Assassin's Creed V: Lullaby

The Second Born

Edo, Japan.

September 24th, 1602.

Soft cries could be heard through the walls of his mother's room. Tobu looked up at his father, giving him a smile, before turning his attention back to the door.

"I wonder if it is a girl or a boy." He mused quietly, the excitement taking over him. Tobu wanted nothing more than to walk into the room, and scoop up his little brother or sister into his arms.

Mikoto sat, patiently, but Tobu knew that his father was also excited on this new being that they needed to welcome into the World.

A maid came out of the room, bowing her head, and walking away swiftly. Mikoto stood, just as another maid exited, soaked towel's in her hand all balled up. She gave a bow, and had a bright smile on her face.

"All is well." She said, "Miyo-sama gave birth to a healthy baby."

"Boy or girl?" Tobu asked, even though it came more out of a demand.

"..." The servant was silent, before her smile widened. "Miyo-sama asked us to keep it a secret, as she will tell you herself."

Mikoto nodded slowly, a look of relief crossing his face. "Come, Tobu; we shall leave your mother to rest."
"Yes, father." Tobu agreed. He gave the make-shift delivery room one last look, before following after his father, his heart pounding inside his chest, and he grinned.

The Next Day

Tobu was annoyed. Here he was, trying to greet his new little brother or sister, and here they were; blocking his path.

All his mother's friends down from the village had come to welcome the new baby, bring little gifts and such. He had tried to listen in, using his 'skills', but a maid had caught him, telling him to 'shoo'.

Tobu heaved a sigh, crossing his arms. He glanced at his father, knowing his father was feeling the same way. It was almost evening, meaning that the other women would be leaving soon to head back to their families.

"Mikoto," Tobu turned, only half-interested as one of his father's longtime friend appeared at the opened door, which gave way to a beautiful garden on the outside.

"Kiyomasa," Mikoto greeted, welcoming the Daimyo in with a strict looking smile. "You were missed during the Battle of Sekigahara." He added briefly.

Hearing that, Tobu's interest was piqued. The Battle of Sekigahara took place in October, on the 21st, in 1600. Almost three years ago. His father had been one of the few asked from his village to come into battle, but no other than Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Tobu watched the older man with calculating eyes, and smiled once the black haired man nodded to him, acknowledging him. The 41 year old Daimyo turned back to Mikoto, sitting on the zabuton just across from Mikoto.

"Yes, I am sorry, but after the Seven Year War, I thought I needed a break, to get things in order, and such. So, I remained in Kyūshū." Katō replied. "Anyway, I had heard that Sanada had joined the Western forces." He blinked. Tobu turned away, suddenly disinterested again. He would be too bored if his father and the Daimyo only talked small talk. He was surprised Katō hadn't asked how the weather was.

"Yukimura, you mean." Mikoto gave a firm nod. "That man and his father, Masayuki. His brother had stayed along with the Eastern forces."

"Now there's a shock." Katō mused, stretching tiredly.

"So, what brings you here?" Mikoto asked, changing the subject idly.

"Work." Katō replied, grinning softly. "Also, I've heard the neighboring women talking of a new member to your family."

"Ah, yes, my wife gave birth yesterday."

"Is it a girl or a boy?"

"... We aren't sure, yet." Mikoto tensed, as if he could suddenly hear the giggles and laughter coming from his wife's rest room.

"I see." Katō pursed his lips, forming a thin line on his mouth. A middle aged servant who has been working there ever since Tobu was five came in, holding a tray of tea. She placed the three cups on the table, before excusing herself quietly.

"So, I've heard that there has been a lot of side-switching, now 'a days." Mikoto suddenly said. Katō fell silent and nodded solemnly.

"I, too, have decided to join Tokugawa."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons. I'm sure that you, too, will come to the winning side, Mikoto!"

"Enough!" Mikoto shouted, slamming the pale brown cup of pale green tea on the table. Again, Katō stayed silent. He stood, and Tobu watched him leave as quietly as he appeared.

Later That Day

It wasn't until dinner time, when Tobu was finally allowed in to see his mother and the baby. He was followed in by his father, who was just as excited as he was, only better at hiding it, and he practically ran up to his mother, who sat on the tatami floor, holding a bundle close to her chest in a comforting manner.

Miyo looked up, greeting her son and husband with a soft tired looking smile. She removed part of the soft blanket that hid the babies face, and Tobu's smile widened so much that it hurt.

"Tobu, Mikoto; Meet Hikō." She said, rocking the slumbering baby girl in her arms. Tobu would have cried out in joy, but stayed silent; knowing both his mother and father would scold him if he woke his baby sister.

He settled for kneeling beside his mother, touching his sister's round chubby cheek, feeling how soft it was. He smiled, and felt her unconsciously grab onto his finger with her tiny little hands, barely able to hold on with her thin nimble fingers.

Present Day

Desmond woke suddenly, startled. "Wh- What happened?" He asked after a moment, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He hadn't been in there for that long, this much he knew.

"So many fast-forwarding." He stated, giving a short yawn as he stood from the machine. Rebecca looked up at him, before grinning sheepishly.

"Actually, the Animus started fritzing again. So I thought I should pull you out before anything dangerous happened. I mean, surely you don't want to be stuck in Takeshi Tobu's memories forever, do you?"

"No. I want a life, you know." He scoffed, realizing it sounded harsher than intended. Still, Rebecca didn't take any offence, and just smiled sadly.

"Well, you might as well go rest while I work out the kinks. It might take a while, so yeah." She shrugged casually, and stood, stretching. "Shaun and I had arranged a little rest room for you; it's just in the other room over there. And it's only until we can get some more things moved in, although we may not be here for long. I'm pretty sure that there are still some Abstergo agents out there, who are looking for us all..."

Desmond nodded, and headed towards a small resting room Shaun and Rebecca had set up during his time in his ancestor's memories. His reflected over the recent events, and gave a small sigh. He went and lay down on the small make-shirt bed in the corner of the room, and used his arm as a pillow, closing his eyes as sleep slowly took him from the real World.

And Hikō is born, yey.

~Love me or Hate me~