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Chapter Thirteen: His Little Princess:

Bright colors greet Tsuzuki and Kirika-chan. So many dolls. It really felt like walking into a small village. Kirika-chan couldn't take her eyes off of the brightly colored paper flowers. Tsuzuki smiled to himself.

"Look, Papa! Look!" the little girl shouted. Tsuzuki looked up to see the miniature river flowing.

"Ah," the shinigami said. The dolls looked like they were acting like a normal day in a village. Dolls cooking. Dolls washing clothes. Dolls fishing. Dolls shopping. Dolls swimming. Dolls eating. So many dolls. Kirika-chan ran over for a look.

"Slow down," Tsuzuki said. "Don't touch."

"Yes!" his daughter said. She broke out giggling. Her father trailed behind. He counted up how many times said, "Papa, look!"

"Yes," Tsuzuki said. "I see it." He had to admit that it was impressive.

"How long did it take to set this up?" he asked.

"Twelve hours," a woman answered. Tsuzuki turned around. The receptionist stood in the doorway.

"You made this?" Tsuzuki asked.

"With some help, yes," the lady said.

"Wow," the shinigami said. Kirika-chan ran to a doll shrine for a look.

"They were my mother's," the receptionist said. "She loved to collect dolls."

"You own this museum?" Tsuzuki asked.

"That's right," the woman said. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Izumii Arisu."

"Tsuzuki Asato," Tsuzuki said. The pair bowed.

"Kirika-chan, come say hi," the shinigami said. The little girl jogged to his side.

"Hello," she said. Kirika-chan bowed.

"How cute," Arisu said. The little girl hurried back to the market.

"That's my daughter," Tsuzuki said.

"How old is she?" Arisu asked.

"Five," he said.

"Wow!" she said. They watched Kirika-chan go from display to display in awe. She never got tired of it.

"Wow! So cute!" she would say. Arisu giggled.

"She's so energetic, isn't she?" she asked.

"Yes," Tsuzuki said. "How long have you owned this museum?"

"Eight years."

His eyes widened. "That long?"

"That's right."

Tsuzuki whistled. "Whoa!" He put his hand on his forehead. Arisu giggled.

"I took over for my mother," she said.

"Where's your mother now?" he asked.

"Retired," she said in a somber tone.

"Oh…" Tsuzuki said. "I'm so sorry." Arisu shook her head.

"No. It's fine," she said.

"Papa, look!" Kirika-chan shouted. Both adults looked up. Kirika-chan pointed to near the exit.

"She's pretty!" the little girl said. Tsuzuki took a look for himself. She looked about Kirika-chan's height. She had on a red and gold kimono. Her make-up and hair were done up like a princess. The pale skin gave Tsuzuki chills. Arisu walked forward, smiling.

"Ah," she said. "You found Natsume-hime." Kirika-chan stood next to the life-sized doll.

"She's my size!" she said.

"My mother's prized doll," Arisu said. "It was a gift from one of her suitors." Tsuzuki nervously laughed. Yeah, that's not creepy at all. The shinigami shook his head. And then, Kirika-chan's smile gave him an idea.

"Hey, Izumii-san," he said.

"Hm?" the young woman asked.

"Can I take a picture of my daughter and the doll?" he asked. Arisu smiled.

"Sure," she said.

"Thank you so much," he said. The shinigami bowed and turned to his daughter.

"Stay right there, sweetie," he said. Tsuzuki pulled out his phone.

"Smile, honey," he said. Kirika-chan smiled as her father took pictures. Eight total.

"Thank you so much," Tsuzuki said.

"You're welcome," Arisu said. Father and daughter stayed in the museum until noon.

"Come back again soon," Arisu said as they left.

"We will!" Tsuzuki said. Father and daughter bowed and left for lunch.