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Here's part 3 of "To Dance The Dance", which is 13+ in rating. Mio/Wataru.
Summary: Mio knows loving humans is death. She does it anyway.
"This is all so sudden," Wataru said. He didn't know what to think, except that somehow the Fangire King was his older brother and didn't want to kill him.
"I wish I could spend more time with you at the moment," Taiga-kun... his older brother, he mentally corrected, still smiling at him. "But I can't. I've got so much going on...." He sighed regretfully. "But you are my little brother, so try to resist those urges to kill. And I'll have my top scientists on the job of freeing you from the urge."
"My older brother is worried about me," Wataru noted.
"Well, of course I am," Taiga-kun said. "You're my little brother. You're flesh and blood. And I need to put you back on the right path. I wish it wasn't right when I was planning to marry my Queen, but these things happen." He took Wataru's hand. "I'm going to put you with Mio's family. They're good people, remotely related to us. I'm sure they can teach you how Fangire live."
Wataru was pretty sure that Nago-san's ideas of proper things to do did not include living with Fangire families and learning how to hunt. "But I don't need Life Energy."
"Yes, you do," Taiga-kun said. "You just don't realize it yet." He massaged Wataru's hand with his. "It's something that's fixable, Wataru. Don't worry about it." He took out a phone. "I'll call the Suzukis; have them meet us at your place. We'll pack you up and you'll be in their care for the next few weeks."
"But... I have a business...."
"I know," Taiga said. "I'll get someone familiar with violins to finish your work and assist with your customers until you come back. You don't have to worry about anything anymore, Wataru."
Wataru sincerely wished that was true.
He finished up his lunch and Taiga-kun drove him back, having called the Suzukis. Wataru couldn't help but feel like he was a little kid being sent off to camp as Taiga helped him pack a bag of things. When the doorbell rang, he was left alone, sitting on his bed, waiting for his "adoptive family" to come in and pick him up.
Wataru could hear Taiga-kun talking to several other people, telling them about Wataru. Then the four of them came into view, Taiga-kun, Mio-san, and Mio-san's parents, who smiled at him. They looked, disturbingly enough, not old enough to be Mio-san's parents, but he guessed that that was normal for Fangire.
"So this is Mio's fiance," her father said, studying him. "The King's little brother. I'm pleased to meet you." He bowed at Taiga-kun and then to Wataru. Wataru wondered if he'd spend the rest of his life being known as Taiga-kun's little brother.
"We're pleased to welcome you into our house," Mio-san's mother said. "My daughter is a good girl; we'll help you be Fangire." She was beaming. "You two can share a room."
"Mother," Mio-san said softly, almost too softly for anybody to hear. "We...."
"I'm sure the King won't mind the two of you getting an early start," her mother said.
"I don't," Taiga-kun said, beaming at Mio-san's mother. "I have no objection at all."
Her mother beamed back at his brother. "We both want them to start a family early," she said with approval.
"Of course," his brother said. "I think they should start as soon as possible."
Wataru was blushing. "Older brother...."
"Order from the King, Wataru," his older brother said, smiling at him. "The Suzukis will teach you to be Fangire, and then you and Mio can get married."
Mio-san was blushing, and Wataru didn't blame her, suddenly finding out that he was going to have to bed her. "I... I...."
"Go on, Wataru," his brother said. "You'll be fine."
Wataru hoped that Nago-san never found out about this.
* * *
The Suzukis took them to their house, a quiet place in Yokohama. "Let's show you how to release your fangs," her mother said after serving him a purely human meal, saying that he needed the strength.
"Okay," Wataru said doubtfully. "I... I didn't even know I was part Fangire until today. So. Um."
He was sure that learning how to feed like a Fangire would not meet with Nago-san's approval.
"Oh, don't worry," Mio-san's mother said. "Now, relax. Close your eyes."
Wataru did so, feeling the woman's hands on his shoulders.
"I'm going to release a little energy, Wataru-sama," she said. "I want you to concentrate; I'm sure you can feel it."
Wataru nodded, feeling the energy. He wondered how he could, but put it down to being part Fangire. "I feel it."
"I can tell," Mio-san's mother said. "You're trying to eat it. Like a child." He could hear the smile in her tone. "You've been fed before; you instinctively feed on Life Energy."
"I... must have been?" he asked, feeling hesitant.
"Now, there's a better way to do that," she said. "I want you to concentrate. Within you is a straw that will allow you to sip the energy much better. Feel it within you."
