I gave a yawn as I absently worked through another worksheet, my homework finally wavering after the teachers had taken the initiative to shove basically a week's work at me at once. Pushing aside another completed module I leant back in Takeshi's desk chair with a great wheeze.

Mephisto made a noise from under the desk, his belly warming my feet as his tail lashed about lazily. He finally had a chance to rest after Lambo had been dropped off at Tsuna's house to play with I-pin, and was using it to get his fill of laying about again, never moving more than a couple of steps across the room - something made much easier by my own minimised mobility.

"You okay there, puppy?" I asked, twisting to see the white belly expand and drop with unhurried breaths.

He made a soft huff at me before flopping down again.

I smiled and looked at the clock on the corner of the desk; Takeshi would be home soon. Just as I thought that, the sound of the door made me perk up and turn, impatiently waiting for the Rain to come through our bedroom door.

"Takeshi," I called as he appeared and that same, wonderful smile took up his face when he saw me. "Welcome home. How was everything?"

"It was good, we played volleyball in PE," he hummed and I tilted my head when he knelt down next to me, crossed his arms over my lap and then laid his head there. I smiled and tangled my fingers into his hair, "The ball started moving around on its own though, Hayato said it got possessed but I think the wind just got to it."

"And how was Tsuna reacting?" I asked, already having my suspicions.

"He was kind of freaking out- actually I think he yelled at Reborn-san afterwards."

"Yeah, I think that Arcobaleno had something to do with the ball, love."

"Eh, you're probably right," he smiled before shifting his head so I'd scratch somewhere else. "Were you okay at home without Bo-kun? Did Miphy keep you company?"

"Yeah, the puppy's all tired from chasing after the baby," I laughed, and we both shifted to see Mephisto once again fast asleep. "Poor puppy. We should give him some meat tonight. Do we have any leftover chicken in the fridge?"

"I think so, but we should check the ingredients list."

"Hm," I hummed and pushed aside my work to pay full attention to the boy who had come home. He lifted his head and beamed- then my eyes widened and I grabbed his arm to better see the thin, dappled ring of soft bruises around his wrist. "What happened here?!"

"Huh? Oh!" He brought himself to attention and used his free hand to scratch his cheek as he admitted, "I think a new girl or something tripped on the top of the stairs. She kind of just grabbed me to stop herself from falling, she meant to hurt me, just reflex. She apologised afterwards."

"You need to be careful, darling," I scolded, touching the bruises on his skin. "Did you at least ice it? Or go to Ryohei?"

"Nah, it was towards the end of school, so I didn't get the chance. Besides, I was coming home to you! I didn't want to waste time going to the infirmary and then all the way back down again!" He pouted before sitting up from my lap as I began to rub my hand over the wound, slowly pushing sunshine warmth into his skin.

"I'm only using a little," I promised, "Just helping you along."

"You don't have to though," he frowned and tried to pull back.

I blinked and thought fast; something that would speak directly to Takeshi.

"Someone else marked you," I said slowly, the words making my face and Flames bitter enough to have Rain cuddle up to it. "I don't like it. I'm getting rid of it."

Takeshi's face went red and his frown was replaced with a happy smile. He bounced a bit on the spot as he waited for me to finish, and absolutely beamed when after I was satisfied, I brought his wrist up to press a light kiss on the soft skin.

"Did you miss me?" he asked, squirming closer now that I was turned to fully face him, pushing aside my knees so he could cuddle my waist.

"Of course I missed you," I smiled, "Very much. I kept looking at the clock, waiting for you to get home."

Takeshi grinned and cuddled closer, pressing his nose into my stomach and inhaling greedily. I hummed and wrapped my arms around him, letting him get out the jitters after being away for hours.

"So," I began pulling pieces of lint and what looked like the foam from inside baseball helmets from his hair. "Tell me about this new girl. Is she in your class?"

"No, she's a first-year," he uttered plainly and I nearly scoffed at how quickly he lost interest in the discussion now that it was no longer about us. "Her name's like...Kiyomi or something."

"Or something," I echoed with a short laugh and he pouted up at me until I cupped his face in my hands and then squished. "You're lucky you're adorable, sweetheart."

He smiled and we spent some more time just touching each other, the Rain closing his eyes as I carded his hair and ran my thumb across his cheek and bridge of his nose. He held onto my waist as he relaxed, seemingly very comfortable as he now sat crosslegged on the floor, rather than his knees.

"Do you want to get a snack?" I suggested before both of us jumped from our quiet mood as Mephisto jumped up and yapped. "Not you Miphy, snack is for Takeshi."

"Oh let him have a snack," Takeshi insisted and Mephisto bounded into his lap, both of them teaming up to give me pleading eyes.

"...Fine," I sighed, "Go and give Mephisto a treat. I need to get changed so we can pick up Bo-kun."

"Eh?" Takeshi blinked, pausing playing with Mephisto to listen. "You're coming? Why not just stay at home, I can get him."

"You don't want me to come with you?"

Takeshi wavered for a moment, a careful expression on his face that made me pause. He saw me hesitate and quickly smiled, but that didn't get rid of the worry in the back of my mind.

"You've got so much homework to do, and you said it was hurting yesterday right? You shouldn't push it just because it's feeling better today!"

"But darling," I whined, "I haven't gone outside in days! It's only five minutes to Tsuna's house, let me walk with you."

"Your future husband said no," Takeshi frowned.

"Your future wife said yes."

Takeshi continued to frown at me but I didn't waver and kissed his cheek before I stood up and left to go change into something more suitable for the outside. He didn't move and watched with a great huff as I swapped out my pants for jeans and pulled on a hoodie to cover my nightshirt, and I passed him by as I called Mephisto for his promised treat.

"How long do you think he's gonna mope?" I asked Mephisto as he chewed.

Then I paused as arms wrapped around my waist from behind and Takeshi lent against my back, cuddling tight. I hummed and grabbed his wrists warmly, turning my head to lean my cheek against his hair.

"Come on, love, I need to go out sometimes. It's just a short walk, and I'll be with you, there's no need to be so worried."

"I know," he sighed and nosed at my nape. "I'm just...I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Mm, thank you for caring," I breathed to him and he took his chance to squeeze me. "But then I think we need to get you used to me going places, especially if I'm going back to Nami-chuu in some days."

Takeshi flinched and I cooed softly, turning around and leant back against the counter. I brought him to my chest and hummed in his ear, letting him lean into me as I tried to relax him down again. He breathed in my shoulder and inhaled as deeply as he could, eyes closed and enjoying the touch and making soft little sounds when I kissed his cheek and temple.

"What do you want to eat? I can make a quick sandwich? Or get the kettle ready for ramen?" I hummed, rubbing his back as he started nuzzling his nose against my collarbone.

"I can handle the kettle," he assured, asking for more kisses before he begrudgingly moved off to get his instant ramen started.

I watched him move around the kitchen before going to dispose of myself on the couch, curled up on my side, phone in hand and fully intending on reading during my study break. Mephisto shook himself off in a slapping of ears and the jangling of his collar before he came and clambered up onto the couch next to me and joined my position, laying pressed up against the back of my thighs, his chin on my calves.

"Hello puppy," I whispered, reaching to scratch his head. "Good puppy. Such a good puppy."

Miphy whined low and I felt his tail whap against my thigh. I continued to read as Takeshi took his time changing out of his uniform into more comfortable clothes before he decided he wanted to add an egg to his ramen and went about preparing that.

