When they were done cleaning, Frankenstein had called a car to drive them to school.
Some days, Tao could hardly believe his luck... Not only had he and his comrades been rescued from their miserable lives of servitude to the Union, but now they lived in the lap of luxury. They ate delicious food, slept in soft beds, and were well taken care of by a brilliant doctor and an all-powerful noble.
Tao glanced at Frankenstein, who was frowning at his hands. There were dark circles under his eyes again. Tao felt a little bad about that... he wondered if Frankenstein looked so tired because he'd been forced to listen in on his nightmares.
Or... had Frankenstein simply been up all night worrying about his Master?
He knew for a fact that Frankenstein would not appreciate being interrogated about his relationship with Sir Raizel. But Tao couldn't help wondering if they had really messed things up by barging into Frankenstein's office the other day... Because if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Frankenstein would do anything for his Master.
So why did it seem like Frankenstein was denying his Master? Why was Sir Raizel spending his nights alone when Frankenstein was right next door to him?
He owed Frankenstein and Sir Raizel everything. And knowing what he did about how they both suffered, how he himself now shared Frankenstein's pain... He knew that the two of them deserved some happiness.
"Tao? You awake? We're here."
He'd apparently been zoning out in the car... Frankenstein was holding the door open for him.
"Coming…" he said, hastily climbing out of the car.
Frankenstein had already set off across the courtyard, so Tao had to jog to catch up.
As they were walking across the school yard, Tao suddenly shivered. A wave of energy had just washed over him, making his hair stand up. It was awfully familiar, too...
He anxiously looked up at his Boss. Frankenstein's face had stiffened.
"Master... What are you doing...?" Tao heard Frankenstein say under his breath. He saw Frankenstein's fingers twitching like he was itching to summon his dark weapon.
For a moment, Tao was convinced that his Boss was going to rush off to aid his Master... but Frankenstein simply shook his head and headed into the building.
"Hey... that was Sir Raizel sending out that energy... wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Don't you want to know what's going on...?"
"That was a warning," Frankenstein said curtly. "Master was warning someone to stay away... and I can't rush off right in the middle of the courtyard like this. Master is not in any danger. If he were, I would know."
"Uh... it's just that you seem angry."
"You must be mistaken."
Tao was sure that he wasn't mistaken. Frankenstein might not realize it, but a subtle dark energy was seeping from his skin. Students were looking around, some of them clearly unnerved by this threatening power that they could feel but not see...
He waved to M-21 and Takio as he passed them. Both of them seemed to sense that the Boss was in a bad mood, and they stayed at their posts.
Lucky them. Tao knew that if he tried to run from the pile of paperwork waiting for him, he'd just get dragged back inside by his earlobe.
When they made it to the Chairman's office, Tao nearly cringed at the piles of papers on Frankenstein's desk.
"Geez, Boss... I didn't realize you were this behind on paperwork..." Tao commented.
Frankenstein shot him an annoyed look.
"There wouldn't be so much paperwork if someone hadn't built so many additions onto the school…" Frankenstein said stiffly. "And spent a great deal of my money on top of that."
"Oh… um…" Tao stammered. "I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal… It isn't, is it?"
"No, but I thought since all this nonsense is your fault, you could help me with the permits and forms," Frankenstein said, setting a pile of paperwork down on the coffee table.
"Fine…" Tao sighed.
He sat down at the coffee table, pulling the pile of papers toward him and starting to work. Unfortunately, filling out permits was dull work, and Tao soon found his attention wandering.
Tao glanced at Frankenstein. The Boss was diligently working, his hands flying across the pages, a look of intense focus on his face. Frankenstein always gave a hundred percent in anything he did… so why wasn't he giving Sir Raizel a hundred percent?
"What?" Frankenstein said quietly, his eyes still fixed on his work. "If you've got something to say, just spit it out."
"All right… Why are you ignoring Sir Raizel?"
"Me? Ignoring the Master?" Frankenstein said, finally looking up. "What are you talking about?"
