Reiji set the tea down before his very pregnant wife, sitting across his brother and sister-in-law.

"There were four, you said? This is only three."

"Well that's just it," Yui said softly, but Shu put his hand over his wife's shoulder, silencing her. "I'm sure you remember," he said, speaking directly to Reina, handing her a picture, "His face is almost just the same."

Reina looked from the vampire king, to the photo held in front of her, showcasing the last man Karlheinz had chosen for his Adam experiment. She paled.

"But this is…"

"That's impossible," Reiji said sharply, "He died that day."

"Then explain why he's in this photo." Shu snapped just as harshly, glaring at his brother. Reina picked up the photo, looking at the familiar, and yet hopelessly unfamiliar face. "All these years…" she looked up at icy blue eyes, "What will you do?"

"I've asked him to stay with us. He has no memory—"

"Again you will take him in as a pet," Reiji sneered, voice full of contempt.

There was a creak of a door, and the small murmurs of a child.

"Mommy?"

The adults all hushed, turning to see little Edgar under the doorframe, rubbing his eyes. Yui stood up immediately, ushering her son out of the room with soft coos and gentle touches. Shu watched her with tired eyes, not speaking until the heavy door shut behind her.

"I owe him," Shu began, "At the very least, some stability. Of the other three, one is an aristocrat, and another an idol. The third has an astounding knowledge of medicine. Yuma is the only one with no place to go."

Reina perked up. "Yuma?"

Shu sat down, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That's what he goes by now."

Reina placed her hand over her bulging stomach, looking at her husband. Reiji sighed, taking off his glasses and cleaning the lenses with the cloth of his shirt. "What did he do before now? Does he remember that much at least?"

Shu hesitated, long hair falling over his shoulders. "He was a soldier."

Reina inhaled, swallowing thickly as she looked at the King. "On which side?"

When Shu didn't respond right away, Reiji went in for the kill, eyes sharp and unforgiving. "You're bringing a former communist into the castle? At at time like this?"

"Socialist morals are in the right place. They mean well—"

"Those standards are based on a fairytale. On the blind belief that they'll acheive—what is it?" Reiji chuckled, "A utopia—"

"Reiji—" Reina began, but he did not look at her, continuing to challenge the Vampire Lord. "You'll raise your child among such a person?"

Shu held his ground, his tone unwavering. "Believe it or not, brother, I know what I'm doing. You're under no obligation to agree."

"He will become a weakness, just as he was back then—"

"It's different now—"

"Quite right," Reiji smirked, "You're a King now. The consequences will be far more severe."

"There will not be any consequences." Shu bit back.

Reiji slammed his fists against the dining table, "Don't be blind! We're in enough jeopardy as is with the—"

"Do not speak of it here. Yui—"

"She'll need to know eventually." Reina said calmly, "This involves her. It's simply the nature of her blood—"

"She will know when I decide. As for Yuma, he will take his place in this castle. I was simply doing the courtesy of informing you, not asking for your permission."

Reiji straightened, standing up and putting his glasses back on his face. "I've declared my disapproval," he said, "That is all I can do. Take care to not show this weakness to others, My Lord. Or it could be the end of your reign."

Reina watched her husband leave the room, closing the door behind him with all the quiet in the world. She swallowed, palming her stomach nervously. "Shu," she said, "Could it really be him?"

"He has burns across his shoulder and back. His scent is also basely the same, despite having been turned."

"But a half-vampire…in the castle, no less—"

"I did not take you for a bigot, Reina."

She blushed, her eyes widening, "We were all raised just the same, My Lord. You know just as well as I how difficult adjusting can be. And half-vampire or not, Edgar or not, that man is still a stranger. If you choose to put your family in danger then so be it. But you affect mine as well." Her tone was unwavering, her hand held firm on her stomach, the ring on her finger catching the light in a way that made Shu glance at it for perhaps a second too long.

"He'll be of no harm. The familiars will watch him closely."

Reina chewed the inside of her cheeks, inhaling deeply and finally taking a sip of the tea her husband had brought her. "And what of his…brothers."

"What about them?"

"Won't they object?" Reina asked, surprise shaping her brow.

"It was his decision to accept my offer. Should he choose to leave, I won't deny him."

Reina stood up, the pity heavy in her eyes as she reached out to the Vampire Lord, cupping his cheek in her palm.

"I hope you know what you're doing." She whispered, before kissing the cold pale cheeks, and taking her own leave of the room.

The wind tugged at her hair when she stepped outside, Reiji greeting her with a scowl when she entered the car. He said nothing, but signaled for the familiar to begin driving.

"It seems two hours is my limit."

She smiled, placing her hand over his knee. "I know, darling."

Reiji sighed, exhausted, putting his hand over hers, and then bringing his other over to her stomach.

