"Daaaaaadddyyyy! DAAAAAAAADDDYYYYY!" the saleswoman looked up from the counter, over towards a small girl crying in the middle of the aisle. She hurried over, kneeling down next to her.
"Are you lost, little girl?"
She looked up at her with teary, violet eyes. "My d-daddy. He was j-just here a minute ago," she sniffled, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. "I turned around and he was g-gone!"
"Okay…okay honey, calm down." The saleswoman smiled down at her. "What does your daddy look like, we'll find him."
"He's blond…tall. He was wearing a black coat." She rubbed her eyes, looking around. "I don't know where he could have gone."
"Do you remember what you and your dad came here for? Was he buying clothes for you or for him?"
"He was…I dunno." She peered up with wide round eyes. "Maybe he went…that way?" She pulled the woman along the aisle, looking all around as they roamed the department store, her tiny hand tightened around her fingers. The woman scanned the crowd, chewing her lip.
"Is that him?"
The girl shook her head. "He's not tall enough," she said, swinging their hands as they walked. "He…ooh! I think he said something about ties…back in the car, on the way over."
"Ties are back this way, maybe he's still there."
As they rounded the corner, the little girl broke into a smile, pulling out of the woman's hand. "Daddy!"
The man looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Hell, kid, how many times have I told you not to wander off?!" He scooped her into his arms, flashing a grin at the sales woman. "Thank you so much, miss. She's a little scatterbrained sometimes, you know how kids are."
"Oh, it's no problem," she said, smiling. "I'm happy to help. Take care now!"
He watched her as she walked away, folding the tie in his hands and setting it back on the display.
"Did I do good daddy?"
Marik smiled, ruffling her hair. "Of course you did, Kesi. You did perfectly." He set her down, his hand curling around hers. "Let's go meet papa back at the car, okay?"
"Okey dokey." She smiled. "Do you think we can get ice cream on the way back to the hotel?"
"I think we can probably swing that." He buckled her into her car seat, settling into the seat beside Bakura. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Mhm." Bakura smiled as he drove off towards their current home. "And more." He glanced back in the mirror. "That bag on the seat is for you, Kes."
There was the rustle of plastic and tin foil, then a delighted shriek. "Bubby Bear! Papa, how'd you find it?" She hugged the stuffed animal to her chest. "All I need are Baby Bug and Cuckoo Cat and I'll have all of the Little Cuties!"
"Maybe we'll find them in the next town, eh?" Marik said.
Kesi beamed and nodded. "Thank you Papa! Thank you Daddy! This is the best day ever!"
Bakura and Marik sprouted twin smiles, the latter leaning back and digging though the second bag at his feet.
"That it is, kid. That it is."
