estirose

I have six Watarus in the LJ comm Kamendressing. Here's a fic about them.

They sat together in the room, eyeing the food and looking at each other. Finally, the oldest of the six spoke up. "I think that each one of us should tell the group something about our lives," she said, looking around the room at various versions of herself. She turned her gaze at the one shrinking the most into his chair, hoping not to frighten him more. "I'll start."

* * *

Wataru stumbled as she walked along the pathway, but was caught by a strong, gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Taiga, her husband-to-be and King, smiling at her. "Take it easy," he said. "You'll make a good Queen; don't be anxious about it."

"But I want to get it right," she said. She wasn't overly thrilled to hunt Fangire traitors, but this was the fate her mother had ordained for her, wasn't it? As soon as Bishop was dead, she could relax fully, but until then, she had to obey the rules.

"You'll be fine," Taiga said warmly. "I know you. Stop worrying."

Wataru wished that she could. She grimly turned her head, keeping the "traitor" in sight. Not that he was a traitor, not when his crime was falling in love, but by Fangire law, loving a human was treason. "Lend me your strength," she said.

"You don't need it, but... good luck, Wataru."

Nodding, she concentrated on the traitor, silently apologizing to him. It always pained her to dispense the Queen's Justice; but she knew she had no choice about it.

He was a chunky young man, short. A tortise Fangire, if the information she'd been given was right. They were tough in their own way, but not impossible to handle. She walked to the top of the stairs he was climbing, waiting for him to notice her.

"Traitor." She shook inside. Why did she have to be the one to do this? "Face the Queen's Justice."

"Queen!" he squeaked, and ran, dropping his flowers in the process. Wataru took a deep breath and summoned her powers, changing to the Queen's form. Summoning her crown of pearls, she sent them his way.

He was shattering to pieces within a moment. Wataru willed herself not to cry, not here where Taiga could see it.

She felt a hand on her shoulder briefly as Taiga walked by, walking down the stairs and picking up the flowers. Climbing back up, he handed the flowers to her with a smile. "For my Queen," he said with a bow.

Wataru wanted to throw the flowers away, but she instead held them in her hands, silently apologizing once more as Taiga led her away.

* * *

"I still haven't managed to kill our Bishop, much the pity," Song said, looking at the other five.

"He's just doing his job," Rook pointed out. "I mean, ours was killed because he was a threat to me, but...."

"He's a threat to all of us," Song said firmly. "It's just that not all of him are dead yet."

"I should tell mine," Innocent said, as if to forestall any further arguments between Song and Rook.

"Go ahead, Innocent," Song said, turning to the slightly different version of herself.

* * *

Wataru leaned heavily on the other version of herself, the Knight. He smiled reassuringly at her as they rode up the elevator together, along with the man that the Knight had called Kurosawa. Knight had gotten her to show her Mark, which had been enough proof for the older man.

Kurosawa ushered them into a meeting room, a light, airy place. After a moment, a man in jeans and a t-shirt came in. Wataru couldn't help but feel a pang; this was her King, her proper King. "So, you wanted to see me?" he asked quizzically.

Knight walked her forward; she wasn't sure what she'd do on her own. Collapse, probably. She saw his eyes widen as they came forward, and suddenly, she was in his arms, and he was clinging to her as tightly as he could. "My Queen," he said.

"There's been something awful done to her," Knight was saying as she was walked to one set of chairs. "Ritual Obscurement. It needs to be lifted off of her before it kills her."

"Kurosawa?" Taiga was asking, and the other man bowed.

"I'll summon the Elder Dawn right away," Kurosawa-san said. "If my King gives his leave?"

Taiga nodded. "Go."

The man left, and Taiga continued to hold her. "Don't worry, I won't leave until she comes and can fix you," he said into her ear, as he petted her hair. He seemed to be as unwilling to let go of her as she was to let go of him. "Then we can truly be together." He looked up at Knight. "Thank you for finding her. You are?"

She saw Knight take off his glove. "Nobori Wataru. Her, but male, and different. I'm from another world." He smiled. "And now I have to return to my own."

"Knight," Wataru moaned, but she knew he had to go home. This wasn't his world, after all.

