They lived their lives according to the whims of a twelve year old.

Tsuchiya hadn't taken that seriously enough when she'd heard it. It must have been an exaggeration she had thought, because…well because it made no sense. A group of adults living by the whims of a twelve year old girl…but that was just it, she hadn't been lied to. That was the truth. They went where Shigeko wanted go and they did what she wanted to do. That meant a very long flight, moving into a new apartment, and seeing a play in a language she barely spoke in a country she had only read about with her daughter balanced in her lap.

This had all happened because Shigeko wanted it to happen….and nobody thought that this was the least bit strange…

Well considering who this group was made up of…yeah. Nothing was normal about this group…well one person was normal. Shibata was actually a pretty nice, decent guy when you got to know him…also he made a pretty good bento box. He had made all of these bento boxes and if someone had told Tsuchiya that these had come from a place she would have believed it despite the fact that they were on the other side of the world. It was nice to have someone normal around. Not like…well…everyone else….

Literally everyone else.

There was the heartbroken eleven year old glaring daggers at the world, his twelve year old sister who orchestrated his whole thing, her twenty something best friend that had been awake for at most ten percent of this trip, said exhausted twenty something's boyfriend who was either high as a kite or REALLY into whatever this play was, which was a contrast to the…she didn't even know how old…former hikikomori who looked like he was ten seconds away from fainting.

At least Mukai was having a good time.

"Again please and thank you!" shouted Mukai as the stage went dark. Tsuchiya hadn't expected her to be this good for the play. She'd packed toys, snacks, and as a last resort a tablet with headphones to keep Mukai occupied. Amazingly enough, aside from the occasional shouts, she had been amazing. She hadn't tried to run away, she hadn't thrown a fit, and she just…sat and watched and shouted. Tsuchiya wondered if the other two Suzuki kids had been this well behaved…though she wasn't going to call Suzuki up and ask.

She had many words for him.

Harsh words. Unpleasant words. Words that she did not want Mukai using. She…well she had no idea how one man could have made so many mistakes when it came to his kids. She didn't dislike the kids, of course, sure they could be annoying sometimes but she didn't dislike them. They weren't responsible for how they had been raised….for what they had been raised in. They had been raised in a cult…but that wasn't the part that had messed them up. No, it was the people who had raised them.

And somehow President Suzuki had let this happen.

"Minegishi….Minegishi? Are you awake?" asked Shigeko as she poked Minegishi in the aura. Tsuchiya heard them mutter something that she was too far away to understand…and also that didn't sound like Japanese. Not English either. They spoke something like five languages Matsuo had said. Something that made them interesting…well it sort of did…but that didn't change the fact that they were just impossible to be around for more than half a minute. They were just so…bitchy. Even when they were asleep.

Now that was commitment.

"Wake me when its over." Muttered Minegishi as the lights went up. Oh. It must have been intermission. Well that had flown by….though probably more so for Minegishi than anyone. Tsuchiya didn't really care…not that much. Too much sleep wasn't good for people…but really she was more worried for Shigeko.

She had enough on her plate as it was.

"Good morning!" said Mukai as the lights went up. She clapped and pointed like this was the most amazing thing that she had ever seen…which this might have been. Who knew what Mukai did and did not remember? She sometimes asked to go home, sometimes asked about people she hadn't seen in over a month, and even hid things and remembered where they were later on. She was getting smarter, so much smarter, and she was so proud of her daughter.

And also, just a little bit, happy that she hadn't turned out like Shigeko.

"It's intermission…um….I have a thermos of Starbuck's coffee, black, your favorite kind." Said Shigeko. She pressed the thermos into Minegishi's limp hand. It took them a moment to uncurl from themselves. Shimazaki took his coat back, they had been using it as a blanket, and that actually could have been sweet if Tsuchiya hadn't known both of those people VERY well.

