surprise, surprise.

Hihara Kazuki ran a hand over her soft cheek, brushing aside a lock of hair that had fallen over her angelic face during her peaceful slumber. Outside, the tiny pinpricks of light cast an ethereal glow against the unblemished skin, and he smiled faintly. His angel.

She was a restless sleeper, and Kazuki watched in amusement as she impatiently flipped to her side, eyes tightly shut but with a small smile on her face nevertheless. She raised a hand to scratch her cheek unconsciously, and mumbled intelligibly. He continued to watch, utterly amused, like he'd never watched her in her sleep before. He wondered what she could be dreaming of. And just then, she began to shake from the cold of the air conditioning. Kazuki pulled the covers up over her, tucking her in tightly. She can't afford to catch a cold, primarily and especially because tomorrow is her first day of kindergarten.

Kazuki is thrilled beyond words.

He just found it amazing, amazing, really, that his 4.6 pound baby girl is now four years old and ready to start kindergarten. She had looked so tiny when she was born. She gurgled happily and mumbled-Kazuki barely made out what she was saying-"Uncah Yoou, catch teh piggy." At that point he couldn't help but laugh. Our little bundle of joy, he mused. For just when he thought that his daughter couldn't possibly be more wonderful than she already is, she proves him wrong.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he jumped a little from the unexpectedness of the touch.

"Kazuki, what are you doing, staying up so late? She's not the only one with a big day tomorrow," Kahoko whispered softly. Her eyes looked sort of watery from sleep, and her clothes were slightly rumpled. She took a seat on the edge of the bed and twined her hand with his. Sigh. He couldn't possibly get any luckier.

"Alright, alright, just a sec," he answered with a small laugh, and he leaned in and kissed Kasumi on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, baby girl," he added fondly, pulling the covers tight around her and then sheepishly turned to her mother and placed a kiss on her cheek. Kahoko simply smiled at him. Happiness.

"Shall we go to bed now?" she inquired after a moment's silence. "Tomorrow will be an exciting day for all of us. Hm, Kazuki?"

"Yeah. I love you."

Hihara Kahoko grabbed him by the hand and led him across the hall and into their room, as he followed her like a devoted puppy. He would follow her to the ends of the earth.

:]