Moment In Time

Chapter 74

Chapter 74:Sibling Bonds
(Ryohei & Kyoko)

"Kyoko! Kyoko! I want ice-cream!" whined Lambo, pulling on the hem of the redhead's shirt pleadingly. "Pleeeaaassseee?"

"You can't have ice-cream this late, Lambo-kun," said Kyoko patiently, tugging the seven-year-old along the street. "We should have been home an hour ago."

Lambo looked up at the dark sky. A few stars were starting to appear and the streetlights were on and flickering. It was also getting colder and he didn't have a jacket with him. "Alright," he muttered, disappointed. "But can we get some next time?"

Kyoko smiled down at him. "Of course." She inspected his face and giggled. "You're going to need a bath."

Lambo wrinkled his nose. "Why?"

"You're all sticky from the candy you ate at the movies."

Poking at his face, he could feel sticky patches around his mouth and on his cheeks. His hair was also rather sticky, due to the amount of candy he had stuffed into his raven curls. "Okay," he agreed. It was never good to leave his hair unwashed for very long, anyway.

It was eleven by the time they reached the Sasagawa household. Kyoko unlocked the front door and the two headed inside. "Onii-san, we're back!" she called, setting her purse down by the door.

Ryohei stepped into the front hall from the kitchen, a disapproving frown on his lips. "You were supposed to be back an hour ago. I was just about to go out and look for you."

"Sorry," Kyoko apologized. "We were out later than we expected."

"The movie was looooooong," stressed Lambo.

Kyoko giggled. "Exactly."

Ryohei's stern posture softened. "Well, you're back safe, and that's what matters. But next time, if you're going to be late, call."

The redhead nodded. "Sure." A yawn escaped her and she quickly covered her mouth. "Guess I'm beat. Come on, Lambo-kun. Time for your bath."

"I can do it," volunteered Ryohei. "You go to bed."

"I can do it," protested Lambo.

"You can't get all that EXTREME hair by yourself," said Ryohei cheerfully, coming over and swinging the boy into his arms.

Kyoko smiled. "Thanks, onii-san. Goodnight, Lambo-kun."

"Night!" Lambo waved after his friend as Ryohei carried him to the bathroom. He set the child on the floor and turned the taps. Water started gushing into the tub and Lambo frowned at it. "It needs bubbles." He went over to the cabinet and opened it. He found the familiar colourful bottle of bath bubbles that Kyoko saved just for him and I-Pin when they came over for sleepovers. "Bubbles!"

"Don't put a lot in," cautioned Ryohei. "We don't want an EXTREME bubble flood."

Lambo uncapped the bottle and tipped it slightly over the edge of the tub. Purple liquid oozed out and splashed into the water, where it started to foam up and create a mass of white sweet-smelling bubbles. "There!" he said, proud that he did not overdo it this time.

"Good job." Ryohei took the bottle and set it on the countertop. "That should be enough water for you to get in now."

"'kay." Lambo stuck his hand under the running water to test the temperature. Deeming it not too hot and not too cold, he wrestled out of his dark jeans and cow-print shirt. He yanked off his socks and was about to climb into the tub when he remembered something. "Oh, wait." He shook his head wildly, and candy of all kinds tumbled from his curls, landing on the floor. His horns soon followed, and after a bit of tugging he liberated a large lollipop. "There!"

Ryohei stared at the pile of candy in amusement as the child settled into the water. "I wish my hair could EXTREMELY hold stuff."

Lambo blinked. "It can't?"

"Nope."

"Maybe that's 'cause you don't have curls."

Ryohei laughed. "Maybe." He knelt down by the edge of the tub and picked up the plastic pitcher. He filled it with water and used it to wet Lambo's hair. "What did you and Kyoko do today?"

"We went to the park, and then we ate some yummy food, and then we took a walk, and we ate some more yummy food, and then we went to the movies which was really looooooooong." Lambo used his hands to craft shapes in the mounds of bubbles that surrounded him. "And I-Pin couldn't come 'cause she's sick."

"I'm sure she'll get better in no time," said Ryohei, squirting some shampoo into his hand and lathering up the thick black curls. "I think it's time for an EXTREME haircut."

Lambo wrinkled his nose. "That's what Stupidera says. I don't wanna haircut."

"If you let it grow any longer it's going to cover your face. Then how would you eat?"

Lambo's eyes widened. He hadn't thought of that. "Um...well, maybe I'll get a really small haircut. Maybe."

After a few more rinses and a good dose of conditioner, Lambo was finally squeaky clean. Ryohei hoisted the child out of the tub and gave him a towel. "Where are your pajamas?"

"In my bag, in Kyoko's room."

"I'll get them. You dry off." Ryohei picked up Lambo's stash of candy and left the bathroom.

"'kay." Lambo scrubbed at his hair and face, trying to catch the water droplets before they hit the ground. When he decided he was dry enough, he fit the towel over his head and pretended he was a ghost, moving blindly about the bathroom. The door creaked open a minute later and he shouted, "Boo!"

"What do we have here?" said Ryohei, playing along. "And where did Lambo go?"

"I ate him!" Lambo said in a creepy voice.

"Well, then I guess I'm going to have to make you spit him out."

Ryohei swooped down and threw the towel-covered boy over his shoulder. Lambo squealed and kicked, trying to escape the teen's strong grip. "It's me!"

"Lambo?" Ryohei set the boy to the floor and pulled the towel down so that he could see his face. "It is you. You make an EXTREME ghost."

Lambo giggled. "I fooled you!"

"You did." Ryohei handed Lambo his pajamas. "Kyoko is already sleeping, so how about you sleep with me tonight?"

"Okay." Lambo wiggled into his cow-print pajamas. "But I'm gonna kick you if you snore."

"Then I guess I won't snore." Ryohei lifted the seven-year-old up and exited the bathroom.

Lambo wrapped his arms around the teen's neck and buried his head into his shoulder. "Ryo-nii, will you read me a bedtime story?"

Surprised for only a moment, a soft smile crossed Ryohei's face. "I'd love too, Lambo."

And that was the night he officially gained a third brother.

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