It was nice to see a few people are interested in this story so here's the next chapter featuring some more pregnancy hijinks and the ever to be expected reactions from friends and family.
I do not own anything.
Chapter 2-A Shining World
"I hate the fact this is going to become a habit." Groaned the fox-eared woman as she rose her head above the toilet for what felt like the tenth time. She wasn't sure what annoyed her more, expelling everything she'd eaten over the day or the fact she was potentially clogging up the toilet. Probably the latter since it fell to her husband to unclog it. Said husband was standing behind her, holding her waist-length pink hair. Really, he was far too forgiving with her for his own good, but Tamamo didn't have it in her to complain about it.
Hakuno heard the muscles in her stomach already beginning to constrict, Tamamo picked up on the feeling as well. A second later and her face was hovering above the toilet again. "Don't worry about me, just let it all out. I'll clean this all up once you're finished."
There was a brief pause. "But…that's the…problem. I'm not sure when I'll-" Her words were cut off as another surge rose from her stomach and left through her mouth. It wasn't the worst sound Hakuno had ever heard, that honor went to human screaming, explosions ripping flesh and steel apart, and perhaps at the top of the least-snoring. Oh yes, he'd gladly take his wife's vomiting over the snores he'd heard during his stay with the Hsu family. Following another two minutes or so, Tamamo seemed finished, at least for the moment. "I'm sorry, for the next couple of months I'm going to be keeping you up, and not just with the vomiting."
"Well, considering you're carrying my child, I've already gotten used to going a few nights without sleep. Wouldn't be my first time." Giving her hands a light squeeze, he bumped foreheads with the pink-haired woman. "I'd rather be kept up by you and our child than the fear of death and doomsday hanging over our heads."
"Sometimes, I really do think you're too kind to exist in a chaotic world like this, Hakuno." Mumbled the fox.
After washing her face, she silently tip-toed back to their bedroom while Hakuno set up cleaning up the bathroom. Again, it was only the second night of what would be many where he'd show how great a plumber he would have been. Though she still felt a bit queasy, Tamamo couldn't help but sit upright in bed and listen to her husband work. Hakuno always seemed to be at his calmest whenever he was in the midst of something else: studying, working, and anything else that required his mind to be one-hundred percent focused. It was a trait that had caught the eyes of many, and made him desirable as a worker in all sorts of fields. She couldn't help but be proud of her lover for being so popular, yet there was also a spark of jealously and caution as well as she knew just how cruel and untrustworthy people could be. Far too many would have liked to take advantage of her brown-haired lover for their own expanses.
Slowly, her hands drifted down to her stomach. It would only be a matter of time before it went from flat to the size of a balloon. Tamamo would have been lying if she didn't admit to being both excited and terrified; ever since they'd receive the news, the two feelings had fiercely battled inside of her for dominance. Truly, she hadn't felt turmoil like this since the Great Holy Grail War. Fear had given way to joy, joy had eventually been replaced with shock which became shame that she felt would crush her underfoot. And then, like a ray of light through the clouds, her Master, her lover, had shined his light upon her burning away the shame thus returning the bubbly witch to her true self. In more ones than one.
"Your father's a very special man, little one. Here's hoping you get more of him than me." Giggled the former Servant rubbing her stomach. Though only a few weeks old at best, Tamamo could already feel their child's soul beginning to take shape. Barely as big as a candle, but it was certainly there. "Oh, then again, if you end up with too much of his charisma you may have swarms of girls, and a few boys coming after you like he did. Heh, if you're a girl then it'll be the reverse." At the thought of their child becoming popular with the opposite sex, Tamamo couldn't help but get a little bit excited. She'd grown to love the peace and quiet of their lives, but that didn't mean she wasn't up for a little excitement here and there. Not to mention when it came to romance, she considered herself a foremost expert. After all, had she found a man who was truly one in a million?
Brilliantly reflecting the light of the autumn moon was the proof of that discovery. Hakuno possessed two things that made most women go weak at the knees: an eye for detail and amazing insight into the hearts of others. Those two traits had come together in his choice for the wedding ring he'd used to propose to Tamamo. In their "previous life", the Moon Cell's Regalia had served as their wedding rings, proof of their victory and their unbreakable bond. She had to admit, the blue-lined silver ring was nice, but compared to the jewel currently adorning her finger, it simply couldn't compare.
Blazing orange like the sun, encrusted in a dazzling gold frame shaped after the sun itself. Engraved into the jewel itself was the kanji for "goddess", letting all who saw it know what her brown-haired lover thought of her. It also served as their little joke…and a subtly warning to those who lived in the world of magecraft. The symbol wasn't just a show of affection, it was an indicator, a rather blatant one. Tamamo had felt like she was going to faint that evening when Hakuno had gotten down on one knee and presented the ring to her from the confines of a velvet box. Her brain had temporarily shut down…and once it started back up, she proceeded to put her lover at death's door via the tightest bear-hug imaginable. Even all he'd been through in his previous lives couldn't compare to the level of force she'd used to nearly crush him. Had it not been for their ring of friends and allies gently prodding her, Tamamo would have succeeded what countless Servants, a demon from the pits of Hell, and an alien super weapon could not.
