Kids have such embarrassing questions sometimes. But it can lead to something very nice.
Enjoy ^^
That day, Yuuichiro now four years old, was on Ferid's knees when suddenly, he had one of his bizarre ideas which only children have the secret. He leaned toward the noble busy reading, pulled his collar and looked inside.
"Hey Yuu, may I know why you're looking like this under my clothes ?" questionned Ferid.
"Well, I was wondering : why are you all flat ?"
Ferid blinked at this question rather unusual.
" Why do you mean I'm all flat ?" he wanted to know.
" Yeah. Crowley isn't flat. So why are you ?" specified Yuu.
Ferid took a breath.
" Ooooh you know, I'm sure those are not his real muscles." answered the progenitor.
" Really ? But whom are they then ?" wondered Yuu.
"I mean, they must be fake."
"That's weird. I'm gonna ask him." decided the child.
He jumped down and ran to the door. Ferid closed his book and remembered him that he had to report his absence to Krul. Then he stood up, curious to see this interview.
"Mommy, I'm going to see Crowley !" annouced Yuu from the door of the throne room.
"Fine." said the sovereign inside.
Yuu ran off, Ferid following quietly. Yuu charged ahead in the 13th progenitor mansion and knocked on the door. By the time we came to open it Ferid had almost joined.
"Oh hello there Yuuichiro." greeted Horn Skuld, opening.
" Hi Horn ! Is Crowley here ?" greeted happily Yuu.
The vampire nodded and told him where to find him. She then parted to let him pass, and Ferid who followed with a whistle. Yuu climbed the stairs and unearthed the vampire on his balcony, lying on a lounge chair. He sped towards him and collapsed on him. Crowley received him warmly.
"Hey there little scamp ! What brings you here ?" he asked.
" I have a question actually." answered Yuu, sitting close to him.
"I'm listening."
"Well you see, Ferid thinks that those are not your real muscles." Said Yuu, pointing the highlights pectorals.
" Huh ? How did you come to talk about it, to begin with ?" asked the vampire.
" He thought I'm flat and wants to know why." revealed Ferid, appearing.
" Aaaah. Well this, Yuu, is what happen when you don't do exercise. You end up looking like a breadboard." smiled Crowley.
" What the … I know someone else whose head is gonna end up like a breadboard." resumed Ferid.
" What's a breadboard ?" asked Yuuichiro.
"It is used as a support for cutting bread." responded Crowley.
" Aaaah. But if I do exercise, will I be as tall and strong as you then ?" resumed the boy.
"I dunno if you'll be as tall as me, but otherwise there's chance."
"Great ! You'll teach me ?"
Crowley remained silent. Teach him ... teach him what ? How to become a vampire ? To handle a sword ? If only he already knows that Krul had intended to do with him. He was only there for four years. He was still a child and he still needed a parent.
"Crowley ?" called Yuu.
"Hmm… yes huh ... you're too young for me to teach you how to fight. When you're older. " evaded the ginger.
"Okay !"
Ferid exchanged glances with his right hand man. He also wondered what would become of the small one. None of them wanted him to leave, however, they could not help but wonder. What kind of future awaited a human raised by vampires ? Not only at home but also on the surface. How to explain its origin to his own ? Who would believe it ? Would he also be able to fend for himself among his peers ? Vampires hardly used in human technology. They knew, of course, through all the advances, but they did not use or rarely. Someone would have to teach him. However, it would be mainly to that who adopted him to decide.
Crowley asked the little one if there were other question. Yuu thought for a moment, his finger on the chin.
" Why my fangs aren't as long as yours ?"
Ah! The 1000 $ question. The two nobles exchanged a look. If they were to answer, then Yuu would notice the difference between him and them. How would he react ? And her mother ? Crowley sought a satisfactory answer, such as their age difference but his faction leader could not hear the other ideas.
"That's because we're vampires, Yuu." said Ferid.
" Really ?! But me, what I am ?" questionned Yuu, surprised.
Crowley turned a reproachful look at his sidekick.
"You're a human."
Yuu seems puzzled. But the light came suddenly, judging from the brightness of his eyes.
"Is that why your ears are pointed and your eyes red ?"
"Correct."
Yuu thought about these revelations. So, he was different from his mother. Krul was a vampire. Not him.
" But then … Krul isn't my real mom ?"
Crowley mimics a silent applause, with a disapproving face. Ferid said nothing, his eyes merely looking to the side.
