I ought to share you a piece of my mind.

“Not necessary? It’s only necessary! Our little pumpkin deserves simply the best!” your father says, before picking up Naomi and peppering her face with kisses. “Isn’t that right, Naomi-chan?”

Your daughter giggles, nothing but equally excited to spend time with her grandpa.

“There’s enough diapers for the weekend, but if you come to need more we’ve set apart some money—.” Naoya adds.

“Ah, you think I wouldn’t be able to take care of her if needed?” he gasps, offended by his implication.

“I’m not… I’m not saying that, father.” He murmurs, worried to have overstepped his kindness.

“I know, I’m just joking! Aren’t I Naomi-chan? Oh, of course I am!” Your father responds, tickling her tummy which only makes her giggles go on. Your heart flutters at the sight, just exactly what you hoped would flourish between the two! Simply another piece of your already perfect family.

Excluding the inner turmoil your husband was currently experiencing, of course.

Yes, to spend a whole weekend focusing on nothing but you sounds like a dream.

But what also sounded like a dream was going on a small holiday with his two princesses. Did you even have any idea of how long it’s been since he’s got the two all for himself? Why does he suddenly need to give away his dumpling just because he’s back from work??? Won’t she technically be upset because of this?? She’s rarely ever away from you!

Apparently not, given how she continues to laugh with her grandpa, without a single care of the world. Without considering that her papa was silently dying to have her back in his arms…

“Well, if you need anything you can always call me.” You say, one last reminder before gathering your own things. “Whatever it is, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”

“You worry too much, we’ll be fine! Now go, enjoy that private time you both urgently need—and don’t forget to bring back souvenirs!”

But Naoya didn’t need this private time as much as your father implied, not after seeing how his daughter barely cared about acknowledged her parents when bidding their goodbyes!

He expected her to become teary eyed the moment he set her free of his arms, the moment she realize they were walking past the door to come back… well, eventually! But all she did was coo and giggle at the newfound company of her grandpa and the countless plans he already set up for her.

And to make matters worse, it seems you don’t care about leaving her behind either! Sure, you did ponder a bit about Naomi and how you’d like to travel with her once she’s of age—but that is nothing compared to the lump forming in his throat whenever she thought about her, back there, all alone! (not really) but still!

What if she suddenly realizes her parents are gone? What then? Who will console her? How could Naoya console her if he’s on the other side of the country!

He can’t be a good father thinking this and still deciding to leave!

“We’re not going.” Naoya suddenly declares, a few minutes in the road, after the pain of his adorable’s daughter absence became too much to bottle up anymore and just before doing a u-turn that declares this small holiday over. “In fact, we’re never leaving Naomi alone. I can’t believe I let you convince me!”

“A—alone?! We’re not leaving her alone, she’s with my dad! Who loves her very much!” you try to fight for this small moment of intimacy, make him understand this was only normal for married couples and didn’t reflect on their parenting skills at all!

“Yeah, maybe! But we’re her parents, do you know how irresponsible this makes us look? We could be sent to jail!”

“We’re just—what difference does it make when we leave her with my staff?! It’s just for one day, Naoya!!” you cry. “Just one day!”

But even if it were one second, it didn’t matter to Naoya! Because now, more than ever before, specially since she was barely a few months old, your husband wanted nothing more than to spend time with his little mochi and make up for all the time he’s been forced to spend away in stupid missions!

Perhaps your family should be grateful that he still had the decency to walk, instead of using his technique, into their estate to collect Naomi and bring her back home. Though he was very close to do so when he saw your sister gushing at her soft, round cheeks, or your brother spoiling her with countless toys, mildly burning with jealousy at the roles he should be filling in!!

The trip back home is quite uneventful from there onward, outside of Naoya’s chuckles and murmurs whenever looking at Naomi, and the disappointment quietly stirring within your mind as the two arrive to the Zen’in estate instead of the ryokan he had booked for the weekend, followed by the shame of having to apologize for canceling your family’s plans.

“What’s wrong? Is Naomi-chan sick?” Mariya asks upon your arrival, the only explanation she could muster for your sudden change of plan.

“No, but someone else is.” You say, glancing at Naoya who seemed nothing but happy to be back home with his adorable pumpkin. He’s barely let her out of her arms! “Homesick, that is.”

“Oh, well, perhaps another time.” Your main lady-in-waiting sighs, giving you an empathetic look before helping you put your items back into place.

But as annoyed as you appeared to be, it was ultimately all short-lived, for there was nothing that you loved the most than to see your most cherished people laughing with each other, spending time together in a way that reminded you that nothing else truly mattered; just their happiness.

And the time alone you eventually got with Naoya after he’s reminded you’ve been a good girl too, of course, you didn’t cease to exist just because you became a mother!

“What now, don’t tell me you’re jealous of Naomi?” he snickers, placing his hand over your hips before pulling you closer to him, his mouth captivating your lips into a kiss. “That’s not a good look on you, you know?”

“I know. But I suppose it’s only right given how I have been doing a bad job nonetheless.”

“A bad job? How so?” Naoya frowns. “…I didn’t mean to upset you back then. Are you still mad at me because of that?”

You shake your head, smiling.

“No, of course not. It’s just that it dawned on me. On how I haven’t been reminding you of what awaits for you at home.” You breathe against his lips, preparing him for what’s to come. “On why you shouldn’t spend too far away from me.”

“Really?” Naoya shudders with anticipation, as he always did whenever beneath your warm touch. “I… can’t seem to recall why either.”

“Then let me jog your memory, darling.”

One way or the other, Naoya always ends up doing what you want.

perverts.

Perhaps exhausted after a lifetime of abuse, or the last of her compassion pouring onto the only woman that ever saw her more than a tool, she lets you go with the premise that you’ll fulfill the promise you struck right then and there.

Thus, you hastily do your best to collect Naoya and disappear. Not even your family is able to know of your whereabouts, completely unaware of the quiet life you’ve decided to take upon with what little riches you were able to gather before your escape, and focus on nursing Naoya back to health—moving past this horrible nightmare the Zen’in conjured upon themselves.

