Word Count: 16,987

"Bo-kun, quickly finish with your cup, please."

"Okay!" Lambo called.

Lambo was on the floor with Mephisto in front of the television, drinking milk after breakfast, while Takeshi and I cleaned up. I nodded at the response and grabbed the plates off the table to put them down on the counter. My baby came pottering over and offered me his cup, before running off to brush his teeth - he really didn't like the aftertaste of milk in his mouth recently for some reason.

I watched him go for a moment before I opened the dishwasher and began to stack the plates before the thundering sound of footsteps came down the hall and Takeshi slid into the kitchen on his socks.

"Daiki!" He shouted, and I jumped, whipping around in confusion.

"What?" I asked, holding a plate in my hands. "Don't yell like that, you scared me. Jesus."

"You're not meant to do the dishwasher anymore, remember?" He smiled, crossing the distance, and plucked the plate from my hand.

"Since when?"

"Since I said so! I'll do the dishwasher. You wipe the table," Takeshi huffed, pushing me out of the kitchen and handing me the rag and spray.

I blinked before going to wipe the table, brushing stray rice and dry seaweed flakes onto the floor, only to have Mephisto appear from the void and lick it up off the floor.

"Miphy, stop that. You have food in the bowl," I frowned.

The sound of ceramic clacking into the dishwasher made me glance over my shoulder to see Takeshi looking much calmer than when he had walked in before. His behaviour worried me a bit. The smile he had sent me was shaky like the one he had given me during his meltdown after school.

"Sweetie," I called, "Why can't I stack the dishwasher?"

Takeshi looked up from his sorting and froze on the spot, before he shook himself free and said, "You're better at cleaning than me! So work to our strengths, right?"

I raised an eyebrow but didn't push it further, not wanting to corner him just before he went to school again. And I couldn't ask later either. The others were coming for explanations. I'd let it slide today, but, maybe tomorrow I'll come back to it.

"The guys are coming tonight. You ready?" He asked gently, as we stood in the hallway, his bag packed on the floor.

"I'll be fine," I assured, before draping my arms over his shoulders and getting close to him. "After last night I'm...more confident about everything."

Takeshi smiled and leant forward to bump our noses together. "I didn't realise a hatred for capsicum could span two lifetimes."

"Capsicum is gross," I sniffed, and he beamed at me. "I'll see you after school," I cooed as I kissed Takeshi's forehead.

"Mhm! Rest a lot and don't let Bo-kun run you around too much," he smiled, pressing his own kiss to my mouth, then again, and again.

"Okay, okay, go," I laughed, giving him a push. "Make sure you give Chrome a warning ahead of time, she needs to get driven down here by Cooper-san."

"Bye Bo-kun," Takeshi waved, and our baby flailed from beneath his blanket on the floor.

"Bye-bye Daddy!"

"Bye shujin-chan," a jolt of warmth hit me in the stomach and the smile that stretched across Takeshi's face told me that it was too late to fight off the blush on my cheeks. Takeshi laughed and grabbed me around the waist again, before he repeated in a lower tone, "Bye-bye, shujin-chan. Be a good Mama for our baby."

I made a small noise in the back of my throat and glanced off to the side. He was doing this on purpose.

"Yeah, yeah, get going," I coughed, and when he stomped grumpily, I kissed his cheek and said, "See you in the afternoon, shujin-kun."

With one more nudge, I got Takeshi out the door before he could jump on the endearment and prolong the back-and-forth of affection. The last thing I saw before I closed the door was the great pout of indignation on his face and I sent him an unapologetic smile in response.

"I swear, Bo-kun, your father-" I sighed, coming to sit next to my baby on the floor, still hidden beneath his blanket. "What you doin' down there?"

"Shhh, I'm hiding."

"From what?"

"From the white man," he giggled, and my smile dropped as a stone settled in my stomach.

He was still hiding from Byakuran. He turned it into a game.

I stared at the lump of blankets unblinkingly, my mind disturbingly quiet.

Lambo peaked out from under his blanket and smiled at me, before blinking in confusion when I didn't respond. He made a small noise to get my attention, and I jolted back into the now.

"Sweetie," I uttered softly, and Lambo crawled into my lap, the blanket still wrapped around his shoulders. "You don't need to hide from the white man anymore."

Lambo's expression wavered for a moment, and I quickly cupped his cheek in my hand.

"But it's okay to be scared," I hushed, "Mama's still scared too. Next time you want to hide from the white man, come find Mama and I'll protect you. Okay?"

"Okay Mama," he nodded and seeing how he hugged himself, I swaddled him tight in his blankey and held him against my chest. "Love you, Mama."

"Love you too, baby," I whispered, kissing the top of his head. "Mama loves you too, baby."

We stayed like that, his head on my shoulder while the cheery music from mid-morning children's programs making his eyes all shiny and bright. I listened to my baby giggle at animated anthropomorphic animals, a handful of my shirt in his fist.

I needed to talk to Takeshi about this, but for now, I'd just enjoy the little bundle of warmth in my arms.

. . .

Mephisto yawned from the foot of the bed, ears twitching around now and then as I read aloud to Lambo, who was tucked into my side. My baby pouted as our dear protagonist was once again cast into detention by his mysteriously biased professor.

"Why's he so mean?" He whined.

"I don't know," I smiled, "Maybe there's something going on that we aren't aware of? After all, there's always a history before the first page."

"Maybe," Lambo said slowly, "Still mean though."

"Still mean," I agreed, and he cuddled closer to me with a pout.

I smiled and pet his head as I set aside the book, four chapters in one sitting leaving me a bit fatigued. I settled down in bed and wrapped my arm around Lambo, patting his back as he pouted into my chest.

"Well, if you got to meet Tom," I began, and watched him perk up in interest. "What would you say to him? Like, if you suddenly found yourself at school with Tom."

"I'd warn him about Dominic! And tell him to hide his socks better!"

"But because of the socks, he met Hermes."

Lambo paused before frowning in thought. Absently, his hands made little aborted grabs at my shirt, a self-soothing, kneading motion I had seen him make at Miphy recently or in the folds of his blankets.

I smiled and let the soft touching continue, my own hand coming to play with his hair as he dropped his cheek on my chest again.

"Then I'd take a picture of Shoney stealing the socks!" He announced, "Then she'd get in trouble for stealing while Tom and Hermes escaped!"

"Interesting route," I hummed before the two of us turned at the sound of movement within the house. "Daddy's home."

"Daddy!" Lambo cheered and wriggled off the side of the bed and out the bedroom door, Mephisto begrudgingly giving chase. "Daddy!"

"Hey, baby!"

I smiled at the sheer joy in Takeshi's voice as he greeted our son.

"Where's Mama?"

"In the room, we were reading again!"

"Let's go say hi then."

The sound of footsteps was cacophonous, several falling at once as they grew closer. It was nerve-wracking, but nonetheless, I made sure I smiled when Takeshi walked through the door.

"Takeshi," I cooed, getting up on my knees at the edge of the bed. I reached out to my love, and he smiled as he came and wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me tight as I kissed his forehead. "Welcome home, love. I missed you."

"Missed you too," he murmured, my arms looping around his neck and keeping him close.

He dropped his forehead on my shoulder and stayed like that, eyes closed and breath deep. It made me smile for real, seeing his face again after so long.

"BRO!" Ryohei boomed as he took up the doorway, stance wide and thoroughly blocking everyone from getting in. "BRO IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY LONG WE NEED A SLEEP OVE-"

Kyoko jabbed her brother in the side and watched as he crumbled with a wheeze before she stepped over his prone body.

"Daiki! How are you feeling?" She asked, not the least bit distracted by how Takeshi was still wrapped around me.

"Much better," I smiled, before laying my cheek on Takeshi's dark hair. "He's taking good care of me."

"Of course I am."

Kyoko giggled as Takeshi pouted at her, his cheek all squished up against me.

"Have you two been having fun together~?"

"Kyoko!" I scolded and she ran off before I could grab her.

"We have been," Takeshi grinned, all teeth.

"You shut up," I warned before a loud 'ooft!' caught our attention and we all turned to see Lambo jumping up and down on Ryohei's kidney. "Are any of you going to stop him?"

Hayato sniffed and pretended to read the time on his armband. Kyoya continued to lean against the far wall outside the room's doorway.

I rolled my eyes before pulling Takeshi onto my lap, the boy all too readily setting himself down, legs on either side of me. He hummed as he propped his nose on my shoulder, taking deep breaths from the fabric of my shirt.

Tsuna stepped into my field of vision and smiled in greeting, a scrape of his cheek telling me he had probably tripped sometime through the day. At his ankles, Reborn stood, an interested gleam in his eye but otherwise quiet.

"Daiki, how are you feeling?" Tsuna asked and I nearly laughed when I noticed how pointedly he was trying to avoid looking at how Takeshi was straddling my lap.

"Very well, fishy," I hummed before looking around, "Is Chrome here?" I asked and a familiar face popped around the door frame. She smiled nervously and waved.

I was about to greet her when I felt the now-familiar sensation of teeth against my skin. Takeshi shifted in my lap, his hands grabbing my waist as little, laboured breaths started fanning my ear.

"In a nibbly mood, my love?" I asked gently and got a soft hum as he started biting along my shoulder and the junction of my neck. "Do you think you can hold on until tonight, or do you need to decompress now?"

"Now, please," he wheezed, "I'm nervous. Nervous for you."

"Okay. It's okay, just give me a second," I hushed, rubbing his back before I looked to Lambo who was still jumping on the downed Ryohei's stomach. "Do you want to show everyone your bedroom, baby? I'm sure Kyoko would love to meet Mary."

Kyoya pulled a face in the hallway, but I sent him a look and he reluctantly shut up.

"Yeah! Come on, that way!" Lambo ordered his chaperone Sun, my brother all too eager to throw my son over his shoulder and run at full speed.

Tsuna stood in the doorway for a second longer, and I waved him off. He closed the door behind him and I returned to tending to my husband.

"What do you need?" I murmured.

"Kisses," he breathed, "And something to do with my mouth."

"Can do," I nodded and brought Takeshi close to kiss him.

He whined and held himself closer to me, before making a happy little noise as I pushed my tongue into his mouth and let him play. Takeshi suckled and massaged his tongue against mine until I pulled back and kissed his cheek.

"There should be...here we go," I opened my bedside drawer and pulled out a baggie of grape lollies. They were rather large, like a ball of bubble gum from a vending machine. I had to hide them otherwise it drove our baby absolutely insane with sugar. "Suck on this for a while, my love. We'll see if this satisfies you."

