Yuu is begining to show signs of rebellion ... and someone is paying the price.
Enjoy and review !
Crowley Eusford knocked at a door and entered. Yuuchiro stood on his bed. On the other side stood Akane. The girl had taken two more years. But she would not go further into the age, because she sported vampires red eyes now. Her will had lasted only two years. Until now, Yuu had seen to provide his blood. Alas, it happened that he could arrive in time. So one day, thirsty, Akane tried to hold out before cracking and attack a child. She had bitten him before realizing what she was doing. When Yuuichiro had found her, her eyes were red. He sent her a small sorry smile. Akane had lowered her head, her hair hiding her face. The boy she had bitten took advantage to get free and escape.
" You requested me, little scamp ?" asked Crowley.
"Yes dad. Akane is going on a mission with you and I'd like to come." he said.
" Let me guess : your mother said no." guessed the ginger one, putting his hand on his hips.
"Bingo. She still doesn't want me to follow the guards lessons … she said I'm too young." said Yuu, eyes like marbles.
"Hahaha ! She refuses to see that despite your appearance, you're maturing." laughed Crowley.
" Don't mention it ! Thankfully you're still teaching me swordplay. But can't you talk about it to her, like I don't know, we want to spend more time together." continued Yuu.
"You know as well as me that your mother has the last word about you, that's part of our agreement." reminded Crowley.
" But when in hell is she going to let me live ?" exclaimed Yuu, rising his hands.
Crowley laughed again. Krul had not changed a comma in regard to her son, that she still called my baby. But even if he was no longer physically growing up, his mind continued to evolve. And therefore, the little vampire aspired to greater freedoms. The ginger announced that it was time for Yuu to take his sword lesson. While he was there, he would also assess the level of Akane. Both therefore left the room of the Eusford mansion down to the armory. Crowley decided to start with Akane, thinking it hardly take him long. The young vampire took out her weapon, the face smooth. When Crowley drew his, the confrontation began.
The red haired clashed his blade against that of Akane, who gritted his teeth. As expected from a high-ranking nobleman, he was strong. Very strong. The adult let her strike a few shots before disarming her as nothing.
"Good. This is enough. You still have a lot to learn, but it's not bad given your age." he declared.
Akane said nothing and went to pick up her weapon. Yuu went in turn in the combat area, hopping like a kid.
"Yuu, focus." Said Crowley.
" But I am, my dear daddy." said the child with great joy.
Crowley rolled his eyes. He then squared off.
"You know, I'm really so happy you're here today. When you left I thought I would never see you again." he said with a sad face.
"…"
Crowley meanwhile, wondered what was planning the little brown. He had not changed either, still cute even as a vampire. Finally, the adult charged, and Yuu blocked cheerfully. He returned one of his kids smiles which he had the secret, and that melted some. He even laughed.
"My daaaaddyyyy !" he suddenly said, jumping on him as for a hug.
"Wah !"
Yuu rubbed his face against that of the ginger, who lowered his sword. He sighed softly, not without smiling. It was not still very vampire like attitude. But while Crowley was about to pat the back of the brown in response to his affection, he felt a sharp thing on his throat.
"Yuu. What are you doing ?" he asked.
" Trapping you of course. If I wanted so I could have ripped your head." said the little one with a mischievous smile.
Crowley could not help but smile at the cunning of Yuu, who placed a dagger on his father's neck.
"You little demon ! You know you're cute and you're taking advantage of it !"
"Hell yeah ! Mom is well placed to know. Even if it doesn't always work."
Yuu took his knife and went down. However, Crowley has not decided the end of the battle, and raised his sword. Yuu pulled away by doing the wheel without hands. He then bent down to avoid a blade stroke. He even slip between Eusford legs, then sent his feet in the knees of the adult. Unbalanced, the adult fell and landed to his knees. Nevertheless, he placed his sword behind him to receive that of the child. When Crowley turned, Yuuichiro passed over him. By always bouncing everywhere around the city, the little brunette had become particularly agile. That pleased the redhead : it spiced their confrontation. The fight lasted longer than Akane. Yuu had, had to say, more experience.
"Very good little scamp ! You're becoming tough." congratulated Crowley, after disarming him.
"Moh already giving up ?" said Yuu.
Crowley returned him a sarcastic smile.
"I don't want to hurt you, my little one."
" Say rather that you're afraid of getting something stuck !" retorted the young, crossing his arms.