Takeshi gave a huff as he dropped down in the space he had left on the couch, back pressed up against my lower stomach as he settled in the bow of my body. He leant back and absently laid his hand on my thigh, just a comfortable pressure as he waited for his ramen to cool down a bit and the egg to cook in the boiling broth.

It was a nice, quiet moment, up until the moment where I sniffed and made a soft noise of misery.

"Huh?" Takeshi whipped his head around. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"I read a sad manga," I whined, rubbing my eye a bit to dispel the well up of sympathy tears.

Instantly, Takeshi relaxed and he let out a soft laugh as he bent his upper body to crowd me with warmth. He cooed at me a bit, calling every variation of 'cute' he knew.

"Takeshi, if you fell in love with someone else, you wouldn't hate me for getting engaged to you, right?" I asked, feeling my eyes sting again as the cathartic desire to feel sad kept clawing at me. The angsty isekai otome had gotten to me, damn it.

Takeshi, to say the least, looked completely confounded. There was a pinch in his brow as he desperately tried to piece together what I was saying. He stared at me before looking at my phone and shuffled to move closer, tangling his fingers into my hair and playing with my earring.

"No, of course not. I could never hate you, Daiki," he swore, running his thumb under my eye to pull away another drop. "I love you so much. No one could take me from you, I'm your Takeshi."

I looked at him for a while longer, just enjoying being the centre of his attention, before I let out a long breath through my nose.

"I know," I smiled meekly, "I just...Sad stories."

I blinked as Takeshi reached across and gently pried my phone from my hands, setting it aside further than I could reach at the moment.

"Maybe you should take a break from those kinds of stories," he suggested warmly, and I crooned as Takeshi dropped his body weight on top of me, distributed carefully so it felt like a well-loved pressure. "Just rest and think about something nice. Think about me for a while."

I let out a short laugh but didn't refuse when he kissed my cheek, throat, shoulder, and all the way down my arm until he was sat up again. I smiled thinly and let those last bits of cathartic sadness lose their grip on my chest, listening to Takeshi blow on his noodles while he watched some funny live sports commentator bloopers.

"I love you," I murmured, and Takeshi glanced at me, noodles hanging out of his mouth. "God, you look so stupid, haha."

"Mph fo phud!" Came the muffled retort. I imagined it was along the lines of 'you're so rude!'

"Finish eating, we'll go get Bo-kun in another hour or so," I smiled, before closing my eyes and feeling the warmth of a snoozing puppy and a still rather indignant husband.

. . .

Lambo took a running jump onto our bed after he burst into the room, well-fed and in his softest pyjamas. Takeshi laughed and tickled our baby's sides with a vengeance while I finished packing away the medical supplies, already bandaged up for the evening after Takeshi had his time to play.

There was a new bite mark on the inside of my thigh and it was by far the most prominent in both sizes and pain, throbbing now and then as I walked around or accidentally applied pressure. With Takeshi distracted though, Lightning smothering his Rain in playful bursts, I snuck a hushed wave of Sun across the bite, soothing the worst of the ache and leaving that dull mention of it that continued to gently remind me that Takeshi had left a little claim there. He'd be pouty all night and feel so guilty if he knew he'd done enough damage that I wanted to heal it.

I turned and crawled back into bed, Lambo quick to clamber across his father's stomach and start demanding affection from me as well, making grabby hands as he shouted 'Mama, kisses!'

"Kisses," I smiled and brought my baby to my chest as I sat down, kissing his face as he grinned. "My baby deserves all the kisses."

Lambo giggled before flopping on his side and began pestering Takeshi who responded with a barrage of poking to the stomach. I watched them with a fond smile before I laid down and reached for my phone, sending a reaction to the post Ryohei had slipped me in the middle of class if the timestamp meant anything.

I blinked when the phone was plucked from my hands, Takeshi frowning as he stared at the device. He seemed to glare at it for a moment, before turning to smile widely at me.

"Oi, gimme back my phone," I whined, reaching for it.

"No, family time," he scolded and put it on his side table.

"Takeshiiii!" I complained, rolling over and nearly crushing Lambo as I did, the baby squealing as he squirmed under my chest.

"Nooooo," Takeshi responded with a huge smile as he shifted forward to meet me in the middle and squish Lambo between us, a little hand flailing out.

I grinned as Takeshi touched my nose with his own, before I finally leant back and let Lambo see the light again, the boy faking gasping for breath. I cooed and rubbed his back as he slapped Takeshi's stomach with a great huff.

"Okay, sweetie, no hitting," I scolded gently, using his arms to pull him to my chest where he flopped with a pout.

"My tummy hurts," Lambo complained quietly.

"Well, Nana-san did say you snacked a lot today," I hummed as he rolled onto his back and pulled Takeshi's hand into his stomach, making a grumpy noise until the Rain smiled and started rubbing his belly for him. "Drink some water and try to sleep it off, my love. Give yourself some more time to digest everything in there."

Even as I said this I laid my hand on his forehead to check his temperature, before cupping his cheek with a soft coo. "You'll be okay."

I laid down next to him and took one of his little hands, pressing a soft kiss against those fingers as he started to relax. He was blinking slowly, eyes straying from face to face between Takeshi and I, and I could see the affection in my darling's eyes as he stared down at our baby.

"You slept really well last night," Takeshi soothed, hand still making circles on the child's tum. "No scary dreams?"

"Mhm," Lambo affirmed, and I smiled, nudging my nose up against his soft little cheek.

"Daddy and Mama kept you safe all night," I whispered before letting out a laugh as Lambo squirmed around like he wasn't sure who he wanted to be closer to most. "Mama loves you."

"Daddy loves you too," Takeshi joined.

I glanced down to the foot of the bed as Mephisto jumped up, the puppy pawing around as he slowly made his way up to us. I hummed and opened my arms to welcome my puppy, the snowy creature sniffing each human before he flopped against my chest, snug against Lambo's side.

"My babies," I laughed, before closing my eyes when Takeshi kissed my cheek quickly and made me smile at him. "My husband."

The Rain grinned at the soft utterance before clicking off the lights and settled down, a warm hand reaching across to sear my skin with his fingerprints. Lambo snoozed soundly between us, Mephisto out like a light with his snout snuggled against the baby's back.

I hummed as Takeshi continued to touch, running his nails up and down my bicep until he moved his hand to lay flat on my chest. He was being very soft, very careful as he tried to gauge my reaction.

"It's okay," I nodded and let out a breath as he moved his fingers and felt around, finding out what was bandages and what was skin, what was soft and what was hard.

There was a little sparkle to his Flame and I felt myself warm with affection as blue jumped around with giddy. With that warmth, I reached back and lightly touched Takeshi's cheek, following his set path to his chest, feeling his heartbeat jump under his skin.

"You can," Takeshi urged, and I mapped it out, tracing collarbones and the fading scar on his shoulder.

We stayed like that for a while, quietly touching from across our sleeping babies. Wandering from chests to faces, carding hair and memorising the unevennesses on each other. Takeshi touched at my stomach before following the curve of my waist and started prodding at the side of my thigh, carefully reminding me of the places where he had left the indents of teeth.

He was being so careful, remembering every one of my rules and limits and making sure to get his fill where he could. I smiled to myself as he ran his thumb over a bite, watching the red start to creep into his cheeks.

Takeshi was thinking about things again; I couldn't fault him for it. We lived in close quarters now, and I knew the exact amount of times that Takeshi had quietly excused himself to the bathroom in the morning and come back with a flushed face. I made sure to memorize the rosy hue in his cheeks, the deep, long patten of his breath, and how he needed to be held as he calmed down from his high, nuzzling his cheek into my chest.

