DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
Ding-Dong
"Well, look who's here."
"Hi Tsubaki," Ema said happily as she walked in holding a big present. Juli sat on her shoulder looking at him annoyed.
"Hi, Ema my sweet," Tsubaki said giving her a kiss on the cheek, "Always happy to see you. Let me just shut the door."
BAM
"Oh Natsume, didn't see you there," Tsubaki said as he turned to see the door half closed on his brother.
Natsume groaned mad as he pushed the door back open.
"Ema, Natsume, hello," Azusa said as he came up to the two. "Glad to see you made it."
"Hi Azusa, glad we could make it too," Ema said.
Azusa nodded before noticing Natsume glaring at Tsubaki.
"Let me guess, Tsubaki slammed the door on you again?"
"I'm starting to wonder if that's his new standard greeting!" Natsume said sternly.
"Oh, you act as though I'm still slightly bitter you married Ema, even after all this time," Tsubaki said smugly. Natsume and Azusa shared a look. Juli hissed at him.
"Hey come on, I'm even in a serious relationship now. I was even allowed to invite her to the party," Tsubaki insisted.
"Oh yeah, I heard about her. You two were working together on an amine or something, right?" Ema said. "the one where the girl is pretending to be a boy?"
"Yep and it's going to be a big hit!" Tsubaki bragged.
"Why is a girl pretending to be a boy? Seems kind of stupid," Natsume said.
"Oh it's rather creative," Tsubaki said, "she didn't get the scholarship to a fancy school, but found a bunch of boys who were trying to form a club and needed a certain amount of members to be allowed a meeting room. So since they all come from rich families, they offer to pay for her tuition if she poses as a boy to be a member of their club as a boy."
"Uh-huh, still sounds stupid," Natsume said.
"You say that but just watch, it'll be a great hit!" Tsubaki said smugly.
"Well I can't wait to see it," Ema said as everyone came to the living room.
Many children were running around playing with several adults mingling in several different groups around the room.
"Where's the birthday boy?" Ema asked looking around him.
"Aunt Ema! You came! You came!" Mizu suddenly called out as he broke away from a group of kids, and ran to them. "And Uncle Natsume too!"
"Well of course we came," Ema said kneeling down to his level, "we wouldn't miss your birthday!"
"Yeah, happy birthday kid," Natsume said.
"Are you going to come play with us?" Mizu asked.
"Sure, after I've taken care of your present," Ema said.
"Here, I'll take it," Natsume offered, taking it from her.
Juli quickly jumped in his shoulder.
"Think I'll stick with you," he whispered looking at some of the kids uneasy.
"Let's go play Aunt Ema!" Mizu insisted, pulling Ema back towards his friends.
"Where should I put this?" Natsume asked.
"Up here," Azusa said leading him to the stairs. On the second floor in the sitting area was a huge pile of presents.
"Not spoiling the kid at all, are we?" Natsume said as he added his gift to pile.
"Oh don't be jealous you never got any as a kid," Tsubaki teased.
"You stole or broke a lot of mine!" Natsume reminded him.
Tsubaki merely shrugged.
The three were distracted by two people coming down the hall.
It was Louis talking with a woman Natsume hadn't really met before.
She looked fairly pretty though with light brown hair maybe just a shade softer than Ema's. She seemed to not mind wearing casual clothing to the party with a pair of holy jeans and regular t-shirt that had some sort of anime character on it.
"Ah, my lady," Tsubaki said happily.
"Looks like Louis got to her hair," Azusa said.
"Babe," Tsubaki called out.
"Hey you!" the woman called back, "look what Louis did to my hair!" She pointed to the half ponytail Louis had styled for her.
"Makes you even hotter!" Tsubaki praised. "come meet my other triplet brother Natsume!"
"Oh," the lady said, "he looks a lot better than you've described. He doesn't even have a hunch back."
Natsume and Azusa both turned to look at Tsubaki suspiciously.
Tsubaki shrugged his shoulders casuall as his girlfriend started to laugh.