" Hmmm don't provoke me, little scamp. Come on, time for exercises."
Akane therefore joined them and listened to the instructions. Two hours later, the lesson was over. Yuu again asked his father to speak of this mission story to Krul, with a characteristic smile. Crowley rolled his eyes and said he would see. Yeah. Yuu guessed what it meant. He turned his back on his father and proposed a game to his comrade. Eusford therefore went to the palace for a first briefing on the mission, given by the sovereign.
"Where's Akane ?" she asked, stopping by Ferid.
"With our son. Who by the way, confessed to me he has desire for air baptism." answered Eusford.
" Oh really. So he talked to you about it. Would have bet on it. The answer is still no." said Krul.
" You're aware that he still, let's say, growing mentally. He'll end up resenting you for depriving him of freedom." continued Eusford.
"He's too young that's final." replied the sovereign.
" But yet once, you weren't afraid of him going out to hunt." reminded Crowley.
" Things happened to change,in case you didn't notice Crowley."
" Say ! Could you manage your marital issues at another time, and above all else where ?" intervened Ferid.
Krul then tossed him a blow on the head that knocked Bathory on the side. Fortunately he was sitting on a sofa.
"Fine then, we'll see that later. Let's get back to the main topic."
Further, Akane who was pursuing Yuu on the roofs of the city suddenly stopped with a shout. Yuu stopped too, surprised.
"The reunion ! I totally forgot about it !" exclaimed Akane.
"Eh ?"
"There was a reunion about the mission I should have been there ! Shiiiit !" she panicked.
Yuu joined her and suggested to get there, it was perhaps not too late. Akane hesitated. Whether now or later, she might still be scolded. Both vampires so spun. Akane timidly knocked on the door.
"There you are Akane. Come in and next time don't be late." snapped Krul.
The girl walked head down. She sat down not far from Eusford, while the queen resumed. Half an hour later the meeting ended. Akane asked the tall ginger to make her a summary of what she had missed. The departure was scheduled on the night. Akane therefore preferred to go prepare. The girl was staying at the Eusford manor, since Yuu had brought her to sleep after her metamorphosis. The latter did not formalized, after all he was not often there. Yuuichiro for his part, was awaiting the return of his father to ask him if he could have talked to Krul.
" It is still no." informed Crowley.
" Gaaaah ! But when I am to get out of here ?" shouted Yuu.
" I dunno my little one."
"Maybe I should have grow a little bit more before becoming a vampire."
"I don't know if it would have changed anything. Anyway, I gotta go I must prepare myself." concluded Crowley.
Yuu sighed. Okay, well he was going to take things in hand. He went out of the mansion after greeting everyone. But instead of returning to the palace, the prince of Sanguinem went to a different place. Later, Akane left the mansion in company of Crowley. She would be alone with Ferid ... that wasn't good news for her. Even vampire she had not forgotten what he had done. Since she was new, Akane had kept her latest human thoughts, including aversion she had for the 7th progenitor. The latter smiled at the young vampire who turned away. The trio climbed into an airplane. A moment later, the engine roars. He rolled a moment on the runway before taking altitude.
"This is the first time I'm taking the plane … too bad Yuuichiro isn't here to see that." she thought.
Akane was standing next to a window, where she remained screwed most of the trip. The brunette did not think of anything, not even to his fellow passengers. Ferid rose from his chair to stretch his legs a bit and drink. He therefore went deep down where once officiated the stewardesses. The noble uncorked a bottle, humming, and arranged three glasses on a tray itself on a sideboard. Then he raised an eyebrow. Ferid turned and approached an empty seat.
"Well what do we have here ! A stowaway !"
Ferid reached out.
" OW ! CROOOWLEEEY !"
The redhead looked up and leaned into the aisle. He found his friend's forearm and his head taken by ... he raised his eyebrows and jumped.
" Yuuichiro ! But are you doing here ?" he exclaimed.
Yuu had leaped from his hiding, biting Ferid in the forearm and grabbing his hair. Eusford took his son by the size, and then ordered him to drop the noble. Yuu merely squint eyes, pulling more on white locks, making Ferid whining.
"Yuu let him go now !" said Crowley, on a authoritarian voice.
"Faaaah ! Best education right here." breathed Ferid, once free.
" You sissy !" retorted Yuu, in his father's arms.