" Well ! How about we go playing a little hm ? What do you think little scamp ?" Eusford proposed to change the conversation.
" No. I … I wanna go home."
The child got off the recliner and went toward the door.
" Ah congrats Ferid ! That was well played really !" exclaimed Crowley.
" What ? He has the right to know." responded Ferid.
" That doesn't mean he needs to know ! I mean, do you want him to be scared of us ? Do you want him to leave ?" resumed Eusford.
"Of course no ! But we were never told to not tell him anything about his birth. And then he would have ended up realizing one day or another." the noble defended himself.
" Yeah right ! But I'm warning you : you'll deal with his mother alone."
Ferid sighed. Oh yes it's true. For his part, Yuu had gone running to the palace a lot of questions swirling in his mind. If he was not a vampire, then where did he come from ? How had he found himself among the vampires ? His real parents, who were they, had they abandoned him ? Why ? Yuu stopped running once in the palace. He walked unwittingly into the room he shared with his adoptive mother. Who had just to meet him.
"Ah already back Yuu ?" she said with a smile.
Yuu looked at her without answering.
"What is happening ?" she worried.
" I…"
The words remained stuck in his throat. Yuu avoided the gaze of the vampire queen, with an expression that alarmed her. The child was upset. What had happened, at Crowley's? Krul revived the subject, recalling who she was and that he could tell her everything.
"I know you're not my real mum." confessed the child.
" Who told you that ?" Krul asked in a tone welled threat.
" Ferid. It was at Crowley's ... and I asked why my teeth were smaller. He said it was because they were vampires, Crowley and him."
Ferid Bathory. Obviously. There was only him in this damn town to spread the mess. Krul asked the child to go to her room, she would join him to explain everything. Yuu nodded and left. The queen took a breath and rushed. She quickly located Ferid who had just got out of his comrade's home, and took the road to his own. The noble felt her coming but did not have time to avoid her. Krul struck him with such force that he found himself in the middle of the street leading to his home. The 3rd progenitor then lifted him by the neck and squeezed hard.
" You … why in hell did you told my son we were different ?" she exclaimed, furious.
But Krul would squeezed too hard for him to answer. Ferid opened his mouth. Krul pinned him to the ground, which cracked.
"I didn't know … we had to keep quiet … on the matter." he articulated.
" ARE YOU STUPID ?! Of course you had ! He'll be scared of us now, he'll want to leave maybe, although he's way too young for that !" Krul shouted.
" Nnnngh ! He would … have discover it … sooner or later. And if he wants to leave … he'll be able to adapt … easily indeed because … he's still young." continued Bathory.
Krul lifted him from the ground, and crushed him to the stone again but this time, face against the ground.
" I should kill you for being that dumb ! That wasn't your job to tell him !" she yelled.
The nose recessed in the ground, Ferid said nothing. Krul took him out of the earth, and ordered him not to appear before her until further notice. Then she threw him into the air as hard as she could. So that Bathory came to cross three quarters of the vampire city by air. Krul went home. Gradually, as she approached, she felt apprehension replace anger. What would she do if Yuu did not want to stay in Sanguinem? If afraid of her ? It would break her heart that was sure. Somehow Ferid was right : the boy would have noticed their differences at one time or another. She knew it too. But she had repressed that event, and hoped it would occur as late as possible. If never so utopian as it is.
She was now before her room. Krul Tepes feared to enter. She dreaded the reaction of a little man, a hundred times more fragile than her. What should she say ? That it was her fault that he had no parents ? That she had killed her mother, even by accident? No. No, that she could not. And no one else knew. Yuu might hate her and Krul would not stand it. The queen took a breath and opened the door. Yuuichiro was sitting on the bed, on his side. Krul gave him a small smile while closing the door. She then approached the boy and sat down beside him.
Krul stroked his head, not knowing where to start. Finally, she asked him how he felt.
"I don't really know. I've always thought you were my mom. So ... how did I get here ?" answered Yuu.
"I found you outside Yuu. You were so small in your stroller, you know the one in the closet. The truth is that you tangled in my hair. I could not get you out so I had to go ask for help. " Krul began.
"Wah ? But how I did I do that ?"
"Hell if I know ! In short, after Crowley Eusford took you out of here, I wanted to bring you back to humans. I put you where I found you, thinking someone would take care of you. But when I returned in the evening, you were always in the same place. Abandoned by your fellows. So I decided to bring you back with me, otherwise you would not be in this world today. " the sovereign partially told.
