Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One bright sunny morning, in the beautiful French city of Paris, the lovely sounds of ringing bells, which are coming from Notre Dame, are heard throughout the entire city. While the pigeons were flying over the city towards the Cathedral, the ray of morning sunshine is peeking out through the white, fluffy clouds. 

As the cockerel continues to crow, the townsfolk had  already open their doors and windows, and began their usual morning routines. A woman is throwing dirt water out of her window. The fishermen sat quietly and patiently on the bridge, waiting to catch some fish. And the baker happily comes out of his shop, placing some freshly baked goods outside on display.

Shinya

Morning in Paris, the city awakes

To the bells of Notre Dame

The fisherman fishes, the baker-man bakes

To the bells of Notre Dame

Running around the town square, children were laughing and playing together, as they gathered round a bright colourful gypsy cart. The smaller children were making their way through the front so they can see. Inside the cart is a Jester named Shinya, a tall young omega-man with medium length silver hair with bangs, and blue eyes. Dressed in bright coloured clothes, wearing a dark blue hat with a yellow feather, a purple fuchsia mask, and a single gold earring in his ear.

The pleasant sound of the bells continues as he charmingly smiles down at his young audience, who were facing him in curiosity and wonder. 

Shinya

To the big bells as loud as the thunder

To the little bells soft as a psalm

And some say the soul of the city's the toll of the bells

The bells of Notre Dame

Listening to the soothing sound, Shinya can feel himself being at ease by Notre Dame’s glorious ringing charms. “Listen. Aren’t they beautiful, my young audience?” Shinya smiled “So many colours of sound, so many changing moves” he leans over, winking down at them with a finger held up, “But you know, those magnificent bells don’t ring all by themselves”. 

In that moment, his little sister, Shinoa jumped out from behind him with her hands behind her back. 

Shinoa is a short girl of age fifteen, a female Jester and an omega, with shoulder length lavender hair, which is braided back with a large pink bow, and amber-red eyes. Dressed in bright colours of pink and purple, wearing all kinds of jewellery, and not wearing any shoes. 

“They don’t ring by themselves, big brother?” she curiously asked with a cheeky grin. Chuckling, “No, you silly girl” Shinya answers, pulling the curtains behind them to reveal Notre Dame, “Look up there. Living high up inside the dark bell tower is a  mysterious bell-ringer. Everyone in Paris has always wondered about his origins. Like…who is he?”. Ringing her little bells “Who?” Shinoa is being silly and playing, making the children giggle. “What is he?”. “What?”. “And how did he come to be there?”. “How?”. “Oh, hush up, Shinoa!” Shinya gently smacked her on the back of her head. The children laughed when that happened. 

Glaring back at him, “You wounded me, your own sister!” Shinoa whined while rubbing her head. “Well, behave yourself…” Shinya told her, before smiling back at their audience, “…And I shall tell you all about the mysterious bell-ringer. It is a tale, a tale of a man…and a monster!”. 

One winter’s night, many years ago. A group of Gypsies are quietly sitting in a small boat, while the boatman takes them safely down the Seine River. 

A young woman with calf-length rosy pink hair, partially done up into two pigtails and bright blue eyes, is cradling her baby close to her breast. 

As they were coming out from under the docks, her son stirred, and began wailing in hunger, making her brother and their companions feel anxious. 

Shinya

Dark was the night when our tale was begun

On the docks near Notre Dame

If the child continues to cry, they’ll be spotted in no time. “Shut it up, will you?!” Kiseki-o quietly hissed at his friends. “Ashera, please tell your sister to keep it down!” Gekkouin whispered anxiously to his husband. Agreed with his soulmate, Ashera wrapped his arm around his sister, and whispers “Krul! Get him to be quiet, or we’ll be spotted!”. “I’m sorry, dear brother. He’s hungry” Krul whispered while bringing out her son’s feeding bottle. Facing down at her son, who’s wrapped warmly in a blanket, “Hush, my dear little one” Krul cooed, planted a kiss on his forehead while feeding him some dark-red liquid that looks like blood. Eventually, he stepped crying as he happily drinks whilst squeezing his mother’s finger.  

For years, the gypsies lived in a state of constant fear. They lived there lives in hiding, working petty jobs during the day in hopes to earn enough money for food. They lived in such a fearful state, due to the Minister of Paris, and his pursuit of cleansing the world of everything that he deemed unfit to live in his so-called perfect world. 

The Minister has a forbidden-law to never accept alphas and omegas, both with the same gender, to fall in love and marry each other. If he and his soldiers caught a man falling for another man, or a woman falling for another woman, every same-sex couples will be arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death. By order of the Minister, only a male-alpha and a female-omega is allowed to marry each other and have children. The people in the city are afraid of him, and have no choice but to follow his law. However, the Gypsies, who are all outcasts, never obey the Minister’s orders. Some brave Gypsies freely do whatever they pleased, while others lived in a fearful environment where some of their kind are judged because of their same-sex omegaverse-couples. Their are people in Paris who bravely excepts their love for each other. While some people, like the Minister, never like couples who has the same gender, and feel disgusted by them. 

Since Krul and Ashera are both omegas, her brother’s bonded-husband, Gekkouin is a alpha, and their friend Kiseki-o is a beta. Tragically five months ago, when Krul was still pregnant with her son, her alpha-lover, who was a Gypsy, was captured by the evil Minister’s soldiers while he was trying to bring back food for her and their unborn child, and was executed. After grieving the death of her beloved husband, Ashera took matters in his hands to help care for his sister and her baby. 

As time went by, Krul’s son had came into the world. He was born a alpha just like his late-father. But being born with fangs, pointy ears and blood-red coloured eyes…he looks…different. Despite her son’s horrifying appearance, Krul still loves him dearly with all her heart. 

While watching her son finish drinking the last drop of animal’s blood, which she believes that blood is what he needs to feed on, Krul sometimes wonder what will happen to him when he’s older. Will he be able to survive on human food as well? Or will he just continue to drink blood, not from an animal, but from a human instead? And because of his appearance, people will probably be afraid of him, and thinking he some kind of a monster. No matter what happens, Krul will do whatever she can to keep her beloved son safe. 

Shinya

Four frightened Gypsies slid silently under

The docks near Notre Dame

As they silently made their way to shore, shivering in the bitter cold, Krul, Ashera and their companions are hoping to escape the city in the darkness, continue their journey on foot, and finally find freedom and happiness outside Paris. When the boat finally stopped, the Gypsies got out and steps foot into the snow. 

After Ashera helped his sister and her baby out, the boatman held his hand out to Gekkouin, who’s paying. “Four guilders for safe passage into Paris” the boatman said, until he was startled by an arrow, that was shot out from somewhere and hit his boat. 