Takeshi smiled at me as he clacked his lollie around in his mouth. Shoulders relaxing from their hard line the longer he sucked and chewed. He hummed and leant his cheek into my hand, letting me feel his jaw working around the hard lollie.

"Feeling better?" I asked, and despite how he nodded I saw his eyes trailing along my shoulders and down my stomach.

"Love you," he murmured and I smiled.

"Love you too," I responded, and leant forward to press another kiss on him. When I pulled back I absently licked my lips before giving a happy hum, "Sweet."

Takeshi flushed and gave a cute little grin. He rolled the lollie to the side of his mouth and stuck out his tongue invitingly.

I kissed him on the forehead.

"Wait some hours, love."

"Okay," he uttered quietly. "Can we play tonight?"

I raised an eyebrow at my dear before huffing when Takeshi all but fell into my chest, big eyes peering up at me. He made a little pleading noise and acted all cuddly, arms wrapped around my waist with one of his hands slipping under my shirt to press against the small of my back.

"I'll think about it," I finally said, before giving the pouty boy a squeezing hug. "Let's go."

I heard him bite the lolly in his mouth, but he nodded and held my hand tight in his own. We made it to the living room and as I went about getting some drinks and snacks, the rest of the group filed in and found places for themselves on the couch and cushions on the floor, Lambo and I-pin chasing Mephisto about the space.

Takeshi glanced at me from the couch, hugging a pillow to his chest. I looked at the children then at him, he gave a quick nod.

"Bo-kun, baby, why don't you and I-pin go and play with Miphy in the garden?"

Lambo glanced between us, something so very intelligent and aware in his eyes.

"Okay! C'mon!" He cheered, grabbing his friend by the hand and running out the backyard, Mephisto on their heels.

Takeshi helped me put the jugs on the coffee table and threw a chip bag at Hayato. He reached out and tugged me by my wrist once everything was settled, until I dropped down on the couch next to him, cuddling up to me with a sweet smile.

"Dibs," Ryohei called, scrambling into the seat on the other side of me as Kyoko crossed her arms with a great huff.

"So," Tsuna began, taking a chip from the offered bag Hayato was holding. "Storytime?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I sighed, and he sent me an assuring, awkward smile.

Takeshi squeezed my hand and pressed himself against my side, an entire length of warmth from shoulder to knee. He pressed a kiss on my shoulder when the silence stretched. Kyoya grumbled from the far wall about taking too long.

"I am...similar to Mukuro," I finally said, thumb starting to trace circles on the side of Takeshi's hand. "A mixture of Mukuro and Bya-" I winced, but Tsuna nodded to show they understood who's name I had swallowed.

"The hell are you talking about?" Hayato grit out, "You're doing this is such a fucking roundabout way."

"Hayato," Tsuna prodded, yanking his head down between his shoulders.

"But Tenth-"

"You don't like talking about things either," Ryohei defended, "You only tell us about your past when we really need to know, like Bianchi, or Shamal-sensei."

We glanced at my brother. Kyoko perched on the armrest, looking a bit too vindicated.

"Wow," I uttered, "Straight for the soft spots."

"Fine, whatever," Hayato bowed out, accepting that maybe he had misstepped. "Go ahead."

"About Mukuro," I continued, glancing at Chrome, who had snapped to attention at the name of her other. "Do you all recall his eye? And the circumstances of it?"

"He was tortured," Chrome announced.

"And forced to remember six lives worth of memories," Tsuna added, looking at me carefully.

Takeshi's jaw moved against my shoulder as he sucked on his lolly, teeth occasionally clenching on the hard sugar.

"I have memories of one," I forced out before I could stop myself, "What I imagine to have been my most recent one, prior to this."

Several eyes blinked owlishly at me. Kyoya stole a sheet of seaweed and slipped it in his mouth.

"That's how I'm similar to Mukuro, but, uh, his memories are from the past. Mine are, in a sense, future. Not this future as in the future we just got back from but- think, alternative? I, uh-"

Takeshi kissed my cheek as he made a small noise in the back of his throat. Ryohei put his arm behind me on the back of the couch, boxing me in and warming my nape from the cold.

"Oh God, this is so much worse than just explaining it to you, love," I grumbled, taking a moment to hide my face in Takeshi's neck.

"You're doing fine, you're halfway there. Just explain the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey."

"I shouldn't have shown you the BBC."

"Oh, we have fun."

Takeshi scratched the base of my scalp for a moment, making my neck go up in pleasant shivers.

I cuddled him for a moment more, before rightening myself up and taking a huge breath.

"Where I used to be, events were told in recordings and documents. Tsuna's undertaking of the Vongola is a record that I found. It was a rather detailed recount, actually."

Hayato's eyebrows had raised. Tsuna looked vaguely ill at the concept of his every move being recorded.

"I never met you, only read the records-"

"And all the side notes with all the nitty-gritty subject info!" Takeshi chirped.

"I was obviously procrastinating something at the time, of course, I'd deep dive," I huffed before I flopped back against the couch. "I don't remember too much anymore. It's been at least sixteen years since I last read those documents or experienced the memories of that incarnation. But, as per usual, the things that stick are the most useless pieces of shit info."

Ryohei wheezed after choking on his juice.

"Like I'll be standing there, Tsuna's done something dumb, everything's on fire and for some reason, there's a giant turtle, but you know what I remember? The fucking name of Fon's monkey!"

Reborn's eyes flashed for a moment.

"I can't remember who's gonna show up at a crucial moment that could get Tsuna killed, but damn can I remember Lichi! Actually-" I sat up and glared at the Arcobaleno, who was sitting pleasantly on a little armchair he yanked out of the void. "What the fuck is your timeline? Like I get it, I know what's happened, but what are we looking at in years 'cause it doesn't make sense!? You're like, what, 25? 30?"

Reborn smiled and refused to answer.

"You're been bottling this up for a while," Mukuro chuckled, idly spinning his trident. "It can be like that."

"You shut up," I frowned, "You caused me so many headaches, both literally and metaphorically. That whole Kokuyo-stabby-time you had going was such a disaster."

"Really? I think you dealt with it rather well."

"You shot so many people and nearly killed Tsuna. That was the first time I got involved in a main development," I sighed, before rubbing my face. "So, we all caught up?"

Hayato narrowed his eyes at me.

"So you've been hiding stuff from us. You could have helped us so many times," he stood up and shouted, "You could have stopped Uni-san from killing herself!"

"Hayato," Tsuna tried and Takeshi lurched forward, Ryohei moving to block the way a bit. "I'm sure Daiki-"

"Maybe," I answered. "Maybe I could have. That Uni-san might have survived. But there would have been too many variables left unchecked-"

"You were just scared," Kyoya scoffed. "Don't try and frame this as valiant. You were just paralysed by fear. Again."

My jaw clicked shut and I gave a weak, tired smile of agreement. I stared at my hands for a bit, wondering about all the things I could have fixed, how I could have made things less painful for them all, ensured Tsuna an easier transition to power.

"I'm not like you," I said simply, "I don't have an unwavering strength of character. Or some great drive to accomplish feats. I'm not here to take over and restructure Vongola or save the world. I just ended up here."

"There were opportunities!" Hayato snapped, "So many chances to help, sixteen years worth!"

"Say I helped," I uttered, staring at him straight as some kind of hot, indignant anger started to bubble. "Say I heard about that fight Ryohei would have gotten into ten years ago, and I took both Kyoko and him home that day. His values would have changed from one interaction."

"We nearly died because of you shaking in the corner! We had to watch our world come down around us! Tenth died in the future!"

"Say I stopped Shoichi from fucking around with the bazooka bullet - which, by the way, I had no idea he had gotten his hands on yet - Tsuna would never have reached X-burner, Takeshi would have never figured out three sword style. Box Animals? No! And you, Gokudera Hayato, would still be acting like an inferiority-complexed little bitch who can't get his priorities in order either, and keep putting your Family in danger out of your need to be the best at everything and uncontested as Right Hand!"

We were both standing by then, hands clenched at our sides and breathing hard. I clenched my jaw and took a step back, thankful for the coffee table keeping that length of distance between us.

I felt hands on me and turned sharply, before calming down as Kyoko appeared at my side, a worried turn to her face. I gave a stiff nod and she pulled away, returning to her spot on the couch arm.

Tsuna was in the process of resigning his Storm as well, talking to him under his breath. Hayato's expression was still livid, he was pleading his case for Tsuna's benefit, but the Sky was having none of it.

My hands were grasped on either side and I was pulled back down to sit between my brother Sun and beloved Rain. Takeshi cuddled up to me, pulling my arm around his shoulders so he could be closer to my core.

I gave him a squeeze, taking out some of the pent up emotion in the hug. He made a noise into my ear and kissed my cheek, each one smelling sugary sweet.

"He got you angry, huh," Takeshi smiled.

"Yeah," I admitted, playing with the material of his shirt. "A bit."

The Rain dropped his head on my shoulder, hand finding my own again and holding on tight.

"I don't blame you for anything. You know that, right?" Takeshi murmured.

"He's right, bro," Ryohei assured, cupping the back of my neck with a scalding palm. "You helped us with so much, my hand would have been extremely fucked up during that fight with Lussuria-onee if it weren't for you calling it out."

Arms came around my neck and hugged me from behind, Kyoko rested her cheek on the top of my head and made a soft hum. There was so much Sun in the air, however, the scent of Rain wouldn't be overpowered as Takeshi kissed my fingers on his shoulder.

Tsuna eventually brought Hayato back to the couch, but no one on my side moved from their new positions all wrapped around me. The Sky glanced between each of us, before giving a great heave and scrubbing his head in visible confusion.

"I don't get it!" He complained.

"It's okay Tsuna!" Takeshi laughed, "Just know that Daiki's from a parallel future-dimension where someone recorded your every move and thought for several years!"

Ryohei wheezed.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," Tsuna muttered, head down between his knees.

"Look what you've done," I sighed. "You broke him."

Takeshi looked up at me and smiled.

"So you knew everything," Hayato huffed. "Why not just follow your roll?"

Takeshi jolted and I heard the crunch of the lolly in his mouth. He pressed himself hard against my side, his shoulder kind of digging into my ribs in his attempt to all but merge our skeletons.

Tsuna glanced at that reaction, and I saw the moment he realised something was wrong.

"You didn't exist," Kyoya uttered, something dark in his expression.

"...Maybe a Yamaguchi Daiki existed," I offered slowly, "But they didn't live in Namimori. And they weren't me."

