Asahina and Isaka were exhausted. The two had finally gotten into bed after a long day of meetings, and just as the two were about to drift off to sleep their bedroom door open and the tiny patter of feet sound through the room.
"Daddy?" A little girl said softly sniffing a little.
Isaka immediately shot up looked over to his and Asahina adopted American daughter. "Sapphire? What's the matter?"
"I had a bad dream," Sapphire said hugging a teddy bear Usagi had gifted the nine-year-old when they first met.
When Sapphire said that Isaka was already out of bed and picked the crying girl up holding her. "Shh…it's ok…"
"It was scary," Sapphire cried as Isaka tried to sooth her.
Asahina wordlessly got up and went to the kitchen and started making tea to calm the crying girl. Isaka managed to get his daughter to calm down enough before walking into the kitchen where Asahina finish the tea. Even though Asahina had his usual stoic expression the worry was clear in his eyes.
"Sapphire…" Asahina said softly rubbing her head. "I made tea."
Sapphire picked her head up off Isaka's shoulder before shifting the teddy bear to one arm and accepting the tea. The small family was quiet for a few moments before Isaka asked softly "Do you want to talk about Angel?"
Sapphire shook her head and hugged Isaka tightly. "Mm…"
"It's ok, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Asahina said softly.
Soon Sapphire was asleep again and Isaka put her back to bed with a heavy sighed.
"This is the third nightmare this week Asahina," Isaka said, "I'm starting to get worried."
"Maybe it's her minds way of adjusting to the new environment," Asahina said trying to comfort his lover.
"She's been living with us for nearly a year and a half now," Isaka said, "And if it weren't for Usagi, she probably couldn't even speak proper Japanese."
"Ryuuichirou." Asahina said, "I know you're worried, but at least get some rest ok?"
Isaka sighed. "Ok, fine."
The next morning was eerily quiet, usually Sapphire would be bouncing off the walls excited to get the day started with her Dad's but today she was subdued in her attitude.
"Sapphire?" Asahina said looking up from packing his briefcase "You haven't eaten your breakfast. Are you alright?"
Sapphire pushed her plate away. "I'm not hungry."
Asahina expression changed to worry. "You have to eat something before you go to Usagi-san house."
Sapphire picked up her fork and started nibbling at her food. Asahina was a little worried before pulling up a chair and sitting down next to her.
"Sapphire, is there something you want to talk about?" Asahina said.
"Do I have to go to school next week?" Sapphire asked quietly looking down.
Asahina blinked at Sapphire's statement. She was supposed to go a performing arts school next week given the fact she was more advanced than most children her age. She was excited at the open house and practically begging them to let her go there.
"Please Daddy! They even have aerial silk's!" Sapphire pleaded with Isaka. She had even gotten Usagi on her side.
"I thought you were excited to go there?" Asahina asked.
"What if they make fun of me because I'm American?" Sapphire asked looking more downcast by the second.
Asahina understood her worries but didn't know how to comfort her. "Well…"
"Asahina, have you seen my tie!?" Isaka exclaimed coming into the room before kissing Sapphire forehead and tickling her. "How's my little angel this morning?"
Sapphire started laughing and smiling as soon as Isaka shift the attention to her. "Better. You and Dad are going to be late."
"You're telling me," Isaka said kneeling down to her height and ruffled her hair slightly "Make sure your things are packed for when Usagi-sensei comes to get you."
"Ok!" Sapphire chirped excitedly going to her room.
Isaka smiled to himself before looking over to Asahina who was still deep in thought. "Asahina? What's going on?"
"Sapphire's nervous about going to school," Asahina said getting the rest of their things ready "She's afraid the other kids will make fun of her."
"Eh!?" Isaka said glancing at Sapphire's bedroom door "Maybe we should homeschool her then…"
"Neither of us has the time nor schedule to do that," Asahina reminded him "It was a miracle that Usagi agreed to tutor her, remember?"
Isaka sighed. "Parenting is hard!"
Asahina smiled a little. "Says the doting Dad."
Isaka looked like he was about to have a fit when the doorbell rang. Asahina answered it to see Akihiko Usagi stand there.
"Usagi." Asahina said, "Sapphire should be ready in a moment."
"It's ok, I can wait," Usagi said before Sapphire came barreling toward him hugging his waist.
"Usagi-san!" Sapphire chirped excitedly.
Usagi gave the little girl a soft smile before saying. "Ready to go?"
"Yes!" Sapphire said putting her backpack on "Bye bye!"
"Have a good day Angel," Asahina said ruffling her hair before Sapphire walked off with Usagi.
"Usagi-san?" Sapphire said knocking on the writer's door.
"Come in," Usagi said turning away from his laptop.
Sapphire walked in holding her special teddy bear and handed Usagi a piece of paper "I'm done with my Japanese practice."
Usagi carefully looked it, to find that she had gotten them all right. "Your written Japanese has improved quite a bit."
"I've been practicing every day," Sapphire said excitedly "Can we go to the bookstore now?"
"Alright, just give me one moment," Usagi said as Sapphire went back downstairs.
He sighed running his hand through his hair, normally he wasn't comfortable around kids who weren't in high school but when he met Sapphire something about her reminded him of himself when he was younger.
