Kenshin and Kaede descended the stairs, their hands intertwined, with Kaede wearing a soft, contented smile.
Though she tried to keep a composed demeanor, her tail betrayed her, swishing lightly behind her in a way that made Kenshin chuckle. He didn't say anything, though—just watching her subtle excitement was enough.
As they reached the main hall, Naoko awaited them, bowing respectfully. "Kenshin-sama, Kaede-sama, the bathwater is being prepared for you. The servants are also preparing a meal."
Kenshin nodded in acknowledgment before asking, "Where are Kira and the others?"
Naoko kept her head slightly bowed as she answered, "Nekomata-sama and her daughters have gone to a villager's home. The wife is in labor, and as per tradition, the Nekomata family is attending to give their blessings and deliver the child."
Kenshin hummed, intrigued by the tradition.
Naoko then suggested, "Perhaps you would like to go and give your blessings as well? You are an esteemed guest of the tribe, and it will bring great fortune to the child and their family if you bless them."
Kenshin considered it before nodding. "I would be honored."
Naoko bowed again before leading them to the bathhouse. Once inside, she helped Kenshin undress and guided him into the warm water, while a much younger servant assisted Kaede in a separate area.
As he relaxed in the bath, Kenshin glanced over at the young girl helping Kaede. From the way Naoko occasionally stole glances at her, he suspected they were related.
After the bath, Naoko helped Kenshin dress in his freshly washed clothes. As she stepped back respectfully, Kenshin leaned in slightly and asked, "That girl… is she related to you?"
Naoko's lips curled into a fond smile as she glanced at the younger servant. "Yes, Kenshin-sama. She is my daughter. I assigned her to Kaede-sama to help her gain confidence and experience."
Kenshin raised a brow, watching the younger girl flinch as Kaede teased her, the nervousness clear on her face. He smirked. "Maybe assigning her to Kaede is a bit overkill. Kaede is a bit…"
Naoko shook her head. "They are getting along rather well, Kenshin-sama."
Kenshin gave a small shrug. "If you say so."
Once they were fully dressed, Naoko guided them to the grand hall, where a meal awaited them. It was heavier than breakfast but not quite heavy enough to be considered lunch. The powerful scent of the dishes filled the room, and Kenshin could feel the raw nature energy radiating from them.
Kaede tugged at his sleeve. "Sit," she instructed, before taking her seat beside him.
The servants stood behind them as Kaede eagerly began feeding Kenshin with her hands. Kenshin chuckled at her excitement but didn't protest, simply enjoying this different, playful side of her.
After the meal, Naoko and her daughter led them through the village towards the home where the birth was taking place. The village was bustling with energy, excitement evident on the faces of the people. Even Kenshin, a newcomer, could sense the joy surrounding the event.
As they walked, Naoko explained, "Since our people age slower than humans, our pregnancies last longer as well. A typical pregnancy lasts about two years, and it is a grand event. The entire village celebrates the birth of a child."
Kenshin nodded in understanding as they finally arrived at the house. Naoko stepped forward, telling the gathered villagers to move aside. As they parted, Kenshin and Kaede entered, stepping into the dimly lit home where the woman in labor lay with Aruna tending to her.
Kenshin and Kaede walked over to where Kira and Sora stood, joining them. Almost immediately, Kenshin heard Kira's voice in his head, her teasing tone unmistakable.
"Did you have fun with Kaede last night, Master?"
Kenshin sighed, responding telepathically, "The booze was a bit much. I've got a hangover now."
Kira chuckled in amusement. "Deal with it. Or just kiss Kaede. That'll fix everything."
"Shut up," Kenshin shot back.
Beside him, Sora gave him a simple nod, her expression warm. "It's good to see you again, Kenshin," she said aloud.
Kenshin nodded in return. "You too, Sora."
As the woman pushed on, her labored breaths filling the room, Aruna continued to encourage her, her voice firm yet soothing.
Beside Kenshin, Sora shuddered slightly and inched closer to him, her ears flattened against her head. Kenshin noticed and leaned down slightly, keeping his voice low. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Sora gave a small nod, her voice soft. "She's in so much pain… and she's not even halfway through. It must be unimaginable." Her golden-green eyes flickered toward the woman, filled with unease. "I can't even bear to hear it, yet that woman, whose body is much weaker than mine, is bearing it for her child."
Kenshin smiled, placing a reassuring hand on her head. "This is just a mother's love. It's what allows her to tolerate this pain. Mothers are some of the toughest people in existence."
Sora blinked up at him as her ears twitched, her face faintly flushed. Before she could respond, Kenshin straightened up and gently patted her head, adding, "You'll have to go through this yourself someday too, kiddo."
Sora's tail bristled slightly, and she opened her mouth—whether to protest or to say something else, Kenshin wasn't sure—but Aruna suddenly shot them a sharp glare. The unspoken message in her eyes was clear, 'Shut up and stop distracting the woman.'
Kenshin smiled sheepishly and gave a small nod before turning his full attention back to the birth.
