"Hasu, where are we going?" Natsumi asked and blinked as he pulled her with him gently by the hand.
"If I were to tell you, then it would cease to be a surprise, wouldn't it?" He turned to look at her over his shoulder to smile, then turned back to look at the road again, mumbling to himself. "Where is it, now? I distinctly remember passing it earlier..."
"If you tell me where you want to go, I can just show you the way."
"Thank you for the generous offer, however, this is something I would like to remain a surprise for now." Hasu closed his eyes as he smiled, then paused in the street as he looked at the shops. After a moment, he led her over to a small tree planted beside a bench.
"If you will wait for me here, I want to run into a shop. It should only take a few moments."
Natsumi made a face and crossed her arms. "I'm supposed to be looking out for you. Why can't I go in with you?"
"I will be all right on my own for a few moments." Hasu chuckled. "This is important to me, so I would appreciate a small amount of leniency... just this time."
Natsumi sighed and then slowly nodded. "Okay, just a few minutes. If you take too long, I'll come in just to check up on you."
"Ever so dutiful." Hasu bowed his head slightly to her. "I will make this brief."
He turned and quickly walked away to disappear inside of a shop and Natsumi blinked.
A music store? Why is he going in there?
She sighed again and crossed her arms to lean against the tree gently.
II guess if I'm just waiting outside, that's fine. I can't follow him everywhere, after all.
After a few minutes, she started to drum her fingers against her arms.
He's taking an awfully long time. What is he doing?
She took a step forward toward the shop and a voice startled her from behind.
"Boo."
Natsumi jumped and turned to see Jiro standing behind her, wearing a black cloak and a Noh mask. She made a face and groaned as she turned away from him.
"And what do you want?"
"Hello to you, too, little Red."
"I'm not in the mood, Jiro." She crossed her arms. "Say what you wanted to, and then kindly leave."
"Tsk. How impatient." He laughed quietly beneath the mask in almost a hiss. "Fine." He held out a small bag from behind his back and placed it into her hands. "You're welcome." Jiro chuckled. "By the way... I passed by that temple... or, rather, what's left of it."
Natsumi froze and a chill ran down her spine, making her shudder.
"I must say... what you did to those assassins made even my handiwork seem tame." He leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "You've thoroughly impressed me, make no mistake. I knew you had greatness in you."
Natsumi gulped and turned to looked at him and he took a step back.
"Oh, did I strike a nerve?" Jiro's eyes narrowed beneath the mask. "Nevertheless, you did quite well against them. You should be very proud of yourself."
"I'm not—!" She clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes, speaking in a whisper. "What I did wasn't intentional. And it was barbaric."
"It was marvelous." Jiro chuckled again, and Natsumi could tell by his tone that he was smirking. "Don't hide from your talents, and don't suppress your natural power. Haven't you considered that you have such power for a reason?" He leaned close to her ear once more, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You could make all of them acknowledge you." He chuckled. "Or, if you dared... you could make things really interesting... especially if you had the right friends."
He straightened and Natsumi shrugged his hand off.
"And, what is that supposed to mean?"
Jiro laughed and stepped backward into the shadow of the building. "That's the exciting part, isn't it? Getting to figure that out for yourself..."
He vanished and Natsumi gripped the bag tightly in her hand, clenching her teeth.
That creepy masked jerk... what is he trying to imply?
"Natsumi?"
Natsumi jumped again and let out a deep breath. "Hasu." She looked at him.
"My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you." Hasu smiled slightly, then it shifted to a frown and his eyes rested on the shadows where the masked man had been. "Who was that?"
"Jiro." Natsumi mumbled. "One of my teammates."
"I assume that there is tension between the two of you?"
"Jiro has tension with everyone." Natsumi frowned faintly. "He's creepy, sadistic, and he loves to kill and fight. He's a strong Ninja and a powerful ally, but he's cold-blooded and his talent for killing has taken over as his personality."
"Unpleasant is too kind of a description for him, then." Hasu looked back at her. "What did he give you?"
I'm almost scared to look.
Natsumi carefully opened the paper bag and her eyes widened slightly, then showed Hasu its contents. "It's... my mask."
"It's completely shattered." Hasu frowned slightly.
"Why would he give me this?" Natsumi's frown deepened.
Why would he take the time out to collect every single fragment of it like that? How would he benefit from that?
"Anyway." Natsumi let out a short breath and shut the bag and looked at him. "Did you finish what you wanted to do?"