"Yeah… I thought you two were going out now," Tao pointed out. "I mean, you guys have been together long enough… So why are you acting like you don't care that he might be in trouble...?"
Frankenstein froze, dark energy instantly gathering around his hands.
"I do care... but as I told you, Master was not in any danger," Frankenstein said in a low voice. "He arrived at school shortly after we did. Please, just do your work."
"Yeah, then why are you still so pissed off?"
Now Frankenstein was starting to become truly angry... The pen in his hand turned to dust.
"None of your business."
"Did something happen between you two...?"
"Why are you pushing this?!" Frankenstein demanded, rummaging in his desk for a new pen. "First M-21, now you... Is Takio outside waiting for his turn to interrogate me?"
"Look, we're not trying to interfere in your personal business..." Tao said hastily. "It's just that Sir Raizel obviously wants something from you, and you're ignoring him, which really isn't like you."
"Don't patronize me, Tao," Frankenstein growled. "I don't need you to tell me how to take care of my Master."
"Patronize you?" Tao said seriously, sitting up straight to look his Boss in the eye. "Would I really patronize the person who gave me a home? Or the person who gave me a job? And you really think I'd patronize the person who literally made me what I am today?"
Tao took a deep breath.
"I'm not patronizing you. I'm just trying to help you see things clearly. Maybe it's hard because the two of you were apart for so long, but… don't you think that time apart was hard on him, too?"
Things weren't getting any better… The Boss looked like he was chewing off his own tongue.
"You have the wrong idea, and I'd appreciate it if you could let this go. Please."
"No," Tao argued. "I've seen the way Sir Raizel looks at you, and I know he's serious about this. I'd rather see him be happy, and it's obvious you care about him more than anything… So why not just give him what you both want?"
"Because it's not that simple!"
"Yes, it is!" Tao shot back. "What are you so worried about, anyway? Your standing as the school's Chairman? You know you can just keep it a secret, right? Nobody needs to know what you guys do at home!"
"You really think I don't know that?" Frankenstein snapped.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I don't have a problem..."
"You clearly do."
"Could you please stop this already? You're giving me a headache."
"Is it because you're both guys?" Tao asked. "You didn't seem bothered by that yesterday..."
Frankenstein seemed to have had enough, and he slammed his hand on the desk.
"No, that is not the problem! Raizel's gender is the least of my worries! Maybe I'd just rather see my Master love someone who isn't a literal monster wearing a human skin!"
Tao flinched. Frankenstein was upset now. When the Boss opened his mouth to speak again, toxic black energy seeped out from between his teeth and dripped into his lap.
"Let me repeat: There are much better options for my Master than me," Frankenstein told him, dark blood coating his lips and oozing down his chin. "Any intimacy with me would only hurt him!"
"Hurt him? What do you...?"
"I mean that he can do better than a cursed mutant, don't you think?" Frankenstein interrupted.
"No," Tao said flatly.
For the first time, Frankenstein seemed a little caught off guard.
"No?"
"You can put that nasty oozing face away, because I'm not buying your whole 'monster man' act. Nobody who's seen you around Sir Raizel would buy it."
"You should know by now that it's not an act," Frankenstein countered, searching his pocket for a tissue.
"I know, I know what it's like for you…"
"You don't, Tao. You've only had a taste of it," Frankenstein said, wiping at his mouth. "I gave you one powerful soul to augment your power. Try housing over thirty thousand evil spirits in your head and then talk to me about how human you feel."
"That… that may be true," Tao said, pulling himself together. "And you may be as far from human as you can get, but I don't think that makes you any less worthy of him."
Frankenstein snorted disbelievingly as he finished cleaning his mouth.
"You can think whatever you want… but I'm going to make sure my Master is happy, no matter what it takes."
"Invite him into your room, then. I guarantee you he'll be happy."
"Here's an idea," Frankenstein snapped. "Be quiet and focus on your work. And don't forget, you're helping to set up the spring formal on Saturday morning."
