Young Master 2

Little Benjamin reached the group of boys and smiled at them happily. "Hello! I'm Benny. Can we be friends?" His high, childish voice sounded excited as he looked at the others expectantly. His lady mother had told him that they would become his loyal brothers for life if he was a good boy.

The oldest boy, a five year old like the young master, looked down at the little one. "The lord said that you will be the last one who can become one of young masters com...con...copa..." his little forehead creased as he tried to remember the difficult word the clan head had used, but after a bit he shrugged to himself. "um...you will be the last one who can be friends with the young master. So you're our baby brother now."

Little Benjamin nodded with his most serious expression, sucking his lower lip into his mouth and biting on it. For reasons he did not comprehend one of the other older boys patted his head with a smile that kind of resembled the one his big sister always showed him just before he was caught in her hugs. Benjamin looked at the boy with suspicion written all over his face, ready to bolt in case this boy he didn't know decided to cuddle him. The only one who was allowed to hug him was his sister. She had told him so repeatedly, though little Benjamin had no idea why.

Thus, the two year old took a step back while eying the blonde like a bunny about to bolt. The poor kid who had no clue what he had done wrong to be met with this kind of reaction looked at the other boy who had tried to sound like a strict elder helplessly.

"I'm not the baby anymore!" The single three year old present announced with glee just then, throwing his arms up in the air. Then, as if he had won something amazing, he pointed at Benjamin. "Now me and Jules aren't the slowpokes anymore. You are!"

His thoughts about hugs and sister's orders forgotten, Benjamin looked at the smallest member of the group full of curiosity. "What's a slowpoke? And who are you, big brother?"

"My name is Milo. And a slowpoke is the s-" The proud little Milo was just about to give an explanation, apparently for the very first time judging by his proud expression, when he was interrupted.

"Milo! Don't tease our new little brother!" Shouted a high pitched young voice from behind Benjamin. Turning around he saw another three year old, though this one was likely closer to the age of four than Milo.

With his grey eyes wide open in surprise and admiration Benjamin looked at the child. He had done exactly what his big sister usually did when his older siblings started teasing him. That there were other big kids who weren't arrogant know-it-alls towards little kids when they asked questions was a surprise. Thus, encouraged by this good impression, Benjamin asked once again. "Um...what is a slowpoke?"

"That's a bad word!" Jules responded with conviction.

Benjamin's wide open eyes turned into saucers. He had heard whispers about bad words, but nobody had taught him one yet. Now he knew a bad word, too!

He was about to ask whether these boys knew more bad words when he saw the young master who had been sitting next to the big lady walk down the hall. Honestly, Benjamin had thought young masters were supposed to be very good looking, with an air of majesty and maturity as well as power. The kid coming towards them was...a kid. Rather average, in Benjamin's opinion. Still, to him he was a big kid and therefore someone he needed to listen to because...he frowned a bit because he couldn't remember the last part.

Then he remembered what his lady mother taight him just as the other boy had almost arrived and fell to his knees. "This unworthy one has been chosen by your magnificent ancestors as a direct subordinate. This one has been named Benjamin Laplace, son of Gerard Laplace. Please accept my loyalty!" Even though he was on his knees he was looking at the older boy with sparkling eyes because he had managed to say the difficult sentences properly. His lady mother would surely be proud when he told her in the evening.

The three year old Jules noticed the young master's approach when Benjamin who had been looking in his direction fell to his knees so he had stepped to the side properly like a good lackey. He and the other boys looked towards the young master expectantly. Benjamin was...well, he was pretty small but if he was part of the group his father had to be important. Whether the young master would reject or accept him was still his decision though.

Said young master looked at Benjamin critically before his gaze wandered to one of the five year old kids who hadn't said anything so far. "What do you think?" He asked.

The one he had spoken to was a tall boy with short black hair and olive skin who looked around for a moment before he nodded. "Cute."

"Good! Then you're officially our baby brother now. You can call me young master!" The young master declared towards the other little kids. "Since everyone is here let's play tag. Baby brother is it!" The young master smirked towards the two year old smugly.

Benjamin, who had no idea what was about to come, smiled happily because he had crossed the last hurdle. He didn't know why it was important for him to become one of the young master's companions, but his lady mother and even his father who was rarely around had said that he should try hard. In his little heart he was determined to make both of them proud.

With remarkable ease he jumped to his feet, already excited to play with his new big brothers even though most still hadn't introduced themselves.