Yo.

So this is an "alternate universe" where our wonderful OC is a de la Stella, or related to our Prince of the Stars.

Hope you enjoy.

Star

1. a luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity

Three years old

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.

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'De la Stella. Of the star. That is what people believe we're from, and we will keep it that way.

'However, we're not from the star. We're certainly not 'of the star', either. But we aren't fakes.

'No. Our rankings are accurate. Our rankings are perfect.

'But do you have what it takes to be gifted with the ranking of the stars?

'That is why you're here.

'However, one must have been born of _ Flames to have absolutely accurate rankings.

'If you don't... you do not possess our gift.

'In this case, you don't.

'Your grandmother may be disappointed, but we are sorry.

"You are not one of the chosen in the de la Stella famiglia."

The three year old's eyes widened, and the woman in front of her sighed, feeling pity for the poor child.

She wrote something down onto a paper, and handed it to her.

Still shocked, the girl took it in a daze.

Yukino de la Stella

FAILED.

Her olive eyes widened at the bold, red letters on the paper.

The woman stared at her with her head tilted. "Miss Yukino, you may leave now. We have other kids to test."

Yukino blinked. "S...sure..." Her voice was hoarse voice. She stood and left the room.

As she closed the door, she was met with the usual extravagant hallway, with the usual guards positioned there.

But there was someone else there, waiting for her.

The woman spotted her. She had been chewing on her nail nervously, and stopped chewing.

It seemed she had been waiting for Yukino.

As she walked over to the child, Yukino realized why.

She was waiting for the results.

{First Person}

Mama led me to a room, which was unfortunately mine, despite the huge amount of pink inside of it. (I don't like pink.)

As soon as she closed the door, she looked at me expectantly. "Well?"

I blinked. "Well?"

She rolled her eyes, and narrowed her eyes at me. "How'd you do, little bitch?"

I blinked again, not wanting to react. I couldn't react. Not when I failed it.

"On what?" I said instead.

She scowled. "Never mind." She snatched the paper out of my hands.

I inwardly sighed. Cover your ears in 3, 2, 1-

After reading it, she let out an angered scream and ripped the paper to shreds.

"You...! Gah! I knew it! I knew you had no use in this family, and yet Mother...!"

The door slammed open, Papa entering with a startled and concerned expression. "Alissa, Yukino! Are you alright? I heard a scream...!" Seeing me, he blinked, and then smiled, relieved. "So nothing happened..."

I tilted my head. Nothing happened? You see those paper shreds on the ground and you say nothing happened?

She growled, and glared at him. "See, Isaac?!" She grabbed the shred that had the bold, red letters on them. "This is what happens when I agree to be caring!"

He frowned. "Alissa... I thought... I thought you thought of Yukino as your kin. I thought you were overjoyed to take care of her-"

She scoffed. "Overjoyed? I was overjoyed? Ha, give me a break! I only agreed to raise her because Mother thought she was essential! But this proves that there is no point in raising her now! I don't need your stupid daughter in this household any longer!"

I blinked. What did Mama mean by 'your?' Mama's my mama, right?

Papa's frown turned desperate. "Not in front of her, Alissa. Please, we could discuss this maybe another time, when-"

"As if the child can understand what I'm saying!"

I found myself frowning. What are you saying, Mama? You told me a month ago that you were proud of me because I'm able to understand words better than a five year old... That's why I took the test, didn't I?

Papa frowned. "Alissa..."

Mama sighed exasperated, and stormed out the room.

He sighed, sitting at one of the chairs in my room.

...Mama doesn't want me here anymore.

Mama finds me useless.

Mama hates me.

I bit my lip at my thoughts, and felt tears threatening to appear. "...Papa?"

He smiled a strained smile. "Yes?"

"Am I going to be taken away?"

He blinked, shocked. He stood up, and reached for me. "Yukino-"

I stared at my shoes. "...I'm not smart anymore. I couldn't pass a stupid test, so Mama doesn't need a bitch like me anymore."

His arm froze, and his eyes widened. "Yukino! W-where... Where did you learn that word?"

I swallowed my saliva, tears appearing. "M-mama t-told me not to t-tell on Papa..."

He stared at me in horror. "She... she..." I heard him curse, and I then felt him embrace me. "It's okay, Yukino. Don't panic. You're not going to be taken away and... I'm sure... I'm sure your stepmother will accept you one day. "

I froze. "What do you mean, Papa?"

He froze.

I asked again. "What do you mean stepmother? Mama's... Mama's not my real mom?"

I felt his grip tighten around me, and then he sighed, squeezing me gently. "I'm sorry for not telling you, Yukino. You're right. Your 'Mama'... she's your stepmother."

I bit my lip. "So all this time... Ma- Stepmom never liked me because I wasn't her real kid?"

He sighed once more. "That's right..."

I hiccuped, and started sobbing.

He said nothing, just stroked my back gently while I cried.

"I'm so sorry, Yukino..." he murmured. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with this..."

"Say, Papa."

He smiled at me. "Yes?"

