Finally arriving home, and leading Katie up just one flight of stairs, Takashi turned his key in the door, opening up his apartment. Katie practically ran in, gingerly setting her little green lion on the couch. After she completed that task, she looked at Takashi expectantly. He looked down at his arm, noticing that he still had his own lion cradled in the crook of his elbow. "What, do they want to sit together?" he asked, smirking.

Nodding, Katie took the lion from him, placing it beside hers. They really did look nice together, made a good pair. Takashi was still surprised that Miss Allura took the time (and money) to pick out a few stuffed animals that the children would enjoy. It really was a sweet gesture from her, and he made a mental note to thank her for all that later.

"They look comfortable there, but where am I gonna sleep?" he joked, and his smile grew as Katie laughed along with him. She nudged the lions toward the end of the couch, leaving plenty of room for him to lie down. He didn't, of course, mostly because he still had to make dinner and clean up. Katie needed a bath, and he also had to grab her outfit for tomorrow. Then, too, there was homework, and he already had some of that despite it being his first day back to college.

So, naturally, he probably wasn't going to get much sleep at all tonight. Which was fine, because he hardly slept anymore, anyway.

"That's enough room," Katie told him matter-of-factly, and Takashi nodded, setting his backpack on the ground. He never really minded where that thing ended up, so long as Katie didn't trip over it (something she was prone to do).

"You're right, it is," he agreed. Changing the subject, he added, "So, what did you want for dinner?"

He wasn't going to cook anything tonight, mostly because Takashi had been a terrible chef with two arms; one appendage down, and he was content to survive off frozen food and take-out. He would take care of simple things, such as browning meat for tacos, or even the occasional (and always risky) grilled cheese; but usually, if it couldn't be microwaved, it stayed out of the apartment.

"Hot Pocket," she replied without missing a beat. Takashi could've guessed that – those and peanut butter sandwiches would make up Katie's nutritional diet, if Takashi would let her. The little girl truly didn't require too many amenities, and she was generally easy-going. All in all, they made a good team, even if they were stuck together without warning.

A few minutes later, and Katie was sat on the couch with her warmed Hot Pocket, and Takashi lounged beside her; he settled on a frozen pizza, and took a bite – it truly wasn't that good, but it was enough for him. Katie, on the other hand, loved her dinner, savoring the flavor (which Takashi couldn't yet get a grasp on; after all, it was just ham and cheese). She was playing with Takashi's laptop, swiping the touch screen before settling on Netflix. She looked expectantly to Takashi, as if waiting for his approval. He smiled, leaning forward a bit to read her off the titles of the children programs.

After a few minutes of indecision, the two compromised on a silly computer-animated film involving a caterpillar and its quest to become a butterfly. Takashi didn't even mind it, especially not when Katie was watching it so intently. She settled deeper into the couch, her meal finished, and grabbed her green lion, snuggling it against her chest. Without even meaning to, Takashi himself grabbed his stuffed lion, setting it on his knee. Adjusting her glasses, Katie looked over, curious and definitely pleased.

"Do you like yours, Shiro?" she asked, pausing the movie. Takashi nodded, and the thought of Allura thinking to include him in the classroom shenanigans brought a bit of warmth to his cheeks.

"I do, it's really soft. Hey, Katie, what did you think of school?"

Mulling over the question, pursing her lips as she considered the question, Katie responded with a thoughtful, "I liked Miss 'Llura, she was nice. And – and the room was cool."

"Yeah, it looked just like space, didn't it?"

"Yeah!"

Takashi had liked it, too – it had such a theme, and even Allura herself seemed to fit the bill. She looked just like some sort of elegant space princess, with her moonlike hair and crystal blue eyes. The atmosphere was warm and inviting – and the day must've went well, considering how involved Katie had been with the class by the end of the day. He was beyond pleased to see how well Katie was interacting with her classmates, and he could only hope she would blossom even farther from there.

