Um, I should probably mention…The song Harusame was singing is a song called "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" by Pink Floyd (On the "Saucerful of Secrets" album, which I sadly didn't get for Xmas *sniffles* or also available on "Echoes" which my brother owns and I have a copy of and that's how I know it's such a good song.) . I just had her sing it because I like it. T'is a good song, that. ^_^

@}--,--'---

February 4th

"Gessh? Mail's here."

Honjou Kamatari riffled through the letters that had just arrived. Most of them were for his mother-in-law, who still ran the Aoiroten-onsan, despite the fact that her daughter's family hardly ever left any more. There was a letter for Gesshoku from her sister and -surprise surprise- something addressed to him.

He turned the envelope over in his hand, wondering who it was from. Then he wandered back into the house, calling for his wife. "You got a letter from your sister, Gessho!"

"Nissho wrote to me?!" She came running, her hakama flapping. Gesshoku looked as she had five years ago when they married, the same short brown hair, tomboyish clothing and loud personality.

Motherhood had not changed her.

"You'd better quiet down, Darling, or you'll wake up Kietsu." He reminded her softly, a smile on his face.

She clapped a hand over her mouth. "Gomen." She said sheepishly.

He laughed as she fished in her sleeves for the glasses she so vehemently hated. He knew, despite the fact she was always apologizing for her exuberance and he was always telling her not to be so loud, she would never be able to quiet down. Her loudness was a part of who she was and it was one of the reasons he loved her.

They had been married on Christmas Eve five years prior, when the date for their arranged marriage rolled around. Both had been reluctant to enter into the union, despite their friendship and the great love they had for one another, but they had married none-the-less and were quite happy with it.

"It's okay, my darling, but it would be best to let her finish her nap or she'll be cranky." He spoke affectionately of their little daughter, then nearly three years old. She was a pretty little thing, looked a lot like her father, happy and joyous. They hadn't meant to have her. One thing had led to another and she was a sort of surprise. She had been born on Valentine's Day, they loved her, and her name was Kietsu.

"She'd be cranky anyway." The young woman pointed out.

"Of course she would. She's got your disposition." He teased, his slender fingers tickling her under the chin.

She giggled, sticking out her tongue at him as she tore open her letter. Then her face clouded over as she read it. "Oh…"

"What's the matter, Darling?" He questioned, his expression becoming one of concern. His wife looked upset and that could only mean something bad had happened with Nisshoku.

"She doesn't think she'll be able to make it for the little one's birthday." She sounded dismayed. The twins weren't the best of friends, but they had been getting along better the past five years and Kietsu loved her aunt. "The baby is going to be so upset."

"Don't fret over it. She didn't say she definitely won't be here, did she? There's still a chance. Besides, I have good news. I got a letter from Sonomi." He brandished the letter, holding it in front of her face.

"Sonomi? Are they coming?" Her eyes lit up, "We haven't seen them at all in nearly four years." She exclaimed excitedly.

"Sure they're coming." He said mirthfully, "And we get to have some fun. Sonomi says our boy Sojiro is having a little trouble asking Harusame a certain question. She wants our help to speed things up and create a romantic atmosphere."

"Romantic, hmm?" She smiled impishly, "You're not romantic."

"I'm not?" He looked hurt, "What do you mean I'm not?" Tucking the letter safely in the sleeve of his yukata, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately, leaving her both breathless and quite flushed. "How's that for romance?"

"…" She blushed deeply, still unbelieving that she was married to the strange man she adored so. There was nothing she could say to that; she was too flustered.

"That's what I thought." He grinned and she knew he was teasing again. He was such a unique person; she knew in her heart he was neither a man as nature intended or a woman as he wished to be. He was no more than a free spirit. He still dressed occasionally as a woman, but not in front of Kietsu, for he didn't want to confuse her. He hadn't worn a kimono in public since the child had been born.

She reached up and kissed him again. "Mama will be calling us for supper soon. I'll go get Kietsu up."

Kamatari watched fondly as his wife scampered from the room. Sometimes it all seemed like a dream to him, the fact that he was so happy. His life had fallen apart when Shishio-sama died and he never thought things would go on after that. It wasn't until the year he spent with Gessho preceding their marriage that he realized what true contentment was. There had been restless longing with Shishio, sadness, emptiness and a broken heart. Gessho was love and tenderness; excitement and all joy. Their bond ran deep, all the way from childhood, and she was the only girl he had ever considered being a man for.

He truly loved her.

He knew Harusame and Sojiro loved one another as he loved Gesshoku. He wanted to see them just as happy as they were and would gladly help Sonomi out. He wanted all their dreams fulfilled, for he felt every one should be as happy as he was. Thus, he wanted this to be the best Valentine's Day ever, so they would have no excuse not to get married.

Humming to himself, he ambled off down the hall to see what was for dinner.

@}--,--'---

Sojiro stared out the window of the train car. The last time they had been on the way to the Aoiroten family hot springs, there had been an air of doom about them. This time, Harusame and Sonomi were chatting happily, blissfully unaware of the young rurôni's dilemma.

He had been trying to figure out for a year how he could ask Harusame to be his wife.

She was everything he wanted in a wife and more; young, pretty, outgoing and forgiving. She knew everything there was to know about his tragic past and cared for him still. She was always ready for another adventure. But most of all, she had taken him in and given him a reason to truly be happy. She had given him hope.