"Thanks…now wake me when intermission is over." Said Minegishi before they downed their coffee like it was going to be snatched away. Shigeko looked on in concern…more concern than a child her age should have had. Not that there was anything wrong with being concerned, actually most people could have shown more concern for others in this world, but Shigeko…well she took on a lot. She took on so much and there was nothing that Tsuchiya could do.

Poor kid.

"You ok, Toshi? You've been asleep since we got here." Said Shimazaki. It had been weird, before, hearing the concern in his voice when he spoke to Minegishi. She had gotten used to it pretty quickly. H was kind of a nice guy, sometimes, when you got to know him…but he was also Shimazaki Ryou. He was a dangerous man, a cruel man, and also a very unbalanced man…but he was kind of a nice guy…and he was good with Mukai too.

She was a good judge of character.

"Mine sleeping, mama, over there." said Mukai as she poked Minegishi in the stomach. They said nothing, thankfully, they just nudged her away with their foot. Shimazaki reached down and picked her up. She knew that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Mukai, he was very protective over kids, so this was ok. Mukai liked him…and it was good that she had people around her that cared about her. Maybe that was what had made the transition so easy on her.

Tsuchiya wished that it could have been as easy for her as it had been for Mukai.

"Over here you mean, and yes they are. Toshi is tired as fuck, aren't they?" asked Shimazaki

"Tired as fuck! Mine tired as fuck, mama, over here!" shouted Mukai. Tsuchiya sighed and turned around. She reached for Mukai…and she knew that Shimazaki could see her. She knew that he could sense people's movements and she knew that he knew. She made a 'gimme' motion with her hands.

"I-I think that her mom wants her back." Said Serizawa. He had gotten through that sentence without stuttering once. That was progress if there even was any. Maybe pretty soon he wouldn't be less…clingy….with Shigeko. He was holding her hand like he was afraid that she was going to get up and run away from him….like she was a piece of driftwood and he was in the middle of the ocean. He held onto her like he needed her…and she…well she didn't seem to mind…but still. She should have been enjoying herself like a twelve year old with unlimited money and power could, not taking care of the adults around her. Hell, Mukai needed less care than some of these people and she was only two.

A well behaved two but still just two.

"Here, fine, take one of the few sourced of happiness in my life. I'll live, I'll survive, I'll make it through life somehow without my other little bestie." Said Shimazaki

"Bye Ryou! Bye Mine! Ok, no more pause." Said Mukai as Tsuchiya planted her firmly on her lap. She was pointing to the stage. That was so cute…and Tsuchiya wasn't the only one who thought so. There was a flash and a click. She turned around. Shibata smiled at her. She smiled back.

Someone needed to be smiling in this place.

"Can we go home now? Is it over?" asked Sho as he pulled his head out of his coat. Poor kid. Another case where there was nothing that she could do. That wasn't her son…and she had no idea how to even talk to a little boy about this sort of thing. She would have told Mukai, if she had been in Sho's place, that things didn't always work out and there were plenty of other fish in the sea….and also she would have asked Mukai what she thought she was doing chasing after grown men…but Sho was a boy and he wasn't her son.

This was really something that Suzuki should have been dealing with.

Suzuki was Sho's father after all…though it seemed like he enjoyed having children more than he enjoyed raising children. Really he should have just gotten some dolls made or something. He didn't seem to care about raising his children, helping them through life, and just…all the parenting things that a father was supposed to do. Mukai was so much better off without him…even though she deserved….well Tsuchiya didn't know. Mukai deserved a father but he had no interest in raising the children he had made….even the ones he wanted…so she deserved a better father than him…and…well she knew that Mukai would have questions when she got older. Why she didn't have a father…why her half siblings were the way that they were….and Tsuchiya…well she didn't have a nice way of saying all that needed to be said…

Thank God she was still only two.

