Emi sighed as she gently set Katara in her crib. She had just finished a feeding and was now out like a light. Emi was waiting for Ryuu to return home with some things for dinner. Food was already cooking, but there were a few things Emi was needing. She let her eyes shut for a moment, intending only to rest a moment. When she opened her eyes, Ryuu was leaning in front of her, his face a mere inch from hers. He had purposefully snuck in the back door in the kitchen and supressed his chakra in order to sneak up on her. Fortunately, he had pulled the correct action he wanted from her.
She gasped out and pushed herself further back into the couch, trying not to scream since she had just gotten Katara to sleep. Now she glared at him. Ryuu smiled sheepishly and glanced back at Katara. "You're getting better with not screaming." He chuckled and leaned down to press his lips against hers before she could respond. He chuckled lightly as she pulled back and turned her face away, mumbling something under her breath.
Ryuu sighed, half with amusement, and half with satisfaction, with a fraction of guilt since he knew she didn't like being scared, especially when she just got Katara to bed. "I got the things you wanted." He whispered gently and moved to sit beside her. She turned her face the other way, her arms crossed, her eyes closed. Ryuu groaned playfully and pulled her into his arms as he leaned back against the arm of the couch. He tightened his arms around her and leaned his head against hers. "I love you."
She let out a sigh and finally relaxed as she nodded. "I love you too." She murmured before glancing over at their daughter. After a moment she hit his chest. "If I had woken her, it'd be you who'd have to get her to sleep, not me." She smirked.
Ryuu laughed softly and nodded. "I know." He whispered and squeezed her tightly before relaxing back. He moved his feet up under Emi so that they were on the couch and rested his arms on the arm and back of the couch.
Emi moved off of Ryuu. She quickly stuck her tongue out at him before grabbing his hand and pulling him to the kitchen with her. When they reach it, she let go of his hand and rummaged through the bag with the stuff she asked for, finding what she wanted and going over to the food on the counter. "So, do you think that Miyu will be the one?" Emi asked, still keeping her voice quiet so Katara didn't wake up.
Ryuu nodded. "I'd be suprised if she wasn't. Tonoko has never shown any interest in any girl. Did you see the way he acted?" He laughed quietly and leaned back against the counter beside Emi. "I was trying my hardest not to laugh so hard."
She smiled and nodded. "I saw that." She shook her head. "And the way he came home last night. He has both of our chakra senses - he shoould have known we were there." She smirked.
Ryuu nodded and laughed lightly. "She seems very nice as well."
Emi smiled. "Even though her clan is all about poison, they are a very good clan. Reminds me a lot of yours actually. They are very protective of one another and always aid one another." She shrugged. "I think she'd be a good match for Tonoko."
Ryuu nodded. "It's interest, lightning verses poison." He shrugged. "And she's a pretty girl."
Emi smiled gently. "I think it's interesting that our son compared her to the moon..."
Ryuu smiled. "Well, her name does mean Beautiful Moon...maybe they talked about her name?" He said.
Emi laughed lightly. "I remember when you used my name to compliment me." She turned to glance at him with a smirk.
Ryuu chuckled and leaned his head back against the cupboard. "I love your name." He smiled.
She smiled and moved to set the bowl of salad on the table before sighing. "Well, dinner is just about ready."
"It looks delicious already." He smirked and reached for one of the small sushi bundles.
Emi quickly smacked his wrist. "Wait for Tonoko and Miyu." She said with a smirk.
Ryuu frowned playfully. "Aw, come on. Just a little taste?" He asked.
She sighed and moved her lips to his. "Taste my lips instead." She whispered.
Ryuu smiled softly and wrapped his arm around her waist, using the other hand to lean against the wall. "Since you so invited me to." He whispered and pressed his lips harder against hers.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled slightly. She was glad that even though they were getting older, their love for one another was as strong as it had been when they first met. There wasn't a day that went by that she regretted. Ryuu was the only man she ever wanted, and he was the only man she ever wanted to live her life with. "What's for desert?" He asked.
She smirked against his lips. "Strawberry shortcake." She whispered, then smirked. "And you can have your other dessert later tonight."
Ryuu nodded slightly and moved his lips to her neck. "Double desert." He chuckled lightly. "My favourite." He moved his other arm around her and hugged her tightly.
She blushed faintly and smiled when they heard the door open. Emi quickly pushed Ryuu back and smirked. "Go talk to them. I'll call when dinner is finished.." She smirked, kissing him quickly before pushing him towards the kitchen exit and turning back towards the stove to take out the food.
Ryuu took one last glance over his shoulder and smirked. "I'll be wanting some leftovers." He chuckled before making his way to the front door. Tonoko and Miyu were talking casually. He nodded to the two and smiled. "Supper isn't quite finished yet, Emi will call when it is. Meanwhile, how are the two of you? Have fun?"
Tonoko nodded. "She knows how to fight, that's for sure." He chuckled.
Miyu smiled gently. "So does he, though..."
Ryuu nodded slowly. "Was that all the two of you did all day? That would be a long day of training." He stated.