"Takeshi," he perked up a bit when I said his name and waited patiently for me to continue. "Tomorrow...Tomorrow do you want to play? Before we go pick up Bo-kun, we can play...more than we usually do."

Takeshi stared for a moment, before he grinned. He bit his lip through the smile, visibly withholding himself from vibrating on the spot so he wouldn't wake Lambo.

"Yes please," he whispered, nodding rapidly. "Yes please, I want to play with Daiki. I want to play with my wife."

I smiled and grabbed the hand on my hip, pressing kisses onto his fingers and on his palm. He hummed and cupped my face, letting me lean into the hold and enjoy his warmth.

"I love you," I murmured, "I love you more every day. Thank you for being mine."

"I love you too," Takeshi grinned, running his thumb along my cheek. "Thank you for being mine."

I hummed quietly and cuddled down, taking a moment to soothe our babies with gentle belly rubs. Lambo rolled over and Mephisto kicked blindly until they both settled down again, one of Lambo's little hands gently fisting at snowy fur again like some sort of safety blanket.

"Let's sleep," I urged quietly, "The sooner we sleep, the sooner tomorrow comes, right?"

Takeshi was still vibrant, his Flames sparking all over the place with unrelenting joy as he shifted around and got comfortable. He adjusted the blankets and cradled us all close to him, holding onto my hand as he laid them over our babies.

I smiled and settled down, smelling cotton flower and that smell I had long come to associate with the kendo swords kept in the Yamamoto practice hall. Takeshi was still playing with my fingers, absently tracing the knuckles one after another.

"Go to sleep," I huffed and slapped his arm.

"But Daiki!"

"You have class tomorrow, if you struggle to get up again I swear to god-" Takeshi bent over and planted a kiss on my cheek. "...This changes nothing."

"Shujin-chan~!" He cooed.

"Sleep," I ordered and yanked the blankets all the way up until they were bunched around our shoulders and we were all well bundled up. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he laughed and finally settled down.

. . .

Takeshi had thoroughly kicked me out of dishwasher duty at this point, making a grumpy noise whenever he saw me try and take anything in or out of the appliance. I pouted on the outskirts of the kitchen, and he chose to make a kiss in my direction before shooing me back to attend to our son.

I knelt down beside Lambo as he drew on a large sheet of paper, a thick, colour pencil fisted in his hand and strokes less than graceful. I couldn't help the warmth that welled in my chest when I saw four shaky stick figures and something that looked more like a sawhorse than a dog.

"Is that us, baby?" I asked, moving to lay on my stomach next to him.

"Mhm!" He nodded, rolling slightly to press the top of his head against my arm. "That's Miphy, and Mama," he pointed to the wonky little pup drawn in white that was barely visible against the paper, then moved his finger to a stick figure that was predominantly made out of a triangle body, drawn in yellow. "And Daddy," a blue, slightly shorter stick figure was standing on the other side of the paper. "Oji-san," Tsuyoshi's blue representation stood beside his paper son, the tallest of us all and with his white headband in place.

"And that's you?" I joined, pointing to the green little figure between parents of blue and yellow.

"Yeah!"

I smiled and took a moment to gaze at the picture; Flame colours.

"Hey baby, why did you draw Mama yellow? Daddy and Oji-san are blue!" I asked, before kissing the top of his head when he chose to cuddle me again.

"Mama's yellow!" he stated, before grabbing his yellow pencil again and filling in the chunk of space inside the triangle body.

"But why?"

"Mama feels yellow," was his reasoning, before he paused and kicked his legs for a moment. "Sometimes, Mama feels purple."

I hummed in interest, Lambo had some sensory to him. It could have been just colour association, but the coincidence was uncanny.

"If Daddy's blue then...What colour is Tsuna?"

"Orange! Lots of orange!" Lambo announced.

"Ryohei?"

"Yellow! Like Mama!" He grinned and abandoned his drawing to start clambering up onto my back, giggling like a little gremlin as he did.

"Aaand...Chrome?"

"Purple!"

I glanced over my shoulder before grabbing two coloured pencils, one violet and one classic purple. Lambo probably didn't know the name 'violet' and all the specific shades.

"Which colour purple is closest to Chrome?" asked, showing him the pencils.

"This one," he clarified, pointing at the powdery violet colour before he shoved his finger at the classic purple and said, "That one's Kyoya!"

"Kyoya?" I echoed, glancing between them. "Now, here's a hard one. Ready for a challenge?"

"Lambo-san can do anything!" He didn't seem to notice that I had changed from acting clueless to a tester.

"What colour is Hayato?" I asked.

Lambo jumped up and threw his hands out, arms open wide as he shouted, "So many colours! Like, a thousand colours!" Then he paused and uttered a simple, "Mostly red, though."

"I think Hayato's pretty red too," I agreed. "And my baby feels very green. Like a leaf, or a head of broccoli."

"Ew, I don't wanna be broccoli!"

I laughed as he continued to resist, naming all kinds of sweets and 'cooler' things that were the kind of green he felt he was.

"Baby, did you know," I hummed after a moment, and he blinked, ceasing his tirade. "What you're feeling are Flames. Mama can sense Flames too."

Lambo paused, then beamed.

"I'm like Mama?" he asked quietly - before sitting up straight and said, "Of course I'm like Mama!"

I smiled but stored that reaction in the back of my head. Takeshi and I treated Lambo like blood because he was just as good. Our first baby at an absurd age - but Takeshi didn't seem to care about timelines as he proposed before dating. We loved Lambo as our own, but it seemed that Lambo hadn't forgotten that sliver of distance.

I reached across and pulled him into a quick kiss on the forehead, "Just like your Mama. Do you want to learn a trick?"

"Yeah," Lambo nodded and flopped down to sit in front of me.

I hummed and sat up, cooing a bit when Lambo shuffled forward until his knees were pressed up against my shins, the boy giggling when he looked up at me. I reached out and caught Lambo's hands in my own, establishing a physical connection.

"Bo-kun, do you remember how Mama sometimes cuddles inside your chest?" I asked.

"It feels really warm," he smiled, playing with my fingers in a bit of restlessness.

"And how Mama can find you when you hide? And how Mama can make you feel better when you're scared or feel sick?"

He nodded eagerly, bouncing on the spot.

"Mama does that with her Flames. My Flames feel yellow to you because they're Sun Flames."

I cupped my hands around his and released a long breath as fire bloomed up from my palms, a little candle light of golden yellow - with the slightest touch of lavender peppering the core.

"Yellow!" Lambo exclaimed. "That's the yellow, it feels yellow!"

"These are Mama's Flames," I reinforced gently, before sending a little ray off to wrap around green and give it a squishing cuddle.

Lambo giggled and took his hands out of mine to press them against his chest like he was trying to capture the feeling of Flaming affection.

"Okay, now, Daddy!" I smiled before looking over my shoulder at Takeshi who had finished running the dishwasher and put away the soap. His head snapped up at the call, a whole host of emotions flashing across his eyes, all of them pleased beyond compare. "Come over here, I want you here for this."

Takeshi pressed the start button quickly before all lightly jogging over to my side, sitting down beside Lambo and me with a cooed greeting.

"What's up? I heard you talking 'bout Flames," he asked.

"I'm going to Forge with Bo-kun," I explained to him, "We've already got a connection from when I was healing him back during the Rings, but I'm just going to make it a bit more stable."

