Navy and Azure
by Apple-chan

Disclaimer: I still can't write witty disclaimer remarks.

Warnings: PG-13 for adult situations and mild swearing.


Epilogue - Fusion of Colors


Around one year and six months later

Tao Estate, China


The sun was just breaking out over the mountains a short distance from an ancient-looking Chinese castle, when a blazing red mecha-spirit landed unceremoniously right at the center of the structure's spacious paradise of a garden, disturbing the peaceful demeanor of the whole place.

"Ouch!" Asakura Hao exclaimed cheerfully, patting Spirit of Fire on its shoulder, where he was currently standing. "Thanks, partner. I'll see you later. Hey, wait for us, Ren-kun!" He called out to the Chinese shaman, who had jumped off from the mecha-spirit faster than a speeding bullet as soon as it had landed.

Ren waved him off hastily and zoomed lightning-fast towards the entrance pathway of the Estate. Hao, Yoh and Horo followed suit, with Yoh carrying his second-youngest son on piggyback, because the little boy just refused to stay put in the Onsen and had insisted on coming along with his Ren-jichan. Anyway, they walked swiftly along the path, and were going so fast that they almost collided with Jun, who was heading in the opposite direction.

"...Ren!" She exclaimed breathlessly. "I was just about to see if you were here already." she nodded with acknowledgement at Yoh, Hao, and Horo. She smiled warmly at little Ren-chan atop his father's shoulders. The two-and-a-half-year-old boy nodded briefly at his aunt in greeting.

"...Neesan! Where is she? How is she doing? Is she all right? Why aren't you with her? Who's with her? Is anything wrong? TAKE ME TO HER!" Ren demanded, all in one breath.

"Pilica-chan is fine," Jun assured, trying her very best to maintain a calm expression on her face although she wanted to laugh out loud. She had never seen her brother--her brother, the respected and honored head of their clan--this tense and pale. It was quite a priceless sight to behold. "Hahaue's in the room with her and Diao, and Fei, too," she added. "...Father and Jiisama are nearby, at the hall in front of your quarters. Come on," she led them across the hall and the five of them walked briskly towards the master's bedroom.

"W...what about the baby? Is it...?"

"Not yet," She shook her head. "...But from the looks of it, it's going to be soon."

Upon reaching the front of the master's bedroom, an odd expression crossed Ren's face, and he turned even paler.

His sister glanced at him with concern. "Are you all right?"

He managed a weak nod. "H...hai."

"Good." Jun heaved a sigh of relief. She glanced briefly at her father and grandfather's direction, and then, gave Ren, Horo, Hao and Yoh a bright smile. "I'm going to see how she's doing now. You guys wait here for a while, all right?"

Ren's head snapped up. "I have to go in there."

"You can't. Sorry." She gave him an apologetic smile.

"But Pilica NEEDS me!"

"...My SISTER doesn't need you. She only needs ME. I should be in there!" Horo retorted pointedly.

"You can't go in either, Horo-kun," Jun told the Ainu man. "I know you two mean well...but Hahaue specifically said not to allow any of you in, at least until the baby's born."

"Why the hell NOT?" Ren and Horo-horo demanded in unison.

"She's my SISTER!" Horo pointed out.

"She's my WIFE!" Ren practically shouted.

Jun looked up to the ceiling and exhaled. "I KNOW that PERFECTLY well," she said with impatience. Which is exactly why I'm here. I knew this was going to happen. "But what Hahaue says, GOES. Now you two stay here and behave yourselves. I'll be right back." With a final stern look at her brother and at the Ainu man, she entered the bedroom, sliding the door shut securely behind her.


*~*~*~*~*~*


Ren and Horo stared at the door incredulously for the next couple of minutes. Then, they glared at each other.

After a while, though, Ren looked away and started pacing back and forth across the hallway, running his hands through his hair with impatience every couple of seconds or so. He wasn't in any mood to fight or engage in a glaring contest with Horo-horo over nothing. He was too worried about his wife and his baby--and was getting even more increasingly so as the clock ticked.

Meanwhile, the Ainu man continued to glare at him; at the same time, Horo-horo was muttering profanities, curses and accusations--all aimed at the Chinese shaman--under his breath.

At the lounge near them, Hao was sitting calmly beside his brother and his nephew while watching the two men with amusement. He gave Yoh a slight nudge. "I think I know WHY they weren't allowed to go in," he whispered.

"Eh?" Yoh glanced up, startled. "Nani?"

Hao shook his head with resignation. "...Never mind. Anyway, just look at them," he gestured towards their two friends. "Ren-kun seems like he's about to faint from anxiety. And, it appears Horo-horo-kun might be planning something quite...unimaginable against Ren-kun. " A thoughtful pause. "Now, if they were allowed in there," he pointed to the master's bedroom, "...what do you think would happen?"

His brother shrugged. "...I'm not really sure, Oniichan." He fleetingly glanced once again at his watch, wincing as the minute hand hit six. Five-thirty in Funbarigaoka. It wouldn't be long now until his wife wakes up and finds him gone...not just him, but their second youngest son, too. He could almost imagine how Anna would react to it...he gave an inward groan. He never should have listened to his brother. He shouldn't have come here. He should have waited until his wife was awake before he tried to do anything...and now, it was too late. My life is over.

