[Author's Note: Welcome back to the Rei no Kigen To... series. There is only maybe one or two more chapters left after this... Today's episode translation: Ordinary Life Again!]
Chapter 8: Mata Futsuu no Seekatsu!
12 Years Have Passed.
Outside of the city Wyndia, there was a large house of two stories. To the back, there was the woods and nearby there was a small river that slowed down to a brook. The house itself was curiously modern, probably because of its inhabitants.
In one of the rooms on the second story, there were two beds. One was empty and re-made perfectly. The other still had a young boy in it. On the dresser there was an odd clockwork device that was attached to a bell. The gears turned and the rotation finished which shook the bell. It chimed. The occupant turned towards the ringing machine and shut it off.
"Tora! You ought to get up, or Mom and Dad will get angry!" A voice sounded through the door.
"Thanks, sis. I'll get up then," Said Tora.
The occupant slid out of his bed. He streched his arms and streightened his tail. He felt his slightly pointed ears. He looked like his father, only much younger.
The owner of the reminding voice opened the door and walked in. She had red hair, and very odd-shaped ears. The girl looked like her mother. She was the exact same age as the boy, "Remember, Mom's teaching us today. So wear your uniform," She reminded Tora.
"Don't worry, Janice, I remembered," Tora said as he collected his clothing.
"We're only ten years old, this is too much stress for us."
"I don't really mind it much, at least we get to use our Mom's invention when we have free time," Tora reminded his twin sibling.
Meanwhile down in the kitchen, the sound of water coming out of a faucet could be heard in the background. A woman was preparing a normal breakfast for her family, a man was reading some papers and drinking some morning tea. "I wonder if those kids of ours are up yet?" The man wondered as he lifted the glass to his mouth.
"Don't worry, I've taught them to be on time and ready. Unlike their father.." She said as the quiet clatter of dishes sounded in the room.
"Dear, I'm always ready."
"Rei, you don't have to work. We have plenty of money from that invention I made," said the wife as she placed the food on the table, "Tora! Janice! It's time to eat breakast!" She yelled to the upstairs floor.
"Yeah, I know the 'television.' But remember you conditions?" Rei said to his wife.
"I remember... You should get to the store soon," Momo said to her husband.
"Well, since you chose my new clothes, I might as well use them. But I want to see Janice and Tora before I go," Rei said as he straightened his collar. His clothes were much different from before. He was wearing a white collared shirt with a green sweater on top. He had a black necktie with a long light gray coat. The clothes themselves were large and tailored to fit is body shape. They were expanded so they wouldn't be tight.
The two children walked down the stairs in clothing similar to their father's. "Well, then, I have to go to work. See you later, Janice, Tora." Rei walked over the Momo, gave her a kiss, "I'll see you all later."
"Have a good day!" Momo said.
"See you later, Father!" Tora and Janice said in unison.
Rei left the house and quietly shut the door behind him.
"Hurry and eat your breakfast, today we are going to watch the state of the continent address from the king on the television," Momo instructed her children.
"How did people hear the king across the continent before you created the television, mother?" Tora asked.
"People would gather into Wyndia, and for those far away, they would have to hear it later."
"Will it be busy in Wyndia?" Janice asked.
"Yes, people still like to go to Wyndia to see it, so your father will be pretty busy."
"Will Uncle Ryu and Aunt Nina have to make a speech?" Janice wondered.
"I don't think so, Sis. They are only the prince and princess, they aren't the king or queen yet. So they probably won't have to talk, right?" Tora explained as he ate his toasted bread.
"I see what you mean. I he right, mom?" Janice asked as she did the same.
"Yes, that's correct. Actually, they might visit us today," Momo explained.
One of the lights in the ceiling blacked out. "Oh, no the chrysm bulb went out," Tora said.
"We'll have to replace it later. Anyway, we're out of chrysm. I'll have to send you two to Wyndia to get some more," Momo said.
"We're done," Tora and Janice said at the same time as they got out of their chairs at the same time.
"Then let's turn on the Television, he'll make the announcement soon. Today, we'll take a break from our studies."
They walked over to the padded furniture in front of a large black box with a large screen on it. There was also a wire that stuck out from the top with a tiny copper ball on the top. Momo moved over to the television and placed a cube of chrysm into a cut-out shape that was the same size as the cube. It was sort of an 'On-Switch.'
"Why does father work, when we have money because of your inventions?" Janice asked.
"Well, it lets him live out his dream to be in Wyndia, and it was part of an agreement we made when we came together," Momo explained.
"Is this the same agreement that has you choose his clothes and has us being home-schooled?" Tora asked.
"The very same, but please be quiet. I think the speech is going to be made soon," Momo said to her children.
In Wyndia...