"Oh, yes." Hasu nodded. "Everything should be prepared for your surprise now."
"You weren't kidding about there being a surprise?" Natsumi blushed and mumbled quietly. "I don't really need a surprise..."
"I think you will like it." He held out his hand. "This is also something that I have not done in quite some time and am thoroughly looking forward to it."
"O-Okay." Natsumi took his hand after a moment and he led her into the shop. It was empty with the exception of the owner, who looked up from where he was gently polishing a violin. He sat upright as he looked at her and then adjusted his glasses.
With a quiet grunt, he slid off the stool he had been sitting on and set the instrument down on the display.
"Come on, then." He motioned for them to follow with his wrinkled hand, frowning as he walked.
He doesn't seem entirely friendly, even though he is still helping Hasu with this mystery surprise.
The man led the pair to a small room in the back with soundproofing. A Koto sat in the center of it, and Natsumi's eyes widened slightly.
What's this for?
"There." The man crossed his arms and watched as Hasu sat in front of the instrument. "You get to play it for a few minutes, as I promised, but don't think I'll just leave you alone with precious merchandise. That's the only one that I have, and it's an antique."
"I swear that I will treat it delicately." Hasu smiled and gently tugged on Natsumi's hand so that she sat beside him.
"Hasu, are you going to really play this?" She looked between him and the instrument. "I didn't know you could play music."
"Hmph." The man frowned more deeply. "Hardly anyone can play that anymore, much less a kid. It's an elegant instrument, not a toy for kids to carelessly pluck at when they're bored."
Hasu took in a deep, quiet breath and closed his eyes. His hands hovered over the strings for a moment as he muttered silently, then he lowered his hands to the strings and began to play.
W-Wow... She bit her lip and watched as he played a beautiful melody with hid eyes closed and a tender smile on his face. Not only is he a talented at music, but he's enjoying it so much.
The man blinked and his eyes widened slightly at Hasu, his frown fading. "Huh. The kid can really play it, after all."
Natsumi smiled and closed her eyes as she listened, and Hasu continued to play. After a few minutes, he stopped playing and Natsumi opened her eyes quickly.
He stopped?
Hasu's fingers lingered over the Koto's strings as the final note faded and Natsumi looked at him, his eyes opening to meet hers.
"Why did you stop playing? That was beautiful."
He smiled slightly, though it faltered, and he glanced down at the instrument. "Forgive me, but that's all of the song that I know."
"Oh." She smiled. "That's alright. I didn't know you were such a good musician. Who taught you to play?"
"My mother did." He smiled, but his smile faltered. "I had asked her to teach me so that we both could play as a surprise for my father's birthday."
Natsumi bit her lip, clenching her hands for a moment as she looked down. She opened her mouth, but shut it quickly again.
"She died almost four years ago." Hasu spoke as if answering her silent question.
"Hasu..." Natsumi bit her lip and he managed a small smile. "You don't have to..."
"I would like to speak of her." Hasu rested his hands on the side of the Koto. After a moment, he drew in a deep breath. "Each night, after dinner, she would sit in our garden and play her Koto. I would sit with her, only enjoying her music at first, and then learning from her once she began to teach me."
He plucked a string softly and the low tone filled the quietness of his pause. "She had begun to complain about a mysterious pain in her abdomen several days before. We were concerned for her, though she continued to insist that she was fine. On that day, she was in incredible pain, though she insisted that I escort her out to the garden so that we could play. As soon as her finger touched the first string, she collapsed suddenly in excruciating pain."
Hasu rested his hands on his lap and paused for several minutes, remaining in silence as he thought. He pursed his lips, then folded his hands in his lap. "I remember clearly how horrified I was to see her in such a state. She was writhing on the ground, and I was helpless. All I could do was call out to her and cling to her hand." His voice lowered to a whisper. "And yet... even in so much pain... she turned to me, saw how I was, and touched my face. She said 'don't make that expression, Hasu. I'll be fine.'"
He swallowed at the lump in his throat. "Father had been concerned, so he had called for an esteemed doctor to come to the estate the day before. He should have been there by morning, however... we received the first snow of the winter that night. The flakes were large and heavy, and they fell in abundance. There was nearly a meter of it on the ground, and the doctor was unable to reach the estate in time. She died after two days, feverish and delirious from the pain."
"Oh, Hasu." Natsumi eyes stung as she watched a slow tear roll down his face. "I'm so sorry."
