A New World

[BabyGabrial]

"Baby what is wrong?" He asked as he satbthe bottle down and wiped milk from her lips. She pushed the bottle away so quickly  that the bottle squirted milk across her face. What did she mean he couldn't go. Oh of course baby doesn't want to leave daddy. "Baby you and your oka-san will have a fun day together. Daddy will call and check on you just do what you promised daddy" he bounced her and teased the bottle to her lips to see if she'll take it again

[TEW]

She turned away from the bottle once more, needing him to hear her. She reached up and touched his cheeks, speaking slowly and plainly, and add maturely as she could manage.

"Bad men out there. Hurt daddy! Hurry Ciara! Hurt Mama! You stay here. We'll go to the zoo!" Anything, she figured, to keep him from being out where people could hurt him. Anything, she reasoned, to keep him close enough that he could protect she and Marriko.

She was grasping at straws, but she didn't care. His talks have Now frightened her to the extreme. And this is the result.

[BabyGabrial]

Ahhh now he sees he scared her with his warnings to her. Honestly  it's good she understands the situation she is in now but she didn't understand why he warned her and why he kept his distance. "Baby it's too late for daddy and mama. Staying here won't make us safer it puts us in more danger. Daddy goes to work to keep you and mama safe. We'll go to the zoo one day you just stay back and do what daddy and mama tells you" he kisses her forehead and offers her the baba one more time.

[TEW]

While she may be completely and totally ignorant of the life that Daddy and Mama live, it was, at least, Socratic ignorance. She knew enough to know that she didn't know. She understood enough to realize that she didn't and couldn't fully understand. 

It all seemed so counter intuitive to her. Her life had not been easy, and she believed that she was pretty adept at spotting the bad guys. These two, whatever else they may be, were not that. They were kind and gentle, even unto the breaking of their serenity auth the arrival of this, for lack of a better word, doorstep baby.

She opened her mouth and accepted the bottle this time, though her disposition still clearly conveyed how nervous she actually was.

[BabyGabrial]

He rocked her and kissed her as he fed her her morning baba. He checked the time. He wanted to make sure he went to see his father in law bright and early. If word got to him about Ciara that didn't come from Kotei's mouth first that would look bad and make it seem like he was plotting something with this girl behind his father in law's, Ainaki's, his Oyabun's back and that's the last thing he wanted. For all the rumors about him Kotei wasn't a ruthless man. He didn't kill and steal from citizens for bumping into them on the streets he only got violent with his enemies if diplomacy was out of the question. However his Oyabun was a much harder man. He was a lieutenant to their clan's chairman. He was a powerful person and he made sure he did everything to keep his power. He wasn't  just afraid of his enemies  coming after Ciara he had to make sure his allies didn't try to use her against him. First thing to do that is making sure Akira Oyabun understands the true nature of her appearance and requesting 24/7 elite body gaurds around her.

[TEW]

She finished the bottle as she picked up on a change in Kotei. He was lost in thought, or perhaps planning, or maybe he was sleeping with his eyes open? No, not that last one, but still - he was not mentally there. She wondered at how much stress he must be under, and about how many people Not named Ciara or Norman, or mama counted on him everyday to be something for them. Something that they need. She figured it was a lot, maybe somewhere between a million, and a zillion she figured, always one to estimate conservatively.

She reached up and gently traced the very tip of a finger across his lapel pin. It still fascinated her, for some unknown reason. It was probably the power abdl stature contained within the pin itself that caught her eye.

Also, it was pretty.

[BabyGabrial]

He feels his baby playing  with daddy's pin and she looked down  and took her finger and kissed on it repeatedly  and at that point he noticed that she had finished her bottle he tried to feed her more pudding but she seemed to be full so he put her over his shoulder along with a cloth and started  gently  patting and rubbing her back and while he does this he turns to the door as Marriko comes in and  sits a ton of bags in front of them she had a lot of stuff she thinks will be  cute on the girl and plenty of elegant  outfits for herself of course 

[TEW]

Her worry was destined, it seemed, to be drowned in a sea of loving affection and gentle care. Somewhere deep within her She knew that things were going to happen - bad things. She was not so naive as to believe that anyone, despite their kind and gentle spirit, could exist in such a world without knowing the bitter sting of tragedy... And loss.