Shinya

But a trap had been laid for the Gypsies

And they gazed up in fear and alarm

The group saw a squad of soldiers that were patrolling the streets, and spotted the Gypsies trying to escape the city. The soldiers surrounded them with spears, making Krul, Ashera and Kiseki-o to hid behind Gekkouin, who stood on his guard trying to protect them. They could hear the sound of a horse’s hooves coming their way.

Shinya

At a figure whose clutches 

Were iron as much as the bells

Slowly turning their heads around, Krul, Ashera and the others felt their fear grow at the sight of a familiar man riding on a black stallion, coming out of the shadows. “Judge Kureto Hiragi!” Ashera gasped in horror. 

Shinya

The bells of Notre Dame

Coming up towards them on his horse, which looked as frightening and vicious as his master, Kureto is a stern alpha-man, with short black hair, reddish-brown eyes and thick eyebrows that zigzag up at the ends. Dressed smartly in his black riding clothes, wearing a black cape, boots, gloves, his sword attached to his belt, and a purple and black tricorn hat with a red sash. 

When he stepped his horse, Kureto glance down at the frightened Gypsies, and felt disgusted when he noticed Gekkouin had his hands on Ashera’s shoulders, realised that they are a married couple. 

Shinya

Judge Kureto Hiragi longed to purge 

The world of vice and sin

Looking up at the man in fear, Ashera held onto his sister to try and protect her and her child, when he and his husband were forcefully pulled away from her by the soldiers. In panic, Krul tried to reach out for her brother, but he sadly shook his head. With chains in hand, Kureto’s soldiers arrested the three Gypsies and the boatman. 

Shinya

And he saw corruption everywhere, except within

“Bring these Gypsy vermin to the Palace of Justice. And have them executed, at ones” Kureto ordered. Now alone, embracing her son in sorrow, Krul did nothing but watched her poor brother and the others being dragged away, and being taken to the Palace of Justice to receive their death sentence. 

Looking up at the frightening man, Krul fears deep down inside her heart that if he sees her son’s face, he will be mortified and disgusted…and have him killed too. Decided to take matters on her own, Krul looks around for an escape route, while hiding her child’s face against her. She will do whatever she can to protect him. 

Suddenly, one of the remaining soldiers noticed the Gypsy woman holding a bundle in her arms. “You there, what are you hiding?!” he forcefully grabbed hold of her. Eying the wrapped up bundle suspiciously, “She must have stolen goods, no doubt. Take them from her” Kureto ordered his soldier. “NO! I WON’T LET YOU!” Krul shouted, as she angrily snaps her arm away and stomps the soldier’s foot  really hard, causing him to shout in agony and fall on his ass. 

“And then…she ran” Shinya narrated in a dramatic way.

Running as fast as she can through the snow, keeping a tight hold of her beloved child, Krul looks back over her shoulder, and gasps in panic when she saw Kureto chasing after her on his vicious horse. Krul ran up some stairs, and did some sharp turns to try and avoid him, but he still following her. Running and gasping nonstop, Krul is beginning to lose her limit as Kureto is catching up to her. After taking another sharp turn round the corner, Krul saw a fence coming her way, and she immediately jumps over it and carried on running. Grinding his teeth in rage, Kureto’s horse stepped because it couldn’t fit through the small gap. 

For a moment, Krul had no idea where she was until she spotted Notre Dame, the magnificent Cathedral in all of Paris. With no where else to go, the Cathedral is her only chance of getting sanctuary in order to protect her son. Running straight towards the Church, Krul ran up the steps til she threw herself at one of the massive doors. “Sanctuary! Please give us sanctuary!” Krul cried whilst banging helplessly on the large door-knocker. She turn swiftly around when her hears galloping behind her, and there’s Kureto coming her way. Panicking, with no other options, Krul had no choice but to run again. 

But with her aching feet hurting her from all that running, and her lungs ache from the lack of oxygen, Krul weren’t fast enough when Kureto had finally caught up with her. He roughly grab a firm hold of the bundle, and kicked Krul down the steps. When Krul’s head hit the hard-step, her skull fractured. She lay there on the steps of the Cathedral, with the snow falling down on her, no longer moving or breathing…she’s dead. 

After a moment of looking down at the dead Gypsy woman, Kureto suddenly heard the bundle he had snatched from her, crying. “A baby?” he thought in wonder. He can tell this child is a alpha, but when he unwrap the blanket to have a better look at his face, Kureto gasp in alarm and horror, “A Vampire!”. Covering the crying child’s face again, Kureto looks around in panic, until his eyes gazed a on a nearby wall. Moving his horse towards the well, and stop to gaze down at his reflection in the water, Kureto held the baby high up over the well. He was about to drop the child, when…

“STOP, YOU BASTARD! Cried Guren the Archdeacon” Shinya narrated.

Standing at the top-step of his beloved Church, with his hand stretched out is Guren, a tall alpha-man, with purple eyes and medium length black hair parted in the middle. Dressed in his white cassock, with a red and gold stole, and a golden cross around his neck. 

After he heard a woman banging on the door and pleaded for sanctuary, Guren came out of the Church moments later. But he was already to late, when he found her lying dead on the steps, with blood pouring out of her head and mixed in with the white snow. Now seeing what the Minister is about to do, Guren immediately stopped him from killing the boy as well. Guren’s following Nuns, who are all betas, came rushing out when they heard all the commotion, and were shocked and horrified to see what’s going on.

“This is a blood-sucking demon, Guren” Kureto argued, “I’m sending it back to Hell, where it belongs”. As the Nuns started praying for the poor Gypsy woman, the Archdeacon fell down on his knees beside Krul’s body, and held her in his arms, feeling sympathy for her, and betray at the man that killed her. 

Guren

See there the innocent blood you have spilt

On the steps of Notre Dame

Withdrew the bundle from the well, Kureto scoff at the idea that this lifeless outcast-omega was innocent in the eyes of a holy man. “I have no guilt” he argued, “She ran, I pursued”. Guren’s angry eyes never left the man on his horse coming towards him. 

Guren

Now you would add this child's blood to your guilt

On the steps of Notre Dame

Kureto stopped his horse to face down at Guren, “My conscience is clear!” he spat, grinning his teeth. But Guren wasn’t finish. 

Guren

You can lie to yourself and your minions

You can claim that you haven't a qualm

But you never can run from nor hide 

What you've done from the eyes

As the Archdeacon points at the Cathedral, thousands of statues that were seen all around the front walls, are glancing down at the Minister. 

Guren

The very eyes of Notre Dame

Looking up at all the statues of Notre Dame glaring daggers at him, Kureto felt his stomach drop in fear, as though the whole building would swallow him up and crush him. The shadows of the Church pointed towards him like a accusing finger sentencing him to Hell.

Shinya

And for one time in his life of power and control

Kureto felt a twinge of fear for his immortal soul

While Kureto’s eyes fixed a on the statues of Notre Dame, Guren silently prayed for Krul’s soul, and a safe journey to Heaven for the Gypsy woman. 

