It was finally quiet.
The clinic had been busy all morning, as it had been nearly every day the last two years. Kyoto had grown considerably since the day Megumi Takani first arrived with Aoshi nearly five years ago.
She bent slowly over the table that served as her desk to check her notes on Ikuhara Akiko, who she had just seen that morning. They were frequent visitors now that her family was living in town, working for one of Aoshi’s export companies.
A little pair of hands reached up and placed a flower on the top of her desk. One flower was followed soon after by another. Then another.
She smiled and put down her pen as she noticed the white daisies. “What is this?”
“It’s from me,” a little boy with black hair and grey eyes looked up at her.
“Hajime!” she gasped delightedly, “Where did you get these?”
“Papa and I picked them,” the little boy smiled.
“Really?” Megumi laughed. “Was it your idea, Hajime?”
Hajime nodded violently.
“He gets that part from you.” Aoshi was standing, eyes closed, his back against the wall.
“They’re for when you’re at work.” Hajime added.
“Of course, Hajime” She smiled and patted him on the head, “I will always think of you when I see them.” She placed them in a glass and took them to the sink.
“Papa also said I could ask you to come out today. He said that you know a lot about plants. I want to know about plants.”
“Did he?” She smiled as she filled up the glass bowl with water, thinking back to another day and time when she had asked her father to do the same. “Alright, then.”
Aoshi came over to take the glass bowl from her and placed it on her desk. “I hope you are hungry.”
“Obaasan made us lunch!” Hajime giggled. “With beancakes!”
Megumi shot Aoshi a wry expression. Beancakes were Obaasan’s little joke. “Will Obaasan be joining us?
Aoshi shook his head. Obaasan was getting old enough that she did not enjoy long walks as much as she used to. “Okina will bring Kaoru instead.”
Her expression on her face softened a bit. “How is she doing?”
Hajime made a face, “She broke two cups today. Obaasan said we had to take her.”
Megumi looked up at Aoshi and grinned slyly. “She gets that from you, I’m afraid.”
He raised his eyebrows at her comment on the two year old girl. “She’ll still be a lot more manageable than some women.”
Megumi smiled sweetly and turned away to look for her shawl. “Whatever do you mean?”
Aoshi knew better than to start something with this woman. Instead, he leaned over and wrapped his coat around her. “It’s still cool outside.”
She sighed, “Always watching out for me, aren’t you?”
“Not just you,” he answered as he lightly touched her side and drew her close. Her eyes then gleamed at his quiet ones. In a few more months, Hajime would have another younger sibling to boss around. And perhaps another after that if Okina’s wishes really were to be humored in his old age.
“Mama! Papa!” Hajime started to get anxious and tugged at their clothing, breaking up their private moment. “Kaoru is waiting!”
Aoshi patted Hajime’s head, but did not let go of his wife completely. As was habit, his hand drifted down and found hers. With the other, he took a firm hold of his son as they walked out the clinic and into the streets of Kyoto.
The feel of each of their hands in his own made him do something he rarely did.
He smiled.
~The end?~
~The end.~
