'Alphas have always been considered superior to other genders due to their physical and mental strength. Alphas are above average in intelligence and risk-taking, which has given them an advantage in both education and working life. The majority of those in high positions are alphas, but there are downsides to being alpha as well. They live shorter lives and have fewer children. Alphas need omegas, who can get pregnant more easily compared to the other genders.'
Then the narrator started talking about the difference between omegas and beta, and Ikumi turned off the phone. She sat on the bed and looked at her cell phone with a thoughtful expression on her face. Ikumi already knew a lot about the three Second genders. She had read several books on the subject, and because of her otousan, she had been most interested in omegas. But after everything that had happened to Eamon and Caoimhe, Ikumi wanted to know more about alphas as well. Ikumi was a smart girl who loved to read books, and she wanted to learn at least one new thing every day. Just as her papa Kei had asked her to try to do.
Even though Ikumi was only ten, she was already certain that she was an omega. She already figured that out several years ago. After all, she looked just like Shiro did when he was her age. But it didn't bother Ikumi the slightest that she wasn't beta or an alpha. If being an omega meant that she was like her father, then it was a really good thing. After all, her otousan was perfect, and she loved him than anything.
The girl put the phone away, laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling with her arms crossed over her chest. The ceiling was filled with white stars that swirled slowly on top of the black background, forming a bright galaxy, and a shooting star passed through it and vanished near the window. It was Dorian that had bought her the home planetarium, and she liked it a lot. Ikumi could rest in bed for hours and dream about faraway galaxies. The young girl really loved her new room, in the new house she now called home.
"Good morning Ikumi-chan, it's time for breakfast," she could her father say from the other side of the door before he opened it.
The petit man walked in and looked at his daughter with a bright smile. Today, he was dressed in black, with a long-sleeved shirt that went down over his knees and big black trousers under. Ikumi always liked what Shiro was wearing. A bit different from what other adults had on, but she liked that he wasn't like others. And what's more, Ikumi just loved seeing her otousan so cheerful. Shiro never seemed happy before he went to London, except when he was with her and Deion. Toward others, he used to wear a fake smile all the time, but now Ikum hadn't seen that smile once. He really seemed happy.
Ikumi sat up and turned off the star projector. Shiro got on the bed beside her and gave his daughter a gentle hug and a soft kiss on top of her head. Shiro wasn't tall, but he was still more than a head-higher than her. Ikumi knew that she wouldn't grow so much more. Omegas were, after all, small in size.
"Did you sleep okay?" Shiro asked.
They still spoke Japanese to each other when they were alone. She had no problem speaking English, she knew it fluently, but it was reassuring to speak in her native language.
"Yes. I dreamed of papa."
Shiro looked a little startled at first, but then he smiled tenderly. This was different from how Shiro had reacted earlier when Kei was mentioned. He would instead look sad as if he were close to bursting into tears. But not now. And Ikumi knew it was all thanks to Dorian. It was thanks to him that Shiro had regained his happiness.
"What did you dream?"
"About that time, we were at Disneyland. And we met Tinkerbell, and I didn't want to leave because I wanted to fly with her."
"And your papa had to carry you around like you were flying for the whole time we were at Pixie Hollow."
Both of them laughed, but it ended in silence that felt heavy. Like the room had lost some of its colours. Ikumi looked down at her hands that rested on her knees.
"I miss him," the girl's words were faint, and Shiro could hear the sadness in her voice.
Shiro put his arms around his girl and held her to his chest.
"I miss him too."
Shiro reached for a photo frame that stood on Ikumi's bedside table and held it in front of them. There they were. Ikumi, Shiro and Kei. It was before Kei became ill, before all the treatment and surgeries. From a time when they were happy. It was only two years ago, and the wound was still fresh. But as time went by, the wound was slowly healing. Her memories of her father would always remain, and as she looked at the picture of them, Ikumi remembered how Kei always laughed and smiled. He had loud, contagious laughter, and his smile was almost as bright as Dorians. Because Shiro was working so much, Ikumi spent a lot of time alone with Kei. When she wasn't at preschool, she was always with him. They played, went to the beach, watched movies, and took trips. Her papa gave the best hugs and always said the most comforting words when she was sad or in pain. But with those happy memories was also the sad ones. When he was sick and when he was dying. She remembered how ill he had been. All the hospital visits and how he, in the end, rested there on the bed, pale and nothing more than just skin and bones. His thick dark hair was all gone. Ikumi remembered how he had looked at her, with eyes full of love but also tired. So very, very tired.
Ikumi remembered the last hug and the last time she heard his voice, telling her that he loved her more than anything in the world and he was so very proud to be her father. Ikumi got a letter from her papa, which she had framed and kept beside that picture with her and her fathers on the bedside table.
