Slice of life sections here. As always thank you for reading my story and I hope you are enjoying it.
A week later
Hotaru woke up to the soft cries of her son next to her in the morning. The new mother sleepily rubbed her eyes and opened them. She rolled from her back to her side facing the child. Her son's little face was red from crying and his little fists waved around.
"Shh, shh, I'm here little one," Hotaru soothed, reaching for her child. She brought her child closer to her side and loosened her yukata so she could nurse. Her son's cries ceased as soon as he latched on to her breast. Name stroked her child's soft, pillowy cheek.
After he was finished nursing, the young mother used a sling to strap the sleeping baby to her back so she could start preparing breakfast for the others in the household.
"Good morning, Hotaru," Senjuro said cheerfully.
"Good morning Senjuro," Hotaru said.
Senjuro gave her a hug and gently patted Takeo's head before starting with breakfast.
The new mother and family settled into a new routine that included feedings and diaper changes.
Senjuro as usual would help out with the baby and chores. He had gotten a lot better over the week about handling a newborn. Normally after breakfast, Hotaru and Senjuro would clean up then she would nurse and change Takeo while Senjuro finished morning chores. Takeo tended to feed every one to two hours so Hotaru would do light chores or rest during that time. Senjuro would watch the baby for a short time while Hotaru took a short nap or whatnot.
The first bath
Hotaru had waited until Takeo was a month old until using the local bathhouse the family used to take baths. Up until that point she used a small tub to bathe him but now that he was a month old, she wanted to take him to the bathhouse for the first time.
"This will be Takeo's first time huh?" Senjuro asked. He was accompanying them to the bathhouse.
"Yes, I'll have to make sure the water isn't going to be too hot for him," Hotaru said.
Once they reached the bathhouse, Senjuro went to the men's side and Hotaru and Takeo went to the female side.
After Hotaru undressed herself and the baby she headed toward the baths. She held Takeo's tiny frame against her his little face nestled in the crook of her neck. Hotaru sat down near the edge of the bath sticking her feet in and laid the towels down on the side. The young mother slowly inserted herself in the bath testing the water and sat down a step where the water reached just past her stomach. She adjusted Takeo to where he was cradled in her arms and reached for a washcloth. After wetting the washcloth and mixing soap in, she gently started to wipe the washcloth over her son's body so he could get used to the feeling of warm water. Takeo started to whimper at this new feeling on his body.
"Shh, shhh, it's alright my sunshine," Hotaru said soothingly. After she had lathered her son's small frame with water and soap she went a bit deeper in the water and barely submerged his legs and feet into the water. Takeo's little face scrunched up and his little thick brows furrowed as he let out a wail.
"It's alright my darling," Hotaru said soothingly as she slowly and gently wet his golden hair. After a few more moments, Takeo started to get used to the feeling of the water and his cries subsided.
"There you go, my little flame, it's not so bad," she said, kissing his forehead. She continued to wash him with the washcloth, making sure his body was only semi submerged to keep water from getting in his face. Hotaru gently rinsed the soap off of his body.
"There we go, my sunflower, all done," Hotaru said tenderly, wrapping him in a towel. Takeo looked up at his mother with those flame colored orbs she loved so much. She then laid him in a makeshift bassinet out of towels so he wouldn't accidentally roll and fall in the bath. Hotaru then proceeded to bathe herself while keeping an eye on her baby. After she was done, she wrapped a towel around herself and sat at the edge of the bath. Takeo started to become fussy and Hotaru knew he was hungry. Seeing that no one was around, she adjusted her towel so she could breast feed her son.
After about ten minutes he was finished. Hotaru went to the changing room and dressed both herself and her son.
"How did he like the bath?" Senjuro asked as they headed home.
"It startled him at first but he became acclimated," Hotaru replied. "Didn't you sweetie?" she asked, kissing his golden head.
"He seems worn out. I didn't know babies slept this much," Senjuro commented as the infant was fast asleep in his mother's arms.
