This is a long one, so brace yourself. n_n

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"Where are Gessho and Harusame?" Sonomi made herself comfortable across from Kamatari at the chabudai, "And where's Sojiro for that matter?"

"Mama and Haru are in a bath!" Kietsu exclaimed helpfully, trying to pick up something with her chopsticks. "Having Mama time."

Sonomi laughed. "Harusame isn't a mama yet, Kiddo. She and Sojiro aren't even married."

"So?" The little girl gave up on the chopsticks and picked up a piece of squid, "Papa, wha's this?" She waved it up towards his face.

"Eat it." Kamatari told her firmly. Then he looked at Sonomi, "They're relaxing, that's all. I don't know about Sojiro. He must still be asleep. Kietsu, eat!" His gaze whipped back to his daughter, "You know you cannot leave until you finish."

"Hai, Papa." She huffed, poking at her breakfast. Making a horrid face, she looked back up at the two adults.

Sonomi poured herself some tea as Kietsu watched earnestly. She stared at the woman's face, wondering where the feathery scar on her cheek had come from. She still thought that Sonomi was kind of frightening, but couldn't figure out why. She was about to question the scar, but then remembered that her father was always telling her not to stare at people. So she sat there with her mouth open instead.

"Good morning!"

Sojiro's cheerful voice shattered the little girl's thoughts and she looked up. The young man was smiling cheerfully, like usual. She beamed up at him. "Ohayo, Sou!" She loved Sojiro already. He was so cheerful and friendly; always willing to play with her.

"Ohayo, Little One. " He ruffled her hair, then sank to the ground beside her, "Does any one know where Harusame is?"

Kamatari swallowed, "Hot spring. She and Gessh are having a little girl talk."

"How come you're not there then?" Sonomi asked without skipping a beat, sipping her tea.

He stuck his tongue out at her. "I don't do that any more." He said good-naturedly, "At least not in public."

"Oh? Not in public? When then?" Sonomi leaned across the table, one hand under her chin. A sly smile was spread across her face, her eyes held a certain level of mischief.

"Well, sometimes I - Never you mind." He changed his mind mid-sentence. What he didn't want to say was that on occasion he dressed up for Gessho. She always said she loved to see him pretty and he willingly complied. She was just as eccentric as he was and had a thing about seeing him all decked out. He had plans for his favorite kimono later that evening.

"You're blushing! Finish that sentence!" Sonomi leaned farther over the table. She was dying of curiosity now. What was he going to say?

"I'd rather not. My wife would kill me." Came his cheerful reply. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it out of his face. His cheeks were tinged slightly pink and a secretive smile relaxed his appealing features.

"Why would I kill you?"

He looked up. Gesshoku was looking down at him, her skin pink and glowing, her expression one of deep contentment. She looked so serene. He hadn't seen her like that since…Nah, that's impossible. It's been a long time; a month and a half, since our anniversary. She can't be…Can she? He shook off that thought, telling himself it was only his imagination. "Oh, no reason, Darling. Sonomi is just pestering me."

"Ah." She settled herself beside him, "Where's Mama?"

"She's busy. The little lady and I saw her earlier."

"You look exceptionally happy today, Gesshoku-san." Sojiro commented politely.

"I feel great!" Came the enthusiastic reply. She was so relaxed after her dip in the springs that she overlooked his calling her 'Gesshoku-san.' She couldn't remember the last time she felt so content.

"Any particular reason?" Sonomi sipped her tea.

A shrug. "Not really. I just feel…good."

"Happy Mama!" Kietsu chirped. She loved to see her parents happy and in love, even though she didn't realize it.

"That's right, Sweetie. I'm very happy." Gessho touched the little girl on the nose.

Harusame appeared a little while later, joining the party for breakfast. She was in a fairly decent mood and ignored Sonomi's cracks about her and Sojiro.

"Sonomi," Kamatari began casually, "We need you to watch Kietsu tonight. We're going out for a while."

"What? Me? Why can't Harusame do it? Or even Sojiro. They're better with kids than I am." Sonomi's eyes widened. What was she supposed to do with the kid for an entire evening?

"Harusame and Sojiro are coming with us. Kinda a pre-Valentine's night out. And you don't have a significant other," He was careful not to say she had no man, lest he get another jibe about being a woman, "So you get the baby-sitting job."