The two fell into a comfortable silence, and Katie resumed playing the movie. It was vibrant, colorful, sweet, and – and obviously a bit too boring for Katie, because Takashi soon felt a weight against his side. The little girl leaned against him, her eyes closed, and her chest rising and falling easily. Her first day of school must have tuckered her out, and Takashi couldn't blame her. He had hardly been able to sleep the night before, either; he was too nervous, too worried for his young ward. But now that the day was over – and it had gone so well – Takashi himself felt exhausted.

He knew he had to find a way to thank Allura for making Katie's first day of preschool so enjoyable. Maybe a gift card, or a handwritten note, an invitation to dinner, a nice plaque for her desk –

Dinner? Where did that silly idea come from?

Takashi groaned, quietly enough so as not to disturb Katie, and leaned his head back. He couldn't possibly be remotely interested in Allura after just one day, less than an hour of actually talking to the poor woman.

No, he knew he wasn't. She just happened to be a beautiful woman who showed a tiny ounce of kindness to a college student down on his luck.

Closing his eyes, Takashi reasoned with himself; yes, the possibility of being attracted to Katie's preschool teacher would be a little troublesome, but it definitely wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to Takashi in the past year.

The young man didn't even have the chance to notice the noise of the movie dying out as the weight of his exhaustion finally won him over, and Takashi slipped into a much-needed sleep.

He doesn't even have the time to comprehend the dull pain from his arm – or what used to be there – nor from the reality that he is now attending the funeral of his mentor, and a friend, and his mentor's wife. The crowd in attendance isn't large, but their eyes are all downcast, their minds far away from the preacher's somber voice. He's talking about unfortunate situations, about quiet moments of recollection, about nothing in particular. Takashi hears him, but not really – his mind is racing, his thoughts scrambled.

No, Takashi doesn't have the time to worry about himself; he's still reeling over the fact that he is now legally responsible for a toddler. Granted, she's more along the lines of four, but she's still small and fragile and in his care. And he's terrified.

Katie is sniffling, her hand clutching Takashi's. She's either not noticed that he only has one hand now, or she simply doesn't care. There is little that Katie understands at such a young age, but she knows that something final is happening, that she's not going to be able to go back to the same house anymore, and that she's not going to see her family anymore. Apparently, a therapist has already explained these facts to her. And to the little girl's credit, she's currently taking it like a trooper. Her face is red and splotchy, but she's not being noisy, and she's not sobbing. Just – just sniffling.

Takashi bows his head when the pastor begins his prayer, even though the young man has never considered himself one for prayer, or religion, for that matter. But he is respectful, if nothing else, and he lets the monotone voice fill the room. Takashi keeps one eye open, watching Katie; and his heart sinks just a little more when the little girl doesn't bow her head for prayer. She's just glancing around the room, confused, and probably scared. He can't blame her; this situation is horrifying for him, too.

Just a week ago, he was a normal college student (normal, in that he was sleep-deprived and in a constant state of stress and irritation). And now, he's essentially a father to an orphaned child. Takashi doesn't understand why he was named the godfather – he's young, without a well-paying job, and was highly committed to a life of singularity and research. He feels tethered now, and not just because of Katie – one arm is gone, amputated as a result of the same car accident that left Katie parentless and alone. Takashi wants to be good for her, at least a decent guardian, but he knows that he isn't to that place yet.

He'd like to stay in his self-deprecation for just a few moments longer, but Katie is squeezing his hand. Takashi looks down, almost afraid of what he'll see. Maybe Katie will have four eyes instead of just two, or she'll have grown two heads in the span of ten minutes. But the child he sees is still Katie, and she almost looks disappointed.

And Takashi knows in that second that this judgmental child will be the complete undoing of him. Her eyes, large and honey-colored, search him. He's not for sure of what, but she's obviously and completely unimpressed with her new caretaker.

The gravesite is clearing, and condolences are given, and Takashi is given more than one offer to help take care of Katie; and he's told to call if he needs help (and he mentally corrects each good intention to when he needs help). The young man smiles, not too widely and not too falsely, and he thanks each offer and promises to follow up with everyone. A part of him wonders why each old woman and gentle-voiced mechanic that came up to the unlikely pair and reminded Takashi of just how wonderful a man and father Sam Holt was, was not chosen to be the godparent of the youngest member of the Holt family.