"He continues to think only of himself. We—"

"Will be just fine, Reiji-san. One half-blood—"

"His blood isn't the issue. Ideas are dangerous things, Reina."

She scoffed at that, "Are you so conservative?"

"If he poses a threat," Reiji's gaze sharpened, cold and unforgiving, "I'll kill him again."

She squeezed his hand, turning her head to look out the window. "Oh Reiji," she sighed, "I don't think he'll be the worst of our problems."

Reiji said nothing, but held her hand to his knee, looking out the opposite window. "It will be troublesome, at best. What with everything—"

"But I still don't understand," she said, "Endzeit—"

"Advances have been made. Just as they always will."

"Even so," Reina said quietly, "Recovery is impossible without—"

"It will be another few decades or so," Reiji said confidently, "Their resources have been limited, and without the blood of that woman there's very little to be accomplished."

"Their gripe is not with us. It was all your father's doing." Reina said strictly, squeezing his hand.

Reiji bent down, pressing his lips to her cold cheeks, not quite a kiss but just as intimate.

"With or against, that sort of thing," he began pensively, "I don't think it will matter."

"Reiji?"

He kissed her cheek again, this time will full intent to silence her. "We should sleep, when we arrive at the mansion."

Reina turned her head, looking out the window once more. "Yes," she said, appeasing her husband, "That would indeed be best."

7 Years Later...

"Are you ready, darling?" Reina asked, having finished braiding her daughter's long black hair.

"Yes, Mommy!"

"Mother." Reiji corrected flatly, adjusting his glasses. The little girl nodded, fixing her answer. "Yes, Mother."

Reina laughed, waving her hand at both husband and child. "Such formalities among family seems a bit silly, doesn't it?"

The little girl smiled shyly, nodding her head once more to agree with her mother.

"It is necessary when engaging in social atmospheres," he explained, "Do you understand, Kiara?"

She beamed up at her father, her brown eyes shining brightly, "Yes Pap–Father!"

The edge's of Reiji's lips tugged upward, patting the child on the head. "Good girl."

"Kiara darling," Reina began, "Where is your hat?"

She hung her head, rolling on her heels nervously, "Forgive me Mother…I…lost it…"

Reina raised her brow in doubt, but was interrupted by Reiji's amused chuckle. She turned to face her husband, who had sat down on his arm chair and was motioning their daughter onto his lap. In her mind she begged him to not be too harsh.

"Are you so irresponsible as to lose your belongings?"

Kiara lowered her head, saying nothing.

With surprising tenderness, Reiji lifted the child's head by her chin. "A young lady does not hang her head so shamefully."

She gave a firm nod, "Yes, Father."

"Now," he said, "Do you find your parents so foolish as to believe their daughter would be so careless?"

Kiara chewed her bottom lip, trying to look her father in the eye, the way she had always been told to. But her father could be rather frightening, at times like these. She thought that maybe, if she had said she lost her hat, then she wouldn't have to wear it.

"There will not come a day when you can successfully deceive me. Is that understood?"

The girl inhaled sharply, her response tumbling out quickly, red filling her small cheeks. "Yes, Father."

"Kiara," Reina encouraged softly, "Perhaps you should go find it."

Kiara gracefully slid off her father's lap, making her way as quickly as possible up the stairs and towards her room.

Reiji exhaled, "A lady does not run."

Reina laughed, taking her seat gracefully on the arm of the chair. "She's not a lady, Reiji. She's a child."

He ignored her, rubbing his temple. "I do not understand her hostility towards it. A hat is a suitable and elegant garment for a girl her age. If she did not insist on being outside for so long then there would be no need–"

Reina leaned over, planting a soft kiss on his lips. "Let her be, Reiji."

He sighed. "I will not spoil her as you do."

Reina smiled, "So says the man who indulged her in…a new set of heels this time, was it not?"

"Proper footwear is required when attending afternoon tea. I will not have my daughter dressed in shambles."

"Our daughter, Reiji." Reina sighed, "Furthermore, declaring that she will never be able to deceive you…I fear for our futures."

"What do you mean?"

Reina smirked, a trait she'd picked up from her husband, no doubt. "She is your daughter is she not? Don't you think she will take it as a challenge one day?"

Reiji gave a sly grin. "If she is any bit your daughter then indeed she will."

The click-clacks of Kiara's small heeled shoes echoed through the halls, until she came into view, her red hat placed neatly on her head, the white ribbon falling elegantly over her shoulders.

Reina smiled.

"Bien. Vous avez tout?" Reiji inquired, affirming she was ready.

"Presque."

He raised an eyebrow, "Presque?"

Kiara click-clacked closer, standing on her tiptoes next to Reina. Her mother lowered her face to meet her.

"Un bisou pour Maman," she said, kissing her mother's cheek, "Et un pour Papa!" She scooched over, stood on her tiptoes once more, and leaned over the armrest to kiss her father's cheek.

