Chapter 54: Nap Time Tantrums

Takumi quickly wrapped up his meeting so he could take Hikari back to his office.

"Are you hungry?" Takumi asked, kneeling next to Hikari who was flipping through a picture book.

"No..."

Takumi straightened her dress and sat at his desk to do some work. Himeji read to Hikari in a soft voice.

"Go?" Hikari asked.

"Go where?" Himeji asked.

"Go!"

"Where?" Hikari got up and ran to the heavy wooden door.

"No, you have to stay inside," Himeji explained, following her.

Hikari patted the door. "Da?"

"Just around your office is fine," Takumi informed Himeji. "Just make sure you watch her."

"Yes, Mr. Walker," Himeji said, opening the door.

Hikari held Himeji's hand as they slowly walked to the cubicles.

"Who's this?" a woman asked.

"Tracy, meet Miss Walker," Himeji said. "Mr. Walker's daughter."

"Oh!" Tracy gasped. "That is a beautiful girl...oh, she's afraid," she said, smiling at Hikari who ducked behind Himeji.

"She's afraid of strangers," Himeji explained. "Mr. Walker is working so I'm taking his daughter for a tour. This place will probably be hers one day."

"Why is she here?" Tracy asked. "Not that I have any issue with it."

"Mrs. Walker is expecting a second baby," Himeji explained. "I think she had a doctor's appointment so Mr. Walker offered to take care of Miss Walker."

"Momma?" Hikari asked.

"Momma isn't here," Himeji apologized.

Hikari's big amber eyes started welling up with tears.

"Oh look," Tracy said, producing a rubber ball. She rolled it across the floor. Hikari was distracted as she toddled after it. She picked it up and handed it back. "She's such a sweet child," Tracy said, rolling the ball again. "Do you think Mr. Walker is a hands on father?"

"Tracy," Himeji laughed. "Mr. Walker is only scary to us. To his family, he's gentle and loving. He's like a prince."

"Mr. Walker is pretty dreamy," Tracy agreed. "He's so handsome."

"Indeed," Himeji said, watching Hikari examine a pot of plants. "It's no surprise how beautiful his daughter is."

"The nose is the same," Tracy agreed.

"Nose!" Hikari said, touching her nose.

"Oh! Yes," Tracy said, surprised. "How old is she?"

"One...apparently."

"Amazing," Tracy said.

Hikari got tired of touring the office and made it known she wanted to move on.

"Where now?" Himeji asked, holding her hand.

"Da?"

"Daddy is working," Himeji said. Boy, that sounded weird. Mr. Walker as Daddy?

"Book," Hikari said, checking out the magazines on a coffee table.

"Can you read?"

"No..."

"Did you understand the question?"

"No..." Hikari said, flipping through the glossy pages.

Himeji and Hikari walked round and round until they were back to Takumi's office.

"Da!" Hikari exclaimed, running over.

"Did you have fun?" Takumi asked, picking her up.

Hikari touched her mouth.

"Hungry?"

Hikari nodded.

"It is lunch time," Takumi agreed. "Himeji, will you get me something and then you're on your lunch break."

"Yes, Mr. Walker."

Takumi made Hikari sit down as he went through the lunch box he packed this morning.

"It's rice!" Takumi said, opening the Tupperware.

Hikari obediently ate a few bites before she was mesmerized by a fancy pen. She looked it over and held it up.

"Pen," Takumi said, feeding her another spoonful of rice.

"Peen?"

"Yes!" Takumi said. "Good job, Princess."

Hikari hugged Bear and stood up to go look out the window.

"Hikari," Takumi said. "You have to finish lunch."

"Da!" she said, pointing to the window.

"Lunch," Takumi said, holding up the Tupperware. "How about apple?" He suggested, holding out a bag.

That got her attention. Takumi managed to feed her another spoonful of rice before Hikari got her hands on the apples. Himeji got Takumi a salad and deli sandwich. Takumi fed Hikari a cherry tomato from his salad.

"Red," Hikari said.

"What color is this?" Takumi said, holding up an olive.

Hikari gave him a blank look.

"Black," Takumi said, putting it into her mouth. Hikari chewed on it and spit it out. "Guess you don't like olives," Takumi said, wrapping it up in a napkin.

Takumi's phone buzzed.

"Hello Beautiful," Takumi said, putting it on the speakers.

"Hi," Misaki said. "How's Hikari?"

"In one piece," Takumi said.

Hikari perked up at the sound of Misaki's voice. She scanned the room but got a perplexed look when Mommy wasn't in the room.

"Himeji has been playing with her all morning," Takumi explained. "We're having lunch right now."

