Three years ago, I mentioned in pa.s.sing that I would personally teach the three little rice b.a.l.l.s how to read and write in the English alphabet… Skills that will definitely come in handy for them in the future, considering what I learned during the tours I took in modern-day Kyoto. Who would have thought that he'd suddenly review the educational system of the entire country from my pa.s.sing remark? A month later, the education department made sure that every child from three years old and above would have decent education. The lower cla.s.s were given lower taxes to compensate for the times their children had to go to school as this meant more work and less hands for them. Any parent who insisted on making their children stay at home to work would be severely punished. School was made mandatory by the shogun.

I stifled a giggle when I saw Miyako hogging the futon again. Her two brothers were sleeping on the edges of their mattresses while she slept comfortably with her legs and arms spread out between them. These three insisted on sleeping with their futons laid out next to each other despite this recurring dilemma. I initially wanted to put a bit of s.p.a.ce between each mattress but when Miyako said she was afraid of the dark, her two brothers immediately rejected my idea. Riku and Touya love their little sister so much. The way they both cared for her could probably rival how much their father doted on her.

I carefully corrected Miyako's sleeping position then moved her brothers in the center of their respective futons. I then made sure that their blankets were covering them snuggly before kissing each of their foreheads. I was about to turn and leave when Kaname joined me in the room.

"How is Mami?" I whispered as soon as he was standing beside me.

"She's fine," he a.s.sured me, his voice also low. "Hinoha.r.s.ensei said that she should stop her strenuous exercises until she gave birth. Apparently, it's what caused her spotting."

Mami was three months pregnant now. After all the years that she and Iursan have been secretly together, they were finally blessed with a little one.

"I'm glad," I whispered in relief. "Did she look for me?"

"She knows you're with the children but she asked if you could come visit her tomorrow morning."

There was a slightly annoyed look on his face so I had to ask, "Something wrong?"

He sighed. "She accused me of monopolizing you. She said that you rarely visit her anymore because I keep on bringing you with me."

I couldn't stop my giggle on time. When the boys stirred, we both stiffened. While we both love spending time with the rice b.a.l.l.s, it would always take forever for them to go to sleep because they would demand stories from me and songs from their father. It would have been fine if one story and song were enough, but it usually took three of each plus a little threat from Kaname before they surrendered to sleep…

Kaname hurriedly pulled me out of the room when they didn't wake up. Once outside, we both snickered at ourselves. Parenthood really changed us both.

"Let's go, it's time for us to retire," he hooked an arm around my waist and led me to the bedroom.

~~~

I woke up the next day with my head on Kaname's chest. He was still snoring softly with his arms around me. Spring has come but there was still a chill in the air. I pulled the blanket closer and snuggled in his chest, intending to sleep more.

"You're awake?" he asked sleepily.

"Let's sleep more," I answered while tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Yeah, I still need to recharge after last night," he said, a naughty smile tugged at his lips.

My cheeks burned as I glared at him in response. How could they not? We were just supposed to bathe and call it a night but my body suddenly had other plans.

"Although I'm not complaining," he chuckled when he saw my reaction. "I love it when you initiate our coupling."

"Let's go back to sleep!" I said, annoyed and weirdly happy at the same time.

"But I suddenly do not want to sleep anymore," he took one of my hands and placed it on his fully awake "honorable other self."

My blush deepened as I felt it reach my ears. "You're roaring to go again," I said disbelievingly.

"Yes, and you should take responsibility," he murmured huskily before changing our positions. I was now beneath him and he was on top of me.

His lips caught mine as his hands began to wander. I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around his neck, surrendering to his pa.s.sion for me. He broke the kiss and started exploring downwards. He kissed my jaw, my neck, my collarbone, the valley between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s…

"Mmm…" I arched my back when he placed one hardened nipple in his mouth and played with it.

"Hina…" he whispered. "You always taste great, I can never have enough…"

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. I heard the voices of my maids, Ryuko-san's especially, informing our visitors that we were still "sleeping."

"Someone's here to see us," I said, although it sounded more like a moan because he was now busy eating from the honeypot.

"The maids will handle them," he replied without a care and continued teasing me down there.

"But young masters, your parents will definitely get mad if you woke them. They returned late last night so they are sleeping in," I heard my head maid say.

Her words woke me up from my s.e.xual bliss. "c.r.a.p, it's the children!" I pushed Kaname away and tossed him his discarded robe from last night.

His robe landed on his head and he stared at me with pursed lips and furrowed brows. "Why are panicking? Your head maid will shoo them off."

"Put your robe on!" I hissed at him. "Haven't you learned anything from last week?"

I was referring to the time we were fooling around in the tub when a crying Miyako barged in. When she saw the position we were in, her tears stopped and she tilted her head to ask if we were "playing horsie."

"What about it? It only looked like you were bouncing on my lap," he gathered up his hair up and tied it in a messy bun. "Our daughter wouldn't understand what we were actually doing."

I threw a pillow at him, hitting him squarely on the face. "I said get dressed!

He was just about to finish tying his robes when the three rice cakes slid the door open and rushed in to greet us.

"Mama, Ryuko-san wouldn't let us in!" Riku said petulantly while giving my head maid the stink eye.

"Yes, yes!" Touya chimed in. "She said you were still sleeping!"

"She lied!" Miyako said, equally annoyed at the poor woman. "Our papa and mama are obviously awake!"

"Now, now, don't blame Ryuko-san," I patted their heads gently. "We were indeed sleeping but then we heard your voices so mama and papa are awake now."

"Go and apologize to Ryuko-san," Kaname crossed his arms on his chest and looked at the three children with a disapproving frown. "You don't talk and look at her like that. When you were still tiny little beans, she helped your mama take care of you."

Whenever Kaname used his "father tone," all three of them would immediately behave. With lowered heads, they hugged my head maid and apologized sincerely. Ryuko-san smiled and told them it was alright.

"What do you want for breakfast?" she asked the little ones.

"Pancakes!" Touya said in English. "Ryuko-san, do you know how to make mama's green pancakes?"

"Hai, she taught me how to make them," she replied. The green pancakes were actually matcha pancakes.

"Yay!" they chorused.

"I want two!" Miyako said while holding up two fingers at her.

"I want three because I'm a big boy now," Riku declared while following his siblings and our maid out of the room.

It was once again quiet. The children came and went like the wind. I picked up the pillow I threw on Kaname and started tidying the room when he hugged me from behind.

"Now we can finally continue where we left off," he said while opening my robe.

"But, anata, I want to join the children for breakfast," I turned to look at him.

"Your recipe takes roughly half an hour to follow, that's still plenty of time," he kissed my neck, sending tingles down my spine.

"Alright," I sighed. "But let's do it only once," there was a hint of warning in my tone.

He laughed. "As you wish."