A bitter part of Takashi thinks that perhaps Sam picked the young man simply to torture him. But he knows that's not the case. Sam was a remarkable man, and so was his wife, and so was his son. And so is Katie, and Takashi is determined to make sure that this little girl is at least somewhat happy.

Katie is still staring, and Takashi thinks that maybe he has something on his face, but the little girl suddenly looks down. Her voice is a mess of mumbles and sniffs, but he is able to make out, "…home, Shiro." And of course he has to comply. Takashi nods, his mouth curling at the affectionate nickname, and he wishes he could just scoop the toddler into his arms.

But he only has one, so that's not going to work out just yet. And Takashi's mind wanders to physical therapy and college and receiving a prosthetic and making lunch for Katie and finding a place to watch her during the mornings as he's still trying to figure his life out. And then there's finding a job, a better one, one that can actually provide for the lifestyle that Katie should have. His mind is racing again, and this new parental life is absolutely terrifying for him.

"Home, Shiro."

Her voice is more definite this time, less broken. Takashi can't help but look surprised at the annoyance written on the little girl's face; and if the day weren't so somber, he might have laughed.

"Okay, Katie, we're going," he assures her, leading her away from the newly-filled graves. They have a few minutes to walk in silence before they make it to the car waiting for them. Of course Takashi isn't cleared to drive; he's lucky to have actually been released from the hospital as soon as he was. At this point, he doesn't mind being carted around like an invalid, because he technically is.

Takashi helps the girl into the back seat, filing in right after her. He fumbles a bit with her seatbelt, and her little hand rests on his, clicking the belt into place. He thanks her quietly and goes to fix his own seatbelt – luckily, he proves himself more capable this time around. Katie still keeps her gaze locked on her new guardian, and Takashi suddenly feels self-conscious. He tilts his head to the side, smirking when Katie matches his movement.

"What're you staring at?" he asks, trying to keep his tone light. A part of him wants to make the conversation easy, maybe give her a little less to have to worry about. He hopes that Katie can move past this horrible stage of her life, never forgetting what happened but refusing to let it consume her. And she won't be able to do that unless he leads a good example. Now resolute, he asks her again, leaning forward a bit.

Katie doesn't smile, or even move, for that matter. Just answers with a blunt, "Your face." Takashi blinks, then nods slowly.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Your nose."

Opening his mouth to respond, he stops. Takashi knows what she's referring to. The car accident left him without an arm and with a new and very prominent scar across his face. He feels like a completely different person, and he's shocked that Katie hasn't been horrified of the lack of her Uncle Shiro's arm. But Katie has always been more perceptive than the average toddler. Her father was so proud of her, was so sure that she was going to grow up just like him someday. And she might; Katie is already shaping up to be a smart girl, and Takashi has no doubts whatsoever that she'll be able to accomplish anything she sets her mind to. He hopes to be a part of her life, enough of an influence to help her accomplish any dreams she has or will have.

"What, is there something wrong with it?" he asks, intentionally brushing against the scar. It doesn't hurt, and he makes sure to make a spectacle of it. "Too big?"

Katie shakes her head quickly. "No."

"Too pointy?"

There's a hint of a smile. "No."

Takashi rubs his nose with a confused expression. "So do I have a bunch of bumps on my nose? Is that it?"

"No!"

Katie's expression is absolutely hilarious, and Takashi can't help but crack a smile. He ruffles the little girl's hair, relaxing into his seat. "Then what's wrong with me?" he asks.

Face falling, Katie bows her head. Takashi immediately regrets pushing any issues with her, because she obviously isn't ready to address any sort of situation related to the accident, even just a simple scar. But still, she cuts her gaze to him, her honey eyes filled with a certain maturity one would never expect from a four year-old. "It's hurt," she says quietly, so softly that Takashi has to lean in to hear her.

He finds himself nodding, and he turns his eyes to the window. "Well, it'll get better. And then you won't even notice that it's hurt. Okay?" His tone is gentle, and Katie seems to understand what he's saying.

