Summary: The morning after Elijah Moore takes a bullet for his wife, the Moore estate should be tense. Plans for retaliation should be underway. Men should be preparing for war. Instead, Elias walks into his brother’s office and finds Elijah smiling like a man who knows a secret the rest of the world doesn’t. After some aggressive questioning and a lot of disrespect, Elijah finally admits the truth. Aaliyah kissed him. Just once. Elias immediately comes to the only logical conclusion: Elijah Moore has clearly lost his damn mind, the Moore bloodline is now in danger, and apparently kissing leads directly to babies.
Warnings: Strong language, vulgar humor, chaotic twin energy, mild sexual references, Elias Moore being loud and disrespectful, Elijah Moore acting suspiciously happy, and Aaliyah Moore embarrassing a mafia boss without even trying.
other side chapters: The One He Didn’t Choose | Arguments & Other Forms of Flirting | Heir and Error | Roses in a Locked Room | A Lesson in Recoil
Late morning settled easily over the Moore estate, the kind of slow quiet that only showed up after a night full of too much adrenaline and not enough sleep. The house itself seemed to be breathing slower than usual, the tension from the previous day’s chaos finally easing into something calmer.
Sunlight spilled across the living room in long warm strips, stretching over the couch, the coffee table, and the comfortable mess Aaliyah had created without even trying. Her laptop sat open in front of her with Sims running across the screen while some loud, messy reality show blasted from the television mounted on the wall. A bowl of chips rested on the cushion beside her along with a half‑finished drink and a throw blanket tangled around her legs like she had been sitting there for hours. She probably had. Aaliyah was fully locked in, switching her attention between the television drama and the digital chaos unfolding on her screen.
On the laptop, one of her Sims was in the middle of ruining her own life in spectacular fashion. On the television, a woman in a rhinestone dress was screaming across a dinner table about betrayal, side chicks, and text messages she claimed proved everything. Aaliyah pointed at the laptop first.
“No, because why are you flirting with him?” she demanded like the Sim could hear her. “You got a whole husband and two kids. This is why your house on fire.”
She clicked something aggressively before looking back up at the television.
“And you,” she muttered toward the screen, “been lying since the appetizer came out.”
She shook her head slowly, disappointed in both fictional characters and real ones.
The front doors of the estate opened hard enough to echo through the entire first floor. Aaliyah didn’t even bother looking up because she already knew who it was.
“Where my brother at?” Elias barked from the foyer before he was even fully inside the house.
One of the staff answered calmly from somewhere near the entry hall. “Office.”
“Good,” Elias muttered. “He better be planning violence.”
His footsteps came fast through the house a second later, loud and familiar, the sound of restless energy and bad manners combined. He cut through the living room doorway like he owned the place, dressed like he had thrown his clothes on in the dark and somehow still made it look intentional.
Aaliyah paused her Sims game long enough to glance over at him.
“Hey, Elias.”
“Hey, sis‑in‑law.”
He slowed just enough to glance at her setup, taking in the television, the laptop, and the general chaos of her entertainment choices.
“Why the fuck you got chaos playing on two screens?” he asked.
“Because one mess wasn’t enough,” she said simply.
Elias leaned closer to look at the Sims family frozen on the laptop screen. One of them was currently standing in a burning kitchen. He straightened slowly and looked back at her.
“Your brother alive?” Aaliyah asked without looking up again.
Elias snorted.
“Barely.”
Aaliyah nodded once and hit play on the game again.
“Good.”
Elias stopped walking and turned around slowly.
“You cold as hell,” he said.
Aaliyah lifted a chip to her mouth. “And yet I’m still the nicest person in this house.”
“That says more about us than it do about you.”
“It really does.”
Elias shook his head and continued upstairs, already mentally preparing himself for whatever mood Elijah was in. He expected rage. He expected a strategy. He expected war planning.
Instead, when he pushed the office door open, he stopped dead in the doorway.
Because this was not what he expected.
Elijah Moore sat behind his desk, leaning back comfortably in his chair, one hand tapping a pen against the armrest while the other rested near a stack of files he clearly wasn’t reading. And the man was smiling. Not smirking, not that dangerous half‑smile he usually wore when someone was about to get hurt. No. He was smiling, cheesing to himself like he knew something nobody else in the world did.
He looked relaxed. Worse than relaxed. Satisfied, like someone had whispered the funniest joke alive into his ear and he was still replaying it.
Elias stared at him for a full five seconds before finally speaking.
“What the fuck?”
Elijah glanced up lazily. “What?”
Elias stepped fully into the office and kicked the door shut behind him.
“Why you look like that?”
Elijah frowned faintly, though the corner of his mouth still held the ghost of that smile. “Like what?”
Elias threw both hands in the air. “Like a nigga who just hit the lottery and got his dick sucked in the parking lot. That’s what.”
Elijah rolled his eyes. “You loud as hell.”
“And you smiling,” Elias shot back immediately. “Which is worse.”
Elijah kept tapping the pen against the chair arm while Elias stepped closer to the desk.
“Nigga, you got shot yesterday.”
Elijah shrugged with his uninjured shoulder. “Still alive.”
“Yeah, but you over here looking happy.”
“So?”
Elias slammed his palm against the desk. “So what the fuck happened?”
Elijah leaned back a little farther in the chair, smooth as ever. Elias thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then Elijah said casually, “She kissed me.”
Elias blinked. “...What?”
Elijah’s mouth twitched again. “Aaliyah kissed me last night.”
Silence filled the room before Elias looked him dead in the face and said, “You know she pregnant now, right?”
Elijah turned his head slowly. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Elias dragged a chair over and sat down backwards in it, folding his arms over the backrest like a teacher about to explain something obvious.
“Kissing leads to sex.” He held up one finger. “Sex leads to babies.” He raised a second finger. “Congratulations, nigga. You about to be a father.”
Elijah stared at him like he had lost his mind. “You cannot be serious.”
“I’m extremely serious,” Elias said. “That’s basic science.”
Elijah rubbed his hand over his mouth, but the smile refused to disappear.
Elias leaned forward slowly. “Oh nah. This real. You glowing.”
“I’m not glowing.”
“You are absolutely glowing,” Elias said. “You look like that Anthony Mackie meme. Like you know something the rest of us don’t.”
Elijah leaned back again. “She kissed me.”
Elias slapped the desk. “I heard you the first two damn times. I’m trying to understand why you acting like a giddy virgin.”
Elijah shrugged slightly. “It was unexpected.”
“Unexpected?” Elias laughed. “Nigga that’s your wife.”
He squinted suddenly. “Unless…”
Elijah went still.
Elias gasped dramatically. “Oh my God. You ain’t never kissed her for real before.”
Elijah’s silence confirmed everything.
Elias collapsed laughing. “This is insane. This is fucking insane.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“No, because I need you to hear me,” Elias said, wiping his eyes. “You supposed to be a feared kingpin and you in here smiling like somebody passed you a love note in algebra class.”
Right then, a shadow passed the office doorway.
Aaliyah.
Elias popped up instantly. “Hey! Come look at your husband!”
Aaliyah leaned against the doorway calmly. “What now?”
Elias pointed dramatically. “This nigga smiling like he got proposed to.”
Elijah leaned back in his chair. “Get out.”
Aaliyah looked at him and then noticed the smile he was trying to hide. A slow smirk spread across her face.
“Oh,” she said softly. “He told you?”
Elias clutched his chest. “Told me? He announced it like y’all just conceived the heir to the throne.”
Aaliyah laughed quietly.
Elijah gave her a warning look.
She tilted her head.
“You’re welcome.”
Then she walked away like she hadn’t just embarrassed a kingpin in his own office.
Elias wheezed with laughter.
Elijah pointed toward the door. “Get out my office before I shoot you.”
“You not shooting nobody today,” Elias said. “You in love.”
“I’m not in love.”
“Sure, Princess.”
The door slammed behind him.
Silence returned to the office. Elijah sat there for a moment staring at the closed door before the corner of his mouth curved again. He leaned back slowly in his chair, relaxed and satisfied.
Is there any character book? As far as I know we only have the manga and 3 (?) artbooks. Is there any other merch with official canon content?
Other "canon" content
Well, I wouldn't necessarily call all of it canon, but there are:
The three Artworks books you mentioned plus a fourth one in production as I type this. Official, yes. Canon? Only parts of it.
Several extra chapters that came as bonus content with various items in Japan, like DVDs. You can find more info about those on my blog. Generally, these are taken as canon. There are no licensed translations, at least not yet... probably never.
Ch107.5, the "Akuma6" special chapter, which was actually serialized and translated (thanks to it originally being published in GFantasy). That's the results of an old favorite character poll. It's in an AU of sorts, but you can call it canon. More like the canon characters have been placed into an odd realm where their rating rosettes grant them special powers.
Anthology and Anthology 2, sometimes called "Rainbow Butler" (Inside, they do mention nijishitsuji). Most of the works are by other mangaka, as an homage to the series, but "With Father" at the end of Anthology 2 is by Yana-san. The last comic in the first Anthology is also by Yana-san, and it's called "Haunted Graveyard". "With Father" is typically taken as canon, despite the fact she practically had to disrupt the Kuroverse's space-time to write it. 😆
There's an official Character Guide, but it's old, so it is missing a lot of characters, and has never had a licensed translation into English. I have it in Japanese and French. I think there's also a licensed German version.
If you are just interested in printed stuff, that's about all I can think of right now.