'Sweetheart, promise me to only be with people who make you laugh and feel loved. People that are kind to you. And promise me to find something that makes you happy. Get an education and a job that you love. Never settle for anything less. Ikumi, my love, try to learn something new every day and never forget that you are amazing, that you are perfect just the way you are. And that you are forever loved. I love you and your otousan more than anything. You're my little Tinkerbell, and please, never give up learning to fly. - Your papa, who loves you more than all the stars in the whole universe.'
Those words became more and more important to Ikumi the older she got. And every time she forgot to like herself, the letter reminded her that she was loved.
"What about going home next month?"
Ikumi first just stared at Shiro, then a big smile spread across her face.
"Can we?"
"Yeah. Then we go visit your papa. How about it?"
Ikumi nodded eagerly. She hadn't been to Keis grave for a long time, and she missed it. Perhaps others thought it was weird, but Ikumi loved visiting her fathers grave. To pour the water over the tombstone, put sunflowers, which were her papa's favourite flower, by the grave and just talk to him. Ikumi hugged her otousan and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you."
Shiro smiled and held his daughter tightly.
"I love you, Ikumi. More than anything."
"I love you too, otousan."
Father and daughter left the room after that and were on their way to the kitchen when they heard Caoimhe yell in an angry voice.
"I said no, and you can't fucking make me."
And then they heard how the girl ran, and a door slammed shut while Dorian roared.
"What the hell did you just say!"
Ikumi and Shiro looked at each other, both with the same surprised expression. This was the first time they had heard anyone in the McCallister family fight.
When they came to the kitchen, Dorian was by the sink, and his expression was dark. Finian stood by the table, and he looked worried.
"What happened?"
When Shiro suddenly spoke, the two alphas jerked, startled to hear his voice and turned to Shiro.
"Dorian told Caoihme she has to go back to school next week." Finian sounded tired, and he sat down heavily on one of the kitchen chairs.
"I understand she doesn't want to, but she can't talk like that to me, Finian."
"I know, darling. I will talk to her later."
Dorian was leaning against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. He had a sad expression on his face. If he had felt any anger before, it was already gone.
Ikumi was standing next to Shiro and didn't know what to do. She glanced at her father. Shiro was looking directly at his mate, and with quick steps, he walked up to Dorian and put his arms around the tall man. Dorian hugged him bet and rested his chin on top of Shiro's head, sighing.
"I understand that she's upset. I would be as well, but what other choices do we have? She has to go to school," Dorian sounded so helpless, and Shiro held on to him tighter.
"Caoimhe doesn't understand it now, but we do this for her own good. If she doesn't go back to school now, chances are she will feel ashamed and maybe even contempt for her gender for a long time, maybe for the rest of her life," Finian said.
He was probably right. He usually was, but Shiro still felt sorry for Caoimhe. He remembered how mean children could be at that age, but he hoped it would be different now. Because Caoimhe was an alpha and not an omega, and there was a huge difference between how alphas and omegas were treated.
"Everything will be alright," Shiro said in a tender voice and stood on his toes to kiss Dorian's lips.
Dorian answered the kiss immediately. Not carefully but hard and embarrassed, Ikumi looked away. She met Finian's gaze. He smiled at her and pulled out the chair next to him.
"Come here, Sweetheart, and eat breakfast."
She sat down next to him.
"Cereals?" Finian asked, and Ikumi nodded.
Finian gave her a bowl with milk and cereals, and while she was eating, she glanced at Finian, who was now looking at a tablet while drinking tea. Without giving a damn that his husband was kissing another man.
The red-haired man fascinated Ikumi. He was always calm, so logical and intelligent. Ikumi had never met anyone like Finian before. He could have easily hated her and her father. But instead, he had not only accepted them but also made sure that they felt like a part of the family. Ikumi thought that Finian was amazing.
"I have to go now."
Shiro stood next to Ikumi and kissed the top of her head. Ikumi looked up at her father and then at Dorian, who was standing next to Shiro. Dorian smiled at her. Ikumi really liked Dorian's smile, always so bright, and it made her feel at ease. There was nothing dishonest or cruel in that smile. She was happy that someone as wonderful was her dad.
"Ikumi, do you want to come to my office after school? I remember you said that you wanted to take a look."
Ikumi stared wide-eyed at Dorian.
"Can I really?"
"Of course. I remember that you said that you wanted to see the studio. I'd be happy if you want to visit where I work, and the driver can take you there directly after school."
Sometimes Dorian sounded much younger than he really was. And now, he even sounded a little shy. And it wasn't just Ikumi that thought it was cute, but Shiro and Finian too.
