Chapter 2

Twilight POV

Sora and I met up at a park.

“I can’t get over how precious she is. What’s her name?”

“Natsumi. She’s turning two in August.”

“She's even more precious now. You better watch out because I might kidnap her one day.” She joked.

“Short Stuff, funny running into you here.” Seriously, who else, that I know, will pop up? I have nothing against Hansuke, but still.

“Speaking of, since when did you start babysitting?” He asked Sora.

“Technically, it's not babysitting if the mom is next to me.”

“You mean...” He turned to me. “Since when? And how come no one thought to tell me?”

“Actually, Takumi doesn’t know,” Sora explained. “I tried to tell her to change that though.”

“I don't mean to be harsh but I'm with Sora on this one. I think he should know.”

“See? I told you.”

“Alright alright. I'll tell him if it means you two will stop whining about it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take her home. It's past her nap time and she gets very restless if she doesn't take her nap.” I got up to leave and Sora handed Natsumi to me.

Third-person POV

“She’s not going to do it, is she?” Sora sighed

“It doesn’t look like she’s changed her stubborn ways so probably not.”

“Good thing I’ve come up with something.”

“Should I even ask?”

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

Twilight POV

When we got home, I went upstairs to put Natsumi in her crib.

“Mama?” She asked just when I tucked her in.

“Yes, my love?”

“Does I have a papa?”

Ah, crap. I could lie and say no, but it won’t accomplish anything. She’ll find out at some point.

“Yes. Why?”

“Just wanna know if exists.”

It's funny how she knows the word “exists”, but she can't form proper sentences.

“He does but it's just...he's away.” And as heartless as it sounds, I hope it stays that way.

“He dead?”

“No no, honey, he's not. He’s just away all. If it makes you feel better, you can think of me as both your mama and your papa.”

“Oh, ok.”

“But you have your grandpa, yeah?”

“Nah, Pop-pop too old.”

I snorted at that. She really is her mother's daughter.

“I guess he is.”

“But Mama if I has mama and papa and gwammy and gwampy and pop-pop, what about gwan gwan?”

“I’ll take you to see her another time, ok?” I kissed her forehead.

“Ok.”

“That's enough questions for today, you need to get your sleep.”

“Ok.” She closed her eyes. “I hopes Papa big and stwong like Pop-pop so he pwotect me and Mama like other papas when comes back.” She said in her sleep.

I won’t lie, that tore me up on the inside a little. Maybe I should let him know. But that’ll mean she’ll want to know why we’re not together and I’d rather she remains clueless about it. I think I should start coming up with half-truths.

I sighed and walked out of the room. I found Etsuko already waiting for me.

“Did you find any more information?”

“Yeah, but I'm not sure what they mean. Although, I think you might.”

“Ok, let’s hear it.”

“About the whole choose wisely thing, I saw three guys, but they were silhouetted so I couldn't see what they looked like. You were tied to each of them but belonged to none. One of those ties was severed but is repairing itself, one was breaking but something is holding it together. I’m not sure what though. I’m also not sure what’s going on with the third one. The only thing I saw for the second message is a silhouette of a woman watching over you. That's about it. In my opinion, it sounds like things are about to get complicated.”

“Believe me, it's already begun.”

Later, Sora asked me to meet up at her place, so I guess I have plans tomorrow.