Wataru did, feeling something spring out, eager for the energy that she offered.
"Very good, Wataru-sama!" Mio-san's mother announced. "Now you can have the energy."
His body didn't have to be asked twice. It was soon pouncing on the energy she offered, and wanting more.
Mio-san's mother laughed. "You're doing very well, Wataru-sama. The King will be proud." She patted his shoulder. "Tomorrow, I'll take you out hunting. Early on, because I know if you're anything like Mio, you'll learn to hunt fast, but you'll be very energetic. I'm sure you and Mio can use the rest of the day together."
Wataru tried not to shiver at the woman's words, either the fact that he was going to have to hunt, or the fact that he would be expected to sleep with Mio-san after that.
"Wataru-san can have my bed for the night," Mio-san said.
"That would probably be a good idea," her mother said. "But after that, you're sharing it, as the King commanded."
Wataru was sure he was blushing. Why did these things happen to him?"
"Yes, mother," Mio-san said, and he was sure she was blushing as well.
* * *
Taiga anxiously looked at his phone, intending to call the Suzukis, wanting to know how well Wataru was doing. Despite his apparent calm, Taiga was as worried as any parent fould be; Wataru was off learning how to be Fangire, and while he was sure Wataru was in good hands, he also worried that Wataru would not learn as he was supposed to. But Taiga was sur that Wataru, being half, still needed Life Energy. Taiga would have to find a Fangire doctor for him too. Probably Dr. Takada or Dr. Takamoto. Takada was his doctor; he'd schedule an appointment for Wataru and pass it on to the Suzukis.
Making a decision, he called the doctor's office first. "Dr. Takada's office," a pleasant female voice answered.
"This is Nobori Taiga. I want to schedule an appointment."
"Nobori-sama!" The receptionist seemed to recognize him instantly. "For yourself?"
"Actually," he said, "For another. Kurenai Wataru."
"What is his birthdate?" the receptionist asked, and Taiga was glad he'd had someone research that. He gave it to the receptionist when she requested it.
"Ah," she said. "He is already a patient of ours, so Dr. Takada is familiar with him." Which meant that Wataru had a competent doctor. Good.
"Is he seen as one of us, or....?" If Wataru had been seen as a human, there would still be tests that would have to be done to assess his energy levels and such.
"Yes," the receptionist said. "Do you wish to consult Dr. Takada about his health as well?"
"That would be greatly appreciated," Taiga said. Dr. Takada would have to tell him about how well Wataru was.
"Kurenai-san had his regular visit last month. Do you still wish him to come in?"
"No, but I'd still like the consultation," Taiga said.
"I can schedule you one. What times and dates would be most convenient for you?" He didn't blame her for sounding a slight bit nervous. When one's King wanted a consultation, one moved appointments if needed be.
Taiga gave the receptionist the information she requested, and after a few minutes, had an appointment with Dr. Takada to talk about Wataru's health. That being done, he finally called the Suzukis.
Mrs. Suzuki answered the phone. "King," she said, sounding surprised, and the quickly covered up. "How may I help you?"
"How is Wataru doing? Any progress?" He would check Wataru over later for injuries. when he went to see him. Even if the Suzukis were supposedly reliable, he was still a bit worried for his little brother.
"Poor thing, he was so hungry when I fed him," she said, like she felt sorry for Wataru.
"He was starving?" Taiga asked. This was not good. He might have to move up the appointment with Dr. Takada.
"No, but he was lower on energy than I thought he should be," she said. "I realize he's half human, but still! He fed like he hadn't fed in a month. And he was never weaned."
He heard the distress in her voice, and moved to calm her as best he could over the phone. "I'm sure you'll do a fine job at that," he soothed her.
"I got him to bring out his fangs," Mrs. Suzuki said, sounding a bit prouder. "We're taking him out to hunt, Mio and I, as soon as we can."
That brought a smile to his face. Wataru had fangs and could feed! He was getting to be Fangire already.
"That's wonderful news!" he proclaimed.
"Is it all right that we wait until tomorrow to teach him to hunt?" she asked anxiously.
"Yes, that's fine," Taiga said. "I'll be coming over to take him to lunch and to reinforce what you're teaching him in a few days."
"Oh, certainly," she said. "I'm sure he'll be hunting by then."
"I'm sure you will, but if it doesn't happen, I won't blame you. You've got a lot of conditioning to undo."
"But he has the instinct," she said. "He was just never weaned. I doubt he even realizes - in fact, he doesn't- that he was fed and needs Life Energy."