But she had been somewhat assuaged for the moment. Her attention on his warmth and softness as he held her. The confident and strong, yet soft and considerate way that he handled her as he hoisted her up and onto his shoulder.

It was from this perch that she saw Marriko come in with the armloads of bags. She hoped to look cute. Dignified, but decidedly cute. 

Watching Marriko, she got the distinct impression that was what she wanted as well.

[BabyGabrial]

He kept patting the girl until she let out a couple of burps. "You should get going" Marriko said looking at the clock. He agreed with her and looked at Ciara "remember what daddy said." He whispered into her ear and handed her off to Marriko. He gave them both kisses and went off to try and get things settled in the cold cold snow. He knew he would need to watvh his back today. Because if he went down without talking to his Oyabun then he knew who he would blame for his death and Marriko would probably blame her as well and hand her to her father on a silver platter. She may be tolerating Ciara right now but he knew his wife. When she grieved she grieved in anger and she needed a body to point to. Kotei fears it would be Ciara and he can't allow that. He refused to not see tomorrow for himself, the Okami Family, Marriko, and especially for Ciara.

[TEW]

She nodded, a silent promise to Kotei to remember his instructions to her and follow his directions to the letter. She could tell that her unannounced arrival had put their lives into a complete tailspin, and she didn't really know any way to make it better. So, she reasoned, at the very least she could keep from making it worse. She could be good. She could be quiet. She could be easy.

She tried with all of her might to convey these feelings in that fleeting hug, before seeing him head out the door and into the blank, white canvas that was the day.

She then turned to Marriko, a little unsure of howto proceed. They had shared a tender moment earlier, for which Ciara was eternally grateful. But now it was daytime, and the worries and thoughts that had patiently waited for the sun were now clamoring into their lives, individually and collectively, once more.

After a moment of silence, Ciara did the only thing she knew to do. She sat still where he had left her, and chanced a little wave to Marriko. 

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko looked her husband's prized baby girl over. She figured she was trying to not get in the way so she went over and picked the small gaijin up and took the bags that she would kill hours by having her try on the outfits and maybe if she felt like she could look for a room for her. Maybe design it. This at least gave her an excuse for large amounts of shopping. Of course there was always the inevitable diaper change looming over her. She could make someone else do it when the time came but she refused to let a small child's toiletry needs be mightier then she wad.

[TEW]

Ciara literally clung to Marriko when she picked the girl up. Her arms flew around the woman's neck and she buried her face in the woman's shoulder. Her long, black hair didn't bother Ciara, even though it was directly against her face. It smelled of something pleasant, from a time in her history that Ciara could no longer conjure to her conscious mind.

As she was carried, along with the bags and her steadfast narwhal companion, to the bedroom, Ciara couldn't help but nuzzle against Marriko. 

Once they arrived in the bedroom, Ciara was placed on the bed along with the myriad of different colored bags. She couldn't contain her excitement as she bounced a little.

She looked up into Marriko's eyes, with a smile that started in her chin and traveled through every inch of her face. It was a smile that could only be described as the embodiment of gratitude, excitement, and carefree fun.

"Thank you... Mama" she said, caught up in her excitement, before blushing profusely.

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko was also caught off gaurd by the M word but she just sighs and lays out multiple outfits and looks to the girl and starts getting her clothes off and gestures for her to pick an outfit she wants to try on first at least for her to be able to see if the clothes fit and how they look on this girl.

[TEW]

In that instance, Ciara felt both anxious and embarrassed. She realized almost instantly that she had made a mistake, and she felt "like a scaring over-friendly guest you've brought to bed..." What had been an outward flow of energy and a sincere desire for connection had become self consciousness and doubt - heralded by that all too common expression of generalized exasperation... The sigh.

Her face burned, hot to the touch, as she placed her over-eager hands into her lap and crossed her legs in front of her, her knees up at her throat. She glared at Norman. How could he have let her perform such an embarrassing faux pas? She suddenly felt very... Naked.

