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 Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:14 pm
Name: Kaeru
Keeper: Youkochylde
Gender: Male
Species: Java Frog
Born: July 28th, 2005
Birth Sign: The Lodestone
This is a private diary hosted by the Fourth Wall adoption center. Only the keeper may post unless he/she specifies otherwise. The child shown here is not for sale, trade, or otherwise so please do not ask.
Feel free to follow along, read, and enjoy! ^_^
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:38 pm
~*About Kaeru*~ List format used with permission by Karma_K
Name: Kaeru
Nicknames: Kae, Leaper, Flybreath (Thanks, Raven)
Date of Birth: July 28, 2005
Parents: Unknown (Adopted parent: Youkochylde)
Hair Color: Dark Teal/Green
Eye Color: Violet
Talents: Surfing, gliding, giving Youko a coronary.
Powers: Seems to have the ability to create small gusts of wind to 'propel' him around. He doesn't appear to be able to control this quite well yet.
Mate: None
Children: None
Weapon Of Choice: His wit.
Attire: Very little. Kaeru hates clothing thusfar and we're lucky to get a pair of shorts on him. The only exception is his wetsuit, that Youko demands he wear when surfing.
Favorite Colors: Green, Orange, Blue.
Favorite Foods: Sushi, bugs (Much to Youko's chagrin).
Favorite Sound: Rain.
Favorite Weather: Overcast or rainy. Warm, humid.
Favorite Scents: Rain on the wind, the ocean.
Superstitions: None.
Dislikes: His skin drying out. It makes him VERY itchy.
Fears: None. Typical teen. >_< Since the episode of breaking his arm on the ice this past winter, he tends to be VERY careful when walking on ice. Still, he doesn't seem to really be afraid of it.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:39 pm
~*Photo Album*~ Newborn  A bouncing baby... tadpole? Toddler  Kaeru's growing up! His colours are starting to show and he's adorable. biggrin Child  Dear gods... it's winter, that doesn't mean you can SURF IN THE HOUSE!! Teen  My baby's growing up... and he's better at surfing than I expected... O_O
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:41 pm
~*About Youko*~
 Name: Youkochylde Gingitsune
Gender: Male
Age: 31 (Dammit >_<)
Height: 5'4
Weight: 140
Eyes: Gold
Hair: Silver
Species: Demon Fox (youko)
Marital Status: Lifemated to Envy Fairchylde
Special Abilities: Teleportation (Line of sight), Shapeshifting (Fox form), rational thinking, mediation. Has a temper, once riled up.
Likes: Wiggling his toes in the grass, being outside, summer breezes, wearing very little, iced tea and wireless computers.
Dislikes: Stupid people, humid muggy weather, closed-minded people, bees, wintertime, rabbits. Youko's beginnings and youth are pretty much up in the air. What that means is that he doesn't remember them, either. When Youko first came to Gaia, it was with a chip on his shoulder and an innate distrust of everything and everyone. No one's quite sure WHY he was that way, and he's not talking.
It took a rather quiet and caring soul... Envy Fairchylde, to get through the fox's shell, finally coaxing him out and began to teach him how to be relatively human. After he started letting others near, he met Karma and the others who quickly became friends. This was when Youko's protective streak showed through, and it became apparent that he wouldn't stand for his friends being stepped on.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:44 pm
~*Belongings*~  A bracelet Youko picked up for Kaeru. He got one for each of his kids, and Kaeru loved the Hematite.  A journal, decorated with Kaeru's favourite element... water. Youko determined that it was high time he kept one of his own.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:46 pm
~*The Rest of the Crew*~ Raven is the oldest of the children in Youko's house... and only younger than her twin brother, Kendall, by a matter of minutes. She tends to be the 'babysitter' for Kaeru, and doesn't mind in the slightest. Despite her sometimes harsh demeanor, she does well with kids and is starting to look forward to having her own someday. Until then (or until Youko gets rid of the shotgun), she makes do by watching Kaeru and other children of Youko's friends. When she's working, Kaeru tends to get REALLY bouncy when it comes time for her to get home.  Omi is the more solitary of the 'sisters', and doesn't care much for kids at all. She pretty well ignored Kaeru for most of his infant and toddler days. Now that he's over the 'I'm gonna puke on you' phase, she's more willing to deal with him. She still doesn't do much with him, other than be the voice of 'I told you so' when he gets in trouble doing something that she's warned him not to.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:55 pm
~*Questing*~ Teen to Adult Quest - INCOMPLETE
Be a Teen for three months: Complete
5 Dear Diary journal entries: Incomplete 0/5
3 Solo RPs: Incomplete 0/3
2 Closed/Private RP: Incomplete 0/2
2 Public/Shop Thread RP: Incomplete 1/2
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:56 pm
~*Permissions*~
Karma can post here any damned time she wants, for any reason. In this world, she is God.
