Milk and its Derivatives

Written by Why and Joe


Note:

I have been informed over the link I've posted not working.

If you wish to see the art, Galthmir has done for us, simply go there:

wwwDOTredditDOTcom/user/Galathmir

The piece inspired by Chapter 8 is titled: "The Moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

The piece inspired by Chapter 10 is titled: "Is is okay to love you, Yuzu?

There also is a family portrait, titled: "Family photo" which allows us to see Atsuko. Galathmir drew her, exactly as Joe and I had imagined her.

All the pieces are wonderful and Joe and I feel blessed for receiving such a precious gift.


Chapter nine aka The one where Mei cheats.


Ours

The early hours of the morning rolled lazily as the family enjoyed a spot of quiet. Ume and Mei sat at the low table facing each other, one in a perfect seiza position the other in a more relaxed cross-legged position. They were each enjoying a cup of green tea, served in traditional handleless cups and absolutely delicious.

Mei took in the sight of the now empty plate of macaroons that had been served with the tea and sighed. It stood no chance of lasting longer than a few minutes with Yuzu and Atsuko around.

Ume and Shou's room had a traditional charm that their quarters lacked, although she had greatly enjoyed the modern comforts offered by the room she shared with Yuzu.

The tatami felt supple under her knees. The paper doors were as precious as they were delicate, intersecting with the wooden portions of the sliding doors and seamlessly making the room feel private yet not enclosed.

The view provided by the garden was truly luscious and it was not a coincidence that Ume had opened the wooden door overlooking the patio all the way. She, like Yuzu, had great love for flowers and could not stop admiring the white gardenias as they almost glowed under the Sun's kiss. The garden appeared lush in the morning light and its scents drifted stronger than ever. Mei preferred the look it held under the moonlight, but she had to admit daytime bestowed its own charm too.

At the table with them were also Shou and Atsuko, they too were facing each other, except they were locked in a match of Old Maid.

Old Maid was a rather simple card game, and quite old as well. As far as Mei knew it had originated during the Victorian age, born as a gambling game surely. No particular skills were required to play it.

The rules were simple: A single queen was removed from the deck, cards would then be shuffled and distributed amongst the players. Players would discard any pairs of cards and then would take it in turns to blindly take one card from each other, until one holding just the Old Maid was left.

Yuzu had played as well, but she had been kicked out quite early. Her green eyes were too honest and never failed to give her away. She was now resting on her back, enjoying the softness provided by the tatami mats. She had her shoulders and head propped up against Mei's lower back as she checked emails on her phone.

"Yuzu-chan, are you comfortable sat like that?" Ume inquiered, more concerned about Mei's comfort than Yuzu's. "You can join us at the table."

"I'm fine here, Mama." Yuzu answered easily and by the content tone of her voice, it was not hard to believe she was quite comfortable.

Ume turned her kind green eyes to Mei and shrugged. She often worried about Mei-chan ignored her own discomfort in favor of her loved ones' wellbeing. The current matter was a trivial one for sure, but Ume's concern was entirely genuine. Not many people were aware of what a selfless person Mei-chan was. Most people were easily blinded by appearance, their thoughts would not go any further than what was before their eyes.

Ume's green eyes looked deeper. It was her job as a mother to see the truth about her daughters. Her worry was assuaged by the knowledge that her Yuzu was absolutely unable to take advantage of anyone, least of all Mei.

They were perfectly matched indeed.

"It is as she says, mother. It is fine." Mei reassured the woman as a faint rouge hue colored the tips of her ears. She had grown more relaxed about physical displaying her affection around her family yet her body had its own reactions. She did not mind feeling Yuzu's head against her back and the faint tickling it would cause her whenever she giggled or nodded her head. It was rather pleasant.

She had achieved a level of self-awareness that permitted her to recognize how Yuzu's touch benefited her - In many ways. At first, she had only been able to see the most practical of benefits, such as it providing her with a constant source of warmth during the cold months.

Little by little, as she learned more about herself, she had discovered other benefits as well. Yuzu's touch calmed her, just feeling her beautiful Yuzu provided her with a great level of security. She had found that out upon returning from her first meeting with her then-fiancé. Just sitting beside a sleeping Yuzu had calmed her desperation, if only for a short while.

It did not fill her with just security and could do more, it depended by her mood. It could focus her or make her braver. As it did that time Yuzu had taken hold of her hand, granting her the strength to speak to her father for the first time after five years of silence.

It could also make her feel essential and irreplaceable as it did whenever Yuzu kissed her. More than that as well, but she could not think about the other benefits Yuzu's touch provided her with without blushing. Besides now she had a pressing matter to attend to. Another game was at play.

She shifted her focus on Shou and Atsuko's card game. Her father sat beside her and she had a clear view of the cards in his hands. In front of him, by Ume's side standing on her knees was Atsuko. Her small hands had struggled to keep the cards straight when she had many. Now she was only holding a few. Her brow was furrowed in extreme concentration.

Mei knew that Atsuko hated losing, as was expected of any Aihara. As a rule, she would not let her sister win when playing games as it would give her a false sense of her own abilities. When they played checkers, she always took great care on praising her sister whenever she played a good move and took even greater care in explaining her mistakes to her. She would never intentionally make bad plays in order to appeal to Atsuko's sense of pride. The child was a fast learner and defeat was the most potent of teachers.

In a game like Old Maid though, skills had little place and it was mostly down to chance. She did not felt like she would be doing a disservice to her sister if she were to assist her to victory. After all, a lot of the game hinged on the players being able to read their opponents.

Of course she would react if her beloved sister were to reach for the fateful Old Maid, it was only human. She could not help the fact that Atsuko was perfectly attuned to her and would, most surely, pick on any of her minuscule reactions. Such as her right eyebrow lifting ever so slightly.

Mei had quite enjoyed seeing her sister play. Atsuko had managed to keep her features relaxed in a neutral expression for the entirety of the game. A much better strategy than the one employed by Yuzu and Shou in Mei's opinion. They had tried to make every face possible to thwart their opponent. In the end they had only tired themselves out. Atsuko never lost her nerve though. Mei was quite proud of her. She had to conceal her emotions for the time being as the game's last act was finally taking place:

Atsuko's goal was simple: Take the card from her father which matched the nine she already had in hand. Papa only had two cards left, so it was a 50/50 shot that would see her victorious if she chose correctly.

Or at least, so it should have been, it was not though. Other factors were at play, a single factor actually: Her Nee-san.

Her right eyebrow would lift ever so slightly whenever Atsuko's fingers hovered over the Old Maid. It was that simple.

She even put on a play for her father, tipping her fingers on one cards than the other as Shou made comical faces to throw her off. After a few moments of teasing, she picked her card and paired off her nines, winning the game.

"I won, Papa!" Atsuko squealed while raising her arms over her head and making victory signs. A move she had learned from her Yuzu-nee. On his part, Shou put up a great show, shaking his head in mock desperation.

"Poor Shou-kun…" Ume pouted playfully at her husband while resting her face on one hand. Shou shrugged his shoulders and grinned at her, unable to look desperate any longer. He was to happy even to pretend otherwise.

Atsuko's cheerfulness was contagious and it was hard not to smile along with her. Shou could not help himself as he turned toward his youngest daughter with a grin on his lips, only to find that Atsuko had stopped her cheering. Her eyes were trained on Mei. She was simply looking at her sister. Her beautiful green eyes were full of nothing but adoration. Her rosy lips were set in a knowing curve as if holding onto a secret.

Mei remained still, face trained to betray nothing. Her right hand was elegantly gripping her unfinished cup of green tea while her other hand rested in her lap. Her seiza position was flawless, as one would expect from a daughter of the Aihara family. Her hair was gathered into low a pony-tail, the elegant curve of her neck gave her the countenance of a queen. Her lips were set in a straight line and her eyes held absolutely nothing in their sight as she stared ahead. Her appearance gave an otherworldly quality to her presence, albeit not a very friendly one.

It was Mei's lack of response to her little sister that gave the pair away.

Shou turned toward his oldest daughter with a soft expression of curiosity on his face. Communication with Mei still did not feel natural at all to him and she remained painfully distant. For that, he could not blame her. He had been a major contributing factor in Mei's troubled upbringing, a fact that still left him full of bitterness and regret.

While he knew that things would never be as they were before, both he and Mei found comfort in their new family. Ume, Yuzu and Atsuko radiated sunshine and brought great swathes of happiness to their lives. In Shou's mind, it was more than he deserved, but true to the teachings of his own father, he would not allow a gilt-edged opportunity to pass him by.

"Mei, did you help your sister win?" The words fell from his lips candidly. There was a note of kind incredulity to his voice. He knew his older daughter to be absolutely devoted to fair play. Even a simple card game among family should appear untouchable in her mind. It was a matter of principle. Despite this, the possibility that Mei could break her own rules for the sake of her little sister filled him with a strange sense of pride.

Mei turned to her father. Her face was unreadable; her eyes gave nothing away. She appeared emotionless, an indifferent goddess, untouchable by human concerns.

"...I did not." She spoke in a flat tone. Her voice held a finality that should not and could not be questioned. Her eyes did not linger over anything as if nothing was worth of her attention.

