It was only a few weeks until Saiko's 2nd birthday and Sano was finally back to his old self physically. The only people who knew of his recent attack were his family, friends, police, and of course the infamous Chika. The scar was still pink, but it was hidden by his recovered jacked. It turned out that the police had found it in the alley near where the fight had taken place. The air was still cold, but one Saturday it was just warm enough for a picnic.
Sano had happily packed up some fresh sushi, rice, and bread to go along with hot tea he prepared just before they left. As soon as all the food was prepared he carefully packed the basket and scooped up Saiko mid game of dolls with an amused looking Saitou. "Finally" Saitou said with a smirk. The three grabbed a carriage and made it to the field outside of town before the food and tea had cooled, and the sushi has warmed.
Saitou spread out the blanket while Sano took great care to unpack the big umbrella he had brought to make sure Saiko did not get too much sun. Saitou finished first and carefully pulled out the plates giving everyone their portion. Saitou smiled as he saw the little bowl of Saiko's tucked beneath the rice and the other plates. Saiko had busied herself chasing butterflies in the field happily till Saitou called her over.
The three ate with quiet conversation, mostly Saiko talking about the butterflies. "Bubberflies are so pwetty da e" she said happily chewing on a piece of bread with Sano's watchful eye on her making sure she was not having any trouble. Sano pat her head softly, the red clip holding her bangs atop her head.
They finished most of the food, spare a bit of rice and some of the bread before Sano deemed Saiko allowed to go back to chasing butterflies. Sano took off his jacket and laid back on the blanket with a huge smile plastered on his face. "What are you so happy about Ahou?" Saitou asked endearingly. "Just thinking about Saiko, when she grows up, you know regular dad stuff" he responded still glowing.
"She is going to be so beautiful Saitou I just know it, I don't think I will ever be able to let her go you know? Date, marry, have her own kids" Sano started. "Sanosuke she is not even two…" Saitou said with an eyebrow raised. "I know I know" Sano responded "but are you telling me you never think about it, I mean imagine her at 16, tall and lean like me with short hair sticking up like mine." Sano got on his side and with his fingers Sano drew what Saiko would look like in the dirt, tall lean with short hair. Saitou crawled over behind Sano reaching an arm over him and correcting his drawing. "Well I hope for her health her chest will not be that large" flattening the Saiko drawing a bit "And I also think she should be womanly not a boy" and he rubbed out the short spikes and drew long hair with short bangs. Sano gulped; like that she would look just like Megumi.
"Let's compromise" Sano said quickly, not wanting to act alarmed "Mid length hair." Sano slowly drew her hair to be just past her chin, still kind of poofy but less tomboyish. "There better?" Sano asked smugly. "Well to be honest if she is 16 maybe we should just let her decide" Saitou said seriously. Sano looked at him for a second then they both started laughing. "Like you will be able to let her be free for an instant Sanosuke" Saitou said laughing. "I bet Saiko's husband will have to ask you to leave the room on their wedding night.
With that Sanosuke turned back from the Saiko drawing and tackled Saitou on the blanket. "I bet you would just glare him to death" Sano said half laughing. Saiko had heard Saitou call out her name and stop her butterfly chasing and went back to the blanket. "Dada? Da e? why fight?" she said worriedly. The two parents stopped what they were doing and looked at Saiko standing on the edge of the blanket and started to laugh. Saiko was confused but she joined in after a few moments.
Saiko noticed the drawing in the dirt and crawled over to it. Though she did not know what it was she decided to add to it to make it more interesting. Over her own mouth she drew a huge cigarette with smoke lines like Sanosuke always drew Saitou's. Then she redrew spiky hairs and drew a big bow on her front. "Pwetty" she said happily and caught Sano and Saitou's attention.
They climbed back over to the side of the blanket and chuckled at the drawing. Sano smiled and said "It's daddy as a girl!" Saitou almost frowned and corrected "It's dada as a girl." Saiko stomped her foot angrily. "Is Sa-chan!" she said definitely. Both adults jaw's dropped at Saiko's revelation. It made sense, she wanted to be like both her daddy's, but neither expected an almost two year old to comprehend thoughts such as those. "Well Sanosuke, I guess we will have to let her decide" Saitou said with a smirk. Sano blushed and placed a light kiss on Saitou's smug lips.
"Well Saiko enough fun time to take a nap all right?" Sano said lovingly patting the blanket next to him. Saiko nodded and slowly climbed to the spot Sano patted under the umbrella. She curled up next to his hand and was asleep within a few minutes. Slowly Sano's hand started to hurt so he adjusted so he was lying on his side. Before long he fell asleep along side her and left Saitou awake with his thoughts.
He got up quietly pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pants and walked away a few feet to smoke without bothering the two napping. Saitou lit it up and inhaled deeply. This damn addiction would be the end up him he thought with a sigh. When he turned back to look at his family he noticed that now Sano was flat on his back under the umbrella and Saiko had managed to climb on his chest and was sleeping soundly.
He smiled but started thinking about when it was that he started to smoke. With a somber grimace Saitou let the memories of the past filter into his mind. All the death all the killing all the pain. It was necessary, but nonetheless unpleasant. Before he knew it the cigarette had burned itself out almost singeing his fingertips. With a flick he tossed the cigarette away and returned to the blanket.
Looking around to make sure no one was in the area he took off his jacket and set it on the basket. He slowly crawled under the umbrella and before long Saitou managed to get an arm around Sano and Saiko had moved so she laid half on him and half on Sano. Saitou made one final adjustment before falling asleep. He interlaced his fingers with Sano's free hand and placed a kiss on his forehead. 'Ah' he thought 'perfect.'
A/N: I know it is short and a little fluffy, but I really wanted to get in Sano's fear of Saiko being recognized as Megumi's Keep reviewing!