ALL Fourth Wall children and their guardians have blanket permission to post in this diary, IN CHARACTER.
Trio Maxwell-Chang and Envy_Fairchylde may post in this diary at any time, provided that it is in character.
Any OOC posts, gifts, etc, please PM them to me. I will make sure they have their place.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:57 pm
~*A Note to the Reader*~ This is a Journal for Kaeru, a Fourth Wall Child... a 'pet' whose artwork, as well as the rest of the artwork, ideas and concept for the Fourth Wall are copyright to Karma_K. This particular Fourth Wall's concept and personality were created by me, and this journal is the story of his life. He is not for sale. Nothing on this page or journal is for sale. Do not post here unless you see your name in the Permissions post. Thank you very much, and enjoy reading! biggrin
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:58 pm
Youkochylde Dear Diary -
Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me!
I know, it's corny, and my birthday was three days ago, but it's been a whirlwind ever since. Quite a few things have happened, all of which are reminding me that I'm not getting any younger. Zhane is gaining weight like a weed, Yeande spends most of her time with him (Rightfully so) and I get updates constantly. Nozomi went to Fa'e Prom with Devmani... and I think there might be something there other than friendship. Or at least there's a good chance of it down the line. My baby's growing up...
Raven has started acting more and more 'adultlike' as time progresses... she's already talking about jobs she'd like to get when she gets older. *Sigh* I just wish they could stay little just a while longer.
In a way, my wish has been answered.
Two days before my birthday, I got a knock at the door at nearly midnight. Granted, it was no big deal. I'd told Yeande she deserved a night of sleep and was staying up with Zhane. Karma was at my door, with a bundle that looked like leaves. When she handed it to me and chirped 'Happy Birthday', I knew I was in for it.
She had that look on her face of 'You won't dare hit me with THAT in your arms'. And she was right. Nestled in the leaves was what appeared to be a tadpole of some kind... but just a bit smaller than a normal human baby. At first, I thought it was a joke, or that she'd found a REALLY lifelike doll. Then he gurgled softly and opened his eyes to look at me.
Why is it always the eyes that make me melt??
They were a pale violet, darkening towards the pupils, and they just seemed to stare at me with just as much awe as I was regarding the child with. I asked her what this was... but I think I already knew.
He needed me. More to the point, he needed someone to care for him, and I was that someone. I think I nearly cried when I wrapped an arm around Karma in a hug. I miss the little ones around here, the others have grown so quickly and won't need me much longer. This one, however... he still needs me.
I named him Kaeru... I didn't quite know what else to do. It means 'frog' in Japanese, and it suits him well enough. After a few mistaken attempts to find a comfortable place for him, I settled on the bathtub in the regular bathroom. Omi would kill me if I put him in the Japanese bath. He stayed there comfortably, curling up in the leaves that he'd come with and dozing off almost instantly. While it goes against my nature to put a newborn in the tub and leave them there, it seems to be best for him, at least for the time being. If I remember right, frogs only stay as tadpoles so long.
Time to go brush up on amphibians, I guess.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:59 pm
Youko considered these days to be perfect.
