Float On

“Mister, can you make dumplings? I want those for lunch.”

I stood dumbfounded, perplexed by the young girl who was now inviting herself into my home. I glanced down the hallway as she squeezed her oversized plush pink bag past my calf. It was bursting from the seams with coloring pages and toys. It had to have been twice the child’s size.

“Where’s your mother?” I questioned as she settled on to the couch.

“Looking for keys.” She shrugged, plunging into the bag. It exploded, making my living room the site of a Barbie battleground. I could feel my heart plunging into my gut. This would take all day to clean. I didn’t even know if it would all fit back into the bag.

“You should go help your mom.” I stated, biting my lip to in an effort to simmer my mounting rage.

“No, she said I could stay with you today.” She retorted, wiping tiny, sticky fingers over my television screen. I held my breath, peering back into the hallway. Still empty. Clenching my teeth into a smile, I urged the child to return home. She ignored me, smashing ponies into my $1,600 glass coffee table.

The frantic pattering of feet from down the hall drew my attention. Immediately, I was met by a mousy, exhausted looking woman. Her tired eyes spied the disaster zone that was once my living room, and she stiffened like a board.

“You her mother?” I questioned, gesturing toward the ball of terror.

“Yes yes I’m sorry. I turned around and she was gone.” She panted, her eyes narrowing at the girl. She hid behind the couch with a look of guilt. The woman returned her gaze toward me. “Um, actually I wanted to speak with you.”

“This early?” I grumbled, my body protesting from lack of sleep.

“I’m really sorry.” She started, folding her arms in front of her torso. “You see, I just moved to the area and started a new job. I work at the hospital. Well I just got called in and, unfortunately, her babysitter can’t make it until 8:00am…” She anxiously wrung her fingers together, as if trying to squeeze perspiration from them.

I glanced at the clock. It was 5:24 am. I could only imagine what two hours exposed to this tiny terrorist would do to my once beautiful home.

“You don’t have any family nearby?” I optioned, not yet willing to replace all my worldly belongings.

“We aren’t on speaking terms…” She murmured, shifting her weight from side to side in nervous tension. Her eyes were glued to the floor until a crashing sound drew her attention behind me.

“Oops.” The kid uttered. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around and investigate.

“Well, this sounds like an ample opportunity to get on speaking terms.” I mused, forcing a grin. Her eyes, the size of saucers, met mine in obvious desperation.

“Please sir.” She pled, “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency. It’s not even three hours.” I wasn’t sure my apartment could last thirty minutes of exposure to the threat. “I can pay you. She’ll go right to bed!” She added, sensing my obvious hesitation. Somehow I doubted the fire cracker would be so quick to sleep. “$50.” She quickly proposed.

“$100, and you replace whatever she breaks.” I posed. She went wide eyed, muttering something to herself.

“I’ll replace anything, but it’s not even three hours…$60.” She counter offered.

“$75, up front.” I stated. She sighed, fishing out her wallet and examining its contents. Nodding, she pulled out the cash and offered it to me. Groaning, I took the money from the woman. “What do I do with her?” I questioned. She gave me a look of disbelief.

“She’s four…color with her. Play dolls. Watch My Little Pony.” She instructed. I rolled my eyes in response. I don’t do any of the above. This was going to be a long day. “Her name is Kyoko, by the way. I’m Hiyo.” She informed me.

“Kyo.” I grunted, turning my attention away from her.

“Thank you so much.” Hiyo bowed, gesturing Kyoko to her side. The girl trotted over, gazing up toward her mother. I moved away from the two, examining the damage brought to my humble abode.

‘How could one little girl make such a mess?’ I thought to myself.