She gestured toward a simple dress. One in a deep plum with a princess waistline. Truly, it was more out of a need to escape the awkwardness of the moment than anything else.

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko sighs as she watches the girl just tighten up out of nowhere. She can't dress her like that it would be impossible. Sue would think the girl would want to hurry and get into something other than a big poofy diaper but she seems to be unreasonably hesitant. Its a good thing that she doesn't have to go to any of the clubs today or she would be in a hurry. But she stipl did not want to be there all day so she took a deep breath and said what was almost guaranteed to work. "Ciara-chan, come to mama" 

[TEW]

The conflict between woman and baby inside of both her mind and her spirit was very real. On the one hand, she understood that Marriko had absolutely no prior exposure to her, her personality, or her unique way of life. Not only that, she had been given no warning, nor a chance to prepare for Ciara's intrusion into her own sphere. Ciara respected and appreciated the gravity of such a difficult situation. 

On the other hand, her need for loving acceptance and tender, yet firm, guidance and protection were very consuming. Adding to the fact that Ciara felt such a longing desire to be loved and accepted by the woman, Ciara also felt a maternal aura and an irrational connection to Marriko as a parental figure.

Quite simply, she was torn.

However, the light of her spirit, as evidenced by the glint in her eye when summoned to "mama" was undeniably genuine and authentic. As she lowered her knees and gently got off of the bed. 

She walked obediently over to Marriko and nodded, though still a little gun shy about jumping in head first as she had done before.

[BabyGabrial]

Marriko didn't really feel weird about saying that. She is called mama-san all of the time since she runs bars and clubs but still this was an entirely different situation than either of those. Here she was about to dress a infintile gaijin adult. "No wonder Kotei-kun talked to another woman. I would never act like this. It is far too vulnerable" she said to herself in Japanese so Ciara would not be able to understand her. She pulled the dress over her head and pulled her arms through the sleeves. She got all long sleeved clothing because she didn't want  people to see Ciara's damaged arms. It's also why she decided that she will be the only one to wash the girl at least until her privates heal. She can't subject another person to deal with that. That would be incredibly  indecent.  Marriko looked the dress over and saw that it fit right if not just a bit too big but that just gives her a childish charm which is what she was looking for so Marriko picked right. She grabbed more outfits for the girl to try on.

[TEW]

As she was dressed, she felt that maybe she was gaining a truer understanding of Marriko's feelings. Though she had been wrong no less than 3 times already... She assumed that Marriko was observing her with something of a detachment... Which she assumed she would probably adopt as well, had the roles been reversed.

When Marriko let the dress fall around her, She smiled. The fabric was soft and comforting, and enveloped her like nothing she had ever owned. She smiled and nodded, giving a little twirl so that the bottom of the dress flared out a bit. 

She was quickly slipping back into giddiness. 

"Oh thank you Mama. I love it!" She said genuinely as she toyed with the hem of the dress playfully, giving a little curtsy to Marriko, as she giggled.

[BabyGabrial]

Ok ok Marriko has to admit it to herself. That was incredibly adorable. She rewarded the girl with lats to the head when she did that little curtsey.  Marriko knew a thing or two about  cuteness, mostly because she needed some of her girls to be to please certain men, but this girl, when she wasn't shy or showing bad marks, was a natural cutey "Ciara-chan help mama put clothes away in room." She says as she grabs a group of outfits  and motioned for Ciara to do the same. Once she has they go off to the room Marriko says will be her new room and what Marriko or "mama" says goes and she will remind  Ciara of that should she feel the need to. Marriko has little patience for people in general but disobedient children especially. This new generation believes they can disrespect their elders and she hears that Gaijins are worse with that especially Americans. Marriko will be having none of that. She wants to live like a child? She will respect mama like a proper child.

[TEW]

Ciara felt like the wind itself came alive inside her chest and propelled her upwards toward the sky when Marriko smiled and patted her head. Approval! Yay! That's what Ciara had hoped for, nay, yearned for, all along. Receiving it was like getting instant validation. Validation that Ciara had never received before from anyone not named Kotei. And certainly nite from anybody that Ciara desperately wanted validation from, like she did Marriko.

