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Vulcan gracefully threw his legs over the side of the bed, his black pants brushing up against the plaid blanket under him. He crossed his left knee over his right, silently placing his hands on the bed while lifting his shoulders a little.

He listened for the foot steps of his Head Butler, Veni heading forwards his bedroom door. He usually woke up before Veni came to his room with breakfast, wheeling a cart. Veni was usually surprised to see Veni had dressed himself, already up and waiting for him.

Vulcan sat there, collecting his thoughts. A dream he had last night. Always having nightmares now, due to his major depression. He had developed it after loosing so many friends and those who were more than just friends. He never thought he would actually go through that during his time outside the Estate/Empire. It never accrued to him the outside world was worse than what happened in his homeland.

It was true, if he hadn't of had went with those solders to the edge of the 3rd wall, or those people had put a hole in it, none of this would have ever happened. When Vulcan thought about this, he would hear Kastroth say "If that never happened, you would have never met any of the friends you have now." He would say it over and over and over again, knowing that it would get Vulcan to stop thinking that.

Vulcan listened to the birds chirping outside. He wanted to open his window and climb out of it to climb onto the large tree branch he had always crawled on as a child. Sometimes it would make him feel better, stop thinking about the pain. Veni would have gotten worried and Vulcan certainly didn't want that to happen.

The door to Vulcan's bedroom door opened and Veni came in rolling a cart with two silver covered plates, an empty tea cup, saucer and an enameled kettle. Vulcan didn't look at him until Veni wheeled over.

Veni seemed surprised as he always was when he saw Vulcan up before schedule. He always noticed the sadness in his young master's eyes and it worried him. Though, he could tell what was making him greave so much. Vulcan seemed racked with so much pain, Veni and Vulcan's friends and family would always try to get him to ignore it. Though it always seemed to never leave the poor 19 year old male.

"How are you doing this morning, young master?" Veni asked, hesitating as he poured an orange/red colored tea into the the tea cup.

"Fine." Vulcan answered dryly. He always said that, but he never exactly felt fine.

Veni nodded, looking down at the cart. He set the kettle down and handed his young master his morning tea.

"Red Rose tea this morning, eh?" Vulcan asked. The smell of roses immediately flaring up his nostrils. He took the cup and saucer from the black tail coat butler.

Veni wanted to make Vulcan smile, so he thought the family's traditional tea would make him happy. Anything that meant family to Vulcan make Vulcan feel whole.

Veni received what he wanted to see. Vulcan smiled, but it wasn't exactly what Veni was expecting. It was a thankful smile and Vulcan was thanking Veni for the tea. Though, it made Vulcan start crying over it. Vulcan began shaking, unable to to control his arms. He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his soft pale cheeks.

Veni walked around the cart and took the cup and saucer from his younger master. He set it down on the cart and turned back to Vulcan, pulling at a handkerchief from his breast pocket. He smiled down at Vulcan, gently whipping his tears away. "Young master does not have to cry, but I am ever so happy to see you smile. At the least."

Vulcan opened his eyes half way, looking up at his head butler with tearful eyes. Veni had always made him happy. Ever since the day they met.

Vulcan gently reached up and kissed Veni on the cheek. "Thank you, Veni."

Vulcan whipped the rest of his tears with the back of his hand, "I'm fine, Veni. Really, thank you." He smiled more at Veni.

Veni gave him the handkerchief, smiling. He wanted Vulcan to keep it if he was going to cry anymore. "Don't cry anymore, young master. I hate to see you so sad."

Vulcan nodded, clutching the handkerchief in his right hand tightly.

Veni walked back to the cart. He took the silver tray covers from both trays and asked "English Breakfast or Breakfast Sandwich?" He smiled as he were telling a joke.

Vulcan knew what the man was doing. "Oh hell, Veni! Must you jest? I'm not Ciel!" He crossed his arms and looked at the white lacy curtain that hung over the window. He watched it gently dance with the morning Autumn chili breeze, crossing his arms over his chest again. The birds gently sang their morning song like a chorus, landing in the tree that reached Vulcan's bedroom window.

Veni stared at his young master, expecting him to answer. He kept his jesting smile, poking fun at him. He was amused by his reactions.

"Breakfast Sandwich." Vulcan finally answered.

Veni nodded with approval and began serving his young master his morning meal.

"What do we have for the morning?" Vulcan asked, un-crossing his legs to stand up. He didn't look up as he asked this.

"Lord Nakamura would like to speak with you after breakfast." The black tail coated man answered.

Vulcan waited for Veni to continue. Veni should be continuing, but after Vulcan sat down on the window seal, there was a short moment of silence. Vulcan looked up, "Well? What is it about?"

Veni smiled again. That amused, jesting smile. It never seemed to go away. It was much like Vulcan's father's, but more... Vulcan's father's smile was more gentle and warming. Veni's smile was just what you saw on a serial killer's clown mask. Or just a regular Halloween clown mask. Yet, Vulcan loved to see that smile every day. Every morning. Every night. All day.

Hell, it just made Vulcan happy Veni was there. Of course it did. Veni had always been just more than a friend.

