CHAPTER 72: CALM DAYS, PART II

When Haru looked Shion straight in the eyes, full of uncertainty and hope, Shion’s first instinct was to kiss him – deep and intense, like he was telling him everything was going to be okay – and then he pulled him into a warm hug.

"Sweetheart... but how?" he asked, surprise and hope mixing in his voice.

"Lánshuò told me it’s because you untied with a god, and you must’ve thought about growing our family while we were... doing it, Shion. It’s sweet of you, but next time warn me about something like that!" Haru said, teasing him a little but honestly happy about everything.

"I-It’s true. I’m sorry, Haru, I missed seeing your beautiful body so much that I just..." Shion sighed. "I guess there’s nothing to think about anymore."

"What do you mean?" Haru asked, unsure.

"Just that we need to face reality. We’re expecting another child but our future is still uncertain, even if the last few weeks have been calm. I don’t know when the gods or the Fourth One might decide to attack again, but until then we have to make sure our baby will be born safely, and that we’ll be able to protect him or her."

"I’m not worried about that," Haru answered quietly. "We both have powers now, or... something that lets us fight. I’m just worried if we’ll be able to protect all of them." After saying that, Haru lowered his gaze sadly toward the floor.

Shion gently touched his chin, then lifted it with an even softer gesture.

He stared at Haru’s warm, honey-colored eyes that shined from worry and hope. Only now did he realize how much he had missed that sight.

Shion kissed his husband again, this time long and deep, with tongue.

"Shion..." Haru breathed out his name when the kisses ended. "Y-you’re acting a little different. I don’t mind that, but I’m kind of surprised how... fiery things have been between us lately."

Shion smirked to himself.

"And it’s only going to get more so."

This time Haru kissed him.

"You better start thinking of a name," he said with a smile, touching Shion’s face.

His husband nodded.

"I will. I hope I come up with something that fits our child’s personality and the moment they’ll be born into."

"I’m counting on you," Haru joked, laughing. "I’ll think about it too, but first I’m going to the royal gardens. I will ask the boys to come back to you, and I’ll share the news with Gari."

"You don’t have to. Let Shion and Asahi rest. I can handle things on my own."

"If you say so."

They kissed one more time before saying goodbye and exchanged a look full of deep love. Shion went back to working at his desk, and Haru headed toward the Royal Gardens.

*

"Tag! You’re it now!" Asahi said, tapping Gari on the elbow. He laughed and ran off somewhere.

"I’ll even give you two a head start," the half-dragon said with a confident smirk, "so you can run a little."

"Stop talking and chase us already!" Shion the Second shouted.

"Haha, are you sure you want that?" Gari crouched down like a sprinter, then shot forward like an arrow.

She caught Asahi in a blink and tucked him under her arm like a bag, then grabbed Shion the Second the same way. She ran back with both boys and set them down on a bench, sitting between them.

Gari let out a long breath, trying to catch her rhythm again.

"Game over. We’re playing something else now, I’m done running around."

"Eh, but I still want to run!" Asahi said, puffing out his cheek.

"I don’t. I’m out of breath again," Shion the Second replied.

"That just means your stamina sucks," Gari teased.

"It does not!" the boy snapped. "I just woke up earlier than usual today so I have less energy!"

"Yeah, sure, whatever excuse works," Gari said, grinning at him mischievously.

"No! It’s not an excuse" Shion the Second wanted to keep arguing, but then Asahi yelled:

"Mooom!" He ran toward Haru, who was walking their way, and hugged him, breaking up Shion the Second and Gari’s conversation.

"How’s it going? Got all that energy burned off now?" Haru asked, messing up his hair.

"Yeah, but I want to run more, except Shion and Auntie Gari don’t!" Asahi said, as if complaining to him.

"You have to respect that they’re tired. I’m sure you guys can play something else, right?"

Asahi nodded. When Haru got closer to the bench, Shion the Second hugged him too, and Haru greeted him just as warmly.

"I’ve got some news for you boys. Well... not just for you. It’s something I wanted to talk to your dad about first – that’s why I asked Auntie Gari to bring you here."

"Oooh, what is it?" Asahi asked curiously, swinging his legs that were dangling off the tall bench.

Haru took a deep breath, like he was preparing himself to say it.

