Chapter Text
It’s been 4 years since Klint was locked behind bars for crimes in which Barok still thinks it’s too early for Iris to know. He had just recently decided that moving from London to Tokyo would be the better choice for Iris’ future. After all, in London, Barok barely spent any time with his niece – now legally his daughter. He had hired a baby sitter by the self-proclaimed title of world’s greatest detective baby sitter, Mr Herlock Sholmes. He was eccentric, but had a wonderful track record and was actually recommended to him from a friend. How his friend in Germany knows about such a baby sitter only seems to help the baby sitter claim that he is the world’s greatest.
Barok doesn’t have much against Mr Sholmes. He was eccentric but Iris seemed to like him and even started copying his behaviour, from the way he stands to the way he talks. Barok was jealous. Iris is technically his daughter, yet he could barely spend time with her.
However, moving to Tokyo means that he can spend time with Iris on a more regular basis. His timetable is fixed and the work culture in Tokyo is infamous for being cruel, but, Barok knows it’s much better than the bleak life he was living previously.
It’s also a good chance for him to escape the public scrutiny of London which to this day still has not forgotten the horrors of Klint van Zieks. And Barok understands why. He hasn’t forgot. He won’t forget. And he will tell Iris when the time is right.
The pressure and vast coverage of Klint’s situation is much less covered in Tokyo in comparison. They also allow for Barok to work from home more frequently which means that he can spend more time with Iris. Which means that he isn’t running home late every single day. He also works less days in Tokyo and that only serves to add more time he can spend with Iris.
The custody battle for Iris went on for the better part of a year. Removing Klint as Iris’ parent and primary carer and guardian was not difficult. Removing Iris from the Baskerville family however was much harder. With Iris’ mother passing away at childbirth, Barok felt like he is the best choice. His age for one, is closer to Klint than any of the Baskerville relatives, all of them considered elderly. But they fought hard. And Barok fought harder.
He’s going to provide for Iris everything that she needs.
One of the first things he needs to do is send Iris to kindergarten. He adjusts her bright yellow hat and makes sure her small red bag is packed with her essentials before he slings it over his shoulder so that Iris won’t have to carry it all the way to kindergarten.
“Are you excited?” Barok asks Iris.
“Yes!” Iris replies enthusiastically as she fixes her name badge. The word Iris was written neatly in hiragana on a yellow sunflower badge.
Barok smiles fondly and helps Iris put her shoes on before they set off.
A new beginning. For them both.
The walk to the kindergarten is about 20 minutes, the weather is just warming up after a chilly winter and serves as a refreshing walk for them both. They hold hands and swing in tandem with their coordinated feet. Barok is very conscious of his strides, he doesn’t want to put Iris under any strain.
One of the kindergarten teachers standing at the gate is… a boy? That’s odd. No, Barok corrects his thoughts, not odd, just not common. He’s the one who smiles and greets them.
“Good morning! You must be Iris-chan!” The male teacher says cheerfully.
Barok nods. They must be the only new transfer student.
“Good morning.” Iris replies politely.
Barok reads the teacher’s name tag. It’s written in hiragana. Ryuunosuke.
A different student runs pass and through the gates yelling, “Good morning Ryuu-sensei!”
“Good morning, Masashi-kun, please don’t run!” Ryuunosuke says as he turns to look at the rather excited child, he waves at Masashi’s guardian before turns his attention back to Iris.
“Good morning, Iris-chan, my name is Naruhodou Ryuunosuke. I’m in charge of class sakura.” Ryuunosuke introduces himself.
Oh, Barok realises that this teacher isn’t in charge of Iris’ class.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Barok van Zieks, Iris’ father.” Barok introduces himself with a handshake. He towers over the other, but then, there aren’t many who are taller than him, especially in Japan.
“I will go grab Kazuma-sensei.” Ryuunosuke says before he turns to the other teacher at the gate and says something before he briskly walks into the school grounds.
“Ryuuno-sensei seems nice.” Iris turns to look at Barok and reaches up to ask for her bag.
Passing Iris her bag, Barok nods in agreement. “It’s Ryuunosuke-sensei.”
Iris hums and looks away. Barok knows that she’s stubborn and that teacher will now be forever known as Ryuuno to Iris. RIP.
Barok is looking at Iris and talking to her about how she has to tell him everything when he comes pick her up later when Kazuma-sensei approaches them.
It seems like this kindergarten is perhaps, fond of male teachers, rare, but not unpleasant. Though if Iris ends up falling for any of them, Barok thinks he might commit murder and end up joining his older brother, Klint, in his dreams, of course.