"I had to learn to hunt by myself," Taiga told her. "I'm sure he'll do well under your tutelage."
"We'll do our best," Mrs. Suzuki promised.
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Taiga assured her. "I'll call you - and him - in a day or so."
"King, before you go, when should we make them sleep together? My daughter and your brother?"
"I'll leave that to your best judgment." Mio was their daughter, after all.
"We'll do our best," Mrs. Suzuki said. "Thank you, King."
He ended the conversation and went back to brooding. It seemed that Wataru was doing all right, so far. After all, Wataru could feed and had fangs; it might or might not take him a while to hunt, but he had the ability.
Whatever the Suzukis needed to help train Wataru, he would provide. After all, it was only right.
* * *
Wataru woke up the next morning in Mio-san's bed, though Mio-san was not there, much to his relief. Her parents had made it clear that Wataru was going to have to learn to hunt - though Mrs. Suzuki had done it in soft, sympathetic tones.
"Good morning, Wataru-sama," Mrs. Suzuki said. "After we have breakfast, of course we can go out."
"Okay," he said. He wondered if he could actually manage to kill a human; he doubted it.
Mrs. Suzuki smiled at him, setting out the food. "We have food to help boost our energy levels; most Fangire prefer it this way."
Wataru nodded. Mio joined them, almost shyly, and he smiled at her.
"Mio learned to hunt very fast, and she's very shy," Mrs. Suzuki continued. "I'm sure you'll have no problem, Wataru-sama. But... if you do, tomorrow is always another day. I've found that being active and not eating human food does wonders for one's appetite."
Suddenly, he hoped that he would succeed the first time; being starved was not his idea of fun. "I'll do my best," he said, instinctively bowing.
"Isn't he so cute, Mio?" Mio's mother asked.
Mio blushed. "Yes," she said quietly.
After breakfast, Mrs. Suzuki took Mio and Wataru for a walk in the park.
"Hm. Not that one, not that one... not that one." Mrs. Suzuki evaluated each one in stride. "Too old. Too young. Wataru, old people won't give you the energy you need; children are also limited energy."
Wataru watched Mrs. Suzuki do her evaluations and shivered. He could never see humans that way, no matter how much Taiga-kun - his older brother - saw things.
"There's someone that would be good for someone your age," Mrs. Suzuki said suddenly, motioning at a younger man Wataru's age. "You'd do well with him."
"Um," Wataru said uncertainly. Mrs. Suzuki smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Wataru, the parents are always there to help on the first hunts." She pushed him gently in the direction of the young man. "I'm going around to catch him, you keep an eye on him, okay?"
Wataru nodded numbly. "Right." Mrs Suzuki seemed to disappear into the foliage, and he followed the young man. He was moving away from the group, and Wataru wished he could warn the young man of the danger that lay before him.
Suddenly, Mrs. Suzuki had the young man, who was struggling. "Okay, Wataru-sama. Remember what I taught you yesterday?"
Wataru took a deep breath and mentally apologized to the young man. He willed his Fangs to come out, and for some reason they did form, much to his surprise.
"Now, you feel his energy? Feed on it like you did on mine, yesterday."
Wataru silently apologized to the young man again, but he didn't want to starve, and at the moment, he didn't want to displease his hosts.
Something in him drove the Fangs into the young man, and he felt the energy enter him. Pour into him, to be exact. In fact, the fangs were in the young man and he somehow couldn't get them to leave before the young man was turning glassy, and he felt like he couldn't contain the power that had poured into him.
He fainted.
* * *
"Wataru-sama?" Mrs. Suzuki's panicked voice was what drove him to consciousness. "Wataru-sama, are you all right?"
"Too much...." he moaned, trying to get across how he felt.
"Oh, dear," Mrs. Suzuki said. "Mio, we're going to have to get him somewhere isolated until he can absorb things. Help me get his shoulders, we'll take him into the woods."
He couldn't see Mio, but there were two pairs of reassuring hands at his shoulders. "Don't worry, Wataru-sama, we'll find a place for you to rest for a bit, and then we'll take you home."
Somehow, they did manage to stumble into the woods, and then Mrs. Suzuki called Mr. Suzuki, and they got out of the park. Precisely how, Wataru didn't remember; he remembered being hauled into the car and then being put to bed.
* * *
Wataru woke up again to find a doctor hovering over him. The doctor wasn't his own, but reminded him of Dr. Takada. He recognized the thermometer that he thought was always sort of odd as the doctor stuck it in one ear.