(Flashback)
"This is our daughter Sapphire," Isaka said excitedly introducing Usagi to a small eight-year-old girl who was clinging to his side.
"What kind of name is Sapphire?" Usagi asked giving off a dark aura for her to stay away from him.
"She's American," Isaka said rubbing the top of her head "She doesn't speak much but I have a feeling you two will get along great."
"What?" Usagi said before Isaka pulled the little girl away and said something softly to her in English before turning back to Usagi. "I need you to watch for about an hour, good luck!"
"What about Asahina!?" Usagi exclaimed.
"Sorry!" Isaka said leaving Usagi apartment.
Usagi couldn't even protest, and to top it all off Misaki was currently visit his brother and he wouldn't be back till well after midnight. He just stared at the little girl for a moment before walking off leaving her to her own devices. After about four hours he receives a text from Isaka asking him how his little girl was doing. Usagi sighed and decided to check on her only to find she hadn't moved from her spot and was still standing there looking at the ground. Usagi blinked, had she been like that for four hours straight.
"Hey," Usagi said to Sapphire who looked up at him. "Aren't you tired?"
Sapphire blinked in confusion at Usagi's words before he realized Isaka spoke to her in English. She must not understand Japanese.
"(Are you tired?)" Usagi repeated in English.
Sapphire just shrugged and looked down at her feet. Isaka was right about not talking much, Usagi then asked "(You must be hungry, right?)"
Sapphire gave a small nod. Usagi then heated up some leftovers and set them on the table, Sapphire still hadn't moved unsure if Usagi wanted her to sit with him. Usagi saw Sapphire still hadn't moved and said "(You can sit at the table if you want.)"
Sapphire slowly shuffled to the table and sat down eating slowly and quietly as if not to make any noise. Usagi suddenly felt bad for her, she was trying to stay a quiet as possible not to disturb him and she hadn't moved in four hours. Even though he technically got stuck with her for longer than anticipated he was going to try to make her comfortable.
"(Sapphire, right?)"Usagi said. Sapphire looked up at him a little afraid.
"(How do you like Japan?)" Usagi said.
"(It's nice)"Sapphire said quietly. Well, at least she can talk.
"(What do you like so far?)" Usagi asked.
"(Dessert.)" Sapphire said.
"(Do you have a favorite?)" Usagi asked.
Sapphire shrugged. "(Dango.)"
"(I see.)" Usagi replied.
Sapphire shut down after that not talking anymore. Usagi stared at her for a moment before getting an idea, he went upstairs to his bear room and selected a bear for Sapphire before coming back to see she still hadn't moved.
"(Hey, Sapphire.)" Usagi said kneeling down to her height showing her the bear "(I don't know if you like stuff animals but consider this bear a gift. If you even feel lonely or scared just hug him and remember you always have a friend around if you need anything.)"
Sapphire tilted her head before accepting the bear. "(Thank you.)"
"(Your welcome.)" Usagi said giving her a small smile. "(I need to get back to work, will you be ok on your own?)"
Sapphire nodded and Usagi went back upstairs, he came to check on her an hour later to find her curled up asleep on the couch hugging the teddy bear he had given her. Usagi couldn't help but let a smile grace his face and carefully pulled a blanket on the little girl before receiving a call from Isaka.
"Akihiko! Sorry about the all-day babysitting gig." Isaka said in his normal cheery voice "How is my angel?"
"She's asleep now," Usagi said glancing at her "Isaka, I have a question. Does Sapphire have a tutor yet for her Japanese?"
"No, and it's been difficult to find one as well as a nanny for her," Isaka admitted, "We can't enroll her in school yet because we don't know where she stands education wise."
"Why haven't you been able to find somebody?" Usagi asked curiously.
"She doesn't like meeting new people, and she hides whenever Asahina or myself are gone." Isaka sighed "She doesn't really trust anybody."
Usagi glanced at Sapphire before saying. "If you want…I'd be will to tutor her and watch her until you and Asahina can figure out everything."
"Really!? Thank you so much!" Isaka exclaimed, "That's a huge relief."
"Don't get to full of yourself," Usagi said, "You're going to owe me for this."
"Not a problem, also Asahina on his way to pick her up," Isaka said.
"Thank for the heads up," Usagi said hanging up.
A few minutes later Asahina was standing in front of Usagi. "Usagi."
"Asahina, she's still asleep," Usagi said as Asahina gently woke her up.
Sapphire was still tired but she got up and asked to be carried. Asahina complied with the small girl's request.
"Isaka informs me, you'd be willing to tutor Sapphire," Asahina said.
"Yes, he told me of the trouble you two were having," Usagi said.
"(Dad? Is Usagi going to be my tutor?)" Sapphire asked quietly.
Asahina turned his attention to the tired girl on his shoulder. "(Would you like that?)"
Sapphire nodded. "(Usagi is nice. The other tutors were mean.)"
Asahina chuckled. "It seems she likes you."
Usagi's lips twitched into a smiled as Sapphire gave him a small wave. "(Bye bye Usagi.)"
"(Goodbye Sapphire.)" Usagi replied.