The simple duties [Kasumi]

Kasumi closed her eyes momentarily when Mosa gently pat her shoulder, as if easing her nerves away with such a gentle pat. Kasumi turned back around and looked at the book she had chosen before showing the other kids gathered around her in the circle. "I love this book!" "Asheneve is my favorite!" "I haven't read this book yet!" some of the children spoke up, seemingly excited about the story that was going to be read to them. Kasumi turned the book towards her and took a deep breath. She normally had Aki on her lap so she could see the pictures, would she have to show the other kids the pictures in the book as well? Kasumi's small hands opened the book up to the first page, showing a little girl with blonde hair standing in the center of a family portrait. "...Once upon a time...there was a little girl n-named Ashyeve….she lived with her p-papa after her mama passed away. After some time, another lady lived with them... along with two girls older than Ashyeve was," Kasumi started off before flipping the book around to show the children the pictures in the book before flipping the book around once more and flipping the page to continue the story. This was the most she had spoken to the other children, but she wasn't finished just yet. This was only the beginning of the story, she had much more talking to do!

"Ashyeve's new mama and sisters did not like her very much and would make her work when her papa was gone. They weren't very nice to Ashyeve but Ashyeve still loved them. A letter came in the mail saying the Prince of the town was throwing a big party and that all the girls were invited...except for Ashyeve. Her mama would not let her go to the party and instead told her she had to stay home and clean like she always did while they went and had fun. Ashyeve stayed home and cried while her mama and sissy's went to meet the Prince at the party," Kasumi said once again showing the children the pictures before turning the book around. "That's not very nice of them!" "I'm sure Asheneve wanted to go to the party too!" "What happens next?" some of the children chirped their opinions, wanting to find out what happened next. Hearing the other children's positive comments, Kasumi grew just a bit more confidence than she had before, more excited to read the book in her hands.

"As Ashyeve was cleaning like her mama told her, a magical lady showed up and told Ashyeve that...that she could go to the party too. Ashyeve grew sad again as she did not have anything nice to wear to a party the Prince was having. With a wave of her wand, the magical lady gave Ashyeve a really pretty purple gown and crystal shoes. Ashyeve was even given a ride in a pretty horsie cart thanks to the magical lady. The lady told Ashyeve that she had to be back by midnight or else the magic would wear off. Ashyeve thanked the magical lady and hurried off to the party, making sure to look at the time," Kasumi said with a small smile. "Her dress is so pretty!" "I wish I had a pretty dress like she had." Some of the girls chatted, chuckling and singing about, although some of the boys were not amused with the story. Some did not pay attention, some were talking amongst themselves, completely ignoring Kasumi as she read, some yawned, completely uninterested in the story and wanting to play with their toys like they usually did after lunch. Kasumi looked up from the book and saw this, her once happy expression grew sad. Kasumi looked down at the book, not sure if she should even continue reading the story or not since the boys did not want to listen. She looked back to Mosa with her big blue eyes, not sure of what she should do next. 

She felt a little calmer once Mosa said to keep going, she shouldn't be scared of anything. Kasumi softly nodded and turned back around to continue reading the story. "Ashyeve got to the party and everyone loved her dress, saying she was the prettiest one there but no one knew who she was. The Prince saw her and asked her to dance. Ashyeve was so happy the Prince wanted to dance with her, so she danced with him for a long time. The time went by quickly and before she knew it, the big clock chimed," she said. Kasumi was still a little wary to make the clock sound but Mosa rested his hand on her shoulder and made the noise for her, causing some of the children to chuckle at how silly it sounded. With a soft smile, Kasumi kept going, "Ashyeve had to go back home like the magical lady told her. She left the Prince and ran out of the castle, but the Prince didn't want her to leave. Ashyeve lost her crystal shoe as she ran back to the horsie cart, getting inside and going back home. The sadly Prince watched as she left, only to find her shoe on the ground. He picked it up and promised himself that he would find Ashyeve again, no matter how long it took." Kasumi showed the kids the picture of the Prince and the shoe before she began reading again. She was thankful that Mosa kept the bell noises up, happy that he helped her.

