"So, how'd it go with the reincarnation's family?" A voice asked Yosei when she returned to her world.
"As well, as expected. First: pay up. I was right; the girl is a severe case of a Daddy's girl. The boy is a Mama's boy—but not overly severe. Second: here's your money back; Mom decided not to take the deal and stay. Whereas Dad took the deal." Yosei explained, looking at her partner.
"Huh. Keep your money. Yes, I may have been right about them not agreeing on taking the deal, but I was wrong about who would take which deal. I was so sure she'd take the deal and he wouldn't. I was so sure there wasn't any of that Daddy's girl and Mama's boy shit. You said "severe." Is it going to be so severe that they start having an incestuous relationship?" The one insisted before asking, looking at Yosei.
"Really, Kahn? Why does your mind always go there? Thanks for the money, by the way. No, it's not that severe. That's only happened one time before—and that was with a boy and his aunt. I swear—that shit turns you on or something. No. Dad and Mom will work out for a while, but she'll cheat on him with that Masaya, and he'll move on with someone else. It won't be easy, but Mom—if she goes back with Masaya will end up pregnant. Dad will move on with another one of his mews and will have a few kids. Both the boy and girl will have significant others as well." Yosei scolded her friend, Kahn, before going on to explain.
"So—seeing as they took different routes, what happens to the children?" Kahn asked, looking at Yosei.
"Nothing changes with Mom. I lied when I told them the girl would die: both children survive, and Mom and Dad go their separate ways after a few months. Dad still has full custody of both children, but Mom gets them on weekends—unless Masaya or Kish are there. Mom marries one of those two, while Dad stays single." Yosei explained.
"Why did you lie about that? Why not just tell them both children would survive?" Kahn asked, watching Yosei.
"You know why. If I told them the truth, neither of them would've taken the deal—and our world would be destroyed. We needed at least one of them to take the deal. And as the prophecy said, because Dad and Mom share the same endangered cat DNA and that reincarnated child with a male twin together, it's not safe for us or them to be together. What's worse, is they both passed down the endangered cat DNA to both children—who both have spiritual and magical abilities. You know damn well, that if Dad and Mom stay together, an unwanted rift will open here, and Deep Blue and all the Demon's other reincarnations will come here. Do you remember how long it took to get rid of the last two? If anything happens here to us, that priestess and witch will be rolling in their graves—and that little girl will be in grave danger. Oh, and you mustn't forget; the boy would become evil and be possessed by either the Demon or one of its reincarnations—most likely Deep Blue. It's just best if Dad and Mom aren't together." Yosei sternly explained.
"Ok. Yosei calm down. Relax. I get it; I really do. Besides, I already knew all that." Kahn told Yosei, earning a smack to the back of his head.
"If you knew—why did you make me tell you all that?!" Yosei snapped.
"Because I like hearing you explain things; it turns me on. You turn me on with everything you do. And me? It's not just me; incest turns you on as well. You like Daddy/Daughter, Niece/Uncle, or Brother/Sister just as much as I do. I'm not sure why you don't like Mommy/Son or Nephew/Aunt." Kahn explained, taking Yosei's hand in his; he was about ready to kiss her.
"Yes, I know. You know damn well why I don't like those." Yosei told Kahn, narrowing her eyes a little, leaning up to him a little.
"Tell me why. Say it." Kahn instructed, pulling Yosei close.
"Damn bastard. Where I'm from—and how I grew up, the man should be older than the woman." Yosei answered, wrapping her arms around Kahn's shoulders.
"Good girl." Kahn cheekily told Yosei.
"Fuck you…" Yosei growled.
"Don't you worry about that; you'll get to fuck me in just a bit. Tell me a few more things. There's really no incest going on with that family—in either worlds? Just how protective is the brother over his sister? I know you had to change some things with Dad's choice: what were they?" Kahn asked, pretty much demanding as he pulled Yosei against him.
"We'll focus on Mom's choice—still mainly with Dad; he has the girl. Mom will later have the boy. Dad's choice: the girl will be hospitalized more. There is no Daddy/Daughter, Mommy/Son, Aunt/Nephew, or Uncle/Niece incest. As for Brother/Sister incest? I cannot tell you—and you know that; it goes against everything we were taught as Information Spirits." Yosei explained, gasping, sighing, breathing deeply, and lightly moaning as Kahn rubbed against her.
