<span class="bbc_u">"I <em>am</em> the shrine's caretaker, and the two of you were rather busy yesterday, if what my daughter told me was true." </span>He smiled briefly.  "I am.  My daughter doesn't have many friends of her own age, so seeing the two of you here gladd<span class="bbc_u"></span>ens me."  If he was enjoying 'two hotties' present at his shrine, then it wasn't entirely for the reasons that that part of Joy's brain suggested.  Or maybe it was.  When she made the tease about calling him 'Daddy,' he offered a small laugh and wave of his own hand.<span class="bbc_u">"I do not think that an apology will be necessary.  You're a young woman, and while you're no Dragon-Blood like my daughter, you have desires nonetheless."</span>He wasn't teasing or making fun of her; he was being understanding and forgiving towards her more open attitude.<span class="bbc_u">"Reminds me of how I met Yuyu's mother."</span><em>Kami</em>.  Was this how he had managed to get his wife to fall for him?  It made sense...<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"My name.  Yes, I suppose 'Yuyu's Dad' or even 'Mizusawa-san' is probably a bit much..."</span>He gently beckoned to Joy, to pull her closer to him.  When she was standing near him, he put up a hand and whispered into her ear:<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"Ask me again some time, and I will tell you."</span>With that, he turned.<span class="bbc_u"> "Forgive my interruption; I'll leave you both to your training." </span>He turned around the corner, and was gone as fast as he'd appeared.  "Joy?"  Aika looked at her friend.  "Are you..."  The Mugen could see the look on Aika's face change.  "No<em>way</em>."