Chapter Text
Centuries ago lived a sub-breed of humanity. This subspecies held the perfect combination of animal and human, often being able to shift between the two and flawlessly intergrade into any environment. Some spent their lives in animal form only shifting when the need would arise, while most preferred the modern lifestyles with which living as a human would bring, only changing when they saw fit.
They lived as three separate genders within the subspecies. Alphas were strong and used for protection and also the only breed capable of impregnating omegas. Betas were a neutral breed and often fit in with humanity easier not having the same needs as alphas and omegas. They were used in more diplomatic senses but were capable of being fierce when called for. Betas could only breed with betas but were often looked upon by the other two breeds to stave off impregnation. Omegas were considered the weaker of the three breeds. Their primary role was to produce and raise the next generation. Their overly protective and nurturing nature made them perfect for this.
Even with their differences, the subhumans tried their best to help humanity grow and prosper. Looking to them as an older sibling would a younger, and teaching them all they could about how to live and still respect the world around them. But mankind has always been a fickle and jealous species. Their inability to adapt to the ever-changing world cause them to lash out at the subhumans who were not only adapting but thriving. This envious nature is what leads to the mass genocide of the subspecies. Though they were more abatable they had grown too comfortable with their human counterparts, thus with the element of surprise, the humans were able to greatly reduce the number of subhumans. Either through capture or killing the subhumans were pushed from society and forced to live a life in the shadows. This enacted humans to hold hunts and made games of destroying sub-human homes and colonies.
Often using the alphas for sport. Pitting them against each other in gruesome battles to the death, while they place bets or just watched for entertainment.
Betas were destined to a life of servitude. Often becoming slaves or holding menial jobs that humanity deemed unworthy of its own time, but betas were easy to forget that they weren't human and a life of servitude slowly trickled away with time.
Omegas had it the hardest if captured. They were turned in to pleaser workers. They would be used and abused often for cheaper prices than their human equivalents. They would be kept in cages during heats so people could watch as they begged and pleaded for it to all end, for an alpha, for anything. An omega could only take so many heats without a form a release and often than not the stress would kill them. Many would take their lives the first chance they got when captured. The humans never saw fit to use them for breeding and that is what lead to the dying out of the captured breeds. When the last omega died in withering pain in their crapped and tinny cage, humanity had finally sealed the fate of the know population of sub-humans.
No longer having any in captivity, humanity all but forgot about the subhumans. Chalking the genocide and captivity up to humans fighting against humans for political and religious purposes.
But it is said to this day that there are still communities of sub humans that have stayed hidden and evolved with the times in order to protect the small number of survivors. There they live peaceably with nature, free to be as they should have always been, and far from the reach of humans.
As she closed the well-worn leather journal, Kohari turned to her wide-eyed children. "Wow, that story was awesome." Of course, the little eight-year-old Iruka would be that articulate. Kohari smiled at her son's simplicity.
"Do you think it is real? Could we meet a subhuman? If we did, I would want to learn how they live one with nature. I like nature, it's simple and kind." Iruka's twin sister Kaida was always the bigger picture kind. Kohari looked between her two children with an almost melancholy look.
"If they did exist I am sure they are well hidden. Perhaps we can learn to live one with nature on our own."
Just then Ikkaku came into the room. "Now my little dolphin and dragon shouldn't you be asleep?"
"Mom was just finishing a story about subhumans" Iruka pipped up.
"Subhumans? Quite an interesting story topic. Wouldn't you say they are still a little too young for that? I thought we were going to wait until they were closer to the age of twelve for that particular story?"
"I was going to but something told me they needed to hear it now. I only told them the rough history of why the subhumans are gone." The two older Umino shared a look as to continue the conversation without so many watching eyes.
"Well as long as it was just the history. We wouldn't want them to have nightmares or anything now would we?"
"Of course not. I'll tell you both more of the story when you are older. okay?"
A double "Yes mom" and an exchange of good nights saw the elders leaving the room with their young tucked away safely. Each falling asleep with dreams of a hidden village of people who could turn into animals.
"You've had a premonition then?" Ikkaku asked his wife.
"I have and I fear that we will not be with our children for much longer. I don't know how or when but I feel it will be soon. Have you had any luck finding one of the villages?"
"No, not yet at least. I've been trying to make contact since our outpost was destroyed, but it seems like the connections to the villages have been severed as well. All we can do is hope that the next outpost is still standing. If it's not then we will go from there."
"We need to make sure they are protected. The next generation will need them. You know as well as I do how special and coinvented they will be. If we don't get them to a village soon we may as well sign their deaths or sell them to slavery."