Her reaction had been more than eloquent. It was all Shou and Ume needed to confirm their suspicions. Shou tried to swallow back his amusement. He truly did. He was not sure over how Mei would react. He knew Mei to be proud. Most likely, she would not appreciate such a reaction. Especially not from him.

Ume left him with little choice though. A cheery laugh, starting from her belly clapped past her lips and shock her whole with little mercy. She put both elbows on the table and rested her laughing face on one hand. She had little trouble showing her mirth, in full and while looking directly at Mei.

By then, Shou could no longer keep a straight face, the deep tone of his chuckle joined his wife's chirpier one. He leaned back on his hands as he let himself enjoy the moment.

Mei remained untouched by the display, maintaining her indifferent and regal countenance. She took a sip of green tea from her cup, elegantly as ever, holding it with both hands. She then put it back on the mat that had been placed on table with a measured and graceful movement. Her lack of reaction fuelled Ume and Shou's amusement even further.

Atsuko's eyes kept darting from her parents to her sister. It was a surreal scene. The dissonance between the emotions displayed by her parents and the indifference her sister was portraying so masterfully made for a quite interesting act to view.

"Of course she helped her, you guys!" Yuzu's voice rose from behind Mei, the blonde was still deeply engaged with her phone but had been able to follow the conversation at hand.

"Atsu-chan is her favorite." Yuzu stated in a rather authoritative voice. One she rarely used outside of work. It seemed appropriate to use it now, as Yuzu wished to infuse her words with a great sense of inevitability.

"Along with me!" She scrambled to add hastily. "I am Mei's favorite too!" Yuzu succeeded in having her tone sound affectionate and belligerent at the same time. A most peculiar combination.

Yuzu's intervention, as adorable as it had been, had provided Shou and Ume with a distraction, enabling them to put a bridle on their hilarity. They simply stared at each other exchanging complicit looks and fond smiles as they shared in the joy of having such a wonderful family.

However, if Mei did not drop her indifferent act soon, they would most likely start laughing again. Shou turned his attention toward his youngest daughter. Atsuko was staring at her sister with a perplexed frown on her adorable face. She was no longer smiling. Shou could not entirely grasp what had caused her mood to change so hastily. It had to be related to Mei though, that much he knew.

Atsuko could not take her eyes away from Mei. Her Nee-san was still sitting like a statue. Her face, so neutral and devoid of feelings unsettled Atsuko quite a bit. It reminded her of their Grandfather. She was not fond of him. At all.

Atsuko had seen her Nee-san put up such an appearance before. She would adopt a similar expression at school sometimes and whenever they visited their Grandfather. One did not have to be particularly observant to realize that Mei was not at ease around her the man, and Atsuko was quite the little observer.

Atsuko had little doubt over the fact that her sister was not happy whenever in his presence. She had not questioned her over it though. She felt it to be a topic better left alone for now. Besides, she had spoken with Yuzu-nee about it and Yuzu-nee would take care of everything. She loved Nee-san as much as Atsuko did.

As on now, Atsuko had a single concern, she wanted her Nee-san to come back to her. She decided to take a chance and smiled at Mei. It was a shy smile, a little nervous, unlike the ones she would usually bestow on her.

She did not try to try to hide her anxiety. It would be of little use. Her Nee-san could always tell.

Mei chose her timing wisely. Once she was confident about Ume and Shou being too engrossed in each other to pay any heed to her, she shifted her gaze to look directly at her little sister and winked at her.

Or at least she tried to. The ability to wink still eluded her and she instead ended up blinking both her eyes. Her failure mattered little as Atsuko still got her message. She nodded at her, ever so slightly while any trace of uneasiness disappeared from her beautiful green eyes. In the end it had worked to perfection.

Mei felt a push against her lower back as Yuzu got into an sitting position. She half-rolled around and sat herself sideways, putting most of her weight on her hip and propping herself on her elbow. The tatamis were supple enough to make such moves comfortable. Yuzu's smile was bright as ever as she looked at Mei with complicit green eyes.

"Keep trying, Mei." Her voice did not sound encouraging in the least. It carried a strong teasing note instead. "You'll get it eventually." Yuzu gathered herself up and leaned forward until her face was but a few inches away from Mei's. She winked at her. Masterfully.

Then, she simply rolled back, resuming her position against the small of Mei's back, leaving nothing but a blushing Mei in her wake. Her pale complexion granted her no help against it. She would have pouted, had she been alone with Yuzu. As it was, she could only retain every inch of her blushing dignity and wait for the storm to pass. How had Yuzu known she had just tried to wink? It did not matter. She knew Ume and Shou were looking at her now. She could feel their confused eyes on her as they tried to decipher what had just happened.

She sighed. Deeply.

Fortunately, someone was still on her side, and that someone had every intention of rescuing her from such troublesome predicament.

Shou's eyes widened with worry as Atsuko all but sprinted toward her sister. Her speed was truly explosive.

He had expected Atsuko to just crash into Mei, as was often the case when the little speedster ran up to him.

His firstborn had proceeded to lithely take the little dart into her arms. Swiftly, with no collision taking place. Atsuko found herself in her sister's lap, a knee on each side of Mei.

Shou could not keep a soft smile from his lips at the sight. His beautiful wife stole his attention right after. Ume had both elbows on the table, her face was resting in the cradle of her hands. She was looking at their dark-haired daughters intensely, her expressive green eyes were full of warmth and gratitude. The sweetest of smiles was on her face.

Shou was no expert when it came to parenthood but nonetheless, he had little doubt over Ume being the very embodiment of it. The way she had raised Yuzu-chan to be a most wonderful young woman, strong yet kind, determined yet generous spoke for itself. And she had done it all by herself.

Ume had been very frank with him about their life in the immediate aftermath of her husband's passing. She and Yuzu had been still in mourning, but they could not afford to slow down and really try to digest the situation. Life did not stop for them. There were still bills to be paid and mouths to feed.

Shou could not even begin to imagine what that experience must have been like, but even the notion gave him even greater respect for the pair of them. Of course they had a tendency to live in the moment. There was a time where that was all they could do.

Later on, their combined effort had achieved the most arduous of feats: Getting Mei to trust love again, and to trust it enough to open up her heart to them. After a life of nothing but betrayal, it must have taken an inordinate amount of courage for Mei to take such leap.

He smiled warmly at his wife and shifted his attention back to his daughters.

Mei had little trouble showing her affection in the moment. It would actually prove quite difficult for her not to, Shou had little doubt over it. Mei had taken to wearing her heart on her sleeve when Yuzu and Atsuko were concerned, when she was among her family at least. Shou had had no occasion to see her in other contexts.

Ume had told him that certainty had no place in parenthood. Doubt was the very essence of it. One must never stop questioning himself. A parent's love must be able and willing to take on different shapes, retaining the one that would fit their child best at any given moment. Stillness had no part in it either. It was the most active of jobs.

The evolution of Mei and Atsuko's relationship all but proved the veracity of Ume's words.

At first, Mei could not even step too close to her newborn sister. She looked at Atsuko fearfully as if she were a mysterious object she had no hope to ever comprehend. It was not surprising, he too had trouble relating to his newborn daughter at first. She was so small, so unpredictable and so very delicate too. He had never held such a small child before, there had always been maids to take care of Mei while he retreated to the familiar comfort of his office.

It was only thanks to Ume and Yuzu's encouragement that he was finally able to embrace fatherhood. He knew that he lacked Ume's experience and Yuzu's natural disposition, but he did all that was required of him, albeit clumsily.

Mei had a tougher time. In the months following Atsuko's birth, he had been called abroad several times. He had been able to still perform his charity work as passionately as ever because he had the support of his whole family. Ume often told him that because they had been so very blessed, that it was only fair for Shou to spread some of their happiness to the less fortunate families. The thought of parentless children plagued Ume with anguish.

He and Ume had more than a few conversations regarding Mei's reluctance to relate to her sister. He had been quite worried, wanting for nothing more than for Mei to enjoy the love of their new family as much as he did. Ume never failed to reassure him, telling him that Mei had her own pace and Ume was certain that she was going to fall in love with the child when the time was right.

She had been right. As she always was when their children were concerned. After taking the first step toward her sister, Mei had covered the rest of the distance at a frightening speed. She had truly blossomed into her role and her relationship with Atsuko was unique.

She was not another Ume or another Yuzu. They had their own special way to relate to the child. Mei was Atsuko's Nee-san, her beloved mentor, the one that gardened her mind to flourish luxuriant. The one she shared her intellectual self with. The one she looked to whenever she needed her curiosity to be satisfied.

Shou smiled to himself and reached to take his own cup of tea when Ume's lovely voice brought him back to the present.

"Mei-chan." Ume infused her voice with the unique warmth she reserved for her daughters. "At what time are you going to leave for Lake Kawaguchi?"

Mei and Yuzu had decided to spend the early afternoon with their sister since they were planning to have a romantic dinner later on and would be absent for more than a few hours. Taking Atsuko to the lake would also provide Ume and Shou with the chance to spend some quality time alone.

"We think that one would be the best time for leaving… If it that is agreeable for you, mother." Mei inclined her head ever so slightly toward Ume.

Shou knew Mei's extreme politeness to be a source of amused exasperation for Ume. Her face did not betray how she felt in the slightest though. It remained as loving as ever.

