Part IV :
Great, now I'm the brat's babysitter
Suikotsu really hoped that his comrades would find him very soon. The kid was seriously getting on his nerves. He didn't only refuse to listen to the mercenary, but he also was being arrogant with him. Moreover, the mother was being more and more familiar and he really hated it. She even asked him to do some chores ! Did they not know who they were speaking to ?
"Dad number Two !"
Suikotsu deeply sighed. It was impossible for him to have some space in this house. He had hoped that being in his bedroom would make the brat understand that he wanted to be alone, but unfortunately the kid didn't care about what he thought.
"Guess what, dad number two !" Shoutaro shouted while jumping on the man.
"I don't want to play guess games. And get off of me !"
"Mum is going to the neighbouring village today. And she told me that she will bring me new clothes !"
"Oh, I'm so glad for you. Now, get down… Wait a minute. What did you just say ?"
"I will have new clothes !"
"Not that. The other part."
"Mum's going to the neighbouring village…"
Suikotsu didn't wait for the kid to finish his sentence. He get up and rushed out of the room, searching for Asako. He found her outside. She was ready to leave and looked at the man with apparent irritation as if she already knew why he was there.
"Where do you think you're going ?"
"Shou-chan didn't tell you ?"
"He did. Why don't you take him with you ?"
"I can't. He is too young and the village is too far."
"Then I'm going with you."
"Out of the question. I need someone to watch over Shou-chan."
"And why does it have to be me ? And don't say because I'm his father, you know it's not true."
"Well, it is, in some way, but it isn't the reason. Normally, I leave him with Katsuki-kun, but his mother is sick right now and he is taking care of her."
"Good, since she can't get up, he has plenty of time to take care of your brat."
"He can't. Stop being this selfish. I am not asking too much."
"You are."
"Please, it's not like Shou-chan is a difficult child."
"Difficult, no, but annoying, yeah."
"You don't have a choice anyway. If you want to have something to eat tomorrow, you have to watch over Shou-chan for me during my absence."
"Don't complain then if you find him dead when you return."
Asako rolled her eyes and left. Suikotsu sighed and sat down. Great, now I'm the brat's babysitter, he thought.
"Has mum left ?"
"Yeah, she has. Listen carefully, brat, here are the rules. Don't speak to me. Don't even talk at all. I don't want to hear any word coming from your mouth. Stay still somewhere else than the place I am until your mother's return."
"Then… What will I do ?"
"Nothing."
Shoutaro sighed and went inside, leaving the mercenary alone.
Suikotsu smiled. The kid actually obeyed him. And after twenty minutes, the mercenary was still left in peace. It felt so great, since he wasn't able to have some time for him since he was there.
Ten more minutes later, Suikotsu hadn't heard any sound from the brat yet.
Ten minutes later again, there was still no sound from him. It wasn't like the kid to be this silent. Suikotsu get up and called him, but received no response. He came in and started to search for Shoutaro everywhere in the house only to discover that he had left.
"Stupid brat ! Does he think I like playing hide-and-seek ?"
Suikotsu swore again and sat down. If the kid wanted to play, he just had to play alone. The mercenary didn't want to waste his time searching for a brat who didn't even know how to keep still for a day.
Fifteen minutes went by. Suikotsu was not as serene as he was before. Where was the kid ? He couldn't be so far. The mercenary didn't want to admit that he was starting to worry. Moreover, he knew that the mother would not appreciate to discover her son's disappearance. Suikotsu sighed and decided to go to search for Shoutaro. That was not an easy thing to do. The only time Suikotsu was out there, he was with Shoutaro and he didn't pay attention about the surrounding. Now he feared that he could easily be lost. Fortunately, after what it seemed an eternity to him, he recognized Utsumi's house and he run towards it. He didn't knock at the door but entered right away.
"Old hag !" He shouted. "You're here ? Answer me !"
Utsumi arrived, not even a bit surprised by her guest. On the contrary, she was… smiling.
"Good afternoon, young man. Do you want something ?"
"Where is he ?"
"Who ?"
"You perfectly know who I'm talking about ! The brat !"
She shrugged, still smiling. Suikotsu really wanted to kill her. He clenched his fists.
"I advise you to tell me where he is, or else…"
"Don't hurt grandma Utsumi !"
Shoutaro rushed and kicked the mercenary's left leg. Suikotsu swore and caught the brat by the collar.
"What do you think you're doing ?"
"Let grandma Utsumi alone !"
"And what if I don't ?"
"I will not let you hurt her !"
"Really ? I'm eager to see that."
"My, my, you two are so noisy. Will you just shut up already ?"
Suikotsu and Shoutaro looked at the old woman with incredulity. They then looked at each other and the mercenary let the kid go.
"Grandma Utsumi…?"
"Do you two not know that you have to respect your elder ? Really… I am sick and tired of hearing your shouting ! My head feels heavy and you don't seem to even care ! An old woman's ears are sensitive, even if she is deaf !"
She sat down, still complaining about the youth's disrespectful behaviour. Without saying a work, Suikotsu and Shoutaro left. They silently took the way home, still wondering what happened back there.
"I've never seen grandma Utsumi like this…" Shoutaro murmured.
"I bet you haven't…"
They stayed silent during ten more minutes, then Suikotsu remembered how all of this had begun.
"You stupid brat… Why did you leave ?"
"I was bored…"
"I told you to stay still where you were."
"But I did that ! I stay still at grandma Utsumi's…"
"You were supposed to stay at home !"
"You didn't specify…"
"You…"
The man tried to restrain himself. Killing the brat was definitely not a good idea. Wait a minute ! Why is it not a good idea ?
While Suikotsu was struggling himself with this question, Shoutaro's stomach grunted.
"Dad number two… I'm hungry."
"Great… That's all we needed !"
"What ? You don't know how to cook ?"
"Because you know ? Don't make me laugh."
"So you don't know how to cook."
"Shut up ! I never said that !"
"Whatever…"
Suikotsu sighed but didn't insist. He knew it would be useless to talk back.
The meal was made up of the rice from this morning and bread. Shoutaro pulled a face.
"Don't complain."
"I said nothing…"
During the afternoon, Suikotsu accepted to give the brat permission to talk in his presence. It was a wrong idea, but he comforted himself by thinking that the day was soon finished and the mother back.
When the night was coming, Suikotsu realised that he hadn't heard from Shoutaro since ten minutes. He searched for him and found him lying on the floor, deep in sleep. The mercenary sighed, relieved, but soon another question came to his mind : what to do with him now ? He could guess that Asako would not appreciate to find her child lying like this in the main room. But on the other hand, why the mercenary would care ?
So Suikotsu went to his bedroom. He closed his eyes, however as he kept thinking about the kid next door, he couldn't get to sleep. He swore and turned on the other side. But fifteen minutes later, he was still perfectly awake.
Suikotsu got up and took a blanket, then went to the main room. He silently looked at Shoutaro, unable to move. The kid was smiling in his sleep. The scene was kind of… disturbing for the mercenary. He kneeled, touched Shoutaro's forehead and shivered by the coldness of his skin. He then covered him with the blanket and stayed at his side, thoughtful.
Five minutes later, he sighed.
"I'm an idiot… I really am an idiot." He stood up, and froze when he saw the kid opening his eyes.
"Thank you, dad…"
Then he closed his eyes again and Suikotsu smiled. The kid was talking during his sleep. Funny. But he did call me dad again… That annoying brat. Suikotsu went back to his bedroom and instantly fell asleep.