"Now love there is no need to fret just yet. We still a little more than three years to get them to a village and secure a life for them. Do you think we have enough time before your premonition comes true?"
"I'm not sure but we need to be careful."
"Always love."
8 Months Later
"We're sorry kids, but it seems your parents didn't survive the crash. If it's any consolation their deaths were instant and painless. Once the paramedics are through looking you over we will take you down to the station where a social worker will be waiting to house you."
The Umino twins had lost everything. All their belongings were in the car when it crashed. It was a cold and rainy night. The roads must have become slippery because the truck didn't even seem to slow down when it crashed headfirst into their small Elantra. The car behind them couldn't have stopped in enough time even if it tried. It rear-ended them and crunched the car up like a used can. The medics said it was a miracle that the twins survived at all. A miracle that they both sincerely wished didn't happen. Just a few months after their ninth birthday, on October 10, the Adult Uminos were pronounced dead on scene of an accident. Their only living relations being their two kids who would now have to grow up in the foster care system.
2 Years Later
"Get back here you damn kids." They were running for their lives from their current gym teacher. He was covered in a sparkly purple paint. That would teach him to pick the little guys in class. They couldn't help it if they were only fed school lunches. They probably wouldn't even get that much if the government wasn't supplying them. Gods know their current keeper wouldn't lift a hand to feed them. He just collected them money and hit them every once in a while. That's all he was good for. They learned that if they told anyone what went on behind closed doors, no one would believe them. They didn't the first five times, so why would they now. Then again, their first foster was in jail now. After what he did to them, he deserved worse. They now wore matching scars on their faces. He wanted to see if they could feel each other's pain. Some drunk ramblings and a sick twisted mind. He wouldn't be able to hurt anyone for a long time.
This time they just had to stave off starvation. The last home they were in, wouldn't let them stay together. The home before that, the husband kept trying to get them alone behind closed doors. From what the other kids said, that was something you didn't want to happen. The second home had been nice. The couple was nice and they took care of them, but in the end, they decided it was too much work to care for two kids at once. so here they were, their fifth home in two years and their fifth school. They will probably be moved soon again anyway with the way the old man looking after them complained about not getting paid enough for them.
so now they were running from their gym teacher after pranking him. they had just cleared the school's fence and were crossing the street when a loud horn drew their attention. In a split second, both twins made connection with the car driving down the street. The last thing either of them remembers was the screeching of breaks and a lot of shouting.
Waking up in the hospital was weird, to say the least. Kaida woke with a start. she quickly opened her eyes to see that she was attached to a bunch of machines and she had an iv sticking out of her arm. It took her a while to remember what had lead to this. In a blind panic, she looked around for Iruka. The fear that her brother had left her behind clouded any rational judgment. Not see him in her room she ripped out the iv only wincing marginally at the pain. After unplugging herself she tried to get out of the bed but her legs were stiff and wobbled. She managed to stand up on her own for all of a few seconds before falling towards the ground. She laid there on the cool tile for a moment till she could work up the energy to sit up. As she managed to pull her upper body off the floor the door opened.
"Ah, I see you tried to escape. Is that usually your first response when you wake up somewhere unfamiliar?"
she looked up at the...Doctor? Maybe? She really couldn't tell. She also couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. Everything about the person oozed androgynous.
"Where is Iruka?"
"Is that what you're fussing about? Well, your brother is in his own room and he hasn't woken up yet. You both took quite the hit from that car. You are lucky it didn't cause any permeant damage. Just some minor bleeding and a couple of bumps and bruises. You too are quite lucky. Now, now don't give me that look. Once you both have had your blood work done and a few physical tests to make sure there isn't any other damage then you can be in the same room. In fact, I think the hospital would encourage it. They don't take too kindly to poor street orphans around here." Kaida tried to hide the shame she felt at that. Of course, they were just a burden to the medical facility. Their caregiver probably told them that he wasn't paying for anything and they would receive the bare minimum from where ever they were. The doctor smiled as if reading everything that was going through her mind right at that moment.
"My name is Dr. Maru. I am not a physician at this current hospital. I have a private practice, in which I deal more in research and development than the actual medical practices. I was called in to help identify some genetic abnormalities that both you and your brother share. I have found these abnormalities quite fascinating and wish to study you both further. I am aware that you both are in the foster system and after this incident, are going to be released into separate group homes." Panic spread through Kaida. They were going to be separated. She had never gone a day without Iruka. After the accident that took their parents, they refused to go more than a few hours without each other. How were they going to coupe with separate homes, let alone a group home? They have heard horror stories from other older kids about what happened in the group homes. It's every kid for themselves and you have to fight off the adults. She couldn't let that happen. At least not to Iruka. He was too kind, too gentle, too curious for a group home. Someone would take advantage. They would abusive his nature until there was nothing left of him but a hollow shell. She had to protect him because to her he was the only good left in life. Her purpose for living was to make him happy.
