Happy New Year all! Have a great new year!
I do not own.
"Dad?" Six looked up from his desk to see a little head poke through the doorway.
"What is it, Jasmine?" He asked sternly. Inwardly he winced when she slunk back till all he could see was an eye. Jasmine's responses to him always reminded him that there was a rift between them. Sometimes he felt like a failure as a father. He rose from his desk and walked to the doorway. "What's wrong?" He asked in a gentler tone.
Jasmine swallowed before saying, "Jade and Kenji are trying to get rid of a mouse in our room." Then as if to confirm what she was saying there was a crash from upstairs.
Six looked up to where the sound was coming from before quickly walking up the stairs. As he arrived, the door burst open and Kenji and Jade tumbled out. A mouse jumped over them and escaped in between Six's legs.
Six then heard his daughter squeal in fear.
"Daddy!"
Six bounded down the stairs. Jasmine was jumping up and down while pointing under the couch. Six glanced at the couch but as he approached it the mouse scampered from underneath. Six dove to grab the mouse missing it by millimeters. He managed to regain his footing and push himself into an upright position. Lunging again to try to grab the rodent; he missed again. Spinning around to follow the mouse's trajectory, he tried to grab it again. Gritting his teeth when the mouse literally slipped through between his fingers. His daughter's fearful screaming echoed in his ears. He was joined by Kenji who blocked the mouse. The mouse immediately veered off to the side only to come face to face with Jade.
"I got it!" She pounced on it just as Kenji also made a grab for it. Both collided into a heap as the mouse squeezed through them. It made the mistake of running into a corner wall. The mouse tried to follow the wall to escape but a shuriken suddenly blocked its way. When it tried to turn around another shuriken appeared.
From Six's sleeve his magna blade slipped into his hand. He pulled his arm back.
"Dad! What are you doing?" Jasmine asked fearfully.
"Getting rid of the pest." Six answered calmly.
"You're not going to hurt it? Are you?" Jasmine asked in a small voice.
Six's sword was about to strike when her question made him stop. His eyes never leaving the rodent. The blade easily slipped back into his sleeve as his hand darted out and scooped the mouse into his hand.
"No, I'm not going to hurt it." He said as he cupped his other hand over the mouse to keep it from biting him.
"Dad caught the mouse!" Jade celebrated. "Yay dad!"
"Kenji, can you open the door, please?" It was more of an order than a request.
"Yes, sir." Kenji opened the front door.
Six walked outside. He knew if he dropped it here, it would find it's way back into the house. Mentally sighing he took a walk. Fifteen minutes later he arrived at a local park. Stooping down he opened his hand. The scared mouse shot out from his hand and ran for the bushes. Standing up, Six brushed his hands together and made his way home.
When he opened the door, Kenji and Jade swarmed him.
"Where's the mouse? Is it dead? Where did you take it?" The bombarded him with questions.
Holding up his hand to quiet them, he answered. "I dropped it off at the park It should be ok." He looked around and spotted Jasmine standing a little way off. She looked relieved.
"Your mother should be home soon. Clean up the mess upstairs and get ready for dinner." Six told his children.
"Aww man, mom isn't making dinner, is she?" Kenji groaned. He stopped when his caught his father's look. "I mean… yay, dinner." He quickly left before his father could say anything.
"Dad, you're making dinner, right?" Jade asked worriedly.
"We'll see." Six pointed up the stairs. Jade obediently went up.
It was just him and Jasmine.
"Dad?" She said hesitantly.
"Yes, Jasmine?" He asked.
She extended one hand. In her palms was the two shuriken. "Thank you for not hurting the mouse."
Six accepted his weapons. "Of course."
Jasmine gave him a small smile before also going up the stairs.
As she disappeared up the stairs, Six couldn't help but feel that maybe he wasn't such a bad father after all.
Those in the know, know what I've been going through. This came to me a while ago, but I haven't had time to write it. You will have to excuse my lack of productivity the past few years. I'm hoping to get back to things at some point. Hope you are all well. I appreciate you all who are still here.