A Day for the Sakaki-Kaguras
Where's The Daddy?
Author's Note: The title probably makes no sense at all but if you read on, I bet it will soon. This honestly had to be the most fun chapter I've ever written.
Note: The kids - Kaida and Koharu - are 7 years old at this point.
It was the most important question of lifetime; Kagura had to tread very carefully.
She looked down at her daughter whom was staring up with wide, expectant eyes.
Her child had asked the very question that all parents dread to answer.
"How was I born?"
"W-well…" Kagura stammered, her newly-scrubbed china plates clattering into the sink. "You see…uh…"
She turned to Kaida, her hands gesturing to her abdomen. "L-like…you c-come from here…"
"I know," Kaida replied suddenly.
Kagura blinked in surprise. "W-what? But…"
The girl held up an open book of a noticeably pregnant dog. Ah, yes, those animals books. Smart girl, she was getting the general idea now. Kagura then blushed embarrassedly at the next thought. Wait, did this mean…
"But," Kaida closed her book. "How?"
"How what?"
Kaida paused for a moment, looking slightly nervous.
"It's cool," Kagura cracked a smile, prepared for the next.
"…How did you have me?" Kaida whispered. "There's no Daddy."
Oh, yes, she had been reading that other particular tidbit. She'd have to talk with Sakaki later.
"Kaida…" Kagura swallowed dryly. "I-it's very hard to explain…y-you see…it goes the same way but not exactly b-but…well, you'll understand when you're older."
And that was end of that; Kagura was too uncomfortable to talk anymore. She busied herself with the dishes while her daughter watched, expecting new information.
When it was clear she wasn't going to get any, Kaida sighed and returned to the living room where a show about lions was playing on television.
She dropped her book onto others and sat down on the floor in time to see a tawny lioness rub faces with the handsome king lion.
Kaida understood how the boy and girl cats got together and kittens would soon grow in the girl cat's belly. She'd seen interesting images even…
Yet, she still did not get one thing. How was it everywhere she saw Daddy and Mommy have babies no matter the species yet nothing about a Mom and Ma pair like her parents? It made her wonder…how did she come into this world if she didn't have a Daddy? She felt she was special…
Still, well her mom did say it was kind of same but…
"Ow," Kaida grabbed her head. Too much thinking always left her feeling dizzy.
She tugged at her strange blue cap then resumed watching the TV.
At that moment the doorbell rang, she perked up and turned around. Who could it be?
She ran up to the door just as Kagura was walking by, grabbing the doorknob first. Kaida pulled it open and standing outside were Kaorin and her tomboyish daughter, Koharu.
"Ah, Kaorin and Koharu!" Kagura grinned, Koharu grinned in return. "Good day!"
"Kagura," Kaorin smiled "Thanks so much for offering to watch over Koharu today, I just…"
"It's no problem," Kagura cut in. "I'm sure we'll have fun, go on to your errands, okay?"
"Yes…yes…" Kaorin nodded then she patted Koharu's head. "I'll be back in couple of hours, okay?"
"Yeah, Kaori-kaa-san!" was Koharu's energetic reply. "I'm gonna have fun!"
The women chuckled then they saw each other off and Kagura shut the door after her. She then looked down at them. "Well girls, I still have some chores to finish, so why don't you two go play? I'll catch up with you later."
"You promise?" Koharu pointed at her.
Kagura laughed, ruffling their heads. "I promise."
While Kaida readjusted her cap, her friend darted into the living room with a shout. "Let's play soccer!"
Kaida followed her in, stopping to watch in awe as Koharu bounced up a soccer ball on her right foot without missing a beat. She then kicked it into a cardboard box behind her with a triumphant 'Ha!'
Koharu…Kaida thought. She was couple of months older than her and pretty much cool at a lot of stuff so she must know a thing or two. Maybe she had an answer to this whole Mommy-Daddy and babies deal.
"Where do we come from?" Kaida asked timidly.
"Huh?" Koharu blinked, dropping the ball. "Um…Here?"
Kaida shook her head. "No, I mean…Mommy and Daddy…they know how to have babies right? How do they do it?"
"Oh…uh…" Koharu strained to think. "Well, I know we come from the hospital…Maybe that's where they buy babies…"
"No!" Kaida was growing bit annoyed. Of course, Koharu did not have the pleasure of reading those richly-informed animal books as Kaida did. "No, the baby comes from the mommy's belly! How does it get there?"
Koharu cocked her head for a second then lit up like a light bulb. "Aha! Maybe she swallows it!"