Which was the most strenuous thing you’ve ever done in this life. His injuries were… like nothing you’ve ever seen before, in fact, you were confident that if it weren’t for the small remnants of cursed energy in his body, he would’ve completely succumbed.

But you persisted. Did whatever you could to treat his injuries while keeping him stable.

The days he spent unconscious were pure agony for you, for there was a terrifying moment you weren’t even confident he would wake up. The thought was enough to fill you with so much pain, you refused to even sleep if it meant keeping your eyes glued on your husband for whenever he might need you.

So when he finally awoke, all you could do was weep.

“What—where am I?” It’s what Naoya says upon noticing the unfamiliar sight of the small room you managed to get for his recovery. Your options were limited considering what you were able to take when running away with a wounded man, but at least he was safe and comfortable.

“Naoya!” You gasp, as you always did whenever he did the slightest noise just to make sure he was well-tended. But now that he was finally conscious, you were able to do what you always wished. “Oh, Naoya…!”

“Y/N, what—what happened?!” He breathes, unable to free himself from your tight embrace. Taking your actions as nothing less than your usual, overbearing nature, completely unaware that he’s been out for days. “Stop it, you’re—hurting me.”

“Oh, I’m… I’m sorry, I’m just so, so happy…!” you continue on to sob, relenting your grasp on him but never straying too far. “I thought you’d never wake up, that I’d lost you forever…!”

Naoya’s eyes widen, at least the one that isn’t bandaged, at your words.

“What do you mean by that? How… How long have I been away?”

“Don’t—don’t worry about that, darling. You need to rest right now, you need to get be—.”

“Get off me and answer!” He gasps, pushing you aside with what little strength he had. The act itself wasn’t strong enough to hurt you physically, but when it came to your heart,  it could only shatter, a sob pushing through the tightness of your throat as you rushed out the bedroom, presumably to weep even further.

Naoya scoffed upon seeing you run, rolled his eyes at the thought of you throwing another tantrum simply because he wasn’t willing to entertain your clinginess. Your husband knew it was only a matter of time before you’d come back to him, as you always did, more so since he was injured.

But he seems to have forgotten that right now, he needed you more than you did him. And such, when he tried to stand up for himself, or even when hunger became too much to ignore; it was him who called for you.

“Y—Y/N!” Naoya breathes, growing manic for your lack of answer. For his inability to be anything else but useless.

He lets out a sigh when he sees you walk past the door, teary eyed, undeniably exhausted, yet looking at him with nothing but adoration—and perhaps a bit of pain too—yet Naoya tries to hide such satisfaction behind his usual brooding self.

“Where—where were you??” he immediately demanded. “You—you left me alone for hours!”

And you seem to be affected by his scolds, given how you act.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, darling…” You sniffle while gently tending to his wounds. Some of his bandages were soiled yet again, soaked in blood that should’ve been long gone at this point. But injuries caused by sorcery were never easy to mend, it was a miracle how you’ve done much given your circumstances. “I just… I was so happy to see you awake, I… I thought you’d be too after all that—that happened…! Why would you treat me like this…!”

Naoya has seen you cry before, he is no fool to fall victim to your annoying tears, but the sight of them now inflicts something in him that makes him contain himself when it comes to berating you. Perhaps it was the ever-growing sincerity behind them or the looming threat at the fact that right now he could only rely on you to survive, that has him softening a bit and reserving his normally crude commentary.

“I’m—I didn’t mean it.” He says through gritted teeth, attempting to take control of the situation, even if just a little. “I was just startled.”

“I’m sorry.” You say again, leaning into his touch once he reaches out of your hand. “I promise to never startle you again.”

“It’s fine, just let me—help me get up.”

“I can’t allow that, Naoya.”

And then something in the air changed. Your sobs quieted, your tears stopped, and the usual tinkle that accompanied your voice disappeared in your following words. Naoya almost found it hard to recognize that the stern demeanor coming from the woman before him… belonged to none other than his wife.

“You have to rest, honey. You’re still hurt.”

Suddenly, almost by command, a sharp pain inundates the wound on the right side of his face, causing him to curl up and heave in a feeble attempt to suppress his agony.

“Naoya! Don’t—don’t touch it, let me help!”

For now, all he could do was obey. Silently allow you to tend to his every need, whether the simplest to the most intricate one, you were there every step of the way.

And to a point… past the initial confrontations, his frustrations at being stuck in this bed… your company soon made it possible to forget about what led him to this situation in the first place.

Amongst your tenderness, the warmth that accompanies his bed every night, or even the silly conversations you initiate with the intention of distracting him from those boring 4 walls he’s in every day… he wasn’t the heir anymore. He was your husband. Your partner. Your… Naoya.

If he wanted, he could leave it all behind and start anew with you. His recovery was improving, and you had everything looked after, however that might have come to be. From warm food, to a roof and a bed, this was certainly a way better path than being left behind to die.

But that wasn't what he wanted. Not by a landslide.

His mind still lingered back at the Zen’in estate, at the atrocity that transpired under Maki’s hands and the injustice of his inheritance being stripped away for Megumi to take.

He won’t say he didn’t try. That at one point, your talks about having a silly, mundane life were tempting enough to consider.

Yet, at the end of the day, that’s not what he ultimately chose.

"Is everything alright, honey? You... Haven't eaten anything." you say upon looking at his plate, still full, of his favorite dish which naturally only caused you to worry even more.

It takes the heavy silence settling between the two for Naoya to finally confess what has been troubling his mind for the past few weeks. In between your shining eyes or warm smile, this is all he’s been thinking about.

“I’m going back to the estate.”

“What?” you say, and the tension that previously engulfed the two returns even heavier, enough to have you freeze and drop the utensils in your hand.

“There’s some unfinished business I need to tend to. Maki— I can’t let her walk away after what she did to me!”

“I thought you—why would you want to go back? You don’t know what you’re saying; You’re—you’re safe here, you don’t have to ever be in danger—!”

