Chapter 50: Three Babies

"Look Hikari," Misaki said, shaking the bright red rattle. "Look here, baby," she coaxed.

Hikari smiled and reached for it. Her little hand closed around the handle as she clumsily tried to shake it. It clattered to the ground.

"Oops," Misaki said, picking it up.

Her daughter laughed and Misaki found herself smiling for no reason.

"It's so quiet," Takumi observed, walking into the house.

Misaki carefully stood up with Hikari in her arms.

"Hey Princess," Takumi said, gently touching her chubby cheek. "Were you good?"

Hikari reached out for him. Takumi held out her arms and Misaki passed her to him.

"What do you want for dinner?" Takumi asked, walking into the kitchen.

"Fried rice?" Misaki suggested. She took the bottle out of the bowl of hot water and tested the temperature.

"Alright," Takumi said, kissing Hikari on the forehead. Misaki took Hikari back to feed her. Her hands touched the bottle as Misaki fed her. "So," Takumi said, washing rice. "Tora and I are processing contracts for your agency right now. The should be done within days."

"I've been phone interviewing people," Misaki told him. "I compiled a list with Ruri and Sakura. We're going to hold official interviews when I can get someone to watch Hikari for a few hours."

"We can always have your mom come over," Takumi pointed out.

"Yeah but I hate always having her come up here. I wish she'd take our offer and just move here," Misaki sighed. "Wouldn't you want Grandma to move here, Hikari?" she asked.

Hikari was too busy eating to respond.

"How's Suzuna?" Takumi asked.

"I called her yesterday," Misaki replied. "They're doing well. Doctor said everything is healthy."

Suzuna and Hinata were expecting their first child next year. Misaki heard the official news yesterday. Her mom was ecstatic about a second grandchild.

"It's just too bad they spent their second year anniversary thinking Suzuna got food poisoning," Misaki laughed.

"The little surprises in life," Takumi joked. "A supposed stomach bug turns into a 9 month pregnancy."

"Hardly a little surprise," Misaki said, setting the empty bottle on the counter. She held Hikari up so she could pat her back.

"Do you ever feel like you're just in this perfect dream?" Takumi asked. "I think I am."

Misaki rolled her eyes. "You're so weird," she said, patting his cheek with her free hand. "I'm going to put her down and we can eat dinner."

Takumi nodded and gave her a peck on the mouth.

"Well I'm starved," Misaki said, picking up her chopsticks.

"Did you run on the elliptical?" Takumi asked.

Misaki nodded. "I had Hikari in view. She was lying on her stomach with her pink pacifier."

"Cute?"

Misaki smiled. "Did you like her hat today?"

Takumi nodded. "We have a very fashionable baby," he agreed.

"Time flies with her," Misaki said, taking a sip of water. "She's grown up so much already."

"Four months is a big girl," Takumi said, placing a hand over hers. "She's only going to get bigger now."

"How tall do you think she'll be?" Misaki asked.

"Probably not my height," Takumi winked. "But tall."

"I think she's going to be quiet," Misaki added. "She's very easy to soothe and take care of."

"Calm and collected is a good personality," Takumi pointed out. "Sweet and gentle is too."

"Were you a quiet kid?"

"More or less," Takumi agreed. "She has your looks and my personality. The only bad thing about quiet and gentle is that we have to remember not to give her any less attention than say a handful sibling."

Misaki smirked. "Thinking about a second child already?"

"Can we please have six?" Takumi begged.

"No way!" Misaki exclaimed. "I don't care about looks but I would still like to have a figure!"

"Oh, it would be great though," Takumi said. "We'd have enough bedrooms. The younger ones can have bunk beds and we'd get a mini van."

"I can't give birth to six children," Misaki said, eye twitching.

"Sure you can," Takumi teased. "That labor instructor had ten children. Each one was a natural birth. It gets easier."

Misaki rolled her eyes. "I was thinking maybe three."

"Three more?"

"Three total."

Takumi kissed her hand. "We'll just see what fate has in stored for us."

"I think fate is in our own hands," Misaki muttered.

"We can take this into our own hands," Takumi said, smirking.

It took Misaki a minute to realize what she said. She blushed and looked away. "Not right now! We have Hikari to take care of!"

"How about for fun then?"

"But Hikari..."

"She won't wake up for a few hours," Takumi said. "Unless you're not interested."

Misaki swallowed. "I didn't say that..."

"What did you say then?" Takumi asked.

"Stop!" Misaki complained. "You're embarrassing me."

Takumi got up and hugged her from behind. "Why?" he whispered in her ear. "You don't miss it after five months?"

Misaki turned and placed her hands on his shoulders. Why was her heart picking up speed?

"Are you tired?" Takumi asked. He dumped the empty dishes in the sink. "I think you're tired. Let's go upstairs."

Misaki smirked. "I'm really tired," she said, playing along. "Looks like you're going to have to carry me upstairs."

Takumi easily picked her up. "That I can do," he agreed.

Misaki ran her hand through his hair. "You seem a lot older now," she teased.

"I'm a grown up," Takumi said, kissing her cheek. "And I'm going to a lot of grown up things to you."

"Takumi!" Misaki exclaimed, blushing.

"We really need to swap some tips," Sakura said. "How do you soothe the crying?"

"Skin contact," Ruri suggested. "It comforts them somehow."

"That's true," Misaki agreed. "Skin on skin contact helps, a lot."

"Your Hikari seems to be very quiet," Sakura noted.