Hao sighed, giving up. His brother was obviously distracted. "Well, my best guess is that they'd try to kill each other in there, AND, instead of being at least of some help to Pilica-chan and her condition, they'd only add to the problem," he finished, narrowing his eyes at the way his brother kept on fidgeting nervously. "Yoh, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," His brother answered instantly. "I'm just fine. What time is it?"

"It's four-thirty here, and five-thirty in Tokyo. Though I'm sure you knew that," he replied dryly. "...You've been checking the time constantly for the last couple of minutes." He gave his brother a concerned look. "What's wrong? Is it..." A slow grin spread across his face. "...Anna?"

A weary sigh. "Hai." Yoh glanced briefly at his son, then shook his head miserably. "...I'm dead."

"No, you're not." Hao assured. "...We'll just have to explain it all to her when we get back. Nothing to worry about," he added in a cheerful tone.

"IF we can," his twin corrected helplessly. "I mean, you and me leaving abruptly is fine, but...how are we going to explain the fact that we took Ren-chan along with us?"

"Oh. That," Hao nodded with understanding, patting his little nephew's head affectionately. "...Well, he wanted to come along, didn't he?" He glanced down at the young boy. "Didn't you, Chibi?"

Ren-chan nodded solemnly.

"...There! See," Hao smiled triumphantly. "So it's not a problem."

"It doesn't matter if he wanted to go or not, Oniichan, " Yoh said heavily. "...We didn't ask for her permission. Worse than that, we took him to China, and EVEN worse, we LET him ride Spirit of Fire--"

"Could the two of you please SHUT UP?" Horo-horo yelled, glaring at the twins. He was leaning on the wall beside the door of the master's bedroom, with his arms crossed over his chest, and an extremely annoyed look on his face. "I'm trying to hear what's happening inside."

"Forget it. It wouldn't do any good," Ren said quietly as he continued to pace around worriedly. "...The room's soundproof."

"Well that's just GREAT!" Horo cursed, throwing another glare at his brother-in-law. "This is all your FAULT."

"Yeah, that's RIGHT," was the sarcastic reply. "Everything's MY fault, isn't it?"

"Darn right it IS!" Horo-horo growled. "If you had only heeded my WARNINGS before, NONE of this would be happening. You'd at least be inside with my SISTER and helping her throughout this ORDEAL. But instead, you're standing right HERE and doing NOTHING! Some HUSBAND you ARE."

"Warnings?" Ren gave him an incredulous look. "I don't remember getting anything of that sort from YOU. More like a THREAT."

"It was a WARNING," Horo-horo insisted. "Tamao's reading for my LITTLE SISTER indicated that the baby was coming TODAY," he said with emphasis. "I TOLD you THAT three days ago, but did you LISTEN? NO, you DIDN'T!"

"Demanding that I go HOME to my WIFE or you'd KILL me counts as a THREAT, not a WARNING," Ren pointed out with an eye-roll. "Idiot," he muttered under his breath.

"WHAT was THAT?!?"

Ren exhaled. "I SAID, you're an IDIOT!"

"Oh...OH YEAH? Well then, you're....you're...." Horo-horo looked around for a suitable comeback. "...You're an IRRESPONSIBLE HUSBAND!"

"How do YOU know? You're not my WIFE!"

"I know how you've been treating my POOR SISTER!"

"I'm doing the best I CAN!"

"Well it's NOT good ENOUGH!"

"Quit FIGHTING, for GOD'S sake!" Hao whistled loudly. As soon as the two men simmered down, he gave them both a meaningful look. "Aren't you two supposed to be IN-LAWS?" He reminded them.

"Not by choice!" Ren and Horo muttered simultaneously.

"Well, could you AT LEAST try to ACT like it? PLEASE?" Silence. Hao rolled his eyes. "...Or is this it?"

Still, there was silence. The two men continued to glare at each other.

"...You know, if you hadn't gotten my sister PREGNANT in the first PLACE, this wouldn't be happening." Horo growled suddenly, out of the blue.

Hao and Ren fell over and sweatdropped.

"I don't believe this." Ren muttered.

"Horo-horo-kun..." Hao began, trying his best not to laugh, "it's a given factor that when a woman marries, she's bound to get pregnant," he gave the man a sidelong glance. "You DO know that, don't YOU?"

"O..of COURSE I do!" Horo replied defensively. "...But that's not the POINT!"

Hao sighed dramatically. "Look, Horo-kun, I know you're worried about Pilica-chan...you and Ren-kun," he added with a look at the Chinese shaman, "...But arguing wouldn't solve anything. And besides..." he paused, nudging his brother and subsequently gaining his attention. "Tell them, Yoh."

"Everything will work itself out!" Yoh recited with a vigorous nod. "I mean...for you two," he added quickly. "I'm not so sure about ME, though."

"That's right," Hao agreed, ignoring his brother's last comment. Ah, the pains of a henpecked husband... "Anyway, you two should just RELAX. I'm sure Jun-san will be coming out any minute now to give us the good news!" He assured cheerfully. "Pretty soon, you'll be an UNCLE, Horo-kun..."

Oh, GOD...an Uncle. Horo-horo's face turned sheet-white.

"...And you'll be a PROUD FATHER, Ren-kun!" Hao finished brightly.

A FATHER. What little blood left in Ren's face suddenly drained out. He leaned against the wall on the other side of the door, with his hands on his forehead.

