Old Memories

Lakshmi's fluster only grew as she saw that precious smile of Kaimu's, he was enjoying himself this much! I-It was... making it all worse! Proving his words! Not that she'd admit that, ever, unless forced. He was having fun... a lot of fun.

She could feel the smug radiating off of him, knowing her fluster was only feeding that confidence before he paused and looked worried. Now he was the one stuttering and Lakshmi paused several feet away from him, cocking her head to the side and crossing her arms. "Yes?"

The fire would be started... What was the problem? Her fluster fell away, replaced by confusion and a bit of worry at Kaimu's immediate reaction.

Yes, the fire would be started! He'd moved over here in the first place because he'd have to start a fire! The smoke was bad! It would be bad! Lak-tan was a doctor she would know this!

"There's gonna be smoke, Lak-tan..." He answered, noting her confusion; "Smoke's bad even I know thaaaat!"

It wasn't good, eeeh... What way was the wind blowing...? If it was away from Lakshmi...

Kaimu looked around as if that would tell him, but just that wasn't telling him anything.

"...You overprotective..." Lakshmi heard Kaimu's worry and burst into laughter, arms wrapping around her body as she leaned over a bit. Of all things to freak out over... This?! She had to wipe her eyes with one hand, the other still wrapped around her middle as she straightened up.

The moment her eyes settled on Kaimu again though, Lakshmi began laughing all over again. Her laughter though was quickly cut off as she eeped and straightened up, much like if someone had hit with with a mildly hot poker. She settled a hand on her stomach and looked down, surprise on her face and a small smile. "Ahaha, I do not think he liked that much... Or he was enjoying it? He's kicking rather hard."

"If the smoke came near me I would just move out of the way, a little smoke will not harm either of us." Rubbing her belly a bit, Lakshmi spoke softly for Kaimu's benefit.

"Laaak-taaa-eh?" Just in the midst of a whine Lakshmi had stopped her laughing. Eh? The baby didn't like it...or liked it? Eeeh, what was he supposed to believe!?

Lakshmi had been laughing rather hard though, her amusement at him obvious... He supposed after all the teasing it was fine for her to find some amusement in him...even if he did feel he was right about this!

"Fuuuuu..." He was still whining, despite Lakshmi attempting to quell his worries. Weh...smoke was bad...

"I don't know which, aha. This is my first pregnancy... Maybe he was happy and wished to join in on making fun of his overprotective father?" Lakshmi teased softly, taking a deep breath as she felt no more movements in her from their child. The woman stepped closer, trying to see what he had done to the fish and whether he was ready or not. There was obvious interest in her eyes, she was starving really and the fish would be delicious once it was cooked.

Her mouth practically watered, eyes very obviously staring at the food while she ignored Kaimu's whining all but for a small comment. "We will be fiiine. I promise, I will avoid the smoke but a little will not cause immense damage. In fact it won't cause any. I wish to be by you, sitting on the rock and sunning is lonely... Especially because there is a better sun right here."

Lakshmi poked Kaimu's forehead as she moved up next to him, smiling and covering that smile with her hand while she blushed and turned.

Kaimu was still pouting, even as Lakshmi attempted to reassure him; so he was overprotective...so...? Him being overprotective...made him...him, yes! Smoke was harmful! He was just trying to look out for them!

Though, as Lakshmi came to sit beside him he relented and let out a breath; "Fiiiiine."

She felt lonely just sunning over there alone...and she was still flustered, which was cute...

The fish was ready for cooking, he just needed to get the fire started...a nice fire...

With the fish safely set off to the side he went about doing just that. Soon they could enjoy food!

"The fish are ready, they just need cooking!"

Why this was a strong pout. I'll have to let him be overly protective another way later to make up for it. Lakshmi thought to herself, stifling a laugh after doing so due entirely to the fact that Kaimu had gave in. Her fluster was fading a bit and she attempted to find a comfortable crouching position as she scooped the coin purse back up. It failed and Lakshmi plopped herself onto the ground with a sigh, feeling much like a whale.

