Wang Lei tried to get around spilling the truth he had withheld but Nera kept his eyes on the man until he broke.

 

“Xei mentioned to me not long after we came back to the palace after finding Bao, that the old doctor had been ordered to create a drug that would be able to kill thousands quickly. Even if Queen Mother was to die, this order was to be carried out. We decided to keep the old doctor around in case more followers that went into hiding showed themselves.”

 

Nakai pushed Nera so he could look at Wang Lei, his face full of confused anger.

 

“Why didn’t you tell us about this?”

 

“There’s nothing to tell. Xei is keeping an eye on the old doctor, the longer she’s in isolation the antsier Queen Mother’s followers become. Right now, it’s a waiting game.”

 

Nera cooled down after hearing Wang Lei’s explanation but Nakai was still angry.

 

“You should’ve told us, I wouldn’t have gone to see her about Wang Bao if you did!”

 

Wang Lei stood up and pointed his finger at Nakai, his voice becoming louder.

 

“How was I supposed to know you would go and give her two pints of your blood. Each!?”

 

Nera pushed Nakai back so he could sit down before walking to stand behind Wang Lei, pushing him down by his shoulders. His voice was calm as he tried to release the tension in both the room and Wang Lei’s shoulders.

 

“Don’t worry, Nakai and I already knew we wouldn’t be able to trust her. Whatever she thinks Nakai’s blood can do, she won’t be able to accomplish it since my healing enzymes are slower.”

 

Wang Lei scowled at Nera before leaning back in his chair. When he started talking again, his voice was firm.

 

“We won’t mention this to Bao, it will only make him worry more.”

 

Nera quickly agreed while Nakai was hesitant, he had promised Wang Bao that he wouldn’t hold back any information but when Nera and Wang Lei both looked at him, all he could do was grunt lazily before walking out.

 

. . . . . . . .

Wang Lei didn’t know if it was a coincidence or thanks to Nakai but followers of Queen Mother started showing themselves around the country. Talk of another mass genocide was moving it’s way through the black market which was quickly heard by Nakai. The old doctor hadn’t done anything too suspicious yet but a lot of eyes were watching her to see what happened. After a week, the transfusion was ready and Wang Bao took it swiftly. He was only halfway through the large bag when he felt the pressure in his belly ease up and he could breathe properly. Since Wang Bao’s reaction was so quick and he had been struggling with pain the last week, a scan was done hastily. This was the first time a human doctor in the palace had seen a baby in a  male body, let alone a pregnancy to a Giant father. The image on the screen shocked her so much since the fetuses were so big. She looked at Wang Bao with a mix of fear and shock before talking.

 

“No wonder you’re in pain, the babies are the size of 18 week human fetuses. Usually twins are on the smaller side because of space…..but yours ...are so big!”

 

Wang Bao rubbed his belly that had grown halfway to a pot belly, when Nakai joined in on the rubbing, the fetuses started doing backflips inside Wang Bao and he swiftly smacked Nakai’s hand away. 

 

“They keep moving when you touch me!”

 

The doctor carried on checking over everything inside Wang Bao via the ultrasound before dismissing him, there was nothing out of the ordinary when comparing it to a normal human pregnancy. After the doctor visit, Wang Bao wanted to go for a walk since he hadn’t been moving around much and his legs were becoming itchy. With Hera holding his hand and Nakai walking behind, the trio walked around the large gardens. In the distance, Karo and Rara were practicing their stick fighting, the pa’s of their sticks blending in with the sound of the trees and birds. Rara had grown a lot in the months Karo hadn’t seen him, he had to aim higher now if he wanted to be on par with Rara’s strikes. The family of three continued walking for a while before Nakai noticed they were nearing the staff living quarters that sat on the outskirts of the palace.

 

Before Nakai could suggest they head back, Hera squealed loudly before running off, her chubby hands outstretched for a bunny. Wang Bao tried to stop her since he couldn’t chase after her but Nakai stopped him from moving and went after her. Rara and Karo saw Hera running away too and sprinted off after her, their sticks at the ready. Hera giggled happily as she weaved around plants and rocks, until the bunny was backed into a corner. When Nakai saw the condition of the bunny and how Hera wanted to pick it up, he quickly shouted, scaring all three kids around him.

 

“Don’t touch that!”

 

Hera jolted before falling on her butt and crying loudly while Karo backed away towards Rara, gripping the boy's arm until Rara whined from the pain. Wang Bao also reacted as soon as he heard Nakai since he had never heard him use such a booming voice around the children before. It took him a while, but when he had made it to Rara and Karo, Nakai was picking Hera up, his eyes focused on the bunny. Wang Bao swiftly soothed Rara and Karo before walking to stand beside Nakai and saw what had caused the big reaction. Hera was still crying and slapping Nakai since he had scared her while Wang Bao gasped, the bunny was close to having no fur around it’s entire body while it’s skin looked to be eaten away by some form of disease.  Wang Bao looked at Nakai with horror before tugging his arm so they could leave, he had never seen an animal so sick before and he didn’t want the kids to see it or touch it. Nakai didn’t back away though and instead put Hera down, talking to Wang Bao in a low voice.

 

“Take the kids back to the palace, tell Nera and Lei to come here quickly too.”

 

“Why?”

 

Nakai gave Wang Bao a look that said not to question him and Wang Bao sighed before taking the three scared children back to his room, calling his Brother and Nera like he was told to do. When Nera and Wang Lei finally arrived at where Nakai was, the bunny was breathing the last of its air. It’s skin had ripped open in some spots now while other sections had completely fallen off, revealing bone though there was no blood, only a thick dark red goo that had a terrible smell to it. Nera took one look at the dying bunny before stating to Nakai seriously.

