Chapter 7: Birth of Tradition

=^x^=

"Papa! Papa I want it! Pleeeeease?"

"Nami, dear, please calm down."

"Papa pleeeeease pretty pleeeeease?"

"Oh, Jin, let her."

Old Shelly flashed one of her famous smiles and took the knitted cap off the shelf. She held it before the young redhead, and her emerald eyes grew wide with glee.

"Look, papa! It's a kitty face!" she exclaimed, hopping up and down excitedly, "Papa pleeeeeease can I have it?"

Jin dropped his shoulders with a sigh. She looked up at him so pleadingly, pulling the best puppy dog eyes he'd ever seen. Considering how many of Alex's he'd had to live through, that was definitely saying something. With a roll of the eyes and the slightest hint of a chuckle, Jin gave in.

"Alright, you can have it."

"Yay! Thanks Papa!"

She jumped into his arms, giving him the biggest bear hug she could manage. Jin dug some money out of his pocket and handed it to Shelly, who gleefully waved her hand and said, "On the house, dearie."

"But Shelly..."

"On the house! Come here, you precious little angel."

Nami squealed and raced to the other side of the counter. Shelly knelt down and gently popped the cap onto her head, giggling as the black kitty eyes stared back at her.

"There," she said, beaming, "You now have a kitty on your head."

"Thanks Gramma Shelly!" Nami cheered, wrapping her arms around the elderly woman, "I love you!"

"I love you too, dearie. You have fun with your Papa, you hear?"

"I will!"

She ran back to Jin and hopped into his arms, popping a little kiss on his cheek and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I love you, Papa."

"I love you too, Nami."

Jin bade Shelly farewell and left the tailor shop, supporting Nami with one arm and holding bags on the other. The kids were growing fast, and Rei just hadn't been finding the time to shop for them. She had actually been quite grateful when Jin agreed to take Nami off her hands and run some errands.

"Papa, I'm hungry," Nami announced, looking him dead in the eye, "Can we stop and get some yummies?"

"Hmm, I dunno," Jin replied, scratching his chin, "considering I already got you a hat on top of everything else..."

"But I need food to live, Papa!"

Her face puffed up in a pout, and Jin couldn't help but let himself crack up just a bit at her retort. Damn that child, she was getting sharp fast.

"That's right, you do," he chuckled, bouncing her in his arm and kissing her cheek, "Alright. Let's go get some yummies."

"Can I get pancakes?"

"Your mother made pancakes yesterday."

"But I want them again!"

"Try something different."

"But Papa..."

"If you try something different, I'll get you a treat."

Her eyes widened again, and she nodded vigorously.

"Okay, Papa. I guess I can try something new, just for you."

"Oh. So I don't need to get you a treat?"

"Of course you do!"

She pounded her fist on his shoulder, and he smiled. Sharp, yes, but also just a tad gullible. He walked into the Brass Bar with her and smiled at Kathy, who seated the duo at a table by the window.

"Well hello there, you two," she said, handing him a menu and placing some crayons in front of Nami, along with a kids' menu, "What brings you here today?"

"Papa and I went shopping!" Nami announced happily, beaming, "He bought lots of stuff at Gramma Shelly's."

"No surprise. You and your brother are growing fast," Kathy chuckled, "You want a drink, cute stuff?"

"Why, yes, I'll take some water," Jin replied, smirking.

"She meant ME, Papa! And I want orange juice please!"

"Coming right up, both of you cute stuffs."

She bounced away, and Jin cocked a brow at his daughter.

"See? I'm cute too," he teased.

Nami giggled and opened her menu. Jin watched with a subtle pride as she worked out everything herself, not needing his help to read a single letter. It got a bit less subtle when she started looking over his adult menu a few moments later.

"Wow, Papa, there's so much more on here," she sighed, "I wanna order from the big boy menu."

"Well, do you see something you like?"

She looked up to him in shock, her mouth hanging slightly open.

"You'd let me order from the big boy menu, Papa?"

"If you'll let me order you a smaller portion, then yes."

"...That's fair, Papa. Thanks!"

She scooted over next to him and started reading through the big words and smiling at the things that looked appetizing.

"I want the chicken and shrimp, Papa," she said, "Is that okay?"

"Hmm, I don't see why not. You get a vegetable with it, you know."

"Oh? Hmm..."

