Yuki and Sara walked into the toy extravaganza palace amid thoughts of their own. Yuki was brooding and Sara was contemplative. Still, they walked along side each other in unison until Yuki went to turn left and Sara head toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" She asked when he didn't follow.

"To the air hockey tables." He pointed.

"Air hockey?" she laughed.

"What is wrong with air hockey?"

"Nothing, but do you not think it is a bit lavish?"

"It is good clean fun." 

Sara paused a moment and shifted her wait. "You have wanted an air hockey table for how long?" She smiled.

Yuki acted as if he wasn't going to acknowledge the question, then suddenly, "For a long time. Do you think it will not be a good present?" He challenged petulant. "I think we will have much fun playing together." He imagined Shouda jumping around his end of the table in excitement as the puck sped over the table. Shouda morphed into Sara laughing. His smile broadened. Her voice plucked him from his daydream.

"Can you at least wait until he is a bit taller?"

Yuki pondered the logic of her suggestion. "Yes, Ping-Pong then."

"Yuki, how about something like legos." Sara grabbed his arm to pull him with her. He was like Shouda in a candy shop. She wondered if it was a male thing or if it was genetic. The few times she actually took Shouda to a candy shop, he would make a beeline for the largest, stickiest, sweetest item in the store. Then he would proceed to insist in the same fashion until reason got the better of him.

"I like Ping-Pong."

"Come and look please and then we will go. Yes?" She pulled him up the stairs until he started moving of his own accord. She glanced back at him and laughed again.

"Yes, Sarua?" Was all he said with eyebrows raised.

"Air hockey. How many nine year olds have an air hockey table in their home?"

"I am sure I do not know, but it does not follow that my son should not have one." Yuki followed her through the maze of isles slightly in awe until they stopped at the enormous lego section.

"Ah, yes, Ninjago." He walked up to the of ninja lego items: vehicles, temples, dragons.

"Oh look! Batman." Sara walked a different set of items.

"Batman? Sarua this is more Asian." He pointed to the box in his hand.

"Its Chinese Yuki, you are Japanese."

"I know what I am Sarua, I just think this is more culturally close to where he is. Look, he has cool swords and this temple is very well done. Do you not think so?" He held it out to her for viewing, but she was engrossed in her box.

"It is the bat cave. Every child should have a bat cave. There is a holding cell and these little rockets shoot out." She looked up at him with animation then looked back at the box and turned it over. A frown darkened her brow. "Bane breaks into the bat cave? No one breaks into the bat cave, what could they be thinking? And why would they be holding Poison Ivy in the bat cave to begin with? Makes no sense." She looked back up at him for confirmation.

"You see, Batman makes no sense, which is why Ninjago is better." His free hand ran across the box fingers closed, palm up, Price-is-right style.

"You are a Spiderman fan Yuki. Please do not let it be so." She said dramatically.

Yuki sighed, "I care very little for American super heroes."

"Meaning you want that only because it has an Asian feel to it?" She questioned in mock surprise.

"No."

"Racist." She pointed and laughed. Yuki slid his eyes off to the left and suppressed the smile fighting to curve his lips.

"Fine, we will not do your American superhero and we will not do Ninjago. We will do this." He walked a bit down the isle past Sara and stopped in front of a group of boxes with Atlantis across them in big sharp looking letters.

"Underwater?"

"The Portal of Atlantis." He picked up the box and she looked it over with him.

"A Portal Emperor..."

"Squid and Shark warriors..."

"There are five Atlantis treasure keys to open it." She looked at Yuki. "He'll need a submarine or something."

"The Neptune Carrier. It has a seabed rover and scout mini sub." Yuki grabbed and displayed it triumphantly.

"Oooohhhhhhh."

Yuki calmly nursed a dark blend of Latin American and Indonesian coffees while Sara sipped on a full bodied Darjeeling tea. 

"Very satisfactory." Yuki said after placing his cup on the small round table between them.