That was certainly a morbid thought, but it was not right. Kaida took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "No…I don't think it works that way…I know the Daddy has something to do with it."
"Oh…" Koharu then kicked up the ball, balancing it upon her forehead. "You're weird, why are you asking me when you already know better than me?"
"…" Kaida bowed her head then spoke up softly. "Because I don't know how Mom and Ma had me without a Daddy…"
"Oh," Koharu looked down, the ball rolling off her head. "Yeah?"
"…How did they do it?" Kaida looked up thoughtfully. "Maybe there's a special way…"
"Oh yeah!" Koharu exclaimed. "They have the storks deliver 'em! I saw it on TV once!"
Kaida stared at her, it was obvious she wanted to shake her head in dismay but kept her cool expression.
"Koharu…I know storks…they're wild and they don't talk with humans," she stated. "They don't carry babies to the parents…it was a cartoon, Koharu."
"Oh…" Koharu's shoulders slumped.
Kaida sat down on the couch, petting Mayaa whom had been sleeping there. The tomboy stared at her then got another idea.
"You know what Kaori-kaa-san told me?" she chirped. "When a man and a woman get drunk together, a baby always happens! That's why I should never get drunk!"
She grinned while Kaida just blinked. Koharu frowned at the lack of reaction. "Don't you get it? Maybe it worked the same way for your parents! Maybe they got drunk together and had you!"
Kaida nodded slowly, it did sound like a real possibility. "…But, how does that work?"
"…I have no clue," Koharu shrugged. Then her mind clicked with another thought. "Let's test it."
"W…What?" Kaida stared wide-eyed, blushing slightly.
"We get drunk," Koharu said as matter-of-factly. "If it works, we'll have a baby!"
"B-but…" Kaida gulped. "What about Mom? What'll she say?"
"Eh, she'll be cool with it," Koharu waved a hand dismissively.
Easy for her to say, she was not the one whom had seen Kagura's other side. Trust Kaida, when Kagura was deeply serious, she could even be bit scary. What would she think about a sudden new arrival in their house?
But Koharu was not one to give up on a mission, she headed into the kitchen and Kaida had no choice but to follow. Thankfully, her mom was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's the wine?" Koharu asked.
"Huh?" Kaida blinked.
"That's how they get drunk," Koharu crossed her arms.
"…No…sorry…" Kaida meekly replied.
"Oh, that's okay," Koharu turned to her. "I heard wine is made from grapes, you have grapes, right?"
"Juice," Kaida nodded, going over to the fridge and pulling out a pitcher.
She clumsily carried it over to the counter, setting it down. "Now what?"
Koharu had already grabbed a couple of glasses, bringing them over to her. "We drink, what else?"
And so drink they did. Many sips and a half-full pitcher later, both girls were beginning to slow down.
Kaida slumped over the counter, clutching her stomach sickly. "I wish Koyomiko was here to help…"
"A baby with three people? Get real!" Koharu laughed goofily, slamming down her drink.
Then Kaida let out a loud burp, she covered her mouth in embarrassment. If Ma were here to hear her now! Koharu was amused, giggling.
"That was awesome!"
Then she yawned, so did Kaida.
"I'm tired…" Kaida sighed groggily.
"Maybe we're getting drunk…" Koharu mumbled, stifling another yawn.
Sleepily, they dragged themselves back to the living room where they both fell asleep on the couch. Mayaa had gone off to lurk somewhere else, annoyed at the takeover of his former resting place.
Couple of hours later, they woke and were struck with the same thought. They had to go. Bad.
They hurried off for the closest bathroom, Kaida was almost there but then Koharu pushed her away and claimed it. So Kaida squirmed for a second before darting off to her parents' bathroom, just a bit further away. It was madness but she made it.
Shortly after, they both returned, much relieved.
"Hey, did we have a baby?" Koharu asked.
They hurriedly looked around the room but found nothing.
"Damn guys…" Koharu growled. "Why do they always have it easier?"
Kaida was shocked at the crude language slip but said nothing.
"Aw, we're getting nowhere," Koharu sighed, picking up the TV remote from the coffee table. "I'm bored, let's watch something."
Kaida glanced at the big screen which was now showing a pack of hyenas and shouted. "No!"
She grabbed the control, trying to pry it away. She was not going to miss this show for something stupid like a cartoon…well, maybe cartoons weren't stupid but she definitely didn't want to miss anything about the animal life in African savannas.