I gave Takeshi a tug and he all too easily fell into my lap, letting me compress him down in a hug. Kyoko had pulled back and was staring at me, one thousand thoughts scrambling behind her eyes as I busied myself with kissing Takeshi's face and leaning against Ryohei.

My brother frowned and grabbed Kyoko's hand, our young sister looking both pale and confused.

"I don't get it," Tsuna uttered, "How could you not exist?"

"Just like Byakuran," Reborn hummed, "There are infinite universes. It would be impossible for Yamaguchi-chan to exist in everyone. In at least a handful, she would have either needed to die or just never come to be."

"Pretty much."

I rubbed Takeshi's back and tried to ignore how he started to press his lips against my throat as an aborted bite. He was playing with his lollie, the thing loudly clacking against his teeth as he rolled it around.

"So," I puffed out, "With that in mind, it wouldn't come as a surprise when I say that I would have no idea what would happen next if I were to get involved. It could have gotten worse, for all I knew. And that's the last thing I need to happen, honestly."

I let them digest this knowledge in silence, spending my time leaning my forehead against Takeshi's as I slumped back into the couch. He was taking measured breaths, each one taking four to inhale and five to release.

"I love you," I hushed, one of my hands coming up to cup his cheek and cradle his face. "I'm here now, with you. I'm happy here."

"I know," he murmured, "I just..don't like thinking about how close I was to not having you."

"Mm," I hummed and nudged his nose with my own before I pressed a long kiss on his lips.

Takeshi buried his face in my shoulder and I turned to check on my brother, a crease of distress in his brow as he cradled Kyoko who had come around the couch to be held by him. I reached across and squeezed Kyoko's shoulder.

Kyoko looked over at me and I could tell she didn't understand. She couldn't quite get her head around what I had told her, couldn't imagine the leaps of logic nor the suspension of disbelief required to understand that not only was I reused, but I was an abnormality.

I opened my arm to her and both the Sasagawa Suns crashed into the unoccupied side of my chest, giving Takeshi competition for room. They cuddled up to me muttering about being 'so stupid' and 'of course you'd be the weirdest thing in the room' and 'does this have anything to do with your frog obsession?'

"Honey, they're being mean to me," I pouted, and Takeshi wrapped his arms around my neck, hugging me to him protectively.

"Don't be mean to my wife," he grumbled, "Even if she is weird."

I looked at him.

"Tsuna! Your Guardians are being mean to me!"

Said Sky jumped at being addressed before he smiled and shakily said, "W-well, after what you've told us, you have to admit-"

"You're freaky, lady. I've said it before, I'll say it again: you're a cockroach. Even the fucking dimensional universe couldn't kill you off!" Hayato shouted, but there wasn't such a bite to his words anymore.

I looked to Kyoya, "Your students-"

He blinked. "Weird Handler."

My eyes widened and I looked to Chrome with a pleading frown, the guise of Mukuro covering her in a transparent shroud.

They smiled, one conniving and one sheepish.

"Sorry, Daiki-"

"What weird person, our Daiki!"

One could imagine who was saying what.

"Fucking rude, the lot of you. I bare my soul and this is what I get. Ridicule."

Takeshi cooed and kissed my cheek, "My Daiki is the weirdest thing, and I love you."

"Rude," I reiterated, before looking at all the members of my family who were crowding me against the back of the couch. "You guys, uh, you guys comfy there? We've got, like, the whole rest of the couch to spread out on."

"Cool, good to know," Ryohei nodded, his head still resting on my shoulder and not appearing to be moving at any time.

I glanced at each of them before accepting this was how it was now, idly playing with Takeshi's fingers and twisting his golden ring.

"So what's the move now, Yamaguchi-chan?" Reborn asked.

I sighed and shifted Takeshi closer to my chest, the Rain slipping off my lap a bit with all the shuffling.

"I've... kind of given up trying to stay out of it," I shrugged, "I've made connections with all of you, despite how I repeatedly tried to get rid of you-" Tsuna squeaked and Ryohei just stuck his tongue out at me. "And what's coming is, uh, some pretty intense stuff. You'll not need, but might appreciate some help."

Hayato raised an eyebrow. "What stuff?"

I nearly bit my tongue, a swarm of concern hitting me in the stomach. When the Simone came, they needed to meet the Vongola unfiltered, see their true, stupid nature. If they met with their guards up…

I looked at Tsuna, trying to imagine how he'd interact with Enma knowing the boy was there to kill him. Hayato's natural distaste for the unfamiliar, and God forbid, Kyoya's territorialism.

The silence was deafening.

"Something is coming that you need to go into blind," I bit out, "You can't know about it, because it would ruin your chances."

"Chances?" Reborn prodded.

"For a relationship, Familially," I explained slowly, "Close friends that will be invaluable to both you and the Arcobaleno. But you need to meet them blind."

"You just said you're going to help us," Hayato snapped.

"But I need to know when to step in," I shot back. "Look, I'm trying but every time I think about it, it just gets worse!"

"Well, can we stop it now, then? Nip it in the bud?" he asked.

"No," I sighed, "The core of this happened years ago. All we can do is sweeten the results."

"How about we set up a system?" Tsuna asked slowly, all of us turning to the soft voice. "You're worried to tell us some stuff straight, and I get it, everything's weird and funky. So, why not make, I don't know, a warning for us? If we're about to interact with someone or a dangerous situation, maybe I don't know, ask us if...If we're wearing under...wear?" His voice got higher at the end to show he was fast losing confidence in what he was proposing. "You know what, nevermind I-"

"That's not a bad idea," Takeshi chirped, voice a bit muffled by his lollie. "Especially if we're with the person Daiki wants to warn us about. Like Kawahira-san from the Future, Daiki didn't like him at all."

"Takeshi," I warned but the attention was there now and eyebrows were raised.

"You want to help us," Mukuro smiled, "Might as well start now."

"...Checker Face," I said shortly.

Reborn sat up and slammed down the cup of espresso he had been cradling. Tsuna jumped at the noise and everyone was on guard as the Arcobaleno got to his feet.

"He's not in that building yet, don't bother chasing him," I sighed,

"Checker Face?" Mukuro prompted.

"The cause of the Arcobaleno," I said, glancing at Reborn for how much he wanted me to say. He looked at me; okay, we stop there. "But you get it. There have been people you've interacted with that...I'd rather you didn't sometimes."

I shifted a bit before saying, "I'll be keeping an eye on Takeshi in the future as well. His love of talking will get him in trouble, and I'm not letting that happen. Not again."

Takeshi glanced up at me before I wrapped my arm around him and all but crushed him to my chest.

"I let you get hurt during the Ring Battles, and I've never forgiven myself. I won't let you get hurt again. If need be, I'll fight them myself."

The others glanced at each other, suddenly realising this was more real than they had thought.

"I might not ask if you're wearing underwear," I laughed weakly, and Tsuna's ears went red. "But we might want to think up some kind of sleeper agent phrase that we can just slip into conversation. And maybe something to call you all for a meeting."

"Might be an idea, we'll work on that," Tsuna nodded.

There was a beat of silence before I groaned and wiggled my way free of my family, stretching big now that I wasn't crushed under three teenagers.

"Well, there you go, there's all my guts," I shrugged. "In summary: reused, recycled. And scared shitless."

Hayato heaved and dropped his head back on the couch.

"Fuuuuuuuuuck!" He groaned, "I thought you were a double agent or some shit, but you're just a weird UMA."

"Don't call me a UMA you cultist."

"Daiki, come back!" Takeshi whined, making grabby hands at me. "Husband wants to cuddle!"

"Oh, you can handle five minutes. I need to breathe fresh air," I scoffed, "Don't pout, you were on top of me for the past fifteen minutes."

I rolled my eyes when he continued to grab at the air before grabbing a cup for myself and taking a long drink.

"So," I sighed out, "Now what?"

"I've got the information I need," Kyoya announced, "I'm leaving now. Update me when you've decided on a phrase."

"Sure, bye birdy."

"Handler," he acknowledged.

"Ooft, been a while since I've heard that," Mukuro laughed, "You guys still doing that role play-"

Takeshi threw a pillow at the Mist with the sweetest smile in place. It connected with a solid 'thwap', before falling in Mukuro's lap.

I blinked, listening to the silence in the room. "Oh damn."

Mukuro grabbed the same pillow and sent it spinning in Takeshi's direction, only for the nimble little sportsman to slip out of range and Ryohei to get a mouthful of cushion and choke on his laughter.

Ryohei roared and pegged the offending pillow with all his strength, Mukuro smiled wide and I saw the horrible moment Mist scented the air and Ryohei sent the cushion on a collision course of the back of Kyoya's head.

"Mongrels," I uttered quietly as the Skylark pounced. "The lot of you."

"Pillow fight!" Lambo screamed as he came back inside to the mayhem.

"Bo-kun, no, we're not- oomph!" I sputtered as Hayato got me in the face in his attempts to defend the Tenths honour, Takeshi cackling as he ducked out from behind me, his meat shield. "Takeshi!?"

"Sorry, sweetie, I'll make it up to you!" He laughed before bounding away and sending a pillow straight for Tsuna's nose.

Ryohei suddenly appeared at my side and I wheezed before Kyoko chucked a pillow at me and we both locked in a stalemate. He'd make a step and I'd give a threatening jerk of cushion.

"Fucking try it, I dare you."

"You first, coward."

Kyoko ran past and in one smooth motion got me in the back of the head and Ryohei in the face before she was over the couch and free from our reach.

"Oi!"

"Underhanded!"

"Maybe stop your cobra posturing and fight, cowards!" she cackled, before gasping.

Tsuna had very, oh so very, gently bopped her on the back of the head.

"How does it feel!?" Ryohei dogged.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen!"

Tsuna gave a shaky smile as Kyoko gaped up at him, her pride playfully wounded.

I glanced to the side and gave a surprised snort when I saw Hayato and Mukuro on the floor, trying to smother one another with their respective padded weapons. Takeshi and Kyoya were throwing things at each other from the opposing couches.

"Oh, Tsuyoshi-tou-san's gonna kill us," I laughed, before giving a shrug and frisbee throwing my pillow, watching with great satisfaction as it got Kyoya in the side of the head. "Come at me, birdy boy!"

As I was bashing off Kyoya, I faintly heard the sound of Hayato and Takeshi fighting a losing battle against Chrome, who appeared to be doing trench style warfare with Kyoko at her side. Lambo and I-pin were in the process of trying to give Ryohei carpet burn. Meanwhile, Tsuna was worryingly unaccounted for.

