The Takusu family was next in the list. Akio and his father had been as much a part of Kazuma's life as his biological family. If Fumino was honest with herself, she would admit that the Takusu family had actually likely been more of a family than the Ojiro elder had been. It was sad; but true. It was the Takusu patriarch that had raised Kazuma and it was Akio-san that had been his older brother. They deserved to be told in person. Goodness, they probably deserved to be in the child's life as pseudo-grandfather and uncle.

Thus, the Ojiro family was making one more weekend trip. It would be the last weekend Kazuma had off before the holidays and neither Fumino nor Kazuma wanted Akio to spoil the surprise. He still worked as a secretary for Kazuma's father and had likely even now already heard about the baby. If Kazuma waited until the holidays to tell Takusu-san, Akio would definitely go ahead and tell him. Thus, they had to make the trip now.

Which wasn't really a problem, it was just a long car ride.

Takusu-san had been released from the hospital a few months ago. While not entirely recovered from his illness, the elderly man had recovered enough to be able to go home. Fumino was grateful the old man had recovered some of this strength. She didn't think Kazuma was ready to bury a parent.

Fumino blinked as Kazuma pulled into a subdivision. Small, cookie cutter houses lined each side and Fumino smiled. This was the neighborhood Kazuma had grown up in. It looked cute. After another moment, Kazuma pulled the van into a short driveway in front of an older house. A black car had already been parked in front of them and Fumino smiled.

Good. Akio-san had taken some time off to greet them.

"Are we here, Ma-kun?" Teppei asked excitedly from the back seat. Kazuma looked back and smiled.

"Yep. You're about to see the house where I grew up, Teppei-kun." Kazuma opened his door and got out. Fumino fumbled a bit with her seat belt nervously. She hoped Takusu-san was feeling well.

"Cool!" Teppei babbled as Kazuma unbuckled him from his booster seat.

Together, the family of three (soon to be four, Fumino reminded herself) walked to the door. Teppei excitedly jammed his finger repetitively into the door bell as soon as he saw the button.

"Teppei stop! That's so rude! What if you give them a heart attack!" Fumino gasped as she grabbed her little brother's hand.

"But it makes noise, Buncha!"

"That doesn't mean you can just ring other people's door bells! Teppei, what will they think of us?"

"I think you're got a healthy little boy who likes noise as much as any other." The gruff, aged voice startled both Kaji siblings. Fumino looked up to the vaguely familiar sight of gray hair and joyful laugh lines.

"Takusu-san! I'm so sorry!" She bowed quickly in apology.

"Takusu-san, I see you're doing much better!" Kazuma stated as he looked over the aged man. Indeed, Takusu-san definitely appeared to be in much better health. His cheeks held healthy color and though he leaned on a cane, he appeared quite capable.

"I am. Turns out the medication my doctor put me on was giving me problems. Now that they've got me off it, I feel much better." Takusu-san grinned jovially. "Now, come on inside. Akio's setting the table for lunch and I still haven't properly been introduced to these two, Kazuma-sama." The elderly man led them into his home.

"You've gotten bossy in your old age." Kazuma grinned.

"Its my arthritis, makes me act up, I swear." Takusu grinned back. The group entered the kitchen area and Fumino blinked at the sight of Akio in a bright pink apron and red oven mitts.

"Kazuma-sama, Teppei-kun, Fumino-dono." Akio greeted them as he placed a dish on the table. Fumino smiled back.

"Hello, Akio-san. How have you been?"

"I have been well. Work is going smoothly. And you?"

"I think you already know the answer to that," Fumino smiled joyfully at Akio. The young man nodded and gave a sly smile in return.

"Indeed, I do." He murmured.

"Fumino, Teppei, this is Takusu-san. He raised me when I was younger. Takusu-san, this is Teppei, my little brother-in-law, and the lovely Fumino, my wife." Kazuma introduced the two to Takusu -san. Fumino didn't doubt the old man didn't already know, though. She had heard about the pictures from Kazuma. The old man had his fingers in everything.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Fumino-dono, Teppei-kun." The older man performed a shaky bow. Fumino smiled.

"I'm happy to have finally met you as well. Kazuma's told me a lot about what you did for him." Fumino bowed back and tapped Teppei on the head to make sure he did the same. His bow was sloppy, and too deep, but his exuberance did bring a smile to Takusu-san's face.

"Now, how about we get to our meal. It will grow cold otherwise." Takusu-san waved them over to the table. For the next few minutes, the group chattered idly; catching up and then some. Finally, once the meal had vanished but for the crumbs, Takusu-san asked a question.

"Do you have something to tell me, Kazuma-sama? Normally, we talk over the phone. It must be something important if you're making a house call all the way out here."

Kazuma swallowed.

"Ah, well, we do actually, have something to show you." Kazuma looked to Fumino and nodded. They had both discussed how they would tell Takusu-san and in the end that had decided on a gift. Carefully, so as not to rip the wrapping paper, Fumino handed over a brightly wrapped box. Takusu-san blinked before glancing up.

"A surprise?" He questioned gently. Then he turned his wrinkled hands to unwrapping the gift. Once the bunny patterned paper had been peeled away, Takusu-san's aged eyes were greeted with a wooden frame and a small black and white photograph within it. Though it had been years since he had seen the same style of photo, but not even time could dull that memory. Nor, he thought, would it dull this one. For as long has lived, Takusu-san was sure that few days would shine as bright as this one. His wedding, the birth of Akio, and maybe when Kazuma had visited him in the hospital being a few. When he looked back up at the expectant couple, tears gleamed in his eyes.

"Congratulations, Kazuma-sama. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks… Tou-san."

This probably isn't quite up to quality but I've been sick and I'm so, so, so far behind schedule its not even funny.

Enjoy, Review, live happy, healthy lives please

~Blitza