"Hey you ! Are you aware that your mother is going to rip my head off, when she'll know you came ?" asked Eusford.
" Don't worry, I wont' let her. But it's about time I discover the world a little. Sanguinem is nice, but there's not only that in life."
"Anyway, it's too late to turn around. So let's get back and sit." said Ferid.
He pushed the feeder while Crowley was going to stick his son next to Akane. The brunette cheerfully greeted the young, surprised though.
The rest of the trip passed without incident. When it was time to land, Crowley held Yuu by the collar.
" Go on, I must talk to my son." he said to his comrades.
Ferid got out first followed by Akane. Yuu looked up at the redhead.
" You're to wait us here. It shouldn't be long." ordered Crowley.
" Huh ? I didn't come all the way long just to stay on a plane !" protested Yuu, turning.
" Yuuichiro. This is not a game right ? You risk being injured or even killed. So you stay here for your safety. You can take a walk around the airport, but formal defense to follow us." insisted Crowley.
"So what is it for you to teach me to defend myself, if I can't even use it ? And I will not let Akane alone with the sissy."
Crowley closed his eyes with a sigh.
"That's it or your mother will never let me see you again."
Yuu opened his mouth then closed it. He then lowered his head and agreed to stay here. Crowley ruffled his hair, and then went out. Yuu sat on the steps of the bridge, looking away. He had hoped to discover a little the outside world, but if it was to risk of never seeing his father ... which disappeared over the horizon. The young vampire decided to explore a little bit the airport. Which was after all better than nothing. He still hoped Akane would pull through. Yuu discovered a cart used to pull luggage wagons. He climbed over, found the key remained over and turned. The engine purred. The brown haired pressed the pedals and accidentally pulled the gear lever and the cart drove off.
A little farther …
"Are you sure Yuuichiro won't follow us ?" asked Ferid.
"I can only hope for it." replied Crowley.
In turn, they arrived to their goal. Ferid drew his sword, and then launched an attack that smashed the door. After that, the three vampires rushed inside. The fight was fast : the humans inside had no chance against such powerful vampires. Akane watched in awe a funny creature in a glass tube, which asked him to kill her.
"But what is that thing ?" she asked.
"That ? This is the most taboo experience possible: the Seraph of the end. Humans do it on their own kind. Besides ... your friend Mika and others are in the hands of an organization responsible for the end of the world." responded Ferid.
"What ?" said Akane.
Crowley who was wiping his sword, turns his gaze to the noble coming towards the young vampire.
"Exactly. The Japanese Imperial Demon Army practiced this kind of masterpiece. And you and your whole family have made it part. The orphanage where you were was tasked to provide guinea pigs. You have suffered like others experiences." revealed Ferid.
"No …" breathed Akane.
"I assure you it is true. You can even ask Krul Tepes : Why do you think she got you transformed ? By compassion ?"
"You're lying …"
"Then find the truth by yourself, then." said Ferid, turning his back on her.
Akane gaped. She, an experimental subject ? But she had no memory. But still, she often wondered why Krul had saved. Only at the request of Yuuichiro ? However, the words she had uttered that day ... seraph. So Ferid was right. She was a lab rat, and Mika and others too. How awful. If she was still human, Akane would have felt sick. She came into shock. The trio returned to the airport. Yuu where gaily tossing and veered into his cart. He climbed on a stone pan and executed a great leap before falling. Suddenly seeing the others, Yuu turned the wheel and rolled toward them. He jumped from the halfway cart, leaving the right to continue its road toward Ferid.
"I believe your son resent me." he said, stopping the vehicle.
Crowley smiled : no kidding. He passed his hand in the young one's hair. Yuu suddenly noticed Akane shocked look. Naturally, he immediately inquired what was wrong. Akane left the two adults vampires away before teaching him what Ferid explained. Yuu round eyes when he knew.
"Two secs." he said.
He ran to Ferid which he administered a vigorous kick in the bottom. Ferid fell face against the ground, the cap on the head. The nobleman turned and pulled away.
"May I know what I did to deserve again your anger Yuu ?" he asked.
" Because you're idiot !"
Yuu returned to Akane, providing his response to Bathory. She had to tell him what she had learned. Bathory sighed and stood up.
"We really need you to have a conversation about me with your little one, Crowley-kun. Just to explain that one do not square his foot on a noble's bottom, prince or not."
