Originally this chapter was twice as long and included all that you'll be seeing on next chapter, but in a different way. I'm sorry but I think cutting it in half made this chapter really boring :(

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Chapter 20: W's POV

When we come out of the therapy room we actually have to use a map to find my old room, since none of us knows squat about this castle. When we finally manage to get to the right corridor, finding the door is really easy, we follow the instructions given by my eldest brother and find the door with the most burn marks.

Gwendal has already explained majutsu to me, and it sounds really logical, although I feel no power in me, I'm supposed to be a great fire user, hence, the burn marks on the door, from when I was little and couldn't control it. Also it seems I have the bad habit of burning things when I'm angry, although I really can't picture myself doing that.

I have been wondering about this present thing all day long, should I give him one? but I have nothing to give, and if I had something beforehand, it really won't feel like it's from me. But well, I look around the room and get really surprise noticing the room's decorations... or lack of, really.

It's a really plain room, the walls have a few paintings, but other than that this room doesn't seem like it has been used in years. Now that I think about it, haven't I been sleeping in Yuuri's room for the past three years? Guess that explains it... although this room looks like it has been this way since before that.

After turning every drawer upside down we find nothing of use, I find a little parchment sealed with a fire lion I recognize from the Bielefeld castle, so this is my father's family seal. I put it on my pocket and turn around to face the doctor.

"I think is time for dinner already, why don't we call it quits for now?" he asks and signals me to look through the open door to the hallway. Two maids are standing there with a guilty expression, they must have been told to fetch us for dinner and didn't know whether to interrupt us or not.

"We'll be right there" he says to them and they rush to the kitchen giggling, after excusing themselves.

~ O ~

"Heika I'm so sorry this is all we could do in such a short notice!" mother says when Yuuri and I enter the dining hall. We literally bumped into each other on the way here and ended up walking together. I was surprised when I stood from the ground and found Yuuri covering his face with both arms saying something about me burning him to crisps. Am I really that scary?

But well, looking at the room I find mother did a very good job, it really has a birthday feeling. It's decorated with a black and green color scheme. Flowers and several adornments throughout the walls and table caught the eye at first, but what's really amazing is the scale ice sculpture of Yuuri holding some sort of weird looking sword on the center of the table.

I was told mother loves to throw parties and that she was disappointed about the cancellation of the ball that was originally going to be held tonight on Yuuri's honor. I was feeling a little guilty about that, but Yuuri then told me he actually hated those formal occasions and that he wanted to spend his birthday with his family.

"Cheri-sama... what's all this?" Yuuri says with a shaking voice while looking at the sculpture.

"Well dear, I wasn't about to throw away all this beautiful decorations we had ready for the ball, so I thought we could have our own little get together here, just the family" she says and runs toward us. Yuuri tries to hide behind me, but mother is too fast and catches up to him, trapping him between her ample bosom.

I chuckle a little at the sight, Yuuri is struggling to get out of her hold, but fails miserably. "Happy birthday Heika!" she says while still hugging Yuuri's air away. When his face starts looking blueish Conrart steps up and separates them. Mother pouts buts lets him go.

"Happy birthday Yuuri" he says with a smile and puts a hand on his shoulder. I look around the room and notice all of it's occupants. I might be getting some names wrong but I see: mother, Gwendal, Conrart, a woman with red hair and blue eyes that I don't know, Günter, Murata, the doctor, Gisela, a guy with orange hair that I also don't know, and winks at me when our eyes meet and... a little brown haired girl who's looking at me with the most sad expression on her little features... my heart shrinks painfully.

Everyone has congratulated Yuuri and the two people I didn't knew introduced themselves to me as Lady Anissina and Yozak. Just the little girl remains. She slowly walks up to Yuuri who kneels and hugs her lovingly. I don't know why, but I think it would make a lovely family portrait.

"Happy birthday Yuuri" she says shyly and Yuuri hugs her again. "Thank you Greta" he says smiling. He stands up and holds the girl hand. They both turn around to face me and walk on my direction.

"Wolfram, may I introduce you to Greta Shibuya, our beautiful adoptive daughter" he says holding my hand with his free one. I swallow slowly trying to process the thought. This little girl is Yuuri's daughter... she's my daughter... okay... I think I can handle that... so why is the room spinning all of the sudden? I need to breath... calm down...

"You really don't remember me Wolfram?" the little shaking voice coming from the girl makes me come back to reality. I can see she's at the verge of tears and Yuuri seems to be hurting a lot too. I feel bad for the girl, it's not her fault I can't remember a thing about this people, she must really miss her father... one of her fathers that is.

"I'm sorry sweety I don't, but if you don't mind spending some time with me, I would really enjoy getting to know all about you all over again" I say smiling as I kneel down and put some brown locks behind her ear uncovering her teary eyes. She looks up to me and smiles, weak but a smile nonetheless, that calms me down enough to finish processing the situation.

"Okay, I can do that" she says and I can hear Yuuri breath again. I wonder how long has he been holding his breath. I stand up again and Greta runs to get some oddly wrapped present mother was holding for her. Meanwhile Yuuri walks closer to me and cups my right cheek with his hand "Thank you Wolf, thank you so much..." he whispers and I think I see a tear threatening to roll down his cheek when Greta gets to us and gives the present to Yuuri.

"Thank you Greta, what is it?" he says and Greta jumps back next to lady Anissina. "It's something we made for you" she says giggling. Yuuri suddenly becomes pale. "You mean Anissina and you?" he says, his voice is shaking for some reason and he practically falls down when both ladies nod.

"Oh... well, I think I'll unwrap this later in my room... to... emm... enjoy it privately" he says and quickly puts the present down in a small table by the wall.

"But Yuuri..." Greta starts protesting but is cut short by a cough from Gwendal "I believe the food is getting cold, why don't we take our seats?" he says in an order tone and everyone seems to agree enthusiastically, oddly everyone is glad to change the subject, I wanted to know what the present was.

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On a completely different subject from the story, is it just me or the site went nuts today? My hit counter is at zero, and I'm getting reviews anyway, how is that possible?