A/N: Here you go! Chapter 4! Oh, and i revised it a bit to include translations for the Nihongo I put in here... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade; it belongs to Aoki Takao and his compatriots...if that is the right term...
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Chapter 4: Wielder of The Phoenix
"Here we are," the nurse said cheerfully as she stopped in front of a huge, glass-paneled window – the observer's window for the nursery.
"So, which one's Hiromi's?" Takao asked. He stepped closer to the glass and peered in. Everywhere he looked, there were bassinettes; some were holding infants while others were empty. Each baby looked to be asleep, but here and there, one would wake up and cry, the tiny face scrunching up into an agitated howl.
"Koko ni o-matte kudasai," the nurse said, smiling. She hurried through a swinging double door to the group's right.
They waited. After around five minutes, the nurse they were with emerged in the nursery, dressed up in the proper uniform for dealing with babies. Though most of her face was hidden, they knew her immediately because of her glasses. Another nurse quickly joined her, and the pair made their way over to a crib only a few feet to the group's left. Max and the others quickly followed; they wanted to have a good look at Hiromi's baby.
Soon the nurses stopped in front of the crib. The baby was inside, bundled in a pink blanket. The nurse who had accompanied them carefully scooped up the child in her arms. She held the baby up for them to see; the child was relatively small in comparison to her companions in the nursery, but other than that, she seemed to be healthy enough. Her face was pleasantly round, her hands – or what they could see of them – were tiny and balled up into fists, and she had a cute little button nose.
"Aw…" Max cooed.
"She's adorable!" Kyouju exclaimed.
"She has Kai's hair…" Rei added, noting that the infant sported several wispy strands of soft slate-gray hair that would no doubt grow darker later in life.
"How do you know it's a girl?" Takao asked.
"Haven't you been paying attention?" Max asked, turning to glance at his friend quizzically. "The doctor we spoke to before we went to see Hiromi said that they've stabilized 'her'. Also in hospitals, there are only two colors used for babies' blankets: pink for girls, blue for boys. The blanket is pink."
"Oh, yeah…" Takao blushed, embarrassed. "Oops."
The group stood in silence after that, admiring the new 'addition' to their group.
"C'mon, let's go, guys." Kyouju urged after a few minutes. "We've taken up enough of the nurse's time."
"Yeah, guess you're right, Chief." Max said.
"Okay, but we have to come back tomorrow," Takao added as he turned away from the observation window.
On the other side, the nurse replaced the baby in her bassinette when she saw the visitors were about to leave. As soon as the child was back in her crib, her face wrinkled and she squirmed, as though she were about to cry. A split second later, the look of discomfort faded from her face, and she settled back into sleep.
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A smile spread slowly across his face as he watched her sleep. She was so tiny, and so fragile; sadly, he could not be there to protect both her and Hiromi.
Kai shook his head, as though to clear away the tears that suddenly sprang from his eyes. He reached out a hand and lightly brushed the wispy bangs from the infant's face.
"Gomen na, akachan…"he whispered. Normally, he wouldn't attach such a childish honorific to someone he was close to, but these were different circumstances. "If only things had gone differently…" He sighed heavily. "But I can't turn back time; no one can…"
And with another sigh, he was gone, back into eternity, where he was sure to be watching over them – Hiromi and their child.
In her bassinette, the baby awoke, as though sensing something she had grown accustomed to was missing. She glanced around frantically, not really focusing on anything; a moment later, her voice emerged in a full, deep-throated cry.
The night nurses came running, doing everything they could to soothe her. She calmed down soon enough, but couldn't go back to sleep immediately. It was as though she was waiting for something…something that would never come.
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"Oh, my goodness…!" Hiromi gasped, overwhelmed with joy. "I don't know what to say…"
The auburn-haired teen glanced around. Her house had been cleaned out quite a bit, and she could smell the telltale scents of freshly cooked food wafting from the kitchen. She and the baby had just been released from the hospital. Both Takao and Kyouju escorted her from there. Now Hiromi knew why Rei and Max hadn't been there; they were preparing a 'welcome home' party for her.
The infant glanced around and babbled happily.
"Aw…" Takao bent down and tickled her under the chin. "You're so adorable!"
Hiromi giggled. "Never thought I'd see you acting this way, Takao…" she commented as she sat down on the couch.
