Thank you everyone for the feedback of the pilot chapter! It was incredibly encouraging to see PM's regarding further inquiring of this potential PJO world and character I've constructed. I will always personally respond to questions sent through PM's, while any guests reviewers shall be responded with publicly, like so.
Jack (guest) - While I am a little confused by your comment regarding the play on words of title, "Minors, But Not Minor", I shall attempt to explain it to you. The title is meant to show how though their ages are below responsibility entitling age, they are not to simply going to cogs in a larger machine. Also the comment regarding myself going back to restudy English is unwarranted.
In other words, I'll now explain how the coming chapter and plot progression shall entail.
Each chapter will be tailored towards a specific character's POV, much like in the "Kane Chronicles" or like in the latter PJO book series, Lost Hero, Son of Neptune, etc. Likewise, the chapters may or may not be cycled between the three: Ada, Hikaru, and Bastion. Sometimes I'll add in an outside character just for some extra perspective on events, but who knows! I've yet to write a chapter where the main focal POV wasn't one of them.
Secondly, the linear plot of the chapters shall be... Vague. The initial premise of this was too simply write a bunch of one-shots with OC's, simply for me to practice writing and to experiment. However, now an eventual conflict has been made that will arrive sometime in the future, so the first x-amount of chapters will simply be character and world building. The chapter's time frame is also con-strewn and strange because some of the first intial chapters were simply freely written, without a stable plot in mind. The plot will come, but for now, be content with calmness.
Thirdly, the relationship between Ada, Hikaru, and Bastion is all platonic. There will be no romance between the three of them, that is to say that there will be no romance regardless. The origins of their relationship will eventually come to fruition, but until be content for the quirky understanding the three share with each other, even though they should have nothing in common with each other.
Fourthly, these next three chapters shall simply be short interludes to explain some of the background of the characters that they're titled for. In this case, today everyone will learn about Hikaru Itou!
Finaly, thank you Thunderwolf7226, oblivionrain, and Jack (Guest) for reviewing!
Hikaru didn't know how to properly explain their... Lineage. They grew up nice enough. The child of a minor god has very little presence to monsters. They'd rather go for the children of the bigger name gods; like Ares, Hermes, Apollo, or Aphrodite.
However, a child of Hermaphroditus is... Strange from birth normally. Most are out rightly beautiful, much like a child of Aphrodite or Eros. However, there are some odd complications for most. Some call it a curse, while others see it as a blessing.
They are what many mortals call IS, or intersex*. Though there are intersex mortals, intersex demigods are almost always the children of Hermaphroditus the partial formation of secondary sex organs of both male and female being the telltale sign for mortal eyes. Many parents simply found that aspect of the children... Undesirable, and others saw it as unhealthy.
Many are changed at birth, their gender assigned by their parents. And then most live on as exceptionally beautiful boys and girls. Most, not all.
Hikaru was... Different than the majority of their brothers and sisters. Different than almost everyone, actually. Mortal or demigod.
His father, a simple hardworking Japanese immigrant Doctor by the name of Takeshi Itou, met Hermaphroditus in college at UCLA. Their first meeting being at a college fraternity party believe it or not.
They hit if off immediately. Not because Hermaphroditus was an incredibly attractive individual for either sexes, but because Hermaphroditus was the only person who spoke enough coherent Japanese to tell Takeshi that this was not where his international student dorm was located.
Afterwards throughout some years, Takeshi routinely saw Hermaphroditus on his campus, either talking to others or making out with mortals who came under their charm. He himself was a little apprehensive, the idea of such free formed relationships scary for a man who's never had a girlfriend. Add in the strange attraction of someone who looked like the same-sex as he, and a cocktail of awkwardness always hit Takeshi when he saw Hermaphroditus.
However even so, he found Herma, as the god often liked to be called, to be quite an enjoyable person to talk to. They had a vast knowledge on literature and was very adept at rhetoric, as Takeshi found that Hermaphroditus taught him more about English than his tutors and books.
It wasn't until his second year in his graduate program did they start "going out". After around four hears of friendship, Takeshi mustered up the courage and pushed aside the fear and asked Hermaphroditus out.
It took only another year for them to culminate in the birth of Hikaru. And it was then that Takeshi decided after hearing about his child's... Abnormalities.
He had read about intersex cases. On how even if raised in an environment where the child's sex, whether by choice of parent or by health reasons, there would be times where they would reject the initial upbringing.
And he made a decision, to let Hikaru choose for themselves when they were older. Not since the very earliest of Greek history, did someone let this occur.
Thus, allowed Hikaru the greatest gift that their godly sire could offer them, the ability to choose. Choice between male and female, both biologically and psychologically.
