"Why are all of my children smarter than I am," Tsukune was seriously considering whether he was really qualified for anything he did.
Akua, Maggie, Mizore, and Moka just watched him as he wallowed in his misery. The point of it, Yusa, and Asusa to help her sister feel less alone in it, had taken the same placement test that Tekeshi had. While not as high as their brother, both had tested at a second year college level. Tsukune, thinking it had been a fluke the last time, had again tested at a fifth year level.
"Tsukune, I didn't marry you for your brains. I... uh... You know, I never stopped to think about why I married you. I just couldn't stop myself from saying yes when you asked. You are really cute, right Mizore," Moka was doing her best to cheer him up.
Quietly Mizore leaned over to whisper, "I don't think this is helping. He is really upset over this," she straightened up before saying, "I honestly didn't know the girls were that smart. They have always been so, average, except for causing trouble."
"Maggie, this is why I forbid you from getting involved in any kind of intrigue, or military actions before you turn eighteen. It weakens your academic abilities," Akua took a drink of tea while she made the extremely sharp jab at her brother-in-law.
"Very funny Akua. I guess I just need to resign myself to being academically mediocre. At least I am really good at hitting things. That never goes out of style. By the way Maggie, how has the accent training been going," Tsukune turned to the Irish girl, hoping to distract himself.
"'Tis, going. If I put, effort into, speaking slowly, it is better. Otherwise oi jist soun' loike oi alwus 'av," the girl said.
Akua rolled her eyes, "I know that it takes time, but sometimes I just feel like she is patronizing me. Given her personality and rebellious nature, I think she actually is most of the time."
Maggie gave her best offended look, "Me, oi wud never be such an arse loike dat."
Moka gave a snort before saying, "All who actually believe that, raise your hand."
No hands were raised.
"Nigh oi fale attacked. Scon are startin' ter tink yer are only adoptin' me ter push yisser wheelchair," Maggie turned her nose up.
Akua gave a smug smirk, "I would never be such an ass like that. Come here."
Three of the room's occupants were amazed as they watched Akua willing hug someone that wasn't Tekeshi or Moka. No matter how many times they had seen it, it still felt weird to see. It gave them a little hope though.
"So, we know that I am an idiot, Maggie is a teenager, and Akua is being weird. Do we have any other business," Tsukune said as he leaned back in his chair.
Akua side-eyed him as she turned to her sister, "How is your mother doing?"
"I don't even know how to describe it. She is getting healthier faster than I even hoped, and she happens to be way more powerful than me or Tsukune," Moka said
"Something else I have to be reminded I am not the best at anymore," this time the tone of Tsukune's voice was much more humorous.
"Well, I guess it was only a matter of time. So, is she more powerful than Utsuki," Akua asked.
Tsukune bounced his head, "As far as I can tell, they are on an even level. I won't say that I am sorry to see that whole, most powerful on Earth title go away. I like being less of a vampire celebrity than I used to be. Now, I am just the head of the Shuzen Clan that also happens to be shinso. It, is really good to have her, I don't know if back is the right word. Regardless, we are happy to have her here."
Mizore nodded, "She isn't necessarily happy about the three way relationship we have now, but she said it isn't any of her business, and she can't say anything since she had been there before. She did say it was a much better situation since we all like each other, than well, you know."
"I, don't know if I should go see her. Not with, what I did back then," Akua looked down at her feet.
"Akua, she never held any of it against you. She has really been happy that you have done so well. You also need to see Tekeshi at some point. I think seeing his favorite aunt will help his spirits some. He," Moka looked over at Tsukune.
"He isn't doing real well mentally. Especially not with him being so close to being a human now," he said, grimacing.
"I don't understand how that works. How is he more like a human now," the wheelchair bound vampire stated.
"I may be able to explain better," the door opened to admit Issa, and a wheelchair bound Akasha.
"Father, It's good to see you, and you Akasha," Akua spun the chair around.
"Issa," Akasha pointed at Akua, "Roll me over."
Akua was a little confused as her father pushed the other woman's wheelchair over, and she was taken in a very warm hug. This was not the greeting she expected, or the childish antic of the other woman.
"It's so good to see you. You can't know how happy I am that you finally found someone that you could relate with. Also, you have grown up enough to take on the responsibility of motherhood. I am so proud of you," Akasha smiled as she let the hug go.