"I haven't forgotten. We're driving everyone to the dance that night after we're done setting up, too. You're going to be there, right?"
"Yes. I will have to stay on location to greet arriving students, and we will all be chaperoning the event. And we will have to stay afterward to pack up everything we brought with us."
Instantly, the gears in Tao's head started spinning and a plan started taking shape.
"All right, no problem."
"Done!" Tao said proudly.
Frankenstein looked up just as Tao dropped the pile of completed paperwork back on his desk.
"All right," he said, picking up the papers to sort through them. "It's almost lunchtime. You may as well go eat now."
Tao shot him a sideways glance at the door, a guilty look on his face.
"Uh... you're not mad at me, are you?"
"No," Frankenstein said shortly. "You only had Master's best interests in mind. That's understandable."
"Right... I'm going to lunch, then. You want anything?"
"It's fine, I have something," Frankenstein said, pointing at his private mini-fridge.
Tao nodded and left.
As soon as Tao was gone, Frankenstein slumped back into his chair.
Why was his entire family being so stubborn? Couldn't they see that Raizel deserved better? Didn't they understand that Raizel was using up too much of his power already? Being his Master's lover was simply out of the question...
So why couldn't they all just let it go?
It was clear what his Master should be saving his energy for, and it wasn't him. There was no reason to have Raizel wasting any more power on his servant. Not when Master already had his duties to attend to... battles only he could win...
Frankenstein shook his head. Sometimes, Raizel was just as stubborn as he was.
How many times had he pleaded with Raizel to conserve his energy? Master had fainted just last night from using too much power... And yet only hours ago, his Master had spent even more energy to scare away what Frankenstein could only assume to be more werewolves.
Why wouldn't Raizel call on his companion to help him? He would rather die than ask for help?
Frankenstein clenched his fists, trying to keep the spirits in his head from getting too agitated.
This had all played out many times before... Master hated when his companion got hurt while helping him with his duties. He hated to see Frankenstein struggling to control his cursed weapon. His Master saw himself as responsible for his companion's pain. Raizel took his position as the Noblesse very seriously... maybe a little too seriously.
But Frankenstein could handle any amount of physical pain if it meant sparing his Master's life. What he couldn't handle was the thought of losing Raizel a second time.
What would he do if Raizel left him behind again?
In an attempt to distract himself, Frankenstein got up, pulling one of his homemade bento boxes out of the fridge. These were easy enough to make for the kids to take to work, and he could make them in bulk for the whole household. Raizel was the only one who didn't care for them much, usually insisting on having his ramen.
Unfortunately, he wasn't feeling especially hungry. Not with these memories filling his head... Memories of wandering the earth alone with nothing but the voices in his head for company... Several painful centuries of wondering why Raizel had waited so long to call for him the day he'd disappeared.
Years and years of blaming himself for Raizel's disappearance had almost broken him.
He forced himself to start eating. He could go for quite a while without food, but not doing the things normal humans did, like eating and sleeping, would eventually weaken him too much.
Out of respect for his Master, Frankenstein had never asked why Raizel had left him behind eight hundred and twenty years ago. He had formulated many hypotheses over the years... It was more than likely that Raizel simply hadn't wanted him to be harmed.
So Raizel thought he'd be better off being abandoned instead of being allowed to defend his Master... to die with him, if it came to that?
Perhaps he didn't really want to know the truth.
Rai was walking down the hall toward Frankenstein's office, feeling even more nervous than he had yesterday, if that was possible.
He'd promised to have tea with Frankenstein today, just like always. But part of him was concerned after what he'd done earlier, unleashing even more of his power, more than he had intended to... What if his hands started shaking again, like they had this morning? That would only upset Frankenstein, and likely ruin tea time.
Regis and Seira had once again gone to the library to study rather than come for tea... Rai was starting to suspect why they were doing this, but he honestly couldn't say he minded. It was hard to find time to be alone with Frankenstein when there were so many people around him.
