Chapter Text
If this was heaven, he never wanted to leave even if a force beyond his control was beckoning to do so. He had been putting it off for a while now, but he would savor this until his body told him otherwise.
It was not hard to understand why he longed to linger there. It was his favorite place to be not to mention the most comfortable and loving. He had one arm tucked underneath their shared pillow as it slightly propped up her head while she softly snored. The other was around her slightly bigger breasts that still radiated a loving heat from the contact.
Of course, the grey comforter that trapped their warmth was simply sublime in the coziest way possible. Paired with the flannel sheets and a mattress with just the right amount of firmness, even the world’s foremost insomniacs would not be able to resist just how amazingly pleasant this bed was to rest on. And of course, he could see the thick snow softly falling from his window. It was only just visible from where he lay given the late sunrise that winter always brought. All in all, it would have been a serene visual for any Christmas special, but it served well enough as the backdrop to their late January morning.
But it was not just the setting that made this scene pleasant. Beside him was the most radiant person he had come to know. Sharing a bed with someone he compared to the sun was simply the cherry on top. Nightly conversations about stupid, meaningless shit that only they could find hilarious. Watching YouTube videos past midnight while the other snuggled in close before nodding off. Waking up in each other’s arms as the alarm clock rang, only for them to hit the snooze button so they could capture each other’s essence for a few more fleeting moments.
Of course, there was one other reason. The biggest in fact. They deeply loved each other with only one bed to be found in their home. Suffice it to say, their king-sized setup had been plenty broken-in for a while now. However, that box in the nursery remained unopened for a few weeks now, a testament to the actors’ maddeningly busy lives. At some point, that extra-wide crib would have to be built, but that day could wait as he peacefully sighed with his body snuggly against the back of his expecting wife. After all, there was a certain air to this day that was different than others.
God knows that with their usual schedules, being able to sleep-in together this late on any morning was so rare that it might as well be a luxury. After all, they were arguably their country’s biggest stars who were more likely to be up early so they could be on-set to make their next box office hit. Or maybe they had woken up earlier than that to get in a good workout before their time with their co-stars. It also was not out-of-the-question that they might have to film a few episodes for a series in one day which would take hours and would mean less time to see the other when they came home.
But today was not one of those days, at least not for another two hours. That was when the clock would make its ugly presence known at 9am. Until then, he would relish this moment for as long as he could, though there were natural forces at play who conspired to ruin this moment. Or at the very least, it threatened to pause it. He did not want that either, but his body was giving him no choice.
He had been too stubborn to “pick up” earlier, but nature had been calling for long enough to where he could no longer ignore his physical needs.
Before ending his loving embrace, he sighed with a warm smile and gently kissed the top of her head, her cherry blossom shampoo still making its presence known throughout her long, flowing hair stained in majestic crimson. It mattered little where his kisses landed on her body, her touch was just so utterly infectious that it left his lips craving so much more.
With a deep breath and an annoyed smirk across his lips, he backed off and carefully removed his strong arm that immediately felt noticeably colder without her warm, slumbering touch. Despite him needing to test the plumbing as soon as possible, he carefully rolled to his right, making sure to not disturb his wife’s rest.
With unobtrusive steps, he silently left the bedroom for the one next door, all while watching her sleep sweetly as she cuddled remnants of their bunched-up blanket with a face that was perfectly dopey as it was angelic.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Aqua quietly assured before silently picking up the pace as his bladder ached.
Her light snoring stopped as she began rustling at the sound of the door’s closing. It was only for a second that her deep red eyes cracked open, but she just as quickly nodded off again… or at least that was the intention. Something was… well, “wrong” was not the correct word. It was more like she felt something was “off.” Or “missing” might have been more accurate.
She was up whether she liked it or not, but not all her mental faculties had awoken quite yet. It left her in a delirious state-of-being as she slowly tried to figure out what was wrong with the situation.
Her side of the blanket bunched up and cuddled with? No, that was something she had woken up to before, much to her husband’s amusement (and rarely, his envy).
Actually, maybe that was it. Her body was not feeling as warm as it had been earlier. The man whose job it was to give her a heartfelt dosage of bodily heat had left. She forced her sluggish and slightly sweaty head to look over her shoulder all while getting a few stands of stray hair out of her eyes. Despite the snow-muted light shining into their room, her suspicions were confirmed when all she saw were barren sheets behind her. Not so much as a trace of his famously blonde bedhead.
“Hmm?” Kana grumbled.
Part of her thought she was still dreaming. Empty bed? No husband? No snuggle buddy?
“Where’d he go?” she asked, her voice understandably groggy.
Then, the sound of a flush followed by running water alerted her to the far side of the bedroom. A small sigh of relief escaped as her head moved back to the confines of their pillow. She could have gone back to sleep if she had wanted to, but something else kept her from doing so.
Kana knew her man would not be headed out to his meet-up for a while. All he had on his itinerary before tonight was a “lunch meeting for his next possible role,” as he so claimed. If Melt was willing to pay for his meal, the least he could do was listen to his pitch. She hoped it would not be too filling given the couple’s dinner plans.
Melt had come a long way since his rocky start on Sweet Today as one of Aqua’s male co-stars. He had cut his teeth for almost a decade now, long removed from just being a pretty boy cast solely to garner clicks and bring in chicks. He was mature enough to take criticism and learn, plus he had the patience of a saint. Perhaps too much patience given he had been dating someone who was notoriously high maintenance and bratty for almost two years now all while their love for the other never wavered. Allegedly, the two had been getting very serious as well. Hell, Kana knew her too. It was her sister-in-law.