"This is your King," Knight said. "It's time for you to be together. I don't think you want me there for that." He smiled a little sadly.

Taiga was kissing her. "No, and as soon as she's safe, I intend to make up for missing her as much as I can."

"Treat her well," Knight said. "Teach her to hunt. And hunt healthy. Don't let her pick up bad habits."

"I won't," Taiga said, his gentle expression turning to a frown. "But how could she not know how to hunt?"

"The same thing that kept her from you," Knight said simply. "I know you'll treat her well." He smiled.

"Let me get you an escort," Taiga said, still holding her soothingly. "And thank you again." He dug his phone out of his pocket.

Soon, Knight was gone, and Wataru was right where she belonged. Safe. And at home.

* * *

"Knight's an interesting character, isn't he?" Song said, folding her hands. "I haven't seen him lately, and I miss him."

"Neither have I," Innocent said morosely.

"I wish he'd come back," Questing said. "He sounds... interesting."

"He was," Song told her. "Maybe he'll find his way back someday. In the meantime, Ocean? It's your turn."

"Stop calling me Ocean," the male Wataru next to Innocent muttered. "That's what my sister calls me. All the time."

* * *

Wataru took a deep breath as he finished reciting his lineage. Even with having to recite only one side of his family, not two, he still felt exhausted. He'd been tutored extensively on who his ancestors were and why they were important. As far as he was concerned, he didn't want to be related to a single one of them.

But he didn't have a choice in the matter. "Ocean Cliffs Slice a Human In Half," Bishop said, looking over his glasses disapprovingly. "That is not a complete lineage."

Of course it wasn't a complete lineage. The Fangire would no more respect his human ancestors than they would a gnat's.

"It's close enough," Wataru's sister Taiga said. She wanted the ceremony over as much as he did, though probably for different reasons. "Ocean
Cliffs did everything required of him. Now give him the bridal cup before my little brother faints for lack of energy."

BIshop frowned. "Very well." He made a motion, and a struggling, terrified human was brought in. He didn't blame her for being scared; the hall was full of monsters and he was one of them today.

Wataru took a deep breath. He hated this part, even more than the oaths and the lineage. He wanted to get it over with - even if over with just meant being ushered into a room to make sure that he had sex with his bride.

Kimiko smiled at him. He would make it through for her sake, he decided. Then they could be together, alone, call themselves husband and wife.

"Right," he said. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his fangs as Kimiko summoned hers, and willed himself to drain part of the energy out of the human woman.

As the woman turned glassy, Wataru tried very hard not to throw up. Somehow made it through the ceremony.

But as Kimiko slept, he quietly threw up into his handkerchief, swearing not to do that ever again.

* * *

"You and Kimiko-san are doing all right, aren't you?" Innocent asked, leaning over to him. "She's still pregnant?"

Ocean nodded shakily. "Kimiko is fine. I never want to do that ever again."

"It's not like you have reason to," Song said firmly, and Questing nodded. "Now, Rook, I believe it's your turn?"

* * *

"We should always be together," Taiga said, and Wataru looked up at him. His King was almost always reasonable, and he had no reason to disbelieve him. Besides, they were almost like brothers to each other, claiming a part of each others' lives. "I'm glad you decided to have your workshop below us."

"My first duty is to protect my King," Wataru said solemnly. "Of course I'm going to stay by your side. Unlike the last Rook."

He'd met the last Rook, who had lost his memory. Wataru was not surprised; of learning of the man's history, he was amazed that he'd lasted as long as he did. His king deserved much, much better. And Wataru would give him that much better. Besides, Taiga had shown him how the humans were betraying him; and while he missed Megumi-san and Nago-san and even Shima-san, he wanted to live and thrive. It wasn't his fault that he'd spent his life thinking he was human, though he had to wonder if he would have been discovered sooner had he gotten low on energy.

"In the meantime," Taiga said, "We've got a bed. I'm sure you'll understand that we'll be sharing it."

Wataru nodded. To sleep in the same bed as his King was to keep his King safe; he knew that. And besides that, Taiga needed the comfort. Wataru could hardly refuse him that.

