Bloom Again

CHAPTER 7

They grew in two seconds.

Kitsu's first word was "flower."We took both the twins to a public garden, where they could run a bout and chase each other. There were no clouds in the sky, just the pale blue and the sun giving us warmth under the small gusts of wind. Akina and Kitsu had begun to discover the world of blossoms, as the flowers started to be more visible under the summer heat. Eos looked relaxed beside me, and Akina didn't want to leave our side. Kitsu, being the epitome of energy as she is, went bounding off into the garden, before stopping short at the sight of a small bush lily. She crouched down, and beckoned us closer. Akina went running to her older sister. The two crouched down, stared at the small flower, their eyes big with excitement. Eos crouched down with them, and looked at me.

"They found their orange flower too," she smiles before telling them that the flower was a bush lily.

Kitsu, in her excitement, had tried to pluck it, but Akina stopped her before she could do anything. Akina shook her head no and glared at Kitsu. Eos and I looked at each other, smiling gently.

Kitsu whined right back, "Flower~"

Eos and I laughed, and we swept the two into a big hug. I looked at Eos, who had tears in her eyes, and kissed her gently, before lifting Akina up into the sky and twirling her. Placing her down again, I picked up Kitsu, who had attached herself to my legs, an incomprehensible whining coming out of her little mouth. I picked her up as well, and twirled her the exact way I did to Akina, and she burst into giggles. Eos started to cry silently, and I only could watch when Akina pulled on her hand, so Eos would lean down. As she did, Akina threw herself into Eos' arms, and wiped her tears away shaking her head.

Akina sputtered her first words so softly, that only Eos heard our daughters whisper.

"Akina, hon, can you say that again please?" Eos softly asks.

Kitsu looks up at me with huge eyes, "Akina, say?"

I smile at Kitsu and nod, as I rest her on my hip and go closer to Eos and Akina.

This time, Akina's voice travels a little more, and I'm able to hear, "Cry, no."

Eos looks at Akina, pure adoration in her doe eyes.

"Mama's not crying Akina, see," Eos' hands come up and quickly brush away the tears. Akina breaks into a big smile realizing there are no more tears, and hugs Eos again. I pull out my phone quickly, and snap a photo. Kitsu reaches for the phone eagerly, and I have to quickly pocket it before her young hands get to it.

It's been about two weeks since the twins met their uncle Myaing. They already miss him, and Eos finally gave in to asking her younger brother yet again, to video chat with the twins. It appears to be very enjoyable for him, as he's smiling and interacting with the twins through facetime. I'm prepping dinner while Eos sets the table, when Akina comes running to me.

"Baba!"She squeals as she clings to my leg.

"You okay 'kina?"

"Myaing Uncle's eyes are in the back of his head. Is he dying?"

Eos laughs from the table and makes her way over.

"Kina, Myaing Uncles going to be fine," I soothe gently.

"Mama," she wails. "Baba is letting Myaing Uncle die!"

Eos laughs, and gently removes Akina from my leg, "Myaing Uncle is going to be fine. He won't die okay honey?"

Akina runs off, not pleased with our answer.

"Mama! You hurt Akina's feelings!" Kitsu wails, as she takes Akina's hand and hugs her close.

The twins' fourth birthday is today, and it feels like they were just born yesterday. Eos and I booked our apartment complexes garden to put up some tables and some games for the kids to have fun with. Kitsu and Akina still want to hold their birthday parties together, so this year's cake that Eos made, has one side for Kitsu and the other side for Akina. The cake has candied orange pieces in it, with an orange jam in between layers. Eos had the time of her life, and ended up letting Kitsu join in on the fun and help her do Akina's side of the cake. Every year we've done so far, has had a respective theme, and if the kids can, they choose it. This year, Akina chose a fairy theme, and Kitsu, a mermaid theme. Eos asked me to design it for the kids, saying that it would be fun to have a little bit of all of us in the cake, even if it is mostly them.

Kitsu suddenly screams, and we all turn abruptly, "They're here!"

Eos releases a nervous laugh, and walks over to Kitsu and Akina. As they continue to welcome the twins' friends, I finish setting up the game that the kids can play if they want to, and make my way over to the parents filling in. We shake hands and exchange pleasantries as the kids hug and laugh.

Akina's smile is so big that I worry it's about to fall off her face. Kitsu is right beside her, smiling gently at her sister. The two are holding hands, and although they have a lot of people, I'm glad that they have each other.