"Above-average energy levels; he's fed too much," the doctor said to a hovering Mrs. Suzuki. "His body's trying to absorb it but not doing too well. You might need to take some of the excess energy."
"I'm so sorry, Wataru-sama," Mrs. Suzuki said. "If I'd known, I would have started you off on someone with less energy." She looked stricken, and Wataru would have comforted her if he had felt like it.
"Started him off?" the doctor echoed. "He's a young man; he should be weaned by now."
"He wasn't," Mrs. Suzuki said mournfully. "I was just teaching him to hunt when he fainted. I... I didn't think... I thought... I should have started him on something lighter!"
"This is very strange," the doctor said, contemplating Wataru. "I suggest leaving him on bed rest for a day or two until he feels better, then make sure he has plenty of exercise. No feeding him or letting him hunt until then."
Mrs. Suzuki nodded fearfully. "And lighter meals."
"Until we can find out why he seems to have such a small capacity," the doctor said. "Who's his regular doctor?"
"I'm not sure," Mrs. Suzuki admitted. "The King would know for sure. The King was the one who found him, all deprived like this...."
"Please, then, talk to the King, and tell him of this young man's difficulties," the Suzukis' doctor said. "And in the meantime, follow the instructions given to you, and he'll be fine."
"Thank you, Doctor Watanabe," Mrs. Suzuki said, bowing.
Dr. Watanabe bowed back, and then the two of them departed, leaving Wataru alone in the bed with his thoughts.
It was a few minutes later when Mrs. Suzuki came back with her cellphone. "I'll call the King right now," she said, drawing up a chair. "We have to let him know that you aren't feeling well."
Wataru quietly hoped that he could make Taiga realize that he couldn't live on Life Energy, and this would help. "I... I think that would be a good idea."
Mrs. Suzuki punched a number on her cellphone, and it only took a matter of seconds before she was leaving a message on Taiga's cellphone. He himself hoped that he'd get out of trying to hunt soon. Once Taiga realized that feeding made him sick, he was sure that his older brother would start listening to him about those kinds of things.
"Wataru-sama, I'm sorry again for putting you in this state," Mrs. Suzuki apologized once more. "I'm sure that you'll get well soon, but I'm sorry to have caused such problems in the first place."
"My older brother wanted you to teach me to hunt," Wataru said. "It's not his fault or yours." He spoke gently, not quite sure why he was comforting the Fangire, but he was.
"We'll just have to keep you in bed until you absorb the energy," Mrs. Suzuki decided. "Then you can get enough exercise to really become normal so that you can have lunch with the King."
Wataru just hoped that he'd not be expected to feed on Life Energy ever again. He wanted things to slow down, so that he could figure out if he really wanted to marry Mio-san and if he could tolerate being Fangire, and if he could get himself out of the bind that he seemed to be in, ever since his brother had decided to start running his life.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Suzuki's cellphone rang, and it proved to be his older brother. "Yes, King... well... he's sick." She held the cellphone away from her ear. "It's... he had too much energy and he's having trouble absorbing it. He's resting right now." She gradually replaced the cellphone and added, "The doctor thinks he'll be okay, but I thought it best to be in contact with you. The doctor also advised the same." More conversation on his older brother's end, and Mrs. Suzuki bowed her head. "We'll be expecting you, then."
She offered the cellphone to Wataru. "He wants to speak to you," she said simply.
"Wataru, are you okay?" Taiga's tone was frantic. It was like he was scared that something would happen to his little brother. Which nothing would, of course, but he did sound very worried. Despite his desire to have Taiga out of his life, Wataru couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over Taiga's worry.
"Sick," Wataru managed.
"I'll be over as soon as possible, Wataru, I promise," Taiga said. "I'm going to take you to your own doctor and we're going to have you looked at. Don't worry, Wataru, you're in good hands."
"It's not the Suzukis' fault," Wataru managed. "I can't...." He wasn't sure why he was defending them, but they needed defending, in a way. He had been the one to feed off of the man. He was responsible for getting himself sick, even if it had been Taiga who had pushed him to learn to feed and tasked the Suzukis with it.
"Wataru," Taiga said, "Just rest or whatever the doctor said, I'll be right over. As soon as I can get there."
Wataru lay back. "Okay," he said, handing the phone back to Mrs. Suzuki, who assured Taiga again that Wataru was okay and that she'd keep an eye on him until Taiga could get there.
