Kiyo
Hana Takamine was resting her hands on her swollen pregnant belly when she felt her son move inside his watery home. A hint of a smile appeared on her face, happy at her good fortune. She hushed her son with a quiet lullaby, relishing how he steadily quieted and fell asleep. Hana had many months to envision her son, and pictured him to have the same serious gold eyes as her husband and the same smile as she had. Nine months of envisioning him. Somehow Hana knew her son would be born today. She didn't know how. It was a kind of feelings she had. A surge of warmth surged through her body as she imagined holding her son for the first time. She and Seitaro had decided they should see their son first before naming him. They had to know him first before naming the right characteristic after him. It was a warm autumn day with sunlight breaking through the trees. The fallen leaves were like petals in the grass. Such a good day to be born, little one, Hana thought to the baby inside her. Slowly the soon-to-be mother fell asleep.
Hana awoke to find herself in a forest. She was surprised of how easy it was to stand on her own feet. She looked down at her stomach and found it flat. The back pain she had been experiencing for the past couple of weeks was gone. What happened? Hana thought, looking at the beautiful trees and flowers in her path as she walked. Cherry blossoms blew in the wind even as she had no idea where they came from. Where is my son? Suddenly she heard an explosion nearby. The sound almost deafened her, but Hana continued to run towards it as the sound continued. Her eyes widened as she hid behind a tree, shocked at what she saw.
The grass and trees that had grazed her path were gone. There was a gaping hole where it should have been. The roots from the soil protruded like scars, and it was only then that Hana saw two figures crouching down in the wounded part of the forest. The first person was so short Hana could only see the short blonde hair. Dust and scratches covered his arms, and he opened his mouth to speak but Hana could not hear him. He was speaking to the people above him, but the dust was so thick Hana could not see them clearly. Then she watched a large hand grip his partner's shoulder, and that was when she gasped in audible shock. A tall young man was beside the young blonde, and she could see the determination in his eyes. His white shirt and black pants were covered in scratches, and his face was streaked with blood, but he didn't remove his gaze from the people above him. Hana observed in shock that the young man was holding a red book with runes written inside the pages. What is that book? "Kiyo!"
That's his name? Hana thought as the blonde child's voice became inaudible again. She watched the young man named Kiyo closely, noticing the pride and determination he had in his stance. Suddenly the boy looked at her,, and Hana could only stare in shock as she saw the blend of her own face and Seitaro's before her. My…son… she thought. Hana noticed the perseverance, love, and gentleness he had in his golden eyes. She saw him smile at her, and saw her own reflection staring back at her. Kiyo…meaning pure...such a pretty name.
Three hours later Hana was holding a bundle of a healthy baby boy. She marveled of how tiny and beautiful he was. His eyes were the color of gold, just like in the dream she had of his future self.
"What should we name him?" Seitaro never let go of her hand when her water broke. He was with her the entire time when their son had been born. His hand now stroked the baby's sleeping face.
"His name will be Kiyo," Hana whispered fondly. She kissed her infant son's forehead with a tenderness that only a mother could have.