"Very well then," Reiji said, standing up and collecting his jacket, "Any more of this and we will be late. Kiara," he began forcefully, and the little girl reached up to take her father's hand. "Beginning tomorrow we will cultivate your German."

She puffed her cheeks in a very child-like way. "Papa, I much prefer French."

"N'importe quoi."

Reina bit back her smile at that, taking hold of her daughter's other hand, reminding her that knowing multiple languages is indeed a strong asset. "Cousin Edgar is learning German as well," she reminded, "You two can practice together."

Kiara pressed her lips together, but nodded in agreement anyway. "Momm–Mother, when we are finished with tea, may I go play with cousin Edgar?"

Reina smiled at her daughter, before looking at her husband. "Ask your father, darling."

The girl looked up, squeezing her father's hand. "Oh, can I Papa?"

"The correct phrasing would be 'May I, Father?'" He explained, failing to look down at her.

But Kiara smiled, because though he was much taller than she, the hint of a smile that lined his face was something that was very much obvious to her.

"May I, Father?" She repeated obediently.

He granted her a single nod. "As you wish."

She bit the inside of her cheeks, trying to contain herself from squealing, because Papa didn't like unnecessary noises like those.

Holding on tightly to her parent's hands, she was led out of the house, and into the limousine. Sundays were truly her most favorite day. Papa was home, Mommy would do her hair, and most importantly…

She got to see Edgar.

But today would be different. Because today she'd finally get to meet little Eloise.

Kiara had never seen a baby before. They sure were tiny. She wasn't sure if Eloise was especially small, or if all babies were like that. And boy did she look like Edgar. They were both blonde, Kiara could tell, even though Eloise barely had any hair on her. Because babies were mostly bald apparently. But Eloise's hair seemed lighter than Edgars, closer to auntie Yui's. Kiara barely got a good look, since the little thing was sleeping most of the time, but Eloise's eyes were bright blue, just like King Shu's.

Mommy said that most babies had blue eyes though, and that they changed colors later. But either way, Kiara already liked Eloise.

She was very pretty.

But, Eloise had very pretty parents, and a pretty brother, so it made sense. All in all, a very pretty family.

At least, that's what Kiara's mother always said. But Kiara thought her mom was rather pretty as well. In a different way from Auntie Yui. There was just a certain something. Kiara didn't have a name for it. But she knew Papa could see it. Uncle Shu, too. Because sometimes they both looked at Mommy in a way that made Kiara feel like she was interrupting something important.

But that only happened sometimes.

One thing was for certain, though, Kiara thought. Auntie Yui certainly looked much better holding a baby. It just seemed like something that was meant for her, having lots of babies around. When Kiara's mom took a hold of Eloise it looked different, somehow. Which maybe it shouldn't have, but it did.

Maybe because Eloise was so blonde and pale, it just didn't match Mommy's burgundy scarf.

But all of that got boring enough rather quickly, the adults chatting away about things Kiara had no interest in, and she couldn't even play with Edgar because he'd fallen asleep on the couch by his mom and new sister. He said he'd been up all night because Eloise cries like a banshee. Kiara found that hard to believe. The baby was perfectly quiet now.

But it was boring, and Kiara hated being bored, so she slipped out, completely unnoticed, skipping down the endless halls until she made it out into the garden.

For as long as Kiara could remember, she loved visiting cousin Edgar. Because Uncle Shu and Auntie Yui had really nice servants. Kiara had servants too, of course, but none that were like what the King and Queen had.

Especially their gardener. Because their gardener was a really nice man.

"Hello, Kuma-san."

"Yuma." He corrected.

She giggled, no longer afraid of his bear-like size. There had been a time where he struck fear to her very core, could hardly talk to him, even. But that felt like a long time ago.

"The adults kick you out?"

She shook her head. "It got boring. And Edgar is asleep. The baby too."

"Babies need to, you know."

She thought about that, biting her lip. "She's awfully small, Princess Eloise."

"Babies are small." Yuma said.

"But it makes me worried about her."

"It's not yer job to worry about things like that.

Kiara puffed her cheeks, "Kuma-san—"

"Yuma," he corrected again.

She giggled at that, bringing a girlish hand to cover her mouth. "Don't you have any sucre today?"

"And just what the fuck does sucre mean?"

"Sugar!" She said happily, "It's French, you see. Papa says I should practice my languages whenever I can."

"That's pretty fucking pompous. You know what pompous means?"

Kiara puffed her cheeks again. "I'm not vain."

Yuma's eyes widened, but only slightly, before he gave a scoff and reached into his pocket. Of course she'd know what it meant. "Well, figures. You are that guy's daughter after all."

Little Kiara cocked her head, "Papa, you mean?"

