To Keita, our dearest son.

First and foremost, we would like to offer our sincerest apologies. We know this is all very sudden and new to you. We are aware that this is a lot to just drop on someone. We are so very sorry for not being there for you in life, but please understand that we thought you would be happier with your adopted family. We didn't want you to grow up without a mother and father figure there for you when you needed them to be, so we gave you to a loving family.

Believe us when we say that we did not make that decision easily, as we thought long and hard about it for months leading up to it. We loved you very much, as any parent should. But with our jobs being so demanding at the time, we could not always be there for you. We wanted you to have something better than that. We're sorry for any pain we may have caused you.

By the time you'll be reading this letter, as you already know, we'd be dead. But we wanted to do for you in death what we could not do for you in life and provide you with something that we hope will help you out. As the will that came with this letter states, you are the sole inheritor of our money, our Estate, everything we own now belongs to you.

We leave everything in our possession to you, in hopes that you will live a happier life.

We love you, Keita...

Sincerely,
Keiichi and Momoka Yamada, your Mother, and Father.

This was the first time I ever heard... er, rather, read anything from my apparent biological parents. I wasn't quite sure how to process this. I mean, how often do people find out that they're actually the son of deceased billionaires, and they just inherited their fortune, land, and other belongings? I just sat at my desk, still trying to wrap my head around all of this, when I heard a knock outside the door to my room. "Come in" I called out.

At the door stood my adopted parents, Ryuske and Junko Matsumoto. "We understand if you're angry with us for not telling you, Keita," said Ryuske.

"But we want you to know that we had wanted to tell you for years, but we were scared of how you would react. We didn't know if you'd be angry or sad, or if you'd hate them or us, or even both of us... We weren't sure how to tell you without upsetting you. On top of that, you had other things going on, with school, trying to find a job... We felt like telling you this would distract you from all of that, and we know how hard you were working to get where you wanted to be in life" Junko said. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"She always was one to be a bit emotional," I thought to myself. I got up and wiped the tears from her eyes and gave them both a reassuring hug. "Mom, Dad, I'm not mad at you. I'm not even mad at my birth parents. I understand why they put me up for adoption, and I don't hold any ill will towards any of you for any of it. If anything, I'm more confused... I mean, this is a big change in my life. I just now discovered that my birth parents had died, and they left me with everything they own. I don't know anything about them, other than that. I'm just an average guy. If I move to their Estate, that means I'm leaving my home. All the memories I have made here, the world I've known my entire life, and more importantly, I'd be leaving you guys behind. And they're famous celebrities. The paparazzi will be all over me, once they find out I'm their son, right? And who would take care of the place? I mean, I'm sure they have maids and stuff, but... I don't know, this is all just so sudden and there's a million and one things that keep racing through my mind..." I said. "Sorry, I kinda went on a little tangent there..." I added.

"It's ok, son. We get it" Ryuske said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "So, do you have any questions?" he added.

"What were they like? Did you ever meet them?" I asked.

"Yes, we met once," Junko said with a small chuckle, though her eyes were still a bit watery. "Ryuske here tried to fight your birth father. They showed up at our doorstep in the middle of the night, and we thought they were thieves. So, Ryuske opens the door and immediately tries to punch your birth father" she said, still giggling a bit.

"And then what?" I asked.

"And then I quickly learned that his skill in judo wasn't just special effects or a stunt double. He flipped me right on my back and pinned me to the ground before I knew what happened" Ryuske said. "As for what they were like, we didn't know them for very long or very well, but we could tell they were good people. You were there, too. But you were just a baby, not more than a year or two old. The way they looked at you wasn't something any actor could just fake. We could tell they had genuine love for you" he added.

"Your mother didn't say much. She was so busy holding you and crying softly, she was just too upset to speak" Junko chimed in.

"Yeah. It was honestly really heartbreaking to see. But they wanted you to grow up in a complete family, with a mother and father that could always be there for you. So, after we discussed it, we all came to the decision that we would adopt you and raise you as our own" Ryuske said.

We continued talking for several more minutes afterward. But, as we spoke, I still wasn't sure what to do. I mean, it's not that I don't want to move out on my own. I am 18 years old and still living with my parents, for crying out loud! But, at the same time, I felt that if I left, then I'd be abandoning them. Obviously I knew that deep-down, that wouldn't be the case, but still. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang from downstairs.

"I'll get it," said Ryuske as he made his way to the living room. A second later, he called my name. "Uh, Keita?! Someone is here for you!" he said.

"Me?" I said to myself. Mom and I mad our way downstairs, and I slowed to a complete stop, as did she. In the doorway there stood a Dragonewt in a maid's outfit. She had blonde hair up in a bun, a maid's headband, and blunt bangs and sidelocks that framed her composed face. Her eyes were dark green, which matched the scales all over her body. She also had wings folded behind her back. If I didn't know any better, I could have easily mistaken her as cosplayer dressed as a character from some anime.