Picking her body up in his arms, Guren carried her up the steps, nodding to his followed Nuns by the entrance. He stopped when Kureto ask in panic, “What must I do to atone? Tell me!”. Turning back to face him, “Care for the brat, and raise him as your own” Guren seriously answered. Kureto wasn’t pleased by that, “What?! I’m to be saddled with this monstrosity…” looking down at the baby, who is now sound asleep, his expression softened when an idea came to mind, “Very well. But let him live with you in your Church”. “Live in my Church?!” Guren gasped in surprise, “But, where exactly?!”. 

Thinking seriously hard about where to keep the boy well hidden, making sure he stays inside, and doesn’t go mingling with people. Kureto knows that when the boy becomes of age, he’ll probably meet someone, fall in love with them, and make them his soulmate. Or worse, since the child is a Vampire, he’ll probably need to feed on his prey, by drinking their blood, and maybe turn them into a Vampire too.  

Kureto

Just so he’s kept locked away where no one else can see

Kureto’s eyes move up to one of the towers. “The bell tower, perhaps” Kureto answered, “And who knows? Our Lord works in mysterious ways”. He face down at the sleeping child in his arms, with devilishly grin, knowing that this child will be useful to him one day. 

Kureto

Even this foul creature may yet prove one day to be…

Of use…to me

As Guren took Krul’s body inside the Cathedral, and plan to give her a proper burial, one of the Nuns went up to Kureto. He handed the baby over to her before leaving, with a wicked smile. 

Returning back to Shinya and Shinoa’s gypsy cart. “Then Kureto left the child strictly hidden inside the House of God” Shinya explained the story to his audience, “Since they have no trust in the Judge, Guren and the Nuns took matters in their own hands to cere for the boy. And they gave the child a more fitting name. A name that means ‘A Gift From God’. Mikaela”. 

Shinya

Now, here is a riddle to guess, if you can

Sing the bells of Notre Dame

Who is the monster and who is the man?

Sixteen years later. Inside the bell tower, a young figure is happily pulling every single rope connected to each bell, making all of them ring loud and mighty, welcoming another beautiful morning.

Shinya

Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells

Bells of Notre Dame!

Chapter Text

After ringing the morning bells, the bell ringer uses the rope to swing himself safely down on the ground, and makes his way to the balcony, with a flock of pigeons flying out of the tower. The sixteen year old boy, who looks pretty tall and muscular is named Mikaela, and he’s a Vampire. As well as being born with fangs and bloody-red eyes, the Vampire has blonde wavy hair which hides his pointy ears, and pale smooth skin. Dressed in a dark-green tunic with a brown belt, brown tight-trousers, and black thigh-length boots.

Mikaela stands between two stone-Gargoyles, which almost looked like humans, dressed like nobles, with horns on their heads, bat-wings, pointy ears and fangs. 

Looking out at the beautiful city, Mikaela breathes in the fresh air and closed his eyes, to feel the warmth of the sun shining down on him. In books they say that vampires were supposed to sleep and stay in during the daytime, and can only go out a night. But being a Vampire himself, Mikaela strangely enough has no trouble being out in the sunlight.

Turning his attention to a small nest inside one of the Gargoyle’s mouth. Sleeping soundly in its nest is a cute baby pigeon. Ever since the poor little thing lost his mother when he was still an egg, Mikaela found the egg one day, took pity and brought it inside his home. After a few days of keeping the egg warm and watching over it, the egg finally hatched. Being fed and well looked after by the very kind Vampire, the baby pigeon’s never afraid of him, and had been his friend. Four weeks had passed, Mikaela knows it’s time for the little guy to learn how to fly, and leave the nest. 

Smiling at him, “Good morning, little friend” Mikaela greeted. The little pigeon instantly woken up, and happily chirps to greet him back. Giving him a little pat on the head with his finger, “Will today be the day? Are you ready to fly?” Mikaela asked, with a hopeful smile. Feeling scared, and unsure if he’s ready, the little pigeon nervously chirped in response. “You sure? Oh, don’t be afraid. It’ll be alright, I’m here for you” Mikaela said with confidence, gently picking up the baby pigeon in his hands, “Trust me, is a good day to try. Why, if I was a bird like you, and I picked a day to fly, oh, this would be it! The Festival of Fools!”. He shows the little bird what’s currently being set up in the city square. Seeing how high they are, the little bird gulped and chirps nervously to his friend. “Don’t worry, my little friend” Mikaela held him high up in the air, while he began flapping his wings, “It’ll be fun. There’s going to be some jugglers, music and dancing, and a lot of people dressing up in all kinds of costumes”. 

Moving his hands away, Mikaela proudly smiles at the little bird now flying on his own. Realising he didn’t fall, and he can actually fly all by himself, the baby pigeon chirps happily at Mikaela before landing back in his hands. In that moment, they say a flock of pigeons flying past them, headed high up in the sky. Seeing his little friend excited and ready to join his kind, “Go ahead and be with them” Mikaela encouraged whilst patting his head, “Nobody wants to be cooped up here forever”. The little pigeon chirps ‘thank you and farewell’ to Mikaela, and happily flies away to join the other pigeons. Watching his birdie-friend disappear into the horizon, Mikaela can feel sadness and misery return, and wished he could fly away too.

In a moment of silence, a male-Gargoyle named Lacus started moving, annoyingly spitting out the bird’s nest and feathers out of his mouth. “Oh, man! That’s fucking disgusting!” Lacus spat out more feathers in disgusted “Why, that little bird brain, I thought he’d never leave! Thanks to him, I’ll be spitting feathers for a whole bloody week!”. The other male-Gargoyle named René crossed his arms at him, “Well, that’s what you get for sleeping with your mouth open” he said in a proper-mannered tone. Coming up to them from the other side of the balcony, “It’s your own silly fault, Lacus” a female-Gargoyle named Chess shook her head at him. Chuckle sarcastically, “Go scare a Nun, you two” Lacus grumbled, “Or better yet, go and kiss one”. Noticing what’s going on down below them, “Hey, Mikaela, what’s going on down there?” Chess asked in a sing-song tone, “Is there a fight going on? A flogging?”. “It’s a festival” René answered with a smiled. Realised, “It that time of the year?! The Feast of Fools?!” Lacus excitedly flapped his wings, “Alright, baby! Pour the wine, cut the cheese, and bring out the dancing omegas!”. Placing a hand on the Vampire’s shoulder, “It is a treat to watch the colourful pageantry of the simple peasant folk” René said. “And watching every young alphas and omegas dressing up and having the great time of their lives” Chess smile sweetly, with a hand on her chest. “Oh boy! Nothing like balcony seats for watching the Feast of Fools, hey Mikaela?” Lacus elbowed the miserable Vampire. “Yeah…watching” Mikaela turn around and walks away. 