Misaki looked down at Hikari who she held in her lap. She was quietly pulling on Misaki's watch.

"Yeah," Misaki said, smoothing down Hikari's hair. "It's like she's always deep in thought. I wish I knew what she was thinking about."

"Sounds like Takumi," Sakura laughed.

"What about Shige?" Misaki asked. "Any traits yet?"

"Too little for a distinct personality," Sakura teased, kissing Shige's cheek. "He has this weird mixture of hair color though. It's blonde but has these reddish tints."

"I like it," Ruri said. "Mimi is 100% blonde."

"Well you and Tora are both blonde," Misaki reminded her.

"Uhh!" Hikari piped in.

"That's right," Misaki replied. "What color hair do you have, Hikari?" she asked. "Black like Mommy. Can you say black?"

Hikari put her pacifier back in her mouth and sucked on it.

"I guess not," Misaki laughed.

Ruri and Sakura giggled.

"How have you been feeling?" Misaki asked Ruri. "Mimi is barely a month old."

"Auntie is still here," Ruri explained. "She's taking a nap right now like Mimi is."

"Did you get enough rest?" Misaki asked. "It's these few months that you have to be very careful."

Ruri nodded. "I have my aunt and my uncle till yesterday. He went back for work but Tora's been coming home early and Gretta is always here. I have all the help I could need."

Hikari dropped the pacifier onto the ground.

"Oops," Misaki said, picking it up. "Dirty now," she said, putting back in her bag. She pulled out a new one and handed it to Hikari along with her favorite rattle.

"Have you started solid food?" Ruri asked.

Misaki shook her head. "We're going to wait another month. I have Hikari on formula."

Hikari dropped her rattle on the ground.

"She just wants me to pick it up," Misaki said, handing the plastic toy back to Hikari. "Which is why I like just sitting on the ground. It's easier to pick things up for her."

"Can I hold her?" Ruri asked.

Misaki nodded and passed Hikari to Ruri.

"She knows you well enough not to get scared," Misaki said. "Hikari hates strangers."

"Auntie Ruri," Ruri said, bouncing Hikari lightly on her lap. "Say Auntie Ruri."

Hikari made some noises and tossed her rattle on the floor.

"Close enough," Ruri said, kissing Hikari.

"So," Tora said, dropping his pen on his notepad. "We have to get the official signings for the girls' agency."

Takumi nodded. "We already have the building down."

"I already have the funds," Kuuga added.

Takumi looked over the lists. "I'm going to pull one of my managers and send her over to their agency," he said. "She's very experienced and will help them start."

"What are they naming themselves again?" Kuuga asked.

"The Housewife Corps," Takumi said.

They all paused.

"I don't get it," Tora said.

Kuuga shrugged. "THC is what Sakura calls it."

"That's such a weird name," Tora said. "Why not their last name?"

"Well, there are three of them," Takumi pointed out.

"They could be HAK," Kuuga suggested. "Hanazono Ayuzawa Kaidou."

"But they're THC," Tora said. "It's just a name," he said, shrugging. "Let them choose what ever name they'd like."

Takumi nodded. "So, let's meet up in an hour."

"Okay," Tora said. "Let's meet back in at Walker Corps in an hour."

Takumi wandered back up into his office. He pressed the intercom.

"Yes Mr. Walker?" Himeji asked.

"Send Karl Yamo up to my office and then Steve Frank," Takumi said.

"Yes, right away, Mr. Walker," Himeji said.

There was a knock on his door within minutes.

"Come in."

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Walker?" Karl asked.

Takumi nodded. "Have a seat."

Karl slowly sat down.

"You've done excellent work for me for how many years now?" Takumi asked, fiddling with his pen.

"Eight years, sir,"

Takumi nodded. "I would like to pull you from your position and place you in a new company."

Karl looked up. "You're firing me?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Takumi shook his head. "I need you to work in a partnering company for me. You are very experienced and they could use you."

"Yes Mr. Walker," Karl said. "I will work my hardest."

Takumi nodded and Karl left. Steve came in next.

"We're signing a new partnership," Takumi informed him.

"Who?" Steve asked.

"A new agency," Takumi stated. "They'll be opening soon. You should have gotten my email."

"I did," Steve said. "I just don't see how it benefits our company that much."

Takumi rested his elbows on the table. "In the long run it will," he said.

"But-"

"Would you like to be the CEO?" Takumi asked. "You can voice your opinion in all the decisions then."

"I wouldn't dare, Mr. Walker," Steve said. "I'll post the information immediately."

There was a knock on the door.

"That must be them," Ruri said, getting up. Hikari rested at Ruri's hip as Ruri got the door. "Look who it is, Hikari!" she said, letting the guys in.

"Hello Princess," Takumi said, holding out his arms. "Did you have a good day?"

Hikari started smiling as soon she heard Takumi's voice. Ruri handed Hikari over to Takumi and they all headed back to the living room.

"Why did you knock?" Sakura asked.

"I forgot the key," Tora admitted.

Ruri laughed. "Smart."

"I was being smart," Tora said, producing a folder. "I have your papers," he said, waving them around.

"It's all done?" Ruri asked, clapping her hands together.

Tora nodded. "Let's go look."

They laid out all the papers and Misaki, Ruri and Sakura leaned over to look at the papers.

"To the Housewife Corps!" Ruri exclaimed. "We need some sparkling juice or something."

"Okay, what's up with the name?" Tora asked. "I never got it."

Ruri, Misaki and Sakura all looked at each other and exchanged a smile.