He was sitting in the grass in the backyard, wearing a pair of swim trunks and his sunglasses, and little else. Yeande was resting on a blanket, half dozing as Zhane gurgled happily from his covered playpen and tried to grab for the butterflies that would come and attach themselves to the outside of the netting. Yeande herself was dressed (if one could call it that) in a string bikini that would likely have Talon frothing at the mouth if she were to wear it in public. This was home, however, and she'd been insistant on trying to get a tan. Now, however, she was laying on the blanket with a book laying splayed open beside her as her eyes kept slipping closed.
Youko made a mental note to NOT let her get lobster-fied and to wake her up before too terribly long. For now, though, she needed the sleep.
Raven and Nozomi were also out there, each wearing their swimsuits. While Youko had put his foot down on letting them get anywhere NEAR as revealing as Yeande's, he did cave and allow them to get two-piece suits. They were now laying on their own blanket, chatting amicably as they talked about everything from school to Omi's sword lessons. Youko cringed at that, he'd not been a big fan of THAT particular interest. Still, it was something she wanted to learn. He half wondered if Raven knew there was no way in hell her furred skin was going to tan... but decided that she wasn't stupid and to mention it would likely only make her angry.
That was when his gaze moved to the fishpond beside him. Normally, the koi fish wandered lazily here and there in the water, creating patterns of colour just beneath the surface. Today, however, they were all bunched up on one side of the pond, staring towards the strange object that now shared THEIR home.
The object was in seventh heaven, and the tadpole's tail splashed against the water once before he dove down again towards the bottom. While Kaeru seemed to be near useless on dry land, the infant had shown an innate flair for swimming. Now, he seemed to spend more time in the pond and bathtub than out of it... except for feeding times.
Youko had yet to manage mastering the art of feeding a squirming, SWIMMING child.
Kaeru was having the time of his life in the pond... there were so many things to SEE down here! There were the colourful river rocks that Youko had decorated the pond with, there was the intake hose and its mesh grate that prevented fish (and tadpoles) from getting sucked into the filter... he liked that one, it tickled his nose when he set it against the grate. There were also the myriad fish, who were fun to chase around. They didn't seem too keen on the idea, but it was great for HIM.
Youko was content to watch him, laying beside the pond and draping his arm into the water. Occasionally, Kaeru would swim by, butt his head against Youko's hand and then continue on his way. While this was definately one of the stranger children he'd ever fostered... he was discovering quickly that the little tadpole was just as much a part of the family now as the others were.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:00 pm
"Inari help me, it's like trying to hold onto a fish." Youko reached into the tub again, grabbing for Kaeru and coming up empty. Between the bubbles and the fact that the young frog was a LOT faster than he had been before he'd grown, the fox was having one hell of a time just trying to keep track of him. Soaped up, the boy was impossible to lay a hand on, and Youko half mused that it would be amusing to send him out for the swim team when he was older. "Kaeru, sit still!"
The froglet, however, was having NONE of that and sat up, giggling. "But it's fun!" he protested, diving away from Youko's hands and sliding to the other end of the tub where the soap was hiding under the water. He dove under, reaching with both hands, and then wound up watching the bar of soap shoot out of his grasp and head for the other end. Well, he wasn't about to let an inanimate object get the better of him...
Using his feet, he splayed his toes against the end of the tub and shoved off to dart to the other end. Unfortunately, this also meant that the WATER moved too, and suddenly he heard a yell from somewhere outside of the little 'water world' he was busy playing in. Sitting up, Kaeru blinked, large eyes peering over the bubbles towards a rather soggy and miffed fox.
Youko had tried to avoid the wave of water that had come up out of the tub... and failed miserably. Now he sat beside it, ears flattened to his head and his hair dripping in his face. He was half wondering who had gotten the most of this bath... Kaeru or himself. "Alright, submarine training is officially OVER," he said, reaching for the stopper and pulling it out.
As he felt the water starting to drain away, Kaeru let out a YOWL, trying to go to the 'deep end' and stay in the water as long as possible. This was unfair!! He'd been having so much fun, and now it was all draining away! He shoved his hands down against the slotted drain, trying to keep the water in the tub, but it didn't work for long. Finally, he was left sitting amidst a few bubbles in an empty tub. Sniffling for a moment, he let his face scrunch up as he started to cry.