Turning his attention back to the festival, “Oh, look…a mime” Lacus smirk before hocks up a phlegm in his throat. He about to spit over the balcony, when René and Chess immediately covers his mouth, which forced him to swallow it back down. 

Wondering why they stopped him, René encourage him to look at the Vampire heading back inside. “Hey, hey, hey. What’s the matter, kid?” Lacus asked in worry. “Aren't you going to watch the festival with us?” Chess asked. Pondering at the boy for a moment, “He doesn’t look good, guys. He must have drank to much animal’s blood early this morning” René seriously said to his friends, “Maybe he’s feeling sick”. Another female-Gargoyle named Horn comes over to them, with pigeons following her and perch themselves on her. “That’s impossible. If sixteen years of listening to you three hasn’t made him sick by now, nothing will” she said, “And besides, he never get sick from drinking to much blood”. “But Horn, watching the Festival of Fools has always been the highlight of the year for our dear, sweet Mikaela” Chess said. “That’s the thing! Have you forgotten he’s a alpha, and he’s now at ‘THAT’ age already? Pretty soon, he’ll be at his limit of going in heat and wanting to find a soulmate. And he actually wants to go to that festival to have some fun, and maybe meet someone there. But what’s the point in ‘WATCHING’ a party if you never get to go?” before she can continue, Horn annoyingly waves her arms about to scare the pigeons away, “Get away from me! Piss off, you bunch of buzzards! Remember, he’s not made of stone, like us”. The four Gargoyles went inside the tower to catch up with their friend, and the pigeons continued following Horn. 

Inside the tower, on the second level is the Vampire’s living area. Surrounded with the Church’s bells, the living space has statues and potteries in all places, red, gold and green curtains, candles, and tiny bells hanging in odd places. 

In the corner, there are cushions and blankets for the Vampire to have a little nap. There’s one shelf with books, wood-carving and art equipments, et cetera. The other shelf had goblets, plates and bowls. 

And the last shelf had bottles full of animal’s blood, which had been specially prepared for the Vampire, and leftover human food such as bread, grapes, cheese and ham. Mikaela enjoys eating normal food, but as a Vampire he still has drink blood daily. Even though he hates the taste of animal’s blood which his Master secretly provides for him, Mikaela has no choice but to drink it, because he’s not allowed to drink blood from a human.

The other corner of the room has a small, rounded table with two chairs. In front of what looks like a open window is a cloth-covered table, with a handmade wooden set of Paris. On the table is a smaller version of Notre Dame, tiny houses with hanging buntings, a small bridge, and wooden figurines of all the citizens and farm animals. Hanging and swaying gently above the wooden set are broken pieces of stained glass, which are tied onto a small piece of wood to look like a wind chime, creating such beautiful rainbow colours in the room. 

As he sits there looking sadly at the wooden figures he’s been making since he was twelve, Mikaela sighs while folding his arms on the table, and resting his head down. Watching him sitting there, looking pretty down whilst fiddling with one wooden figure, the Gargoyles face each other as they took pity on the poor boy. 

Being the first one to know what the boy wants, Horn comes up to him, gently patting his back, “What’s wrong, Mikaela?” she asked with comfort, “You wanna tell me what’s troubling you?”. “I just...” Mikaela took a deep breath before continuing, “I just don’t feel like watching the festival, that's all”. Smiling at him, “Have you ever thought about going there instead?” she asked. “Yes I do, Horn” he nodded, before sadly looking up at the wooden figure of himself standing on Notre Dame, “But I’d never fit in out there. I’m not...human, you know”. Patting his back gently, Horn smile while shaking her head, “Oh, Mikaela, that doesn’t matter! In the festival, people will be dressed us as scary demons and other kind of creatures. Nobody will know your a real Vampire…”. Horn got interrupted by the pigeons sitting on her again, “Do you mind?!” she annoyingly cried whilst shooing them away, “I would like to have a moment with the boy, if it’s alright with you!”. 

The other Gargoyles joined in. “Quit beating around the bell tower, will ya” Chess happily picks up mini Mikaela, and place it down in the middle of the mini-city square, “What do we gotta do? Paint you a fresco?”. Proudly standing with his hands behind his back, “As your loyal friends, teachers and guardians, we insist you attend the festival” René insisted with a small smile. Surprised, “Me?” Mikaela points at himself. “No, the Archdeacon. Of course, you silly boy!” Lacus said in amusement. “It would be a great educational experience for you” René explained. “There’ll be food, wine and music to enjoy!” Lacus said. “You can learn to identify various regional cheeses” René added. Lacus holds a bucket full of water, “Bobbin’ for snails!”. “Study indigenous folk music” René imagines himself playing the gittern. “Playing dunk the monk!” Lacus throws the bucket of water on René’s head. Taking it off his head, René angrily glares at Lacus, who sheepishly grins at him before running around the room with René chasing him.

The girls seriously shook their heads at them, until they finally stopped chasing. Sitting on the table while happily swinging her legs, “And to make it more enjoyable, there’ll be lots of beautiful young boys for you to meet!” Chess added. “WHAT?!” Mikaela blushed in surprise when she said that last part, he panicked “I…I don’t know what your talking about. What makes you think I’m?…”. Giving him a pat on the shoulder, “Oh come now, Mikaela. We all know you like guys since you were twelve years old” Horn explain sweetly, “I remember seeing you smile lovingly, while reading about all those handsome princes and knights in books. And we even caught you daydreaming on the balcony, watching those cute young boys running around out there”. “You…you guys don’t think I’m disgusting, just because I’m gay?” Mikaela asked nervously. “Not at all. We’ll always love you, Mikaela. We’re totally fine with you liking boys” Chess said with a friendly-comforting smile, “And going to that festival will be the perfect opportunity for you to meet someone pretty special”. “My dear, take it from an lady-spectator” Horn spoke wisely, “Life’s not a spectator sport. If watching is all you’re gonna do, then you’re gonna watch your life go by without you”. Totally agreeing with her, Lacus wrap his arm around Mikaela, “Yeah. You maybe a Vampire with fangs, pointy ears and red eyes, but you do have some human-like features here and there” he said “And we’re just part of the architecture, right René?”. He’s friend reply in poetry, “Yet, if you chip us, will we not flake? If you moisten us, do we not grow moss?”. “Your a alpha, Mikaela, and a fully grown man, now. Somewhere out there is a young omega, waiting to meet his special someone” Chess encourage him, “So, go freshen up and find something nice to…”. “Thanks for the encouragement, and I appreciate your support” Mikaela interrupted, “But you’re all forgetting one big thing”. “What?” the four Gargoyles shrugged at the same time. Showing them the wooden figure of a serious-angry-looking Minister, “My Master, Kureto” he answered in worry. 