Special side chapter to keep you at bay while the second book is being written. Art @byallen. Hope you enjoy
Chapter 20aLincoln,
Direwind
Londandria street
Year 2990 AM
Every flame is born from a spark, they grow wildly until they consume or encompass whatever surrounds them, like a virus or an army until they eventually diminish. In the streets of Lincoln, Direwind the people once knew this and prided themselves in the warmth of flames as they harboured one of the few remaining fire elemental families on the continent. The Lanix family. Currently the streets of Direwind lay destitute after years of neglect and impoverishment, its owners failing to spread the wealth of their country wide enough to look after its entirety. Lincoln was one of the many cities in Direwind that found itself struggling to maintain what structure it held and over the years found itself ravished by criminality and violence, an image that when viewed by neighbouring countries left Direwind looking incapable and ripe for the taking. These facts were known by its citizens who had resigned themselves to the bleak existence that they held. A country without hope for better days can be like a sky without a sun, vulnerable to the torrents of the weather, and this country hasn't had hope for years. Ken Lanix, a child of ten who was small for his age, with blonde hair that ran down his back and covered his face, leaving a golden glow spattered across it as the weak sunbeams forced their way through it was currently walking down Lincolns dirt streets on his way home after a day of meandering about. Contemplating what the point was after a morning of self-training. In his ten years of life he hadn't witnessed anything that had stuck out to him as a reason to live, wherever he looked he could only see desolation and lethargy; be it in the buildings that had decayed over the years, that yearned to be renovated but had resigned themselves to their rotten visage or the people who lived around him who had succumb to the grey atmosphere that hung over the civilian consciousness. The more Ken wondered about what purpose was and if he or his country had one he couldn't help but rue the news of revolution in the neighbouring country of Faltochi that had happened years before. A revolution that seemingly catapulted the country out of subjugation and into modernisation and prosperity, a revolution born of strength and cunning yet opposing the exact same things. 'How bright their sky must be.' Ken thought to himself as he gazed upwards to the grey clouds that had blanketed his own sky. Lost in thought, Ken hadn't realised that he had made his way back home. Home being a modest, two building estate that housed his family. His mother and father were home, dilly-dallying around the house until his uncle returned from his training. His uncle Zanuma; who was a fighter by trade; was training in preparation for an upcoming fight that he had booked later in the week. In Lincoln and Direwind as a whole ignited fights or 'Ig-fights' were the main source of entertainment for the masses, an unregulated and unsafe pass time that hundreds across the country partook in. It acted as one of societies biggest cultural interests as well as the financial backbone for many who lived in the country. When it came to Ig-fighting Ken's uncle Zanuma was one of the best in his city, their family's specialisation of fire manipulation was rare nowadays and had helped Zanuma progress through the pre-existing ranks which awarded its winners with battle profits that kept his family out of poverty. Ken had distanced himself from Ig-fighting as a way to distance himself from his uncle but would still find himself training, bettering himself and his fire manipulation. These times of practice were the only times that Ken felt truly free, released from the arid life that his family and city assume he wanted to share. “Ken, did you see your uncle on the way back? He should be heading home soon and he'll probably be tired from training... It'd probably be best if you went to your room before he gets back”, Cammie-Li, Ken's mother said to him as he walked through the door. Ken's mother was a tall woman, her hair and features were lovely, and her presence was known as soon as she entered whatever the situation was. Being the youngest daughter of the Lanix family she was hoped to be a great asset to the family but when she failed to ignite in her formative years the family poured all of its attention into her brother, leading her to lack belief in her own worth; which Ken thought was very obvious; as she became an attendant to Zanuma and later to Ken's father, another unignited who specialised in tapestries and textiles. A slender man with pretty facial features that were distorted by his gaunt image, his visage formed over many years of living within his brother by partnerships shadow. Ken looked passively over as his mother and father waited, inactive until their 'sun' returned. Zanuma had ensnared Ken's parents with his strength, a strength that Ken doubted every second that he had lived. Listening to his mother; mainly as a way to appease her obvious worry over an argument erupting between the nephew an uncle; Ken made his way through the small living room, walking over the beautiful maroon and orange coloured rug that his father had made; its pattern resembling many smaller flames gathered round a larger flame; towards the stairs before he went up to his bedroom. “Apparently, a stranger has been asking around the town for a strong flame wielder.”, Ken heard his mother say to his father -“A stranger, it's not often we get anybody new in these parts.” his father replied, a slight interest rising in his voice, “Well, if he's looking for a fire wielder, I'd say the only one around would be Zanuma right? Unless he thinks you're up to the job.” his mother continued, laughing as she finished her remark. Ken's father, Balryu Lanix who had joined the Lanix family when he swore a partnership with Cammie-Li, was a skilled designer and his tapestries were wonderful, but in this country where people couldn't afford food for their families, decorative materials weren't in high demand and the few he did manage to sell didn't bring in that many marts which lead them to rely on Zanuma as the family head, a position that left Ken's father suffering in a state of inadequacy from which Ken could see him crumble under every now and again. Ken didn't pity his parents or have any sort of disdain for their shortcomings, he simply didn't understand why they accepted such a life in the first place. Even with his uncle being a successful Ig-fighter, Ken couldn't see him as much more than a large fish in a small pond who enjoyed using his flame to burn and subdue others, a practice that Ken doesn't appreciate as much as the crowds of fans that attend the battles that his uncle thrives in. His own flame that he had nurtured into structures and armour seemed more practical as well as being in accordance with his family's lineage. 'Surely life isn't this restrained', Ken thought to himself. The door to the estate quickly slammed open as Ken was lost in his thoughts at the bottom of the stairs, the noise startling him as Ken immediately sensed his uncle walk in before he turned his head to see him. Zanuma Lanix was a tall, well built-man whose attitude and confidence could be felt across the room, with short red hair and a weathered face, his presence engrossed the people around him until they were forced to subdue to his warmth and revolve around him as they got caught up in his orbit. “Cammie, I got this from the centre.”, Zanuma stated as he threw down a beast leg onto the table, “Burn it while I get some rest.” he continued, before shooting a glance towards Balryu who was sat at the head of the table. “Brother Zan, sit here whilst you wait.” Ken's father muttered as he scuttled out of his chair and went to help with the food preparations. Zanuma grunted as he sat down and began to rest his eyes, leaning back on the chair, pushing it back making its legs drag, pulling at the flame carpet underneath, ripping it as it did. Ken watched for a second as his parents were waiting on his uncle, embarrassment crept up into his chest but was quickly quelled by his understanding, Ken knew why his parents succumb to Zanuma's heat as he understood that power isn't bestowed upon everyone and that the weak usually cater to the strong, it was their patience and continued acceptance of the fact that he didn't understand. How could a country like Faltochi revolt against their whole existence but his parents couldn't rebel against one man? He would ask himself this constantly but would often fall short of an answer. Resigning himself once again to ignore his family's fealty Ken began to make his way up the stairs before he heard his uncle's voice. “Heading to bed already? You should be out training like me, unless you want to grow up to be a weakling like your father.”. The words hung in the air for a second and Ken looked towards his father who had pretended he hadn't heard what was said, anger bubbling in his chest he was about to turn before he heard his mother reply. “Well not everyone can be as strong as you brother, Ken will probably follow in his father footsteps you've seen how he cowers from the flames when you spar.”. His mother said, in what he thought might've been a misguided defence for him and his father, but the words burnt more than his uncles had previously and as his uncle grunted in acceptance to his mother's words Ken continued up the stairs .As he arrived in his room Ken's heart felt heavy, he looked around to see that his room reflected who he felt he was, the walls patterned with pages from books he had read; displaying images of people from faraway lands living carefree; stuck beside large tapestries of flame like patterns, a mixture of beauty and passion parading as a bright flame posturing with confidence whilst lacking any actual independent identity. Ken began to wonder what strength was, who it was for and what its purpose was. He didn't feel that it was for subduing others or for the entertainment of others like how his uncle used it or that it was for personal gain over the detriment of others. Ken kept finding himself falling into the selfish belief that strength was for oneself, and that it was purely for helping yourself to live the best life you could, to attain whatever you wanted and to protect whatever you wished to hold dear but these thoughts felt superficial the more he pondered them. Hours passed and he began to hear his uncle and mother talking downstairs, something about how his father wasn't bringing enough marts into the estate but before he could hear any more Ken was already climbing out of his bedroom window and with a flicker of energy, he jumped down onto a small block of flame that had been solidified and from there he jumped down onto the street in front of his house. This practice of energy manipulation was an example of the Lanix family's speciality in fire manipulation being that of structural and armament manipulation, a practice that Ken had near perfected in secret, hidden within the alleys of Lincoln due to fear that his mastery would fuel a jealousy in his uncle that he hadn't had to confront since he stopped sparring with him seasons ago. These thoughts spurring him to get as far away from the estate as possible he conjured up another bout of energy infused flames and formed it into the shape of a board hoisted by small wheels that lifted it inches off of the floor, a board that Ken stepped onto and with a slight burst of energy, localised in his feet, he propelled the board forward down the street. Cruising down the street at high speeds Ken felt free as the wind brushed past his face, blowing his hair backwards, allowing cold air to reach parts of his head that it rarely ventured, cooling him down as his energy forced his body to heat up, especially his shoulders which burnt with scalding heat whenever he manipulated his energy causing him to often burn through his tops. Looking around, Ken lamented as he saw the setting of his city, awash with the brightness of his own flames but still hampered by the depressing smog that spanned throughout the streets and alleys. As he got to the end of the street Ken balanced his weight into his back leg, using his front foot to lightly turn the board before he bent down, pressing it to ground and with a spin pushed off the floor whilst changing direction and turning the corner of the street. The tricks he performed whilst on his board gave him the feeling of control and of being free at same time which Ken thought was contradicting, a thought not enough to diminish the pleasure it gave him. After turning the corner of the street, before he could continue observing his cities state he was tickled by a light brush of energy which caused him to stop and upon inspection he caught glimpse of some dust on the ground being blown away from him and when he looked back up there was a tall man standing in front of him. The tall man stood in front of him, looming over as he leant side to side observing Ken and his board. “You got a problem?” Ken asked the man, his green eyes tracing Ken's entire image and after a few moments the man replied. “You wouldn't happen to be Zanuma Lanix would you?”. The question instantly aggravating Ken, he quickly dispersed his energy and his board fizzled into the atmosphere before Ken replied. “No, I'm not, why? How come you're looking for Zanuma?”. The man's eyes sunk a little when he heard Ken's reply which Ken didn't really understand at first but believed was disappointment. “Well, I've been asking around town because there's rumour of an impressive fire manipulator in these parts. A lovely lady a couple of streets down swore that it had to be Zanuma Lanix and shortly after I picked up on your energy and came to check it out. You sure you're not Zanuma?”. The second time of asking Ken's frustration got the better of him as he replied, in a slightly raised voice-“I told you I'm not him! And if you're looking for a strong fire wielder, you're better off looking somewhere else-” Ken told him but was cut off by the man's quick reply. “I said impressive, not strong. And the Lanix family are the only fire manipulators around so I doubt somewhere else would be good. You know him right...? Zanuma?”. Ken stopped for a second before he replied, calming himself whilst attempting to gauge the man who was stood in front of him. A man who stood taller than most with dark skin, seemingly washed in the sun's splendour, his long black hair sheening like silk in its sparse rays. As he was doing this, he could feel the man was doing the same to him.“I know him, but he's not strong he's just loud... and rude.”, Ken explained but as the words left his mouth, he saw a light flicker in the man's eyes as the sides of his mouth curved into a slight smile. “I knew you knew him, you're a Lanix as well, right? You, his son? Bro-”, “I am not his son!”, Ken said sternly, cutting the man off mid-sentence. A couple of seconds passed as the defiant response hung in the air before the man continued. “Okay not his son, but definitely his family, right? So, you could introduce me? I'm looking for an impressive fire manipulator to help out my company with... Let's call it image assurance.”, the man let out a chuckle as he finished. Ken remembered his mother's words earlier mentioning a man looking for a strong fire wielder, this man must be him, but Ken didn't want to connect this man with his uncle if it meant that he would shower him with more prosperity, so he repeated. “I told you he's not strong he's just lou-”, but before he could finish the man responded- “How strong are you then?”, his eyes wide and a smirk on his face as he asked. Ken could feel the man's eyes engulf him, accepting his response but challenging him with his own. The words stirring up confidence within Ken that he hadn't felt before, a confidence that egged him to face the man's challenge head on and with bolster in his voice he replied. “I'm strong, or skilled either way I'm better than my uncle...”, the provocation bringing forth all of the frustration that Ken had felt towards his uncle, parents and city, causing it all to flood out of him as he vented-“His strength's shallow, used only for force and combat... my fire's more than that, it's free, able to take the form of anything I want it to and hot enough to protect against anything that would attempt to quell it. This city, my uncle, my parents they aren't warm enough to break themselves out of this lethargy but me, I'm hotter than the sun.”. The words lifting a weight from his chest as they left his mouth Ken could feel his energy coursing through his body and the smile of confidence that had spread across his face. His wondering about what strength was revealing itself to be a shackle he had entertained, distracting himself from feeling and expressing his own belief in his own fire. His own strength.The man who had just ignited this confidence stood with a grin on his face and Ken couldn't figure out if it was a grin of entertainment or belief which immediately caused his newfound confidence to waver and after a few moments the man replied.