With that in mind, Rai entered Frankenstein's office without hesitation. He had to savor these moments while he could. Frankenstein looked up from his work... he was just as handsome as always, but he once again seemed a bit tired.
"Good afternoon, Master..." Frankenstein said, standing up from his desk. "Will Regis and Seira be joining us today?"
"They went to the library again today."
"Ah... They have been quite studious lately, haven't they?"
"Yes."
"Well, the tea is almost ready... Please, sit down and relax."
Rai sat down in his usual spot on the couch, waiting for Frankenstein to serve him tea.
As soon as he'd sat down, he felt his body heating up. This was the couch that Frankenstein had imagined making love to him on... Was that how tea time would end after Saturday? Would Frankenstein make love to him right here in his office before sending him back to class?
Rai swiftly shook his head to clear it. Now that was certainly inappropriate... They were at a school with young ones. Frankenstein had more propriety than that. It was only a dream, after all...
Frankenstein set a silver tray on the coffee table in front of him.
"Here you are... I made a new blend today. I hope you enjoy it."
"I'm sure I will," Rai said, pleased. He always liked it when Frankenstein brought him new teas to sample.
Frankenstein draped a towel over his arm and stood dutifully nearby as Rai sipped his tea. It was just as good as he expected.
"It's wonderful. Thank you."
Frankenstein nodded and smiled.
He peeked up at Frankenstein from under his eyelashes. Frankenstein was looking a little tense, despite the gentle smile on his face.
Rai wondered if Frankenstein was nervous because he was remembering what had happened the last time they'd had tea alone in his office. He had sat in his companion's lap and felt those strong arms around him... And he had gotten his first kiss.
He'd often had tea while buried in Frankenstein's thoughts. Would the tea taste even better while sitting in Frankenstein's lap... and finished with sweet kisses?
Perhaps after Saturday had passed... Frankenstein would allow him to try.
Maybe then he'd finally be close enough.
Was Frankenstein thinking about that, too? His companion seemed to be absently biting his lower lip... that sort of nervous energy didn't suit him at all, not when Frankenstein was usually so bold and brash.
Rai wanted to comfort Frankenstein and submerge himself in the man's brilliant mind... He wanted to let his companion know that he had enjoyed everything that had happened between them yesterday. He had no regrets... and he wanted more.
But if he slipped into Frankenstein's mind now, he might give away his plans to surprise his companion with gifts tonight. Rai hoped Frankenstein wouldn't consider a few gifts to be too much... All he wanted was to let Frankenstein know how much he cared, and that he was valued. And perhaps... to court his companion properly.
"How are your classes going, Master?" Frankenstein asked, seemingly to break the unusually awkward silence in the room. "Are you getting used to the lessons?"
"Oh, yes... I am quite enjoying familiarizing myself with the current literature..."
Unfortunately, as he was about to tell Frankenstein about a particular novel he'd read, Rai's hands started to feel weak and out of his control. The teacup slipped from his fingers before he could put it back on the saucer... The porcelain cup shattered on the floor.
Rai looked up anxiously, more worried about Frankenstein's reaction than he mess he'd just made.
And sure enough, Frankenstein's gaze had filled with worry.
"Master... Your hands are shaking again," Frankenstein said softly.
"It's nothing," Rai said quietly. "No need to worry..."
"Yes... nothing..." his companion repeated, his eyes glazed over. But before Rai could look further, Frankenstein had knelt down to pick up the broken cup.
Frankenstein started to pick up the pieces, but then... he stopped. Instead of crouching, he got down on his knees before his Master, bowing his head.
"Master… May I ask you something?"
Rai noticed that the tension in his companion's mind seemed to have reached a boiling point... that probably didn't bode well.
"Yes, of course."
"Why… were you using your powers earlier?"
He immediately tried to stop his hands from shaking, but he couldn't manage it. Unfortunately, that information would only make Frankenstein more upset...