"Of course." Ume tapped her fingers on the table. "Do I need to pack anything special for Atsu-chan?"

"I can carry my things, Nee-san." Atsuko said shyly while half turning around to look at Mei. She had carried her own case after all, although it was rather small if compared to her sister's suitcase. She would have carried her bag as well, but she knew it was better to proceed one step at a time as her Nee-san always said. Next time she would carry both.

"So you do, Atsuko." Mei lowered her head to speak gently into the child's ear before addressing Ume once again. When talking her sister, her purple's gaze would deliver an unique intent of love. One she reserved for only Yuzu and the child in her arms.

"That will not be necessary, mother." Her eyes delivered affection to Ume as well. Albeit, it played a most reserved note. "We will be able to buy anything we might need once we get there."

"All right, then!" Ume nodded, short hair dancing around her face, a damp lock setting over one of her eyes. She removed it hastily. The weather had become insufferably hot again. Last night's breeze was all but gone and the garden's colors almost sparkled under the sunlight.

"Hey you two." Ume started in what one could call her strict voice. It had still a most loving tone. "Mei-chan is not a pillow. Let her breathe."

An adorable pout appeared on Atsuko's face at her mother's words, it soon resolved into an expression of concern though.

"Mei is fine, Mama." Yuzu's voice rose once again from behind Mei's back as she kept checking her phone.

Atsuko was not as confident as Yuzu and made to stand. Mei's arms tightened around her small frame immediately. She looked at her sister and one of Mei's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. It was all Atsuko needed to comfortably sit back once again.

"It is fine, mother." Mei allowed the beginning of a smile to touch her lips. "I do not mind."

"Ah! Told you, mama." Yuzu's voice declared victory. Even though she remained concealed to the eyes, it was quite easy to picture her face, her bright smile resonated strongly in her words. Her green eyes must be spilling happiness as she spoke again: "I know my Mei."

Ume could only smile at the joy she felt in her oldest voice. The fact that Mei-chan had not blushed in the slightest at Yuzu's words filled her with contentment. It also tickled her curiosity. She deemed it safe to satisfy it.

"Those two keep walking all over you, Mei-chan." Ume smiled warmly at Mei before putting her elbow on the table. She leaned her face against her hand and sighed dreamily. "You must really love them!"

"You may be right, mother." By then, Mei's candid reply did not surprise her. It did please her though. Greatly.

It was not as though Ume needed to be told - she already knew that Yuzu and Atsuko owned Mei's heart. Mei spoke through her actions, after all, and she spoke quite clearly about those two. What pleased Ume was the fact that Mei had no qualms over declaring her feelings to her family. She had opened up herself with no embarrassment. Ume held Mei's trust as the most precious of gifts.

"We love Mei too!" Yuzu's voice rose powerfully managing to take the stage once again. She had no problem screaming her love for Mei to the world. She deeply regretted allowing her former schoolmates to quell the pride she felt over being with Mei. That one time, right before she gave Mei the ring, she should have answered their judging faces by smiling all with her happiness at them. It was a distant memory now though, a matter of total insignificance.

"Don't we, Atsu-chan?" She asked her little samurai, already knowing the answer.

"Yes we do!" Atsuko all but shouted the words out, as her features tensed pensively for a second before a smile conquered her face once more.

"Nee-san is ours!" She declared. The certainty in her voice was absolute.

"My, my." Ume chuckled. She was all but delighted. "Do I not get a say in this? Mei-chan is my daughter..."

Upon hearing her mother's comment, Mei found herself blushing, her ears turning a bright shade of red. The casualness of her remark filled Mei with a sense of comfort that she had never known as a child. Ume being her mother felt like the most true and natural thing in the world and the absence of any blood tie was simply irrelevant.

Shou could only stare at the scene. He knew he could not be part of it. Aiharas were generally not known for being affectionate and their indifferent countenance was legendary. Shou had left such ceremonies behind the moment he stepped away from the Academy. Mei was still part of that world but around her loved ones, she did no longer act as an Aihara would. Seeing her being so openly expressive of her feelings only reinforced how different she behaved around him.

Mei still acted as an Aihara with him, holding on to her cold countenance and distant politeness, keeping her face neutral with her lips set in a straight line. He would have loved to sit down with her and talk about their past, to try and work things out. Ume had advised him against that, she thought Mei not to be ready yet to have such a conversation with her father. He would not have been able to initiate such a conversation regardless.

His trail of thought escaped him when he felt Ume's petite hand curl around his much bigger one. He looked at his beautiful wife and found himself staring into the most understanding eyes he had ever seen. It was like she could always say what he was thinking, especially when he was agitated.

He did not deserve to have such a woman by his side, though almost no man would deserve her. He did the only thing he could and smiled at her, willing all of his love for his wife in his purple eyes. He needed to tell her how much he loved her. By the smile she rewarded him with, it seemed he had succeeded in letting her know.

Hers

Mei had her eyes on the garden where Shou and Yuzu were playing a game of hide and seek with Atsuko. It was hard to take her eyes off of Yuzu as she ran about wearing a white tank top and a pair of orange shorts. The play of the muscles in her thighs dancing as she moved made for a most alluring sight, as did the gleam of the sunlight against her tanned and shapely legs. As well as that, her smile was bright as ever.

Mei was still sitting by the table with Ume. The two of them had little desire to run about in such a hot weather and had resolved to share yet another cup of green tea.

Ume's face was cradled in her hands as she rested her elbows on the table. Her attention was focused on the garden just as Mei's was. Her face was arranged in a somewhat unusual contemplative expression as she followed the loud trio's antics with her beautiful green eyes. Over the years, Ume had become not only a parent to Mei, she had also taken on the role of her confidant. Ume was a formidable listener and her advice was absolutely precious. With that in mind, Mei had no trouble investigating her mother's mood.

"Is something the matter, mother?" She asked delicately before carefully placing her cup of tea on the mat.

"Huh?" Ume must have been lost in her own world yet she did not feel any unease over being called back to the present.

"Ah! Mei-chan…" Ume turned toward her, her features relaxing into a familiar content expression. "Just looking at those three."

"Mmm... They do make quite the sight." Mei replied in her trademark understated fashion.

Ume nodded several times then stretched her arms in front of her, sighing out in satisfaction as she did so.

"The five of us, enjoying this little vacation together." She inhaled and returned her kind eyes on Mei. "It makes me so very happy, Mei-chan. And-" A somber expression crossed her features, although her eyes never lost their characteristic warmth.

"-It is only possible because you gave your father another chance."

Ume's words caused a rouge hue to spread about Mei's checks. It was inevitable. Whenever her relationship with her father was mentioned she would give into embarrassment. She no longer tried to conceal the fact, at least not when she was alone with her mother.

"It was only possible because of Yuzu, mother." Mei's words were sincere and Ume could only smile at them. Hearing her oldest being praised and so honestly never failed to fill her chest with pride. "I should really be the one thanking you."

If Yuzu had not taken Mei to see her father off at the airport, Mei and Shou would have never started talking again. Mei would have never been capable to take such a step by herself. If Yuzu's strong heart had not lead the way, she and her father might still be estranged to this very day. Her beloved had never failed to provide her with the emotional fortitude she lacked in times of need, and there had been plenty of those.

Ume sighing cut her trail of thought short. The woman had her eyes on her older daughter, she and Atsuko had won yet another round and had taken the child in her arms, was twirling her around as was her habit. Her laugh resonated through the garden and somehow felt absolutely at home in such a place, perhaps because it was as natural as the flowers and the verdant foliage.

"Does she still toss and turn and steal all of the bed sheets?" Ume smiled fondly as memories of sharing a bed with her oldest daughter flooded her mind. They used to sleep together and have a slumber party of sorts whenever Ume did not have to work the next morning. In the years following her husband's passing, they had little occasion to enjoy such moments and to this very day they remained some of her fondest memories.

"She does, mother." Mei could not keep the corner of her mouth from curling up. "But I have grown accustomed to it."

In truth, when Mei held Yuzu in her arms, her beautiful love would fall in the most peaceful of slumbers. When Mei had inquired about it, Yuzu had given her a simple yet powerful answer: she was in the arms of her love, how could she not sleep peacefully?

"Atsu-chan is the same." Ume pouted playfully, she was clearly delighted by the similarity between her oldest and her youngest. Ume had taken on the same tradition with Atsuko and they would sleep in her bed every Saturday night as Ume had no work on Sunday.

They would spend the evening eating whatever they felt like, although Ume always made sure Atsuko had something nutritious along with the treats they would inevitably consume. They would watch movies, build Lego models and also make pillow fortresses if Atsuko felt like it.

If Shou happened to be at home, he would join them more than willingly. Having such a harsh working schedule, she made sure of always making the time she spent with Atsuko memorable. Saturday nights and Sundays were completely dedicated to her youngest, with the added bonus of giving her other two daughters some quiet time.

"Atsuko certainly is like Yuzu in this regard." An amused sparkle of affection twinkled in Ume's verdant eyes. She was clearly delighted over the many similarities Yuzu and Atsuko shared.

