52. Interlude - A beautiful day!

I returned home to a very worried wife and child, waiting for me at the door.

"Darling!" Himiko screamed, jumping into my arms as Eri headbutted me in the stomach, befitting her height, bringing us all tumbling to the floor.

"We saw the attack." Himiko said, through teary eyes, "You're not hurt are you?"

"No. Of course not!" I said, gently wiping their tears, turning to Eri, "Heroes don't die, after all!"

"....liar!" Eri muttered, smiling shyly.

"Eh? No way! I'm telling the truth." I insisted, pinching her cute, pudgy cheeks.

"Wa! I want some love too!" Himiko protested jealously.

"You're seriously going to compete for my attention with a 6 year old?!" I laughed, wrapping my arm around her, planting a kiss on her lips.

"Uhun! Just because we have a kid, doesn't mean you get to ignore me!" Himiko pouted cutely.

"Well, I certainly can't ignore you if you're pinning me to the ground, now can I?" I pointed out, rolling Himiko to the side, as Eri jumped up and off me.

"Let's continue this in the living room?" I suggested, getting up and lifting Eri in my arms as we settled on the couch.

"So....how much did you see?" I asked Himiko, gesturing at Eri with my eyes.

Himiko realized my implications and shook her head.

"I covered her eyes during the...uh.....naughty parts. Don't worry." She explained.

"Good." I said, relieved, before Eri chirped in.

"What was that?"

"Nothing important Eri." I replied, petting her head, "Why don't you go and get yourself an icecream from the fridge, and give Kuribo one too?"

"Really?" She asked, excitedly.

"Yes. But only one." I laid down the rules.

"Yay!" Eri cheered, running off happily.

"And don't pull out the whole pack or all of it will melt!" I shouted behind her, only to be ignored.

I sighed defeatedly.

Raising kids ...it's tougher than I expected.

Looking at Himiko snuggling up against me I wondered if she would be able to handle it?

Feeling my gaze, Himiko looked up, into my eyes, her golden orbs reflecting my face, mesmerizing me for a moment with their beauty.

Instinctively, I leaned in for a deep kiss, one she returned with passion, face flushed.

She pushed a hand under my shirt, and the other around my neck, as she leaned in further for a make out only to be stopped by my hand, as I came to my senses.

"Not now...." I whispered, "Once Eri is asleep."

Himiko nodded, a bit unhappy, but understanding.

"And...we have to talk." I added.

Immediately, Himiko shot to alert, sitting up straight, facing me, nervously.

"It's about the league." I continued, "How close are you? Do they have any of the members I mentioned? Any plans?"

"Not yet. I'm working up to it. Kurogiri has secured me a position in the new league, but that's all. There are no other members yet. Shigaraki was going to talk to Stain about it, but..." Himiko explained.

"Wait, wasn't Shigaraki mouthing off about how he is coming for me, for taking his hands? What happened to all that bravado?" I asked.

"He was mad about that, but his master stopped him and gave him other hands. Something about striking when they're at an advantage.

The man sounds kinda like you, actually." She mused.

"..I see. Inform me as soon as there are new members, especially the two I talked about. And as for-" I continued, when Himiko's stomach growled like a lawnmover at 6 am, lending her to a embarrassed blush.

Chuckling, I asked.

"Dinner?"

Himiko nodded shyly.

I kissed Himiko and walked into the kitchen ready to prep a meal, only to find Eri laid put on the floor surrounded by ice candy wrappers.

"Eri!" I scolded.

"It wasn't me! It was Kuribo!" She denied, despite the crust around her face, and the stains on her shirt.

"....You know you can't lie to me, Eri?" I chastised, "I know it was you."

"How?" She asked, shocked.

"Papa knows everything, that's how!" I repeated the lie my parents told me when I was her age, as I kneeled down beside her, wiping her face clean.

Man, kids are so stupid!

It's adorable!

"..papa...." she muttered under her breath, happily.

Cleaning her face, I asked, "What do you want for dinner? Do you even have the stomach for dinner?"

"Nope!" Eri answered, smiling, as I pinched her cheeks.

I sighed.

"Thought so. Go on then. Go to bed." I ordered as I set up the rice cooker.

"But I want to watch Precure!" She protested.

"No. You'll go to sleep. Now. It's already past your bedtime!" I repeated, picking her up, before tucking her into bed.

Standing up to leave, I was interrupted by Eri, grabbing the hem of my shirt in an iron grip.

"Papa...can you read a story, please!" she pleaded with puppy eyes.

So cute!

And calling me Papa!

This adorable little manipulator!

I caressed her face, as I sat down beside her bed, pulling out a story book from the drawer beside her.

"Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there lived a handsome, young prince....."

This was shaping up to be a long ass day already!

Finally, after all the things had been handled and dinner had been had, I continued my 'conversation' with Himiko, in the bedroom, until satisfaction.

Laying there on the bed, afterwards, as I drifted off to sleep, I basked in the happy life I had. If only I stuck around, I could even rule the world.

But, then again, I was never one for ruling and leading. Too much hassle for no reward.

With that, unconsciousness swept over me, ending the day.

The next morning when I woke up, Himiko was gone, off on her mission, and the new daily routine set in, what with the internships having ended.

Wake up, make Eri some breakfast, get ready to go to school.

And yet, I felt, somehow fulfilled.

Looking out the window, I felt the morning sun shining upon me, as I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling it's warmth seeping into my skin like a lizard and a thought occured to me.

What a beautiful day!