Hello dear readers! Hope you've been great ^_^
Ellie-chan was literally very busy with writing assignments, and completing notes, and doing other projects, and then a tragedy hit her hard. She's decided to take a break from it all, and concentrate on a yet another interesting topic. And that is none other than, our beloved KaiHil! *Showers flowers upon my dear OTP*
The title says "By Your Side…" Despite having a touch of romance, this one-shot is based on the notion of death, separation, and the present. Nothing to worry about, Kai and Hilary are both alive, well and good. We'll take a glance at their happy family life, with cutie-pie Gou-chan. Cherry on the cake? This is my 11th KaiHil too! *Pops balloons and celebrates*
Who and what is the loss then? Read and find out folks! ;)
Enjoy!
….BY YOUR SIDE…
"Gou dear, come on, one more bite please." The brunette chirped at her eighteen month old son, who was being surprisingly stubborn today.
"Cach (catch) me mumma…" he giggled, running behind the couch and flopping there.
Hilary sighed tiredly. Her son definitely was a tiny packet of energy, which unfortunately, she was lacking. It had been an hour almost, since she was trying to feed him. And Gou Hiwatari, being the perfect mischievous element, was doing his best to run away, and engage his mum in a game of catch! The mother looked at the bowl of baby food in her hands, he hadn't finished even half of it yet. God knows where her son gets this much energy then. 'Probly it's inherited. Getting so much from Kai wasn't enough as if' she mumbled to herself. Thinking of which she glanced at the clock. 'He'd be back any moment.' Then, her mind sparkled with an idea. Gou would do anything to please his dad, won't he? Of course, he would!
With a bright smile on her face, she kept the bowl on the table and squatted beside him. "You know Gou-chan," she spoke sweetly. That voice always managed to gain his attention. "Your papa says food makes you strong. And you will have to eat properly to become strong like papa. Gou-chan wants to be strong, doesn't he?"
The toddler tilted his head in a very cute manner, as if processing his mother's words. Hilary's heart melted at that. 'Aww…Ain't my baby so adorable?' she thought. Tiny amethyst eyes gleamed with excitement as he squealed in delight, "Yesh!" Though matured for his age, he still had problems pronouncing the 's' 'ch' and other compound sounds. What can we expect from a one and half year old, after all? "Gou-chan….will eat mumma." He clapped his hands together.
This time, she smiled with satisfaction. "That's my good boy. Now, come here sweetie…" she lead him to the carpeted floor of the sitting room, and made him sit at the center. Taking the bowl again, she fed him a spoonful, which the baby promptly finished. This happiness, however, was to not at all last long. For, after eating a few bites, Gou once again crawled towards the other side of the coffee table. It was not even for a whole minute that Hilary had shifted her attention. She just turned around to confirm the night's menu with the head cook, and now, turning back, she receives a not-so-pleasant shock. "Where did you just vanish dear?" She tried to look all around, but damn, his small stature always gave him the advantage. Gou chortled at the bewildered state of his mum, and this noise caught her attention at once.
Hilary narrowed her eyes in that direction. She stood up, hands resting on both sides of her waist. "You want this don't you? So be it Gou-chan!" She playfully threatened her son. The miniature version of her husband was clever indeed. Taking the cue, he was already on his tracks. Around the table, and towards the open expanse, he ran; then ducking behind the chairs, and among the couches. The brunette was shortly on his heels, making sure he didn't fell or hurt himself, while still enjoying the race. "Gou sweetheart, you'll crash against something and hurt yourself dear. It's not good to trouble mumma like this, is it?" he halted for a moment after hearing those words. The very next moment saw him laughing playfully and running towards the door, which was ajar. A shadowy figure caught her focus, and it meant only one thing. "Gou, no!" were the only words she could utter before dashing in his direction and scooping him. As if instinctively, the door was opened, revealing the tall figure of her better-half.
"What was going on here?" Kai stepped inside, glancing at the horrified face of his wife. Though she had composed until, he could see through her façade clearly.
