Dragons and Their Treasures
By: K.N.K
A/N: I hope you enjoy. By the way—any anime or manga used in this story is not mine. Only the twins are mine…and the story idea. That is all.
Summary: I live to serve. I live to protect. Both of them…they no longer need me…they—they don't even want me. I am breaking. I need to find someone or something! They want me. Even better than that—they need me! My new charges…I will serve them until death…even beyond death. They are mine…
Chapter One:
The Dragon—prepares to fight.
Looking around the room absently as her classmates chattered mindless about something or other. Tatsuki sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. She thought to herself, 'Why do I have to go to school again?' After all she'd much rather be with her charges then here. Looking out the window she drowned the teacher's yelling, her classmates gossiping chatter and giggles.
'I wonder how the twins are doing,' she thought flipping open her pocket watch and saw that it was almost dismissal time. Packing up her belongs she waited a few more minutes and stood up just before the bell rang. She was the first one out the door. She pretended that she didn't hear her name being called out by both her friends—what was left of her group anyways—and the teacher. People moved out of her after seeing her storm down the hallway. Maybe in fear or just instinct but she didn't care—she needed to pick up her charges! The rest be damned. Walking out of the school building she made her way to the elementary school and watched as people once again unknowingly parted way for her.
Sighing, she got out her headphones and turned on her iPod putting it on shuffle. The song that came on was Break your heart by Taio Cruz. She chuckled at the lyric and stopped walking as she finally reached the playground at the school. Looking around for two blondes she couldn't find them she fleet slightly worried at not seeing her charges until she saw another pair of twins by the soccer field with her charges. Walking over causally she put a figure to her lips asking the Kurosaki sisters to stay quiet as she grabbed the two blonde twins by their waist scaring them.
"Tatsuki," the twins yelled out, "put us down!"
Tatsuki grinned and dropped both of her charges to the floor, smiling brightly as the glared up at her. She turned to face the Kurosaki sister and gave them a playful wink—they began to blush and her eyes twinkled in mischief. She walked over studying the two girls she hadn't since nearly three months before Orihime's disappearance.
"Look at this! You girls have gotten so big!" Tatsuki then brought up both hands and ruffled up their hair. Both of the girls had distinct reactions according to their diverse natures. The eldest, Yuzu blushed shyly and glowed with happiness at the touch of one of the women she admired since childhood. Meanwhile the youngest, Karin, looked away blushing in embarrassment at the affection that one of her childhood heroes gave her.
They looked past her grinning face as they saw both the still fairly new transfer students, Madeline and Mathieu Bonnefoy, getting up with the other's help. They began to dust themselves off as they glared at the back of Tatsuki's head. Tatsuki turned her head to glance over her right shoulder as sweat dropped at the twin's attempt at an evil glare. Chuckling she went over and hugged the both of them.
Meanwhile the Kurosaki sisters were watching with interest at the interactions between the Bonnefoy twins and with the girl they consider one of their heroes. They blushed harder at seeing Tatsuki smiling at the twins. They noticed how she had grown her hair longer—not too much but almost brushing past her shoulders—still spiky in the front still similar to their older brother's hair style. She had grown a bit taller than before maybe a centimeter or two. Both of them agreed that the look was more girlish but still suited her trademark tomboy look— they also decided it was a bit strange the familiarity she and the twins gave one another.
Yuzu was a bit hesitant in interrupting their little moment but she had just invited the twins to dinner on Saturday night at their house and—she still needed their answer too!
"Um, Madeline," Yuzu said directly at the female twin, who in her option was the easier one to talk of the two siblings, "will you and your family be able to come?"
Madeline smiled gently at Yuzu causing the girl to fidget some before she answered, "Oui, both ferré and I would love to join your family for a meal, but we will need to ask our guardian if she wishes to go." At the moment she glanced up at Tatsuki slyly while her brother smirked knowing that this was his sister's revenge for the earlier scare their guardian gave them.
Tatsuki knew the twins were doing this just to get back at her, even if she really did have a soft spot for the Kurosaki sisters—she really didn't want to go to his home. Looking down at their little milky white skinned cherub-like faces with their leafy green eyes shining in want and not to mention the pout they both had made with their tiny petal lips. She gave up when Madeline gave her a watery eyed look and Mathieu gave off a disappointed sigh and moved to comfort his younger sister. Tatsuki had been looking away until she caved—giving a sigh she said to both Yuzu and Karin, "We'll go over to have dinner with guys on Saturday, what time do you guys want us there?"