"What's Forging?" Lambo asked, blinking up at us.

"Forging is a bond between Flames!" Takeshi grinned, "Mama and Daddy can talk to each other, and even cuddle, even when we're far away! And when Daddy's lonely, Mama can appear next to Daddy and keep me company!"

"Eh? I wanna Forge!" Lambo complained, abandoning his seat on the floor to start crawling into my lap with a great huff as to why this had been kept from him.

"We're going to Forge now, baby," I laughed, "And if all works out, I'll try and build a Forge between you and Daddy too. It'll be my first time, though, so we'll have to work together."

"Okay Mama," Lambo settled, but didn't leave my lap, choosing to lay himself across both mine and Takeshi's legs in a position that just could not have been comfortable.

His Flames were young, so I was more careful with them even if I didn't know whether extra caution was necessary. I reached forward with the 'yellow' and smiled when I saw Lightning jump around eagerly, little hands of sparkling green reaching back uncoordinated, going on the pure instinct of wanting parental affection.

"I'm coming now, okay love?" I warned, and Lambo wiggled in my lap impatiently, making his father laugh.

Shaking my head at his behaviour, I tapped at the distance between Sun and Lightning and waited for clearance. It was granted instantly, though the path was narrow with inexperienced.

"That's okay, leave it there," I soothed, absently rubbing Lambo's back before sending out a flare of sunshine to traverse until I reached the brink.

From there I called, urging Lightning to come those last few steps. It was like watching a baby walk for the first time, stumbling over itself, trying to balance on shaky legs of fire and lightning and following the call as I reached out arms of sunshine.

"There you are," I whispered, and Takeshi leant his head on my shoulder just as my baby made of green lightning fell into my Flames and the welding warmth of a Forge filled my chest. 'Bo-kun, baby, can you hear Mama?'

"Eh?!" Lambo gasped, covering his ears and looking around - partially just to be cute. "I could hear you!"

"Try to call back," I urged. 'We're getting used to talking through this. Go ahead.'

Lambo scrunched up his face and for a moment, I was full ready to have my Flames blasted with signals, but nothing came. I frowned and closed my eyes, narrowing in on green to try and listen closely. Tiny little vibrations, frequencies that were inaudible to me.

I had expected Lambo to get it first try because Takeshi did it, but I should have remembered that Takeshi was weirdly innate with everything hitman-related. Hayato was well acquainted with Flames and Tsuna had been using his to stay alive for well over a year now. Lambo was still rather new to this, I'd need to rethink my standards.

I smiled reassuringly when Lambo titled his head in confusion, the disappointment thick in my baby's face.

"It's okay, my love," I assured, holding his face in my hands. "What were you trying to say to me?"

"I was trying to..." He glanced off before mutely shaking his head, he wouldn't tell me anymore it seemed.

"We'll need to practice for a while it seems, but that's okay. How about we just try getting some basic signals down?"

"Why?" He asked and I bit my lip.

Takeshi cuddled into my side and kissed my cheek, that single touch of affection enough to settle the pain in my stomach.

"Because if Bo-kun can use his Flames - his green, to call for Mama or Daddy, then no one else will hear him. Just us three."

I saw the moment it clicked in Lambo's head and the heartbreaking moment he smiled in relief. The white man couldn't find him when he called for help anymore, he didn't need to be scared.

"Give Daddy a hug, you two need to get ready to go now," I instructed gently before saying to Takeshi, "I'll Forge you when you get home."

"Okay," Takeshi agreed and took Lambo from my hands to spend some time pampering our baby before he left.

I smiled and watched them play together, my love kissing and cuddling our baby like he was the most precious thing in the world. A little huff at my side made me turn and Mephisto yawned wide, paws wet with dew after coming back inside from a morning trot about the yard.

"Welcome back, puppy," I cooed, giving him a scratch behind the ears until he flopped against my lap. "Takeshi, before you go, I want to spend a bit of time with you."

Takeshi paused his gentle roughhousing before he grinned and nodded eagerly, "I'll be quick! Come on, baby let's get ready!"

I smiled as he scooped up Lambo and ran into the bedrooms, Lambo tottering off to find his Mary. Getting to my feet, I followed and helped Lambo get into his clothes.

"Bo-kun, do you want to wear your onesie, or put something together like Daddy and Mama?" I asked, the boy running around without his pyjamas on and started digging through his drawers.

"Daddy!" He decided and started pulling out clothes until I lurched forward and gathered him back to my chest.

"No, Bo-kun, we don't pull out all the clothes," I scolded, and he frowned even as he sat himself down on my thigh. "You want to wear clothes like Mama and Daddy, so let's organise something then. Take out one shirt-" he reached out and I hugged him tight. "Wait. Tell me what you're going to do."

"Pick one shirt," he responded and I let him go with a nod.

Lambo squinted at his pile of folded shirts before pulling a soft, pastel green shirt out with the happy mutter of 'greeeeeeeen'. I let out a soft laugh and watched him grab a pair of black pants before handing them both to me.

"Thank you, sweetie, are you feeling green today?"

"Lambo always feels green!" He agreed.

I smiled and fed Lambo's arms through the holes, smoothing everything down after his head popped through. He wobbled and held onto my shoulders as he stepped into his pants, giggling when I had to grab him before he toppled.

"Can you put your socks on?" I asked and he nodded. "Okay, go put your socks on and play with Miphy for a bit, Daddy and I are going to talk for a little while before you go."

Lambo grabbed Mary in his arms and ran off to pester the poor pup, leaving me to stand up and stare sadly at the state of his drawers now. I shook my head and moved to Takeshi and my bedroom, pushing the door open to find him fighting with his belt, back turned to me.

I blinked before smiling wide, taking in the faded little marks along his skin. He had tried to prolong them, prodding and pushing each one to try and keep the bruise, and I had even seen him lightly sucking on the one lowest on his thigh. He had tilted himself up in a position that could not have been comfortable to reach that, and I decided not to interrupt his careful concentration.

As cute and ego-inflating as it was to watch him care for every little claim, I worried about where this obsession stemmed from. That and his biting. It was only made worse by the knowledge that he couldn't just go see a psychologist; couldn't get professional help because how would he explain fighting Bya-

I shook my head before that sharp rise in my throat could shake me and stared at Takeshi's back, watching how skin pulled and shifted over shoulder blades.

He didn't seem to notice me so far as he changed and I couldn't help the mischievous temptation as I came up behind him. Takeshi yelped as I caught him around the waist and yanked him back into my chest, my mouth dropping onto his shoulder and kissing the entire length of skin available to me.

Takeshi flailed before he started to laugh, leaning into me and tangling one of his hands into my hair.

"I'll be so lonely without you," I whined softly, pressing my nose into his neck and scraping my teeth there until I felt him rattle with an unintentional shudder. "Remember to think about me while you're gone."

"I always think about you," he laughed, before tugging my hair a bit and said encouragingly, "But another mark might help~"

"You want me to mark you again?" I hummed, and he nodded eagerly, his free hand coming to lie over mine on his waist. "You really like marking, don't you?"

Takeshi flushed at the call out, "I like knowing you want me."

I paused before standing straight and twisted Takeshi around, scooping him up into my arms. Takeshi grabbed hold of me to stabilize and didn't hesitate to follow when I walked him over to our bed and dumped him on his back, already reaching for me by the time he had gotten his bearings.

"I always want you, whether you have none, or one hundred marks on you," I promised and he looped his arms around my neck as I crawled on top. "But if it makes you feel good, I'll cover you in as many as you want, my love."

