FicWad

Chapter 3



Keelin thought things were over, but not quite, as she tried to dash off, she was in for asurprise. Keelin continued her dash, till she was grabbed mid-run by Chiyuki. "Alright, you come here now!" she said, tucking her under her arm and dashing off, the speed feeling nice as the wind violent slapped her face. Ren finally caught up and said, "Well, what do we do now?"

"Sit her down, tell the basics, and see if she has any questions," responded Chiyuki, not knowing what had just happened on the roof.

"Um, looking at Jean-Claude, I think he must have assumed we already talked to her, because he is all down," said Ren, "I know his quirks. Some get drunk, he drinks espresso lattes when he's down and has messed up somehow. I think he may have told her acouple of things he figured we had already said, so be warned."

Chiyuki slapped her forehead and said, "Great! Just what I needed!"

"Let's just deal with this and not bring it up to him," said Ren, "No need to get him anymore down or he just might clean up the entire city of both the bloods and the cryps."

Chiyuki nodded in agreement and sighed walking into the room, sitting Keelin down on the chair and explaining to her all she knew of the history of vampires, her exact age,(which she never told her before,) and everything about her that Keelin didn't already know. Ren was surprised on how plain she had been in this and said,"Well that was...subtle."

At that, there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" Chiyuki shouted.

Anjou walked in with Boogie-kun. He had sat in a prominent place in the master bedroom, but for some reason, she felt that he could do someone some good once again. "Do not worry, for Big Brother did not send me. However, his behavior has told me that something is happening, along with the rumor mill, and I thought that an old friend might be welcome."

She held Boogie-kun in such a fashion so that Keelin could see him. Keelin walked up to her slowly, and lightly traced her hand down the side of Boogie-kun's face. "What's his name?" she asked.

"Boogie-kun," said Anjou, "He was a friend who would listen when no one else would. He used to house a spirit that would talk back, but when I came of age, he left. However, as young as you are, he may come back, if you really need a friend."

She extended the doll to her and said, "It's time for me to put that behind me, and give him to you, because I know he can do you some good."

Keelin took him in her hands, and instantly, he started to talk. "Eh, what in the world is going on, where is Anjou?" he asked, spinning his head around and waving his hands angrily.

For one of those rare moments, Anjou's face started to brighten, and she said, "Boogie-kun! Oh, it's so good to hear you after all these years, good friend!"

"Anjou? Oh is it you!" he said as he spun to see her, "Wow your old." he said, poking her with his toy knife.

She gave him afunny look, and said, "Look who the pot is calling the kettle black! Anyway, Iwould like you to meet Keelin, and she needs you. Can you be as good a friend to her as you were to me?"

Boogie-kun spun his head around to face Keelin and whistled. "Shoot, she looks an awful lot like someone I know, (or use to know in his case,) and not because of her looks. God, Anjou, corrupt another one did you?" he asked bluntly, obviously nothing had changed about him.

"Actually, she is her mother's daughter," responded Anjou as she pointed at the Red Devil, "So, remember that when you choose to get mouthy."

The last statement was made right up in his face, with her Mona Lisa grin. Boogie-kun shrunk back from her into Keelin's arms, "I'll behave."

"Come to think of it, I don't think Big Brother has met you," said Anjou, wondering how he would react to the sight of a talking doll. She was afraid he might try to perform an exorcism. Keelin lightly petted the top of Boogie-kun's head in fascination. Chiyuki looked freaked out, and snapped, "What is that Anjou?" her hand moving to the hilt of her sword.

Anjou came up and took Chiyuki out of earshot, and said, "I used to own many dolls that had spirits in them. They used to keep me company. If you only knew how things used to be in vampire families before Big Brother came around. Karin lived in the day, and I could see her less and less as I became more and more sensitive to the sun. Ren was far older than me for him and I to get close and you know how my parents are. Boogie was the closest friend I had. Don't worry about it, though. As long as he is with Keelin, she will not only be safe, but the spirit inside her will keep her safe. I am just so glad he came back and I got to see him again."

Chiyuki stared at the doll, "You know Onii-kun is going to try to kill it if you don't explain."

"Hmm," thought Anjou, and then she said, "Then I think we should go and explain /before/they meet. I told him about Boogie-kun years ago, but I don't think he would ever have thought he would meet him one day."

Chiyuki nodded, "I still don't trust that doll Anjou-chan, but I trust you, so I guess I'll just live with it for now." she stated, sighing.

'Let us go talk to Big Brother,' said Anjou, 'I think he was just trying to be helpful, and is kicking himself. I don't think he wanted to hurt her at all."



Chiyuki nodded and sighed, walking off towards where Jean-Claude was drinking his substitute for alcohol. "Oh, Hi sis squared," he said, referring to both of them, "Come to finish dummy off?"

Chiyuki rolled her eyes, saying, "Don't take it too seriously she does that to everyone, she would have run either way."

He sighed, saying,"I use those techniques with children all the time, and with my own kids, and it never backfired like that. Plus, I thought you would have talked to her about that by this point. I was hoping to ease her into things. It is going to be rough for her. Until we can meet other vampire families or get more members to the Clan, she's not going to have many playmates."