“This is Kyo. He will be watching you until Ms. Maya gets here. Be good.” Hiyo’s voice ordered. I glanced toward the two. She had knelt to Kyoko’s level, holding her sternly at the shoulders. The girl frowned, but nodded. Hiyo smiled tenderly, placing a kiss on her child’s forehead. Kyoko merely grimaced in response. She narrowed her eyes. The girl nodded in understanding, grimacing as her mother placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Bye mom.” Kyoko groaned, returning to the living room. Hiyo bowed once more to me before slipping out the doorway. I exhaled sharply, returning to my bedroom.

“Wake me up if you’re in trouble.” I grumbled before closing my door and falling back to bed.



I woke to little fingers prying my eyelids open, a pair of large brown eyes staring back at me.

“Mister I thought you were going to make me dumplings.” She murmured, poking her fat bottom lip into a pout.

“What time is it?” I growled, pushing away her hands and glancing toward the clock. 11:35 am. “Wasn’t your babysitter supposed to be here by now?!” I nearly shouted, bolting upright.

“I told her to go home.” Kyoko shrugged, “Mister Kyo is watching me.” She beamed. Ugh, this brat.

“You sure are a pain in the ass.” I sighed.

“Mom says you shouldn’t cuss.” The girl shakes her finger at me. I rolled my eyes, sitting up and dragging myself out of bed.

“What kind of dumpling do you want Pita?” I grumbled, stumbling out the door.

“I’m Kyoko!” She corrects.

“No, you’re a pain in the ass” I argue. She only huffs in response, tailing along behind me toward the kitchen. I noticed her coloring pages and pony dolls had been stuffed back in to her Mary Poppins bag. She even returned the pillows to the couch and attempted to prop the lamp against the wall. It must have been too heavy for her.

“I want pork and cabbage dumplings.” She informed me, after careful deliberation.

“You sure have weird taste for a four year old.” I rummaged through the cupboards, throwing together the ingredients needed.

“It’s important to have a seasoned palette.”

“Do you even know what that means?” I scoff.

“To try different things!” She grins, crawling onto a stool by my side. “Can I help?”

“Sure.” I shrugged, handing her ingredients to mix together. I prepped the chicken and shredded cabbage, letting her stuff the dumplings. We threw them in the steamer and waited, my stomach reminding me just how hungry I was.

“How much longer?”

“35 minutes.” I answered, her groaning in response.

“Patience.” I chuckled as our stomachs both grumbled at once. I snagged two yogurts from the refrigerator to snack on while we waited.

“Thank you!” She squealed, digging in without hesitation. I fished my phone from my pocket, realizing I was supposed to be at practice in an hour. Shit.

“When will your mom be home?”

“Late.” She frowned kicking her small feet. “She’s always home late.”

“I have to go to work today too kid.” I rested my elbows on the counter, glancing down at her.

“What do you do?” She asks.

“I’m a musician.”

“Really?!” She looked shocked, her eyes rounder than before. I nodded in response. “I don’t believe you.” She stated crossing her arms.

“I’m a great musician!” I scoff, offended by the three year old.

“Prove it!”

“Fine!” I stood up, scratching my head. “You can just come to work with me.” I nodded. That would show her.

“Yay!” She squealed. “I get to spend the whole day with Mr. Kyo!”

The steamer beeped behind me, and somehow I felt as though I’d just been duped.



“Who’s the runt?” Toshiya questions, Kyoko scribbling in her book on the couch. “Your secret love child?” He teased wiggling his brows. I rolled my eyes.

“The neighbor dropped her off this morning. She begged me to babysit her until her babysitter showed up. Then the little shit sent her sitter home!” I added, glaring down at the child who grinned in return.

“We made dumplings!” She squeaked.

“Oh yeah? Kyo made you his famous homemade dumplings?!” Toshiya asked, crouching at her side. “He must really like you.” He winked. Kyoko grinned in response. “So what brings you here little lady?”

“Mr. Kyo says he’s a great musician. I didn’t believe him.”

“Oh so of course he had to show off!”

“I’m not showing off!” I huffed. Toshiya chuckled. Just then Die, Shinya, and Kaoru showed up. Kyoko introduced herself and soon we went to work.

