A/N: Hi, I would like to thank my readers and reviewers so far for their support; I'm glad you like my fic and I shall try my best to keep the plot intriguing. Since this fic is AU, I will be changing the timing of certain events from the canon story as well as details of those events. But I will try not to change the personalities of the characters more than needed to make the story work. Once again, I would like to thank my beta reader and editor, ResidentialPsycho for making this fic possible. That said, enjoy and please review! ;)
Chapter 2: The World Beyond and an Unexpected Reunion
September 5, 2012
Yuichiro stared at the pale-skinned, dark-haired stranger. Despite being polished and attractive, his unusual and wolfish appearance didn't exactly scream trustworthy.
"Trust you? I don't know anything about you!" she snorted.
The man smiled as if he found her comment amusing rather than insulting.
"Be that as it may, I'm afraid you have no choice if you don't want to become a ward of the state, my dear. And that's if you're lucky."
Yuu was puzzled. "What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
"Think about it, Yuichiro. Where can you go now that your parents are gone? Where will you stay? How will you eat? You're not old enough to drive, work, or live on your own. Not only that, the sect's records also indicate that you have no other living relatives. Do you want to be placed in a foster home? You could very well end up with a family no better than the one who tried to kill you. And you might not be lucky enough to survive a second time."
Yuichiro found herself shuddering at the man's words. Having seen so little of the world outside her home, the child knew that it was unlikely she could survive in it alone. But was the other choice really any better? How could Yuu possibly place her trust and well-being in someone she didn't know and never met until now?
"And how do I know I won't be killed or hurt going with you?" she demanded.
The man rolled his eyes before answering. "It would not in my best interest to harm you, Yuichiro. I don't know if anyone has told you this, but you're a very special child."
Yuu was astounded at her "uncle's" words. Special? Her parents didn't think so. If they did, they wouldn't have tried to kill her and she wouldn't be here now. Still, her curiosity was piqued.
"Where will you take me? And just who are you, anyway?" she asked.
The man smiled and made a gentlemanly bow before answering.
"My name is Saito. But you can call me "uncle" if you wish. With that aside, are you hungry? Hospital food isn't that great so if you like, I can find something better outside for you to eat."
Yuu found her stomach growling at the mention of food and realized that she hadn't had anything to eat since the morning the CPS agent came to her house to speak with her mother.
"Well… I am a little hungry…" she admitted.
"Of course you are, you probably haven't eaten in almost two days. What would you like? Just name it and I'll get it for you."
The child looked up at the ceiling for a moment as if pondering the question. Her whole life, she had rarely eaten anything that wasn't cooked by her mother, who was rather strict about managing her diet. Ayumi certainly never gave Yuichiro any choice or say in what she could eat but now that somebody was, the little girl wanted to try something different. Something that she never had before like the fast foods she saw in TV commercials that people say were delicious but not good for you. Her curiosity got the better of her and Yuu decided that she wanted to try what her late parents called "junk food".
"Um, ok. Can I have a pizza? I never had any before."
At this, Saito placed his hand over his mouth as if trying to stifle a laugh before catching himself. It was so unusual for him to find anything amusing or funny enough to actually laugh at. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he did. When he noticed Yuu staring at him in curiosity, he quickly pretended like it never happened and said:
"Of course, I can get you some. Just wait right here; you're still hurt and its best that you don't move until you are completely recovered, understand?" *1*
"Yes."
SSSSSS
Absolutely amazing.
That was Yuichiro Amane's first thought when she took her first bite of pizza for the first time in her life. The disguised little girl never thought that something as simple as cheeses melted on bread with tomato sauce and slices of sausage could taste so divine. Her parents had always taught her to mind her manners when eating, making sure to eat slowly in small bites and never with her hands but Yuu was so hungry, she didn't care as she took one huge bite after another. The pizza tasted so good, it almost made her forget her painful stab wound and head injury. Even if she had to eat it off a serving tray because she had not recovered enough to move from her bed.