If she thought that outburst of energy was cute, the way in which Ciara soaked up the approval would be cuteness overload. She batted her eyes playfully and, though her upper body remained mostly still, her feet were alive with excited twitching. 

It looked like she was dancing.

"Yes, Mama" Ciara replied dutifully, before scooping up a giant armload of outfits and attempting to follow her. She hoped that her room would be close, as she feared the thought of being far away from them in this new place. 

Her feet shuffled along the floor as she carried the outfits proudly behind Marriko.

[BabyGabrial]

It was actually the next room over in a triangle it would be the room to the right. The master bedroom would be the room to the middle and Kotei's home office would be to the left. Of course Marriko doubted that Kotei-kun would make no she doubt he would even let Ciara sleep in the room for a while. He probably loved last night having the girl between them. Marrkio took a breath as she hung up clothes that their relationship was nothing more than platonic but still this was completely out of the blue for Marriko. Had she known and been involved for a while she wouldn't feel like she was forcing this or it was being forced on her. Yes the girl was downright adorable and considering the diapers and the fact that she walked in on Kotei burping her after feeding her a baby bottle of milk it was clear what kind of relationship they wanted and as long as they keep it how it is and it doesn't interfere with Kotei-Kum's work she will let it be and assist how she can but if Kotei slips up or she catches them doing something  father and daughter wouldn't be doing then she steps in and someone may die.

[TEW]

Ciara was tickled to death with the room. It was beautiful. It had a perfect view. It had an amazing feeling about it. It was close to Mama and Daddy.

It was, in a word, perfect. Even if the decor was somewhat older than her personality and something she hoped would change. She was so grateful, that she was overcome with emotion.

For a moment, she just smiled and made no attempt to hide the tears racing down her cheeks before rounding her chin. But...then...she was back.

Quite literally, she skipped around the room playfully. All clutching the clothes, She skipped a lap around mama before giggling.

"Oh Mama i love it so much! Thank you thank you thank you!"

[BabyGabrial]

"Die Kotei put extra sugar in her bottle" Marriko thought to herself qs she watched the girl skip around  her.  She could tell the girl must really like the room but that is probably because she has not haddl better. Anyway Marriko figures she will need to give this girl activities to wear her down. "Ciara-chan give mama clothes" she said in her broken  English and once the girl complied she received another headpat. Marriko grabbed a tissue from nearby and gently  wiping the tears away as they stared into each other's  eyes. Marriko could  see begging eyes. Begging for a mama that will treat her how she wants. Has it been anyone but Kotei or her father who brought this girl in and she would never do thus  she would kick them out her home. She sighed and gave the girl what seemerld like a much needed hug

[TEW]

Ciara clearly took a tremendous amount of pride in helping - even with the most mundane tasks. And yet, it would be clear even to those less capable of reading people than Marriko, that this was no childish infatuation. Her behaviour was genuine at the most basic and cellular of levels. 

Furthermore. The slightest validation from Marriko brought with it the warmth and adoration that a starving puppy might feel toward a friendly hand. As evidenced by the girl's reacting to even simple pats on the head.

Then Marriko hugged her. That hug, with its overwhelming acceptance and magnanimity, sent the girl into a torrent of fresh tears as she clung to mama, almost as if in desperation to hang onto the embrace, lest it be lost at the moment of its breaking.

[BabyGabrial]

Oh no. Why was rhe girl crying more Marriko looks at her wondering  what to do. She takes a second to think and she runs to her room and grabs one of the pacifiers bought for her and opens it up and runs back in and lays Ciara in her lap. She puts the pacifier in and tries to rock her. Unlike her husband she is not used to taking care of children. She has younger siblings but not by the same mother so they weren't raised together. Marriko held her really tightly to her chest and swiftly rocked her. It was not gentle and probably would make a real baby cry even more. "Ciara-chun no cry" she said a couple of times hoping that would stop the tears. The last thing she wanted to hear all day was a crying adult baby.