Together, he and his brother-in-law slowly slid down to the floor, as if they had both lost all their strength.

Hao smiled with amusement as he approached the two men. "...Ah, the terror of an expectant uncle," he smiled sympathetically at Horo-horo. "Don't worry. I've been there. I can relate."

The Ainu man grunted in response.

"..And the pains of impending fatherhood..." He patted Ren's shoulder. "Don't worry, Ren-kun...it will ALL be over soon." He said in a mock-soothing voice.

Amidst his current state, Ren managed to raise his head up and glare murderously at Hao. "I hate you."

"I know." He replied cheerfully.

A groan. "Go away." With little effort, he summoned up his glaive and aimed the tip at Hao's neck. "This is YOUR fault too."

"...Ah. Good point," the long-haired shaman said thoughtfully, tossing his hair and drawing back reluctantly. "...But don't forget, Ren-kun: It was YOUR idea to go to Tokyo, NOT mine. I told you to send a representative to check out the final construction details of the business, NOT to come yourself."

"Well I DON'T trust you. Simple as that." Came the muffled retort. "...Besides, how was I SUPPOSED to know that the baby was coming out THREE DAYS EARLY?"

"I TOLD you about it," Horo-horo pointed out darkly. "But the thing is, you don't listen to me. You NEVER listen to me....and you know what? Not only are you an IRRESPONSIBLE husband, you're also an incompetent listener, an irresponsible friend, and an arrogant b--"

"Will you shut the HELL up?!?"

"Ne, Oniichan...what time is it?"

"Ten minutes later since you last asked, Otouto. Would you RELAX? Anna's not going to kill you. I'm not so sure about ME, but...you'll be safe." He nodded decisively. "As for you two," he raised an eyebrow at Ren and Horo-horo, "...TRY to keep yourselves SANE, all right? Pilica-chan will be FINE."

"...That's easy for YOU to SAY." The two men muttered in unison.

Hao rolled his eyes to the ceiling and prayed for patience. Then, he looked down when he felt a soft tug on his cape...and found Ren-chan gazing up at him with hopeful brown eyes. "Hai?"

"Why is everyone so pale, Hao-jichan?" The little boy pointed his finger at Ren, Horo, and Yoh. "...Even Touchan." He added truthfully.

Hao chuckled in spite of himself. "Well, let's see..." he mused. "Your Ren-jichan's worried about your Pilica-bachan and his inevitable impending fatherhood. Your Horo-jichan's worried about your Pilica-bachan, and the fact that she's about to give birth. As for your Touchan..." A wicked grin. "I think you can probably guess, ne?"

"Kaachan?" Ren-chan offered tentatively.

"Hai." Hao ruffled his nephew's pointy hair affectionately.

"...Why?" The little boy pressed, gazing at him curiously.

For the first time in his life, Hao found himself speechless. How was he supposed to explain something like this to a toddler? He gave a sigh. "Uh...Ren-chan," he began, choosing his words carefully as the child was hanging on to his every syllable, "...you know what? I think we should talk about this when you're older," he said decisively. "...All right?"

"Why?" Ren-chan asked again.

Hao suppressed the urge to groan. "Because...you wouldn't understand it otherwise," he said quickly, patting himself mentally on the back. Good one, Asakura Hao. Very good.

"...Oh." Ren-chan was silent for a minute. And then, "...Okay."

As soon as the words were out of the child's mouth, Hao heaved a sigh of relief. Lucky for him, Ren-chan was the one they had brought along. He couldn't imagine what this conversation would have been like if it were Keiko or either one of the twins. He couldn't quite imagine it if it was Hao-chan, either. Although the boy was still too little to talk in complete sentences, he was already quite the handful. Ren-chan was probably the most well-behaved and most obedient among Yoh and Anna's children.

Given the circumstances, that was something he was very thankful for.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Dammit, what's taking so LONG?" Ren, who was now slowly recovering from his terror fit awhile ago, rose from his position and started pacing around again. "How long has it been?" He asked Horo-horo.

"How should I know?" His brother-in-law retorted with irritation. "...And even if I DID, are you gonna listen to me? No, you're N--"

"Forget it." He exhaled. Then, he turned to the twins. "How LONG has it been?"

"...Eh?" Yoh looked up from his watch, blankly. "I don't know. What time is it?"

Hao rolled his eyes to the ceiling once again. "TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES since we got here, Ren-kun, and FORTY-FIVE MINUTES since we left Tokyo. Otouto, it's been TEN MINUTES since you last asked."

"Oh. NO." Yoh buried his face in his hands. "...I am so DEAD," he mumbled.

"Why the HELL wouldn't they let me IN?" Ren was practically on the brink of madness. "My own MOTHER. My own SISTER. My FAMILY. She's my WIFE! How CAN they do this to ME?"

"It's for your own good, Ren." His grandfather, who had been listening quietly to all the ruckus the whole time, called out.

"My OWN GOOD?" Ren's face was the picture of indignation. "Jiisama, how can THIS be for my own GOOD?" He shouted, gesticulating wildly all around the room. "I'm stuck OUT HERE, unable to do a THING, while...Pilica...she's in there, and she's probably...she's probably suffering all alone in there, and...OH, GOD...what if something happens to her? I won't be able to help because she's in THERE and I'm out HERE!"