She pondered for a moment, then chose some buttered corn. When Kathy came over, Jin ordered fish and steamed vegetables for himself, and a half portion of chicken and shrimp for Nami. Kathy looked at the young girl with surprised interest.

"I didn't know little Nami liked that stuff," she said, grinning.

"I don't know if I do," Nami said, "but Papa wanted me to try something new."

"Well, if you don't like it, let me know and we'll try something else," Kathy reassured, smiling gently, "but Chase is really good at cooking. I think you'll really like it."

"Me too!"

Kathy took their menus, and Nami snuggled up beside Jin. She colored the pictures on her placemat, being careful to stay within the lines. Jin watched her quietly, admiring the concentration she held.

Ever since her fourth birthday, Nami had been blossoming faster than he ever could have hoped. She had shown signs of comprehensive reading earlier, but he hadn't truly realized until she started diving into his own bookcases. She'd retrieved several of his enormous reference books and asked him to read to her.

"Those might be too complicated," he'd said wearily, noting how she could barely lift the enormous tome.

"Papa, you told me nothing is out of my reach," Nami said sternly, "I wanna know the things you know. So please read to me."

He didn't argue. He couldn't. He'd taken up the book without another word, sat on his armchair, took Nami into his lap and started reading from page one.

She had shown an uncanny interest in it. He was ashamed to say he'd expected the worst. He was secretly betting himself twenty dollars that Nami would be tuned out by the end of the first page, but ten pages later she had proven him completely wrong. She was completely engrossed, and actually threw a slight fit when he closed the book.

"Papa! I wanna keep reading!"

"Nami, sweetheart, it'd be best if we only read a little a day. Knowledge is better gained in small doses."

She'd thought for a moment, then nodded in understanding.

"Okay, but then you need to do something else with me."

"Sure. What would you like to do."

She'd jumped to the floor and pulled out coloring books and crayons.

"Color with me."

It had become a sort of routine with them. Jin would read to her, and then they would take some time to relax and color. He had bought himself and Nami both the same coloring book, and the two were competing to see whose came out better, as well as the differences. Nami always commented on how Jin colored things so "correctly" as she put it.

"You know, Papa, you could color the bunny pink if you wanted.

"Could I, now?"

"Yeah, Papa. There can be purple birds, yellow turtles, green skies, whatever you want."

"Not in the real world, Nami."

He had said it lightly, solely to tease her a little, but Nami hadn't taken it as a joke.

"So what, Papa? The real world would be boring if we didn't imagine stuff could be different."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. I mean, Alex watches all those shows with people doing magic and stuff, right?"

"Yes. He does."

"Is magic real?"

"No, it's not."

"I think that's pretty boring. That's why Alex likes the TV. People can imagine cool stuff and show it to us for fun."

She picked up a purple crayon and turned to a page with a bee.

"So I'm gonna color a bee purple, because yellow bees are there all the time, and I wanna see a purple bee!"

Jin hated to brag, but he always felt just a little enlightened when he talked to his daughter. Even though she was still so young, she saw things in the world that he didn't, and she was constantly surprising him. He had to admit she had very admirable ideals regarding this world, even given her short time so far within it.

His reveries faded as Kathy arrived with their plates. Jin could see the young girl's stomach reflected in her eyes as she gazed at the sizzling plate set before her. The smell was so heavenly that she wasted no time in grabbing her fork and stabbing one of the little shrimps in its prongs.

"Ready, Papa?" she asked, "I'm gonna try it."

"Go ahead."

She braced for a moment, then bit the little morsel in half. She chewed for a few moments, her expression rather thoughtful as she tried to find the words to describe it. Her eventual swallow was followed by silence, and she looked up to her father, her expression illegible to the doctor.

"Well?" he asked.

"It's...interesting," she said.

"You like it?"

"...Yes and no."

She thought for a moment, searching for the right words.

"I'm...natural?"

"Neutral, dear."

"Right. I think I'm kind of neutral on it. Maybe if I try a bit more..."

She continued eating the little shrimp, eventually warming up to their taste. Jin cut up her chicken for her as she finished up another shrimp.

"See if you like the chicken," he suggested.

"Okay, except..."

She paused for a moment.

"...Is food chicken the same as animal chicken?"

"That's right."

"So chickens can become food?"

"Yup."

"...I almost feel bad, but it looks too good!"

