Animal Adventure

Chapter 4: Create Your Smile Magic

It is like looking into a mirror. From Teresa's nose to her lip to even her hair and clothes, the person standing near the entrance hallway looks exactly as the girl sitting on the couch. The only big differences between Teresa and the person is the little red hair on the tips and the blue eyes on the person. Teresa and the person stare at each other. Teresa can sense Otoya fidgeting just behind her.

"Welcome home, Aka." Teresa said.

Teresa smiles nervously. The person, now known as Aka, stares at her twin. Teresa even starts to fidget under the intense look that Aka is giving.

"Care to explain?" Aka asked.

Although Teresa is certain that Aka can't see Otoya, she still knows that he is there. Teresa looks over her shoulder and sees Otoya curling into himself. She can also see the trembling from his being. This hurts Teresa's heart. Teresa turns back to her twin, fire in her eyes. Aka raises a brow.

"Why don't we talk somewhere else?"

Aka tilts her head to the right side. Even though it looks like Aka looks uninterested, she is. Aka nods and walks upstairs. Teresa sighs as the nervous feeling drains out of her. Teresa puts her cup of orange juice on the coffee table. Otoya's body also untenses. Teresa gives him a reassuring smiling, telling him that he could finish eating as she talks to her sister. Teresa also give Otoya his head before going to find her sister. It didn't take Teresa long to find her as there is only one place where Aka would talk privately. Teresa walks into the multipurpose room and sees Aka sitting by the desk.

"Now, can you tell me what is going on?" Aka asked.

Teresa goes into detail on how she found Otoya and what happen during the days the little hybrid have been living with her. Aka nods every once and awhile, not interrupting Teresa during the whole time. Once Teresa finishes explaining, Aka only sigh.

"Teresa." Aka began but is cut-off.

"Aka. He was on his own. Trying to survive by himself." Teresa argued.

"But you can't just take him home like this. You need to go through the adoption process. You know this better than anyone."

Teresa makes a noise in the back of her throat but says nothing. Teresa knows that if a child is homeless, they must go to an orphanage nearby. Teresa did not like it, but that is the law.

"Plus," Aka continued. "are you ready to take responsibility to take care of another person? You know how much work it is to take care of a child."

Teresa smiles, laughter showing in her eyes.

"I know. Luckily, I took care of one for almost my entire life." Teresa teased.

Aka huffs in laughter, smiling at the joke. But she quickly turns back to being serious. Teresa also turns seriously.

"All jokes aside, I am ready to take care of him. I will even give up my life for him."

The two sisters stare at each other, silently having a conversation. After a minute, Aka sighs. She also tucks a stray hair behind her ears. Teresa knows this is a sign that her sister is giving up.

"Seems like you aren't going to budge. Fine, we can let him live with us, but we are going to have to go to an orphanage and get some paperwork signed."

Teresa gives Aka a big smile before jumping towards her. Aka catches Teresa with ease. Teresa wraps her arms around Aka's neck while Aka wraps her around Teresa's back. Aka leans back in her chair, pulling Teresa back with her.

They relax in each other embrace. It's been awhile since the two of them are in each other's presents. Teresa almost falls asleep on top of Aka, but Aka shakes her.

"I know it has been a while, but I think our little friend must be worried that I'll kick him out." Aka said as she pushes Teresa off.

Teresa sighs as she gets up. Teresa grabs one of Aka's hands and pulls her up. As Aka was getting up, Teresa spots something on her wrist. Not letting go of her hand, Teresa uses her other hand and pushes up Aka's sleeve. Underneath Aka's sleeve is gauges wrapped around her wrist.

"What happened?" Teresa asked as she rotates Aka's wrist around, being careful not to hurt her.

"I fell down during work. Don't worry though. I only sprain it." Aka answered.

Teresa frowns. Teresa doesn't know where Aka works or what she does for her job, but Aka comes home injured once and awhile. Teresa never asks what she does as she knows Aka will tell her one day. That doesn't stop Teresa from worrying about her.

"How long ago was this?"

"About three days ago."

After inspecting it for another minute, Teresa lets go. Aka lets her arm fall to her side. Aka nods her head towards and Teresa nods back. So, Teresa leads the two of them out of the room and to where Otoya was. They can see that Otoya hasn't move from where he was before and his food haven't been touched at all. Otoya looks back up with nervous and fear look. Teresa just walks to the couch and falls onto it. Aka follows and sits down more normally. Teresa motions Otoya to come sit with them. Otoya hesitates before getting up. Teresa drags Otoya into her lap before he can sit next to her. Teresa feels Otoya relaxing.

"Good news." Teresa began. "You can stay."

Otoya looks at Teresa in disbelieve. He then looks at Aka. Aka gives Otoya a smile smile, almost shyly. Otoya did not expect such a look on this girl who he only knows for a minute.

"Really?" Otoya asked in a shy voice.

"Really. I just need to know something. Are you okay with answering some questions?"

Otoya nods in agreements, and Aka starts the interrogation. The twins find out that Otoya did live in an orphanage but is neglectful to the children there. Otoya ran away from there not too long ago and have been on his own since. Otoya does not know the name of the orphanage or where it is. When Aka asked for his surname, Otoya does not know. While this is all going on, Teresa squeezes Otoya for comfort.

"Well. It looks like I'll have to look into this a little more." Aka stated after she finishes asking her questions.

"How? We don't have a lot of information to begin with." Teresa pointed out.

"Sorry." Otoya apologized.

Otoya's ears droop down even more than they already have. Teresa pets the little hybrid's head.

"I have my ways." Aka said mysteriously.

Aka's eyes twinkle in a way only Aka knows. Not even their twin telepathy help Teresa guess what Aka is thinking. Teresa pouts at this.

"No far. You can just block me like that." Teresa whined.

"I can and I will." Aka smirked before softening her face. "Don't worry. I know how find what I need with little info."

And Teresa believes her. Teresa trusts Aka as she knows Aka will never lie to her. So, Teresa nods and hugs Otoya for reassurance. Otoya looks up at Teresa, giving her this hopeful face. Teresa gives him the biggest smile to show that he can hope that this is real. And Teresa hopes that she can make him happy as long as he lives with them.