"You know—as Information Spirits; we suck. You would think as Information Spirits, we'd have to inform whoever of everything we know." Kahn stated, lifting Yosei to carry her to their room.
"You know we can't tell mortals everything; it could cause catastrophic consequences. We give them what we can and then fabricate other information. And then if we accidently give away something we're not supposed to; we fix and change it—immediately. We can only give so much." Yosei replied before Kahn threw her into bed.
"You know—I love it when you talk serious." Kahn informed Yosei before climbing on top of her.
Two Days Later:
At a Hospital:
With Ryou, Ichigo, & Mai:
Out of nowhere, Ryou suddenly jolted awake, stomping his foot to the floor, startling Ichigo a little.
"Ryou, is everything ok?" Ichigo asked, watching Ryou, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a strange dream is all. However, now I can't remember it. How's Mai?" Ryou replied, running his hand through his hair before asking, watching Mai.
"She's doing well. A nurse checked on her vitals and everything about half hour ago. She said her fever finally broke and that her BP was normal." Ichigo answered with a smile.
"That's great news. What about her pulse and heartrate?" Ryou asked, watching Ichigo.
"She said her pulse and heartrate were a little fast—and she was twitching, so the nurse thinks she was just having a nightmare." Ichigo answered.
"Has Kai been by today?" Ryou asked, looking at the time: it was roughly noon.
"No, not yet. Mom's running a little behind." Ichigo answered, playing with her fingers.
"What's going on?" Ryou asked, watching Ichigo, taking her hand in his.
"Shintaro is out of the woods today. I'm glad he didn't die, but—I don't know. I went to visit him because he's on the third floor; I asked him how he was doing. I just got that same speech he gave that morning you took Kai and Mai to the park—the day you found out your parents were still alive. So I left." Ichigo replied.
"Are you alright?" Ryou asked, watching Ichigo.
"I will be." Ichigo replied with a small smile.
"We never did talk about that. All I really know is he doesn't approve of our relationship and you being the twins' mother." Ryou firmly told Ichigo.
"That's pretty much it. He thinks you and I aren't meant to be together because you're super smart and I'm not. He thinks the kids are mistakes and that I should just forget them. Yes, Kai is super smart and Mai isn't. But she's certainly not stupid. And we've all gone through this already: Mai is Daddy's girl, so yes, she clings to you more. But I've noticed that Kai has started clinging to me more. Not to mention, I know they both love both of us." Ichigo told Ryou.
"You're damn right they love both of us. And we love them both just the same." Ryou told Ichigo.
'I know he loves both of them, but it really does seem he loves Mai more. He gives her so much more attention. However, I've been doing the same with Kai—even before Mai started becoming overly clingy to Ryou. Maybe to most, that would be horribly, but they don't know the truth. Kai and Mai were severely abused before getting to Ryou—and he's the first person Mai learned to trust—aside from Kai. She will always have that close connection with those two more than me. But I do know she loves me; she says it all the time. But there's something about Kai that makes me feel so connected with him. Maybe that saying is true. "Daddy's girl, Mama's boy." I don't know.' Ichigo thought to herself with a smile.
'I do love both Kai and Mai equally, but I won't lie or try to deny that I do spend more time with and pay more attention to Mai. I do try to spend one-on-one time with Kai as much as I can though. I really should do that more. Scratch that. I do spend equal one-on-one time with both of them. It's when we're all together that she gets more attention. Damnit. I need to figure something out.' Ryou thought to himself, feeling guilty—and then Mai moved.
"Daddy? Mommy?" Mai softly asked, looking around, confused.
"We're both right here." Ryou and Ichigo replied, each taking one of her hands.
"Kai?" Mai asked, looking around.
"Not yet. Grandma will be bringing him soon." Ichigo gently told Mai as Ryou rubbed her forehead.
"Go home?" Mai softly asked, looking at Ryou and Ichigo.
"We have to wait and see what the doctors say." Ryou calmly told Mai.
"Knock, knock. Oh, we're awake." Ami happily announced, walking in with Tomohiro and Jin.
"Hey. Mai, you remember Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Tomohiro, right?" Ryou greeted and then asked when he noticed Mai tense up a little.
"No zombies." Mai softly spoke.
"That's right; they're not zombies. I don't expect you to really remember Uncle Tomohiro; you only met him once—and you were pretty out of it. But uh… This is my younger brother, Tomohiro; he's your uncle." Ryou told Mai, once again, introducing her to everyone.
