I am updating way too quickly I think. Anyway, here's the next chapter with the usual fluff and humor. And, no. I don't believe anyone is actually reading this before reading the chapter. To no one who is reading this, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cardfight! Vanguard.

Kai Baby-sits

Chapter 10: A brat at her finest

Kai blinked again and again. He was not imagining this. Mana was standing right in front of him, rubbing her eyes as if she had been sleeping. Kai didn't have time to think of anything else because Mana jumped on him.

"Toshi-nii!" she hugged him warmly, her small arms wrapping around his neck. "I missed you!"

Kai returned it numbly, not knowing what to say. He simply let the words tumble out of his mouth. "Mana... were you here the whole time?"

Mana let go and got to the floor. She gave him a sheepish grin.

"Actually, I left home ages ago, and kept walking around," she gripped Kai's hand as she remembered the fear of being alone. Kai impulsively gripped it back.

"I got sleepy, so I stopped. I found out it was your house after you left really late. So I went in and hid in the closet." Her sheepish gin came back on. "And I fell asleep. It wasn't my fault! My bedtime is way earlier than midnight!" It was a miracle nothing happened to her. At least she had taken her coat to keep her warm in the cold.

Kai wasn't processing anything. His body and mind was numb. Relief, fear, and happiness washed over him. He again acted on impulse. He bent down and pulled Mana into a hug.

Mana's eyes widened. She slowly returned the hug. "Toshi-nii?"

"You idiot," Kai whispered, is eyes shadowed. "Do you have any idea how much you worried everyone? Miwa and your parents were even considering to involve the police."

Mana felt more concerned than guilty. Kai's hand were shaking, and his voice sounded cracked. Was he crying?

"Everyone was worried about you," Kai continued, his grip on her tightening. "...I was worried about you."

Mana comfortingly rubbed his back. "I'm sorry, Toshi-nii. I didn't know I'd scare everyone. Toshi-nii?"

Kai didn't respond; he just hugged her tighter.

"I'm okay, Toshi-nii," she reassured him and lightly placed a kiss on his cheek. "So don't cry. Toshi-nii isn't supposed to cry." She felt Kai move his hand and rub his eyes before setting her down.

"I'm not crying."

Mana just smiled happily. She took his hand and pulled him to the kitchen. "Come on! I'm hungry!"

Kai let himself be dragged as a smile graced his face. "You won't find anything," he murmured lightly.

Mana pouted, having checked the fridge. "Toshi-nii! Nothing's made!"

"I don't eat," Kai blurted before he could stop himself. He saw Mana's eyes become sad. Kai looked away. "Forget it. I'll make something."

Mana nodded and held onto his arm. "Can I sit next to you while you cook?"

Kai nodded, no longer trusting his tongue. He lifted her on the counter and let her watch. As he made the food, he could feel Mana's eyes on him he whole time. He guessed she was thinking about his deceased parents. Kai felt uneasy at the moment.

"Toshi-nii."

Kai jumped and hissed as he cut himself with the knife.

"Toshi-nii!" Mana got off the counter and went next to him. The cut was a bit deep, blood pooling out. "I'm sorry. Wait. Let me get a bandage!"

"It's fine," Kai's words were lost to the girl who seemed to know what she was looking for. She opened a cabinet and pulled out a bandage.

Kai blinked. He didn't even know he had bandages there. Kai silently washed away the blood on his finger, ignoring the slight sting before letting Mana wrap it in a bandage.

"I'm sorry," she apologized again, looking guilty.

"How did you know where to look?" Kai asked.

"I saw it while I was looking for food." Mana again gave him that sad look. "Toshi-nii, do you really live here?"

Kai shut his mouth. He couldn't say anything. This place was just for shelter, self-cleaning, and avoiding any unwanted people. It held no greater purpose.

"Toshi-nii, where are your parents?"

Kai slowly closed his eyes. "Gone."

"Forever," Mana finished quietly. "Not for a while. You're alone here, Toshi-nii."

"I'm not," Kai's respond was weak as it was not true.

"Yes you are!" Mana insisted. "And I'm going to change that!"

"Huh?" Kai blinked at the girl's determined look. "Mana, I'm fine, really. You don't have to-"

"But I want to!" Mana smiled happily as she hugged his arm. "Toshi-nii, you're too nice to be left alone."

Kai's mouth opened slightly, his eyes growing a bit bigger. "...I'm not exactly called that."

"Then those people are dumb," Mana grinned with a wave of her hand. "Toshi-nii's cakes are too good to be left uneaten!"

Kai found himself laughing at that. She really did have a way with him.

"So, I'm staying!"

Kai stopped. It finally hit him that other people were also looking for her. "Mana, you can't."

"Yes I can!" Mana argued.

"Hold on." Kai needed to text Satoshi first. He pulled out his phone and sent the text.

Found Mana. Thanks for the help.

"But Toshi-nii!" Mana whined. "I want to stay here!"

"But your parents are worried about you," Kai responded gently. "Miwa is too."

"Onii-chan," Mana seemed to lose her resolve.

"Come on," Kai bent down to her height. "I'll take you back."

"But you're unhappy!" Mana pointed out. "Your face is hurt!"

Kai knew that, but he didn't know how he could smile. "Mana, your parents are more important. Miwa and them are worried, so you have to go back. Okay?"

Mana frowned but nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Taishi, could you get the door?" the blond barely heard his mother ask.

Miwa pushed himself off the couch and trudged towards the door. His mind couldn't stop worrying about his sister. Where was she? She couldn't be doing well out there all alone. In his shock, Miwa almost fell backwards just by the little weight his sister had.

