Kyo fished out his house keys from his pocket, which was not easily done as he had to adjust the sleeping seven year old daughter who was asleep in his arms. He unlocked it and entered the living room, depositing her carefully on the couch and laying a nearby blanket over her. Tohru was almost finished with the dishes when the phone rang. "Hello? Oh Hajime! How are you? When are you-" Kyo was about to turn the corner into the kitchen but stopped when he heard her voice drop. "Oh... Is that so? No, no! It's okay really! I understand! Of course, studying is important! Will we still see you for New Years? Oh good! If anything changes please let me know." She hung up and sighed. Kyo walked in and leaned against the doorway.
"He's not coming home is he?" Kyo asked his wife. She shook her head and went back to what she was doing.
"He said he has a lot of studying to do so he decided to stay there for the holidays. We'll still see him for New Years though." She said in a cheerful voice but he knew her better than anyone. He could tell the difference between her real happiness and her feigned one. Their oldest son decided to go to their alma mater, Kaibara High School, this year but it meant him moving into the city with relatives and far away from them. It obviously hurt Tohru but of course she sent him off with a smile, waiting until they were alone in the privacy of their bedroom to let herself cry. He held her while she sobbed that night against his chest. Kyo felt a tug on his pants leg then. He knew who it was but still looked down. Their only daughter was her fathers shadow, following him shyly everywhere he went. She was also his spitting image just like her oldest brother. Straight, bright orange hair that reached her shoulders and big orange eyes that were shaped like Tohrus.
"Someone woke up from their nap. Here I thought I was free of the little gremlin for awhile." He said with a sigh and picked her up. Tohru giggled at them.
"Remember when Kisa used to follow me everywhere? You said it must be annoying. So do you still think that?" She asked happily. Kyo smiled warmly at her.
"No. Definitely not." He replied with a light laugh and leaned down, pressing his lips against his wifes.
"Ewww! You guys are being all lovey dovey again!" They heard. It was their middle son Kazuki. They both laughed. If little Kyoko looked just like her father than Kazuki was the polar opposite. He had his mother straight brown hair with bangs that stopped just under his eye brows and brown eyes but they were shaped like his fathers.
"Someday you'll understand." Kyo said with a small smile and ruffled his daughters hair, making her giggle.
"Welcome home, Kaze-kun! Did you have fun at your friends house?" She asked. He shrugged and went to his room to change. He also seemed to take after his father personality wise. He tried so hard to seem cool and grown up but really was a very sweet and kind eleven year old boy.
"Have you heard from Haji-Nii-Chan?" Kazuki asked his mother when he returned. He really looked up to his big brother and was also pretty upset over his choice to leave for school.
"Yeah. Bad news, bud. Looks like he can't make it home for winter break this year." Kyo told his younger son. He watched him falter for a moment before regaining his composure.
"We'll still see him when we all go to the estate for New Years though!" Tohru quickly amended.
"Yeah whatever. It's already too crowded here anyway." He grumbled. A bit later after dinner was over and cleaned up, Takanori went silently to his room. Tohru watched him leave and stood there for awhile with a worried expression.
"He'll be fine. He's just disappointed, that's all." Kyo said in an attempt to comfort his wife. He sat at their Kotatsu with Kyoko on his lap where she was coloring with crayons. Tohru looked down but then perked back up.
"Y-yeah! You're right! Everything will be fine!" She said.
"You can share my colors if you want." Kyoko said softly as she looked up at her mother. She was generally a shy girl with a very sweet disposition. However she still had a terrible temper. They've been called to her school for going off on some bullies more than once. You would never have known that now, when she was sitting happily on her fathers lap and messily scribbling in her coloring book. Kyo even takes her a couple of times a week to the dojo to help her with it. Tohru gave her a gentle smile and sat down, hugging her daughters neck.
"Thank you, Kyo-chan!" She said which made her husband twitch with irritation.
"You know how much I hate that nickname!" He complained.
"Awww but it's so cute!" Tohru replied, teasing him.
"There are so many other variations of her name you could choose from and that is what you go with..." He replied with a sigh. He knew there was changing her mind now. "You better not let certain people hear you say that..." Tohru looked away then. He stared at her for a minute. "You already called her that in front of him, didn't you?"
"N-no! Of course... Not..." She stuttered.
"Look me in the eyes when you say it..." Tohru had beads of sweat appear on her forehead. "Yeah that's what I thought... Anyway, I know you'll worry no matter what but I promise both boys will be fine."
"I know but... I'm just disappointed. Hajime is growing up. He's almost an adult. I'm just not ready to lose him." Kyo gently tucked a long hair behind her ear.
"Lose him? Tohru, he's our son! You'll never lose him! Just because our kids will grow up doesn't mean they love us any less." He looked down and smiled at their daughter. "Why don't you cheer mommy up?" Kyoko got up and threw her arms around her mothers neck then sat on her lap. Tohru felt her eyes stinging and hugged her daughter close. Kyo leaned over and kissed his wife sweetly.
"I'm really am lucky. Thank you for reminding me." She whispered softly and hugged her daughter just a little closer.