Wait, was there more to Melt and Aqua’s meeting than just a movie? Hmmm…
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening jolted her back to reality. Kana’s train-of-thought was derailed just as quickly as it left the station. Someone she dearly missed had come back even if their time apart was brief. All she could do was softly smile and take in the sight of her fabulous husband rubbing his eyes and trying (yet failing) to stifle a yawn. Maybe his actions were not outwardly fabulous at that particular moment, but he did make up for it by only wearing a pair of black shorts and coming back into the room shirtless, the latter of which pleased Kana greatly.
Lucky for her, Aqua kept himself in great shape. She would always complain that he maybe went a little too hard at the gym and not enough elsewhere, but they both knew that was a cheeky lie. More than anything, it was Kana and her sharp tongue up to their usual antics, something he had years of experience dealing with and silently enjoyed even if he would never admit it.
Aqua genuinely took care of his body and sported a toned physique to back up that claim. Clearly defined abs and pecs. Strong legs that would hungrily surround his wife in their more private moments. A strong back that Kana would never get tired of getting her greedy hands on especially if she left a few loving battle scars for them to find the next morning.
And of course, there was his face and how stupidly handsome it was. His strong jaw, his unblemished cheeks, his sparkling eyes which were of course his namesake… that last one being her personal favorite. They gently glistened like light dancing on the lakefront at sunrise. They radiated passion on the set, and they shined even brighter whenever they were alone. Even in pitch-black darkness, whether they were camping outside or in the confines of their bed, they were a beacon of light and hope for the famous redhead. She lost count over the years how many times she got herself lost in them. They haunted her dreams in the best way possible, something to look forward to even after she closed her eyes for a night of rest. No matter when, no matter how, his aquamarine orbs would always be fixed on her, something she had fantasized for years before they got together and had only intensified since then.
Goodness, had it already been nearly six years since Ai gave them permission to date in secret after the J.I.F.? And with everything else that would be happening in their lives soon, it put into perspective just how lucky she was to have him.
He continued to make his way out of the restroom as he put his hand down only for him to quickly crack his neck. Aqua groaned for a moment, but it was followed by a sigh of relief as his muscles relaxed and eyes reopened.
She scoffed, getting his attention as he stopped in his tracks. Even with her look of sarcastic disbelief as she remained under the covers, Kana’s face and star-filled eyes were as dreamy as ever. The very sight always made him smile, seeing the girl he compared to the sun be as happy and content as anyone.
“You’re going to break your neck doing that,” she barbed. “And I’ll tell you, ‘I told you so,’ as you drop dead.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes. “Hey, at least I’ll die without a sore neck. But it’s nice to see that I’m so loved in my own house.”
“Somebody in this house actually loves you? Couldn’t be me.”
“Then why stay here?” Aqua pried before stopping by her side and looked down at the beauty before him. “You could leave anytime, so why do you continue to linger? It can’t just be because I pay for the Wi-Fi.”
She groaned with a small chuckle. “Christ-on-a-stick, you chew scenery! It drives me crazy when you do that, but hey… at least you’re a decent cook.”
Aqua sighed with a smirk. “Is that all I’m good for?”
“Okay, you got me. That’s not the only thing you’re actually good for.”
“And what, pray tell, would that be?” he asked with feigned curiosity, waiting for the punchline.
She chuckled and raised her hand, gesturing to him with a single finger to get closer. He humored her request, leaning in so his ear was next to her mouth.
“The only thing you are mildly good for is putting out.”
He slowly turned with an unimpressed look in his eye to find his wife with her had propped up and sporting a shit-eating grin that the Cheshire Cat would be jealous of. However, two could play that game.
“This coming from failed child actor who settled for taking my smaller-than-average dick?” Aqua, his face rife with appalling smugness, then pointed at her torso that sported a baby bump and swollen breasts that were still noticeable even under the blanket. “And be happy with the consequences?”
Kana’s smile faded. In its place was something more akin to bemused as she looked at Aqua who maintained his poker face, something he had inherited from his mother. At least he seemed a bit happy with himself for that quip. But how would Kana respond? She had a few moments to think as she tried to keep her composure.
But it was too late.
It hit him as their staring contest concluded. He blinked but had a proud smirk, stoking his wife’s curiosity.
“I just realized something,” Aqua said with a smug face.
“What?” she replied not liking her husband’s tone, sensing he had a sort of “eureka” moment.
“Did it occur to you that there was just a ‘pregnant’ pause between us?”
The color left Kana’s face instantly.
She flopped onto her back as Aqua began laughing with sick, twisted pride. He had to steady himself against the wall all while his wife buried her face with her hands on the bed, a sickening groan coming from her mouth as Aqua’s laughter grew.
He was going to be the death of her. She knew that and had accepted that fact years ago. It did not mean she had to like it… especially when he was already unleashing a barrage of dad jokes.
Aqua’s chortling finally ceased as he let out the last few chuckles he had left. By the time he stopped, her face was still buried, but Kana moved her fingers to look through them. He was still standing there with a toothy grin she wished she could punch. She would never do that, she loved Aqua too much for that, but a girl could dream….
She finally removed her hands to show him her massive pout. “Get them out now, because I will not let them hear it when they arrive,” she said with conviction.
“Good morning to you too,” Aqua replied as he leaned over and kissed his annoyed wife.
With one big sigh, she figured it was time to drop the subject because all it would do was drive up her blood pressure… and sweat more than she already was considering most of their residual heat was still under the covers. She made a mental note that while he had won this battle, she would sure as hell never admit it. Aqua was feeling himself enough already with that proud smile of his.
He kissed her again and did his best to cup Kana’s cheek, a little awkward given the angle, but he too wanted her to calm down. Good thing he knew what would work, and he knelt down beside the bed with his tilted head propped up by his right hand.
She saw him moving down and turned to find his captivating eyes that were unquestionably softer now compared to what she had seen a few seconds prior. She knew this was intentional because it always did the job. Kana could look at his gorgeous face for hours and never tire of it. To her, Hoshino Aquamarine was… well, he could be real piece of work just like herself. It seemed he picked up her nasty habit of having a bad mouth. But at the end of the day, no matter what he said or did, Aqua was simply the man of her dreams.