“Well take me to your uncle then and I'll be able to tell if you are stronger. I'm Yin Malik by the way what's your name?”. The name Yin Malik instantly sounding familiar in Ken's mind as he realised that this was the great revolutionary from Faltochi, the man who had saved a country from its despair, the man who Ken knew would understand his lamentations. Realising that he hadn't replied Ken forced the words out of his mouth and could feel his lips part as he introduced himself.“I'm Ken, Ken Lanix.”, another chuckle from Yin before he replied with.“Okay Ken let's go see your uncle, I wanna see if he's emblazoned with passion like you are or if your strength truly is that of the sun, I guess they'd call you the Sun knight if it were.”. The words hitting Ken like a wall he let out a small laugh as he muttered the words back to himself.“Sun knight, I like the sound of that.”.The two walked back to Ken's house in near silence, Ken stealing looks at Yin as they travelled, he noticed that he was constantly observing the area they passed through, his eyes alight with energy tracing every inch of the environment, his presence oozing out of him dominating the space as he passively walked down the alleys beside Ken. It didn't take them long to get back to Ken's house and even though they had barely spoken Ken felt comfortable beside Yin, so much so that he forgot the anxiety he usually felt before entering his home when he knew Zanuma was there. As the door opened Ken heard his mother's voice begin to lecture him -“Kenny, I've told you not to leave the house out of your window, you're gonna end up falling one of these -”, but before she could finish, she noticed the man who was standing beside Ken as they walked through the door. Zanuma; who was still sat at the head of the table; also seemed to notice as his energy flared in response to Yin entering and his eyes had crept open, now fixed on the revolutionary who after shooting a look of amusement at Ken in response to his mother's nickname began to greet the house.“Hi, I'm Yin Malik director of Sin industries. Kenny here was just helping me; you see I'm looking for Zanuma Lanix.”. His words clear and annunciated, Ken twitched at the use of the name Kenny but felt that Yin's words lacked a playfulness that he had when talking to Ken before and that his stance was firmer than before, as he noticed this, he heard his uncle begin to reply,“Sin industries... They don't have much standing here, what does the Faltochi army want with me?”, Zanuma said as he began to sit upright on his chair, his eyes set upon Yin who was meeting his gaze.“Sin industries isn't a part of the Faltochi army, no Sin industries is an independent group with one goal. The defence against the inevitable demon invasion.”. The words settled for a moment before Zanuma smiled, Ken hadn't heard much of demons other than the few attacks that had happened whilst he was growing up, the beasts that were wild around the cities and towns of Direwind seemed more of a problem to him. “Okay so you want me to fight off demons, does it pay well?”, Zanuma grunted in reply, his voice showing a disregard to whatever position Yin held, a disregard that was noticed by both Ken and Yin evident by the tone in Yin's voice as he replied.“Oh no, you wouldn't last a second against a demon.”. He said with a cool confidence that Ken couldn't help but admire-“I'm simply here to see if your fire manipulation will help Sin towards its goal. But as much as I've heard that you're strong I've heard some contrasting beliefs as well “, he continued, flashing a glance at Ken as he finished his statement. A glance that was mimicked by Zanuma who shot up at the challenge towards his strength.“If you want to see how strong I am I'd be happy to show you, let's step outside.”, the aggravation stark in his words, words to be received by a calm, confident smile as Yin agreed and began to walk out of the house, Zanuma following behind and passing Ken, grunting with an attempt to barge him as he did only to be dodged. The two men now stood in front of the Lanix estate, the streets were empty but Ken could see people looking out of their windows to spy what was happening. Even the unignited folks could feel the pressure building in the atmosphere, the dormant energy in the space lightly sparking to life, ready to be utilised in combat. Zanuma, who stood across from Yin smirked as he removed his top to reveal his body, forged in many battles it was layered in muscles and patterned with scars which the women of the city were amazed by, but Yin didn't seem phased.“So, we gonna go a few rounds then? First to land a hit win or something?”, Zanuma asked, his confidence apparent as he did. Yin, whose confident smile hadn't faltered furrowed his brow for a second before replying.“You want to go a few rounds with me? Oh, that's not a good idea.”, he said chuckling after the words left his mouth, a chuckle that Zanuma took great offence to which he showed by flaring his energy, light flames appearing to flicker off of his body only to be subdued by a heavy ceiling of energy forced pressure quashing his animosity followed by another smile from Yin.“See, not a good idea. Instead, how about this...?” Yin started as he began to raise his hand and seconds later a large shield was formed from the dust and dirt around him, standing as tall as a person and with a heavy compression that sent a small shock wave thudding through the air it stood finished in front of him “Destroy this shield and tag me, you can do anything and utilise your energy in whatever way you see possible, but you must go through the shield.”.Zanuma was silent for a second before he snickered to himself, sizing up the shield that stood in front of him. Ken could feel the energy emanating from his uncle and before he knew it Zanuma had dashed forward, his arm sparking a fire that coated it as he did and inches before the shield he stopped, his momentum causing him to slide for a second before he throw his punch toward the shield. The flames burning bright around his forearm and fist before colliding with the shield creating a blast that nearly reached the estate and houses across the street, singeing the roof edges and flinging dirt into the air.As the dust settled and the flames dispersed Ken didn't notice the shields condition but first saw his uncle's face, which was still alight with aggression but now had a slight look of defeat on it which was due to the fact that when Ken looked toward the shield, he saw that it stood undamaged from the strike, only being ashened by the flames. A moment passed before Zanuma began striking again and again at the shield, his confidence slowly morphing into desperation with each strike as Yin stood safely behind the shield his face unchanged in response to Zanuma's attempts. After minutes of trying Cammie-Li grabbed onto Ken's shoulder as she asked Zanuma to stop, slightly hiding herself behind her own son as she did so in fear of his retaliation only to be screamed at.“I'll do this! Just stand and watch as I burn the smirk right off of this guy's face!”, he stated but Ken could see that his once eruptive energy was now diminished, his breathing was unsteady, and his strength was on display for everybody to see and Ken couldn't help but allow a smile to creep across his face. Seemingly also noticing his uncle's fatigue Yin poked his head around the shield,“I think that's enough...”, he began; Ken expected his uncle to bark in response but before he could Yin carried on.“You know it as well, right? You're not strong enough to break through this shield no matter how long I give you?”. His green eyes piercing Zanuma as he asked and after a few moments Ken saw something that he didn't think he'd ever see, the unwarranted confidence that puffed up his uncle's shoulders had deflated as he saw his uncle's head slightly nod in agreement, succumbing to the authority Yin had displayed in his last words.“Good. Now it's your turn.”, Yin stated as his gaze snapped across to Ken, his demeanour changing rapidly as he did so.“What? No. You're not going to embarrass this family anymore”, Cammie-Li began but her words fell upon deaf ears as Yin continued to look at Ken who was currently dealing with the excitement and anxiety he felt towards the challenge. This was the opportunity that he had wanted, a chance to show that his uncle's way of using his fire wasn't as great as everybody believed, a chance to test his own flame and a shot at avenging his family who had been enamoured by an inflated flame parading as a sun, a chance to prove that he was a star himself. These feeling mixed with the encouraging look from Yin spurred Ken to walk forward but as he approached the shield his uncle stood in his way.“You really think you can do it? Your flames are weak, you can't properly project and your physical strength alone isn't enough to break through that.”, he stated as he pointed to the shield that was now only a few inches away from the two of them. It was now that Ken noticed that the shield was slightly cracked, damage from his uncle's continuous attacks had built up and left a small crevice just off centre on the shield. Ken swore he saw Yin grin as he noticed this and continued past his uncle to stand in front of the shield, he knew that his strikes weren't enough to destroy the shield and that his uncle was right, he couldn't project a fire strong enough to blast through it either, but he could feel it, his desire to succeed and prevail where his uncle had failed. A desire to be free from the shadow of his uncle and as he stared at the shield, he caught glimpse of his father who was watching from the window in the estate. His eyes filled with hope, hope that he had never seen in his father's eyes before which fuelled Ken's confidence and desire as he walked toward the shield stopping inches in front of it. Placing his hand on the shield, covering the small crack that he had noticed Ken began to whir the energy inside himself into a frenzy, resulting in small flickers of fire to begin covering his body which grew into large flames and within seconds his arms and shoulders were coated in raging flames. All the while Ken was focussing, his eyes closed, trying to garner control over the inferno that he had sparked to life in his plea of freedom and once he felt that it was all under his control his eyes opened and he forced the fire into the small crack. Pushing it forward into the shield causing a flood of flames to spill back towards him defiantly as the shield stood strong. Bathed in flames Ken could feel his own warmth balance out the burning heat from his fire, his energy instinctively reinforcing himself in defence and with this brief moment of balance Ken realised what he needed to do. As his uncle and mother watched in disbelief and panic as Ken stood covered in a blanket of flames they felt a shift in energy as the blanket suddenly dispersed and was sucked into the wall before exploding into a large cube structure that blew away the shield from the inside, the explosion letting of small flames, one of which licked Yin's cheeks as it passed him by, before slowly fizzling away into the atmosphere leaving Ken and Yin standing face to face.“So, this is how strong you are?”, Yin said in a friendly voice, a light smile on his face.“This is nothing, I'm as strong as sun don't forget.”, Ken replied, returning the smile only his was filled with confidence mixed with a slight fatigue.“Okay Kenny, I'll take your word for it.”. Yin said playfully before he turned and walked towards Cammie-Li.“This is abrupt but he's the Lanix I was looking for-”, Yin stated, pointing towards Ken with Zanuma's disapproval radiating into the air only inches away from the conversation.“So, the offer is I take him and train him, he'll be looked after and you can even come visit if you want, Sin is welcome to everybody. We could even use a weavers work if you and your partner would be interested, I'll have my friend Harvey contact you with some designs and ideas?”. There was a silence in the air for a moment before Balryu walked out of the estate towards Yin before taking his hand and bowing his head.“Thank you, that would be an honour. Look after him, he's a lot and his radiance was more than we could ever nourish. I look forward to working with you but please just guide him well.”.Ken heard his father's words and faltered for a second, a wave of anguish flooded inside of him for a moment before he looked at his father, whose eyes were fixed on him partnered with a smile that communicated everything that needed to be said and with that Ken steeled his resolve.“So, I'm going with you then? Let me grab some things and I'll be ready as quick as possible.”, he said, his excitement apparent in his voice as he rushed into the house to begin packing his things. The encroaching freedom exciting him more than he had ever been before causing him to stuff his belongings and decorations into his bags and a singular box as he could hear Yin appeasing his mother who was contesting the decision but when he returned downstairs he could see that his father and Yin had managed to win her over. His uncle had now scuttled away after his embarrassment. Ken imagined he had run away to one of his training centres to refuel his confidence with the praise of others who knew no better.“Come on then Flame boy.”, he heard Yin say as he was thinking of his uncle's departure.“I'd prefer Sun knight over Flame boy thanks.”, Ken replied as he went to his mother and father, hugging them both and squeezing his father a little tighter than he ever had before and then broke into a slight jog to catch up to Yin who had begun walking down the street already.“Okay Kenny, Sun knight it is.”. Yin said as the two began walking side by side-“What's Faltochi like? What does Sin even do? Are there any other fire wielders?”, Ken asked as his excitement began to get the better of him which caused Yin to snigger before he replied.“Faltochi is a work in progress, and we have some flame manipulators, but they aren't really combatants. We'll work on the Sin stuff later but if Free asks you want to join, okay?”.“Who's Free?”-“Somebody who I'm sure will understand my acquisition of another stray”.“I'm not a stray. I'm free.”, Ken replied, as the clouds that had covered Lincoln's sky began to disperse, revealing the sun shining bright in the distance.
Every flame is born from a spark, the flames strong enough to warm the world sometimes need a little help to ignite them before they can nurture future sparks.
Remoras Full Intermission III: Limitless Potential
Life at the hospital would be boring except that it was a sort of routine where I was in a constant daze and I would forget that I was ever bored at all. Few interesting or exciting things happened, just slow moving developments. Physical therapists helping me heal my leg. That sort of thing. Lying in a hospital bed. Getting some bland meal that was neither great nor gross enough to complain about.
There wasn’t really anyone my age to talk to, either. It was kind of lonely most of the time. Cafeteria would be near empty. Just a few people, if anybody at all, at any given time. Several spaces away, each with their own business.
That wasn’t quite true: There were waiting rooms. There were families. There was a ward in the hospital with people around my age, a ward I had no place being in, but sometimes I would see people from that ward. I’d hear their conversations.
“Dr. Marill can suck my jorts!” One teenage boy with dark sunglasses and a leather jacket declared while pointing finger guns at no one in particular.
“I swear, if I hear one more rant of her picking apart everyone’s flaws, I’m going to vomit, inhale it back up, and hold it in until I see her again so I can spew it all over her,” a girl with red curly hair grumbled in what sounded like a Welsh accent.
I assume she’s referring to Marill. But sheesh, is Marill really that bad?
“Marill is a B-I-T-C-H!” One girl stood up on a chair and sung out in an operatic voice.
“Get down from there, Isabella! You’re going to get us both in trouble...somehow!” The Welsh (I assumed so) girl rasped.
“No-o-o-O-O!” Isabella sung once again. For what was supposed to be “operatic” it was clear she was very off-key, no matter what key in question she was trying to hit. It was like she missed every single key and then some.
“Please, Isabella! If you sit back down, I’ll give you my Snickers bar!” A short, dark haired boy pleaded with Isabella. Hey, he looks kind of like me! And about my age, too! I’d guess he’s, like, 12? I thought, and bounced my leg in excitement.
“Yay! Snickers!” Isabella cheered and sat back down. “Thanks Rayner, you’re the best! Or maybe second best! Maybe even third!”
“Yay! I’m one of the best!” Rayner cheered as well.
They seem to get along just fine, I couldn’t help but think.