"Veni?"

"You'll have to ask him yourself~" He said a little playfully. He voice sounding like there was a ring to it. "It's very important." He raised his gaze, staring Vulcan in the eyes. "You'll like it."

Vulcan caught the man's eyes and quickly moved away. A little frightened and nervous from the eye contact. Vulcan always was uncomfortable looking a man in the eye. Though it was a form of respect, it gave him butterflies.

"Oh, stop it. You know I don't like that." Vulcan nearly snapped, "Your always playing."

Veni nodded, "Indeed. It is to make my young master Vulcan." He walked around the cart, never tearing his eyes from Vulcan.

Vulcan closed his eyes to avoid the man's eyes. "You aren't going to do anything, are you?"

Veni gently grabbed Vulcan's chin with his thumb and index finger. This made Vulcan's checks turn bright red. Vulcan disliked being touched and almost panicked when he did. Veni was a rather calm person. Vulcan never seemed to panic when he was touched by Veni. Of course, Vulcan trusted Veni, but only to a certain extent. The only thing Veni was allowed to do was take care of him, be his friend, or family member. Nothing more than that.

"Unless you want me to."

Vulcan opened his eyes, looking down. "You jest too much, Veni. You don't like me in that way, so don't act like it."

Veni didn't remove his fingers. He scanned his young master's face with his eyes. Silently picking up on the emotions he was feeling. "I am not acting, young master." He said, "I am simply saying, if you have any desires you wish for me to fulfill. I will grant them."

Vulcan bit his lip, hesitating to speak. Why was Veni talking about this now? Why did he ever mention it at all? Vulcan felt a bit uncomfortable. He was used to people asking for sex, but Veni wasn't asking for it at all. Veni was offering it without an ounce of shame. He didn't expect this.

"You shouldn't offer that to me. Not while I'm..." He couldn't say the rest.

Veni removed his fingers, but he wasn't going to move away from him until he gave him an answer. He stared at his young master's bright baby blue eyes, wondering what he was think.

No. Veni did not have any romantic or sexual feelings towards Vulcan, but he was willing to do anything for him. Fight for him, risk his life for him, anything.

As much as it pained Vulcan to say it, he forced himself to. Though, he didn't know if he was right or wrong. He grabbed the man's sleeve, gripping it tightly and forced himself to look into the man's albino red eyes. "Veni..." He breathed, almost unmanaging to form his name, as if he were running out of breath. "I'm not... a girl."

Vulcan used to ask Veni questions; why was he born with both male and female anatomy? Why wasn't he born one gender? Why wasn't he born with just human? Just one species? Why were his eyes a different color from his younger sisters and his father? His mother's were emerald green, so why did his change from emerald green to blue? It was always the "why" questions. Vulcan never understood anything.

Veni gently lifted his young master's chin after Vulcan lowered his head. "Do you remember what I told you when you were an early teen?"

Vulcan looked up at him, seeming like he was on the verge of tears. He nodded.

"You asked me "Why do I look different from everybody else?" Do you know what I told you?" He worded the question differently.

Vulcan silently nodded.

"Don't ever be ashamed of your own body." He said, "Your ripped at every edge, but your a masterpiece. Do you know who said that before me?"

Vulcan silently shook his head.

"Your father." He answered, "Your father told me that after I was ashamed of my own body."

Veni had been born albino, his hair as white as snow. His eyes a reddish color, and his skin color extremely pale. He hadn't always been comfortable in his own skin, always struggling with himself. Until he met Lord Nakamura, he couldn't hide it anymore. Lord Nakamura had requested the young 14 year old Veni to his studies. Veni thought he had done something wrong.

For the first time that day, Veni had began feeling better about himself. He met Lord Nakamura's first born, Kura. He always thought she was female. Hell, everybody did. Veni quickly found after Kura's 12th birthday that she had both female and male anatomy and was to address her as whatever gender she identified as.

Veni also found that Kura's real name was Vulcan. Vulcan sort of didn't mind getting called Kura, but he also felt uncomfortable about it.

Vulcan quickly wrapped his arms around Veni, surprising the man. Veni didn't complain, he wanted to make his young master happy and do the best he could to help him. Vulcan still hadn't told him what was going on with him, but he knew he was sad about something. Vulcan hadn't returned to the Estate/Empire the same person.

Veni hugged his young master back, "You should eat your breakfast. It's getting cold."

"Yeah..." Vulcan replied lowly,

Veni stepped away from his young master to tend to the cart. "Also... you should remove yourself from the window seal." He turned, putting both hands on the cart's handles. "I suggest a proper seat."

Veni wheeled the cart around, heading for the door.

"I like the window seal." Vulcan patted next to him making Veni aware he was still sitting there.

Veni's amused, jesting smile came back, appearing on his face. "If you fall out, the maids might be the first ones to find you."

Oh, Vulcan certainly didn't want that. As Veni left the room with the cart, Vulcan quickly got down from the window seal. He went over to the table by the window and sat down in the nearest seat. He began eating his breakfast, starting to wonder what might his father want to disuse with him.