Youko had seen the 'I'm about to break your eardrums' face and grabbed a towel, wrapping Kaeru up in it, drying him off quickly. "None of that," he murmured, reaching for the baby oil. He'd found that it was essential for keeping the boy's skin from drying out during the times that he wasn't IN the water. Rubbing a handful of it over both hands, he started to smooth the oil into the drying skin gently. "You know you'll be back in the pool outside before long... but right now, you're about to either fall asleep or throw a fit because you're tired."
Kaeru found himself picked up, the boy nestling into Youko's arms as he was carried into the large Japanese bath room. Youko knew that he needed humidity and this was the best room for it. A wide netted hammock had been hung in the corner, and when Kaeru was placed it in, it seemed to wrap around him snugly, keeping him safe so that he wouldn't fall out. Some might call it a silly place to have a toddler... but it worked well for the boy, and Youko noticed that Kaeru didn't have half of the skin and breathing problems that he did when he was in one of the other rooms to sleep.
Before long, he saw the boy breathing slowly, curled up in sleep with his arms wrapped around a plush Flounder doll that he'd been given shortly after he arrived. Smiling, Youko stepped out of the room, closing the door carefully behind him and leaving Kaeru to sleep with the soothing sound of the small waterfall that kept water flowing freely in the tub.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:01 pm
"Dayyyyyyyyyyyyy seeeeeeeeee... dayyyyyyyyyyyy seeeeeeeeeeeee... gimme yer an-ser true...." Kaeru was sitting at the koi pond in Youko's yard, watching the fox fish leaves out of the water and try to keep them from clogging up the filtration system. It seemed to be a losing battle, really. Whenever he'd get a handful out, the wind would blow and another batch would fall into the pond. Kaeru knew that pretty soon, the weather would be too cold to do much of anything outdoors in. He, personally, thought this SUCKED, because of the fact that he'd now be stuck inside all day.
Normally, it wasn't so bad, but with Raven and Omi in the same house, sharing the same space... things were bound to get ugly. Especially when they both wanted into the bathroom that HE used as a napping spot.
That had been an issue already. Raven had been bathing, and Kaeru had rolled over in his hammock to watch her. It wasn't that he was staring... he'd seen them all bathe before and had been part of the family 'gathering' that happened in the large Japanese-style soaking bath. However, Raven was convinced that he was some kind of pervert and demanded that he be removed from the hammock while she bathed.
Youko had resisted, but eventually, to save his eardrums, he had relented. Kaeru didn't see what the big deal was. He was just fascinated by the way Raven's tail fur flowed int he water of the soaking tub. He stared at Youko's tail too, when he was able. There was just something about fur that nearly always got his attention. Probably because it was so different from his own smooth skin.
"C'mon, kiddo," came Youko's voice as Kaeru felt himself picked up from the leaves, and from his own thoughts. "It's getting cold out, and you're kicking around in the pond. How about something warm to drink and then you can curl up and watch tv?"
Nodding vigorously, Kaeru clung to Youko as he enjoyed the trip back into the house.
((Sorry for the sucky post, I had started out with a plan in mind, and it fled my thoughts when I was halfway done writing. >_< ))
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:02 pm
((This was an Rp that was supposed to include more of Kaeru... but it was a bit shorter than we'd planned.))
Trio stepped out of the car, glancing over Annora's outfit with a careful eye and reaching to tuck a stray lock of hair back behind the cut in the costume where her face appeared. It made no difference - with the way Annora was running around, hyped on excitement and dancing and cheering, the hair quickly dislodged and floated back into her eyes, but the small girl didn't notice. Trio fought a smile that occasionally became a wince - Annora could be QUITE loud when she was excited - and caught up the girl's small hand, guiding her up to Youkochylde's front door. She paused there, waiting as Annora bounced up to ring the doorbell, calling out in a voice as hyper as her movements, "TRICKERTREATS!"
Trio snickered, leaning down to Annora before the door could open. "It's 'trick OR treat', sweetie..."