While the Bonnefoy twins were grinning rather deviously at winning the battle with their guardian the Kurosaki twins were in a bit of shock at the fact that Tatsuki was the new transfer students' guardian.
Yuzu stuttered out an answer, "A-at seven? I-if that's okay?"
"Yea, sure Yu-chan," Tatsuki flashed her brilliant smile to help give her a bit of confidence. Yuzu smiled back then turned to latch on to Karin's right arm as Karin slung her backpack over her left shoulder.
"Ready to go, Yuzu," Karin asked bluntly, she no longer felt comfy around the twins or Tatsuki—they felt weird to her.
Smiling brightly Yuzu nodded and waved at Tatsuki and the other pair of twins, "Good bye you three!" Both of the Kurosaki sister left quickly—one because she wanted to figure out what to cook on Saturday and start cleaning—the other because she wanted to get out of there quick.
Tatsuki waved back as her charges just smiled at them before each latched on to one of Tatsuki's hands, waiting to leave. Tatsuki looked down at both of them noticing they already put their little book bags and moved forward holding one of each of their hands in her own.
"Tatsuki," a more boyish voice asked having kept quiet this whole time as the girls interacted. His voice held a cool tone to it, making Tatsuki inwardly chuckle at the boy and his mannerism.
"Yes, Master Mathieu?" Tatsuki kept looking forward as she waited for his question. Madeline had kept silent and squeezed Tatsuki's hand tightly in her small hand.
"Don't tease them like that." His voice had an edge to it. While Tatsuki smirked and glance down at the boy to her left then continued on until they reached their homes. Her young master was jealous and so was the young miss.
Going toward the kitchen she processed to make dinner as her masters went to kitchen table and processed to do their homework. Madeline began to hum to a simple song that she had heard very long ago –back in her—their –home land. Giving a glance to the young miss she decided to fallow along and whisper to herself the old song that many long ago had forgotten. Finishing with preparations for tonight she went to the kitchen table and sat down finish what little she had left for homework. Finish she saw that the young masters had been staring at her. They finished their homework and just sat there. Their wide green eyes had a dazed glossy look to them, the pupils of their yes both dilated into a cat-like slit. Then she knew that they had heard the words coming out of her mouth. Somewhere along the line she had stated to sing clearly enough for them to hear the chant.
Pausing she brought up her left hand, slipping off the black leather fingerless glove she had wear on a daily basis—she cut her palm on her teeth and brought it to the closest twin, Mathieu. The blood had formed a large bead in size and appearance, it overflowed like a river and made its' way down to her fingers. Placing her finger on the boy's bottom lip—she watch as most of the blood had dripped into his mouth only a bit fell down his lips dipping along his chin. He latched on to her finger and lapped up wards to the source sucking harshly at her palm—cutting into the tiny wound more, letting the blood flow into his mouth. Waiting patiently until he slowed down and then pulled away her palm. She checked his eyes—they were back to normal—dazed but relatively normal. Putting back on her left glove, she took off her right glove and repeated her actions with Madeline. This time it took longer, and more blood to bring Madeline back then her brother—although she did regain consciousness much faster than her still dazed elder brother.
"T-tasuki," Madeline called out her name with worry lacing her voice she got up and latched up to her guardian's waist, burying her face against her stomach. Tatsuki smiled and put a hand over her head running her hand through the girl's golden hair with care.
"Don't worry kiddo, I'm here," pressing the girl closely against her breast, Tatsuki lulled her into a calm state of mind.
Soon her brother fallowed and snapped out of his dazed. Looking over to Tatsuki and his sister, Madeline, he made his way and managed to worm his way to Tatsuki's other side as well. Tatsuki made sure her grip on both of them was secure as she stood up and carried both children to the bathroom. Preparing them a bath, she left them in the bath room as she went to pick up their night clothes. Coming back she saw they had undressed themselves and already entered the tub.
"And to think the both of you use to love me undressing you and helping you scrub yourselves bath. Now you won't even let me in!" Giving them both a teasing smile she went down on her knees and grabbed a bottle of almond and honey-milk scented shampoo off the shelves and grabbed a small pale blue bin filling it with water she poured it over the closest head of blond hair, Madeline. Tatsuki the squeezed the bottle of shampoo into her palm lathering it and them working it into Madeline's long hair.
