My partner suggested to post a chunk of chapter 29 for Wedding Plans, so here you go. I've been adding more to it in the last week. It's mostly domestic fluff to be honest.
“Babe,” Kannon said, pulling on Obanai’s pant leg. Obanai glanced down as the little boy raised his arms indicating he wanted up. He lifted the boy, so he could scan the crowd. They were celebrating the birth of the second born Uzui, Haruma. He was the exact opposite of Kannon with his stark white hair and yellow-brown eyes. Makio was holding him in the center of the Uzui’s living room with Tengen’s hand over her waist.
“Do you think he’ll ever grow out of calling you that?” Sanemi asked, gesturing to Kannon with his glass.
“Not with Tengen telling him to do it. Suma too,” Obanai shrugged. “It’s fine, I’ll teach him how to pick locks. Then he can be a menace for Tengen.” Sanemi shook his head before taking a drink of his soda.
“Just don’t teach my kids,” Sanemi said. Obanai glanced over at Kanae standing beside Mitsuri, Gyomei, Suma, and Kyojuro. Two weeks ago Kanae and Sanemi announced she was due to have twin boys in February. Mitsuri was already preparing for her friend’s baby shower. The theme was going to be ‘Beetles in the Garden’.
“Isn’t that your job?” Obanai countered. “Oh right, I should teach them how to read a map.” Obanai smirked. Sanemi narrowed his gaze. His sense of direction would always be a sore spot.
“Whatever,” Sanemi scoffed and glanced at his wife. “I’m going to see if Kanae is ready to go.” He slipped past the dark haired man.
Kannon slapped Obanai’s forearms and pointed at the center of the room. Mitsuri held Haruma, one hand cradling his neck carefully as she made faces. Obanai smiled as her expressions shifted between crossing her eyes, puffing out her cheeks, and scrunching up her nose.
His breath stalled. This came naturally to her. Adoring and caring for a baby. Her green eyes sparkled when the baby gave her a gummy smile. Obanai recalled the last time he felt this emotion was when he imagined her walking with a black haired toddler with the same light green eyes. Their hands intertwined as the toddler learned how to walk on wobbly legs. A glimpse into their shared future.
It would only be a matter of time before he saw her holding their own child.
“Happy Birthday, Oba,” Mitsuri said, running her hand through her husband’s dark hair to wake him up. He turned his head towards the sound of her voice and opened his eyes. Teal and gold met hers and she could see the corners crinkle ever so slightly. His hand trailed up to hers and brought it down to his face.
“Thanks,” Obanai rasped against her palm before kissing it. Tingles ran up her arm at the sensation. Would she ever get used to this? These mornings seemed seemingly simple, but brought greater joy than she had ever known. She had already been up for an hour preparing food.
“I made you breakfast- Well, sort of, it’s more like a selection of your favorite foods,” Mitsuri said and pointed to the wooden tray sitting on his night stand. The scent of pickled vegetables, onigiri, Sunomono with Tororo Kombu, and jasmine tea filled the room. Obanai let go of her hand and sat up against the headboard. “Which one do you want first?” Mitsuri asked.
“The tea,” Obanai answered. She handed him the steaming black cat mug. He closed his eyes and took a sip.
“I know you said you wanted to spend the day at home with me and then see our friends in the evening, but I was hoping we could make a trip to the grocery store. I ran out of eggs and I wanted to make matcha cookies,” Mitsuri said.
“Sure,” he agreed. “Let’s eat and then we can go.” Mitsuri took his mug and set the breakfast tray between them. Obanai ate a few bites of each dish as Mitsuri grabbed a bowl of rice and salmon for herself. She sat cross legged on the bed and started discussing how her students were working on a project to explain the rain cycle. He watched her intently.
“I was thinking we could make it into a play. One student could be the sun, a few raindrops, clouds, wind, and ocean. I think it’d be more fun than just having them draw it or doing a speech.” Mitsuri used her chopsticks to pinch off a shiver of salmon. “They actually say kids learn better and remember things better if there’s a story attached to the material. Maybe the sun could narrate a story. Maybe there could be a lost raindrop looking for his family?” She pondered. “What do you think?”
“I think we should have a family,” Obanai said. Mitsuri dropped her chop sticks and her heart pounded out of her chest.
