-7 years later-
I am 11 years old and Lara is currently 13 years old. We both have been working together in the restaurant for a while as cleaners(to both of our disliking). But what can you do when you are essentially the daughter of the parent's company, and essentially the adopted son of them as well.
I am still not considered their son but they make it aware I am cared for and treated like one. Basically, they asked me not to make it appear like I am a son but as an assistant employee of the tavern.
I have learned how to cook and do more at the tavern. Such as stocking due to my height growth. I am about 4'2 while Lara a 4'4. Damn, I guess I am going to be the shorter one out of the two of us. But I guess it is fine as long as we both are close still.
I have cut my fingers occasionally with the knives...Guess I suck with knives I suppose and left a few Lil cuts on my fingers from scaring. But those are where I got most of my scars from. But that's not the issue at the moment.
Lara and her family have grown more fondly of me and Lara's attitude towards me has changed more positively and more mature like now. She treats me like a brother sort of. I am glad she doesn't call me a brother or little brother just because it feels odd to me.
Her parents seem to give me clothing more suited for my anatomy. Mainly for my tail instead of getting normal clothes and poking a hole where the tail is they bought actually clothing designed for me.
Mr. and Mrs. Uchida both seem to allow us beyond the tavern and into the outside of the walls a bit more. In fact, they have a house outside the walls. We are going to be moving there which is interesting so I wonder how the tavern will be since we will be farther.
"Hey Mr. Uchida how are you doing?"
"Doing well son how about you haha!"
"I am not your son remember, Yua will give you a look if she hears you because of tradition!"
"Oh to hell with tradition! It has been what. 7 years since you've started living with us you are family by this point."
He does have a point there being with another family eating, helping, hunting, and overall just being like a family at a table is basically a calling."
But by tradition for whatever reason still vague to me. Orc families can only be those of blood, marriage, or closest of companions. Which I am not yet. But I will be! One way or another!
But for now, I am still just an assistant for the family as like a butler. A very young short and might I say handsome caiman might I add hehe. I don't know how attraction works with beastmen so who knows.
"Well either way don't let Yua know you said that! Our secret."
"Indeed. But one day you may find yourself officially in the family. Maybe from Lara perhaps hahaha!"
Maybe I will marry a beast woman. if I do I wouldn't mind that. I have started getting used to seeing faces not similar to one another. Beastmen, orcs, humans, and even elves come into the tavern for food and drinks.
But I like Lara. she has matured at a similar rate as me, though she has still been taller than me by like two inches.
I wouldn't mind a strong taller woman being my wife one day in all honesty. I am not weird that way I admit it!
I don't discriminate. But when I found out being a beastmen I was definitely in a shock about it. I expected it going to be some overpowered character like in anime or manga but nope.
But in all honesty, I don't mind who I am now. I have gotten used to cleaning my teeth, managing my scales. Which is a long process since I shed and molt a bit here and there a year. I also grow out my feathers and grow new ones. It is actually an interesting experience for me since I was used to hair and just normal skin.
My nails have been trimmed consistently and I learned how to move more swiftly with my tail helping me balance myself out. I guess being a caiman has its advantages.
plus my vision seems to be superior to human, and orcs vision in that I can see from lingering distances and at night. But it seems I have a weakness every lizard has. We are sensitive to the cold!
Could be worse I could be cold-blooded. This means I don't produce body heat and require it elsewhere.
Ahem...anyway...
I started preparing our move out into the outer parts of the city into the countryside. Better to pack essentials like my brushes, clothes, items of convenience.
"Hey! Yua where are you? I need help getting the extra clothes in my closet!" I call out inside the empty tavern. Maybe she is outside.
I start running down the stairs but trip down them. Never run down the stairs when you have a tail. I fall forward into the parts of the stairs and knock myself out. Everything goes black. Am I so stupidly clumsy to the point I have knocked myself out more than anyone has to me? Yes, yes I am. And I am very disappointed in myself.
The wait is that light!? Better not me going to fucking heaven I swear to...well god I guess. Not that I am, I'm just used to saying it please God don't send me to hell!
It seems like these are my eyes opening up. But wait who are these people looking at me? I wake up to 2 adult humans wearing white jackets looking down on me. One is a man the other is a woman. My eyes are so weak. God did I hit my head to hard. I am never going downstairs I would rather jump off them.
"He's awake! It's a miracle!" the one on my right who might be the main doctor.
"Call in the Uchida's family in now!" he speaks with confidence
"Yes sir" the nurse responds running out of the room.
"W-where am I...How long have I been knocked out *cough cough* ugh."
The doctor on my right puts his hand on my shoulder gently with no force behind it. With a warm feeling.
My shoulder however does feel sore as well somehow. I can tell he didn't put effort into the gesture but it does feel sore for some reason.
"Son, you've been asleep for a long time. Let me ask you, do you know your name?"
He looks at me through his glasses and takes a knee down at my eye level. I can't feel my body that well but they are feeling weak.
"Son, did you hear me?" he asks me again but with more emotion almost looks like a tear is about to go down his cheek.
My arms are under the blanket and I can't see any part of my body. Likely all covered up then. I am actually putting in the effort just to move my head. Did I hit my head that hard for me to-wait am I paralyzed?
"My name is Dan-I mean Coda. Coda. Coda with no surname." I nearly said the wrong name. Man, I am in a daze. I feel so hungry and dehydrated. Have I been like this for a few days? No, maybe a week? How much time has passed?
"Good, good you answered correctly. Which means you might have a chance to go back to normal."
I hope I can get out of here. I likely missed a lot. in the few days, I have been in a coma. Likely missed the days we were moving out of the house into the countryside.
"They're here sir! The family!"
That was fast. They must've been in here at the same time for a visit. I know some people do that for those in a coma or hospitalized.
I start hearing them running up the stairs. Or at least who I assume is running up the stairs.
The door is pushed a little further with it fully being extended outwards. With 3 orc figures. But they look different. Not by much. I can tell Mr. and Yua are there but the third one seems odd. Who is she? She is taller than Lara and she has he hair freely. Brown eyes. looks about 5'8 in height. She is wearing a kimono that is white that has white flowers and green vines on it.
"Coda," Yua speaks with a soft tone is shock "you finally made it"
What? What does she mean by that? She cant mean I was about to die. Right?
"Son, I am glad, no I am amazed you finally woke up! I thought maybe it was all for nothing somedays"
What are they taking about? How long was I asleep or in a coma?!
As I am thinking and trying to figure out the situation the third one speaks. Her voice is smooth calm and yet perky at the same time. She speaks to me with a look of happiness with a mix of sadness. Wait is this? Lara?
Why does she look like that unless she matured a faster rate suddenly like I did.