"Poor Himeji," Misaki sighed. "Secretary to babysitter."

"She doesn't mind," Takumi said. "It's so funny how everyone addresses her as Miss Walker. I mean I would be okay with them just calling her Hikari."

"If you weren't always so strict, maybe they'd be more friendly," Misaki teased.

"Mommy?"

"Hikari!" Misaki exclaimed. "How are you, baby?"

Hikari leaned against the coffee table. She picked up the phone. "Mommy?"

"Right here," Misaki said through the phone. "Can you hear my voice?"

Hikari studied the phone. Takumi stifled a laugh. She must be wondering how this strange little device had her mother's voice on it.

"Well, I'm back from my appointment," Misaki told Takumi. "Everything is fine. I just need to rest more."

"You don't need to be a doctor to know that," Takumi muttered. "Make sure you take prenatal and a nap. Don't work so much," he added.

"I'll be fine," Misaki said. "I'm going to take a bath and then take a nap," she said. "Call me if Hikari gets fussy."

"Of course," Takumi said.

Hikari held out an apple slice to Takumi.

"Why, thank you," Takumi said, eating it.

Hikari sat on Takumi's lap as she drank her milk as Takumi spoke with a few of his employees.

"Da-dee?" Hikari asked after they left.

"Yes Princess?"

"Mommy?"

"Later," Takumi said. "How about we play until your nap?" he suggested.

Hikari smiled and wiggled around. Takumi set her on his chair.

"Wee," he said, turning the chair very slowly. "Hold on tight," he said.

"Mr. Walker," Himeji said, knocking on the door.

"Come in," Takumi said.

Himeji walked in with her clipboard. "The vice CEO and the board need to have a meeting with you, right away."

Takumi scanned the papers. "Alright," he said. "I'll leave Hikari to you then," he said. "Bye Princess. I'll be back."

Hikari pouted. "Da?"

Himeji quickly walked over with a packet of crackers. "Do you like these?" she asked, kneeling by the chair.

Hikari was fascinated with the cracker. "Have?"

"Yeah," Himeji said, handing her a cracker.

Takumi ducked out of the office and closed the door.

Hikari finished the packet of crackers before she realized her abandonment. "Daddy?"

"Bear?" Himeji offered, smiling nervously.

Hikari stared at Himeji and cautiously took the bear.

"Play?" Hikari asked.

"What do you want to play?" Himeji asked.

Hikari wandered around the office with the teddy bear in her arms. She sat down in a random spot and began baby talking to her bear. Himeji fed her Cheerios as Hikari quietly played. After a while, Hikari started yawning.

"Out," she ordered, setting Bear on the couch.

"Alright," Himeji said, opening the door and taking Hikari's hand.

They slowly made their way up and down the halls. Hikari would stop to yawn and then they'd keep walking. Hikari started getting really annoyed when people walked past her.

"What's wrong?" Himeji asked, crouching down.

Hikari shook her head and screwed her eyes shut. "MOMMY!" she screamed in a high pitched voice.

"Shh," Himeji soothed. "Why don't we go walk around some more?" she suggested.

Hikari tripped on the edge of the carpet. Her cheeks turned red as she started wailing.

"Are you hurt?" Himeji panicked. Hikari didn't even hit the floor. She had only stumbled.

Hikari fell back on her butt and sobbed. Her hands made little fists. Himeji had no idea what to do. She picked Hikari up and took her back to Takumi's office.

"What hurts?" she asked, gently.

Hikari squirmed and cried. She acted very frustrated.

"Mommy...!" she cried, throwing herself on the floor.

"Mr. Walker," Himeji said as the door opened. "I am so sorry. She only stumbled a little. I didn't think she was h-"

"It's fine," Takumi said, walking over. "It's past her nap time. That is the only thing that will make her bad natured... Hi Princess," he said, kneeling beside her. "You having a fit?"

Hikari sat up and held her arms out, still crying. Takumi picked her up as patted her back.

"Shh," he comforted. "Just sleep, Princess." He dabbed at her tears and walked around the office with her.

"Perhaps we should call Mrs. Walker," Himeji suggested.

"Not yet," Takumi said, rocking Hikari. "She just needs her nap. Why don't you go back to work?" He suggested.

"Yes, Mr. Walker," Himeji said.

"It's just us two now," Takumi said, taking off her shoes and barrette. "How about nappy?"

He pulled out Hikari's blanket and laid her down on the couch. She kicked her feet and had an angry look on his face."

"Sorry," Takumi said, tucking the blanket around her. "My meeting ran late. It's past the time you go down. Daddy's bad." Takumi gave Bear to Hikari to hold. "Go to sleep," he said.