With his free hand, he motioned her to get a little closer. Matching his smile, she acquiesced and carefully shifted her body toward the edge of the bed, getting so close that their faces could feel each other’s warm breath.
With her right hand just poking out from under the covers, Aqua gently took it by the wrist, carefully placing it on his left cheek and holding it there so he might take in its warmth. It was a tender gesture that let him embrace her intoxicating touch. As Aqua closed his eyes he relished how her delicate fingers felt like plush velvet when pressed against his skin. It was not an overly grand gesture—nor was it romantically original in the slightest—but it was just intimate enough where they would both inevitably blush, and that was what Aqua found from Kana when he opened his eyes, having gone from wanting her touch to savoring the bright red splendor she had written all over his face.
Aqua wanted to have another taste, so he leaned in like so many times before, capturing her soft, thin lips as his pregnant wife returned the favor almost instantly. Kana too wanted more, slowly removing her hand from her beautiful beau’s face to the back of his head. Her fingers immediately got lost in his longer locks, twirling his blonde hair as she pulled him in closer, sucking on his bottom lip for a little longer than he was used to, something Aqua never objected. He could take getting played with a little bit too.
Alas, their good times had to come to an end. Their lungs needed to rest, so they mutually parted as Kana’s fingers still played in a soft, blonde jungle that was silky smooth to the touch. She loved that he had taken her advice to condition his hair every day, and she loved it more when she could reap the rewards.
Opening their eyes, they gave each other a warm smile with a loving look that exuded deep passion and unadulterated longing.
“Even though you are an absolute pain,” she began, “I still love you… daddy.”
“I love you too, Red-Mama,” her husband declared with a small peck.
She sighed at his comment. It was obvious to her that Aqua loved his Mushoku Tensei light novels a little too much. He had even convinced her to match his Halloween attire the previous fall. He was Rudeus, she became Eris. But if she was “Red-Mama,” what if he ever brought home a “Blue-Mama” complete with braided pigtails and a comically oversized yet adorable witch’s hat? That would imply a relationship with Akane, wouldn’t it? It was a thought that she had a tough time shaking off despite its disgusting implication. Even then, Aqua both knew what Kana would do to him if anything like that ever came to light.
Wait, if Akane was the hypothetical Roxy, who would be Sylphiette?
“Now… can I talk to them?”
“Hmm?” His words shook her away from her lingering nightmare. “Curse these out-of-whack emotions!” she mentally spat. It was an instance of her pregnancy coming with its share of unwanted side-effects, a tidbit of information Ai and Aqua warned of long ago.
“I said, ‘Can I talk to them?’”
She nodded, removing her hand from his hair and ditching the covers in one motion. There was a small shiver from her, but with his actions, he hoped to temporarily rectify that. His eyes focused on one place and maintained his gaze even after she moved around into a better position. Her left leg swept over his head so she could sit on the edge of the bed with her midsection still covered.
As she lifted the pink cloth—not so easily done as she was sitting on the bottom of her nightgown—Aqua’s gaze briefly went to her matching panties, but his eyes re-trained on the soft swell of her midsection. It was a perfect sight only enhanced by her sensuous fertility, a magical view of her body. By this time, Kana had been carrying his children for the last 26 or so weeks. Hopefully by the end of April, they would welcome healthy twins into the world if all went well.
However, the transition from the second to third trimesters had brought something Kana had been dreading: cravings. They had only started a few weeks prior and had intensified since, but Kana was never going to forget the look of disbelief that Aqua had the previous Saturday: her in a black set of underwear with a small tub of cookie dough ice cream at 6:30 in the morning accompanied by a small bowl of caramel corn. It was a breakfast that only a 5-year-old might find logical. Apparently, oatmeal with diced apple, cinnamon, and small spoonful of brown sugar was not a sweet enough start to the day for the expecting mother. It was a poignant (if not delicious) reminder that these last three months were going to be a real grind, especially for Kana, but they would cross that bridge when they got there.
In the meantime, Aqua had his eyes trained on the goddess before him now in all her glory. His hands gracefully made it to her waist, still smooth despite the changes her body had undertaken. Despite the sweet cravings, she staved off most of the baby weight by keeping herself active with exercises that the doctors (and Aqua) recommended. She would complete her morning with a healthy breakfast courtesy of Aqua. The results were more than apparent with her as trim and healthy as an expecting mother could possibly be at this stage while maintaining her cute, mature beauty.
His thumbs slowly made a pattern of circles on her midsection. It was his way of trying to put both his twins and wife at ease. He wanted to hold his children so badly. He longed for the nights that he and Kana would fall asleep with them in their arms after a busy day of parenting. He could envision all four of them passed out on the couch, resting peacefully as their familial warmth radiating while they peacefully slumbered. This was the closest he was going to get to that until the big day arrived, so he made sure this moment would last as long as possible.
As he warmly smiled, he bowed his head onto his wife’s womb, her escaping warmth from their night together a blessing upon his forehead. He even added a small nuzzle which made Kana chuckle at the humorous sight and the tickle it provided. He then raised his head without opening his eyes and leaned in again, this time with an affectionate kiss on her stomach, a sign of love meant for the children he could not wait to meet.
Before he let them be, he silently mouthed a little prayer for their safe birth. That… and one more important thing.
No reincarnated souls. He wanted his children to not have the otherworldly childhood he and Ruby had. No supernatural forces or interference if it could be helped. “Kami… let their souls be their own. Not someone else’s. I’m gracious you gave Gorou a second chance at life, but I want them to be normal. I want them to truly be our children. If not for my sake, but for Kana’s.”
Finishing his prayer, he leaned away and looked up to his wife who sported a content smile and shining eyes. Nothing in this world could make him happier. If this were the last thing Aqua would ever see, it was a life well-lived. But he knew they would find happier times after their children were born.
