"Chibi-chan, one more step!" Sai was clapping his hands when Hikaru was walking, more steadily, towards Sai. Hikaru leaped into Sai's arms, when he finished the last few steps. Sai rubbed his cheek against Hikaru's cheek while Hikaru squirmed in delight.
"Gwhaa! Ahh!" Hikaru gurgled while Sai tickled him by the ribs. Hikaru's little palm pushed Sai's large hands away while wriggling from left to right on the large cushion. Sai poked little Hikaru on the tummy while Hikaru rolled away from him. Sai smiled, noticing that the child was having fun. He put a stuffed teddy, Hikaru's favorite toy, besides the Go stone of course, by Hikaru's side. Hikaru just hugged and clung onto the teddy taller then him by four times, like a koala bear.
Sai, being both a thoughtful father and a worrywart, was being indecisive on whether to bring Hikaru's milk bottle along or grinded baby food along. He was also unsure of wanting to bring along a thermos, to keep the bottle of milk warm.
"Ah!" He cried, exasperated, and decided to bring all the necessary items, thermos, bottle of milk, some milk powder, baby bowl, grinded food, grinder some spoons and miscellaneous items. Deciding just to throw everything into his car, he carried Hikaru and went out, heading for the park.
With Hikaru in his arms, Sai made a decision, one that would affect his reputation as a father. He was going on for a very dangerous mission, to teach little Hikaru how to pronounce things that was found in the park, even thought it was early, considering that Hikaru knew the basics from A to Z and one to ten. He narrowed his gaze, like facing a tough opponent in Go. No, this was even harder than facing Touya Kouyo in Go.
"Chibi-chan!" Sai called, abruptly, startling Hikaru slightly, who was distracted by the kids playing in the playground. Hikaru focused onto his father (thought that his father was indeed very interesting as he is stoning) and stared at the tree that his father was pointing, with his fan, to.
"Chibi-chan, say 'tree'!" His father cried, while Hikaru just thought that his father was very fascinating and decided to play along with him.
"Twee?" He questioned, while his father shook his head childishly, waving his fan, unopened, in front of his face. Hikaru blinked, while Sai shook his head and muttered some words under his breath. Sai pointed to the sky.
"Chibi-chan, the sky is blue, say 'blu-e'!" Hikaru blinked again, unable to register what his father was saying in his small little brain.
"Ara? Boo?" Hikaru spoke, half questioning. Sai almost vexed out, yet he had proven that being a father was something so challenging to refuse.
"No, Chibi-chan. Bl-ue. Boo-lu!" he tried to say. Hikaru laughed, half gurgling and half chuckling.
"Boo-lwe!" Hikaru cried, joyfully, thinking that he had got it right this time round. He was so happy and he pulled his father's long purple locks that almost fell off.
"Ow!" Sai cried, "No, it's Blue!" he snapped, startling Hikaru. At that instant, tears flooded Hikaru's big green orbs and he cried. As loud as a loudhailer, causing some passer-by to look at the situation.
Baby Hikaru kicked his legs, which kicked Sai's chest, unfortunately. It does not hurt much, but the fact that Hikaru blubbered because he scolded the poor little child made him want to cry.
Sai's vision was blurred, as he placed his head on the child's and he murmured softly, calmly and sadly nonetheless.
"Sorry, Hikaru-chan."
Hikaru, puzzled that his father had not called his pet name, looked up and saw the sparkly coat of 'thing-that-he-does-not-know' (it was the moisture of tears that covered Sai's eyes, causing it to shine) making him know that his father was sad.
"Boo-lu, Paa-paa," Hikaru little hand gave little tug onto his father's long sleeve. Sai, touched, and squeezed Hikaru, and packing him softly on the cheek.
"Right! Chibi-chan, you got it right! Blue!" Sai smiled, happily.
Sai laughed happily, and cuddled Hikaru gently.
"You're the best, Chibi-chan," Sai whispered, in delight.
'When was it, I wonder? The day that you took my loneliness away? Was it really a month ago? Why does it felt like I have met you since the day you were born, Chibi-chan?
Have you, dear God, decided to grant me a gift allowing me to have a fresh start, comforting my forlorn heart?
I loved Mitsuko, I really do. Yet we met at a different time… If only we met few years before she married, I wonder… I wonder if Chibi-chan will be happier than now?
A mistake, she says, just because it happened after alcohol?
I wonder, if it was really a mistake. Maybe the love is only one-sided. Still, I thank you, Mitsuko, for giving birth to Chibi-chan and giving him to me.
With him around, I am not scared. I do not fear that the love was one-sided. I cherish Chibi-chan and I knew that he cherishes me too.
I felt it.
Purer than snow, as vast as the sea. It that nebulous feeling that I have gotten, I am sure that it was love.
I promise you, Mitsuko, I will provide Chibi-chan with the best I can find… I will love him with my utmost care.
And maybe… He will too, love to play Go, for it is in his blood.'
"Ahh! Chibi-chan! Stop whining! Alright, I will prepare your lunch!" Sai cooed, softly. "Ow! Come on, don't pull my hair whenever you're hungry! It hurts! Ow! Ow!"
Sai pulled out the lukewarm milk, which was kept in the thermos for four hours straight. He gave it to Hikaru, who was happily drinking the milk from the bottle. He smiled.
"Chibi-chan, later we will play in the sandbox, okay?" Sai whispered and Hikaru just smiled gleefully, "But the sand cannot be eaten!"
Hikaru was very happy.
It was yet another day, but Sai made a silent promise to Hikaru's mother. He made a wise choice, to love the child and not to destroy it.
A/N:
When I wrote this, I meant that the mistake was (sex cough) and happened after alcohol, means that they were drunk. Just wanted to clarify. Oh and, Sai was originally the third party… Mitsuko was having an affair. :P
I hope you like this chapter, because I find this chapter very meaningful. Well, maybe it's only me. :P
I must give credit to nikki and I also thought it was weird that Sai had a night's stand. She provided ideas with the whole alcohol business.
Well, when I have time, I am going to dedicate one or two chapters for what exactly happen to Sai and Mitsuko, how they met, fall in love and stuff.
Am I wrong or does baby talk gibberish at 11 months? I don't have a profound knowledge on babies, so I am not sure about it. :D
And yes, Adako-sama, Hikaru will grow up and have a great sense of playing Go. For his hair, you just have to watch and tune in. : )
And I am sorry that I wrote brown orbs, I and unsure of it. Now I will switch to green orbs and alter those mistakes I have made. Sorry!
I don't mean for a long Author's note, but please add me in msn, woonchee 'at' hotmail 'dot' com. I really want to chat and you guys can proofread my stories. I sucked at English.