Chapter 1
Kusakabe Tadako ran his fingers through his thick black hair in frustration. In the other room he could hear his wife screaming as she was giving birth to their child. Contractions started earlier that day while they were walking around Namimori enjoying the hot summer day. They hadn’t been married long, only a few years before they decided to try for children.
Tadako had been 19 when he met his future wife, Sato Haya. He was at Sorbonne Universite working on his PhD in Forensic Accounting when he saw this little slip of a woman correct the teacher and solve an unsolvable math problem. It was love at first sight.
She later earned the Nobel Peace Prize for it.
Sato Haya was a 5’2” 19-year-old with the thickest, curliest black hair he’s ever seen with grey eyes. The grey reminded him of metal with their shine and looked deadly like they could cut you from a distance and Tadako had never been willing to be cut more.
It hadn’t taken much to get her to go for tea, a novelty in France, but within minutes Tadako knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Her mind was the most beautiful thing about her, and while she was gorgeous that was saying something.
Haya was at Sorbonne Universite earning her PhD in Mathematics to the dismay of her parents, who wanted her to go to Tokyo University and get married to someone who worked at her father’s firm. Haya had refused and worked hard to get a scholarship to Sorbonne. Once approved she left and hasn't been back.
Both were happy to find someone who could keep up with their thought processes and the fact the other was Japanese gave them the little bit of home that they missed. Within months Tadako proposed and was married a couple of days after graduation.
Tadako had started his own business as a freelance Forensic Accountant. Things were going great until the day some Mafioso thought that he should look the other way instead of doing his job. It was a day that Haya was working with him as they had a lot of accounts to go through. When they pulled guns on them to kill them.
Tadako brought out his Sun Flames.
Haya brought out her Rain Flames.
If he hadn’t loved her as much as he did before, he would have then.
His wife was badass.
He had found out then that Haya worked as a Shrine Maiden in her teen years, where she learned fortune telling, how to use a bow, and use her rain abilities to deadly accuracy. She could stop a man's heart from 50 feet away. Being a Shrine Maiden was how she was able to avoid the Mafia, Triads and Yakuza.
It was then he had to explain the Kusakabe family history, and why they were always unaffiliated. He had hoped to spare her the information, but after the attack he had no choice. It was then she learned the family truth after being put under secrecy vows.
The Kusakabe family was the ‘hidden’ family of von Veckenschtein. Bermuda, the patriarch of the family, was the original owner of the Flames of the Night and ruler of Vindicare. The Kusakabe family was one of the last True-Born Earthlings. Unlike Sephira’s family who were Seers, the Kusakabe were into Order.
Order and Organization.
Tadako was able to use his Flames to form weapons, usually scalpels and kunai, that he threw with an efficiency that would give the so-called World Greatest Hitman a run for his money. It had taken years but thankfully he was able to hide his flames by the time he was in kindergarten. Anything to hide the Family from Checker Face the better.
His younger brother Sasuke wasn’t so lucky. His Cloud flames were some of the bests in the world and when he ran away and joined the circus of all things he got chosen as the Cloud Arcobaleno. It was only because Sasuke hid his family affiliations and his identity being under a somewhat fidelius charm that kept him as an unknown. With his Cloud Flames being so powerful he was able to hide the fact he was a true earthling. He took the name Skull De Mort.
Right now, though Tadako feared for the worst. Haya had gotten pregnant easily and from the beginning he could feel the Flames forming.
Flames of the Night.
Flames of the Dead.
The baby was going to be a powerhouse and Tadako could only fear for their life. He only hoped he could keep the family safe from Checker Face. He would burn the world first before they got their hands on them.
Tadako could feel the vow bond with his soul.
‘Any sign yet?’ The text message felt like a shock, but Tadako didn’t know why it would. His brother always seemed to know.
‘Not yet.’ Tadako typed back. ‘Haya’s been in labor for hours though.’
‘Think another Sun, or Cloud?’ Tadako’s phone beeped with the message.
‘I wish. The baby has THOSE flames. Felt them not soon after pregnancy. Very strong.’ Tadako answered knowing his brother would know what it meant.
‘I’m on my way. I’ll be there within the week. I’ll grab my paperwork so it will look legitimate.’ With that Tadako hoped everything would be alright. It would be good to see his brother again, only he wished it wasn’t under these circumstances.
With a final scream, Tadako felt the Flames burst through the house, brushing up against him. The comfort of the Flames waved over him, knowing that if it wasn’t for being family it would feel cold as death. For better or worse, their baby was born.
“You can come in,” the midwife told him half an hour later. Tadako was fiddling with his phone trying to distract himself. He knew that he couldn’t go into the room until cleanup was done but didn’t want to text his brother back until he knew what was happening. He needed confirmation with his own eyes. That meant the bed changed, including the mattress protection they bought just for birth. Tadako was willing to buy a new mattress, but Haya wouldn’t hear about it.
Yuki Miaka had been the family's midwife since before he was born. In fact, she was the one to deliver him and Sasuke. She was an older woman with grey hair that had once been red. Her face had wrinkles around her eyes and mouth from many years of smiling and laughing. He had seen pictures; she was once a gorgeous girl.
Her husband of over 50 years, Sukunami Taka was a coach at the High School when Tadako went there. He was also a martial artist of unparalleled level. The couple had only had 1 child very late in life, Hikaru, who was also Tadako’s best friend.
