Disclaimer: All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy.

子守

Babysitting

Part Three

Kasane x Inuchiyo

"We're here!"

Inuchiyo announced as he brought them to a place in the corner of the forest outside of the palace.

"Waah~...!"

Kasane raised her voice at the spectacle before her.

Before her were splendid persimmon trees heavy with ripe fruit.

"This is my secret place. Kura and the others don't know about it."

Inuchiyo said as he glanced at the forest of trees.

Kasane glanced up at him.

"Then why are we here…?"

"Cause Katane and Suekichi are my family today!"

Inuchiyo replied as he gave a carefree laugh.

Seeing his smile, Kasane suddenly felt embarrassed and hurriedly averted her eyes.

"..."

At the same time, Suekichi tugged Inuchiyo's sleeve.

Inuchiyo turned to him asking him, "What is it?" with a smile.

"That… Is it okay to eat…."

Suekichi pointed at the fruit that dangled from the branches.

With a bright smile, Inuchiyo ruffled Suekichi's head.

"Wanna eat it? Then I'll get some for you."

As he said that, he lifted Suekichi up and placed him on his shoulder.

Finding himself suddenly taller, Suekichi happily smiled.

"Here! Take what you like!"

Carried by the tall Inuchiyo, Suekichi reached to one of the fruit and plucked it off. He bite into it and relished at the taste.

"It's good!"

"Suekichi, get some for Katane as well."

Listening to Inuchiyo, Suekichi plucked two more persimmons off the tree.

"Kasane-oneechan, here you go."

Suekichi said as he offered the fruit to her.

Kasane accepted them with a smile.

"Thank you, Suekichi-kun!"

"Inuchiyo-oniichan too!"

"Thanks, Suekichi."

He took the persimmon and sank his teeth into it.

Following his example, Kasane also bit into the fruit.

The ripe fruit was just so sweet and delicious.

"Suekicki, what do you want to play?"

"I want to learn kenjutsu to become as strong as Inuchiyo-oniichan!"

Inuchiyo gave him a broad smile.

"Alright! I'll teach you!"

After placing Suekichi down to the ground, he then picked up a thick stick that was laying nearby and handed it to him.

He then found another stick similar to Suekichi's and took it in his hand.

"First is…"

Watching Inuchiyo seriously teach Suekichi, Kasane couldn't help but pleasantly smile at them.

(Somehow they really look like parent and child...)

For Inuchiyo to be like a loving father was honestly a surprise to her.

Usually he would act like a small child and do whatever he likes without any care, so it surprised Kasane that Inuchiyo was unexpectedly responsible.

"Katane, want to join us?"

Inuchiyo excitedly called out to her.

"...Un! I'll help!"

With a smile, she ran towards them.

"Looks like he's tired."

Kasane ruffled the sleeping Suekichi's head.

"I'm kinda tired too…"

Inuchiyo said as he plopped to the ground to his back.

"Katane too!"

Uwa!"

From his sitting position, Inuchiyo forcibly pulled her arm down next to him.

Sandwiching Suekichi between them, he then pulled the three of them down to the ground with him.

The thick grass faintly tickled her cheeks.

"Somehow… This might be the first time I've taken it easy since I came here."

Now that she thought about it, since she arrived the castle, she has only done trivial chores everyday. There wasn't a time she could remember where she could any youthful lessons or an opportunity to take it easy.

"I had a lot of fun today! What about Katane?"

"Un, I also had fun!"

She answered his question with a smile.

"Here, Katane, use my arm as a pillow."

"Eh!?"

She looked at him, bewildered at his suggestion.

"Here!"

Pressed by his innocent smile, she couldn't feel any ulterior motive from him.

Looking at this Inuchiyo, she gave up drew and closer to accept his offered arm.

"Suekichi is tiny, but Katane is also small."

"Well of course, compared to Inuchiyo-san…."

Out of their group of three, Inuchiyo was the biggest. If one was to compare his height to that Tono-sama, they wouldn't find much of a difference. And if one was to compare her small build to his, of course she'll seem tiny.

"Katane smells nice."

"U-wa!? Please don't smell me…! !"

"Eh~."

A expected being sniffed at was quite embarrassing, so Kasane pushed his chest with both of her hands.

As if dissatisfied, Inuchiyo pouted and gave up sniffing her.

"...If Katane ever gets in trouble in the battlefield, I'll definitely protect you, so don't worry!"

"...Inuchiyo-san…"

Gazing at his carefree, smiling expression, Kasane turned bright red.

Perhaps it was because he wouldn't consciously say these things that his words heated her face.

"...Then, when Inuchiyo-san is in danger, I will also most definitely come to your aid!"

Kasane said as she smiled.

She didn't like to to be the one who was protected all the time.

She wished for Inuchiyo, Kuranosuke, Gorouza and all of the castle's retainers to be safe.

"Oneechan…?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Did we wake you up?"

Suekichi, who just woke up, looked up at the two of them.

"Now that I think about it, it's already evening… Let's go back."

"Un. Come on, Suekichi let's go home!"

Inuchiyo stood up and took him by the hand.

"Oneechan."

"Hm?"

Suekichi took Kasane's hand.

With Suekichi in the middle, they all held hands.

"...Somehow, we kinda look like a family now."

Kasane happily smiled.

It just that this seemed to be like any normal intimate family members that would be commonly seen walking around, so it made her happy.

"Then, let's get going!"

Inuchiyo announced with a laugh.

"Well, no matter how you look at it, you two certainly looked like a harmonious couple."

"Really…"

The sun had long set, it was now evening.

The faint fluttering sounds of insects could be heard.

Suekichi had already left with the maid, though he seemed really sad to part ways with them.

Seeing the joyous expression of the maid who finally gained permission from Hayashi-san to adopt Suekichi, also made her very happy.

Surely she would raise Suekichi well.

Before Suekichi left, they promised to play with him again. She eagerly awaited the day that they will meet him again from the bottom of her heart.

"In fact, why don't you two actually become real newlyweds?"

In a light, joking manner, Gorouza teased her.

Kasane wryly laughed and turned faintly red.

"No way~... That's not really possible, right?"

"That's right! A woman like you! You'll never get to marry anyone in your entire life!"

"'Entire life'... T-that day will come!"

"Nope, it won't."

As the only person who was unsettled for a while, Kuranosuke snapped at Kasane.

While she did try to consider the root of Kuranosuke's bad mood, nothing came to mind.

"Then if Katane doesn't have anyone who wants her as a bride, I'll take her!"

"Heh?"

Hearing such unbelievable words babbling out of his mouth, Kasane blankly raised her voice.

"I like Katane, so I don't mind if Katane becomes my wife."

As he indifferently said that, Kasane blushed crimson red.

Damn Inuchiyo that was smooth. But man... now I really want to eat persimmons... Sigh... Well I hope everyone enjoyed this story and... Well I better find the next story to translate. Everyone have a nice and safe week!