"Keep that up and they're never letting you in." En, who had also been listening the whole time, told his son warningly.

"And what the HELL do YOU know?" Ren glared at him. Hard.

"...When it comes to these things? More than you do," his father answered matter-of-factly.

"Yeah," Ren's tone was sarcastic. "...Right. You don't even CARE what happens to HER."

En winced. He deserved that remark. Heck, he probably deserved something much worse from the way he had previously treated his daughter-in-law. But now, things were slowly changing. Although he was still getting used to the fact that his son had a Japanese woman for a wife--and an Ainu, no less--for the past couple of months, in spite of himself, he had actually started to grow increasingly...fond of the young woman...all because of her wonderful, sweet nature.

Even though he had done a lot of things to hurt her in the past--including trying to keep her away from Ren--for the past year, each and every time they cross paths in the Estate, which happened very frequently, Pilica never treated him with the wariness, hostility, unkindness or aloofness that he was expecting from someone he had wronged. Rather, she always had a ready, friendly smile on her beautiful face...and a cheerful greeting, both of which were pure and true, void of any shred of insincerity or animosity whatsoever. In spite of his firm resolve never to, even just a little bit--he really couldn't help but grow to like her--maybe even love her as his own daughter, come to think of it.

Really, now that he thought about it, he probably couldn't have chosen a better wife for his son. She was, in a word--perfect. Perfect for his son, at least, and that was enough for him. "...I DO care. She's my daughter-in-law." he said quietly.

A hollow laugh. "Like that means ANYTHING to you."

En sighed with resignation. "...Even if they let you in, you won't be of any help, trust me." He paused. "You'll just be making things worse."

"By being with my WIFE?" Ren shook his head with disbelief at his father. "...You've got to be kidding."

"I'm not." En exhaled. "Calm down, please? Worrying won't do you any good," he added firmly. "...Unless you want to look like a GHOST when you finally face your wife and your child?"

Ren stared at his father for several minutes in silent contemplation.

Then, "...All right." He said with extreme reluctance. "...What do I need to do?"

"You need to sit down and BREATHE, Ren." Ching told his grandson. "You too, Horo-horo." He gave the Ainu man a meaningful look.

"But--" Horo's voice died the second Ren's grandfather flashed him a warning look. "...All right," he muttered grudgingly.

As soon as the two men had obeyed, Ching smiled with satisfaction. "...Good. Now sit tight, BOTH of you. It will all be over soon."

"...See? I TOLD you it will all be over soon." Hao said gleefully.

"...SHUT UP." Ren and Horo muttered at the same time.


*~*~*~*~*~*


Ren swallowed. Several times.

Then, taking a deep breath, he approached the four-poster bed cradling his wife and his newborn-child's sleeping forms. His gaze alternated again and again between Pilica and the small bundle in her arms...which could only be the baby she had just delivered.

Their child.

He swallowed again.

After a long and seemingly endless wait, Jun had finally allowed him inside the room, and now...he just didn't know what he was supposed to do. He swallowed once more...but for some reason, the strange lump that had started to reside in his throat ever since he entered the room simply refused to go away.

He took several more steps towards the bed. His mother, his cousin the doctor, the maidservant, and his sister had all left the room to give him a chance to be alone with his family...and for that, he was extremely grateful. No one was going to see him in this state, at least...especially not his brother-in-law.

Thank goodness for that.

After walking several more steps forward, he paused abruptly...and gave a nervous swallow.

He really didn't know what he was supposed to do.

Well...for starters, he should at LEAST approach the bed, right? Even if they were asleep, he would at least be able to see them, glance at them, look at them...touch them. His family. Right?

He swallowed once more. Right.

He raised his foot to take another step...

Tap, tap...CREAK!

Ren froze, staring at his feet in horror. If he woke them up, he'll never forgive himself. His wife was supposed to be resting. She had just gone through an incredibly long and painful ordeal just to bring out a little human being into this world--a little human being they had both created. But she was the one who had to suffer through the pain of carrying, nurturing, and delivering it. She was the one who had to go through it all. He had only helped out a bit during the creation...probably around thirty seconds or so, and the rest--the rest of it was all hers.

Now he wanted to run away. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve her. I don't deserve -them-. Do I?

As he continued to debate what he was going to do next, he found himself glancing up...just in time to see his wife open her eyes. She looked tired, yet a smile broke out of her face as soon as she spotted him. "Ren-kun," she whispered, holding her hand out to him.

And in spite of everything, he just couldn't help himself. In a matter of seconds, he was beside her on the bed, clasping her hand against his and kissing it reverently. "I came as fast as I could," he murmured. "...How are you?" He raised his other hand to her cheek, caressing it softly.

She chuckled, clasping his hand tightly and holding it against her lips. "I'm perfectly fine," she answered in a slightly sleepy tone. "...And so is our daughter," she added brightly, holding out the bundle for her husband to see.

"D...daughter?" Ren managed in a slightly choked voice. I have a daughter?

"Uh-hm." Pilica smiled invitingly at him. "Come closer," she whispered.

He glanced at her nervously, before he leaned forwards...and hesitantly looked.

"She's so...beautiful..." he murmured in awe. "She looks like...wait a second..."

"She kind of looks like Hahaue," Pilica said gently. "...Which means, she looks like you," she added with a fond smile.