When the door opened, it wasn't Youko standing there, but a pirate girl, complete with black eyepatch and a skirt that her father would have likely shot her for, had he not been trying to keep the younger ones in the house out of the candy. Raven grinned, the foxcoon, leaning over with a big bowl of candy as the teenager ruffled Annora's hair lightly. "Trick or Treat to you too!! And what a wonderful costume! You must beeeeee...." Raven brought a finger to her lips for a moment, the grin still in place. "You must be that fish from Finding Nemo... what's his name?"
She gave a wink to Trio then, and turned back to wait for Annora's answer.
"Its name's GILL!" Annora cheered, bouncing up toward Raven. Instead of holding out her bag, however, she continued to dance and bounce, grinning widely. "I Gill!"
Trio bit her lower lip for a moment before reaching out to catch one edge of Annora's bag and open it. "Keep it open, sweetie," she murmured, her words likely too muffled by the costume's material and Annora's excitement to be heeded.
Straightening, Trio looked Raven over before offering the girl a smile. "You look beautiful. Heading to a party later?"
Shaking her head, Raven scooped up a handful of candy and set it into the bag. "Nah. But I refuse to quit dressing up for Halloween. It's fun!" The foxcoon was grinning from ear to pointed ear as she stepped aside. "Did you want to come in? Dad's in the kitchen trying to make Chex Mix. I keep telling him he has to bake it, but he won't listen."
Trio blinked, then smirked, nodding. "I'll teach him the right way to make Trash," she assured Raven, as Annora bounced inside. The moment the young girl crossed the threshold, however, she froze, looking around curiously before toeing off her shoes and walking a little more sedately. Trio snickered, realizing only now how much living around tiny cats and dogs had affected the young girl. Turning back to Raven, she added, "You've grown so much. I'm sorry I've missed it."
Raven blushed then, setting the candy bowl aside as she tucked a lock of long hair behind her ear. "Dad says we're growing like weeds," she said, shrugging softly. "Omi's grown too, but I'm not sure if she's still here or if she left for Devi's already." She smiled then as she closed the door and gave Trio a soft hug. "It's good to see you again! It's been so long...."
Trio returned the hug tightly for a moment, arms only loosening when Annora decided that she, too, needed to be in on the act and squirmed between them. Trio smiled, pulling back and leaning down to give Annora a careful hug, not wanting to damage her costume, then looked up at Raven. "Your father must be proud," she offered. Annora, not interested in paying attention to the conversation, dropped her bag near her shoes and padded into the living room, looking for playmates.
Raven snickered, shrugging. "Either that or he's praying for college scholarships." She moved with Trio into the kitchen then, where Omi was sitting on one of the stools and watching their father try to figure out WHY the Chex Mix wasn't turning out right.
"You have to bake it, To-san," Omi said softly, nibbling on a carrot stick.
"You don't bake cereal," he muttered in reply, ears drooped as he stared at the bowl. "This sucks."
"Haven't you learned yet, Youko?" Trio asked quietly, lingering in the doorway. "Women are always right. If you want Texas Trash, you have to bake it."
Blinking, Youko forgot all about the bowl and moved forward to sweep up Trio in a tight hug. "Where the hell have you been??" he asked, nuzzling her cheek for a moment before breaking away and grinning.
Trio blinked, arms tightening for the last few seconds of the hug before she stepped back in embarrassment. "I could ask you the same thing," she noted, searching his eyes briefly before ducking forward to brush a kiss against his cheek. She turned then, peering at Omi with a quiet smile. "I remember when you were knee-high to a grasshopper. How are you?"
Omi flushed, tipping her head forward in a respectful nod. "I'm doing alright, Trio-san," she whispered faintly. "I haven't seen you in a while, it's good that you came by." She winced then as a high pitched shriek came from the livingroom, and she brought a finger up to her ear as if clearing it. "Kaeru got into the decorations again..."
Sighing, Youko gave Trio another hug before heading into the livingroom. "Kaeru!! Get out of the candy corn!" He stepped into the room, just in time to see the frog-like boy standing by the end table and the spilled candy all over the floor... and watched him point to Annora.
"SHE did it!!"
