Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Of Butterfly Wings
Chapter Eighty-Seven: A Grandfather's Start
Kagome marveled at the immense size of Endeavor's hero agency. The building was a high rise in itself. It housed the main dispatch floor, multiple training facilities, a fully furnished floor meant for employees to take their breaks and apartments that filled the upper floors.
Her children squealed in excitement as they took in the flurry of activity around them.
Kagome pushed the caravan stroller as she made her way to the reception desk.
"If you're here to file a report, please take the clipboard and return it to my desk once you're finished." The secretary sighed as she wrangled three calls at once.
"I'm here to meet with Endeavor. I'm his daughter-in-law. My name is Tensei Kagome." She introduced herself.
The secretary took a few seconds to fully register what she'd said.
"Oh!" The woman gasped, peeking over the counter to peer down at her gaggle of toddlers. Much to the boys credit, they both flashed her wide grins while Hina started to fuss and Yua scowled.
"Endeavor mentioned that you'd be coming by!" Her demeanor suddenly changed, flipping over to an overly excited grandmother type of personality. "Aren't they all just so adorable. They're all so young too, are they quadruplets?"
Kagome laughed, "No, they're actually eleven months apart. My husband and I had a bit of an accident after I recovered from these two. We got struck by the twin gene twice."
"Oh my goodness! You two were trying to build your own army, weren't you?" The secretary laughed with her. "I've got two grandchildren of my own. A boy and a girl. My grandson just entered middle school while my granddaughter has just graduated from diapers." The older woman gushed as she showed her pictures of the children. "They take after my daughter but both births were pretty hard on her."
The phone's shrill ringing brought them both out of the conversation.
"Sorry sweetheart, but I've got to deal with this. Just head to the elevator behind me and go to the top floor. He should be in his office. I'll page his personal assistant so she'll know to expect you." The woman then returned to taking phone calls, sneaking glances at the children as Kagome stepped into the elevator behind her.
She pushed the stroller so that they could watch through the glass windows of the loft. Floor after floor went by and soft music played overhead.
Touya had to work the night shift this week so in order to help him get some rest, she'd opted to take the kids to visit with his father, Fuyumi and Shouto for that matter. Natsuo had just graduated from high school and would be attending college at the start of the school year. So he was currently off on a cross country road trip with his friends before the semester started.
The bell chimed as the elevator finally came to a stop.
Kagome carefully wheeled the stroller around and made her way out onto the floor. The high ceilings and marble walls spoke of the sort of money the man possessed. Yet for all of his financial wealth, there was one area in his life he still struggled in.
By the time she reached the front desk, Endeavor had already thrown the doors to his office open and rushed out to greet her. He must've heard the bell of the elevator and realized that she'd arrived.
A small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. For as tumultuous as his relationship was with his own children, she had to admit that he'd shaped up to be an excellent grandfather.
Katsuo and Tatsuo giggled happily when they saw the man make his way towards him. Their sisters behind them just made sounds of confusion.
This would be the first time he'd have the chance to meet Yua and Hina. His schedule had been slammed these past few months so Touya had resorted to video calling his father so he could at least see the kids.
"Ready for lunch?" She smiled at the man.
Endeavor simply nodded as he led her back down to the lobby. Originally he'd offered to have his driver take them over to the restaurant he'd booked for their meet up today, however they realized that there weren't enough seats to fit the both of them and all four of the children's car seats. So they would simply take the train this time around.
People stared at him with no small amount of shock and caution. His large form intimidated even the bravest of passengers on the train. However the man's tough exterior soon melted when he bent over the stroller and started talking to the children.
Katsuo and Tatsuo squealed happily, muttering words that sounded oddly similar to "Grampy". She had a sneaky suspicion that Endeavor had been trying to teach them to say grandpa when Touya was on his video calls with him.
They made their way to a high end restaurant and were shown to their table.
Kagome allowed Endeavor to take the children out two at a time to hold them and spend time with them.
"How's Touya doing?" He held up a scowling Yua. The little girl gave a sound somewhere low in her throat as if she were trying to growl at him. In his other arm, Hina slapped her palm against the side of his face, forming ice crystals and freezing his fiery mustache.
She fought the urge to laugh at the ridiculous image. The waitress arrived shortly thereafter, the woman barely holding in her laughter as well. After they placed their orders, she left the room so that they could talk.
"He's doing good," Kagome answered. "He's been working with Hawks on a lot of his cases. I'd heard from him that Hawks is currently trying to help someone get a provisional license from the Safety Commission so that he can start work as a side kick." She held the boys in her arms as they grew fussy. "Touya likes the new guy so we're hoping that the Safety Commission will approve Hawks' request."
As far as she knew, there'd been an excessive amount of requirements heaped onto Jin in order for him to be approved. He had to serve at least a hundred hours of community service, report in with an official from the Safety Commission at least once a week and undergo a psychological evaluation. He had an incredibly long road ahead of him but both Hawks and Touya were doing their best to support him where they could.
Her lips dipped as she lowered her cup of tea onto the table.
"I actually came here for a different reason today." She started slow, trying to figure out the best way to break the news to her father-in-law. "I've been talking with Rei a lot and she's decided that she wants to go through with the divorce." Kagome met his gaze directly, not pausing despite the stricken look that crossed his face. "She's spoken to a lawyer and the official paperwork will likely be here tomorrow."
She ran her index finger along the rim of her ceramic cup, "She told me that I could warn you about it while I was here today. I know you're doing your best, but I do agree with Rei in that the two of you should figure out yourselves first." She cast him a short glance, "She may never be willing to remarry you but at the very least I can tell you that she's happy where she is right now. Every day she's smiling and laughing. She's been helping me with the kids and she's an amazing mother and grandmother to our family." Kagome pressed on, "I can't tell you not to cry or grieve the loss of your marriage. What I can tell you is that you still have a son who's willing to give you a chance and four grandchildren who love their grandfather."
Her smile softened, "Enji, take this divorce as your chance to start anew. You've made strides to become a better man, so use this as your chance to be the foundation for your children that you were always meant to be."
She paused as their food finally arrived, breaking the awkwardness of their conversation.
Kagome waited until the servers were gone to continue, "I believe that you have the power to be more than your past. You just have to work for it."
She passed all four of the babies into his lap, watching as he held them close while tears streamed down his cheeks.
This would be painful for him now but she truly believed that with time, he could mend some of the fractures in his life starting with her children.
Kagome pushed a tissue towards him, "Take your time. Once you've dried your eyes you should find things to laugh about. That's what I did."
That was the only advice she could offer him at this point.
The divorce would hurt, but not as much as clinging onto the past would.
Her smile curled towards as Tatsuo yanked on the still-frozen icicle that was his grandfather's mustache.
Endeavor gave a strained laugh at that, holding his grandchildren even closer to his heart.
This was just a new beginning for them all.