Mei felt the same, as thinking of Yuzu and Atsuko's common traits filled her with unthinkable levels of joy. They were the same when it came to their voracious eating, they both sang along whenever hearing something they were familiar with and they had the same manner of sleeping; although Atsuko had Mei's penchant for taking impromptu naps, no matter the place or the time.

The similarities between them ran even deeper than that, as they had the same generous and kind heart. They were unable to lie, no matter how small the matter. There was no sadness that their smiles could not chase away. They had the same brave spirit and when love was concerned, they were fearless. Not to mention their near-identical pairs of green eyes...

"Ah!" Ume's smile spread to reach her eyes, making her look radiant. "My daughters can be quite the handfuls"

Like Yuzu and Atsuko, Ume always radiated sunlight. It was impossible to even imagine the woman filled with anything but love. Mei knew Ume had an unspeakably hard time after her first husband passed away.

She not only had to contend with the desperation in her heart, she was alone and with a small child to raise in a country that had little regard of single mothers. Mei was in complete awe of Ume, as in spite of such incredibly hardships she had kept her heart kind and loving and had a raised her daughter to be an extraordinary person.

"Luckily, they are in the most capable of hands." The look Ume was giving her was one Mei felt undeserving of. It was a look of pure undiluted admiration, a woman such as Ume should never look at her that way.

"You think too highly of me, mother" Mei took her cup in both hands and drank deeply from it, feebly attempting to conceal her embarrassment. It was of little use, as Ume could read her almost as perfectly as Yuzu.

"Mei-chan, I truly wish that you wouldn't always downplay your accomplishments." The moment she put her cup back on its mat, Ume reached over to take her daughter's hands into hers. Ume's hands were warm, kind and calloused - Not something that the rest of her family had. Even Ume's hands were honest and carried the history of her life.

"This family is so happy in because of you, Mei-chan." There was no escaping her mother's green eyes, for they were as honest as Yuzu's were and yet there was a hard edge to them. Held in place by such gaze, Mei could do nothing but accept her words into her heart.

In the meanwhile, the garden had gone suddenly quiet. The silence got Ume's attention and she turned toward it.

"What are they up to….?" Ume wondered. She would never get tired of looking at her family.

Shou was apparently measuring the distance from one edge of the garden to the other by taking long steps. Yuzu and Atsuko stood by the opposite edge from him, Yuzu with her phone in hand. Shou made number with his fingers, Yuzu nodded and readied her phone while Atsuko took a start-up runner stance.

"They are timing Atsuko's speed." Mei was quite familiar with the happenings in the garden, as whenever they were in a park the same scene would take place.

"Perhaps we should bring Mayu-chan next time." Ume wondered absentmindedly. Her words were followed by a confused gaze from Mei.

"You and Yuzu would get a respite then, Mei-chan." Ume knew far too well how much her daughters loved spending time with their sister. They were absolutely devoted to the child. They were such a young couple though, with mentally demanding jobs and long hours. They may not have felt it as of yet, but they needed to make time for themselves. It was absolutely blatant to Ume: They had truly been in need of this little break.

"Your little sister can be quite demanding, especially when it comes to her big sisters." Ume smiled as her youngest daughter darted from Yuzu to Shou, frighteningly fast as ever.

"I'm sure that you and Yuzu would appreciate having some alone time."

Mei was torn on the matter. On one hand, she knew that Atsuko would love to bring Fairchild-san, one of the most gifted students at the Academy and a genuine friend to her younger sister. Her father being British gave her a unique background, plus her ability to speak two languages had awakened Atsuko's interest towards English. She too enjoyed the blonde child's company as it provided her with someone she could enjoy speaking English with.

Yet she and Yuzu loved nothing more than spending time with Atsuko. Playing with her, teaching her new things, exploring new places with her, even just talking with Atsuko were all never-ending sources of surprise and joy.

Mother was not wrong though. Mei and Yuzu were in need of some alone time. A vacation away from the city by themselves was likely long overdue.

"Spending time with Atsuko is no hardship, Mother." The honesty in Mei's words was absolute. As was the happiness that filled Ume's chest as the love Mei felt toward her little sister played strongly in her voice.

Ume knew how blessed she was. Without Yuzu and Mei, raising Atsuko as happy as she was would have been all but impossible. Shou's work was hectic in nature and Ume was certain the man would wither without his charity work.

Her own work had a harsh schedule and Yuzu had spent the greatest part of her childhood by herself, something Ume felt still guilty about, despite having no choice in the matter. This time around she would have been able to hire a nanny, but it would have not been the same. Atsuko was as happy as she was because of her doting big sisters.

"Mei-chan, I know that your work schedule is quite convenient for Atsuko. Even then, it makes me so happy to see you two getting on so well. You didn't ask for any of this and you've still handled it wonderfully."

Ume had expected Mei to blush at her words. Her daughter had yet to learn how to take compliments. If the reason preventing Mei to accept praise had not been rooted in her solitary childhood, Ume would have found her embarrassment most endearing.

"Thank you, mother." Mei's elegant voice lifted through the air with a most pleasant tilt. The tips of her ears had indeed turned red, but what shocked Ume was her acceptance. She had not rejected the praise. She was looking at Ume and was smiling to herself as if she had just shared a secret.

"Bringing Fairchild-san along might be an excellent idea." Mei began to steer the conversation away. "Yuzu and I would be more than happy to look after the both of them. "

"Mei-chan..." Ume shook her head in exasperated amusement and smiled fondly at Mei. Her smile gave way to confusion when Mei's face set in a concerned expression.

"I fear that my position at the Academy makes it harder for Atsuko to make friends." Mei allowed herself a sigh. "Some students seem to have ulterior motives for trying to befriend her."

"Your little sister would not trade having you so close by with..." Ume frowned playfully and raised her eyes to the ceiling, fishing for a proper comparison. She came back empty handed and resolved to differently express her point.

"...Atsu-chan will have to wise up sooner than others. She will learn how to spot fake friends on her own. It is a very useful skill to possess." Ume reached for Mei's hand again, a gesture that had become incredibly common between the two. "In the meanwhile, she has her beloved Nee-san looking out for her. She is a very lucky little girl."

Mei could only nod. Ume had a way of assuaging her fear with little words. She trusted her advice completely.

A yelp from the garden caught their attention once again. Yuzu had swiped Atsuko in her arms and was now holding her bridal style while spinning around. The two were laughing frantically and Shou was standing by with a huge smile on his face.

"Catch, Papa!" Yuzu called before tossing a delighted Atsuko at him. Ume cheered while Mei averted her eyes, ever-concerned that they were handling her sister too roughly.

Shou caught Atsuko in his arms with little effort, then proceeded to sit her on his shoulders, making Atsuko the tallest member of the family, if only for a while.

"Papa! Take me to the trees! I can peek into them from here!" Atsuko urged her parent while holding onto his thick and messy brown hair. Shou was quick to oblige her.

Yuzu took the chance to take refuge in the room's shade. She sat on the porch and traded her sneakers for her slippers. She stepped into the surprisingly cool room and gracelessly fell onto the tatami covered mat. She then proceeded to crawl by the table and arranged her body in a most relaxed cross legged position.

"I'm exhausted…" She groaned before reaching for Mei's cup of tea. She drank deeply from it. The heat had baked her face red and a sheen of perspiration covered her slim shoulders. She had not put sunscreen on as Atsuko had, but fortunately she did not burn as easily as the child did. Her tank top was clinging to her frame in the most enticing way and her wet fringe gave her an alluring disheveled look.

"Mama… it's too hot." Yuzu informed her mother while fanning her face with both hands. Ume gathered the meaning behind her words and stood up. Quickly calling Shou and Atsuko back. Surely they could find a relaxing activity and allow the three of them to wind down.

"Hey, there." Yuzu smiled charmingly at Mei while lying back to rest. It was a smile she knew Mei had trouble leaving alone. Running around had worked up her appetite and the sight of Mei in a perfect seiza position with her pristine clothes only made her feel more famished.

"You are quite dishevelled, Yuzu." Mei stated in her most impassible voice. She took her cup of tea back from Yuzu, careful not to touch her lover's hand as she did. She then reached for the bamboo pot and filled the cup again with deft hands, putting her complete focus into the task so that she could ignore Yuzu for the time being.

Yuzu was still looking at her. Mei could feel the green eyes on her body as tangibly as she would feel a caress.

Mei sighed and put her cup down.

Smooth as a cat, she turned and leaned in, resting her left hand on Yuzu's knee for balance. She captured Yuzu's lower lip with her mouth and sucked gently before moving up to fully kiss her smile. Yuzu was left speechless. She had no time to react as in the same breath Mei had turned back toward the table and retrieved her cup of tea. She was sipping from it while looking at Yuzu from under her dark fringe.

It was a most mischievous look.

The Recap Episode

Amongst the commotion, Ume stealthily moved to retrieve her tablet PC. Watching her beloved family enjoying themselves on their rare vacation together had inspired her to reminisce about times gone by.

After pulling the device from her suitcase, she seated herself at the low-lying table once more and elegantly flipped it up onto its stand. With a few refined swipes of her fingers, she soon found herself staring at her vast collection of family photos. She and Yuzu had obsessively tried to capture every moment regardless of occasion and their efforts had necessitated the purchase of a tablet device with the largest amount of memory available to hold the Aihara family archive.