And since Wataru felt like hell, he didn't argue.
Summary: Mio knows loving humans is death. She does it anyway.
"This is all so sudden," Wataru said. He didn't know what to think, except that somehow the Fangire King was his older brother and didn't want to kill him.
"I wish I could spend more time with you at the moment," Taiga-kun... his older brother, he mentally corrected, still smiling at him. "But I can't. I've got so much going on...." He sighed regretfully. "But you are my little brother, so try to resist those urges to kill. And I'll have my top scientists on the job of freeing you from the urge."
"My older brother is worried about me," Wataru noted.
"Well, of course I am," Taiga-kun said. "You're my little brother. You're flesh and blood. And I need to put you back on the right path. I wish it wasn't right when I was planning to marry my Queen, but these things happen." He took Wataru's hand. "I'm going to put you with Mio's family. They're good people, remotely related to us. I'm sure they can teach you how Fangire live."
Wataru was pretty sure that Nago-san's ideas of proper things to do did not include living with Fangire families and learning how to hunt. "But I don't need Life Energy."
"Yes, you do," Taiga-kun said. "You just don't realize it yet." He massaged Wataru's hand with his. "It's something that's fixable, Wataru. Don't worry about it." He took out a phone. "I'll call the Suzukis; have them meet us at your place. We'll pack you up and you'll be in their care for the next few weeks."
"But... I have a business...."
"I know," Taiga said. "I'll get someone familiar with violins to finish your work and assist with your customers until you come back. You don't have to worry about anything anymore, Wataru."
Wataru sincerely wished that was true.
He finished up his lunch and Taiga-kun drove him back, having called the Suzukis. Wataru couldn't help but feel like he was a little kid being sent off to camp as Taiga helped him pack a bag of things. When the doorbell rang, he was left alone, sitting on his bed, waiting for his "adoptive family" to come in and pick him up.
Wataru could hear Taiga-kun talking to several other people, telling them about Wataru. Then the four of them came into view, Taiga-kun, Mio-san, and Mio-san's parents, who smiled at him. They looked, disturbingly enough, not old enough to be Mio-san's parents, but he guessed that that was normal for Fangire.
"So this is Mio's fiance," her father said, studying him. "The King's little brother. I'm pleased to meet you." He bowed at Taiga-kun and then to Wataru. Wataru wondered if he'd spend the rest of his life being known as Taiga-kun's little brother.
"We're pleased to welcome you into our house," Mio-san's mother said. "My daughter is a good girl; we'll help you be Fangire." She was beaming. "You two can share a room."
"Mother," Mio-san said softly, almost too softly for anybody to hear. "We...."
"I'm sure the King won't mind the two of you getting an early start," her mother said.
"I don't," Taiga-kun said, beaming at Mio-san's mother. "I have no objection at all."
Her mother beamed back at his brother. "We both want them to start a family early," she said with approval.
"Of course," his brother said. "I think they should start as soon as possible."
Wataru was blushing. "Older brother...."
"Order from the King, Wataru," his older brother said, smiling at him. "The Suzukis will teach you to be Fangire, and then you and Mio can get married."
Mio-san was blushing, and Wataru didn't blame her, suddenly finding out that he was going to have to bed her. "I... I...."
"Go on, Wataru," his brother said. "You'll be fine."
Wataru hoped that Nago-san never found out about this.
* * *
The Suzukis took them to their house, a quiet place in Yokohama. "Let's show you how to release your fangs," her mother said after serving him a purely human meal, saying that he needed the strength.
"Okay," Wataru said doubtfully. "I... I didn't even know I was part Fangire until today. So. Um."
He was sure that learning how to feed like a Fangire would not meet with Nago-san's approval.
"Oh, don't worry," Mio-san's mother said. "Now, relax. Close your eyes."
Wataru did so, feeling the woman's hands on his shoulders.
"I'm going to release a little energy, Wataru-sama," she said. "I want you to concentrate; I'm sure you can feel it."
Wataru nodded, feeling the energy. He wondered how he could, but put it down to being part Fangire. "I feel it."
"I can tell," Mio-san's mother said. "You're trying to eat it. Like a child." He could hear the smile in her tone. "You've been fed before; you instinctively feed on Life Energy."
"I... must have been?" he asked, feeling hesitant.
"Now, there's a better way to do that," she said. "I want you to concentrate. Within you is a straw that will allow you to sip the energy much better. Feel it within you."
Wataru did, feeling something spring out, eager for the energy that she offered.