The woman continued pushing, and time seemed to stretch on, each moment heavy with effort. Then, finally, a newborn's cry filled the room, breaking the tension like the first rays of dawn.
Aruna gently took the child into her arms, her expression unreadable yet somehow soft. Kira stepped forward, helping clean the baby up with skilled hands, revealing a delicate, beautiful baby girl.
As the servants moved swiftly to clean up, the mother lay exhausted, too weak to hold her daughter just yet. Her gaze, however, remained fixed on her newborn, filled with warmth and relief.
Then, in a surprising turn, she turned her weary eyes to Aruna. "Nekomata-sama… please, name my daughter."
Aruna paused, thoughtful. After a moment, she shifted her gaze to Kenshin and, without hesitation, gently handed him the baby.
"Kenshin," she said, her voice even, "I will let you have the honor."
Kenshin's eyes widened slightly as he carefully took the newborn into his arms, cradling her gently. He glanced at Aruna, then at the mother. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice quieter than before.
The mother nodded without hesitation. "If Nekomata-sama herself is offering you this honor, then it must be for the best. Please name my daughter, sir."
Kenshin looked down at the tiny child in his arms. She had soft, dark brown hair and delicate features. He thought for a moment, struggling to find a name that suited her.
In the end, he finally settled on one.
"Tsubasa," he murmured, the name rolling naturally off his tongue. "It means wings in my culture."
There was a brief silence before the father stepped forward, his ears twitching in excitement. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, sir, for bestowing such a beautiful name upon my daughter."
Kenshin gave a small nod before carefully handing Tsubasa to her father. "Take care of her, man. Daughters are a special blessing."
The man nodded firmly, his grip on the child gentle but secure. Then, with barely contained joy, he hurried to his wife's side, placing their newborn daughter into her arms.
The atmosphere in the room shifted. The tension from the birth melted away, replaced with joy. Kenshin glanced at Aruna, who simply gave him a small, knowing smile.
Aruna gave the new parents their privacy, turning toward the mansion with a graceful stride. Kenshin, Kaede, Kira, Sora, Naoko, and Naoko's daughter followed closely behind, the atmosphere lighter now that the birth had passed.
As they walked through the forested path leading back, Kira suddenly nudged Kenshin with her elbow, a teasing grin on her face. "So... how exactly are you planning to explain this—" she gestured vaguely at Kaede walking ahead with Aruna, "—to your sister?"
Kenshin's face immediately paled, and he rubbed his temples with a sigh. "Tch… I won't be able to explain anything to Akane without getting a Chidori through my chest." He exhaled sharply. "I need to time it right."
His gaze flickered toward Kaede, who was walking beside Aruna, her dark hair shifting slightly with each step. Naoko's daughter trailed just behind them, listening quietly.
Naoko, walking behind him and Kira, chimed in with a thoughtful tone. "Perhaps you should discuss it with your mother first. If your sister objects, having your mother with you might prevent you from getting a... Chidori—whatever that may be—through your chest."
Kenshin chuckled dryly. "If I tell my mom, I'm more likely to be punched through at least three whole buildings." He smirked slightly. "But if I tell my aunt, I might be safe."
Kira laughed, giving him a firm pat on the back. "You'll be fine, Master. You've been through worse."
Kenshin only sighed, shaking his head as they continued onward.
Back at the mansion, Aruna took some time to rest, reclining in one of the elegant chambers as everyone settled in.
After a while, Kenshin stretched his arms with a sigh. "I should be heading back now," he announced. "My family's probably worried."
Kaede frowned slightly. "Should I accompany you?"
Kenshin smiled, stepping closer to her. He reached up, cupping her face as he stood on his toes slightly. Then, without another word, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Kaede stilled for a moment before melting into the kiss, her tail instinctively curling around them. Yet, deep within her, there was a flicker of hesitation—something uncertain. She hid it well, keeping it buried for his sake.
Kenshin pulled back, his hands resting on her hips as he smirked slightly. "I'll handle it myself. You need to figure out how you're going to fix things with Akane."
Kaede nodded, her expression unreadable. "I'll think of something."
Kenshin chuckled, stepping back. "Good."
He turned to the others, offering his goodbyes before forming the seals for reverse summoning. In an instant, his surroundings shifted—
When he arrived at his hotel room, something felt… off.
The space was untouched, as if no one had stayed here since he left. His things were missing.
His first thought was that they had probably moved to a different suite—after all, Suu was one of the hotel's owners.
Frowning slightly, he stepped out, heading toward the living room. But as soon as he entered—
He stopped cold.
In the middle of the room stood a man, kissing a much younger woman.
That alone wasn't the problem.
The problem… was the man himself.
The sight of him made Kenshin's blood boil.
It was Kaito, his former Jonin team leader. The man that led Kenshin's genin team, the hidden rain's squad 1.
And the man, that caused the deaths of Kenshin's teammates, just to fake his own death and defect from the hidden rain.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.