Since there was no work for me and that my only job was to wait for further orders, I listened to Chizuru and slept more during the day. I didn't want to have a schedule completely different from hers though so she agreed to wake me up around noon so we could spend at least afternoon and evening together. With all the work I had recently and the march to Kofu, that felt like a little vacation even if I knew it would only last a day or maybe two until the others were back. Yet, I was happy to have the opportunity to be with her and take some time off for her.
« It's breakfast time. » I heard in my ear, waking up.
I opened my eyes to find Chizuru's face inches from mine with sparkling eyes. I smiled. I wouldn't mind waking up to the sight of her face every day. I looked out the window and saw the sun already very high in the sky.
« You mean lunchtime. » I said.
« Call it the way you want » she chuckled « just get up. »
I sat up as she said and she sat up too. She took a needle and pierced her finger under my surprised gaze.
« I feel totally fine. » I said, turning my head away.
« And I don't care. » she replied firmly « you take this, it's only a needle and I want to see if daily little doses can actually make things better. »
« I don't enjoy being the subject of your experiments... » I muttered.
« Again, I don't care. » she said, putting her finger on my lips.
I closed my lips on her little bead of blood and sucked a bit but the wound was already sealed. The taste was the same as the one in Kofu and that was funny because the first time I drank her blood, she tasted like Kaoru. I wondered if her blood taste could change with the things she eats... I let go of her finger and got up, dressing myself.
« Was that enough ? » she asked.
« I told you I feel fine. » I answered, putting my shirt on « what's actually for lunch ? »
« Rice, grilled fish and tofu miso soup. » she said with a smile.
« That does sound better. » I smiled in return.
I put on my waistcoat and trousers but left my coat in our room. April was nearly there and the weather was a lot better. The cherry trees were blooming everywhere and we were lucky enough to have one in the courtyard of the inn, permitting us to witness that gorgeous scenery through our room's window. We ate lunch together downstairs in the common room and ordered two teas afterwards. I proposed to Chizuru to drink it outside in the courtyard and we sat together on a bench, looking at the cherry tree. Chizuru was the first to speak.
« It's beautiful... » she said peacefully « but it brings back sad memories. »
« Does it ? » I asked.
« Yeah... » she explained « It reminds me of the day you left with Ito. »
Oh yeah... That day...
« I'm sorry. » I said, keeping my eyes on the cherry tree.
« Don't be » she smiled « It was a direct order and you had no choice. What matters is that you're here now. »
« If it makes things better, I have something totally different that comes to mind when I look at cherry trees. » I said, sipping my tea « I hear you sing. »
« That was long ago ! » she blushed.
« Maybe. » I smirked « but I treasure that memory. »
« I'm not going to sing, Hajime. » she said playfully.
« A pity. » I replied in the same tone « you are talented. »
We stayed silent for a few minutes, sipping our tea until I could see that Chizuru was uneasy. There was something on her mind that was trying to escape her lips and I was dying to know what.
« What are you thinking ? » I asked.
« Nothing in particular. » she blushed red.
« Have I told you already how bad of a liar you are ? » I escaped a small laugh.
« Memories. » she replied. « I'm thinking about memories. »
« Which memories ? » I asked.
« The duel, the tea shop, the iai courses, the castellas, our kiss in Gion, that day in the alley when I was a maiko, the bathroom, the day Kondou-san asked me if I'll marry you » she started crying « sorry, I'm getting emotional... Our wedding was the best day of my life... »
« Yet. » I said, taking her in my arms.
« What ? » she asked, still sobbing.
« The best day of your life yet. » I said, caressing her cheek « I intend to make you have even better ones. »
She chuckled and rested her head on my shoulders. Her sobs calmed little by little. She had been on edge lately but I was glad that she broke down with tears of joy and happy memories instead of sorrowful ones like the day I died under Kazama's blade or the day she had a fever. She stayed silent for minutes and I put the two finished cups of tea on the side.
« My wedding attire » she asked bluntly « it's gone, isn't it ? »
« I suppose » I answered « it probably burned in the Fushimi magistrate's office. »
She nodded and I could see disappointment and regret on her face. To be fair, I was feeling the same thing. She was so beautiful that day in her purple uchikake... That memory was carved in my heart and brain.
We stayed silent again, lost in the memories of our wedding. For me too, it was the best day of my life, yet. The day she finally belonged to me without the necessity of hiding...
« It's too bad it burned » she said bluntly again « I think I would have needed the sleeves. »
The gears in my head started working and my mouth fell agap uncontrollably. Was she really implying what I thought she was implying ?
« Chizuru, you... » I managed to say « What ? Is it.. Do you mean... »
« I mean that the cherry trees aren't the only ones blossoming. » she replied with a shy smile.
My gaze dropped to her belly as if I could already see the life inside it. Trembling, my hand followed and I landed it on her abdomen, just below her yellow obi. There... There was... Really ? In here ?
« How can you already know ? » I asked with mixed feelings of awe and confusion. « Since... Kofu ? »
« Actually a bit earlier than that... » she muttered and I understood.
« That day ? » I asked.
She nodded and suddenly everything was starting to make sense. Her tiredness for weeks, her trouble eating in the morning, the way I could sense she was lying and hiding something... and even the changed taste of her blood. She was... She was...
« Pregnant... » I whispered.
« I was suspicious so I had it checked by Matsumoto-sensei yesterday. I'm three weeks pregnant. » she explained.
« Pregnant... » I repeated again.
I stayed silent, trying to process that information. If everything went well this time, I was going to be a ... father ? I was already a father, I had Haruhi but... A father... A child of my blood... Of her blood... I held my head with my palm, sensing a violent headache.
« Hajime... Are you pleased ? » she asked, confused.
I laughed uncontrollably, my head still inside my palm and turned to her to hold her in my arms and shower her face with kisses.
« This is the best day of my life, yet. » I answered, still laughing.
She chuckled and closed her arms on me. Some tears started flowing from her eyes and we stayed that way stupidly, holding each other, me laughing, she crying... Anyone coming our way would probably think we were insane but I didn't care. She was pregnant. I was feeling confused and anxious but drowning in an ocean of happiness at the same time. I had a myriad of questions and anguish. What to do ? How to help ? How to make it live this time ? How to be a father ? Oh gods... I was going to be a father...
I detached myself from her and kissed her lips, salty from her tears.
« I love you... » I whispered, kissing her again.
« Hey, lovebirds. » I heard « when you're finished sucking each other's face, maybe you can help us ? »
I turned over to see Harada and Nagakura in the entrance of the compound with wide grins. Chizuru chuckled and I stood up to help my friends.
Author note : About the sleeves.
In case you are confused, here's a little explaination ! In traditional japanese weddings, the bride usually wears a furisode (with very long sleeves) that are usually worn only by little girls and unmarried young women. After the wedding, the wife cut the sleeves of her wedding kimono and she can keep it and wear it again but with sleeves of a length suitable for a married woman. The sleeves are kept and it is customary to use this fabric to make baby clothes with it for her first born.
That's why Hajime makes the link sleeves = baby so easily.