"Thank you. I , I don't know, what was that just a second ago?"
Issa chuckled, "Just the side of Akasha Bloodriver, only those close to her get to see. She might seem deadly and noble in the eyes of the court, and the public. In private with her family and closest friends, she is an eight year old."
"I am not. I'm a twelve year old."
"Believe it or not, this, is part of what made me fall in love with her," Issa stated.
"It's also how I kept myself sane. The kind of death and battle I have seen, if I tried to remain so stoic, and poised, I would have lost my mind centuries ago. When you take yourself too seriously, you...," she trailed off.
Issa frowned and looked down, "You become like Gyokuro was. Become like I used to be. I, need to sit down. Are you ok rolling yourself right now?"
His wife replied, "I am. I know that you may not have had the best impression of her, but at one point, she had been a much nicer person. Oh, I am so sorry, I had forgotten that you didn't understand Japanese," she noticed Maggie looking on with confusing.
"I, am pleased, to, meet you. Bejasus, dis is really damn tirin'," the girl replied.
Akasha lit up, "You're Irish. I used to know an Irish girl. She was also a shinso, I wonder if she is still alive. There is no telling, I am so happy to meet you, I think they said your name was Maggie. Don't worry about the accent, I spent time in Ireland in the sixteen hundreds, I have heard worse."
Issa looked over with curiosity, "You've been to Ireland? I never knew that. You think you know a person. Miss, has the adoption occurred officially," he looked over to Tsukune.
"As far as Japan goes. We are just waiting on the last papers from Northern Ireland. She has been going by Shuzen for the last week already, and she is your granddaughter legally," his son-in-law replied succinctly.
"Grand. Daughter. Granddaughter. I...," Issa Shuzen was known for many things, but going silent out of nowhere was not one of them.
"Oh Dear. I think he is now about to have an age related crisis. I'm really happy. I always wanted a grandchild. Now I have two. Almost three. Issa, wake up out of this. You are almost twenty years too late to the breakdown," Akasha chuckled lightly as she shook his arm.
"Akua, has a daughter. I... I don't know how to take this. I honestly expected Kokoa to have a child before her. I never, expected her to adopt. I don't even think she likes men, except Tekeshi. She isn't allowed to do that."
Akua looked at her father confused, "I'm not allowed to do that? What does he... Oh go screw yourself. I am not one of those aunts. The only person I have any sexual interest in is Moka. That also isn't going to happen."
Moka snorted, "You finally admit it. Father, you said that you might be able to explain something about Tekeshi."
"Oh, yes. I apologize for the momentary lapse. I think, that more than just the power, he took on much of the essence of who Shinso was. Shinso, was born a human as far as I know."
"That is correct. He was never a true vampire, we always thought he was a god himself. The first vampires were supposed to be his children. What we've learned due to the battle, actually changes so much of the legend that I was taught as a child. Remember, I am considerably older, so the legends and myths I am familiar with, are much closer to the original. I never thought much on the god part of it, as I was raised Roman Catholic, so if someone referred to God, I thought of the Christian God. My mother always commented that her Mother might have a fit, but her grandparents might have been proud. I honestly don't know. Which, I know now, due to Tekeshi, that Shinso was born of a goddess, who happens to be the spirit thing in his sword, and a human. His mother had him drink the blood of another god to awaken his dormant godly blood. He went a little unstable, and then go through and we get to him giving up his power to Tekeshi. I'm so sorry Dear. I didn't mean to take over like that," Akasha's eyes went wide in embarrassment.
"Don't even worry about it. That is more information than I had to make my theory. I think, that being a demigod is as much a human condition, as it is divine. So, I would say that in order to anchor vampires to their existence, the humanity of them is the cornerstone," he placed an arm around his wife as he laid out his theory.
"That may also explain why a human can become a vampire. The only other type of Yokai that can infect a human, is a werewolf. I may need to talk to Gin at some point to see if I can learn anything on that front. I wonder something," Tsukune had a curious look on his face.
Moka tilted her head, "What is that?"
"I wonder, if the reason that Tekeshi was able to take on Shinso's power, was the fact I was born a human."
Issa's eyes went wide and he looked over at his son-in-law, "That makes quite a bit of sense. Give me a few days to consider this, and I will get back to you. Oh, Akasha, you had a reason you wanted to come up here, and skip your therapy session."
