A New World

[TEW]

(( You're fine. I will open the day for us here if you want to focus on the other. I'll try to write something substantive. ))

[BabyGabrial]

((I should be good to go now))

[TEW]

The morning came upon them silently, and without fanfare. Indeed, it was quite the shock to little Ciara, and it was a very unsettling experience for her as well. He had gotten up before either of them and had left them sleeping. At some point they had, in their sleep, embraced one another and slept like that. It washow they would wake up, simultaneously, embracing one another... Strangers opening their eyes together at the same moment, both feeling an instant panic before slowly settling down.

-----

For Ciara, the events of the day before seemed a dream, or perhaps an illusion was more appropriate. She had crossed the planet, only to be embraced by the warmth of an altruistic person and taken into, what seemed to her, a castle.

The first thing that she noticed were the smells that greeted her. Gone was the rancid smell of New  Orleans' French Quarter. Absent was the putrid, stale odor of the campground in Gary, Indiana. The Noise... Was gone. She noticed the warm and inviting earthy tones that welcomed her to the day. The mix of exotic wood and flowers. The still silence of peace. As she stared silently into the woman's eyes beside her, she wondered... Did this woman notice these things too? Or had years of acceptance dulled their luster in her eyes?

-----

This young child was staring at her, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not remember her name. The light spilling from the window fell upon the girls hair, showing just how unkept it actually was. Her nails were short and rough. In that moment, she decided to help the girl today. After all, she knew her husband would want her healthy, happy, and clean.

She offered the little one a smile, as she struggled to find words that would sufficiently rob the moment of its awkwardness.

-----

For a long moment they both lay there, perfectly still, measuring one another. Until Ciara, as children are prone to do, became exasperated with the awkward silence and broke it, the only way she knew how.

She reached down into the covers, blindly searching for something... Before finally smiling and pulling it from the depths, only to thrust it into the beautiful face before her.

"NORMAN..."

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko had been warned about this. The little crain machine plush toy being the catalyst to speaking to what on the surface a grown woman. Luckily Marriko can see deeper than that. This girl had a look in her eyes. One that said she was afraid but not like a prey to it's predator but more like a child who is seeing a new babysitter. Which was kind of the point if she thought about it. She turned and looked at the clock and saw it was five in the morning her husband did not to be up for another hour and honestly she could sleep in if she wanted but this girl clearly needed supervision. So she got out of their western style bed and picked her up and calmly exited the room and entered the master bathroom so now that they could freely speak without waking her husband she faced another dilemma. Language barrier. Unlike her husband she didn't speak English like it was her first language she didn't need to. She spoke just enough to get by and deal with foreign customers. She heard the girl say the plush's ridiculous name so she took a breath and did a little bow that she found degrading "'hel-lo Norman. I Oka-san" why why did she do that. To be fair at least she said that instead of the infomal "mama-san" her husband is going to have a festival of laughter when he hears this. She had a feeling this is going to be a long day.

[TEW]

The moment required nothing less than the absolute epitome of tact, and the definition of grace.  That's why she had led with Norman.  Being something of a gentleman and a scholar, she knew that he would be best suited to breaking the ice between them.  While there had been no formal introductions made, Ciara was no idiot.  She could clearly tell who this woman was, and she softly chewed her bottom lip as she was suddenly struck by the inconvenience of her sudden coming, and the imposition that she may in fact be, on their lives.  She felt selfish, and impetuous, and.... bad.  Bad about herself and her myopic approach to this entire situation.  Yet, as she was gently pulled into Marriko's arms, she wondered at just how much had been discussed prior to her arrival - and how much had been discussed after, while she slept.

 

Being pulled into the bathroom gave her an inescapable feeling of impending doom.  Indeed, she felt as little as one possibly could, and with the clear stature difference between them, she was absolutely sure that she and her compatriot were heading for a scolding.  And while she was plenty sure that she deserved the condemnation of Marriko for her rash behavior, she was fairly certain that Norman had done nothing to warrant reprisal.  Though, having just met him, there was no way she could be sure that was the case.  With a quizzical look, she searched his face, and found that she believed him to be innocent.

 

Ciara smiled as Marriko addressed Norman.  Clearly he was not to be scolded, and that made her feel better.  She was incapable of hiding the genuine smile that crossed her face and lit up her eyes when Marriko addressed Norman so beautifully.  That one act, small and insignificant though it probably seemed to the Mafioso princess, was enough to endear her forever to the young, scared, and vulnerable Irish flower. 

 

Though her actions had been rash, and clearly impetuous, Ciara was no idiot.  She had done at least some research before travelling, knowing that it would be necessary to bridge a gap at some point, even if it was only to buy fruit.  So, she had practiced a simply saying over, and over, and over again until she was absolutely positive that she had it right.  As luck would have it, this appeared to be a perfect time to use it.