Oh, wait, there he is. He got Takeshi.

|G.H|

Hayato sighed as he stepped out with the Tenth, both of them thoroughly confused and a little bit existentially horrified. They had watched Takeshi usher Lambo and Daiki off to bed, ever the doting husband, but had seen the slight signal for them to wait outside.

After the small cushion scuffle, Kyoya had slipped away just in time to avoid detection as the old Yamamoto Tsuyoshi had walked in to give them an earful.

"What do we do with this?" He sighed and Tsuna looked up at him. "That Daiki, she...Damn, she got the short end of the straw for a whole bunch of shit."

Tsuna nodded slowly before he grumbled and started rubbing his face with frustration.

"God, nothing in life can be simple, can it?" The Sky grumbled before straying off to sit on a bench.

The door to Takesushi slid open and Takeshi stepped out, all bundled up in a jacket that was obviously Daiki's and red-faced. One look was enough for Hayato to roll his eyes. Apparently Daiki had fussed over him before he came.

"How is she?" Tsuna asked and Hayato watched the Rain let out a sheepish laugh.

"Daiki's fine now, she's got Ryohei, Kyoko and Chrome with her."

"That muscle head's taking his sweet time getting out here," Hayato grumbled, checking his watch irritably. "You'd think they hadn't seen each other for months."

"Those two have always been together," Takeshi smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets and cuddling up tight. "This is probably one of the longest times they've been apart - that time with the Watanabe not-withstanding."

"Then why's Chrome still in there?"

"Chrome is staying at Daiki's...other house, right?" the Tenth blinked, "Then they've probably gotten a lot closer."

"Yeah! Daiki's got a real soft spot for her now," Takeshi agreed.

The Rain giggled a bit and sniffed the collar of the red and black '5' hoodie and Hayato rubbed his face. Fucking unbelievable, the horny bastards.

"I'm here!" Ryohei shouted, Chrome hot on his tail as he all but scrambled to their meeting point. "Sorry, lots to catch up on! When Kyoko and Daiki start talking, its hard to get away. They're still talking, they haven't stopped. I don't know what they're talking about and at this point I'm too afraid to ask. There were numbers."

Takeshi gave a sympathetic laugh and patted the Sun on his back. Chrome came and stood beside Tsuna, dipping her head in gentle greeting which he responded kindly to.

"Now that we're all here," Hayato coughed, gathering their attention, "So, now we know. Daiki's been holding out on us all along. What do we do?"

"What do you mean?" Ryohei blinked.

"Well, Daiki admitted it. She was - is withholding sensitive information. Huge stuff that could impact the Tenth's ascendancy! This can't be left alone."

Chrome shifted on the spot, looking around uncomfortably.

"Daiki's been helping us," Takeshi frowned. "She helped get us the Sun Ring, didn't she? And she and Ryohei took down Kikyo of the Funeral Wreaths."

"Yeah, and she healed us a whole bunch!" Ryohei joined, looking righteously furious. "Daiki covered our asses so many times!"

"I, uh, really don't think that Daiki's a threat to us. She's looked after us. And she brought Mukuro-sama and I to you," Chrome uttered, tightly fisting the end of her jacket.

"Tsuna, you can't be thinking that Daiki's a threat, right?" Takeshi urged, spinning to face their Sky who was sitting on the ledge of a low wall, watching his friends shout and disagree with a pained expression. "Daiki was there for us! There for you!"

Hayato sneered but looked to Tsuna, all of them waiting for their Sky's decree. Tsuna looked at each of them, and Hayato could see the gears turning in his mind, carefully thinking both sides carefully.

|G.H|

|S.T|

Tsuna first met Daiki on a hot day where the sun had burnt his skin and flushed everything bright. She had saved him, healed his wounds with bandage and sunshine. She had hidden the things he broke from the adults so they wouldn't scold him, and when he was slated to be home alone, she sat by his side and kept him company.

"What do you think, Dame-Tsuna?" Reborn chimed, and everyone turned to see the little Arcobaleno quietly sipping on another cup of coffee. "Yamamguchi Daiki. You've known her for years, but do you really know her? She's hiding so much."

Tsuna thought he knew Daiki.

Maybe not the best. Maybe not as thoroughly as Ryohei, or as intimately as Takeshi. But he thought he knew Daiki.

"Can you trust her with your Family?" Reborn continued, "She's not who you thought she was. Who knows what she might do? Hayato might be right to not trust her."

What could she do to his Family? His little patchwork Family he worked so hard to tie together.

Daiki could tear it apart. She could walk and take with her Rain, Lightning and Sun, maybe even two Mists and a Cloud if she tried hard enough. She could wait until they were strong, then seed doubt to burn it from the inside out, like a fever. She could-

Just sit there. And watch them with that usual expression of exasperated amusement. Wrestle with Ryohei in the grass and bounce Lambo and I-pin on her lap. She could throw paper balls at Hayato during study sessions when he got too in his own head. She could sit beside Chrome and help her do up her hair. She could squint as Mukuro and tell him to stop being such a theatre nerd. She could rage quit when Tsuna beat her in first-person shooter games. She could curl up with Takeshi on the couch and watch them all chat and shout as they ignored their responsibilities and impending homework.

Tsuna took a deep breath, threw his head back and let out the longest, highest pitch 'squee' he could accomplish.

"Whoa, whoa, Tsuna, you okay!?" Takeshi yelped.

"Tenth!?"

Tsuna sat back up and gave a sheepish smile, "Sorry, just had to get that out, you know?"

Reborn scoffed at his behaviour but didn't say anything else. It was up to Tsuna from here on out.

"So," Hayato shifted on the spot, glancing at their Sun and Rain who had their hackles raised protectively.

Perhaps they didn't realise it, but they were both blocking the door to Takesushi. Hayato would need to go through both of them to reach Daiki at this moment.

"Daiki isn't...all what we thought she was," Tsuna admitted carefully.

"Tsuna-" Ryohei started.

"Exactly, Tenth, so we should-"

"Daiki has also had years to cause trouble," Tsuna continued, voice shaking a bit at the idea of talking over other people when did he get so rash-? "Daiki had years to do bad things to us. She could have let me drown when I was a kid. Then none of this would have happened. But, she, uh, saved me, instead..." To this day, Tsuna still felt that pang of warmth at the memory, the undeniable heart-fumbling fondness that he doubted would ever quite fade even though he knew it was forever going to be just a memory.

The Sky shook his head quickly, no time to get lost in thought.

"What I'm trying to say is: Daiki has hidden stuff from us, true. But she's also helped us," Tsuna turned to Hayato who had a pinch of distress in his brow. "Hayato, I know you're worried. You don't know Daiki well, and your hunch was right, she knew more than she let on. But I promise, Daiki is safe."

Hayato looked hesitant, fear and uncertainty vivid in his face. Takeshi slowly unwound the tension in his shoulders and Tsuna watched as the boy put his hand on the Storm's arm with a supportive smile.

"Daiki won't hurt us. She cares about us too much," he assured. "Just trust us."

"We should all have a sleepover! Hayato needs to learn that Daiki's EXTREMELY safe! They need to hang out more!" Ryohei joined.

Chrome didn't say anything, but she was smiling as she watched Hayato look at each of their Family's Guardians, outvoted in the gentlest way possible.

"Tenth? Tsuna?" Hayato uttered, sounding lost.

It was times like this that Tsuna remembered how Hayato had spilled his history to him, a little boy hopping between Families, trying to find somewhere to plant his roots and belong.

Tsuna smiled, "To me, Daiki is safety."

They had to help slowly mend Daiki's wounds, body and mind. They had to soothe Takeshi's paranoia. They had to assure Hayato that they were here to stay. They had to raise Lambo. They had to free Mukuro. Their little Family had a lot of work to do.

"Okay," Hayato bowed his head a bit, "I believe you."

Tsuna glanced over and his eye caught Reborn's. Reborn's lips were quirked into a smile. He looked proud.

|S.T|

I looked up from my phone as Takeshi came through the door, all bundled up in my hoodie. He hummed a happy greeting at me and wasted no time coming over to kiss my forehead as I laid in our bed.

"Welcome back, love," I sighed, putting aside the device and watched as he started to toss off layers of clothes. "I heard some yelling, what were you talking about?"

Takeshi paused stepping out of his pants, before glancing over his shoulder at me and said, "Just Ryohei and Hayato railing each other up, haha!"

"And you had no hand in that?" I snorted, raising an eyebrow. My Takeshi? Missing out on a chance to peevishly piss off Hayato? Never in a million years.

"Aw, don't be mean to me, Daiki!" Takeshi pouted, before discarding his pants and coming eagerly to the bedside. "Bo-kun's in bed now. Ready for your bandages?"

I untucked myself from bed and let him pull my shirt off. I had showered during the day and had tried out some time without constriction with Shamal's blessings, letting my skin and chest breathe for a few hours.

"Play?" Takeshi asked hopefully, my loose shirt bunched up in his hands as he stared down at me.

"You've waited long enough. You can play now."

Takeshi threw my shirt off to the wardrobe chair and dropped onto his knees, a jolt of worry going through me at the sound of bone hitting hardwood flooring. But he didn't seem to care at all as he wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled in close.

"They took it well, all things considered," I hummed as Takeshi pressed happy kisses on my stomach. "Hayato got bitchy, but I understand it. He'll always be on edge, he was raised to be like that, the barking attack dog."

"Hm," Takeshi hummed, showing he was listening even as he started biting my thigh fat hard enough to leave indents.

I smiled and tangled my fingers in his hair, lightly massaging his scalp and tugging whenever he bit too hard. He's been so stressed today, so I let him work out his oral fixation for a while, kissing, biting and lightly sucking as he pleased.

"We'll need to think of a code word too now, what's coming up will need it quite a bit."

"Okay Daiki," he agreed almost mindlessly, and I raised an amused eyebrow.

"Nearly done playing, my love?"

"No!" He whined, "I didn't get to play yesterday!"

I laughed at his response and wrapped him up in a hug, listening to him grumble in my ear, before I tilted us sharply. He blinked, trying to catch up to the fact he was suddenly laid out on our bed.

"You've had plenty of fun playing lately, I'm feeling a little bit of injustice," I hummed, perching myself on his waist and smiling down at him.

"Injustice was when tou-san walked in and all of you blamed me for the mess!"

"You threw the first pillow, darling," I laughed, and he started struggling to push himself up on his elbows. "Back on topic: injustice. My turn to play."

Takeshi blinked before he grinned, "Play together?"

"Yes," I smiled, "Play together."

Arms wrapped around me and all I could do was laugh as he yanked me down.

