"Mom?" The five year old peered into his mother's bedroom, wanting to See if she was awake. "Ryo?" She said, sitting upand squinting into the small, green letters beside her bed. "I can't sleep." The tiny red head whined. "Why not? The whole village is asleep, so you should be too. Is the excitement of turning five getting to your head?" She teased, running a hand through her own cyan hair. Ryo clambered into his mother's bed, silently cursing his short height that conflicted with the tall bedframe. "No. And I AM five!" he proclaimed proudly, putting a hand on his hip. Nayoi giggled. "You're right. 2:26 am, three pounds, eighteen ounces. Most painful 23 hours of my life, you were not interested in coming out any time soon, and boy were you angry!" Nayoi giggled. Ryo giggled, almost laughing, but not quite. "Did dad laugh at how red my face was?" Ryo asked suddenly. Wow. "No, baby, he didnt laugh. He cried when he held you. You were so light." She said, getting a wistful look on her face. "Is he awake?" Ryo whispered. Before Nayoi could reply, her husband's arms enveloped her tiny son. He squealed in delight as his father squeezed him tightly. "Happy Birthday, kidlet! How old are you, now? Eighteen yet?" He asked. Ryo giggled. "I'm five, Dad!" Iroto smiled. "Five years too old." He said. Ryo burst into hysterical giggles. "Oh, Little Ryuusei." Nayoi could say more, she was shot down when the smaller boy ambushed her with "Ryo! Ryo! Ryo!" He cried out. "Of course. How could we forget?" Iroto asked Nayoi. Nayoi shrugged an looked to her son, finding him passed the eff out. Snoring and all. Nayoi put her son in his bed and went to bed herself. Five years. Five years of "I didnt do it!" and other joys. The gods have blessed us, Iroto. Thank you, Ryo. Thank you for being our little boy.