"Like ME?" He repeated, glancing back and forth from his daughter to his wife.

"Uh-huh." She nodded brightly. "She has your hair..." She raised one of her hands to touch her husband's hair, "...your forehead, your cheeks, your nose, your chin..." her fingers traveled all over his face to caress the aforementioned places, "...your cute little ears..." A smile. "....and your lips..." She murmured, running her fingers reverently across her husband's lower lip. "In other words, everything I love about you. Well, almost..."

He enfolded her in his arms and gently brought his face closer to hers. "...Almost?"

"Hai," she responded softly, gazing at her sleeping daughter, before turning to her husband again. "...She won't be inheriting your tongari," laughter and teasing laced her voice. "She has your hair color, but the texture and curl...it's just like mine when I was young."

"Thank GOD," he muttered dryly. "You LOVE my tongari?" He gave her a look of disbelief.

Her eyes shone brightly as she nodded. "I love EVERYTHING about you," she declared.

He stared at her in awe. How could one woman be so perfect? "You're amazing, you know that?"

"...Well, so are you." And with that, she brought his face closer to hers and sealed his lips with a kiss.

"Pilica?" He murmured against her mouth as he adoringly caressed the slightly damp strands of her hair.

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes to gaze at him, sheer happiness reflected in them.

His breath caught. There were only three words which could express what he was feeling for her right now--just those three words, and even they weren't enough.

But nevertheless...

"I--" Ren stifled a groan as the door burst open and a passel of loud voices sounded in his ears. "Lousy timing," he muttered under his breath.

Pilica smiled sympathetically at her husband; and then, she turned to the owners of the voices.

"WHERE IS MY SISTER?!?" Horo-horo demanded as he stormed in. He glanced around, and upon spotting his sister, he zoomed in beside her in the blink of an eye. "Are you all right?"

She nodded, smiling brilliantly. "I'm--"

"OHAYO, PILICA-CHAN!" The annoying cheerful voice was Hao. "Pardon me for interrupting a moment between you and your husband, but I wanted to see if my guess was correct." He skipped across the floor of the room, leaned against one of the end posts and peered at the bundle. "Is it a girl?"

"It is, Hao-san." She confirmed.

"Hm." He crossed his arms in triumph. "Well, what can I say? I'm good."

"Wild guess," Horo-horo muttered. "Tamao can do better."

"...Pilica?" This was Yoh, who walked in more politely, shook his head at his twin and his friend, and flashed a serene smile at the new mother. He was cradling his son in his arms. "There's someone here who wants to see you," he patted Ren-chan's head, then set him down on top of the bed.

"Ba-chan!" Ren-chan exclaimed cheerfully, giving his aunt a hug.

"Hi, little guy," Pilica chuckled softly, returning the hug. "...Did you miss me?"

A vigorous nod. "Hai!" Then, Ren-chan turned curiously to the little bundle in her arms. "Is that a baby?"

"Yes, it is, Ren-chan," Ren answered in behalf of his wife. "It's a baby girl."

"...Girl?" He scrunched up his face thoughtfully. "Like...Keiko-neechan?"

"Uh-huh." Pilica nodded, and she smiled at the little boy. Then, she smiled at her husband.

He shrugged helplessly, then inclined his head at her brother, who was staring at their daughter.

"Hmm..." Horo scrutinized the baby thoughtfully. And then, "...good thing she only got your hair, Ren."

"Actually, from what I see here, she's a female version of your BROTHER-IN-LAW, Horo-kun," Hao countered with a wicked grin.

A withering glare. "Who asked YOU?"

"Oniichan, you're right..." Yoh murmured, carefully observing the baby. "She kinda does look like Ren..."

"Without the tongari," Pilica added with a smile.

Horo snorted. "That's GOOD. I certainly hope she wouldn't grow up to be HIS spitting image..." he shuddered.

"Yeah, talk like that. I'm right HERE, you KNOW." Ren retorted.

"I don't CARE," Horo told him pointedly. "I still wouldn't want HER to grow up like YOU."

"Oh come on, Oniichan...would that really be so BAD?" His sister smiled sweetly at him.

Horo-horo rolled his eyes to the ceiling and shook his head. "You've got the weirdest taste, Imouto."

"And I LOVE YOU, Oniichan," she threw back cutely, pulling him beside her and kissing him on the cheek.

His eyes softened. "Aw, Pilica--" A loud, ringing sound met his ears. Sighing, he hastily produced a cell phone from his pocket and pushed the receiver button. "Hai?" A smile broke out of his face upon hearing the voice on the other line. "...Yeah, I'm right here...she's fine...uh-huh. Hold on." He glanced at his sister. "It's Tamao."

Pilica eagerly took the phone from her brother and placed it against her ear. "Ohayo, Neesan." She smiled. "...Yes, it's a girl...and yes, she does look like Ren-kun. How did you know?" She paused, then laughed again. "...Oh, the board. Right. What are you doing? You're...PLANTING?" She flashed her brother a look of disbelief. "Oniichan's making you PLANT? Oh, you LIKE doing it? You like doing it for HIM? Well," she grinned cheekily at her brother. "...He should be glad he's got you, then...yeah, I'll be sure to tell him. Thanks a lot. And Tamao-neesan? My brother wants to tell you that he loves you with all his heart..."

"Pilica!" Horo-horo's face turned beet red, and he tried to snatch the phone, but she held it away from his grasp.