Takeshi grinned and brought me into a kiss before I made good on my promise, giving him as many marks as I could in a span of two minutes. I used my mouth, tongue, teeth, and fingers to press into skin, sending sparks of Sun into his heart and Flames until I felt him shaking all over and quaking down to the core.

"Daiki-" he whined as I pulled up and kissed him on the forehead.

"Later," I promised, ignoring how he wrapped his legs around my thigh. "For now, take our baby to his friend's house."

"You promised this afternoon would be for us?" He asked gently, closing his eyes as I continued to kiss his face.

"Yes, this afternoon we can spend time together, no one else. We'll play in bed."

Takeshi smiled sweetly and said, "I'm going to be mean to you for this."

I tilted my head and said, "I'll have to teach you how to be mean to me first."

"I can handle that!"

"MAMA! DADDY! LAMBO-SAN WANTS TO GO!"

"Five minutes are up I guess," I laughed, leaning my forehead against his, loving how warm he was.

"I'll see you when I get back," Takeshi smiled, touching the spots of pink and red scattered across his chest and stomach. "Love you a lot."

"Love you too."

Lambo jumped up and giggled as I held him to my chest while Takeshi went about grabbing his last-minute things, shoving his lunchbox, water bottle and keys into his bag while I listed off everything he needed.

"Got your phone? Wallet? Books?"

"Yeah!"

"Homework?"

"..." He turned and ran back into our bedroom, leaving Lambo and I to laugh in his wake.

"Your Daddy's so silly," I hummed, before sitting us on the couch, Mephisto jumping up beside us. "Hello puppy, are you going with Bo-kun or staying with me?"

Mephisto sniffed around for a moment before nudging his way under my arm, cuddling up beside me as his choice. I smiled and scratched behind his ear before returning to Lambo who was busily straightening Mary's cap, her bright red dress still as vibrant as the day we had bought it only two weeks ago, what the hell, it felt like months in the room in the chair don't think about it don't think about it-

Rain tumbled forward and wrapped up heaving Sun and frantic Cloud in a calming embrace, compressing down and sure. Dual Flames leant against the blue until arms came and wrapped around me from behind, a soft kiss pressing against my cheek.

"Daiki's okay now," Takeshi whispered to me, "Daiki's safe."

I took a breath and held Lambo closer to me, needing every member of my family pressed against me.

"That's it, good girl. We're here, we're all here with you now," Takeshi hushed, coming around the couch to sit beside me.

He tossed away a throw pillow and pushed himself into my side, urging me to lay my head on his shoulder. Lambo looked so lost, a touch of fear in his face as he cuddled into my chest and tried to understand what had scared his Mama.

I smiled thinly and cupped Lambo's cheek, brushing his hair out of his face. My baby shouldn't be scared because of me.

'Take Bo-kun to I-pin,' I instructed with fire, 'And you should go to school. You can't miss days because of me.'

"I'll miss as many days as I need to. Kyoya can book me as sick and the guys can send me the homework," Takeshi snapped, "You're more important than one day of class. I'm not leaving you alone for seven hours after an attack."

I glanced at Takeshi and sighed, he wasn't letting me go.

'...Okay, but you're telling Tsuyoshi-tou-san. Take Bo-kun still, he needs the distraction.'

"Give me five minutes, I'll be back," Takeshi promised, kissing me on my cheek.

'It's five minutes there, ten minutes both ways,' I squinted.

"Not if I run," Takeshi grinned.

'Bye-bye, baby,' I flared to Lambo who tilted his head as if listening closer to the sound. 'Be good for Daddy, and say thank you to Sawada-san for letting you come over.'

Lambo nodded before sitting there, staring at me. His Flames lurched around, trying to mimic the frequencies I had sent his way, but they fell short of an inaudible crackle-pop of tinder.

'You're trying very hard,' I praised gently. 'I can hear you making noises, you're doing fantastic.'

Lambo smiled and cuddled into me again before letting Takeshi lift him off my lap. I stood up slowly and kissed each of my boys, Takeshi taking an extra moment to nose at me and promise to be fast.

I stood in the doorway and watched Takeshi jog them both out of sight, a heaviness in my chest. Mephisto whined as he stood at my side, staring up at me with his big brown eyes.

I closed the door and gestured for Mephisto to follow, both of us climbing back into bed and hiding from the world in Takeshi's blankets, hoping the smell of bamboo and cotton flower would chase away the bad memories. The puppy laid on top of me, ears high and alert as he watched the door and windows, the attentive guard dog and protector.

"Good boy," I whispered and heard him huff.

I spent the time counting the seconds, listening to the clock on the side table 'tick' 'tick' 'tick' two-hundred and ninety-seven times. Two-hundred and ninety-eight, two-hundred and ninety-nine...three hundred. Five minutes had passed.

I shouldn't panic; I couldn't expect him to adhere to the second. I was glad I had Mephisto with me, and the way he was perched on me honestly helped so much. A grounding weight that promised to keep me safe and well since I was a mere child.

There was the pounding of footsteps and I felt Mephisto tense, shifting his weight onto his feet as he started to growl. The door to the bedroom opened and I peeked out of the blankets to see Takeshi panting and red-faced after what I could have only imagined being a dead sprint.

"Hey Miphy, it's me. I'm going to help Daiki now, okay?" Takeshi soothed the pup on top of me.

I watched as Takeshi offered Mephisto his hand, letting him sniff before he settled down and slowly slipped off my body to sit on my feet instead.

Takeshi smiled and quietly praised Mephisto before he turned his focus on me, eyes soft and warm as I peeked back at him from under the sheets.

"Move over, I'm coming in too," he whispered, and I squirmed back a bit.

The Rain came and snuggled against my Sun while Takeshi dressed back into his pyjamas, seemingly all too eager to get rid of the 'people clothes' as he called them. I winced when his belt hit the floor, the metallic jungle a painfully sharp sound.

"I'm sorry," Takeshi apologised quickly, kicking off the last of his pants and crawling into the sheets with me. "It's okay now, I'm here. You're safe, we're safe."

I sniffed and pushed my face into his chest, wrapping myself around him and squeezing tight as he ran his hands up and down my back. I breathed deep as he worked to calm me down, scenting the air with Rain and pressing it into my skin with his hands until I stopped feeling the pinch of needles and the dig of a metal chair.

"Shh, we're together now. I won't let anyone hurt you," he assured, nosing at my hair. "I love you. I will always be with you when you need me."

I frowned; today was supposed to be a happy day. We had promised so much to look forward to. Instead, I had a relapse and Takeshi had to skip school.

"I can hear you thinking," Takeshi uttered, "I don't like it. Think of something nice. Be gentle with the person I love."

I blinked before snuggling up to my Takeshi, lightly kissing his chest as I did. He smiled and continued to hold me as my breathing slowed down, whispering about our family until I felt warm again.

Maybe half an hour later, Takeshi was still holding me. His smile never wavered as he waited for me to settle, showing me only affection and patience as he cared for me. I made sure to cuddle and kiss Takeshi as he laid with me, nosing at his throat and sending Flames to twirl with his blue.

"Thank you," I whispered, "Thank you for looking after me."

"Of course," he smiled, "I love you, I want to take care of you."

I smiled and gazed at him for a long moment before I said, "I'm happy I'm marrying you."

Takeshi's face lit up in a pure and sweet elation. He gripped me tightly and squeezed, making sure I knew he was here and he was happy too.