"Your prince-charming here," she began, eyeing the baby in her embrace who was facing away from his parents and ardently looking at the crimson shades of dusk outside. "Has been fussing about dinner, making me chase him at every nook and corner of this room, and could've very easily knocked himself up at the door which you were about to open. I was so scared for a minute…" she honestly admitted, tightening her embrace around her son. "He's growing too fast."
Kai smiled. "Is it true Gou-chan?" he asked, catching the toddler's attention.
Sooner than the voice could've entered his ears, Gou's eyes darted in the opposite direction. "Papa home" he squealed, spreading his arms, and smiling brightly.
Knowing very well what it meant, Kai took him, cuddling for some time. Hilary rolled her eyes, tired of seeing this happen almost everyday now. "And champ, were you a naughty baby today?" he asked lifting Gou higher. That was always amusing for a tiny life as him…seeing everything from a different angle.
"No papa!" he innocently whispered, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Your son's such an actor Kai." Hilary narrowed her eyes at this sudden change of demeanour by the junior. "Gets that stubbornness from you, I bet."
"Before everything else, my queen, he is our son." Kai sat on the couch, motioning her to follow. "And there was someone by the name Miss Stubborn Tachibana, never knowing when to quit." He laughed lightly as Hilary smacked him affectionately on the shoulder, laughing herself as well. "Coming back to you champ, haven't I told you to not trouble your mumma?" he ruffled Gou's hair. They were the same dual toned ones as his, just smaller.
The Hiwatari junior looked up, eye to eye with his father. Petite fingers stopped playing with the cuff buttons of his shirt. The expression on his mini face was dripping innocence. 'Not that look baby' both Kai and Hilary inwardly pleaded at the same time. "Solly (sorry) papa." He sadly bent his head down. "Gou payed (played) with mumma." He managed to exclaim after a pause. "And *pause* mumma lostie (lost)." He burst into fits of laughter.
Kai shook his head. Of course, Gou was just a toddler, and if he won't play and bring a storm over the house, who will? But he had to be taught values too. Someone had to explain him that there are limits to freedom as well. He was drowned in those thoughts when Hilary entered the room, with freshly prepared bowl of baby food in her hands.
"Comm'ere Gou darling." She gently made him sit beside Kai, and began feeding him. This time, the baby didn't create any fuss and ate like an obedient child. After that was done, she took him upstairs for a bath. Kai got freshened up in the meantime.
Kai was leaning against the marble balcony railing, as Hilary was strolling across, with Gou in her embrace. It was one of the easiest ways to make him fall asleep. Outside, just above the florid lawn, with the natural, soothing breeze and the golden orb of magnificence shining in all her glory, with tiny, sparkling diamonds called stars, the view was very appealing and the toddler drifted off without any troubles. The brunette cradled their son, walking at a slow yet constant pace. The phoenix-lord contently gazed his small family. They were indeed the sparks that had kept the flame of his life afire. Today, however, there was something else that'd been clouding his mind. Despite his efforts to keep those memories at bay, he failed miserably.
Surging came the deluges of memory, as he couldn't help but drown under them. They involved an average heighted woman, in her early thirties, with shoulder length mid-night blue tresses. The speculations involved her deep purple, lotus-like orbs; and a round, adorable face.
Flashback:-
"Kai, where are you hidden, my angel?" a sweet, feminine voice cooed. Soon, a lady's lithe and graceful, yet desperate figure came into view. She drew apart the curtains, but found no one behind them. Crouching down, she checked under the tall chairs of the dining room. Still nothing. "Where are you, my little prince?" she said in a hurt tone.
That caught the attention of a five-year old boy, standing behind the curve end of the main staircase. He passed a hand through his dual toned hair, feeling bad for hurting his dear mother. "Mom, please don't be sad." He came running, straight into her awaiting arms. Misaki hugged him tightly, still trying to not get mad at him.
"You have to learn not to behave this way, Kai. Now, I am here. But what if I wasn't? And you hurt yourself somewhere?" she asked, affectionately caressing his moon-toned cheek.
"You're going somewhere?" the child innocently asked. Voice carrying a tinge of grief.
