muse

k's lullaby

You never imagined life could be like this. Somedays it feels like you're holding the sun, its eternal warmth entering your soul and spreading happiness. 

"Yeah, I'm on my way," you say into the phone, "Almost there." Your heels click on the pavement as you stroll through the park.

"How did it go?" Mitsuya asks. 

"Great. Sold every piece and four went to museums," you smile and take a sip of your coffee. It's been three years since your debut at MoMA and you're now a renowned painter in the art community. The fact that so many people love your creations still amazes you. 

"Of course it did, you talented- hey don't touch that!" The sounds of commotion and laughter on the other end cause you to giggle. Sunlight dances through the leaves on the trees overhead. 

Your feet speed up slightly. "Don't worry, I'll be there soon. Just-" 

Your words are cut off by a force slamming into your side. Falling onto your backside, your phone clatters to the ground and your coffee spills all over the front of your blouse. "Son of a bitch," you groan. 

"Oh my fuck, I am so sorry. You just popped out from behind that tree last second and I..." the man standing in front of you continues to ramble his apologies, but you no longer hear them as you stare in a dazed confusion up at him. His streaked hair is messily pulled back, pieces falling around his face. His golden brown eyes dart all over the place except for at you as he nervously continues talking. 

When he realizes he isn't getting any response, he down at you once more and truly sees you this time. His rambling trails off, leaving both of you gazing in dumbfounded silence. 

"Kazutora," you say quietly. "Y/n," he gives a soft smile and holds out a hand to help you up. With wide eyes, you place your hand in his. They're more calloused than before, but somehow just as gentle. 

"I'm sorry about your shirt-" he says. 

"I didn't know you were out," you interrupt. "I thought you had ten years?"

He rubs the back of his neck. "Got out a few months ago after my case was appealed."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" You ask. Surely your friends would have let you in on that information. Especially since...

"No one knows," he admits, "I wanted to get my life together before reaching out." 

There's a different energy coming from him now. Calmer. Wiser. 

"I have somewhere to be, but would you like to walk with me? We could catch up," you offer. He smiles and nods. The two of you walk side by side through the park as he explains his situation. His good behavior and a review of his case got him out early. He didn't want to burden Chifuyu again, so he stayed at a homeless shelter and he was able to get a job. He saved up enough for his own apartment, goes to therapy, and volunteers at an animal shelter on the days he isn't working. 

"What about you? How have you been?" 

You give him brief details about your career and his old friends. Your art has taken off. Mitsuya owns his own fashion line and is featured in quite a bit of fashion shows. Chifuyu still owns that pet shop. Hakkai was on the front cover of Vogue last month and Yuzuha now owns a modellig agency. Takemitchy and Hina have their third baby on the way. You watch him from the corner of your eyes as you ask, "Did you... did you ever get my letter?"

He stuffs his hands in his pockets and tilts his head. "Your letter?" He asks innocently. 

Your pace slows down as you get closer to your destination. Children laughing and screaming as they run around the playground. "I sent it about a year after I saw you."

He shakes his head. "I wanted to write to you," he admits quietly, "but I didn't want to put you through that again." He stops walking and looks at you, clearly having an internal conflict. "You told me that day to tell you that I didn't love you, but I couldn't. I did love you. I never stopped loving you, y/n." 

You know. Kazutora didn't want you to waste more years waiting for him to be free; but you also knew that you would never stop loving him. "Kazutora, I-"

"Mama!" A toddler yells as he clumsily runs up and clings to your leg. You smile down at the boy and lift him into your arms, resting him on your hip. He places his tiny thumb into his mouth as his light brown eyes stare up at Kazutora curiously. 

"You... you have a kid," Kazutora's eyes widen in surprise. He says it more like a question than a fact. 

You smile softly at your son, pushing his black hair out of his eyes. An out-of-breath Mitsuya walks up to you guys, resting his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath. "Why is he.. so fast.." he rasps. 

Mitsuya's attention lands on Kazutora and his jaw literally falls open. "Holy shit," he yells. He pulls Kazutora into a hug, causing Kaz to awkwardly pat his back as he continues to stare at you. 

"You two.." Kaz raises his brow. Mitsuya blinks in confusion before understanding the assumption. "I had enough of kids after raising my sisters," Mitsuya laughs, "I'm just the godfather, man."

Your son reaches his little arms out towards Kaz, signaling that he wants to be held. This surprises you, as he tends to be quite shy around strangers. You nod in approval and Kazutora hesitantly holds him.

"Meet Kazuki," you smile as he wraps his hand around your pointer finger. 

"Kazuki..." Kaz breaths out. 

You take a deep breath for confidence before saying, "Kazuki Hanemiya." 

Kaz's head snaps up. You continue, "I found out I was pregnant a few months after we... anyway, I wrote you a letter after he was born. I thought you should know, but I guess you never got it." 

"He's mine?" He stares at your son in awe. 

"He's been waiting to meet you," you say. "And I've been waiting for you, too." 

Darling I'd wait for you,

even if you didn't ask me to. 

Tie a lasso around the moon, 

and bring it on down to you. 

I'd bottle the feeling you give me,

and shelve that stuff for years to come. 

Because baby when your arms are around me,

I'd swear that I'm holding the sun. 

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Author's note: this is the end. I know it might seem cliche but it's not the typical pregnancy trope (I hate those lmao) I actually think this is cute. I thought it was fitting for yn to have a piece of Kaz with her always, one that would make their reunion way more significant. This entire story was angst and I wanted to give ya'll a happy ending (which I rarely do when I write). I hope you guys liked this short story (and I'm sorry if u hated the ending).