A yawn leaked out of me, and I heard him laugh as he kissed my forehead.

"Tired after all that?" He asked and I nodded, he knew what having an attack felt like, we all did at this point. "Do you want to take a nap? I might play some games while you do."

"Yeah," I murmured, "I want to listen to it, please."

"Sure," he agreed softly and with a quick kiss slipped out of bed to set up his consol.

I hummed when he came back, controller in his hands. He sat on the edge of the bed and pet my hair when I moved to cuddle against his thigh, wanting that warmth that he always seemed to radiate.

"Happy?"

"Yeah, I'm happy," I smiled, before noticing that he hadn't bothered to put clothes on. I gathered up the blankets and draped them over his shoulders, pressing myself up against his back with a soft coo. "Takeshi must be warm and safe."

"Mm, thank you," he hummed, touching my cheek as I nosed at his thigh. "My wife takes care of me."

I turned my head and lightly kissed Takeshi's hand, before cuddling up tight and giving a soft sigh, "Remember to tell Tsuyoshi-tou-san so he can tell the school."

"I will, but you rest first. I'll stay with you until then."

Takeshi leant back into my stomach as he started up his game, the sound of footsteps on grass, lilting travel music and the click-clack of the controller grazing my ears until I drifted off to sleep.


|Y.T|

Takeshi smiled when he felt Sun dip into sleep, her arm draped across his knee as he sat cross-legged on the mattress. His heart still hurt, he remembered that not moments after he had left the room Daiki's sunshine had started to sputter and struggle like it was being strangled by some unseen hands. He had dropped what he was doing and ran back, reaching out with his Rain.

But he could calm down now, he reminded himself quickly, feeling his temper rise. Daiki was peacefully napping next to him, and their Lambo was mindlessly playing dolls with I-pin. Takeshi hummed quietly before glancing over when Mephisto came up beside him, the pup giving a low growl as he raised his hackles at the window.

"You hear him too?" Takeshi asked the little dog before looking over as the window slid open. "Hi Kyoya! Did you get the text?"

Hibari Kyoya narrowed his eyes at Takeshi as he sat on the windowsill, observing the occupants of the room with a critical eye.

"Yes," he answered slowly. "Sent from the Handler's phone."

"Yeah, well, I didn't have your number," Takeshi laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

"...Didn't?"

"We're friends! I have your number now, I copied it from Daiki."

Kyoya's face scrunched up the tiniest bit and Takeshi grinned when he recognised that mild expression of distaste. Usually, Daiki would quietly scold him for purposefully irking his friends, but since she was sleeping he had free rein.

"You don't appear sickly, you lied. You are truant," Kyoya accused, his hand disappearing into his coat.

"Whoa, whoa, hang on!" Takeshi eased with a large smile, finally pausing his game and putting aside his controller. "I'm not sick, yeah, but I'm looking after Daiki!"

"The Handler can care for themself."

Takeshi twitched and laid his hands on Daiki's body, the girl all curled up in the tent of a blanket that was draped over his shoulders.

"Usually she would," Takeshi admitted, playing with the little golden hoop in her ears. "But she had an attack. I didn't want to leave her alone after that."

Kyoya blinked and stood quietly, staring at Daiki as Takeshi continued to soothe her with his hands. He frowned to himself.

"And how does being in your underwear help?"

Takeshi flushed red in the face and gave a nervous laugh, one of his hands coming up to rub his nape. He had been hoping Kyoya wouldn't call it out.

"Well, Daiki likes seeing me so..." he smiled sheepishly but made no move to cover himself or the marks his wife had left on his chest and stomach this morning.

Instead, Takeshi scooted closer to his Daiki and hummed so pleasantly when Daiki curled around him tighter, making a soft noise as she tightened her hold on him in her sleep. He cooed and bent to kiss her hair.

"Sleep, sleep," he hushed, washing Rain over her Flames. "My wife is safe."

He felt her relax again and lightly rubbed her shoulder until she was gone again, Rain continuing to ebb and flow over cloud-dappled sunshine and entangle three colours together. Takeshi was unfazed, actually a bit giddy, as he felt the slate eyes of their official Cloud rove over the marks littering his body, teeth indents, kisses, and blushes of pink and red staining his skin and making him feel all warm and wanted.

Only two so far; Takeshi had only managed to show two people the extent of his Daiki's care.

Takeshi's mood twisted however when he saw Kyoya start to tongue at his own teeth, a restlessness coming to his stance across the room. He saw Kyoya's eyes burn at every pattern of Daiki's jaws and felt himself fight to resist rolling his shoulders inward protectively.

"When the Handler wakes up," Kyoya started suddenly, "Tell them I'm bored."

Takeshi frowned before quickly putting a smile back on.

"Daiki won't be able to play tag with you for a little while, sorry. At least not until she's back at school," Takeshi tilted his head. "Maybe next week?"

Kyoya wasn't pleased by this, but Takeshi wasn't going to back down. There was a long moment of staring, a long moment of daring the other to just try it-

Daiki made a soft noise before she slowly pushed herself up onto her elbows, looking a bit dazed and drowsy.

"That wasn't much of a nap, sweetie, go back to sleep," Takeshi urged, but Daiki just grumbled about not being tired enough anymore and that she shouldn't sleep in the day.

"Handler," Kyoya scoffed.

Daiki blinked before squinting at the Skylark in their window. She looked at him for a moment, seemingly thinking about something, before she turned her eyes on Takeshi who perked up.

"Have you been bullying the birdy?"

"Huh, what?" Takeshi laughed.

"He's huffing. Indignant. You did something, didn't you? You like to bully your friends."

"Me? Never!"

"Sure," she murmured and Takeshi whined softly at her suspicious look. Then she shifted and leant forward to him. "Kiss?"

Takeshi crooned a low noise and pressed a quick kiss on his darling who cuddled up to him shortly after.

"So birdy," Daiki sighed, finally addressing the Cloud who lurked quietly. "What's up? Takeshi called in absent, right?"

"He called in sick-"

"Oh same-same," Daiki scoffed, and Takeshi took up his controller again, playing his game quietly as Daiki started to absently stroke her thumb along the side of his knee. "Either way, Takeshi's filed for absence and has been excused by the school. So take a load off, relax. One less student to clobber."

Takeshi smiled to himself as Daiki sat up and leant her cheek on his shoulder, her arms and blankets coming to wrap around him and lean him back against her chest. The Rain settled in his new spot and enjoyed the warmth, the sound of Daiki talking in a snarky, happy way always a sweet sound.

"Takeshi's staying home to take care of me like a good, caring husband-" an explosion of warmth in his chest "-and you're not going to attack him for that. So, how are you doing? Had time to heal after the trip?"

"I'm well Handler," Kyoya grumbled and Takeshi withheld the urge to giggle aloud, noticing how the older boy had backed down from the whole truant ordeal.

Daiki squeezed him a bit before she nuzzled her nose into the crook of his throat making goosebumps spread across his skin pleasantly. He smiled and felt her breathe across his shoulder before she quietly said, "Manners."

Ah, of course, she knew he had been laughing at Kyoya.

Takeshi turned his head and kissed her cheek before settling down in her arms like the good husband he was. He continued to play his game as Daiki and Kyoya started talking about Namimori paperwork, recent student activity and assorted attempts of the 'herbivores unionising'.

"Admit it, Kyoya, you like acting like a shepherd. Namimori's finest sheepdog."

"I am no such thing, Handler."

"Sure," she snickered, and Takeshi absently enjoyed the sensation of her hand pressing up against his stomach and soaking up his warmth.