“Do you take me for a coward?!” Naoya lashed; he knew that you’d put up a fight, that if it were to you, you’d both live in nothing short of domestic ignorance. But he was worth so much more than staying in bed and making love to you every single night; he was meant for greatness, and it was time everyone remembered that. “You had your fun, but it’s time I go back to where I belong.”

“No.”

“I wasn’t asking, Y/N.” He says, standing up from the kotatsu. With every movement he made, every word he threw at you, Naoya could almost hear your sobs squeezing past your lips. Any moment now you’d cling to him, begging him to reconsider and stay, since he can now escape from you.

But…. You didn’t. In fact, your silence remained unbearably long, Naoya had to eventually force himself to look at you—and your face void of any emotion, a shadow casted over your eyes that he could only discern as danger.

“No, you’re not.” You repeat. “You’re going to stay here with me.”

“I’m—I’m not.” Naoya responds, his voice struggling to hold its composure. Your husband doesn’t know why he’s become like this, trembling at your presence. He’s denied you countless times before, put you back in your place.

So why… can’t he look you in the eye?

Why is he hesitating to take what is his?

“I won’t let you go; you’re staying!”

“I’m not asking. I’m going—!”

But the moment those words fly past his lips, pain inundates his body, particularly on the wound of his right eye, underneath the patch you’ve constantly reassured did not lessen his appearance—though Naoya didn’t care much for such things. Not when he had bigger problems to deal with.

Such as reaching out for you. Even after insulting your efforts, all he could think of was seeking your help, to feel your gentle hands tend to his pain as you’ve diligently done before.

Yet, you remain unmoving, cold. Observing him from afar as he continued to writhe and struggle against this unbearable pain he could only describe as worse than what Maki had done to him.

“Y/N—he—help me!”

“No.”

“Wh—what…?!” Naoya gasps, blood running cold at your indifference. Did he hear right? Were you truly the same woman that swore to stand by his side through thick and thin… now denying him? “Y/N, this—this isn’t a joke…!”

“I… I finally got you all for myself and the first thing you think of is to leave me?!”

“What—what are you talking about?!” he heaves, clenching his teeth as the pain in his face becomes more insufferable the longer he goes on.

“I’m never letting you go. No matter what you do, what you want, you’ll always stay here with me. I’ll—I’ll never let you go! I fought too hard for this!” you gasp. “Do you know how difficult it was to do all of this for you to stay?!”

And then, everything clicked for Naoya.

Why were you always so adamant in changing his bandages yourself, instead of allowing him to do so when he could.

Because you were imbuing them with cursed energy; a particularly difficult technique that if achieved, would mean etching the affected sorcerer with the other’s energy—your energy.

And thus, for you to manipulate as freely as desired.

“You’re never leaving my side.” You say, cementing your hold over his, using your curse energy to seal his new life alongside you—

And the one growing within you.

“You’re never leaving us.”

It’s all you ever wanted. All you ever desired. Since the moment you laid eyes on him, since the day he chose you to be his wife… you’d been patient. Tolerant to his disrespect, to his continuous sacrilege agaisnt the very same vows he promised to keep for you on your wedding day, just to ignore when another woman crossed his path.

You punished yourself to be the woman he claimed to deserve, the one he’d be happy to have when coming back home.

Yet, it was never enough for him. Your love, as genuine as it was, was never enough for someone as cruel as Naoya.

But not anymore. Not after many prayers, the gods finally listened to your desires of having your husband all for yourself.

You’ve been preparing for this moment. For a way to make you his once and for all, away from those wretched gold-diggers that could never appreciate him for who he was, or even his relatives that were always plotting for his downfall.

Maki’s return was only the last, missing piece to your puzzle. And her mother knew that what awaited him alongside you was far worse than anything her daughter could give him.

If anything, his death could’ve only been merciful.

But from now on, he’ll know what it is to live in a cage, filled with expectations he will never achieve less he wished to lose any sense of autonomy—disguised as your love.

Luckily, your husband steps in wherever you falter. And though this was firmly because you couldn’t keep up with their pace, it was also nice to feel you had someone to rely on.

“I thought I left it clear that it was strictly prohibited to use your technique inside the estate! Especially when mama is calling you!”” Naoya says upon catching up to them, and they do listen… until he lowers his guard and they make a run for it once more. His frustration only grows exponentially at the rising disobedience, pushing him to think of a proficient way to get them to stop before something regretful happens.

…

And how else to do that than to embarrass them?

“If you don’t stop right now, I’ll make both of you see me kiss your mother!” he threatens, and that was enough to stop them on their tracks.

“Ewwwww nooooo.” Naoko whines, cringing when seeing her papa wraps his arms around you and pull you into a hug. It’s slow at first, with papa simply teasing and pinching your waist before deciding to kick it up a notch by leaning into your ear, whispering things the kids couldn’t care less of outside of stopping it, pulling at Naoya’s sleeve to urge their sentiment. “Stop papa!!”

You chuckle at the whole scene unfolding before you, finding his antics quite silly yet effective given the way the kids stopped sprinting across the estate, avoiding any possible injuries and getting their attention. He seals the deal when pecking you on the lips, Naoko cries.

“Do you want a kiss from us too?” He teases, you giggle at Naoko’s scowl.

“No!” she shakes her head. “I don’t want to see it either!”

For a moment, if just briefly, you could see Naoyuki hesitate, naturally embarrassed from seeing his parents being all lovey-dovey with each other. Yet at the same time, wishing he could receive some affection too, feeling a bit… left out.

“I want.” He suddenly says, making your eyes widen and gush at his adorable confession.

Before laughing at what he added next.

“But only from mama…”

“Alright, that’s it.” Naoya says, standing between you and the children. “I’ll have mama all for myself from now on.”

“Hey! That isn’t right!” Naoko is quick to interject. She may not like it when the two are affectionate, but she could surpass that as long as you remained. “You’re always with her!!”

“I can say the same about the two of you, I rarely get to see her!” Your husband retorts.

“Now, now, the last thing I want is the three of you fighting!” you chuckle. “There’s enough of me for everyone.”

