A heartfelt surprise.(1/2)
birthday special. Pt.1
Dawn began approaching, becoming more apparent by the orange tainted sky engulfing the blue horizon, a clear distinction for the end of the night and the beginning of a brand new day in Kai. The air was chilly as snow began falling, creating a beautiful white cover on top of the garden, usually colorful with flowers, was now colorlessly icy. Fast footsteps approached the kitchen, small legs carrying the excitement of the twins, the moment they slid the door open, a sweet scent took over and guided them to…
“Children? You two have never woken up this early before. Are you that excited for today?” I was in the middle of my attempt, attempt, to make a birthday cake for the love of my life, who should still be asleep in bed.
Tugging at the hem of my kimono, both twins were looking with bright eyes at what I was making. On one side, a boy that took after my hair color and eyes, yet had the same face as his father, Oujiro. The most energetic and playful soul in Tsutsujigasake castle. On the other side, a girl that took after Shingen’s hair color and grey eyes, as adorable as she was charming and charismatic, Himeko.
“Mama, you said that today is a very special day for papa, we have to start celebrating now!” Oujiro must have woken up his sister early today just to start celebrating their father’s birthday, it surprises me that she isn’t grumpy.
“I did, and you two have a very important role for today. But you two must be very sneaky, just like Sasuke is.” For the moment, I put aside the cooking tools, having them tugging at my clothes would only end in disaster while trying to cook.
“See? I told you we shouldn’t have ran! What if dad woke up?” Himeko shot a glare at Oujiro, a small pout on her face. It was at times like these that I wish I could pinch their faces, but for now, stop the conflict, Selena!
“Alright, no need to be angry. I am sure your father won’t wake up yet, after all he hasn’t come looking for us.” Although even if shingen did suspect of our surprise, I doubt that he would want to ruin it, just to consider our feelings. “Your uncles will be helping you with your task, but you must work together to make your father extra happy.”
With a proud grin, Oujiro puts his hands on his waist while stuffing his chest “I will make sure everything is perfect, mama! I won’t let uncle kenshin make trouble this time.” He looked so determined that i couldn’t help but smile, last year we almost couldn’t hold a party because of kenshin wanting to spar with Shingen every time he said anything about the presents, all while saying that his present was the end of his sword.
Luckily, he wouldn’t do anything dangerous knowing that there are children around, Kenshin has gotten better in dealing with kids ever since the twins were born, so he was more careful now.
Himeko crosses her arms while smiling, a motivated expression on her face “You are too slow, I have made a list on everything that dad will like!”
“Well, look at you two multitaskers! I guess i don’t have anything to worry about anything this year! Just remember, anything that might be too difficult or dangerous to do, you two should ask your uncles’ assistance with.” Just in case, I asked Sasuke and Yukimura to keep a constant eye on them. While the children were determined, they also thought they could do certain things alone, it would be better to have more than one adult to ensure they don’t do anything they shouldn’t do.
“Okay!” Both seemed very excited to plan their father’s birthday, I wanted to let them feel included during the planning this year so that they weren’t left out, I could see how eager they were to surprise shingen.
While the children talked about what they needed to do for the banquet that night, I shifted my gaze towards what I was baking, feeling a bit lost. It’s not that it’s impossible to bake a cake, but it was very difficult without the convenience and proper materials. I was trying to come up with a different idea, but that was not going how I wanted.
Once the sun lighted up all the sky, It was certain that Shingen would be up and looking around for us, and i can’t let him see the preparations. The plan was, after baking something (at this point it didn’t even need to be a cake) and then take him for a date in town. While we are out, the others will prepare everything so that we would come back for a whole party waiting for shingen. Maybe… i could stack dangos in a pyramid or… maybe manju? It technically is a small cake, i could stack them together to make up for the lack of a proper modern cake.
I had already baked all his favorites, dango, chestnut buns, sweet bean paste, sweet gelatin… maybe tons of manju built up in a tower should do.
—————
By the time I was done, the children had already taken a few sweets under the guise of just taste testing and ran out of the kitchen to go distract shingen from coming in the kitchen in case he was already up. Meaning that I need to have the maids take care of the sweets while I go and change, he would obviously be able to tell that I was cooking for his party. I carefully sneaked out of the kitchen, making my way through the corridors until I could reach the bathhouse. For my luck, I didn’t stumble into shingen on my way there.
The moment I was out of the bathhouse, however…
I felt two, strong arms pulling me against a wall— I mean, chest. Even though I was surprised, there was no denying who it was, my arms wrapped around his torso as tightly as possible. I had had trouble waking up way earlier than him just so that i could start baking his sweets, his arms are just too comfortable to move away from.
“I have been looking for you, my sneaky goddess.” His voice was warm and filled me with joy just from being near him. “My arms became cold without you there, i thought my heart was going to freeze in this snowy weather.”
“You exaggerate, though it was pretty difficult leaving your side…” just the possibility of burying my face against his chest while snuggling gave me all the energy I needed and made waking up early worth it.
“I saw the children running around the hallways, but they wouldn’t tell me what they were doing. Am I to believe that I should expect something today?” That smile he gave me made me want to give it all away to him.