"Can I sit next to her?" Ami asked, looking at Ryou and Ichigo.
"Yeah, that's fine." Ryou replied, putting down the bottom guardrail.
"Hi, Sweetie. Someone looks like they're ready to get out of here." Ami gently told Mai, sitting at the end of her bed. At the same time, Jin and Tomohiro stood at the foot of her bed, watching Mai.
"Go home." Mai sadly responded.
"Oh, Sweetie. We know; we understand. But you have to let the doctors do their job to make you feel better so that you can go home. I know… It's very scary here, isn't it? Well, Grandpa, Uncle Tomohiro, and I stopped back at the beach house this morning to pack all your, Kai's, Daddy, and Mommy's things up. While I was packing up your things, I found this little girl." Ami explained, holding up Mai's fairy cat she designed at Build-A-Bear.
Mai had three favorite stuffed animals:
Her very first teddy bear from Ryou: Pooky.
Her fairy cat from Ichigo and Sakura: Kori.
Her stuffed rainbow tiger from Kai: Tora.
Kai only had two favorite stuffed animals:
His very first stuffed dinosaur from Ryou: Dino.
His astronaut cat from Mai, Ichigo, and Sakura: Armstrong.
"Huh! Kori. Please. Tank you." Mai gasped before reaching for the stuffed animal.
"I hope you don't mind…" Ami started, looking at Ryou and Ichigo.
"No, it's perfectly ok. Kori's one of her favorites." Ichigo replied with a smile.
"Kori, Pooky, and Tora. Kai's are Dino and Armstrong." Ryou added.
"Kai only has two?" Tomohiro asked, confused.
"Kai's not really big on stuffed animals. He has a few, but he prefers Legos, puzzles, books, and stuff like that. Dino is the first stuffed animal I got him. Mai, Ichigo, and Sakura got him Armstrong at Build-A-Bear when she got Kori. Mai designed them and Ichigo and Sakura put them together. Pooky was the first stuff animal I got Mai. Kori came from Ichigo and Sakura, and Kai got her Tora. She's more into the stuffed animals, soft blankets, pillows, toys, arts and crafts, and other things like that." Ryou explained.
"Oh." Tomohiro replied, somewhat stunned.
"So, I hope Daddy and Mama don't mind, but we all brought you a present—each." Ami told Mai.
"We gave Kai his last night. Tomohiro got him a black and blue camo blanket. I got him one of those doctor playsets with a stethoscope, fake needle and syringe, thermometer, etc. and a stuffed butterfly. Then your mother got him a gift certificate to a bookstore." Jin told Ryou.
"Well—it was last minute and knowing what we learned; I figured he'd like that. That—and I don't know what he likes to read—or has or hasn't read. You would think I'd know how to shop for genius children by now." Ami argued.
"It's fine, Mom. Like everyone else in the world, not all geniuses like the same things. Although she can't quite read yet, Mai likes to be read to—and she does try." Ryou told Ami.
"I'm so glad because I got her a gift certificate for a bookstore as well. I hope you like the other stuff we got you. Tomohiro, you're first." Ami kind of whined before instructing Tomohiro.
"Like Kai's gift, this was designed, made, and bought in America. I hope you like it." Tomohiro told Mai, handing her a flat box.
When Mai opened the box, she pulled out a plush rainbow and raindrop-designed blanket with a few fairies.
"Tank you." Mai softly thanked Tomohiro as Ryou and Ichigo spread the blanket out.
"Does she like it?" Tomohiro asked, looking at Ryou and Ichigo, unsure.
"Oh, yeah; she likes it. Good thing too; her other blankets are wearing thin." Ryou assured Tomohiro, watching Mai with a smile.
"Now, we just need to figure out how to get rid of the other blankets. What? Oh, come on, Ryou; they're too thin. You said so yourself." Ichigo spoke up and then defended herself.
"Or they could be turned into one large quilt. Sorry; I don't mean to eavesdrop. I'm just coming to visit with Kai. I may not know a lot about quality or patchwork, but I do know a little. All her favorite blankets and/or clothes, I can figure out how to make a quilt for her. Same with Kai." Sakura offered, setting Kai down.