"Just intermission, Sho, that means it's half over." Said Shigeko

"Half over…it's half over…mama…half over." Said Mukai

"I get it, I get it, it's half over." Said Sho. He turned around in his seat and curled back up. She wondered if he was doing his best Minegishi impression or if they were doing their best Sho impression. Both of them looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. Tsuchiya understood Sho, she really did, heartbreak was the absolute worst. She remembered when she had been his age…well the boy had been her age…but he had called her weird and tried to push her…so she had flipped him over her head and dislocated his shoulder…

So maybe she just needed to teach Sho how to do that and then he would get over this.

Not that she was going to rush him. She had no idea how to talk to him, or even if that would have been alright or overstepping in the worst way, but she did know how to treat him. Heartbreak was heartbreak, it didn't matter who you were in love with, and actually it was worse when you were in love with someone there was no hope of loving. She knew that he needed space, time, and closure. Space…well he was away from everyone else…and time…well it had only been a few days since he'd come home, locked himself in his room, and started screaming hat he hated the world and everything in it…so maybe more time. As far as closure went…well Shimazaki was rubbing Minegishi's back, murmuring something to them, and kissing the top of their head. She didn't know how much more closure he needed…

So time, then, all the time that he needed…but he did need someone to talk to him about this…like a father type or something…like his own father.

"Um…do you want more popcorn? Or how about some soda? Or we could take a walk around-" said Shibata. She was glad that he was trying to take care of Sho…but maybe he could have said that a little more quietly. Mukai's aura perked up before the rest of her did. She extended her arms out in a 'gimme' motion.

"Popcorn please and thank you." Said Mukai. She gestured again. Serizawa looked down at his popcorn bucket before he jumped, like it had just occurred to him that he was the last one to have the popcorn.

"Here you go, Mukai." Said Serizawa as he passed it forward. Tsuchiya grabbed it and held it in her other hand. Mukai reached in a took a handful. Tsuchiya clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"One at a time, Mukai." Said Tsuchiya

"One at a time, mama." Said Mukai

"Why does she have to eat one at time? We have plenty and we can always get more if we need it." Said Shigeko

"I think that-that we only get one refill, Miss Suzuki." Said Serizawa

"I have money, don't worry." Said Shigeko. She opened her back up and shook it. Tsuchiya wasn't an expert in this country's money but she did know that Shigeko should not have been carrying that much cash around on her in her flimsy purse in a foreign city. Also someone her age shouldn't have had access to so much money in the first place.

"So you're the one who emptied the money drawer this morning. Huh. I figured that it had been Sho again." Said Shibata

"Hey! I don't empty it, I only take half….and I didn't even need any money today." Said Sho

"I know, I just thought that it had been you because you've been buying a lot of things for your hamsters lately." Said Shibata

"Well it wasn't me. If it wasn't me then it must have been….I don't know…Mukai knows how to open drawers and she likes to take stuff and hide it." Said Sho. He was right, Mukai had learned how to get into drawers…even though they were well out of her reach. She didn't watch Mukai twenty four hours a day…but maybe she should have. It would have been nice to know how Mukai kept on getting into the cutlery drawer.

"Forks in the drawer, mama, my forks. I do forks, mama, I do." Said Mukai

"No, that was me. The money, not the forks I mean. The fork thing was all her." Said Shimazaki

"All my forks! All for me!" said Mukai

"Yup, all the forks for you and all the money for me." Said Shimazaki

"Ryou, give Mob the money. All the notes are the same size in this country and I'm too tired to count your money for you." Said Minegishi

"I plan on getting it exchanged for coins. I know their coins at least." Said Shimazaki

"For what?" yawned Minegishi

"I was thinking of either making a million wishes with Sho or throwing coins at birds. It depends on what he feels like." Said Shimazaki

"I don't feel like doing anything with you." Said Sho. He practically spat poison at Shimazaki…and he looked like he'd been hit. His entire face fell…he seemed genuinely hurt. Maybe he hadn't been exaggerating when he'd said that Sho was like a son to him.

