A The Academy Life
Original
Old version, not accurate to storyline
_{My German may not be as good as I hoped either, LOL}



Warning: Some sexual themes

The half demon prince sat quietly at his desk, scribbling absently at a piece of parchment as his brilliant crimson eyes slowly moved across the open book at his elbow. The twenty-six year old was bored, as he often was, with his academe homework. It wasn’t that the subjects were hard—it was far, far from that. Yami was the youngest and in the top five of his graduating class. The homework itself was of null difficultly and barely required a fraction of the mans’ attention.

Yami sat back with a sigh, brushing at his long silky black hair that just barely reached past his shoulders. Yami…however, despite his intelligence, was in fact a very bad procrastinator. The prince tapped the quill against the parchment as he stared almost longingly out at the star strewn sky outside his window… He’d much rather be outside, sitting on the railing of his balcony and staring up at the velvety sky, picking out constellations and reminiscing quietly on their legends and meanings… In fact, that was what he had done for the past weekend, completely ignoring the fairly large assignment his mathematics Professor had assigned the class… It had been just as the half demon laid down for the night that he remembered he had to do a long, eighty-six problem assignment with calculus.

After a moment, Yami realized his tapping of the quill had begun to leak a fair amount of ink. The half demon swore and instinctively threw the opposing quill away from the paper as he dived to the opposite side of desk to grab a handful of bed sheets. He quickly pressed the red fabric to the paper, lifting it up every few moments to see if the ink had destroyed his assignment.

It had.

Yami sighed helplessly and beat his forehead against the side of his desk several times. Weakly, he grabbed the chair and hoisted himself into it then let his head drop loudly, and painfully, against the wooden desk. He made a distressed noise.

The Professor already didn’t care much for him even if Yami was one of his better students. It was a simple fact that, even though Yami was a prince, he was also quite clearly carrying demon blood. His red eyes were proof of that.

Yami lifted his head and sighed deeply, staring at the ruined parchment… At least twenty of the seventy problems he had completed were ruined… He could always finish and hand it in anyways and then try to explain why a fair amount of it was covered in ink… Though, the half demon highly doubted the Professor would accept his excuse, and more than likely would give him detention and probably a gross amount of ‘punishment’ problems. The young man sighed and leaned over to grab the quill off the floor. Regardless of the outcome, he would finish the assignment, get some sleep, and tackle the situation tomorrow. 

Fifteen minutes later, the prince had hastily scribbled the rest of his assignment having noted the horizon beginning to glow with the inevitable sunrise marking the next day. He hoped he could get at least an hour of sleep, though even without it he would function just fine. He was quite use to having little to no sleep every day.

Yami fumbled with the sheets to his bed and the fell into it, pulling the blankets over himself and sighing…

/Alles ist für nichts./ He thought with a sigh.

~*~

Sleep, had avoided him as it often did. Disappointed, Yami even so much as glared at his energetic brother who burst into the bedroom, his blond hair wet but somehow still managing to fluff away from his head.

“Good morning, little brother!” The crown prince said, throwing his arms out enthusiastically as he bat his eyelashes at his scowling little brother. Yami responded with a grunt. “Aww… Is someone a wittle sweepy?” The older man said with his voice far more appropriate for an infant. He placed his fists at his hips as he leaned forward, making a cooing noise at the diminutive half demon.

Yami was sitting up now and staring blankly at his older brother, having now recomposed his usual stoic face. “Du bist einen schrecklicher krone Prinz.” He said flatly.

“Hey now.” Ankei said, frowning. “You know I can’t understand that gibberish.”

“Gute. Ich mag es dass Weg.”

“You little punk.” Ankei grumbled, as he tackled his brother onto the bed, and easily maneuvered him into a headlock. The blond cackled, using his free hand to muss his brothers’ hair, “What do you have to say now? Hmm!?”

“Du bist ein Idiot. Seit du kannst nicht zwei Sprachen lernen!” the half demon yelled, trying to break free.

Ankei snorted and shoved his brother down onto the bed and then covered the princes’ head with a pillow. “Get the crap over yourself, child genius. Just because you’re all ‘I-can-speak-twenty-four-languages’ doesn’t mean you’re any better than me. Jackass.”

“As crown prince of Aurora I would think you’d be obliged to learn at least one other language,” came the muffled reply.

“Are you done with your retarded retorts?” the blond asked huffing and lifting the pillow slightly to peek at his brothers annoyed scowl.