Seeing what he meant, his friends knew that is a big problem. “Oh, right. The Minister of Paris who’s in charge of law and order” Horn said in worry. “Not to mention he hates gay-couples, especially those who are alphas and omegas” Chess spoke worriedly, “If he finds out you like guys, Mikaela, you’ll be in deep shit”. “Exactly! Which is why I never told him” Mikaela said “Which is one of the reasons why he forbids me from leave the bell tower, to make sure I never see anyone”. Placing a finger to his chin while thinking for a moment, René ask, “Well, when he says you’re forbidden from ever leaving the bell tower, does he mean, ‘ever ever?”. “Never ever! And he hates the Feast of Fools!” Mikaela explained, “He’d be furious if I asked to go”. “Why don’t you ask the Archdeacon if you can go with him, instead? He and some of the Nuns go to the festival every year. And they’ve been very kind to you” Horn suggested. “If I ask Father Guren if I can go with him, Kureto would be more furious than ever. He’ll probably do anything to harm Father Guren, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me”. 

Facing each other, Chess and Lacus wickedly smirks when they thought up a brilliant idea. “Who says you gonna ask anyone? When you can just sneak out” Lacus said. Realising what his friends are doing, “Oh no. I shouldn’t…” Mikaela gets interrupted. “It’s just for one afternoon” Chess told him. “And then you sneak back in” Lacus said. “Kureto will never know you’ve been gone” Horn said with confidence. “And if I got caught?” Mikaela felt anxious. “Better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission” René said. “He might see me in the crowd” Mikaela said in panic. “You could wear a disguise. Wear a costume, a mask and your travelling cloak, and you’ll blend in with everybody else” Chess explained, “It’s just this once. What Kureto doesn’t know, can't hurt ya!”. “Ignorance is bliss” René smiled. “But what if I get thirsty and need to drink blood? I don’t want to cause trouble by drinking from a human!” Mikaela said in worry. “Then take some before you leave the bell tower, and you should be alright for a few hours” Horn wisely said, placing her hands on his shoulders to have him face her, “Mikaela, we’re all here for you, and we want nothing more than to see you happy. You go out there and enjoy yourself. Its like you said before, ‘Nobody wants to stay cooped up here forever”. After a moment of thinking, Mikaela finally smile to his supporting friends, “You’re right! I’ll go to that festival!” he jumps out of his chair excitedly. The Gargoyles cheered happily for him. “That’s the spirit, kid!” Lacus said proudly. The Vampire happily walked as he explains everything he’s going to do, “I’ll get cleaned and dressed up. I’ll stroll down those stairs. I’ll march through the doors and…”. 

“Good morning, Mikaela”. The Vampire froze in place when the Minister of Justice, the one he calls ‘Master’ entered the room, with a stern expression. Feeling nervous and afraid whenever Kureto comes by to visit him, “G…good morning, Master” Mikaela greeted. 

In that moment, the Gargoyles have already froze completely still. Walking in with a basket full of food and bottles full of animal’s blood, “Dear boy, whomever are you talking to?” Kureto asked with an eyebrow up. “My…” Mikaela nervously looks at the Gargoyles standing completely still, “…Friends”. “I see” Kureto nodded in understanding whilst tapping Lacus’s head, “And what are your friends made of, Mikaela?”. “Stone” the Vampire answered, looking down, when the tall man lifted his chin up to have him face him. “Can stone talk?” Kureto seriously asked, with a malicious smile. “Yes it can” the Vampire thought in his head, but he knew perfectly well his Master wouldn’t believe that. Trying to act calm and serious, looking deeply into the man’s cold eyes, “No it can’t” Mikaela lied. Pleased to hear that, “That’s right. You’re a smart lad” Kureto sits himself down at the small table, placing the basket down, “Now then, lunch”. Mikaela rushes off to get some table settings off the shelf. When the Vampire came back, he quietly places a fancy goblet with a matching plate in front of the Minister, and a wooden cup and plate for himself. 

Once the Vampire sat down opposite him, Kureto took out a green bottle from the basket, opens it, and pouring some red wine in both cups. “Shall we review your alphabet today?” Kureto asked while pulling out a book he was carrying under his arm, and opening it flat on his lap. “Oh, yes please, Master” Mikaela nodded “I would like that very much”. Even though Kureto only comes by for only an hour to share a meal with Mikaela and tutoring him, the poor Vampire never learns enough from him. Sometimes, Guren would come and teach him how to read and write, but he only learned so little from him. 

Thanks to the help of his friends, the Gargoyles, Mikaela had been taught so much from them over the years. Horn taught him how to sing, dance and play music. Lacus teaches him self-defence, and how to fight with a sword by practicing with a broom. After watching the blacksmith’s working skills from the balcony, Mikaela secretly learned how to make his own weapon. Then he practiced with his new sword three hours a day, and hides it someplace safe so his Master doesn’t find out. Chess teaches him how to cook and keep everywhere clean and tidy. She also showed him how to draw and paint, and a lot of woodcarving that he enjoyed doing a lot. René had been teaching him science, math and history. He even taught him poetry, and how to read and write properly. And when he and the Gargoyles have time to spare, they can always do something fun, or just chill. But his friends had continually warned him not to show off all that he had learned, for fear of Kureto accusing him of leaving the tower. 

“Alright then. A?” Kureto begins the lesson. Even though his friends taught him all kinds of words from the alphabet, and the Archdeacon only taught him some holy words, but when the Minister is around, he had to use the dark theme his Master had taught him. “Abomination” Mikaela said. “B?”. “Blasphemy”. “C?”. “Contrition”. “Well done” Kureto nodded, grabbing his goblet “D?”. “Damnation” Mikaela answered proudly. “E?”. “Eternal damnation”. “Very good, Mikaela. F?” Kureto takes a sip of his wine. Without thinking, Mikaela says the word out loud, “Festival”. The Minister nearly choked on his drink in alarm, before wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. 

Facing the boy in shock, “Excuse me?” he asked. Realise what he just said, Mikaela nervously tries to cover up his mistake, “Forgiveness!”. Closing the book hard, “I’ve heard you said ‘Festival” Kureto stood up from his chair. “N…NO MASTER!” the Vampire panicked as he watched him walk away. “You are thinking about attending the festival, when I have told you countless times that you are forbidden to leave this place” Kureto said while going down the steps. “But Master, you go every year” Mikaela follows him down the first level. “That’s because I am a public official! I have to attend, but I don’t enjoy every moment of it!” Kureto said in furious, “Thieves and cutpurses, the dregs of humankind, all mixed together in a shallow, drunken stupor!”. “I’m sorry, Master” Mikaela apologised whilst following him outside “I didn't mean to upset you”. The tall man and the teenage Vampire stood together on the high ledge of Notre Dame, overlooking the entire city of Paris. “Oh, Mikaela, can’t you understand? When your cruel, heartless mother abandoned you as a child, anyone else would have drowned you” Kureto place his hand on Mikaela’s shoulder, “And this is my thanks for taking you in and raising you as my son?”. Being raised by the Minister of Paris, Mikaela had been told and reminded over the years that his mother, who he never knew, had left him for dead when he was only a baby. But thank the Lord, his Master had saved his life and took him in the Cathedral, his sanctuary. 