Instead of being disgusted by the child's unruly eating display, Saito watched her in amusement. As he thought, her parents had suffocated her with their rules and restrictions so it was no surprise that she would let herself loose as soon as given the opportunity.
"Is it good, Yuu? Do you like it?" he asked politely, ignoring the animal-like sounds the little girl was making as she chewed as well as the sauce stains that managed to get on her hospital gown.
"Mmm, yes! Thanks so much!" she answered happily.
With the expression on her face, one would have never guessed that she had just recently lost her parents after they tried to kill her. Yuichiro was going to get a stomach ache from eating so much so fast later, that's for sure, but Saito held his tongue for he knew that it was best to let kids learn some things the hard way. He patiently watched as the little girl ate one slice after another until she finished the entire pizza by herself, not being the least bit offended that she didn't offer him any even though he was sure that her parents must have taught her that as well.
After Yuichiro had finished eating, Saito called for the nurse who took the empty tray away. Upon seeing it empty with hardly even a crumb, she raised a brow but was too polite to say anything before leaving the child with her "uncle". As soon as the nurse was gone and they were alone again, Saito took a napkin and gently wiped a stain from Yuu's mouth. When he noticed her flinch at his touch, he said:
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you, Yuichiro."
Saito's words and gesture made her realize how unbecoming she must have looked as she ate and Yuu found herself blushing in embarrassment. It also reminded her of her late grandmother and how Misao would gently wipe her mouth at the table while her parents would berate her if she let even a crumb drop while she was eating.
"Sorry", she apologized.
Saito chuckled as he scrunched up the napkin and threw it in the nearby trash bin.
"It's alright, Yuu. You've been through such a traumatic experience. Besides, this is a clinic, not a restaurant, and it's just the two of us. I won't tell if you won't." he joked.
Yuichiro giggled before she became serious again.
"Thank you… for the food. But what's going to happen to me now? Where will I go?"
"About that, remember when I said that you were a special child? Well, there are kids out there just like you and I'm going to take you where you can be with them. You wanted to go to school and have friends, right? Well, you can have all that and more now."
Yuu leaned forward, excitement creeping across her features.
"Really?"
"Yes. But before I can take you to meet those other kids, you need to get better. After all, you can't do anything while you're still in pain, right?"
At the mention of pain, Yuichiro placed a hand over her bandaged head.
"Oh…I almost forgot."
"That's understandable. Excitement can make you forget just about anything, even pain, if only for a little while."
"How long do I have to stay here?"
"Well, that depends on you. We can leave when you're good to walk without hurting. But until then, it's best for you to stay here and not move around too much. If you're bored, I can bring some books for you to read or music CDs to listen to."
At the mention of books and music CDs, Yuichiro remembered Mikaela and frowned. If he hadn't found out about the fire that destroyed her apartment complex, he would soon. The little girl could not help wondering what her friend would think when he came back and discovered that her home was gone and that she was nowhere to be seen; he would no doubt assume that Yuu had perished with her parents and never come back. Her unhappy expression didn't go unnoticed by her "uncle" and Saito's brows furrowed in concern.
"Yuichiro, what's wrong?" he asked.
"It's…well, there was a boy who used to come see me a lot when I was living with my parents. He had very pretty blonde hair and blue eyes."
"Really? What was his name?"
"Mikaela. I think he was a hāfu . He used to bring me all kinds of things to make me feel better. You see, my parents would never let me go out, so Mika would come to my backyard when they were gone and play with me. He must think I'm dead now."
"I see… well, don't be sad, Yuu, I'm sure you'll see him again someday. It's a small world we live in, after all."
"You think so?"
"I most certainly do. But for now, don't worry about it. Your first priority is to get better."