"I don't want to live in a group home. I can't be separated from Iruka." It came out as barely a whisper. A silent plea that maybe someone would listen and save them, or maybe this would be a dream and by stating that she would wake up.
"There may be a way around that if you would indulge my curiosity and do some simple tests for me. Maybe try a few drugs I am working on. I could help both you and your brother as I better understand what makes your genetics different."
"But how could you help us? We have to adult to consent and if the system relocates us we can't uphold any promises we make. We wouldn't make promises we can't hope to keep."
"No. I guess in your current state you can't be expected to uphold any end of the bargain, but if you and your brother agree to my terms I can arrange for you to end up in an apartment all bills paid. With the government sending money to whoever is caring for deposited into an account which you'll have access to. I will provide someone to act as your gradian without actually having to be your gradian. It will just be you and your brother. There are but a few conditions. If I ask for something you will do it. If I want you to take something and record your reactions over a time period you will do it. You and your brother will have monthly appointments where I will draw samples and have you run tests. You will allow either myself or one of my people access to your living space whenever it is needed. You will continue to go to school and I honestly encourage you to try and graduate earlier. You both had excellent marks before the system and I have no doubt you are smart enough to get out of public school faster. I am not going to lie to you and say that choosing to be my test subjects will be easy, but perhaps it is better than the alternative."
Kaida ponders their options for a moment. "I am not saying yes till I talk to Iruka. I assume that you need both of us so it will be a decision for both of us. I only have one question before I talk to him."
"Yes. What is your question?"
"Do we call you ma'am or sir?"
With this question, Dr. Maru laughed. Such a fearless child in the face of someone like themselves. "Neither you will call me Dr. Maru and that is all."
"It is only polite to add a ma'am or sir when thanking someone or following a command."
"Right you are child, but you still call me Dr. Maru."
"Yes, Dr. Maru. May I see Iruka now?"
"Not yet. I will send in my assistant with food and a change of clothes for you. When Iruka has awakened I will let you know." With that Dr. Maru left the room.
Kaida picked herself up off the ground and tried to get back on the bed. It was high and she was still sore and suffering from slight pain of the accident. With her struggle, she neglected to notice the door open and close. After a few minutes, someone cleared their throat behind her.
"Do you some assistance?" A boy, maybe 14, wearing glasses with grey hair in a low ponytail was standing inside the doorway. Kaida turned around, furious that she didn't hear anyone come in. The boy had a slight blush and was looking anywhere but at her.
"Why would you think I need help?" It was a challenge and she knew it.
"You seemed to be having some trouble getting back into the bed. Also, you are wearing a paper gown that doesn't exactly cover everything." It was said so analytically and she would have brushed it off as a mere statement of facts were not for that blush that reappeared. she gave out a huff.
"I am having trouble getting back up in the bed. My brain and my body seem to be at war with each other. I am to wait in bed for Dr. Maru's assistant, but I just haven't made it up there yet."
"Ah. Yes, it is to be expected. you were heavily medicated after the car hit you. I am surprised you can stand straight with the mix of pain medication and sleep aids they gave you. I am Kabuto. I am more of an apprentice than an assistant, but I will take any title Dr. Maru gives me. I have brought you a change of clothes, though I was not informed that you were a girl so the clothes are a bit boyish. If you need any assistance I will be here to help you. Once you are dressed I am to take you to get food. Hopefully, by then your brother will be awake."
"I ah...I need something to wrap my chest in. Perhaps some gauze or something along those lines if you only brought boys' clothing."
"Yes. I'll see what I can find." With that, he left leaving her alone once more. What a strange boy. she slowly started putting on the drawstring pants that she was given. It was quite a feat and she was exhausted by the end of it. How was she suppose to wrap herself and put on a shirt? She still hadn't been able to make it up on the bed. She was growing weak again and she hated feeling so venerable. This time when he returned he knocked before entering.
"I found some wrap that should suffice till you get some proper clothes." He looked up to find her still leaning on the side of the bed and a bit breathless. She had managed to get the pants on but they were askew and it was obviously a difficult task to get as far as she did.
"Please allow me to help you." She gave him a look that was between being upfronted at the need for help and weary at the fact that he might be a pervert. Though he had to admit that he was slightly attracted to the stubborn girl in front of him, he was well aware that she was still just a girl. One that had caught the Dr.'s attention, yes, but still just a girl.