"I think we got them!" she said as she ran over to Tsubaki and high fived him.
"Almost got me too," Louis said suppressing a laugh.
Tusbaki's girlfriend turned and bowed to Natsume, "hi, I'm Haruhi Onaji. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, it is nice to meet you too," Natsume said bowing back, "you certainly seem to have a lot in common with Tsubaki."
"I know, that's what I like about him," Haruhi said as she wrapped an arm around him. Tsubaki copied her action.
"Well, I hope you two are happy together," Natsume said.
"Thank you," Tsubaki said.
"It is nice to see you Natsume," Louis said walking over to his brother. He also smiled at Juli. "Hi Juli."
"Hey," Juli said as he jumped to his shoulder, "you're looking well."
"Hi Louis, how have you been?" Natsume asked.
"Oh I've been good. Did anyone tell you I'm seeing someone? Another hairstylist from another shop named Yuki," Louis told him.
"Congrats, I hope things work out with you," Natsume said.
"Where's Chi by the way?" Louis asked.
"Playing with Mizu and some of the other children," Natsume said. He walked back over to the railing to look down at her fully immersed among the young party guests.
Natsume studied the children all around the living room. Running around, making noise, causing mischief, getting upset over the smallest things. He could also see how hard it was for some parents to keep their children in line or comfort them if they got upset.
'This, this is what we'd have to deal with if we started having kids, isn't it?' Natsume thought. It worried him.
What if he couldn't handle it as a father? What if he couldn't keep his children in line? What if he was too strict as a father? To the point his children either resented him or worse not develop well as they grew?
'Are we ready for this?' He continued to wonder with slight worry as he kept watching the children raising havoc.
Then he looked back at Ema. She looked so happy and natural among the kids playing. Nearly all the kids seemed to flock to her and she took it in stride. If she was feeling overwhelmed, she seemed to be fighting it fairly well.
'Or then again, maybe we could handle it,' he thought some more.
"Natsume? You okay?" Azusa asked.
"Just watching the craziness that is children at large," Natsume quickly said.
"Kids can get away with murder!" Tsubaki said with delight.
"Yes, but there's also an air of innocents among them," Louis said.
"True," Natsume agreed as he noticed his niece Kadia breaking away from Ema's big group and running to her daddy Ukyo who was putting a platter of food down on the big glass coffee table that was already full of snacks and munchies.
Ukyo happily swung her up in his arms and Natsume could see a proud smile on him as he held his daughter.
He scanned the room until he found Masaomi standing near Ema's big group that happened to include his son. Masa too had a proud dad smile on hia face
'That might actually be nice,' Natsume said.
The whole room seemed to be filled with pros and cons of it was a good idea to seriously consider having one of his own.
'Is it time?' he pondered.
Ema had a huge smile on her face as she played among Mizu's friends at the party. Right now she was in the middle of a game of pass it on. Where she and the kids sat in a circle passing a toy around until the music stopped and whoever was holding the toy was out.
It had to be the third or fourth round they had played and yet most of the kids were still having fun.
A few however seemed to be getting bored with the game and were starting to get up and good look for something else to do.
Ema noticed that Kadia was getting up herself and running from the circle. She followed the little girl and realized she was running to her daddy who was all too eager to catch her up in his arms.
"Having fun dear?" Ukyo asked.
"Aunt Ema's here!" Kadia said pointing at the circle.
"Ah so she is," Ukyo said waving at her.
Ema smiled, but in doing so got distracted and didn't pass the ball on to the next child right as the song ended.
"You're out Aunt Ema! You're out!" Mizu shouted excited.
"So I am," Ema said as she handed the ball off, "I'm going to go and say hi to your Uncle Ukyo."
"Oh, But Aunt Ema!" Mizu started to whine.
"Hey, who's up for a game of pin the tail on the donkey?" Masaomi suddenly asked.
That got most of the children's attention and they quickly headed to the new game.
"You want to go play too sweetheart?" Ukyo asked.
"You should," Ema encouraged.
"Okay," Kadia agreed happily. Ukyo put her down and she ran off to join the crowd.