"Very good, Wataru-sama!" Mio-san's mother announced. "Now you can have the energy."
His body didn't have to be asked twice. It was soon pouncing on the energy she offered, and wanting more.
Mio-san's mother laughed. "You're doing very well, Wataru-sama. The King will be proud." She patted his shoulder. "Tomorrow, I'll take you out hunting. Early on, because I know if you're anything like Mio, you'll learn to hunt fast, but you'll be very energetic. I'm sure you and Mio can use the rest of the day together."
Wataru tried not to shiver at the woman's words, either the fact that he was going to have to hunt, or the fact that he would be expected to sleep with Mio-san after that.
"Wataru-san can have my bed for the night," Mio-san said.
"That would probably be a good idea," her mother said. "But after that, you're sharing it, as the King commanded."
Wataru was sure he was blushing. Why did these things happen to him?"
"Yes, mother," Mio-san said, and he was sure she was blushing as well.
* * *
Taiga anxiously looked at his phone, intending to call the Suzukis, wanting to know how well Wataru was doing. Despite his apparent calm, Taiga was as worried as any parent fould be; Wataru was off learning how to be Fangire, and while he was sure Wataru was in good hands, he also worried that Wataru would not learn as he was supposed to. But Taiga was sur that Wataru, being half, still needed Life Energy. Taiga would have to find a Fangire doctor for him too. Probably Dr. Takada or Dr. Takamoto. Takada was his doctor; he'd schedule an appointment for Wataru and pass it on to the Suzukis.
Making a decision, he called the doctor's office first. "Dr. Takada's office," a pleasant female voice answered.
"This is Nobori Taiga. I want to schedule an appointment."
"Nobori-sama!" The receptionist seemed to recognize him instantly. "For yourself?"
"Actually," he said, "For another. Kurenai Wataru."
"What is his birthdate?" the receptionist asked, and Taiga was glad he'd had someone research that. He gave it to the receptionist when she requested it.
"Ah," she said. "He is already a patient of ours, so Dr. Takada is familiar with him." Which meant that Wataru had a competent doctor. Good.
"Is he seen as one of us, or....?" If Wataru had been seen as a human, there would still be tests that would have to be done to assess his energy levels and such.
"Yes," the receptionist said. "Do you wish to consult Dr. Takada about his health as well?"
"That would be greatly appreciated," Taiga said. Dr. Takada would have to tell him about how well Wataru was.
"Kurenai-san had his regular visit last month. Do you still wish him to come in?"
"No, but I'd still like the consultation," Taiga said.
"I can schedule you one. What times and dates would be most convenient for you?" He didn't blame her for sounding a slight bit nervous. When one's King wanted a consultation, one moved appointments if needed be.
Taiga gave the receptionist the information she requested, and after a few minutes, had an appointment with Dr. Takada to talk about Wataru's health. That being done, he finally called the Suzukis.
Mrs. Suzuki answered the phone. "King," she said, sounding surprised, and the quickly covered up. "How may I help you?"
"How is Wataru doing? Any progress?" He would check Wataru over later for injuries. when he went to see him. Even if the Suzukis were supposedly reliable, he was still a bit worried for his little brother.
"Poor thing, he was so hungry when I fed him," she said, like she felt sorry for Wataru.
"He was starving?" Taiga asked. This was not good. He might have to move up the appointment with Dr. Takada.
"No, but he was lower on energy than I thought he should be," she said. "I realize he's half human, but still! He fed like he hadn't fed in a month. And he was never weaned."
He heard the distress in her voice, and moved to calm her as best he could over the phone. "I'm sure you'll do a fine job at that," he soothed her.
"I got him to bring out his fangs," Mrs. Suzuki said, sounding a bit prouder. "We're taking him out to hunt, Mio and I, as soon as we can."
That brought a smile to his face. Wataru had fangs and could feed! He was getting to be Fangire already.
"That's wonderful news!" he proclaimed.
"Is it all right that we wait until tomorrow to teach him to hunt?" she asked anxiously.
"Yes, that's fine," Taiga said. "I'll be coming over to take him to lunch and to reinforce what you're teaching him in a few days."
"Oh, certainly," she said. "I'm sure he'll be hunting by then."
"I'm sure you will, but if it doesn't happen, I won't blame you. You've got a lot of conditioning to undo."
"But he has the instinct," she said. "He was just never weaned. I doubt he even realizes - in fact, he doesn't- that he was fed and needs Life Energy."