“Good morning, Iris-chan, van Zieks-san. It’s nice to meet you both, I’m Asougi Kazuma, in charge of the sunflower class.” Kazuma says with a smile.
Barok looks from Iris to her new teacher and he wants to greet the other. But, just a little bit, he’s speechless.
“Good morning Kazu-sensei! Please look after me!” Iris smiles widely and then turns to look at Barok and tugs on his sleeve.
It’s enough to drag Barok out of whatever it is that turned him speechless, he clears his throat, “G-Good morning, Asougi-sensei.”
Kazuma smiles and points to his name badge, “Kazuma-sensei is fine.”
“Right, of course.” Barok nods. The children may not know who he’s talking about if he refers to Iris’ kindergarten teacher as Asougi-sensei. “Then please call me-”
“Papa!” Iris interrupts and announces confidently and with a bright smile. “This is Papa.”
“Ah.” Barok feels mortified and fond at the same time.
“Papa.” Kazuma plays along and smiles at Iris and then look at Barok again, “Nice to meet you, Papa.”
“Ah, no, Barok is fine.” Barok can’t imagine having a son as old as Kazuma. Iris is cheeky enough, and Kazuma sure seems cheeky just from this brief interaction.
Even though Iris enjoys introducing Barok as ‘Papa’ to everyone she can, Barok finds some relief in the fact that she is excited about going to kindergarten, that she isn’t bawling her eyes out at the fact that she will be separated from Barok for hours. It could be because she’s already use to it from their time in London together.
Barok waves back to an enthusiastic Iris who follows Kazuma into the kindergarten.
“Have a lovely day, Iris.” Barok says and watches her until he can’t see her fluttering pink hair anymore. He turns around and heads to work.
His apartment in Tokyo is not small. He has two bedrooms with their own ensuites. There’s a guest room and a guest bathroom. There’s a living room, a study, a kitchen and a laundry. If anything, Barok is proud to say, it’s well equipped. It is however much smaller than the main van Zieks manor and even smaller than any of the van Zieks holiday houses.
But as Barok returns home and turns on his computer to work on legal proceedings, the house feels awfully big. It feels empty. He checks his diary and makes sure he doesn’t need to go into the office today and starts working.
His desk is neat. Two monitor sit dust free in the centre with a wireless keyboard and mouse. There is a tea pot and mug on one side sitting on ceramic coasters with freshly brewed black tea. On the other end sits an elegant and tasteful photo frame with Iris in Barok’s arms. A constant reminder to Barok of the angel that is his daughter.
And that he needs to work hard so he can give her everything she will ever want. She’ll want for nothing.
There’s a small pot plant on his window sill in which Iris is in charge of looking after. She even named the pot plant Sholmsies after her former baby sitter.
The hours tick by with the clock as a quiet reminder. The hum of the refrigerator is the only welcome Barok gets when he enters the kitchen to prepare his lunch. He isn’t great at cooking, but good enough so that he won’t starve or suffer through food poisoning. Iris hasn’t said anything about his cooking, so surely, it’s acceptable.
Just also, very repetitive. Personally, Barok doesn’t mind it. But he wonders if Iris will quickly get bored of the same meals meal after meal, day after day. Perhaps during his free time he should sign up to cooking lessons…It is a thought.
Barok’s alarm sounds to remind him it is time to pick Iris up from kindergarten. He saves his work and puts on his coat, grabs his keys and phone before walking out of the apartment. The walk to the kindergarten without Iris by his side feels different. It’s drastically less interesting. Barok finds he misses her chatter and bright smile already.
As Barok nears the kindergarten, he notes that there are many mothers holding their child’s hand and walking away. Instinctively, Barok’s steps hastens. He is positively almost running to the kindergarten. He checks in with one of the staff at the front before he then follows the signs to the sunflower classroom.
Barok towers over all the other parents, most of them mothers. And by towers, he means he’s many, many heads taller than them. He can feel the stares and so he puts on his most polite smile. There is one other man in line, standing before Barok, and even then, Barok is still much taller. He should really start to get use to this.
The man before Barok in line turns around and gives Barok a smile, the wrinkles around his eyes are partly shielded by his glasses.
Instinctively, Barok smiles back.
“Hello, I’m Mitsurugi Shin.” The man says with a friendly voice. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Reiji-kun’s father.”
Barok nods even though he has absolutely no idea who Reiji-kun is. “It’s nice to meet you, MItsurugi-san, I’m Barok van Zieks, Iris- …Iris-chan’s father.”
