Chapter 2
Three months later, Migikai had easily become the highlight and pure joy of Miyabita and Keikan's life together. There was never a dull moment, never an instant where they wished he wasn't there, or a thought that they couldn't wait for him to get older. The care they gave him was never forced, nor would it ever be. To Miyabita, there was never a more glorious being she could think of.
Almost every day Keikan brought home a new toy for Migikai to play with, and everyday both parents were impressed and stunned on how their son handled the toy, sometimes even having the strength to break it.
Yet there was rarely a cry from the little boy's mouth. His angelic features almost made him out to be an angel when combining with his behavior. His eyes were perfectly etched into his face with a loveable and friendly nature always shining in their deep blackness. His hair hung neatly on either side of his head, resembling much of his father's, although every day Keikan swore that he was the younger male version of Miyabita.
A Kai child matures much quicker than most other infants of other races; however, it almost seemed to some neighbors that Migikai was far more superior to any other child they knew. Already Migikai was crawling and made several attempts to stand, although he usually failed and laughed after falling onto his diaper-cushioned bottom.
"He is strong for such little guy," Keikan pointed out during dinner as he watched Miyabita fighting with Migikai to eat the rest of his baby food.
"He broke another one of your toys this morning when he tried to stand up," Miyabita said, finally getting the small spoonful into Migikai's mouth and receiving a dirty look following. "I don't remember ever seeing a three month old attempt to walk."
Keikan nodded and watched amusingly as Migikai reached helplessly for his bottle. "I was telling a few guys in town about him this morning. Kenosha is predicting that his strength will eventually fade away and he'll be a normal Kai child."
Keikan shook his head as he started to pick up the dishes. "Nope. I think this boy will have his work cut out for him some day. I'm willing to bet that everyone will be looking at him, amazed at his flawlessness."
"Flawlessness? You make it sound like he won't be able to do no wrong," Miyabita laughed as she wiped Migikai's mouth.
"Well, if he's your son, I'm sure he'll be close to that," Keikan said and then kissed his wife's forehead.
"That reminds me, Keikan," Miyabita said picking Migikai up to burp him. "There was someone hanging around the area today. He kept looking at Migikai while we were on the porch this afternoon, just before you returned home."
"Who was it?"
"I've never seen him before. He looked harmless, but his eyes were constantly glancing at us. And just when I thought he was gone for good, he came strolling back."
Keikan didn't seem disturbed by the news. "Well, there are several homes being renovated; I'm sure he was one of the workers taking a break and admiring the views."
Miyabita wasn't convinced, but there was no arguing with her husband once he had made up his mind on a certain idea. He was a very determined person that was confident in most things he decided on.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Several more months came and went. Seasons never changed on the Kai planet, although time's work was evident on many things. Migikai Touten had learned to walk and had developed a basic vocabulary, consisting of words like moma, doda, (mom and dad in the Kai language), want, me, play, and no.
Unfortunately, although time had continued to change things, Miyabita was still greeted most mornings with the passing of the stranger that glanced several times at the house and especially at Migikai if he was playing on the porch.
"Keikan," she started one night during dinner. "I'm scared. I don't know what he wants, but I can tell that he's searching us out. He passes at least once a day and sometimes I think he waits to see if I'll say something to him while I'm watching Migikai."
"I'll ask around, see what's going on," Keikan promised her. "I'm sure there's a logical—"
Knocking on the front door interrupted his sentence and caused a small confusion on who would visit them at such a time of day.
When Keikan opened the door, he was surprised to see two men standing in very formal Kai attire. He could tell that by the way Miyabita picked up Migikai with such haste that one of these men was the one that they were just discussing.
"Can I help you?" Keikan asked, guarding the door, although by the size of the man on the left, there was little hope that he could defend his family, let alone himself.
"I deeply and sincerely apologize, Keikan Touten," the large, rather heavy man said with a surprisingly smaller scaled voice. "I hadn't paid attention that you and your family were enjoying dinner."
"We were," Keikan told him astounded at the formality this man greeted him with, especially using his name when they had never met.
