"What's wrong?!" He called out only to see their three year old son sitting on the floor, hands on his head, with a large red spot on his forehead and a grumpy face that he was directing at his mother, who was looking back and forth between her son and husband, hands flailing and yelling about what she should do.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry baby! Mommy didn't mean it!" She rushed to him and saw the frown he was wearing. Tohru couldn't help but giggle and throw her arms around Hajimes neck. "Awww you look just your daddy!" She exclaimed with a goofy smile. Kyo blushed and stood up.
"I don't know if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult..." He grumbled. Kyo walked over and picked their son up. "Come on. Let's get away from mean mommy." He said as they both looked at her, Hajime was still frowning and sticking out his bottom lip with geniune feeling while his father was imitating their son to pick on her.
"Well then, I guess I won't make someones favorite Onigiri for lunch then..." She teased. Kyo stopped and they both perked up. She knew both of her boys had a fondness for fish.
"What do you think? Is she bluffing?" Kyo whispered to their son. Hajime leaned up and whispered into his ear. He nodded and turned towards her. "We're willing to make a deal." Kyo said with a straight face and his hand on his hip. "We'll forgive you if you promise to not to be mean anymore..." Hajime whispered in his ear again. "Oh right... And you have make us extra fish onigiri. That's our final offer." Hajime nodded with a serious face.
Tohru put a finger to her chin and looked up, feigning consideration. "Those are some tough demands but... I think I can make it work!" She said and went back to the kitchen to continue with lunch. Kyo put Hajime down and the boy promptly started to run towards the corner of the living room where a small basket of toys was set up, only to suddenly trip. With hesitation, Kyo quickly caught him midfall and put up right again. This time Hajime was able to get to his destination safely.
"Please more careful son..." He said with exasperation.
"That was amazing Kyo!" Tohru exclaimed in awe. "You were so fast! I guess martial arts really helps with your reflexs, huh?" He rubbed the back of of his head.
"Yeah... That and I'm used to being around clumsy people." Tohru looked at him in utter confusion.
"Who-?" She started to ask but he just gave her a loving smile and tapped the side of her head with one of his knuckles before sitting down at their Kotatsu table.
"Sure are is a lot of food you're making there..." He remarked. She smiled happily at him and nodded.
"Yuki, Machi and Mutsuki are coming to stay for a few days! They should be here soon. Did you forget?" Tohru replied.
"Maybe my brain blocked it out. I think that kid spends way too much time his uncle. I wonder if we she be worried about his influence on Hajime." He said casually, leaning his head on his hand and flipping through a magazine.
"Mutsuki is a very sweet boy! I'm happy both of our sons get along so well. It's hard living far away from everyone." Kyo couldn't help but look down after hearing that. Even all these years later, he still has a bit of guilt for taking Tohru so far from her friends and family and keeping her all to himself. "I guess that makes these visits all the more special!" She said with her usual cheerful voice. Kyo couldn't help but smile at her when the doorbell rang.
"I got it." He said before she could ask. "Come on in." He greeted as his their guests inside.
"Yuki!" Tohru called excitedly as she walked over holding Hajimes hand. He smiled at her.
"It's been awhile hasn't it? Thank you for having us!" He said politely with a bow.
"No no! I'm just glad you could make it!" She replied frantically with a bow of her own then crouched down. "Why don't you show Mutsuki the toys you were playing with?" She asked sweetly. Hajime puffed his cheeks out in defiance.
"Hajime..." Kyo said in a quite yet stern voice. The boy creased his brow in a pout and begrudgingly walked over to his cousin and took his hand.
"Come on. I show you my toys." He said and guided Mutsuki to corner he had been previously.
"You must be hungry after your trip! Lunch is almost ready. Oh and we prepared Hajimes room for you. He'll be sleeping with us while you're here." Tohru told them while Kyo took their bags.
"I'm sorry to put you through so much trouble." Machi said in her usual calm voice.
"It was no trouble at all, really!" Tohru replied back, waving her arms in front of her.
"Yeah no trouble for you. I was the one who did most of the work." Kyo complained.
"And here I thought you out grew that sour attitude. I guess something never change, do they?" Yuki said with a slightly condiscending smile. Their relationship had improved immensly but Yuki still liked to push Kyos buttons every so often.
"What was that, rat boy?! You wanna take this outside?" Kyo responded with more mock anger than anything.
"You run a dojo but I bet you still couldn't beat me, stupid cat." Meanwhile Tohru and Machi began chatting with each other, completely ignoring their husbands.
"Do you need help with anything?" Machi asked. Tohru smiled and shook her head.
"Nope. It's basically done. Ummm, but if you wouldn't mind setting the table, I'd really appreciate." Machi nodded and Tohru pointed her towards the dinnerware. "Our boys are both growing so fast! I can't believe the're already toddlers! It seems like just yesterday we brought Hajime home." Tohru said whistfully as she put the food on the table. Machi gave her a small smile.
"Yes. It makes a little sad sometimes. Before long they'll be starting grade school." She said. Tohru drooped her head.
"I don't want to think about that!" She said dramatically but perked herself up. "Kyo! Yuki! Lunch is ready!" She called. They stopped arguing and sat down.
"You got lucky this time!" Kyo threatened.
"Yes because you have such a winning streak..." Yuki mocked. Tohru suddenly burst into a fit of giggles. They looked at her curiously.
"Sorry! I just got a really nastalgic feeling. It reminds of when we all lived together. I missed it." She said with in a sweet voice. Kyo smiled at her and rubbed the top of her head lovingly. He looked over towards where the two kids were happily playing together.
"Alright boys! Lunch is ready. Let's wash up." Kyo called. He helped to lift them up to the sink then they all sat down to eat. Tohru put two onigiri on her sons plate.
"Extra onigiri, just like we agreed." She told him. He smiled happily at her at took a bite. "How's work been, Yuki?" She asked.
"Really busy. Tax season is coming up so I plan to enjoy this vacation while I can." He replied.
"Yeah same here. Summer is always the busiest season at the dojo because kids are out of school. When it's cold only the old students and regulars seem to attend. It doesn't help that is such a rural area so getting around can be tough in the winter." Kyo replied.
"We were talking about enrolling Hajime when he turns five, if he wants to of course." Tohru said. Her son looked at her then from his seat between his parents. with pieces of rice stuck to his face. Kyo leaned over and wiped him with a napkin. "What do you think?" She asked him. "Would you like that? You'd get to spend extra time with daddy." His face lit up.
"Fun! I gonna strong like daddy!" He said happily. Kyo blushed a bit with embarassment. Yuki watched the scene in awe. He remembered how things were years ago. Both of them were unable to deal with so much trauma. Kyo was so angry at everyone. Yuki himself put on a mask just to be accepted. Then Tohru came along by chance and brought them out of the darkness and into the sun. He looked at his own family. Machi was helping Mutsuki eat his lunch and occasionally wiping some stray food off. After a bit he his eyes got droop and then he curled to his mother with his head on her lap and fell asleep.
"Tohru? What's wrong?!" Yuki was snapped out of his thoughts then by Kyos voice. He looked over to see her crying and sniffling.
"S-Sorry! It's just... I'm so happy! I miss having family over sometimes. It's just feels nice." She said through her tears. Kyo took out his hankerchief and handed it too her then put a hand on hers while she wiped her face.
"And you're still a crybaby too..." He said to her with a look of love in his eyes and a small smile on his face before lightly tapping his knuckles against her head.