"Ashyeve got back home just in time. She walked into her house and watched the dress and all the other magic things disappear. She went upstairs and hid the other crystal slipper before going back downstairs to clean so her mama and sisters didn't think she left. A few days went by and the Prince thought of a way to find Ashyeve again. He would try the crystal shoe on every girl in the land to see if it fit. Whoever the she fit would be his bride. The Prince went from house to house, letting the young girls there try on the shoe but the shoe wouldn't fit," Kasumi spoke, softly chuckling at the picture in the book before showing the kids. Some of the kids giggled and laughed at the image. "Their feet were too big!" "Only Asheneve's foot would fit!" some said. Kasumi continued the story once more, "The Prince had gone to all of the homes in the land except for Ashyeve's home. The bad mama welcomed the Prince inside, letting her daughters try on the shoe, but it was too small for them. The Prince asked if there were any other girls there besides the daughters but the mama said no. Just as the Prince was about to leave, Ashyeve had come back from feeding the animals outside. The Prince told her she had to try on the shoe but her mama would not let her. The Prince said that she could try and nothing bad would happen from trying on a shoe. The Prince slipped the shoe on Ashyeve and saw that it fit her perfectly! The Prince married her and she became the Princess of the land, and they lived happily ever after. The end."

Kasumi closed the book softly and set it on her lap before looking back up at the kids, wondering if they enjoyed the story or not. The room was really quiet at first but then, a miracle happened! The kids started clapping and cheering once the story was over, they loved hearing Kasumi read. The pinkette wiggled her fins and even her tail as a warm smile grew on her face. She turned back around to Mosa and gave him another hug, "Thank you," she said, looking up at him with a smile. She couldn't be happier in this moment, she hadn't been this happy in a long time. She was so happy, she wanted to cry, small tears of joy welled up in her tiny eyes as she smiled up at the giant who made this all possible. 

Kasumi rested her little head against Mosa's chest as he pet her head, a warm sensation running through her body. It felt nice, nicer than anything she had felt before, she didn't want the feeling to go away. Even the nice words he said seemed to put the pink haired mutant at ease, the quiet tone of his voice, the way he said such positive things, almost like a father saying sweet nothings to his child, something Kasumi had never felt before. She laid there with a smile on her face as Mosa hugged her back and gently pat her head, but the feeling was gone all too soon. Mosa released her from her hug and stood up once more, causing Kasumi to get up off the floor holding Aki in her arms. Ms. Kana called out to the children, telling them to thank the giant for being here today to visit. "...thank you mister Goshi," she said, messing up on his name as it was a bit challenging. Once the thank you was uttered, the children went off to play on their own as it was free time for them. The blue eyed girl looked back to Mosa as he spoke to her once more, telling her to be brave like Banjou. She didn't know if she could be brave like him...she was only able to read her story thanks to Mosa.

Kasumi couldn't take her eyes off of Mosa as he walked to the door leading out of the playroom. She followed him in haste, not wanting to see him go. Her expression turned to that of worry, seeing him stop at the door with her only a few feet from him. Mosa said he'd come and see her again, but Kausmi didn't know when she'd see him again. Could it be tomorrow? In a few days? Weeks? Months? Years? The stress of it all made Kasumi sick. She didn't want him to leave, she needed him to be brave. Kasumi, out of panic, ran over to him and hugged his leg, not being able to reach higher. She tried her best not to start crying but was finding it hard not to. Ms. Kana watched Kasumi with a saddened look on her face, giving her a few moments before going over to her and Mosa. "Alright Kasumi, it's time to let Mr. Ganbaroshi go now. He has to get back to work," Ms. Kana said in hopes of getting Kasumi to let go, but the little girl would not budge. Ms. Kana stared at her before looking back up to Mosa with a worried expression on her face. "Mr. Ganbaroshi will be back to visit, I promise Kasumi, Why don't you go and play with the other kids?" the caretaker said with a sheepish smile but Kasumi shook her head, clinging tighter to the giant. If Kasumi were to let go now, she felt she'd loose him forever, she couldn't let someone who helped her and that she loved go just like that. She didn't want to be alone again. Ms. Kana bent down and wrapped her arms around Kasumi, trying to gently pry her off of Mosa's leg but Kausmi cried and tried clinging on as if her life depended on it. "I-I wanna stay with him. I don't wanna be alone again!" Kasumi cried out a voice louder than what she normally spoke in, tears streaming down her face and staining Mosa's pantleg. Some of the kids turned their attention to the scene before them, unsure of what was happening and if they should intervene or not.

