Kurama's Keeper

98: Aiko Meets Her Biological Father

Zenos: hey aiko.

Aiko : zenos-san.

Zenos: has your Papa told you yet ? About me.

Aiko : hai. He told me already.

Flashback~

Kurama: aiko. I've something to talk to you about.

Aiko say down " what ? Papa. "

Kurama: I know you always don't have a care in the world unlike your siblings. But now I've to tell you something very serious.

Aiko: what do you mean ?

Kurama: well... Actually, I'm not your biological father.

Aiko : I know.

Kurama : you do ?

Aiko: I saw mama getting sad over some science thing she was doing. I didn't dare to ask her, so I took the piece of paper and went to ask nee-chan....

Kurama: I see. So kazoku already knows as well. Aiko.

" Papa. " She interrupts " can you not chase me away ? I don't want to go to some stranger's family. To some Papa I don't know of. I like this family. I want to stay. I'll do anything. So please, don't send me away... "

He strokes her hair " aiko. You're not going anywhere. I was trying to tell you, you're my daughter even though you're not biologically mine. But, you should visit your biological father to know what kind of yokai he is. "

Aiko : who is he?

Kurama ; his name is Hayarato zenos. The current chief of the Hayarato clan.

Aiko: Papa. Are you angry at mama cheating on you ?

Kurama: she divorced me then under the circumstances. She thought she would never be able to see me again. Then she met Zenos when she was fragile then. Zenos was her only comfort. I can't forgive myself that I couldn't protect her.

Aiko: but grandfather was super strong. He also had his own army. You couldn't have just gone in without a plan.

Kurama sighed " sometimes I hate that I'm so rational. It made so much sense to prepare to make my way in to save her. Yet... I felt like I was still late."

Aiko ; but Papa still managed to get to mama in time. Didn't you ? Before she got married off to zenos-san.

Kurama: I saved her... But couldn't protect her. For some reason... I'm always late to protecting her when she needs me. Arriving at the last minute to save her. Sighs. Why...

Aiko hugs her father " it's ok. Next time aiko help Papa too !! Then maybe next time we can get there in time !!" He ruffles with her hair " ah. Maybe."

End of flashback~

Zenos : are you still growing? Or is this your final stage?

Aiko : final stage. I think I take over mama when it comes to size.

Zenos ; I see. I would like to do my fatherly duties towards you, even though you already have recognised Kurama as your father.

Aiko: .... You and mama... Was it just a fling ?

Zenos was a little shocked that she would ask that question. She looked like a kid, acted like a kid, talked liked a kid. He thought she was a kid .