“Iris-chan?” Shin seems surprised and then quickly deduces, “A new student to the sunflower class?”
“Yes,” Barok nods, “We just arrived from London very recently, actually.” Perhaps this is his chance to get to know his daughter’s friends’ parents. Make some friends and try to weave them into society. It’ll be nice to start settling some roots down in Tokyo. After all, Barok kind of… really… doesn’t have anyone but Iris in Tokyo.
“Oh?” Shin seems excited. He fumbles a little and then takes out his business card and hands it to Barok. “This is my business card, if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
Barok takes the card and automatically hands Shin his own business card – newly printed for his new company in Japanese on one side and English on the other side. And then he reads it. Oh. “You’re a defense attorney.” Barok states.
“Yes.” Shin replies, “And, van Zieks-san is a prosecutor.”
They look at each other silently for a few moments before they both smile widely and chuckles together.
“What are the chances?” Shin laughs and pockets Barok’s business card carefully.
“Mitsurugi-sensei.” Kazuma calls politely, “Reiji-kun is ready.”
Shin smiles at Barok and then turns around to greet Kazuma and Reiji.
Reiji is dressed like every other student in the kindergarten, a light blue top and dark blue shorts with a yellow hat and a flower themed badge pinned over the left side of their top. He has light grey hair and lighter grey eyes. He looks smart. The atmosphere around him reminds Barok of Iris.
“Reiiiiji!” A young boy whines loudly and comes running over to glomp Reiji as he walks towards his father.
“Ryuuichi!” Reiji squirms under the other’s hold, “Stop it, my father is watching.”
Ryuuichi looks up immediately and greets Shin, “Good afternoon, Mitsurugi-sensei!”
“Hello, Ryuuichi-kun.” Shin waves, “Thank you for looking after Reiji-kun today.”
“Ryuuichi-kun,” Kazuma sighs and grabs the other and helps him pop his shoes on before he can go run after Reiji.
“I know Kazuma-nii-chan!” Ryuuichi says quickly.
“It’s sensei to you.” Kazuma smiles and ruffles the other’s black spiky hair
Barok watches on with interest. Everyone seems so close to each other, he wonders whether Iris and himself will ever be able to become this close to everyone here.
Shin gives Barok a nod and Reiji gives him a polite bow as they leave, the young boy named Ryuuichi still running after and Reiji and chatting on and on.
“Good afternoon van Zieks-san.” Kazuma smiles and then turns around, “Iris-chan, papa is here.”
Iris comes rushing out, and you can’t mistake the joy on her face. Nor can you miss the twin tails. Barok is 100% certain he did not help Iris tie her hair like that. But he’s not complaining it looks very well tied.
Kazuma turns back to Barok, still wearing a smile. “Iris asked me to help her tie her hair, they’re new hair ties, I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all, it makes her look extra adorable.” Barok smiles fondly. “Thank you.”
“There’s actually something I’d like to discuss with you in regards to Iris.” Kazuma states, “If you have time, could you wait a little while? Just so that everyone else can be picked up?”
“O-Of course,” Barok nods, his heart races anxiously. Something’s wrong? There has to be something wrong for the homeroom teacher to request a private talk, right?
“It’s nothing major,” Kazuma reassures as though he can easily read Barok. Kazuma then gestures into the classroom for Barok to wait in.
Barok nods as he removes his shoes and steps into the classroom, hunching as he walks through the door and smiling happily when Iris immediately grabs his hand and drags him to one end of the room.
“Daddy!” Iris pulls him over to the bookshelf and makes him sit down.
“Iris.” Barok smiles at his daughter, “How was kindergarten today?”
“Fun!” Iris says and throw both hands up before she rummages through the bookshelf and picks a book and then plops herself on Barok’s lap.
“Did you make any friends?” Barok wants to know.
“Yes! Susie~” Iris tilts her head back and gives Barok a large smile, she then looks back at her book.
“Oh? And what is Susie like?” Barok asks as he looks at the top of Iris’ head. The twin tails are very cute, and done so neatly.
“She’s very nice.” Iris answers straight away, “She showed me how to blow bubbles today.”
Barok hums to show Iris he’s listening.
“Susie is also Kazu-mama-sensei’s sister.” Iris informs Barok she kicks her legs lightly and flips the page of her picture book happily.
“Kazu-mama-sensei?” Barok thinks it’s a handful to say. But once he’s said it, he realises Iris is talking about Asougi Kazuma-sensei. Kazumama… it was an interesting take.