I then realized that there was a whole group at the table with Isabella and Rayner. While the cool edgy kid sat at a table by himself and pointed finger guns at every which way, the table with Isabella and Rayner was quite full. Besides the Welsh girl, who was to Isabella’s left, and Rayner to Isabella’s right, there was a fourth girl next to the Welsh girl. Like the Welsh girl, she too had red hair, though hers was more straight, and a lighter shade. More like a pink than a pronounced red.
She moved her hands real fast and I couldn’t quite tell what she was doing, but I heard the Welsh girl respond.
“Oh, Fleur, you’re too cute!” The Welsh girl smiled real wide. Then I saw both of them make heart shapes with their hands and press them together.
Oh! It must be like sign language or something!
“Psst! Eirian! What’s Fleur saying?” Isabella tapped the Welsh girl on the shoulder. In return, Eirian glared.
“She’s saying that she and I are in love,” she gave Isabella a stern talking to.
“Can I be in love too?” Isabella asked and leaned her head in.
“I don’t know, can you?” Eirian seemed rather annoyed.
“Hmm...I’ll think about it after a nap! I’m still pissed at Dr. Marill!”
If I had to pick any two to make friends with, I’d have probably said Isabella and Rayner. While Isabella looked a little older, she had a great deal of energy that was apparent from the get-go. While Rayner was probably as old as me, something I couldn’t really say about the others as they all looked way older (while still not being adult or anything).
Oh, but they’re in a different ward than me, and I’m not going to be here for very long, anyway, my bummed out thoughts began to march in. Not to mention once I’m free, I won’t be able to see them again.
So it would have been useless. But even something like a temporary friendship wasn’t too bad, because just a little bit of company while I’m healing would have made a world of difference.
Well...I’d say I won’t be here much longer, but my physical therapist, Dr. Nevrand, isn’t a very good physician.
Just the other day, she wanted me to try to hold on to two rows of bars and try to walk through them best I could, but before I could even get going, she jumped in place and looked away.
“What’s wrong?” I looked up and asked. She still wouldn’t look my way, but she answered.
“I saw a spider next to where you’re standing. I don’t do well with bugs,” she stated and coughed into the collar of her jacket.
“How big is it?” I asked, as maybe it wasn’t a big deal.
“I...er...can’t remember,” she struggled to get the words out. I looked down and didn’t see a spider under my feet, though I saw a small black one scurry away a good distance away from me.
“Um. It’s gone now,” I told her. She looked toward me, and I caught a glimpse of her stern face with her slick, dark purple pixie cut hair. Her face was red, probably still a little terrified of the poor creature.
“Shall we continue, then? N-No. We shan’t. I still have that bug etched into my memory,” she shook her head and walked off.
“But what about my physical therapy?” I called after her.
“On the morrow,” she gave her reply, one arm in the air, and I was left in a disastrous confused state.
...Anyway, much like her and the spider, I too wanted to erase the other day from my memory. Most of the time, she was great at her job. Tough, but fair.
Right now, I want to focus on the now. And the now is focusing on this group, I told myself, but before I could get back into ‘the zone’, I heard a gravelly voice:
“I’m no psychic, but I get the feeling you’ve been listening in on our conversations.”
I looked around until I saw who was already right in front of me: a messy brown-haired girl in a red hoodie and super baggy red sweatpants with her arms crossed and a serious disgusted look on her face.
“Um. Me?” I pointed to myself.
“Yeah. You. I don’t like to talk to others, but I can’t help but point out that eavesdropping is rude. None of us are here for your entertainment,” she continued to lay the verbal smackdown.
“Oh. Sorry,” I looked down in shame.
“Whatever. If you want to sit next to someone, just ask,” she shook her head and groaned, then sat a few tables away from me, by herself.
“Whoa, whoa, Therese. Take it easy,” Dark Sunglasses guy waltzed on over to the one who had scolded me. All the while he continued to wave around finger guns with each step he took.
“Do you have to do finger guns all the time, Johnny?” She also sounded ready to tear into him.
“My fingers have a mind of their own! I don’t control the fingers, the fingers control me! Aye!”
She shook her head and slammed it against the table. It was then that I decided to take her advice and got my crutches up and hobbled on over to Johnny and Therese’s table.
“Hey, can I sit next to you guys?” I asked them.
“Ayoooo! We got a taker!” Johnny pointed both finger guns my way and waved them. “Why don’t you have a seat over here?” He pulled out a chair next to Therese and gestured for me to sit.
“No. Please. I didn’t get any sleep. I just want some time alone,” I heard Therese’s muffled pleas.
“Now, Therese. How many times do I have to tell you? You won’t meet any cute girls with that attitude. Or boys. If that’s what you’re into,” Johnny seemed to delight in teasing her.
“I don’t want to meet anyone. I just want a decent rest for once,” she complained once more.
“Eh. Ignore her,” Johnny shrugged, then continued with the finger guns in my direction. “Kid. What’s your name? You probably know all of ours now, so the odds are stacked against us. But if I know yours, then I’ll have some leverage over you.”
...What? I wanted to ask, but instead blurted out my name.
“Cyril,” I told him.
“Huh? What kind of name is that? ‘Sigh-real’?” He totally wasn’t as cool as he made himself sound.
“Well, what kind of name is Johnny?” I asked back. In all my 12 years of existence, never have I once heard of someone named Johnny.
“Good question. I didn’t choose the Johnny life. The Johnny life chose me,” he lowered his head in shame. For added measure, he lowered his glasses. Underneath I saw droopy green eyes. They looked all watery, and there were dark bags underneath.
“All right, all right, all right, kid. Now, how old are ya?” He raised his glasses back up and tapped on his left shoulder with two fingers from his right arm.
“I’m 12. What is this?” I meant to say ‘group’ or even ‘ward’ but the missing word just escaped me.
“Take a wild-ass guess, mother-friendo,” Johnny flashed a slick grin.
“Johnny. Watch it with the fucking language, dude,” Therese scolded.
“Um. I don’t know,” I couldn’t really guess. Seemed just like a fun group of teenagers to me.
“That’s no fun! C’mon! Guess!” Johnny put the pressure on.
“Mental. It’s the Mental Ward,” Therese groaned out an answer.
“Mental?” I asked.
“Yeah, dude. Therese and I got depression, but I got the cool kind while Therese is stuck with the boring kind,” he shook his head while smiling all smug-like.
“Johnny! The only person I want to talk to about my mental health is Dr. Fam. Don’t go blabbing about what I got with strangers, you ass!” Therese lifted her head up and snarled at Johnny.
“Ah, that Dr. Fam. He’s a real one,” Johnny nodded along, unfazed by Therese’s scolding.
“He’s like the only family I have. Considering my biological family tossed me here after my last nervous breakdown.”
“Yeah, and I was pretty much diagnosed asshole at birth, which is why I’m here,” Johnny explained, which didn’t really explain anything.
Johnny seems like he tries way too hard to act cool, or to act like a jerk, and he’s probably just using that as a mask. Also, poor Therese. She just wants sleep and Johnny keeps bugging her. I don’t really want to bug her, either. I want her to get some sleep.
“I wonder what I’d have to do to get myself locked in my room for a day...whatever it is, it’d be worth it just to get some peace and quiet…” I heard Therese mutter.
It wasn’t long until they all got up and headed toward the double doors on my left which I assumed lead to the Mental Ward. Meanwhile, I went back to my room on the right end side of the hospital, crutches click-clacking along the way.
Only a few days later, I was alone in the cafeteria. It was still hard to walk around. Worse that Dr. Nevrand wasn’t always reliable. Sometimes she’d say, “I swear I saw a cockroach on the way over. We can’t do this today.”
There was no Mental group. No random sick or injured adults. No visitors. Just me, alone. It wasn’t so bad, though. I had pudding. Pudding and banana slices. Pudding, banana slices, and macaroni salad. Also, a cup of apple juice. All the good stuff.
Despite my lonesomeness, I wasn’t alone for long. No, some tall, strange woman with short, blue hair sat down next to me with a sandwich on her plate. She began to bug me. Out of boredom or mischief, I couldn’t say.
“So, what are you in here for, kid?” She asked.
I was busy eating, didn’t really pay much mind to her, and didn’t even think she would speak. Needless to say, I was startled. Flinched, even.
“I broke my leg,” I told her.
“Yeah. That’ll get you time,” she said back. No doubt, she was a weird one. How she talked about this place like it was a prison and such. She even went as far as to say, “listen kid, if anyone gives you trouble, you come to me and I’ll handle it.”
I really didn’t think anyone would give me trouble. Well, maybe Dr. Nevrand. She really had to get over her fear of bugs. Still, when I tried to tell her that it wasn’t necessary, she wouldn’t hear it. She just walked away.
...OK. That was weird, but weird patients wasn’t anyone new. She was pretty, I had to admit, but it didn’t really mean anything to me. Really, I would’ve forgotten all about the encounter, save for the fact that the very next day, she sat next to me again.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Oh, it’s you,” I was once again surprised. That, and a little disappointed not to be seeing any of the Mental kids. I suppose I didn’t mind too much. In a strange way, my second conversation with the weird blue lady made me think of Therese. Maybe those two were similar in a way.
She asked me how long I was there for and I told her that it would only be until my leg healed up. Then, I decided to ask why she was there. Like a courtesy. Part of me wished I hadn’t.
“Got in a fight. Someone tried to kill me,” she stated. All straight and plain. As if it was no big deal.
“Oh wow. That’s terrible!” I couldn’t help but tell her. I couldn’t imagine what that was like. It must have shaken her. Even though I didn’t really know her and she was a little weird, I was glad that she survived.
“It’s life,” she just said.
“It’s still bad! I’m sorry you went through that.”
“Be sorry over things that you’ve done. It makes things easier,” she sounded less weird than last time and more kind of...sad? Or like she was trying not to be sad but still was.
“Hey, what kind of things are you into?” She asked, probably to change the subject. I was happy to talk about anything that would make her happier too.
“I like basketball, that’s how I got hurt. I fell on the mat. I also like Dungeons and Dragons, but I don’t really have many friends to play with. I keep trying to get Isabella and Rayner to play it with me, but they’re not very interested.”
She reached down and pulled out a Nintendo Switch. I was surprised that she even had such a thing.
“The game that’s in here has dungeons and dragons in it. Maybe not the upper case kind, but you might still like it. You can borrow it until you’re all healed.”
“Whoa! Really?”
“Yes. What did I just say?” She sounded confused.
I took the Switch and whatever game was in it and from then on, my whole perspective on her shifted. Yes, she was still Weird Blue Lady, but now I knew that she was nice too.
For much of the rest of that day, I stayed in bed and played hours upon hours of the game. Byleth was, in a word, cool. He’d just swing his sword any which way and slice up bandits. Then there was the church academy! It was so big and everyone there was so cool, too! I think I really liked Leonie and Felix, and maybe Dorothea, too! Swords and swords for days.
But then there was the church staff! They were the best! Shamir was pretty cool and had a whole air of coolness about her (now that I think of it, didn’t Dr. Nevrand look a lot like Shamir? Odd, huh? Sucks that Dr. Nevrand isn’t as cool and is just a scaredy cat when it comes to bugs). Catherine was big and strong and had swords! Swords were the best! Then...Manuela. No one even came close to Manuela. Not because she had swords or anything, but because she was nice and funny.
Manuela was the nicest and funniest character ever and she was really pretty, too! Not only that, but as a nurse, it really felt familiar having her in the game. Like I could totally picture her being a nurse in the hospital I was in. Hell, I’d love it if Manuela was a nurse in this hospital. I’d want to stay forever. I’d break my other leg just to see a real life Manuela.
I have GOT to tell Isabella and Rayner about this game. I just know they’d love it. Maybe they would want to play it, too! Ugh. When am I going to see them again?
That I couldn’t say. Maybe in a day or two. Maybe never again. That was the tough thing about being in such a place for only a short while. I guess it was just like Weird Blue Lady said: “That too is life, I suppose.”
Even though she reminded me a bit of Therese with the way she was kind of sad sounding and not in a very good mood, she also reminded me a bit of Manuela because even though she was weird, she was also nice! Not only that, but wise, too. I guess I should have known better than to judge a book by its cover. There were probably many great things I could learn from her.
Speaking of learn from her, I saw her just the very next day. It was actually kind of exciting, something I didn’t think I’d be thinking. But it’s true! She gifted me something wonderful, and even if I need to return it, the fact that she let me play it at all was truly special.
