His Little Girl

Chapter 4

Giyuu had taken a cold shower and changed into a casual blue robe. He wore his usual haori over it. His aunt and cousin had not yet returned home, so he wondered if they had been hurt by his unusual reaction or if they just wanted to give him space. He didn't think too much into it. They did mention the night before something about going out for breakfast.

Uzui was the first to arrive along with his three wives. They greeted each other and made conversation in the kitchen.

Tsutakko soon woke up and stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes and half asleep. By now, most of the Hashiras had arrived and were drinking warm tea.

"Daddy?" she asked, looking around. She didn't see her father anywhere and was met with faces she barely knew. Tears filled her eyes, about to cry. She wasn't used to guests at her house. She only ever had her uncle Mizu, Auntie Kaiyo, or Auntie Mika with all her friends. "Where's Daddy..?"

"Ohw.. baby, don't cry, you're alright." Mitsuri soothed. She picked the girl up onto her hip and bounced her slightly. She didn't stop her sniffles. If anything, they evolved into cries. Mitsuri panicked. She didn't know anything about babies.

Shinobu took her from Mitsuri, holding her close to her chest and hushing her calmly. She pushed away, though, crying and crying.

"I want Daddy!" she cried. Shinobu looked around for help, but not even Uzui's wives knew how to calm her. She went around in different people's arms, but no one could soothe her. She wanted her father and her father only. Gyomei, Uzui, and Tomioka had left further into the hall to take a look at some things Tomioka was repairing in the house. Sanemi sighed.

"Give me the damn kid." he huffed.

He took her out of Hinatsuru's arms and threw her straight up into the air. The girl stopped her crying, surprised by the boy's actions. Hinatsuru stared at him in worry.

"You're gonna drop her!!" Suma worried. Sanemi didn't listen, and soon, the little girl's cries turned into giggles. Her giggles filled the room with smiles and joy. Sanemi, the corps short tempered hothead, was the one to calm the little girl. It was honestly surprising.

Giyuu walked back into the room a few moments after. Uzui and Gyomei followed shortly behind. Sanemi was holding the girl on his hip now, her head instantly perked up upon laying eyes on her father.

"Daddy!" the little girl cheered, Giyuu smiled. Sanemi put her down, and she ran up to him, who swooped her up into the air and held her back down near his hip. He greeted her the same way Sanemi soothed her. That must've been why it calmed her.

"Hi, my gorgeous little girl, did you sleep well?" he told the child, tickling her sides and receiving little giggles. She nodded her head and leaned in closer to him. Mitsuri awed at the man, and Shinobu did, too. No one had ever seen this loving side of the man.

Tomioka felt awkward. Although he felt safe around Rengoku and Uzui, he didn't really have a relationship with the others. Muichiro was a judgemental child, Shinobu was always mocking and teasing him, Obanai was always rude to him, Sanemi was mean sometimes, Gyomei was just an overly religious man with too big morals that he always ended up being scolded for, and although Mitsuri was nice, he always got in trouble by Obanai when hanging around with her. He avoids her to avoid him.

There were too many people in his house. There were too many strangers he barely knew. He didn't want to show this side of himself to them. But he didn't want to act cold and distant in front of his daughter either. He knew Tsutakko was quick to shut down when frightened and would more than likely fear him with his usual personality.

"Compadre, did you know Tomioka here has a whole entire pool room?" Uzui spoke, Rengoku's eyes lit up. "There's hot tubs and showers and a waterslide and a bar and everything!"

"How could you hide such an amazing thing from us!?" Rengoku exclaimed, Tsutakko whined at his loud tone though Tomioka calmed her by patting her back.

"Children are sensitive to noise, Rengoku." Shinobu scolded. He gave a look of confusion. His brother, Senjuro, never gave such a reaction. But then again, the boy had grown up in a loud environment, and the girl had not.

The group had moved to the living room, they were debating on a minor argument between Suma and Makio. The two didn't really get along unless they were talking about their husband. Muichiro was bored, so he had fallen asleep on the carpet, and Gyomei took him home. Mitsuri and Obanai had left for a planned lunch date, and Shinobu had to take care of some patients. Sanemi sat patiently while Tsutakko painted his nails. His face was red from embarrassment, but he allowed the girl to use him as a canvas.

Uzui and Rengoku stiffled laughs toward the grey haired man. Said man stared daggers towards the girl's father.

"Relax, it's washable, you don't see any paint on my nails, do you?" He told the boy, showing his nails. His nails were painted black, but he had none of the flashy pink and yellow and neon green colors. Sanemi rolled his eyes. Tsutakko finished painting the boy's nails and left to her toy filled playroom to put her things away.

Their conversation turned to an inquiry about Tomioka's experience raising a child so young when he was a child himself. It seemed as if someone just up and left the child on his doorstep because Tomioka knew nothing about the girl's mother. He didn't know her name, her age, her family, where she lived, or anything, really.

The child came back in a doctor's outfit and decided to make her father her patient. She placed a pulse reader on his finger and sat on his lap, putting on her stethoscope. Tomioka became the girl's life-size doll, allowing her to do her whole doctor patient check-up, paying little to no mind to her actions. They didn't bother him or disrupt his conversation.

It distracted Uzui though, he kept watching the girl's every move as she took the man's temperature and checked his blood pressure or slammed a hammer onto his elbows and knees. Tomioka remained unfazed. He was used to the girl being all up on him and found it rather easy to go about his tasks with her following along.

Tomioka didn't find himself absorbed by the child. He actually found her calming and relaxing. She moved on to being his hairstylist. As she played with his hair, she unknowingly began lulling him to sleep. It always happened, but Tustakko never complained. She knew her dad was a busy, hardworking man, and she enjoyed glamorizing him as he slept.

His guests saw themselves out as they saw their coworker falling asleep. Sanemi was eager to get rid of the nail polish he wore, Rengoku was hungry, and Uzui's wives wanted to leave the man to rest. Everyone understood it was a lot for both Tomioka and the girl. They were a very isolated family, kept to themselves, and not many guests. It was unusual to have 11 people over from just out in the blue.

After all the guests had left, the house was finally quiet again. Tsutakko had fallen asleep in her father's lap while playing with his hair, and Tomioka dozed off as well, exhausted from hosting such a large group. Despite the chaos of the day, it felt peaceful now, just him and his daughter. He gently adjusted her in his arms, ensuring she was comfortable before leaning back on the couch and closing his eyes.

Though Tomioka wasn't used to such gatherings, he felt a strange warmth knowing his daughter was surrounded by people who cared. Yet, as always, he found his peace in the quiet moments shared between just the two of them. His mind drifted as he relaxed into the silence, knowing that for now, everything was just as it should be. They were no longer alone against the world.