It was such a fond memory she enjoyed looking back on, and it was one she'd been retelling to either a miniature version of herself or a mini-Hakuno. Those were the thoughts that allowed the joy to override the fear in her. Silently, another hand fell atop of hers.
"Thinking?"
"You know me too well, my dear." Giggled the goddess allowing her body to slid to the right where she fell into the arms of her former Master. "When I dream, I think I'm going to try to take a peak into the future, some of it is worry…but I also want to know what our child will be like."
"That's an easy one, they'll be bright like the sun." Laughed the human placing a light kiss atop his wife's head.
"Or they could be mysterious yet soothing like the moon, or shall I say, like you?" Responded the magic-user. Just as Hakuno's hand had wrapped around her, Tamamo's tail did the same, moving around his waist as she'd done over a hundred times before. He enjoyed the feeling, especially when she tickled his side using the tip of her tail. There were times when she'd used such affection to either put his mind at ease, or win an argument in her favor. "Think it might be better if we keep it a surprise?"
Hakuno couldn't help but chuckle. "That sounds surprisingly optimistic of you, I like it."
"Hey, remember, I am a sun goddess! Besides, it's only natural whichever one of us they take after, our child will surely be a shining star!" The bombastic fire smearing a bit as the pink-haired woman. "Mikon, speaking of which…do you think…it'll be a boy or a girl?"
"Are you asking me for my input or are you worried about the betting pool?" Against all odds, against everything that Tamamo had believed, they'd built up quite an oddball yet trusted group of friends and associates. At their respective jobs and in the world of magi. Said friends and associates would surely catch wind of Tamamo's pregnancy…and given how some of them would react, he could already see the chaos that came with predictions of gender and the inevitable baby shower. Like his wife, he too had enjoyed the peace and quiet, but something told him by week's end, their lives were going to be very, very busy. "To answer your question…I don't know. I guess we'll find out on our next trip to Dr. Suzumura's."
"Perhaps that's for the best, after all, not all surprises are bad." Stated the sun goddess with a brief smile. Sadness slowly came over her face as she buried it int the crux of her husband's neck. "…From the bottom of my heart…I wish my…my parents could see me, see us. I wish…I wish they were able to hold their grandchild when they're born."
Both his arms looped around her waist, completing the embrace. It went without saying that their lives were complicated, and that complexity extended to their relationship. On one hand, he looked to be a normal guy while Tamamo looked to be a normal woman. Except she wasn't, she was the reincarnated spirit of a woman close to a thousand years old, who herself was a piece of a divine goddess. All of that basically meant one thing-the only family she had was either long dead or unreachable. At least, not without breaking some very serious rules that would come with grave consequences. There was no mistake that Tamamo was happy to be accepted into the Kishinami Family, but she still felt the ping of loneliness and heartache when she thought of the mortal pair that had raised her as Mizukume. What she wouldn't have given for them to be able to see her now.
Almost a thousand years and countless life times spent in Holy Grail Wars, and yet Tamamo still couldn't shake the image of her dear adoptive parents. They were her memories, not ones belonging to her divine self or some other incarnation, but well and truly hers'. At times, looking back upon them was painful, but at other times she felt they gave her more motivation to stand up and walk ahead. Yes, they may have been poor farmers, but they raised her to be something more, something truly special. After a time, she began joking that her dear Master was just the type of man they'd wanted her to bring home, and the type she would have been proud to introduce them to. Alas, as it always did, life turned out differently.
All that said, by some miracle, she still managed to know what the tender love of a parent felt like, from her own eventual in-laws.
The pair laid back in bed, ready to return to the realm of dreams. Hakuno's hand was protectively wrapped around his wife's waist. Said wife did the exact same thing, coiling her arms around his abdomen. It was better they get all the physical contact in now because over the next couple of months semi-peaceful nights like this were going to become a rarity. There were going to be mornings where they woke up feeling like crap, but to see a little bundle of joy in their arms or at the breakfast table, it'd all be worth it.
"You really don't have to do this for me, Hakuno. I…I can make it to work on my own." Began the former Servant. Were it not for her protection, her animalistic tail and ears would have been swishing back and forth as they always did when she was nervous. Given his own supernatural abilities, Hakuno was able to see them clear as day.
"True, but remember, as your husband it's my job to take care of you. Especially since you're carrying my child." Winked the brown-haired man. "Now come on, if we're lucky, we'll be able to get to the inn before the morning rush is in full-swing."
"Well, how can I resist when you put it like that?" Surrendered the former Servant with a soft smile. Without another word, she slid into the passenger seat of the car. As she did so, Tamamo realized they were going to have to start looking at baby seats. Given his vast skill set, Hakuno could have just built one for themselves, but Tamamo fingered it'd be better for them to go out and buy one. It would only be one of the many shopping trips they'd be doing over the next several months if all went well. Tamamo could hardly wait.