“…For now…” Yami replied, shoving the pillow away. He sat up, fixing his hair and sending death glares to Ankei who had strolled over to the mans’ desk. Ankei lifted up the ink splotched parchment. He gave his brother a quizzical look. “…I hadn’t been paying attention.” Yami replied, shrugging.

“…Haha… Oh! And on your math homework nonetheless! How inconvenient. I was going to copy it.” Ankei whined, glaring at his brother as if he had purposefully destroyed the assignment to keep Ankei from copying it…again.

“…At least you’ll get away with not doing it.” Yami scowled. He stood sharply and stormed over to his closet, jerking free his school uniform. Yami didn’t bother to comment how his brother was missing half the school uniform. Ankei was completely missing the gray vest and tie and had, as usual, left the white button up shirt half way opened to reveal his well built chest underneath. His pants were far too baggy, and he was wearing mud-caked knee high lace up boots. The Professors, Yami and everyone else had given up trying to convince Ankei that etiquette was even appropriate in school. The crown prince obviously lost the entire concept while incorporating his sex appeal.

“Aw, don’t be like that, Yami.” Ankei whined, batting his eyelashes, “You know I can sucker the Professors into just about anything. I’ll get you off the hook too.”

“No, thank you.” Yami said flatly, as he changed into the uniform. He tried to ignore the fact that his brother was blatantly staring him up and down as he changed. Yami cleared his throat uncomfortably, flushing darkly. “I’m willing to take whatever punishment I’m…” He turned to look at Ankei, who was grinning broadly at him. Yami scowl deepened. “What the hell are you looking at?”

“You’re getting to be such a man, Yami.” The blond said, winking suggestively.

“Yo-You’re an asshole. Leave me alone.” Yami snapped straightening his tie and attempting to look as unflustered as he possibly could. (He was failing miserably). “You’re such a promiscuous whore sometimes it’s amazing.”

“You want to?” Ankei asked excitedly, grinning and tilting his head. “We do have a few minutes before we need to leave for school anyways…”

Yami’s eyes widened, “N-no, idiot! I have better things to do then quench your immense sexual needs.”

“…You’re right. You take forever to get dressed anyways.” Ankei said, sighing and falling backwards onto his brothers’ bed. He crossed his arms behind his head and tapped his foot on the ground, “Not that I’m complaining or anything.” He added hastily.

Yami was crimson with embarrassment. “…You have no shame.” He muttered, sighing harshly. Ankei shrugged noncommittally. The half demon muttered to himself as he made his way to the bed and kicked his brothers’ leg. “Get up.”

Ankei sat up expectantly. “Changed your mind?” He asked hopefully.

“…I need to make my bed.” Yami said flatly. Ankei sighed melodramatically, rolled onto his feet and sighed again before drifting out of the way. “…I suppose I shouldn’t even bother with asking where your books are.” Yami said fixing the bedspread. He was trying not to show how annoyed he was with how his brother always showed up to school completely and utterly unprepared. Somehow, he was still passing all his classes.

“You know how I am, little brother. I just wing it!” The crown prince gloated, smiling dashingly and winking.

Yami sighed and began to pile his books into his bag. He threw the heavy thing over his shoulder and grunted under the weight. Yami was, by far, not an athletic person. His tiny, thin and delicate demeanor proved that. The prince fixed the vest of his uniform and readjusted the messenger bag. “…Can we go?” He asked. Ankei smirked and threw an arm around him and lead the younger prince out of the room.

“You take school way too seriously, Yami.” Ankei said. “If you actually wanted to enjoy your youth, you’d say ‘screw it’ to all this political and nonessential crap and actually enjoy life as it is.”

“…Even if I acted like you…” Yami muttered something else under his breath but Ankei failed to make it out. Yami sighed and continued. “Ankei… I’m a loner, with or without your bubbly and charismatic personality. I’ll always be one.” He jabbed his thumb pointedly in the direction of his eyes. “Red, Ankei. Red.”

“I don’t get that.” Ankei admitted, frowning.

“You must be colored blind then.” Yami replied, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s not what I mean, dummy. I just don’t understand what significance it is that your eyes are red.”

“It means I’m a demon.”

“Yeah, well I am too.”

Yami laughed softly, shaking his head. It would be so nice if everyone was as accepting as his brothers. Yami’s soft, sad laughter died away and he dropped his gaze to the ground, frowning slightly at it. Though… it wouldn’t ever be like that. Even when Ankei became King… there would still be discrimination… there would still be crimes… there would still be unnecessary hate.

