Baby Love - A Hakuouki Fan Fiction

Chapter 27

"ARGH! NO, AKANE!"

The living hall was buzzing with people as Shinpachi was busy tending to his guests, he brought out trays of light bites; fruit punch, he manoeuvre carefully ignoring the mess on the floor. Everyone decided to meet up at his place to wrap presents for Kondo-san's daughter. He stepped aside to admire the chaotic area with both hands on his hips.

On one hand, Akane was plodding between the working adults giving them extra chore and on the other: Sannan clumsily sliding forward after stepping onto a paper, frantic Heisuke making sure Akane was not causing further disrupt, sticky tapes everywhere; colour markers strewn on the ground; boxes in various shapes and sizes.

"Oh no, no, no!" Heisuke cries in agony once again.

The desperate looking lad's hair was up in cow lick visible tears glimmering in his wide gaze beside him, Yamazaki meticulously ties up a shimmery ribbon, meanwhile, Ibuki was rolling on the floor belly-laughing. Shin sat on the couch to admire the scenario: Toshizo sat crossed-leg glaring at the torn piece of material making sure the object in hand quacks in fear both Hajime and Souji squabbling for similar bubble wrapper gripped firmly in their hands.

"Akane! come here!" Ibuki called out for the child before attaching a flower ribbon on her tuft hair. By now, she was covered in tapes, arms and legs scrawled in markers.

He got up to lift Akane never breaking off his stride to fetch Chizuru and Sen-Hime waiting by the entrance they went out to purchase more products, as well as, chips and drinks to accompany everyone. Just then, Akane leaned sideways as if on the lookout for someone.

"What's wrong?" Shinpachi took a strong whiff of her baby scent.

"Where's Mimi?" she whispered in dismay.

"Ahem," Sen-Hime knowingly observed him from the corner of her eyes.

"She is busy prepping for her classes," he informed the rest of them.

"Oh yes, I forgot she referred to during our video call," Sen-Hime announced while perching the supplies on the coffee table.

"You ladies are close now?" Harada butted in, he was sipping on a cold brew taking a break from his current duties.

"Yes, Aoi and Miyuki are great to hang out with!" Chizuru exclaimed, out of the blue, she misses their energy.

"Chizuru, we finally have other girls to bond with besides them in this group," Sen-Hime sighs aloud.

The camaraderie continued, Shinpachi sat down amongst the noisy team initially, he completed arranging a simple gift hence he was free. Akane was still in his clutch while aiding the company busy at hand. All of a sudden, Ibuki's cell phone rang when Shin caught the crestfallen expression the boy got up to reply.

When Shinpachi glances elsewhere he saw Toshizo frowning thoughtfully his sharp gaze focused on the teenager even after Ibuki's sudden announcement that he has to return back home neither enquired further explanation. One final stroke on Akane's mane, Ibuki let himself out. In synchronisation movement everyone shared glances, perhaps, telepathically presuming comparable opinion.

"I wish he would say something," Heisuke growled, he portrayed a hapless profile.

"Neh, there's something not right with him," Souji mentioned the obvious.

Rubbing his temple as if deep in thinking, Toshizo exhaled, "It is time for me to step up to investigate, Ryuunosuke-kun is a good boy who doesn't have that attitude to pick a fight."

"I too have a strange feeling this has to do within his household," Yamazaki offered his belief as well.

"Right, I'll get on to it as soon as possible," Toshizo nodded once the earlier party ambience began sombre all of them were experiencing disheartening emotion.