"I know…"
SSSSSS
For the next two weeks, Yuichiro remained at the Hyakuya Sect medical facility where she first woke up from her coma, trying her best to be patient and wait for her injuries to heal. The clinic staff were courteous enough but other than that, they were oddly standoffish. Even the nurse who comforted Yuu when she first woke from her coma did not speak to her much after that. As she was an abnormal child with genetic enhancements, her physical wounds healed quickly but her psychological wounds were another matter. Saito had no doubt that the tragic loss of her parents would stay with the child for life but since she was still very young, Yuu would have plenty of time to cope with it and move on. He also kept his word and visited her often, bringing her all the things Mika used to in order to help her pass the time and ease her boredom.
Oddly enough, Saito seemed to know what kind of books and magazines Yuu liked to read as well as music she liked listening to. He even knew what TV programs she liked to watch. She thought it strange how he knew so much about her yet she knew virtually nothing about him. Out of curiosity, the little girl decided to ask her "uncle" a little bit about himself. Since Saito seemed to know a lot about the world in general, Yuichiro wanted to know if he's experienced any of the things she hoped to someday.
"Uncle, have you ever been to America?" Yuu asked when they were sitting at the breakfast table one morning.
Her temporary guardian seemed startled by the question at first but then smiled and said:
"Why, yes, I have. Why?"
Yuichiro's eyes brightened as she became excited again.
"I've always wanted to go there."
"Yes, well, I don't blame you. It is a most fascinating country with lots of interesting places to go, people to meet, and foods to try. I myself have been to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, New Orleans and many other places back in the day."
"Can you take me there someday?"
"I would love to. If you're good, of course."
"I promise!"
October 17, 2012
"Who are you? What are you doing in my room?" little Yuichiro asked when she was roused from her bed by an unknown presence.
At first, the child could see only the furniture and objects in her room that were dimly illuminated by the soft moonlight shining through her window but somehow, she knew she wasn't alone.
As if in answer, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, Yuu was able to make out the figure of a young woman with long hair that appeared purplish in the moonlight. Any normal child would have been frightened upon seeing a stranger show up in their room at such a late hour but for some reason, Yuichiro knew this person meant her no harm and was more curious than afraid.
"My, my, aren't we bold?" The young woman laughed. "In any case, you don't need to know my name, child, for you will forget it soon enough." *2*
"And what's that supposed to mean? What do you want from me?" Yuu demanded.
As if in answer, the mysterious young woman approached Yuu, who was sitting up in her bed, and bent over slightly, looking her in the eyes which appeared to be amber in color. She was somewhat amused that the little girl was not afraid of her and instead of answering Yuu's question, she gave one of her own.
"Are you really a boy, Yuichiro?" she asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The little girl was started at her question.
"And what the heck that's supposed to mean? I'm what my parents wanted me to be, at least, until they started calling me a demon and tried to kill me."
"You may look just like any other human boy at a first glance but my senses are sharp and I can't be fooled by a short haircut and boys' clothing."
"I don't believe you! Someone must have told you I'm really a girl! Nobody outside my family knew so how could you tell? Did my parents tell you to kill me if they couldn't?"
The young woman laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter, sweetheart. I gain absolutely nothing from your death. Quite the opposite, in fact; you are worth far more alive than dead."
"You gotta be kidding me!"
"Not at all. Everyone and everything on this planet has a purpose, some more important than others. Yours, in particular, is great, and will one day change the world."
" P- purpose? That's stupid. I can't change anything."
"The Hyakuya Sect is taking great pains to keep you alive and a secret from the public so they obviously disagree. But it's not important what they think. It's what you think that really matters."
Yuichiro stared at the young woman, puzzled by her reasoning when a thought came to her.
"You… you're the same as me, aren't you?"
"Very astute, child. In some ways, yes. Others, no. I sympathize with your situation, I really do. And I would love to help you, but unfortunately, I have my own problems to deal with. However, I am confident that you will not only survive, but thrive on your own. You are stronger than you think, sweetheart, never let anyone tell you otherwise for those of our sex tend to be greatly underestimated."