Much like a child of Janos, always born with a twin, a natural child of Hermaphroditus would have the ability to be perceived with both genders, and switch between male, female, neither, or both.
However, most are not eligible enough for this ability due to simple mortal ignorance at the matter. What they see with the Mist is either an abnormality or a health risk.
Hikaru had neither of those in Takeshi's eyes. And when the newly graduated man held his child in his hands and was told that his "girlfriend" had died in child birth, he cherished the child immensely.
"Hai otou-san, I'm eating enough... I have to go otou-san. Genki de**!" Hikaru said before hanging up the phone. Behind them, Argus tapped his watch and they nodded. Climbing into the camp jeep, they drove away from the pay phone newly twenty miles out from Camp Half-Blood.
Returning to the camp with only minimal monster contact, Hikaru exited the jeep. Their summer clothes, a pair of skinny jeans and a Camp Half-Blood sleeveless shirt with bandages covering their chest, caught the eye of many new campers. Many of whom found themselves internally questioning themselves at the sight of their appearance.
Hikaru gave one of the new boys a wink, before playfully kissed the cheek of one of their Aphrodite friends, Chanelle.
"Karu, I don't know how you make "this" look good," Chanelle noted indicating to their outfit. A sly smile appeared on their face as they linked arms. "But you made some of the straightest Ares guys turn their heads."
"It's their testosterone levels. They're so sensitive to the strangest of things," they replied knowingly. Chenelle giggled with an impish grin.
"How was your quest by the way? Heard you broke your leg because of that beastly minotaur."
"Nectar and Ambrosia do wonders. Though it doesn't help to have a son of Apollo looking after you."
"They're attractive, and very caring."
"Chanelle!"
Chanelle sighed dreamily as they passed by a rather intense volleyball game between Apollo and Athena boys. Apparently, some on both sides thought it'd be best to shed their shirts as they played in the sun.
"U-Uh," Hikaru stuttered with a faint blush dusting their cheeks.
"They always look good doing anything athletic."
"I can see the Eros arrows popping out of your eyes," a voice muttered. Both turned to see a rather darkish looking individual coming up to them. Their short black hair dyed in a haphazard array of blues, pinks, and greens.
"Heya Ada. Made enough black cats today?" Chanelle teased lightly. The older girl, by two years, rolled her eyes before pulling her sunglasses over her eyes.
"Funny. Made any boys fight over one of your dropped diamond earrings?" she responded drlyly before putting on a pair of sunglasses. "And why is it so bright?"
"I figure Lord Apollo is composing a haiku right now," Hikaru replied tentatively. Carefully all three of them looked up and felt the heat grow just a little.
"How have you been Ada?" Hikaru asked as all three walked over to a shaded bench, though still in observation of the volleyball match.
"Fine. I wasn't the one being tossed around remembered," Ada replied as she spun one of her many, many, knives. Chanelle made it a point to sit on the other side of her. "How's the leg?"
"A little sore and stiff," Hikaru replied with a small grimace. Their hand went to their shin, where the break had happened. "An Apollo attendant treated me so..."
"Speaking of Sons of Apollo, isn't that your "doctor" Karu?" Chenelle pointed to one of the many blonde and handsome boys playing volleyball. One of them in particular had a solid black eye patch which barely covered a long silvery scar that stretched across the right side of his face. He was the only one still wearing a shirt, though the shirt was drenched in sweat and clung to him sharply.
"Y-Yeah," Hikaru mumbled, red growing along their cheeks. Chenelle wolf whistled.
"Wow, didn't know you liked the rugged pretty boys. Was it the scar or eyepatch?"
"Please, it was probably the fact the scar. I've seen those comics that Hikaru hides under her bunk." Ada smirked as she leaned forward on her hand.
"It's called manga," they huffed.
"Whatever." Her eyes narrowed before he snickered. "Heads up. Tall blond and "rugged" is coming this way... Along with his brothers."
"Eep!" On pure fear, Hikaru accidentally changed. Immediately their body became more effeminate. Hair grew out a bit, eyes enlarged, while hips and chest expanded a little. Lips became fuller, while some of their other parts shrank. ***
"Oo. Turning female just for him? This must be something special," Chanelle stated. Hikaru only put her head in her hands and let out a low moan. Then looked up when she saw the four Apollo guys in front of her, she let out an "eep" when her eyes met with the singular blue of her "doctor".
"Hello ladies," one of them started, a roll on the "hello". Ada gave an unimpressed snort, and he promptly got smacked on the back of the head.
"Excuse his poor syntax, fore he was dropped on his head as a child." Another stared poetically, causing the girls to snicker. Hikaru still kept giving fleeting glances to the rather stiff one in the back.
"What? No I wasn't it!"
