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“Tell me, sweetheart, what cake would you like?”
“Ooh! Ooh! I want ##########! Oh, and can we go to the beach later?”
“Of course, sweetheart. It is your-”
~~~
A frantic beeping woke Rien from his slumber, but to his gratitude it was merely his alarm clock instead of his pager.
Though, either way he had been given quite the fright.
Getting out of bed, he put on his suit. Before leaving, he checked the time and date on his clock.
It was 5:40 AM and the day was…
…April 4th.
Yoshihide’s birthday.
He frowned slightly, Hermes had hardly spared him time in order to ascertain what his darling daughter would want for her special day.
So that simply meant he had to improvise. Starting by asking some of the more… imaginative Nursefathers.
He quietly turned the knob on his door, and made his way to his first destination.
---
The greys of the Index Corridor faded into vibrant reds, and the soft smell of paper turned into the stench of liquor.
Rien navigated the twisting paths of the Thumb Corridor with ease, it was the location of the physical entrance of the House of Spiders, after all.
And at last, he came upon his final destination.
…Sort of.
He had wished to ask Valencina about Yoshihide’s gift, but he had found the Thumb Nursefather sprawled out onto one of the couches. Fast asleep and liquor bottles all around her.
It seems he’d have to wake her up… and the consequences that entail from doing so.
At a modest decibel, he cleared his throat-
-and immediately dodged the empty bottle that was thrown in his direction.
“Rien, you fuckin’ bastard! The fuck did I say about waking me up?!”
“My apologies, Valencina. It’s just that… something important came up and I wished for your counsel upon the matter.”
“The hell is this important?!”
“Yoshihide’s birthday.”
Valencina glared at him, before - in one of her drunken moodswings - laughing. At him.
“Ticket’s birthday you say? Well my fuckin’ Famiglia never gave a rat’s ass about my birthday, why the hell should I celebrate her birthday?!”
“We are Yoshihide’s parents, are we not? I simply thought-”
“You thought wrong. Only thing she’d be getting for her birthday at this rate is another beating if she’s going to keep up with that shitty posture of hers.” She grabbed one of the open bottles that still had some whiskey in it, and took a gulp.
Perhaps he had merely come at a time when she was indisposed, or perhaps this was just how she’d always react. Either way, he was not going to get any answers out of her.
He sighed. “Alright then, my apologies for waking you Miss Valencina.”
And so, he left.
---
And from the Thumb, he went to the Middle.
Through endless rows of shelves lining the dark room, he could hear the sounds of some sort of video game.
…Matthias must’ve pulled an all-nighter, then.
He walked between the shelves, and reached the clearing at the center of the Corridor. Approaching from behind, he could see the Middle Nursefather sitting in his bed… chair… thing, console controller in hand and surrounded by trash originating from junk food and soft drinks.
When he got close enough, he cleared his throat once again. Matthias turned paused his game and turned around.
“Yo, Rien! What’cha doing up so late? Another Prescript?”
“...Matthias it’s…” He checked the time on his pager. “...6:21 am.”
“Ohhhhh, guess I pulled an all-nighter without realizing, heh. Anyway, what did you come here for?”
“As you may… or may not …know, today is Yoshihide’s birthday. I had wished to ask for what she’d want for such an occasion but I could not find the time. Do you perhaps have any ideas?”
“Oh shit, today is my little girl’s birthday! Thanks for reminding me, pal!”
He definitely didn’t know, then.
“Eh, but don’t sweat it! I already got everything sorted!”
Rien’s eyes widened. Matthias? Proactive? He usually just charged into things headfirst. “Really? What did you get?”
“Obviously I got the entire XO Series of model mechs! Even got those ultrarare XF, XS, and XM models! Though I had to break some bastard’s arm to get them.”
Ah. That… explains it.
“...Are you sure that Yoshihide will like them? That they are to her tastes?”
“Of course she will! She’s my little girl ain’t she? ‘Sides, aren’t you the one that came here because you didn’t have a single clue?”