Later would be much worse, she knew this... but still it didn't help that initial thought. At least she had the distraction of Kaimu's work to keep her occupied, watching him silently but intensely as he began the fire and spoke.

"Hopefully soon they will be cooked then, I am starving..." River-wet Kaimu had been worth this though, so Lakshmi had no regrets. However now she was in fact hungry enough to eat a boar. Her stomach rumbled loudly, maybe two boars?

Once the fire was started, Kaimu went about getting the fish set up for cooking; he wanted to give a chuckle as Lakshmi's stomach growled, but by acknowledging it it would only bring about strong fluster.

They'd have food soon!

"They will, promise! It doesn't take too long." He answered, giving a softer smile this time despite his earlier pouting. Fish, aaah, if they were at home they could prepare side dishes...but this was the Rukon...

Lakshmi was not treated to more evil and thoughtless teasing, for which she was grateful. Instead of sitting on that thought though, she pushed it aside in favor of watching Kaimu do his work on the fish. It was interesting, that cooking like this required much different ways of keeping the fish intact and the fire itself...

She was fascinated despite her best efforts and as Kaimu gave her a soft smile, Lakshmi returned it and leaned up to kiss him softly. She pulled back after a moment and nodded, smiling once again though this one shined with a bit more love. "I shall trust you then and wait patiently for my special riverfish Kai meal."

Another smile was given in response to the small kiss Lakshmi gave him, and it grew a little brighter as he looked over to see Lakshmi's own smile.

The fish would start to smelling good in a bit~ Though considering the level of hunger that might just not be the best thing... At least they knew they'd have food soon...

Aa, the fish would be delicious~

"Once we home we can start researching names, I've done some research...but nothing I've found so far has stuck out enough..."

Lakshmi's stomach rumbled but she ignored it, however she could feel a bit of movement inside of her now. The child was quite a bit along now and it was almost daily becoming obvious. How far along was she truly after that bubble incident? It was almost impossible to tell truly, but she was closing on five months developmental wise.

"It seems so complicated. We have to name someone, are we are we even prepared for that? Raising another human being..." Lakshmi felt the weight of the responsibility, almost gulping in the worry that was starting to build up. She ran a large and important division in the afterlife, yes. She was responsible for people's lives on an almost daily basis as well. But none of that seemed to compare to raising and nurturing a child. Her body knew what to do right now, but would she know when it was time to?

"Oh my, I should research a lot more... I do not know the first thing about raising children." Sighing softly, she leaned back and winced a bit more as the weird feeling her stomach made her wonder what was going on. A hand settled on her bump and patted it. "He's rather active right now as well. What is wrong dear? Did I move too much?"

"It's a big job...but we'll work together on it!" Kaimu tried to offer a reassuring smile, one that held warmth in it as he continued to cook; "I have some experience in childcare... I've had to babysit for acquaintances in Rukon, and I also helped Tatsu and Haruki with Shiori when she was a baby...

I can't tell you not to worry, it's only natural...but...I'm sure we'll be alright!"

He had some experience, and Lakshmi could learn too! They'd learn even more together so there was that! Lakshmi wasn't alone in this!

Hn? He was moving a lot...?

"Maybe he knows I'm cooking Lak-tan a delicious meal~! So in turn I'm cooking both of you a delicious meal~"

"But what if we fail though... What if we make a child and then raise him badly and then people blame us for being the worst parents ever?" Lakshmi sighed, not entirely reassured by Kaimu's words as her eyes took in his smile. It was a big responsibility! Her eyes darted to the quickly smelling amazing fish as she muttered a bit sullenly. "But its different with your own. You'll always have to care for him at all times..."

She was being a brat, a bit of one at least, but her worries made her a bit irritable now that she was focusing on them. Kaimu had experience whereas she didn't really... Sure she had all sorts of other experiences, but nothing even close to being a mother...

H-Huh? Kai...

"Maybe he's a spoiled attention hog just like his father~ Maybe he's upset that I am giving you all my love~" Lakshmi retorted with a grin, a minor blush on her cheeks but she had definitely enjoyed Kaimu's playful words.