Madeline pressed against her finger Guardian's fingertips smiling happily as she closed her eyes half way gazing onto the other end of the rather large bath tub to meet her brother identical green eyes. Pouring more water over the girl's head Tatsuki then repeated her actions with the conditioner smiling fondly at the children. Rinsing out Madeline's hair for the final time she motioned for her brother, Mathieu, to move in her place.
She gave Mathieu the same treatment her smiling never faded as he leaned back into her hands, after finishing washing his hair she got up and grabbed a wash cloth and lathered it with Sea breeze body wash. She washed Mathieu's body then rinsed it with more water, she did the same for Madeline after rinsing and lather the cloth again.
"Tatsuki, come in with us please?" Madeline requested and gave her a pout—while Mathieu nodded silently in agreement.
Grumbling, Tatsuki undressed herself and bathed, sinking into the tub with them they migrated towards each claiming their usual side. Madeline to her right and Mathieu to her left—they laid their head on her shoulder breathing in the calming scent and relaxing nicely.
"I'd never leave you two for anyone, you know?" Tatsuki had suddenly broken the silence within the bathroom. Her question was directed to Mathieu's earlier comment about her interactions with the Kurosaki twins. Both of the twins were quiet, breathing steadily they both put a hand over the center of Tatsuki, Madeline's right hand was underneath Mathieu's left hand.
"We know…," they trailed off –not knowing what to say over the obvious jealously over the two other girls.
"Come on the both you it's time to dress and eat dinner," Tatsuki sat up straight causing the twins to do so as well, "and then off to bed." The children whined about having to get out but did so anyways knowing that they could crawl into bed with their guardian later. Tatsuki got out of the tub, dried her hair and wrapped herself in a towel. Grabbing two more towels for the twins she pulled Mathieu out of the water first and dried him off before helping into black and white P.J.s. She did the same for Madeline but put her in a little night gown and braided her hair. Drying herself off and dressing herself in a tank top and shorts, she led the twins out back into the dining room.
"You two still want to eat or do you wanna go to bed?" Tatsuki looked at the time, "and it's already 10:30 too. Damn, we were in there for a long time."
The twins nodded in agreement and tried to cover up a yawn. Tatsuki was shook her head and sighed at them as their eyes opening and closing trying to fight off the sandman's spell.
"Okay time for bed instead kiddos," reaching for one hand each she led them to their room. All three of them crawled into bed—the twins taking their usual sides and snuggled against Tatsuki's bosom.
"Tatsuki," both children chorused together and pausing as they clasped their hands together laying them in the middle of their guardian's chest silently staring upwards to her face.
"Yes?" She answered quietly as if half asleep when she was clearly awake just staring up at the ceiling.
"Never leave us…," They said quietly their little voices trailing off sleepily.
Tatsuki wrapped her arms around the children and held the close to her feeling them practically melt against her, "I will never leave the two of you…," trailing off she paused as the children eyes began to glow an eerie acidy green. Tatsuki realized that if their eyes had glow her own must have glowed as well—she was right when she saw both of the children look up worriedly at her now glowing red eyes.
"They are here." Tatsuki said simply and then scowled hissing out, "and so are the others."
Looking down at the twins she patted their heads and kissed both of their foreheads, watching as their glowing eyes faded back to their original soft color. Placing a hand over their eyes she told them, "Sleep."
"But—!" The twins were cut off when Tatsuki gave that look that said 'that is final.' They rested against her, listen to the rhythmic beat of her heart and her words, "No one will take me away from you." They fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
Tatsuki watched as they fell asleep inwardly cursing at the bad luck of everyone's timing. Ichigo and Orhime plus their friends come! Not to mention the ambassadors have now arrived in their world. Looking down at the now sleeping twins, her face was grim and her mouth set into a straight line.
'I will protect them…,' she thought silently her thoughts growing hazy as she grew tired and slowly went under the sandman's spell—one last word crossed her lips—,"…my children…"
~Elsewhere~
"We located her—and the children, my King." A dark skinned man kneeled before an impending shadow and bowed his head in reverence.
"Very good," a deep voice rang full and rich. The figure stepped out of the shadow to show a mane of long wild raven colored hair and what seemed to be pale skin that glowed under the moon, "My Queen, your King is here."
A/N: I finally updated! Hahaha, I wanted to thank those who reviewed and gave me their thoughts on the prologue. Yes I know Tatsuki seemed a bit weird but I thought it suited her considering circumstances of her friends and most cases people would probably have serious issues with abandonment—which explains her clinginess towards the children.