"You’re going to have another brother. Or sister. We don’t know yet."

Gari’s jaw dropped.

"No way, Haru. You’re pregnant again? How?!"

"Wooo, cool! I hope it’s a boy!" Asahi said. "I’ll teach him stuff!"

"I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl. As long as they don’t bother me like you do," Shion the Second said, sticking his tongue out at Asahi. Asahi did the same right back.

"Boys! Don’t do that!" Haru scolded gently.

Both of them quickly hid their tongues and dropped their heads low to show they were sorry.

"At this rate you’re gonna end up with a whole army of kids," Gari said. "But even with an army, you’d still keep them all in line, haha." The half-dragon joked, and Haru laughed too.

"Thanks. That’s sweet of you."

"Do Maldie and Yuri know yet?" Gari asked.

Haru nodded.

"Yeah. It just so happened they were the first to find out."

"Huh? Really? How’s that even possible?" Gari asked, confused.

"You’ll see soon," Haru sighed. "Let’s just say it’s a new resident in the palace – just don’t get scared when you see her."

"Mom means Lánshuò," Asahi added.

"Lan... what?" the half-dragon asked, confused.

"Lánshuò. Yuri’s bodyguard. You won’t believe it, Auntie, but she was with us in the hot springs! We didn’t know about her either, but she just appeared in Yuri’s room, and Yuri said she’s seen her before, and now normal people can see her too," Shion the Second explained.

"More or less," Haru said. "Maldie said she’s the same being Ayame and Rouhuo fought when you went further into the mountains, all the way to the chapel."

"That thing?! But it was a few meters tall and horrifying! How the hell does it even fit in the palace?"

"From what I know, Yuri asked her to look a little less scary. She’s about my height now, but that’s her fake form."

"Aha. Okay. Still creeps me out. I doubt a being like that would join you out of pure kindness."

"I know. It’s... a bit more complicated than it seems. Either way, I don’t feel like she’s hostile. And every strong ally increases our chances of staying safe if the Fourth and his gods come after us again."

"Fair enough," Gari admitted, then sighed. "Thank goodness things are calm for now."

"Mom, play with us for a bit!" Asahi asked.

"Yeah, please!" Shion the Second added.

"Sure," Haru said with a smile. "I’ll stay with you for a little while, then I’ll go back to Yuri and Maldie and check on them."

*

While she was reading earlier, Yuri had moved closer, hugged her, and then fell asleep leaning on her arm. Lánshuò sat down on the empty cushion – unfortunately, it was directly across from Maldie.

A cold sweat ran down the maid’s back.

I want to move, I’m thirsty, and I really have to use the bathroom. But I don’t want to wake up Yuri, she’s sleeping so sweetly! And I swear I feel like if I move even a little, Lánshuò will tear me to pieces. Ughhh, why does she have to stare at me like that – and won’t even blink?!

"So maybe... we could get to know each other better?" Maldie said with a shaky voice. Lánshuò said nothing. "Um... what’s your favorite color? Mine’s yellow."

"Gods’ blood."

"Ah. Okay. A... sound? Or music? I really like old romantic ballads played on harps, but people rarely play them now because they’re not really popular. And you?"

"The screams of the gods I devour," Lánshuò answered casually, still staring at Maldie.

"Alright, I’m not even gonna ask about food."

Lánshuò twitched slightly. She heard Haru returning from far away. In reality, with her sharpened hearing, she could hear every conversation in the palace all at once. She ignored the unimportant ones, treating them like background noise. She only focused on the ones that mattered.

"So how’s the reading going?" Haru asked, walking down the stairs.

Lánshuò tracked him carefully with her eyes, watching his steps and following every movement.

"Well, I guess I’m kind of boring, because Yuri fell asleep fast," Maldie said with a little laugh.

Haru laughed too.

"I think it just means she feels safe with you."

"C-could you switch with me? I’m so thirsty, and I really need to use the bathroom."

"Of course."

Maldie gently moved away from Yuri as Haru came over. Yuri blinked awake for a moment, but Maldie and Haru switched places so quickly and smoothly that she didn’t wake up.

Yuri cuddled into Haru even more, like she instinctively felt his warmth – the warmth of her mother.

Haru smiled at the sight and gently stroked her head, looking at her with pure parental love.