Ariel's Day Out (III)

Ariel snuggled in her father's arms and soon felt okay again. She also liked the feeling of going up in the elevator. It was like it was taking her out of her unhappy mood.

Soon, the unpleasantness of before flew out of her mind when the elevator door opened and she saw the room revealed in front of her eyes.

It was just a simple room, which had two desks. One nearer the office door and another a bit further but closer to the door that lead into that room.

This was the 'waiting' room or, reception, to the CEO's office.

It wasn't the room that had made the smile on Ariel's face bright and her excitement, but the person that was there waiting for them.

"Uncle Zero!" she screamed happily, reaching out her hands towards the silver haired man that was standing there stiffly.

Kyle rolled his eyes and tsked.

What was with his daughters and Zero?

His daughter from his previous life, Lianne, was best friends with Zero. His two daughters in this life, too, tended to gravitate towards him - though not as much as Ariel. Who would have thought a deadpan face like that would win over his girls so easily?

Worst of all, Zero was the one syllable guy, who hardly talked except when it was with his brothers and Lianne. Yet, Ariel didn't seem to mind at all and would cling to him like glue.

Without changing his facial expression, Zero towards them as Kyle walked out the elevator, and took the ever willing Ariel into his arms. Though he didn't look like he enjoyed it, nor did his expression soften, the way he carried Ariel was not awkward.

Though admittedly, it did look strange.

He was standing so stiffly like a soldier, his face was stoic as usual, yet, he held a young little girl in his arms like it was normal.

Ariel, in the meantime, was happy.

This was a bonus!

Uncle Zero was here.

Even if he looked like he knew how to smile, Ariel knew he was nice.

She liked nice people and Zero was one of the nicest.

"Sir," Zero greeted Kyle.

Kyle nodded and as he headed towards his office door, Sam entered the room.

Ariel waved at Sam and said, "Hello again, Uncle Sam."

Sam smiled and nodded, "Hello, Ariel."

Zero put Ariel down and said to her, offering his hand, "Come."

Ariel took his hand, wondering what was going on, as Zero led her away from Kyle's office.

She looked towards her father, only to see him nodding at her and she waved at him before following Zero out.

Ariel watched in curiosity as Uncle Zero brought her back to the elevator.

"Where are we going, Uncle Zero?" she asked him, swinging her hand (and Zero's).

She was staring at their reflection at the elevator door, laughing at seeing the sight of her doing that.

"Office," Zero answered.

Ariel tilted her head.

Office?

Wasn't she just at her Daddy's office?

So what office was this?

She wasn't going to spend the time with her father?

She pouted.

"Why?" Zero asked, noting her facial expression.

"I want Daddy," Ariel replied, her pout still evident.

"Surprise," Zero replied.

At that, the pout disappeared and her eyes brightened, "A surprise? For me?"

Zero nodded.

"Really?! What is it?"

Zero shook his head.

"Patience," was all that he would say.

So Ariel had to suppress he excitement but her mouth wouldn't stop babbling, "Wow. A surprise. Just for me. Today is a good day. I made a lot of friends but Daddy didn't seem to be too happy about it."

Zero knew about this. After all, the ones who had to find out the background information on those four little boys had been him and his Diamond Team.

On top of the earlier task that had been given to them as well.

As he listened on to how Ariel described the boys and how she had wanted to bring them home, Zero understood all too well why Sir had blown his top. He looked down at the little adorable girl and figured quite early on what a headache she was going to be for Sir.

If she was this cute and adorable now, what more when she grew up? Even now, having the superior look genes of her parents, it was a no brainer what sort of looker she was going to be.

Coupled with her pure innocence, she was truly going to be a magnet for all sorts of undesirable people.

Not that Zero was worried about it.

He was just making a casual observation.

He was not the type to get agitated or worried over something as trivial as this, and he doubted Sir would as well. Sir was just being cautious but there was no way that Sir, the perfect man in his eyes, could get his emotions in a twist over this small matter.

