IKIGAI

"The reason to be."

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Page VIII

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"Mount Hakurei was a forbidding place, its energy was..."

"No, don't read that." You interrupt me while combing Moroha's hair, who is sitting in front of you, on the futon. "It's a bit too dark of an extract. We'll read it to her when she is a bit older."

"Which one do I read then? We'll have to mark the book by age." I complain.

"It isn't a bad idea." You accept. "Go back to the first half. Not everything is pleasant, many things happened to us, but back then most were still just adventures."

I begin to search, albeit I become distracted, looking at you through the corners of my eyes more than once, losing the string of what I'm looking for. For you, it must have been hard to face the dangers we began to run into, even if they were just adventures, as you have just defined. I was used to dealing with critters and weak evil youkais, yet for you it must have been frightening, even more when the worst that happened in your word, was only seen by you through that box with moving pictures.

"InuYasha?" By your tone I know you've noticed my lack of focus.

"Daddy, book" Moroha remarks, who has learnt a bit of how it's named that which I have in my hands.

"Alright." I smile at her, then read superficially the start of a tale, judging it appropriate.

It's incredible that our daughter enjoys these stories that are, for the most part, scary.

I begin to read out loud.

"To take a bath in a river of crystalline water during the Sengoku is one of those things I'll always find precious of the place." It started. I feel relieved when noting there were some elements, during that time, that you so enjoyed. "I was relishing the water while in my swimsuit, one I never forgot to bring since that time, during my first bath in this period, when despite InuYasha swearing he wasn't spying on me, I know that he was..."

Before that affirmation, I smile, the memory quite vivid in my mind.

"Why do you stop?" You ask with a funny tone, that one you use when you read my naughty thoughts.

"The fact is that day, we met Nobunaga." I continue. "A boy fated to disaster, albeit not for that less laudable for his actions. He had a mission, and we needed to check if there wasn't a fragment with the youkai inside the palace. One could say one thing led to another..."

"And now, why do you stop?" You ask. An idea comes back to my mind, something that back then didn't seem to matter, albeit it added up with time.

"You liked Nobunaga." I declare. You look at me.

Moroha has rested her head on your lap, and has her eyes closed.

"Like? How?" You ask.

"He was kind, and sweet, and delicate, like that Hobo from your high school."

"Hojō"

"Whatever."

You start to laugh, then hold back as to not wake up our daughter.

"Alright, he was pretty, and was in love with princess Tsuyu. He'd do anything for her." You mention. I'm sure you say the same a bit further down the story.

I remain silent for a moment, recognizing the feelings that back then were but a hint of possibility, and that now fill me entirely.

"I would also do anything for you." I declare.

You smile.

"I know." You say, then mark a kiss of your lips, pointing at it with the index finger of one of your hands.

I understand you don't move because Moroha is sleeping on your lap, so I get closer and set my lips on yours. My chest swells next, I can breathe, and I understand many things, then kiss you again.

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A/N

A bit more of love.

Kisses,

Anyara.

This text is possible thanks to the translation of: Dezart