Hikari tossed as she napped. Takumi could tell she wasn't use to a new bed. After more fussing, she just slept in his arms.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Takumi said.

"Hey," Misaki said, tiptoeing in. "She sleeping?"

"Finally..."

"I should have known," Misaki said, sitting down on the couch. "Tantrum?"

Takumi shrugged. "A little..."

"You must be exhausted," Misaki teased, pushing his hair back.

"She's our Princess," Takumi said. He placed a hand on her stomach. "And this is our Troublemaker," he decided.

"You think?" Misaki asked, placing a hand over his.

Takumi nodded. "I can tell just how drained you looked, this one is going to be mischievous."

"I hope Hikari won't feel left out," Misaki said.

"We'll worry about it when it comes," Takumi said. "Should we wait until Hikari wakes up or leave now."

"Let's go home," Misaki said. "Hikari needs a bath, dinner and then straight to bed."

"Agreed," Takumi said, standing up.

Hikari stirred slightly. "Mommy?" she mumbled.

"Right here, Baby," Misaki said, smiling.

Hikari's eyes fluttered opened. Tears well up in her eyes. "Mommy...?" she whimpered.

"I'm here," Misaki said, taking her from Takumi. "Long day?" she asked.

Hikari buried her face into her neck.

"Guess mommy is still the favorite," Takumi said, winking.

"You did not go through 9 months of childbearing," Misaki said. "Don't even start with me."


Hikari toddled behind Misaki everywhere at their house. She followed Misaki from the living room to the kitchen.

"You got a tail," Takumi said, taking out his pans.

Misaki stroked Hikari's head. "She's worn out," Misaki said, picking up her daughter. She kissed Hikari several times. "Someone make Daddy's Princess angry?"

"Yeah...Daddy," Takumi said, shaking his head. "Her nap was late. Poor Himeji."

Misaki nodded. "And you're an easy baby," she said to Hikari. "Happy baby!"

Hikari smiled. "Yummy?"

"Yummy food is coming up," Takumi said, slicing up vegetables. "Cucumber," he said, handing a slice to Hikari.

Hikari nibbled on it.

"No garlic," Misaki warned. She leaned against the fridge. "The word even makes me want to gag."

"Hai hai," Takumi said. "Food will be light and easily digestible."

"More?" Hikari asked, holding out her hand.

Misaki snagged a slice off the cutting board and handed it to Hikari. "How was work?" Misaki asked. "Did you get anything done?"

"More or less," Takumi replied. "Today was a laid back day. I had a few meetings, some paper work. Have you heard from Suzuna yet?" he added.

Misaki nodded. "Everyone's fine. Baby and mother are both doing well."

"It's nice to see the Underling have a family of his own," Takumi said, smirking.

Misaki rolled her eyes. "Will you stop calling him that?"

"He doesn't formally address me as Big Brother," Takumi said, grinning. "So we're even."

"You're the same age!"

"But I'm married to the Big sister," Takumi said rather boastfully. "Therefore I rank over him."

"Oh Takumi," Misaki said, walking to the kitchen table. "You're lucky I can't smack you right now," she said. "My hands are full with Hikari," she explained.

"If you want to get rough later-"

"The baby!" Misaki said, covering Hikari's ears. "You will not teach our daughter to be a p-e-r-v-e-r-t."

"She doesn't know what we're talking about."

"I hope she never will," Misaki said, hugging Hikari.

Takumi chuckled and unplugged the rice steamer. "Why don't you put Hikari in her highchair?" he suggested. "Dinner is ready."

Misaki nodded and buckled Hikari into her highchair.

"Yummy?" Hikari asked again.

"Coming," Misaki said, kissing her on the top of the head.

Misaki got Hikari's water while Takumi set up the table.

"Yummy!" Hikari beamed, eating a sauteed mushroom.

"Use your fork," Misaki said, handing Hikari the fork.

"Hmm?" Hikari asked, eating a cauliflower with her fork.

"Mmm," Misaki said, nodding.

Hikari babbled on about something.

"Oh," Misaki said. "I see…"

Takumi scooped more rice into Hikari's bowl. "Hey Misaki," he said.

"What?" Misaki asked.

"I feel so blessed," Takumi said, smiling.

Misaki laughed. "Weirdo," she said, placing her hand over his.


"AHHH!" Shige yelled, waving around the toy car in the air.

"No," Kuuga said. "Cars drive on the ground. Planes," he said, picking up the toy plane. "They fly in the sky."

"Vroom," Shige said, taking the plane and rushing around the room.

"Don't trip-"

Too late. Shige tripped on the block and went sprawling on the carpet. He blinked a few times and started sobbing.

