Rising Moon

Chapter 9

Thank you for waiting. 

Inspired by this song. 

Author Note ------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was shining brightly over the peaceful city, its warmth casting a gentle glow on the bustling streets. Citizens strolled casually through the market, a soft breeze carrying the scent of freshly baked goods through the air. The buildings, painted in vibrant colors, reflected a calm and serene atmosphere, as if the world had paused for just a moment to breathe. Amidst this tranquility, Macaque walked leisurely down the street, a striking figure in his white poet shirt and high-waisted black leather dress pants. His leather boots with red soles clicked against the pavement, and his curly mane was elegantly styled in a side French braid, giving him an effortlessly refined appearance. Round sunglasses perched on his nose, with a star-themed glasses chain hanging loosely around his neck.

At his side, two small toddlers, Savage and Rumble, wore matching dark purple overalls adorned with tiny stars. Their faces were pressed against the glass of a pastry shop, their little tails wagging excitedly as they observed the pastry chefs preparing a limited edition plum cobbler. Purring and chirping in delight, the two toddlers seemed to be hypnotized by the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen.

Savage: chirping "Mmm! Smells good, mommy! Can we have some?"

Rumble: purring "Yeah! Plums ~!"

Macaque chuckled softly at their enthusiasm, his smile warm as he crouched down to their level, adjusting the star-shaped glasses chain around his neck.

"We'll get some for lunch, and eat it when we get home, alright? But we have to wait until then."

Before either child could respond, a sudden sound shattered the peace, the loud, unmistakable blast of an explosion echoed from down the street. Macaque's six ears twitched, and his eyes narrowed in immediate concern. The sound of his nephew Red Son's voice rang out, followed by frantic shouting.

Red Son (from a distance): "Noodle Boy! Get back here!"

Macaque's sharp eyes caught a blur of movement, a young boy zooming by on a hoverboard, evading something. Red Son, with a loud roar, came barreling through the side of a nearby building in his own vehicle, tearing after the boy.

Macaque sighs, watching the chaos unfold "Ah, Red Son... Always playing around with his new inventions. Mmm, wonder who that poor boy is ? "

He stood there for a moment, his expression unreadable, before giving a small, nonchalant shrug. Turning back to his toddlers, he smiled again, his voice light and reassuring.

"Alright, you two. Let's grab that cobbler for dinner. They almost look like they are ready, just a bit longer, okay? "

Savage and Rumble, still fixated on the window and the pastry chefs inside, chirped happily in agreement, their little tails wagging even faster. Macaque stood up straight, adjusting his sunglasses and making his way toward the door, the faint sounds of Red Son's antics in the distance, already fading back into the peaceful rhythm of the city.

"Let's make sure we get a big one so we can share some with Papa Sandy, hmm? It's gonna be a big treat."

And just like that, the brief moment of excitement was swallowed up by the ordinary, peaceful city, two toddlers eager for a treat, and an uncle with a knack for turning even chaos into a minor distraction.

—-------

Back at the shophouse, the final moving boxes were placed carefully into their new home. Macaque and Sandy had spent the past few days settling in, and it was starting to feel more like theirs. It was a beautiful old building: a four-bedroom shophouse, with a dojo operating below. The business had been running for years, but the dojo had seen better days. It needed repairs, a bit of love, and some modernization, which Macaque was more than happy to provide.