“Hah, touche.”
But this confirmed his suspicions regardless.
He pretty much got them for himself. Who in their right mind would get a gift for their child, possibly knowing that they’re the only one who’d want it?
“I shall take my leave then. Apologies for interrupting your game.”
“Don’t sweat it! Glad to see I’m not the only one who cares for our little Yoshihide!”
And with that, Rien left the Middle Corridor. Matthias not even realizing the direction he went.
–--
Rien did not like the Ring Corridor. Not one bit.
He was… tolerant of the smell of alcohol even if he didn’t partake in the substance. The Index Corridor was, of course, perfectly suited for him. The Middle Corridor while barebones and often filled with trash wasn’t necessarily unpleasant. And the Pinky Corridor reminded me of his home back when he lived in Q Corp.
The Ring Corridor, though…
…It reminded him of his home in a most unpleasant way.
Still, he wouldn’t any stone unturned.
And thus he forced himself through the sterile white rooms of the Ring Nursefather’s space. Walking past the sanguine sculptures until he found the Maestro working on an elaborate piece to the tune of a gentle piano melody.
…Ignore it, Rien.
The Ring Nursefather, hearing the clack of RIen’s dress shoes, looked up from his sculpture. His unmoving metal face staring at the Index Proxy.
“Ah, Rien~ It’s not often I see you here. And though I know why you oft make yourself scarce around me, I must wonder why you appear before me now on the day of little Yoshihide’s birth?~”
“I… I simply wished to ask if you had any ideas for what Yoshihide would like for her birthday.”
“Ah, well I’m afraid I can’t exactly help you there. I’ve spent most of our time together making sure Yoshihide was acclimated to the artistic style of Corporism… Alas, she has yet to fully embrace it’s splendor.”
Indeed, he remembered when he first exposed Yoshihide to his… sculptures. The times she wailed from Valencina’s abuse paled in comparison to her weeping back then.
And yet, he knew he could do naught but comfort her, telling her she’d have to get used to it.
He had no other choice, really. Besides, he wasn’t much better. He did enjoy the act of suffering and taking a life.
“...However, I am crafting a most illustrious work of art for her right now, would care to see?”
Though the disgraced Maestro could not smile, Rien could hear the subtle knowing mockery in his voice.
And yet, he did not call it out.
“...Sure.”
~~~
It was a risk, and he knew it.
He knew what the Prescript asked of him, and that’s why he took so many trips away from home.
And yet, he couldn’t bare to be away from them. Not this day.
Not his daughter’s &$(#$*!&...
He was taking a quick smoke break outside. He knew better than to smoke in front of children, after all. He was just doing what was best for her.
That is, until he heard a scream.
He dropped the cigarette onto the grass, and ran inside. Through the sliding doors of the house he had bought until he reached his daughter’s room.
His wife was already dead. Her organs splayed out before him… and his daughter.
And standing above her, her killer, was a tall man dressed in white. His body fully metal, replaced by prosthetics.
He turned to the Proxy, and his yellow eyes met the empty sockets of the intruder’s metal face.
Said intruder spoke first.
“You’re not supposed to be here right now… My work is still much underway, and I'd like to carve them up in peace so they can attain the most exquisite beauty I can sculpt.”
All He could do was stare at him in horror, shock and fear. His hand slowly reached for his weapon, for Caduceus. Perhaps he could still save his daughter, save Yu-
“... Don't tell me, are you here to defy the Prescript?”
…
That’s right.
The… The Prescript.
His hand fell slack.
…
“Ah, I knew you’d do that… Now, please leave. You’ll behold my finished work before long.”
He turned around, and calmly walked out the door.
He could hear her voice as he left.
“Don’t go… Not… like this… Daddy… Please… Help us…”
~~~
“And that’s why… Oh? Rien? Did I perhaps bore you… or are you simply… reminiscing?”