The blunette smiled. "Not at all honey. But I can't stay by your side forever, can I? We have to be prepared for everything. Even separations." She made him understand. But Kai wasn't going to be satisfied on that. He always carried a thirst, to know a bit more than was expected. "At some point, I will have to go. Then, you will be on your own. And I want my son to be a warrior, not worrier, got it?"
"You…will…leave me….so soon?" unable to believe himself, he insisted upon being answered.
"Aww, it would be so rude of me to leave my charming little prince like this." She pinched his cheek, before taking his petite hands into hers. "I will always be by your side, Kai. Understand?"
"Just now, you said you can't be by my side always. It confuses me mom." Tears brimmed his eyes, but not a single droplet got shed.
Misaki nodded her head in acknowledgement. Carrying him to the big chair nearby, she made him sit. Kneeling down before him, holding hands yet again, she gave him a very important lesson that day. "You know Kai, both the notions hold true. Yes, I cannot be by your side always, because humans aren't immortal. However, I can still be with you. In the memories we've made, in the things we've shared, with every beat of your heart, and with every breath you draw, I will be there. Because I have created you…." She paused to examine if he understood. Getting a quick response, the mother continued. "So, you see, even if you can't see me actually. You'll know I am still present."
"I don't want to let you go away from me, mom." He cried finally, letting the waterworks lose.
"Believe me honey, no one wants to. It's just that, the fear that you'll be gone someday, or made devoid of the presence of the most dear person in your life shouldn't hinder your path. Life is a journey, make sure you enjoy it, just as much as the destination. Because we all share the destination, Kai, and it is nothing but death. Face it, accept it, and you will have mastered the most important lesson ever. A lesson that no book has mentioned and which no master has preached."
"How to do it then, mother?"
"Remember my son, yesterday is a history; tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, and that is why, it is called, 'the present'. Live your today to the fullest, and never worry for what is gone, or what is yet to come. Understood?"
He nodded.
"Say it aloud, my boy."
"I understand, mom. I will remember your words."
"That's my sweetheart." Saying, she pecked him on the forehead. "You will always have me, by your side."
Flashback Ends…
"By your side…" Kai mused these words, looking ardently at the stars shining on the deep, black canvas over his head. "Though I might have lost you just a month after that lesson mom, I never really did." He contently smiled. As he was pondering over it, a pair of slim, delicate arms encircled his torso from behind, capturing him as their prisoner. He smirked as a head rested upon his left shoulder, and their bodies lied in a very close proximity. Apparently, Hilary had laid Gou in his crib, and arrived to check on her phoenix prince.
"So, what's bothering you hubby?" she asked in a soft tone, rubies concealed behind the curtain of pretty eyelids.
"Nothing of much importance."
"Don't you dare think to hide your anxieties from me, Kai." She smirked.
"Why would I do that, huh?" very swiftly, Kai turned around, passing his hand around her waist, and making her, his captive within the blink of a second.
"How would I know?" she felt his intoxicating gaze upon her. The tipsiness starting to take over.
"Because…" he let it trail for a while, caressing her left cheek in admiration, and stroking it with the thumb. Blood rushed to her pale white skin, as it turned light pink, and then completely transformed to a deep red shade of blush. "I will always be….By Your Side!"
And the young night sprawled her covers over our so-in-love, and yet so mindful couple….
So full of life-lessons, wasn't it? I'll admit, the passing away of a very close person has had these ideas and philosophies hovering all over my mind. So yeah….can't blame it!
Reviews are always appreciated folks! And pardon any errors.
Something I wanted to announce- All of my multichap stories were already on a hiatus. Now, "Evermore", "Melodies That Resonated Our Soul", and "Crown of Valour" also add up in that list. Apologies in advance to anyone who was waiting for them, but I really can't help it. To add on, this will be the last story I'm posting as of 2021. Maybe, a shot in between, but very, very rarely! This doesn't mean, I won't be active. Reading will be done every once a while. PMs are also open for friends, just the replies may be somewhat late.
Thank you for reading. Bye!
-Ellie :)
