TALK THE TALK

"Yoh, I think it's time for the talk."

Asakura Yoh, age 29, shifted his curious gaze towards his wife, who was lounging gracefully by the wooden deck at their humble home's backyard.

His eyes instantly glued to her when he couldn't help but to notice her left shoulder which was slightly exposed due to her loose clothing, a.k.a. his shirt. He knew she had a pair of short shorts somewhere underneath, but they were hardly visible due to the white top almost swallowing her whole frame. He was not particularly fond of the sweltering summer heat, but he was secretly rejoicing about its effects on his wife's current choice of wardrobe.

Beads of sweat now formed on her shiny forehead and she indulged herself vigorously with the paper fan clasped in her hand. She stared at him with her ever serene face as she tried to pass the message without having to speak.

He was hopeless with taking hints, though.

The male shaman struggled to keep an eye open to peek through his brunette strands that covered his face, and some drops of sweat that slid past his brows as he continued with his morning push-ups.

"Time for what talk, Anna?" he asked nonchalantly as he finished with his routine. The muscles on his arms and back, clearly visible by being shirtless, rippled evidently while he maintained his love and hate relationship with the ground before him.

The blonde woman pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at her oblivious husband.

"Ugh, seriously? We've talked about this before. I meant, the talk."

Anna couldn't believe how dense her husband can be at times. She was already used to it, but there are just occasions when he really does go way above her patience threshold.

Yoh exhaled slowly as he pushed himself completely off from the dirt. He dusted his hands, clapped them together and patted them against the fabric of his jogger pants on his butt. He grabbed his shirt that was previously discarded on the side and flashed her a charming smirk as he wiped his sweat off with the fabric, then retired next to her on the deck.

He continued to glance at her with his infectious smile.

Anna understood the conveyed meaning of his actions but ignored his naive whims.

"Come on, where's my kiss?" he pouted.

"No!"

"How 'bout my hug?" he gestured with arms spread outward, a hopeful smile crept on his face.

"No!"

"But Anna, I just finished my training! Where's my rewar—"

"Yoh, focus!" she finally snapped.

He laughed at her annoyed face. She really was cute in more ways than just one. "Okay, okay, sorry. What was it again? Oh, right! The talk. " Yoh stole a quick peck against his adorable blonde's temple then proceeded to chug half of the water bottle contents in one go. "So, what about it?"

Anna seemed to hesitate for a moment but decided to begin her… story. There was no going back now.

"I saw your son this morning…" she paused and waited for her companion's reaction but continued when he only raised his brows in anticipation, "with his fiancée." She could not believe she had to pause and wait for a reply even though she was sure he did not get what she meant.

The blonde heaved a sigh.

"I-saw-Hana-making-out-with-Alumi!" she blurted out in one breath, hoping the shock would at least push some understanding into Yoh's dormant logic.

The husband blinked at her twice, then blinked a few more times. "OH! You mean, THAT TALK!" he yelled with a surprised countenance, finally gaining some context.

A slap came whipping across his face.

Yoh touched his burning cheek with a waterfall of tears coming from his eyes. "What did I do!?"

"Shush! You really want him to hear?" Anna huffed in annoyance, gesturing her eyeballs towards the indoors, implying that subject of their conversation was indeed inside the inn.

Silence fell in between.

"So, how'd you find out? The brunette asked after gaining momentum, now with a more serious tone but still with a reassuring smile.

"I was calling for Hana to come help pick-up some groceries from the store. Tried knocking on his room door but no one answered so I thought they've gone out…" Anna shifted in her seat, her hand movements with the fan slowing considerably, "…then I heard a sound from the TV room. My instincts led me there and then— then I saw them all over each other, kissing, hands on certain places and—"

"Okay! I get it! You— you don't have to tell me the details," Yoh cut her off while furiously waving his hand; a blush ridden on his face.

She almost chuckled at her husband's display of embarrassment upon hearing their son's, well, 'adventures', but she bit her lip.