Ume smiled. She was now able to reap the rewards of her and Yuzu's hard work.

It was as though the rest of her family were telepathically linked to her and right on cue, the din quickly subsided and Ume found herself with Atsuko and Yuzu on either side of her, her oldest and her youngest mirrored each other, they were both standing on their knees, hands splayed on the table, looking at the tablet screen in anticipation, green eyes wide with eagerness.

She also felt Shou lurking behind her shoulders for a few seconds before dropping to kneel behind her, his tall frame allowing him a perfect view of the screen.

"Hey Mama, what are you doing?" Yuzu queried redundantly as she too beheld the impressive array of folders and subfolders. She was extremely proud of the library she and her mother had created. Baby Atsuko had proved to be an endless source of inspiration and once Yuzu started taking pictures she often found herself unable to stop.

"Your mama suddenly felt the need to enjoy some memories, Yuzu."

Ume's voice held the familiar warm and kindness, the two were weaved in her every word. Even at her workplace, she was famous for always being cheerful and gentle, which allowed her to elicit high levels of motivation from her crew.

She stared at the screen in comfortable silence. She was not going to start just yet. Someone very important had yet to join them.

Mei was standing a little way away. She loved going through pictures of her family quite a bit and even had a fair number of them framed on her office desk or locked away in her drawer for whenever she had a quiet moment.

She felt Yuzu's eyes on her and turned her gaze to her partner. Sure enough she was meet by her beloved's beautiful green eyes. Yuzu was smiling at her. Elegant as a feline, she covered the short distance separating her from Yuzu and fell by her side as in a perfect seiza position.

Yuzu took Mei's hand into hers and they weaved their fingers together the moment they touched. Mei felt Yuzu brush her thumb over her skin and relaxed under the familiar feeling. She squeezed her hand in response and inclined her head toward her mother.

Ume set her eyes on on a folder of miscellaneous photos of her youngest daughter, knowing exactly which image she wished to see. She swept her finger over the screen with practiced ease.

An image soon occupied the entire screen and Yuzu immediately started giggling upon seeing it. The photo was of Ume holding a three-year-old Atsuko in her arms, both smiling uncontrollably at the camera. Both mother and daughter were wearing bright yellow hard hats that Ume had brought home from a recent job. The top half of Atsuko's face was obscured as the adult-sized hat sat precariously on her head. She was quite the adorable and comical sight. Ume felt Shou's deep toned laugh behind her, this was one of his favorite pictures.

"Haha!" Yuzu laughed in delight. She loved how almost every picture had a little anecdote attached to it and could never pass the chance of bringing them up.

"We spent so long trying to balance that thing! Do you remember this, Atsu-chan?" Yuzu turned her bright smile toward Atsuko. The child was resting against her Mama's side and seemed to be deep in thought.

"Ah!" She piped up and grinned at her oldest sister. "Yes, I do!"

Atsuko nodded enthusiastically, conveniently forgetting that her constant squirming was the reason why the shot took so long to set up. It could not be helped, as she had even been electric as a toddler. When she was with her Yuzu-nee, things got even more hectic as the two would feed on each other's energy and be a constant storm.

That was it, unless Nee-san was reading to her. Mei's voice held a spell within its even and elegant tilt; under it Atsuko would be charmed and settle down in a short minute. Because of this. Mei had always been on bedtime duties.

While staring at the picture, Ume reached to ruffle Atsuko's hair in response, perhaps in an impromptu bid to return it to the chaotic state featured in the image captured by Yuzu's phone. It did not take much effort as her playtime had left her with quite the wild lion's mane.

"And there you are, Mei-chan!" Ume's fingers glided on the screen to enlarge a portion of the pictures.

Ume's attention was focused over the background of the image, where Mei was sat at the dining room table and staring intently at the outlandish scene. Her expression was one of confoundment as she struggled to parse just why the two needed to wear such articles of clothing. Was their apartment really so unsafe? Or at least, that was what Ume had guessed her to be thinking, for one that always guarded her emotion so closely, Mei-chan's face was incredibly expressive in its own way.

Ume then switched to another folder, this one containing images from a more recent event. She knew Shou had been waiting to see the whole collection of pictures taken from the sports festival as Ume had only been able to send a few over to him.

"Yuzu, did you really have to take so many?" Mei asked as her mother scrolled through row after row of image. Some pictures were consecutive ones, chronicling an action from start to finish. It made it difficult to find the good ones.

"To be fair, Kaori-san took most of them." Yuzu remarked as they eyed up images from the Aihara Academy's latest sports day. She had started smiling upon seeing the first picture and had yet to stop.

"The most beautiful ones are hers." Yuzu had honestly been too preoccupied to cheer and support her sister to think of pictures. She took none during the race.

"Kaori-san is quite meticulous and has a very good eye." Mei added, the respect she had for her secretary was evident in her voice. There was a reason why she had asked Kaori-san to cover the whole event to the best of her abilities.

"Well I'm glad that there are so many!" Shou piped in, still resting his hand on his wife's shoulder, holding on to her with a tender caress.

He was still feeling slightly guilty over not being able to attend, even though Atsuko had been splendidly cheered and supported by her sisters. The unfettered joy that the three displayed in the pictures was proof of that.

Ume settled on an image and Mei started blushing as soon as it spread to cover the entirety of the screen, her ears once again marked with the darkest shade of red. Yuzu squeezed Mei's hand and could not resist turning around and sneaking a quick kiss on her cheek as Mei was all but leaning into her now.

The photo in question was taken moments after Atsuko had won her race in a dramatic fashion and her two sisters had dashed over to celebrate with her.

Mei's usually guarded expression was nowhere to be found, instead replaced by a sincere open-mouthed smile as she embraced both Yuzu and Atsuko. Atsuko was being held up by both sisters and occupied the place of honor between them. Atsuko looked exhausted and was a mess of sweat. Mei and Yuzu were also coated in a similar amount of sweat as their exhausted younger sister was, a result of their hysterics during the race itself.

"Quite an undignified look for the Chairwoman." Yuzu twisted the knife with her playful assessment.

"Well I think you look lovely, Mei-chan." Ume quickly came to her daughter's defence, praising the rare moment of Mei completely dropping her emotional shields.

"You truly do, Mei." Shou had not planned to say any of this out loud. Yet his lips parted and sounds came out. He had never seen Mei smile like that. Not even before the divorce, not even her picture with Mr. Bearian could compete with such smile. She was simply radiant, burning with happiness and pride.

Shou was blushing and almost felt like apologizing, despite not being sure as to what he was apologizing for. He did not dare to look at Mei until the feeling of Ume's hand reaching back and grabbing his side comforted him and filled him with a measure of courage. He looked up and sure enough, Mei was staring at the table. Hy the color of the tips of her ears, she must have been blushing as badly as he was.

The tension was broken by a common source when Atsuko stood up and glared at her oldest sister with a scowl on her face.

"Yuzu-nee." Her voice held an adorable scolding quality. "Nee-san never teases you!"

Yuzu's face went slack with surprise as her younger sister all but reprimanded her. Atsuko looked quite serious too.

"Wh…." She found herself gaping like a fish.

"Seriously…" She started. Atsu-chan had no idea of what she was talking about. Mei teased Yuzu mercilessly and had no need for Little Samurai in shining armour to defend her.

"Mei-Chan truly is too good..." Ume sighed while shaking her head. She knew what Atsuko was doing and was quite willing to join in. Although Ume practiced teasing to an art form and was quite aware that Mei-chan did in fact tease Yuzu too, albeit in a less obvious way.

"Thank you, Atsuko." Mei's elegant tilt gathered everybody's attention and all but rendered the room quiet. She bowed her head slightly in a gesture of gratitude. Mei was quite impressed as Atsuko had managed to keep a straight face until the end in spite of the fact that she was clearly teasing Yuzu.

"Although a moderate amount of teasing is to be expected among family." Mei said in a matter-of-fact tone while flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Yes!" Yuzu intercepted, taking her chance to vindicate herself as soon as it was presented.

"We can tease each other because we love each other!" She nodded several times, quite happy over the new development. Her impromptu declaration of love colored the tips of Mei's ears once again. It was ridiculous that in less than ten minutes she had blushed three times. At this rate she was going to pass out.

Atsuko sighed in overly dramatic fashion. She nodded once towards her sisters and went back to sit on her heels. Once there, she flipped her hair over her shoulder for good measure.

Ume's hands became a blur once more as she tracked down yet another of her personal favourite photos. The temptation was too strong and the moment was too perfect. It was as though the stars themselves had aligned to encourage her to find that particular image and she was determined to follow their will.

"Ah, here it is!" Ume exclaimed triumphantly.

Mei sighed as soon as she set her eyes on the image. She had almost allowed herself to forget Yuzu's incessant photographing in that particular moment so that she could only recall the joy of holding her youngest sister for the first time. Secretly, she was pleased that her lover had captured the scene so proficiently but she would never allow Yuzu to learn such a truth.

She did not know, but these pictures were among her father's favourites as well. He had Yuzu print him a few of them and he carried them in his wallet wherever he went Every now and then, Yuzu would have to print him a new batch as his would get inevitably ruined. Ume had thought of laminating them so that they would last him longer, but he stubbornly denied the suggestion.