"Ooh! I know how to sew, quilt, and patchwork! That's a great idea! You can be head designer and make all the decisions, but I can totally help you with a patchwork quilt for Mai and one for Kai. We can make them the size of blanket they can use at night. Or we can make them bigger, and they can hang on their walls. And if you have anything of Ichigo's when she was young, we can add those as well. I still have plenty of Ryou's things. Oh. Oh, my God; I'm so sorry. I'm a stay-at-home-mom and housewife. Don't get me wrong; I love it. I just don't get out much…" Ami immediately put her hand in to help and started babbling on and on before apologizing.
"Don't apologize; it's perfectly fine. I was always a stay-at-home-mom and housewife; I know the feeling. And hey, I have nothing to complain about; I live with my daughter, grandchildren, and Ryou at their place." Sakura stated with a small smile.
"You live with them? You're so lucky." Ami told Sakura with a smile.
"You don't seem happy." Jin noted, watching Sakura.
"Oh, no; I am thrilled. I love seeing them every day like that; I just miss my old home. Some people came in, claiming we didn't get our payment in, which Shintaro argued and said he got in—which he did. We later found out that someone conveniently lost the payment. But anyway: Ryou offered Shintaro and me a place to stay so we wouldn't be homeless. So I have nothing to complain about." Sakura replied.
"What happened to the house?" Tomohiro asked, watching Sakura.
"It's been on and off the market several times in the last year. Currently on it now. Ryou's offered, but I've turned him down. It's not that I don't appreciate it, but he's already done so much for Ichigo and me; I couldn't ask for anything else." Sakura replied.
"Let Jin and I take care of it for you. No, seriously. With or without meaning to, you've done so much for our Ryou. And it's clear, the twins adore you. We haven't done anything to thank you for being there as a second mother to Ryou. And the twins—you don't hate us for just popping up and wanting time with them. You even suggested a time chart or something; you didn't have to do that." Ami told Sakura right away.
"She's right, you know. You could've been completely wary of us—despite us being Ryou's parents. We've been confronted by a lot of people asking why we didn't search for Ryou and Keiichiro better—and then going out and having another son. You're the only one not to judge us. Even after learning everything, neither Tomohiro nor Ryou judged us—even though they both have the right to—especially Ryou. Trust me when I say, you're not going to get Ami to back down. Let us help you." Jin firmly told Sakura.
"Ok… But I insist on paying you somehow." Sakura gave in.
"Oh, wait. Jin, we're staying in Japan, yes?" Ami thought of something before asking her husband.
"That's the plan. I'm sure we'll visit America now and then, but if Japan is where you want to live, that's fine. Why?" Jin answered and then asked.
"Stay with us. Yeah. We have a small guest house behind our house; you could stay there. If you wanted, you could go out and get a job or something, but you wouldn't have to worry about rent or bills—except for internet/cable, or something like that. And as payment, we could use one of the spare rooms as a workspace for making quilts or whatever for the grandchildren. And—and then, unless we want personal time, we don't have to split time with the twins; we can just spend time with them together! What do you think? Jin?" Ami started making plans before asking Sakura and Jin.
"If that's what you both want. Just remember Ami; don't push her too much." Jin told his wife.
"Of course, not." Ami replied before looking back at Sakura.
"I suppose so. It would good be for all the kids." Sakura replied.
"Then it's settled! And don't worry; Ryou gave us your address, so we purchased a house fifteen minutes away—just out in the country. Oh, you never answered if it'd be ok if we worked on the patchwork quilts together." Ami excitedly explained before coming back to reality.
"I think that'd be a splendid idea." Sakura replied with a smile.
"I know: Grandma's kind of crazy, but you'll get used to that. But she and Grandpa are some of the greatest people I know." Tomohiro told Kai and Mai when he noticed them looking at Ami, confused. Well, Mai was confused; Kai was just staring at her in complete and utter disbelief.
"Anyway… Mai, this is from me." Jin gently told Mai, placing a box in front of her.
When she opened the box, there was what looked like a fairy doll with a stuffed butterfly.
"Where'd you get that?" Ami asked, confused; she had never seen those before.