"Yeah, well…" the stormy-eyed teen looked embarrassed. "You know how kids are; they make you go gaga…"
"Hey, guys!" a pair of cheerful voices greeted them from the kitchen. Hiromi glanced up and smiled.
"Max! Rei! There you are!" she exclaimed. She motioned for her other two friends to join them in the living room, which they did.
Max sat down next to Hiromi. "So, any complications?" he asked, referring to the baby.
Hiromi shook her head, smiling. "Thankfully, there were none. I'm just glad she pulled through."
"Us, too." Rei said as he sat down opposite Max. He glanced at the tiny girl and stroked her chubby hand; the baby gurgled in delight and grabbed onto one of his fingers. "What's her name, anyway?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the baby.
"Well…I was thinking of calling her Aika," the ruby-eyed teen answered.
"That's a pretty name." Kyouju commented.
Hiromi merely smiled and nodded her thanks.
"Hey, guys!" Takao called from the dining room. He was already seated at the table. "Don't you think Hiromi ought to have some real food now?" he asked. "I'm sure the hospital food must have tasted awful, and besides, all this stuff Rei cooked will go to waste if you don't get your butts over here now!"
Hiromi giggled. "And here I thought you'd changed, Takao! But I was wrong; you still live for food..." she finished with a mock sigh.
"Hey! I'm a growing boy!" Takao protested, going along with her.
"That's what you say all the time…" Max said, rolling his eyes, but smiling good- naturedly. Nonetheless, he and Kyouju got up to join the brunette at the table.
Hiromi, too, got up, clutching Aika to her. Upon seeing the auburn-haired teen, Max got up and slid Hiromi's chair out for her; Hiromi smiled in gratitude, and then settled back.
I guess life can be good even after you've lost someone you love… Hiromi thought contentedly as she glanced at her friends, who had been so helpful to her in the past few months. And it can only get better…
Aika, as though reading her mother's thoughts, cooed and gurgled cutely.
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"Aika, get back here!" Hiromi called, one hand on her hips. She sighed as she watched a tuft of slate-gray hair disappear around the hallway corner; she heard her child's trademark babbling.
That girl…! Hiromi thought. If she's this fast while she's still crawling, how much faster will she be when she's walking?
Slowly, she rounded the corner to see Aika settled on the floor, cooing happily as she awkwardly grasped a stuffed animal in each hand and made them 'dance' around – of course, she dropped an animal more than thrice, but this mattered little to the small girl.
Hiromi scooped her up. "Aika, you know that it's time for your bath, don't you?" she scolded lightly. "Why you keep running away – even though it is your favorite part of the day – I have no idea…" she sighed.
Aika, young as she was, sensed disapproval in her mother's voice. She looked up at the ruby-eyed teen – they both had ruby-red eyes, actually – and stuck out her bottom lip. Seeing this, Hiromi smiled.
"Oh, I can't stay mad at you!" she exclaimed in defeat. Taking the child in both her hands, she touched Aika's nose to her own and giggled. "You're just too darn cute!"
"Who's just too darn cute?" Max asked as he shut the door behind him. Hiromi looked up.
"Oh, hi, Max." she greeted, setting Aika down on the floor. "I was talking about Aika."
The blonde teen nodded in understanding. "Did I come at a bad time?" he asked as he sat down on one of the wooden chairs in the hallway.
Hiromi shook her head. "Oh, no. I was just getting Aika ready for her bath." She glanced around suddenly. "But…where is she?"
A loud squeal alerted both blonde and brunette to Aika's whereabouts. Quickly they made their way to source of the noise…
And found her about to climb into the tub.
Max blanched, while Hiromi swiftly scooped her up before she could accidentally drown herself.
"Aika-chan, you know you're supposed to wait for mommy…" Hiromi scolded lightly. Aika only babbled reply.
Hiromi turned to Max and smiled apologetically. "Max, do you mind waiting in the living room? I'm afraid I still have to attend to Aika…"
Max grinned. "No, of course not. After all, the baby comes first."
"Thanks, Max. I'll try to be with you as soon as I can." With that, the auburn-haired teen turned away and began to undress the little child.
Max made his way to the living room and sat down on the couch. He settled back onto the cushions and prepared to relax when he saw it.
The Dranzer MS lay on the table directly across the room. It looked to be in good condition, indicating that Hiromi had taken excellent care of it. But what was it doing out of her room?