“The way you talk about your students or when I see you holding our friends’ babies or kids- I keep imagining how you would be with ours and I don’t want it to stay just a dream or in my imagination,” he continued. “Maybe it’s because I’m turning 30 today, but I want to see holding a baby- our baby.”
They had discussed children before when Mitsuri admitted her dream was to get married and have children. He told her he wanted a future with her and part of it was raising a family together. Months before the wedding, she asked when he would want children. He responded he wasn’t ready yet, but would tell her when he was. Did that mean he was ready?
“Do you mean it? You want to have a baby with me?” Mitsuri asked breathlessly.
“Yes and I would not have a baby with anyone, but you,” Obanai responded. Mitsuri pushed aside the breakfast tray and her bowl of salmon and rice before kissing her husband. He caressed her face as they kissed, forgetting all about going to the grocery store.
She stared at the test with wide eyes.
Mitsuri took the test on a whim. She’d been sure her anxiety was getting the best of her. She’d been more emotional than usual and her breasts were tender, but nothing uncommon. Not when her period was about to start.
The word stared at her and her hand rested over her lower abdomen. This was what she wanted. This was part of their dream. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes. It was happening.
She wanted to call Obanai but he would be on the train by now, traveling back from Hiroshima to check on Nichirin’s second location. She didn’t want to tell him over the phone either. She had to tell him in person. He would be home in a matter of hours. Her whole body shook and she had to rub the tears away. A small plan formulated in her mind. She would make him French toast when he got back. It was the first meal they shared together and what better way was there to tell him about their first baby.
Our baby. Sushi chirped before she opened her arms and hugged him. She held him tighter than she should as she cried.
She imagined what they would look like. Black hair, slanted green eyes. Pink hair with Obanai’s heterochromia. Any combination of their features. Sometimes the baby would have beauty marks like herself, other times nothing. Obanai’s sharp nose and her heart shaped face. The possibilities were endless. They would be perfect because they were her and Obanai’s.
Obanai still had anxiety surrounding the idea of becoming a father. All of them were valid. She understood where he was coming from. Until he was twelve years old, he didn’t have a father. Only a narcissistic mother who abused him. She was his only role model for parenting during his early childhood. Shinjuro showed him what a parent should be like, though he worried he would lash out at their child like his mother had. It wouldn’t happen. Obanai would never hurt their baby. He loved her and would love their child. More tears fell.
It won’t just be us anymore.
Mitsuri kissed the top of Sushi’s head. Her mind drifted to their past life. She recalled the soba shop with the three kids. She played with them while Obanai watched them fondly. The crinkle at the corner of his eyes indicated a smile. She smiled back, her heart glowing. She hoped if they’d lived past the battle they would marry and have children. It didn’t happen then, but it was happening now.
Obanai pulled up to the driveway in his white Jeep. He was running on three hours of sleep and felt himself dragging. The lights were off inside the house. Mitsuri must have gone to bed already. She’d been tired more often since the fall term ended. It must have been the stress from work.
He stepped out of his Jeep and pulled his duffel bag out of the backseat before unlocking the front door. He set the bag gently on the floor and locked the front door behind him. He tried to be quiet.
Obanai took off his shoes. Sushi played with a toy, spinning it around and around in the entryway. What the hell did you get? His eyes narrowed before they found a white plastic stick on the ground with a cap. He kneeled down and picked it up, now getting a better look at the object. He froze as realization dawned on what it was he was holding. A pregnancy test.
The exhausted man sat down on the ground stunned. They bought some tests months ago, when Mitsuri had her implant taken out. The doctor said it could take months for her cycle to regulate and not to be discouraged if they didn’t conceive right away. Mitsuri was reassured as she did not want to build her hopes up only to have them come crashing down. He looked down and saw one word: Pregnant.
He held his chest feeling his heart hammering. Excitement filled him. She was pregnant. His wife was pregnant. Mitsuri was pregnant. She was going to be a mother. It was her dream to be a mother and it was finally going to happen. They were going to have a baby. He was going to be a father.
At the same time, unease settled in his chest. For years he denied the possibility of having a child thinking his family and himself were stained and evil. Closer to demons than humans. It wasn’t true though. Obanai’s family might be inclined towards mental health issues, but his issues were complicated by his upbringing. His children would never endure what he had. The children would be loved and cherished by him, Mitsuri, the Rengokus, the Kanrojis, and their friends. No one would ever harm them. If anyone tried, he would destroy them. His fist tightened around the test.
