A month had passed since his rebirth and Masao finally had to come to terms and accept that everything that had happened was real. Masao was dead and now he was Yole, a freaking baby who couldn't even hold his head up on his own.

Yole still didn't know what he had done to deserve a second chance and while he was grateful for it, he wished it weren't so boring. What he wouldn’t give for a magazine or a television in this place, it would be better than a teddy bear being waved in his face or the watching a wooden mobile circle over head a million times. All he had done for a month straight was eat, shit and sleep. And if it weren't awkward enough to have to get his diapers changed, his mother insisted on breastfeeding and since he no longer had his usual iron grip on his emotions, it happened more often than he would have liked.

Which is where he found himself now, staring up into his mothers blue eyes. He hadn't left his parents room since he was reborn and his mother hadn't left his side either. Apparently he was born early and his health was still fragile in his isolation, so he'd spent his time getting acquainted with his new family. First was his parents. His father, Vesamir, was without a doubt the largest mountain of a man he’d ever seen. The first time he was held by the man, Yole thought for sure he'd be crushed. His hair was long and braided in parts, as was his thick beard that scratched Yole's head whenever his gave him a kiss. Despite his size and scarred face, Vesamir was a kind father and devoted husband, if not startlingly loud and boisterous. His laugh alone had woken Yole up from many a nap in tears. Yole’s mother was, thankfully, more soft spoken. She was gentle and affectionate and Yole had yet to see her without a smile on her face. It had been so long, Yole could barely remember what his old parents were like. Millicet only spoke lovingly to him in a melodious voice, which she often used to sing Yole to sleep, much like she was doing right now.

“Are you tired, my little prince?” his mother asked as she watched Yole’s eyes droop. Careful not jostle him, she lifted her hand and with a short wave of her hand the candles in the room a were put out and the large black marble fireplace was lit with the soft glow of blue embers.

Another aspect of his new life that he was still getting used to, and the most glaring one at that, was magic. He'd seen both of his parents use it in some form or another. Their powers seemed to primarily revolve ground fire, but he'd also seen his mother heal the minor injuries his father would sometimes return with, or watch his father repair a broken candle habra with his bare hands without leaving a single mark that it was ever broken to begin with.

Never did he ever think he'd see something so incredible and it brought all of the pieces together. The magic powers, his fathers scars and the weapons collection that lined the room like trophies told Yole all he needed to know; he'd been born into a world of swords and sorcery. A world he

would've seen in picture books.and anime the first time he was a kid. When he first watched his

mother use her powers, it was to heat his bath water. She placed her hand in the small basin and in no time at all the water was steaming. The very next day is when he saw his father weld

the candlestick back together and then watched him make a whole new one from the heavy golden chain around his neck. All of the magic so far had been centered around fire or heat, Yole couldn't tell if there was anything more to it, it had already taken him this long to wrap his head around the fact that this wasn't some kind of bizarre coma dream.

Though he couldn’t deny this excitement at the thought of one day having magical powers of his own. It was something he often daydreamed about as a child and even sometimes as an adult, the ability to make something amazing happen with the mere effort of waving your hand or snapping your fingers. In some respects he held that ability as a yakuza boss, with a snap of his fingers he could summon money, weapons and even people. However real magic was much more powerful and, in Yole’s eyes, pure. Magic in this world was warm and not purely selfish like the power he once held with an iron fist. It was something he wanted to be closer to. Though if he wants to be strong enough to wield those magic powers, he’d first need to be strong enough to sit up on his own. Despite the fact that all he did was lay around all day, Yole was exhausted just thinking about all of this.

Even now as he nursed and his eyes were becoming heavy, he could see his mother lovingly gazing down at him. It was so comforting, it was making him fall asleep again. Hopefully she'd put him to bed when he was done. The more he slept, the less awkward interactions and unbearable coddling he'd be forced to endure. Just as he was about to drift off, the chamber door was flung open as his brother and sister hurdled inside, startling Yole awake again

Great.

Just what he needed.

In addition to new parents, Yole had been gifted a brother and sister, the twins Beor and Cettie. Needless to say, Yole wasn't quite fond of them yet and it was easy to tell that his brother felt the

same way. Every time Bear saw him he'd wrinkle his nose in disgust and he refused to hold him whenever their mother offered. Maybe he didn't like babies, but Yole couldn't help but, feel like it was more personal than that . Perhaps jealousy that he wasn't the only son anymore, but Yole hadn't seen him treat their sister that kindly either. As far as Yole was concerned he was nothing more than a spoiled brat, and Yole couldn't wait to regain control of his body so he could pay his dear older brother back for the times he pinched him when their parents weren't looking.His sister on the other hand, was the exact opposite. She absolutely adored her baby brother and loved playing with him. Of course at a month old, Yole was more like a baby doll the a playmate, but at least she was gentle with him. As soon as she entered the room she went straight to Yole

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and began smothering his face with kisses.

“Hello baby!” she softly cheered and began to pet his head. “Are you excited?”

Excited? For what? Yole wondered.

