Chapter Nine
Last night was horrible. Throughout the night, she would be woken up by the young boys. Whether it was the light pouring in from the hallway or the soft footsteps, she would be woken up by them. Every time they did that, she would bring them back to their room to sleep. When she thought it was over and she could finally sleep, she woke up only to find out she had slept in the study room as per Reiji's request. Usually people would brew coffee for them to get some energy but Emma wasn't like that. For some reason, she's grown immune to the effects that she just becomes more tired after drinking a cup. Instead she drank a glass of cold milk.
She placed it in the sink as she started to clean the dishes. Shu and Reiji had finished breakfast and were now in the living room. She wasn't exactly sure what they were doing. She could hear that the tv was on but also heard the boys running around. After she washed her hands clean, she heard Shu call out to her.
"Emma!"
She turned to see the two boys rushing over to her. Each of them took her hand before she could dry them and began tugging her forward.
"What's going on?" She asked a bit confused. They were all insistent and Emma was too tired to notice as she allowed them to drag her.
"They're here!" Shu exclaimed.
"What?" She mumbled before giving a huge yawn. "Who's here?"
Reiji jumped to open the door after Emma unlocked it for them. As she opened the door, something attacked her legs, causing her to tumble backwards. Her head banged against the wooden floor and she groaned in pain. What had happened?
She slowly sat up and looked down to see three pairs of eyes staring at her. She stared back in confusion. The middle child had purple hair and eyes while beside him were redheaded boys with green eyes. They looked younger than Reiji, perhaps two years old. She instantly knew who they were.
After the quiet meeting, the three toddlers scrambled up and ran to different rooms. She picked herself up and Reiji handed her a letter that he found on the ground. She knew whom it was from. As she closed the door, she opened the letter and read it.
Terrible twos are a handful but triple that and you have a lot to deal with. I hope the best for you and your health. Take care.
"If you cared for my health, then take your kids back." She grumbled as she crumbled the letter. "Good for nothing old man."
That horrible Vampire King. She couldn't help but wonder why he chose her to take care of his sons.
She realized that the triplets have separated from the sounds of objects clattering to the ground. "Shu, Reiji, find the triplets." She ordered. The toddlers nodded and they split up to gather the triplets.
She rushed to the living room to see a little redhead drawing on the wall. He was using one of the pencils that the older boys must have used when they were drawing. She ran up to him to stop him.
"Stop that." She said as she picked him up. She winced as she watched the pencil tip trail up the wall from her actions. The little boy squirmed before screaming his lungs out. She assumed that the boy in her arms was Ayato. She tried to get a good grip on him. She yowled in pain when he bit her but made sure she didn't drop him. She moved him to her other arm so she could take a good look at the bite mark. Her skin blushed red but thankfully his teeth didn't pierce her skin.
"Where are the others?" She muttered with panic.
"Found him!" Shu called out.
She looked to see another redhead crying as Shu and Reiji carry him. Laito wailed as he struggled in his older brothers' grip. His hair was slightly longer than Ayato.
"Where's the last one?" Emma asked, wincing as Ayato decided to use his small legs to kick her side. Shu shrugged while Reiji shook his head. Emma groaned in defeat.
"Stand up." She said as she held Laito's arm. He whined only to suddenly latch onto her leg. She tried to pull him off but failed at her attempt.
She heard clattering from the kitchen and trudged over to the room. She widened her eyes to see Kanato walking near the edge of the counter. She trudged faster to catch him before he could fall. She grabbed his waist and got him off the counter.
He wailed and his cries were louder than Laito and Ayato. Shu and Reiji closed their ears while Emma shuffled back to the living room. She felt sore everywhere and she dropped Kanato and Ayato onto the sofa. She firmly grabbed Laito and placed him right next to them.
Finally she had managed to keep them in one place. The three glared at her. She was already getting a migraine. She sat down at the edge of the table so that they would have the same eye level. The triplet's eyes were red from crying. She tried to give out a friendly smile.
"My name is Emma." She introduced. "I'll be taking care of you."
Ayato blew a raspberry at her in defiance. Laito and Kanato laughed in response before following him. She gave a small sigh. What is she going to do? She has work today. She can't deal with them. She didn't even have the time to find a daycare to drop them off at. Is she really going to have to bring them along?
The first thing she needed to do is breakfast. At least she did grocery. But what do toddlers eat. She tried to remember what kind of food her brother gives for his kids. They were mostly fruits. She does have apples and grapes. Maybe she'll give them that. She went to the kitchen to cut up some more fruits for the triplets to eat.
"Here you go." She said as she placed the plate on the coffee table. The triplets stare at the plate. Slowly one by one, they took pieces of fruit. Shu and Reiji sat on the floor to watch the tv.
Emma looked at the tv before her eyes trailed up to the clock. That's when she remembered she had work this afternoon. What is she going to do? She groaned as she tried to think of a solution. Maybe bring them with her?
No, that won't work. It might work for Shu and Reiji but not the triplets. They'll wreak havoc at the coffee shop and her manager will be mad at her. What else she can do? She blinked as she remembered someone.
She had help but should she ask? She sighed before she gave in. She had to call him. She went out to the hallway and pulled out her phone. She hesitated before dialing his phone number and waited. She winced as her side hurt and knew she might get bruises that were the size of footprints. Soon Paul answered.
"Hello?" Paul asked.
"Paul, I need your help." She said.
"When I said call if you need help, I didn't expect you to do it the next day." He said.
She gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, things happen and let me just say I went from two boys to five." She answered.
"Really?" He asked.
"Do you want me to take a picture?" She asked.
"Nope." He replied. "So what do you need me for?"
"Can you help me find a daycare for me to drop them off at?" She asked. "I have to go to work this afternoon."
He didn't answer and for a moment Emma assumed that he might not be able to help.
"I think I know someone." He says. "She doesn't own a daycare but she used to be a preschool teacher."
Emma bit her lip with worry. That doesn't sound official. Was it really safe though?
"Do you have her phone number and address?" She asked. She heard shuffling as Paul tried to find something.
"I'll send you her address. I'll tell her the situation." He assured. "Maybe go there in two hours later."
Emma heard something fell on the floor.
"Emma!" Shu called out.
"Thank you. Bye." She blurted before ending the call. She rushed in to see what had happened.
"Plate broke." Reiji answered. She took a few steps to take a better look. The plate that the triplets were eating from had shattered. She slowly picked up the big pieces.
"Don't walk there." She warned. She rushed to the kitchen before the triplets could get any ideas. She threw the ceramic pieces and grabbed a small vacuum to clean up the mess.
She looked at the time. Alright, she should just trust Paul. Right now, she should give them a bath. She looked at all five of them and took a deep breath. If she wasn't tired before she was now. She felt like she was about to collapse in exhaustion.
"Alright." She said. "I can do this."
She gave a smile to the triplets. "Who wants a bath?" She asked.
They responded her with tearful screams.
A/N: Finally the triplets arrive! As always, don't forget to review, follow and favorite! See you next time!