"I want to go, Dad."
Dorian's smile grew even bigger. It was almost like looking into the blazing sun, so radiant was the smile. Dorian tenderly caressed her hair before he walked to Finian.
"Call or text me when you get to the hospital," Dorian said, leaning down.
The two men gently kissed each other. Finian put one hand on Dorian's cheek. His gaze was warm, loving.
I will."
After that, Dorian and Shiro walked out of the kitchen. At first, neither Finis nor Ikumi said anything. Finnian continued looking at the tablet, and Ikumi ate her breakfast. When she was halfway done, Finian looked at her.
"How's it going in school?" He asked.
Ikumi hesitated. Honestly, it didn't go so well. But she didn't want to worry anyone. So she hadn't said anything about it. And even though she actually wanted to tell Finnian the truth, she thought it was best to continue to pretend that everything was alright.
"It's okay," the girl answered.
Ikumi didn't know if something in her voice or expression gave her feelings away, but Finian looked suspiciously at her.
"Are you sure? You can always talk to me, no matter what it is."
Ikumi did feel grateful, but she still didn't want to tell him the truth. Thankfully, Eamon walked in through the door, and he was so focused on looking at his phone and didn't watch where he was going, so he walked right into the refrigerator. The impact made him look up, and he looked around, confused.
"Well, good morning to you," Finian said, sounding both surprised and amused.
Eamon rubbed his forehead and looked down at his cell phone again.
"Good morning, dadaí," the boy mumbled.
"Have Tem contacted you?" Finian asked, but Eamon didn't seem to hear him. Instead, he took a bowl from the table, poured cereals and milk in it and ate still standing up. Never once did he avert his gaze from the phone.
"Please sit down," Finian said, and Eamon complied without taking his eyes off the phone.
Finian and Ikumi watched with fascinated expressions on their faces as the teenager gobbled down his breakfast.
"What are you looking at?" Finian asked, but Eamon didn't hear him.
Ikumi was impressed by Finian's patience. Even she was starting to get annoyed with Eamons peculiar behaviour.
"Answer me Eamon, when I'm talking to you."
Now the boy flinched as he heard his father's unusual stern voice. Eamon looked up.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
Both Finian and Ikumi stared at Eamon with their mouths opened. He looked completely haggard. His eyes were red, and he had dark bags under them. It looked like he hadn't slept the entire night.
"What are you looking at, Eamon? What's going on with you?" Finian sounded worried. His son acted and looked nothing like he usually did.
"Tem hasn't answered any of my calls or texts. He promised he would," Eamon was clearly anxious. Like he was on the verge of having an anxiety attack.
"He's dealing with a lot right now. He probably just needs to be alone right now."
However, Eamon shook his head.
"But what if Farid does something? What if he's already there and hurts Tem?"
Finian leaned over the table and put his hand on top of Eamons. He had a compassionate look on his face.
"I know you're worried. But Tem reassured us that Farid wouldn't hurt him, and you just have to trust him."
Eamon started biting on his nails, something Ikumi had noticed Eamon did when he was stressed. Finian gently grabbed Eamons hand and took it away from the boy's mouth.
"Listen to me, Sweetheart. If Tem doesn't reply, we can go to his apartment to see that everything is alright. Have about that?"
Eamon nodded and already looked relieved. Ikumi was amazed at how comforting Finian's words could be.
"Thanks, dadaí."
And that was all anyone had time to say. Someone cleared their throat, and the three turned around. The female security guard was standing in the doorway.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but we need to go now."
Ikumi and Eamon quickly finished their breakfast then walked to the front door. Finian went with them, and before the kids left, he hugged them both for a long time. Ikumi smiled, she really liked Finian's hugs.
Neither Ikumi nor Eamon said anything in the car on the way to school. Eamon looked at his cell phone again while Ikumi occasionally glanced at him or looked out the window. She couldn't help but think that Eamon was cute when it looked like he was trying to telepathically communicate with Tem through the phone. But Ikumi also understood his anxiety. So many times, Ikumi had waited for Shiro to call her when he was away. Now she could see her otousan every day, and once again, Ikumi thought that moving here was the best thing they had done.
Everything in her life was perfect. Except for one thing. School. She really didn't like her new school. Well, if most of her classmates hadn't been bullies, then the school would probably have been alright. But not now.
The first week had been okay. Ikumis classmates had talked to her, but after one of the students found out that Ikumi's father was Shiro Nakamura, it all changed. She noticed that they were gossiping about her, laughing behind her back and stopped talking to her. Ikumi, who was already shy, became even more insecure, and it was with a hurting stomach that she parted from Eamon. This day was no different. Worst of all, she could even hear what they were saying. It had gone so far that they no longer cared if she heard their gossip and scornful laughter.