"How have you been, Ema?" Ukyo asked.
"I've been fine," Ema said happily, "how about you and everyone else here?"
"We're all doing good," Ukyo said, "busy, happy and productive."
"That's wonderful to hear," Ema said, "where's uh, Tomori by the way?"
"Right here," Ukyo's wife said as she came and added another platter of food to the snack table.
"Hi Ema, how have you been?"
"I'm well," Ema said as she let the woman hug her.
"How's the magazine buisness?" Tomori asked, "I'm always bragging that a lot of the magazines in our waiting room have pictures you've taken in them."
In an odd twist of fate, Ukyo had met and married a doctor while Masaomi had married a lawyer. Both women had taken quite well to living at the Sunrise residents among their brother-in-laws. And were even fine with raising their children there.
Ema blushed with embarrassment at Tomori's praise.
"It's been going well," she said, "I'm so glad my photos are so popular."
"You're a natural at that," Ukyo added.
"Thank you," Ema said.
"Yeah, you're awesome Sis!"
"Hi Wataru!" Ema said as he youngest brother, now a teenager came up to the table and started grabbing at the food.
"Hey! Hey! Don't be scoffing down everything all at once!" Ukyo scolded.
"Oh, does that include all the stuff you still have in the kitchen?" Wataru asked smugly, heading that way.
"Wataru! You stay out of there!" Ukyo warned as he chased after him.
"He's such a little hellion," Tomori said with a sigh. "Then again, according to Ukyo and Masa, at least half their brothers were like that growing up. Makes me wonder what Kadia will be like growing up, Mizu for that matter."
"Yeah," Ema agreed. It also made her start to wonder what her children with Natsume would be like growing up.
"Ugh, that's why I'm only sticking with one and am so glad I hired an nanny," a random woman said suddenly out of nowhere as she came up to the table to help herself to food.
"Do yourselves a favor and stick to one. Trust me it'll be better in the long run. I much prefer focusing on my career and a business woman."
"Oh, I don't have any yet," Ema sputtered.
"Oh lucky girl! How I wish I was in your shoes. I would love to go back to my younger self and tell her to say no to having kids. They will only hold you back."
"Well I don't know about that," Tomori spoke up, "I'm fine with balancing my career with raising my daughter."
"But you'll never get to go as far as you would if you weren't attached. Trust me kids hold you back."
"Apparently they're not holding you too far back from being here," Rika said she suddenly joined her sister-in-laws. She stared the woman down. The woman scoffed before moving on.
"Who was that?" Ema asked.
"Just some random mom of one Mizu's classmates," Rika said, "there's a lot like her, over opinionated and over confident that there life is the best and that everyone should follow their lead. It's sickening really."
"Most mothers are that way as it is," Tomori insisted.
"Hmm, not me," Rika said.
"Well," Tomori muttered.
Rika cast her a look before looking at Ema, "how's everything with you Ema? Life treating you and Natsume well?"
"Very much so," Ema said happily, "I'm happy I was able to come for Mizu's birthday party."
"So are we," Rika said, "a lot of the guys said they'd try and make an appearance. Mizu and Kadia are lucky to have such loving uncles."
"Yeah," Ema agreed. She knew that when and if she and Natsume started having babies, their brothers would treat it the same.
"So, Azusa, are you seeing anyone?" Natsume asked he and his brothers and Haruhi headed back downstairs.
"No not really," Azusa said.
"Not really? What about the one chick you're working with?" Tsubaki asked.
"You're seeing another voice actor too?" Natsume asked.
"No, she's actually a manga writer who's helping to get one of her series developed into an anime," Azusa explained, "and I wouldn't say we're actually dating per say. We've just had lunch together a couple of times sure, but nothing past that."
"Nothing yet," Tsubaki said smugly.
"I like her," Haruhi spoke up, "I've worked on her other series, The Phantom Twins."
"Is that the one where that Victorian lord's family is murdered and so in an act of anger he summons those two demons who pose as his new children and help him get revenge?" Natsume asked.