“I don’t want to share!” You can almost hear the three of them exclaim. You don’t even know how this went from trying to stop them from using their technique inside the estate to them fighting over who gets to spend more time with you, but you cannot say that you weren’t happy to share these silly moments with your family.

You try to hold on to them as much as possible, having long realized that your babies won’t remain babies forever, they’ll change and grow into the amazing humans they were already fated to be, and eventually, leave the nest.

Though some things wouldn’t change no matter how long it went on, such as their distaste at seeing their papa being all affectionate with mama, or their every growing competition on who gets to hoard all of your attention.

Naoya certainly has a way of annoying you and his baby, just the same way he knows how to make it up for both.

Yet ultimately, his favorite thing to do is lay by her side while she’s asleep. Watching her chest move up and down, breathing slowly as she’s in deep slumber. Possibly dreaming about her favorite plushies or whatever games mama and her will play when morning comes—It’s a sight that fills him with satisfaction; A kind of warmth upon knowing that his baby is safe, well-tended, happy.

But most importantly chubby. He just loves her tiny fingers, how they curl around his or into that small fist whenever she’s determined to do something—or her tummy! Especially her tummy, which he liked to blow raspberries on, filling the room with heartwarming giggles he could hardly believe he was listening to! But what did he expect from someone as charming as his daughter?

A radiant piece of joy Naoya never thought he’d ever experience, let alone deserve.

Naomi is all the good in the world that motivates him to be better, and for that, he could only be grateful.

“She is my daughter! I get to do whatever I see fit with her!’

“She's our daughter, your blood! Not some kind of object you can use and discard when you want to! Can't you see she's trying her hardest? Can't you see she wants to make you proud?”

“Well, she's not doing a very good job now, is she? None of this would've happened if only you've given me a son—” 

Naoya can't finish that sentence when you slap him across the face. Tears in your eyes, fear evident on your face, yet anger remains ever vivid. Ready to defend whoever dares hurt your blessings, even if it meant going against her own father.

“If you don't want her anymore then at least give her back to me.”

“Keep her, she's worthless anyways”

Your marriage is never the same after that.

Starting from the fact that you refused to share a bed from that night onwards. Instead, you stuck by Naomi's side, trying to comfort the confusion her father's distance inflicted upon her while discarding any summons from him.

He doesn't insist much at first. Yes, he was angry but ultimately thought you to simply be throwing a tantrum as you “often do”. 

But one day, something feels different. As if something were missing, he just doesn't know what —until he realizes it wasn't something, it was someone.

Yet, by the moment he decides to act it's too late. Fed up by the Zen'in’s rules, you decided to leave the estate with your daughter, leaving behind nothing more than a letter and your wedding ring, accompanied by an apology for having disappointed him, and a promise to never bother him again.

Naoya never admitted what he felt upon reading your words, certainly not to his family whom he kept ignorant regarding your whereabouts—

But he was never able to sleep again after that, not after realizing you were indeed never to come back.

“Pfft, I know! It was just a joke, can’t you see I’m trying to lift the spirits here? Why does everybody need to be so tense for these things?” Naobito scoffs, seeing no severity in the meeting unfolding before him. Perhaps because he never believed a woman willing enough to marry his son—less to a girl like you, fiercely sheltered by her family to to simply be handed over to someone as… well, crude as Naoya.

In fact, there was actually a moment where Naobito believed you to be a bit too good for him.

Yet again, he helped raise that type of man, so there wasn’t much he could complain about. Though he supposes having you around meant a nice change of pace for once. Things were getting kind of boring at the estate and there was nothing he loved more than seeing chaos unfold by someone as inadequate.

“Because they’re important, Naobito-sama. We have to discuss the terms of the future of the clan if their union begets heirs.”

“Oh, strong sorcerers, I hope?”

“We’ll… see about that.” You quietly utter beneath Naobito’s burning gaze. The only thing you could think of right now was getting out alive out of that room. Luckily, your father was there to support you through whatever the Zen’in thought appropriate to demand.

“Shall we begin, then?” The lawyer representing your family says, ready to urge this sour moment by.

Which was filled with nothing but endless, vast oceans of technicalities and requests you were nothing but ignorant about. Clauses that would take effect through very specific scenarios you doubted would even happen yet the lawyers still thought it necessary to write down.

Most of the subjects discussed were matters of money and cursed tools, rarely did anything had to do with Naoya and yourself, which made you think perhaps your presence wasn’t as necessary as they made it seem.

Still, you put effort in keeping attentive to whatever it was they talked, occasionally glancing at Naoya and realizing he was equally boring himself to death, your sigh being the factor that eventually called for a pause.

“Perhaps we are overdue for a break.” Your father would string along. “We’ve been at it for hours, let’s get something to eat.”

Naobito couldn’t wait to get out of the room, being the first one to stand and walk past the door, presumably to get another bottle of his favorite sake and forget about decorum for a while (as if he held any). The lawyers dismiss each other respectfully before disappearing into the estate, leaving you, your father, and Naoya behind.

“I… need to go to the restroom.” You breathe, overwhelmed by the tension between the group.

“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.” Your father follows, though he ends up going a completely different direction, showing that his mind was anything but focused after facing the stubborn Zen’in.

Naoya sighs out of frustration too, crossing his arms as he leans against one of the nearby wooden posts, deciding to wait for your return before leaving together. In the meantime, he’ll think about whatever fiasco his family was plotting.

Was all this really necessary? He just wanted to marry you and move on. Why did his clan always have to ruin everything? You’ve long proved to be worthy of his everything, so why did you have to continue entertaining these silly trials?

At the very least Naoya should be able to put in a word or two about his expectations for this marriage, but he doesn’t get his hopes up for he knows his father will simply barge in and remove them…

“Is there anything you wish to add, Naoya-sama?”

“Hm?” Naoya asks, cut out of his thoughts by a lawyer he thought was gone by this point. Or the fact that he was being referred to at all given how most discussions were either headed to his father or another one of the Zen’in lawyers.