He wiped his face with his sleeve and touched the instrument. "She sent me away, as I had been at her side through the night. She assured me that she would be there when I awoke, though I soon realized that she had not wished for me to witness her passing. She knew that death was imminent, and she died just moments after I left her room."
"That's awful." She looked down at her hands and fell silent.
"After she passed, my father stopped allowing music on the estate." Hasu began to speak again, though quietly. "He became far stricter, and spent far less time with his own sons... even my eldest brother, who was his favorite. He locked up my mother's room, along with her Koto, and threw the key into the pond in our garden." He paused. "After that, the only ones who would still spend any amount of time with me were my brothers whom I participated in spice contests with, and my tutors." He smiled faintly and shook his head slowly. "Although, that isn't entirely true. I did spend a great deal of time with my horse, Matsukaze, and I would sneak out and spend time with the good people of that small village. So, I cannot claim that I was truly alone."
"You haven't played in four years?" The man interrupted, his gruff tone softened slightly. "And you played without a single mistake?"
"I am as surprised as you are." Hasu smiled and softly plucked a string. "Though, I can only attribute it to how wonderful of a musician and teacher my mother was."
"Hm." The man thought for a moment, then he turned as the bell rang at the front of the store. He turned and left to attend to the customer, and Hasu met Natsumi's eyes.
"So... did you enjoy your surprise?"
"It was beautiful." She smiled faintly and nodded. "I'm... really sorry about your mom, though. It must have been lonely without her."
"Quite." He looked at the instrument. "When I was playing, it felt as if she were still alive, only sitting at my side as you are. If I did not know better, I would even insist that I could hear her humming along."
"I think she'd be very proud of you, Hasu." She touched his hand. "I'm sure she's watching over you right now."
"I would like to think so." He squeezed her hand. "You would have gotten along well with her."
The man returned and put a hand on his hips. "Alright, you kids. You guys'll have to leave for now."
Hasu nodded and stood, and helped Natsumi to her feet as he looked at the man and bowed his head.
"Thank you for permitting me to play it for a short time. I am very grateful."
"Don't mention it." The man muttered and rubbed his head. "You're not a Ninja, are you?"
Hasu shook his head. "No, sir, I am not."
"I thought so. Your hands were far too delicate."
"H-Heh..." Hasu glanced down at his hands, then stuck them into his pockets sheepishly.
"Well, if you're looking for work, I'm looking to take on someone who I can trust to respect and care for the instruments."
Natsumi blinked. "Are you offering him a job?"
The man crossed his arms. "It'd only be temporary, though. I have to attend my granddaughter's wedding in a week and I'll be out-of-town for some time. I was going to have to close up my shop for that time, but if I can find someone to watch it in my absence..."
"I would be happy to, sir!" Hasu grinned. "I have never had a job before, but I assure you, I would work hard and take excellent care of your store."
"Well, I haven't decided yet." He scratched the scruff on his chin. "How about you come the day after tomorrow and I'll show you the ropes? If you do a good enough job for a few days, I'll take you on to look after the shop. But you'll have to really impress me."
"I swear that I will surpass your expectations." Hasu continued to smile. "You will see."
"Hmph. We'll see" The old man recrossed his arms. "If you do a good job, I'll even let you play the instruments whenever you'd like. If you earn it, that is."
"You are a generous man." Hasu bowed his head again. "Thank you again for allowing me to play the Koto today."
"It's nice to see someone who can actually play it." The man waved at them. "Alright, get on out, now. I've got some things to attend to."
"Of course." Hasu nodded, and they left the shop. Once they were outside, Natsumi stretched and then turned to him.
"What do you want to do now?"
"Well..." He glanced upward for a moment. "In truth, I'm not sure."
"Why don't we—" Natsumi started, then was interrupted by a breath on the back of her neck.
"Boo."
Natsumi scowled and jumped, reaching for a Kunai as she turned around.
"Jiro, I told you already, get lost!"
"Woah, there!" Kiri gripped Natsumi arm before she could draw a Kunai, and smiling sheepishly. "Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you." She blinked. "Wait... Jiro? Has he been bothering you today?"
"Don't scare me like that..." Natsumi let out a heavy breath and crossed her arms. "And, yes. He was being really annoying and creepy just a little while ago."
"Sometimes I wish I knew what was going on in his head." Kiri shook her head slowly as she muttered under her breath. "On second thought, that'd be a nightmare."