"I promise to be nothing but professional. I am, after all, studying to be a doctor just like Dr. Maru. It's nothing new to me and I am fairly good at dressing wounds, so a wrap around the torso will be no problem. I would really like to help you so we can get some food and you can gain back some strength. I will only help you if you allow me."
Seeing that she was still apprehensive and knowing that if this took any longer the doctor would start to get impatient, he went with the only thing he could.
"You know as an acting medical professional, I can just require you to let me help. I am really only asking because I want to be polite and not make you uncomfortable."
"How are you an acting medical professional? Your only like three years older than me. What are you like a genius or something?"
"Yes, I have already graduated high school and am in my third year of med school, under the supervision of Dr. Maru of course. It is why I was chosen to be his apprentice." Well, that shut her up fast. She still looked weary but maybe a little less apprehensive than before. With a heavy sigh, she finally admitted defeat.
"Fine but I will face the bed and if your hands go anywhere they shouldn't be I will report you. If I had the strength I would relate physically but if that were the case I wouldn't need your help, to begin with." Taking permission he started to remove the paper dress. Her back was married with small scars and a few cuts and bruises from the accident, the only blemishes on perfectly tanned skin. He quickly wrapped her chest area being extra cations of her still forming chest and the bruises on her torso. when that was done, quickly and respectably, he asked her to lift her arms for the shirt. Now that she was dressed she really did look like a boy.
"Now let's go get you some food and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. I also have a few questions for you myself if you would be inclined to answer them." With a nod of confirmation, they left her room and made their way down to the cafeteria.
Iruka woke up groggily. Everything hurt and he could barely make out the shapes and colors of his surroundings. He wanted to throw up but his stomach didn't seem to have much in it to hurl. Everything smelled weird and wrong. Like the inside of a bottle of bleach. Slight beeping sounds were coming from his left and now that he realized it his could feel something sticking out of his arm. He attempted to move his arm to unattached the wires but all he was able to do was make himself shake.
"Ah. I see you are finally awake. You know your sister has been awake for a few hours. She has already changed and has received some real food. Last I heard she was sitting in the cafeteria with my assistant." A person in a lab coat was talking to him. It took a surprisingly long time for him to register exactly what they were saying.
"Can I see her?" it was all he was able to croak out. His throat was dry and it felt like swallowing glass. He was startled as a glass of water appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hmm, you seemed to be having some issues with your sight. Is it just perception or is there a refractive error as well?"
"A what? Like I don't understand half of what you're saying. I just want my sister."
"Your sister seems to be the brighter of the two. Why she needed to consult with you I can not fathom."
"I feel like you're insulting me," Iruka growled out. Who was this, this person, and why on earth were they even messing with a couple of orphans.
"On the contrary. I am merely making an observation." Just then the door flung open and Kaida came running in. She crawled up on the bed and hugged Iruka like it was the last time she ever would.
"Iruka, I thought I lost you. You wouldn't wake up, and no one was telling me anything about your condition. Dr. Maru and Kabuto reassured me that as soon as they knew something I would. I'm so glad you're awake." She was almost in tears on the verge of hiccupping between her words to fight them back.
"Kaida perhaps we should let Dr. Maru finish their conversation. We can go get your brother something to eat. I am sure he is just as hungry as you were." At this Iruka glared at the older boy in the room. Who was he to be talking to his sister in such a familiar stance? He didn't like how he was looking at her with an almost hungry fondness. Something sheer predatory behind his glassed gaze. Kaida must have sensed his unease.
"Iruka this is Kabuto, he is Dr. Maru's apprentice. He has been helping me recover while we waited for you to wake up."
"he seems kind of you for that. Don't you think?"
"He is a genius. We were talking about the ways to improve the revival methods because we saw a few nurses running with a crash cart down one of the halls on our way to the cafeteria and how some medicines are better based on genealogical standpoints than chemicals. We also talked about what exactly makes us different and what we will be doing during our studies. Honestly other than the reproductive samples it doesn't sound so bad. We might even get the opportunity to learn a few things about medical sciences."
"You're not even interested in anything in the medical fields." Iruka gave out in a huff. How was she so enthralled by these two strangers? She had never shown this much interest in anyone before. Dear gods did she have a crush? Was this where he started to lose her to some guy who is just going to break her heart. No. It couldn't be that. They were just 11. They weren't even thinking about stuff like that. Right?
"Your right, I am not. That's not what they do though. They study anomalies in the human condition and develop medicines to either help with them or help other people develop them. We have a genetic anomaly. Something that was strange enough to call in a specialist. That does interest me because it has to do with us. We don't know what it is and it could hurt us or save others. Isn't that something worth exploring and learning about?" She had a point and he knew it.
