I lay on my back in the main room, allowing Kimiko to meticulously stack her toys on my stomach. She paused and grabbed a piece of pocky Apachai offered her, munching on it happily.
"You're so spoiled," I said.
"No I not," Kimiko replied, continuing to place random blocks on my belly.
"You're my baby, though, aren't you?" I asked.
"No I not," she repeated. Shio leaned over, poking her side.
"Are you my baby?" he questioned.
"No," she said. "I Papa baby." Akisame chuckled.
"You're my baby, too," I huffed.
"I Papa baby," she said, placing a block on my breastbone.
"What am I?" Shio asked, "Chop liver?" Kimiko paused and looked at him confused. She didn't know what chop liver was.
"You Unka Shiho," she said. I laughed at this while Sakaki rolled his eyes.
She stopped when she saw Shugure had dropped down from the ceiling next to her and was looking over the random pattern of toys on my diaphragm.
"An' Gura!" she exclaimed, grabbing the black haired woman's hand.
"Hello…Kimiko," Shugure greeted. "What are you…doing?"
"Play Mama," Kimiko told her. Shugure nodded in understanding and crouched down, handing another toy to her. Kimiko took it and placed it on my thigh, smiling. Kensei strolled into the room, smiling down at Kimiko who grinned at him, offering him a large purple teething ring. He took it and thanked her, balancing it on my shoulder with her other toys. Kimiko giggled.
"I wan food," she told him.
"I'll get you something, Kimi," I said, shifting. She scowled and put her hands on me.
"No, you play," she demanded.
"I was going to the kitchen anyway," Kensei said. "What do you want, dear?"
"Cracker," she said.
"Kimiko, what do you say when you want something?" Akisame probed.
"Pwease?" Kimiko tried. Kensei smiled at her and nodded, walking towards the kitchen.
"I'm worried," I said, tilting my head back to look at my lover.
"About what?" he asked.
"All the recent attacks on the Dojo," I said.
"Don't fret about it," Akisame said. I glared at him.
"We have a child to worry about," I said. "I think I should fret."
"Do you think I can't protect you?" Akisame questioned.
"It's not that," I said. "I just know you won't always be around."
"You have nothing to fear," he said. "Any one of us can ensure the safety of you and Kimiko."
"But what if I'm alone," I argued.
"You were more than adequate at protecting yourself and Kimiko the other day," he pointed out.
"I just pushed them off of me for you to deal with and the was only because of the things you've taught me," I said. Akisame sighed and set his book aside.
"What do you want from me?" he questioned.
"I was just wandering if Kimiko and I shouldn't go somewhere else for a while until this…'battle' blows over," I said. Akisame got a dark look on his face and turned away.
"If that is what will make you feel safe," he said coldly.
"Akisame…" I tried. "I just don't want anything to happen to Kimi."
"You doubt that I can protect you?" his voice was still like ice.
"I don't doubt it!" I snapped. "I know you and anyone here can protect me and Kimi, but what if I'm alone? These fighters might attack first and ask questions later and if anything happened to Kimiko…" I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked back the sudden tears that sprang to my eyes. Akisame looked over at me, hearing the change in my voice. Kimiko noticed too and stopped her play.
"Mama?" she asked. Akisame moved over to me, Shugure scooting back to give him room. He pulled me into his arms, brushing the collection of toys our daughter had arranged on my person to the floor.
"It'll be alright," he said, petting my hair. "I promise." I nodded, letting my tears soak into his kimono as he held me tightly.
"If anyone...hurts Kimiko...they...will die," Shugure said.
"She's right," Shio said, taking a swing of his beer. "Martial artists don't go after kids. But on the off chance she did end up hurt, there would be a blood bath."
"Apachi will protect Mama and Kimiko with his life so do not cry Mama!" Apachi declared. I nodded again, twisting my hands in Akisame's kimono.
DHMB: Sorry about the insane delay! My computer crashed, life happened and I had to hunt down where I have saved the file for this story only to discover that while I had saved a completed version on my computer, the back up version was not complete and only had bits and pieces of the chapters I hadn't posted. Needless to say I was a bit pissed that 30+ pages had gone poof! I recently began working on it again, it seems the writing bug has bitten me. So here you go. Sorry for the delay. The next chapter is extra juicy as an apology!