Ch. 27

"My goodness, those two were doing what, Tomoko?"

"Thinking they could be farmers." Tomoko sighed, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead. "Not only did they run away from home, not only where they engaging in behavior best reserved for married couples, but Frank and Judy also thought that somehow, they could run a farm. Never mind, of course, that none of them had ever set foot on a farm before."

"What on Earth possessed those two to do such a thing?"

"I haven't the slightest idea, Miranda-daarin. Thank goodness they hadn't the funds to actually purchase a farm. But I rather think their being hired as farmhands was a blessing in disguise. They certainly got a taste of what that kind of work is like and neither of them enjoyed it."

Miranda laughed. "I remember taking agricultural studies in school. I did enjoy it, but it was hard work and everyone had a lot more respect for farming after each class. And several of my classmates actually went on to be farmers, both for crops and for livestock. They knew it was hard work, but they thrived on it."

"Some are meant for the outdoor life. Frank and Judy were not."

A soft growl answered Tomoko's words. The bat demon turned to look down at the bassinet that had been set next to the couch where he was sitting. Rin, now two months old, was looking up at her father with her bright golden eyes. The infant hanyo's lips were curled back from her fangs and her clawed hands waved as she batted at a small stuffed sheep that was strapped to the bassinet's handle.

"Indeed, Rin-chan," Tomoko said with a chuckle. "They were foolish children, weren't they?"

This time, Rin hissed and clawed at the sheep hard enough to send the stuffed animal flying across the room.

"Rin!" Miranda laughed as she quickly fetched the tiny toy. "Goodness, I hope that wasn't you showing us how you'd handle a sheep farm."

Rin's ears twitched as she watched her mother reattach the sheep to her bassinet. The little half-demon narrowed her eyes, then lifted her head off her pillow to snap at the dangling toy.

"Tomoko, she lifted her head!" Miranda's face stretched into an awed smile. "Oh, and she's still holding it! Look!"

"I see, daarin!" Tomoko was trying his hardest not to laugh as the infant not only held her head up, but that she continued to try and bite the sheep that was just out of reach. With a final growl, Rin seemed to gather herself and hefted her small body just enough to sink her fangs into the stuffed animal. Flopping back onto the pillow, the baby half-demon gnashed at the toy with obvious joy.

"Rin!" Miranda stared at her daughter, not sure if she should applaud her baby's amazing muscle control or remove the rapidly disintegrating stuffed sheep from Rin's mouth.

"Let her chew it, it's alright." Tomoko wrapped his arm around his wife. "She won't choke, I promise. And she's claimed her prey; she may do what she likes with it."

"Well, when you put it that way..." Miranda shook her head in amazement. "I've never seen a baby that young show such strength. I don't know what I'll do once she learns to crawl, never mind fly."

"We'll both cope. Though, from the looks of it, once Rin learns to move on her own, she'll want to hunt."

"Is that... alright?"

"Hai. Half-demons can easily eat raw meat."

"Something else to expect then." Miranda watched Rin clawing at the remains of the stuffed sheep. "A good thing we have several of those toys. But do you think she might be growing teeth? I didn't expect that until she's about six months."

"Well, she was born with her first fangs, so it's likely she'll grow her first teeth early. But unlike humans, we regrow teeth as necessary throughout our lives and never run out."

"Oh." Miranda looked down at her daughter again. "I suppose I shouldn't worry about taking Rin to the dentist, then?"

"I wouldn't advise it. Not only would it be a waste of time, a human sticking his finger in a half-demon's mouth is likely going to end up leaving it there."

"Duly noted." Miranda smiled and ran her hand over Rin's cheek. The little half-demon paused in her tearing apart the stuffed sheep and looked up at her mother as Miranda spoke to her.

"Perhaps we'll have to get you something firmer to nibble on, won't we, darling? I imagine that'll feel better on your gums?"

Rin cocked her head slightly, as though she were considering this. Her ears twitched again as Tomoko spoke up, addressing his daughter in Japanese.

"And soon enough, you will catch your own live prey, my child. Then you will have meat and bone."

This time, Rin's face scrunched up in what was arguably a tiny smile.