Even so, she stares at his arm, or where it used to be, and her face looks emotionless. "That's…not okay, right?" she asks, and Takashi is grateful that she doesn't think it's just going to grow back in a matter of time. Katie is unlike most children her age, he's noticed; she understands finality, and she accepts it as a reality. That's not to say that she enjoys it in any way, but she's very accepting of the truth of the situation. It's a bit unsettling for a toddler, he thinks, but it's what helps her cope; and truthfully, it's making his life a lot easier.

A terrible part of him fears that this will be his and Katie's relationship – him floundering for answers, and her making exceptions for his mistakes. In all reality, she'll probably take care of him as much as he cares for her. And he hates to think that it'll be this way, because he's essentially a parent to her right now.

Glancing back at the little girl, Takashi smiles again. "It's not gonna grow back, Katie, but the doctors said they can make me a new arm. So I'll look like Uncle Shiro again. How's that sound?"

The answer pacifies Katie, and she nods. "Sounds better than this."

The rest of the ride is quiet, but it's not tense. Mostly, Takashi is just a bit apprehensive for Katie's reaction to his apartment. It's small, very different from her original home. And the day has already been so stressful for her that he would hate to change too much else. And yet, he'd rather Katie get acquainted with the place sooner rather than later. He secretly hopes it'll decrease the shock value more.

To Takashi's credit, his apartment is clean. Immaculate, even. There's a specific order to everything in his small home, and the space is utilized to the fullest. There is a fragment of a living room, connected to the kitchenette, and a pull-out couch. The hole in the wall is what Takashi has been using for a bedroom, but he has already accepted the fact that it'll be Katie's room from now on. The bathroom is located right beside it, and he just hopes she likes it. Or, at least, that she doesn't hate it.

All Katie has at this moment is a roll-around suitcase filled with a few articles of clothing, her toiletries, a stuffed animal, and a blanket. Her pillow is tucked under her tiny arm, and she looks around the room with a mixture of curiosity and disappointment, it seems. Takashi sighs, closing the door behind her.

"So, it's not the biggest, but that's okay for now, right? I mean, I have a little bit of money saved up, and I'm gonna find a job, and then maybe we can move in somewhere bigger, if you want-" Takashi rambles, not quite sure as to why he's actually explaining his entire life plans to a young child. Even so, Katie watches him talk, polite enough not to interrupt him. She's got her own set of manners, that's for certain; and Takashi is grateful that he doesn't have to teach her so many new morals.

Katie shrugs, setting her things on the ground. Her honey eyes are trained to the floor, but she doesn't say anything. Her hands free, they ball up at her sides. Takashi can already tell she's upset, and he can't blame her at all. She's in a new home, with a man she knows like a familiar uncle, at best; and she doesn't have her family.

And, he grimly reminds himself, she's not going to.

"Listen, Katie, I promise we're going to figure this out, okay? Together," he promises, offering a small smile. The little girl doesn't return the favor, but she does look up and nods. It's enough of an encouragement for Takashi, and he ruffles her mess of hair. It was neat this morning, but lounging in a car (and her constant playing with it) has thrown it into chaos. Still, Takashi likes her hair – he reminds himself that he'll need to take care to brush it out as often as Mrs. Holt does.

Or, did.

Takashi picks up Katie's suitcase, carrying it into his bedroom. He sets it on the bed, nearly laughing when the toddler follows him close behind. She definitely doesn't completely trust him yet, not even to keep watch over her belongings. But she's not mean about it, not at all. Just…questioning.

"Where'm I sleeping?" she asks in a quiet voice. Takashi turns to face her, his expression both jovial and gentle. A part of him wonders how she hasn't figured it out yet – as small as his apartment is, and as hard as trying to care for a little girl will be, he is certainly going to try his very best, and Katie will only, always have the best of what he has.

"In here, silly," he replies without missing a beat. "And when you need me, I'll be right outside on that little bed, see?" He points out the pull-out couch in the living room, making sure that Katie gets a clear view of where he'll be sleeping.

Even without a single therapy session, Takashi knows very well that Katie may have nightmares or just generally bad nights. She doesn't have her parents, or her brother, and she doesn't have her same home or bed. All she'll have is Takashi, and he needs to be able to make himself available for her. It's a good thing, too, that Takashi has always been a very light sleeper. He'll always know if something goes wrong.

