"A kitsune is associated to being a fox spirit with, usually, nine tails that are gained through magical abilities and wisdom. This is one of the few things she left behind, or rather, it left behind before it disappeared."
I stared at the small amount of fur encased in the glass container on the pedestal, the statue of the goddess, Inari, standing behind it.
Humans..will do anything to get their hands on something that'll benefit them...not letting anything get in their way...
"Let's move on," the tour guide spoke.
I moved behind the group, taking a few glances at the other exhibits as we moved on to the next one.
"This, here, is the sword of the same woman who saved the world from destruction two years ago: Himezuru-sa no Sukui no Tenshi. She was known to be a highly evolved creature that took the form of a young woman."
("Cunning Princess of the Angel of Salvation".)
I held in a scoff at that, 'Creature? Estelle was right to do what she did... No less, this is fake and shameful.'
"Questions?"
"Did she have a name?" a young man in the front asked after she pointed to him when he raised his hand.
"According to our records, her Mother nor her Father did not want her name to be known," the guide answered a little uneasily.
"Why?" he insisted
"Well...they didn't give a reason. Personally, since I'm a Mother of two, and if one of my children are in a situation such as two years ago, I wouldn't want the world knowing who they are because I know how ungrateful it can be. I wouldn't want the press having too much information either," she answered earnestly.
The group hummed or nodded their heads in understanding.
Do they really understand though?
"Miss, who are her parents exactly?" a, seemingly, late-teens girl asked.
"The current vampire progenitor of Japan and a travelling human doctor who's name both she and he prefer to keep classified due to the same reason: the press and TMI. The progenitor prefers if you have any questions about anything surrounding her late daughter, ask her only. To not get your hopes high, I hear she gives very little to repetitive information. Now, moving on..."
The next exhibit was a mural of six people in front of a child..young girl seemingly... carved into stone.
"This is called Savior's Prophecy, the artist was Mawiya, Queen in Arabic, Suri Ruby. She originates from the times of the story of One Thousand Arabian Nights. There is said to be a connection between this "prophecy" and herself, as well as the whole Ruby family. It is also said that their eyes are as red as a ruby's or their spirits burn as passionately as a ruby's glare.
I closed my eyes, 'The latter, true...but her eyes are as gold as the mid-day summer sun...'
"What kind of connection?" an older man, about mid-forties, questioned.
"An assumption that Suri could see into the future, and committed suicide after telling her lover to tell her kingdom he did it in order to have their daughter take the throne easily and continue the family line as Suri would search through time for a suitable vessel to save the future." The guide turned back to the stone mural, "History of the Ruby family traces up to, of course, the current progenitor, but she refused to give the media info on her origins. Based on her accent, she is said to be from a romantic speaking country, like France, Spain, Italy, etc. Time? Still unknown. It is safe to say that she is clearly the one in the center on the mural in front the the child. On her left is Suri. To Suri's left, it is unsure if it is a woman or man. The other three women on the progenitor's right, they are also unknown."
"Is there an imply that these figures are related to Suri and the current progenitor?" an elderly woman asked.
"Yes, but like most information, it's either classified or unknown." She pointed at the child, "If you look closely, there's a shadow behind the child that doesn't match her sitting position. Some people who've visited this museum made assumptions that it's the Savior's demon, contained darkness, or..."
"Or?" the elderly woman insisted as well.
"Or a nightmare...? Something a young man with odd golden eyes said one day he visited here."
I narrowed my eyes, '...I thought he was keeping a low profile. If he wants to keep it that way, visiting places like this won't help.'
As the tour group moved on, I decided to call it a day here.
'Coming here is like when I..went to the basilica...'
~Small Time Skip~
I fell on the couch, landing on my back, letting out an exhausted sigh and closing my eyes...
'Even though I am one...it kinda hurts to know that we can be this unforgiving, this unkind, this unfortunate, this..unfamiliar with events and claim it's facts...'
"Museum again?"
I opened my eyes to see Yu smiling down at me.
I nodded.
"Mika, you've gone there four times now, and the first time was with me. We can't stop people from thinking or saying true or untrue info about Sayo. You gotta let go, man," he told me.
The frown on my face became more defined. "It's..still hard to...to cope, Yu..."
I felt a dip in the couch next to me..then I felt a hand rub through my hair soothingly.
"I knew it wouldn't be easy for you..seeing as that you haven't been with her the longest... But she wouldn't want you to be sad, she would want you to be happy, like old times..."
I sat up, glaring, "So pretend I was never a vampire, right?"
His smile slipped into a thin line, "I never said forget about, and I don't think she would want you to either. It's..a part of living, hardships are a part of living." A small smile returned, "She wanted us to live, and personally, I think she..wanted that from the beginning we met—by protecting us all that time, ya know?"
I sighed, "I...can't deny the fact that you're right about that."