The heavy man gave a hearty laugh and smiled at the young couple who were obviously confused by his appearance at their house. "Forgive me for my rudeness," he said, a chuckle still emitting between some words. "My name is Dai Kaioshin and this is my servant Derikaikay."
Miyabita's mouth opened suddenly and she brought herself to her knees while still holding Migikai. Keikan, on the other hand was almost too shocked to realize that he should be bowing in the presence of Dai Kaioshin.
Although ninety percent of the people on the Kai planet had never actually seen Dai Kaioshin, they all knew who he was. Dai Kaioshin was the highest of gods in the universe, watching over everything in every galaxy great and small. Below him were four other gods of similar power, and even five others below them, but no one was as powerful or wise as Dai Kaioshin, and certainly no Kai would dare pose as an imposter to such a holy being.
However, being who he was, he looked nothing like the part of an almighty. Indeed strong, but not showing it in muscles. His body was round, much like his face, making him look much younger than he really was. His eyes were tiny, not to mention the bit of hair atop the center of his head.
"D-Dai Kaioshin, sir," Keikan finally got out bowing over.
"Yes, yes, thank you," Dai Kaioshin said with a wave. "I'm not much into those bows anymore, but I do still appreciate them. Do you mind if I sit down?"
"Certainly not, sir!" Keikan said as he pulled out his own chair from the table for the god to sit down on.
"Thank you kindly," Dai Kaioshin said as he sat down with a big sigh sweeping out of his mouth. "Now, the reason I'm here on the Kai Planet instead of staying at home on Kaioshin-kai; my servant here has informed me of something that has greatly caught my attention. As I understand it, Miyabita here has noticed that Derikaikay has been around quite often.
"Well, now you'll learn why I've sent him here on a daily basis. For the past few months I've noticed a tremendous power coming from this section of the planet, and honestly it surprised me very much to learn that this power was coming from a boy barely a year old. Such a power is a rare find indeed, and it may not be overlooked."
Keikan and Miyabita listened carefully, frightened to death that the greatest of gods was going to tell them that their son was a feared individual that made himself out to be a baby instead of a century old wizard.
"May I see the child?" Dai Kaioshin asked leaning over and repositioning himself on the chair.
Miyabita got up slowly and let the god take her young son from her arms. Even though he was the most trusted Kai she could think of, the thought of her son being away from her was terrifying.
"Yes, hello there, Migikai," Dai Kaioshin said in a play voice as Migikai stared at him with large black eyes. "You're not sure who I am? You'll learn soon enough, my boy."
For several minutes Dai Kaioshin bounced little Migikai on his knee, creating a long lasting laugh from the small boy. "He sure is a happy little fellow, isn't he? You both must be very proud."
"We are," Keikan replied humbly.
Dai Kaioshin's sweet natured facial expression turned serious in a matter of seconds. His small eyes looked down at the boy resting on his lap. The two seemed to be having a staring contest. Miyabita could swear she saw a small glow encircling both of their bodies.
"Yes," Dai Kaioshin said looking towards his servant, who still said nothing. "Here you go," he said more cheerfully than the yes he had given his servant as he handed the child back to his mother. "He's a fine young boy; but I'm sorry to say that you'll only have a year's time left with him."
"A year? What do you mean?" Miyabita asked louder than she expected.
Keikan moved over to her and put his arm around her shoulder to calm her down and hopefully provide some sort of comfort. "Dai Kaioshin, sir, please….What is it that interests you with our son?"
"I'm afraid I cannot reveal such information for your sake, the child's sake, or the planet's sake. Please, let us leave it at that for now." Dai Kaioshin stood up, but his eyes never left Migikai, who stared back at him with great interest.
"I cannot give you any longer than a year's time," he said finally after leading himself to the door. "I understand you have wanted a child for some time now, but I'm afraid this is best for the future. Enjoy your dinner—here, I'll heat it up seeing that it must have cooled off by now."
Snapping his fingers and then nodding to his servant to follow, Dai Kaioshin opened the door and left the house, leaving very confused and very heartbroken parents.