“All Mikazuki saw was Yagen hold something pink and flush before him just beyond the blanket so he could see. It was squealing with a gaping mouth and squirming with its eyes closed, holding its fists tight. Then Yagen reached over the fabric barricade and placed it delicately on his bare chest.

Mikazuki looked down at the little thing that curled into his softened skin as it continued to cry. Without even thinking, he took his shaky hand and caressed the little, innocent thing slowly, touching its downy blue hair.

This… this was their baby. Those tiny feet: that was what kept kicking him. Its little breathing, and those hiccups that made his stomach house butterflies. This was what was there this whole time. For thirty-six weeks this is who he was caring for.

‘Kogi…’ He took a full and deep breath. ‘It’s a boy, Kogi.’

Mikazuki knew he was having a baby, but… For some reason he did not expect it to be so precious . So real . He knew one day he was going to hold his baby, but now that it was actually happening he could not believe it, and he knew Kogitsunemaru felt the same.

‘You did it, Mikazuki,’ Kogitsunemaru said with a warm tremor in his voice. ‘By the Gods you did it.’ He felt the fox’s lips press the top of his head, followed by a barely audible whisper of love.”