Jin stifled a laugh.

"Don't ever feel bad for eating animals," he said, "Animals survive by preying on each other. Remember the books?"

"Yeah. I do."

"Humans are just a different type of animal. We need to eat other animals to survive."

"Do any animals eat us?"

"...They very well could."

He smirked, and Nami's eyes widened for a split second.

"I feel like we wouldn't be that tasty," she murmured.

"I hear we taste like chicken," Jin replied with a grin.

"I hear you lie."

"You inherited her snark, I swear..."

His final words were too quiet for her to hear. She stabbed a piece of meat with her fork and took the bite, her expression lighting up as she chewed, and she nodded excitedly to her father before swallowing and exclaiming, "Oh, that's really good!"

"I would hope so. Your mother adores chicken," Jin said, "She doesn't like much other meat, but she'll eat a lot of chicken."

Nami's expression dulled slightly at the mention of her mother. Jin observed her for a few moments before biting.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Papa...why won't Mama let me ride Rosie?"

The girl looked genuinely hurt. Jin exhaled deeply and stole a bite of his own food.

"Your mother thinks you're too young," he explained as he dabbed his face with a napkin, "She wants you to be a little bit older before you start riding."

"But Alex told me he started at four," Nami argued, though she was very calm about it, "I don't get why Mama won't let me."

"Alex learned on a different horse. Rosie is younger, and your mother isn't sure how she'll take to a new rider."

"Yeah. Juniper. But Rosie is Juniper's baby, right?"

"Yes."

"So there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Jin leaned forward slightly.

"You and your brother are both very different, right?" he asked.

"Yes, but you and me aren't that different, Papa."

He choked down a laugh. That logic of hers could be right on point sometimes.

"While that is true, you've probably noticed that Alex and I are very different."

"Alex is like Mama."

"Alex is like both me and your mother, just like you are like both of us, too."

Nami frowned and ate another bite of chicken.

"I don't think I'm like Mama," she said, trying a bite of shrimp with her chicken and finding it quite delicious, "I don't like farming like Mama does."

"There's more to people than what they like doing, Nami. Your mother is quite witty. You seem to have gotten that from her."

He smiled gently and offered some of his vegetables to Nami. She accepted some green beans and gave him a thumbs up, and he gestured towards her corn.

"I know, Papa, I'll eat it," she said, rolling her eyes playfully, "I wanna save it for last."

"Fair enough."

"And I get it, Papa, but I don't think I really act like Mama at all, either. Mama's super quiet..."

Jin's heart sunk a little.

"She wasn't always," he murmured softly.

"She wasn't?"

Jin hushed himself. He hadn't meant for Nami to hear, but the girl regarded him with a sudden bout of insatiable curiosity.

"What made her so quiet, Papa?" she asked.

"Your mom is just a little tired lately," Jin answered, "it's nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm. Completely sure."

He forced a smile, but Nami didn't look convinced. Regardless, Jin thought better to let the conversation rest, and the two finished eating as Kathy visited their table again.

"How was it?" she asked, smiling at Nami.

"The shrimp was okay, but I really liked the chicken," Nami said, handing a fully finished plate to the waitress, "and the corn was really buttery, just how I like it!"

"Chase always adds a little extra for you," Kathy said with a wink, "Jin, would you and your lovely young lady here like some dessert?"

Nami's head snapped to Jin, stars filling her eyes. He almost burst out laughing, but miraculously held his composure.

"Yeah. Let's get two hot cocoas, extra whipped cream," he said, a sly grin crossing his face.

"You got it," Kathy said, "I'll be right back."

Nami tilted her head, observing Jin's sudden smile with confusion.

"Hot cocoa?" she asked.

"Trust me."

Kathy returned moments later with two steaming cups, each topped with a modest mound of whipped cream. Nami looked from the cup to her father.

"Be careful," he instructed, "It's very hot. Just sip it like tea."

He carefully lifted his mug and held it out to Nami. She smiled and lifted her own, and the two tapped their mugs before taking their respective sips. He heard Nami slurp her cocoa, and she lowered the mug to reveal a big grin caked with whipped cream.

"Papa...that's so good!" she exclaimed, grabbing her napkin and dabbing the whipped cream off before Jin could point it out, "It's so chocolaty!"

"Yup. Yummy, right?"

"Super yummy!"

