Kaiya rubbed her eyes sleepily, she glanced over at her parents who were still sleeping. She pulled her unicorn into her arms, holding it above her.
"Mommy and Daddy are having a big nap, Sprinkles." She whispered. "We have to be very quiet." She carefully crawled to the foot of the bed and climbed down.
The young ghoul crept out of her parents' bedroom and into her own. She scanned the room for supplies. She crossed the short distance to the small table in the middle of the room, grabbing the tea set, coloring book and crayons.
"These make me feel better." She said. Kaiya thought for a moment. She turned to her toys, carefully selecting several of them. She gathered up her toys and rushed back to the bedroom. She peeked inside to find her parents still asleep. She placed the items on the floor beside the bed and made her way back to her room. Once there, the young ghoul pulled open her closet door, selecting her white jacket and putting it on.
Kaiya rummaged through her toy chest, removing a pink plastic stethoscope which she placed in her pocket. "I'm all ready now, Sprinkles." She announced, hugging the unicorn to her chest. "Let's go wait for Mommy and Daddy to stop napping." When she arrived at her parents' bed, she was surprised to find her father now sitting up.
"Daddy, you're awake now!" Kaiya exclaimed, climbing onto the bed beside her father.
"Yeah, but Mommy's not. It would nice to let her sleep as much as she can. I know I told you we could play-"
"I like to play with you, Daddy. But you are coughy today. I want you to be all better. I'm going to be Dr. Kaiya."The child took out her stethoscope, holding it out to Kaneki. "See, I have a stella scope and a coat." Kaneki grinned in amusement.
"It's called a stethoscope, Kaiya." He corrected gently. the child nodded.
"Yes, a stellascope." the white haired ghoul chuckled softly, rubbing his daughter's hair. "You and Mommy can be my sick people that I take care of."
"Your patients. Being a doctor isn't an easy job, you know."Kaneki turned to cough into his sleeve, causing his daughter to frown. She reached out, placing a hand on his forehead.
"Poor Daddy, I will have to take your temperature like Mommy does when I am sick."
"Wouldn't you rather play with-"
"No. I have to make you and mommy all better. I'm a big girl, I can do it."
"I know, Princess. You don't have to-"
"It's nice. You do it for me lots."Kaneki nodded.
"Yeah, but we're your parents, we're supposed to look after you. your job is to be happy and enjoy your-" Kaiya crossed her arms over her chest.
"I want to do it. Please?" Kaneki sighed heavily, reaching over to the bedside table and opening the drawer, taking out the thermometer.
"You are so like your mother." He commented softly, handing the object to Kaiya. "Do you remember what to do with it?" Kaiya nodded, pulling it from the clear plastic case and moving closer to him.
"Under Daddy's tongue."
"That's right."
"And no talking til it says so." Kaiya instructed, inserting the device into her father's mouth. Kaneki leaned back against the headboard silently. Kaiya took hold of he father's hand, patting it lovingly.
"It's okay, Daddy. I still love you, even when you're coughy and yucky. I will give you and Mommy extra, extra hugs and cuddles. I even brought some of my favorite things for you."After a few moments, the thermometer beeped, and Kaiya removed it, looking at the display. She held it out to her father.
"Can you please, help me, I don't know what it is." Kaneki took the object from the child. "Do you have a fever, Daddy?"
"a slight fever, nothing to worry about." He replied, placing it back in the case and setting it on the bedside table. Kaiya grabbed the plastic stethoscope, placing the eartips in her ears and the chest piece in the middle of Kaneki's chest.
"you'll have to move it over a little," he explained. "My heart is a little more to the right." He shifted the toy slightly. The two stayed silent for a long moment.
"Can I please have a real one someday?" Kaiya requested.
"I don't know, they can be expensive and it's not really something-"
"Please Daddy, I am Dr. Kaiya. I want to hear what your heart really sounds like. "
"Kaiya-"
"Please?" She stared deeply into his eyes, hopefully.
"We'll see." Kaiya climbed down from the bed, tossing the small mountain of stuffed animals onto the bed along with the tea set. She gasped suddenly.
"Oh no, I forgot something!" She cried. "I didn't bring the story, you always read me stories when I feel yucky. I'll be back, I will bring books for Mommy too." When the child was out of sight, Kaneki shook his head, grabbing his phone and dialing a number. He held the phone to his ear., waiting.
"Hello?" The familiar voice answered.
Hey, Hide. Are you busy?" Kaneki asked.
"Not really, what's going on?"
"It's going to sound a little weird, but I kind of need a favor."