"...but he's too embarrassed to say it in front of everyone. Say hi to the Korropokkuru for me, ne? Thanks again. I'll see you soon." She gave her brother another smile as he grabbed the phone from her hand. "Thanks, Oniichan."

"...You didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye to her," Horo muttered in dismay as he started at the mobile in his hand.

"That's okay, Oniichan. You told her you love her. And she sends her love, too." She added.

"To ME?"

"To EVERYONE," she gestured throughout the whole room. Her sister-in-law, her mother-in-law, her father-in-law and grandfather-in-law had all slipped inside the room quietly a couple of minutes ago, and were silently watching at the end of the room.

"Well, that's no good!" Horo muttered sadly.

Ren rolled his eyes and exhaled. "...If you want to talk to her again, CALL HER," he emphasized. "...But do it outside. You'll disturb my daughter."

"You mean my NIECE," Horo corrected.

"No. My DAUGHTER."

"Ren-kun, Oniichan..." Pilica's voice held a warning note. "...I love you both and all, but if you start fighting AGAIN, I'm throwing you out."

"HE started it." The two men pointed at each other and glared.

"I MEAN IT."

"...All right," with one last glare, they grudgingly looked away from each other.

Pilica sighed with resignation at her husband and her brother. Really, sometimes she found it hard to convince herself that fighting really was their way of showing how much they cared. Tentatively, she glanced at everyone in the room.

Both Ran and Jun gave her a warm, proud smile when she caught their eye. Ran raised her eyebrow meaningfully and inclined her head at her husband, who was obviously suffering from some inner turmoil, with an odd expression on his face.

Ching beside him rolled his eyes to the ceiling and patted his shoulder. "Come on, En." He walked towards the side of the bed, glanced briefly at his great-granddaughter, and gave his grandson and granddaughter-in-law a bright smile. "Congratulations."

"Arigatou, Jiisama." Ren said politely.

"Hai," Pilica agreed, smiling at the old man. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Jiisama."

"...Your father had something to say, too." Ching said with an arch of an eyebrow as he nudged his son forward.

"Ren." En glanced tentatively at his son, then nodded hesitantly at his daughter-in-law.

"Yes, Father?" Ren quirked an eyebrow.

Everyone held their breaths and awaited the former Tao Clan Head's statement.

"Uh..." He took a peek at his granddaughter, then looked around, his face impassive, although there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes. He caught his wife's eye, and she gave him an encouraging smile. He then glanced back at his son. "...She's got your hair," he managed lamely.

"Yes. She does," his son affirmed, gazing at him through suspicious, narrowed eyes.

"But without the tongari," Pilica added softly, with a fond smile.

"Y...yes." En admitted.

"A beautiful baby," Ching declared cheerfully.

"C...congratulations, Son." En told Ren.

Golden eyes widened in surprise. "T...thanks, Father." He managed to say. "I think."

"And..." He took a deep breath, and then, gathering up his courage, he turned to Pilica. "Congratulations...daughter," he said with a faint smile.

Pilica looks up, startled. "Thank you very much, um...Father." She said hesitantly.

En nodded. "You're very welcome." He paused, and then added, "...if you ever need anything, I'll be here. You can count on that."

"Y...yeah. Thanks, Father." Ren gave his wife a questioning look. "How did you do it?" He whispered.

Pilica shrugged. "I don't know," she whispered back.

"It's weird," he insisted.

"I know. But we should be thankful, anyway," she told him.

"I guess so--" Ren groaned as a really, really, REALLY LOUD ringing sound reverberated all throughout the room. "SOMEbody turn OFF that phone, DAMMIT." He muttered threateningly. "If my daughter wakes up--"

"Sorry!" Yoh exclaimed sheepishly as he took a deep breath and answered his cell phone. He glanced at his watch and winced. Twenty minutes past eight, Tokyo time. "...Hello?" He looked up to the ceiling and braced himself.

Sure enough.

"...ASAKURA YOH! WHERE the HELL are YOU?!?" Even without the speaker, Anna's voice came out loud and clear. Yoh held the phone a couple of inches away from his ear. "...And WHERE in the WORLD did you TAKE our SON?!? And WITHOUT asking ME! GET your BUTT back here IMMEDIATELY OR I swear to GOD, I'll NEVER let you near OUR children AGAIN." Her voice droned on. "...Are YOU LISTENING to ME?!?"

"Um...uh...yeah. I'm here, Anna." Yoh stuttered nervously. He and Hao exchanged a look. "I uh...heard everything. I'm really SORRY!" He said pleadingly. "...It's just that we got a call early this morning from Jun that Pilica was in labor and Ren needed a quick ride, so--"

"Are you SAYING that you and our SON are in CHINA?!?"

"Uh...kind of. I mean--"

"HOW the HELL did you get THERE so FAST?!?" She demanded. "Oh, WAIT...DON'T tell me...OH NO..."

"...We got a ride on Spirit of Fire. He's sort of the fastest among the spirits...but don't worry! I was holding on to Ren-chan the whole time and Oniichan assured me that we would be safe as long as we held on tightly. And we were safe, Anna, honest!" Yoh assured. "...Anna?" He turned the speaker phone on, tapped the receiver with his finger, and tried again. "Are you still there?"

Silence met his ears.