Kyoya scanned the room and Takeshi glanced over, smiling patiently as the Cloud slowly decided to talk again.

"Where is your child? The screaming one."

"Bo-kun's at his friend's house for the day," Daiki answered without offence, and Takeshi smiled, a zing of happiness striking him in his core at having someone else call Lambo theirs.

Takeshi returned to his game, pouting a bit when he missed a jump. Honestly, at this point Takeshi was tempted to invite Kyoya to sit on his desk chair since, from how they were talking, he was going to be here for a while. He knew Daiki hadn't been able to hang out with her own friends for a couple of days and she seemed to be getting her fill now.

Either way, Takeshi wasn't too bothered that the attention was off him. Takeshi didn't mind when he was...not ignored, but more just in company. He likes being in company more than the main show with most people. Because the majority of the time he was on the receiving end of a favour, or a demand, or an expectation. Win the season for us, Yamamoto. Talk to those girls for us Yamamoto. Get us free sushi Yamamoto. Oh won't you just be my wingman Yamamoto? We totally won't get in trouble Yamamoto. We'll totally pass because we have Yamamoto. Yamamoto, Yamamoto, Yamamoto Takeshi-

"Takeshi," Daiki called in her smooth, soft voice.

Takeshi blinked, realising he had been staring through the death message screen for who knows how long.

A hand came up and Takeshi relaxed as his face was turned, Daiki looking down at him with the same unending love and concern she always wore when he slipped into his own head.

"You okay, love?" She asked gently, holding his chin in her hand and stroking her thumb along his jaw.

This person. This person, right here. Takeshi could be the centre of her attention for the rest of his life. He could sit here and have her stare at him forever, have those eyes looking at him and that voice ask for him over and over.

"I love you," Takeshi smiled.

Daiki tilted her head before she hummed and said, "I love you too." A quick kiss to his forehead. "Are you still going to play?"

"Yeah," Takeshi nodded and settled back into her chest, pressing 'continue' and trying that damned jump again.

He felt Daiki run her hand down his chest before she wrapped her arm tight around his stomach and held him close, humming a soft note into his hair. Then she bundled the blankets around them both until all that was visible was their heads and the cable of Takeshi's controller.

Takeshi absently listened to the two Cloudy folk talk, enjoying how warm everything felt.

It almost tempted him to bring over the others more in the afternoon so that Daiki could branch her conversation out, but almost immediately that was swatted away by the reminder that afternoons were their time. The afternoon was the time that Takeshi could unwind from smiling thinly all day and just bury his face in Daiki's chest, not having to talk or pretend.

Takeshi paused as Daiki started to kiss his shoulder between her words to Kyoya and the Skylark looked barely phased, completely used to this behaviour.

"Can I have a kiss?" Daiki asked and Takeshi felt a jolt of warmth as he smiled and leant to her, pressing a soft and darling kiss to her lips. "More."

Takeshi nosed at her face and cooed at her as she held him tighter, sunshine wrapping around Rain. He abandoned his game to idle and turned in Daiki's lap to wrap his arms around her neck and kiss his wife to her satisfaction.

"You return to classes in four days, Handler. Do not forget," Kyoya warned and Daiki glanced at him.

"Mhm," she hummed, mouth still busy with Takeshi's.

Takeshi smiled when he saw exasperation in Kyoya's face before the Cloud turned on his heel and disappeared out the window. He purred and tangled his fingers in her hair as she squeezed him and kissed him breathless.

"I love you," Daiki whispered and Takeshi hid his face on her shoulder, breathing heavily and smiling wide. "I love you, I love you."

Takeshi grabbed handfuls of Daiki's shirt and pressed himself close until she fell back and they laid together on the bed. He made a happy noise and closed his eyes as she scratched his nape, running her hand up and down his back.

"We're going to the Watanabe on Friday," Daiki sighed and immediately Takeshi's mood plummeted. "I'm glad you're coming with me...I don't want to be alone right now."

"Of course I'm coming with you. You're my wife. I don't want to be away from you either," he assured gently, "If I had it my way, I'd never be apart from you. Always together, always safe."

Daiki grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss onto his fingers before she dropped both their hands on her chest.

"Thank you, husband. What would I ever do without you?" Takeshi made a victorious huff before cuddling up into her side and relaxed. "Do you want to go back to your game? I might start packing some stuff for the trip."

"No," Takeshi frowned, "Just lay with me for a while longer. Please."

Daiki turned her head but didn't move to get up, resting with him as he had asked. He snuggled in close and let her touch him, a rough palm going up and down until his skin tingled pleasantly.

Takeshi closed his eyes and breathed deep as she held and caressed him, feeling so calm in the moment.

Then Daiki's phone pinged and she reached for it, quietly bringing it up to read through a series of texts and badly screenshotted memes from Ryohei and the updates and complaints from the class 3A group chat. Takeshi stared at her and watched with a low settled horror as a flash of stress touched her face.

"How can I already have so many assignments?" She sighed.

Takeshi grabbed the phone in her hand and took it with as much care as he could despite the burn of anger in his heart.

"Hey!" Daiki complained but he didn't listen and chucked the phone into the basket of unfolded laundry in the far corner of the room. "Takeshi!"

"It's making you stressed and sad," the Rain frowned and held her down when she tried to sit up. "Stop. No. I don't want you to be stressed."

"Takeshi," Daiki scolded, "Don't just take my phone from me like that, I don't like it."

"And I don't like how whenever you look at your phone you're sad or stressed out," he uttered back, trying to keep his voice gentle for her. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her tight, pushing his weight on top of her. "Daiki, darling, please. It hurts to see you like that."

"I want my phone," she said sternly.

"Why? I can keep you entertained."

"This isn't about being entertained," Daiki frowned. "I let you get away with it once and that was my mistake, I thought it was light-hearted but I think there's something more at work here."

Takeshi flinched, "Daiki, I…"

"Mephisto," Daiki called and the puppy sat up immediately, ears pricked to attention. "Phone, fetch."

Takeshi watched dejectedly as the snowy dog lept from their bed and retrieved Daiki's phone, gently handing it over to his master. Daiki took it and purred a soft "good puppy" that somehow made Takeshi feel worse.

"This," Daiki started, showing Takeshi the phone in her hand. "Is mine. And I may be gentle with you, but know that I don't like it when people take my stuff."

Takeshi stared up at her before he smiled and almost meekly asked, "Am...Am I yours too?"

Daiki blinked before she hummed warmly, "Yes. One of my most precious things. Just like Bo-kun, just like Mephisto."

The Rain nearly whined as he felt warmth pool in his stomach, but didn't have any time to follow the urge as Daiki continued, "And just like Mephisto and Bo-kun, I'll need to teach you to behave." She tilted her head, still looking at him. "Mephisto, sit," the pup sat, "down" he flopped on his belly, "sit," he sat, "down," he laid, "up," the pup jumped to his feet, "speak," a loud and clear bark left him.

"Good boy!" Daiki praised and lifted her arm to let her puppy come and wedge himself up against her chest, licking her cheek before laying down. Then she lifted her eyes back to Takeshi and said, "Your turn. Speak."

That warmth turned to heat and Takeshi was quick to reprimand himself; he made Daiki upset with him, stop being horny. He had to say something, he had been told to speak, think of something cute? Funny? Smart?

"Don't overthink it," Daiki murmured, and the Rain blinked as he felt fingers in his hair. "I gave one command, speak. Not think; speak."