"Oh, she understood you!" Miranda smiled again as she gently grasped the baby's clawed hand. "She is learning!"

"That she is. Ahh, and look."

Rin had suddenly turned her head toward the open window, her whole body stiffening. Tomoko's own ears had caught the sound of beating wings and her spoke to Rin once more in his native tongue.

"Your uncle Takashi and Aunt Suzume have brought your cousins Kenta and Souske to meet you, my Rin. That feeling running through you now is how you can sense your yokai kin when they are close."

"Takashi is here with his family?" Despite only knowing a few words and phrases, Miranda had easily picked up the names of her in-laws. "Oh thank goodness I cleaned the house yesterday. But I'd best put the kettle on and... oh, I don't have any cookies, but I did make more blackberry jam."

"Tea, bread, and homemade jam will do everyone nicely," Tomoko assured her. "And only if you're up to it."

"Oh, I feel fine." Indeed, Miranda was striding into the kitchen with nary a sight of the exhaustion that had plagued her since before Rin's birth. And I still can't believe how quickly I lost that baby weight!"

"To be fair, you didn't have much to lose in the first place."

"Either way, I promise I'm back to my old self. Now then, let me get the kettle boiling."

Miranda vanished into the kitchen as Rin began to shift eagerly in her bassinet.

"Indeed, Rin. I'm looking forward to seeing our family as well."

Rising from the couch, Tomoko made his way to the front door and opened it to see Takashi and his family landing smoothly on the sand. The bat demon Lord folded his wings and approached the Kurosaki cottage, closely followed by his mate and sons. Mounting the porch, Takashi met hos brother's eyes before both of them bowed to each other. Takashi paused a moment, then smiled and held out his arms to his brother. Mirroring Takashi's smile, Tomoko embraced his older brother.

"It's good to see you, Takashi nii-san. Good to see all of you."

"And how wonderful it is to see you as a father for the first time." Releasing Tomoko, Takashi allowed Suzume to step forward. The bat demon Lady was clutching a small basket in her clawed hands.

"A few gifts for your new little one. Takashi told me her wings are under her arms, so I've altered a few sets of clothes for her."

"Domo arigato, Suzume imouto desu. I've no doubt Miranda will love them."

"Is Miranda oba-san feeling better?" Souske asked.

"Indeed she is, Souske-kun. Come in and see; she's excited to see you."

"And is Rin-chan eager to meet us?" Kenta asked as he followed his parents and uncle into the cottage."

"That she is."

Sure enough, all of the Kurosakis paused as a familiar soft growl reached their ears. This was followed by the pattering of footsteps as Miranda came out of the kitchen.

"Hello, everyone. Ahh, it's so good to see you all."

Tomoko watched as Miranda greeted each of the bat demons and sure enough, she was delighted with Suzume's gift.

"Oh, they're perfect! Thank you so much, Suzume! I've had to alter all of the baby clothes I've bought and Rin still manages to tear most of the sleeves off her garments."

"Don't worry; this fabric is far sturdier. And as she grows, I'll help you find find the best clothes to suit her wings. No bat yokai likes having their wings confined if they can help it."

"True, but I've no doubt she'll make an exception for this when the time comes."

From inside his robes, Takashi drew forth a cloth bundle that had been tied with a silk ribbon. Miranda carried it over to a nearby end table to open it, gasping when she beheld the contents. Tomoko felt his own breath catch in his throat as Miranda held up a gorgeous silk kimono of glittering green and gold. The cloth shimmered in the early afternoon sunlight, seeming to glow with a light that was almost otherworldly.

"Takashi, I..." Tomoko could barely speak.

"It's yours, Tomoko. Or rather, it's Rin's," Takashi said firmly. The bat demon Lord's face was impassive, but his eyes still shone. "You know it was what Okaa-san wanted."

"This... this was your mother's?" Miranda tore her eyes away from the beautiful fabric to look at bother her husband and brother-in-law.

"Hai," Tomoko said softly, reaching out to ran his own hand over the silk. "It... it was her wedding kimono. She... she wanted..."