“Do you wish to add anything to the contract regarding your marriage to Y/N-san?” he repeats. “I noted you haven’t said much.”

“I can?”

“I don’t see why not—as long as it’s not outside of our limitations.” He explains. “It is your marriage, after all.”

Naoya gives it a long thought before shrugging. In retrospect everything looked pretty good to him, and surely if he decided to add something it would only make this meeting longer. Between justifying his decisions and dealing with paperwork, he’d rather hurry to finish this all and focus on you.

“Nah, there isn’t—.”

Unless…

“Anything?”

“Yes. As I said, anything as long as it doesn’t go beyond what’s already under negotiation, we can add it.”

“Let’s go through all the details one last time.” One of the lawyers of your future husband says. “Shall we?”

“Then I want you to add this…”

You and your father nod.

“Upon marriage, the wife shall reside within the Zen'in Estate unless otherwise authorized by the Head of the Clan.

The wife shall receive a monthly household stipend appropriate to her station.

“Ahem.” Your father coughs. “Didn’t we agree this would go beyond their marriage, if they ever decide to separate?”

“…yes.”

“Good to know.” He says. “Let’s continue.”

“Children born of the union shall be recognized as legitimate heirs in accordance with Zen'in succession law… regardless if they’re born with cursed techniques. Such children displaying cursed techniques shall undergo training under clan supervision.”

“If we think the Zen’in are better fitted.” Your father interjects, causing Naobito to roll his eyes as one of the lawyers scribbles down such an addition.

There would be additional annotations to be made as both went through the rest of responsibilities, but when they were finally over it was safe to say that all parties involved were satisfied.

Though there was still one last detail to iron out.

“I’d like to add a few more clauses.” The lawyer that previously spoke to Naoya interjects.

“Oh?” Naobito raises an eyebrow. “What could the Zen’in possibly want more from this poor girl?”

“Please be noted that these come directly from Naoya-sama, and after careful review, I’ve deemed them fit to be included.”

“…Go on?” Your father frowns, looking at you with confusion, just as you were, more so since Naoya refused to give you any answers outside of a smug smirk.

“Both parties are required to retire to the same bedroom each evening. With the sole exception being illnesses, injuries, or other obligations that may require absence. Failure to comply will cause this union to become void.”

“Wh—what?!” you gasp, face quick to burn bright as you attempt to understand what the lawyer had just read out loud. Was this a joke?

“Who— This is unnecessary!” your father cries, equally flustered at the boldness of none other than your smirking husband. “This is a serious matter, Naoya! Don’t laugh!”

“Of course it is, if anything it’s traditional. Married couples sleeping in different beds invites rumors, and as heir to the Zen’in, I have to appear confident in my decisions—both professionally, and privately.”

“Upon either spouse returning to the estate after prolonged absence, they shall greet one another before attending to other domestic matters, provided circumstances reasonably permit.”

“Wait a minute, you’re saying that I have to drop everything to greet you?” you blink. “I… do that either way.”

“Just wanted to make sure, wife.”

“—At formal gatherings involving extended periods of standing or walking, reasonable physical assistance between spouses shall be considered appropriate etiquette.”

“That’s just a legal way of saying my daughter has to hold your hand at all times!” Your father cries, Naoya’s smirk only grows wider.

“And that’s not all, you should hear what’s coming!” He jests.

“Alright, alright!” you cover your face, fearing what Naoya dared asked his lawyer and how much further would it torment your father’s already perturbed mind. “We don’t have to read them out loud!”

Your father has his lawyer read through Naoya’s demands to save himself from creating any unwanted mental images that might scar him for life; he only manages to relax when the man he entrusted with taking all legal decisions gestures he’s done—achieving a neutral but beneficial stance that also protected your dignity from your shameless husband. As much as he could either way.

By then, your father had decided to limit his involvement with your marriage’s legal affairs, asking the family lawyer to keep it just; save him from hearing any details that might change the perspective he had of you—more so since you added clauses of your own to counteract Naoya’s.

He supposes that as long as the two were happy, debauched, but happy, then everything else were simple courtesies.

You expected him to accept your decision and head to bed like he has done before. It had been a tiring week, and though you would’ve loved to indulge in your husband, god knows how much you needed to rest instead…

But just as you were, he too reached a limit. And unfortunately, this situation exploded in the worst imaginable way.

“And that's it? You’re just going to push me away?”

“What… what are you talking about?” you murmur, too exhausted to even think right. “Can we talk about this in the morning? I just put Naomi to sleep after she—.”

“Yeah right, I know how this goes. Morning comes and you’re going to forget about this the moment she starts crying!” He scoffs. “This is all you’ve been doing, pushing me aside like I don’t even exist. As if my needs don’t matter.”

You frown.

“Your needs? Well, what did you expect me to do, Naoya? We knew what it meant to have a baby, no one said it was easy!”

“Yeah, I know that, but I didn’t think you’d completely ignore me. It’s like we’re not even married!”

At least when you were still pregnant you were clingy. You’d look for him in every room you stepped in and kept as close as possible, much to his satisfaction.

But just as he stated, things are different now. When you were virtually inseparable… there were even moments he doesn’t get to see you throughout the day because you’re tending to his daughter.

Naoya knows it isn’t right to think this, certainly not say it, but it’s all he concluded on after the constant status of irrelevancy he’s been unwillingly pushed to.

“Having a baby was a mistake.”

“Wh—what?”

Your husband doesn’t bother to explain, not when his words were already crystal clear.

He meant what he said, he knew exactly how this could be interpreted as… and let it settle in your mind before tears began to flow down your face.

The pain of your heartbreak overwhelmed you far too much to even argue back, and such, you left without saying a word. Naoya spent that night alone, just as lonely as he’s felt these past days by your side, alongside a brewing combination of disappointment and anger that goes on the longer you spend away from him…

Until it eventually turns into regret and sadness when your absence becomes far too obvious to ignore.