"Alas, my brother Roy be his name, still hasn't recovered!"
"Oi, shut up Harper!"
"Ignore those two, they always fight despite being twins," another remarked as he leaned close. "Though they really do love each other."
"Shut up Robin!" Both twins shouted. Everyone else shared a round of laughter before the lead Apollo boy, Robin, spoke once more.
"Ranger over there," he pointed to the still silent one eyed boy, "noticed one of his patients watching him and decided to check on her."
"Ranger" didn't move or speak, instead just stared at a quickly flustering Hikaru. Then he was shoved forward by the twins, Roy and Harper, so he stood in front of the three girls. Ada looked unimpressed, Chanelle had the look of a lion about to pounce, while Hikaru wished she was anywhere but here.
"Uh," his voice was an octave deeper than his brothers. He also seemed less confident than any of three. "Is your leg fine?"
It took a long second for Hikaru to realize he was speaking to her. Prior, she was just realizing how deep his voice was. Most Apollo kids had a rather medium pitch to them, sing songy like, but his was a lower drawl, like bass guitar as opposed to an electric.
It was this shock that made her speak in Japanese. Her response would have been normal, had anyone understood her. The boys looked at her, while both Ada and Chanelle attempted to hide their laughter.
"Thankyouverymuch!" Hikaru replied in English but in a single rush. She wanted to doe immediately at this point, or simply have a stray chariot run her over something. Anything.
Then she felt a hand on her head. She looked up and nearly fainted at how close Ranger was to her, his hand on her head as was mere inches from her. His eye inspecting her face, roving around each and every inch.
D-Do I have a pimple! Oh gods, did I wear bra! No I wore the wrappings! Oh Zeus!
"Your face is abnormally red. And your temperature is significantly high." He interrupted her thoughts without a hint of his former bashfulness. "Do you have a fever? Heat stroke?"
It was too much. Fatigue, stress, and the proximity of Ranger alone was too much for Hikaru. Her eyes fluttered as she began to tumble back.
She would have smacked her head, had Ranger not leapt to catch her. His muscled arms carefully supporting Hikaru. Then she promptly passed out.
"I'll take her to the infirmary!" He declared boldly as he held her in a bridal carry and ran to the Big House. Ada swore she a scene like this in one of Hikaru's manga.
"Is... Is your brother special by any chance?" They all sighed.
"Nope, just incredibly dense. Amazing he could even shoot straight," Robin sighed. This his eyes twinkled. "We on the other hand-"
"Not interested."
"Aw..."
Notes:
Intersex (IS) - "Intersex" is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. (BY) I mostly pulled my information of IS from articles about such, and an actual manga called "IS", so my info can and may be insulting to many.
[Side Note: If I have offended people, or if future information is present falsely regarding anything LBGT, PLEASE TELL ME! I am attempting to push for a less common form of romance, without making it seem forced or constrewn. If anyone has any input, PLEASE PM ME]
Genki de ** = A way to say goodbye in Japanese, translates to a goodbye if leaving for an extended period, but will eventually return. Hikaru will use a lot of Japanese, because technically, it's their first language.
*** = Right, the whole... Gender transformation thing. Well, as Hikaru is the child of Hermaphroditus, the literal god(des) of hermaphrodites, I thought, what the heck? Having a character change genders doesn't sound so bad in a world of Minotaur, satyrs, titans, giants, and giant cannibals throwing exploding cannonballs. (Sea of Monsters will always be the strangest PJO book to me O_o)
Citation
By the Way, Because Some Forms of Intersex Signal Underlying Metabolic Concerns, a Person Who Thinks She or He Might Be Intersex Should Seek a Diagnosis and Find out If She or He Needs Professional Healthcare. "What Is Intersex?" Intersex Society of North America. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
^_^. If you notice something akin to a shoujo-manga moment between Ranger and Hikaru, then you'll notice a certain secondary-plot I plan to have them go on.
Each character will have a secondary-plot they'll go on that I tailored to their specific... Quirks. Hikaru being an enigma among the engimas known as Demigods, will work towards the formation and understanding of social relationships, as they have far and few between their cabin, family, and the limited number of individuals they actually associate with.
Friendship is still an idea Hikaru still finds confusing, and while crushes are something they normally have, the idea of romance actually scares the gods out of them. So in their personal chapters, it'll deal with a lot of internal and societal problems. Not to mention the fact they have no fixed gender is also a plot device (am I using that word right?) that'll provide much understanding for many, if I do this correctly.
Thank you all for reading up to this point, you're all the real MVP's for doing so actually! If you have any questions or concerns, please PM me! If you wish to review, review! Favorite, follow, etc!
I hope to hear from all of you once again, and as my martial arts sensei would say "saraba da"^_^.