Jin wasn't surprised when his daughter beat him to emptying her glass, and he ordered two more to go, prompting a shocked cheer and hug from her.

"Papa, you're the best," she said as they left the bar, cups in hand, "I had lots of fun!"

"I'm glad, sweetheart," he said, her hand clasped around his own, "I'm proud of you for trying all of those new things today. And you were very well behaved."

"I try, Papa," she said, grinning cheekily.

"You really do, and I'm proud."

She grinned and cuddled closer to him as they walked, nearly tripping him in the process. Despite it all, though, his mind kept flying back to Rei.

He hated the fact that he couldn't explain things to Nami, but Rei had stubbornly set that stage. It had become a repetitive argument for a few months, and they had made both parents rather bitter.

"Alex should know, Rei," he'd said.

"I can't tell Alex," she had said, the refusal in her voice strong and final, "I don't want to discuss it further."

He had gone so far as to threaten telling the boy himself, but Rei's reaction was a bit more than he'd bargained for. As such, he'd conceded, and Alex was left to believe that Juniper was enjoying the rest of her days privately in the barn. He used to ask to see her, but gave up after his mother constantly refused. Now, with Nami old enough to start questioning everything, she had learned of her mother's prized steed.

Jin shook his head. He wanted both of his kids to know the truth, but Rei's refusal had left both parents feeding lies to their children. Jin hated it and avoided the subject as much as possible. It had been easy when Alex gave up, but now Nami had taken up where he left off, and lying to her was somehow even more painful than lying to his son.

Alex seemed to have an idea that his parents weren't being honest. His mother's sudden change in mood had alerted the young man to more than what she was admitting to, and he probably would have called her out on it if Jin hadn't begrudgingly defended the lie. Once Jin's defense came into play, Alex steadily let it go.

Nami, on the other hand, knew her father well enough to know when he was lying. She caught the small changes and nuances that Alex so frequently missed, but Nami also knew better than to press. She also didn't ever inquire her mother regarding it, mostly because she'd watched Alex's futile efforts and deemed it pointless to even try.

Rei had a strong, unbreakable wall, but her father had weaknesses. She figured he was her best shot at truth.

Unfortunately, he couldn't let her win that battle. Not yet. Not until his wife managed to come around.

And he hated to say he didn't know when that would happen.

=^x^=

Back at the farm, Rei was going about her usual business. The plants were tended. The cows and sheep grazed in the fields. The chickens pecked at their feed and prepared for another round of egg laying to come.

And the lone horse, Rosie, followed Rei around as she did her chores.

Rosie never obliviously grazed like her mother. As Rei moved about the fields, Rosie followed as closely as the fence would allow, neighing affectionately whenever the human she knew as her mother drew closer. Rei would smile gently, often giving her a sugar cube or an apple as she walked by, and Rosie would happily accept it and continue following, grazing for short periods as she moved.

If Rei could read her mind, it would say one thing: I want to run.

She'd been toying with the idea of breaking Rosie, but it always ended with that final image of Juniper stuck in her head. Even on the rare occasions where that somehow failed to stop her, the pasture devoid of horses certainly did. So Rosie remained free of Rei's presence upon the saddle.

No. Alex had done that.

When Alex gave up asking what happened with Juniper, he did the next best thing: he broke Rosie himself. It had scared Rei to high heaven, especially since he did it behind her back for the longest time. By the time she caught him, though, Rosie was racing through the pasture, having the time of her life and taking Alex's commands as if he were a pro (he almost was, really). Rei could only chalk it up to it being in Alex's blood to ride, so when the young boy dismounted and cast his eyes to the ground, bracing for punishment, Rei had simply told him to get back on.

She couldn't punish him for doing the right thing, for doing what she should have been doing.

She thought that, by now, she would have gotten over the entire thing. But no words uttered by any friend, husband, or child could bring her to a better place than she'd managed to reach alone. Their sympathies, sadly, only sounded like excuses to her, and no amount of pity or hand-holding from friends, nor truthful outlooks from Jin, would help, and she had an extra load on her shoulders every time she looked one of her children in the eye.

She had unfortunately failed to remember that her sweet Alex would tell Nami all about Juniper.

Now she watched her daughter constantly pestering Jin, and she could see the walls crumbling. Normally, she'd be pleased that her daughter inherited one of her more useful traits, but it obviously wasn't okay if it was being used against her.