"Yeah, I talk the boy demon," Haruhi said, pointing to her shirt.
"I like her too," Louis said, "I've had the pleasure of styling her hair. She has a fascinating goth persona that she likes to express through her hair."
"She sounds interesting," Natsume said, looking at his brother, "I wonder if I'll have the pleasure of meeting her."
"I don't know," Azusa said, "like I said we've only just done lunch."
"You'll get to meet Subaru's girlfriend today," Louis mentioned, "he said for sure they're coming."
"Oh, yes, the hotel maid," Natsume said.
"Actually, it turns out she's only doing that to learn the family business. Her mother owns the whole Peace Tree hotel chain," Tsubaki mentioned.
That got Natsume's attention. "And is she hoping to take over the business someday or something?"
"Apparently," Azusa said. "Either way, she's a very nice girl."
"Oh I have no doubt," said Natsume.
He knew Subaru wouldn't date anyone less than a decent person.
He paused as a few kids ran past him. The two gave off a vibe that suggested they were a little handful and not in a good way.
'I hope my kids don't turn out like brats,' Natsume thought, remembering how bratty some of his own brothers could get.
He was distracted by a loud cheering and realizing a kid had won the game of pin the tail on the donkey.
"Ah that old game," Tsubaki said, "I used to rule that game."
"You cheated," Natsume said.
"And you know this how?" Tsubaki asked smugly.
Natsume was about to respond when he heard a thud and suddenly realized the two kids he had stopped for before had accidentally ran over Kadia, knocking her over.
"Oh!" Azusa said worried. Tsubaki however quickly ran over and picked her up.
"There we go, doing all better right?" he said.
"Yeah," Kadia said softly, even though her eyes were a little watery.
"You alright there, sweetie?" Natsume asked as he and the others all came up to her.
Kadia merely nodded.
"What Bruts!" Juli said mad as he glared at the two kids that had knocked Kadia over.
"Let it be," Natsume whispered.
"Ah, you'll be fine, you're a fighter aren't you?" Tsubaki encouraged.
"Want a treat or something, Kadia?" Louis asked.
"A tsukune?" Kadia asked.
"I'll be right back with one," Louis said as he made way to the snack table.
"In the meantime, what's something your favorite Uncle Tsubaki can do for you?" Tsubaki said as he lifted Kadia up over her head, "Huh? Want to go for a spin?"
Natsume could see Kadia's teara fading as Tsubaki twirled her around.
"He sure has a way with the kids," Haruhi said happily.
"Well it helps when you still have the mind set of one," Azusa said.
Natsume had to agree with Azusa but at the same time, was pondering if he could help comfort his own children in a way like Tsubaki.
"There, Favorite Uncle Tsubaki makes everything better again," Tsubaki bragged as he lowered Kadia down.
"You're not the favorite right now Uncle Tsubaki," Mizu said as he suddenly came up to him.
"I beg pardon?" Tsubaki asked smug.
"Uncle Yusuke's the favorite! He's a hero! He saved that little girl!" Mizu said excited.
"Ah geeze, not this again," Natsume heard Yusuke muttering as he came up to the group too, dressed in his police uniform.
"Did you just get off work?" Natsume asked.
"Yeah, kind of," Yusuke said, "I did sort of promise Masaomi and Mizu I'd show up in it so all the other kids could see me in it. You know how little kids are about things like that."
"You look good," Natsume said examining Yusuke in his uniform, "and it sounds like you're doing very well for yourself."
"Thanks," Yusuke said.
"And he's a hero!" Mizu said excited.
"Thanks Kid," Yusuke said, patting his head.
"Here Kadia," Louis said as he came back with her tsukune. Natsume noticed Juli was no longer with him.
"Looks like they're starting up another game, Mizu.".
"Oh musical chairs!" Mizu said excited as he ran to join the other kids.
"You want to play too Kadia? We can hold on to your tsukune for you," Louis offered.
"Thank you," Kadia said, giving her food back to Louis and wiggling out of Tsubaki's arms.