Preferably before he lost patience. Ferid has maybe a soft spot for Yuu like the rest of his family, but seriously no kidding.
" Hmmm … Yuuichiro, come over here my son !" called Crowley, folding his index.
Yuu displayed marble eyes. To believe that he had only come to be lectured. Nevertheless he advanced to his father who was waiting hands on hips.
"Could you please avoid to physically attack Ferid ? I remind you he is a high noble."
"And a perfect idiot."
"Whatever. You are bound to respect him. So don't do your escapades over again or I'll end up angry."
"Grmph."
Crowley then looks over his shoulder. Ferid was back on the plane and Akane entered it in turn.
" But thanks anyway. I confess that at times, it itches me too to shove him my foot in his ass." revealed Eusford.
Yuu looks at him with astonishment, before giggling. Crowley, however, asked him to keep the secret. They then returned to the machine which took off.
Back in Sanguinem, Yuu saw his mother through the window.
"Oops." he said.
" Time to assume your actions Yuu." said Crowley.
The vampire let his head fall back on the glass. Akane patted him on the back. Yuu got off the plane heads down. Krul watched, the foot tapping, arms crossed and looks angry.
"Crowley Eusford. May I know why our son was in this plane ?" she asked, with an abnormally calm voice.
"Because he went in in secret. But rest assured, he stayed at the airport." responded Crowley.
"Do you have any ideas … how WORRY I WAS ?!" shouted Krul.
Yuu lowered his head.
"What's in your head goddamnit ? I specifically ordered you to stay here ! What you do not understand in this sentence ?"
"And you, what do you not understand in the fact that I want to see the outside ?" retorted suddenly Yuu, rising his head.
Krul rised her eyebrows an instant.
"What do you mean ?"
"I want to get out here !"
Krul felt like a blow to the heart. What does he mean, he want to get out ? Was he already so sick of living here with her ? Doesn't he love her anymore ? Ferid who made a few steps forward, then turned toward them.
"I think he just wants to take the air from time to time. Why not for example let him go to his father a week or two ?" he suggested.
Yuu looked at him with surprise. He took his defense ? After the attacks of the little brown ? Krul stared at her adoptive child.
"It would be a good idea indeed. Otherwise, he'll probably do it again." Added Crowley.
The queen lowered her eyes.
"I'll think about it. But for now Yuuichiro, you're punished for three days."
She went on this good words. Yuu looked up Ferid incredulously. The noble returned him a questioningly look.
"Why did you do this ?" asked the dark-haired one.
"Because I have not forgotten that one day you too when you were a baby, you took my defense against your mother. You have prevented her from punishing me, so today I return the favor." answered Ferid.
Naturally, Yuu didn't remember. But Crowley testified the veracity of the anecdote. That left Yuu thoughtful. The foursome left the track and returned to the capital. Yuu was therefore left in his bedroom. He took the opportunity to pounder on Ferid's attitude. He still resented him a little for killing two of his friends. Apart from that, the noble seemed to stick to the prohibition of the prince not to approach Akane. While he could easily ignore it. In all objectivity, Yuuichiro was not above him, even as the adopted son of Krul Tepes. The day of the Hyakuya's escape, Bathory could have easily knocked Yuu. Yet he had not hurt him, just repelled him.
He must have affection for him in this case. Yuu sighed. Ferid had always been a family member. He too loved him very much before this story. What should he do ?
" I don't know if I can forgive him. But maybe I can give a second chance." he thought.
At night Yuu slipped from the room. He reached the manor of Ferid he found busy ... to draw. The young vampire passed through the open window of the small office.
"Oya Yuu, what brings you here ?" wondered Ferid.
"Taking a walk." said simply the young one.
He went and sat on a chair.
" Did you already forget that your mother grounded you ?" resumed the noble.
" She said three days not three nights."
" Haha ! That's true. And so, I'm the one you came to see. I confess being surprise." Said Ferid, rising his eyes from his paper.
Surprised but a bit touched, he had to admit.
"Me too." said Yuu, looking away.
Ferid smiled, then resumed his drawing. For a few minutes there was silence. Finally, Ferid announced that he had finished and asked the child his opninion. Yuu stood up and approached the desk. He looked at the drawing, leaned his head to right and then left before looking up the author.
"Well ?" asked Ferid.
In response, Yuu took the glass put there and sniffed.
" It's ugly isn't it ?" guessed Ferid.