It’s just a shame that I didn’t get much sleep, as I spent most of the night playing the game and trying to get through the story.
Just like the past couple of encounters, she walked up to me, but this time, I was ready. I looked up and smiled real wide, unable to help myself.
“I’ve been playing lots of the game!” I was overjoyed to tell her.
“Yeah? How is it?”
“Great! I’m not very far in it, but everyone’s so cool!”
I started telling her about my favorite characters and how much I love Manuela and she agreed that Manuela was like a friend! I couldn’t be happier, really. But in the height of my excitement, I began to notice how unexcited she was. Like, she was trying to force enthusiasm but her inner-Therese was showing.
Now I’m starting to miss Therese, and I didn’t even want to be friends with her. At this point, I think I just miss all of the Mental kids.
Then, she revealed the truth that shattered me to my core:
“Look, I lied yesterday. Someone else didn’t try to kill me. I tried to kill me.”
I felt a lump grow in my stomach and the color on my face drained. Everything around me started to turn white, or some gross mashed potato-like mush.
“Why?” I asked, already afraid for her.
“Because I’ve never been alive to begin with. I failed last time, but I’m going to try again. This time I’ll make sure it’s permanent.”
She left after that. It was too much. As young as I was, I wasn’t dumb. Not like other adults might have assumed of me because of my age. I knew that she wasn’t happy. It wasn’t right. She was such a kind, gentle soul. Even if she was a little weird.
To hell with crutches. I was probably going to leave the hospital soon anyway.
I got up out of my seat and felt instant regret. I wanted to chase after her, as she already left back for her room, but my leg was still in too much pain. My cast wouldn’t allow for much movement anyway.
Oh, fine! I’ll take these stupid crutches. But I’m going to find someone. Someone who can save her. She’s too precious even if she doesn’t think so herself.
I tried to move around with those finicky painful things and find whoever doctor it was that saw her.
At the front desk with the receptionist and a nurse or two, I piped up to get someone to listen to me.
“U-Uh! Hey! Hey nurseperson!” I hollered.
Not a nurse, but the receptionist, wheeled her swivel chair in my direction and I saw the old and gray sweetly lady with a nametag that read Miss Direction.
“Aw, how cute. How old are you, little boy?” Miss Direction asked, talking in that grating granny voice.
“Shut up, I’m looking for a doctor!” I barked.
Everyone around all gasped, like it was some shock. Look, I wasn’t some toddler. I was over the age of ten. Older than eleven, in fact. I wasn’t about to be babied by anyone.
“What for?” Miss Direction, straightening up her jaw, no longer smiling, instead fixing up for a scowl, asked.
“A patient! What else? I need to know who’s in charge of weird blue lady!” My words were rapid fire, almost like a blazing inferno. Jeez, these medical people probably don’t deserve to be yelled at, I had a sudden thought, and I guess it was my brief glimpse of maturity shining through, as I added, “sorry about the rudeness, it’s just important!”
One of the nurses just shook their head.
“Sorry, that information is confidential.”
I wasn’t about to be deterred by some patient-doctor confidentiality.
“You don’t even know who I’m talking about! I just wanna talk to her doctor!” I countered.
“You can tell one of us and we’ll pass the message along,” the other nurse informed me. Some guy named Nurse Dilf.
“Come ooooon!” I tapped my crutches against the base of the desk.
“’Sup?” Some bored looking woman wearing green scrubs with a lollipop in her mouth asked. Her voice sounded bored too.
It kinda reminds me of weird blue lady’s tone of voice.
“Who are you?” I asked right back. Unsure why some doctor would go about asking me what’s up. As if I knew.
“Dr. Cole-Slaw. One of the doctors of all time, if I do say so myself,” she introduced herself in a rather flat tone. Again, bored sounding. Maybe if she sounded more excited, she’d have been talking herself up as if she were a big deal.
“Do you know who weird blue lady’s doctor is?” I asked her.
She shrugged, then took the lollipop out of her mouth. I think it was watermelon flavor, based on the color and smell it gave off.
“Describe her to me, kid.”
“She’s...uh...tall! And has short, blue hair! And is weird! A little bit! But, uh...she shakes a lot, too?”
“How so? Like Parkinson’s?”
I didn’t know who that was.
“No, like a chihuahua!”
“Yeah, figured. She probably feels cold all the time ‘cause she’s an anxious mess.”
I paused. She just said that all matter of fact.
She shrugged again.
“Also, cause it’s the arctic. But that’s neither here nor there.”
“You know who I’m talking about, don’t you?” I leaned in.
“Yeah. She’s my patient. That’s why I said ‘sup.”
“Why didn’t you tell me in the first place?!”
“Because I figured you’d get right to the point.”
“I’m worried about her!” I just about pouted out. It was undignified of me, but these were desperate times.
“What for?”
“Because...because…” I looked around. I didn’t want to violate any privacy things, but it was serious...ugh. I didn’t know how to approach this.
“Is it life threatening?” She asked.
“Yes..no? I think it is!”
“Here. Let’s go to my office.”
She walked off.
I stood there for a second, until I snapped out of whatever random space out moment I had and charged forth with crutches in hand (don’t ask how that worked).
Her office was a little down the hall, then to the left. Then another left. Then another left. Then in a little room that looked like small enough to be a storage closet. There were brooms and mops next to her desk.
“It’s a work in progress. I actually have money. I just have whatever the opposite of claustrophobia is,” she informed me. Though it could have been that she was just trying to save face. There was no way such a serious and straight-laced doctor was that weird.
“Hmm…” she muttered as she sat down in her little chair, “would it be claustrophilia? Is that even a word? I should invent it if not?”
“Um…”
“Oh. Right. What seems to be the matter with blue’s clues?”
Why is that the nickname she gave her?
“Well...I’m only saying this because I’m worried about her, but she told me the reason why she’s here is because she tried to kill herself and that she’s going to try again! I don’t know what kind of life she’s had but she’s a kind and gentle soul and she deserves to have a good life!”
“...Are we talking about the same person? I mean, I don’t disagree with that last part, but ‘kind and gentle soul’?”
Why couldn’t Dr. Cole-Slaw see the same thing I saw in her?
“Yes, of course! Maybe you just couldn’t tell.”
“You’re probably right,” she nodded, then did something unexpected: smiled. “I’m glad that someone sees the good in her.”
“So will you help her?”
“I’ll do my best. I am her doctor, after all.”
I let out a deep sigh of relief, even if things were still uncertain.
Please be okay…
I spent a great deal of that night worried about her. In fact, I couldn’t sleep at all knowing that she could be in trouble or thinking bad thoughts or something. Besides, I still had to return the Switch to her.
Maybe if I sneak out of bed, I can look for her room and give it back to her.
It was a scary thought. Nurses, doctors, whoever, they were probably up and patrolling the halls at all hours of the night. It would have to be a stealth mission. Something I probably wasn’t good at, what with my crutches.
Damn you, crutches! Why must you curse me so?
Still, I had to try, even if there was a great chance of failure. There was a lot at stake, and if I didn’t act fast, I may never be able to get her Switch back to her.
So I got up out of bed and poked my head out from the door. Turned it both ways across the hallway. Empty. Not a doctor, nurse, or whoever else in sight.
Coast is clear, I thought. Still, my heart wouldn’t stop thumping like a jack rabbit.
I started down the hall to my right, passing each room. Then, down the way, I saw a nurse turn the corner toward me. I hid behind a trash bin and kept my crutches close by.
I peeked out, it seemed she was too busy looking over some papers on a clipboard. She turned to a bright lit room and I saw a sign above the door which read ‘restroom’.
Once again, I was in the clear, though I knew it wouldn’t last long, so I got back up in a hurry and started whispering out into each room.
“Weird blue...weird blue…?”
Each time it was a dud. With each dud, I felt the ever growing tenseness rise up.
“Weird blue…”
Then, I heard a grunt from the next room over.
“Kid, go away. Trying to sleep,” came a familiar tired voice.
“Weird blue!” I almost had to stop myself from yelling as my excitement grew. I extended my crutches out and moved to the next room over. The door was open just a crack.
“Why are you making such a commotion? Also why ‘weird blue’?” She hissed out a whisper.
“I was worried about you.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you’re still alive.”
“Yeah. Why are you so obsessed, anyway? What are you, a stalker?”
“No! You said things that worried me and besides you were the one who told me about it.”
“Well...thanks. Anyway, I’m fine. A lot happened. I think I had emotions or something. It’s all a blur.”
“Oh! By the way, I wanted to return your switch to you!”
“That’s not mine, actually. This little girl let me borrow it. You’ll have to give it to her. Anyway, let me sleep.”
“Uh. What’s her name?”
“Ass...uh...Ashtray? Ishtar?”
What...kind of name was that?
“Ass? Ashtray? Ishtar? Which is it?”
She didn’t answer. She must have gone back to sleep.
Great. That was no help. Now I have to find this Ass-Ashtray-Ishtar person, I stewed in that miserable thought, then added for positive measure, at least I’m glad she’s doing okay.
I turned away from her door and then almost fell onto the floor upon seeing someone stand almost right into my face. I leaned back and had to hold tight to my crutches just to keep up.
My heartbeat raced and at first I thought I had been caught by one of the hospital’s staff. But no, in front of me was what looked to be a white haired girl, about my age. I couldn’t quite make out what color her eyes were, or any other distinct feature. She wore a sort of dark robe over her, like a cloak. Sprouted from her back was a pair of wings, and I felt this faint sense that she could glow.
Then, my eyes focused, and the wings didn’t really look like they were made up of feathers, but several human hands connected to each other, the fingers making up what would have been feathers.
“Are you...a fairy?” I uttered the words. Yes, I knew it was silly. Me, believing in fairies, at my age.
“Yes,” she smiled, and I couldn’t quite tell what shape her lips were, just that she had them. Her voice was like a waterfall, or crackling of leaves in Autumn.
She leaned her head over, and ran her fingers through her hair. Little white flakes came pouring down.
“This is my fairy dust,” her breathy voice told me. I knew right away she was lying.
“Ew! No it’s not, it’s dandruff!”
She put her hand over her mouth and giggled.
“Perhaps.”
“So are you a fairy or not?” I asked, and then had to adjust my eyes, as I no longer saw anything resembling wings or hands or anything on her back. She just had a normal, human back. Rather than answer my question, she looked down and reached for the Switch in my hand.
“I’ve been wondering when I’d get that back. Thank you.”
“Wait...you’re Ass...Ashtray...Ishtar?”
She blinked and smiled. Blinked again.
“What?” She croaked out. It was a surprise to hear her sound surprised.
“That’s what weird blue said!”
She closed her eyes.
“I will allow to call you one of those things, but depending on which I don’t like, I won’t answer to it.”
“Ishtar?”
“Sure. Just for you, I’ll be Ishtar.”
So that means she’s not Ishtar. Great. Why can’t I meet a single non-weird kid? Or adult, for that matter?
“So you’re not a fairy, and you’re not Ishtar,” I groaned.
“But for you, I am. Both, if you want.”
“What? If you’re a fairy, can you grant any wishes?”
She tilted her head like a puppy hearing something weird.
What? I’m the weird one?
“What would you wish for?” She asked.
“So you can grant wishes?”
“Unlikely. But you can still tell me what you would wish for. I have ears, so I will hear it.”
“Umm…” Wow. I need better sleep. I’m seriously considering this? Hmm...should I wish for my leg to heal up already so I can go back to school and play basketball again? Or maybe I should wish for something really good, like for weird blue to be okay. I may never see her again, so that would probably be wise. But then...what about the Mental kids? I may never see them again either. Sheesh, this is too hard.
“I would wish...to have friends?” I tried to form the words. It didn’t really work out.
“In general?” She asked.
“No, like...well…” I did have a few friends back in school. So what was it that I was trying to say?
She leaned over and raised her arm up, then patted me on the head, as if I was some baby. In reality, we were probably around the same age.
“You will have friends. I know this because you have my fairy dust on you.”
“Ew. Ew. Ew.”
She laughed a soft laugh, then walked off. I wasn’t really sure where she walked off to, as when I turned around to go back to my room, I didn’t see her anywhere.