Sara looked from him to the gifts and sighed. Four lego Atlantis sets, an iPad 2, volume 32 of Fairy Tail (in Japanese), iTunes gift card, iPad cover, Fairy Tail bag, a Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2, I Spy game pack, Monopoly and National Geographic Challenge playing games.

"You are setting a horrible precedent Yuki." Not that Shouda was undeserving of being spoiled every now and then, but what would he expect for his next birthday or Christmas from now on. Maybe this was the depression that set in after major purchases.

"It is my first birthday, I think I can indulge him this time." Nine years old and it was his first birthday with his father. He had many years of gift giving to make up for.

"No one will be able to say that you do not indulge him."

"It was you who told me he likes to play Scribblenauts and mahjong on the computer."
"But I did not say buy and iPad 2."

"Sarua, how could he play the two games without a device to play it on? He could not have an iPad without a decent cover and he could not buy the games without a gift card. It was also you who pointed out the other two Atlantis sets."

"It is not my fault." Sara laughed in defense.

"I am not saying it is your fault. I am saying that if you had not told me these things, I would not have had to buy them." His heart was very light, yet he regarded her with a controlled countenance.

"Yuki, you...it is the same thing as saying it is my fault."

He could not help but laugh as Sara flailed her arms around in exasperation. She was priceless. Of course, she had to know she had not objected to any of the things he bought, except two which were not with them. 

She had oh'd and ah'd at the iPad and picked the gift card color Shouda would like the best with much enthusiasm. She had deliberated back and forth over both the extra two Atlantis lego sets before announcing her findings. She had practically ran to the shelf with the newly released Fair Tail volume sitting on it and spoke wishfully about how she had wanted to get Shouda his own Wii since he liked his grandfather's so much. This lead, of course, to an acceptable number of games. 

How could he possibly turn her down or say no? Not when he wished to give her any and everything she wanted. Not when she looked up at him with that lovely expression he had seen so many times reflected in his son. Not when she squealed with delight every time he said he would buy another item. This Sara was his Sara, the carefree one he had fallen in love with so long ago.

He fought the urge to reach across the small table and take her hand in his.

"I must take you back to your shop." He stood and grabbed his coat sliding his had through the arm. When he looked down at Sara, she was looking down into her empty cup with a slightly doleful expression on her face. His mind began to race as to what plausible suggestion he could make next to keep them together.

"You are right Yuki. I have work to do." She lifted her head with resolve and put her own jacket around her shoulders. Yuki held it while she put her arms in and then reached for his bags. 

Sara could not help but think of her afternoon with Yuki as she worked. It reminded her of old times. He was his old self. She loved his superficial arrogant and stubborn nature. The witty banter and self-restraint. Most of all, she liked being with him because they knew each other. They were in tune. They did every thing as much for each other as for Shouda. She felt giddy, then chastised herself. Yuki was married and she had work to do. About a half hour later, she stopped. Where would Yuki and Kaoru go from here?

***

Yuki entered his parents home laden with bags. He was eager to show someone else what he had bought. He asked one of the servants who was home and upon finding out that everyone was in a sitting room, he felt excitement and started to grab his bags.

"Allow me Sir." The servant reached for them.

"No, no, I can do it myself. Thank you." He hoisted them and marched in his slippers to the sitting room. The servant opened the door and he stepped in with a large smile on his face. What greeted him was four rather stunned faces. 

"Hello. I have just been birthday shopping for Shouda with Sarua. You must see what I have bought. Sarua was invaluable in helping me." He stopped and looked at the Richards before switching over to English. "Um, I-have bought gifts. These are - for Shouda. With Sarua. Her - help is very good." He smiled and plunged back into his bags.

"For Sarua?" Izumi asked.

"No, for Shouda."

"But with Sara, you said?" Percy added.

Yuki looked back and forth between the women apprehensively. "Yes."

"Well, let's see what you bought then." Percy arranged her chair to get a better view and Izumi sat beside her.

