"Sakuno, be careful!" Ryoma shouted when his wife jumped from the horse as soon as they arrived at the beach. She was laughing happily and took off her clothes in the middle of the way, going into the sea. Her husband smiled. It was good to see her so happy.

It was a beautiful day and the sea was glistering, like welcoming her back after such long time.

While she was at the sea, Ryoma put the horse inside the fence and offered the animal food and water. He entered the house and looked around. It seemed like many years had passed since they were there. The young human opened the back shoji and the windows, letting the air and light inside. He remembered the first time he arrived at the place, hurt, alone, tired and scared. It was fall and the rain was falling heavily. He spent the first night in complete darkness, shaking from the cold, holding his body tight, trying to warm up.

Little by little Ryoma conquered the house and its surroundings He found the forest on the back, the hot spring. He was able to have wood for the fireplace and made an harpoon to fish. A boat was abandoned on some rocks near and he was able to catch more fishes and go to Momoshiro's city to sell them and make a little money, being able to by the futon, some blankets, more clothes and utensils for the kitchen. He lived there alone for an entire year before Sakuno appeared and made that place a home.

She returned from the sea when the sun was about to set. She found Ryoma on the garden, touching the dead sprouts.

"Our garden!" she was sad. "What happened to them?"

"Well, there was no one to take care of them, it is natural they would not resist."

"What are we going to do?" she looked at him and he stood up, showing a small smile.

"There is nothing to be done. We can have another one on our new house. I am sure it will work out this time."

"Really?!"

"Yes." She caressed her wet hair. "How was the sea?"

"Perfect!" she grinned. "I was really missing it."

"That is good." He kissed her forehead. "Let's go inside, so you can get dry and change. I do not want you to get sick."

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"It is so good!" she said, while finishing to eat some grilled pork for dinner. He had brought some food from Muramasa for the trip. "Your food is really the best, Ryoma!"

"Not really. But, I am glad you like it."

"Not only me." She put her bowl down and sat by his side, placing his hand over her belly. He felt a strong kick. "She likes it too!"

"Do you like Papa's food?" he asked, caressing her belly.

"Papa?"

"Well… it is a way to call parents." Ryoma was a little embarrassed. "Papa is for father."

"And for the mother?!"

"Ma…" he blushed. "Mama."

Sakuno grinned and put her hands over his.

"Can you hear it, little girl? I am your Mama!" she looked gently at her husband. "This is your Papa!"

The baby kicked again and Ryoma smiled.

"Do you think she can understand us?"

"I hope so. Or at least, recognize our voices."

"Ryoma, can you explain something?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"How is she coming out of me? You said something about the birth. What is that?"

"Oh, really. We need to talk about this. It will take a while to happen. Your belly is going to get very big and heavy."

"Even more than this?!"

"Much more. Do you remember the watermelon we ate at Momoshiro-san's house? You are going to get that big."

"Eh?! It's impossible!"

"It is okay." He caressed her face to tranquilize her. "She needs to grown more to be able to be born properly."

"How can I know she is ready to be born?"

"First, your water will break."

"Water? What water?"

"The baby is in a bag of water inside of you. When she is ready to come out, it will break."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not that, but it will hurt later. There are things called contractions that will help the baby come out of you. They can take a few or many hours. It is different for every child."

"Is it very bad? The pain?" his wife was really apprehensive.

"It is." He felt horrible for already imagining the pain she would be going through and held her hands gently. "But, I will be with you during everything."

"You promise?"

"I do." He kissed her forehead and looked at her kindly. "After she is born, she is going to cry, but it is for a good thing. It is her first breath. She needs to cry so her lungs can work."

"Toshi-san said I can take her to the water after a few weeks. Can I really do it?"

"If she is healthy, I do not see a problem. She will be half of a mermaid anyway. But, the first weeks are really important for the mother and the baby. She cannot be in the water for long. We need to make sure she is eating and you are resting too. Childbirth can be really exhausting for both of you. We need to take care of the umbilical cord too."

"What is that?"

"Remember when I told you about your bellybutton?" he touched hers. "You and her are connected by a cord. When she is born, we need to cut it."

"Why?! I don't want be apart from her!"

"You will not be apart. She just will not need it anymore, since she is going to be able to breath and you are going to feed her."

"About that!" she pulled the collar of her yukata and showed her cleavage to him. "You said women feed their babies with milk, but I don't have milk on them! How is she going to eat?!"

"It is still too soon. You will have milk when she is born." He explained patiently, being happy about her concerns for their child. "They are also going to be bigger just like your belly."

"And how about sex? You are always kissing them; wouldn't it be weird for you?" he blushed a little.

"Well… it is not something we should be worrying for a while after the birth."

"Why not?" she came closer and interrogated his face.

"We are not going to be able to do it. At least for 40 days."

"Why?!" Sakuno cupped his face. "You won't love me anymore?!"

"Of course not! It is just your body will need the rest. I do not want to hurt you or do anything to risk your health. And a baby is a lot of work. You will be very tired. I want you to sleep on your free time when she is not hungry or crying. A baby does not know when it is night or day. She will wake up at the strangest hours."

"I see." hers arms were around the small roundness and there were some concern on her expression. "Ryoma, do you think I will be able to take good care of her? I don't want to make any mistakes."

"I am sure of it." He rested his forehead against hers and looked deeply the scarlet eyes. "And I will take care of you two."

"Okay, then." She smiled and kissed him tenderly.