Sakura’s Turn

“Just remember, baby girl… if anyone dares, tell me and I’ll shoot ‘em dead!”

Sakura chuckled, kissing her father Wonder on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll let you know.”

She walked out where Majin was waiting. He smiled gently and offered an arm. “Shall we?”

Sakura took it. “Sure.”

They went to the seaside café. It was technically a small little thing, but the food was good and the staff was friendly. Majin had reserved a booth table on the balcony overlooking the sea. The staff apparently had guessed what was up, because when they were shown to the table it already had candles lit and flowers set up. Sakura tried not to giggle in delight.

However, came the hard part.

The silence.

It wasn’t unusual for Hyde dinners to be silent. It technically didn’t start until food was served, and then everyone was usually eating. Any after-dinner conversation was scattered around the carriage. It was really only when there was a family announcement that there was talk around food.

So this pre-wait felt… awkward.

Majin thankfully started it off. “So I hear you’re looking to officially go into the RDF?”

Sakura chuckled, adjusting her hair. “Yeah…”

“That’s pretty impressive.”

Sakura smiled. “Thanks. I’m still not sure entirely where it came from… it’s the only time I can wield a weapon without feeling sick.”

Majin shrugged. “That’s because to you, it’s a tool to save, not fight. I mean… I’ve seen that morning-star smash boulders like they were actually just wet balls of dirt.”

Sakura bit her lip, but she had to admit that was true. It also seemed her morning-star was more powerful when dealing damage to save, and not to fight. She said, “Can… you summon a weapon?”

Majin held out a hand, and a dagger appeared. “I can. Most Lightwraiths can summon a tool that aligns with their Soulwave. Similar to how your father can summon a bow at will. It’s his Soulwave weapon… though maybe we shouldn’t tell him he’s using the same magic as a Lightwraith.”

Sakura laughed. She then smiled. “And Izuku’s natural knack with the Undead…”

Majin shrugged. “Possibly. It would explain why he never runs out of bunnies.”

They both laughed.

Then the waitress served their appetizer. Sakura and Majin both thanked the waitress, and Sakura was glad for the food. Now this was a proper dinner!

Ugh… not quite. Usually snacks was reserved for waiting for dinner or lunch, yes. But it was always around something else. Mostly her dads’ different stories and legends.

Majin said, “You know… I can almost hear Wonder starting off one of his Honei stories. What was the last one? Here is the tale where the child abuser finally gets his due?”

Sakura laughed. “Yeah, Dad likes to tell stories before dinner. He feels that it is often the best way to teach.”

“It’s definitely successful. Me, I now officially despise books.”

Sakura chuckled, then grew curious. “You actually had learning?”

Majin said, “It’s not all warrior and fighting up in the Champion Families. We often have to learn to be politicians and ambassadors of our race. Especially me… Dad’s well-known throughout all of Hoseki, so it’s become a necessity.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Sakura said, “I’m sorry.”

Majin smiled gently. “Not your fault. It is simply my life.”

Sakura said, “Weird question… from what I heard of your dad, he should be part of the RDF.”

Majin shook his head. He said, “He may be more open-minded than most of our race, but he still embraces too much of our culture for the RDF. He still desires victory and glory. Now… don’t get me wrong, if he heard someone was in trouble, he’d jump in with no regard to his safety to save them out. It’s part of why our ‘employee’ base is so huge. But the things that earned him his name? He did most of them for glory, not to save.”

Sakura said, “Gotcha.”

Majin chuckled. “He was kinda elevated to hear you’ll be part of the RDF.”

“Kinda?”

Majin chuckled. “OK, he nearly blasted the top few floors off.”

Sakura chuckled. “I am almost sure Dad’s right… your father’s voice is the biggest weapon around.”

Majin said, “I cannot deny that.”

The main food came out then. Sakura perked, and all her focus was on that. Majin let it go.

Dinner was soon done and paid for, and they went walking on the beach. The cool night air, the stars… it was so beautiful and peaceful.

Majin said, “…I am surprised you never ask about my mom.”

Sakura said, “You have one?”

Majin blinked. “How do you think babies are made?”

Sakura said, “I’ll, uh, translate the dummy moment. I thought your father was single. Like… mom passed away or was killed or something.”

“Oh. No, she is still around. You’ve met her, in fact.”

“I have???”

Suddenly, the wheelchair-bounded Lightwraith came to mind. “Wait… Miss Tal. That’s your mom?”

Majin relaxed. “Yes.”

Sakura said, “That explains why she’s around you 24/7.”

She shrugged. “We actually all kinda guessed that she might have had a major hand in raising you. Apparently back in Dad’s home, there are servants called governesses and nannies who are often a big part of raising a child in rich families… sometimes more than the actual parents.”

Majin said, “Very interesting. No, she is my birth mother.”

“A lot of things make sense.”

“Have you… ever been to Wonder’s birth land?”

Sakura laughed. “NOPE. And I doubt Dad will ever let us go. He’s… had too rough an experience growing up.”

Majin said, “That is fair.”

They reached a port and climbed onto the wooden platform. Majin looked silently over the water. “Sakura… if I were to grow sick… would you still love me?”

Sakura said, “Um… yeah. Do we need to go back and have Dad shoot people?”

Majin chuckled. “No, not yet. But it’s a threat that has been hanging over my head since childbirth.”

He looked sadly at the sea. “The reason Mom does not stand by Dad is that she is ‘weak’. Her family has a history of a terrible illness. One that cripples an organ to the point you cannot do anything. In a way, Mom got lucky… the organ that got struck could be treated, and she does not have to live in pain due to the medication. But you’ve seen the condition she’s in.”

Sakura said, “So this could strike you.”

“Yes. Dad says it’s still very possible I get my blood from his side of the family and I’d be fine. And Mom says her case was unusual… most of her family didn’t get it until old age anyway.”

Sakura gave him a side-hug. “Hey… you’ll always be my lifemate. And my first one. And… honestly, my first Lightwraith friend.”

Majin blushed. She continued, “You getting sick is not going to change that. Not one bit.”

Majin smiled softly. “…thank you.”

“And besides, if that were to happen, Dad would go and throttle the Light goddess until she cured you anyway.”

Majin burst into laughter. Sakura smiled. “There’s that laugh~. Oh, by the way, you never told me how you evolved into teenage years.”

Majin smiled. “Training. It was boring. The only exciting thing was that I could stand by you.”

Sakura heated up. “Well… there’s that.”

Majin looked at her. “Can I… kiss you?”

“Want Dad to kill you the moment the bond connects?”

Sakura looked away. “And, um… not yet. I, um…”

Majin put a hand on her shoulder. “No need to explain. We still have plenty of time.”

Sakura smiled softly. “Thanks, Majin. I do like you, it’s just… too soon. I’m barely figuring myself out.”

Majin nodded. “I understand. Don’t rush.” He smiled warmly. “You aren’t the only one.”

“Wait, really?”

Majin nodded. “When the lifemate instinct tingled, I realized something. So far, I’ve been my parents’ boy. Either the Cursed Child, or Child of the Hero. When it comes to me… yeah, I don’t know. Not yet anyway.”

Sakura smiled. “Seems like we still both have to figure shit out.”

“Don’t say that. The moment you cuss in front of your dad, I’ll be trying to figure out how to break into a magical carriage because you’re grounded.”

Sakura giggled.