"Good. Now, stop looking so gloomy. We're gonna go visit someone special we haven't seen in 2 years now. But before that, we need to go pick up a friend who wants to tag along with us."
I raised an eyebrow...
~Small Time Skip~
"We have no reason for being here, Yu."
"Sure we do! I know she's been busy with her...whatever progenitors do, but remember when she gave us permission to visit her after the war ended?"
I sighed and looked to my right, glaring at him, "Your reason?"
"I faintly remember this woman. She was a..part time care taker..at the orphanage. She was nice, like Sayomi, but more energetic... The least I can do is thank her for everything's she's done," Akane spoke.
We were nearing the end of the tunnel...
Then, white surrounded me... I thought it was the bright sunlight that peaks through, but..it was literally white because...
Because she was staring up at me...in awe? Her younger self... She wore the livestock uniform..and a patch blood drenched the front of it...
I reached my left hand out to her, "...Sayo?"
She began to run forward, tears streaming down..but pass me? I turned around to see her pace picking up until I couldn't see her no more.
"Yo, Mika!"
I blinked and saw green eyes in front of me.
I grunted, "You're too close.."
He moved back and let go of my shoulders, frowning a bit. "You were the one in some kind of trance. I had to shake you out of it. Come on," Yu spoke, pulling me along by my left arm.
We got to the end of the tunnel. Akane was the first to descend down the short marble white staircase.
"How..nostalgic..." she mumbled.
"This site..doesn't bother you...?" Yu asked, barely considered a whisper.
She turned around once she got to the last step, "No. What's the point of holding a grudge? It just brings unhappiness," she said with a smile.
"I..I can't disagree with you there," I said with a bit of a shaky tone. "It is best to move on from thing-s...like that..."
Yu looked at me, concerned, "Mika, if it's too much for you, we can always turn ba-"
I stopped him mid-sentence by going around him, staring at a white pedestal.
"I know you're there. It's useless hiding now," I said..in an unusually cold tone.
"I didn't think you would~, dear Mika~," that familiar annoying voice spoke.
Ferid stepped from around the pedestal, still with that sly grin after two years...
And his eyes, similar o mine.
"But that's to be expected from you, me, and every vampire in the world today...thanks to Sayo of course~," he mused the last part.
I glared at him, 'Is he trying to hit a nerve? Or does he just want a reaction? Either one or way, I'm not giv-'
"*Sigh* My...I didn't think it would be even more boring without her here," he suddenly spoke solemnly.
*Silence*
"I..I'm not surprised by the fact that there are guards at the beginning of the tunnel. After all..she has been silent for a little over a year," Akane spoke..most likely to break the ice. "Since the guards were so eager to let us in, I see Yu was telling me the truth: she'll only let us pass."
"So you thought I was making it up?" Yu asked in a sarcastic disappointment.
"Well, I had to get some kind of true evidence," she replied meekly.
"We've only come here to see Estelle, nothing more, nothing less," I told Ferid.
His eyes landed on me, then smirked. "She's been secretly wanting to see all of you since she went into isolation. Follow me."
~Tiny Time Skip~
The doors opened, revealing Estelle...siting on her throne, looking at a paper. She looked the same as she did four years ago, but her hair was shorter (bob) and...her eyes are two different colors now, the left is red and the other is...reddish amber...
...similar to mine, but my left eye is the cyan blue, like it used to be.
"My Queen," Ferid called out to her.
She kept reading the paper, face staying neutral.
"Your..Highness?" Crowley, who we met along the way here, questioned.
His left eye is dark blue and the other is the same as ours.
She remained in her stationary position.
"Estelle," Ferid called out to her sternly.
She looked up quickly, then glanced away..as if she was a bit embarrassed, "I-Im sorry. Were you saying something?"
He smiled at her in amusement, "Is it another letter from him?"
She glared at him, "That is none of your business, Bathory." Her eyes moved to behind, us, then gave a beaming smile. "Mikaela! Yuichiro! Akane! Wh-what..what are you doing here?"
"Before you say anything, this wasn't my idea," I told Estelle.
"It was mine," Yu spoke. "It's been a little over 2 years since we last seen you, and I do recall you saying we, me and Mika, can visit you any time...that day at night. Mika just kept pestering me about how busy you'd be. Plus, I thought you wouldn't mind me bringing along Akane," he explained.
Her smile turned genuine while folding the paper, then stood up to proceed towards us, "I don't mind at all. I have some time to spare. Come, let's take a walk and catch up, shall we?"
~Tiny Time Skip~
We stopped on the midst of a bridge overlooking Sanguinem...the same one we crossed to escape 16 years ago...
"You've grown so much, all three of you," she said, smiling down at the city lights.
"Yeah..." Yu mumbled a reply.
"Akane, how does it feel? Being alive for two years?"
