boy's, eliciting a moan. The kiss deepened as Kurt fisted one hand in Blaine's hair, and the darker boy cupped his jaw.
"I think I want to try something," Kurt thought, sending an image to the other boy's mind that had Blaine instantly aroused and arching towards the taller boy.
"Oh, yes! Please!" was Blaine's reply.
Kurt pushed him over onto his back and moved on top of him, without breaking the kiss. The darker boy spread his legs enough to cradle Kurt's pelvis between them, allowing their groins to align perfectly, even as Kurt thrust his tongue into Blaine's mouth.
Blaine moaned, sliding his hands down Kurt's back, and over his ass, squeezing the rounded globes, and grinding up into him, even as one of Kurt's hands traveled down over Blaine's chest, mapping the muscled planes. The pale boy shifted slightly, putting the barest of space between their bodies as his hand slid lower, cupping the shorter boy through his pants.
Blaine moaned and arched into him again, before sliding one of his own hands around to return the favor. Kurt broke the kiss only long enough to gasp in pleasure before diving back in. Moving in sync, guided by the connection forged by the rings, they slid their hands into each other's pants as if they'd done this a thousand times before.
Being able to not only read each other's thoughts, but also feel the other's emotions made learning what the other liked and disliked simple, and eliminated the awkwardness that usually accompanied exploring new territory. It had the added benefit of increasing their pleasure, as they experienced the other's response on top of their own. As such, it didn't take long for them both to reach their peaks.
After they cleaned themselves up, they settled back on the bed and napped until lunch was served.
…
They arrived in Shuri, Okinawa shortly after eleven o'clock at night. Kurt expected to spend the night in a hotel room, but as they were disembarking the plane, Ji informed them that they would be staying with his brother, Jong. As they had landed in a small airfield instead of a major airport, they exited the plane inside the hangar, where they were greeted by a customs official, before making their way out of the small office.
A man who had to be Ji's twin brother was leaning against a car, waiting for them. He stood up straight and rushed forward, even as Tina dropped her bag and ran forward to hug him with a squeal. "Appa!" Kurt and Blaine looked on in confusion. They'd heard Tina use that word before. She'd said it meant 'daddy' or 'papa' in Korean.
"Yeoja agi!" the other man cried, holding her tight. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you!" He stepped back, holding both of her hands as he looked her over. He raised her left hand and inspected The Society ring there, a little frown on his face. "You really have grown up, haven't you?"
Tina smiled at him, and turned back to the others. "Guys, this is my biological dad, Jong Chang. Papa, this is Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson, the Lords of Dunaire, and this is my boyfriend, Mike Chang."
The other male raised his eyebrow at the tall Asian boy. "Do I know your family?"
Mike looked nervous as he shook hands with the older man. "I don't think so. My family is from Hunan Province, in China, originally. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Kurt and Blaine also shook his hand, Kurt giving Tina a little look as he did so. "Tina never told us that her biological father was related to her adoptive dad."
Jong just shrugged. "Who else would I entrust my little girl to? And I knew Lizel would take good care of her after Diem, Tina's mother, died."
They stored the luggage in the back of the small passenger van Jong had rented, and drove the short distance to his home. They could just make out the looming shadows of Shurijo Castle in the dark as they entered the house, politely removing their shoes before going inside.
"So," Blaine said as they were led down a hallway to a guest room. "I'm a little confused. Are you Korean or Japanese?"
"We are originally from Korea. Tina was born there. We moved to Japan after she was born, thinking it would be safer here. Unfortunately, the poachers found us, and killed Diem." Kurt noticed that he was not wearing a society ring on his finger, but there were two rings on a chain around his neck. He could not tell what the stones were, as they appeared to be cracked and filled with smoke.
"I'm sorry," Blaine said, but the older man just shrugged him off.
"It's okay, I've grieved my wife, and accepted her death long ago. It no longer pains me to speak of her." He indicated for Kurt and Blaine to take the room on the right, and they said their good nights.
