A Little Twist

Thirty-One

'Kanato, please, I don't want Daiki to cry.' She checks on her son and joins Kanato. 'Moriko never baked anything because she cooked the apple before putting it in the pie...' 

'Is she stupid?' Kanato turns back. 

'Hmm, Reiji might test her for that. Talk to him to be sure.' She goes back to the kitchen. 'Unfortunately, there are no apples for a while. Be patient with me, Kanato.' 

He nods. 'I will. You know better and you earned it to use the kitchen.' He sees the oven light. 'When will it be ready?' 

'Ten more minutes.' She gets herself a drink. I wonder if they are getting thirstier. Moriko does spend a lot of time downstairs for making one mistake after another. One of them could bite me. 

Kanato shakes no. 'Believe it or not, but Shu made it clear not to bite you for another week.' 

Shu punished everyone by giving me another week? Otherwise, it's always Reiji. She turns her head in surprise. 'Shu did?' 

'Yes,' confirms Kanato with a nod. 'He even reminded us to stay away if we can't control our thirst around you. Daiki needs you for everything.' He averts his eyes to the baby. 'Is he not eight days old today? He needs you, Risa, more than any of us. Some of us know how to change a diaper in case you're in the bathroom.' 

She shakes no. 'You are the only one who doesn't know how to change his diaper...' 

'Wrong, Shu hasn't changed his diaper,' he interrupts her. 

'Kanato,' she warns him. 'You kept your distance the most. Is it because you want to know for sure who the father is?' She knows she's right when he avoids her eyes. 'Are you going to ignore him forever if he's your nephew instead of your son?' She has to turn his head to her to see his reaction. 

'Risa, stop touching...' 

'You know we're not going anywhere for a while. The father will be determined, but you are part of this family and so is he.' She sobs and turns away from him. 'He's family because he's from one of you. I'm not, and it makes me question my future. Will I have a future and see my son grow up, or will I become one of your dolls? That question haunts me for quite some time.' She picks Daiki from the playpen. Without waiting for his response, she walks away leaving Kanato alone in the kitchen. 

Will I have a future, or will I become one of your dolls? Kanato can not unhear it. 

'What did you do?' Laito shows up when he hears Risa cry quietly. 

'It's what he didn't do. She's right. You and Shu are the only ones who haven't helped her by changing Daiki. I can't believe that you're waiting until the father is determined.' Ayato leans against the kitchen counter. 

The oven timer runs out, and Kanato turns to it. The butter cake is ready, and she didn't take any of it? 

'Hey, are you listening?' Ayato pulls his brother back. 'You know we heard her, right? About having a future yes or no and if she would become a doll? You didn't react to that...' 

'And I'm positive that it will add to her insecurities,' finishes Laito his brother's sentence. 'After Reiji, Ayato, and me trying to bite her, Shu stepped up. Now we can't bite her for another week. It's bad enough that he's punishing us, otherwise, he never intervenes.' 

Ayato agrees. 'True, he is always sleeping or listening to music. That was so out of character for him. Who knows what he will do, so don't push it. Besides, she does have a point. Daiki could be your son or nephew. Are you telling me that you want to raise him or ignore him?' 

Cornered, Kanato teleports back to his room. 'Leave me alone.' I want a cake. 

*** 

Hearing the baby, Shu goes to Risa's bedroom. 'What's with that noise, huh?' I don't see Risa. She must be in the bathroom. 'Well, your mommy can't help currently.' He puts the baby on the changing station. 'Let's help your mother.' He opens the zipper of the onesie. Trap his hands and arms with the onesie. Even only by listening, I can do this. He works fast to change the diaper. 'There, how's that? That must feel better.' He closes the onesie and lifts him in his arm. 'Unless you are hungry, you should go back to sleep.' He finds Risa in the doorway looking at him. 'Give your mother some time for herself too, she works almost around the clock for you. Don't you think she deserves it?'