Luck was with them as it hadn't quite started to rain in full. Kyoto was a beautiful place year-round, but like any location, it had its share of downsides. One of said downsides was the rain in the fall. Now, having regained a good chunk of her divine power, if Tamamo wanted to, she could simply push away the rain clouds with a thought and have the sun shine away. In the aftermath of the last Great Holy Grail War where she'd "reclaimed" her true power she took a vow to limit how much she interfered in the day-to-day workings of the world. She was no fool, it was a known fact that the Age of the Gods had passed, it was the Age of Man now, and she'd worked quite hard to make sure of that almost eight years ago. All of that made her wishful that her child would have a place in the world, though they carried the blood of the divine, they would also carry the blood of man. In particular, one of the finest men to ever be born.
The streets were steadily becoming crowded and blocked as the morning drew on with people of all sorts beginning their daily lives. If the rain picked up then traffic would only increase, that would be trouble for Hakuno, who would have to travel half-way across town just to get to work. That was, so long as he wanted to maintain the mask of normalcy they both lived their daily lives with. All it would take was a simple thought and he could move himself and the car across a few miles and drop it right into the parking lot. Again though, there wouldn't be much fun in doing that, not to mention it'd make quite a scene.
Speaking of a scene, that's what they found when they arrived at the Senbonzakura Inn, Tamamo's pride and joy.
As anyone could have told you, Kyoto had no shortage of inns and hotels for visitors and tourist to stay. Quite a few were well known while others weren't quite able to make the top ten list.
And then there was the Senbonzakura Inn, which occupied a special place all of its own.
Yes, it was a well-constructed and dazzling building five-story building that stood at the forefront of an artificial forest, which itself was open to guests for any and all manner of events ranging from dinning to exercise to weddings. To Tamamo and the staff's great pride, they'd hoisted almost twenty weddings since the inn's grand opening; said weddings had yielded incredibly devoted and loving marriages. The Senbonzakura Inn had only been open for little more than five years, but in that time period it had gained quite a reputation not just in Kyoto, but in the entire country. And the world of magi as well, after all, even magus and the like needed a place to relax and do business from time to time. With that thought in mind, the inn had been secured, built in record time, and open to both the general public and magi world under the supervision of one Tamamo Kishinami, formerly Tamamo-no-Mae.
Hakuno sensed the countless souls behind the sliding doors, their excitement gave them away like smoke to a flame. Upon opening the doors, the smirk he'd been fighting fully blossomed.
"SURPRISE!"
They'd actually been expecting it, but that didn't make the array of smiling faces and joyful grins any less heart-warming. Matter of fact, Tamamo couldn't help but show a few tears at the sight of her employees, her "second family" almost, all standing before her holding presents of all sorts.
"Seems like some people already know." Mused the honey-eyed man placing an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Alright, I'll bite who leaked the info?"
Amongst the group, a single male stepped forward. Just around Hakuno's age, or perhaps a year or two younger with a more…robust body shape. Once about a time, that same shape had been used ruthlessly harass the man, but now the big bulk served as a physical representation of what lay inside-a heart full of acceptance and determination. "I, um, sorry, Boss. I…kinda let it slip once I…picked up the signs." A hand went to the mop-like mess of pitch-black hair before the man bowed in apology. "I accept any punishment you feel fit to give out, Tamamo-sama."
Stepping forward was a woman, a tad bit older than the male slime yet shapely build, the kind that had attracted quite a bit of attention from customers in the past. The brunette bright green eyes sparkled with amused as she slapped the backside of her co-worker. "Actually, Osamu here overhead the news alongside yours truly, we then promptly worked together to spread the news. So…put me next to our oaf."
Tamamo wiped away the lone tear that slipped from her eyes, her smile never once faltering. "Osamu, Matsuko, I'm not angry, quite the opposite. Oh, come here all of you!" Without missing a beat, the former Servant threw herself into the arms of her employees, who threw open their arms (those that were free anyway). It was only a matter of time before Hakuno joined them, jubilant.
For customers and guests coming in, it was quite a spectacle seeing the inn's owner and her husband being embraced by her staff. All in all, it was the sort of thing that was best left for the early morning, before the restaurant portion of the inn had opened or they received the daily influx of guests. No one would pay too mention mind to the public display of affection, civilian or magus. Amongst its many facts, it was well known that the Senbonzakura was owned and run by a woman who was as eccentric as she was kind and intelligent. In the unlikely event someone spoke up, well, said owner's husband had a very devious mind that could be put to use when pressed, and the employees were quite protective of their boss.
It took almost ten minutes for Hakuno to load all the gifts into his car. A pleasurable waste of time that drew quite a bit of attention from onlookers. Regulars at the inn's sit-in restaurant waved and greeted him on their way in and out. Several congratulated him having already deduced the only possible reason for the presents and earlier display. Hakuno had a gut feeling in some parts of Kyoto, he and his wife were going to become the talk of the town. All that was saying nothing of the reception he'd get once he made it to work. One look at the backseat of his car and his co-workers would be on him like vultures, at least those who hadn't already figured it out.
