I locked the door behind me and stood in the darkened room, my hand feeling around on the wall for the light switch. The sudden light startled Reina and I heard her wailing in her crib, sniffling and kicking her legs about. I removed my shoes and left them by the door, not caring about the copious amount of dirt that covered the carpet. I padded over to my daughter and lifted her from the cradle, swaying her back and forth in my arms and lowering myself onto the bed.
"Oh, Reina," I sighed, captivated by her large, purple eyes - eyes that were filled with such innocence, and I felt my own well up again. "What are we going to do?"
She simply blinked at me, reaching her hands up to pat my face as if in understanding. I smiled weakly at her as she gurgled and drooled, hoping that she would grow up to be a respectable young woman.
"Reina," I sighed again. "Promise me you won't grow up to be like him. Just… Just promise me you'll always be honest about everything. No lies, no deception, just simple honesty. That way, there won't be so much pain. Just don't end up being like him."
I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, and they began to slip down my cheeks. I could only hope that Reina wouldn't have to go through this same betrayal and deception in her adult years. I felt the familiar tingle of Finn's slight, magical form against my face again and listened to the sound of the baby's breathing as she began to fall into a deep slumber. I stood up, looking around the pastel room that had once felt like home, and placed my child back into her bed. This house no longer felt like home to me, it felt like a lie; these walls held too many deceptions. I looked at the phone. How many times had he called her while I wasn't here to listen? I turned to the table – had he ever brought her here for a 'romantic dinner'? I hoped not. The thought of it made me feel sick to my stomach. I couldn't shake the idea of them being here together like a couple. I felt a knotting sensation in my chest, and my breathing quickened. What if he had brought her here? I leaned against the table, the wooden edge digging a groove into my back. I kept going over and over those thoughts, grimacing at the idea of them being in here alone. I cast my gaze at the bed. They hadn't, had they? They could've…?
Finn followed my line of sight, immediately figuring out what I was thinking.
"He wouldn't have done that, Akari," he whispered. I turned to him, trying to hold myself together, but I could barely spit out my words.
"They probably did though, Finn."
A/N: Okay, I haven't really played Animal Parade in almost 2 years(?) by this point, so I apologise if the characters (apart from Akari, obviously) kind of go OOC (or whatever you call it) from this point onward. I'll try my best not to let that happen though. xD Please Enjoy The Rest Of This Story Either Way Though (and if you don't enjoy it, that's okay too. I still appreciate you giving me a chance :3)