Kasumi softly whimpered, her tiny hands and body doing all they could not to let go of the giant's leg. She felt small, powerless, weak. She didn't want to be by herself again. Mosa had shown her a light that she didn't want to let go. She told him to fight for what she strived for and that's what she did now. The small mutant child was afraid he was going to push her away, hurt her like her auntie had done, but that never happened. Instead, he knelt down to her height and looked her in the eyes, holding his tiny hands in hers. She stopped crying and instead stared back at him with tear filled crystal eyes, softly sniffling as he held her tiny hands in his own larger ones. Warmth filled her body with the tiny yet intimate action. Mosa said he could offer her the first step, things beyond here would be harder and perhaps scarier. Kasumi was still rather confused as to what he meant by all that, was it just his way of comforting? He then asked her if she had her bags packed. Her eyes widened when she heard this. Did this mean...he was going to take her home? Her once saddened expression turned happy, as a large smile grew on her face, her fins and tail wagging happily. 

Kasumi turned to Ms. Kana and spoke up, "C-Can you help me Ms. Kana?" she asked, worried for a bit that she didn't have her belongings, or what belongings she did have, ready to go. She didn't think she would ever find someone so kind, so loving, to want to adopt her. Ms. Kana stared in disbelief for a moment before smiling and nodding her head, trying to hold back tears. "O-Of course I'll help you little one. Why don't you gather your things and even pick a book to take with you while I get the paperwork together," she said. "If you would wait here for just a moment Mr. Ganbaroshi, I will bring the paperwork here for you to fill out before you go along with some things for Kasumi," she said leaving the room to go to her office. Kasumi, meanwhile, listened carefully to what Mosa said before doing as Ms. Kana said, going to gather her belongings. Kasumi wasn't given much. She had a small cubby of things she was given by the caretakers: some crayons, some clothes for Aki, a comb for her hair, an extra change of clothes, a small nightgown, a hat and a pair of mittens, and an extra pair of shoes. Sure, it may not be much, but it was the things she treasured. Ms. Kana also said she could take a book with her as well. She was going t go over to the bookshelf and pick one out but saw the Asheneve book on the floor. She didn't want another book, she wanted this one specifically. The pinkette went over and picked up the book before going and placing it in her cubby along with the rest of her things. Kasumi lifted the cubby and carried it over to Mosa, being a little heavier than what she thought but managed to do it on her own.

Kasumi couldn't help the smile that was on her face, to think she would actually have a family to call her very own. Even if they didn't have much, they had one another. Kasumi looked back to the other kids and softly frowned as some stared back at her. She was sad that they had to stay here instead of going to their own families. She regretted not making more friends, she regretted a lot of things. Kausmi turned to face Mosa until she felt a small pair of hands wrap around her. The pair of hands belonged to a girl who had fur like a dog had. "...we'll miss you Kasumi," she softly said, looking at the girl with a smile. Kasumi blinked and stared at the girl. She would be missed? Was that true? Just hearing the statement, she couldn't help but cry a little bit as she hugged the dog girl tighter. Some of the other children came around and joined in on the hug, wishing Kasumi the best and saying they would miss her. Kasumi didn't think they actually cared, she thought the children hated her. To hear that they did indeed care for her brought about a warm fuzzy feeling. Kasumi happily cried as she hugged the other children goodbye, knowing this wasn't goodbye forever, but more like a 'see you later' type of ordeal. Once the hugs and goodbyes ended, Kasumi went over to Mosa and wiped away her tears, smiling up at him with semi-reddened eyes and tear stained cheeks. Ms. Kana came back with the paperwork and helped Mosa fill out the necessary details as well as a coat and pair of boots for Kasumi, and even Aki, to wear on the journey to their new home.