"Hello?" The voice was somewhat breathy, as if the telephone ringing had caught the answerer off guard.
"Uo-chan!"
Arisa could hear Tohru smile.
It felt so natural for Tohru, slipping back into her native Japanese. The language here was strange, seeming to contain far more sounds than necessary.
Kyo had picked it up, through sheer force of will, she suspected. He was determined to make a life for them here, to learn all he could, and eventually to take over the work of his father, all of which required the ability to communicate fluently with the locals.
She, however, found it quite difficult. Kyo had done his best to convince her that it was endearing, that she was cute enough to make anything endearing, goddamnit. She did see the looks they got in restaurants, at the grocery store. Mostly they were of a pleasantly bemused sort. But still, she did wish she was a bit better and...
But, ah, there she went again, thoughts scattering around.
Pull yourself together, Tohru! You have news! she thought.
"The baby, Uo! We went to the doctor's today."
"And?"
Tohru smiled at the memory of Kyo's face, the way it lit up when he heard the words it took her but a few heartbeats longer to translate:
Well, it looks as if you will be having a daughter
"Have you picked a name?"
"Well, we discussed it. We were thinking... well at first he was opposed to the name, as it's so close to his own, but she meant so much to both of us and-" Tohru broke off.
"You're naming her after your mother!"
"We're naming her after my mother"
"Kyoko would be so proud, Tohru"
"You know what? I think she would. Oh, Kyo's home! I will call you soon!"
"Wait!" Arisa cried, suddenly struck by a realization. "Did you tell Hana?"
"Not yet, but... I have a feeling that she just knows"
"Ha ha, I wouldn't doubt it. Talk to you later, kiddo"
"Goodbye!"
Uo-chan set the receiver in its cradle.
Looking down at her other hand, she realized that she still held something. She must have forgotten to set it down when the phone rang.
Arisa smiled wryly at the little pink plus sign.
Goddamnit, Tohru, she thought.
If she's a girl, I was going to name her Kyoko.