"Uh, Hiromi?" Max called, wandering towards the downstairs bathroom. "Why is Dranzer out of your room?"
"Oh, that." Hiromi peeped out for a few seconds. She smiled wanly. "Aika somehow got a hold of that; I just found her playing with it this morning."
"Shall I put it back in your room for you?"
"No, thank you, Max. I'll do it later, while Aika's napping," came the reply. There was a sound of splashing water, a happy gurgle, another splash, and then… "Ack!"
"You okay?" Max asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but Aika just drenched me."
Max chuckled. "Something tells me Aika wants you to take baths with her."
"Not when I have a guest waiting for me in the living room!" Hiromi called, pretending to be shocked at the suggestion. "That's just rude!"
"Anyway, drenched or not, Hiromi, I suggest you carry on," Max replied. "I don't think cold water would work well for a baby's bath…"
There was another splash, and then another shriek. "Aika! Not again!"
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She was growing so fast…
The eyelids drifted half-closed, almost covering amethyst orbs in happiness as he watched the small child go about her 'daily business' – playing, giggling, drenching her mother, and generally having fun. He could already see her resemblance to himself.
What he didn't like was Aika's attraction to Dranzer; it wasn't really the blade itself, but what it represented. The sport, if ever she grew attracted to it, posed a threat to her young life.
It was, after all, what had finished him off…
But…he thought, a glimmer of hope flickering within. But what if…she does start blading herself? What if things turn out differently for her, should she ever decide to do so?
Deep in his heart, he wished it were so…
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Kaze ga fuite aa itai kienai omoi…
Nani omotte kouka atsumete hitotsu…
Hiromi sighed as she stared up at the ceiling. It was around ten in the evening, and Aika had finally fallen asleep.
Nido to nai…nido to nai shiteru nan'te baka mitai…
Mujaki ni nan'te ara imeeji…
The ruby-eyed teen herself couldn't sleep, and so she had gone downstairs and turned on the radio, merely to chase away the discomforting silence of the house.
It had been nearly a year and five months since Kai passed away, and she still wasn't used to not seeing him whenever Team BBA came over.
Kitto sore wa owaranai…kitto sore wa owaranai…
Rai no mune kougase…sen no yume watare…
Juu wo mujin kakete te ni tsukamu sekai…
Kumo wa chigirete…hi ga mata ochitte…
Hitori no PAREEDO ga ugoki dasou…
Using a finger, she gently wiped away the tears that suddenly sprang to her eyes; the memories threatened to overwhelm her.
Moshimo ite shimau nara anata no kami o…
Ikai'nda sutte motto yuseau kotoba…She began taking slow, deep breaths in an attempt to control the emotions, but it didn't work. The tears began to flow.
Wakaranai…wakaranaiau ware dake ja wakaranai…
Dakara motto fukaku shita…shita…
"Why?" she asked aloud to no one in particular, her voice a strangled whisper. "Why did you have to go?" Her hands balled into fists, shaking with the emotions she felt.
Iya nan'te yume mitai…iya nan'te yume mitai…
Rai no mune kougase…sen no yume watare
Juu wo mujin kakete meguriau kiseki…
Kumo wa chigirete…hi ga mata ochitte…
Futari no PAREEDO ga yozora ni tokete…
And then she let it all out in a scream. "Why!" She shouted towards the stars, even though she couldn't see them through the ceiling of her home. "Why did you leave me – us – alone here? Didn't you know…that something…someone…had been born out of what we had!"
"Kimi wa hitori janai…"
A voice, a whisper so low that by all rights didn't exist, but exist it did, and as its remnants reached her ears, Hiromi turned around towards what she thought was its source, steeling herself for what she might find.
But there was nothing there.
Then…why did…? The auburn-haired teen was puzzled now; she'd heard Kai's voice, whispering to her!
"Boku nara koko da…Hiromi…kimi no soba de…anata o mamoru'tte…zutto…"
There it was again! The same low, even tone, the same loving whisper. Was it…a dream?
Hiromi sat, dumbfounded, and after a few minutes wiped away the remaining traces of tears. Slowly she got up and went over to the spot from where she knew the voice emanated – and gasped when she got there. On the floor, shimmering softly, was a fiery red phoenix feather. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes as she picked it up; these tears were not born of sorrow, but of happiness. She knew for certain now that the slate-haired teen had visited her, though intangible and invisible; he'd been there nonetheless.