Where was she? She wouldn’t just let Sushi play with this. The eccentric cat must have stolen it. He walked briskly to their bedroom with the test. Her form was not sleeping diagonally in bed as she was like to do when he was gone. He turned back to the living room and saw her sleeping on her side. A blanket covered her. Obanai made his way over to the couch and crouched down. He brushed her green bangs to the side and kissed her forehead.
“Mitsuri,” he said softly. Her mouth twisted, upset at being woken up. Her legs stretched out and she nuzzled her head into the pillow.
“Let me sleep,” she murmured. He kissed her forehead again and she opened one eye at a time. His wife looked at him before widening briefly and her eyes going to the Kleenex lying flat on the coffee table.
“Did you see anything there?” She pointed to the spot and bit her lower lip.
“No, but I found Sushi playing with this.” He showed her the test. Recognition spread over her features as her face reddened.
“I didn’t think it was going to be positive otherwise I would have waited for you. You know I’ve been especially tired and sensitive lately and apparently that’s one of the earlier signs, but it also could mean an influx of hormones. I took it just to prove I was being paranoid and then it was positive. I meant to stay up until you got home. I was going to make French toast since it was our first meal together and tell you while we ate,” she said shyly as she sat up. “Surprise,” she waved her hands like jazz hands. He reached behind him to set the test down on the kleenex.
“Why are you so cute?” He asked. He put his hands on her hips. “How are you feeling?” His voice lowered. He kneaded her right hip.
“I’m thrilled. When I saw it, I cried for an hour straight and held Sushi. He hates me now, but what’s new? I should have called, though it didn’t seem right to tell you over the phone. Not with this at least,” Mitsuri said, meeting his gaze. “I decided to watch tv, but I fell asleep. How do you feel?” She played with the edges of the blanket, her fingers wrapping around the tassels.
“Excited and terrified.” He leaned forward. “You’re here with me though. It makes this easier,” he moved his hand under her shirt to feel the skin over her lower abdomen. Her breathing paused as his finger tips grazed her skin. She covered his hand with hers.
“I never thought I deserved any of this. Your love, our marriage, and now this. We deserve to be happy after everything.” He looked up at her. Her eyes were threatening to leak. He kissed her, his lips brushing hers lightly. His hands moved up to cradle her face. “Thank you for simply being you.” That broke her. He pulled her into him as her shoulders shook. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in her signature cherry blossom-vanilla perfume.
“You make me so happy, Obanai,” she wept, her arms wrapped around him.
A few days after they found out Mitsuri’s OB/GYN was able to squeeze her into the schedule. During the ultrasound, Mitsuri nearly broke his hand when they heard a heart beat. She balled her eyes out. He kissed the crown of her head and stared at the monitor. His heart lurched when the tech pointed out the pea sized shape that was their baby. This time he tightened his grip around his wife’s hand.
On the drive back, Mitsuri couldn’t stop talking and looking at the ultrasound. Her eyes were red and puffy.
“I need to call my family. They’re going to be so excited. Suki will have her first cousin,” said Mitsuri. “Do you think we can go over to your dad’s place now or tonight? I want him to see his first grand baby.” She was nearly bouncing in her seat. He tapped his left foot against the floorboard in thought.
Obanai wanted to share in her excitement, but he was thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong. Miscarriage, illness, cancer, accidents, deformities, and the list continued on and on. A new type of anxiety he didn’t have experience handling.
“We can drop by.” Obanai changed directions to Shinjuro’s house. His father’s car was in the driveway. They parked behind the SUV. He took in a deep breath, shutting his eyes to collect himself. Mitsuri’s hand found his as she reached across the console.
“I want to share this with everyone,” she said, kissing his hand. “This is all I ever wanted, Oba. You, me, and our baby. In our other life, sometimes I would think about a baby with your sweet eyes,” she admitted. He turned to look at her.
“Do you remember the soba shop we went to from before?” He asked and she nodded. “The owner thought we were married and said you’d make a good mother. Back then I told him we were only friends, but I couldn’t shake the image of a baby with your eyes,” he admitted. “I wish I could go back and tell you-“
“Hey, we’re here now, Oba,” Mitsuri looked intensely into his dual toned eyes. Her gaze drew him in, grounding him in the present. “We can’t change what happened. I’m okay with that and I’m excited to be here with you and our little one. Now, can we please go tell your dad?”
