FA'E: Nozomi's Diary (Youkochylde is Guardian)

[Youkochylde]

"This girl is going to be spoiled rotten," he said, chuckling and getting to his feet. He reached to hug Drac warmly, nodding at her request. "I'll make sure it's light out and that he's eaten. If you like, I can have Raven walk home with him or I will?"

[Draconayzia]

"That'd be great." She hugged him back amicably. "When you or Raven does I'll make sure there are plenty of snacks about and maybe a little surprise. Thanks again and take care."

Looking back over her shoulder once to smile at the sleeping children she let herself out and started the walk home.

[Youkochylde]

Youko smiled as he fussed with the little girl, Nozomi content to wave about and try to grab hold of the ribbons that Youko was currently trying to tie to keep the overshirt of her dress closed. Tonight was the 2nd Anniversary Gaian Ball and Youko was intent on going. He'd been there the year before, after all. This time, however, he had someone going with him and wanted the girl to be ready.

He was dressed in his usual non-traditional way, a light blue wrap around his waist that extended to his ankles, and a simple white top. If the fox was anything... he was eclectic. Nozomi, however, had a new dress that was bought for her, a purple and white sleeveless one with a short-sleeved 'jacket-shirt' over it that tied at the top. It was the top that was giving him fits, however, Nozomi trying her best to chew on the ribbons.

"Now if you don't let me get this on you, you're going to be at the ball wearing nothing, Princess." Chuckling, he managed to get the tie fastened and double-tied it just so that she COULD tug on it and it still wouldn't come undone. The finishing touch was a clip in her hair, a flower attached to it that matched the dress perfectly. "Now you'll be the belle of the ball, you just wait and see." Picking up the infant, Youko took a last look at the both of them in a mirror before nodding in satisfaction and heading for the door.

[Youkochylde]

Youkochylde

The Ball was fabulous... and BUSY! I barely had time to do or see anything for longer than a second or two before being swept off again into a throng of people. I found the Fa'e Table and GMFC Table once each... then proceeded to get lost amidst the sheer number of people that attended.

Raven decided to stay home that night, opting for the relative freedom of being able to do pretty much anything she wanted (or whatever Envy would let her get away with) rather than being 'shoved into a dress and made to act normal'. Her exact quote, I swear.

Nozomi was pretty good for the most part, but seemed to have issues with being around so many people. I can't really blame her, she's still just a baby. We left early and I brought her home to relax instead. I would have liked to stay, but there comes a time when we put our own preferences aside in regards to our children.

Raven took her almost immediately, saying that I looked like someone who'd been through a wringer. I kept an eye on them both, but she seemed to do well with getting Nozomi out of her dress and into a bath. That was one of the things we realised early on that we'd forgotten... a baby bath. Still, the kitchen sink serves that purpose for the moment, until I can get off my behind and go get a real one. At some point, I'm going to manage to get a camera near these two when they're around each other instead of Raven immediately handing the baby back to me and bailing for Parts Unknown. (Read: Her bedroom, where the door is closed.)

I thinkt hat tomorrow I'll leave Nozomi with a babysitter and take Raven out for a day of 'just us time'. Since Nozomi's arrival, she's been holding up well, but I feel awful for not spending as much time with her. I'll ask her what she wants to do, and no matter what it is (within reason), we'll do it. Hopefully she'll like that and it'll give me a bit of time with her by herself instead of worrying about if Nozomi is going to wake up fussy.

[Youkochylde]

Friday, February 25, 3005

The 'Just Us' day hadn't gone as planned... Youko wasn't put off by it, however, he just planned for another day. There was no shortage of people who wanted to watch Omi, but he just didn't quite have the heart to leave her with someone else yet.

Now, it was very nearly bedtime, Youko humming softly as he finished with Omi's bath and pulled the girl up out of the warm water.

This was Omi's favourite time of day! She loved the water, and looked down as her feet kicked at it, sending splashes over Youko before she was pulled clear and wrapped into a fluffy towel. While bathing was one of her favourite things... getting dried was NOT. Kicking at the towel, she let out a squeal and tried to squirm loose. Youko, however, wasn't having any of it, and soon she found herself laying on the couch as she was being diapered and put into clean pyjamas.

After that, things seemed to slow down. It was dark outside now, and Youko had dimmed the lights in the livingroom. It was the perfect environment for relaxing, even Raven was quietly munching on popcorn as she lay on the floor and watched television.

Yawning widely, Nozomi settled into the bouncy chair that Youko had placed her in, her eyes drifting closed here and there. It didn't take long before the infant was fast asleep.

~* * *~

Ragged breaths could be heard, and he could feel his heart pounding in his throat. They were after him... no matter what, he could NOT let them catch him.

He'd broken the rules... she'd TOLD him not to look back. What had possessed him to do so? It didn't matter now. All that mattered was getting away and making certain that those things didn't latch their claws into him.

There! A pinprick of light ahead. If he could just make it...

~* * *~

Both in the dream and in her waking moments, Nozomi heard a shrill wail, the infant's eyes flicking open quickly. Dark.. it was dark...

Wait. No it wasn't.

Just above the crib where she was now laying, two paper lanterns lent their light to the room and gave off a soft glow. It wasn't enough to really do much by, but it was enough that it calmed the baby considerably once she was able to see that she wasn't in the darkness anymore.