"Two years ago in Italy—well, the fairy doll anyway. Originally, I got it for your sister's youngest daughter because she just beat cancer. However, after that, she became very entitled and thought she deserved everything. Everyone in the family was getting her super expensive things and she looked at and turned them all down, saying they weren't good enough for her. She somehow found out what we got her and became very demanding, so I got her something else instead. I guess I never got around to returning the doll—and by the time I found it again, it was too late, so I kept it in a box in a closet. I forgot about it until a few weeks ago; I was just going to donate or sell it. Trust me: they're no longer being made and are considered rare, and people want and will pay a lot for it. When we first heard Ryou had twins, we thought they were both boys. I think Tomohiro was the only one who figured out one was a girl because he still went ahead with the blanket. But anyway: I had to return one of the toys we previously bought and then think of something for a girl—something I never thought would happen. But I decided, instead of selling or donating the doll, I'd give it to Mai. And then I saw this lady selling the stuffed butterfly for a few dollars to raise money for autism research." Jin answered, explaining where, when, and why.
"Tank you." Mai softly thanked, taking the doll and the butterfly, and placed them with Kori.
"Well, Mai likes and seems appreciative of both of them. However, at this point in time, I don't think she cares too much about money; she's too young to grasp that concept." Ichigo stated, watching Mai place them under her blankets.
"I disagree. No, she doesn't care too much money, but she does get the concept. Do you remember that scratch off Keiichiro got her? She won that $75.00. She could've spent that how she wanted and got herself that dollhouse she had wanted that cost $59.99—or something like that." Ryou started.
"And she did; it was a pain in the behind to put it together." Ichigo stated, remembering.
"You don't remember? I bought her that because I was so proud of her. Instead of spending any of her money on herself, Mai bought four cheepy stuffed animals for a less fortunate family who were struggling. Mom, Dad, three sons, and one daughter. The girl was about her age—maybe a little older. They were just barely able to afford their groceries; Mai bought each child a stuffed animal and told them they'd be ok. That cost her $10.00. Then she spent another $63.47 on soft-shell tacos from Taco Hut for the homeless because they looked hungry and like they wanted tacos. She picked them dandelions and gave them all two flowers. She only had $1.53 left. I told her that—and that she wouldn't be able to get that dollhouse, but she said she didn't care; she'd save her monies and get it later. The kids just wanted a stuffed animal but couldn't afford it; she said she knew how they felt because until I got her and Kai, she used to be that little girl. Same with the homeless people she bought tacos and picked dandelions for. She told them to keep going forward and they would all be ok. She kept her dollar and the threw the change into a wishing well in hopes the world would be a better place and everyone could have a home, food, clothes, and toys. So that next night, for her selflessness, I bought her that dollhouse—and to be fair, I got Kai the ambulance he drives around. These kids never cease to amaze me." Ryou explained, making Ichigo, Sakura, and Ami cry.
"Tank you for ebyting." Mai thanked everyone, yawning a little.
"Oh, no—not yet. I still have something for you to open; I got one for Kai as well. The lady who sold these to me said these were meant for special children—and only special children." Ami told Mai and Kai, handing them each a round box.
"That actually makes me kind of nervous." Ryou stated right as Kai and Mai opened their gifts.
"Bunnies." Mai spoke, pulling out a white rabbit-looking thing with a red gem on its head and a red earring on its right ear.
Meanwhile, Kai pulled out a black rabbit-looking thing with a blue gem on its head and a blue earring on its left ear.
"We're not "bunnies;" we're "Mokona Modoki!" But you can call us "Mokona," if you'd like." The rabbits spoke up, shocking everyone in the room—everyone except Ami and Jin.
"Dear—what are you doing? You can't just give the children those things; we don't know what they are. We don't know what they're capable. What if they hurt Mai and Kai?" Jin scolded his wife.
"The woman said they were perfectly safe and meant for the twins—calling them special children." Ami argued.
"We would never hurt the children; we were sent to keep them safe—mainly the girl because the boy will be able to take care of himself—for the most part. And we told you: we're called "Mokona Modoki." But you can call us "Mokona" if you'd like. Yuko sent us from a different world." The black Mokona spoke.
"But if it makes it easier, you can call me "Soel" and him "Larg." Those are our other names." The white Mokona, now Soel, told everyone with a smile.
"Yuko is world witch." Mai softly spoke, shocking everyone.
"Yes, that is correct—in a way. Yuko is called the "Dimensional Witch," and she grants wishes—for a price. We were given to the twins as a gift, so there is no price to be paid." The black Mokona, now Larg, told everyone.
"Very good." An invisible female voice spoke.
"Yuko!" The Mokona happily exclaimed before holding hands, causing some kind of video image to appear before everyone.
"Well, hello everyone." A woman with long black hair and red eyes, assumed to be Yuko, calmly spoke…