Jigen sighed as he
looked through the flower shop window, debating whether or not to go
inside.
He couldn't shake it,
this feeling that kept pushing him. He had to know about that boy.
Other than the clothes
of pink and white--aren't those tight pants killing him?--and the
gelled hair, that young man looked like him, right down to the
beard. He hadn't realized it at first, but it seemed too much to be
coincidental.
He shook his head.'But
wouldn't I know if I had another son?'
Before Cinnamon, he
hadn't had very many serious relationships, but he always figured he would know.
Maybe, just maybe... Snapping himself out of a daze, he pulled open the door to talk to Frolic.
Frolic gave a goofy
giggle as he leaned down to the carnations.
Jigen raised an
eyebrow. 'What the hell is he doing?'
"Hi, Jigen!" Frolic
greeted, turning around to face him.
He jumped at his name.'How did he know?'
"H-Hi, Frolic..."
he stuttered awkwardly.
"Same thing as
always?"
"Uh, no. Actually, I
was curious about that boy, your assistant."
"Cecil."
"Yeah..."
"What about him?"
"Well, I mean... Who
is he?"
"He's my assistant,
like you said."
"No. Where did he
come from? Does he have... a family?"
Frolic shrugged. "I
don't know anything about him."
"Then, why'd you hire
him?"
"Well, I liked his
last name, and-"
"Ok, that's enough."
Jigen shook his head in
disapproval. He liked Frolic, but that kid could be a real screwball
sometimes.
He leaned his elbow
against Frolic's desk as he studied Cecil once more.
"I guess I'll see you
later then," he muttered, Frolic waving him off.
"What was that?"
Frolic bent down again, listening intently.
"Really?" he
stroked his chin in thought. "I don't see it."
Cecil let out a breath
as Jigen left. He couldn't help but feel uneasy around him, an
indescribable sensation hitting him.
He propped the broom
back up against the wall, looking up at the clock. Unable to stand
the mess, he had volunteered to clean up.
"Hey Frolic, can I
take a break?"
"Sure."
"Thankth."
Cecil went into the
back room and picked up the phone, glaring at the numbers hesitantly.
He called the only
person in his family he felt he could count on.
"Hello?"
"Uncle Fujiko?"
"Is that you, Cecil?"
"I have a quethtion."
"What is it?"
"Do... Do I have a
brother or thomething? An older brother?"
"A brother?"
"A lot older,"
he added.
"... Where is this
coming from?"
Cecil thought for a
moment. He couldn't really explain without making himself look
foolish.
"Uh... Just curiouth,
I gueth."
"I don't think so..."
"Hmm..." Cecil once
again tried to find an explanation.
'I don't know, he
theemth old enough to be-'
As the new possibility
dawned on him, he absent mindedly hung up the phone.
'It couldn't
be...'
"Frolic," Baffi
called, running up to his desk.
He took a moment to
finish typing out his orders before lifting his head back up.
"Have you been busy?
You haven't been home much."
"Yeah, but my new
asisstant's helping with that."
"That's good."
Frolic nodded. "Do
you need anything?"
Though they got along
well, Baffi didn't visit him at his job very often, knowing she
wouldn't have much of his attention.
She grinned sheepishly.
"You knew, huh? Actually, I need help with my homework, do you have
any free time?"
"Can't you ask Hero?"
"I guess," she
sighed. She didn't dislike Susanne, but would rather not have to go
to him.
Cecil returned from the
back room, sipping a bottle of water.
"Who's thith?" he
wondered out loud.
"This is my sister,
Baffi."
"Oh. Nice to meet
you, Baffi," he held out his hand for a handshake, pulling it back
when she didn't even flinch.
She eyed him in
annoyance. 'He looks familiar...'
Although she didn't know him, there was something about
him that she despised.
"It's been a
pleasure," she sneered, "But I have to go now. Bye, Frolic."
"Ok, bye," Frolic
shrugged it off, going back to his work.