“Hey…” Ankei said softly, drawing him around so they faced each other and then he took the half demons’ chin and lifted it so their eyes met. “You don’t have to think you’re worthless just because you have Mums’ demon blood in you. I mean… you like Mum, don’t you?”

Yami made an indecorous noise. “You know I’m not ashamed to be Mum’s son.” His gaze dropped and Ankei sighed at him. “Though… Father could say differently about me being his son.”

“…Give Dad some time…”

“…It’s been twenty-six years, Ankei… If he doesn’t accept me now, he won’t ever.”

“Dad’s really a good person, Yami… Really, he is. I don’t know why he doesn’t like you.”

“Are you stupid!?” Yami snarled, nearly punching his brother in the face for his ignorance. “Maybe you don’t notice, but certainly everyone else does. I’m so sick of having these pointless conversations with you!” He tried to dodge out of his brothers’ reach, but Ankei grabbed him by the front of his collar and shoved him against the wall. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Yami hissed, scowling.

“If I’m an idiot, you’re an idiot too.”

“Wirklich? Ist dass warum du kannst mich nicht verstehen?” Yami said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ankei smirked at him and shoved the shorter man harder against the wall with his forearm and letting his free hand jerk up the front of the princes’ shirt. Yami’s eyes went wide. “Want to keep talking?” Ankei asked, smirking and letting his fingertips brush against his brothers’ bare stomach. “Because you know I like to hear your voice, regardless of what gibberish is coming out of it.” Yami tried to speak, but he was crimson with embarrassment and stuttering incoherently. Ankei chuckled and leaned forward, kissing him rather fiercely before pulling away. “Let’s go to school, dummy.”

“…You’re a terrible person sometimes.” Yami said exasperated as he fixed the front of his uniform and glancing about fearfully to see if any maids or other persons had seen his brothers ‘sinful’ act.

Ankei grinned and kissed his brothers brow before he tugged him along by his tie. “Hurry up, dork, or we’ll be late for class.”

Yami needed no other persuading.

~*~

History

Yami sat with his arms crossed, his eyes vacant and his mouth slightly opened, trying very hard to concentrate on what Professor Dzan was saying… But, everything she said was either completely and utterly subjective, or insanely inaccurate… In short, Yami’s thoughts began to slowly drift away, only vaguely hearing the lecture.

“And who were the very first races to go to war?” The Professor was saying, turning sharply towards the class. “Mr. Gill.” She said briskly, addressing a student who, like Yami and many others, was nodding off.

“Um…uh…” The boy said, jerking up and glancing about nervously… “The… demons and… elves…?” He questioned hesitantly, hoping that her constant belittling of demons’ with their festering arrogance and destructive habits was, as usual, the topic.

“…Correct. And what were the names of the leaders for that fatuous demonic army?” She asked, scowling slightly. Her eyes dropped to the one and only crimson-eyed man in the room. “Mr. Yami Starboon?” She said, her voice dripping with a false sweetness. “Answer the question.”

Yami willed himself away from his daydreaming and sat quietly for a moment, trying to remember what the question was. After a long pause he smiled, “Well… technically that’s just the very first recorded war, Professor. All considering archeologist have new evidence that there were wars being waged long before the split of the elfin races. Back when ‘demons’ and ‘elves’ had no defining names for each other and lived peacefully as one defending their territories against other races. These small battles, in all reality, being the real first wars.”

The Professors’ eyebrow twitched noticeably. “No. That is incorrect, Mr. Starboon.” She said, frowning unpleasantly. “There is absolutely no proof of such relations between the races.”

“…Well, that’s obviously a controversial subject, Professor.” Yami continued, softly, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. “Many ‘pure’ elves refuse to believe that the ‘inferior’ demon race is, by all retrospect’s, originating from the same ancestors.”

The class erupted into a soft dark murmur and Yami, scowling slightly, glanced about then sunk further into his chair, scribbling miserably at his parchment.

“Quiet, Quiet!” The Professor screeched and her voice cracked unattractively. The noise died down and she scowled, shoving her thick lenses up her nose. “What you speak of, Mr. Starboon is pure blasphemy, and I will not tolerate your mindless, illogical and contemptuous lies in this classroom.”

“They’re not lies.” Yami hissed, gnashing his teeth. “Regardless of whether you wish to believe it or not, demons and elves are essential the same thing. The only difference is I can do this.” And with that, Yami flicked his fingers and a powerful gust of wind swept through the room as if a window had been left open, sending papers scattering to the floor, and books dramatically jumping pages. Several students recoiled from the crimson eyed half demon in terror. “I don’t need silly books to use magic.” He said darkly, doing well to hide his smug grin.