"The fifth Elder was here, along with another werewolf warrior… I simply commanded them to leave before they caused more trouble," Rai said quietly.
Frankenstein sighed heavily.
"I would have taken care of that for you… There was no need for you to use your powers, Master… Not after what happened last night…"
Rai immediately felt guilty. He had fainted in Frankenstein's arms last night… it was no wonder his companion was so worried.
"And now it seems you are unwell again… And I… I can't..."
Frankenstein snapped his mouth shut, seemingly unable to finish his thought.
Rai didn't know what to say. He hadn't been intending to unleash such energy this morning, so why had he?
Though the presence of two potential threats had indeed annoyed him, that wasn't what had made him so upset. No… it had been the fifth Elder's insistence that he share his companion with her.
Had he spent so much time with adolescent humans that he had started to act like them, too? He hadn't lashed out with his powers because he'd been angry.
No… he'd lashed out at those werewolves because he'd been jealous.
He'd been incredibly jealous at the thought of Frankenstein being intimate with anyone besides himself. He wanted Frankenstein's hands on his body, and those lips on his mouth... He wanted his companion's heart and mind to be his and his alone.
But how could he tell Frankenstein that? How could he explain that he'd used up his life span because he was selfish, because he wanted to keep his companion all to himself? He was the Noblesse... he shouldn't be so greedy.
"Frankenstein… I… I did not intend to do so, but... it is my duty to protect this place."
"So you would rather use up your life than ask me for help," Frankenstein asked, his shoulders sagging. "I don't understand, my Lord… I don't understand why you are so eager to weaken yourself..."
My Lord… Frankenstein never called him that.
"Please, Frankenstein…"
"Have I done something wrong? Have I offended you?"
Rai balked. What on Earth was he saying?
"No, of course not…"
He reached out to touch Frankenstein's cheek, but his companion swiftly stood up and backed away. Darkness was spreading from his mind... Darkness, and fear, and grief...
"You know I only want you to be happy... and safe," Frankenstein said in a barely controlled voice. "Why will you not allow me to protect you? Why... must you always take on such heavy burdens by yourself?"
"You know why…"
Frankenstein was upset, and Rai couldn't blame him, especially not with the evil spirits in his head amplifying his pain... But how should he comfort him? His mind was a mess… but Frankenstein didn't want his Master to use up any more power on taking care of him.
"You know I would do anything for you... You may use me however you wish... Why will you not use me to enact your will?"
His fists were clenched at his sides, a trickle of black blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth.
"Don't be ridiculous," Rai said firmly, getting to his feet. "You are not a tool to be used and discarded!"
"Why not? You've discarded me before."
Rai's heart sank all the way down into his stomach. He should have known this would come up one day... That he would have to justify the decision he'd made to the one he cared for most.
How long had Frankenstein wanted to say that to him? He was sure Frankenstein cared for him more than anything… but that had likely made it even more painful when he'd disappeared, leaving his companion behind.
He must have been incredibly hurt… and alone. And now he feared the same thing would happen again...
"Why... why didn't you call for me? Why can you not rely on me? Did I do something wrong back then? I didn't want... please... don't..."
His companion put a hand to his mouth, seemingly to stop the flow of words and blood from his lips.
"Please, Frankenstein... It's not what you think..."
But before he could finish, Frankenstein started moving toward the door.
Rai moved to intercept him. He couldn't let Frankenstein leave and run off to do something rash… A split second later, he realized that was not what Frankenstein was trying to do, and Rai swept sideways out of the way.
Frankenstein burst out of his office, hands still at his mouth.
"Sir!" the secretary exclaimed as Frankenstein rushed past her. "Is everything all right...?!"
Frankenstein ignored her, stumbling into his private bathroom and immediately vomiting into the toilet.
"Oh!" the woman said, bolting up from behind her desk. "Oh my!"
Rai had tried to follow Frankenstein, but the secretary got in his way.