"She wanted to give it to a daughter, but as you know, she didn't live long enough to have a third child. As such, it was decided that the kimono would be given to the first Kurosaki daughter born to either myself or Tomoko." Takashi gave his brother a smile smile. "And thus, it is Rin's by right, meant for her seventeenth birthday."

"And so it shall be," Tomoko affirmed with a nod. "Yes, I know she'll have to keep her wings folded when wearing it, but by the time she's old enough to do so, I've no doubt she won't mind."

"Of course she won't." Miranda was carefully folding the kimono back into its cloth covering, taking great care not to crease the fine silk. "Why, I'm sure she'll be honored to carry on the legacy of her grandmother. And until that time comes, Tomoko and I will look after this precious piece of history."

"Precious it is and precious is the child who will wear it."

"That she is. Come, let us introduce you to Rin."

The Kurosaki bat demons followed Tomoko and Miranda back into the cozy living room. The bassinet was rocking slightly as its occupant shifted about. Soft growls and hisses drifted upwards from inside the cradle as the family approached.

"Rin, darling, your aunt, uncle, and cousins are here." Miranda leaned over the bassinet to smile at her baby. "It's quite alright; they're so happy to see you."

The little hanyo stopped moving about, but her eyes had narrowed in an expression Miranda could only describe as fierce. The baby half-demon sniffed the air, turning her head a bit as her father and uncle approached. Takashi bent over the bassinet and Rin froze as she met her uncle's eyes for the first time. The two stared at each other in silence for a moment before Takashi spoke.

"She has Father's eyes." The bat demon Lord reached his hand into the bassinet, intending to run a finger over his niece's cheek. Quick as a flash, Rin sank her tiny fangs into the side of Takashi's hand.

"Rin!" Miranda cried as Takashi quickly drew his hand back. "Oh, Takashi, I'm so sorry, I-"

"She drew blood." Takashi was examining his hand. Though quickly healing, the tiny puncture wounds had managed to each shed a single drop of blood onto the bat demon Lord's skin. "She... she actually drew blood!" Takashi threw back his head and laughed. "Haha, my goodness, Rin-chan, you are a Kurosaki, aren't you? Hah, Father's eyes and Father's temper!"

"Not to mention his speed." Suzume was also laughing. "A babe striking fast enough to make the great Takashi Kurosaki bleed? Oh, those who cross her had best beware!"

"I... I suppose so." Miranda was too bemused to do anything other than to start chuckling herself. "As long as you're alright."

"Oh fine, fine." Takashi managed to get his laughter under control before turning to his sons. "Come, boys, meet your cousin."

Kenta and Souske crept forward, standing on their tiptoes to peer into the bassinet. Rin's ears tilted back and she swiped a clawed hand at the twins.

"Now, Rin, best save the rough play for when you can move about more." Miranda knelt down beside her nephews. "I'm sure Kenta and Souske will be happy to play with you then."

"And she'll be able to fly with us." Kenta had caught sight of Rin's little wings, which were jutting out from her torn sleeves.

"Hai, that she will, Kenta-kun. But you'll have to wait a few years for that." Tomoko smiled down at his daughter. "Though something tells me that once she does learn how to use her wings, she'll be a natural in the air."

"We'll help you fly," Souske said, addressing Rin in Japanese. Tomoko smiled as Rin met her cousin's eyes, tilting her head as the little bat demon spoke. "You'll have to learn how to use the wind currents to help you fly fast."

"And how to use them to surprise your enemies," Kenta added with a grin.

Rin growled softly and this time actually fully smiled. Tomoko laid a hand on his nephews' shoulders, feeling a smile of his own stretch across his face.

"Rin is lucky to have you, boys. I can't wait to see what the three of you will accomplish together."

"But for now-" Miranda got to her feet as the sound of a kettle reaching full boil came from the kitchen -"how about tea? And I have fresh bread with blackberry jam too."

"Let me help you." Suzume followed Miranda to the kitchen. "I hope you didn't go through too much trouble for us."

"Not at all," Miranda assured her. "We're just happy to have you here. And I'm beyond grateful that Rin has all of you to call family."

And indeed, Miranda would be grateful to have the Kurosakis in her life going forward, given what Fate had in store for her, her daughter, and, most of all, her husband.