It might have been a bizarre way to end a night, but at least I got to experience something I may never have otherwise. For that, I was thankful. Once in bed, I dreamed a sweet dream of swords and dragons and fairies. I still wasn’t sure of many things: whether I would be friends with the Mental kids before I leave, whether I would even see them again at all. Even if I were to meet with them again, I knew it would be fleeting, a temporary friendship. But even that would be a friendship, wouldn’t it?
This is a separate chapter from the official fanfic of my Moolouch fanfic. I decided to add some of my Moolouch fic on here, so here’s something that is Xmasy. I know Xmas was yesterday, but I was spending time with my mema at that time being. So here’s my late Xmas gift to y’all. Lelouch is a cowboy throughout Moolouch and Gaara is his old friend that he barely remembers. This is a Gaara x Suzaku x Lelouch moment.
“Morning Lelouch, want to help me make fresh eggnog?” he asked softly in his ear.
The black haired cowboy yawned and mooed in agreement. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he stretched. Fixing his hair and fur, before polishing his black horns. Suzaku smiled as he left to go wake up the person responsible for Lelouch’s transformation.
Long purple lush hair flowed down to the floor. He looked like a male version of Rupunzel. Suzaku walked up to his bedside to tap his shoulder.
“What do you want?” he grumbled, still asleep.
“Just wake up Gaara...it’s Xmas morning. Besides we’ll be packed with guests for the Xmas party.” Suzaku sighed.
He opened his ruby red eyes and just glared at him. The White Knight just glared right back. Sighing in defeat as he did know that it was his turn to host the party. He started living here with them for half a year now and barely did his part. He usually was too busy keeping Geass Farms up and running.
“Fine...as host of the Xmas Party, I’ll get outfits ready first...I’m almost done with them.” Gaara groaned.
“That’s the spirit. Me and Lelouch will be making the eggnog while we wait. Rolo has the cooking taken care of, he and Lelouch prepared it last night...well most of it.” Suzaku chirped with a blush on his cheeks.
“For his boyfriend and farmer, you tend to be even more lovey dovey than normal. Has my geass power gotten to you?” Gaara scuffedly asked.
“Well I guess all geass power isn’t that bad...still this is his punishment for all that he’s done after all~!” Suzaku singsonged.
“What about me?! Why am I a English Lop?! Who’s idea was this?!” Rolo complained, tripping over an ear.
Crashing sounds could be heard from the kitchen. Rolo was turned into a English Lop bunniboi half a month ago and he was still half asleep when Gaara used his geass on him. The mastermind behind that was Nunnally.
Pots and pans clanged against each other as they fell to the floor. Rolo was making such a big mess in the kitchen. Making Suzaku think. Was wasn’t he turned into a half animal like the rest? It didn’t make sense. Him, C.C., Gaara’s workers and Gaara himself wasn’t turned. Yet Geass wasn’t effective on C.C., but did some did?
C.C. did after all keeps her distance away from Gaara as possible. Yet somehow Lelouch was able to give Gaara and a few others geass without forming contracts or having Code in general. Unless his geass got that powerful enough to allow him to do it.
“Here Rolo, let me help.” Lelouch offered, his Xmas themed cowbell rang.
“Thanks Big Brother, but what about your pectorals? Aren’t you full?” he asked, picking up a dirty frying pan.
“Yeah, well I’ve been through much worse. I may be full of milk like how I am every morning and evening, but I can handle the pain for a bit longer. Right now Suzaku is waking up Gaara.” Lelouch chuckled.
Gaara got out of bed as Suzaku walked to the kitchen to help. He had a lot of brushing to do. His hair was getting longer as time flies by, he then saw the male student outfit in his basket. Furrowing a brow as he held up the shirt. Frowning as he dropped it back into the basket, he put on his usual outfit. Gaara’s fashion looked like he jumped out of a pop singer poster.
Well he is a pop singer, but he quit his boy band once they used him for his geass. He removed their half animal traits once he found out why they wanted him as their lead singer. They wanted to be popular on looks alone and not anything else. Gaara was a great singer, but got driven into madness once he lost his best friend Lelouch when he was sent here.
He’s been turning others into animals with his geass power ever since he’s received it when Lelouch used his on him to be a distraction to keep Suzaku at bay. That was how Haunted Badboyz transformed into Aniboyz. Aniboyz vanished once the band broke up. Now he’s in charge of Geass Farms. He turned the rest of Aniboyz into his livestock once they begged for him to come back.
Lelouch then found out after he and Suzaku ended up as new employees of Geass Farms. He then offered to become a pop singer for his new band if he was up to it. Lelouch has always wanted to be in one ever since childhood, before his mother’s death. Gaara liked this new Lelouch that he’s made, Lelouch loved his new self too. Helps him out on relaxing, even though he ends up horny at the same time.
“Ready Lulu? Or should I say Merrymoo?” Suzaku asked in a teasing manner.
Lelouch’s cheeks flushed and his black soft cow ears lowered. His black cow tail swayed in embarrassment. He was wearing his Santa cowboy costume that Gaara made for him last month. He got it for a birthday present. The red short turtle tank top outlined in white faux fur, to the red and white faux furred short shorts. It suited him, he was even wearing the matching gloves and thigh high socks.
His bell was festive as well. Gold and silver bells with mistletoe themed bell. He wore a Santa hat and boots to make it look like he was the Santa of bovine. His horns shone in the sunlight as the sun was still rising. They poked through the fabric of his hat, well there was holes cut into it to make room for them. Rolo blushed as he looked so cute as a cowboy, he was jealous that he’s one and not like him, a bunniboi.
Rolo grabbed a bucket from one of the cupboard near the fridge. This is the only thing he can’t drop without tripping over his knee-length rabbit ears. He then hands it to Suzaku, who places it before Lelouch on the counter. Sighing as he then grabbed a carton of eggs and heavy cream from the fridge. He then searched through the spices for the nutmeg and cinnamon and of course, sugar.
They looked at each other and then at Rolo. Lelouch looked down at the empty bucket and then his milk filled pecs. Suzaku noticed how down in the dumps Rolo was now. It’s always has been him who got to milk Lelouch and nobody else. Now he saw the problem, everyone that knows of their love life and new jobs at Geass Farms were interested in learning something new. Lelouch then knew what Suzaku was thinking just by looking back at him.
“Go ahead Lulu, he’s never tried it before. He deserves to learn how in case I’m too busy.” Suzaku whispered.
Lelouch’s eyes full of love and understanding as he nodded.
“No that’s brown sugar...where is it?” Rolo sighed as he fiddled around in the pantry, searching for sugar.
Lelouch bumped his hip lightly against Rolo’s hip. His bells ringing as he did so, this caught Rolo off guard. He yelped as he tripped over his ears again and then, boofpt! Flour flew everywhere, making it look like it snowed indoors. Suzaku was laughing at how cute this was to see them together. A whirring sound could be heard. It was Nunnally, she had finally woken up.
“What’s all of the racket about Suzaku?” she asked.
“Well good morning Nunna, your brothers are goofing off is all. Also Merry Xmas Nunnally, want to help me or Gaara out, while these two make the eggnog?” Suzaku smiled softly.
“Sure thing, I need something to do anyways. Oh is the eggnog made with my brother’s milk again?” she asked with a cute mew.
“Indeed it is, it’s nice to have fresh milk on hand without bothering to go grocery shopping.” The White Knight chuckled.
Lelouch’s cheeks flushed again as he heard their conversation. Rolo’s eyes widen as he spotted Lelouch’s stomach. It wasn’t flat and smooth like always anymore. It was a bit more lumpy than normal. Lelouch placed a finger over his lips and winked. Rolo started to tear up as he knew what was happening and why he hasn’t told anyone yet. He was four months pregnant.
Nodding as he understood now why his older adoptive brother has been acting the way he has, it was due to him being pregnant.It also explains the extra milk over the past three months. It’s an unexpected Xmas present for everyone, including Suzaku. But what would his reaction about this all might be?
Lelouch winced in pain as his pectorals filled up more with milk. His shirt was getting even more tighter by the nanosecond. Even though the fabric was meant to withstand it after his pectorals got full, it wasn’t meant for leakage or with extra filled pecs. Rolo dusts the flour off of himself and then took his hand.
Lelouch pulled him up and dusts the flour off of himself as well. Now would be a good time for some relief or else Gaara might get pissed if he ended up with Mastitis or see his seamstership ruined. It took Gaara a week to get the outfit done, he loves to sew by hand. Once they were both done dusting the flour off themselves, Lelouch leaned over the bucket.
Rolo seemed nervous, because this’ll be his first time milking his older brother. Lelouch then carefully took off his bells and top. His nipples leaked a tiny bit of breast milk from the softest touch. He’s used to this by now, he then gently grabbed his tiny hands. He placed them onto his pectorals, shivered a bit from how it felt good.
“It’ll be ok Rolo, I’m here to help through the process. J-Just be gentle...alright? Ready?” he asked.
“B-But I don’t know t-the r-” he was cutoff by Gaara taking a snapshot of them.
They both blushed as they spotted him. “G-Gaara!!” they stuttered in perfect unison.
“Sorry, but this is what Milly wants. She’s coming by for the party after all.” The Emo Vampire Of Pop shrugged, holding the camera.
“Really? Even after what happened...?” Lelouch asked his ears perked.
“Yeah, of course she forgave you, Your Majesty.” Gaara chuckled as he liked how cute the 99th Emperor of Britannia was.
Lelouch blushed again as he forgot that he’s still the Emperor of Britannia. His older brother Schneizel gave him the throne after finding out why he was Zero and why he has murdered their father and remurdered his mother. He hasn’t been arrested again or anything, but he wanted to see how well he would do as the new Emperor. He didn’t want to have the throne like the rest of his siblings, yet someone had to be Emperor or else everything would go into ruins or chaotic.
He forgot that he even invited his family over to the party. Sighing as he knew that Zero Requiem would be no more, now that he’s busy fixing Britannia and trying to gain other nations trust while help fix their cities and such that was destroyed. He wanted the Zero Requiem, but this is fine too. Also he doesn’t want his unborn children to end up going down a dark path like how he has.
Shaking his head to clear it as he then rubbed Rolo’s hands against his pectorals. Rolo caught on and started to message them. Moaning softly as he let him message his painfully full chest. Once he was done, he had to lean over the counter again. He taught his little brother how to milk him. Nodding again as he then grabbed his nipples to relieve him of his load.
“M-Mooooooooooooooo~!” Lelouch mooed in glee.
“W-Wow this is amazing! I’ve never knew how fun this could be!” Rolo laughed.
“Sounds like Rolo’s having a blast. I wonder if he wishes to change his animal or not. Yet I do love how cute and fluffy he can be the way he is.” Suzaku softly chuckled as he eavesdrops on them, speaking to himself.
Squishy, squish, thick, thack. Lelouch was swaying his tail in glee as Rolo got the hang of it within a matter of seconds. Milking him in a good rhythm and not rushing things. His milk sploshing into the bucket as he moaned in pleasure. Blushing per usual as he loved it. Mooing and moaning as this made Rolo blush. His moos were so cute that he wanted to hear them more often.
Once the bucket was full, Lelouch grabbed another one. They then looked back at the doorway to the kitchen as they heard a knock. It was Rivalz, he had a few tins of butter cookies with him. Seems like guests were arriving earlier than expecting. He then smiled with a blush on his cheeks as the scent of Lelouch’s milk drifted under his nostrils.
“Need help?” he asked, swaying his mouse tail.
“Yeah that’ll be great. Mind separating the yolks from the whites?” Lelouch pointed to the eggs.
“Sure thing Merrymoo. Oops...I mean Your Majesty.” Rivals apologized as he bowed.
“No worries, we’re friends after all. On top of that it’s Xmas, so no need to be sooooooooooooo formal!” Lelouch mooed.
Rolo shrugged with a sheepish smile. “S-Sorry...” he apologized.
“It’s fine. Just warn me when you’re going back to milking me. Scared the crap out of me.” he chuckled.
“You two are so adorable together, even though it’s milking time for Lelouch.” Rivalz complimented.
They both blush as Rolo’s hands continued in a steady pace. Rivalz chuckled as he then placed down the cookies to start cracking some eggs and placing the yolks into a glass bowl. Lelouch and Rolo sighed in unison as they then gone back about their business. They then filled the last bucket, so it can be used for the eggnog. Lelouch then sighed in relief as he had some left over in case he needed it for something else.