“Detention.” Professor Dzan gasped, clutching her blouse, her eyes wide in fear. “Detention after school with me, Mr. Starboon.”

Yami sighed harshly, as he did so many other times at the Academy.

~*~

“Holy hell, Yami, I heard you got detention with Professor Dzan!” Ankei said, catching his little brother in the hallway on their way to Philosophy. “I heard it was because of a magnificent display of magic! You sure like to brag.” He grinned, elbowing the other man. Yami turned an unflattering glower to his elder sibling. “…What did she do to set you off, anyways?”

“‘Historical’ nonsense.” Yami said emotionlessly, checking his bag for his calculus book so he could sneak in a few more problems during Philosophy with one of the most insane and closed-minded Professors he had. “I’m sick and tired of hearing how inferior I am to you elves and how blood-thirsty we demons are and I can’t seem to find my damn calculus book.” He stopped walking and rummaged deeper into the bag. Ankei watched him with his head tilted, grinning in amusement. Yami snarled unpleasantly at the bag. “Give me yours.”

“Huh?” Ankei blinked, looking down at the book hanging precariously at his hip. Ankei never did grab the correct book anyways, and having had the calculus book instead of his Philosophy book was just pure coincidence. “Mine?”

“Yes, give it to me.” Yami demanded. “You’re not going to use it anyways.”

“…So?”

Yami’s eyes narrowed. “…Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”

“…What if I want it? Did you ever think of that?” Ankei asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What could you possibly do with an advance book of calculus?”

“…Hey, I’m in that class too you know.”

“That’s because you cheated off my mathematics exam! You shouldn’t even be in that class!” Yami nearly yelled, stomping his foot.

Ankei grinned, and knocked the book off his little brothers head, “Well, maybe today I just want to learn something. I can’t do that without a book, now can I?”

“…” Yami turned away with a frustrated grunt and stormed down the hallway to their classroom, Ankei close behind with an amused smirk.

Their Philosophy class had already started and the two princes awkwardly took their seats as the Professor raised his eyebrows at them. Much to Yami and Ankei’s surprise, it wasn’t their usual Professor. The two glanced about; suddenly afraid they had entered the wrong room.

“So, you two must be Prince Ankei and Prince Yami, am I right?” The Professor said, tilting his head.

“Yes, sir!” Ankei said, shooting a charming grin at the Professor. The room was filled with a dreamy sigh from nearly the entire female attendance. Yami felt his eyebrow twitch violently.

/Stupid man whore./ The younger prince thought.

“Hm…And you are Prince Yami, am I correct?” The Professor said addressing the crimson-eyed man. Yami nodded silently, eyeing the Professors boyish, pleasant features. Yami suddenly became very aware of how intensely the man was staring at him and finally, the prince looked away. “…Well… Since you two are late, I’ll introduce myself again to the class. I am Professor Klaus Vakerdelm, but you can call me Professor Klaus or Professor V. I will be your Philosophy Professor for the rest of this year, considering Professor Elkings suffered an epiphany, and is now traveling the world as a bard with his wife.”

Professor Klaus seemed to enjoy the bewildered silence. “Well!” He said, clapping his hands together. “Rumor has it, you were assigned homework last Friday, so please, hand it in. Yep, just like that. To the students in the middle aisles would be fantastic.” He proceeded to collect them and then tossed the parchments onto his somehow, already messy desk. “Now!” He clapped his hands together and leaned back, grinning widely up at his class. “I’d like to do a demonstration involving a few people!”
Half the hands in the class went up. “Great, I love the enthusiasm… Though, you, Mr. Ankei, would suffice just nicely.”

Ankei grinned good naturedly and bounced down the stairs to the front of the room, his unbuttoned shirt leaving his desirable physique open for class evaluation. A few girls swayed and others giggled and muttered to each other.

“Well, now, for my other student I would very much like you, Prince Yami.”

Yami stared, he hadn’t raised his hand or even showed the littlest desire to be part of the ‘demonstration.’ Professor Klaus gestured enthusiastically to the short crimson-eyed man and muttering darkly to himself Yami obeyed, standing cross-armed beside his brother and looking incredibly uncomfortable in front of the entire class.