“Alright. Let’s go.” He gave her a small smile and turned off the car. Mitsuri flew out the passenger door and up to the house’s front door. He followed after her before knocking. A few seconds later Shinjuro waved them in.
“Good to see you. What’s the occasion?” His father asked. Before Obanai could formulate a response, Mitsuri pulled out the ultrasound pictures and practically shoved them into Shinjuro’s face.
“We’re pregnant!” Mitsuri announced as her whole face lit up. She couldn’t be any prettier if she tried. Shinjuro took the pictures and ran a thumb over the arrow that pointed to their baby. Right now it looked like a bean.
“Congratulations,” his father said, looking between Obanai and Mitsuri. “How far along are you?” Obanai let Mitsuri take the reins of this conversation. Her giddiness was palpable.
“Based on the size and development, eight weeks this Friday. Which would make their due date approximately… late July, early August. It’d be serendipitous if they were born the day we met, wouldn’t it?” Mitsuri looked back at her husband. There were two days they met. In the first life it was April 17 and this one was August 5. He remembered them perfectly. Both times she’d been lost and both times he fell in love.
“Hold on, Senjuro is upstairs studying for his exams,” Shinjuro said. “He needs a break. He’s going to run himself ragged even with the study guides Mimi gave him.” Obanai nodded in agreement. Mimi, his half sister, and Mitsuri became fast friends after they were introduced. She worked as a nurse at Hiroshima City Hospital for the past three years and gave Senjuro all of her study materials in preparation for the exam. His half sister integrated herself into the Rengoku family with ease.
Mitsuri was already racing up the stairs, taking two at a time. Nearly tripping in her pursuit. “Be careful!” Obanai called after her. When she reached the top, she shot him a reassuring smile.
“You haven’t said much,” Shinjuro said in a lower tone.
“We found out a few days ago. I’m still processing it,” Obanai admitted, leaning against the wall.
“When Ruka told me I couldn’t believe it,” Shinjuro said as he stood opposite of his son. Obanai glanced towards the stairs and he heard Mitsuri’s voice, her words muffled by the walls.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this excited except for our wedding,” Obanai said. “It hasn’t hit me yet even after the ultrasound.” He pulled out his copy of the scan and stared. It was weird to know the bundle of cells would develop into their baby. They would have dark hair and with any luck Mitsuri’s green eyes. Shinjuro studied him.
“It didn’t hit me until I had Kyo in my arms,” Shinjuro said. “Suddenly, I had this other person dependent on me and Ruka. When he cried for the first time I couldn’t figure out how to soothe him. I tried everything. Feeding, changing, and rocking him. Nothing seemed to work until I decided to sing. He looked stunned. I realized it was his first time ever hearing someone sing.” His father grinned at the memory of his first born.
Before Obanai could respond, Senjuro was running down the stairs with Mitsuri following. His youngest brother had bags under his eyes. No doubt a mark of his late night studying sessions.
“I’m going to be an uncle!” Senjuro smiled so wide he showed his crooked teeth. He hugged his oldest brother so tight Obanai had to tap his shoulder to get him to release. “Kyojuro is going to be so excited for you.” Mitsuri and Obanai stayed for half an hour before Senjuro politely pointed out he needed to go back to studying.
“My receptionist was not clear about why you were visiting ahead of your bimonthly visit. Did you have a setback?” Dr. Ubuyashiki asked apprehensively, seated in his chair. His light eyes focused on the man sitting on the couch. Obanai turned his body towards Dr. Ubuyashiki.
“No, nothing like that,” Obanai said, shaking his head. “It’s something or I guess someone new…Mitsuri is pregnant.” The counselor smiled widely, but said nothing. He always allowed Obanai time to speak instead of jumping to conclusions.
“She’s over the moon about it. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy, but,” he said, tapping his fingers to his thumb. “There’s so much that could go wrong. I was looking up the miscarriage rate before the first trimester ends and it’s not good. If she miscarries or the baby somehow gets harmed, I can’t do anything.”
The words spilled out of his mouth. He told Mitsuri most of his fears, but he didn’t want to burden her with these. He didn’t want them to affect her, hell his stress could turn into her stress and hurt the baby somehow. Everything linked back to his mental health being the root of their issues.
“I can’t protect her. Not from this. If her body rejected the baby because of a defect, would it be my fault? Would it prove my blood is tainted and shouldn’t continue? ” His hands shook and he bowed his head. They were circular thoughts, swimming in his mind, unbidden. Nonsensical, but all too real to him.