The Maestro’s words shook Rien out of that memory. It seems he had missed the Ring Nursefather’s entire lecture.
Good.
“It’s… It’s nothing. If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”
The Maestro laughed softly. “Reminiscing it is, then.”
Rien didn’t want to be here anymore. He walked away.
“Oh, Yoshihide~”
He froze.
He knew he was not referring to their daughter.
It was that name, the name he left behind.
“Don’t fret so much over little Yoshihide gift, I’m sure when the time is right… your ‘god’ will surely lend a helping hand…” He laughed once more.
And Rien left the Ring Corridor.
Not once even thinking of Callisto’s name.
–--
He began walking through the halls of the Pinky Corridor.
…He could smell the trail of cigarettes.
He doesn’t expect much from Shiomi, he knows how much she despises Yoshihide.
And yet, maybe… maybe her mother could provide some insight he was not privy to.
So, he followed the smell up to the roof of the House of Spiders.
And there, he saw Shiomi looking out on a balcony. Near her was an ashtray, filled with a immense pile of cigarettes.
“Shiomi.”
The Pinky Nursefather turned to him, and though he could not see her face anymore, he simply knew she was glaring at him with those eyes of hers.
“...the hell do you want?”
“...I simply wanted to ask if you knew at all what Yoshihide would want for her birthday.”
The Dihui Star scoffed.
“Really? What she wants? And yet what about me? Me, bound here by that… fetter. I don’t get to ‘want’, and I don’t see why she should be able to either.”
“...I see. I’m sorry for asking.”
The Ring Corridor drained him. He… He was ready to just give up at this point. He’d have to buy her something without much importance or sentimental value.
So he just walked away.
“...If you really want to get that brat something, think about what she’s not getting.”
And then, he stopped.
“...Huh?”
She took a drag of her cigarette before continuing.
“That Thumb bitch is too drunk to care, I’m sure Matthias got something for himself, and Callisto just made another one of those fucked up corpses he calls ‘art’, right?”
“...Yes.”
“And you know I’m not getting her shit. So thinka about what she doesn’t have.”
“...I’ll try to do that.”
With that advice in mind, he descended back down into the Pinky Corridor.
As he walked back towards his Corridor. He thought to stop by Yoshihide’s room. It was only 6:48 AM. She wasn’t scheduled to wake until 8 today.
He gently slid the door open, and saw her sleeping peacefully. A smile on her face, as she hopefully dreamt of the most pleasant of dreams.
It was enough for him to smile, as well.
After a short bit, he closed the door and headed back to his Corridor.
–--
What Yoshihide didn’t have…
It was easier to say than for him to figure out. It’s not like his ‘condition’ regarding visualization helped.
So he reminded himself what she was getting.
Valencina - nothing.
Matthias - gifts, even if she’s not truly the intended recipient.
The Maestro - another gift, though actually meant for her this time.
Shiomi - nothing.
So what did she lack, that every birthday needed.
That every birthday needed…
“Daddy, you know what every birthday needs, right?”
…
“Yes that’s right, a cake. She needs cake”
A took a deep breath.
“But… what…”
He already knew the answer, it just… didn’t sit well with him…
“Flavo-”
*Beep*
…
He pulled out his pager, the very same that’s been silent all morning.
[Make way to Hori’s Bakery in Q Corp., and purchase a strawberry cake.]
…
If…
If it’s what Hermes wills, then so be it.
---
“Daddy, you know what every birthday needs, right?”
“A cake, of course.”
“Yeah! I want the bestest cake ever!”
He smiled.
“And you deserve nothing less. Tell me, sweetheart, what cake would you like?”
“Ooh! Ooh! I want ##########! Oh, and can we go to the beach later?”
“Of course, sweetheart, it is your birthday.”
He got dressed, and as he did so he looked in the mirror. The white of his hair was starting to overtake the black again… he should probably dye it again soon.
Anyway, with the flavor of the cake decided, he set off to Q Corp.’s streets.