They may be powerful shamans of high caliber and they may be well known and respected in their field of expertise, they may be regarded as the 'saviours' of the world but at the end of the day, they were still human parents; and young ones at that. Now having a teenager son with raging hormones did not save them from having to deal with monumental talks about sex, including the wonders it may bring and the consequences one may get.

Anna sighed and leaned towards her husband, chin resting atop his shoulder. "I didn't reprimand them, if that's what you're worried about. I sort of blanked, yes, so I decided to stay silent after excusing myself and just left. I knew they saw me because they were startled as day, but… what's a mother to do, you know?"

A smile curved at the corner of Yoh's lips as he drew his wife closer to him by putting an arm around her shoulder. "You did the right thing, I guess."

She sighed as a reply and looked him in the eye softly. "I just thought he might be more comfortable talking about it with you, so…"

The brunette chuckled after understanding his wife's predicament and planted a soft peck on her lips.

"I'll do my best."

. . . . . . . . . . .

Later that evening, the little family had a meal together. Hana announced that he was going out for dinner with Alumi but he still ate some light snacks with his folks, anyway. All of them decided to continue with their routines as they normally would but the young parents could definitely feel an air of awkwardness from their 15 year-old son's non-verbal cues.

"Mom, dad, I'm going." The blonde teenager declared.

"Err, Hana, before you go… walk with me?" It was Yoh's turn to speak. His voice, calm and welcoming, as much as possible.

"Uhh, okay, sure."

Anna took this as a hint and glanced at the two most precious men in her life before she busied herself with stuff in the kitchen to give them privacy. She saw the worry etched on her son's face but she smiled as she saw her husband's confidence.

They will be alright.

The Asakura men lingered silently at the front porch of their home.

Yoh lifted his head to appreciate the myriad of hues being presented by the sky during twilight. He breathed a large amount of air as he prepared to speak, both hands in his pockets.

"You wanted to talk to me about something, right?"

The brunette shifted his gaze towards his son who was calmly leaning on a tree near him. He smiled to himself as he marveled at the kid's perceptiveness.

"Yeah… but by the looks of it, I think you already know."

Hana's face reddened at his father's words but he remained subtle about it. He tried his best not to make the situation more uncomfortable than it already was.

Silence befell between the father and son. They let the sound of the crickets and cries of crows drown the background in hopes of alleviating the thick air.

Yoh chuckled first, a hand scratched the back of his head while he did. "To be honest, I don't really know what to say but…" he trailed after chuckling some more, "I'm not here to scold you, Hana."

His eyes shifted to gain eye contact with his son. The teenager was clearly baffled by his father's unpredictability.

"I am not going to scold you, nor I will tell you not to do it because really, who am I to talk? Uehehe!" the adult continued transitioning to a lighter mood.

"Truth is, no one can stop you from the things you really want to do. However, I just wanted to make sure you're aware that whatever comes after your actions as a consequence… will still fall under your full responsibility, alright?"

The teenager swallowed with wide eyes and he opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again as he could not formulate his words. He could not grasp how his father was being too chill about their talk, let alone with a topic considered as obscene by many. Then again, his dad was Asakura Yoh, and one can never expect the usual things coming from his father's mind, he remembered his uncle once said.

Hana knew it must be quite difficult for his parents, too. It was never easy to touch base with him on such a delicate matter involving pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancies and whatnot. Afterall, he was a living proof. However, he never imagined the talk to be quite disorienting now that it happened.

Yoh noticed the inner battle that was taking place within his son's mind judging by the shock and blush still ladened on his face. However, he also knew that Hana, being so much like Anna, words did not matter too much. He knew his son was smart enough and the message would have been already expressed even before the talk commenced.

"So I guess what I'm really trying to tell you… if ever you decide on anything is… just— just be safe, okay?"

Hana did not realise he let out a snort as he detached his leaning body from the tree behind him. He was still panicking from within, but he fully understood where his dad was coming from; and he was pretty sure his mom was trying her best, too.

"Got it," the blonde simply said. And motioned to go back to the inn. "You know, I think I forgot something inside so," he paused and looked back towards his father with a genuine smile, "thanks, dad."