"Come on!" Koharu whined, pulling back. "You've had all day, give me a turn too!"
They struggled with the remote more but then something interesting happened. They both heard a intriguing noise and they turned to the screen.
As the narrator's voice rambled on, they couldn't help but stare at the male and female hyena that had gotten together and…
They just stood there, transfixed by the action within. Over the hyena's sounds, the voice commented on such topics of life, birth and death.
"Whoa…that's freaky…" Koharu awed.
Kaida was quiet; she had never seen anything like it, not even in her books.
Then the screen went pitch black.
"Hey! We were watching that!" Koharu yelled while Kaida blinked.
They turned around and saw Kagura, holding up the remote and looking very red in face.
"Go. To. Your. Room." Kagura ordered through clenched teeth.
Kaida couldn't move, she was so nervous. Still her mind was buzzing with thoughts. What did we do? Was what we saw really so bad?
But Koharu was adamant.
"What for? What'd we do?" she protested.
But even her temper was no match for Kagura's parental authority; she stared down at her with such concentration that Koharu had to bow her head in defeat. Kagura pointed the way to Kaida's bedroom and they somberly followed it.
Once inside there, Kaida hugged her stuffed tiger for comfort while Koharu paced about the room.
"I don't get it!" she said aloud as she walked. "Was it because of what we saw? Is it really so bad? What's her problem?"
Then to their surprise, Kagura stepped in; she was still frowning so they kept silent.
After a moment's pause, the tanned woman let out a deep sigh. "I suppose since you two are so eager to find out why, I'm going to explain all this you as much as possible."
The girls tensed, their hearts beating with excitement. Were they finally going to discover where the mystery of babies came from? Maybe even learn how Mom and Ma had Kaida?
Kagura then took a seat on the bed, scratching her cheek nervously. "What you just saw…well, that wasn't appropriate at all…" she shook her head, "no way…what I AM going to tell you, you must listen carefully. There's a fine line between appropriate and inappropriate learning, remember that, and so here it goes…"
Calming music played in background as Kagura explained a version of the birds and the bees, the children listened to her with attention.
"…And that's how it is," she finished. "Do you understand?"
Both girls nodded, yet something still bothered Kaida…
Her mom still hadn't explained how they came to have her even though she had fully explained how babies were made. Before Kaida had a chance to ask, her mom had already left to finish the rest of her chores. Kaida and Koharu were again on their own.
"…Your mom's really smart," Koharu commented. Kaida just nodded in reply, still working it over in her head.
Then they heard a door click open, Kaida knew who it was straight away. She dashed out of her room and into the corridor where she saw Sakaki slip into the kitchen. She was about to follow her in but something compelled her to stay behind, hide, and maybe eavesdrop on few tidbits, even. Kaida couldn't believe she was doing this, but she was.
She peered out from behind the wall, watching Sakaki step towards Kagura. Kaida liked how her Ma's white coat trailed behind her, like an angel's gown. Koharu caught up with her, peeking as well.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, Kaida hushed her.
"Hi Kagura," Sakaki smiled gently, hugging her partner from behind.
"Mm…" Kagura sighed contently as Sakaki nuzzled her neck. "Did you have a nice day?"
"Definitely," she beamed. "I didn't get bit or scratched even once."
"That's great," Kagura leaned up to kiss her lips. "Do you know what the rascals did today?"
"No, what?"
"They ran all over the place, trying to figure out where babies came from," Kagura replied. "It was beginning to get bit awkward so I had to step in."
"Really?" Sakaki cocked her head. "I thought the animal shows might've taught her something…"
Kagura's smile turned into a frown, she glared up at Sakaki. The taller woman blushed shyly, stepping back cautiously. "What's wrong?"
"These? These?"Kagura repeated firmly. "No, Taira, they're very misleading; yes, they do give the facts of life…but in a distracting way which is no good for the children. It's all about being direct with them, that's what I did."
Sakaki trembled, bowing her head.
"Aw," Kagura sighed, lifting her chin up. "You're such a softie, Taira."
Again they kissed, deeper this time and both girls made it their cue to leave.
It was all beginning to make sense to her now, the behavior between her parents. Kagura, the mother; always was watching for them, keeping things in order, and the dominant one. While Sakaki, the other mother; brought most of the bacon home, always found the time to play with Kaida, and was a pushover.
As it is in nature, the mother is always fiercer than the father.
"What are you so happy about?" Koharu asked when she saw Kaida's smile.
"Taira-Ma's my Daddy," was her response.
