Chapter 1

It isn't often when people get shoved into the bodies of babies.

Or remembering your past life to experience the novelty of it.

I'd say this wouldn't happen at all. With differing myths and theories from all around the world about what happens after death, at the end of the day they're all based on what you think.

No facts at all.

So no, I didn't think after being shot to death 50 consecutive times after a week of torture that I would ever open my eyes again.

Of course, Logic woke up one day and chose bullshit.

"Oi Nii-chan, look, he's awake."

"Un. Ya think he's 'ungry?"

"Well he's suckin on his thumb ain't he?"

Voices murmured through the nursing room as I woke up from my nap. Blinking away the sleep from my eyes, I saw three familiar faces peer in. Three boys observed my every movement, eyes sharp with attention as they conversed with each other.

They were my seven-year-old triplet cousins from Kaa-chan's side of the family. All of them were identical with their short wild black hair, tan skin, and large hazel eyes. The only difference being the sweaters they wore. Ringo's was red while Momoko's was blue and Anzu's was yellow.

Shout-outs for the primary colors.

At least you can find them in a crowd.

A lot has happened in the time I had been born, and the most glaringly obvious would be the jump in geography. Surrounded by the seaside and mountain, it seems like there was an abundance of nature only the countryside could provide. We were in the Kyushu region of Japan where

Learning the language was easy thanks to my super baby brain, as my level of basic Japanese would not help me survive in dialect-heavy Oita. I swear, it was like a whole different language with how many different words there were when my relative from Kagoshima visited. Not to mention my mother's side of the family lived in Aomori Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan. Their way of speaking was hard to understand because of all the mumbling, but I'm proud to say that I'm now a native Tohoku-ben and Kyushu-ben speaker. (Kinda have to be one if I'm gonna live with my family.)

It's more like I can understand it than actually speak it. Speaking is kind of difficult with my nonexistent teeth and underdeveloped vocal cords.

Speaking about my body, it's not as bad as I thought it would be at first. Sure, being bathed was mortifying at first, but now it's just comforting to be taken care of. All I can do is nap; my body being unable to stay awake for long periods of time.

Whenever I was awake though, my parents or relatives would take care of my daily needs. They were surprisingly amiable to my whims whenever I wanted to eat or sleep. Not that I wanted to make it difficult for them of course, I tried not to be a fussy baby.

I wanted to greet my cousins so I lifted my blanket off me and raised my arms up towards Ringo as he was the closest to me.

Ringo, used to my wordless commands, simply lifted me up as the other two curiously squeezed my chubby hands and cheeks. We see each other everyday though so I don't know why they're not tired of doing this yet.

"Are ya hungry Dai-chan?" Ringo asked, holding me close to his chest and patting my back. His body ran hot like any other child so he felt like a glorified hot water bottle. Simply nuzzling my face into his neck, I just wanted to be carried so I stayed there until they got the message. Anzu had reached into my crib to pick up my blanket. (They know I never leave without it) After being wrapped up in the soft brown blanket, we set off.

Ringo carried me out into the living room and sat down under the kotatsu covers, settling me in his lap. It was mid-winter when the temperatures were at their lowest so the warm air was a comforting reprieve from the biting chill.

Momoko and Anzu sat on either side of us and reached for the bowl of mikan, working on peeling them open to eat.

Anzu asked after a moment of contemplation. "Hey," his brothers turned towards him, "ya think Dai-chan can eat these?" Momoko scrunched his eyebrows up before opening my mouth up, gently moving my lips to see my teeth.

"They look strong 'nough, make sure to mush it a bit just in case though."

The soft buzz of the TV was pleasant background noise as the boys talked about school while feeding me some pieces. We were watching an extremely interesting documentary about shoemaking when the atmosphere was broken by the sound of the sliding doors opening. It seems like our parents are back.

"We be baaaaaack children~ Have ya been good lil boys when yer parents were gone!"

"Don't go runnin' in without taking off yer boots Anata, you'll slip!" The sound of my mother's voice perks me up from my daze. Familiar heavy footsteps go back to the genkan and rush back to the living room where we were. Walking in, was my father; six-foot, built, and looking like a model. He was tan like most of his relatives here in the Kyushu region and had droopy dark eyes the color of rum. There was a beauty mark under his left eye and he had dimples that were often shown when he smiled. He had a rather refreshing air to him in my opinion.