"I had to learn to hunt by myself," Taiga told her. "I'm sure he'll do well under your tutelage."
"We'll do our best," Mrs. Suzuki promised.
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Taiga assured her. "I'll call you - and him - in a day or so."
"King, before you go, when should we make them sleep together? My daughter and your brother?"
"I'll leave that to your best judgment." Mio was their daughter, after all.
"We'll do our best," Mrs. Suzuki said. "Thank you, King."
He ended the conversation and went back to brooding. It seemed that Wataru was doing all right, so far. After all, Wataru could feed and had fangs; it might or might not take him a while to hunt, but he had the ability.
Whatever the Suzukis needed to help train Wataru, he would provide. After all, it was only right.
* * *
Wataru woke up the next morning in Mio-san's bed, though Mio-san was not there, much to his relief. Her parents had made it clear that Wataru was going to have to learn to hunt - though Mrs. Suzuki had done it in soft, sympathetic tones.
"Good morning, Wataru-sama," Mrs. Suzuki said. "After we have breakfast, of course we can go out."
"Okay," he said. He wondered if he could actually manage to kill a human; he doubted it.
Mrs. Suzuki smiled at him, setting out the food. "We have food to help boost our energy levels; most Fangire prefer it this way."
Wataru nodded. Mio joined them, almost shyly, and he smiled at her.
"Mio learned to hunt very fast, and she's very shy," Mrs. Suzuki continued. "I'm sure you'll have no problem, Wataru-sama. But... if you do, tomorrow is always another day. I've found that being active and not eating human food does wonders for one's appetite."
Suddenly, he hoped that he would succeed the first time; being starved was not his idea of fun. "I'll do my best," he said, instinctively bowing.
"Isn't he so cute, Mio?" Mio's mother asked.
Mio blushed. "Yes," she said quietly.
After breakfast, Mrs. Suzuki took Mio and Wataru for a walk in the park.
"Hm. Not that one, not that one... not that one." Mrs. Suzuki evaluated each one in stride. "Too old. Too young. Wataru, old people won't give you the energy you need; children are also limited energy."
Wataru watched Mrs. Suzuki do her evaluations and shivered. He could never see humans that way, no matter how much Taiga-kun - his older brother - saw things.
"There's someone that would be good for someone your age," Mrs. Suzuki said suddenly, motioning at a younger man Wataru's age. "You'd do well with him."
"Um," Wataru said uncertainly. Mrs. Suzuki smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Wataru, the parents are always there to help on the first hunts." She pushed him gently in the direction of the young man. "I'm going around to catch him, you keep an eye on him, okay?"
Wataru nodded numbly. "Right." Mrs Suzuki seemed to disappear into the foliage, and he followed the young man. He was moving away from the group, and Wataru wished he could warn the young man of the danger that lay before him.
Suddenly, Mrs. Suzuki had the young man, who was struggling. "Okay, Wataru-sama. Remember what I taught you yesterday?"
Wataru took a deep breath and mentally apologized to the young man. He willed his Fangs to come out, and for some reason they did form, much to his surprise.
"Now, you feel his energy? Feed on it like you did on mine, yesterday."
Wataru silently apologized to the young man again, but he didn't want to starve, and at the moment, he didn't want to displease his hosts.
Something in him drove the Fangs into the young man, and he felt the energy enter him. Pour into him, to be exact. In fact, the fangs were in the young man and he somehow couldn't get them to leave before the young man was turning glassy, and he felt like he couldn't contain the power that had poured into him.
He fainted.
* * *
"Wataru-sama?" Mrs. Suzuki's panicked voice was what drove him to consciousness. "Wataru-sama, are you all right?"
"Too much...." he moaned, trying to get across how he felt.
"Oh, dear," Mrs. Suzuki said. "Mio, we're going to have to get him somewhere isolated until he can absorb things. Help me get his shoulders, we'll take him into the woods."
He couldn't see Mio, but there were two pairs of reassuring hands at his shoulders. "Don't worry, Wataru-sama, we'll find a place for you to rest for a bit, and then we'll take you home."
Somehow, they did manage to stumble into the woods, and then Mrs. Suzuki called Mr. Suzuki, and they got out of the park. Precisely how, Wataru didn't remember; he remembered being hauled into the car and then being put to bed.
* * *
Wataru woke up again to find a doctor hovering over him. The doctor wasn't his own, but reminded him of Dr. Takada. He recognized the thermometer that he thought was always sort of odd as the doctor stuck it in one ear.
