Hidden Treasure

✖┆ “And all I want is for you to be quiet and actually pay attention, but clearly that’s asking too much.” With that, Izaya reached over to turn the faucets to finally let the bath tub start filling up. At this rate though, Takara would already have a five course meal planned out before he’d managed to prod her in the water.

✖┆ Izaya allowed himself to dragged along, following Takara and her wailing toward the kitchen where Rei stood, waiting with boxes. Though, instead of stepping up to take his, he let the impatient jumping bean at his side take her share fair first before he got pulled into the mess himself.

The only reply to both of them was an amused snort and a gesture to sit down and eat, and Takara did so with a pout, taking the no for what it was. A second helping of ootoro was plonked onto the table though and she reached for some of it with a cheer.

✖┆ “Maybe, if you cooperate.” Because if Takara thought he hadn’t picked up on her growing resistance to bath time the closer they got to the door, she obviously didn’t know who she was dealing with. 

Taka’s pout grew at that, but she allowed herself to be ushered to the bath, wiggling at the prospect of being able to play with her bath toys once she was clean and in the water.

✖┆ “If you actually behave for once.” Obviously that was him being generous and overlooking the mess she’d decided to track all over everything inside; not to mention him ignoring the mud he could already feel clinging to his shirt as he paraded her off to the bathroom, too.

Takara sighed heavily, as if she was making some great sacrifice allowing herself to be bundled into the bathroom before being fed lunch. “Can I have juice too?”

✖┆ If looks could kill, the one stuck on the smaller would at least be good enough to land someone in the hospital. He was more than annoyed, and if Takara knew what was best for her, she’d stop being stubborn and actually listen for a change. “With all that yelling, I’d be more surprised if she hadn’t heard you already.”

Takara pouted as she allowed herself to be pushed along, shifting to grab onto the hem of his shirt as she walked.

She pouted at him, eyes wide as she did so. She didn’t want to nap after a bath, though she didn’t mind taking a bath itself. But she wanted to tell Mama all about the mouse first! “I gotta tell mama about my mouse!”

✖┆ “Oh?” Izaya feigned interest at Takara’s question, though his eyes never once left the small screen in front of him that he continued to poke away on. “Well maybe if you give me a good example of what you’d need it for, I might just let you in on the secret~”

✖┆ “A good listener or not, at least you’re right about one thing.” Izaya gave a stretch, eventually plopping the young girl back down on the floor before easing his way out of his chair to stand up himself. Even if the broker couldn’t teach her everything, at least she already understood that flattery would get her everywhere~!

“MAMA!” she called immediately, grabbing his hand to drag him out of the room and into the other room. “Mama it’s time for ootoro!”

✖┆ “Hmm.” Well now, wasn’t she just the future little mastermind. Izaya wouldn’t say he could commend Takara on her pronunciation of the words yet, but at least she was showing promise in retaining information. And with that sly smile and her persistent attitude, there were bound to be some pretty interesting things in store for the younger should she keep chasing after things that caught her attention.

Takara leaned into the touch happily, pleased at the attention as she snuggled closer. Dad was still so weird. “But you’re super smart! So y’know how to make my eye q go up!” She would definitely tell mama they needed ootoro every day though. As soon as they had lunch. Which was ootoro.

✖┆ “Now what do you think?” Izaya shot back over a shoulder, making sure to keep anything of his out of Takara’s grasps with a few well-timed flicks. As much as he appreciated the ego stroking compliment, having anything touch the muddy mess that was the smaller was completely out of the question. She’d just have to make due with what she had for now.  

✖┆ Where was the fun in acting sympathetic, though? From the way Takara had treated him before, she definitely hadn’t earned any of his sympathy! And wasting his small allowance of an emotion like that on a few math problems wasn’t something Izaya was willing to compensate for.

✖┆ “Maybe. If you’re really so curious to find out, after we’re done turning you back into something half way decent, you can go try to find one and ask them what they think.”

“’Cause I wanna pretty tail too!” She continued her game of trying to catch one, grinning widely up at him as she trotted along. “They’re nice an’ warm an’ fluffy!” Which was a compliment, obviously. They were very nice tails. She wanted some too, just like his.

✖┆ “Oh, I don’t know,” Izaya started, continuing to lead Takara along while still keep plenty of distance between her and her muddy mess, “I was thinking that since you’re being so nice and offering to share, maybe I’ll just keep it as a souvenir and display it for everyone else to see. I mean, with the way you’re carrying it around like that and all, you’d think it was a trophy!”

She hummed in response to that, glancing down at the mouse in her hand. Not really a trophy, but it was her first catch! That had to be worth something, right? She poked at it for a moment thoughtfully before she finally turned her head up to look at him as she trotted after him.