"Good to see she's doing better," Haruhi said.
"Yeah," Natsume said as he turned to look at Yusuke, "so what's this about you rescuing a little girl?"
"Ah, it wasn't that big of a deal," Yusuke insisted, "there was a missing kids report going around and I happened to be the one who found her and return her to her parents. It's just her dad was some big deal, hot shot and insisted on "honoring" me for finding her. Held a big fancy dinner party for me. It really wasn't a big deal to me. It's no different than if I found and helped any other lost kid."
"It was a big deal to the girl and her parents," Natsume insisted.
"And it got you some action," Tsubaki said smugly.
"What?" Natsume asked.
"Tsubaki, you ass!" Yusuke snapped. "It wasn't that bad! It's just, the girl's nanny got reprimand by the dad for losing her and I stepped in to help smooth the tension and convinced the guy to not fire her." He started to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"And well, I thought she was kind of cute and I asked her out. We had a nice time and decided to go again," he added sheepishly.
"She is lovely," Louis agreed, "I had the pleasure of doing her hair before their first date. She's really nice too."
"Good for you, Yusuke," Natsume said, "you're doing very well sounds like."
"Thanks," Yusuke said shrugging his shoulders. "Where's Ema anyway?"
"She's over at the snack table with Rika and Tomori," Louis said.
"Oh, I'm going to go say hello," Yusuke said sheepishly as he headed that way.
"Should we go ask Masa when he wants us to do our skit?" Haruhi asked Tsubaki and Azusa.
"Skit?" Natsume asked.
"We're doing a small one based on another anime we're all in together," Azusa explained, "a little kid one we figured Mizu's guests would enjoy."
"That's nice of you, can't wait to see it myself," Natsume said as he also headed over to where his wife was.
"Hey," Yusuke said as he came up to Ema.
"Yusuke, hi!" Ema said as she hugged him.
"Boy, with that cop uniform he almost looks like a wolf in sheep's clothing,' Juli said.
"Juli!" Ema whispered. "Rika and Tomori were just telling me how you saved that little girl and had a big dinner to thank you!"
"She had just gotten separated from her nanny, it wasn't like she had been kidnapped or something," Yusuke insisted.
"And yet you still managed to get a date with the nanny," Rika mentioned.
Yusuke looked away embarrassed.
"I bet she's a real nice lady," said Ema, "I hope I get to meet her."
"Yeah you'd like her," Yusuke said.
"Wataru, I swear! I'll make sure you don't eat for a week!" Ukyo shouted mad as Wataru ran past holding a tray of food.
"I'm just testing it to make sure it's good for everyone else," Wataru said. He was surprised by Yusuke suddenly taking the tray from him.
"I'm sure Ukyo and Tomori know what they're doing," he said, giving Ukyo back his tray.
"Yusuke you're no fun no more now that you're a cop," Wataru complained as he wondered off.
"Teenagers," Yusuke and Juli both muttered.
"You weren't too different at his age," Natsume said.
"Yeah, okay," Yusuke agreed.
"Yusuke!" Masaomi shouted, "we were going to do red-light green-light. Want to help?"
"Sure, why not," Yusuke agreed.
"Hear that boys and girls? We get to do red-light green-light with a real police officer!"
"Yay!" all the kids shouted.
"What kids find exciting," Rika said.
"It's looks like everyone's having a good time," Ema said. She looked up at Natsume who was watching the red-light green-light game.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Just pondering the pros and cons of having children," Natsume admitted in a whisper.
Ema squeezed his hand.
"Are you thinking it might not be a good idea?" she asked.
"I wouldn't go that far," Natsume whispered back, "just a lot of things to consider with the idea of having them."
"Oh but that's the whole point of getting married, getting pregnant and raising kids," a pregnant woman suddenly joined their conversation.
"I mean that's what our bodies are made to do. I don't get these career women one bit. l love being a mother and if more women took time to realize that being a mother is good enough, the world would be a better place."
"That's a little backwards thinking isn't it?" Natsume asked, a little peeved, "lots of women can balance having careers and raising children."