" But why did my mom left me all alone ?" wanted to know the little one.
" How do you want me to know? I brought back you to your own kind, but no one cared about you. So I've kept and raised you as my son. You are my son Yuu. The species does not matter." Krul said, stroking his cheek.
"Hmmm … but what is a vampire exactly ?"
"We're a superior species Yuu. Vampires are not as greedy as humans. You see, men want only one thing : power. And they are desperate for that, including doing horrors you have not even idea. They are selfish. Look, they even let alone a helpless baby in a park. What would have happened if I didn't came back to see how you were doing ? "
Yuuichiro looked down. He did not know and will probably never know why his parents had abandoned him. Or more accurately, that his father had desperately sought him during this time.
" Do you think I have not been a good mother for you ?" dared Krul.
" Yes, of course yes, you're a great mom." assured the boy.
"Thank you my baby, it really is reassuring to hear that." she said, hugging him.
Yuu hugged her back. Honestly, he was home by Sanguinem. It was not the fault of Krul if his parents had left him alone. She had saved him.
" Say mom ?"
Krul was relieved more than she imagined to hear him calling her like that.
" What ?"
" Will I be a vampire too one day ?" asked Yuu.
Krul smiled. Now that is the solution. Once vampire Yuu would care no more for his origins. And he would stay with her until the end of time. And since he was asking then the better.
"If that's what you want then ok. But I'll wait for you to be older." she answered.
" Why ?"
" You body have to be stronger, that's safer."
" Why does it hurt ?" wondered Yuu.
" Yes a bit sadly."
" Oh, okay."
Yuu stopped his questions there. Krul was happy that this has happened as well. The litte one was just dying to know, and continued to take her as his mother. However, it would still need a precaution or two. As to banish the subject of conversation the other vampires had with him. Krul then asked if the little one was hungry. Yuu replied in the affirmative, and immediately another question germinated.
"But what about you mom ? I always see you drinking but never eating, why is that ?"
Ouch. There however she won't be able to hide it. Hopefully it will not disgust him too and above all, than it would not scare him too much. By choosing the right words that should be fine.
« That's because my food is different from yours. Vampires can only drink, we were made like this. » she begun.
« And what do you drink ? »
She hesitated a moment.
« Blood. »
« Blood ? Like when I hurt myself ? » interroagted Yuu, puzzled.
« Yes. This is our nature Yuu, we can't help about it. »
« Baaah ! But blood is not good ! I have licked a sore once, and it was not good at all." insisted Yuuichiro.
« Not for vampires. »
« Alright. So when I'm one I'll drink it too. »
« You understood it all. And you'll see, you'll be able to do a lot of things. You'll be stronger and faster than a human. »
« Great ! »
Krul took him to the room adjoining her throne room, where she served him a snack. A few minutes later, Crowley Eusford asked to see Krul. He wanted to know how she had managed the problem of the small one identity. She went out with him and stepped away from the door. Krul confessed that she had told him the truth : from the hair tangling to his abandonment in the park by humans. Yuu seemed to take it well, and apparently wanted to be one of them. Eusford round eyes. Well why not. He thought he preferred the small boy remnant among them. Krul however, ordered to avoid the subject in the future, so as not to disturb the child.
« And if he ask ? »
« Then he'll have to come see me. »
The redhead took note of the order, especially since he either did not want that the boy change his opinion about his adoptive family. Yuu came out at that moment, and went cheerfully to the big vampire. He asked if he still wanted to play with him. Eusford nodded. Yuu took him by the hand and led him to his playroom. Krul had indeed booked him a room in which the little one's toys were stored. They played a little football, then knights with figures.
An hour later ... Yuu was lying on his back, Crowley also just opposite.
« Say Crowley ? »
« What is it Yuu ? »
« What serve you your big teeth? »
Gee, today was the day of embarrassing questions.
« That's proof that I'm a vampire, with the red eyes and pointed ears. » responded Crowley.
A little face with emerald eyes appeared in his field of vision.
« But what is it used for ? »
Eusford did not know what to say. Krul didn't mention this detail and especially what to answer.
« I need it to eat, just like you. »
« Oh right I'm silly. Without teeth you wouldn't be able to eat. But wait : I thought vampire drank blood, you don't need teeth to drink ! » said Yuu.
