Songs for Daddy- Chapter 23: Lullaby for a Stormy Night (part 2)
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“When I was your age,” Anezaki began, “I used to find thunder really scary.”
“Uhh?” Emiko turned and looked at Anezaki, clearly amazed.
“My mother used to tell me that this rain we hear right now falls over everything, plants, trees, our houses….” Anezaki listed a few of the things her mother used to say. “And by landing on everything on all of that, it washes away the dirt and makes the plants nice and strong so that everything is beautiful in the morning.”
“R-real-ll-lly?” Emiko asked, having to take more sucking in breaths. “S-song?” The last was directed at her Papa.
“Yes, exactly like the song.” Hiruma assured her. “Do you want me to sing it for you?”
Emiko only nodded. Hiruma opened his mouth and began to sing the same song he had been humming earlier. To Anezaki’s amazement the song was in English and Hiruma had a soft, calming singing voice. He sang the lullaby slowly and started rocking Emiko back and forth, making her smile and shut her tired eyes. By the end of the song, Emiko’s breathing had evened out and she had clearly fallen asleep. Chizue had also passed out, curled up next to Emiko.
“I had no idea you could sing-!” Anezaki whispered in amazement.
“Only for her.” Hiruma told Anezaki with a half-serious face. He simply gazed down at his daughter lovingly and kissed her forehead. Anezaki simply stared, amazed at how loving Hiruma was capable of being. He carefully slipped out from beside Emiko and Chizue then tucked them both in.
With an understanding smile, Anezaki followed him out of the room and they shut off the light and left the door cracked open. The two journeyed into the living room and sat down on the couch.
“She’s a handful….” Hiruma muttered tiredly as tilted his head back.
“…You were amazing just now,” Anezaki began, “I would have never been able to imagine you having the patience to handle-!”
Thunder cut off Anezaki making her eep slightly.
“Still afraid of thunder fucking teacher?” Hiruma asked with an almost mocking grin.
“H-Hiruma!” Anezaki blushed, flustered.
“Ke ke ke!” Hiruma cackled, completely too amused at Anezaki’s expense.
“You are so childish!” Anezaki snapped at him, offended.
“So?” Hiurma asked, still chuckling. “It’s not like you don’t childishly gorge on fucking creampuffs behind everyone’s back still.”
“Gah!” Anezaki cried and threw a pillow at him. Hiruma just laughed and caught it. This made Anezaki a little grumpy and she leapt at him with the other couch pillow, only to find herself slipping on one of the plushies that happened to have been left right by the couch. Fate was a very evil woman because she decided that Anezaki should not just land on Hiruma, but to land lip to lip.
After a surprised squeak, Hiruma and Anezaki pushed themselves apart, blushing madly.
“I-I think I’ll be leaving now.” Anezaki announced quickly.
“Don’t you need a ride?” Hiruma asked her before she got too far. “The trains stopped running half an hour ago.”
Booming thunder made Anezaki shiver unpleasantly before she could admit he might have a point there.
“…Or maybe you should just stay the fucking night.” Hiruma suggested.
“Stay the night?” Anezaki turned around and looked at Hiruma like he was crazy.
“We’ll probably be losing power soon,” Hiruma warned her, “and I have no intention of climbing 40 flights of stairs. Besides, if Emiko wakes up, she’ll want me.”
“…That would make me stuck here then….” Anezaki still felt embarrassed about the kiss.
“Do you mind sleeping on the fucking couch?” Hiruma asked.
“It doesn’t seem that comfortable.” Anezaki observed, eyeing the couch wearily.
“The only other fucking bed is mine and that’s where Emiko’s going to go running if she wakes up.” Hiruma informed Anezaki.
“Then I’ll take the couch.” Anezaki nodded.
“Lets get you fucking comfy.” Hiruma stood up and disappeared into the back of the apartment. Soon the couch was outfitted with some spare pillows and blankets and made as comfortable as possible. Anezaki would occasionally jump when the thunder boomed and Hiruma would either laugh at her or just nod. After the couch was ready, Hiruma threw her a pair of clean boxers and one of his spare shirts for her to sleep in.
