A/N: YAY!!!!!!! I JUST KEEP GETTING REVIEWS^^ here we go with chapter 8!!!!!!!!
t h a t Saturday afternoon, found Yame sitting in a small kiddie pool with her little sister out in their backyard. As Eli bounced about giggling and causing the water to slosh about Yame was lost in her thoughts. "Say cheese!" Yaya shouted as she snapped dozens of photos of the girls before she noticed Yame's expression and her brows furrowed. "What'sthe matter Yame – chan?!" She probed and the nine year old looked up at her mum before blinking and smiling brightly. "Nothing mama! Yame's just fine," she pulled her dad's signature thumbs up and at the sound of the front door shutting roughly.
Everyone stared at the ajar sliding door before Yame grinned and Muffin began to bark and soon the dog was in the small pool; splashing water everywhere! "Papa's home," Yame shrilled as she popped up and dashed into the house. "Papa! Papa! Papa!" She shouted her voice echoing through the downstairs hall before she spotted her dad and completely ambushed him. "Hey Yame," he greeted and ruffled her slightly wet hair. "How was your day?" She asked undoing her dad's tie and knotting it around her thin tan neck as Kukai tickled her tummy and grinned. "It was okay – where's your mum?" Yame was slightly disappointed but shrugged it off as she was placed back on the ground and tugged at the frills on her one piece bathing suit. "She's outside with Eli."
With a small smile, Kukai ruffled her hair and headed past her. Pouting, Yame turned on her heels and shuffled after her dad and once she got on the back porch she watched as her dad whispered something into her mum's ear and kept his hand placed firmly on her thigh. Yaya's cheeks flushed crimson before she scowled and looked away and Yame watched in awe. Kukai placed a finger under Yaya's chin and forced her to look at him. Yame wasn't sure what he said but he soon leaned forward and claimed her lips softly. A pink tinge dominated Yame's cheeks and her breath caught in her throat. So that's what love is.
"Are you okay Yame – chan?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, the said girl glanced over at Kimiko as they both made their way to the Royal Garden that afternoon. "I'm good Kimi – chi," she replied and Kimiko scrutinized her closely before nodding. Their shadows were being cast long and thing against the grass as their shoes echoed off the sidewalk. "Hey Yame, Kimiko!" Stopping, both girls turned around and watched as Maiya jogged towards them both. "Man, you guys move fast!" She teased and the younger girls laughed before Kimiko pointed at Yame's bracelet eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Nice bracelet Yame – chan." Maiya's attention snapped onto the gold bracelet and her eyes sparkled as she picked up Yame's arm and observed the bracelet more closely. "Kawaii! Where'd your dad buy it from hmm?" Yame could feel her cheeks tingling as she pulled her arm away and fiddled with the charm. "It was a gift – from Daisuke." She said in a really soft voice and pain flashed across Maiya's face as she titled her head and her bangs fell over her eyes.
Kimiko suddenly felt the tension and both her and Hikari watched with laden eyes. "That's nice," Maiya said and swallowing a lump in her throat, Yame nodded and smiled as she looked up pat Maiya who was staring straight ahead; large blue eyes glassy. The trio walked in silence before they got to the garden. Maiya took the seat beside Daisuke purposefully and scooted into his side and Yame pouted before she settled down beside Sora who offered her a small smile and the meeting soon started. "It's come to my attention that last night over three hundred heart's eggs were stolen – meaning that somewhere huge that can hold a lot of people has to involved and I am also convinced that Easter's behind all of this."
Kenshin announced and everyone stared at him quietly. "So they're active again huh?" Sora asked crossing his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat as Kenshin nodded solemnly. "Unfortunately and from what Hotori – san has told me they've been creating new eggs from other people's eggs."
"What are they called?" Maiya asked and Daisuke shot her a quick look before nodding.
"They're known as Conundrum Eggs – I have no idea what they do but from what Hotori – san and I have gathered is that these sort of eggs are set to confuse people.
"That's terrible!" Layla shrieked and the other charas agreed before Ai zoomed out and floated in front of all the Guardians.
"With love I'm sure we can all make it through!"
Yame stared wide eyed at the chara while the others just stared at Ai with quirked brows. "Ai – chan!" Yame shrieked as she jumped up and trapped the chara between her palms. "Ai – chan?" Maiya breathed and ears perking up, Yame turned her head and her gaze landed on all the others who were staring curiously as the chara in her hands. "Hey is that your other chara?" Daisuke asked pointing a thin tan finger at Ai and Yame's cheeks flushed darkly. "It is isn't it? No fair!" Maiya pouted and Sora rolled his eyes before kicking her roughly and looking at Yame who was very grateful to Sora.
"Awesome she hatched what's her name?" Daisuke probed and Ai grinned broadly and squeezed out of Yame's hold and floated up into the air.
"I'm Ai – Yame's would be self and I represent love!" She introduced and Kimiko giggled as Hikari scowled still looking at the new chara.
"Love? Why do you represent love?" She asked and before Ai could answer, Yame smashed a hand over the chara's mouth and laughed nervously, eyes closed.
"Ano? Why don't we keep talking about those Comondrum eggs?"
"Conundrum – its Conundrum eggs." Sora corrected before he started laughing and Daisuke soon followed. Kimiko giggled from her perch beside Kenshinn, but Maiya didn't crack a smile. Frowning, she leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest.
Yame sat at her desk currently doing her homework as Pepe, Tokono and Ai forced Daichi into playing doll house with them. Releasing a deep sigh, Yame dropped her pencil and smashed her head into the desk; the silence of the house filling her ears. Beyond the charas laughter she could hear the loud telly down in the living room. Sucking in a deep breath, Yame slid sideways in her desk chair and watched as the charas played in her old doll house; a ghost of a smile on her features before she got up and headed out of her bedroom; leaving the door open.