“Well I’ll be back...I need to take a shower now.” he said, putting back on his top, hat and bells.
“Yeah sure, thanks for the milk Big Brother!” Rolo chirped.
“You’re welcome, did you like the experience?” he asked, glowing.
“Yeah...it was fun. Let’s do that again someday.” Rolo smiled.
“Somebody’s jealous~!” Suzaku singsonged.
Rolo blushed as Lelouch furrowed a brow. “S-Shut up! So what if I want to swap traits with my Big Brother someday for a day or two experience!”
Lelouch’s eyes widened as he was shocked on how he felt all this time after being turned into an English Lop bunniboi. Blushing himself as he wondered what it’s like to swap animal traits for a bit for a break, for once. Gaara’s geass was capable of turn others into anything he’d like but objects and take it away at anytime he felt like it. Yet was he able to swap looks? This made everyone grin as the idea got the best of them.
Gaara was petting the Scottish Fold Nunnally. “Thank you for helping me out. The more help, the merrier.”
“No problem. Do you have a family Gaara??” she asked, purring.
“Used to, I’m the last one of the Ootori family. They either died from illness or died during the Black Rebellion...even my baby sister Maggie died before she could ever enter kindergarten...” Gaara sniffled.
“I’m sorry...I didn’t know...is this another reason why you turned me the way you did...?” Lelouch asked, his tail wrapped around his legs and ears drooped.
He was out of his shower and was now wearing his cowboy version of his royal outfit. His royal rope draped from his shoulders like a cape or blanket. He had a cowbell made to match his outfit. He was used to his new look. He then sat down next to him, to help out on sewing the outfits. Gaara looked away as he stopped sewing.
“No...it’s not your fault Your Moojesty...terrorists that wasn’t part of the Black Knights took the advantage of the Black Rebellion...naming themselves as Black Knights, but their attire was different and didn’t match the real ones...they murdered everyone, but me. I pretended to be dead as they were killing everyone in sight at the family reunion...”
“Oh...I’m very sorry that happened to you. Were they part of your family or people who had a grudge against your family?”
“No to them both...they were stealing jewelry and expensive items that they could get their claws on...they attacked any rich family that they came in contact with...my family just happened to be on their list...”
“I see...are they still out there? I kind of forgot that the Ootori’s were a family of knights that served our family for generations...being sent during that year that day had made me forget...”
“It’s fine...I got my revenge sooner than I thought...Someone recognized me and then found out that I survived. One day I was surrounded by them and well...that’s when you came in that Sutherland...I ducked for cover when you fired...it’s more of a I hate you, forgive you, and thank you really.”
Ruby red to violet orbs. Lelouch didn’t know that he had saved him from death while shooting random people and such while running away from Suzaku again during a mission. Before his own Knightmare Frame was shipped along side the Guren. All he remembered was that he was trying escape and tear things up again like how they first met during the beginning of the Black Rebellion. Now that it’s over and that he’s Emperor, he has nothing else to do but to fix everything that he’s done.
Tears formed in Gaara’s ruby eyes and he then tackled the Emperor and started to sob. His purple and red coyote ears flopped over and tail tucked. Lelouch smiled warmly as he hugged him and starts to pet him, comforting him. As he cried, he felt his small baby bump and furrowed a brow. Yet he didn’t care at the moment, he felt lonesome for being the last member of his family.
“Merry Furmas Everybody~!” a cheerful voice announced.
Everyone turned their attention to the voice and knew right away that it was Milly. Rivalz ran out of the kitchen with waterfalls for tears as he tried to glomp her. She sidestepped as he missed and landed right onto the Spruce tree. Some of the decor on it was messed up from him landing into it. He groaned in pain as the needled leaves of it poked him. They laughed as they knew how silly these two were together. It was Two Out Of Three Stooges. All they needed was a third to make the collection complete.Yet either Suzaku or the Emperor himself could be the third one if they felt like it.
Rolo came walking in and dragged Rivalz back into the kitchen to help him finish making the eggnog. Rivalz just let him, tears still falling as he was being dragged by the tail. Milly then wagged her husky tail when they left for the kitchen. She then bowed before Lelouch, before holding out a present that she dug out of one of the many bags that were filled with them. She was the git go girl, she wore a pink Mrs. Clause outfit with four Santa bags full of presents. She loved to shower others with affection even if it was gifts.
He waved a hand at her as he then had her place the presents under the tree for now. Gaara then stood back up when he was done crying for his loss for his dear family. He was the second tallest out of them all. Yet Gino and Jeremiah had him beat by 4 inches in height. Yet he was still tall for his age.
“Anyone else coming Milly?” he asked.
“No, Your Majesty. Just us old student council and new, aside from the old and the new Knights of the Round.” she answered.
“Milly it’s Xmas, so no need for formalities. It’s annoying half the time...” Lelouch groaned, scrunching up his nose.
“Sorry, force of habit. Yet it’s quite catchy~!” she chirped.
“Sorry if I’m late Yo-”
“Shut up! He wants a break from hearing it!” they shouted in unison.
The teal haired general held out a finger with his mouth agape, but then nodded and closed it. Sighs as he then walked over to him. He then saw the champagne in his hands wrapped with a big golden bow. He directed him to the kitchen so it can be saved for later. The two chatted about making a treaty with Area 5, since they’re on the list to give back the name and rights list. It was simply the roll of the dice to figure out which countries or Areas that are capable to have everything returned to them without having a constant war with them.
Soon enough Kallen showed up wearing her old Black Knights uniform and was followed in by Kaname Ohgi and his wife Villetta. Villetta was about 6 months pregnant when they arrived. Lelouch invited them as well. Only a few former Black Knights were invited, so only them came. He also wanted to congratulate them for their family that they were starting. Villetta saw his baby bump and smiled. She didn’t say a word.
She knew that he wanted to tell everyone himself once the party started. Ohgi helped her into a seat before walking into the kitchen to help. Villetta gasped as she felt the baby kick again. Chuckling as she let Nunnally feel for herself. The two chatted about how things in life were going and whatnot. Nothing but girl talk. Kallen sighed as she felt left out, yet was guilty of kissing the Emperor. They didn’t know that he was gay until he kissed Suzaku on national television once crowned Emperor.
Everyone was shocked at first and was disgusted, but as life and time went on, they got used to it. Soon there were transgender, lesbians, gays, genderfluid, and every other sexuality. His love for Suzaku has changed the way the world worked. He even made laws for everybody to feel equal in both Japan (after giving their name and right back) and Britannia. Soon everybody was happy, there was no more name calling on the Japanese and no more war between the two countries.
Lelouch has changed Britannia for the better. He even fixed the laws of Britannia by removing the ones that existed generations ago. Yet not everyone wanted to change after losing power and being claimed as an Area. Some of them were very excited about the new Emperor of Britannia. They praised his name and is now on a waiting list for negotiations for a war truce and to have everything returned to them. They accept this new world that he’s offering. They even allowed Gaara to use his geass on whomever wanted to be turned into something in his image.
They wanted to have a balance of everything now that the Black Rebellion has died down and the Black Knights are nevermore. Unless if he wanted the Black Knights to be still in his services to help out. Yet Suzaku had told him to make new Knights for the greater good instead of having his Zero Requiem pull through. Since they’re lovers it was the only reasonable thing to do after all. If the Zero Requiem ever did come into effect, it’ll break Suzaku’s heart to murder yet another person that he has feelings for and not in a friendship matter.
Lelouch is the only lover he’s ever had his first kiss with and everything. Since he killed Euphemia out of pure jealousy aside from moving his plan forward for Nunnally’s sake. Then there’s Gaara, a loyal knight without anyone to love him. Yet they don’t know that he’s been crushing on His Majesty after finding out who he was throughout the whole thing. Suzaku may be an airhead as the Knight of Zero, but he knew something was up for three whole months. Yet still doesn’t even know what his reasons are for missing a bunch of meetings with Area 5.
They waited a bit longer for the rest of what’s left of the old student council to Ashford Academy and the new. Same thing with what’s left of the old Knights of the Round with a few new members. It took Gino and Anya to get used to Emperor Lelouch. Even though he did end up murdering his family’s parents after all. But the past is the past and yet they’re shocked on how much better of an Emperor he could really be. Gaara was a new member to bother the student council and the Knights of the Round.
Lelouch dubbed him as the Knight of Eight a few days ago. He was also the new president of the student council, since Rivalz was taking his position for granted. Nunnally was now in high school and was announced as the vice president of the student council. Rivalz was graduating a few months from now and wasn’t going to finish off the year. He’s following Milly’s footsteps, but instead as a baker. He gotten into baking after learning from Rolo and Lelouch (before he became the 99th Emperor of Britannia).
“ Luv are you coming out or not? For my baby sister and the new 10th seat of the Round, you’re such a scaredy cat.” Gino called at the doorway.
“Ngh...” was the answer from the doorway.
“Wait, Gino you never told us that you have a baby sister. How is she the new seat of 10?” Suzaku asked.
“I’m the one who put her in the spot. After Luciano died during the Black Rebellion, her power as a soldier has brought her as far as to that of a Knight. She’s Nunnally’s Knight, though she’s very timid.” Lelouch chuckled.
“Luv is just a nickname that I’ve given here over the years. She’s at least 3 years younger than me. Her real name is Lovisia Weinberg.” Gino explained.
“He told me everything there is to know about her. She’s been hiding in the air force of the Britannian Forces, but moved her out once the Black Rebellion started. Since then she’s been training by herself in the Homeland. She surpassed everyone in her troop. So I had Nunna pick out her Knight. Lovisia came and yet she asked me to make her into a Knight of the Round. So I did, she chose to replace Luciano’s spot. So I approved it.” Lelouch shrugged.
“Lovisia it’s ok, no need to hide now. Nobody’s going to hurt you. Isn’t it your job to protect Her Highness?” Gino asked.
Light blond hair and icy blue eyes looked through the doorway. She was an exact image of her older brother, but with lighter and thinner traits. Yet there was a Kanji on the right side of her forehead that read ‘Hate’ in pink. Suzaku furrowed a brow on why that’s there. Gino held up his hand as he knew what he was thinking. He then walked over to her and pushed her out into view. Lovisia was growling as he did so, then it all became clear. Hate as in Demon that hates everyone. She didn’t have pupils of any kind. Her eyes were outlined with thick red mascara and eye shadow.
She looked like a pissed off Tanuki. Yet Tanuki’s masks are black, not red. Something up was going on with her appearance alone. Then again Red Panda’s had a redish brown mask, but not a scarlet red. Gino sighed as he then looked at Lelouch. Lelouch knew what he wanted, her bottle. Nodding as he pointed at the painting of Nunnally and him during the time when they were kids. He walked over to the painting and moved it out of the way. There was a safe behind it, he dialed the password. A small click and the a creaking sound came from the safe. There inside was items so valuable that they were put in it, aside from cold hard cash.
There on top of the cash was a blue glass bottle. Looked like a liquor bottle. Suzaku was baffled by the safe behind the painting and the bottle itself. But on the big glass bottle was Aztec markings in gold. He couldn’t believe his eyes as Anya closed the safe and put the painting back in place, as Gino walked over with the bottle. He the popped the cork, allowing his baby sister to use her mystical powers. To his shock and the rest of the guests there saw the liquid rise out of the bottle without anything attached.
The liquid turned out to be blood. Everyone, but the ones who know of her powers covered their noses. It smelt rotten as if it sat in there for years without being thrown out in the trash. Lovisia had this power to control blood ever since birth. She had murdered their parents after being born, leaving them as orphans. Her eyes then stared at Suzaku intensely, forcing fear into his heart. The blood then slashed at his Knight of Zero uniform. Suzaku yelped as it cut through his skin a bit. Hot blood trinkled down, but didn’t hit the floor. But floated in the air, he then screamed in pain as he felt his own body float in the air.
Lelouch looked worried, but couldn’t move. The blood whip had gotten him to, but barely.She was a Deadman, a rare being who can control their blood and someone else’s as long as their blood is mixed in. This was her Branch of Sin. The Dragon was now awoken. She was known as the Dragon Reaper. Many other nicknames could define her without her real name. Emperor Lelouch calls her Death’s Pet Dragon. Gino then quickly closed the bottle once she drained Suzaku of a bit of blood to keep the blood in her bottle fresh.