Kaimu brought his hand up to Lakshmi's head, patting gently as he tried to calm her down.

"True, he'll be ours, and we'll have to take care of him the whole time...but I'm sure we can do it. We're not alone either, I know I said it was me and you...but Mia is there to lend us our support as well, and...and Shirakawa..."

They definitely weren't alone...

"We can study up, learn more...we can even get some modern texts on raising children so we're caught up! I don't think we'll be bad parents... We'll love him lots! Teach him right from wrong, how to be polite... Plus~ I'm sure he'll have a cute personality considering we're his parents~"

Lakshmi's own teasing earned a laugh, "Maaaaybe~ But he'll get alll of our love when he's born, all of the time now will definitely be made up~ Fufu~"

"Both of them are barely adults themselves..." Lakshmi looked away even more, turning her head a bit as Kaimu attempted to soothe her with head pats. Just head pats? Seriously, was she five? That stuff sure wouldn't work on her and she rolled her eyes.

"...With us as his parents it'll be a miracle he's not a drunken lush and end up with a harem and tons of children." More grumping followed as she then scooted slightly, turning her whole body a bit away from Kaimu in her small worried tantrum. Love him lots...get books from human world... Cute personality?! From them!? As if! He was getting tons of baggage and messed upness between these two.

Lakshmi just gave a short laugh at Kaimu's teasing in return, smiling a bit despite her wish to stay all grumpy and unsociable now. "Oh? Well then I suppose he will have to accept that exchange. I do have a Kai to fill with love and attention for the moment and his time will come."

That playful tone was quite...quite nice and Lakshmi did relax a tiny bit.

The hand that had been on her head moved down as Lakshmi attempted to turn away from him, instead going around her, his arm resting over her chest as he attempted to keep her close.

"They're still adults, and according to them they love children, so I'm sure they'd be willing to help out." Kaimu replied; as for he and Lakshmi being the child's parents though... "With us as his parent's it'll be our job to just not show him those bad sides of us...

We'll spoil him with the good, spoil him with affection and kindness~ If we do that, he should be kind too."

Children loved love...so they needed to be sure to give him plenty of love and attention.

"We'll play with him, talk to him, and all of that!"

Kaimu leaned his head over, nuzzling the top of Lakshmi's head slightly as he gave a chuckle.

Lakshmi froze, turning up to glare at Kaimu as his arm rested over her. He was holding her in place! How dare he! She was trying to be sullen and grumpy and unhopeful here! She did not need such...such love.

Or such logic. Lakshmi scoffed softly as her body turned towards Kaimu once more, though her head stayed facing away. She just tossed her arms up and leaned into Kaimu's side. "Fine! Fine I give up! We'll be the best parents ever and our child will be a sweetheart. Are you happy now? We shall just keep all that stuff about ourselves secret from him forever! And we shall force your daughter and son-in-law to help us be better because obviously they will be the Star Parental figures."

Her voice rose as she spoke, the worry that was showing as sullenness bursting finally as Kaimu nuzzled her head and chuckled.

"Weh."

"Riiiight~ We'll be the best parents of them all, and he'll b-Gh-!?" Son-in... Them the Star Parental figures!? Mia and Shirakawa!?

Kaimu's body had frozen at that statement, just...just the visualization... Did Lakshmi have to put that visualization in his head!? Son-in-Law!?

"L...Lak-taaaaaan...uuu..." She was chuckling now at his previous affection, but...she'd dealt her attack...

Lakshmi had given in, but not without adding her poison to the mix. He had won, but at what cost? The cost of his dignity as the woman smirked. "I heard she wishes for many children. Many Shirakawa children~ They are all but handfasted you know."

As Kaimu's body froze, Lakshmi snickered and brought her hand to her mouth. The baby had settled down a bit, which was nice but this... Kaimu's whining was nicer.

Ah yes, this was so much better now~ She felt a million times better and refreshed as Kaimu whined her name so nicely.