Yuma distracted the child with the sugar cube, avoiding her question altogether. She took it into her small hands, popping the sweet into her mouth with a large smile. "Kuma-san," she said happily—

"It's YUMA, dammit—"

She giggled, "Kuma-san, what does fucking mean?"

The gardner paled, before his face grew stern. "Don't say that word, you hear me? Especially in front of yer parents."

"But what does it—"

"It doesn't matter, got it? Ya curious little piglet."

Kiara pouted. "I'm not a piglet," she declared boldly, "I'm a princess."

Yuma chuckled at that, gathering a few of his tools. "All right then," he said, with a lazy bow, "Forgive me, Princess."

She giggled, squealing happily and patting the large man on his head, "You're forgiven!"

…

It was a long day. But no matter what, every day always ended he same. With Mommy reading her a story, and Papa coming in just in time for the last few pages, sleeves rolled up from working in his lab.

"Skin white as snow, lips red as blood and hair dark as night. Such was the tale of the Queen Snow White."

Reina smiled as she shut the book, setting it on her daughter's nightstand.

"You're filling her head with foolish nonsense." Reiji reprimanded.

"She'll be fine," Reina said, still smiling, brushing her daughter's hair back.

"Will I meet my prince one day too, Mommy?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Reina said lovingly.

"Do not set your sights on such frivolous things, Kiara."

The small girl hid behind her covers, nodding to her father, before wishing her parents goodnight. Her mother kissed her forehead, bidding her good night, and then blew out the candle.

Kiara waited until she heard the door close, before turning the light back on and reaching for the book again. She could read well enough on her own, but her mother insisted regardless.

Snow White and Prince Charming. Kiara always wondered why the princes never had any names. Probably because they never did very much. But she liked the stories nonetheless. Edgar did too.

One day she'd find her prince, and Edgar his princess. And now little Eloise would have her prince someday too.

But Kiara didn't want the nameless prince charming. Her prince would definitely need a name. Because a guy who didn't do much wouldn't be very fun to marry. She wanted someone she could go explore the world with. Climb mountains and go flying, up and up until they could touch the moon.

One day. Maybe when she was older. For now, daydreaming suited her just fine. She was only seven after all. Thinking about that sort of thing now was positively illogical.

That's what Papa said, anyway.

She smiled to herself, shutting her book, and snuggling back into bed. One day, she'd find someone who loved her the way Papa loved Mommy.

…

Reiji couldn't tear his gaze away from the curve of his wife's neck, while she sat at the edge of their bed, rubbing lotion into her fair skin.

He crawled closer, inhaling the scent of her hair and then pressing his lips against her shoulder. "What is it?"

"Nothing," she said timidly, rolling her hands slowly over each other.

Reiji wrapped his arm around her waist, nibbling at her neck. "Woman…"

"Yui looked terribly happy, didn't she?"

Reiji stopped, stiffening slightly as Reina turned to look at him. "Reiji, do you think—"

He smirked, "It was you, who did not want any more children, was it not?"

She chewed the inside of her cheeks, "But a woman…" she was lost in thought now, still rubbing her hands though the lotion had dried, "A woman should have children…" Her voice was like an echo of a time long past.

He kissed her, resting his hand on her exposed thigh, "You've already given me more than enough."

"Reiji…"

He chuckled, low and deep, leaning into her more, "Or could it be," he breathed, his hand brushing beneath her gown, "You'd use a child as an excuse…"

His voice was drowned in a kiss, the couple falling onto the bed, Reiji hovering over his laughing wife.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "But," Reina ran her fingers through her husband's bangs, "Perhaps you're right. Kiara is already blessing enough."

Reiji took his wife's hand, nibbling at her fingers. "Indeed," he murmured, "But the child…is asleep…"

Reina laughed again, her brown eyes catching the sunlight.

How he loved those eyes. Perhaps it was only because they belonged to her. But whatever the reason, the simple fact was that he could never look away. Especially when she was laughing. When she was smiling at him. For him. Because not once did he ever think he'd call this woman his wife. This woman who had borne him a child. Who had allowed him happiness that he was still all too fearful of.

But she was here now, in his arms, looking up at him with large eyes.

And she was beautiful.

A/N: I told myself I wasn't going to do this, so naturally, it happened anyway. A few of you may have caught a snippet from this before if you follow me on tumblr. So...ok here we go. If you're reading Tainted, then there'll be some things that might be explained/touched upon there. Ugh I can't believe imma be writing two stories at the same time but whatever XD If anyone is reading this without having read Masks of Glass, you may wanna go and fix that lol or some things are gonna be slightly confusing. There was a lot more I wanted to say but I can't think for some reason lol. The pacing of this will be a lot faster than Masks probably. Anyways. Please enjoy. Comments are very much appreciated :)

Oh yeah! Kuma-san basically translates to 'Mr. Bear' in case anyone was wondering.