The next morning, Levi took all the chairs into the living room. He went into the basement and brought up the whiteboards and markers. He set the chairs up in a line. He picked up the whiteboard and placed it on top of the couch. Then finally, he went into Blume's room and woke her up. ''Hey Bloom.'' He said.
Blume yawned. She looked at Levi with big eyes.
''Yes, it's time to wake up.'' He picked her up. He brought her to the living room and sat her down on the chairs. ''I'm going to teach you some things!''
''Some things?'' A voice asked.
Levi turned around. Petra stood there, wearing a blue nightgown and red slippers. Her hair was tied up and she was carrying her coffee mug. He sighed. ''Yes, I'm going to teach Blume some english.''
''Wow!'' Petra's eyes sparkled. ''Really?'' She smiled at Blume. ''Wow, you're going to learn English!''
Levi walked over to the couch and picked up the whiteboard. ''Yes, now leave. This is a private session.''
Petra looked up. ''Then why is there extra chairs?''
He looked at the chairs. ''Because. Later on in the day, you guys are going to help me.''
Petra laughed. ''Yeah sure!'' She pinched Blume's cheeks and walked back to her room. ''Call me!"
''Anyway!'' Levi said, calling Blume. ''We're going to learn our ABC's. Do you know what that is?'' Blume shook his head. Levi smiled. He grabbed the marker and wrote ''A.'' ''This right here is the letter A. Can you say it?''
''A.'' Blume repeated.
''Good.'' Levi said, patting her head. ''Here, you get a lollipop.'' He reached into the plastic bag and took out a blue lollipop. Blume took it without problem.
The rest of the morning Levi taught Blume her ABC's. She had some trouble with LMNOP because Levi said it too fast. It sounded like LAMOP. But after a while, Blume got it right. Levi smiled. ''Good job Bloom.'' He reached into the bag. ''Here's a Caprisun.''
Levi got up and went into the closet. A few nights ago, while everyone was sleeping, Levi made numbers on white paper. He dug around and finally found it. ''Hey Bloom!'' He said as he walked back to her. ''Time for numbers!''
Blume stared at him. He took a seat next to her and grabbed the whiteboard. He carefully wrote the number 1. ''This is 1. Can you said one?''
''Won.'' She repeated.
Levi shook his head. ''No, no. Not like winning something. One. O-n-e.''
''O-n-e.'' Blume repeated.
Levi sighed. ''Stop playing Bloom.'' He moved closer to her. ''One. One. One.''
Blume tried her hardest. She scratched her head. ''Wo...Wo...one?''
Levi nodded. ''Nice.'' He wrote two. ''Okay, this number is two. Can you say two?''
''Too?''
Levi sighed. This will be a long morning.
And it was. Levi spent hours teaching Blume numbers, letters and colors. Blume understood colors right away but she had trouble with numbers and letters.
''How did it go captain?'' Petra asked. They all gathered at the table. Auruo, Erd and Gunther ate their cereal silently while Levi drank his tea.
''Alright.'' Levi answered staring at Blume. ''She understood colors but she had trouble with numbers and letters.''
Petra nodded. ''Mmm. I see. I'll help her later.'' She tickled Blume's chin.
''Aw, she's already learning letters?'' Auruo asked, wiping away tears. ''SHE'S GROWING SO FAST!''
''Shut it.'' Levi snapped. ''She's only 1. And it's going way slower then I thought.''
''Oh?'' Gunther asked. ''Why?''
''I thought she'll learn it right away.'' Levi admitted. ''But she's taking forever.''
''And that's alright.'' Petra said getting up. ''She's only 1. Give her time.''
Levi nodded. ''Yeah, I guess.''
Auruo laughed. ''You won't be a good teacher man.''
He sighed. Though he hated everything about Auruo, he had to agree. Instead of responding, Levi nodded.
Since Levi was tired of teaching Blume, Petra took over and did a better job. Levi scoffed. ''Pff, whatever.''
''Okay Blume.'' Petra said, holding up the whiteboard. ''What color is this apple?''
''Red!'' Blume answered, confidently.
''And what do you call this?'' Petra said, pointing to the apple.
Blume thought for a minute. ''Um...apple!''
Petra pinched Blume's cheeks. ''How adorable.'' She looked up and saw Levi glaring. ''Oh hi captain!'' She smiled. ''English class is going well!''