Tamamo herself cooked him lunch using the restaurant's kitchen. Some would have argued it was a violation of rules and regulations, but Tamamo had made her own rules upon opening the inn. One such rule allowed employees (especially her) the right to use the kitchen for personal matters so long as they gave notice. If anyone doubted that the pink-haired woman had truly grown a soft-spot for other people, the dozens of evenings and nights the employees had spent behind the stove and oven were valid evidence. In addition to that, he received more than a few extra side dishes that he knew weren't meant for him, but for his co-workers at the office as well.
Ever the faithful wife, the former Caster couldn't help but watch from the window as the blue-colored car pulled out of the parking lot and made its way back into traffic. Knowing her husband, it'd be almost half an hour before he showed up at work. Given the work Hakuno had put in, as well as the…ahem, connections he possessed, one little slip up would be excused. Once he was out of sight, Tamamo breathed out a sigh. For her, the workday had officially begun.
Or that's what she thought until she walked into her office and found Osamu and Matsuko practically bouncing on their heels rather than seating in the chairs before her desk.
"You know, there are times I wonder why I hired you two. Let alone made you," She directed her attention toward Osamu." My top manager."
Neither humans could hold their laughter in while the woman took her seat behind the desk. Knowing they were alone and had a moment to themselves, Tamamo let her spell fall thus revealing her foxy ears and tail to her coworkers.
"For the record, I'm betting the little guy's ears are going to be just like yours, only darker." Started Matsuko taking her seat as well with a grin of her own.
"Oh, so you're placing your money on a boy? I'll admit, I'm somewhat partial to our little one being a boy myself." Giggled Tamamo with a faint blush.
"Yep, another little lady killer like his dear 'ole dad." Remarked the green-eyed woman looking ready to slip off into an imagination spot, again.
Looking anywhere but the two ladies direction, Osamu decided to add his two cents in. "Could be a girl."
"You'd love that, wouldn't you?" Lightly jabbed the thirty-four-year-old with a toothy grin. "If it's a girl you'll spoil her to no end."
"Like you won't." Coolly shot back the round-bodied man.
It was fun watching the two playfully jab at each other, but Tamamo knew it was time for them to get down to business. She signaled as such with a single cough which caught their attention, as her loyal employees, they immediately went silent and turned to her, ready to listen. "Now then, I see with November and December coming up we're going to be looking at quite a list of potential events. I must admit, it does bring a smile to my face since it proves we're making a name for ourselves. Hm, even if it's little over a month away, I say we give the Thanksgiving feast slot to Mr. Animusphere."
"That guy you told us about last week? From what my uncle's told he's got some…pretty wild theories." Spoke Matsuko. She was descended from magecraft, and yet she herself had forgone any major involvement with the world of magi of her own choice. It was a decision that Tamamo and Hakuno had deeply respected. All that said, Matsuko herself had no problem serving them as a waitress and such. That was as far as she was willing to go.
"That's the general view, but what the public thinks and what's real can be two different things." As a former Heroic Spirit, scratch that, an Anti-Hero, those words carried an undeniable ring of truth to them. Maris Billy Animusphere was a rule-breaker, something that Tamamo had to admit she felt a certain admiration for. Or perhaps her last encounter with such a man had simply given her a soft spot for those magi willing to go beyond the boundaries and challenge long-held notions. "Put it down, the Thanksgiving slot will be given to Mr. Animusphere and his associates." Both humans nodded in agreement, though Tamamo caught the brief look they flashed one another. Biting back a sigh, she leaned back in her chair, one hand knotting her forehead in irritation. "Now look, you two, my…pregnancy is going to be an adventure for us all, but I'm just barely three weeks into it! I'll still be able to work for another month or two!"
Matsuko bit her lip as she always did when nervous while Osamu raised his hands in meek defense. "We're just…well, we're trying to do for you what you did to us-give us some breathing room."
What little irritation she felt died instantly hearing that. Sympathy swelled in her eyes and was reflected in the apologetic smiles the humans gave her. When she first met the pair sitting before her they were far from what one could have called happy or even optimistic. Osamu was a step away from throwing his life away, albeit for reasons she could understand. Because she could understand, she went out of her way to get the man back on the right path, and ensure that his sisters were taken proper care of. Matsuko wasn't quite as bad, granted Tamamo knew a part of her would have jumped at the chance to join the yakuza just to spite her family. Thankfully, the energy she could have put into becoming a gangster was instead channeled in making sure everything in the inn ran properly…and annoying the hell out of her superior who now sat beside her.
Quite an unlikely pair of people for her to help her run a business of her own, but Tamamo wouldn't have traded the pair for the world. Hell, not one employee under her watch would she have given away for any price.
"Alright, alright, once New Year gets here, I'll consider taking things easy. How's that sound for you two?"
Joy blossomed on the faces of the two humans. In naked view of the sun goddess, they reached out and fist-bumped one another. Though she rolled her eyes, Tamamo couldn't help but smirk.
"You helped the two of us get back on our feet, so just consider this our way of returning the favor." Laughed Matsuko.
"Not to mention once the little guy, or gal, is born, you're going to have to spend some time at home looking after them. You've taught us just about everything we need to know to run the inn when you're gone." Added Osamu with a soft smile. "Including how to deal with some truly unruly guests. Pretty sure it's time for us to spread our wings and go forward on our own."