Kyoko sat behind the glass with me in the mixing studio, both of our ears covered with headphones. I listened closely to the beats and rhythms, eyes closed as I hummed along absentmindedly. When they stopped, I opened my eyes, realizing Kyoko’s attention was on me. She was no longer wearing her head phones and was obviously listening to my singing. I recognized the glimmer in her eyes and smirked to myself.

“That sounded great. I think that’s a keeper.” I stated over the loudspeaker, standing to join the guys. I ruffled Kyoko’s hair as I moved past her.

“That was AWESOME!” Kyoko’s voice squealed from the mixing studio. We continued practicing for several hours, having pizza delivered for dinner.

The day had taken its toll on Kyoko and she was asleep during the drive home, one of our cd’s clutched in her hands. I tried waking her when we got back to the condo to no avail. I sighed, scooping up the child and throwing her over my shoulder. She mumbled something to herself, wrapping one arm around my neck. I felt my heart thrum momentarily, and couldn’t help but smile to myself.

I noticed Hiyo’s car in the driveway and walked down the hall, knocking on her door. I heard some rustling around before the door came flying open, Hiyo still wearing her scrubs looking frazzled.
“Where were you?!” She cries.

“At work. I have to work too.” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes. “Your kid decided the babysitter could take the day off.” I added.

“Oh Kyoko…again?!” She sighed shaking her head, her tone suddenly changing. “I’m sorry. She has a mind of her own.”

“You can say that again.” I rolled my eyes, thrusting Kyoko’s bag toward Hiyo. She took it, setting it on the floor around the corner. She extended her arms for the sleeping child, clutching her tightly to her breast.

“So you wound up with her all day…let me get you some more cash.” She sighed, shifting Kyoko’s weight to one hip and digging through her purse with her free arm.

“No, don’t worry about it.” I muttered, scratching my head. “I probably over charged you this morning. She wasn’t so bad.” Hiyo smiled genuinely, kissing Kyoko on the head.

“Thank you again.”

“Don’t forget you promised to replace my lamp!” I groused.

“Of course! Just let me know what I owe you!”

“I’ll be sure to…” I paused, “And I guess if you need someone to watch her again…it’s pretty convenient that I’m right there….” I mumbled, glancing toward the ground. Hiyo seemed surprised. “But only if I have enough warning! And my fee will increase if you’re late!” I add.

“Thank you so much Kyo.” Hiyo smiles.

“Yeah…well you’re welcome I guess. See ya around!” I wave, heading back to my condo. I could still feel the warmth of Kyoko’s arm around my neck.

“Pain in the ass.” I grumble, returning to my home.

“Welcome home!” Saya’s gentle voice greets, along with the aroma of food.

“Hey babe.” I smile, “I had pizza with the guys, but that smells amazing!”

“Stir fry!” She beams. I move to the kitchen, kissing her forehead and glancing into the wok.

“Mmm!” Saya chuckles wrapping her arms around my waist, squeezing me tightly.

“How was your day?” She asks.

“Rather eventful. Yours?” I question.

“Boring.” She shrugs, plopping a kiss on my lips.

I notice a coloring page stuck to the refrigerator. It was two dogs eating a meal together. She had one colored yellow and the other brown. The yellow one had a cranky looking face drawn on it with sharp teeth. She had that one labeled Kyo, the brown one Pita. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

“I noticed the lamp was broken…” She started.

“Yeah, the neighbor’s kid knocked it over. I watched her for a bit today.” I shrugged.

“I didn’t realize you were that close.”

“We’re not. Today was the first day meeting them.” I replied.

“Geez. That’s kinda rude.” Saya scoffs.

“I didn’t mind. She’s not so bad.” Saya looked at me in surprise.

“What?!”

“Nothing! I just never expected you’d be such a kid person.” She teased, flipping off the burner. I only rolled my eyes, grabbing dishes to set the table.