Tonoko shrugged. "We trained, walked around a little..." His voice trailed off.
"T-Tonoko bought me lunch." Miyu murmured.
Ryuu mhm-ed and turned to look at Tonoko. "Treating the lady out to lunch." He nodded in approval.
Tonoko shrugged and laughed slightly. "Well, we were hungry." He mumbled.
Miyu smiled slightly and glanced to Tonoko before over to Katara. She moved over to the crib and peered down at the sleeping girl.
"It's not too often that you treat a girl out to lunch." He whispered to Tonoko, raising an eyebrow.
Tonoko shrugged. "She's different, she doesn't just see me as the famous Inabikari-Sakura. She's not a fangirl..."
"But she's interested." Ryuu said.
Tonoko shrugged. "Yeah, so she is." He mumbled.
"And you're interested." Ryuu went on.
Blood surfaced to his face to cast a faint blush over his cheeks. "Yeah, so?"
Ryuu chuckled lightly. "It's alright son. We all said this was going to happen someday."
Tonoko sighed and nodded. "I feel as if I'm betraying myself almost."
Ryuu held in his laugh and shook his head. "Nah, you're not. It's normal to feel for a specific woman even though no other woman caught your interest."
Tonoko nodded slightly and moved to look around the corner at Miyu leaning over the cribs edge and peering down at Katara.
"So, what're you going to do, then?" Ryuu asked and glanced over at Miyu.
Tonoko laughed and punched his dads arm. "She's already mine." He said, a bit louder than he wanted to.
Miyu glanced at the boys for a moment before smiling and walking to the kitchen to see if she could help Emi with anything. Tonoko watched as Miyu disappeared into the second door that led to the kitchen. Ryuu nudged Tonoko and nodded for him to follow him. Tonoko did and Ryuu led him to his bedroom. The room was clean, the blankets neatly covering the bed, no clothing on the floor. Emi cleaned the whole house except for Tonoko's room which was his responsibility. Tonoko watched as his father crossed the room to the dresser and opened his mothers jewellery box. He paused for a moment and spotted what he want, pulling out a necklace.
"Dad?" Tonoko stepped forward with an eyebrow raised, slightly curious.
Ryuu closed the door on the jewellery box and moved to stand in front of Tonoko. "I gave Emi's to her the night I decided to make the betrothal official; to say that I agree completely with it."
Tonoko's eyes widened slightly. "I remember you telling me." He murmured.
Ryuu held out the necklace and Tonoko took it, looking it over and then comparing it to his own. Of course it was exactly the same.
"This was your grandma's before she passed away. Now, don't just go and give it to her though." Ryuu said.
Tonoko nodded. "I understand. I only give it to her when I know for sure that we will marry." He murmured.
Ryuu nodded and pulled Tonoko into an embrace. "Your mother and I are proud of you, Tonoko. We know you're wise." He said.
Tonoko nodded and hugged his father back. "Thanks."
When the two heard Emi's voice calling to them, they made their way down to the kitchen. Tonoko had placed the necklace in his bedroom before something happened to it and now all were sitting at the kitchen table. He didn't know what was more awkward, the fact that everyone was silent, or the fact that him and Miyu were sitting side by side and his parents were sitting beside each other on the other side of the table. First problem was the no one sat in their regular spots, and second was the fact that he felt like him and Miyu were going to be interrogated.
After a few more minutes of silence had gone by, Emi had finally decided to break the awkwardness. "So, Miyu."
Miyu's head lifted. "Yes?"
"How's your mother?" Emi asked with a smile - Emi had grown up in a squad with Miyu's mother.
"Sh-She's good." Miyu smiled. "Still trying to heal from that last mission she went on though..."
Emi nodded in understanding. "I would bet so. Broken ribs are extremely painful."
Miyu nodded then her eyes widened. "Wait... your maiden name is Sakura... right?"
Emi laughed. "Now you're catching on." She smiled gently.
"So... it was you and Tempest that my mother was in a squad with?"
Emi nodded. "We all had something the other didn't." She laughed. "I had the brains, your mother the skill, and Tempest had the speed."
Miyu smiled. "Mom told me all sorts of stories from when she was my age - she said they were her best years of her childhood being in the squad with you."
Emi nodded and glanced at Ryuu. "You remember Niimika, right? You were always trying to scare the three of us." She smirked.
Ryuu nodded. "I don't know who was more easy to scare, you or her." He chuckled and brought a moutful of rice into his mouth.
Emi rolled her eyes before taking another bite of her own food. Miyu glanced to Tonoko and smiled gently. "I'm guessing you didn't realize that either?"
Tonoko shook his head. "Had no idea." He murmured.
Emi smiled and looked between the two. "So... Tonoko. What's the situation?" She smirked.
"Well.." He said and looked around the table. "We're sitting over here, you're sitting over there, and there is food between us. It's dinner, yet I feel as if the two of you are interrogating us." He shrugged and stuffed a piece of sushi into his mouth.
Emi rolled her eyes and looked to Ryuu. "What have you found out that he wont tell me?"
Ryuu smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Come on, son." Ryuu said.
