Simplicity is Bliss

Simplicity is Bliss

Chapter 9

Tomi rose early the next day to find Ukyo sitting with the little boy and sharing a few bites of salted fish with him, smiling when the little boy tore at the tough meat. Ukyo looked up and nodded to Tomi as she picked up Sae and Koji. As she settled herself into a comfortable position to nurse them, Ukyo rose and ruffled the boy's hair and crossed the room to kiss the twins and their mother, muttering that he would have Kirara come to the house while he went to deliver goods to the other people of the village.

So, he's still smarting over what I said about Akakyo. I should say something, but I can't…

She lifted her children and told the little boy to follow her, making her way to the Elder's home. She would ask the old man if the child could stay and be raised as a son of hers. But then, she would need a name for the boy…

"Elder? It's Tomi. May I enter?"

The old man called out for her to come in and she was greeted by the grinning old man, smiling when he lifted little Sae then her brother and set them on a thick blanket spread on the floor. His eyes turned to the little boy who had tried to take refuge behind her wide pantlegs.

"Go see the Elder. He won't hurt you, he just wants to talk."

The little boy, his pretty girl's face pale from fear, took a few steps toward the old man. The Elder smiled and told his to sit, pulling his own robes out of the way so he could sit with the boy.

Tomi sat next to the babies, listening as the Elder asked the little boy different questions, then called her over.

The old man's face was serious as he looked from the little boy to the former empress, his eyes unreadable.

"What do you think I should do in this situation, Tomi?"

Tomi swallowed hard and bit her lip, then took a deep breath and tried to summon up all the confidence that she had when she had been a powerful figure. But it wouldn't come full force anymore.

"I think the boy should stay with Ukyo and I. He is a quiet boy, but he seems to be very intelligent. I already love him…"

The Elder looked at the little boy and smiled slightly, careful not to let Tomi see it at first.

"Well, I suppose he will need a name then."

Tomi grinned and launched herself at the old man, almost crying in gratitude. She let go and backed up after a moment, looking slightly embarrassed by her own actions. The Elder smiled fully and patted her hand.

"I was thinking, Elder, that if you would allow me to keep him in my home and raise him as my son… His name would match him… Miyabi."

The Elder smiled and looked the little boy over once more, nodding his old head. Yes, Miyabi would fit the pretty little boy well, he was sure.

"Then I will let you get to your rehearsal, Tomi. Perhaps Miyabi would be able to help you out. Carry things for you or something."

Tomi picked up Sae and Koji, who had both been falling asleep, and walked out into the sunlight in time to see Kirara and her little sister walk by.

"Kirara! Come on, we have a dance to rehearse!"

………

Ukyo walked slowly to the small raised stage that he and a few of the other village men had built for the festival, smiling at the sound of the flute and a small drum. Tomi hadn't seen him yet, as her dance was more demanding with the full costume of blue, red and grey silk on. He noticed that she had put the heavy makeup on in an attempt to get herself in character, but she kept breaking it by grinning when she looked at the little boy.

"Ukyo!"

Komachi jogged up to him, carrying a sleepy Sae in her arms. Ukyo chuckled when he saw that Tomi had painted the little girl's face a little with the highly stylized patterns of a child who would be playing the role of a monkey. Tomi's makeup was that of a male water spirit. She finished a few more steps and finally sat down and called Kirara over to her, telling her to bring the brushes and makeup.

"You going to paint her up too?"

Tomi looked up to see Ukyo sitting in the grass with Sae and Koji in his lap and Komachi laying on her belly near him.

"Yep. You are looking at the priestess who was loved by the water spirit in the river. Miyabi, bring mother the rag. Thank you."

"Miyabi?"

Tomi smiled as the little boy walked away to sit beside his adoptive father. The man raised an eyebrow and looked to his wife for an explanation.

Tomi sat down and took the loudly crying Koji and nursed him while Kirara washed her face and listened to them talk. The water priestess had known that the boy would probably be given to the pair to take care of, but hadn't told them. She hadn't wanted to ruin the surprise.