"Remember when I finally got her to hold her little sister, Yuzu?" Ume asked gleefully. Seeing her Mei-chan hold Atsuko for the first time was one of her fondest memories.

Her Mei-chan had not known herself very well back then. She had not known how generous and loving her heart was. Ume was sure that her daughter had yet to fully learn such truths. Mei would most likely never stop doubting herself, for she had been abandoned too many times not to. Yet today, Ume had been overjoyed to have Mei accept one of her compliments without downplaying them. Perhaps she was starting to glimpse how irreplaceable she was.

"Yeah! You tricked her good! I could not manage it…" Yuzu grinned sheepishly.

"...She can always tell when I'm up to something." Yuzu leaned back into her lover's arms in a hopeful attempt to repent for the minor indiscretions.

Thankfully, Mei was ready and waiting for her, wrapping her arms around Yuzu in a deliberately limp hold. She made little attempt to mask that she had never thought less of her lover or her mother for their schemes. Quite the opposite.

"You were rather blatant about it, mother." Mei coolly remarked. Ume had not really tricked Mei. Mei would never disrespect her mother by denying her requests, so she could have simply asked her.

"There was no other way, Mei-chan! You were terrified of Atsu-chan back then!" Ume's tone was as warm and loving as ever, but her words were absolute in the cutting truth that they delivered.

"Nee-san?" Atsuko shifted her head forward and caught Mei's eye as she sought an explanation. To her, being held by her Nee-san was the most natural thing in the world. She could not remember a time when she did not regularly find herself in her sister's arms.

Mei paused, partly in shock and partly in an attempt to formulate a satisfactory response. She knew that it had been incredibly silly of her to put off holding her baby sister for as long as she did. It was an entirely irrational behaviour in hindsight and the absence of logic by itself was enough to make her feel a significant amount of embarrassment. She exhaled and made a silent wish for Atsuko to understand why she had taken so long to fully accept her.

"Atsuko, you were so small back then." Mei began. "A child is so delicate and precious. I did not feel that I was ready for such a responsibility."

Mei bowed her head in apology. She was no longer the person that she was back then, but knew that to Atsuko, she had become a permanent fixture in her life. When Ume was still pregnant, Mei had felt it would be better if she were to interact with the child as little as possible. Her own upbringing had taught her nothing about taking care of children and she feared that she would inadvertently hurt her baby sister.

Back then, she had even considered moving out as she was feeling like an hindrance. Thinking of that now made her shudder. It would have been the worst mistake of her life. She would have never found her second irreplaceable treasure.

Ultimately, the need for honesty had outweighed the need to be the best possible role model for someone she cared about with every fibre of her being.

Forgive me my cowardice, Atsuko.

"Well, my Nee-san gives me lots of hugs now!" Atsuko broke the tension surrounding Mei with the most innocent of smiles. She had complete trust in her Nee-san. She never did anything without a good reason.

Yuzu moved to change the subject, wishing to allow her love a reprieve. Also, the picture she wanted to see next starred her!

"Hey Atsu-chan, do you want to see the picture of when I first held you?" Yuzu asked as she ran her hands through her younger sister's silky jet black hair.

"Mmm…" Atsuko shyly planted her chin into her chest. She was not a particularly prideful girl, but she knew that the picture in question was not her at her finest.

Refusing to accept the answer, Yuzu began swiping through the albums and eventually came to a stop at the collection she was looking for: Photos from the day that her darling baby sister was born.

"Don't worry Atsu-chan, you looked perfect… Ah! Here it is!" Yuzu stopped on a picture of her holding the tiny child, who was wrapped up in an off-white blanket.

The sight was almost comical. Yuzu's cheeks were stained with dark streaks of mascara as she cried, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment. Her hair was unusually chaotic, a result of the stressful time she had spent in the hospital waiting patiently for Atsuko to arrive. Atsuko looked like most newborn babies. Her eyes were closed, her face was wide and chubby and her skin was a bright red colour. Her tiny lips were curled into what could only be described as a grimace while Yuzu's smile was as radiant as ever.

"Haha, I look so bad!" Yuzu declared, feeling a small amount of guilt for shoving her phone into the nurse's hands so that the unsuspecting young man could document the occasion.

"You could not stop crying, Yuzu." Ume remarked happily, eager to overlook that she too was crying too, just away from the gaze of the camera.

"Happy tears, Mama." Yuzu corrected her.

"Of course, darling." Ume agreed with her assessment.

Yuzu allowed herself to become lost in the image once again. It was such a special day for her entire family. She recalled the smaller details: Shou asking for permission every time he wished to leave the delivery room, the calm voice of the midwife, mama's complete lack of concern, and Mei sitting bolt upright in the waiting room, as though ready to be called upon to handle the delivery herself if necessary.

She thought about how she felt that day when holding Atsuko for the first time. It was pure and unrefined love. In truth, the feeling had not changed at all, even years after the event. Atsuko still made her unimaginably happy. The small child had been a unifying force for her family when they needed it most, something that she would never forget.

The Line of Fire

"Yuzu, Atsuko. We should get moving soon." Despite enjoying their trip down memory lane, Mei knew that they had another trip planned: A walk around the scenic Lake Kawaguchi.

Atsuko nodded enthusiastically at Mei's reminder, partly because she really wanted to see the lake and partly because looking at pictures of her newborn self greatly embarrassed her. Although, seeing Yuzu-nee so happy to meet her for the first time was absolutely wonderful.

"Right!" Yuzu looked at the picture for a final time before bouncing on her feet, enthusiasm present in her every move as was always the case. "We just need to take our bags, Mei. Then we're off!" She turned on her heels and pointed her index toward the lake before skipping toward the room's exit.

"Yuzu…" Mei sighed, although her tone held an amused quality. Yuzu gave her beloved a questioning look and noticed that her Mama was giving her a look of affectionate exasperation, one she was quite familiar with.

All Mei had to do was a raise a regal eyebrow. Yuzu looked down at herself and at her little sister and understood immediately. Atsuko too, seemed to be giving her a knowing look. The only one that taking in the with a look of bemusement was Shou. At least someone in this family still missed her number.

"Hehehehehe, right." She held her hand to Atsuko and the child darted to her side. "Let's take a quick shower, Atsu-chan and then we can split!"

Atsuko and Yuzu were still carrying the fatigue of their garden playing session and were, as Mei would put it, quite disheveled.

Before they left, Mei reminded her beloved to put sunscreen on Atsuko, having already doused herself with it. She had no desire to go to her romantic dinner with Yuzu looking the same color as a salmon sashimi.

"That daughter of mine…" Ume wondered lovingly once they left the room. She leaned back against Shou's chest, not caring about Shou being as messy as Yuzu and Atsuko.

The man was still kneeling behind her and quite eager to continue exploring the many images stored on the tablet PC.

As expected, Shou welcomed her to lean against him but otherwise made no move. His rigid education prevented him from freely indulging in displaying his affections unless they were alone and although Mei had withdrawn into her inner world, her presence was too powerful a one to forget.

After a mere fifteen minutes Yuzu and Atsuko walked back into the room, both clad in short and and colorful t-shirts, Atsuko wearing yet another of her Uesugi Kenshin crest designs while Yuzu's t-shirt was yellow and sported a huge purple "M" on the front. The meaning of it was far from subtle and it never failed to turn the tips of Mei's ears red.

Yuzu was carrying hers and Mei's bags and surprisingly, Atsuko had a purple drawstring bag on her shoulder. Mei had no idea from where Yuzu had fished that one from.

"Papa! Mama! I'm helping too!" The youngest Aihara announced proudly while turning around; she could not help but smile shyly when her parents beamed at her. She had spoken of her wish to carry her own things when Yuzu had fixed her own bag and her beloved Yuzu-nee had promptly provided her with a drawstring bag containing a small bottle of water, aloe scented wet wipes and her bottle of sunscreen.

"Yup!" Yuzu smiled at Mei radiantly. "Our bags were just made lighter by our little helper here, Mei!"

Mei allowed her lips to curl up in a delicate smile, Atsuko was looking at her timidly from under her dark fringe.

"I see." Mei bowed her head ever so slightly. "Thank you, Atsuko."

"Of course, Nee-san!" Atsuko yelped while a broad smile spread over her face.

And they were set go.

Atsuko went to hug her parents goodbye, eagerly reminding her Papa that today they would finally try the telescope out and nodding at her Mama when she told her to take care of her sisters for her. There really was no need for Mama to remind her of that though, the three of them were constantly taking care of each other. They were a team.

Yuzu and Mei bid their goodbyes as well and the trio headed to leave the inn. The weather was cooler than the day before, but not cool enough to promise a comfortable excursion.

"Heading out?" The innkeeper asked as they passed through the lobby, looking at the three of them benevolently. She stood behind the thick mahogany desk, still as always, wearing yet another pale blue kimono, arms resting the traditional pose, hands concealed from the eyes. Her silver hair was pulled back tightly into a strict bun.

"Yeah!" Atsuko smiled brightly at the woman. "We're seeing the lake!" She replied in her typically boisterous tone, quite happy to finally get the chance to talk with the woman. She found her endlessly fascinating, akin to a character from her samurai books. Her serene unchanging expression gave her a distant quality and the child had been reluctant to approach her, until now.