Bowing his head in respect, “I’m sorry, Sir. Please forgive me for being so thoughtless” the Vampire said softly. As they look back at the city, “Oh, my dear boy” Kureto shook his head, placing a hand over his cold-stone heart, “You have no idea what the outside world is really like…but I do”. 

Kureto

The world is cruel

The world is wicked

Looking down at the Vampire standing beside him, Kureto took hold of him by the shoulders, and turn to have him face him. 

Kureto

It’s I alone whom you can trust in this whole city

I am your only friend

The man cupped Mikaela’s pale cheeks, giving him a devilish smirk and keeping his eyes locked on the teen’s red ones. Kureto brush some of Mikaela’s soft blonde hair back to gentle rub the edge of one of Mikaela’s pointy ears. Then his other hand placed under the boy’s chin, making him open his mouth to reveal his canines, which sparkle in the sunlight. Looking up at his Master while letting him mess with his hair, Mikaela felt a unpleasant chill creeping up his spine.

Kureto

I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you

I who look upon you without fear

Then Kureto took a few steps back, with his hands straight out to Mikaela, and have him follow him back inside the bell tower. 

Kureto

How can I protect you, boy 

Unless you always stay in here

Away in here

Keeping his gaze down, Mikaela follow his Master up the steps, going back to the second level. Kureto occasionally looks back at him over his shoulder, saying, “Remember what I have always taught you, Mikaela”…. 

Kureto

You are different 

Mikaela

(I am different)

Kureto

And you are frightening 

Mikaela

(And I am frightening)

When they return to the Vampire’s living space, they stood by the table with the wooden set of Paris. 

Kureto

And these are crimes for which the world shows little pity

You do not comprehend

Mikaela

(You are my one defender)

Allowing his Master’s words to sink in, Mikaela picks up the wooden figure of himself, and sadly looks at it whilst rubbing his finger tips on the beautifully carved details. 

Kureto

Out there they’ll revile you as a blood-sucking monster

Mikaela

(I am a monster)

Kureto

Out there they will hate and scorn and jeer

Mikaela

(Only a monster)

Looking up at the ceiling while raising his hands up high, Kureto rushes over to the small table, picking up the basket he brought with him before going back over to Mikaela.

Kureto

Why invite their calumny and consternation?

Stay in here

He moved some of the homemade wooden figurines out the way, knocking them over before placing the basket on the table in front of Mikaela. 

Kureto

Be faithful to me

Mikaela

(I’m faithful)

Kureto

Grateful to me

Mikaela

(I’m grateful)

Placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder, which got his attention to face back at him, Kureto looked eyes with the Vampire’s while slowly and gently took the mini Mikaela out of his hands. 

Kureto

Do as I say…obey…

Mikaela watches his Master place the wooden figure of himself back on top of Notre Dame.

Kureto

And stay…in…here

Mikaela

I’ll stay…in…here 

“You’ve been very good to me, Master” Mikaela keeps his gaze down as he sat down, “I am really sorry”. “You are forgiven” Kureto nodded to him, “And remember, Mikaela, this is your sanctuary” and then he takes his leave, heading back to the Palace of Justice to take care of some business. 

Listen to the sound of his Master’s footsteps, till he’s left alone, Mikaela held his head down in silence, “My sanctuary” he thought. The Vampire couldn’t help but let his mind to wander, thinking about how he lived his life up till now, as he gazes up at the massive bells, with the sunlight peeking within.

Mikaela

Safe behind these windows 

And these parapets of stone  

Gazing at the people down below me 

He went over to the open window, feeling the warm breeze blowing through his hair, Mikaela can see people working on the last touches for the festival.

Mikaela

All my life, I watch them as I hide up here alone  

Hungry for the histories they show me 

Going back to his wooden set, Mikaela moves the basket elsewhere, and stand all his wooden figures back up. 

Mikaela

All my life, I memorise their faces 

Knowing them as they will never know me

While picking up one wooden figure that had fell off the table, Mikaela wonder if there may be a someone special out there. Someone who would love and accept him for being who he is. With that thought in mind, Mikaela picks up the figure of himself off Notre Dame and place it back in the centre with the other figures, with a hopeful smile growing on his face. 

Mikaela

All my life, I wonder how it feels to pass a day 

Not above them 

But part of them

Now standing outside on the high ledge, looking down at the city square, smiling with excitement, Mikaela spirit lifted as he thought about what it would be like among those of the outside world.

Mikaela

And out there 

Living in the sun

Over the years, while living in the tower, Mikaela discovered that he has unbelievable strength that he never imagined, more powerful then a normal human’s strength. Inside and outside, he could climb up and jump down higher levels, run very fast, jumping over gaps, gripping hold of another to swing himself. Sometimes he wanders to himself, ‘Is this what being a Vampire is like? Drinking blood, braving the day and night, and having crazy powerful strength?’. Jumping over the balcony, and holding onto the brick stone with one hand while swinging himself down, Mikaela immediately grabs onto one of the stone columns, and slides down to the bottom level of the tower. His friends smile when they saw him coming down. He smiles at Horn and René on his right, then Lacus and Chess on his left and gives them a big hug from behind.

Mikaela

Give me one day out there 

All I ask is one

To hold forever

Walking past the columns, with the sunlight shining through, Mikaela climbs down the Cathedral till he stood in front of the circle stan-glass window, desperately gazing out onto the entire city of Paris. 

Mikaela

Out there 

Where they all live unaware 

What I’d give 

What I’d dare 

Just to live one day 

Out there! 

Thanks to his Vampire-vision, which his friend Chess likes to call it, Mikaela can see people so far away, doing their usual routines, the same things he sees them doing every single day. 

Mikaela

Out there among the millers 

And the weavers and their wives  

Through the roofs and gables I can see them 

Now standing on the stone railing, watching those citizens in the city, Mikaela wishes in his heart he could be those people, doing the things their doing.

Mikaela

Every day they shout and scold and go about their lives

Heedless of the gift it is to be them 

As he stood tall and mighty, Mikaela becomes more and more hopeful of experiencing just one afternoon among those people down there. Feeling so lighthearted, Mikaela jumps off the rail, doing a forward flip, and with a big splash, he skis down the gutter with his hands out like he’s flying. 

Mikaela

If I was in their skin 

I”d treasure every instant 

Mikaela sits on the Gargoyle, which is pouring water out of its mouth, rested his arm on his left knee and his right leg happily swinging. He smiles warmly while watching the River Seine shimmering beautifully from the sun. Mikaela takes a handful of fresh, cold water, and happily splashes it on to himself.