Tamamo remained silent as she looked between the two, then she finally laughed. It was a joyful sound that warmed the hearts of those who knew the true woman that sat behind the desk. She wasn't a former Servant who'd fought in countless battles, she wasn't a fox demon who seduced an emperor and brought down an empire, and she wasn't a goddess of the universe, she was simply a woman with thoughts and feelings. What she was feeling now was pride. "I…suppose I have. Alright then, that's enough talk about the future. We focus on the present, meaning it's time for you two to get to work."
"Eh, I figured we would only get about five minutes or free time." Admitted the brunette stretching her arms upward as she rose. "Right then, we're off! If anything happens just let us know and we'll be ready to take over!"
Again, she rolled her eyes but smiled none the less as the two finally left her alone. Leaning back in her chair, the pink-haired woman slid her hand over her tummy. "Trust me, some days those two can be a bit odd, but they're truly diamonds in the ruff. Hehehe, you'll probably know that by age two after they've spoiled you enough." Lifting up her head, she glanced out the window to the rainy world beyond the confines of her office. Tamamo felt them all, close to a hundred souls buzzing about around her. "One day, this place will be your playground, I know it. Just…try not to give your aunts, uncles, and mommy too much of a scare while you're running around, okay?"
By the time they made it home the rain had stopped and the sun had decided to make one last appearance before night fully set in. The end result was a rainbow streaking across the sky at the perfect point of the evening. A nice little offering to those returning home from another day of work such as the Kishinamis. Upon returning home, Tamamo immediately went to the living room where she dropped against the couch, her disguise spell vanishing revealing her foxy features. A yawn left her lips as she began making herself comfortable while her husband went to the kitchen to fix them a pair of drinks. At least until they heard the knock on the door.
"I got it." He sensed no sort of malicious intent, though Hakuno remained on guard as he made his way to the door. Instantly, he thought of a whole list of people who could be wanting to pay him and his wife a visit. It took him opening the door half-way for the sense of alertness to die down. A smile immediately formed on his face. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you know?"
An ear-to-ear grin manifested on the face of the six-foot three Chinese male standing before him. He'd kept his vow from all those years ago in keeping his verging goatee neatly trimmed and his facial hair light. It all went quite well with the well-trimmed suit and navy-blue tie he wore. There was no denying that Hsu Chen looked radically different from how he presented himself during the Great Holy War almost ten years ago. Granted, the star-like light in his eyes remained, and for that, Hakuno couldn't help but smile.
"Know what? That an old war buddy of mine is having a baby with yet another old war buddy of mine? Both of whom are responsible for helping turn back an alien invasion thus saving the world? Nope, I know absolutely nothing about any of that." Both former Masters shared a laugh before resuming eye-contact. "Come here, man!"
It'd been close to five months since the former comrades had seen each other, face-to-face. They'd communicated plenty of times over the phone and video-feds. Physically speaking to one another though, had those things beat.
"Kind of wish you'd told us you were coming back. We would have been able to get you guys set up at the Senbonzakura." Spoke the Japanese male as they pulled apart.
"If we told you, it wouldn't have been a surprise, plus we're…kind of here for personal and impersonal reasons." Came a calm female voice that Hakuno also recognized. Looking into the driveway, he grinned spotting the woman walking up the steps. In contrast to the pure dark hair of her husband, the former Magus Association operative still retained her snow-white streaks, a trait that had been passed onto the baby boy currently held in her arms. She smiled at him, "Hope you and Tamamo don't mind us dropping in."
"Chen, Pemetrekis, you guys are always welcome in our house." Laughed the brown-haired man before glancing at the baby. "Oh, and you too, Lei."
After hours of peaceful slumber, the black and white-haired baby awoke. Rather than the soft always calm bronze-colored orbs, the infant looked into the supernatural gold of Tamamo's. A joyful cry left the child at the sight of his "divine aunt" and tiny arms stretched upward in an attempt to grasp at her pink-colored strands. The three mortals watched the sight with soft smiles and twinkling eyes; Tamamo wasted no time in going along with the child's little games. Her eyes flickered to Pemetrekis, who gave a light-hearted shrug before stepping over and gently embracing the former Servant.
In little time at all, the four Holy Grail War survivors were sitting before the living room table, drinks before them and laughter echoing between them. Intermixed with them were the soft coos and cries of the one-year-old baby, who continuously picked at anything he could get his tiny little hands on.
"It's just a feeling, but I'm betting your little girl is going to be the same way as Lei." Began Chen. His suit and tie had been deposited atop the couch and his dress shirt unbutton just a tad bit. It was a small change, but one that provided Tamamo and Hakuno a glimpse of the man they'd fought beside some years ago.
In between his palms, Hakuno created a small orb of silvery light. Immediately, Lei became mesmerized by the orb. Chuckling, he passed the sphere into the arms of the baby, who began to play with it, much to the amusement of the adults in the room. Afterward, he shot his old friend a raised eyebrow. "She? You're betting on a girl?"
"Call it a hunch." Answered the Chinese national with a proud grin.