Trio was right behind Youko, one eyebrow arched as she watched the two. Annora had frozen, huge eyes watching both adults warily.
"Mmhmm," she said calmly, offering up nothing more as she waited for Youko to speak. It didn't really seem to matter, though, because when Annora caught sight of Trio's glower, her eyes began to fill with tears.
"WHY am I not inclined to believe you..." Youko said, lifting a brow and watching Kaeru closely.
The frog, however, was fixated on Annora, and the tears that were beginning to come to HER eyes.... and then he started to sniffle and cry as well. This wasn't fun! How could he blame someone else that just stood there and CRIED??
"I don't think it really matters whose fault it is, does it?" Trio said, her lips thinning.
Annora looked around, almost seeming to look for an escape before she began to sniffle, the tears running down her cheeks beginning to pick up speed.
Shaking his head, Youko picked up the bowl and set it on the table again. "Every piece. Picked up. Both of you."
It was an instantaneous reaction as Kaeru dropped his Halloween bag and got on hands and knees, scooping up the candy corn... as well as potato chip crumbs, fuzzies that had escaped the vacuum....
Annora was a little more delicate, after Trio followed Youko's statement with the same directions in a slightly different way. She, too, dropped to her knees, picking up two or three in her tiny fists and carrying them to the bowl before going back for more.
Trio just sighed, watching the two for a moment before glancing at Youko. "You remember Annora," she said wryly.
Snickering, Youko nodded. "Oh yes... although she's more outwardly mobile than I remember her." He moved to steer Trio towards the couch then, curling up there and watching the pair. "That's Kaeru... Karma dropped him off on my doorstep one night, he's from the Fourth Wall rescue that she runs."
"I've heard about that place," Trio nodded. "Haven't actually been inside yet. Been too busy trying to herd cats... otherwise known as corralling the new additions to my own home. I'll have to bring Clopin and Ealasaid over sometime." She reached out, her hand slipping into his as she watched the two as well. "He's very cute. Taking him trick-or-treating tonight?"
Nodding, Youko grinned. "If he gets the candy cleaned up." At that statement, the boy went into overdrive, picking up EVERYTHING he could find and throwing it into the candy dish. "He has to get his costume on yet... he's going out as Gandalf from Lord of the Rings.
As if having heard this proclamation as well, Kaeru moved to spread his arms wide, standing in the middle of the livingroom and looking as stern as he could. "YOU!! SHALL NOT!!! PASS!!"
Annora just blinked in confusion, and Trio clapped, choking back a guffaw far enough that she was able to say, in a strained voice, "Well done..." Turning to Youko while trying to maintain her straight face, she added, "Clearly, you're going as Gimli, then."
"Toss me and I throw you over my shoulder and dump you in the pool." Youko smirked at her, ears pinned back as he made a menacing 'tickle you' gesture at her.
"Daddy's going as Legless!" Kaeru crowed, looking at the two proudly.
Raven snickered from the doorway to the kitchen, safely out of reach of her father. "Legless... that's a good one," she said, noting the look of confusion on Kaeru's face. "You mean Legolas, squirt."
Trio stuck her tongue out at Youko. "So you're going as the elf. Should'a known," she noted, tucking herself into a corner of the couch, and a little more out of reach of Youko. "You're pretty enough, at least."
"Mama?" Annora asked, moving to stand in front of Trio then. "Wanna sit your lap," she said quietly, pouting a little. It took only a glance to see that they'd finished picking up the candy, and Trio nodded, shifting her body until Annora could crawl up onto her lap.
"At least you're going to dress up," Trio added to Youko, glancing down at her own plain clothes.
"I'm putting on a green shirt, blue pants and taking Omi's bow. That's not dressing up." Youko snickered, then looked at Annora appreciatively. "You look really nice tonight, sweetie," he said, grinning. "I'm glad you came to see us."
Annora perked up a bit, grinning at Youko. "I Gill," she announced proudly, hesitating only a moment before crawling over Trio and the couch to plant herself on Youko's lap. Trio ignored the knee to her midsection with only a mild wince, shaking her head.