Takeshi had always been a greedy lover and it showed in how he touched me all over, hands sliding up and down my back, curling around my waist and leaving bruises the shapes of fingerprints on my hips.

I hummed at the touch and kissed along his shoulder, paying special attention to the fading scar left behind by Squalo.

"You like biting," I murmured, "So where should I bite you?"

Takeshi took a sharp breath as he listened to me talk into his ear, digging his fingers into my hips and pulling me closer

"Should I bite you in a covered place? Somewhere only you and I will see, our little secret that I've marked you up. You can be sitting in class, among all your peers, and none of them will know that somewhere under your clothes there's the indent of my teeth."

"Don't be mean, Daiki," he whined, shifting under me and I smiled against his skin when I felt him pull my hips down against his again.

"You don't like that idea?" I hummed, "Would you rather I bite you somewhere we can all see then? Show everyone you're mine, that no one can take you from me."

Takeshi's response was to turn his head and kiss me wherever he could reach, making little noises at me that made my stomach warm.

"Whatever you want," he panted, "Whatever Daiki wants, just please, start."

I pulled back a bit and stared down at him, his pupils blown wide and face all flushed. I grinned with teeth and cupped his cheek sweetly, watching him let his pulse race before I descended upon him with the utmost affection.

It was only half an hour later, covered in bite marks and kisses, did I let Takeshi go and catch his breath. He laid on his back, breathing heavy and hazy eyed, smiling brightly through it all.

Never before had I seen someone so happy to have their body covered in marks, little spots of pink and red paired with teeth marks.

I hummed and kissed his cheek before clambering off him, ignoring how his hands tried to keep hold of my waist. He pawed at the bed after me as I started rooting through my medical basket, pulling out the usual scar cream, before grabbing some of the numbing.

"What happened? It's hurting again?" Takeshi jolted.

"A bit," I admitted, checking how many metres of bandages I had left. "That pillow fight stretched me out a bit. It's nothing bad, just an ache I'd rather numb out while I'm trying to sleep."

I turned and saw Takeshi staring at me with visible distress. I hummed and reached across to cup his cheek, making a sweet, assuring sound at him.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt any more than your bites," I laughed.

Takeshi flinched for a moment before biting my thumb into his mouth, brows furrowing in stress.

"Come on," I urged, "Do you want to help me put the creams on?"

"Yeah," he nodded, before grabbing me by my shoulders.

I blinked but let him do what he wanted, letting myself be guided back to the headboard where he made me lay back against. The Rain stared at me for a moment before getting his creams and rubbing them along my front.

"Where does it hurt?"

"Just here," I uttered and he brought a dollop of the numbing cream to the spot. "Thank you, love."

Takeshi glanced at me, before nodding and continued to apply the cream until my eyes started to droop.

"You're doing it again," I grumbled, feeling him rub along my sides and soothe out muscles I didn't realise were sore.

"Relaxed Daiki is pretty," he muttered in response and I gave a huff. "Turn around, please?"

Soon enough I was all wrapped up again, and I tugged on my nightshirt. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the moment Takeshi deflated in disappointment, his bite marks out of sight.

"Fussy, darling," I laughed, before tilting my head and kicking off my pants, showing the bruises and indents in my thighs.

I crossed the room to put away the medical basket, trying to ignore how I felt Rain sending off sparks of excitement and pride. I returned to the bed and was grabbed around the waist, Takeshi eagerly bringing me to his chest and kissing along my shoulder and neck from behind.

I smiled and let him grab handfuls of my legs, keeping me close to him all the while. I'd take this mood over a sad, distressed Takeshi any day.

"Love you, shujin-kun," I cooed.

"Love you too, shujin-chan," he grinned and I cuddled myself into him more.

We stayed like that for a while, just dwelling in our own thoughts while keeping each other warm. It was well past dark by the time we decided to actually get in bed, my darling quick to find a spot in my arms.

I was all warm and cosy as I held Takeshi tight to my chest, the boy's head resting on my shoulder as we curled around each other. Slowly, I was drifting off, mind fuzzy with half-dreams and the soft scent of Takeshi in my nose.

Takeshi shifted in my arms slightly and I was barely roused, making a soft hum to try and get him to settle down. He paused still for a moment before I felt a warm hand press against my stomach. It sat there, rising with my breath before it travelled down. He cuddled closer and I barely felt the kiss he planted on my throat-

I felt a hand nudge its way between my thighs and press at my core. My eyes snapped open as I jolted awake, grabbing Takeshi's wrist and pushing his hands off of me.

"Where do you think you're touching!?" I snapped, shock and heat hitting me in the heart, "I didn't say you could touch me there."

The Rain was visibly startled, still reeling from being grabbed and shoved. His eyes scanned my expression quickly, trying to see if there was any anger or violation if he had stepped too far.

"I'm sorry, I-" He uttered quickly, seeing the severe expression on my face.

"You do not touch me where I don't let you. I thought we understood that."

Takeshi's face pinched when he heard the sheer disappointment in my voice. He bowed his head and glanced off before focusing on me again, looking thoroughly ashamed as he softly uttered an apology again.

I chewed the inside of my cheek before loosening my hold on his shoulders, hating how I already knew he would have unkind bruises in his skin. I shouldn't have grabbed him so hard.

I took a moment to calm down, not wanting to hurt him anymore. He watched me do so and made an unintentional noise as I carefully seeded sunshine onto the bruises I had left, warming him up and leaving the sensation of apology with a reprimand.

"You need to ask permission," I scolded with an even tone. "And I will tell you where you can touch."

Takeshi flushed and lowered his head as he said, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again-" he glanced to the side, "Without your permission."

"Ask permission," I instructed sternly.

Takeshi blinked before his eyes lit up and he said, "Let me touch you there?"

I raised an eyebrow and pulled back a little, visibly unimpressed.

"That's the best you can do? Be more polite."

My sweetheart pouted and tugged on me, cuddling close but keeping his hands safely on my waist in a secure hug. I withheld a smile; he had listened, and was trying to bring back a happier mood between us.

"Daiki, please can I touch you there? Even just through the clothes?" He asked, really cranking up the cuteness, big hopeful eyes staring up at me imploringly as he pressed his cheek to my chest.

I smiled softly at his behaviour and carded my fingers through his hair, watching him enjoy the touch. He looked so giddy, excitable and ready to go explore something new with my blessings.

"No."

Takeshi's smile dropped and he stared at me completely confused and forlorn.

"But I asked nicely," he whimpered.

"And I answered no," I hummed, brushing his fringe from his face, his arms still tight around my waist. "You asked nicely, yes, but you touched me before without permission. So no."

Takeshi flinched and tried to hide in my chest, but I pushed him softly to keep him out. He whined in the back of his throat before he murmured, "I'm sorry, I'll stop."

"Turn around," I urged, nudging him. His brow twitched and I saw the moment he started to read too into what I had said, a shallow panic rising in his throat. "Roll."

Takeshi winced but slowly did as told, looking at me over his shoulder until I shuffled forward and pressed my chest to his back, holding him again. He murmured something and pushed back closer to me, grabbing the hands on his stomach and holding them tight.

"I'm sorry, Daiki," he apologised again and I kissed his cheek.

"I know you are," I assured, "But no touching this time."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"Shh, go to sleep, love. You're so warm, let me sleep too," I hushed, propping my chin on top of his head, letting my thumb run along his knuckles.

"Do you still love me?" He asked tentatively, and I pulled him tighter to my chest.

"Of course I still love you. You just need to brush up on your manners. Now sleep, we'll talk more in the morning."

"My arms feel empty, though."

"And that's your punishment for tonight," I hummed, already drifting off. "Mild and dissatisfying discomfort."

I heard his pout more than I saw it and with one last kiss popped on the top of his head; I cuddled down and settled back into a warm sleep.

|Y.T|

Takeshi woke up the next morning the same way he had for days, pressed against Daiki's side while she read a book or watched something on her laptop. He rolled over and shoved his face into her chest, causing the girl to abandon her morning lazy task to pepper kisses wherever she could reach.

He laid like that for a moment, enjoying the warmth and the comfort of the position, wondering why he hadn't fallen asleep like that, it would have been so much easier- Takeshi flinched and drew his hands back, remembering how he had acted last night.

"Good morning," Daiki whispered, wrapping an arm around him. Takeshi waited for some kind of soft reprimand for overstepping again, but the girl continued to coo at him, a soft smile on her face and she tugged him closer. "It's okay now. Good morning."

"...Morning," Takeshi mumbled meekly, carefully trying to find another comfortable position for himself before settling down again. Her chest rose and fell under his cheek and he felt his eyes start to drift closed again.

"You have class, don't go back to sleep," Daiki urged, kissing the top of his head.

"No, I don't."

"Oh?"

Takeshi nuzzled his cheek against her shirt and uttered a lazy, "School got crushed by a turtle...No classes for the rest of life."

He heard Daik's laugh from within her chest, her hand coming to pet his hair and scratch at his nape. Felt so good, so warm and calming.

"Did that really happen or is that what you want to happen?"

"Mmm..."

"Sweetie," she chuckled, before returning to her morning task of watching some video.

Takeshi glanced at it; frog documentary. He chuckled and got a huff out of her.

"What time is it?" he yawned.

"Nearly seven."

"Oh, I have time," Takeshi scoffed, before curling up tight with his arms around her waist now that she had forgiven him. "Love you, love you, love you."

"I'll wake you up in fifteen minutes, my love."

The Rain cuddled down and he smiled as he drifted off again to the sensation of her hand in his hair, and her breath in his ears. Eventually, he had to get up and Daiki roused him with kisses, pressing all over his face and repeatedly against his lips.

"Go get ready for school," she urged, and he rolled out of bed with great reluctance.

Despite his huff, Takeshi couldn't refuse the quirk of his lips when he felt eyes burn along his skin as he walked about the room getting his pants on. He knew Daiki liked the shape of his back, so he waited for the last minute to put on any shirts, sitting on the edge of the bed as he pulled his socks on.

A hand laid on his back and Takeshi grinned as he felt her touch and trace the marks that were fading overnight, but when he glanced over his shoulder, he saw that despite her attentive touch, his Daiki was still watching her frogs.

"Daiki!" He whined, grabbing her wrist and pressing a kiss on the back of her hand. He didn't like being second for her. "Daiki, honey!"

"Hm?" She hummed, voice light with a newly settling drowsy.

It seemed like Daiki was starting to settle down for a mid-morning nap. Takeshi pouted before clambering across the bed and laid flush against her, feeling her shirt against his chest.

"Are you going to sleep? Not going to have breakfast?"