"Personally, I'm betting on a boy." Spoke Pemetrekis watching her son. She was truly glad that Lei wasn't turning out to have inherited his father's more outward personality, though something told her as he grew older it'd cause her headaches. They'd be of the more joyful kind though, at least so long as he kept himself out of serious trouble. "Either way, I've got a gut feeling that whatever gender, they're going to get along great."
"I think what you mean is our little one is going to have to be the one to keep Lei out of trouble when the rest of us aren't around." Offered Tamamo.
"Hey, hey, you guys are going on like Lei's going to be doing some crazy stunts like jumping into a volcano or sailing into a hurricane because of my genes." Grumbled Chen, shooting the fox and her wife a somewhat annoyed frown.
The door was opened, and Hakuno walked right in. "Hm, well…you were the guy who went off to warzones, investigated natural disasters and sold yourself as an 'adventurer-for-hire' and eventually decided to join a Holy Grail War for fun." Lacing both hands behind his head, the brown-haired Japanese man leaned back into the couch. "Speaking of said war, you did pull off some crazy stunts, like continuously pestering your Servant about his personal life to the point he was ready to shoot you. Having him help you with some truly crazy stunts, up to and including shooting a gas line so you could ride the explosion to get onto an airship. Then there was you deciding to turn yourself into bait for a blood-thirsty Egyptian goddess, who also had a massive hate-boner for humanity-"
"For the record you helped me with that one." Chen grinned.
Hakuno laughed, even as he remembered the unbridled terror he felt as they ran for their lives from a giant lioness commanding a massive sandstorm. It'd taken him months after the war was over for the phantom pains and nightmares to leave him. "Yeah, good times. But that idea still somehow came up short to you manning an alien spacecraft, setting it to explode, and then flying the damn thing out to sea. You know the odds of you surviving that stunt were even less than point zero, right?"
After a full swing of his drink, the black-haired male grinned at him. It was a grin he knew quite well, and he returned it in full force. "Alright, fine, maybe I've got a screw or two loose, but I've got nothing on you, Moon-boy. You, a guy who's apparently lived through three lifetimes, one as a junior rescue worker, another as a video-game NPC turned deadly game shot contestant, and a third as an average guy until you ended up chased into the school basement by an angry Persian King. And that was just for starters, not mention in comparison to my crazy plan, you decided to fist-fight a freakin' Irish spearman. Then after that, you fought your way through a pack of demonically-empowered douchebags, and even sucker-punched discount Satan. I could mention the part where you came up with a way to stop an alien super weapon made for devouring stars, but all that pales in comparison to the biggest one." With great fanfare, he pointed to Tamamo, who'd maintained nothing but an amused smirk throughout the whole conversation. "Managing to get an incarnation of the sun to fall in love with you, and carry your child!"
There was a short nod of approval from the Holy Grail War victor. "Yeah, so basically, I've got way more accomplishments than you do! Chen, thanks for the compliment!"
The two women exploded in laughter, and after seeing them, little Lei joined in as well. His father's fact dropped into a cartoonish frown while he shot his best friend a sideways glare.
"I see you've still got your silver tongue, Hakuno." He moaned.
A hand reached over and patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm just speaking my mind. Isn't that what you've always encouraged me to do."
"Yeah, I did." Chen sighed. "I fear I've taught you too well."
The eyes of the two men drifted to Tamamo, who'd gone back to rubbing her stomach. "Yet another one of your crazy uncles, my dear little one. Don't worry, his antics can be a bit ridiculous, but his heart's always in the right place. Most of the time."
Lei, who'd content himself with playing with the magically-created light in his arms, suddenly stopped. His dark eyes went to Tamamo. Instantly, the goddess knew what was going through the child's mind. Pemetrekis knew as well, as evident by her moving over so her son could stretch out his arms to the pink-haired woman. The infant's energetic actions came to a stop as he was placed against the flat stomach of the former Servant. In that instant, it became clear that the Hsu Family's magical abilities had been passed onto the next generation.
While their wives continued to entertain the potential heir of the Hsu Family, the two males snuck off to the porch. The rainbow in the sky had remained, and only grown more beautiful as the sky grew darker. It was truly an example of calm after the storm, a sentiment that Hakuno and Chen knew about far better than most. Leaning back on their hands, the two males watched the darkness gradually overtake the last remains of day. It wouldn't be totally dark, as night fell, the stars and moon would come out, to say nothing of the thousands of city lights that would illuminate Kyoto.
"You have no idea how much I envy you, man. Having a nice quiet little place like this, talk about a blessing." Chen whistled.
Hakuno could believe that. While a good number of magi and other bluebloods looked down on Chen's former nomadic and roguish lifestyle. Such a life had taught him lessons that money and lineage couldn't, it'd taught him things that Hakuno himself had learned over the course of fighting for his survival against impossible odds. It'd taken a little bit of time, but the two former Masters had found common ground, and a friendship had been born and hardened in the cauldron of conflict.
"So, what's the other reason you and Pemetrekis stopped by?" he finally asked feeling he'd beat around the bush enough.