She was smiling as she turned off the radio and made her way upstairs. In fact, the peaceful smile remained on her face throughout the night.
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"Are you sure you don't mind watching her today, Takao?" Hiromi asked as she set Aika's bag – which contained her extra clothes, baby bottle, pacifier, and other essentials – down on the small, hard-backed chair. Beside her, Aika slowly glanced from side to side. The small girl – nine months old now and learning how to walk – sensed she was in a new place, because everything was so…bare, compared to the home she knew.
Takao poked his head from behind the shouji – the traditional sliding screen found in Japanese homes – that separated the living room from the inner dojo, where it seemed the stormy-eyed teen had taken over his grandfather's 'job' as a kendo instructor – and he actually had some students signed up. "Of course I don't mind, Hiromi. There aren't any classes scheduled for today, so I'm pretty much free to take care of Aika…"
"Arigatou," Hiromi said, bowing in the customary show of gratitude. "I'll come around to pick her up at about four this afternoon." To Aika, who was resting a hand on the wooden wall nearest to her to help keep her balanced, the ruby-eyed teen said, "Be good, sweetie," And, after a quick peck on the tiny girl's cheek – which earned a very cute giggle from the recipient – Hiromi was out the door.
Takao smiled and came out of the 'classroom'; he watched the slate-haired child toddle her way up the length of the room, using a nearby wall for support. Hiromi was right; she was fast!
He didn't know why he'd opened the dojo for business again, but he guessed it was partly to earn money – his grandfather was a bit too old to be teaching anyone – and also because he needed something to do other than train kids in Beyblading, a job he'd taken with the BBA a few months ago.
"Oof!" Went Aika – in a cute voice, of course – as she teetered backward onto her butt. Eyes wide with concern, Takao made his way over to his charge for the day.
"Aika?" he asked, peering at her closely. To his surprise, the small child just sat there, looking confused, and then slowly pushed herself up onto her feet for another attempt. And of she went, babbling as she did so.
"Well, she's a determined little sort…" the dark blue-haired teen muttered as he settled into a comfortable sitting position on the floor as he watched her.
"I'll say!"
Takao twisted his head around at the sound; there, in the door, stood Max and Rei. The steel-blue eyes lit up, and a smile spread across the teen's face.
"Hey, guys!" he greeted, getting up and making his way over to his friends. "What brings you here?"
"Well, we met Hiromi a few blocks up the street," Max replied, his trademark grin on his face, "and she said that she'd left Aika with you while she went to work."
"So we decided to drop by and see how the little Hiwatari kid was doing." Rei finished, also grinning.
"Well, as you can see, she's working her way up to running by herself…" Takao said, gesturing towards the girl, who was now at the opposite end of the room.
"We noticed," the blonde commented, half-laughing. "Well, we could have expected this; she is Kai's daughter, after all, so some of his, err…traits could have been passed on to her…"
"You have a point…" Takao said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he surveyed Aika's progress around the room. Then his eyes widened once more, and he stepped back. "Stupid me! I forgot…here, why don't you come in?"
"Thanks, bud…" Max replied, crossing the threshold. The neko-jin followed a second later. Once they were all in, the three settled themselves on the floor, content with watching the small girl.
After a few minutes…
"Hey, what does she want?" Max asked, stretching his neck as far as he could so he'd have a better view of what Aika was doing.
"Huh?" Takao twisted around to follow Max's gaze, and Rei leaned a bit to the side so he could see around Takao's body. The ruby-eyed toddler was tugging insistently on something that looked like it had gotten caught in the pocket of her 'baby bag'.
The stormy-eyed teen got up and then made his way over to the girl, scooping up both her and the bag before joining his companions on the floor. Aika cooed and flung her tiny arms around his neck – her version of a hug.
"Looks like you have a way with kids, Takao…" Rei said as Max chuckled; the scene was so cute!
"Yeah, whatever…Aika, how about you join Max, Rei and I right here?" The small girl blinked a few times, and then nodded her head, gurgling excitedly.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Takao then said, taking his seat and setting the baby girl in the space formed by him and his companions. "There you go!" and then he set the bag aside.
Aika pouted, and then began babbling again, reaching out for the bag.