Suzaku dropped at once and was panting. “Are you out of your mind for choosing her?! I could’ve died!”
“B-But...”
“Enough Suzaku, you weren’t man enough to protect my baby sister. So Lovisia is the best we’ve got!”
“....Fine...but don’t let that monster get near me...”
“That’s my sister buster, sure she’s a Deadman, but don’t blame her for the beast that lives in her very body! She’s got more blood than the average human being! It’s due to the Blood Beast, A Dragon that sleeps inside of her!”
Gino grabbed the bleeding Suzaku up off the ground, teeth bared. Lelouch groaned in pain and tears dropped to the floor. They stopped and looked at him. Suzaku brushed Gino off of him as he hurried over, despite the pain coming from his side. He then looked down where Lelouch’s hands were guarding. He was breathing heavily as he looked up at him. Villetta gasped as she was worried too. Gaara stopped her and shook his head. Rolo heard the commotion, he too had tears in his eyes. They fear for the worst for the pregnant Emperor.
“What’s going on?! Somebody say something! What’s wrong with my boy-” Suzaku was cutoff by Lelouch placing a hand onto his cheek.
“I was about to announce this to everyone, when they were here...and now that they’re all gathered...I-I’m pregnant...with your twin boys...” he smiled sadly.
“Step aside Sir Kururugi...if I don’t fix my mistake, I can’t forgive myself...” Lovisia spoke sternly.
“No! Not what you just did to us! Get out!” he hissed.
“Let her, His Majesty might end up dying and miscarry or die with them! She doesn’t just kill with her Branch of Sin, but revive or heal!” Gino corrected him.
“I’ll be alright Suza...” Lelouch coughed as his body started to feel cold.
Hot tears spilled from his eyes as he kissed his hand, before letting Lovisia do her job. Lovisia walked over and cut her hands with the pocket knife on her thigh. She then apologize to her Emperor before slicing him in the stomach. Blood poured everywhere, but floated in the air. Lelouch’s now lifeless body floated into the air. Gino reopened the bottle for the blood in it to join. He and Anya cut themselves to help out. Suzaku sighed as he shoved his fingers into his fresh wound, screaming. Tears still dropping from his cheeks from the pain in his heart. He didn’t want to lose another love of his life, not ever again.
Trusting a total stranger with a Branch of Sin that is rarely born into the world.Yet if she could save him and the future heirs to the Britannian Throne, then he had no choice, but to trust Gino’s words. Gaara smiled as he joined in on the action. Once there was enough blood in the air, Lovisia’s eyes glowed. Soon her body ripped into ribbons, allowing the dragon inside to escape her body. The dragon was scarlet red like the makeup around Lovisia’s eyes, but had blue and golden patterns of Aztec markings along her body.
The dragon’s icy blue eyes looked at Lelouch’s freshly dead body along with the twins inside of him still. A mighty roar of sorrow and anger as she started to tear up herself. She was sorry for hurting a friend of her host. Soon the blood in the air formed the shape of a Peony flower. Suzaku was amazed on what this dragon can do, soon the flower glowed and then got shoved into Lelouch’s body at once! The blood from the people willing to help heal and revive the Emperor of Britannia alongside his unborn twins, has been cleansed and made to his blood type.
Once the glowing stopped, the dragon was gone. Lovisia was now lying in Gino’s arms. The bottle of blood was empty and laid on it’s side on the floor. Suzaku rushed over, his wound healed. He caught Lelouch’s unconscious body. He winced from being a bit weak. To everyone’s shock who didn’t part take in the blood to blood ritual with Lovisia, they saw a miracle happen. Lelouch’s stomach was now a lot bigger than what it was supposed to be. The dragon’s magic had made him close to labor than restoring him back to normal.
Suzaku blinked as he then yelped as he fell towards the ground. Rolo gasped as he then activated his geass, saving the both of them. Once five minutes was up, Lelouch was standing up and awake. Blinking as he felt the sudden weight in his stomach. Blushing on how fast the twins had grown in so little time, as if he was carrying unborn vampires. He then gave Lovisia a look as he then figured out what the cause behind it was from. He then grunts in pain again, Lovisia smiled in her sleep. She didn’t only speed up the development, but the deadline for the twins.
“Welp, His Majesty is in labor...” Jeremiah chuckled nervously.
“What did she do to me?! They weren’t due until somewhere in June!Argh!!!” Lelouch screamed in pain.
His water has broke, now that Lovisia has done her magic with her Branch of Sin. Suzaku laughed as he was starting to like Lovisia. Her and Lelouch planned this ahead of time, for their Xmas present to him. Sure he had planned the Zero Requiem with him, but changed once he got pregnant by him. So all in all that plan got out the window. It was now time for this new plan to take action. Zero’s Heirs is now the name of the plan. He carried his now Emperor in labor to his slumber chambers. Everyone went back to the party. Nunnally smiled as they didn’t need the Zero Requiem to begin with. Spilling a shit load of blood once again wouldn’t change the world, but make it worse.
Gaara then started to carve the ham and turkey in Suzaku’s place once the time for dinner rolled by. They enjoyed the feast as Suzaku and Sayako were helping Lelouch bring two new lives into the world. Rolo was happy to have two nephews into his life. He even got used to being Nunnally’s newest older brother when they met during the Black Rebellion. Everyone stopped partying once they saw Sayako walk in with a big smile on her face. The birth of two new princes was a success. Everyone was allowed to visit the new parents.
“So...what do you think of my Xmas present to you dear?” he asked.
“It’s wonder, I love them!” The White Knight sniffled as tears dripped down once more, this time with joy.
“So what are you going to new the new princes?” Gaara asked.
Lelouch smiled and looked down at his two breastfeeding children and then back at them and the father. Suzaku then changed his expression on the spot. Since nobody, but a few knew about his secret pregnancy, he had no idea. Yet he ended up crying like a baffling idiot like always. He shrugged as he then looked back at Lelouch. Maybe he had an idea what to name their two newborn sons. They did both had a bit of brown in their luscious black locks. The one with more black in his hair was the oldest out of the two. Suzaku’s rabbit tail wagged, yet his antlers kind of shed off when he was being “attacked” by Lovisia.
Even though that was the distracting of their plan to shock Suzaku. Gaara was a part of it too. He then winked at them as he then popped the cork to the champagne bottle. The cork landed perfectly into a bowl in the kitchen. He then started pouring glasses for everyone who wanted to try it. Sure some of them were still minors, but he gave them juice or pop instead. Suzaku thanked them all and for Lelouch’s best Xmas gift ever.
“Since daddy doesn’t have names for them, I guess we’ll name the oldest; Maleficent. And the youngest either Lelouch Jr., Suzaku the Second, or possibly Shiba. What do you think?” Lelouch asked.
“Maleficent and Shiba sounds wonderful. We can name the next batch after us if you don’t mind.” Suzaku chuckled.
“To the birth of our newly born Prince Maleficent and Prince Shiba!” Jeremiah cheered.
“To the new royals of the New Britannia!” they all cheered.
“Well we need birth certificates for them though.” Suzaku whispered.
“I already got you covered. Maleficent Nyx Kururugi Britannia and Shiba Love Kururugi Britannia.” Sayako chuckled as she held out the certificates.
Suzaku blinked as he then saw the handwriting and then smiled. Seems like his Emperor had them covered all this time. He then felt Lelouch gently tap him on the shoulder. He asked Sayako to hand him his son Shiba. He looked down at Shiba with a smile, he looked into his purple and green orbs.
“Welcome to the world my wittle baby Shiba. Daddy loves you very much~!” he whispered before kissing his messy brown and black locks.
Shiba sneezed and then cooed.
“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwe~!” everyone said in unison.
“Let’s open up some presents! Plus...maybe have an unexpected baby shower for me, even though I’m not pregnant anymore!” Lelouch ordered with a giggle as he burps Maleficent.
“Does this still count?” he asked in secret to Villetta.
She nods as she congratulates him again. They then brought the party near their bedroom. Once they ate until stuffed, presents opened. Lelouch yawned. He was exhausted from this fast forwarded pregnancy and from very early child birth. Suzaku chuckled and smiled. He then kissed Gaara straight on the lips, catching him off guard. Gaara blushed as he then kissed him back and then they both kissed Lelouch on the forehead. Gaara took Maleficent from Lelouch, so he can rest. Everyone then went to their guestrooms in the palace. Nobody was driving home tonight from partying too hard. Suzaku followed Gaara and Sayako to the baby room that they’ve made ahead of time.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Shiba fussed.
“Shhhhhh! Daddy’s here, so is Papa Gaara!” Suzaku cried out, rocking Shiba gently.
Maleficent was fussing too, but Gaara held a mirror to use his geass on himself again to swap his animal traits.
“I got them Suzaku. Just rest with Lulu. Also thanks for accepting me in this family.” Gaara smiled as he was now a cowboy like Lelouch and breastfed Maleficent again.
“You’re welcome, but how can you do it?” he asked.
The Animal Spirit Geass user looked at him with his left eye now engraved by his geass. His geass was now as powerful as Lelouch’s. His sky blue eyes with the upside-down geass marked eyes was filled with happiness. He then put back on his ruby eye contacts. He then burped Maleficent and changed his diaper. He then cleaned his hands before changing back into his usual coyote look. Holding Suzaku’s son again as he rocked him gently.
“Well you see...I’ve maxed out my geass while living here with you. I can swap traits with myself and others if I desire to, but every time I use my geass, I end up with a small headache. Plus Shiba needs his first diaper change.” he explained.
“Dang...” Suzaku sighed as he sniffed Shiba’s butt and then coughs.
“Dang boy, already?!” he exclaimed as he changed his poopy diaper.
“Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, Blood is spilling from your brain, Zombies gnaw you like a plumb, Piercing Cries and you will succumb, Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You will never breathe again.” Gaara sang to Maleficent.
Maleficent giggled and sucked on his big toe.
“Why are you singing songs about death to him for?! What if it gets to his head once he grows up?! We don’t need another Zero!” Suzaku protested as he tries his best to avoid Shiba’s whiz.
“Don’t worry he won’t end up like his mother. Besides his name just screams vampire to me. Suffer, Suffer, Scream in Pain, Shove your enemies guts down the drain, Werewolves howl like a bunch of cawing ravens, Ghouls gather around you like a sick haven, Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You will never see the light of day again.”
“Wow...gee hopefully it doesn’t give them nightmares.”
“They won’t, this is a lullaby that my mother used to sing to me.”
“Really? Please sing, they seem to like it.” he picked up the now clean Shiba off of the changing table, throwing the dirty diapers into the coffin shaped trashcan.
“Every well...Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, Witches will have your body burned by flame, Mummies beetles swarm and squirm, Imps will have you squashed by the feet of a pachyderm, Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You will never move again.”
“Wait...why is this nothing but a song about death? Is it them that’s dying or other people or is it both?”
“Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, Your heart can’t take the strain, Lamias will constrict you into dust, Sirens caw until their lungs bust, Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You will never hear again.”
“Hello?! Answer me! Why is this song about nothing but...death...?” Suzaku yawned himself, putting Shiba into the crib.
“Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You won’t remember your name, Tombstones of grey, Yet here you lay, Suffer, Suffer, Scream in pain, You can never go insane.” Gaara finished as he puts Maleficent next to Shiba.
He then smiles as he lifts the sleeping Suzaku off of the floor and carries him to their room. Hopping in bed next to him as he then kisses him and Lelouch on the forehead. ‘Goodnight my dears.’ he thought, before falling asleep himself.
A/N: I don’t own Hotel Transylvanian or the song Suffer, Suffer, Scream in Pain for the movie. But I do own this version of the song, since I figured it needed more added to it, so I did it for them. I also don’t own Deadman Wonderland, I just decided to add some reference from the anime/manga to make Lovisia Weinberg my oc little sister for Gino. I hope you like my two day late Snoggletog gift to y’all. Merry Two Day Late Snoggletog! Yes I’m a HTTYD fan, so what?! But anyways I hope you liked it as much as I have writing it! I might write more in the future for Code Geass! I’ll also be working on these ocs and the au for this fandom! So Maleficent and Shiba designs and such will be uploaded later on in the near future!
