Kimiko walked around the yard on shaky legs, her chubby form filled with uncertainty. She paused and looked back at me, her eyes meeting mine, looking for reassurance. I smiled at her and nodded, my hands folded serenely in my lap. She turned back around, her eyes determined.
Another hesitant step was soon followed by more as she walked across the yard towards her destination. Her daddy stood with his back to her, barking orders at Kenichi. She reached out her hand, grabbing his pants leg and demanding his attention. Akisame looked down, his face breaking into a pleasantly surprised smile. He reached down, lifting her into his arms.
"Well, well," he cooed, "did my little girl walk all the way here to see her Papa?" Kimiko giggled and grabbed his face, leaning forward and chewing on his chin. He chuckled and kissed her, petting her black hair.
"Do you want to help Papa train his disciple?" he asked. Kimiko grinned at him. Akisame handed her the fan he held and directed her to us it on the flame beneath Kenichi. Kimiko waved her arm enthusiastically, giggling when Kenichi accused Akisame of being an evil child-corrupting demon. Kimiko stopped after a while and began chewing on the fan. I chuckled as Akisame snatched it from her grip and scolded her gently, telling her the fan wasn't clean.
Kimiko looked at her father, completely affronted that he had taken her chew toy. She reached for it but he pulled it away. She scowled at him, her lower lip trembling.
"Now, now," he said, "don't cry. You have many very pretty toys. Why don't you play with those?"
Kimiko's big eyes watered and she began to wail, loudly. Akisame bounced her on his hip and tried to sooth her.
"Kimiko, you're not getting the dirty fan back if you're just going to put it in your mouth," he told her. But the 9 month old didn't understand her daddy's logic and continued to cry.
"Kimiko," my voice cut across the yard and my daughter stopped her sobbing to look at me with a red face.
"Papa told you no," I said firmly. Kimiko glared at me and resumed her crying. Akisame sighed and held her to him, patting her back.
"You'll live, my dear," he assured her. Kimiko pushed away from him and he set her on her feet. She gave him an angry look and walked towards me. I smiled and lifted her into my arms, letting her babble about how mean her daddy was in her baby talk while I retrieved one of her toys from a box at my side. I handed her the large stuffed bear Shugure had given to her all those months ago. She took it, her anger evaporating as fast as it had come. She hugged it, gnawing on its ears and talking to it.