"But…you love fucking shit up with me." Said Shimazki

"Um…maybe just give me the money so you don't have to carry all of those coins around." Said Shigeko

"But I need them." Whined Shimazaki in his best imitation of a small child….though the actual small child couldn't even whine like he could.

"Ryou needs them, mama." Said Mukai in her best approximation of his whining. Tsuchiya would have to do something about that. She could not stand whining…maybe because her parents hadn't been able to stand it…so maybe that meant that whining was ok and her parents hadn't been permissive enough…but she didn't want to overcorrect and end up raising another Shigeko or Sho…they were great kids but they had their problems.

"She's conjugating! Con-congratulations Mukai! I mean…it's just…she doesn't normally do that…and it was kind of interesting and I as happy for her…that's all" said Serizawa. Oh. Tsuchiya had been so focused on the whining that she had missed Mukai finally learning how to conjugate. Well, mostly. She had been speaking a lot better lately, maybe from all the new people talking to and around her….though her vocabulary was getting to be a little too 'colorful' for Tsuchiya's taste. They did not need another Sho…he was a good boy but he cursed like a little sailor.

"It's ok, Serizawa, I'm happy for her too. I'm happy for you, Mukai, everyone is." Said Shigeko. There was a loud sniff from behind her. She turned around, everyone did. Shibata was dabbing at his eyes with his sleeves.

"I'm sorry…they just grow up so fast. I remember when she was a baby…when we first met her…and she was so little…she couldn't even sit up….sorry, sorry, it's just…they grow up so fast!" cried Shibata

"Not fast enough." Muttered Minegishi. Their eyes were closed but their aura was focused on one person. The little boy in the corner that was doing his best to glare holes in the world. Sho…well he was being a little bit dramatic…but he was just a kid. This was the worst thing that had ever happened to him, probably, especially since apparently Shimazaki had been his first crush. Shibata had said that since they had met Sho had been stuck to Shimazaki's side like glue. Poor kid…well he also apparently had a girlfriend or a fiancée or something, but still. Sho had every right to act like a child over this since he was, you know, an actual child.

What was Minegishi's excuse?

"Toshi…come on." Murmured Shimazaki. He buried his face in their hair again and sighed. They kept their eyes closed. They were….yeah…they were going back to sleep. Were they sick? She didn't really care about them but…well she didn't wish any harm on them. Sure they were jerking Matsuo around but she didn't want anything bad to have happened to them. That was just bad karma…and also Matsuo would have been devastated and she didn't want to see him like that.

"Minegishi's tired, we should let them sleep. Someone just needs to explain what happened in the play to them later…and also someone could maybe explain it to me at the same time since this is kind of complicated." Said Shigeko

"I'll explain it later…after intermission…" muttered Minegishi. The lights were going down again and a hush was falling over the crowd below them. There were so many people…it would have been absolutely the worst if they'd all had to cram themselves down there. Sure she had been dragged to this thing but at least she got to watch it in comfort.

Though not silence.

"I'll explain it. So far the cats that introduced themselves have been-" said Shimazaki

"Shimazaki, the lights are going off. It's time to be quiet again." whispered Shigeko. Mukai put her fingers to her lips and shushed everyone. Shigeko did the same thing. Mukai nodded and then reached for the popcorn again. Out of everyone Mukai was the one getting the most out of this little field trip. Shigeko was busy fretting over everyone, Sho was brooding, Minegishi was practically passed out, Serizawa was tensing up again….how one person's aura could be so bi she could never understand, and Shibata was still sniffling loudly. Mukai was quiet, relaxed, and aside from muttering to herself about Rum Tum Tugger…she actually remembered which cat was which…she was so smart. She was the only one getting anything out of this play….and she was smart enough to understand…and she was even singing under her breath. A different song than the one that was being sung but still….all of this was worth it to see Mukai happy.

Maybe it had been inaccurate to say that she lived her life according to the whims of a twelve year old, no, she had overshot that by about ten years.