The gods were merciful to them, nine months after the marriage Yumi came into labor. Three days after that Jack was allowed to see her and from what he heard speaking with the nursemaids he should count himself lucky. The labor was long and arduous to begin with when a surprise came in the form of twins. As such Yumi cursed his name and the gods repeatedly and venomously, it was likely were he there she would have attempted to directly take the pain out on him. Not that she could actually hurt him but it would do her and the babies no good.

When he entered the room though that anger seemed to have left, the peace offering of her favorite sweets seemed unneeded now. Still she accepted them happily when Jack approached, eager to see his children, with a warm smile she moved slightly for him to see the pair.

"They're beautiful." He smiled proudly looking down at the sleeping babes, small tuffs of black hair atop their heads that he gently brushed, one caught his finger squeezing so tight Jack thought it'd break if he pulled away.

"With what they put me through they ought to be." Yumi laughed lightly, before eating the sweet mochi. Jack smiled at her glad to see she was her normal self again.

"I'm sure they are sorry for that, right?" Jack laughed looking down at them wiggling his trapped finger. "You did not mean to hurt your mother." Yumi had to laugh at his cooing.

"She's a tough one, first one out barely a peep." She commented pointing to the baby that trapped his finger. Slowly she lied down next to them petting the head of the other. "This boy cries too much for a future emperor." Jack followed Yumi's lead and lied down, the children between them, his finger finally freed.

"A boy and a girl. We are lucky." He commented and she nodded, best she could lying down.

"They need names." Her eyes meeting Jacks only to look back down at them. They knew each wanted to suggest the same thing. It was almost a sign really a boy and a girl but…

"It would not be fair to them." He said quickly.

"Yes yes, we shouldn't do that to them." She agreed just as quickly.

"But ummm what about the first syllable?" He offered.

"Oh yes, that will do. And we will each pick one." She agreed.

"Only so long as the other approves of the name." Jack smiled.

"Yes, yes, I'll pick for the boy and you the girl." Yumi smiled and Jack silently agreed.

They laid there silently watching the infants sleep soundly, each proud parent deep in thought over what to name their children.
"How about…." Yumi started catching Jacks attention. "Ah…Akira?"

"Bright Intelligence." He looked at the boy and smiled. "Yes, a wonderful name for a future emperor."

"Now your turn." She smiled.

"Let's see…" He pondered for a moment looking down. "Hitomi?"

"Hmmm Beautiful history." She smiled lightly at the girl. "Yes, it suits her well."

"Welcome to the world Akira and Hitomi." Jack announced proudly to the pair that could not understand. Yet as if on cue the pair opened their eyes. The cries of Akira were loud and harsh drowning out his sister's. With a groan Yumi moved off the the floor.

"Now now stop that." She chided already more use to the wails than Jack. "Sooth Hitomi while I feed him." She ordered briskly and he complied, glad for the chance to hold his child. But as Yumi moved her robe to feed the crying Akira Jack noticed something truly surprising. "What?" She asked dully noticing his stare. "It's not as though you haven't seen…." She blushed looking off still not use to the act of breast feeding herself.

"You're robe." He corrected her assumption, gently rocking Hitomi all the while. "It's folded correctly." In all these nine months he'd never seen her wear it in a manner not befitting a corpse. Not even on accident or during a daze in the morning.

"Oh…" Had she not even noticed? Jack pondered briefly. But as she looked down at their son greedily suckling, he had a feeling it was very much purposeful. "I suppose, I no longer feel a corpse." She smiled light and motherly, a word he never thought to attribute to her before. "I never thought…" Carefully she moved the boy off, motioning for Jack to switch. "I could love something so deeply and quickly before."

As Hitomi ate and Akira looked silently up at his father, he understood what she meant. "Neither did I." The twins were only in his life for a few moments and Jack knew he'd do anything and everything for them. It was something he thought he'd never feel again. "They will want for nothing."

"We have a lot of work to do though." Yumi added softly handing him his daughter again, holding them both for the first time. Jack only looked at her confused and she sighed. "You really were only taught how to fight. What would you do without me?" She smirked only for jack to laugh lightly, her insights were really a great help in the duties he slowly took over from his father. "We'll need to invite all your lords to see them, and of coarse your overseas allies, with that will bring marriage prospects never too early to start there…" To that Jack raised a brow causing Yumi to cough a bit in embarrassment. "Yes well, I guess we can ignore that. But we will need to search for tutors. I won't have my children ignorant of the world and their duties. We are simply lucky I had an interest in such things and taught myself."

Jack nodded. "Anything Akira learns Hitomi must as well. She is strong already I won't strip her of that." He wanted his children strong, both of them, no matter what society said they had to protect themselves and others. Yumi agreed though she was worried. "A private tutor though for those lessons, someone we can trust. Let the world think she's weak it can add to her strength." Jack did not appreciate deception but he could see the logic in it.

"But most importantly they must meet their grandparents." He smiled bright and wide lifting the babes up a bit. It cause Hitomi to laugh and Akira's eyes to widen in concern.

"Yes, you are right there." She laughed happily and all the worries washed away.


A/N: So yeah I totally trolled with that chapter title, but the pair are experiencing paternal love for their children which is a new love for them.