Yuichiro felt her breath hitching in her throat at those words. Not only did the stranger easily see through her disguise, but also spoke as if she knew her. No one had ever placed such confidence in her before. When her mysterious visitor saw that Yuu finally got her message, she smiled and stood up straight again.
"I must go now. Stay strong, little one, and perhaps someday, we'll meet again. Farewell."
Before the little girl could say anything, her visitor vanished into the shadows as quietly as she came...
SSSSSS
"Hey, wait…!"
Yuichiro's eyes flew open and she gasped as soon as she felt the sunlight streaming through the windows hit them. Placing the back of her hand over her forehead, the little girl took a few deep breaths before sitting up and looking around but found no trace of anyone having been in her room. As expected, she was in bed in her room at another one of the Hyakuya Sect's medical facilities.
After her recovery from her stab wound and head injury, Saito had her moved to a different location where she was to receive "therapy" to make sure she was mentally prepared to be placed with other children her age after her traumatizing experience with her late parents. Yuu's odd "therapy" sessions often consisted of having her blood drawn and being hooked up to weird machines while lying on an operating table as well as counseling, most of which she had trouble recalling but did not think much of it for she wanted to leave this dreadfully boring place as soon as possible.
At first, Yuu was disappointed to be put in another prison-like environment so soon after finally be freed from her parents' suffocating home but tried to be patient for her "uncle" assured her that this was for the best. Saito pacified Yuu by continuing to bring her gifts of books, magazines, CDs, and even an Android pad with internet access to help her pass the time. He also came by and visited her as often as his time would allow.
But despite his generosity towards her, there was something about Saito that told Yuichiro that there was more to him than meets the eye. His touch, although gentle, was unusually cold, and despite his youthful appearance, he had the mystical air of someone who has been alive significantly longer. Another thing about the man that Yuu found strange was that he never ate or drank anything in her presence. Whenever they sat at a table together, he would watch Yuu eat while reading some newspapers but always politely declined when she finally did start offering him some of her food. He did, however, always keep a cup of coffee in front of him, but Yuu never actually saw him touch it. In addition to all that, the vibes Saito emitted gave Yuichiro the feeling that he was something other than human but she couldn't place a finger on what.
Despite the fact that Yuu enjoyed the attention she was getting from her "uncle" and that the Hyakuya Sect facility staff treated her well enough, the child still had the nagging feeling that something was being kept from her. Upon her arrival to the new facility, she also started having strange dreams, dreams of a young woman who visited her room at night just like the one she had just woken up from.
And they seemed so real that Yuu couldn't tell if the encounter actually happened or if they were simply figments of her overactive imagination. Whenever she asked her caretakers about it, they would always assure Yuu that she was dreaming and nothing more for she had no other visitors asides from Saito himself. When Yuu realized that she wasn't going to get any answers from them, she finally had to stop asking. There was no point in pursuing the matter further anyway after the sect's doctors finally made the decision to release her to Saito's care after the fourth week of her stay at the facility had come to an end.
October 20, 2012
"Where are we going, uncle?" Yuichiro asked as she finally packed the last of her things into her bag.
Not that she was complaining; the child was more than happy to be told that she was finally leaving the Hyakuya Sect facility. Which had been her home for the last month with only the dreadfully boring staff for company. Saito's visits were the only times her stay ever got interesting and she was relieved to see that he was now pulling her out of there for good.
"As I've promised you, I'm taking you someplace where you can be with kids your age who are just as gifted as you are. You'll finally have a chance at a good life", Saito answered when Yuichiro finished packing and handed him her bag which he put in the trunk of his car before ushering her into the passenger side.
The drive to Yuichiro's new home took about an hour and Saito noticed that his temporary ward was oddly silent during the whole trip.
"Yuichiro, is something the matter? You seem awfully quiet today" he asked in concern.
The little girl, who had been looking out the window the whole time was startled.
"I'm sorry" she apologized as she turned and looked at her "uncle". "It's just that I'm a little nervous even though I'm happy to be out of that boring place."
