Chapter 12

Yumi approached Asahi the next day. "Asahi, there's some challenges that have come up and well...there is a bounty on you to bring you back to Octavio as a prisoner," she said.

He sighed. "Which means I can't help you until whoever put that bounty on me is taken care of," he said.

"Which is why I think it would be best if you and 8 stayed here today," she said. "You can help her watch over Saki for me."

"What?!" He asked, looking horrified. "No. No, no, no. I know nothing about taking care of a kid and are you forgetting that...mph!"

A hand clapped over his mouth gently. "If you bring up that fact about you trying to kidnap Saki again, I will tie you up and make you sit in her playpen and watch over her while I go on the mission," 8 said firmly.

9's eyes widened and when she let him go, he turned to her pleadingly. "You wouldn't leave me here by myself with the kid, would you, sis?" He asked, hoping not.

"Either accept Yumi's offer or be left here alone to watch over Saki," she said.

Knowing she meant it, he sighed. "Alright, fine," he conceded.

"Hey, don't look so glum," Yumi said, playfully poking Asahi's side. "Saki is a good kid. Just make sure she doesn't get into trouble."

"You got it, Yumi," 8 said with a smile. "Kick a few Octoling behinds for us."

"You know I will."

The team soon left and it was just the two Octoling siblings with the toddler. Saki immediately went over to Asahi, grinning up at him and he groaned. "Kid, I'm not in the mood to play," he said, gently turning her around and giving her a gentle nudge towards his sister. "Go play with Tsukiko."

8 laughed. "Oh, you think she's going to just do as you say?" She asked teasingly. "Bro, you haven't seen just how devious our little niece can be."

"I frankly do not...oomph!"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as Saki had climbed up on the couch beside him while Asahi had been sitting parallel beside the couch and the child has jumped down, landing on him and knocking the wind out of him.

8 laughed as she saw that. "See?" She asked, smirking as her point had just been proven.

The little girl giggled as she sat on Asahi's stomach and he picked her up, setting her back on the couch before getting up to avoid her jumping onto him again. "Isn't there like a movie you can put on for her? Or a video game to make her sit still for longer than two minutes?" He asked, adding the last part as an afterthought as Saki climbed down off the couch and scampered towards him.

His sister smiled. "Yumi doesn't want Saki playing video games until she's a bit older and while she does have movies to watch, her schedule doesn't allow a movie until after lunch," she said.

"Oh, come on!" 9 said in exasperation. "You mean to say Yumi seriously doesn't allow that?"

"Nope. She's a good mom and Saki doesn't really like to sit still for a long time, so until lunchtime, you and I get to spend time with our niece."

Asahi couldn't believe it and moved back as Saki made her way towards him. "Can you get her away from me?" He asked, climbing onto the couch to try and get away, but the toddler climbed up too, continuing the game of chase.

8 laughed. "Go, Saki, go! Get your uncle!" She cheered.

"Kiki, don't encourage her!" 9 said in exasperation, calling his sister by the nickname only he used.

She grinned, remembering when her brother had come up with that nickname after having a difficult time pronouncing her name when he was younger. "Oh, come on, Asa," she said, calling him by his nickname.

Saki was giggling as she chased after the new Octoling, who jumped over couches and chairs to escape her, making the child giggle more before 8 decided to step in and she caught her brother, holding him in a secure hug. "Hey, Saki," she said, seeing her niece come over. "Want to know a secret about your uncle?"

"Kiki, don't you dare!" He yelped, squirming as he knew exactly what she had in mind.

The older sibling grinned. "Saki, tickle attack!"

The child, recognizing the words, squealed happily and flopped down on Asahi's stomach, making him grunt in surprise before he felt 8 wiggle her fingers into his underarms.

A squeal left him at that. "NOHOHOHOHOHOHO! KIHIHIHIHIHIKIHIHIHIHI!" He laughed out.

She grinned. "See, Saki?" She said. "Your uncle is very ticklish."

The younger Octoling managed to wiggle free and he caught Saki before she fell off of him and he gently set her aside before looking at his sister and tackling her, his hands tickling her stomach.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEE! ASAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed.

He grinned. "See, Saki? Your auntie is very ticklish too," he said.

8 quickly turned the tables on her brother and Saki giggled as she watched the playful fight and when 8 managed to get the upper hand on her brother by sitting on his back and lightly pinning him down, the toddler went up and sat down on 9's back too, giggling again.

Asahi smirked. "Oh, you're in trouble now, young lady," he said as 8 stood up and Asahi caught the toddler, tickling her stomach to make her laugh. 8 smiled as she watched this, finding it cute that her brother was bonding with the child.

Asahi let the child up after a bit and Saki surprised him by hugging him. "Asa!" She said happily. "Uncle!"

He blinked and looked at his sister. "Did she just...?" He trailed off.

"Yup, she did," she said. "She said your nickname and she considers you to be her uncle."

He looked down at the child who looked up at him cutely, making him smile. "Maybe having a niece isn't so bad after all," he said before he noticed that Saki looked tired. He smiled and stood up, cradling her in his arms before sitting down in the chair nearby and Saki snuggled against his side, her head resting right over where his heartbeat was. He began humming and 8 recognized the tune as one their mother would sing long ago.

When she and Asahi were little and couldn't settle down for bed, their mother would hum a calming tune. It had no words, but the tune was melodic and helped the siblings to settle down and fall asleep.

It looked like it was working for Saki too as the child blinked her eyes sleepily at her uncle, who continued to hum the gentle tune. Yawning, the toddler settled her head against her uncle's shoulder and her eyes closed softly.

8 smiled and she then saw her brother trying to stay awake himself, so she began humming the same song he had been humming and she saw her brother close his eyes and give into the call of sleep. 8 carefully put a blanket over him and Saki, smiling as she quietly cleaned up the living room, putting Saki's toys away and getting lunch together.

Yumi arrived a few hours later and 8 gently shushed her before pointing to the chair, to which the mother looked and smiled at seeing 9 was napping and Saki was napping with him. "She fell asleep on him?" She asked the red-haired Octoling quietly.

"Yup," 8 answered just as quietly. "He then fell asleep too. He was playing chase with Saki, though she was the one chasing after him and he was trying to escape her."

Agent 3 chuckled. "He wasn't too sure about babysitting, was he?" She asked.

"Nope, not at first," she said. "But Saki called him her uncle earlier."

"She did?" The green-haired Inkling said.

Agent 8 nodded and Agent 3 grinned. "Well then, I'd say he's officially part of the family now," she said.

Asahi woke up and gasped a bit before seeing that Saki was still napping in his arm and was safe. He breathed a sigh of relief before seeing movement out of the corner of his eye and he turned to see Yumi was smiling at him. "I hear someone made you her new uncle," she said.

He blushed a bit, but looked down at the little one, who opened her eyes a bit sleepily, but upon seeing her mother, she giggled. "Mommy!" She said, reaching for her.

Asahi handed the child to Yumi. "She's...She's a good kid," he said.

"Thank you for taking care of her, Asahi," the mother Inkling said. "I hope I can ask you to babysit Saki again sometime."

He smiled. "Sure," he said.

Saki giggled happily, reaching for her new uncle, who accepted her and she hugged him and he hugged her back. "You're a real special kid, Saki," he said, playfully booping her cute little nose. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

The toddler giggled again, making her mother and aunt both smile.

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