“Sorry, no, I know that’s not possible, it’s just-” Obanai paused. “It would ruin her dream if we lost them.”
“It’s understandable you’d be worried. Becoming a parent can be daunting for any person,” the therapist said calmly. “You don’t know what to expect. Every pregnancy is different and every parent experiences stress on some level. As you already know, it’s natural to have stress and it helps you to grow, but it’s when it overwhelms you it becomes an issue. What have you done in the past to help manage it?”
“Rationalize what is happening and set realistic expectations,” Obanai replied. The therapist tilted his head as a way to encourage his client to continue speaking. “Grounding, writing out my feelings, or relying on my family and friends,” he added.
“You have all the tools necessary, Obanai. You have a supportive family and friends. Some of which might have experienced similar emotions to yourself. Reach out and they’ll reach back, you need only ask,” the dark haired man explained.
“Besides, you are not alone in this. Mitsuri may be having similar emotions. As I’ve said before you don’t know how someone else is feeling unless you ask. She’s your partner. You married to support and love each other in all aspects of life.” Dr. Ubuyashiki gave him an encouraging smile.
“You two have always made a good team and know how to support each other,” he continued. His light eyes drifted to the frost covered window. “This is another step towards your dreams. Though daunting, it will be worth it.”
Obanai took a breath before agreeing. It would definitely be worth it.
“I’m scared too,” Mitsuri admitted quietly, holding Obanai’s hand. They were sitting in the kitchen after dinner. She made root vegetable curry and rice. “I’m scared about what could happen if I slipped on the ice while walking to school or eating the wrong thing,” she said, pointing at her empty bowls. “I washed the vegetables three times to make sure they were cleaned thoroughly and avoided adding any extra salt or spices that could be harmful.”
“Then what if something goes wrong during the birth? Like if the cord gets caught around their neck or they aren’t breathing,” Mitsuri said. She bit her lip and forced herself to slow down. “There’s a lot that could go wrong, but what if it goes right?” She glanced up, smiling hopefully. Her eyes gleamed.
“We’ll have a baby who will know unconditional love,” Mitsuri said. “We’ll be able to raise them and see the world through their eyes. We’ll be able to give them a good childhood surrounded by our friends and family. You can teach them how to cook and I can teach them how to bake.”
“Our kid won’t be learning how to bake based on vibes,” Obanai said. Mitsuri laughed, shaking her head.
“I’ve never heard you complain about my baking before,” Mitsuri teased. She squeezed his hand. Obanai’s nose wrinkled. She knew he hated the lack of routine and order when she baked, but it was the way she was taught by her parents.
“No, but we have to teach them how to measure ingredients before you teach them your methodology,” he emphasized the last word.
“It’s a tradition, actually,” she said, sticking out her tongue playfully. “My parents taught me that way just like their parents taught them and so on. Would you really want to break this tradition?” “I doubt that.” The dark haired man shook his head, but she saw the corners of his lips pull up. She brushed her thumb over the back of his hand.
“What I’m saying is we get to choose how to teach them. We get to choose how to raise our baby and that is exciting. Even though I’m scared, I am excited for what could be, aren’t you? Mitsuri asked.
“Yes,” Obanai agreed. “I’m excited to see how you teach them how to use emojis too.”
“Do you think this is too much?” Mitsuri asked, looking between Kaburamaru and Sushi. Currently, Kaburamaru wore a baby cap with pointy cat ears while Sushi attempted to back out of the teal onesie without success. A miniature easel sat between the two animals with a watercolor painting of the sun and the words, ‘Baby Rengoku coming August 2026’. The ultrasound picture rested beneath it.
“No, but putting cat ears on the ultrasound might be,” Obanai said. Mitsuri opened her mouth. Was that even an option? Why hadn’t she thought of it? Obanai’s eyes widened briefly and shook his head. He regretted even suggesting it. “No, don’t even think about it.”
“But it’d be so cute,” Mitsuri said, reaching for the picture. Obanai stopped her hand.
“You can put cat ears on them once they’re here, but not before,” he tried to appease his wife. Her mouth twisted. Perhaps it would be too much to draw on cat ears.