"Oh, I did, didn't I. Tsukune, I want you to do something for us, that only you can do. It may seem odd, and inconsequential, but it would mean so much to me and Issa," Akasha looked at him with a hopeful look.
"Whatever you need. You know family is the most important thing to us," Tsukune said.
Issa stood up, and placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, "We would like you to marry us."
Several faces took on looks of complete confusion.
Mizore was the first to recover, "I thought you were married."
"We were. Were, being the operative word. Officially, Akasha was dead, which nullified our marriage, given that her death lasted for over twenty years. Human or Yokai, that is dead. I screwed up so many years ago, trying to have more than one woman. I don't plan to do that again, and we have been talking, since she has been able to talk clearly. We want you to preform the marriage, and, she will take my name this time, being my only wife. I want to make up for my failures long past."
Akasha looked up at him concerned, "Issa, don't dwell on it. I was fine being the second wife, as long as I had you. Was I jealous of Gyokuro? Yes. Her jealously was just worse. She never mistreated Moka though, at least, until the end. She didn't care about her, but she never hurt her. She just wished that I would have never come into the picture. I believe she called me an old hag more than once, when she thought I couldn't hear. I was the interloper though, and I can understand why she started to hate me."
"It would be an honor, to perform your marriage. It would be the first one I have done, but it would be an honor," Tsukune said.
"Thank you, Tsukune. I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye on everything. I truly appreciate it though. We plan to wait until she has finished her recovery to actually have the ceremony. Perhaps even wait until the anniversary of her being revived, so there isn't a hurry to get everything ready," Issa stepped over to Tsukunes desk as the younger man stepped around it and offered his hand.
"Of course. When ever you two are ready," Tsukune said as their hands touched, and he was pulled into a very unexpected hug.
"I can't thank you enough, for how you have made my family, better than it could have ever been without you. For helping all my daughters. For giving me the best grandson I could ever wish for. For making my daughter so happy. I am not the most emotional person in the world, but for once, I have a reason to show some," Issa had truly come to love Tsukune as a son he had never had, and he finally had the excuse to show it.
When they separated, Tsukune looked the older man in the eye, and did something he had only done once, "Thank you, Father. I will be ready."
Simona opened her eyes as she heard the pitch of the jet's engines change. She stretched as she sat up, and noticed her stomach give a small rumble. She blinked as she looked around the cabin, looking for anything that was edible, or for the attendant.
After a while she stood up to look for the woman, and then noticed that Candace was still asleep. Emphasis on the still part. Simona's stomach suddenly dropped as fear took over, and the idea that the woman that she had only known for a week or two, was now, perished.
She was ancient, but, Simona had been led to believe that vampires were essentially immortal. The idea of her just dying out of nowhere was beyond terrifying, it was world-shattering. She didn't even know how old the woman was. How was she going to explain this to the estate when she returned. Was she even going to be allowed to keep living there?
She was so panicked that she didn't notice the others woman start to wake up herself. How Simona missed the other woman's loud yawn was amazing all by itself. Candace blankly watched the panic for several moments before her brain was engaged enough to be flooded with the sheer panic coming off the girl.
Candace considered saying something, but ultimately decided just to go back to sleep. She didn't have enough available braincells to deal with this. Of course it was so loud that she was having trouble getting back to sleep.
"Simona, if you don't stop that, I am about to drag you around this place by your small hairs. I want more sleep, so shut up," she said as she started to lose patience.
"Oh my God, thank you. I was afraid you had died, My Lady. I apologize for the noise. Wait, what are small hairs?"
"If you aren't old enough to know that, you haven't had your monthly bloods yet. If you ever had to clean it from them, you would know."
Simona had to stop and think for a second. Then it occurred to her what the vampire meant. For such a delicate, and beautiful woman, she was very crass and rude.
"Well, unfortunately for you, I don't have any hair down there. I shave it off. Keeps everything much cooler and neater," she said smugly, hoping to have the last word.
"Well, if you like to be that childish, I don't see how any man will see you as a woman matured enough to bear his children. My Husband always was rather fond of mine. When he left to travel, and I fell into a torpor, I sent him with a lock of it. He said he would always cherish it. It, may not have lasted this long though, so I may have to give him another," Candace closed her eyes and finally managed to go back to sleep.
Simona was just standing there, a mixed look of disgust and shock on her face.