This time, Hao winced. "Oh, dear." He grimaced. "Oh, HELL..." he muttered under his breath, perfectly aware of what was coming next. And sure enough:

"ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND push-ups and ONE HUNDRED laps around town with FIFTY KILOGRAMS of weights on your HANDS and FEET for EIGHT CONSECUTIVE WEEKS, YOH." This time, her voice was firm, and low. "That goes for YOU and your crazy BROTHER."

Yoh turned pale, and so did Hao. "N...nani?"

"You HEARD me."

"B...but...Anna..."

"Would you like me to make it TWICE as LONG?"

"No, no!" Yoh shook his head vigorously. "It's...it's...perfectly..."

"Appropriate," Hao supplied.

"...Appropriate. Yeah. A perfectly fitting punishment for us sinners."

"I'm glad you think that way." Satisfaction--and triumph--could be heard in her voice. "...So. Is it a boy, or a girl?"

"Nani?"

Anna exhaled. "The BABY, Yoh."

"Oh! It's--uhm--a girl." He gave Ren a look, as if seeking confirmation. "Yeah. It's a baby girl."

"...That's wonderful. Good for them." The smile was evident in her voice. "Tell Pilica-chan and Ren that everyone here sends their congratulations. Faust and Eliza, Ryu, the children...and me."

"Thanks a lot, Anna-san!" Pilica called out from the bed. "...Please give everyone else our thanks, as well."

"You're welcome, Pilica-chan. Wait a second...Yoh, WHY is this THING on SPEAKER?"

"No, it's not!" Yoh said quickly. "Pilica's voice was just loud, that's all."

An exasperated sigh could be heard from the other line. "...Never mind. Yoh?"

"H...hai?"

"If anything happens to our SON, I'll kill you." She said in a threatening tone. "And that goes for your BROTHER, too. Understand?"

He gulped. "Understood."

"Is he hearing this?"

Yoh glanced at Hao, whose face was sheet-white. He gave a brief nod. "...Hai."

"Good. Make SURE he understands all of it." She paused. "Say goodbye to Ren-chan for me." And with a click, she was gone.

And everyone started breathing again.

"Anna-san's...scary..." Pilica murmured, glancing at Yoh and Hao, who both looked like they were going to faint.

Ren chuckled. "You can say that again..." he looked down fondly at the sleeping baby, caressing her soft little cheeks gently. "Please grow up like your Kaachan, ne?" He murmured. "...She's the best kind of person you can ever be." He smiled tenderly at his wife.

Pilica's eyes watered. "Ren-kun..."

"Ren-jichan, Pilica-bachan..." Ren-chan piped up tentatively, "whatcha gonna name her?"

Ren and Pilica looked at each other, and nodded decisively. Then, they turned to Ran with a warm smile.

"We're going to name her Ran...after Hahaue," Ren proclaimed, kissing his wife's cheek, then the baby's.

"...After ME?" Ran said in surprise.

"Hai." Pilica nodded, smiling at her mother-in-law. "...As a token of our gratitude. It's not enough, considering everything you've done for us."

"B...but..."

"Hahaue," her son interrupted. "You can't refuse us, you KNOW that perfectly well. So don't even try."

"N...no, of course not. I mean..." Giving up, Ran shook her head and laughed. She smiled at her son and daughter-in-law gratefully, tears shining in her eyes. "...Thank you." She managed in a whisper.

Little Ran-chan opened her eyes and uttered a soft cry.

Pilica laughed softly. "She's hungry," she announced. "I'm going to have to feed her--" she paused abruptly as she noticed that her husband was staring at their daughter with an incredibly awed expression on his face.

"Pilica..." he breathed reverently, "...she's got your eyes..."

"Really?" Horo-horo snapped to attention at that. "She does," he said with amazement as he gazed at his little niece. "They're dark blue and really big, just like my Imouto's." Then, he grinned. "...And just like mine," he added triumphantly.

His brother-in-law stifled a groan. "Thanks for the reminder," he retorted dryly.

"No problem!" Horo said cheerfully.

"You should go now," Ren told him. Then, he gazed at all of his friends, and the rest of his family. "...ALL of you."

"WHY?" The Ainu man demanded. "Are you kicking us out? You have NO right--"

"But I do," Ren interrupted calmly. "Well? Go on. GO." He arched an eyebrow and waved his hand away at everyone. His sister, his mother, his father and his grandfather all gave him one final smile before they quietly exited the room.

Yoh sighed. "...I guess we should go, too," he decided. "Come on, Ren-chan."

"Ja ne, Bachan, Jichan, Ran-chan!" Ren-chan kissed his aunt and gave a short wave before he jumped off the bed and ran towards his father.

"Come on, Oniichan." Yoh tapped his brother's shoulder as he hoisted his son in his arms. "We'd better just accept her punishment. It'll hurt less that way."

Hao, who had been staring off into space ever since Anna's phone call and thinking of a way to get out of his current predicament (to no avail; his nerves and fear were preventing him from thinking straight), finally looked at his brother and sighed deeply. "...Fate can be cruel sometimes, ne?"

"You said it." His twin agreed. Then, he turned to the Ainu man. "...Let's go, Horo-horo."

"...No." Horo shook his head vigorously, glaring at his brother-in-law. "I'm not going until he tells me WHY he's kicking us out."