Chiyuki slammed her fist on the table and snapped at him with her deadly stare, "First off, I don't think she cares much, and second that's what we came to talk about. Third, you expect me to think she would awaken.../this early/?"

"Chill out!" said Jean-Claude, "I never would have thought that. The only reason the Four did was because of what they are...unless there is something special about /your/daughter, I mean, considering your past..."

He left the sentence dangling. However, she slammed her hand on the table again and said,"My daughter is normal, I don't want her to have anything special, because Idon't want her to suffer because of it!"

Jean-Claude reasoned, "Look, it's not like it was before. We have friends on both sides of the Hominid world, house Amayah is no more, house Lichen has joined us, and become like us. It's not like the old days. She won't have to run. We are all here for her...as we were here for you. You know I could never stand for someone to go through the Hell I went through, that you went through."

She finally calmed, but spoke as if she was pleading with some power that be for things to change. She sighed, "I just want her to be a normal vampire, but I think she really does have some sort of weird power."

"That's not such abad thing," he said, "and besides, what about our life is 'normal' anyway?There are still some of the undead out there trying to form a new house out of the remnants. Oh, please forgive me. Remember: these were undead made from undead, which means they are weak imitations of us. I never heard of a vampire dying from being cut by silver or having garlic poured on them until we ran into that. Yet, that's what they do."

Chiyuki sighed, and propped her head into her arm, with her elbow at the bar as Jean-Claude put alittle thought to things. He then said, "But if she is something special..."he then went to the phone and called the Four, asking them to come down if they had the chance.



Chiyuki was lost in thought and decided to call over Yuriya for a Chai tea. "Chai tea, love," she asked, "Extra spicy?"

Before she could answer the four were down there, and Jean-Claude said, "Kids, I don't know if you know, but..."

"Keelin has awakened?"finished Sophia?

At first, Jean-Claude was shocked that they knew so quickly, but he then kicked himself for not remembering why. Instead, he asked, "Can you sense why?"

"Yes," Sophia said, closing her eyes slightly, "Keelin Nezumi Makka awakened early and with so much power, because even though Chiyuki is vampires like us, her genetics of undead vampire are still there, so she has the blend of an undead vampire and apureblood vampire in her. Thus, she awoke early because of her undead genetics, and didn't awaken instantly at birth because of Ren's genes... my head hurts at the rest of it, like watching a fuzzy TV screen."

Chiyuki was half listening, and then deciding to respond to Yuriya's question, saying, "I don't care either way."

"She's your daughter!" said Jean-Claude, shocked at the statement, "I would think you would care something?"

"I'm talking about the tea..." she said angrily, a sweat drop on her head, "Of course I care about my daughter!"

"Honey," said Yuriya, "You know better than to rile her."

Jean-Claude shook it off and said, "Is she like you? Is she royalty like you four?"

Sophia nodded slowly after a minute of waiting, and then continued, unable to find better words to say it, "She is supposed to resemble the undead or something like that. It really hurts to look. I think she might know this and is trying to deny it or something."

"She IS royalty!"said Jean-Claude, "Congratulations, Chiyuki, you've given birth to a Golconda."

Chiyuki nodded and smiled pleasantly, then passed out. Jean-Claude started to move, but Ren and Anjou said, "We'll get her home. Well, it looks like the 45th floor is going to be another royal suite!"

With that, they got her upstairs and laid her down.



Once they laid her down, Chiyuki shot up instantly, asking, "Holy Moses, what did I miss!"

"We brought you home babe," said Ren, "You fainted after you heard about your daughter."

Chiyuki widened and strangled Ren in her surprise, asking angrily, "WHY?"

"Ack," gasped Ren, "It wasn't my fault."

Chiyuki then smacked herself and said, "My fault."

"Baby, don't kick yourself,"assured Ren, "It happened. No one did anything wrong."

The conversation was cut short as Mickey and Sheila were trying to make her as comfortable as possible when Kannon brought in Keelin. Keelin was holding Boogie-kun to her chest tightly for comfort; it hadn't taken her long to find something in him. Her eyes shifted from person to person as she watched. Sophia smiled at her and said, "My dear cousin, there is so much about you that's special, I don't know where to begin!"

Keeling raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is going on?"

Kannon perked up, all happy, and said, "Well, you know what we four are, right?"

Keelin nodded slowly, irritated by Kannon's happy manner. Sheila was calmer, (Being about 14 by this point,) and she kneeled beside her and stroked her hair. She then said,"You are like us!"

"That would explain Boogie-kun's return," said Anjou.

Keelin stared and asked, trying to summarize, "You're saying I'm special with some strange power or something?"

"Not strange," said Sheila, "but the best of what a vampire can be!"

Keelin nodded and turned to walk out. Sophia came up in front of her and said, "I don't think you understand what this means, Duchess."

Keelin said "You're going to stop me? What if i don't want to be royalty?"

Boogie-kun then laughed and said, "You tell him human!"

"Silly doll," said Sophia, "I am not a 'he;' I am a 'she.' She is not a human either."