"Oh please! Children grow up better with a loving mother at the home. I can only image how kids like theirs," she cast a judgmental look towards Rika and Tomori, "well manage as they grow."
"Those women happen to be my sister-in-laws and I have no doubt their children will grow up fine," Natsume said sternly.
"Sure they will," the woman said as she walked off in a huff.
"Witch," Rika muttered.
"Pay her no mind. She's just a baby machine, has five already," Tomori insisted, "she's actually one of my regular patients."
Ema looked at Tomori then back at Natsume.
"Do you think we should talk to her about our concerns over me getting pregnant?" she whispered.
"Do you think it's necessity?" Natsume whispered. Ema shrugged nervous.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Natsume agreed, "but let's wait until most of the party guests have gone home. It seems a lot don't seem to mind butting in to other people's conversations."
Ema nodded. She looked over at the pregnant woman and then towards the career driven woman who had both seemed to think their way was the right way in life.
"If and when we do start having kids, do you think it would be best if I stayed home?" she asked.
"No no! None of that!" Natsume insisted,
"the only reason you'll do that is if you want to! If you like being stay at home mom then fine, you can ve one. But if you want to continue your career, then we will find a way to make it work between us and taking care of our child!
Mother was able to balance her career and raising all of us just fine. She only started going off on her own after she married your dad and by that time she hard earned it! Plus most of us were grown and able to take care of ourselves."
Ema nodded, happy Natsume cared so much.
"Thank you," she said as she cuddled close next to him.
The party kept going on peacefully.
Up to the point of Tsubaki, Azusa and Haruhi were doing their skit for the kids.They all seemed to love it and were laughing hysterically to it.
'What a happy day this is,' Ema thought as she helped clean up some of the empty food platters in the kitchen.
"Hey," she heard a voice whisper. Ema jumped and realized Subaru was behind her along with a beautiful dark hair woman who had a very sunny disposition coming off her.
"Subaru hi!" Ema greeted him with a hug, "glad to see you made it!"
"Thanks,' Subaru said, looking out at the living room with all the kids.
"Looks like the kids are all still here huh?" he said.
"Yeah but I think they'll be going home soon," Ema said.
Subaru nodded, "that's why we got here late. Masa told a lot of us we can come later in the evening after the kids had left."
He smiled at his girlfriend before looking back at Ema.
"This is Mie Seiso by the way," he introduced to Ema, "this is Ema."
"Oh yes! It's to finally meet you in person!" Ema said happily.
"Same here!" Mie said cheerfully. "Subaru's told so much about you! It's a shame we haven't gotten to meet in person yet!"
"I know!' Ema said, "I hope we can get to know each other and be friends in the future."
"Well hopefully that will happen soon," Mie said looking at Subaru happily.
"Should we tell her now?" Subaru asked.
"If you want to tell her early you can! I'm so excited I want to tell someone as soon as possible!" Mie said eagerly.
"What?" Ema asked.
"We're engaged," Subaru said softly as hebl held up Mie's hand with a diamond engagement ring.
Ema gasped. "Oh my goodness! Congratulations!"
"Thank you!" Mie said just as excited.
"We were going to tell everyone when they got here after the kids and their parents left. So can you keep it hush until then?" Subaru asked.
"Sure! Of course!" Ema promised. Although she did take Mie's hand and squeezed it happily. "This is still so exciting!"
"I'm glad you're so happy and supportive in this!" Mie said, "I knew you and your husband Natsume were two I just had to get approval from in order to know that it would work between me and Subaru!"
"Where is Natsume?" Subaru asked.
"Probably out taking a smoke or watching Tsubaki and Azusa's skit with Tsubaki's girlfriend Haruhi," Ema said.
"Oh, I see," Subaru said. He turned and looked at Mie, "I'm going to go look for him real fast. Are you going to be okay?"
"Sure, get a chance to get to know Ema better!" Mie said.
Subaru nodded as he headed off.
"So when did he pop the question?" Ema asked.