"L-Lak-tan! I-I don't need to hear that! I don't!" The whine was strong as Kaimu attempted to force all of his focus on the cooking while still holding Lakshmi.

Just...Just focus on the fish! Don't focus on what Lakshmi had just said! Absolutely not! No!

Uuu, weh!

M-Many...Shi..No! He didn't want to visualize such a thing! No!

"Uuu, Lakshmiiii!"

"You were the one who brought them up. You should beware the consequences of your own actions and words a bit more." Lakshmi chuckled evilly, her hand coming up to her mouth as her stomach rumbled. Food would be done soon, but for now it was time to destroy her future husband.

"Kai, you really need to get over this. They will marry and Mia will bear the Shirakawa heir. We are doing things to make sure that happens as easily as possible, in fact. All your whining will not change this... Nor your daughter complex jealousy~" Oh boy if that wouldn't set him off, Lakshmi didn't know what. It was his own fault for being so perfectly optimistic before this point really, sullen Lakshmi had turned into finding the deepest darkest worries and poking at them Lakshmi.

"I-I...I was trying to reassure you!" He'd brought them up for that reason! He could hardly bring Mia up without bringing up Shirakawa too anymore! Mia liked kids, and according to Lakshmi she really liked kids considering the amo- No he was not thinking this! Point was, the both of them liked kids!

Food...Food would be done soon...

Mn?

"..." He turned his head away at Lakshmi's words, though didn't let go of her...before his head snapped back as... Daughter complex jealousy!? "I-I do not have... Lak-tan! It...It's only natural I'd want to spend more time with her considering how long ago it was that we met!

I realize...Shirakawa has to take up a lot of her time, but...but... It's only natural!"

He wasn't even going to get into the part about "getting over" things yet...

"I did not wish reassurance!" Lakshmi retorted, grumbling but clearly happier than before due to his actions. She felt his head turn away for a moment before she looked up with one eyebrow raised.

"As I take up yours. If I was not around, you would be able to fit right into her life perfectly like a missing piece. However I cause you to not be able to." He wished to live with his denial... Though it definitely wasn't complex level, there was more than a bit of jealousy at times between them. Mostly on Kaimu's end it seemed. "Natural to wish to see her more and spend more time with her... But do you not think the reason you two do not see each other as much might be due to the way you treat Masaru? Both of you are so awkward due to you and your actions, it would be easier if she could spend time with you both at the same time."

She continued as if she hadn't dropped an awful bombshell onto the man. "However you cause her to have to divide her time between more and more growing responsibilities. You know she is helping teach Nozomi too now, yes? If you could stand to be in Masaru's presence more you might find that her time can fit you in just as much."

Gh...mn...uu...

He didn't want to acknowledge Lakshmi's words, but...gh...

"There's...still the cooking lessons that are gonna happen..." There was...that. "I...I still feel weird...about approaching him after...how I treated him at first..."

Obviously, his treatment now probably wasn't any better, but...he wasn't putting the young man in a choke hold anymore and possibly drudging up bad memories...

Hell, Shirakawa didn't even know...that he knew...not really anyway...

Part of the awkwardness was due to that, though part of it was also just...because he was stubborn, and he knew that...it was just...hard to admit...

It was obvious he was heavy in thought, as he'd quieted for some time after he'd spoken. The fish was almost done...

"You two are ridiculous..." The cooking lessons... Lakshmi smiled at that warm reminder of Kaimu's love, he wanted to be the one to make her the best curry. Not Masaru.

Another sign of his jealousy towards the young noble, even if he wouldn't admit it.

However she didn't comment any longer, having said her piece and calmed down a bit now. Instead she just sighed softly and left Kaimu to his complicated thoughts.

Kaimu, no matter how much she prodded him on the subject... She didn't honestly think much would change between the two unless either Mia gave an ultimatum or one of them snapped. Would Kaimu's stubbornness win or... would they eventually approach something less awkward and painfilled?

"The fish smells delicious Kai. You looked alluring out catching it too... I suppose I should thank you properly later?" Maybe this would help cheer him up? Lakshmi spoke softly, trying to get his focus back where he was currently.