"I've adjusted to my body again with the help of Yu and Mika. After a year and a half, they finally decided to let me live on my own. I still can't believe they turned the orphanage into a house for themselves. Me and the others are living a house of our own."
"I see...It's understandable why that place should be preserved."
"Estelle...how's the transformation on your part?" I finally asked her.
"I-...to..to think she did this..and I'm here..alive and well..."
"You don't have to push yourself," Akane told her with a sad smile, patting her back comfortably.
"Thank you, Akane," she spoke, sounding like she wanted to break down, but she held herself together.
She pushed herself off the railing and stretched her arms above her, and let out a big huff.
"Pep talk, Elle. No need for tears, tears are for the weak. You have a city to run and a council to handle," she spoke to herself.
Me and Yu looked at each other, blinking in confusion, then turned back to her when we noticed she stopped talking to herself.
She turned around to us three, smiling, "That's..just something to help me cope..."
Despite that strange outburst, it was understandable why she did that. Everyone in this world needs to find some kind of coping mechanism or resilience.
"Now, about my transformation..." she said almost too sweetly as she leaned back against the rail, staring up at..the nothingness above.
She smiled, lifting up her right hand, clawing at the air.
"My transformation is...going as smoothly as everyone else's except...I think I'm going crazy."
My body stiffened at that, keeping my eyes on her.
"How can I tell? It's the simple jitters in my daily life. Reaching towards the light of the sky...or tearing at the darkness? Something my little girl used to do, waking up from a nap after she escaped this place. Increasing night terrors... Can you believe I almost had a heart attack in my sleep? A few steps from a life full of riches."
"Do you..want to become human?" Akane asked.
She stopped grasping at the air, "...I always thought I would live forever, since the day I..I ripped my first ex-fiancé to shreds...But yes, I want to become human again. Living for thousands of years..gets boring after a while. Don't you agree, Ryota?"
"Yep," a voice beside her spoke.
I was too busy staring at her eyes, seemingly lifeless though her words sounded otherwise, to notice he leaned against the rail with her.
She closed her eyes, "How was Russia? Did you help many patients there?"
"Crazy, hospitals are filled, government's a little haywire; I suggest you contact that friend of yours before humans decide they want to be Leap Frog."
She chuckled, "When aren't they? That's what make them so interesting. They get desperate, keep moving, and go to extreme lengths."
He leaned outward from the rail, spotting us, "Hey, boys...and girl?" Ryota said the last word confusedly.
"Hello, my name is Akane..Hyakuya. It' nice to meet you. Are you Sayo's father?"
"Yeah. What gave it away?"
"Your eyes, they're like hers, rare and strange, but beautiful."
He blinked once..twice...three times, "Thank you...?"
Akane let out a surprised exhale and moved closer to Ryota. "How is that possible? You have fangs, but you don't have both or one red eye!" She looked on either side of his head, "And your ears aren't as pointy as a vampire's! What..what are you, sir?"
He took a step back, laughing awkwardly, "It's complicated, but I'm recovering like a vamp as well, from my own curse. I'm sure you heard rumors about the Queen's husband, truth is, I'm actually human, I just have some snake-like attributes," he explained.
"Huh...otherworldly craft is..different," she replied. "I also understand why you're kept a secret."
"I do my best to make that sure it stays that way, little Miss Akane," spoke a voice above.
"Kitsu! Been a while!" Yu shouted, approaching her small animal form.
She jumped off Ryota's head and turned towards me, transforming into her anthropomorphic form.
(Kitsu Sune: h, t, t, p, s : / / data . whic dn . ("com") / images / 69051098 / large . jpg)
"Have you been taking care of yourself? You've got some stubble on your chin. Your hair is unkempt. Your clothes may be casual and unsuspicious, but you could've tried better than just a black t-shirt, black caprice, and black combat boots. Do you know black is a potential suspicious color? It could even mean death, and I am pretty sure Lady Sayomi despises that color."
"She..hates black?" Yu questioned.
Kitsu flinched, as well as her ears, and turned around, "...she told me..she hates what black signifies: death. But your black..." she turned back, narrowing her left eye, "..she admired because death meant two things to her: end of life and beginning of life, a new chapter to the unknown. White, like Himezuru-sa, didn't always mean good to her since she encountered Shigama Doji as a child."
"Ah..." was his only response.
"Estelle, update on project 54-Yomi," Crowley spoke.
She turned her head to the left, "What's the status?"
"There was a sudden surge just 3 minutes ago. Percentage spiked from 49% to 89%."
Her eyes widened and she turned to look at Ryota, who leaned off the rail, staring down at her with the same surprised expression.
She let out little chuckles and giggles before full out laughing like a crazy person and jumping in her arms. I was expecting him to be confused, but he just spinned her around, laughing as well.
"See, Ryota! See! I told you I could do it! I'm one hell of a scientist!" She dropped from his arms, staggering back a little with a wide grin, "But I couldn't do it alone, not without your help, support, and research. Glad I married a doctor..."
