Notes: So, although I wanted to make this as a short story is here a continuation. Let's let little M-21 meet his second daddy.

A bath. That was all Frankenstein could think of when he opened the door to his apartment. Just the thought of how dirty the boy was made all his neck hair stand at attention. He would have run, but M-21 was asleep in his arms. In order not to wake him up, and against his urge to throw the little one into a tub full of water, Frankenstein moved relatively slowly, trying not to make hasty movements as he carried the boy through the light snowstorm to his present house.

The heavy gate creaked and swung behind him as he made it to the front lawn of the house. Behind another door began the living area, where the stairs led to the upper floor and the basement. Frankenstein stopped for a moment to peel off his shoes and put on his slippers before heading off to the bathroom.

Electric light and running water were rarity in this century and reserved for the upper class. But Frankenstein led a doctor's office and his master lived with him. He had modernized the house with his own hands and equipped it to his requirements. So he did not have to fill the water in the bath by hand, but he had to ignite the fire in the oven to heat water the old fashioned way. M-21 woke up and turned slightly in his arms, pressing his face to his neck and breathing hard.

Concerned, Frankenstein carefully pushed his hand under the cloak and felt his pulse, the child's wrist was much too thin. In worry his doctor's side felt every bone and noticed that there were more bumps than he had anticipated earlier. He put M-21 down on the floor and took off his coat. Only the fact that he threw the garment sloppily to a corner showed how agitated he was inwardly. Frankenstein took a deep breath and forced a gentle smile to his lips.

"Do you agree with me bathing you?" He asked M-21 gently. The boy frowned and looked to the bathtub, then he nodded slowly and did not resist as Frankenstein took off his tattered top.

Mentally, Frankenstein noted down everything he saw, beginning with how weak the boy was up to the blisters, scratches, and similar imprints on his wrists. An ankle was still wrapped around a thin wire, and Frankenstein had to put M-21 into the warm water until the scalp to get rid of the mud, and then he removed the wire as painlessly as possible.

All the while, the boy did not talk, leaving Frankenstein cautiously washing him with a soft sponge until the bath water was dirty. Every now and then he looked up with tired eyes at the blond man and then let his head hang again.

Frankenstein asked no questions. He could not, not at the sight of him. M-21 seemed so exhausted and done, but although he was torn between fear and trust, his confidence prevailed. Frankenstein would wait until M-21 had recovered and ready to talk. He had time, a lot of time and he would give M-21 as much as he needs.

-.-.-.-.

The big wall clock in the dining room hit 2 AM. It's deep sound echoed through the house to the bedroom. Two hours after midnight. Frankenstein mentally made a note while his gaze rested on the small figure that was sleeping besides him, trying to embrace his head pillow and not to let go of his thumb at the same time.

On the edge of the mattress laid a bowl with used towels, associations and other medical paraphernalia with which he had treated the injury. Even in half-darkness he could see the wound on the ankle, which was healing to his relief, much faster than usual with a normal person. Just like the other spots and scratches.

From this, the conclusion was that the injuries could not be too old.

Frankenstein cracked his fingers dangerously. What bastard had dared? Whoever it was. He would find him and make him pay. The mere thought of what had to have happened made his blood boil.

Out of bed a whimper was heard as if the little boy could feel his anger, which was likely. What was unlikely were the increasingly dark voices in his mind about the culprit, after he had tried so hard to tame himself these past few centuries. For the sake of his master, he controlled his temper. He cautiously freed his thumb from the firm grip of the little hand and covered the boy more thoroughly with the blanket to give him something else to focus on.

Countless thoughts circled his head. How was it possible that M-21 still existed? The fact that they were all in a different future was beyond question. So M-21 had to have paid the price in the form of having his existence extinguished, right? It could, of course, be that he had mis-translated the symbols on that thing and looking for it now was impossible since his master, Muzaka the former lord and he personally, had sealed it centuries ago.

But even if he had misunderstood something, what price had M-21 paid? Where did he come from? Above all, so suddenly and seemingly with memories of him? Where did his injuries come from? Where had he been? To what extend was he still the M-21 he remembered? And if M-21 actually existed in this future, what about Tao and Takeo?

These were questions that probably only M21 could answer. He still had work to do. Frankenstein opened the balcony door, which led to the generous garden. He glanced back before he stepped out to assure himself that the boy still slept peacefully in the bed.

"Master"

"Frankenstein"

The answer came immediately. Frankenstein could feel how worried his master was about him. The last hours had just not been eventless and anger still burned in his veins. It was not hidden from his master.