"Above-average energy levels; he's fed too much," the doctor said to a hovering Mrs. Suzuki. "His body's trying to absorb it but not doing too well. You might need to take some of the excess energy."
"I'm so sorry, Wataru-sama," Mrs. Suzuki said. "If I'd known, I would have started you off on someone with less energy." She looked stricken, and Wataru would have comforted her if he had felt like it.
"Started him off?" the doctor echoed. "He's a young man; he should be weaned by now."
"He wasn't," Mrs. Suzuki said mournfully. "I was just teaching him to hunt when he fainted. I... I didn't think... I thought... I should have started him on something lighter!"
"This is very strange," the doctor said, contemplating Wataru. "I suggest leaving him on bed rest for a day or two until he feels better, then make sure he has plenty of exercise. No feeding him or letting him hunt until then."
Mrs. Suzuki nodded fearfully. "And lighter meals."
"Until we can find out why he seems to have such a small capacity," the doctor said. "Who's his regular doctor?"
"I'm not sure," Mrs. Suzuki admitted. "The King would know for sure. The King was the one who found him, all deprived like this...."
"Please, then, talk to the King, and tell him of this young man's difficulties," the Suzukis' doctor said. "And in the meantime, follow the instructions given to you, and he'll be fine."
"Thank you, Doctor Watanabe," Mrs. Suzuki said, bowing.
Dr. Watanabe bowed back, and then the two of them departed, leaving Wataru alone in the bed with his thoughts.
It was a few minutes later when Mrs. Suzuki came back with her cellphone. "I'll call the King right now," she said, drawing up a chair. "We have to let him know that you aren't feeling well."
Wataru quietly hoped that he could make Taiga realize that he couldn't live on Life Energy, and this would help. "I... I think that would be a good idea."
Mrs. Suzuki punched a number on her cellphone, and it only took a matter of seconds before she was leaving a message on Taiga's cellphone. He himself hoped that he'd get out of trying to hunt soon. Once Taiga realized that feeding made him sick, he was sure that his older brother would start listening to him about those kinds of things.
"Wataru-sama, I'm sorry again for putting you in this state," Mrs. Suzuki apologized once more. "I'm sure that you'll get well soon, but I'm sorry to have caused such problems in the first place."
"My older brother wanted you to teach me to hunt," Wataru said. "It's not his fault or yours." He spoke gently, not quite sure why he was comforting the Fangire, but he was.
"We'll just have to keep you in bed until you absorb the energy," Mrs. Suzuki decided. "Then you can get enough exercise to really become normal so that you can have lunch with the King."
Wataru just hoped that he'd not be expected to feed on Life Energy ever again. He wanted things to slow down, so that he could figure out if he really wanted to marry Mio-san and if he could tolerate being Fangire, and if he could get himself out of the bind that he seemed to be in, ever since his brother had decided to start running his life.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Suzuki's cellphone rang, and it proved to be his older brother. "Yes, King... well... he's sick." She held the cellphone away from her ear. "It's... he had too much energy and he's having trouble absorbing it. He's resting right now." She gradually replaced the cellphone and added, "The doctor thinks he'll be okay, but I thought it best to be in contact with you. The doctor also advised the same." More conversation on his older brother's end, and Mrs. Suzuki bowed her head. "We'll be expecting you, then."
She offered the cellphone to Wataru. "He wants to speak to you," she said simply.
"Wataru, are you okay?" Taiga's tone was frantic. It was like he was scared that something would happen to his little brother. Which nothing would, of course, but he did sound very worried. Despite his desire to have Taiga out of his life, Wataru couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over Taiga's worry.
"Sick," Wataru managed.
"I'll be over as soon as possible, Wataru, I promise," Taiga said. "I'm going to take you to your own doctor and we're going to have you looked at. Don't worry, Wataru, you're in good hands."
"It's not the Suzukis' fault," Wataru managed. "I can't...." He wasn't sure why he was defending them, but they needed defending, in a way. He had been the one to feed off of the man. He was responsible for getting himself sick, even if it had been Taiga who had pushed him to learn to feed and tasked the Suzukis with it.
"Wataru," Taiga said, "Just rest or whatever the doctor said, I'll be right over. As soon as I can get there."
Wataru lay back. "Okay," he said, handing the phone back to Mrs. Suzuki, who assured Taiga again that Wataru was okay and that she'd keep an eye on him until Taiga could get there.
And since Wataru felt like hell, he didn't argue.