It was Yoh's turn to blush with confusion.

. . . . . . . . . . .

Moments after the father and son talk, Anna was still preoccupied with washing a couple of things by the sink, which appeared to be baby bottles. A small smile found its way on her mouth as her fingers unconsciously traced the object in her hands. Memories of Hana as a baby flooded her mind— the first time she held the cherub in her arms, the first time she witnessed his sweet smile and the first time he uttered the word: 'mama'.

She sighed.

'They grow up too fast.' She thought.

She was probably too engrossed with her sentiments that she did not see it coming when a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. She was a bit startled, but she knew whom they belonged to without even looking.

"Hey, mom."

"Hey."

Anna rinsed and wiped her hands dry with the towelette nearby and reached towards to touch the back of her hugger's head and press his face towards the back of her shoulder. She was amazed upon closely gauging her son's height. If he continued to grow at this rate, he would be towering her by the time he turned eighteen.

Both mother and son shared a moment of tranquility within each other's company.

"Hey mom?"

"Hm?"

"About earlier I— I just—"

"Shh. You don't need to explain." The mother interjected but with a soothing voice. "You don't need to feel ashamed either."

She turned to face the teenager to cup his face in her palms. Anna tilted her son's face to look directly into his eyes, her expression retained an air of authority but it also exuded an unparalleled comfort coming from a mother's touch. "I know you're in a tough stage in your life right now and I get it. I trust that you know your limits and responsibilities as early as now. And if you ever need advice… you know that your dad and I are always here, right?"

"Yes, mom." Hana agreed then buried his face once again on his mother's shoulder, the little boy within him coming out from within.

"But if you make me a grandmother before I even turn 30, I swear, Hana—"

There it was.

He knew his mother was being too calm for her own good and she always had an uncanny way of lightening the mood.

"Jeez! I won't!"

"You better not. I'm not even joking. At least use protection—"

"Oh my god, stop!"

"Aand, always remember what they say, ladies first—"

"OH MY GOD, MOM! Calm down, I'm still a virgin!"

By this time, the blonde teenager released Anna from his embrace. He was now red as a tomato and he had a feeling that his mother enjoyed every second of it.

They both looked at each other and started a fit of laughter, both waited until they settled.

Hana displayed a serene smile towards the woman before him. "Thanks, mom. I will make you proud of me. Just wait and see."

Anna shook her head and ruffled his blonde locks, "You already make me proud."

This made the youngster's grin widen with so much naivety that Anna began to see Yoh reflected with each fibre of his being.

"Well then, I'm going now."

"Alright, you guys enjoy." Anna nodded with a wink which earned her an eye roll from the teenager. She could only watch his retreating figure until he was gone.

"Damn. I don't think you needed my help at all."

The blonde turned her face towards the source of the voice only to find her husband leaning by the entrance to the kitchen. A bundle of linen that hid a blob of blonde strands was propped within the safety of his arms. She raised a brow and approached him to secure a light kiss on the tiny creature wrapped in the soft cloth.

"No, he wouldn't come up to me like that if you didn't do a good job. So, thank you… and well done." Anna gave her husband a sweet kiss.

Yoh gave her that pure look of happiness. The one that reflected in their son's face just moments ago.

They were about to continue their little escapade of romance when they both heard someone coo loudly from within Yoh's embrace. Both stared down at their months-old daughter as she stared back with her precious chestnut doe eyes.

"Oh, no. You and I are going to have a different talk in the future, young lady." The brunette spoke firmly towards the oblivious infant, instantly transforming into an overly-protective dad mode.

Anna chuckled as she watched Yoh continue to talk to their daughter in his arms; even heard him telling the baby that she will not be allowed to have any boyfriends until she turned thirty.

She shook her head with a contented smile.

Life was sweet.

. . . . . . . . . . .

A/N: Because what are mornings for if not spent with parental fluff?

Anna, Yoh and Hana may be OOC here compared to what we are used to, but I wanted to bring you the possibilities in their character developments leaning towards that gray area that is yet to be explored in the manga.

What do you guys think? Review and show me sum luv? :3