The Sohma Litters *a Traditions Sequel*

Chapter Thirteen: Fears and Headaches


Yuki\'s POV

I woke with a headache, figuring it was from too much saki, I decided to soak in a hot tub for a while and Kyo took the boys out for breakfast. They were not still running on Japan time and were awake at the crack of dawn. After an hour in the tub, I still had the headache and decided to climb out and try lying down. Kyo and the boys went to the playground and when they returned at noon, I was feeling better. We had promised to go to Rand\'s neighborhood and spend the day with Kallanni\'s family. The boys were thrilled and had immediately made friends with Malleho and Hamellano, Kallanni\'s grandchildren. She had invited several of her children and they had made a small feast for lunch. Rand showed up, grinning since he knew this was likely to happen, and telling us that we were the new celebrities of the neighborhood. Some of the other neighbors came over also. We were once again the center of attention, and I was so glad that my headache had finally passed.

The people had been so wonderful, Kyo and I enjoyed their friendly banter, and the way they helped each other. One of them had the misfortune of a fire burning half of their home and the others had collected up clothes, food, and supplies. The family had stayed with others while their house was repaired and with the items collected, it seemed as if nothing had been lost to them at all. I marvelled at this, and they brushed it off as if it was an everyday occurance. They were such wonderful giving people that too much fuss embarrassed them. And yet, when they heard that Kato was not our natural child, they treated us as if we were the most giving and caring of all. I blushed in embarrassment when Kallanni kissed my cheek and said she was as proud of me for this as any of her daughters. I was only happy she hadn\'t decided to hug me, that would have really given them a surprise.
Kallanni\'s actual daughter asked me if I would like to hold her baby, I accepted and as Kyo watched me nervously, I carefully took the child and held her out in front of me. Elanei was old enough to support her own head, and I made sure that it was not obvious that I was avoiding the chance that I might actually hug this cute round little girl.
We hated to leave, the boys had learned some new hawaiian game from their new friends but they were looking tired. Kyo had taken his barrage of pictures as usual, and I would always cherish the memories of this day. Rand offered to help carry the boys back to the hotel. Kyo and he joked the entire trip back, about one of Kellani\'s sons flirting with me outlandishly, and wouldn\'t he have had quite a shock if he had only . . . . I stopped them right there.
\"I can assure you, I would never let anyone catch me that easily. I think you both underestimate me. From you, Mr. McFarley I am not surprised.\" I hefted Kato and marched ahead.
\"I think I am in trouble, ne Rand? We were just joking Yukito, that\'s all. Come on, slow down, Yuuhi\'s a lot heavier than Kato.\" and he struggled to catch my lead.


That night, after apologizing again, Kyo told me he was truly scared when the baby was offered to me, he had forgotten that I had held Kyoko often enough that I knew how to do it safely. And admitted that he had forgotten how cute I looked holding a baby. I laughed at him, and reminded him, that I looked cute doing everything, according to him. He agreed, of course. I forgave him finally and we snuggled down into the blankets. Kyo held me closer that night, and I wondered just how scared he had actually been. Or if he was reacting to some other stimulus. I didn\'t mind, but I wondered at this sudden possessive compulsion.
I had beautiful dreams of colorful places and bright flowers. Happy people all dressed in fancy clothing and dancing. In my dreams Yuuhi\'s eyes sparkled a dazzling deep grey blue, and Kato\'s hair seemed even redder. Kyo\'s orange and Tsuki\'s blonde more vivid, and when I woke I wondered sadly about people who only dreamt in black and white. They must feel cheated by it. My dreams had always been in color, and here in this place it seemed the colors were just clearer.

The next few days were just as fun, but with more beach time, and a little shopping. The hotel had a tanning booth in their gym, and I took advantage of it so that I could have those beach days. Kyo and I enjoyed watching the kids playing with some other children who were staying here, at the playground. Our boys had learned to bypass unimportant things like language and had made good friends with a boy from Mexico who spoke not a word of either Japanese or English. They just seemed to know what each other wanted to play, and enjoyed it too much to worry about what they were saying to each other. The boys father was here on a business trip and had brought his wife and son with them. She spoke only broken english, but we managed somehow to convey enough information to each other to break the ice and convince her to bring her son to lunch with us, so the boys could spend more time together. Her husband came to the restaurant and joined us also. He spoke very good english and things became even more comfortable after that.

We were sorry that the next day would be our last. But it was time to go home.