I stared at my shoes, and then looked up. "If we live with Ma- Stepmom now, then where's my Mama? Can we visit her?"

His smile faltered, and his expression turned sad.

I blinked. Now I regret asking.

But he smiled at me again. "Do you want to visit your mama, Yukino?"

I nodded. Maybe they're divorced!

He smiled kindly at me, and picked me up. "Alright. Let's go ask your grandmother for permission, then."

We(I say we because he was carrying me) walked through a wider hallway than the ones near my room.

The usual guards were positioned outside of the two double doors in front of the master bedroom/ office.

I say that, because it was both an office and bedroom for Nonna.

They bowed in respect to us, or maybe just to Papa.

It was only to Papa.

Papa knocked on the door, waited for the okay, and then went inside.

It was dark in the room, all the blinds closed and one lamp on.

A old, but wise looking woman, my Nonna, was writing something in a giant book. (AHEM I WONDER WHAT THAT IS AHEM)

I noticed the room was filled with thousands of books, and in the corner of the room was a Japanese futon.

Funny... I never realized how cool Nonna's room was.

"Signora Asura, it's Isaac here."

She turned around to us, and then smiled kindly. "Isaac. Yukino. What a pleasant surprise. What are you two doing here?"

He smiled. "Sorry to bother you, but Yukino wants to see her mother, I- I accidentally spilled the truth to her. Do you mind if we...?"

She nodded in understanding. "So it seems. I don't mind, go ahead, Isaac. Buy some nice flowers for your ex-wife, and tell her I said hello."

He nodded. "Thank you, Asura."

She shook her head. "It's no problem."

I blinked. Flowers? ...Isn't Papa married to Stepmom or something? Why would she approve of that?

"Oh, by the way, Isaac."

"Yes?"

"I heard from Alissa about Yukino's results of the test. I heard she failed."

"Ah, yes, that's right."

I bit my lip.

She sighed, but smiled. "About what Alissa said about abandoning Yukino, I convinced her to let it go. Yukino will still stay with us, so you don't have to worry, alright?"

"Alright. Thank you again."

I sighed in relief at this, and I smiled at Nonna. "Thank you, Nonna."

She blinked, and then laughed. "Of course, dear."

We left the room, and I tugged lightly at Papa's hair.

He looked at me.

"I'm going to stay with Papa and Nonna forever, right? Stepmom's not gonna make me leave anymore, right?"

He blinked, surprised, but the surprise disappeared and was replaced with amusement. "Of course, my little princess. I nor your nonna will never be leaving you."

I grinned childishly, and held out my pinky. "Pinky-promise?"

He laughed, and hooked it with his. "I pinky-promise."

But you know... some promises are just made to be broken.

But of course I just completely forgot about that thought in the end.

A bouquet of pink carnations.

That's what Papa bought for Mama.

As a three year old, I wasn't a flower expert, but I knew it generally meant this:

I will never forget you.

...Say what?

I had my suspicions raised up when my ears suddenly popped like we were in the mountains or something.

Just where did Mama live?

When we exited the car, I realized where we were, and I realized why Papa had been sad earlier.

We were at a cemetery.

Mama was dead.

Where did she live, I had asked earlier? Now I knew. Mama lived in heaven.

I almost choked at the realization.

Papa grabbed the pink carnations, and we silently made our way to Mama's grave.

Papa froze when we were close enough to see Mama's grave.

We were not alone, I realized, because there a woman sat, weeping.

The woman had long, silver hair, and emerald eyes.

Papa knew her.

Papa had froze as soon as he saw her, after all.

"Lavina?" he choked out.

Startled, the woman turned to face us, and her voice hitched in her throat. "...Isaac?" Then her gaze landed on me, and her eyes widened, tears reappearing. "And you're Yukino? You've grown so much since the last time I saw you, and... oh if only your mother was here to... to see your growth..."

The woman named Lavina was crying again.

Before anyone can say anything, a cheerful voice interrupted the silence. "Miss Lavina!~"

Lavina's eyes widened, and she immediately wiped at her tears. "Hayato!" she scolded like a mother. "W-what are you doing at a place like this?"

The boy looked around the same age as me, with Lavina's silver hair and emerald eyes.

I tilted my head at that. The boy called her formally... but Lavina could pass as his mom...

He grinned boyishly. "I followed you like a spy! I was wondering what you were doing at a place like this and-" He paused, his eyes widening. "Miss Lavina, why are you crying? ...Did that man right there make you cry? I'll make him pay!"

"Wait, Haya-"

With anger flashed in his emerald eyes, he ran over to Papa and was about to swing at him but I stood in front of Papa and the boy frowned at me. "What are you doing? Are you going to allow the man to continually make Miss Lavina cry?"

I frowned, and looked up at Papa. He blinked, obviously extremely confused.

"Papa."

He stared at me. "Yes, Yukino?"

"Do you mind if I go visit Mama for a bit?"

He blinked, and then smiled. "Of course." His voice cracked.

