A foray into Kamen Rider Kiva, which I've been watching on and off lately. There's just so much untold backstory in this show (tecnically a whole 22 years worth) that I'm actually surprised more fic hasn't been written about it.

Very speech heavy - Been trying to get Jiro and Maya's voices right - harder than expected, but think I at least hit their ballpark. Enjoy.

9 months.

For 9 months she'd hidden herself away in castle Doran. For 9 months she'd been instructing the three monsters that now resided there on how to keep it operational, on how to leave for short times without it going mad. For nine months Maya had planned, and prepared. With the message from Kivat that had come recently, the pieces were set.

It was not a decision she'd come to lightly. It was not even the best choice for Wataru. But it was the only right choice if her son was to have any life at all.

She had in fact, been thinking about it since the day her precious second son had been born. It had been difficult, forced to rely on human doctors for the birth, not willing to risk any contacts that might have been sympathetic to her plight. The monsters had been helpful, but none knew how to handle childbirth. When her waters broke, Jiro had carried her to the hospital, and waited outside. He had claimed to be Maya's brother, and had handled any paperwork thrown Maya's way, well aware she had no desire to answer any of it.

She was grateful. She wished she wasn't, because it only made her feel more guilty about what she was about to do.

"How is he?"

The former Queen looked at the doorway. Dressed in the tux he'd become fond of since taking over the Castle, Jiro was leaning against the frame, eyes focused on the babe sleeping in her arms. She smiled back.

"He's fine. There were no problems, and he's come out just perfect."

The wolf took it as an invitation, and came to sit by her bedside, pulling up a wooden chair and sitting in it the wrong way, arms folded on the backrest.

"Any...complications?"

Maya shook her head. "No markings, no fangs...I gave him a little of my life energy and he nibbled it down, but didn't look for more. He'll probably be able to pass for human."

She felt the man beside her shift, taking on his true form, and forced herself not to react as blue fur moved over her, muzzle sniffing her child curiously. Within moments Jiro had shifted back, eyes glancing at the door for any witnesses before looking back at her.

"Smells human too. Don't think even fangire will be able to tell."

Maya smiled. Perfect.

Jiro lounged back in the chair. "So, when are you coming back? Ramon and Riki keep nagging me to let them start fixing up Taiga's nursery."

"I...won't be coming back."

The wolfen froze.

"I'm going to raise Wataru in Otoya's old home."

Her eyes were on her son, but she could feel the glare sent her way without looking.

"What?"

Fewer words had ever been spoken with more venom, but gathering up her pride, Maya faced her sometimes-ally and spoke with determination.

"Wataru deserves a good life. What chance does he have hidden away in that castle? If he can pass for human, then I will raise him in the human world."

Jiro had clenched his fist around the chair's back. The wood was creaking painfully.

"I can't allow that."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Can't?"

He was growling now, eyes narrowed.

"Do you really think the two of you will last a day out there? He might be able to pass but you can't Queen!"

Maya flinched but said nothing.

"Your power is gone! You have no idea how to hide as a human. I promised Otoya I'd-"

"You promised Otoya that you'd help his son" Maya interrupted. "Not raise him, not protect him, help him. If Wataru is to survive he must do it out there, not hidden in a cage behind 3 body guards who have no right to lecture me on how to be human."

Jiro was still glaring, though he seemed to understand.

"Then leave him here" he argued. "Leave him in his crib and walk out the door. Or give him to Shima like you did his brother. Make sure there's no connection to you."

Her hands tightened round his child. "I can't."

"Won't."

Maya nodded. "It would be best if Taiga and Wataru didn't meet. Not until they're older. Besides, he can pass now, but if he does show signs of being Fangire, I need to be there. He'll need to know how to control it. "

Wataru chose that moment to wake up, grumbling and writhing for attention. Maya immediately focused on him, while Jiro chose to look anywhere but at the two.

"Do you have a plan for the long term? You won't be able to hide forever, and we can't be constantly leaving the castle to keep an eye on him."

The baby was calming down, but Maya wouldn't look away.

"When he's older, and can take care of himself, I'll leave. Until then, I will have someone to watch me."

"Who? Someone from Blue Sky?"

Maya shook her head. "Kivat contacted me recently, to 'congratulate' me he said. Did you know he and his mate gave birth recently."

Jiro's eyes widened in comprehension.

"Ah..."

The former Queen smiled. "Kivat will be coming to stay with us, along with his son. When my time comes, I'll leave Wataru with the King's armour. Should he ever been in danger, should he ever have something he needs to protect, something to fight for, he'll have it."

She finally turned, and smirked at the wolfen. "I'm sure your fuestles will come in handy then."

Jiro grunted, crossing his arms and leaning back. "I guess the three of us are on permanent house sitting duty until that time huh?"

Maya laughed. "I'm sure you can last a decade without a good meal. When Wataru becomes Kiva, you can feast on all the souls of the fangire he defeats. I'm sure you'll appreciate that. And in twenty years, maybe twenty-five, Wataru, and Taiga, will be strong enough to hold Castle Doran on their own. You can do whatever you want then."

True enough, a dark smile was creeping onto his face, the idea more than slightly appealing.

"I'd rather just grab the ones that come after the two of you immediately, but guess we can wait, just this once."

"Good."

"...I'd better head back. I'll send Riki to keep watch tomorrow. You'd better not leave till then."

Maya smiled. "Of course not."

Jiro headed out, pausing slightly at the door and turned to get one last look at the baby, before heading out of the hospital, slipping into the shadows and heading back for the castle. Riki and Ramon were waiting for answers, and he was certain they'd like what he had to say about as much as he had liked hearing it.

Well, perhaps less, neither of them had had the same...intensity to their relationship with Otoya, and both seemed more apathetic to their promise than he did. Regardless, Jiro had no intention of letting either of them back out.

He sighed.

"Your son better not be the same pain you were Otoya, or this is going to be a real bother."