I played too much sengoku love ballad party and now I'm expecting a passionate bromance/romance/marriage/ex-marriage between Yukimura and Saizo in another universe.
It’s a sunny afternoon when Izumi and I are walking through town stopping at every shop there is and almost every café this town has. My 6 year old daughter Izumi wanted “to go shopping” as she said, sounding like she is the one working and has lots of money to spend. Well well, how can I say no to those hopeful eyes looking like MC. She has the same hair and eye color like me but the rest of her face is definitely MC’s. She is a perfect mixture of me and MC, which makes me feel even closer to MC somehow, as if we were one and the same.
“Daddy daddy looook!!!”
She is smiling big as she’s holding up a beautiful hairpin with a flower on it.
“It’s an iris flower, do you know the meaning of it, little lady?”
“No?” Her eyes get bigger with curiosity. I can’t help but smile at her cuteness as I crouch down to match her height level.
“It represents courage and good news, the sword shaped leaves symbolises a warrior's spirit.” I say as I fix the hairpin into her hair. “Making it a perfect hairpin just for you, little lady.” Her big eyes get even bigger as she gives me her big smile that I can never get tired of seeing. This face she is making is the reason I can never say no to her. That’s the reason I am carrying so many shopping bags for her, with things she really wanted. The little wifey at home is going to be very disappointed with me when she finds out I spoiled her again. But seeing the warmth of her smile is what makes it worth every time and every dime. Who knows when will be the last time I will see her this happy. I could be lying dead somewhere in the forest someday without my little ladies knowing it, and just waiting for me to come home. I never want to see their sad faces I’m imagining in my head if I would die on a mission… So that's why I want to make Izumi the happiest little lady in the world while I still can. Money is no problem for me after all.
“Can we buy one for mommy too, Pleeaase.” Now she’s getting really excited by her idea. I may have spoiled her rotten but she is very generous too and loves to give people presents as much as she likes getting them. She is very kind hearted, something she got from her mother of course. “I want to give mommy a hairpin with a flower that says I love her this much!” She says as she tips on her toes to get taller and stretch her arms out as wide as she can. Her big expressions always remind me of a certain someone. I can’t help but laugh a little at how cute this is.
“Then I would say this is the perfect hairpin for mommy, little lady.” I pick the beautiful hairpin with a violet on it and show it to her. “Violets represent a sincere and deep affection for someone, it is often given as gifts to express love and admiration.”
“Waoow…” She admires the hairpin in her hand. “Mommy is going to look really beautiful with this hairpin! Do you think she’ll like it?”
“If it’s from you little lady, I’m sure she’s going to treasure it with her life.” I smile and pat her head.
When we arrive at home I have Izumi sitting on my shoulders since she got tired of walking the whole day. When we bought the hairpin for her and her mother, she wanted to go straight home because she was so excited to give the hairpin to her.
I spot MC waiting for us by the gate as she has a shocked look on her face, probably because of all the things I’m carrying in my arms.
“You were away for a long time. I was starting to get a little worried.” She says with a concerned look that soon turns into a discreet look of disappointment directed at me.
“Well you know how it is…” I say with a smug look.
“Mommy mommy!! I have a surprise for you!” I let her down from my shoulders and she quickly grabbed the hairpin to give it to her mother. “Daddy said this flower means love so I wanted to give it to you because I love you very much!”
MC’s eyes start to get watery.
“Mommy, why are you crying?...” The little lady, not understanding that she is crying of happiness, gets a little worried.
“Oh I’m not sad Izumi…” She takes a moment to dry her tears and crouch down to her eye level and give her a big smile. “These are happy tears! Mommy gets so happy she cries because she loves you very much too Izumi! This is now the most precious thing I own, my lovely little girl.”
I make sure to always remember this moment as they hug lovingly. After all it is moments like this that makes me stronger and keeps me alive when I’m on missions.
Suddenly I hear two small feets running towards us. Wonder who that could be, hmm. I laugh as I think to myself waiting for him to reach us.
“Daddy! You’re home!” Izumi's twin brother jumps in my arms happily.
To think someone like me would be so lucky as to be alive and get to experience so much love, for not only one little lady, but two little ladies and one little ninja too.
I would not hesitate one second to give my life to protect them.