"Well, I don't blame you; you haven't seen someone your age since your parents died. But that will soon change."
Yuichiro smiled and nodded. She wanted to express her gratitude but didn't get the chance when she felt the car grind to a stop.
"Ah, here we are!" Saito said as he set the car on 'park' and unbuckled his seat belt while making a gesture for Yuu to do the same. The child obeyed and waited as her "uncle" stepped out of the car and took her bag out of the trunk before making his way to her side, opening the door and helping her out. Looking around, Yuichiro found herself standing in front of a building that bore a slight resemblance to the elementary school near her former home.
"Where are we?" she asked.
Saito smiled as he took her hand and made a gentle tug for her to follow.
"This is your new home. You'll be very happy here, I promise you." *3*
When they arrived at the front door, Saito knocked and waited until it was answered by a gentle-looking elderly woman. Upon seeing little Yuichiro, she smiled and bent over to take a closer look at the child.
"What a lovely child! Your uncle has told me so much about you, Yuichiro! Don't worry your little head, I'll take good care of you from now on."
The elderly woman's soothing tone reminded the child of her late grandmother and made her feel at ease. After handing Yuichiro's new caretaker her bag, Saito got on his knee and gently patted the disguised little girl on the head.
"My role ends here, Yuichiro. The director will take care of you from now on. You can be with kids your age and go to school like you've always wanted."
Yuu frowned when she realized that the person who had been looking out for her since she lost her parents was about to leave her.
"You're leaving, uncle?" she asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. There are some things I need to take care of but don't worry, I'm sure we'll meet again someday. And perhaps by then, you will have learned to accept your true self."
Yuichiro was confused at her "uncle's" words and was about to ask what he meant when the director gently took her by the hand and led her inside the building, not even giving her a chance to say good-bye to him. But Saito didn't look the least bit offended and gave Yuichiro one last smile before getting into his car and driving off. For some reason, the child sensed that she would not be seeing him again for a long time…
SSSSSS
"Everyone, please welcome the newest member of our family, Yuichiro!"
Despite herself, the little girl felt a bit shy being introduced to a group of kids her age for the first time and the director had to gently coax her out from behind her skirts.
As soon as Yuichiro was in plain view of the other kids, one of them instantly recognized her.
"Yuu-chan? Is that you?"
Yuichiro gasped when she saw who the voice belonged to.
"Mika?"
At first, she thought it was her imagination and hesitated but when she finally realized that the boy in front of her was indeed the same child who often showed up at her parents' yard to see her, a big smile formed on her face.
"It is you!" she cried as she forgot her earlier discomfort and ran to her friend, gleefully glomping him in front of everyone.
The director and other kids laughed and watched in amusement as the two friends wrestled on the floor, fighting for dominance. Despite her abnormal strength, the blond boy was still stronger than Yuichiro, pinning her down with ease, and the disguised girl found herself blushing when Mikaela's face was so close to hers that their noses touched. This was the first time that they ever got to play together like this. Before, Yuu couldn't even touch him or hold his hand because they were always separated by the fence in her parents' yard.
But now that they were in such close proximity of each other, Mika joyful expression soon became one of slight bewilderment when he finally noticed that his playmate's body felt… different from that of the other boys in the orphanage he liked to wrestle with and was about to ask why when he felt the director gently trying to pry him off Yuu.
"Now, now, that's enough", she said while trying to stifle another laugh. "I can see that you two have met before and I'm very happy to see you get along so well but you'll have plenty of time to play again later. Right now, we need to help Yuu unpack and get some dinner ready."
"Yes ma'am!" the kids cried in unison as they crowded around Yuichiro's bag, curiously opening it to see what she had.
Not surprisingly, they found boy's clothing as well as some books and music CDs as well as an Android pad. Due to the limited space in her bag, Saito had persuaded Yuu to leave her outdated magazines behind at the Hyakuya Sect facility. The gifts that Mika had brought Yuu a few months back were destroyed when her apartment burned down so all her new clothes and possessions were gifts from her "uncle".