"Something happened. I therefore ask you for a quick return"

His master was troubled that he did not tell him the reason. Frankenstein gave him a series of emotions to show that there was no danger and yet it was urgent. Cadis Etrama di Raizel reacted with a hesitant agreement.

"Please trust me" Frankensein was ashamed. How confusing were the emotions he had harassed his master with, that he was hesitant about his statement?

"It's not up to me, Frankenstein"

"Master?"

"Muzaka is ... gone" his master responded and he could feel his uncertainty clearly.

Frankenstein's hands clenched and he clung to the stone railing as a dozen scenarios hovered in his head about his poor master, who was somewhere alone in a distant country.

"He said he will not be away for long" Raizel tried to appease his servant as he saw Frankenstein's growing panic and feelings of guilt.

"I hope for his sake"

"Frankenstein?"

"If he is not back in a few minutes, he will be castrated"

"..."

-.-.-.-.

"Take two of them a day, preferably at breakfast and dinner, then your cough should soon no longer be a problem. If it does not improve, please come back to me"

"Of course, doctor"

Frankenstein smiled and gave a middle-aged woman a small piece of paper. The woman thanked him and said good-bye, not before she had casted an almost maternal look at the boy who was sleeping on one of the couches.

"The child is unimaginably lucky to meet you doctor. Really sad how some parents nowadays treat their children" With these words the good lady left him and Frankenstein closed the door behind her. With a soft sigh, he turned and went to the couch, looking at the peaceful, sleeping face of the little one.

Not exactly a perfect solution, but for the moment all resources for a different one were missing. M-21 was in a disturbingly fragile state, and he always slept, despite his rapid healing. Only when he gave him something to eat did he stay awake for a few minutes. And whenever he let him out of his sight for a few seconds, he would wake up completely distraught, and it would take him a long time to calm him down again. He had spent the rest of the night preparing the house and the clinic with the sleeping boy in his arms. Thankfully, he was modified, otherwise his arm would have fallen off.

With a practiced handle he put a compress around the thin arm and took a regular blood test of M-21. This happened very quickly, and M-21 merely gave an indignant snort before turning around and simply falling asleep again. Frankenstein labeled the vial with the blood test and put it alongside the others he had taken. He would like to investigate M-21 more closely, but this clinic was too small and his next best laboratory was in Lukendonia.

However, there was a positive aspect. Because M-21 was seen by the patient in his practice practically all day, the news spread rapidly throughout the city. Whoever was the person M-21 had escaped from, Frankenstein assumed would come directly to him if he wanted the boy back. That saved him the search for now.

A familiar presence was noticeable. Frankenstein paused, his hand hovering over the utensils he was cleaning. As for the confirmation, he heard the soft creak of the wooden floor and a door was slammed opened. His master was brought back, together with Muzaka who did not manage to be quiet as per usual. Carefully, he dried the last utensil before he stepped to M-21 and raised the boy wrapped in a blanket. M-21 sniffed and rubbed his face against Frankenstein's shoulder.

What would happen now? Frankenstein wondered. M-21 remembered his name and had also personally addressed him, otherwise he would not have been so confident that it was him. But could he remember his master as well? Cadis Etrama di Raizel had been the one who awakened M-21 heart. His skill for healing showed Frankenstein that at least this aspect was still present.

Deliberately Frankenstein touched the brass knob of the door and opened it. His master and Muzaka were in the hall, it looked they had been waiting for him to come up to them.

"Master, Muzaka" Frankenstein greeted the two.

"Frankenstein?" Raizel's eyes were immediately on the child. Frankenstein felt his master's curiosity and confusion as he, like his servant, perceived the familiar feeling of M-21's aura. As for the keyword, M-21 stirred in his arms. Frankenstein did not hesitate for more than a second and simply handed M-21 to his master.

They had lived among people for decades and Raizel knew how people carried their children in their arms, he had seen it often enough. Even if somewhat clumsily, he reacted out when his servant gave him the child. Then his eyes widened and he sucked in a breath. He looked at Frankenstein who could only nod in confirmation.

When M-21 grunted and rubbed his eyes, Raizel's gaze immediately returned to him. The little one opened his eyes and blinked, looked around and looked back up at his master. At first, M-21 seemed uncertain just like when he had met Frankenstein. But then a faint smile spread on his face. Frankenstein could not help but smile himself as M-21 addressed his master with the one name which means so much to him. The name the children had given him.

"Rai"