"Oi! I don't appreciate being ignored-"

"For a kid my age you sure talk too much," I grumbled.

He glared. "What you say-?!"

I stared at the boy. "I'm going to go to Mama, so there'll be no one to defend Papa. However, Papa's an innocent man, so you can't hit him anyway."

The boy narrowed his eyes. "Hah?"

Lavina cleared her throat. "That's right, Hayato. I wasn't crying because of him."

He blinked, and then looked away. "Che. Whatever."

I nodded, then walked to the grave and sat next to Lavina.

Then I stared at it.

Lili Sanguigno

A wonderful sister, daughter, friend, wife, mother, and pianist.

Her and her beautiful music will definitely be missed.

I tilted my head. "So Mama was a pianist..."

"That's right," said Papa's voice. "She really was a great pianist..."

"M-Miss Lavina is better!" the boy suddenly protested.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who asked?"

He glared.

I glared back.

Papa laughed. "They're both good pianists. Ah, that's right. Yukino, this was your Mama's best friend, Lavina. They met at a recital."

I blinked. "You knew Mama... and you know me, too."

She smiled. "That's right. I'm sorry about earlier, I... I just haven't visited Lili in a long time..."

I smiled. "I see. I understand, I was honestly going to cry too, but-" I glared at him. "He showed up and ruined the atmosphere."

He glared at me. "It's not my fault."

I rolled my eyes. "It was, but I'm not going to say anything because you'll probably just keep denying it."

"You...!"

In the corner of my eye, I saw Lavina and Papa look at each other, and then laughed.

"You two are like some old married couple," Papa chuckled.

"I'd actually like Yukino as a future daughter-in-law-" Lavina started but was cut off by us.

"What?! Like I'd actually marry him! He's stupid and annoying and I hate him-"

"-And she is rude and doesn't have any feminism in her whatsoever!" he finished.

Papa blinked, and then smiled, patting my head. "Sometimes I forget you two are just three."

I brightened. "That's exactly what Mama told me-" Then I stopped, and lost hope. "I mean... that's what S-Stepmom told me last month..."

Papa's smile disappeared, and Lavina blinked, confused.

Most of all, the boy who I still didn't know the name of frowned at me. "Ew. You're all depressed. What happened to you?"

"Hayato!" Lavina protested.

Ah, right. His name is Hayato.

He looked at my hands, and then smirked at me. "Your fingers look perfect for the piano, ya know. Hmm... maybe if you beg, I'll teach you it."

I blinked. "Huh?"

He smirked, as much as a three year old can smirk. "I can teach you the piano, free of charge, if you beg me to teach you how to play."

I blinked. The piano... If I play the piano, then.. then I can become just like Mama. I can become like Mama, who was surrounded by lots of her loved ones. The piano...

I smiled, and held Hayato's hands and pleaded with my eyes. "Please teach me the piano! I beg you! I beg you..." I blinked, and then grinned. "Hayato!"

He blinked, surprised. "Well... I wasn't expecting it to be that quick, but..." He sighed. "I did say that I'd teach you it."

I grinned and let go of his hands. "Thanks a lot, I won't let you down!"

"Hayato..." Lavina smiled. "Make sure to teach her everything I taught you, okay?"

He blinked. "Huh? Y-yeah, sure, Miss Lavina..."

After saying a few words to Mama, Papa left the carnations on the grave, and we all parted ways.

"You know, Papa... I feel like... I feel like I won't see Lavina again."

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

I blinked. "...I don't know."

He smiled. "Yukino, you're still three. Don't over think about things, okay?"

I shrugged. "Okay."

Little did I know my hunch was right.

I thought I'd explain some things.

Okay, so yes, Yukino and Hayato, despite being three, are talking like they're in primary school or something.

But that, you see, is just because they're prodigies.

Nothing more, nothing less. That's it.

Lavina's death will be postponed to a little later than shown in canon, so Lavina will pass away at Hayato's fourth birthday, not his third, him already being three.

Also, Yukino's mother had the last name of Sanguigno. For those who might've read my fanfic, Working at Takesushi, that last name was really important. Well... it isn't here. I just... ran out of Italian last names and just used that one, so it's just a coincidence that they have the same last name.

By the way, the test that Yukino took (just in case some people didn't understand the beginning) was to see if any of the de la Stellas had the power of the ranking, yet. Yukino did not fail because she was not a blood de la Stella, but failed because she did not meet the right Flame requirements for the gift.

Of course, there's more to that than just Flames, but I don't want to spoil too much yet.

Also, the reason why Yukino's sad of her stepmother's hatred towards her is because Yukino was so used to just making her stepmother happy with her achievements. Failing that very important test definitely made her stepmother disappointed in her. And Yukino being three, she's a people pleaser. But she won't stay one forever. She has Gokudera Hayato to change her, that's for sure. (*insert smirk here*)

So... Yukino has a hunch for things, Alissa de la Stella is a bitch, Isaac de la Stella is a saint, and Hayato and Yukino have budded their "friendship-tutoring" relationship.

Hope you all enjoyed,

Ally.