He smiled, "Glad I married a Queen and scientist."
"Umm...can someone fill us in on what's going on?" Akane timidly asked.
They both looked at us...from panic?
"Kitsu!" Estelle yelled.
She nodded, "Yes, ma'am." She grabbed me by my arm and Yu's, who held onto Akane's hand, pulling us all along back to one of the gates.
"Kitsu?! What the hell?!" Yu shouted, struggling.
"Until I get word from Lady Estelle, you three are banned from coming to Sanguinem."
"What do you mean by that?!" I yelled at her.
"What Lady Estelle and Lord Ryota are doing is a classified project. What they're doing cannot and will never be known to the world."
By the time she was done talking, she flung us onto the grass, alarming the guards.
The wind was blowing gently, giving off some kind of calm vibes...
"Guards, make sure, and alert every co-worker knows, not to let these three in until I get word from Lady Estelle to do so, ya hear? "
"Yes, Miss Kitsu."
She turned her back on us, walking through tunnel again...
"Wh-What do you think that was all about?" Akane asked, getting up with the help of Yu.
I got up, too, "If we're strictly told not to come back, then that's what we're going to do."
"Mika! What gives?!" Yu shouted, confronting me.
I looked off to the side, "Whatever they're doing has nothing to do with me, especially if it's taboo. I'm done with that. I just want to live a simple life as much as I can when I finally turn a full human again."
The wind picked up a bit more, gliding through all of our hair...
"...I can't argue with you there," Yu sighed.
"Good. We all agree we're on the same page. All we can do for now is..just hope Mr. and Mrs. Kiiro aren't doing anything that could jeopardize themselves..or this peace we have now."
Turning around, I stopped immediately, seeing Sayomi stand in front of me with a gentle smile.
She cupped my cheeks with her warm..soft hands, rubbing her thumbs on them. Leaning on the tips of her toes, she kissed my lips.
I'll seen you soon, 'kay?
I hesitated on replying as she faded away with some leaves...wondering if my state of mind is diminishing like Estelle's...
-Different P.O.V- ~A Week Later~
I sat there, facing the two strangers, staring at them in question.
"Who are these two, Estelle?" I asked, looking at her for answers.
"These are friends from your previous life."
"From the war?"
She nodded, "Yeah."
"Why did you not introduce them to me within the 19 months of my life?"
"19 months of life?" the one with raven hair questioned.
"Yes. I, Yomi, have been living for 19 months. I guess you can say..Estelle resurrected me through some kind of sacrifice, and as a reminder of it, these Cursed markings were left on my cheeks and arms," I said, patting my right cheek.
The sandy blond glanced at Estelle with some kind of mixed disappointment and distraught.
"How did you do this? And what did you have to sacrifice?" he questioned.
"The body you're looking at formed because of Himezuru-sa. Since it was the last thing Sayomi left behind as well as her blood in a secret lab. Ryota and I combined a sample of our blood and let Himezuru-sa drink it," Estelle explained.
"From there, we let Suri, my and Sayo's ancestor—or her demon I thought I got rid of—, handle the rest," Ryota finished. "We don't know what she did."
"So...what's before us just looks like someone we used to know, but has no memories of her past. A homonculus, just a doll," the raven haired young man spoke bitterly.
"Now, wait-" I cut off Estelle.
"It is to my understanding that humans don't like certain imitations. I am feeling. I know you are upset about my imitation. But I cannot allow you to get upset over something parents were willing to sacrifice themselves again just to get their daughter back. For now, I look like Sayomi Seraphina Lumina Kiiro, but I am Yomi until I regain my memories from this crystal on this necklace," I said, then pointed to it.
"This crystal holds all of our daughter's memories, since the day she was born. When she..no longer existed and during the time before that, she's experienced my memories, Estelle's, both of yours, and every other person she had a connection with. When she's brought back, she won't remember any of ours, but her own."
"How do you know that for sure?" the raven haired man asked, gritting his teeth. "For all we know, Suri could be possessed and could be lying!"
"The process of my transformation is dissipating quickly because I let Suri take most of my eternal life span from being part snake chimaera. After another year, I should be able to live out my human years and grow from my current age, 22."
"The eternal life span..and some type O blood, the universal blood, from Ryota's patients, was just to create my body for 19 months, the same age when Sayomi died. I wasn't able to walk or speak in the first 3 months," I told them.
"As for the memories?" the sandy blond prodded at.
"Sayomi's memories, or her soul, will be triggered by either something or someone," a voice behind them spoke.
A small smile formed on my lips, "Hi, Ferid. How was your trip to Germany?"
"Tiring," he sighed out. "That little brat was annoying me with his antics," he spoke.
"Lest Karr still trying to take your heart out? At this rate, you'll die from blood loss since you're becoming human as well."
