Chapter Text
The calm wind brushes the cherry blossoms on the strong branches. The land this home lays is quiet and calming just the way Lloyd likes it. He sat on the edge of the bushes picking berries for dinner, black berries had always went well with umeboshi; Lloyd loved when his father made this dish. He moved with precision making sure not to cut himself on the thorns. He checked the Berry it was perfect most were this time of year, right in the middle of spring almost summer. He placed the rest of them in his small basket and headed home from the garden. He fallowed the stone path stepping on specific stones for fun. He opened the door placing the basket on the counter top. “Father?” Lloyd asks “in the kitchen.” He walked in seeing his father making dinner. Lloyd placed the small basket beside him. “ are they good?” “Nice and fresh” his father smiled. “Good” he takes the basket and starts cutting up the berries. “ go wash up for dinner okay?” Lloyd nods and heads to the bathroom. He scrubs his hands making sure to get every bit of his skin, but gently not to scratch. As he dried his hands he looks in the mirror. He gently touches his horns, they were small but noticeable. They’re black but slowly towards his forehead they turn to his skin colour. He opens his mouth his fangs were also coming in nicely like his father says. He hears his father calling him down, he rushes down the stairs. His father sets down the plates with the umeboshi and it smelt delicious. he eagerly sits down ready to dig into this amazing meal. “ ah! Wait for me mister” his father warns. Lloyd puts his chopsticks down and sticks his tongue out in a funny expression. His father chuckles and sits down. Then with the okay and smile Lloyd starts to shovel food into his mouth. “ this is really good” Lloyd says mouth full. His father smiles “ it was your grandfather’s recipe” he says. Lloyd takes a sip of his tea “how old were you when he taught it to you?” “ about your age “ Lloyd was 14, he thought that maybe his grandfather would have taught his father sooner. Lloyd takes a bite of his food and tries to think of something else. After dinner Lloyd washes the dishes and then sits in the living room, listening to his father’s story’s as he braids his hair. “ Lloyd have I ever told you about our ancestors?” Lloyd shakes his head. “ no I don’t think you have” “ well we are the descendants of a race called the Oni “ his father keeps braiding his hair. “ there were two different types of Oni but most people think all are the same” Lloyd listens closely. “ but we have both of their blood running together as we speak in our blood”. “ really?” Lloyd was intrigued. “ but son some people, bad people will be scared and try to do things to us, bad things.” His father finishes the braid. “ but listen close, one day those people will come and take you from me.” Lloyd was scared now not wanting to leave his father. “ and I will not be able to save you, because if I try they will kill you and me” he grabs his sons shoulder. “ so if that ever happens you need to be strong, and most importantly do not let them take away what’s you.” He hugs him “ understand?” Lloyd nods “ yes father I do” Lloyd heads to bed that night wondering if what his father said could actually happen. But if it did he would be brave.