When Youko came to the door, Omi was sniffling softly, her legs kicking at the blanket idly. She was a bit upset... but even the fox had to admit that it was better than the wild screams of panic that she'd been waking up with.

The moment she saw him, she lifted her arms, whimpering to be held.

[Draconayzia]

Drac with a relucant Devi latched under her tail walked up to YOuko's house and knocked. She'd seen the note posted in HQ on her way home and thought that maybe seeing Omi would cheer Devi. That and she knew how much others could be needed to help with a new baby.

[Youkochylde]

"I GOT IIIIITTT!" From the sound of it, they were going to be greeted by Youko's daughter once more. Sure enough, the little foxcoon girl threw the door open and grinned at them. "Hi, Miss Drac," she said politely, having remembered the names her father had given her for their previous visitors. "Hi Devmani." Turning then, she motioned them in, politeness gone as she yelled at the top of her lungs. "DAAAAAD!! COMPANY FOR YOU!"

There was no sign of the fox at first, but a rather active bouncy-chair in the livingroom suddenly revealed a purple hand swinging to the side from it, the chair turned towards the television where Grover was relaying the concept of Near and Far.

"Come on in, I'll be down in a second!" Youko's voice filtered through the house from somewhere upstairs and Raven turned back to the pair at the door.

"We're in the livingroom watching television, c'mon in!"

[Draconayzia]

Devi gave a shy wave from behind Drac, still mostly hidden in her tail.

"Umm, thank you Raven." Chuckling a bit she walked through to the living room, smiling. "Omi, hello sweeite." She wiggled her fingers over the baby's stomach as Devi watched.

[Youkochylde]

Omi seemed overjoyed to see them, grinning from ear to ear as she let her legs kick and sent hte chair bouncing back and forth again. As soon as she saw Devi though, she stopped, staring at him in wonder. Was that... the blue one? She looked down at her hands, then seemed to try and peer around him towards where his legs used to be. Oh this was no FAIR! He could get rid of his blue?? Maybe she could get rid of the purple too...

Raven plopped onto the couch, curling up as she watched them. "Are you going to be taking care of Omi today? Daddy said that we were going to go out and do stuff if he could get someone to watch her. He's been kinda having second thoughts, but I think he'll trust you two."

[Draconayzia]

"Yes, definately. Decided Youko and company needed a bit of help anyway. Hehehe, atleast with Omi there're no flying hooves to worry about. He was a terror during teething."

Devi gave her a scathing look and turned his attention to Omi. He really wished he could laugh and smile and tell her hello but th loss of his voice took all that away. He settled for giving her a little kiss on the forehead and tickling her tummy a bit.

[Youkochylde]

Normally, Omi would have responded with a squeal or at least a giggle or two. This time, however, she barely reasponded at all. All she did was lift her arms up towards Devi, whimpering softly. Something was wrong here.... what had happened to the other boy?

As if seeing this for the first itme herself, Raven leaned over, looking at Devi curiously. "What happened to your legs?" she asked, ears pricking up.

"Raven, dont' pester people," came Youko's voice from the stairs as he emerged from his bedroom. The kitsune was freshly showered and was braiding his hair over one shoulder as he smiled to Drac and Devi. "Hi there you two! How are you doing today?"

[Draconayzia]

Devi gave in and smiled, picking her up carefully. His still pointed ears drooped a bit. Before his mum could answer for him though Youko came in.

"Hello Youko. Honestly, we've both been better, but Devi wins the prize." She gave her son a gentle hair ruffling as he tried to hide behind his mum again.

"He turned human when he didn't want to. Lost his voice too. I really just wish that I could find a way so this didn't happen to him." She smiled a bit sadly before collecting herself.

"Well anyway, shouldn't you two be heading out?" She grinned at the father-daughter duo. That outting should be interesting. Too bad she didn't know how to use a camcorder. "You two get yourselves together and Devi and I will take good care of Omi, ok?"

[Youkochylde]

Nodding, Youko looked with concern at Devi before smiling to him. "You're still one of the few people I would ever trust with Nozomi, Devi," he said, ignoring the boy's physical issues at the moment.

Raven let out a whoop the moment Drac spoke and ran to her room to get her shoes. "YES!! And I get to decide where we're going!" The girl was practically vibrating at the door anxiously for Youko to get there, and took off out the door the moment he got close.

"We'll be back soon, Drac," Youko said, moving to nuzzle Nozomi before heading out after his daughter. "Everything you should need is out already. Formula on the counter, baby bottles, diaper changing stuff is in the cabinet in the livingroom, and if she needs a nap, her room is upstairs, first door on the left. Just make sure it's not dark in there and she should be fine." He paused, fidgeting for a moment before putting his worry to rest and moving out to the car.

[Draconayzia]

Devi smiled a bit, bouncing Omi lightly in his arms.

"Ok then, no worries. Not like I haven't been through this before either." Smilng and laughing she helped get the worried fox out the door. "Have some fun and don't worry!"

Devi gave his mum a look that clearly said he thought she was crazy. And so was Youko. Now he just had to figure out how to keep her smiling.

[Youkochylde]

Burbling lightly, Omi moved to reach for Devi's hair, latching onto two handfuls at either side of his face as she pulled him closer to look. Nope, it was still the same Devi. But where were his extra feet?? This as a problem, and she immediately started babbling animatedly, trying to get him to tell her what had happened.

Of course, she was also the only one who understood her own tirades still.