"It's too hot out here," Akito complained as she and her fiancee trudged down the stone path to the tsubaki garden. She wore nothing but black, from her socks to her sunglasses-then again, it was her favorite color. "The sun shines too much here. I knew this was a bad idea."

"Well, maybe if you didn't wear all of that black, Akii-chan," Shigure said from his spot a few paces behind her, carrying a few things for their picnic. His statement was met with a grumble from his rather-pregnant wife.

"Akii-chan...don't call me that disgusting name...I've never been more demeaned in my life," the frail Akito spat, stopping once they had reached the small pond in the center of the garden. She walked across the stepping stones until she made her way to the center platform, the novelist not too far behind her.

Shigure only smiled at his future wife's words as he set down the blanket, readying them for the picnic. "Here we are," he stated, using his sandaled foot to press out any ripples in the blanket. "Let's just have this picnic in peace. Tohru made a lot of good food, heh."

"Where did she learn to cook like this?" Akito asked, in a rather negative tone. "Sometimes I don't believe she's a real person."

Shigure laughed and ruffled his wife's hair. "Don't be silly, Akito-sama," he said softly. "What a hilarious accusation to make. Tohru is as real as it gets."

"Not really..." Akito muttered under her breath.

A short silence passed between them. A crow cawwed overhead a few times, the hum of the cicadas vibrated through the leaves, a few song birds sang from their perches. It really was a glorious day.

"What're we gonna name her?" Akito muttered again, playing with the hem on her slightly ill-fitting shirt. Shigure just looked at her.

"Pardon?"

"I said, what are we going to name her?" she repeated herself, over-accentuating the words this time through gritted teeth. She was uncomfortable talking about this whole baby thing but...she decided she might as well get used to the idea.

Shigure seemed surprised, thrilled, but surprised, that she had brought it up first, but he returned her statement with a gentle smile. "I was thinking something along the lines of Yuko, or Ayane...Maybe something American. Samantha?"

"What an ugly name," Akito spat, as she started to dig in the picnic box. "I want to name her Kaoru."

"Kaoru?" Shigure grinned at the thought that Akito had been considering names, which meant she cared more than she let on. "Kaoru it is. What about middle names?"

Akito was silent for a long time. Shigure studied her face, though the young woman had only a very deep-in-thought look. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, she said, "..Ren."

If the novelist had been drinking, he would have spit it all out. "Akito?" he said between chuckles. "Are you...are you serious?"

The look she gave him made him realize very quickly that she was, in fact, serious.

"Ah, well... Are you...Positive? You want to name your own daughter after her?"

"Kaoru Ren... 'Fragrant Lotus'..." Akito only said that, and nothing more. Shigure knew she was just finding an excuse, but he didn't want to press it. Perhaps she was pitying her mother? Or maybe it was some darker plan...

Either way, he smiled and gave her a gentle kiss. "Kaoru Ren Sohma. It's perfect."

Short, long awaited chapter. It'll be longer next time! Sorry!