♥ · Yamazaki · Ayunee · · ♥

“Ah, Nee-san. I’ve been looking for you.” I say with a slight smile while I walk towards my lovely sister.

There are large amounts of kids everywhere, enjoying themselves with the festivities. I am envious of their ability to run about without a care of being reprimanded by an adult or not. Secretly I hope that they are not stopped and can enjoy the night completely in a way that they only can.

“So where do you want to start?” I ask looking at all the colorful and interesting booths. If I was to choose I would probably go over to that booth with the takoyaki. Mmm…

I was sort of gradually floating over towards the baby and the neighbor, when my brother sort of stops me in my path!

"Susumu!"

Immediately I latch onto his arm and beam at him. "You came out after all!"

I start to lead him towards the baby and the neighbor anyways. "My neighbor had a baby girl. Did you know that? And she kept her inside the first 3 months and now she's allowed outside."

And I want to see her and hold her and pet her and kiss her and...

My thoughts of consuming the fried octopus are brought to a halt as my sister latches onto my arm.

“Of course I would come.” I am miffed that she would think otherwise. I pout as she drags leads me towards her neighbor. I suppress the urge to laugh as she excitedly tells me all about the woman and baby. Somehow, I have always imagined that my sister would be the mother of a tribe of children.

“Aa, okay, okay. We’ll go admire the baby.” I tease lightly, being caught in my sister’s pace. Now I was curious to see the small cherub as well.

How did we get here so fast? I bow at the mother as we approach and then waggle my fingers near the baby's face.

"ooblah," the baby says.

"She's really pretty," I say to the mom as I admire the baby's clear eyes. "She'll grow up and give her father headaches."

We exchange some pleasantries, and then after admiring everything about the baby, I get permission to hold her!

"Ooblah," the baby grabs my hair and then starts to chew on it.

"Ohhh," I close my eyes really tightly. I"m so happy! "Susu- she likes my hair!"

Enough to eat it!

I do not know which I am more amused with, the baby who is enjoying my sister’s hair or my sister’s utter adoration of the child. A quick glance at the mother only confirms that I am not the only one undecided about whom to give my attention to. I give a soft chuckle at the two as I wiggle a slim finger towards the lovely girl.

“I think that’s her way of saying she likes you.”

"I like her too," I can tell I'm doing something strange. They're both giving me a funny look.

I hold her up for a moment, and then reposition her in my arms for a moment, before reluctantly handing her back to her mother. "My apologies for getting so animated. I've always wanted a girl...."

I look at the little baby, making noises contentedly as she turns her attention back to her mother.

I've always wanted a lot of things, but was afraid to ask.

I smile at the mother and child before turning my full attention back onto my sister. It was rare that I was able to do anything with her and I selfishly had her to myself for a while… well a little bit. A tiny angel seems to have whisked her away.

“You will one day. If not by you then Shinichi will be sure to give you one.” I chuckle before tugging on her hand slightly before whisking her off to the stand a puppet show was playing at. There were children of all ages there enraptured by the story telling. However, I was not interested in the puppet show itself but making sure that Nee-san was happy.

"I wonder if I can be that patient," I give my brother another smile. "Nor if I want my son to get that old that fast! It seems just like yesterday he was eating my hair and falling over when he was trying to learn to walk."

I let my fingers sit in the crook of his arm, taking comfort from his presence while we walk towards some kind of performance, where the children sit completely focused on a show.

I watch, very interested as well... I like seeing masters at work, and it makes me happy to see such wonderful things here in the city.

"Or maybe you will have children soon that I can spoil rotten," I murmur thoughtfully. "Your neesan is getting too old to have children I think." I suppose I could, but it will eventually become difficult. But Susumu can always marry someone a bit younger, both to keep him young and give him many children!

I watch as the puppeteers start telling something about a big tiger that likes to eat children.

(That seems to frighten them so.)

“Nee-san is not that old yet and she has me.” I give her hand a gentle pat before letting it linger there to show that she had my support in everything that she did. My sister was my most favorite person in the world and I would help her with anything that she asked of me.

I try not to let her see my embarrassed face at her mention of me being a father. What was I going to say to all that? I did not want to bring her down by mentioning that my bachelor status might end up being permanent the way things were going. “I suppose, but I would have to find a bride first.” I murmur raising a brow at the turn of events of the play.

"Bride?" I watch the strange play, and the reaction of the children. "One doesn't always have to marry," I answer as a matter of fact.

I suppose aside from having children naturally, there is also the possibility of adoption. It is a common enough practice when one doesn't have a male heir.

"If Shin..." I continue to think aloud. "Well, if things continue in the way they have," I look back at my brother with a half-sad smile, "You should adopt Shinichi when he turns 16."

Perhaps by then Susumu will actually have settled back down into medicine and have something which to pass forward.

I turn my attention back to show, and listen to the narrative in which the storyteller tells of how instead of the tiger eating the children, the children eat the tiger.

How absurdly upside down.

As the magic-person does his stuff on the stage, I go to work below.

Festivals are fun. Everybody likes to spend more money on festival days, and nobody will miss a few coins. I don't go hungry often then.

Today will be a good day, too.

Eh? I see a little chibi moving around in strange patterns.

"HELLO, CUTIE," I stop in my conversation with my brother and blink at this young man.

Mrg. Spotted, perhaps? And not enough to report back to the boss yet.

I put on my best smile. "Hello, pretty lady."

I wonder if she's rich.

"Hi there," I hold out some candy to him. "Where is your mommy?"