“Thank you for this,” he said.
Kana shook her head. “I keep telling you to thank me when they’re here. A lot can still happen.”
He dropped his head and sighed. “Don’t remind me.”
“Such a drama queen,” Kana thought as she rolled her eyes before looking to the nightstand. There was still a little time they could share together. Breakfast did not have to be made yet, plus their expected guests would not be arriving for another two hours.
“Hey,” she said softly as he continued to gently hold her waist. “It’s just after 7. Ruby and Mom won’t be here until 9, and my ‘flashing’ has made me kinda cold. We can snuggle for another hour.”
“8:30,” he countered, almost sounding like a wanting child. She had to admit, it was cute to hear him like this.
“8:10.”
“Quarter after.”
“Deal, now get your cute ass up here.”
He let Kana go for the time being to stand up and walk around to his side of their king-sized bed while she reset the alarm. Her task complete, Aqua then took the blanket and threw it over her, its warmth and coziness welcoming her wholeheartedly. Not wanting to wait any longer, he rolled in and covered up as well. Kana began carefully inching herself closer to meet him halfway. All that remained when they came together was to kiss her head one last time and slide his arms gently around her just in time for the heater to kick back on.
Her fingers intertwined with his. A peaceful morning, just the two of them huddled and cuddled in bed. His breathing tickled the hairs on the back of her head as she laid silently beside him. The smile on her face was not going to fade anytime soon if she had her way.
He had already given her so much. A home where love always awaited when they returned, even if either of them had a stressful day. More than their fair share of passionate mornings and nights, his masterpiece coming on their wedding day in more ways than one. That night led to the pair of angels growing peacefully in her womb. They may not have arrived yet, but Kana vowed to treasure them better than her birth parents did for her. A life she had been more than happy with and would move heaven and earth to keep it that way. After all the terrible things she endured before reconnecting with Ai, she deserved that much.
Unfortunately, life could not all be roses and romantic fantasies. They would have to get out of bed eventually and be responsible adults, even if Aqua had just hit the snooze button while refusing to let her leave his side. She indulged him against her better judgement, and her reward was a calm morning… and the feeling of him nuzzling the back of her head with a content sigh. Seems like he could not go back to sleep after their first alarm either, not that she minded the sweet nothings he constantly gave her.
Ever since they started sleeping together, Aqua became a bit handsy with her. Not in an overtly sexual way (most of the time), but he had this wonderful and nasty habit of wanting to hold her whenever they were alone, namely in the safety of their home. His claim was that he was addicted to her touch and that she was just too adorable to let go. She reasoned he was a clingy man, but she could not bring herself to hate it. Could it be a little suffocating from time-to-time? Sure, but she silently reveled in the attention. She always preferred to perform and shine as if to say, “Hey! Look at me!” God knows he gave her that attention and affection tenfold and would still do in the future.
In public, their affection was more professional and reserved for the most part, especially if they were at a movie afterparty or somewhere like that. More than once, Aqua would find Kana talking to some man who she wanted to end the conversation with or if he was trying to get closer to the “Japanese Aphrodite” in some variable fashion, even if she was dropping hints subtle or otherwise that she wanted to move on. When that occurred, he would walk up to his wife with a small greeting, wrap his arm around her shoulder, and give Kana a warm kiss on the head to put her at ease. And Kana knew Aqua could throw a mean look if those men’s intimidated faces were anything to go by after rescuing her. It had happened a few times too many for her liking, but she could take solace in the fact that he always had her back. He really was perfect for her. After all, she had returned the favor plenty of times whenever some homewrecker was giving him the business albeit with the subtly of a panzer tank.
Another small kiss was placed in her crimson hair as his grip softly and safely tightened around her. She rolled her eyes at the gesture if only because he enjoyed giving Kana as much affection as she could handle. Not that she was not enjoying herself too. His small displays of love would always make her heart flutter.
“What happened to snoozing?” she asked with a raised eyebrow and a slowly rising heartbeat.
The arm that was around her slid out as he sat up and reached over her. The sudden motion caught Kana a little off-guard as she rolled onto her back.
*CLICK*
Whatever Aqua set out to do had been completed. She turned her head and—. Oh, he just flipped the alarm off thus disengaging the snooze alarm. She sighed and shook her head.
“That’s what you were doing,” she said in a deadpan tone. If she had to guess what would happen next…
With a small chuckle, Aqua brushed away one of her red bangs and cupped her cheek all while showing her an incredibly smug but tender smile. His eyes… glistening like jewels in the summer’s light, but there was something else too. A hint of lust, perhaps a touch of mischief as well. With his other arm snaking around and propping her up just a touch… yeah, this was exactly what she figured he would do.
It meant they were going to have to dress fast and delay her shower until she got to the office, but…
Ah, what the hell? Why not? She was willing to make that sacrifice.
Kana chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck with her fingers playing in his soft hair again. “Fine,” she began, “but be gentle.”
He responded by leaning in and kissing her neck, sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine.
From the outside, they could hear the small thud of a car door and its locking. Then two girls began talking… loudly. Even the lovebirds could hear them from their second-story bedroom. Worse yet, they were voices they knew.
They immediately parted as the color washed away from their faces. But if they were—.
Aqua’s head snapped up.
“What does the clock say?” Kana asked with a small hint of fear.
“8:22.”
“Then why the hell are they here now?!”
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
He gently let her go as he rolled onto his side of the bed with his hands covering his face. “You have got to be kidding!” Aqua growled.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“Did they tell you they were doing this?” Kana asked irritably.
Aqua reached over and grabbed his phone. “No text, not even a missed call. You?”
Kana did the same and looked at the screen. “Zip. Zilch. Nada.”
WE! ARE! STAR T-RAIN!