Anezaki retreated into the bathroom to clean herself up and dress for bed. Upon exiting she found the door to Emiko’s room open. Having found that strange, since Hiruma had shut the door earlier, she went to investigate. Peeking her head into the room, Anezaki saw that Hiruma had sat himself on the side of Emiko’s bed and was just watching her sleep.
After a few more moments Hiruma got up silently and began to make his way back out into the hall. There, of course, he found Anezaki spying in on him.
“It’s good to have her home.” Hiruma said gently, his eyes still looking into the room fondly.
“…I wouldn’t have thought you’d make sure a good father,” Anezaki admitted, “but you really do make an excellent one.”
Hiruma didn’t say anything, but it wasn’t until he became a father that he realized he could have been a good one. Again the thunder boomed, but this time rattled the building and shut off the power. Emiko yelped and sat up in the strange, new darkness. Chizue woke up when her human-pillow moved and started to whine uncomfortably.
“Papa!” Emiko cried, picking up Chizue and leaping out of bed. She ran frantically into the hall and her Papa’s waiting arms. “Turn on the light! It’s scary!”
“I can’t,” Hiruma admitted, “the power just went out.”
“I can’t see!” Emiko cried, really upset by this.
“Do you have a flashlight anywhere?” Anezaki asked.
“…The batteries are dead.” Hiruma recalled after a moment. “There’s a few candles in my room, let’s go there.”
“Papa….” Emiko cried and huddled against him tightly. Chizue whined too. Carefully, Hiruma carried Emiko and Chizue while Anezaki followed him to his bedroom.
“It’s a bit messy.” Hiruma muttered as he managed to get the door open. Anezaki was almost relieved to hear that Hiruma had at least one truly messy room in home, though she chose not to voice this. She tread carefully across the floor to make sure she didn’t trip over anything.
“Ouch!” Anezaki gasped when her knees crashed into the footboard of Hiruma’s bed.
“Just stay on the bed.” Hiruma instructed her, knowing Anezaki had found it. “Emiko, can you stay with Mamori for a minute while Papa finds some candles?”
“But it’s scary!” Emiko sobbed.
“I know, that’s why I want you to be brave for a minute, okay?” Hiruma asked in a soft voice. Anezaki had taken this time to get on the bed and felt Hiruma sit down on the side. Emiko sniffled more than once, but she crawled out of her father’s arms and squeaked the second she didn’t find anyone to grasp on the bed. Anezaki reached out and touched the quivering girl’s shoulder. Without needing any prompting, Anezaki grabbed Emiko and pulled her tight and close.
“Shuush, you’re safe now, I’m here now.” Anezaki was faintly aware that Chizue had found her and was now curled up next to her. Hiruma’s weight left the bed and moments later there was the sound of a lighter being clicked and light started to poor across the room. Hiruma turned around and held out the candle he had lit. It was a tall, white candle and it cast a gentle light over the room. Emiko turned around and looked at her Papa with tears.
“Let’s just stay here until morning, ne?” Hiruma suggested as he sat down on his large bed. Emiko nodded, looking somewhat relieved by the notion. Even Anezaki found herself comforted by the notion, since she wasn’t fond of storms and would definitely like the comfort of another person. They all crawled under the covers and Emiko firmly planted herself between the two adults. Hiruma moved close enough to put an arm around Emiko’s waist while Anezaki hadn’t let go. Chizue snuggled in next to Emiko’s head which the girl seemed to find comforting.
“Song?” Emiko asked, her eyes starting to drop as she relaxed.
And Hiruma opened his mouth and sang. Anezaki found the words reaching out and calming her upset mind. It was true, the storm would pass and leave a beautiful world in the morning. She and Emiko fell asleep quickly.
Watching the two females sleep made Hiruma really happy. Having Anezaki be comfortable with the idea of staying in his home, in his bed, with him in it, also comforted him. He looked down at his sleeping daughter with a wry smile.
“You’re going to be the death of me….” Hiruma muttered to Emiko. “Already out playing me….”
It was true, he’d played right into Emiko’s small hands, he’d fallen right in love with Anezaki Mamori, just like she wanted.
.
_=_=_=_=_
This chapter hated me in the worst sort of way. It would not be written, gah…. Please comment. Nor did it want to be posted in the worst way either.....