"It's been decided," Chen began hunching forward with a hardened look in his eyes. For such an upbeat and jovial person, it was indeed quite a sight. "The next Holy Grail War is going to take place sometime after the New Year." He turned to the side and watched as Hakuno breathed out a sigh. Obviously, he knew it was coming, anyone well-connected in the magi world knew it. After the…mess that had been the Shanghai Great Holy Grail War, an unofficial break had to be taken before another war could be commenced. As far as Hakuno and several others were concerned, it was a hundred years too soon. "I'm going to use everything I've got to oversee this one, and make sure it doesn't go off-rails."
"Off-rails? Chen, I may be sounding a bit optimistic in saying this, but I don't think we need to worry about this next one." His shoulders slacked as he looked up to the evening sky. There was still a great deal of moisture in the air, enough so he wouldn't put it beyond reach that there was a light layer of fog in the morning. "This war won't involve a faction or contest in-league with an interdimensional race of genocidal aliens? Or one Servant being a megalomaniacal demon, will it?"
Chen laughed, and then Hakuno joined him. The Chinese magus placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, for once, the Magus Association and Clock Tower got it right when it came to dealing with dangerous material. Almost all of the traces of Velber have either been destroyed or confiscated and locked away. As for Stavrod…they haven't caused any major incidents since we kicked their asses in Shanghai. From the looks of it, it's going to be an ordinary Holy Grail War. Or at least, as far as Holy Grail Wars go."
That was an understatement. As he always did when he felt nervous or on edge, Hakuno placed a hand to his chest. Beside him, Chen watched the splint-second manifestation. A light blue cube-shaped object that rested within Hakuno's pulsated. The air cooled, though not in a negative way. It felt like the calm breeze that came with a full moon, something not meant to stir, but to put at ease. That's certainly what it did for Chen. "Are you going to need my help?"
"No, no, I got this one." Chen's response was fast and hard, as was the look in his eyes. "Hakuno, in a past life, you busted your ass twice to save the world and everyone in it, and then you did it again. For once, just let the rest of us pull our weight. Besides, I made a promise to everyone; my dad, Jiang, Erik, Jomei, and Aunt Heng to look after the world they all gave their lives trying to save. No way in hell I'm letting them all done by taking the easy way out and looking the other way." His expression finally softened. "Besides, I'll have Hisano backing me up, she wants to make sure this war doesn't become another grade-A shitstorm like Shanghai."
The honey-eyed man smiled at the mention of the other friend he'd made during the Great Holy Grail War. A girl who, like him, had been thrust into a situation she'd never asked for, and yet she'd come out all the better for it. "Good to know, but you guys know me. Remember, in my first life I spent my time running around the world helping anyone in need of aid."
"Yeah, you did." Chen laughed before turning himself around so they were facing forward. One leg dangled out over the ledge. "But dude, all that was another lifetime ago. Now, you've got someone, two people actually, who need you more than the rest of the world does. Be there for them, that's your job now."
He was right, absolutely right. Hakuno thought of the names, the faces, the compatriots, he'd lost during the Shanghai Holy Great War. People that his and Tamamo's child would never get to know, like so many others whose lives feats they'd only be able to explain through stories and tales. It was a bitter pill, but not the first he'd been forced to swallow. Releasing a sigh, he looked his friend in the eye. "Does Pemetrekis know? What you just said to me, that cuts both ways, Chen."
The former Azure Master smiled at him. "Yeah, she knows, and believe me, we had a long talk about it once we found out. In fact, Hisano actually tried to keep me from getting involved and used the same argument on me that you did. She's come a long way from the little turtle we met that day in Qingpu, huh?"
"Yeah, war has a way of changing people…for both better and worse." Spoke the twenty-seven-year-old.
Both of Chen's hands fell atop of Hakuno's shoulders causing him to look up. If Hakuno's smile was one of soothing, then without a doubt, Chen's was one of fiery encouragement. The parallels between them truly hadn't ended, nor did it stop the two from being there for one another when it counted. "I'm not gonna lie and say anything the world barfs up, I'll be able to handle it on my own. All I'm saying is…you've got a world of your own to protect, so don't look away from it. Not for an instant. That goes for protecting them…and for parenting."
The former Masters of the Azure faction shared another joint laugh, one that completely washed away the anxiety that had steadily been gathering within them. "Alright, I'll leave this one to you guys, but if anything serious comes up, you know how to reach me."
"Done, though trust me, given who's competing, there may be a just they all just kill each other before they can cause too much trouble." Chen winked.
With that matter settled, Hakuno figured it was time for him to ask his next question. While he'd always been the cautious and astute one, this was one of those rare times where Chen knew more than him. Way more. He could certainly use his advice. Alas, the question never passed his lips. Quickly turning to the left, he saw one of Tamamo's fox familiars bounding down the floor. Riding atop it was a black and white-haired infant, looking like he was having the time of his life.
Hakuno and Chen watched in blissful silence as the fox bounded into the tranquil backyard that lay behind their home.
"He wanted to go for a ride, and well, Tamamo just didn't have it in her to resist." Came Pemetrekis voice causing the two men to turn around to face their wives.