"Did our lazy ass guardian sign off on this? Is he making money off of us being test subjects?"
"No. You see that is the best part Dr. Maru said he could set us up in an apartment and we will get the government money. All we have to do is provide samples and do some tests. Maybe take some experimental medication from time to time but it's better than the alternative. They want to separate us and send us to group homes. You and I both know what happens there."
"We can't end up like that. So I guess this is our only option then. Fine ill go along with it as long as we both are safe."
As the twins had their conversation, Dr. Maru approached Kabuto.
"I see you made a friend. It is so unlike you to grow attached to a possible test subject. Should I be concerned?"
"No doctor, she was merely more insightful than I realized. She could possibly be a useful asset if properly educated. I was able to find that neither of them knows what they are or where they belong. Neither of them has presented yet or has even had contact with anyone else, but I'm sure you can smell that already. We will have to start the medication as soon as possible, otherwise, we will lose this opportunity."
"The fact that you will be having a pretty treasure living with you has nothing to do with it then? Fine. We need them before they have a chance to go into their first cycle so I will allow you this one. Consider it a reward for being so loyal." The grin on the doctor's face would turn anyone's blood cold.
"I don't need a reward but I do think they will be useful. A dying breed like them and twins are extraordinarily rare. Even if we weren't trying to perfect the serum we would still need to keep them. Who knows what kind of bargaining chip they could be."
"Always thinking too many steps ahead, aren't you? With these two we will have everything we need to make the serum work. Now let's get things settled. You make the calls and pay off who needs to be paid, find an apartment or house big enough for the three of you while we are in town. I still expect you to travel with me when need be. I'll settle things with the twins and get them released into my care."
With their release, the twins moved into a fully furnished apartment. To Iruka's dismay, Kabuto was also staying with them. They attended a new school for a few years before excelling in their studies to attend college by the ages of 15. Iruka attended classes for child development and a minor in child phycology. Kaida went on to study anything and everything under the Human and Social Sciences branch with a minor in botany. When asked why the extreme she simply stated that she would rather talk to a tree at the end of her studies than another human being.
When the twin first moved in, Dr. Maru started them on a grueling diet and a large assortment of vitamins. Throughout the years they became lacks on the food intake and shortened the vitamins to one multi and a pill specially formulated for them. Every first Thursday of the month they would visit the private office. There they would run tests and be hooked up to many machines and give whatever sample the doctor asked for. When they reached their pubescent age of 13, they had to give their first reproductive sample. It was awkward, to say the least. They had to lay on cold metal tables and allow the doctor to poke and prod in various aspects of their neither regions. It was all medical and precise but it was still highly uncomfortable. After Iruka had to produce a sample while Kaida just had some swabbing done. Of course, he had some swabbing done as well in the most uncomfortable of places. Those samples were only needed every three months, and it was Iruka's most dreaded visit. That and all the physical training and self-defense classes they had to do to keep in 'peak physical condition'. They excelled at it though. Enough for them to both get jobs at the local rec center teaching classes to women and children. They had also started to volunteer outside of their studies and work. Every Tuesday they would volunteer at a local orphanage with Iruka returning on Wednesday to pick up a small blonde boy that he had grown attached to and take him to a local park. Kaida would volunteer at the botanicals on Wednesday, often taking one of the younger boys from the home with her that had an interest in art and liked to draw as she worked. Life was crazy but good for them and they never disappointed Dr. Maru.
A few months before the twins turned sixteen, Dr. Maru and Kabuto went overseas to do some research on a new disease that kept popping up randomly. This left the twins alone. After the first year of them being gone, they just assumed that neither was coming back. The bills continued to be paid and the government still sent their stiffen every month, plus with the money from their jobs, they weren't left needing financial support. The only problem was that the doctor only left enough pills to last them two years at most. Now they were running out of their supply and were both worried about what would happen when they stopped taking them.
Shortly after their 17th birthday, they moved in the kids. A hyperactive blonde named Naruto, who just so happened to be one of Iruka's favorite kids to tutor at the group home and the one he often took on outings, and a quiet raven-haired boy named Sai, who was an aspiring artist that Kaida fell in love with the first time she saw one of his plantings of a tree. He had become a fixture when she would go to the gardens to help and better learn about the plants there, and his art often hung in the windows and on displays around the faculties. The boys were complete opposites. Naruto was loud and unpredictable. Sai was quiet and always precise with what he did. Sai enjoyed nature and the soothing sounds and colors that came with it. Naruto loved orange and causing chaos. When they would go to the beach, Naruto would want to surf while Sai would just sit back or go with Kaida snorkeling. It was after one such outing that their lives changed forever.