After all, Sir was the best in fighting and had the best resources in his hands and men under him. What sort of danger or threat could anyone bring to Sir's children?

There was no danger at all, thus, there was no need to be flustered or worried.

Of course, Zero, being the logical person that he is, could not have know just how wrong he was about this - and how he, too, would be in that state one day.

✿ Author posts on WN and neovel ✿

Ariel couldn't believe her eyes.

There, in front of her, were rows and rows of Princess Dresses.

Well, to be precise, three rows but to her eyes, it seemed endless.

"Woooow…" Ariel gasped, totally in awe.

"How about it, Rie? Huh? Huh?" asked Yume in excited anticipation, "Which one do you like best?"

"I like them aaaaaaallllll!" Ariel declared, spreading her arms wide.

Yume, uncharacteristically, did a fist pump in the air.

Amongst the group, he felt he was the least outstanding as his skills were just mediocre (in his opinion, of course) as compared to the others. Zero was the all-rounder that was best at everything and was the one who knew how to throw his needle-like weapons with accuracy at pressure points.

Edward was the gadget genius.

Lucka was the tech genius.

Akira was the information and undercover genius aka playboy / flirt.

Him?

He could help everyone in what they did but he was always 'second'.

In this, though.

It was where he discovered his hidden talent.

Able to choose what the other person would like to wear and what they were best in wearing.

He wasn't a designer, and never saw himself as one but he would know what was the best outfit for the occasion.

So for this mission, when Sir had called up to get them to get some Princess outfit for Ariel, he had jumped at it.

Well, maybe he had gone overboard just a little bit.

It wasn't his fault.

Ariel was just so cute and everything seemed to fit her so well!

How could he resist?

Ariel went through the dresses seriously.

Uncle Yume really knew what she liked.

Though she said 'Princess Dress', it didn't mean that she liked those puffed up sleeves or stiff skirts that swept the floor.

She didn't like those dresses that looked like what an adult would wear, but made into a smaller version for kids.

It just felt wrong wearing such outfits.

She liked beautiful pastel coloured dresses that were soft and flowing, like a fairy. She felt like a Princess when wearing them, and almost as pretty as Mummy.

The problem now was, she really did like them all.

How could she choose?

Yume, seeing her dilemma, smiled and held her hand, "Rie, what mood are you in today?"

Ariel tilted her head, and replied easily, "Happy!"

"Like sunshine? The Sky? Or calm, like the wind?"

"I feel like I can fly happy!" Ariel replied, grinning while waving her hands about (also pulling Yume around) as she ran around the dresses.

"Let's play a game now, shall we?" Yume asked, laughing a bit as he was pulled along.

"Okay!"

"You just say the first thing that comes to your mind," Yume told her, "I will give you two words, and you choose one. Can you do that?"

Ariel nodded.

"Flowers, or grass?"

"Flowers!"

"Morning or evening?"

"Evening!"

"Ribbons or Lace?"

"Ribbons!"

"So how about this?" Yume asked, taking out a soft white coloured dress that had blue pastel flowers painted on it. At its waist, was a blue satin ribbon with a bow on its side.

Ariel's eyes went wide, "That's it!"

Yume smiled and motioned to one girl that had been waiting patiently at the side, "Go and follow Sister Bell. She'll help dress you up, okay?"

"Okay, Uncle Yume," Ariel replied, watching with starry eyes at the dress that Sister Bell took.

Seeing them go, Edward couldn't help but ask, "How did you know which dress to pick? I mean, the flowers and ribbon were obvious but the rest? The colour? The tone? The-"

"She was happy and wanted to fly to the sky so it had to be a dress that had some blue colour to it," Yume explained, "But it had to be something muted and soft colour (evening) rather than something eye-catching or a design that popped out (morning)."

"So the choice was clear," Yume said with a shrug.

Edward just stared at him then shook his head, while mumbling under his breath, "Only to you."

Yume just smiled.