"Newborns tend to sleep a lot. It's when they get older they start to sleep less," Hotaru commented with a chuckle. "Although this little guy constantly keeps me up at night wanting to eat."
"An appetite like Aniki's," Senjuro said fondly.
Hotaru smiled in response to his statement.
Visiting an old friend
"Who is this person you are visiting?" Senjuro asked, watching Hotaru getting ready to leave the house.
"Midori is an elderly woman I befriended while I was still pregnant. I didn't live too far from her. You are welcome to come join us," Hotaru put a sleepy Takeo in the sling on her back.
"Thank you for the offer but I still have some chores to do around the house. I'd like to come another day," Senjuro said.
Hotaru took her time heading towards Midori's home, pausing to check on Takeo and feed him if needed.
"There we go baby, almost there," she said, placing him back in the sling after feeding him.
Once she reached the elderly woman's home, she knocked on the door. The door opened revealing Midori.
"It's good to see you Midori-san," Hotaru said bowing. The two were on a first name basis by now.
"How have you been my dear, come inside," the host said then saw the baby on Hotaru's back. "Oh who's this sweetie pie?"
Hotaru undid the baby from her back.
"This is Takeo," she said with a smile passing him over to Midori.
"Ahhh he's so beautiful. You're so adorable, yes you are, Takeo-kun" Midori cooed to the tiny infant. She touched his little nose and his eyes slowly opened.
"Oh such beautiful flame colored eyes. You know it reminds me of-," Midori stopped.
"What is it?" Hotaru asked.
"I don't like to talk about demons or stuff like that but when I was younger a friend of mine had an encounter with a demon. She would have been a goner if a demon slayer hadn't showed up. From what I remember she said he was tall and had locks of golden and red hair like flames. Oh I wish I could've seen him. I hear he was handsome, but she never saw him again," Midori had a faraway look in her eyes.
Hotaru felt her face redden. Given Midori's age, the demon slayer she was talking about was probably Shinjuro. Takeo's little flame-colored eyes closed.
"Oh he's asleep. I'll go lay him down," Hotaru took the baby from Midori and laid him down on the mattress not too far from them.
"Oh here I go rambling again. I'll make us some tea," Midori left the room.
Hotaru was left alone with her thoughts. Her son would eventually know that he came from a long line of hashira and possibly may be expected to take up that role. It pained her to think of her child growing up to fight demons. When Takeo was inside of her she could protect him easier. He ate what she ate and he wasn't exposed to the outside world. Having Takeo being born, she felt like her heart was outside of her body. The young woman reached over and gently brushed a hand against her baby's golden locks.
"Ah here we go," Midori came back carrying tea.
"Thank you," Hotaru said.
"How was his birth if you don't mind me asking," Midori asked.
"It was very painful. I started having contractions late at night. My labor lasted for many hours then finally Takeo came out. The midwife said he was a big baby," Hotaru said.
"Ahh I see," Midori said. "How is he eating?"
"He's eating very well. It seems like he's constantly hungry and wants to nurse. Thank you for that mixture," Hotaru said.
"Of course, I'm glad it helped. I have more if you need," Midori said. "He's a growing boy."
"Yes he is," Hotaru agreed while sipping her tea.
"Where are you living now? If you don't mind me asking," Midori asked.
"I'm living with Takeo's grandfather and uncle. I wasn't expecting them to let me stay," Hotaru said. She looked down at her hands, "they've helped me through a lot even though I asked so much of them."
"I'm glad to hear that dear," Midori said with a genuine smile.
The two continued to converse for a while until it was time to go.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality," Hotaru said.
"You're welcome, dear, please come by anytime," Midori said.
Hotaru placed her sleepy baby in the sling so that he was cradled against her chest.
"Please take care and get home safely," the older woman said gently, patting Takeo's golden head.
They both bowed to each other then Hotaru headed home waving to Midori as she went further away.