“Now! Class. We have a few practical things we need to take in consideration before we begin our observation. For one thing, our two subjects are brothers, therefore they share blood-ties and whatnot.” Klaus ran his hands through his brown pony-tail as he paced in front of the class, a wide energetic smile on his face. He represented the Queen and King with both his pointer fingers, “Another thing to take into consideration is that the demon carrying trait is a recessive trait, and therefore can only be present if a dominate gene is absent.” He turned towards the classroom, “Some scientist would argue that elves and demons were once the same race, but prejudice and fear of the unknown eventually separated those with red eyes and black hair,” He placed one hand on Yami’s shoulder, “From those of us with all other ‘normal’ combinations.” He finished, now standing between the two princes’ with a hand on each of their shoulders. “That would mean that over thousands of years eventually those carrying the ‘elf’ traits and ‘demon’ traits began to, usually, produce children having those same traits.” He stepped forward, flinging one hand up in the air and grinning slyly, “However, we can conclude that this is not always true. Why?”

There was a silence.

“Come now class, don’t be shy.” He said, grinning. “This is a ridicule free environment!”

“Because…” One student began, sitting up. “Queen Shrain… looks… like an elf…”

“Precisely!” Klaus said, pointing enthusiastically at the student. “The Elf gene is dominate, so when Queen Shrain was born, she was not born to two Demons, she was, actually, in fact born to a half demon and a full demon, and since the elf gene is dominate, she acquired the potential to carry a demon gene.”

“But, sir!” One student said, sounding aghast. “Demons and elves are completely different… They—“

“—Well, there are certainly differences,” Klaus agreed, “but there are also similarities. We both walk on two feet… We’re anatomically the same, have the same needs, desires and dreams…” Klaus once more paused for dramatic effect, “And yet, the differences we see are physical… Take Prince Yami’s eye color into consideration.” He stepped around behind Yami again and the prince was once more uncomfortable by all the stares. “His eyes are red, and yet both his mother and father clearly carried the ‘dominate’ Elf gene. Then, how could it be possible that a recessive gene won out over a dominate gene?”

“…The father would have to be carrying the recessive gene as well.” Yami said suddenly, after another long period of silence. Professor Klaus looked at him, and smiled.

“Exactly.” He smirked, “Now… that means the only way King Kitisrumi would have been able to produce a child of ‘demonic’ nature… would be if both he and his wife had at one time had ancestors of the demon’ race, and therefore having potential of carrying the demon recessive gene… also known as half elves and half demons, though taking the appearance of an elf due to the dominant nature of that gene.”

“Are you saying that King Kitisrumi is a half demon?” One student gasped, and the students all equally looked horrified. Even Yami and Ankei exchanged surprised looks.

Klaus raised his hands in the air, shrugging and blinking innocently. “I’m just saying… How does the Starboon lineage produce a demonic child when it is only possible to have a demonic child if both parents are carrying a demonic gene?” Klaus spun about towards the two Starboon brothers again. “Now! Seeing as Prince Ankei and Prince Yami are both spitting images of the most cliché Elf and Demon, I would like everyone to list the similarities and the differences. Let’s start with the differences! Just call them out!”

“Height!”

“Eye color!”

“Hair color!”

“Friendliness!”

“Masculinity!”

Yami was crimson with embarrassment, and Ankei was laughing as the class continued to yell out the differences… ‘Masculinity’ being the main reason for their respectful responses. Yami crossed his arms and let his head drop to allow his hair to cover his scornful, but mostly embarrassed, expression; while beside him Ankei was nearly doubled over with laughter. Both of them failed to even comprehend the rest of the differences.

“Whoa, okay, easy, easy class. Let’s breathe for a minute…” Klaus seemed to look at each student individual to make sure they could continue, “All right… Now… Most of the differences you mentioned had to do with a person’s physical body, or personality, both of which vary from person to person regardless of their race. So, let’s hear similarities?”

There was an awkward silence.

“Well…” The Professor blinked, his hands clasped together in front of himself, looking a little bewildered. “Perhaps, your Highnesses would be more inclined to tell us their similarities seeing as you know each other emotionally?”

Ankei shrugged, “We both like chess.”

“Yes, but you’re terrible at it.” Yami muttered, glaring at him from the corner of his eye.

“…Oh! And we both like a lot of the same foods. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that… well… I don’t know…” Ankei continued, cupping his chin and blinking thoughtfully.

Yami sighed heavily and covered his face with one hand, trying to ignore how absurdly inane his brother was. It was typical for Ankei to think about irrelevant, silly things.