“Alright, I’ll wait,” she said and took a step back as she pulled out her phone. She snapped a few pictures before Sushi successfully escaped the torturous onesie and fled to the kitchen. Obanai picked up Kaburamaru and the snake slid over his shoulders. The couple picked their favorite and sent it to the group chat. In a separate message to Gyomei, Mitsuri wrote she was pregnant and due in August. She was not sure if his text reading app could explain what was in the picture.
Group Message: Uzui Tengen, Uzui Makio, Uzui Suma, Uzui Hinatsuru, Shinazugawa Sanemi, Kocho Kanae, Kocho Shinobu, Rengoku Kyojuro, Himejima Gyomei, Rengoku Mitsuri, Rengoku Obanai, and Tomioka Giyuu.
Mitsuri: So, we have some news… -insert picture-
Hinatsuru: This is so exciting! If you need anything, let us know! We have more than enough to spare
Kanae: Awwww! Yes, I knew something was up!
Kanae: My intuition ☺️Sanemi says congratulations too. He’s setting up the cribs right now.
Gyomei: I’ll find you a omamori when I go to the temple today 🙂
Kyojuro: I’ve been dying to say something
Tengen: Is that why you haven’t been talking to me?
Kyojuro: Obi said he’d disown me if I told anyone. Please forgive me 🥺
Tengen: I could never be mad at you 😘
Suma: A BABY!?!?! OMG CONGRATZ! 🥳🤩👏
Mitsuri: Thank you! We’re super excited!
Shinobu: You’re going to make the best mom
Of course, Giyuu would send only an emoji. Obanai sighed. According to Shinobu, she and Giyuu would be moving back to Japan next year when her residency ended in Boston. Then the Hashiras would be united, well, most of them. Tokito was tangential to the group as he volunteered at the community center with Gyomei. Mitsuri volunteered periodically and informed him that Tokito graduated and was attempting to find a job close to home. Everyone was moving forward in life. Obanai kissed the crown of Mitsuri’s head, breathing in the scent of vanilla-sakura. Even them.
Dr. Ubuyashiki suggested talking to the baby leading up to the birth. It was an odd concept. Mitsuri's stomach was still flat, but the ultrasounds showed a heart beat. The doctor said their baby was developing normally.
There still so much that could go wrong. Spontaneous miscarriages happened. Most of them occurred in the first trimester and they just passed it. The baby could have his terrible vision. As a child he had severe gastrointestinal issues, though that could have been related to the stress and fatty, rich food his mother forced upon him.
Mitsuri’s family had a history of heart conditions that developed later in life. She never told him until the nurse asked about family history. He called Akira to get his family’s medical history. Apparently they had issues with kidney disease, anxiety, depression, asthma, and lymphoma. All of those could be managed and medical discoveries were being made everyday.
“So what do you want to tell them?” Mitsuri asked, looking up at him. They were still in bed. Obanai was sitting up with his back against the headboard. Mitsuri’s head laid on his lap.
“I’m not sure,” he said. His hand trailed down to her stomach. She wore a loose thin night shirt along with shorts covered in cats.
“What would you want to hear?” She asked. His wife pulled up the hem to expose her belly. His fingers trailed over the skin before resting on her waist line.
“They can’t hear yet,” Obanai said logically. This exercise was for his own anxiety around becoming a father. When he was a child what did he want his father to tell him? At times, he wondered how his life could have been different if Akira decided to stay. He wanted someone to protect him.
“What about giving them a nickname?” Mitsuri suggested. “Little bean, moon pie, honey, baby-“ he stiffened at the last one. Mitsuri winced. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” she said, rubbing his arm.
“It’s fine,” he sighed. “It’s a good idea, but nothing conventional. My mother used too many of them.” She nodded and stuck out the tip of her tongue in thought. Obanai watched her face and her eyes seemed to light up.
“You call me the sun, right? What if you called them sunlight, little ray-“ Mitsuri covered her mouth and let out a squeal. “Sunny!” Her excitement comforted him. His wife leaned her head back in his lap.
“Sunny,” he tested the nickname as he stroked her stomach. It was still smooth and relatively flat. No one would guess she was pregnant. Perhaps it would be easier to talk to them when Mitsuri started to show.
“I don’t know what to say,” he started, glancing around their bedroom. One hand rested over her stomach. His other hand started tapping the sheets. “You can’t hear me now, but I want you to have what I didn’t. Security, affection, warmth, friends, safe dreams-Fucking Hell, just a dream.”
“Language!” Mitsuri raised one hand up in mock horror before breaking into a smile. His hand moved from her stomach to her sides in order to tickle her. His wife giggled more and tried to push his hand away.