"Greetings, Master Keita and family," she said with a bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you," she said, to which we replied with a "likewise". She then continued with her introduction, "my name is Dora Draconius. As per the request of your late birth parents, Master Keiichi and Lady Momoka, I am to become your personal maid. I look forward to serving you, Master Keita" she said, bowing her head yet again.

Everyone in the room just kinda stared blankly at her, as we were trying to process what she just said. For me, I was more perplexed by being called 'Master' than anything else... "I'm sorry, but Master?" I said.

"Yes, that is correct, Master Keita" she replied. "I have taken an oath to serve the Yamada family. You are the child of Master Keiichi and Lady Momoka, therefore I serve you, thus you are my Master" she added.

"I understand, but... Could you please just call me Keita? Being called Master sounds kinda... Well, you know..." I said. I knew she more than likely had no dubious intentions behind it, but it just felt kinda odd to me to be called Master.

"As you wish, Keita" she replied.

"So, Dora... I assume you're here to escort me back to the estate or something?" I asked. It was odd and unlikely that she just showed up to say she was my maid, so I assumed she was here for something a little more than that.

"Not at all. Of course, should you demand it, I could arrange to have a moving company gather your things if you desire to live on the estate. Shall I do that?" she asked.

"You know..." Ryuske spoke up. "You don't have to stay here for us, Keita," he said.

"You're 18 now. Surely you don't want to stay living here with mom and dad forever, do you?" Junko said.

"Well, no, but... I just don't wanna leave you guys behind. I feel like if I leave, you two will be here all alone..." I said. Then something hit me. A few days ago, I overheard Mom and Dad talking about wanting to go on a cruise around the world after seeing a commercial for it on TV. They seemed to have really like the thought of going, but they simply could not afford it at the time. Well, now their son is a billionaire, and they are going on that cruise, damn it!.

"Wait... Dora, could you do me a favor?" I asked. I wasn't just going to leave and not do something for my mom and dad. They deserve to live comfortably too. I held my hand against her ear and whispered into it. "If it's not too much to ask, would it be possible for you to send them out on a cruise? Like, one of those really fancy ones you see on TV that go all over the place?" I asked

"Certainly, Keita. I can arrange that for them" she said with a nod. "Will that be all?" she asked.

"For now, yes," I said to Dora. She then immediately pulled out a cell phone and went into the other room, but not before bowing to us. "Well damn... She just gets right down to business, doesn't she?" I thought as I turned toward Ryuske and Junko. "Mom, Dad... I have decided to move to the estate. But, there is one other thing..." I said, smiling like an idiot because I knew how happy it would make them.

"Yes? What is it, Keita?" said Junko.

"I am having Dora arrange for you two to go on a cruise like the one you saw on TV the other day," I said, still sporting the same idiotic smile.

"Are you serious? But, that'll be so expensive! I know you're rich now, but-" she said, but was cut off by me as I pulled them both in for a hug.

"You two took me in and raised me. You were there for me when I needed you, and you supported me in everything I did. You both sacrificed so much to raise me, and I can never repay you for that. You're going on that cruise, I don't care about the cost. This is my way of saying thank you. And I'm sure my birth parents appreciate everything you have done for me as well, and I have a feeling they also want you to enjoy yourselves. So don't worry about it, I'll take care of everything on the financial side of things" I said. They didn't say anything. But I felt them return the hug. We stood there in silence for what was probably a minute or two, but it felt like hours. I could feel tears start to form in my eyes, as I realized that this would be the last time I would be able to see them for a while. Of course, I knew we would always be able to call each other on the phone, or even video chat, but it's not the same as being with loved ones in person. You don't realize it, but when you're not able to reach out and hug them like this, it just feels different...

"Sir, Madam, I ha- My apologies..." said Dora as she returned to the living room with the rest of us. She noticed we were having a moment, and probably felt it'd have been rude to interrupt.

"It's fine, Dora. You can tell them" I said as we all broke away from the hug.

"Right. I have made preparations for you both to set out on a cruise tomorrow. Everything has already been paid for, so we needn't worry about that anymore. Also, I took the liberty of contacting our chauffeuse, who will escort you both to the port where you will be boarding the cruise ship. You will be leaving in the morning, so please do not forget. I do hope you both have a wonderful time" she said while bowing yet again. "And Keita, I do apologize for this, as you didn't request this of me, but I have also requested our chauffeuse come pick us up. I will send for your belongings later, once you've settled in at the estate. I thought that it would make things easier for you. If I have offended-" was all she could get out before I cut her off. While her words were like that of a nervous schoolgirl, her voice and face were as composed as ever.

"Dora, it's fine. I appreciate everything you've done. Thank you. Really, I mean it" I said with a reassuring smile.

