The Voice of Japan

*6*

Time was a mysterious thing to Kiku. It was something that either went insanely fast or painfully slow, in this case, it was a mix of both for the both of them.

He could see it within her, and himself as well. He saw as Harper and Feriah moved around the small kitchen and spoke softly to each other. He knew she needed it, to speak freely to others. Well, the women at most.

He took Marie and Brie's words to heart and did whatever it took to help Harper out. He watched as she slowly came out more and more to his family and friends. All that he had learned so far was that a traumatic incident in her childhood made her absolutely terrified of men and touch. There was a part of him that wanted to just let her be, to just help her out as best as possible yet deep down he wanted to know what happened and do whatever it took to fix it. In reality, he was shocked with his own emotions as well. How his heart raced when she walked by, her lemon-honey scent lifting to him as it took over his mind. Her voice a gentle tickle to his ears, her words laced with her accent giving it an added quirk. It was the little things that made her more intriguing to him; her care for animals, her dedication to them as well as home and food, her own pet and how she cherished the rabbit dearly, how friends meant so much to her.

Yet as he watched her helping Feriah, he saw her eyes. Her gaze never met another's, it seems like she was afraid to look people in the eye. Even small conversations between them, her eyes were focused on her hands as her fingers tangled within themselves as she spoke so quietly.

A sudden weight landed in his lap, taking him off guard, just to find Usagi sitting in his lap. The rabbit looked up at him, his nose twitching in wonder as Kiku began to stroke the little ears upon the creature. He has slowly gotten used to the little guy running around the house as Pochi would follow him, making sure he stayed out of trouble.

"What trouble are you causing now?" he asked Usagi just to have the bunny nibble his chin once more.

Kiku chuckled at him as his gazed ventured from the pet to the garden outside, causing another smile to dwell upon him. He saw Hercules sleeping upon the stone bench, napping under the maple as Apollo was sound asleep on his chest. He remembered the phone call from him and how he found his capital, he was overjoyed really. Sadiq was just as surprised with how hyper and ecstatic he was when he fully gained her. Now here he was, a husband and father of two back to his old ways of sleeping all day.

"Someone is awake." he heard Harper giggle.

Looking back to the kitchen, he saw Harper pressing her hand to the round belly of Feriah as the woman smiled at her, "That she is. Oceania knows there's baklava made."

That was one smile Kiku wished to see more on her, her love of children. He had seen it multiple times as it graced her features when the nation's children came to his home. She sat on the terrace way, showing the children Usagi as they asked her thousands of questions which she gladly answered with smiles.

"Eyeing her up, are you?" he heard someone say.

Kiku's head snapped to the sound as he saw Hercules smiling at him as he held his boy to him.

"I am doing no such thing." he huffed at him.

He hated when everyone caught him off guard as he sunk into his mind, unaware of his actions. He knew he was staring, but how could he not?

"Has she spoken more to you?"

"We have had light conversation, but not like you or me. She still won't look at me." he explained, "I remember Juliet and hearing from Arthur about her past and seeing them work it together, even today she slightly shrinks back when he or others yell. Yet I never raise my voice or hand and she still looks at me like I will hurt her."