Even when there wasn’t much to say, both still took time to share a meal with each other, or gush at the pictures you’ve taken of little Naomi when doing anything particularly adorable—which was everything—so he wouldn’t feel left out of her growth. Regardless of how far you were from him, you still wanted him to include him; make him feel like an actual father.

Part of a family for once.

And now, he’s missing all that. Because he’s disowned that very same baby you both desired oh so much, all because Naoya wasn’t mature enough to understand this union didn’t convey just the two anymore.

It wasn’t true. None of those words held any truth! But he’s said them like they were, spewing venom at his own blood out of foolishness.

There isn’t a moment where he isn’t reminded of this. When you avoid him in the hallways, ignore his calls, or even sleep in a separate bedroom…

It takes Naoya a whole lot of effort to get you alone, more so since your staff is virtually glued to your side every second of the day. But he manages, just right after getting a glimpse of his daughter: small, soft. Completely unaware of the world beyond her mama’s arms or gentle voice—how dare he attempt to erase her existence because of his disgusting selfishness?

Having a baby was a mistake. His words echo back to him, though they no longer felt his.

Instead, they belonged to someone else. Someone full of hatred. The type of man he swore to never be if he was to be the who you, as his wife and future mother of his children.

And they made him feel sick.

“Y/N.” He calls when he sees you enter the nursery, observing how your eyes widen at the seemingly unwanted presence of the man who previously rejected his daughter standing just beside her.

Yet again, as much as you wished to continue on avoiding him, you stayed. For there was nothing you could do at the fact that he was still her father, and as such, deserved to see her as well.

Just as you were obligated to tend to her needs when little Naomi grunts, signs that she was to wake up any moment now.

“Y/N, please.” Naoya insists when you walk past him and towards her crib, checking that Naomi was well. She was, she was only stirring in her sleep. “…look at me.”

You press your lips together, deep in thought as you debate whether to continue ignoring him or do as asked… You eventually accept his request, in silence, but it’s the first time both see each other since that awful evening.

Naoya doesn’t know where to start beyond the truth, which was the only thing you deserved.

“I was angry.”

Silence. This was nothing new to the conversation, he’s reminded of such through your gaze.

“I… I was frustrated. After being away from you for so long all I wanted was... Your attention.

But you weren’t giving it to me and that— that took me to say the cruelest thing I could think of.

…

I don’t think Naomi is a mistake. Never. She’s… simply the best thing that has happened in my life; nothing could ever replace her.”

At his vulnerability, you can’t help but let out the question you’ve been clinging to.

“Then why… Why did you say that?”

And here, right now, comes the moment of truth. The end of the path he’s been working towards since the moment he met you, to the moment he fell in love with you and promised to be better, to when the two finally formed this small, beautiful thing he’s blessed to call his family.

It takes a great deal of courage to admit so, especially from someone as averting as Naoya, but when it comes to you and his daughter, he’d do the impossible. This was just another example of that.

“Because for a moment, I… feared I wasn’t the first in your life anymore.”

There was never hatred for Naomi, no genuine discontent for the one that has made him the happiest, allowing him to experience the wonders of fatherhood and all that was to come.

All along it had been nothing short of the embarrassing face of jealousy.

It’s ugly. It isn’t easy to admit—

But it’s the truth.

And you believe him.

“You hurt me.” You say.

“I know.”

“…You hurt Naomi as well.”

“I know.”

“One day she’ll understand words.” You remind him, and the thought of his daughter hearing those same awful, damning words, crying the same way you did—it fills him with pain greater than anything he’s ever experienced as a sorcerer.

“I’m sorry.”

Though you eventually forgive him, it takes a while to get there. You had to step aside and let time heal the wound he viciously inflicted into this marriage.

Which it does. Slowly, but surely. His words eventually become a quiet scar through acts that mark Naoya far more present in his new life as a father, while never forgetting his duties as your husband.

“Have you eaten, my love?” he asks, noticing you seem to forget to do so whenever Naomi cries. “Let me, you must rest.”

Or by standing up to his family whenever they dared joke about your struggles, or when saying distasteful commentaries about how children can be burdens, which he was previously indifferent to—but not anymore. Not since he sees Naomi in those children.

“Then your parents should hurry to cut their losses.” Naoya would say, granting the room silence that made the corner of your mouth discreetly curve upwards, proud to have a husband and father to your child as protective and committed as he was.

You smile, her innocent remarks always manage to do so. It is her first time seeing you like this, after all. Unfortunately, it wasn’t yours. In fact, you hoped this would’ve disappeared just as it did right after your pregnancy.

But you weren’t to be so lucky, and now, you had to deal with both the torture of your cramps, and the pain of disappointing your little mochi.

“Why don’t you tell auntie Mariya that my— stomach hurts?” you feebly request, reaching out for her chubby cheek and giving it a gentle pinch. “And to send a hot compress too…”

“Why does your stomach hurt? Did you eat a lot of mochi again mama?”

You giggle, before squeezing your eyes shut at a sudden jolt of pain.

“No, but that does sound good…”

Naomi twists her lips in incredulity, thinking your excuse to be a cheap way out of entertaining her, before begrudgingly accepting your request and heading out the door, into the hallway and towards the kitchen where Mariya and the rest usually prepared the beginning day.

“Oh, good morning Naomi-chan!” she’d call out when a tiny tuft of unruly hair peeked over the edge of the table, leaning over to get a better glimpse of that adorable, sulking face—the same one she made whenever she didn’t get her way. “Did mama tell you to help me out today?” Though by your mere absence, Mariya correctly suspects it was more beyond that.

“No… mama said that her tummy hurts.” She pouts. “And asked me to bring her a hot compass.”

“A hot compress.” Mariya corrects, before giving her an anguished look, understanding your current predicament all too well. “Oh dear, already…?”

“What’s wrong with mama?”

“Ah, she hasn’t told you?” Naomi shakes her head. “Well, that’s something you’ll have to learn from her when the time is right… for now, let’s help her get better, ok?”

Naomi still didn’t understand why she still couldn’t do what she wanted, or how you weren’t getting any better after Mariya had given you what you asked for, grumpily standing outside your bedroom as she helped you get more comfortable.