There was nothing she could do, though, aside from admitting her lies to her children and delivering the news that Juniper had passed. Alex would be crushed, and Nami would probably have more questions than Rei was willing to answer.

No. It was better to keep them unknowing, no matter how badly it hurt, no matter how much she longed to follow through with her dream of instilling her talent into her daughter. She knew Nami wanted to learn. That was why, unfortunately, she had to firmly tell Alex his punishment would be swift and unending if she ever found him helping his little sister onto that saddle. No matter how wonderfully talented her boy was, she could not trust him to teach a four year old. She kept hoping she would get to a point where she could throw Nami onto that horse herself and teach her.

But that moment just didn't seem to ever come.

Rei finished her farm work and hoisted herself onto the fence. Rosie immediately galloped to her, nuzzling her so hard that she almost sent the woman over the edge. Rei couldn't help but laugh and hug the horse, and Rosie stayed within her arms, enjoying the attention.

Despite being unable to ride anymore, Rosie was one of the few things in the world still capable of bringing a smile onto the redhead's face. She doted on that horse like she was one of her own children, spoiled her to high heaven, and while she knew it wasn't exactly the best course of action for most horses, she knew Rosie was different. She had inherited her mother's gentleness, never threw a fuss, and Rei was sure Rosie wouldn't turn into a bratty horse. She had shown a wonderful sense of loyalty and discipline, especially when Alex rode her.

She was, however, more shy than Juniper ever was, and Rei couldn't blame anyone but herself for that one. Subconsciously, she wondered if she had done it on purpose.

She sat for a few moments, showering the white beauty with love until she noticed how pink the sky was getting. Jin and Nami would be home soon, she was sure, and Alex was probably inside wondering when dinner would be ready. She gave the horse a final pat and kiss on the snout and hopped off the fence, ringing the barn's bell and calling all of her animals to their safety of the barn. She ensured they were all settled before returning home, caked in dirt and smelling like her cows. She ducked into the bathroom for a quick rinse and hastily dried and dressed so she could cook.

As expected, Alex came bolting out of the room the second he realized Rei was in the kitchen. He beamed expectantly up at her, holding his rumbling tummy and licking his lips.

"Okay. You choose dinner," Rei sighed with a smile.

"I would like pork tonight," he said, grinning ear to ear.

"Pork, eh? Oven fried or roasted?"

"Oven fried of course, Mom."

"Of course."

She hid her sour face as she ventured into the freezer for meat. She didn't like pork at all, but she tolerated it for the rest of the family. Plus, it was tastier fried, so she was a bit more receptive to appeasing her son's meat tastes compared to Jin's. She suppressed a chuckle at the thought of him giving her that look of his and muttering "Roasted, dear."

Rei had to admit that, while he could be a bit of a stick in the mud about it, her family was better off eating more like Jin. While he did like to indulge a little at times, he usually kept his meals very balanced and healthy, and Rei had taken a lot of his advice when he moved in. She had always cooked very little, and very unhealthily, which didn't do much to satisfy the doctor. Not that he had forced her into it, of course, because he was more than capable of cooking his own meals. Rei had just wanted to learn to cook the things her husband loved, and while she always considered herself healthy, she knew it would be best for her and the kids if they kept their diets on the healthier side.

Considering how strong Alex was, and how smart Nami was becoming, Rei could only assume they had made the correct choice. She had to admit that even she had felt stronger because of it, to the point where she didn't need too many breaks between her farming tasks.

In reality, Jin had been very good both for and to her. In small ways, he had changed her for the better. Between him and motherhood, Rei couldn't describe herself as the crazy fireball her friends once knew.

Sometimes, when she thought back to the young new face she used to be around here, she longed to be that person again. She had made fast friends with Luna, Candace, Kathy, and Renee, and the five of them had begun terrorizing the village. Even quiet Candace and rule-abiding Renee had gotten a little freer in her company, and the five of them had walked the roads of Castanet as if they owned them. They had even managed to get Candace drunk once, and that was how the matchmaking between her and Julian had begun...

Rei chuckled softly. Those were the days...

She loved her life, yes, and she wouldn't trade it for the world, but the past version of her almost seemed foreign now, as if it had been a different girl entirely. Sometimes, Rei wondered if half of her memories were even real at this point.