“When I was your age,” Anezaki began, “I used to find thunder really scary.”
“Uhh?” Emiko turned and looked at Anezaki, clearly amazed.
“My mother used to tell me that this rain we hear right now falls over everything, plants, trees, our houses….” Anezaki listed a few of the things her mother used to say. “And by landing on everything on all of that, it washes away the dirt and makes the plants nice and strong so that everything is beautiful in the morning.”
“R-real-ll-lly?” Emiko asked, having to take more sucking in breaths. “S-song?” The last was directed at her Papa.
“Yes, exactly like the song.” Hiruma assured her. “Do you want me to sing it for you?”
Emiko only nodded. Hiruma opened his mouth and began to sing the same song he had been humming earlier. To Anezaki’s amazement the song was in English and Hiruma had a soft, calming singing voice. He sang the lullaby slowly and started rocking Emiko back and forth, making her smile and shut her tired eyes. By the end of the song, Emiko’s breathing had evened out and she had clearly fallen asleep. Chizue had also passed out, curled up next to Emiko.
“I had no idea you could sing-!” Anezaki whispered in amazement.
“Only for her.” Hiruma told Anezaki with a half-serious face. He simply gazed down at his daughter lovingly and kissed her forehead. Anezaki simply stared, amazed at how loving Hiruma was capable of being. He carefully slipped out from beside Emiko and Chizue then tucked them both in.
With an understanding smile, Anezaki followed him out of the room and they shut off the light and left the door cracked open. The two journeyed into the living room and sat down on the couch.
“She’s a handful….” Hiruma muttered tiredly as tilted his head back.
“…You were amazing just now,” Anezaki began, “I would have never been able to imagine you having the patience to handle-!”
Thunder cut off Anezaki making her eep slightly.
“Still afraid of thunder fucking teacher?” Hiruma asked with an almost mocking grin.
“H-Hiruma!” Anezaki blushed, flustered.
“Ke ke ke!” Hiruma cackled, completely too amused at Anezaki’s expense.
“You are so childish!” Anezaki snapped at him, offended.
“So?” Hiurma asked, still chuckling. “It’s not like you don’t childishly gorge on fucking creampuffs behind everyone’s back still.”
“Gah!” Anezaki cried and threw a pillow at him. Hiruma just laughed and caught it. This made Anezaki a little grumpy and she leapt at him with the other couch pillow, only to find herself slipping on one of the plushies that happened to have been left right by the couch. Fate was a very evil woman because she decided that Anezaki should not just land on Hiruma, but to land lip to lip.
After a surprised squeak, Hiruma and Anezaki pushed themselves apart, blushing madly.
“I-I think I’ll be leaving now.” Anezaki announced quickly.
“Don’t you need a ride?” Hiruma asked her before she got too far. “The trains stopped running half an hour ago.”
Booming thunder made Anezaki shiver unpleasantly before she could admit he might have a point there.
“…Or maybe you should just stay the fucking night.” Hiruma suggested.
“Stay the night?” Anezaki turned around and looked at Hiruma like he was crazy.
“We’ll probably be losing power soon,” Hiruma warned her, “and I have no intention of climbing 40 flights of stairs. Besides, if Emiko wakes up, she’ll want me.”
“…That would make me stuck here then….” Anezaki still felt embarrassed about the kiss.
“Do you mind sleeping on the fucking couch?” Hiruma asked.
“It doesn’t seem that comfortable.” Anezaki observed, eyeing the couch wearily.
“The only other fucking bed is mine and that’s where Emiko’s going to go running if she wakes up.” Hiruma informed Anezaki.
“Then I’ll take the couch.” Anezaki nodded.
“Lets get you fucking comfy.” Hiruma stood up and disappeared into the back of the apartment. Soon the couch was outfitted with some spare pillows and blankets and made as comfortable as possible. Anezaki would occasionally jump when the thunder boomed and Hiruma would either laugh at her or just nod. After the couch was ready, Hiruma threw her a pair of clean boxers and one of his spare shirts for her to sleep in.
