Ryoma entered his chambers after taking a bath. It was night already and he already had dinner with his wife.
Toshio stayed with them until after lunch, talking about merpeople and telling them stories of his family and the place where he lived. They invited him to spend the night at the castle, but he refused politely and returned home. His town was two days away from Muramasa and he wanted to go back to his wife as soon as possible.
Sakuno hugged him tight and was very thankful for everything he shared. Ryoma also thanked him for his knowledge.
The young human sat by his wife's side. She was leaning on the wall, rubbing her belly. There was a small lantern on, near their futon.
"Are you okay?" he asked, gently. "You were so quiet on dinner tonight."
"I am just thinking about all the things Toshio-san told us." There was a hint of sadness on her scarlet eyes. "He isn't even a full merman and he knows so much."
"You cannot feel bad about it. You grew up by yourself. He had a whole set of relatives to teach him things." He touched her face and showed her a small smile. "But know we know a lot too, so we can teach our child things when she is born."
Sakuno smiled and placed his hand on her belly.
"She is moving a lot tonight. She is very strong already."
"Just like her mother."
"Ryoma, what do you think about the place Toshio-san said? Where merpeople and humans live together?"
"I think it sounded nice. Why?"
"I spent so much time alone before meeting you." She lowered her head and looked at her belly. "I don't want the same to happen to her. Growing up by herself, without friends. What if something happens to us? She will be just like me, swimming alone in the ocean."
"Hey, what are you saying?" Ryoma held his wife's hand. "Nothing is going to happen to us."
"What if?" she looked at him seriously. "My parents probably didn't want me to be alone too, but… something did happen to them."
"Sakuno, do you want to live on that town?" he asked, kindly.
"I'm sorry." She averted her eyes. "I know I told you I wanted to go back home, but, I want to do what is best for her. I can only protect our child until the moment she is inside of me."
"You do not have to apologize." Sakuno looked at him and the golden eyes were filled with love. "You are worrying about our child like any other mother would." He kissed his wife's cheek. "You already are a wonderful parent, Sakuno."
"So, can we go?"
"Of course. But, we will have to go to the house to collect some things first. And, there is also some matters to deal in here, with Kaori."
"Okay." Ryoma kissed her forehead.
"Let's go to sleep. It was a long day and…" he was about to get up to bring the covers to bed when Sakuno's touch on his hand made him stop.
His wife looked at him and gently brought him closer to her. Ryoma recognize the lustful expression. Her hands cupped his face and she gave him a gentle and slow kiss. The mermaid was completely silent and she started to kiss his neck. She opened her husband's yukata and her lips wondered on his shoulders and chest. Ryoma took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Sakuno stopped for a moment and removed her clothes to his sight and his heart raced, finally seeing the new contours of her body after so long.
She seemed to be 4 months already and she was so beautiful. Ryoma caressed her face, before giving her serious and deep kisses. He gently made her lay down and his hand brushed her curves before stopping between her thighs. The mermaid moaned his name and Ryoma's mouth was on her breast, enjoying the soft flesh.
He noticed she was incredibly sensitive and it didn't take long for her to climax with his caresses. Sakuno climbed her husband and Ryoma didn't waste any time to respond such passionate invitation.
If her pregnancy would progress faster than regular humans, soon they would be worrying about the birth, a newborn and all the attention a little one demanded. After everything they went through, Ryoma held his wife very tight, wanting to enjoy those intimate moment to their fullest.
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Kaori took a deep breath, unable to sleep. Shuichirou still didn't return home. She tossed and turned inside the blankets, waiting for him.
"Maybe he left me already." The pink eyes were filled with tears while she looked at the ceiling. The back shoji were opened and the night breezed entered her room. Her thoughts were interrupted when her husband finally arrived and opened the door. Kaori turned around and closed her eyes, pretending she was asleep. Shuichirou laid by her side and she could sense the fresh smell of soap. He had just taken a bath. She was sure he could hear the loud heartbeats on her chest and she couldn't stop her insecurities.
"Where were you?" she asked, after a long while. He was about to sleep and opened his eyes when hearing her shy voice.
"Oh, you are awake. I went to the school to ask for my old job back. And then I stayed to help them organize some classrooms."
"You are teaching again?" she rolled to his side. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"
"You were too busy to talk to me on the past days." The green eyes were serious. "I didn't think you would care."
"I see." She lowered her head. Kaori had always feared that moment, when Shuichirou would stop loving her. But, still, her heart was aching tremendously and she turned his back on him, so he would not see the tears on her eyes. "Shuichirou, thank you for everything you have done for me. I am really grateful. And I am sorry for every time I made you feel like you were second place. But, I want you to know you are the top priority in my life and I really wanted to be with you until my ending days. I understand that you want to leave, because…"
"What are you talking about?" he asked, hugging her, whispering on her ear and interrupting her rushed words. "I am not going anywhere."
"You are not…leaving me?"
"Eh?!" he sat down and looked at her. "Where did this nonsense come from?"
"This morning!" she sat down in front of him. "You left and I did not see you for the entire day, so…"
Oishi pulled his wife from her small shoulders and kissed her hard. When he finally broke the kiss, Kaori looked at him without being able to reunite words on her brain.
"We only had a disagreement. I would never leave because of it."
"You… would not?"
"Of course not." His thumb brushed her flushed cheek. "We are married. Such things are going to happen. We talk about it, solve the problem and move on."
Kaori tears poured from her eyes like a waterfall. It was a mixture of relief and happiness, but her husband didn't know about that and he was desperate when she sobbed.
"Kaori, what happened?!"
"I thought you were gone for good. I was so afraid!" she tried to stop her tears, rubbing her hands on her face. "I love you so much, but I am totally clueless about these things. Every day I wonder why you have fallen in love with me, you could have done so much better! I am stubborn and hot tempered and…."
"Kaori." He cupped her face and his semblance was filled with gentleness. "We have been together for a long time. I know all about you, the good and the bad parts. But, I truly believe the good parts are awesome and worthy."
"I am so sorry for this morning. For making you feel neglect, I did not mean that." She grabbed his yukata and leaned her forehad on his broad chest. "I am really sorry, Shuichirou."
"That is okay." He caressed her purple hair. "Thank you for apologizing."
"I will make it up to you." She looked at him. "Tell me what do you wish. I would do anything."
"Okay." He pulled the obi from her yukata and opened it completely.
"What are you doing?!" she blushed profusely, putting her arms in front of her breasts.
"You said I could have whatever I want. I want you." He smiled at her. "Do you have any ideia of how difficult was to leave the bed this morning? I was distracted the whole day at school." His forehead touched hers and he looked deep inside the pink eyes. "It is not fair to tease me like that."
"I… I am sorry."
"I do not want to leave this room tomorrow, Kaori." He said, seriously. "Would you stay here with me?"
"Don't you have work?" his mouth was very close to her lips.
"Only next week." He kissed his wife and they laid down together.
He stopped for a moment and looked at her, the blurry pink eyes and the long purple hair spread all over the white sheets. Kaori touched his face with her fingertips, while Oishi took his clothes off, the green eyes never leaving her beautiful face.
"Okay." She answered quietly, bringing her husband back to a deep kiss. Soon her knees were on each side of his ribcages and Shuichirou united their bodies, his arms possessively around her petit frame, her breathless voice calling his name over and over into the night.