He shrugged, then moved his eyes to the two gentleman before me, smirking.
"What a pleasant surprise! Mika and Yu came to visit the Princess! You finally told them, Estelle?"
She looked away, gripping her left arm with her other hand. "It wasn't totally my decision. Ryota insisted...that maybe I could..give humans...another chance with our..daughter."
"We got off on the wrong foot. Let me reintroduce this situation." I smiled, "My name is Yomi, an alter ego of Sayomi. It is finally comforting to meet you, Yuichiro Amane, Mikaela Shindo. Estelle and Ryota told me so much about you."
Taking the initiative higher by wrapping my arms around their necks and pulling them close to embrace them, I felt a sudden shock, resulting in me pulling away.
"Yomi?" Ryota questioned, approaching me.
"It felt like a...spark, like electricity—!"
Doubling over onto the floor, I grabbed the crystal, crushing it bit by bit, making my hand bleed as I coughed up blood.
All of this misery ended as soon as it came. Blinking because of my vision suddenly became blurry and trying to hear due to the abrupt piercing noise in my ear, I shook my head.
When I came to, I remembered what the situation was.
I leaned up.
"OH MY GOD! DID I FAIL?! IS MANKIND ALL DEAD?! DID I KILL SHINOA?! DOES THAT..MAKE ME A MURDERER?! OHH, NO. AM I STILL A VAMPIRE?! IF I AM, I HAVE TO LIVE FOREVER IN DARKNESS AND SOLITUDE, AND I DON'T WANNA! I'M GOING TO GO CRAZY IF I CAN'T SOCIALIZE FOR ANOTHER 8 YEARS! I'M REALLY TALKATIVE, I JUST DON'T SEEM LIKE IT! AND JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SAME REPETITIVE STUFF IS ANNOYING!" Tears began to leak from my eyes at a particular realization, "—a-and *gasp* ...Oh, Mom, Dad..Yu, Mika...they're gone...and it's all because of...m-me..."
"Sayomi! Snap out of it, girl!" I heard a familiar voice shout.
I blinked my tears away, staring at the person in front of me.
"...Mom?"
She nodded, smiling and letting giggles of amusement slip, "Yeah, sweetheart. I'm here. You didn't fail. Everything and everyone is fine."
A familiar face appeared from behind me, too, and got down on his knees, pulling me into a hug.
"Even me."
I hadn't realized the tears started back up nor did I realize Mom give orders to Ferid, or the other two people...
Hugging my Mom and Dad close to me in a tight grip, never wanting to let them go, I stopped when I got rapid pats on my back from both of them.
Immediately, I released them, letting them get air into their lungs.
"S-Sorry..I'm just so happy. It's all I ever wanted for myself, especially when I was put into that...limbo, I guess that's what it was."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore. We can finally complete our dream, just be a happy family," Dad spoke, hugging me and Mom.
"Yeah," I mumbled...feeling a little...sad.
"What's wrong?" Mom asked after studying my expression change.
"I would love to do that, too, but...I wanna try some new things in this life..." I said as I stood up, smiling nervously.
"New things?" they both questioned.
I nodded, "Love. Romantic love. However, me just popping up on Yu and Mika's doorstep saying that would surely put them in panic or be given a heart attack! How old are they now? How many years it's been since my..absence? What's going on in today's society?"
Mom just...smirked at me.
"Ahh, I see, I see. You're only..well, basically 19 years old. You have a whole life ahead of you. Yu and Mika are the same age as you now. It's been 19 months since the war ended. Society has evolved positively and reconstruction is still being done. Humans and vampires are getting along. I assigned blood banks for humans to give to us slowly transforming prior humans until every vampire is no more. You needn't know anything else, for I'll allow you to roam around Sanguinem until you get better."
"Better?" I asked with a tilt of my head.
"We have to make sure you're okay: physically, mentally..emotionally," Dad summarized.
I smiled brightly, "Oh! Okay! I can wait! I'm kinda..I'm kinda excited about seeing everyone again. I wonder what Yu, Mika, Shinoa, Yoichi, Mitsuba, and Kimizuki look like now...?"
"Look up," they both told me with sly smiles on their faces.
When I looked up from them, my eyes made contact with two pairs of blue and green ones.
"..."
"..."
"...I messed up," I uttered.
Covering my face, I turned the other way out of embarrassment.
'Why did I just speak so willy-nilly? I didn't think about where we are...which is some kind of high-class living room? Where am I again—oh! Sanguinem, right. Ohh, what do I say to them? J-Just act normal..'
I turned back around, uncovering my face, staring down at my..white, black outlined boots...
"H-Hey, guys.."
"..."
Yu just paced towards me, making me nearly fall back, but he pulled me in for a hug.
Eyes wide and blinking, I eventually settled into the hug and returned it.