Youko wound his arms around her then and nodded, paying rapt attention to the girl. "I see this! And did you get a lot of candy so far? Kaeru and I are gonna go out to get candy soon."
"YEAH!," Annora cheered, squirming in his lap a bit before settling against him. "I gots CANDY." She stayed still for all of five seconds before leaping up to bounce around the room. "Candy candy candy!"
At that proclamation, Kaeru turned pleading puppy-dog eyes on his father and started to get that 'I'm gonna cry' look again. Everyone had candy except him!
"Okay, okay," Youko said, motioning him towards the kitchen. "Ask your sister to help you put your costume on, and then we'll go." He turned to Trio then, smirking. "It's great when they get old enough to delegate stuff to."
Annora, curious about the goings-on, trailed behind Kaeru, still bouncing more than walking, and Trio had to call her back with a laugh. "You don't need to be in there, Little Girl," she noted, patting her lap. In response, Annora moved to climb up and sit on Youko's lap again.
"I sitting here," she informed her mother sternly.
"It never fails. Someone else comes into the room, and I cease to exist," Trio muttered, rolling her eyes before looking at Youko. "We won't keep you. I just... missed you."
Tilting his head to the side, Youko smiled. "I missed you too. I'm sorry things have been kinda hectic around here... but did you want to come over for Thanksgiving, perhaps?"
Trio blinked at the invitation, smiling softly. "I... need to check and see if Shiro had any plans for us," she offered. "But... if he doesn't, that would be really wonderful. You know... it doesn't have to b a special occasion to come over to my place either. Have dinner with us one night? You AND your brood, of course."
One brow lifted at part of that sentence as a slow smile crept over his face. "Shiro?" he asked, suddenly curious.
Trio blushed, looking abruptly embarrassed. "Yeah. He lives just across the street from me. His daughter and Annora are good friends." She left out the rest, knowing Youko would probably figure it out anyway.
The smile moved to a grin and he pulled Trio into a hug. "GOOD! I was getting worried about you."
Annora and Trio both yelped, the young girl diving off with a dramatic flourish while Trio herself ended up moving with much less grace. "Why?" Trio blinked, hesitating a moment before curling up against him.
"Because I was beginning to think you'd quietly mope forever," he said, brushing a stray wisp of hair from Trio's face.
"I wasn't moping," Trio countered, then added in a softer voice, "Was I? I didn't MEAN to..."
Petting her hair, Youko just smiled. "It wasn't noticeable... except to those of us who knew better."
"Did I bother you?" Trio whispered, closing her eyes.
Annora stared at the two for another moment, then headed to the kitchen. Surely there was something more interesting than these two in this house. Like that frog-boy!
Shaking his head, Youko just continued to hold her. "Not at all. I was just worried because I knew there wasn't really anything I could do."
Trio chuckled softly, hugging Youko. "I can handle pretty much anything, by now. WILL you come to visit, now that I'm not moping?"
"Absolutely!" Grinning, he wrapped around her and nuzzled.
"Good," Trio said, hugging Youko tightly. "I've missed you, dammit."
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:03 pm
Dear Diary Things are progressing so quickly, and I know that I haven't been consulting you much in this. For that, I apologize... I feel like this book will wind up being a crucial part of Kaeru's life when he gets older. Perhaps a way for him to look back and see what he was like as a child. Of course, it won't do him much good if I don't write in it. Since Halloween, Kaeru's been tormenting me, wanting to go and see the 'strange finned girl' again. I don't think he quite remembers that her name is Annora, and no matter how many times I remind him, he still never remembers. Oh well. Maybe it'll get better when he gets older. For now, however, he's having a blast as a toddler, and I'm content to let him be that way. We recently set up the Christmas tree, and I gave him a box of plastic icicle ornaments that I didn't have to worry about him breaking. I was half expecting to find them all clustered around the bottom of the tree... but that'll teach me to underestimate a frog with suction cup feet. They're EVERYWHERE, and Kaeru himself managed to nearly give me a heart attack when I came into the livingroom and found him attached to the wall, a good five feet off the ground. I'm going grey, I know it.
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