Tonoko looked up and him and his father held a long gaze. Finally, Tonoko lowered his head and sighed. "Well...uh..." He took a mouthful of water and wiped his mouth. "I-I guess I've given up." He murmured.
Emi smirked and glanced to Miyu, smiling gently. "Welcome to the family."
Miyu was blushing brightly but bowed her head as a thanks.
Tonoko blushed lightly and reached for his water again, gulping it down.
"Don't choke." Ryuu chuckled.
Emi chuckled and laughed. Suddenly crying could be heard from the livingroom and Emi let out a sigh and stood up. "Guess she's lonely." She laughed and left the room.
Miyu glanced up at Ryuu and blushed more at the amused expression on his face. "S-So... you obviously don't mind my clan?" She murmured.
Ryuu chuckled lightly. "Of course not. We welcome you wholeheartedly to our family." He smiled and nodded towards Tonoko who slightly nodded back.
Miyu smiled and laughed nervously - she wasn't used to anything this embaressing.
"I think I'm going to walk Miyu home." Tonoko said as Miyu disappeared to the washroom.
Ryuu nodded. "Going to compare her to the moon again?" He smirked.
Tonoko's eyes widened. "W-what?"
Emi smiled as she rocked Katara in her arms, looking down at her peaceful face. "Miyu told us - it's sweet, son. I can only imagine what you said." She laughed lightly.
Tonoko scratched his cheek and laughed nevously. "I didn't really say much. I only said that her name really suited her." He shrugged. "She's mysterious and bright and interesting like the moon." He said and shrugged, skipping over the other part.
"Mention her beauty?" Emi smirked, glacing at Ryuu. "Ryuu was always calling me beautiful as we grew up."
Tonoko blushed and shrugged again. "I don't know...I might have." He murmured.
Emi laughed. She handed Katara to Ryuu and stood up to walk over and pull Tonoko into her arms. She let out a short laugh and smiled. "I'm glad you found someone, Tonoko. You really had me worried..." She smiled and kissed the top of his head.
Tonoko laughed slightly. "You two...worried about me?" He laughed again before reaching out to take Katara into his arms. He moved her shirt down fromover her mouth and tickled her cheek. Katara's mouth opened wide in a grin and laughed, reaching up to grab Tonoko's chin. Tonoko laughed and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
Emi smiled and moved back to sit down beside Ryuu with his arm around her shoulders. She watched Tonoko as Katara giggled and cooed in his arms. Miyu walked into the room and looked at Tonoko, smiling. "Good with kids I see." She said with a laugh.
"Oh." Tonoko lifted his eyes to meet hers and laughed lightly. "I...love kids." He murmured and moved Katara so that she was leaning against his chest. He snugged the side of his face against her head gently and kissed her cheek before passing her into his parents arms.
"You ready?" He asked.
Miyu smiled and nodded. Emi laughed lightly and moved Katara in her arms so the girl sat more comfortably.
Miyu and Tonoko moved to door, saying bye to Tonoko's parents once more before leaving the house. "Sorry if my parents embarrassed you." He murmured as soon as he closed the door.
Miyu waved him off. "Nah, it's no problem. I-I'm actually happy that they like me." She smiled.
Tonoko nodded. "Me too. They wanted me to ask Chrone." He mumbled and rolled his eyes.
"You mean the moody girl from yesterday?" Miyu laughed and shurgged. "I-I'm glad you chose me over her." She whispered. "I-I... I really do like you, a lot, Tonoko." She whispered. "I-I... it was instant when we were on that mission..." She murmured, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Ah.." Tonoko paused and moved his eyes to the ground. "Yeah..." He murmured then laughed. "It's kind of funny...All the girls that I had no interest in swarmed me, yet the one I was interested in acted as if I didn't exist unless I was talking directly at her." He said.
Miyu smiled. "Guess that's why it worked out." She whispered.
She then smiled when their hands brushed against one another. Instead of pulling away, she reached for his hand and entwined their fingers gently, blushing more as she looked at the ground. Tonoko gasped slightly and looked away with a blush, tightening his grip on her hand.
"S-sorry my palms are sweaty." He murmured.
She laughed and shook her head. "I don't mind. Y-Your hands are so warm compared to mine..." She whispered, turning her face to glance at him.
Tonoko nodded and caught her gaze. "A-are you always so cold?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Well, we are in a desert, but I suppose I am." She giggled slightly.
"Oh." He laughed lightly. "Strange."
She laughed and shrugged. "Is that a problem?" She asked, smirking.
Tonoko shook his head. "Not at all." He murmured. "As long as it isn't a problem my hands are sweaty."
She laughed and shook her head. "Are you always this nervous around people?" She asked, eyeing him with a smirk - she was nervous too, but she was letting herself relax more now that they were now alone.
Tonoko laughed nervously. "No." He murmured. "But I am with you for some reason."
She smiled. "It's that beauty of mine, right?" She smirked.
Tonoko shrugged. "I just don't want to screw up." He mumbled under his breath and laughed nervously.
She smiled gently. "You won't screw up." She whispered.
Tonoko nodded slightly and they continued on in silence.