"Might stay in bed today," she admitted. "Still hurts, just a bit. I don't want to stress it when I've only got a couple days left."

Takeshi made a soft noise before Daiki put aside her computer and brought him into a tight hug.

"I'm okay," she assured, rubbing his back with her palm. "I'm just gonna be a bit lazy today. And the numbing cream is working great too, I can barely feel it half the time...You know what I can feel though?"

Takeshi felt the sheets move and made a noise in the back of his throat and deep on his chest as he watched Daiki pull her legs out from under the sheets. He bit his tongue. Teeth marks and soft bruises were littering her thighs and calves, showing where he had lost himself when playing with her skin.

He shifted.

"Does it hurt?" he asked carefully.

"A bit," she smiled, "But it's a good ache. I like it."

A pang of pride hit him right in the heart and Takeshi grinned as he moved to straddle her bare lap, being careful of where he put his hands.

"I can do it again," he offered and she hummed, relaxing back in the pillows, unfazed.

"Maybe when you get back," Daiki debated with a shrug before she grasped his face and pulled him down for a quick kiss. "Now go, get yourself ready and I'll wake up our baby so we can have breakfast together."

Takeshi smiled and grabbed Daiki's pants from the floor before he crouched at the side of the bed. Daiki resisted a bit, but eventually let him dress her, pressing a kiss on her stomach quickly afterwards.

The Rain was digging through the fridge for the lunch Daiki had made for him yesterday when Daiki walked into the room with their baby beside her. Lambo was holding his Mama's hand as she guided him, his other hand busied with rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Mephisto was trailing after them, tail wagging as he broke off and gave Takeshi's a soft huff of greeting. The Rain smiled and reached to pet the snowy pup, dodging a slobbery tongue as he did.

"Morning baby!" Takeshi cooed, and the boy made a warbled noise before crawling into his mother's lap when she sat down on the couch. "Oh, in a cuddly mood this morning?"

"Very cuddly," Daiki agreed, wrapping an arm around Lambo and kissing his forehead. "Did you sleep well, baby?"

"Mm," he yawned, cheek pressed against her chest. "Mama..."

"My sweet baby," she smiled, cradling him in her arms, before greeting Mephisto as he bounced up beside her.

Takeshi watched on with a huge warmth in his chest, something absolutely thrumming deep in his core. He saw Daiki glance at him from the couch, before Sun wrapped around his Rain and squeezed, pressing a searing affection directly to his fire.

He abandoned his breakfast and came to sit beside his wife, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leaning her against him. He nosed at her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder, a happy hum vibrating in her throat as she let herself be held.

"Daddy loves you," he smiled, petting his son's head who blinked up at him.

"And Mama loves Daddy," Daiki cooed, kissing his cheek. "Go have breakfast, my loves. Remember to feed Miphy."

Takeshi pouted but let her go and got back to his feet, picking Lambo off her lap and disposed of him on the floor where he flopped with a huff.

"Come on, Bo-kun," Takeshi urged lightly.

"Don't wanna," Lambo refuted and started crawling towards his mother again.

"No, Bo-kun, you need to get Mephisto's food ready. He's waiting for you," Daiki pressed.

Lambo sat on the floor with a big frown on his face, refusing to look at either of his parents. When his father urged him again Lambo made a loud shout of frustration and smacked the carpet, making both Sun and Rain blink in surprise.

Takeshi glanced at Daiki and she waved him off to continue getting ready for the day. He went back to frying some eggs for an omelette as he heard Daiki ask their baby what was wrong, why he didn't want to help get Miphy his food.

"You've never said you didn't want to before, what's wrong?"

"Tired," he said grumpily.

"Did you not sleep well?"

"No."

"Oh sweetie, why not?"

He heard Lambo shift on the floor, and he glanced over his shoulder to see the boy crawling into his mother's lap, who welcomed him this time. "Had a nightmare about the white man."

Takeshi saw three expressions flit across Daiki's face, each one reflecting his own. Understanding, rage, and heartbreak. She released a long breath and hugged her baby, letting the boy hide his tired face in her chest.

"I'm sorry, baby. Why didn't you come find us? Mama told you to come to me when you're scared," she whispered.

"Mama looked tired," he uttered, "You were both asleep..."

"I don't care," Daiki nearly snapped, "Next time, you wake us up. You wake us up and we'll turn on the lights, we'll check the cupboard and under the bed, every room in the house, and we'll cuddle you until you fall asleep with us again."

Takeshi crossed the distance and knelt down in front of Lambo, his face was red around his eyes.

"We're your parents, baby," Takeshi hummed, taking little hands in his own. "We're here to keep you safe."

"I was scared," Lambo admitted quietly, "If I yelled he would find me."

Takeshi saw Daiki flinch and he swooped forward to wrap them both up in a tight hug. He hushed and kissed until he felt them relax into his chest, Daiki's head resting on his shoulder.

"Mama's going to stay in bed today," Daiki uttered, "Do you wanna nap with Mama?"

"Mhm," Lambo nodded, pushing his face into Daiki's chest.

"Making me jealous again," Takeshi pouted, trying to inject humour into the atmosphere again. Daiki smiled and kissed his forehead, being as gentle as she could.

"Feed the baby," Daiki told him, handing him their Bo-kun. "I'll go feed the dog."

"Sorry, Mama..."

"It's okay baby, we all need help sometimes," Daiki assured, squeezing his little fingers, before calling Miphy off the couch and towards his bowl.

Takeshi picked up their baby and sat him on his hip, giving a soft smile when Lambo hugged him. The Rain carefully put him down in his chair and went about getting breakfast ready for him, heating up some broth and noodles.

Hands pressed on his waist and Takeshi looked up to see Daiki leaning against his back, a soft look of sadness on her face. She cuddled into his back and he sighed, leaning back into her chest.

"It's okay, Daiki," he assured, cupping her cheek. "We'll look after our baby. I won't let anyone hurt you two."

"I know, I just.." she pressed her face into his shoulder. "Nevermind. Have you got your lunch? I can take over breakfast."

"No, go sit back down. I can handle it."

Daiki glanced at him for a moment, before pressing a quick kiss that left his lips tingling. He watched as she went and sat beside their baby, her hand brushing through curly hair.

"How about we do some reading before we take another nap, so we can try to give you some better dreams. We can watch another episode of Pokemon too."

Lambo made a happy noise that was broken by a yawn. He reached for his cup and used both hands to drink, looking so small compared to the glass.

Takeshi smiled when he saw the affection in Daiki's face, before he took the broth and noodles off the heat and served everyone a bowl. Daiki kissed his cheek in thanks when he placed her bowl in front of her and he couldn't help the dumb little grin he wore.

"Where's Tsuyoshi-tou-san?" Daiki asked as they ate.

"Ah, I think he went to some small business owner meeting today," Takeshi blinked, trying to remember if he had been told anything. "I think some big tycoon's trying to build, like, a casino on the side of town and they're trying to get him to get lost."

"Huh, a casino in Namimori? You think I would have been told about that," Daiki frowned. "I hate to say it, but I think I need to go see the Watanabe again sometime soon. I was hoping to be lazy for a while longer."

Takeshi's jaw clenched. He suddenly regretted bringing up the casino. Daiki wasn't meant to be thinking about stuff like that, she's meant to be resting. She shouldn't go to the Watanabe, which was one or two hours away, way too far for his liking.

"Just talk to Hayashi Jun," he urged, being sure not to make his voice sound demanding despite how he so wanted this to be an order. "He's been wanting to meet with you but was waiting for you to call first. I told him you were resting."

Daiki sighed and rubbed her brow, looking tired again, "No, love, I need to go. There's stuff I need to address while there, anyway."

Takeshi frowned severely for a moment then quickly softened his expression before she saw it.

"Take me with you then. If you go, take me. I don't want you going alone." Daiki looked at him. "Please."

Maybe he was being manipulative, but that little 'please' said in a soft, pleading voice would always make Daiki buckle for him. A sigh was all he needed to know he had won, that 'please' always worked.

"Okay," she relented. "There's too much work for a day trip. Over the weekend, we'll go."

Lambo made a soft, panicked noise and they turned, Daiki quickly touched the boy and gave him an assuring hush. "We'll all go. We won't leave you alone overnight, sweetheart."

"Is Miphy coming?" Lambo asked.

"Yeah, we'll bring Miphy too." Takeshi smiled and finally, their baby relaxed again.

Daiki was waiting for Takeshi in the genkan by the time he was ready to go to school. She was visibly upset, but was doing well to maintain her decorum even as he came forward and wrapped her in a hug.

"Our poor baby," she shivered and he hushed her, kissing her cheek. "He must have been so scared. But I just slept through it. I expected him to come get us, but he was too scared to even call out."

"Daiki," Takeshi scolded sharply. "It's not your fault. Stop that. If you want to blame anyone, blame that bastard who caused it."

She flinched at the mention of him, but nodded nonetheless, accepting what he told her. She didn't leave, however, and just held onto him for a while longer. Takeshi enjoyed the feeling of her in his arms, pressing soft kisses along her cheek and shoulder. He hummed as she leant back against the wall, pulling him with her until his weight rested on her chest.

Despite his calming nature, Takeshi was furious. That man had caused and was still causing his family pain. Not for the first time, wished he had time with Byakuran and perhaps the tools to extract teeth.

"I love you," he whispered. "You're safe with me."

Daiki squeezed him tight in her arms, her nose buried in his hair.

"We need to do something. I'll...I'll try and teach Bo-kun to flair with his Flames, to call us."

"Good idea," Takeshi agreed, smiling at her with as much optimism as he could muster. "That way he can call for us easily."

Lambo was sitting in front of the TV, his hands buried in Mephisto's fur. He looked up at Takeshi's approach and smiled, accepting the quick hug and kiss on his forehead.

"See you when I get home," Takeshi hummed, before squishing his cheeks with his hands. "Sleep well, Mama will keep you safe."

"Do you have to go?" Lambo asked, grabbing a handful of Takeshi's shirt.

The Rain blinked before he gave a keening noise and laid on the ground, hugging his baby to his chest as he kicked his feet in the air.

"I don't wanna go!" He whined, and he smiled through it as Lambo started to giggle. "I wanna stay home with you guys! Daiki, don't make me go!"

Faintly, he heard Daiki give an exasperated sigh before he felt warmth next to him and he turned to see Daiki laying next to him on the floor. Takeshi smiled and shuffled closer, leaning his head against his wife's chest.

"Can I stay?" he begged, making his eyes go wide and pleading, Lambo was mimicking him from his chest, both of them peering up at the Yamaguchi girl.