"You want the bag?" Max asked, looking puzzled. Aika only babbled more intently.
"I think she wants what she was trying get a few moments ago…" Rei suggested, glancing towards the open pocket. "Maybe it's her pacifier or a toy."
"Well, she must be really observant, then, to know where Hiromi stashed it…" Takao said, grinning as he rummaged in the pocket for whatever it was that had caught the girl's attention. "Most kids her age don't-" Takao stopped short and blanched, something that wasn't lost on his friends.
"Uh, Takao? Are you okay?" Rei asked.
Takao nodded slowly. "I- I'm fine, Rei; I was just…shocked when I found this…" and he brought his hand out of the bag pocket.
Max's eyes widened. "Hey, that's Dranzer MS!" he said.
"Yeah, what's she doing with it?" Rei asked. Max had told him about his visit to Hiromi's around a month ago, when he found out from their auburn-haired friend that Aika had somehow gotten her hands on her father's Beyblade.
If Aika could understand her babysitters, she wasn't bothered by their comments. She held her hands out for the blade, cooing happily and grinning broadly.
"Well, it won't do any harm, I suppose…" Takao said, a small grin on his face as he handed the blade to her. "It's not like she's in front of a battle stadium right now…"
"Yeah, you're right…" Max said, smiling as well. Then he looked puzzled. "But…she has the blade now, so…why is she still pouting?"
"Beats me…"
"I think I know…" Rei replied; the neko-jin had taken the bag from Takao earlier and had rummaged in the pocket as well. He held up a familiar object.
"Okay, I can understand why she'd put the blade in there – she probably thought it would make a pretty toy or something – but why on earth would she put in a standard launcher, too?" Takao asked, thoroughly puzzled now.
"Hey!" Rei exclaimed as Aika grabbed the launcher – and ripcord – from his hands. "Aika, grabbing isn't good!"
The small girl, upon detecting the angry tone in one of her babysitters' voice, stuck out her bottom lip, looking apologetic. Rei had to grin at that one.
"Aw, geez…forget it, Aika." He said, as he lightly ruffled the girl's rather thick hair. "I'm sorry if I yelled at you; you're still a baby, after all…"
The small child giggled, and then returned to her 'toys'. She played around for a few minutes, poking the blade and launcher with the ripcord, which she grasped rather clumsily. And then…
"Holy smokes!" Max exclaimed, while Rei and Takao remained silent; the blonde had just uttered their sentiments as well. To their surprise, Aika had picked up – with some difficulty – the launcher and then slowly set the ripcord into its proper place, making happy little gurgles as she did so.
"Uh, Aika? What are you doing?" Takao asked, bending down slightly so his head was on level with the small girl's. Aika turned her head towards him, and then… "OW!" Takao exclaimed, rubbing his left eye. Aika giggled uproariously; she had no idea that she was the cause of the teen's discomfort, for when she turned, she had accidentally poked him in the eye with the ripcord.
Then, just as quickly as it had come, her interest in her father's blading equipment left her, and she toddled off towards the inner dojo.
"You okay?" Rei asked. He'd stayed with Takao while Max went off to see to it that Aika didn't get lost in the rather huge traditional house.
"Yeah, Rei, I'm fine; she isn't strong yet, so it wasn't a very painful poke…" the stormy-eyed teen replied.
"Whoa! Aika, be careful!" Came Max's voice from the inner dojo. There was a small, wooden thud as something hit the floor, then a muffled "Ouch..."
"Max?" Takao got up and made his way into the inner room, followed closely by Rei. The two teens broke into grins; on the floor lay Max, sprawled on his belly, while Aika was climbing onto the blonde's back, tugging slightly at his hair.
"What happened?" Rei asked, still grinning.
"I found Aika climbing onto the chair, and then the chair tipped over. I tried to catch her, but she'd already clambered off. The chair fell, and I tripped over that 'cause I hadn't exactly slowed down, plus, I'm still wearing my socks...I think she was trying to reach this picture frame, though..." the azure-eyed teen added as an afterthought, holding up the small wooden frame which had been lying on the floor.
"What picture is that?" Takao asked as he came closer for a better look. Rei, meanwhile, scooped Aika up off the floor. The stormy-eyed teen's jaw dropped. "Hey, this is the team photo from three years ago, when Hiromi first joined us!"
"Why would she be reaching for that?" Max asked, finally able to push himself up to a more comfortable sitting position.
