Chapter 9
The next morning.
Yua woke up and was preparing breakfast. She was given a text message from last night. Rook didn't come home, apparently he passed out from eating all that goose meat so Sukuna took him back to his place for rest. She figured as much but was concerned as the five sleeping in his room were suddenly stirring oddly. She could hear some rustling coming from the children's bedroom and then…
THUD!
She immediately froze from her task and went to the stairs. "Is everything okay?" she called gently.
Okimi peered down the stairs and shook her head. She has aged since yesterday! "Mom… we need clothing." She whispered. Okimi was covering herself with a bath towel, Yua realized they grew quite a bit over night. So she rushed up the stairs and into her room. They always kept extra clothing on the side for the kids just in case something like this happened. Okimi followed her in as Yua took out various articles. "Mom… there's nothing here that will fit Saitama…" she whispered.
The clothing she had were from Shin, Rook and some of Suguru and Satoru's stuff they don't wear anymore. "Can you describe his size to me? If anyone in the domain were to have his size of clothing, who would it be?" she asked gently.
Okimi took a moment to think about it. "He grew taller, so he is as tall as uncle Eso. But…" she turned red, she didn't want to say it. He grew out again. If anything, Yua needed to ask a favor. "Take these for now, please tell Saitama I am going to get him something comfortable."
She nodded and took the clothing back to her siblings. Yua then rushed out of the house as fast as she could. She didn't want her son to think it would he hard to find him something to wear. Immediately she went to see the curse wombs. Luckily, Junpei was out side getting warmed up for the day. "Junpei! I need some help, Saitama grew but I don't have anything that fits."
He forced a smile. "Poor kid, okay, we're on it." He went back inside, and was there for no less than 30 seconds. When he returned, he had an arm full of clothing, but also a slime ball… well… five of them. "Tanso insisted along with his wife Melusine. She is going to start making these for everyone, especially after Rook's latest hunt…"
Yua smiled. "Thank you… by the way…"
"Oh, it's Kotsuso's turn!" Junpei laughed. "He's rather shy about it so he is staying indoors and in the basement, everyone reacts differently to being pregnant don't they?"
"Yes and at the same time, coming from a guy, it's awkward to answer"
He snorted a laugh and sent her on her way. Yua got home just as Suguru woke up and was tending to Shin, Mochi and Rook for breakfast. Rook just returned home from Sukuna's and figured he wouldn't want to eat them out of house and home! Rushing up the stairs, she reached the children's room. "Kids, I'm back with clothing and a gift from uncle Tanso and Aunt Melusine"
The door only opened a crack.
Peering out was Rai. She saw the clothing and slipped her arms through the door. "Please, let me mom?" she asked gently.
Yua didn't refuse. She handed everything over. But then paused. "This is for Saitama, it's a slime that makes clothing." She explained. "When you are ready, we will have breakfast downstairs."
Rai only gave a gentle nod back and closed the door once more.
With a sigh, she went downstairs and joined everyone for breakfast. "Where's Satoru?"
"He was gone shortly after you left the house," came out of Rook. "Dad's in a mood isn't he? Then again, he hasn't exactly looked at me after I punched him…"
"You seriously did…" Shin muttered in amazement. "No wonder Oji didn't shut up about it…"
"Also, sis can you please ask Hoshi not to come to your room in the late hours? I'm trying to sleep!" Rook protested.
However, there came an odd look on Mochi's face. "He's coming into my room?"
The table froze.
"You didn't know?" asked Suguru. "His scent is all over the place, he's been over a few times but not enough to leave his scent like that. It's rather strong…"
"You kidding me? It's gotten stronger recently…" muttered Rook.
Yua and Suguru were now staring at Mochi who appeared just as stunned as the table. "I didn't know… I mean… Why?!" she demanded.
Yua had to force a smile at this point. "I think he is doing this to ensure you are safe at night… perhaps another reason why Lady Tiamat is here… Hoshi is maturing."
The table paused, Rook nearly choked on his food before regaining himself. "He's maturing… but acting like a creep?!"
"By human standards yes, by dragon standards, he's being a rather dedicated gentleman. He is inspecting her room to ensure it is safe, he must do a check at night since that's when male who seek a mate often attacks young females. They would try and steal a young female dragon when she sleeps. So, he's inspecting the room, at the same time, his scent is left behind, warning others. 'Come here, you mess with me' sort of vibe." She explained.
"Huh, no wonder your room stunk for a while…" Rook said offhandedly.
"My room?!" Yua demanded.
"Yeah, it was shortly after you got attacked, in fact when Pops was looking after us…" everyone suddenly stared at Suguru who was avoiding eye contact. "Then again, everyone was all over the place at the time… But… Pops did that to keep us safe and to give us a piece of mind. He was upset you were attacked, this was his way of ensuring it didn't happen again…" Rook explained.
"You know this how?" demanded Shin.
Rook merely shrugged his shoulders. "You learn stuff all the time from Oji when hunting. Our prey gives off a terrible stink to mark territory, the human nose can't pick up on the smell but those with my talent can… and the occasional beast and sorcerer…"
"Either way…" Yua was about to speak until they heard footsteps.
The five made their way cautiously down the stairs, but hidden behind them was Saitama. They grew into young teenagers oddly enough. "How did you guys age so much!?" she demanded.
"Demon goose…" the table muttered. "No doubt it has to be the goose and the liver…" said Shin.
They didn't say a word nor join the table, Saitama was trying to hide himself. Yua sighed. "Would you prefer to have breakfast upstairs?" she asked gently.
They were stunned, yet swift nods came from all around. "Go ahead then. We'll bring you breakfast shortly."
They allowed Saitama to go up stairs first, then the four followed. Rook sighed aloud and shook his head to it all. "Poor guy…" he muttered.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
"ROOK!"
The table paused. "It's barely 8am…" she muttered.
Needless to say, it wasn't a surprise to see Sukuna standing there at the ready. "Rook?" he simply asked her.
She stepped aside as Sukuna stormed into the room, he peered at the kitchen table and found Rook's dish empty. "You done?" he asked bluntly.
"Yeah…"
Without a word, he grabbed Rook by the rim of his pants, hoisted him out of this chair and carried him out like luggage! The door closed behind them as Shin and Mochi froze. "Sometimes I get jealous of Rook and his time with Oji… then I am grateful that he's not that focused on me…"
She nodded and sighed once more. Yua and Suguru prepared a meal for the kids waiting upstairs, they had everything in order and brought it to the room. Suguru knocked but Yomato answered. He peeked out of the crack of the door. "May we enter?" Suguru asked gently.
It closed slightly as he asked Saitama if they could enter. The door opened wider as they were allowed in. Yua peered about, but found Saitama sitting in the corner away from everyone. He grew out once more and was not happy. "Come along, children. Let's have a meal together," Suguru said gently.
The four gathered around, but Saitama refused to leave the corner. "Saitama…"
"Not hungry." He said bluntly. But she could hear his stomach rumble. He was hungry, but refuses to eat.
"Not even a few bites?" she asked.
"Yua…" Suguru said gently, when she looked to him, he shook his head. She is trying to force her way once more. With a solemn nod she backed off.
"If you do get hungry later, please let us know okay?" she asked of him.
Saitama merely nodded, but didn't say anything more. He refused to eat a single morsel of food for breakfast…