"Good," Taiga said, smiling.

The three of them converged on the bed that night - Wataru, his King, and his Queen. Wataru had never shared a bed before with anybody but his mother, and he certainly wasn't sure about the whole how it worked with two married adults and a bodyguard thing.

"Come on, Wataru," Taiga said. "We're all together, we're going to be together." His King held out a patient hand, and Wataru only hesitated for a moment before joining the two of them on the bed.

It would take a little getting used to, but he'd make it.

* * *

"My life is very boring," Rook said, "But Taiga's so worth it." He smiled a bit at that. "He's the best lover that anybody could have."

"Nobody's going to disagree with you here," Innocent said.

"I will," Ocean objected, and their last Wataru shakily held up his hand as well.

"Okay, anybody who's willingly had Taiga as a lover," Innocent amended.

"I think it's my turn," Questing interrupted. She looked around at the others.

* * *

Wataru wasn't sure what had led the two of them to end up in a heap, naked, in her bed. But then, she didn't really care. Her glove was still on, so he couldn't have seen the King mark on it.

She stretched, getting up and heading across the room to the bathroom. She'd wash herself clean and then soak. Taiga-kun could do it later. "Wataru-chan," her friend said, "What are you doing?"

"I didn't mean to wake you up," Wataru said. "I'm going to take a bath. Because...." He could fill in the blanks.

"Come back to bed," Taiga said. "That has to be much more pleasant." He gave her his winningest smile, but she'd decided that her unexpected romp was the end of things. Especially since she was a King. Somewhere, out there, she had to have a Queen, not that she wanted one.

"Bath," she said, heading into the bathroom.

She heard the rustle of sheets as he got up beside her, kissing her shoulder. "Take off your glove, and I won't bother you about coming back to bed."

"Nope," she said. "Have fun in bed."

"Well, now that I'm up... I might as well bathe," Taiga said.

Giving up, Wataru lead him into the bathroom. She wondered if she should get used to him.

* * *

"I did, of course," Questing said. "He loves me and I love him and we both love Mio, so things work out well. And with my birth control pills, we'll have a correct, full-blooded heir."

"That sounds confusing," Innocent said, "But hey, it's your life."

"I wish my brother would let me have my own life," their sixth self, Trapped, said plaintively. He straightened up in the chair. "I don't want to be like most of you....."

* * *

It had begun one night after Taiga had allowed Wataru the use of his bedroom again. Wataru had woken up to find his brother sleeping on top of him in his bed. When he'd talked later with Taiga, Taiga had merely smiled and said that at least Wataru was safe that way.

So, Wataru had taken up sleeping on the couch, figuring that he'd be safe. However, after the second night, he found himself covered by his older brother once again. Taiga took that as a sign that Wataru belonged in bed with him and Mio.

Wataru could live with it, every so often, but sometimes it was too much and he stole back to his room, not wanting to deal with a brother that couldn't seem to tell the difference between him and Mio-san when it came to having sex. And of course, Taiga would follow him back to his room, finally declaring it the "sex room" for the family. His bedroom would be the sleeping room, Wataru's would be where they had sex and stored all the sex toys. Because, of course, Taiga couldn't seem to imagine his baby brother not wanting to sleep with him. The same with Mio-san; she happily used him as well.

He hoped that Mio-san wouldn't get pregnant any time soon. And he sometimes had to wonder if his brother saw him as a living, breathing sex toy.

Of course, his older brother sometimes invited trusted Fangire in, and Wataru would be expected to sleep with them as well. There was nothing he could do about it but pretend to agree and every so often find refuge away from Taiga and Mio and any visitors. But eventually, they would find him again, and he would have sex again.

* * *

"This is my refuge," Trapped said, looking around at the others. "Taiga can't keep me from coming here; all he can do is pull me back. And I like it enough that he allows me my little... eccentricities."

"We belong to our Taigas, every one of us," Innocent said. "You can't escape it, just endure it. It'll get better, you'll see."

Trapped shook his head. "I don't think so." Wiping barely-visible tears from his eyes, he got up and walked off. "I don't really think so."

Behind him, the others were silent.