"Please, the Principal is indisposed..." she said anxiously, reaching out behind her to close the bathroom door. "If you need to speak with him, I would ask that you wait until later..."
Rai felt rather sick himself... He didn't want to leave Frankenstein alone and suffering. Awful retching sounds were coming from the bathroom... But worse than that was the miserable, desperate sadness that was oozing from his companion's mind.
But if he wanted to be with Frankenstein now, he'd have to use his powers to control several of the school's employees... and Frankenstein wouldn't want that.
"Very well," Rai said softly. "I will come back later."
Rai left the main office, looking for a place he could hide from the children... He had to do something to help Frankenstein. Even if he couldn't be with Frankenstein physically, he could at least try and be with his companion in his thoughts.
Perhaps his presence would help soothe the evil spirts attacking Frankenstein's mind. Even if it didn't help... He felt like he should at least try.
Rai came across a quiet, empty hallway... most of the other children were still outside in the courtyard. He leaned up against the wall, letting his mind come into contact with Frankenstein's.
To his dismay, he was immediately met with a familiar screeching, howling wall of darkness.
You're a pathetic disappointment! All you do is eat away at his life!
Your Master would rather die than rely on you!
It won't be long until you ruin everything, and you're all alone... alone with us!
Rai felt his heart shattering as Frankenstein's grief and fear and sorrow coursed through him. These emotions were so powerful, he even began to feel his own stomach churning... He frantically looked around for a waste receptacle, just in case.
But he couldn't leave now. He had to be with Frankenstein through all this turmoil.
And so he stayed, hidden behind a row of lockers, letting his companion's pain flood his mind. Frankenstein wanted to hold on to him so badly, the feeling was almost physically painful...
It wasn't long until he realized that his cheeks were wet.
Frankenstein... I want to hold on to you, too... If I could choose you over everything else, I would.
But then... would he truly be a Master worth serving? If he put his own desires before his commitment to his duty... would he be worthy of Frankenstein's affections? If he gave up everything that his companion admired about him, what did that make him?
He couldn't do that... He couldn't ignore his position as the Noblesse. His own sense of duty wouldn't allow it.
Still... if his life was going to end, if he had to sacrifice himself to save everything he cared for... then he wanted to spend his last days with the one he loved.
My Comments: I can't really put my finger on it, but there's something about the way I wrote this that I don't like. I prefer the stuff I've got coming up lol. After Rai gives Frankenstein presents, I'm skipping to Friday.
You know, Frankenstein and Rai don't really do much to try and hide their relationship from ordinary people, do they? When the school kids ask how Frankenstein knows Rai, Frankenstein says something like: "I know him personally, so he'll be staying with me." Frankenstein doesn't even make up a lie about Rai being a distant relative or something. So basically, the school principal is living alone with a foreign exchange student. Because that's not strange at all! Nothing to see here!
So, we obviously have to address Rai's poor health and Frankenstein's desire to protect him... as well as his feeling of only making things worse, since he depends on Rai. Looking back at the manwha, it sort of feels insane that Rai doesn't let Frankenstein handle those weaker enemies (like Jake, Kranz, 12th and 10th elders) from the earlier seasons of Noblesse... Why are you killing yourself for no reason, Rai?! I know Rai feels obligated to do so, but Frankenstein could have handled it, and Rai didn't have to waste his life... happy ending! But no, we can't have that! We need to have Rai weak and sad for those sweet pathos points. (And I guess the readers would get bored waiting that long to see Rai's powers.) But realistically speaking... that would be the smart thing to do, just let Frankenstein do the fighting. You can't help anyone if you're dead, Rai! *sad noises*
P.S. for hikari: Thanks again for the review and help with background info! Don't worry, I'm planning something nice for Lascrea! (I think she's okay overall, I just thought that the "romance" with Rai and Lascrea was… not great. And totally agree with what you said about Gechutel gaslighting the poor girl! That was a pretty mean thing that Grandpa did to both Rai and Lascrea!) Happy holidays to you as well!