Kana groaned and showed him the screen. “You won’t believe who’s calling!” Aqua just shook his head, got out of bed, got dressed, and threw on his scandals while his wife answered the phone, turning on the speaker so she could yell full blast.
This would not end well.
“Does ‘9 o’clock’ mean nothing to you?!” the redhead bellowed into the speaker.
“What are you talking out?” Ruby asked. “Loli-senpai, I texted you before we left that we were coming early.”
“Um… no! No, you did not!” Kana angrily shot back. “Aqua, did you get a text?”
“Can’t say I did,” he replied as he finished changing and began heading downstairs with an unimpressed look on his face.
“Ruby, you said you texted Kana.” The redhead knew that mature voice, and it sounded like her mother-in-law needed an explanation too.
“I did too text her, Mama! See?!” There was a slight pause. “Now can one of you please unlock the door so—?”
Kana could hear something get slapped. It was not Ruby given the lack of screaming. If Kana could bet ¥10,000, a certain retired, purple-haired idol had just facepalmed if the loud, accompanying sigh was any indication.
“Ruby… honey… look at your screen and tell us who you sent that to,” Ai said unenthusiastically.
“I told you sent it to—!” Then she stopped. She must have done what her mother had asked and realized her screwup. “I… sent that to… I sent that to… Melt… aw, crap.”
As Kana hung up the phone and groaned, her blonde beau had just entered the living room and made a beeline for the door. Blitzing right past the couch and kitchen, Aqua peeked through a small hole just to make sure before hastily undoing the locks.
When the door swung open, he was greeted to a wintry sight as two ladies he loved dearly waited on his un-shoveled front porch. His sister was hatless, but she had a bright pink trench coat with a matching scarf. Given the material used, the cotton garment even glittered like Ruby’s eyes usually did. “Usually” being the key word as hers were just as nervous as the smile she had on as she looked at her brother’s undoubtedly pissed-off face.
“I, uh… I know you will forgive your adorable, little sister for an honest mistake, right?” The only answer she got was Aqua’s twitching right eye and black stars that only held malice. “Yeah… I didn’t think so,” Ruby responded with a resigned sigh.
“Just get it here,” Aqua replied flatly.
The ladies in question waltzed in. He had not paid attention to his mother who took off her beige coat and set it on the coatrack, but Aqua could tell she was disappointed too, the only difference being that her face was more emotionally reserved than his.
Ai had kept herself in great shape despite being in her late 30s. She was not dressed all that uniquely at the moment with her black yoga pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with the first generation of B-Komachi plastered on the front. The original seven members were doing cute poses on the back while the idol group’s faded wordmark was on the front. She still had her vibrantly colored hair that was tied up in a bun. There was not a single grey hair on her head, though with Ruby’s mistake, she might have just gotten her first.
Aqua sighed and shook his head before closing the door behind them and went to the kitchen while they sat down. “Do either of you need coffee?”
“One sugar,” Ruby requested.
“Irish if you have the crème,” Ai replied.
“Aren’t you driving?” Aqua said as he started measuring out the crushed beans.
“No, your sister is charge of that today.”
“I see.” With them ready to go, he went to the sink to fetch the water. “Is there a reason you two are here this early? Kana and I were kinda in the middle of something.”
“Someone’s crabby,” Ruby shot back.
“Ruby, I love you, but you’re in no position to sass your brother,” Ai said in tone that sounded neutral but held a grave warning. Then the girls’ ears picked up someone coming down the hall. She was red-haired wearing a black robe and out for blood. The purple-haired matriarch got up and went to her hot-headed daughter-in-law to defuse the situation… or at least try.
“Sorry to interrupt your privacy, Kana,” Ai said before giving Kana a soft hug.
As much as the redhead wanted to spew venom at that moment, she could never stay mad at the woman who gave her a second lease on life, especially when this situation was not her fault. With a sharp exhale, Kana loosened up and returned the hug to which Ai responded with a small kiss on the head. “It’s… It’s fine, Mom.”
“Can somebody answer me?” Aqua half-yelled from the kitchen as the hot, brown liquid from heaven began dripping into the pot.
Ai let go of the mother of her future grandchildren so Kana could take a seat. She then turned her attention back to Aqua. “I know you’re upset, sweetie, but I know I raised you better than that.”
He let out a small sigh before he acquiesced. “Can somebody answer me, please?”
“That’s better. Because of the snow, we’re here now because we wanted to pick up Kana early for the interviews since the roads are all kinds of crummy.”
“One. We saw only one plow on the drive up here,” Ruby added before turning her attention to her vibrating phone. It appeared like Melt got the inadvertent message.
Kana rolled her eyes, but the logic was sound. “And that’s what Ruby was supposed to tell us?” Her question was answered by a nod from Ai. “And how long before we have to get going?”
“If we’re gone in 30 minutes, we’ll be fine,” Ai replied.
“Ugh,” Kana groaned, her annoyance not unfounded.
*GRUMBLE*
Nor was her stomach’s emptiness.
“Babe? I hate to ask but—?”
“Veggie omelet, coming up,” Aqua replied as he entered the living room with a round of drinks, the first going to Kana: a shot of French vanilla creamer and a small swirl of whipped cream. Before leaving, he leaned over the couch and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks,” Kana said with a blush as Aqua returned to the kitchen.
Ai’s hand propped up her head as she smiled at the young lovers. It hardly mattered that they were still early into their marriage; it did her heart good to see they had not lost their spark. And as she looked at Kana’s midsection, she could not wait to hold baby twins again for the first time in a few decades and spoil them rotten. Hard to believe Ai was going to be a grandmother before the age of 40.
“Mom?”
“Hmm?” Ai looked up to see his son with a cup in his hand. “Oh! Thanks, honey,” Ai replied as she grabbed her coffee and took a sip. If seeing Aqua and Kana still interact like this was good for her heart, then freshly brewed Irish coffee was good for her soul.