…
After breakfast the next morning, Jong led them as they walked the half mile to the castle. "Parts of it are currently closed for repairs due to the most recent burning. The Society secretly purchased it in nineteen forty six, after it was nearly destroyed during WWII. In it's five hundred year history, many fires have damaged parts of the castle, though none were as devastating as the near destruction of the second world war. When Ailis began to suspect the castle was home to an akuma, or fire demon, she set out to preserve it, discreetly, and in nineteen ninety two, helped fund the effort to restore the castle to its original state. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage site."
"It's beautiful," Mike said as they took in the view.
"Are you certain there is a fire demon living here?" Kurt asked.
"Well, I've never encountered him myself, but a few of the staff claim to have seen him now and then over the years. Generally, as long as no one does anything to upset him, he is content to let things be, but when angered, he'll go into a rage and burn parts of the castle to remind people of his power."
"Sounds dangerous," Blaine said.
"No more so than a lion in the wild," Jong answered with a shrug.
As they toured the castle, Kurt couldn't help sensing someone watching him. The feeling wasn't malicious, more of curiosity. He kept trying to find where the sensation was coming from, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention. When they entered the area of the most recent fire, the sensation grew stronger, and suddenly Kurt understood what it was.
"He's here, watching us." The other stopped and turned to him, but he was concentrating on the vibrations around him. He began walking cautiously towards a corner of the room. Tourists weren't allowed in this area due to the fire damage, but their small group was definitely not alone. "You were wrong, Jong. It's not just a single akuna. There are several of them. It's a family."
"How do you know that?" Blaine asked.
Kurt turned back to them, and smiled. "I can feel them. They're talking to me."
"Of course," Lizel Cohen said, looking from the pale boy to the corner of the room. "Kurt is the Phoenix, master of fire. Of course he'd be able to interact with a fire demon!"
Kurt frowned. "They don't like the term demon. They say demons are evil, of the Shadow Realm. They prefer the term elemental. They said they didn't mean to start the fires. Each fire occurred when one of the females gave birth. They are worried, as one of the females is pregnant now, her first child, and even though she's not due to give birth for several years, they would like a safe space in the castle where humans aren't allowed so that she doesn't feel threatened."
"Several years?" Blaine said, confused.
Lizel smiled at him. "Akuma pregnancies last up to ten years. Do you know when she is due?" she asked Kurt.
The auburn haired man listened for a moment. "She believes sometime in late two thousand nineteen, by our calendar, but she's not sure."
Jong considered it for a few moments. "I suppose we can put it out that this area has been too damaged to allow visitors, and that there isn't enough funding to fix it for now. The akuma can consider this area as theirs until after the birth."
Kurt smiled. "They are grateful, and say they will try not to scare any of the other humans."
Jong bowed towards the corner in respect, and they moved on with their inspection.
After the papers were signed, and Tina had hugged her biological father goodbye, they headed back to the airport to fly on to Nagasaki. Once they landed, they stopped for lunch at a popular ramen house, before heading to the next property on their list. It was an old house that was well within the blast zone when the hydrogen bomb was dropped near the end of WWII. Like the building in Chinatown in San Francisco, it was the only structure to survive the devastation with little or no noticeable damage. Society records indicated that they weren't certain if the home had some type of Faery creature protecting it, or if it was just some kind of coincidence, but had purchased the home anyway, and planned to turn it into a refuge for some of the shier creatures after the realms reunited.
They joined the rest of the group at the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium, and spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying themselves, and after a wagyu teppanyaki dinner, they called it an early night, as the next morning they would be flying to Tokyo.
A/N In October of 2019, Shurijo Castle was destroyed in a massive fire. It is true that many small fires had broken out in the castle over it's five hundred year history, but each time it was contained to a small section of the castle, and easily controlled. The fire on October 31st, 2019, destroyed the seven main buildings of the castle. It is uncertain at this time if they will rebuild or not.