"Hey, Onii-chan!" Mana grinned, hugging her startled brother.

"You sneaky rascal!" Miwa laughed, expressing his happiness as he hugged her back. Once he set her down, he saw Kai standing by the doorway. It dawned on his that he had left his best friend alone through all this.

"Kai, uh, hey."

"...Hey."

Mana blinked, looking between the two. "You two are acting funny. Toshi-nii, is this another one of your secrets?"

"Something like that," Kai murmured with a smile. He gave Miwa a reassuring smile. Kai understood he was worried about Mana, just like he was.

"Taishi?"

Everyone tensed as Miwa's parents saw them.

"Mana!" her mom was about to hug her. Instead Mana hugged Kai's leg, to which the brunet stiffened.

"Mana, what are you doing?" her father asked, relieved to see her safe but angry at what she did.

"First let's close the door," Miwa said, sounding calmer than he was. The door shut and everyone walked in the house and sat on a couch. Mana chose to sit between her brother and baby-sitter.

"Sweetie, why did you leave?" her mom asked worriedly.

"Because you wouldn't let me see Toshi-nii," Mana frowned, taking hold of the brunet's hand. Kai and Miwa shared a nervous look. What was she up to?

"So it was your fault," her dad glared at the brunet.

Kai blinked without emotion and didn't say anything. He had nothing to say anyway.

"No it was not!" Mana snapped. "I left because YOU were being mean to Toshi-nii! Toshi-nii isn't mean!"

"Mana, I think you should stop," Kai told her gently, but she didn't listen.

"Toshi-nii was worried about you and that's why he brought me here!" Mana exclaimed angrily. "After you were mean to him! And I wanted to stay at his house!"

Kai blinked as he saw the adults' expressions change a little. They seemed to doubt themselves.

"If it wasn't for 'the guy who won't make it far in life', I wouldn't be here!" Mana added air quotes. "He's like family to me! And-"

"Mana," Kai interrupted her, standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder. "That's enough. Listen to your parents."

The family was startled by his actions. Especially Miwa. He knew what Kai was doing, and he did not like it at all.

"But, Toshi-nii-"

"They're probably right," Kai said softly. "I may not make it far without support. So it's better if you don't get too attached to me."

"But..." Mana felt tears in her eyes. They were saying good-bye.

Kai offered a sad smile. "I never thought I'd actually baby-sit someone." He ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.

"Toshi-nii, I'm already attached to you," Mana sniffed, tears rolling down her face. "I don't want you to leave!"

Kai found it hard to stop his own. This was what he feared. Losing another loved one. But he pushed the feeling away. Just like he always did. It would come back with vengeance for the rest of his life. Still, he bent down to the girl's height and brushed away her tears.

"We can't always get what we want, Mana," he spoke gently, his green eyes twinkling. Lightly, he kissed her forehead before standing up and turning to the others.

He gave them a nod, knowing if he spoke he would break, and headed for the door. He felt all eyes on him. He turned the door knob, and was about to open the door when someone called him.

"Wait."

Kai turned around in surprise. Neither Miwa nor Mana had called him. It was their mom.

"Yuko," her husband looked surprised as well, but Miwa could see the slight understanding in his eyes and smiled. They accepted Kai.

"Please come sit here."

Kai blinked, a surprised look on his face. He saw Miwa grin at him and told him to sit down.

Mana hugged the brunet happily even though she didn't know what was going on either. Kai gently pulled her on his lap and listened to what they had to say.

Kai knew it was rude, but he could not help but show his apparent shock. They were apologizing. Kai didn't understand how a person could change so easily. But he remembers Miwa telling him that his parents were tired, and they act irrational if something happens to Mana.

Kai realized they had finished and were looking at him expectantly. Kai's mind suddenly turned blank, and he couldn't think of anything to say. Sorry? Or thank you? Or okay?

"Toshi-nii," Mana whispered to him, though everyone could hear her. "I know this is a bad time, but I'm hungry."

And just like that, the tension left the room. Mana's parents laughed, confusing Mana. Miwa snickered, patting Kai on the back who was even more startled.

They decided to just stop everything and eat something. Mana grabbed the plate of cake from the fridge and brought it to the table.

"Eat this!" she grinned as if nothing happened. "Toshi-nii made it! It's so good!" As if to prove it, she cut out a big slice for herself and started to eat it.

Miwa nudged Kai's shoulder before trying it. He slowly swallowed. "Kai, I am hurt that you never made this for me. Jerk!"

Kai was still on the earlier topic. He had trouble understanding how this family worked. They were all the same. All of them were laughing and speaking to each other as if they weren't just arguing about a very important matter.

"It is good," their mother agreed. "How did you do it?" she asked, honestly interested.

Miwa laughed at Kai's lost look. "Sorry, Mom. Kai's a little shy when it comes to strangers."

Kai blinked and sent Miwa a look, who grinned in response. Kai didn't understand. It was like everything was normal. They were all acting like nothing happened. At least now Kai knew it ran in the family.

"Toshi-nii, aren't you going to eat?" Mana asked him, pulling him away from his thoughts.

"Uh...s-sure," he slowly began to eat.

"Glad to see you stopped skipping meals!" Miwa teased him.

"I knew it!" Mana said with a pout.

"Miwa!"

The parents both shared a look before nodding.

"Toshiki-kun."

Miwa saw Kai's body go rigid. He shook his head. His best friend could never act normal around strangers.

"We'd like to offer you a deal."

Here's to reaching double digits. I think one or two more chapters and then either I will make a bonus or put that in my FLF story. I'm making this up as I go, so I'm not really sure when this story will end.

Review if you feel like it.