« Oh in that case, do you want me to tear them off ? » asked Crowley.
« No … but why did you say you need them to eat ? »
« Because it's true. You'll understand when you're older. Especially if you're a vampire. Come on, wanna play hide-and-seek ? »
« Yeah I'm hiding ! » exclaimed the kid.
« You're the one always hiding. How about you look for me instead ? »
« Alright ! »
Yuu went and stood against a wall to count, while the vampire left the room.
In the days that followed, Yuu never spoke of his origins. Answers from Krul had satisfied, even if some remained unresolved, as to know the reason for what he thought was his abandonment. Ferid didn't show himself to the palace as ordered by Krul, and even avoided Yuuichiro except when he demanded to see him. This was altogether infrequently. Anyway, he has perfectly well understood that the subject was taboo. And Yuu found another way to further embarrass his family one more time.
« Say mommy ! »
« What is it Yuu ? »
« How are made vampires ? »
« You have to drink the blood of one of them. »
« Aaaah. So we're not born vampire ? »
« No. »
« Hmmm … but then, how are made humans ? »
Krul rose her head from the file she was reading, and looked at the boy. Ouch.
« I do not know, I became a vampire before, you know. You should perhaps ask other people. » she said, with an embarrassed smile.
« Okay ! »
Fine, time for others to play the parents. And Krul knew perfectly well where Yuu would get an answer to his new question. Besides, they had to be a bit more knowledgeable was it not ? They had reached adulthood and nubile unlike her. Well. Yuu trotted merrily toward Crowley's place. It was Chess Belle who received him, and took him in her arms. She inquired about his health, before asking what brought him.
« I wanted to know : how are made humans ? »
Chess Belle blinked. She had studied this issue recently and remembered well the discomfort she felt. Now explain this to Yuuichiro ... no. Better to avoid.
« Eeeerrr … I think you should ask someone else. » she said, putting him down.
« Alright. »
Yuu went away elsewhere. He crossed Horn Skuld who received him with kindness. When Yuu asked her the question, the blonde remained silent.
« I think you should ask someone else. » she finally responded.
Yuu sighed. So to the next. He seeks Crowley he found seated at a table, turning a red liquid in a stemmed glass.
« Hello Crowley ! » claimed the little one.
« Hello Yuu, what brings you here this time ? » asked the noble, between two sips.
« I want to know how are made humans ! »
Crowley gulped and began to cough. He then watched Yuuichiro smiling at him as usual. God, but does all little humans posed this kind of question ? And their parents, what do they anwser ?
« Did you ask your mother ? » prevaricated the noble.
« Yeeees ! And to Chess and Horn too. So, do you know or not ? » said Yuu, rising his head to heaven.
« Yes yes I know but … »
« Tell me then. »
That's right Crowley, tell the boy. We're watching you. Or we imagine you.
« Well it's … it's a bit complicated. » said the ginger, uncomfortable.
« Really but why ? »
« Because huuum … how to tell you ? »
On the other side, Chess Belle and Horn Skuld were listening at doors, curious to see how their master was going to get out of this embarrassment. Crowley bit his lip, eyes on Yuu awaiting his response.
« So what ? » resumed Yuu, getting impatient.
« One minute will you. I said it wasn't easy. »
Yuu's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
« I think that you don't know actually. »
« Yes I do ! » objected Crowley.
« Then what are you waiting for ? »
Chess and Horn giggled away.
« Well … first we need … grownups. » begun Crowley.
His fingers strum on his glass. Silence followed this early response. Yuu was still waiting, as saw the vampire.
« And then ? »
« And then … they have to marry. »
« What is marry ? »
« It's getting married, when a man and a woman love each other very much, they get married and have a child. » explained Crowley.
He thought this would suffice as an explanation to the child. However, this brought in contrast to other questions.
« But can't they have one without being married ? »
« Oooohmm … I dunno, I don't live among humans you know. »
« Okay. But how do they make the child ? » continued Yuu.
Chess and Horn posted up an interested mine. What would be the answer of their master ? He had started quite well, he can probably negotiate this pitfall. Eusford stared at the kid.
« You'll understand when you're older. »
There. Classic. But not unstoppable.
« Are you kidding me ? I thought you know, so wh aren't you answering me ? » inquired Yuu.
"But ! Because ... it's grownup stuff, that's all. " said Crowley, overwhelmed with embarrassment.