My eyes softened, 'His arms are comforting. He smells so good. He's..warm, too... Was he always this tall? Let's test that...'
I stood on the tips of my toes, nuzzling my face in the crease of the left side of his neck.
I sunk my teeth into his skin, helplessly enjoying the blood flowing from his neck into my mouth.
Yu tensed.
I stopped.
Pulling away from him, I wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
"I..I couldn't..."
"I know, sweetie," Mom spoke, walking over next to me, giving me a side hug. "You won't stay a vampire forever. Your human traits will flourish on the inside, not really much on the outside. Soon, you'll become like me, having little desire for blood."
"I already got a Boxer, I don't want a ankle biting Chihuahua," Dad huffed.
Mom gave a brief glare his way before focusing on Yu, who was applying pressure to the punctures with his left hand.
"Yu, Mika, I'm leaving Sayo in your care today. However, she will reside in her room for a couple days until Ryota and I say she's fine to leave Sanguinem. Crowley and Bathory will be your eyes and ears if anything happens. Right now, I have to have a meeting with a friend and Ryota has to go get the needed medical equipment."
Looking away from her to behind Mika, I noticed Crowley and Bathory were waiting.
"How's it feel to be back?" Crowley asked.
"...like I'm alive..but I feel awfully exhausted, like I just got done dealing with a whole military. Also, I'm hungry.."
"Well, Yu can make you some curry. Right, Yu?" Mika suggested.
"*Gasp* Yu knows how to make curry now?!"
"Yeah and yeah, but I'm not as good as Akane," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with a bashful closed eyed smile.
"I don't care how good it is, I care to eat it because I know Yu would do his best with it."
He smiled at me, "Yeah."
~Tiny Time Skip~
I looked around my rose golden room in awe, admiring the interior design of peach blossoms, Arabian, Japanese, and Spanish decor, as well enjoying my soft, comfy brass canopy bed, dressed with rose colored silk sheets.
Yu and Mika sat on either side of me while Bathory and Crowley sat opposite to each other with a gold decorated glass table between them in the center of my room, where a large white circular fur rug lay.
"Do you like it?" Yu asked grinning at my admiration.
"Like it? I love it! It reminds me of the..pink sand...in the desert of Ancient Arabia..."
"...I could take you there if-" I cut Mika off.
"No, no...I am at peace." I looked to her balcony, eyes most likely seeming distant... "How...How are the orphans?"
"They're doing great, Akane's taking care of them in a place we helped her build. We took the orphanage and rebuilt it! You should see it!" Yu said happily.
"Ah..yeah... Shinoa? Is she alive and well?"
"Shinoa retired from J.I.D.A. Last I heard from her is that she told me her sister, Mahiru, and her are catching up on lost time."
"Mahiru...what about her? Is she okay?"
"Yep, recovering very well," Yu responded.
"What of Mirai, Kimizuki's little sister?"
"She's being hospitalized here in Sanguinem, your Dad's working on getting all of those pills, potions, and poisons out of her. Kimizuki visits her every other day."
"Mm... Mika, is Lacus still alive?"
He tensed from what I could see in my peripheral vision. "Why are you concerned about him?"
I made a small smile, "I recall a friend and comrade of mine and Yu's yearning to kill him...I could never imagine that sweet, innocent cinnamon roll doing such a thing~...but perhaps it was the influence of his demon."
"..."
*Silence*
I turned my head back to the balcony, keeping a neutral face, "...I'm so tired."
"I know, just rest and stop worrying," Mika told me.
"It's kinda hard to do so now that I don't have the fate of the world resting on my shoulders...or was it ever on my shoulders? I could've easily..escaped here with intention of only helping myself...I could've not followed what Mom said the day she died..and go elsewhere... I could've went with Yu if I weren't afraid... Where would I be today if I made either of those choices? A little girl forever unable to understand the world." I sniffled and let a tear slide down my right cheek, "I'm just so tired, guys..."
I felt Yu rub my back softly and Mika pat my left thigh to comfort me; though I only shed one tear and sniff, I was really hurting on the inside, realizing I've been strong for so long...
"I'm dehydrated, I need some-"
Yu scooted away from me, nervously chuckling...
"...water," I finished my sentence. I frowned at him, "How dare you assume that..."
"Not to be rude, Sayo, but that actually hurts."
"Yu," Mika hissed at him.
I laid down on my back, staring up at my canopy's designs, "How long has been since I slept peacefully...?" I asked myself, then scoffed, "I don't know... Hey, what do you two do for a living?"
"We help Akane at the orphanage when we can. But I still work for J.I.D.A as a specialist now."
"Hm...so you are smart."
"What kinda insult?!" he yelled offensively.
"I am kidding, Yu," I giggled out. "And you, Mika? Still a soldier here in Sanguinem?"
"No. I gave that up the same day you...left," he spoke softly. "What I do now is work at a museum..."