"I didn't know you were back from the mission already." Natsumi watched as Kiri sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"Yeah, I haven't been back long. Ro went as backup to finish things."
"Oh." Natsumi pursed her lips.
I only saw part of the castle because I was looking for Hasu, but I wonder what everyone else had to deal with.
She glanced toward Hasu.
But I can't ask with him around. I don't think he'd handle the truth very well.
She looked at the shopping bags in Kiri's hand and then met her eyes. "New clothes?" She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are those... baby clothes?" She blinked and paused. "Kiri... is there something you haven't told us?"
"E-Eh?" Kiri scrunched her face and poked Natsumi's forehead several times. "No way! They're not for me."
Wait... if Kiri's back, does that mean...?
Natsumi's eyes widened slightly. "Kanna and Koji are here?!"
"Shh." Kiri covered Natsumi's mouth to quiet her, then leaned in close and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Not here. We don't know who might be listening."
"Kiri?" Natsumi whispered back. "What is it?"
"Don't talk about her in public. It's not safe."
Natsumi nodded and looked around the area from the corners of her eyes.
Just who is she worried about eavesdropping?
"Come on, then. Come with me." Kiri straightened and looked between Natsumi and Hasu. "Well talk once we're somewhere safer."
Natsumi looked at Hasu and nodded, and they followed Kiri until she led them through the gates of the Sarutobi estates.
"Here we are." She let out a sigh, and Natsumi looked around.
"Why are we here?"
"Because." Kiri led them down the path toward the largest of the homes. "This is the one place that even he wouldn't dare to go near."
"He?" Natsumi pressed her lips together.
Who is she talking about?
Kiri stopped at the door and knocked, and a young Sarutobi clanswoman greeted her.
"Welcome back, miss Ueno." She stepped out of their way to allow them in home. They slipped their shoes off and Kiri led them down a hall.
"You seem to know this place pretty well." Natsumi looked around as they passed various rooms, walking quickly to keep up with Kiri's long strides. "Have you been here before?"
"The old man looked out for me once in a while." Kiri answered after a moment. "Before I was old enough to join Team Yoru, if everyone else in my family were on missions, I would come here." Her pace slowed slightly. "And, after I lost my brother, and... other important people... I spent a little time here occasionally just to avoid being around Yuuri so much. I guess you could say that this place is like a second home to me."
She opened a door and motioned them inside, then closed the door behind them.
It was a small sitting room that had been recently rearranged to accommodate children's things. Kiri took the clothes out of her shopping bags and laid them out on top of the dresser, then sat at the low table. They sat with her, and Kiri leaned back and sighed quietly again.
"Sorry that I couldn't say anything before." She met Natsumi's eyes. "He knows that she's here, and he's interested in acquiring her. I'm sure his agents are roaming around in secret trying to gather as much information on her as possible."
"About Kanna? Why?"
"Forgive me for interrupting." Hasu leaned forward slightly as he sat on his feet. "But... who is Kanna? And who is it that wants to acquire her? And for what purpose?"
Kiri and Natsumi exchanged looks and Kiri shrugged. "I'm probably not supposed to tell you, but what the hell." She sat upright and looked at Natsumi. "Do you know who Danzo is?"
"He's one of the Village Elders, isn't he?" Natsumi answered after a moment. "He runs his own version of the ANBU. I don't know much else about him, or that group, though."
"Just the way he likes it." Kiri muttered. "Root operates similarly to the ANBU, but they don't answer to the Hokage or report to him."
"I cannot speak from experience as a Shinobi, though that seems somewhat problematic." Hasu glanced down as he thought and furrowed his brows. "Might that present opportunities to defy the Hokage?"
"Yeah." Kiri huffed and grumbled, then rested her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand. "You can guarantee them to be shady. And their recruitment methods deserve just as much scrutiny."
"Recruitment methods?" Natsumi repeated. "What do you mean?"
"Well..." Kiri lowered her voice. "After my brother joined, it was as if he dropped off the face of the earth. He never came home again, and no one else saw him around." She paused and frowned. "Not to mention, the one time I had to work with some Root guys on a mission, they were kids."
"I'm a kid." Natsumi made a face.
"I don't mean your age." Kiri shook her head. "They were younger. I don't think they could have been older than eight."
Natsumi's eye widened and she blinked. "That young?!"