"So same as usual." Chuckled Hakuno causing his wife to playfully slap his shoulder while taking a seat beside him. "I'm glad you guys come make the time out to come see us."
Wrapping an arm around his own wife, and even sneaking in a light kiss on her cheek that made her blush, Chen beamed. "Hakuno, like I told you all those years ago in Shanghai. We're practically family, just make sure if you and Tamamo ever stop by China, you pay us a visit!"
Hakuno and Tamamo laughed out an answer to the request. Indeed, at some point they would be visiting China again, though hopefully this time it wouldn't involve them having to fight off Servants, lunatics, and thwart an attempted cross-dimensional alien invasion. When that time came, they looked forward to seeing a more grown-up version of the little boy riding one of their many fox familiars. And perhaps playing with another young one, a boy or girl sporting a set of foxy ears and a tail similar to Tamamo's own.
"Fair warning, this is going to feel a bit cold, but I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle." Chuckled the green-eyed doctor that had been appointed to the Kishinamis.
"I highly doubt a little bit of gel will be enough to scare me." Dryly answered Tamamo. It'd taken a few days, but back here they were, ready to catch their first glimpse of their child. Hakuno stood by her side. His hand found its way to hers', for emotional support more than anything. "I'm…I'm ready."
It wasn't the coldness that got Tamamo, it was more a case of her nerves than anything. Hakuno knew his Servant enough to know more than physical pain, it was the mental curveballs that tended to knock her off her feet. He was easily the same thus he gave her hand several supportive squeezes as Dr. Suzumura continued with the procedure. Hakuno would have been lying if he didn't admit to being just a bit jumpy himself. If he wanted to, he could have used his own powers to perform something of an ultrasound himself, but he wanted the moment to be special for the two of them. Plus he couldn't help but desire a bit of normality in their lives after all they'd been through.
Standing in front of the console, Dr. Suzumura's eyes widened. "Woah, well…that's…eh, actually I sorta saw this one coming."
"Saw what coming?" Pressed Hakuno. "Is something wrong with the baby?"
The peach-haired doctor spun on her heel with a cherry smile on her face. "Nope, oh, and it's not 'the' baby!" Grinning like a fool, she stepped aside and turned the monitor to the married couple. Predictably, their mouths dropped.
"Is…is that…I…we're not seeing things, are we?" Hakuno whispered having a hard-enough time believing what he was seeing. Over the last several years, he'd been…blessed with one positive after another. While some would have said it was the universe's way of compensating him for all the suffering he'd gone through, he wasn't that optimistic. What lay before his eyes was perhaps the final gift, one he could scarily believe he was on the receiving end of.
"Nope, I promise you, this equipment is one hundred percent accurate!" Proclaimed the specialized doctor flashing him and his wife a peace sign.
The soon-to-be mother felt tears glistening in her eyes, and a moment later they slipped from her eyelids. Slowly but inevitably, a smile formed on her lips, one that quickly grew on those of her husband's as well. "Mi…Mi…MIKON!"
Since being assigned to them. Dr. Suzumura had long-since accepted this was going to be a normal thing-the former Servant squeezing the life out of her Master-turned-lover in surprise bear hugs. It almost made her reluctant to deliver the good news on account of the war survivor having all the bones in his body crushed. Based on the tearful smile he too wore, something told her he wouldn't have mind going out that way. Quickly, Hakuno wrapped his arms around his wife, burying his face in her pink strands.
Her gaze shifted back to the monitor. Side by side, in perfect harmony sat two gray-sized spheres of equal size and shape to one another. In time, those spheres would grow, and after a certain point they'd be released into the world.
After hundreds of years, it would not be one demigod who would walk the earth, but two. As the saying went, great things did indeed come in pairs.
A bit cliché of me to have the second chapter be the big reveal that Hakuno and Tamamo are having twins, but I couldn't help it. Yep, rather than one, there's going to be two little fox children running around. I won't say rather it's going to be two boys or two girls or one of each. Dear readers, you'll have to wait a bit longer to get the answer to that question.
On another note, last chapter revealed what Hakuno's job was, so I decided to have this chapter do the same for Tamamo. The basis for this sort takes a bit of headcanon and runs with it. Originally, Tamamo was a court lady, an extremely intelligent one so she's obviously got the smarts to run a business or be in a management position if she wanted to. Adding to that, she's got the cooking and people-skills one would need to interact with people and make them feel at ease or relaxed, oh, and I'm pretty sure the "Tamamo Resort" mentioned in Extella Game line speaks volumes about what she'd do in the modern era. The naming choice, senbonzakura, "thousand cherry blossoms", I chose it to fit with her more traditional mindset and her overall character as Japanese Servant.
And lastly, this chapter dropped some major hints as to the Holy Grail War that Hakuno and Tamamo fought in to get where they are. Oh, and a (semi)important background character from Grand Order was name-dropped. Expect more detailed and larger hints in future chapters. The name Lei, can be read with the Chinese character for "thunder", that right there should give you a hint as to what Servant Chen had. I sort of a fan of meaningful names so you can bet that when the Kishinami twins are born, their names are going to contain some important meaning.
Until next chapter, as the fluff continues!