"My, my! I'm sure that you'll have a lovely time." The elderly woman responded with an honest smile. It was yet more proof of Astuko's infectious optimism, a trait inherited from her mother and her oldest sister. The innkeeper's sincere smile gave Atsuko a measure of confidence and she resolved to take a chance.

She stopped and cautiously approached the desk, prompting Yuzu and Mei to do likewise after exchanging smiles with each other. They knew what their sister was doing - She had mentioned it multiple times already.

"May I ask you something?" Atsuko asked with carefully-practiced words, just as her Nee-san had taught her.

"Of course you can, young lady." The innkeeper was happy to oblige her curiosity. It was a truly wondrous thing. She turned her ageless gaze on her and offered her another honest smile.

"How old is this inn? Did any samurai live here?!" Atsuko pitched her question with complete sincerity. Her desire to learn was palpable.

"My goodness, that is quite the question!" The innkeeper cheerily exclaimed, clearly delighted by having been asked such things.

"...My family has ran this inn for close to two-hundred years, so no samurai have stayed here, sadly." The lack of samurai staying at her inn did not seem to bother her in the least. Her even voice had gained quite the prideful note. Her ancestors' accomplishments were a clear source of honour to her.

"Did you hear that, Atsu-chan?" Yuzu's voice carried a genuine note of wonder as she searched her sister's gaze with delight-filled eyes while her uncanny ability to always see the glass half full kicked into gear.

"...That means that you're the first samurai to stay here!" A smile started to spread over Atsuko's face, slowly at first, but as the meaning of her sister's words sunk in, her smile soon turned into an uncontrollable one.

"Yeah!" She cheered, pumping her fist in delight and nodding enthusiastically as her sister.

The innkeeper raised a wrinkled hand to cover her mouth as she let out a small chuckle. Her grandson then appeared behind her on the staircase, silent and demure as usual.

"Ah, Akio-kun!" The innkeeper gestured toward the young man clad in a simple gray kimono. His face had a neutral expression and it was hard to imagine him wearing a different one. He carried little presence and only seemed to come alive when his name was called.

"You have met my grandson already. One day, he will take over this inn, as will his children."

The way she spoke the sentence left no doubt over the certainty of it. It was a given fact. Notes of pride colored her voice as well, and her face relaxed ever so slightly as if the notion of the inn passing to her heirs filled her with comfort and serenity.

Akio nodded pensively in response to her words and stood to attention, all eyes upon him. Even as a young child, Atsuko could sense that he was not particularly enthused by the prospect of carrying on his family's business. Her mind quickly turned to her own family's enterprise and whether the same would one day be expected of her.

Running a school would surely hinder her own efforts to become a samurai.

"Thank you." Atsuko soon shifted back to trading formalities, her enthusiastic tone somewhat muted by the new and unexpected thoughts that had crept into her mind.

She felt her Nee-san's gentle hand caressing the top of her head and immediately looked at her. Atsuko was met by her sister's beautiful purple eyes, her Nee-san was giving her quite the complex look as well. It reflected all her love as it always did. It also carried her will to protect her, something that had been there for as long as Atsuko could remember. The concern it spoke of was of a foreign kind though. Something Atsuko had never spotted it in her sister's eyes before.

Nevertheless, her Nee-san's touch and gaze never failed to make her feel completely safe and loved beyond any limit. Her anxiety was immediately banished.

There would be no time for dark thoughts, as her sisters had planned a fun and exciting day for her. It would be a day far removed from the responsibilities of work and family, a chance to forget about the duties of their regular day-to-day lives.

Theirs

There was not much that Shou had no doubts over in this life, except for the woman resting in his arms. He had no doubts over Ume. She was his absolute truth. They were enjoying the garden view from their porch and it had surely become one of their favorite place in the world. Unlike their daughters, they had no wish to track around, the time they had together was too short and they favored quiet moments over tourist attractions.

Shou was resting with his back against the ryokan's wooden wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He had his right arm around Ume, his right hand resting on her shapely hip where it intervened with hers. Ume's small frame fit perfectly against his side. His wife was humming as was her habit, not one of her favorite rock songs even, it was a slow melody.

Even romantic perhaps.

"Shou-kun." She spoke while keeping her eyes on the white gardenias she was all but in love with. "We should take vacations like this more often"

He could only agree with her as difficult as getting free time was.

"We should, darling." He could not resist the temptation of kissing her head. He wanted more but he had never been one to take initiative. Fortunately, Ume had no qualms over expressing her desires. Ume's heart was kind and honest, she had a fierce temperament though and was the most passionate of women.

"... they're back." He whispered against her head as Atsuko's clear voice resonated through the garden. He retreated from her as he had been raised to conceal his affection from the eyes of others. He no longer believed in his father's teaching but his shy nature forced him to still comply to some of its principles.

Ume let Shou go, steadying herself and stretching out her own legs before readying herself to greet her children. She waited, while fixing her green eyes on the spot she knew they were about to fill. As always, on casting her eyes on her daughters again, her heart would take a leap and skip more than a few beats.

Their children turned the last bend, walking on the stony path leading to their parents' room. The most disheveled of the three was Yuzu. Ume knew her oldest daughter had never learned to pace herself, so she was not surprised to see her in quite a frazzled state.

Mei held onto her graceful countenance, even though she was quite sweaty and had Atsuko on her back. Her youngest daughter was as happy as could be, enjoying a piggyback ride from her Nee-san. The sight did not surprise Ume, after Atsuko's bout of car sickness, she knew Mei would not take any chances and as soon as Atsuko had looked fatigued she had lifted her up. Ume had no doubt.

Even if the weather was running hot, Mei did not mind having Atsuko on her back. She was practically weightless and despite her height, her slight and willowy build created little trouble for her sister's slender yet deceptively strong arms.

Whenever she walked with Atsuko, Mei would slow her pace to one that she knew the child could match and she did as much during their visit to the lake. Yuzu had been all over the place as was her habit, often running ahead of them, sideways to them and even lingering behind on some occasion. It did not matter though as she would always come back to them and in a relatively short time. Although she often ended tiring herself out.

Yuzu's enthusiasm never ceased to amaze Mei but she still felt a small aversion towards her often erratic motions. Often times it would cause her head to spin if she insisted on following Yuzu with her eyes, and she rarely could take her eyes from her beautiful love. She would have to teach her to dance properly, though there was still a strange form of grace and fluidity to Yuzu's actions that never failed to capture the imagination. The true reason behind her wish lay elsewhere.

Mei felt Atsuko nuzzling against her neck. It was a good thing that she had but one ticklish spot, otherwise her sister would have not been able to indulge this habit of hers.

On noticing Atsuko getting fatigued she had immediately offered her a ride. As hot as it might have been, Atsuko holding onto her always provided Mei with a measure of strength and being able to aid her sister, even in such small matters, filled her with pride.

She remembered quite clearly how she had been forced to run after her grandfather or her father as they walked through the Academy, the two men paying no attention to her as they stalked the aisles. It was either run or being left behind. It made her feel inadequate on her best days and of no consequence on her worst.

As the trio neared the porch, enthusiasm returned to Yuzu's step and she all but skipped toward her parents. She sat on the wooden deck, immediately taking her shoes off and stretching her arms and legs out.

"It was so incredibly beautiful out there!" She turned toward her mama, smile spilling sunshine everywhere. "You should have come!"

Ume chuckled and took another sip from the Sapporo can that was resting on a tray by her side, then turned her attention to her dark-haired daughters, head tilted and with a questioning expression on her face.

"I got tired, mama." Atsuko sounded quite happy over the fact. "And my Nee-san carried me!"

Ume did not fail to notice the light tone of possessiveness Atsuko's voice held. She could easily imagine the cause of it and Yuzu must have teased her little sister over being carried by Mei while probably dreaming of swapping places with her. Her oldest and youngest daughters left little to interpretation when it came to their words and their expressions.

Atsuko's arms were wrapped around Mei and she was resting her chin on one of her shoulders. Seeing them side by side only highlighted how much they looked like each other and how different their expressions could be. Atsuko shared all of Mei's physical features but the color of her eyes. Another striking difference between them was how Atsuko was every bit as emotive as her mother and oldest sister. A good deal Atsuko's expressions were foreign to Mei's face.

"My, my," Ume's voice had a delicate teasing quality to it and her beautiful green eyes were laughing "It looks like you have your Nee-san wrapped around your little finger, Atsu-chan."

Atsuko frowned in confusion, probably unfamiliar with the expression while a blush colored the tips of Mei's ears as Ume had expected it would.

"Your Nee-san spoils you way too much." Yuzu cut in, taking care to sound playfully annoyed, also arranging her face into a menacing pout. A rather odd combination.

Atsuko sticking out her tongue was the immediate response Yuzu's words elicited. She could only answer in kind. Mei's only answer was to take off Atsuko's sneakers and finally join her lover on the porch, allowing Atsuko to leave her back safely.

Then she turned swiftly to look directly into Yuzu's eyes and Yuzu all but lost herself in her beloved's purple irises.

"You are in no position to talk, Yuzu" Mei deadpanned, but Yuzu knew she was holding a smile between her lips.

Yuzu had no reply for her, since Mei spoke the truth. They both spoiled Atsuko. After the passing of her father while she was a young child, Yuzu and her mama had endured a very harsh few years.