Levi sighed. ''Yeah, good, whatever.''
''Hey Cap!'' Gunther shouted. ''Come here?''
Levi left Blume and Petra and walked into the kitchen. Erd and Auruo sat there reading letters. ''What?''
''Look.'' Erd said handing him the letters. ''It's from a old women.''
''Huh?'' Levi asked, reading the letter:
Hello Captain Levi,
I'm looking for my granddaughter. her name is Shiroi. The police said you had a child in your care, so I was wondering if you had my girl there. Here's a picture.
Levi's eyes widen. He looked at Erd and Gunther. ''This women...Blume is her granddaughter?''
Erd nodded. ''Aparently so.'' He looked at the notes. ''And they kind of look a like, you know?''
Levi looked closely. Sure enough, the old women and Blume had the same nose structure. But that's the only thing. ''Are you sure?''
''Yes.'' Gunther answered. ''She's looking for Shiroi.''
''But who is Shiroi?'' Auruo asked. ''I thought she was nameless when we found her.''
''She was.'' Erd said. ''Petra just renamed her.''
''What a mess.'' Auruo said, slapping his forehead.
Levi sighed. ''I guess we have to meet this lady.'' She glanced at Petra. Out of his squad, Petra enjoyed Blume the most. It would be hard to tear her away. ''Petra...'' He called. ''Please come over here.''
Levi and his squad traveled to the Police. Sure enough, the old women was there. Levi told Petra to wait outside a bit so they can question the old lady.
''Captain Levi!'' The women cried, clinging onto him. ''My granddaughter..where?''
''First ma'am.'' Levi said. He shoved her arms away. She blinked in confusion. ''What's your relationship with Blume?''
The old lady sighed. ''My name is Shiro, and Hana was my daughter.''
''Shiro?'' Auruo asked, opening his dictionary. ''Your name means White, right?''
Shiro nodded. ''That's correct. Shiroi also means White.''
Auruo took out his notepad and wrote that down. ''Mmm, okay, thank you!''
Levi shook his head. ''Anyway, where were you when Hana left her child here?''
''I don't know..'' Shiro answered sadly. ''But Alex wouldn't let me see her at all. Hana had to sneak over to my place so I can see her!''
Levi didn't feel sorry at all. If she truely loved her granddaughter, she would do anything to see her. ''I don't believe you.'' He walked closer to her. ''You just allowed Alex to leave Blume on our doorstep?''
''Blume?'' Shiro asked in confusion. ''Who...''
''That's the name we gave her...'' Erd explained.
Shiro nodded. ''But Captain, everything I'm saying is true. I also know Alex and Hana died long ago.'' She took out her wallet. ''Here's Alex and Hana before he left for the military...''
Levi, Gunther, Erd and Auruo looked closely. Sure enough, there was Blume in Hana's hands. She greatly resembled her mother. Her dad had bright blonde hair and blue eyes. His skin was very pale. While her mother had dark skin, brown eye and black hair. Next to her stood Shiro. She too looked like Hana. Levi sighed. This women wasn't lying. ''Sorry for hassling you, ma'am.''
Shiro shook her head. ''It's okay, please let me see her.''
Levi montioned to Erd and let Petra in. She was already tearing up. Blume gently wiped away her tears.
Shiro gasped. Her granddaughter was beautiful. As Petra handed Blume to Shiro, she sank to the ground crying. ''She's beautiful.'' Shiro said. ''She looks so much like Hana.'' She gently swayed. ''Hi Shiroi, I'm your grandma. I'm Shiro.''
Blume blinked. She looked at Levi and opened her arms.
''No Bloom.'' Levi said, walking up to her. He patted her head. ''Sorry, but this is your true family.''
Gunther walked up to Shiro and handed Blume's stuff to her. ''Here ma'am. Please, please take good care of her.''
Shiro nodded. ''Yeah, I will. Thank you.'' She bowed and left the building. Blume's cries could be heard. ''LEVI!'' She cried.
A few years have passed since Blume left. Petra hasn't been the same since. Everyone tried to cheer her up, but it wasn't working.
That day, after cleaning Levi stood in the living room. The house was super quite, and clean. Baby bottles weren't scattered around and baby food was thrown in the trash. Though it was for a little while. Levi thought. I enjoyed the time we spent together...Blume.
Ding Dong!
Sighing, Levi walked over to the door. He opened it and his eyes grew big.