"Just two weeks ago," Mia said, "he had just done a successful game and afterwards he took me to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Oh and it was so romantic the way he got down on one knee and purposed! I nearly fainted!"
"Sounds amazing!" Ema said, "I still remember when Natsume purposed to me. He did right outside under the big tree. He had just explained to the other brothers he decision and delt with the outcome, good and bad before coming out and asking."
"That must of taken a lot of courage to confront and admit what he intended to do," Mie said. "Subaru told me all about the way a lot of them, including himself fought over you. I'm surprised you managed to find one you loved most out of all of them."
"Me too actually," Ema admitted, "I tried sticking to just seeing them as family. But I couldn't help being drawn to Natsume that I couldn't fight it anymore. And I've been happy with my choice ever since."
"Good," Mie said, "it's stuff like that, a family that can be honest and supportive of each other that I'm mostly looking forward to when I join."
"I'm sure you'll fit right in," Ema assured her.
"Thank you!" Mie said kindly.
'I'm going to have to cut back off on these if we really are going to go on and have children,' Natsume thought as he stood in the courtyard watching his brothers' and Haruhi perform their skit.
And the kids were loving it with gumption.
'They sure seem to know what they're doing,' he kept thinking.
"Hey," Subaru called out as he walked out to join him.
"Subaru, hi," Natsume said, "Congratulations on your recent victory. You did good."
"Thanks, you still follow my games?" Subaru asked.
"Of course I do," Natsume said as he put out his cigarette.
"I thought you weren't doing that anymore," Subaru said.
"I've been cutting back slowly to the point I'm sure I'll be able to stop," Natsume assured him.
"Well that's good," Subaru said.
"How's everything else going for you?" Natsume asked, "Louis mentioned you were bringing your girlfriend."
"Yes, she's inside with Ema," Subaru said, "that's actually why I came out here to talk with you. I was going to share this with the family later when everyone's here but I wanted to tell you and Ema first. Mie and I are engaged."
Natsume looked a little shocked at first but then smile.
"Congratulations, I hope you and her are happy together."
"Thank you, you, Ema and mom were the three who's approval she hoping for the most."
"I'm sure I'll like her, you have good judgment with people," Natsume assured him.
"Thanks," said Subaru, "it was nice to finally meet a girl I feel I could love for the rest of my life, just like you and Ema."
Natsume smile as he and Subaru looked back inside past the skit further back to where they could see their ladies taking.
"...and my mom says we can have our pick of any hotel throughout the country to have the wedding at," Mie was telling Ema. "I told her I'd probably want it at one here so it's easier for all of your brothers to come."
"That'll be nice," Ema said as she reached for another empty dirty platter.
"Here let me help," Mie offered as she grabbed one too.
"Oh no you don't have to do that," Ukyo insisted from the kitchen where he was working on cleaning some of the dishes.
"No, it's alright," Mie said, "I'm use to cleaning with my job."
"It's amazing, you're supposed to be from this rich family, and yet you act like a normal person," Wataru mentioned, also watching from afar.
"Wataru, be nice," Ema said, "I'm sure Mie's a nice regular person."
"I'm just saying," Wataru said.
"Well to be honest Wataru, I wouldn't mind it, I wouldn't mind being more like you and your family. You guys all certainly have a strong bond and happy life," Mie said.
"Really? Wow," Wataru said surprised.
"I know it may make me sound snobby but all the stuff I ever did with my family was well, those fancy rich people things and even then hardly ever did anything together. I actually hated doing "family" things. But your family seems more alive and close. I like it so far!"
"That's wonderful!" Ema said, "I'm sure you'll fit in with us just fine!"
"Oh do we have a new little sister?" Kaname said suddenly as he appeared behind Mie, rather close. "Who is the vision of perfection before me?"
"Uh, I take it this is Kaname?" Mie asked nervous, "Subaru warned me about him."
"Warn you?" Kaname said, "what a silly thing to say! You'll hurt my pride saying that!"
"This is Subaru's girlfriend, Mie," Ema said timidly.