Ren rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

"Oniichan," Pilica said with impatience, "...he's not kicking you out. I just need to feed Ran-chan, that's all."

"...So? Can't you DO that with ME here? I'm your BROTHER, aren't I?" He countered. Then, he pointed to Ren. "How come HE can stay and I CAN'T?"

"He's my HUSBAND!"

Yoh chuckled, patting his friend's back. "Come on, Horo-horo." He pulled on the other man's shirt and dragged him towards the door.

"...OUCH! Dammit, YOH! Let GO of me..."

"Thanks for giving my husband a ride here, Hao-san!" Pilica called out to the long-haired shaman.

"Anytime." Hao answered with a small wave as he got out.

"Congratulations on the baby," Yoh told them with a smile. "We'll see you in May," he added.

"Or earlier," Ren corrected with a grin. "...I think Lyserg will be asking for Jeanne's hand anytime soon."

"Really?" Hao's head popped back inside the room upon hearing this.

"Yup."

"WOW," the long-haired shaman breathed. "...So he finally got himself some GUTS! Thanks for the info, Ren-kun. COME ON, Horo-kun...We'll take you back to Tamao-chan so you can continue PLANTING, ne?" He took Horo by the arm and dragged him out of the room.

"Dammit, you're breaking my ARM! Okay, okay, I'm GOING! Don't FORGET, REN! She's still got my eyes!" The Ainu man called out as the door slid shut.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"FINALLY." Ren sighed contentedly. "...Peace at last." Fondly, he watched as his wife gracefully slid her nightgown over her shoulder and loosened the top; and then, she gently took Ran-chan in her arms and placed her against her breast. Within seconds, the little baby latched on to it, clutching tightly as she suckled on the nipple and drank eagerly.

Pilica chuckled, resting against her husband's shoulder as he enfolded her in his arms. "I hope you didn't wait too long," she shifted slightly to and gave him a questioning look. "...Did you?"

He shook his head. "My wait was nothing compared to what you had to go through." He looked at her intently. "Tell me honestly...did it hurt?"

"Actually..." she smiled with amusement as his face curled into a remorseful frown, as if he was expecting the worst . "It wasn't that bad at all. Ran-chan's birth was..." she paused thoughtfully. "...Practically instantaneous."

"You're just trying to make me feel better," he said quietly, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm NOT," she took his face in her hands gently and forced him to look at her. "Even if there was any pain, I hardly felt it," she told him reassuringly.

"Really?" The remorseful frown on his face remained.

She nodded. "Besides...seeing our daughter, and how beautiful she was..." she brushed a kiss to his cheek. "...And knowing that we created her together...is worth all the pain in the world." She finished with a bright, beautiful smile. "Ne?"

"H...hai," he managed to say, wondering if he could ever get used to the fact that he was married to the most amazing woman in the whole world. And now, she had given him the best gift she could ever give him...and he knew he could never ever equal this gift, not even if he tried.

And then, he started to wonder again: how could one woman be so perfect?

He wondered what in the world he had done to deserve someone as wonderful, as kind, as selfless, and as beautiful as she is. No one else could ever come close to her. No one else can ever make him feel the way she makes him feel...like everything in his life, and in this world, was pure perfection.

With all the mistakes he had made growing up, and with all the sins he certainly had committed, somewhere along the way, he must have done something right to deserve all of this...to deserve her, her love--and their daughter.

And he wondered what that was.

You fell in love with her, somewhere in his mind, a small voice answered his unspoken question. That was the only thing you needed to do. Everything else followed soon after.

Everything?

Hai. Ren could swear he could actually feel the voice smiling at him.

...Then I guess I got lucky.

It wasn't just luck, the voice countered. It was you.

Me?

"Pilica?"

"Hmm?"

"...Thank you."

"For what?"

"For her, for you...for everything." He said with so much passion, so much love in his eyes. "...I love you. So much."

She brushed her lips against his cheek, her smile conveying a thousand volumes, yet only held one single solitary message. "I love you too. Forever, and always."



OWARIMASHITA.



End notes:

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this fic. I appreciate all the support and encouragement. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and hope to see you all in the next fic.:)

Anyway, I was supposed to post this chapter right around the time that I finish the two smut side fics (the RenXPilica one and the LysergXJeanne/LucXSarah one), but I was getting so sick and tired of seeing this gather dust in my hard drive, as it's been almost a month since I got this finished (while at the same time trying very hard to work on those smut fics).

Anyhow, if you want to know how well I'm progressing with those smut fics, either check my profile time and again for updates, or email me, and I'll let you know if I've put them up on my mini-archive. As for the mini-archive, the link is still up there on my profile, and I've currently added two new non-smut one-shot fics, so please check them out if you wish.

Again, thanks for reading, and hope to see you all again...soon. When I post the Prologue of this next fic up:

[ S T A R T P L U G ]
Forget-me-nots and Roses, a.k.a. Celebrations Side Story 3.

Summary: Horo-horo's greatest dream is to spread his beloved butterbur all over the world. He loves his plants to the ends of the Universe. Nothing can get in the way of his dream--not even love.

Description: HoroXTamao. Waff and fluff with a bit of lime; several acres of fuki, flower, and vegetable fields; a couple of significant flashbacks, and cameo appearances by some of the other SK characters (I'm leaving the guessing up to everybody).
[ E N D P L U G ]