The young woman gave him a suspicious look. "And what ulterior motive comes from this evening?" Her eyelids fluttered, lashes sweeping across her cheeks in that alluring, lethal manner of hers.

"Nothing that concerns you." He brushed her off, looking again at Kietsu who was pushing things around in her bowl.

Harusame smiled smugly. It was nice to be the one who knew what was going on for a change. More often than not she was left in the dark while every one tried to run her life for her. She had a striking suspicion that Sonomi had asked Kamatari for help in some sort of romantic setup to speed along her relationship with Sojiro. The older man was passionate about such things as love and he would try to be helpful. Key word there being try.

Well, two could play at that game as well as one. Valentine's Day was in a week. Up until now, Harusame had never really given much thought to her pathetic relationship with Sojiro. Well then…She smiled to herself. She was going to woo the socks off Sojiro with no help from Sonomi. Then she'd see who was laughing.

But then…She looked down at her traveling clothes. I do need some help. Maybe I can borrow some clothes from Gessho. She seems more into the wearing a kimono thing now. Hmm…Funny how things work out. Five years ago, she was wearing men's clothes and Kamatari wearing women's. Guess we're all growing up now. I'll talk to Gessho later on. She'll know what to do.

Gesshoku wondered how she would survive the rest of the day until she had her time alone with her husband. It was a rare occasion that they were both in the mood for intimacy. More often than not, Kamatari shied away from Gessho and her advances, even though his body was always telling him otherwise. When he did give in, he tried his best to make it a night to remember and she speculated at what he had in store for that evening.

"Mama?"


"Uh?" Kietsu was tugging on her sleeve. She looked down at the little girl, taking in her small face, those wide brown eyes. "What is it, Sweetheart?"

"I want to go play." The child demanded. She knew better than to ask her father since he would just pester her about her breakfast and whether or not she had eaten it all.

"Are you done eating? You finished everything?" She fished her glasses out from somewhere in her sleeve and slid them on. Her daughter had indeed finished every last bite, or at least there was nothing left in her bowl.

"All done!" She folded her arms, waiting for the go-ahead to run off and play. She had eaten everything and she was behaving.

"Go on. But stay inside and don't pester your grandmother."

"Hai, Mama." She kissed her mother softly, then scampered off.

Kamatari watched as his wife hugged their tiny child. She moved with such fluid and grace, without even trying. Gessho appeared unusually…quiet. She was so serene; could she possibly be that pleased about their evening together? Well, it had been a month and a half. He smiled, wondering if she knew how hard he fought to keep his sanity around her at night when she was clinging to him.

Then that same thought crept into his mind as before. She can't be, can she? I mean, what are the chances of…? I think she and I need to talk. He watched as she rose from the table, pausing to kiss him on the cheek. He flashed her a grin, tweaking her nose, and she stuck out her tongue. "Where are you going, Darling?"

She nearly melted at that ostentatious grin. He had her arm gripped lightly in his hand and he was looking up at her, his brandy brown eyes wide with curiosity. Oh, how she loved that man. She was so happy with him. "I have a few errands to run before later." She touched his cheek, "I'll be back in a little bit."

His sigh was melodramatic as he released her arm. "I suppose I can spare you for a bit, Koishii. But hurry back, there's something I want to talk about."

"All right." She bent to kiss his cheek were her finger had been a moment before, then beckoned to Harusame. "You come with me."

"Okay." Harusame rose and trailed behind her, "Where are we going, Gessho?"

"Well, we have a busy evening ahead of us. You need a kimono and I would like to get a new obi to go with my favorite kimono. And I need something for later too. This is going to be a big night for us. I mean, we do want a baby as the result. I've got to be looking my best."

"How he feels about you has nothing to do with the way you look, you know." Harusame smiled.

"I know." Gessho blushed lightly, "I know I'm not the prettiest thing. I'm awkward and clumsy and all, along with too loud and obnoxious. But, well, I like to look nice for him because he always looks so pretty." Her blush deepened and she looked away.

"What are you blushing for?" Harusame laughed, "He's your husband. I think it's a little more embarrassing for me. We're not married, after all."