 

“The rabbit from the old doctors house.”

 

Although there were no features left to identify the bunny, there was no other reasoning behind such a mess of an animal. Wang Lei stepped closer and crouched down, with a stick in his hand he poked at the animal. More goo seeped out of it’s rotting flesh and he quickly covered his nose, with one last poke the bunny gave out a high pitched scream that was more human than animalistic, as soon as the sound cut out, the animal stopped moving. From behind Wang Lei, Nakai started thinking out loud.

 

“The old doctor said that my blood was able to heal the rabbit quickly, while this thing is now far from being classified as an animal.”

 

Wang Lei wanted to get closer to the animal to see more of it but Nera pulled him back and threw the stick down by the body.

 

“You don’t want any of that stuff on you, I have a feeling she reversed the effect of the healing enzymes in our blood.”

 

Nera looked over at Nakai who agreed with him, Wang Lei was still staring at the dead carcass while talking.

 

“I’ll tell Xei, we can’t let the old doctor send any of this drug out. I’ll also get a cleaning crew to get rid of this since we don’t know if it’s contagious.”

 

The three men walked back to the palace once the cleaning crew had arrived in full body suits, as they walked Nakai spoke coldly.

 

“I’m going to take Wang Bao, Hera and Aggie back to the Big Island. Hera chased after that thing and almost grabbed it, since the old doctor knows Wang Bao is pregnant, I can’t risk him being the target of her concoctions.”

 

Wang Lei side eyed Nakai before stating just as coldly.

 

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before going to see her.”

 

“What else was I supposed to do?!”

 

Nakai turned to Wang Lei, shoving the man’s shoulder hard. Nera quickly stood between the two bickering people before a proper fight could break out. Standing as the voice of reason again.

 

“Don’t blame anyone, let’s just deal with the situation now. Nakai, I think it’s best to send Bao back with the kids and Aggie but you should stay here, lest we have to step in with our own troops.”

 

“No, I’m staying with Wang Bao. I’m not leaving him again, especially while he’s pregnant!”

 

Nakai’s anger was pointed towards Nera now and both Giants stood inches apart from each other, their eyes cold. Nera spoke no different than before but everyone could see he was becoming angry with Nakai.

 

“Bao will be safe in his own house, he doesn’t need you babysitting him. We need you here so we can end this Queen Mother business for good,”

 

Nakai didn’t back down and instead stepped closer to Nera, his voice cold.

 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about Nera, you’re not the one with a family!”

 

The words had barely left Nakai’s mouth when he felt Nera’s fist connect with his cheek, he already knew the words were wrong but he said them anyway. When he turned back to Nera, another fist hit the otherside of his face. Wang Lei could see Nera was about to hit Nakai again and kicked the man behind his ribs to send him to the ground. His eyes narrowed at both Giants that were now kneeling in front of him.

 

“Why is it you two always act like children when you disagree?”

 

Nakai rubbed both cheeks that had now become bruised and swollen before looking over at Nera who was glaring at the ground. His face was still filled with anger but Nakai spoke up anyway.

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that Karo wasn’t your child.”

 

Nera stood up without saying anything but helped Nakai up and held the Giant’s face, looking over the damage. Nakai pushed Nera’s hand away gently since there was no need to check, the bruise would last two days at the most while the pain was already subsiding. Wang Lei simply rolled his eyes at how quickly the two giants had made up and walked away, heading to Wang Bao’s room as he called out.

 

“You can leave tonight, Karo will go with you too and I’ll tell Sea Queen to leave as well.”

 

In Wang Bao’s room, Karo was sticking close to Wang Bao while Hera was sulking and Rara was confused. Wang Bao could only think of one way to cheer everyone up and Mr LIu came through the door not long after he made the call, pushing a cart of various desserts and dumplings for Rara. When Rara saw the big plate of dumplings he ran over to where Wang Bao was on the sofa, sitting obediently as a plate was handed to him. Karo was also in the mood for dumplings so he climbed over Wang Bao to sit with Rara, quietly asking if he could eat a couple. When Rara saw how timid Karo was being around him, he became angry and stuffed a whole dumpling in Karo’s mouth, almost shouting at the sad boy.

 

“Just eat the dumplings, why are you asking me?!”

 

Wang Bao left the two boys to eat their dumplings while he went over to Hera who was sitting in front of the french doors, she was mumbling under her breath but stopped when Wang Bao came over. Wang Bao was quiet as he sat beside Hera, waiting for her to start talking. Although she didn’t know a lot of words, Hera was always determined to get her point across. After holding it in for a while, Hera finally burst into tears while shouting.

 

“I hate Daddy~ Daddy meany and stupid~”

 

Wang Bao chuckled at Hera’s reasoning and pulled her over so she could lay over his thighs, while laying on Wang Bao’s thighs Hera calmed down quickly. When Wang Bao was standing up to help Hera walk to where the food was, Karo suddenly fell to the ground. HIs face turned blue and Rara quickly threw the plate of cupcakes to the ground before shoving the cart of food away. Wang Bao ran to where Karo was hyperventilating and he quickly dug out the cupcake that was still in Karo’s mouth, he checked to see if there was anything in his throat but it was empty. Wang Bao tried to get Karo to breathe, keeping his neck straight but the boy’s breathing was getting quicker and quicker.

 

Just when Wang Bao was about to call for help, Wang Lei came in, his face paling as soon as he saw Karo on the ground. In the time it took Wang Lei to walk through the door and see Karo, the small boy was no longer breathing.