“Nope, not a chance,” he teased her as he continued tickling her sides. Mitsuri rolled to her side to escape and he snaked his other arm in front of her chest to bring her towards him.
“Oba! I’m pregnant now, you can’t be mean to me.” She rotated her head and stuck her tongue out in defiance. Obanai paused his attack and held her. He pressed his lips to the nape of her neck and laid his forehead on her shoulder.
“I hope our kid is as bratty as you are,” he murmured. “I want them to know they can be a kid. Be silly, be bratty, and be ornery. They can just be themselves and know their parents will love them no matter what.”
Mitsuri settled between his legs as he adjusted his arms around her torso. She crossed her arms over his. A new life rested underneath.
“They’ll know,” Mitsuri said reassuringly. “With any luck, they will be smart, gentle, and loving like you.”
“I wish we’d have the chance to be parents before,” Obanai said. There were times he still struggled with the knowledge of their past life. They could have married if he set aside his inherent belief he was corrupt and needed to be reborn to be with her.
“Me too,” his wife replied. “Before we would have had four years if the mark took us. I wouldn’t have wanted to leave our kids orphans.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Obanai said instinctively. “We’re going to raise them,” he vowed. “I’ll make sure you and Sunny are happy.”
“You already have. You always have and will, Oba,” Mitsuri said, turning her head. Her green eyes were misty. He placed his palm over her lower stomach.
“I can’t wait to see you with a baby bump,” Obanai murmured. She intertwined their fingers and hummed lightly.
The nausea was the worst of it. Mitsuri felt like she couldn’t stop vomiting or hold any food down. Her metabolism was already high to begin with and being sick after every meal was taking a toll on her health. She was lying on the bathroom floor with a cup of warm water and crackers beside her. She had to call in sick today.
Her hand went over her stomach. Supposedly the morning sickness should subside in the next month. Obanai was gone for the week assessing Nichrin’s staff in Hiroshima. If he were here he would rub her scalp and neck. She missed him more now than she had in the past. She grabbed a cracker and nibbled on it bitterly. It tasted like nothing. She reached for her phone and looked at the new message.
Obanai: One of the packages I ordered said it was delivered. Could you check the door?
Mitsuri rolled onto her hands and knees. She debated if she was going to crawl or walk. If she stood up too quickly she felt lightheaded. She crawled to the front door and pulled the lever down. There was a box resting on the door mat. A wave of nausea flooded her and she had to wait for it to subside before she pulled the box inside. It was addressed to her. She sat on the ground with her back against the wall. Beside her was a bag of clothes she meant to donate including her paint splatter olive green overalls, a few skirts, and tops. She didn’t have the heart to throw them away. Maybe Obanai could drop them off at the donation center.
Mitsuri: What did you get me?
Obanai: Open it and find out
Mitsuri used her nails to cut the tape and opened it. Inside there was a medium box from her favorite childhood restaurant. Inside there were twenty-four Sakura mochi. She felt the tears pouring and she wiped them away before taking a bite. The sweet, sugary notes brought back memories with her parents and siblings. She tried to eat them slowly, but ended up eating four of them in two minutes. There was a small amount of nausea, but not enough to vomit. She took her phone back out.
Mitsuri: I don’t deserve you. 🥹
Mitsuri: no! I said it first! 😋
She smiled and licked the powder off her lips. They’d come a long way since she first said it. Back when he was afraid to be with her. Now, they were married with a baby on the way. Her hand stroked her lower abdomen. There was a small curve. She had wanted this for so long. A family to call her own with Obanai. She imagined a black haired boy with his gold and teal eyes, but her heart shaped face and beauty marks. The image made her heart burst. She’d wanted to see what Obanai looked like as a kid, but there were no pictures prior to the incident.
Obanai: One of the hostesses said she could only eat comfort food when she had morning sickness.
Mitsuri: Can you thank her for me?
Mitsuri: we’re going to have to order more
Obanai: When I get back I’ll make you whatever you want.
Mitsuri: It might be something gross like saltwater taffy over fried rice. 🌊🍚
Obanai: Depends on the flavor of saltwater taffy.
Obanai: …Whatever you and our baby wants.
Mitsuri grabbed another mochi and snapped a picture of her sitting against the wall. She sent him the picture.
Mitsuri: We’ll be waiting for you.
