Though the faucet would leak and the heater only worked in the summertime, Hikari Yagami adored her apartment. Nestled amongst the streets of her childhood, the view from her balcony was exquisite. Even though the sights were as familiar as the back of her hand, the glow of nostalgia glowed bright.
Sunlight trickled through the shades as she styled her hair, doing her best to dance around the toys littered throughout the living room. In perfect view of the balcony sat a bedroom door, dinosaurs and stray crayon marks adorning the wood. Hikari turned the knob softly, pausing to listen to the sound of steady breathing. Stuffed animals obscured her path, but she had long ago become a master of dodging obstacles.
"Kohaku? Yasuke? It's time to wake up."
A digital clock on the bedside table told her that if her boys did not wake up soon, the morning would be lost. With a creak from the hand-me-down bunkbed frame, the comforters began to shift. "Mama, are you sure it's morning?" A pair of warm, brown eyes peaked from beneath the blanket, tufts of dark hair springing free.
Hikari chuckled, brushing away the hair that clung to his forehead. "C'mon, Ko. Breakfast is waiting."
From above, a head of blond hair peaked over the railing. Blue eyes alit with curiosity, Hikari answered her son's unspoken question.
"You both need to get dressed. There's a stack of strawberry pancakes on the table whenever you're ready." With a kiss to each cheek, the woman left her children to themselves.
As a single mother, it was rare to find a moment to herself. Ordinarily, she preferred it that way. It was easy to forget about the more unpleasant things if her attention remained solely on her children. A cup of warm coffee lured her out onto the balcony, Odaiba shining in the sunrise.
The jingle of a text message interrupted her thoughts. Coffee would have to wait.
'Tell the boys that Uncle Taichi and Aunt Meiko wish them a happy birthday! I can't believe they're already seven years old.'
'I know, me either! They're so big. Send Meiko our love.'
'You know, the rest of us are getting together today. I'm sure the boys would have fun with the other kids. Plus, the others have been asking about you. It wouldn't hurt to let them in.'
Her thumb found its way into her mouth, anxiety nibbling at the edges of her nails. She knew her brother would never tell him; Taichi would never betray her trust. But it wracked her nerves to know that all of the others still remained close.
'Thanks for the invite, but the boys already have plans for their big day. Yasu and Ko are getting ready for me to drop them off at your place soon. I get off around three today.'
Crisis averted, Hikari turned her focus to celebratory chocolate milk. "Our favorite! You remembered!" Kohaku cheered. With his infinite energy, he bounded from his room and into the kitchen. Yasuke followed with a grin, his shy blush dusted across his cheeks.
While Kohaku climbed into his chair, his brother snuggled into Hikari's side. "Thank you, mama."
"Anything for you, my love."
Seated at the dining room table, the twins' feet had yet to touch the floor. Strawberry juice stained their lips, eyes bright with a familiar glow. Hikari's heart constricted. Though it hurt to see them grow up so quickly, it hurt worse to see them blossom into the image of a man they would never know.
"These are so good!" Bits of pancake flew from the little brunette's mouth. Yasuke brushed the debris from his face, shooting his brother a nasty glare. With her sons distracted amongst their bickering, Hikari quickly lit a pair of candles.
The glow of the flame caught their attention. "Happy birthday." Her smile was warm as the cupcakes were nestled in front of her children. It was worth it. All of the hours she worked, the tears that were shed, and relationships lost were a small price to pay to see a smile painted on their little faces.
She couldn't have imagined entering motherhood alone, but Hikari wouldn't regret the path that led her to these children.
Taichi's apartment was nestled a block away. The shore glittered in the morning light while Yasuke and Kohaku ran along the sidewalk. Salty air tousled their locks as the pair galloped down the well-worn path to their uncle's, mother trailing behind.
The brothers raced each other up the stairwell. Uncle Taichi opened the door to a pair of flushed cheeks and skinned knees, his own determination mirrored in their eyes. Their greetings were shouted in joy, shoes thrown off before they barged in.
"Boys! Manners!" Hikari chastised. Her voice fell on deaf ears, both of her children more preoccupied with their little cousin, Kazue. Meiko flitted around the kitchen, cleaning up the remains of their breakfast.
"Don't sweat it, little sis. They won't turn into heathens just because they're excited to see the coolest uncle in the world." His smile was breezy. Her brother was no longer brazenly confident, charging ahead without considering the consequences. Instead, experience weathered his shoulders. The Chosen were all grown up without need for a hot-headed leader. With a head full of hair and a smile brighter than sunlight, Kazue had given Taichi a renewed purpose.
A glance at her watch told the young mother that it was time to leave. With a rushed goodbye, Hikari sped off in an attempt to make it to her office. Cartoonish music blared from the television speakers as Taichi shut the door behind her.
"Now, where are my hugs from the special birthday boys?" The older man hardly had time to sink to his knees before his nephews clamored over him. With their heads buried in his chest, Taichi pat their heads affectionately.
Pulling away, Kohaku pleaded with big, round eyes. "Uncle Taichi! C'mon, it's our favorite show!"
Taichi grinned. Once he was back on his feet, his eyes searched for his wife. From the kitchen, Meiko knuckles paled around her cell phone. Her dark eyes silently beckoned him over. "Uh, give me a second. Aunt Meiko needs some help with the dishes." While an animated sponge captured the children's attention, Taichi's eyes frantically scanned over his wife's text messages.
Her eyebrows knit together, hidden beneath the frame of her glasses. "The others are meeting at the Ichijouji's house. Apparently, we agreed to these plans weeks ago."
A groan died in his throat. "What do we do? I mean, we have the boys over. How do we explain that we suddenly have two more children without them finding out whose they are?"
His eyes wandered on the kitchen counters, racking his brain for an easy solution. Fresh icing gleamed on a homemade birthday cake. Seven candles stood proud, waiting for two pairs of lips to extinguish them. On the fridge, the day's date was circled in red. It was only now that he realized it wasn't for Yasuke's and Kohaku's birthday, but for an event Miyako had planned months ago.
Meiko's teeth played with her bottom lip before she shrugged. "Well," Taichi continued, "Hikari would murder me in cold blood if she finds out the kids went anywhere near the others."
"But Miyako will murder you if you bail on her again."
Laughter erupted from the living room couch. As characters bickered on screen, Yasuke twirled Kazue in the air. Though quiet, his cerulean eyes shone with mirth. Kohaku giggled nearby, tickling whichever boy was nearer. Taichi's nephews were his pride. He had witnessed their birth, watched them learn to crawl and babble. The others' children had also grown right before his eyes.
They had all celebrated each other's blessings and relished in the way all of their families grew close as their own children grew up together. The Chosen, the people who had once been Hikari's closest friends, had been robbed of that experience.
'Besides, Takeru probably won't even be there,' Taichi reasoned.
"I'd much rather deal with an irritated sister than a murderous, pregnant Miyako."