*SIP*
Ohhhhhh, and “good for the soul” it was. Perfect. Absolutely sensational, even. It made her think, “Aqua missed his calling in life. He would have made a great barista.”
“Is mine coming?” Ruby queried.
Aqua then returned with another two cups. “Yes, but your impatience isn’t necessary.”
That got a pout out of Ruby, but she still accepted the cup. “Onii-chan is salty.”
“And Onee-chan texted the wrong person this morning which led to our current predicament.”
Ai and Kana’s collective groan fell on deaf ears.
Ruby raised an eyebrow and shot her brother a nasty look, but she sighed in resignation. She had that one coming. “Melt said you two were having lunch today, yeah?”
“He did,” Aqua said after taking a sip and going back to start Kana’s breakfast. “Something about a new movie. Did he tell you what it is?”
“Yep! But he asked me to keep a tight lip about it.” Ruby then took a drink as she could hear Aqua cracking some eggs. “So let me ask you something… have you picked out names yet?”
“Not this again…,” Ai thought. “This girl has a death wish today.”
“Ruby, if you’re going to say what I think you’re going to say...,” Kana moaned.
“I’m just saying, ‘Gorou’ and ‘Sarina’ would be cute names.”
Aqua then poked his head out from the kitchen. “And I’m ‘just saying’ that they are not your children, so you don’t have a say in what we name them.” He then went back to scrambling eggs.
“Oh, c’mon! They’re wonderful names!”
“We’ve already had this conversation four times,” Aqua warned in a low tone. “The names have already been picked. Get over it.”
“But are those names cute?” Ruby shot back. “I’m going to be their aunt, so I think I should at least have some say in this.”
Aqua set his drink down loudly enough to get his frustration across before leaving the kitchen.
“Ruby, you are on thin ice right now,” Aqua hissed. “For the last, fu—!”
“Enough!” Ai yelled. Unsurprisingly, it got her kids’ attention. Getting up, she motioned her children over. Like a couple of guilty puppies, they each slowly approached their mother. Each of them sported guilty looks much to Kana’s amusement. At least someone was enjoying this.
The former “genius idol” set her cup down and grabbed the bridge of her nose while her kids looked to the ground unable to meet their mother’s gaze. With a sharp sigh, Ai looked at Ruby and said, “Ruby, you have already caused us one headache this morning. Now you’re being a pain in the ass to your brother. And for what? Just for the hell of it?! What the hell is the matter with you?!”
Ruby didn’t talk back. She shamefully continued to look at the floor like she had been grounded for a month.
Then Ai turned to her son. “And Aqua, I am sorry that we interrupted you and Kana and whatever it was you were doing, but we’re here now, and all you’ve done so far is take out all your mounting frustrations on your sister.”
“Oh, come on, Mom!” Aqua protested. “Ruby has no right—!”
“Ah! Ah! I am talking now!” Ai then raised their chins to raise them so she could sternly look at them both. “You may be my children, but you are both adults now. Act like it! Do you understand?”
“Yes…,” the twins said in unison.
“Good. Aqua, I think you have more to speak to your sister regarding this topic. Am I correct?” He nodded. “Then how about you two go off and hash this out privately? God knows I’m sick of hearing about it, and I’m sure Kana is too. But so help me, if I have to hear you two bicker the whole damn day…!”
Aqua could not believe his ears. Kana’s face during this matched her husband’s and was about to stand up too, but Ai shot her a meaningful look. Without telling her a word, Kana knew the gesture meant, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing. Just be patient.” With that, the pregnant actress sat back down.
“Mom, how can you tell me, in my own house no less, that Ruby has a say in a decision that is between me and Kana?!” Aqua sternly asked as Ruby smirked. “And I haven’t even started cooking Kana’s breakfast yet!”
Ai shook her head. “When did I ever say Ruby was right? Of course she fucking isn’t!”
Ruby looked so betrayed. “But Mama—!”
“Quiet!” Ai snapped, flashing black stars to Ruby before giving her son that same look. “Aqua, you have to nip this in the bud right now. Your love for your sister is wonderful, but maybe you aren’t being assertive enough with her if she keeps bringing this up, and you have reacted the same way every time.”
“Or maybe she’s been too stubborn again and won’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” Aqua barbed.
“Hey!” Ruby exclaimed.
Ai huffed. “Whichever one it is, I will take care of Kana’s breakfast so you and your sister can talk this out. Now…,” Ai began as she turned to the redhead, “Kana, dear? Can you show me around your fridge for what you want on your omelet? And maybe tell me why you of all people don’t want meat with your breakfast?”
Kana put her phone down and nodded. “Of course. Follow me. Oh, and extra spinach please.” The former idol centers made their way to the kitchen as Ai’s phone began to ring.
With the twins alone, they glared at each other. Aqua pointed down the hall only for Ruby to motion that he should go first. With an angrily cocked eyebrow, he stormed away with his sister in tow. He went into the last door on the right: the former guest room.
What had previously been a plain, dark grey room had been painted over with pastel blues, pinks, and yellows on the walls with a box holding an unassembled crib opposite the closet. A stuffed panda and fox each awaited the twins on a pair of rocking chairs where Kana would someday nurse one twin as Aqua would hold the other. For now, Aqua put the plushies in the closet to clear the seats.
Aqua gestured to the chairs. Ruby sighed, but as she took her seat, she shot her brother a pouting look. He did not take the seat beside her as he loomed over her with arms crossed and irritation pouring out his black-starred eyes.
Before he spoke again, Aqua shook his head, closed the door behind him, then sharply exhaled. “Okay…,” he began in a low voice, “I need you to give me one good reason why you have any right to tell Kana and me why we should bend to your will and have you name our kids.” Ruby looked at him for a moment with that same cute pout. No dice. That might have worked on Melt or her legions of fans, but after a few seconds of silence, she knew it would not have any effect on Aqua. “Sometime before you need to leave would be nice.”