"You have classes, love," Daiki reminded him. "Don't you want to see your friends?"

"You're my friend, Daiki," he smiled.

Daiki huffed and begrudgingly kissed his forehead.

"You're a charmer," she scoffed, "But you're a charmer that goes to class. Get up, or you'll be late."

Takeshi whined as Daiki untangled herself from them - a part of him irked by how easy she found it to leave his side. He squeezed their baby one more time before rolling to his feet and leaving Lambo splayed out on the ground where Mephisto pounced on him, squeals filling the room.

"Come on, don't forget your water bottle, you have PE today," she hummed, grabbing his face in her hands before dropping another kiss on him.

"I'll bring Hayashi Jun," Takeshi sighed, taking a quick moment to cuddle her again.

"And I'll try not to push myself today, I promise," Daiki smiled and he gave a solid nod of agreement. "I'll text you at lunch if you want?"

"Yes, yes please," he urged and she kissed his forehead. "Bye-bye, pretty Daiki."

Takeshi grinned as Daiki flushed red before she nosed at his cheek and quietly said, "bye-bye pretty Takeshi. I'll see you when you get home."

The Rain tried not to whine too loud as he was nudged out the door, his wife smiling at him once more before responding to Lambo's call. He huffed and went on his way, waving with both arms when he spotted Tsuna and Hayato walking side by side towards the gates.

"Hi guys!" He cheered, throwing his arms over their shoulders, slumping awkwardly to accommodate the height differences.

"Oi! Get off!"

"Takeshi!" Tsuna stumbled over the name but quickly reclaimed himself, smiling at the Rain. "How are you? And Daiki?"

"My Daiki's great," he assured happily. "She's back home setting Bo-kun down for a nap."

"Damn I wanna nap," Hayato grumbled, squinting at the world around him accusingly.

"Mm, Bo-kun's been having some trouble sleeping," Takeshi admitted in a low voice, "The Millefiore really scared him."

"...I think I-pin's shaken up too," Tsuna uttered, nervously playing with his Rings. "Do you think, maybe, there's something we could do for them?"

"What about a Vongola Style Family Sleepover?"

"Oh Jesus," Tsuna wheezed as the three of them turned to see Reborn perched in a shrubbery.

"Brilliant idea Reborn!" Hayato agreed.

"When though?" Takeshi hummed, trying to think of a time it would work. "We can't do it on a school night, tou-san wouldn't let me."

"What about this weekend?" Reborn smiled.

"Daiki's taking Bo-kun and me to the Watanabe all weekend," Takeshi shrugged. "She's got some family business to deal with."

There was a glint in the Arcobaleno's eye but no one got a chance to decipher it as the conversation carried on.

"How're you going to handle, uh, Daiki's identity over there?" Tsuna asked.

The Rain blinked before wincing when he remembered the political climate of the place, "I'll follow Daiki's instructions. She'll tell me what she thinks is right."

The day carried on much the same as usual, a certain weird to everything that they had long grown used to. The weird that came from crawling back to their seats after fighting for their lives to copy down notes on English and quadratics. It was only when the break bell rang out and everyone stretched from their seats did Hayato finally utter what had been apparently festering in his head all day.

"So, really, what's your opinion on the story Daiki told us?"

Takeshi paused eating the lunch Daiki had packed him to carefully stare at the Storm. Even Tsuna had wavered, a slight downturn to the corner of his lips.

"I thought we agreed on this," Tsuna murmured, voice wavering awkwardly as he glanced between his friends.

"Wait, bad way of phrasing, I didn't mean it like that," Hayato quickly backtracked, and he saw Tsuna's shoulders loosen. "I mean she said there was stuff we missed, and stuff coming up. What do you think that's all about?"

Tsuna shifted for a moment before he quietly said, "I'm worried, not gonna lie. She said it could be dangerous - especially to Takeshi."

Takeshi nodded silently. He hadn't missed how Daiki had hovered close for hours after that conversation, like the wound was fresh. She had cuddled him extra tight that night, when they were laid upside down in bed, and - much to his confusion - asked him to move his legs now and then.

Despite all that though…

"I'm actually kind of excited," Takeshi admitted, and he remembered the look of absolute exasperation of her face when he had expressed giddiness. "She also said that they would be good friends if we approach it right! And Daiki's going to help keep us safe while we try!"

Funny, his friends were showing him the same expression of exasperation, though Daiki's had been a bit more fond. She had squished his cheeks and kissed him until he was dizzy, telling him to never lose that optimism for anything.

Come to think of it, he was meant to be getting a text right about now, wasn't he?

Takeshi popped some more food in his mouth before fishing around for his phone. He hummed in acknowledgement when his friends asked his opinion on something he didn't really pay attention to, something about a new gacha game, as he checked his inbox.

No messages. Takeshi frowned and sent his wife a quick 'everything ok?'

A long pause and Takeshi found himself chewing on the inside of his cheek nervously, a furrow in his brow and breath coming short and slow-

From Wife: Sorry, we were asleep. Everything's fine here, you guys ok?

He let out a long sigh of relief, his inner cheek abused but now free of his teeth. Then the phone started vibrating and Takeshi lept to answer it, holding it to his ear, eager to hear her voice.

"Hi, wife," he greeted, unable to stop that stupid grin from spreading across his face and making Hayato roll his eyes to the ceiling.

"Hi sweetie, the baby's still asleep, I've got to be quiet," Daiki hummed and Takeshi beamed when he realised the phone was pressed to her ear, maybe out of concern for their sleeping boy beside her, but progress nonetheless.

"How is he? Any more scares?" He asked, really wishing he had skipped school today just so he could hold their Lambo.

"No more scares, but he's really tired," she sighed and he heard the softest sound of a kiss. "We got settled to read but by the time I finished the first page he was gone."

Takeshi hummed lowly, trying to ignore the instinct to lay his head on a shoulder that wasn't next to him right now. Hearing her voice so close made habit want to kick in and urge him to find the source and curl up beside it, to touch the owner of that deep, constant voice.

"And you? Still in pain?"

Hayato and Tsuna perked up, a pinch of concern in their expressions. He waved them out of their concern and listened to Daiki as she responded.

"There's a bit of an ache," she admitted, "Kind of regretting not getting you to help put some more of that numbing cream on this morning. But I can sleep through it until you get home. I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" He pressed, "I can run home and help."

"You will not," Daiki huffed, "Focus on class or Kyoya will have your head. I'll leave you to it then, before you get any more ideas for skipping."

"Eh? You're hanging up already?" Takeshi asked, a distressed tone to his voice.

"Oh, hush, my love. I miss you too, though. I'll see you in four hours."

Takeshi pouted as they said their goodbyes, but the yawns he heard leak through made him let her go.

"Sleep well, wife," he sighed, before perking when he heard her kiss the air over the receiver before she hung up.

"You guys are so gross," Hayato muttered. "You'd think I'd be used to it now, but it just doesn't stop being gross."

"I love Daiki, she's my wife," Takeshi shrugged with a smile.

"We know," Hayato wheezed, "You tell us every day. Multiple times."

Takeshi grinned brighter as he watched the Storm massage his temples. He dropped his chin in his hands as Tsuna started to talk again, the three of them, brainstorming what they could do for the sleepover when they could finally book one in. Specifically, they were throwing ideas around that would help distract the kids, and now and then Tsuna or Hayato would pop in with "we'd have to be careful or Daiki might get hurt" "maybe we should tweak it with-"

Takeshi smiled, feeling an intense warmth in his chest as Tsuna debated altering Reborn's knife throwing (Daiki doesn't like knives still, and we really don't want Lambo playing with that around her) with bean bags, or water balloons.

"It's still a bit cold for water balloon fights," Takeshi pouted, "But we should go to the beach sometime again, when Summer comes!"

"Yeah," Tsuna agreed.

"Why're you guys going to Watanana or whatever?" Hayato asked, leaning back in his chair. "I thought you were strapping Daiki to the bed or locking the door or something."

"Eh? But Daiki could easily break down my door if she wanted to get out, that wouldn't work!" Hayato glanced at Tsuna who shared a look; Takeshi had apparently thought about this. "And I don't think she'd like to be strapped down, I don't want her to be mad at me!"

"Not the desired response," Tsuna wheezed out but quickly moved them on.

"Daiki's just going to be catching up on some of the work she missed out on while gone," Takeshi explained, "Whenever I visit she's got a lot of paperwork to do so there's going to be a backlog of it. Ah, I'm going to be so bored waiting for her to finish so we can play in the bathhouse. I should bring my DS, thanks for reminding me."

Reborn perked up from where he had been quietly stealing from Tsuna's lunch. Tsuna started to feel himself sweat. That never boded well.

Takeshi hummed an absent noise as he glanced at the clock above the chalkboard. He groaned and got to his feet, stretching arms up high.

"I'll be back in a bit, Daiki wants me to talk to her Hayashi-san."

"Are you going to talk or try and trap him on the roof again?" Hayato snickered.

Takeshi flinched and scratched the back of his head, sheepishly laughing. Daiki had been careful to keep word from getting out about what had happened at the beginning of the year. She had explained it away as Takeshi getting too into a debate on sports teams with the little Yakuza and the students that had heard the raised voices laughed it off, but as usual, somehow his friends had figured it out.

"Just talking," he promised.

Takeshi hummed as he made his way down to the first-year classes, passing each one until he found the room where Hayashi Jun was huddling away from the rest of his classmates.

"Hayashi-san!" He called out, getting heads to turn. "I've got news on Daiki!"

The little first year poked his head out from behind his desk and scuttled out of the classroom, ducking under the Rain's arm to break into the hallway.

"Yamamoto-senpai, how is Daiki-senpai?" Jun gasped.

"Daiki's doing better," Takeshi assured, "They want to talk to you, get updated on everything going on. You okay to come to my house this afternoon after school?"

Takeshi thought that Jun probably didn't know about Daiki being a biological girl, she had hidden that secret well over the years. So he'd monitor what slipped out of his mouth until she had given her outright blessings.

"Of course! I will meet you at the gates after the bell!" Jun announced.

"Cool, I'll see you then," Takeshi smiled.

. . .

Takeshi, as always these days, was eager to return home, waiting impatiently for the bell to ring and free him from the confines of his desk. The walk home was brisk, after a cheery goodbye to his friends and picking up Jun at the gates, he had jogged the whole way home, leaving Jun wheezing lightly in the background.

"Come on in," Takeshi urged the little mouse of a boy before walking into the restaurant. "Tou-san! I'm home!"

