My Soul Will Find Yours [Completed]

It's The Children

I slowly slid the screen door that led to the children's bedroom to check on them. It was already midnight and they were sleeping soundly. Kaname and I just got back from visiting the nearby towns to assess the educational program he had the education department implement. I accompanied him as a man during these trips, Jin-san has made a comeback.

Three years ago, I mentioned in passing that I would personally teach the three little rice balls how to read and write in the English alphabet... Skills that will definitely come in handy for them in the future, considering what I learned during the tours I took in modern-day Kyoto. Who would have thought that he'd suddenly review the educational system of the entire country from my passing remark? A month later, the education department made sure that every child from three years old and above would have decent education. The lower class were given lower taxes to compensate for the times their children had to go to school as this meant more work and less hands for them. Any parent who insisted on making their children stay at home to work would be severely punished. School was made mandatory by the shogun.

I stifled a giggle when I saw Miyako hogging the futon again. Her two brothers were sleeping on the edges of their mattresses while she slept comfortably with her legs and arms spread out between them. These three insisted on sleeping with their futons laid out next to each other despite this recurring dilemma. I initially wanted to put a bit of space between each mattress but when Miyako said she was afraid of the dark, her two brothers immediately rejected my idea. Riku and Touya love their little sister so much. The way they both cared for her could probably rival how much their father doted on her.

I carefully corrected Miyako's sleeping position then moved her brothers in the center of their respective futons. I then made sure that their blankets were covering them snuggly before kissing each of their foreheads. I was about to turn and leave when Kaname joined me in the room.

"How is Mami?" I whispered as soon as he was standing beside me.

"She's fine," he assured me, his voice also low. "Hinohara-sensei said that she should stop her strenuous exercises until she gave birth. Apparently, it's what caused her spotting."

Mami was three months pregnant now. After all the years that she and Iura-san have been secretly together, they were finally blessed with a little one.

"I'm glad," I whispered in relief. "Did she look for me?"

"She knows you're with the children but she asked if you could come visit her tomorrow morning."

There was a slightly annoyed look on his face so I had to ask, "Something wrong?"

He sighed. "She accused me of monopolizing you. She said that you rarely visit her anymore because I keep on bringing you with me."

I couldn't stop my giggle on time. When the boys stirred, we both stiffened. While we both love spending time with the rice balls, it would always take forever for them to go to sleep because they would demand stories from me and songs from their father. It would have been fine if one story and song were enough, but it usually took three of each plus a little threat from Kaname before they surrendered to sleep...

Kaname hurriedly pulled me out of the room when they didn't wake up. Once outside, we both snickered at ourselves. Parenthood really changed us both.

"Let's go, it's time for us to retire," he hooked an arm around my waist and led me to the bedroom.

~~~

I woke up the next day with my head on Kaname's chest. He was still snoring softly with his arms around me. Spring has come but there was still a chill in the air. I pulled the blanket closer and snuggled in his chest, intending to sleep more.