"Yeah..." Kiri nodded and paused. "It seemed strange to me, so I tried to snoop to see what I could find. But I found absolutely nothing about any kids that age that fit their descriptions." She frowned deeply. "No Academy records or anything. I even tried to check the Orphanage's records, and found nothing." She drummed her fingers on the table. "Which begs the question... where did those kids come from?"
"That does seem really suspicious." Natsumi frowned. "Either that, or..."
"The records were destroyed." Hasu answered quietly, then looked between them. "I believe that would be the most likely thing."
"Yeah, so do I." Kiri continued to drum her fingers in thought. "Just to double check, I tried to talk to some of the caretakers at the orphanage, and none of them said that they ever remembered having those kids. But I asked one of the kids, and he claimed that he 'had a dream' where those kids were at the orphanage."
"A dream...?" Natsumi crossed her arms.
No matter how you look at it, it all boils down to one thing.
"So, he stole the kids from the orphanage and then altered the memories of everyone there?" Natsumi met her eyes.
"It's the best theory I've got." Kiri rested her hand on the table and went quiet. "As for the older agents, I'd be willing to bet that they were orphans, too. It'd make them ideal for disappearing."
"I understand all of that, and I'm just as suspicious as you are..." Natsumi paused. "But, what does that have to do with Kanna?"
"Danzo wants to snatch her up." Kiri balled her hand into a fist. "The Hokage knows it, too. That's why she's staying here, under the protection of the Hokage and ANBU guards. He knows that Danzo would love to get his hands on her, just from how Danzo was trying to have Kanna handed over to him for protection. That was easy to see through."
"Wouldn't Danzo only be interested in people who were strong?" Natsumi scrunched her face as she thought. "Kanna isn't even the daughter of Shinobi."
"Right, you don't know yet." Kiri mumbled and rubbed her head, then her expression turned serous. "You remember that Kanna had been in that building with the other kids, right? But she escaped?"
Natsumi nodded. "She said that something had bitten her, and I remember Jiro said that the kids had strange markings."
Kiri nodded slowly and lowered her voice again. "Those markings... they were done by Orochimaru. For people who survive the initial process, it can make them very powerful, apparently."
Natsumi's eyes widened and a chill shot up her spine.
Orochimaru?! She clenched her fists tightly on her lap until her knuckles whitened. I knew it! I knew he had to be involved somehow!
"Ahem." Kiri cleared her throat and Natsumi glanced up at her. She formed a series of hand signals discreetly and Natsumi's eyes widened again.
So, they all know that Orochimaru is here, too? How?! Why hasn't the Hokage done anything about it?
"This mark you spoke of, it causes that girl to be a target of the man you call Danzo?" Hasu asked and the girls turned back to him.
"Yeah." Kiri drummed her fingers on the table again. "The timing of all of this is... balls. Not only are we dealing with that, but now having to keep an extra eye on Kanna..."
She's right. Orochimaru is in the village and I don't know what he's planning, and Oto is just as scheming and dangerous. And now, Danzo is involved... this is a mess.
"I still do not know who this girl is that you're discussing."
"They should be back any time now." Kiri glanced up at the clock on the wall, and the door slid open a second later. "Right on time."
Another Sarutobi woman stood in the doorway, holding a baby in her arms as Kanna stood at her side. Kiri smiled faintly and raised her hand to wave.
"Hi, Kanna. I'm back, just like I said I would be." She thumbed toward the dresser. "I brought you new clothes, too."
"Kiri, thank you!" Kanna smiled and looked at Natsumi. "I remember you. You found us in that hidden room."
Natsumi smiled at the younger girl and nodded. "It's nice to see you again. I'm glad you're safe."
"But who is—" Kanna turned to look at Hasu, then her eyes widened and she dropped to the floor in a deep bow. "Y-Your Highness! I didn't recognize you! Please forgive me!"
Hasu held up his hands and shook his head, laughing sheepishly. "Please, don't apologize. There's no need to bow." He lowered his hands as he studied her face, then he blinked. "Are you the daughter of my tutors, Yaeko and Kenshin Kumagai?"
Kanna sat upright, still sitting on her knees and she nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, I am."
"I thought so." Hasu smiled and touched his chin. "You bear a striking resemblance to your mother, especially your eyes."
"I'm glad that you are alive and well, Prince Hasu." Kanna glanced downward. "I didn't think that anyone else had..."
"Thank you for your concern." Hasu smiled and gently took her hand to help her up. "You don't need to bow in my presence, though. And, for as long as I remain in the Leaf, simply call me by my given name."