As she slunked down the steps, the telly just grew louder and Yame was aware that only her and her dad were home. Stopping in the doorway, her gaze landed on her dad who was staring with hooded eyes at the screen; one hand on his flat stomach and the other over his head. Sucking on her lower lip and wrenching her fingers together she stepped into the room. "Daddy?" She called and eyes moving off the screen they landed on his daughter and Kukai smiled softly. "Yame hey, what's the matter? Did you finish your homework?" Yame nodded and nibbling on her lower lip she hurried across the room in her dark blue thigh highs and ran and ran onto the couch before settling down.
Yawning, Kukai sat up and ruffling his hair, he pulled Yame into his lap. Breathing in her dad's scent, Yame snuggled into his chest. "What's the matter kiddo?" Kukai asked and sucking in a deep breath, Yame fiddled with the hemming of her blue bubble sleeved blouse. "How do you know when a boy likes you?" She asked and Kukai's eyes widened and when he didn't answer right away, Yame looked up at him with big innocent eyes and Kukai shifted. Kami, he never thought he'd be talking to his nine year old about boys – hell he never thought he'd have to do this. That was the main reason he wanted boys – no awkwardness.
"Well…boys are really funny people Yame – you have to understand that one can never really understand them." He said slowly and the fourth grader's brows furrowed.
"But you're a boy daddy you have to know!" She pressed and Kukai's eyes softened.
"Well, he can either be really nice to her or really mean. Why do you wanna know though? You're my little Princess and you will be for a very long time." He said stressing the word very before he tickled her stomach and she laughed, gasping for air. Her dad was right – he was the most important guy in her life and he always would be. Screw her heart and emotions – she was forgetting it all for at least that moment.
*~*
"You failed again Marushi – san!"
The voice was loud and harsh and Emi made to roll her yes when Gozen jumped out of his seat and roughly gripped both of her wrists roughly causing her to wince. "I will not allow failures to exist on my team." He bore into Emi's horrified eyes while Lona watched uselessly from the sidelines. "Give her another try Gozen," Lona required dryly and Emi glared at her. "She'll do better this time I promise."
Gozeen didn't seem to believe her but after a few minutes, he growled and released Emi; shoving her roughly away from him. Emi landed on the floor and stared down at her shaking hands. "You'd better not fail me again Marushi otherwise I'll personally deal with you myself," Gozen threatened and Aya's eyes softened. "Emi – chan," she breathed and sucking in a deep breath the blonde squared her shoulder and rose to her feet. "I will not fail you," she said in a forceful tone and Gozen nodded. "That's what I want to hear from you – you're dismissed."
Nodding, Emi headed for the door but just as she grabbed hold of the knob; Gozeen called out to her in a sickening tone. "Yori will be keeping a very vigilant eye on you – don't give him any reason to report anything negative back to me understood?" Emi's hold on the knob tightened and her face hardened before she nodded. "Hai," she replied and Gozen smiled. "Very good Marushi," and with a tight nod Emi yanked the door open and headed out into the hall; the only noise coming from the patter of her shoes. "Do you honestly think she can do it Wei – san?" Lona smiled and nodding she pushed off of the wall. "She doesn't have much of a choice now does she? She'll do anything to save her mother – even sell her own soul to the devil." Gozen smirked eerily at this before settling back into his seat. "Then we should have no problem with her leaving or betraying us. As long as we hone her own guilt we own Emi Marushi."
"Slow down Emi – chan!"
Emi hadn't stopped running since she got out of the Easter building. Reaching her house, she threw open the front door and slipped inside. Slamming the door loudly, she pressed her back up against it puffing loudly and tears streaming down her face. "Emi?" Her dad's voice came loud and clear before he soon appeared in the living room doorway and at the sight of his daughter his expression hardened. Her whole body trembled completely and he could see the tear stains staining her porcelain face. "What happened? Did someone hurt you?!" He growled and mi looked up at him and frowning she hook her head.
"I don't want to talk about it!" She croaked and ran for the stairs but her father grabbed hold of her wrist and forced her to look at him. "Was it a boy? Did he rape you?" His voice was trembling and he completely shook with anger as Emi's eyes glazed over and she yanked her arm free of her dad.
"I said I don't want to talk about it so leave me alone already!" She screamed at him and in a state of shock, he did nothing as he watched through hazy eyes as his only daughter bolted up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door shut.
"Emi – chan what's the matter? Are you okay?"
Aya watched as Emi scrambled around her bedroom before ripping open her top desk drawer and pulled out a pair of metal scissors. Pushing the drawer shut roughly, Emi clutched the scissors tightly in her hand and Aya's eyes widened as she followed her human counterpart into the adjoining bathroom. "What are planning on doing Emi – chan?" Her voice leaked with concern as she watched the blonde stare at her reflection. Eyes narrowing, Emi grabbed a handful of her long curly pale hair and biting her lower lip; she began to chuck at her tresses in a flash cutting her waist length hair just below her jaw line. "Emi – chan!"
Disbelief lashed across Aya's face as she flailed about; tears spilling from her eyes. "Why are you doing this Emi – chan? Stop please!" She pleaded but the blonde didn't listen as she continued to cut her hair; curly tresses falling as light as feathers onto the bathroom floor. The black and purple egg on her belt shook dangerously before it opened and Miya yawned and soared into the sky. Opening her eyes, she watched as Aya flailed about screaming and crying to Emi who was chucking through her hair. Blinking twice, a sly grin spread across her face and shoving Aye aside she stared at Emi's reflection grinning sardonically.
"Nice job Emi – chan…now we look alike." Aya stared with shaking teary eyes and fingers clenched together.
"Emi – chan."
A/N: that was a deep episode sooooooo don't forget to leave a review^^