Little Flame
Takeo was growing in leaps and bounds, almost too quickly for Hotaru. He no longer was a newborn but now a baby of 10 months. As he continued to grow, he started to become more mobile and started to crawl. His little grabby hands started to get into everything and Hotaru was kept on her toes trying to keep him entertained and out of trouble. Takeo was also able to walk unsteadily when given assistance and he could stand on his own.
He was a very squirrely baby and it was difficult to get him to stay still. The young mother was finding this out as she was struggling to put pants on him. The infant insisted on rolling around and was constantly kicking his legs. It had been hard enough getting a clean diaper on him since he insisted on trying to crawl away while stark naked. Pants were proving to be a greater challenge. After much struggle, they were finally on. Hotaru leaned over and planted a raspberry on his round little stomach causing him to giggle loudly.
"You're so silly! Trying to get away from me!" the mother playfully scolded tickling him.
She lifted him up and peppered his chubby little face with kisses causing him to giggle and shriek happily.
Her baby boy was growing so fast, too fast. Takeo now had a few teeth which meant teething troubles. Hotaru herself nearly cried when she couldn't console her baby when his little gums were sore. Midori had given her a solution to rub on his gums. The young mother had difficulty getting her son to open his mouth as he would cry and turn his head away. Along with teething troubles came some feeding issues. When Takeo would nurse, he would end up biting his mother's nipple at times. There wasn't really a way to prevent this except to have him unlatch and relatch.
Hotaru put a shirt on him before putting him in the sling on her chest. She headed to the kitchen to start breakfast for Senjuro and Shinjuro. Senjuro was already in the kitchen getting out the cooking supplies.
"Ah good morning Hotaru. I got the cooking supplies out," Senjuro said, turning towards her with a smile.
Takeo babbled excitedly upon seeing his uncle.
"Good morning, Takeo," Senjuro said, giving his nephew a kiss on his forehead and lifting him into his arms to hold him so that Hotaru could cook. Senjuro played with his nephew and kept him entertained while Hotaru cooked breakfast for them.
The family sat down to eat some eggs, miso soup, and rice. Takeo sat in his mother's lap while she fed him tiny pieces of cooked egg making sure the pieces were small enough so he wouldn't choke. The youngest Rengoku eagerly accepted the food from his mother's chopsticks. He was very much into trying new foods and had a big appetite. Once he was finished eating, Hotaru wiped the tiny bits of food off of his face and cleaned his little hands. His little flame colored eyes started to close because he was starting to get sleepy from his full stomach.
"I'm going to lay him down for a nap. I'll be back," Hotaru said to Senjuro.
She laid him down to nap in her bed giving him a kiss before heading back to the kitchen to clean. Once morning chores were done, Hotaru and Senjuro sat on the engawa having tea.
"Hotaru, I was thinking of something," Senjuro said.
"What is it, Senjuro?" She asked.
"Tomorrow is the day I'm going to clean Aniki's grave. I was wondering if you and Takeo would like to come. If not I understand," Senjuro said.
"I would love to accompany you. We can take a light lunch with us," Hotaru said with a smile. Although it did make her sad to see Kyojuro's grave, it helped her feel close to him at the same time.
"I know he's still too young to understand but I just thought that it feels like he can be in his father's presence," Senjuro said with a sad smile.
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud wail from inside the house. Takeo had woken up, wet and hungry and was letting everybody know he was discontent.
Hotaru gave Senjuro an apologetic smile before leaving to tend to her baby.
The next day
Takeo squirmed around in the sling as the small group traveled to the cemetery.
"We're almost there, baby," Hotaru said, running a hand over her baby's golden locks. Takeo didn't like being in the sling that much anymore because he liked to crawl around.
Once they reached Kyojuro's resting place, Hotaru kept Takeo entertained while Senjuro went through the cleaning process of tidying his brother's grave. After Senjuro was done setting up the incense and flowers, Hotaru laid out a blanket for them to sit on.
She and Senjuro quietly prayed. Kyojuro, my flame, I miss you everyday. Our baby looks more like you everyday. He's growing so fast that I can't keep up. There isn't a day that goes by that I wish you could see your son. He's still so young but his personality is starting to show. Takeo definitely is starting to take after you. Your father still mostly is quiet but he spends more time with us and does more around the house and goes on errands from time to time. He loves Takeo though. I can tell because he's so gentle when he handles him. Takeo likes to take naps on grandpa sometimes. He's starting to try to walk too. I've kept on living and I will continue to do so for the sake of our son.
After Hotaru was done praying, she set Takeo down for him to crawl around. At one point he started to get close to the headstone.
"Sweetie, no," she said, moving him away. He made noises of displeasure from being moved away from the object of interest but calmed down. Senjuro and Hotaru enjoyed their lunch in the shade while Takeo played near them. Soon he became a bit sleepy and crawled into his mother's lap. She cradled him in her arms and his small hand gripped the fabric of her yukata. The young mother bent her head down to kiss him on his head. It had been a hard road to get here but she didn't regret anything.
This is technically the end of the main story. However be on the look out for a small bonus section as well as an alternate piece. Thank you so much for reading and sticking to the end.