"O-Oh." Kanna paused and stared at his hand. "Is that really okay?"
"Of course. We are all friends here, aren't we?" He smiled and led Kanna to sit at the table with them.
"Please wait here. I will go make you all some tea." Ena bowed her head, and placed the baby in Kanna's lap.
"Thanks." Kiri lifted a hand and smiled as she left, and glanced briefly at the small boy as he chewed on his own fingers. "Kanna."
"Yes?" The girl blinked and slowly looked up at her.
"You haven't noticed anything strange at all, right? No one new around here?"
"No, why?" Kanna bit her lip. "Should I have? Is there danger?"
Kiri sighed and shook her head. "No. I don't mean to make you nervous. I'm just a bit paranoid."
Kanna frowned slightly, keeping one arm around her brother as she reached up with the other to touch the back of her neck. "It still hurts... but it's like an ache now. I've gotten used to it."
Natsumi glanced down for a moment and touched her stomach for a moment.
She's definitely mixed up in this Orochimaru mess. She was one of the presences I sensed before.
She looked back at the girl.
Would Orochimaru try to take her back? Oto also doesn't seem like she'd be concerned with this girl. But, if Kiri says that Danzo is interested in her, then that's not good, either. I know Kiri said that Danzo wouldn't even dare try to have his people come into the Hokage's own home, but she's right to be paranoid. Nothing about this is right.
"Is this where you will be living for now?" Hasu watched Kanna's troubled expression, and she nodded and lowered her hand from her mark.
"For now." She looked down at her brother for a moment. "Although, after a few more days, the Hokage said that I'm going to be living with a Kunoichi. She'll train me so that I don't let this power control me." She frowned. "But... that means that Koji and I have to live separately."
"Separately?" Hasu repeated and Kanna nodded.
"Koji will stay here with Ena, and I'll be with a woman named Anko."
"Anko?" Natsumi paused. "Isn't that the proctor for the Chunin Exams?"
Kiri nodded. "Anko is decent with seals, and she has experience dealing with... certain people. She may not really be good with kids overall, but Kanna will really benefit from her training."
"I just don't like the idea of being away from him." Kanna held the baby close. "We only have each other now, after all."
Hasu paused for a moment and thought, then smiled slightly and looked at her. "Kanna, have you heard of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter?"
Kanna looked up at him and nodded. "My mother and I started to read it together before..." She bit her lip.
"Our last unit was full of such stories, and I enjoyed listening to your mother speak of them. She was also so passionate about books, something that I understand quite well."
Kanna smiled and glanced down. "My mom loved those legends and fairy tales most of all."
"Through fantasy, we are able to understand the thoughts and culture behind each author." Hasu smiled.
"My mom always said that..." Kanna's blinked and wiped her eye. "Have you heard her analysis of I Am A Cat?"
"I have not. We were unable to get to that particular one yet."
"Whenever she would read to me, she would always change her voice for each new character speaking." Kanna giggled at the memory. "It was so fun."
"It sounds enjoyable." Hasu shook his head slowly. "Though, during my lessons, she would never read that way."
"She always tried to remain professional while tutoring." Kanna paused, then her eyes widened slightly. "Actually, Ena lent me her childhood copy of I Am A Cat. I could read it for you, like my mother would, if you'd like."
"Would you?" Hasu beamed. "That would be delightful."
"I'll go get it." Kanna stood, then glanced down at Kiri for a moment, then back down at her brother. "Could you...?"
"Sure." Kiri held out her arms, taking the baby from her as Kanna nodded.
"Thank you." Kanna went into the side room for a moment, and Kiri poked the baby's cheek and sat him on her lap.
"You're a cute little baby, aren't you?"
Kanna returned a moment later with a book in her hand and a smile on her face, then she sat down beside Hasu again and turned to the first page. As she started to read, Ena returned with a tray of tea, setting out the cups for them all. Koji reached to try to grab Kiri's cup from her hand, and Ena laughed softly and took the boy from her lap.
"Here, let me handle him. It's time that he took a nap."
"Oh, okay." Kiri nodded and watched them leave the room, then listened to Kanna reading.
Natsumi sat respectfully, listening for a while as she drank her tea, but once she had finished, she excused herself to sit in the corner.
I guess now would be a decent time for me to focus on that scroll again.
**This chapter is dedicated to Jun-ren, Squinty, ArtificialAsian, Mist, Sauce, Poomph, and V.**