"Hey, Takeshi-kun," Tsuyoshi greeted, looking up from his work. "And a new friend?"

"Hayashi Jun," Jun introduced shakily, staring at the man with a knife. "Pleasure to meet you."

"I'm going to go see Daiki," Takeshi smiled, before grabbing the mouse and running through the house and kicking off his shoes.

Jun stumbled to follow suit, discarding his shoes and struggling to stay upright as he was all but dragged down the hall. The boy squeaked as the Rain abruptly let go and entered his room, both of them falling silent when they saw Daiki and Lambo still asleep together in Takeshi's bed.

Takeshi cooed and walked over to his bedside, gazing down at his wife with such affection. Daiki was laid on her back with Lambo curling into her chest, a little hand grabbing a handful of her shirt as he slept soundly in her arm.

He smiled and observed them for a moment, before slowly reaching out and brushing some of Daiki's hair out of her face. She shifted at the touch before amber-earth eyes opened and Takeshi smiled bright as they turned to focus on him.

Daiki stared at him for a moment, her expression still kind of hazy, before she breathed out through her nose and smiled softly.

"Takeshi always knows when I need him," she hummed quietly.

Takeshi blinked, a pinch of concern coming to his brow even as he continued to look happy for her.

"What happened?" He asked gently, sitting on the side of the bed.

Daiki blinked slowly before turning back to the ceiling, her arm still tightly wrapped around their baby.

"I think...I think I was about to have a nightmare," she answered, "It felt like it was going that way." She smiled again and hummed, "But shujin-kun woke me up just in time."

Takeshi twitched and reached out, holding her hand in his own. He wasn't used to her acting like this, oddly fragile. Whatever dream he had woken her up from was still holding onto her it seemed, and he needed to help shake it off.

"Does shujin-chan want to dance?" He offered, making his voice jovial for her.

They had been dancing a lot lately; always their go-to whenever someone awoke with tears in their eyes and their hearts in throats.

Daiki thought about it for a moment, "No, not right now. Just want to cuddle."

"I can do that."

Takeshi ignored Jun who was waiting patiently in the doorway and stood from his bed. He cooed at Daiki, the girl watching as he took off his shirt, then his socks, and then his pants. The Rain smiled and circled to the other side of the bed before crawling under the blankets. Takeshi crooned and cuddled up to her side, his head resting on her shoulder and his hand pressed to the centre of her chest, feeling the slow rise and fall of her breath.

Daiki wrapped her free arm around him as he reached across to play with their baby's hair. She squeezed him closer and he reared up to kiss her cheek, whispering a soft 'love you' into her ear.

"Feeling better?" He asked, "I brought Hayashi Jun with me."

"Hm?" she blinked, "Oh shit yeah, I told you to bring Jun-kun. Where is he?"

"Here, Daiki-dono," Jun answered swiftly, entering the room upon hearing her call.

Takeshi shifted and settled down against Daiki, the girl having snapped back to attention now that Jun had made himself known. He huffed and absently listened to them talk as he let Daiki ground herself by playing with his skin, trailing her nails along his side and grazing her knuckles along his arm.

He was still upset that Daiki had decided to return to her duties in the Watanabe so soon, he wanted her to stay in bed and relax until she was fully healed. He wished she'd just take this time to turn her brain off and let him deal with everything for her, bring to her everything she wanted.

The Rain blinked out of his pouting as Daiki turned her head to bury a kiss in his hair, her hand moving up to scratch at his nape. He cooed and closed his eyes as she took her fill. Jun was still giving his report while she touched every inch of skin she could get her hands on, prodding hours old bite marks and fingerprint bruises.

He had enjoyed feeling those all day, a light ache when he stretched or a throb when pressed on. He loved it, like little keepsakes while his wife was out of reach. She had been careful, though, to bite and bruise under the hems of his clothes where no one would see, but damned if he hadn't been tempted to roll up his sleeves to his shoulders or loosen his collar.

At least he got to show off now, he supposed. Every mark from his chest up visible to the little Yakuza as he cuddled up to Daiki's side, presenting red shadows of teeth in his shoulders and too many little dots to count.

"Love you, my sweet boy," Daiki murmured, and Takeshi all but purred.

The Rain in him absolutely trilled in joy and he snuggled up tight, pressing his nose into her breast. He smiled and reached to play with Lambo's fingers, their baby still fast asleep, a cute little curl to his lips showing he was enjoying whatever warm dream he was in.

He spent some time just paying attention to their baby, grazing his thumb across little fingers. He paused when Lambo's eyes opened, bright green peering at him from across Daiki's chest before the child gave a sleepy smile and faded back into sleep.

"My cute boy," he hushed, carding curly hair until Lambo slumped into full slumber.

"And what of this casino I've been hearing about?" Daiki asked, and Takeshi glanced up. "Apparently it's causing a stir."

"Yes, there has been talk of a casino being developed. It is likely to be constructed more towards the shoreline of Namimori Bay than the town centre."

"And what's the Watanabe's stance on this?"

"Divided, my Lord. The current Oyabun looks forward to its establishment, while many advisers are quietly against it."

"Hm," Daiki hummed lowly, and Takeshi closed one eye instinctively as her hands came and tangled in his hair, playing with it a bit more roughly than usual. "I'll be coming to the Watanabe over the weekend, I'll deal with anything unattended to then."

"Of course," Jun acknowledged.

"Until then," Daiki breathed out, and Takeshi shivered as his wife started paying more attention to him, scratching her nails lightly over his skin and fingers playing with the shell of his ear. She kissed him again, on the forehead, on the nose, on the lips. "How goes the current Oyabun, Jun-kun? His health?"

"Deteriorating, and fast," Jun responded happily, "Most council has been held with his most trusted in his chambers. He is bedridden."

Takeshi wanted to flinch, he really did. They were discussing the slow, orchestrated death of a human. But something in his Rain purred, remembering that this person had hurt his Daiki, and he chose which side won out as he tilted his head to kiss Daiki's cheek.

"I love you," he smiled as she stared down at him.

"I love you too, darling," she echoed sweetly, gazing down at him with the utmost affection. Then she turned her attention back to Jun, however, her eyes stayed on him, and he enjoyed the focus, cuddling his cheek against her chest. "Jun-kun, what's your estimate for how long he has to live?"

"He's likely to expire in the coming months. Before the end of winter."

Daiki pouted lightly and Takeshi giggled at her behaviour.

"Next year's going to be busy then. I'm gonna become an Oyabun just as I'm starting high school."

"I'll help you destress, don't worry," Takeshi assured, pushing his hips against her thigh. "I'm your pretty husband, after all."

Takeshi grinned when he saw Daiki twitch and her jaw clench. She hugged him tighter to her side, squishing him down into her chest, nails biting into his shoulder.

"Not with the baby in bed with us," she scolded and Takeshi pouted before settling down, letting her kiss the top of his head. "Is that all that I should know?"

"Yes. Your cousins are well and look forward to your return."

"Wonderful," Daiki smiled. "I will see you this weekend then, I intend to bring Takeshi, Lambo and Mephisto with me. Please prepare my room for all of them, we will be staying together."

"Very well."

Mephisto lifted his head from the foot of the bed at his name, looking around sluggishly as sleep hung off of him. He snuffed when he realised no one had called for him and dropped his head back onto the comforter, tail flopping about absently.

"Oh, and before you go," Daiki uttered, "I need you to call in your grandfather for another Irezumi."

"A touch-up?"

"No, an entire re-inking," Daiki sighed, and Takeshi frowned as she tugged her arm free from around him, showing the little mouse her unblemished skin.

Takeshi saw Jun flinch, confusion going through his face, and he was quick to pull her arm back around him, cuddling at him with all the affection he could muster. He cooed as she squeezed him, her nails sinking into his skin.

"I'll see myself out," Jun brushed himself down and grabbed his bag.

"Sorry, I'd see you out but-" Daiki began but Takeshi made a noise of displeasure and crawled on top of her, pinning her down to the bed.

"Daiki stays in bed," he scolded.

"Yes, yes, I know," she hummed, grabbing the blankets and pulling them higher on his back to hide the band of his boxers at least. "I'll see you later, Jun-kun. I have to tend to my husband now."

Takeshi grinned as he watched Jun close the door to their room with a polite bow. He turned back to his wife and tilted his head, smile fading to a softer tone as he gazed at her for a moment.

"Still feeling a bit off?" he asked gently, rubbing small circles into her chest as she laid her head back on the pillows.

"...A bit," she admitted, "And now I'm just...tired again."

"Mm," Takeshi hummed, "You were holding on for Hayashi-san weren't you?"

"He came here for a reason, it would be faster to get it done with and then move on," Daiki sighed.

Takeshi frowned a bit before kissing her cheek, getting a tiny sound to wriggle its way past her lips. He kissed her cheek, the bridge of her nose, her lips and then again and again until he started to feel her relax.

"You can relax now," he assured, "Just us here. Just our family."

Daiki made a happy little hum as he kissed her again-

Takeshi winced when Daiki pulled back sharply, her lips sealed shut. He bit his tongue in self-reprimand, scolding himself for trying to lick into her mouth, putting anything into her mouth after a nightmare, even out of his own habit.

"I'm so sorry," he lurched, and Daiki nodded in understanding.

She shifted a bit before softly uttering, "It's okay, just...can we just cuddle?"

"Yes! Yes, yes, please," Takeshi answered, wrapping her up tight in his arms and pulling her as close as he could without disturbing their baby. He murmured something soft and cuddled his cheek into her shoulder, pressing his body down against hers so she could feel he was here. "I love you."

"Love you too," she hummed softly, turning her head to press her lips to his brow. "What should we have for dinner? Lambo slept through lunch, he'll be hungry."

"He's going to eat the whole kitchen," Takeshi giggled and she ran her hand through his hair, bringing him closer.

"I think we've got some food I can use in the fridge," Daiki told him, before pausing when Takeshi made a displeased grumble. "Takeshi...Okay, how about we make dinner together? And we can ask our Bo-kun to shave the carrots for us. Include him."

"Sounds good," he relented. "Do you want to make curry or something?"

"Sure, I think we have the broth blocks in the cupboard."

Takeshi smiled and cuddled down, absently playing with Lambo's fingers as Daiki got her fill of touching him, adjusting their baby to be closest to her side. He hummed as she kissed his hair and held on tight, a long breath draining out of her as she relaxed under the weight of her family.

"Love you," she murmured. "Love you so much."

"Love you too," Takeshi responded sweetly. "You looked after Bo-kun all day, what a good wife. Just rest, I'll take over from here."