Ryoma took a deep, relaxed breath. His wife was taking a nap on his chest and his hand caressed her hair. They were both on the beach, laying naked over a sheet. Sakuno invited him to swim with her. The sun was still up, but since it was the end of the afternoon, it was not too hot, just pleasant.

Ryoma witness the moment her legs transformed into her tail, being covered in the glistering red scales. His wife held his hand and smiled. It was the first time they swim together. She pulled him effortless, moving her body into different directions. They went inside the kelp forest and inside some caves, but Ryoma had to stop from time to time and go to the surface to breath. Sakuno never needed it and he thought it was simply amazing. He wondered if their child was going to be able to do the same.

After a while, they returned to the beach and lay there, holding each other. She felt asleep on his arms and he smiled. Looking up, he observed the slow white clouds and the blue sky, listening to the soft sounds of the tides coming and going. He would miss that place so much. Although it was a little difficult to live there, it was still full of raw beauty.

He smiled to himself, thinking about their child. Was she going to look like him or her? Toshio-san said he looked just like his grandfather, so the merpeople blood was possibly stronger. He wanted to teach her so many things already and follow all her milestones. And, someday, she would be all grown up, would fall in love and have a family for herself. He and Sakuno would be grandparents and more little lives would exist because of their encounter. Ryoma's heart was already overflowing. He kissed his wife's forehead gently and inhaled the fresh smell of the ocean on her hair.

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"We are all pack." Ryoma said, finishing putting the small bottles with medicine inside the bag at the horse's saddle. They were also taking away their clothes and some objects from the kitchen. They could buy the rest at the new city.

Sakuno was wearing a dark green kimono with white clovers and her hair was tight on a braid. It was early in the morning. She looked at the house with a hint of sadness on her eyes. She had made a garland of colorful flowers she had picked from the forest near and placed it on the door, touching the wood with her hand.

"Thank you for being my first home." Her voice was very gentle. "I hope you can stand for many years to come."

Ryoma smiled softly. He came close and kissed Sakuno's cheek.

"Are you ready to go to?"

"Yes." She answering, holding his hand tightly.

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Kaori waited anxiously for the school bell to ring. She was sitting on a small bench at the entry of Muramasa's school. She had a small envelope on her hands and was impatient.

The Muramasa's lady stood up and went to the back garden, looking for her husband's classroom windows. She took a peak in. Shuichirou was teaching adjectives to a group of seven years old. She smiled watching him. He looked so happy, saying the words while the children repeated them.

One of the little boys sitting near the window realized she was there and looked at her surprised.

"Ah! It's Kaori-sama!"

All the children turned around and ran to the window. The Muramasa lady was extremely embarrassed with all those little people looking at her.

"Kaori-sama, what are you doing here?" a little boy asked curiously.

"Ah, I…." she didn't know what to say.

Shuichirou chuckled and came close, crossing his arms and looking at her.

"Good afternoon, Kaori-sama. How can I help you?"

"Sensei, she is your wife, right?!" a girl asked with a smile.

"She is." He responded gently.

"Sensei is so luckly!" another girl said. "Kaori-sama looks like a doll!"

"She is the one who prepares the cute obento for me every day."

"Wow!" a boy looked at her. "I want a wife like her!"

"What adjectives can we use to describe her?"

"Beautiful!"

"Pretty!"

"Short!" a little boy said and Shuichirou laughed, rubbing his light hair.

The bell rang, indicating the end of classes and the children waved and said "bye bye" to Kaori before leaving the room.

Shuichirou closed his room and organized things, before joining his wife on the back garden.

Her wife's face was extremely red and Shuichirou thought it was adorable.

"Thank you for coming to visit me today."

"Why did you tell them about your obento?! It was our secret!"

"Why shouldn't I? You prepare it with a lot of love and care." He kissed her cheek. "I like being spoiled by you."

"Even so…" she averted her eyes, still embarrassed.

"Is everything all right? Why did you come here today?"

"Ryoma sent a letter!" she finally smiled, showing him the small envelope.

"Oh, that is great!"

"Let's go home so we can read it together!"

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"Dear Kaori, I hope things with you, Shuichirou-san and in Muramasa are well. We spent some days on the road, visiting the cities on the way before arriving at the place Toshio-san invited us to. I wanted to show Sakuno different sights and different people. We also tried new foods. She loved everything, even though she still says my food is the best. It was like a second honeymoon and she was really happy.

When we finally arrived at Toshio-san town, everyone looked amazed at Sakuno. It was the first time they saw a red mermaid. She was a little uncomfortable with the attention, but soon Toshio-san introduced us to everyone and she is more at ease. We met Toshio-san's wife and she is caring and gentle and Sakuno already made friends with her. It will be good for her to see a mother and child before her own birth. We live in the farthest house of the village, because we wanted the privacy.

People were happy I was a doctor, before they had to call someone from another city. I already had some appointments. There is always someone bringing food to our place to thank me for the services and Sakuno loves it. Our house is a little bigger than the one we lived before and we are already making plans to our daughter's room. We have a new vegetable garden. Sakuno takes good care of them and she is anxious to see them grown. I taught her how to cook some easy dishes and she is doing well. She said she will cook something for you two when you arrive here. There is a small dock on the back and Sakuno can go to the sea whenever she wants it."

We still did not meet the other Toshio-san. It is difficult to know which ones are the merpeople and the regular humans. Everyone here lives in great harmony and I am happy we were able to come.

The baby is doing fine and growing properly. Sakuno's belly looks like 5 months old, so the birth is probably going to happen in the spring. We are thinking about a name related to it. I like Harumi and Sakuno likes Haruki, so we are still debating on that. Sakuno is well and healthy and people told us the birth for mermaid is not different from humans, so I am more at ease. I will write more as the months go by and I will let you know when our little girl is finally here.

I miss you very much and I hope we can see each other soon.

From your brother,

Ryoma."