Midnight Visitor

The man stood next to the window, looking out over the moon lit back yard that had started to acquire its share of children's toys. Not that the child they were for could use them yet, being barely 2 months old, Jolyne wouldn't be roaming the yard any time soon. Her parents were eager and happy though. So, they bought whatever child's thing that caught their eyes.

The man smiled as he thought of his old friend, now happily married with a beautiful baby girl. The soft babble of a baby caught his attention and he crossed the room just as Jolyne began to cry. He swept his long snow-white hair back over his shoulders, still feeling the twinge of remorse over the loss of its once vibrant red color, and picked up the fussing child before she could get loud enough to wake her parents.

"Hush now, little one. Your mother only just fed you. Are you cold, my sweet? Is that what it is?" he asked, picking up the girls blanket and wrapping her carefully. "Is that better, my love?The girl cooed up at him, babbling happy noises to the man holding her.

He chuckled, "You little sneak. You just wanted me to hold you. Well, that's alright. I don't mind." He said, kissing her forehead. "Why don't I tell you a story, hm?"

He smiled when she babbled back at him. His smile would be enough to terrify the girl's father, who would recognize all too well, the fangs glimmering in the moon light.

It didn't matter to the little girl that the man holding her was a predator, a killer, a monster. She was just happy to be held, played with and talked to.

He sat in the rocking chair and made them both comfortable before smiling down at the girl, "Well, how about the story of how I met your dad? It all began about 5 years ago when my family and I vacationed in Egypt..."

This became a routine for the man, at least twice a week he rocked the little girl back to sleep while telling her bits and pieces of the fantastic story of a 50-day journey to save her own grandmother and rid the world of a terrible evil.

However, one night a few months later, having gotten so into the story he was telling, he failed to notice eyes watching him from the tiny opening of the door.

"So, you see, my sweet, that's how I ended up with these funny lines over my eyes. Oh, look, you've fallen back to sleep." He said with a sigh, "I guess I'll tell you about the delicacies of the Aswan hospital cafeteria next time."

He stood and placed her ever so carefully back into her crib, making sure she was wrapped properly and wouldn't get cold. Then he just stood there smiling down at the girl, happy that, at least in this small way, he was a part of a family. Even if no one else knew it.

Or so he thought.

The door opened and the man jumped at the sound of his own name.

"Noriaki...is...is it really you?"

He sighed and didn't turn to face his old friend, "You weren't supposed to see me, Jotaro."

"I...how are you...why are you...I..." Jotaro stammered, not sure which question he wanted answered first.

"You don't want to know how. As to why...I suppose I missed you."

"No one told me...I didn't know, Noriaki. I swear I didn't know."

"I know, Jotaro. No one was supposed to know. I'm not even supposed to be here but I came once and...she's so beautiful, Jotaro. She looks just like you. I couldn't help coming back to see her and, in some way, see you. I apologize for invading your home."

"Nori, please, turn around...look at me."

Noriaki shook his head, "I'd rather not. You'd hate me and I can't bare that."