While helping Yuu unpack her things into her new room, the other orphans introduced themselves to her one by one. The eldest was Mikaela, who was a mere five months older than Yuu, with the next one being a brunette girl named Akane who was just a year younger. The other orphans, Aiko, Chihiro, Kouta, Taichi, and Fumie were all under seven years of age and therefore, looked to Mika as their "leader". It wasn't hard for Yuu to see why the other kids adored him so much; the older boy had a charismatic personality and a natural charm that could make others like him easily. She certainly did.
As Saito had promised, Yuichiro was happy being with the other orphans even though she wished it had not been under such tragic circumstances. Not only did she finally have the friends she longed for so much, she was also able to go to school as well. And Yuu found learning much more enjoyable in a classroom setting than at home by herself with her mother as her teacher.
Unfortunately, the little girl's newfound happiness at finally being able to live a normal life in a normal world would be short-lived. For only two months later, tragedy struck again, and this time, everyone in the world would be affected…
December 24, 2012
"Merry Christmas, Yuu-chan!" the director said cheerfully as she handed Yuichiro a box full of cookies which the little girl ended up sharing with everyone anyway for Yuichiro knew that she would only get a stomach ache if she tried to eat them all herself. Plus Mika and the other orphans have been so good to her that she figured it was the least she could do for them in return.
The director's act of kindness also reminded Yuu so much of her late grandmother, Misao, who had always taught her that sharing was a virtue, and she didn't want to disappoint the elderly woman by trying to keep all the cookies to herself. It was Yuichiro's first Christmas with her newfound "family" and she couldn't be happier. Over the last two months since her arrival, she had gotten to know the other kids in the orphanage well. Especially the adorable blond angel who gave her the annoying, but affectionate nickname "Yuu-chan". But Yuichiro grew to like Mikaela so much that she didn't mind anymore.
"Thank you so much!" Yuu said happily as she held the opened box of cookies out for her little brothers and sisters to pick.
The cheerful holiday atmosphere, as well as the snow outside, reminded Yuichiro of the happier times she once had with her parents and grandmother. In addition to decorating the house, she used to help Misao bake Christmas cookies as well, especially gingerbread men like the ones she was giving away to the other kids now. Ironically, it was Yuu herself who had not touched any of the sweets yet even though the cookies were originally gifted to her.
Even so, the little girl wouldn't have minded even if she ended up not getting any; it would be worth it to see the smiles on the faces of her new "family", including Mika. However, the director did mind and gently chided the other children to back off.
"Now, now, kids" she began. "Don't hog all the cookies; I made them for all of you but especially for Yuichiro, so you should save him at least a few…"
The kids giggled but got the message and obeyed as they stopped trying to put their hands in the cookie box. The director smiled and looked as if she was about to say something more before suddenly grimacing as if in pain. Mika noticed right away but before he could ask her what was wrong, the director started bleeding from her nose and mouth, doubling over in pain. Frightened and concerned, the orphans surrounded their care-taker, frantically trying to think of what to do when the elderly woman finally collapsed to the ground, her face frozen in an expression of terror and pain with her mouth opened in a silent scream that would never be heard... *4*
Footnotes
1. Being a fairly old vampire, Saito has almost no emotions left so its a bit OOC for him to laugh in canon but in my AU, he still has emotions though they are quite repressed which surprised him when he found Yuu's request for pizza funny.
2. For those who have not read the OnS LNs, the woman who visits fem!Yuu at the Hyakuya Sect medical facility is Mahiru Hiragi. She does not identify herself to Yuu because she knows Yuu will not remember her due to the experiments tampering with her memory.
3. Saito was not kind to male!Yuu but I change that in my story; he is actually fond of fem!Yuu and treats her as well as he treated Mika.
4. In canon, the virus struck the night Yuichiro arrived at the Hyakuya Orphanage. In my AU, she gets at least two months at a normal life in a normal world before the virus struck.