Ruby crossed her arms as she continued to stew, but as Aqua waited, her face softened into something that looked… melancholy. Her eyes suddenly turned sad yet nostalgic. He rarely got to see her in this way. It could have been an act, but judging from the rest of her body language, it did not seem likely.
Ruby shook her head. “I don’t want you to forget,” she said in a distressed voice. “That’s all.”
Yep, this was no act.
“Elaborate.”
She uncrossed her arms and folded her hands. She looked down at her twiddling thumbs as she tried to find the right words.
“Who we used to be before… before we died.” She looked up to him and waited for her to continue. “I… I don’t want you to forget where we came from. Not that… not the hospital where we spent years together, but the people we used to be. Back when I was Sarina, and you were my wonderful sensei.” His eyes trailed away for a second as he took in her words. “I just think that it’d be a nice little… I don’t know how to exactly say it,” she added as words failed her.
With a small shake of his head, he took the seat next to her. He hunched over too, so he tapped her wrist to get her attention. “Look at me,” he requested softly. She did as she was told, and then he continued. “I am not naming my children ‘Gorou’ and ‘Sarina’ for the sake of an easter egg or an inside joke between us.”
“That’s not—.”
“Yes, it is,” he shot back in a milder tone. “Look… I could never forget who we used to be even if I wanted to. Weird as it would sound to anyone else, that’s a part of us whether we like it or not. That said, I’m not Gorou anymore just like you aren’t Sarina. We are Aqua and Ruby. Because some shitty god has a sick sense of humor, our favorite idol became our mother. We were given a second chance to do what we want to do, live our lives the way we want to, make our own decisions. And for me, that includes how Kana and I want to spend our lives and raise our family.”
Ruby stayed silent. Her face begged him to go on. “Look, I didn’t have a lot of luck with women when I was a doctor. Hell, I barely had time for relationships. My old life was fine—it was a decent living, I suppose—but I didn’t get a chance to really live it the way I wanted. But I have that now. I have a great mom and a sister who annoy me to hell and back, but I still love them anyway, and it helps that my sister used to be someone I had a deep bond with.” That made Ruby smile. “But I also married someone who gets me in a way no one else can, and now I’m sharing my life with her and am ready to start a family.”
“Onii-chan,” Ruby began, “you’re chewing scenery.”
He chuckled, amused that he had been called out for that twice now. “I suppose I am,” Aqua admitted. “Bottom line, this is my life now. I don’t have to be a doctor anymore. I want to be an actor and be in movies with her and all sorts of other talented people. I’m happy. Kana makes me happy, and I don’t doubt our kids will make us even happier. I don’t want to have any hang-ups or linger on who I used to be. I don’t regret or resent anything since being reborn. That includes how Kana and I name our kids. They will be our children. We will name them and raise them. And if I ever named my son after who I used to be, I’d be constantly reminded of a man who died alone… even if it wasn’t by choice.”
Ruby mulled over his words for a minute as Aqua finished. “And what about ‘Sarina?’”
“Sarina was a bright light in my old life, and I treasure the memories I had with her, but she never got to achieve her dreams before she died. If I named my children after people who died too soon… well, I think I’ve made my point.” He then turned to his sister who hung on to every word he said. “It’s no offense to you, but I don’t want to be constantly reminded of those tragedies. They were from a life that came and went, but now I have a new one where I have so many more reasons to be happy. Do you understand where I’m coming from now?”
Ruby looked down for a moment, pondering his words briefly before she sat up straight in the chair and rocked slowly with her eyes closed.
“I… guess I understand,” she relented. “But I still think you should name your daughter after that little girl who was so happy with you in her life despite being sick and stuck in a hospital bed.”
Aqua smirked. “I did think about it, but I don’t think you would’ve let me hear the end of it.”
Ruby shook her head with a slight chuckle. “Touché,” she said while chuckling. Then her smile faded into something more neutral as she stopped rocking and looked over to her brother. “I’m sorry for getting you all worked up over this.”
He nodded in acceptance. “And I’m sorry for not making my point clear earlier.” He then offered his hand which she graciously accepted as they stood up and hugged each other tightly. “For what it’s worth, if you ever have kids someday, you name them after who we used to be. I won’t judge… out loud.”
Ruby had to laugh at that as she gripped him tighter. “Not a bad idea… Sensei.” Now it was Aqua’s turn to laugh and smile. “Love you, Aqua.”
“I love you too, Ruby,” he replied as he patted her back. Then he disengaged the hug as they made his way to the door.
As the siblings walked back to the living room, Ruby asked, “So… are you gonna tell me the names you picked or what?”
He shook his head with a smug grin. “Fat chance. Mom already knows; you can stay in the dark.”
Ruby replied with a scoff. “Nice to see where I stand in this family.”
The idle chatter of the two former idol centers came into earshot as the twins returned. Kana was about halfway through her breakfast but sweating by the looks of it. Was it a heat flash?
Kana groaned and tried to cool off her tongue in the meantime by sticking it out. Ai simply sighed as she took a big sip of her breakfast cocktail as she shook her head.
“Uh, mom?” Aqua asked in a confused tone. “Did you do something to my wife?”
Kana swallowed another bite and coughed before turning around. “She put pepper flakes in my omelet!” She then sighed with a twinge of culinary pain. “And I can’t wash it down with something cool because of my hot coffee!”
There was not much Aqua could otherwise do. Well, there was one thing. Aqua’s only course of action was to glance at Ai with an incredulous look on his face all while his mom paid them little attention.
Aqua sighed and went to comfort his aching wife. “It’s not healthy to stress out a woman this late into her pregnancy, Mom.” Ai did not respond. “Mom, are you okay?”