Takeshi stared before he finally uttered, "Wife."

Daiki beamed a soft happy pride in her expression. "Good boy. I'll have you trained in no time." She kissed him on the forehead before reminding him gently, "Don't take my stuff, love. Things that are mine stay with me."

"Okay," Takeshi agreed, lowering his eyes in submission. "I'm sorry, Daiki."

"I'm glad you understand."

Only then did Daiki let Takeshi come back to her and cuddle into her arms, their puppy sniffing about between them. The Rain hid his face in her shoulder and didn't show how his lips had bent into a frown.

"...I just wanted to look after you," he whispered and his wife sighed as she rubbed his back.

"I know, love," she soothed. "But you've got to think of a different way to do it."

Takeshi squeezed her lightly, "Okay. I'll find a way that makes you happy."

Later, Takeshi sat up against the headboard with Daiki's head resting on his stomach, the two of them soothing each other as the Rain continued to progress his game. He sat in a loading screen and took some time to gently pet Daiki's hair, enjoying how soft it was, if showing signs of needing a wash soon. He told her as much.

"Oh shut it," she grumbled and he laughed, "You just wanna shower with me 'cause I haven't let you yet."

"You're not wrong!" he chirped, sitting up so he could see her face and pout urgingly. "Sooo...Wanna shower?"

Daiki glanced up at him, "I dunno, you're crossed lines twice in so many hours, my love."

Takeshi flinched.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, thoroughly scolded.

Daiki gazed at him for a moment before rolling over and pressing her face into his stomach, giving a low noise as he carefully caressed her nape.

"You can come in the shower with me," Daiki said slowly, and Takeshi resisted the urge to perk up too much lest he scare her away. "But, no touching. And we won't play this afternoon. We'll cuddle, pack for Saturday and pick up our Bo-kun, and that's it."

Then Daiki got to her feet and stretched before arms wrapped around her waist and she saw the Rain frowning. Takeshi quietly warned her against pulling her skin too far.

"Do you want to come shower?" She asked, rubbing his arms.

Takeshi wanted to jump to agree, the thought of getting to see Daiki like that was so tempting. He had been waiting for a chance since they were young but-

"No," Takeshi refused softly, and smiled when he saw Daiki's eyebrows raise in surprise. "I...Whenever I cross a line you always try to find us a middle ground. But if we keep doing that you're going to keep following me back until your rules aren't there anymore. You said it, I crossed the line twice in, like, three days. So I need to stop for a while."

He watched her face for a moment, letting her understand what he had said. Honestly, he hated giving up any chance to be with Daiki. He wanted to follow her around, hear every noise she made, see everything she looked at and every reaction she had. But Takeshi knew had been pushing his luck lately, and Daiki was nothing if not patient but even she had a limit. And, God, he didn't want to know what happened when he reached that limit.

Then there was a hand on his cheek and Daiki was looking down at him with a soft mixture of joy and so much pride. Daiki was seeing him trying, seeing him get better at their relationship. That alone was more than enough for what he was keeping at bay.

"Takeshi," Daiki murmured, running her thumb along his cheekbone. "My Takeshi. As always, you're right." Takeshi closed his eyes as she dropped a kiss on his lips. "Okay, I'm going to shower now. Then we can cuddle, or get some stuff done."

"Cuddle for a bit, then we can pack together."

"Packing together sounds good," Daiki smiled, before kissing him again and leaving for the hall bathroom.

Takeshi waited until the door to the bathroom closed with an echoed thud before he threw himself back across their bed and groaned in misery. He was so close to seeing everything! More Daiki! Naked Daiki! She was offering it, willingly!

But then she was so happy when he said he was repenting. That she didn't need to always find a way to please him, that a 'no' and no more was enough for him. She was so happy.

And honestly, that's all Takeshi wanted.

Takeshi glanced at her phone on the side table, watching the screen light up with notifications; three emails from teachers, two assessment reminders, and texts from Jun about the upcoming meetings. He wanted to turn it off. Hide her away from it all, keep her warm, happy and safe.

Instead, Takeshi rolled over and tried not to think about it, grabbing the once-forgotten game controller to restart his save.

. . .

Packing didn't take long at all with Daiki assuring that anything they needed would be provided for them, toiletries and towels, etcetera. So most of what Daiki neatly folded away was undergarments and her various medicines.

"You're not taking a binder," Takeshi frowned, sitting beside his darling, glaring at the clothing item in her hands. "You'll push on your scars."

"We can't let the Watanabe know that I'm female, love," Daiki sighed, dropping her binder in her lap. "I care about my cousins, but I will admit: I don't trust them. The inheritance is shaky as it is, if Honda-chan were to find out..."

Takeshi frowned and gathered her hands with his own, squeezing lightly until she looked at him.

"Do you really want the Watanabe? We saw the Vongola buildings from the Future, I could take care of you even without the Yakuza."

Daiki smiled a bit and stroked her thumb across his knuckles, leaving behind trails of warmth on his skin.

"It would be useful," Daiki admitted, "And I've already put in so much effort. Might as well go the rest of the way."

"Will it always be like this?" He asked, watching how she avoided his eyes by gazing at their rings, gleaming and gold. "Hiding?"

"Maybe one day, after I've established myself, I'll let everyone know. But not now. For now, this is something I only want to share with those I trust most," she hummed, and leant heavily against his side.

Takeshi felt warmth spread in his chest and pressed a soft kiss on the top of her head as she laid her cheek on his shoulder. He breathed deep the nice scent Daiki brought from the shower and wrapped his arms around her, keeping his beloved close to his chest as he got his fill of her for a moment.

"I love you," he reminded her gently, and he heard her sigh happily, nose burying into his throat until lips skimmed his skin.

"I love you too," she whispered, kissing his pulse point softly.

Takeshi grinned as his face bloomed pink at the touch, and reluctantly let Daiki sit up again. She pressed a parting kiss on his nose before returning to her folding, sliding a spare binder into the duffle bag they were sharing between them.

Takeshi leant against his wife as she continued to pack away their stuff, only two days of clothes and pyjamas along with spare everything because 'but Takeshi what if we get wet or you dirty your shirt while playing with Mephisto? We have to bring spares, go get another one'.

Daiki had always been an anxious packer. He was glad that some things never changed.

"Did you know I love you?" Takeshi asked suddenly, making Daiki pause writing her 'list of contents' to look up.

She blinked but smiled and leant over to nose at him gently, cooing a soft 'you too'.

"I wonder if you'll ever get bored of saying that," Daiki hummed, "We say it so often. Almost gratuitously. Most people would have thought it dull by now."

"No," Takeshi responded idly, laying on the floor and propping his cheek on her lap. "No, I like it. I like hearing you say it."

Daiki tangled her fingers in his hair and made a soft sound at him, "Then I'll tell you lots. As much as you want."

Takeshi grinned and continued to list off everything they had packed today for Daiki to write down. He paused when Daiki started asking about bringing toys for Lambo aside from his beloved Mary, and made a noise of realisation as he remembered a past conversation.

"Oh yeah," Takeshi uttered making Daiki look at him. "I told the guys we're going to the Watanabe this weekend. They want us to plan a sleepover at some point, they want to hang out together. Reborn-san even got in on it."

Daiki blinked and dropped her list with a huge heave of grievance.

"Oh no," she groaned.

"Huh?" Takeshi asked.

"Sweetheart, I think you just fucked me over."

Takeshi smiled innocently, eager to see what friendly chaos he had brought home with him.

|Y.T|