After a few turns, he found the local bakery - Hori’s Bakery it was called. It was a small place, and it was ran by a middle-aged man - Hori.
“Oh hey Mr. Yoshihide, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you in town! What can I get for ya?”
While the Prescript had requested him to use a new name, he tended to use his real name around his local neighborhood.
“Well, today is my daughter’s birthday. And she requested to have a strawberry cake for the occasion.”
~~~
Rien looked at the man behind the counter, he was now on the older side of things.
“Strawberry eh? Been a bit since someone ordered one of those. You know…” He looked as if he was about to go off on a tangent, but when he looked at Rien’s face, a sense of familiarity came to him.
“You… remind me of someone, someone I used to know. Is your name Yoshihide, perhaps?”
Rien simply solemnly looked down at the counter.
“No. I’m afraid you’ve got me mixed up with someone else. My name is Rien.”
The bakery owner stared at him a bit deeper, before sighing.
“If you say so… Well, I got a strawberry cake fresh out of the oven… I’ll put it on the house, just for you.”
Rien sighed, it’s what Hori did back then too. “That… won’t be necessary.”
“Nah, it’s alright. The best I can do for a familiar face.”
So he saw right through his lies, huh?
It wasn’t long before Hori brought him the cake, and as he said it was right out of the oven. Warm.
“Thank you.”
“...You’re welcome, but it’s enough just to know you’re still alive, Yoshihide.”
Rien let out a sad chuckle. “I… I told you, my name is RIen.”
And with that, he left. Into the cold, biting winter air of that cold spring, and back to the web he had found himself ensnared in.
–--
They had gone to the beach.
The sky was a bit grey that day, but the weather was still right for a visit to a beach.
He saw his daughter building sand castles, only for the waves to knock them down each and every time. It was after the 4th time, that she came and asked him a question.
“Dad,” Her voice was slightly more serious, so obviously she referred to him more seriously. “...why do sea waves keep crying?”
Yoshihide smiled a soft, sad smile. “Because they’re sad that they’re knocking over the sand castles.”
She frowned. “Then they should just knock them over!”
“Waves move with the winds. When the wind blows, the high and low tides can't help but knock down everything in their path.”
Her frown grew. “Then why not just… push back when the wind blows?”
He frowned as well.
If only it was that simple. If only he could push against the wind as well, and everything would be fine in the end.
If only.
“Think about it this way, darling. The waves… built those sand castles only because the wind pulled them in. And now, the wind is pushing them to bring the castles down. So the waves really have no reason to feel sad.”
Then…
“Then, Dad…”
Yuzuki looked at her father, disappointed but… with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“...When will they be happy?”
~~~
He wish he knew.
He really did.
As he re-entered the House of Spiders, he rushed to the Pinky Corridor.
He made it just in time, Yoshihide had gotten up and was ready to go to her first lessons of the day. He hid the cake behind him as he approached her.
“Dad! Guess what day it is!” Her smile was wide and beaming.
“Why, sweetheart, it’s your birthday.”
“Yeah! It’s the bestest day ever!”
“Truly, and to make sure today lives up to that anticipation…”
He revealed the cake to her.
“Woah! Strawberry! But… how did you know it was my favorite?”
He smiled. He didn’t know, he had never asked her. But he wasn’t going to ruin her special day by saying it was the Prescript, was he?
“Because strawberries just so happen to be red, the very same as your favorite color, sweetheart.”
The two shared a laugh, and Yoshihide took the cake in her hands as she went off to her lessons from the other Nursefathers.
She was starting off with Valencina today, yes? Hopefully she wasn’t in too sour of a mood…
–--
[HAH.]
[AS EXPECTED OF {The Hollow Imitation}.]
[TOO NAIVE.]
[THOUGH, IT TRULY A SHAME THAT {The Tempered Blade} NEVER GOT TO ENJOY THAT CAKE…]
[NOW, DEAR OBSERVER. LET US TAKE A JUMP OF A FEW DECADES, YES?]