“So… really, what you’re saying is… You’re just like all the other siblings in the world.” Klaus said, turning back to the class. “Individuals do just that, they seek individuality. You may have an older brother or sister, or a younger one, and you’ll have your similar likes and dislikes, but you’ll also have distinct differences. Even though you’re family, one of you may excel in one subject, while the other struggles in it. It’s not really so much a difference in race; it’s a difference in how that individual exercises their free will. Disregarding the fact that Yami is the ‘demon’ half, while Ankei is the ‘elf’ half of their families, they both have their strengths and weaknesses… Like chess.” He turned to them and smiled apologetically, “Sorry for the informality, your Highnesses.”

Ankei shrugged and Yami continued to give the Professor a dead-pan stare.

“Right, anyhow…” The Professor waved his hand in the air dramatically, “I want all of you to write down one of your siblings and write the differences and likenesses between the two of you. If you don’t have a sibling, refer to a close friend. If you don’t have a close friend… Well, I’m here after school for you to ask questions.”

“What’s the point of this assignment?” Yami asked quietly after the class had begun to whisper fervently and pull out papers.

Professor Klaus blinked his wide, innocent gray eyes at the shorter man. “To show how silly our discriminations are.” He leaned forward and continued quietly, “I heard about your little… disagreement with Professor Dzan… and, well, I thought it would be appropriate to give more substance to what you spoke about so people don’t start thinking you’re insane.”

“You’re going to lose your job.” Yami replied matter-of-factly, though inwardly he was touched that the man cared enough to risk his profession.

“Yes… Well, I have my reasons… Now, why don’t you go and get started on that assignment?”

Yami eyed the Professor for a long moment until he inclined his head slightly and returned to his desk, wondering what in the nine hells was the Professors ‘reasons’.


~*~


“Ah, excuse me, Prince Yami!” Professor Klaus said, practically skipping down the busy hallway filled with student eager to return home. Many students gave him lingering stares, but he seemed not to notice. “May I have a moment of your time?”

Yami frowned, “Well… I have detention with Professor Dzan…” He said, “And then with Professor Rucux…”

Professor Klaus blinked, “My, my, you are quite the troublemaker aren’t you?”

Yami sighed heavily and adjusted his heavy book bag. “With all honesty, I don’t try to be. I’m just not exactly ‘well liked’ here. Or anywhere, for that matter.”

“…No, I suppose not. Perhaps my lecture today may spark some curiosity?” Klaus asked hopefully with a small smile.

“I’m doubtful.” Yami replied, shifting uneasily. “Professor, I really… can’t be late for my detention with Professor Dzan…”

“Well, then… may I walk you to… detention?”

Yami ran his fingers through his black hair, glancing away awkwardly, “Yes… I suppose you could…”

The two began to walk down the now quiet hallway. Klaus had a bright smile and his hands on his hips while beside him Yami stared at the ground as he walked, shuffling his feet and seeming awkward and out of place.

“It’s not easy growing up looking like you do, Prince Yami.” Klaus said suddenly, and Yami was surprised to hear an acute sadness in his voice. The prince looked tentatively up at the tall, handsome Professor. “My little sister was like you… Yes, both my parents are ‘elves’ but they still produced a demon-like daughter. It was hard for her… and my parents really couldn’t ever understand why she looked the way she did. They felt like they had been punished for something…” He smiled apologetically, “They… did everything they could to hide her from society, but word got out and we eventually were forced to move from town to town. We couldn’t go anywhere without people criticizing her or our family, and accusing my mother of ‘dirtying’ pure elfin blood. Eventually my sister just lost it… and…” He dropped his gaze and shoved his hands into his pockets. Yami found himself staring at the mans melancholic, but beautiful features. “I’d like to believe she’s in a better place now, you know? Away from all the hate.”

Yami stared wordlessly. “…What was her name?” He asked softly, unable to think of any comforting words.

“Sierra.” Klaus said softly, smiling again. “She was… my best friend. A lot like how you and Prince Ankei are so close…” He placed his hand on Yami’s shoulder, and the Prince stopped walking, glancing up at Klaus’ sad, bitter smile. “The second I saw you… it was like I was seeing my sister again… And then Ankei… he reminded me so much of how I was like towards my sister. Ankei’s always directly or indirectly comforting and loving you… But, even so, that doesn’t seem like it’s enough. You’re still miserable… unloved feeling… worthless, right?”

Yami pursed his lips and didn’t reply at first. “That’s a lot to accuse, Professor.” He said finally, softly.