Sonomi was always prodding the two of them about when they would get married. She made it sound so easy, his proposing to her, but she simply didn't understand his shyness. He had always hid everything behind that cheerful smile, including his nervousness and his fear. Neither of them knew.

He was terrified.

"What's the little girl's name?" Harusame asked for a millionth time, dragging Sojiro from his thoughts.

"Kietsu." Sonomi replied, "And she'll be three soon. So they want to have a little party for her and show her off. That's the impression I got from Kamatari's letter, at least."

Sojiro listened curiously. He remembered his own thoughts the morning his friends got married. He had been pondering the idea that they might have a child; the two had been plenty in love and he hadn't doubted there would be an heir to the hot springs. It only surprised him that it took them two years to have her.

"Sojiro," Harusame slid over next to him and he blushed lightly, "Are you excited? We haven't seen Kamatari or Gesshoku in so long."

"Sure, I'm excited." He smiled his characteristic smile and she grinned back, "Kamatari has always been nice to me and he's a good friend. And I would really like to see the child he and Gesshoku-san have produced. She probably look a lot like her father."

"I bet. He must love taking care of her. He must love getting her dressed up like a little doll. I wonder how disappointed he would have been if they had a son instead of a daughter."

Sojiro laughed, brushing his dark hair from his eyes. "I would feel sorry for any son of his. It's better that they have a little girl, what with his strange feminine habits and all."

"Do…Do you suppose you'll ever want to have any children, Sojiro?" She asked hurriedly, her face flaming scarlet.

Only with you…He was silent for a moment, then smiled the goofy grin again. "Of course I would like children someday, Harusame. But who would ever want to marry a wretch like me?"

She bit her lip in attempt to keep herself from blurting out 'I would!' She was afraid he would laugh at her if she said that. "I…I'm sure some one would. You never know until you ask." She blushed, if possible, even redder.

Sonomi rolled her eyes. The two of them were such a joke. Couldn't the just get over themselves and admit they wanted to be together? Couldn't they just get married already? It was driving her insane.

@}--,--'---

"Mama?"

"What is it, Dear?" Aoiroten Kumori looked at her younger daughter. Spirited Gesshoku, the wild twin, married and a mother. It pleased Kumori to see her daughter settled down and content with her life.

"Our friends are coming for Kietsu's birthday. Can you make sure to reserve the special room for Harusame and Sojiro?" Gessho asked between bites of food. She had given Kamatari the task of making sure their little daughter ate her food -Kietsu was somewhat picky- and was ignoring his complaining as the child threw food at him.

"The special room?" Kumori's eyebrows rose, causing her patrician features to look even harder than usual, "What are you up to, Child?"

"Nothing, Mama." She smiled slyly, "We just want them to have a nice time together and relax a little. Sonomi can stay in the room she and Harusame shared the last time they were here."

A trace of a smile crossed Kumori's face at the mention of 'last time.' The last time her daughter and her friends had all been together was that fateful Christmas Eve when Gesshoku and Kamatari had been married. "And your sister? Will she be here?"

Gessho frowned slightly, looking down at the cup of tea in her hands. "She doesn't think she'll make it home on time."

"Nani?" Kietsu looked up, flinging a piece of fish at her father in the process. "Oba-san not coming?" Her eyes widened and tears threatened to fall.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but-" Gessho began, but she was cut off as the little girl burst into tears.

"Whhhhhhy? Mama, why?" She sniffled, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. She loved Nisshoku and hardly ever saw her.

Kamatari took immediate control of the situation. He pulled Kietsu into his lap and hugged her, brushing back her thin hair. "Don't cry, Little Lady. Your aunt loves you very much, but sometimes she's very far away. It takes a long time for her to come back from where she's gone."

"But Papa…" She wiped her nose on her sleeve, "But Papa…" Her voice wavered and she hiccupped, beginning to cry again. She was so like her mother, crying passionately when things did not go her way.

"Shhh…It's okay, Honey. Just remember that Oba-san loves you." He planted a kiss on her forehead, "And Mama and I love you too."

Still sniffling, she buried her face in the front of his silk yukata, clutching his sleeve. He hugged her tightly, rocking her in his arms, his face buried in her silky hair. He loved the little girl; she was so precious to him. He never thought he would have been a father. Even after marrying Gessho, he never would have thought he would have a child.

Kumori watched as Kamatari calmed her grandchild. As strange as her son-in-law was, he was good to her daughter and their child. She had never seen him raise a hand in anger at either of them and he was a positive influence on Kietsu. He always had the energy to play with her, he was patient with her non-stop questions and he was always just as excited about the little things as she was.

"You're going to make some new friends, Kietsu." Kamatari told the child softly, "Friends of Mama and I are coming to see you for your birthday. We're going to have fun."

"New friends?" She wiped her eyes again and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

"That's right, Honey. New friends." He smiled down at her and she grinned back up at him, her thumb still in her mouth. She looked so much like him, with his same hair, eyes and facial expressions. She was dressed that day in a little blue kimono, her hair combed neatly out of her face. Beautiful child.

"An' I gonna get presents, just like at Christmas?"

"Yup. Because it's your special day."

"Yay!" She clapped her little hands excitedly, causing all three adults to smile. Valentine's Day had never been cause for a big celebration, save for Kietsu's birthday. The couple always made a big deal out of Christmas, it being the holiday which brought them together.

This year, however, they would do Valentine's Day right.