Yuki looked at his father curiously.

"Please, proceed." His father waved him on.

Yuki then turned his attention to Darren for some sign of what may be going on, but got nothing.

"Don't leave us hanging now. Go on and show us what you bought the grand baby." He came up and stood behind Percy peering at the full bags.

Yuki blinked a few times, "Yes, Sarua says Shouda likes Fairy Tail." He pulled out the volume and the bag.

"Fairy Tail? What is that?" Darren asked as Izumi grabbed the bag and the book.

"I believe it is like a comic book but in Japanese we say manga." Kenji watched Izumi pass the prizes on to Percy.

"Very good bag Yukimoto. Shouda will like."

"There - is more. He likes to-play on your Wii." He pulled out the box with the device in it and the games.

"Look at that!" Darren exclaimed. "What games did he get there Percy?" He handed of the Fairy Tail items to Kenji as Izumi shook her head and handed the games to Percy.

"I Spy, Super Mario Galaxy 2..."

"That's brand new."

"Monopoly and National Geographic Challenge." She handed them to him.

"No Wii Sports? Well, that's the one he'd like the best. Monopoly ain't bad. Yuki, you have to go back and buy the, no I'll get if for him." Darren waved it away as he passed on the games to Kenji.

"Also, an iPad..."

"Two?" Izumi took the box from him. "Yuki, you buy too much." She fussed as she took the cover from him.

"Oh, I like the color." Percy exclaimed.

"Sarua picked it." Yuki beamed.

"She did, did she?" Percy smirked.

"Is that a gift card?" Darren covered over her inability to be discreet.

"Yes, and legos." Yuki pulled one box after the other out of the bag.

"Too much, too much, too much." Izumi chanted as she took one after the other.

"It is not too much dear." Kenji inspected the iPad 2. "I only wish you had allowed us to share in the fun. Now we have to go try to find some way to top you."

"Impossible." Yuki stated proudly.

"I'm beginning to agree with you." Darren turned the lego box over in his hand.

"Oh, you will not mind? I have-a Ping-Pong table delivered - here and large, pebble? - pebble pillows." He demonstrated their size holding his arms wide.

"Cushions, for lounging?" Percy asked and corrected at the same time.

"Cushions? Cushions - yes."

Darren walked over to Yuki. "You've done well son. Good and well. Everything is very nice." He patted Yuki on the shoulder. Again, Yuki became apprehensive.

"Yuki," Izumi began, "I have..."

"Dear, have you in mind what you want to suggest for Shouda's party?" Kenji stepped to her.

"But..."

"I didn't think so. The servants will be waiting for their instructions, or maybe we should have it at Yuki's flat."

"What? No, should be here in Umezawa home. It is first birthday with us." Izumi started to calculate and Kenji gently guided her out of the room. Yuki watched them go.

"That's right. After looking at all this stuff, we have to figure out what to get our grand baby." Darren grabbed Percy's hand.

"Darren, don't try to play me." Percy warned.

"You are mistaken Percy, I'm trying to help you. Now let's go figure out what to get Shouda for his birthday." He gave his best ‘shut your mouth and follow me' look. Percy stared at him a moment.

"Okay." She said giving him a regal look and promptly pulled him out the room. Darren gave Yuki a wink and a smile before he disappeared out the door.

Yuki stood in the room with Shouda's gifts sitting on the table where Kenji had placed them. Two servants stood by admiring them. He cross an arm over his chest and brought the other up, resting his thumb and pointer finger to his chin. The parents were getting along much better these days. No, that was not it. He was feeling much like the butt of a really bad joke.

"Would you like us to wrap the presents for young master Shouda Sir?" This brought Yuki out of his thoughts and he turned to the servant.

"Yes, please, and store them somewhere safe for now. Two more items will be arriving later. Please see to those as well."

"Yes Sir." The servants began to gather the gifts and leave the room.