"A museum, hmmm? Interesting. What's the most popular exhibit?"
"It's about you."
I lifted myself off my bed with a surprised look, "Whaaat?! Why me?! I'm no one special!"
"You're the Angel of Salvation, remember? I think you thought word wouldn't get around, right?" I nodded. "Well...yeah, you're the savior of this world to a lot people. Some people think you're a messenger from God, maybe the Anti-Christ, or a powerful scientific experiment..."
"Oh..." I responded with a tiny upset tone.
"But me and Mika think you're different from all of that, Sayo!" Yu attempted at cheering me up. "You were just a little half-and-half breed that had to grow up young."
"Us, too!" Ferid exclaimed.
"Mhm..." I hummed sarcastically with an unamused expression.
Yu got in my face with a happy face, "Hey, Sayo, did you know Mika is Russian?"
I nodded, "I did some background research on you two, and I was kinda..afraid when I found that."
He tilted his head, leaning back, "Why?"
"Political reasons before the catastrophe," I said with a sweat drop and closed eyed smile. "I need to ask Mom about Urd Gealas..."
'As if I could really ask Mika directly about freaky Russians can be...She has more experience than I.'
"Yu, we're both ancient."
"Right?" he said in an agreeable tone. We both laughed afterwards.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Come in," I said, raising my voice a little.
My room door was opened my...Krul?!
Rapidly, I got out from under my covers and hid behind Mika. "Mikaela! What is she doing here?!" I asked in a frightened tone.
"Oh, my bad.. She was just opening the door for me so I could get this through," I heard Dad from around the corner with a cart of medicines in bottles and tubes as well as a I.V. needle and bag full of clear liquid attached to a movable metal pole.
"Long time, Sayomi," Krul greeted me.
"She called me by my name, Mika..." I whispered to him, keeping my eyes trained on her.
"No need to be defensive. I am not in power anymore," she huffed, swinging a strand of her hair away from her face.
"In a sense, you're my cousin. I very much prefer not to cause conflict with you...or you mother will have my head."
"I've seen Elle mad plenty of times before. I don't need to lose more sleep because I stay up late at night, listening to her rant. Squeeze this," he explained.
Dad gave me some solid plush toy that..looked like a heart?, but I squeezed it anyway.
He stretched my right arm out, rubbing the mid-section with a alcohol swab, then wrapped a blue rubber band around it. "I gotta stick this needle in your arm to get a blood sample."
"Okay..."
He smiled at me, "You're not scared, are you?"
"No way!" Yu bragged, "Sayomi's been through so much to the point she shot herself in the head. Of course she wouldn't-"
I flinched and let out a small grunt of pain when the needle was stuck into my veins, blood being drawn into a clear tube.
"Sayo...?"
I looked at him with crinkled eyes, "Masking pain is really hard, buddy. I'm actually scared of needles..."
"Third tube is the last, hang in there, sweetie," Dad spoke, then pulled out the needle once the tube was filled.
After putting them in a wooden tube placer, he moved the cart aside. He sat next to me, grabbing an otoscope from the cart.
"Follow my finger," he said as he moved it around, keeping the scope far from my eyes and in center.
"What do you think of hospitals, Sayomi?" Mika asked me.
"I find them to be...pleasant in atmosphere, almost everything is white and 100% clean. However, it's only scary when you're in critical condition..and there are morgues at basement levels. I can't work somewhere like that, dealing with dead bodies that could secrete liquid or lift up any time as a last reaction."
"Neutral reply," Dad responded slowly as he put the otoscope back on the cart.
"You look so different in glasses, Dad," I giggled.
"You say I look different and your Mom says I look cute," he sighed out, plugging the stethoscope in his ears. "Yu, wrap this around her left arm," he said, holding a sphygmomanometer in his right hand.
He looked back to set the small blue computer to compress when the gray patch is on my arm.
"Ryota, how long have you been studying and practicing medicine?" Crowley questioned.
"Since I was a human, a little over a thousand years ago."
"And when did you become a doctor?"
"Certified? 19..14, when World War I began. I've been an undercover black market doctor since Sayomi was born, to keep a low profile, ya know?"
"Dad, you didn't have to do that."
"I did it because I didn't need J.I.D.A on my a$$ for being married to the Vampire Queen and for protecting our little girl."
"I'm not little anymore. I'm 19!" I said while pouting
"You're still tiny to me, damn it. I remember that face looking up at me, constantly asking when am I gonna teach her sword fighting... *Sigh* Now, hush," he said, placing the scope over my heart.
After a few seconds of feeling around, and requests of breathing in and out heavily, Dad leaned back.
"Everything's surprisingly normal," he said as he placed the stethoscope around his neck. "Well, I'll test your blood later. You just get some rest today, Sayo," he concluded.
"But Daaad! I want to go outside and enjoy the air!"