Money had been tight, something that Yuzu had only realized in hindsight as Ume had been very mindful to insulate her child from their financial strain. She had been happy just to be with her mama and to have her smile. Even time together had been a luxury though. Ume's working schedule had been brutal before her studies even came into consideration.

Yuzu wanted her sister to need for nothing. She had no trouble admitting it.

Clothes and shoes were her area, as were a few things she knew Atsuko to love, like Lego, samurai figures and candy. Mei was rather strict when it came to sugar. Which suited Yuzu just fine as she would detour and take Atsuko to the candy store whenever she picked her up from school.

They would get no more than three items each and only if they were small ones. They would then destroy the evidence, bump fists and resume their drive home.

Not a word would be spoken. So that it never happened and no one would ever know.

It was their precious secret.

Mei spoiled her as well, in different ways. She gave Atsuko all that had been denied to her during her own childhood. She gave her time and affection. She listened to her with the utmost attention. She was absolutely devoted to her. And the books… there were three bookcases in Atsuko's room already.

In the end, Yuzu could only nod at Mei's words. She had to concede. She reached over and stuck her arm around Atsuko's middle, enthusiastically hauling her sister into her lap. She wrapped her arms around the squirming yet laughing child and planted a couple of roughly affectionate kisses on her cheek.

"Well…" Yuzu started once Atsuko had finally settled in her arms. "I guess it's fine, since she is ours to spoil."

Atsuko could only nod enthusiastically. She approved of Yuzu-nee's words. Completely.

Even Nee-san nodded. Albeit firmly and just once.

Mama rolled her eyes playfully although she was smiling.

Papa smiled gently. It was his most frequent reaction whenever his children were involved.

"Girls, you better get ready." Ume showed her wristwatch toward her eldest daughters. Mei and Yuzu had a romantic dinner planned and if she knew her adorable Yuzu—and she did, it would take her more than an hour to get ready.

Lady in Red

"Yuzu, how much longer are you going to be?" Mei leaned around the corner and looked into the bathroom.

She needed no response. Yuzu stood with a towel wrapped around her head and nothing else, carefully checking her profile in the steamy mirror. Her vast selection of cosmetics had been carefully laid out like a surgeon's tools. For all of her modesty, Mei could not help but appreciate Yuzu's efforts to look her best for a special occasion. Her lover embodied glamour and she did not wish to ever take that away from her, as every tiny aspect of Yuzu's appearance had been carefully considered.

Mei blushed, knowing that the extreme lengths that Yuzu went to were also meant for the purpose of pleasing her eye. In this regard, Yuzu had never found anything less than huge success.

"Don't worry about me, Mei." Yuzu's words brought her lover back to her senses. "You can hang out downstairs with Mama, Papa and Atsu-chan. I'm going to be a while."

"Yuzu, we have a reservation." Mei meekly protested.

"Well I have a hot date and I intend to look good!" Yuzu's words were absolute and final. Mei had no retaliation to the shameless yet effective attempt to appeal to her pride.

With a sigh, Mei retrieved her waistcoat and set off for her parents' room.

Keeping Atsuko at arm's length required a team effort. While Mei would usually have been all too happy to accept her hugs and her relentless grabbing, she knew that Yuzu would be going all-out tonight for their meal and felt a great sense of responsibility to look the part too. She was not a vain woman, far from it, but her lover valued aesthetics greatly and the rewards were great when she followed suit. Providing the most appealing arm possible for Yuzu to wrap herself around was a matter of personal pride.

Mei had opted for a grey suit with a lime green shirt. Her forearms were exposed by the ⅔ sleeves - A flash of alabaster skin that provided substantial evidence that she may have been excessive in her use of sunscreen for the lake trip. It was hardly an outfit she would only reserve for special occasions as she often wore it to work, but she was very aware that it was one of Yuzu's favourites.

Shou played his part by sitting his daughter in his lap. The disparity between his bulky frame and her tiny build was almost comical, yet there was no doubt over who was in control in their relationship. He held the telescope box in front of her and was pointing out the various features to his captive audience of one.

"...The sky should be nice and clear tonight, so you'll be able to see the Big Dipper if you point it to the northwest." Shou spoke with confidence, expertly masking that he had been swotting up on astronomy all morning in preparation for the father-daughter bonding time.

"That's over there!" Atsuko pointed up to the right and towards the ceiling, eager to demonstrate that she had memorised where to look after a recent reading session with her Nee-san.

In the moments between Shou and Atsuko's excitable exchanges, the room was almost completely quiet save for the occasional crumple of the pillow under Mei's knees as she shifted her wait and the dull fizzing of Ume's recently-opened can of beer, which she slowly sipped at, taking time to savour the taste of her favourite brew.

Soon, the sound of flapping slippers in the hallway heralded Yuzu's arrival. Mei immediately rose from her kneeling position to meet her. The door then slid open and she was greeted by a sight that stopped her dead in her tracks. Mei had been expecting Yuzu to go all-out, but her lover continued to find ways to leave her stunned.

Yuzu's hair was pinned back into an elaborately tight braided bun - A style from her repertoire that she usually reserved for festivals and other seasonal events. Her skin glowed under the bright lights of the room, showing that she had quickly caught the sun and already turned a shade darker, with all of her blemishes from insect bites masterfully concealed. And in the hollow of her neck rested the emerald necklace Mei had surprised Yuzu with on their third year anniversary. It was nestled in the incredibly sensitive spot that Mei adored to explore with her lips, highlighting the gentle curve Yuzu's neck with its brilliance.

What caught the lion's share of Mei's attention though was Yuzu's dress - A sleeveless number with red and white floral print and a knee-length skirt. She had never seen it before and was quick to realise that Yuzu had likely purchased it especially for this occasion. Mei gulped. She had no wry comment or profound insight to deliver. The beautiful sight of the love of her life provided her with indisputable proof of just how much she meant to Yuzu. The knowledge was not new, but being confronted with it head-on had forced Mei into submission due to the sheer awe that it inspired.

"I told you she would love it!" Ume broke the stunned silence by addressing her oldest daughter with her smile.

Yuzu replied in kind, closing her eyes as she nodded enthusiastically, making no effort to suppress the grin on her face. She had been careful in her efforts to conceal her new purchase from Mei, so that she could surprise her with it for the romantic meal that they had long been planning. Her efforts had paid off in glorious fashion.

"Yuzu…" Mei could muster only a single word. It was the only word on her mind.

"I thought you'd like it! You're looking sharp too!" Yuzu's compliment was not a simple pleasantry, a fact proven as she gazed upon her lover with hungry eyes. She knew that Mei too had picked out an outfit that would most please her.

The two had been dating for almost a decade, but both still insisted on maintaining high standards for each other. Yuzu felt that it was imperative to look her best for Mei. Mei felt that it was imperative to look her best for Yuzu. Anything less would simply not do.

"Right!" Ume placed her can down on the table and rose to her feet. "I need to take a picture of the adorable couple!"

She effortlessly pivoted on the ball of her foot and grabbed her tablet, eager to capture yet another precious memory and save it to her already burgeoning archive. In doing so, she caught sight of her husband. Shou painted quite a comical picture as he was open-mouthed and with a stunned look on his face. He had little knowledge of fashion and yet even his eyes could marvel over how beautiful Yuzu looked. Ume could not resist snapping a quick picture of him before turning toward her beautiful daughters.

Yuzu pulled close to Mei's side and grabbed on to her lover's already outstretched arm. The two were perfectly synchronised with each other as they maintained their pose for the camera. Mei looked as regal and dignified as ever while Yuzu smiled brightly, her eyes wide with a mixture of love and happiness. Both found themselves struggling to maintain their composure as they took in the freshly-bathed scents of each other.

"Okay, now one with all three of you!" Ume gestured to Atsuko to join the scene and her daughter was all too happy to accept the offer. She scampered off her stunned father's lap only too happy to join the duo for a picture.

She found herself between her two sisters, both towering over her. The situation was quickly rectified as Mei swept her up into her arms and held Atsuko to Yuzu's side. Yuzu then placed her red-nailed hand on Atsuko's shoulder and struck yet another pose for the camera. She was in her element, while her two favourite girls were simply happy to join her for the ride.

"Yuzu". Mei turned to her once the impromptu photo session had concluded.

"Yeah, we need to get moving." Yuzu allowed her fingers to become entwined with those on Mei's free hand. "Goodbye Mama! Papa! Atsu-chan!"

Mei bowed slightly before setting her gaze on her younger sister.

"Atsuko. We will be back later this evening." It was more than a bland statement of fact. It was a promise to Atsuko that she would make time to watch the stars with her before the trip was over.

Notes:

Thank you for reading the latest chapter of Milk and its Derivatives!

For word count reasons, we had to cut chapter 9 in half, so the second part of it (and the conclusion to the Fujikawaguchiko arc) will be posted with chapter 10 instead. We also have a couple of references to things from our Derivatives series of side stories in this chapter too, so be sure to check that out if you haven't already!

We received some fabulous art for the bath scene that Galathmir was kind enough to draw for us! The art can be found here :

r/CitrusManga/comments/94j9h4/the_moon_is_beautiful_isnt_it/