Previous to Yuki's Entrance

"Simply put, we shouldn't know anything about the divorce." Kenji said for the fourth time to his wife.

"How can Yukimoto not tell us such important thing? We must talk to him."

"How can we talk to him about something we should not know is happening?" Kenji tried to reason.

Izumi only frowned.

"I am not quite sure what you two are trying to plan, but I have a good guess." Kenji looked from his wife to Percy.

"All I want to know is how this will affect my daughter. I have no intensions of having her break down in my arms again cause of Yukimoto's bad decisions." Percy asserted.

"Percy, don't go throwing accusations." Darren warned from his comfortable chair. Unlike Kenji, who was right in the middle of the two women, Darren sat on the sidelines watching Kenji try to deal with the storm he started. To his credit, he wasn't doing so bad. He could definitely see why Kenji was a good businessman.

"I am one hundred percent sure that Yukimoto will have no one but your daughter." Kenji soothed.

"How do you know?" Was Percy's challenge.

"Because I know my son. If she rejects him, however, it may change things. Is she seeing anyone?" Kenji asked calmly.

"Kind of." Percy huffed. "There is this Muslim that's been hanging around."

"He's Hindi." Darren corrected.

"Is she serious about him?" Kenji asked.

"Possibly." Percy offered.

"No." Darren answered.

"How do you know?" Percy asked him.

"Because I know my daughter." He raised his eyebrows. Percy rolled her eyes.

"That mean, we must do something about Hindi man and persuade Yukimoto to be with Sarua." Izumi logically concluded.

"No, it means we will leave the kids to themselves. They will do it on their own." Kenji patted his wife's shoulder.

"How you know?" she challenged.

"He did it the first time without our help did he not?"

Both Percy and Izumi huffed for different reasons. They had been on different sides of the conflict last time. They both remembered their roles and what they learned they should have done.

Izumi knew she should have stayed out of it last time. Her involvement made Yuki unhappy and brought Kaoru into their lives, which proved to be disastrous. She was not thoroughly convinced Yuki would do enough to get Sara back. Did he have enough fight? Should she not just help him along a bit?

"Izumi, Yuki is capable. Have faith in your son." Kenji half whispered his words.

Percy felt she should have been more involved. Not just taken what Sara said at face value. She had no idea what kind of man Yuki had been, what he was like or what he came from. She had blindly let Sara walk into a harmful situation and watched in horror from thousands of miles away as if fell apart. She should have given more guidance.

She felt Darren squeeze her hand. At some point he had walked up behind her. She sighed and a restful silence filled the room.

***

In the hours that ticked away:

Izumi busied herself with plans for decorating the house for Shouda's birthday, but thoughts of Shouda's desire to be a family with a new sibling dominated her mind.

Percy rested on the bed with Darren giving her opinion on what he showed her on his iPad while thinking of Sara crying over Yuki not fighting for her.

Darren scrolled through possible gifts on his iPad, occasionally getting Percy's point of view on one item or another hoping she would use discretion when dealing with the young people.

Kenji decided to reconfirm the reservations he made for everyone at the hot springs. There he could lay a sufficient amount of booby traps to help his son along.

Yuki thought of Shouda's face when he finally saw his gifts and sharing the moment with Sara like he should have been doing all along.  He simply had to get her back, no matter what the cost.

Sara reviewed a contract with an executive from a dinning club. They wished to have her prepare their menu formats for the next year. She was looking forward to the challenge of designing them for an array of foods and seasons.

Kamir and Kaoru were otherwise engaged.

Shouda gazed with excitement at the full marks he received on his latest test. He was going to be the smartest man the world had ever seen and make his mom and dad proud.

Takebe who sat beside Shouda looked at his own full marks and smiled. He decided he liked Shouda and would really like to be his friend.

The Shinoharas sat by the river. Mrs. Shinohara squinted at her soduko book through thick glasses and chewed on the end of her pencil. Mr. Shinohara felt the winds of change and closed his eyes with an approving grunt.