 

"O....ai dekite ureshikute…." she began slowly, clearly unsure like a small dear proceeding out onto a frozen pond..... "and... gomen'nasai"

[BabyGabrial]

The girl's Japanese was sloppy almost like a baby learning their first words but Marriko was able to understand what she was saying. She slowly responds to her in Japanese "Anata wa mōshiwake arimasendo no yōna mono?" Then musters up a bit of English to make sure she understood "what sorry for?" Of course she knew  what she meant but she wanted to hear it from the girl's mouth or at least the plush's mouth. She had to admit the child was cute the ways lit up were so child like Marriko felt like praising the little gaijin

[TEW]

Obviously nervous, the girl blushed a deep crimson and pink. How to say that she was sorry for completely dusting up this nice woman's life, without warning or invite. For coming in like a meteor and shattering the structure of what she had built? For having a need to do so?

She fought back tears as she tried to find the words; words that would convey what she wanted to say without being either overdramatic or flip about it. 

She just lacked the social skills to have such a moment - much less with the language barrier. Nonetheless, she tried.

"Watashi ga mondaidesu..." She fumbled out, trying to remember her online lessons, before adding "Takusan no mondai". 

She was clutching Norman so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. However, with her other hand she was anxiously squeezing the hem of the nightgown she was dressed in.

[BabyGabrial]

"You no start problems, yet. But if you not kept out way you make existing problems many bigger" Marriko says in very broken English and with her thick Japanese accent she knew it was probably hard for her to understand, but she is sure thay she got her point across. She turned around and started running bath water and motions Ciara to raise her arms so she can get her shirt off which will be a precursor to something she can't sadly trust to someone else because she's the only woman in the house and she can't trust a man with undressing a little girl

[TEW]

Ciara couldn't help herself. She found that she instantly respected this woman and the direct, honest way that she was being spoken to. It was warm and considerate, but also firm and serious. This feeling was something that Ciara had honestly never encountered before, and she found herself not wanting to be far from Marriko.

When she turned to start the water, Ciara glanced down to Norman and was thrilled to discover that he had picked up on it too. So it wasn't just her! She squeezed his little flipper in solidarity, but was shocked to find him trembling. She tried to understand the source of his anxiety, seeing as how they both felt that Marriko was very nice. She could not, for the life of her, figure it out. 

As she raised her arms obediently, and waited for Marriko to remove her nightgown, she stared up at Norman, now held aloft over her head. What was bothering him?!?

Ah! The thought as he finally leveled with her. His days as a world champion swimmer were long since over, after the traumatic flipper incident of 2004. Norman had sworn off the water forever, and the tub was making him nervous. Never one to neglect a friend - especially a best friend like Norman - Ciara walked over to the sink and placed him down on it. Her tender spirit was on full display, as she gently rubbed his back and placed a demure kiss on his horn, before returning to her position and holding her arms to once again.

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko wouldn't lie to herself she did not understand  what she saw in the slightest. This little girl who she couldn't remember the name of nor has she told her name to, she would only know her ad Oka-san or mama if she understood the translation. She lifted her nightgown and held her by the back of the head and layed her down firmly and gently. She looked down at the cloth diaper snd and slowly started to untie the strap on the plastic pants and slipped them off revealing the  white turned lemon yellow diaper and she just looked up the girl and chuckled as she took off the pins 

[TEW]

Many times throughout her life, Ciara had been in vulnerable positions and subsequently hurt. She had learned, through painful experience, to be aware, to be afraid, and to be tense... So that she could escape if need be. And yet, as she is manhandled easily by Marriko, she feels none of the fight AND flight instinct that had been so instrumental in het survival for 20 years. Instead, she felt a great debt to Marriko, for putting get in a vulnerable position but still making her feel safe, and important, and... Human.

When Marriko chuckled at the state of her diaper, Ciara grew red. A deep crimson that began in her neck and didn't stop until it reached her hairline. Though she made no attempt to hide her wetness. In fact, the chuckling ultimately soothed her some, as she realized that Marriko saw her at her most vulnerable and recognized the intrinsic differences between them... And there was something comforting in that. 

However, as the diaper came off, something else would be visible to Marriko. Along Ciara's inner thighs, hidden from anyone not in the position Marriko was currently in, were a number of old, scarred places. They looked like hard centers with discolored scarring around them.

They were old cigarette burns. Years old burns that Ciara, while never forgetting about, was not currently thinking of as she was undressed. 