“Is it time already, " Millicet asked and stood, passing Yole to Cettie. “I must've lost track of time Beor, go check on your father and make sure he's getting ready.”

“He's the one who sent us to get you,” Bear said, using his own magic to raise the lights back up.

Yole wiggled in his sisters arms to get a better look at them and saw how ornately they were dressed in long robes and jeweled headwear.

Are they going to a party?

It was easy to tell that he'd been born into wealth by the bed chamber alone, decked out in gold and luxurious tapestries. His parents bed alone was so huge it could easily fit the whole family, and a variety of maids were in and out daily. His eyesight was improving everyday and each day he noticed something new. He assumed his family held a position of power to gain such wealth , but he hadn’t learned what it was officially. If his father was a warrior as all of the weapons suggested, he could be a high ranking military official.

Sending Beor out of the room, Millicet hurriedly changed out of her simple cotton night gown and into a beautiful dress that reached all the way to the floor and along fur lined robe that trailed behind her. Cette set Yole in his cradle and joined her mother at her wide vanity table as two maids entered the room to fix her long hair into an elegant braided bun. When she was done a golden band was placed around her head, almost blending in with her platinum blonde hair. After they finished with his mother, the maids turned their attention to Yole and, after another humiliating change, dressed him in a red and gold gown and wrapped a thin gold band around his head as well.

“Such a handsome little prince,” one cooed at him.

With the "crown " sitting heavy on his soft head, Yole was starting to figure out that his mother calling him “little prince” wasn't, just an affectionate term of endearment. The large chambers and the servants, it was all starting to fall into place. A place that Yole should've realized by now. Taking him from the crooning maids, Millicet cradled her son closely and carried him out of the bedchamber for the first time since he was born. According to the doctor who had come to see him after his rebirth, Yole was born a month early and while that wasn’t necessarily too dangerous, it scared Milliect enough to keep her baby isolated from the rest of the castle for the time being. Yole wondered what was so special to bring him out now. Outside Vesamir and the twins were waiting for them , also dressed up in their ceremonial robes. Vesamir had even combed his hair for the occasion.

“Don't you clean up nicely, " he said to his son, who glared up at him.

Like you're one to talk…

“Are you ready?” Vesamir asked his wife, who let out a sigh at uncertainty.

“It’s not as if we can turn away the guests now,” she said, he hold on Yole tightening. “Are you sure he’s ready? He’s so fussy, what if he starts crying?”

“He’ll be fine, my love. The twins slept through their viewing, I’m sure he’ll do the same.”

Viewing? Like a funeral? Yole didn’t like where this was going. He also wasn’t sure about being around guests yet. So far he hadn’t been around anyone but his family and the seldom few servants that were allowed in the bed chamber, he didn’t want anyone else to see him like this! Giving into his mother’s worries, he started to fuss and squirm in her arms.”

“See, he’s already upset,” Millicet said, bouncing her baby lightly.

“Once he’s in the cradle he’ll be fine,” Vesamir once again reassured her. “I’m sure he’s just tired.”

“I know how to make him stop crying, Mama,” Cettie said, tugging at her mother’s gown until she lowered Yole down to her. Cettie reached out to her baby brothers chin and started to tickle him. Yole couldn’t help but let out a peel of laughter as her fingers poked at his sensitive skin. “See, all better!”

I’ll get you for this, brat, Yole thought as he hid his face away in his mother’s chest. Next time she tried to pick him, he’d spit up on her just like he did whenever Beor got too close.

Vesamir took this as the perfect time to rip of the bandage and guided his family to a wide set of double door that reached all the way up to the ceiling. On each side a tall guard stood and, after a swift bow to Vesamir and Millicet, opened the doors, leading to a large throne room filled to the brim with people. All turned to face them as they entered and bowed to them, confirming Yole’s suspicions. Not only had he been gifted a second chance, he’d been gifted that chance as royalty. He was a real prince! As they passed through the parting crowd of people, he could hear them whisper to each other.

“The new prince is so small!”

“Kind of a runt, isn’t he?”

“My goodness, he’s so adorable!”

“Such a cute baby.”

I’ve gone from the most feared face in the Japanese underworld to a cute, runty baby. How the mighty have fallen.

Yole didn’t want to linger on all of the small comments he was hearing since, of course he was small, he was a damn baby! But it did make him linger on the fact that he’d still be small for years to come. It was going to take literal decades for him to get back to his normal self and that was assuming his new body would go the same route as his old one.

At the from of the room sat four thrones, two large and two small, all made of gold and taller than Vesamir himself. Next to the thrones was a golden cradle filled with lush furs and a silk canopy. Yole was carefully placed inside and tucked in with a kiss to the top of his head.

“Rest now, my little one,” Millicet whispered as she gently pet her sons head. “All of these people are here to see you, but Mama will still be close by.”

Once Yole was safely tucked away in the cradle, Millicet too her seat with the rest of her family as one by one their guests came to see the newborn prince. With how full the throne room was, Yole got the feeling that he was going to be there for a long time.