Mikaela

Out there 

Strolling by the Seine 

Taste the morning out there 

Like ordinary men 

The next moment. The Vampire swiftly climbs up the very top of the spire, till he’s stood there and holding onto the cross with on hand. Looking at the whole entire world all around him. 

Mikaela

Who freely walk about there 

Just one day and then 

I swear I'll be content

With my share

He carefully jumps back down. With such powerful speed, Mikaela swiftly runs across the rooftops without falling off, then he jumps and stands on the railing.

Mikaela

Won’t resent 

Won’t despair

Old and bent I won't care

Looking up at the Heavens in hope and excitement, Mikaela throws his arms in the air, determining to go through this new experience just this once.

Mikaela

I’ll have spent one day 

Out there!

As the teen Vampire stands there, taking in the warmth from ray of sunshine, hundreds of pigeons were flying over the entire city.

Chapter Text

Wondering through the city streets whilst reading a map in front of him,  is a alpha named Shiho Kimizuki, a tall, young man of age sixteen with short pink hair and reddish-brown eyes, wearing  black thick-framed glasses. Dressed smartly in his golden armour, which is completely hidden by his dark blue traveling cloak, brown gloves and boots. Following beside him is his female steed, Mirai, a beautiful chestnut horse with long, flowing, silky pink mane and a tail. 

Ever since he was a child, Kimizuki’s late father was brave and loyal knight before him, his mother died when he was very young. One day, his father brought Mirai, when she was a few weeks old, from an old family-friend to give to his son as a birthday present. As time went on after his father died, Kimizuki became a full on knight, and Mirai had always been by his side - sometimes he sees her more than just his loyal steed, he sees her like a sister. 

Returned from the wars that he had fought for the past five years, Kimizuki has finally came back to Paris as the new Captain of the Guard. Trying to find their destination on the map, Kimizuki stopped in his tracks to look at their surroundings. Shaking his head in frustration, Kimizuki  crumbles up the map and toss it aside, “You’ve been out of the city for five years, and they change everything” he said to Mirai. Then he notice two soldiers walking by, trying to get their attention, “Excuse me, gentlemen. I’m looking for the Palace of Justice. Would you…”. but they ignored him and walked away. “Tsk! Good for nothing bastards!” Kimizuki muttered in annoyance, taking the reins and leading Mirai through the streets to try and find his own way. 

As he silently walk through the market street, Kimizuki can hear music coming round the corner. He saw a little girl walking with her mother, looking excited as she tries to go over to where the music is playing. “Stay away, child. Their Gypsies. They’ll steal us blind” the mother told her daughter whilst pulling her back, and carried on walking. Going over to the Gypsies with interest, Kimizuki saw a boy dancing with his tambourines, another boy happily playing the violin, and a Jester-girl playing her zurna mulberry. Realising their all omegas, Kimizuki took a step back to keep his distance. Noticing an old hat on the ground, with a few coins in it, Kimizuki gladly took out some coins from his sack and threw them inside the hat. 

Watching the dancer in front of him, the boy of age sixteen has black messy and neat hair, wearing a dark purple ribbon around his forehead, bright emerald-green eyes and creamy-smooth skin. Dancing barefoot with a golden ankle-bracelet around his right ankle, the boy’s dressed in a white darcy-shirt with the sleeves folded up, a pair of loose, light purple trouser with a gold-striped turquoise sash, and a single gold hoop in his left ear. Seriously pushing his glasses back in place while seeing how attractive this boy is while he dancing, Kimizuki had a feeling that whomever wins this omega’s heart, will be the luckiest alpha in the world. 

Moving his eyes towards the short Jester-girl of age fifteen, who’s happily skipping around while playing with her zurna mulberry. As she turns her back to him, Kimizuki can see a bit mark on the back of her neck, which probably means she has a soulmate. 

Now turns his attention to the cute, innocent boy playing the violin, Kimizuki’s eyes widen in amazement, and his heart began to flutter. The sixteen year old boy, who looked shorter then him and the other boy, and slightly taller then the girl, had medium length, brown hair and large, dark-green eyes. His outfit is similar to his friend’s, except the colours are different, and he wears a sash on his head. When he notice Kimizuki is staring at him, the boy blushes, as he gave him a shy smile. 

Suddenly, the Gypsies stopped playing when another girl, with long blonde hair tied up in pigtails and large purple eyes, whistled to her two friends and soulmate, signalling that the soldiers are heading their way. 

After they gathered what they have and started running in panic, Yuichiro, who had the hat full of money in hand, suddenly tripped on a loose cobblestone, and fell flat on the ground, causing the coins to fall out of the hat. His friends, Yoichi, Shinoa and Mitsuba, had stopped running when they heard Yuichiro’s sudden cry. “Yuu-kun!” Yoichi called out to him. “Come on, Yuu-san!” Shinoa cried “Hurry!”. “Their coming, you idiot!” Mitsuba shouted in annoyance. On his hands and knees, Yuichiro wave to them, shouting, “Just go! I’ll catch up!”. His friends did as they were told. As he quickly gathers the coins and puts them in the hat, Yuichiro glares up at the two guards now standing over him. 

Ferid, a slender man with long silver hair tied back in a pony tail with a ribbon, and dark brown eyes, looks down at him with a devilish smirk. 

Crowley, a masculine man with blue eyes, short red and black hair and thick eyebrows glares at him, with his arms crossed. 

“All right, Gypsy, where did you get the money?” Ferid unpleasantly asked, as he tries to take the old hat from the boy. Snatched the hat back whilst standing himself up, Yuichiro angrily replies, “FYI, I earned it…by dancing my ass off”. Rolling his eyes in disbelief, “Gypsies don’t earn money” Ferid smirked. Yuichiro gasp in alarm when Crowley suddenly grabs him from behind. “In fact, they steal whatever they can snatch from” Crowley said. “For a couple of stupid bastards, you’d know an awful lot about stealing!” Yuichiro spat back as he tries to break free from the man’s grip. “Oh! Being a troublemaker, are you, little lamb?!” Ferid tries to snatch the hat from Yuichiro, but gets kicked in the face. As the boy struggles to break free, “Maybe a day in the stocks will cool you down, kid!” Crowley told him harshly, keeping a tight hold of him. Watching the stubborn boy stupidly trying to fight back, Kimizuki is not very pleased to see any of his men mistreating a civilian. 

Before he can do anything, a pebble suddenly flew past his ear, and hit Ferid’s helmet. Turning round to see where that came from, Kimizuki spotted Yoichi hiding behind a wall, with a sling shot in hand. He must have returned to help his friend, and told Shinoa and Mitsuba to carry on without them. Yoichi shoots another pebble at Crowley, making him grab hold of his knee in agony. Feeling glad to be free and laugh in amusement at the two guards, Yuichiro spots his friend waving to him, and he made a quick run for it, with the money in hand. 

