I walked along the porch, looking for Akisame and Kimiko.
"Mama!" I looked over at saw my daughter trotting towards me, her long black hair pulled up in a ponytail. Not far behind her, Akisame walked along, his nose buried in a book.
"Mama," Kimiko repeated. "Food?"
"You're hungry?" I asked her.
"Yes," she replied.
"Okay, go into the dining room and I'll get your dinner," I told her. She smiled and walked into the main room, heading for the dining room.
"Unka Shiho," I heard Kimoko exclaim as she found Shio drinking in the main room. "I wan food."
"Ahh, Mama has that ready for you," he told her, taking a swing of his beer.
"Food me," she demanded.
"Ah, you want me to eat with you?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"We'll all eat together when your Mama serves dinner, baby," he told her.
"Kay," she said.
Akisame stopped near me, looking down at his book.
"But when that happened," he began, "the fisherman must have thought…"
I felt a presence behind me, but didn't turn around. Akisame grinned as he felt the same. The person behind me lunged forward and I ducked, swinging my leg back and nailing them in the groin. I dropped down, sticking my leg out and spinning around, sweeping their feet out from under them. I planted my hands on the ground, flipping out of the way while Akisame grabbed another man and slammed him on the floor. I spun to the side as Shio sent a man flying back and swept Kimiko into my arms, elbowing another fighter in the gut. I planted my foot in his chest and pushed, making him stumble out the door where the others could take care of him. Kimiko laughed and clapped her hands.
"Mama funny!" she cried. "Mama funny!" I leaned against the wall, listening for more activity.
"And so, if the two sides are tied together, the universe is bound as one," I heard my lover say. "Well? I'd like to ask your opinion on the matter.
"Kill me!" a man begged.
"I wasn't talking to you," Akisame said. "Darling?"
"I don't know what it is you're reading, my love," I said, stepping around the wall. "So I can't say."
"Can we eat yet?" Shio barked.
"Apachai is hungry!" Apachai called from where he was juggling a few of the fighters.
"As soon as this mess is cleaned, we can eat," I said, stepping over an unconscious warrior. "Miu and Kenichi will be back soon."
"I'll go get the cart," Kensei said.
DHMB: Well there ya go! Once again, sorry for the delay! Enjoy!