At the end of the day, though, all she could say was that she had grown up a lot. She had gone from the sheltered girl she had been to a woman with calloused hands and a sharp wit, and while she did miss her more boisterous days, she didn't hate the person she had been, or who she was now, at least up until recently.

She wanted so dearly to get past Juniper's death, to move on and start breeding again. She wanted so dearly to ride Rosie, to place her daughter atop the gentle mare and teach her, just as she had taught her son. But the more she longed for it, the further away that day went, until she was left staring at something that would simply never be. The very concept of it made her ball her fists in anger.

She was snapped out of her less than ideal feelings when she heard the door open, and the happy chattering of a father and daughter filled the living room. Rei finished preparing the pork and set it into the oven, and the timer was set before the duo entered the kitchen.

"Did you two have fun?" she asked, knowing the question was kind of unnecessary. The two of them were positively giddy, after all.

"Lots, Mama!" Nami squealed, "Papa let me try shrimp and chicken, and we did lots of shopping, and we visited the bar and saw auntie Kathy, and we saw Gramma Shelly, and-"

Jin chuckled and deposited the small girl into her mother's arms, listening to her chatter continue even after the kitchen door closed behind him. He could hear Alex chiming in moments later, and his smile was from ear to ear when he heard all three laughing.

He stretched out on the couch and opened one of his books, reading as the sounds of his happy family in the kitchen filled his ears like music.

Sometimes, he forgot what such a happy family could sound like...

=^x^=

"Mom, can I go with you to auntie 'Nissa's?"

Alex pulled those same puppy dog eyes he always did. Rei couldn't help but smile as always, and nodded in approval.

"Of course. I could use some help carrying the bag, after all."

"Only if I get to choose what seeds we plant this round."

"Do you remember what's in season?"

"Yup! How could I forget? You taught me."

She smirked at his cleverness. Flattery, with her, would get him everywhere, and he damn well knew it. She handed him her seed bag and said, "Lead the way, then."

While Jin was usually the one to run most chores, seeds were something only Rei and Alex could do. There was a huge selection, and only Rei and her son knew what crops they wanted to plant. Sure, Anissa could easily guide Jin to picking what was in season, but he was unknowing of their rotations, their back stock, and their overall mood for what they actually wanted to plant. There was also the issue of pricing and demand, which Alex kept up with just as faithfully as his mother.

Despite the fact that she let her horses go, Rei was far from expelled from the game. She was still a farmer, and she had honed the craft just as well as she'd honed her breeding. She'd had to, since she wanted Alex to have the most solid foundation she could give.

Back when she and Anissa were on better terms (not to say they weren't now, but the tension had certainly risen), the fair woman had graciously accepted the challenge of teaching a sheltered, clueless girl the basics of farming. Her parents were up to the task, but fledgling Rei had much preferred someone who felt more like a peer than an actual teacher. Rei, after all, wasn't one to tolerate being lectured unless it was by her doting doctor.

And he hadn't been there at the time, sadly.

As she and Alex walked down the familiar dirt road, she remembered first meeting him. It had been pretty funny, actually, though she had feared Jin hated her for it. Thankfully, he'd grown to enjoy the memory now, which was good since the very image of poor Jin's book floating helplessly in the water was enough to make the girl's sides split. At the time, though, he had been fuming, and his temper had also made her laugh, so she felt even worse because a raging doctor was stomping on the pier while the feisty redhead was snickering behind her hand.

Yet he had still found friendship with her, still cared for her, still lectured and blew up when she overdid herself farming or in the mines. Oh, the mines. He had hated whenever she went down there. She always came up dirtier than the last time, and she was always dizzy because of all the gases down there. She'd argue with him ("I inhaled more green gas than purple, I swear!") and he'd argue with her as he checked her vitals and prescribed some vitamins to get her back onto her feet.

Even in his anger, she had felt the underlying love, the caring, and most of all, the connection of their hearts the second they locked eyes.

She had known he was the one, and she suspected he did, as well. Despite their awkward firsts, he had accepted invitations that involved her company, and often ended up talking to (or about) Rei more than he engaged anyone else.

The best part was that Jin had done most of this, she thought, without even really realizing it, and that's what made her laugh the most.

She watched Alex walk ahead of her, swinging the bag as he walked and jumped and spun around down the path. He was twelve now, but still had that childish side to him. Sometimes, it seemed like Nami showed more maturity than him, though Rei knew better. Sometimes, Nami could be just as childish.