"Oh no," Kuuga said. "Hey, don't cry," he said, rolling up Shige's pant leg. "There's no boo boo," he said, kissing his knee. "You're okay."

Shige screamed and rubbed his eyes.

"Shige," Kuuga said, holding up another toy. "Look! Truck!"

Shige hiccuped and took the truck from Kuuga. He then resumed crying.

"Sakura!" Kuuga yelled.

"I thought so," Sakura said, hurrying down the stairs. "What happened?"

"He tripped," Kuuga said, holding out his arms.

"Is he hurt?" Sakura asked, picking up the sobbing child.

"No," Kuuga said.

"There there," Sakura soothed. "Good boy," she said, rubbing his back. Shige got over it and squirmed to be put down.

"Why do children do that?" Kuuga asked, pulling Shige onto his lap. "He was not hurt…I checked"

"Maybe they want you to comfort them," Sakura teased, sitting next to Kuuga on the carpet.

"I did try to comfort him!"

"Oh Kuuga," Sakura laughed. "You have to be more...mushy gushy about it."

"What the heck?" Kuuga asked.

"Like Shige darling," Sakura cooed, lifting Shige up. "I love you, baby," she said, kissing his stomach.

Shige laughed as Sakura bounced him. "You try," Sakura said.

"I can't baby talk," Kuuga said. "I talk normally."

"Just for fun," Sakura pleaded.

"Shige!" Kuuga said in a high pitched voice. "Hi baby!"

Shige laughed.

"Great...my own son is laughing at me," Kuuga muttered.

Sakura almost fell over laughing. "He's happy," she said, elbowing him. "You're a great dad," Sakura said, kissing Kuuga on the cheek.

"How about a great husband too?" Kuuga asked.

"You're a great everything," Sakura said. "Except for changing diapers. You suck at that…"

"Thanks honey,"


Ruri was sitting with Mimi in her and Tora's bedroom. Mimi was trying on different hats and looking at her reflection in the floor length mirror.

"Pink," Ruri said, placing a floppy sunhat over Mimi's head.

"Mmm," Mimi said, holding out a straw sunhat for Ruri to put on.

"Try this headband," Ruri giggled, putting a sparkly headband on her head.

"Oh?" Mimi asked, opening her mouth.

"Ahh," Ruri said, popping a grape into Mimi's mouth. "Do you like this hat?" she asked.

"Boo!" Tora said, throwing open the door.

Mimi screamed and ran over to him.

"Hey," Tora said, lifting her off the ground.

"You're back early," Ruri said, standing up.

"Yeah, I was missing the two most important girls of my life," Tora said.

"How romantic," Ruri teased. "You want to know what else would be even more romantic?"

"What?"

"If you made dinner," Ruri said, patting his shoulder. "I want something with chicken."

"Are you serious?"

"Yup," Ruri said, taking Mimi. "Want to watch Daddy cook?" she asked Mimi.

"Oh," Mimi said, clapping her hands together.

"Let's go watch Daddy cook," Ruri said, walking downstairs.

"How's rosemary garlic chicken sound?" Tora asked, plucking a sprig of rosemary.

"Sounds wonderful," Ruri said, sitting on a stool. "A side of carrots would go really well with that."

Ruri opened the fridge and took out a package. Mimi rested at Ruri's hip as Ruri dumped them in colander bowl and rinsed it under the sink.

"Hmm?" she asked, handing Mimi a carrot.

"Did you have a good day, beautiful?" Tora asked.

"Who are you talking to?" Ruri asked.

"The one who can talk," Tora said, smirking.

"Very funny," Ruri said, taking out a few plates. "One day, I'll be old and ugly while our daughter is young and beautiful. Perhaps I already am old."

Tora hooked his finger on her belt loop and pulled her closer. "You old?" he asked. "You'll always be the most beautiful girl in my eyes," he said, tracing a finger up her arm.

"Is this how you're going to woo me?" Ruri said, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Depends if it's working or not," Tora said.

"And if I said it was?" Ruri asked.

"Well…" Tora leaned over. Ruri closed her eyes.

"AHH!" Mimi yelled. "Oh!" she said, impatiently pointing to the food. She was hungry.

"Dinner is ready, baby," Ruri said, walking away to the table.

Tora sighed and resumed to fixing dinner.

"I'm going to remember this," he said, tying the bib on Mimi. "I guess I'll settle for kissing you," he said, kissing Mimi on both cheeks.

Ruri laughed. "Poor honey," she said.

Tora sat down. "Wait till she's asleep," he warned. "We're not done here."

Ruri clinked glasses with him. "Cheers."

"Cheers," Tora agreed.