Klaus smiled. “But it is true, isn’t it?” Yami continued to stare silently. “Well… in any case…” Klaus said sighing, “I just… wanted to help you… To let you know that you’re not crazy and you are right. We are the same people. Your red eyes only mean you were born with innate magic abilities, that’s all. It doesn’t make you evil, it doesn’t make you morally inept… It’s… Nothing like that.” He hesitated, forcing another smile.

“I know.” Yami replied, forcing a smile. He nodded. “Thank you, Professor.” Then he turned and walked into detention, fully aware he would be treated like an infectious disease.

Klaus sighed, his hands at his hips watching the tiny, delicate half demon disappear into the room, hoping that he wouldn’t ever have to witness his downfall.

~*~

“So, how was school, darling?” Shrain asked, running her fingers through her youngest sons’ hair affectionately. Yami was sitting down to unlace his shoes, but he stopped long enough to bat his mothers overly caring hands away from his hair.

“A disaster as usual, Mum. You know that.” Yami said sighing and tugging off his shoe and placing it next to the other. He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back into the softly cushioned chair, staring blankly up at the ceiling. “Though, we did get a new Professor in Philosophy… He’s an interesting man, to say the least.”

“Oh, really?” The Queen said, smiling lovingly at her son. “What sort of exciting things did you talk about?”

Yami didn’t reply at first, he only continued to stare at the eloquently carved ceiling in mild fascination. “Genetics, actually… But…” He looked to his mother, and noticed her sudden change of expressions. She looked somewhat afraid and confused. “It was a bit complicated, Mum… Though, he’s a good Professor, I doubt he’ll last long.”

“Why’s that, darling?”

“…He pretty much told the class that demons and elves originated from the same race.”

Shrain made a distressed noise. “But… you like him, don’t you darling?”

“…Yes, I suppose I do.” Yami replied hesitantly.

“Then I’ll make sure he doesn’t lose his job.” She said, kissing him on the forehead. “Would that make you happy?”

“…I…guess…” Yami said, a little taken aback. His mother stood up and fixed her sons hair again, “Mum, stops that.” Yami muttered, knocking her hands away. “I’m not a child anymore. You don’t need to take care of me.”

“Yes… I know…” She said softly, “I’m going to go and speak to the council, dear. About… Professor…?”

“Uhm…Valderdelm or something. He said to just call him Professor Klaus, or Professor V. He teaches Philosophy.”

Shrain smiled and turned towards to door and was nearly plowed over by her oldest son. “Oh! Ankei, sweetheart!” She gushed, hugging her eldest son and kissing him on the cheek. “Were you in detention too?”

“No, Mother. I was just out with a few friends, sorry I didn’t come straight home.” He said, smiling charmingly and kissing his mother on the cheek. “Where are you off to in a hurry?”

“Oh,” Shrain smiled brightly, fixing her elegant green dress absently, “Your brother seems to have taken a liking to Professor Klaus, so I was just going to make sure he didn’t get fired for talking about such touchy subjects so openly.” She smiled at her boys, “So, excuse me for now! I’ll see you at dinner, boys.”

Ankei did well to hide his smirk until his mother had left, and his grin broke wide. “Oh? A liking to pretty boy Klaus?” he said, his voice light with amusement.

“Idiot.” Yami breathed, scowling and turning away. He shoved his chemistry book on top of the large oak table and flipped the pages angrily.

“Oh? So you do like, like him?” Ankei said, gasping mockingly and then covering his eyes and continuing on melodramatically, “Oh, my dear, sweet, Yami. Whatever will I do without your kind, kind, ever so passionate love?” He threw himself against his brother and clung to his back, laughing as Yami hissed and tried to shove him away. “Now, now, little brother, you know I kid.”

“Why don’t you do something useful, like homework for once!?” Yami snapped, finally trying to ignore him and started scribbling down answers.

“What’s that?” Ankei said, his chin resting on his brother shoulder as he looked over it and at the large assignment.

“Homework.”

“I don’t remember it being assigned.”

“…That’s because you weren’t paying attention, as usual.”

“Was I not?” Ankei asked, sounding a little surprised.

“…If I remember correctly, a pretty blonde girl had your complete and undivided attention. I’ve never been so…Wait a minute.” Yami sat up, “Is that where you were after school?”

Ankei grinned sheepishly, “She invited me over. I can’t say no to a pretty face.”

“You disgust me.” Yami said disdainfully and forcefully removed his brothers arms from his neck.

“Oh, you know you’ll always be my number one.” Ankei cooed, flicking the end of his brothers’ hair.