There was a store that was newer than most others around it. The hanging sign swung on it's hinges as the breezes moved from time to time. The letters were engraved on a square piece of wood: "General Store: Teepo." Rei had built, designed, and ran the place for 11 years. Half a year since he and Momo officially came together.
The store sold everything and anything. It was a pharmacy, a food market, there was few weapons, few armor, and even some of Momo's inventions were inside. In fact, it was the only store that officially carried Momo's inventions. The store was pretty basic, there was a counter in front and most of the invention merchandice was held in the back. There were display versions of Momo's creations, but they were scratched by one of Rei's claws to decrease its origional value. Being a former theif, he knew how to stop them. Otherwise the walls were stocked with the products.
Obove the door there was a bell to tell Rei when someone came in or out of the store.
"Doesn't that just beat all, it's been very busy today!" Rei muttered to himself as he looked at one of the shelves away from the door.
The bell rang, "Oh, another customer..." Rei said to himself.
"Hey, Rei!" Said a familiar voice behind him.
"Oh, how are you today?" Rei said.
"We're fine, and how is everyone?" Said another voice.
"Since when do the prince and princess leave during the state of the continent address?" Rei asked.
"We've heard it all, my father had to practice it," Nina said. Ryu sighed and nodded with agreement.
"I would've though that you'd get married before Momo and I did," Rei said with a laugh.
"No one could have gotten married as fast as you two did," Ryu said.
"At least my bride didn't trip and knock over all the flowers," Rei said trying to annoy Nina.
"Shut up, Rei! You're so IRRITATING! I'm not THAT clumbsy!" Nina shouted.
Ryu noted outloud the current scores, "Let's see... Nina: 1 and Rei: 21,953."
"When did that 1 come in?" Rei asked.
"It's a pity point, I gave it to her when we reached the 20,000 mark," Ryu said.
"Well, anyway, we're going to go visit your wife and your children soon," Nina said.
"How have Momo, Janice, and Tora been doing?" Ryu asked.
"It's been wonderful, they are great children. According to Momo, their both doing great in their studies," Rei said.
"I was surprised when they ended up being twins. Not only that, they are male and female, one looks like Momo and the other is like you. How did that happen?" Nina asked.
"Momo thinks that my body and abilities is only carried on the Y chromosome. But I'm not quite sure, I think it was just a coincidence," Rei said.
"Y chormosome?" Ryu asked.
"Don't ask, it's very complicated," Rei said.
"Well, we'll be on our way soon, but we need some things," Nina said.
"What is it?" Rei asked.
"We need some calcium tablets, Father is not getting enough at his age, three chrysm cubes, and we'd also like a picture of your family," Nina said.
"I'll check the shelves, and Momo has our pictures available," Rei started to look through all the Vitamins and other pharmasuticals.
"Has your son.. well... transformed?" Ryu asked.
"No, thank goodness. I haven't told him how to, nor does he know that I can. I just hope someone doesn't put him into a situation where he'll have to do it. That is how it happened to me. It can be automatic at times."
"I'm glad, who knows what he could do," Nina said.
"Actually, he has controll over his actions, he doesn't have that device. Remember?" Ryu reminded Nina.
Rei gathered all of the items and put them into a small paper bag with the store logo on it. "This is on the house," Rei said with a smile.
"Thanks, Rei," Ryu said.
"Well, we're off! We'll see you later!" Nina said as the bell rang when they opened the door.
Outside the shop Ryu and Momo whispered to each other. "We'll give the money to Momo, Rei won't accept it," Nina whispered to Ryu.
"Uncle Nina, Uncle Ryu! Over here!" Shouted the voice of Tora.
"Oh, Tora, Janice, what are you doing here?" Nina said as she hugged her "niece" and "nephew."
"We're here to get some chrysm blocks, we are out of them," Janice explained.
"Don't you have classes today?" Ryu said.
"Momo decided to cancell it, since the state of the continent speech and everything," Tora explained.
"We'll wait for you after you get out of the store, we will go with you back to your house," Ryu said.
"Okay! Wait here!" Tora and Janice said in unison.
Ryu and Nina watched as the twins ran to the store and opened the door. Janice accidentally slamed the door on Tora's tail. "Ow! Janice!" Tora yelled.
"Are you okay?" Janice asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Be careful next time, okay?"
"I will."
A few moments later, they ran out of the store with a large brown bag, and a small white bag.
"What's the white bag for?" Ryu asked.
"Father gave us candies!" Tora explained.
"That seems like him," said Nina.
The four walked out of the crouded streets and outside the city.
Nina thought about the situation. "It's like before, Me, Ryu, Rei, and Momo. Bur Tora is Rei, and Janice is Momo. At least Tora is more polite. But it's like before, how ironic."
To be Continued...
Next episode: Chapter 9: Atarashii Kurashi
Tanslation: New Life