The purple-haired woman raised her head. “What? Oh, sorry. Just a little annoyed from that call.”
Aqua cocked an eyebrow. “What about a call?”
Ai was about to speak, but she stopped herself. “Right, you two weren’t here for that.”
“Katayose-san is running an hour late because of the roads,” Kana said amid spicy bites.
Ruby sighed but could understand the how and why of it all. “Great, because we weren’t already running behind…,” Ruby said unenthusiastically.
“We’ll be fine,” Ai said as her frustration dissipated. “We have all day.”
Kana scoffed. “Aqua and I have reservations for dinner.” That update from the redhead made Ai facepalm. Clearly someone had forgotten that detail.
“Then… I guess your interview will have to be first. But what about—?”
“Mom, I can pick her up,” Aqua volunteered. “I’ll be in town later anyway, remember?”
Ai’s face eased up. “Oh, right. Sorry, a lot of things have happened already.” She then saw her daughter-in-law set her clean plate down. “Kana, do you want to shower here or at the office?”
“Office,” the redhead replied as she knocked out the rest of her warm coffee.
Aqua then turned around toward the stairs. “I’ll get a change of—.”
“I’ll pack my own bags, thank you,” Kana interrupted as she stood up. Her blonde beau stopped and looked back with a face that almost looked betrayed.
“It’s alright, I can—.”
“I know you can,” she replied as she walked up and gave him a small peck on the cheek. “I’m pregnant, but I’m not helpless. Besides, me picking out an outfit for my interview would make more sense, right? Especially since there’ll be a YouTube version of the podcast.”
Aqua pondered her words briefly before setting his eyes back on her. “Y’know, I actually didn’t consider that.” He then returned her quick kiss. The scene made Ai blush and lovingly smile. However, Ruby’s reaction was the opposite. Aqua noticed his sister’s expression and smirked. “Jealous that you don’t have someone to kiss right now?” Aqua barbed.
Oh, if looks could kill.
Ruby glared at her brother who shot back a grin that could only be described as “shit-eating”.
“I hope your next movie bombs,” the younger idol shot back venomously.
“Love you too, my obnoxious imouto,” Aqua replied before kissing the top of Kana’s head and making his way to the coffee table.
All Ai could do was sigh and shake her head as her son picked up his wife’s lightly used utensils. Then she looked at Ruby and nudged her head toward the stairwell. Ruby rolled her eyes but took the hint as the girls then made their way up to assemble Kana’s wardrobe.
It did not take long for Aqua to clean the dishes and put them away after drying. He had to be a little careful with the still-warm pan, otherwise he would—.
“Ah!” he softly yelled before dropping the skillet back into the soapy water. It was not a major burn that probably would not blister, but it was enough to get his attention and leave a small mark and signify he needed to be more careful next time. Shaking his head, he carefully moved his hand around the warm water and found the handle to resume his cleaning. At least Kana was not there to witness his faux pas. Heaven knows she would have chided him relentlessly with that mouth of hers.
As he rinsed the pan in cool water, the girls began making their way back down with Kana holding a small duffel bag in one hand and her expensive purse in the other. It madly clashed with the T-shirt and sweatpants she had momentarily changed into, a humorous sight that made Aqua chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” Kana asked in an accusatory tone.
“Oh, nothing,” he replied as he dried off the pan and put it away.
Kana shook her head as she waltzed to the door and got her boots on. “We’re headed out,” she called out from the doorway. Then she noticed the wet spots on the hardwood from earlier. “Honey, when you have a minute, can you please mop up the floor? Our guests brought snow inside.”
The sound of a drawer opening and closing was his response. Making his way back into the living room as he began to scan the floor with a kitchen towel in hand.
“What are you doing?” Ruby asked as she slipped on her mittens.
Once Aqua finished surveying, he strolled to the front door where the girls put on the last of their wintry garments. “Just seeing where I do and don’t have to clean the floors,” he replied before squeezing past Kana and putting his arms around Ai and Ruby. “Best of luck with the interviews, don’t say anything that’ll get you cancelled, and say ‘Hi’ to Yura for me please.”
“Tell Kurakosa-san she can piss off and tell your fans to drop dead,” Ruby said sarcastically. “Got it.”
Ai just shook her head with a smile as she and Ruby returned the hug. “Thanks for the coffee, Aqua,” the mother said.
“Anytime,” Aqua replied. “But next time, call us when you’re on your way.” After a final squeeze, the star actor backed away and turned toward Kana who was getting her scarf out. “Allow me,” he offered as he took the garment and braided it around her neck, a surprisingly flashy pattern that surprised his wife.
“You do know I’ll just be removing this once I get into the car, you big showoff,” Kana barbed.
He shot back with a smirk that made her raise an eyebrow. Before she could retort, he wordlessly answered why he played with her scarf in the first place.
Aqua grabbed the garment and swiftly pulled her in for a goodbye kiss that caught her off-guard, but amid the surprise, he could feel her lips smile and kiss him back, briefly putting her arms around his neck to deepen the brief embrace. Given the height difference (and the girls’ tight deadlines), she broke away only to find her soulmate sporting a smug grin and soft eyes that made her little heart do somersaults.
She put her hand to his cheek and patted it lightly. “Devious bastard,” Kana said in a playful voice.
His chuckle was infectious. “See you tonight,” he said before kissing the top of her head again and letting the girls head out.
Locking the door behind them, Aqua sighed and smiled as he spun around to face his living room. With towel still in hand, he checked his phone to get the time. 9:00 on the tick. He still had a few hours to kill until lunchtime. Maybe he could finally put that crib together before his lunch date, but there was one thing he needed to do first.
Throwing the “culinary garment” to the floor, the man was about to start until he noticed just how waterlogged it had already become. With more water up and down and room and halls, there was only one thing on his mind.
“I… think I’m gonna need a bigger towel.”