"Beats me..." Takao said, plunking himself down on the floor beside his blonde friend. Rei followed suit, setting Aika onto the floor once more.
"Maybe she liked the way the light was reflecting off of it. It probably looked pretty to her from some angle..." Rei suggested, not noticing that Aika had gotten unsteadily to her feet and then toddled off.
"You could be right..." Takao said, getting up and returning the frame to its place on the oak table. "C'mon, Aika, I bet you're hungry now. I'll - Aika?" he stopped as he turned around, noticing finally that theircharge was no longer there. "Hey, where'd she go?"
"Huh?" Rei and Max looked nonplussed, and both gazed around. "She was just here a minute ago..." Rei continued, getting up. "Maybe..."
Suddenly, from the living room, there came a very low whirring sound, and then a giggle. All three teens raced towards the door at that.
"Don't tell me she-" Max began.
"Don't even say it!" Takao interrupted. He knew what his companions were thinking. The whirring sound was a familiar one, but as to what caused it, it was impossible given the circumstances.
"She did." Rei said suddenly. He'd reached the door before his two companions. There, on the floor, sat Aika, and before her, spinning quite slowly, but spinning nonetheless, was Kai's Dranzer MS.
"NO WAY!" Max burst forth, sapphire eyes wide with shock.
"How did she-?" Takao began, looking just as surprised as his friends. "She can't even grasp the launcher properly!"
"I think she just learned how..." Rei said, pointing. In between the tiny girl's feet lay Kai's launcher, and she grasped the ripcord with both her hands.
"But if she did use that launch technique, wouldn't she be lying flat on her back now?" Takao continued. Rei shrugged.
"Maybe she's got great balance. Besides, at the rate the blade is spinning, it wasn't a very strong launch..."
"True..." Max said, making his way over to Aika and squatting beside her. "You like playing with that, don't you?" he asked the slate-haired child. Aika turned her ruby eyes towards the blonde and babbled excitedly, a wide grin on her face.
"...pa..." she said suddenly, as though trying to explain her actions.
"Did she just say part of 'Papa'?" Rei asked, also sitting down near the small girl.
"Yeah, she did." Takao replied, joining his friends and completing the circle. "Well, she's an early developer..."
"Yeah..."
Slowly, the Beyblade ground to a halt and lay quite still in front of the child. Aika picked it up, babbled as though talkingto it, and then slowly nuzzled it close to her chest, her wide eyes fluttering closed. Takao instinctively reached out for her and picked her up, just in case she was going to fall asleep, which she did once her head lay on the dark blue-haired teen's shoulder.
"...now if that isn't the cutest thing I ever saw..." Max said, breaking into a grin. "I've just been thinking: what if Kai were like that as a tiny baby?"
The three were silent for a while, and then said in unison, "Nah!" For them, the thought was too ridiculous to comprehend; Kai and cute, babbling baby didn't quite fit together.
"What time did Hiromi say she'd pick Aika up?"
So she is getting attached to Dranzer... the slate-haired teen thought as he watched his child snuggle up to the beyblade. He could see the small, fiery wings associated to the phoenix surrounding the girl, covering her like a blanket as she fell asleep. But her obvious prowess in blading...
Amethyst orbs narrowed. That's what worries me...
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A/N: I'm sorry if you guys got a little confused back there. First off, the italicized Japanese words - in the scene with Hiromi in the living room - are from the song 'PARADE' by Chaba. It's the 12th closing theme for Naruto. I'm no great shakes at jotting down the lyrics just by listening to the song, so if any of you spot something wrong, tell me and I'll find time to edit this chapter.
Second, I can tell I lost you when it came to Aika's development as a child. My little brother was my reference point for her character, at least, until her 'babyhood' ends. He was only nine or ten months old when he tried to walk on his own, and at around the same time, tried mimicking the sounds we made around him, which, thankfully, weren't meaningless babbles.
Oh, and the translation for Kai's Japanese:
"Kimi wa hitori janai…" – You are not alone…"
"Boku nara koko da…etc…" – "I'm here, Hiromi, beside you…protecting you…always…"
For some strange reason, the 'add ruler' tool on the 'edit document' page wasn't working, so I had to make do with zeroes...
Okay, thanks for reading! R&R now, if you please...Dewa mata and God bless! Peace out!