It had a week since, the mansion was boisterous with laughter of both the adults and the children. They had been spending their time crowding over the poor lttle child most of the time, their neighbours and friends also came after bearing the news that Kei had adopted a certain little child. They also had been filled in over the matters that had been occurring the past weeks and about how the child had came about. They had nothing against it though as they welcomed the child willingly, almost everyone in their kingdom had been visiting their mansion and it was almost as if it was an everyday thing that the wives of every families or the older generation to came knocking on their mansion door that Kei had spoke in a jokingly manner, saying that the mansion might trampled under their feets someday. The whole mansion had been radiating a harmonious and joyous atmosphere that they themselves didn't have knowledge about.
"Hinata, how old do you think little Inori is?" A gentle looking blonde haired aged woman could be seen talking to a beautiful woman as the silky black haired younger woman was gently rocking the little bundle of a child in her arms to sleep–having her afternoon naps. They were inside the garden pagoda with some other women, sipping teas together while conversing in small talks.
"I can't believed she was sealed inside the frozen ice into a sculpture when she was this young." Amagi, the woman beside Hinata spoke, with her brows furrowed, her arm supported her chin.
"I don't think this child is simple, with the Guardian Spirits and that underground burial chamber made of pure crystal ice. Not to mention, she have a beautiful crystallize silver eyes. Ooh that pair of big silver eyes, and I can definitely tell that she'll be a rare beauty when she grows, Hinata you'd better hide her well." Another beautiful woman said, she stare longingly at the cute bundle wrapped in a bunny onesie in Hinata's embraced before narrowed her eyes with a sharp glint flashed by as she turned to look at her. Her expression was so amusing that the gentle and collected Hinata couldn't helped but laugh out loud.
"Tsumugi, thank you for your kind reminder. I, of course as the mother will slap off the leeches from nearing my daughter. And you didn't know this, but mother, father and grandfather are so attached to Inori, I can see the pampering they'll give Inori in the future, not to mention the twins."
While speaking, she also pat her child on the bum gently with a tender smile etched on her face.
"I don't know what makes so, but my heart feel so easily move by this child, I want to pamper her like my own children."
"Damn shit, shut it. You keep on feeding us dog food. I can't help but want to get married soon." Tsumugi's blunt remarked burst another laughter from the women.
"Now that you said it, what's up with you two? You guys has been at it for too long. Aren't you tired? It was clear as day that you both have feelings for each other. Why are you holding back?"
"Humph, that stupid Sanji! Everyone knows that he still didn't have the gut to ask me out!" Tsumugi crossed her arms across her bosoms, puffing her chest in the process, eyes closed and lips pouting while facing towards the sky.
"Well, if you're not so fierce and playing so hard to get, would Sanji have a hard time? And you know that he's a soft spoken man." Another woman pointed out. Sipping her tea, she gave a smile to the fiery red head Tsumugi.
"Really? Am I that bad? Too fierce and unladylike? Should I be more refined and gentle, Ami?"
"Oh well, that's your charm. And I doubt you could even smile at men without making them pissing their pants, maybe except for Sanji. And I can't seems to understand why he even attracted to you." Ami, a short orange haired petite woman said. She had a confused look on as she nibbled on cookies served on the table. Tsumugi, without feeling a bit offended by her words also pounders inside her head.
"Wait, hold on a sec, didn't Aunty Akiko was asking Hinata a question awhile ago, why did it resulted to this topic?" Amagi intercepted, while gesturing for the gentle looking madam.
"Ah~ right. Hehehe, sorry sorry. So Hinata, what do you think?"
"Hm, from what I see, she should be at least two years old."
"Did she speak yet?" Ami asked.
"Not yet, except for the time when she called me mama, that's it."
"How the others children react towards her? Well, you know, they suddenly had a new little sister out of nowhere." Amagi said.
"So far, they seems to like her, some remained neutral." No one spoke after, they just sipped their teas or coffees while they oftentimes glances the little baby girl.
"Well it has been a while now, I'll be taking my leave." Akiko said as she gracefully stood up from the chair. Her gradually whiten hair sway as she moved.