"The Elder said we could adopt him and he would be one of the village's people. Ukyo, I know we've just only had our own children, but he needs us. He wants to learn to dance too."

The little boy looked up at the two and smiled his shy smile, and Ukyo noticed how very much like a little girl the child looked.

"People used to think I was a little girl too…"

Tomi smiled and traded with her husband, nursing Sae while Ukyo tried to get Koji to burp and cease his crying. Miyabi smiled and tried to make funny faces at the baby, but found that it didn't work so contented himself with just staring at the child that was now his little brother.

"Yeah, but that may have been partly because of the makeup."

Ukyo stuck out his tongue at his wife, then smiled. He really hadn't been angry at her for her words against his brother, for he couldn't help it that the two had never really gotten along. Really, the only thing that they had in common then was Ukyo, and that had even been strained at times.

Finally, Koji belched in Miyabi's face and Sae burped only a moment after her brother. Tomi stood and took both children and tipped her head toward Miyavi.

"Come on, sweetheart, I think it may be time for a little nap. Kirara, you don't mind if I nap for an hour and then come back to help you with your part? I'll leave these three with Ukyo, if he doesn't mind."

She looked at Ukyo to see him smiling and nodding. He thought that perhaps the boy would be able to do a little work for him and keep an eye on his younger siblings while his 'father' finished up with his customers.

In the cool house, Tomi arranged herself on her bedding after settling the twins in their little crib and keeping the fingers of one hand draped over the edge, holding the blanket open so Miyabi could crawl under with her. The little boy settled his head against her chest and listened to her heart for a moment before he looked up and asked her for a song.

"I didn't know big boys like you needed lullabies."

She had spoken kindly with a soft smile, but the smile faded when she saw the tears in the boy's eyes.

"Well then, I suppose a song would actually be a wonderful idea."

She tightened her grip on the boy and the crib, gently rocking both slightly, thinking that if anybody saw her, they would laugh.

Hush now, my baby
Be still love, don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember
My lullaby
And I'll be with you when you dream

Drift on a river
That flows through my arms
Drift as I'm singing to you
I see you smiling
So peaceful and calm
And holding you, I'm smiling, too
Here in my arms
Safe from all harm
Holding you, I'm smiling, too

Hush now, my baby
Be still, love, don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember this river lullaby
And I'll be with you when you dream
Here in my arms

Safe from all harm

Holding you, I'm smiling, too

Sleep and remember this river lullaby

I'll be with you when you dream

Sleep and remember this river lullaby

And I'll be with you when you dream

I'll be with you when you dream…

Tomi's eyes, already heavy when she started, barely got through the song before they slammed shut. Miyabi yawned in his sleep and both babies were snoring in their shared basket crib. Ukyo peeked through the window to see how everybody was doing later and found that Kirara and Komachi had joined his family at some point and were sleeping too. The blue haired man chuckled and left them alone, heading toward the Elder's home with the special tea and ointment for the old man's achy joints and constant stomach trouble.

Then, on a whim before he got too far, he went back to his storage hut and grabbed up his camera and snapped a picture of the mass of sleepers. It really was too cute to pass up.

Besides, he thought with a smug smile as he shook the developing picture, the Elder may want to see how everybody's doing.

Oh, the fun he would have…

A/N

Hey everybody. Sorry that this took so long to post, but I have really been not in the mood to write lately. My best furry friend, a big lab/chow mix named Emma, who has been with me since I was thirteen, was just diagnosed with a cancer in her lymph nodes. The vet said that she could be kept comfortable for about three months, but that I would have to have her put down soon. I've been hanging out with her a lot and have pretty depressed… Sorry again for this whining and for not posting sooner.

Also, the song is 'River Lullaby' as preformed by Amy Grant for the Prince of Egypt soundtrack.

Also, 'Miyabi' means 'Elegant', unless my Japanese speaking source is wrong… As always, please review, it makes the writer happy and keeps the characters fed!