"Anyhow, you guys aren't going to be doing what we're doing. Trust me. You guys are just going to dinner with us. What you do after that is no business of mine." The older woman said nonchalantly, skipping on ahead down the path.

Harusame followed behind, watching the other woman as she went. Something about Gesshoku seemed so different. She seemed…Off. I wonder what's up with her. It's like she's on cloud nine. I wonder…It is possible, unless they haven't…I've heard that you become really calm and serene. Maybe…"Gessho?"

"Yeah?" She looked over her shoulder at the young woman.

"Is it possible that…I mean, could you, you know, already be pregnant?" She asked meekly.

"What…?" Gesshoku stopped in her tracks, turning to fully look at Harusame. A bewildered expression crossed her face and she peered at her as if trying to figure out why on earth she'd ask something like that.

Harusame took a step back, her eyes widening and her mouth open. "I…I…I mean, well," She rubbed one arm, ran her fingers through her hair, "I know you, Gessho. I know what you're like. And you're way different now. I've never seen you like this before, not even the day you got married. You're so unbelievably happy."

"I wasn't happy last time." Came the skeptical response.

"But you want it this time. Of course you'll be happy. You've been so perky since we got here. It's…bizarre." She finished lamely, praying to the gods Gessho wouldn't get mad at her for suggesting it and possibly ruining her plans by suggesting it.

"Well…I suppose it is possible…" Gesshoku's hand rose tentatively to her waist, "But I don't know. I'd like it, I guess, but…I really don't want to get my hopes up. I mean, I couldn't be that lucky, you know? We only decided we were sure this morning. Things don't work out like that, Kiddo."

"Still…It could happen, right?"

"Of course. There's always that possibility."

Harusame nodded. She wasn't a mother herself yet, but she was a woman and she knew what she saw in the other woman and she knew what she had seen in the spring.

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The shopping excursion flew by quickly. Gesshoku was hardly aware of what went on in the shops of Kobe; she had far too much on her mind. What Harusame said could very well be possible. Dates and times flittered through her mind -Christmas Eve; sometime back in the fall- her train of thought seeming to derail with every turn it took. October it had been, the time before last. That would make it four whole months and -Oh, Sweet Buddha in Heaven!

Stopping momentarily to set down her package upon returning home, she hurried off in search of her husband.

Kamatari was seated at the desk in the small study room they used for bookkeeping at the springs, pouring over a ledger of her mother's. Kumori had been grooming him to take over, even though he really didn't want to, and she was pleased to see him in the study more often lately.

He looked up when she burst into the room. Her eyes were wide with a sort of crazed look, her cheeks flushed red. Her hair was a wild tangle around her face and she looked out of breath. "What on earth is wrong, Darling?"

She flew to him in a flurry of excitement, crawling into his lap, throwing her arms around him, kissing his cheek. He looked at her curiously, his brow furrowed in thought. She laughed at his perplexed expression, kissing him again before launching into an explanation.

"Harusame and I were talking and some things she said really started to get to me. So I've been thinking all morning and - Wait, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" She was suddenly dreadful that he would say he changed his mind.

"I was wondering…Now Darling, I know you'll think this is an excuse for getting out of tonight, but I'm being serious. I was wondering if maybe you're already pregnant. You've seemed different lately."

He watched as her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. Was she upset? She looked kind of shocked. Then she grinned, hugging him again. "That's what I was going to tell you. Harusame thinks I am. And you know, I think so too. I think, that time back in October, I think that's when and now I'm just so excited I can't-."

He silenced her thrilled chatter with a kiss, his lips meeting hers softly. This would save him a lot of trouble. He loved her to death, loved being sweet with her, but hated the pressure of being intimate. He was always afraid he wouldn't be able to give her what she wanted. "Congratulations, Koishii." He lightly touched her belly, "But we shouldn't celebrate too much until you go see a doctor. You know, just to be sure."

She nodded cheerily. "I'll go. I just wanted to tell you first." She stroked his cheek, then kissed him. "I'll be back in a little bit."

He smiled after her as she left the room. She was so happy; he hoped she'd be back with good news.

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Eh, I'm tired. I've been having bouts with insomnia lately and whew, I'm so sleepy. This chapter kinda sucks, doesn't it? X_x I'm hungry too. Bleh…I'm sick of vacation! And I have 2 more weeks…*whimper*