« Yeah sure ! Truth is you don't know. You must have been a vampire before, just like mum. Frankly, can't you tell you don't know ? » reproached Yuu, pointing him.
Crowley looked up to heaven with a growl.
« If that's why you're here then you shouldn't have come ! » replied the ginger.
« That's for sure ! I would not have wasted time! » retorted Yuu.
Crowley rounded eyes. So now, coming to see him was a waste of time. Brat. Yuu crossed his arms with discontent. Crowley poured himself a drink. For a moment, nobody spoke. The other two vampires got ready to leave when the child spoke again.
« You said that when a man and a woman loves each other very much, they got married and have a child. »
Crowley turned his gaze towards him.
"Then …"
Then ? Eusford took a sip of blood, feeling he didn't know why a new puzzle.
« You and mom, you're married ? »
« Prrrrrt ! »
Crowley had spit blood spray. Chess and Horn bit their fingers to keep from bursting out laughing.
« By all the progenitors, what in hell makes you think that ?! » exlaimed Crowley.
« What's a progenitor ? » immediately asked the kid.
« A high-ranked vampire. But let's go back to your question : why do think me and Krul we should be married ? »
« I dunno. Since you're like a dad, and that you said there have to be a man and a woman, I thought so. »
Crowley closed his eyes.
« I'm not you father, Yuu, you know that do you ? » inquired Crowley.
« Yeah yeah I know. But I would have liked you to be my dad. »
Further, the two vampires went mode "aaaaawwww ! ". Eusford smiled fondly at the small one.
« Sadly, vampires doesn't have children. » he said, stroking his head.
« Aye I saw, I'm the only one. But say, can I call you dad ? »
The redhead froze, his hand on the head of the small one.
« Maybe you should talk about it with your mother first. Just in case. » advised the ginger.
« Okay ! » smiled the little one.
Crowley finished his meal, while Yuu announced immediately go ask his mother. The redhead reached out to restrain him, but in vain. The boy ran to the palace, stopped on the way to catch his breath, returned and finally went in search of his mother.
« Ah Yuu. So did you have your answer ? » said Krul with a smile.
« Pfah, I think Crowley doesn't know and he doesn't want to admit it. But I have another question. » responded the child.
« You don't say. And what is that new question ? »
« Can Crowley be my dad ? »
Oh Krul's face ! One asked her to marry Arukanu that she wouldn't put less surprised expression. Krul stood a while, looking at smiling Yuuichiro.
« But what for ? » she questionned.
« To have a dad ! I have a mommy but not a dad, and I want one and I want it to be Crowley. » replied Yuu, all simply.
« Hmmm … »
Krul had always read in the magazines-she had documented to properly care for Yuuichiro- that the children had a mother and a father. Apparently it was important to them. And quite honestly, the request surprised only half : Yuu had always loved the redhead and it was mutual. She asked him first of all what the main one in question thought. According to the child, he had replied to speak to her first. Krul saluted the presence of mind of the noble.
« However Yuu, you do realise that since we're vampires, we're different from humans. » inquired Krul.
« Well yeah. »
« So we're not going to be married or I don't know what else. » she warned.
« As long he is my dad, I don't care about the rest. »
Krul took a breath. Obviously, the little one wanted to call him dad and consider him as such. For her, nothing would change. However she would discuss it with him. So she took the hand of her son and they went in Eusford. The latter feared for a moment that she only came to put her bun in reverse.
« So Crowley, Yuu just announced me that he wanted you to be his father from now on. » she began.
« He also told me, and I sent him back to you. » answered carefully Crowley.
« Right. Honestly, I'm not surprised he asks it. This isn't a problem, however we will work one point or two. Thus, I am one who decides and who will have the last word. I'll still take your opinion into account. I warned him that we are different from humans. " stated the vampire.
« So do you want to be my daddy ? » asked Yuu right away.
Crowley looked down at the child who was watching him now with hope. He, dad. He would never have imagined such a thing. But Yuu there obviously was taking to heart about it, because he asked again. Crowley closed his eyes with a smile.
« Fine, I agree Yuu. » he said.
« YYEEEEEAAAAAAH ! »
The child let go of the hand of Krul to jump into the arms of the ginger. The noble received him smiling. Yuu rubbed his forehead against his cheek, overjoyed. How not to be infected by his happiness ? A smile appeared on the lips of the vampires. So much things happened with this little one.