Iris nods enthusiastically. “Because Kazu-mama-sensei is like a mother. Everyone calls him that!”
Barok doesn’t know what to make of that… he obviously doesn’t know Kazuma-sensei well at all, but if Iris is honestly telling him that her teacher is motherly and that the students in the class agree too, surely there’s a good reason for it.
“Is he now?” Barok nods.
Iris nods vigorously, “Different to daddy who…well, daddy is daddy!”
Barok tilts his head curiously, mothers and fathers, they’re all bound by unconditional love for their children, or, at least, Barok hopes that’s the case. Barok must admit, he doesn’t have a good image of what a mother is really like. His mother passed away from a young age, and Barok has never had a wife. Iris’ biological mother, like Klint, is questionable at best.
There isn’t much time for Barok to ponder as Kazuma makes his way over, and that’s when Barok realises that all the students but Iris and Susie have gone home. Susie is sitting on Kazuma’s shoulders and playing with his hair, giggling.
“van Zieks-san, thank you for waiting.” Kazuma says with a small smile. He directs Barok to a different part of the room so that they can sit at a table with a cup of steaming hot tea each. Barok wonders if this means it’ll be a rather lengthy conversation. He keeps reminding himself that Iris is as perfect as one can be. He reminds himself that she is mature and a model student. He reminds himself that this may not be a bad talk. It may be something positive! Or ground rules they missed out on earlier?
Barok hopes his nerves don’t show too much.
Susato and Iris go off and play in a corner.
“In regards to Iris-chan,” Kazuma starts, “her Japanese is below average.”
Oh. Yes, well, of course. Barok knows that. After all, “Iris only recently started learning Japanese.”
“Oh!” Kazuma looks genuinely surprised, “Well, she’s doing wonderfully then! If we continue, I think she will catch up soon.”
Barok frowns. Well… easier said than done. “Actually, Iris’ was learning Japanese in London, we – I haven’t found how to best develop her Japanese here in Tokyo yet.”
Kazuma hums, “Well of course, that makes sense.”
“Would you have any suggestions?” Barok asks.
Kazuma hums again and tils his chin slightly as he rubs a finger against his chin, his expression thoughtful, “Exposing one to the language is the best way, living here in Tokyo certainly helps… how about hiring a private tutor for her too?”
Barok raises one eyebrow and gestures for Kazuma to continue. He can’t imagine hiring a tutor for Iris already, at this age group.
“Just someone to help with pronunciation, learning to read and write hiragana and katakana, nothing too complicated.”
And Barok remembers, he grew up with tutors. Horse riding, fencing, mannerisms, ballroom dancing… the list goes on and on. So, hiring someone to help Iris with things like pronunciation is nothing in comparison.
“Nothing complicated.” Barok repeats quietly and then nods.
Kazuma gives Barok a small smile and nods.
Something twitches in Barok’s heart.
Barok doesn’t know why he asks, but he doesn’t think about it until he asks. “Would you be able to help tutor Iris, sensei?”
Kazuma looks very surprised, probably as surprised as Barok himself.
“Of course, I am more than happy to pay you for your time.” Barok says immediately after.
“Oh actually, my pronunciation isn’t the best of the best.” Kazuma admits, “I may not be the most suitable to guide Iris-chan.”
It takes a real man to admit their weakness.
Kazuma clears his throat awkwardly, “I have immense difficulty with similar sounding words, and tongue twisters.”
Barok shrugs, “Well, it’s not supposed to too complicated,” he quotes Kazuma, “Iris only needs the basic to push her in the right direction.”
Kazuma blinks slowly.
“And since you see her often at kindergarten, you may know which level she is at the best?” Barok suggests. He isn’t even sure why he’s trying to hard to convince this young man to tutor his daughter. Barok doesn’t dwell on it and puts it to him being lazy to look for a tutor for what is seemingly a simple task.
It’s a lie though, Barok only wants to provide Iris with the best, he’d never be too lazy. And there’s something about Kazuma. He doesn’t know why, but he believes Kazuma will be great at guiding Iris, after all, he is a kindergarten teacher, more than perfectly suited to deal with young children.
“Alright then.” Kazuma agrees, “I can help out.” He gives Barok a wide smile. His whole body is smiling.
And that’s when Barok thinks, gosh, he’s cute. And also simultaneously realises that he’s attracted to the other.
Barok’s heart beats quickly and for the first time in many, many years, he feels himself suppressing a rising blush.
Well, shit.