He would have to text him later.
Tadako entered the room where his wife was holding a bundle to her chest. Even with the sweat and messy hair Tadako had never thought Haya had looked more beautiful. It was with heavy feet that he went to sit next to his wife to see what they had.
“Meet Kusakabe Hari” Haya’s voice sounded tired and hoarse from all the screaming. You could hear the pride in her voice as she looked at her little miracle. Her Rain Flames were practically purring in tranquility.
“I thought we were going to name her Hinata if she was a girl?” Tadako wrapped his arm around Haya’s shoulders as he pulled her closer to him. He gave her a small kiss to the side of the head. They had performed a miracle, and Tadako was scared for her life.
“I know but for some reason I felt she should be named Hari” Haya leaned against her husband as he activated his Sun Flames. Slowly she could feel her body heal from giving birth, the flames bringing warmth with it.
“She’s beautiful” Tadako couldn’t help but choke up.
It was true. Harri was going to be a beautiful girl. And Tadako could only despair. It looked like Harri had inherited Haya hair as what little she had was in curls. It was when she opened her eyes that Tadako knew he was lost. Harri had green eyes, and not his light green either. She had eyes like emeralds that practically glowed with power. She had inherited Bermuda’s eyes.
“She’s going to be a looker” Miaka brought over the birth certificate properly filled out. Tadako read it over with shaky hands. He didn’t want to stop holding his wife, but he knew she couldn’t take anymore Sun Flames for now. As it was, she was getting tired, almost ready to fall asleep.
Name: Kusakabe Harri
Born: July 31st, 1981, at 10:57 pm
Weight: 2.44 kg
Length: 20 inches.
“Shall I call Bermuda?” Miaka pulled Tadako into a hug. He was shaking and his eyes were wet. She knew what the green eyes meant and with the way Tadako held her tightly he knew also. Tadako gave a sob and a nod yes about calling him.
Miaka had watched Tadako grow up being friends with Hikaru. There was never a better friend to have than a Kusakabe. Loyalty should be in their name and in a way Miaka felt this was a grandchild for her also. Heavens knew Hikaru wasn’t going to give her any.
Tadako pulled away, signing the birth certificate before giving it back to Miaka. Haya had signed it before he came into the room. He could only guess it was when she changed clothes and the bed was remade.
Tadako grabbed his phone with shaky hands and took a picture of his daughter. Already her green eyes showed intelligence beyond her years. He sent the photo to his brother and Hikaru before powering it down. He knew when he turned it back on that he would have a lot of messages.
Slowly as to not wake Haya, Tadako gently reached for his daughter to hold in his arms. He sat on the bed and couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
“Hello Little One” Tadako practically choked out. His throat, the words not wanting to come out. “I’m your Daddy, and I promise Hari that I will do anything to protect you from all that I can. You are so loved.”
Tadako grasped Hari closer to him as he cried.
He would do ANYTHING to protect her.
Miaka left, closing the door behind her, letting the small family bond. She ignored the sob that Tadako gave, knowing the family wanted privacy. Giving a silent prayer to Suzaku for the family behind her. She could only pray for the best, but she knew no matter what happens her family will stand with them as they had from the beginning. Miaka exited the hall to the stairs.
The house was a beautiful two-story house in the Western style. There were 3 bedrooms, two baths upstairs and downstairs had the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living room and family room. Miaka made her way into the Family Room feeling the wards welcome her in. She walked to the big mirror with a gold frame around it.
“Bermuda von Veckenschtein” Miaka called into it watching as fog covered the mirror until a face appeared. Bermuda von Veckenschtein was a baby wearing a top hat with bandages around it and his face. A clear pacifier hung around his neck. You couldn’t see anything of his body covered in the cloak he was wearing with white fur on the collar.
Miaka, though, didn't see that. When she looked at Bermuda, she saw him as he was. A 20-year-old man, with spiky black hair and glowing green eyes. She had always been able to see the Vindice and they were and not how they looked.
“Priestess” Bermuda answered, “why had you called me?” His voice didn’t quite sound like a baby, and you could hear a hint of power in it. Even cursed in baby form Bermuda was powerful.
You have a granddaughter, Kusakabe Hari” Miaka told the baby. “She was born with both Flames of the Night and glowing green eyes. You know what that means.”
“I do” Bermuda drummed his fingers on the side of his throne. He knew exactly what that meant. “I will be there this weekend.” Bermuda told her “And Miaka thank you.” You could hear the gratefulness in his voice.
“Of course, Bermuda” Miaka gave him a cheeky grin, one he saw when she was a child. “It will be good to see you. I’ll let Todaka know.”
Bermuda slumped in his chair as the mirror call ended. He was both excited and dreaded hearing the news.
“Something wrong Lord Bermuda?” the tall Vindice asked from next to him. Jaeger had been with Bermuda from the beginning and at times like this, he was glad.
“We have a granddaughter” Bermuda told his right hand before jumping on his shoulder. “She has both green eyes and Night Flames. They also named her Harri.”
“You don’t think?” Jaeger started to say.
“I don’t know, but the Priestess seems to think so,” Bermuda huffed. “I said we will be there this weekend. So, Jaeger, let's go find a baby gift. It’s not every day we get a grandchild.”