Katie nods, scrambling onto the bed. "It's soft," she says, bouncing lightly on the mattress. Takashi can't help but chuckle, sitting down beside her.

"It is," he agrees.

There are so many thoughts going through his mind right now. The first, of course, is that he's got his entire future planned for him already. Once an average college student, Takashi Shirogane is now the legal guardian of such a small, opinionated child. Katie is subdued right now – today has been long and tiring for her; but as soon as she regains her steam, her attitude will easily fill the entire apartment (Takashi had spent many a night with the Holt family, and he knows how loud and downright…sassy Katie can be). And then there's the reality that Takashi will still have to attend college, especially if he wants to someday gain a job that'll be able to provide for Katie; she deserves as much.

What is more, Takashi is entirely unsure of how he'll even be able to know about what Katie will need. Clothes, of course, when she grows – and he's certain that children grow at rapid rates. (If he's lucky, of course, Katie will stay small or at least grow slowly). And shampoo and toothpaste for children – that's a thing, right? Yes, Takashi thinks so. Oh, and shoes. Feet grow the fastest, and Katie is a runner; she'll wear through her shoes so quickly.

All of this requires money, and Takashi is already so lacking in it. And he only has one arm at this point; and although he's supposed to be – going to be, he mentally corrects himself – receiving a prosthetic, there will still be obstacles and tasks he simply won't be able to accomplish. And the very thought of that is frustrating and heartbreaking and shakes him to the core. He might not be the sort of guardian Katie needs, the one she deserves. She'll have questions about her family, because there's only so much understanding a four year-old can possess. And what if he doesn't have the right answers for her?

Takashi feels cold and hot at the same time, and he's surprised he hasn't broken out in a cold sweat yet. A selfish part of him thinks this is all too much, and that maybe he should simply call a social worker and express how incapable he is in raising Katie. She'll get a better family that way, maybe even a father and a mother. At any rate, at least she'll have a guardian that can afford necessities for her.

He's yet to figure out all of Sam Holt's intentions for Katie. The best he knows is that, like any child, she'll have to start school, and the academic year is starting soon.

A shift of movement catches the young man's attention, and Takashi glances over. Katie has fallen back against the bed, her arms outstretched like a baby starfish. He knows very well this day has been exhausting for her (if it's been anything like it has been for him), and he can't blame her for falling asleep so suddenly. He pushes his arm against his knee, shoving himself off the bed.

Perhaps, he thinks, it would be best to simply peruse the Internet to see what sort of preschools would be open to such a late enrollment. Perhaps his – and Katie's – extenuating circumstances will help Takashi's plea. But then again, there is the question for payment. Perhaps the school zone Takashi's apartment is in offers free pre-school? Of course, Takashi knows that is highly unlikely, but he can't help but hope. But with a resolute sigh, Takashi opens his laptop. He decides then that somehow he'll get Katie enrolled in a pre-school, a good one, even. It's still possible that the Holts had a school picked out – in fact, it's even probable.

A shimmer of hope begins to shine in the young man. Yes, of course – the Holts would have had to have enrolled Katie in a preschool! Months ago, even. If he could simply call schools around the area, or contact Katie's new social worker, Takashi is certain that he'll find a place for Katie. And, with a small smile, he almost feels bad for the school she's enrolled in. Katie is smart, witty, and sharp to a fault; she'll most likely make teaching her a living nightmare.

Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately) for Takashi, he was still completely and blissfully unaware of how Allura was going to make his own life a nightmare. To be exact, though, she was probably going to make it more like a waking dream.

A.N.: It's still super awesome to see that everyone has appreciated this story so far! It's too fun to write! But fun fact: Shiro's dream in this chapter was actually the first draft I had for the first chapter (thus the change in tense). I felt like it was only fair to my own story to include it at least somewhere, and I always feel like dreams happen in the present-tense, so that's why I chose that.

Also, the title for this chapter comes from the name of a nebula, Ghost of Jupiter. I thought it definitely fit, considering we're getting a bit more of a view into the events leading up to preschool. But again, thanks for reading! Hope you all enjoyed!