Once Mariya exits the room, she gives your baby a tight smile, kneeling down to her level and explaining this newfound situation.

“Mama is sick, so she won’t be able to play with you today.”

“But she was fine yesterday…”

“Yes, she was. But things like these happen sometimes and it’s our responsibility to look after her.” She goes on. “Do you remember how you felt when you were sick? How mama took care of you until you got better?”

She nods. It felt awful, however, if it wasn’t for you diligently staying by her side and comforting her every step of her recovery, this memory would’ve been far different.

“It’s the same, just with her. She’s going to need your help to cheer her up!” Mariya adds. “Mama doesn’t like not being able to play with you, you know? All she wants to do is be with you, but for now, she can’t.”

“…How long will she feel sick?” Naomi ponders innocently, growing worried about your wellbeing.

“Just for a few days, but after that, she’ll be good as new.” Mariya gently shuffles the top of her head. “Now, how about you keep her company? Nothing will make her feel better than you being there.”

Naomi quietly agrees, walking into your room just after Mariya leaves, where she sees you a bit more energetic than before, but still curled up underneath the blankets.

   She stands by the door for a few seconds, debating whether to approach you or stay behind, whatever might be better for your recovery. Until you gesturing to her to come close helps her decide.

“Oh, dumpling, there’s nothing to worry about—I’m fine.” You coo, patting at the spot beside you, curling your arm around Naomi once she cuddles against you.

“You don’t look fine, mama…” she murmurs. “Why are you sick?”

“It’s something that happens to all women once a month. It’ll happen to you too—” Naomi scowls at the thought of being sick, quickly making you regret your choice of words. “When you’re much, much older.”

Perhaps blaming your illness on eating too much mochi would’ve led to a better response.

“If it happens! I was just unlucky.” You attempt to console her, and in favor of your attention and warmth, she concedes. “How about we watch some TV? We can spend all day in bed, it’s been so long since we’ve done that, hasn’t it?”

She nods, accommodating herself further into your chest until she’s comfortable. Then, Naomi lets out a sigh and you smile.

“What shall we watch?”

Naomi dutifully remains in your company for most of the day. And when she isn’t, it is either to tend to your needs, or when you’re forced to rush to the bathroom. You try to keep this aspect of your period as distant as possible from your daughter in hopes to not scare her, but you know your poor baby could only be nothing but worried about you.

And oh, does she do so so much. In fact, she grows quite protective, to the point she doesn’t let even your own staff come to your aid! Naomi would be quick to intercept them in the hallway, tussle for the trays on their hands filled with food and drinks. And whenever they asked her why, she’d only respond:

“Mama says food tastes better when I give it to her!”

“Well, can’t argue against that.” Hitomi says with a smile, relenting your care to your adorable daughter.

Naomi doesn’t even let papa disturb your rest when he eventually calls you as he routinely does to check in on his family. You didn’t even notice when she’d gotten your phone before she was already answering his call.

“My lo—oh, hello dumpling. Where is mama?”

“She’s sick, she can’t take calls.” Your little secretary firmly relays, making you giggle.

“Oh, is that so?” Naoya smirks upon hearing your laughter, rightfully assuming it isn’t anything serious—but still, he worries. After all, you never miss a call from him “May I leave a message, then?”

Naomi looks at you for permission, you give it so by smiling and nodding.

“Ok, but it better be quick! Mama needs to rest.” she warns, handing you the phone. Naomi would attempt to listen in closely to your conversation, make sure that papa didn’t say anything upsetting to you, but all she could end up hearing were whispers, secrets that she would not know of until much later.

“—besides mochi, of course.” Naomi believes her papa to say, making her ears perk with interest. You lean away, laughing.

“Chocolate. Lots of it.” You whisper. “And something nice for Naomi too.”

“What did you say mama??”

“Nothing!” You smile, bidding your farewells to your husband before handing your phone back to your adorable secretary. “Shall we cuddle again?”

Naomi grins, swiftly jumping beneath the sheets and taking her rightful place by your side before falling asleep yet again.

She’d only wake up hours later by the sound of the shoji door sliding open, eyes drowsily blinking open to discern the figure of her father standing by the frame.

Naoya isn’t aware that his daughter is awake as he quietly makes his way inside, putting aside the bags of gifts he’s brought back from his mission before walking over to you and leaning down to your level. It only takes a few seconds after that for her to see you stretch out your arms to him and pull him into a tight hug that barely denotes how much you’ve truly missed him.

“How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?” he whispers, low enough for you to hear, but not to wake up his daughter, or so he thinks. “I thought this was… gone.”

“Yeah… a bit…” you whine. “And I thought so too but… it’s back.”

Your husband gives you an empathetic smile as he melts into your embrace. His warmth easing your pain, the one in your body caused by these awful cramps, and the one in your heart by his absence.

The days where he is gone have become a bit more tolerable thanks to Naomi, who manages to fill that void with her silly antics and adorable smile, but naturally, you’d only be happy when finally having them within your grasp.

“And Naomi? Did our little dumpling stay by your side all this time?”

You smile.

“Yes. She wouldn’t let anyone near me; she really is just like you.” You say. “Anything she does… reminds me of you.”

“I wouldn’t expect otherwise from my daughter.” He responds. “Though whenever I see her, I can only see you.”

Naoya doesn’t waste time to hug you tightly. He doesn’t need to wait for your sniffles to fill his ears, possibly caused by your period as it often can, or by simply being overjoyed to have him back another day, to know he needs to hold you close and never let go.

Just the same way he does to Naomi when he eventually notices her stirs closer to her parents; having closely listened to all the two have shared but unable to understand what they meant outside of worry. Fear that she might not have a good job tending to her mama if she was now crying.

But all she needed to see was him smiling back at her, ruffling the top of her head as he pulled her into his arms as well, accommodating the two most important people in his entire world within his arms— right where home is—for her worries to fade away.

“You did a good job taking care of mama.” Naoya says. “I feel safe knowing I have you back home to rely on.”