Tou-chan raised a bag in his right hand up and grinned.

"We brought back some snacks for y'all."

Anzu and Momoko set down the mikan they were peeling and crawled over to where Tou-chan was, bringing the bags over to the kotatsu to inspect them. Inside was the local mochi special from town and a couple of savory snacks like dried squid and rice crackers. Overall a good hull in my opinion. Too bad I couldn't eat most of it. Being two usually prohibits you from eating spicy flavors.

While we were taking stock of the goods, the other adults came piling in the living room. Kaa-chan and Oji-chan were talking about what to make for dinner while Oba-chan joined my cousin's side.

Large hands lifted me into a lap, my back hitting a sturdy chest. Tilting my head up, I'm faced with the smiling visage of my father. He chuckles as my hands prod his cheeks, holding them up to his face as he kiss my fingers. "An' how's my lil Kame-chan doin' huh?" I only wiggled my fingers in his hold. My father just smiles, "Just woke up from his mornin' nap right?" At Ringo's affirmation, he nods to himself and passes me back to him. "I'll go an' get somethin' to wake him up. Hold onto him for a momen' ay."

Standing up, he walks to the kitchen, hopefully, to get me something sweet.

"Heyo lil kame-chan, look at ya bundled up an' all."

My head naturally tilted towards the familiar soft hand currently carding through my hair. My aunt chuckled at my cat-like reaction to her ministration. The brunette's heart-shaped faced was framed nicely by her bob; light brown eyes complemented by her youthful white skin.

"Oi Ren, stop talkin' work with 'Sumi and come here n'say hi to yer nephew." At this point, the triplets and my aunt were patting and rubbing me like a pet.

Kaa-chan laughed while Oji-chan only sighed. "At this point Kasumi, you'll only have a cat for a son. Honestly, with how much this family gives belly rubs to Dai-chan, it's surprising he hasn't turned into one already."

"Ha! As if yer any more innocent than the rest of us! Just look at ya self Ren."

Tou-chan guffawed at him as he came back with my trademark yellow sippy cup.

Ooh. Gimme.

Seeing my gestures for the cup, he smiled. "I see ya got a fine eye for the good stuff ay." Only picked it up from the best.

Picking me up in his lap as he sat down, he brought the cup up to my mouth and made sure my hands were firmly gripping the handles before letting go.

"Ahem." Oji-chan cleared his throat as he pulled back his hand that was previously patting me before, pushing his glasses up. He had neatly brushed-back black hair and hazel eyes. There was a light blush adorning his tan skin. "I never said it was a bad thing."

In sync everyone put on a blank expression.

"Sure."

He could only look away and huff.

My mother suddenly let out a noise. "Ah! Almost forgot." After she had tugged of her scarf, she joined us and sat next to my uncle. Waist-length dark hair with a slightly reddish tint, she had equally faire skin as my aunt and had cat-shaped eyes that always looked too mischievous. With a lazy posture that somehow looked regal, she nudged him. Her grey eyes were obviously having some type of conversation with him. One that she lost.

"Listen up kids. We've got some news for you." At that, my cousins straightened up, the adults could only smile at that.

"Due to some developments at work, we'll be moving in a couple of years to different prefectures."

The triplets struggled to understand what she told them and when they realize what that would mean they could only nod in acceptance. It was for business after all.

Anzu pouted. "But if yer both workin' all the time, then who's gonna watch over Dai-chan?" His brothers nodded in agreement.

"Actually," Tou-chan readjusted my body in his lap, "I have a relative livin' there who agreed to help take care of him." This didn't surprise me at all. We have relatives all over Japan.

"By the way Oji-san," Momoko brought another mandarin slice to my mouth, waiting for me to stop drinking and eat it. "Where're ya even movin' to and when?"

Kaa-chan passed him a mandarin after he made some grabby motions over to the bowl. Starting to peel it, he answered, "We'll be leavin' in about two years or so; a little after the yearly Aomori family gathering actually. As the for the place." He plopped a slice into my hands to gnaw on. "Tokyo."

"Yer comin' back for the breaks right?" Momoko asked.

Tou-cham chuckled and mussed up his hair. "Of course Momo-chan. I wouldn' miss eatin' yer homegrown watermelon for the world!" I agree with him on that. Momoko has a green thumb for growing the best fruits despite his age.

Ah

Now I want watermelons.