Final chapter! Hope you enjoyed the story!
"Papa! Mikuma broke her sword again!" I called.
"I'm coming!" Papa called.
My name is Mori. I am eighteen years old.
I live in a castle in the Sengoku period with my father, my adopted mother, a bunch of orphaned children - ningen, youkai, hanyou, it didn't matter - and a whole bunch of animals.
No, Bankotsu does not live with us yet. He's not quite ready to give up the whole mercenary gig.
However, I do visit from time to time. We made an agreement about a year ago, although it feels like yesterday...
One year earlier...
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yup." Bankotsu said. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to come with you, but, I can't just stop being a mercenary while I'm still at the top of my game. I don't think pops likes me much, either."
I cast a glance back at Papa, who was leering at Bankotsu, and not really trying to hide his dislike for him. "I don't see why he bothers you," I said. "No other person who looked at you like that ever bothered you, before?"
"No other man is your father!" Bankotsu said.
I laughed. "Oh, well!" I said. "I'll wait for you! Heck, I'll come join you every now and then! But, you must promise to come back to me! I won't have anyone but you by my side for the rest of my life!"
He smiled. "Good! You're mine no matter what, then!" Bankotsu said.
I nodded. "Seal the deal?" I asked.
Bankotsu leaned down, and gently kissed my lips.
Back to the present...
Papa brought me another sword.
"Arigatou!" I said. "Man, Mikuma is much too strong!"
I handed the sword to a hanyou girl with a bear's snout, tail, ears, and claws.
"She'll get the hang of it." Papa said. "What are you doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be teaching English to the older class?"
"Oh, I let them go early on account of a prior commitment!" I said. "I don't suppose you and Hana could handle the children for a few hours? I'll be back before sunset! I promise."
He frowned, knowing where I was going.
"I won't forget myself this time!" I said. "Seriously, I'll go, we'll talk, maybe kiss good night, and I'll leave! That's it! But, I absolutely have to talk to him!"
Papa sighed. "It's not like I can say no to you when you beg me like this." He said.
I hugged him tightly. "Arigatou, Papa!" I said.
"Just remember your promise." He said. "Why are you going so early anyway?"
I let go of him, and backed up a step.
"Not yet! Ban-kun must know first!" I said. "Be back soon! Bye!"
I had Kazeji take me to the Shichinintai's hide-out.
Everyone was sitting around, seemingly bored.
"Oi! Minna!" I called.
They all looked up at me, surprize evident on their faces.
Kazeji landed, and I got off.
"It's only been five days since your last visit," Renkotsu said. "What are you doing back so early?"
"Fine, how are you?" I asked, sarcasticly. "Actually, I have some news for Bankotsu."
They all looked at him.
"What?" He asked.
I went over to him. "Can we take this inside?" I asked. "I want you to be the first person to hear this!"
He rolled his eyes, pushed Banryuu aside, and led me in.
He closed the door. I seated myself on a cusion.
Bankotsu came, and sat infront of me.
"What's this all about?" He asked.
I blushed slightly, picking my words for a memorable speech.
"You remember the last few times we've been meeting." I said.
I felt pretty stupid starting out there.
Bankotsu smirked. "Uh-huh, go on!" He said.
I gave it some more thought.
"Well, uhhh...I had been noticing oddities in my behaviour," I said. "So, I went back to my time for a bit...I came back with this."
I reached into the sleeve of my kimono, pulled out a cloth wrapped object, and gave it to him.
He unwrapped it, and looked at the object with perfect clueless-ness.
"Yeah, what about it?" Bankotsu asked.
"Well..." I said. "Ummm...Oh! I had hoped this would go better! I wanted to make this a bigger, better, more memorable speech! Fine! I'll come right out, and say it!"
I leaned up by Bankotsu's ear, and whispered to him.
Once I had said it, I sat back down. I had never seen someone so shocked up until I saw his face.
Bankotsu shook his head and looked at me.
"Are you serious?" He asked.
I nodded, becoming nervous.
"So, you..." His voice trailed.
I nodded, scared to death now.
Before I could think, Bankotsu kissed me deeply.
I was so scared, I forgot to kiss back.
He pulled away. "Hey, what's wrong?" Bankotsu asked. "You were so excited to tell me this, why're you so quiet?"
Tears came to my eyes. "Y-you...you're happy?" I asked.
"Happy? Mori, you're baring my child! Happy doesn't begin to cover how great I feel!" Bankotsu said.
I smiled, and started trying to dry my tears.
"I'm sorry!" I said. "I was just...well, you wanted to stay a mercenary, for a while longer before settling down with me...I didn't know how you would feel if I told you! And, to be honest, I was scared that you'd leave me!"
I reached to him, and put my arms around him.
Bankotsu pulled me into his lap, holding me tightly, and gently rubbing my belly, where our baby was slowly growing.
We told Papa when we returned to the school. He took the news rather well.
But, he seemed to be a bit clumsier all evening.
Not that I was terribly worried. I had a baby to take care of, now.
And Hana was not going to let me think about anything else, easily.
When the baby was born, only one really big question remained...
"Have you picked a name?" Hana asked, handing me my son, to hold him for the first time.
I nodded. "I have to ask Bankotsu first, though." I said.
She had Bankotsu in the room as soon as I finished my sentance.
"Bankotsu," I said. "What do you think? Does Ukyomaru suit our son?"
I let Bankotsu hold his son. "Perfect life..." Bankotsu said. "Yeah. That's what this is, right here!"
Papa came in.
"Omedetto gozai-masu!" I said. "Papa wa Oji-san ni naru!"
He, too, got to hold Ukyomaru.
Our life was just as we named our first child. A perfect life.
Guess it's time to use that old, worn-out line!
And we all lived Happily Ever After...
This could've gone better in my book, but, hey, I'm waiting on your reviews! Bring my review count to 50, and I'll start a new story soon!