Chapter 21
Gifts
Normally, in the early morning, one would find the young Hizuri couple sleeping soundly. The wife would be lying comfortably on her side and the husband would be comfortably cuddling his petite yet, very swollen wife. This morning, the young wife was wide awake and very restless. Her eyes were wide open and her mind was filled with all of the things she felt needed to be done before her little brood arrived.
Were all the clothes washed? Were the little cribs made? Do I have enough diapers? Does the baby monitors have fresh batteries? Do I have everything I need packed in my bag? The thoughts bombarded her. She quietly rose from the bed trying not to wake Kuon, it was 5 am after all. Fighting the overwhelming urge to scrub the bathroom from top to bottom, she was able to get through her morning routine. After her nice long relaxing shower, she decided to surprise Kuon with a delicious breakfast and with a great amount of effort, she was able to complete her task despite her swollen belly.
When Kuon awakened to an empty bed he panicked, until the delicious smell of eggs, sausage, potatoes and matsutake soup hit him. His mouth almost painfully watered from the delicious aromas. He made their bed then set out for the kitchen to scold his wife.
"Kyoko... You know you aren't supposed to be doing anything extra." He scolded as he gave her a kiss and sat with his pre prepared plate and steamy cup of coffee at the dining room table to join her.
"Kuon.." She sighed. "I was bored. No one lets me do anything anymore." She pouted as she sipped her cup of delicious piping hot clear soup. For some reason she really didn't have an appetite this morning. "You're lucky you didn't find me scrubbing the floors." She grumbled. He chuckled.
"So, who's staying with you today?" He asked as he started gathering the breakfast dishes to wash from the table.
"Okasan has some clients she has to meet with this morning but, she'll be here this afternoon. So Mom is going to stop by and spend the day with me." She really loved having two mothers. One mother shared her love for cooking and the other had an almost unhealthy but, fun addiction to shopping. "We're going to do some shopping on the internet for baby stuff. She wanted to show me some of her new designs." She finished as she heard him rummaging around in the kitchen as he washed the dishes.
After he had completed his self appointed task in the kitchen, he disappeared for a moment into the hall.
"Kuon? What are you doing?" She heard the rustling of tissue.
"Nothing Babe, just stay there." She sighed with a smile and shook her head. She had a hunch at what was coming. There was no way she would get out of White Day with him. He regretted missing their first one.
"Close your eyes." The sneaky man told her as he hid the little treasure behind his back. She did as she was told.
"Okay. Now open." He told her in a mischievous tone and gently kissed her temple.
Her eyes opened to a large shimmering pink gift bag with white tissue flowing out of the top on the dining room table before her. "Kuon.. You know you didn't have to get me anything." She half-heartedly protested.
He chuckled. "Just look."
Gingerly unpacking the soft tissue paper, she revealed a little plush red dragon with wings, a cute little floppy grey bunny and a soft squishy blond lion cub each a bit larger than the size of her lover's hand. "Oh Kuon.. They're adorable." She hugged him with tears welling up in her golden eyes. "Thank you. They're perfect." She kissed him.
He gave her a light squeeze. "I'm gonna go shower." She nodded the grabbed the three plushies and headed to one of the babies' rooms.
"Kuon... Kyoko... I'm here!" Julie called into the expansive apartment as she shut the door behind her and donned her slippers.
"I'm in here Mom!" Kyoko answered from the room at the end of the hall.
"So you've decided not to let them sleep together?" Julie asked out of curiosity as she walked in.
"Yeah, the doctor said that it would be best for them. You know, to prevent some complications that multiples sometimes have. I think it'll be good to give each of them their own space from the beginning too." Kyoko informed her.
"Hmm, I didn't really think of it that way. It's a really good idea. I guess sometimes people forget that twins and triplets are separate from each other." Julie thought out loud. "What are you doing?"
"Oh.. I just wanted to make sure everything was divided up evenly and that we have enough of everything." Julie nodded.
"Do you need any help?" Julie grabbed a couple of booties and paired them up.
"Hmm, oh! I need to make a shopping list. We're running low in the fridge." Kyoko added.
"Great! I'll go get a piece of paper and we can send Kuu out to pick everything up." Julie smiled and left for Kyoko's notepad in the kitchen.
"Hey Mom." Kuon came in with belt unbuckled, shirt untucked and half-buttoned with a towel around his neck that he was using to dry his semi-wet hair.
"Hi Sweetie. Do you know where Kyoko keeps her notepad?" She gave him a quick hug.
He nodded, handing her the fairy decorated pad from the counter.
"She's nesting Kuon..." Julie commented.
"She's what?" He gave her a confused look.
"Nesting." Julie grinned. "Pregnant women nest when it's almost time. Hmm, they clean and organize things. They get really restless. I scoured the house from top to bottom with a toothbrush with you." She poked his shoulder and giggled.
"Should I take today off?" Worry filled his voice.
"No, no Sweetie. She'll be fine." He sighed and nodded. "I'll make sure she doesn't overdo it, okay? Your father will be here today too." She added.
"I'll try not to be too long. I should be done around 2 or, 3 today." He informed her. "Oh and I'm expecting a delivery." He winked.
"Go finish." She patted him on the back and left with the notepad and pen to begin her list making with Kyoko.
"I'll be back around 2 or, 3. Call me if you need anything." She nodded and pulled him in for a kiss, nibbling on his lower lip, clouding his mind and causing him to really ache for what neither of them were allowed to have for at least a month now. "You are a truly evil woman." He whispered with a lusty smile as he rested his forehead on hers. "You will be paying for that very soon." He nipped her nose.
"I hope so." She giggled and he left for his typical actor's busy day.
After hours of listing, folding, organizing and sending Kuu out for miscellaneous odds and ends, the doorbell rang. The door opened to the most stunning and large flower arrangement.
Kyoko let out a delighted gasp and instructed the delivery person to place it on a side table in the living room.
"Wow... You're Roxy. This is amazing." The delivery boy gushed. She smiled and nodded. "Um... can I have your autograph?" He asked shyly.
She giggled, "Of course you can." She smiled and signed.
"Who was that?" Kuu asked as the door closed. Kyoko pointed to the elaborate arrangement. "Wow. From Kuon?" She nodded walking to the table to examine the fairy covered vase and ribbons, then removed the card to read it.
To the beautiful Fairy Queen in my life. I love you. Thank you for making my wishes come true and all you've done for me. Love Kuon
With happy tears in her eyes, her fingers gently caressed the tiny fairies that rested between the enormous white lilies and bicolored roses. Tiny little white orchids sprinkled throughout the arrangement, little crystal droplets sparkled off the flowers like dew drops, little red bell shaped lilies of the valley set off the red in the stunning half opened roses and the maiden hair fern brought a softness to the entire arrangement pulling the look together with the light blue and silver, fairy decorated ribbons that flowed around the neck of the vase. "It's so beautiful." She whispered and her eyes sparkled with a fantasy zeal that she hadn't felt in months.
Kuu chuckled as he secretly sent his son a message of the arrival and Julie joined Kyoko in her little fairy overdose.
"Hey Babe." he smiled into the phone. "Do you like it?"
"Oh, Kuon.. I love it." she sighed in a breathy voice. "It's perfect. Thank you so much."
He chuckled.
"So many fairies." She gushed. "So beautiful."
"Not nearly as beautiful as you." he purred. "I'll see you in a couple of hours, okay?"
"I love you." She nodded into the phone.
"I love you too." He couldn't stop smiling. She liked it!