"Oh yes, the beautiful maid," Kaname said, "Tell me, would you wait on me and call me master, lovely maid?"
"Ukyo?" Wataru said.
"Here," Ukyo said, handing him a frying pan.
"Thanks," Wataru said. He walked up to his other brother and whacked him with it. "Perv."
"Owe!" moaned Kaname, "what ever happened to that cute little brother of mine?"
"I've grown, you should try it," Wataru said.
"Hey, I grew up a long time ago, thank you," Kaname said, "anyway, we'll speak later my sweet maid! You as well my lovely sister! In th meantime I'll do what I came here for and go wish my loving nephew a happy birthday!"
"He seems interesting," Mei said.
"He's a real perv!" said Juli.
"Juli!" Ema whispered.
"THE END!" Azusa, Tsubaki and Haruhi all said as they took a bow.
"Yay!" all tbe kids shouted.
"Uncle Tsubaki, Uncle Azusa you were amazing!" Mizu said proudly.
"Thank you, does this make me the favorite again?" Tsubaki asked.
"Hmm, maybe," Mizu shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, only maybe!" Tsubaki said as he started to tickle the boy.
Mizu giggled.
"Ah, who's ready to see their wise Uncle Kaname!"
"Uncle Kaname!" Mizu and Kadia said excited as they ran over to him.
"Hello my little ones!" Kaname said engulfing them in a hug. "and happy birthday Big Boy Mizu! You look so big now! How soon will it be before you start wooing the ladies?"
"Kaname's here?" Natsume said as he and Subaru walked back in.
"Hmm, yes," Masaomi said standing nearby. "Now might be a good time to consider serving the cake. The sooner that's done the sooner the kids and their parents leave and less mothers for him to hit on."
He waved towards the other side of the room where Tomori waved back and hurried to the kitchen.
"Alright everyone! Who's ready for the birthday cake?" Masa asked loudly.
"Yay! Cake! Cake!" the kids all shouted.
"A house full of sugar loaded hyper kids," Natsume heard another dad say, "that'll be fun."
'Oh he's right,' Natsume thought. A lot of the guests already seemed wiled and rambunctious already. Who knew how crazy it would get with them after the cake.
"Excuse me!" a boy shouted running up to Subaru, "can I have your autograph?"
"Sure," Subaru said looking around to find something to help sign his name. Natsume notched a pad of paper and some pens on one of the end tables and grabbed it for him
"Thanks," Subaru said as he signed the paper for the kid, "here you go."
"Wow cool! I think you're the best!" the boy said, "my dad thinks so too and that you'll be named VIP this year!"
"Thank you," Subaru said as the boy ran off.
"He's right you know," Natsume mentioned, "I wouldn't be surprised if you got named VIP."
"We'll see, I don't want to get my hopes up," Subaru said.
He and Natsume watched as Ukyo wheeled out a cart with what looked like a a tower of cupcakes, with the top five each having a candle in them.
Masaomi helped picked up his son and hold him next to the tower and Rika quickly joined them and got the kids to start singing happy birthday.
"Remember the day he was born?" Natsume found himself asking out loud.
"Yeah was in the middle of practice and got a text from Ema. Decided to skip out early so I could catch a train and come see him," Subaru remembered.
Natsume nodded, "Tsubaki showed up at my office and all but forced me into hia car to come to the hospital with him and Azusa."
"Probably half assumed you wouldn't come on your own, half wanted to play a prank on you," Subaru said.
"Yeah," Natsume agreed, "but I'm glad he did. It was nice to see Mizu as a baby."
He started to remember when Tsubaki sort of forced him to hold Mizu too. It had been a nice experience. Same when he had first held Kadia.
'I'm just all over the place with these thoughts on kids!'
"...ving kids?"
"Huh?" Natsume asked coming out of his train of thought.
"I was asking, are you and Ema thinking about having kids?" Subaru asked.
"Oh sure, eventually," Natsume said, "I know she wants them.".
"You'd make a good dad," Subaru said.
"Thank you," Natsume said happy his brother thought so.