Watching the Gypsy boy running past him towards the other boy, Kimizuki sharply turns his attention back to Crowley and Ferid when they fully recovered, shouting, “Hey! Come back here, Gypsy!”. Thinking fast, Kimizuki gets in front of Mirai, and pulling her far enough to block their way. Crowley and his friend slammed into the horse, causing him to fall back on his ass. When Ferid fell into a mud puddle, “Mirai, sit” Kimizuki ordered his beloved horse. Just as he’s getting himself up, Ferid cried in alarm from being forced back down and exclaims at the sudden weight on his back. Seeing this while passing by, the civilians bursted out laughing and pointing at the scene. “Oh my! I am so sorry” Kimizuki playfully said, “Naughty girl! Naughty! She’s just impossible. Really, I can’t take her anywhere”. Watching the whole scene from a distance, Yuichiro and Yoichi thought that was so funny, that they immediately covered their mouths to hold back their laughter. As they made their escape, Yuichiro couldn’t wait to tell every funny detail to their friends. Taking one last look at the handsome young man that came to their rescue, Yoichi’s heart suddenly flutters. 

Pounding his fist down several times in the mud, “Get this beast off me!” Ferid cried in frustration. Glaring daggers at the young boy, “I’ll teach you a lesson, you little brat!” Crowley grind his teeth whilst taking out his dagger, ready to strike. Kimizuki swiftly draws out his sword, revealing his armour that shines brightly from the sun reflecting it, “You were saying…Lieutenant?” he smirked in amusement, pointing his sword at him. Realising who the teenager boy really is, “Oh my! C…Captain!” Crowley panicked, gathering himself by putting his dagger away before saluting him, “At your service, Sir!”. Keeling down to Ferid’s level, making him gulp nervously by having the blade close to his face, Kimizuki says to him, “Now look. I know the both of you have a lot on your mind, but could you show me the way to the Palace of Justice?”. 

Moments later. Ferid and Crowley orders all the townsfolk to make way for their new Captain, whilst leading him through town. Passing some buildings, they’ve come to an area where a tall, dark-coloured, gothic-building stands, the Palace of Justice. Leaving Mirai in the hands of Crowley to hand over to the stable-master, Kimizuki follows Ferid up the stairs towards the entrance, and enters the building. 

As they make their way through a dim corridor, Kimizuki can hear the snapping sounds of a whip echoing through the door their coming too. When Ferid opens the door for him, Kimizuki enters the room before Ferid left while shutting the door behind him. Walking through a slightly lit up room, Kimizuki sees Kureto standing there, looking amused while watching what’s going on in the other room. “Stop” Kureto ordered the executioner, who just came out of the room. “Sir?” the executioner saluted. “Ease up. Wait between lashes. Otherwise the older sting will dull him to the new” Kureto instructs. Blowing in respect to his leader, the executioner heads back inside, with a wicked smirk on his face. 

When he notices Kimizuki standing there, “Ah, you must be the gallant Captain Shiho Kimizuki. Returned home from the wars, I see” Kureto said, walking up to him. Standing tall and straight with his hands behind his back, “I am reporting for duty, as ordered, Sir” Kimizuki said. Circling round the young man, “Your service record precedes you, Captain. I expect nothing but the best from a war hero of your calibre” Kureto said seriously. Nods in respect to his leader, “And you shall have it, Sir. I guarantee it” Kimizuki said. “Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear from you” Kureto smirked, “After all, my last Captain of the Guard was, um…let’s just say, a bit of a disappointment to me”. They hear the sound of whip-crack, followed by a tortured-scream, which startled Kimizuki. “Well, now that your here, I’m sure you will ‘WHIP’ my men into shape” Kureto chuckled, as he leads the way outside. Feeling a bit uncomfortable from all that, “Uh, thank you, Sir. It’s um, a tremendous honour” Kimizuki got his act together whilst following his leader out onto the balcony.

With his new Captain following behind, “I must say, Captain, your timing could never be any better” Kureto spoke while overlooking the entire city, “You have return to Paris in her darkest hour. It will take a firm hand to save the weak-minded from being so easily misled”. “Misled?” Kimizuki look confuse, “What do you mean, Sir?”. Stood by the stone-railing, “Look down there, Captain” Kureto said coldly, sharply points his finger down. 

Looking down to where his leader’s pointing, Kimizuki can see the group of Gypsies he saw earlier. With the crowd watching them, the raven-haired gypsy is happily dancing around the Jester-girl playing her zurna mulberry. Both the brown haired boy and blonde girl were stamping their feet and clapping their hands, getting the audience to join in. 

“The Gypsies live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the peoples’ lowest instincts, and they must…be…stopped!” Kureto said with an iron fist. Feeling a bit surprised, “I was summoned from the wars to capture fortune tellers and palm readers?” Kimizuki seriously asked, with an eyebrow raised. “Oh, the real war is what you’re seeing before you” Kureto said in disgusted, watching the Jester-girl lovingly kissing her startled-blonde-girlfriend on the cheek, “You see, Captain, the world is full of unholy sins that I’ve been trying to dispose of for so many years. Hiding in every dark rat holes, I find alphas and omegas of the same genders unpleasantly bonding with each other. But the Gypsies are far more worse than the people in this city, and they make me sick”. 

Hearing all that from his leader’s mouth made Kimizuki’s stomach turn uncomfortable, he looks back at that Gypsy boy down below in worry. Thinking about the connection he had with him earlier, Kimizuki will need to be extra careful in order to keep him safe. Kureto notice three ants moving around on a tile, “For sixteen years, I have been taking care of the Gypsies, one...by...one” the last three words, Kureto crushes each ant with his fingers and thumb, then he picks up the tile with both hands to reveal thousands of ants scurrying around underneath, “And yet, for all of my success, they have thrived”. Eyeing the entire city suspiciously, Kureto turns his attention to his new Captain of the Guard, “I have a hunch that they have a safe haven, within the walls of this very city” he explained with a amusing smirk, “A secret nest, known as the Court of Miracles”. Curious, “And if we ever find their nest, what are you planning to do?” Kimizuki asked with an eyebrow up. 

Without a word, Kureto gave him a devilish smile while slamming the tile back down very hard on the stone-railing, crushing the thousands ants to death. Understood what his meant, “You make your point quite vividly, Sir” Kimizuki said, trying to act as calm and serious as he can. Kureto felt pleased of Kimizuki’s loyalty to him, hoping he’ll do better than the last Captain of the Guard. 

In that moment, they can hear the sound of the crowds cheering loudly in the city square, the Festival of Fools is about to begin. Turning away from the railing, “Oh well, duty calls” Kureto rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Have you ever attended a peasant festival, Captain?”. “Not recently, Sir” Kimizuki replied. “Then this should be quite an education for you. Come along now” Kureto seriously smiled at him whilst heading back inside, with Kimizuki following behind him.