[BabyGabrial]

What in the world was this!? Marriko have seen sex workers with better looking private parts her girls at the cabaret club would never get work from her if they dared to show up to work with this when they were changing. Marriko would feel insulted if she did not personally  see too it that this child is cleaned. This is unacceptable on a grand scale. When the waater was high enough's  Marriko turned it off and checked the temperature before quickly helping the girl "Stay there. Oka-san get little girl clean all over" Marriko went and grabbed all the bath materials she would use only on rare occasions. She only pulled theseout when something truly made her feel dirty which can happen at any time when her husband and father are the type of men that they are. She walked back to the tub and started to use everything she brought to get her entire  body and everything attached thoroughly clean.

[TEW]

She had, long ago, come to terms with the idea that there were many people she would encounter who would take pleasure in her pain. Her personality not yet fully developed and lacking any discernable guile, she was often the victim of cruelty in the circles within which she often found herself. The girl did not lack life experience. So much the opposite, that when faced with the genuine kindness and authenticity of her new circle, she found herself unable to effectively communicate and subconsciously regressing.

She had, however, not thought that the scars she bore would cause such a reaction in Marriko. The reaction caused her to feel self conscious, and she blushed deeplyas she attempted to cover herself. 

As she was bathed, as now on high alert, Marriko would uncover many other signs of the girl's former life. A small medical scar on her left wrist, with two identical scars on the right - from having her wrist fractured. The right had two small pins in it. A scar from 11 stitches above her right eyebrow from the corner of a glass ashtray. A left elbow incapable of fully extending. 

Her eyes repeatedly darted to Norman, hoping that he didn't feel lonely in the sink by himself.

[BabyGabrial]

Thus would never due. She felt bad for the girl but those scars were very ugly. Marriko hopes her husband will order her long sleeved wear. She finished washing her and starts draining the bath. She gets a large towel and stands the girl up in the tub and dries her off and helps her out of the tub. They get back into the bedroom and see Kotei is up and dressed up. "Well this is a suprise" he says in Japanese then switches languages "good morning my baby. Did you sleep well?" He says giving Ciara a warm smile

[TEW]

The atmosphere during the bath was strange, even slightly awkward. Yet when it was over, and she was wrapped in the huge, incredibly fluffy lavender towel, she felt little once again. Her long hair falling about her in a matted mess, and her skin both bright and beautifully fragrant. Before she was ushered out of the bathroom, she grabbed Norman, lest he fell forgotten. She stared at herself and Marriko in the foggy mirror, and had an overwhelming desire for Marriko to laugh with her as she brushed her hair.

Then, she lit up when she saw Kotei standing in the bedroom. Bashfully, she offered a little wave of her fingers. 

"Yes sir. We both did. Thank you very much."

[BabyGabrial]

"That is wonderful baby girl. Daddy is happy you two are getting along. This lady will be watching you while daddy works but he'll be calling and visiting so you better be a good girl. Ok?" He kisses her forehead and looks to his wife "thank you  for taking care of her Marri-chan" he says to his wife in their native language and gives her a kiss on the cheek. The two of them get the supplies out to diaper Ciara and lay her on her towel as a temporary changing mat and lay her on the bed

 

[TEW]

She watched both of them - carefully. They were clearly trying to adjust to having her in their lives, and were doing so admirably. While it seemed easier for Kotei, she had the feeling that winning Marriko over would be incredibly rewarding. 

As she was laid on the makeshift changing station, she readied herself for another diapering. Only, this time, she reached over and held tightly to Marriko's hand. Her eyes darted back and forth between them, and Daddy would always get a warm smile. However she clung tightly to Marriko, feeling a bond with her that was in its, no pun intended, infancy - as was worth fostering. 

She smiled over at Norman, who of course agreed whole heartedly. 

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko looked down at the girl "i think she has taken a liking to you" Kotei says to his wife. He gets to work diapering his new baby girl. He does this with ease. While he has had no child of his own he is an old school yakuza despite his age therefore if he created an orphan he made sure to watch over them so he would volunteer at the local orphanage sometimes whether its giving money or going and changing the little ones diapers. He tickled and played with Ciara a little especially once the diaper was on. He then picked her up and bounced her in his arms as he asks his Marri-chan to go in her bag and find some clothes for her.

[TEW]

The changing was once again an experience of tenderness and care, something that was ensuring Kotei would forever have a place in her heart. As he finished, and played with her, she smiled broadly and earnestly. The affection he had was written all over his face as he toyed with her playfully.

When he lifted her up into his arms, she smiled again and let forth a little squeal of delight before suddenly and absolutely wrapping her arms around her Daddy's neck. Her intent was to never let him go, as indeed, he would just have to get used to her hanging from his neck all the time.

Then he asked for clothes. Truthfully, the only thing she owned was what she arrived in. So, begrudgingly pulling back, she pouted as shook her head "no" before mumbling

"No other clothes..."