She then turned her attention to Keelin and said, "Whether or not you want to be, or even want to be an active part, what you are shall never go away. You are Duchess Keelin Makka, fourth in line to the throne. You are essentially a princess! No matter what you do, no matter where you go or what you become, you are what you are. We love you."

Keelin growled under her breath, but she stepped away from the door. Mickey had to interject, and said, "What are you so scared of, squirt?"

She glanced up at him, it was obvious he wasn't getting any answer and she squeezed Boogie-kun to her chest. Sheila then said, "There is absolutely nothing to be frightened about. Daddy always says that it's okay to be yourself. You can love yourself just as you are, and I think that makes you beautiful."

Anjou looked at Chiyuki and said, "I see she takes after you--we practically have to annoy the snockers out of you before you will open up. Her not talking will not help her. I fear for the city if she gets angry and runs out into the streets. She has power that she does not yet understand, or even know she has."

Keelin stared, and walked off. As she did, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "What am I supposed to do all day?"

Chiyuki shrugged, saying childishly, "I'm not as bad as she is."

Kannon said, as brightly as ever, "Because you are what you are, you may not be allergic to the sun, just like us! We can test that!"

With that, she stepped out, and came back five minutes later with a strong UV flashlight that they had used against the undead in their previous fight, and she said, "I need avolunteer."

Ren went up and stuck out his hand as she shined it on him. As it did, it started to make asmall sear mark on his hand, and Kannon took it away. Ren quickly healed that, and she said, "It's the UV rays in sunlight that does it to vampires and undead alike. But watch!"

She then shined it on her own hand with no effect. Kannon then said, "Now, all we have to do is shine it on your hand, Keelin, and if nothing happens, you can still go to school!"

Keelin stuck out her hand waiting to be shined on. She then turned on the light to see if she had any reaction to the UV rays. She stared, and nothing, just like the undead vampire her mother use to be. She stared, and nothing, just like the undead vampire her mother use to be. "Yea! That means you can keep going to school!"celebrated Kannon, "I love you so much, cousin," and she gave Keelin a hug. Keelin just stood there, a sweat drop on top of her head. "Now no one can ever hurt you, even if they wanted to," said Anjou, to which Mickey added, "We just have to teach you all of which you are capable."

Keelin sighed and tried to walk out again. Sophia said, "Where are you going, your grace?"

"A place to think,"she said, walking off.

"Chiyuki, do you know where she goes to think?" asked Anjou.

"I personally think we should leave her alone," Chiyuki suggested.

This was agreed upon, and everyone dispersed, but Sophia looked at Chiyuki and said, "Princess Regent Chiyuki, (considering that she was the mother to the new royalty,) it is good to do so, but I would not leave her alone for too long."

With that, she took her leave. Chiyuki sighed and mumbled, "I know that already."



Keelin was sitting in the middle of the woods on a branch in a high tree. As she sat with Boogie-Kun, lost in thought, she began to hear some harsh voices, "I told you, ho, give up the scratch! I know you've been holding back on me!"

Keelin's ear twitched as she listened to the conversation, bidding Boogie-kun to hush. "I told you, I gave it to you," she cried desperately, "Besides, I have a daughter-you know that! I can't let her starve!"

The sound of a slap could be heard, followed by, "I don't give a flying flip you whore! GIVE ME THE MONEY!"

Keelin jumped down at this point and glared at the man, the sound of the slap resounding in her ears, "Bakaru!" yelling the Japanese word for, "Insolent one," at him, punching him into the face, making him land on his butt.

It was a pimp trying to get money out of one of his whores. He sat there in pain, shock, and rage, and now locked his sight on the girl. "Bad mistake, punk!" he spat out, and he pulled out a butterfly knife as he said; "Now I'm going to cut up that pretty face of yours and show you how a real man treats a woman."

Keelin charged again, ripping his hand off that held the knife, completely vamped out at this point as his hand that had been pulled off landing at her side. He let out ascream like he was a woman, and he then ran off in a panic about his missing hand, and the prostitute that was watching everything stood there in both gratefulness and terror at the same time, too terrified to run. Keelin turned to face her, lightly smacking her across the face, "There are other ways to make money besides selling your body!"

That managed to loosen her tongue, and she said, 'Please, oh please, don't hurt me!"

Keelin tilted her head to the side, asking, "Why would I hurt you if I just saved you?"

She calmed down and she said, "What am I going to do now. When he gets out, he's going to go after my daughter, my family. He's got powerful friends. Some of my friends have disappeared because of him. It has something to do with the mark on the back of the hand you just ripped off."

Keelin stared at the hand and picked it up, lightly brushing her fingers over the tattoo. It was a house glyph, no question, but it was unlike any of the 12 that had been. Only house Lichen was left, but they had converted over to becoming true vampires thanks to some of the stored fount blood that still remained. It was indeed different. "What in the world?" she said, understanding this was very bad.

"Please, can I go?"asked the woman, "I have to get my daughter and myself out of this city as fast as I can!"

"Yeah." she said, shooing her.

She then ran out of there as fast as she could, seeking to make that the last night she would ever be in NYC, leaving Keelin with a great mystery.