"Okay, Mine," Ayame said into the phone, "I'll be coming back into the shop at noon." Ayame had kept his promise, and visited Yuki, Machi, and Sora. often. At the moment, Yuki was out, and Machi was fast asleep. Ayame had offered to watch the child for a while.

"Okay," Mine replied happily, "So how's Sora?"

Ayame glanced at Sora, now months old, playing with the little fashion dolls he'd give to her. She was mesmerized by the little doll, moving her arms and legs, and trying her best to dress her.

"She's good. She's already learned to say 'Mama' and 'Papa.' And she loves our gift."

"She plays with it?"

Sora picked the doll. She looked proud, having been able to dress it completely by herself. She hugged the doll tightly to her chest.

"Yes, it's her favorite."

"Maybe she'll be a designer, like you!" Mine joked.

"Maybe!"

"Okay, well I'll see you soon."

"Bye."

When Ayame hung up his cell phone, Sora wrapped the doll in a blanket, placing it carefully on a soft couch pillow, as if, it too, were a baby. She crawled over to Ayame, who was now seated on a nearby couch. She tugged on his pants leg.

"Hello, Sora," he smiled, and picked, and put her on his lap.

Sora giggled and clapped her hands. She looked around the empty room.

"Mama?" she asked, "Papa?"

"Mama and Papa are gone for a while. It's okay, Uncle Aaya's here."

Sora took the soft white tendrils of hair that fell off his shoulders and began playing distractedly with it.

"You are a very lucky little girl, Sora," Ayame said, "You have a wonderful mother and father. They love you very much."

"Mama, Papa," she said airily, still playing with Ayame's hair.

"You're a very clever girl, aren't you?"

She giggled in response. Then without warning tugged on Ayame's hair.

"Ah, ah, ah," he said in mock seriousness, as if Sora could understand, "I'm your Uncle remember? Behave now, little Sora, and don't pull Ayame's hair anymore, alright?" He smiled.

She went suddenly still, looking at Ayame with a determined, studious look. She closed her eyes for a moment.

"Aa…ya" she said slowly.

Ayame looked surprised. "What?"

"A…ya…me."

A wide smile broke out on his face. He stood, and lifted the tiny baby high in the air.

He laughed and twirled her in the air.

"Ayame!" she giggled lifting her hands in the air as he twirled her. He lowered her and held her in his arms. For some reason he felt completely elated.

"Yes," he said, "That's right. Your so clever." He grinned, "I suppose you'll take after me!"

"Yike Ayame," she said, Going back to playing with his hair.

"I think you mean like Ayame," he responded laughing.

I wonder, what if this child does grow up to be like her Uncle?

Two Ayame-like people in this world?

Not possible.

We can barely handle one.