“I-It’s not that! You stupid, ignorant, selfish whore!” Yami yelled, slapping the other mans’ advancing hands away. He stood and faced his brother, scowling up at him. “You’re just a disloyal, pompous, arrogant asshole. You use your good looks, your charm, and your status to get anything you want! You sicken me!”

“…You don’t really mean that, Yami.” Ankei said softly, truly looking hurt.

“…” Yami sighed harshly, grabbed his book and attempted to storm out of the room. Ankei, however, grabbed his frail brother by the wrist and Yami was jerked back. “Let go of me.” The half demon said coldly.

“Let’s talk.” Ankei pleaded, his beautiful cerulean eyes sincere with worry. Yami sighed harshly and scowled at the ground, knowing it was impossible to not give into those powerful blue orbs. “I’m really sorry if my way of life upsets you, Yami… Really, I am.”

“It’s not so much that you sleep with nearly every person who asks.” Yami said flatly, “Though, that is disgusting.” Ankei shrugged apologetically and Yami continued, “It’s… just so infuriating that you’re respected so much more than I am. I guess I’m just jealous that so many people like you.” He slumped forward as if suddenly tired of standing with such practiced and unnoticed grace, “I’m half-elf too, you know… And you’re half-demon too… But no one seems to take that into consideration.” He sighed helplessly, “You can’t possibly understand, Ankei.”

“I try to, Yami…”

“Sometimes I think you don’t.” Yami replied tiredly, brushing his brothers’ hand away. “I’m going to go and rest my eyes for a bit.”

“Not sleeping well again?” Ankei asked worriedly.

“You know I never do.” The other replied with a sigh, and then waved half heartedly and made his way back towards his room.

He didn’t mind that nearly all the servants ignored him completely, or scuttled fearfully out of his way. He had been use to being treated like he didn’t exist ever since he was just a small child. As he came around the corner, the rather klutzy half demon ran head-on into another well-known klutzy maid. She had been miraculously balancing a silver tray of assorted silver bowls and silverware (she wasn’t trusted with breakable material anymore), but her painful and sudden collision with the Prince of Aurora sent the objects sailing into the air and than crashing loudly on the floor.

“Oh, oh, I’m so sorry!” The maid gasped, her voice terrified as she attempted to shove the frilly bonnet out of her eyes. When she finally succeeded, she squeaked, horrified. “P-Prince Yami!” She gasped again, staring mortified at the prince as he slowly sat up, looking dazed and confused. The maid burst into tears, flailing about and scrambling over to him, knocking away spoons and bowls that lay on or near the man while she wailed her apologizes in an inhumanly high-pitched voice.

“I-It’s all right, Miss Robyn.” Yami assured, trying not to cringe at her incredible falsetto. “I’m fine, please, stop crying. Are you hurt?”

“N-No, P-P-Prince Yami.” She blubbered, bowing down and pressing her forehead to the floor while clasping her hands in front of herself. “Please, please don’t tell Lady Morgan, she said she’d fire me if I messed up again!”

Yami sighed, “No ones going to fire you, Miss Robyn.” He said, collecting the closest fallen items, “Let’s just get this cleaned up so you can get back to the kitchen.”

“Oh, yes, thank you so much, Prince Yami.” She said, immediately starting to rush and grab things and pile them back onto the silver platter. Yami watched her, a little amazed. She had incredible vitality. When they finished Robyn managed to stand with the tray (with Yami’s help) and she attempted a bow.

“No, no, that’s fine, Miss Robyn, thank you.” Yami said quickly, grabbing onto the platter as it tilted dangerously with her attempted bow. “You just… continue on carefully.”

Her eyes filled with tears again, “Oh, Prince Yami, you’re so nice. Thank you so much, I promise I’ll make it up to you!”

“No, no, that’s quite all right…” Yami said, smiling slightly. “Just… try to stay out of trouble.”

“Yes, sir, of course sir. Thank you sir!” She almost bowed again, caught herself and smiled before hurrying off.

Yami sighed harshly when she was out of sight, rubbing his temple. It was amazing the things he saw… He chuckled to himself; at least she hadn’t been crying in fear of him killing her… Just in fear of her losing her job. For some reason, that was comforting to the half demon as he made his way back to his room. He entered it, comforted that all four walls of his bedroom were set with rows upon rows of books. His room was his second favorite place next to the library… Books were his best friends, really. Yami dropped his school bag onto the floor and the fell into his bed with a grunt, his thoughts drifting between the strangely likeable clumsy maid, and the new and mystifying Philosophy Professor.

-end here for dramatic cliff hanger-

[Ramirez]



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