"You're not holding your pencil properly. Your features are irregular. You must not look at your pencil when you draw, but where you want it to go." explained Yuu.
The small one was still drawing and painting, and has much improved since his essays in the room and the living room of his mother. For his anniversaries, he received books to learn to draw.
"Really ?"
" Look. Take your pencil."
Yuu corrected the tool holding, then put his hand on Ferid's one, and led it to draw a straight line. He so draw a face step by step. Yuu continued, and the noblesaw that he was tracing the outline of a face. Neck, shoulders, and back to face which were added two traits that were cutting. On the horizontal one were affixed eyes, on the vertical nose and mouth. Yuu then erased the traits. He added the ears and began to draw hair. Ferid furrowed his brows. Gradually the draw was taking shape and the vampire soon recognized his own face, as the child made him lined with a sure hand. Yuu added shade and perspectives before finally letting go the hand of Ferid.
"Wow ! That's really resembling Yuu." he noticed.
"I'll lend you my books about it if you like. Right, time for me to go." concluded the little one.
He walked to the window, leaving a puzzled Ferid. He was unaware that the child knew how to draw that well. He himself had drawn nothing but maps. Including that Mika had stolen. Yuu disappeared. Ferid looked at the window for a moment before smiling. The little prince of the city seemed to be closer to him again.
Yuu was back in the palace without Krul had noticed his absence. And just in time, because she came to see if he was still there. Yuu had taken his design stuff, which made believe the sovereign he was occupied. She nodded with satisfaction before closing the door. Yuu heaved a sigh of relief. Well, a few more minutes and she found the room empty. Meanwhile, he decided to actually get down to drawing.
The next night, Yuu was back at Ferid. He dropped his book on his desk in an audible noise.
"Ah you framed it." he noticed, seeing the sketches of the day before under glass.
" Well, I don't really have much opportunities to be portrayed." answered Ferid.
" Of course, you'll eat the photograher."
"Hahaha !"
" But this one isn't really good. I had made another one long ago and painted. I wanted to offer it to you for your birthday, but nobody could give me your date of birth. So I ended up forgetting. " Yuu explained.
He pulled a cardboard folder, and then unfolded a small canvas on which Ferid discovered a beautiful painting of him.
"It took me a moment to decide in which position to draw you. Finally, I drew you up." Said Yuu.
"It's really beautiful Yuu. Thank you." said Ferid, taking the canvas.
"Don't mention it. If you're doing it seriously, you'll be able to do the same."
Ferid looked up from the canvas and put them on the young vampire. Then after a moment's reflection, he asked :
" And you'll teach me ?"
"If you behave, why not." responded Yuu with a smirk.
"Very well. I'm willing to take some lessons." accepted Ferid.
Yuu then invited him to sit down, take a pencil and paper. The young then opened one of the books, and announced they would begin by geometric figures. He corrected the pencil position, and showed him how to draw a line. While the adult applied over and over again, Yuu fashioned a pair of glasses that he cut out in paper. He then put on the nose of the vampire.
"…"
" Humans use this kind of accessory to correct their sight." informed Yuu.
"Do you find me old by any chance ?" asked Ferid.
"Well you do have a musty smell I must say."
Ferid sniffed a sleeve.
"And he believes me. I dunno about the sight, but I know how's the brain."
Ferid raised his head, with a ironically look, while Yuu returned him a wry smile. The noble then returned to his drawing, keeping the glasses paper on the muzzle. He then showed his work to his teacher.
"That' good ! You should make another one. Otherwise, glasses suits you."
" Oh ? Then maybe I should wear it more often, and real ones." responded Ferid.
"At least it gave you a serious look, almost a clever one." continued Yuu.
" Almost clever ? What does that mean, that I look stupid most of the time ?" said the noble, amused.
"Oooh I didn't say a thing !"
" You little scamp ! Wait for it, if I remember well you're ticklish." smiled Ferid.
" Focus on your sketches, instead."
" No no no my young friend. When you provoke a noble, you're to expect consequences."
"Eh ?"
Still, he was obliged to decamp before the advance of Ferid. The 7th progenitor pursued him a moment in the house before capturing him. Yuu soon laughed, squirming on the ground like a worm.
"There. I hope your learned your lesson." said Ferid, releasing him.
" Foof, yes, do not provoke an old one." understood Yuu, rising.
Ferid turned, then finally shook his head and returned to his desk.