"Oh, it's indeed been the whole afternoon. Uncle Gin won't resent us for retaining Aunty here all day long right?" Amagi smiles cheekily.
"Well, let's see if he dare." Akiko laughed while shaking her head.
Youngsters this day always seemed to love teasing the older generation.
Mah, she did had a point. That old man from the time that they dated up till now was still a little bit possessive. Shameless! Sometimes he even jealous over his own grandchildren.
Hinata and the others also stood up from their seats and escorted the madam out of the mansion as they stood by the mansion' door, they reentered but didn't goes back towards the garden but the living room instead. There were some of the family member of the older generations in the living room spending their leisure time.
"Oh? Little Inori is asleep? I'm surprised she didn't jolt awake by Tsumugi and Amari." One of the older woman asked as she shifted her glasses hanging on the bridge of her nose.
"Ah~ Aunty Sun~! We're not that loud okay!" Tsumugi half-whisper half-yell as she whine while Amagi just rolled her eyes.
"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"
A child joyful yells rang in. It was from a pair of identical twin, they look to be about seven years old. As they ran up to her, Hinata quickly put her index finger in front of her lips and then pointed towards the sleeping Inori in her arms, her meaning was clear. The twin quickly covered their mouth using their hands while nodding furiously with eyes widen. Seeing so, Hinata smiles while reaching out her right hand towards the twin.
"Come, your lesson already finish for the day, are you both hungry?"
"En!"
"Alright, Mommy's going to cook, will you look after little Inori?" She asked. After seeing the twin eagerly nodded did she put the little child inside a rocking baby bed near the wall in the living room.
"Let's go, we'll be helping."
"Sure."
Seeing that their mother goes away, they immediately bounced towards the rocking crib excitedly. As they put both of their hands on each side of the crib, it move up and down slowly.
"Oh it move!"
"What's it use for?"
"Every time Inori is sleeping, I always saw mother rocking her side to side. Maybe it function like that too!"
As the happy go lucky little boy said so, his hands move accordingly, rocking the crib up and down. While the other boy just watched his brother silently.
"It seems so."
"Ahh~! So it is!"
He thought that if by rocking the crib then his little sister sleep even more comfortably so thought of making extra effort, and with that, he put a little strength in his arms muscle before he shook the crib violently.
"Ahh!! Tosouke!!! Stop stop! You'll wake little Inori up!!"
The grandma, that was talking to Hinata just then cried in panicked as she rushed towards the and little boys and the crib. She grab hold of Tosouke shoulder while her other hand smooth down the movements of the crib. Her heart nearly jump out of her chest ah!
"Tosouke, that's not how you do it, you have to rock it then gently," her other hand let go of Tosouke shoulder and began to rock the crib gently, with rhythm, up and down, up and down.
"Like this."
"Oh~ Then I was wrong?"
"Of course it's wrong!!" She chided him. Of course it was wrong! She peeks inside the crib, seeing that Inori was still asleep did she lets out a breath of relief. Hand rubing her chest.
"You watch from the side when your mother handles Inori, then learn how to," she wave her hand motioning for the boys to sat beside her on the comfy couch.
"When Inori is grown up, you need to protect her, that's what brothers do. Oh no, that's what siblings do. They take care of each other."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, grandma Sun."
"En, it's good that you understand."
"Boys, lunch is ready, come let's eat." Ami voice sounded out from the doorway, her head sticking out.
"Aunties, uncles, come also, it's already afternoon. Stop sipping your teas. It's not going to fill your stomach. Hinata has make enough for everyone."
"Let's then. I'm quite farmish too."
One by one they started to make ways towards the family dining room. As it was still in the afternoon, only a number of people were present as they would ate in dinnertime.
Hinata sat in between her sons as she ate her meal. Since she was just having teatime and still a little full over eating the pastries, she only ate few spoonfuls of her meal.
"Tomoe, where's Neo and Himari?" An older man asked.
"Eldest brother is still in the training ground, as for big sister, I'm not sure myself." Tomoe answered.
———
Days passed by uneventfully, the people inside the mansion had been receiving constant visits for every week from various households. The reason for that was none other than the little Inori. It continued for months long before they finally showed some restraint, but alas, they still visited for once every week.