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko looked up from the bag Ciara came with and confirmed with what Ciara said. "We both work so she will have to leave the house. We don't have time to order something offline. Can you take some gaurds and quickly run to a clothing store and buy some clothes for her and a treat for yourself. You can take my card. I'll stay here and feed her breakfast before i leave for the office" he said almost like he was laying out a plan for them. He bounced Ciara in his arms and rubbed her back as he looked his wife in the eyes. It's  like he wasn't sharing his love between the two of them but showing them both two different  loves that he's giving 100% of to each of them.

[TEW]

There was something incredibly comforting in the way that they discussed her; like she wasn't sitting right there. They were the adults, and they would decide the best course of action where she was concerned. She only hoped that Marriko would find her something uber-cute for her first real day in Japan. Somehow, she got the distinct impression that while she might look cute, it would be a byproduct of dressing her in a proper and respectable fashion. It would not be cuteness just for cuteness sake.

She turned her attention back to Kotei, as immediately found her giggles again. The way in which he poured his emotions into her made her smile, warmly and genuinely. She could honestly say that she was super excited for her first big day.

As Marriko made to leave, Ciara tried something she had often heard about, but was unsure whether it worked or not. She looked at Kotei with big doe eyes and, cuddling Normanunder get chin squeaked out a question in a solitary word.

"Toy?"

[BabyGabrial]

"Does baby Ciara want a new toy? Daddy will order you some to keep you occupied while daddy and the lady who took care of you are busy with boring grown up stuff. That way you can play like a good girl and not wonder around. Daddy knows how babies have a sense of adventure  when no one is looking" he gives her a big kiss on the cheek just getting it all out now because when he leaves for work its going to be all business all day. He takes her downstairs to the large kitchen area. He has a personal cook since neither he nor his wife are really home long enough to cook. He put in a special request today. Along with his planned meal he also wanted a bowl of rice pudding. Now that the cook sees him carrying  Ciara in and her child like look on her face they see why he made the request so the cook sits down the plate as well as the bowl of pudding laying down chop sticks and a spoon as well and Kotei almost immediately grabs the spoon and scoops up some rice pudding  and holds it to Ciara's lips "say ahhhhh" once she does and he sticks the spoon in he turns to the cook and speaks in Japanese "there should be some baby bottles in the cabinet fill them all with milk and heat one up and put the others in the fridge"

[TEW]

Her shock was visible, as easily read on her face as her mouth hung open. Had that really worked? Would shebe getting new toys simply by bring sweet and asking for them? During her life of drifting she had heard it said on more than one occasion that a person had "princess complex" or that they were "a princess in rags". Is this what it meant to be a princess? Not qualified, not a princess with 'x', but just a princess? She certainly felt like one as Daddy carried her downstairs and placed her at the table.

Her Japanese was horrendous. Period. But she could tell by his body language that Daddys conversation with the chef was about her. 

As the rice pudding hit her tongue she giggled excitedly. She could've sworn that she had never tasted anything on this planet as delicious... As she once had beignets! She greedily consumed the rice pudding before turning to Daddy and asking sweetly

"What are we doing today?"

It was an innocent enough question, but the look on her face showed that anything other than a magical day in Japan with daddy would be quite unacceptable.

[BabyGabrial]

He continued to feed her spoonful after spoonful of pudding as this would pretty much be her baby food. He wiped her face and made note to get her bibs "daddy has to go to work so you will be spending the day with Oka-ssn. Daddy is having problems with people and he needs to tell someone about you so you can get proper protection so today you'll mostly be inside. Later she will be taking you to work with her and that may be where daddy picks you up. Can you make a promise to daddy? Can you promise to be a good girl and do everything Oka-san says and go nowhere without her no matter what anyone says" he explained to her as he runs his hand through her hair and gave her light kisses to the forehead and the chef comes in with a warm bottle of milk and hands it to his Oyabun. He leans Ciara back in her arm "baby Ciara want baba?"

[TEW]

She listened, dutifully, as she heard that she would be spending the day without him. Honestly, had it been under the care of anybody but Marriko, she knew she would've had a complete meltdown. However, she secretly longed for a relationship with Mama, and was glad to get a day with her - even if it was a conciliation prize. 

She wondered what they would do and what the day would be like with Mama. Should she call her Mama? Probably not. Not yet. What should she call her? She instantly felt woefully unprepared. 

But as she took her baba and looked around the warm home, she figured that she wouldn't be able to mess up too badly, right?

As she took the baba, her eyes never left his. Even when her lids got heavy, they stayed locked on his the entire time. Then another thought crept into her head. 

Was she in real danger?

She felt safe in the house, but it just dawned on her that with everything he told her yesterday, she might be in very real danger here. 

Realizing this, she grabbed his arm and moved away from the nipple.

"You can't go today!"