Anezaki retreated into the bathroom to clean herself up and dress for bed. Upon exiting she found the door to Emiko’s room open. Having found that strange, since Hiruma had shut the door earlier, she went to investigate. Peeking her head into the room, Anezaki saw that Hiruma had sat himself on the side of Emiko’s bed and was just watching her sleep.
After a few more moments Hiruma got up silently and began to make his way back out into the hall. There, of course, he found Anezaki spying in on him.
“It’s good to have her home.” Hiruma said gently, his eyes still looking into the room fondly.
“…I wouldn’t have thought you’d make sure a good father,” Anezaki admitted, “but you really do make an excellent one.”
Hiruma didn’t say anything, but it wasn’t until he became a father that he realized he could have been a good one. Again the thunder boomed, but this time rattled the building and shut off the power. Emiko yelped and sat up in the strange, new darkness. Chizue woke up when her human-pillow moved and started to whine uncomfortably.
“Papa!” Emiko cried, picking up Chizue and leaping out of bed. She ran frantically into the hall and her Papa’s waiting arms. “Turn on the light! It’s scary!”
“I can’t,” Hiruma admitted, “the power just went out.”
“I can’t see!” Emiko cried, really upset by this.
“Do you have a flashlight anywhere?” Anezaki asked.
“…The batteries are dead.” Hiruma recalled after a moment. “There’s a few candles in my room, let’s go there.”
“Papa….” Emiko cried and huddled against him tightly. Chizue whined too. Carefully, Hiruma carried Emiko and Chizue while Anezaki followed him to his bedroom.
“It’s a bit messy.” Hiruma muttered as he managed to get the door open. Anezaki was almost relieved to hear that Hiruma had at least one truly messy room in home, though she chose not to voice this. She tread carefully across the floor to make sure she didn’t trip over anything.
“Ouch!” Anezaki gasped when her knees crashed into the footboard of Hiruma’s bed.
“Just stay on the bed.” Hiruma instructed her, knowing Anezaki had found it. “Emiko, can you stay with Mamori for a minute while Papa finds some candles?”
“But it’s scary!” Emiko sobbed.
“I know, that’s why I want you to be brave for a minute, okay?” Hiruma asked in a soft voice. Anezaki had taken this time to get on the bed and felt Hiruma sit down on the side. Emiko sniffled more than once, but she crawled out of her father’s arms and squeaked the second she didn’t find anyone to grasp on the bed. Anezaki reached out and touched the quivering girl’s shoulder. Without needing any prompting, Anezaki grabbed Emiko and pulled her tight and close.
“Shuush, you’re safe now, I’m here now.” Anezaki was faintly aware that Chizue had found her and was now curled up next to her. Hiruma’s weight left the bed and moments later there was the sound of a lighter being clicked and light started to poor across the room. Hiruma turned around and held out the candle he had lit. It was a tall, white candle and it cast a gentle light over the room. Emiko turned around and looked at her Papa with tears.
“Let’s just stay here until morning, ne?” Hiruma suggested as he sat down on his large bed. Emiko nodded, looking somewhat relieved by the notion. Even Anezaki found herself comforted by the notion, since she wasn’t fond of storms and would definitely like the comfort of another person. They all crawled under the covers and Emiko firmly planted herself between the two adults. Hiruma moved close enough to put an arm around Emiko’s waist while Anezaki hadn’t let go. Chizue snuggled in next to Emiko’s head which the girl seemed to find comforting.
“Song?” Emiko asked, her eyes starting to drop as she relaxed.
And Hiruma opened his mouth and sang. Anezaki found the words reaching out and calming her upset mind. It was true, the storm would pass and leave a beautiful world in the morning. She and Emiko fell asleep quickly.
Watching the two females sleep made Hiruma really happy. Having Anezaki be comfortable with the idea of staying in his home, in his bed, with him in it, also comforted him. He looked down at his sleeping daughter with a wry smile.
“You’re going to be the death of me….” Hiruma muttered to Emiko. “Already out playing me….”
It was true, he’d played right into Emiko’s small hands, he’d fallen right in love with Anezaki Mamori, just like she wanted.
.
_=_=_=_=_
This chapter hated me in the worst sort of way. It would not be written, gah…. Please comment. Nor did it want to be posted in the worst way either.....