“I’ll do my best, papa. I won’t disappoint you!” Naomi promises.

“I know. And for that, I think you deserve to get that kitten you’ve been asking for.”

“Really?! The white one?!” Naomi beams, unable to contain her excitement she almost stands up and jumps across the bedroom; but stops when papa asks her to be quiet for her sleeping mama.

“Yes; I think it’s only right for my dumpling.”

Because just like her mama, there is nothing Naoya wouldn’t do for her daughter—all she needed to do was ask for it.

The first thing that you notice, beyond a ceiling it took you a few minutes to finally recognize, was the warm presence clinging to you. Tightly wrapped around your body, it’s hold keeps you anchored in place, unable to do nothing else but stay.

However, different from previous instances, you now have the desire to bask within it instead of pulling away; nuzzling your face closer into the chest of your husband as he instinctively holds you even tighter. Keeping still, until you could no longer hold back the urge to see him.

Taking a deep sigh, you eventually open your eyes to look up to Naoya. Hoping to catch him drowsily enjoying your company, but it’s only for a moment you get to do so before you catch him looking back to you, admiring you with the sweetest smile on his face that only made your heart flutter yet again.

“Good morning.” You eventually say, feeling the need to fill the silence between the two—before you turn into a stuttering, blushing mess, that is.

“Good morning.” He answers, barely able to contain his amusement when his lips part into a smirk. Right then and there, you’re able to rightfully assume he’s been dying to have you like this: in his arms, close… to never let go.

To be able to wake up with his wife by his side is a blessing in itself, even something simple as bidding you good morning was enough to start his day the right way.

If the look on his face wasn’t obvious enough, the way his poor heart quickens beneath your touch prompts you a desire to hug and squeeze him, spoil him until you can’t no more, to stay like this forever too.

Void of any shame, you lean upwards to kiss him. Naoya moves forward, returning your gesture rather quick, but sweetly, before leaning back again for another kiss.

“Did you sleep well?” you ask, brushing aside some of the hair on his forehead before  traveling down to his cheek, or gently caressing his piercings.

“Wonderfully.” Naoya admits immediately, with a tone that implies he was boasting. He might do so to poor Ranta after managing to escape the claws of his needy wife—that is, if your husband ever finds the will for it. “And you?”

“Wonderfully too.” You giggle before yawning and returning to your spot over his chest. There wasn’t much sleeping being done throughout the night if you were being honest, with the only exceptions being those when the two were simply too tired to continue.

Nonetheless, rest would come later on. For now, the two clearly had much to catch up to.

“But I’m still quite exhausted.” You yawn, a light shiver crossing your spine when feeling his fingers trace invisible lines on your back. The difference between your body then and now makes him smile in relief, enjoying for the first time (of many to come, he hopes) what it felt to have you wholeheartedly relax with him.

“Luckily, I’m the heir, and such, we can do whatever we want.”

“Like staying in bed all day?”

“And the day after, if you wish. And the day after that too.”

You giggle.

“That’s too much, Naoya. A day should be more than enough.” You offer instead, too many duties to keep away from to even consider such wonderful thing. A response that causes Naoya to scoff, for within his possibilities there truly wasn’t anything else he would love more than to keep you all for himself.

Yet, he knows you wouldn’t enjoy being afar from your darlings Mai and Maki for too long, even from their mother whom you have found yourself very fond of. Though perhaps he should worry most about your staff who he has no qualms imagining them gossiping right now, quick to pounce on you to reveal everything that happened between the two.

He lets out a breathy chuckle.

“What’s funny?” You ask.

“Nothing.” Your husband adds, before tightening his hold on you. A warm and sweet gesture that while joyful, still made something within you grow worried instead.

“Is everything alright…?”

“Yeah, I… I just don’t want this moment to end.” He confesses, unknowingly tugging at your heartstrings and prompting you to find a suitable solution for his pains.

“We—Well, it… doesn’t have to, you know? Maybe I can just… sleep here… again.”

“What?”

Naoya had to make sure he heard you right. He didn’t want his eagerness to be for nothing, but your blush was nothing but telling. Still, he wanted to hear it again from your lovely voice.

“If you don’t mind my cold feet, that is…” you shyly add. “Or that I might hoard all the blankets…”

“I don’t mind! I don’t mind at all!” he yelps. “We can always get more blankets, or—or socks too!”

“I don’t normally like sleeping with socks…”

“Then we won’t get any at all! And maybe we—we can have breakfast in bed every day too, if you’d like. Would you like that?”

“Sometimes, I like seeing the garden.”

“Yes, right. Of course. It must be boring to see the same 4 walls every day, right? I suppose I should be worrying about something more important: your clothes—we’ll have to move them to my closet, don’t we? I’ll have someone take care of that so you don’t have to worry about it. And the futon? Is this one comfortable? Or would you—.”

“Naoya! You don’t have to worry about everything at the same time!” you breathe, this was precisely the last thing you wanted to burden him with; though you won’t deny seeing him fret about your wellbeing wasn’t a bit cute.

“Yes, I do. I can even change the wallpaper—.”

“Naoya!” you repeat, now taking a hold of his face and forcing him to see you. This manages to quiet the gears in his head for a moment, yet you could see his thoughts scrambling behind his eyes, or the way his lips twitch with the urge of saying something else…

You ease all of his worries by smiling yet again and leaning forward to take his lips into another kiss. Naoya is slightly tense when accepting your gesture, but it doesn’t take longer than a few seconds for him to completely melt into you.

 “…I’m happy with this, for now.” You eventually say, looking at his lips before looking up to him yet again.

“Are you sure?” your husband asks, feeling his hands travel down to your waist in such careful yet precise movement, it quickly irks that dormant desire that hasn’t completely disappeared even after yesterday’s activities.

And judging by the fire in his eyes, it seems he too remained somewhat unsatisfied.

“No.”

He gives you a knowing smirk before placing his hand behind your head and pulling you once again into another long evening.

naoya could really just stay behind and let you dry him completely lol but he always has that damned ego to stroke.