I stood at the stove, heating water to brew some tea. Kisara was perched on a stood, holding the basket that Miu and Shugure filled with various kinds of food.
"You and that doctor, Akisame was it? You two seem close," she commented. I laughed at this.
"We're having a baby together," I said. "Of course we're close."
"I…that sounded stupid," Kisara said, blushing. "I guess I meant that you seem to love each other, a lot."
"I suppose we do," I said with a smile.
"But you're not a martial artist," she pointed out.
"No," I said. "I work in an office."
"It's weird," she said.
"Not really," I said. "Akisame and I share many other interests like books, art, music, and we were friends before we were lovers."
"The way he looks at you…" Kisara sighed. I looked over at her, curious.
"How does he look at me?" I asked. Miu giggled.
"Like you're a goddess," she said with a smile.
"He does not," I laughed. "You exaggerate."
"No, he does," Kisara insisted. "He looks at you with this…this look of total devotion and awe."
"He…adores you," Shugure chimed in.
"I sometimes wonder if he would literally worship the ground you walk on," Miu mused.
"It's probably just because I'm pregnant," I said, flippantly.
"He's always looked at you…like that," Shugure said.
"I never really noticed," I said, pouring the hot water into the thermos with some tealeaves.
"Noticed what?" Akisame asked, walking into the room.
"That you apparently look at me like I'm some kind of goddess and worship the ground I walk on," I replied with a smile. Akisame chuckled and moved until he was in front of me.
He took my hands in his own and brought them up to his face. He gently kissed the backs of them, then turned them over and kissed my palms.
"I do," he said. "I adore you, my love. I would do anything you asked of me." I blushed and looked up at him. I never had someone so devoted to me before. I took my hands from his and reached up, cupping his face. I stood on my toes and pressed sweet, gentle kisses to his lips. I pressed as close as my belly would allow and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I adore you, too," I said. I heard a wistful sigh from the two teenagers behind me.