Aha! I know that look, he was trying to charm his way into finding out our plans. Well, two can play this game. “I don’t know, maybe they are excited that their uncles are visiting.” I gave him my best mischievous grin, over time I had started joining him in these games of teasing that he would start.
“Is that so? Yuki does enjoy playing with them.” In our hug, his face began getting closer to my neck, my body shivered when I felt his breath against my shoulder. His lips were only grazing at my skin yet it pulled quite the reaction from me. “Hmm… chestnut buns, I knew there was a sweet scent in the air.”
Eh? How did he even figure that out? I made sure to take a long bath just so that no sweet scent lingered on me… was he just that good at guessing? It was hard to concentrate and think when he was giving soft kisses over my neck now. They weren’t intense enough to leave a love mark, but i could feel the lingering warmth there. No, maybe another trick? Well, i wouldn’t let myself fall for it.
“Looks like someone is hungry, did you eat your breakfast already? You shouldn’t have any buns unless you want to get scolded by Yukimura.” I hoped that i could distract him from finding out what I did, at least until the banquet for that night.
“As long as I have my angel of luck with me, yuki won’t be finding out.” Before he could deepen his kisses over my neck, we both heard someone clearing their throat from behind shingen.
“I won’t be finding out about what?” Yukimura was tapping his foot as if to show his impatience. “Just how many times have I told you two to go find a room instead of doing this in the middle of the hallway?”
It was during times like these that i would both be grateful and want to strangle Yukimura, for one he was able to interrupt before things escalated and all of our plans were threw out the window, but at the same time I was enjoying those kisses…
“Yuki… you really know how to ruin a man’s pleasure.” A bit dejected but with a smile on his face, shingen pulled away, keeping only one arm around my waist as he turned around to look at his vassal.
I knew that this was Yukimura’s way of reminding me of our plans, which is why I needed to focus more. First, I have to take him out of the castle for a date.
“Now that you mention, it would be nice if we could go out on a date! With work, it has been impossible for us to go out.” I looked at Shingen excitedly, this was also the perfect opportunity for us to have some privacy.
“A date sounds just perfect for the today, though I worry about not taking the children.” He is the sweetest, almost all of our dates to town, we would make sure to take the twins together, making it a big family outing.
“Do you guys not understand the concept of ‘get a room’? You are just going to a more exposed place…. Don’t worry, we can look after them, it has been a while since I spent time with the twins. I heard that Yoshimoto also has some souvenirs for them” Yukimura spoke with a smile when mentioning Oujiro and Himeko. Great, Yukimura was doing just as we planned, today it was just me and shingen for the this date and then the children would be able the surprise him with the party.
“How considerate of you, Yuki. I can’t turn this opportunity to have my celestial maiden all to myself.” He moved closer so that his lips were closer to my ear, his voice lower. “That means i won’t need to hold back on flirting.”
“Shingen! Alright, l-let’s go get ready for our date before Yukimura scold us more.” I giggled with a blush forming on my cheeks, gently pushing him away with me so that we could go to our room.
—————
Once we both were finally ready, we were set to leave for our date, though we had to get dressed separately just so that no “change of plans” occurred. He was dressed up before I was, I took a bit longer because I wanted to try a new kimono that I requested from the seamstress, I wanted something special for Shingen’s birthday after all. Once I met up with him at the entrance of the castle, he froze immediately upon looking at me.
“I must be envied by all men in this world, for I have witnessed a goddess descending I front of me.” He walked closer, making me feel a bit bashful at his sweet words.
“Let them be jealous, then. Because this goddess is taking you to a special date.” I quickly took his hand, gently tugging on it so that we could walk together.
“How lucky I am to have a goddess accompanying me, I should make every moment of this worthwhile.” His large hand engulfed mine in his, making me feel warm all over with just that physical contact. Something told me that our date promised a lot of fun!
—————
Meanwhile, as the two figures walked out for their date in town, the castle could finally start the preparations without worrying about shingen finding out, maids and vassals were running around the halls while receiving the orders from the main organizers of the party… the twins.
“Do you think they can handle this part? It isn’t too difficult but they might feel overwhelmed.” Sasuke said while looking at Oujiro and Himeko, who were checking and then double checking the list the little girl was holding. Sasuke was in charge of ensuring that the castle would be safe and properly guarded while everyone celebrated Shingen’s birthday.
“If they take after their parents, I think both are more than capable.” Yukimura seemed more confident about the kids’ abilities. He was in charge of carrying heavy weight objects that the twins couldn’t possibly carry and setting them up in the room for the banquet.
“Selena did say that they have been getting more responsible lately, perhaps that’s what happens when you are one of Shingen’s children.” Yoshimoto fanned himself lightly while taking a break, he was mostly in charge of the decoration according to Himeko, who asked for his assistance in making the room the party would take place beautiful.
“It isn’t just because of shingen, if it wasn’t for that woman, that idiot would still be a mess.” Kenshin drank tea from his cup, which he had to choose instead of sake considering that the twins were nearby. He was in charge of providing more food for the banquet and the best drinks (of course, the children would be only allowed tea or water).
Each warlord received orders from the twins on what they should do, to which they all complied. Seeing the twins growing up to be so similar to their parents spread a warm, mutual feeling among the warlords, a certainty that their future was bright.
To be continued…

