"Fresh air is good for the body," Ferid commented.
"And be fussed at by Elle? Nah, I ain't feeling that," he huffed.
"As much as I don't want to agree with him, he is right, Mister Ryota. Sayomi's going to become human soon and the human body has needs," Mika summarized.
He groaned while leaning his head down, pushing his hair back. He got up, staring down at my puppy dog eyed face.
"Please, Daddy~? Please~?"
"She can call me Daddy," I heard Ferid mumble very quietly to which Krul hit him upside his head.
"What was that for, Kruly dear~?" he whined, rubbing his head.
"You're a sly, perverted a$$hole, that's why."
"Anyway...we'll watch over her, Ryota," Yu said.
"Good..I might get less of a cussing out session from Elle if Sayo's being supervised. By the way..." he looked back at me, "Thank you, Sayomi."
I tilted my head, "For what?"
"Breaking my curse."
"O-Oh! No worried, Dad! You don't have to thank me, I was just doing what I think is ri-"
"Practically committing suicide isn't the right thing to do, young lady! I don't care if you are 19 or saving the world! No parent, no true parent, would want to go through that pain and pressure! Do you know how hard it was for your Mother to cope?! She spent day and night, working on a way to get you back without heavy consequences! She rarely listened to me when I told her to take it easy! She's slowly turning human and no rest, no food, no water for it can damage it greatly! As for me, hauling my a$$ back and forth from here to Germany, here to Russia, here to America, here to China was not something I'd do on a daily basis, but if it was to see my daughter alive again, I would go to the grave. A parent would give their life for their child, not vice versa, Sayomi. You need to understand that you can't do everything on your own. People care about you, Sayomi; I care about you."
*Silence*
I looked down at my hands gripping the blankets, "...I..I apologize. I considered your feelings, yet I..still did something that was never meant for me to do."
He huffed a sigh, "Alright, I'll leave you be now." He began to move the cart forward with an indifferent look, "Now, move all your a$$3$ out of my daughter's room before I kick you out."
"What a great Father, Sayomi. Cheish him while you still have him~," Ferid spoke, leaving out behind Dad while Crowley held the door.
I nodded in understanding.
"Sayomi."
I looked up to Krul staring at me..as if nervously. "W-We..got off on the wrong foot. You're my..cousin. Let's, Ashera as well, get t-to know each other some time soon."
A smile slipped on my lips, "Sure."
She turned her back and walked out before Crowley.
"So she's finally taken her advice..." Yu mumbled with a small smile on his lips, eyes holding sincerity.
*Silence*
"Mika, how have things been between you two since I've been gone...?"
"...Better."
"Her and Ashera's position now?"
"The Queen's secretary. Ashera is next in line for the throne if something were to happen to Miss Estelle. Carmen is still her General and adviser."
"I see... Yu, what about Mitsuba and her sister? Head of the Hiragi family, Guren and his comrades as well...?"
"Mitsuba and Aoi are still distant, but Mitsuba prefers it to be that way, so she won't have to deal with her negativity. Kureto is still the General of J.I.D.A, having common secret meetings with your Mom and Dad for order, principles, and laws. As for Guren...you wouldn't believe what the guy did a couple days after the war...he adopted me!"
(I know at least one person wanted this to happen.)
"Say what now?!" I exclaimed from surprise.
"Yeah, he adopted me...though a little late at the age of 17, but I still appreciate it!" he said with a grin and closed eyes before opening them and pouting, "I don't have a problem with it, it's just Shinya is like..some kind of nagging mother figure."
(Boom, baby, two things at least one person wanted this to happen.)
"How..strangely peculiar..." I mumbled, resting my chin on my left hand.
"It's weird if you ask me," he commented. "What about you, Mika? What do you think ab-"
"I don't," he quickly replied with a stagnant face.
Yu puffed out his cheeks, "Hmph, fine." He turned back to me, "About Shinya, Sayuri, Shigure, Mito, and Norito, they're all fine. Shinya, Mito, and Norito transferred from the Hiragi family to work under Guren's Moon Demon Company. The guy's become a Major General."
I closed my eyes, smiling a little, "Ah..it eases me to know that everyone is fine, and politics are being discussed peacefully."
"I couldn't agree with you more," Mika responded.
We had our small laughs and smiles of joy...
"Ready to go outside?" they both asked.
I nodded, "Yeah, I've been waiting for so long..."
(This is the last chapter for this story. To read the very final chapter, go to I Am Yours Special Arcs & Finales. I thank all of you for reading this far and, hopefully, enjoying this wild ride of mysteries, love, deceit, and fear. I'm glad to end this on a good note; however, there is some kind of consequence when there are happy endings, like Sayomi's Cursed markings. Anyway, reader-chan/kun, have a nice morning/afternoon/day/evening/night/midnight/twilight/dawn.)