"It is my pleasure to serve you, Keita, so please, think nothing of it," she said. Though it was faint, I noticed she had donned a smile of her own, which had taken me aback a little given how she has been otherwise completely stoic up until this point. I began to wonder if she's like that all the time, or only when she's acting as a maid. In any case, she was certainly an intriguing woman, to say the least.

Shortly thereafter, I said my final goodbyes to mom and dad and waited outside with Dora for our ride to get here. I was staring off into space, thinking about my life up until this point. Maybe that was a bit odd, as I was standing right outside the house I've known my whole life, but I couldn't help but reminisce. Unsurprisingly, Dora took notice.

"Keita, may I speak with you on a personal level?" she asked while keeping her gaze facing straight ahead.

"Yeah, sure. You don't have to ask, by the way. Just because you're my maid, it doesn't mean that you're below me or anything" I said.

"Thank you," she said. "Please forgive me if this sounds presumptuous, but I think I might understand how you are feeling. About suddenly leaving home, I mean. I believe most of us Liminals can relate to that to some degree. I only knew my homeland, and the maid school I attended there. I knew of humans, of course, but I never actually met any prior to participating in the Interspecies Exchange Program. When I started to live in human society, it was all rather overwhelming to me. There were so many uncertainties, so many new things to learn, and I always wondered about what was happening back home... As I said, it was all overwhelming at first. But, once I grew accustomed to it, I loved it. In short, the point I am trying to convey to you is that it is perfectly fine to worry about leaving home for the first time. And I am happy that you are making that first step" she added, turning towards me and giving me a yet another faint smile.

As the sunlight hit her face, I felt a strong pulse in my chest. Maybe was either blind or stupid for not noticing this before, but she was... Well, beautiful. It wasn't too much longer before our ride showed up. I wasn't ever much of a car guy, but even I let out an approving whistle when I saw the black sedan pull up. I swear, I could see myself in the reflection on the rims. The driver then exited the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door, gesturing towards it as if she was asking us to get in. She was tall and slender. Like Dora, her hair was also blonde, but it was kept in a low ponytail hanging over her left shoulder. It's a good thing she's not a mother in any shounen anime because that hairstyle is a death flag. Also, like Dora, she had scales covering her arms, and on the sides of her face. Her eyes were deep blue. She also had a tail. I noticed she had a small scar over her right eyebrow and one on her neck, though it was hidden somewhat by her hair. She was wearing a black suit, with driving gloves.

"Please, forgive her for her silence, Keita. This is Tyranna" Said Dora. Tyranna gave me a friendly smile and waved at me, to which I replied with a wave and smile of my own. "She cannot speak very loudly due to an injury she sustained some few years ago, so she opts not to speak at all" Dora said as we entered the vehicle.

"Oh, wow..." I said. "I guess that explains the scars..." I thought to myself. On the way there, I had passed out. Something about riding in a car always makes me fall right to sleep.

I was awoken by Dora gently shaking me. "We have arrived, Keita," she said.

As I exited the vehicle, I was in awe by the sheer size of everything. The mansion, the size of the land that looked like it spanned for miles, it was all a little overwhelming. I noticed many different species of Liminals roaming around. As we approached the mansion, I started feeling like I was being watched. Which was largely due to the fact that everyone there had their eyes on me.

"Please do not take offense, Keita," Dora said. "They do not mean to be rude. It is just that we have known your birth parents for a long while, and some of us are still mourning them. You bear a strong resemblance to your father, so, seeing you around here will take some getting used to for some of us." she added.

We then entered the mansion, and I began looking around. There were many rooms, presumably belonging to the Liminals staying here. I tried not to look like an awkward goofball, but I was honestly in a whole new world than what I'm used to. There were two flights of stairs that lead up to the second floor, with a platform between them that was something like a balcony. I followed Dora to said platform, and she pressed down a button on a small podium in front of her.

"Attention all staff," she said. Her voice was carried throughout the entire estate since she was using the intercom. "As you know, Keita, the biological son of Master Keiichi and Lady Momoka, has inherited their property. He will now be living here at the estate for the foreseeable future. This goes without saying, but we are to serve him as we have served Master Keiichi and Lady Momoka. That is all. Please, continue with your duties, and thank you" she said, taking her hand off the button. She then turned towards me. "I do apologize, Keita, but I must be off. There are things that I must attend to here. Please, feel free to explore the estate and make yourself comfortable" she said with a bow before going off to take care of her duties.

"So, you're Keita... My, how you've grown" said a feminine voice from behind me...

END OF CHAPTER 1!

Well, readers, that about wraps up Chapter one. Who is this woman speaking to our hero? A childhood friend? Someone who knew his birth parents? I'm afraid you'll have to read chapter 2 in order to find out! Stay tuned! ^_^

~GendoWritesTM