She tried to take it easy when they talked about how she must be an omega and how she would need to have sex with people to get anywhere in the world, just like her father. Ikumi hated them. She hated the way they talked about omegas. She hated them for what they said about her otousan. Her amazing, kind, talented father had worked hard ever since he was a child, even though so many were against him.
But Ikumi was a timid, 11-year-old girl who didn't dare to say anything. During class, she could relax and just focus on what the teacher said and her tasks. At lunch, however, it always got worse. Then all students in the same year gathered and ate in the restaurant. She saw their looks, and she could hear people mention different names from her family.
Ikumi felt her blood boil when she heard Caoimhe's name and scornful laughter. They called her sister a freak and dangerous. And then she heard some say that it wasn't Dorian who was Shiro's fated, but Caoimhe. That Caoimhe had bitten Shiro. Ikumi was so shocked that she stopped in the line to the counter and stared at the persons who mocked her sister. It was a group of seven kids. Four girls and three boys. The kind of people who thought they were better than anyone else because their family had money.
"Come on, move!" Said the person behind her angry, and Ikumi flinched.
But Ikumi didn't stay in the line. Instead, she left it.
"What are you looking at?" Asked one of the girls, a girl that was already wearing a lot of makeup, even though she was only ten.
"It's not true!"
"Shut up. Everyone knows it is!"
"Dorian McCallister is my dad's fated pair."
But they just laughed at her, and she heard other kids join in. The ones that didn't laugh just looked at them like they were watching a reality TV show.
"Your dad was marked by Caoimhe but has sex with her dad so he can make an album. And everyone knows you're an omega. You'll probably be a slut just like your dad."
Ikumi was a calm girl. Quiet and reserved. But now she saw red. She began to walk towards the taller kids, her fists clenched and trembling. She was just one step away from them, just one step away from hitting the girl.
"What the hell did you say?"
A voice roared in the restaurant, and everything became completely silent. Nobody talked, nobody moved, and everyone looked in the direction where the voice came from.
There was Eamon, but it was an Eamon that Ikumi didn't recognize. He looked older, bigger, taller, and his gaze was filled with anger.
She saw the bullies, who were younger and much smaller than Eamon, trembling with fear. Eamon approached the students standing next to Ikumi and Ikumi saw the panic in their eyes. They wanted to escape, but they couldn't. Everyone looked at them, waiting with anticipation on what the popular kids were going to do. Ikumi thought it was really satisfying.
"I asked what the hell you said about my family," Eamon glared at them, but they didn't answer. They were all staring at their feet.
Eamon'gaze wandered across the room.
"If I find out that anyone is talking shit about my family again, we will take action. Understood?"
A few answered and nodded.
"I asked if you understood?"
"Yes," the kids responded.
"Good. Come, Ikumi, I need to talk to you."
Eamon took Ikumi's hand in his, and together they left the room. At the same time, a teacher walked inside and looked around, and when he saw Eamon, he looked surprised.
"Eamon McCallister, what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to my little sister," he said aloud so that everyone in the dining room could hear him. Ikumi was his sister, and he wanted everyone to know that.
The teacher just nodded and let them move on. Eamon stopped by the stairs and looked at Ikumi, his eyes worried.
"How long has this been going on?"
"A few weeks," Ikumi replied, and her voice was faint.
She saw that Eamon wanted to say something. He probably wanted to ask her why she hadn't said anything. But he didn't ask. Instead, he took her in his arms. Ikumi was so small that she almost disappeared in his embrace. She felt safe in his arms. His hugs were just like his fathers.
"Promise me you'll come to me if something like this happens again."
"I promise."
Eamon didn't let go of her for a good while, completely ignoring the students who stared at them. Ikumi didn't care either. When the boy let go of her, he looked calmer. Ikumi then remembered what Eamon had said to the teacher before.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Tem still hasn't answered."
Ikumi saw how worried Eamon looked, and she felt sorry for him.
"So I'm going to his place now."
Ikumi nodded. She understood.
"I will tell dad and dadaí later, but I wanted you to know before I leave."
"Okay. And thank you for helping me before."
"We are family, and no one messes with my family," Eamon said with a smile and ruffled her hair before he left.
He quickly went down the stairs, staring at the cellphone again. It was a miracle that he didn't fall down the stairs. Ikumi looked after him for as long as she could. Thankful that she had a brother like him.
After that day, no one talked about Ikumi's family anymore or ignored her. Sure, no one wanted to hang out with her either, but Ikumi didn't feel sad about it. Because she had her family, and they loved her just as much as she loved them.