The two reached the Flute fields, and Alex sprinted across them towards the Marimba farm. Rei walked leisurely behind him, taking in the scenery and breathing in the fresh autumn air. She entered the store halfway through Alex's order, where Anissa's mother Ruth was looking rather impressed with the young man's knowledge.

"Good selection, m'boy," came Craig's old voice as he sauntered out from the back, "Ruth, give the kid a discount for intelligence. Lord knows we need more of that 'round here."

"Mornin,' Craig," Rei chuckled, waving to the grumpy older man.

"Mornin,'" he grunted indifferently, "Ruth, I'll be in the fields."

Ruth looked up to Rei and smiled.

"How goes it, greenhorn?" she teased.

"Pretty good," Rei laughed, "Can't complain."

"Is Taylor around, Mrs. Ruth?" Alex asked as the older woman placed the last of his ordered seeds on the counter, "He mentioned getting a new game a few days ago and I've been meaning to come check it out."

"Yes, he's home," Ruth said, "You're more than welcome to go visit. I think Anissa's with him."

"Great! You got the rest of this, mom?"

Rei nodded and sent him off to his best friend's room. She reached into her purse to grab her wallet.

"You're teaching him well," Ruth commented, looking after the pre-teen, "Taylor's thinking of embarking on another journey soon in search of different produce for Castanet. I'm sure he wants to extend an invitation to Alex, you know."

"Yeah? It might be good for him, actually," Rei said, "If the opportunity comes, I'll let Alex decide ."

"What about Jin?"

"Jin'll be all for it, I know."

Ruth totaled Rei's purchases, remaining faithful to Craig's five dollar discount, and she lay the proper amount upon the counter.

"How is Jin, anyway? He doesn't come by as much," Ruth said.

"He's well. He's been busy lately. Most of his time is either work or Nami."

"Still stuck to him like glue, eh?"

"More than ever. She likes reading with him."

"Apple don't fall far, huh?"

Ruth loaded Rei's seed bag for her and latched it closed. Rei nodded in thanks and slung it over her shoulder.

"Thanks for everything," she said, "I'm gonna go see what the kids are up to."

She walked into Taylor's room and saw him and Alex playing some racing game. Anissa was seated on her knees behind them, watching the two twisting and turning and making more of an effort to sabotage each other than to actually win. She glanced over at Rei when she heard the mother giggling at their shenanigans.

"Things might work out better if you two cooperate," she pointed out.

"Teamwork's for sissies," Taylor scoffed.

"I'm not letting this loser get anywhere near first," Alex announced boldly, nudging his friend and laughing.

Rei and Anissa chatted for a bit while the boys played. Once they'd had their fill, mother and son bade farewell and started down the familiar, well-worn path home.

"Taylor's too good at video games," Alex sighed, "I wish dad would let us have a system."

"I'm sure I could talk him into it when you two get a bit older," Rei said, "He just wants to ensure you kids are getting a lot of exercise and air."

"Sometimes, I hate the fact that you married a doctor."

He said it so lightheartedly that Rei couldn't even scowl, nor could she pin him for being wrong. Sometimes, it was kind of stressful.

Suddenly, she felt a chill, and she stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes gazed around every inch of her surroundings, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. Alex looked back a few seconds later, stopped, and looked quizzically at his mother.

"Mom? What's wrong?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

"...Nothing," Rei answered uncertainly, readjusting the bag and walking to his side, "Hey, ain't you supposed to be carrying this?"

"Dang."

He sheepishly laughed as she handed him the bag. He slung it over his own shoulder and continued walking, and Rei remained behind him, her eyes still scanning everything. Something felt ominous right now, as if some foreign presence had entered Castanet, and she was scared to find out what it was.

She held that feeling until long after she and Alex returned home. Even as Jin ushered the kids off to their rooms for their bedtime routine, she still felt in festering within her. She walked outside for some air and checked her mailbox, forgetting if she had earlier, and found a single note within its confines. It was blank and unmarked. She unfolded it, and her eyes scanned its contents.

Her breath caught in her chest, her heart ceased to beat, and she fell to the earth on her knees, the tears forming into her eyes and cascading down her cheeks, staining the ink on the note.

All around her, all at once, her world was cracking like glass.

It was only a matter of time before it all shattered.